The caution came during a monitoring visit to examination centres by Adom News correspondent Obrempongba Owusu as candidates wrote the Integrated Science paper.

At the various centres visited, students were observed concentrating on their work and expressed optimism about passing the exams and advancing in their academic pursuits.

Meanwhile, authorities recorded three absentee cases. However, one pregnant candidate was present and actively participated in the examination.

According to reports, one of the absent candidates had travelled to Saudi Arabia in search of greener pastures.

In an interview with Adom News, the Nkwanta South Municipal Education Director, Jonathan Korsinah, underscored the need to protect the credibility of the WASSCE.

He urged candidates to avoid bringing foreign materials and prohibited digital devices into examination halls, noting that any attempt to use such items could undermine the examination process and attract severe consequences.

Jonathan Korsinah also issued a firm warning to invigilators and supervisors, stressing that no official should compromise the examinations by providing external assistance or enabling any form of malpractice.

The advisory formed part of broader efforts to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of the examinations.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Joseph Awal Antwi, accompanied by security personnel, toured the centres to encourage candidates and assure them of maximum protection.

The MCE explained that due to insecurity in the municipality, candidates from Nkwanta SHS, Kyabobo Girls SHS, and Nkwanta Community Day Senior High Technical School had been relocated to write their examinations at Nkwanta SHS.

He said the decision was taken to provide a safer and more controlled environment for both candidates and examination officials.

Joseph Awal Antwi further outlined security measures, including increased police presence and routine patrols around examination centres.

He urged candidates to take their studies seriously and remain focused, noting that good performance could create future opportunities, including access to government support for tertiary education.

The MCE also warned that involvement in examination malpractice could jeopardise candidates’ futures and derail their long-term ambitions.

Education authorities and municipal leaders have therefore appealed to all candidates to comply with examination rules, avoid shortcuts, and uphold honesty as they work towards achieving their academic goals.

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The accident occurred on Friday, May 22, 2026, involving a Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle with registration number GR 8231 C, which was travelling from Abotuase to Ningo in the Greater Accra Region.

According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), personnel from the Peki Fire Station responded swiftly after receiving a distress call at about 9:58 a.m.

In a statement issued by the Volta Regional Public Relations Officer of the service, the fire officers said the vehicle was carrying 20 passengers, consisting of 11 males, five females, and four children.

The vehicle reportedly sustained severe damage in the crash, leaving several passengers trapped in the wreckage.

Firefighters managed to rescue 17 victims from the mangled vehicle.

“The rescue team successfully extricated 13 adults and four children from the wreckage,” the statement said.

However, three adults—two men and one woman—lost their lives in the accident.

Personnel from the Ghana Police Service, particularly the Kpando Divisional Command, together with officers from the Ghana Ambulance Service stationed at Afadjato and Juapong, assisted at the scene.

The injured victims and the bodies of the deceased were conveyed to the Kpando Government Hospital and Peki Government Hospital for treatment, preservation, and further investigations.

The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.

Meanwhile, the Ghana National Fire Service has renewed its appeal to motorists to strictly observe road safety regulations and avoid excessive speeding to help reduce road crashes across the country.

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His remarks follow a disturbing incident at Ada Senior High Technical School, where four students were arrested by the Ghana Police Service after a viral video showed a student wielding a cutlass and threatening colleagues on campus.

Speaking on The AM Show on JoyNews on May 25, Mr Ahlijah said the growing teacher-to-student ratio in schools has made effective supervision increasingly difficult, particularly following the implementation of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.

According to him, Ghana is facing a major challenge in maintaining discipline and proper supervision in schools due to overcrowding and inadequate educational resources.

He explained that the sharp increase in enrolment under the Free SHS programme has not been matched with the necessary investment in infrastructure and staffing.

“Supervision is less than it used to be, and it is a fact we cannot run away from. That is the reality on many school campuses. Supervision is not what it used to be,” he stressed.

Mr Ahlijah argued that while the Free SHS policy has expanded access to education, it has also created unintended challenges because of inadequate preparation for the surge in student numbers.

“There has not necessarily been the corresponding investment in more teachers and more infrastructure,” he noted.

He further maintained that parents must continue to play a central role in monitoring the behaviour and development of their children, stressing that teachers are becoming increasingly overstretched.

“The primary responsibility for ensuring that students behave the way they are supposed to remains a parental responsibility,” he said.

Mr Ahlijah observed that the growing number of students in schools has made it difficult for teachers to provide adequate supervision and individual attention.

“If you are relying solely on a teacher to monitor your child in school, the reality is that you are not likely to get that level of attention because there are simply too many students for the supervision required,” he stated.

He warned that unless significant reforms are introduced in the education sector, incidents of violence and indiscipline in schools could continue to rise.

“That is why we are seeing more of these incidents, and I can assure you that until significant changes are brought into this space, we may continue to witness some of these things,” he added.

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The suspect, Abdul Manan, was arrested at an over-the-counter pharmacy shop at Zujung based on intelligence gathered by the team. A subsequent search of both his shop and residence led to the seizure of the drugs.

Items retrieved included 32 boxes of 50mg Tramadol, one box of 250mg Tramadol, one sachet of 120mg Royal Tramadol, one sachet of 100mg Tramadol, nine boxes of 32mg Astradol-P, and 24 bottles of Koffex. All items have been retained for evidential purposes.

The operation was carried out by a 44-member team led by Chief Inspector Abu Issahaku as part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on drug peddling in the metropolis.

“The Northern Regional Police Command remains committed to fighting drug peddling and related crimes in the region. We will continue to carry out intelligence-led operations to ensure the safety and security of the public,” the Command stated.

Abdul Manan is currently in custody assisting with investigations.

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The deceased, identified as Eric Nyarko, popularly known as “Junior,” was allegedly killed while carrying out his Okada business.

Family members and fellow riders are calling on the Ghana Police Service to intensify investigations and improve security in the area.

According to the deceased’s sister, Darkoa Grace, Eric left home for work but failed to return.

She explained that after several unsuccessful attempts to locate him, the family called his mobile phone, which was answered by an unknown person before the phone was later switched off.

The family subsequently received information that the young rider had been murdered.

Grace appealed to the police to conduct thorough investigations and ensure the perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted.

Meanwhile, some Okada riders and relatives of the deceased say the incident has created fear among commercial riders operating in the area.

According to them, this is not the first time such an attack has occurred at Nyame Bekyere, alleging that similar incidents have happened there in the past.

They are therefore appealing to security agencies and local authorities to treat the matter as a serious security concern to help protect residents and commercial motorcycle riders.

The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Holy Family Hospital in Nkawkaw for preservation and further investigations, while police begin a manhunt for the unidentified assailants.

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Speaking to the media in Saboba during an inspection tour of the North East Region on Sunday, May 24, 2026, the Minister said the approach mirrors that of the contractors themselves, many of whom operate around the clock.

“Well, we work at night. We still eat at night and do everything at night, so sunset does not mean we should stop working. Some contractors are working at night while others work during the day, so we work to target. Until the target is achieved, sunset or sunrise is not a hindrance,” he said.

Agbodza has been leading inspection tours across parts of northern Ghana as part of government efforts to monitor road infrastructure projects and ensure timely delivery under its road development agenda.

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Hospitals don’t treat us well – Motor riders allege poor treatment by nurses [Listen]

He said he is unaware of any situation where “okada” riders are refused treatment or subjected to unfair care, stressing that nurses are trained to save lives regardless of a patient’s background.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, he explained that emergency care is based on the severity of a patient’s condition, not on their occupation or identity.

“Our job is to save lives, so we cannot say that okada riders will come to the hospital and we will refuse to take care of them or amputate them. That is not what we do,” he said.

He noted that hospitals operate a triage system (emergency sorting process), which determines which patients require urgent attention.

“We have something called triage. When there is an accident or emergency, some cases are more serious than others, so we prioritise based on severity. I don’t know whether they arrive during that sorting process, and that may be why they feel ignored,” he explained.

According to him, patients may sometimes misunderstand the process and assume they are being neglected when medical staff are actually attending to more critical cases.

“Because they may not understand what we do, they think we are ignoring them, but that is not the case. We don’t stop everything to attend to one person unless it is life-threatening,” he said.

He further dismissed claims that nurses carry out amputations.

“We don’t amputate like that. Nurses don’t amputate. Doctors are the ones who perform surgeries. We work within clear guidelines and medical protocols,” he stated.

Mr Krampah added that healthcare delivery is guided by professional standards and laws, with regular training and supervision from district health management teams.

“We are trained professionals. There are systems in place, and we follow protocols. Cases are reviewed regularly to ensure proper care,” he said.

His comments come after concerns raised by motor riders that they are sometimes denied proper care when they are involved in accidents at health facilities.

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Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, he alleged that when riders are involved in accidents and are taken to hospital, nurses often do not attend to them promptly.

According to him, in some cases where riders suffer broken legs that could be treated, medical staff instead suggests amputation.

“When riders get injured and go to the hospital, nurses in some facilities do not take good care of them. Sometimes when a leg is broken and can be treated, they will rather suggest amputation,” he said.

He further claimed that injured riders are sometimes left unattended for long periods while hospital staff attend to other patients.

“When you are admitted, you will not be attended to for a long time until they are done with what they are doing before they start attending to motor riders,” he added.

Mr. Ampambila expressed concern that such treatment, if not addressed by leadership, could worsen relations between riders and health workers.

“We are all human beings, and every job we do is given by God. So if we get injured and are refused proper care while others are attended to, it is not fair,” he said.

He also alleged that nurses sometimes describe motor riders as “troublesome,” a characterisation he disagrees with.

“They always say we are troublesome, but I don’t understand why. We are only doing our job,” he noted.

He insisted that most riders are not reckless, adding that they have trained members to follow safety rules and ride responsibly.

“We are not reckless. We train our riders to be responsible, so most of these accidents are unfortunate incidents,” he explained.

The PRO also revealed that the association is engaging leadership of health professionals in an effort to resolve the concerns.

“We are trying to engage their leaders so we can resolve the issue together,” he said.

He further noted that most riders have valid licences and therefore are less likely to flee hospitals after accidents, contrary to public perception.

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Speaking on JoyNews’s AM Show on Monday, May 25, Mr Glover said authorities in South Africa had failed to take proactive steps to protect foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, amid growing concerns over attacks on migrants.

His comments come as the first batch of Ghanaians in South Africa is expected to return home on Wednesday.

According to him, although evacuation efforts are underway, there are concerns that many Ghanaians living outside major cities such as Pretoria and Johannesburg may be left out due to transport and accessibility challenges.

“The Foreign Minister should have taken his time a bit because, as we speak now, some of these Ghanaians are beyond Pretoria and Johannesburg. Even access to public transport to reach the embassy to register is a problem. So how do you reach these people?” he questioned.

Mr Glover argued that the situation reflects what he described as a lack of urgency on the part of the South African authorities in addressing the attacks.

“That is why I am blaming the South African government for not being proactive. President Cyril Ramaphosa has disappointed some of us. The South African government has not been up and doing,” he said.

He further alleged that authorities had failed to intervene in some incidents involving foreign nationals.

“You see Ghanaians being beaten, and they stand aloof and watch. They stand and watch and see how these foreigners are beaten,” he stated.

Reflecting on Africa’s historical support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle, the former lawmaker expressed disappointment over the treatment of foreign nationals today.

“Everybody in Africa contributed to making sure you are who you are today. They gave you money, scholarships, and passports to move around these African countries. Look at what they are doing, and the South African government is watching these things while our people are being beaten,” he said.

Mr Glover also called on President John Dramani Mahama to reconsider the operations of South African mining companies in Ghana, suggesting he would oppose the renewal of their licences.

“I will appeal to President Mahama that next year the licences of those South African companies should never be renewed,” he said.

He added that he would support demonstrations over the issue and was prepared to personally join protests if the situation persists.

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This is because while the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) approved a cumulative GH₵1.64 billion in tariff revenue for NEDCo over three years — 2023, 2024 and 2025 — the power distribution company actually expended over GH₵7.1 billion over the specific period.

The difference between approved tariff revenue and actual expenditure over the past three years has left the company that distributes power to at least eight regions and parts of three other regions with huge power supply challenges in the northern parts of the country, according to the Volta River Authority (VRA) and NEDCo Staff groups.

The huge funding deficit has left power transmission infrastructure critically challenged, while maintenance issues remain outstanding, the staff groups told the Daily Graphic in an exclusive interview.Graphic Online Advertising

The local unions of VRA and NEDCo said the under-funding through inadequate revenue approval was responsible for the company’s operational challenges and therefore did not need any private participation in the management of the utility provider.

For instance, they stressed that NEDCo’s nearly GH₵1.99 billion expenditure in 2023 far outstripped the GH₵553 million tariff revenue target approved by the PURC for that year, with the company recording about GH₵1.7 billion in actual revenue for that year.

Similarly, while the PURC approved GH₵547 million and about GH₵542 million in tariff revenue for 2024 and 2025, respectively, the actual revenues amounted to GH₵1.9 billion and GH₵2.5 billion, which were still far below the GH₵2.4 billion and GH₵2.7 billion expenditure incurred for 2024 and 2025, respectively.

The data, the groups insist, negate any arguments for private sector participation (PSP) in the operations of NEDCo as intended by the government, arguing that the difficulties of NEDCo were not caused by a management deficiency or the lack of capacity, but by funding constraints.

Ultimately, NEDCo has had to fund its operation through sources other than tariff revenue, with its parent company, the VRA, sometimes unable to recover the full cost of power made available to NEDCo.

NEDCo operates across 64 per cent of Ghana’s land mass, covering Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Savannah, North East, Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions, and some parts of Western North, Oti and Ashanti regions.Ghana economic report

PSP proposal

The government, acting through the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, has announced plans to introduce the PSP model in electricity distribution.

In line with this, the ministry constituted a steering committee to oversee the process and implementation of the PSP.

In December 2025, the government rolled out a guiding framework for private sector participation in Ghana’s electricity distribution sector.

The initiative, according to the government, was a significant step towards strengthening electricity service delivery, improving operational efficiency and securing a resilient and sustainable energy future for the country.

Upon the country’s exit from the 17th programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government’s intended invitation of the private sector to participate, particularly in the energy distribution sector, has been touted as one of the key measures to streamline operations in that space.

Indeed, consistent losses by NEDCo and its southern sector counterpart, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), have been identified as a drain on the state over the years.

Efforts to bring in the private sector have faced resistance from company staff, and when it was eventually achieved in the form of the Power Distribution Service (PDS), the enterprise was engulfed in a controversy that remains unresolved to this day.

Petition

Portions of a petition objecting to the invitation of the private sector into the operations of NEDCo addressed to the Energy Ministry, the VRA/NEDCo Staff Groups referenced “a persistent and structural inadequacy in the PURC-approved revenue requirement to support NEDCo’s operations over the period 2023–2025”.

An executive of the staff union, who confirmed the authenticity of the petition document, pleaded anonymity, however.

“This assessment is anchored on key regulatory and operational benchmarks, namely a distribution loss target of 21.4 per cent, a revenue collection efficiency of 98 per cent, and full cost recovery (100 per cent margin),” the document said.

It argued that even when NEDCo’s performance was aligned with those benchmarks, the resulting margins remained insufficient, relative to both the approved revenue requirement and the actual revenue needed to sustain operations.

“In 2023, a revenue shortfall of GH¢106.43 million would still have been recorded under optimal performance conditions,” it added.

The petition said similarly that, in 2024, a deficit of almost GH¢13 million would have been incurred despite improved operational efficiency, and that it was only in the third and fourth quarters of 2025 that NEDCo would have generated marginal surpluses, assuming full compliance with the regulatory benchmarks had been achieved.

The labour unions said the PURC-approved revenue framework was not cost-reflective and remained inadequate to meet NEDCo’s operational requirements.

“Even under optimal efficiency conditions, significant revenue gaps persist, highlighting a fundamental mismatch between approved revenues and the true cost of service delivery.

“This sustained under-recovery has significantly constrained NEDCo’s ability to invest in critical infrastructure, enhance operational efficiency, and deliver reliable and sustainable electricity services,” the groups stated.

According to a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Bono Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Thomas Akeelah, the suspects were arrested following a distress call received on May 20, 2026, at about 4:00 p.m., indicating that some individuals had been apprehended by residents for engaging in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The statement explained that upon receiving the information, the Berekum District Patrol Team proceeded to the scene where they met some youth of the town who had already arrested the suspects.

Police said the suspects were found with one pickaxe, four shovels, a water pumping machine and a woollen carpet allegedly used for washing gold.

The suspects were subsequently handed over to the police, re-arrested and detained to assist investigations.

The suspects have been identified as Atule Nathaniel, 23; Azusiwine Cletus, 22; Ayaama Thomas, 15; Asigiya Joseph, 23; Aboyinga Aselise, 37; Atanbire Reymond, 20; Isaac Ntim, 46; and Aguya Isaac, 25.

Police say efforts are underway to prepare them for prosecution.

The Bono Regional Police Command commended members of the Amomaso community for their cooperation and urged the public to continue reporting illegal mining activities to the police.

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The petitioners alleged that forms originally completed for them to be declared winners unopposed are not the same documents being used in the final summary currently with the Regional Representative.

According to the petitioners, there was no election conducted in several electoral areas and polling stations because the affected executives were endorsed to serve unopposed.

They explained that forms were duly filled and submitted for their names to be keyed into the official summary sheets for confirmation as winners, but claimed that the information contained in the summary being relied upon does not reflect the original submissions made by the Electoral Area Committees.

In the petition addressed to the General Secretary, the aggrieved members expressed what they described as “deep concern and dissatisfaction” over the alleged removal and replacement of names, including those of existing polling station executives, without consultation or due process.

They maintained that the party had directed Electoral Area Committees to submit agreed names in accordance with established guidelines and consensus reached among stakeholders.

The petitioners argued that coordinators and affected persons in the constituency later discovered discrepancies between the original forms submitted and the summary documents currently being used.

They described the development as arbitrary, unconsultative and unfair, warning that the situation could undermine confidence in the process and create disaffection among party grassroots members in the constituency.

The group therefore called on the party leadership to undertake a full audit of all forms as initially submitted and presented by the Electoral Areas.

They further demanded the restoration of all names forwarded by the committees, immediate steps to ensure sanity, transparency and fairness in the process, and measures to allow the committees to function effectively.

Copies of the petition were also forwarded to the Northern Regional leadership of the New Patriotic Party and the constituency executives for their attention and action.

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The concerned citizens, led by their chairman Iddrisu Haruna, are calling out two structures in particular: a building under construction by a private developer who filled a wetland area near the school with sea defence boulders, and a wall erected by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) around its Metro Office, which they say has worsened drainage in the area.

The residents say the Metropolitan Assembly, under Mayor George Justice Arthur, has failed to act despite a directive issued by Central Regional Minister Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah during a visit to the community last year, following building collapses that claimed lives in the metropolis. At the time, the Minister toured flood-prone areas and ordered the Assembly to demolish the private developer’s structure.

“We have told authorities about the situation, and they have been telling us for the past two years that the structures will be demolished, but up till now nothing has been done,” Iddrisu Haruna said.

They are also accusing the Assembly of compounding the problem by leasing a portion of the wetland to the NHIA for its Metro Office, with the subsequent wall construction further obstructing natural drainage.

The Magajia for the Central Region and other flood victims who spoke to Adom News described the hardship they endure whenever it rains, with homes and the school repeatedly inundated.

The residents are appealing to their Member of Parliament, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, the Regional Minister, and President Mahama to intervene and ensure all structures on the waterways are demolished to address the flooding permanently.

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The programme, organised by the True Potentials Foundation under the theme “Unlocking the Full Potentials of Women,” brought together second-cycle and tertiary students, as well as trainees and trainers in vocational fields such as dressmaking and hairdressing.

Speaking to Adom News at the event in Goaso, Founder and Convener of the Foundation, Mavis Ampofo, said many young women in the region do not receive adequate guidance on how to discover and develop their potential.

According to her, the initiative was inspired by her own experiences as a student, where she lacked mentorship and opportunities for such guidance.

“Young women who are either schooling or in apprenticeship training do not get the deserved education on how they can identify their potentials to give them a better future,” she said.

Mrs Ampofo explained that she organised the event to expose participants to resource persons and accomplished women who could mentor and inspire them.

“In my era as a student, I didn’t get such education and opportunity, and in order not for these young ones to experience what I went through, I decided to organise this event,” she added.

She expressed satisfaction with the turnout and said she was optimistic that the knowledge shared would help participants unlock their full potential.

One of the speakers at the programme, Comfort Boateng, a People Business Adviser at Newmont Corporation Ghana Gold, commended the organisers for the initiative.

According to her, the programme would help equip young women with the right mindset and skills to build successful futures.

She encouraged the Foundation to sustain the initiative instead of making it a one-time event.

“She entreated the foundation not to make the event a nine-day wonder but instead it should be done often to help groom young women in the region for a better future,” the organisers noted.

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According to advisories issued by the power distributor, the planned outages will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday and are expected to last eight hours, ending at 5:00 p.m.

In the Accra East Region, the maintenance will affect parts of Katamanso, ECG Quarters, Regimanuel Estate, Bayere, Junction, Dzorwulu Railway, Dzorwulu UBA, and surrounding areas.

In the Accra West Region, the exercise will affect Odawna, Upper Weija, Old Weija, Oblogo, Top Base, Agape, C.P., Maame Nkran, Ablekuma, Winners Chapel, Pentecost Junction, Agbaadzena, Fanmilk, and surrounding communities.

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The scheduled maintenance comes as ECG continues to manage the aftermath of multiple network faults recorded over the weekend.

On Sunday, May 24, 2026, a fault in the ECG network in the Tema Region disrupted power supply to Dawhenya, Abbeykope, and surrounding communities. Engineers were deployed to restore supply.

In the Accra West Region, a separate technical challenge on Sunday affected Mamprobi, Camara, Agbogbloshie, Timber Market, and surrounding areas.

In public notices, ECG extended apologies to affected customers, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by both the scheduled maintenance and the unplanned outages. The company assured the public that engineers are working to resolve all network issues, adding that the planned exercises are necessary to improve the long-term stability of the power distribution system.

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Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak disclosed this in an interview with Accra-based Pan African TV, stating over 100,000 applicants underwent medical examinations as part of the recruitment process.

He explained that beyond the usual physical and laboratory checks, the ministry introduced drug testing and mental health assessments due to increasing concerns about the wellbeing of personnel within the security services.

According to the minister, more than 4,000 applicants failed the drug tests, while about 2,000 others were disqualified on mental health grounds.

“We have over 100,000 people who went through the medicals. Because of the large numbers, and because of what we have observed within the services, we introduced additional checks including mental health assessments and drug tests. Interestingly, over 4,000 people failed the drug test, and we have over 2,000 who also failed due to mental health conditions,” he said.

Mr. Muntaka noted that the outcome of the screening highlights the importance of strengthening recruitment procedures to ensure that only qualified and medically fit individuals are enlisted into the security services.

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Speaking to Citi News on Sunday, May 24, 2026, Dr Nyarko said activating the facility would significantly reduce referrals from Weija, Kasoa, Winneba and surrounding areas to Princess Marie Louise, which has been overstretched for years as patient numbers continue to rise.

She noted that the hospital, originally designed many years ago, was never built to cope with the current demand, and that health workers are struggling to manage increasing caseloads with limited resources.

“The operationalisation of the Weija Children’s Hospital would help improve healthcare delivery for children and contribute to reducing maternal and child mortality in the capital,” she said.

Dr Nyarko acknowledged the dedication of staff at the hospital but stressed that goodwill alone was not enough — additional infrastructure and support were urgently needed to meet the growing demand for specialised paediatric care.

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The reduced fee, which took effect on 11th May 2026, is expected to provide significant financial relief to market members still recovering from the devastating fire that destroyed about 60 per cent of the market in January 2025.

According to a joint statement signed by KOBA General Secretary Adwutwum Atta Manu, the agreement followed months of negotiations between the association and the AMA. The new fee structure acknowledges the continued economic strain on traders, many of whom are grappling with rising bale prices and declining quality of second-hand clothing.

“We are aware of many financial constraints impacting our members, from increased bale prices. We are happy to have reached this agreement with AMA,” Mr Atta Manu said in the statement.

He explained that the arrangement saves members a total of Five Hundred and Twenty-Four Ghana Cedis (GH₵524.00) compared to previous fee levels.

“The result is a testament to our strong working relationship with AMA and our unwavering commitment to acting in the best interests of those we represent,” he added. “We call on all market members to cooperate with AMA so that, together, we may continue to move forward with strength and unity.”

KOBA, established in July 2025 in direct response to the January 2025 fire, represents approximately 30,000 traders and retailers across all 16 sections of Kantamanto Market. The association is supported by Ghanaian NGO The Or Foundation.

The January 2025 fire devastated large parts of Kantamanto, one of the world’s largest second-hand clothing markets. Many traders lost their entire stock and have since struggled to rebuild their businesses amid rising inflation and import costs.

The reduced permit fee is expected to ease some of those burdens while encouraging formal cooperation between traders and the AMA.

KOBA executives are urging all market members to cooperate with AMA representatives when approached for permit renewals, describing the agreement as a shared step toward recovery and unity.

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Kwaku Asamoah is accused of robbing the complainant of her handbag containing an iPhone 7 valued at GH¢1,800 and cash of GH¢27.

In his statement to the police on May 13, 2026, Asamoah admitted snatching the handbag but denied committing robbery. 

He also denied the robbery charge in court. 

The court remanded him into lawful custody to reappear on June 10, 2026. 

Prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Wisdom Alorwu, said the complainant, Benedicta Okaikor Addy, resided at La Apapa in Accra, while Asamoah lived at Kasoa. 

On May 13, 2026, at about 1600 hours, the complainant was walking along the Soul Clinic stretch at Cantonments in Accra when Asamoah allegedly emerged from a nearby bush and ordered her to surrender her handbag containing GH¢27 and the iPhone 7, the prosecution said. 

It said Asamoah grabbed the handbag, but the complainant resisted. 

The court heard that Asamoah allegedly struck the complainant with a hefty blow, succeeded in snatching the handbag and fled the scene. 

A passerby who reportedly witnessed the incident from a distance pursued and apprehended him. 

The prosecution said that Asamoah and the handbag were subsequently handed over to the police. 

In his caution statement, Asamoah admitted snatching the bag but denied the robbery allegation. 

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Nguvu, a subsidiary of Ghana-based Adamus Resources Limited, operates two gold concessions in Mali through SEMICO-SA and MIKO-SA.

A recent audit by the Ministry of Mines uncovered serious violations linked to MIKO-SA’s Segala and Kofi projects in the Kéniéba Circle, a major gold mining area near the Senegal border.

In a letter, Mines Minister Amadou Keita, Commander of the National Order, directed the company to remedy the infractions within 90 days or face the “outright withdrawal” of its permits without compensation.

The warning follows high-level regulatory reviews of SEMICO-SA and MIKO-SA, which hold exploitation permits for the Segala and Kofi mines respectively.

According to the Ministry, findings against MIKO-SA include the unauthorised suspension of mining activities for more than two consecutive years without notifying or obtaining clearance from the mining authorities.

Investigations also found that the company failed to remit taxes, duties, and royalties owed to the Malian state.

Foreign exchange violations were also established, including the operation of an unauthorised offshore bank account and failure to repatriate foreign currency earnings, in breach of Uniform Law No. 2016-007 of March 17, 2016.

The Ministry further cited Article 18 of Ordinance No. 99-032/P-RM of August 19, 1999, of Mali’s Mining Code, which allows the state to cancel mining titles without compensation if a company fails to comply with a formal notice within 90 days.

“In light of the foregoing, I request that you remedy these breaches within a period of ninety days,” Minister Keita stated. “Failing this, the State reserves the right to proceed with the outright withdrawal of your permit.”

Nguvu Mining Group is part of Adamus Resources Limited, which operates the Nzema Gold Project in Ghana’s Western Region.

As a major West African mining player, regulatory action against Nguvu is likely to attract attention from investors and industry watchers across the region.

Mali’s transitional government has intensified audits of foreign mining companies under a broader policy of resource nationalism.

While the 1999 Mining Code remains applicable, parts of the sector are gradually shifting toward a stricter 2023 framework.

The 90-day notice to Nguvu reflects the government’s firm stance on unapproved operational shutdowns and foreign exchange non-compliance.

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Speaking on PM Express Business Edition on Thursday, IMF Mission Chief Ruben Atoyan rejected suggestions that the central bank acted too aggressively in tightening monetary policy.

“So, first, I would disagree with this view that the Bank of Ghana was too aggressive,” he stated.

“I think it was very prudent, and the achievement is, I think, manifested in the outcomes, and I think people on the ground actually recognise that.”

His comments come after the Bank of Ghana posted a GH¢15.6 billion loss in 2025, up sharply from GH¢9.49 billion in 2024.

The central bank’s audited accounts also showed negative equity worsening to GH¢93.82 billion from GH¢58.62 billion.

The losses have largely been linked to the high cost of liquidity sterilisation and tight monetary policy measures implemented to tame inflation and stabilise the cedi.

Addressing concerns about the financial strain on the central bank, Dr Atoyan said the public must understand that monetary policy operations entail high costs during periods of high inflation and elevated interest rates.

“Second, there is the cost of doing monetary policy, and this is something that people need to understand,” he explained.

“You know that the Bank of Ghana 2025 financial statement was just published, and it transparently presents the cost of doing policy.”

According to him, the difficult economic environment made the Bank of Ghana’s intervention expensive but unavoidable.

“With high inflation and high interest rates, absorbing liquidity from the market is costly, and that’s what we see as reflected in the statement,” he said.

Dr Atoyan acknowledged that the policy actions generated losses for the central bank but maintained that the measures were essential to restoring macroeconomic stability.

“Yes, so it did generate some costs for the Bank of Ghana, but it was a necessary cost for the stabilisation going forward,” he stressed.

The IMF has consistently backed Ghana’s tight monetary policy stance under the ongoing economic recovery programme, arguing that strong inflation control and exchange rate stability are critical to rebuilding investor confidence and sustaining growth.

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The largest increases were in anxiety and depression, which were also the most common disorders in 2023. In third place was a residual category of personality disorders not accompanied by other mental or substance use disorders.

The study, published Thursday in the journal The Lancet, also revealed how trends concerning 12 mental disorders differed by age, sex, location and sociodemographic factors among 204 countries and territories — suggesting “that we are entering an even more concerning phase of worsening mental disorder burden globally,” the authors wrote in the study.

Dr. Damian Santomauro, first and lead study author, “was honestly shocked at the magnitude,” he said via email.

“There are many factors at play here, and it is difficult to tease them all apart,” added Santomauro, associate professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland in Australia. “Addressing these risk factors requires global collective leadership.

The other mental disorders measured were bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anorexia, bulimia, dysthymia, conduct disorder and developmental intellectual disability from unknown causes. Dysthymia is a long-term but mild form of depression also known as persistent depressive disorder. Conduct disorder affects children and teens and involves a consistent pattern of disobedient and aggressive behaviors.

The researchers found increases in all 12 disorders, including an 158% rise in anxiety and an 131% uptick in depression compared with 1990. The least common disorders were anorexia, bulimia and schizophrenia — though those conditions aren’t rare, with roughly 4 million, 14 million and 26 million cases, respectively, in 2023.

Most mental disorders were more common in females, but autism, conduct disorders, ADHD, personality disorders and inexplicable intellectual disability were actually more common in males.

The study also helps further illuminate how the Covid-19 pandemic may have influenced the rates of certain mental health conditions. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, rates of anxiety, depression and some other disorders were already increasing.

But during and since the crisis, depression increased and hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic rates. Anxiety peaked and remained high through 2023, the research team found.

In the research, “issues like underreporting — a common problem with mental illness — are dealt with, but we really don’t know how accurate this is,” said Paul Bolton, senior scientist in the department of mental health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, via email.

However, the estimates “are the best we have” and “as close to the real figures in the world as we are likely to get,” added Bolton, who wasn’t involved in the study.

The research is an analysis of data from the 2023 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study, or GBD. Led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, the GBD study is the largest and most comprehensive effort to measure health across places and time.

Launched in the early 1990s, the study involves thousands of researchers around the world and has been primarily funded by the Gates Foundation since 2007.

The peak has shifted to younger people

Mental disorders increasingly are a leading cause of disability, with females and people ages 15 to 39 most affected. While greater burden among females is typical, the peak in the 15- to 19-year-old age group is a first in GBD study history, Santomauro said. “We have historically always seen this peak in middle-age,” he added.

The younger age range is a vulnerable and important period for the development of the brain and social and intellectual skills, said Dr. Robert Trestman, chair of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Interrupted development can have long-term repercussions, added Trestman, who wasn’t involved in the study.

Many positive and negative factors contribute to the higher rates, experts said. “The stigma of mental illness has been substantially reduced — people are much more comfortable coming forward, as opposed to suffering in silence,” Trestman said. Trestman is also chair of the American Psychiatric Association’s council on healthcare systems and financing.

Detection and diagnosis of mental health conditions have improved over time, said Dr. Arthur Evans, CEO of the American Psychological Association, via email. He was not involved in the research. Population growth and longer lifespans also contribute, Santomauro said.

At the same time, “if you take a step back and look at the conditions in which people are living, it’s sadly not surprising,” Trestman said of the increases.

Many factors are triggering or compounding mental health conditions, experts said, including genetics, economic instability, trauma, inadequate or unaffordable healthcare, political conflict and instability, warfare, food insecurity, intimate partner violence, body image issues, discrimination, declining social connection, environmental threats and more.

While young people experience these stressors and the pandemic uniquely affected this group, “unfortunately we don’t have much data on the causes of this increase among youth,” Santomauro said.

Experiences with mental health and access to care vary significantly, and much of the burden for improvement lies with policymakers and other health authorities, experts said.

“Concerningly, this increase in burden has not been accompanied by proportional expansion of mental health services,” the authors wrote. “Responding to the mental health needs of our global population, especially those most vulnerable, is an obligation, not a choice.”

But Santomauro and the other experts do have some advice that may help anyone struggling, including talking to a professional about different therapies, medications and other support.

Improving lifestyle factors such as diet, social connection, exercise, sleep, hobbies and work-life balance, when possible, are also critical, experts said.

If you live in the United States and are facing insurance or financial barriers, Mental Health America has guidance for finding more accessible care.

The National Alliance for Eating Disorders has a free helpline at 866-662-1235 through which you can reach licensed therapists who specialize in eating disorders and are available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. The organization also has a list of free or low-cost resources.

The United Kingdom-based charity Mind has various mental health helplines. Eating disorder helplines for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are open 3 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide provide contact information for crisis centers around the world. Australia’s Butterfly Foundation runs a call center (at 1800-33-4673) and online chat from 8 a.m. to midnight Australian Eastern Time every day.

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The weapons, collected through a recent nationwide amnesty exercise, are currently being secured by the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons ahead of their final destruction.

The Executive Director of the Commission, Adam Bona, says the agency is working closely with security services to ensure all recovered weapons are properly documented, safely stored, and disposed of in line with international standards.

He noted that the scale of surrendered arms reflects growing public cooperation with efforts to curb the spread of illegal weapons in the country.

Authorities have scheduled the public destruction exercise for July 25 and July 29, with the process expected to be carried out openly to strengthen accountability and public confidence. The Presidency has been invited, with the President expected to attend in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Mr. Bona said the exercise forms part of broader efforts to reduce illicit arms circulation and enhance national security.

Beyond the disarmament agenda, attention at the event also focused on the role of women in peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Naa Momo Lartey, called for stronger inclusion of women in decision-making processes related to peace and security, stressing that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without their active participation.

She referenced global commitments under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls for increased involvement of women in peace and security frameworks.

Madam Lartey also highlighted the role women play at the community level in preventing and resolving conflicts, noting that their involvement often helps restore trust and calm tensions.

She urged closer collaboration between state institutions and development partners to expand public education on peacebuilding, particularly at the grassroots level.

The Minister further encouraged women and girls to take active roles in promoting peace within their communities, describing inclusive participation as key to sustaining national stability.

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Dubbed; The Great Walk they took to the streets for their annual walk through some of Accra’s most historic and vibrant communities, bringing together some of the country’s leading visual storytellers for a full day of shooting, learning, and cultural immersion.

The walk began at the Accra Sports Stadium, where members converged early in the morning to set out on the day’s route.

Before leaving the stadium grounds, the team encountered a local Taekwondo club mid-training session.

Seizing the moment, the photojournalists documented the discipline, focus, and energy of the young athletes, producing striking images of motion and determination.

From the stadium, the group moved through High Street, weaving past colonial-era buildings and government offices that form the backdrop of Accra’s administrative heart.

They then passed through Rawlings Park at Makola, capturing the controlled chaos of traders, buyers, and hawkers in one of West Africa’s busiest markets.

The route continued through Sraha Market, which is still under construction, and daily commerce revealed unpleasant visual material before ending at the historic James Town Landing Beach.

The event, which was described as a Gathering of Ghana’s Visual Storytelling Elite, attracted a strong lineup of Ghana’s mainstream photojournalists and documentary photographers.

Among them were: Douglas Anane Frimpong, GPNet Vice President and Chief Photo Editor of the Graphic Communications Group, Godfred Gibbah Blay, former Ghanaian Times Tema Regional Editor and GPNet General Secretary, Nana Kwasi Appiah, former Presidential Correspondent with the Information Services Department, Nii Adjei Mensah, renowned documentary photographer, Mary Quentera, documentary photographer, and Mary Sarkodie Odurowaa, the rising documentary photographer whose work has recently been exhibited in Poland.

Mary Sarkodie and Theophilus Opoku are expected to open another exhibition in Poland at the end of May 2026.

Their presence underscored the walk’s status as both a professional exercise and a mentorship opportunity for younger members of the network.

At James Town Landing Beach, the group was formally received by Nii Abeo Kyerekuanda V, the Ga State Chief Fisherman.

He guided the photojournalists through the ultra-modern James Town Landing Beach, facilitating interactions with fishermen, fishmongers processing the day’s catch, and families living along the coast.

The engagement allowed members to go beyond surface-level imagery as each photojournalist was tasked with shooting on assigned themes and conducting short interviews with their subjects.

The goal was to produce not just photographs, but creative visual stories that capture the voices, challenges, and resilience of the community under the organisation’s flagship project, Ghana Through The Lens.

The photo walk was led by David Andoh, GPNet President, alongside Vice President Douglas Anane Frimpong and General Secretary Godfred Gibbah Blay.

Under their coordination, the event balanced structured assignments with the freedom for photojournalists to explore their own creative angles.

For GPNet, the annual photo walk serves about three purposes, and these are promoting Ghana’s cultural diversity, preserving Ghana’s contemporary visual history, and strengthening the craft of photojournalism.

The images and stories produced will be archived for the GPNet’s exhibitions to mark this year’s World Photography celebration in August, publications, and digital showcases aimed at promoting Ghanaian cultural diversity and journalism.

As the sun set over James Town, members left with memory cards full of striking images and notebooks filled with new stories—proof that the 2026 walk was more than an outing.

It was a living record of Accra’s people, places, and spirit.

According to information gathered, armed men allegedly brought into the community to provide security for an illegal mining site operated by a company identified as PRP have reportedly been firing gunshots indiscriminately to intimidate residents who oppose their operations.

The deceased, identified as 46-year-old Mensah Ango, was reportedly sent by the chief together with some linguists to invite leaders of the mining company to the palace over concerns surrounding alleged illegal activities on the community’s land.

Unfortunately, during the process, the armed men allegedly opened fire on him.

The incident has since sparked anger among the youth in the community, who have threatened to set ablaze mining equipment and properties belonging to the illegal miners in retaliation for the killing.

Residents further alleged that the armed men have previously shot and killed about three other innocent persons in the community for openly opposing the illegal mining activities.

Speaking in an interview, the Chief of Gwira Ampansie, Nana Kojo Mensah, expressed deep concern over the worsening insecurity in the area and accused state authorities, particularly the District Chief Executive (DCE), of failing to act despite several complaints lodged against the mining company and the violent conduct of the armed men.

He further alleged that the illegal miners appear to be enjoying support from some state officials, making it difficult for the community to obtain justice.

Nana Kojo Mensah is therefore calling on the government, especially the President and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), to urgently intervene and flush out the illegal mining company, PRP, from the community following the repeated attacks and killings of innocent residents.

The chief added that life has become unbearable for residents, most of whom are poor and powerless, making it difficult for their grievances to receive the needed attention from authorities.

According to the chief, the continuous inaction by authorities has emboldened the illegal miners to operate with impunity, leaving residents living in constant fear and insecurity.

He is therefore appealing for immediate intervention to restore peace and safety in the community.

Responding to the incident, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Nzema East Municipal Assembly, Herbert Kuah Dickson, disclosed that he was informed about the development and immediately directed the police to take action.

According to the MCE, six persons have so far been arrested in connection with the incident, including three foreign nationals.

Mr Kuah Dickson assured residents that the Assembly, together with the security agencies, will take the necessary measures to maintain peace, law, and order in the community.

Citi News reports that the incident occurred between 10:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, when the armed men allegedly stormed the family’s home in a community near Bimbilla.

According to the family, the attackers initially demanded to see the boy’s father, who was not present at the time.

They reportedly searched the house for money but found none, after which they tied up the teenager and forcibly took him to an unknown destination.

The boy’s father, Issah Laulau, later received a phone call from the alleged kidnappers on Sunday morning, during which they demanded a ransom for the boy’s release.

The suspects are also said to have questioned him about the number of cattle he owns and insisted he raise money in exchange for his son.

The family, who are cattle herders living near Bimbilla, suspect the attackers may also be from the region, based on the language they reportedly spoke during the operation.

They have called on the police and other security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the teenager and ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.

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The donation formed part of efforts to support affected students and help the school recover from the incident.

The relief package included mattresses, bedsheets and other essential supplies to provide immediate assistance and restore some level of comfort to students affected by the fire.

Mr. Gakpey presented the items during a visit to the school, where he interacted with school authorities and students.

The fire incident occurred on Tuesday, May 19, and destroyed sections of the dormitory, disrupting accommodation arrangements for students and causing concern among staff and the school community.

Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service at the Anloga Fire Station responded swiftly to the scene and managed to contain the fire before it spread to other parts of the school.

Meanwhile, the Ghana National Fire Service has urged students, teachers and school authorities across the country to strictly observe fire safety measures to prevent similar incidents in educational institutions.

In a statement issued by Cine-God Studios and her management, the family confirmed that the actress died in the early hours of Sunday, May 24, 2026, at the International Maritime Hospital in Tema after what was described as a courageous battle with cancer.

According to the statement, the one-week observation will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the Green Flavour Events Centre at Community 9 in Tema.

The event is scheduled to take place from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The family appealed to the public to continue supporting them with prayers and respect their privacy as they mourn the actress and prepare for her final funeral rites.

“The family respectfully requests prayers, support, and privacy as they mourn this painful loss and make arrangements for her final rites,” the statement said.

The family also indicated that details of the funeral arrangements would be communicated later.

They further expressed gratitude to the public, colleagues, friends and well-wishers for the support and love shown during the difficult period.

Beverly Afaglo was widely known in Ghana’s movie and television industry for her performances in several productions over the years.

Read the statement below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE;
On behalf of the family of renowned Ghanaian actress Beverly Ama Afaglo, Cine-God Studios and her management announce with profound sorrow her passing.
She passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday, 24th May 2026, at the International Maritime Hospital, Tema, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Details of her one-week observation are as follows:Venue: Green Flavour Events Centre,
Community 9 – Tema
Date: Saturday, 30th May 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The family respectfully requests prayers, support, and privacy as they mourn this painful loss and make arrangements for her final rites.
Further details regarding the funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the public, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers for the love, support, and understanding shown during this difficult time.

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Government will not tolerate shoddy road projects – Roads Minister

Speaking during a citizens’ engagement at Ndewura Jakpa Senior High School in the Savannah Region on Saturday, May 23, the Roads Minister cautioned contractors against compromising quality standards on state-funded projects.

According to him, government is strengthening monitoring mechanisms to ensure that all road projects meet the required specifications and deliver value for money.

Mr. Agbodza disclosed that residents in several communities, particularly in the Savannah Region, have become increasingly active in monitoring road projects and reporting concerns directly to government officials.

“No contractor working on any road in the country or Savannah will be tolerated for doing shoddy work,” he warned.

The Minister noted that citizens are now using mobile phones to document the progress of road projects and submit reports to both the Ministry and President John Dramani Mahama.

“Today, interestingly, in the Savannah Region, citizens have decided to take their mobile phones and record everything that every contractor is doing. They have been sending it to President Mahama, they have been sending it to me,” he stated.

Mr. Agbodza cautioned contractors against attempting to manipulate supervision systems or presenting misleading reports on projects.

“So if you are a contractor, you can no longer connive with any agencies to send me a very beautiful report in Accra and pretend you are working,” he said.

According to him, community members now closely monitor activities at project sites and provide regular updates to authorities.

“The people know. In fact, they even tell me how many people are on your site on a daily basis,” he added.

The Roads Minister commended the public for what he described as a high level of vigilance and encouraged residents across the country to continue monitoring road projects in their communities.

“I want to thank the public for this level of vigilance. And I want to encourage all young people across the country to do same with every road project that is in your community,” he said.

Mr. Agbodza urged citizens to take ownership of development projects and report any concerns to government officials promptly.

“Own it. Report to us. Don’t wait and say that the minister will know about it. Please let us know. You are not a nuisance. Day and night, tell us what is happening on Big Push projects in your community,” he stressed.

Eighty-two children in Kindergarten One and Two were forced to study in a single overcrowded classroom, where many sat on raw wooden logs due to a severe lack of classrooms and learning materials.

The school, which serves six hard-to-reach rural farming communities, including Kyeameasua, Asuboi, Ahenkro, and Charleskrom, has long struggled with severe infrastructure deficits.

Relief has finally arrived through the Asunafo North Municipal Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Union Limited, with funding support from Tony’s Open Chain and the Chocolonely Foundation.

On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, the Union and its partners commissioned a modern, fully furnished classroom block complete with standard furniture, offices, storerooms, electricity for ICT learning, and ceiling fans to reduce intense afternoon heat.

The Union and its partners had earlier commissioned a three-unit classroom block for Anwianwia Methodist Junior High School to enhance effective teaching and learning in the rural community.

In Manukrom, another rural community, they also handed over a modern four-unit teachers’ quarters to address a long-standing accommodation crisis that often discouraged teachers posted to the area from reporting for duty.

Samuel Jatong Laar, Asunafo North Municipal Director of Education, lauded the group for its numerous interventions, including the drilling of mechanised boreholes, the distribution of educational materials and tricycles, and the donation of a modern multipurpose printer to the Municipal Education Directorate.

Mr Joseph Akparibo, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Asunafo North, said the government alone could not meet all the developmental needs of the people, stressing that private-sector support had become crucial and timely, especially at a time when foreign aid and grants had declined significantly.

Mr Akparibo noted that the municipality still faced severe classroom deficits across all educational levels, from kindergarten to senior high school and tertiary institutions.

He thanked the Farmers Union, Tony’s Open Chain, and the Chocolonely Foundation for investing directly in the farming communities that form part of their cocoa supply chain.

The MCE also expressed appreciation to cocoa farmers in the municipality for pledging a sustainable supply of cocoa in return and urged beneficiary communities to maintain the facilities properly to ensure value for money.

The collaborative model demonstrated in Asunafo North reflects a growing global shift in corporate social responsibility and sustainable sourcing strategies, where direct corporate investment in source communities yields mutual benefits.

Mr Erasmus Kumah Hemans, Manager of the Asunafo North Municipal Cooperative Cocoa Farmers Union, revealed that the Union had grown from 17 societies in 2008 to 41 societies across 26 communities, with a vision to bridge the income gap among its members by 2030.

Studies by institutions such as the International Cocoa Initiative show that such infrastructure investments directly reduce household operational costs and effectively increase farmers’ net incomes.

Academic research also consistently indicates that accessible, high-quality school infrastructure is one of the most effective deterrents to child labour in West African cocoa-growing communities.

In addition, data on sustainable sourcing suggest that multinational brands that co-invest in social infrastructure experience increased supply chain loyalty and reduced side-selling.

The call was made by the immediate past Medical Superintendent, Dr. Kwadwo Asamoah Nyarko-Jectey, during his retirement send-off ceremony in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.

Speaking to Adom News, Dr. Kwadwo Asamoah Nyarko-Jectey said the hospital cannot be considered up to standard until the abandoned project is completed.

He noted that equipment intended to furnish the new halls and units has already been procured and is ready for use, stressing that completing the project will allow the facility to begin full operations in those areas.

He also identified staffing as a major concern, citing numerical disadvantage, limited specialist services, and low remuneration as key challenges affecting the sector.

He therefore urged government to prioritise both the completion of the project and the strengthening of the hospital’s workforce to meet the healthcare needs of residents.

As part of activities to mark World Hypertension Month, observed throughout May, health experts are calling on the public to adopt healthier habits to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

Speaking in an interview, Doctor Mohammed Saeed Furqan, a Medical Officer at the Bibiani Government Hospital in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region, stated that hypertension can affect anyone regardless of their background, particularly Africans.

He explained that unhealthy practices such as eating late at night, lack of regular exercise, and certain underlying health conditions greatly increase the risk of hypertension.

He advised the public to avoid those practices to stay healthy.

Doctor Furqan also highlighted some preventive measures that can help reduce the risk of hypertension and promote healthier and longer lives.

He advised Ghanaians to avoid eating late at night, exercise regularly, and visit health facilities frequently for routine medical check-ups to ensure early detection and proper management of the condition.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Oti Regional Minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong, is designed to deepen community engagement and ensure that residents—especially those in remote and hard-to-reach communities—receive timely, accurate, and credible information on government policies, programmes, and public interest campaigns.

The mobile cinema vans are fully equipped with a high-powered public address system, mounted column speakers, supporting loudspeakers, and an audio mixer.

Each vehicle also comes with dual LED screens mounted on both sides, making it possible to display videos, graphics, educational materials, and even live broadcasts.

This setup is expected to strengthen official announcements, support public sensitization, and create opportunities for direct interaction between citizens and government communicators.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, John Gyapong described the intervention as a significant milestone in the region’s efforts to expand public education, improve government communication systems, and promote inclusive development.

He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Communication and the Information Services Department for their support, stressing that the vans are not simply vehicles, but practical tools for transformation, education, and national development.

He noted that the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation across various platforms makes accessible and trustworthy public education more critical than ever.

According to him, the mobile cinema vans will help bridge the information gap between government and citizens through documentaries, community outreach engagements, and targeted sensitization campaigns.

John Gyapong explained that the vans will also support education on key national and local issues, including health, sanitation, security, environmental protection, agriculture, education, civic responsibility, and flagship government programmes.

He encouraged ISD staff in the Oti Region to operate the equipment professionally and responsibly to achieve the intended impact.

In addition, the Regional Minister called on traditional leaders, opinion leaders, faith-based groups, youth groups, and community members to continue supporting public education initiatives, noting that effective communication is a shared responsibility.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to interventions that strengthen transparency, accountability, and citizen participation, adding that the commissioning should be viewed as an investment in democratic growth and development communication.

To ensure effective coverage across the region, the two mobile information vans will be deployed along two operational corridors.

One van will be stationed at the Buem-Jasikan Assembly to serve the Guan District, Kadjebi, Nkwanta North, and Nkwanta South.

The second will be stationed at Dambai and will serve Krachi East, Biakoye, Krachi Nchumuru, and Krachi West.

Receiving the equipment on behalf of the department, the Oti Regional Director of ISD, Samuel Kuse, welcomed the initiative and described it as timely, noting that communication gaps remain a challenge in many communities.

He emphasized that effective information flow is central to transparency and accountability in governance and called for stronger collaboration among the Regional Coordinating Council, municipal and district assemblies, traditional authorities, and other institutions to further close the gap between government and the people.

With the commissioning of the mobile cinema vans, the Oti Region is expected to enhance public access to credible information, strengthen civic awareness, and improve community participation in governance and development.

Albert Bour, the Constituency organiser of the Party, announced the payment when they submitted their forms to the party office.

He said there were no complaints about the process and therefore appealed to members to remain calm and united by avoiding actions and inactions that could weaken the stability and progress of the Party in the constituency.

The commissioning formed part of activities during President Mahama’s “Resetting Ghana” tour of the Savannah Region.

According to a post shared by the Presidency on Facebook, President Mahama described the facility as an important complement to the government’s Basic Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (BSTEM) programme.

He explained that the ICT centre would support practical learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, particularly in the area of information and communications technology.

The President noted that the facility comes at a crucial time following the rollout of the BSTEM programme in the region and is expected to create opportunities for students and young people to develop digital and technical skills.

President Mahama also expressed satisfaction that the centre is powered entirely by solar energy.

According to him, the facility serves as a “green lab” that aligns with sustainable development goals and the promotion of environmentally friendly technology.

The ICT centre is expected to function as a hub for ICT training and innovation within the Savannah Region while supporting broader efforts to improve access to technology-based education.

Speaking at a meeting with some anxious Ghanaians at the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, the minister said Ghana’s government has finally reached an agreement with South African authorities about the exercise.

“Fortunately, we have concluded with the South African authorities that our aircraft can come in by midnight on the 25^th, so that by 5am, you set off because we don’t want you to reach Ghana at night. We want to have time to take you through the process and give the necessary assistance,” he assured.

He added that if all goes as planned, returnees should be touching down on Ghanaian soil by mid-afternoon. “We anticipate that by 3pm you’ll be in Ghana.”

The timing is to ensure that returnees are processed and supported in daylight, with sufficient time for officials to administer the full welcome package — including financial assistance, transport to home regions, and psychosocial support — before nightfall.

The minister also revealed that prominent Ghanaian industrialist, Ibrahim Mahama, has already pledged 100 job opportunities for returnees — a gesture the minister described as “a good challenge” to other business leaders.

“Ibrahim Mahama has just informed us that he has a hundred jobs for some of you, which is a good challenge. We’ll speak to other CEOs to see how they can also help, so that the young ones who are still able to work do not idle at home.”

The minister’s appearance at the Pretoria meeting came after weeks of growing pressure from the Ghanaian community in South Africa, with viral videos showing distressed citizens pleading for evacuation and describing deteriorating safety conditions. More than 800 Ghanaians had registered with the High Commission in Pretoria seeking assistance to return home, with logistical and legal hurdles delaying earlier planned departure dates.

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The meeting, captured on video, laid bare the depth of the crisis facing Ghana’s estimated 20,000-strong community in South Africa — a community now fractured between those desperate to leave and those trapped by circumstances they cannot easily walk away from.

One distressed man, identifying himself as a teacher who had been working legally in South Africa, did not mince words.

“We don’t want to stay here. I’m sick and tired of this country,” he said directly to the minister. “I have been working as a teacher in this country. Not that Ghanaians are illegal — but the Home Affairs [department] forces most of them to be illegal.”

He explained that many Ghanaians who once held valid legal status have found themselves in bureaucratic limbo, with permanent residency permits revoked without clear justification, and business permits that were renewed multiple times suddenly declared fraudulent by authorities.

The man also described an incident involving a Ghanaian woman who was knocked down by a car. He said he personally took up her case, hired a lawyer at his own expense, and pursued it to its conclusion — only to be told the claim had been declined.

Another speaker, a woman, raised urgent concern for Ghanaians living outside Pretoria who are too scared to travel to register for the repatriation programme.

“Some of us outside Pretoria can’t even travel by bus or taxi to come and register their names, because they are scared,” she said. “The moment they started the makwerekwere style” — a derogatory term used by some South Africans against foreign nationals — “they have to divert the taxis somewhere. So what about them? What are the safety measures towards them?”

Her words highlighted a critical gap in the evacuation effort: that the most vulnerable Ghanaians, those stranded in townships and smaller towns beyond the capital, may be entirely unreachable.

A business owner at the meeting offered what was perhaps the starkest assessment of the situation, warning that the current wave of anti-immigrant sentiment is not a passing storm.

“What we are seeing or witnessing is not something that is going to end today,” he said. “Most of them have put these guys who are doing these demonstrations on the payroll — a strong one. So it’s not something that’s going to end today.”

Looking ahead to a worst-case scenario, the businessman said he had already begun exploring whether South African counterparts could formally take over Ghanaian-owned businesses through a regulated process.

“I’m looking at a worse scenario as a business owner — discussing with South African counterparts if they can actually have a takeover plan of Ghanaian businesses. At the VTI, they’ve got a takeover regulatory panel where they will be able to give us offers so that they can take over those businesses to local South Africans, so that we can leave peacefully.”

A Government Responding

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since announced a support package for evacuees, including a “Welcome Home Financial Package,” transport assistance, a reintegration allowance, and free psychosocial support services.

By May 21, over 800 Ghanaians had registered at the High Commission in Pretoria for evacuation, with the first batch of returnees expected to depart once a verification and screening exercise is completed.

But as the voices from that Pretoria meeting make clear, the numbers alone do not capture the full weight of what is being lost — livelihoods built over decades, legal status stripped away by bureaucratic decisions, and a deep sense of betrayal felt by people who played by the rules and still found themselves unsafe.

For many of them, the question is no longer whether to go home. It is whether Ghana will be ready to truly receive them when they do.

Ghanaians in South Africa who need help and want assistance to return to Ghana pic.twitter.com/Q2LJXvXOFs

— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) May 24, 2026

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GNFS contains fire outbreak at Atekyem in Koforidua

According to the Service, the incident occurred on Thursday, May 21, 2026, after a distress call was received at about 11:14 a.m.

In a statement shared on Facebook, the GNFS said a team led by Assistant Divisional Officer I (ADO I) Sagoe arrived at the scene at 11:26 a.m. and found a six-bedroom self-contained house engulfed in flames from the roof section.

Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control at 12:21 p.m. and completely extinguished it at 12:57 p.m.

Although the building and most of its contents were destroyed, the fire officers were able to salvage several household items from the blaze.

The salvaged items included a tabletop fridge, kitchen utensils, a 6kg gas cylinder, plastic racks and wash basins.

The Service confirmed that no injuries or fatalities were recorded in the incident.

According to the GNFS, the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Fire Service further urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report fire outbreaks promptly to help prevent extensive damage and loss of lives.

The artisans, who have been drawn from the entire Jomoro Municipality, are dressmakers and seamstresses/tailors, hairdressers and barbers.

Twenty-five hairdressers, who have finished their NAP, and those who are still learning under the NAP but can work in addition to the NAP, will receive a hairdryer each; twenty barbers will also receive hair clippers each, while twenty-five dressmakers and seamstresses will also receive a sewing machine each.

This initiative is a self-funded one by the MP to support her constituents in diverse ways and to fulfil the promise of supporting whoever is willing to do something for themselves.

Madam Affo-Toffey, who is also the deputy transport minister, said some of these apprentices can even work and make money while under the NAP, so they need such support to be themselves.

She said this is to support the government’s efforts in ensuring that most Ghanaians become self-sufficient and not rely on the central government for every need.

Madam Affo-Toffey explained that the government alone cannot provide all that the people need, so such initiatives will help them be on their own.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Damongo in the Savannah Region on Saturday, May 23, 2026, the Minister said the buses are regularly rebranded to avoid detection.

“We have acquired armoured buses, and these armoured buses have been doing a wonderful thing on most of our long stretch roads because we keep branding them differently. Today we brand them as STC, the next day as VIP, another day as OA, just to make sure that we get the perpetrators,” he said.

He added that the operation had already led to the arrest of several suspected highway robbers, crediting the Inspector General of Police and his team for the results.

Roads and Highways Minister, Governs Kwame Agbodza, who also addressed the gathering, drew a direct link between poor road conditions and highway robbery, arguing that deteriorating roads create conditions that criminals exploit.

He also flagged delays in some road projects under the government’s Big Push programme, singling out contractors on the Wa to Wiawso corridor — which passes through parts of the Savannah Region — as among the lowest performing. He urged contractors who had abandoned sites to return to work.

The town hall, dubbed “Resetting Ghana,” also gave the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs the opportunity to present concerns on behalf of the Yagbonwura, Bii Kunuto Jewu Soale I. These included water supply problems in Damongo, poor road conditions, a delayed regional hospital project, and calls for more districts, a university, and the recruitment of Gonja language teachers.

President Mahama, who is on a nationwide “Resetting Ghana” tour, responded to several of the concerns. He said preparatory work for the Damongo water project had been completed and that the project — which will draw water from Yapei to supply Busunya, Damongo, Larabanga and surrounding communities — had entered the procurement stage.

He also announced plans for a science and technology university in the region, saying China had provided a US$30 million grant toward the project, with an additional US$100 million funding request submitted to the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa.

On healthcare, the President said the Savannah Region would receive a 300-bed regional referral hospital equipped with MRI, CT scan, and X-ray facilities.

Asantewaa raised the concern at Kenyasi during a donation ceremony where the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, presented 50 computers to 10 basic schools, with a focus on schools in rural communities that have historically lacked access to digital learning tools.

Speaking to Adom News, the GES Director explained that while the MP’s computer donation is a commendable step towards deepening ICT education in the district — particularly in underserved rural schools — the gesture also underscores the pressing need for human resources. Without adequate teachers, she argued, the infrastructure investments risk falling short of their intended impact.

Asantewaa also used the occasion to call on corporate organisations and philanthropic individuals to contribute computers to schools in the district, noting that bridging the digital divide requires collective action beyond government efforts alone.

The Member of Parliament, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, joined by the Presiding Member, Bawa Issaka, pledged that by the end of his tenure, schools across the Asutifi North District will be equipped with the computers needed to strengthen ICT education and prepare students for an increasingly digital future.

The donation marks a visible push by district leadership to modernise classroom learning, even as calls grow louder for the central government to address the structural issue of teacher deployment that continues to affect educational outcomes in the region.

Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Saturday, May 23, 2026, Deputy Director in charge of Forecasting, Joseph Tetteh Portuphy, said the recent rains are only the beginning of a more intense rainy period expected to peak in June. He partly attributed the pattern to climate change, noting that Ghana experienced a weaker Harmattan season this year.

“It is very usual because it is ushering us into the main rainy season. This year we couldn’t enjoy a lot of Harmattan — the hazy conditions and the coldness did not come — and that is one of the things I can say climate change is bringing to us. This is just the beginning,” he said.

He urged residents in flood-prone and low-lying communities to take precautionary measures early, including temporarily relocating during heavy downpours where necessary.

“Everybody knows where they are and when it rains you know how it looks, especially those of us in the lowlands. There are waterways we should make sure — if we cannot move out permanently, we should move out temporarily and return after the rains,” he said.

His warning comes after heavy rains swept through parts of Greater Accra on Friday, May 22, causing widespread flooding that submerged homes, displaced residents, and left motorists stranded. Areas including Alajo, Mallam, Baah Yard, SCC, and Dansoman recorded varying levels of flooding, with several residents in Alajo forced out of their homes. Affected residents reported damage to household items, electrical appliances, and personal belongings.

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Speaking on Citi News Digest amid renewed flooding concerns in parts of the country, especially Accra, Ing. Abdulai Mahama said the pattern is predictable and frustrating.

“In the next three months we’ll enter a dry season and it is business as usual. Next year we’ll come back and talk about it again,” he said.

Ing. Mahama argued that the root cause is simple and well-known, illegal structures and developments on waterways and wetlands are choking natural drainage systems, but authorities have lacked the political will to act on it.

“Every building, any structure that is on any watercourse must be pulled down. No apology to anybody,” he said, adding that demolitions must be carried out regardless of who owns the structures. “There shouldn’t be any sentimental emotions to any structure which is sitting in the waterway.”

He questioned why local assemblies continue to approve developments in flood-prone areas despite the obvious risks, and urged the government to act on longstanding recommendations from engineers and technocrats rather than waiting for the next disaster.

“The government has to crack the whip. That’s it,” he said.

Ing. Mahama did commend the Greater Accra Regional Ministers who have led demolition exercises in affected areas, describing the interventions as steps in the right direction — but insisted that isolated efforts are no substitute for consistent, long-term enforcement.

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According to a statement from the Tema Regional Police Command, the footage came to the attention of officers at around 12:10 a.m. on May 22, 2026, prompting the immediate deployment of a night patrol team to the school.

With support from school authorities, police arrested Raymond Gyamfi, Oscar Amemoair, and Odartey Wilson, all aged 18, along with a juvenile — all of whom were identified in the video. The four are currently in custody and assisting with investigations.

The Command urged students to resolve disagreements through established school structures rather than resorting to violence or intimidation, and called on parents and school authorities to strengthen supervision and discipline to help maintain safety on campuses.

“The Command assures the public that investigations are ongoing and further developments will be communicated in due course,” the statement said.

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He described the project as the fulfilment of a long-held dream dating back to his time as Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi.

Speaking at the ceremony, he said the establishment of the tertiary institution would transform educational opportunities for young people in the region and help bridge the development gap between northern Ghana and the rest of the country.

“This is a dream come true, because this project has been on the drawing board from when I was a Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi. Today is a very proud moment for all of us, that finally this project is coming to pass,” he said.

According to the President, the absence of a tertiary institution in Bole for many years forced students who completed secondary school to travel to other parts of the country to continue their education.

“At the time, Bole had no tertiary educational institution, so when our children finished Bole Secondary School, they had to go to all other parts of the country in order to be able to get tertiary training,” he stated.

He said the area has already benefited from the establishment of a nursing training college, which has produced several graduates currently serving in Ghana’s health sector.

“Several nurses have graduated from that school, who today are working in the public health system,” he added.

He explained that although efforts had previously been made to launch the College of Education project, progress stalled due to funding challenges.

“We made an effort to begin it. That is why you see this whole foundation here. But now we have funding for it from the GETFund,” he said.

The President said the new college would have the capacity to accommodate 1,500 students and would feature modern academic and residential infrastructure.

The proposed facilities include student hostels, a principal’s residence, a vice-principal’s residence, a lecture hall complex, an 18-unit classroom block, an auditorium, a two-storey library and ICT block, a dining hall and kitchen, two-bedroom staff flats, five four-unit, two-bedroom staff quarters, and two-storey administration blocks.

He expressed optimism that the institution would soon become a reality.

“You can see the beautiful campus pictures here, so after many months from now, we will come here and commission it. You’ll see all these buildings here,” he said.

The President also announced a series of educational and infrastructure projects earmarked for the Savannah Region. These include the construction of a new STEM secondary school in Tinga, a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centre in Kulmasa, and a proposed University of Science and Technology for the Savannah Region.

“We are also building a new university for the Savannah Region, which will be a university of science and technology. We will go and inspect the site tomorrow,” he disclosed.

President Mahama said the projects form part of efforts to improve livelihoods and reduce poverty in northern Ghana through education and infrastructure development.

“We know that poverty is endemic in our area, and education is one of the means of social mobility, getting our people to be able to take their destiny into their own hands,” he stressed.

On healthcare, the President announced plans to upgrade the Tinga Health Centre into a polyclinic and transform the Bole Hospital into a 160-bed district hospital.

“For that reason, we are going to upgrade the Tinga Health Centre into a Polyclinic so that healthcare services can match the needs of this growing population,” he said.

“At the same time, we are upgrading the Bole Hospital into a 160-bed capacity District Hospital. This will strengthen referral services in this area.”

The President further talked about ongoing road projects in the area, including the Wenchi-Bamboi-Bole-Sawla road and the Bole-Chache road linking Ghana to Côte d’Ivoire.

“Finally, it is getting a big push to be done under the Big Push project so that we can complete it on time,” he said of the Wenchi-Bamboi-Bole-Sawla highway.

He added that a modern 24-hour market would also be constructed in Bole to boost economic activity.

“This afternoon, we are going to cut sod for a 24-hour market, a modern market in Bole, which will operate 24 hours a day. It will have a police station, a fire station, a kindergarten and daycare centres, warehouses and everything in it,” he announced.

Mr Gunu made the declaration when he led a delegation to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the mudslide that occurred at Adaklu Helekpe, a community located at the foot of the Adaklu Mountain on Wednesday.

“We cannot guarantee the safety of anybody going there, so the mountain has been declared a security zone,” he stated.

The Minister and the delegation also commiserated with the affected people.

The other members of the delegation were the Minister for Roads and Highways and Member of Parliament for Adaklu; Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Adaklu District Chief Executive, Jerry Yao Ameko, and officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation.

The mudslide, which destroyed properties worth fortunes occurred during a torrential rainfall that lasted for over five hours.

Properties which were destroyed included vehicles, agricultural machinery, buildings, and personal effects.

Mr Gunu asked officials of the NADMO to cordon off the area to prevent people from accessing the mountain.

He advised the people to stay off the mountain for now, adding, “I will ask the Geological Survey Department and NADMO officials to conduct feasibility studies to ascertain the cause of the mudslide.”

Mr Agbodza stated that, though natural disasters happened, destroying the vegetative cover of the mountain could also result in such occurrences.

The mudslide created a deep gorge from the top to the foot of the mountain in which water was gushing.

A white missionary who was most affected by the mudslide, Reverend Jacob Reddekopp, told the Ghana News Agency that he was grateful to God that no life was lost.

A woman and her three-year-old son were injured during the incident and were admitted to the Ho Teaching Hospital.

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In a press release issued on Friday, the ECG disclosed that the upgrade forms part of the government’s Transformer Replacement and Upgrade Programme, designed to improve the reliability of power supply and reduce system overloads within the distribution network.

The project follows the successful completion of similar upgrade works at the Adenta, Nmai Dzorm, Lashibi, Teshie-Nungua, and Kumasi Ridge Primary Substations.

Batsonaa upgrade schedule

The ECG will replace the existing 20/26 MVA power transformer at the Batsonaa Substation with a higher-capacity 30/39 MVA transformer.

The exercise is scheduled to take place from Sunday, May 31, to Monday, June 1, 2026, with phased power interruptions lasting approximately six hours per affected group.

According to the detailed outage schedule, Group A, covering Mawako Fast Food, Alfa Trading, Goil Filling Station, Spintex Plaza, Coca Cola Factory, Kasapreko, China Mall, and other industries along the Spintex Road, will experience outages from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm on Sunday, May 31, and again from 12:00 am to 6:00 am on Monday, 1st June.

Group B, including Watt son Factory, First Bank, Stanbic Bank, GCB, Access Bank, UBA Bank, Tropical Cables, and other facilities, will be affected from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Sunday, May 31.

Group C, covering Shop N Save, Entrance University, Nasco Shop, Kasapreko, Devtraco Ltd, Indomine Factory, and other areas along the Spintex Road, will experience outages from 6:00 pm to 12:00 am on Sunday, May 31.

Widespread faults hit Ashanti, Tema, Western Regions

These scheduled interventions come as the ECG continues to manage multiple network faults that struck on Friday, May 22, 2026.

In the Ashanti South Region, a fault in the network affected Edubiase, Fumso, Kwabenakwa, Asonkore, Alhaji Awal, and surrounding areas.

A separate fault in the same region disrupted power to Boko, Twedie, Foase, Ntronntroso, Trabuom, Ofoase, Manso Nkwanta, and surrounding areas. A third fault affected Dadiesoaba, Asafo, and the surrounding areas.

In the Tema Region, a fault in the network affected Wildlife, PW Quarries, Eastern Quarries, Twin Quarries, Recycling, Inzag, Bright Cement, Mawu be ji be, Mobole, Ataa Mensah, Perftech, Zugbeynate, the Afienya Youth Leadership Training Centre, Philip Kope, Greenhouse Enclave, and surrounding areas.

A separate fault in the Tema Region disrupted power to Able Academy, Timber Market, Mavis Industries, Polyster, Community 25 Mall, Jaguar, Delexes University, Jordan City, Santor, Aunty Araba, Agbeshie Laryea, Nelplast, Kubekro, Level 400, and surrounding areas.

Additionally, an upstream challenge in the Tema Region caused widespread outages affecting Afienya, the Quarries, Greenhouse Enclave, Otsebreku, Okushibri, Jerusalem, Apollonia City, Katamanso, Promised Land, Elegant Homes, Data Centre, TOR Estates, Emmanuel Estates, Hot Oven, Afariwaa Junction, Yellow Signboard, Michell Camp and Gate, Kakasunaka, Gbetsile, Soldier Line, Tema International School, Don Bosco, Bethlehem, Sebrepor, Goshen, White Estates, Emef’s Estates, Community 22, Official Town, New Town, Booster, Clementina, Ashaiman Circuit Courts, Dawhenya, Prampram, Central University, Star Steel, PS Global, Adom Estates, Miotso, Irrigation, Devtraco, the Dodowa Switching Station, and surrounding areas.

In the Western Region, a faulty transformer at Nkotompo left Nkotompo, Ngyeramoabekam, and the surrounding areas without power.

In its public notices, the ECG extended its apologies to all affected customers, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by both the scheduled upgrade works and the unplanned network faults.

The company reassured the public that engineers are working diligently to resolve all network issues while emphasising that the planned upgrade is necessary to ensure the long-term robustness of the power network.

The President, who served as a promoter of the project, described it as a major step towards equipping young people with practical digital and innovation skills needed for the future.

He said the facility aligns with the government’s Basic, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (B-STEM) agenda aimed at strengthening science and technology education across the country.

“Yesterday, we launched the B-STEM school in Sawla, where we are teaching our children science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” he said.

“These labs allow them to continue to hone their skills, especially in information and communications technology.”

He also praised the facility’s renewable energy component, describing it as a “green lab” powered by solar energy.

“We won’t have the issue where NEDCo comes and cuts them off because they haven’t paid their electricity bill,” he remarked.

President Mahama further called for stronger collaboration between the government, district assemblies and development partners to replicate similar ICT centres across the country.

“We can dovetail this into our ICT programme where district assemblies invest in putting up the buildings, and the Helping Africa Foundation brings the equipment to install in the buildings,” he said.

The Yamoransa Model Lab Programme provides students with opportunities to expand their Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education through practical learning experiences.

The initiative focuses on STEAM whilst exposing students to modern digital tools and innovation-driven learning.

The Yamoransa Model Lab Programme provides ICT centres equipped with educational content, multimedia resources, robotics tools, augmented and virtual reality learning systems, and 3D printing technology to support innovation-driven education in underserved communities.

According to Mr Zakaria, he was arrested on February 26, 2026, at about 7:00 p.m. in Kongoussi while staying in the home of a Good Samaritan, whom he described as a Mossi man he did not know personally.

He explained that he was travelling through the area on his way to an undisclosed destination in Mali when armed soldiers stormed the house and arrested him.

Mr Zakaria said he was blindfolded immediately after the arrest and transported to a military detention facility in Kaya, where he spent 13 days in custody.

He was later transferred to another undisclosed location, where he remained detained for about 50 days before being moved again to Ouagadougou. There, he spent additional days in police custody before eventually being released in late April.

According to him, security officials repeatedly questioned him about his presence in Kongoussi, an area heavily affected by the activities of non-state armed groups, particularly Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin.

Mr Zakaria stated that after investigations, authorities found no incriminating evidence linking him to any jihadist group.

He, however, claimed that none of his confiscated belongings, including his clothes, were returned to him.

“They only took me to a bus station barefoot and empty-handed and told me to return to Ghana,” he recounted.

Mr Zakaria said he relied on the support of Good Samaritans, who assisted him with transport fare after hearing about his ordeal.

He has since reunited with his family in Ghana after returning from Burkina Faso.

The development comes as Ghanaian intelligence agencies continue their search for another individual, Ibrahim Sadat, a native of Wuru in the Sissala District of the Upper West Region, who was allegedly arrested by Burkinabe security forces on March 3, 2026, after crossing into the town of Kounou in Burkina Faso.

It also follows the disappearance of seven Ghanaians, all natives of the Bawku Municipality, who were reportedly invited in 2023 by alleged Burkinabe military personnel for a cattle identification exercise in Bittou, the capital of Boulgou Province.

The seven individuals were allegedly intercepted by armed men in the town of Nohao and have not been found since.

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The operation, which affected the corn milling area and the “Agbelema” section of the market, saw several unfinished structures pulled down, while other shops have also been marked for demolition in the days ahead.

The move sparked anger among traders, who say they were not adequately informed and feel left out of the planning process.

Some of the affected traders told journalists they built their shops using personal loans and are worried about losing their investments without compensation or relocation support.

“We took loans to put up these structures, but now they want to demolish them without compensation or even giving us an alternative place to trade,” one trader lamented.

They are therefore calling on authorities to urgently provide compensation and allocate an alternative trading space before further demolitions continue.

SOT 1…. AFFECTED NEW MARKET TRADERS

Responding to the concerns, the Awutu Senya East NADMO Director, Mr. Nash Nyandey, said extensive stakeholder consultations had already been conducted prior to the exercise.

He assured that all traders with valid ownership documents would be compensated accordingly.

According to him, the demolition forms part of preparations for the rollout of the 24-hour market initiative, which is expected to boost commercial activity and improve trading conditions in Kasoa.

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