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October 20, 2026
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What Is Wrong With Us: When a peaceful election quietly becomes a sad ending for honest businesses
Money
Policy
Growth
Key Points
- Ghana's democratic transitions, while admirable, lead to significant economic instability for businesses due to delayed and uncertain payments for government contracts.
- Each change of government often triggers reviews and audits of legitimate contracts, leaving entrepreneurs unpaid, workers uncertain, and enterprises struggling to survive.
- While scrutiny of contracts is essential to prevent fraud, the current audit processes lack deadlines and prompt payment mechanisms, causing honest firms to incur substantial financial losses (e.g., loan interest).
- This situation undermines the private sector, discourages investment, leads to job losses, and fosters a perception that political connections are more crucial than competence for commercial survival.
- The article advocates for a binding prompt payment framework (30-day limit with automatic interest), a digital national register of contracts, and independent reconciliation of government commitments to restore confidence and predictability.
Why This Matters
This issue critically undermines Ghana's private sector development, which is vital for job creation, tax revenue, and overall economic growth. It erodes investor confidence in the state's reliability as a business partner and perpetuates an environment where political risk is priced into every public contract, ultimately making services more expensive for taxpayers. Addressing this is crucial for strengthening the rule of law, promoting a fair business environment, and ensuring sustainable economic progress.
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October 29, 2026
Asene farmers demand compensation for farms destroyed by Accra-Kumasi expressway
- Over 200 farmers at Akyem Asene in the Eastern Region are appealing to the government for adequate compensation for farms destroyed for the new Accra-Kumasi expressway.
- Affected properties include cocoa, food crop, and oil palm farms, which were their main sources of livelihood.
- The farmers staged a demonstration, detailing economic hardships, including difficulty meeting daily needs and paying school fees, since their farms were destroyed over eight months ago.
- Leaders highlighted significant financial losses, with one farmer, Da Costa Asamoah, losing an estimated GH¢40,000 annual income from his 8-acre cocoa farm.
- The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) confirmed that some farms have not yet been measured, explaining the delay by an increase in the expressway's width from 120 metres to 150 metres, affecting additional farmers.
October 29, 2026
NAIMOS begins community engagements in galamsey-prone areas
- The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has launched community engagements in galamsey-prone areas.
- The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration, build public confidence, address local concerns, and improve intelligence sharing.
- Engagements will involve traditional authorities, local government officials, and opinion leaders to tackle environmental and livelihood challenges.
- This strategy complements existing enforcement operations rather than replacing them, as part of a broader coordinated effort.
- The program aligns with the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources' strategy and President John Dramani Mahama's vision to intensify the fight against illegal mining.
October 29, 2026
‘We tend to be open-minded and liberal, but that’s not how we’ve lived so far’ – Kufuor
- Former President Kufuor advocates for a Ghana where individual enterprise thrives, supported by strong leadership and inclusive governance.
- He emphasizes leveraging Ghana's natural resources and human talent, cautioning against stifling initiative with excessive taxation.
- Kufuor envisions a state framework that empowers the private sector to mature, attract investment, and allow citizens to build legitimate wealth.
- His vision balances private enterprise with robust social protection, calling for quality education, healthcare, and a safety net against poverty.
- He highlights Ghana's potential through its mineral resources (gold, lithium, bauxite, manganese) and the character of its people to achieve shared prosperity.