Business News of Saturday, 20 December 2025Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mohammed Abdul-Salam, has announced ambitious plans for 2026, signaling a significant transformation for the organisation. In a video shared by Woezor TV on Facebook on December 20, 2025, Abdul-Salam outlined reforms that are set to revolutionise the NLA. "As far as the year 2026 is concerned, the National Lottery Authority of Ghana has set out to implement extensive reforms. These changes according to him will focus on two key areas: strengthening governance structures and introducing a variety of innovative gaming products. "We are establishing committees to focus on further training in areas such as governance and operations.

General News of Saturday, 20 December 2025Source: gbcghanaonline.comParliament has approved new legislation amending the names of some public universities in Ghana as part of efforts to strengthen institutional identity and enhance global competitiveness. The Amendment bills were approved on Friday, December 19, and affect three public universities established in 2019. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences will now be known as the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences Act, 2019 (Act 1000), which was passed on August 2, 2019, and assented to on August 23, 2019. Similarly, the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, established under Act 1001 in 2019, will now be known as the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies.

General News of Saturday, 20 December 2025Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations tournament (AFCON) will be held every four years after the 2028 edition. The 2029 edition, originally scheduled for the standard two-year cycle, will be brought forward to align with the new schedule according to CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe. CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe made this announcement on Saturday, December 20, after meeting the Executive Committee in Morocco before the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. "We have the most exciting new structure for African football. Meanwhile, Caf has increased the prize money for the winners of Afcon from $7m (£5.2m) to $10m (£7.5m).

Sports News of Saturday, 20 December 2025Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations tournament (AFCON) will be held every four years after the 2028 edition. The 2029 edition, originally scheduled for the standard two-year cycle, will be brought forward to align with the new schedule according to CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe. The Africa Cup of Nations has taken place every two years since the 1968 edition in Ethiopia, with a one-year gap between the 2012 and 2013 editions in Gabon & Equatorial Guinea and South Africa respectively. CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe made this announcement on Saturday, December 20, after meeting the Executive Committee in Morocco before the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. "We have the most exciting new structure for African football.

According to the bank, despite these challenges, the global economy performedbetter than many had expected, particularly in developing countries. The bank said global growth surpassed forecasts amid global trade wars and tariffs. “Forecasters now anticipate growth of about 2.7 % for this year, generally in line with expectations at the start of 2025. World Bank revises Ghana's 2025 growth forecast upwardsThe World Bank also expressed concern about the greatest demographic shifts. “Ensuring there are enough jobs for them is critical: this demographic dividend could catalyze the global economy.

Business News of Saturday, 20 December 2025Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe government has laid a new Minerals (Royalties) Pricing Schedule Regulation, introducing a sliding-scale royalty regime for gold, lithium and other minerals mined in Ghana before Parliament. Gold royalties will no longer be charged at a flat rate under the new regime but will vary depending on international prices. Speaking to the media in Parliament on December 19, 2025, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah said where gold price is up to $1,900 per ounce, a royalty rate of 5 percent will apply. He said the new sliding-scale Ghana's lithium royalties will bbe charged at 5 percent when are up to $1,500 per tonne, rising to 7 per cent for prices between $1,501 and $2,500. Buah further emphasized that the new pricing framework reflects the government's efforts in ensuring Ghana benefits from its natural resources.

Politics of Saturday, 20 December 2025Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Member of Parliament for Damongo and former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor , says the growing support and popularity being enjoyed by former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia across the country is driven by competence, not tribal considerations. “We do not support Dr Bawumia because he comes from the north, the south, the east or the west. That is totally inconsequential; it does not count and it does not matter,” he said. The former Lands Minister described Dr Bawumia as capable, competent and formidable, insisting that he remains the NPP’s best bet to secure victory in the 2028 general elections. With nearly 42 days to go before the flagbearership contest, the NPP race has entered its final stretch, with campaigns intensifying across the country.

Business News of Saturday, 20 December 2025Source: www.ghanaweb.comGold prices are on track for a weekly gain of about $50 per ounce as markets close the final trading week of 2025. According to goldprice.org, gold rose strongly earlier in the week ending December 19, 2025, as investors looked ahead to important US economic data that could influence expectations for two more interest rate cuts next year. However, despite weak US data on jobs, unemployment, and retail sales, gold has mostly stayed flat near $4,340 per troy ounce after the early-week rally. This suggests that gold may be reaching a temporary limit in the short term. Here's how much the Bank of Ghana's gold coins are selling for nowSupport for gold at these levels comes from demand by Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and central banks, as well as ongoing geopolitical risks around the world.

Business News of Saturday, 20 December 2025Source: www.ghanaweb.comGoldman Sachs Group is projecting that gold prices will surge while crude oil prices decline in 2026, as these global commodities continue to dominate market trends. According to the firm, gold is set to reach a new record high next year, while Brent crude is expected to experience its largest surplus deficit. The anticipated gold surge is largely driven by central bank purchases and expected interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Crude oil, on the other hand, is forecast to remain weak due to a persistent surplus. Gold traded at $4,323 an ounce on the same day.

Highlighting the critical needs of children’s homes, autistic children, and prisons, Yeboah urged collective action to bring happiness to these vulnerable groups. “As we eat, we need to remember them,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of shared responsibility. “These gestures need more hands, and that's why I am urging others to do more to make them happy,” he added. Yeboah extended his counsel to the broader community, particularly the youth, advocating for love, discipline, and effective anger management. According to them, it is deeply unfortunate that many individuals, after bringing autistic children and orphans to these homes, subsequently abandon them without providing any follow-up care or support.

However, he emphasised that Asante tradition requires queenmothers to exert their influence behind the scenes, while chiefs publicly represent the stool. 'The report should bind us all' – Asantehene on peace efforts in BawkuOtumfuo Osei Tutu II made these comments at the final meeting of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs for 2025, held on December 19, 2025. The Asante culture is different from other cultures. “The creation of the House of Chiefs is not our culture. The National House of Chiefs has no authority over me.

General News of Saturday, 20 December 2025Source: GNA-A cab driver, who picked up passengers at a non-designated bus stop has been ordered by the Tarkwa District Court Two to sign a bond to be of good behaviour or in default serve six months imprisonment in hard labour. Jonathan Arthur pleaded guilty to two counts of stopping at a place not designated as a bus stop. He was subsequently convicted on his own plea at the court presided over by Mr. Isaac Osei Asare. Prosecuting Police Sergeant Enoch Assan-Donkoh, told the court that the complainant, is the High Court Judge, in Tarkwa, while the accused is a resident of Tarkwa. He said the complainant reported the matter to the Tarkwa police and the accused person was arrested and detained to aid investigations.

General News of Saturday, 20 December 2025Source: starrfm.com.ghFormer Minister for Energy and Vice-Presidential Candidate for the 2024 election, Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, has defended reforms introduced to Ghana’s student loan system, saying they significantly eased financial pressure on tertiary students. He explained that the earlier system, which demanded three state workers as guarantors, excluded many qualified applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds. Under the revised arrangement, students were allowed to apply using their national identification cards, making support more accessible. He noted that teacher trainees and other categories of students benefitted from allowances and student loan support, stressing that reforms in education financing must be implemented gradually to remain sustainable. The former minister added that while free tertiary education is an admirable objective, Ghana’s economic capacity must be strong enough to sustain such a policy, as seen in some developed countries.

Politics of Saturday, 20 December 2025Source: angelonline.com.ghThe Damongo Constituency has solidified its support for former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) prepares to elect its next flagbearer on January 31, 2026. All twelve Electoral Area Coordinators in the constituency have unanimously endorsed Dr Bawumia, citing his leadership, innovative policy ideas, and commitment to inclusive national development. The endorsement, backed by Member of Parliament (MP) Samuel Abu Jinapor, reflects a strong alignment of grassroots party structures and is expected to boost Dr Bawumia’s campaign. Jinapor praised Dr Bawumia’s clean public record, national profile, and ability to unite the party base and attract undecided voters. This development reinforces perceptions that Dr Bawumia’s message is gaining traction at the Grassroots level, positioning him as a strong contender in the NPP flagbearer race.

Business News of Saturday, 20 December 2025Source: classfmonline.comThe Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Randy Abbey, has expressed deep concern over the inability of both cocoa farmers and COCOBOD to benefit from the unprecedented surge in global cocoa prices that lasted for about eighteen months. According to Abbey, despite the historic rise in world market prices, the period instead left cocoa farmers and the state cocoa regulator grappling with excessive debt. He lamented that global cocoa prices, which peaked around 12,000 dollars per tonne and hovered between 10,000 and 9,000 dollars at various points, are now on a downward trend. Abbey said both farmers and COCOBOD should have reaped substantial benefits during this period of high prices. Abbey made these remarks during a courtesy call on him by members of the Best Cocoa Farmers Association of Ghana, who had visited to engage management on issues affecting cocoa production and farmer welfare in the country.