LINAKS Foundation upgrades classroom block for Good Shepherd Anglican School

December 24, 2025 by with 0 comment

A charity-driven organization, LINAKS Foundation, has renovated and handed over a three-classroom block to Good Shepherd Anglican Basic School at Korle Nkwanta, Koforidua, in the New Juaben South Municipality.

The foundation also donated notebooks, mathematical sets, erasers, sharpeners, and other learning materials to aid teaching and learning.

The previous classroom block posed risks to pupils and teachers due to weather exposure and dilapidated conditions. The transformed modern facility provides a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning, equipped with modern writing boards, desks, a staff common room, and disability-friendly features.

At the commissioning on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, CEO of LINAKS Foundation, Mrs. Linda Akrasi Kotey, described the facility as a hub for innovation and knowledge, enhancing safety, reducing disruptions, and creating a conducive environment for learning. She urged commitment to raising educational standards and nurturing future leaders.

“This rehabilitated classroom block is more than just a physical infrastructure. It is a space for innovation, focus, and discovery – a place where ideas can grow and theories can turn into practice. It provides improved safety, reduces disruptions to learning, and creates a cleaner, quieter, and more hygienic environment for our children,” she underscored.

She tasked the school authorities and the pupils to use the new facility wisely, shape the minds of the pupils with passion and dedication to make the school a beacon of excellence. Mrs. Kotey also charged the community to take collective responsibility to maintain the facility to enable it serve future generations as well.

Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, who commissioned the building, praised LINAKS Foundation’s initiative and urged others to give back to society.

“Mrs. Kotey has lived in this area before, saw the challenges facing the school, and has responded accordingly. This is what the government is expecting from you. Let us learn to give back to society,” she appealed.

She urged the school authorities and the Municipal Director of Education, Haruna Mustapha, to ensure that the facility is maintained and serves the purpose for which it was built.

The Municipal Director of Education, Haruna Mustapha, thanked the foundation and assured the facility would be put to good use. Headmistress Comfort Owusu praised Mrs. Kotey and the foundation for the impactful gift.

The event brought together high officials from the corporate world, security officials, and top politicians from leading political parties in the country.

LINAKS Foundation is the charity arm of LINAKS Group of Companies, aiming to give back to society. It has over the years attended to societal needs, especially in education, supporting the aged, health, and more. LINAKS Foundation has been in existence for more than 15 years.

Zipline shuts down three centers over lack of funds; Gov’t owes it GHS175m

November 26, 2025 by with 0 comment

Zipline Ghana Limited has shut down three of its medical drone delivery centers due to the government’s outstanding debt of GHS170million, www.ghanaweb.com understands.

The action by Zipline Ghana, a subsidiary of the American drone company, Zipline, is effective Tuesday, November 25, 2025.

The affected centers are Anum Distribution Center, Sehwi-Wiaso Center, and Kete-Krachi Center in the Oti Region which serves various regions in Ghana, including Volta, Eastern, Western North, Western, Ashanti, Central, Ahafo, Bono and Oti Regions.

Drawing Parliament’s attention to the issue in his contribution to the debate on the 2026 Budget and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana, Dr. Ayew Afriyie, Ranking Member on the Health Committee and New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Effiduase-Asokore in the Ashanti Region, described the situation as “terrifying”.

“This news is terrifying to the ordinary person living in the remote parts of this country. As a matter of fact, we must do something urgently about this because the shutdown starts today, and this is not right”, he noted while looking deep into the eyes of the Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh who appeared uncomfortable in his seat.

Referencing a letter Zipline Ghana signed by its Country Director, Daniel Kwaku Merki wrote to the Minister of Health dated Monday, November 24, 2025, Dr. Ayew revealed to the house that the shutdown was spurred by lack of engagement by the government in addition to its inability to pay its debt.

“There has been no engagement and also inability for the government to provide funds for Zipline. The allocation this year was GHS20 million knowing very well that you owe Zipline as of now GHS175 million”.

The situation, he noted, means that Zipline would not be supplying blood, medicines, vaccines and antivenom to the whole of Western North, parts of Western Region, parts of Central Region, Ashanti Region, Ahafo, and Bono Regions.

That notwithstanding, parts of Savannah and Afram Plains would be affected.

“Mr. Speaker, efffective today, people are going to die needlessly because of shortage of blood, medication, and vaccines”, an emotional Dr. Afriyie noted, appealing to the Government to urgently address the issue.

The situation is said to impact hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians mostly living in the remote parts of the country and who the introduction of Zipline services provided a lifeline to the healthcare.

In a separate letter addressed to its stakeholders, Zipline noted that “This difficult decision follows several yeas of outstanding payments and unclear settlement timelines from the Ministry of Health. While we deeply appreciate the critical role our service plays in healthcare delivery across the country, financial constraints have left us unable to maintain full operations across all six distribution centers”.

Mr. Merki described the action taken by Zipline as “a necessary step to ensure that long-term sustainability of our operations and is not a retreat from our mission.”
Zipline Ghana has been a lifeline for healthcare in remote areas, delivering over 800,000 shipments since 2019, including 8 million medical products, 17 million vaccine doses, and 23,000 units of blood. Studies show their services have reduced maternal mortality by 56.4% and medical stockouts by 60%.

GNASSM mourns 8 perished in helicopter crash

August 7, 2025 by with 0 comment

The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has extended its heartfelt condolences to the Government of Ghana, National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), and the families of the eight individuals who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash.

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Release our seized excavators and stop harassing us – GNASSM to gov’t

July 18, 2025 by with 0 comment


The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has called on the government to immediately release all excavators and equipment seized from licensed small-scale miners by various anti-galamsey task forces across the country.

They also voiced out the alarming rate of harassment, intimidation, and extortion of its members by the anti-galamsey task forces and some security operatives as well as politically exposed individuals, despite their operations being legal, further calling on the government to “call your men to order”.

At a press conference held in Kumasi on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the National Communications Director, GNASSM, Abdul-Razak Alhassan, revealed that despite operating within the law, small-scale miners are being targeted and terrorized by those meant to protect them.

“We’ve had enough of these injustices,” declared Abdul-Razak Alhassan. “We demand an end to the extortion, intimidation, and harassment.”

According to Alhassan, members of the association who operate with legitimate licences are being wrongly targeted.

He alleged that security operatives, often under the influence of some political figures, invade legal mining sites, seize machinery, including excavators, and demand bribes to release the equipment.

“This is not just a threat to our livelihoods but a direct contradiction to the government’s commitment to formalizing and expanding the small-scale mining sector,” he noted.

Alhassan called for a clear protocol to govern law enforcement operations at mining sites to protect legitimate miners from unlawful treatment.

He also proposed a more inclusive approach to combating illegal mining, recommending that authorities engage unauthorized miners to correct their methods and help them transition into the formal sector.

The small-scale mining industry remains a major contributor to Ghana’s economy. According to the Minerals Commission, the sector generated approximately $1.7 billion in the first half of 2024, accounting for about 36 per cent of the country’s total gold export revenue.

With the government aiming to double gold production from the small-scale mining sector, GNASSM believes stronger collaboration between stakeholders is critical to achieving this target.

“We want to work with the government to develop a comprehensive plan to tackle the challenges facing the sector,” said GNASSM President, Kwaku Armah, who also addressed the media.

“Together, we can ensure that small-scale mining contributes to the country’s economic growth while minimizing its environmental impact.”

The Association further warned that unless government acts swiftly to curb the ongoing harassment and return the confiscated equipment, tensions between miners and security personnel may escalate, potentially threatening peace and productivity in mining communities.

“We are law-abiding Ghanaians contributing to the national economy,” Alhassan concluded. “All we are asking for is fairness, protection, and respect under the law.”

Minority angry over gov’t failure to honour statutory payments

May 23, 2025 by with 0 comment

The Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has accused the government of collecting taxes while refusing to honour statutory payments, particularly to the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).

According to him, the government’s refusal to honour statutory payments will have dire consequences on local economies.

Addressing the media in Accra on Thursday, May 22, 2025, Hon. Annoh-Dompreh condemned the government’s actions as a clear violation of the Local Governance Act (Act 936).

“It is surprising that almost six months have passed, and out of the allocation of GHS7.51 billion, not even a penny has gone to the Assemblies,” he noted.

In March 2025, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Casiel Ato Forson, announced a government policy to increase direct funding to the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) by ensuring that 80% of the DACF is disbursed directly to local authorities.

The measure, according to the Finance Minister, was to reduce bureaucratic delays and allow district assemblies to execute develop projects more efficiently.

“To improve project execution and service delivery at the local, the government is ensuring that 80% of the Common Fund is sent directly to MMDAs”, Dr. Forson revealed.

A budget allocation of GHS7.51 was made to the DACF, covering infrastructure development, sanitation and waste management, education and health projects.

However, three months after the budget presentation and six months into the new administration, none of the local assemblies has received any releases from the central government.

The consequences of this delay, according to Hon. Annoh-Dompreh, inhibit development at the local authority level, thereby deepening the woes of the people.

“This means that Persons with Disabilities who have been catered for by some portions of the DACF are going to struggle with their activities. It also means that development will be stagnant, and it is the people who are going to suffer,” he said.

Apart from non-releases of the DACF, Hon. Annoh-Dompreh further revealed that releases to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) have not been made.

Additionally, the second-quarter releases to Parliament have not been honoured.
Hon. Annoh-Dompreh wondered why the government has refused to honour these statutory payments, despite collecting taxes meant for these allocations.

“Don’t forget that the Growth and Sustainability Levy was increased from 1% to 3%. Even the sunset clause for this levy, the NPP had earmarked to exit at 2025. The NDC has extended it to 2028. Import Levy has also increased. VAT has also been increased on non-life insurance excluding motor vehicles. You have introduced and collected these taxes, and yet you are flouting the statutory payments that the law mandates that you have to pay,” he fumed.

We’ll resist any attempt to increase electricity tariff – Minority Caucus

May 19, 2025 by with 0 comment

Members of Parliament (MPs) belonging to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have served notice to the government that they are anxiously waiting for a reduced electricity tariff in the upcoming tariff review by the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC).

They warned that any contrary action would be fiercely resisted, stressing that “Ghanaians deserve better.”

Addressing the media in Accra on Monday, May 19, 2025, the Ranking Member of the Energy Committee of Parliament, George Kwame Aboagye, said the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian remains paramount to them.

The Minority Caucus, they added, will not stand idly by while Ghanaians suffer from the inefficiencies of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

They demand that “any increase in tariffs must be accompanied by enhanced service delivery. We cannot accept poor performance while paying exorbitant prices”.

The group noted that the Cedi’s continuous appreciation against major international trading currencies is enough reason for the PURC to reduce electricity tariffs.

“We are monitoring happenings in the energy sector. In the next utility tariff review, we expect a reduction in electricity tariffs, considering the Cedi’s strong performance against major international trading currencies,” noted Hon. Aboagye.


Fix the lights
The Minority Caucus has also demanded that the Minister of Energy and Green Transitions, John Jinapor, take action to restore power and end the erratic power supply confronting the country.

“It’s time to stop talking and put the lights on,” the Minority cautioned. “It is imperative that the Minister shifts his focus from public pronouncements to tangible actions that will resolve the ongoing issues plaguing our power sector. It looks like our colleague (Jinapor) seems more interested in making headlines than keeping the lights on”.

Jinapor in a recent address urged the public to prepare for an imminent nationwide power crisis as the country had only “2.6 days of fuel left” to run the turbines. This brought fear and panic among the people with many questionings how their businesses were going to thrive under such a precarious situation.

They condemned the Minister’s recent remarks, which created fear and panic among the people, and urged him to focus on tangible actions to resolve the ongoing issues plaguing the power sector.

Key demands
The Minority Caucus has outlined several key demands, including: Renegotiating burdensome take-or-pay contracts; Setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for ECG and NEDCO to reduce operational and distribution losses; Diversifying the energy mix with renewables and gas optimization; Encouraging off-peak consumption by industries to flatten the demand curve; and Accelerating the rollout of smart metering to curb theft and increase revenue mobilization

They also want the current administration to be guided by the prudent management of the energy sector by the immediate-past government, which ensured the lights were kept on during the past eight years.

Peg cocoa prices at GHS6,000 per bag or risk increased smuggling – Minority Caucus warns gov’t

April 16, 2025 by with 0 comment

The Minority Caucus has sent a note to the government, demanding an immediate increase in the cocoa producer price from GHS3,000 to GHS 6,000 per 64kg bag in fulfillment of the promise it made to Ghanaians, warning that failure to act swiftly risks economic sabotage, border smuggling, and betrayal of Ghana’s hardworking cocoa farmers.

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