August Law Ghana

26/03/2026

NHS EMPLOYEE AWARDED DAMAGES IN HARASSMENT CASE AFTER GHANAIAN COLLEAGUE REPEATEDLY CALLED HER “AUNTIE”.



An NHS healthcare assistant has been awarded £1,425 in compensation after an employment tribunal ruled she was subjected to harassment by a colleague who repeatedly called her 'auntie'.

- Ilda Esteves, 61, informed her NHS colleague, Charles Oppong, that she found his constant use of the term offensive, a tribunal heard.

- Mr Oppong, a nurse, defended his actions by saying ‘auntie’ was a term of respect for older women in Ghanaian culture.

- Ms Esteves successfully brought a claim against the NHS for harassment based on her age and s*x.

- She testified that Mr Oppong, based at St Bernard's Hospital in London, had called her 'auntie' on multiple occasions, despite her requests for him to use her name.

- In a September 2023 email, Ms Esteves formally complained about Mr Oppong’s conduct, writing: "A staff member called me auntie multiple times despite telling him to call me by my name. He said you want to be young then!

- "He also commented on my lipstick and said I would be a good match for a member of staff named George."

Employment Judge George Alliott acknowledged that "'auntie' is, in fact, a term of respect in Ghanaian culture (since the harasser had Ghanaian heritage) but, nevertheless, since it was against her wishes, it would have been offensive to her".

- "We find that Charles Oppong’s purpose was probably an offensive attempt at humour. We find that [Ms Esteves] did perceive it as creating an offensive environment.

- "We find that the circumstances of the comments being made in the office and in the corridor and at handover were such that it had the effect of creating an offensive environment.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/nhs-harassment-auntie-esteves-oppong-b2945243.html

06/03/2026

Happy Independence Day to Ghana!

06/03/2026

WESTERN, CHINESE DIPLOMATS & MINING CEOS, PUSH BACK ON GHANA’S GOLD ROYALTY HIKE



- China, the U.S. and other Western governments have mounted an unusually coordinated push to get Ghana to halt a gold royalty hike they say could harm some of the ‌world's biggest miners, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter and a letter from an industry body.

- Africa's largest gold producer wants to replace its fixed 5% royalty with a sliding scale between 5% and 12% linked to bullion prices – part of an effort to capture more revenue from gold's run to successive historic highs.

- The Miners said the upper bands of the new regime, which could take effect as early as next week unless amended or withdrawn, would make Ghana one ⁠of the continent's most expensive jurisdictions and could squeeze margins.

- Ghana has agreed to cut an existing levy to ease passage of the reform, as reported by Reuters, but mining companies say the proposed scale remains too aggressive and have submitted lower counter-rates.

- In addition to U.S. and Chinese pressure, diplomatic missions from the UK, Canada, Australia and South Africa have also intervened, marking what three senior industry executives described as an unusually high-level response to a fiscal proposal.

- "This is the first time I've seen the diplomatic community get involved at this scale," a senior industry source said.

- Representatives from the missions met Ghana's lands and natural resources minister this month and presented a joint document outlining concerns, two people with direct knowledge of the meeting said.

- Global mining CEOs have also privately ⁠pushed back. Leaders of Newmont, Gold Fields, AngloGold Ashanti and Perseus wrote or delivered concerns directly to the lands minister in December and January.

- Chinese-owned mines, including Zijin, Chifeng and Shandong Gold have filed formal protests.

- A letter from the Association of China–Ghana Mining, copied to Beijing's ambassador and ⁠seen by Reuters, warned the proposal could threaten the viability of Zijin's Akyem, Chifeng's Wassa and Shandong's Cardinal gold mines.

China, the U.S. and other Western governments have mounted an unusually coordinated ​push to get Ghana to halt a gold royalty hike they say could harm some of the ‌world's biggest miners, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter and a letter from an industry body.

24/02/2026

BLUE GOLD DROPS LAWSUITS IN GHANA, SHIFTS FOCUS TO INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION



- Blue Gold Limited announced the withdrawal of lawsuits pending in Ghanaian courts and will not pursue additional legal action in Ghana, according to a press release statement.

- The stock has declined 81% over the past year to $2.22, trading with high volatility amid the ongoing legal uncertainty, according to InvestingPro data.

- The company stated it will concentrate its legal resources on international arbitration proceedings under the bilateral investment treaty between the United Kingdom and Ghana.

- Blue Gold, through its subsidiary Blue Gold Holdings Limited, is seeking damages exceeding $1 billion alongside Future Global Resources Limited, the previous owner of the mine.

- The potential recovery is significant for a company with a market capitalization of just $81.5 million and a "WEAK" financial health score from InvestingPro, which tracks 13 additional key tips for BGL investors.

- The arbitration recently held a Case Management Conference to address procedural matters.

- The company stated it will provide updates on the conference outcomes and material developments as permitted under arbitral procedures and regulatory requirements.

- Blue Gold said it remains committed to pursuing recovery of its claims through arbitration while seeking what it described as a constructive resolution with the Government of Ghana where possible.

- The company describes itself as a gold development company focused on acquiring mining assets across global jurisdictions.

https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/blue-gold-withdraws-ghana-lawsuits-to-focus-on-arbitration-93CH-4519821

20/02/2026

SOUTH AFRICA’S GOLD FIELDS TO FORMALLY HAND OVER OWNERSHIP AND OPERATORSHIP OF THE DAMANG MINE TO GHANAIAN AUTHORITIES IN APRIL 2026.



- The decision follows the government’s move not to renew the mine’s lease after its expiration in April 2025. Instead, authorities opted for the asset to revert to state ownership.

- Ghana’s mining laws, which provide the government full discretion over the future of mining assets once leases expire.

- The Damang mine is best known as one of Ghana’s major open-pit gold mines and a long-standing contributor to the country’s position as Africa’s leading gold producer.

- Operated by South Africa’s Gold Fields since the 1990s, it has produced millions of ounces of gold and played a key role in Ghana’s mining economy.

- Located in Ghana’s Western Region, Damang has supported export revenues, jobs, and foreign investment, making it one of the country’s important industrial gold operations.

- Gold Fields was granted a 12-month extension to continue operations during the transition period, a measure the company said was designed to ensure a “safe and seamless” handover while authorities prepared to assume control.

- Speaking during a media roundtable on the company’s 2025 full-year results, CEO Mike Fraser confirmed that Gold Fields had applied to renew the lease but accepted the government’s decision after it indicated a preference for Ghanaian ownership.

- However, the company said it has not received formal communication regarding the appointment of a long-term operator. Any future operator would need to be selected by the government and granted a new mining lease, a process that could require parliamentary approval.

- The transfer of the mine to state control highlights Ghana’s growing willingness to assert greater authority over its gold sector, as the country seeks to maximize national benefit from its position as Africa’s leading gold producer.

- Gold Fields’ exit makes it the first major foreign miner in recent years to relinquish a producing asset following lease expiry, underscoring a broader shift in resource governance that could reshape the operating landscape for international mining firms in Ghana.

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/south-african-gold-miner-becomes-first-major-casualty-of-ghanas-tighter-resource/ewn2lpn

12/02/2026

New Bank of Ghana Rules to Manage Forex Volatility


- The Bank of Ghana has reminded the Ghanaian public that unlicensed or unauthorized dealings in forex activities (black market transactions), pricing/quoting, advertising, issuing receipts, receiving and/ or making payments for goods and services in foreign currency (particularly the United States Dollars (USD)) in Ghana, are strictly prohibited under the Foreign Exchange Act,2006 (Act 723).

28/01/2026

TIKTOK SETTLES LANDMARK SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION LAWSUIT JUST BEFORE TRIAL

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- TikTok agreed to settle a landmark social media addiction lawsuit just before the trial kicked off, the plaintiff’s attorneys confirmed.

- The social video platform was one of three companies — along with Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube — facing claims that their platforms deliberately addict and harm children.

- A fourth company named in the lawsuit, Snapchat parent company Snap Inc., settled the case last week for an undisclosed sum.

- Details of the settlement with TikTok were not disclosed, and the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

- At the core of the case is a 19-year-old identified only by the initials “KGM,” whose case could determine how thousands of other, similar lawsuits against social media companies will play out.

- She and two other plaintiffs have been selected for bellwether trials — essentially test cases for both sides to see how their arguments play out before a jury and what damages, if any, may be awarded, said Clay Calvert, a nonresident senior fellow of technology policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

- Joseph VanZandt, co-lead counsel for the plaintiff, said in a statement Tuesday that TikTok remains a defendant in the other personal injury cases, and that the trial will proceed as scheduled against Meta and YouTube.

- KGM claims that her use of social media from an early age addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts.

- Importantly, the lawsuit claims that this was done through deliberate design choices made by companies that sought to make their platforms more addictive to children to boost profits.

- This argument, if successful, could sidestep the companies’ First Amendment shield and Section 230, which protects tech companies from liability for material posted on their platforms.

TikTok has agreed to settle in a landmark social media addiction lawsuit just before the trial kicked off, the plaintiff’s attorneys confirmed.

23/01/2026

DATA SECURITY: TIK TOK FINALIZES DEAL TO FORM JOINT VENTURE TO OPERATE IN THE U.S.


- TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new American entity, avoiding the looming threat of a ban in the United States that has been in discussion for years on the platform now used by more than 200 million Americans.

- The social video platform company signed agreements with major investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and the Emirati investment firm MGX to form the new TikTok U.S. joint venture.

- The new version will operate under “defined safeguards that protect national security through comprehensive data protections, algorithm security, content moderation and software assurances for U.S. users,” the company said in a statement Thursday.

- Adam Presser, who previously worked as TikTok’s head of operations and trust and safety, will lead the new venture as its CEO, alongside a seven-member, majority-American board of directors that includes TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew.

- The deal ends years of uncertainty about the fate of the popular video-sharing platform in the United States. After wide bipartisan majorities in Congress passed — and President Joe Biden signed — a law that would ban TikTok in the U.S. if it did not find a new owner in the place of China’s ByteDance, the platform was set to go dark on the law’s January 2025 deadline.

- For a several hours, it did. But on his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to keep it running while his administration sought an agreement for the sale of the company.

- Apart from an emphasis on data protection, with U.S. user data being stored locally in a system run by Oracle, the joint venture will also focus on TikTok’s algorithm.

- The content recommendation formula, which feeds users specific videos tailored to their preferences and interests, will be retrained, tested and updated on U.S. user data, the company said in its announcement.

- The algorithm has been a central issue in the security debate over TikTok. China previously maintained the algorithm must remain under Chinese control by law.

- Under the terms of this deal, ByteDance would license the algorithm to the U.S. entity for retraining. American TikTok users can continue using the same app.

TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new American entity, avoiding the looming threat of a ban in the U.S. that has been in discussion for years.

18/01/2026

MINING: GIADEC, METALLOID & GIBDLC SIGN US$60M MEDIUM TERM FACILITY TO ADVANCE NYINAHIN BAUXITE MINE



- The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), Metalloïd Resources Investment – LLC-S.P.C, and Ghana Integrated Bauxite Development Limited Company (GIBDLC) have executed a US$60 million medium-term facility agreement to accelerate mining activities at Nyinahin in the Ashanti Region.

- The agreement, announced in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, January 14, forms part of GIADEC’s broader strategy to develop an integrated aluminium industry in Ghana, anchored on the exploration and commercialisation of the country’s estimated 920 million tonnes of bauxite reserves.

- Under the arrangement, the funding will be deployed initially to support mining activities across hills one to three of the Nyinahin concession, with production expected to be scaled up progressively over time.

- The facility will underpin the development of a bauxite mine at Nyinahin, in line with GIADEC’s long-term vision of establishing a fully integrated aluminium value chain in Ghana, from bauxite extraction to downstream processing.

- The project is projected to create more than 1,500 jobs, enhance local value addition, and contribute significantly to national economic growth.

- Chief Executive Officer of GIADEC, Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah, described the partnership as a major milestone in Ghana’s industrialisation drive.

- Ali Bin Jerais, Chief Executive Officer of Metalloïd Resources Investment, said the facility reflected strong investor confidence in Ghana’s aluminium development agenda.

- He added that Metalloïd was committed to unlocking sustainable value from Ghana’s bauxite reserves through phased development, disciplined investment, and adherence to international best-practice mining standards.

- “Beyond production growth, this project is about building local capability, creating meaningful employment, and laying the foundations for a fully integrated aluminium value chain that delivers enduring economic impact for Ghana,” Mr Bin Jerais said.

- The Nyinahin project is expected to play a central role in Ghana’s ambition to leverage its natural resources to drive industrial development, job creation, and export growth.

The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), Metalloïd Resources Investment – LLC-S.P.C, and Ghana Integrated Bauxite Development Limited Company (GIBDLC) have executed a US$60 million facility agreement to accelerate mining activities at Nyinahin in the Ashanti Region.

17/01/2026

BENIN OFFERS CITIZENSHIP TO AFRICAN DIASPORA WHILE APPOINTING SPIKE LEE AS AMBASSADOR TO AFRICAN AMERICANS.


- The "My Afro Origins" programme is an important piece of President Patrice Talon's plan to raise his country's profile, including among prospective tourists, by highlighting its prominent role in the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved people.

- The first naturalisation ceremonies have coincided with the unveiling of projects intended to bring that history to life, including a new "Door of No Return" in Ouidah, a common departure point for transatlantic trafficking, and a replica of an 18th-century ship that transported enslaved people with sculptures inside representing nearly 300 captives. Both are still under construction.

- The government also plans to open this year a new International Museum of Memory and Slavery at the former residence of Francisco Felix de Souza, a prominent trafficker of enslaved people in the 18th and 19th centuries.

- Filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife Tonya Lee Lewis were last year named ambassadors for the programme to the African-American community.

- In July 2025 American R&B star Ciara became one of the first beneficiaries of Beninese citizenship. She performed last week at a concert in Ouidah as part of an annual festival devoted to voodoo, playing hits such as "Level Up" during a set that ran until 3 a.m.

- Her husband, American football quarterback Russell Wilson, attended and said he was hoping to become a citizen himself "real soon".

- Around 50 people have received Beninese citizenship since the "My Afro Origins" programme launched last year, according to the Justice Ministry, which is sorting through thousands of applications and receives about 100 more each day.

- To qualify, applicants need to be 18 years old and produce documents or a DNA test proving their ties to the continent, and they cannot be citizens of another African country, Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari told Reuters.

- Benin's programme is similar to an initiative in Ghana that, since 2016, has granted citizenship to 684 members of the African diaspora, according to Kofi Okyere Darko, presidential adviser on diaspora affairs.

- CARICOM, the regional bloc of the Caribbean, has endorsed a "right of return" for descendants of enslaved people, as part of a reparations plan adopted in 2014.

Isaline Attelly, a native of the Caribbean island of Martinique, had been living in Benin for nearly a year before she learned that her family's connection to the West African country went back much further.