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Dig Once Policy Will Boost Internet Expansion- Sam George

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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Sam George

The Government of Ghana says a proposed “Dig Once” policy could reduce the cost of deploying fibre infrastructure by nearly 60 per cent as part of efforts to expand broadband access and strengthen the country’s digital economy.

The initiative, being spearheaded by the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, seeks to integrate fibre-optic infrastructure into major road construction projects under the government’s Big Push agenda.

Speaking at the 15th anniversary soft launch of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, said the policy is designed to eliminate duplication in infrastructure development and lower network expansion costs for telecom operators.

Under the proposed framework, contractors building new roads will be required to incorporate fibre chambers into road designs during construction. Telecommunications companies would then be able to install fibre cables through the pre-built chambers rather than carrying out separate excavation work.

According to the Minister, the current system forces both road contractors and telecom operators to independently dig up roads for separate infrastructure works, significantly increasing costs and creating avoidable inefficiencies.

He explained that the new approach would allow telecom operators to focus mainly on securing right-of-way access and laying fibre cables, reducing civil works expenses that typically account for a large portion of network deployment costs.

Sam George described the policy as a potentially transformative step for Ghana’s digital infrastructure strategy, noting that lower deployment costs could support wider broadband coverage, improve internet connectivity and contribute to more affordable data services for consumers.

The Minister also disclosed that the Ministry has completed the draft policy framework after incorporating recommendations from the Ministry of Roads and Highways because of the policy’s impact on road infrastructure development.

According to him, the revised draft was received this week and is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval. Government is targeting implementation approval by the third quarter of 2026.

The Dig Once policy forms part of broader efforts to accelerate Ghana’s digitalisation agenda, improve national connectivity and enhance the competitiveness of the telecommunications sector.

By: Janice Opoku-Agyemang

Kumasi Waste Crisis: Oti landfill site has exceeded its lifespan—Eugene Amo Asamoah 

By
Ivy Hollys
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Engineer Eugene Amo Asamoah on Kumasi crisis

Kumasi’s waste crisis has often been linked to the Oti landfill site’s full capacity. Bringing some clarity on this issue, the business development manager for the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant Limited, Engineer Eugene Amo Asamoah, said the landfill has exceeded its operational lifespan.

Speaking in an interview with Alfa Ali on the Orange Sunrise, the engineer explained that waste generation is directly linked to urbanization and population growth, stressing that waste management remains a critical government responsibility.

According to him, the Oti landfill was originally designed to operate for only fifteen years and has now outlived its intended capacity.

Engineer Amo Asamoah noted that many countries around the world have moved away from the traditional “collect and dump” system of waste management towards a circular economy model where waste is treated as a resource.

He explained that waste materials such as plastics, paper, metals, textiles, and organic matter can be segregated and recycled for productive use.

The engineer further warned that improperly managed organic waste produces harmful liquids known as leachate, which can contaminate soil and water bodies. He added that decomposing waste also releases greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change.

“Because if you do it the linear way, where you do collection and disposal, in Ghana, the organic fractions in the waste composition are about 60 percent. And these organics, if you don’t treat them properly, they leachate. When it gets into the soil, it destroys the soil. When it gets into our water bodies, it destroys them. When the organics are decomposing, they also emit some gases. These greenhouse gases, methane and carbon dioxide, cause these greenhouse gas effects to deplete the ozone layer and cause this climate change that we are all crying about.”

Despite the challenges, he maintained that Kumasi already possesses the solution to its waste management crisis, highlighting that the largest compost and recycling plant in Africa is located in the Ashanti Region.

According to him, several African countries continue to visit Kumasi to study the city’s waste recycling and composting model.

Majority chief whip urges media houses to exercise caution in reportage

By
Ivy Hollys
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Majority Chief Whip Nelson Rockson Dafeamekpor, has confirmed that legal representation has been secured for the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North following his arrest in the Netherlands over alleged financial crimes.

According to Mr. Dafeamekpor, the legislator is in good health and continues to cooperate with authorities as investigations continue.

He disclosed that the arrest took place on Sunday, May 10, and urged media houses to exercise caution in their reportage by avoiding unverified claims surrounding the matter.

The Asante Akyem North MP is alleged to have been arrested in connection with financial crimes linked to money laundering and suspected romance scams involving an estimated 32 million dollars.

Mr. Dafeamekpor stressed the need for responsible journalism while official investigations are ongoing.

Mahama chairs special cabinet meeting today

By
Ivy Hollys
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president John Mahama on cabinet meeting
President of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama is today chairing a crucial special cabinet meeting to determine the government’s official position on Ghana’s constitution review recommendations.

The meeting marks a major step in the constitutional reform process following months of legal and administrative scrutiny by the attorney general and the president’s legal advisers.

Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu confirmed that a draft position paper on the proposed constitutional amendments is now ready for Cabinet consideration and approval.

According to him, President Mahama had earlier directed that the review committee’s report undergo a detailed legal analysis before the government adopted any official stance on the proposed reforms.

Mr. Kwakye Ofosu explained that the constitutional review process differs from a standard commission of inquiry exercise, requiring the government to issue a “position paper” rather than the usual “white paper.”

He noted that once the Cabinet approves the document, it will serve as the government’s official blueprint for responding to the constitutional reform proposals and paving the way for implementation.

The outcome of today’s meeting is expected to shape the next phase of Ghana’s constitutional reform agenda.

Fibre cuts in Ghana hit 8,000 annually 

By
Ivy Hollys
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fibre cuts

The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has raised fresh concerns over the rising number of fibre cuts in Ghana, revealing that telecom operators are now recording more than 8,000 fiber cuts annually.

Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah, described the development as a major threat to network stability and service delivery across the country.

Speaking during the Chamber’s 15th anniversary soft launch, she explained that the increasing destruction of fiber infrastructure is putting enormous financial pressure on telecom operators. According to her, funds meant for network expansion and service improvement are now being redirected into repair and maintenance works.

She attributed the rise in fibre cuts to the rapid expansion of telecommunications infrastructure over the years, noting that Ghana’s internet penetration has grown from about four percent to more than seventy percent.

“We are experiencing over 8,000 cuts per annum when it comes to fibre cuts, which is increasingly a strain on our operators’ resources,” she stated.

Madam Owusu-Ankomah stressed that the industry wants to move beyond recurring conversations about fibre cuts and focus on strengthening Ghana’s digital future.

To address the challenge, the Chamber is advocating for the implementation of the proposed Dig Once policy, which seeks to make fibre duct infrastructure mandatory in major road construction projects. The policy is expected to allow telecom operators to access protected underground ducts and reduce the frequent destruction of fibre cables.

Meanwhile, the minister for communication, digital technology, and innovations, Samuel Nartey George, says the Dig Once policy could reduce the cost of fibre infrastructure rollout in Ghana by as much as sixty percent.

According to him, the policy will help accelerate broadband expansion while improving access to affordable data services across the country.

YEA PWD workers in Ashanti Region demand contract renewals and unpaid salaries

By
Ivy Hollys
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YEA

A group of Persons with Disabilities, PWDs, working under the Youth Employment Agency, YEA, in the Ashanti Region has appealed to the government and management of the agency to urgently address concerns over delayed contract renewals and unpaid salaries.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the affected workers said their contracts under the Youth Employment Agency had not been renewed since September 2025, leaving many of them in financial distress.

According to the group, repeated attempts to seek clarification on their employment status and the payment of outstanding salaries have not received any official response.

The workers further alleged that recommendation letters concerning their contracts may not have been forwarded to the national office by the Ashanti Regional Director of YEA, Seth Atanga.

The group explained that their recruitment process followed all required procedures, including submission of applications, interviews, medical examinations, and orientation programs organized by the Labor Commission.

They said they successfully completed their probation period and accepted the contract-based nature of the YEA employment arrangement in good faith.

However, the workers expressed disappointment over what they described as inconsistencies in the treatment of persons with disabilities employed under YEA across different regions.

They further alleged that while some PWD staff within the Ashanti Region had reportedly received payments, many others remain unpaid.

The affected workers are now calling on the Ashanti Regional Minister to intervene immediately. They are also urging the chief executive officer of YEA, Abdul Malik Basintale, to explain why PWD workers in the Ashanti Region continue to face uncertainty regarding their contracts and salaries.

PURC Identifies Major Operational Challenges In Ashanti Region Electricity Service Delivery

By
Ivy Hollys
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PURC

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, PURC, has identified major operational and customer service challenges affecting electricity and water delivery across parts of the Ashanti Region following a five-day monitoring exercise.

The exercise involved the Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG, Ghana Water Limited, GWL, and licensed prepaid vending centres across the region.

The monitoring exercise was led by PURC’s Director of Regional Operations and Consumer Services, Alhaji Jabaru Abubakar, together with Deputy Director for Southern Operations, Leon Acquaye. The inspection covered ECG district offices at Abuakwa, Asokwa, Kwabre and Ayigya, as well as GWL’s West One and West Two districts. Eight licensed prepaid vending centres were also inspected.

According to the Commission, the exercise assessed compliance with PURC regulations, the efficiency of prepaid metering systems, customer service delivery, complaint handling procedures and overall consumer management systems.

The inspection revealed several operational challenges affecting electricity service delivery in the region. PURC reported that frequent power outages at Abuakwa and Asokwa disrupted customer service operations and increased waiting times for consumers.

At Abuakwa, poor road access to the office was identified as a challenge, while Asokwa reportedly faced delays in the supply of meter enclosures for new customer connections.

The commission further observed that the absence of a real-time queue management system at the Kwabre district contributed to long customer waiting periods. The district also recorded increasing cases of illegal electricity connections and meter tampering, resulting in technical and commercial losses to ECG.

PURC additionally noted that system latency was creating congestion at customer service desks.

At Ayigya, the Commission identified delays in the Local Revenue Protection system between October 2025 and January 2026. Customer responsiveness at service desks was also described as below standard due to distractions and non-operational conversations among staff.

The exercise further uncovered challenges with prepaid vending operations. PURC has therefore urged ECG to install standby renewable energy systems, especially solar photovoltaic solutions, at customer service centres to ensure uninterrupted operations during power outages.

The Commission also directed ECG to ensure the regular supply of receipt paper to vending centres and review vendor commission structures to sustain operations and improve accessibility for consumers.

District offices have additionally been advised to introduce real-time queue management systems and strictly enforce customer service charters to improve communication and service delivery.

Asante Akyem North MP arrested in Netherlands over alleged $32 million money laundering & romance scam 

By
Ivy Hollys
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ASante Akyem north MP, OHene Kwame frimpong asante

Asante Akyem North MP Ohene Kwame Frimpong, has reportedly been arrested in the Netherlands over alleged financial crimes linked to an international investigation involving the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). According to GhanaWeb, the legislator is being investigated over alleged money laundering and suspected romance scams involving an estimated amount of 32 million dollars. In a statement issued today, parliament also confirmed the arrest of the MP. 

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews on the issue, international lawyer and Head of Chambers at Clinton Consultancy, Amanda Akuorkor Clinton, stressed that the allegations against the Asante Akyem North MP are yet to be proven in a court of law. However, she noted that the reported arrest abroad is significant because it suggests that multiple international agencies may have been involved in the investigation.

She questioned whether Ghana has demonstrated enough willingness to pursue investigations involving politically exposed persons, arguing that foreign agencies may sometimes hesitate to share sensitive intelligence with local institutions for fear that such information could be compromised.

Amanda Clinton explained that in cases involving alleged money laundering, investigators usually examine a chain of financial activities, including the placement, layering, and integration of funds into legitimate financial systems. According to her, anyone allegedly linked to that network can become part of a money laundering investigation, even if they are not directly accused of carrying out romance scams.

She further referenced earlier reports in which the Asante Akyem North MP reportedly denied being detained in the United Kingdom over similar allegations in 2025. She said the latest development would likely attract international attention and test Ghana’s commitment to fighting financial crimes involving public officials.

The legal practitioner added that international law enforcement bodies often become cautious when dealing with politically exposed persons because of concerns that prematurely sharing information with local agencies could jeopardize investigations or alert suspects before arrests are made.

WASSCE 2026 officially begins for More Than 500,000 Candidates

By
Adwoa Afranewaa
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Wassce 2026

More than 500,000 final-year Senior High School students across Ghana are beginning the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), with the Oral English paper marking the official start of the nationwide exercise.

This year’s examination is significant as Ghana rejoins the regional WASSCE structure alongside other West African countries after several years of administering separate examinations due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says preparations for the examinations have been completed and adequate measures have been implemented to ensure a smooth and credible process across the country.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, May 12, the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, explained that the council deliberately delayed the printing of examination papers as part of efforts to strengthen security and prevent leakages.

According to him, the decision forms part of broader measures aimed at protecting the integrity of the examinations and reducing opportunities for malpractice.

He also assured candidates, parents and school authorities that all examination materials had been prepared and would be distributed to centres nationwide in line with the official timetable.

WAEC has, in recent years, intensified its anti-malpractice measures through closer collaboration with security agencies, enhanced monitoring systems and tighter control over the handling of examination materials.

The 2026 WASSCE is expected to be conducted at hundreds of examination centres across the country, with candidates sitting for both core and elective subject papers over the coming weeks.

By: Janice Opoku Agyemang

Afenyo-Markin accuses government of turning OSP investigations into “media trials”

By
Ivy Hollys
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Afenyo-Markin

Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has expressed concerns about the approach being used by the government and the Office of the Special Prosecutor in handling corruption-related investigations involving former government appointees.

Speaking in an interview on recent developments surrounding the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Afenyo-Markin said Ghana’s democracy has long struggled with issues of corruption and accountability, making it necessary for state institutions to operate independently and fairly.

According to him, the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo and former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia established the OSP as an independent body to investigate corruption and corruption-related offences.

He noted that special prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng was able to investigate matters involving the very government that appointed him without interference.

Afenyo-Markin cited the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) case, which emerged following an investigation by The Fourth Estate, as an example of the OSP’s independent work under the previous administration.

“There was no such interference by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration,” he stated.

The minority leader, however, criticized the current government’s handling of some corruption-related cases, particularly the decision by the attorney general to enter nolle prosequi in ongoing criminal trials involving some accused persons.

According to him, the decision undermined the government’s “reset agenda” because the accused persons were discharged instead of allowing the judicial process to continue.

“That is the first point of failure,” he stressed.

Afenyo-Markin further accused the government of resorting to what he described as “media trials,” where public announcements are made about alleged crimes without due process being followed to a conclusion.

He maintained that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is not opposed to investigations into former appointees; however, he argued that the party’s concern lies with what he described as “subtle persecution” and the overall approach being adopted in the investigations.

“They started with this media trial where they would make huge announcements, big announcements. There is crime here; there is crime there. For me, all of us as politicians must know that once we get into public office and we exit, there will be a day of accountability,” he said. 

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