Category: Daily Financial Times

The 14th World Construction Symposium and the Sustainability Awards Scheme 2026, organised by the Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB), will be held at the Hilton Colombo, Sri Lanka on 10 and 11 July, bringing together the nation’s and the region’s leading minds in the built environment.

Jointly organised with the University of Moratuwa, the World Construction Symposium has become Sri Lanka’s premier international forum where research, professional practice and industry converge. Now in its 14th edition, this year’s symposium has attracted over 100 research paper submissions from around the world, reaffirming its reputation as a leading platform for advancing knowledge, innovation and professional excellence in the construction sector.

Complementing the symposium, the Sustainability Awards Scheme 2026 will honour organisations and professionals whose achievements are setting new benchmarks for excellence, innovation and responsible leadership within Sri Lanka’s construction industry.

These landmark events provide an exceptional opportunity for researchers, academics, contractors, consultants, developers, policymakers, and students to gain insights from internationally recognised experts, discover the latest research and industry innovations, build valuable professional networks, and be part of the conversations shaping the future of the built environment.

Musician, Mzbel, has responded to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital after the facility appealed to her to provide information to support investigations into claims she made about the death of her sister, Laila.

The hospital, in a statement issued on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, said it had taken notice of a video in which the singer alleged that her sister did not receive the emergency care she needed before her death.

Korle Bu said it treats all complaints relating to patient care seriously and has attempted to contact Mzbel and her family to establish the facts surrounding the incident.

According to the hospital, it wants to determine whether Laila was referred to the facility, whether she arrived there, and the circumstances under which she was treated.

The hospital also stressed that it has reinforced the government’s directive that no public hospital should refuse emergency patients and warned that any staff found to have deliberately denied emergency care would face investigation.

Responding in an Instagram post on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Mzbel said her sister was first taken to Ussher Clinic in Jamestown, where she was treated and later referred to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for emergency care.

She claimed that after arriving at Korle Bu, the family was told there were no beds available, forcing her sister to remain without admission until she died the following day.

According to Mzbel, her sister was initially given a plastic chair but later had to lie on the tiled floor because she was too weak to remain seated.

The musician further alleged that her niece was asked to buy prescribed medication and pay for blood, but despite complying with those requests, her sister was never given a hospital bed.

She also claimed that after her sister’s death, the family was asked to pay mortuary fees and that the medication and blood purchased for her sister were not refunded.

Mzbel said she decided to speak publicly because no family should have to experience such circumstances, insisting that her comments were not intended to damage the reputation of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

She added that the issue goes beyond her family’s loss, saying many Ghanaians have shared similar experiences of being turned away or waiting for treatment because of a lack of beds at public hospitals.

The musician called for improvements in Ghana’s healthcare system, saying every citizen deserves timely, dignified and compassionate medical care regardless of their social status.

Meanwhile, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has extended its condolences to Mzbel’s family and reiterated its commitment to conducting a fair and transparent investigation once it receives the necessary information from the family.

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIIT) has, in partnership with Ecobank, launched the Membership Value Programme (MVP) to give contributors and pensioners benefits beyond statutory pension.

The programme offers discounts on healthcare, retail, travel, hospitality and other essential services.

According to SSNIT, it is designed to make membership more rewarding during a worker’s active years and to encourage more people, especially those in the informal sector, to join the scheme.

Speaking at the launch in Accra yesterday, Director-General of SSNIT, Kwesi Afreh Biney, said the MVP forms part of the Trust’s broader transformation agenda to make social security more responsive to Ghanaian workers.

‘Social Security must evolve with the changing nature of work. It must improve experience, deepen trust and deliver practical value across every stage of life,’ he said. ‘Today, contributors want more than an institution that will show up at retirement. They want one that remains relevant throughout their working lives.’

He noted that while SSNIT remains committed to safeguarding retirement incomes, it must also create value before retirement. Under the MVP, members will be linked to a network of trusted partners offering discounts and other benefits to make membership more attractive and expand pension coverage.

‘If workers entrust SSNIT with their future security, then their membership should also feel valuable in the present,’ he added.

Managing Director of Ecobank, Abena Osei-Poku, said the partnership is a transformative step. Eligible members will receive a co-branded Visa prepaid card accepted in Ghana and abroad, with no issuance, annual or maintenance fees.

‘For young professionals, it creates opportunities to save while building a future. For families, it helps reduce the cost of living, and for pensioners, it offers greater purchasing power and convenience,’ she said.

Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, who represented the Finance Minister, described the initiative as forward-looking.

‘Pension is much like planting a tree. We nurture it patiently so that in the years ahead, it will provide security, protection and peace,’ he said, noting that the programme aligns with government efforts to strengthen the pension system and expand coverage.

Global oil prices surged more than 5% yesterday while stock markets retreated after renewed hostilities between the US and Iran shattered hopes that tensions in the Middle East were easing, prompting investors to reassess geopolitical risks and the outlook for global energy supplies.

Brent crude futures for September delivery climbed 5.3% to $ 78.10 a barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for August delivery rose 5.4% to $ 74.31 after US President Donald Trump declared that the ceasefire with Iran was ‘over’ following fresh attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

Global equity markets came under pressure as investors shifted away from risk assets. Dow Jones futures fell 351 points, or 0.7%, while S and P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures lost 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively. Europe’s STOXX 600 declined 1.5%, with oil and gas stocks the only sectors to post gains as higher crude prices boosted energy shares.

Asian markets were also broadly weaker. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 2.1%, South Korea’s KOSPI tumbled 5.4% to enter bear market territory, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index bucked the regional trend with a 3.2% gain. Mainland China’s CSI 300 slipped 0.3%.

The latest market turmoil followed a series of US strikes against Iran after attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. Washington also revoked a licence that had allowed Iran to continue selling oil internationally, while Tehran condemned the strikes as a violation of last month’s ceasefire understanding and vowed to defend its sovereignty.

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has called on the Government to honour its election pledge to release military-occupied civilian lands in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, arguing that demilitarisation and land restitution are essential to reconciliation, resettlement, and long-term peace.

In a statement yesterday, Rasamanickam said that although 17 years had passed since the end of the armed conflict, significant extents of privately owned civilian land remained under military occupation, delaying the restoration of normal civilian administration and undermining confidence among affected communities.

He noted that the National People’s Power (NPP), in its election manifesto, had pledged to expedite the release of civilian lands occupied by the military and facilitate the resettlement of displaced communities, and said the Government must now fulfil that commitment.

Rasamanickam welcomed the recent release of two military camps in Batticaloa following concerns he raised at the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Defence, chaired by President Dissanayake in his capacity as Defence Minister, but said the overall pace of land releases remained too slow.

He said continued protests in areas including Palaly, Myliddy, and Keppapilavu demonstrated that military occupation of land remained one of the country’s most significant unresolved post-war issues. He added that communities continued to stage peaceful protests demanding the return of their ancestral lands.

The MP also pointed out that voters in a Local Government ward in Palaly had backed NPP candidates at the recent Local Government Election largely on the Government’s promise to release occupied civilian lands, and said those expectations should now be met without further delay.

Rasamanickam said he had requested the Defence Minister to inform Parliament of the total extent of private and State land occupied by armed forces in each district of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, the extent of land released since the present Government assumed office, the balance that remains under military occupation, and a timeline for the release of all remaining occupied lands.

He also sought details of measures to complete land releases in Valikamam North, address ongoing protests in Myliddy and Palaly, restore public access to religious sites, schools, and other public institutions, release lands in Kilinochchi District, including those required for the expansion of the Karachchi Pradeshiya Sabha and the Department of Agriculture, and return the remaining civilian lands in Keppapilavu.

The MP further claimed that several longstanding grievances remained unresolved, including military occupation of land in Myliddy Harbour affecting around 700 families, lands in Palaly affecting about 300 families, land required for the expansion of the Karachchi Public Library, the Iranamadu Agricultural Research Institute, and 59.5 acres of civilian land in Keppapilavu.

He also disputed claims that alternative lands had been provided to affected residents in Keppapilavu, stating that only 44 individuals had been allocated temporary land at Seniyarmottai, while the Hindu cemetery at Kurumbaichitty also remained under military occupation.

Rasamanickam said he expected comprehensive, transparent, and time-bound responses from the Government, urging it to accelerate the release of occupied civilian lands and advance the demilitarisation of the Northern and Eastern Provinces in line with its electoral commitments.

Legal counsel for former National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive Officer, Hanan Abdul-Wahab, says his client prefers to stay in custody until the courts intervene, following what he describes as unlawful arrest and continued detention by state agencies.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 8, former Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, said Abdul-Wahab has lost faith in the Attorney-General’s Office, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), and would rather remain in detention until the judiciary upholds his fundamental rights.

‘If the Attorney-General, EOCO and BNI will not release our client in spite of the false charges against him, he has expressed the resolve to remain in custody until the courts, the only institution he places his faith in, upholds his fundamental human rights,’ Dame stated.

He described the arrest and detention as an abuse of power, and rejected a July 7 statement from the Attorney-General’s Office which he said sought to justify the arrest of Abdul-Wahab at the Accra International Airport on July 4.

According to Dame, the Attorney-General’s claim that it had filed an application to review the High Court order permitting Abdul-Wahab to travel was inaccurate.

He said checks at the court registry showed the application was only filed on July 8 at about 1:30 p.m.

The legal team also denied allegations that Abdul-Wahab attempted to withdraw money from a frozen account.

Mr. Dame said no valid court order freezing his client’s accounts existed at the time of the arrest, and challenged the Attorney-General to produce evidence such as a cheque, withdrawal slip or any document to prove otherwise.

‘Our client has not made any false or unlawful attempt to empty any frozen bank account,’ the statement said. ‘Neither EOCO nor the BNI has presented any evidence to support the allegation.’

Mr. Dame further argued that any previous orders freezing Abdul-Wahab’s accounts had lapsed after the Attorney-General withdrew earlier charges and filed new ones.

He also condemned new bail conditions set by EOCO – GHS5 million with two justified sureties – describing them as excessive and unreasonable. He noted that Abdul-Wahab was already on court bail and had been reporting to EOCO every two weeks.

According to Dame, the fresh conditions appear designed to keep his client in custody since he cannot meet them.

Arrest

Abdul-Wahab was arrested at the airport on July 4 despite a High Court order allowing him to travel to the United Kingdom for a medical appointment.

The Attorney-General maintains the arrest was connected to an alleged attempt to use false means to access funds in a bank account, an allegation his lawyer continues to reject.

The case has deepened tensions between Abdul-Wahab’s legal team and the Attorney-General’s Office, with both sides now headed for a court showdown over the legality of the arrest and detention.

Australia’s decision to ban social media for children under 16 has struck a chord with anxious parents around the world. The concerns behind it are real. Cyberbullying, addictive algorithms, online predators, unrealistic body images, and endless scrolling have left many children less healthy, less happy, and less connected than we hoped the digital age would make them.

Meanwhile, about 73% of teens in Australia are still reported to be on social media and the government is planning tougher measures against social media companies, according to a New York Times report. Why is it so hard to get children off social media.

Loss of physical social space

The uncomfortable answer to why children love social media so much is that society has steadily taken away the physical spaces where young people once formed friendships, experimented with independence, and simply spent time together. Parents worry about safety. Organised activities replace free play. Schools close their gates shortly after lessons end, and homes may feel like isolated prison cells for some children. Whatever the reason, for many adolescents, particularly in cities, social media has become a substitute public square.

Friendships are maintained through Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, or Signal because these are the only places where everyone can meet after school. Social media did not create the disappearance of children’s public spaces; it filled the vacuum left behind.

That does not mean today’s platforms are suitable environments for children. They clearly are not. Many have been deliberately designed to maximise attention, encourage compulsive engagement, and reward outrage rather than genuine relationships. Their business model is built around advertising and data collection, not child development.

The solution is not to expel children from their social space but to rebuild the physical space that children have lost.

Schools as safe social spaces for children

Imagine if every public school became a genuine community hub from dawn until dusk. School playgrounds, sports fields, libraries, music rooms, art spaces, and halls could remain open after classes, supervised by community volunteers or youth workers, and supervised by a teacher or two. Children would once again have safe places to meet, play sport, study, rehearse music, build robots, read books, or simply spend time together.

The all-day school concept in some form already exists in elite schools where children have many after-school activities from which to choose. However, In Colombo for example, a school in a poorer part of town would be deserted after school hours, children having returned home often to constricted spaces without much to stimulate them.

Repurposing schools as community spaces would be one of the most cost-effective investments governments could make in children’s wellbeing.

Will more physical social spaces counter peer pressure?

The biggest reason why Australian children continue with social media despite ban is peer pressure researchers have found. The compliers are seen as less popular students. Whether peer pressure to not-comply reduces or increases with a better physical social space, we don’t know. But at least children won’t face pressure in isolation at home, and they will have more options to socialise in real space.

Media and Information literacy training for all is essential

A recent research study by LIRNEasia found that Media and Information literacy to be effective in helping children manage misinformation in any media. Don’t always trust what media tells you, share your doubts openly with somebody you trust, stay curious and explore together are some of the messages they delivered in their training for a sample of students. The study revealed that MIL training was indeed effective. LIRNEasia recommends 1. Integrating MIL into formal education curricula 2. Reinforcing learning through follow-up sessions and 3. Developing targeted MIL content for other parents or caregivers.

Adults should question their own addiction to social media

Training for parents and caregivers should make them question their own social media use.

Much of the discussion assumes that children’s digital habits are a uniquely youth problem. They are not. Children learn from what they see. If parents spend evenings scrolling through phones, watching streaming services, or constantly checking notifications, children receive a powerful lesson about what normal life looks like.

Perhaps the most effective screen-time policy begins not with children but with adults. Parents too should limit their social media activity during family time, and family time may be considered as time from 6pm-10 pm on school days with schools or other community spaces serving as social spaces for children until then.

The debate should therefore move beyond the false choice between unrestricted social media and outright prohibition.

The real challenge is rebuilding the social ecology of family and childhood. We need spaces where children can socialise safely while parents also get time to be themselves, and then parents and children can have quality family time together, in the evenings on school days, for example. (Some parents may feel different, and they should be free to spend as much time as they want with their children.)

A future free of crime is the aspiration of every civilised society. Tax crimes are one category of criminal offences that exist within society. They undermine both developed and developing countries alike by weakening tax collection systems, destabilising a country’s financial system, and eroding public confidence in the broader financial sector. Tax crimes are also closely linked to other financial crimes, including money laundering, the acquisition of illicit assets, drug-related offences, concealed and high-risk investments, and the accumulation of real estate through unlawful means.

A crime is an act committed against society as a whole. A criminal offence constitutes an unlawful act or omission committed against society. In most countries, two essential elements must be established to prove a criminal offence: the physical element and the mental element. The physical element of a crime is known as actus reus, while the mental element is known as mens rea. To establish the physical element, it is necessary to prove the relevant act, omission, or surrounding facts. To establish the mental element, it is necessary to prove the accused’s knowledge, intention, recklessness, negligence, or carelessness. Accordingly, in prosecuting a tax crime, it is essential to establish both of these elements. Furthermore, every criminal offence must be proved fairly and beyond reasonable doubt..

The impact of tax crimes on society could be shown as above

Tax avoidance and tax evasion

Nobel prize winner economist Gary Becker first introduced theory of economic crime in 1968. It is apparent that tax avoidance and tax evasion occur in every country in the world. It is clear that this concept and practice should be based on legal considerations, When determining tax crimes the evasion is an activity commonly associated with the underground economy.

Tax Avoidance is the use of existing rules and regulations by taxpayers or organisations to evade paying taxes by taking advantage of unfair privileges. In this, loopholes, interpretations or other practices in the rules and regulations help in avoiding paying taxes. In this process bending of rules take in into action while breaking of the law is ineffective. Tax evasion is also caused due to complexities of the tax system, loopholes in the legislation, weaknesses in the tax administration process, misunderstanding of the legal system and other factors. Although they are not special concessions provided by the income tax law, taxpayers make use of them.

Tax evasion is considered an illegal method used to avoid or evade taxes payable to the Government. This is a prohibited and unlawful process. This could be pointed out as voluntary intentional violation of a known legal duty, use and presentation of false and misleading financial statements, making attempts to understate profits or the amount of tax payable, pretending tax liabilities by making false expense deductions, evading taxes by interpreting rules and regulations as different from existing rules and regulations, using trade miss-invoices as import and export processes, operating bank accounts in foreign countries without adhering to proper legal procedures, acquiring foreign property while concealing facts, and artificial understating of profits by giving profits or funds of business institutions to charity organisations , trusts or non-governmental organisations. Thus, tax fraud has been declared a criminal offense in many countries of the world not only because it gives the custody of the public finance system only to the Government, but also because it leads to the destruction of the country’s financial system.

Overall tax gap

Overall tax gap consists of two components. They are policy gap and administrative gap. Theoretically, both of these components lead to tax evasion it could be illustrated as follows.

Tax gap

The tax gap is the difference between the taxes that would be paid if all obligations were fully met in all instances, all taxes that are actually paid and collected. Sometimes it could be seen that the tax gap is the result of both intentional and unintentional actions. Tax non-compliance could be due to: Deliberate choices (such as hiding income or over-claiming deductions/credits, mistakes, ignorance of filling, reporting, and payment obligations Inability to comply etc).

Theoretical background of tax gap

Many countries in the world measure and analyse gap of an economy using various methods. Analysing of tax gap is a vital factor in forecasting revenue and also understanding the real problems of revenue Gap. Although these two approaches pave the way to analyse it, we must be able to deeply identify gap analysis of policy and compliance.

Top-down approach

Top-down approach reflects macro level data to identify nation’s economic activities. We usually need to aggregate national accounts data for this purpose. By using data we can estimate the tax base. This tax base could be used to calculate a theoretical value of tax that should be paid and collected by applying an effective tax rate. Then it is subtracted from the theoretical value.

We use indirect domestic taxes for this method.

Top-down methodology

Bottom-up approach

We use methods of direct taxes to evaluate and analyse bottom-up approach. In general, non-compliance is measured using a statistically representative sample of taxpayers that have been audited, which is then extrapolated to the entire taxpayer population to produce a tax gap estimate. This estimate of non-compliance is often based on data obtained from audits or surveys.

Bottom-up methodology

Ten global principles for fighting tax crimes

The OECD has introduced comprehensive guideline to fighting tax crime. This guidelines leads to format an acceptable framework for tax criminal investigation worldwide. by adopting these principles, any country can get much benefits in revenge administration.

1. Ensuring tax offenses are criminalised-there should be a legal framework in order to violation tax law as a criminal offence

2. Devising an effective strategy for addressing tax crimes-each jurisdiction should have a strategical framework in combatting tax evasion

3. Having adequate investigative powers-within the tax agency directly or powers available indirectly (across other law enforcement organisation)

4. Having effective powers to freeze, seize and confiscate assets-these methods help to disrupt criminal activities

5. Having a clear organisational structure with defined responsibilities-need a clear vision with accountability and transparency

6. Having adequate resources for tax crime investigation- for these, it is needed human resource, including training, infrastructure facilities etc

7. Making tax crimes a predicate offence for money laundering-predicted offence are crime that produce funds or assists which then may be laundered to obstruct illegal sources

8. Having an effective framework for domestic inter-agency co-operation-agencies can support each other in handling revenue protest mechanism

9. ensuring international co-operation mechanisms are available -there should be legal agreements and a good framework in inter agencies data sharing model

10. Protecting suspects right (ensure procedural fairness and rights are observed e.g. presumption of innocence).

(Source: OCED (2017), Fighting Tax Crime: The Ten Global Principles, OECD Publishing, Paris)

Tax evasion – A global problem

Whilst tax avoidance is legal tax evasion is not like other frauds it is difficult to evaluate how much tax evasion takes place. One measure is the ‘tax gap’ being the difference between the amount of income that should be reported to the tax authorities and the amount that actually is reported. Murphy (2011) calculated that the tax gap in 145 countries (covering 98% of the global GDP) amounted to 18% of global GDP (i.e. $ 1 in every $ 6 is not subject to taxation) and total amount of tax evaded was $ 3.1 trillion. The top ten countries by value of tax evaded are shown below and in each of those countries the value of tax evaded exceeded $ 100 billion.

Tax evasion – legal aspects

Tax evasion and willful element – From history

Tax evasions may take place in various forms depending on the nature of the economic activities of the taxpayers. Hence, every taxing statue introduces separate provisions to define tax evasions. Sri Lankan tax authorities also included certain definitions in relation to evasion when they introduced Income Tax for the first time with effect from 1 April 1932 by the Income Tax Ordinance No 2 of 1932. (Section 87(1)).

Tax criminal proceeding in Sri Lanka

Section from 186 to 193 in chapter xviii of the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017, it is clearly mentioned that the criminal proceeding for Tax crime. Act No. 10 of 2006 also stated some part of criminal Investigation on Tax crime. The Tax evasion and other proceedings are specifically stated in it. But in 2017 Act clearly identify major issues of Tax evasion and interpret it and some activities against criminal charges also.

The following sections denote the fines on conviction on guilty of an offence on Tax Evasion

Tax evasion – Sec. 189

A person who willfully evades or attempts to evade the assessment, payment or collection of tax or who willfully and fraudulently claims a refund of tax to which the person is not entitled, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding ten million rupees or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Impeding Tax Administration – Sec. 190

(1) A person who willfully impedes or attempts to impede the Department in the administration of this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million rupees or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a person impedes the administration of this Act if the person;

(a) fails to comply with lawful request by the official to examine documents, records, or data within the control of the person.

(b) fails to comply with a lawful request by a tax official to have the person appear before officials of the Department.

(c) interferes with the lawful right of a tax officials to enter into premises;

(d) fails to file a return.

(e) uses a false taxpayer identification member or a taxpayer identification number that does not apply to the person.

(f) refuses to allow the Commissioner General or authorised officer to inspect or measure land or refuses to deliver for inspection any map, plan, title deed, instrument of title or other document.

(g) makes a statement to a tax official that is false or misleading in a material particular.

(h) fails to comply with a notice issued under section 170.

(i) fails to maintain required records or

(j) Otherwise impedes the determination, assessment or collection of tax.

Failure to preserve secrecy- Sec.191

A person who contravenes subsection (2) or (3) of section 100 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million rupees or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Amendment Act No. 10 of 2021 introduced the following new section as Sec. 190A

Any person who fraudulently;

(a) prepares, any document or information,

or

(b) certifies a document

to be furnished to the commissioner- General, commits an offence under this Act, and on conviction after summary trial before a Magistrate, be liable to a fine not exceeding one million rupees or imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding six months.

Conclusion

Tax crime and tax evasion are global problems. Many activities around the world depend on economic growth and progress. Therefore, combating tax evasion at an early stage is a collective responsibility and an essential obligation for the benefit of future generations. Strengthening legal mechanisms, enhancing information sharing, improving coordination among Government institutions, and developing dedicated human resources are all essential to addressing this challenge effectively for the benefit of the country.

The Government is considering the establishment of a modern silicon-based industrial park, dubbed ‘Silicone City,’ in Nattandiya by utilising silica sand deposits located on National Livestock Development Board land in the Mahawewa Horakelle Wattha area.

Namibian referee Antsino Ndemugwanitha Twanyanyukwa has been appointed to officiate Ghana’s decisive FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying match against Senegal.

The crucial encounter will be played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, July 11, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 3:30 GMT as the Black Maidens look to book their place at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Twanyanyukwa will be assisted by Diana Chikotesha of Zambia as Assistant Referee 1 and Carine Atezambong Fomoo of Cameroon as Assistant Referee 2. Namibia’s Nuusiku Vistoria Shangula has been appointed as the fourth official.

Officiating appointments off the field include Sainabou Cham of The Gambia, who will serve as match commissioner, while Faith Uwugiaren Irabor of Nigeria has been named the referee assessor.

The Black Maidens head into the tie determined to make home advantage count as they seek a positive result against Senegal and secure qualification for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The match is expected to attract strong support at the Accra Sports Stadium, with Ghana hoping to continue its proud tradition of competing on the global stage at youth level.