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The Energy Commission has appealed to the media to intensify energy efficiency and conservation awareness creation.

‘We are appealing to the media to educate and motivate individuals and organisations to adopt energy efficient technologies and practices’, the commission indicated.

This came to light during a training workshop for media practitioners on the country’s new Energy Efficiency Regulations in Takoradi, the Western Region.

It was in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP,) the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP,) and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) under the AGORA project.

It was also part of a nationwide campaign aimed at engaging journalists on energy-saving practices and effective communication.

Assistant Manager, Energy Efficiency Regulations, at the Energy Commission, Hubert Zan, urged the public to adopt energy-efficient appliances to help reduce electricity bills.

He described the rising consumption of electrical appliances as urgent reasons for regulatory enforcement and increased public awareness.

He added, ‘The Commission found it necessary to educate the public and so we identified the media as one of the stakeholders when it comes to awareness creation’.

He pointed out that over the past years the Commission, as part of its regulations, started with the standards and labelling of three appliances including air-conditioners, refrigerators and lighting devices.

He said due to the successes chalked, the Commission has been able to expand the scope and with the approval of Parliament, come up with 19 more appliance regulations.

Manager of Energy Efficiency Regulation at the Energy Commission, Richard Donkor, explained that energy efficiency as using less amount of energy to get a job done without compromising on quality.

The Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana, Wael Fathy, has assured his outfit’s support to the Eco Technical Institute, specialised manufacturers of high-tech furniture, to enhance its production.

Speaking after touring the institution’s facility at Spintex in Accra, Ambassador Fathy applauded the leadership of the institute for its enhanced technical craftsmanship, emphasising that technical vocational training skills is the way to go.

‘It gives me great pleasure to visit Eco Tech today and all the projects. We are here to help the Ghanaian people and government to achieve success. Having toured the facility, I’m very impressed,’ he said.

He added that both nations have historical relations between them. ‘We are working towards facilitating visas between both countries, and we will train a lot of technicians to present their experience to the Ghanaian people,’ he stated.

His country, he went on, will help in capacity building of Ghanaians.

‘We have a lot of institutes and authorities in Egypt that are working in capacity building and training, so we are very keen to transfer our experience to our brothers in Ghana,’ he added.

He further mentioned that the new government in Ghana is doing a great job to enhance the economy as well as creating job opportunities for all Ghanaians.

Egypt, according to him, has expertise in the production of handicraft and the management of small enterprises, knowledge which he said his country would like to impart to Ghanaians.

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Eco Group of Companies, George Oti Bonsu, expressed optimism of the ambassador’s assurance to support the institution.

He emphasised that when support from agencies and government institutions are provided, more youth will be equipped with the training skills and this, according to him, will address youth unemployment.

Although Africa has contributed only 7% of global carbon emissions since the 19th Century, it remains the most vulnerable region to the adverse effects of climate change.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) estimates that seven of the ten countries at the highest risk are in Africa. Somalia, Chad, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria are among those countries. The impacts of climate change pose a significant threat to the region’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations.

Rising temperatures, droughts, and flash floods generate food insecurity, and growing economic inequality have increased poverty levels.

The situation is especially tough for micro and small businesses, as well as farmers across the continent. Given the increasingly present risk to African populations, Advans, a leading microfinance Group in Africa, has developed a climate strategy to support its MSME and farmer clients to build their capacity for adaptation and resilience.

This strategy encompasses both financial and non-financial solutions to help them recover from shocks and prepare for the future. Advans is piloting this strategy in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Tunisia, with plans to expand it to additional subsidiaries in the future.

Ghana has faced over 27 major floods in the past 30 years, with 15 of those affecting Accra, the country’s capital. It is reported that seven out of ten Ghanaians lack access to insurance, and 42% of the population remains excluded from basic financial services, leaving them without any means to recover from a climate shock.

Advans’ studies and client interviews have shown that in Tunisia, water scarcity is the most serious climate-related physical risk for farmers in the cereal, market gardening, and livestock sectors.

Meanwhile, in Côte d’Ivoire, climate change is heavily impacting the cocoa sector, with reduced rainfall, rising temperatures, and shifting of seasons having negative consequences on producers’ yield. Advans estimates that 22% of clients in its portfolio in the three pilot markets for the climate strategy are vulnerable or highly vulnerable.

Advans therefore aims to integrate climate risks directly into its operations and overall strategy. This approach first requires a thorough understanding of how climate risks affect the various geographies and sectors that Advans serves. It then involves developing financial products that help clients adapt and recover, while raising their awareness of climate challenges.

More specifically, Advans’ climate strategy is built around four key pillars:

Raising awareness among teams

Advans places great emphasis on building climate awareness among its management and staff, especially those who serve clients directly. Employees at all levels are trained on the causes and effects of climate change and how this will impact customers, enabling them to act as ambassadors in the field. Over 700 staff members across the group participated in the Climate Fresk workshop, and Advans is currently deploying online and classroom modules on climate risks and client awareness for field staff.

Evaluating the impact of climate change on its portfolio

Advans’ risk analysis aims to evaluate the following

i) Which climate hazards are going to impact the areas where its clients operate?

ii) To what degree each client and each sector is vulnerable to these hazards, and these two elements are then combined to determine a physical risk score.

This information allows the Advans Group to map climate risks in its portfolio and identify the climate hazards that will impact clients the most. For example, Advans’ work with Horus Development Finance has shown that around 25% of borrowers in Ghana are currently at significant or very high risk of flash floods.

Building the resilience of vulnerable clients through awareness and education programsme.

Advans supports its clients, who face flooding, droughts, or fires, through awareness and educational programmes. For example, Advans Ghana has been focusing on raising awareness about flood mitigation methods, distributing flyers with key advice, and sending targeted alerts via mobile and social media at the start of the rainy season. Advans Ghana has already reached nearly 20,000 users with this campaign via social media. Advans also has plans to launch specific client training programmes on climate adaptation practices for farmers in Côte d’Ivoire and Tunisia.

Adapting its products and services to help strengthen resilience in the long term

To help entrepreneurs manage emergencies and prepare for the future, Advans aims to better integrate climate considerations into its product design. Some of Advans’ services already support clients in building resilience; for example, 59% of farmers in Tunisia reported they were better prepared for a climate shock thanks to Advans loans (2024, 60 Decibels study with 280 farmers), but the Group wants to go further and ensure flexibility and quick response to climate events.

In Cote d’Ivoire, Advans has piloted an innovative index and yield insurance to protect cocoa farmers in case of extreme climate shocks, with over 2,300 farmers covered in 2024-25.

In Ghana, Advans is piloting a new insurance and loan package to help clients restart their businesses following an extreme event. The loan is available to clients with a good repayment history who need a new infusion of funds to recover after an event, and it includes coverage for losses, a grace period, a preferential interest rate, and flexible repayment terms.

In today’s rapidly evolving African economy, adaptability is crucial for success. This principle guides efforts to help small businesses and entrepreneurs recover from climate-related crises. Organisations like Advans have proven that financial inclusion in Africa can drive meaningful and sustainable change. This is a powerful call to action for others to join this vital journey. The roadmap is clear: let’s harness the power of microfinance to equip African businesses with the resilience they need to sustain their activities and keep growing in the face of climate challenges.

The Organising Committee of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 has updated its travel arrangements for the tournament.

Starting from today, nationals from four countries that do not possess biometric passports – namely Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, and Zambia – are now able to use the manual data entry option on the YALLA app.

This measure will allow them to obtain their Fan ID as well as their eVisa/AEVM (Electronic Travel Authorization to Morocco), a mandatory step before purchasing match tickets through CAF’s official ticketing platform.

The Organising Committee reminded prospective travelers that each FAN ID entitles its holder to one ticket per match, and it is mandatory to obtain a FAN ID via the Yalla app to purchase match tickets.

It said the official CAF ticketing website is accessible at: https://tickets.cafonline.com and the official website of Yalla app to obtain the FAN ID is https://www.yallamorocco.ma

It indicated that any other platform or application claiming to sell tickets is fraudulent and must not be used under any circumstances.

‘We wish to remind the public that, to better support applicants, a dedicated customer service line (+212 5 30 30 20 30) has been made available. It operates in three languages (Arabic, English, and French) and is operated by a dedicated team working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to answer inquiries and assist users.

Applicants may also contact the support team via email at: info@yallamorocco.ma

The Organizing Committee thanks all supporters, media representatives, delegations, and partners for their enthusiasm, and reaffirm his commitment to ensuring a smooth experience for all,’ the committee stated.

Manye Adjorkor, the Greater Accra Regional representative of the 2025 Ghana’s Most Beautiful (GMB) pageant reality show, as part of her thank you tour visited the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo.

Adjorkor, who placed fifth runner-up at the end of the show, paid the courtesy call to express gratitude to the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council and the minister for the weeks of immense support during the event.

She also called on the minister to provide her with the opportunity to help support the Ga-Adangbe community in making the region the best.

The minister, in response, applauded Adjorkor for her show of bravery throughout competition through her education of the masses on the cultural importance of the indigenous people of the Greater Accra Region.

Adjorkor, whose full name is Issabella Adjorkor Adjei, is a Koforidua Technical University graduate. Adjorkor has made a name for herself with her impressive performances, captivating beauty, and strong advocacy for education and cultural pride. She’s known for her elegant sense of style, both on and off the stage, and has gained a significant following on social media for her authenticity and charm.

PRESIDENT OF the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, on Monday, October 27, 2025, led a high-powered delegation from the Association to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, following her passing.

The GFA President was accompanied by Vice President Mark Addo, General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo, and Executive Council Members Samuel Aboabire and Eugene Noel Nobel. The delegation was also joined by the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams.

The visit, which took place at the Rawlings residence in Ridge, Accra, afforded the FA leadership the opportunity to commiserate with the bereaved family and extend their sympathies during this period of national mourning.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings passed away at the Ridge Hospital in Accra last Thursday at the age of 76.

She served as Ghana’s First Lady during both the military and civilian administrations of her late husband, former President Jerry John Rawlings, from 1979 to 2001.

A pioneering advocate for women’s empowerment and social development, Nana Konadu founded the 31st December Women’s Movement, which became a driving force for gender equality, community advancement, and national development.

In their message of condolence, the GFA leadership paid tribute to her remarkable legacy of leadership, advocacy, and service, noting that her contributions extended well beyond politics to impact the social and cultural fabric of Ghana.

The Association expressed its continued support and prayers for the Rawlings family, honouring the memory of a woman whose vision, courage, and compassion inspired generations across the nation.

Telecel Ghana has been honoured with the Best Human Resource Management award in Telecommunications and Information Technology at the 2025 HR Focus Africa Conference and Awards.

The award, presented by the Global HR Excellence Forum, recognised the track record of the telco in people-centered transformation and organisational excellence, and also its leadership in talent management, innovation and future-readiness.

The annual conference, held at the Accra International Conference Centre under the theme, ‘Equity, Innovation and Impact: Reimagining Work and Talent in Africa’s Emerging Future,’ brought together HR leaders and business executives from across the continent to discuss the evolving role of HR in an era of digital transformation.

Receiving the accolade together with the HR team, Telecel Ghana’s Human Resource Director, Rachael Appenteng, said the recognition further underlines the company’s devotion to talent development, diversity and inclusion practices.

‘This recognition only affirms our entrenched commitment and consistency in putting people at the center of HR innovation. We are proud to lead with purpose by developing a diverse talent pipeline, empowering our teams with innovative tech skills, and shaping a future where people, technology and performance grow together,’ she said.

Rachael also joined a panel conversation on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), where she emphasised the need for intentional leadership and inclusive workplace cultures that allow every employee to thrive.

The conversations and presentations centered on how organisations can leverage technology without forgoing empathy, equity, and human connection at the workplace.

The telco’s recognition follows its consistent track record as a Top Employer for seven consecutive years, driven by progressive policies, transparent leadership, and a commitment to workforce development.

Adding to the plaudits, Michael Awuku from Telecel’s HR team, was named among the top five nominees for HR Rising Star of the Year, highlighting the company’s investment in nurturing young talents.

Telecel Ghana continues to align its HR strategy with its broader mission of digital transformation and sustainable business growth, demonstrating that in a technology-driven world, people remain its most powerful asset.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has called on Ghanaians to refrain from actions that undermine the value of the Cedi.

The Minister who made the call during the launch of the Cedi@ 60 anniversary celebration in Accra yesterday, said it is important for the cedi to be protected as a nation’s currency.

He said the Cedi remains a vital symbol of economic independence and national pride adding that it does not only serves as a store of value and a medium of exchange that connects citizens and facilitates trade but also serves as a representation of the country’s sovereignty and heritage.

‘From the days of our first republic through to 33 years of uninterrupted democracy, the Cedi has remained resilient,’ he said. ‘Through periods of inflation, devaluation, redenomination, and recovery, the Cedi stands as a symbol of our national sovereignty.’

The Finance Minister emphasised that as the country celebrates 60 years of the Cedi, people must renew their commitment to safeguarding its stability while urging the public to avoid pricing goods and services in foreign currencies such as the US Dollar, warning that such practices weaken the local currency and harm the broader economy.

‘Let me remind everyone that the Ghana Cedi is our only legal tender,’ Dr. Forson stated firmly. ‘The US Dollar is not our currency. Continuous pricing of goods and services in Dollars only hurts us. Let’s stop it and protect what is ours,’ he stated.

Dr. Forson also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining fiscal discipline and ensuring a strong and stable Cedi. He said the Ministry of Finance remains dedicated to policies that strengthen the currency and promote economic growth.

‘As managers of the economy, we have remained steadfast in ensuring a stable Cedi. Our commitment to fiscal responsibility has helped strengthen the currency, and we intend to sustain those gains,’ he noted.

Dr. Forson further encouraged citizens to view the Cedi not as a burden but also as a badge of national pride and economic independence.

‘Let us protect it, trade with it, and defend it with all that we have. The Ghana Cedi is more than just money, it is our heritage,’ he added.

The anniversary launch, which brought together players in the banking industry, some past governors of the Central Bank, heads of commercial banks, ministers of state, some members of the diplomatic corps, members of the academia and several dignitaries, was held under the theme, ‘Cedi @ 60: A symbol of Sovereignty, Stability, and Economic Resilience.’

Former Board Chairman of Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Paul Adom Otchere, has filed an application seeking to quash a directive by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) which ordered him to declare his property and income.

The application, filed before a High Court in Accra, argues among others that the OSP’s directive issued on August 4, 2025 is unlawful, violates the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) and its regulations, and constitutes an abuse of power.

Paul Adom Otchere is under investigation by the OSP for alleged corruption and related offences regarding the award of a revenue assurance contract by the GACL to Evatex Limited.

He and two other persons were detained on July 31, 2025 by the OSP following an invitation for questioning by the OSP in relation to the contract, which the Office says it is examining possible procurement breaches, including a sole-sourced contract awarded to a company other than the one approved by the GACL Board.

Mr. Adom Otchere was later charged and granted bail, and as part of the bail terms was required to present two landed properties (of no specific value) registered in his name.

‘However, he has informed the OSP that he does not own landed property in Ghana. As a result, he remains in custody until the bail terms are satisfied,’ the OSP indicated in an earlier statement.

On August 4, 2025, the OSP wrote to Mr. Adom Otchere asking him to declare his income and property, urging him to ‘take note that you commit an offence if you fail to return the completed forms to the OSP within thirty (30) days of your receipt of the notice and if you intentionally or negligently fail to disclose any information.’

The OSP also threatened that any property or income not declared is liable to confiscation to the Republic.

The Good Evening Ghana host, through his lawyer, former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, wrote back to the OSP asserting that Mr. Adom Otchere is not a public officer and the fact that the OSP’s Act 959 ‘provides no basis for disclosure of property, funds or income, or confiscation of property, funds or income in a vacuum.’

Application

He has now filed an application before a High Court seeking to block the OSP from making him declare his property and income, arguing that the request was unlawful and flagrant abuse of the laws under which the OSP operates.

He also argues that nowhere in the laws governing the functions of the OSP and L.I. 2374 is he mandated to compel the declaration of properties and income by persons he is merely investigating, has not charged before court or has not obtained any orders compelling declaration of properties and income from the court.

‘That my former position as the chairman of the governing board of GACL to which the purported investigations relate, was not a public office, and in any event, the Office of the Special Prosecutor is not an office mandated by law to require disclosure of assets of public officers,’ the application further asserts.

He further argues that the OSP’s actions are arbitrary, an affront to the provisions of the law regulating the performance of its functions, and must be checked by the court.

‘That the threats of curtailment of my liberties issued by officers of the Respondent (OSP) as a result of my failure to fill the asset property and income declaration forms issued to me are clearly illegal and an assault on my fundamental human rights,’ the application pointed out.

He is therefore, seeking an order to quash the OSP’s directive as being in violation of due process and relevant provisions of Act 959.

He is also seeking a declaration that threats issued by the Special Prosecutor and his staff of ‘legal consequences’, ‘confiscation’ and ‘detention’ are unlawful and amount to harassment.

Again, he is asking for an order prohibiting the OSP from detaining him or in any manner curtailing his liberties or abusing his rights as a result of his refusal to obey the directive of the Office.

Wales football star Aaron Ramsey has increased a reward for information about his dog Halo, who has gone missing in Mexico, to $20,000 (£15,000).

The former Arsenal and Cardiff midfielder, who now plays for Pumas UNAM in Mexico City, said Halo was last seen in San Miguel de Allende, in Mexico’s Guanajuato region.

The beagle, who went missing on 9 October, was wearing a dog tracker collar and Ramsey shared a Google maps location of where she was last seen.

‘Any news about our Halo please contact us. Big reward for finding her. We are all praying she’s ok and can be back with us soon,’ Ramsey posted on Instagram.

The footballer first announced Halo had gone missing two weeks ago and has since posted several photos of the beloved pet on Instagram.

A $10,000 reward was initially offered but with no news of Halo’s whereabouts after a week Ramsey and his family doubled the amount.

‘We just want our girl back,’ he said in another plea on social media after the 10-year-old dog went missing.

The most recent photograph post is a black and white image of Halo snoozing, her head resting in the crook of Ramsey’s arm, with the caption: ‘What I’d do to hold you one last time Halo.’

Ramsey has also shared a message from his wife Colleen on social media saying they have some ‘serious questions’ surrounding the disappearance and worry the family ‘may never get answers’.

‘We still haven’t found Halo. I don’t think we ever will,’ his wife’s post read.

The Wales captain joined Mexican top-flight club Pumas UNAM earlier this year and made his debut in Liga MX in August.

The Caerphilly-born player is the first high profile British player to play in the Mexican league.