AGP Executive Report

Water & Sanitation: Gold Fields Ghana Foundation and World Vision handed over a sustainable water system to Damang residents, adding rehabilitated boreholes, a 100-cubic-metre reservoir, solar pumping, standpipes and household connections for 200+ homes, schools and health facilities. Lagoon Restoration: The Tema Traditional Council is calling for urgent action to restore Sakumo Lagoon’s ecological health, warning siltation, weeds and human activity are worsening flooding and threatening the Ramsar wetland. Climate-Ready Cities: IOM Ghana urged Accra authorities to fold migration and climate change into local planning, including better migrant data and flood-risk and waste-to-livelihood solutions in Old Fadama. Community Health: AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi backed preventive care with its second 2026 Community Mini Clinic, saying 20,000+ people have benefited since 2021. Plastic & Waste Skills: GAIA Africa and GAYO began the in-person Africa Zero Waste Academy in Kpong to train young waste practitioners on local zero-waste systems. Mining Governance Clash: ICU-Ghana and other groups are pressuring President Mahama over the proposed sale of a 70% VALCO stake, while GIADEC denies claims linking Ibrahim Mahama to any acquisition. Policy Watch: NDPC started a workshop to firm up Ghana’s Human Capital Development Strategy, targeting skills, health and education outcomes.

IMF Greenlights Ghana’s Next Step: The IMF Executive Board is set to approve Ghana’s final ECF review and a 36-month Policy Coordination Instrument, unlocking about US$318m and guiding reforms after the bailout. Sanitation Push: Oforikrom’s MCE is urging more funding for household toilets to tackle open defecation, while Accra-Tema residents call for stricter sanitation law enforcement. Plastic Pollution Fight: The Ghana Medical Association wants Ghana to extend the styrofoam phase-out to all single-use plastics, linking waste to blocked drains and flooding. Mining & Land Rights: Apinto Divisional Council urges government not to renew Gold Fields’ Tarkwa lease, citing degraded Apinto lands and calling for Ghanaian ownership and community stakes. Climate-Smart in the West: Friends of Nation pilots climate-smart solutions in Ellembelle, Jomoro and Nzema East, including school roofing and fish-pond fencing. Agriculture Under Pressure: Upper East women farmers get hope from biochar training as fertiliser prices keep rising. Road Safety Court Case: A lawyer sues DVLA and NIC over registration, licensing and insurance of Toyota Voxy Noah vehicles, alleging non-compliance with standards. Jobs vs Growth Debate: An editorial and budget commentary warn that macro recovery must translate into youth jobs, not just improved indicators.

Flood Governance & Planning Failures: A new feature argues Ghana’s recurring urban flooding is not just about rainfall, but about weak enforcement of planning rules, drainage neglect, and encroachment on wetlands—calling for sustained implementation, not post-disaster reactions. Local Climate Action: Eight district assemblies pledged to speed up climate adaptation plans after recent floods, moving from risk assessments to financing and real projects. Sanitation Accountability: M-CODE urged stronger sanitation education and tougher assembly action—regular drain dredging, waste collection, and enforcement of sanitation by-laws—while another report calls for sanctions against officials who approve illegal developments in waterways and flood-prone areas. Women in Mining: Friends of the Nation pushed for at least 30% of the Mineral Development Fund to support women’s needs in mining communities through gender-responsive guidelines. Green Cover in Sunyani: ASA Savings and Loans donated 500 seedlings to schools to restore fading greenery and improve resilience to heat and storms. Creative Economy Funding Gap: A critique says Ghana’s promised Film Fund and Creative Arts Fund are missing from the Mid-Year Budget Review updates.

Autism Care Access: Ghana is being urged to set up community autism units so families don’t have to travel long distances for support, with advocates warning that isolation and stigma can limit children’s independence. Flood Risk & Accountability: A call is growing for strict sanctions against officials who approve illegal developments in waterways and flood-prone areas, as experts say flooding is driven by poor environmental management and weak enforcement—not just rainfall. Local Climate Action: Eight district assemblies have pledged to speed up climate adaptation plans, moving from risk assessments to financing and real projects after recent floods. Aviation & Wildlife Safety: A landfill near Sunyani Airport is raising bird-strike fears, with regulators warning it should meet international distance standards to protect aircraft. Energy Transition Financing: Ghana’s energy minister says financing is the biggest barrier to unlocking Africa’s energy potential, urging coordinated investment and stronger regional power trade. Housing Pressure: Government officials highlight a 1.8 million unit housing deficit and rapid urbanisation, calling for affordable housing, slum upgrading, and climate-resilient urban planning. Creative Economy Funding Gap: The creative sector is questioning whether promised Film and Creative Arts funds are being released, as the mid-year review reportedly omitted updates. Youth & Agriculture Innovation: Youth are being pushed to see agriculture as an opportunity, with cocoa-focused innovation efforts linking academia and industry. Tree Planting for Heat Resilience: A Sunyani greening push is underway through school-based seedling donations to restore lost green cover and improve learning conditions.

Flood accountability: Eco Impact Network is calling for sanctions against officials who approve illegal developments in waterways and flood-prone areas, saying Ghana’s flooding is driven by poor environmental management and weak enforcement—not just rainfall. Sanitation enforcement: Accra-Tema residents want stricter sanitation law enforcement, including action against landlords and businesses that fail frontage cleaning, with calls for faster prosecution of repeat offenders. Open defecation push: In Upper West, traditional leaders are urged to lead behaviour change to end open defecation, but with stronger support from MMDAs. Mining and land impacts: Apinto chiefs oppose renewal of Gold Fields Tarkwa’s lease and demand Ghanaian ownership and community participation, citing large-scale land degradation. Galamsey justice: Commentators say Wontumi’s sentencing should open the floodgates for more galamsey prosecutions. Energy transition: The Energy and Green Transition Minister says financing is the biggest barrier to Africa’s energy potential, urging coordinated investment and regional power trade. Renewables and access: REA targets universal electricity access by 2060 and unveils a 3.7GW renewable manufacturing plan. Food safety: FDA shuts down dozens of food facilities over safety breaches. Water and climate: A personal account from Germany highlights how forest destruction and environmental neglect worsen flooding at home. Youth and jobs: Volta Youth Development Fund disburses GH¢100,000 to youth entrepreneurs, while MPs warn economic gains won’t matter without jobs. Agri inputs: Yara launches new fertilisers to boost yields and support sustainable farming. Trade calm: ECOWAS helped resolve Ghana-Nigeria onion truck detentions, releasing consignments to avoid further losses. Creative sector funding gap: A critique says Ghana’s promised Film Fund and Creative Arts Fund are missing from the mid-year review updates.

Oil Palm Deal: Ghana is finalising a $500m World Bank financing agreement to scale large-scale commercial oil palm, with land banks and drone-surveyed land in the Western Region to cut investment risk. Gas-to-Power Push: Government is also advancing a modular gas processing facility (100m scfd) and a 1,200MW state gas-fired power plant, with environmental and financial work underway for deals before end-2026. Methane Cuts Across Africa: A new report says methane reductions are achievable in Ghana and other oil-and-gas countries using existing tools like leak repair and better flaring—though costs depend on regulation, infrastructure and financing. Galamsey Accountability: A 20-year jail term for Chairman Wontumi is being framed as a turning point, with experts urging enforcement to target financiers who fund illegal mining that damages water, forests and farmland. Food Safety Crackdown: The FDA shut down 44 food facilities, including sachet water and cold stores, for operating without licences or under unhygienic conditions. Drowning Prevention: WHO launched the “PROTECT” package with seven strategies, warning that climate change and flooding are raising drowning risks. Climate Local Action: Ghana’s climate minister urged MMDAs to set up climate units and act locally, since impacts vary by community. Research Capacity: University of Ghana commissioned a $500,000 upgraded HPC facility to boost climate research and AI. Energy & Environment Jobs: The 24-hour economy programme says it is moving from policy to delivery, with major projects including solar and industrial parks aimed at jobs and industrial growth.

Waste Emergency Call: Jospong Group’s Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong says Ghana’s escalating waste crisis should be treated as a national emergency, citing about 13,000 tonnes of waste daily and weak collection—urging urgent, coordinated action. Sanitation Leadership: Chiefs in the Upper West are urged to champion an end to open defecation, with traditional leaders leading by example as sanitation becomes a key performance indicator for MMDCEs. Floods, Not Afterthoughts: A CSIR-backed push argues Ghana must stop treating floods like surprises and instead plan with science—mapping flood-prone areas, clearing drains, and building early warning systems. Plastics Pressure: A new look at Ghana’s plastic problem highlights low recycling rates and the scale of daily plastic waste, warning that what happens after disposal is the real crisis. Mining & Land Damage: Apinto Divisional Council in Tarkwa accuses Gold Fields of degrading over 4,000 hectares and falling short on roads, schools and healthcare—while calling for stronger local mining benefits. Cocoa Governance: Government plans a new COCOBOD Bill guaranteeing farmers at least 70% of gross FOB price, aiming to modernise cocoa pricing and financing. Energy Transition Debate: ASEC welcomes mid-year energy moves but warns against expanding thermal power without matching renewables investment. Flood Relief: The UAE launches urgent humanitarian support for victims of Ghana’s June 29 floods, including food and emergency shelter.

Wafcon Kick-off in Morocco: The Atlas Lionesses’ Women’s Africa Cup of Nations starts Sunday in Rabat, running to Aug 16, with 16 teams in four groups and Morocco chasing a first title after recent finals heartbreak. Energy & Environment Watch: Ghana’s Mid-Year Budget flags a 100m standard cubic feet/day modular gas processing push and a 1,200MW state gas plant at Kafodzidzi-Abrobeano—moves aimed at energy security, jobs and lower generation costs. Flood Relief: The UAE launches urgent humanitarian aid for flood-hit Ghana, targeting food and shelter for tens of thousands displaced after last month’s deadly rains. Sanitation as Security: GAMA-SWP says sanitation is a national security and economic issue, urging stronger national coordination and accountability beyond municipal blame. Green Business Spotlight: Ghana Garden and Flower Movement unveils the 2026 theme “Green Means Business, Beauty and More,” linking green spaces to tourism, jobs and climate resilience. Cocoa Rights Alarm: Swiss chocolate maker Lindt faces a US lawsuit over alleged child labour in cocoa sourced from Ghana and Ivory Coast. Transport Upgrade: Government sets GH¢400m for high-capacity buses to improve public transport and reduce commuter pressure. Rail in Kumasi: KMA and GRDA renew plans to protect railway lands and integrate rail into Kumasi’s long-term urban mobility plans. Youth & Health: UNFPA urges families to equip adolescent girls with sexual and reproductive health knowledge to cut preventable maternal deaths.

Corporate Governance: SSNIT says it’s strengthening oversight of investee companies with a new reporting framework for board representatives, pushing better strategic reporting and engagement to protect pensioners’ interests. Women’s Livelihoods: MIHOSO’s Village Savings and Loan Associations are scaling rural women’s financial empowerment in Bono East, though COVID-19 exposed weaknesses like weak records and defaults. Sanitation & Public Health: GAMA-SWP warns sanitation is a national security issue, calling for a National Sanitation Authority to fix fragmented responsibilities and curb costly losses from poor sanitation. Environment Accountability: An essay argues some Ghanaian firms’ glossy sustainability reports don’t match on-the-ground pollution and waste, urging transparent tracking and real pollution controls. Forestry & Timber Sustainability: The Forestry Commission is planting trees and sensitising schools under the Tree for Life initiative, while a Kumasi forum brings timber stakeholders together to improve legality, traceability and sustainable supply. Flood Risk & Planning: A Ghana-focused analysis links urban flooding to planning failures and encroachment on wetlands and drainage channels. Trade & Exports: GEXIM and GHIB sign an MoU to boost export finance and market access, while GEPA and the Netherlands’ CBI back non-traditional exports, including horticulture. Economy & Policy (context): In the Mid-Year Budget Review, government highlights major spending, energy sector payments, and a shift toward sustaining reforms after IMF support. Human Rights & Supply Chains: Lindt faces a US lawsuit alleging child labour in cocoa from Ghana and Ivory Coast, raising fresh pressure on ethical sourcing.

Petroleum Quality Oversight: The Auditor-General says about 87 million litres of petrol were distributed without mandatory petroleum marking, risking consumer safety and possible losses to the UPPF and the state. Climate Governance: The Climate Change Minister says Ghana will set up Climate Change Units in all MMDAs to push local resilience and better climate finance coordination. Ocean Biodiversity: Ghana has launched steps to implement the BBNJ ocean biodiversity treaty, with MEST and UNDP starting enabling activities to strengthen ocean governance. Flood Relief: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints delivered relief supplies to NADMO for flood-hit communities after record rainfall and deadly landslides. Health Summit Push: AU leaders and Ghana’s health officials meet in Accra to end AIDS and TB by 2030, cut maternal deaths, and boost local medicine production and domestic health financing. Wildlife Conservation: A Ghana-based conservationist is racing to protect critically endangered guitarfish as coastal landings show the species is vanishing fast. Food Affordability Pressure: A report highlights how cooking costs are soaring in the region, with climate and insecurity disrupting food supply chains. Shea Parklands: Global Shea Alliance marks Shea Day with calls to restore shea parklands and plant more seedlings across the shea belt.

Urban Sanitation & Flood Risk: Accra’s clean-up push is being questioned as heaps of refuse and choked drains still linger in places like Lapaz and Agbogbloshie nearly two weeks after the nationwide exercise, with waste left to decompose and waterways still clogged. Enforcement & Land Use: Kumasi’s KMA cleared about 500 unauthorised Bayakasua structures behind COCOBOD, citing sanitation, safety risks, and illegal utility connections, with police, armed forces, ECG and Ghana Water involved. Floods & Water Bodies: Nii Afotey Botwe II warns Accra will keep flooding unless rivers, lagoons and wetlands are protected from encroachment and indiscriminate dumping, calling for better waste management and recycling. Climate Action at Local Level: Upper West leaders are urged to treat climate impacts as an economic and governance emergency, with MMDAs integrating adaptation into budgets. Biodiversity Protection: Ghana’s Institute of Foresters hails the reversal of Achimota Forest declassification, saying restored protection matters for climate resilience and flood control. Fisheries Reset: The Fisheries Ministry outlines reforms including a Marine Protected Area at Cape Three Points and stronger action against illegal fishing. Galamsey & Justice: RMG Company denies links to allegations about illegal miners taking over the Apinto concession, while Chairman Wontumi’s 20-year sentence sparks debate over fairness and proportionality. Green Livelihoods: Shea Day renews calls to restore Africa’s shea parklands, including plans to plant 900,000 seedlings.

Mining Accountability: UP’s Solomon Owusu says Chairman Wontumi could have avoided his 20-year jail term by getting the required ministerial written approval before assigning mineral rights in Akonta Mining’s concession, as court findings linked him to unlawful rights transfer and facilitation of unlicensed mining. Responsible Gold: Ghana and the World Gold Council signed an MoU with an initial US$250,000 grant to formalise artisanal and small-scale mining, improve supply-chain integrity, and curb illegal gold trade. Wildlife & Aviation Safety: A landfill just 2.6km from Sunyani Airport is drawing birds and raising bird-strike fears, with GACL warning it falls short of international siting standards. Health Systems: The AU Extraordinary Health Session opened in Accra, pushing stronger domestic health financing and faster progress on AIDS, maternal deaths, and neglected diseases. Urban Nature Protection: President Mahama says Achimota Forest Reserve will not be sacrificed for private development, announcing steps to restore full protected status and digitise land records. Waste Management: The Local Government Minister urges MMDAs to continue mop-up clean-up after flood aftermath efforts to keep drains and waste evacuation on track. Insurance Access: SIC Life opens a new Goaso office to expand life insurance coverage. Sports & Environment Link: Ghana Sports Fund administrator reiterates the fund’s mandate to support all sports federations, not only football.

Illegal Mining Crackdown: Ghana’s first Marine Protected Area is threatened by galamsey pollution, with mercury and other toxins washing from inland sites into the coast—highlighting why enforcement must match conservation. Courtroom Deterrence: Chairman Wontumi’s 20-year jail term for illegal mining is being framed by many as a turning point that could push the galamsey fight beyond “protected” networks. Marine Protection Spotlight: A feature explains how Ghana’s Greater Cape Three Points MPA (declared April 2026) is meant to safeguard biodiversity across 21 communities—while warning of the marine crisis from poisoned rivers. Health Summit (AU): President Mahama hosts an AU Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra focused on ending AIDS and TB, cutting maternal deaths, and strengthening health systems—plus calls for stronger domestic financing. Digital Skills for Schools: Telecel Ghana Foundation commissions a refurbished 20-unit ICT lab for Asikuma students, urging use, protection and growth of the facility. Cybersecurity Training: Check Point and Kingrich Foundation launch Ghana’s first SecureAcademy to train youth for prevention-first cyber defence. Clean Ports Push (Regional): Nigeria’s PEBEC plans to cut cargo clearance time from 21 to seven days, using scanners and coordinated inspections to reduce delays and costs. Cocoa Market Watch: Cocoa prices edge up on short covering as demand signals and supply shipments from key origins stay in focus.

ECOWAS Single Currency Push: ECOWAS leaders at the 69th summit in Lungi, Sierra Leone reaffirmed plans to launch the ECO in 2027, with qualifying states adopting first and others supported to join later. Galamsey Accountability: Jatikay Centre welcomed the 20-year hard-labour conviction of Chairman Wontumi for illegal mining at Samreboi, calling it a signal that Ghana’s forests and rivers must be protected through consistent rule of law. Climate Planning Boost: NDPC urged Ghana to integrate climate information into development decisions after GMet presented the Ghana Climate Atlas, offering projections from national to district and agro-ecological levels. Marine Biodiversity Governance: MESTI inaugurated a BBNJ Steering Committee to strengthen Ghana’s preparedness to conserve marine biodiversity beyond territorial waters. Fisheries Regulation Review: Ghana’s Fisheries Ministry held stakeholder consultations on Draft Fisheries and Aquaculture Regulations under Act 1146 to improve sustainable management. Coastal Erosion Debate: Activists renewed calls to speed up the WACA ResIP 2 sea defence rollout, warning Southern Volta’s coast is being left exposed. Food & Health Risks: WHO-linked cancer prevention concerns highlighted air pollution as a risk factor, while Ghana’s public health message urged earlier detection and awareness.

Illegal Mining Crackdown: Jatikay Centre backs the 20-year hard-labour conviction of NPP’s Chairman Wontumi (Bernard Antwi Boasiako) for illegal mining at Samreboi, calling it a signal that accountability must beat impunity to protect forests and rivers. Maritime Security: The Ghana Navy receives EU-donated outboard motors and scuba diving gear to boost anti-piracy, surveillance, and underwater operations in the Gulf of Guinea. Fisheries Governance: Fisheries and Aquaculture Regulations are under stakeholder review in Takoradi, with groups pushing for workable rules on licensing, monitoring, conservation, and enforcement. Sanitation Accountability: M-CODE begins a one-week Upper East media-led drive to track MMDCE sanitation performance after sanitation became an MMDCE KPI. Policy & Planning Tools: NDPC and ICED partner to build a national evidence and gap map platform to guide development decisions, including environmental sustainability. Power & Renewables: Anloga District discusses a wind power project with VRA, targeting up to 75MW, as Ghana seeks more reliable energy.

Regional Security: ECOWAS leaders at the 69th summit in Sierra Leone heard Nigeria’s push for a united African response to xenophobic attacks in South Africa, with President Tinubu urging the issue be tabled at the African Union after Nigeria evacuated 1,490 citizens. Energy for Development: VRA CEO Edward Obeng-Kenzo stressed that reliable, affordable electricity is the make-or-break for Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy and industrial transformation. Power Infrastructure: Energy Minister Dr John Jinapor says the Anwomaso–Kumasi line upgrade will lift supply to Kumasi from 364MW to about 1000MW, with work compressed to three months. Investment & Jobs: GIPC and GIPA trained staff to improve investment promotion and aftercare, aiming to attract quality FDI for sustainable growth. Business Formalisation: ORC reaffirmed plans to expand business registration outreach, especially for informal operators. Environment & Agriculture: TCDA distributed 60,000 elite rubber seedlings to 135 farmers in the Western Region. Urban Clean-Up: KMA demolished 700+ unauthorized structures at Asafo “Tinker Island,” citing sanitation and public safety concerns.