Ghana once again showcased its digital innovation leadership. The winners of the prestigious World Summit Awards (WSA) gathered at the offices of IT Consortium. This event occurred on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. This engagement followed Ghana’s remarkable performance at the WSA Global Congress held in Hyderabad, India. The country secured three out of the 40 global awards. This strengthened its reputation as a rising hub for impactful and inclusive digital solutions.

Expert nominations have been submitted from over 182 countries. The WSA continues to be one of the most competitive digital innovation platforms worldwide.

Madam Dorothy Gordon is a WSA board Member and National Expert for Ghana. She participated in the event with representatives from the WSA Global Office. The event served as a dynamic platform for dialogue. It brought together Ghana’s top digital innovators and global thought leaders. They discussed the future of technology, equitable information access, and sustainable digital development.

In her welcoming address, IT Consortium’s Chief Business Development Officer emphasized the pivotal role of partnerships. She highlighted how knowledge exchange amplifies African technological solutions globally. Hosting the event also signalled IT Consortium’s ongoing commitment to nurturing innovation and leadership within Ghana’s technology ecosystem.

In her keynote address, Madam Dorothy Gordon applauded the Ghanaian winners for their creativity. She also commended their resilience and commitment to leveraging technology for social good. She emphasised the importance of locally grounded innovations with global reach.

“The future of digital development lies in the hands of innovators who understand their communities and are inspired to build solutions that transcend borders,” she remarked.

Ghana’s Winning Innovations

The projects that won Ghana recognition at the WSA are distinguished by their creativity, measurable social impact, and full compliance with operational and regulatory standards:

• Chango: Chango is led by John Joojo Esua-Mensah, Yussif Markstar, Hosny Ben Savage, and Matilda Amuzu. It is a crowdfunding and group contribution platform. The platform enables users to raise funds for causes such as healthcare, education, and emergencies. The platform is fully regulated by the Bank of Ghana and adheres to the country’s financial regulatory frameworks.
• Achieve by Petra: Represented by Huzaifa Abdulai and Daniel Anaman. Achieve is a savings and financial planning app. It is designed to help users achieve their financial goals through automated behavioural nudges. It operates under the regulations of Ghana’s Securities and Exchange Commission, ensuring consumer protection and economic security.
• KhayaAI: Founded by Dr. Stephen Moore, Lawrence Adu-Gyamfi, and Dr Paul Azunre. KhayaAI is an artificial intelligence platform. It focuses on local language processing, inclusive learning, and research accessibility. The platform supports several African languages. This makes it invaluable for underserved communities. It is fully compliant with Ghana’s data protection regulations.

Strategic Participation and Global Recognition

Ghana’s prominence at the WSA Global Congress was further bolstered by the Mohinani Group. The group sponsored the participation of Kwesi Hayford (President, e-Sports Association Ghana). They also supported Kafui Anson-Yevu (Kraado) and Ato Ulzen-Appiah (GhanaThink Foundation). Their participation highlighted the growing role of the private sector in supporting digital innovation.

The WSA Global Congress gave Ghanaian winners a chance to present their innovations. They engaged with global peers. They participated in high-level discussions on scaling operations. They discussed digital inclusion. They also explored the legal frameworks that foster trust in digital development.

Building Africa’s Digital Future

At the IT Consortium gathering, discussions continued. They focused on strategies to increase the global relevance of African digital solutions. They also aimed at boosting their regional importance. Madam Gordon and the WSA Global team engaged directly with the winners. They stressed the importance of sustainable digital development. They emphasized the need for collaboration across sectors.

The event emphasised the celebration of individual achievements. It highlighted the need for policy advocacy, capacity building, and public-private partnerships. These efforts aim to unlock Africa’s full digital potential. The Chango team also highlighted the need for greater investment in Africa’s digital economy and innovation ecosystem.

As the event concluded, there was a renewed sense of optimism surrounding Ghana’s digital future. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration and creating solutions that will have a lasting and meaningful impact across the continent.

The World Summit Awards is one of the most esteemed global platforms. It recognizes digital innovations supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Through such initiatives, Ghana continues to earn global recognition. It actively shapes the future of digital development in Africa and beyond.

Introduction

On Thursday, the 23rd of April, 2025, the Government of Ghana unveiled its Free Sanitary Pad Initiative, a program intended to keep girls in school and uphold the dignity of menstrual health.

Though late, Ghana’s initiative joins a growing global movement recognizing menstrual health as a right, not a privilege. Countries like South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, and Zambia are already providing free pads to curb absenteeism and protect girls from exploitation.

Further afield, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States, France, and South Korea have embraced similar policies, ensuring young women are no longer penalized for nature’s design. In West Africa, Ghana now steps forward as a pacesetter. The promise is bright — but only if we nurture it wisely.

As a woman, a mother, and a legislator, my heart should be brimming with pride. Instead, it aches with worry.

The intentions behind this policy are noble. No girl should be forced to miss school or resort to rags, leaves, or bits of mattress foam during her period. But good intentions, without careful execution, often pave the way to bitter disappointment. Unless urgent corrections are made, this initiative risks becoming a national symbol of mismanagement, lost opportunity, and broken promises.

The Perils of Poor Planning

1. The Math Doesn’t Add Up

The government has earmarked GH¢292.4 million for 2 million girls, about GH¢146 per girl annually. Yet a single pack of quality pads costs between GH¢15 and GH¢40 monthly. Even the simplest arithmetic reveals the budget falls dangerously short. Is this a genuine intervention, or a political gimmick dressed in the cloth of compassion?

2. A Tale of Two Ghanas: The North Forgotten Again

The girls who need these interventions most are those in the five northern regions, where poverty is cruel. Launch events and early distributions are always centered in Accra. Videos have already surfaced of boys in better-endowed urban schools misusing free pads for play, while girls in Zebilla, Bunkpurugu, and Savelugu among others are left waiting. Is this the equity we claim to champion?

3. Toilets Matter Too

According to a 2024 report by the NGO, SEND Ghana, 63% of basic schools in the country lack access to adequate toilets and essential WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities. Therefore, it is not enough to simply place a sanitary pad in a young girl’s hand; without safe and private spaces to change, wash her hands, and manage her menstruation with dignity. The gift of a pad can become a burden rather than a blessing. In the absence of clean water, hygienic toilets, and proper disposal systems, hope quietly crumbles into humiliation, stripping girls of their confidence when they need it most.

Looming Challenges

Without serious rethinking, the programme faces grim prospects:

1. Delayed Supplies:

Like other government interventions, pads may arrive late, failing girls when they need them most.

2. Poor Quality:

Rushed procurement risks flooding schools with unsafe, substandard products.

3. Corruption and Diversion:

Without strong tracking, pads may be stolen and resold — another betrayal of trust.

4. Dependency, Not Dignity:

Handing out disposable pads year after year, without building resilience or infrastructure, fosters dependency.

5. Volatile Government funding:

Worse still, the programme’s reliance on volatile government funding, without a sustainable financing model, leaves its future dangling by a thread.

A Blueprint for Success: Solutions for a Dignified Policy

1. Build Factories, Not Dependence

Revive Ghana’s cotton industry, especially in the North. Resurrect the dormant cotton factory in Tumu, and establish pad-manufacturing hubs in Savelugu and Tamale. Let Ghanaian girls use Ghanaian-made products, weaving pride and empowerment into every pad.

2. Remove Taxes on Sanitary Products

It is a quiet cruelty that sanitary pads are taxed like luxury goods. Menstrual products are necessities, not privileges. Zero-rate sanitary products and remove import duties and hidden fees because dignity should never be taxed.

3. Prioritize the Poorest First

Use data from Ghana Education Service (GES), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and the LEAP programme to target the most vulnerable first — rural girls, girls with disabilities, and the marginalized. No child should be invisible.

4. Fix School Infrastructure

Direct the GETFund and WASH initiatives to build gender-friendly toilet facilities, with running water and disposal units, in every school no later than 2026. A pad without privacy is an empty promise and an achievement not worth celebrating.

5. Sustainable Funding and Accountability

Dedicate 1% of VAT revenue to menstrual health. Deploy blockchain technology to transparently track procurement and distribution. Publish real-time reports to earn and keep the public’s trust.

A Call to Action

To President Mahama:

Publish a detailed, costed implementation plan. Launch pilot programs first in the five northern regions to refine systems before national roll-out. Involve civil society, traditional leaders, and local assemblies as true partners and not spectators.

To Every Citizen:

Demand accountability. Speak out against diversion and corruption. Support local pad producers. Break the silence around menstruation in homes, schools, and public spaces.

Conclusion: Turning Rhetoric into Results

This initiative is bold, visionary, and filled with hope. But hope alone is not enough. If properly implemented, this policy can transform communities, fuel local industry, and protect dreams. If mishandled, it will be another promise squandered.

Our girls deserve better. They deserve not just pads but dignity. Not just words

Hon. Hajia Fatahiya Abdul Aziz,
Member of Parliament(Savelugu ),
Deputy Ranking to the Committee on Gender, Children and Social Welfare

Hajia Fatahiya Abdul Aziz is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Savelugu in the Northern Region. She has expressed concerns about President John Dramani Mahama’s Free Sanitary Pads initiative.

While she commended the initiative’s good intentions, Hajia Fatahiya warned that poor execution could lead to “bitter disappointment.”

“Good intentions, without careful execution, often pave the way to bitter disappointment,” she remarked in an article.

The Savelugu MP, serving as the Deputy Ranking Member on the Gender, Children, and Social Welfare Committee of Parliament, proposed a more targeted approach. The approach starts with the five northern regions—Northern, Upper East, Upper West, North East, and Savannah. These regions are known for their high levels of poverty and underdevelopment. She also called for improvements in school hygiene facilities.

The NPP MP highlighted several challenges. These included funding gaps, geographic disparities, and inadequate infrastructure. They questioned whether the initiative was a genuine effort or a “political gimmick dressed in the cloth of compassion.”

Hajia Fatahiya recommended the local production of sanitary pads. She also suggested tax exemptions on hygienic products. Additionally, she proposed data-driven strategies to effectively target vulnerable girls.

She also proposed improving school infrastructure. She suggested establishing gender-friendly toilets. Additionally, she recommended allocating one per cent of VAT revenue to support menstrual health.

The MP urged President Mahama to ensure a well-detailed implementation plan. He should initiate pilot phases in the northern regions. Civil society organizations should be involved in the program’s rollout.

“Our girls deserve more than promises — they deserve dignity,” she concluded.

President John Mahama has assured Ghanaians that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) will remain state-owned. It will not be privatised. This assurance addresses ongoing concerns regarding the country’s power sector.

During his address at the May Day celebration at Black Star Square, the President spoke on Thursday, May 1. He directly addressed the rising concerns about the potential privatisation of ECG. He made it clear that his administration has no intention of selling the state-owned power distributor.

“Let me assure you that it is not my intention to privatise ECG as an institution. Our attention is more on public-private collaboration to inject efficiency into our downstream electricity distribution system,” the President stated.

He elaborated on the financial challenges facing ECG. He also discussed the operational challenges, including its heavy debt burden and inefficiencies. These issues are threatening the stability of the entire power sector.

“The ECG has been brought to its knees by a culture of poor governance over the last eight years, with a debt of GH¢68 billion and rising. If we do not do something drastic, our whole power sector will collapse. We can only bring down power tariffs if we improve efficiency in the distribution of power,” he explained.

President Mahama proposed that public-private partnerships could be a practical solution. He pointed to a successful model from his earlier term in office as an example.

“When I was President, in the free zones, a private company, Enclave Power, was given the right of metering and billing in the free zone. ECG provided them with a bulk supply of power.

“They pay ECG, and until today, they still pay ECG monthly on time. Their billing and collection in the free zones enclave is 99% of revenue collected,” he shared.

He said this example illustrates how partnerships with private firms can enhance operational efficiency without the need to transfer ownership.

“I am confident that through public-private partnerships, we can make our electricity distribution system more effective, but I assure you that ECG as an institution will not be privatised,” President Mahama stressed.

President John Dramani Mahama has once again reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to providing decent jobs. He is committed to fostering economic stability. Additionally, he ensures social justice for workers as Ghana celebrates this year’s May Day.

In a message shared on his official Facebook page, President Mahama paid tribute to the hard work of Ghanaian workers, calling them the “engine of our economy, the builders of our infrastructure, and the innovators who propel us forward.” He commended their unrelenting efforts, resilience, and their vital contribution to the country’s development.

The theme for this year’s May Day, “Striving for Peace and Stability to Drive Industrialisation, Trade, and Decent Work for Social Justice,” resonated with the President, who emphasized the need for sustainable policies that promote economic growth and equitable working conditions.

“My government recognises and deeply values the pivotal role of the Ghanaian worker in driving our national development agenda,” Mahama stated. He further emphasized that his administration is focused on creating a conducive environment where workers can thrive and help “Reset Ghana.”

President Mahama highlighted recent actions taken within the first four months of his return to office. These actions include measures aimed at stabilising the economy. He is advancing industrialisation through the value addition of raw materials. Additionally, he is expanding job opportunities in light manufacturing and related sectors.

He also highlighted Ghana’s expanding trade partnerships within Africa. These partnerships are crucial for opening new markets for local goods and services. A key part of this strategy, he mentioned, is the government’s flagship 24-hour economy initiative.

As part of his 120-day social contract, Mahama reaffirmed his pledge to deliver decent work for all Ghanaians. He is focusing on fair wages, safe workplaces, and skills development. He is also safeguarding workers’ rights.

“Only yesterday, the National Youth Authority launched the National Apprenticeship Programme, closely following the introduction of the Adwumawura and One Million Coders programmes,” Mahama said, noting that these initiatives aim to create skilled workers and dignified employment opportunities.

The President acknowledged the ongoing challenges of inflation, unemployment, and infrastructure gaps. He assured Ghanaians that the government is committed to addressing these issues head-on.

He also guaranteed continued investments in education, skills development, and infrastructure. Roads and energy are particularly crucial components of the country’s economic transformation.

In his closing remarks, President Mahama called for enhanced cooperation between employers and workers. He urged all parties to foster mutual respect. He also emphasized collective responsibility in creating a prosperous and just Ghana.

“Let us work together to create a more prosperous and equitable Ghana, where every citizen can contribute their talents and skills to national development,” he said, ending his message with the hashtags #ResettingGhana #LetsBuildGhanaTogether.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo Markin has strongly criticised President John Mahama’s recent nomination. Seven Court of Appeal judges were nominated to the Supreme Court. He calls it a subtle attempt to push for a third term in office.

Afenyo-Markin spoke during a press conference hosted by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday, May 1. He warned about the significant threat posed by this move. It endangers the balance of power and independence of Ghana’s judiciary.

“This is not a routine judicial appointment. What we are witnessing is a calculated and deliberate attempt to fill the Supreme Court with loyalists,” he remarked.

“The nomination of seven Court of Appeal judges, immediately following the suspension of the Chief Justice, points to a deeper, more concerning political agenda—essentially, a third-term plan under the guise of judicial appointments,” he added.

The Minority Leader accused the president of undermining democratic governance and the core principles of the Constitution. He suggested that such actions could diminish public confidence in the judiciary and destabilise Ghana’s democratic institutions.

“This is not the way a responsible government strengthens the rule of law. This is how a government seeks to consolidate its power through indirect means,” Afenyo-Markin stated.

He urged civil society, religious leaders, and the general public to stay alert. He encouraged them to speak out against what he described as an attack on the judiciary.

“We cannot afford to remain silent. This is a national issue that transcends political parties. The integrity of our justice system is in jeopardy, and we must resist any efforts to turn it into a political instrument,” he concluded.

GoldBod Security Taskforce has captured 3 suspected gold smugglers. Indian nationals Goutam Katriya (35), Miraj Sarvaych (22), and Manash Damani (42) are reportedly involved in gold trading. They are active in Kumasi and Accra. They are said to operate under the Unique MM company, which is reportedly owned by Musah Salifu.

They were picked up at a private residence near Atinga Junction in Kumasi. The residence had been transformed into an unlawful hub for gold trade.

The suspects were arrested. A patriotic whistleblower alerted authorities about their purchase of gold at “black market” prices. They allegedly bought it for smuggling purposes. They were brought before the Achimota Circuit Court on Monday, April 28, and remanded into custody for two weeks.

During the press conference in Accra on Tuesday, April 29, Chief Superintendent Osman Alhassan was present. He is the Director of Investigations at National Security. He disclosed significant findings. They obtained considerable evidence during the operation.

The items seized comprised GH¢1.9 million, 4,500 Indian rupees, 4.363 kilograms of gold, two counting machines, a CCTV recorder, and an Indian passport. Initial inquiries, based on his statement, have determined a significant finding. All suspects lack a legitimate permit to purchase or exchange gold in Ghana.

Furthermore, the trio are rumoured to have been active in Ghana’s gold industry for more than ten years. They have not presented proof of a residency permit. They also lack an employment permit or tax documentation.

Goutam Katriya is suspected to be the actual beneficial owner and controller. Additional information revealed that Musah Salifu is the listed Ghanaian shareholder of Unique MM. He is being used as a cover. Chief Superintendent Alhassan cautioned both local and foreign individuals. They must adhere to the regulations set forth in the Ghana Gold Board Act. This act and other laws govern the trade of gold within the country.

“This arrest is only the beginning of GoldBod’s ruthless war against illegal gold trading and smuggling. We know that the arrested suspects smuggle gold through unapproved border points into India. This has serious negative consequences for the Ghanaian economy. We are still gathering intelligence on several illegal gold traders and smugglers. And very soon, we shall take necessary action,” he said.

The NIB will retain custody of the suspects until their next court appearance on May 12, 2025. In the meantime, GoldBod stands firm on its initial order. All non-nationals involved in gold trading must leave the market by April 30, 2025.

It specifies that all gold dealings should occur in Ghana cedis. These transactions must use the Bank of Ghana Reference Rate. In a press release dated April 23, 2025, GoldBod announced that violating these regulations would be a punishable offense. This is per the GoldBod Act, 2025 (Act 1140).

The ongoing efforts to settle the longstanding conflict in Bawku have been delayed. This information comes from sources at the Manhyia Palace. The resolution is postponed until next week. The delay is caused by the complex issues surrounding the chieftaincy dispute. These issues have been hindering progress in the peace process. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is leading the effort. He was initially expected to make significant strides on Monday, April 28.

The Manhyia Palace has not yet announced a new date for the resumption of the mediation sessions. Otumfuo’s participation in the peace effort has been warmly embraced nationwide. His leadership is viewed as a potential catalyst for lasting peace and stability in the troubled region.

The mediation was initially scheduled from April 28 to May 1. It was set to take place at the Manhyia Palace. This was part of broader national endeavours to ease tensions in Bawku.

Kumasi | Ashanti Region