Mr. Ayariga observed, “You and your boss were given the steering wheel, and you both drove in a different direction.”

He declared, “You have lost credibility as a party and as a candidate,” citing the NPP’s and its leader’s “lack of good policies” and their “propaganda and deceit.”

He said that Dr. Bawumia must be careful with his “It Is Possible” catchphrase because “Ghanaians are not listening to you any more.” We have suffered greatly because of you, therefore “it’s possible” has no chance. Instead, make use of that tool and alter the story.”

“Our nation has become a banana republic under your watch, and it’s pathetic, Mr. Vice President,” he said.

Additionally, Mr. Ayariga stated that if it was necessary to remove former President John Mahama from office because 4 cedis was equivalent to a dollar, “then I don’t know why Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia is running for President” given that Ghanaians must pay GHS16.00 to receive $1.00, the All People’s Congress flag bearer.

“Under the so-called economic Messiah,” Dr. Bawumia, “the cedi has become the worst currency today.”

Because of the rapid devaluation of the Ghanaian cedi, he claimed, businesswomen and women in Ghana are “becoming poorer against their counterparts in other countries.”

He mentioned that the cedi’s depreciation cost the Ghanaian government more than GHS10 billion.

It’s unclear how many of you exchanged dollars, euros, or pounds this morning. Still, there’s no denying that the Economic Management Team, led by Bawumia, has performed appallingly in maintaining the value of the cedi. Mr. Ayariga expressed dissatisfaction over the cedi’s lack of strength among the major trade currencies.

He has therefore counselled Dr. Bawumia and the ruling New Patriotic Party to focus on “finishing the 8 rather than breaking the 8, because there is no 8 to break.”

He stated that “Dr Bawumia should know that Ghanaians don’t have a short memory,” further stating: “The suffering is real and escalating, so he should stop the jokes.”

The post APC Flagbeare, Hassan Ayaiga Cautions Dr Bawumia To Consider Big Issues And Not Steering Wheel first appeared on Nkyeremu News.

The victims of dog bites in the Techiman municipality of the Bono East region saw a high increase in 2021 to 60 and recorded 7 deaths. 2022 is an alarming figure as the number of dog bites shot to 100 and recorded 12 deaths. According to the district veterinary officer, Solomon Tawiah, there is a need to address the dog bites killing innocent persons who are vulnerable to afford the vaccine after being bitten by unvaccinated dogs.

Rabies is a fatal disease of dogs and cats. Rabies is a zoonotic illness that affects the central nervous system and can be prevented by vaccination. The most economical method of protecting people from rabies is to vaccinate dogs.

Information gathered by the Nkyeremu News indicates, that the government has stopped the free vaccines for dogs, hence the number of deaths keeps increasing. The reintroduction of the free dog vaccine should be mandatory at all costs. All dog owners must vaccinate their dogs against rabies. The best solution is to chain dogs during the day.

The post Dog Bites In The Techiman Municipality Records 32 Deaths From 2019 To 2022 first appeared on Nkyeremu News.

President John Mahama’s announcement that Ghana will begin processing about 50 per cent of its cocoa crop domestically has stirred interest in the global cocoa market and raised questions about long-term supply, quality, and price dynamics.

Ghana, widely recognised for producing some of the world’s highest‑quality cocoa and standing as the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, said the move is aimed at boosting domestic industry, creating jobs and retaining more value within the country. Officials expect the expansion of local processing facilities to increase employment in manufacturing, logistics and related services while strengthening Ghana’s cocoa-to-chocolate value chain.

Market implications will depend on how the policy is implemented. By processing half of its cocoa domestically, Ghana would export fewer raw beans, reducing the supply of high‑quality unprocessed beans on the international market. Some buyers particularly chocolate makers who value Ghanaian beans for their flavour profile, may face tighter access to the specific grade of beans they prefer. That could push these buyers to compete more strongly for remaining raw Ghanaian cocoa, seek beans from other producing countries, or shift to purchasing processed cocoa products instead.

If Ghana later moves to process all its cocoa, the impacts would be larger. International buyers who rely on raw Ghanaian beans could face sustained shortages, potentially driving up global prices for unprocessed beans and encouraging investment in local sourcing and processing in importing countries. Conversely, manufacturers who adapt by sourcing processed cocoa from Ghana may benefit from more stable supplies of semi‑finished or finished products but could face higher costs if processing adds value and raises prices.

For Ghana, the shift toward domestic processing is broadly positive: it promises job creation, technology transfer, and greater export earnings per tonne. The challenge will be meeting international quality and consistency expectations for processed cocoa products and ensuring that local processors can scale without disrupting farmer incomes.

Observers say the policy marks a strategic push up the value chain. Buyers and market stakeholders will now watch Ghana’s implementation timeline, export volumes, and the quality of processed output before drawing firm conclusions about longer-term effects on global supply and prices.

The post Cocoa Buyers Shake As Ghana Processes 50 Percent Of Their Production first appeared on Nkyeremu News.

Decades of recurring floods in Greater Accra have claimed lives, destroyed property, and disrupted livelihoods. Researchers now warn that approximately 20% of houses built on waterways may need demolition to restore natural water flow, as human activities have severely disrupted Accra’s drainage systems. Studies confirm that poor and uncoordinated land use planning—not climate change—is the root cause of flooding in Ghana’s capital.

Human activities continue to worsen the crisis. About 80% of drain blockages in Accra stem from improperly disposed of plastic waste, as citizens litter and dump refuse into gutters. Encroachment on wetlands for housing and commercial infrastructure has altered natural water flow, while widespread deforestation has reduced the soil’s capacity to absorb excess rainwater. Similar flooding patterns are emerging in other Ghanaian cities like Kumasi and Takoradi due to unplanned urbanisation and illegal dumping.

Rather than resorting solely to large-scale demolition, experts propose four alternative solutions:

Equipping physical planning agencies with the authority and resources to enforce existing land use laws will prevent construction on wetlands and waterways.

Community-based waste collection, capping of open dumps, and public education campaigns can drastically reduce plastic waste entering drains—addressing the root of 80% of blockages.

Systematic dredging before rainy seasons, combined with sustained maintenance to prevent re-siltation, ensures waterways remain functional.

Reforestation projects, creation of urban green spaces, and restoration of natural wetlands will enhance water absorption and reduce runoff.

Close to $3.2 billion in economic assets in Greater Accra remain at risk of flooding—a figure that could quadruple by 2050 without intervention. Addressing Accra’s flood crisis demands coordinated action, civic discipline, and investment in sustainable urban planning rather than reactive demolition alone.

The post Gt Accra Floods Need 20 Percent Of Demolition And Rebuilding first appeared on Nkyeremu News.

Hello Ghana. Today, we confront a national shame: Why does our beloved country, endowed with gold, oil, manganese, lithium, timber, cocoa, coffee, cashew, and bountiful foodstuffs, still beg for foreign aid? With two robust rainy seasons, Ghanaians endure a mere three-month dry spell, yet our leaders can’t muster the irrigation systems needed for year-round crop production. Instead, we flock to the IMF, pocket billions, and then squander it importing the very food we could grow ourselves. Do our leaders truly engage their brains? Ghana is blessed with people like Kofi Anna and Dr Kwame Nkrumah, but still lacks. When talking about beauty pageants, Ghana cannot be ruled out. What again?

This isn’t mere oversight—it’s a systemic failure 69 years after independence. Our mechanical engineers, trained and talented, can’t fix a car battery, leaving vehicles idle while we import mechanics. We lack the ingenuity to manufacture a simple bicycle, despite the Volta River Authority’s hydropower and vast mineral reserves screaming for local processing. No homegrown steel for frames, no rubber plantations fueling tyre production—everything’s shipped in, draining forex reserves.

Our ports brim with imported rice, poultry, and tomatoes, while the Akosombo Dam could power factories churning out tractors, fertilisers, and irrigation pumps. We’ve got bauxite for aluminium, yet no cans for our own beverages. Leaders parade foreign loans as triumphs, but where’s the value addition? Ghana exports raw cocoa but imports chocolate and crude oil, but refined fuel. Corruption siphons funds, nepotism stalls innovation, and policy flip-flops scare investors.

Since 1960, we’ve celebrated flags and anthems but forgotten the self-reliance Nkrumah envisioned. No national bicycle assembly line? No solar-powered irrigation grids? It’s an indictment. Time to demand accountability: Harness our engineers for local fixes, build agro-factories, and shun aid crutches. Ghana, rise—produce, don’t import; innovate, don’t imitate. Your future depends on it.

What is the essence of celebrating the 6th of March every year if we still can’t defend our independence?

The post Ghana Crippled By Dependency After 69 Years Is A Shame! first appeared on Nkyeremu News.

West Africa’s cocoa giants, the Ivory Coast and Ghana, grapple with identical woes: dried beans piled high in homes and warehouses, exporters shunning fixed prices, and farmers unpaid for months. Global prices have crashed from 2024 peaks, leaving cooperatives debt-ridden and harvests rotting. Yet, Ghana may hold the edge for recovery through bold reforms.

In the Ivory Coast, the world’s top producer (2.1 million tons annually), unsold bags stack “to the ceiling” in Duekoue warehouses, as noted by cooperative head Sekou Dagnogo. Farmers like Kouassi Kouassi in Remikro store pods at home, forced to slash prices to 1,500 CFA/kg despite the official 2,800 CFA/kg (~$5/kg). The Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) bought 123,000 tons via buyback to avert quality loss, but cooperatives owe farmers heavily.

Ghana mirrors this: Cocobod reports 50,000 tons unsold at ports, with licensed buyers unpaid since November due to trader financing snags. Farmers risk skipping pruning/fertilising, per the associations. The cabinet ordered repayments on February 12, alongside a 28% farmgate cut to GH¢2,587/64kg bag (~$236).

Historically, cocoa transformed both: Ghana pioneered in 1879 under British rule, peaking until the Ivory Coast surged post-1970s via migrants and incentives, overtaking it in 1978. Together, they supply 60% globally but rely on raw exports.

Ghana stands best positioned in the short term. Its 10 reforms include cocoa bonds for 2026/27 financing, Cocobod audits, and 50% local processing from next season—up from ~40% capacity. Ivory Coast focuses on buybacks and potential cuts, eyeing diversification like oil.

If Ghana processes 50% of its ~850,000 tons/year, it unlocks $2-3 billion extra revenue via chocolate/paste, creates thousands of jobs, cuts import reliance, and boosts GDP (cocoa=8%). Under the new policy, incentives like duty exemptions and Living Income Differential ensure farmer shares, stabilising supply chains long-term.

The post Cocoa Crisis Hits Ghana And Ivory Coast: Ghana Edge Ahead With Reforms first appeared on Nkyeremu News.

Traditional chiefs in the Bono East Region have petitioned the government to construct an airport in Techiman, highlighting its strategic position as Ghana’s geographic centre and a bustling transit hub for travellers nationwide and beyond.

Nana Boakye Ameyaw Pemtemprem II, Nifahene of the Techiman Traditional Area, appealed during his keynote address as chairman at the official launch of the Techiman Passport Office on Tuesday. He emphasised the surging passenger traffic through Techiman, where thousands daily funnel to Kumasi, Accra, Tamale, and international destinations. “Techiman’s central location offers unmatched advantages for all passengers, reducing travel times and easing congestion on our roads,” Nana Boakye stated, urging swift action to harness this potential.

The Nifahene also raised pressing local challenges, calling for improved link roads to combat chronic traffic jams, reliable potable water supplies in newly developed areas, and completion of the promised ultra-modern Techiman Market. These infrastructure gaps, he noted, hinder economic growth in Ghana’s food basket, which is known for its yam, maize, and vegetable production.

In response, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson, assured the gathering that the government remains committed to addressing these concerns. “We will prioritise the mentioned challenges, including road networks, water systems, and market development, to boost development in Bono East,” he pledged, linking the passport office launch to broader efforts in enhancing travel and trade facilitation.

Beyond connectivity, an airport in Techiman would unlock transformative benefits. It would spur economic diversification by attracting investments in tourism, agribusiness, and manufacturing, creating thousands of jobs in aviation, hospitality, and logistics. Emergency medical evacuations would improve, while cargo flights could expedite exports of regional produce to global markets, stabilising farmer incomes. Environmentally, it promotes efficient air travel over road dependency, cutting carbon emissions from long-haul trucking. For students and families like those in nearby Kumasi, it means quicker access to educational hubs and family reunions.

This petition aligns with Ghana’s aviation expansion, mirroring successes in Tamale and Ho. As Bono East’s population swells, the government now faces mounting pressure to act.

The post Techiman Chiefs Petition Government For Airport Amid Rising Travel Demands first appeared on Nkyeremu News.

Ghanaians seeking urgent travel can now obtain passports within 24 hours or less, provided there are no network issues. However, it takes 15 working days for normal passport processing to be ready, according to Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson. The minister said this when launching the Techiman Passport Office, where the Assin North MP personally handed over eight freshly printed passports to their owners. He revealed that the entire processing began that morning and finished the same day, showcasing the system’s new efficiency.

The express passport service costs just 350 Ghana cedis, Quayson stated, emphasising affordability. He highlighted recent government interventions designed to boost efficiency, transparency and introduce an E-tracking system. This digital tool allows applicants to monitor their application status online, cutting out middlemen who previously charged exorbitant fees.

Quayson was optimistic about the nationwide rollout. “Passport processing will soon be easily accessible across all 16 regions of Ghana,” he affirmed. He stressed that additional measures would be enforced at the regional and district levels to ensure smooth operations everywhere.

The event drew praise from the Bono East Regional Minister, Hon. Francis Owusu Antwi, commended the government’s commitment to its promises. “This is a fulfillment of pledges made to Ghanaians, and more improvements are on the way,” Owusu Antwi stressed.

Presiding over the occasion as chairman was the Nifahene, Nana Boakye Ameyaw. Nana lauded the initiative as a “great offer” from the government, urging citizens to take advantage of the streamlined service.

This development aligns with broader efforts to modernise Ghana’s passport system amid rising travel demands for education, business, and tourism. Previously, applicants faced months- and at times years-long delays and exploitation by agents. The E-tracking feature, in particular, empowers users with real-time updates, reducing corruption.

Officials encouraged eligible Ghanaians to visit passport offices with the required documents to receive express service. As aviation and global mobility grow in popularity, especially among youth pursuing studies abroad, this faster process could transform travel planning.

Quayson concluded by calling for public patience during any technical glitches, promising full reliability soon. The Techiman event highlights the government’s push for digital governance in public services.

The post A Ghanaian Passport Can Be Obtained In 24 Hours or less- Hon James Quayson first appeared on Nkyeremu News.

John Dramani Mahama went unopposed in the recent African regional endorsement process largely because West African leaders had already closed ranks behind him before the wider African stage was reached. Rather than a continental election in which multiple presidents presented themselves, it became a structured regional nomination where consensus is deliberately built around one figure.

Within ECOWAS, the Council of Ministers and then the Authority of Heads of State unanimously agreed that Mahama would be West Africa’s sole candidate for the African Union Chairpersonship when the AU’s rotational system gets to the sub‑region in 2027. This procedure is standard: each regional bloc tries to avoid internal competition by presenting one united candidate so that the real contest, if any, happens between regions, not inside them.​

Because of this internal consensus, no other West African leader could legitimately file to contest him under ECOWAS’ own decision, so “unopposed” reflects a political agreement rather than the absence of other capable figures.

Mahama’s peers repeatedly cite three main reasons for rallying behind him. First, he has prior experience as a regional leader, having previously chaired ECOWAS and managed delicate mediation roles in West African crises, which built trust in his ability to handle continental negotiations. Second, his image as an advocate of democratic governance and peaceful elections, including his own recent return to the Ghanaian presidency through a competitive poll, reassures other heads of state that he can speak for Africa without embarrassing the bloc.​

Third, Ghana’s reputation for relative political stability and diplomatic moderation strengthens its candidacy, since member states often prefer a chairperson from a country seen as non‑threatening and bridge‑building. Taken together, these factors meant that when ECOWAS began discussing 2027, Mahama emerged as the easiest consensus choice, so others chose not to contest him, allowing him to proceed unopposed.

The post Why Was John Mahama Unopposed? Find Out! first appeared on Nkyeremu News.

In a landmark event at the 41st Farmers’ Day celebration in Techiman North, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Member of Parliament for the constituency and Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, made history by becoming the first MP in Ghana to honour the overall best district farmer with a 2020 model 4-cylinder Chevrolet Spark LT. This unprecedented gesture reflects her commitment to supporting local farmers and promoting agribusiness in the region.

The grand prize was awarded to a 68-year-old Kabba Azike, an exemplary farmer engaged in diverse agricultural activities, including cash crops, food crops, livestock, and poultry. Alongside the new vehicle, Azike received farming inputs and additional rewards that recognise his invaluable contribution to the community’s food security.

Second place went to Kwabena Asumi, who took home a motorbike, while third-prize winner Alhaji Abubakar also received one. The fourth prize was a highly efficient chest freezer with low energy consumption, designed to aid the preservation of farm produce.

The ceremony was graced by the presence of Barimaba Nana Kwasi Twi Brempong, Chief of Mesedan, who honored the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Techiman North, Hon. Johnson Kwabena Adom, with a citation plaque of excellence. Nana Twibrempong praised the hardworking farmers and urged the youth to view farming as a viable and serious business venture, emphasising its critical role in national development.

Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, speaking at the event, expressed deep appreciation for the hardworking farmers, stating, “Our farmers deserve better, and this is just the beginning. We are committed to doing more in the coming years to empower our farming communities.” She also revealed promising news about the cashew factory project in the region, which is set to commence fully in 2026. This initiative is expected to create numerous job opportunities for young people while boosting local agribusiness.

The MP’s dedication to agrarian development and her historic recognition of farmers during this celebration highlight the vital role of agriculture in feeding the nation and sustaining the economy. It also sets a positive precedent for how public officials can honour and incentivise the backbone of Ghana’s agricultural sector.

Farmers and community leaders left the ceremony inspired and hopeful that continued support will further transform farming in Techiman North into a thriving business for all generations to come.

The post Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare Makes History At Techiman North’s 41st Farmers’ Day Celebration first appeared on Nkyeremu News.