According to him, education, agriculture and national security are critical sectors that should be treated as national issues rather than being subjected to partisan politics.

Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Rev. Owusu said the difficulties facing teachers and schools demonstrate the urgent need for greater attention to the education sector.

“We are not serious in this country. We are joking with certain things. In terms of education, agriculture and security, these should not be politicised; it is a national problem,” he said.

He recounted his experience during his time as an aspiring parliamentary candidate, saying some teachers in his constituency lacked basic furniture and were forced to sit on students’ chairs.

“When I was aspiring for MP, the whole constituency, there was no school where teachers had seats. They sat on students’ chairs, so I had to buy and supply them,” he said.

Rev. Owusu also raised concerns about the conditions under which some teachers live, describing some of their accommodation as deplorable.

He further complained about delays in the payment of allowances and other benefits due teachers, urging the government to take steps to improve their working conditions.

He said the challenges confronting the Education Ministry may warrant a reassignment of the sector minister.

“It seems there is a big challenge in the Education Ministry. The President should consider reshuffling him to another sector,” he said.

Rev. Owusu stressed that improving the welfare and working conditions of teachers would have a direct impact on the quality of education delivered to students.

“If we invest in the teachers, it will reflect on the education of the students,” he said.

He therefore urged the Education Ministry to engage the various teacher unions and listen to their concerns to find lasting solutions.

“The Ministry of Education should do well to have a meeting with the teacher unions, listen to their plea and give them whatever is due them,” he added.

His comments come as Ghana’s three major teacher unions have declared a nationwide industrial action effective Friday, September 25, 2026.

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana (CCT-GH) announced the strike in a joint statement over what they described as prolonged delays in addressing critical concerns affecting teachers.

The unions said their decision followed growing frustration over issues relating to their conditions of service and the handling of those matters by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD).

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Speaking at the “Democracy is Not For Sale” forum in Damongo, organised by JoyNews on Friday, September 25, she said economic hardship makes some women more willing to accept money and other items offered by political actors during election periods.

She was responding to a question about why some voters regard cash received during elections as a normal gesture, despite concerns that such inducements could influence their voting decisions.

According to Alijata Haruna, the immediate economic needs of some women can make it difficult for them to reject such offers.

“I think one of the issues or the fundamental issue is about the poverty level of the women and then also the illiteracy rate. Over here [in Savannah Region] we have high illiteracy rate of women. So I think all those cloths and the hundred cedis to persuade me to vote for him or her, I don’t think that I should refuse because I need it, because I really need it.

So definitely that is some of the fundamental factors that contribute to those things. It’s about our illiteracy rates and also the poverty level of women and employment issues.”

She said addressing the underlying socio-economic conditions affecting women would be important in tackling the acceptance of vote-buying.

The “Democracy i Not For Sale” forum forms part of efforts to encourage public discussion on electoral integrity and the factors that can undermine the democratic process.

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President of the Association, Jacob Anaba, said the call follows concerns raised by the programme’s National Coordinator, Hajia Fati Forgor, that some head teachers allegedly inflate enrolment figures, leaving genuinely needy schools without adequate support.

Speaking to Citi News on Friday, September 25, Mr Anaba described the alleged practice as one that cheats the state and called for an investigation.

“If you have been given a position to deliver something to our kids, a critical one at that, and you are inflating the figures, it means that you are cheating the system, the state, and we shouldn’t allow that to pass. We will call for an audit to show that we can find out those who are doing that and bring them to book.”

He also urged authorities to ensure meals served under the programme are nutritious enough to support pupils’ concentration and learning in class.

“The food they give to our children in the school should be something that will nourish them, will give them the nourishment that they can be able to sustain in the classroom.”

Speaking in an interview on Joy Prime’s Changes show, the Rap Doctor said he believes women generally demonstrate greater empathy and are less likely to misuse public funds.

“If that woman and the man are both equally qualified and they’re equally responsible, I’ll vote for the woman because women usually, not all the time, have a bit more empathy and they’re less likely to steal from the state than men,” he said.

Okyeame Kwame, however, stressed that such a view should not be generalised, acknowledging that there have been instances where women in leadership have also been accused of misusing state resources.

He said his support for female leadership is largely based on his belief that women possess qualities such as empathy, care and nurturing, which he considers important in managing the affairs of a country.

“Women come with a lot of love, empathy, sympathy, nurture; they have that motherly thing where they care more about people. Men are inclined to care more about things as Jordan Peterson said. So, I think a women president will be dope,” he said.

Beyond his views on women leading the country, Okyeame Kwame also called for greater recognition of women who played significant roles in Ghana’s independence struggle.

He cited Susanna Al-Hassan, Naa Dedei Ashikishan, Theodosia Okoh, Mabel Danquah and Ama Nkrumah, whom he said he referenced in the third song of his “Big Up” project.

According to him, these women made significant sacrifices during the struggle for independence, with some losing their jobs or being imprisoned for their involvement.

He argued that their contributions have not received sufficient recognition and called for their stories to be incorporated into Ghana’s Social Studies curriculum.

“I want to see all of them in Social Studies books, I want students to write exams about them. I want young girls to know that we don’t only have the founding fathers, but there are also founding mothers,” he said.

Okyeame Kwame further suggested that prominent streets and public spaces should be named after some of the women to preserve their legacy.

“I want them to have their own roundabout; the founding mothers roundabout,” he added.

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Reflecting on his time with Stonebwoy and the rivalries that surrounded the Bhim Nation camp, Kelvyn Boy said he sometimes made comments about other camps out of loyalty rather than from his own personal convictions.

Speaking on Hitz FM, he acknowledged that being part of a particular camp at the time shaped how he viewed and responded to some of the tensions within the music industry.

He said he now feels bad about taking sides, as he has learnt that artistes may have their differences but ultimately share the same industry and should be able to coexist.

Kelvyn Boy also recalled meeting artistes he had previously been involved in disputes with and realising that the personal relationships were very different from the rivalries created around their respective fan bases and camps.

According to him, some artistes he eventually interacted with were welcoming and supportive, making him question why he had allowed industry divisions to influence his own actions and comments.

He further criticised the culture of comparing artistes and encouraging fans to choose sides, describing it as unhealthy for the Ghanaian music industry.

Kelvyn Boy said when artistes such as Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale, Sarkodie and others perform on the same stage, fans should be able to appreciate each artiste without turning the occasion into a competition over who is better.

He argued that music lovers can support their favourite artistes without attacking others, noting that such behaviour only creates unnecessary divisions among musicians.

The ‘Down Flat’ hitmaker now believes that the various camps and fan bases within Ghanaian music should move away from unnecessary rivalry and allow artistes to build relationships and support one another.

The Portuguese coach criticised the decision after watching a replay of the incident that led to the hosts doubling their advantage in Thursday’s Group C clash at the Stade de Bouaké.

Malick Yalcouyé had given Ivory Coast a deserved lead shortly before half-time before the decisive moment arrived early in the second half.

Ghana winger Abdul Fatawu Issahaku was ruled to have fouled Yalcouyé inside the penalty area, and Franck Kessié converted from the spot to put the Elephants firmly in control.

Queiroz, however, insisted the award should never have stood.

“That penalty, it’s a joke. The penalty, it is a joke. I just saw it on the television,” he said after the match.

“Because I need to be quiet and polite. It was 1-0 down. I don’t think that Ivory Coast needed the referee to come inside the game and create an unbalanced situation.”

The 73-year-old argued that the decision came at a pivotal stage, with Ghana attempting to find an equaliser after conceding late in the first half.

“You guys who can see the television, it is a joke. It is a joke, that penalty,” Queiroz added.

“When we were 1-0 down and we fought for our chances, we fought for our opportunities, comes somebody that should not play and make unbalanced the game.”

The result leaves Ghana bottom of Group C without a point after their opening match, while Ivory Coast begin their qualifying campaign with three points.

The Black Stars now return to Accra to face Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on 29 September.

Ghana are seeking a return to the AFCON finals after missing out on qualification for the 2025 tournament in Morocco – their first absence from the competition in more than 20 years.

The four-time African champions began their Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat to the Elephants at Stade de Bouaké on Thursday, as goals from Malick Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié secured victory for the 2023 African champions.

Despite the setback, Queiroz insisted he has no doubt Ghana will respond when Ivory Coast visit the Accra Sports Stadium later in the qualifying campaign next year.

“When Ivory Coast comes to Ghana, with all due respect, it will be our turn to win,” Queiroz said after the game.

“So the score, as you said now, is 16–15, right? So in a couple of months it will be 16–16. I have no doubt about that, that we are going to win that game,” he added.

The defeat leaves Ghana bottom of Group C ahead of their second qualifying match against Gambia on Tuesday, 29 September at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Black Stars are attempting to secure a return to the Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco.

The Black Stars opened their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with defeat in Bouaké, where Malick Yalcouyé put the hosts ahead just before half-time at the Stade de Bouaké.

The Elephants doubled their advantage after the break when referee Alioune Sy awarded a penalty after Abdul Fatawu Issahaku was judged to have fouled Yalcouyé in the box.

Franck Kessié converted from the spot to secure victory for the reigning African champions and leave Ghana without a point after their opening Group C match.

While Queiroz praised Côte d’Ivoire’s display after the game, he reserved his strongest criticism for the officiating and the absence of VAR.

“Nothing to do with Ivory Coast; they played very well, all the players played very well. Congratulations,” the 73-year-old said.

“But I cannot give congratulations to the referee.”

The Portuguese coach questioned why the technology is not available in one of Africa’s biggest football competitions, arguing that it could help officials avoid decisive mistakes.

“Why don’t we have VAR in Africa? What is the reason we don’t have VAR in one African Cup of Nations?” he asked.

“We don’t have VAR to help the referee make the game fair.”

Queiroz, who was born in Mozambique, said his frustration stemmed from years of witnessing similar incidents in African football.

“I was born in Mozambique, I grew up here. I’m tired of these situations, of these referees that don’t do a good job,” he said.

The defeat leaves Ghana bottom of Group C, while Côte d’Ivoire move to the top of the standings with three points.

The Black Stars will look to recover when they host Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on 29 September.

Ghana are bidding to return to the AFCON finals after failing to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco, which ended a run of appearances spanning more than two decades.

Goals from Malick Yalcouye and Franck Kessie secured victory for the hosts at the Stade de Bouaké, sending the Elephants to the top of Group C with three points.

Despite Côte d’Ivoire enjoying more possession throughout the contest, Queiroz believed his side posed the greater attacking threat and created enough chances to avoid defeat.

“In terms of possession, Côte d’Ivoire were better than us, but in terms of attacking penetration and creating opportunities, we were better,” the Portuguese coach said after the match.

Ghana, however, failed to make their chances count, with Queiroz lamenting his side’s inability to convert in key moments.

“Unfortunately, we did not score. We had four clear opportunities to score in front of goal, but it didn’t happen,” he added.

Augustine Boakye, Benjamin Tetteh and Kwasi Sibo all came close for the Black Stars, who were looking to make a positive start to their qualifying campaign.

Queiroz revealed that his side adopted a more direct approach as the game progressed in an effort to unsettle the Ivorian defence.

“We played a more vertical style with more vertical movements to attack the defensive line of Côte d’Ivoire,” he explained.

The 73-year-old also praised the impact of substitutes Benjamin Tetteh and Felix Afena-Gyan, saying their introduction provided Ghana with additional attacking options and helped create further openings.

“We had enough opportunities to score. We have to improve in that department, to improve our ability to score because this is another game that we did not score,” Queiroz said.

The result leaves Ghana without a point after their opening Group C fixture, while Côte d’Ivoire lead the standings.

The Black Stars will look to bounce back when they host Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29, as they seek their first points of the qualifying campaign.

Henry filed the lawsuit on September 21, 2026, in Delaware Superior Court, naming the Miss Universe Organization, JKN Legacy Inc. and Legacy Holding Group USA as defendants. The complaint includes claims of negligence, premises liability, negligent hiring, retention and supervision, as well as negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The legal action stems from the November 19, 2025 incident in Bangkok, where Henry fell through an opening in the stage during the preliminary evening gown competition.

According to Henry, she was following the choreography she had rehearsed and had been instructed to stop, face the cameras and then turn left. She said it was while following those instructions that she suddenly fell through the opening.

The fall was captured on video and quickly circulated online, showing the Jamaican contestant disappearing through the stage as she walked in an orange gown.

Henry said she lost consciousness during the fall and has no memory of the moment itself. She later learned that the opening had a concrete base below it.

The accident left her with serious head, back and facial injuries. She suffered a brain bleed and was hospitalised from November 19 to December 10, according to reports.

Speaking to ABC News in her first major interview about the incident, Henry described the experience as one of the most traumatic moments of her life.

She said the physical injuries were accompanied by an emotional struggle as she tried to reconnect with her body and rebuild her life after the accident.

Henry also said the incident has affected her professional life and raised fears about whether she would be able to continue her career.

She maintains that the accident could have been prevented and argues that appropriate safety measures should have been in place around the stage opening.

According to her, the organisers had a responsibility to ensure that the stage, lighting and other production elements did not expose contestants to unnecessary danger.

Henry’s lawyer, Joseph Ciacco, said the lawsuit is intended to address responsibility for what happened and push for greater attention to contestant safety.

The Miss Universe Organization, however, has said it has not received the lawsuit and therefore cannot comment on claims it has not seen.

In a statement to ABC News, the organisation said Henry’s health and well-being had always been a priority. It also said it had not received any request or claim for additional medical expenses.

Henry has now turned her attention to recovery while pursuing the legal case. Despite the ordeal, she said she remains grateful for the opportunity to have represented Jamaica on the Miss Universe stage.

Nearly a year after the fall that abruptly changed her pageant journey, Henry is now seeking answers and accountability through the courts as she continues her recovery.

According to him, educating citizens about the value of their votes and encouraging them to challenge electoral inducements could help protect Ghana’s democratic process from the growing influence of money.

Speaking to JoyNews at the ‘Democracy Is Not For Sale’ programme in Damongo, Mr Be-Awuribe said the public must not remain passive in the face of vote buying.

“When the public is well educated and they themselves rise up to the challenge, then we may be far from being in the situation that we are in,” he said on Sepetember 25.

He said the responsibility for tackling vote buying should not rest solely with politicians and law enforcement agencies, stressing that citizens themselves have an important role to play in rejecting attempts to influence their electoral choices with money.

Mr Be-Awuribe commended civil society organisations and media houses for bringing the issue to public attention and contributing to discussions on the impact of money on electoral processes.

Mr Be-Awuribe further called on citizens to reject attempts by individuals to influence electoral outcomes through financial inducements, stressing that the public must take an active role in confronting vote buying.

“The public should revolt against them and know that their conscience cannot be bought,” he said.

Mr Be-Awuribe maintained that sustained public education and citizen participation are crucial to safeguarding the integrity of Ghana’s electoral processes.

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Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Randy Abbey, announced the new price at a press briefing on Thursday, September 24.

The new price takes effect immediately and represents an increase from the GH¢2,587 per 64kg bag paid during the 2026 light crop season. The previous price translated to GH¢41,392 per tonne.

Dr Abbey said the new price was determined following consultations among key stakeholders in the cocoa sector.

The adjustment comes as COCOBOD implements reforms aimed at improving the financial sustainability of the cocoa sector while ensuring that farmers receive a significant share of the value of their produce.

The 2026/2027 season therefore begins with changes to cocoa pricing and financing arrangements as government seeks to support cocoa farmers and strengthen the financial sustainability of the sector.

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The ‘Don’t Be Late’ hitmaker said becoming a father meant he could no longer dedicate all his time and energy to music, leading to a noticeable drop in his work rate and the frequency with which he released new songs.

Speaking on the On the Line podcast, Kofi Mole revealed that his son is now seven years old and said the early years of fatherhood required him to take a step back from the demands of his music career.

He explained that beyond parenting, he also used the period away from music to travel and experience life outside the creative environment, giving himself room to explore new things and reconnect with himself.

Kofi Mole said the decision was not necessarily a loss of interest in music but rather a period in which other aspects of his life needed his attention.

The rapper also pushed back against the idea that artistes should constantly create music to satisfy public expectations, arguing that allowing outside pressure to dictate his creative process could ultimately affect his artistry.

According to him, he prefers to record music that genuinely appeals to him rather than forcing himself to produce songs simply because fans or the industry expect them.

At the same time, Kofi Mole acknowledged that consistency remains important in an industry where artistes can quickly lose visibility when they take prolonged breaks.

He noted that the music space does not remain vacant for long, with other artistes always ready to occupy the attention and opportunities left behind.

Now that his son is older, Kofi Mole says he has returned his attention to music and is once again creating.

While he expects some people to question whether his absence has affected his relevance, the rapper remains confident in the body of work that established him, insisting that the creative ability behind his earlier hit songs has not disappeared.

For Kofi Mole, the break has therefore been less about walking away from music and more about making room for fatherhood, personal growth and experiences outside the studio before returning to the craft on his own terms.

The arrests were made in Kumasi and at the Accra Resolution Centres as authorities widen investigations into attempts to manipulate school placements.

The physician assistant at the SDA Hospital in Kumasi, Yaw Adjei Boateng, was arrested on Thursday, September 24, and questioned by officers from the Intelligence Unit.

According to information available to the Ministry of Education from the Ghana Police Service, he admitted knowing Vicentia Antwi Appiah, who allegedly approached him to help secure placement for Benedicta Yaa Edinam at Mafe Methodist Girls’ Senior High School.

According to investigators Boateng disclosed that he received GH¢8,500 from Vicentia Antwi Appiah and forwarded the money to Brian Opare Addo, an employee of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, to facilitate the placement process. However, the placement was unsuccessful.

Boateng further told investigators that he later asked Opare Addo to refund the money, which was subsequently returned to the sender. He also claimed that Opare Addo had previously assisted him in securing placement for another student at St Monica’s Senior High School.

Brian Opare Addo has been invited to report to the Intelligence Unit on Monday, September 28, to assist with inquiries.

Meanwhile, two additional suspects were arrested at the Accra Resolution Centre on Friday, September 25, bringing to four the number of arrests made within the last 48 hours. Another individual has also been invited to assist with investigations.

The latest developments follow the arrest of two other individuals on September 17 over their alleged involvement in school placement fraud. Authorities say investigations are ongoing.

The operation was conducted by the Office of the Special Operations Assistant to the Inspector-General of Police (SOA), in collaboration with the National SWAT.

According to the Police, the operation followed complaints from residents about suspected criminal activities at the lounge and its surrounding areas, including the alleged open display and possible trading of firearms.

During the operation, officers identified a blue, unregistered Acura vehicle with a pistol holster inside. The vehicle was impounded and conveyed to the Police Headquarters for further investigations after no one at the scene claimed ownership of the holster.

The Police also arrested a suspect identified as Theophilus Ashon, who allegedly claimed to be a Police officer attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Operations.

Checks established that he was not a serving Police officer, the Police said.

A search of Ashon reportedly led to the recovery of a Smith & Wesson pistol loaded with six rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Further investigations led officers to Atico, where another suspect, Michael Emmanuel Kingsley Mills, was arrested.

A search of his residence resulted in the recovery of three pump-action guns, four pistols, 62 AA and BB cartridges, 54 rounds of .40-calibre ammunition and other exhibits.

The 64 suspects are currently in Police custody assisting with investigations.

The Police said the suspects will be put before the court after investigations are completed.

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Speaking on behalf of the Finance Minister, Director of the Financial Sector Division at the Ministry of Finance, Louis Kwame Amo, said the banking industry must play a stronger role in financing businesses that expand production, boost exports and create jobs.

He said although maintaining macroeconomic stability remains a key priority, Ghana must now focus on transforming the economy into a more productive, competitive and export-oriented one, with greater private-sector participation.

“Stability itself is not the destination. Stability is the platform. Transformation is the destination,” he said.

Mr Amo was speaking at the commissioning of Absa Bank Ghana’s new head office on Friday, September 25.

He explained that the call forms part of government’s New Economy programme, which seeks to build on recent macroeconomic stabilisation while working with the private sector and other stakeholders to strengthen productive areas of the economy.

According to him, government’s decision to reduce its presence in the domestic financing market should create additional space for banks to extend credit to private businesses.

He therefore encouraged financial institutions to prioritise lending to enterprises involved in manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing, exports, technology and other activities capable of generating employment.

“We need more credit to go to businesses that produce, businesses that export, businesses that manufacture, businesses that employ young people, businesses that process what we grow here in Ghana, businesses investing in technology and businesses building Ghana’s new economy,” he said.

He said stronger collaboration between the banking sector and productive businesses would be critical to sustaining economic transformation and creating more opportunities for private-sector growth.

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The concert is scheduled for Sunday, September 27, 2026, and will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m.

The event will feature performances from some of Ghana’s celebrated gospel musicians, including veteran singer Philippa Baafi and Agyekum, alongside Music Box.

“Celebration of His Grace” is expected to be an evening of gospel music, worship and thanksgiving, with the performers using their music to celebrate God’s grace and faithfulness.

It is designed as a gathering where patrons can pause, reflect and give thanks while enjoying performances from some of Ghana’s familiar gospel voices.

The 19th edition of the concert comes with free admission, allowing members of the public to attend and participate in the celebration without an entrance fee.

The blaze also threatened nearby buildings before firefighters from the Dunkwa-on-Offin Fire Station arrived and brought the situation under control.

After nearly two hours of firefighting, the blaze was brought under control and completely extinguished at about 11:52pm.

Although the fire caused extensive damage to the house, firefighters managed to save four of its 14 rooms and successfully prevented the flames from spreading to nearby buildings.

The incident has left the majority of the house severely damaged, with only four rooms spared from the destruction.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established and remains under investigation.

The President made the remarks while responding to questions about Ghana’s decision to back out of the package, which involved about $74 million in support for the country’s health sector.

Speaking at a meeting with the Council on Foreign Relations in the United States, President Mahama said the fact that Ghana needed healthcare assistance should not be the basis for accepting every form of support.

He said the experience had reinforced the need for Ghana and other African countries to build greater independence in financing and managing their healthcare systems.

President Mahama has subsequently intensified his call for health sovereignty across Africa, urging governments on the continent to invest more significantly in their own healthcare systems rather than relying heavily on external support.

He said the withdrawal of the US funding had exposed the vulnerability of African health systems to decisions made outside the continent.

According to him, the experience also contributed to the development of the Accra Reset initiative, which seeks to promote greater African sovereignty in healthcare financing and the production of essential medicines and vaccines.

President Mahama said, as Chairman of the African Union, he intends to use his position to advance efforts to enable Ghana and other African countries to produce essential medicines and vaccines locally.

He stressed the importance of strengthening Africa’s capacity to finance its healthcare needs and reduce dependence on external assistance.

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Mr Ashitey made the declaration at a press conference on Friday, September 25, outlining his vision of building a more inclusive and participatory party.

He said his campaign would focus on strengthening the NDC’s organisational structures, deepening internal democracy and ensuring that the grassroots receive greater attention.

Mr Ashitey also identified cadres, former party executives, youth and women as key groups whose participation in the affairs of the party must be strengthened.

“Give me the opportunity to serve as national chairman. I will work towards a more inclusive, united, participatory NDC, where the grassroots, cadres, former executives, youth, women, and all committed members will have a meaningful place in the affairs of our party,” he said.

According to him, the party also needs to rebuild relationships among its members and create an environment where every member feels valued and able to contribute.

“We must strengthen our structures, deepen internal democracy, rebuild the bonds of comradeship, and ensure that the NDC remains a party where every member matters and every contribution counts,” he said.

He subsequently made his intention to contest the position official, declaring: “I hereby declare my intent to contest the national chairmanship of the great NDC party.”

Mr Ashitey joins other prominent NDC members who have expressed interest in the national chairmanship position.

They include former Local Government Minister Akwasi Opong-Fosu and former DRIP Coordinator and former Odododiodioo MP, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye.

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Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, said the changing nature of work, driven largely by technology and artificial intelligence (AI), requires Ghana’s youth development policies to look beyond the domestic job market.

Speaking at the Pan-African AI & Innovation Summit 2026 in Accra, Mr Opare Addo called for the creation of a borderless African talent ecosystem where young people can use recognised and portable qualifications to compete for jobs across different markets on the continent.

He identified initiatives such as the AI for Youth Africa Fellowship and frameworks under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as key platforms for expanding opportunities and facilitating the movement of skills across Africa.

Mr Opare Addo said government was also deploying technology to make youth programmes more accessible and link young people directly to opportunities.

He cited the National Youth Tracker Platform and YouthXplore App, which he said use data and AI-curated pathways to connect young people to jobs, apprenticeships, mentorship opportunities and funding.

The Minister also highlighted the One Million Coders Programme and the Adwumawura Programme as part of efforts to prepare young people for emerging opportunities in sectors including artificial intelligence, digital services, agribusiness and manufacturing.

He stressed the need for greater private-sector participation in the design of youth development initiatives to ensure that training programmes respond to the actual skills required by employers.

According to him, stronger collaboration between government and businesses would help establish clearer pathways from training to employment while enabling young people to apply their skills and earn sustainable incomes.

Mr Opare Addo said combining skills development with access to finance, mentorship and employment opportunities would position Ghanaian youth to play a greater role in Africa’s emerging talent economy.

He said the broader objective was to enable young Ghanaians to compete in African and global labour markets while contributing meaningfully to the country’s economic transformation.

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Fast-rising Ghanaian singer Hunnyboy has finally revealed the story behind how he landed a feature from legendary musician Shatta Wale.

Speaking on Joy Prime’s Changes show, the Afro-fusion artiste, born Edward Tagoe, said the collaboration that changed his life did not come through industry connections, but through consistent grinding.

According to Hunnyboy, Shatta Wale noticed him after he tagged him in one of his songs on social media while he was constantly promoting his music on the platform.

“Through social media. I wasn’t fond of TikTok at the time because I had like 100 followers and the engagement wasn’t that huge. So my focus was on Instagram and Twitter. One evening, I posted one of my videos and captioned it ‘imagine Shatta Wale’s voice on this.’

“The next morning, my friend called me and said a lot of comments were tagging Shatta Wale and so he requested that we push the agenda. So we kept posting videos with the song and tagged Shatta Wale on all the posts. One morning, I saw one comment under one old video of mine and he was like this is fire, just contact Sammy Flex and let’s do this. I was very happy.”

Initially, he thought it was one of the numerous fake accounts impersonating Shatta Wale, but it turned out to be his real account. The two eventually met and worked on a song together.

That message led to their hit single Winning in February 2025, produced by Skantybeats, a song Shatta Wale benevolently jumped on without any label politics.

The song became an instant street anthem, celebrating resilience and victory, and opened massive doors for him. Shatta Wale also mounted him on the biggest stage of his career so far, the record-breaking ShattaFest, which pulled over 600,000 fans.

Hunnyboy, known for blending authentic Highlife and traditional Ghanaian sounds with Afrobeats and Dancehall, is now gearing up for his debut album, with Peace of Mind as one of the lead singles.

Those words by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, became a defining statement of Ghana’s independence and African self-determination.

But nearly seven decades on, the state of a monument built in his honour raises a difficult question: is Nkrumah’s glory fading?

At the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, the fountain that once gave the interchange its sparkle has gone dry.

The tiles are broken, the lights appear to be out, and debris has replaced the neat surroundings that once characterised the facility.

Dr Nkrumah’s statue still stands tall at the centre, but the fountain around it is now a shadow of its former self.

When the interchange was inaugurated in 2016, the scene was markedly different.

Water flowed through the fountain’s channels, the blue-and-white tiles were pristine, and colourful lights brought the structure to life at night.

For Desmond, an administrator who visited the facility in its early years, the transformation is disappointing.

“I feel so bad. I think it’s something that we need to maintain to honour the memory of our first president, the founder of this country,” he said.

Below is the full report:

Addressing the media at Goaso during the filing of his nomination forms, Chairman Brefo explained that he still has what it takes to defeat NPP again in both presidential and parliamentary slots as he did in the last general elections therefore delegates must retain him.

According to him, the other two persons contesting him do not have the strategies to protect the parliamentary seat the party currently been held by the NDC, therefore delegates must go for him again.

Meanwhile, another Hopeful for Chairmanship, Kwame Adutwum appealed to delegates not to retain the incumbent chairman because he has failed to introduce policies to improve the welfare of party members especially the grassroots.

According to him, once delegates elect him as the chairman he will prioritize their welfare to make the party more attractive in the constituency.

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The directive was issued by the Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency, MoFFA, after an inspection exercise uncovered challenges in occupational health and safety, infection prevention, and environmental sanitation at some facilities.

The exercise, according to the inspection team, exposed several lapses in the management of some mortuary facilities.

Poor infection-prevention practices, occupational health and safety challenges, and littering within and around some mortuary compounds are some of the concerns identified.

“Most of the facilities had a lot of challenges regarding occupational health and safety, infection prevention, and also environmental safety.”

Facilities found to be complying with the required standards received commendations from the Agency.

“Some of the facilities also did well. We commended them because they were putting infection prevention practices in place, and their environment was also on point.”

The agency warned facilities operating without the required licence to correct the identified deficiencies and regularise their operations within the next ten days.

“For other facilities that are yet to get a licence to operate, we are giving them ten days to work on it, regularise their actions and meet the requirements needed for them to get the licence to operate.

“For those who don’t comply with the ten days that are given for them to regularise their actions, we would let the law take its course.”

According to MoFFA, offences under the relevant law could attract a penalty of up to six thousand penalty units, imprisonment for up to three years, or both, subject to the decision of the court.

The Agency has therefore urged all mortuary and funeral facility operators to comply with the required standards to protect public health and safety

He made the call when he met with members of the Council on Foreign Relations and top business executives, where he highlighted what he described as imbalances in the global financial and trading system.

According to President Mahama, African countries often have to borrow at higher interest rates than other economies, even as their natural resources are extracted and exported to developed markets at relatively low prices.

He questioned the fairness of a system in which international companies profit from Africa’s resources while African countries bear the high cost of financing their own development.

President Mahama also criticised what he described as artificial barriers that continue to hinder Africa’s economic progress and limit the continent’s ability to compete effectively in global markets.

He stressed the need for African countries to move beyond the export of raw materials and retain more value from their resources through local processing.

On Ghana’s cocoa industry, President Mahama said the country would seek to process at least 50 percent of its cocoa domestically, reducing dependence on the export of raw cocoa beans.

He also indicated that the country would pursue greater local value addition in the minerals sector, particularly gold, as part of efforts to ensure that more of the wealth generated from Ghana’s natural resources remains within the country.

The President’s comments form part of his broader call for changes to global economic structures that, in his view, continue to disadvantage African economies and constrain their development prospects.

The meeting comes amid a nationwide strike by teacher unions over unpaid promotion arrears and delays in negotiations with the government.

Press Secretary and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Hasmin Mohammed, disclosed this on Joy FM’s Midday News.

He said the Education Minister would engage the various stakeholders to resolve the dispute and prevent the strike from further disrupting the academic calendar.

“I’ve just had information from the Honourable Minister that we intend to meet them on Monday in order to continue to pursue them to call off the strike,” he said.

Mr Mohammed said the dispute could not be resolved by the Education Ministry alone, as it required the involvement of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.

He said the Minister would use Monday’s meeting to provide a platform for the relevant institutions and the unions to engage directly.

The Ministry, he added, was “deeply worried” about the strike because of its potential impact on the academic calendar.

Mr Mohammed said significant efforts had been made to restore the calendar to normality after previous disruptions, with pupils and students from kindergarten through to university now reporting in September.

“It took the Honourable Minister and then that of the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service to be able to restore sanity into the academic calendar,” he said.

“For the first time, we are having our Ghanaian school children from KG to university all reporting in this September. So that tells you that we have been able to reverse the academic calendar.”

He warned that continued industrial action could undermine those gains, with students only recently returning to school.

Mr Mohammed said Monday’s meeting would bring the relevant parties together to address the unions’ concerns and seek an end to the strike.

According to him, the Ministry would do everything within its capacity to prevent further disruption to the academic calendar.

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The incident occurred during the Student Representative Council (SRC) Leadership Forum, where Dr Sosu had been invited to share his experience and engage with students.

GIMPA said it was concerned when the MP became unwell during his address and commended its management, SRC executives and medical staff for responding promptly to the situation.

The institution has since welcomed confirmation from Dr Sosu’s office that he has received the necessary medical attention.

GIMPA also expressed gratitude to Dr Sosu for taking the time to share his experience with students as part of the leadership forum.

The institution urged members of the public to rely on official information from the MP’s office concerning his health and to avoid unverified reports surrounding the incident.

Dr Sosu appeared to lose his balance while speaking and was quickly supported by people nearby before being assisted out of the auditorium.

His office subsequently assured the public that the Madina MP was doing well and had received medical attention.

According to the veteran, he became the first person to be subjected to such a ban and was used as a “sacrificial lamb” in the Ghanaian film industry.

Ajorlolo said the ban was meant to prevent him from working on productions in Ghana, but it did little to slow down his career because producers from neighbouring Nigeria were eager to have him on their projects.

He recalled that while the Ghanaian producers were attempting to shut him out, Nigerian producers were actively calling and pushing for him to perform in their productions.

The actor said the producers eventually reconsidered their decision after realizing that the ban was not achieving its intended purpose.

Although the initial punishment was supposed to last two years, Ajorlolo revealed that it was withdrawn after approximately six to eight months.

“After six months or eight months or so, they themselves just pulled that thing out that I should come back,” he recounted.

Looking back, Ajorlolo said the experience, though bitter, opened him up to opportunities cross the West African film industry.

The award-winning artiste made the revelation while reflecting on his second studio album, Iron Boy, more than a year after its release.

According to Black Sherif, he almost immediately moves on from his songs after releasing them, as he prefers to focus on whatever he is working on next.

The reason, he said is due to his low attention span, and once he does not continue his project in the stipulated timeframe, he absolutely loses interest.

“When I have songs, when they come out, I don’t listen to them again. I have a lot I’m working on so I move to the next one,” he said.

Any of his songs you’d catch him listening to are projects from his unreleased albums.

However, Blacko disclosed that he recently made an exception when he decided to revisit his body of work and listen through his albums from beginning to end.

He said he lined up his projects and listened from The Villain I Never Was through to the final song on his more recent work, Sun Sherif, an experience he described as one that made him simply sit back and smile.

The listening session also reminded him of how his relationship with individual songs has changed over time.

Black Sherif explained that he does not have one permanent favourite song because his preference changes as he grows and experiences different stages of his career.

He recalled that after releasing The Villain I Never Was, one of the songs that stood out to him was “Oil in My Head”, particularly as he began performing the project.

Years later, however, his preference shifted again, with “Toxic Love City” becoming the song that resonated most with him.

The changing favourites, he suggested, reflect how his perspective on his own music evolves with time, even though he generally prefers to keep moving forward rather than constantly revisiting what he has already released.

The lawyer is arguing that the prosecution has failed to establish sufficient evidence to require his clients to open their defence.

The submission follows the closure of the prosecution’s case in the trial involving Mr Adu-Boahene, his wife Angela Adjei-Boateng and another accused person over alleged financial misconduct involving GH¢49.1 million.

The defence was directed to file its submission by Friday, September 25, after the prosecution called four witnesses over the course of the trial. 

The Attorney-General has been given 14 days to respond after being served with the defence’s submission.

Mr Akyea’s case is that significant evidential gaps, inconsistencies in the prosecution’s evidence and the absence of key witnesses undermine the State’s case.

A major aspect of the defence’s challenge concerns the prosecution’s account of the GH¢49.1 million allegedly earmarked for the procurement of a cybersecurity system.

The State alleges that the funds were transferred through three cheques from an account associated with National Security operations into an account belonging to BNC Communications Bureau Limited, a company linked to Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife.

The prosecution says the funds were subsequently dissipated and used for purposes unrelated to the intended procurement.

However, during cross-examination of the prosecution’s final witness, EOCO investigator Frank Marshall Cromwell, Mr Akyea challenged several aspects of the investigation and the conclusions drawn from the financial records.

One of the key issues was the nature and control of the account from which the GH¢49.1 million was transferred.

Evidence before the court indicated that the account had a signing mandate involving the National Security Coordinator and Mr Adu-Boahene, among others. The three cheques at the centre of the prosecution’s case were also said to bear the signatures of the National Security Coordinator and Mr Adu-Boahene.

The defence relied on this evidence to challenge any suggestion that Mr Adu-Boahene had unilateral control over the funds.

Questions over cybersecurity system

The defence also raised questions about the prosecution’s evidence concerning the alleged cybersecurity procurement.

The State alleges that the GH¢49.1 million was intended to procure a cybersecurity system from Israeli company ISC Holdings but that the system was never delivered.

During cross-examination, however, the EOCO investigator acknowledged that the agency did not independently engage ISC Holdings to establish whether the system had been purchased and delivered.

He also confirmed that EOCO did not engage the National Security Council to independently verify whether the system had been procured and delivered.

The investigator had earlier rejected a document presented as evidence of the alleged cybersecurity procurement, describing it as lacking authenticity and containing inconsistencies in the company name and other details.

The defence has used those issues to question the completeness of the investigation and the basis for the prosecution’s conclusions.

Missing witnesses

Mr Akyea has also questioned the absence of key officials who, according to the defence, could have provided evidence about the National Security arrangements surrounding the funds.

Among those identified during the proceedings were former National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah and the then National Security Coordinator.

The defence has argued that evidence from officials directly involved in the management and authorisation of the relevant National Security accounts could have provided important context for the transactions in dispute.

The defence has further challenged the prosecution’s attempts to directly link specific properties and other assets to the disputed GH¢49.1 million, with the EOCO investigator at various points unable to directly trace particular transactions to the funds in question.

Prosecution’s case

The State maintains that it has presented sufficient evidence to establish that the GH¢49.1 million was public money intended for a cybersecurity project and that the funds were diverted into a private company account.

The prosecution has relied on bank statements, financial records, purchase receipts and ownership documents in seeking to demonstrate how the money was allegedly moved and spent.

It also alleges that GH¢9.54 million was transferred to ISC Holdings, but that no further payments were made towards the cybersecurity project. The remaining funds, according to the prosecution, were subsequently withdrawn or transferred and allegedly used for personal purposes.

The accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include stealing, conspiracy to steal, defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit and money laundering.

The mason from Sefwi said he had travelled to Osino because work at home had dried up, and a friend already at the site had called him over.

“I told my friend business wasn’t going well, so if he had any job, he should call me. He called me to come, and when I got here and found out this was the job, I said to myself that if I’m caught doing this, it won’t be good for me, because I don’t have anyone to help me in life, and I’m also not financially stable. So I planned to leave after receiving my wages for the day, only for the raid to happen.”

The mason was among the 13 people arrested when the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) raided an illegal mining site at Osino in the Eastern Region. Others arrested included a former construction worker and a 15-year-old boy, each with a different story of how they ended up there.

The former construction worker said he came to Osino two days earlier. He could only apologise for getting involved, struggling to find the right words to explain why he was there.

Fifteen-year-old Bernard said he was brought to the site by someone to work and raise money to support his education. Bernard, who is from Navrongo, said he arrived at the site and started work this morning.

Bernard isn’t the only student caught at the site as another young man said he is in SHS 3 and had come to work to get some money for school as his father is an old man who can’t do anything to help him.

Another man, who said he came from Kumasi three days ago, defended his decision to work there despite knowing it was illegal. To him, making about GH¢300 a day at the galamsey site is better than stealing.

“I know it’s not good, but when we stay home, we don’t earn anything, and coming here to get something small is better than stealing, and that is why we are here,” he said. “I make about GH¢250 or GH¢300 when I come here.”

He said he had noticed the site had been raided before he arrived, but had not realised how frequently it happened.

“When we came, we saw some ‘changfan’ machines had been destroyed, and when we asked, we were told there was a raid, but it doesn’t happen every day.”

He appealed to the authorities for leniency, promising not to return to the site.

NAIMOS said the Osino operation, in which mining equipment was destroyed, marked a return to the same site raided just days earlier, with officials finding illegal miners back at work despite the earlier crackdown.

Spokesperson for NAIMOS, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, said the recurrence underlines the need for a permanent security presence at illegal mining hotspots rather than periodic operations.

“It’s not the first day of an operation like this. We got the indication they were here four days ago, and they returned again,” he said.

He said communities around such sites remain divided, with some residents benefiting from the activity and others opposed to it, but that those against galamsey have continued to provide intelligence that helps enforcement teams identify operations.

According to her, at a time when she was grieving, a man came to her house claiming that her husband was not actually dead and could be brought back to life.

“One person came and said, my husband is not dead. We should take him to the mortuary and he will resurrect my husband,” she recounted.

The bizarre suggestion left those around her stunned, with her son eventually intervening to have the man removed from the house.

Mrs Amissah-Arthur said the incident was one of several unusual experiences she encountered after her husband’s passing, revealing that bereaved families can become vulnerable to people who seek to take advantage of their grief.

She noted that some people may approach grieving families with questionable suggestions or claims, knowing that the emotional state of the bereaved can make them more susceptible.

“When you are bereaved, you are vulnerable. You are so vulnerable that if you don’t take care, people will push you to do things,” she said.

For this reason, she said it is importance to have trusted people around a bereaved person to provide guidance and help them make sound decisions during such a difficult period.

Mrs Amissah-Arthur also observed that some people visit bereaved families out of genuine concern, while others may simply come to satisfy their curiosity or gather information to share with others.

Reflecting on the wider cultural attitude towards death, she said society often avoids conversations about mortality, which contributes to the mystery and vulnerability surrounding bereavement.

The returnees, comprising 153 males and 27 females, including children and infants, arrived in Ghana on September 24, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to assist vulnerable Ghanaians stranded or seeking to return home.

They were received by the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, Mohammed Lawan Gana, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representatives of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

This was announced in a Facebook post by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

Speaking to the returnees, Mr Gana described their safe arrival as an important step towards rebuilding their lives and urged them to see their return as an opportunity for a fresh start.

He encouraged them to remain hopeful and make use of available support, particularly opportunities in skills development, entrepreneurship and livelihood assistance.

The repatriation forms part of continued collaboration between the Ghanaian government, IOM and ECOWAS to facilitate the voluntary return and reintegration of Ghanaian nationals living in vulnerable circumstances abroad.

The initiative also supports efforts to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration while ensuring that Ghanaians requiring assistance can return home safely and begin the reintegration process.

The returnees are expected to receive further assistance from relevant authorities and partner organisations to support their transition and wellbeing.

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The items presented included modern chop boxes, suitcase bags, pillows, and mattresses.

The support, which targeted fresh entrants to SHS, is intended to make the transition into secondary education smoother for students and their guardians, particularly during the demanding admission period.

The initiative forms part of the Assembly’s broader strategy to reduce the financial burden on parents while encouraging students in the district to take their studies seriously.

By providing essential boarding items, the Assembly hopes to ensure that financial constraints do not prevent hardworking students from pursuing secondary education and concentrating on their academic work.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Municipal Chief Executive, Prosper Addo, said the intervention was designed to ease the pressure on parents and guardians who often have to meet several school requirements within a short period.

He stated that the Assembly’s record of supporting education in the area remained unmatched, stressing that investment in young people was central to the future progress and development of Krachi West.

The MCE noted that although this year’s BECE results were characterised by several challenges, candidates from Krachi West performed relatively well.

He urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the support, study diligently, and make the district proud.

The MCE also cautioned the students against engaging in bad behaviour, drug use and other activities that could negatively affect their education and future prospects.

The Municipal Education Director, Samuel Yao Dovulo, commended the MCE and the Assembly for their continued support towards improving education in the area.

He described the presentation as timely, noting that it would help reduce the financial burden on parents and guardians.

The director of education further advised the students to avoid negative peer influence, remain focused and take their studies seriously.

Some of the beneficiaries, including students who gained admission to St. Monica’s Senior High School and other institutions, expressed gratitude to the Assembly for the support.

They pledged to make good use of the items, work hard and excel in their chosen schools.

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Mr. Anaba said the unions had made sustained efforts to engage government and resolve the issues through dialogue, but the delays had left teachers frustrated and feeling taken for granted.

The three major teacher unions, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), NAGRAT and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG), have declared industrial action effective Friday, September 25, 2026, following the failure to resolve their outstanding concerns by a deadline set for Thursday, September 24.

At the centre of the dispute is the delay in negotiating a new Collective Agreement, following the expiration of the existing agreement in June 2026.

The unions are also demanding the full placement of teachers who successfully passed their promotion aptitude tests in December 2025 and February 2026, together with payment of the associated arrears.

They have further renewed calls for the implementation of the 20 percent Deprived Area Allowance for teachers working in hard-to-reach communities.

The unions had earlier reached an understanding with government that promoted teachers would be automatically placed on their appropriate salary scales by the end of September 2026, with arrangements for outstanding cases to be handled through a supplementary payroll.

However, with the September 24 deadline passing without the issues being fully resolved, the unions say they have been left with no option but to withdraw their services.

According to Mr. Anaba, the continued delays by the relevant government institutions, including the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, demonstrate what he described as a lack of urgency in addressing teachers’ concerns.

He said the situation had created growing anger and agitation among teachers, arguing that teachers could no longer continue working while their outstanding conditions of service remained unresolved.

The unions have also raised concerns over what they say is the failure of authorities to implement previous decisions and directives relating to the Deprived Area Allowance.

The development is expected to affect teaching and learning in public basic and second-cycle institutions across the country as the unions press government to return to the negotiating table and resolve the outstanding matters.

The unions have maintained that their action is a response to what they describe as prolonged delays and failure to honour commitments made to teachers.

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The unveiling, held at the Devtraco Group headquarters, brought together homeowners, investors, business leaders, strategic partners, and other stakeholders for the official presentation of the development.

Located off Patrice Lumumba Street, Lotus comprises two 12-storey towers connected by a walkway and is positioned by the developer as a premium residential development combining contemporary living, wellness-focused amenities, smart-home technology and property management services.

Speaking to Adom News at the launch, Devtraco Plus Head of Sales Ewurabena Braye described the facilities at Lotus and said the company expects the apartments to appeal to buyers seeking luxury accommodation.

She also outlined what she sees as the project’s investment potential.

She said the development is approximately two minutes from Kotoka International Airport and within close proximity to embassies, international schools, business centres, hospitality facilities, and other amenities in the Airport Residential area.

She said Lotus features a range of amenities designed to support residents’ comfort and lifestyle, including a Zen garden, swimming pool, spa and wellness centre, gymnasium, rooftop lounge and a rooftop multipurpose sports area.

The development also incorporates smart-home technology, concierge services, secure access, car services, and on-site property management.

The Devtraco Plus Sales Manager Billy Tamatey said the development could cater to tourists, business travellers and other visitors to Accra, while also providing an opportunity for property investors.

He stressed that the long-term value of a property depends not only on its construction but also on how it is managed and maintained after completion.

Maintaining a property after construction is essential to preserving its value,” Tamatey said, while highlighting the development’s management and security arrangements.

He added that professional management could help ensure that the property remains properly maintained and attractive to occupants over time.

Devtraco Plus Development Director Sydney Quaye explained that the name Lotus reflects the thought and planning that went into the development.

According to him, the project was carefully planned to achieve the right balance between its size, design, functionality, and pricing.

He said the development was deliberately conceived to offer residents a premium living experience while remaining appropriately sized and competitively positioned within the market.

The launch of Lotus forms part of Devtraco Group’s 30-year history in Ghana’s real estate industry.

Devtraco Group Chief Executive Officer Francis Okoh said Lotus represents an important milestone for the company and reflects its evolving approach to premium residential development.

“Lotus represents an important milestone in our journey and a reflection of how our understanding of premium living continues to evolve,” Okoh said.

He said the company had approached the development with a focus on its location, architecture, amenities, and overall ownership experience.

“Our ambition is to create a landmark that reflects the expectations of today’s discerning buyer while carrying forward the quality and credibility associated with the Devtraco name,” he added.

The sanctions have not been decided, with all possibilities remaining on the table, and City are expected to appeal.

City have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges, according to sources briefed on the matter who spoke anonymously as they were not authorised to do so publicly.

A City spokesperson told The Athletic: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such, Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.

“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”

City’s statement in February 2023 said the club was “surprised” by the charges and it “welcomes the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position”.

How did we get here?

City were charged following an investigation into alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018, and referred to an independent commission to adjudicate over the charges. The investigation began after German newspaper Der Spiegel published leaked financial documents from City in November 2018.

City were accused by the Premier League of failing to provide accurate financial information and details of payments to players and coaches, as well as breaches of UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) regulations and the league’s own profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). The club have always denied the allegations.

City have won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and one Champions League under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour, whose Abu Dhabi United Group acquired the club in 2008. Six of those honours have come since the charges were brought.

In February 2020, UEFA, European football’s governing body, hit City with a two-year ban from its competitions and a €30million (£26.8m; $32.2m) fine following the Der Spiegel leaks but these were overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) five months later. CAS reversed the two-year ban because the alleged FFP breaches were either not established or time-barred — meaning under UEFA regulations, some of the alleged offences happened too long ago to be punished.

City, though, were found guilty of not cooperating with UEFA by failing to provide substantial amounts of evidence, a breach CAS said was “severe” and needed to be “seriously reproached”, leading to an £8.8m fine.

The Premier League and its chief executive, Richard Masters, have been repeatedly pressed on the City case since the charges were brought more than three years ago.

Last month, Masters acknowledged that the process had “taken longer than expected” but insisted the “only available route” was to “let the process take its course”.

In January 2024, Masters confirmed to a UK parliament select committee hearing that a date for City’s hearing had been set but refused to reveal it.

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, meanwhile, said in June 2024 that the Premier League should adopt a more “balanced approach” towards its financial regulations. “I think the Premier League got to where it is today by being the most competitive league. So, I hope there is a bit more sensibility in regulating,” Al Mubarak added.

During the period of the alleged breaches, City won the Premier League three times, the FA Cup twice, the League Cup four times and the Community Shield.

Last season, they won a domestic cup double in Pep Guardiola’s final campaign as head coach but fell short to Arsenal in the Premier League.

City were also at loggerheads with the Premier League over its rules relating to associated party transactions (APT) for several years, though they reached a settlement with the league in September 2025.

In November 2024, Guardiola signed a contract extension, running until June 2027, and said he would remain at the club even if they were relegated as a result of any sanctions handed down because of the charges. Guardiola, though, announced in May that he would leave City after 10 years in charge, and has since been replaced by Enzo Maresca.

Under Maresca, City have started the 2026-27 season with five wins from five games, and are first in the table. City spent £450m during the summer transfer window, including the addition of midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for a British record-equalling fee of £125m.

What sanctions could City face?

The potential punishments are outlined in rule W.51 of the Premier League’s handbook, with a range of potential options for the panel to consider if City are found to have broken the rules.

Sanctions range from a reprimand and fines to points deductions — and even expulsion from the Premier League.

Any points deduction could be applied when the decision is made or retrospectively, raising the prospect of City being stripped of titles.

“I would expect that if there is a points deduction, it would be applied going forward,” James Hill, a legal director specialising in sports regulatory matters at Onside Law, told The Athletic in 2023.

“Generally, panels don’t like deciding titles in a court process. Doing it that way does not give a real tangible punishment to the club.”
According to rule W.51.7, the panel could choose to combine any number of the punishments outlined in the rulebook or impose other sanctions they deem appropriate.

However, any punishment would need to be proportionate to the breaches in question or it could be overturned by appeal.

The school, which has no permanent classroom facility, has also been forced to allow some pupils to study outdoors, leaving them exposed to unfavourable weather conditions.

The situation, according to school authorities and pupils, is affecting effective teaching and learning and creating uncomfortable conditions for the children.

The headteacher, Cephas Kpevu, has appealed to the government, Pru East District Assembly and benevolent organisations to intervene and provide a befitting classroom block.

Speaking to Adom News, Mr Kpevu said a permanent facility would provide the pupils with a safer and more conducive environment for learning.

The school’s Management Committee Chairman, Anthony Keni, also appealed to the Pru East District Assembly, government and other stakeholders for support.

He said the community was prepared to contribute its quota towards improving the school if the necessary assistance was provided.

Some pupils also expressed concern about the conditions under which they study and appealed for the provision of classrooms to enable them to learn in a safe and comfortable environment.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this following a meeting between Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, and Morocco’s Ambassador to Ireland and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in Dublin, Dr Lahcen Mahraoui.

The meeting formed part of Mr Quayson’s official working visit to Ireland ahead of the planned reopening of Ghana’s Mission there.

The two diplomats discussed matters of mutual interest, including opportunities to strengthen Ghana-Ireland relations and promote closer cooperation among African diplomatic missions in Ireland.

The Ministry said the engagement reflects Ghana’s commitment to sustained dialogue and collaboration as it works to deepen diplomatic partnerships and advance shared interests.

The reopening of the mission is expected to provide a stronger platform for Ghana to engage with Ireland on areas of mutual interest.

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In an official statement, the company said the programme, which is supported by the Ghana Education Service (GES), remained “a legitimate school-support programme” designed to help parents and students obtain boarding essentials in a “convenient and organised way.”

EduPack is a programme that allows parents to have selected boarding items delivered directly to their children’s schools rather than sourcing them independently.

The programme has faced weeks of complaints, with some parents alleging delayed deliveries and difficulty reaching customer service, while the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTA) separately raised concerns that Prospectus Ghana Limited had not been authorised by GES to sell prospectus items or collect payments on schools’ behalf, and urged parents not to pay a reported GH¢1,617 for the package.

The company apologised for the delays and inconveniences, saying it was working to resolve all outstanding issues.

“We sincerely apologise to parents, students, schools and stakeholders for any delays, communication gaps or inconveniences experienced during the enrolment and service period. We acknowledge these concerns and are actively working to resolve all outstanding issues.”

It said some participating schools and registered parents had already received their packages.

“Many participating schools and registered parents have already been successfully served, and ongoing operational efforts remain focused on completing outstanding deliveries and claims as efficiently as possible.”

Prospectus Ghana Limited stressed that EduPack does not replace the Free Senior High School policy and has no bearing on school placement or admission, and warned parents and students not to pay through unauthorised persons or channels.

“No parent or student should make payment through unauthorized persons or unofficial channels. Any person misrepresenting the programme or attempting to defraud the public in the name of EduPack will be reported to the appropriate authorities.”

The company rejected false and misleading claims about the programme and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, thanking GES, schools and parents for their patience.

Meanwhile, GES clarified that Free SHS remains in force and that payment for boarding items delivered through EduPack should not be presented to parents as a condition for their children’s school placement or admission.

Parents with unresolved issues are being encouraged to contact the EduPack Customer Service Centre on 030 804 7934, providing their payment reference, their child’s name and the assigned school.

The events mark the successful completion of Phase 1 of the Joint Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire Land Boundary Reaffirmation Exercise, which was supervised by the Ghana Boundary Commission covering a total distance of 150 km.

The 37 newly constructed pillars, fully funded by the GIZ and the African Union Border Programme, with the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces as the project contractors, comprise 1 Terminus, 12 Main Pillars, 20 Intermediate Pillars, and four Border Crossing Pillars.

The first ceremony, held on Tuesday at New Town in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region of Ghana, commissioned the Terminus Pillar, the International Boundary Pillar that marks the end of the Ghana-Côte d’Ivoire International Land Boundary and the beginning of the International Maritime Boundary between the two countries.

The second, held on Thursday at Diby, an Ivorian border community adjacent to Yaakase in the Enchi general area of the Western North Region, commissioned IBP48, which serves as both a main and a border crossing pillar.

Speaking at the events, the Commissioner General of the Ghana Boundary Commission (GhBC), Major General Anthony Ntem, highlighted that newly constructed pillars reinforce the African Union’s vision of a borderless Africa where clarity over the territorial jurisdiction of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire will continuously serve as the backbone for cooperation between the two states.

“A borderless Africa does not mean an Africa without clearly defined boundaries. Rather, it is an Africa in which clearly defined and mutually respected boundaries facilitate the free movement of people, goods, and services; encourage legitimate trade and interaction; and create the certainty necessary for deeper regional integration.

“It is an Africa where boundaries connect rather than divide, and where clarity over territorial jurisdiction provides a foundation for cooperation from communities living along the boundary to the highest levels of government,” the Commissioner General noted.

Major General Ntem further noted that “the strength of a united and integrated Africa depends on certainty, trust, and cooperation among sovereign states, which clearly defined and mutually respected boundaries, established through delimitation, demarcation, and reaffirmation, provides.”

The Commissioner General thus urged all stakeholders to see the newly constructed pillars as markers of certainty, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence, providing a firm foundation upon which the historic ties between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire can continue to grow.

Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the National Boundary Commission of Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Diakalidia Konate, said that the reaffirmation exercise aims to make the International Boundary Line more visible.

He expressed the Commission’s appreciation to the members of the Joint Land Boundary Technical and Sub-Technical Committes for the work done during the first phase and encouraged them to show the same level of commitment and dedication to the process, as Phase 2 of the reaffirmation exercise is expected to commence later this year.

The German Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, HE Matthias Veltin, indicated the German Government’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at promoting African integration and cooperation.

This, he said, is one of the main reasons why the German Government has partnered with the African Union Border Programme (AUBP) through its implementing agency, GIZ, to support African countries in the demarcation, reaffirmation, and management of their common boundaries.

HE Veltin further added that “GIZ’s support in this respect aims to prevent conflict along the borders.”

He concluded by saying that African boundaries should not separate people. Rather, they should point to union and collaboration.

The Regional Minister for the Western North, Wilbert Petty Brentum, speaking on behalf of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, noted that newly constructed pillars symbolises the joint efforts of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to fulfiling the pledge made by both countries in 1964 when many African states agreed to maintain the colonially inherited boundaries.

Mr. Brentum further noted that Ghana prioritises its boundary reaffirmation and management because it provides government clarity to govern responsibly and inclusively.

He thus encouraged all participating stakeholders, most especially the leadership and residents of the border areas, to protect the boundary pillars and serve as strong ambassadors of peace, cooperation, and good neighbourliness between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

The successful completion of the Phase 1 Ghana-Côte d’Ivoire International Land Boundary Reaffirmation Exercise paves the way for the commencement of Phase 2, which will cover a total distance of 400 km under the supervision of the National Boundary Commission of Côte d’Ivoire.

The task force destroyed equipment found at the illegal mining site.

The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by the government to tackle illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, which continues to threaten communities and the environment.

The latest operation comes just days after a similar exercise was conducted at the same location, with NAIMOS officials returning to find illegal miners back at the site.

Some of the miners say it was their first time at the site and that they were there to earn their daily survival.

Among them is a 15-year-old only known as Bernard, who said he was brought to the site by someone to work and raise money to support his education.

Bernard, who is from Navrongo, said he arrived at the site and started work this morning.

Speaking to JoyNews’ Stephen Mensah on September 25, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, Spokesperson for NAIMOS, said the recurrence demonstrates the need for a permanent security presence at illegal mining hotspots.

“It’s not the first day of an operation like this. We got the indication they were here four days ago, and they returned again.”

He said the situation reinforces the government’s strategy of maintaining permanent deployments in areas affected by illegal mining.

“This basically affirms why the permanent deployment forms part of government’s core strategies.”

According to Mr Schandorf, the task force had already flushed out illegal miners from the area several days earlier, but their return demonstrates the difficulty of sustaining the gains of periodic operations.

“You saw when we arrived how all of them have put together their equipment, and then they are back at the very same place they were flushed out.”

He said the recurrence gives further justification to calls for a more permanent security presence.

“It gives credence to the Minister’s proposition that a permanent deployment is the way to go.”

NAIMOS says the government intends to invest more resources into permanent deployment arrangements to prevent illegal miners from returning to cleared sites.

Mr Schandorf also called for stronger local enforcement, arguing that communities with Police stations should be able to respond quickly to illegal mining activities.

“It shouldn’t even take NAIMOS to come all the way from the NAIMOS headquarters for some of these operations to be conducted.”

He said better coordination between local security agencies and national enforcement teams would help sustain the fight.

The NAIMOS spokesperson acknowledged the support of the police, National Security and other state agencies in the ongoing operations.

“The Police have been very cooperative. The National Security has been extremely supportive. All the relevant state agencies have been very supportive.”

He, however, said more effort is required from all stakeholders, including residents of affected communities.

According to him, local intelligence remains an important component of the operations, although communities are often divided over illegal mining because some residents benefit from the activity.

“There are those who are beneficiaries, and then there are those who are against the whole fight. And so it’s a divided front.”

Mr Schandorf said residents who oppose illegal mining have continued to provide information to the authorities, helping security agencies identify illegal operations.

He believes the persistent nature of galamsey means the fight cannot be left solely to national agencies.

“The illegal mining becomes an item of national concern.”

He said the presence of houses, shops and other activities close to illegal mining sites demonstrates how deeply the practice has become embedded in some communities.

NAIMOS says the latest Kyebi operation, including the arrests and destruction of mining equipment, is intended to disrupt the activities and prevent the miners from immediately returning to the site.

Also read:

• NAIMOS arrests 10 illegal miners, seize equipment near Gbinyiri

• Forestry Commission arrests 12 illegal miners in Atewa Forest

Today, that tradition is under threat. Across our Senior High Schools, dormitories are increasingly dominated by imported Chinese plastic chop boxes, which now sell for GHC 600 to GHC 800, while the durable, locally-made wooden chop box costs only GHC 250 to GHC 400.

We are literally paying twice the price to destroy our own economy.

The Wooden Chop Box: A Ghanaian Value Chain

The wooden chop box is not just wood and nails. It represents a complete local economic ecosystem. Its production sustains the timber seller at Sokoban Wood Village, the master carpenter at Suame Magazine or Anloga, the painter who inscribes the student’s details, the welder who reinforces the locks, and most importantly, the young apprentice – often a JHS graduate – who is learning a productive trade.

When a parent buys one wooden chop box, that GHC 300 circulates within Ghana for months. It pays rent, school fees, and food for at least five Ghanaian families. It is strong, lasts for three to four years, can be easily repaired, repainted, and passed on to a younger sibling. It is fully biodegradable.

The Plastic Chop Box: An Imported Liability

The Chinese plastic alternative offers none of these benefits. It is manufactured in China, imported fully finished, and sold by large-scale importers. It creates zero jobs for Ghanaian artisans.

Every GHC 700 spent on a plastic box is capital flight – money that leaves Ghana instantly. It is fragile; it cracks on tiled floors, its plastic hinges snap, and its locks fail. Unlike wood, it cannot be repaired by the local welder. When it breaks, the entire GHC 800 investment is thrown into the bin, eventually becoming plastic waste that will choke our drains and landfills for centuries.

The Economic Impact in Numbers

Let us be realistic. With over 150,000 students placed in SHS 1 annually, if just 100,000 of them opt for a plastic chop box at an average price of GHC 700, Ghana loses GHC 70 million every single academic year to China – on chop boxes alone.

That same GHC 70 million could produce over 200,000 wooden chop boxes, sustain more than 10,000 carpenters and their apprentices throughout the season, and keep all that wealth circulating within our local economy. We are exporting jobs and importing unemployment.

A Call for Rethink: Heads, Teachers, GES and Government

1. To Heads of Senior High Schools and Teachers:
   Some school authorities, in the quest for uniformity and neatness in dormitories, are subtly encouraging – and in some cases directing students to buy – plastic boxes. This is contradictory. We cannot teach patriotism and “Buy Made in Ghana” in Social Studies and Business Management, while practically banning Made in Ghana products in our dormitories. School policies must explicitly state that wooden chop boxes are allowed and preferred.
2. To the Ghana Education Service (GES):
   GES must review its prospectus guidelines. The official national prospectus should read: “Chop Box – Wooden (Locally Manufactured Recommended).” GES is championing TVET and skills development. It is illogical to train carpenters in our technical and vocational institutions while simultaneously collapsing their primary market by importing what they can produce.
3. To the Government of Ghana:
   Practical intervention is needed:

• Regulate Imports: Impose a higher import duty on plastic trunks and chop boxes, and channel the revenue into supporting local carpenter cooperatives.
• Modernize Local Production: Through the Ghana Enterprises Agency, provide soft loans and modern equipment to carpenter associations to produce improved wooden boxes – with waterproof paint, stronger locks, and even wheels.
• Enforce Buy Ghana: The Buy Made in Ghana agenda must move beyond exhibition halls and start from our school dormitories. If we can protect poultry and rice farmers through import restrictions, we must also protect our carpenters.

Conclusion

The facts are stark:

Wooden Chop Box: GHC 250-400. Lasts 4 years. Repairable. Supports Ghanaian families. Eco-friendly.

Plastic Chop Box: GHC 600-800. Lasts 1 year. Irreparable. Supports Chinese factories. Pollutes the environment.

Rejecting the wooden chop box is not a sign of modernity; it is a sign of economic self-sabotage. We are paying more to become poorer.

To all SHS heads, teachers, GES officials, and policymakers – it is time to rethink. If we truly want to industrialize and create jobs, let us start with the simple choices. Let us start from the chop box.

Buy Wooden. Build Ghana. Save Money.

The warning was issued during an engagement with leaders of 24 registered transport unions in the metropolis to discuss practical ways to make transportation in Kumasi safer, more organised and efficient.

The meeting, which forms part of KMA’s quarterly engagements with transport operators, focused on traffic congestion, terminal management, indiscriminate loading, destination indicators, road safety, and enforcement of transport regulations.

Addressing the unions, the Head of KMA’s Transport Department, Randy Wilson, said the engagement was necessitated by a recent General Assembly resolution to prepare for the Christmas season.

Mr Wilson was emphatic that charging fares outside the approved rates is a punishable offence and KMA will no longer be lenient.

According to him, the old regime where offending vehicles were merely impounded and made to pay a fine is over.

“It is known that collecting illegal transport fares is a punishable offence. In the past, any vehicle that did that was impounded and made to pay a fine. This time the Assembly has decided that we are going to prosecute the driver and we might even bring in the vehicle owner,” he warned.

He added that KMA will publish the names of drivers and vehicle owners who are prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

“Not only are we prosecuting, but we are also going to publish whoever flouts the rule and gets prosecuted so that it serves as a deterrent to all transport operators. It won’t be business as usual,” he stressed.

Revert to Old Fares – KMA Orders

Mr Wilson also directed all unions and routes that had unilaterally increased fares before the official 8% increment to immediately revert.

He explained that the approved 8% increment must be calculated on the existing, approved fare and not on illegally adjusted fares.

“Anybody or any route that has adjusted their fares before the new increment came is supposed to revert to what was supposed to be collected. For instance, if you were taking 5 cedis and you increased it to 6 cedis, if the 8% calculation falls within that, then it should be recharged. You cannot say the 8% increment is going to be calculated on the 6 cedis you put yourself up for,” he said.

He continued: “We will insist you calculate from the existing fare with the 8% increment, not the new one. So every station that tried to increase it, please go back to the old fare, apply the 8%, and then charge that fare.”

Mr Wilson warned that KMA task forces will be deployed across major terminals and loading points to monitor compliance, and any driver found culpable will have his vehicle arrested and prosecuted.

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Progressive Transport Owners’ Association (PROTOA) and leader of the 24 registered transport unions in the region, Joseph Mensah, declared the full backing of all unions for the Assembly’s arrest and name-and-shame initiative.

MMrMensah said the move is timely and necessary to restore discipline and sanity on the roads and in fare administration within the metropolis.

He blamed unregulated ‘trotro’ operators for the charging of unapproved fares and the worrying practice of short-short loading, where passengers are forced to pay multiple fares for short distances.

According to him, the activities of these unregulated operators are tarnishing the image of law-abiding transport unions and creating unnecessary tension between drivers and passengers.

He cited Regulation 146 of Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), which requires all commercial drivers and operators to belong to a recognised transport union, noting that many trotro operators currently operating outside the union system are responsible for indiscipline and non-compliance on the roads.

To address the challenge, Mr Mensah called on the KMA to issue and distribute official stickers to all registered commercial vehicles whose drivers belong to recognised unions.

“This will help to expose the trotro operators who are not under any union and are charging unapproved fares,” he noted, adding that the sticker system will make enforcement easier and protect passengers from exploitation.

The Regional Director of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Kwasi Agyenim Boateng, urged operators to prioritise compliance with road safety regulations to help save lives, noting that a safer and more efficient transport system requires collective effort.

Speaking on behalf of the mayor, the Metro Coordinating Director, Francis Dwira Darko, emphasised the importance of continuous engagement with transport operators to identify challenges and find practical solutions.

He reaffirmed KMA’s commitment to working with stakeholders to improve mobility and enhance the daily experience of commuters across Kumasi.

Also read:

• Mpraeso taxi drivers reject 8% fare hike as inadequate amid rising operating costs

• ‘Gov’t doesn’t understand our plight; 8% fare hike too small’ – Kumasi drivers

He says if human rights activists oppose a “shoot to kill” strategy, then security operatives should shoot to maim illegal miners instead. 

Mr. Jantuah made these comments against the backdrop of the excessive contamination of water bodies across the country, including the River Birim, which provides freshwater for residents of Akyem Apapam and its environs.  

Reacting to a video recording by the host of TV3’s NewDay, Joseph Ackah-Blay, on Friday, September 25, 2026, Mr. Jantuah suggested “shoot to maim” as the remaining alternative that could solve the canker after earlier calls for a “shoot to kill” approach were objected to by human rights activists.  

“I’m continuously saying because Ghanaians, we love our lives—if we are not going to shoot to kill, shoot to maim. That’s the only thing that would put [fear], make it better,” he stated.  

He added that the fear of permanently losing a body part would discourage individuals from engaging in galamsey.  

He further questioned why the government cannot place a two- to three-year ban on small-scale mining to properly restructure the sector. 

“They [NPP] tried, but they gave up. Why aren’t we banning small-scale mining for 2 to 3 years to put things right? No small-scale mining licenses—we ban it and restructure it properly. When Nana Addo tried, wasn’t the water turbidity coming back? But because of politics, what did he do? He stopped. Let’s ban it for two years and get everything in place. At least water bodies might recover,” he argued.  

Officials of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) say turbidity levels in the Birim River have reached up to 75,000 NTU, delaying any chance of restarting the Kyebi water treatment plant.  

Ackah-Blay, who visited the area, reported that some illegal miners have resorted to mounting roofing sheets by the roadside to shield their activities from motorists.

Mining continues openly despite reports made to the police and national security operatives, including operations taking place right behind a local police station. 

The training, organised by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) in collaboration with its private sector partner, was held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Stevens Hotel Conference Room in Ho.

It brought together 45 participants, including MTTD personnel from Ho and representatives of the Judicial Service, National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), National Insurance Commission (NIC) and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).

The session forms part of preparations to operationalise Traffitech-GH from October 1, 2026, in line with Regulation 242.

Participants were taken through the operation of the automated enforcement system, including road traffic offences and fines under Regulation 242, the implementation of Traffitech-GH and the process for contesting traffic violations.

The selected back-office team for the region also received practical training on the use of in-vehicle fixed cameras as well as handheld and tripod LaserCam4 speed cameras.

The police said the Ho training was the fifth and final session in a nationwide series of enforcement training programmes ahead of the October 1 rollout.

As part of the preparations, the Volta Regional back office has also been equipped with the updated Traffitech-GH software at the Regional MTTD Office in Ho.

The new system is expected to strengthen automated detection and enforcement of road traffic offences while improving coordination among institutions involved in road safety and traffic management.

The training also provided participants with an overview of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519) and the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1153).

Also read:

• Repeat traffic violations captured under TraffiTech could lead to licence revocation – ACP Obeng

• MTTD issues over 10,000 speeding cautions during Traffitech-GH trial

Abdulai Seidu and Karim Yakubu were asked by the presiding judge, His Lordship Livingston Lartey Yao Ameevor, why they could not stand upright when their names were called.

The two reportedly told the court that they had been subjected to beatings by police officers since their arrest and during their time in custody.

The court subsequently directed the accused persons to remove their shirts, allowing the judge to examine their alleged injuries.

The sight of wounds on their backs reportedly left the courtroom in shock, prompting the judge to immediately order the police to take the two men to hospital for medical attention.

Seidu and Yakubu were arrested by the Police Intelligence Department (PID) on August 18, 2026, at Kintampo.

The two, residents of Salaga in the East Gonja District of the Savannah Region, are being held in connection with investigations into a robbery on the Salaga-Bimbila highway.

The case follows investigations launched by the National and Savannah Regional PID into reported robbery incidents in the Salaga area.

According to information presented in court, the police arrested the two suspects at Kintampo after receiving information believed to be linked to the robbery investigations.

Meanwhile, concerns are growing among some residents over alleged police brutality against suspects and accused persons in the Savannah Region.

Some residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that several people had died following similar incidents of alleged brutality in the region.

However, the Savannah Regional Police Command has yet to publicly comment on the allegations.

Also read:

• NUGS demands probe into police assault on Techiman-Krobo nursing students

• Six injured, 4 arrested after alleged police assault on Kokrobite taxi drivers

The situation came to light when the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kwahu South, David Effah Osei Bonsu, popularly known as Ato Plane, visited the schools to assess the reopening and admission of students.

The affected institutions are Obo Senior High School, Mpraeso Senior High School, Asakraka St. Paul’s Senior High School, Bepong Senior High School, Obomeng Technical Institute and Asakraka Technical Institute.

The MCE’s visit was also aimed at identifying challenges confronting the schools as first-year students reported for the new academic year.

Speaking on behalf of the six institutions, Headmaster of Mpraeso SHS, James Afedu, said the admission process was progressing smoothly but expressed concern over the shortage of essential furniture and residential facilities.

He said the lack of beds had become particularly critical, with some students reportedly having to sleep on classroom floors.

Mr Effah Osei Bonsu acknowledged the concerns raised by the schools and said he personally witnessed some of the challenges during his tour.

He expressed concern about the conditions confronting students and assured the school authorities that the Municipal Assembly would engage the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to seek support for the provision of furniture and other infrastructure needs.

The MCE also pledged to follow up on the matter to help ensure that students have a conducive environment for both learning and boarding.

Also read:

• Kwahu West MCE commissions nursery, KG block at Nkawkaw Zongo Islamic School

• Kwahu-Daa pupils, residents fume as headmaster declares ‘death-trap’ school excellent

Malick Yalcouyé and captain Franck Kessié scored in Bouaké as the Elephants made a winning start to their qualifying campaign.

Ghana were without a number of established players because of injuries and personal reasons, prompting questions about whether their absentees had influenced the result.

Renard, however, dismissed the suggestion and pointed out that Ivory Coast were also missing several players.

“Why the players are not around, key Ghanaian players, this is not my issue. This is your problem, I would say,” Renard said after the match.

“We were missing five or six players as well. So we won this game, and that’s all.”

The French coach also resisted calls for Ghana’s defeat to be accompanied by explanations, insisting the result was what mattered to his team.

“It was the first game for the qualifiers of the Africa Cup of Nations 2027. The result is good for us,” he said.

“Now, if you want to discuss your players, we are not there about the penalty. For me, so many excuses.”

The defeat leaves Ghana needing a response in their second Group C fixture when they host Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, 29 September.

Ivory Coast, meanwhile, will look to maintain their winning start when they face Somalia in their next qualifier.