The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening local content and participation in Ghana’s oil and gas sector through its maiden Vendor Engagement Seminar.

The event, part of GNPC’s 40th anniversary celebrations, convened Ghanaian businesses, vendors, and suppliers under the theme: “Promoting Local Content and Local Participation through Vendor Engagement.”

The seminar focused on enhancing supplier relationships, promoting transparency, and equipping vendors with the tools to succeed in competitive procurement, while reinforcing GNPC’s drive for sustainable partnerships and efficient supply chain practices.

Opening the session, GNPC Chief Executive Officer Kwame Ntow Amoah underscored the Corporation’s inclusive growth agenda:

“Local Content is not just a regulatory requirement—it is at the core of GNPC’s strategy. We aim to grow alongside local enterprises, ensuring our resources generate real opportunities for our people, businesses, and communities.”

During a technical session, Barbara Afriyie-Owusu from GNPC’s Supply Chain and Local Content Development Department stressed the importance of compliance in tendering, describing it as “indispensable.”

“Compliance is like oxygen—you don’t always notice it, but you cannot survive long without it. Ensure your documents are complete, your submissions responsive, and credibility will follow,” she advised.

She highlighted common mistakes that disqualify bidders, including incomplete forms, missing pages, expired statutory certificates, late submissions, and wrong file formats. With GNPC’s tender process now fully digital, Afriyie-Owusu cautioned that the system automatically locks at closing time, leaving no room for excuses.

She urged contractors to review tender documents carefully, seek clarifications early, and submit bids well ahead of deadlines.

“This is a competition. Everyone wants to win, but only those who meet the requirements will succeed,” she said.

source: myjoyonline

Talithakum Ghana Network, a Catholic-led initiative against modern slavery, has raised urgent concerns about the persistent human trafficking crisis plaguing Ghana, fueled by poverty, systemic neglect, and a pervasive “culture of silence,” per Ghana News Agency. During an awareness campaign for the International Day Against Human Trafficking on July 30, 2025, national coordinator Reverend Sister Oliviah Umoh revealed the issue’s alarming scope, noting its prevalence not only in remote villages but also in urban hubs like Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale. “Trafficking is happening in homes, guesthouses, and hotels, right under our noses,” she said.

The network, comprising Catholic priests and nuns, focuses on identifying, rescuing, and advocating for victims—mostly young women trafficked for forced sex work or domestic labor. Umoh highlighted a disturbing trend: some families, driven by economic hardship, knowingly permit or encourage daughters to be trafficked under false promises of lucrative jobs abroad, often in the Middle East or Europe. Systemic complicity worsens the crisis, with reports of police, landlords, and community leaders ignoring or enabling exploitation by renting properties to traffickers. “People know and say nothing,” Umoh lamented, pointing to guesthouses where victims are held captive.

Talithakum’s campaign featured street marches with bold placards demanding justice and policy reform, rallying communities to break the silence. Umoh stressed that one day of action is insufficient, calling for daily commitment from government, churches, civil society, and individuals to dismantle trafficking networks. She cited data from the International Organization for Migration, estimating thousands of Ghanaians, particularly from the Volta and Northern regions, are trafficked annually, often lured by deceptive job offers.

The network collaborates with local NGOs and law enforcement to provide safe houses and rehabilitation for survivors, but Umoh warned that without systemic change—stronger laws, better enforcement, and poverty alleviation—traffickers will continue to thrive. “As a nation, we are failing our youth, from families to the state,” she said, urging a united front to ensure human beings are not treated as commodities.

The Ghana human trafficking crisis demands immediate, collective action to protect vulnerable communities and hold perpetrators accountable. Stay updated on Talithakum’s efforts and the fight against the Ghana human trafficking crisis!

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Chairman Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has cautioned against amending GFA statutes to extend the presidential term limit from two to three terms, a move that could allow current president Kurt Okraku to run again in 2027. Speaking to Joy Sports, Tamakloe cited the downfall of ex-GFA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi, who resigned after the 2018 Number 12 exposé by Anas Aremeyaw Anas, following a similar term extension.

Tamakloe warned that manipulating constitutions for prolonged power risks organizational stability, stating, “History has repeated itself in this country.” The proposal will be discussed at the GFA Congress on August 12, 2025, per Ghana News Agency. The GFA term limit controversy sparks debate over football governance.

Stay updated on the GFA term limit controversy and its impact on Ghana football!

source: myjoyonline

Uganda, hosting Africa’s largest refugee population with over 1 million children, sees 600 new arrivals daily, per UNHCR data. Funding cuts, driven by reduced aid from the U.S. and other donors, will slash monthly support per refugee from $16 to $5, covering only a third of Sudanese refugees’ needs. Rising malnutrition and suicide risks among youth underscore the urgency of the Uganda refugee crisis.

The UN urges global action to sustain vital programs. Stay updated on the Uganda refugee crisis and efforts to support vulnerable populations!

Ackah argued that fiscal discipline should mean reducing waste and corruption, not slashing spending in a developing nation with idle resources. “Cutting your coat according to your cloth makes little sense when roads are broken, graduates are jobless, and hospitals lack beds,” he said. He advocated for strategic budget deficits to fund infrastructure and boost private sector growth.

Highlighting global examples, Ackah noted that even wealthier nations like the United States and Singapore run deficits for productive investments. He stressed that borrowing for infrastructure, not salaries or luxury vehicles, is prudent. Ghana’s low public sector wages, averaging GH¢1,000–1,200 amidst rising inflation, further underscore the need for targeted spending.

The Ghana economic policy debate intensifies as Ackah urges investment over austerity to address unemployment and infrastructure gaps. Stay updated on Ghana’s fiscal strategy and its impact on development!

Source: Myjoyonline