Ghana Minute.
Tuesday, 4 August 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Tuesday, 4 August 2026
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Business

Building cost inflation rises to 3.1% on material prices

The News

Ghana's building cost inflation increased to 3.1 per cent in June 2026 from 2.7 per cent in May, driven by higher material and plant costs, but remains significantly lower than the 18.1 per cent recorded a year earlier. The Government Statistician said the slowdown has provided a more predictable environment for construction planning and investment.

5 hours ago · Joy Online

Business

  1. Building cost inflation rises to 3.1% on material prices

    Ghana's building cost inflation increased to 3.1 per cent in June 2026 from 2.7 per cent in May, driven by higher material and plant costs, but remains significantly lower than the 18.1 per cent recorded a year earlier. The Government Statistician said the slowdown has provided a more predictable environment for construction planning and investment.

    5 hours ago · Joy Online

  2. Microsoft raises Xbox Series X and S prices worldwide

    Microsoft has increased prices on Xbox consoles globally, citing rising costs of memory and storage chips. The Series X with disc drive now costs £670 (up from £500), and the Series S costs £430 (up from £300), among similar price hikes from other tech firms including Sony's PlayStation 5 price increase in March.

    1 hour ago · Joy Online

Society

  1. Ghana prioritizes local languages in revised basic curriculum

    The Education Ministry has clarified its language-of-instruction policy, making Ghanaian languages the primary medium from kindergarten to Primary Three, then introducing English alongside Ghanaian languages from Primary Four onwards. Foreign languages such as French, Arabic, and Chinese will be optional, not compulsory.

    5 hours ago · Joy Online

Culture

  1. Ariana Grande steps back from public visibility after body scrutiny

    After years of social media speculation about her body and health, Ariana Grande's spokesperson said she will take a step back from public-facing work after finishing her current tour. Her new album Petal addresses pressures of fame, with its title track video depicting rejection and criticism of various personas.

    2 hours ago · Joy Online

Sport

  1. Brazilian UFC flyweight Allan Nascimento dies at 34

    Mixed martial arts fighter Allan Nascimento, 34, has died after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep on Monday, according to the UFC. Nascimento had been with the UFC since 2021 and held an overall MMA record of 22 wins and seven losses.

    2 hours ago · Joy Online

  2. England midfielder Jordan Henderson joins Chelsea

    Jordan Henderson, 36, has joined Chelsea on a two-year deal after his contract with Brentford was mutually terminated. The former Liverpool captain made 32 Premier League appearances for Brentford in 2025-26.

    4 hours ago · Joy Online

  3. Como agree £31m deal for Chelsea defender Chalobah

    Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has agreed to join Italian club Como in a deal worth more than £30m, with Chelsea receiving an initial £25.7m plus £5.1m in add-ons. The 27-year-old England international will sign a long-term contract and take on a leadership role under manager Cesc Fabregas.

    4 hours ago · Joy Online

  4. Semenyo praises Maresca's attacking approach at Manchester City

    Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo has praised new manager Enzo Maresca's style of play as "music to my ears," noting that the wide-attacking approach excites him as a winger. Semenyo featured in City's penalty loss to Inter Milan in Maresca's first game and said the manager's ideas on how to set up the wide men are "great" and align with what he experienced at Chelsea.

    4 hours ago · Joy Online

  5. Dzeko, 40, extends Schalke contract after Bundesliga promotion

    Bosnia and Herzegovina captain Edin Dzeko has signed a one-year contract extension with German side Schalke after helping them secure promotion to the Bundesliga from the second division. The former Manchester City forward scored six goals in 11 Bundesliga 2 matches.

    4 hours ago · Joy Online

  6. Pochettino extends US men's football manager deal until 2030

    Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to continue as manager of the United States men's team until 2030, with an expanded remit that includes advising on youth development, coaching education, and technical matters across US Soccer.

    4 hours ago · Joy Online

World & Region

  1. Mali's former PM Moussa Mara released from prison

    Moussa Mara, Mali's former prime minister, has been released from prison after serving time for a social media post criticizing the military government's restrictions on democracy. He was sentenced to two years in October 2025—one year in prison and one on probation—for undermining state credibility and spreading false information.

    1 hour ago · Joy Online

  2. South African coalition party challenges land seizure law in court

    South Africa's Democratic Alliance, the second-largest party in the governing coalition, went to court to challenge the Expropriation Act, a law that allows the state to seize land in the public interest without compensation in some cases. The law, signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in January 2025 as part of efforts to redress apartheid's legacy, has caused friction with the largest party, the African National Congress, and prompted the law to be cited by U.S. President Donald Trump when cutting off aid to the country.

    1 hour ago · Joy Online

  3. Nigerian migrant flees South Africa amid anti-migrant protests

    A 47-year-old Nigerian man left his wife, twin children, and business behind in Johannesburg and took a voluntary repatriation flight to Nigeria in June, citing harassment and fear for his safety as anti-migrant protests intensified. Tens of thousands of foreigners have left South Africa over the past two months, fuelling diplomatic tensions with other African nations.

    2 hours ago · Joy Online

  4. US states challenge Trump tariffs on 60 trading partners

    Twenty-five US states sued the Trump administration over tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, including the UK, China, and the EU, which came into effect in July over forced labour concerns. The states argued the decision was "arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law," while the White House defended the tariffs as lawful authority to address forced labour practices.

    2 hours ago · Joy Online

  5. EU calls for stronger border security after Ceuta migrant crisis

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for "united action" on border security following a large influx of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, where about 69,500 migrants have now returned to Morocco and 72 deaths were recorded on the Spanish side. The crisis has strained EU relations, prompting emergency talks among interior ministers and causing Italy, Finland, and Denmark to suspend or call for suspension of Schengen arrangements with Spain.

    2 hours ago · Joy Online

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