Ghana Minute.
Sunday, 31 May 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Sunday, 31 May 2026
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Archive Minute from Sunday, 31 May 2026
Politics

Mahama visits London for investment summit and royal meetings

The News

President John Mahama is in London on a working visit to strengthen economic relations with the UK, attract investment, and engage the Ghanaian diaspora. The trip includes a royal audience with King Charles III, a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, a Ghana-UK Investment Summit at Raffles London, and a visit to the London Stock Exchange.

Why it matters

President Mahama's high-stakes London visit for investment and diplomatic engagement with the UK is essential context for Ghana's economic and foreign policy direction.

31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Politics

  1. Mahama visits London for investment summit and royal meetings

    President John Mahama is in London on a working visit to strengthen economic relations with the UK, attract investment, and engage the Ghanaian diaspora. The trip includes a royal audience with King Charles III, a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, a Ghana-UK Investment Summit at Raffles London, and a visit to the London Stock Exchange.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. NPP-USA branch votes to keep existing bylaws for 2026 elections

    The NPP-USA has resolved to conduct its 2026 internal elections under its existing Branch Bylaws rather than adopt the party's revised national election guidelines, postponing consideration of the new guidelines until its annual conference in July. The decision was reached at an emergency virtual meeting where members voted 20 to 9 to retain the current bylaws, with the branch identifying four major areas of conflict between its bylaws and the national guidelines.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  3. Akwatia MP confident Mahama will assent to anti-LGBTQ bill

    The MP for Akwatia says President Mahama will give assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, which Parliament passed on 29 May and seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana, regardless of any legal challenges.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  4. NPP members oppose Asante Mampong polling station election resumption

    A group of concerned NPP members in Asante Mampong Constituency has opposed the resumption of polling station executive elections scheduled for May 31, 2026, citing unresolved concerns including use of an unapproved voter register, lack of transparency, and an unexplained reduction in participating polling stations. The elections were initially halted on May 14 over disagreements about the voter register and conduct of the process.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  5. GHS reassigns Western Regional Director amid political speculation

    The reassignment of Western Regional Director Dr Marion Okoh Owusu to Ghana Health Service headquarters in Accra has sparked speculation that the move may have been influenced by political considerations rather than routine administration. Sources suggest her growing profile in the region and perceived political connections, including family ties to the NDC, generated concerns among some political actors, though Okoh Owusu has never publicly declared intention to contest a parliamentary seat.

    31 May 2026 · The Chronicle →

Business

  1. Ferrari's new electric Luce faces backlash over design

    Ferrari unveiled its first electric vehicle, the Luce, designed by iPhone designer Sir Jony Ive, but the $640,000 five-seater car faced widespread criticism from investors, politicians, and internet users, with the firm's shares falling 8% after the launch and a former chairman warning it risks destroying the brand's legend.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Ghana's FMCG sector records 15% value growth in first quarter 2026

    Ghana's Fast Moving Consumer Goods market delivered 15% value growth and 6% volume growth in Q1 2026, according to Maverick Research. The expansion reflects growing consumer confidence and a shift toward discretionary purchases beyond essentials, particularly in food, Home & Personal Care, and Non-Alcoholic Beverages.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  3. Government records 16% T-bill undersubscription; interest rates shift

    Ghana's government fell short of its treasury bills auction target, with investors buying just over GH¢4.9 billion against a GH¢5.8 billion target—a 16% undersubscription. Interest rates moved across the yield curve, with the 91-day bill yield falling 8.0 basis points to 4.99%, the 182-day bill remaining at 7.04%, and the 364-day bill rising 8.0 basis points to 10.45%.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  4. AngloGold Ashanti trains Obuasi SMEs in digital marketing skills

    AngloGold Ashanti's Obuasi Mine has organised a two-day digital marketing training programme for SMEs in Obuasi to strengthen local businesses and promote sustainable economic growth, as part of its 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan. The training covered social media marketing, online branding, customer engagement, digital content creation, and strategies for expanding market reach through platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp Business.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  5. Takoradi Port to become main cargo gateway for Sahel region

    Ghana's Finance Minister has announced plans to designate Takoradi Port as the main corridor for landlocked countries like Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali to import goods, with a planned railway line from Takoradi to Hamile to reduce pressure on the country's road network.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  6. COPEC backs 20 percent transport fare increase from June 2

    The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers' Executive Secretary has justified a 20 per cent increase in public transport fares announced by unions to take effect from 2 June 2026, saying the adjustment is warranted given rising fuel costs and operational expenses faced by transport operators.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  7. Davida Roofing CEO wins 2026 International Business Achiever Award

    David Kwame Aziago, CEO of Davida Roofing Systems Limited and National President of Peki Senior High School Old Students Association, received the International Business Achiever Award 2026 from Maverick Business Academy and M-GIBES College of Business and Management for excellence in business leadership and contributions to education-related alumni development.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Mining & Energy

  1. Damang Gold Mine invests $250 million in mining equipment

    Indigenous mining firm Damang Gold Mine Limited has invested $250 million in a fleet of heavy-duty mining equipment including Liebherr excavators, 30 triple 777 dump trucks, and 15 Caterpillar 395 excavators. The investment is expected to increase production capacity, improve operational efficiency, and create employment opportunities.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Society

  1. Seven arrested in Eastern Region car theft syndicate dismantled

    Police in Ghana's Eastern Region arrested seven suspects and recovered three luxury vehicles following a cyber-led operation by the Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team targeting a cross-regional car theft syndicate. The operation used advanced geolocation technology and cyber-surveillance to track a stolen unregistered blue Hyundai Elantra.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Pancreatic cancer drug daraxonrasib doubles patient survival time

    A drug called daraxonrasib has been found to nearly double survival time for advanced pancreatic cancer patients with KRAS mutations, extending average survival from 6.6 months on chemotherapy to 13.2 months, while causing fewer side effects. The drug works by shutting off the mutated KRAS gene, present in over 90% of pancreatic tumours, and a trial of 500 patients across North America, Europe, and Asia describes the result as a landscape-changing breakthrough.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  3. UK screening finds undiagnosed heart risks in young women

    UK researchers reviewed a voluntary heart screening service that identified 175 undiagnosed heart issues in almost 40,000 women aged 14 to 35, with 94 at high risk of sudden cardiac death. The UK National Screening Committee is reviewing whether all over-14s should be checked for conditions associated with sudden cardiac death, with a public consultation planned.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  4. DBI District breaks ground on Upper West region's first STEM school

    The Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Upper West Region's first Special STEM Senior High School on May 29, with the presentation of 600 dual desks to basic schools. Richard Anthounma Jakpa, Director for Special Operations at the National Security Council Secretariat, said the initiative will transform access to science and technology education and was secured through his personal lobbying of the GETFund Secretariat.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  5. Educators call for stronger link between humanities and skills training

    Educators and traditional leaders at an International Conference on Education and Humanities in Kumasi have called for a stronger connection between humanities education and practical skills training, arguing that sustainable development requires graduates who can think critically and respond to society's challenges.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  6. Rainstorm in Adaklu District damages containers and residential building

    A severe rainstorm in Adaklu Kodzobi Ando on May 30 uprooted two metal shipping containers that landed on a nearby residential building, destroying equipment in a business centre and causing structural damage to the house. No injuries or deaths were reported.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  7. AMECO launches 80th anniversary celebrations for October 2026

    The Evangelical Presbyterian College of Education, Amedzofe (AMECO) in Ho West District, Volta Region, has launched its 80th anniversary celebrations themed "80 Years of Excellence in Teacher Education; Reflecting on Our Legacy and Shaping the Future." The college is establishing an endowment fund for student assistance and infrastructure development, and a sustainable water supply system to address longstanding water shortages.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  8. Health Ministry receives $100,000 pulse oximeter donation

    The Ministry of Health received advanced bedside pulse oximeters valued at more than $100,000 from WAMPHARMA to support the Government's Free Primary Healthcare initiative, with the equipment expected to enhance child healthcare delivery and strengthen primary healthcare services across the country.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  9. Campus housing shortage roots in state underinvestment, not rent control

    Student accommodation shortages at Ghanaian universities have persisted since the late 1990s as enrolment exceeded hall capacity, with the root cause being the state's failure to expand infrastructure to match growing numbers, not hostel owner exploitation as recently alleged.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  10. TTU named overall best innovator at ARCTUG 2026 conference

    Takoradi Technical University was adjudged the Overall Best Technical University Innovator at the 4th Applied Research Conference of Technical Universities of Ghana (ARCTUG 2026), with Cape Coast Technical University placing second and Ho Technical University third. The achievement follows TTU's ranking as the top technical university in Ghana by the AD Scientific Index for the third consecutive year.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  11. GHS warns youth against tobacco, e-cigarettes ahead of World No Tobacco Day

    The Ghana Health Service has issued a public health warning on World No Tobacco Day (May 31), calling on young people to resist tobacco and nicotine products, noting that the industry is deliberately engineering products with attractive packaging, flavourings, and designs to appeal to youth. According to the Tobacco Atlas, tobacco use accounts for an estimated 5,702 deaths in Ghana each year.

    31 May 2026 · The Chronicle →

Culture

  1. Entertainment figures gather to mourn actress Beverly Afaglo

    A one-week vigil for late actress and entrepreneur Beverly Ama Afaglo-Baah was held at an events centre in Tema on Saturday, May 30, 2026, drawing a large attendance of movie stars, musicians, and fans to celebrate her legacy and support her grieving husband, Eugene Baah.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Gyakie surprises fans with visits to workplaces and campuses

    Flipthe Music artiste Gyakie embarked on a fan appreciation initiative making surprise visits to supporters at their workplaces and schools, including locations in Abossey Okai, Osu, Police Hospital Headquarters, and the University of Ghana Legon, where she engaged with fans and shared motivational messages.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  3. Maiden Ladé Wosornu Students Poetry Contest held in Accra

    The inaugural Ladé Wosornu Students Poetry Contest, organised by the Creative Arts Agency Ghana in partnership with the Ghana Library Authority and Pan-African Writers Association, was held in Accra to honour the Ghanaian creative arts legend. The annual national student literary programme aims to encourage appreciation of Ghanaian poetry and promote indigenous Ghanaian languages, with regional competitions leading to a national final.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  4. Afriyie Wutah releases Summer Jam with Maxi Priest

    Ghanaian musician Afriyie Wutah has released a new song titled Summer Jam featuring reggae legend Maxi Priest on his birthday, 31 May 2026. The track blends Afro-soul, reggae, and island rhythms, celebrating a cultural connection between Africa and the Caribbean.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  5. McDan makes commentary debut at Hitz FM Champions League event

    Dr. Daniel McKorley, CEO of McDan Group of Companies, made his commentary debut at the Hitz FM Rep Your Jersey 2026 Champions League final viewing party at Aviation Social Centre, where he also provided free drinks for attendees.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Sport

  1. South African team delayed by visa issues before World Cup

    South Africa's sports minister said the nation was "being made to look like fools" after the national football team was delayed travelling to Mexico for the World Cup due to visa issues. The team eventually received permission to travel and departed Monday for their opening match against Mexico on 11 June.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Relegated Nations FC wins 2025/26 MTN FA Cup on penalties

    Nations FC defeated Dreams FC 5-4 in a penalty shootout to claim their first MTN FA Cup title in a final played on May 31, with the match ending 1-1 after 120 minutes of play.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  3. North Legon Little Campus wins U12 athletics at interschool festival

    The Ghana Interschool Festival's May 2026 Season 2 event at Borteyman Sports Stadium featured football, athletics, basketball and arts, with North Legon Little Campus dominating the Under-12 athletics championship through victories in relay and sprint events.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  4. GFA's two-stage squad process breeds unnecessary controversy

    Ghana Football Association's two-stage squad announcement for 2026 World Cup preparation—28 players on May 25, then 26 on June 1—created public confusion and debate where a single announcement would have sufficed, reflecting broader institutional mismanagement of the Black Stars.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  5. Gabriel misses penalty as Arsenal loses Champions League final

    Arsenal lost the Champions League final to Paris St-Germain in a penalty shootout, with defender Gabriel's miss — his first penalty for the club — proving decisive. Manager Mikel Arteta said Gabriel had prepared for the moment and wanted to take the penalty.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  6. PSG retain Champions League title with penalty win over Arsenal

    Paris St-Germain beat Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the Champions League final in Budapest, becoming only the second club to win back-to-back titles and the first since Real Madrid's three-peat from 2016 to 2018. Since the start of last season, Luis Enrique's team have won eight of the ten trophies available to them.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  7. Goalkeeper tactical timeouts banned at 2026 World Cup

    FIFA referees' chief Pierluigi Collina revealed that players will be prevented from going to the technical area to consult coaches when goalkeepers are injured at the 2026 World Cup. IFAB has also approved a request to change VAR protocol to review attacking fouls occurring before the ball is in play.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  8. Black Stars train with 24 players ahead of Wales friendly

    Ghana's senior national team held a training session with 24 players at Dragon Park on Saturday, stepping up World Cup preparations ahead of a Tuesday friendly against Wales. Thomas Partey and Inaki Williams arrived and joined the session, with Ghana drawn against Panama, England, and Croatia in Group L for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  9. Arsenal fans celebrate Premier League title with parade

    Hundreds of thousands of Arsenal fans filled north London's streets for a celebration of the club's first Premier League title in 22 years. The players and the women's team, who won the Fifa Women's Champions Cup earlier in the season, travelled a five-mile loop through Islington on open-top buses.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  10. Partey and Williams join Black Stars for Wales friendly

    Thomas Partey and Inaki Williams have joined Ghana's Black Stars squad as the team prepares for Tuesday's international friendly against Wales. With 24 players in camp, Head Coach Carlos Queiroz is assessing the squad through tactical training ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  11. Richard Ankomah wins Hitz FM Champions League Quiz competition

    Richard Ankomah won the Hitz FM Rep Ur Jersey UEFA Champions League Quiz held in Accra on May 30, 2026, and received a 43-inch TCL television as his top prize. The competition was held at the Aviation Social Centre as part of activities surrounding the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  12. GFA's two-stage squad announcement creates needless controversy

    Ghana Football Association's decision to announce a 28-man squad for 2026 World Cup preparation before trimming to 26 players has generated public controversy and suspicion of non-footballing factors influencing selection, following a familiar pattern of contested squad decisions that has plagued the national team.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  13. Ghana's Black Maidens beat Liberia, face Senegal next

    Ghana's U17 women's football team defeated Liberia 2-0 away to advance to the final round of 2026 World Cup qualifying, where they will face Senegal in matches scheduled for July 3–12.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  14. Black Stars players to receive $100,000 appearance fee

    Ghana's Sports Minister Kofi Adams confirmed that Black Stars players will receive $100,000 in appearance fees for the 2026 World Cup, a rate unchanged since 2010. The 28-player pre-tournament camp in Wales will be reduced to 26 ahead of Ghana's first friendly against Wales.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Tourism & Environment

  1. Courts of the Living concept reimagines environmental justice in Ghana

    Ghana faces environmental degradation from illegal mining, deforestation, and wetland destruction, but enforcement of existing environmental laws remains inadequate due to human-centred legal reasoning. The emerging "Courts of the Living" concept encourages legal systems to take ecological integrity seriously by meaningfully considering ecosystems, rivers, and forests within environmental decision-making frameworks.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

World & Region

  1. EFL leader defends Ghana's evacuation of citizens from South Africa

    Ernesto Yeboah, leader of the Economic Fighters' League, defended Ghana's decision to evacuate nationals affected by afrophobic attacks in South Africa, calling criticisms by South African opposition politician Julius Malema "complete rubbish" and asserting that the government's intervention reflected responsible leadership and concern for citizen safety.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Undocumented African migrants not cause of SA unemployment, Mbeki says

    Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has rejected anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa, arguing that undocumented African migrants are not responsible for the country's unemployment crisis and that anger is being directed at the wrong targets. His remarks come as nearly 300 Ghanaians returned home following anti-immigrant protests.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  3. Mbeki defends African migrants, says blame misplaced for unemployment

    Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has argued that undocumented African migrants are being unfairly blamed for unemployment and crime, when South Africa's economic challenges stem from deeper structural causes dating back decades. His comments come as nearly 300 Ghanaians voluntarily returned home from South Africa amid anti-immigrant protests and safety concerns.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  4. Ethiopia holds election as Tigray excluded from polls

    Ethiopia's general election takes place on Monday as conflict prevents many people from voting, with the entire northern Tigray region excluded from the poll due to its recovery from a civil war that ended in 2022. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party is expected to win, with the winning party needing at least 274 of 547 parliamentary seats to form the next government.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  5. Virginia bus driver charged after crash kills five people

    A bus driver was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter after his vehicle struck multiple cars on Interstate 95 on Friday morning, killing at least five people and injuring dozens. The driver failed to slow for traffic in a work zone and was travelling at high speed, triggering a chain reaction crash involving at least eight vehicles.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  6. PSG Champions League victory sparks riots across France

    After PSG won the Champions League final against Arsenal, clashes between football fans and police across France injured 219 people, including 57 police officers. According to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, 780 people were arrested, with more than 450 in custody, and violence disrupted transport services in Paris.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  7. Nigerian retired general and wife abducted in Katsina state

    Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar, a former military spokesman, and his wife were kidnapped by armed men in north-west Nigeria's Katsina state on Saturday. The army is coordinating rescue efforts as the incident underscores ongoing security challenges in the region, where criminal gangs frequently conduct kidnappings for ransom.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Opinion

  1. South African firms in Ghana must fund citizen evacuations — Bentil

    Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI Africa, has called on major South African multinational corporations operating in Ghana to bear the financial cost of evacuating Ghanaian nationals fleeing afrophobic attacks in South Africa, arguing that these companies profit heavily from African markets and have a moral responsibility to support affected communities.

    31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

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