Streets were quiet in the normally bustling heart of Accra's central business district on Wednesday as traders in the Ghanaian capital closed their shops to protest worsening economic conditions.

Runaway inflation and soaring food prices have compelled Ghana and Zambia to seek bailouts from the International Monetary Fund. This week, traders across Ghana closed shop to protest the worsening economy.

A majority of Ghana's ruling party parliamentarians on Tuesday asked the president to sack finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta and his deputy, in what they say is a bid to restore hope in the financial sector.

The world's two largest cocoa producers boycott a major industry meeting in Europe over a price dispute. Also, South Africa says its government will take the lead in informing the public about any imminent threat to its territory after the US embassy issued a terror alert in Johannesburg for this weekend.

The mass layoffs announced on Twitter have affected the newly-formed African team of the social media platform based in Ghana. However, Ghanaian lawyers are considering legal action against Twitter for violating Ghanaian labour laws.

Richarlison scores stunner in Brazil's win over Serbia as Portugal edge thriller against Ghana. Richarlison scored a stunning brace to help Brazil defeat a stubborn Serbia 2-0 after Portugal and Switzerland secured wins earlier.

Ghana, who lost their opening game to Portugal, are seeking their first points on Monday in a Group H match against South Korea, who kicked off with a 0-0 draw against Uruguay.

Two more teams qualify for the World Cup last 16, meaning that there are still 13 squads looking to book their place. If you thought the matches were exciting so far, they're bound to get even tougher over the coming days. Portugal make it through with a double from Bruno Fernandes, as do Brazil despite Neymar’s absence. Plus, Cameroon come from behind in a 3-3 thriller against Serbia, while Ghana beat South Korea 3-2.

Ghana has reached a "staff-level" agreement with the IMF for a three-year, $3 bln loan program and, according to its finance minister, expects IMF board approval "early next year".

In Ghana’s Upper West region, a small startup is mounting solar-powered and cost-effective mini-grids across light-poor communities. It also distributes rechargeable solar lamps to its members.

Ghana has doubled its efforts to achieve universal health coverage by encouraging online registration with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Ghanaians can now register for NHIS via a mobile app at their convenience.

Ghana winger Christian Atsu's remains arrived in Accra on Sunday (February 19) a day after it was announced he had been found dead under the building where he lived in southern Turkey after last week's huge earthquake.