Business

Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs On Mexico And Canada On February 1

Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs On Mexico And Canada On February 1

President Donald Trump said in an Oval Office signing ceremony Monday evening that his administration will impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada on February 1, an extraordinary change in North American trade policy that could raise prices for American consumers. Mexico and Canada are two of America’s top three trade partners. Last year, the US imported $475 billion worth of goods from Mexico and $418 billion from Canada, collectively accounting for 30% of the value of all the goods the US exported last year, according to federal trade data. Meanwhile, the US exported $354 billion worth of goods to…
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Cedi Selling At GH¢16.20 At Forex Bureaus

Cedi Selling At GH¢16.20 At Forex Bureaus

Ghana's local currency, the cedi, has experienced marginal gains against major trading currencies, especially the dollar, at some forex bureaus. The Central Bank, in its daily update, noted that the cedi is trading at a buying price of GH¢14.99 and selling at GH¢15.00. The British Pound is being bought at GH¢18.42 and sold at GH¢18.45. The Euro trades at a buying price of GH¢15.58 and a selling price of GH¢15.60. Checks by GhanaWeb Business on January 21, 2025, at 8:40 AM show that the cedi is trading at GH¢16.20 to the dollar, while the pound is trading at GH¢19.60 at some major…
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ECG Leverages National Identification Card To Curb Revenue Losses

ECG Leverages National Identification Card To Curb Revenue Losses

Paul Ofori operates an internet café and printing press in Ashaley Botwe, a suburb of the capital, Accra. He ran out of power on a particular Saturday and could not buy with an app provided by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), because of system failures. Ofori decided to find a way out and called an electrician in the neighborhood to re-connect him illegally, so he could work over the weekend and get the issue rectified on Monday. To his surprise just when he was opening the office on Monday morning, Ofori told the B&FT that officers from the ECG…
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GPRTU Awaits Transport Minister Nomination To Discuss Fare Adjustment

GPRTU Awaits Transport Minister Nomination To Discuss Fare Adjustment

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has announced that it is waiting for the nomination and approval of a Minister-designate for Transport before initiating discussions on a possible adjustment of transport fares. According to GPRTU, the recent hikes in fuel prices, recorded for the second time in January, have exceeded the 10% threshold required to warrant fare increases. The union attributes the rising fuel costs to global crude oil price surges and the depreciation of the cedi. Speaking in an interview, Abass Imoro, the Industrial Relations Officer for GPRTU, explained that their approach has always been to engage directly…
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Cedi Records Biggest Loss Last Week; One Dollar Selling At GH¢16.40

Cedi Records Biggest Loss Last Week; One Dollar Selling At GH¢16.40

The Ghana cedi depreciated by 2.94% against the US dollar last week, bringing its year-to-date loss to 3.87% since January 2025. This depreciation was due to continued demand pressures from the manufacturing and energy sectors. It also follows the Bank of Ghana’s auctioning of its first US$20 million to the Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs). The local currency traded at a mid-rate of GH¢16.15 to one American greenback. Last week’s loss was the sharpest since January 1, 2025. The cedi also shed 0.52% week-on-week against the pound and 1.52% against the euro. The cedi has begun trading this week unchanged…
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AMA Introduces Easy Rate Payment System Via Short Codes

AMA Introduces Easy Rate Payment System Via Short Codes

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has introduced a new digital payment platform to collect business operating permits and property rates via the shortcodes 22233# and 22255#, respectively. The initiative forms part of a broader strategy by the AMA to streamline revenue collection, improve data accuracy, and enhance service delivery for citizens and stakeholders. Mr. Nobel Atsu Ahadzie, the Director of Budget at AMA, introduced the platform during a Rate Payers’ Training programme organised for stakeholders at the Ablekuma South Sub-Metropolitan Council. The training aims to bring stakeholders up to speed with accessing and using the system to enable ratepayers to…
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TikTok Restores Service In US After Trump Pledge

TikTok Restores Service In US After Trump Pledge

TikTok is resuming services to its 170 million users in US after President-elect Donald Trump said he would issue an executive order to give the app a reprieve when he takes office on Monday. On Saturday evening, the Chinese-owned app stopped working for American users, after a law banning it on national security grounds came into effect. Trump, who had previously backed a ban of the platform, promised on Sunday to delay implementation of the law and allow more time for a deal to be made. TikTok then said that it was in the process of "restoring service". Soon after,…
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MoMo Fraud On The Rise – Bank Of Ghana Warns

MoMo Fraud On The Rise – Bank Of Ghana Warns

The Director of Fintech and Innovation at the Bank of Ghana, Mr. Kwame Oppong, says cases of mobile money fraud are on the increase, with fraudsters devising various means to scam both mobile money vendors and users of the mobile money platform. Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the new executives of the Mobile Money Advocacy Group, Mr. Oppong said the Mobile Money Regulatory framework in Ghana has been adjudged the number one globally, which is a big boost to the fintech industry, hence the need to protect the sector. Since the introduction of mobile money in Ghana, sending and receiving…
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Market Fires: Victims Share Harrowing Tales Of Loss And Recovery

Market Fires: Victims Share Harrowing Tales Of Loss And Recovery

Ghana recorded 4,650 fire incidents between January and September 2024, raising serious concerns about public safety. The recurrent market fires have affected countless individuals, leaving them grappling not only with the loss of their livelihoods but also enduring profound psychological impacts. On January 2, 2025, another fire at Kantamanto Market in Accra destroyed properties and livelihoods, adding to the growing list of fires ravaging major markets nationwide. Beyond the statistics and destruction lie deeply emotional stories of resilience and despair. Barbara, a victim of the Kantamanto fire, shared her harrowing experience: “When I saw the fire ravaging everything I owned,…
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Fraudsters Undermining Public Trust In MoMo Payment Systems

Fraudsters Undermining Public Trust In MoMo Payment Systems

Mobile money has quickly become a powerful tool for financial inclusion in Ghana, promising convenience and improved financial services. But the explosive digital financial landscape is coming along with cybersecurity challenges, as mobile money users bear the greatest brunt. Mobile money fraudsters are advancing strategies that utilize the trust and reliance of patrons on mobile money agents. Ella Baby is an ardent mobile money user who received what she thought was a blow of luck. “I got a message that read that I had received GHS780. Within minutes, I received 3 calls from an unknown number. I wanted to confirm…
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