In presenting the 2026 Budget, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson emphasised the government’s commitment to investing in Ghanaians and shared prosperity. The allocations, outlined under the theme “Investing in People and Shared Prosperity,” include substantial funding for social protection, local development, education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Key highlights include: GH¢1.1 billion for the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme to protect vulnerable populations. GH¢401 million for the Women’s Development Bank to support women-owned micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). GH¢8.9 billion for the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), with at least 80 percent earmarked for district-level priorities. GH¢500 million for…
Author: MasemTV Newsroom
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has drawn attention to the trade-offs involved in major national projects, noting that the $96 million (approximately GH¢96 million) spent on the National Cathedral could have been redirected to bolster the Ghana Air Force with four new helicopters. Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Dr. Forson highlighted the importance of balancing symbolic national projects with critical defence and security needs. He emphasised that while the National Cathedral represents a significant cultural and religious milestone, the same resources could have been used to strengthen the country’s operational military capacity. “This is a matter of opportunity cost,”…
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has hailed the 2026 Budget as evidence of a significant turnaround in Ghana’s economic management, asserting that the country has moved from what he termed “criminal handling” of public finances to a more prudent and responsible approach within a single year. Speaking during the budget debate in Parliament on Thursday, November 27, Ayariga commended the Mahama administration’s fiscal direction, describing the budget as growth-oriented and reflective of careful stewardship of national resources. “This budget is designed to stimulate growth. It demonstrates prudent management of the country’s resources to achieve development objectives,” he said. He added that…
The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) delivered strong financial and operational performance in the third quarter of 2025, generating GH¢691.14 million in total revenue and strengthening its role in Ghana’s gold and mineral export landscape. The statutory report covering July to September 2025 shows that the Board spent GH¢53.98 million during the period, leaving it with a net comprehensive income of GH¢637.39 million. GoldBod closed the quarter with cash and bank balances amounting to GH¢1.12 billion—an indication of growing financial resilience as the institution continues to mature. The revenue surge was driven primarily by assay services, licence fees, and charges from…
GoldBod has recovered GH¢3,036,990.00 in cash as part of its nationwide campaign against unlawful gold trading, according to the Board’s 2025 third-quarter report. The intensified enforcement also led to the seizure of various foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, CFA francs, and Moroccan dirhams. Authorities further impounded items commonly linked to illicit gold operations—gold doré, gold dust, mercury, weapons, mobile phones, and forged documents. Investigators say foreign nationals from the United States, Morocco, and Burkina Faso have been implicated, highlighting growing cross-border involvement in illegal mining and gold smuggling activities. The Board is also investigating whether some Tier 2 licence holders…
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has delivered a scathing critique of the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, branding it a “copy-and-paste” document that offers no meaningful policy direction. Speaking during the parliamentary debate on Thursday, November 27, Afenyo-Markin argued that the Finance Ministry failed in its responsibility to present a well-researched and credible budget for the country. He pointed out several inaccuracies in the document, mentioning that it cited ministries that no longer exist or have undergone restructuring under the current administration. “How can the budget mention a Ministry of Railway Development at paragraph 519? How does it refer to…
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni says President John Dramani Mahama must intervene in the increasing trend of arresting individuals for allegedly making false claims, arguing that such actions contradict the President’s long-standing reputation for tolerance and free expression. Manasseh maintained that if public officials believe they have been defamed, the lawful remedy is to pursue civil action—not to cause arrests. His comments follow the detention of Wendell Nana Yaw Yeboah over claims he allegedly made regarding illegal small-scale mining (galamsey). According to the police, Yeboah was arrested after the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) received a petition filed by Daniel Sasu…
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has stated that the Kpandai parliamentary seat cannot be treated as vacant yet, despite a High Court ruling that annulled the 2024 election results and ordered the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct a fresh poll within 30 days. Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, November 27, Bagbin explained that although the High Court has effectively invalidated the declaration of Matthew Nyindam as Member of Parliament, the ruling cannot take immediate effect due to a legally mandated seven-day stay of execution that applies to all High Court decisions open to appeal. He noted: “The implication of the…
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has referred Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges Committee to answer allegations of contempt. The referral stems from a petition filed by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, who accused Afenyo-Markin of disobeying Parliament’s decision regarding Ghana’s representation at the ECOWAS Parliament. During parliamentary proceedings on Thursday, November 27, Speaker Bagbin informed the House, saying, “I am transmitting the complaint against the Minority Leader to the Privileges Committee and expect a report in due course.” He called on the Committee to handle the matter with fairness and decorum, urging Members of Parliament to avoid public commentary…
The Artisanal Small-Scale Miners Association in Obuasi has given the government, AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi Mine, and the National Chief Imam a one-week deadline to take definitive action toward securing an authorised mining concession for its members. The group cautioned that it will be compelled to “take its own steps” if the stakeholders fail to address their demands within the timeframe. This ultimatum follows the January 18, 2025 incident in which nine residents lost their lives after soldiers assigned to protect the AGA concession allegedly fired at community members. Speaking to the media in Obuasi, the Association’s Secretary, Eugene Annan,…