Latest news with #Mahama
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
President of Ghana Joins Board of Global Center on Adaptation
Rotterdam/Nairobi, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) today announced that His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, has joined its Board. He joins a distinguished group of global leaders - including Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados; Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania; William Samoei Ruto, President of Kenya and Hilda Heine, President of the Marshall Islands - committed to advancing climate adaptation as an urgent development and economic priority. President Mahama's appointment comes as GCA deepens its work across Africa through its flagship Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, which has shaped over $15 billion in adaptation investments in 40 countries. With the opening of its new headquarters in Nairobi this year, GCA continues to scale up local action in agriculture, resilient infrastructure, youth entrepreneurship, and climate finance. As the world transitions from ambition to implementation, GCA Board members like President Mahama will be central in ensuring adaptation is treated not as a cost, but as an engine of growth, equity, and resilience. Accepting his appointment, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana stated: ' 'I am deeply honoured to accept my appointment to the Board of the Global Centre on Adaptation today. Climate change is not a distant threat; it is an urgent crisis that is already undermining Africa's development and jeopardising our collective future. As I join this esteemed institution, I will amplify the voices of African leaders and communities demanding greater investment in climate adaptation. The world must recognise that adaptation is not a choice but a necessity for our continent, which bears the brunt of climate impacts while contributing the least to its causes. To our development partners: Africa's adaptation ambitions require your steadfast support. We call for increased financing, technology transfer, and collaborative action to build resilience across our vulnerable nations. The time for pledges has passed; the time for delivery is now. Together, we can safeguard Africa's future and ensure that climate justice becomes a cornerstone of global solidarity." Commenting on the announcement, Macky Sall, Chair of the Global Center on Adaptation and Fourth President of Senegal said: 'President Mahama's return to leadership comes at a critical moment for Africa and the world. His deep experience, unwavering commitment to sustainable development, and proven ability to deliver impact on the ground will be a major asset to the GCA Board. Together, we will work to elevate adaptation as an economic and moral imperative, ensuring that Africa's leadership lights the path toward a more resilient future for all.' Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of GCA, added: 'President Mahama exemplifies how bold political leadership and integrated national strategies can accelerate climate adaptation. His holistic approach—combining finance innovation, agricultural resilience, youth engagement, and governance reform—will elevate our Board's ability to translate global ambition into local impact, especially in Africa.' With President Mahama's leadership and the backing of other sitting and former heads of state on its Board, GCA is climate-proofing development across Africa and beyond—anchored by its new presence in Nairobi and a growing global mandate for action. CONTACT: Alexandra Gee Global Center on Adaptation +447887804594 in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Star
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Ghana launches national tree planting program to mark World Environment Day
ACCRA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday announced the launch of the 2025 national tree planting program as part of World Environment Day commemorations. The program aims to plant 30 million tree seedlings by the end of June and engage school-age children in nationwide afforestation efforts through a "one tree per child" initiative. The initiative will involve every Ghanaian child of school age planting and nurturing at least one tree, Mahama said. "These are trees that will stabilize our soils, cool our cities, absorb carbon dioxide, and restore our degraded ecosystems." The president also highlighted the link between plastic pollution and deforestation, noting that both "stem from the exact root cause of treating the environment as an afterthought." Mahama said the government is introducing measures to curb plastic waste and deforestation, placing the environment at the center of Ghana's development strategy. He added that the government has implemented a national plastics management policy, which mandates manufacturers and importers to take full responsibility for the life cycle of plastics they introduce into the market.
Business Insider
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ghana's Mahama courts oil investors, pushes for aggressive crude oil extraction
Ghana is urging investors to help boost oil production as the global push for decarbonization threatens to leave fossil fuel assets stranded. Ghana is encouraging increased oil production amidst global emphasis on decarbonization. President John Mahama highlighted the decline in oil output and the need for renewed investment during the Africa CEO Forum. Despite calls for expanding oil drilling, Ghana continues to uphold commitments to clean energy targets. Ghana is urging investors to help boost oil production as the global push for decarbonization threatens to leave fossil fuel assets stranded. President John Mahama made the appeal during the Africa CEO Forum held on Tuesday in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. 'Oil is in transition and so anybody who has any assets should be pumping like there's no tomorrow,' he said, signalling Ghana's readiness to welcome investors with open arms. 'We're rolling out the red carpet for anyone ready to drill.' Oil output declines Ghana's oil production has declined steadily over the last five years, largely due to limited investment in new exploration and field development. According to the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), Ghana's oil output fell to 48.3 million barrels in 2024, slightly below the 48.2 million barrels produced in 2023, and well down from a peak of 71.4 million barrels in 2019. Mahama attributed the decline in output to regulatory uncertainty, which he said drove some major players away. 'ENI was held in contempt and they had to move all their expatriate management to Cote d'Ivoire,' he noted, adding that now the company was 'back and they are drilling again'. Mahama's call to action echoes a growing sentiment among oil-producing nations, including recent appeals by U.S. leaders for increased domestic output. OPEC, too, has raised production levels, contributing to a roughly 13% drop in Brent crude prices this year, now hovering around $65.3 per barrel, per Bloomberg. Elected in December, Mahama has pledged to revive Ghana's struggling economy, which is still reeling from a debt crisis and rising cost of living. Reflecting on past government priorities, he said, 'The environment got a bit toxic. The government did not seem to prioritise the sector.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ghana to reduce $2.5bn debt to power producers by year end
Ghana's Government has announced its intention to significantly reduce the country's $2.5bn (31.27bn cedis) debt owed to independent power producers and gas suppliers by the end of the year, according to a Reuters report. President John Dramani Mahama expressed confidence in addressing the financial challenges facing the power sector during a forum in Ivory Coast. Last year, Ghana reached a restructuring agreement with independent power producers to manage approximately $1bn of legacy debt. Despite this, the nation's arrears have continued to impact the economy, particularly since President Mahama began his second term in January. President Mahama acknowledged inefficiencies within the state-owned utility, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), which faces a revenue collection loss of around 40%. To improve the situation, he announced plans to involve the private sector in the billing process. Mahama was quoted as saying: 'People are queuing up, I said they should wait. We are going to do expressions of interest,' indicating a cautious approach to selecting private partners for this initiative. The cabinet is yet to decide on the structure of this partnership, which may involve one or multiple entities, with an emphasis on local participation. President Mahama also encouraged companies to expedite oil and gas extraction, citing the global energy transition. 'Oil is in transition and so everybody who has any assets should be pumping like there is no tomorrow... I would lay a red carpet to anybody who wants to drill and pump oil to do so,' he added. In related news, the Mission 300 initiative, which aims to electrify 300 million Africans by 2030, secured more than $8bn in new funding commitments during the Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. "Ghana to reduce $2.5bn debt to power producers by year end" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ghana plans to revive its national airline in partnership with the UAE
Ghana is actively exploring the re-establishment of a national airline with technical assistance from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), following high-level diplomatic discussions in Abu Dhabi. Ghana is pursuing the revival of a national airline with assistance from the UAE, revealed during diplomatic discussions in Abu Dhabi. The initiative aligns with President Mahama's development priorities and includes employment opportunities in the UAE. The discussions have paved the way for increased investment opportunities in Ghana from UAE-based companies. The revelation was made by Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, 13 May 2025. The announcement came on the heels of a two-day official visit to the UAE, undertaken at the invitation of the Emirati government. According to Mr Ablakwa, the bilateral talks included an agreement on UAE support for Ghana's plans to launch a new national carrier. He emphasised that this initiative forms part of the current government's development priorities under President John Dramani Mahama. 'We also discussed two priority areas of President Mahama's government — labour export opportunities for Ghanaian youth in the UAE and technical assistance for establishing a new national airline,' Mr Ablakwa stated. Engagements with key UAE officials The Ghanaian delegation met with several senior officials, including His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State; and Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs. Ministers responsible for foreign trade and investment were also present during the talks. Mr Ablakwa confirmed that Ghana and the UAE had agreed to commence formal political consultations — a significant milestone marking the first such engagement between the two nations. Ghana has made multiple unsuccessful attempts to revive its national airline since the collapse of Ghana Airways in 2004 and the later demise of Ghana International Airlines in 2010. While numerous proposals have been tabled over the years — involving both public and private entities — none have materialised. However, the Mahama-led government has renewed its commitment to restoring a national carrier. On 8 May 2025, the government inaugurated a 10-member National Airline Task Force to oversee the revival process. Mandate of the National Airline task force The newly established task force has been tasked with developing a robust business model, coordinating with international technical and strategic partners, and securing regulatory approvals. Additionally, it will supervise operational areas such as human resource planning, aircraft procurement, and route development. The task force is chaired by Charles Asare, a former Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited. Other members include experienced aviation professionals, ex-officials of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, and Joyce Bawa Mogtari, who serves as a presidential advisor. Mr Ablakwa also reported that the diplomatic engagements had opened the door to fresh investment opportunities from UAE-based companies. Key sectors identified for collaboration include renewable energy, artificial intelligence, education, healthcare, aviation, and defence. He noted that these opportunities are aligned with President Mahama's renewed vision for Ghana's economic transformation, stating that the president is 'sending a clear message to the global investment community that Ghana is open for business again.'
