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President Mahama introduces Tertiary Education Scholarship Scheme for children of cocoa farmers
The Minister for Finance, Mr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has disclosed that the President, His Excellency (H.E) John Dramani Mahama, has introduced a Tertiary Education Scholarship Scheme for children of cocoa farmers.
As a result, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) will, during the 2025/26 cocoa season, develop the necessary guidelines and begin implementing the Cocoa Tertiary Scholarship Scheme.
The programme is expected to officially take off from the 2026/27 academic year.
Mr. Ato Forson made this revelation on Monday in a Facebook post, noting that the initiative forms part of government’s efforts to support farming families and promote access to higher education.
In addition to the scholarship scheme, the Finance Minister announced the reintroduction of the free cocoa fertiliser programme as further support to Ghanaian cocoa farmers, beginning the 2025/2026 crop year.
According to him, President Mahama’s administration will this year supply farmers with free cocoa fertilisers, both liquid and granular, along with free insecticides, free spraying machines, free fungicides, and free flower inducers.
He said government was therefore strongly advising cocoa farmers to apply these inputs solely for the purpose of improving their cocoa yield and increasing their income.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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Ghana to locally refine its gold starting October 2025 – Sammy Gyamfi
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has announced that plans are far advanced for the establishment of a state-owned gold refinery in the country.
Speaking at the 2025 Minerals and Mining Convention, Mr Gyamfi said the refinery will process locally mined gold into bullion instead of exporting it in its raw state.
According to him, it is unacceptable that Ghana, despite being a leading gold producer in Africa, continues to export raw gold known as dore.
He explained that the Gold Board, working with the Bank of Ghana and local refineries, will from October 2025 begin refining gold locally.
He also disclosed that an ultramodern assay laboratory will be built to ensure international standards in testing gold quality.
Mr Gyamfi noted that the refinery will be wholly state-owned and will help Ghana move away from raw mineral exports to value addition.
This, he said, will boost foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, and position Ghana as a hub for gold refining and jewellery production in Africa.
The CEO stressed that the project forms part of government’s strategy to ensure the country benefits fully from its natural resources and to transform the mining sector into a driver of economic growth.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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There is strength in diversity; let’s live in peace – Zanetor Rawlings urges Ghanaians
Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has urged Ghanaians, especially the youth, to value the peace the country enjoys and to see diversity as a source of strength.
Speaking at the National Youth Conference held at the Pentecost Convention Centre under the theme “Igniting Potential; Inspiring Change”, she warned against being lured into conflicts and divisions fueled by reckless statements from politicians, traditional leaders, religious figures, or academics.
According to her, many young people have no idea what it means to live in a country torn apart by war, and therefore must not take Ghana’s peace for granted.
She stressed that the harmony among different ethnic and regional groups should be protected at all costs, since it is peace that allows citizens to gather freely and safely.
Dr. Zanetor said Ghana’s development depends on embracing diversity and working together.
She urged the youth to tap into this strength so that Ghana would continue to shine as the “Black Star” of Africa and serve as an example for other nations.
She expressed appreciation to the participants for attending the conference and asked for God’s blessings on the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
