The National Identification Authority (NIA) has revealed that more than 822,000 Ghana Cards are still awaiting collection. Despite the completion of the registration process for over 18 million Ghanaians, a significant number of cards remain unclaimed.

A Growing Backlog

During a recent press briefing at the NIA headquarters in Accra, Williams Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, the Head of Corporate Affairs at NIA, expressed concern over the backlog of uncollected cards. He emphasised the need for registered individuals to visit their respective collection centres promptly and collect their cards.

Importance of the Ghana Card

The NIA continues to underscore the importance of the card as a critical identification document. It plays a vital role in accessing various services and fulfilling civic responsibilities. To prevent any delays, the NIA is urging all registered individuals to act promptly and retrieve their cards from the designated collection centres nationwide.

The NIA is committed to reducing the number of uncollected cards and improving the efficiency of the national identification process. By ensuring that individuals promptly collect their Ghana Cards, the authority aims to strengthen the national identification system further.

Newly graduated officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) have been charged to show unwavering dedication to protecting the nation’s borders, especially in the face of rising transnational threats.

Addressing graduates at the second passing-out parade of Recruit Intake 30 at the Mid-Country Training School in Tepa, Deputy Commissioner of Immigration (DCOI) Francis Palmdeti emphasized that “integrity, professionalism, and vigilance must guide your service to the nation.”

He commended the recruits for enduring the rigours of training, which, he said, were designed to shape them into resilient and disciplined officers ready for frontline duties. Palmdeti reminded them that the Immigration Service plays a vital role in Ghana’s national security, particularly in dealing with cross-border crimes and complex migration challenges.

“The discipline and vigilance you’ve acquired here must now reflect in how you carry out your duty to Ghana,” he told the new officers, encouraging them to uphold the trust reposed in them.

He also lauded the Commandant and instructors for their role in shaping the recruits, describing their efforts as crucial to national stability.

The ceremony, which featured a well-coordinated parade and awards presentation, saw Recruit Officer Mark Selorm Awuku honoured as the overall best recruit.

The event was attended by the Tepamanhene, Nana Adusei Atwenewaa Apem, his Queen mother, sub-chiefs, district officials, and representatives from other security services.

The graduation of Intake 30, Palmdeti noted, is a testament to the Ghana Immigration Service’s continued commitment to strengthening border management, migration control, and the overall protection of Ghana’s sovereignty.

The National Service Authority (NSA) has released PIN codes for 132,393 eligible graduates for the 2025/2026 service year. Registration begins today, June 17, and will run until July 1, 2025, giving prospective personnel just two weeks to activate their PINs and complete the online registration process.

To activate their PIN, applicants are required to pay GHS 40 at any ADB Bank branch or GHS 41 via MTN Mobile Money. Registration can be done through the NSA portal at smarthub.nss.gov.gh, where users can retrieve their PIN codes and follow detailed instructions.

The NSA advises all applicants to complete their registration as soon as possible and utilize available support tools to prevent delays or potential disqualification.

National Service is a mandatory one-year program for all graduates from accredited tertiary institutions. Coordinated by the NSA, it aims to instil discipline, promote national development, and offer practical experience before entering the job market. Completing the service is legally required and often a key factor in securing employment in both public and private sectors.

At the Passing-Out Parade of Recruit Course 125 at Ankaful Prison Officers’ Training School in the Central Region, the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, emphasised the urgent need for correctional reform in Ghana. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming the prison service into a modern facility that prioritises rehabilitation, reformation, and reintegration of inmates.

The Minister highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to expand vocational training, educational programs, and productive inmate enterprises, all of which reinforce the principles of rehabilitation and reformation. He emphasised that correctional facilities must evolve into centres of reform rather than merely detention centres.

He explained that “empowering an inmate with employable skills is not an act of charity but a strategic investment in national security and human capital.” According to the Minister, providing inmates with marketable skills reduces their likelihood of re-offending. He emphasised that rehabilitation and reformation should be tied to purposeful activities, ensuring they occur in an environment that fosters change.

To implement this vision, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak announced plans to scale up government support for prison-based ventures. These will include activities such as carpentry, tailoring, agriculture, and industrial operations like bottled water production, forming the backbone of a self-sustaining correctional economy.

The Minister also directed all institutions under the Ministry for the Interior to prioritise purchasing bottled water and toilet rolls produced by the Ghana Prisons Service. This initiative, he said, would help alleviate the financial burden on the state, generate revenue, and promote inmate productivity.

Reassuring the leadership and personnel of the Ghana Prisons Service, the Minister emphasised the government’s unwavering support. He noted that the commitment goes beyond improving logistics and infrastructure to reforming the very foundations of correctional practices in Ghana.

Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak urged the newly graduated officers to serve with integrity, compassion, and professionalism. He reminded them that their actions would reflect the high standards of the prison service and the trust the nation has placed in them.

The University of Ghana has sanctioned 115 students for various acts of misconduct and examination malpractice following a decision by the Academic Board. A notice from the Office of the Registrar, dated June 16, 2025, outlines the range of sanctions, including suspensions, expulsions, grade penalties, and reprimands.

Disciplinary Actions

The sanctions are divided into two categories: general misconduct and examination-related offences. Fourteen students, including Mr Abdul-Yakini Lukman and Mr Daniel Ansah, were suspended for two academic years due to “disorderly conduct and failure to observe the orders of University authorities,” as per Statutes 42(1)(a) of the University of Ghana Statutes 2011. These suspensions are retroactive, covering both the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic years.

Examination-related offences made up the majority of the cases. Students like Mr Christian Owusu Yeboah and Ms Linda Attah Lambongyi were expelled for impersonation during exams. Other students, such as Mr. Ramsey Akoto Junior, received a Grade Z for leaving the examination hall with answer booklets. Possession of unauthorized materials, such as mobile phones and written notes, led to penalties ranging from Grade X to Grade Z, depending on the severity.

Notable Cases

Mr. Eugene Nimo Obeng was suspended for one semester and received a Grade Z for possessing unauthorized materials and sharing his answers with another candidate. Ms Lilian N.L. Miller faced a similar suspension and Grade Z for repeated offences involving unauthorized notes during exams.

Ms. Fatimah Iddriss and Justice Nii-Amo were reprimanded for rudeness toward invigilators and inappropriate communication during exams, respectively.

University’s Stance

In the notice, signed by Registrar Mrs Emelia Agyei-Mensah, the university emphasized the importance of adhering to university regulations. “All students are advised to familiarize themselves with the University’s regulations and conduct themselves in a manner befitting members of our community,” the notice stated. It was distributed to all university employees and students, with copies sent to senior administrators.

Find the entire notice below:

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced the inclusion of 25 private Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the 2025 Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) under the Free SHS policy. This marks the first time private SHSs have been incorporated into the Free SHS programme since its launch in September 2017.

The GES aims to improve access to quality second-cycle education, particularly in regions where public senior high schools (SHSs) are overcrowded. The selected schools, categorised under Category E, are co-educational day institutions spread across all 16 regions. They offer a variety of academic programmes, including General Arts, General Science, Business, Technical, Visual Arts, Home Economics, and Agriculture.

According to Mr Prince Agyemang-Duah, Director of the Schools and Instruction Division, the deadline for school selection has been extended to Wednesday, June 25, 2025, to provide candidates with sufficient time to consider the newly added options.

The GES statement emphasised that this initiative reflects the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to ensuring equity and access to education. The pilot programme will be monitored and evaluated for potential future expansion.

In the following steps, selected schools will undergo capacity-building and assessments to meet the operational standards of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy. The Ministry, GES, and the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) will collaborate on training, oversight, and infrastructure support where needed.

This expansion of the Free SHS programme, in partnership with GNACOPS, focuses on private institutions in areas where public schools cannot accommodate all qualified students due to infrastructure constraints.

Find the complete list of the selected schools below.

The President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), Mr. Augustine Addo, has called on accountants to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) while upholding their ethical values.

Speaking during a Jumu’ah prayer and symposium at the National Mosque in Kanda, Mr Addo said AI was transforming accounting. “AI empowers us to analyse data more accurately, detect fraud efficiently, and offer insights that can transform businesses and public institutions,” he said.

But he warned that progress must not come at the cost of integrity. “Technology is a tool,” he said, “but our values—honesty, justice, and stewardship—must guide its use for the greater good.”

The event was part of the 2025 Accountants’ Week celebration. This year’s theme is “Leveraging the Transformational Power of AI: The Role of the Professional Accountant.”

Mr Addo praised the unity and reflection shared at the gathering of Muslim professionals and dignitaries.

President of the Ghana Association of Muslim Accountants (GAMA), Mr. Yusif Geoffrey, also addressed the forum. He stated that ethical financial stewardship was crucial to national development.

“As Muslim accountants, we are not just custodians of finances but also of public trust,” he said. He stressed that Islamic teachings demand accountability in all actions. “This sense of responsibility must shape how we manage resources,” he added.

Mr Geoffrey highlighted the role of Muslim accountants in promoting transparency and ensuring the proper use of resources across various sectors.

He urged mosque leaders to adopt sound financial practices. These included using qualified accountants, setting up internal controls, and regularly sharing financial reports.

“Our mosques manage significant funds from zakat, sadaqah, and donations,” he said. “We must uphold the highest standards of transparency and professionalism.”

On Hajj operations, he welcomed recent reforms, including the reduced Hajj fare of GH¢62,000 and the increased quota of 5,000 pilgrims. However, he called for more precise fare breakdowns, earlier announcements, and the involvement of financial experts.

“GAMA is ready to support the Hajj Board to deliver a more accountable experience for Ghanaian pilgrims,” he said.

Quoting from the Quran, he reminded the gathering, “Give full measure when you measure, and weigh with a balance that is straight” (Quran 17:35). He said ethical governance was both a professional and moral duty.

As part of the celebration, cash donations were made to the National Chief Imam and towards the Ghana National Mosque project.

Rainforest Builder Ghana has unveiled a massive native tree nursery in Bassengele, Bibiani. The facility can produce up to 5 million seedlings annually. It is now the largest of its kind in Africa. The nursery is part of efforts to restore 100,000 hectares of degraded forest land in Ghana. The project supports the country’s reforestation and climate goals.

More than 600 workers—most from nearby communities—are employed at the nursery. It uses advanced irrigation systems and is central to the company’s restoration strategy.

“This nursery is not just about trees,” said Enver Mapanda, General Manager of Rainforest Builder Ghana. “It reflects our long-term commitment to restoring Ghana’s forest landscapes.”

She said the work aligns with national goals on climate resilience, biodiversity, green jobs, and carbon removal.

Project Akwaaba and Reforestation Impact

Rainforest Builder Ghana was set up in 2023. Its main programme, Project Akwaaba, has already restored over 1,500 hectares in the Upper Wassa, Anhwiaso South, and Anhwiaso East reserves.

In 2025, the company aims to restore an additional 2,000 hectares, doubling the amount achieved the previous year.

“At the heart of our operations is a fully integrated value chain,” Ms Mapanda said. This includes seed collection, nursery work, planting, forest protection, financial planning, and access to the carbon market.

She noted that restoring forests also removes carbon dioxide from the air, generating carbon credits that can be invested in nature-based solutions.

Local Jobs and National Partnership

Ms Mapanda said the company plans to employ more than 900 workers this year. Local communities, she said, will be direct beneficiaries of the forest economy.

The company will also donate 10,000 seedlings to the Forestry Commission. This will support the government’s national tree-planting drive.

“We’re building inclusive and sustainable rainforest economies,” she added. “The people who live with and care for these forests must also be the ones who benefit.”

Government Support and 50-Year Lease

Dr. Hugh Clement Adokwei Brown, CEO of the Forestry Commission, attended the launch. He welcomed the project and said it came at the right time.

The government, he said, is targeting 30 million trees nationwide, with 40% expected to come from private firms.

“This ‘Akwaaba Project’ is evidence to show the world that Ghana is serious about deforestation,” Dr Brown said. He added that the project demonstrates Ghana’s commitment to restoring degraded land and combating climate change.

The company has a 50-year lease to operate and is currently focused on the Western North Region. Dr Brown praised Rainforest Builder Ghana for creating jobs and promoting sustainable growth.