84 suspected drug offenders in custody as NACOC freezes nearly 73 assets – Muntaka

October 12, 2026

• Cocoa farmers and traditional leaders in the Ashanti Region expressed satisfaction with the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026 (Act 1182), following engagements with COCOBOD.
• Participants acknowledged the rationale behind the new cocoa producer price, despite initial expectations for a higher amount, after receiving explanations on the determination process.
• They called for sustained public education on the new Act, particularly provisions protecting farmlands from illegal mining and unauthorized sand winning, and urged depoliticization of cocoa issues.
• Farmers requested improvements in the free distribution of agricultural inputs, speedy implementation of the Farmer Pension Scheme, and transparency in the cocoa tertiary education scholarship scheme.
• COCOBOD committed to continuous dialogue and stakeholder participation, with further engagements planned on input distribution and disease control, and will submit farmer concerns to management.

October 12, 2026

• The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) is reviewing how research and evidence are used to guide national development planning and policy in Ghana.
• Preliminary findings from a study by Mettalytics and the University of Cape Coast (UCC) indicate challenges in effectively integrating available evidence into the planning process.
• Prof. William Cantah of UCC highlighted that the main issue is not evidence availability, but rather its movement and influence within the planning process.
• Key factors affecting evidence use include institutional arrangements, political priorities, timing, access to decision-makers, relationships, ownership, and technical capacity.
• The NDPC Director-General, Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, welcomed the findings and stressed the importance of clearly defining the study's scope for proper application in Ghana's planning process.

October 12, 2026

• A new documentary, "Silent Football: When Passion Speaks Without Words," will air on JoyPrime and JoyNews on October 12, 2026.
• It explores the achievements and significant challenges faced by Ghana’s deaf footballers, known as the Black Wonders.
• Produced by Haruna Mubarak, the film details their training, communication methods, and competition strategies reliant on visual cues.
• A core theme is the severe lack of resources, institutional backing, and general support for the team, despite their international successes.
• The documentary features Ghana's Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Zanetor Rawlings, discussing the players' quality and the support deficit.