The Media Foundation for West Africa has condemned the use of specific legal statutes by state security agencies to suppress free expression and press freedom, noting that 14 speech-related arrests have been documented in the first 16 months of the current NDC administration compared to eight arrests over the entire eight-year NPP tenure.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The National Information Technology Agency (NITA) has defended its regulatory mandate and fees imposed on ICT companies and professionals, dismissing social media allegations that it is unlawfully implementing provisions of a proposed law not yet passed by Parliament. NITA stated that current fees and certification structures are derived from existing laws and Legislative Instruments already passed by Parliament, specifically the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations, 2023 and its 2025 amendment.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Vice-President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang opened the ACI World Congress in Accra on May 22, 2026, calling for financial markets to serve the populace and improve sustainable livelihoods rather than operate in isolation. She warned that global economic instability disproportionately affects emerging economies like Ghana and urged a return to ethical fundamentals in global trading, emphasizing that human capital drives all financial metrics.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Speaker Bagbin has clarified that national security agencies do not need his permission to arrest or question Members of Parliament for criminal matters, but must notify him of any such action so Parliament can assess whether parliamentary privilege applies to the specific situation.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Former National Chairman Paul Afoko has emerged from self-imposed exile to address NPP regional leadership in Greater Accra, warning that internal complacency has weakened the party's electoral machinery and that it has lost significant ground structurally. His visit is part of a nationwide consultative tour ahead of his anticipated return to frontline party politics.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government following months of growing tensions between the two. The move risks further delaying negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, which froze its $1.8 billion lending programme after discovering misreported debt.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Former MP Andrew Egyapa Mercer has accused the government of using arrests and denial of bail as tools to intimidate opposition supporters, particularly NPP members, claiming the NDC has weaponised state institutions against opposition figures.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Senyo Hosi, a finance policy analyst, has criticised the Bank of Ghana for failing to act early enough to prevent the GN Bank crisis, despite signs of financial distress and public knowledge of withdrawal problems at the institution.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
President John Mahama has cut the sod for the construction of the Bole College of Education in the Savannah Region, describing it as fulfilment of a long-held dream from his time as Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi. He said the tertiary institution will transform educational opportunities for young people in the region and help bridge the development gap between northern Ghana and the rest of the country.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The National Democratic Congress has announced plans to strictly control who speaks for the party on radio and television programmes as part of efforts to control its own narrative. The party has directed regional communication officers and other officials to enforce the new media representation policy starting Monday, and warned members against bypassing officially approved communication structures.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Scrutiny has warned that Ghana could return to the IMF within a few years if it fails to maintain fiscal discipline and implement structural reforms after its current bailout programme ends. He cited Ghana's historical pattern of returning to the IMF every four years on average since independence, most recently in 2023 after the previous programme ended in 2019.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The Minority caucus has pressured the government to present the Bank of Ghana's 2025 audited financial statements to Parliament, warning that failure to meet statutory timelines under the Bank of Ghana Act could breach the law. The demand comes amid political controversy over the Central Bank's financial condition and disputes between the governing NDC and opposition NPP over the extent of losses.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
New Patriotic Party national chairmanship hopeful Awentami Paul Afoko has called on the NPP to abandon "guesswork" and adopt a research-driven strategy to protect its 87 parliamentary seats and expand electoral strength ahead of the 2028 general elections, emphasizing that modern elections are won through intelligence and voter insight rather than instinct.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
JoyNews' Newsfile programme examined escalating national debate on free speech and political expression, with panellists exploring whether the state is overreaching in its response to criticism. The panel also discussed the possible return of GN Bank following a Court of Appeal ruling that restored the licence of GN Savings and Loans Company Limited and ordered its assets and operations be handed back to shareholders.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
National Democratic Congress Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia has defended the party's decision to replace Haruna Iddrisu and Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka as Minority Leader and Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament ahead of the 2024 general elections, describing the move as a strategic political decision rather than a personal action aimed at sidelining the two senior figures.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak said medical examination results for security services recruitment applicants will be released next week, with those who pass advancing to the next recruitment phase. Unsuccessful candidates this year will have their details retained in the ministry's database for future recruitment opportunities.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
President Mahama disclosed that Ghana's IMF programme faced serious challenges and risked collapsing before his administration assumed office in January 2025, with several key targets missed by the previous government. He said his administration introduced corrective measures in its first months to restore confidence and stabilise the programme, with Ghana now awaiting IMF Executive Board approval for the final $380 million tranche.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government following months of tension between the two former allies. The move comes as Senegal confronts a debt crisis and stalled negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, which had frozen its $1.8 billion lending program after discovering misreported debt.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The government will release results from medical examinations for over 105,000 applicants in the ongoing security services recruitment exercise next week, according to Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak. The recruitment intake has been doubled from the original target of 5,000 personnel to accommodate more qualified applicants.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
President John Dramani Mahama said his administration will not hold celebrations over Ghana's completion of its IMF programme, stating that economic recovery remains ongoing. He noted that the NDC inherited an IMF-supported programme with missed performance targets and had to implement corrective measures; the latest IMF mission has given Ghana a positive assessment ahead of the release of a 380 million dollar tranche.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
President Mahama announced that Ghana has completed its final IMF review mission, clearing the way for a final $380 million disbursement, but cautioned that substantial reforms and careful management remain necessary for long-term economic recovery and sustainable growth.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak has described the Ghana Card as a critical asset to national development, saying it underpins national security, governance, and economic participation while serving as a gateway to finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and public services.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin urged Commonwealth member states, particularly the UK, to strengthen cooperation in addressing global instability and insecurity, stating that security and stability are prerequisites for development.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The National Identification Authority has celebrated 20 years of operation, with the Interior Minister describing the Ghana Card as a central gateway to accessing finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and other national services. The government outlined priorities including universal enrolment coverage, strengthened data protection, and deepened innovation in identity services.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Former Finance Minister Mohammed Amin Adam has cautioned against attempts by government officials to politically appropriate the Court of Appeal's decision ordering restoration of GN Savings and Loans' licence, arguing the ruling raises questions about the credibility of Ghana's bank resolution framework and the relationship between politics and financial-sector regulation.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Karaga MP and former Finance Minister Mohammed Amin Adam has called on the Bank of Ghana and Ministry of Finance to clarify the regulatory and fiscal implications of a Court of Appeal ruling ordering restoration of GN Savings and Loans' licence. He outlined three immediate actions the Bank of Ghana should take: publicly explain the regulatory implications and indicate if it will appeal, conduct and publish a fresh prudential assessment before any restoration becomes operational, and have the Ministry of Finance disclose any potential fiscal exposure including compensation obligations and depositor liabilities.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The Roads Minister announced that President Mahama's government is reviving abandoned road projects and expanding infrastructure in the Savannah Region, having paid contractors over GH¢12 billion within 12 months to restore confidence in the sector and return contractors to site, unlike previous administrations that suspended contracts from predecessors.
23 May 2026 · The Chronicle →
President Mahama has warned that underdevelopment and poverty in Northern Ghana are driving rural-urban migration and straining infrastructure and social services in wealthier parts of the country. He stated that the five northern regions remain among the poorest areas despite constitutional provisions for equitable national development.
23 May 2026 · The Chronicle →
President John Mahama says Ghana will not hold premature celebrations following the completion of its IMF programme, stating that economic recovery remains a work in progress. He noted that when his government took over, agreed performance indicators under the programme were off track, requiring stringent measures in the first quarter to realign and restore the programme.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The Volta Regional Minister has assured Parliament's Public Accounts Committee that the Volta Regional Coordinating Council is strengthening monitoring and supervision systems to improve project execution and address delays caused by administrative lapses and officials' inaction.
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →