Ghana’s cocoa sector is facing a severe financial downturn, with export revenues for 2024 officially falling to $1.73 billion. This marks the first time since 2010 that earnings have dipped below the critical $2 billion threshold, representing a 25.4% decline in just one year. Despite global cocoa prices surging by over 150% in 2024, Ghana was unable to capitalize on …

In a major shift in Ghana’s mining landscape, China’s Zijin Mining Group has officially completed its acquisition of the Akyem Gold Mine from Newmont Corporation. The deal, finalized on April 16, 2025, saw Zijin pay an initial $900 million in cash, with the remaining $100 million unlocked following the Ghanaian Parliament’s ratification of the Akyem East mining lease in late …

In a significant blow to illegal cross-border trade, the Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Taskforce of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), supported by national security, seized 100 bags of cocoa beans at Old Akrade. The suspects attempted to bypass heavy security at the Adomi Bridge tollbooths by concealing the beans under a load of chippings in a tipper truck. Security officials believe the …

The Paramount Chief of Kwahu, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, has resigned as the Board Chairman of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC. The resignation, which took place in late 2024, followed a formal directive from the Bank of Ghana (BoG). The central bank invoked Section 103(2)(d) of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016, stating that the chief’s continued …

Thai authorities have arrested 36-year-old Kittikorn Songsri for performing hundreds of penis enlargement surgeries and filler injections without any medical training or qualifications. Mr. Songsri, who reportedly began carrying out these procedures at the age of 14 after dropping out of school, had been operating illegally for over two decades. He charged patients up to £450 per treatment for a …

US prosecutors have officially charged 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh with the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate following his arrest near Donald Trump’s Florida golf course on September 15. This new, more serious charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that violence against public officials endangers the nation’s core values and vowed to …

In what has become the deadliest day of conflict in nearly 20 years, Lebanon’s health ministry reports that at least 492 people, including 35 children and 58 women, were killed in extensive Israeli air strikes. The Israeli military stated it targeted 1,300 Hezbollah sites to destroy infrastructure and weaponry, such as rockets and drones, that it claims the group has …

During a recent visit to Port-au-Prince, Kenyan President William Ruto announced that Kenya will deploy 600 additional police officers to Haiti in the coming weeks. This move will increase the Kenyan contingent to a total of 1,000 personnel, reinforcing the international effort to assist Haiti’s National Police in reclaiming territory from powerful gangs. President Ruto praised the officers already on …

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) issued a stark warning on Thursday, September 19, 2024, stating that the mpox outbreak is not yet under control. Data reveals a 177% surge in cases and a 38.5% rise in fatalities compared to the same period last year. Director General Jean Kaseya noted that the virus is spreading into …

A BBC investigation has revealed harrowing allegations against the late billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed, with more than 20 former female employees accusing the former Harrods owner of sexual assault and rape. The documentary and podcast titled Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods presents evidence of a systemic culture of abuse and corruption at the luxury department store. According to the report, the …