Livestream: Newsfile discusses galamsey clash, drug busts and 2027 Budget

JoyNews’ flagship current affairs programme, Newsfile, will on Saturday, November 14, examine the government’s fight against illegal mining, recent drug trafficking operations and the key proposals in the 2027 Budget. The four-hour discussion, hosted by Samson Lardy Anyenini, will bring together eight panellists from government, the opposition, civil society, business and economic policy to interrogate the three issues and their implications for Ghana.

The topics for discussion are “Galamsey Clash”, “More Drug Busts” and “The New Economy Budget”. The first segment will focus on the latest developments in the fight against illegal mining, including the challenges confronting the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and concerns surrounding confrontations during enforcement operations.

The discussion will feature Kenneth Ashigbey, Convenor of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey; Paa Kwesi Schandorf, NAIMOS Spokesperson and Media Relations Officer at the Lands Ministry; and Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Director of Communications of the NPP. More drug busts: NACOC operations under scrutiny The second segment will examine Ghana’s growing concerns over drug trafficking and the effectiveness of the country’s efforts to combat the trade.

It follows a series of major narcotics seizures, including the interception of 46.7 kilogrammes of cocaine at Lebanon’s Rafic Hariri International Airport in a consignment originating from Accra. The subsequent arrest of three foreign nationals in Ghana in connection with the shipment has also raised questions about the country’s role in international drug trafficking networks and the effectiveness of its border security arrangements.

The discussion will feature Alexander Twum-Barimah Esq., Deputy Director-General in charge of Enforcement, Control and Elimination at the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC). He will be joined by other panellists to examine the commission’s enforcement strategies, intelligence-sharing arrangements and the challenges confronting authorities in dismantling drug trafficking networks. 2027 Budget: Can the New Economy deliver?

The final discussion will focus on the government’s 2027 Budget, particularly its ambitious New Economy Programme, which seeks to mobilise US$10 billion over four years to transform Ghana’s economy. The programme prioritises commercial agriculture, energy infrastructure, critical minerals value addition, tourism, textiles and garments, pharmaceuticals, biomanufacturing and the technology economy.

The discussion will assess the proposed investment strategy, its financing arrangements and the government’s ability to translate the ambitious targets into jobs, industrial growth and improved living conditions. Contributing to the debate will be Dr Theo Acheampong, Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Finance; Dr Frank Bannor, Spokesperson for the NPP Finance and Economy Committee; Yaw Appiah Lartey, lawyer and Partner, Strategic Transactions and Africa Infrastructure Capital Projects Leader at Deloitte Africa; and Senyo Hosi, Convenor of the One Ghana Movement and Finance and Economic Policy Analyst.

It will be broadcast on JoyNews, Joy 99.7 FM and Luv 99.5 FM, with television viewers able to watch on DStv Channel 421 and GOtv Channel 125. Listeners can also follow the programme through Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.