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Local rice farmers lose 84% of harvest – Research
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Ghana’s rice farmers are losing as much as 84 per cent of their harvests to invasive weeds, researchers revealed at a stakeholder workshop on Wednesday.
The findings, presented by the CSIR‑Crops Research Institute (CSIR‑CRI) and the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA), underscored the urgent threat to food security and the need for coordinated national action.
The workshop, attended by more than 50 farmers, extension officers, and officials, marked the close of the first year of the three‑year KOPIA Rice Weed Management Project.
Scientists reported that five major weed species — including Echinochloa spp. (Ashaiman killer), Leptochloa chinensis (Black Jerry), Urochloa humidicola (Aguda), Ischaemum rugosum (Ogo), and Cyperus spp. (Atadwe) — are entrenched in rice fields, capable of slashing yields by 50 to 80 per cent while also hosting destructive rice diseases.
Dr Stephen Arthur, Project Coordinator at CSIR‑CRI, warned that farmers were spending GH₵1,600 to GH₵2,000 per acre on hand‑picking weeds, a cost he described as ‘unsustainable.’
He urged adoption of integrated weed management practices combining timely herbicide use with improved agronomic methods.
Other experts highlighted the wider consequences. Pathologist Dr Atta Aidoo linked weed infestations to increased incidence of blast, sheath blight, and brown spot, while entomologist Dr Kofi Frimpong‑Anin documented shifts in pest dynamics.
Agronomist Mr Kofi Lelabi Kota examined crop‑weed competition and the economics of current control practices.
Senior CSIR officials called for stronger government support. Prof. Marian Dorcas Quain, Deputy Director‑General, stressed the need to back local seed production to reduce risky imports.
Prof. Maxwell Darko Asante, Director of CSIR‑CRI, urged the National Food Buffer Stock Company to purchase Dawhenya’s seeds to secure progress while Dr Young Jin Kim, Director of KOPIA Ghana Centre, emphasised Korea’s experience in building resilient rice systems and pledged continued partnership.
Following the presentations, participants toured the fields to witness the difference between managed and unmanaged plots. Farmers expressed readiness to adopt the recommended strategies in the upcoming season. “What we have seen and heard is exactly what we needed,” said lead farmer Richard Affleh.
The KOPIA Rice Weed Management Project will continue monitoring and documenting farmer practices over the next two years, with the goal of delivering sustainable solutions to protect Ghana’s rice sector from the silent but devastating threat of weeds.
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI
The Ghana Police Service has arrested a man suspected of running a romance scam that targeted women with false marriage promises, blackmail, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
The suspect, Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng, was arraigned alongside Sally Akosua Amoasah before the Accra Circuit Court 1 on charges of conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretences, and non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
According to preliminary investigations, Kwarteng posed as a pastor conducting online church services on Instagram. He allegedly told women that “God had revealed” they were his future wives.
To gain their trust, police say he went as far as meeting their families and presenting them with promise rings.
Investigators allege the suspect then obtained intimate images of some victims and used them to blackmail them for money.
He is also accused of introducing victims to a fake car tyre business. Under the pretext of shipping and clearing containers of tyres, he allegedly collected thousands of dollars from them before becoming unreachable.
Police further allege that Kwarteng shared the intimate images of some victims with his wife, Sally Akosua Amoasah, who is also accused of threatening the victims.
Seven victims have so far reported the matter to the Police. Investigations indicate the offences date back to 2021.
The court remanded Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng into Police custody to reappear on August 6, 2026. Sally Akosua Amoasah was granted bail.
The Ghana Police Service says it continues to receive complaints from other possible victims.
The Service is urging anyone who may have had similar encounters with the suspect to report to the nearest Police station to assist with ongoing investigations.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana’s tourism industry is in mourning following the sudden death of Prince Anthony Bart-Appiah, a pioneering figure credited with helping to reconnect the African diaspora to the continent.
Prince Anthony passed away in the early hours of Saturday, July 26, 2026, at his private residence in Spintex, Accra.
He was instrumental in the development and promotion of “The Year of Return,” the flagship tourism campaign that invited members of the African diaspora to return to Ghana in 2019.
The initiative is widely regarded as a turning point that boosted Ghana’s tourism numbers and strengthened cultural ties with Black communities across the world.
Beyond his work with the GTA, Prince Anthony was the Chief Exexutive Officer (CEO) of Bridgezone, an agency dedicated to showcasing Africa to Western audiences and fostering cultural and business connections between the continent and the diaspora.
Colleagues describe him as passionate, strategic, and committed to telling authentic African stories that drive tourism, investment, and pride.
Widely known as Prince Anthony, he served as a Board Member of the Ghana Tourism Authority from 2025 to date.
A former British Army officer and a royal of the Akwamu clan, he brought discipline, vision, and a deep sense of heritage to every role he held
Prince Anthony was also a proud father to two teenagers, whom he deeply cherished.
In a statement, the *Ghana Tourism Authority extended its heartfelt condolences to the grieving family, friends, and all sympathizers.
“The tourism industry has lost a pioneering figure and a vital link to the diasporan community,” the statement read.
The statement further added that “We pray for strength for the family during this difficult time.”
Tributes have since poured in from tourism stakeholders, creatives, and diasporan groups who say Prince Anthony’s legacy will continue to shape how the world sees and experiences Ghana.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
