Author: newsfilegh

A heated panel discussion on Joy Newsfile has reopened debate over the efficiency, risks and transparency of Ghana’s GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana’s gold-linked programmes, with policy analyst Bright Simons arguing that claimed economic benefits do not eliminate the need for rigorous scrutiny of costs and losses. Simons, vice-president in charge of research at the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, said policies designed for national benefit must still be assessed for efficiency, even when they are not profit-driven. He compared the GoldBod to other statutory policy institutions such as COCOBOD, noting that while COCOBOD exists primarily to support…

Police in the Eastern South Regional Command are investigating five men arrested for allegedly posing as officials of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and extorting money from miners, authorities said. The suspects, Moses Tapiam (43), Christopher Amakoh (29), Casimir Nunekpeku (29), Wisdom Miwonuko (35), and Paul Agbanu (53), were taken into custody on Friday, January 2, 2026, after reports that they were moving from one mining site to another in Akwadum, near Kibi in the Abuakwa South Municipality, demanding money while dressed in security-style uniforms. According to a police press statement dated January 3, the men claimed to…

GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi has strongly defended Ghana’s Gold-for-Reserves (G4R) programme, insisting that what critics describe as “losses” are intentional strategic costs that have delivered substantial national economic gains. Speaking during a panel discussion on Joy NewsFile, Mr Gyamfi explained that the G4R policy was never designed as a profit-making venture. Rather, it was introduced by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) in response to a deep macroeconomic crisis that had left the country unable to borrow foreign currency to stabilise the cedi. “The Bank of Ghana did not wake up one day and say we want to trade…

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, has dismissed a petition alleging the unlawful involvement of unlicensed and investigated persons in the board’s operations, describing the claims as misleading and unsupported by evidence. Speaking during a panel discussion, Gyamfi clarified that an individual named Roger, cited in the petition, is not licensed by GoldBod and does not work for the board in any capacity. He explained that Roger serves only as a consultant to Barrock, an entity licensed by GoldBod, stressing that consultancy arrangements do not amount to regulatory control or operational authority within the…

GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi has offered an extensive clarification of the Ghana GoldBod’s trading model, pushing back against what he described as persistent misinformation about the state gold trading system and the role of licensed buyers, particularly aggregators. Speaking during a panel discussion on Joy Newsfile hosted by Lawyer Samson Lardy Anyenini, Mr Gyamfi addressed claims that a single company is the sole buyer of gold for the Gold Board, describing the narrative as a fundamental misunderstanding of how the institution operates. He explained that GoldBod runs a structured four-tier licensing regime designed to ensure broad participation, accountability…

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has confirmed that the 2025/2026 academic calendar for Senior High Schools (SHS) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTS) remains unchanged, while outlining provisions for online and off-campus learning for students in transition schools. In an immediate release dated January 2, 2026, GES management said the calendar issued at the start of the academic year is still in force, urging heads, teachers, students, parents and other stakeholders to take note of the arrangements. Under the single-track system, Forms One and Two will report from January 5 to February 27, 2026, resume from May 4, and end…

Ghana police have arrested three suspects and recovered firearms during intelligence-led robbery operations in Afienya and surrounding communities in the Greater Accra Region. The arrests were carried out by the Police Service’s Special Support Unit following reports of a series of robberies in Afienya, Atadeka, Apollonia and nearby areas. The suspects, identified as Seth Noi Tetteh, also known as “Wonder”, Selasie Emmanuel and Sulemana Osman, were picked up between 24 and 26 December 2025. Police said Seth Noi Tetteh was first arrested at the Atadeka Police Station in connection with multiple robbery incidents. During interrogation, he admitted involvement in several…

Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has called on the Government of Ghana to translate recent education policy commitments into tangible and equitable outcomes as the country enters a critical phase of its education reform journey. In a New Year message, the civil society organisation commended government and stakeholders for transitioning electoral promises into actionable policies and integrating them into the Education Strategic Plan through the Education Sector Medium Term Development Plan (2026–2029). Eduwatch said the inclusive policy-making approach has strengthened coherence and continuity, positioning the sector to meet equity and quality targets ahead of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal 4 deadline.…

Police have arrested a man suspected of unlawfully possessing and attempting to sell a firearm in Accra, following intelligence-led operations by the Special Support Unit to the Inspector-General of Police. The suspect, identified as Abdulai Ibrahim, was arrested on December 29, 2025, at Sodom and Gomorrah after allegedly arranging to meet prospective buyers to complete the sale of an assault rifle. Police said the operation was mounted after information indicated the suspect was in possession of the weapon and intended to dispose of it within the Greater Accra Region. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect presented a box containing a…

Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a daylight armed robbery at a jewellery shop in Adabraka, Accra, during which GH¢7.5 million was stolen on November 2, 2024. The Ghana Police Service said the arrest followed months of sustained, intelligence-led operations by the Office of the Special Operations Assistant to the Inspector-General of Police. The suspect, identified as Salim Mohammed, also known as Fariwata, was arrested on November 20, 2025, at a hospital in Ashaiman, where he had gone to seek medical attention. According to police, the stolen money represented proceeds from a gold transaction that were being transported…