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Application for CAP is free – NBSSI
Applicants of the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) business support have been asked to be cautious of persons who offer to register them on the scheme at a fee.
The National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), the fund manager, said although the registration for the CAP was free, some unscrupulous individuals were charging applicants before registering them on the scheme.
A statement issued by the board in Accra said some unsuspecting applicants had fallen victim to fraudsters who were charging registration and application fees.
“The initial registration/application is totally free. However, an administrative or processing fee is deducted only when funds have been approved and credited to the applicant’s account,” the NBSSI said.
The GH₵1 billion CAP, launched by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, is aimed at aiding Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to survive the impact of the pandemic on their operations.
The statement said the facility came with an annual interest rate of three per cent, a one-year moratorium and a repayment term of between two and three years and administered to eligible businesses through some financial institutions and telecommunication companies.
“It is a life saver not just for the beneficiaries but for the nation as a whole. It is unprecedented in Ghana’s history, as it accounts for about 0.15 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 1.22 per cent of the projected tax revenue for 2020, oxygen for a nation gasping for breath from a Coronavirus pandemic that has hit the world hard and brought global economies to a standstill,” it said.
It noted that with MSMEs accounting for 92 per cent of businesses and contributing to about 70 per cent of GDP, the effort to support them was justified because, “MSMEs are the pulse of the Ghanaian economy. It is these businesses that keep the lights on in Ghana.”
“The fund is a breath of fresh air and a resurgence of hope in an uncertain time. It is the panacea this nation so desperately needs to sail through these tumultuous times,” the statement said.
The NBSSI said it had a proven track record in implementing similar interventions and had in the last three years, chalked many significant milestones such as the training of 65,000 youths and supporting several entrepreneurs.
“The hope is that this fund will benefit as many eligible businesses as possible, to ensure their survival, as well as that of households that depended on such businesses. There is no doubt that this relief programme is timely and most welcome,” it said.
BY JONATHAN DONKOR
President John Dramani Mahama has clarified that the proposed free primary healthcare policy is designed to support the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), not to take its place.
He explained that the initiative will work alongside the NHIS to improve access to basic healthcare services across the country.
He made the remarks at the official launch of the free primary healthcare programme held on Wednesday April, 15th 2026 at the Shai Osudoku District Hospital in Dodowa.
According to him, the introduction of free primary healthcare does not mean Ghanaians should stop registering for the NHIS.
He urged citizens to continue obtaining their NHIS cards, stressing that the scheme remains important for healthcare delivery beyond the primary level.
He further explained that under the new arrangement, patients seeking care at polyclinics, health centres, CHPS compounds, and health kiosks will not be required to present an NHIS card at the point of examination and treatment.
Instead, individuals will only need to show a Ghana Card or any valid form of identification to prove they are Ghanaians and residents within the community to access services.
He noted that the policy aims to remove barriers to basic healthcare and ensure that more people can receive treatment at the primary level without difficulty.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Police Service has arrested three (3) suspects in connection with a case of possession of narcotic drugs and engaging in prohibited drug-related activities within the Accra metropolis.
On April 10, 2026, the Special Operations Assistant to the Inspector General of Police received intelligence that a group of individuals were planning to engage in the sale of suspected narcotic drugs at Dzorwulu in Accra.
A surveillance operation was mounted and on 11th April 2026, a Police team proceeded to the area and arrested two suspects, Bright Ayivor and Ifeanyi Ijeoba.
The suspects were found in possession of twenty-two (22) compressed substances suspected to be cocaine, which were being prepared for sale to a prospective buyer.
Further interrogation of the suspects led to the identification of a third suspect, Kwabena Botwe as a key figure in the drug trade.
A follow-up operation at Caprice resulted in his arrest after Police mounted surveillance during a planned transaction involving proceeds from the sale of the suspected drugs.
The suspect later led Police to his residence at Greda Estates, where a search resulted in the retrieval of an amount of GHc400,000 and a counting machine.
According to the police, during the operation, he attempted to bribe the arresting officers with an additional GHc420,000, which has been retained as evidence.
All the suspects are currently in Police custody assisting investigations and will be put before the court.
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