President John Dramani Mahama has pledged that health professionals and volunteers who participate in the rollout of the government’s Free Primary Healthcare Programme will be given priority when recruitment opportunities arise. He explained that the initiative is designed to reward service and encourage more trained health workers to support the early stages of the policy as it expands nationwide. Speaking at the launch on Wednesday, April 15, Mr. Mahama indicated that lifestyle changes and preventive health education will form a central part of the programme, alongside treatment and primary care services delivered across health facilities. According to him, Community-based Health...
Mahama Launches Free Primary Healthcare to Advance Universal Coverage
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana’s newly introduced Free Primary Healthcare Programme is part of wider efforts to achieve universal health coverage. Speaking at the launch at Shai Osudoku District Hospital in the Greater Accra Region, the President explained that the initiative is intended to complement existing health interventions and address critical service delivery gaps. Mr. Mahama acknowledged that while the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has expanded access, many communities remain underserved. “We have been talking about the Universal Health Coverage; every country is working to achieve universal health coverage. It is a situation where every citizen...
Conflicting Court Rulings Cloud OSP’s Mandate in Rice Scandal Case
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has announced that conflicting judicial decisions have emerged in the ongoing Republic v. Issah Seidu & 3 Others (Suit No. CR/0513/2025), popularly known as the “rice scandal case.” The accused persons are currently standing trial before the High Court (Criminal Division), where proceedings remain active. The Criminal Court recently dismissed an application by the defense seeking to strike out the case, adjourning proceedings to await a Supreme Court ruling on whether the OSP possesses independent prosecutorial authority. Both the OSP and the Attorney-General are parties to that constitutional matter. In a parallel action,...
IGP Deploys Special Team to Gushegu and Karaga
The Inspector-General of Police has deployed a special team of operational officers and armoured vehicles to Gushegu and Karaga to reinforce security following recent clashes in the town. The team will work closely with officers of the Northern Regional Police Command to intensify patrols and enhance security in the towns and surrounding communities. Police authorities say the deployment underscores the Service’s commitment to maintaining peace and protecting lives and property, while assuring residents that measures are being taken to restore calm and stability.
Debt Pressures Dominate African Policymakers’ Agenda at IMF-World Bank Meetings
Mounting debt challenges and restricted access to affordable financing have become the foremost issue for African policymakers, as global disruptions continue to squeeze fiscal space across the continent. This concern was at the heart of deliberations during the African Consultative Group meeting, held alongside the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings. The session was convened by Seedy Keita, Chairman of the African Caucus and Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of The Gambia, together with Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. Finance ministers and central bank governors used the forum to underscore how escalating debt service costs are straining...
Fuel Consumers to See Modest Relief as NPA Revises Price Floors
Petrol and diesel users are set to enjoy slight relief in the second pricing window of April, following new benchmarks introduced by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). Under the revised floors, petrol will retail at a minimum of GH¢13.27 per litre—marginally lower than GH¢13.30 in the first April window, a reduction of 0.3 pesewas. Diesel is expected to see a more notable adjustment, dropping to GH¢16.10 per litre from GH¢17.10 previously, representing a cut of GH¢1. In contrast, the price floor for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has edged upward to GH¢10.79 per kilogram, compared with GH¢10.71 in the prior window....
Police Arrest Three in Accra Over Suspected Narcotics Trade
The Ghana Police Service has arrested three suspects in connection with possession of narcotic drugs and engaging in prohibited drug-related activities within the Accra metropolis. On 10 April 2026, the Special Operations Assistant to the Inspector General of Police received intelligence that a group of individuals were planning to sell suspected narcotic drugs at Dzorwulu. A surveillance operation was mounted, and on 11 April, a Police team arrested two suspects, Bright Ayivor and Ifeanyi Ijeoba, who were found with 22 compressed substances suspected to be cocaine, prepared for sale to a prospective buyer. Further interrogation led to the identification of...
Spain, Ghana Strengthen Collaboration on Women’s Education Through Scholarships
The Embassy of Spain in Ghana has engaged the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection on scholarship opportunities for Ghanaian women under the 2026–2027 Learn Africa Programme. The initiative, led by the Women for Africa Foundation, is designed to support African women professionals to pursue postgraduate studies in Spanish universities, with a focus on strengthening capacity and promoting women’s leadership across the continent. During the engagement, Spain’s Ambassador to Ghana, Ángel Lossada, explained that the programme offers 100 scholarships across Africa, covering master’s degrees, doctoral programmes, research, and other specialised postgraduate courses. He emphasised that the programme targets women...
President Mahama to Launch Landmark Free Primary Health Care Programme
President John Dramani Mahama will on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, officially launch Ghana’s landmark Free Primary Health Care Programme, a transformative initiative designed to expand access to quality and affordable healthcare for all citizens. The launch, scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at the Shai Osudoku District Hospital, marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen its primary healthcare system and advance universal health coverage. The Free Primary Health Care Programme is expected to remove financial barriers to essential health services, ensuring that every Ghanaian—regardless of income or location—can access timely medical care. Officials say the initiative will prioritize preventive...
Parliamentary Committee Reviews Community Service Bill 2026
The Committee on Defence and Interior has met with officials from the Ministry of the Interior, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, the Prisons Service, the Fire Service, and the Gaming Commission to deliberate on the Community Service Bill 2026, alongside the 2024 Audit Committee’s annual report on the Ministry and its agencies. In his opening remarks, Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak explained that the bill seeks to decongest prisons nationwide, reduce the cost of inmate maintenance and feeding, and lower recidivism rates. The proposed legislation applies to offences punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than three...