Category: Daily Guide Network

IT WAS culture, music, and mouth-watering food all rolled into one as the maiden edition of the ‘Oobake Experience’ lit up the Bukom Boxing Arena over the week.

The festival, curated by Naomi Naa Borley Larbi, CEO of Oobake Experience, drew a star-studded crowd and was graced by Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.

Dressed in a striking black and red smock, the Ga Mantse was warmly received by Naomi Larbi on arrival. The King commended the CEO of Oobake Experience for creating a platform to celebrate and promote Ga culture. In a special moment, the Ga Mantse offered prayers for his ‘daughter’ Naomi, blessing her life and her efforts to champion Ga heritage through the ‘Oobake’ initiative.

True to its promise, ‘Oobake Experience’ delivered an unforgettable fusion of Ga cuisine, live music, boxing, art and culture. The night was headlined by performances from music heavyweights including D-Black, EL, Jupiter, Cina Soul, Mzbel, Gasmilla, Mix Master Garzy, and Band Masters. The stage also came alive with acts from King Jerry, Nii Funny, Aluma, Patosia, Luther, Adotei Teto, and surprise guest appearances that had the crowd on their feet.

Cultural troupes added to the Homowo spirit with traditional dances, immersive art installations, and displays that celebrated the vibrancy of Ga heritage. Other dignitaries spotted at the event included Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) President, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, musician Sista Afia, and Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority, James Gardiner.

Organisers say the ‘Oobake Experience’ was designed to showcase the best of Ga food and culture while creating a modern festival feel for Ghanaians and visitors alike.

Tears and grief filled the forecourt of the State House in Accra on Saturday as family, friends, colleagues and loved ones gathered to bid farewell to late Ghanaian actress, Beverly Afaglo.

The actress was laid to rest following her funeral service, which brought together several personalities from the entertainment industry and government.

Among those present to pay their final respects were actors Majid Michelle, Yvonne Nelson, Jackie Appiah, Van Vicker, John Dumelo, Nana Ama McBrown and Irene Opare, as well as Abeiku Santana, Rex Omar, Obour and other friends and colleagues of the late actress.

The atmosphere turned particularly emotional when Beverly’s husband, musician Eugene Baah, popularly known as Choirmaster, broke down in tears while filing past his late wife’s body.

Visibly overwhelmed by grief, Choirmaster struggled to contain his emotions as the reality of Beverly’s death appeared to sink in, leaving mourners deeply moved.

Beverly’s sister, Royal Elorm, and her daughters were also seen in emotional moments as they mourned the actress and mother.

The funeral featured tributes from family members, friends and groups within the entertainment industry. The Ghana Actors Guild, led by actor Van Vicker, also paid tribute to the late actress, celebrating her contribution to Ghana’s film industry.

Beverly Afaglo died on May 24, 2026, at the age of 42, just four days before her 43rd birthday. Her husband and two children survived her.

She enjoyed a career spanning more than two decades. She was remembered for her performances in movies including Return of Beyoncé, Crime to Christ, Girls Connection, Never Again and Single Six.

Her death has left a deep void among her family, colleagues, friends and fans who continue to remember her legacy.

A thanksgiving service in her honour was held on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at Action Chapel International.

Two-time Guinness World Records (GWR) contender Afua Asantewaa O. Aduonum has been featured prominently on the renowned New York Times Billboard in New York City, Manhattan, USA.

The music marathon diva’s exploitation attracted the attention of the historical, famous and busiest intersections in the world, resulting in her capture on the massive digital screen.

In 2023, the polished ebony young lady made an audacious attempt to sing for five days continues in Accra, Ghana to break and set a world record.

However, she missed her target on technical grounds.

And daring as she is she attempted again a year on in Kumasi, Ghana’s second largest city.

And having domiciled currently in Canada due to consistent attacks from a section of people and cyber bully, she is considering a third attempt on foreign land.

‘It’s an honor for me, my country, team and all who have contributed to making the Afua Asantewaa (Singathon) brand what it is today,’ she said after the feature.

The New York Times Billboard platform captures photo, video, or brand displayed on a massive digital screen in one of the busiest, most famous commercial intersections in the world. It symbolizes elite celebrity or corporate status.

The Attorney General (AG) is working with United States authorities to initiate criminal proceedings against former government officials and Members of Parliament who benefited from an over $1 million bribery scheme hatched by convicted former Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Asante Kwaku Berko in the US.

A federal jury in Brooklyn found Berko guilty of charges relating to paying more than $1 million in bribes to Ghanaian government officials in connection with the development of a power plant in Ghana.

Court documents indicate how some beneficiaries of the illicit money referred to the expected bribe as ‘holy rains’ and were expecting it ‘sooner rather than later.’

Berko, a US-Ghanaian dual citizen, was found guilty on all counts of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), violating the FCPA, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The verdict followed a nine-day trial before United States District Judge Diane Gujarati, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a statement.

Several government officials as well as Members of Parliament were said to have received various sums of monies in the form of bribes from Berko between 2014 and 2017 in connection with the development and financing of a power plant project expected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in profits.

In the wake of the conviction, Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, disclosed on social media that his boss is ‘working with his United States counterparts to bring to book persons who are implicated in the bribery scheme related to the 2014-2017 power plant development contract between a Turkish energy company and the Government.’

Conviction

Berko, 52, faces up to 30 years in prison and has been remanded into lawful custody pending sentencing.

Court documents reveal that Berko and his co-conspirators paid and conspired to pay bribes to individuals at various levels of the Ghanaian government to ensure that Aksa Enerji Uretim A.S. (Aksa), a Turkish energy company and Goldman Sachs client, secured the contract to build and operate the power plant.

Prosecutors told the court that in April 2015, Berko and his co-conspirators discussed paying $1 million to Ghana’s Minister of Power, who was responsible for securing key approvals for the project, and a further $250,000 to the minister’s senior adviser.

Bribes were also paid to five Ghanaian officials during an all-expenses-paid trip to Turkey to inspect equipment for the proposed power plant.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) indicated that after the power plant agreement was ratified by the Ghanaian Parliament in July 2015, Berko and his co-conspirators exchanged detailed emails discussing additional bribe payments.

The Department said that in August 2015, the group discussed payments totalling $250,000 to various individuals, including $46,000 allegedly paid to members of the Ghanaian Parliament, who had ratified the agreement between Aksa and the Government of Ghana.

It further stated that the conspirators referred to one expected payment as ‘holy rain,’ saying the recipient ‘would appreciate it sooner rather than later.’

According to prosecutors, Berko also sought to conceal the scheme from Goldman Sachs by misleading the firm’s compliance team responsible for reviewing the transaction.

Berko is said to have used his personal email account instead of his official Goldman Sachs email to discuss the project and the bribe payments, while directing his co-conspirators to do the same.

The DOJ further indicated that Berko and his associates concealed and laundered the illicit payments through shell companies, sham invoices, nominee account holders and cash withdrawals.

Payments linked to the scheme were routed through US and foreign bank accounts. Goldman Sachs eventually withdrew from the deal over corruption concerns.

Ghana’s Black Meteors have stepped up preparations for their upcoming U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with head coach Desmond Ofei continuing to assess players ahead of the qualifiers.

The first group of players, largely drawn from the Ghana Premier League and Division One League, held another training session at the University of Ghana Stadium on Saturday, August 8, 2026.

The ongoing exercise forms part of the domestic phase of the team’s preparations, as Ofei and his technical team work to identify the best players for the campaign.

Foreign-based U-23 players are expected to join the squad once camping arrangements are finalised.

The qualifiers are set to begin during the September international window, but Ghana have received a bye and will enter the competition at the next stage in October.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is yet to announce the pairings and official schedule for the qualifying rounds.

The Black Meteors will be determined to progress through the qualifiers and secure qualification for the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, which will also serve as the pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

With Ghana having missed out on recent Olympic football tournaments, Ofei will be hoping the current preparations lay the groundwork for a successful qualifying campaign and ultimately help restore the Black Meteors to the Olympic stage.

THE ASANTE Mampong New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region, has lost an influential member of the party in the constituency.

Beatrice Owarewa Siaw, the NPP Council of Patrons Member in Asante Mampong, reportedly, gave up the ghost on Saturday, sparking melancholy in the party.

Meanwhile, the exact cause of her untimely and unfortunate demise remained sketchy.

The paper has been informed that Beatrice Siaw, also known as Nana Yaa, passed on at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, on Saturday, August 8, 2026.

According to reports, Nana Yaa’s death has come as a shock to the entire NPP fraternity in the Ashanti Region and Asante Mampong in particular, especially her numerous supporters.

Nana Yaa, an astute businesswoman and a philanthropist, was said to have a strong interest in contesting for the Asante Mampong Member of Parliament (MP) seat on NPP ticket.

As part of efforts to realise her ambition, she is reported to have contributed significantly towards the transformation of Asante Mampong over the years.

In one of her recorded videos that the paper has sighted, Nana Yaa mentioned numerous developmental projects that she had undertaken in Mampong with her own coffers.

She also explained that she is a philanthropist, therefore she was committed to playing significant roles to help accelerate the development of Mampong, for the people to benefit.

In a related development, scores of NPP members in Asante Mampong have expressed condolences to the bereaved family and the party over the death of Nana Yaa.

The annual Homowo (hooting at hunger) Festival has officially begun in Accra, with chiefs and members of the Ga community taking part in a colourful traditional procession through some of the city’s main streets.

The celebration featured traditional music, dancing and cultural performances as residents and visitors gathered to witness the historic observances.

A major highlight of the ceremony was the traditional sprinkling of Kpokpoi, a ritual that forms an important part of the Homowo celebrations.

His Royal Majesty, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, joined other traditional leaders and members of the Ga community for the ceremony as the Ga State marked its cultural heritage and celebrated its historic victory over hunger.

The sprinkling of Kpokpoi is performed in remembrance of ancestors and symbolises the Ga people’s triumph over famine. It also serves as a reminder of the community’s history and traditions.

Homowo, which means ‘hooting at hunger,’ is one of the most significant festivals celebrated by the Ga people.

Beyond its traditional significance, the festival brings families and communities together while providing an opportunity to showcase Ga culture, strengthen communal ties and promote the preservation of indigenous traditions.

The youth of Huniso in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region, have appealed to the government to renew the mining lease of Gold Fields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa mine, when it expires next year.

According to them, although no mining company is without environmental and social challenges, claims that Gold Fields has contributed nothing significant to host communities is factually untrue.

The residents argued that the mining firm has provided and continue to provide vital local employment, fund community infrastructure, as well as support local businesses.

They have, therefore, called on the authorities concerned to ignore the narrative being pushed by some opinion leaders under the guise of ‘local ownership’ and ‘shared prosperity’.

They asserted that the move by some traditional leaders in the area was a calculated manoeuver aimed at hijacking a vital national asset for private gain.

The Huniso Youth, who were joined by their colleagues from adjoining communities, including Tebe, Abekoasi and Samahu, in a press conference, called on the government to disregard what they termed as ‘self-centred agenda’ of some opinion leaders.

Prior to the press conference, the residents, clad mostly in T-shirts with the inscription ‘Gold Fields Must Stay’, marched through the principal streets of Huniso amidst brass band music.

They later converged at the area’s community centre to organise the press conference.

Addressing the media, spokesperson for the youth, Nana Kwesi Ansah, noted that the Tarkwa mine is a world-class, deep open pit requiring hundreds of millions of dollars in continuous capital expenditure.

‘To suggest that an untested wholly Ghanaian-owned company or state vehicle can suddenly step in and maintain the scale, safety and operational efficiency of the Tarkwa mine, is an illusion,’ he stressed.

He disclosed that through the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, the company has invested over $109 million directly into host communities, delivering projects including the 33-kilometre asphalted Tarkwa-Damang road.

He also mentioned the construction of over 10,000 capacity Tarkwa and Aboso (TnA) stadium, scholarship scheme for the local youth, construction of community water projects, health facilities and some agricultural initiatives.

‘So to pretend that these multi-million dollar legacy projects do not exist, simply to manufacture a justification for denying a lease extension, is a bad-faith bargaining,’ he alleged.

Nana Kwesi Ansah however, called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to use the renewal process to demand a stricter, legally binding Community Development Agreement (CDA).

He also suggested that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources should demand that the company completes the Health Training School it has started and other economically viable projects.

‘We also expect that the lease extension guarantees job security, technical training and prioritise local recruitment for the youth of Apinto,’ he stated.

He pointed out that foreign direct investment, when properly regulated and held accountable, remains the surest driver of sustainable industrial growth.

An 89-year-old man, Kwaku Opoku, has been burnt to death after he was trapped in a fire that gutted a house at Aputuogya in the Ashanti Region.

The incident occurred at a five-bedroom house with digital address AT-1140-4270, near God’s Way Maternity Clinic.

According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the fire affected two of the four self-contained bedrooms in the house.

A combined team from the Regional Sub-Station and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Fire Station responded to the distress call and managed to bring the fire under control.

During the firefighting operation, the personnel discovered the body of the 89-year-old man in one of the affected rooms and retrieved it.

The blaze has also left the other occupants of the house displaced.

The GNFS is expected to establish the circumstances that led to the outbreak of the fire as part of its investigations.

The Founder and General Overseer of Hope In Christ Power Ministry at Atwima Akyeremade, Rev. Emmanuel Agyapong, has described men, particularly fathers, as the spiritual security of their families, urging them to take up their responsibilities as prayerful gatekeepers.

According to him, God has strategically placed men as the watchmen and gatekeepers of their families, making it imperative for them to protect their households through prayer, discipline and strong spiritual leadership.

Rev. Agyapong made the call when he spoke as the Guest Speaker at the climax of a week-long Men’s Fellowship Revival organised by Fire Trinity Ministry International (FTMI) at Atwima Aburaso in the Ashanti Region.

The programme was held on the theme, ‘Fathers as Spiritual Gatekeepers: Standing in Prayer for Our Families,’ with Ezekiel 22:30 as the main scripture.

The passage speaks about standing in the gap, and Rev. Agyapong said it underscored the responsibility of fathers to intercede for their families and ensure their spiritual wellbeing.

He said God had positioned men as the ‘headline’ of their families and chief spiritual security officers, and therefore they must have clear visions for their households and remain focused on their God-given responsibilities.

He urged fathers not to allow distractions, negative influences or challenges to prevent them from providing the spiritual direction their families needed.

‘As spiritual gatekeepers, you must be prayerful and protect the family. You must not allow anything bad to happen to your family,’ he admonished.

Faith In God

Rev. Agyapong further urged the men to have unwavering faith in God, stressing that human experience and abilities alone could not guarantee victory over life’s challenges.

Making reference to Luke 8:22-25, where Jesus and His disciples encountered a storm while crossing the sea, he said the incident demonstrated the importance of having the presence of God in the midst of difficult situations.

He noted that Peter, being an experienced fisherman, could have relied on his professional experience to overcome the storm, but the situation showed the limitations of human knowledge and expertise.

He, therefore, encouraged the congregation to put their faith in God rather than relying solely on their abilities.

‘In this life, without the presence of God, we cannot do anything,’ he said.

Power Of The Holy Spirit

The preacher also stressed the importance of the anointing and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.

He explained that the spiritual forces recognised the presence of Jesus because of the anointing upon Him, adding that evil forces bow before those who are filled with the Holy Spirit.

He consequently urged the men to deepen their relationship with God and strengthen their prayer lives, to enable them to effectively perform their roles as spiritual gatekeepers.

Women Must Support Husbands

Rev. Agyapong also called on women to support their husbands in their roles as spiritual heads and gatekeepers of their families.

He said such support would enable husbands to effectively pursue and fulfil their God-given assignments, while contributing to the building of stronger and spiritually grounded families.

He encouraged couples to work together in prayer and ensure that their homes remained places where faith, love, discipline and godly values were nurtured.

Afum Thanks Members

The Chairman of the Men’s Fellowship, Deacon David Afum, a DAILY GUIDE reporter, expressed appreciation to members for their active participation and commitment throughout the week-long revival.

He said the success of the programme was the result of the collective efforts and dedication of members.

Deacon Afum prayed for God’s continued protection and guidance for the men and their families, asking God to strengthen them to fulfil their responsibilities as fathers and spiritual leaders.

The revival was hosted by Apostle Dr. George Amoako Alhassan and featured teaching, prayer and spiritual exhortation aimed at strengthening the faith and leadership responsibilities of men.

The programme sought to equip fathers and other men to become stronger spiritual leaders and intercessors for their families, with Ezekiel 22:30 serving as the central scriptural foundation.