The Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (POAG) has announced a new directive requiring all prospective pilgrims to undergo mandatory medical examinations and obtain certification as part of the Hajj 2026 visa application process. The announcement, issued from POAG’s headquarters at Hajj Village, Kotoka International Airport, follows updated guidelines from the Saudi Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. These guidelines mandate comprehensive health screening to determine the medical eligibility of pilgrims before visa approval. According to POAG, the Ghana Hajj Medical Team will collaborate with accredited health institutions to conduct the examinations across designated centres nationwide. The...
President Mahama Announces Key Appointments to Office of the President
President John Dramani Mahama has announced a slate of new appointments to the Office of the President, signaling a renewed push for effective governance and operational efficiency as his administration advances its agenda. In a statement released by the Presidency, ten individuals have been named to key roles, reflecting what the President describes as “a commitment to effective leadership and responsive administration.” Among the appointees is Mrs. Joyce Bawah Mogtari, who returns to the Presidency as Presidential Adviser and Special Aide to the President. Stanislav Xoese Dogbe and Nana Oye Bampoe Addo have been appointed Deputy Chiefs of Staff for...
Muntaka Assures Fair Recruitment at Prisons Service Screening Centre
Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to a transparent and merit-based recruitment process during a visit to the Ghana Prisons Service Training School screening centre in Accra. The Minister, who toured the facility as part of the Ministry’s supervisory mandate, observed the ongoing screening exercise and engaged with applicants and officials overseeing the process. He assured prospective recruits that the exercise was being conducted in strict adherence to established procedures. “Applicants must go through the approved channels without attempting to cut corners,” Hon. Muntaka stated, warning against the influence of fraudulent middlemen who promise placement...
Ablakwa Engages Student Leaders on Visa Bottlenecks, Scholarships and Return Strategies
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has held a series of consultations with Ghanaian student leaders based in Europe, Asia, and the Americas to explore ways the Ministry can better serve students abroad through embassies and high commissions. The discussions, held over the past few weeks, highlighted challenges including visa bottlenecks, consular responsiveness, financial commitments, and integration support. The meetings also explored mechanisms to encourage students to return home after their studies, with proposals on startup strategies, entrepreneurial mentorship, business incubation, and recruitment systems to contribute to the government’s Reset Agenda. Hon. Ablakwa briefed the student leaders...
Parliamentary Committee Examines Obuasi Mine’s Environmental Impact Assessment
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Science and Technology has begun a three-day working visit to the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Gold Mine as part of its oversight responsibilities. Leading the delegation, the Ranking Member, Hon. Prof. Hamza Adam, explained that the visit is a fact-finding mission to examine the mine’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and assess compliance with existing environmental regulations. He noted that the Committee is particularly focused on adherence to Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 246, stressing that several water bodies in mining communities have been seriously affected. Prof. Adam emphasized that Parliament has the authority to recommend suspension or revocation...
Foreign Minister Hosts Chinese Ambassador on Farewell Visit
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has hosted the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Tong Defa, on a farewell visit, commending him for his role in advancing Ghana-China relations. Hon. Ablakwa expressed profound pride in the achievements recorded during Ambassador Tong Defa’s tenure, noting that the partnership yielded significant benefits for Ghana. Among these were the securing of a $30 million grant for the construction of a modern Aflao Market and another $30 million grant to establish a Science and Technology University in Damongo. He further highlighted expedited efforts toward Ghana’s membership of the International Organization for...
Minister Visits Family of Allegedly Abused Child in Dodowa
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has visited the family of eight-year-old Jalila Abdul Jalil, a Class Two pupil of St. Olives Grammar Boarding School in Dodowa, following reports of alleged abuse aired by Channel One TV. The Minister’s visit was to express government’s sympathy and assure the family of the State’s commitment to Jalila’s safety, recovery, and future. Addressing the family, Dr. Lartey described the incident as “unfortunate” and reaffirmed her resolve to ensure the child receives comprehensive medical, psychosocial, and welfare support. She stressed that the Ministry will follow the...
Ibrahim Sulemana Set for Loan Return to Cagliari
Black Stars midfielder Ibrahim Sulemana is on the verge of rejoining Cagliari for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. The Ghanaian is close to finalizing a loan move to his former club before the January transfer window closes. Sulemana has struggled for playing time at Bologna since completing a permanent transfer from Atalanta last summer. The 22-year-old has attracted interest from several Serie A sides, including Genoa, Cagliari and Sassuolo. However, the midfielder has opted to return to Cagliari, where he hopes to secure more minutes on the pitch as he works to revive his ambitions of featuring at the...
Trade Minister Warns Against Calls to Restrict Foreign Role in Retail
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has cautioned against demands to curtail foreign involvement in Ghana’s retail sector, stressing that enforcement remains challenging so long as local actors continue to serve as fronts for foreign traders. Her remarks come amid heightened public debate over the application of laws that limit foreign participation in the country’s retail trade. Addressing the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the Trade Minister rejected claims that foreigners dominate Ghana’s retail market, arguing that such assertions are not borne out by the facts. “I can say for sure, without any scientific...
Government Recovers GH¢107m in Loan Repayments; EXIM Bank Referrals Under Probe
The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has revealed that government has recovered GH¢107 million in loan repayments, while some disbursements by the Ghana EXIM Bank have been referred to security agencies over concerns about how they were issued. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, January 21, the Minister explained that the referrals form part of measures to strengthen oversight, enhance credit quality, and recover defaulted loans. According to her, Ghana EXIM Bank disbursed a total of GH¢304 million in 2025 under a strict credit creation policy aimed at ensuring that loans contribute to economic growth...