The National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) has intercepted a large consignment of cannabis in the Volta Region, dealing a significant blow to drug trafficking operations.
The seizure took place at dawn on Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Zadolakope, a riverside community in the North Tongu District. Acting on intelligence, NIB operatives launched a raid and recovered 3,680 slabs of cannabis packed in 49 bags. Each bag contained 80 slabs.
The consignment had been traced to the banks of a river in the Juapong-Adidome area. Intelligence suggested the drugs were meant to travel along the lower Volta River, with planned transit in Ada before reaching Accra.
Officials close to the operation said the move was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle trafficking networks in the region. The bust highlights the NIB’s increased vigilance and focus on disrupting criminal supply chains.
The seized cannabis has since been transferred to the Narcotics Control Commission office in Ho for further action. Investigations are expected to continue as authorities work to identify those behind the trafficking attempt.
This latest interception adds to a growing list of successful operations by the NIB as the agency intensifies its crackdown on both drug and cocoa smuggling across Ghana.
The Ministry of the Interior has declared Friday, June 6, 2025, a statutory public holiday to mark Eid-Ul-Adha. The announcement, signed by Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak on Thursday, May 29, follows Ghana’s tradition of recognising major religious festivals as national holidays.
Eid-Ul-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the two most essential celebrations in Islam. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. The festival also marks the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.
In Ghana, the occasion is observed with prayers at mosques and open grounds, animal sacrifices, and the distribution of meat to family members, neighbours, and the less privileged. The day often includes acts of charity, family visits, and community gatherings.
By declaring the day a holiday, the Ministry aims to give Muslims across the country the opportunity to observe their religious duties without interruption from work or official obligations.
Large gatherings are expected in cities like Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and Wa, where religious leaders and government officials often join worshippers. Security and health agencies are also expected to coordinate with community leaders to ensure peaceful and safe celebrations.
Police in Bimbilla have launched an enforcement campaign to ensure drivers comply with the nationwide 15% reduction in transport fares. The move comes amid growing defiance from some commercial drivers who continue to charge old rates.
The fare reduction, announced by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), aims to cushion commuters following the cedi’s steady appreciation and recent drops in fuel prices.
On May 28, officers led by the Municipal Crime Officer visited major transport terminals in Bimbilla to monitor the situation. The visit followed concerns raised after some drivers openly refused to adjust their fares, citing financial pressures and low profit margins.
Despite the directive, a number of drivers still charge previous rates, while only a few have complied. This ongoing resistance prompted police intervention to protect passengers from unfair pricing.
Authorities have indicated that the enforcement exercise will continue until full compliance is achieved. The operation is part of broader efforts to ensure the benefits of the economic changes reach the commuting public.
The Paga Youth Movement (PAYOM) is calling on President John Dramani Mahama to prioritise the conversion of the Paga/Navrongo Airstrip into a regional airport. This is the most cost-effective and technically feasible option for the Upper East Region.
Paga Youth Movement 1
At a press conference in Paga on the 28th of May 2025, the group welcomed Mahama’s recent directive for the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) to adopt a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach for the airport project. However, they expressed concern that the Paga/Navrongo Airstrip is being overlooked in favour of a proposed site at Anateem, which lies about 15km from Bolgatanga and 30km from the Paga border.
PAYOM argued that public discussions and actions by government officials suggest a preference for the Anateem location, even though there has been no evidence of an official visit to the Paga/Navrongo site. They viewed this as a lack of transparency and fairness, primarily because no comparative assessment of the two locations had been conducted.
Paga Youth Movement
The group questioned the logic behind choosing Anateem for its proximity to Burkina Faso when Paga sits directly on the Ghana-Burkina border. In their view, Paga is more strategic for cross-border trade, regional security, and economic growth.
They highlighted the historical relevance of the airstrip, which was constructed in 1939 and completed in 1940 by the colonial administration. It was built for military use and has served Ghana for more than 80 years. Previous studies, including one initiated under former Aviation Minister Joseph Kofi Addah, confirmed that the site is viable for conversion into a domestic airport.
With the government now exploring private sector investment, PAYOM believes that upgrading an existing airstrip will cost less than building a new facility. The group said the Paga/Navrongo site already has key infrastructure in place, making it more attractive to investors.
The youth movement outlined several benefits of developing the Paga/Navrongo airstrip. These include its proximity to Burkina Faso, which could improve trade with neighbouring Sahelian countries. They noted that the airport could also promote tourism, boost local investment, and support national security and emergency response efforts.
Tourist attractions like the Paga Crocodile Pond and Pikworo Slave Camp could become more accessible. PAYOM also believes the airport could enhance regional integration through academic and cultural exchanges with Francophone countries.
Paga Airstrip
The group recalled that in June 2020, ten paramount chiefs from the Kassena-Nankana area petitioned then-President Nana Akufo-Addo to upgrade the airstrip. PAYOM expressed disappointment that current discussions ignore the input of these traditional leaders.
They called on GACL to conduct a side-by-side assessment of the Paga/Navrongo and Anateem sites, promising to support a site visit to ensure objective evaluation. The group also appealed to private investors to consider the cost benefits of upgrading the existing airstrip.
PAYOM insisted that their call was not based on parochial interests but on a desire for fairness and value for money. They criticised the current direction of the project, saying it appears to favour one site without proper justification. The group concluded with a pledge to work with all stakeholders—government, traditional leaders, investors, and the media—to ensure the airport project truly serves the region’s long-term development.
Two mechanised boreholes valued at GH¢201,599 have been handed over to Damwoe and Amogrebisi, two farming communities in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region. The projects, executed under phase one of the Gulf of Guinea Social Cohesion (SOCO) initiative, are expected to support irrigation, particularly during the dry season.
The handover ceremony took place in Bolgatanga. Speaking at the event, Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive Roland Atanga Ayoo described the facilities as a significant step toward reducing the burden on farmers who heavily depend on rainfall. He urged young people in the communities to utilise the boreholes to enhance their lives through agriculture.
Roland-Ayoo-Atanga on the right
Mr Ayoo said the initiative was part of the government’s broader strategy to modernise agriculture and support rural farmers. He noted that better yields from irrigation farming would help strengthen the local economy.
However, the MCE raised concerns about the actual capacity of the boreholes. He revealed that the expected output of the system was to irrigate up to 52 hectares, but farmers had reported that the boreholes could not even support two acres. Mr Ayoo expressed frustration over the situation and warned the technical team against overseeing such poor-quality projects in the future.
At Damwoe, he advised the youth not to lose hope despite the setbacks. He emphasised that the current challenges were temporary and that more reliable support would be forthcoming.
In Amogrebisi, Assemblyman Samuel Azure voiced his community’s disappointment. He said the poor performance of the borehole had left many farmers frustrated. According to him, the current system could not even serve three farmers. He called for urgent action to address the problem.
Lantana Osman, Director of Agriculture at the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, also spoke at the event. She acknowledged the project’s shortfalls in execution and assured the farmers that her office would closely monitor future agricultural-related developments. She urged the community to remain calm, pledging that the promised mechanised boreholes would be delivered as soon as possible.
It is both curious and sobering to hear segments of the Ghanaian populace lament that they have not felt the effects of the cedi’s remarkable appreciation against the US dollar and other major currencies. This sentiment, though understandable in a high-cost economy where the prices of goods and services remain stubbornly high, often fails to capture the macroeconomic strides that underpin the local currency’s recent resurgence. Indeed, many consumers measure economic progress solely by the cost of food, fuel, and transport areas where price rigidity and market inertia can delay the trickle-down benefits of currency gains.
However, the appreciation of the cedi is not an abstract academic achievement; it is a tangible marker of renewed investor confidence, improved foreign exchange liquidity, and sounder macroeconomic stewardship. The fact that the cedi has clawed its way back from depths of uncertainty, regaining over 40% of its value since January 2025, is not just a statistical win, it is a national recovery story in motion. The stabilization of the exchange rate holds long-term implications: easing pressure on import bills, reducing the cost of external debt servicing, and creating a more predictable environment for trade and investment.
Yet, the psychological scars of past economic turbulence linger. Many Ghanaians, having endured months of rapid inflation and a plummeting currency, remain cautiously skeptical. They await visible reductions in market prices before acknowledging any sense of relief. In that context, the disconnection between macroeconomic progress and microeconomic perception is not denial, it is lived experience. But with sustained policy discipline and a firm grip on inflation, the benefits of a stronger cedi will inevitably ripple through the economy. It is just a matter of time before the echo of this appreciation is heard in every household, market stall, and fuel pump.
A 42% Appreciation – The Numbers Don’t Lie
In January 2025, the exchange rate stood at GHS14.70 to USD1. By May 27, it had improved significantly to GHS10.35. This movement in the exchange rate suggests a strong 42% appreciation of the cedi. Such a change is not trivial; it indicates a positive shift in Ghana’s macroeconomic outlook and market confidence. When a local currency appreciates, it essentially means it has gained value relative to foreign currencies. This can have wide-ranging impacts from reducing the cost of imports to easing inflationary pressures. Yet, to truly appreciate the magnitude of this development, one must look at the math.
Direct Quotation Approach
Using the direct quote, where the exchange rate expresses how many units of local currency are needed to buy one unit of foreign currency, we apply the formula: (Appreciation Rate) = (Old Rate – New Rate) / New Rate Substituting values: (14.70 – 10.35) / 10.35 ≈ 42% Though the percentage is positive, this result can appear counterintuitive because the appreciation is reflected as a decrease in the rate. Nonetheless, a falling direct rate indicates that the cedi now requires fewer units to buy a dollar—a hallmark of currency strength.
Indirect Quotation Approach
In contrast, the indirect quotation expresses how many units of foreign currency one can obtain with a single unit of the local currency. This is especially useful in cross-border trade or investment analysis. For example: January: 1 / 14.70 = 0.0680 USD May: 1 / 10.35 = 0.0966 USD Rate of change = (0.0966 – 0.0680) / 0.0680 ≈ 42% This reconfirms the appreciation of the cedi where one cedi fetches more dollars than before. It highlights growing confidence in the domestic currency, potentially driven by increased foreign inflows, macro stability, and better monetary management.
The Dollar Has Depreciated Too By 29.6%
Currency appreciation is inherently a two-sided coin, what one gains, the other yields. In this instance, the US dollar has depreciated against the Ghanaian cedi by approximately 29.6%, reflecting the cedi’s corresponding strength over the same period. Using the same formula in reverse: (Start – End) / End Indirect: (0.0680 – 0.0966) / 0.0966 ≈ -29.6% Direct: (10.35 – 14.70) / 14.70 ≈ -29.6% This shows the weakening of the dollar relative to the cedi over the period. Such depreciation could be a reflection of changing capital flows, shifts in trade balance, or confidence in Ghana’s policy direction.
The Governor Has Spoken: No More Illusions
In a decisive and reassuring statement on May 28, 2025, Dr. Johnson Asiama, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, addressed the market’s speculative tendencies with refreshing clarity and bold authority. His message was not only a response to the lingering doubts within sections of the populace but also a pointed call to recalibrate expectations in light of changing economic fundamentals. Speaking with the weight of institutional credibility, Dr. Asiama declared:
“To those still holding dollars in anticipation of a return to old patterns of depreciation, I will say this plainly: The market has changed. The narrative has changed. And the policy environment has changed.”
Such pronouncements are not mere rhetoric as they are laden with profound monetary insight and a deeper understanding of Ghana’s evolving macroeconomic terrain. The Governor’s remarks affirm that the sustained appreciation of the cedi is not a fleeting coincidence but the result of deliberate policy interventions, tightened fiscal controls, strategic inflows, and a recalibrated monetary framework.
By publicly reinforcing the strength of the cedi, the Bank of Ghana sends a strong signal to currency traders, investors, importers, and exporters alike: speculation against the local currency will no longer yield predictable gains. In effect, the central bank is reclaiming the narrative and setting the tone for disciplined, data-driven expectations. This also provides assurance to the international community and domestic markets that there is policy coherence and institutional resolve underpinning the exchange rate stability.
Moreover, the Governor’s remarks serve a behavioral function. They aim to break the cyclical psychology of dollar hoarding and currency panic, an entrenched response that has historically weakened the cedi in times of uncertainty. His statement is a subtle but powerful shift from passive reassurance to proactive narrative management. It redefines the playing field and invites all market actors to move in concert with a new Ghanaian financial reality, one that embraces resilience, transparency, and a forward-looking posture.
Conclusion: Let the Facts Speak Louder Than Fear
While skepticism is a natural response in uncertain economic times, the appreciation of the cedi is no illusion, it is an empirical reality supported by hard numbers, meaningful policy reforms, and clear institutional affirmations. In a country where citizens have grown weary from bouts of inflation and currency volatility, such doubts are rooted not in ignorance, but in experience. Yet, even within that context, it is crucial to recognize when the tide is turning. The data does not lie: the cedi has gained significant ground, and its upward trajectory is not merely a statistical anomaly. It is a direct consequence of coordinated fiscal prudence, increased foreign inflows, and a resolute monetary stance by the Bank of Ghana.
Rather than holding on to outdated narratives of endless depreciation and economic doom, it is time for a collective mindset shift, one that allows us to embrace the new economic reality with both eyes open. The cedi’s resurgence has been hard-won, not gifted. It is the fruit of painful reforms, renewed investor engagement, and the quiet but relentless work of economic stewards who have steadied the ship during turbulent times. This is not a time for nostalgia or cynicism. It is a time for strategic optimism.
Let us therefore acknowledge this recovery, not with blind celebration, but with thoughtful appreciation. Let us leverage this window of opportunity to stabilize prices, attract investments, and create buffers for future shocks. Let us encourage businesses to recalibrate their cost assumptions and pass on the benefits of a stronger currency to the consumer. And above all, let us look ahead with renewed confidence not in the hope of a perfect economy, but in the assurance that progress is being made.
The market has spoken, and so has the Bank of Ghana. The cedi is not trembling and it is standing tall. Let the numbers, and not fear, guide our faith. In this new financial chapter, may we trade doubt for data, and hesitation for hope.
The Member of Parliament for Bongo, Charles Bawaduah, says the ongoing removal proceedings against suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo are lawful and free from flaws.
Speaking on The Point of View with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV, Bawaduah dismissed claims made by former Attorney General and lead counsel for the Chief Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who had described the process as unconstitutional and lacking due process.
According to the Bongo MP, there is nothing illegal about the proceedings. He said the process was following the law step by step and expressed surprise that Mr Dame would think otherwise.
Bawaduah argued that the case should be treated strictly as a legal matter. He stressed that it is not about politics or public sympathy but about the constitution and how it is applied. In his view, the outcome will be based on facts and legal procedures, not political alignment.
He also criticised the Chief Justice’s legal team over their failed attempt to stop the committee’s work. He said they were unable to meet the legal requirements needed for an injunction. That failure, he noted, was why the court threw it out.
His comments came shortly after the Supreme Court, on Wednesday, May 28, unanimously dismissed Justice Torkornoo’s application for an injunction. This decision allows the five-member presidential committee to continue investigating the removal petitions.
Bawaduah maintains that the process is fair and constitutional. He believes those who say otherwise are ignoring the facts.
Pakro Teacher Portia Dzifa Dzilah Earns Global Teaching Honour
Portia Dzifa Dzilah, an English teacher at Pakro Anglican Basic School in the Akuapim South District of Ghana, has earned global recognition by winning the 2025 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award. Her historic achievement marks the first time a Ghanaian has received this prestigious international honour.
Portia Dzifa Dzilah emerged as the global winner after securing 33% of the global public vote, surpassing eight other regional finalists from around the world. Organised by the International Education division of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, the awards celebrate educators who go above and beyond in shaping the lives of their students. Her win stands as a testament not only to personal excellence but also to the profound impact of passionate teaching in under-resourced communities.
Operating in Pakro, a remote farming community in Ghana’s Eastern Region, which grapples with socio-economic issues such as teenage pregnancy and high absenteeism, Portia Dzifa Dzilah has committed herself to transforming the lives of her students. Her work has included initiating food and sanitary product drives, as well as establishing a Gender Club to promote girls’ education and reduce dropout rates.
Portia-Dzifa-Dzilah Donates Menstrual Pads
What began as regional recognition quickly evolved into a moment of national celebration. Portia Dzifa Dzilah received a surprise video call from Rod Smith, Group Managing Director of International Education at Cambridge, informing her that she had not only won the Sub-Saharan Africa regional award but had also been named the overall global winner. The announcement was followed by a community celebration at her school, attended by representatives from Cambridge, local education authorities, and members of the wider Pakro community.
In response to the award, Portia Dzifa Dzilah expressed her appreciation for her students, describing them as her most significant source of inspiration. Their strength, curiosity, and determination reinforce her purpose as an educator and deepen her belief in the potential of every child. She described education as a tool capable of breaking cycles and opening doors and viewed the recognition as a renewed call to her mission. She dedicated the award to every girl who has stayed in school despite challenges and to parents who continue to believe in education as the key to a brighter future.
Rod Smith commended Portia Dzifa Dzilah for her exceptional commitment and for demonstrating that true educators extend their influence far beyond the classroom. He described her belief in education’s transformative power as both inspiring and profoundly moving, crediting her with offering not just academic instruction but also hope, encouragement, and a vision for the future.
As part of her award package, Dzilah will enrol in a professional development course of her choice through Cambridge’s Enrichment Programme. Her photograph and story will also appear on the thank-you page of Cambridge textbooks scheduled for release in November 2025 and featured across the organisation’s global promotional materials for the following year.
This milestone underscores the vital role of dedicated educators working in challenging environments. It reinforces the value of celebrating those who shape not only the academic journeys of their students but also the future of entire communities and nations.
Now in its seventh year, the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards provide students, parents, and fellow educators with a platform to recognise and celebrate teachers who consistently demonstrate outstanding dedication to their learners’ growth and success.
