The Reverend Father Albert Kyei Danso, the Chaplain for the Holy Family Ghanaian Catholic Community Church in Pordenone, Italy, has lauded the government’s Presidential Initiative in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA) programme.

He observed that effective implementation of the PIAA would advance the nation’s agriculture sector and called on Agricultural Unions to support the programme.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, the catholic priest said he was highly optimistic that the government would provide the storage facilities, build irrigation facilities as promised to tackle the post-harvest losses.

Rev Fr Danso said the nation ought to address post-harvest losses of crops and bad roads connecting to farm-gates and provision of ready markets to make the agriculture sector more attractive.

He said communities like Akomadan, Tuobodom and Derma well known for tomato production required storage and irrigation facilities, saying with modern agriculture machines and inputs farmers could add value to their farm produce.

Rev Fr Danso said as partners of development, there was the need for the government to actively engage churches and other religious bodies in the implementation of the PIAA and other socio-economic intervention programmes for the nation to derive the optimum benefit.

He said if the agriculture sector was made more attractive, more of the youth would engage in commercial farming and thereby help tackle the teeming growing youth employment situation in the country.

“When more people venture into the agribusiness sector the nation will boost her national food security, enhance job creation and reduce poverty,” Rev Fr Danso stated, saying that would greatly reduce the rate at which the nation’s productive youth sought greener pastures abroad.

Rev Fr Danso said agriculture and robust industrialization held the key to the nation’s economic prosperity, and that countries elsewhere were doing well because they had prioritized agriculture and industrialization.

He said “Ghana must do more to change people’s mindset that agriculture and farming are the reserve for the poor,” saying it was unfortunate that the nation’s rice import kept growing despite its fertile and arable lands.

“In fact, Ghana needn’t import rice, rather we must add value to our local rice, which has high nutritional value,” Rv Fr Danso said, and urged the government to motivate the unemployed graduates to engage in commercial farming and livestock production.

In another interview, Mr Boa Kawbena Nketia, an educationist and a cocoa and vegetable farmer at Atronie in the Sunyani Municipality, said post-harvest losses remained a huge challenge in the vegetable production sector.

He appealed for government intervention towards the storage and value addition to perishable crops like vegetables, saying the government ought to build processing factories and industries in the farming communities.

Mr Nketia said the government ought to do more to enlightened farmers on good farm and climate resilient farming practices, and called for the effective collaboration between Agricultural Extension Officers and farmers for improved yields.

Mr Jascot Hawkins Alhassan, another farmer engaged in economic crops and vegetables, cautioned farmers against the misapplication of fertilizers urging them to opt for organic manure.

He told the GNA that misapplication of fertilizers could not only lead to food poisoning, but also affect soil and crop fertility, urging farmers to ensure that they applied weedicides and pesticides at the right time.

Ghana’s gold reserves have seen a substantial increase, with the Bank of Ghana (BoG) successfully adding 7.42 tonnes of the precious mineral to its official holdings between January and October of 2025.

 Data released by the Central Bank showed that the significant accumulation was a direct outcome of the nation’s ongoing domestic gold purchase programme, aimed at strengthening Ghana’s reserve base and enhancing its capacity to withstand global economic shocks.

​The Bank of Ghana’s records show that the nation’s total gold holdings, as of January 31, 2025, stood at 30.62 tonnes.

 Through a consistent monthly buying effort, the figure grew steadily throughout the period, culminating in a total reserve holding of 38.04 tonnes by October 31, 2025.

​The 7.42-tonne increase over the nine-month period highlighted the strategic importance the BoG placed on diversifying its reserves away from traditional foreign currency holdings.

The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) has commenced a four-day business registration and sensitisation exercise in the Volta Region as part of efforts to expand its presence and enhance public awareness of its mandate.

The exercise, led by Mrs Maame Serwaa Peprah, Acting Registrar of Companies, together with Dr Dennis Botwe Kyei, Head of Administration, and other senior officials, forms part of a nationwide outreach initiative to reach regions where the ORC currently has no physical office.

Mrs Peprah during a curtsey call on the Volta Regional Minister on Monday, explained that the ORC, established as an autonomous body under the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992), was responsible for registering and regulating businesses and professional bodies in Ghana, including limited liability companies, companies limited by guarantee, and external companies.

“As part of our mandate, we are expected to create awareness about our operations and ensure that businesses across the country are properly registered and remain compliant. Currently, we have offices in Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi, Sunyani, and Tamale.

The Volta Region is next in line, and this pilot exercise is to help us assess the environment, collect relevant data, and prepare adequately for the establishment of our new regional office,” she said.

Mrs Peprah revealed that the Attorney-General’s Department has granted approval for the establishment of the ORC’s Volta Regional Office in 2026, noting that the data and feedback from the ongoing exercise will inform decisions on the operational needs.

She said the sensitisation and registration drive was aimed at educating the public on business registration procedures, the importance of filing annual returns, and compliance with statutory requirements to avoid penalties.

“Registration gives your business credibility to engage banks, investors, and other institutions. It is not just a legal requirement but also a foundation for trust and sustainable growth,” she added.

Mrs Peprah expressed appreciation to the Regional Minister, Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC), and the people of the region for their warm reception and strong participation.

“The turnout has been very encouraging. It shows that business owners in the region are eager to formalise their operations and understand the importance of compliance. We are grateful for the cooperation and insightful recommendations shared, which will help us make the registration process simpler and more efficient,” she added.

Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, commended the ORC team for the initiative and described it as a significant step toward deepening decentralisation and promoting private sector development.

“The essence of decentralisation is to bring governance and essential services closer to the people. I am particularly pleased that the ORC plans to establish an office in the Volta Region, which is fast emerging as Ghana’s next major investment destination,” he said.

Mr Gunu noted that the planned ORC office would complement the government’s 24-Hour Economic Policy and the Volta Economic Corridor Project, which seek to leverage the region’s vast resources, including agriculture, aquaculture, agribusiness, transport, and tourism for inclusive growth and job creation.

“All these initiatives will require business registration and formalisation. An ORC office here will not only facilitate that process but also create jobs, enhance investor confidence, and boost revenue generation for government,” he added.

He urged ORC to ensure efficiency in its operations to eliminate bureaucratic delays that often discourage entrepreneurs.

“We are entering an era where services, including business registration, should be accessible around the clock. With digitalisation, we should be able to register a business within a day once all required documents are available,” the Minister stated.

Some business owners who participated in the pilot registration exercise expressed satisfaction with the process, describing it as fast, transparent, and convenient.

They commended the ORC for bringing its services closer to local entrepreneurs and urged that such outreach programmes be held regularly.

The four-day exercise, which began on Monday, offers participants the opportunity to register new businesses, renew existing ones, and file annual returns on-site.

Dr Anthony Cobbinah, a lecturer at the Takoradi Technical University (TTU), has urged business owners to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency and boost productivity.

According to Dr Cobbinah, technology was a valuable tool that could help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) grow and develop new skills.

He gave the advice at a breakfast session organised by the Western Regional office of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Takoradi in the Western Region. 

He explained that AI was transforming how businesses operated by enabling faster decision-making and enhancing customer service.

“AI-powered robots, for instance, can streamline operations by sorting packages and managing inventory, ensuring timely and accurate deliveries to customers,” he said.

Small and medium enterprises are also benefiting from AI by using AI-driven recommendation systems on their websites, which increase sales and customer satisfaction.

In corporate settings, AI tools automate routine tasks such as drafting reports, taking meeting notes, and responding to customer inquiries. This automation allows employees to focus on strategic activities that drive business growth.

As AI technology evolves, its role in business operations is expected to expand, providing companies with a competitive edge.

However, Dr. Cobbinah noted that there were challenges in adopting AI, including the high cost of implementation, which could be prohibitive for SMEs. Procuring and maintaining AI tools required significant investment.

He noted that there were also ethical concerns, such as job displacement, as AI automates tasks traditionally performed by humans, saying, “These challenges must be managed carefully to fully realize AI’s potential in improving business operations.”

Meanwhile, Dr Holy Kportorgbi, Senior Lecturer at GIMPA, emphasised that SMEs must formalize their businesses to capitalize on opportunities presented by the 24-hour economy.

He encouraged business owners to build strong relationships with their banks and ensure their businesses are financially viable.

Dr Kportorgbi also urged SMEs to rethink their business processes, particularly in light of the priority areas identified under the 24-hour economy initiative.

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister for Finance, says the government has captured the Takoradi Market Circle Redevelopment as a priority project and work will resume next year.  

He said this when he toured the project site to inspect progress of work ahead of the 2026 Economic Budget presentation in Parliament on Thursday, November 13, 2025.  

According to him, the government recognised that the state had already spent some substantial amount of money on the project, and that it was worth completing to help boost economic activities within Takoradi and the entire Western Region.  

Dr Forson said: “Now we have captured it as part of the priority list of state so we intend to restart it anytime soon.  

“But the contractor is claiming costs outside the loan amount, so that will mean that Parliament will have to consider and approve that before we can pay the extra money.”  

The Finance Minister, thus, gave the assurance that the contractor would return to the site early next year as the government concluded the ongoing debt restructuring.  

The Takoradi Market Circle Redevelopment project, which was to be constructed at a cost of about 48 million Euros in 2020 and expected to be completed by 2023, has stalled.  

Phase one of the redevelopment of the central market is being undertaken by an Italian contractor, Messrs. Contracta Costruzioni Italia SLR.  

Upon completion the new Market Circle would have 2,408 stores, 33 restaurants and food courts, and bulk breaking areas, visitors’ car park, offices, a police and fire station, and a post office.   

Others are a clinic, administrative offices, day care centre, space for banks and other financial institutions, a waste separation dock and changing rooms for staff among other facilities.