West Africa

2026-04-242026-09-13

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

August 2026
15 AugJoy Online
… What Winning will Require Maverick Research concluded that the first half of 2026 confirms that West Africa’s FMCG recovery is real—but conditional. …
Ghana delivers strong performance in retail market in half-year; value up 15.6% – Maverick Research
14 AugJoy Online
… He pointed to conflicts elsewhere in West Africa where small disputes had been allowed to escalate into wider communal violence, destroying communities, markets, schools and places of worship. …
Religious leaders must help quell tensions – IGP
14 AugJoy Online
… The new envoy was directed to build on those efforts and contribute to stronger bilateral cooperation, particularly in addressing threats to peace, security, and stability in West Africa. …
Veep commissions five envoys, charges them to advance Ghana’s interests abroad
14 AugJoy Online
The newly established West Africa Centre for Clean Air (WACCA) is looking to build stronger regional partnerships and mobilise long-term support for air-quality management as funding for clean-air action continues to decline globally. …
KNUST’s new clean-air centre seeks regional partnerships as Africa faces funding squeeze
13 AugJoy Online
… Mr Asubonteng said an incentive-driven approach could position Ghana as a major gold refining hub for West Africa, leveraging the large volumes of gold produced locally and in neighbouring countries. …
Ghana can become West Africa’s gold refining hub with right incentives — Chamber of Mines
13 AugJoy Online
… Ghana’s position within West Africa could also provide a strategic advantage. A successful domestic market could eventually serve as a platform for regional expansion and cross-border investment. …
Ghana at the threshold of a new financial era: What non-interest banking could mean for the economy
12 AugJoy Online
Pangea Africa Limited and Black Star Africa Limited have jointly acquired a majority stake in Ghanaian fresh food producer Eden Tree Limited, paving the way for changes in the company’s leadership and plans to expand its operations across West Africa. …
Pangea Africa, Black Star Africa acquire majority stake in Eden Tree
12 AugJoy Online
… The regulator said West Africa had ‌made ⁠progress towards establishing a regional refined-products benchmark market, citing closer collaboration with S&P Global Commodity Insights. …
Dangote refinery spurs West Africa fuel trading hub ambitions
11 AugJoy Online
… His remarks come against the backdrop of growing calls for stronger collaboration among governments, religious institutions and traditional authorities in addressing conflicts and other threats to peace in West Africa. …
Apostolic Nuncio commends Mahama’s support, pledges prayers for Ghana
11 AugJoy Online
… The project comes amid growing security concerns in West Africa, including porous borders, the spillover of terrorism from the Sahel and the expansion of transnational organised crime. …
GIS shifts to intelligence-led border security as transnational threats grow

Society

NACOC director calls for stronger African cross-border drug cooperation

The News

Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission director-general Major-General Maxwell Obuba Mantey has called for stronger cross-border cooperation among African countries to tackle synthetic drugs, cocaine trafficking and transnational organised crime, arguing that no country can effectively combat drug trafficking alone and that countries must move beyond fragmented national responses to strengthen intelligence sharing and joint operations.

12 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Yesterday

NACOC director calls for stronger African cross-border drug cooperation
Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission director-general Major-General Maxwell Obuba Mantey has called for stronger cross-border cooperation among African countries to tackle synthetic drugs, cocaine trafficking and transnational organised crime, arguing that no country can effectively combat drug trafficking alone and that countries must move beyond fragmented national responses to strengthen intelligence sharing and joint operations.
12 September 2026 · Joy Online →
24-hour economy plans greenhouse-to-export supply chain system
Government is positioning the 24-hour economy as a driver of Ghana's horticulture industry, linking greenhouse production to cold storage, logistics and export markets. The initiative aims to connect production, processing, and markets through programs like Shiqpon and the Tamale Air Cargo Hub to build a competitive horticultural sector.
12 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Government develops cut-flower export corridor via Tamale Air Cargo Hub
Ghana's government is working with a private sector investor to develop a cut-flower production corridor from Daboya to the Tamale Air Cargo Hub for exports to Europe, West Africa, and the Gulf, as part of the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme.
12 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 11 September

Ghana's French-language education faces communication gaps and pedagogical challenges
Despite Ghana's membership in the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and years of formal French instruction, many Ghanaian students and university graduates struggle to communicate beyond basic phrases. The article attributes this disconnection to rote-learning approaches, corporal punishment in classrooms, and teacher shortages that relied on non-English-speaking facilitators from Francophone countries.
11 September 2026 · Daily Guide →

Thursday 10 September

Ghana's Lands Minister urges Zijin Mining to expand African operations
Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah visited China to encourage Chinese mining giant Zijin Mining Group to make Ghana a focal point for its exploration and investment across Africa, positioning the country as a major mining investment hub on the continent. Armah-Kofi Buah emphasized Ghana's readiness to establish a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership with Zijin, citing the company's recent support for government initiatives including degraded mining lands reclamation.
10 September 2026 · The Chronicle →

Wednesday 9 September

Vice President calls Catholic youth to build peaceful West Africa
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang has urged Catholic youth across West Africa to take an active role in building peaceful and prosperous societies, emphasizing that education, skills training, and access to credible opportunities are essential for peace and prosperity in the region.
9 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 8 September

MFWA launches legal fund to support journalists facing SLAPPs
The Media Foundation for West Africa has established a Legal Support Fund worth approximately GHS 544,000 to provide legal assistance to journalists and media organisations facing Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and other legal threats arising from their professional work in Ghana. The fund is part of the African Media Integrity and Resilience Programme funded by the European Union.
8 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Senegal and Cape Verde faced over 120 unsafe air days
An Africa Clean Air Network report found that parts of West Africa, particularly Senegal and Cape Verde, experienced more than 120 days in 2025 when air quality exceeded the World Health Organization's daily safety guideline for PM2.5 particles, primarily due to seasonal Saharan dust.
8 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 7 September

Burkina Faso FA chief Sawadogo becomes WAFU B president
Colonel-Major Oumarou Sawadogo, President of the Burkina Faso Football Federation, has taken over as WAFU B President following the resignation of Nigeria's Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau. Gusau stepped down amid Nigeria's failure to qualify for the World Cup and following the Ghana FA chief's election to the CAF Executive Committee.
7 September 2026 · Joy Online →
CEANA to establish cancer research and treatment centre in Volta
The Council of Ewe Associations of North America announced plans to build a state-of-the-art Cancer Research and Treatment Centre in the Volta Region in partnership with the University of Health and Allied Sciences. The facility will offer cancer research, diagnosis, treatment, and medical training, equipped with advanced equipment including a Linear Accelerator.
7 September 2026 · Joy Online →
NACOC warns of cannabis addiction among Volta children via toffees, drinks
Children as young as 10 are becoming severely addicted to cannabis in parts of the Volta Region, with producers processing raw cannabis into toffees and soft drinks marketed to unsuspecting children, according to the Volta Regional Commander of the Narcotics Control Commission. The trend is most evident in Hohoe and Kpando municipalities, as well as North Dayi, South Dayi, and Afadzato South districts, with cannabis syndicates selling the substance to clients in Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and other parts of West Africa.
7 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 4 September

Ghana Jazz Orchestra launches September 5 at +233 in Accra
The Ghana Jazz Orchestra, directed by saxophonist Bernard Ayisa and conducted by pianist Victor Dey Jr., will be officially launched on September 5, 2026 at +233 Jazz Bar & Grill in Accra. The ensemble comprises saxophonists, trumpeters, trombonists, a clarinetist, vocalist, pianist, bassist, drummer and percussionist, and is described as the only big band jazz outfit in West Africa.
4 September 2026 · Daily Guide →
TEDx Accra stages circular innovation using Kantamanto waste
TEDx Accra organisers partnered with The Or Foundation to transform discarded clothing from Kantamanto Market into event materials, including stage letters and rugs made from recycled textile waste and Cassaboard, a biocomposite created from post-consumer clothing and cassava-based binders.
4 September 2026 · Joy Online →
West Africa should collaborate to achieve rice self-sufficiency
Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture John Dumelo called for stronger regional collaboration among West African governments, the private sector, and farmers to build a self-sufficient rice industry. Despite the region's production potential, West Africa spends more than US$3.5 billion annually importing rice, though countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, and Sierra Leone have begun working together on the rice value chain.
4 September 2026 · Joy Online →
GPHA net profit rises 17.18 per cent to GH¢2.82bn in 2025
Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority increased net profit by 17.18 per cent to GH¢2.82 billion in 2025, with revenue rising 8.89 per cent to GH¢7.620 billion, driven by increased cargo services income and a GH¢1.531 billion profit contribution from Meridian Port Services.
4 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 3 September

TexStyles Ghana, GTP and Woodin brands acquired by local Ghanaian investors
Olive Africa Partners Fashions Ltd, a Ghanaian investment company represented by Kofi Kwakwa and John Gadzi, has acquired Vlisco BV's shareholding in TexStyles Ghana Limited and the Woodin brand, bringing the iconic GTP and Woodin textile brands under local ownership while maintaining the company's current management structure.
3 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana Ports Authority net profit rises to GH¢2.82 billion
The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority recorded a net profit of GH¢2.82 billion in 2025, up 17.18 per cent from GH¢2.41 billion in 2024, with total revenue rising to GH¢7.620 billion, according to the 2025 State Ownership Report by SIGA.
3 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Breastfeeding reduces breast cancer risk but does not prevent it
Breastfeeding lowers a woman's risk of breast cancer but does not make her immune to the disease, according to Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, President of Breast Care International. She cautioned that breast changes during pregnancy and breastfeeding should not be dismissed without medical assessment, and warned that breast cancer remains the leading cancer affecting women in Ghana, with 5,026 new cases and 2,491 estimated deaths in 2022.
3 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 2 September

Ghanaian businesses cautiously optimistic about 2026 performance
The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry reports that Ghanaian businesses have remained resilient in the first half of 2026, with improved macroeconomic conditions in cedi stability, inflation and interest rates providing relief, though global developments and domestic challenges warrant continued caution.
2 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 1 September

Ghana netball team faces Côte d'Ivoire in September friendly
Ghana's Golden Maidens will play a two-day international friendly against Côte d'Ivoire at Accra Sports Stadium on September 10–11, with senior government and sports officials in attendance.
1 September 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
DR Congo Ebola outbreak exceeds 6,000 cases, 2,911 deaths
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is experiencing the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic on record, with official figures confirming more than 6,000 cases and 2,911 deaths, though more than 1,360 people have recovered. The World Health Organisation warns the outbreak remains entirely out of control, with transmission patterns threatening to surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic that claimed over 11,000 lives.
1 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 31 August

Ghanaian dogs win top honours at West African dog show
Ghanaian-owned dogs dominated the West African August Classic Dog Show held in Accra, with entries from Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire. Ghana's American Cocker Spaniel Cansey Uncrowned King won the National and West Africa Winner titles, while Radiance Pickpocket, a White Shih Tzu, was crowned International Grand Champion.
31 August 2026 · Joy Online →
VRA swings to GH¢88m profit in 2025 on forex gains
The Volta River Authority returned to profitability in 2025, posting a net profit of GH¢88.04 million, reversing a net loss of GH¢105.75 million in 2024, primarily driven by a foreign exchange gain of GH¢236.60 million according to the 2025 State Ownership Report.
31 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 30 August

Niger regains control of airbase after mutinous soldiers' attack
Niger's military ruler Abdourahamane Tiani's government reasserted control of a key airbase in Niamey after mutinous soldiers attacked on Saturday, amid broader jihadist insurgency challenges. The airbase hosts military aircraft, drones, a counter-terrorism unit of the Alliance of Sahel States, and Russian and Italian forces.
30 August 2026 · Joy Online →
West African researchers convert Lassa fever findings into publishable papers
Researchers from West Africa are working to turn scientific findings from a 2025 ECOWAS Lassa Fever Conference into research papers for publication, with the West African Health Organisation and partners holding a workshop in Abuja to finalise manuscripts for submission to the Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health.
30 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 29 August

Ghana, Egypt should expand healthcare cooperation ties
Ghana's Ambassador to Egypt has called for deeper bilateral cooperation in healthcare, proposing areas including medical diagnostics, professional training, research, pharmaceutical development, hospital management, health technology and digital transformation.
29 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Counter Terrorism Director urges media to promote peace, stability
Major General Timothy Ba-Taa-Banah, Director of the Ghana National Counter Terrorism Fusion Centre, urged the media to use its influence to help the public understand its civic responsibilities for maintaining peace and stability in Ghana. He said the media remained a critical partner in the national security architecture because of its ability to reach communities, shape discourse, and provide early warning of developments threatening national peace.
29 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 28 August

Ghana and Malta strengthen ties as former UN Security Council peers
Ghana and Malta, which established formal diplomatic relations in 1974 after both experienced post-colonial struggles against British rule, served together as elected members of the United Nations Security Council in 2023 and are now exploring ways to deepen political, economic, and people-to-people ties.
28 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
ADB Ghana Medicals commits to strengthening healthcare delivery
ADB Ghana Medical Systems Group Limited, a Ghanaian healthcare solutions company, says it is committed to transforming healthcare delivery through quality medical equipment, hospital engineering and healthcare infrastructure. CEO Adann Benjamin Diaz says the company aims to build lasting partnerships and deliver quality, reliable and affordable solutions that respond to real healthcare needs.
28 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana and Malta strengthen diplomatic ties and shared interests
Ghana and Malta established formal diplomatic relations on 27 February 1974, building on historical connections between anti-colonial leaders Kwame Nkrumah and Dom Mintoff. The two countries served together as elected members of the United Nations Security Council in 2023 and are now seeking to deepen political, economic, and people-to-people cooperation.
28 August 2026 · Joy Online →