Ghana politics and election news

President John Dramani Mahama has received the President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, during a one-day state visit to Accra, marked by discussions on climate-induced flooding and regional cooperation.

The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has signed a cooperation agreement with Russia’s ruling party, United Russia, aimed at strengthening inter-party relations and expanding political collaboration.

Ghana and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam have signed an agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports as they opened a new chapter in bilateral relations. 

Former Vice President and the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2028 presidential candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia, has donated relief items to victims of the devastating June 29 floods following a visit to some of the hardest-hit communities in Accra.

The donation was presented on his behalf by his Advisor on Gender and Social Protection, Akosua Asaa Manu.

The gesture comes after Dr. Bawumia toured several flood-affected areas to assess the extent of the destruction and interact with residents whose homes and livelihoods were impacted by the disaster.

The June 29 floods, triggered by hours of heavy rainfall, displaced thousands of residents, destroyed homes and businesses, and claimed several lives across parts of the Greater Accra Region.

The relief items are expected to provide immediate support to affected families as they begin rebuilding their lives.

Speaking during the presentation, Akosua Asaa Manu conveyed Dr. Bawumia’s sympathies to the victims and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting those affected by the disaster.

She also encouraged residents to adhere to safety directives issued by the relevant authorities as efforts continue to prevent further flooding and protect lives and property.

President John Mahama has sworn in Dr Pamela Parry Graham as Ghana’s first female Auditor-General.

Ghana’s Parliament has ratified Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs) with the governments of Benin, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Guyana, Mauritius and Luxembourg, following the adoption of the Roads and Transportation Committee’s reports.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament has described the June 29 floods in Accra, as the predictable consequence of a government that only talks about preparedness.

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has pledged its support for government's proposed GH¢300 million flood relief package but is demanding strict parliamentary oversight and full accountability for how the funds will be spent.

President John Dramani Mahama says the Tema Integrated Industrial Park (TIIP) will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs while opening new opportunities for Ghanaian manufacturers, engineers, technicians and entrepreneurs.

President John Dramani Mahama has cut the sod for the construction of the Tema Integrated Industrial Park (TIIP), a 120-hectare world-class industrial ecosystem in the heavy industrial area of Tema

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the government’s handling of recent flooding in parts of Accra, accusing it of inefficiency and poor coordination in its flood control response.

Paul Afoko, Aspiring National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said his agenda is to reunite, restructure and restrengthen the NPP to recapture political power in 2028.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has questioned the government's acquisition of two refurbished diesel locomotives and 20 freight wagons, calling for full disclosure on their age, condition, cost and long-term value to Ghana's railway sector.

In a statement signed by Sulemana Alhassan Tampuli, MP and Co-Chair of the NPP's Transport Sector Committee, the party's Minority Caucus welcomed the investment as a step toward reviving rail transport and easing pressure on the nation's road network, but said the government had failed to disclose key details necessary for an objective assessment.

According to the statement, credible information available to the Minority Caucus indicates that the locomotives are refurbished British Rail Class 56 diesel-electric locomotives, originally manufactured in the United Kingdom between 1976 and 1983 and last operated by Colas Rail. Of the 135 units originally produced, the statement said, fewer than 15 remain in service today, with considerably reduced capacity and efficiency.

While acknowledging that refurbished locomotives can still offer useful service life when properly maintained, the NPP insisted that Ghanaians deserve transparency on the units' operational history, refurbishment scope, expected remaining service life and total lifecycle costs.

The NPP raised concerns over maintenance sustainability, noting that the Class 56 fleet has largely been withdrawn from mainstream service worldwide, which could make sourcing spare parts increasingly difficult and costly. It called on government to disclose what spare parts arrangements, technical support agreements and local training programmes have been secured.

The statement drew comparisons with Diesel Multiple Units previously procured from PESA of Poland under the former NPP administration, which came with a five-year maintenance framework and skills transfer arrangement.

The Minority Caucus also questioned the readiness of the Tema–Mpakadan railway corridor for freight operations, citing uncertainty over the availability of mobile harbour cranes, reach stackers, container handling systems and other intermodal logistics infrastructure needed at the Mpakadan railhead.

Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang the Vice President, has called for greater attention and protection for workers in the informal sector, noting that they make up about 78 per cent of Ghana’s workforce but remain largely outside formal labour protections.

The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, says the government is considering adopting the Anti-Witchcraft Bill to criminalise the accusation of the act.