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Jesus’ mother never lived in the Volta Region – Museums and Monuments Board

By
RICHARD OWUSU-AKYAW
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The Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) has officially debunked claims that the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, once lived in the Volta Region, while issuing an apology to Prof. Wazi Apoh over the false attribution of the statement to him.

The clarification follows widespread public reaction to a viral video in which a tour guide at the Ho Regional Museum told Ghanaian vlogger Goshers and his Zambian companion, Lilian Chipeso, that Mary migrated to Ghana and lived in the Volta Region for 40 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

In a statement dated April 30, 2026, the Board said it had taken note of “a false statement made by a Security Officer acting as a tour guide at the Ho Regional Museum regarding the Virgin Mary living in the Volta Region for forty years, which was wrongly attributed to you, Prof. Wazi Apoh.”

According to the Board, Prof. Apoh has never made such a claim in any forum, including his academic publications.

“The claim attributed to him is therefore unfounded and misleading,” the statement stressed.

The GMMB said it had moved swiftly to retract the statement and prevent further spread of the misinformation.

“GMMB wishes to retract the said statement in its entirety and extend its sincere apologies to Prof. Wazi Apoh for the misattribution,” it stated.

The Board further urged individuals and institutions who may have circulated the claim to withdraw and remove such content.

“Institutions and individuals who may have shared or published the said statement are accordingly urged to retract and remove such content to prevent further spread of the misinformation,” it noted.

The statement concluded with an unreserved apology to the academic for any inconvenience or reputational damage caused.

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Mahama grants ‘amnesty’ to 300 police Chief Inspectors

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admin
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President John Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama on Friday May 1, 2026, granted ‘amnesty’ to three hundred (300) Chief Inspectors of Police who obtained between 50-52% percent in the recently held Police College entry exams to enter the academy.

The President issued the ‘fiat’ at Odumase Krobo in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region during the commissioning of a new Divisional Police Headquarters.
Seven thousand, one hundred and thirty-three (7,133)Police Chief Inspectors on Sunday April 12, 2026, took part in a competitive examination for entry to the Ghana Police College as Cadet Officers, and subsequent promotion to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

The body which conducted the exams set 53% as the cutoff mark.
According to President Mahama, out of the over seven thousand (7,000+) that took part, seven hundred (700) who obtained 53% and above were shortlisted to enter the Police College.

His intervention for the three hundred has been hailed by Police personnel as unprecedented, no wonder, reports from the various police barracks across the country indicate open jubilation deep into the night after his speech.
Entry to the Academy is so competitive with four hundred (400) Undercadets and one hundred (100) Special Recommendation for exhibiting valour and exemplary in the discharge of their duties already on standby for call-up.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno whose tenure is witnessing this unprecedented ‘amnesty’ in an exclusive interview states that, due to the number, the administration is working out a modality to absorb the cadets in between two and three batches.

Speaking at the function, he expressed the Police Administration’s gratitude for supporting their operation with armoured vehicles.
He cited a recent incident in which his men in the armoured cars came under heavy firing only to be saved by the impenetrable plates

 

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49 Suspected Illegal Miners Arrested After Armed Attack on NAIMOS Team in Western Region

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admin
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A major anti-illegal mining operation in the Western Region has led to the arrest of 49 suspected illegal miners following an armed ambush on a National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) taskforce team stationed in Nzema East.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, when a NAIMOS operations team came under gunfire from suspected illegal miners actively operating within the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) plantation.

According to NAIMOS, the assailants fired multiple rounds from pump-action weapons at one of the taskforce’s Zonda pickup vehicles. The operatives, however, executed a tactical withdrawal without sustaining casualties.
The attack triggered an immediate intelligence-led operation to identify the perpetrators and recover the weapons used.

Acting on credible intelligence, NAIMOS launched a coordinated cordon-and-search operation in the early hours of Thursday at Adiewoso and surrounding communities in the Ahanta West District.

The dawn swoop, conducted within the GREL plantation enclave, resulted in the arrest of 49 suspects and the recovery of a pump-action firearm. Operatives also seized more than GH¢226,000 in cash believed to be proceeds from illegal mining activities.
In total, 114 individuals were initially apprehended and taken to the Adiewoso Community Centre for screening, identification and interrogation.

Following verification, 49 persons were positively identified as suspected illegal miners. Eight others were confirmed as casual workers of GREL, while 12 were identified as senior high school students. The remaining detainees, made up of artisans and other local residents, were released after being cleared of any direct involvement.
NAIMOS further disclosed that three of the suspects are foreign nationals — Abdul Karim from Niger, and Nash Ishaku and Eliyasu Sie, both from Burkina Faso.

Additional items recovered during the operation included GH¢140,000 discovered in a Toyota Raize belonging to one Daniel Avoka, as well as GH¢86,710 and two containers of small ball-like substances wrapped in paper and suspected to be gold, found in a white Toyota Hilux.

The owner of the Hilux, Ebenezer Cobbinah, was arrested and is assisting with ongoing investigations.
Operatives also confiscated quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, together with cartons of cigarettes believed to be linked to the illegal mining operation.
A joint team made up of GREL management and officers from the Agona Ahanta Police Command participated in the exercise to help distinguish legitimate plantation workers from suspected illegal miners.

All verified GREL employees were released, while the 49 suspects have been handed over to the Agona Divisional Police Command for further investigations and possible prosecution.

NAIMOS described the operation as a clear demonstration of its resolve to clamp down on illegal mining activities, particularly within legally acquired concessions.
The Secretariat stressed that acts of armed resistance or intimidation would not deter its operatives from enforcing the law and protecting Ghana’s natural resources.
“NAIMOS remains committed to safeguarding the nation’s productive lands and ensuring all offenders are brought to justice,” the statement said.

The cedi gained 40.7% against the dollar in 2025

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama Governor of BoG

The Bank of Ghana says the Ghana cedi appreciated by 40.7 per cent against the US dollar in 2025, a development that had significant accounting effects on its financial statements.

According to the Bank, the appreciation of the cedi reduced the cedi value of foreign-currency-denominated assets held on its books, resulting in valuation losses.

The central bank explained that it holds substantial foreign assets, including Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the International Monetary Fund, foreign securities such as government bonds and deposits, monetary gold, and other foreign balances.

It said when the cedi strengthens, these assets are worth less in local currency terms, leading to accounting charges.

For 2025, the Bank reported:

A profit and loss charge of GH¢5.5 billion, and
An other comprehensive income (OCI) charge of GH¢23.6 billion,

bringing the total impact to GH¢29.1 billion.

The Bank noted that this reflects a reversal of gains recorded in 2024, when the weakening of the cedi increased the value of foreign assets in local currency terms.

It recorded in 2024:

A profit and loss gain of GH¢2.2 billion, and
An OCI gain of GH¢10.5 billion,

which together added GH¢12.7 billion to equity.

The central bank said these changes are accounting entries and do not represent cash movements or losses of underlying assets.

It added that as exchange rates stabilise, the valuation effects are expected to normalise.

Accra to Host Regional Launch of World Bank Health Strategy “Fit to Prosper”

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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World Bank

Countries across Western and Central Africa are grappling with mounting pressure on their health systems as shrinking financing collides with rising demand driven by population growth, disease outbreaks, climate shocks, and a growing dual burden of disease.

In response to these challenges, the World Bank Group has developed a new regional health strategy titled “Fit to Prosper: Investing in Health for Jobs and Development in Western & Central Africa.” The initiative aims to guide countries in making strategic health investments despite constrained fiscal space, while promoting long-term development outcomes.

The strategy aligns with key continental and global frameworks, including the Accra Reset, the Lusaka Agenda, and the World Bank Group’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage. It also advances the Africa Initiative for Medical Access and Manufacturing (AIM2030), which seeks to boost local production of essential health products, strengthen health security, and generate employment opportunities across the region.

To formally introduce the strategy, the World Bank Group, in collaboration with the Government of Ghana and the Global Financing Facility, will host a high-level regional launch event in Accra on Monday, May 4, 2026.

The event will be presided over by John Dramani Mahama, underscoring Ghana’s central role in shaping regional health and development priorities.

The launch is expected to bring together policymakers, development partners, and health sector stakeholders to discuss practical pathways for strengthening health systems while driving economic growth in Western and Central Africa.

Domestic Gold Purchase Programme strengthens Ghana’s foreign reserves- BoG

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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Dr Johnson Asiamah

The Bank of Ghana says its Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP) has strengthened Ghana’s foreign exchange reserves and supported stability in the foreign exchange market.

In its 2025 financial statements, the central bank said the programme has contributed to the stabilisation of Ghana’s foreign exchange market by strengthening reserve buffers and reducing structural pressures on foreign currency demand. 

The Bank said the domestic acquisition of gold enabled it to augment foreign exchange reserves without recourse to the domestic foreign exchange market, easing pressure on the cedi.

According to the report, the conversion of gold into monetary gold as a reserve asset has strengthened reserve adequacy and enhanced the Bank’s capacity to provide liquidity support to the market during periods of stress. 

The central bank said the programme has also advanced reserve diversification, reduced dependence on foreign currency-denominated assets, and bolstered confidence in its external position and policy framework.

The DGPP was launched on June 17, 2021 in response to macroeconomic pressures, including depleted foreign exchange buffers, exchange rate pressures and weakened investor confidence.

Under the programme, the Bank purchases refined gold from mining companies, acquires dore gold for refining into monetary gold, and purchases gold through the Ghana Gold Board for export to generate foreign exchange for market intermediation purposes. 

The report said income from gold-related transactions contributed to the Bank’s policy solvency position in 2025.

The Bank of Ghana reported a GH¢15.63 billion loss for 2025, compared with GH¢9.49 billion in 2024, while its negative equity position widened to GH¢93.82 billion from GH¢58.62 billion in the previous year. 

Despite this, the Bank said it remained policy solvent, recording GH¢5.5 billion in operating income after the cost of open market operations, compared with GH¢793.5 million in 2024. 

The central bank said government’s recapitalisation programme, agreed with the Ministry of Finance, will support the restoration of its capital base over the medium term.

Gideon Boako writes: BoG losses are more than 15.63bn cedis

By
admin
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Dr Gideon Boako, MP for Tano North

Do not buy the propaganda that the loss BoG made is only GHc15.63 billion. It is more than that. Adding the loss in Other Comptehensive Income (OCI) of GHC19.32 billion gives a total loss of GHC34.95 billion. This explains why the negative equity deteriorated from GHC58.62 billion in 2024 to GHC93.82 billion in 2025.

This is the true loss made by the BoG. And this is even after reflecting income from gold sales. So excluding the income from gold sales of GHC9.57 billion, the total loss would have been GHC44. 52 billion.

Why is it important to exclude income from 18 tons of gold sales? Because that is not operations, it was clearly accounting gimmick to hide the policy insolvency of the Bank.

This is way beyond the Majority propaganda by announcing operating loss of GHc15.6 billion. They quietly pushed away the huge loss of GHC19.32 billion sitting in OCI. Just note that in 2024 there was a gain of GHC13.5 billion in OCI and not a loss.

God save Ghana.

 

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Police Gun Down Two, Arrest Four in Upper East Robbery Crackdown

By
RICHARD OWUSU-AKYAW
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0

The Ghana Police Service has dismantled a suspected armed robbery gang believed to be behind a string of violent attacks in the Upper East Region, arresting four suspects while two others were shot dead during a special intelligence-led operation.

The operation, carried out on April 29, 2026, targeted the gang’s hideout at Zuarungu, where police arrested Awudu Kasim, Malik Baako, Mohammed Amidu and Wadud Abdul.

According to a police statement, a search conducted at the hideout led to the recovery of a G3 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition. The weapon had allegedly been concealed in the storage compartment of a motorbike said to have been robbed from a victim by suspect Samsudeen Mohammed and an accomplice known only as “DJ”, who remains on the run.

Police also retrieved seven additional motorbikes suspected to have been stolen.

Investigators said the suspects, during interrogation, admitted involvement in a number of robbery incidents across the region.

These include an attack on February 4, 2026, along the Zuarungu-Kongo road, where a bus driver, Ussif Abdul Razak, sustained gunshot wounds and reportedly lost three fingers.

The rifle, ammunition and other items retrieved by police from the suspected armed robbery gang during the operation in the Upper East Region.
The rifle, ammunition and other items retrieved by police from the suspected armed robbery gang during the operation in the Upper East Region.

The gang is also alleged to have attacked cargo truck driver Mohammed Ibrahim on the same stretch of road.

Police further linked the suspects to a robbery at the Kejetia mining site at Gbane on March 28, 2026, during which a miner, Atani Mark, was allegedly robbed of cash and gold. Authorities said the suspects confessed to other criminal activities in the area.

During the police operation, two suspects identified as Samsudeen Mohammed and Seidu Safianu sustained gunshot wounds and later died. Their bodies have since been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy.

The four arrested suspects remain in police custody and are assisting with investigations.

Meanwhile, police say efforts are underway to arrest other members of the gang, including the suspect known as “DJ”, who is still at large.

The Ghana Police Service assured residents of the Upper East Region that all persons connected to the gang would be pursued and brought to justice.

 

 

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Adamus Resources Petitions Minister Over License Revocation

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources

Adamus Resources Limited has formally petitioned the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, seeking a reversal of the government’s decision to revoke its mining licenses at Salma, Anwia and Akango.

The development was disclosed in a Facebook post by a spokesperson for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Paa kwesi Schandorf on his Facebook wall indicating that the company is appealing for leniency following the withdrawal of its licenses. The revocation was based on recommendations by the Minerals Commission, the sector regulator.

According to the statement, the company is urging government to “temper justice with mercy” in reconsidering the decision.
In response, the Minister is expected to constitute an independent committee to review the petition and assess its merits in line with established procedures. The committee will subsequently make recommendations to guide any further action on the matter.

Meanwhile, an Interim Management Committee (IMC), which will include representatives from Adamus Resources, is to be established to oversee operations at the mine pending the outcome of the review process.

The Ministry emphasized that the revocation of the licenses remains in force until the review is completed. It further reiterated the Minister’s commitment to strict enforcement of mining laws and effective regulation of the sector, in line with the government’s broader reset agenda.

The outcome of the review process will be communicated in due course.

 

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Western Regional Minister Cracks Down on Illegal Mining Near Basic School

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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0
Areas around New Cooperative Academy at Wassa Gyapa in the Western Region devastated by galamsey activities.
Areas around New Cooperative Academy at Wassa Gyapa in the Western Region devastated by galamsey activities.

The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has directed the Amenfi East Municipal Assembly and the Municipal Security Council to urgently identify a miner who allegedly operated behind the New Cooperative Academy at Wassa Gyapa in the Western Region.

The directive follows a viral video that showed illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey, taking place just a few meters from the school, raising concerns about the safety of pupils and staff.

According to the Minister, the immediate identification of the individual behind the activity is necessary to ensure the reclamation of the degraded land and to prevent any potential threat to the school environment.

However, the Headteacher of the school, Daniel Ndegoh, has disputed claims that the mining activity is ongoing. He explained that the video in circulation was recorded in November 2024 and does not reflect the current situation.

Mr. Ndegoh indicated that the mining site existed prior to the establishment of the school, although it was smaller at the time. He further revealed that in 2023, school authorities, the Municipal Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, the then Municipal Chief Executive, and the miner reached an agreement to ensure that mining activities would not endanger school children.

He added that the miners have since vacated the site for about a year.
During a visit to assess the situation at the school, Mr. Nelson, who also chairs the Regional Security Council, reiterated his directive for the immediate search for the miner and the reclamation of the affected land.

He also issued a strong warning to individuals engaging in illegal mining, stressing that the safety of school children remains a top priority and will not be countenanced.

 

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