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The total net credit flows have declined by 39% year-on-year, the monetary policy report for September 2025 has revealed.

According to the report the country recorded a total net credit of GHS8.660 billion in August 2025, compared with GHS14.247 billion recorded in August 2024.

The decline was driven primarily by reduced credit to the public sector, alongside a moderation in private sector credit flows as banks reallocated portfolios toward the government and Bank of Ghana securities.

Also, the report indicated that private sector credit flows amounted to GHS10.710 billion in August 2025, down from GHS14.319 billion in August 2024.

Despite this slowdown, the private sector remained the dominant recipient of credit, accounting for 95.5% of total outstanding credit in August 2025, compared with 92.7% a year earlier.

By sectoral distribution, credit flows were concentrated in the services (68.2%), commerce and finance (23.8%) and manufacturing (23.0%) sectors.

The outstanding private sector credit was GHS91.028 billion at end-August 2025, compared to GHS80.318 billion at end-August 2024.

In real terms, the private sector credit recorded a modest expansion of 1.7%, as against a contraction of 1.1% over the same period in 2024.

The growth in real sector private sector credit was, however, slightly above trend, with the deviation from trend widening marginally in August 2025, compared to the previous year.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase-Ayeribi and former Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has expressed deep concern over the government’s proposed social media bill, describing it as ‘dangerous’ and an attempt to criminalise free speech in Ghana.

According to the MP, preliminary details of the draft bill suggest it contains intrusive provisions that would allow the state to monitor online activities, track users’ IP addresses, and impose severe penalties for comments deemed offensive by government officials.

Speaking in an interview with the media, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah warned that the proposal, if passed in its current form, could roll back decades of progress the country has made in promoting media freedom and democratic discourse.

‘What we are seeing appears to be a draft, and from what I have seen as a former Information Minister, this draft is dangerous,’ he said.

‘It’s not surprising because the President himself earlier announced that the National Security apparatus would be used to go after people who make social media comments considered unfavourable. Now, his minister seems to be following up with a draft law containing those very provisions,’ he added.

The Ofoase-Ayeribi MP argued that the draft legislation would effectively reintroduce criminal sanctions for speech, an approach that many modern democracies have abandoned.

‘Over the last few decades, countries have been moving away from criminalising speech. There are enough civil remedies for offensive speech, but not every comment should attract criminal prosecution,’ he said.

He recalled that Ghana took a major democratic step forward in 2001 when the Kufuor administration repealed the Criminal Libel and Sedition laws, which had previously been used to jail journalists and silence dissent.

However, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah noted that certain laws, such as the provision on the ‘publication of false news with intent to cause fear and panic,’ remain in the nation’s statute books and continue to be used against journalists and citizens.

‘Instead of repealing those remnants of repressive laws, the government is now seeking to enact a new one that will criminalise even more forms of online expression,’ the MP warned.

‘We are moving backward, not forward. If this law is passed, even a private comment made in a WhatsApp group could be interpreted as offensive and land someone in jail,’ the former Information Minister intimated.

He cautioned that such a law would undermine public confidence in government, stifle criticism, and create a chilling effect on social and political debate. ‘This is a dangerous encroachment on the right to free speech. The government needs to tread cautiously,’ he stressed.

The MP urged the Communications Ministry to withdraw the current draft and engage in broader consultations with civil society, media stakeholders, and legal experts before proceeding.

He expressed hope that through dialogue, the government would recognise the dangers inherent in criminalising speech and instead focus on strengthening civil remedies, such as defamation and privacy laws, to address online abuse and misinformation.

‘I am hopeful that when consultations start, government will see wisdom in backtracking,’ he said and added, ‘Rather than seeking to criminalise speech further, the few remaining laws that still do so should be repealed. Civil remedies are sufficient to address any harm caused by speech. Criminalisation is not the way to go.’

AFTER REALIZING how China has preserved its green forests and beautiful rivers, Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has virtually admitted that, all this while, he has not been doing enough to fight the illegal mining menace ‘galamsey’, which is destroying the environment in his region.

According to him, his recent visit to Zhengzhou in China, has been an eye-opener to him that his efforts in the fight against ‘galamsey’ and protect the rivers and forests in his region, are woefully inadequate.

Being very candid, Dr. Amoakohene stated emphatically that he has personally seen beautiful and stunning-looking river bodies and rich green forests in China, which unfortunately is not what persist in the Ashanti Region, where he is the minister.

He said his region also boasts of green forests and beautiful rivers just like China but because the region has abundance of gold, some illegal miners, including some Chinese nationals, have taken advantage by destroying the rich forests and river bodies in search of the precious mineral.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, who is obviously impressed about what he has witnessed in China, has therefore pledged to go all out by working to jealously protect the river bodies and forests in his region for them to also look sublime like what is in China.

Speaking about lessons learnt from his visit to Zhengzhou, he stated, ‘Importantly for me, when I came, I saw how beautiful your rivers are and how green your forest is, and I want the same for my country.

‘I have beautiful rivers and beautiful forest, however, we have gold in abundance, for which reason people come in and engage in illegal mining and destroy our forest and rivers.

‘I visited one of your forest, which is very historic just beside the Shalom Temple, very green, mountainous and beautiful. I want that for my country too. So it’s one thing that I have also learnt during this visit to Zhengzhou City,’ he said.

According to the Minister, the public would soon see a new energy and strength in fighting illegal mining from him, stressing that his short visit to China has been of great help to him, especially in the area of protecting the environment.

He said some expatriates are doing legal mining in the Ashanti Region, without posing threat to the environment but unfortunately some Chinese nationals collaborate with some locals to indulge in illegal mining, which poses a threat to the environment.

‘Australia, they are there through Newmont. They have less environmental issues. South Africa they are also there through Anglogold, they also have less environmental issues.

‘Unfortunately, in some cases, we arrest some of the Chinese nationals who collaborate with locals to do it illegally and spoil our water and spoil our forest,’ he lamented, adding that he is ready to fight illegal mining headon.

3G Media has introduced Abigail Ashley, a distinguished health advocate, broadcast journalist, and philanthropist, as its Director of Health Advocacy and Empowerment.

Abigail Ashley is widely recognised for her commitment to public health education and wellness empowerment across Ghana and beyond. Through her radio and television work, she has inspired millions with her resilience and advocacy on preventive healthcare, lifestyle awareness, and patient support initiatives.

In her new role with 3G Media, Abigail will spearhead initiatives focused on health education, wellness outreach, and community empowerment, reinforcing the organisation’s mission to celebrate excellence and impact within the Ghanaian and African diaspora.

Her appointment reflects 3G Media’s continued dedication to promoting not only entertainment and culture but also health and social transformation.

The Quantity Surveying Division of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors has advocated for integrating value management towards public infrastructure projects, right from the onset to ensure value for money.

According to the group, the implementation of this will ensure that all stakeholders, including government and professional surveyors, are involved from the inception of procurement towards public infrastructural projects through to completion, in order to avoid shoddy works and promote value for clients and other stakeholders.

This is part of other issues being discussed by the Division at its ongoing 2025 Quantity Surveying Division Conference at Cape Coast in the Central Region, under the theme: ‘Integrating Value Engineering into Infrastructural Procurement.’

Close to 300 Quantity Surveyors are taking part in this year’s annual general meeting.

The conversation is taking place at the time government is about to implement its flagship ‘Big Push’ project, an estimated $10 billion national infrastructural development programme.

Quantity Surveyors play a crucial role in value management, working together to optimise project outcomes.

The Ghanaian construction industry plays a central role in the country’s socio-economic development by providing the infrastructure backbone for health, education, housing, energy, and transportation.

However, the industry continues to grapple with recurring challenges, including cost overruns, delays, poor-quality delivery, limited use of local materials, and inadequate consideration of sustainability throughout project life cycles.

These problems often stem from procurement practices that prioritise the lowest initial cost over long-term value, as well as the limited integration of structured cost-management tools.

These and many other challenges have informed the theme for this year’s meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, President of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors, Surv. Kofi Obeng Ayirebi, noted that value engineering is not just about cutting costs at the expense of quality, but rather about optimising function, improving performance, and maximising value for every cedi spent during project execution.

Chairman of the Quantity Surveying Division of the Institute, Surv. Osei Agyemang-Badu, also drew government’s attention to focusing on meeting the expectations of clients and, in this case, the public, rather than just the money invested in projects.

The Chairperson of the Continuous Professional Development Sub-Committee, Quantity Surveyors Division, Dr. Naa Adjeley A. Doamekpor, on her part, expressed concern about the many issues the public has been raising regarding the quality of public infrastructure, which could mean the public may not be getting the value they seek.

According to her, the conference is deliberating on how to ensure that the public get value, especially when it comes to public infrastructural projects.

The Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE), which has been following with keen interest the strategic decisions and performances of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), has denied that the assets have been sold for $22 million as being claimed.

According to the Civic Society Organisation (CSO), ‘TOR has been a symbol of unrealised potential – a national asset languishing under the weight of debt and political controversy. Recent headlines celebrating a purported $21 million in revenue from terminal operations are monumental and help redefine TOR’s role in Ghana’s economic future.’

This performance, CEMSE maintains, ‘firmly corrects the long-standing misconception that the sustainability or continuity of strategic government decisions constitutes poor corporate governance.’

‘The recent performance is a direct outcome of strategic initiatives set in motion by the previous board and sustained by the current board,’ it said.

These measures, CEMSE stated in a statement, ‘were designed to unlock value from the refinery’s underutilised assets during a period when its core refining operations were dormant. Such key initiatives include engaging with management of Ghana Petroleum Mooring System (GPMS) to restructure dividends on quarterly bases which engendered quarterly cash flows since TOR is a shareholder of GPMS.’

Furthermore, according to the CSO, ‘the board secured a crucial ‘take-or-pay’ agreement with the Sentuo Oil Refinery for the usage of TOR’s crude oil tanks, guaranteeing income regardless of fluctuating demand. The contract with Sentuo is estimated to yield about $2 million on monthly income.’

Additional revenue streams were activated through loading rack fees from third-party petroleum distributors and right-of-way fees for pipelines traversing TOR’s premises, the statement disclosed.

These moves, the statement noted, were part of a broader strategy to reposition TOR as a diversified petroleum logistics hub, a vision emphasised during the tenure of the former board.

By focusing on its vast storage and terminal infrastructure, the previous board created a financial buffer, CEMSE pointed out, adding that ‘the continuity in strategic direction by the current board and management has proven essential, demonstrating that even without active crude refining, TOR’s assets can generate substantial revenue to support its operational viability.’

The current board, the CSO admonished, ‘must take cue from the previous board in getting private companies to engage in tolling.

‘It is against this backdrop that the transaction with Netoil Energy Ltd must be understood by the current board as a lifeline, and not sale as being speculated in the media.’

A report on the global refining sector by McKinsey and Company highlights that ‘tolling arrangements can provide a stable, low-risk revenue base for refinery owners, insulating them from market volatility and allowing them to focus on operational excellence.’

The new board, CEMSE concluded, ‘must learn from the previous boards in getting partnership deals similar but improved deals like the Netoil and Tema Energy Limited that is found in strategic foresight that secured its revitalisation deal. The management of TOR must move beyond the era of political point-scoring and into a new age of pragmatic problem-solving. Like the previous boards, the solution to the company has never been about outright sales nor state sponsorship but a smart and, de-risked partnership that safeguards national interests while leveraging global expertise and for that matter must be emulated by the current board so as to monetise its existing assets without bearing the crushing financial burdens.’

The 2025 edition of the Ghana Beauty Awards (GBA) came off on Friday night at the Labadi Beach Hotel, celebrating excellence, innovation, and creativity within Ghana’s beauty and fashion industry.

The event, organised by Makeup Ghana and hosted by Roselyn Feli, featured captivating performances from Okyeame Kwame, Comedian Hogan, and other talented acts.

The ceremony attracted distinguished guests including Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dzifa Abena Gomashie; Director of Diasporan Affairs at the Presidency, Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD); Head of Creative Agency, Gideon Ayeequaye; and Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo who served as the Guest of Honour.

A historic highlight of the evening was the announcement of Saida Mumuni Montia of Image Bloom by Saida and Leonard Ahia of Datherapizt as Makeup Artists of the Year – marking the first tied win in the history of the awards.

Faruza Yakubu after receiving her award

According to CEO of Makeup Ghana and organiser of the ceremony, Rebecca Donkor, the judges found both artists equally outstanding. ‘They were both exceptionally good, and the panel agreed they each deserved the honour,’ she explained.

Other major winners included Mikesh Hair Products, which picked up the Indigenous Brand of the Year Award, and Faruza Yakubu of FYGLAM, who was named Best Bridal Makeup Artist of the Year. Sara Lawson earned the Content Creator of the Year Award, which comes with an exclusive trip to the 2026 Grammy Awards as part of her prize package. Tasheia Smith of Alux Klaws won Nail Technician of the Year, while The Reve Atelier was awarded Sustainable Fashion Brand of the Year.

Among the special honours, media personality Akumaa Mama Zimbi, Agnes De Graft Sampson of De Paragon Beauty Institute, and Dora H. Torwiseh of Nuts for Growth Limited received Honorary Awards, while veteran fashion designer Nora Bannerman, CEO of Sleek Garments Export Ltd, was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Ghana Beauty Awards, powered by Labadi Beach Hotel, Feel Naturals, Marie Noelle Spa and Salon, Unique Floral, Windi Sun Energy, Agri-Impact, and Globe Away, continues to serve as the country’s premier platform for recognising the talent, institutions, and brands shaping the future of Ghana’s beauty industry.

A leading activist of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), P. K. Sarpong, has called on the Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Abigail Elorm Mensah, to publicly apologise to the Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, for allegedly misrepresenting facts about a loan purportedly owed to the state agency.

In an open letter titled ‘Dear Abigail Elorm Mensah!’, Mr. Sarpong accused the MASLOC CEO of misleading the public when she reportedly stated on Radio Gold that Mr. Afenyo-Markin personally owed MASLOC more than GHS500,000.

He said the statement was false and capable of damaging the reputation of the Minority Leader.

According to Mr. Sarpong, the alleged loan was not taken by Mr. Afenyo-Markin himself but by one of his constituents, identified as Mr. Kojo Halm.

He said that despite knowing the true borrower, the MASLOC CEO still went ahead to implicate the lawmaker in public commentary.

‘The Afenyo-Markin we know wouldn’t come for a MASLOC loan for himself. You knew from the onset he wasn’t the one who owed your outfit but you said that,’ Mr. Sarpong wrote, describing the CEO’s comments as reckless and unbecoming of a public servant.

He further revealed that after discussions between the MASLOC CEO and the Minority Leader, Mr. Afenyo-Markin decided to settle the loan on behalf of the actual debtor, Mr. Halm.

Mr. Sarpong noted that MASLOC has since issued a communiqué confirming receipt of the payment, thereby clearing the record.

In light of this development, the NPP activist insisted that Ms. Mensah must render what he described as an ‘unqualified and unconditional apology’ to Mr. Afenyo-Markin for the public embarrassment caused by her earlier claims.

‘You owe the Honourable Minority Leader an unqualified and unconditional apology for the misconceptions you created out there,’ the letter stated.

Mr. Sarpong urged Ms. Mensah to use the same platforms and intensity she employed to spread the alleged falsehood to retract and clarify her statements, stressing that public accountability also demands the correction of misinformation.

He said the NPP was closely watching how the MASLOC CEO would handle the matter, describing it as a test of integrity and leadership.

‘As the CEO of MASLOC, you should maintain higher levels of leadership, be honest and decorous. Truth must be your guiding principle,’ Mr. Sarpong admonished.