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Young Ghanaians prioritize jobs and welfare over political party loyalty, APL report indicates
via GhanaWeb4 min read
A recent report by the Africa Policy Lens APL reveals that young Ghanaian voters are more focused on employment opportunities and improving their welfare than on political party affiliations. The national vote tracker report, released this week, highlights that the majority of voters aged 18 to 24 are primarily concerned with the government's ability to improve their lives. APL's findings suggest that young voters represent a politically fluid segment of the electorate, with one-fifth of Gen Z respondents showing high levels of indecision and weak partisan attachments. This demographic is seen as a crucial battleground capable of influencing future electoral outcomes, with a particular interest in economic mobility and future prospects. The APL National Voter Perception Poll, conducted from May 23-30, 2026, surveyed 6,483 eligible voters across all 16 regions of Ghana using a nationwide SMS polling platform. The survey also indicated a high intended electoral participation among older populations but low participation among young voters. The report noted that the New Patriotic Party NPP currently holds a measurable advantage in national vote intention with 48.8% support, compared to 37.6% for the National Democratic Congress NDC.
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Accra is experiencing a significant refuse buildup, which the Environmental Service Providers Association ESPA attributes to a critical shortage of operational landfill sites rather than waste contractor delays. Residents and traders, particularly around Kaneshie Market, have voiced concerns over overflowing refuse containers and public health risks. Ama Ofori Antwi, Executive Secretary of ESPA, stated on JoyNews' Midday News on June 24, 2026, that waste management companies struggle to dispose of collected refuse due to limited landfill availability in Greater Accra. She highlighted that while waste generation increases with urbanization and population growth, disposal infrastructure has not kept pace. The only operational landfill sites for contractors are at Adepa and Tema, forcing waste trucks to travel up to 90 kilometers. This increases operational costs and slows collection schedules, a problem exacerbated by the rainy season's impact on road conditions. ESPA is calling for urgent investment in modern waste disposal infrastructure, including engineered landfill sites within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, to improve efficiency and prevent further refuse accumulation.
Private legal practitioner and National Democratic Congress NDC member, Hamza Suhuyini, has urged state authorities to invite former Assin Central MP Kennedy Ohene Agyapong to substantiate his claim about a leading NDC member offering his wife a lucrative contract for kickbacks. Agyapong alleged that during the NDC's previous administration, an individual offered his wife a contract worth between US$55 million and US$58 million, demanding a seven percent advance payment as a kickback. However, Agyapong did not identify the ministry, the official, or the specific wife involved. Speaking on TV3's New Day programme on June 22, 2026, Suhuyini emphasized the need for accountability, especially given the government's commitment to fighting corruption. He stated that the public deserves to know the truth if there is any substance to these allegations. Suhuyini also suggested that Agyapong might have involved the NDC to deflect criticism from his own party. Separately, legal practitioner Tsatsu Tsikata cautioned President Mahama's appointees against complacency, warning that measuring governance success by only marginally outperforming previous administrations could undermine effective leadership. Speaking at the renaming of the NDC's national headquarters on June 22, 2026, Tsikata stressed that governance should be driven by higher expectations and a relentless pursuit of excellence, rather than settling for being "a little better" than predecessors.
The Narcotics Control Commission NACOC conducted its annual drug destruction exercise in Accra on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, eliminating significant quantities of seized narcotics. The destroyed substances included 9.6 tonnes of cannabis, 46.89 kilograms of cocaine, 2,734 bottles of cannabis-infused drinks, and 130 boxes of hemp-related products. Other items destroyed were 171 bottles of cannabis-infused shampoo, 10 barrels of alcoholic beverages mixed with cannabis, eight barrels of loose cannabis, 14 sacks of cannabis-infused liquid substances, and 213 boxes of bottled liquid products containing cannabis extracts. Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, Director-General of NACOC, stated that all substances were lawfully seized through the efforts of NACOC and partner security agencies, and their destruction was court-approved. He issued a warning to individuals involved in the illegal drug trade, urging them to cease their activities or face arrest, and reaffirmed the commission's commitment to combating drug trafficking and abuse.