AGP Executive Report

Education Disruption: Ghana’s pre-tertiary teachers’ strike is leaving classrooms empty as unions demand a new Collective Agreement, correct salary scales for promoted teachers, arrears, and the 20% Deprived Area Allowance. Telecom Reliability: Double fibre cuts on the Accra–Winneba and Winneba–Cape Coast routes disrupted Telecel services, affecting about 72,754 subscribers and around 181 RAN sites, blamed on road works. Research-to-Market Push: The Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister urged CSIR to bridge the gap between research and the public/private sector so innovations become commercially viable products. Digital Skills for Girls: The Africa Girls Can Code programme trained 32 girls in Asokore Mampong with practical coding and ICT literacy to narrow the gender digital divide. Space & Innovation Policy: Ghana is moving to establish a space agency to coordinate national space activities and deepen space technology use for environmental challenges. Health as an Investment: President Mahama called for “health sovereignty” and treating healthcare as an investable, high-growth economic sector. Visa Talks: Ghana has opened discussions with Luxembourg on a possible visa-waiver arrangement for Ghanaians, alongside broader cooperation on digital tech and agro-processing.

Telecom Disruption: Double fibre cuts on the Accra–Winneba and Winneba–Cape Coast routes disrupted Telecel services, affecting about 72,754 subscribers and 181 RAN sites, with repairs underway after road works. Space & Environment: Ghana moves to establish a fully-fledged Ghana Space Agency, while also pushing satellite imagery, drones and AI for monitoring deforestation, illegal mining and coastal erosion. Digital Finance Security: The Cyber Security Authority warns attackers are exploiting gaps in Ghana’s cybersecurity framework, urging faster threat intelligence sharing among banks, telcos, regulators and service providers. Health as an Economy: President Mahama argues Africa should treat healthcare as an investable, high-growth sector to build health sovereignty, local pharma capacity and jobs. Research to Products: CSIR is urged to translate research into commercially viable products through stronger links with government and the private sector. STEM & Gender: WinE Ghana expands women-in-engineering opportunities across 20 universities, while 32 girls complete the Africa Girls Can Code programme. Energy Skills: The Energy Commission certifies 884 electrical wiring professionals and urges upgrades for EV charging, solar and battery storage. Education & Libraries: University libraries are urged to lead change in the digital age, not just preserve books. Football Governance: Black Stars’ AFCON qualifying setback triggers calls for urgent reforms and a new head coach selection process.

La Pleasure Beach/La Beach Demolitions: SSNIT says the La beachfront clearance near Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel was to remove unlawful encroachment and protect hotel investments, safety and public-health risks; the move sparked political pushback, with NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia pledging to rebuild the La Pleasure Beach “beach economy” and issue leases, while MP Rita Naa Odoley Sowah confronted the military over alleged lack of notice and claims of shots fired. Digital Economy Governance: Ghana introduced a centralised technical review mechanism for all public-sector AI acquisitions to protect data sovereignty, prevent vendor lock-in, and require interoperability, data protection, cybersecurity, sustainability and local skills transfer. Health Accountability via Data: GHS urged journalists to use the Community Scorecard to amplify community voices and improve healthcare delivery, while AMMREN and ALMA echoed the call for stronger media engagement. Agri-Tech Training: MOFA, WFP and KOICA handed modern agri-tech equipment (including IoT kits, drones, GPS and soil tools) to five agricultural colleges to modernise practical training. Maritime Drone Prep: Sunyani Technical University students visited Ghana Maritime Authority for maritime drone identification and vessel tracking systems training ahead of an international contest. Education Rankings: University of Cape Town rose to joint 147th in THE World University Rankings 2027, leading Africa.

Healthcare Accountability: GHS and partners (including AMMREN and ALMA) urged journalists to use Ghana’s Community Scorecard to amplify community voices and push service-delivery improvements. New Facility, National Security Link: Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak commissioned Ayigya Polyclinic, citing better access to care as part of national security. Nursing Investment: Dr Oliver Commey called for more investment in nurses—staffing, equipment, training and working conditions—to sustain Free Primary Healthcare. AI Governance: Government introduced a centralised technical review for public-sector AI acquisitions to protect data sovereignty, prevent vendor lock-in, and require interoperability, cybersecurity and local skills transfer. Digital Economy Security: Ghana launched NCSAM 2026, focusing on securing digital finance, cybercrime response, critical infrastructure protection and cyber hygiene. Education & Tech Skills: Ministry of Roads and Highways placed 15 tertiary students on the Kumasi Outer Ring Road for hands-on experience; meanwhile, Ghana’s universities and training ecosystem got a boost via equipment for agri-tech colleges and STEM support calls at Suame Methodist JHS. Research & Innovation: CSIR-SARI trained ~300 women in Upper West livelihood skills using shea and moringa value addition. Maritime Tech Prep: Sunyani Technical University students visited Ghana Maritime Authority to learn vessel tracking and drone identification for an international contest. Policy for Healthier Food: Stakeholders began drafting steps to ban partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) under Ghana’s trans fat elimination strategy. Regional Tech Partnerships: Ghana and South Korea flagged cooperation opportunities in AI, education, healthcare and governance ahead of 50 years of ties. Cybercrime Warning: A deputy minister recounted a “greedy” scam attempt involving fake US travel help, underscoring rising sophistication in cyber fraud. Airport Security Upgrade: GACL added pre-screening checks at departure halls with scanning and sniffer dogs amid narcotics trafficking concerns. Higher Education Rankings: THE World University Rankings 2027 placed UCT as Africa’s top university (joint 147th globally).

AI Oversight in Public Sector: Ghana will centralise technical review of government AI deployments, with the Ministry coordinating requirements and NITA leading scoping on interoperability, data protection, cybersecurity, sustainability and local skills transfer. Local Research & Data for AI: Ghana is urged to invest in local research and AI datasets so systems better reflect African languages and realities, with a push to move from papers to practical, commercial solutions. Digital Skills Partnership: GCTU and ManyTek International sign an MoU to boost cybersecurity, AI, applied research and industry-ready training through mentorship, internships and practical exposure. Health Data Sovereignty: A policy brief backs Mahama’s rejection of a US$109m health compact, warning it could expose patient records and pathogen data and weaken FDA regulatory authority. Cocaine Crackdown: Mahama directs a review of lapses that may have enabled ports to be used for narcotics trafficking, with reforms expected within two weeks. Transport & Urban Planning: Accra’s Ayalolo contra-flow BRT is easing commutes, but the bigger call is for permanent high-capacity rail on major corridors. Education-to-Jobs Pressure: Ghana faces graduate unemployment and “credential inflation,” where more degrees don’t always translate into better jobs. Energy Sector Spotlight: The 10th Ghana Energy Awards is launched for Nov 26, themed around consolidating a decade of energy resilience.

Cocoa Pricing: COCOBOD set Ghana’s 2026/27 cocoa producer price at GHS 42,400 per metric tonne (GHS 2,650 per 64kg bag), and it’s lower than most earlier 2026 scenarios—an early reality check for farmers and planners. Road Safety Tech: CUTS urges Ghana to fix traffic lights and road markings before fully enforcing TraffiTech‑GH, warning that cameras can’t compensate for broken, obscured, or faded signals. Digital Health Access: Ghana launched an online HIV self-testing platform (selftestghana.online) for private, confidential kit requests, with free kits and a possible delivery fee. Mobile Money Growth: Bank of Ghana data shows 2025 mobile money transactions hit GH¢4.54trn (+50.8%), with active customers rising to 26.7m. Healthcare Regulation: HeFRA and GMTF are exploring a partnership to strengthen regulation, facility monitoring, and equipment management. Education & Skills: UEAS (Bunso) unveiled its modern campus, aiming to blend engineering, agriculture, and innovation for practical job-ready graduates. Youth & Tech: UTAS students launched SafeSiso, an AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot giving adolescents private sexual and reproductive health information. Entrepreneurship: WeRise Network says it has trained 5,000+ women and youth entrepreneurs and registered 3,632 women-owned businesses.

Digital Security & Payments: A new warning flags Caller ID spoofing as a major driver of Ghana’s mobile money fraud, citing INTERPOL and Bank of Ghana figures showing sharp growth in electronic fraud cases. Banking Costs: Bank of Ghana personnel costs more than doubled to GH¢3.29bn from 2022–2025 as staff numbers rose more slowly, widening the cost gap. Cyber & Skills: Cybernovr launches a 100% cybersecurity scholarship for learners, while Ghana also pushes AI and digital skills for young women via Huawei’s plan to train 3,000 girls. Health Research Collaboration: WHO calls for stronger research partnerships in Ghana’s Upper East, linking evidence to better health policy. Agritech & Nutrition: CSIR’s VACS project is credited with improving access to climate-adaptive pearl millet varieties, and the Micronutrient Forum conference in Accra focuses on nutrition impact amid funding constraints. Energy & Industry: Ghana Energy Awards opens nominations for its 10th anniversary; Ghana–Luxembourg talks explore visa waivers and cooperation in digital tech and agro-processing. Education & Rankings: Times Higher Education 2027 rankings put UCT at joint 147th globally; Ghana has five universities in the list. Governance & Justice: Judiciary awaits clearance to recruit 127 magistrates; Chief Justice urges judges to balance duty with humanity, and calls grow to reduce remands using community service.

TRAFFITECH-GH Rollout: CUTS and the Police Service are in a standoff over Ghana’s automated traffic enforcement. CUTS wants a pause until faulty traffic lights, faded road markings and weak speed-limit signs are fixed, while the Police say the system is ready but the start date has shifted to November 1 for more public sensitisation. Public Finance Accountability: The Auditor-General’s 2026 audit launch pushed for tougher use of disallowance and surcharge powers, plus a new Audit Recommendations Tracker and AI-enabled auditing to curb GH¢100bn losses from irregularities. Digital & AI Policy: Ghana is debating how to manage AI’s near-term risks to jobs, livelihoods and misinformation, while France and Luxembourg discuss deeper cooperation on digital infrastructure, connectivity and governance. Education & Skills: The Mandarin-in-schools debate continues after President Mahama said Cabinet hasn’t approved compulsory Mandarin; meanwhile, Ghana’s education push also shows up in calls to prioritise quality technical training. Health & Nutrition: The Vice-President urged sustained nutrition investment beyond health alone, as Ghana opens a Micronutrient Forum. Conservation: A global focus on pangolin protection highlights the scale of illegal wildlife trade pressures. Energy & Power: Western Region officials praised Karpowership’s role in stabilising Ghana’s grid. Sports Politics: Calls to disband the Black Stars and dissolve the GFA intensified after Ghana’s 4-2 loss to The Gambia.

Energy & Skills: The Energy Commission urged Ghana’s electricians to keep upgrading skills as solar, battery storage and EVs expand, citing an 85% pass rate in the latest wiring certification exam. Vehicle Tech: DVLA has started a pilot of RFID-enabled number plates to improve vehicle identification security and traceability ahead of wider rollout. Research-to-Care: UGMC research leaders called for stronger systems to move lab findings into patient care, while also pushing sustained health research funding and capacity building. Governance & Accountability: The Auditor-General’s office will launch an online tracker for audit recommendation follow-through, as GH¢280.5m in surcharges remains unpaid. Digital Finance: Trident Digital Tech completed a $15m equity raise, with investors paying in stablecoins. Connectivity Disruptions: Parliament’s IC committee chair urged MTN and NCA to act on repeated network outages in northern Ghana and improve consumer communication. Cybersecurity Skills: CyberSafe Foundation and SANS launched an AI Security Fellowship for women across Africa. Education in Emergencies: Ghana’s education minister urged evidence-based responses to the learning crisis at the ACCELERATE+ conference. Cross-border Payments: A new focus on faster African payments highlights the currency and settlement challenges behind remittances and stablecoin use.

Health Sovereignty: Ghana rejected a US $109m health compact, saying it demanded pathogen profiles and medical records and even limited Ghana’s FDA oversight—Mahama called the conditions “humiliating,” reigniting Africa’s data sovereignty debate. Aviation Revival: Ghana’s planned national airline could return within 18 months under a Boeing partnership that goes beyond aircraft to training, tech transfer and a possible regional MRO hub. Road Safety: Ghana’s MTTD says 9,000 preventable crashes and 900+ deaths were recorded from Jan–Aug 2026, pushing for stronger road-user responsibility plus education. Power & Skills: The Energy Commission certified 141 electrical wiring practitioners (95% pass rate), stressing professionalism and against certificate misuse. Circular Economy & Waste: Ghana and Germany urged deeper PET recycling cooperation, while an EPA minister called for transparent, fair enforcement to rebuild public trust. Fisheries Governance: The Fisheries Commission inaugurated two national co-management committees to link scientific advice to on-the-ground enforcement. AI for Healthcare: KNUST and GMTF explored AI pilots in real health facilities, aiming to move research into patient impact.

Road Safety Tech: Ghana Police’s TraffiTech trial flagged 15,000+ speeding violations at just 5% capacity ahead of full automated enforcement on Oct 1, with electronic notices planned for offences like red-light running, seatbelts, helmets and phone use. Energy Skills: The Energy Commission certified 884 electrical wiring professionals (out of 1,036) and says it’s building a national platform to track EV charging points and their grid impact. AI in Finance: Seamless Technologies CEO Dr Emmanuel Okeleji urged Ghana’s financial services leaders to adopt AI strategically to boost productivity and performance. Broadband Push: Amazon is considering Ghana for Africa broadband expansion after talks with President Mahama in New York. Education & Training: UBIDS School of Law received 1,000+ law books; KPANTECH students and a teacher returned from specialised mobile app training in Shanghai. Governance & Costs: A new report spotlights a “contingency” line item in Ghana’s public construction bills and how unclear rules may inflate project costs. Waste & Health: Local Government Minister Mahama Ayariga will inspect the Adipa landfill after residents raised concerns about waste transfer from Agbogbloshie.

Aviation Revival: President Mahama met Boeing to push a long-term national airline partnership beyond aircraft purchases, including maintenance, training and technology transfer—aimed at making Ghana an aviation and logistics hub. Digital Health: OneHealthEHR says its offline-first electronic health record and disease-surveillance platform has gone live in Liberia and Ghana, expanding from four to seven facilities in weeks. Science-to-Jobs Push: CSIR urged Ghana to turn research into businesses and products, announcing a Scientific Conference and Innovation Fair focused on practical commercialization. Telecom Resilience: NCA reported voice and data restored in northern regions after fibre cuts disrupted over 1,200 mobile sites. Food & Farming Tech: GAIP pilots Germination Index Insurance using rainfall data to compensate smallholders for germination losses. Security & Trade: Tema Port’s security authority is under scrutiny amid the backdrop of a major cocaine seizure, raising questions about roles and accountability. Health Tech in Consumer Space: Octaplus Health launched Xaida, an AI digital character to improve health insurance communication.

Teacher Promotions: CAGD says it received 6,079 completed promotion cases from GES (out of 58,620 expected) and processed/payrolled them with arrears in September—raising fresh questions about the thousands still not placed. Methane & Gas Exports: A KNUST expert warns Ghana could lose EU gas market access unless it cuts routine gas flaring and strengthens methane monitoring. CSIR to Commercialise Research: CSIR announces an Oct 14–18 Scientific Conference and Innovation Fair to move local science into market-ready products. Broadband Deal Talks: Amazon is considering Ghana for broadband expansion after talks with President Mahama, aiming to reach underserved communities. Aviation Revival Plan: Boeing says Ghana’s national airline could return in about 18 months, with a proposed regional MRO hub and skills transfer. Sign Language Policy: Education Ministry plans to institutionalise Ghanaian Sign Language in schools, including teacher training and standardisation. AI for Youth Health: UTAS students launch an AI WhatsApp chatbot (SafeSiso) for confidential adolescent sexual and reproductive health info. Cybersecurity in Extractives: Mining and oil firms discuss AI-driven cyber and fraud risks and the need for stronger sector-wide protection.

AI in IT: Ghanaian businesses are being warned that AI agents will shift software from “used by people” to systems that act on their behalf—raising new risks and new fraud opportunities. Cybersecurity: A related warning says the next cyber fight may be AI attacking AI, as synthetic text, voice cloning and personalised phishing make scams harder to spot. Connectivity hit: Ghana’s northern regions and parts of Oti faced major voice and data disruption after multiple fibre cuts, with NCA and NITA teams working to restore 2G–4G service. AI regulation: Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George says Ghana will regulate AI risks (not curiosity) and is already training public-sector staff and deploying AI at the Ghana Revenue Authority. Digital skills for youth: Absa backs the GirlCode Ghana Hackathon to grow young women’s digital skills. Health tech & research: UCC is piloting an AI mental-health and anti-bullying app with hospital input, while KCCR-KNUST seeks safety evidence to expand ivermectin use in children. Energy access: Government launched electrification for 90 Oti communities and released 2,000 transformers to improve reliability. Aviation tech partnership: President Mahama met Boeing to revive Ghana’s national airline, including possible training, maintenance and an MRO hub.

Telecom Disruption (North): The NCA says multiple fibre cuts have knocked out or degraded voice and data services across Ghana’s Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Savannah and North East regions, plus parts of Oti. The outages hit 2G, 3G and 4G, with repairs underway by operators and NITA. Health Research (Children): KCCR-KNUST scientists are working with partners to build clinical and regulatory support for ivermectin use in children weighing 5–15kg under the IVM-KIDS EU-funded project. Mental Health Tech (UCC): UCC is piloting an AI-powered app for bullying reporting and youth mental health, engaging Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital to refine the tool. Medical Training (UCC): UCC’s School of Medical Sciences holds its White Coat ceremony for 155 students, urging more investment in diagnostics, medicines, equipment and health infrastructure. Energy Access (Oti): Government launches a turnkey electrification push for 90 Oti communities, with transformers and possible mini-grids for remote areas. Aviation (Boeing): President Mahama meets Boeing executives in New York, aiming to revive Ghana’s national airline within about 18 months and explore an MRO hub. Standards for Textiles: ITFP-Ghana calls for a dedicated training institute for standardisation, metrology and conformity assessment to boost Ghana’s textile competitiveness. Policy & Governance (RTI): Mahama urges public institutions to share timely, accurate information to build trust under Ghana’s RTI Act.

Maritime & Security Tech: Italy is deepening defence cooperation with Ghana, with focus areas including oceanography, meteorology, hydrographic surveying, IT and cybersecurity—building on a 2019 defence-security MoU and recent naval contacts. Energy & Industry: GNPC says natural gas is now a major revenue stream, recording $952m in 2025 gas sales, while upstream investments and an LNG push target operations by end-2027. AI for Tourism: Prof. Kobby Mensah urges Ghana’s tourism sector to use AI to enhance people-led experiences, not replace staff—calling for personalised services across the visitor journey. Digital Governance: Ghana’s Data Protection Commission wants stronger African regulator collaboration to tackle how global tech platforms control data and capture value, not just personal privacy. Currency Update: Bank of Ghana dismisses claims of a new GH¢500 note; the Heritage Series upgrade is set for Nov 3, 2026 with improved security and durability. Public Health & Evidence: Accra Metropolitan Assembly marks World Environmental Health Day by pushing science-led policy and enforcement to tackle sanitation, waste, flooding, air pollution and heat risks. Education & Skills: UBIDS School of Law receives 1,000+ legal books to close resource gaps, while TVET gets GH¢300,000 in ICT equipment for two technical institutes. Borders & Infrastructure: Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire commission 37 new boundary pillars to complete Phase 1 of their land boundary reaffirmation exercise. Health Systems: Aisha Hospital in Tamale reports Northern Ghana’s first IVF baby and a new dialysis unit, highlighting specialist care capacity-building. Cybersecurity Awareness: GCIF runs school and community cybersecurity awareness to help curb AI-enabled phishing and fraud.