COCOBOD turns to a GH¢16.3bn domestic note programme to finance cocoa

The new programme combines financed inputs, crop insurance and contracted buyers across more than 10,000 acres as government tries to reduce a persistent seasonal tomato deficit.

Licensed cocoa buyers say nearly GH¢4 billion in outstanding payments is constraining their ability to raise fresh financing. COCOBOD acknowledges outstanding obligations and says it plans talks with the companies before the new season opens.

The two offshore areas cover about 2,100 square kilometres. Eni and Vitol say the memoranda are a step toward final petroleum agreements, which have not yet been concluded.

Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare said GPHA agreed to provide the extra berth after cement manufacturers imposed a GH¢12-per-bag surcharge. The Transport Minister said dredging to take larger vessels is already complete.

The central bank says the listed mobile loan apps lack the required licence or authorisation. It has told the public not to use unlicensed lenders and cautioned regulated financial institutions against processing transactions for them.

President John Mahama has inaugurated the five-member Independent Fiscal Council created under Act 1136. The body is required to assess government compliance with Ghana’s fiscal rules, including a 1.5% annual primary-balance rule and a 45% debt-to-GDP target by 2034.

Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe says further negotiations with shipping firms will follow only after they apply the GH¢720 Container Administrative Charge. The charge is the regulatory ceiling already backed by the Ghana Shippers' Authority.

Provisional Ghana Statistical Service figures show real GDP grew 6.0% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026. ICT expanded 30.9% and accounted for 41.5% of total growth, while non-oil GDP growth slowed to 5.4% from 8.5% a year earlier.

The National Communications Authority says three applicants have qualified to proceed in Ghana’s 5G spectrum licensing process. The licence conditions require 70% population coverage by March 2027, giving the rollout a measurable delivery target.

The Bank of Ghana said investors tendered GH¢4.46 billion for the government’s four-year cedi bond. GH¢3.15 billion was accepted at a 12% yield, with settlement on 7 September.

The Chamber of Cement Manufacturers says clinker vessels are spending far longer waiting to discharge at Tema Port, pushing up demurrage costs. It has introduced a temporary GH¢12 surcharge on each bag of cement.

A July memorandum moved Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme from the Bank of Ghana to GoldBod after GHS 22 billion in 2025 programme losses. The IMF says the central bank is no longer exposed to new trading losses, but the fiscal risk remains wherever the state keeps buying gold.

Ghana Statistical Service put year-on-year inflation at 5.0% in August 2026, up from 4.6% in July. Food eased further, while services and other domestic costs accounted for most of the pressure even as prices fell 1% from July to August.

The National Petroleum Authority raised the petrol floor to GH¢14.53 a litre and diesel to GH¢15.60 for the first September pricing window. Oil marketers project higher pump prices even though the cedi strengthened, because international product costs rose faster.

Provisional Ghana Statistical Service figures show real GDP up 6.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026. Services contributed nearly half of that growth, led by a 25.2% surge in information and communication; the data do not show how households shared the gain.

From 1 September, a class of licensed gold buyers can no longer ship unrefined metal out of the country. The Ghana Gold Board says they or their trading partners must pay for local refining first, but has not said what that will cost.