The Consul General of the United States Embassy in Ghana, Elliot Fertik, has dismissed claims that the US visa application process is overly complicated, emphasising that the system is designed to be accessible and straightforward for all applicants.
“I don’t think it’s cumbersome. I think that it is straightforward,” Fertik said on Citi Eyewitness News on Thursday, June 26, citing the step-by-step guidance available on the US Embassy’s website.
“We explain to you how you can go online, make an account, pay the visa application fee, and schedule an appointment.”
Elliot Fertik
While acknowledging that some applicants may choose to use travel agents for assistance, Fertik stressed that such help is optional and not necessary for most people.
“There are some people who are travel agents who might help you through the process for a small fee… and as long as they don’t try to evade regular procedures, I have no quarrel with them,” he noted.
He added that the majority of visa applicants complete the process independently.
“The vast majority of people who apply for visas do it on their own. They do not engage a third party and they tell us they understand the process and are able to do it without paying extra money.”By:Abigail Arthur
has accused the committee investigating her of intentionally creating an environment of secrecy and intimidation, designed to silence her and shield the process from public oversight.
Addressing the public on Wednesday, June 25, Justice Torkornoo disclosed that the ongoing impeachment proceedings, held at a high-security facility on Castle Drive in Osu, deviate from established legal traditions and are aimed at weakening her ability to mount a proper defence.
Gertrude Torkornoo
“The work of the committee is being conducted in a cordoned high-security zone on Castle Drive, Osu, where all Article 146 proceedings since 1993 have been held in facilities of the Judicial Service. It is hard not to conclude that the choice of venue, against the backdrop of secrecy of proceedings, is intended to intimidate me and prevent any citizen of Ghana from knowing how the process is being conducted,” she declared.
In her address, the Chief Justice catalogued a series of procedural breaches she believes undermine the credibility and fairness of the investigation, among them was the committee’s refusal to acknowledge her legal representation on the first day of hearings, solely because she was not physically present with her lawyer at the time.
“They proceeded with the hearing while my lawyer sat in front of them, entirely excluded from participation,” she said.
She further accused the committee of failing to present the specific charges she is expected to respond to, a move she described as a denial of her constitutional right to prepare an adequate defence.
Justice Torkornoo also criticised what she described as selective hearing practices. According to her, two petitioners, Daniel Ofori and Shining Stars, were permitted not to testify or present their cases, raising questions about the committee’s impartiality.
In addition, she claimed she has been denied entry with family members and subjected to personal searches that she says breach official protocols for the treatment of a Chief Justice.
“I have been searched physically, and my handbag has been inspected before every appearance. Such treatment is inconsistent with courtesies extended to the Chief Justice both locally and internationally,” she asserted.
Justice Torkornoo has been under suspension since April 22, 2025, following a prima facie determination of misconduct by President John Dramani Mahama, made in consultation with the Council of State under Article 146(10) of the Constitution.
A five-member committee was constituted to investigate the claims. Proceedings have since been held behind closed doors under constitutional norms. However, efforts by the Chief Justice to halt the process through four separate court actions, including one she filed personally, were all dismissed by the Supreme Source: Patricia Boakye
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that every Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assembly (MMDA) in Ghana will receive not less than ₵25 million this year.
The funding is aimed at ensuring that local governments are properly resourced to meet the development needs of their respective communities.
Addressing MMDCEs at an orientation and training programme held in Accra on Wednesday, 18 July, President Mahama emphasised the government’s strong commitment to decentralised development and the crucial role of local authorities in national progress.
“This year, every assembly from the largest to the smallest will receive not less than GH₵25 million,” he assured.
According to the President, this allocation aligns with the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) 2024 manifesto, which puts local governance at the centre of Ghana’s development agenda.
“The NDC manifesto outlines a bold and people-centred agenda that puts local government at the heart of national development. You are the first line of the economy,” he stated.
President Mahama further highlighted that the 2025 budget statement reflects this priority by committing 80 per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund to MMDAs.
He also pointed to major government programmes such as the Clean Up Ghana campaign, Adumawura, the National Apprenticeship Programme, Mahama Cares, and Feed Ghana.
These, he said, are not abstract policies but practical initiatives that require strong coordination and effective leadership at the district level to be successfully implemented.
He urged district leaders to apply the resources in line with local priorities and medium-term development plans.“These funds must reflect the needs of your people and be used to deliver real development outcomes,” he added.
President John Dramani Mahama,has hinted that Ghana may soon transition from appointing Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to electing them, as part of a broader constitutional reform agenda aimed at deepening local democracy and accountability.
Addressing MMDCEs at an orientation and training workshop in Accra on Wednesday, 18th June, President Mahama suggested that the current appointees could be the last under the existing system.
“You may be the last batch of MMDCEs to be appointed,” he stated
“The National Review Committee is travelling around the country and will present its recommendations in August this year. One of the major items that has come up is the election of MMDCEs.
There is no doubt that Ghanaians want the MMDCEs elected. Those who succeed you might have to go through elections.”
President John Dramani Mahama
The President said public sentiment strongly supports the idea of elected MMDCEs, a key issue that has featured prominently during the Constitution Review Committee’s national consultations.
President Mahama urged the current MMDCEs to embrace collaboration with local stakeholders to enhance governance and community development.
“I therefore urge you to work with the chiefs, the religious bodies, and civil society in your districts to restore the social contract with our people,” he said. “The legitimacy and authority of the state must not only be rooted in law, but must also be felt through the lived experience of our citizens.”
His remarks come as part of a renewed push to strengthen democratic governance at the local level and make public officeholders more accountable to their constituents.Source: Ernest K. Arhinful
A Kunasi-based Pastor, Kwaku Obeng aka Apostle John,has revealed that the current Chief of Staff,Mr Julius Debrah will win the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearership race for 2028.
According to him,, per his revelations, Mr. Julius Debrah, the current Chief of Staff, who is the favourite of President Mahama to succeed him, will be selected as the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC),.
Pastor Kwaku Obeng aka Apostle John President John Mahama & Julius Debrah
He, was quick to explain however, that Mr.Alan Kyerematen of Movement for Change (MFC) is the chosen one by God to succeed President Mahama,as the first Ghana’s independent President .
Besides, Apostle John made additional revelations about what is expected to happen in the political space ahead of the 2028 polls.
Chief Julius Debrah
He said Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the incumbent NDC National Chairman, should forget about any presidential ambition because God has not chosen him, including Kennedy Ohene Agyapong and others.
He the revelation on Monday,16th June,2025, at the Kumasi jubilee park.
Apostle John, who is a member of the Spoken Word Ministry, claimed that God had chosen Mr. Alan Kyeremanten to be the next President of Ghana and nothing would change that.
He said, “This revelation was made known to me through a vision in which Jesus Christ told me that Alan Kyeremanten has been chosen to become an independent president from 2028 to 2032.”
“Jesus Christ told me that because the leaders of political parties seek their personal and party interests at the expense of the well-being of Ghanaians, no political party will be given an opportunity to rule again until after Alan has ruled Ghana for eight years to ensure Ghana’s prosperity,” he added.
He continued, “Both the NPP and other political parties will all form an alliance with Alan. After that, he (Alan) needs to choose Hon. Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu as his running mate and, together, they will lead Ghana for eight years.”
He said the reason God has chosen Alan is that he is “an hybrid of a politician and a technocrat,” who has been chosen by God to help solve the high unemployment rate among the Ghanaian youth.
According to him, Mr. Alan Kyeremanten plans to achieve this by investing in NVTI and other technical institutions, as well as establishing industries. “Under Alan’s administration, Ghana will discover more hidden gold,” he claimed.
Apostle John is said to have made a series of revolutions in the run-up to the 2024 general election and almost all came to pass.
A significant number of Ghanaian citizens find themselves in a precarious situation in Israel, unable to leave the country as Israeli authorities have declared a state of emergency and closed all borders amid escalating conflict with Iran.
This critical update was provided by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa via a Twitter post on Monday, June 16, outlining the government’s efforts to protect its nationals caught in the unfolding regional crisis.
According to Minister Ablakwa’s “UPDATE No. 2” on the situation, Ghana’s Embassy in Israel has identified 922 Ghanaians currently living in the country. This figure includes 65 Ghanaian students enrolled in six different Israeli universities, highlighting the diverse demographics of those affected.
Crucially, while no Ghanaian fatalities or injuries have been reported so far, and evacuation efforts from Iran are “proceeding successfully”, the situation in Israel presents unique challenges.
“With Israeli authorities declaring a state of emergency and closing all borders, an evacuation from Israel cannot be carried out now except with the express authorization of Israeli authorities,” Minister Ablakwa stated. He assured the public that Ghana is actively “pursuing those approval options” to facilitate a safe exit for its citizens.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already approved an Emergency Evacuation Plan for Israel, which the Minister confirmed would be “promptly activated when conditions are met”.
In the interim, channels for regular communication with the Ghanaian community in Israel have been established to provide support and information.
Furthermore, in response to a briefing from the Israeli Foreign Ministry encouraging all diplomats and embassy officials to work from home, Ghana’s embassy in Israel is complying with this advice to ensure the safety of its staff.
Mr Ablakwa also emphasised that the government is “ensuring that all Ghanaians living in Israel have access to bomb shelters.”
The Mahama Administration, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, has reiterated its firm commitment to safeguarding its citizens.
“President Mahama’s Administration is resolved to spare no effort in ensuring that Ghanaians caught up in this Israeli-Iranian conflict are offered full protection and removed from danger. We shall not fail our compatriots,” Mr Ablakwa affirmed.
As the conflict intensifies and borders remain sealed, the focus remains on diplomatic engagement to secure the necessary authorizations for the safe evacuation of Ghanaians from Israel.Source: Myjoyonline.com
The Deputy Asante Nkramohene (Sariki Tuba), Alhaji Amadu Owusu, popularly known as Alhaji Caterpillar, has entreated all Muslims to learn from Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) that trials and tribulations are not entirely negative as they have some positive aspects as well.
According to him, trials serve as a wake-up call that invites true believers to be circumspect in order to draw their attention to the need to audit their lives and the society in which they live.
Alhaji Amadu Owusu aka Alhaji caterpillar
Alhaji Owusu, who doubles as Kaase Asante Nkramohene in the Asokwa Municipality of the Ashanti Region, gave the advice in an interview with “The New Trust” newspaper during the just-ended Eid-ul-Adha celebration.
The celebration is marked every year by Muslims to honour the obedience of Prophet Abraham to Allah by sacrificing his only son, Ismael, who was later exchanged for a sheep.
“This is a clear manifestation that instead of depressing us, temporary setbacks should rather spur us on to make yet another greater positive efforts at achieving better results in life rather than resorting to negative, unconventional and destructive approaches,” he stressed.
Alhaji Owusu further added that the essence of sacrifice is one’s righteousness. According to him, even if one could not afford to buy animals for sacrifice, Allah knows their intentions.
“If our intention is to make the animals sacrifice with a spirit of righteousness while striving to follow Allah’s commandments and drawing lessons from the act, then even without being able to perform the sacrifice, Allah will accept it,” he explained.
On the other hand, he said those who make grand public display of the sacrifice, buying animals worth hundreds of thousands and boasting about the cost are offering sacrifices devoid of righteousness.
He observed that some Muslims believe that simply offering sacrifices of animals fulfils the spirit of Eid.
In reality, according to him, the true purpose of Eid is fulfilled only when “we are prepared to sacrifice our ego and pride, reform ourselves, uphold our responsibilities and fulfil the rights of Allah and His creation.”
Alhaji Owusu prayed hard for the nation for all obstacles to be removed to build a prosperous and vibrant nation.
Besides, he urged the youth to work hard and desist from involving themselves in unproductive ventures.
The Ashanti Regional Organiser for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who doubles as the Dean of all Regional Organisers, Dr. Francis Adomako, has surprised thirty (30) fathers with food items to celebrate this year’s Father’s Day.
Francois in a photograph with the beneficiaries
The 30 fathers were selected from Adansi Asokwa, Adansi Akrofuom and the New Edubiase constituencies.
According to the Ashanti Regional NPP Organiser, popularly known as Francois, 30 fathers, 10 from each constituency, received items such as bags of rice, oil, mackerel, drinks, etc. and an undisclosed amount of money.
Dr.Francis Adomako aka Francois speaking at the event
The beautiful ceremony was championed by some NPP constituency executives from the constituencies.
Some of the beneficiary fathers expressed their satisfaction about the kind gesture by Francois.
Besides, they prayed for Francois and wished him God’s blessing to enable him to continue to work for the NPP, the nation and to support the needy in the society.
Globally, fathers are celebrated on the third Sunday of June every year. The third Sunday of this year fell on 15th June.
Under the blistering heat of the Tema port, towering shipping containers stretch across the skyline—metal monoliths shielding cargo essential to life. Inside some of these containers are diabetes medications: insulin vials and oral drugs that thousands of Ghanaians depend on daily. But these life-saving treatments are not moving. They are caught in a tangle of bureaucracy and inefficiency, sitting for days—sometimes weeks—turning toxic under the unforgiving West African sun.
For patients across Ghana, this is not simply a logistical problem. It is a slow-burning, nationwide health emergency hidden in plain sight.
“By the time these medications reach hospitals and pharmacies, prices have increased, supplies have diminished, and in some cases, the drugs are compromised,” said a pharmaceutical logistics expert who requested anonymity.
A Chain of Vulnerabilities
The first fault line in this broken system appears right at the Tema Harbor—Ghana’s busiest import gateway. Here, pharmaceutical imports undergo scrutiny from multiple regulatory agencies, including the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Ghana Revenue Authority, and occasionally the Ghana Standards Authority.
“The system was built for thoroughness, not speed,” explains Nana Kwame Nuamah, a customs broker specializing in pharmaceutical imports. “A single missing document can delay clearance by weeks—while patients run out of their medication.”
Data from the Ghana Shippers Authority reveals that pharmaceutical imports spend an average of 21 days at port—well beyond the global benchmark of 3 to 7 days. For temperature-sensitive products like insulin, these delays are not just inconvenient—they are disastrous.
From Port to Patient: A Fractured Distribution System
After clearing the port, diabetes medications enter a distribution network that is anything but cohesive. Ghana lacks a centralized procurement and distribution mechanism for many essential drugs. Instead, numerous small-scale importers and distributors operate with little oversight.
Containers under the scorching sun
At the Central Medical Stores in Tema—tasked with supplying public hospitals—a six-month buffer stock is mandated by policy. In practice, budget constraints and procurement inefficiencies mean chronic shortages. Review of internal records shows frequent stockouts of even basic medications like metformin.
The Private Sector: Reliable, but Costly
When public hospitals run dry, patients often turn to private pharmacies. In Bantama, a suburb of Kumasi, pharmacist Peter Mensah opens a refrigerator brimming with insulin vials. “We import directly or source from multiple wholesalers, so we stay stocked,” he says. “But these costs trickle down to the patient.”
A month’s supply of insulin in private pharmacies can cost between GHC 400 and GHC 800—two to three times higher than public sector rates when available.
Counterfeit Medications: A Growing Threat
When genuine drugs are inaccessible or unaffordable, the black market steps in. At the FDA’s Quality Control Lab in Accra, analysts routinely inspect fake and substandard drugs seized from pharmacies and vendors.
In 2024 alone, over 200 falsified diabetes medication packages were confiscated. Some had no active ingredient, others only partial amounts—and some contained dangerous substitutes. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 30% of medications in Ghana may be substandard or counterfeit, with chronic disease treatments particularly vulnerable.
Local Manufacturing: An Unmet Opportunity
Ghana has about 38 licensed pharmaceutical manufacturers, but only two produce diabetes medications—and none make insulin. Manufacturing insulin requires advanced biotechnology infrastructure and high upfront investments of up to $20 million, far beyond the capacity of most local firms without government support or external partnerships. Without reliable local production, Ghana remains entirely dependent on imports.
Regulatory Bottlenecks
The hurdles do not end at the port. Registering a new diabetes medication with the FDA can take between 12 and 18 months and cost thousands of dollars. This is a significant barrier, especially for newer, more effective treatments.
Of the 30 diabetes drugs approved by the U.S. FDA and European Medicines Agency over the last five years, only seven are registered in Ghana—including glimepiride and gliclazide (Diamicron).
Procurement Pains and NHIS Shortfalls
Even, once medications reach the country, the public procurement system often fails. The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), which reimburses health providers, frequently delays payments—sometimes for over a year.
This has real consequences. Mr. Benedictus Dzeble, a health administrator at Adum Clinic in Kumasi, recalled, “Between 2018 and 2021, the NHIA owed us 22 months of arrears. We had to stop treating insured patients.” Though the scheme eventually cleared the backlog, the disruption lingered.However, we are considering going back to the scheme to treat more patients.
Other systemic flaws persist. Many rural clinics can not prescribe certain diabetes medications due to their lower facility classification. “It’s not a matter of doctor knowledge,” Mr.Dzeble says, “but of policy. The prescribing level must be reviewed to improve access.”
Mr.Dzeble in an interview
Aaron Nyamekye, Deputy National Secretary of the Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana(PHFAG), notes that payment delays also stem from administrative technicalities. “The previous government paid claims up to September 2024. The current administration has started payments for 2025, but not all facilities have received theirs.”
Innovation Offers Hope
Despite the bleak picture, there are glimmers of progress. The Pharmacy Council of Ghana has launched the National Electronic Pharmacy Platform (NEPP), which allows prescriptions to be uploaded digitally. Pharmacies within a certain radius can respond with availability and pricing—turning access into a competitive, time-sensitive process.
There is also the Light Wave Health Information Management System (LHIMS), an electronic platform used by hospitals to digitally document patients’ information. This technology is linked to the NEPP.
Dr.(Pharm) Esther Asantewaa Acherekoh, Head of Pharmacy at Manhyia Government Hospital, praises the system. “It’s like a digital race. If one pharmacy can’t fulfill the prescription in time, it goes back into the pool for others to claim.
”Dr. Acherekoh indicated that tech-savvy patients can upload their prescriptions to check which pharmacies have their needed medications in stock, adding that the system is currently being piloted with hopes it would be sustained and rolled out to other pharmacies.
Dr (Pharm)Esther Asantewaa Acherekoh
She added, “Digitizing pharmacy services also reduces the risk of counterfeit medications reaching patients since each transaction is traceable and verifiable on the platform.
Another promising innovation comes from the MinoHealth AI Lab in Accra, which has designed Moremi AI, an artificial intelligence platform that can screen, diagnose, generate treatment plans, and prescribe medications for diabetes.
According to Darlington Akogo, CEO of Moremi AI, “this innovation ensures that patients in critical need receive timely medical attention regardless of their location. We are combining AI with public health strategy to bridge the gap between patients and specialists, especially in under-resourced settings.”
He continued, “In many rural areas, access to trained endocrinologists is nearly nonexistent. Moremi AI acts as a clinical decision support system, empowering frontline health workers with accurate, real-time recommendations tailored to each patient.”
The company is working with health facilities in the country to deploy their AI solutions across Africa and beyond.
Meanwhile, Zipline’s drone delivery network ensures temperature-controlled medications reach remote clinics within 30 minutes of request.
The Human Cost
But these innovations are only beginning to scale—and time is running out for many. Kwadwo Agyei, a 52-year-old mechanic from Sankore, knows this all too well. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a teenager, he has been hospitalized three times in the past year due to medication shortages.
“Last November(2024), my usual insulin was nowhere to be found,” he recalls from a hospital bed, recovering from diabetic ketoacidosis. “The only option was an alternative brand at four times the cost. I tried rationing what I had—and ended up here.”
Ernest Kofi Bentsil Simmons, a nursing officer at the facility, laments, “We’re not losing this battle because we don’t understand the disease—we’re losing because patients can’t consistently access affordable medications, especially in rural areas.”
A National Imperative
The World Bank estimates that diabetes accounts for 5–7% of Ghana’s total health expenditure, with an annual per-patient cost of $250–$350. The broader economic impact—lost productivity, early deaths, and preventable hospitalizations—amounts to as much as 2% of GDP.
Fixing Ghana’s diabetes medication supply chain is not just a public health challenge—it’s an economic necessity.
Health experts call for urgent reforms: faster drug registration, pooled procurement to reduce costs, incentives for local production, expansion of NHIS coverage for more diabetes drugs, and stricter enforcement to eliminate counterfeit products.
Until then, patients like Agyei will continue to suffer the consequences of a system that works only on paper. For millions of Ghanaians living with diabetes, reform can’t wait.Their lives depend on it.
Diabetes is a serious health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. But what causes it, and how serious is it?
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t produce insulin, a vital hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin, often due to unhealthy food choices, lack of physical activity, family history, or excess weight.
If left unmanaged, diabetes can lead to severe consequences, including heart damage, kidney disease, vision loss, nerve damage, and foot damage. However, by understanding the causes and taking proactive steps, individuals can manage diabetes and reduce the risk of complications.
To take control of your health,experts say, focus on eating a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and monitoring your blood sugar levels. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice.
Don’t let diabetes control your life. Take the first step towards managing your health today!This resource was produced as part of the Science,Technology and Innovation (ST&I) project being implemented and funded by the British High Commission and KNUST/RAIL
Ghana has been ranked 8th among Africa’s top 10 manufacturing countries, according to a report by The African Exponent, an analytical business information source for entrepreneurs and potential investors in Africa.
The report stated that Ghana’s long-term focus on value-added manufacturing in agriculture and cocoa has transformed its industrial landscape.
Again, the “One District One Factory” initiative has fostered Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) growth, while established firms like Kasapreko and Fan Milk extend Ghana’s manufacturing reach internationally.
Trade Minister,Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare
According to the report, within the last decade, a few countries have stood out for hosting the largest manufacturing companies in Africa, both in scale and influence.
South Africa came 1st followed by Egypt and Nigeria in 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.
Morocco (4th), Kenya (5th), Algeria (6th), Ethiopia (7th), Tunisia (9th), and Zambia (10th) followed suit.
The report stated that South Africa is Africa’s most industrialized nation.
Its advanced infrastructure, diversified industrial base, and global partnerships, especially in the automotive and chemical sectors, make it the continent’s undisputed manufacturing giant in 2025. The leading sectors are Automotive, Steel, Chemicals, and Food Processing.
Similarly, the report revealed that Egypt’s manufacturing ecosystem thrives on exports to Europe and the Middle East.
With a strong presence in chemicals, cement, and pharma, Egypt has positioned itself as a continental manufacturing leader supported by industrial reforms. The country is known for the production of Cement, Textiles, Pharmaceuticals, and Petrochemicals.
Also, the report said Nigeria is home to some of Africa’s largest industrial conglomerates. The Dangote Refinery project and BUA Group’s rapid expansion illustrate Nigeria’s manufacturing ambitions, buoyed by a large domestic market and policy reforms.
In addition, the top manufacturing sectors in the country include Cement, Consumer Goods, Food and Beverages, and Oil Refining, handled by leading manufacturers like Dangote Group, BUA Group, Nestlé Nigeria, and Unilever Nigeria.Source: Joy Business
