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President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled a far-reaching reform agenda aimed at transforming Ghana’s public service into a transparent, accountable, and performance-driven institution.

Speaking at the 12th Annual Conference of Chairpersons of Governing Boards and Councils, Chief Directors, and Chief Executives of the Public Services of Ghana in Accra, President Mahama described the reforms as a bold and necessary step toward building an efficient and citizen-centered public sector.

He noted that the transformation of the public service is central to his government’s broader vision of ensuring effective service delivery and restoring public confidence in state institutions.

‘We are determined to build a public service that truly serves the people, one that is professional, efficient, and responsive to the needs of citizens, this is not merely an administrative reform; it is a transformation of mindset and culture.’

He expressed deep concern over recurring inefficiencies and irregularities within the public payroll system, especially the persistent challenge of ‘ghost names’ that continue to drain the national purse.

To address this long-standing issue, he directed that all public service institutions whether subvented or not be fully integrated into the Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS).

The President said the HRMIS will serve as the single authoritative source of personnel data across the public sector, creating a unified and transparent platform for effective human resource management.

‘With the HRMIS as the central database, we will eliminate data inconsistencies and ensure that every public servant on the payroll is duly verified,’ he stated. ‘This is a crucial step in cleaning up the system and improving fiscal discipline.’

The move, he emphasised, will strengthen accountability and promote better planning, coordination, and monitoring of the public workforce.

President Mahama also lamented on the prevailing culture in which hardworking and non-performing public servants are rewarded equally, describing it as ‘a deterrent to innovation and excellence.’

He noted that ‘all over the world, reward is tied to performance but here, the lazy one gets the same as the hardworking one, which kills motivation and productivity.’

To change this, the President announced the introduction of a Pay-for-Performance and Productivity Framework, developed collaboratively by the Ministry of Finance, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and the Public Service Commission.

The framework, scheduled to be piloted in January 2026, will link public sector rewards directly to measurable performance outcomes.

The policy aims to institutionalise a results-oriented culture that motivates employees, promotes accountability, and enhances public service delivery.

‘This framework will ensure that those who go the extra mile are recognised and rewarded, while those who fail to meet expectations are encouraged to improve,’ he disclosed.

President Mahama further stressed that reforming the public sector goes beyond systems and structures but requires ethical leadership and a renewed commitment to public service values.

He called on all heads of institutions to lead by example and champion integrity, professionalism, and innovation within their respective agencies.

Stakeholders at the conference commended the initiative as timely and necessary for addressing long-standing inefficiencies and restoring discipline and integrity in the public service.

They noted that if fully implemented, the reforms could mark a turning point in Ghana’s public administration by streamlining personnel management, curbing waste, and fostering a culture of productivity aligned with the nation’s development goals.

Heavy metal pollution is a growing concern in many parts of Ghana, especially in communities near galamsey (small-scale gold mining) sites.

Toxic metals like arsenic, mercury, lead, and cadmium can seep into rivers, soils, and food crops from mining runoff and mercury use in gold extraction.

Long-term exposure to these metals is linked to serious health issues – from nerve and brain damage to organ failure and cancer.

The good news is that families can take action at home.

This article explores truly cost-free methods to reduce or remove heavy metals from drinking water and foods using only readily available, discarded, or natural materials.

It explains how each method works scientifically and provides step-by-step guidance, backed by research and public health sources, to help keep your household safe.

Heavy Metals and Galamsey: A Hidden Danger

Illegal and small-scale mining (galamsey) often contaminates nearby water sources and farmlands with heavy metals. For instance, mercury used to extract gold can wash into rivers and fish. Arsenic occurs naturally in some gold-bearing rocks and can leach into groundwater.

Lead and cadmium may also be present in mining waste and fertilizers, ending up in soils or water. These metals are odorless and tasteless in water and can accumulate in food crops without obvious signs. Consuming even low levels over time can cause chronic poisoning.

Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable – lead, for example, harms brain development. This makes it vital for households in mining-affected areas to adopt simple precautions in daily cooking and drinking habits.

Easy Water Purification Techniques

Ghana’s climate and local resources offer several low-cost water treatment methods that require no fancy filters or expensive chemicals. Below are effective techniques using everyday materials like fruit peels, charcoal from cooking fires, and even sunlight.

Each method targets heavy metal contaminants by either adsorbing (binding) the metal ions or physically separating them from the water. You can use these methods individually or even combine them for better results.

Always start with the clearest water possible (let muddy water settle, or filter debris with a cloth) before applying these treatments. And remember: after removing heavy metals, you should still boil or disinfect water to kill microbes if it’s not from a treated source.

Banana Peel Water Filters

Banana peels, a common throw-away item, turn out to be powerful natural water purifiers. Banana peels contain pectin and other compounds with negatively charged carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. These functional groups attract and bind heavy metal ions (which are positively charged) like a magnet.

Researchers have found that dried banana peel can adsorb substantial amounts of metals from water – for example, up to 7.97 mg of lead and 5.71 mg of cadmium per gram of peel in lab tests.

In fact, minced banana peel was shown to remove lead and copper from river water as effectively as or better than many commercial filtering materials. Banana peel filters worked across a wide range of water pH and could be reused multiple times without losing potency.

How To Use Banana Peels To Purify Water:

Collect and prepare peels: Rinse banana peels to remove dirt or pesticides, then cut them into small pieces. For best results, sun-dry the peel pieces or lightly heat them (not burning) to remove moisture – dry peels seem to adsorb metals more effectively. You can crush or grind the dried peels into a coarse powder if possible, to increase the surface area.

Soak or filter the water: Place the peel pieces/powder in the contaminated water. Use about one peeled banana’s worth of material per few liters of water (exact amounts aren’t critical; more peel can grab more metal). Stir the water and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. During this time, the heavy metal ions will attach to the banana peel. Studies show that simply mixing banana peel with arsenic-spiked water and shaking for 30 minutes removed up to 90% of the arsenic.

Separate the peels and use the water: After soaking, strain out the banana peels by pouring the water through a clean cloth or fine mesh. The heavy metals remain bound to the peels you remove. Discard the used peels in the trash or by burying – do not eat them or feed them to animals, since they now contain the concentrated toxins. Finally, for drinking water, it’s wise to boil or disinfect the filtered water.

Rice Husk and Plant Waste Adsorbents

Rice husks, coconut shells, maize cobs, or sawdust are excellent natural filters. Rice husks are rich in silica and cellulose, giving them a natural ability to bind metals like lead, cadmium, and copper. To use, pack a cloth bag with clean rice husks and pour water through.

Alternatively, burn the husks lightly to create rice husk ash, stir it into water, and let it settle before decanting. The ash’s fine silica attracts heavy metal ions, cleaning the water. Dispose of the husk or ash safely afterward.

Moringa Seed Powder (Natural Coagulant)

The seeds of the Moringa tree can clarify dirty water and remove some heavy metals. Shell the seeds, grind the kernels into powder, and stir one or two seeds’ worth into a bucket of water. After 30 minutes, particles settle at the bottom. Decant or filter the clear water at the top. The seed’s natural proteins bind with metals and microbes, helping purify the water.

Safer Food Preparation Techniques at Home

Heavy metals also enter through food. These techniques can lower your exposure:

– Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly to remove dust and soil.

– Peel or discard outer layers of root and leafy vegetables.

– Cook rice or greens in plenty of water and discard the water afterward; this leaches out arsenic and lead.

– Soak produce in mild vinegar or lemon water for 10-20 minutes, then rinse. The acid helps dissolve metal residues.

– Avoid concentrating sauces or dried foods from contaminated produce, as this increases metal concentration.

– Choose smaller fish (like tilapia or sardines) instead of large predators like tuna or shark, which accumulate mercury.

– Eat a varied diet rich in calcium and iron to reduce heavy metal absorption in your body.

Safety and Disposal Tips

Used banana peels, charcoal, or rice husks will contain the metals they absorbed. Do not reuse them or add them to compost for food crops. Bury or discard them safely. Replace and adsorbents regularly. Combining methods – such as Moringa plus sand filter – can improve results. In severely contaminated areas, push for community water testing and alternative clean sources. Join the anti-galamsey campaign.

Conclusion

Heavy metal pollution from galamsey and other sources is a serious challenge, but families can protect themselves using simple science and local resources. Banana peels, rice husks, Moringa seeds, and sunlight can all make water safer. Proper washing, soaking, and cooking reduce metals in food.

These methods cost nothing yet can save lives. Clean water and safe food are possible when households take small, informed steps – turning waste into protection.

The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress (TEWU of TUC-Ghana) is calling for a 50 per cent base pay rise as it heads into salary negotiations with the government.

According to TEWU, only a substantial pay rise can restore fairness and cushion workers against the prevailing economic pressures.

National Chairperson, Salamatu Mahamah Braimah, said the union expects a significant improvement in workers’ conditions, stressing that rising living costs, utility tariffs, and increased fuel prices have significantly eroded the real value of workers’ salaries, hence the demand.

‘We are selling our labour, and as you know, each time things change, it means that our working conditions must change as well. So we are going into these negotiations with the mindset that there will be an improvement in the base pay.

‘I think the minimum will be 50%. So even if the government gives us 100%, we will say thank you, Mr. Government or Mr. President and walk away,’ she said.

Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, acknowledged the concerns raised and said the government would review the proposal carefully.

He expressed hope that any agreement reached will reflect both the needs of workers and the state’s financial capacity.

He assured that the government will carefully assess the proposal as part of ongoing negotiations with organised labour.

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Sanitation Court has fined seven persons a total of GHS4,200 for breaching the city’s environmental by-laws through open defecation and indiscriminate dumping of refuse at unauthorised locations.

The convicts – Albert Quaye, Kwame Owusu Ansah, Daniel Nunoo, Razak Siedu, Haruna Abdul Rauf, Desmond Okeyika, and Moro Sebere – were found guilty by the court presided over by Rosemond Vera Aryeetey and each fined 50 penalty units, equivalent to GHS600.

Those unable to pay the fine will serve three months in prison.

Prosecutor, Nii Okine Aryee, told the court that the offenders were arrested by AMA Public Health Officers during a special sanitation enforcement operation on October 7, 2025.

The exercise, led by the Head of Public Health, Florence Kuukyi, formed part of the Assembly’s intensified efforts to curb unsanitary practices and promote public hygiene across the capital.

The AMA said the enforcement campaign targets individuals and households engaged in activities such as open defecation, littering, and dumping refuse at unauthorised sites – actions that pose health risks and undermine Accra’s cleanliness drive.

In a statement, the Assembly reiterated its commitment to enforcing sanitation laws to maintain a cleaner environment.

It warned that offenders will face swift prosecution and urged residents to comply with sanitation regulations.

‘Keeping Accra clean is a shared responsibility,’ the AMA stressed, calling on all citizens to support efforts toward achieving a clean, green, and healthy capital city.

New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has picked number one on the ballot ahead of the party’s primary on January 31, 2026.

Dr. Bryan Acheampong is 2nd on the ballot as Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia comes third, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum picked the 4th position, with Kwabena Agyepong taking the last spot on the ballot.

The campaign team of Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, speaking with the media after the balloting described the number one position on the ballot paper as a ‘sign of victory.’

Spokesperson for Ken Agyapong’s campaign team, Kwasi Kwarteng, said the process was fair and transparent, stating that the outcome is a positive sign for their candidate.

He said, ‘It was just five candidates. It was an open process, and the candidates had representatives who picked their own numbers.’

He explained that the number one, is an advantage to the team when it comes to marketing their candidate as well as visibility on the ballot paper.

‘In terms of the people, the marketing, and the visibility of the ballots, being number one gives us a lot of advantage,’ he mentioned.

He added that the campaign team is confident that their message of change and renewal will continue to resonate strongly with delegates across the country.

‘From day one, we have always maintained that our campaign is the right one,’ he said.

He emphasised that the party needs a new face in the spirit of revival.

‘We are going to tell delegates the core message of the party and what Ken has always maintained, that even in the spirit of revival, we need a new face,’ he added.

Mr. Kwarteng, however clarified that while the team was delighted with the outcome, their confidence did not depend solely on the number they picked.

He said, ‘We will go to the delegates, talk to them, and we are very hopeful. Like the Bible says, the heart of the king is in the hands of the Lord. So we are confident that God will guide this process in our favour.’

Tottenham Hotspur’s majority owners, the Lewis Family Trust, have injected £100 million of new capital into the club to reinforce its financial stability and support its long-term sporting ambitions.

In a statement, Spurs said the fresh investment would ‘further strengthen the club’s financial position and equip the club’s leadership team with additional resources to continue the focus on driving long-term sporting success.’

The injection comes from ENIC, the investment group controlled by the Lewis Family Trust, which holds an 86.58% majority stake in the club. The remaining 13.42% is owned by minority investors.

Former chairman Daniel Levy, who stepped down from his position in September, retains a 29.88% share in ENIC but no longer plays an active role in the club’s operations.

British businessman Joe Lewis, who once owned the majority of ENIC, transferred ownership to the Lewis Family Trust in 2022 and is no longer involved with Tottenham.

The Lewis family has overseen a series of leadership changes in recent months, and the club described the latest funding as part of their ‘ongoing commitment to the club and its future.’

A source close to the family said: ‘This is initial additional funding. As the club’s management decides what’s needed to deliver success, more money will be available. The Lewis family is committed to backing the club to be successful.’

Since Levy’s departure, Tottenham has reportedly received three separate expressions of interest regarding a potential takeover.