Month: May 2025

Mr Seth Osei Akoto, Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima Mponua, has extended support to victims of the recent devastating rainstorm in Nyinahin, reaffirming his commitment to the welfare of his constituents during times of crisis.

The MP at a ceremony presented relief items such as roofing sheets and mattresses to the affected persons and their families.

The gesture, which was warmly received by community members and local officials, aims to provide immediate support as the victims work to rebuild their lives.

Mr Akoto, speaking at the ceremony, appealed for greater support from various stakeholders.

He urged the government, NGOs benevolent organizations and private individuals to help provide the needed support to the victims.
“While I have made this donation, I acknowledge that the scale of devastation is beyond the capacity of any one person to address fully.
It is time for all stakeholders, philanthropists, and organizations to come together to support our people,” Mr Akoto emphasized.

Mr Otuo Acheampong Rabi, Atwima Mponua District NADMO Director, who received the items on behalf of the victims, expressed profound gratitude to the MP for his thoughtful intervention.

He noted that the items would significantly ease the hardships being endured by the displaced families.

“The support from Mr Akoto comes at a critical time.
It shows that true leadership is about standing with the people during their most difficult moments,” Mr. Acheampong said.
Also present at the ceremony was the Assembly Member for Nyinahin Nkwanta Electoral Area, Mr Kwabena Karikari, who commended the MP’s commitment and responsiveness.

On behalf of the affected residents, he conveyed heartfelt appreciation for the timely support.

“This donation has brought hope to many families who have been left vulnerable after the storm.
We are grateful for the MP’s leadership and kindness,” Mr Karikari said.

Several of the victims, moved by the MP’s gesture, also shared their appreciation, describing the support as a “beacon of hope” in a time of despair.

The rainstorm that struck Nyinahin caused widespread destruction, leaving many families homeless and in urgent need of assistance.

Samuel Ofori Boateng

Emerging market currencies have made significant gains against the US dollar over the past two months. The dollar index, which measures the dollar’s strength against a basket of currencies, has fallen by 4.7% in April alone. Some notable emerging market currencies that have gained against the dollar include the euro, which has gained by 0.7 percent, the pound sterling, the Australian dollar, the Chinese yuan, and many more currencies.

These gains can be attributed to various factors, including:

•US-China trade tensions: The ongoing trade standoff has led to a decline in investor confidence in the US dollar.
•Federal Reserve monetary policy: The Fed’s interest rate decisions have influenced global capital flows, with a weaker dollar making emerging market assets more attractive.
•Global economic growth: Strong growth in emerging markets has attracted foreign investment, boosting their currencies.
In Ghana, the cedi has appreciated by some margin against the US dollar alone in April. The Ghanaian cedi has gained about 6.82% against the US dollar in April 2025, with the exchange rate decreasing from 15.49510 GHS per USD on April 2 to 14.43811 GHS per USD as of the end of the month.

Factors responsible include:

1. The tariff war, which has weakened the US economy.
2. Fiscal policy, which has remained constrained, with many jobs executed in 2024 still not being paid.
3. The central bank having pumped in about $1 billion from sources including the IMF.

It will be exciting and beneficial to the business community, both local and international, to see the Cedi in good shape for predictability and proper planning. A lot more has to be done in the area of revenue mobilization, and strict enforcement of some policies by the Central Bank.

Ghanamps.com

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, Mr. Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, says the government can waive taxes on educational materials and equipment for private schools, following appeals from some private university managements.

During visits to three private tertiary institutions in Accra, Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe assured private schools in the country of significant government support to complement their services. The Committee visited Wisconsin International University College Ghana, Accra College of Medicine and Regent University College of Science and Technology.

Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe told the management of these institutions that the Committee, along with the Ministers of Finance and Education, would work to support the educational policies and strategies of private universities in Ghana.

“There should be a partnership between government and private universities. We’ll continue to engage with the Ministers of Education and Finance to see what they can do for them. It may not require legislation, but rather a mutual understanding to secure that exemption,” the Chairman said.

He acknowledged the significant contribution of private universities in promoting quality education, stating, “As a committee, we’re happy that private universities are playing a major role.” He said “government cannot do it alone which is why we appreciate what they do.”

The Chairman also emphasized the importance of education for needy students and encouraged them to explore opportunities for student loans or GETFund.

At the Wisconsin International University College Ghana, Vice President of the institution, Dr. Lawrence Kannae, stressed the need for the government to provide research grants to teaching professors to promote research and make teaching and learning more beneficial to society.

According to him, a university without a strong research background cannot be considered among the best; new knowledge can only be generated through research. He stated that GETFund assistance should be extended to private universities and the GETFund Act amended to facilitate this support.

“We also contribute to the production of human resources for this country and beyond, so we deserve assistance in this regard. We’ve awarded scholarships to many brilliant but needy students and give them special attention,” Dr. Kannae said.

The visits aimed to identify challenges facing private tertiary institutions in the country and adopt pragmatic measures to support their academic activities.

Ghanamps.com

Minority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament and 3rd deputy speaker in the Community Parliament Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin delivering an incisive contribution at the Crans Montana Forum in Morocco painted a vivid picture of the obstacles stifling intra-African trade – chief among them include exorbitant port charges, logistical inefficiencies, and the absence of coordinated industrial policy across the continent.

Recounting a real-world example from a trade delegation he led to Morocco three years ago, the Ghanaian lawmaker revealed how a promising bilateral venture between Moroccan poultry exporters and Ghanaian agribusinesses collapsed due to port-related costs.

“Initially, it was more cost-effective to import poultry from Morocco than from Brazil or the Netherlands,” he said.
“But when the port charges and tariffs were added, the cost tripled. The Moroccan investors pulled out, and the opportunity was lost.”

That missed opportunity, he argued, is emblematic of a broader structural problem affecting Africa’s trade corridors and supply chains – one that repeatedly pushes African businesses to favor external markets over intra-continental ones.

Hon. Afenyo-Markin lamented that many landlocked nations like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso continue to depend heavily on coastal neighbors for access to global markets.

However, inefficiencies in port management, infrastructure, and security risks along key corridors like Dakar, Abidjan, Lomé, Tema, and Cotonou render regional trade uncompetitive.

“We talk about regional integration, yet transport networks between Ghana and Lagos remain underdeveloped. Modern rail connections are poor, and roads are riddled with inefficiencies, red tape, and sometimes insecurity,” he said.

He noted that while Africa boasts various regional blocs and frameworks – ECOWAS, SADC, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), their success hinges on proactive infrastructure planning and policy harmonization. Unfortunately, high costs, tariff mismatches, and poor corridor governance continue to undermine the continent’s potential.

According to Afenyo-Markin, Africa’s internal inefficiencies make it easier and cheaper to trade with Europe or Asia than with neighboring countries. This dynamic discourages local production, deepens dependency, and stifles industrialization.

The ECOWAS Deputy Speaker called for a renewed commitment to:

* Streamline port charges and customs procedures

* Invest in cross-border transport infrastructure

* Promote regional industrial policies to reduce destructive competition

* Foster trust and policy coordination across the continent

He cautioned that the exit of some Sahelian countries from ECOWAS complicates regional trade policy even further, introducing uncertainty around free movement, trade rules, and customs protocols.

“If we cannot build a fluid, predictable, and cost-effective regional trade system, then we leave our people with no choice but to look beyond Africa for trade,” he warned.

As discussions at the Crans Montana Forum intensified around peace, integration, and sustainable development, Afenyo-Markin’s intervention stood out as a sobering reminder of the urgency to move from rhetoric to reform, especially on trade and infrastructure.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Third Deputy Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin stirred one of the most poignant exchanges at the Crans Montana Forum as he raised critical concerns about Mali’s ballooning security expenditure and the rationale behind the country’s withdrawal from the ECOWAS bloc.

Addressing a panel featuring regional leaders and foreign ministers, Afenyo-Markin first commended Mali’s Foreign Minister for his declaration that “the peace of Mali means peace for Niger, Burkina Faso, and Morocco.”

He acknowledged the country’s ambition to chart a path of economic self-determination, citing its potential in agriculture and internal capacity- building. However, he queried the sustainability of spending 25% of the national budget on security, especially in a context of shrinking economic prospects.

“Spending a quarter of your budget on security is not sustainable in the long term,” he stated.

“What efforts is your government making to bring political actors to the table to negotiate peace and foster national reconciliation, which are critical to realizing the economic aspirations of the Malian people?”

He further probed whether Mali’s exit from ECOWAS reflected a deeper mistrust in the bloc’s peace and conflict resolution mechanisms, questioning the logic behind withdrawing from a regional community that has historically prioritized dialogue and integration.

The response from Mali’s Foreign Minister was both passionate and pointed.

“It is not about sustainability. It is about survival,” the Minister retorted. “Without that 25% allocation to security, I wouldn’t be here. Mali wouldn’t be here. We are under attack by Al- Qaeda and Daesh. We receive no external support. We are alone.”

He defended the government’s actions, asserting that Mali was not neglecting development, but rather pursuing a “multi-track” approach that includes agricultural investment, industrial growth, and infrastructure – despite the burden of security costs.

The Minister also addressed Afenyo-Markin’s inquiry about dialogue and reconciliation. He cited Mali’s 2021 National Dialogue and a subsequent “Inter-Malian Dialogue” which outlined a roadmap for peace and development. According to him, Mali is intentionally “domesticating” its peace process, refusing to allow its stability to be dictated from foreign capitals like Paris or Washington.

Turning to ECOWAS, the Minister laid out a searing critique of the bloc. He accused it of violating the spirit of integration and solidarity by imposing illegal sanctions, closing borders, and contemplating military action against Niger following the recent change in leadership there.

“When an organization that is supposed to protect me becomes the platform used to attack me, then I cannot trust it with my sovereignty,” he said, framing ECOWAS’ recent actions as being “instrumentalized by external actors”.

He argued that Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso’s collective resistance to ECOWAS interventions stemmed from a deep-seated fear of losing their sovereignty to an institution that had, in his words, “attacked its own DNA.”

The exchange indicated the fragile state of regional diplomacy and trust within West Africa, at a time when insecurity, coups, and contested legitimacy are reshaping geopolitical alliances.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com