News
Fact sheet about agric equipment and machines in Ghana
It is interesting to note that:
- Improved manual cassava harvester was released in 2017. Harvesting, one of the serious bottlenecks in the cassava production value chain, has received little attention in terms of mechanization. Earlier attempts at mechanising cassava harvesting have been challenged mainly by inappropriate method of planting, field topography and scale of cultivation.
Developing and adopting simple but efficient energy-saving manual harvesting tools and equipment is a sure way forward in overcoming these challenges in cassava harvesting. The cassava harvesting tool was constructed with the idea of reducing drudgery due to waist bending associated with existing manual harvesting tools which usually leads to waist pains and other bodily weaknesses.
The equipment is suitable for all cassava growing ecologies in Ghana. The improved hand-held tool can harvest cassava twice as fast with half the effort required when using existing manual harvesting options. Farmers have increased their production area and yield by 15-25 per cent after being introduced to the harvester.
• Ahotor oven for fish smokers in Delta State
- Recirculating aquaculture technology was released in 2015. Simple raised tanks that can be set in the backyard with minimal skill requirement. This technology is an aquaculture system composed of a raised tank structure (rectangular, circular or ellipsoid) made of either a cement block or wooden frame and lined with a canvas material to make. It is applicable to all cassava growing parts of the country. It can be done in homes.
- New oven for smoking fish (AFSMO-150)/ Ahotor stove was released in 2007. A brick oven which reduces tar deposition on smoked fish with increased fish smoking capacity. Ahotor stove is applicable in all fishing communities in Ghana. It is less laborious to operate, has higher smoking capacity, it is more economical to use because it consumes less fuel, and it deposits less tar on the fish and, therefore, produces better quality smoked fish.
- Improved Chorkor smoker (AFSMO) was released in 2005. This technology is to help to reduce Poly-aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoked fish and reduce the drudgery involved in the other means of smoking fish. The use of fuel wood is reduced. Chorkor smoker is applicable in all fishing communities in Ghana. It reduces PAH in smoked fish which makes it healthy.
- Flash Dryer– drying of root crops cakes, was released in 2004. A typical flash-drying process consists of a modified pneumatic conveyor in which the wet solids are introduced. They go through a chute where they are transported in a high velocity hot air stream. Particles fall under high velocity and pressure through a cyclone (in some instances 2, 4 or 6 cyclones). Thermal contact time between the conveying air and the solids is usually very short and, therefore, flash dryers are most suitable for removal of external moisture.
It is applicable in all parts of the country. Compared to solar drying (two days for drying) and cabinet drying (12-15hrs), the flash dryer dries one ton of cassava (for example) in 1hr 30mins. Flash dryer dries in a flash. Flash Dryer is fast, and temperature build-up after an hour is enough to keep on drying without fuel. It can utilise either LPG or diesel in operating. Capacity is between 250- 500kg/hr output 7. It requires little oversight after temperature build-up
Source: Manual of Agricultural Technologies developed by
CSIR, MAG and MoFA
Page: 133-136
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has amended the charges in the ongoing case against former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and nine others.
The number of counts has risen from 25 to 54 after investigators uncovered new evidence.
The accused are facing trial for alleged large-scale extortion, abuse of public office, and money laundering involving over GH¢291 million and US$332,000.
According to the OSP, the accused persons allegedly extorted huge sums of money from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies under the pretext of carrying out official duties.
The proceeds were reportedly laundered through the purchase of properties and investments in business entities to conceal their source.
The accused persons include Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Jacob Kwamina Amuah, Wendy Newman, Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited.
The OSP has also seized and frozen several assets, including tanker trucks, fuel stations, houses, apartments, and parcels of land valued at more than GH¢100 million pending the outcome of the trial.
The case, titled The Republic v. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid & 9 Others (Cr/0603/2025), is currently being heard at the Accra High Court.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The National Operations Directorate (NOD) Surveillance Unit, of the Ghana Police Service has arrested a 32-year-old man, Akoto Nelson, for posing as a police officer during a public event at the Black Star Square in Accra.
The suspect was arrested on Sunday, 19th October 2025, by a team of officers deployed to provide security at a musical concert. The team observed the suspect dressed in a police uniform with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) behaving suspiciously. Upon interrogation, he admitted that he was not a police officer.
Investigations revealed that the suspect impersonated a police officer to gain free entry to the event, claiming he did not have money to pay the entry fee. He further disclosed that the uniform belonged to a deceased Chief Inspector, identified as Gyasi, from whom he obtained the police accoutrements in 2022.
A subsequent search conducted at his residence in Taifa-Ashaiman uncovered several items that were retained as exhibits. These include one toy P99 pistol, one pepper spray, two ZTE mini handsets, one pepper spray pouch, one ZTE charger, one Xinfa cutter knife, some complimentary cards, one voter ID in the name of Akoto Nelson Elikem, and one birth certificate in the name of Nelson Akoto.
Preliminary investigations further established that the suspect works as a security guard and a messenger at a private company. He remains in police custody and will be put before the court.
