House of News

02/11/2025

02/11/2025

Cybersecurity Authority Not Responsible for Page Takedowns — Minister Clarifies

The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has clarified that the Cybersecurity Authority of Ghana does not have the power to shut down social media pages or accounts.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the Minister explained that only the platform owners — such as Meta, TikTok, or X — have the authority to remove content that violates their community standards.

He added that under Ghana’s cybersecurity framework and international cooperation conventions — including the Budapest and Malabo Conventions — Ghana maintains “points of contact” with major online platforms to flag harmful or unlawful content.

According to him, the Cybersecurity Authority acts as Ghana’s national focal point for such engagements. He cited examples, including when violent posts targeting the Ghana Armed Forces in Bawku and videos showing the August 6 incident on TikTok were flagged and removed after the Authority engaged the platform operators directly.

Mr. George emphasized that such collaboration ensures public protection online and reinforces Ghana’s commitment to responsible digital governance.

02/11/2025

MINISTER RAISES CONCERN OVER RISING CYBERCRIME CASES

The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has expressed concern over the growing cases of cybercrime and online fraud in the country.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the Minister revealed that between January and September 2025, the Cybersecurity Authority recorded 14,425 cases of cybercrime, resulting in significant financial losses to individuals and businesses.

He said the Authority has adopted a multifaceted approach to address the challenge, including stronger collaboration with key stakeholders, intensified regulatory enforcement, and enhanced public education.

Mr. Nartey George disclosed that cooperation with Interpol, the FBI, and the UK’s National Cybercrime Agency, among others, has helped in sharing threat intelligence and coordinating responses. Joint operations with the CID of the Ghana Police Service led to several arrests — including 65 suspects in June 2025, 39 in August 2025, and 10 individuals in October 2025 who were behind fake online food delivery platforms.

The Minister also noted that the Authority is working closely with digital platform owners such as Meta and ByteDance to clamp down on fraudulent accounts. So far, 203 fake website domains and 738 impersonation accounts have been taken down, while 1,380 mobile numbers used for online fraud have been blocked.

Mr. Samuel Nartey George reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s cyberspace and ensuring the safety of all users in the digital ecosystem.

02/11/2025

02/11/2025

Tema Mayor Urges Youth to Embrace Volunteerism in Environmental Management

The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Ebi Bright, has urged young people to take up active roles in environmental management and community development.

Speaking during the Second National Sanitation Day in the Tema Metropolitan Area, Madam Bright said the Assembly’s initiative aims to encourage the youth to go beyond cleaning exercises and also take part in minor repair works that help maintain their surroundings.

According to her, the Assembly’s current budget cannot fully support the wide range of infrastructural and maintenance works required across the metropolis. She therefore underscored the importance of volunteerism, particularly among young people who have completed secondary or tertiary education and are awaiting further studies or employment.

Madam Bright explained that youth participation in such community projects does not only improve their neighborhoods but also offers valuable work experience that can be added to their curriculum vitae.

She expressed optimism that through continuous engagement and encouragement, the spirit of volunteerism would grow among the youth, helping to change the mindset that development must always be left to others.

Some youth volunteers joined the sanitation exercise, expressing excitement about contributing to fixing long-standing problems in their communities. The Mayor urged them to sustain their efforts and inspire others to participate in future activities aimed at promoting a cleaner and more responsible Tema.

02/11/2025

Health Minister Assures Consideration of New Medical Service Under NHIS

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has assured that his ministry will consider including a new medical service under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee in Accra, the Minister explained that although the proposal is important, it must go through due process and be justified by evidence of need before it can be added to the scheme.

He noted that the Ministry is committed to reviewing such proposals thoroughly to ensure they serve the public interest.
Mr. Akandoh also responded to questions regarding a contract for the establishment of networked hospitals and health centres, assuring that the agreement will be scrutinized to guarantee compliance and value for money.

02/11/2025

HEALTH MINISTER JUSTIFIES ACTIONS OVER NHIS ELECTRONIC SYSTEM CONTRACT

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has clarified issues surrounding the controversial $100 million electronic health system contract, explaining that government inherited a non-performing project signed in 2019 to connect 950 health facilities nationwide.

Appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, the Minister revealed that although about $77 million out of the $100 million had been paid, only around 450 facilities were connected, far below target.

He said multiple extensions of the contract — from its original 2022 deadline to December 2024 — failed to yield results, forcing government to conduct a forensic audit which uncovered several gaps including poor quality hardware and overpayment of about $18 million.

According to Mr. Akandoh, the ministry has since terminated dealings with the old vendor and is developing a new, state-owned Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) to replace the existing Light Wave platform.

He added that for the past two weeks, the National Health Insurance Authority system has been offline, causing disruptions in card verification, as the ministry works to secure national health data and restore digital operations.

02/11/2025

02/11/2025

02/11/2025

TMA Intensifies Community Clean-Up and Beautification Efforts

The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving sanitation, environmental management, and community participation across the metropolis.

Speaking during a clean-up and beautification exercise, the Assembly said efforts are ongoing to build a stronger culture of civic responsibility and participation among residents.

According to officials, low public involvement in national clean-up activities remains a concern, largely due to long-standing attitudes of indifference and limited education on civic duty.

They emphasized that changing such behavior takes time and requires a sustained investment in both education and institutional capacity.

The Assembly also assured residents that measures are being taken to improve waste collection during clean-up exercises and to ensure timely disposal of refuse.

Meanwhile, the Assembly is undertaking several initiatives, including repairing streetlights, clearing nuisances, and preparing grounds for a tree-planting exercise at Rishake School. The project is expected to enhance security and beautify the environment using green vegetation.

Residents are encouraged to support the initiative by purchasing and planting a tree in their community as part of the Assembly’s “Buy One, Plant One” campaign.

The Tema Metropolitan Assembly says these collective efforts are aimed at promoting cleaner, safer, and more environmentally conscious communities.

02/11/2025

The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Hon. Ebi Bright, has emphasized the need for continuous public education and communication on civic responsibility and national participation.

According to her, the assumption that Ghanaians are naturally law-abiding and patriotic citizens is misleading, stressing that these values must be constantly reinforced through deliberate engagement at all levels of society.

She observed that many residents continue to rely on others — particularly government and sanitation workers — to clean their surroundings and manage waste, a mindset she believes undermines community development.

Hon. Bright added that improving public communication about civic duties and participation in national programmes is essential to building stronger, cleaner, and more responsible communities.

She described the challenge as not only a national and institutional issue but also an individual and educational one, requiring sustained effort and collaboration between citizens and authorities.