NPP

Claim: An NPP communicator, Awal Mohammed, on Facebook claims President John Dramani Mahama has extended Ghana’s IMF loan programme for another three years because his administration does not trust Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson to manage the economy independently.

Verdict: Misleading! Ghana did not extend its IMF bailout programme. The country’s three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement officially ended on May 15, 2026, after all six reviews were completed. Ghana subsequently requested a new 36-month Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI), which is a non-financing IMF policy support framework and not a loan extension or bailout programme.

Full Text

A pro-New Patriotic Party (NPP) Facebook account operated by political commentator Awal Mohammed shared a post on May 15, 2026, shortly after reports emerged that Ghana had concluded its 2023 IMF bailout arrangement.

The post featured a reel from Citi FM discussing Ghana’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Accompanying the video was the caption: “Ghana is still under the IMF programme. President Mahama has extended it for three years. He doesn’t trust that Ato Forson can manage the economy without them. Watch the simple explanations from Citi FM.”

The post generated considerable traction online, recording approximately 16,000 views, 327 reactions, 175 comments, and 69 shares at the time of DUBAWA’s checks.

Some commenters argued that the Mahama administration had secretly negotiated a continuation of Ghana’s IMF bailout, while others questioned whether the announcement merely represented a technical policy arrangement rather than a fresh loan programme.

Because of the post’s significant reach and the confusion surrounding the IMF announcement, DUBAWA investigated the claim.

Verification

What happened on May 15, 2026?

DUBAWA reviewed the official statement issued by the International Monetary Fund on May 15, 2026.

The IMF announced that Ghana had completed the sixth and final review under its Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme, which began in 2023 during the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo amid a severe debt and economic crisis.

The IMF statement did not state that Ghana had extended its IMF bailout programme. Instead, it explained that Ghana had requested a 36-month Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI) after the successful completion of the existing ECF arrangement.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu described the development as “the definitive end of Ghana’s financial bailout relationship” with the IMF.

Similarly, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson said the conclusion of the programme represented a major milestone in restoring macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability.

What is the PCI?

DUBAWA found that the claim largely stems from confusion between the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI).

Unlike the ECF, the PCI is not a bailout arrangement and does not provide direct IMF loans or financial disbursements.

According to the IMF, the PCI is intended to support countries that seek policy credibility, technical guidance and reform monitoring without borrowing money from the Fund.

The IMF statement specifically noted:

“The authorities have requested a 36-month Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI) to help anchor their post-programme reform agenda.”

IMF Mission Chief for Ghana, Ruben Atoyan, also clarified the purpose of the arrangement.

Mr Atoyan described Ghana’s economic recovery as “remarkable” and stated that the PCI would help Ghana sustain reforms and macroeconomic discipline after the end of the bailout programme.

He further noted: “Ghana’s economic performance in 2025 exceeded expectations, reflecting strong policy and reform implementation under the IMF-supported programme.”

DUBAWA found no indication in the IMF statement that Ghana had negotiated another bailout or extended the existing ECF arrangement.

Did Ato Forson say Ghana still needed IMF management?

The viral post also claimed President Mahama supposedly extended the programme because he did not trust Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson to manage the economy independently. However, DUBAWA found no evidence supporting this assertion.

At a joint press conference with IMF officials, Dr Forson clearly distinguished the PCI from the bailout arrangement.

He stated: “Unlike the ECF programme, the PCI does not provide financial bailout support. It will, however, offer continuous policy guidance, capacity development, and help build confidence in Ghana’s economic management.”

The Finance Minister further stated that Ghana was “not in a hurry” to return to international capital markets and that the 2026 budget did not depend on external commercial borrowing.

These remarks contradict the suggestion that the government lacked confidence in its own economic management.

Was the IMF programme extended?

DUBAWA’s checks show the original ECF arrangement was not extended.

The three-year IMF programme began in May 2023 and concluded after all six scheduled reviews were completed.

Even the opposition NPP, while disputing the government’s political messaging around the programme’s conclusion, acknowledged that the IMF arrangement had ended.

There was also no evidence of renegotiation, waivers, programme rollover or additional loan disbursements and developments that would typically accompany an IMF extension.

Ghana’s economic indicators at programme completion

DUBAWA also reviewed economic indicators cited in multiple reports at the conclusion of the ECF programme:

• Inflation reportedly declined to 3.4% in April 2026 from above 31% in 2022.
• Ghana’s GDP growth for 2025 was estimated at 6%.
• Gross international reserves reportedly rose to approximately US$14.5 billion.
• Public debt-to-GDP reportedly declined significantly compared to levels recorded at the beginning of the IMF programme.
• Ghana’s sovereign credit ratings also improved during the programme period.

These indicators formed part of the IMF’s assessment of Ghana’s recovery progress.

Conclusion

The claim by Awal Mohammed that President John Dramani Mahama has extended Ghana’s IMF bailout programme for another three years is misleading. DUBAWA found that Ghana’s US$3 billion Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme officially ended on May 15, 2026, after all scheduled reviews were completed.

Claim: Viral Facebook posts allege that Ghana experienced “the largest migration in history” under the NPP administration, while others claim an estimated 60,000–70,000 Ghanaians migrated to Europe in 2025 alone.

Verdict: Misleading! Economic hardship has increased migration aspirations in recent years, but there is no credible evidence that Ghana experienced the “largest migration in history” under the NPP or that 60,000–70,000 Ghanaians migrated to Europe in 2025.

Full Text

Migration has become a major political and social issue in Ghana in recent years, fuelled by rising living costs, inflation, unemployment and economic pressures. This environment has intensified public debate around the “Japa” (emigration) phenomenon.

In late April 2025, two related Facebook posts went viral. On 28 April at 11:44 AM, Oteng Amponsah Enock posted a bright purple graphic stating:

“Under NPP, we had the largest migration in history! Everyone wanted to leave Ghana! Never in human history have citizens had to live each day as we did under the previous regime! Second independence is here to stay,” the post received 273 likes, 301 comments, and 11 shares.

The following day, April 29, at 11:23 AM, Ernest Ohene Kyei in what appeared to be a reaction to the original post, wrote: “Meanwhile, available data suggests that an estimated 60,000–70,000 people migrated from Ghana to Europe ONLY in 2025, which is quite higher than figures from the last 5 years!” His post (which included a screenshot of Oteng’s graphic) recorded 382 likes, 220 comments, and 13 shares.

The posts, at least the first one, frame migration as direct evidence of severe hardship and governance failure under the “previous regime” (NPP, 2017–2025), using emotionally charged language such as “Everyone wanted to leave Ghana!” and “Never in human history have citizens painfully lived each day as we did.”

Some users amplified the claims with political attacks, for example:

• Isaac Opoku Frimpong said: “Absolutely, his audience actually believed that Mahama could do 1:3:3, post teachers and nurses automatically…”
  
• Adom JB Wiredu commented: “Infantile analysis. That period of large migration was made possible due to a scheme in the UK to attract health professionals…”

Meanwhile, others pushed back or demanded evidence:

• Akolbila Emmanuel Azure queried: “Which source should we get the available data from? And we do a thorough analysis to actually ascertain the percentage in 2025 that emigrated… and also analyse the same with the period of 8 years before 2025!”
  
• Kaakyiene Jeneral Won said: “Currently, Ghanaians are not travelling outside the country, because they don’t have money.” 

The significant engagement and the mix of strong opinions, personal attacks, and calls for verified data show how the emigration debate has become deeply politicised on social media.

DUBAWA intervened because these unsourced numerical claims are spreading rapidly without any cited methodology, dataset, or institution, risking the distortion of public understanding of migration trends and influencing political discourse on a sensitive national issue.

We reviewed official migration datasets and publicly available statistics from international migration agencies and European authorities to verify the claims.

Verification 

What official data says

The most authoritative source reviewed by DUBAWA is the International Organization for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix report.

The report recorded a total of 25,556 irregular arrivals from the entire West and Central Africa region into Europe in 2025 through both land and sea routes. The West and Central Africa region includes more than 20 countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire and Gambia.

Importantly, Ghana was not among the leading countries of origin of irregular migrants arriving in Europe during the period under review. The report identified Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Gambia, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria among the major origin countries.

The report also found that irregular arrivals along key migration corridors, including the Western Africa Atlantic route to the Canary Islands, declined by 42 per cent compared with 2024.

The total for regional irregular migration, therefore, remains far below the viral claim that 60,000–70,000 Ghanaians alone migrated to Europe in 2025. While irregular migration is often in the spotlight, the reality is that irregular entries account for a small fraction of migration in the EU.

Eurostat residence permit data contradicts the claim

Eurostat, the European Union’s official statistical office, tracks first residence permits issued to non-EU nationals for work, study, family reunification and other long-term legal migration purposes.

Eurostat data reviewed by DUBAWA showed that Ghanaian nationals received roughly 13,000 first residence permits across EU member states in 2024.

Ghana was not among the top nationalities receiving residence permits in Europe, unlike countries such as Ukraine, India, Morocco and Syria.

As of the time of writing, comprehensive nationality-level breakdowns for 2025 had not yet been fully published in publicly accessible Eurostat summary datasets reviewed by DUBAWA.

Schengen visa statistics show increased travel interest – not mass migration

DUBAWA also reviewed official Schengen short-stay visa statistics, which provide insight into temporary travel applications from Ghana to Europe.

According to Schengen statistics analysed from official European data:

• Ghanaian residents submitted 56,032 Schengen visa applications in 2024.
  
• About 29,915 visas were approved.
  
• 24,945 applications were rejected, representing a rejection rate of 44.52 per cent.
  
• Applications increased by 23.36 per cent compared with 2023.
  

The Netherlands recorded the highest number of applications from Ghanaian residents, while Germany recorded one of the highest approval rates.

However, DUBAWA notes that Schengen short-stay visas are not migration figures. They mainly cover:

• tourism,
• business travel,
• conferences,
• family visits,
• and temporary stays of up to 90 days.
  

Meanwhile, approved visas also do not necessarily translate into completed travel, as some successful applicants may not eventually travel.

The figures, therefore, indicate increased interest in travelling to Europe rather than evidence of mass migration.

Historical data weakens the “largest migration in history” claim

Historical Schengen statistics further show that Ghana has consistently recorded significant interest in travel and migration to Europe for many years.

Between 2014 and 2019:

• Ghanaian residents submitted more than 206,000 Schengen visa applications
  
• The Netherlands alone received over 64,000 applications from Ghanaian residents
  
• Germany received more than 36,000 applications during the same period
  

Nonetheless, Ghana experienced major emigration waves during the economic crises and structural adjustment periods of the 1970s and 1980s, long before the NPP era. Academic migration studies note that “mass emigration in the 1970s and 1980s” helped create Ghana’s large modern diaspora.

Available migration studies show that a large share of Ghanaian migration occurs within West Africa, particularly within ECOWAS countries, where labour mobility and temporary cross-border movement remain common.

“Largest migration in history” is exaggerated

No official dataset reviewed by DUBAWA shows that the NPP administration recorded the single largest migration episode in Ghana’s history.

Historical evidence shows that Ghana experienced substantial waves of migration decades earlier. The claim, therefore, exaggerates the available evidence.

The 60,000–70,000 figure has no verifiable source

The viral posts cite “available data” without identifying any institution, methodology or dataset. Neither the IOM reports, Eurostat migration statistics, Schengen visa data, nor publicly available Ghana Statistical Service datasets support the figure.

Migration statistics are often misunderstood

Migration figures consist of different categories, including:

• long-term residence permits
  
• temporary visas
  
• irregular migration
  
• work permits
  
• student mobility
  
• and family reunification
  

Combining or confusing these categories can create misleading impressions about actual migration levels.

Wider context

Migration from West Africa is influenced by several global factors, including employment opportunities, education, family reunification, economic inequality and limited legal migration pathways.

The IOM also recorded 3,845 migrant deaths and disappearances along West and Central African migration routes in 2025, highlighting the dangers associated with irregular migration.

Despite increased applications from Ghanaian residents, Ghana accounted for less than one per cent of global Schengen visa applications in 2024.

Conclusion

DUBAWA found that although economic hardship and unemployment contributed to increased migration aspirations among many Ghanaians in recent years, there is no credible evidence supporting the claim that Ghana experienced the “largest migration in history” under the NPP administration.

Claim: A viral post circulating on social media claims that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially sacked US-based journalist Kevin Taylor and its Deputy Communications Director, Ernest Owusu Bempah. 

Verdict: False! The document is forged. There is no evidence that the NPP has dismissed either of the individuals. Kevin Taylor himself has also shared the claim in a manner suggesting satire, further indicating it is not an authentic party action.

Full Text

A purported New Patriotic Party (NPP) communiqué announcing the dismissal of Kevin Taylor and Ernest Owusu Bempah has gone viral on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), generating debate and confusion.

The document, which mimics the format of an official party release and is attributed to the party’s General Secretary, has been widely circulated as genuine.

Popular news website Ghanaweb fuelled the claim that the NPP had sacked Kevin Taylor and Owusu Bempah.

Additionally, Kevin Taylor, named in the alleged dismissal, has shared the claim on his social media page, in a tone suggesting he is mocking or ridiculing the narrative.

DUBAWA checked the official social media handles of the supposed signatories to fact-check the claim.

Verification

A side-by-side comparison between the viral post and authentic party communiques reveals a clear attempt at forgery:

• The Signature: The signature on the viral post does not match Justin Kodua’s actual signature. In authentic documents, his signature has distinct stroke patterns and positioning that are missing or poorly imitated in the fake version.

• Letterhead and Formatting: While the fake document attempts to mimic the NPP letterhead, subtle differences in font alignment and the “Reference Number” format often give away these fabrications.  

The logical red flag: Kevin Taylor

The inclusion of Kevin Taylor in a “sacking” notice is perhaps the biggest indicator of the post’s absurdity. Kevin Taylor is a well-known, vocal critic of the NPP. Since he is not a member of the party, and in fact, positions himself as its primary media antagonist, the NPP has no jurisdictional power to “sack” him. You cannot be fired from a job you never had.

Major policy decisions, such as the dismissal of a high-ranking official like Owusu Bempah, are always released through the NPP’s verified press portals and mainstream media outlets.

Justin Kodua Frimpong, the General Secretary of the NPP, has explicitly addressed the viral image on his official social media channels. He has labelled the document as fake news.

Conclusion

The document is a digitally altered. It was created to stir political controversy and capitalise on the names of polarising figures.

Claim: A viral video circulating on social media shows former vice president Mahamudu Bawumia alleging that individuals within his party are sabotaging his 2028 presidential ambitions.

Verdict: False! There is no credible evidence that Bawumia made the statement. Technical analysis and lack of corroboration from credible sources suggest the video is AI-generated.

Full Text

A video circulating widely on Facebook (archived here) claims to show former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia making explosive allegations about internal sabotage within his party ahead of the 2028 elections. 

In the clip, he is purported to question whether Ken Ofori-Atta’s alleged application for U.S. residency forms part of a deliberate attempt by “faceless people” within the party to undermine his political ambitions.

The claim draws on recent developments involving former Finance Minister, Ofori-Atta, who is facing  legal scrutiny, including corruption charges during  his tenure. He was reported to have been arrested in the United States in January 2026 on immigration-related charges, amid ongoing extradition concerns.

Given the potential political implications of such a statement and the sensitivity of the issues referenced, DUBAWA examined the authenticity of the video.

Verification

No credible media coverage of the claim exists. DUBAWA found no reports of such remarks by Bawumia in Ghana’s major media outlets.

Given the highly sensitive nature of the alleged claim, it would have attracted widespread coverage if it were genuine.

This lack of verifiable details raises questions about the claim’s authenticity.

A review of the video reveals several indicators consistent with manipulated or AI-generated content:

• Lip-sync inconsistencies, including blurring around the mouth
• Mismatch in audio and video quality, with unusually clear audio over low-quality visual

Screenshot of the video claim

• AI detection analysis, Bitmind, indicates a 75% likelihood of AI-generated content

Screenshot of the analysis conducted on the video’s audio clip on Bitmind.

When we again used Undetectable AI to analyse the speech, it revealed a 73% probability that it was AI-generated.

Screenshot of the analysis conducted on undetectable AI.

We then analysed the audio using an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-detecting tool, ISFAKEAI, and the results indicated that the clip had been digitally manipulated.

The tool revealed that about 96% of the audio’s visual elements were either generated or enhanced by AI, indicating a high level of manipulation.

Screenshot of the analysis conducted on the video’s audio clip on isfake.ai.

Additional verification using SynthID further supports the likelihood that the video is manipulated. 

The tool also flagged lip-sync irregularities, unnatural voice cadence, and visual distortions around the mouth, all common traits of deepfake content. 

Pattern consistent with known misinformation trends

DUBAWA has previously identified similar cases involving AI-generated voice cloning, fabricated political statements, and content designed to create internal political tension. This viral video aligns with these patterns.

Conclusion

There is no credible evidence that Mahamudu Bawumia made the statements attributed to him in the viral video. The absence of media reports, lack of verifiable context, and multiple technical indicators of manipulation suggest the video is AI-generated.

Introduction

An investigative report by The Fourth Estate, an independent media outlet in Ghana, has stoked a never-ending debate in the West African country about sole sourcing of government contracts.

The report published on Mar. 24, 2026, highlighted the breach of the promise made by the country’s governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to reduce sole sourcing in the award of government contracts while in opposition between 2017 and 2024.

The facts of sole sourcing

Sole sourcing of government contracts in Ghana has become highly politicised, with both the NDC and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) taking strong positions. However, the stance of these two dominating political parties often depends on whether they are in power or opposition.

Sole sourcing is a procurement method in which the government, agency, or ministry selects a single contractor directly, rather than inviting several companies to compete.

Under Ghana’s procurement system, competitive tendering is the preferred method of procuring goods and services. The Public Procurement Act, 2013 (Act 663), makes the competitive tendering process the default method because it promotes transparency and value for money. However, sole sourcing is allowed as an exception, not the norm. 

According to the country’s procurement guidelines, institutions must justify why only one supplier is suitable and must obtain approval from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to use that procurement method. 

The Politics – NPP vs NDC

Debates over sole sourcing in Ghana have often taken on a strong political tone, particularly between the NPP and the NDC. Each party has, at different times, advanced arguments shaped largely by whether it is in government or in opposition.

Within the NPP, several figures, including the former President Nana Akufo-Addo and former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, criticised the widespread use of sole sourcing, arguing that it creates room for abuse and undermines transparency in public procurement. 

While campaigning as the NPP Presidential candidate in 2016, Nana Akufo-Addo announced that the “era of sole sourcing will come to an end.” However, his government was accused of awarding public contracts through sole sourcing, despite having announced its end.

While in opposition, the NDC consistently accused the Akufo-Addo administration here and here of overusing the method and bypassing competitive tendering processes, thereby weakening accountability in the award of public contracts. 

But barely two years into government, the NDC has been accused of sole sourcing 81 road contracts worth GH₵73 billion within seven months under President John Dramani Mahama’s flagship programme ‘Big Push,’ despite speaking against the procurement method while in opposition.

The investigative report came barely a month after President Mahama told Ghanaians during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) that sole sourcing would be used only in exceptional circumstances. 

“Mr Speaker, we are bringing legislation to this House to tighten our procurement processes by banning sole-sourced contracts, except in exceptional circumstances,” the President said.

“…in what appears to be a bold and complete disregard and defiance of the President’s vow and promises to the nation, the Ministry of Roads and Highways has literally become a factory for sole-sourced road contracts. The Ministry has been churning out what translates into almost 12 sole-sourced contracts per month,” The Fourth Estate reported.

Meanwhile, the President has requested the Fourth Estate’s investigative report and directed the Ministry of Roads to respond to the allegations. 

The Law – what Section 40 of Act 663 says

The legal basis for sole sourcing in Ghana is found in Section 40 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) (as amended). This provision makes it clear that sole sourcing is not the standard method for awarding public contracts, but rather an exception that may be used only under clearly defined circumstances.

Under Section 40 of Act 663, a public entity may resort to sole sourcing where only one supplier possesses the required expertise or holds exclusive rights to provide the goods or services in question. It is also permitted in situations of urgency, where the time required for competitive tendering would be impractical, as well as during emergencies or disasters that demand immediate action. 

Additionally, the law allows sole sourcing where further work must be carried out by an existing contractor to ensure compatibility or continuity, in cases involving specialised or research-based services, and where national security considerations arise.

However, even in these limited situations, the law imposes strict safeguards. The procuring entity must provide proper justification for choosing the sole sourcing method, obtain approval from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), and demonstrate that the contract offers value for money. These requirements are intended to prevent abuse and ensure that public funds are used responsibly.

In essence, while the law recognises the practical need for sole sourcing in certain situations, it tightly regulates its use. Sole sourcing is therefore permitted, but only within carefully controlled boundaries designed to promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public procurement.

The controversy – opinion from experts

The use of sole sourcing in public procurement remains highly controversial, largely because it sits at the intersection of efficiency and accountability. Experts argue that awarding contracts without competitive bidding undermines one of the core principles of procurement, competition. 

Private legal practitioner and lecturer at GIMPA Law School, Lom Nuku Ahlijah, has urged caution in the use of sole sourcing, which is permitted under Ghana’s procurement laws.

“The term that the Act uses is single-source procurement… what it means is that whereas you could use a competitive process… You choose a single source, effectively inviting a single company. But if you want to do it, you must do it under certain circumstances and get the approval of the Public Procurement Authority,” he told Accra-based Metro TV.

But policy analyst Professor John Osae-Kwapong has called for a political consensus on procurement practices to address their wider political implications. “Maybe we need to come back to the table and say, ‘You know what, let’s build a political consensus around this,’” he said on Accra-based Joy News.

Despite these concerns, supporters of sole sourcing maintain that it serves important practical purposes. In emergency situations, such as natural disasters or urgent national needs, the time required for competitive tendering may be impractical, making sole sourcing a faster and more effective option. 

Conclusion

Sole sourcing is a lawful method of public procurement in Ghana, but it is intended to operate as an exception rather than the norm. The legal framework recognises that there are limited circumstances where competitive tendering may not be practical, and in such cases, sole sourcing provides a necessary alternative. However, expert says that its legitimacy depends not merely on its legality, but also on its practice.

Claim: Member of the communications team of the New Patriotic Party, Dennis ‘Miracles’ Aboagye claims that cocoa prices soared to $13,000 in 2025.

Verdict: Having analysed data from the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) and the Business Insider, we found the claim to be false.

Full Text

Member of the New Patriotic Party’s communications team, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, is accusing the government of shortchanging cocoa farmers.

Commenting on the government’s decision to cut the farmgate cocoa price paid to farmers, Dennis Aboagye accused the government of being untruthful and unfair. 

While questioning an earlier claim by the National Democratic Congress’ Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe that the previous government had already purchased 92% of cocoa beans through forward sale arrangements, Dennis Aboagye said such a claim was inconsistent with the reduction in cocoa producer prices, arguing that if that volume had indeed been sold in advance, it would have been transacted at the prevailing market prices at the time.

“If it is true that COCOBOD had sold 92 per cent of cocoa beans by forward sale by January 2026, they would have sold it at the prevailing price at the time you were selling it,” Aboagye said on Newsfile on Saturday, February 28.

He then claimed that cocoa prices had hit the $13,000/tonne margin in 2025.

“As of August 2025, when they announced new cocoa prices, it was selling at around $7,200. The average for the year was around $7,000. Indeed, at some point in 2025, cocoa prices went all the way to $13,000.”

The show was aired live on television and was also livestreamed on various social media platforms, including YouTube (3:22:20 to 3:25:30). A clip in which Dennis Aboagye made the claim has been posted on Facebook by JoyNews.

Did cocoa hit $13,000 per tonne in 2025 as claimed by Miracles Aboagye?

DUBAWA decided to fact-check the claim in line with our mandate to combat misinformation and to promote truth in public discourse.

Verification

To verify the claim that cocoa prices hit about $13,000 on the global market, we analysed data from two sources: the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) and Business Insider, and limited our scope to 2025.

According to data from ICCO, cocoa prices on the world market peaked on January 29 2025, selling at 11,453.00 (New York Futures) per tonne. This amount is not so different from what is provided on the Business Insider chart of cocoa prices for January 29 ($11,447.07) 

Filtered data from ICCO showing when cocoa prices peaked in 2025. 

Similarly, the Business Insider chart shows cocoa prices peaked at 11,510.37 on January 22, which differs slightly from ICCO’s figure for that day (11,361.33 – New York Futures).

Screenshot of Business Insider’s dashboard of cocoa price trends in 2025, with price peaking at 11,510.37 in January.

While the two sources quote slightly different prices, neither reports cocoa prices reaching $13,000, as Dennis Aboagye claimed.

A Bloomberg report on cocoa prices, published in December 2025, makes reference to a time when global prices “almost” hit $13,000; the year 2024

“Cocoa soared to a record of almost $13,000 a ton last year as disease and extreme weather ravaged crops in the Ivory Coast and Ghana,” a line in the article reads. With the article published in 2025, by “last year” it was making reference to 2024.

If prices had reached or surpassed $13,000 in 2025, that development would likely have been cited as the new benchmark rather than referring to a previous year.

When we reviewed data for 2024, the highest cocoa prices were recorded on April 19 and December 18, at 12,538.81 and 12,475.33, respectively, according to Business Insider.

Screenshot of Business Insider’s dashboard of cocoa price trends in 2024.

Conclusion

 Miracles Aboagye’s claim that cocoa prices hit $13,000 in 2025 is false. 

Claim: A Facebook post claims Asiedu Nketiah stated that Mahama supporters have seen no change in their living conditions and are “still wearing the same slippers since 2024,” while encouraging them to vote for someone else.

Verdict: False! The claim misrepresents the politician. The “same slippers” comment was not his personal criticism but part of a description of mockery by opponents.

Full Text

A Facebook post by user Nana Djan [archived here] claims that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Chairperson, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, criticised the Mahama government, telling supporters that their lives had not improved despite the party’s campaign.

The post quotes him as saying, “We all campaigned for Mahama. Now, Mahama is in government, and your lives haven’t changed. You are still wearing the same slippers you were wearing in 2024. Vote for someone who will change your lives.”

The post also describes him as an “NDC flagbearer aspirant.” DUBAWA investigated the claim because of its potential to mislead. Such distortions can inflame partisan narratives and spread misinformation.

Verification

The quote is taken out of context. DUBAWA reviewed the full recording of Asiedu Nketiah’s speech delivered in Twi. In the address, he did not criticise Mahama or urge supporters to vote for someone else.

Instead, he described how NPP opponents mocked NDC supporters.

Translated from the verbatim Twi transcript:

“Our companions, the NPP, the best thing they know how to do is mocking…
If you vied for a position such as DC and you are not successful, when they see you passing by, they will clap and tease you…They will say, ‘Hajia, aren’t you the one who didn’t let us rest during the campaign… since Mahama came, your scarf remains the same, you haven’t changed your footwear/slippers.’”

This shows he was quoting insults and mockery allegedly used by opponents, not making those remarks himself or criticising the government.

The Facebook post removes this context and falsely presents the mockery as his personal statement.

His political status is also incorrectly stated.

The post calls him an “NDC flagbearer aspirant.” However, Asiedu Nketiah currently serves as National Chairperson of the NDC. Even though there are signals that he may contest the party’s flagbearer position, the party itself has neither opened nominations nor has he publicly and officially confirmed the decision to contest as the party’s flagbearer. 

Conclusion

The claim that Asiedu Nketiah said Mahama supporters have seen no improvement in their lives and are “still wearing the same slippers since 2024,” while urging them to vote for someone else, is false.

A review of the speech shows that he was quoting political opponents’ mockery, not criticising Mahama or NDC supporters. Additionally, he is not an NDC flagbearer aspirant, as stated in the post, but the party’s National Chairman.

Claim: Several social media users are sharing a video claiming a scuffle broke out between New Patriotic Party (NPP) members of parliament ahead of the presidential primaries.

Verdict: Misleading. DUBAWA’s checks reveal that the events in the video occurred in 2025 and are not related to events ahead of the Jan. 31, 2026, presidential primaries of the NPP.

Full Text 

The NPP, in the bid to quickly reorganise after a humiliating defeat in Ghana’s 2024 election, has set Jan. 31, 2026, as the date for electing a flagbearer to regain power in 2028. 

Five party members are poised to win the flagbearership with the hope of regaining power in 2028. The five include former vice president Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Dr Bryan Acheampong, Kwabena Agyapong, and Kennedy Ohene Agyapong. 

Events ahead of the NPP presidential primaries have not been short of prophesies, polls, and exchange of inflammatory comments from the various potential candidates during their campaign events.

Disinformation and misinformation have not been left out. Several social media users have shared a video claiming that a scuffle broke out between various factions of NPP members of the parliament during a parliamentary session. 

An X user, @Kiss_Mequikk, shared a video claiming that a scuffle broke out between factions of various presidential candidates in parliament. The video was captioned:

“Blows in Parliament. A heated confrontation broke out in Parliament today between MPs aligned with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia (DMB) and those supporting Kennedy Agyapong. It took the NDC Members of Parliament to separate them.”

“Embarrassing optics, honestly. When MPs turn Parliament into a boxing ring over internal party primaries, the real losers are the Ghanaian people. If it took the NDC to restore order, then it’s clear where the discipline has collapsed. Leadership is persuasion, not fists,” a user, @KSnetne, commented on X.

The post garnered 540 reposts, 2700 likes, and over 204,000 views on X.

On Facebook, the same video was shared by Friends of Sammy Gyamfi, with a similar narrative. The reel was captioned:

“Team Bawumia MPs and Team Kennedy MPs fight in the Parliament of Ghana. These people all should be deported to Kosovo by tomorrow afternoon.”

DUBAWA decided to investigate this claim due to its virality and potential to misinform. 

Verification 

To investigate this claim, DUBAWA performed an InVID We Verify keyframe analysis. A Google Image Search using the Keyframes from the analysis revealed that the video first appeared online in Dec. 2025. 

The video was from parliament proceedings on Dec. 9, 2025, when the minority caucus left their seats and massed at the centre of the chamber. This was in reaction to a decision to declare the Kpandai seat vacant, which the minority deemed “unlawful and procedurally flawed.”

However, after a voice vote, the Speaker directed that proceedings should continue. In response, Minority MPs protested by chanting and attempting to disrupt the sitting. Tensions heightened when Minority members, dressed in black, moved toward the front of the chamber, prompting some Majority NDC MPs to advance as well, resulting in a tense face-off at the centre of the House.

Asempa FM also shared the video on Facebook with the same description. A Google search further showed that several media outlets, including Citi Newsroom and Asaase Radio, had reported on the incident at the time.

Further image comparison revealed that the man wearing a plain white long-sleeved shirt who was seen attempting to hit the MP for Nyheiso, Stephen Amoah, was Tanko Mustapha Amadu, the NDC Member of Parliament for Bia West. This shows that the incident was not limited to NPP MPs alone but involved both NPP and NDC MPs.

Source: Adom FM & Parliament of Ghana 

Find the video of parliamentary proceedings here, as uploaded on ChannelOneTV’s YouTube page. Find the chaotic scenes from 2:09:55 to 2:32:01.

Also, the Parliament of Ghana has yet to resume sitting for the Second Session of the 9th Parliament. Parliamentary proceedings will resume on Feb. 3, 2026. This depicts that the events in the video could not have happened in 2026 

Conclusion

The video portraying factions of minority MPs of the various presidential candidates’ fight ahead of the NPP’s presidential primaries is misleading. The video is from parliamentary proceedings in Dec. 2025.

Background

The parliamentary election for the Kpandai Constituency, like all the other constituencies, was held on December 7, 2024. According to the Electoral Commission (EC), the results showed that Matthew Nyindam of the New Patriotic Party, NPP, won with 27,947 votes while Daniel Nsala Wakpal of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, had 24,213 votes. 

However, Mr Wakpal challenged the results at the Tamale High Court. He alleged serious irregularities in the conduct, collation, and documentation of the election. Central to his case was that in 41 out of the 152 polling stations, the official “pink sheets” contained inconsistencies and irregularities, breaches of electoral laws. 

Moreover, Mr Wakpal’s petition accused the EC of moving the constituency collation centre without notifying candidates or agents, meaning he was deprived of the right to observe collation, challenge anomalies, or request recounts as provided under law. 

The irregularities cited included mismatches in voter accountings, missing or unsigned forms, and missing vote totals, among others, all of which, the petitioner argued, undermined the integrity and fairness of the election in Kpandai. 

Court’s Decision: What the Judgement Was

On November 24, 2025, the Tamale High Court, led by Justice Emmanuel Brew Plange, delivered its judgment. The Court concluded that the irregularities and non-compliance with electoral regulations, especially in the 41 polling stations challenged, were serious enough to affect the outcome. 

As a result, the Court nullified the entire 2024 parliamentary election results for Kpandai. It ordered a fresh parliamentary election rerun in the constituency, instructing the EC to hold the new poll within 30 days. 

This means the court set aside the declaration of Matthew Nyindam as NPP MP-elect. The full ruling by Justice Emmanuel Brew Plange can be found here. 

Summary Of What The Irregularities Look Like 

Issue Category	What It Means	No. of Stations (approx.)	Impact
Ballot accounting errors	Votes, verified counts, or issued ballots don’t match	20+	Could inflate totals
Missing vote totals	Key numbers (valid, rejected, total votes) absent	7+	Impossible to confirm results
Missing signatures or serial numbers	Weak authentication, legality concerns	6+	Violates EC CI 127 requirements
Unexplained missing pink sheets	6 originals unavailable for inspection	6	Lack of transparency
Incorrect or missing verification data	BVD/manual verification not recorded	10+	Potentially unauthorized voting

Source: Tamale High Court 

Aftermath: Legal and Parliamentary Actions 

Immediately after the ruling, the NPP MP Matthew Nyindam filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution, signalling his intention to challenge the High Court’s decision. 

Meanwhile, the Parliament of Ghana has been unable to declare the Kpandai seat vacant because, under the Court of Appeal rules, there is a statutory automatic 7-day stay of execution once a High Court ruling is appealed. This was highlighted by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in a Facebook post. 

Since Matthew Nyindam has appealed the case to the Supreme Court, the Kpandai seat can’t be declared vacant until the Supreme Court concludes the matter. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. 

Reactions from Political Actors  

The NDC has welcomed the ruling, saying it exposed “crooked electoral officers” and vindicated calls for electoral accountability. 

By contrast, the NPP has condemned the decision. They argue that only 41 out of 152 polling stations were challenged, making a complete rerun of the entire constituency inconsistent and an affront to voters’ will. 

Conclusion

The High Court’s ruling to annul the entire parliamentary result and order a rerun has sparked sharp political disagreement. As the case moves to the Supreme Court, the outcome will not only determine who represents Kpandai in Parliament but will also set a significant precedent for how electoral irregularities are addressed in Ghana’s democracy.

Claim: Samuel Bright Acquah, a Ghanaian judge hearing a case against an opposition politician, quoted Robert Mugabe as saying, “I can assure you freedom of speech but cannot assure you freedom after speech.”

Verdict: False! DUBAWA’s research showed that the quote was attributed to former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. The ex-Ugandan leader reportedly said, “There is freedom of speech, but I cannot guarantee freedom after speech.” 

Full Text

Samuel Bright Acquah, a Ghanaian judge hearing a case against an opposition politician, quoted Robert Mugabe as saying, “I can assure you freedom of speech, but I cannot assure you freedom after speech.”

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye, has been arraigned in court on charges of offensive conduct conducive to the breach of the peace and the publication of false news. 

The court remanded Abronye once again on Sept. 12, 2025, because police investigations into his case are still ongoing. This was after he dismissed a bail application moved by Abronye’s lawyers.

In his ruling on the bail application, the judge attributed the quote to the ex-Zimbabwean leader, Robert Mugabe, on page 9 of the 10-page ruling.

“The late President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe once said, ‘I can assure you of freedom of speech but cannot assure you of freedom after speech.” He was reminding us that no freedom is absolute but goes with restrictions,” the judge said in the much-quoted decision.

The country’s lower court judges’ decision has gone viral, drawing criticism from Ghanaians here, here, and here.

DUBAWA decided to probe the claim as part of its campaign against misinformation and disinformation in Ghana.

Verification

DUBAWA’s investigation showed that the quote was not made by the ex-Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, as the judge in Ghana alleged.

Findings of DUBAWA’s Google keyword search revealed multiple attributions of the quote to Uganda’s former President Idi Amin, not Robert Mugabe.

Multiple sources here, here, and here quote the ex-Ugandan leader as saying, “There is freedom of speech, but I cannot guarantee freedom after speech.” 

Also, see here, here, here, here, and here for attributions of the quote to Idi Amin.

The former military ruler of Uganda served as the leader of the East African country between 1971 and 1979.

He is said to have made the statement during his maiden address to the Ugandan people.

Pressreader wrote, “Former African leader Idi Amin is alleged to have uttered this now infamous quote, ‘You have freedom of speech but I cannot guarantee your freedom after that speech.” I look around Africa and realise that in many ways, Amin’s chilling quote reflects the stance of many African leaders.”

Conclusion

Multiple sources have attributed the infamous freedom of speech quote to Uganda’s Idi Amin, not Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe.