Ghana Roundup: 2028 presidential election, helicopter Crash, debt crisis

Aircraft accident

Ghana’s Acting Commissioner of the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB), John Mmeb Kunyan Wumborti, has reassured the public that the country’s airspace remains the safest in Africa despite the recent military helicopter crash near Obuasi, citing the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) 89% safety rating for Ghana’s aviation sector and stressing that strict protocols by agencies such as the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority continue to guarantee passengers a “99.99% chance” of safe travel.

2028 presidential election

President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed that he will not contest the 2028 presidential election, noting that his mandate under the 1992 Constitution ends on January 7, 2029. He emphasised that his ineligibility to run again provides him with the independence to enforce strict fiscal discipline in the lead-up to the polls. The President’s remarks also addressed opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) claims suggesting he might seek a third term, stressing that such a move would be unconstitutional under Ghana’s two-term presidential limit.

Helicopter Crash

The Presidency has revealed that a total of GH₵3,576,600 and US$20,000 has been donated to support the children of victims of the August 6 helicopter crash. In a statement issued on Friday, August 29, 2025, Senior Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs and Coordinator of the Fund, Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, said the contributions came from 14 individuals and organisations between August 19 and 28. Among the donors are Ghana Airport Ltd, ARB Apex Bank PLC, STL Foundation, Olam Agric, Fidelity Bank Ghana, ADB Bank, GLICO General Insurance, the National Insurance Commission, as well as private individuals, including Kennedy Hedoe, Peter Adongo, Mensah Michael, Appaul Wiredu Lateef, Samuel Hodalor, and Dauda Iddi.

Debt crisis

Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has renewed calls for a fairer global approach to Africa’s mounting debt crisis, which has now exceeded US$1.3 trillion. Speaking in Accra after receiving a petition from the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana, Dr. Forson admitted the gravity of the challenge but emphasised that rejecting debt repayment outright is not an option. He argued that Africa instead needs a more sustainable debt framework that takes into account the realities of distressed economies such as Ghana, while ensuring that fiscal responsibility remains intact.

Special-purpose vehicle

The Ghana Chamber of Mines is urging the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to secure funding for the development of the Western Corridor railway line, a project seen as vital for boosting the mining industry and driving broader economic growth. According to the Chamber’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Ahmed Nantogmah, who made the appeal during a visit by Parliament’s Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources to the Ghana Manganese Company, a dedicated financing mechanism is urgently needed to revamp the rail network that serves the western enclave, home to major mineral operations such as GMC.