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Plot to kill Burkina Faso leader foiled, says junta

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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A plot to kill Burkina Faso’s military leader, Capt Ibrahim Traoré, has been thwarted, the West African nation has announced.

The sophisticated plan had been hatched by Lt Col Paul Henri Damiba, the military officer ousted by Traoré in September 2022, the security minister said in a late-night broadcast.

“Our intelligence services intercepted this operation in the final hours. They had planned to assassinate the head of state and then strike other key institutions, including civilian personalities,” said Mahamadou Sana, further alleging that the plot had been funded by neighbouring Ivory Coast.

There has been no comment from either Col Damiba or Ivory Coast.

Since seizing power, Capt Traoré has faced at least two coup attempts and is also grappling with growing jihadist violence that has forced millions from their homes.

Despite these challenges and his authoritarian reputation, the 37-year-old military leader maintains strong popular support and has gained a following across the continent for his pan-Africanist vision and criticism of Western influence.

Authorities uncovered a leaked video showing the plotters discussing their plans, according to the security minister.

In the footage, they allegedly spoke about how they intended to assassinate the president – either at close range or by planting explosives at his residence – just after 23:00 local time on Saturday 3 January.

Afterwards, they allegedly planned to target other senior military and civilian figures.

Sana alleged that Damiba had mobilised both soldiers and civilian supporters, secured foreign funding – most significantly 70m CFA francs ($125,000; £92,000) delivered from Ivory Coast – and planned to knock out the country’s drone-launch base before foreign forces could intervene.

“We are carrying out ongoing investigations and have made several arrests. These individuals will be brought to justice soon,” the minister said on national television.

Sana insisted the situation was under control and urged citizens “not to be misled, out of naivety, into dangerous schemes”.

It is unclear how many people have been arrested.

Critics, both local and foreign, have accused Capt Traoré of authoritarianism and say his government suppresses dissent – including arbitrary arrests of military officers and restrictions on the media.

It is not the first time the junta has pointed the finger of blame about foreign interference in its affairs at Ivory Coast.

These continuing internal power struggles will further heighten regional tensions.

Col Damiba served as Burkina Faso’s leader from January-September 2022 after seizing power from an elected government.

After being ousted, he went into exile in neighbouring Togo and said in a message published on social media that he wished his successor every success

Source: BBC

Bank of Ghana Injects $10 Billion to Stabilise the Economy

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has revealed that they have injected $10 billion into the economy since 2025 to stabilise the exchange rate and bolster the nation’s foreign reserves.

Speaking at a Public Accounts Committee sitting on Monday, January 12, 2026, Nii Sowah Ahorlu, Head of Financial Marketing at the BoG, and the Governor, Dr Johnson Asiama, explained some of the interventions by the Bank as part of efforts to stabilise the economy.

“Relative to last year, we have had significant intermediation processes, and that is what we have observed in terms of the stability and appreciation we have incurred. In terms of our support for the market this year, overall it has been close to $10 billion,” he stated.

The Central Bank also revealed that the financial intervention primarily involved payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and bondholders.

This comes amid growing scrutiny of the Bank of Ghana’s interventions in the foreign exchange market, as stakeholders seek assurances that the measures are yielding the desired economic stability.

By: Janice Opoku-Agyemang

BoG explains suspension of Gold-for-Oil programme

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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Dr. Johnson Asiama, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has said that operational challenges and the need to improve policy efficiency necessitated the suspension of Ghana’s Gold-for-Oil programme.

Speaking before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee today, Monday, December 12, 2026, Dr Asiama said the suspension has already produced positive outcomes.

“The first reference is to observe that since we cancelled the Gold-for-Oil in March 2025, we have not seen a build-up of queues at the pumps. One of the objectives of the policy was for that. So we believe that the cancellation was worth it,” he said.

He explained that the suspension was not intended to terminate the initiative entirely, but to improve its efficiency and effectiveness and added that the Gold for Reserves was meant to increase the country’s reserves which had already showed positive signs.

“There were too many issues under the Gold-for-Oil that we needed to unearth. Therefore, the board authorised an external audit into the policy. We got a PPA approval for the audit two months ago. That exercise is underway,” Dr. Asiama explained.

“The objective of Gold-for-Reserves, as the name suggests, is for us to increase reserves. Based on the data available so far, the evidence is clear that it is not a case of shutting it down, but a question of enhancing its efficiency, looking at inefficiencies that we have to take out. That is why we went after GoldBod,” he added.

In March 2025, the Bank of Ghana announced the suspension of the Gold-for-Oil program, marking a significant shift in the country’s economic strategy. The programme, introduced by the previous government, was intended to reduce reliance on foreign exchange for fuel imports and help stabilise domestic fuel prices.

By: Janice Opoku-Agyemang

Focus One Media’s Ivy Hollys Makes TV3 Mentor Season XIV Finals

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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Ivy Hollys in Mentor Season XIV

Ivy Hollys, SEO Analyst, News Anchor, and Traffic Executive with Orange FM, a subsidiary of Focus One Media, has qualified for the finals of TV3 Mentor Season 14, earning a spot among the final six contestants competing for the coveted music reality show crown.

The qualification follows a highly competitive semi-final round that saw two more contestants evicted. Ivy Hollys was announced as the third contestant to progress to the finals after delivering a performance that impressed both judges and viewers.

Since the start of this season’s competition in November 2025, Ivy Hollys has consistently advanced through the various stages of TV3 Mentor, which began with 16 contestants. Her performances throughout the season have positioned her as one of the standout acts in this year’s edition.

Reacting to her qualification, Ivy Hollys described the moment as overwhelming, noting that making it to the finals reflects weeks of mental fortitude and hard work. 

The finals of TV3 Mentor Season 14 are scheduled for January 25, where the remaining contestants will battle for the ultimate prize. The finale is expected to attract major industry stakeholders, music lovers, and supporters from across the country.

Her progression to the finals of TV3 Mentor has been celebrated not only by music fans but also by colleagues within the media industry. Expressing their pride in her achievement, some staff members of Orange FM describe Ivy Hollys as a “versatile star girl” and re-echo their belief in her ability to win the ultimate prize. 

Following the semi-final stage, only six contestants remain in the competition. The finalists are Ivy Hollys, Akyede3, D-Ennay, Kwaku Shai, AndyQuams, and Tikky.

Each finalist brings a unique sound and style to the stage, setting the scene for an intense and closely contested finale.

This year’s competition, which is themed “The Breakout Edition”, focuses on discovering emerging talent and preparing contestants to compete in Ghana’s increasingly competitive music industry. This year’s edition is also designed to help contestants transition from promising performers into fully developed artists with strong market appeal. 

Limited Number of Buses Hinders Transport Intervention- STC

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
-

The deputy managing director of the State Transport Corporation (STC) has explained that the limited number of vehicles contributes largely to the difficulty commuters face during the festive season.

In an interview with Alfa Ali on the Orange Sunrise, Mr Nurudeen Hamidan, Deputy Manager for Finance and Administration at the State Transport Corporation, explained that while the STC sympathised with people in Kumasi for the transportation stress, especially during the Christmas season, the STC could not allocate buses to alleviate the stress due to the limited number of buses at its disposal.

“People would have to wait 30 minutes, one hour for a vehicle, and when vehicles are not available, some spend even longer hours before they get to town, while others spend long hours before they go home”, he sympathized.

He also explained the system the STC is running in Accra to ease traffic this Christmas season.

“We went back to the drawing board and designed a system: when the masses come from Kumasi around 3 p.m., we don’t load them back—we just deploy them to the city. I can see the impact. People are happy, and fares remain the same. It is bringing relief,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has provided 18 buses at strategic places within the Central Business District of Kumasi. The buses are scheduled to transport people to various traffic-prone areas in the region.

KMA Intervention

Madam Henrietta Aboagya, the Public Relations Officer for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, told Orange Fm that this was part of efforts aimed at easing traffic pressures and also aimed to help citizens avoid paying unapproved fares that some trotro buses charge when traffic mounts.

She added that the assembly was working with the police and military to make sure that trotro mates were charging approved fares and warned that those who defaulted would have their vehicles impounded.

By: Janice Opoku-Agyemang

DVLA Suspends Rollout of New Licence Plates

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
-

The Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority(DVLA) has announced the suspension of the rollout of the new number plate registration system.

In a letter issued by the authority yesterday, December 24, 2025, the authority explained that the suspension was due to unforeseen delays in legal amendments of the Road Traffic Act 2004 (Act 683) and the Road Traffic Regulation (L. I 2180)

“We were clear in our minds that two legal documents would have to be amended to make room for the successful rollout of the new licence plate. These are the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683) as well as the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 ( L. I. 2180). Specifically, the L.I. 2180 provides the specifics on what must be contained on the licence plate”, the statement read.

The letter also stated that although parliament was able to amend the Road Traffic Act, the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (L.I. 2180), was not amended before parliament went on recess. It explained that this has resulted in the suspension of the rollout of the new number plate system.

“Parliament was able to carry through the amendment in the Road Traffic Act. However, the specific provisions requiring amendment in L.I. 2180 have not been successful before Parliament went on recess on Friday, December 19, 2025.

As a result, because the L.I. 2180 amendments have not gone through, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) announces to the general public the suspension of the impending rollout of the new licence plate slated for January 2, 2026,” the statement

The Way Forward

The Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority also informed the general public that the rollout will commence as soon as all legislative requirements are met. The authority advised that vehicle owners who have the DP sticker on their vehicle, as well as a DV plate on their vehicle, should continue using them until the appropriate time limit is announced by the authority.

This follows an earlier announcement by the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) of a major nationwide initiative aimed at abolishing illegal vehicle and number plate registrations across the country.

The exercise, was scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026, and ran until April 2027. The new system is expected to strengthen road safety and enhance vehicle monitoring systems nationwide.

Bawumia Not Solely Responsible for NPP’s 2024 Defeat – Former Suame MCE

By
Ivy Hollys
-

Former Municipal Chief Executive for Suame, Hon. Maxwell Ofosu Boakye, has argued that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia should not be singled out as the sole reason for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the 2024 general elections, insisting that the loss was the result of multiple internal and external factors.

Speaking on Orange Sunrise with Alfa Ali, the former MCE said the party’s challenges went beyond its presidential candidate, pointing to the conduct and public comments of some influential party members, as well as the failure to adequately protect traditional NPP strongholds during the elections. According to him, these factors collectively weakened the party’s appeal to voters nationwide.

Hon. Ofosu Boakye also noted that the timing of fuel price increases shortly before the elections significantly heightened public dissatisfaction and negatively affected the party’s electoral fortunes. He explained that the economic pressure felt by ordinary Ghanaians at the time played a critical role in shaping voter sentiment.

Addressing long-standing public debates, he firmly rejected claims that Dr. Bawumia’s religion or northern background contributed to the NPP’s defeat.

“We should acknowledge that it is not because Dr. Mahamudu is Muslim or because he is from the North that we lost the 2024 elections,” he stated.

Instead, he argued that the party had become largely unattractive to many voters ahead of the polls and urged party supporters to rally behind Dr. Bawumia as the NPP prepares for its next presidential primaries.

The former MCE further claimed that the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is benefiting from economic interventions introduced under the NPP administration, particularly the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. He attributed recent economic improvements to foundations laid by the previous government.

While admitting that the NPP’s weak communication strategy allowed NDC propaganda to gain traction, Hon. Ofosu Boakye maintained that the party’s record over the past eight years, especially under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, remains commendable in terms of economic management and infrastructure development.

His comments come as the NPP gears up for its presidential primaries scheduled for January 31, 2026, amid renewed internal debate about the party’s future direction.

All Signs Point to Victory in NPP Primaries – Kennedy Agyapong Campaign Team

By
Ivy Hollys
-

The campaign team of New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Ohene Agyapong says growing signals on the ground show that he is on course to win the party’s upcoming presidential primaries.

Speaking in an interview with Alfa Ali on Orange Sunrise, the Director of Research and Strategy for the campaign, Oteng Darko, said Kennedy Agyapong’s sincerity, openness, and consistency clearly set him apart from other contenders.

According to him, one of the campaign’s key messages “Let Ken be Ken” resonates strongly with party supporters because it reflects the candidate’s straightforward nature.

“We all know who Ken is and how he responds to questions. During the media engagement, you could feel the level of honesty in play. He speaks his mind, he speaks the truth, and he is deeply passionate about the people. That honesty puts him way ahead of other politicians,” Oteng Darko stressed.

He further accused some members of the party of engaging in inappropriate rhetoric and personal attacks aimed at derailing Kennedy Agyapong’s campaign. In that regard, he called on former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia to publicly condemn supporters who insult or attack his opponent.

Oteng Darko claimed the insults formed part of a calculated effort to damage Kennedy Agyapong’s image, but noted that the campaign has chosen not to be distracted.

“Ken remains focused on the campaign and is avoiding all forms of destruction,” he added.

His comments follow a recent interview granted by Kennedy Agyapong on United Television, where the Assin Central MP expressed concern about remarks made against him by certain individuals within the party.

In that interview, Kennedy Agyapong reiterated that he remains committed to his vision for the party, stating that he has deliberately stayed away from social media distractions to concentrate fully on winning the confidence of NPP delegates.

The NPP presidential primaries are expected to be fiercely contested, with internal dynamics and party unity remaining central to the conversation as the race intensifies.

Bawumia Is The Best Person To Lead NPP- Miracles Aboagye

By
Ivy Hollys
-

The Director of Communications for the Dr Mahamudu Bawumia campaign team, Miracles Aboagye, has stated that former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia does not control the public comments of individuals who choose to support him.

Speaking on the Orange Sunrise programme with Alfa Ali on Wednesday, Mr Aboagye stressed that Dr Bawumia has consistently run a decent and issue-based campaign, free from inappropriate political rhetoric. He noted, however, that the former Vice President has often been the target of unguarded and inappropriate remarks from others.

Mr Aboagye further expressed confidence that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would emerge united after its presidential primaries scheduled for December 31, 2025, and present a single national agenda ahead of the 2028 general elections.

He called on party members to rally behind Dr Bawumia, describing him as the best candidate with the experience, vision, and competence to lead the NPP to victory in 2028.

His comments come in the wake of remarks by NPP flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, who, in an interview on United Television (UTV), stated that Dr Bawumia “does not exist” in his life. Mr Agyapong also alleged that Dr Bawumia failed to thank him after he campaigned for him during the 2024 general elections, and warned party officials against any attempt to rig the upcoming primaries.

Dr Bawumia won the NPP’s 2023 presidential primaries with 118,210 votes, representing 61.47 per cent of the total valid votes cast. He was declared winner by the Electoral Commission of Ghana at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, November 4, 2023.

In that contest, Mr Agyapong polled 71,996 votes (37.41%), Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto secured 1,459 votes (0.76%), while Francis Addai-Nimoh obtained 781 votes (0.41%).

Meanwhile, recent polls conducted by Global Info Analytics indicate that Dr Bawumia is leading with 42.7 per cent support, followed by Mr Agyapong with 17.7 per cent. The survey also recorded 14.9 per cent as undisclosed, with 19.3 per cent of respondents undecided.

DVLA to Roll Out Enhanced Number Plates to Improve Vehicle Security

By
Ivy Hollys
-

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced plans to introduce a new vehicle number plate system from January 1, 2026, a move officials say will significantly enhance national security and modernise vehicle management in Ghana.

The Ashanti Regional Manager of the DVLA, Jerry Afablo, explained that the new system will integrate Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and other digital features to improve vehicle traceability and road safety. He made these remarks during an interview on the Orange Sunrise programme with Alfa Ali.

According to Mr Afablo, the upgraded plates will make it easier to detect stolen vehicles and assist security agencies in tracking criminals who use vehicles to carry out illegal activities. He noted that accurate, real-time vehicle data will support law enforcement efforts and reduce abuse of the registration system.

As part of the rollout, all vehicles will undergo re-registration between April 2026 and December 2027. Mr Afablo urged vehicle owners to remain patient throughout the process, assuring the public that the DVLA will provide clear guidelines to ensure a smooth transition.

A key change under the new policy is that number plates will be registered to individuals rather than to vehicles. As a result, owners who decide to sell their cars will be required to do so without transferring their registered plates to the new buyer. He explained that this measure will improve accountability and prevent misuse of vehicle identities.

The new system will also require motorists to renew the authenticity of their number plates every two years, further strengthening compliance and oversight.

The Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, has confirmed that the redesigned plates will include a regional code at the top and an area code at the end, a feature intended to enhance identification and traceability nationwide.

DVLA officials believe the reforms will deliver long-term benefits for security, regulation, and road safety.

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