Ghana: District-level poverty rankings expose 46-point gap, Mahama at WHA on health sovereignty, IGP doubles cadet intake, Ecobank facing Supreme Court fallout, fuel prices up despite intervention

Ghana Statistical Service releases maiden district-level multidimensional poverty rankings showing North East Region as the country's poorest, President Mahama calls for African health sovereignty at the 79th World Health Assembly, IGP Yohuno doubles Police Academy cadet intake, Ecobank Ghana moves to calm depositors after a Supreme Court ruling, and fuel prices climb despite government intervention extension.

TWB Newsroom · May 18 ·Ghana

GSS releases first district-level poverty rankings

The Ghana Statistical Service has, for the first time in Ghana’s history, released district-level multidimensional poverty rankings covering all 261 districts. The report shows the North East Region’s Yunyoo Nasuan as the country’s poorest district, with more than half the population in simultaneous multiple deprivations. By contrast, Accra’s Ayawaso North records a 5.5 per cent poverty rate — a 46-percentage-point gap that the report quantifies for the first time. 250 districts recorded poverty reduction overall. (Source: Daily Graphic, May 18 2026)

Mahama calls for African health sovereignty at WHA

President John Dramani Mahama, at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, called for African “health sovereignty” amid declining global aid, telling delegates the continent cannot claim sovereignty while producing less than 1 per cent of vaccines. Mahama also told the assembly that U.S. aid suspension has cost Ghana $78 million. (Source: MyJoyOnline, May 17 2026)

IGP doubles Police Academy cadet intake

Inspector General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno has doubled the Police Academy intake for cadet officer Course 54 to a record 700 for this year. The doubling represents one of the largest single-year expansions in recent memory for Ghana’s police training pipeline. (Source: Daily Graphic, May 18 2026)

Ecobank moves to calm depositors

Ecobank Ghana Plc moved Friday May 16 to calm public fears following a Supreme Court ruling that confirmed it must pay businessman Daniel a contested sum. The ruling has triggered concern among depositors over the bank’s near-term liquidity position; Ecobank’s response is being closely watched by the Bank of Ghana. (Source: News Ghana, May 18 2026)

Fuel prices rise despite intervention

Fuel prices went up significantly from May 16 despite the extension of the government’s intervention programme. The price hike lands at a politically sensitive moment for the Mahama administration as the IMF exit approaches and public expectations of cost-of-living relief mount. (Source: MyJoyOnline, May 17 2026)