AGP Executive Report

Cocoa Logistics: CMC launches a 24-hour cocoa operations model—Offload 24, Load 24 and Export 24—to cut delays across Tema, Kumasi and Takoradi and support the 24-Hour Economy. Power Sector: PURC’s new head office opens as Energy Minister Jinapor pushes stronger utility regulation and faster complaint resolution; meanwhile, GRIDCo links a fresh nationwide outage to a major Akosombo–Volta transmission fault and government says a permanent technical fix is due by September. Mining Turnaround: Government grants Adamus Resources a 12-month reprieve and sets up a six-member team to oversee a turnaround roadmap, including settling GH¢205m+ statutory arrears and liabilities to GRA, MIIF and others. GoldBod/Finance Debate: Mineworkers petition BoG to release over GH¢380m trapped in distressed institutions after the 2017 clean-up, while broader gold-for-reserves performance remains under scrutiny. Investment Policy: GIPA’s 2025 report shows US$2.6bn FDI in 2025, but government says success now means production, local enterprise, jobs and export growth—not just capital inflows. Digital Economy: Ericsson and MTN Group Fintech complete Mobile Money Evolved Migration in Ghana and other markets, aiming for faster performance and scaling digital financial services. Agriculture Inputs: TCDA and Mampong Assembly distribute tree-crop inputs to boost productivity and farmer incomes. Public Health: Health Minister reaffirms Ghana’s push to strengthen disease surveillance, labs, genomic sequencing and emergency preparedness.

Power & Infrastructure: Energy Ministry says a temporary Akosombo switchyard/control centre should be ready by end-September after the April fire and a fresh Akosombo–Volta line fault triggered outages. Housing & Real Estate: President Mahama targets March 2027 for the first 700 Saglemi units, with 1,500 expected by Dec 2027, as works restart with LMI Group. Mining & Compliance: Adamus Resources disputes lease revocation claims, demanding evidence; meanwhile Ghana’s Chamber of Mines reports mining deaths fell to three in 2025 but warns “three deaths are too many.” Food Safety & Agriculture: CSIR-WRI finds microplastics in fish from the Lower Volta and Gulf of Guinea, linking some contamination to boats, cage infrastructure and plastic nets. Health & Industry: FDA records a GH¢70m surplus in 2025 but flags ageing lab equipment and illicit products; Health Minister pushes local pharma manufacturing via PharmaVax Ghana grants. Investment & Skills: GIPA says it secured investor leads at Invest Fest 2026; Ghana Chamber of Mines urges “true localisation” through mining tech capability and workforce development. Digital/Trade: Ghana’s NCA inaugurates a dispute resolution committee as it pushes to bridge the digital divide.

Power & Governance: Parliament’s Energy Committee says it hasn’t received the full report on the July 29 blackout, even as another nationwide outage hits; the Energy Ministry admits the temporary control room leaves the system vulnerable, with a permanent facility now due end-September. Energy Reliability: GRIDCo links outages to faults on the Akosombo–Volta transmission line, while IES urges stronger safeguards so interim fixes don’t trigger system-wide failures. Nuclear Readiness: Ghana acquires a nuclear power plant simulator at GAEC to train operators and strengthen safety preparedness. Health & Local Pharma: GMTF explores local manufacture of cancer and cardiovascular medicines with Atlantic Lifesciences/PharmaNova; PharmaVax Ghana awards €2m to eight R&D-to-manufacturing projects. Education & Skills: GTEC trains tertiary officials on a new affiliation quality assurance framework; ASTECH qualifies for NSMQ nationals for the first time. Agriculture: Tamale distributes 9,000 bags of NPK and 1,000 bags of urea to farmers; Amansie West backs 75 PWDs with livelihood support. Industry & Finance: Absa appoints Ellis Katwebaze as Bank of Africa Ghana Deputy MD; SIC Insurance approves GH¢20m dividend for 2025. Trade & Manufacturing: Ghana and Jamaica negotiate a $60m alumina arrangement to feed Ghana’s aluminium push.

Power Restoration: GRIDCo says a major fault on the Akosombo–Volta transmission line around 4:30 a.m. triggered automatic tripping of Akosombo units and some thermal plants, plunging parts of Ghana into darkness; restoration is underway with power already back to some areas. Investment & Trade: GIPA invites investors to a maiden Invest Ghana Summit, pitching opportunities across agriculture, manufacturing, energy, tech, tourism and logistics, alongside the 24-hour economy push. Retail Protection: GIPA and GUTA agree a roadmap to safeguard Ghana’s citizen-reserved informal retail space under Act 1117, targeting fronting and unauthorised entry. Banking for Farmers: BoG urges banks to back households, SMEs and productive sectors, especially agriculture value chains, while FCMB plans AI agritech advisory in local languages (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo). Agribusiness Finance: NIRSAL approved over N100bn in credit risk guarantees for agricultural loans in 2025, with 2026 already surpassing prior levels. Industry Signals: FanMilk reports strong 2025 profit growth and continued 2026 momentum; Genser Energy secures €456m financing for West Africa expansion. Mining & Policy Debate: IFS warns mid-year budget targets are unrealistic, and the GoldBod controversy continues to dominate political and fiscal discussions.

Mining & Health: GMTF Administrator Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku challenged mining firms at the National Mining Dialogue 2026 to treat healthcare in host communities as core social responsibility—“at 2:00 AM, money cannot buy time.” Gold Governance: Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) CEO Sammy Gyamfi defended the institution amid Minority–GoldBod sparring over alleged DGPP losses, while also saying the Board is pursuing traceability tech to track legally sourced gold. Political Fallout in Cocoa: NPP organizer Martin Ampim warned that cocoa farmers may reject the NDC in 2028 if COCOBOD and government concerns on prices, payments and sustainability aren’t addressed. Macroeconomy & Debt Lessons: Former BoG First Deputy Governor Maxwell Opoku-Afari said Eurobond borrowing (2007–2021) was mainly used for budget financing, helping set up vulnerabilities that culminated in the 2022 debt crisis. Media & Cyber Safety: GJA President Albert Dwumfour urged journalists to “wait, verify and publish,” as a separate report flags growing cyber threats to journalists. Cocoa Prices: Cocoa futures rose on dollar weakness, but weather-driven supply expectations keep prices mixed. Industry Events: This Is Ghana Exhibition returns Aug 29–30 in Accra, spotlighting local brands and SMEs. Sports Grassroots: Ghana–Anhui Chamber backed the Constituency Games with 2,120 sports items to widen access to structured talent development.

Mining Social Compact: GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi told the National Mining Dialogue 2026 that host communities must be treated as development partners and economic shareholders, not “land donors,” as social licence to operate should go beyond permits. Petroleum Regulation & Output: Ghana’s Petroleum Commission marks its 15th anniversary with a push for “regulatory excellence,” while Energy Minister John Jinapor says crude output has rebounded from ~90,000 to 126,000 bpd and new petroleum agreements are in the pipeline. GoldBod Accountability Row: Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin and GHEITI co-chair Dr Manteaw clash over GoldBod’s reported GH¢22bn/US$1.7bn losses—Minority wants scrutiny, while Manteaw argues the costs are justified by forex gains. Food Safety & Trade: Madina Market authorities arrested a woman over alleged sale of unapproved chemicals used to ripen bananas/plantains; meanwhile, Centre for Policy Scrutiny questions Ghana’s 24-hour markets rollout over import concerns. Digital Commerce: Standard Bank and UnionPay expand secure e-commerce acceptance to Ghana and eight other African markets, boosting cross-border merchant payments. Cocoa Risk: Reuters flags El Niño as a new threat to Ghana’s cocoa comeback, with output projected to fall. Finance & Policy: IFS says 2026 mid-year budget growth and revenue targets look unrealistic; capital market players also oppose a 400% SEC market levy hike.

Galamsey Crackdown: Ghana Journalists Association President Albert Dwumfour urged government to widen the fight against illegal mining beyond miners to financiers, equipment suppliers and gold buyers, warning the illegal gold economy is backed by a wider network. Mining Social Licence: GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi and Ga Mantse King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II pushed for mining to deliver lasting benefits for host communities and youth, while government acknowledged unresolved grievances over environmental damage and displacement. GoldBod Accountability: Minority in Parliament questioned Bank of Ghana’s role in GoldBod’s domestic gold purchasing programme, citing governance and risk-sharing concerns. Gold Production Push: Ghana rose to sixth globally after 2025 output hit 185 tonnes, with small-scale mining driving the jump. Fuel Logistics: BOSTenergies met Kumasi tanker drivers over loading-arm and parking issues, promising repairs and a new BRV parking facility. Skills & Innovation: DTI students showcased robotics, assistive tech, future city models and upcycled fashion at the 2026 capstone exhibition. SME Finance Reform: Bank of Ghana highlighted a US$4.8bn SME financing gap and urged faster open banking/open finance implementation. Non-Interest Banking: BoG inaugurated the Non-Interest Financial Advisory Council to guide regulation and product development. Cocoa & Agriculture Signals: Experts urged Ghana to learn from China’s agricultural transformation by building full value chains, not just copying technology. Retail & Consumer Markets: Promasidor Ghana launched Onga Tomato Mix with a new brand ambassador, while FCCPC flagged possible cement price manipulation in Nigeria.

Galamsey Crackdown: President Mahama says illegal miners will be stopped from returning to cleared forest reserves by keeping military detachments on-site, after earlier “clear then hand back” steps failed. Cocoa Supply Chain: Young cocoa farmers petition Mahama over funding gaps for Licensed Buying Companies ahead of the 2026/27 season, while farmers also split on the new COCOBOD Bill’s rules on uprooting trees. Food Safety: FDA warns against chemical ripening of plantains after a viral Madina Market video, flagging Ethemax as harmful and promising regulatory action. Agri Inputs Push: TCDA begins nationwide distribution of 2026 tree-crop inputs (seedlings and farm gear) to support about 1.6m households. Urban Flood Risk: KNUST research calls for compact urban development and stronger land-use planning to curb unplanned sprawl driving flooding and food insecurity. Power Infrastructure: GRIDCo tower repairs trigger a one-month vacate ultimatum for businesses under high-tension lines, but artisans say they lack formal notice. Fintech Innovation: MoMo Fintech Lab opens applications for Ghana’s next wave of fintech innovators, with tracks spanning payments, security and digital identity. Economy Watch: GSS reports May 2026 growth at 5.1%, led by services. Capital Markets: Industry players push back on a 400% SEC levy hike, warning it could slow smaller firms. Tech & Manufacturing: Nigerian drone maker Terra Industries raises $52m, with a Ghana factory planned to become Africa’s largest drone plant.

Defence Tech & Manufacturing: Terra Industries closed a $52mn seed round after adding $18mn and will open its first office outside Africa in London, while keeping manufacturing in Ghana and Nigeria and targeting $100mn+ in contract bookings this year. Cocoa Sector Management: COCOBOD deployed directors to all 16 regions to improve coordination, monitoring and efficiency across cocoa divisions. Food Safety: The FDA warned against selling flood-affected food and beverages and cautioned traders against using chemicals to force-ripen plantain, citing serious health risks. Agriculture Support: Isaac Adongo launched a tomato and pepper input drive for dry-season farming in Bolgatanga, including fertiliser, seedlings, tractors and irrigation support. Petroleum Downstream & Logistics: IES urged a predictable crude supply for TOR via a consistent Domestic Market Obligation, while BOST and tanker drivers agreed measures after Kumasi depot grievances. Informal Waste Jobs: GAYO launched a national union for informal waste workers to strengthen inclusion, safer work and policy participation. Banking: PwC reports deposits rose 25% to GH¢334.3bn in 2025, boosting funds for lending. Mining & Jobs: President Mahama renewed the push to clear illegal mining and formalise mining to create youth jobs.

Currency Security: President Mahama says Ghana’s cedi is “long overdue for refreshing,” pointing to the need to upgrade banknote security features to stay ahead of counterfeiters, with Bank of Ghana to decide timing and approach. Energy Finance: Genser Energy secures EUR 456m credit facilities arranged by RMB, Absa and Standard Bank to fund EPC completion and expand critical energy infrastructure across West Africa. Fuel Prices Watch: COMAC projects petrol could drop (about 2.90% to GH¢15.82/l) while diesel may rise (about 1.39% to GH¢17.73/l), though COPEC expects many OMCs to hold prices. Cocoa & Trade Rules: COCOBOD bars licensed buying companies from purchasing cocoa on credit from farmers, warning of licence loss; meanwhile, the cocoa sector faces pressure to meet EU anti-deforestation rules. Mining Governance: Civil society and industry voices keep spotlighting illegal mining and GoldBod concerns, while a new focus emerges on how communities negotiate mining impacts. Agri Outlook: Ghana’s agricultural growth slows to 3.6% in May; government also targets 100,000 hectares of new oil palm plantations to cut palm oil imports. Investment Climate: Parliament backs GIPA reforms to strengthen Ghana’s investment environment and local participation. Tech & Fintech: Hubtel partners with MoMo Fintech Lab to support emerging fintech innovators through a three-month programme. Capital Markets: GSE ends the week up despite a 46% plunge in value traded, with gains led by some listed firms. Tourism Enforcement: GTA shuts four hospitality facilities in Cape Coast for regulatory breaches, including licensing and tourism levy issues.

AI & Media Integrity: Dubawa is using AI to better spot verifiable claims and strengthen fact-checking across West Africa. Digital Skills for Schools: Greater Accra GES IT coordinators received training in software, networking, data management and cybersecurity to improve ICT delivery in classrooms. Youth & Jobs: Students are being urged to upskill for an AI-shaped education and job market, with calls to use the tools to boost efficiency rather than fear job loss. Tourism Compliance: Ghana Tourism Authority shut down four accommodation facilities in the Central Region for licensing, levy and service breaches ahead of September’s Oguaa Fetu Afahye. Insurance & Women in Finance: AIWA’s inaugural International Conference for Women in Insurance attracted major sponsors including Ghana Re, Africa Re, NSIA Insurance and WAICA Re. Mining & EV Batteries: STRATUM launched a strategic asset intelligence platform to verify and structure critical mineral data for African mining and EV battery investors. Energy & Economy: President Mahama ordered a review of dollar payments for crude oil sales to ease pressure on the cedi. Local Development: Cape Coast Assembly raised funds for its 2026–2033 eight-year plan, while Kadjebi stakeholders pushed for a bridge over River Asukwakwa at Dodo-Bethel. Health: A study found high drug-resistant urinary pathogens among Ghanaian elderly in care homes, raising antimicrobial stewardship concerns.

Power & Infrastructure: GRIDCo says parts of Greater Accra will face a 15-hour outage Sunday (3:30am–6:00pm) to replace a damaged 161kV Tema–Achimota tower at Ashaiman after a fuel tanker explosion during welding, warning against activities in transmission corridors. Industrial Policy: President Mahama announced a US$10bn “New Economy” plan over four years across seven sectors, with agriculture and agro-processing taking 50% to expand irrigation and support year-round production. Agribusiness Skills: Absa Bank Ghana and Impact Food Hub wrapped up Agribusiness Launchpad/Accelerator 2.0, training food processors and agripreneurs on systems, growth and access to finance. Maritime Trade Efficiency: Ghana Maritime Authority pushed for a maritime single window and JIT sailing/port call optimisation to cut vessel delays at Tema Port. Automotive Localisation: University of Ghana Business School’s Prof. Robert Ebo Hinson urged Ghana to move from vehicle imports to local assembly and manufacturing, using Chinese brand expansion as a reference. Labour & Pay Reform: Organised labour backed the proposed Independent Public Emoluments Commission (IPEC) but demanded real involvement and a shift beyond a “name change.” Tech & Careers: A study suggests Ghana’s professionals are increasingly advancing within their current employers rather than switching jobs. Regional Energy Deal: Niger signed a $1.9bn deal to build a 100,000-bpd refinery and petrochemical complex in Dosso under a build-operate-transfer model.

Education & Youth Empowerment: MTN Ghana Foundation launched the Bright Scholars Alumni Network in Accra, linking 1,200+ scholarship beneficiaries to mentor the next generation and showcasing made-in-Ghana products. Economic Policy & Jobs: President Mahama says a US$10bn “New Economy” plan will shift Ghana from stability to growth, with agriculture and agro-processing taking 50% of investment. Agriculture Watch: Ghana’s agricultural growth slowed to 3.6% in May, raising concerns for food prices and rural incomes if the trend persists. Oil Palm Push: TCDA and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture outlined plans to expand oil palm by 100,000 hectares and improve yields and farmer support to cut import dependence. Mining & Environment: NPP figures say galamsey will be central to the 2028 campaign, framing it as a water and livelihood survival issue. Energy & Power Reliability: GRIDCo scheduled emergency power interruption for Tema–Achimota line restoration after a tower damage incident, while ECG also flagged outages and maintenance in Accra. Maritime & Trade: Ghana Maritime Authority moves to cut port delays via Just-In-Time sailing and a Maritime Single Window to streamline port call processes. Finance & Gold Policy: Prof Ebo Turkson clarified that GoldBod did not incur the cited US$1.7bn loss; the cost relates to Bank of Ghana’s domestic gold purchase programme. Infrastructure & Regional Connectivity: Mahama renewed commitment to start the Upper East Regional Airport before end-2026, aiming to boost business and investment in the region.

Repatriation & Health Response: A Ghanaian repatriated from South Africa died shortly after arrival in Accra; airport medics tried to stabilise him and an autopsy is expected. Capital Markets Governance: A push for Ghana’s Stock Exchange to move from guidance to enforceable ESG reporting, using the “one report, one standard” model as inspiration. 24-Hour Economy Markets: Land shortages are forcing redesigns of 24-hour economy markets in Greater Accra, with some assemblies lacking space for planned sites. Education Infrastructure: President Mahama inaugurates the Paga SHS E-Block and promises boarding upgrades under STARR-J. SME & Agriculture Finance: Bank of Ghana urges banks to tailor flexible lending to SMEs and agriculture, matching loan terms to seasonal cash flows. Energy & Renewables: Sai Bioenergy plans a 1,500MW solar-plus-storage project with biogas/bio-methane components in Savannah. Trade Facilitation: ECOWAS targets border delays on the Abidjan-Lagos corridor, including at the Togo-Ghana Noépé-Akanu crossing. Fuel Pricing Outlook: Diesel expected to rise while petrol and LPG fall from August 16. Customs Crackdown (Regional): Nigeria’s Ogun Customs seized N3.57bn in contraband including rice, “Ghana Loud” parcels, and drugs handed to NDLEA. Galamsey Justice: Lands Minister says the real challenge in illegal mining is prosecution, not arrests, as 258 suspects were arrested. Agriculture Inputs: TCDA rolls out tree-crop inputs for cashew, coconut, oil palm, rubber, mango and shea farmers.

Pharma & Health Security: President Mahama says Ghana will expand local pharmaceutical manufacturing to cut the 70% import dependence, support Free Primary Healthcare, and enable exports. Agri Inputs & Food Prices: Government distributed 37,000 metric tonnes of inorganic fertiliser plus organic fertiliser and improved seeds, while the Feed Ghana Programme is credited with slashing food inflation to 2.2%. Mining & Environment Crackdown: Lands Minister Buah says illegal mining has destroyed about 8,900 hectares of forest reserves; he also warns the biggest hurdle is prosecution, not arrests. Ports & Logistics: Ghana Maritime Authority pushes a Maritime Single Window, and the Asantehene urges funding to complete the Boankra inland port. Trade & Regional Commerce: Trades Minister Ofosu-Adjare calls for an end to the Ghana-Nigeria onion dispute as exports resume. Education & Labour: Mahama commissions Paga SHS E-Block; TEWU gives government two weeks to fix non-teaching staff grievances or face industrial action. Energy & Industry: Fuel prices face mixed pump moves from Aug 16, and GRIDCo restoration follows a Tema-Achimota transmission-line incident. Governance & Investment Climate: Parliament backs GIPA reforms to boost investment, including removing blanket minimum capital rules.

LPG Access Upgrade: Xpress Gas and Polygon partner to expand LPG Cylinder Recirculation Model coverage using IoT tracking, smart valves and RFID/QR traceability—aimed at safer, easier cylinder exchange and wider access. Healthcare & Skills: President Mahama backs a UTAS medical school in Navrongo and says funding is secured to complete an abandoned science laboratory project, boosting Ghana’s doctor pipeline. Banking & Youth Jobs: Ecobank launches its maiden Youth Summit on “The Future of Work,” pushing mentorship, financial inclusion and youth-ready career tools. Macro & Credit: BoG Governor Johnson Asiama points to stable exchange rates and falling inflation as openings for stronger credit growth, urging banks to tailor lending to agriculture-linked SMEs. Energy Infrastructure: Deputy Energy Minister launches a “Big Push” electrification drive for Central Region districts, targeting faster, more reliable power for communities and agro-processing. Business Climate: AGI reports business confidence staying firm in Q2 2026, but electricity costs remain the top worry. Mining Reserves: Government signs MoU under GANRAP for large-scale miners to sell 30% of gold output for local processing and reserve accumulation. Trade & Industry: Ghana’s merchandise exports surpass imports for the first time in nearly two decades, with gold driving the trade surplus. Digital Safety: Academic City and partners issue a white paper after Ghana recorded GHS19.3m in cybersecurity-related losses in 2025, calling for practical accountability and awareness. Transport & Regional Growth: Mahama says Bolgatanga Airport construction should start before end-2026 after procurement approvals.