AGP Executive Report

Flood Resilience in Accra: A consultant warns GARID-style drainage won’t stop recurring floods if wetlands and retention ponds keep getting destroyed, arguing engineered works can’t replace nature’s stormwater storage. Indigenous Crops at Risk: CSIR says Ghana’s indigenous varieties are disappearing from farms and tables, but are fetching premium prices abroad—prompting stronger gene bank backup collections. Procurement Corruption: CIPS chief Benedict Farrell says procurement interference and corruption are deterring investors across Africa, and calls for AI-backed transparency and tighter professional standards. AI Governance for Universities: Scholars warn African universities are adopting AI tools without data protection and academic independence safeguards, risking foreign dependency and biased systems that underrepresent African languages and cultures. Digital Education Policy: A continental EdTech Policy Toolkit launched in Accra targets 200 million learners by 2030, focusing on readiness, financing, procurement, and country case studies. Drone Logistics Impact: Zipline reports Ghana drone delivery hubs boosted nearby household income and clean water access, with benefits strongest closest to hubs. Power Sector Reliability: Utilities freeze non-critical maintenance and man substations around the clock for World Cup demand, while a probe says the Akosombo fire was caused by brittle cables, not sabotage. Cybersecurity Capacity: ECOWAS hackathon scenarios were built by Ghana’s 00SEC, pushing local digital defence skills across 12 countries. Healthcare Tech Win: A GIMPA student’s digital healthcare access platform, MEDIQ-GH, topped the GIMPA Tech Fair & Industry Showcase.

Digital Geoscience Upgrade: GGSA signs an MoU with Bentley/Seequent to modernise geological data management with modelling software, training, and new collaboration areas. Water Sector Capacity: Ghana Water Ltd inaugurates the Governing Council of the Ghana Water Institute to lead training, research and consultancy for West Africa’s water workforce. Payments Regulation: enza wins a Central Bank of Ghana PSP Enhanced licence to expand regulated digital payments services. Flood Mitigation Focus: Ashaiman NADMO reiterates drain desilting, community sensitisation and enforcement to reduce heavy-rain flooding impacts. Weather Governance Reform: GMet proposes upgrading into a Ghana Meteorological Authority with stronger regulation and a single official severe-weather alert source. Cyber Defence Push: Ghana hosts an ECOWAS hackathon aimed at boosting regional digital resilience and homegrown cybersecurity talent. STEM for Youth: Ho West students get STEM exposure via an educational tour, while Ghana’s robotics team wins Robofest game category and the ministry plans a robotics boot camp. Health & Public Safety: WHO renews calls for voluntary blood donation as shortages persist; Ghana also faces a child neglect crisis flagged as a rights and health emergency. Local Tech & Identity: Ghana’s SIM re-registration debate resurfaces, with questions on whether taxpayers should fund telecom customer database costs. Gold Value Move: Ghana plans to ban export of unrefined gold by 2030 and build an ISO-certified assay/refining lab.

Port Modernisation: Ghana’s Tema Port operator Meridian Port Services (MPS) won praise from the Deputy Minister for Transport after a tour highlighted major investments and advanced ship-to-shore crane operations. Digital Jobs & Income: A Bolt/Ipsos study says Ghana’s $1bn digital services economy is powering platform-based work, with ride-hailing and e-commerce leading participation and flexibility driving earnings. AI & Work: MTN Ghana’s HR chief says AI is forcing workforce transformation through continuous learning and new skills, as HR shifts from admin to strategic change. Health Workforce for UHC: Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh opened the 2026 Annual Health Summit, stressing that resilient, equitably distributed health workers are key to Universal Health Coverage. Water Reliability: Ghana Water Limited (GWL) says repairs at Barekese Water Treatment Plant’s transmission pipeline are completed early, restoring supply after a planned shutdown. Climate Risk: New research finds human-driven climate change is making once-rare coastal floods far more likely, raising stakes for coastal infrastructure planning. Local Revenue Tech: Korle Klottey’s internally generated revenue rose to GH¢40m in 2025, credited to digital property rate collection and permit reforms. Cyber Sovereignty: Communication Minister Samuel Nartey George warns West Africa against digital dependence, citing ransomware and scams and urging stronger local cyber defence. Flood Governance: Weija-Gbawe MP Jerry Ahmed Shaib calls for accountability and long-term, climate-resilient flood planning beyond emergency responses. Mining Reform: Lands Minister Armah-Kofi Buah says mining licences will require district committee recommendations, aiming to give host communities a formal role.

Education Integrity: A new wave of concern is building around exam malpractice, with leaked questions and organised cheating increasingly normalised in Ghanaian schools. Rule of Law: Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta faces a major legal fight tied to a reported GH₵1.4bn fraud scheme and the SML scandal, as questions grow over political silence. Economy & Data: Ghana’s growth quickened to 6.4% in Q1 2026, while the Ghana Statistical Service tells Parliament that the 24-Hour Economy can’t work without reliable, timely data. Flood Tech & Governance: Accra’s flooding debate keeps sharpening, with calls for real drainage engineering and enforcement rather than short-term task force fixes. Cybersecurity: Teams from 12 West African countries are in Accra for an ECOWAS cybersecurity hackathon focused on practical defences against ransomware and scams. Water & Industry: Ghana Water Ltd has inaugurated the board of G-Water Bottling Limited to expand commercial bottled water operations. AI & Chips: Reports say Google ordered millions of AI chips from Intel, a potential shake-up for advanced chip manufacturing. Child Safety Tech: The UK orders phone makers to enable on-device tools that block nude images for children, a policy model other countries are watching. Agritech: CSIR warns soil data isn’t being used well enough in farming and policy, limiting yield gains. Agriculture Innovation: Northern farmers using Songotra-T cowpea can harvest twice in one season thanks to early maturity. Construction Safety: GhIE warns building collapses stem from regulatory failures and unsafe practices, not just weather.

Water & Cities: Ghana Water Limited will shut down the Barekese Water Treatment Plant for 48 hours (June 9–11), cutting supply to about 2.6 million people in Greater Kumasi while engineers repair a key transmission pipeline. Digital Infrastructure Funding: Ghana’s Deputy Education Minister Dr Clement Abas Apaak urged African governments to set aside 1–2% of annual GDP for digital infrastructure to unlock AI and innovation. Cybersecurity & Sovereignty: Ghana’s Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George opened an ECOWAS regional hackathon, warning that cyber threats are already hitting hospitals and financial systems and that digital security is a sovereignty issue. Healthcare Tech & Preparedness: HealthTech Ghana won a top medical technology distribution award at WABEA, tied to upgrades at 37 Military Hospital including Ghana’s first helium-free Philips MRI; meanwhile Korle Bu ran an Ebola emergency simulation to strengthen lab and frontline response. Agritech & Equipment: President Mahama secured a Belarus deal for 1,840 agricultural machines to support mechanisation and farmer service centres under Feed Ghana. Waste & Pollution: ECOWAS in Ghana called for collective action on plastic pollution and weak waste disposal, linking it to flooding and public health risks. Trade & Exports: Ghana’s non-traditional exports hit a record US$5.006bn in 2025, up 30.7%, as exporters were urged to keep compliance high. Tech Innovation Showcase: GIMPA Tech Fair & Industry Showcase 2026 highlighted 70+ student projects, with a smart healthcare access solution taking the top prize.

Telecel Healthfest: Telecel Ghana Foundation’s Connected Health outreach screened about 400 residents in Konongo and nearby towns for conditions including hypertension, diabetes, malaria, Hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis and typhoid, with nearly 300 people registering or renewing NHIS. Hospital Disruption: KATH doctors’ strike entered day four with patients stranded, but Komfo Anokye Doctors’ Association later suspended its industrial action from 6pm Tuesday after Otumfuo’s intervention and talks with hospital leadership. Digital Security: Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George urged West African developers to build local cyber capacity at the ECOWAS Regional Hackathon in Accra, warning ransomware and cyber fraud are already hitting institutions. Climate Risk Insurance: TEMBO Africa began piloting Germination Index Insurance in Northern Ghana, sensitising 2,000+ farmers across 29 communities and enrolling early-rain affected farmers in the Upper West and Northern regions. Flood Response in Tema West: NADMO and partners intensified inspections, demolitions and drain clearing to reduce flooding in Tema West. Waste Management Push: Ghana’s sanitation stakeholders called for faster shift from landfills to engineered waste treatment as Greater Accra’s waste crisis worsens. Agritech Deal: Ghana and Belarus agreed to deliver 1,840 units of agricultural machinery to boost mechanised farming via farmer service centres.

Aviation Investment: Indian firm Chipsan Aviation is in Ghana for a week-long push to explore tech and aviation opportunities, with a focus on developing helicopter operations at Ho Airport and meetings with GCAA and GACL. Tax Tech: GRA says ITAS won’t introduce new taxes, positioning it as a one-stop digital platform to simplify registration, filing and payments. Health System Tensions: Ghana’s Health Ministry calls the KATH doctors’ strike “unfortunate” after the suspension of the CEO, framing it as an administrative step tied to patient safety and emergency-care directives. Digital Identity & Security: Biometric Update and Goode Intelligence released a 2026 injection attack detection guide, warning that AI-enabled attacks are rising fast against biometric and digital identity systems. Power & Reliability: ECG announced planned outages across Eastern, Tema, Accra East/West, Volta and parts of Ashanti for Tuesday, June 9. Flood & Urban Planning: Prof. Chris Gordon links Accra’s recurring flooding to building in waterways and natural drainage paths, urging coordinated action beyond tree-planting. Mining Value Chain: Lands Minister Armah-Kofi Buah says Birim North will host the first gold processing facility under the cooperative mining programme, aiming to boost recovery and create jobs. Tourism Data: GTA’s 2025 report shows 1.31m international arrivals and 1.79m domestic visits, with growth in licensed tourism enterprises. Online Age Verification Debate: Communications Minister Sam Nartey George says Ghana is working on age verification for adult online content, echoing global moves but raising privacy concerns.

World Cup 2026: The tournament kicks off June 11 across the USA, Canada and Mexico, with 48 teams and 16 stadiums—plus plenty of off-field drama already bubbling. Digital Tax Reform: Ghana Revenue Authority says its Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) will go nationwide in September 2026 after a pilot in Accra, aiming for one taxpayer profile and simpler compliance. AI & Law: A UK MP has sued xAI over alleged Grok-generated sexual deepfakes, pushing the debate on AI developer responsibility. Mining & Policy Certainty: Ghana rules out mine nationalisation at WAMPEX, promising case-by-case lease decisions to reassure investors. Infrastructure Safety: A joint probe into the Madina building collapse points to regulatory breaches and unsafe construction; in Osu, a multi-storey building is being demolished after a partial collapse. Agritech Partnerships: President Mahama signs MoUs with Belarus to modernise Ghana’s agriculture via tech transfer and investment. Health & Research: DENSTAR launches a €11m dengue vaccine push with KNUST in Ghana; Telecel Ghana Foundation runs free Healthfest screenings in Konongo. Payments Push: Visa says Ghanaians use contactless abroad but not at home—now it’s urging more merchant terminals. Waste & Flood Risk: Stakeholders demand engineered waste treatment beyond landfills, while Accra’s potholes and flooding-linked road damage are hitting the economy hard.

Film Industry Boost: Ghana Movie Awards (GMA) adds a competitive Best Casting Director category, following the Oscars’ move, and highlights Ghanaian casting director wins at the ARTIOS Awards. Urban Safety & Enforcement: A two-storey building collapse in Accra’s North Industrial Area (Avenor) killed 2 and left 3 rescued; the Vice President and ministers visited as calls grow for stricter building regulation enforcement. Tax Digitalisation: Ghana Revenue Authority steps up stakeholder engagement ahead of the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS), aiming to unify tax registration, filing, payments and compliance tracking. Healthcare Tech Upgrade: HealthTech Ghana and 37 Military Hospital open Ghana’s first helium-free 1.5T MRI centre under a PPP, with free scans for eligible patients for two weeks. Power Reliability: ECG announces scheduled outages and a technical fault affecting parts of Ashanti, Tema, Accra East and Accra West on June 8. Press Freedom & Accountability: President Mahama reiterates free, independent press as a democracy pillar while government warns media practitioners to resist misinformation. Health Workforce Pressure: Nurses and midwives in Upper East demand better infrastructure, pay, training and representation in health policy decisions. Standards Bottleneck: Ghana Standards Authority says it is understaffed, with regional exporters forced to travel to Accra for testing and certification.

Flood Governance & Urban Planning: Works and Housing Minister Kenneth Adjei ordered occupants of buildings along waterways and unauthorised flood-risk sites to evacuate ahead of demolition, after inspections of flooded bridges in Accra showed drainage capacity and development controls are failing. Building Safety & Accountability: Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak announced an investigative committee into the Avenor building collapse that killed two people, pushing for stronger enforcement of building regulations. Returnees, Jobs & Reintegration: Ghana received another batch of evacuees from xenophobic South Africa, with government securing about 200 jobs (including 100 from Engineers and Planners) to help people rebuild livelihoods. Media Freedom & Misinformation: Parliament’s minority leader and the communications minister both urged stronger protection for journalists and responsible press practice while tackling misinformation and disinformation. Health & Research Capacity: A survey found Ghanaians show high vaccine confidence and support for local manufacturing, but awareness of the 2027 local production plan remains low; meanwhile, UNFPA and Mercy Catholic Hospital ran free obstetric fistula surgeries. Connectivity & Security: Telecel Ghana warned that fiber cuts and vandalism are costing telecoms millions daily, threatening digital services. STEM & Innovation Events: West Africa Pharma & Healthcare Expo opens June 8 at UPSA, and Huawei’s ICT Competition drew 220,000 students globally.

Belarus–Ghana Food Security: President Mahama toured Brest’s agro-processing facilities, focusing on dairy tech and ways to cut post-harvest losses as Ghana pushes from smallholder farming to commercial agriculture. Diaspora Jobs & Reintegration: Government says about 200 jobs have been secured for evacuees returning from South Africa after xenophobic attacks, with companies including Engineers and Planners leading. Flood Response in Focus: Tema West Municipal Assembly distributed relief to flood victims and warned against building on waterways/wetlands; meanwhile the Works Ministry activated emergency measures and pushed drainage desilting as a long-term flood strategy. Hospital Leadership Tension: Support is growing for the suspended KATH CEO amid a doctors’ service withdrawal and lab scientists defending the decision to halt emergency admissions over congestion and patient safety. Fire Safety Digitisation: GNFS is urging industry players to back the Automated Fire Compliance and Safety System (AFCAS) to replace paper processes with a faster, transparent approval system. Mining Skills Link-Up: China-Ghana Mining LBG and UMaT signed an MoU for multidisciplinary industrial training and internships. Telehealth for Pensioners: SSNIT’s telehealth service lets pensioners consult remotely, aiming to reduce cost and access barriers. Digital Services Push: Ghana pitches itself to London investors as Africa’s outsourcing and digital services hub, banking on policy reforms and expanding digital infrastructure.

Ghana–UK Investment Push: Presidential adviser Augustus Goosie Tanoh urged Ghanaians in Britain to move beyond remittances into export investment and skills transfer, spotlighting agro-processing, manufacturing, pharma, textiles, logistics, renewables and digital services. Diaspora Business Ties: President Mahama visited Ghanaian-owned spots in Tottenham, London, reinforcing support for indigenous enterprise during a wider UK visit that included a Ghana-UK Growth Partnership push. Digital Services Pitch: Ghana is pitching itself to London investors as Africa’s digital outsourcing and AI-enabled services hub, with plans to scale digital public services, exportable products and AfCFTA integration. Digital Health with AI: WHO and UNDP (Japan-funded) launched an AI health programme in Ghana focused on ethical governance, data protection, digital literacy and early warning for climate-sensitive diseases. Floods as Governance Failure: Senyo Hosi and others argued Ghana’s recurring floods are driven by weak enforcement and accountability, not weather. Power Reliability Update: ECG Tema blamed a prolonged Tema Newtown outage on an underground cable fault under a muddy water body, with repairs ongoing. STEM School Reality Check: Abomosu STEM SHS is praised for results, but stakeholders warn staffing, maintenance, funding and industry links must improve. Child Nutrition Concern: A University of Ghana study flagged high anaemia among schoolchildren, renewing calls for iron-focused nutrition campaigns. Ebola Watch: CDC modelling warns the Central Africa Ebola outbreak could exceed 20,000 cases in three months without stronger isolation and treatment measures. Cyber & Identity Debate: Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George defended proposed ID/driver’s licence age checks for porn sites, while lawmakers and experts question feasibility and intent. Mining Lease Pressure: Chiefs and communities renewed calls to extend Gold Fields’ mining rights, citing local benefits and jobs. Climate Action on the Ground: WASCAL stakeholders pledged practical climate action, while government targets planting 30 million tree seedlings under Tree for Life.

Digital Education Push: Ghana will introduce coding, AI and augmented reality from early school years and expand its tablet scheme to younger pupils, as the eLearning Africa 2026 conference spotlights “learning for sovereignty” and data protection. Digital Governance & Cybersecurity: Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George reviewed draft digital bills on technology, cybersecurity and data protection, signalling a major overhaul of Ghana’s communications law. Data-Driven Public Service: NDPC boss Audrey Smock Amoah urged evidence-led policymaking at UCC’s Data Literacy Week, stressing ethics and inclusion in Ghana’s digital transformation. HealthTech for Seniors: SSNIT’s telehealth service is being welcomed by the National Pensioners Association as a way to improve access for over 270,000 retirees. Flood Response & Water Reliability: NADMO and Zoomlion launched a 12-week “No Do No Do” campaign to curb drain-blocking waste, while Kumasi faces water supply disruptions June 9–11 due to Barekese plant repairs. Environment & Corporate Reforestation: Telecel Ghana planted 10,000 seedlings for World Environment Day, adding to its 43,000-tree tally. Climate Finance Dialogue: Germany signalled readiness to directly support WASCAL’s Climate Change Action Now initiative in Ghana.

e-Visa Costs: Ghana’s new e-Visa platform could speed up tourism and trade, but analysts warn high visa fees for non-Africans may blunt the gains. Heat Tech for Sport: England is set to use palm-cooling devices at FIFA World Cup 2026 as venues face extreme heat, alongside hydration breaks. Medical Imaging Upgrade: HealthTech Ghana and the Ministry of Defence have opened a helium-free Philips BlueSeal 1.5T MRI and expanded diagnostics at 37 Military Hospital, with free scans for eligible patients for two weeks. Consumer Protection Tech: An AI expert urges Ghanaians to use mobile phones to verify products and fight counterfeits through a “VERIFY BEFORE YOU BUY” campaign. AI Music Investment: A $5.4bn valuation for Suno highlights how AI is reshaping Africa’s (and the world’s) music industry—and the legal questions that come with it. Smart Infrastructure for Floods: Commentators argue Accra needs a smarter, integrated flood solution like Malaysia’s SMART Tunnel, not repeated stop-gap drainage fixes. Tech Services Expansion: Smart Hands Africa adds Supermicro to its portfolio, offering installation, break-fix support, maintenance and consulting across multiple African markets including Ghana. Power & Health Systems: Coverage also flags how USAID funding cuts are pressuring Ghana’s health system, with the president calling out the budget impact.

Plastic-to-fuel Push: Accra’s AMA has signed a binding feedstock deal with Numatter Recycling Technologies (NRTL) for Ghana’s first industrial-scale plastic-to-fuel pyrolysis plant, targeting 100+ tonnes of plastic waste daily and producing petrol, diesel, kerosene and activated carbon. e-Visa Caution: Tourism analysts warn Ghana’s new e-Visa drive could lose competitiveness if visa costs for non-Africans stay high, even as the platform promises faster processing. Online Child Safety Debate: Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George is pushing age/ID verification for porn site access, but MPs like Matthew Nyindam say it won’t pass Parliament—while a security consultant argues lawmakers should design the right balance for privacy and protection. Heat Risk Research: An Oxford study flags Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Madurai among the world’s most heat-vulnerable cities, noting Ghana among countries with many high-risk urban centres. Regional Food Security: ECOWAS and partners launched a push for rice self-sufficiency by 2035, aiming to cut West Africa’s costly import dependence. Health Access Tech: SSNIT launched nationwide telehealth for pensioners, enabling remote doctor consultations via phone/video linked to NHIS details. Mining & Environment: WAMPEX 2026 opened in Accra calling for responsible mining and power; meanwhile, Ghana’s environment groups mark World Environment Day with renewed pressure to curb galamsey. Ghana in Global Rankings: Jeune Afrique/The Africa Report places Ghana 8th among Africa’s best-performing countries, scoring strongly on governance, influence and innovation.

Fulbright Research: Imaging science professor Anthony Vodacek is returning to Africa as a Fulbright Scholar to design a sensor network plan for monitoring the African Great Lakes, partnering with Makerere University and the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization. Border Security & Tech: A human security analyst urges calm over Interior Minister claims of 100+ unauthorised entry routes along the Volta-Togo border, stressing the need to track who uses informal pathways. Digital Safety Policy: Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George says Ghana is considering identity verification before accessing porn sites, using national ID systems to protect children. Waste-to-Value Jobs: Accra’s new 100-tonne-per-day plastic recycling plant (pyrolysis) is set to create about 1,500 jobs and aims to cut plastic in drains to reduce flooding. Payments Infrastructure: Interswitch partners with Temenos to expand managed banking services across Africa, targeting core banking and digital banking upgrades in Ghana and other markets. Media & Regulation: NCA and Tanzania’s broadcasting regulator deepen ties to benchmark funding and reforms for public service broadcasting. Power & Cities: ECG reports a technical outage affecting parts of Accra West, while Ga East and NADMO demolish structures blocking waterways to reduce flooding. STEM & Skills: A new study finds Ghanaian IT students value database courses but want more practical preparation for real workplace demands. Drone Sports: Ghana Air Sports Federation launches the DGN Drone League and Zen Palms Drone Championship to train and select drone athletes from schools nationwide.