News
Ghana upgrades metrology systems to power trade and industry
Ghanais upgrading its national measurement infrastructure to international standards to boost industrial growth, ensure fair trade, and position itself as a metrology leader in Africa, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has announced.
She said accurate measurements are the “currency of trust,” essential for product safety, reliable services, and equitable trade.
With support from the German government and Germany’s national metrology institute, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Ghana is undertaking a transformation led by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to enhance capabilities in temperature, mass, and electricity measurements.
These efforts, she noted, align with the government’s 24-hour economy initiative and export development agenda.
She made the remarks at the opening of the 18th Intra-Africa Metrology System (AFRIMETS) General Assembly in Accra, under the theme: “150 Years of the Metre Convention: Prospects for Metrology within the African Continental Free Trade Area.”
The four-day assembly, hosted by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), has drawn national metrology institutes and key stakeholders from across the continent to strengthen regional cooperation in measurement science.
She said the upgraded systems will help Ghanaian industries, especially in agro-processing, manufacturing, and logistics, compete globally by meeting international standards.
She also highlighted recent capacity-building efforts, including training for GSA staff in Germany, South Africa, Slovenia, and Switzerland, with more exchanges planned to build local expertise.
A major achievement, she added, is the establishment of Ghana’s first public utility metrology laboratory, which enables consumers to verify electricity meter accuracy—key for transparency and consumer protection.
In his welcome address, GSA’s Deputy Director General for Conformity Assessment, Clifford Frimpong, noted that the assembly coincides with the 150th anniversary of the Metre Convention, a reminder of the enduring value of international cooperation in measurement science.
He said the assembly comes as Africa advances the AfCFTA, where accurate, harmonised measurements are vital for quality infrastructure, manufacturing safety, and fair trade.
President of AFRIMETS, Dr Henry Rotich, commended Ghana for its leadership in metrology and stressed the importance of accurate, traceable measurements in managing resources and advancing Africa’s economic integration.
He urged participants to use the assembly as an opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and shape a unified African metrology agenda that supports AfCFTA implementation and the continent’s long-term development.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened applications for members interested in contesting as its parliamentary candidates in the 2028 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the party said interested members must declare their intention to contest between Sunday, November 1, and Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
According to the statement signed by the party’s Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, prospective candidates must complete an online form within the specified period.
The party said a non-refundable application fee of GH¢5,000 would be charged to each prospective candidate.
It added that all applicants would undergo vetting and screening to determine their eligibility to contest on the party’s ticket.
The NPP announced plans to organise capacity-building workshops for prospective candidates in December 2026. The workshops will be held across the Northern, Middle and Southern zones, with details of the venues to be announced later.
The party stressed that the guidelines would apply to all prospective candidates, including sitting NPP Members of Parliament who wish to contest again.
It further warned aspirants against starting campaign activities following the opening of the application process.
According to the statement, the existing directive prohibiting campaign activities remains in force until the party gives official clearance.
It cautioned that anyone who violates the directive would face appropriate sanctions under the party’s constitution and regulations.
The NPP said the process was designed to promote fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for all aspirants as it prepares to select candidates for all 276 constituencies ahead of the 2028 elections.
It urged prospective candidates to follow the guidelines and conduct themselves with discipline and respect for one another throughout the process.
The party said its broader objective was to strengthen unity within its ranks and rebuild public confidence ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
eputy Foreign Minister accompanies Veep to Shanghai to champion Global South reform, industrial drive
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, accompanied Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on a successful working visit to Shanghai, China, from 15th to 19th October 2026, at the invitation of the East China Normal University (ECNU).
The highlight of the visit was the 2026 Global South Academic Forum held on 17th October, which brought together over 200 scholars, policymakers, political party leaders and media professionals from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, under the theme “Global South Political Parties: Governance and Modernisation.”
In her keynote address, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang asserted that political independence is only truly the beginning, stating that “winning political power and governing effectively are related but not the same responsibility.” She called for stronger South-South cooperation, multilateralism and reform of the global financial architecture to end debt traps, ensure fair risk assessments and promote climate policies that respect different national circumstances.
On 18th October, she addressed a business forum with Chinese investors, linking Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy policy to industrialization. Warning that training youth without factories creates unemployment, she appealed for factories to be established in Ghana to serve the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market, with priority on value addition in cocoa processing, shea butter, cashew, coconut and timber.
On October 19, Ghana’s Ambassador to China, Kojo Bonsu, hosted a dinner at the Shangri-La for the Vice-President, attended by members of the Ghanaian community and business leaders, who praised the thorough preparation by the Ghana Embassy staff for the visit.
Throughout the trip, Mr. Quayson coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to align the engagements with Ghana’s jobs and transformation agenda.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
