His lawyer, Patrick Fafali Azameti, says his client was never formally notified of the termination of his employment following the change of government in 2025, despite repeated attempts to establish his status and recover outstanding entitlements.

Speaking to Accra-based Citi FM on Wednesday, Mr Azameti said some individuals entered Mr Kpemka’s office after the change of government and instructed him to leave and hand over to officials of the company.

He said Mr Kpemka subsequently made several efforts to obtain his outstanding benefits from BOST, but those attempts proved unsuccessful, prompting him to seek legal redress.

“After several demands on BOST to pay him his entitled benefits failed, he was left with no option but to take the matter to court for the appropriate remedy,” the lawyer said.

Mr Azameti maintained that his client had not received any formal correspondence confirming the termination of his appointment.

“The interesting part of it is that there was no official or formal communication of termination,” he added.

The lawyer explained that Mr Kpemka’s employment agreement outlined the terms and conditions governing his service, including the procedures the company was required to follow in ending his appointment.

He said the agreement also stipulated the benefits and remuneration due to his client.

Mr Kpemka is seeking compensation through the court action against BOST over the circumstances surrounding the end of his tenure and the outstanding entitlements he claims are owed to him.

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Accra STEM Academy, Malaysian High Commission partner to advance STEM education in Ghana

Kwofie was convicted on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, after pleading guilty to an assault charge before the Agona Nkwanta District Court, presided over by His Worship Kuma Selorm Dzata.

According to the police, investigations established that Kwofie is married to Diana Mensah, a second-hand clothing trader, and the couple live together at Domeabra in the Agona Nkwanta Municipality.

The assault occurred on October 8, 2026, after Kwofie allegedly accused his wife of having an extramarital affair. He subsequently subjected her to a severe beating, an incident captured in a video that circulated widely on social media.

Kwofie was arrested on October 12 and subsequently arraigned before the court on October 14, where he pleaded guilty to the charge.

The Agona Nkwanta District Police Command announced the conviction and sentencing, describing the case as one connected to the viral assault video.

The sentence follows the circulation of the footage, which brought the incident to public attention.

In a notice dated October 14, 2026, the GES said all applicants should visit the portal to access updates on their respective applications.

The directive, signed by Deputy Director-General in charge of Quality and Access, Munawaru Issahaque, on behalf of the Director-General, requires Regional Directors to ensure the information reaches all eligible applicants promptly.

The Service has also urged the directors to use the appropriate administrative channels to disseminate the notice and ensure compliance within the stipulated timeline.

Applicants can check their promotion application status through the link https://bit.ly/statuschecker2026⁠.

The GES described the directive as urgent and appealed for the cooperation of Regional Directors to ensure the successful implementation of the promotion exercise.

Read the statement below:

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The initiative seeks to equip students with practical skills, inspire innovation and encourage them to develop solutions to everyday challenges as Ghana positions itself to take advantage of emerging opportunities in science and technology.

The partnership brings together the Accra STEM Academy, the Malaysian High Commission and alumni of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP), creating opportunities for students to learn from experienced professionals and benefit from international best practices in STEM education.

As part of the programme, students exhibited innovative projects designed to address real-life problems, demonstrating their creativity and ability to translate scientific and technological knowledge into practical solutions.

Charge d’Affaires and Minister Counsellor at the Malaysian High Commission in Ghana, Syed Nauzer Idid, described the initiative as an exciting development in bilateral relations between Ghana and Malaysia, particularly in promoting STEM education.

He said STEM education had become increasingly relevant in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where data-driven technologies and rapid technological advancements were reshaping economies and societies.

“STEM education is at the very height now,” he said, emphasising the importance of equipping future generations with the knowledge and skills required to navigate an increasingly technology-driven world.

Mr. Idid said the collaboration also reflected a commitment to giving back to society by ensuring that knowledge and expertise acquired through international cooperation were shared with the next generation.

He explained that MTCP alumni, many of whom had benefited from training opportunities in Malaysia, were returning to contribute to national development by mentoring students and sharing their professional experiences.

The Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme is therefore expected to serve as a bridge between international learning experiences and practical educational development in Ghana.

Through the partnership, alumni will support students by offering mentorship, guiding their projects and helping them develop a stronger understanding of STEM concepts and their real-world applications.

The Principal of Accra STEM Academy, Prince Sackey Agortey, said the school was the first to be selected for the initiative.

He expressed optimism that the programme would enrich students’ learning experiences by connecting classroom instruction with practical demonstrations, professional guidance and exposure to innovative approaches to science and technology.

Mr. Agortey said the involvement of MTCP alumni would help students develop their ideas, strengthen their technical abilities and gain insights into how scientific knowledge could be applied to solve societal problems

Meanwhile, STEM Officer at the Korle Klottey Municipal Education Directorate and MTCP alumna, Sarah Boamah Buabeng, has called on education authorities and teachers to recognise and nurture the capabilities of young learners.

She said the students’ exhibition demonstrated that children possessed the creativity and problem-solving abilities needed to develop innovative solutions to everyday challenges.

According to her, educators must create opportunities for students to express their ideas, experiment with new concepts and explore their creative potential without being underestimated.

Ms. Buabeng further urged stakeholders to expand the initiative beyond Accra STEM Academy to reach schools in other municipalities, districts and regions.

She believes a broader rollout would give more students across the country access to mentorship, practical STEM learning and the professional experiences of MTCP alumni.

Such an expansion, she said, could help widen access to opportunities that encourage innovation and strengthen students’ interest in science and technology.

For Malaysia, the partnership also provides an opportunity to deepen educational and people-to-people ties with Ghana while demonstrating the value of sharing expertise through international cooperation.

Mr. Idid encouraged parents to prioritise STEM education and consider opportunities that would prepare their children for the demands of a rapidly changing world.

He urged parents to support their children’s interest in science and technology and encourage them to enrol in STEM-focused institutions such as Accra STEM Academy.

The initiative comes at a time when practical scientific knowledge, digital skills and innovation are increasingly important to economic development and the future of work.

By connecting students with professionals, encouraging hands-on learning and promoting the exchange of knowledge, the partnership seeks to help young people move beyond theoretical learning towards developing solutions that respond to real societal needs.

For Ghana, the broader challenge will be ensuring that such opportunities reach learners beyond selected schools and become part of a sustained effort to strengthen STEM education nationwide.

The collaboration between Accra STEM Academy, the Malaysian High Commission and MTCP alumni demonstrates how partnerships between educational institutions, international missions and experienced professionals can help nurture the next generation of innovators.

Ultimately, the success of the initiative will depend on its ability to turn students’ curiosity into practical skills, their ideas into workable innovations, and their STEM education into meaningful contributions to Ghana’s development.

His lawyer, F. Paa Kwesi Abaidoo, said the legal team had instructions from Mr Afenyo-Markin to continue with the matter and was awaiting the court’s written ruling to determine the next course of action.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Dehyena Chambers said the High Court, General Jurisdiction 1, presided over by Justice Akwasi Adjenim Boateng, set aside the writ because the alleged defamatory words attributed to Mr Gyamfi had not been sufficiently particularised.

The law firm said it had not received a copy of the ruling from the court registry as of 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

It indicated that the legal team would study the ruling before deciding on its next steps.

The lawyers expressed concern over what they described as Mr Gyamfi’s use of procedural obstacles rather than filing a defence to the allegations underlying the suit.

According to the statement, Mr Gyamfi had previously made categorical allegations against Mr Afenyo-Markin, claimed to have evidence to support them and challenged him to sue.

The lawyers argued that procedural irregularities could be remedied under Ghanaian civil jurisprudence, citing Supreme Court authorities and Order 81 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (C.I. 47).

They maintained that the court’s decision would not deter their client from pursuing the case.

“We will not be deterred by procedural setbacks. The Mills of Justice grind slowly, but with great surety,” the statement said.

The legal team said it would await the full ruling before determining the appropriate legal steps to take.

Read the statement below:

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He said Ghana could not achieve sustainable industrial growth, expand manufacturing, modernise agriculture or create quality jobs without equipping its workforce with the technical and occupational skills required by industry.

“Ghana cannot industrialize sustainably without a skilled workforce. We cannot build competitive industries, expand manufacturing, modernise agriculture, accelerate digital transformation, or create quality jobs without people with the right technical and occupational competencies,” Dr. Adzroe said.

He made the remarks at the TVET Policy Dialogue organised as part of the Ghana TVET Week 2026 celebrations, held under the theme, “Resetting TVET, Empowering Ghana’s Industrial and Economic Transformation.”

The dialogue brought together policymakers, government officials, industry representatives, development partners, academics and other stakeholders to discuss reforms needed to align technical and vocational training with Ghana’s industrial and economic development priorities.

Dr. Adzroe said the country must move beyond discussions about the relevance of TVET and focus on making it a central pillar of national economic transformation.

“The question, therefore, is no longer whether TVET matters. The question is whether we are prepared to position TVET at the centre of Ghana’s economic transformation,” he stated.

Calls for stronger industry partnerships

The Director-General identified stronger collaboration between training institutions and industry as one of the key measures needed to improve the delivery of TVET in Ghana.

He said institutions must respond more quickly to emerging technologies and changing labour market demands to ensure that graduates acquire skills that meet employers’ needs.

“We must strengthen the alignment between training institutions and industry. We must ensure that sectors respond faster to emerging technologies and changing labour market demands. We must deepen work-based learning, apprenticeship and industry partnership,” he said.

Dr. Adzroe also called for increased investment in modern training infrastructure, equipment and instructor development, alongside improved pathways connecting skills acquisition to employment, entrepreneurship and productive enterprise.

According to him, these measures would help produce graduates who are better prepared for the workplace and capable of contributing meaningfully to productivity and economic growth.

TVET must become a national development priority

Dr. Adzroe stressed that technical and vocational education should no longer be treated solely as an education-sector concern but as a national economic development priority.

“Most importantly, ladies and gentlemen, we must move from viewing TVET primarily as an education-sector issue to recognising it as a national economic development priority,” he said.

He explained that the transformation of Ghana’s economy required a coordinated effort involving government, industry, training institutions, development partners and other stakeholders.

The Director-General said the Ghana TVET Service remained committed to supporting the transformation but noted that the scale of the task required a broader national commitment.

“Ghana TVET Service is committed to playing its part in this transformation. However, the scale and complexity of the challenge require a whole-of-government and whole-of-economy approach,” he stated.

Stakeholders urged to produce practical outcomes

Dr. Adzroe urged participants at the dialogue to engage in frank discussions and develop practical recommendations capable of influencing policy and improving skills development.

He challenged stakeholders to examine whether training institutions were adequately equipped to deliver the skills needed for industrial growth, how TVET financing could be strengthened and what more industry could do to support training and apprenticeship programmes.

“I encourage us to make this dialogue practical and forward-looking. Let us ask the difficult questions,” he said.

He further emphasised the need to ensure that resources invested in TVET translated into measurable improvements in productivity, employment, innovation and economic value.

“The outcome of this dialogue should not end in this room. They should inform policy, strengthen partnership and translate into measurable actions,” Dr. Adzroe added.

Ghana TVET Week 2026

The Policy Dialogue forms part of the Ghana TVET Week 2026 celebrations, which seek to highlight the importance of technical and vocational education in developing the skilled workforce needed to support Ghana’s economic transformation.

Dr. Adzroe acknowledged the contributions of government officials, members of Parliament, the Ghana TVET Service Council, and principals of technical institutes, industry representatives, development partners, academics and the media to the advancement of the TVET agenda.

He called on stakeholders to strengthen existing partnerships and renew their commitment to positioning technical and vocational education as a key driver of industrialisation and economic growth.

“As we celebrate Ghana TVET Week 2026, let us therefore use this platform to reset our thinking, strengthen our collaboration and reposition TVET as a powerful engine of Ghana’s industrial and economic transformation,” he said.

The call comes amid growing emphasis on skills development, industry-led training and technical education as essential components of Ghana’s efforts to build a competitive economy and expand employment opportunities.

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According to him, the two parties should resolve the matter amicably, arguing that continued litigation could undermine cooperation between the government and opposition Members of Parliament.

Speaking on JoyFM’s Top Story on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Mr Kpebu said the dismissal of the suit meant there was no pending case preventing public discussion of the issues surrounding it.

“Once the writ has been struck out, or the case has been dismissed, there’s nothing before the court, so there’s no risk at all. You discuss it, you’re free to,” he said.

On Wednesday, October 14, the High Court’s General Jurisdiction 1 threw out Mr Afenyo-Markin’s GH¢15 million defamation suit, ruling that the writ was incurably defective and incompetent and could not properly invoke the court’s jurisdiction.

The court relied on Coleman v Newmont on the applicable procedural rule and Owusu Domena on the requirement to raise objections promptly.

The ruling brought proceedings under the defective writ to an end but did not determine whether the statements complained of were defamatory.

Mr Afenyo-Markin announced the lawsuit in Parliament on August 24, 2026, following allegations of extortion made against him amid a dispute involving GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.

The suit named Mr Gyamfi and Multimedia Group Limited as defendants, with the Minority Leader maintaining that the allegations were false and intended to damage his reputation.

The case also generated disagreement over service of the writ. Mr Gyamfi authorised his lawyers, Ayine & Partners, to accept the court documents, while Mr Afenyo-Markin’s lawyers later said service had been completed and rejected claims that their client was avoiding it.

Responding to a question on whether the media could continue reporting on the controversy without risking contempt of court or breaching an injunction, Mr Kpebu said there was no legal impediment he was aware of following the dismissal of the suit.

He, however, cautioned that media discussions could still expose individuals to fresh legal action if they involved defamatory statements.

“Except, of course, if in discussing it, maybe certain statements are made which are defamatory, then I think Afenyo-Markin deserves the right to sue again,” he said.

Despite this, Mr Kpebu urged the Minority Leader not to return to court over the existing dispute, calling for an amicable resolution.

“I also believe he shouldn’t go. I think he shouldn’t go back to court,” he added.

Mr Kpebu argued that litigation of this nature could strain relations between the government and opposition lawmakers, particularly when both sides continued to engage in public business despite their political differences.

He said successive governments had supported opposition MPs in various ways, including through development projects such as road construction in their constituencies.

“It’s not just this government. For as long as I’ve been politically aware, government often engages opposition MPs and tries to support them,” he said.

He maintained that such engagements were not unusual in Ghana’s political system and questioned the sustainability of pursuing legal action while the government and opposition continued to cooperate on other matters.

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The anxiety follows the arrival of military personnel and bulldozers at the market around 3:00 a.m., despite a meeting between the traders’ leadership and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) on the previous day to seek a halt to the exercise.

Although no demolition was carried out, the early-morning presence of the security personnel and heavy equipment has left traders worried about the future of their businesses.

The Assembly had reportedly given traders a two-week notice, explaining that the structure had become weak and needed to be pulled down for renovation on safety grounds.

However, the traders, led by the President of the La Nkwantanang General Goods Traders Association, Samuel Konadu Darkwa, are challenging the planned demolition, describing it as unlawful and indicating that the matter has been taken to court.

Mr. Darkwa said the association’s leadership met the MCE on the previous day to appeal for the exercise to be suspended to allow further discussions, but the arrival of the military personnel and bulldozers in the early hours of the morning has heightened tensions.

He also expressed concern that the Assembly had not collected data on the traders occupying the shops, warning that proceeding with the demolition without properly accounting for them could leave about 1,000 traders without their source of livelihood.

Some traders are appealing to the Assembly to postpone any demolition until after the Christmas festivities, explaining that they have already stocked their shops in anticipation of increased sales during the season.

They fear that an immediate exercise could leave them counting significant losses at a time when many depend on festive-season trading to support their families and sustain their businesses.

The traders are therefore calling on the MCE and the Assembly to engage them in further dialogue and agree on a way forward that addresses the stated safety concerns without abruptly disrupting their livelihoods.

For now, uncertainty hangs over the market as traders await further engagement with the Assembly amid concerns about the future of their shops and businesses.

Add the traders’ strongest allegationsMake the court action more prominent

The incident left part of the vehicle’s engine compartment and the front of the car completely burnt.

According to the GNFS, the fire was reported to its Fire Master Control at 8:03 p.m., and a crew was dispatched a minute later to respond to the emergency.

The firefighters arrived at the scene at 8:18 p.m., but the fire had already gone out by then. An assessment of the vehicle showed that a possible overheating caused the engine to burst into flames.

No casualties were recorded in the incident.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation,

She has therefore asked scientists to look at alternatives the country can use to help address it.

She said this at the National Scientific Conference of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, ahead of the government’s plans to ban Styrofoam in January 2027.

“Styrofoam ban on its own will not deal with the plastic menace, it will not deal with the microplastics in our food chain, it will not deal with the exposure to toxic chemicals that leach into our water because it’s so hot and we keep our plastic bottles everywhere in the heat and we then drink these bottles of water that now have chemicals that have leached into them and then the impact on our kidneys and our various organs,” she said.

She added that the health consequences could extend to hospitals, warning that people might be encouraged to drink more water without considering whether chemicals leaching from plastic containers had contaminated it.

The minister urged scientists to look to plants for replacements.

“What are the alternatives to plastics that we can use? Plant-based, all right, whether it’s cassava or hemp. And I’m throwing this out there because by the 7th of January, we’re banning Styrofoam, but that’s just the first step in a whole journey of how we change our way of life as a people,” she said.

She called on the scientists to think boldly about the problem.

“We need to come up with solutions, we need to be disruptive in our thinking, let’s reinvent the wheel literally. There are things that have not been thought of yet and there are things that we can actually perhaps modify to suit our own purposes,” she said.

She described what success would look like.

“If we come up with a substance that looks like plastic, behaves like plastic and can hold whatever is in it, but once you have consumed what is in it, it breaks down into a harmless residue of some plant product which can then go back to nature, then I think we’re really making a difference,” she said.

He said the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) was engaging the Ministry of Finance to find a resolution to the outstanding issues.

Mr Iddrisu expressed optimism that the government would reach an agreement with the association’s leadership by Friday, October 16, 2026, paving the way for the strike to be called off and universities to reopen.

He made the remarks at the 64th Annual National Conference of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) in Ho in the Volta Region.

The Minister also assured teachers who have been promoted that the government would fulfil its commitment to pay their corresponding salaries by the end of October 2026.

He indicated that the first phase of the outstanding payments was expected to be made by Friday, October 16, based on the new grades of the affected teachers.

The payments, he said, form part of efforts to settle arrears owed to teachers following their promotions.

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The suspects, all males, were apprehended in the Sewua–Donyina–Appiadu enclave during a swoop by some officers of the National Security on Wednesday October 14, 2026.

Six trucks, including a wheel loader were also impounded during the raid in the enclave.

An Assistant Liaison Officer, Ivan Bilson Yeboah, says the suspects have been transported to the national office in Accra for custody and further investigations.

“They are on their way to Accra for our officers at the headquarters to carry out further investigations,” he said.

A viral video indicated the individuals have been excavating and removing white sand from the Accra-Kumasi Expressway for commercial purposes.

This raised concerns about the potential destruction of the right of way, which is crucial to the planned road infrastructure.

Mr. Yeboah described the illegal activity as unacceptable, advising the public to desist from such practices which impedes national development.

“We have seen a considerable damage being done to the road. It’s bad that resources of the state will be channeled to such a beautiful national activity, but people who want to loot and do whatever they did. This is unacceptable.

Mr. Bilson Yeboah further noted that the regional security council is expected to meet to deliberate on means to heighten patrols along the portion of the expressway in the region.

“REGSEC will be meeting on Thursday to look at how to sustain surveillance on the stretch to nip some of these activities in the bud,” he noted.

However, some suspects remain at large as the security force intensifies manhunt for their whereabouts.

Bosomtwe District Chief Executive, Ing. Abdullah Hamidu disclosed exclusively to JoyNews that preliminary investigations by the Assembly suggested the sand winners claimed to have obtained authorization from the Ejisu Municipality Assembly to undertake the excavation.

They however failed to produce a copy of the said permit.

“When they were directed to my office, they told me they had obtained a permit from Ejisu, but they could not provide a copy. I ordered them to stop the operation and referred the matter to the police for further investigations,” he said.

Speaking during the second round of Governors’ interventions at the 2026 African Caucus Meeting with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday, October 14, Dr Asiama stressed the strategic importance of Africa’s digital sovereignty and the responsible deployment of AI in driving structural transformation, economic resilience and long-term development.

“AI is already reshaping productivity, competitiveness, governance, and finance,” Dr Asiama said, noting that Africa had made significant strides in digital payments, digital identification systems, AI-enabled financial services and financial technology.

However, he cautioned that persistent gaps in regulatory capacity, cybersecurity, infrastructure and financing continued to constrain the safe and inclusive use of these technologies.

“Without urgent and coordinated action, the continent risks falling even further behind,” he warned, emphasising that a stronger partnership between African countries and the IMF was essential to enable the continent to benefit fully from emerging technologies.

Dr Asiama called on the Fund to scale up tailored capacity development support to help African countries strengthen AI governance, supervisory technology, cybersecurity and digital risk management systems.

He also urged the IMF to support a stronger African voice in shaping global digital norms and standards.

According to him, Africa must be equipped not only to adopt AI but also to adapt, govern and innovate with the technology to advance its development priorities.

He said such support would be critical to building economic resilience, improving productivity and promoting inclusive growth across the continent.

The Bank of Ghana Governor further called on the IMF to strengthen its analytical work on the intersection of AI, digital transformation and macro-financial stability.

He advocated for the integration of AI-related considerations, where relevant, into the Fund’s economic surveillance activities and Financial Sector Assessment Programs (FSAPs).

He also urged the Fund to deepen its analysis of AI’s implications for productivity, employment, financial resilience and inclusive growth, while promoting greater policy coherence in data governance, digital trade and cross-border AI regulation.

On financing, Dr Asiama stressed the need to mobilise affordable resources for secure digital public infrastructure and initiatives aimed at narrowing the digital divide.

He described such investments as critical to ensuring that African countries could participate meaningfully in the global digital economy and harness AI for sustainable development.

His intervention, delivered under the theme “Africa’s Digital Sovereignty and AI for Structural Transformation: Advancing Capabilities and Deepening the Fund’s Support”, underscored the need for stronger international cooperation, effective regulation and sustainable investment to ensure that AI and digital transformation deliver broad-based economic benefits for Africa.

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In its weather forecast, the Agency said a few inland areas of the coast could also experience rainfall as cloudy conditions prevail across the country.

The areas expected to experience thunderstorms or rain include Ho, Koforidua, Akim Oda, Kwahu Tafo, Kumasi, Obuasi, Tarkwa, Sefwi Bekwai, Kete Krachi, Atebubu, Ejura and Kintampo.

In the Northern regions, areas including Sampa, Bole, Bolgatanga and Wa are likely to experience thunderstorms of varying intensities.

GMet also indicated that Accra, Kasoa and their surrounding communities could experience rainfall during the night. Dark, cloudy skies are expected to persist in these areas through the night and into the following morning.

The Agency further forecast the development of mist and fog patches early Thursday morning over forested and mountainous areas, a condition that could lead to reduced visibility.

However, the state of the sea remains calm.

The equipment, comprising a peristaltic medicine filling machine and a particle inspection machine, is expected to improve the hospital’s production processes by making medicine filling faster and helping detect possible particulate contamination in finished products.

Operating under the Pharmacy Department, the Drug Manufacturing Unit has over the years compounded and produced customised medications to meet the specific needs of patients. The introduction of the new machines is expected to strengthen the unit’s capacity to deliver safe, effective and affordable medicines.

The Director of Pharmacy, Dr. Charles Ofei-Palm, expressed appreciation to the hospital’s management for providing the equipment, reaffirming the department’s commitment to producing quality medications at affordable prices for patients both within and outside the hospital.

He also stressed the importance of maintaining the equipment properly to ensure it remains in good working condition, operates efficiently and serves the hospital for years to come.

The Head of the Drug Manufacturing Unit, Specialist Pharmacist Pharm. Agatha Owusu-Nyamekye, demonstrated how the machines operate and explained the improvements they have brought to the production process.

She noted that the equipment had made medicine production faster and more efficient while reducing the risk of contamination, particularly in the filling of medicine containers, which was previously done manually.

Dr. Ofei-Palm appealed to hospital management and other stakeholders to sustain their support for the Pharmacy Department, saying continued investment would strengthen its ability to produce safe, effective and affordable medications for patients.

He said the lack of suitable housing had forced some officers to lodge in hostels and hotels, a situation he believes could undermine their welfare and effectiveness.

Mr Agbana made the appeal when the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

He urged the Authority to prioritise accommodation for officers posted to border communities and other revenue collection points, noting that the high cost and limited availability of housing could make living conditions difficult for personnel, particularly in the Volta Region.

The MP stressed the need for structured housing arrangements to ensure officers have decent places to live while carrying out their duties.

In response, Mr Sarpong said the GRA had begun plans to renovate its existing bungalows across the country to provide accommodation for officers.

The initiative, he said, is intended to make the Authority’s residential facilities habitable and improve the living conditions of staff posted to various locations.

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Daniel Boateng Mintah reportedly died on September 30, 2026, barely 12 days after reporting to the school to pursue his dream of becoming a computer engineer.

His father, David Mintah, told JoyNews that the family received a call informing them that Daniel was unwell and needed an injection for suspected malaria. His mother, Joyce Mintah, had spoken to him earlier that day.

Mrs Mintah sent GH¢50 after the caller requested money for the injection. The caller had also asked for Daniel’s health insurance details, she said.

“Repeated attempts to obtain updates on his condition proved unsuccessful. At about 3:10 p.m., another caller, who identified himself as the school’s headmaster, asked us to come urgently,” Mr Mintah said.

The couple set off for the school but received further calls directing them to Kwabeng Hospital, where they were told Daniel had been brought in dead.

According to Mr Mintah, a doctor told them that Daniel had complained of a headache and stomachache before being brought to the hospital.

The doctor reportedly advised them that a post-mortem examination would be needed to establish the cause of death.

Mr Mintah said he found aspects of the explanations provided by the school and hospital inconsistent.

“The following day, we requested that the body be transferred to Tafo. On October 4 and 5, we continued to receive information about its condition.

“My suspicions deepened when I visited Daniel’s body at the mortuary on October 6 and observed blood coming from his nose, ears, mouth and head,” he recounted tearfully.

He said the school had also told the family that Daniel left the orientation area to urinate but did not return.

Mr Mintah urged the police to establish the circumstances surrounding his son’s death.

“If he was murdered, the laws of Ghana must be applied to the letter. If he died a natural death, may his gentle soul rest in peace,” he said.

The family appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, and the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, to intervene and ensure a thorough investigation.

Mr Mintah also requested that Daniel’s body be transferred from the Tafo mortuary to the Police Hospital in Accra to support further investigations.

He expressed concern that another family could suffer a similar loss if the circumstances remained unresolved.

Mrs Mintah, who accompanied Daniel to school on the day he reported, recalled his determination to study computer science despite his father’s earlier suggestion that he consider another course.

She said Daniel had repeatedly promised to make the family proud.

“Having taken him with me to the market one day, he saw my daily struggles and told me, ‘Mummy, I will surprise you, okay,’” she recalled.

She had looked forward to seeing him develop his interest in computers and planned to buy him ahenema, or “royal slippers”, to wear with his cloth during an upcoming Parent-Teacher Association meeting.

Mrs Mintah said she had not been informed of any health problem before the call on September 30.

“I’m at this point pleading with the entire country, investigative agencies, parents and everyone who feels connected to help push for justice for our son,” she said.

“Wherever my Daniel Boateng Mintah is, I want him to know I love him so much,” she added, struggling to hold back tears.

Daniel’s elder sister, Vivian Mintah, also recounted the family’s unsuccessful attempts to obtain updates after the request for money for an injection.

She said she later questioned a teacher about her brother’s treatment.

According to Vivian, the teacher said Daniel had visited the school’s sick bay complaining of a headache. She said he could not identify the injection administered and referred her to a nurse who was unavailable at the time.

The family also raised questions about medication found among Daniel’s belongings returned by the school after his death.

Vivian identified the medication as carbamazepine, olanzapine and multivitamins, saying the family had not purchased them for him.

“My brother had never received psychiatric treatment and had not been diagnosed with a mental health condition,” she said.

She called for investigators to establish the origin of the medication and why it was among his belongings.

Vivian said Daniel’s last hospital visit before reporting to Abomosu STEM SHS had been for a dental appointment because he wanted braces.

She described struggling to sleep and concentrate following his death. She also said she saw blood on his uniform and gauze around his head, hands and feet when she visited his body at the mortuary.

Daniel’s former teacher, Ricky Kwabena Godigah, an assistant headmaster at Richenfel Academy at Dawhenya, Tema Community 25, described him as respectful, reserved and academically gifted, with a strong interest in computer science.

He said Daniel had no record of indiscipline and that the school had encouraged him to pursue his ambition.

“We all want answers to this unfortunate incident, and only a thorough investigation can establish the truth,” Mr Godigah said.

He added that establishing the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s death was essential to preventing a similar tragedy.

The reporter’s attempts to get someone from the school to speak on record have so far proved unsuccessful.

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He said the Authority was also working with the relevant security agencies to establish the full details of the incident and support efforts to address the concerns surrounding the shipment.

Mr Sarpong made the disclosure when he appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), in response to concerns about the reputational damage the drug-related cases could cause Ghana.

The question was raised by the Member of Parliament for Mpraeso and Vice-Chairperson of the Committee, who sought clarity on measures being taken to address the situation.

Mr Sarpong described drug trafficking as a serious concern for the GRA and called for collective efforts to prevent the country from being used as a transit point for narcotics.

He also revealed that the Authority regularly intercepts drugs and arrests suspected traffickers at the country’s entry and exit points, although such operations are not always made public.

According to him, publicising every interception could alert drug traffickers and allow them to devise new methods to evade detection.

Meanwhile, the GRA has urged taxpayers to take advantage of tax reliefs available under the law, saying many eligible individuals are missing out because of limited awareness.

Mr Sarpong said the Authority was intensifying public education to ensure taxpayers understood the reliefs available to them under the Revenue Administration framework and the relevant tax laws, including the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896).

He said the GRA was committed to helping eligible taxpayers access the benefits provided by law and was working to improve awareness of the applicable requirements.

The Commissioner-General also addressed issues relating to online cross-border transactions and attempts by some financial institutions to impose additional percentage charges on products.

He explained that consumers were already paying the applicable 20 per cent charge but were not always aware of it, adding that the Authority was seeking to formalise the arrangement.

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According to Mr Anyaaba, the Member of Parliament failed to endorse the alleged defamatory statement on the writ of summons, a procedural omission that undermined the competence of the action.

“When Afenyo filed his defamation action, we took the view that the writ, which has just been set aside by the court, did not comply with the rules of court, particularly Order 57 (Rule 2), which mandatorily requires that you must endorse the alleged defamatory statements of the defendant on the writ. So we took the view that failure to comply with that rendered the entire action incompetent, and therefore the court should set it aside. Essentially, the court agreed with the argument that we canvassed before it,” they explained.

His explanation follows the High Court’s General Jurisdiction 1 ruling on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, striking out the suit. The court found the writ incurably defective and incapable of properly invoking its jurisdiction.

In reaching its decision, the court relied on Coleman v Newmont concerning the applicable procedural rule and Owusu Domena concerning the need to raise objections promptly. The ruling addressed the validity of the court processes rather than whether the statements complained of were defamatory.

The lawyer explained that the ruling effectively invalidates the suit filed by the Minority Leader.

“What it means is that the action which was instituted by the Afenyo-Markin on 24th August 2026 against Sammy Gyamfi is no more in existence in the sense that it has been set aside and dismissed by the High Court.”

Koku Abotsi, one of the lawyers for Sammy Gyamfi, told Myjoyonline that the team decided against going for costs to be awarded.

He said once their objection has been upheld by the court, that in itself can be described as a victory, although the plaintiff reserves the right to re-file the case.

Mr Afenyo-Markin announced the legal action in Parliament on August 24, 2026, following allegations of extortion made against him during a dispute involving GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.

He maintained that the allegations were false and intended to damage his reputation. The suit also named Multimedia Group Limited as a defendant.

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He said the New Economy Policy, which targets investment in sectors with high employment potential, is expected to provide alternative sources of income and reduce the appeal of illegal mining among the youth.

The President made the remarks when the Western North Regional House of Chiefs paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House.

He said the government’s efforts to enforce the ban on illegal mining had exposed the extent to which economic hardship was drawing young people, including Senior High School students, into the activity.

“Often, when enforcing the fight against galamsey, we find even Senior High School students in illegal mining pits,” he said.

“When you ask them why they are there, they say their fathers could not give them money to go to school, so they have come to work and earn some money. It is a major issue we need to confront.”

President Mahama disclosed that several young people had been arrested in connection with illegal mining, with hundreds awaiting trial and others on bail as their cases remained pending.

He stressed that while the government would continue to enforce the law, it must also tackle the economic conditions that make galamsey attractive to vulnerable young people.

“The question we must ask is, what alternative do we have for them? Alongside enforcing the law against illegal mining, we must provide alternative livelihoods. That is why we are implementing the New Economy Policy,” he said.

The President expressed optimism that the planned US$10 billion investment in employment-generating sectors, including tourism, would create opportunities for young people and discourage them from engaging in illegal mining.

“I believe that if we invest US$10 billion in job-rich sectors of the economy, including tourism, one of the nine pillars, it should provide alternative livelihoods for our young people and discourage them from going into galamsey,” he added.

The New Economy Policy is designed to move Ghana beyond economic stabilisation towards job creation, wealth generation and sustained growth by directing investment into productive sectors capable of expanding businesses, boosting local production and creating employment.

President Mahama also appealed to traditional authorities to support the government’s campaign against illegal mining, particularly activities destroying forest reserves and polluting water bodies.

He acknowledged the work of the National Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Illegal Mining (NAIMOS), but said resistance from some communities continued to pose challenges to its operations.

“The National Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Illegal Mining (NAIMOS) is doing a good job, but in some communities, sometimes the youth, traditional authorities and others fight back against the task force,” he said.

As part of measures to strengthen the protection of water bodies, the President disclosed that the Finance Minister had allocated an additional GH¢400 million in the 2027 Budget for the recruitment of more Blue Water Guards to patrol rivers and other water bodies.

On forest protection, he said the government had cleared all nine reserves previously classified as red zones due to extensive destruction and the threat posed by heavily armed illegal miners.

He added that military personnel had been deployed to the affected areas and would remain there to prevent illegal miners from returning.

President Mahama further revealed that the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) had begun working with the military on efforts to restore degraded forest areas and reclaim land damaged by illegal mining.

The exercise will involve using bulldozers to level affected land for the planting of economic trees, with the Forestry Commission expected to support the reclamation process.

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During a visit by Adom News’ Obrempongba Owusu, residents were seen collecting water from a dugout believed to be contaminated. They use the water for drinking and household chores, which raises fears of waterborne diseases.

Several boreholes and water systems serving Kadentwe, Ehiamakyene, Kete-Krachi and nearby communities have broken down. Residents said some newly drilled boreholes worked for only about three months and now they queue for hours or walk nearly 40 minutes to the Oti River to fetch water.

Nana Addae Emmanuel, the Okyeame of Kadentwe, and other residents said the problem has persisted since the community was established. They said it is affecting education, healthcare and livelihoods, and some children miss school to search for water.

The residents are appealing to the government, development partners and non-governmental organisations to help build a treatment plant that would supply safe water from the Oti River.

They also believe the sacrifice their communities made in 1966, when they gave up land for the Akosombo Dam, should be matched with better access to basic services.

Watch the full report below:

The collaboration brings together GoldBod’s environmental restoration initiative and the military’s engineering expertise to address the extensive physical damage left by illegal mining activities in the reserve.

The project is focused on reclaiming 60 hectares within Compartment 161, following years of encroachment that contributed to the destruction of approximately 192.4 hectares of woodland between 2021 and 2024.

GoldBod Sustainability Manager, Samuel Danso, explained that illegal mining had left behind deep excavations, unstable ground and extensive environmental degradation, making natural recovery difficult without substantial engineering intervention.

The Ghana Armed Forces Engineer Regiment, operating under the command of Major Shem Adolinama, is leading the heavy earthmoving and civil engineering phase of the project.

Key operations include filling dangerous mining pits, stabilising the soil and reshaping the landscape to support future vegetation growth. Engineers are also constructing drainage channels to manage water movement and reduce the risk of sediment entering the Tano River.

These interventions are intended to address both the visible destruction caused by illegal mining and the underlying land and water management challenges that could undermine the reserve’s recovery.

With the major engineering works nearing completion, the site is undergoing final grading and preparation for the next stage of restoration.

GoldBod and the military engineering team are expected to hand over the reclaimed area to the Forestry Commission in the coming weeks. The Commission will lead the subsequent reforestation phase, including the planting of trees and the nurturing of indigenous vegetation.

The project illustrates the role of inter-agency cooperation in addressing the environmental consequences of illegal mining and restoring degraded public natural assets.

GoldBod says the reclamation initiative reflects its commitment to environmental responsibility and the need for coordinated national action to reverse the damage caused by galamsey.

The Board remains focused on ensuring that the reclaimed land is prepared for sustainable restoration and that the transition to reforestation supports the long-term recovery of the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve.

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Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Midday News on Wednesday, October 14, she said the reported cases raise serious questions about how students are protected by teachers, particularly in boarding schools.

“When parents send their children to senior high schools, especially those on boarding school status, there is this belief and conviction that they’ve handed over their children to responsible adults who will help train them, nurture them and imbibe in them normal life values. If these incidents keep recurring on these campuses, it really, really gives cause to worry,” she said.

Her comments follow a series of allegations involving teachers and school administrators, including the recent case at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, which has led to the headteacher’s suspension.

Ms Ibrahima acknowledged the efforts of the Ministers of Education and Gender, Children and Social Protection in responding to some of the incidents but said more needed to be done to prevent abuse and ensure victims can safely report allegations.

She called for stronger social welfare structures at the district and municipal levels, explaining that resource constraints often limit their ability to respond effectively to reports of abuse.

She expressed hope that the implementation of the Social Protection Act and its legislative instruments would encourage increased funding for social welfare departments.

According to her, these departments are often the first point of contact for victims and may continue to support them even after the police become involved.

Ms Mohammed Ibrahimah also raised concerns about the difficulties students face when reporting alleged abuse within their schools, particularly when the accused person occupies a position of authority.

“The fear is that because the incidents happen on campuses, and the teacher in this instance, in the case of Obuasi, is the head teacher. So where is this victim going to report to? That’s always the fear,” she said.

She argued that reporting outside the school environment, through the police or district social welfare office, could help reduce the risk of alleged cases being concealed.

She proposed exploring the establishment of gender desks in schools to provide students with accessible channels for reporting abuse, while cautioning that the possibility of colleagues protecting one another must also be considered.

Ms Mohammed Ibrahimah said school authorities and relevant institutions must ensure that children in distress receive the necessary support and are able to report allegations without intimidation or obstruction.

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Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, announced the planned exercise during a visit to the Sekyere Afram Plains District in the Ashanti Region, where he commissioned four community network sites.

He said the audit would provide a clear picture of the work completed by the contractor, identify outstanding tasks and help the government determine the condition of the facilities.

Mr George explained that it would be impractical for him to visit all 2,016 sites personally, making an independent assessment necessary.

“Next week, we are going to have a meeting with the contractor to do an evaluation of the work that is done. We inherited the contract; 2,016 sites, we want to do a status update. I am unable to visit all the sites myself, so we are commissioning an audit to ascertain the status of the sites,” he said.

The Minister also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to extending internet access to underserved communities, stressing the need to ensure that residents are not excluded from digital services because of where they live.

The four facilities commissioned during the visit serve Nyameama No. 1, Nyameama No. 2, Dawia and Abenua.

According to Mr George, some of the beneficiary communities do not have electricity, but the government is using solar-powered infrastructure to provide internet connectivity.

He, however, called for the facilities to be upgraded from 3G to 4G technology to improve network performance and give residents a better digital experience.

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The CEO said this challenge to intensify membership mobilization should be everyone’s responsibility and not chiefs, the Member of Parliament and the Municipal Assembly alone.

Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe made the call when he in collaboration with the Member of Parliament, Dorcas Affo-Toffey and the Paramount Chief of the Western Nzema Traditional Council, Awulae Kwasi Amakye III, commissioned the Authority’s new district office in the Jomoro Municipality.

The NHIA’s commitment to expanding health coverage and bringing services closer to communities is evident in the commissioning of the Jomoro District Office.

The priority now is to turn the new infrastructure into measurable improvements in enrollment, service quality and public confidence.

While acknowledging progress, the CEO urged NHIA staff, traditional authorities, the Municipal Assembly and community stakeholders to intensify outreach and enroll more residents.

Dr. Bampoe said the facility must serve as a catalyst for expanding healthcare access and protecting families against the financial burden of illness, stressing that its success would be measured not by the structure itself but by the lives it touches.

“The true measure of this investment is the number of lives we reach, the families we protect and the confidence we restore in the NHIS,” he emphasized.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment, under President John Dramani Mahama, to strengthening healthcare access through improved health financing.

He also urged healthcare providers to stop charging unauthorised fees for services covered under the NHIS, insisting that improvements in claims payments and provider tariffs must translate into better service for members.

The CEO charged staff to uphold professionalism, accountability and compassion, while making membership education, active renewals and efficient service delivery priorities.

He also called for regular membership performance reports to strengthen accountability and track progress towards Universal Health Coverage.

The Western Regional Director of the NHIA, Joseph Meneabeh Akpoh, thanked the Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, traditional authorities, and other stakeholders for their support.

He highlighted staffing and logistical challenges requiring urgent attention to improve field operations and service delivery.

The Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, who is also the Deputy Minister of Transport, commended the NHIA’s leadership for bringing services closer to her constituents.

She encouraged residents to enroll in the NHIS and urged staff to serve with courtesy, efficiency and professionalism.

The Paramount Chief of the Western Nzema Traditional Council, Awulae Kwasi Amakye III described the commissioning as a historic milestone.

He urged the traditional leaders to mobilize residents to register with the NHIS and maintain active membership.

The Municipal Chief Executive, Benedict Boadi, said the facility would strengthen public service delivery and support community education on the government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative.

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In a press statement issued in Tema on October 14, 2026, the company said it is working to restore power to the remaining areas as quickly as possible.

The outage followed a fault at the substation at 2:36 a.m. on Wednesday, which started a fire on one of its transformers. The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) responded and put out the fire.

GRIDCo said its engineers are investigating the cause of the fire, and the process of replacing the damaged transformer has begun. The company did not say when the new transformer will be installed.

It apologised for the inconvenience and thanked customers and stakeholders for their patience and understanding.

The court, presided over by Justice Gabriel Pwamang, with Justices Samuel Asiedu, Hafisata Amaleboba, Sophia Bernasco-Esaah and Anthony Forson as members, held that the application ought to fail.

It consequently refused the applications for certiorari and prohibition.

Alleged excesses

Moving the application in court Wednesday (October 14), counsel for Asamoah, Prince Asafo-Agyei, said the application, filed on August 21, 2026, challenged the ruling of the High Court on July 2, 2026, dismissing the accused person’s submission of no case to answer.

He argued that the trial judge exceeded her jurisdiction by making definitive findings on whether the prosecution had adduced sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction at that stage of the proceedings.

According to him, the judge went beyond the scope of her powers by making findings that should not have been made when determining a submission of no case to answer.

Counsel further argued that the judge, on July 30, 2026, reviewed the applicant’s bail conditions while dealing with an application for stay of proceedings, without giving him an opportunity to respond.

He took particular exception to the judge’s alleged statement that the applicant was “the direct cause of the loss”, arguing that it went beyond what the court was required to determine at that stage and could prejudice the defence.

Bail conditions

Mr Asafo-Agyei also challenged the trial court’s decision to revert the applicant’s bail conditions to a requirement to report monthly until the end of the trial.

He said the applicant was neither given notice nor heard before the decision was taken, adding that there was no application before the court seeking a variation of the bail conditions.

Counsel submitted that the cumulative effect of the judge’s findings, the alteration of the bail conditions and what he described as off-record proceedings on July 2, 2026, created a reasonable apprehension that his client would not receive an impartial hearing.

Opposed 

Opposing the application, the Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, said the complaint about the bail conditions was unfounded.

He explained that the accused person had applied for a variation of his bail conditions on February 9, 2026, and that the variation was subject to the continuation of the trial.

He said when the period covered by the variation ended, the trial judge merely reverted to the original conditions.

“We do not see any injustice in this case,” he said.

On the allegation that the trial judge had exceeded her jurisdiction, Dr Srem-Sai argued that the applicant’s case was based on a misapprehension of the elements of the offence.

He further submitted that the allegations underpinning the application for prohibition were unfounded and did not establish any element of bias.

Background

Mr Asamoah, a former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), and Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, a former board chairman of the fund, are standing trial over an alleged $2 million payment connected with the proposed Accra SkyTrain project, which was never constructed.

The prosecution alleges that the money was transferred from GIIF’s account to Africa Investor Holdings Limited, a South African company, without the requisite approval of the GIIF board.

The two accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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The exercise is aimed at ensuring eligible households receive their grants smoothly and transparently while identifying challenges that could affect the delivery of the financial assistance.

In a Facebook post, the Ministry said the teams were visiting selected communities to observe payment processes, interact with beneficiaries and assess the effectiveness of arrangements for distributing the grants.

The officers are also documenting challenges, recording cases and referring issues through the appropriate LEAP and Social Welfare structures for further action.

Before the field exercise, the monitoring teams participated in a preparatory meeting where they were briefed on a revised monitoring questionnaire and trained on handling beneficiary concerns and case management issues.

Key areas covered included payment systems, beneficiary records, data quality, payment instruments and grievance handling.

The exercise also provides an opportunity for officers to engage beneficiaries on using the grants to meet essential household needs, including food, healthcare and children’s education.

The LEAP programme is a key component of Ghana’s social protection system, providing cash assistance to extremely poor households, including those with older persons, persons with severe disabilities, and orphaned and vulnerable children.

The Ministry said the ongoing monitoring exercise is intended to strengthen accountability, improve grant delivery and ensure social protection support reaches eligible households effectively across the country.

It added that the exercise was still underway to ensure all eligible households were covered.

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GES Public Relations Officer Daniel Fenyi disclosed this in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem.

Mr. Fenyi explained that the decision to reopen the school would depend on when the environment is considered safe and conducive for academic activities.

He said the school was closed based on intelligence gathered by the police, making their input crucial to determining when students could return.

“We are still engaging with the police on the reopening of the school because its closure was based on intelligence provided by them,” Mr Fenyi said.

He added that the GES would allow students to return once the necessary conditions had been met.

“When the environment is safe and conducive for academic activities, we will reopen the school for the students to return. Especially now that the headmaster has been interdicted,” he stated.

The closure follows allegations of sexual abuse involving the school’s headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai, which triggered protests and raised concerns about the safety of students on campus.

The GES has since interdicted the headmaster while investigations into the allegations continue.

The Service says the decision is intended to protect the integrity of the process and prevent possible interference with the investigation.

The development has also raised concerns about the academic future of students, particularly those in their final years preparing for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The GES has yet to announce a specific date for the reopening of Obuasi SHTS, with discussions with the police continuing over the conditions required for students to safely resume academic activities.

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Police in Cologne have confiscated the red and gold robot that allegedly grabbed the girl’s buttocks and made thrusting motions against her before she screamed and moved away.

North Rhine Westphalia Police said the robot’s 16-year-old owner and his companion, 19, are believed to have streamed the incident live on social media and commented on it.

According to a police statement on Facebook, the 120cm (3.9ft) tall device approached the girl from behind while she was with her friends close to midnight local time (23:00 BST) on Saturday.

The girl was in front of a fast-food outlet near the city centre when the incident took place, police said.

Emergency services were alerted, and the teenage boy and the man now under investigation with him were found a block away a short time later. The robot was discovered in the back of a car, where the boy had placed it, police said.

A photo released by police showed the robot wearing a black moustache, a gold-coloured chain and white vest.

Along with the robot, police seized two mobile phones belonging to the suspects. They are trying to determine whether someone was deliberately controlling the robot’s movements at the time of the incident.

In a follow-up post on Facebook, police warned some social media comments on the case “can be a crossing of the line and in the worst case, a criminal offense”.

GES Public Relations Officer Daniel Fenyi, speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, said the decision was necessary to protect the integrity of the investigation and prevent the headmaster from potentially intimidating students or withholding information relevant to the case.

“There is nothing like consensual when it comes to a teacher-student relationship involving an underage child. The child is not in a position to give informed consent,” he said.

Mr Fenyi explained that rumours about the alleged misconduct had been circulating for about three to four months, but the Service could not act solely on unverified claims.

He said the situation escalated following protests that led to the temporary closure of the school, while a documentary released by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni brought additional attention to the allegations.

According to him, the headmaster had already appeared before the GES before the documentary was released, and the footage subsequently corroborated the sequence of events and allegations being examined.

Mr Fenyi said the Service therefore considered it necessary to interdict the headmaster while investigations continued.

“We had to interdict him while the investigation is ongoing to protect the process. We need to ensure that he does not interfere by threatening students, hiding documents or withholding information that could assist the investigation,” he explained.

He stressed that the interdiction was intended to allow investigators to work without interference as they established the facts surrounding the allegations.

The case has generated concern among parents and students, with reports of protests and the temporary closure of Obuasi SHTS disrupting academic activities.

The father of one of the students allegedly affected, John Kwaku Bobena, has also expressed concern about the impact of the school’s closure on his daughter, who was preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

He has appealed to the GES to find alternative placement for affected students, warning that his daughter could be forced to abandon her education and help him on his cocoa farm if she cannot continue school elsewhere.

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• Obuasi SHTS: My daughter may quit school to help on my cocoa farm –…

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A statement from the Police Public Affairs Unit, issued on October 14, 2026, said the Upper East Regional Police Command carried out its operation on Tuesday, October 13, with officers from the National Police Intelligence Directorate, the Upper East Regional Police Intelligence Directorate, the Special Operations Team popularly known as Black Cobra, and the Tongo District Police Command.

Ten suspects were arrested during the operation.

The statement, signed by Chief Inspector Abdul-Raman Sumaila, said the police recovered 104 live AA cartridges, 37 wraps of suspected Indian hemp, 12 mobile phones, seven body armours, two pepper sprays, four touch lights, a knife, a weapon bag and a set of walkie-talkies. They also took seven security uniforms belonging to Nalamtaaba, a small-scale mining firm.

In a separate operation, a team from the 11 Mechanised Battalion arrested six more suspects and recovered two pump-action guns and 105 live AA cartridges. The six suspects and the recovered items were handed over to the police in Bolgatanga for further investigations.

Between the two operations, 16 people were arrested and 209 cartridges seized. The police are keeping the other items as exhibits.

All 16 suspects are in custody, assisting investigations, and will be put before the court.

The operation is part of security efforts at the site following impasses involving the Gbane and Namolug communities, Nalamtaaba Mining Enterprise and Earl International Mining Limited. The police said patrols are continuing in the affected communities to keep the peace.

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The decision suspends the implementation of the Court of Appeal’s order while the legal challenge proceeds.

The Court of Appeal had overturned an earlier High Court ruling that dismissed the officers’ case and directed the police authorities to effect their promotions.

The dispute stems from an amnesty granted by the Police Management Board in 2021, which made officers enlisted between December 2008 and 2020 and holding first degrees eligible for promotion.

The 40 officers argued that they were unfairly excluded from the programme despite some of their colleagues, including officers junior to them, benefiting from the arrangement.

They were seeking promotion from Chief Inspectors to Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs).

The officers also pointed to promotions granted to other personnel, including those from Corporal to Sergeant, Sergeant to Inspector, and Inspector to Chief Inspector, as evidence of what they considered unequal treatment.

Dissatisfied with their exclusion, they sued the IGP and the Police Management Board at the High Court in Kumasi, seeking an order compelling the authorities to promote them.

However, the High Court dismissed the action, prompting the officers to appeal the decision.

The Court of Appeal subsequently ruled in their favour, overturning the High Court’s decision and ordering that their promotions be effected.

The latest Supreme Court order halts the execution of that judgment pending the determination of the appeal before it.

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The move was disclosed during the Assembly’s annual fee-fixing resolution consultative meeting with stakeholders to review its current rates and discuss proposed fees for the 2027 fiscal year.

The Principal Budget Analyst for the KMA, Mr. Eric Nunoo, explained the fee-fixing exercise is done annually in consultation with ratepayers and business operators, based on a guideline issued by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs.

According to him, the Ministry provides upper and lower limits for all fees, and the Assembly is mandated to operate within those limits, with any upward adjustment done gradually.

“Today we met here first of all to let them know what we are operating with, that is, the 2026 fees, and also what we intend to charge in 2027. We do this based on a guideline that gives us what we call the upper limits and the lower limits, and we are supposed to abide by that,” he said.

He said the engagement was to solicit views from stakeholders before finalizing a single document that will guide the Assembly’s revenue mobilization in the ensuing year.

Addressing concerns over new areas of collection, Mr. Nunoo clarified that while the Assembly collects annual licenses and daily tolls from traders, transport operators, and those who use market spaces and car parks, a large segment of nighttime operators have not been captured.

“We have what we call the license which is annual, and we have the daily costs and the fees where the people selling on the streets and all that we do daily collection.

“Everybody who enters the market, those who are parking their cars, they pay something to the Assembly daily. But we also have a lot of people who do their work in the evenings, the nights, where we are not taking anything from them,” he noted.

He said the Assembly will enforce collection of what he described as “night tolls” to ensure equity and boost development.

“When you are doing business, you should also contribute your quota to government, to KMA, so that we can do the necessary development for you. This is something that we are going to enforce to ensure everybody that works in the night also pays something to the Assembly from the month of October,” he added.

On weekend collection, he said the Assembly has observed that significant commercial activities and waste generation occur on weekends, particularly in markets, yet revenue collection is limited to weekdays.

The Assembly will therefore deploy revenue officers to markets and other business centres during weekends to ensure that all traders pay the appropriate tolls to support sanitation and other development activities.

“Those who come to the markets and do their business during the weekends, we are going to have our officers come and take the necessary fees because if you look at KMA, you can’t talk about KMA and you don’t mention sanitation and some of the waste that is generated mostly comes during the weekend,” he explained.

He appealed to all ratepayers within the metropolis to cooperate with revenue collectors when they approach them.

Meanwhile, some of the participants at the meeting called for reductions in some of the proposed fees for 2027 presented by the Assembly’s budget department.

The participants, who included market leaders, transport union executives, and representatives of business associations, argued that while they appreciate the need for the Assembly to increase its Internally Generated Fund (IGF), some of the proposed increments are too high and could affect their businesses.

They appealed to the Assembly to be considerate in fixing the new rates, especially for market tolls, property rates, and business operating permits, to avoid overburdening traders and small businesses.

Responding to their concerns, the Presiding Member of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Patrick Kwame Frimpong, assured stakeholders that all issues raised will be considered during the General Assembly meeting before final approval.

According to him, all the new fees are proposals and will be subjected to debate by Assembly Members.

“The fees we have presented are still proposals. The Assembly Members will debate them after this stakeholder engagement before any approval is given,” he said.

Mr. Frimpong added that the relevant sub-committees will continue to engage the leadership of various associations and unions when necessary to ensure consensus building.

He explained that stakeholder engagement is a mandatory requirement in the fee-fixing process to ensure transparency and inclusive decision-making, and therefore the views of all ratepayers are crucial.

“We will not impose any fee on our people. We will continue to dialogue with you until we reach a common ground that will be in the best interest of Kumasi,” he noted.

He urged stakeholders to support the KMA to boost its IGF in order to accelerate development in the Metropolis, stressing that development largely depends on internally generated funds.

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According to the Board, the rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies makes it imperative for Ghana to undertake deliberate and urgent reforms in its educational system to equip students with relevant skills for a fast-changing global economy.

The Ghana Coordinator for the project and Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Mathematics Education at the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (USTED), Prof. Yarhands Dissou Arthur, made the call at the final conference of the DigiMarkt Project.

The event, held on the theme “Transforming the Digital Future of TVET in Ghana: The Role of the DigiMarkt Project,” was hosted at the USTED campus in Kumasi and marked the climax of the two-year transformative initiative.

The project, co-funded by the European Union (EU) with a total grant of €394,185, sought to strengthen digital marketing and emerging technology competencies within Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Ghana.

Addressing participants, Prof. Arthur warned that Artificial Intelligence is set to dominate every facet of life and industry in the next three decades, and Ghana risks being left behind if it delays its adoption.

He stressed that AI should no longer be perceived as an elective or the preserve of computer science specialists, but rather as a fundamental literacy that every student must possess, similar to reading and writing.

“In fact, AI is something that is taking over the world in the next thirty years, and we as a country cannot afford to wait until it has taken over before we begin to learn,” he stated.

He therefore proposed that AI be made a common course across all public and private universities in Ghana, just like basic Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

“I will recommend that in this university and in all universities in Ghana, AI should become a common course, just like we have been learning basic ICT – learning PowerPoint, Access and all those things. Today, AI can create all those things for you, so why don’t we learn how to use AI now?” Prof. Arthur stated.

Beyond the tertiary level, Prof. Arthur advocated for the early introduction of AI at the Senior High School level to build a strong foundation and digital confidence among learners before they enter tertiary institutions.

He believes such an early start will demystify AI, promote innovation and position Ghanaian students to compete globally in an increasingly AI-driven economy.

“In fact, even in our secondary education, we need to include it in our curriculum because it is what is ruling the world. But the question we need to ask ourselves is, how must we teach the AI?”

Prof. Arthur noted that the real debate should not be about whether AI should be adopted, but about ensuring its responsible application. He warned against creating panic and imposing outright bans on AI in schools, emphasizing that responsible usage comes only through education and training.

“We need to teach students how to make responsible use of AI. And to be able to teach them how to use it responsibly, teachers and instructors in the various schools must first learn how to use it themselves,” he stressed.

He disclosed that the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (USTED), Cape Coast Technical University, and Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU), through the DigiMarkt Project and with support from the European Commission, have established a state-of-the-art AI and digital marketing laboratory to spearhead the initiative.

“This laboratory we have established is for that purpose. If you are a secondary school and you want your teachers to be well-trained in the use of AI, including its application in teaching, you can come here. We can agree on terms and conditions and, in the interest of sustaining the project, offer you something that will be of great value to your school,” he explained.

The Dean added that lecturers at USTED are already benefiting from the programme, using AI to develop lecture notes, prepare PowerPoint presentations and compile research materials.

Drawing a direct link between AI education and Ghana’s unemployment crisis, Prof. Arthur explained that the DigiMarkt Project was originally conceived to enhance the employability of TVET graduates within the digital economy.

“We are a TVET university and it has always been said that TVET is the way to go when we talk about unemployment. Unemployment in this country is high, and one of the ways we can address it is to provide our students with the requisite technical education and training,” he stated.

He argued that technical skills alone are no longer sufficient in a competitive market, and that graduates must also be equipped with the capacity to sell their skills and products.

According to him, the digital transformation agenda extends beyond TVET institutions, as every sector of the economy now requires digital competence to thrive.

Looking beyond the classroom, Prof. Arthur further underscored how AI and digital marketing could serve as a bridge connecting Ghanaian youth to opportunities in the global job market.

He disclosed ongoing engagements with German partners under the DigiMarkt Project to establish remote work pipelines for top-performing trainees, particularly in high-demand areas such as data analytics, digital marketing and cybersecurity.

He said the initiative, if successful, would allow skilled Ghanaian youth to work remotely for international companies without necessarily leaving the country, thereby curbing brain drain while earning foreign income.

He concluded with a strong appeal to policymakers, educators and parents to embrace the AI revolution rather than resist it.

“AI is taking over and we need to be fast, otherwise the world will leave us behind,” he warned.

Build Networks, Leapfrog Mistakes

The Project Coordinator of the DigiMarkt Project, Dr. Jonathan Barth, has urged Ghanaians and Africans not to copy every step Europe took in its digital and Artificial Intelligence journey.

According to him, not everything that works for Europe is necessarily good for African countries.

Dr. Barth explained that while Europe offers valuable lessons in digital transformation, Africa must contextualise those lessons to suit its own realities, challenges and opportunities.

He urged stakeholders to build the next approach together, build strong networks and leapfrog past the mistakes made by developed economies.

He emphasised the need for collaboration, sharing of methods, challenging of ideas and retaining only what works for Ghana and the continent.

Dr. Barth said this collaborative approach is key to ensuring that the Digital Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DigiMarkt) initiative truly empowers training providers and learners with relevant skills in digital marketing, Artificial Intelligence and cybersecurity, as a sustainable strategy to bridge the skills gap and tackle youth unemployment in Ghana.

The final conference brought together academics, students, industry players and international partners to demonstrate how AI-powered digital marketing tools can transform skills training, enhance entrepreneurship, create sustainable jobs for Ghanaian youth and chart a sustainable path for its outcomes beyond the funding period.

The project, implemented by a consortium of partners from Ghana, Germany and Slovakia, is aimed at repositioning Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for the digital age.

It seeks to equip TVET students and staff with relevant skills in digital marketing, Artificial Intelligence and cybersecurity as a strategy to bridge the skills gap and tackle youth unemployment.

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The exercise is aimed at ensuring that eligible households receive their grants smoothly and transparently while identifying challenges that could affect the delivery of the support.

Ahead of the field exercise, officers participated in a preparatory meeting where they were briefed on the revised monitoring questionnaire and guided on handling beneficiary concerns and case management issues. The training covered key areas, including payment systems, beneficiary records, data quality, payment instruments and grievance handling.

During the exercise, the teams visited selected communities to observe payment processes, interact with beneficiaries and assess the effectiveness of the arrangements for disbursing the grants. They also documented challenges and cases requiring attention, referring them to the appropriate LEAP and Social Welfare structures for follow-up.

The monitoring exercise is also providing an opportunity for officers to engage beneficiaries on the appropriate use of the grants to support essential household needs, including food, healthcare and children’s education.

The LEAP programme is a key component of Ghana’s social protection system, providing cash assistance to extremely poor households, including those with older persons, persons with severe disabilities, and orphaned and vulnerable children.

Through the exercise, the Ministry seeks to strengthen accountability, improve grant delivery and ensure that social protection assistance reaches eligible households effectively across the country.

The monitoring exercise is ongoing, with teams working to ensure that eligible households are covered.

In an official notice issued by the Office of the Registrar on Wednesday, the university said fresh students are expected to report on Thursday, October 15, while continuing students will return on Saturday, October 17.

The school postponed the reopening of the university for the 2026/2027 academic year indefinitely due to the ongoing strike by the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA).

The reopening, initially scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, 2026, has been put on hold because of the strike’s impact on the university’s operations and administration.

However, management has said the change in decision follows an emergency Executive Committee meeting held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

Lectures for both fresh and continuing students are scheduled to begin on Monday, October 19, 2026.

The notice, signed as Official Notice No. 4/26, urged students, parents, and guardians, as well as other stakeholders, to take note of the revised arrangements.

The university also expressed appreciation to stakeholders for their understanding, patience, and cooperation.

Read the full statement below:

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• Some KNUST administrative offices operating below capacity amidst GAUA strike

Both incidents occurred in Takoradi on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, with firefighters preventing the blazes from spreading to nearby properties and vegetation.

The warehouse fire was reported at 10:37 a.m. and destroyed 10 tricycles. However, the joint efforts of personnel from the Sekondi Metro Fire Station and the Air Force Base Fire Department saved more than 2,000 tricycles and protected adjoining buildings and a nearby mall.

The fire was brought under control at 11:11 a.m. and completely extinguished at 11:20 a.m. No casualties were recorded.

The GNFS said investigations were underway to determine the cause of the warehouse fire.

Later in the morning, firefighters from the Sekondi Metro Fire Station responded to a bushfire near TTU following a distress call at 11:55 a.m.

The six-member crew, led by ADO I Kenneth Agbavor, brought the fire under control at 12:07 p.m. and extinguished it completely at 12:15 p.m.

Preliminary investigations suggest that uncontrolled refuse burning ignited dry weeds, but the swift response prevented the fire from spreading to nearby vegetation and buildings. No casualties were recorded.

The Western Regional Fire Commander, ACFO I Cecil B. R. Addo, and the Sekondi Metro Fire Officer, DO II Michael Tetteh, were among the officers present during the response to the warehouse fire. The Regional Commander also visited the bushfire scene.

He cautioned residents against indiscriminate burning, reminding the public that uncontrolled bush burning is prohibited under the Control and Prevention of Bushfires Law, 1990 (P.N.D.C.L. 229).

The GNFS has urged businesses and warehouse operators to strengthen fire safety measures, obtain the necessary fire safety certification and maintain safe storage practices.

Residents have also been advised to dispose of refuse responsibly and avoid burning near dry vegetation and fuel installations to prevent fires and protect lives, property and the environment.

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Its job is to raise funds for the implementation of the IFAP Action Plan.

The decision came at the Committee’s third meeting, chaired by the Deputy Administrator of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Mrs Nana Akyaa Amoah-Amissah.

Members reviewed the Action Plan’s priority areas and identified major funding gaps.

These include support for Community Information Centres, information resources accessible to persons with disabilities, and ICT laboratories for special schools.

The new Sub-Committee will develop and implement a resource mobilization strategy aligned with the Action Plan.

It will also build partnerships with potential funders and mobilize the resources needed to turn the Committee’s commitments into tangible results.

The Sub-Committee draws its members from the Committee’s member institutions. The IFAP Secretariat will provide coordination and support.

MIL campaign ahead of Global MIL Week

The Committee also discussed plans for a joint Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and anti-disinformation campaign.

Activities are expected to align with Global Media and Information Literacy Week, marked worldwide from 24 to 31 October.

Inclusion as a shared responsibility

Members called for inclusion to become a shared responsibility across their institutions’ programmes.

Representatives committed to building accessibility into how their programmes and activities are designed and delivered.

The Committee further agreed to coordinate its communications more closely, so that the collective work and impact of IFAP reach a wider audience.

The Committee stressed that no single institution can close Ghana’s information gap alone.

It said collaboration, resource mobilization and coordinated action are key to building a more informed, inclusive and resilient Ghana.

IFAP is an intergovernmental programme of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

It promotes universal access to information and knowledge.

The Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, disclosed this on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, during a discussion on the 20% tax applicable to Netflix, Spotify and other cross-border digital services.

He said the providers would be brought into the system gradually as the Authority expands compliance.

“We have identified about a hundred new emerging ones who today are not charging the VAT,” he said.

Mr Sarpong explained that about 92 foreign companies currently remit VAT to the GRA. He said the new collection mechanism would not add another 20% to charges from providers whose prices already include the tax.

“Nothing will change in terms of pricing from 92 merchants or entities,” he stated.

However, bringing providers that are not currently charging VAT into the system would extend collection to their qualifying services.

According to Mr Sarpong, the obligation for foreign companies supplying services to consumers in Ghana to charge VAT has existed since 2013.

He said the latest intervention seeks to improve collection and give the Authority a complete view of transactions involving those companies.

Under the existing arrangement, service providers collect payments, report their transactions, and subsequently remit the tax component to the GRA.

Mr Sarpong said this leaves the Authority dependent on the companies’ declarations, with limited means of independently verifying the number and value of transactions.

The new system would separate the tax component at the point of payment, transfer it to the government and remit the remainder to the service provider.

The intervention forms part of the GRA’s real-time VAT framework for qualifying cross-border digital services.

In an earlier report, Elsie Appau-Klu, Technical Advisor to the Commissioner-General, said the framework collects existing VAT at the point of payment through participating financial institutions. The combined 20% charge comprises 15% VAT, a 2.5% National Health Insurance Levy, and a 2.5% GETFund Levy.

Mr Sarpong clarified that the collection system would cover qualifying payments made through mobile and other digital payment platforms, as well as bank cards.

“So it’s not only for a card,” he said.

He also stressed that the initial rollout applies to services, rather than physical goods bought from foreign online platforms.

He explained that imported goods are already assessed for applicable duties and VAT when they enter Ghana through its borders.

“So it is not going to affect goods or products, tangible products at the moment,” he stated.

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• Digital VAT collection system will not add another 20% to existing charges – GRA…

The church’s General Superintendent, Rev. Dr Stephen Yenusom Wengnam, disclosed this at the opening of the 10th World Assemblies of God Congress on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Accra International Conference Centre Dome.

He explained that technical difficulties delayed the arrival of the structure from Dubai, preventing the church from using it for the congress as originally planned.

According to him, although the dome has arrived at the port, it requires about 10 days to assemble, making it unsuitable for the ongoing event.

“Originally, we were to meet at the Independence Square. We had ordered a 10,000-seater dome from Dubai, but technical challenges made it impossible for it to arrive on time. Even though, as I speak, it has arrived at the port, we need 10 days to fix it,” he said.

Rev. Dr Wengnam said the church had decided to put the structure to another use by moving it to the Assemblies of God Centenary City land before making it available to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the national celebrations.

“Nevertheless, it will serve another purpose. We are moving it to the Assemblies of God Centenary City land, and then we’ll loan it to Foreign Affairs for the Ghana at 70 events,” he added.

Meanwhile, the 10th World Assemblies of God Congress will continue with evening revival rallies at the Accra Sports Stadium from 5 p.m. daily, from Wednesday, October 14, to Friday, October 16, 2026.

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Speaking to Adom News, Mama Kalesi I, Sub-Queen Mother of the Adaklu Waya Traditional Council expressed concern about the growing use of illicit drugs among some young people in the community.

Mama Kalesi I warned that the situation could have serious consequences for the health, education, and future of the youth if urgent measures are not taken to address it.

The Sub-Queen Mother appealed to the DCE parents, traditional leaders, religious organisations, schools, and community members to join the fight by increasing public education on the dangers of drug abuse.

She also called for stronger support systems for young people struggling with addiction, stressing the need for counselling, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society.

Mama Kalesi further urged law enforcement agencies to intensify surveillance and clamp down on the sale and distribution of illicit drugs by some spots in the community.

For his part, Mr. Ameko acknowledged the concerns raised by the traditional authorities and said the Assembly is committed to work with relevant stakeholders to address the problem.

He called for a united community response, noting that the fight against drug abuse could not be left to one institution alone.

The elders, residents, and the Assembly pledged to collaborate with parents, schools, traditional authorities, religious bodies, and security agencies to protect the youth and promote a safer and healthier Adaklu Waya.

He said his position as President demands fairness and equitable treatment for all Ghanaians, highlighting the importance of justice and impartiality in public service.

Speaking at the Assemblies of God World Conference in Accra, President Mahama called on the church to guide, inspire and equip young people with the values and skills needed to become responsible leaders in society.

He also urged church leaders and members to strengthen relationships, deepen partnerships and promote collaboration to address challenges confronting communities.

The President emphasised the need for the church to extend support to vulnerable communities facing economic and social hardships, noting that collective efforts were essential to improving lives and promoting social well-being.

He encouraged the Assemblies of God to sustain its contribution to shaping the moral values of the younger generation while supporting national development through service, compassion and community engagement.

The conference is expected to provide a platform for church leaders and members to strengthen relationships and explore strategies to expand the church’s impact on society.

He said the move is aimed at enforcing road safety regulations and ensuring that pedestrian footbridges are used for their intended purpose of providing safe passage for pedestrians.

ACP Obeng made the disclosure at a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA).

He also expressed concern about persistent hawking on pedestrian footbridges, noting that efforts by the Police, in collaboration with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), to remove traders have often been hindered by political interference.

According to him, such interference has made it difficult for the Police and local authorities to effectively carry out eviction exercises and keep the footbridges free from unauthorised commercial activities.

He stressed the need for stronger enforcement and cooperation among relevant stakeholders to address the challenges and ensure the proper use of pedestrian footbridges.

ACP Obeng said these measures were necessary to improve pedestrian safety and protect the facilities from misuse.

The court found the writ incurably defective and incompetent, ruling that it could not properly invoke the court’s jurisdiction.

In reaching its decision, the court relied on Coleman v Newmont on the applicable procedural rule and Owusu Domena on the requirement to raise objections promptly.

The ruling ends the proceedings under the defective writ. It concerns the procedural validity of the action rather than a determination of whether the statements complained of were defamatory.

Mr Afenyo-Markin announced the legal action in Parliament on 24 August 2026, saying it followed allegations of extortion made against him amid a dispute over GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.

The High Court suit also named Multimedia Group Limited as a defendant.

The Minority Leader maintained that the allegations were false and intended to damage his reputation.

The case subsequently generated disagreement over service of the writ. Mr Gyamfi authorised his lawyers, Ayine & Partners, to accept the court documents, while Mr Afenyo-Markin’s lawyers later said service had been completed and rejected claims that their client was avoiding it.

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Market watchers estimate the appreciation at just under 1%, offering some relief after sustained pressure on the local currency since the third quarter.

The pressure has been linked to increased demand for dollars by businesses financing imports ahead of December, as well as energy-related payments by the Bank of Ghana for crude oil and finished petroleum products.

The recent gains follow near-weekly depreciation since last month.

What is driving the recovery?

Market players have attributed the recovery to increased foreign exchange support, particularly dollar sales by the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).

On Tuesday, GoldBod sold US$197 million to commercial banks at a rate of GH¢11.70 to the dollar.

Joy Business understands that every participating bank received the full amount it requested, easing demand pressures and raising expectations of further gains for the cedi.

The sales, conducted through GoldBod’s GoFX platform, complement other measures by the Bank of Ghana to support liquidity in the foreign exchange market.

The intervention is in line with GoldBod’s plan to supply US$1 billion to commercial banks under its revised arrangements for foreign exchange receipts from gold exports in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.

Some commercial banks have told Joy Business that they expect the cedi to remain fairly stable if the improved liquidity support is sustained.

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He said his position as President required him to serve all citizens equally, irrespective of their religious beliefs, noting that his personal Christian faith must not compromise his constitutional responsibility to the entire nation.

The President was speaking at the 10th World Assemblies of God Congress on Wednesday, October 14, under the theme “One Mandate, Every Nation.”

President Mahama said his faith remained a source of strength but did not diminish his obligation to respect and protect the rights of all Ghanaians.

“As President, I’ve sworn duty to serve every Ghanaian: Christians of every denomination, Muslims, adherents of traditional religion, and even our citizens who profess no faith,” he said.

President Mahama acknowledged that his approach to religious inclusivity had sometimes raised questions among some Christian leaders about his religious convictions.

However, he maintained that fairness and equal treatment were essential principles of leadership, insisting that the presidency must serve people of all faiths without discrimination.

He called for sustained efforts to strengthen relationships among religious groups, saying the ability of people with different beliefs to live and work together peacefully was central to Ghana’s national cohesion.

“Ghana’s religious diversity is our most precious possession, and we must continue to nurture the relationships that enable neighbours of different faiths to live, work and care for one another,” he said.

Drawing on his personal experiences, the President recounted growing up in a family where members held different religious beliefs, explaining that their differences had never weakened the love and affection they shared.

“Nevertheless, our different religions do not affect the love and affection that we share,” he said.

President Mahama further urged churches to play an active role in national development by promoting honesty, compassion, responsible citizenship, and peaceful coexistence.

He also underscored the importance of preserving the independence of religious institutions, saying churches must remain free to speak against injustice and the suffering of the vulnerable.

His remarks reinforce the call for religious tolerance and mutual respect as Ghana continues to uphold its tradition of peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths.

John Kwaku Bobena, speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, said his daughter, who was in Form Three, is among students currently at home following the closure of the school after the incident.

He described the situation as heartbreaking, questioning why innocent students should bear the consequences of the alleged misconduct that led to the headmaster’s interdiction.

Mr Bobena said the students were preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and should not be disadvantaged academically because of the controversy.

“This is sad and heartbreaking. These students have to prepare for WASSCE, and they will all write the same questions. Why should they suffer for the alleged misconduct of the headmaster? Now that he has been interdicted, why should the situation affect the entire student body?” he asked.

He also raised concerns about reports that about 38 teachers had been dismissed over allegations that they played a role in the case, saying the developments had further heightened uncertainty surrounding the students’ education.

Mr Bobena warned that his daughter could be forced to end her education if the GES failed to find her a place at another school.

“If GES cannot get a new school for my child to enrol in, then she will end her education here. She will stay at home and help me pick cocoa when I harvest,” he said.

The cocoa farmer explained that he had spent considerable resources supporting his daughter’s education over the years and could not afford to start paying new fees for her to begin again at another school.

He said he also had other children at different stages of their education and had supported several relatives and other people through school.

“I have used all the money I have to support her. I have other children who are also at different levels of education, so I cannot start all over again to pay new tuition for her to begin school again,” he said.

Mr. Bobena added that although he had not attended school himself, he had built a successful life as a cocoa farmer and was prepared to have his daughter work with him if she could no longer continue her education.

“I didn’t go to school, but I have a successful life. I am happily married with children, and I am a cocoa farmer,” he said.

He maintained that he had done all he could to support his daughter’s education and had not yet made efforts to enrol her in another school, expressing hope that the GES would intervene to prevent her from losing the opportunity to complete her secondary education.

The situation has raised concerns about the educational future of students affected by the closure of Obuasi SHTS, particularly those preparing for their final examinations.

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• GES interdicts Obuasi SHTS headmaster over alleged sexual misconduct

John Kwaku Bobena made the allegation in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, insisting that the case should be allowed to follow its course without intimidation.

According to him, the matter has been under investigation at the Tutuka Police Station for several months, with recent developments raising questions about the progress and outcome of the investigations.

Mr Bobena said he was recently contacted by a radio station and informed that investigations had found no wrongdoing on the part of the headmaster.

He, however, maintained that the matter should not be dismissed as a personal vendetta against the school’s head.

“I am a cocoa farmer, so what business do I have with a headmaster? Nobody hates him, and this is not a personal vendetta,” he said.

Mr Bobena also claimed that his daughter was not the only student involved, alleging that several other students had been affected.

He explained that another of his daughters had completed the same school the previous year without making similar allegations, questioning suggestions that the current case was motivated by personal grievances.

“One of my daughters completed the school last year, so why didn’t I come up with such an allegation then?” he asked.

Despite the concerns surrounding the case, Mr Bobena expressed hope that the truth would emerge and justice would be served.

“I want to thank God that we are getting on the path of truth and justice. Whatever the outcome, God will see us through,” he said.

He also said he had not personally followed the latest news reports on the matter, explaining that he did not own a radio.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has interdicted Mr. Abdulai with immediate effect, pending a full-scale investigation into the allegations.

Mr Abdulai has been directed to proceed on interdiction with immediate effect and make himself available to assist with the investigation.

He is also required to hand over the management of the school to the Ashanti Regional Director of Education.

The GES further disclosed that a formal complaint had been lodged with the police as investigations into the matter continue.

Also read:

• GES interdicts Obuasi SHTS headmaster over alleged sexual misconduct

• “He could have easily killed her” – Father recounts daughter’s alleged ordeal with Obuasi…

The intervention follows disagreements over the alleged installation of Baba Musa Sumaila as chief of the Numereso Zongo community.

Speaking to Adom News, the Jacobu District Police Commander, Superintendent Francis Mireku, said the police received intelligence about the planned installation and took steps to prevent a possible conflict.

He said the police had engaged the Jacobu Zongo leadership, the Bekwai Omanhene, the Bekwai Twafohene and other stakeholders to help resolve the matter and maintain peace.

Superintendent Mireku appealed to residents, particularly the youth, to remain calm while efforts were made to address the dispute.

Meanwhile, some aggrieved residents and elected unit committee members have opposed the alleged installation, arguing that it lacks the necessary traditional approval and has not followed due process.

They have accused the Bekwai Twafohene, Nana Boapim Panko II, of allegedly dissolving the elected unit committee and taking over the functions of the Assembly Member and unit committee members.

The residents further allege that he is seeking to install his biological brother as Acting Chief of Numereso without the prior knowledge of the Bekwai Omanhene, Nana Osei Kwadwo Ababio.

They are appealing to the Omanhene and other relevant authorities to intervene urgently to resolve the dispute and prevent further escalation.

The police have urged residents to remain calm as consultations continue to find a peaceful resolution to the matter.

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