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ýInfinity970, a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to improve the lives and wellbeing of communities through communication, education, interaction and advocacy, recently embarked on a public education campaign on air pollution in Greater Accra.

ýSupported by Breathe Cities, Infinity970 engaged some schools in the Ayawaso Central Municipality centering on the causes and effects of air pollution.

ýStudents from the municipality attended the session with their teachers, in addition to representatives from the assembly.

ýEmmanuel Lamptey, a director from Infinity970, briefed the learners about the campaign and the effects of air pollution as well as its impact on the environment and the health of people. It was a moment filled with education, interaction, and inspiration.

ýStudents were guided through an eye-opening discussion on ‘Air Pollution and its Sources,’ with communication materials (i.e. TV advert, Radio Jingle and Poster/Billboard) from the campaign reinforcing the message.

ýStudents were also given the opportunity to bring their perspective on air pollution, leading to the clarification of some misinformation.

ýMr. Lamptey explained the number of air pollution cases on a daily basis, adding that a report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) Report in 2022, revealed that 28,000 people died annually from air pollution.

ýHe continued that polluted air was bad for human health, economies and the planet, adding that it affected most localities even though the details and complexities differed from community to community. It ranged from dust, fumes from burning substances, and waste disposal among others.

ýIn Ghana, he said air pollution was the second biggest threat to health.

ýNana Amoako, Head of Research at Infinity970, after the event, mentioned that the session was just one of a number of interactive sessions planned for communities, schools and municipal assemblies.

ýHe then encouraged stakeholders to contribute their support for air pollution prevention.

ýObiri Yeboah Givens, Environmental Health Officer, who represented Musah Abdul Samad, Municipal Environmental Health Officer for Ayawaso Central, advised the students not to pollute the air and also to educate anyone whom they saw polluting the air.

ýAlso present at the programme were Bright Delali Asiklu, School Improvement Support Officer and Emmanuel Asante, the Municipality’s SHEP Coordinator. Together, they set the tone for what became a highly engaging programme.

VICE PRESIDENT of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mark Addo, and General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo joined counterparts from the West African Football Union Zone B (WAFU B) for a high-level meeting with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to assess progress and discuss strategies for advancing football in the sub-region.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the 47th CAF General Assembly scheduled for today brought together top football administrators, including CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, 2nd CAF Vice President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, WAFU B President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, CAF General Secretary Véron Mosengo-Omba, and CAF Member Associations Director Sarah Makuna.

In his remarks, Dr. Motsepe praised WAFU B for its efforts in promoting football and reaffirmed CAF’s commitment to supporting the zone’s development.

He stressed the importance of collaboration and innovation to achieve sustainable progress at both national and regional levels.

Discussions centered on key development areas such as youth and school football, women’s football, refereeing and VAR training, coaching education, and infrastructure support. Member Associations provided updates on ongoing projects, challenges, and opportunities in their respective countries.

Representing Ghana, the GFA delegation highlighted priorities including AFCON qualification slots and formats for youth competitions, expanded women’s and youth football development programs, and improved coaching and refereeing training.

They also called for broader competition structures for both boys and girls at the grassroots and elite levels.

The meeting further explored issues of sponsorship, funding, and infrastructure, emphasizing the need for fair resource allocation and sustainable investment in football facilities across the region.

CAF reaffirmed its commitment to work closely with WAFU B and its Member Associations to implement practical solutions and accelerate football growth throughout West Africa.

President John Dramani Mahama says he will only declare a state of emergency based on advice from the National Security Council, as his administration intensifies efforts to combat illegal mining activities across the country.

Speaking during a dialogue with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and religious leaders at the Jubilee House last Friday, President Mahama stated that although the Constitution empowers him to declare a state of emergency, such a decision must be guided by expert security and policy assessments.

‘I have the power to do it, but the President acts not only on authority, but also on the advice of the National Security Council. As at now, the Council believes we can win the fight against galamsey without declaring a state of emergency. But the day they advise me otherwise – that we now need one – I will not hesitate to declare it,’ he explained.

The President’s comments come amid renewed calls from civil society, religious leaders, and environmental advocates for stronger government action to address the growing threat of illegal mining, which has devastated water bodies, destroyed farmlands, and endangered livelihoods in several mining communities.

Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, Most Rev. Anthony Narh Asare, urged the President to establish clear benchmarks that would trigger the declaration of a state of emergency if the crisis deepens.

‘Where we have gotten to now, we have to take a decisive decision on whether we are going to tolerate illegal mining activities or not,’ Bishop Asare said.

‘We urge Your Excellency to provide clear indicators that would justify a state of emergency, ensure visible prosecution of offenders, including those named in official reports, and consider establishing Fast-Track Courts to handle related cases,’ he added.

However, not all experts agree with the calls for a state of emergency. A security analyst, Colonel (Rtd.) Boakye, cautioned that such a measure might not be necessary at this stage, arguing that with enhanced enforcement and coordination among state agencies, the government can make significant progress without invoking emergency powers.

President Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to ending illegal mining and called for collective national effort in tackling the issue.

In a message shared later on his social media platforms, he urged citizens and stakeholders to remain vigilant and to hold his administration accountable.

‘In my meeting with Civil Society Organisations today, I reaffirmed my administration’s commitment to ending illegal mining. I made it clear that I am determined to win the fight, but I cannot do it alone. We need every Ghanaian – CSOs, activists, and traditional leaders – to join us in this battle,’ he said.

He added that the government’s ongoing deployment of security personnel and allocation of additional resources to affected areas would soon begin to yield results.

‘Our forefathers inherited a beautiful country blessed with lush forests and pristine rivers. We have a sacred duty to preserve this heritage for our children and grandchildren. We cannot, and will not, hand them poisoned water bodies and destroyed forests,’ he stated.

The Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association (COCOSHE) has commended the government for increasing the producer price of cocoa from GHS3,228.75 to GHS3,628.75 per 64kg bag for the 2025/2026 cocoa season.

In a statement signed by its National Chief Farmer, Alhaji Alhassan Bukari, the association described the GHS400 increment as a notable improvement that reflects the government’s responsiveness to the legitimate concerns of cocoa farmers across the country.

COCOSHE also lauded the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and the government for maintaining key interventions aimed at making cocoa farming more profitable, sustainable, and attractive to younger generations.

‘We highlight, in particular, the introduction of free fertilizers (liquid and granular), the forthcoming Ghana Cocoa Traceability System, and the planned Tertiary Education Scholarship Scheme for the children of cocoa farmers for the 2026/2027 academic year,’ the statement said.

The association further urged the government and COCOBOD to ensure the timely distribution of subsidized inputs to all eligible farmers across the regions.

It also called for increased investment in extension services and community-level education on the new traceability system to ensure farmers fully understand and benefit from it.

According to COCOSHE, the additional price adjustment, combined with broader sector reforms, presents an opportunity to rebuild trust and strengthen cooperation between cocoa farmers, COCOBOD, and the government.

‘We therefore urge all cocoa farmers across Ghana to appreciate and cooperate with the government and stay the course toward a more equitable and sustainable cocoa future,’ the statement concluded.

Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus produced another standout performance for Tottenham Hotspur, scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-1 victory over Leeds United that ended the home side’s 23-game unbeaten league run at Elland Road.

Kudus was instrumental throughout the match, setting up the opener before sealing the win with a superb solo strike in the second half.

Mathys Tel gave Spurs the lead in the 23rd minute when his deflected effort found the net, but Noah Okafor equalised for Leeds shortly before halftime.

The decisive moment arrived in the 57th minute as Kudus weaved past Gabriel Gudmundsson on the right wing and fired a precise low shot into the bottom-right corner, leaving goalkeeper Karl Darlow with no chance.

The result lifts Tottenham to second place in the Premier League, just one point behind leaders Liverpool, while Leeds drop to 12th after suffering their third defeat of the season.

Since joining Spurs, Kudus made an immediate impact, registering one goal and four assists in seven league appearances.

Kudus now turns his attention to international duty, joining the Black Stars for Ghana’s final two 2026 World Cup qualifiers against the Central African Republic and Comoros during the upcoming international break.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament has clarified the impression that the Kumasi Inner Ring Road Improvement Project is an initiative of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

According to the Minority, the initiative was conceived and negotiated under the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration.

In a statement signed by the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Roads and Transport Committee, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, the opposition said it welcomed the government’s decision to proceed with the project, describing it as ‘a hallmark of responsible governance.’

However, the statement stressed that the groundwork for the project – recently announced under a grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – was laid before the change of government.

According to the Minority, a JICA mission met with Ghana’s Ministry of Finance in February 2024 for technical discussions, followed by a Minutes of Discussions signed in September 2024, which ‘effectively sealed the deal.’

The formal signing, it said, had been scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in September 2025.

‘The grant arrangements and protocols were all completed by the NPP administration,’ the statement noted, adding that the project aims to expand capacity, reduce congestion, and improve safety on sections of the Kumasi Inner Ring Road.

The Minority urged the government to continue other key infrastructure projects started by the former administration, including the Suame Interchange, Sunyani Road Phase 2, and the Konongo Bypass.

‘For the people of Kumasi and the Ashanti Region, what matters most is not which government started a project, but continuity and delivery,’ the statement added.

After a five-day search, the body of a seven-year-old boy, identified as Kwame, who went missing at Abrepo Bronikrom in the Ashanti Region, has been found at Akropong, several kilometres away from where he was last seen.

The tragic discovery last Monday stunned search teams, who said they had not anticipated the boy’s body would travel such a long distance.

Kwame went missing five days earlier while playing in the rain with two other children. According to eyewitnesses, one of the children’s slippers was washed away by floodwaters, and Kwame was swept into a gutter while attempting to retrieve it.

Wayomi, a member of the search team, expressed shock over the development. ‘They are really surprised because they didn’t know that the body will go that far,’ he told reporters.

The remains of the deceased have since been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for autopsy. The family and the search team are awaiting the release of the body for burial.

The incident has left the community in deep grief, though the recovery of the boy’s body brings some closure to his family and neighbours after days of uncertainty.

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency in galamsey-affected areas to safeguard the nation’s water bodies.

According to the group, galamsey may not be contagious as COVID-19 but its long-term effects on health, the environment, and livelihoods are equally destructive.

FIDA is the latest body to call on the President to declare a state of emergency on galamsey to avert the devasting effect of illegal mining in the country.

Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference as well as some civil society organisations (CSOs) have called on government to take decisive measures in the fight against illegal mining in recent months.

The President, during an encounter with the press on September 10, 2025, rebutted calls on him to declare a state of emergency, indicating that his government had not yet exhausted measures in tackling the menace.

Last week, he told CSOs that he will not hesitate to declare a state of emergency if the National Security Council advises him that the time had come to do so.

FIDA Ghana Disagrees

FIDA Ghana, in an open letter signed by its President, Gloria Ofori Boadu, added its voice to calls for the institution of state of emergency in mining areas to protect the environment and individuals, especially women, who it says bear the heaviest burden.

‘Women who fetch water for households, farm food crops, process and trade in food and fish, or work and sell along the agricultural and gold value chains are directly endangered by the toxic chemicals used in small-scale mining,’ the letter noted.

It said anecdotal evidence suggests similar adverse effect on fertility, women’s reproductive health and foetal and child cognitive development.

‘Mercury and cyanide contamination threaten not only our health but also the very food security of the nation. Needless to say, we are all at risk,’ it said.

FIDA Ghana is therefore, calling on President Mahama to uphold the constitutional and international right to water-recognised by the United Nations in 2010 and enshrined in Article 33(5) of the 1992 Constitution-by declaring a state of emergency in galamsey-affected areas to safeguard our water bodies.

It is also calling for the immediate repeal of L.I. 2462 to permanently prohibit mining activities in forest reserves.

Again, the group wants the Ministry of Health and its agencies to urgently provide clear, nationwide guidance on how citizens can protect themselves from exposure to heavy metals in food and water.

It further called on the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to take decisive action to identify, warn against, ban, recall, and destroy local produce as well as bottled and sachet water found to be contaminated with heavy metals.

Finally, FIDA Ghana urged the Ministry of Agriculture, through its extension officers to conduct a comprehensive mapping of farming areas across Ghana, highlighting regions with elevated levels of heavy metals.

‘This must include full disclosure of associated health risks and provide the public with reliable information on how to access safe food sources,’ it added.

The management and staff of the Daily Guide Network on Saturday joined family, friends, and colleagues to commemorate the one-week observance of the late George Clifford Owusu, a long-serving entertainment journalist with the Daily Guide newspaper.

The solemn ceremony drew a large gathering of relatives, media practitioners, and figures from the Ghana’s creative industry who came together to celebrate the life and legacy of one of the nation’s most respected showbiz writers.

Staff of the Daily Guide Network, where Clifford worked for many years, turned out in full force to mourn their departed colleague, whose professionalism, warmth, and commitment to promoting Ghanaian entertainment left an enduring mark on the industry.

Among the many who attended were the Acting President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bessa Simons, who led a delegation from the union, as well as veteran musician Sly Collins, President of the Rastafarian Association of Africa Daddy Bosco Ahuma, and former MUSIGA President Bice Osei Kuffour, popularly known as Obour.

They joined other creative arts stakeholders in paying tribute to a journalist who, through his pen and passion, amplified the voices of Ghanaian musicians and helped shape the growth of the local entertainment scene.

Throughout his distinguished career, George Clifford Owusu established himself as a leading figure in entertainment journalism, admired for his factual reporting, insightful analyses, and unwavering dedication to truth and creativity.

His coverage of music, film, and cultural events consistently celebrated Ghana’s artistic talent, both emerging and established.

The one-week observance featured heartfelt tributes, prayers, and songs of reflection in honour of his life’s work and enduring influence on Ghanaian media and culture.

The final funeral rites for the late George Clifford Owusu will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Apenkwa Presbyterian Church in Tesano, Accra.

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the Ho Municipal has rolled out a special registration and renewal exercise with the aim of signing up at least 10,000 members during this year’s Asogli Yam Festival (Te Za).

The initiative, according to the Scheme, forms part of efforts to bring health services closer to residents of Ho and its surrounding communities.

To achieve the target, registration centres have been mounted at strategic locations, including the forecourt of Togbe Afede XIV’s Palace, Royal Hospital Forecourt, Ahoe Community Centre, and the Ho Municipal NHIS Office. An additional centre has also been set up at the grand durbar grounds to cater for festival patrons.

The Ho Municipal NHIS Manager, Saviour Amakpa, stated that the outreach exercise is expected to not only boost membership but also give residents an opportunity to directly engage with the Scheme.

‘This is a chance for people to register, renew, and at the same time learn more about how the Scheme operates,’ he stated.

The NHIS Volta Regional Accountant and Liaison Officer to the Asogli State, Mr. Raymond Boamah, emphasised the strategic importance of the festival.

‘The Asogli Te Za is one of the most significant traditional festivals in the Ho Municipality, making it an ideal platform to engage a wide audience. Our main goal is to increase membership, bring services to the doorsteps of our people, listen to their concerns, and educate them on our policies and innovations,’ he disclosed.

Aside from registration and renewals, the NHIS team will also distribute membership handbooks to improve public awareness of the Scheme’s benefit packages and processes.

By the close of the Yam Festival, the Authority is confident of achieving its 10,000 target, reaffirming its mission to expand access to quality healthcare for all Ghanaians.