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PRESIDENT OF the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has received a beautiful wooden carved traditional Asante stool, which is adorned with the official emblem of the Asante Kingdom.

The special gift was given to him by His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, when he paid a courtesy call on him at Manhyia Palace, in Kumasi, on Tuesday, as part of his three-day state visit to Ghana.

Nana Otuo Serebuo, the Asante Juabenhene, presenting the stool on behalf of his overlord, the Asantehene, informed the German president that the gift is significant and precious from the Asante king and his people.

In Akan societies, including the Asantes, a stool represents royalty, therefore the gift to the visiting German president is a strong indication that Asanteman and Otumfuo hold him in high esteem.

The Juabenhene stated emphatically that the beautiful stool represents authority and power, stressing that Otumfuo and his people were extremely delighted to host a top dignitary like the German president in Kumasi.

According to him, the German president’s historic visit to the Manhyia Palace, should strengthen the bilateral relations between Asanteman and for that matter Ghana and Germany, to benefit the two countries.

Meanwhile, before the presentation of the stool, Otumfuo and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had reportedly held fruitful discussions behind closed doors.

Sources at the Manhyia Palace informed the paper that the discussions between the two dignitaries centred mainly on commerce, technology, education and other key areas.

In a related development, Otumfuo also used the occasion to introduce some prominent businessmen in the country to the German president and his delegation.

The prominent businessmen that met and had pleasantries with the German president included Osei Kwame Despite, Dr. Ofori Sarpong, and Dr. Kwaku Oteng, among others.

The Asantehene, since his ascension to the revered Golden Stool of Asanteman in 1999, has been working assiduously to attract investors into the country to boost the national economy and bring relief to the citizenry.

In this regard, the platform that he offered to the Ghanaian businessmen to meet and have discussions with the visiting German president and his delegation, shows that Otumfuo has Ghana’s interest at heart.

The Islamic University College, Ghana (IUCG) and the Dagbon Kingdom yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance education in Dagbon and the Northern Region as a whole.

Signing on behalf of Dagbon on the campus of the tertiary institution in Accra yesterday was the Mion Lana Alhassan Mahama, Overlord of Mion on one side and Dr. Hassan Kamal Ezzat, President of the IUCG and witnessed by the Vice President of the university, Dr. Hussein Ibrahim (Academic Affairs).

Under the terms of the MoU, which became effective on the date of the signing, ‘the signatories herein mentioned as the President of the Islamic University College, Ghana and the Overlord of Mion, Dagbon, shall commit themselves individually and collectively to the success of the MoU.

‘The Islamic University College, which presently owns exclusive rights over assets and facilities as well as related intellectual property and human resources for the delivery of tertiary education, shall put them at the disposal of the MoU.’

The IUCG’s affiliate Senior High Schools (male and female) countrywide that assist it carry out education delivery and all these are available to service the MoU.

The IUCG and its affiliate institutions across Ghana intend to sustain education delivery to the youth of Dagbon and all citizens of Northern Ghana, and especially those who wish to acquire education and express desire through any of the royal houses of Dagbon or directly on their own.

The deal is also intended to rectify the serious anomaly of inadequate educational facilities and assist in the creation of grounds for transformation of education in Dagbon and the Northern Region in general.

Traditional authorities in Ghana, especially Dagbon and other groups, as per the terms of the MoU are enjoined to assist in the promotion of the IUCG by enrolling their children and wards, male and female, for education and future empowerment.

Traditional areas which send students to the institution shall be awarded attractive bursaries and other benefits.

The MoU is voluntary put together for youth education and empowerment, without any legal binding on both or any of the institutions involved.

Black Princesses head coach Charles Sampson has named a 20-player squad for the upcoming WAFU Zone B U-20 Girls’ Cup of Nations in Benin, scheduled from November 7 to 12, 2025.

The team features a strong domestic core, led by Dreamz Ladies’ trio Sarah Nyarko, Ivy Owusu Osei, and Precious Asante. They are joined by Black Queens forward Mary Amponsah, whose senior international experience is expected to provide leadership to the youthful side.

Ampem Darkoa Ladies contribute three players – Aishetu Awinimi, Diana Amoako, and Linda Owusu Ansah – while Jonina Ladies’ striker Agnes Yeboah earns a call-up after scoring a brace on the opening day of the Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League.

Hasaacas Ladies midfielder Rubby Osei also makes the squad, adding further depth and balance to the midfield.

The competition will be played in a round-robin format involving hosts Benin, Ghana, and Nigeria, following Niger’s withdrawal from the tournament.

Ghana enters the campaign as defending champions, having lifted the inaugural title on home soil in Kumasi in 2023.

The Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Brig Gen Maxwell Obuba Mantey, has emphasised the involvement of all stakeholders in combating the rising threat of drug abuse among young people in the country.

According to him, the fight requires effort from all in society to come together to ensure that the menace is curtailed dispassionately, adding that the fight against hard drugs is a whole-of-society duty, which requires schools, families, traditional authorities, alumni, and private partners working as an ecosystem of protection.

Brig Gen Maxwell Obuba Mantey, who was the guest speaker, made the comments at the Benkum Senior High School’s reunion and fundraising event for a physical education and fitness centre, held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at the school’s premises in Akuapem Larteh.

The event was mainly to raise funds to build an ultra-modern sports complex to nurture future leaders who are ‘mentally sharp, physically fit and emotionally resilient.’

‘The battle against drugs is not just NACOC’s responsibility. It is a shared duty, for schools, families, traditional authorities, alumni, and the entire community,’ Brig Gen Mantey stated.

He added that in Ghana today, substances such as tramadol, Red 225, synthetic opioids, cannabis and other new psychoactive substances are threatening the lives of the youth.

Brig Gen Mantey, a former school prefect of Benkum Senior High School, noted that NACOC has intensified its education and prevention programmes in schools and communities across the country to ensure that the advocacy against the indiscriminate usage of hard drugs among the youth, especially among students in schools, is achieved.

‘NACOC is mandated to implement preventive education, and I call on each of you, especially students, to be the first line of defence and remember that prevention is always cheaper and more sustainable than rehabilitation,’ Brig Gen Mantey stressed.

Students were urged to protect their minds and guard their ambitions by remaining focused on their education, to enable them to become useful in the society. ‘I challenge you to choose books over drugs, discipline over shortcuts, and focus over distractions,’ he added.

‘We must treat the hard drug abuse menace among the youth as a public-private partnership, where efforts must be put in place to turn the narrative into a force for sustainable youth empowerment,’ he pointed out.

The Chairman of the occasion, Mr. David Owusu, an alumnus of the school, urged students to abstain from all forms of nefarious acts that would impede their future aspirations but focus on their studies, to enable them to attain good grades.

The event was also graced by the Deputy Director-General of NACOC in charge of Enforcement, Control and Elimination, Mr. Alexander Twum-Barimah.

It has become a growing phenomenon where Ghanaian artistes will take a hiatus from the media space and re-emerge anytime they have new musical projects for promotion.

Musician turned content creator, The Headless YouTuber, real name Frederick Mattey, also known as Kula, has called for a paradigm shift from this phenomenon.

In a post on his X page, Headless YouTuber stated that this act is outdated, urging artistes to remain relevant in the media space to make it easier to market their projects within any given time.

‘Dear Artistes, that strategy of ghosting the media for months then doing 15 interviews in 1 week when you release a project is outdated.

‘To remain top of mind, you need to be in the news all year round. Even when you have nothing new to promote, remember you have some old stuff that are still worthy of promotion.

‘Thanks to social media, there are a million platforms you can be on all year round without necessarily repeating platforms. Don’t Ghost your fans. Put yourself out there. Sincerely, Headless YouTuber,’ he stated.

He further urged artistes to collaborate with content creators who have the tenacity to drive in social media numbers to stream their music among others.

‘Also, IG isn’t your private photo album or sacred grounds for decoration with only your pictures and videos anymore. That’s also outdated.

‘Accept collaborations with creators who create meaningful content with your work. It’s a way of promoting different creative angles of your work to your large audience. Keep your page always fresh with new content that you didn’t even pay for. It also encourages the creators to do more with your music, leading to even more promotion,’ he added.

Kula is a Ghanaian musician and YouTuber who initially gained recognition as a rapper, winning the Unsung Artiste of the Year at the 2019 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. Kula revealed his identity as the Headless YouTuber in January 2025, explaining that anonymity limited his professional opportunities and collaborations.

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has shut down five Chinese-owned warehouses at Anwia Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region for allegedly fabricating and stocking changfan machines and other equipment used in illegal mining, also known as galamsey.

The operation, led by the CEO of the EPA, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, followed a nationwide directive banning the fabrication and use of changfan machines, which have been identified as a major cause of pollution in Ghana’s rivers and water bodies.

According to Professor Klutse, the EPA discovered hundreds of changfan components and water pumps in the warehouses, which were originally registered as facilities for the storage and sale of spare parts for caterpillar vehicles.

‘The owners initially applied to sell parts for heavy-duty vehicles, but our investigations revealed that they had diverted into the manufacture and sale of changfan machines used in illegal mining,’ Prof. Klutse disclosed.

She added that documents seized from the warehouses confirmed that the Chinese operators were licensed only for spare parts trade – not for manufacturing mining machinery.

The EPA boss further hinted that similar operations would be replicated in other regions where illegal mining activities are rampant.

‘We are determined to protect our environment, rivers, and lands. The EPA will not sit idle while a few selfish individuals destroy what belongs to all Ghanaians,’ she warned.

Prof. Klutse noted that illegal mining continues to pose a serious threat to Ghana’s environment and public health. She lamented that despite several government interventions, activities of galamsey operators have led to the contamination of major rivers such as the Offin, Pra, and Ankobra, making water treatment costly and threatening the survival of aquatic life.

Environmental experts have long warned that if illegal mining is not curbed, Ghana could face an acute water crisis in the coming years. Many communities are already struggling with polluted water sources and degraded farmlands, leading to food insecurity and health problems.

The EPA says it will collaborate with other security and regulatory agencies to track down individuals and companies involved in the importation, fabrication, and distribution of changfan machines across the country.

‘When these changfan machines are impounded and destroyed, it will go a long way to reduce illegal mining activities,’ Prof. Klutse emphasised.

The agency is urging the public to report any suspicious manufacturing or sale of mining equipment in communities, to help protect the environment for future generations.

Actress and brand influencer, Adu Safowaah, has expressed her admiration for former Second Lady, Samira Bawumia.

The outspoken social media sensation disclosed her admiration for Samira Bawumia’s charisma and composure, as well as her ability to attract attention and audiences.

A video posted on Adu Safowaah’s Facebook page saw her exchanging pleasantries with the former Second Lady at a funeral ceremony, under the caption, ‘Her Excellence @sbawumia l tapped in your grace and power. God bless you. Hi Friends tap into Godmother’s grace.’

Samira Bawumia’s humanitarian work has earned her widespread recognition and admiration. As the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP), the former Second Lady has made significant strides in empowering women, promoting education, and supporting climate action.

Her dedication to humanitarian work has earned her several awards, including Ghanaian Women Association of Georgia Global Humanitarian Award, African Women of Excellence Award, Macron-Bibb County Award, GWAG Humanitarian Award, and Atlantic City Council Award among others.