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Premix Fuel Bosses To ‘Vomit’ Gh¢27.7m … Allegedly Looted Between 2017 And 2024

By
NAABENYIN JOOJO AMISSAH
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Emelia Arthur - Minister for Fisheries

The government has initiated a recovery and reform campaign in the premix fuel sector to recover an amount of GH₵27.7 million allegedly embezzled between 2017 and 2024.

This followed the publication of an audit report that uncovered severe financial mismanagement and governance breaches related to the 53 percent Community Development Fund (CDF).

This fund, allocated to Landing Beach Committees (LBCs), was meant to improve infrastructure and living conditions for coastal fishing communities between 2017 and 2024.

According to the report, the GH₵27.7m was identified as the failure of 132 Landing Beach Committees (LBCs) to account for the 53% Community Development Fund (CDF) despite receiving premix fuel during the period from 2017 to 2024.

This significant loss stemmed from the failure to allocate these funds correctly for community projects such as the construction of drains to address flooding, toilets to combat open defecation, schools to improve access to education, and other vital infrastructure.

These projects could have brought substantial improvements to the fishing communities, addressing critical issues such as cholera outbreaks, flooding, and educational access. These losses, therefore, represent a massive setback to the government’s development efforts, particularly in remote and underdeveloped regions that rely heavily on these resources for growth.

The audit, commissioned by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and carried out by its Internal Audit Unit, revealed substantial infractions, including mismanagement of funds, lack of proper documentation, unauthorized withdrawals, and non-compliance with the approved distribution mechanisms.

The Ministry emphasised that these lapses largely reflected weak controls and non-compliance during the previous administration.

In response, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur said, “This government will not look away from the institutional weaknesses we inherited.

“We are taking firm steps to recover public funds, restore confidence in the premix system, and ensure that resources meant for fishing communities are properly protected.”

She disclosed further that the recovery actions have already begun, including the issuance of demand notices to affected LBCs and engagement efforts aimed at restitution and compliance. The Minister stressed that the goal was corrective, not punitive, focusing on safeguarding livelihoods while enforcing accountability.

The Administrator of the National Premix Secretariat, Mr Ebow Mensah, confirmed that recovery processes were underway, supported by new enforcement measures.

“Recoveries have started, and structured repayment arrangements are being pursued where appropriate. This audit gives us the moral and legal authority to act decisively and fix long-standing governance gaps.” Mr Mensah explained.

He indicated that the Secretariat was restructuring governance at the landing-beach level, tightening controls over community funds and aligning CDF management with the Premix Fuel Automation System to prevent future leakages as part of the broader reform.

These measures, he noted, were intended to ensure that resources allocated to these communities were spent on essential development projects.

The government, he said, has also announced plans to introduce a nationwide Community Development Fund accountability and protection framework starting this month.

This framework would introduce clearer signatory rules, mandatory reporting, and enhanced oversight to ensure that premix revenues are reinvested in community development projects.

The audit which uncovered the alleged embezzlement, was being positioned as a turning point in the management of the premix fuel programme.

It highlighted the government’s commitment to transparency, recovery, and long-term reform, seeking to turn past governance challenges into an opportunity to rebuild public trust.

The Secretariat noted that by combining the disclosure of these findings with concrete recovery actions and forward-looking safeguards, the government aims to ensure that similar lapses do not occur in the future.

 

 

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Richard Asiedu Heads Eminent West Africa Nobles Forum

By
NAABENYIN JOOJO AMISSAH
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Dr Richard Asiedu (left) being congratulated by Dr Otibu-Asare (right)

The Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Dr Richard Asiedu has been appointed as the President -General of the Eminent West Africa Nobles Forum (E-WANF).

The appointment of Dr Asiedu, a renowned educationist as the president of the sub-regional think tank, was formally announced on February 7, 2026. This was contained in a statement signed and issued by the Founder and Executive Director of E-WANF, Dr Dee Otibu-Asare.

Dr Otibu-Asare indicated that Dr Richard Asiedu, who is currently the Board Chairman of the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDC), possessed the knowledge and experience needed to manage a reputable group like E-WANF.

Part of the statement read, “Dr Asiedu, who has played significant role in nation building, is also well-known for his unwavering commitment to mentorship, and community upliftment.”

Dr Otibu-Asare further expressed optimism about the new president saying “There is no doubt that the leadership of Dr Asiedu, a noble, who has also served as a Vice-President of E-WANF, will bring a wealth of experience to the advancement of the Forum, which has been fashioned after the Philosophical Society of America.”

Dr Otibu-Asare’s statement also recognised Dr Richard Asiedu’s huge investment in the educational sector by building schools to help train and shape minds.

“He has stopped at nothing to help the youth acquire knowledge and skills, by spending millions of Cedis on building educational structures, especially in rural areas, to harness the potentials of young people and refine the country’s human resources through education.,” the statement read in part.

Apart from his political engagements, Dr Asiedu is the Chief Executive Officer of St. Andrews College of Healthcare and the Rich Multimedia Institute, where he trains youth to acquire knowledge and skills essential for national development.

Dr Asiedu also operates businesses including Nakata Travel and Tours, Kings Forex Bureau, and St. Andrews Transport/Haulage Services, creating thousands of jobs for the youth—a key focus of E-WANF’s advocacy.

According to Dr Otibu-Asare, “Dr Asiedu holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Resource Management from Atlantic International University in the United States, a BSc in Business Administration (Human Resource Option) from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), and a Master of Arts (MA) in Human Resource Development from the University of Cape Coast.”

E-WANF’s over 3,000 members bring together distinguished West Africans with vast experience across various fields. The forum meets annually to deliberate and propose solutions to the myriad challenges confronting the West African sub-region, and indeed, Africa.

Members include statesmen, legal luminaries, research fellows, technocrats, professionals, and captains of industry, as well as renowned clergymen and reputable business people with immense entrepreneurial acumen and potential.

Victoria Hamah Earns PhD In Public Administration

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Victoria Hammah

Madam Victoria Lakshmi Hamah, a former Deputy Minister for Communications, has transformed public scrutiny into academic excellence, earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Administration and Policy Management from the University of Ghana (UG) Business School, Legon.

Dr Hamah’s degree was conferred on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at the Great Hall, celebrating a moment of academic excellence, resilience, and impactful scholarship. The achievement follows years of dedicated research examining women’s representation and influence in Ghana’s parliamentary system.

Her dissertation, titled “Gender Asymmetry in Ghana’s Parliamentary Committees: A Critical Analysis of Women’s Representation and Legislative Influence,” offers a rigorous examination of the institutional and cultural dynamics that shape women’s participation in legislative leadership.

 

Gendered scrutiny

In a reflective PhD personal statement titled “Humble Recollections: From Storming Seas to the Calm Shore: My Doctoral Journey Through Power and Gender”, released on Tuesday, February 10, Dr. Hamah described earning her PhD as a significant milestone in a journey shaped by her experiences with power, gender, and political scrutiny in Ghana’s public life.

She said the story of her public life over the past decade has, unfortunately, been reduced to scandal. She noted that such a framing may be convenient for public consumption, but it is not faithful to the fuller truth of her journey.

According to Dr. Hamah, that narrow narrative has obscured a more instructive reality — that her trajectory in public life was shaped not by dismissal or personal failure, but by the response of power when a woman refuses to make herself smaller.

She explained that her years as a student leader, a gender activist, and later as a Deputy Minister were marked by sustained challenges to her legitimacy. Those challenges, she said, had little to do with competence or mandate, and far more to do with entrenched gendered norms that continue to define who is allowed authority, visibility, and control.

Dr Hamah also reflected on how, over the years, her physical appearance became a subject of public scrutiny, while her confidence was often recoded as excess. She added that her political presence was constrained by a culture that remains uneasy with women who occupy power without deference.

 

Institutional hypocrisy

Speaking on the controversy that surrounded her time in office, she said the institutional response was swift, moralistic, and largely indifferent to context. She argued that the language of accountability was deployed to justify strict censure and sanction, even as deeper structural hypocrisy remained largely uninterrogated.

In that moment, Dr. Hamah said, the political system revealed something deeper — a preference for spectacle over justice, and a willingness to sacrifice women in order to preserve institutional comfort rather than confront its own contradictions.

She further stated that her departure from office did not represent retreat, but rather a critical reckoning. She rejected the assumption that removal from executive power amounts to political erasure.

Instead, Dr. Hamah said she turned to systematic inquiry as a continuation of her political engagement through scholarly means. That intellectual turn, she explained, led her into doctoral study, not as an escape from politics, but as a deliberate effort to interrogate the institutional, cultural, and power-laden conditions that shape leadership, morality, and exclusion in public life.

 

Dissertation focus

Her dissertation examines how “institutional design, political culture, and asymmetrical power relations condition women’s participation and constrain their legislative influence.”

Dr. Hamah emphasised that her work was grounded in empirical analysis rather than personal narrative, noting: “This work is not autobiographical reflection disguised as scholarship; it is a rigorously grounded political intervention,” she stressed.

Beyond academia, she highlighted her long-standing advocacy for women’s political empowerment through the Progressive Organisation for Women’s Advancement (POWA), which she founded to protect women operating within “structurally hostile environments.”

“Women’s political participation must be actively protected,” she emphasised, explaining that her experiences in government only “sharpened my understanding of its necessity.”

Dr. Hamah noted her focus was not on personal redemption but systemic change. “My intellectual and professional trajectory is not oriented toward rehabilitation or redemption, but toward transformation,” she wrote in her personal statement.

Positioning herself as both scholar and practitioner, she argued that she now understands power “both from within institutional authority and from its margins.”

Dr. Hamah reflected on political vulnerability as a form of exposure and strength: “I have learned that in politics, falling is not synonymous with failure; often, it signals that one has exposed what the system would rather leave unseen. That exposure, in itself, is a form of power”.

She further added that she hopes her experience in public life will inspire young women to challenge the long-held myth that women cannot succeed in politics or any field of endeavour. She noted that such beliefs endure not because they are true, but because societies have not done enough to dismantle the structural barriers and inhibitions that continue to limit women’s full potential.

Ayine Worried Over ‘Biting’ Land Compensation Claims Against Government

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Dr Dominic Ayine poses with Veep Naana Jane during the visit

The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Akruyinga Ayine, has raised alarm over what he describes as a “Tsunami of land compensation claims” against the state, warning that the growing number of cases pose a serious threat to Ghana’s public finances.

According to him, land compensation claims running into billions of Ghana cedis are currently making their way through the courts, with some individual claims amounting to as much as GH¢500 million.

Dr Dominic Ayine made these remarks when he addressed Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang during her maiden visit to the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General’s Department recently.

“Because we have a responsibility to the state as our only client, we must defend the interests of the Republic as much as possible. There are a lot of land matters, especially land compensation, and Your Excellency, those are becoming a big headache for me as the Minister of Justice,” he said.

He explained that many of the claims date as far back as the colonial era, with claimants relying on archived documents to argue that compensation for compulsorily acquired lands was never paid by the colonial government.

“Some of these claims are as much as GH¢500 million. People go and dust documents from the archives and claim that the colonial government did not pay compensation for land.

“They then take the government to court and for some reason, they pursue these cases all the way to the Supreme Court,” Dr. Dominic Ayine noted

Describing the situation as deeply worrying, the Attorney-General said preliminary assessments suggest the total value of the claims could run into several billions of Ghana cedis.“The last time we sat down and did a rough calculation, we realised we are looking at billions of Ghana cedis in land compensation claims,” he said.

The Attorney-General disclosed that he has directed the Solicitor-General to prepare a comprehensive briefing for President John Dramani Mahama on the scale and implications of the land compensation crisis confronting the state.

Beyond land compensation, the Attorney-General also outlined the broad constitutional mandate of his office, which includes drafting all government legislation, handling civil cases for and against the Republic, and instituting criminal prosecutions on behalf of the state.

“No law is passed in this country unless it goes through the Legislative Drafting Division of the Attorney-General’s Department,” he stressed, adding that the division is critical to effective governance, but is at risk of being overstretched and under-resourced.

Dr. Ayine further revealed that the Civil Division of the Department was currently handling ten international arbitration cases, most of which are against the Government of Ghana.

“We inherited about nine international arbitrations when we came into office. Only one new case has been filed since then, brought by a company known as Blue Boat,” the Attorney-General said.

He clarified that although the current administration was technically responsible for defending these cases, the actions that triggered most of the arbitrations occurred before it assumed office.

Vice President Opoku-Agyemang’s visit, he said, was timely, as it offered an opportunity to draw government’s attention to the mounting legal and financial risks facing the state, particularly in relation to land compensation claims.

 

 

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MOFA secures $90m Danish investment in shea processing factory

By
admin
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The minister and his Danish counterparts signing the agreement

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AAK Ghana Limited to facilitate and improve value addition, competitiveness, and sustainable growth within Ghana’s shea industry.

The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Accra by the Mr Eric Opoku, the sector Minister and Mr. Lasse Skaksen, Vice President and Head of AAK West Africa.

The partnership formalises a $90 million investment focused on transitioning the shea sector from a raw commodity-based industry into a high-value industrial pillar.

Central to this initiative is the establishment of a world-class shea processing factory in Ghana, leveraging advanced technology to increase local value addition and create over a 100 direct jobs.

Under the terms of the MoU, AAK outlined four critical priorities – Sourcing Expansion: The expansion of the Kolo Nafaso direct sourcing programme to support over 300,000 women shea collectors in northern Ghana through financing and guaranteed markets.

Skills Development: The establishment of the AAK Ghana Innovation Academy to strengthen SME viability and enhance youth employability within the plant-based oils and fats sector. Industrial Infrastructure: Significant investment in logistics, warehousing and supply chain infrastructure to boost export competitiveness.

Environmental Sustainability: A commitment to shea reforestation and parkland preservation in partnership with the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA).

The signing was witnessed by H.E. Jakob Linulf, Ambassador of Denmark to Ghana, highlighting the strategic importance of the partnership to Ghana’s industrial development agenda.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture noted that this collaboration aligns with the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA) and the Feed the Industry sub-programme.

“Ghana has the potential to become a global reference point for value-added shea processing. This partnership reflects our confidence in Ghana’s shea sector and our commitment to investing in local capacity and inclusive economic growth,” said Mr. Lasse Skaksen.

The event was attended by senior government officials, including Mr John Dumelo, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture; Mr. Paul Siameh, Chief Director of MoFA and Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority.

 

 

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NSA case: Gifty Oware loses round one

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Gifty Oware-Mensah - accused

The High Court in Accra has dismissed an application by the former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Gifty Oware-Mensah, seeking a stay of proceedings to enable her to invoke the Supreme Court’s interpretative jurisdiction.

The application followed a directive by the trial court, compelling the accused to disclose the names and addresses of her witnesses at the Case Management Conference (CMC).

Ms Gifty Oware-Mensah had argued that the directive raised constitutional issues requiring interpretation by the Supreme Court and, therefore, warranted a stay of proceedings at the High Court.

In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, the court, presided over by Her Ladyship Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, held that the applicant failed to demonstrate that any constitutional question had arisen to justify a referral to the apex court.

“I am of the opinion that the applicant has not demonstrated that a need for interpretation has arisen, warranting a stay of proceedings. The application is entirely dismissed,” Justice Kocuvie-Tay ruled.

Ms Oware-Mensah is standing trial for allegedly stealing, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit and money laundering, in relation to the alleged GH¢38 million.

The Republic is represented by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, while the accused is represented by lawyer Gary Nimako Marfo.

Following the dismissal, Mr Gary Nimako Marfo informed the court that the defence would apply for the full written reasons for the ruling and advise their client on the next steps.

“Having regard to the fact that the application for referral to the Supreme Court for interpretation has been dismissed, we will apply for the full copy of the reasons and advise our client as to the way forward,” he said.

Counsel further disclosed that the accused had already filed a notice of appeal on January 20, 2026 challenging the earlier order of the court compelling her to file a list of witnesses and their addresses.

According to him, a separate motion for stay of proceedings, grounded on that appeal, had been filed at the registry of the court and was initially fixed for hearing on February 17, 2026.

Mr Gary Nimako Marfo explained that the application for stay of proceedings was filed on February 10, 2026, adding that steps would be taken to formally serve the Office of the Attorney General while the defence studied the court’s ruling.

In response, the court indicated that, having listened to counsel for the accused, proceedings in the trial would be stayed pending the determination of the application for stay of proceedings.

However, Counsel for the Republic informed the court that the scheduled return date of February 17, 2026, conflicted with other matters she was handling.

Consequently, and with the agreement of all parties, the court adjourned the case to Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. for consideration of the pending application.

 

 

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Not Less Able, Just Less Supported: The Silent Struggles of At-Risk Students in Our Classrooms

By
admin
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Wisdom Koudjo Klu, Author

In countless classrooms, there are students whose challenges are not readily apparent but profoundly experienced. They might be silent, not raise their hands to answer a question, miss school now and then or lose interest over time in their work. To the uninformed, these habits may appear to be extraordinary. And to a trained educator, they can be a sign of something more. These students are often referred to as at risk learners whose life circumstances put them at a high probability of underachieving academically, dropping out or never fulfilling their potential.

The phrase “at risk” is sometimes distorted. It’s not a matter of intelligence, capability, or potential. It does not indicate the presence of a disease, it’s a constellation of factors that impede learning. Differences in these situations can arise from scholastic problems, financial disadvantage, emotional stress, health issues or unstable home life. When they come together, their presence can create roadblocks that make it harder for certain students to learn than others.

In many classrooms, teachers quietly are observing the truth of this philosophy. Some students cannot read fluently or do not understand basic mathematics. And some arrive at school tired, distracted or troubled. Some do miss classes a lot for reasons out of their control. Habitual behaviours such as those can eventually create learning gaps that continue to widen with every term.

Socio-economic factors have an effect out of the classroom. Most students are from resource-constrained homes. Textbooks, learning resources and quiet places to study are not readily available at the best of times. There are kids who have adult responsibilities: tidying up, small jobs to help pay the family bills. While these pressures are realistic, they can have an impact on attendance at school, concentration and the time available for schoolwork.

In the school context, some signs begin to manifest themselves slowly. Repeated absence, habitual lateness, decrease in activity and recognizable behaviour changes can be indicators that a student is finding elements of work difficult. Language can also be a barrier, particularly if students are taught in a language other than the one they speak at home. These learners might know less than is presumed and they may be reticent to talk for fear of being wrong.

Cognitive and behavioural difficulties also define the context of at risk learners. Low self-esteem, anxiety and the feeling of not fitting in-all can steal a student’s confidence. Some vent their anger through disruptive behaviour. These are often mistaken for indiscipline when really, they may have more to do with other issues. Health related problems like chronic disease, malnutrition and unidentified learning problems can also interfere with concentration and school achievement.

However, in spite of the above difficulties, at risk is a term that must never be interpreted as a forecast for future failure. Instead, it’s a bid for attention. It says that a student might need some more teaching, direction and compassion. With proper intervention, many at-risk students not only survive; they even thrive. Their stories are often powerful tributes to the ability to recover and transform.

Implications for Teaching and Learning

The existence of students at risk in classrooms is important for the way teaching and learning is addressed. It requires educators to leave behind the homogeneous pedagogy of “one size fits all,” and embrace an inclusive, flexible, and responsive practice that addresses individual differences.

Educators need to be observant of signs like decreased performance and attendance, or changes in behaviour. With ongoing assessment, educators gain the capability to pinpoint a gap in learning before it grows. Differentiated instruction, remedial classes and one-on-one support can assist struggling learners to regain confidence as well as reinforce the basics.

Just as important is the classroom. Learning happens when learners feel safe, honoured and respected. A caring teacher–student relationship can go a long way, especially for those children who don’t consistently get such outside support. Students who believe their teachers are interested in their personal success often learn more.

Guidance and counselling services also have the same importance. Many students who are leaning in the at-risk rather than gifted direction have emotional baggage that can get in the way of focus, and participation. Offer mentorship, counselling and positive feedback opportunities to assist learners to redevelop self-confidence and resilience.

Recommendations

It would take a coordinated effort to meet the needs of these students who are on the edge.

Inclusive teaching approaches require teachers to consider a wide range of learning needs. Through early identification of those learners who struggle, and by giving remedial assistance where it is needed, long-term learning difficulties may be averted.

Schools should bolster support networks through mentoring schemes, peer learning and counselling. These scaffolds may facilitate how learners work through academic as well as emotional problems.

Parents/guardians must be motivated to continue participating in their children’s education, no matter how insignificant. And open lines of communication between home and school can make children’s support networks all the more robust.

Education leaders and policymakers must continue to invest in supportive programs, such as school feeding, learning materials access, and inclusive education policies. These are designed to minimise external pressures which learners may face.

Finally, the communities have to understand that “good education” is a common burden. Children are more likely to pay attention and stay motivated when their communities value and nurture learning.

Conclusion

At-risk students are not lost. They are students who are going through a rough time, and often they have astonishing resilience and promise. Their challenges are not their destiny, even if they feel that way at the moment. They’re capable of overcoming adversity and achieving noteworthy success with the right support, guidance, and opportunities.

For teachers, their presence is a reminder of the fact that education is not just about content delivery but also about knowing lives. To parents and communities, it’s a call to stay involved and be supportive. It is a difficult journey for policy makers to fabricate systems where no child is left behind.

 

WRITTEN BY:

Wisdom Koudjo Klu,

Educationist/Columnist,

Greater Accra Region.

wisdomklu@gmail.com

 

 

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Editorial: Cocoa Crisis Meeting Must Not End As Another Well-Worded Communiqué; It Must Produce Relief For Farmers

By
THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

President John Dramani Mahama will convene an emergency Cabinet meeting scheduled for today, Wednesday, February 11, 2026 to address the deepening crisis in Ghana’s cocoa sector. The announcement, made by Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, comes amid mounting concerns over severe financing constraints that have disrupted cocoa purchases and delayed payments to farmers and other actors across the value chain.

The cocoa industry, a major pillar of Ghana’s economy and a critical source of livelihood for millions of rural households, is grappling with liquidity shortfalls that threaten its stability. Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) have warned that without urgent financial intervention, the sector risks a breakdown.

The Licensed Cocoa Buyers Association of Ghana (LICOBAG) estimates that government must secure emergency funding to purchase approximately 300,000 tonnes of cocoa beans by September 2026, to avert a potential collapse.

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has acknowledged the funding gap and confirmed ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Finance to explore alternative financing arrangements, including a possible shift away from the long-standing syndicated loan model that has traditionally supported cocoa purchases.

Meanwhile, cocoa farmers have voiced strong dissatisfaction with the producer price announced for the 2025/2026 season, arguing that it falls short of expectations and could fuel smuggling and further erode incomes.

The emergency Cabinet session is expected to focus on ensuring timely payments, securing sustainable financing and restoring confidence in the cocoa value chain. The meeting is both necessary and overdue. For years, the country’s cocoa sector has been sustained more by rhetoric than reform, and today’s payment delays are merely the most visible symptom of deeper structural failures.

To The Chronicle, this meeting must not end as yet another well-worded communiqué; it must produce hard decisions and immediate relief for farmers whose livelihoods are hanging by a thread.

Across cocoa-growing communities, the complaints are consistent and troubling. Farmers report long delays in receiving payment after delivering their beans, forcing many to borrow at exploitative interest rates to survive the lean months.

Some are unable to pay school fees, hire labour or maintain their farms. Others have abandoned proper farm maintenance altogether, accelerating the decline in productivity. When payments are delayed, cocoa farming ceases to be a business and become a gamble.

The frustration is compounded by the producer price for the 2025/2026 season, which many farmers say does not reflect rising costs of inputs, labour and living expenses. With neighbouring countries offering higher prices, smuggling is no longer just a criminal issue; it is an economic signal that Ghana’s pricing and incentive structure is broken. No amount of moral suasion will stop smuggling if farmers feel cheated within the official system.

At the heart of the current crisis lies COCOBOD’s chronic financing problem. The long-relied-upon syndicated loan model, once the backbone of cocoa purchases, has become increasingly fragile due to rising debt, declining production, and shaken lender confidence.

Yet for too long, policymakers treated this model as untouchable. The result is a liquidity crunch that has rippled through LBCs, delayed payments and undermined trust in the entire value chain.

The Chronicle holds the view that the emergency Cabinet session must move beyond firefighting. Securing short-term financing to buy the outstanding 300,000 tonnes of cocoa is essential, but it is not enough. Government must also outline a credible medium- to long-term financing strategy for the cocoa sector, including restructuring COCOBOD’s debt, improving transparency in its operations, and reducing inefficiencies that drain resources meant for farmers.

Equally critical is restoring the dignity of the cocoa farmer. Timely payment should not be treated as a favor or an intervention; it is a basic obligation. If cocoa remains Ghana’s pride, then farmers must be treated as partners, not shock absorbers for systemic failures.

The Chronicle believes that this meeting presents an opportunity to reset the cocoa conversation. We have heard enough diagnoses. What farmers need now are decisions, timelines and accountability. Cocoa built this nation. It cannot be allowed to collapse under the weight of indecision.

 

 

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We Cannot  Bury Our People Again: Minister moves to stop another Cholera tragedy

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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WR Minister Jospeh Nelson and Nzema East MCE Hebert Dickson

When cholera swept through parts of the Western Region in December 2024, it did not just leave statistics behind. It left grieving families, empty chairs at dinner tables, and communities struggling to understand how a preventable disease could claim 16 lives and infect more than 1,700 people.

For many residents, the pain is still fresh.
It is that memory that framed the tone of Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson’s visit to the Nzema East Municipality this week. Standing before assembly staff during a working tour, the Minister delivered a firm directive: enforce sanitation bylaws strictly and without compromise.

“We must not experience this again,” he stressed, making it clear that under his tenure, the region cannot afford another outbreak of such magnitude.
The 2024 cholera crisis exposed gaps in sanitation enforcement, waste management, and environmental regulation. In several communities, choked drains, indiscriminate dumping of refuse, and poorly planned structures created the conditions for the disease to spread rapidly.

Now, Mr. Nelson is demanding a shift from reaction to prevention. He has directed all Municipal and District Chief Executives and Coordinating Directors across the Western Region to ensure sanitation regulations are not merely written policies, but actively enforced laws.

According to him, protecting public health must become a daily responsibility, not an emergency response.
Beyond waste management, the Minister also raised concerns about the indiscriminate siting of buildings. Unapproved structures, especially those obstructing waterways or erected without proper planning clearance, he noted, often worsen flooding and sanitation challenges.

Assemblies, he urged, must ensure that all structures are built in approved locations to prevent environmental hazards that could spiral into public health crises. For residents in municipalities like Nzema East, the renewed focus on sanitation brings cautious hope. Many recall the fear that gripped households during the outbreak — parents worrying about their children, traders watching customers dwindle, and health workers stretched to their limits.
But while the directive signals urgency at the regional level, local authorities say implementation will require more than resolve.

Nzema East Municipal Chief Executive Herbert Kua Dickson used the occasion to highlight challenges confronting the Assembly. A severe shortage of office space and logistics, he said, is undermining effective service delivery in the municipality.

Limited resources, inadequate equipment, and infrastructure constraints make enforcement difficult, even when the will exists. The situation underscores a broader tension: the urgent need to safeguard public health against the practical realities facing local administrations.
Still, the Minister’s message was unambiguous, complacency is not an option.

For families who lost loved ones in 2024, the call for stricter enforcement is more than administrative reform; it is a promise that their pain will not be forgotten.
As the Western Region moves forward, the real test will lie not in speeches or directives, but in cleaner streets, unclogged drains, properly planned communities, and a collective commitment to preventing history from repeating itself.

 

 

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We’re not banning you: Ahanta West MCE reassures Pragia riders

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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Ahanta West MCE Ing Ebenezer Kofi Aidoo

Under the scorching afternoon sun at Agona-Nkwanta in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western region, dozens of three wheeled motorcycle riders, popularly known as ‘Pragia’, many still in their reflective vests, helmets dangling from handlebars, gathered to hear what many feared could threaten their daily bread.

For years, the three-wheeled motorcycles have become more than just transport in Ahanta West. They are school fees, hospital bills, rent and survival for many young men in the Municipality. So when word spread about a new directive regulating their operations, anxiety travelled faster than the engines they ride.
But Municipal Chief Executive for Ahanta West, Ing. Ebenezer Aidoo was quick to calm nerves.
“We are not banning your work,” he assured them during a dialogue session held with the riders, alongside the Municipal Coordinator, Mr. Shaiku Mumuni Damma and the Agona Police District Command.

The Pragia Riders at the meeting with Assembly

“This is about safety. This is about order. This is about protecting lives, including yours.”
The meeting, described by many riders as long overdue, focused on new traffic management measures aimed at sanitising Pragia operations and improving road safety within the municipality.
Ebenezer Aidoo made it clear that minors must not be allowed to operate the vehicles.

Riders below eighteen years, he stressed, should neither be permitted to work nor issued licences. He also urged those without valid documentation to regularise their papers immediately.
For many in the gathering, the issue of licensing drew nods and quiet murmurs. Some admitted privately that documentation processes can be frustrating and costly. But the MCE insisted that compliance would ultimately protect their business.

The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), he announced, will intensify education and training sessions to help riders better understand traffic regulations and road safety practices. The goal, he said, is to reduce accidents and professionalise the sector.
Beyond documentation, the conversation turned to behaviour on the roads. Ebenezer Aidoo did not mince words about the dangers of alcohol, Tramadol and other illicit substances, warning that such habits not only endanger the riders, but also passengers and pedestrians. “You carry people’s lives every day,” he reminded them.

Municipal Coordinator, Mr. Shaiku Mumuni Damma, added that disorderly practices, including parking at roundabouts and making sudden U-turns in the middle of busy streets must stop if Ahanta West is to maintain order and reduce traffic chaos.
The Municipal Police Commander reinforced the call for discipline and cooperation, urging the riders to see themselves as partners in building a safer municipality.

When the floor was opened, the atmosphere shifted. Riders raised concerns about harassment, inconsistent enforcement and the need for more designated parking areas. Some spoke passionately about how the Pragia business has kept them away from unemployment and social vices.
He assured them that their concerns would be taken into account and encouraged continuous engagement between the Assembly and rider unions.

As the meeting ended and engines roared back to life, one thing was clear: the dialogue may not have solved every issue, but it opened a channel of trust.
For the young men who ride daily through the streets of Ahanta West, the reforms now come with a message, not of shutdown, but of structure. And for the Assembly, the challenge remains balancing livelihoods with law and safety.

 

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