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GUTA members close shops over economic woes
Members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), have closed their shops until Monday, October 24 in protest of the high cost of doing business in recent times.
They also insist that the continuous plummeting of the Ghanaian Cedi on the forex market and the high inflation rate have eroded their capital and exacerbated their plight.
GUTA wants this action to be a “pinch” on government to urgently address their concerns.
The shop closure come against pleas by members of the Council of State on Tuesday, October 18 for the traders to rescind their decision.
In a media interview shortly after the engagement with the Council of State members, however, the President of GUTA, Dr Joseph Obeng said their action is to compel the government to act quickly to ameliorate their plight.
“It is obvious that we cannot contain these challenges any longer as it is becoming increasingly challenging.
“We want to send a hint to the government to recognise that, there is a sense of urgency in this situation. On this note, by the power vested in me by the trading community, I declare that all shops in the Greater Accra Region be closed tomorrow till Monday”.
The Association has thus called on the government to ascertain the factors leading to excessive demand for forex while reviewing investment laws to retain forex and push foreign investors into productive sectors of the economy.
“Government should adopt other alternative currencies like the Chinese Yuan to reduce the pressure on the dollar, especially.
There should be the immediate implementation of the road map set out to flush out all illegal foreigners in the retail trade sector,” Dr Obeng added.
Source: www.myjoyonline.com
Alberta Afia Asomaniwa Akoto, popularly known as “Landlady,” has declared her intention to contest as the Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Okaikwei North Constituency.
In a statement shared on Friday, Ms. Akoto said Okaikwei North has been her home for more than 40 years, where she has lived among the people, shared in their joys and challenges, and built lasting connections with the community.
“I am in the race because I believe our community deserves dedicated service, a listening ear and a strong voice. I am ready to work with you, listen to your concerns and help build a brighter future for Okaikwei North,” she said.
“Dear Okaikwei North, your girl is here one of your own, ready to serve,” she added.
Ms. Akoto said service is not just a responsibility but a commitment to the people and the community they call home.
Having dedicated herself to serving and supporting the people of the constituency, she said she wishes to continue the journey of service with renewed commitment, greater dedication and a stronger vision.
Her vision, she noted, is to build on the progress made, listen to the concerns of the people, empower the youth, support women, create opportunities and champion development that benefits every community in the constituency.
“I believe that together, we can build a stronger, more prosperous and inclusive Okaikwei North,” she added.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on the government and the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to explain the shutdown of critical Ghana Health Service (GHS) digital platforms over an outstanding cloud hosting bill of US$64,510.95.
The platforms were reportedly suspended by technology company Akamai on October 29, 2026, after the Ghana Health Service failed to settle the outstanding payment.
In a statement signed by the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, the Minority said the development had disrupted digital health reporting across the country, forcing health facilities to temporarily return to paper-based systems.
The affected platforms include the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2), Planning and Budget Management Information System (PBMIS), eTracker, HIV and Tuberculosis trackers, the National Malaria Data Repository and other health information systems.
The Minority expressed concern that the disruption had occurred barely a year after the government announced the introduction of the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) in October 2025 to replace the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS).
It questioned the government’s investment in the new system and the progress made since its announcement, asking why adequate financial and contractual arrangements were not put in place to prevent the disruption.
The caucus questioned how critical national health information platforms could become inaccessible over an outstanding bill of US$64,510.95, despite an increase in the Ministry of Health’s budget from GH¢17.8 billion in 2025 to GH¢22.8 billion in 2026.
The Minority is demanding the immediate restoration of all affected platforms, full disclosure of GHIMS expenditure and implementation progress, and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the suspension.
It is calling for an independent audit of the country’s digital health infrastructure, hosting arrangements and data security, as well as sustainable funding to prevent similar disruptions.
Although the Ghana Health Service has assured the public that no data has been lost and that encrypted backups remain available, the Minority says the preservation of data does not guarantee uninterrupted access to essential health information.
It has pledged to pursue parliamentary oversight to ensure that the institutions and officials responsible account for the disruption.
By: Jacob Aggrey
