AGP Executive Report

Film Industry Boost: Ghana Movie Awards (GMA) adds a competitive Best Casting Director category, following the Oscars’ move, and highlights Ghanaian casting director wins at the ARTIOS Awards. Urban Safety & Enforcement: A two-storey building collapse in Accra’s North Industrial Area (Avenor) killed 2 and left 3 rescued; the Vice President and ministers visited as calls grow for stricter building regulation enforcement. Tax Digitalisation: Ghana Revenue Authority steps up stakeholder engagement ahead of the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS), aiming to unify tax registration, filing, payments and compliance tracking. Healthcare Tech Upgrade: HealthTech Ghana and 37 Military Hospital open Ghana’s first helium-free 1.5T MRI centre under a PPP, with free scans for eligible patients for two weeks. Power Reliability: ECG announces scheduled outages and a technical fault affecting parts of Ashanti, Tema, Accra East and Accra West on June 8. Press Freedom & Accountability: President Mahama reiterates free, independent press as a democracy pillar while government warns media practitioners to resist misinformation. Health Workforce Pressure: Nurses and midwives in Upper East demand better infrastructure, pay, training and representation in health policy decisions. Standards Bottleneck: Ghana Standards Authority says it is understaffed, with regional exporters forced to travel to Accra for testing and certification.

Flood Governance & Urban Planning: Works and Housing Minister Kenneth Adjei ordered occupants of buildings along waterways and unauthorised flood-risk sites to evacuate ahead of demolition, after inspections of flooded bridges in Accra showed drainage capacity and development controls are failing. Building Safety & Accountability: Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak announced an investigative committee into the Avenor building collapse that killed two people, pushing for stronger enforcement of building regulations. Returnees, Jobs & Reintegration: Ghana received another batch of evacuees from xenophobic South Africa, with government securing about 200 jobs (including 100 from Engineers and Planners) to help people rebuild livelihoods. Media Freedom & Misinformation: Parliament’s minority leader and the communications minister both urged stronger protection for journalists and responsible press practice while tackling misinformation and disinformation. Health & Research Capacity: A survey found Ghanaians show high vaccine confidence and support for local manufacturing, but awareness of the 2027 local production plan remains low; meanwhile, UNFPA and Mercy Catholic Hospital ran free obstetric fistula surgeries. Connectivity & Security: Telecel Ghana warned that fiber cuts and vandalism are costing telecoms millions daily, threatening digital services. STEM & Innovation Events: West Africa Pharma & Healthcare Expo opens June 8 at UPSA, and Huawei’s ICT Competition drew 220,000 students globally.

Belarus–Ghana Food Security: President Mahama toured Brest’s agro-processing facilities, focusing on dairy tech and ways to cut post-harvest losses as Ghana pushes from smallholder farming to commercial agriculture. Diaspora Jobs & Reintegration: Government says about 200 jobs have been secured for evacuees returning from South Africa after xenophobic attacks, with companies including Engineers and Planners leading. Flood Response in Focus: Tema West Municipal Assembly distributed relief to flood victims and warned against building on waterways/wetlands; meanwhile the Works Ministry activated emergency measures and pushed drainage desilting as a long-term flood strategy. Hospital Leadership Tension: Support is growing for the suspended KATH CEO amid a doctors’ service withdrawal and lab scientists defending the decision to halt emergency admissions over congestion and patient safety. Fire Safety Digitisation: GNFS is urging industry players to back the Automated Fire Compliance and Safety System (AFCAS) to replace paper processes with a faster, transparent approval system. Mining Skills Link-Up: China-Ghana Mining LBG and UMaT signed an MoU for multidisciplinary industrial training and internships. Telehealth for Pensioners: SSNIT’s telehealth service lets pensioners consult remotely, aiming to reduce cost and access barriers. Digital Services Push: Ghana pitches itself to London investors as Africa’s outsourcing and digital services hub, banking on policy reforms and expanding digital infrastructure.

Ghana–UK Investment Push: Presidential adviser Augustus Goosie Tanoh urged Ghanaians in Britain to move beyond remittances into export investment and skills transfer, spotlighting agro-processing, manufacturing, pharma, textiles, logistics, renewables and digital services. Diaspora Business Ties: President Mahama visited Ghanaian-owned spots in Tottenham, London, reinforcing support for indigenous enterprise during a wider UK visit that included a Ghana-UK Growth Partnership push. Digital Services Pitch: Ghana is pitching itself to London investors as Africa’s digital outsourcing and AI-enabled services hub, with plans to scale digital public services, exportable products and AfCFTA integration. Digital Health with AI: WHO and UNDP (Japan-funded) launched an AI health programme in Ghana focused on ethical governance, data protection, digital literacy and early warning for climate-sensitive diseases. Floods as Governance Failure: Senyo Hosi and others argued Ghana’s recurring floods are driven by weak enforcement and accountability, not weather. Power Reliability Update: ECG Tema blamed a prolonged Tema Newtown outage on an underground cable fault under a muddy water body, with repairs ongoing. STEM School Reality Check: Abomosu STEM SHS is praised for results, but stakeholders warn staffing, maintenance, funding and industry links must improve. Child Nutrition Concern: A University of Ghana study flagged high anaemia among schoolchildren, renewing calls for iron-focused nutrition campaigns. Ebola Watch: CDC modelling warns the Central Africa Ebola outbreak could exceed 20,000 cases in three months without stronger isolation and treatment measures. Cyber & Identity Debate: Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George defended proposed ID/driver’s licence age checks for porn sites, while lawmakers and experts question feasibility and intent. Mining Lease Pressure: Chiefs and communities renewed calls to extend Gold Fields’ mining rights, citing local benefits and jobs. Climate Action on the Ground: WASCAL stakeholders pledged practical climate action, while government targets planting 30 million tree seedlings under Tree for Life.

Digital Education Push: Ghana will introduce coding, AI and augmented reality from early school years and expand its tablet scheme to younger pupils, as the eLearning Africa 2026 conference spotlights “learning for sovereignty” and data protection. Digital Governance & Cybersecurity: Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George reviewed draft digital bills on technology, cybersecurity and data protection, signalling a major overhaul of Ghana’s communications law. Data-Driven Public Service: NDPC boss Audrey Smock Amoah urged evidence-led policymaking at UCC’s Data Literacy Week, stressing ethics and inclusion in Ghana’s digital transformation. HealthTech for Seniors: SSNIT’s telehealth service is being welcomed by the National Pensioners Association as a way to improve access for over 270,000 retirees. Flood Response & Water Reliability: NADMO and Zoomlion launched a 12-week “No Do No Do” campaign to curb drain-blocking waste, while Kumasi faces water supply disruptions June 9–11 due to Barekese plant repairs. Environment & Corporate Reforestation: Telecel Ghana planted 10,000 seedlings for World Environment Day, adding to its 43,000-tree tally. Climate Finance Dialogue: Germany signalled readiness to directly support WASCAL’s Climate Change Action Now initiative in Ghana.

e-Visa Costs: Ghana’s new e-Visa platform could speed up tourism and trade, but analysts warn high visa fees for non-Africans may blunt the gains. Heat Tech for Sport: England is set to use palm-cooling devices at FIFA World Cup 2026 as venues face extreme heat, alongside hydration breaks. Medical Imaging Upgrade: HealthTech Ghana and the Ministry of Defence have opened a helium-free Philips BlueSeal 1.5T MRI and expanded diagnostics at 37 Military Hospital, with free scans for eligible patients for two weeks. Consumer Protection Tech: An AI expert urges Ghanaians to use mobile phones to verify products and fight counterfeits through a “VERIFY BEFORE YOU BUY” campaign. AI Music Investment: A $5.4bn valuation for Suno highlights how AI is reshaping Africa’s (and the world’s) music industry—and the legal questions that come with it. Smart Infrastructure for Floods: Commentators argue Accra needs a smarter, integrated flood solution like Malaysia’s SMART Tunnel, not repeated stop-gap drainage fixes. Tech Services Expansion: Smart Hands Africa adds Supermicro to its portfolio, offering installation, break-fix support, maintenance and consulting across multiple African markets including Ghana. Power & Health Systems: Coverage also flags how USAID funding cuts are pressuring Ghana’s health system, with the president calling out the budget impact.

Plastic-to-fuel Push: Accra’s AMA has signed a binding feedstock deal with Numatter Recycling Technologies (NRTL) for Ghana’s first industrial-scale plastic-to-fuel pyrolysis plant, targeting 100+ tonnes of plastic waste daily and producing petrol, diesel, kerosene and activated carbon. e-Visa Caution: Tourism analysts warn Ghana’s new e-Visa drive could lose competitiveness if visa costs for non-Africans stay high, even as the platform promises faster processing. Online Child Safety Debate: Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George is pushing age/ID verification for porn site access, but MPs like Matthew Nyindam say it won’t pass Parliament—while a security consultant argues lawmakers should design the right balance for privacy and protection. Heat Risk Research: An Oxford study flags Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Madurai among the world’s most heat-vulnerable cities, noting Ghana among countries with many high-risk urban centres. Regional Food Security: ECOWAS and partners launched a push for rice self-sufficiency by 2035, aiming to cut West Africa’s costly import dependence. Health Access Tech: SSNIT launched nationwide telehealth for pensioners, enabling remote doctor consultations via phone/video linked to NHIS details. Mining & Environment: WAMPEX 2026 opened in Accra calling for responsible mining and power; meanwhile, Ghana’s environment groups mark World Environment Day with renewed pressure to curb galamsey. Ghana in Global Rankings: Jeune Afrique/The Africa Report places Ghana 8th among Africa’s best-performing countries, scoring strongly on governance, influence and innovation.

Fulbright Research: Imaging science professor Anthony Vodacek is returning to Africa as a Fulbright Scholar to design a sensor network plan for monitoring the African Great Lakes, partnering with Makerere University and the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization. Border Security & Tech: A human security analyst urges calm over Interior Minister claims of 100+ unauthorised entry routes along the Volta-Togo border, stressing the need to track who uses informal pathways. Digital Safety Policy: Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George says Ghana is considering identity verification before accessing porn sites, using national ID systems to protect children. Waste-to-Value Jobs: Accra’s new 100-tonne-per-day plastic recycling plant (pyrolysis) is set to create about 1,500 jobs and aims to cut plastic in drains to reduce flooding. Payments Infrastructure: Interswitch partners with Temenos to expand managed banking services across Africa, targeting core banking and digital banking upgrades in Ghana and other markets. Media & Regulation: NCA and Tanzania’s broadcasting regulator deepen ties to benchmark funding and reforms for public service broadcasting. Power & Cities: ECG reports a technical outage affecting parts of Accra West, while Ga East and NADMO demolish structures blocking waterways to reduce flooding. STEM & Skills: A new study finds Ghanaian IT students value database courses but want more practical preparation for real workplace demands. Drone Sports: Ghana Air Sports Federation launches the DGN Drone League and Zen Palms Drone Championship to train and select drone athletes from schools nationwide.

Education & Skills: AELTA warns Africa’s education reforms are being slowed by English teacher shortages and a widening digital skills gap among educators, calling for more teacher professional development and stronger digital infrastructure. Legal Profession: Ghana’s Supreme Court appearance of junior counsel Joyce Serwaa Amihere has reignited debate on whether newer lawyers should appear unaccompanied by senior counsel. Media & Press Freedom: The Ghana Journalists Association will honour the Ghana News Agency and others on World Press Freedom Day, with training and awards aimed at safer, stronger reporting. Higher Education Quality: GTEC flags 70 unrecognised universities and colleges, urging students to verify accreditation before enrolling. Regulation & Public Health: The FDA says only 12 blood banking facilities meet licensing compliance, pushing stakeholders to accelerate blood safety regulation and hemovigilance systems. Electric Mobility: DACF and Wahu Mobility plan a national rollout of 5,000 smart electric motorcycles, starting with a 280-eMoto pilot for MMDAs. Industry & Investment: Ghana secures a Hyundai manufacturing plant deal with South Korea, alongside broader cooperation in AI, energy and critical minerals. Trade & Logistics: World Bank reports West Africa power integration is expanding cross-border electricity trade and access. Environment & Safety: Journalists in Ashanti get support for environmental reporting and personal safety ahead of World Environment Day. Agribusiness: Cocoa farmers warn persistent price volatility is undermining livelihoods and investment.

UK–Ghana Growth Partnership: President Mahama and the UK signed a £215m (2026–2028) Growth Partnership to boost jobs, trade, infrastructure and skills, including a £101m ship repair and dry-docking project for Takoradi. Digital Government: Ghana opened bids to digitise national public records under the World Bank-backed Ghana Digital Acceleration Project, aiming to speed access and preserve archives. Education & Skills: Africa Skills Hub rebranded to ASH Africa as it expands its 10-year mission across the continent, targeting youth, women and SMEs. E-Visa Caution: A tourism analyst says Ghana’s new e-Visa system could boost travel and trade, but high visa fees for non-Africans may hurt competitiveness. Agriculture Data: Government identified about 515,000 hectares of rice land using satellite mapping to attract investment and cut import dependence. Biosecurity: West African experts met in Accra to strengthen pest risk analysis against invasive threats costing Africa about US$7bn yearly. Health & Engineering: Ghana commissioned a Specialists Training Centre at Pantang and highlighted a wind-solar microgrid powering rural health centres. Environment & Waste: Reporting flags sulphuric acid and lead from used car batteries poisoning Ghana’s soil.

Healthcare Tech: SSNIT has launched a nationwide Telehealth Service for 267,000 retirees, using a digital platform for remote consultations, electronic prescriptions to connected community pharmacies, and referrals when physical checks are needed. Flood Engineering: Ghana Institution of Engineers’ new president says Accra’s flooding can only be tackled by compulsory rainwater harvesting and temporary on-site storage, with a policy note pushing developers to include storage infrastructure. Industrial Push: Ghana and South Korea agreed new deals in Seoul, including a West Africa Hyundai automotive manufacturing plant in Ghana, a new university, and solar irrigation systems—plus deeper cooperation in AI, energy and critical minerals. Mining Governance: The Damang Gold Mine lease ratification gap is under scrutiny after E&P began selling gold before Parliament approved the arrangement, highlighting a legal deadline problem in Ghana’s mining oversight. AI & Consumer Tech: Samsung Ghana unveiled its 2026 Vision AI Mini LED TV with a dedicated football mode for sharper fast action during the World Cup. Youth & Jobs: YEA started stakeholder consultations on a Domestic Services Module to formalise training, certification and supervision for domestic workers. Digital Inclusion: Ghana’s One Million Coders programme reportedly passed 12,000+ course completions, extending AI and digital skills access.

WASSCE Fairness Debate: New research argues West Africa’s school-leaver exam questions can carry cultural bias through language and everyday references, raising questions about what “ability” really means across countries. Health Equity Spotlight: Ghanaian global health researcher Dr. Godfred Boateng is highlighted for work linking disease outcomes to inequality, poverty, and environmental pressures. Anti-Fraud Legal Pressure: A legal analysis warns Ghana’s fight against financial crime can be slowed by “execution” challenges, including political exposure and increasingly AI-enabled fraud. Ghana–South Korea Industrial Push: Ghana and South Korea plan deeper cooperation in AI, manufacturing and energy, including a West Africa Hyundai automotive plant and a new Ghana university, plus solar irrigation. Investor Confidence & SME Funding: Bank of Ghana says it’s expanding private sector credit and working to make projects “investment-ready,” while a new SME funding database aims to bridge Ghana’s multi-million cedi funding information gap. Digital Economy Stress Test: Consumers and businesses in Tema complain of deteriorating mobile network quality, affecting calls, internet speeds and mobile money transactions. Flood Tech Fixes: GhIE urges a shift to rainwater harvesting and better drainage to tackle Accra flooding. Policy for Food Security: Government signals rice import permits will be tied to verified local production partnerships to cut import dependence. Care Work Formalisation: YEA begins consultations on a Domestic Services Module to train, certify and supervise care and household work. Court Watch: Accra High Court dismisses TMPC’s bid to stop a case brought by GAMPA, letting the regulatory dispute proceed to trial.

Digital Skills Momentum: Ghana’s One Million Coders Program has passed 12,000+ course completions, with 12,623 reported after Phase Two kicked off on 11 May 2026—showing fast-growing demand for coding and employability pathways. AI in Healthcare Safety: The Ghana Association of Radiologists warns diagnostic centres against issuing AI-generated radiology reports without a licensed doctor’s sign-off, stressing patient safety and legal risk. Agri Logistics App: AgroCart (Usoft Solutions) launches a ride-hailing style marketplace linking farmers and traders to cargo drivers, using real-time matching and a secure in-app payment hold to cut post-harvest losses. Flood & Drainage Reform: Ghana Institution of Engineering calls for a radical overhaul of stormwater management, blaming clogged drains, waste, and fragmented agency control, and pushing nature-based, decentralised solutions. Ghana-UK Investment Push: Ghana and the UK sign a £215m Growth Partnership (2026–2028), including a £101m Takoradi ship repair/dry-dock facility and a green project preparation fund to unlock more infrastructure deals. Maritime Jobs & Capacity: The Takoradi Floating Dock/ShipRite project is set to create up to 430 jobs (30% for women), strengthening Ghana’s Gulf of Guinea maritime hub role. Mining Sovereignty Debate: The Tarkwa lease renewal fight heats up as calls grow for Ghanaian ownership and security of tenure for mining firms—while critics warn investor confidence and capital needs could be harmed. Tech & Aviation Ops: SITA buys Big Blue Analytics to roll out an AI disruption recovery tool for airlines, aiming to cut operational downtime costs. Plastic Waste Reality Check: Ghana generates about 1.1m tonnes of plastic waste yearly, but less than 2% gets recycled—fueling clogged drains, polluted coasts, and worsening flooding impacts.

Tertiary Quality Watch: GTEC warns the public about 70 unrecognised institutions, including 14 operating in Ghana, urging due diligence before enrolling or accepting certificates. Digital Identity & Interoperability: Digi Yatra hits a major milestone after an IATA trial validated cross-border interoperability using verifiable credentials and e-passport data, while Margins CEO argues digital identity must be built for interoperability from day one. Consumer Tech & Safety: CDA Consult’s “Verify Before You Buy” campaign pushes manufacturers, dealers and regulators to tackle counterfeit and unsafe goods using traceability and authentication. Biometrics in the Spotlight: The FBI seeks industry input on biometric algorithms for NGI modernization, and Malaysia moves to mandatory age checks for social media via MyDigital ID. Cybersecurity Risk: A GitHub exposure tied to a contractor supporting CISA raises concerns about credential handling and privileged access in government tech ecosystems. Climate & Rights: A landmark African Court climate case asks what duties states have under human rights law to protect people from climate harm. Ghana-UK Investment Push: President Mahama pitches a 24-hour, export-driven, tech-led economy at the Ghana–UK Investment Summit, citing £1.5bn+ bilateral trade and new infrastructure plans. STEM & Gender Pipeline: MIIF backs over 90 female STEM students in mining communities, expanding the pipeline into technical and managerial roles.

Korea-Africa Diplomacy: South Korea hosted its first ministerial meeting with 50 African countries in Seoul to push joint responses to supply-chain shocks, energy and food security, with Ghana’s Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa co-chairing. Ghana-UK Agribusiness Push: Daniel Acquaye leads an Agri-Impact delegation to the Ghana–UK Investment Summit in London, pitching agribusiness as an investment hub beyond subsistence. Tech Policy in Focus: Ghana’s NITA Bill debate heats up as Communications Minister Sam George defends the consultation process, while tech consultant Derek Laryea says fears were driven by earlier drafts and urges careful, innovation-friendly regulation. Power Reliability Upgrade: ECG begins a GH¢34m transformer replacement at Batsona to boost capacity and reduce outages, with planned maintenance outages listed for Accra East and West. Anti-Galamsey Enforcement: GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi announces 10 high-tech speedboats for NAIMOS to patrol river bodies and strengthen traceability of gold sources. Skills & Jobs: Vivo Energy Ghana signs an MoU with ATI to train informal mechanics through structured apprenticeships, while TVET graduation ceremonies spotlight skilled youth as the route to employment. Language & Culture: Chinese language interest grows in Ghana, highlighted by a UCC student winning the Chinese Bridge contest and earning a spot for the global finals.

Mining Modernisation: Damang Gold Mine (indigenous) begins a phased US$250m fleet expansion, bringing 52 heavy machines to boost output and efficiency. Tax & AI in Practice: Ghana Revenue Authority says its Publican AI system added about GH¢1bn in customs revenue in April, aiming to cut discretion and revenue leakages. Digital Payments Sovereignty: Ghana’s mobile money surge is reigniting debate on whether value stays local, with calls for stronger domestic payment rails. Education & STEM Access: DBI District breaks ground for Upper West’s first Special STEM SHS and hands out 600 dual desks. Agritech Insurance: TEMBO Africa pilots Germination Index Insurance in Northern Ghana, using rainfall thresholds to trigger payouts without physical loss checks. Public Health Tech: VALD urges integrating AI and digital tools into Ghana’s tobacco control as marketing shifts online and into packaging. Flood Governance: Engineers argue Accra flooding is driven more by indiscipline and blocked waterways than poor drainage design. Campus Housing Pressure: A debate continues on whether hostel rent controls can fix Ghana’s student accommodation crunch. Regional Diplomacy: South Korea hosts senior officials from 50 African countries in Seoul to coordinate responses to global challenges. Xenophobia Alarm: ACCP calls on AU/AfCFTA to intervene as xenophobic attacks in South Africa disrupt travel and trade. Local Tech & Leadership: Telecom expert Togbe Kangba Dzobo III is enstooled as Chief of Anfoega Tokorme. Weather Disruption: Severe rainstorm damages property in Adaklu Kodzobi Ando, displacing containers and destroying business equipment.