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President Mahama assents to Bills repealing E-Levy/Betting Tax/Emissions Tax 

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President John Dramani Mahama has assented to Bills repealing E-Levy, Betting Tax and the Emissions Levy. 

The object of the Electronic Transfer Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025, is to repeal the Electronic Transfer Levy Act, 2022 (Act 1075) (E-Levy) and Electronic Transfer Levy (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act 1089).  

The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to amend the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896) to remove the withholding tax on winnings from lottery, betting and game of chance as well as on the purchase of unprocessed gold.  

The object of the Emissions Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025 is to also repeal the Emissions Levy Act, 2023 (Act 1112). 

The event, which took place at the Presidency was witnessed by Dr Cassiel Baah Forson, Finance Minister, Mr Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, the Clark to Parliament, Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff, and Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidential Spokesman and Minister in-charge of Government Communications. 

The rest are Mr Seth Emmanuel Terkper, a Presidential Advisor on the Economy and a former Finance Minister, Mrs Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Special Aide to the President and Presidential Advisor, and Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, Senior Legal Advisor to the President. 

Government, as part of its tax reform agenda, is implementing measures aimed at improving disposable incomes of households and reducing the overall tax burden of taxpayers.  

The removal of the E-Levy will not only result in increased disposable income for Ghanaian households and individuals.  

It will also provide financial relief to companies that patronise the E-Levy. This policy aligns with the Government’s broader commitment to fostering economic growth and enhancing financial inclusion.  

The repeal of the E-Levy will encourage the government’s objective at achieving a cash-lite economy.  

The repeal of the levy is also expected to stimulate digital transactions, encourage financial innovation, and ease the cost of doing business. Additionally, this measure is anticipated to boost consumer spending and drive economic activity across various sectors. 

Concerning the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the removal of these withholding taxes is expected to provide additional income to persons in the affected categories.  

Furthermore, the removal of the withholding tax on the purchase of unprocessed gold is expected to curtail smuggling and ensure that Ghana benefits from its gold resources.  

The rest of the eight Bills, which the President assented to include: Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Petroleum Revenue Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Public Financial Management Bill, 2025, Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Gold Gold Board Bill, 2025. 

Democrats win the Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, a defeat for Trump.

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Susan Crawford, the Democratic candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the United States, beat her major competitor, who was sponsored by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, on Tuesday.

Susan Crawford defeated Republican Brad Schimel in a campaign that shattered expenditure records and had the greatest turnout of any Wisconsin Supreme Court election in history.

Her victory cemented a liberal majority in the court for at least three more years and concluded an election that had become a proxy fight for the nation’s political battles. 

“As a little girl growing up in Chippewa Falls, I never could have imagined that I would be taking on the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin. And we won”, she said in her victory speech. 

A judge from Dane County in Wisconsin, Susan Crawford, 60, has supported liberal positions throughout her career. She has led legal battles in favour of unions and is also known for her fights to protect abortion rights.  

Crawford has represented Planned Parenthood in cases challenging limitations on abortion rights and spoke against the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade – the decision that guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion – in 2022. 

Elon Musk and his allies had spent more than 21 million dollars to defeat Susan Crawford. The tech billionaire even travelled to Wisconsin two days before the election, to hand over $1 million checks to two voters. Democrats accused him of breaking the law by giving voters money in exchange for their votes, but their legal attempts to stop Musk’s endeavour were unsuccessful.

“Today Wisconsinites fended off an unprecedented attack on our democracy, our fair elections and our Supreme Court”, Crawford said after her election. “Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price, our courts are not for sale.”

Crawford’s victory is a setback for Trump, ahead of the American president’s new tariffs on all cars imported to the U.S. The tariffs are set to take effect on Wednesday and are just the latest decision towards what markets fear will become a global trade war.

France assumed the chairmanship of the United Nations Security Council.

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France has taken the chair of the United Nations Security Council for the month of April, led by Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont.

According to Bonnafont, the agenda for the council is to guarantee that it covers the wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, Africa, and Haiti.

Bonnafont emphasised that the Security Council’s most important challenge is whether their pronouncements regarding the peace talks in Ukraine would yield results.

“As president of the Security Council, we will be open to any suggestion by members so that what is going on right now between the United States, Ukraine, Russia, so that whatever happens is pushed in the right direction by the UN as mandatory.”

During the month, the Security Council is expected to meet for its quarterly open debate on the Middle East and Palestinian statehood. Bonnafort said the situation he situation is “very concerning,” he said, adding the Council is expected to act across a number of items including Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, more broadly speaking, Lebanon, Syria.

Arsenal celebrate Saka’s comeback with a 2-1 victory over Fulham.

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Bukayo Saka welcomed the occasion with wide open arms and a mischievous grin, soaking up Arsenal supporters’ enthusiasm. It seemed like he never left.

Making his comeback after a three-month injury layoff, the England winger scored the game-winner in a 2-1 victory against Fulham, helping Arsenal close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to nine points on Tuesday.

Saka, Arsenal’s star player and fan favourite, was replaced in the 66th minute to a raucous reception following his rehabilitation from a major hamstring injury.

Only seven minutes later, he was congratulated again for scoring Arsenal’s second goal at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remarked that the enthusiastic reception from the fans highlighted how much “people love him and missed him.” He added, “He lifted the stadium,” while midfielder Declan Rice praised Saka as “one of the best wingers in the world.” Rice noted, “He attacks the box and sniffs the goal. Having Bukayo back is a significant boost.”

Mikel Merino had opened the scoring for second-place Arsenal in the 37th minute, but the team faces an uphill battle to claim their first league title since 2004, needing Liverpool to falter.

Liverpool is set to play Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, with eight matches remaining in the Premier League.

Arsenal remains four points ahead of third-place Nottingham Forest, who edged out Manchester United 1-0 thanks to a stunning solo effort from Anthony Elanga, a former United player, as they aim for a remarkable Champions League qualification.

Forest, which was fighting relegation last season, is now 10 points clear of sixth-place Newcastle, with the top five likely to secure spots in next season’s Champions League.

Injury concerns linger for Arsenal, but Saka, who has been out since December 21 due to his injury sustained in a league match against Crystal Palace, is set to return just in time for the Champions League quarterfinals against Real Madrid next week.

Human rights abuses connected to the M23 group’s attack are highlighted in a UN report.

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In his assessment on the state of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif highlighted persistent abuses associated with the attack launched by the M23 militia, which Rwanda supports, in the country’s east.

“This year’s offensive by the M23 armed group, backed by Rwanda, in the North and South Kivu provinces has intensified an already critical human rights and humanitarian crisis in Eastern DRC,” she stated.

Al-Nashif pointed out that since the last briefing to the Council in October, the UN Joint Human Rights Office has worked to provide technical assistance to local authorities aimed at reinforcing the rule of law, promoting transitional justice, and combating impunity, despite the recent surge in violence.

“The extent of violence and insecurity has hindered our Office’s ability to fully fulfill this mandate. Nonetheless, with our support, trials have taken place that led to the conviction of a warlord and former militia members for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, rape, and sexual slavery,” Al-Nashif remarked.

She emphasized with deep concern that since the start of the year, the UN has recorded 602 victims of extrajudicial and summary executions carried out by all factions involved in the conflict in the North and South Kivu provinces.

In the northeastern Ituri province, various groups continue to kill, injure, and abduct civilians.

Additionally, DRC forces and their allies have also targeted civilians.

Conflict-related sexual violence remains widespread, perpetrated by all sides, with reported cases increasing by over 270 percent from January to February, she noted.

Currently, nearly 26 million people—almost a quarter of the country’s population—are facing emergency and crisis levels of food insecurity.

Overall, around 7.8 million individuals are displaced within the DRC, including 3.8 million in the Kivu provinces alone.

Numerous schools have been shut down, destroyed, repurposed as emergency shelters, or taken over by armed factions, leaving over 1.6 million children in eastern DRC without access to education.

“Any strategy aimed at achieving lasting peace must address the fundamental causes of the conflict, particularly the unlawful exploitation of the nation’s natural resources. The DRC government must adopt a strong and unwavering approach against corruption, impunity, and hate speech, regardless of who is responsible,” she stated.

The Deputy High Commissioner emphasized the need to expedite transitional justice processes, including the completion of inclusive national consultations.

The national policy on transitional justice in the DRC, developed with assistance from the UN Human Rights Office, holds promise for significant future truth and reconciliation initiatives.

“As an Office, we will persist in supporting these efforts whenever possible. This includes providing forensic expertise, logistical and financial assistance, and support for victims and witnesses. We are also dedicated to aiding the reform of the Penal Code to incorporate provisions that classify hate speech as a serious offense,” Al-Nashif remarked.

“After nearly thirty years of conflict and more than six million fatalities, it should be clear that there is no military resolution to this crisis.”

She added that the people of the DRC require local, national, and regional leaders to prioritize dialogue over personal gain, greed, and violence.

The international community must also take decisive, tangible, and urgent steps to promote lasting peace in the DRC.

“States and private enterprises that benefit from natural resources extracted under perilous and illegal circumstances must cease to operate behind convoluted and opaque supply chains,” she asserted.

“Without decisive measures, the ongoing violence could potentially engulf the entire region, and the risks of such a disaster are escalating daily.”

Al-Nashif emphasized the need for accountability regarding the immense suffering experienced by civilians in the DRC.

She urged the international community to deliver a clear and powerful message to all involved parties, insisting that the violations and abuses—many of which could be classified as international crimes—must come to an end and be properly addressed.

Le Pen said the “nuclear bomb” been dropped following the punishment for the office ban.

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The Rassemblement National party’s leader refused to prepare for a possible conviction. She refrained from transferring leadership to her deputy, Jordan Bardella, in her first public reaction, which has increased political ambiguity inside the far-right group.

A major political upheaval has occurred with the five-year disqualification of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen from public office for her role in embezzling EU money.

She could not be allowed to run in France’s upcoming presidential election as a result of this decision, which takes effect immediately.

At a press conference in Paris on Tuesday, Le Pen remarked, “The system has unleashed a nuclear bomb. The reason it’s resorting to such extreme measures is clearly because we are on the verge of winning the election.”

Having been the runner-up to French President Emmanuel Macron twice, the 56-year-old, daughter of the late far-right icon Jean-Marie Le Pen, has seen a rise in her support base.

She has been sentenced to two years of house arrest with an electronic ankle monitor, along with an additional two-year suspended sentence and an immediate five-year ineligibility for public office.

Le Pen’s attorney announced plans to appeal the decision, but she will remain ineligible during the appeal process, potentially excluding her from the 2027 presidential election.

“We will defend our rights, peacefully and democratically, alongside the rights of our voters,” Le Pen stated.

Although she won’t begin serving her house arrest until all appeals are resolved, the ban on her candidacy will take effect immediately, regardless of her legal challenge.

With the election looming just two years away, time is of the essence, and there’s no assurance that the appeals court will rule in her favor.

The ruling comes as Le Pen enjoys record support in opinion polls, as she aims to capitalize on her decade-long efforts to bring her party into the political mainstream ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

Le Pen has led the National Rally since 2011, and in 2021, Jordan Bardella took over as party president to allow her to concentrate on the presidential campaign.

Should Le Pen be officially barred from competing, Bardella appears to be the obvious choice to take her place.

During a news conference in Paris, Bardella remarked that the “rule of law” has been supplanted by a “tyranny of judges.”

Le Pen, along with other officials from the National Rally party, faced legal proceedings for misusing funds designated for European Union parliamentary aides to pay party staff from 2004 to 2016, which contravened the regulations of the 27-member bloc.

At that time, the National Rally was known as the National Front.

Piracy can have serious national and economic consequences – GITA 

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Mr. Jerome Deamesi, a Board Member of the Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA), has said that piracy and other criminal activities at sea can threaten the country’s fishing industry and have serious national and economic consequences. 

The Ghana Navy, in a statement, indicated that it was investigating a suspected pirate attack on a Ghanaian registered fishing vessel, MENGXIN 1, in Ghanaian waters on the evening of Thursday, March 27, 2025. 

The said piracy led to the suspected kidnapping of the captain, chief mate, and chief engineer, all Chinese nationals. 

Mr. Deamesi, reacting to the piracy incident, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that such incidents would lead to the designation of Ghana’s waters as unsafe, explaining that if piracy and illegal activities persist, international authorities might declare the waters unsafe for navigation, which could deter shipping lines from operating in the area, leading to increased freight costs and delays in imports and exports. 

“Ultimately, this will make goods more expensive for businesses and consumers,” he said, adding that it would also negatively impact trade and investment, as a maritime insecure reputation could discourage foreign investment in the fishing and shipping industries, weakening economic growth and job opportunities in the sector. 

He further noted that another issue that could have a negative impact on the country’s trade was drug trafficking and national security risks, indicating that recent interceptions of hard drugs by the security agencies that were smuggled into the country via boat do not only harm the economy but also pose significant security threats, attracting more criminal activities to Ghana’s waters. 

“It is rather unfortunate that this incident has occurred. It has been a long time since a trawl vessel was captured by robbers or pirates, the last known case being the Lu Rong Yuan Yu 917, which happened in February 2015.” 

The GITA board member called for strengthening of security awareness, stating that all vessel operators and crew members must be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity, especially unknown skiffs approaching their location. 

He also called for the training of fishermen to recognise the early warning signs of a possible attack. 

Calling for reinforced emergency preparedness, he stated that “crew members should be reminded to use the panic button on the VMS device when in distress and follow security protocols to minimise risks. Drills on emergency responses, including how to react during a piracy attack, should be conducted regularly and during the closed season when they are all around.” 

Mr. Deamesi further suggested that there must be enhanced security measures on vessels, noting that as part of training for seafarers, panic devices must be installed in multiple areas of the vessel. 

“In the event of an attack, the bridge, where all warning equipment is located, is usually the first target. Having alternative panic buttons elsewhere on the vessel can improve response times and increase the chances of sending distress signals,” he said. 

He noted that most piracy attacks happen under the cover of darkness, making it difficult for crew members to detect approaching threats; therefore, providing night vision glasses to the designated lookout personnel would improve visibility at night, allowing for early detection of suspicious skiffs and enhancing response time. 

He also called on stakeholders to closely work with the Ghana Navy and maritime security agencies to increase surveillance in high-risk areas and ensure a swift response to threats. 

“Notably, since the Navy started boarding tuna vessels, piracy cases in that sector have significantly decreased. Similar strategies could be explored for trawlers,” he stated, adding that the fishing industry must also engage with policymakers to push for better security frameworks, increased patrols, and stronger anti-piracy laws. 

According to him, international partnerships and intelligence sharing with neighbouring countries could also help tackle the root causes of piracy as well as the use of the air force in the chasing of robbers and pirates. 

The GITA board member also encouraged vessels to consider non-lethal defence mechanisms, such as water cannons, high-decibel alarms, and reinforced safe rooms where crew members could seek shelter during an attack, in addition to training programmes on crisis management for crew members, while improving communication and coordination with port authorities and nearby ships. 

He stressed that ensuring the safety of Ghana’s waters was not just about protecting the maritime industry but also about safeguarding the national economy and security. 

Market women in Kpetoe disappointed over non-appointment of female DCE, demand gender-inclusive leadership 

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Market women in Kpetoe, within the Agortime-Ziope District of the Volta Region, have voiced their disappointment and frustration following the failure to appoint a woman as the District Chief Executive (DCE).   

At a press conference held at the Kpetoe Market on Monday, March 31, the Market Queen, Madam Sewordor Janet, spoke on behalf of the women, expressing their profound discontent that Ms. Vicentia Leyo Sename, whom they had strongly endorsed, was overlooked for the position.   

According to them, the decision is a missed opportunity for inclusive governance, gender equity, and women’s empowerment in the district.  

They believe Ms. Sename, a vibrant, well-educated, hardworking, and unbiased woman, had demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to the community, particularly during the immediate past elections.  

Her appointment, they argue, would have broken barriers for women in leadership and inspired young girls in the district.   

The women emphasised that they have played a crucial role in the socio-economic development of the district through contributions in agriculture, trade, education, and community service.  

Despite these efforts, they continue to face systemic barriers to leadership and decision-making positions.   

They stated that their aspirations for greater female representation in governance have once again been disregarded.   

“Women in leadership positions often champion issues affecting the marginalized, especially women and children,” Madam Sewordor said. 

She stressed that a female DCE would have been in a better position to address challenges such as inadequate healthcare, poor road infrastructure, lack of access to quality education, and economic empowerment for women.   

The women of Kpetoe feel that their voices have been ignored and sidelined in the governance of the district. They argue that the decision to overlook Ms. Sename deepens their sense of exclusion and marginalization. 

They are therefore calling on the government and key stakeholders to take deliberate steps to address gender imbalances in political appointments at the district level.   

“Sustainable development can only be achieved when women are given equal opportunities to participate in decision-making processes,” they stated.   

According to them, the current political landscape favors male dominance and prioritizes party loyalists over competent individuals, a system they believe must be revisited to ensure fair and inclusive leadership.   

As a collective force, the market women of Kpetoe remain resolute in their call for fair representation in leadership. They are urging: The government to prioritize gender-inclusive appointments at the district level.   

Traditional authorities, opinion leaders, and civil society organizations to actively support female representation in governance.   

Policymakers to recognize the value of women’s leadership in achieving inclusive development.   

They insist that the time has come for a change in leadership structures, and they will not remain silent on the issue. 

“The call for gender equality in leadership is not just about fairness; it is about progress, development, and building a better future for the next generation of women and girls in our district,” Madam Sewordor concluded.   

The women reaffirmed their determination to advocate for equal representation and ensure that women’s voices are heard in governance at all levels. 

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey receives Mahama’s blessing as she assumes duty as Commonwealth Secretary-General 

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Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s immediate past Foreign Minister on Tuesday, April 1, assumed duty in London as the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. 

Prior to her departure for London, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey called on President Mahama at the Presidency in Accra to seek his blessings.  

She was accompanied by Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

President directs security agencies to collaborate with MP to investigate alleged arrival of drugs at KIA 

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President John Dramani Mahama has directed security agencies to collaborate with Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South, to investigate the alleged arrival of two suspicious flights at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) suspected to be involved in drug trafficking and money laundering.  

The President in a statement, copied to the Ghana News Agency said his attention had been drawn to the allegations, which were made at a press conference by the MP. 

“Government takes all allegations seriously, and to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation, I have directed all relevant investigative agencies – including the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the National Investigations Bureau (NIB), and the National Security Coordinator – to immediately and fully collaborate with the honourable member of parliament so he provides all necessary information to investigate the allegations and take all action necessary to expose any drug dealing,” the President said. 

“We will maintain zero tolerance for using Ghana as a transit or final destination for drugs or drug trafficking.” 

President Mahama said the NIB made a high-profile bust of drugs last week, with a street value of $350 million.  

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