The decision follows observations by Assembly Members that, over the years, successive chief executives have consistently failed to occupy the official residence, a situation that has left the state-owned facility abandoned, neglected and in a fast-deteriorating condition.

The bye-law was passed during the 2nd Ordinary Meeting of the 3rd Session of the 9th Assembly held at the Prempeh Assembly Hall.

The motion was moved by the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Patrick Kwame Frimpong, and was unanimously approved by Members of the House.

Under the new bye-law, any Mayor who declines to reside in the official residence could face a vote of no confidence, which could lead to his removal from office.

The Assembly says the law is now awaiting implementation.

Speaking in an interview after its passage, the Presiding Member, Patrick Kwame Frimpong, said the decision is a step in the right direction to protect and preserve state property.

He explained that the residence, which is a state asset, has been left to rot due to years of neglect and non-occupancy, stressing that making it mandatory for Mayors to reside in the facility will ensure its proper maintenance.

Mr. Frimpong commended the current Mayor for residing in the official residence during his tenure, noting that his decision to occupy the facility has helped to preserve it. He added that if not for the current Mayor’s intervention, the structure would have collapsed by now.

“We had to take this decision to ensure that every Mayor occupies the residence in the future. If a Mayor refuses to occupy it, the Assembly will pass a vote of no confidence against that Mayor. For now, the current Mayor is occupying the residence. We expect that all future Mayors will occupy the space to protect the facility for the Assembly,” he said.

The Presiding Member added that beyond preserving the structure, the move will also promote accountability and ensure that public resources are put to good use for the benefit of the Assembly and the people of Kumasi.

The Mayor, Richard Ofori-Agyemang Boadi, also welcomed the decision taken by the Assembly, describing it as timely and necessary to safeguard state property. He recounted how deplorable the residence was when he moved in, with the building left in a deteriorated state after years of abandonment, overgrown weeds taking over the compound, and several facilities broken down due to prolonged neglect.

The meeting brought Assembly Members and technocrats together to deliberate on key issues including revenue, infrastructure, health, education, trade and social welfare.

The Mayor presented the Authority Report, highlighting the Assembly’s achievements from January to June 2026 and key issues requiring attention.

In his address to the House, Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi, said the report provides a consolidated account of deliberations, observations and recommendations from the various Sub-Committees.

According to him, the report highlights key issues confronting revenue mobilisation, infrastructure development, sanitation management, market administration, transport regulation, education, security and social intervention programmes within the metropolis.

The Mayor assured the House of his unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, discipline and responsive leadership in discharging his responsibilities to the people of Kumasi.

“It is my firm conviction that, through sustained collaboration and collective resolve, we shall build a cleaner, safer, more prosperous and more resilient metropolis for present and future generations,” he stated.

He expressed gratitude to members and all stakeholders for their continuous support, cooperation and invaluable contributions to the progress of the Assembly, and respectfully submitted the report for consideration and approval.

The report was thoroughly discussed and approved by Members.

He has therefore challenged young women to take their place in the country’s growing technology space and use digital skills to create solutions, businesses and opportunities for others.

The minister made the call at the graduation ceremony of the first cohort of Plan International Ghana’s Digital Skills Project, where 26 young people completed an intensive digital skills training programme.

The cohort comprised 14 females and 12 males.

Speaking at the ceremony, he urged the female graduates not to allow the perception that technology is a male dominated field to limit their ambitions.

“To the 14 female graduates here today, you have a front-row seat in Ghana’s digital future. Do not allow anyone to say technology is not for you,” he said.

He encouraged them to pursue careers in areas including software engineering, cybersecurity, data science and artificial intelligence, while also urging them to reach back and support other girls seeking opportunities in technology.

Sam George noted that Ghana’s digital transformation is no longer an abstract policy discussion, with technology already shaping sectors including health, agriculture, finance, education and public service.

“Digital skills are not the future. They are the present,” he stressed.

He explained that the country’s digital economy cannot be built on infrastructure alone, but also requires skilled people who can use technology to solve real problems and create opportunities.

It was in this context that he commended Plan International Ghana for equipping young people with practical digital skills and giving them the opportunity to develop solutions to community challenges.

The Digital Skills Project, funded by Nokia, was implemented in partnership with Next Gen Infraco, Intellas, the University for Development Studies and Ho Technical University.

The initiative seeks to equip young people with relevant digital skills to improve their employability, entrepreneurial opportunities and participation in the digital economy, with a focus on emerging technologies and opportunities created by 5G infrastructure.

The first cohort underwent 12 weeks of intensive training, followed by a month of capstone project development. The 26 graduates produced five projects aimed at addressing real challenges in their communities.

The Minister described the projects as evidence of what can happen when young people are given the opportunity to move beyond learning technology to actually building with it.

He noted that government’s One Million Coders programme is also aimed at expanding access to practical digital skills, with 141,954 accounts enrolled as of August.

Mr George urged the graduates to take advantage of the programme to deepen their skills and pursue opportunities in areas such as cybersecurity, data analytics and artificial intelligence.

“Do not stop here. Take advantage of every opportunity available to you to continue learning and building your skills,” he encouraged.

He finally urged the graduates to make the most of the opportunities that had been opened to them and, as they progress, they must ensure they do not close the door on others who may follow.

“Now that the door has been opened for you, do not close it. Make sure that you open the door for someone else,” he underscored.

During the ceremony, the graduates, working in groups, presented five capstone projects developed from the skills they acquired during the programme.

One of the projects that drew attention was AMBU, an emergency response application designed to provide faster assistance to people in medical emergencies.

The team behind AMBU included three women, with the project reflecting the growing participation of young women in developing technology solutions.

One of the team members, Lawson Susan, explained that she joined the programme partly to challenge the perception that information technology is mainly for men.

According to her, the training broadened her knowledge of programming languages, systems, APIs and databases, while also giving her the opportunity to work on a solution with practical applications in the health sector.

“IT is for everyone, not just males. It is for females and males. We are here to break the barriers. Even what the men can’t do, we can do it,” she stated.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Head of Programmes and Influencing at Plan International Ghana, Eric Ayaba, explained that the organisation deliberately designed the programme to ensure participants could apply their knowledge to real problems rather than simply leave with certificates.

He noted that the five capstone projects developed by the graduates have the potential to address community challenges if the young people receive the necessary resources and support.

“The exciting part for us is that these young people have been able to use what they have learnt to develop solutions to real problems in their communities,” he highlighted.

Nokia Country Human Resources Manager, Brepo Akrofi Asiedu, also encouraged the graduates to take what they have learnt beyond the classroom and use their skills to make an impact in their communities.

She welcomed the gender balance recorded in the first cohort and expressed the hope that more young women would participate in future cohorts.

“We were encouraged by the number of females in the first cohort, but unfortunately, we saw a drop in the second cohort. We hope to see more females coming on board in the future,” she noted.

Plan International Ghana says it will continue to support the graduates through opportunities including job fairs, internships and mentorship, while partners explore ways of developing some of the capstone projects.

This follows the mass departure of first-year students placed in their schools through the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

According to the school heads, a majority of the students placed in their institutions have since changed their placements to other schools.

They explained that most of the affected prospective students believe their grades are better than the schools they were placed in, and are therefore seeking transfers to their preferred or sought-after schools.

They explain that the situation has compelled them to camp at the resolution centre to convince stranded students and parents to choose their schools, otherwise they risk recording very low enrollment this academic year.

Speaking to Adom News at the centre, the Headmaster of Mansoman Senior High School, Rev. Nicholas Adu Berko, disclosed that although about 800 prospective students were initially placed in his school after the release of the placements, only 18 had reported for admission as of Wednesday.

He bemoaned that students with good grades, particularly those with single-digit aggregates, are the ones constantly disappearing from the school’s enrollment portal.

“When we check the system, the students with grade 6 keep disappearing. It means they are changing their schools for the so-called better ones,” Rev. Berko lamented.

He attributed the development to the operations of the resolution centre, arguing that the centre is being used to facilitate school changes instead of its core mandate.

According to him, the resolution centre should have been limited to resolving genuine technical challenges, such as gender mismatches, pending placements, and errors in biodata, and not to allow outright change of schools that candidates had voluntarily selected.

“If the trend continues, less endowed schools will struggle to get students, while the self-placement and school-changing module defeats the equity principle behind the CSSPS.”

Rev. Berko therefore called for the dissolution of the resolution centre system, insisting that its current operations are doing more harm than good to “less-endowed” schools.

According to him, prospective students with genuine issues should be directed to seek assistance directly from the Ghana Education Service (GES) instead of through the resolution centres.

He further called for the cancellation of the categorization of Senior High Schools into A, B, C, and D, arguing that the system has created a misconception that schools in the lower categories are inferior.

He said the categorization has fueled the rush for Category A schools, leading to the mass change of placements and leaving schools like his struggling to get students, despite having adequate infrastructure and qualified teachers.

Rev. Berko noted that the categorization system has created an artificial hierarchy that influences students and parents to look down on schools in the lower categories, even when such schools are well-resourced and capable of delivering quality education.

“Although my school is classified as Category C, we have adequate infrastructure and qualified teachers just like the Category A and B schools, yet we are struggling to get students. This is largely due to the misconception that Category C schools are inferior,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, pressure at the Kumasi Resolution Centre at the Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI) has eased compared to previous days, although only one military officer was deployed to maintain order at the facility on day four of the exercise.

Parents and students who spoke to this reporter called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to clarify the mandate of the resolution centres to ensure fairness in the placement process.

Nokia Country Human Resources Manager, Brepo Akrofi Asiedu, made the call at the graduation ceremony of the first cohort of Plan International Ghana’s Digital Skills Project, where young people were trained to apply technology to real world challenges.

She noted that the number of female participants in the first cohort was encouraging, but expressed concern that female participation had dropped in the second cohort.

“We were encouraged by the number of females in the first cohort, but unfortunately, we saw a drop in the second cohort. We hope to see more females coming on board in the future,” she said.

According to her, the concern is not only about getting more girls into technology, but ensuring they are present to benefit from the opportunities that come with it.

Nokia, which supported the programme, has expressed its willingness to continue supporting efforts that equip young people with digital skills and prepare them to apply those skills to practical challenges.

She therefore encouraged more young women to see technology as an area where they can build careers, develop solutions and create opportunities for themselves and others.

The call comes as some of the women who participated in the first cohort are already demonstrating what is possible when they are given the opportunity to learn and build.

One of the projects presented at the graduation was AMBU, an emergency response application developed by a team that included three women.

The application allows users to trigger an emergency response with a single tap and uses an AI agent to provide relevant information about the user to an emergency operator.

One of the team members, Susan, explained that she joined the programme partly to challenge the perception that information technology is mainly for men.

But beyond that, the programme has helped improve her understanding of programming languages, systems, APIs and databases, while giving her the opportunity to work on a solution with practical applications in the health sector.

“IT is for everyone, not just males. It is for females and males. We are here to break the barriers. Even what the men can’t do, we can do it,” she highlighted.

For Nokia, the project demonstrates the value of creating opportunities for young people to gain practical experience and turn their knowledge into solutions.

As the programme continues into subsequent cohorts, the call is for more young women to come on board, build their skills and take advantage of the support and opportunities available to them.

The Digital Skills Project is a three year initiative by Plan International Ghana designed to equip 360 young people with digital skills and practical experience to improve their employability and entrepreneurial opportunities.”

With the three year project expected to run through 2027, Nokia has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting its continued growth and impact, while encouraging more young women to take advantage of the opportunities it provides.

The accident occurred on the Krofrom–Moro Market road when a fully loaded DAF trailer reportedly suffered brake failure and crashed into a “Pragyia” tricycle and several other vehicles.

Eyewitnesses say the victims are mainly occupants of the tricycle and a motorbike caught up in the crash.

“The trailer was descending the steep end when it failed it’s brakes. The Pragyia could not escape and got trapped and dragged to the gutter,” said TK, an eyewitness. “Other vehicles were hit as some run into nearby shops here.”

The impact left several people injured, with emergency services working to rescue victims trapped in the wreckage.

Eyewitnesses have also raised concerns about the worn-out tyres of the trailer, questioning how the vehicle was allowed to operate on the road in that condition.

The Police, Ghana National Fire Service and other emergency personnel arrived at the scene to assist with rescue operations, manage the injured and restore order as the accident caused significant disruption along the busy stretch.

The identities of the deceased and injured persons have not yet been officially confirmed, while investigations are underway to establish the exact cause of the crash.

It was Tuesday, September 11, 2001, a day that began like any other but ended by changing America and the world forever.

Nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists, led by Osama bin Laden, hijacked four commercial aircraft in a coordinated attack on the United States.

Within hours, the world’s most powerful nation was under unprecedented attack.

FOUR PLANES, THREE TARGETS

At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York.

Seventeen minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175 slammed into the South Tower.

At 9:37 a.m., American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia—the heart of America’s military establishment.

The fourth aircraft, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at about 10:03 a.m., after passengers and crew attempted to overpower the hijackers.

Then came the images that shocked the world.

The Twin Towers collapsed, sending enormous clouds of smoke and debris through Lower Manhattan.

2,977 LIVES LOST

The attacks killed 2,977 people, excluding the 19 hijackers.

The victims included office workers, passengers, firefighters, police officers, emergency responders, and ordinary civilians.

Thousands more were injured.

For families across America and beyond, September 11 became a date associated forever with grief and loss.

AMERICA STRIKES BACK

The attacks triggered an extraordinary American response.

The United States launched military operations in Afghanistan in October 2001, targeting al-Qaeda and the Taliban government that had provided sanctuary to the organisation.

Washington also dramatically expanded intelligence and counterterrorism operations.

The USA PATRIOT Act increased government surveillance and investigative powers, while airport security was radically tightened.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was subsequently established.

9/11 AND THE ROAD TO IRAQ

The post-9/11 security environment also contributed to the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

But Iraq was not responsible for the 9/11 attacks, and no operational link between Saddam Hussein’s government and the attacks was established.

The Iraq War nevertheless transformed Middle Eastern politics and had far-reaching consequences for global security.

AFRICA BECOMES A NEW FRONT

The shockwaves of 9/11 reached Africa.

The global War on Terror intensified international attention on extremist organisations operating across the continent.

Groups such as al-Shabaab, Boko Haram and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) became major security concerns.

The United States expanded intelligence cooperation, military assistance and counterterrorism training with African governments.

The establishment of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in 2007 further demonstrated Africa’s growing importance in America’s global security strategy.

But the approach also sparked debate.

Critics argued that poverty, unemployment, weak governance, political exclusion and socioeconomic grievances should not automatically be reduced to terrorism or addressed primarily through military force.

A NEW WORLD OF SECURITY

After 9/11, the world became a more heavily monitored place.

Airports introduced tougher screening.

Borders and immigration controls were strengthened.

Banks intensified efforts to detect terrorist financing.

Governments expanded intelligence-sharing and surveillance.

But greater security came with a price: growing concerns about privacy, civil liberties and human rights.

THE RISE OF ISLAMOPHOBIA

9/11 also had a painful social consequence.

Muslims and people perceived to be Muslim faced increased suspicion, discrimination, profiling and hate crimes in parts of the world.

Yet al-Qaeda’s extremist ideology did not represent Islam or Muslims generally.

Muslim communities worldwide overwhelmingly condemned terrorism and the deliberate targeting of civilians.

Osama bin Laden was killed on May 2, 2011 (local time) in Abbottabad, Pakistan at a hide out by the US special operations authorized by Barack Obama in a code name OPERATION NEPTUNE SPEAR.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER

The smoke over New York has long disappeared.

The rubble has been cleared.

But the consequences of September 11 remain.

The attacks changed warfare, aviation, journalism, intelligence gathering, immigration, financial regulation and international diplomacy.

They reshaped America’s relationship with Africa and the rest of the world.

And they placed terrorism at the centre of global security for an entire generation.

A DAY THE WORLD WILL NEVER FORGET

September 11, 2001, was more than an attack on the United States.

It was a defining moment in modern history.

A day that claimed thousands of lives.

A day that launched wars.

A day that transformed global security.

A day that changed how the world travelled, communicated and responded to threats.

Twenty-five years on, 9/11 remains a haunting reminder that one morning can alter the course of history and that the consequences of that day can echo across generations.

According to him, requiring institutions such as the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to secure convictions before recovering unexplained wealth undermines the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts.

Speaking during the second edition of the National Anti-Corruption Dialogue in Accra, Mr Agyebeng argued that authorities must be empowered to recover assets linked to unexplained wealth even where a criminal conviction has not been secured.

“I also call for non-conviction based asset recovery to be entrenched in the Constitution. I believe that without it, the fight against corruption could suffer a major setback,” he said.

He stressed that the reform must be firmly established in legislation to enable anti-corruption institutions to deal effectively with unexplained wealth.

“To require institutions like EOCO and OSP to secure convictions before we are able to go after unexplained wealth, is rather putting the cart before the horse,” he added.

Mr Agyebeng also advocated for the introduction of a reverse onus clause, arguing that individuals whose wealth is disproportionate to their lawful sources of income should be required to explain how they acquired their assets.

“The presumption of corruption should be instituted, where it is very clear that a person is unable to explain their wealth as much to their lawful sources of income,” he said.

He explained that under such a framework, the burden would shift to the individual to demonstrate that their wealth and lifestyle are supported by legitimate sources of income.

Also read:

• OSP cautions against linking US conviction of Berko directly to bribery claims in Ghana

• Interior Minister warns against glorifying unexplained wealth

According to the President, persistent losses by state-owned enterprises (SOEs) can no longer be routinely absorbed into the national budget, signalling a tougher approach to the management and oversight of public enterprises.

Speaking at a conference with chief executives and governing boards of SOEs on Thursday, September 10, 2026, President Mahama said state ownership must come with measurable benefits for citizens.

“Ownership must produce public value. Every institution, every institution represented here must demonstrate with credible evidence the value that it has created for the Ghanaian people,” he said.

President Mahama said his administration had already begun redefining its relationship with state enterprises, with performance, accountability, and profitability expected to become key measures of success.

“When I met Chief Executives in March 2025, I made it clear that we were resetting the relationship between government and its enterprises,” he said.

“I said that persistent losses could no longer be quietly absorbed into the national budget and that SIGA has become an effective ownership and performance institution and that leadership positions should be tied to measurable value and profits,” he added.

He said the commitment was further reinforced during an engagement between the chief executives and Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang in March 2026.

The President’s latest remarks put the leadership of SOEs on notice that simply managing a state institution will no longer be enough to justify its continued existence.

He said government would increasingly expect public enterprises to show clear economic and social returns, with the performance of their leaders assessed against tangible outcomes.

The position forms part of the government’s broader effort to strengthen accountability in the management of state-owned enterprises and reduce the financial burden their persistent losses place on the state.

Also read:

• SOEs swing from GH¢2.25bn loss to GH¢19.8bn profit in 2025 – Government

• Perform or be dissolved – Gov’t bans bonuses for loss-making SOEs

Speaking on the Joy FM Super Morning Show on Thursday, September 10, during a discussion on hypertension, Mr Asiedu said a large number of people could be living with hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases without knowing it because the conditions often show no obvious symptoms.

His comments came after concerns about estimates suggesting that about 70% of Ghanaians could be hypertensive without knowing it.

He said the concern should extend to cardiovascular diseases more broadly, including conditions linked to high cholesterol.

“I don’t want us to limit it to hypertension on its own,” Mr Asiedu said.

“Cardiovascular disease generally, because sometimes people even don’t know that high cholesterol in itself and the position of cholesterol in the bloodstream can decrease the blood flow to the penile area as well,” he explained.

According to him, many people in Ghana could have elevated cholesterol levels without being aware of it.

“A lot of people are walking around with elevated cholesterol levels in Ghana. They have no idea,” he said.

He said that cardiovascular disease is a broad category and includes hypertension and coronary heart disease, among others.

“So I go, and I say cardiovascular diseases; hypertension is one of them. Coronary heart disease can be another,” he said.

Mr Asiedu attributed the problem partly to the lack of widespread screening for chronic diseases.

“And why does that happen? Because we do not screen for these diseases widely,” he said.

He pointed to countries where routine screening is introduced at certain ages as an example of how Ghana could identify diseases earlier.

“In countries where deaths from cardiovascular diseases occur after 70 years. They start screening around the 40th birthday,” he said.

Using the United Kingdom as an example, he said people are routinely invited to undergo screening as they reach certain age groups.

“In the UK, for example, on your 40th birthday, you get a message through your letterbox which says go and screen. After 50, you get another message,” he said.

Mr Asiedu said that Ghana needs to develop a similar culture of proactive screening rather than relying mainly on patients to seek medical care after symptoms have appeared.

“We have never had a system in place that screens,” he said.

Mr Asiedu said Ghana’s healthcare system had historically depended heavily on people becoming unwell and then presenting themselves at health facilities.

“Our health system, until the free primary healthcare policy that is being rolled out, was antiquated. It depended on the patient going to the hospital. That has been reversed,” he said.

He said the focus should now shift towards identifying people who appear healthy but may already have an underlying condition.

“If you read now, it is the healthcare system looking for the well who are ill,” he said.

“That is how we would reverse this. Until we actively look for the well who are ill, 70% would continue to walk around and be undiagnosed because they don’t know.”

Mr Asiedu also linked the issue to the way some men respond when they develop erectile dysfunction.

He said some men may experience erectile problems as a consequence of an underlying health condition but fail to investigate the cause.

“And when they have symptoms like erectile dysfunction, they would go and take the aphrodisiacs,” he said.

Mr Asiedu said one of the biggest challenges in dealing with hypertension is that it can develop without producing noticeable symptoms.

“A lot of them. And people don’t know they are undiagnosed. Why? Because they are what we call asymptomatic,” he said.

Mr Asiedu said some products sold as herbal aphrodisiacs may contain pharmaceutical substances without consumers knowing what they are taking.

“The sad thing about the aphrodisiacs is the fact that a lot of them actually are not herbal.”

“They make concoctions. If you don’t know, you are taking that,” he added.

According to Mr Asiedu, this can be particularly dangerous for people who may already have an undiagnosed cardiovascular condition.

“That in itself can give you a cardiovascular attack because you don’t even know you are taking that medication,” he said.

Also read:

• National Cardiothoracic Centre warns men against stopping hypertension drugs over erectile dysfunction fears

• Ghanaians urged to avoid practices that cause hypertension

The beneficiaries received mattresses, trunks, rubber buckets, and exercise books.

The initiative, spearheaded by Mr. De-Graft Paitoo and Naana Ackom, is aimed at ensuring that financial difficulties do not prevent brilliant students from pursuing their education.

Speaking to Adom News, Mr. De Graft Paitoo urged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously, cautioning them against engaging in social vices.

Madam Ackom added that the government remains committed to supporting children to access education and reducing the high illiteracy rate in the district.

She urged parents and beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity and work hard to achieve their educational goals.

Minister for Local Government, Mahama Ayariga, says preparations are already advanced, with trucks being mobilised from across the country to support the exercise.

Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM, Mr Ayariga said regional coordinators have been brought to Accra to oversee the deployment of the trucks and ensure the exercise starts within the one-week timeline set by government.

He said he has also briefed President John Dramani Mahama on the preparations and expects the President to officially launch the exercise once the necessary logistics are in place.

“By next week, I am very confident that the evacuation of the waste from the Jamestown site will start.

“I’ve told the President, I mentioned to him at Cabinet yesterday, that I’m trying to get them on site so that by next week he comes to commission the exercise,” he said.

The evacuation is expected to ease the growing sanitation burden at Jamestown, where the accumulation of refuse has become a major concern for residents and authorities.

According to Mr Ayariga, the mobilisation of trucks from different regions is intended to provide the logistical capacity required to clear the accumulated waste within the planned timeframe.

The exercise is part of broader government measures to address waste management challenges in Accra and improve sanitation in communities affected by persistent refuse accumulation.

Also read:

• Ayariga leads technical assessment of Jamestown waste ahead of evacuation

• Jamestown waste evacuation to be treated as national emergency – Minister

The finalists are Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School (PRESEC), St Augustine’s College (Augusco), and Accra Academy Senior High School.

In a Facebook post ahead of today’s grand finale, Dr Bawumia described the three schools as some of Ghana’s finest and encouraged them to give their best as they battle for the ultimate prize.

“Today, three of Ghana’s finest schools go head-to-head in the grand finale of the National Science & Maths Quiz: Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School, St. Augustine’s College, and Accra Academy Senior High School.”

He wished the contestants well, stressing that their achievement in reaching the final already makes them champions in their own right.

“I wish you the very best as you compete for the ultimate prize. Whatever the outcome, you are all champions of Ghana’s future.”

Dr Bawumia ended his message by naming the three schools and wishing them success in the keenly anticipated contest.

“Good luck, PRESEC, Augusco and Accra Academy.”

Read the full post below:

Also read:

• 2026 NSMQ Final: St Augustine’s gets GH¢110K motivational package from old boys

• PRESEC, Augusco and Accra Academy battle for 2026 NSMQ crown today

Speaking on Joy FM Super Morning Show, during a discussion on hypertension and its effects on men, he clarified that although erectile dysfunction can be a side effect of some blood pressure medicines, it is wrong to assume that every person taking hypertension medication will experience the problem.

Explaining the link between chronic disease and erectile dysfunction, Mr Asiedu said the condition can often be connected to problems with blood circulation.

“Let me explain what erectile dysfunction is. It normally is a result of poor circulation into the penile area. That’s a major thing,” he said.

He added that diabetes could also affect sexual function through nerve damage.

“Or other things with people with diabetes are a lack of sensitivity in the penile area because of nerve damage and other things. Those are the two major things,” he said.

Mr Asiedu acknowledged that some blood pressure medicines can contribute to erectile dysfunction, but said that this does not apply to all hypertension medication.

He explained that blood pressure is influenced by two main components: cardiac output, which refers to how much blood the heart pumps, and peripheral resistance, which refers to the resistance the blood encounters as it moves through the blood vessels.

“If you look at blood pressure in a human being, there are two components. There’s what we call the cardiac output. That is how the heart pumps the blood out,” he said.

“And the peripheral resistance, that’s how your veins and arteries block. You look at it like a water hose. They block the flow of blood through it.”

According to him, medicines used to control blood pressure work in different ways. Some reduce the pressure generated by the heart, while others reduce the resistance in the blood vessels.

“In the control of blood pressure, two things are done. You either try to decrease the pressure the heart is pumping, which is the cardiac output, or decrease the peripheral resistance, which is the pressure that the veins and muscles pose to the blood as it flows,” he explained.

He said some medicines that reduce peripheral resistance can contribute to erectile dysfunction by affecting blood flow, but cautioned against generalising this effect to all blood pressure drugs.

“A lot of the drugs that cause this erectile dysfunction are the ones that decrease the resistance,” he said.

“That is why it’s correct that it is not all blood pressure medication that would have that side effect.”

Mr Asiedu said a common belief that taking blood pressure medication will inevitably lead to sexual side effects could discourage people from seeking or continuing treatment.

“There is a myth out there that once you have high blood pressure and you take the medication, they would have side effects. That is untrue,” he said.

He said doctors need to assess each patient individually rather than assuming that erectile dysfunction is caused by medication.

“And that’s why I am very careful concentrating on the drug, but saying let’s look at the individual patients,” he said.

He posed the question of whether every patient with hypertension who takes medication develops erectile dysfunction and answered that the available evidence does not support such a conclusion.

“Are they all suffering erectile dysfunction as a result of the medication they are taking? The answer from the data and everything is no,” he said.

Mr Asiedu further explained that patients can respond differently to the same medication, making it important for healthcare professionals to individualise treatment.

“Even when it comes to the medication, as the cardiologist said, there’s something called individualisation of care,” he said.

He rejected the idea that blood pressure medication automatically causes erectile dysfunction in everyone who takes it.

“A medication that might cause erectile dysfunction in Kwame would not cause erectile dysfunction in Kofi,” he said.

He said too much attention was often placed on medication when the underlying disease itself could be responsible for sexual problems.

“I get very worried when we concentrate too much on the medication, because a lot of the time it is what we call the aetiology,” he said.

Also read:

• National Cardiothoracic Centre warns men against stopping hypertension drugs over erectile dysfunction fears

• Principal Medical Herbalist outlines key risk factors for erectile dysfunction

The Minister for Local Government said he deliberately chose the executive because he believes the country’s local governance sector requires significant reforms and his experience could help address some of its longstanding challenges.

Mr Ayariga said his work in Parliament had reached a point where most of the major responsibilities before the House had already been dealt with.

In an interview on Accrased Citi FM, he cited the approval of government nominees, passage of key budgets and consideration of judicial appointments among the major tasks Parliament had completed.

According to him, remaining in Parliament would have meant waiting largely for major annual events such as the presentation of the Budget and the State of the Nation Address.

The executive, he noted, offered a more demanding environment where his experience could be put to immediate use.

Mr Ayariga said although President John Dramani Mahama was initially reluctant to release him from Parliament, he was convinced that joining the executive was the more meaningful option.

“I was happy to go to local government because I have always felt that that’s really where we need a lot of fixing,” he added.

Mr Ayariga was appointed Minister for Local Government by President Mahama on August 7 and subsequently sworn into office on August 29.

His move marks a return to the executive, where he is expected to focus on strengthening local governance and addressing challenges confronting the sector.

Also read:

• Ayariga leads technical assessment of Jamestown waste ahead of evacuation

• Mahama charges Ayariga, Zanetor to uphold accountability, transparency

The traders say they will resist any attempt to evict them from portions of the market to make way for the initiative being pursued by the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GEMA).

According to them, the market is large enough for the Assembly to allocate a portion for the 24-hour market without displacing existing traders.

In an interview with Adom News, some of the traders, many of whom say they are single mothers, fear that their removal would leave them without a source of income and push their families further into poverty.

They claim the Assembly has already marked some shops for immediate removal, heightening concerns among traders who say they have not been given adequate assurances about their livelihoods.

The traders are therefore appealing to the authorities to reconsider the planned eviction and engage them on a solution that will allow the 24-hour market initiative to proceed without displacing them.

Some traders have also accused officials of assaulting them during a previous meeting held to find a resolution to the dispute.

The affected traders are demanding further engagement with the Assembly and insist that their livelihoods must be considered before any demolition or removal exercise is carried out.

Also read:

• They demolish buildings and tell us they’re building 24-hour markets – Paul Adom-Otchere

• Adom Trotro: Agbogbloshie yam traders reject proposed 24-hour market structure

During a monitoring visit to the project site, Bono East Regional Minister, Francis Owusu Antwi expressed outrage upon discovering that the contractor had completed just 5% of the work, a far cry from the 25% expected based on the current contract duration.

The project, which falls under the government’s broader national agenda to establish round-the-clock commercial hubs across all 261 districts in Ghana, is designed to be a gamechanger for the local economy.

It promises to move beyond traditional periodic trading by offering 24-hour banking services, cold storage units, warehouses, clinics, pharmacies, day-care centers, and dedicated police and fire service posts for enhanced security.

However, the Minister’s visit painted a picture of stagnation, with minimal visible progress on the grounds.

“I am not happy at all with what I am seeing,” an infuriated Mr. Owusu Antwi told the media after his inspection. “This is the government’s most important policy; it cannot afford to fail. The contractor has done just 5% of work against an expected 25% per the contract duration. It is unacceptable.”

The Regional Minister did not mince words regarding the future of the contract. He issued a stern ultimatum, warning that failure to demonstrate significant improvements by his next scheduled visit would result in immediate termination of the contract.

“I am giving the contractor a strict deadline. If I don’t see significant changes by my next visit, I will be forced to terminate this contract. Enough is enough. The 24-hour economy agenda is a policy we are committed to delivering for the people of Nkoranza and Ghana as a whole,” he added.

Contractor’s Plea for Time

Responding to the Minister’s criticisms, the contractor on-site conceded that the project had fallen behind schedule but maintained that the situation was not irreversible. He attributed the delays to logistical challenges but assured the Regional Minister and the public that a turnaround was imminent.

“We admit that we are behind schedule, but we are putting urgent measures in place,” the contractor explained. “We promise to increase our output and significantly expand our workforce by the close of this month. We are confident we can catch up with the contract duration.”

Local Impact and Stakes

For the residents and traders of Nkoranza, the stakes could not be higher. The market project is expected to serve as an economic lifeline, designed to boost trade, drastically cut post-harvest losses, and generate continuous employment for local residents and regional traders.

Unlike the traditional periodic market system that limits trading to specific days, the new model aims to create a fully functional, secure environment that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Industry watchers consider the Nkoranza hub a bellwether for the government’s nationwide 24-hour policy. The next few weeks will be critical as all eyes remain on the contractor to deliver on his promise to accelerate work.

Also read:

• What happened to E-Blocks, Agenda 111 should not happen to 24-hour markets – Ahmed…

• Adom Trotro: Traders share concerns over demolition of existing infrastructure for 24-hour market project

Zelensky and his wife, Olena, were on their plane at Chisinau, ahead of Wednesday’s funeral of Norway’s King Harald V, when the unmanned Russian aircraft crossed over the Moldovan border.

The drone prompted an immediate airspace shutdown, and Zelensky’s jet was left on the runway for around an hour before it was cleared for take off.

The flight was only authorised after it was confirmed the drone had come down 160km (100 miles) away in the village of Mihailenii Vechi.

Zelensky’s plane had been due to take off at around 16:30 local time (14:30 GMT) from Chisinau International Airport.

But Moldovan government spokesman Dumitru Ciorici told the BBC that Moldova had closed its airspace after noticing a Russian drone had entered it from the direction of Ukraine.

“Three departures and four arrivals were delayed as a result,” he added.

“After 17:20 (15:20 GMT), the authorities confirmed that the drone had come down and exploded… some 160 kilometres from Chisinau International Airport.”

Zelensky and his wife arrived safely in Oslo on Tuesday evening, where he held talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and other officials about military aid.

They joined other dignitaries for King Harald’s funeral before flying on to Iceland for a brief visit and then to Canada for further talks.

There had initially been concerns about the threat from the drone incursion when he was in Chisinau.

Støre had told public broadcaster NRK: “His flight was almost hit by a drone when it was taking off from Moldova.”

But a Ukraine source told Agence France Presse the risk had been “exaggerated”.

Russian drones have been targeting Ukraine with increasing intensity in recent weeks and an attack on a Moldovan border crossing at Starokozache killed two people overnight into Tuesday.

The Russian army has new jet-powered unmanned aircraft that are much faster and more difficult to intercept.

Analysis by BBC Verify has shown the capital Kyiv has now suffered more air raid alerts than at any time since 2022 – on average ten times a day.

Ukraine has also had success with its use of drones and on Thursday announced what it called a “record hit” on Russia gas plants.

Drones flew more than 3,000km (1,864 miles) into Russia on Wednesday to hit a gas processing plant in the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous district of Northern Siberia.

Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces said this was its deepest attack into Russia since the war began. Yamalo-Nenets is one of Russia’s key oil and gas processing regions.

Overnight Russian forces attacked a petrol station in Kyiv, seriously injuring four people.

Oil company Ukrnafta’s CEO Bohdan Kukura said on Facebook: “This is terror and intimidation of the civilian population.”

Russia has attacked hundreds of Ukrainian petrol stations in recent months in an attempt to disrupt the country’s military forces.

It has been locked in war with Ukraine since it invaded the country in February 2022.

Peace talks, led by the US’s Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are ongoing but have failed so far to find a solution to end the conflict.

President Xi Jinping called for urgent search and rescue efforts and a swift investigation.

Premier Li Qiang called for “trapped” people to be rescued and stressed the need to “prevent secondary disasters”.

The vessel was undergoing maintenance at a shipyard in the city of Qingdao when the blaze occurred at 11:15 local time (03:15 GMT), state news agency Xinhua said.

The situation was observed today, Thursday, September 10, 2026, the fourth day since the centre was opened to address challenges arising from the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

Some parents who spoke to Adom News said although their wards had successfully secured placements, they were seeking changes due to the location of the schools assigned to them.

Others said they wanted to change the programmes or courses their wards had been placed to pursue but were facing difficulties navigating the process.

According to the affected parents, they had waited at the centre for several hours without getting the assistance they needed, leaving many frustrated and uncertain about the next steps.

They are therefore appealing to the authorities to streamline the process and provide adequate support to ensure placement concerns are addressed promptly.

The Placement Resolution Centre was established as part of measures to assist students and parents who encounter challenges with their senior high school placements, including issues relating to school selection, placement changes and other concerns arising from the CSSPS process.

The latest complaints come amid ongoing efforts by the authorities to resolve placement challenges as students prepare to begin the new academic year.

Also read:

• SHS placement: Education Ministry orders action against alleged payment demands in Ashanti Region

• Education Ministry cautions public against fake CSSPS placement slips on social media

The Minority says the figure announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is too broad and does not provide sufficient details on how the money was spent.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament, the Deputy Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and MP for Bosome Freho, Nana Asafo-Agyei Ayeh, said the Minister merely lumped the various expenses together and provided a round figure, which he argued cannot be considered a proper account.

The Minority is therefore calling for a reconciliation of the number of Ghanaians evacuated, reportedly 1,964, and the corresponding expenditure.

It is also seeking details of the procurement processes used for both chartered and commercial flights, including the amounts paid so far.

While commending the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for what it described as a swift response to the situation, the Minority said transparency must accompany the evacuation exercise.

Nana Asafo-Agyei Ayeh said Ghanaians deserve a comprehensive breakdown showing the flights used, the number of evacuees in each batch, the specific costs involved and the procurement procedures followed, backed by relevant documentation.

He also raised questions about the role of partners who contributed to the evacuation, particularly seeking clarity on how the GH¢16 million reportedly provided by businessman Ibrahim Mahama was utilised.

The Minority is consequently demanding greater transparency from the government on the GH¢49 million expenditure and a detailed explanation of all financial and logistical arrangements surrounding the evacuation.

Also read:

• ‘NPP should stop being hypocritical’ – Nukpenu fires over demand for evacuation cost

• Abu Jinapor demands transparency over GH¢49.72m evacuation cost

The headline launch was the iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable smartphone and a major new direction for its flagship product line.

The Duo opens into a 7.6-inch display and closes into a compact device with a 5.4-inch outer screen.

Apple said the foldable is its thinnest iPhone when opened and is designed to support viewing, gaming, and multitasking on a larger screen.

Priced at $1,999, the Duo will go on sale on October 23. It also supports Apple Pencil input and features a redesigned iOS experience aimed at taking advantage of the larger display.

The launch puts Apple into a foldable smartphone market that has already been developed by rivals including Samsung and Google, with Apple betting that its hardware design and software ecosystem can attract consumers willing to pay a premium for the new form factor.

Apple also introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with prices starting at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively.

Both models feature Apple’s new A20 Pro chip, a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with variable aperture, and a smaller Dynamic Island.

Apple said the new camera system gives users greater control over photography and video, while the Pro Max delivers the biggest battery-life improvement in iPhone history.

The new Pro models will be available for pre-order from September 12 and go on sale September 18.

Apple is also introducing Siri AI through iOS 27, with the company placing greater emphasis on artificial intelligence while stressing privacy and on-device processing.

Apple expanded its wearable and audio lineup as well.

The Apple Watch Series 12 introduces a new Health Sensing System with more frequent heart-rate and heart rate variability measurements and a new “readiness” score designed to give users an indication of how prepared their bodies are for the day. It starts at $399.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4, aimed at athletes and outdoor users, also gets the new health-sensing system and offers up to 45 hours of outdoor workout tracking. It starts at $799.

Apple also announced AirPods 5, adding active noise cancellation to its open-ear design, along with improved sound, Siri AI integration, and live translation. Prices start at $129, with availability from September 18.

The event was particularly significant for Ternus, who became Apple CEO on September 1 after succeeding longtime chief executive Tim Cook. Wednesday’s presentation was his first major product keynote in the role.

The launch therefore represents more than a new iPhone cycle. With the Duo, Apple is entering a category where competitors have had a head start, while its latest Pro phones, watches, AirPods and AI features show the company continuing to expand its ecosystem around increasingly intelligent devices.

Also read:

• Apple to raise prices as AI boom pushes up chip costs

• Apple may be forced to allow rival app stores in UK

The gesture is aimed at encouraging school enrolment, while improving teaching and learning in rural communities across the district.

Mr. Nyamekye made the presentation when he paid a working visit together with officials of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to public schools in the district as part of activities marking “My First Day at School.”

The exercise was aimed at welcoming pupils, particularly new entrants, and encouraging them to take their education seriously.

Teachers at the schools say inadequate teaching and learning materials have become a major challenge for pupils, largely due to the financial difficulties faced by their parents.

They explained that some pupils report to school without basic items such as exercise books and pens, making teaching and learning difficult.

Speaking to Adom News, Mr. Nyamekye assured residents that government remains committed to addressing the challenges confronting public schools in the district.

Meanwhile, the headmaster of Awutu Ahentia D/A Basic School, Thomas Owusu, says the donation has brought significant relief to the school.

According to him, a majority of the pupils often come to school without basic learning materials, making the support timely and necessary.

Also read:

• Abandoned Agenda 111 Hospital in Awutu Senya West overrun by reptiles and rodents

• Awutu Senya West DCE, MP evacuate over 60 years’ refuse dumps to reduce diseases

​The abductors, who have subjected Bismark to physical torture, initially demanded a GH¢45,000 ransom under a strict 24-hour ultimatum.

To coerce the family, the captors sent graphic WhatsApp audio and video recordings directly from Bismark’s phone, a tactic apparently chosen to conceal their digital footprint.

​The disturbing media shows Bismark stripped naked, bound around his hands, legs, and neck with heavy ropes, and repeatedly beaten while being forced to wallow in water poured over the floor.

In the audio clips, a terrified Bismark can be heard weeping and desperately pleading with his family to raise the funds to save his life.

​Determined to secure his safe return, Bismark’s family rallied relatives, friends, and community members, successfully raising GH¢19,500, which was promptly transferred to the abductors.

​Rather than releasing him, the perpetrators reneged on the deal and increased their total demand to GH¢49,500, requiring an immediate additional payment of GH¢30,500.

The captors issued a fresh eight-hour deadline, threatening to execute Bismark, burn his corpse, and destroy his mobile devices if the money is not delivered.

​The investigation took an unexpected turn following the discovery of a distinct recording embedded within the communications.

In it, an unidentified woman’s voice accuses Bismark of defrauding the individuals involved in his detention, linking the alleged financial dispute directly to his capture and maltreatment.

​Law enforcement officials have not yet confirmed the identity of the woman, the validity of the fraud allegations, or whether the claim is a central motive or a pretext used by the abductors.

​The family has formally reported the case to the Cybercrime Unit of the Central North Regional Police Command.

Regional authorities confirmed that an intensive search operation is underway in close collaboration with the National CID and the Police Headquarters Cybercrime Unit.

​Detectives are leveraging digital forensics to trace the origin of the WhatsApp transmissions and track down the perpetrators.

Police authorities are urging anyone with credible information regarding Bismark Amoh’s location or the identity of his captors to contact the nearest police station immediately.

Also read:

• Tamale High Court sentences four kidnappers to eight years each after GH¢90,000 ransom case

• Nigeria kidnappers kill 35 hostages even after ransom paid

Minister for Local Government, Mahama Ayariga, says the proposed system forms part of efforts to overhaul Ghana’s current waste management structure, including the eventual replacement of the widely used aboboya system.

Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM, Mr Ayariga said government is looking at introducing purpose-built waste collection vehicles fitted with mechanisms to automatically load and discharge waste.

Under the proposed arrangement, the vehicles would transport household waste to designated transfer stations, where it would be weighed before larger trucks convey it to landfill sites.

“So I’ve discussed with the Finance Minister he says he’s willing to invest in those ones. When those ones come, you can now replace that,” he said.

The Minister said the government is also engaging banks and fintech companies to establish an electronic payment platform that will allow households to pay for waste collection through services such as mobile money.

The Bawku Central MP explained that the system is expected to introduce a more structured payment mechanism, with waste collection operators receiving payments based on the volume of waste delivered to transfer stations.

According to him, the amount of waste discharged at the transfer station would be weighed and used to determine how much the operator is paid.

Mr Ayariga also disclosed plans to establish waste transfer stations within a maximum distance of five kilometres from communities.

The facilities, he said, would form part of a broader effort to make waste collection more efficient and improve the movement of refuse to final disposal sites, particularly in major cities.

The proposed changes could eventually phase out the current reliance on aboboyas in favour of a more regulated system involving specialised vehicles, electronic payments and waste measurement at transfer stations.

Also read:

• AMA orders aboboyaa, tricycles to install reflectors, avoid major highways

• Accra generates 4,400 fully loaded “Aboboyaa” tricycles of solid waste daily – ESPA

The cases form part of seven major breakthroughs recorded by the Service following weeks of coordinated intelligence-led operations across the country.

Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), briefing the media on Monday, said the operations had resulted in the arrest of several suspects and the recovery of firearms, ammunition and other exhibits.

He revealed that the Northern Regional Police Intelligence Directorate had arrested three suspects in connection with a series of armed robberies in Buipe, Tamale and Mion.

The suspects, Yacouba Oumar, Abdul Alhassan Kudus and Abdul Rahman Haruna alias Saaga, allegedly belong to a gang operating with two AK-47 assault rifles and a pump-action gun along the Fumbisi-Yagaba road.

The IGP said the gang also sold stolen motorbikes to contacts in Tamale and Savelugu, adding that the three suspects were allegedly responsible for the robbery and murder of a mobile money vendor at Fofulso, near Damango Junction, earlier in 2026.

He said the suspects were in Police custody assisting investigations, while efforts were ongoing to arrest their remaining accomplices and retrieve the weapons.

In another case, the IGP explained that Alhaji Imoro Beliko, also known as Alhaji Yacouba, Masaji, Muimen or Yakubu, 60, the alleged mastermind behind the Buipe Cattle Market robbery and murder, died during a Police operation.

The suspect, who was also a trader at the market, was alleged to have contracted robbers and supplied them with weapons to attack people carrying large sums of money to the market.

Mr Yohuno said on June 29, 2026, two mobile money vendors at the Buipe Cattle Market in the Savannah Region were attacked, with the robbers making away with GH¢430,000.

Initial investigations led to the arrest of Yacouba Oumar, 28, and the recovery of a pump-action gun, five live BB cartridges and a single-barrel gun believed to have been used in the robbery.

The IGP said on September 5, 2026, the Police Intelligence Directorate Headquarters received information on the whereabouts of Alhaji Imoro Beliko.

He said a team proceeded to the cattle market area and placed him under surveillance; however, he attempted to escape, was shot and later died from his injuries.

Intelligence operations had since been intensified in the area to ensure the safety of traders and other community members.

The IGP said the Police had also arrested Obotan, alleged leader of a gang linked to the highway robbery on the Enyiresi-Sekyere stretch of the Accra-Kumasi highway on August 18, 2026.

He said the suspect’s biological mother, who allegedly concealed the weapon used in the robbery in her house, was also arrested, together with Issaka Napson, identified as the supplier of weapons to the gang, Issaka Majeed and Majeed Huzeifa.

A 14-year-old juvenile, who allegedly served as a lookout for the robbers, was also arrested.

The operation resulted in the recovery of the pump-action gun allegedly used in the robbery.

A search of the suspects’ residences led to the recovery of one Adler pump-action gun, one double-barrel gun; three single-barrel guns; two AA cartridges; one locally manufactured pistol; three cutlasses; two pairs of handcuffs; two jack knives; one canister of pepper spray; one pinch bar; one ammunition pouch; one tactical vest; and one unregistered Royal 125 motorbike.

The IGP said all the suspects were in Police custody assisting investigations, while efforts were ongoing to arrest the remaining suspect, Tanko.

He said a separate intelligence operation by the Office of the Special Operations Assistant to the IGP into the trading of firearms led to the arrest of five suspects between June and July 2026.

The suspects are Munkaila Yusif alias Karyima, 34; Abdulai Fatawu Boniface, 32; Abdallah Imrana Gomda, 43; Sualesu Sheriffa, 20; and Ibrahim Adams alias Ibru, 35.

They have since been remanded into lawful custody by the Accra Circuit Court, with the case adjourned to Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

Mr Yohuno said the Police recovered eight AK-47 assault rifles, one SMG rifle and two foreign pistols.

He said other suspects who were on the run were being pursued to face the law.

The IGP commended officers who participated in the operations for their dedication and professionalism in protecting life and property.

He urged the public to report information on suspects still at large to the nearest Police station or to call the Police Emergency Line on 191, and assured them that all information would be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

Also read:

• Police kill three suspected robbers, arrest one over GH¢430K Buipe robbery

• Two shot dead, 2 arrested as Police foil robbery attempt at Buipe

The campaign said Mr Salam’s decision to withdraw was a personal one, based on his assessment of the contest and his prospects of securing the National Organiser position.

In a statement signed by Stonewall Quartey, an aide to Mr. Titus-Glover, the campaign cautioned against linking the withdrawal to any external influence.

“Let it not be said anywhere that Mustapha Salam stepped down due to the influence, pressure, or intervention of any individual or the system,” the statement said.

According to the campaign, Mr Salam arrived at the decision after conducting a “careful” assessment of his chances in the election.

It urged NPP members and supporters to respect his decision and refrain from speculating about the reasons behind his withdrawal.

The Titus-Glover camp maintained that the circumstances surrounding Mr Salam’s decision should be allowed to speak for themselves rather than being attributed to pressure from the party or its structures.

Meanwhile, Mr. Titus-Glover is expected to continue his nationwide campaign ahead of the NPP National Executive elections scheduled for October 3, 2026.

The campaign said he would maintain his engagement with delegates, listen to their concerns, and present his vision for strengthening the party.

“He is determined to continue engaging delegates, listening to their concerns, and presenting a clear vision for a stronger, more united, and better-organised NPP,” the statement said.

The campaign further expressed confidence in delegates to independently determine who should occupy the National Organiser position.

“The decision belongs to the delegates. The mandate belongs to the delegates. And we remain confident in their judgment,” it added.

Read the full statement below:

Also read:

• Salam Mustapha withdraws from NPP National Organiser race

• NPP National Organiser race: Titus Glover picks No. 7 as balloting is held for…

The new song forms part of Fawazstarr’s campaign towards his forthcoming debut EP and will be featured on the project.

“Yawa” marks another step in the artiste’s musical journey as he continues to build his catalogue and reach a wider audience.

“Yawa,” a popular slang expression used to describe trouble, a problem, a difficult situation, or an embarrassing turn of events, gives the song a title rooted in everyday Ghanaian expression.

Fawazstarr brings his own musical interpretation to the phrase, drawing from the real-life experiences that have influenced his artistry.

The Kumasi-based artiste has been active in music for more than a decade, developing a versatile sound influenced strongly by Afrobeats and hip-hop.

His catalogue includes songs such as “Hustle,” released in 2021, “Odo” and his recent single “Money Matter.”

The new record also strengthens Fawazstarr’s creative partnership with Willis Beats, one of Ghana’s recognised music producers.

Willis Beats has built an extensive production portfolio in the Ghanaian music industry, working with several prominent artistes and contributing to records across different genres.

His production credits and collaborations include work associated with artistes such as Shatta Wale, Ebony Reigns, Medikal, Guru, Sarkodie, and Kuami Eugene.

His experience behind the boards brings an established production pedigree to Fawazstarr’s latest release.

Away from music, Fawazstarr works in the construction sector while pursuing his ambitions in entertainment.

He has also expressed plans to explore content creation and streaming as part of his broader creative vision.

“Yawa” is expected to give listeners another glimpse into the musical direction of Fawazstarr’s forthcoming debut EP. The project represents an important milestone for the artiste after years of developing his craft independently.

With Willis Beats behind the production and Fawazstarr bringing his distinctive perspective to the record, “Yawa” is positioned as another significant release in the artiste’s growing catalogue as he works towards establishing a stronger presence on Ghana’s music scene.

The ninth edition of the global civic and environmental initiative is scheduled for September 20, 2026, under the campaign message “Strive for Five.”

In a statement, organisers revealed that research suggests that when a critical mass of about five per cent of a population takes collective action, it can help trigger lasting changes in society.

According to Heidi Solba, President and Head of the Global Network of Let’s Do It World, the campaign is seeking to move beyond the traditional concept of a one-day cleanup exercise.

“When a sufficiently large part of society acts together, it becomes a force that reaches far beyond a single cleanup day. Through our ‘Strive for Five’ message, we want to invite people, businesses, schools and governments around the world to experience how individual actions can together create a societal tipping point,” said Solba.

She said the movement also wants participants to look beyond collecting waste and focus on preventing waste from being generated in the first place.

“We no longer want to focus only on cleaning up waste that has already been created. Instead, we need to mobilise people to increase awareness and cooperation and ask how we can generate less waste, change consumption habits, and strengthen communities so that the actions of one day can create a long-term and lasting impact,” Solba added.

This year’s global coordination will operate from three cities; Riga, Tallinn, and Kyiv, with each serving a distinct role in connecting the worldwide campaign.

Riga will host the international broadcast and World Cleanup Day Village, while Tallinn will operate the global call centre to maintain contact with country teams.

Kyiv, meanwhile, will serve as the global media centre, coordinating international media coverage and stories from participating countries.

The main World Cleanup Day celebration will take place in Shaoxing, China, from September 19 to 21, in cooperation with UN-Habitat and the host country.

In Ghana, activities will take place a day earlier, with a cleanup exercise scheduled for Ananse Beach in Nungua on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 7:00 a.m.

World Cleanup Day has grown considerably since its origins in Estonia in 2008, when 50,000 people participated in a nationwide cleanup that lasted just five hours.

The initiative developed into a global movement, with the first World Cleanup Day held in 2018.

Let’s Do It World, which has coordinated the movement since 2019, said 25 million people across 190 countries and territories participated in World Cleanup Day in 2025.

Since 2018, the movement has recorded a cumulative 139 million participants across 211 countries and territories, who have collectively removed more than 870,000 tonnes of waste.

Media coverage of last year’s campaign also potentially reached 2.4 billion people globally, according to data from media monitoring company Meltwater.

The movement is also positioning World Cleanup Day as a platform for strengthening communities facing crises, with teams in countries including Ukraine, Colombia and Nepal carrying out activities amid wars, wildfires, earthquakes and floods.

Organisers say the experience raises broader questions about how collective action can help communities build trust, share knowledge, and become more sustainable and resilient.

Participation in World Cleanup Day is open to individuals, families, schools, workplaces, community groups and other organisations. Participants can join activities organised by local coordinators or organise their own cleanup in a safe and permitted location.

Organisers have advised participants to observe local regulations, use appropriate protective equipment and avoid hazardous, medical, military or unidentified materials. They have also encouraged the proper sorting and transfer of collected waste to authorised disposal or recycling services.

The United Nations recognised the growing global significance of the initiative in 2024 by adding September 20, World Cleanup Day, to its calendar of international days.

With the “Strive for Five” campaign, Let’s Do It World is seeking to turn that global recognition into broader participation and, ultimately, sustained changes in how individuals, businesses, schools, and governments approach waste and environmental responsibility.

This is a very important video because it highlights the importance of French in West Africa. To begin, Ghana sits at the heart of a predominantly French-speaking sub-region.

We are a full member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, a clear signal that French is central to our national agenda. Yet, a troubling disconnection persists.

Despite years of formal instruction, many Ghanaian students and even university graduates find it difficult to communicate beyond “Bonjour, ça va?” or “Comment tu t’appelles? ”.

For a long time, the explanation has been attributed on one hand to rote learning. We blamed an over-emphasis on memorization at the expense of communication.

On the other hand, which is more anecdotal, many students, by perception or verification, associated caning with the “professeurs de français”, eventually extinguishing their love for the language.

Well, maybe we could spare those teachers a bit because Ghana, for lack of adequate teachers since time immemorial, helped itself out with those from nearby Francophone countries who came in with little English and many a time zero indigenous language background for purposes of alternance codique.

Could we completely chastise these facilitators when the genesis of the didactics of French as a foreign language stressed correcting the child with some strokes in the palm?

But that argument no longer fully holds. The truth is more complex and more uncomfortable.

It’s Not the Syllabus

The French language syllabus in Ghana has already undergone significant reforms. It now emphasizes practical usage, communicative competence, and real-life interaction.

In principle, our students are expected not just to learn French, but to use it, to speak, to respond, and to negotiate meaning.

The senior high school graduate should be in the position to lead a francophone friend to a “waakye” joint, mediate with the vendor for choices of egg, macaroni, salade, and fish.

The graduate of health information management will have no excuse not to understand and collect basic information from a confused francophone patient.

How about the one who specialized in the language? The ease of interaction and quick reflexes will suit them.

So, the question must be asked: If the curriculum has evolved, why are the outcomes lagging like a naïve child chasing the setting sun?

Have we modernized the syllabus on paper but left the actual classroom in a time capsule? Are we lacking the audio-visual tools and digital “scaffolds” that make language acquisition meaningful?

Or is there a deeper challenge, a “complex educational dilemma” that teachers must walk between following strict exam rules and fostering the emotional confidence a student needs to speak a new language?

The “Passive Learner” and the Classroom Walls

Language does not thrive in isolation. We are currently witnessing what experts call the “Participation without proficiency dilemma.”

This occurs when a student possesses neatly arranged textbooks and an updated syllabus but lacks the “urgency” or the environment to actually live the language.

When French is confined strictly to a 40-minute period with hundreds of students sitting rigidly in rows and columns, the obvious answers hit us right in the face. How many out of these two scores can be assigned to individuals to reflect? 

How do we form groups for a collective knowledge construction to make them social organisms? Can we really tame interaction in a language classroom? It becomes a theoretical marathon rather than a functional tool.

If students cannot speak after years of study, we must stop blaming the “plan” and start questioning how that plan is executed.

We need to move from seeing French instruction as a mere checklist of grammar rules and start seeing it as a magic key to opening doors.

A student may spend hours conjugating verbs, but without “psychological safety” the freedom to make mistakes and experiment without fear that is those structures remain locked in their head.

Who is explaining to the “apprenant” that it is very normal that her mother tongue has a greater influence on how she will sound in the foreign language she’s mastering?

We need to commend efforts and allay students’ fear of making errors and emphasize real-life interaction.

After all, the learning of French no longer seeks phonetic perfection like methods that once forcefully refined learners into choristers adjusting their lips for musical harmony. We have modernized our goals, but have we modernized our support systems?

A Call to Action: Joining the Conversation

Addressing this linguistic gap is not just an academic concern; it is a strategic one. Language is access. It is mobility. It is participation. Without it, Ghana risks unintentional isolation within a region that is making headway without its star.

To bridge the gap, we need a collective shift:

To parents, you are the first influencers. Normalize exposure. Let the children hear French in the home through music, cartoons, and simple phrases. Make the language “sound” like the tele novellas, the Kumkum bhagyas, and the morning devotions before it “looks” like a school subject.

To our teachers, embrace the communicative intent already embedded in your syllabus. Create classrooms that are safe spaces for “imperfect” French, leveraging the art of teaching within you. Focus on engagement and the “why” of learning as much as the content.

And to our policymakers, documentation is not implementation. Match curriculum reforms with real-world resources, continuous professional development that does not replicate language classrooms elsewhere but rather those right here, and monitoring mechanisms that prioritize oral fluency over written test scores.

To us as a society, we must normalize French in our media, our markets, and our youth culture. The engagement we have with our smartphones, akin to the peace Ghana enjoys, has equally important content in French available on our favorite social media platforms.

Entertainment, fashion, sports, culinary arts, etc. For nomophobia without purpose is equivalent to annihilation. Let’s stop treating it as a foreign “requirement” and start embracing it as part of our West African identity.

The message from that TikTok video is clear: French is not waiting to be discovered; it is already here, already dominant, and already shaping the opportunities across our borders.

French is already speaking all around us, it is in our trade, at our borders, and in our regional boardrooms.

One might not believe that the Kente and fugu weavers, as well as the “chawchaw” fabricator can achieve substantial gains if they record themselves and achieve viral reach and articulate “ce boubou est bon marché, ceci est d’une qualité rare, ça vous donne une allure de prince.”

The real question is no longer whether we can hear it, but whether Ghana is finally ready to respond.

“French is no longer knocking at Ghana’s door; it is already speaking in the four walls of our rooms.

The real question is whether we are ready to participate in this evolving dialogue.”

About the author:

Maame Ama Boadiwaa

Lecturer, Department of Communication Studies

University of Professional Studies, Accra

In a statement issued by the GPHA on September 10, 2026, the authority said it has taken note of a press release issued by the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG) attributing the recent increase in cement prices to congestion at the Port of Tema.

“The Port Authority has a responsibility to serve all users of the Port of Tema and to ensure that port operations are conducted in a safe and hygienic environment. In particular, the handling of food-related cargo such as rice and wheat must be properly separated from cement and clinker operations. This consideration is critical in determining the allocation and use of berths”, it said.

The GPHA explained that in anticipation of increasing vessel sizes, cargo volumes and vessel drafts, it undertook strategic dredging of the section of the Port dedicated to bulk cargo operations, including clinker and cement.

According to the authority, the cement companies were informed in advance about the project, its duration and the need to plan their vessel arrivals and berthing schedules accordingly.

“The cement industry is also a direct beneficiary of the recently completed dredging works. Berth 13 now provides depths of up to 14 metres, while Berth 14 provides up to 12 metres, creating an opportunity for cement companies to receive larger vessels and benefit from economies of scale, which could potentially help reduce unit logistics costs”.

“Terminals 1 and 2 of the Port of Tema are multipurpose terminals, handling a variety of cargo, including food products, steel and other general cargo. For hygiene, safety and environmental reasons, the handling of cement and clinker cannot be mingled with food-related cargo”, it added.

To facilitate cement and clinker operations, the GPHA said berths 3, 12, 13 and 14 have been strategically designated as common-user berths for such cargo. It added that the berths are shared among several cement companies and, therefore, cannot be dedicated exclusively to one importer.

“It is also important to note that cement and clinker-related cargo are handled at the Port of Takoradi, providing an additional port option within Ghana’s maritime logistics network. Cement manufacturers are therefore encouraged to consider the most efficient combination of ports, vessel sizes, discharge arrangements and inland transportation when planning their operations”.

The GPHA also noted that the efficiency of cargo evacuation remains critical as a vessel carrying approximately 40,000 tonnes of clinker may rely on a limited number of trucks to transport the cargo to factories located outside the port.

It said where trucks are inadequate or delayed by traffic, discharge operations are slowed, resulting in vessels occupying berths for extended periods-sometimes three to four weeks.

“Such prolonged berth occupancy affects the availability of berths for other vessels and places additional pressure on port operations”.

Modernising cement handling

The GPHA also announced that it is in the process of modernising the handling of cement and clinker at the Port of Tema, as the authority is working towards more efficient and modern cargo-handling systems, under which the traditional reliance on grabs and hoppers will become a thing of the past.

“We therefore entreat all cement companies to embrace and invest in the new handling technology as it is introduced. The adoption of more efficient handling systems will improve discharge rates, reduce vessel turnaround times, optimise berth utilisation and ultimately contribute to a more efficient and competitive port operation”.

The GPHA stressed that port efficiency is a shared responsibility, requiring proper vessel planning, adequate trucking capacity, efficient discharge, adoption of modern handling technology and timely evacuation of cargo.

“The Authority accordingly encourages stakeholders and the public to consider the entire logistics and supply chain, including vessel planning, discharge efficiency, trucking, factory location, port choice and other commercial cost factors, rather than attributing cement price increases solely to port congestion”.

Also read:

• Ghana Standards Authority denies GH¢6 cement price hike

• Cement prices may rise as manufacturers introduce GH¢12 demurrage surcharge

The group said Dr. Bawumia’s future will be decided by God alone, not by curses, threats or prophecies from a man.

The strong rebuke was contained in a press statement issued on Thursday, September 10, and signed by the forum’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Zakari Abdul Rahman, following what the forum describes as Rev. Owusu Bempah’s latest attacks on Dr. Bawumia.

On Sunday, September 6, Rev. Owusu Bempah, during a church service, boasted that Dr. Bawumia cannot become president unless he says so, and threatened to spiritually terminate his political career if his communicators do not stop responding to him.

He also alleged that Dr. Bawumia and the NPP’s Nasara Wing were planning to attack his church.

This comes after his August 9 declaration that anyone who votes for the NPP would be cursed and that Dr. Bawumia would never be president while he lives.

The Muslim Forum said the pastor needs to be reminded who holds power over destinies.

“We wish to remind Rev. Owusu Bempah that Bawumia’s destiny lies in the hands of God, not you. You did not create him, you do not sustain him, and you cannot determine his future,” the statement said.

The Forum said Ghana’s history and faith traditions are clear – kings and presidents are raised and removed by God.

Citing both the Qur’an and the Bible, the group quoted:

Qur’an 3:26: “Say, O Allah, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. In Your hand is all good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.”

Daniel 2:21: “He changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others.”

According to the forum, if God wills that Dr. Bawumia becomes president of Ghana, no human being – no matter how loud or self-acclaimed – can stop it. And if it is not God’s will, no human effort can force it.

The group described Rev. Owusu Bempah’s conduct as an attempt to play God and a dangerous display of religious extremism.

“You are not God to decide who becomes President. Bawumia’s destiny is in the hands of God, not you,” the forum stressed.

It added that Dr. Bawumia’s own journey proves that his destiny is not controlled by any pastor, explaining that he was elected NPP flagbearer by a predominantly Christian delegate body and secured 42% of votes in the 2024 elections, majority of which came from Christians who voted on competence, not religion.

The forum said Rev. Owusu Bempah does not speak for Christianity, noting that his anti-Muslim campaign against Dr. Bawumia is rejected by the majority of respected and enlightened pastors in Ghana.

It urged Dr. Bawumia to remain calm, ignore the provocations, and continue to trust in God as the disposer of all affairs, while calling on all Ghanaians to protect the nation’s long-standing Christian-Muslim unity from divisive voices.

Also read:

• Ashanti NPP Youth Wing petitions BNI over Owusu Bempah’s allegations against Ayew Afriye

• Owusu Bempah hits back at Anthony Karbo over election prophecies

The Accra High Court (Commercial Division 3) on July 22, 2026, awarded Henry Manly-Spain’s company, Servistar Minwax (WA) Limited, the amount as a refund of overpayment of duties to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Mr Manly-Spain told Graphic Online’s Nana Konadu Agyeman that the expected amount from the judgment should be in the region of GH¢8.95 million and not the GH¢79.65 million awarded.

He said documents he personally gave to his lawyer showed claims of just over GH¢8.95 million, which, with accumulated interest, was expected to rise only slightly above GH¢10 million.

“My conscience will not allow me to accept and enjoy such an amount that is far beyond the value of my original claim,” he said, describing acceptance of the money as a “betrayal of my conscience, my business, and the nation,” Mr Manly-Spain said.

“I cannot fathom seeing myself taking such money when I have actually realised the struggles facing the government in providing the basic needs of Ghanaians,” he said.

The businessman has, therefore, petitioned the Commissioner-General of the GRA to disallow the payment of the money, which he described as “in excess of what I expected.”

“I, Henry Manly-Spain, write officially as Director, Servistar Minwax (WA) Limited, and a shareholder, to reject an amount of GH¢79,651,132 judgment debt payment granted to the company against the GRA,” he wrote in the petition.

Independent investigation

Per the petition, dated August 1, this year, the businessman said although the GRA legitimately owed the company, the company could not benefit from the state in the name of an unjustified debt payment.

He, therefore, called for an independent investigation by the GRA, the Economic and Organised Crime Office and other investigative bodies to ensure that money paid to the company “duly merits the company”.

Mr Manly-Spain said he was initially unaware that his claim had ballooned to more than GH¢79 million since he left the matter largely in the hands of his lawyer after handing over the relevant documents and was usually told that the lawyer was “on it”.

He said he first heard the GH¢79.7 million figure during court proceedings, when he witnessed a disagreement between his lawyer and a Customs officer.

“I was with a good friend of mine who is also a lawyer. He looked at me, I looked at him, and we both repeated the money, and I shook my head,” he said.

He said the original claims comprised more than GH¢7 million relating to containers sold by the GRA and about GH¢940,000 in overpaid duties.

“I was just saying that if there should be anything at all, it should not go beyond GH¢10 million, with all the interest accrued,” he said.

Mr Manly-Spain said he also attempted to raise his concerns before judgment was delivered, telling a Bank of Ghana official involved in the proceedings that he was not expecting GH¢79 million and asking that the discrepancy be brought to the court’s attention.

“I raised my hand up and then just to utter something, but the court said no one is talking here,” he said, after the judge declined to allow him to raise the matter, saying her decision had already been written.

“To take GH¢79 million, knowing the fact that that is not what I am expecting, I feel I am doing a great disservice first to God and secondly to the nation,” he said, citing the government’s difficulty in funding essential healthcare equipment such as dialysis machines and incubators.

Ruling  

The ruling by the court, presided over by Doris Awuah Dabanka-Bekoe, arose from garnishee proceedings on July 20, this year, in which the Bank of Ghana, represented by its deputy manager, was asked why funds in the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) operational and refund accounts should not be attached to satisfy a judgment debt owed to the plaintiff.

The Bank of Ghana argued that the GRA’s operational account could not be attached because an earlier court ruling had classified it as a salary account.

The bank also argued that the refund account was protected because it was specifically designated for taxpayers who had overpaid their taxes and were entitled to refunds.

The ruling said counsel for the judgment debtor, GRA, relied on Section 69(2) of the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915), arguing that the refund account was restricted to its statutory purpose and could not be attached.

The plaintiff’s counsel, Maxwell Logan, however, argued that the judgment debt itself arose from an unpaid tax refund and, therefore, fell squarely within the purpose for which the refund account was established.

The court noted that judgment had previously been entered in favour of the plaintiff after the parties reconciled the amount due.

“The amount was certified after the reconciliation which GRA has failed to pay, hence the suit,” the court stated.

The court further noted that the alleged tax overpayment occurred in 2009, while an audit conducted in 2016 confirmed the overpayment.

The plaintiff subsequently applied for a refund but received no payment, leading to the lawsuit.

The court, therefore, held that the plaintiff, like other taxpayers who had made excess payments, was entitled to be paid from the GRA refund account under Section 69(2)(a) of Act 915.

It consequently directed the Bank of Ghana not to release the GH¢527,104,657 held in the GRA refund account, but ordered that GH¢79,651,132 be taken from the account and paid to the plaintiff in satisfaction of the judgment debt.

The court directed that the money be paid into the Logan & Associates client account or transferred directly to the account bearing that name.

The ruling also referred to a Supreme Court decision, The Republic v High Court, Fast Track Division, No. J5/247/2012, in support of the position that funds in the operational account could, in certain circumstances, be attached.

Also read:

• 32-year-old man in court for defrauding businessman of GH¢1,860,000

• Two soldiers, businessman in court over GH¢1m robbery

The appointment comes ​ahead of presidential elections due in January, with ​insecurity remaining a major concern after years of ⁠insurgent violence, banditry and kidnappings across parts of ​the country.

Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose, who previously served at ​Army Headquarters in Abuja, takes over from Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the 15th commander of Operation Hadin Kai, who assumed the role in ​April 2025.

The insurgency by Boko Haram and its ​splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has killed more than 40,000 ‌people ⁠and displaced millions since 2009, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).

Security concerns disrupted voting in parts of northeastern Nigeria during the last presidential election and remain a challenge ahead of next year’s polls.

The army did not link the reshuffle to any ​recent attacks in the northeast.

The change ​was ⁠part of a wider military shake-up involving 14 other generals, which the army said was aimed at improving operational ⁠effectiveness, strengthening ​leadership and aligning command structures ​with Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, spokesperson Appolonia Anele said in a statement.

Also read:

• Hundreds of captives freed from Boko Haram mountain hideout

• Dozens of Nigerian fishermen feared dead after Chad air strikes on Boko Haram

The grand finale will take place at the University of Ghana Premier Dome at 3:00 pm, bringing together three schools with contrasting histories in the competition and one common objective — to leave as 2026 NSMQ champions.

For PRESEC-Legon, the final represents a return to the stage they have dominated for much of the competition’s history.

The eight-time champions are back in the grand finale after a two-year absence and will be aiming to reclaim the title and extend their record with a ninth championship.

They booked their place after overcoming Tamale Senior High School and St. John’s School in the semi-final, finishing with 44 points ahead of St. John’s 25 and Tamale SHS 16.

St. Augustine’s College, meanwhile, arrived with recent final experience and a chance to add a third title to their collection.

The two-time champions were the first school to qualify for the 2026 final after beating five-time winners Prempeh College and 2021 champions Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary.

Augusco finished that contest on 52 points, ahead of Prempeh College’s 47 and Pope John’s 28.

But perhaps the biggest storyline of the final belongs to Accra Academy.

The “Bleoo” boys are appearing in the NSMQ grand finale for the first time in the school’s history.

They secured their historic place after defeating Bright Senior High School and Achimota School in a fiercely contested semi-final. Accra Academy finished on 54 points, with Bright SHS on 44 and Achimota on 43.

Their qualification caps a remarkable run and gives the school an opportunity to win the title on its maiden appearance in the championship decider.

The final therefore brings together PRESEC’s record and experience, Augusco’s championship pedigree and Accra Academy’s hunger to make history.

The three schools emerged from a competition that began with 174 schools across the country and have now reached the final stage after weeks of contests, upsets and comebacks.

Whatever happens, the 2026 final will produce another chapter in the rich history of the National Science and Maths Quiz. For one school, however, the night will end with the ultimate prize.

The 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz is produced by Primetime Limited and sponsored by the Ghana Education Service with support from GOIL PLC, Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, Pepsodent, Cowbell, Trustur AI and Jupay Money Transfer.

The Broadcast on JoyNews is sponsored by Vitamilk, Entrance University of Health Sciences, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and NASCO.

Broadcast Partners are Frutelli, Excellence Publications and Stationery, Didi Shito, Nataraj, Virtual Security Africa, Lef Signature Limited, Sintex Tank, Door Master, New Crystal Hospital, Palm University College, Ayuda, Prospectus Ghana Ltd, Family Health University, Myst Water.

According to the lawyer, the period granted by the court is insufficient to enable the defence to properly review the evidence presented by the prosecution and prepare what he described as a credible no-case submission.

“It is too short a time to put together a credible submission of no case,” Mr Atta Akyea said in reaction to the court’s directive.

The Accra High Court has directed counsel for Mr Adu-Boahene to file the submission by September 25, 2026, after the prosecution formally closed its case.

The development follows the conclusion of the prosecution’s evidence in the trial involving Mr Adu-Boahene and other accused persons over the alleged diversion of GH¢49.1 million in state funds.

The prosecution called four witnesses, with the final witness, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) investigator Frank Marshall Cromwell, completing his evidence after extensive cross-examination by the defence.

The case centres on allegations that GH¢49.1 million earmarked for the procurement of a cybersecurity system was unlawfully transferred into an account belonging to BNC Communications Bureau Limited, a private company linked to Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng.

The prosecution has alleged that three cheques totalling GH¢49.1 million were issued in 2020 and deposited into the company’s account at Universal Merchant Bank.

It says the funds were intended for the acquisition of a cybersecurity system from Israeli company ISC Holdings Ltd.

The prosecution has further alleged that Mr Adu-Boahene signed a contract with ISC Holdings Ltd on January 30, 2020, before the three cheques were issued and paid into the private account.

During cross-examination, however, the defence challenged aspects of the prosecution’s financial analysis and the conclusions drawn by investigators.

The defence has also questioned the prosecution’s decision not to call certain key officials who were involved in the National Security structure at the time, including former National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah and the then National Security Coordinator.

Mr Adu-Boahene, his wife and the other accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The charges include stealing, conspiracy to steal, defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit and money laundering.

Also read:

• State closes case against Kwabena Adu-Boahene, two others

• Adu-Boahene trial: Defence given until September 25 to file no-case submission

“I think the war’s going to end immediately after the election because they can’t hold out any longer,” Trump said of Tehran on Wednesday.

His comments come as he heads to Texas for the party’s first convention ahead of the midterms, when the balance of power in the US government could change.

Trump is facing falling polling numbers and pressure from within his Republican Party to end the war with Iran.

On Wednesday, oil prices rose to $100 (£74) for the first time since July, driven by heightened fighting in the Middle East.

“Right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward,” Trump told reporters. “I think it’s going to take a little bit longer than the midterm.”

He added that Iran was “desperate to try and affect the election, so that we can get a nice weak group of people in there” – an apparent reference to the Democrats – “and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon”.

Tehran has repeatedly denied it is seeking nuclear weapons.

Trump also said further negotiations with Iran could possibly happen, “but it’s not something we’re looking at”.

The US president initially predicted the war, which is now in its seventh month, would last only a matter of weeks. The conflict, and its knock-on effects on everything from gas to groceries, has led to a steep decline in his approval ratings.

Fighting in the Middle East has intensified in recent days, as oil facilities throughout the region come under attack, driving up the global price of fuel and any item that requires shipping.

On Wednesday, the US military said it had attacked five oil tanker ships with ties to Iran. Tehran, in response, launched attacks on two US Navy destroyers and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, causing “heavy damage” to the vessels, according to Iranian state media.

A day earlier, the Iran-linked Houthis in Yemen launched a wave of attacks in Saudi Arabia, sparking fires at oil facilities.

The fighting, which began again recently after a 60-day ceasefire between the US and Iran formally expired last month, has also raised predictions that the rising fuel costs could lead to higher interest rates in the US.

The directive comes after some parents in Kumasi alleged that unidentified individuals at the resolution centre were demanding up to GH¢300 to help candidates bypass long queues and fast-track their placement concerns.

The allegations have heightened frustration at the centre, with some parents reportedly abandoning the process after spending hours waiting for assistance.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnight, the Media Relations Officer at the Ministry of Education, Hashmin Mohammed, said the allegation had not been brought directly to his attention but that the ministry had monitored reports in the media.

He said the ministry subsequently “contacted GES officials in the Ashanti Region and the Free Senior High School coordinator overseeing the placement process to ensure that any such practice is stopped.”

He stressed that parents are not required to pay anyone for CSSPS placement services.

He said the regional officials have been tasked to put measures in place if the reported practice exists and prevent parents from being exploited while seeking assistance with the placement process.

Also read:

• CSSPS chaos: Parents allege payments to bypass queues at Kumasi resolution centre

• No bribery at Kumasi placement centre – Free SHS Secretariat

In a letter dated September 8 and addressed to Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the lawyers said their client has been awaiting payment of benefits that became due after his tenure ended on January 7, 2025.

Mr Essuman was appointed Legal Counsel to then-President Akufo-Addo in January 2021 and, in October 2024, was additionally appointed Acting Secretary to the President while continuing in his role as Legal Counsel.

According to his lawyers, the terms of his appointment entitled him to several terminal benefits, including “four (4) months’ consolidated salary for every completed year of service or part thereof,” as well as an installation grant equivalent to one month’s salary and a resettlement grant equivalent to one month’s salary for each year or fraction of a year served.

They contend that these entitlements, together with any unpaid salary arrears, became due immediately upon the conclusion of his service.

The lawyers also invoked Section 2(c) of the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845), which mandates the Transition Team to ensure that salaries, allowances and retiring benefits owed to specified public office holders are paid “without undue delay.”

They alleged that several former public officials, including the Speaker and Members of Parliament, former Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and members of the Council of State, have already received their applicable arrears and terminal benefits.

However, they said Mr Essuman and other former Presidential Staffers have yet to receive theirs.

“Where persons who served in comparable public offices during the same period have received their applicable benefits, the continued withholding of our client’s entitlement is arbitrary, discriminatory, unfair and unlawful,” the lawyers stated.

The legal team said Mr Essuman had made repeated representations to the relevant authorities in an effort to resolve the matter but had received no satisfactory outcome.

They are therefore demanding payment of the outstanding principal, together with interest accruing from January 7, 2025, calculated at the prevailing commercial bank rate.

The lawyers have warned that if the Ministry fails to make full payment by September 11, their client will commence legal proceedings against the State to recover the outstanding sums, accrued interest and associated legal costs.

Despite the ultimatum, the lawyers said Mr Essuman remains open to resolving the matter without resorting to litigation.

Also read:

• Kow Essuman criticises Ato Forson over unpaid arrears for former Presidency staff

• “Lord, please forgive us all” – Kow Essuman on Ablakwa’s silence on Mahama’s use…

According to the Minister, the fraud came to light when the certificates and results slips presented by prospective recruits were subjected to verification by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

He said the government would take further steps against individuals found to have falsified their academic records, including placing them on a red list to prevent them from securing future opportunities within the country’s security services.

Some of those implicated could also face prosecution, he warned.

Alhaji Muntaka made the disclosure while speaking at a ceremony to commission newly constructed classroom facilities at the Asokore Mampong Roman Catholic School.

He expressed disbelief that individuals seeking careers in institutions responsible for national security would attempt to gain entry using fraudulent academic credentials.

“It’s so shocking that a lot of people forged their results. I don’t know how they think that they will be employed in the Police, Prisons, Immigration, Fire Service, Narcotics Control Commission, or Armed Forces, and the certificate you present won’t be checked,” he said.

The Minister said the verification exercise had already resulted in the removal of several recruits from training.

“As we speak, many have been dismissed from the training because they have doctored their results slips,” he added.

He urged prospective applicants to be truthful about their academic qualifications and ensure they satisfy the minimum requirements before submitting applications to join any of the security services.

The Minister’s disclosure highlights the government’s increased scrutiny of academic credentials in security service recruitment, as authorities seek to prevent individuals who use fraudulent documents from entering the institutions.

Also read:

• Jatikay Centre calls for prosecution over forged certificates in security recruitment

• Nitiwul raises concerns over criteria and funding for security recruitment

Ivan reportedly left home on August 27, 2026, to meet friends for a game of football at East Legon. He never made it back.

According to his father, Evans Baidoo, the family only learnt of the incident after a stranger picked up Ivan’s phone and informed them that the young man had died.

Mr Baidoo said the caller initially presented himself as an eyewitness but later claimed to be a police officer who had allegedly been following the motorcycle shortly before the crash.

He said information available to the family points to an alleged police pursuit, during which the officer reportedly pulled a pistol and later rammed the motorcycle from behind near the motorway toll booth, resulting in the fatal crash.

The circumstances surrounding the alleged pursuit and crash have since become a major concern for the family, particularly following the arrest and murder charge against the surviving rider.

Mr Baidoo said the family is also troubled by the disappearance of Ivan’s phone and what he described as delays in establishing the identity of the police officer allegedly involved in the incident.

Expressing frustration over the pace of the investigation, he said, “I mean, they have been lousy and lackadaisical. We are talking about life here.”

He said medical examinations conducted after the incident showed that his son sustained multiple severe injuries, including broken ribs, head injuries, and internal bleeding.

However, Mr Baidoo disputed suggestions about the cause of his son’s death, insisting that the medical evidence points to injuries sustained in the crash.

“Every indication shows that my son did not die of what they were trying to attribute. He died in an accident,” he said in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM.

Seeking clarity on what led to the death of his son, the family has petitioned the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for a full investigation.

They are seeking answers to questions surrounding the alleged police pursuit, the events leading to the crash, the missing phone and the identity and role of the police officer said to have been involved.

For the family, the investigation is not only about establishing how Ivan died but also ensuring that every unanswered question surrounding the final moments of the 20-year-old law student is properly addressed.

Also read:

• Law student killed in hit-and-run on Tema Motorway; family offers GH¢50,000 bounty

• 22-year-old law student declares intention to contest Manhyia South seat in 2028

The package, confirmed to Joy News by the old students, is being led by a trio known as ‘FED’ — Francis, Elton and Duncan.

Under the arrangement, each of the three contestants will receive GHS10,000 for qualifying for the final, while the team’s coordinators and teachers will share GHS10,000.

Should St Augustine’s College win the competition, the three contestants will receive an additional GHS20,000, while the faculty of coordinators and teachers will receive a further GHS10,000.

The old students have also promised an additional, undisclosed package for the team, both in Ghana and abroad, should they emerge winners.

St Augustine’s College, Ghana’s first Catholic second-cycle institution, last won the NSMQ in 2019, when it finished ahead of Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (Presec) and St Peter’s Senior High School, who placed second and third respectively.

The stage is now set for what promises to be a fiercely competitive grand finale, with all three finalists determined to deliver an exciting contest.

St Augustine’s College has won the NSMQ twice, including becoming the only Ghanaian school to have won the African Science and Maths Quiz Championship since its inception.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnight, the Media Relations Officer at the Ministry of Education, Hashmin Mohammed, said the move was prompted by reports of some centres struggling to attend to the large number of parents seeking assistance.

“We have been notified of the delays and then the long queues across some of the resolution centres in the country, and accordingly the coordinator for the CSSPS, with the support of some of the ministry officials, have decided to deploy more personnel into the areas that are unable to attend to the complainants with speed of time,” he said.

Mr Mohammed said the placement authorities had also established a decentralised system to make it easier for parents to have their concerns addressed.

He explained that the resolution centres operate a 24-hour service, with parents issued tickets that enable them to track the progress of their complaints.

He, however, acknowledged that the challenges would persist unless the gap between available vacancies and students’ preferred schools is addressed.

“The problem that exists at the moment is just the disparity between where vacancies exist and then the mismatch between the choices of the students, and that is what we are currently dealing at the moment,” he said.

According to him, thousands of parents have so far had their concerns addressed, although he could not provide an immediate figure.

Mr Mohammed also cautioned parents against paying money to individuals to fast-track their placement concerns.

He said allegations of some persons demanding money at resolution centres had been brought to the attention of officials in the Ashanti Region, who have been asked to take steps to prevent such practices.

He stressed that parents are not required to pay any official or third party for CSSPS placement services.

Also read:

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• ‘BECE graduates without SHS placements risk ending up on the streets’ – Angel Carbonu

According to him, the 24-hour economy is one of the few key initiatives that emerged from the long-term development framework, although the plan itself was not legislated.

“Actually, the 24-hour economy came from the 48 Development Plan. It’s one of the few things that have actually come out of it,” he said on Joy News’ PM Express.

Dr Thompson explained that the NDC adopted the 24-hour economy from the development plan despite the failure to legislate the broader framework.

“But the 48 Development Plan, as in its entirety, should have been legislated, but it wasn’t. But the government, the NDC, removed that from the 48 Development Plan. So the 24-hour economy actually came from the 48-development plan,” he said.

He said other initiatives, including the naming of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, also originated from the plan.

“The name of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation came from the 48 development plan,” he said.

Dr Thompson said the Ghana Agency for Development Cooperation was another initiative linked to the plan and was currently being developed between the National Development Planning Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“We have something known as the Ghana Agency for Development Cooperation, which is currently being developed between NDPs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to help form soft power for Ghana and Global Affairs,” he said.

Assessing the implementation of the 24-hour economy, Dr Thompson said those behind the programme had made progress, particularly in securing investments across different business categories.

“From the perspective of those who came up with the idea, I think they’ve done pretty well. You have to understand that they are operating across a spectrum of businesses, from small to large,” he said.

He noted that large businesses often require time before investments begin to deliver results.

“Usually, it takes the gestation period for big businesses take a while to get, and I think they put a lot of effort into it. They’ve lined up a lot of investments. It will take a while for those to catch on,” he said.

However, Dr Thompson said the programme must increasingly focus on small and medium-sized enterprises over the next two years.

“My expectation is that in the next two years, they will focus more on the SMEs also, so that you cover the whole spectrum,” he said.

He said job creation must also remain central to the programme, particularly because existing businesses account for a significant share of new jobs.

“From our understanding, there are efforts on the way to handle that aspect of it,” he said.

Dr Thompson added that the government must address not only unemployment but also underemployment and poor-quality jobs.

“The issue of dealing with the quality of existing jobs is one of those legs that I expect them to work on in the next two years,” he said.

Also read:

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‎Maazi, an unemployed Nigerian national, is facing eight counts of conspiracy to commit crime to wit robbery, attempted robbery and robbery. He pleaded not guilty when he appeared before the court.

‎The court remanded him into custody to reappear on Sept. 16, 2026.

‎The prosecution told the court that investigations were ongoing to apprehend Maazi’s alleged accomplices, who were at large.

‎It opposed any consideration of bail, insisting that Maazi had no fixed place of abode and was residing in a hotel.

‎The facts presented to the court identified the complainants as Emmanuel Kweku Archer, a businessman, and the Ghana Police Service.

‎The prosecution said Police investigations had linked Maazi and five other suspects to a series of alleged robberies between May and August 13, 2026, in Tema, Spintex and Labone.

‎The prosecution alleged that the group had also operated in neighbouring Togo and Côte d’Ivoire.

‎It said two of Maazi’s alleged accomplices died during a police operation on Aug. 13, 2026, when the group allegedly attempted to rob customers around banks at Labone.

‎The court heard that the Office of the Special Operations Assistant to the Inspector-General of Police (SOA-IGP) had received several complaints from bank customers in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area about alleged robberies by suspected armed robbery syndicates.

‎Following the complaints, a police surveillance team was deployed to monitor the activities of the suspected syndicate at various banks within the Greater Accra and Tema metropolitan areas.

‎The prosecution said police received information that the group had operated at Zenith Bank and Fidelity Bank branches at Spintex on June 9 and June 11, 2026, respectively.

‎The suspects were allegedly captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV) travelling in a Toyota Highlander and a Hyundai Tucson.

‎Police investigations, the court heard, indicated that the suspected gang members allegedly monitored bank customers, followed them after withdrawals and used master keys or force to gain access to their vehicles.

‎The prosecution alleged that the group’s leader, identified as Harrison Chinedu, and another suspect known as Dan, were usually armed with pistols.

‎On May 17, 2026, the suspects allegedly followed a woman who had withdrawn GH¢50,000 from Republic Bank’s Tema branch and robbed her at gunpoint at Agbamaame in Tema Community Two.

‎The prosecution also alleged that on June 11, 2026, the group attacked a man at gunpoint after he had withdrawn an unspecified amount of money from Republic Bank’s Achimota branch and was travelling home.

‎It said the suspects usually operated during banking hours in the Accra and Tema metropolitan areas.

‎The court heard that at about 1045 hours on August 13, 2026, the SOA-IGP surveillance team received information that the suspected group had been sighted at Ecobank’s Spintex branch and was heading towards Labone and Cantonments.

‎The team allegedly monitored the suspects travelling in a black Hyundai Tucson, registration number GS 7915-19, and an ash-coloured Toyota Highlander, registration number GS 1434-18.

‎Maazi was allegedly in the Toyota Highlander and positioned between Zenith Bank and GCB Bank at Labone, while the occupants of the Hyundai Tucson were allegedly positioned around Ecobank, Labone.

‎The police intercepted the occupants of the Hyundai Tucson at Fidelity Bank, Labone, and arrested its driver, while the other occupants allegedly escaped.

‎The occupants of the Toyota Highlander allegedly sped away after spotting the police and opened fire, prompting a police pursuit.

‎The prosecution said the pursuit continued from Zenith Bank, Labone, through Metro TV, Morning Star, the Togo Embassy, the Ghana Immigration Service and the United States Embassy, before ending at a section of the road about 30 metres from the GCB and Zenith Bank branches at Labone.

‎During an exchange of gunfire, two of the alleged accomplices were shot and lost control of the Toyota Highlander, which collided with several vehicles, including two unmarked police vehicles.

‎The two suspects were rushed to the Police Hospital for treatment but were pronounced dead on arrival, according to the prosecution.

‎A search of the Toyota Highlander allegedly led to the recovery of two vehicle registration plates, GR 3040-22 and GS 3588-23, and a Blow F90 pistol.

‎Preliminary investigations, the prosecution said, indicated that the suspects allegedly brought vehicles from Nigeria into Ghana and replaced their foreign registration plates with Ghanaian number plates before using them in their operations.

‎The prosecution further alleged that the group operated across Ghana’s borders, particularly in Togo and Côte d’Ivoire.

‎Investigations are continuing to locate and arrest the other alleged accomplices who remain at large.

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“If the Republicans ⁠win the House of Representatives ​and the United States ​Senate, both of them because of our tremendous strength and success economically, ​I will issue a ​dividend to every adult citizen in ‌the United States of America for $5,000,” Trump said at a Republican convention in Dallas.

“The only ​caveat ​I ⁠have is that the dividend that we’re making ​must be spent ​in ⁠the United States of America,” he added.

No further details were ⁠immediately ​available about ​the proposal.

The move follows a petition by inhabitants of Containermu, a suburb of Atwima-Techiman, to the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit of the Assembly over offensive odour and excessive noise from birds kept in the neighbourhood.

The complainants described the situation as an unbearable nuisance caused by a backyard poultry farm.

According to them, the farmer has been keeping chickens on his premises, resulting in persistent noise pollution and offensive odour from improperly disposed droppings.

They say the development is taking a toll on their health and well-being, with complaints of sleepless nights due to constant crowing, difficulty breathing and persistent irritation from the stench.

Some community members indicated that children and the elderly, in particular, have developed respiratory discomfort, while others fear an outbreak of sanitation-related diseases due to the invasion of flies and improper waste management.

They noted that the foul smell has made it difficult to cook, eat and live comfortably in their own homes, compelling them to petition the Assembly to enforce its environmental bye-laws in the interest of public health.

“We cannot sleep at night because of the constant noise. The smell is so bad that we struggle to eat and breathe in our own homes,” an affected resident lamented.

Another resident added, “We have engaged him several times, but he has refused to remove the birds or do the needful. We are now living in fear of contracting diseases because of flies all over the area.”

In an interview, the Environmental Health Officer for the Kwadaso Municipal Assembly, Madam Genevieve Anthony, confirmed that the complaints were true, adding that her outfit had witnessed the nuisance firsthand.

“Residents came to report the issue and when we went for inspection, we saw the nuisance being created. We initially educated him on proper poultry keeping and served him an abatement notice to deal with the noise from the fowls and especially the odour from the droppings which he was gathering without proper disposal,” Madam Anthony stated.

She explained that after the farmer failed to comply with the directive, the Assembly had no option than to institute legal proceedings at the Twedie Court.

According to her, the farmer later requested an out-of-court settlement, prompting the Assembly to temporarily withdraw the case. She said the Assembly agreed and gave him additional directives to address the nuisance, but the efforts proved futile.

“He is still standing his ground and is not willing to do away with the odour nuisance and the improper dumping of the fowl droppings,” she added.

Madam Anthony said the Assembly has since returned the case to court and is awaiting final judgment by the end of this month.

She assured residents that the Assembly has taken notice of their plight and is putting measures in place, while appealing to them to exercise patience as the court determines the matter.

“I will plead with residents to have patience and let’s see what the court will decide. They are really suffering, we have seen it ourselves,” she stressed.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Coordinating Director for the Kwadaso Municipal Assembly, Mr. Francis Adu-Boateng, revealed that the poultry farm in question has not been registered with the Assembly and has no permit to operate in a residential area.

According to him, the Assembly’s checks established that the facility does not meet the required environmental and sanitation standards for poultry farming, hence its operations are illegal.

He assured residents that the Assembly will ensure full compliance with its bye-laws to protect public health and restore sanity to the community.

Efforts to get a reaction from the accused farmer proved unsuccessful.

The Union says the shortages are putting excessive pressure on existing workers and affecting effective healthcare delivery.

The Health Services Workers’ Union says workers who have completed twelve months of service are entitled to an additional month’s salary under their collective agreement.

However, the union says the payment has remained outstanding since the agreement was reached with the employer.

The Union’s Principal Industrial Relations Officer, Jerry Detse Mensah-Pah, says the unpaid benefit is among several outstanding labour issues, including personnel placement and inadequate recruitment of non-clinical health workers.

“There is no way a doctor or a nurse can come to the facility and work alone.”

He says major hospitals, including Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Koforidua and Ridge hospitals, require additional personnel to meet their operational demands.

According to him, recruitment has largely focused on doctors and nurses, leaving other essential categories of workers behind. These include paramedics, disease control officers, administrative staff, security personnel, orderlies and labourers.

“Security officers, cleaners, orderlies and other support staff are all necessary for hospitals to function effectively.”

The Union says the shortage has left existing workers overburdened, with some working excessively long hours and reportedly experiencing health challenges.

It has also criticised the use of internally generated funds to engage casual workers, arguing that such funding cannot provide sustainable employment and conditions of service.

In the Ashanti Region, the Union’s Regional Chairperson, Esther Akuma, says the situation has reached a critical point.

“We are not looking at assurances again. Discussions and promises over recruitment have gone on for too long without sufficient action.”

She says some duties that should be performed by several workers are increasingly being handled by one person, contributing to absenteeism, long working hours and difficulties balancing work with family responsibilities.

The Union says the shortage extends beyond doctors, nurses and pharmacists to include nutritionists, clinical engineers, pharmacy technicians, field staff, X-ray technicians and other specialised personnel.

“If my colleague, an X-ray technician, is taking about GH¢3,000 from payroll and we who are engaged are taking GH¢1,000, I will look at it.”

The Health Services Workers’ Union is therefore calling on government and health-sector employers to address the recruitment gaps and re-engage affected workers on the public payroll.

The Union believes improved conditions of service and adequate staffing will boost worker morale and ultimately improve healthcare delivery.

According to residents, the community has seen little to no significant development since its establishment, a situation they say continues to limit efforts to improve living standards.

They explained that access to clean and reliable water would not only reduce the burden on households but also strengthen hygiene and sanitation practices across the community.

The call for improved educational infrastructure was also central to the appeal.

Residents noted that adequate classroom space and improved learning conditions would enhance teaching and learning, while making the community more attractive to teachers and other professionals who may otherwise be reluctant to accept postings to areas with limited facilities.

The appeal was made during the inauguration of a branch office of TENET Marketing Partners in Jato Kparekpare.

Speaking to Adom News, the assembly member and residents welcomed the organisation’s presence, expressing optimism that its initiatives would contribute meaningfully to improving daily life in the community.

At the event, the company manager, Isaiah Adzokatse, highlighted the importance of consistent community support in advancing TENET’s social welfare objectives.

He stated that the new office would strengthen the organisation’s visibility in the district and serve as a coordination hub for organising, monitoring, and expanding its charitable activities.

The project, funded through the Assembly’s first tranche of the District Assemblies Common Fund, is expected to encourage nurses to accept postings to rural communities where inadequate accommodation has been a major challenge.

According to the Assembly, the shortage of health workers at various Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds in rural areas has been partly attributed to the lack of suitable accommodation for health personnel.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Bosomtwe District Chief Executive, Ing. Abdullah Hamidu, said the lack of accommodation had previously discouraged some nurses posted to rural communities from reporting to their duty stations.

He said the Assembly was using the Common Fund to undertake a number of development projects in rural communities, including the provision of schools, potable water, healthcare infrastructure and support for persons with disabilities.

“Through the Common Fund, the Assembly is embarking on several infrastructure projects in rural communities across the district, including schools, water, health and support for persons with disabilities,” he said.

The Deputy District Director of Health for Bosomtwe, Sandra, expressed optimism that the provision of accommodation would encourage more nurses to accept postings to rural areas and help improve healthcare delivery.

She recalled that before the construction of the nurses’ quarters, the Chief of Abrankese-Nyame Ani, Nana Opoku Amponsem II, had rented two rooms for nurses posted to the Bonkoko CHPS compound, but the facility was inadequate.

“We are therefore happy that the Assembly has provided this four-bedroom self-contained facility,” she said.

At the ceremony, the Chief of Abrankese-Nyame Ani, Nana Opoku Amponsem II, called for a strong maintenance culture to ensure the facility remains in good condition for years to come.

“If anything breaks down, call me and I will come and fix it before it gets worse. Let us take good care of the facility so that we can attract more development to the community,” he said.

The chief also appealed to the government, through the DCE, to rehabilitate the road linking the community to other parts of the district, saying improved road infrastructure would help facilitate further development in the Bosomtwe District.

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