AGP Executive Report

Climate Justice in Court: A landmark climate case is before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, with civil society asking judges to clarify states’ duties to protect people from climate harms and shift away from environmentally damaging economies. Waste Trade Rules: An opinion piece argues Africa’s own treaty could help fix global waste trade loopholes that enable toxic dumping and “toxic colonialism.” Flood Risk & Urban Planning: A commentary revisits Accra’s recurring flooding, blaming weak land-use planning and clogged drainage systems packed with refuse, urging a radical shift in flood management. Clean Water Push: Republic Bank inaugurated mechanized boreholes in Pwalugu and Dingoni after a documentary showed communities competing with animals for water—clean water as health and dignity. Responsible Mining Training: Government-backed training for small-scale miners in Eastern Region focuses on compliance, safety, and environmental protection to curb harmful illegal practices. Air Quality Monitoring: Breathe Accra expands municipal pollution data collection, aiming to map air pollution even where monitors are scarce. Consumer Safety: CDA Consult’s “Verify Before You Buy” campaign targets counterfeit and unsafe goods through public education and stronger collaboration with regulators.

Galamsey Crackdown: Ghana Gold Board CEO Sammy Gyamfi says illegal mining will face tougher enforcement, including procuring 10 high-tech speedboats to patrol river bodies and building a traceability system to track gold to its source. Toxic Battery Waste: New reporting warns unsafe disposal of sulphuric acid and lead from used car batteries is contaminating Ghana’s soil and groundwater, with UNICEF estimating over 1.7 million children at risk of elevated blood lead levels. Flood & Urban Planning: A commentary flags an emerging trend of vehicle sales points popping up across Accra, arguing it harms road safety and greenery and adds to environmental strain. Rural Roads & Access: The World Bank approves US$500m for Ghana’s Market Access and Connectivity Project, targeting feeder road rehabilitation and maintenance across multiple regions to cut transport costs and post-harvest losses. Health & Prevention: Ghana’s Health Service urges pregnant women to avoid tobacco and nicotine, warning of risks like premature birth and low birth weight. Skills for Jobs: TVET graduation coverage highlights skilled youth as a route to employment and industrial growth, while a separate item notes TTU’s innovation win at ARCTUG 2026.

Climate & Flood Risk: Ghana Water Ltd says Weija flooding is driven mainly by heavy rains and long-standing settlement planning failures, not dam spillage—while residents link recent damage to Weija Dam operations. Air Pollution Data: EPA is partnering with Columbia University to map PM2.5 across Ghana, even where monitors are missing, to better track health risks and pollution trends. Climate Finance for Resilience: Government commits over GH¢442m for climate disaster recovery and coastal protection, including resettlement after the 2023 Akosombo spillage and new coastal erosion and flooding interventions. Agriculture Insurance Innovation: TEMBO Africa is piloting germination index insurance for smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana, using rainfall triggers to pay out when early rains fail. Health & Tobacco Control: GHS urges pregnant women to avoid tobacco and nicotine ahead of World No Tobacco Day, while VALD calls for AI and digital tools to strengthen tobacco enforcement against fast-shifting online marketing. Public Health in Markets: AMA warns meat sellers over expired medical certificates and signals possible prosecution. Eye Health Screening: A free eye screening in Wa found only 98 of 1,123 children had normal vision, with most needing treatment or glasses. Menstrual Health Advocacy: Sensels School marks World Menstrual Hygiene Day with renewed calls to tackle stigma and improve access and support for girls. Governance & Environment Justice: A commentary pushes the idea of “Courts of the Living,” urging Ghana’s legal system to treat ecosystems and biodiversity as central to environmental decisions.

Land Restoration & Anti-Galamsey: Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah handed over sites for reclamation of 800 acres of galamsey-degraded land along the River Subile in Ellembelle (Anwia, Teleku-Bokazo and Nkroful), with Ecorestore Ghana and funding from Zijin Golden Ridge—aimed at restoring soil, ecology and long-term productivity. Domestic Violence Support: Government commissioned a new shelter for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, promising refuge and services like counselling, medical care, legal aid and psychosocial support. Fisheries Governance: Chief fishermen and queen fishmongers appealed for formal recognition of inland fishing communities and their leadership as key partners in Ghana’s fisheries development. Sanitation & Waste Jobs: BuzStopBoys says its clean-up and recycling push has grown into 15 youth groups and is asking for land and backing to expand plastic recycling into jobs. Eye Health for Children: A free screening in Wa found only 98 of 1,123 pupils had normal eyesight, with most needing treatment—under the BS4Ks project. Illegal Fishing Push: Ahead of Global IUU Day, canoe fishermen leaders urged stricter enforcement against illegal fishing to protect marine resources and livelihoods. Rural Roads: The World Bank approved US$500m for Ghana’s rural feeder and market access roads, targeting climate-ready designs and jobs for rural communities.

Rural Roads Boost: The World Bank approved a US$500m package for Ghana to improve at least 1,000km of rural agricultural and market access roads, aiming to cut transport costs, reduce travel time and post-harvest losses while creating thousands of jobs. Mosquito Resistance & Sanitation: A University of Ghana medical entomologist warned that widespread agricultural pesticide use is helping mosquitoes develop resistance to insecticides, while also urging stricter local sanitation enforcement to remove breeding sites like stagnant water and clogged drains. Cocoa Financing Shift: The Bank of Ghana says cocoa purchases for the 2026/27 season will be financed with $1bn raised from the domestic bond market, reducing reliance on foreign dollar funding. Transport Costs: GPRTU announced a 20% fare increase from June 2, citing higher fuel and vehicle maintenance costs. Climate-Linked Land Restoration: TreeAid Ghana and Nviron Hive launched a Yendi project targeting 100,000 trees planted, 100,000 regenerated and 1,000 hectares restored to support livelihoods and climate resilience. Tax Targets: GRA set a goal to reach GH¢310bn in tax revenue by 2028, pointing to digital enforcement to improve compliance.

World Bank Roads Boost: The World Bank approved a $500m Ghana Market Access and Connectivity Project to rehabilitate and maintain 1,000+ km of rural feeder roads, cutting transport costs and post-harvest losses while creating jobs for rural communities. Plastic Pollution Push: GIZ and partners launched InnoWaste, a youth-focused project turning plastic waste into livelihoods, while AERC Ghana backed EPA’s styrofoam and takeaway-pack ban effective Jan 2027—urging a nationwide foam-free transition plan so small vendors aren’t left behind. Nature Finance Deal: OmniBSIC Bank and Indelible/Pay2Nature signed a partnership to route small contributions from everyday payments into verified biodiversity projects, using blockchain-backed claims. Shea Value Chain + Parklands: TCDA and Golden Forest signed an MoU to invest in shea processing, research, and reforestation/restoration of shea parklands, with support for women cooperatives. Disaster Preparedness: NADMO reaffirmed its EU partnership to strengthen disaster preparedness, response, and coordination. Water & Mining Concerns: Communities in Oti Region urged transparency over Gyamonome iron ore exploration, citing worries about water pollution and compensation. Renewables in Parliament: Parliament plans solar installations to move from awareness to practical clean-energy action. Menstrual Health Call: Stakeholders marked Menstrual Hygiene Day, pushing a period-friendly Ghana where severe pain isn’t dismissed as “normal.”

Renewables Push: Ghana plans to scale up solar, mini-grids, rooftop systems and other off-grid renewables nationwide, moving from pilots to bankable projects at constituency level, with Parliament also set to install solar panels as a “from awareness to action” signal. Energy Policy: The Energy Commission is rolling out a national net-metering framework so households and businesses with rooftop solar can sell excess power back to the grid, alongside a PF-SEAP programme to cut public-sector electricity use and arrears. Public Health & Pollution: Ghana is stepping up action on lead poisoning risks, with journalists trained to report on contamination sources and prevention, while a global air-pollution report flags polluted air as a major driver of NCD deaths—especially in low- and middle-income countries. Waste to Wealth: The InnoWaste project launches to turn plastic waste into income through circular-economy jobs for women and youth, supported by local governance partners. Wildlife Reminder: A reflective piece notes the cuckoo’s decline in Ireland, underscoring how environmental change can silence familiar nature sounds. Climate & Conflict: Research warns war-driven emissions are pushing fragile systems closer to collapse, adding another layer to climate risk.

Mining Enforcement: EPA shuts down Gan-He Company Limited in Wassa Amenfi East over persistent environmental violations, including cyanide-laden tailings, contaminated water discharge, and missing permits. Flood Risk & Waste: Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo urges residents to stop dumping refuse into drains and avoid building on watercourses as flooding returns with the rainy season. Climate Resilience Tech: NADMO and UNESCO launch an AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot to improve “last mile” disaster risk communication for floods and droughts. Water Security Funding: ECA calls for urgent financing to close Africa’s water and sanitation gap, linking safe water to resilience and development. Indigenous Seeds: Bolgatanga Seed Fair pushes preservation of indigenous seeds to boost biodiversity and climate-resilient farming. Digital Divide: Telecel Ghana renovates an ICT lab for Achiase students, funded by staff donations. Identity Security: Incode reports zero bypasses in independent adversarial testing of its mobile biometric verification. Extractives Policy: Government backs a hybrid financing model for mining—keeping foreign participation while tightening revenue and local content rules.

Land Restoration & Galamsey Recovery: Govt launched an 800-acre reclamation drive in Ellembelle along the River Subile, aiming to restore degraded land, vegetation and water quality after mining damage, financed through a partnership with Zijin Golden Ridge. Energy Security: Tema Oil Refinery received about one million barrels of Shell’s Bonga crude via its tolling arrangement, a step toward stabilising refining output and cutting dependence on imported fuel. Climate & Flood Readiness: Ghana Meteorological Agency urged citizens to heed rainy-season advisories as rainfall becomes more erratic, and called for more investment in weather monitoring, radars and climate resilience systems. Digital Governance & Data Trust: Debate continues around Ghana’s NITA Bill, 2026, with calls for a binding national framework to stop failed or duplicated digital projects and improve accountability. Cybersecurity Risk: A professor warned that AI-enabled hacking is raising the stakes for Ghana’s fast-growing digital finance and governance systems. Mobile Money Consumer Protection: CUTS International praised Bank of Ghana for suspending a proposed 0.75% wallet-to-bank fee pending consultations. Health & Community Support: MTN Ghana begins its 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign (June 1–21) to equip health centres with beds, targeting gaps in access to care. Water Management: Water Resources Commission and University of Johannesburg signed an MoU to strengthen water governance, research and capacity building. Humanitarian Response: Ghana repatriated 300 citizens from South Africa amid xenophobic violence, prioritising vulnerable people facing harassment.

Galamsey Repair Drive: Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has kicked off a new 800-acre land reclamation and reforestation push at Nkroful in the Western Region, targeting degraded plots along the River Subri and handing the site to RM Ecorestore Ghana Limited, with funding linked to Zijin Golden Ridge Limited. Water Governance: The Water Resources Commission and the University of Johannesburg signed a three-year MoU to strengthen Ghana’s water management through research, innovation, and capacity building, including tackling pollution and scarcity. Marine Protection Planning: A marine spatial planning workshop stressed better coordination for fishing, transport, oil exploration and tourism, with stakeholders validating datasets and discussing nature-based solutions and payment for ecosystem services. Flood Fix Debate: Prof. Martin Oteng-Ababio says desilting the Odaw River won’t stop Accra’s flooding, urging upstream retention and slowing runoff instead of treating symptoms. Renewables Push: Ghana’s solar momentum continues, with new projects expanding clean power options and supporting the country’s renewable targets. Business Energy Costs: GNCCI is targeting a cut in energy-related spending for firms to about 20% to boost competitiveness, backed by an Energy and Climate Desk with GIZ. Eid Evacuation & Safety: Ghana repatriated the first batch of citizens from South Africa amid xenophobic tensions, while authorities promise reintegration support on arrival.

Productivity Push in the Civil Service: Ghana’s neighbours are turning the spotlight on public spending—Kenya’s Salaries and Remuneration Commission says the wage bill must be judged by results, not just pay, as it prepares a national productivity and performance conference. Local Governance & Water Security: In Ghana, the Local Government Service boss is urging stronger district systems to deliver Agenda 2063, while Accra’s flooding calls are getting louder—re-engineering drainage and enforcing rules on waterways. Investment Integrity: GIPC is warning against “fronting” for foreign investors, promising prosecutions. Cocoa Compliance: EU officials say Ghana is making progress on traceable, legal cocoa ahead of the EU deforestation deadline. Skills for Industry: President Mahama earmarked GH¢100m for Technical Universities in 2027, and the EPA confirmed a styrofoam ban from January 2027. Youth & Finance: A national youth investment and financial literacy programme is launched to boost financial skills and entrepreneurship.

EPA Styrofoam Ban: Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority has announced a nationwide ban on producing, importing, selling and using Styrofoam (polystyrene foam) effective January 1, 2027, covering takeaway packs, cups and plates, insulation and packaging—while medical/scientific uses may be exempt with approval. Public Money Under Scrutiny: A forensic audit into Ghana’s 2023 African Games hosting found GH¢580m+ in irregularities, including inflated contracts and procurement breaches, with recommendations for recovery and sanctions. Power Sector Pressure: NEDCo says it faces a GH¢5bn+ funding deficit, blaming gaps between approved tariff revenue and actual spending for maintenance and supply challenges in northern areas. Cocoa Push: COCOBOD targets about 650,000 tonnes for 2025/26 as a new farmer pricing framework aims to lift farmer compensation and stabilise sector financing. Youth & Skills: President Mahama says TVET must stop being treated as “second fiddle,” while GEA and partners train young women in cereal mix production with startup kits.

AU Day Push for Unity: Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister James Gyakye Quayson used Ghana’s AU Day ceremony to urge deeper African integration as the route to prosperity and global relevance. AI and Finance Ethics: Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang warned that AI must be used responsibly to strengthen financial markets, with strong accountability and regulation. Galamsey Pressure on Water: AU envoys and NAPRM-GC renewed calls to arrest galamsey financiers, warning polluted rivers could trigger severe water scarcity. Mining Investor Anxiety: Ghana’s Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah ruled out blanket nationalisation, promising case-by-case action to protect investor confidence. Styrofoam Crackdown: EPA announced a nationwide ban on EPS/Styrofoam products from Jan 1, 2027. Health and Infrastructure: World Bank urged Ghana to finish remaining works to fully operationalise Weija Paediatric Hospital. Food System Stress: CDM says bumper harvests are still turning into losses as markets and storage fail farmers. Latest Legal/Policy Watch: A minister requested seven days to review tilapia-related evidence before naming responsibility.

Weija Children’s Hospital Push: The World Bank is urging Ghana to open the Weija Paediatric Hospital fast, saying the 120-bed facility (US$10.15m) is ready but key work was still unfinished when the project closed. Cedi Pressure: The cedi extended its slide, weakening to 10.11% year-to-date against the dollar as forex demand bites. Digital Payments vs New Taxes: At Africa Day talks, crypto and fintech players pushed back on Kenya-style levy ideas—warning VAT and phone excise duties could slow financial inclusion. Galamsey Crackdown: NAIMOS arrested two Chinese nationals in a Dankai River operation, while MPs and communities renewed calls for tougher action as pollution keeps worsening. Health & Nutrition: IDEAS Ghana launched a children’s nutrition drive in Bawku West, and Discovery Health rebranded Vitality Health International Africa to expand employer healthcare. Tourism & Education: Central Tongu is pitching underdeveloped heritage and island sites for eco-tourism, while Nestlé and ECOM Ghana handed over new classrooms in the Eastern Region.

IMF backs BoG after big losses: The IMF says Bank of Ghana’s GH¢15.6bn 2025 loss was “prudent” and necessary to stabilise the economy, rejecting claims the central bank was too aggressive on tight policy. Investment signal for local pharma: Afrobeats star Mr Eazi’s Zagadat Capital has bought a 17.31% stake in Intravenous Infusions PLC, a bet that Ghana can manufacture essential medicines. Roads finally move: After years of outcry, the Somanya–Kpong road in Eastern Region has started bitumen surfacing works. Cocoa climate reality check: A new report warns cocoa supply chains are still vulnerable to drought and erratic weather, meaning “sustainable chocolate” alone can’t fix the climate problem. Youth skills push: Africa Forward’s Uplift Programme is training young Ghanaians in digital freelancing skills, with a focus on women and marginalised groups. Health and safety on campus: Four Ada Senior High Technical School students were arrested after a viral cutlass threat video.

Rain Alert: GMet is warning Ghanaians to brace for heavier, more frequent downpours as the country enters peak rainy season, with June expected to bring the “reality” of the rains—especially for flood-prone communities. Tax Inclusion: Ghana is pushing the Modified Taxation System to bring informal traders and MSMEs into the tax net, arguing that inclusion is the only way to fund essential services fairly. Digital Finance Trust: Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Johnson Asiama says digital finance will only work if trust is built through credibility, transparent pricing, and consistent conduct. Jobs for the Future: UMaT says it will train 1,000 coders this year, backed by laptops and Google certification slots. Energy Transition: The Energy Commission highlights net metering and EV charging regulations as Ghana moves toward cleaner power. Education & Skills: Mahama commissions solar-powered ICT centres in Damongo and Bole’s 24-Hour Economy Market gets the sod—both aimed at practical skills and trade growth. Cocoa Watch: Ghana is set to host the 2027 World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting in Accra as global cocoa prices reset.