Jake Kudjo Samahar, Director of Special Services at COCOBOD, has disclosed that Ghana lost 7,128.13 tonnes of cocoa to smuggling between the 2020 and 2025 crop seasons in the Volta and Oti regions. He explained that cocoa output in these areas has seen a sharp decline over the years. “The tonnage recorded for 2020/21 crop year was 7,215.19, which reduced to 5,656.25 in 2021/22, further downward to 874.31 in the 2022/23 crop year, while 2023/24 recorded 468.75 tonnes with 2024/25 crop year recording 87.06 tonnes,” he stated. Mr. Samahar further revealed that Ghana lost nearly US$1.1 billion between 2022 and...
Hanoon Abubakar Maiga Crowned Winner at Ummah Show Grand Finale
The Zenith University College auditorium came alive with creativity, inspiration, and celebration as the grand finale of Baina TV’s Ummah Show unfolded in spectacular fashion. The highly anticipated event showcased the diverse talents of contestants, leaving the audience captivated from start to finish. The evening featured a rich blend of performances, ranging from Quran recitals and drama to spoken word, each contestant bringing their unique flair to the stage. The atmosphere was further elevated by a special appearance from renowned poet Nura Verse, whose moving performance resonated deeply with the crowd and left a lasting impression. The climax of the...
IGP Orders Release of Kwahu Queen Mother, Calls for Probe into Police Operation
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has ordered the immediate release of the Queen Mother of Kwahu after she was picked up during a police operation earlier this morning. In a statement, the IGP also directed the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) to launch a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the operation. Officers found to have acted unprofessionally or without authorization are expected to face sanctions. Meanwhile, security has been heightened in and around the Kwahu area to ensure the safety of residents and to prevent any escalation of tensions following the incident. Further updates are expected as the investigation...
NPP Loses Ninkyiso Polling Station Chairman In Tragic Motorbike Crash
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been struck by tragedy following the death of its polling station chairman for Ninkyiso in Assin Breku, who was involved in a fatal motorbike accident on Friday, November 14. The incident occurred while he was attending a campaign programme for flagbearer aspirant Bryan Acheampong. The deceased, identified as Yahya, was riding alongside the constituency’s Nasara coordinator, Vilinke Mohammed, when their motorbike was reportedly hit by another speeding rider. Both men were rushed to St. Francis Xavier Hospital in Assin Fosu for urgent medical care. Sadly, Yahya succumbed to his injuries and passed away on...
Nationwide Security Recruitment Exercise Commences
Ghana’s internal security agencies have officially launched their nationwide recruitment drive today, Monday, November 17, 2025, with the opening of the Centralised Services E-Recruitment Portal (C-SERP). According to a public announcement, the portal will remain open until Friday, December 19, 2025, giving prospective applicants a one-month window to submit applications to join the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and Ghana Prisons Service. The Interior Minister, Muntaka Mubarak, disclosed the commencement of the exercise in a Facebook post. He explained that applicants are required to purchase a voucher before accessing the portal. Vouchers can be obtained...
Australia, Canada, and UK unite to fight visa fraud in Ghana
The diplomatic missions of Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom in Ghana have come together to roll out a week-long public awareness drive aimed at addressing the rising issue of visa fraud. This campaign forms part of a broader international initiative spearheaded by UK Visas & Immigration, with backing from partner nations such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Visa fraud continues to impact many Ghanaians, as dishonest agents and false information often result in financial losses, emotional strain, and long-term travel bans. Aligned with International Fraud Awareness Week (16–22 November 2025), the program seeks to inform the public about...
EU launches €2.4m programme to revive Ghana’s degraded forests
The European Union (EU) has announced a €2.4 million forest recovery project designed to rehabilitate 5,000 hectares of damaged forest land and improve the livelihoods of 20,000 farmers and rural residents across Ghana. The initiative was officially introduced at the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) in Fumesua, within the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region. Ghana’s forests are vital for biodiversity protection, climate adaptation, food and water security, and serve as an economic lifeline for many rural populations. Yet, years of illegal mining, unsustainable farming, logging, and recurring wildfires have drastically reduced the country’s forest cover. To address this,...
Ghana, Qatar Deepen Labour Cooperation
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has held a high-level meeting with Her Excellency Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al Thani, Undersecretary of the Qatar Ministry of Labour, to strengthen ties under Ghana’s Labour Export Programme. The discussions focused on expanding opportunities for Ghanaian professionals, with Qatar expressing immediate interest in recruiting workers in the health, tourism, information technology, transport, and logistics sectors. Both countries are preparing to formalize their labour cooperation. Qatar has already ratified the bilateral labour agreement, while Ghana’s Parliament is expected to complete ratification in the coming weeks. As part of the talks, Ghana requested that...
Ghana Secures Major Investment Pledge from Qatari Business Leader
Ghana’s renewed push for economic diplomacy has received a significant boost following a high-level meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Sheikh Mansour bin Jabor bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of Al Mansour Holdings, during an official visit to Qatar. Sheikh Mansour, a prominent investment mogul and member of the Qatari royal family, pledged multi-billion-dollar investments in President John Mahama’s priority projects. These include the President’s vision for a new city, rail infrastructure with emphasis on the western corridor network, a gold refinery, the Volta Economic Corridor under the 24-Hour Initiative, as well as regional hospitals and...
Fuel Prices Set to Rise as OMCs Begin Adjustments
Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are anticipated to start raising fuel prices at filling stations from today, November 17. This move comes after the routine fortnightly review of petroleum product prices and projections from the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COPEC), which estimates a 1% to 4% increase per litre across various fuels. Some OMCs informed JOYBUSINESS that they will implement the new prices immediately, while others plan to monitor competitive trends before making changes. According to COPEC’s Pricing Outlook Report, the anticipated hikes are largely influenced by the upward movement of crude oil prices on the global market. Crude oil...