The Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP) special anti-galamsey taskforce, established to enforce environmental laws against illegal mining( galamsey), has been withdrawn. The development was confirmed by environmental journalist Erastus Asare Donkor in a social media update.

Erastus shared an audio recording of the Chairman of the Small Scale Miners Association, Kojo Peprah, instructing members to return to their mining sites.

In the message, Peprah assured miners they could resume operations without fear, declaring that “any taskforce you see on your site is illegal and must be arrested.” He also urged miners whose excavators had been seized to present their documents to retrieve them.

The withdrawal comes on the back of growing criticism of the taskforce’s methods and mandate.

Just days earlier, Joseph Yamin, the National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), urged President John Dramani Mahama to stop all taskforce operations. His call followed a violent clash between the police taskforce and residents of Bonteso in the Amansie West District, which left some officers injured and four residents, including an Assembly member, in custody.

Yamin described the taskforce’s actions as “very unfortunate,” accusing them of extortion rather than genuine enforcement. He argued that a pause was necessary to create space for dialogue and lasting solutions to the challenges of illegal and small-scale mining.

Reacting to the withdrawal, Donkor warned of dire environmental consequences if galamsey activities resume unchecked.

“Prepare for general galamsey!! I thought this government wanted to fight something that has already destroyed our major rivers and streams,” he wrote, urging journalists and citizens to take action against what he described as a spreading “cancer.”

Ing. Francis Addai-Nimoh, a distinguished member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former Member of Parliament for Mampong, has officially announced his withdrawal from the party’s presidential primary scheduled for January 31, 2026.

In a statement issued on August 27, 2025, Addai-Nimoh cited bias, bad timing, and what he described as the “unhealthy monetization” of the process as reasons for his decision. He specifically condemned “the seeming inclination and bias of Party executives towards one candidate” and the astronomical GHS 4.6 million required from aspirants.

He further argued that the timing of the contest was “inappropriate political timing” and that the steep fees placed “unethical emphasis on money rather than competence and winnability.” His withdrawal, therefore, represents not just a personal decision but also a critique of the party’s internal processes.

Addai-Nimoh, who represented Mampong in Parliament from 2008 to 2016, is no stranger to the NPP’s presidential race. He contested in the 2014 primaries and attempted the 2015 parliamentary primaries, both without success. At the NPP’s Annual National Delegates Conference in 2022, he had also predicted surprises in the party’s leadership, stressing that Ghanaians were eager to see “new faces” emerge within the NPP.

Despite bowing out, the former legislator extended goodwill to the remaining contenders. “Nevertheless, I wish all the aspirants well in their campaigns. Long live the NPP and long live our homeland, Ghana,” he concluded, leaving the contest with both a critique and a message of unity.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to building strong partnerships with stakeholders to ensure the transparent and responsible management of Ghana’s natural resources.

The Ministry noted that collaboration with relevant institutions remains a central part of the ministry’s reform agenda.

This assurance was given when a delegation from the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), led by its President and CEO, Madam Suneeta Kaimal, paid a courtesy call on him in Accra. The team also included NRGI’s Africa Director, Madam Nafi Chico Quashie, and other officials who discussed strategies for strengthening natural resource governance in Ghana.

The Minister highlighted the balance between welcoming investment into the sector and ensuring that such activities are carried out responsibly. He emphasized that transparency and effective institutional partnerships are necessary to safeguard the country’s resources.

He further pointed to ongoing projects such as the Tree for Life initiative, which aims to rehabilitate 5,500 hectares of degraded forest in partnership with the Forestry Commission.

“It is not an easy task, but we are determined to restore these areas and make them green again,” he stated. In addition, he outlined the Blue Water Guards program, which will recruit 2,000 people this year to help protect river bodies.

The NRGI leadership commended the ministry’s efforts and pledged support to enhance reforms. They also underscored the importance of effective natural resource governance in shaping the wellbeing and sustainable development of the country.

President John Mahama has described Africa the world’s most dynamic emerging market as he impressed on the investing community to consider it.

According to him, African’s youthful population coupled with its fast urbanization drive and digital connectivity makes it the preferred investment destination.

Speaking at the African Singapore Business Forum on Monday August 25,2025, President Mahama intimated that investment in Africa will yield the needed returns for mutual growth and benefits. He said Africa is “the world’s most dynamic emerging market today.”

Highlighting the potentials of the continent in terms of investment, President Mahama said, “We are 1.4 billion people, young, fast urbanizing, digitally connected, rapidly growing middle class and Africa’s cities will host more than 700 million consumers by 2030.”

Data available indicates that Africa-Singapore trade rose by 50% between 2020 and 2024, to nearly $14 billion with West Africa accounting for more than half of that.

He urged investors to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to invest in agriculture value chain, manufacturing, technology amongst others.

President John Dramani Mahama has highlighted five (5) key areas of partnership and growth between Ghana and Singapore.

The President says Ghana continues to avail herself as the preferred investment hub for investors.

He makes the remarks at the opening of the Africa Singapore Business Forum in Singapore on Monday, August 25, 2025.

The areas include; efficient, green supply chain, Agribusiness and food systems, Clean energy and carbon markets, Digital economy and services, Advanced manufacturing and critical minerals.

He explained that with Ghana’s efficient, green supply chains, investors can partner with Ghana to modernise ports, inland
waterways and cold chains adding that “Your world-class logistics and standards can reduce
Africa’s trade costs and unlock export competitiveness”

On agriculture and food systems, President Mahama intimated that “from precision irrigation to processing and packaging,
Singaporean technology and African scale can turn our farms into reliable suppliers for
Asia, the Middle East and Europe” he said.

He said Ghana’s new environmental legislation, will ensure transparency and alignment with international best practices in Ghana’s Clean energy and carbon markets drive.
“Ghana and Singapore signed an Article 6
Implementation Agreement in 2024. We have established a Carbon Markets Office
and Ghana Carbon Registry, anchored in new environmental legislation, to ensure
transparency and alignment with international standards. Invest with us in renewable energy, waste-to-energy, regenerative agriculture and
forestry. Generate high-integrity credits while delivering jobs, clean air and resilience” he empathies.

President Mahama impressed on Singapore investors to create BPO and shared-service hubs to serve Africa from Accra on a 24/7 basis.
“Build with us on e-payments, cybersecurity, digital ID and smart government. Create BPO and shared-service hubs to serve Africa from
Accra, 24/7’ he wooed.

On the final final pillar of advanced manufacturing and critical minerals, President Mahama said Ghana has strong manganese output and significant lithium potential, alongside graphite, gold, copper and rare earth
prospects.

He emphasized that Ghana’s policy is value addition Our policy is value addition at home—battery precursors, components and
downstream manufacturing—powered by clean energy and world-class standards.

He expressed gratitude to Enterprises Singapore for its role over the period.
“Enterprise Singapore has been an outstanding partner in building these bridges, helping
Ghanaian firms access Asian markets and enabling Singaporean champions to succeed in
Ghana”

President John Dramani Mahama has outlined five key pillars where Ghana and at large African and Singapore can bridge capacity and chart shared growth.

President Mahama is of the firm belief that Africa remains the ‘world’s most dynamic and emerging markets’ with a potential of hosting more than 700 million consumers by 2030. He adds that “We are 1.4 billion people, young, fast urbanizing, digitally connected, rapidly growing middle class”

He has outlined five key areas of partnership between the two countries including;
Efficient, green supply chains, Agribusiness and food systems, Clean energy and carbon markets, Digital economy and services which hinges on e-payments, cybersecurity, digital ID
and smart government. Create BPO and shared-service hubs to serve Africa from
Accra, 24/7 and Advanced manufacturing and critical minerals

Find below the full speech.

President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday co-chaired the second plenary session on the ‘Economy: Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa’ of the ongoing 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan.

Mr Mahama co-chaired the session with former Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, with interventions from Kenyan President William Ruto, Togolese leader Faure Gnassingbe, and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa. The UN Under-Secretary General Cristina Duarte and Comoros President Azali Assoumani also delivered remarks.

In his concluding remarks, President Mahama said TICAD-9 is happening at a time of a rapidly changing world order.

“The world’s largest economy, which should be the driver of global trade and investments, has become more insular and transactional in its relationship with the rest of the world”, he noted.

He had advice for African leaders and their people: “Africa is open for business. We wish to partner with any nation in the world on a win-win basis. But let’s not kid ourselves! Trade and investments will not come to Africa because we wish for it.”

According to President Mahama, “Africa must undertake the hard but necessary reforms, as countries on the continent, to make Africa an attractive destination for investments.”

“That is why we must silence the guns and stop the fighting. That is why we must reform our economies and make them more stable and predictable. This is why we must reform our governance and make public service accountable and corruption-free”, Mr Mahama added.

Ghana and Japan have signalled a new push to deepen economic cooperation and accelerate priority infrastructure projects during a bilateral meeting between President John Dramani Mahama and the Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba of Japan on the sidelines of TICAD 9 in Yokohama.

President Mahama acknowledged Ghana’s central role in Japan’s cocoa supply, noting that Ghana accounts for about 70% of Japan’s cocoa imports.

He encouraged Japanese firms to expand investments in Ghana’s cocoa value chain, including a public–private partnership with the Cocoa Processing Company to revamp the plant and boost value addition.

The President also highlighted upcoming milestones in Ghana–Japan relations, including the centenary of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’s arrival in Ghana and the 50th anniversary of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) in 2027—anniversaries he previously discussed with H.E. Hiroshi Yoshimoto, Japan’s Ambassador to Ghana.