Category: Daily Guide Network

The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has announced that the government will introduce biometric verification as part of Ghana’s SIM registration process before the end of 2026.

Mr. George made the announcement at the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday.

According to the Minister, Parliament has passed the Legislative Instrument (LI) on SIM registration, paving the way for the next phase of the exercise.

Under the new system, subscribers will be required to provide biometric information, such as fingerprints, as part of the registration process.

Subscribers are expected to be given a specified period to complete the verification, with possible sanctions for those who fail to comply.

The biometric verification system is expected to strengthen subscriber identification, improve the integrity of SIM registration data and help create a more secure telecommunications environment.

The sector minister said the government was committed to ensuring that Ghana’s regulatory framework kept pace with developments in the digital space.

‘The work is far from finished, and I will not pretend otherwise. But the direction is unmistakable, the results are measurable, and the resolve of this Ministry is unshaken,’ he said.

The new requirement comes after several challenges with the SIM registration exercise, which began in October 2021.

The initial process required subscribers to link their SIM cards to their Ghana Cards and subsequently complete biometric registration at the customer care centres or authorised agents of their network providers.

By October 2022, about 28.96 million SIM cards had been linked to Ghana Cards, representing 67.28 per cent of the total number of SIM cards issued. However, only 18.93 million, representing 44.28 per cent, had completed both stages.

The exercise officially ended on May 31, 2023, following several extensions. However, more than 10 million subscribers had only partially completed the registration process.

At the end of the exercise, telecommunications operators began blocking unregistered SIM cards, with MTN Ghana alone blocking about 5.4 million.

The Ministry and the National Communications Authority (NCA) have since acknowledged gaps in the previous registration exercise, particularly in achieving its objectives of reducing fraud and improving public confidence in communication services.

The new biometric verification system is therefore intended to ensure that SIM cards are linked to verified identities through biometric data, making it more difficult for individuals to use fraudulent identities to register SIM cards.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has blamed poor reading habits, grammatical weaknesses and the increasing use of informal social media language for the decline in candidates’ performance in English Language in the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Although overall performance in the 2026 examination improved compared with the previous year, English Language was the notable exception, with the proportion of candidates attaining grades A1 to C6 falling to 62.40 percent.

Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, said the decline was a source of concern, particularly as the subject continued to expose weaknesses in candidates’ command of written English.

‘The results have been an improvement on the previous year’s performance except for English Language, which saw a decline,’ he said in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM.

The latest performance represents a further drop in the pass rate for the subject. The proportion of candidates securing A1 to C6 declined from 73.11 percent in 2023 to 69.52 percent in 2024, 69 percent in 2025 and 62.40 percent in 2026.

According to Mr. Kapi, findings contained in the Chief Examiner’s report pointed to recurring problems with concord, spelling, grammar, comprehension and summary writing.

He said the situation was also linked to declining reading habits among students, with some candidates finding it difficult to respond appropriately to questions based on prescribed literary works.

Another concern, he said, was the growing influence of informal communication on social media, particularly the abbreviated forms and expressions commonly used in platforms such as WhatsApp.

‘They might only use the contracted forms as if they were the standard, and that is one area that is worrying,’ Mr. Kapi said.

He stressed the need for students to distinguish between informal online communication and the standard forms of English expected in academic and formal settings.

The WAEC official said stronger reading habits could help students improve their vocabulary, comprehension and ability to express themselves clearly in written examinations.

While English Language performance declined, WAEC recorded an improvement in Core Mathematics compared with 2025.

Mr. Kapi said candidates demonstrated strengths in areas including arithmetic progression, coordinate geometry and business mathematics.

However, he said weaknesses remained in translating word problems into mathematical statements and in some other areas of the subject.

In the 2026 examination, 60.75 percent of candidates obtained grades A1 to C6 in Core Mathematics, compared with 62.40 percent in English Language.

Former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on Ghanaians to remain tolerant and submissive to the will of Allah, citing the changing nature of power and life.

Delivering a speech at the 2026 National Maulid hosted by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, at Fadama, Dr. Bawumia reflected on how both he and President John Dramani Mahama have attended the same Maulid in different capacities over the years.

‘This gathering itself is a perfect example of the changing nature of life and the absolute power of Allah. I recall that I have attended this same National Maulid in different capacities – I attended as a Running Mate, then I had the honour of attending as Vice President of the Republic, and today, I am here as a Former Vice President,’ he told the gathering.

‘In the same vein, my senior brother, H.E. President John Dramani Mahama, who is represented here tonight, has also attended this Maulid as Vice President, then as President, then as Former President, and today, by the grace of Allah, he is back as President.’

Dr. Bawumia said these trajectories are a clear demonstration of Allah’s sovereignty, quoting Quran 3:26: ‘Say, O Allah, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. In Your hand is all good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.’

He urged Ghanaians to accept that ‘Today you may be up, tomorrow you may be down. Today you may have, tomorrow you may not,’ and therefore be patient.

Ghanaian media personality and publicist, Edward Aganesh, has been appointed as the new publicist for celebrated Ghanaian musician Sista Afia.

Aganesh will be in charge of the artiste’s publicity and media relations as she strengthens her presence in Ghana’s competitive music industry.

Aganesh is a versatile media and entertainment professional with experience spanning public relations, blogging, television presenting, acting, event hosting and film production. He has been associated with B.O Productions and previously worked as a props and set designer, and as a commercial model.

Interestingly, his professional background also includes training and work as a registered nurse.

He has been vocal about the importance of strategic publicity for artistes, noting in August 2025 that effective media promotion helps increase visibility, strengthen personal brands, engage audiences and create opportunities for recognition and financial growth.

He has also urged artistes to leverage the evolving digital media landscape, including TikTok, Snapchat, influencers, trends and viral content to reach new audiences.

With his new role, Aganesh is expected to use his experience to enhance Sista Afia’s visibility, coordinate media engagements and strengthen her relationship with the media.

Sista Afia has established herself as one of Ghana’s notable female musicians, and the appointment is expected to bring a strategic publicity push to her brand and upcoming projects.

The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has called on the media to intensify public education on online child abuse and help protect children from the growing threats associated with the digital space.

The Authority said children were increasingly exposed to cyberbullying, grooming, sexual exploitation, harmful content, privacy violations and other forms of abuse due to their growing use of social media, gaming platforms and messaging applications.

The Principal Manager of the Law Enforcement Liaison Unit of CSA, Theophilus Botchway, made the call during a two-day media training organised under the National Community Media Cyber Capacity Building Project (NCMCCBP), Kumasi Cohort.

The training was aimed at equipping media practitioners with the knowledge and skills to report effectively on cybersecurity, cybercrime and the protection of children online.

Mr. Botchway said the media had a critical role to play in creating awareness about the dangers children faced online while ensuring that reporting on such cases did not further expose victims to harm.

He explained that the rapid growth of digital technology had created opportunities for education, communication and development but had also provided criminals with new avenues to exploit vulnerable people, particularly children.

He therefore urged journalists to educate parents, children and the general public on online grooming, sextortion, cyberbullying, sexual exploitation and other emerging threats.

Legal Protection

Mr. Botchway pointed to provisions under the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), which criminalise various forms of online sexual exploitation and abuse involving children.

He cited Section 62, which criminalises conduct involving indecent images or photographs of children, including taking, producing, procuring, publishing, streaming or possessing such material.

Section 63, he said, also prohibits the use of online services or electronic devices to seduce, solicit, lure, groom or entice a child for unlawful sexual conduct.

He further cited Section 65, which addresses cyberstalking of children in circumstances involving attempts to arrange sexual activity.

According to him, the provisions demonstrated that protecting children online was not simply a matter of responsible parenting or technology use, but also a legal, human rights and public safety concern.

Responsible Reporting

The CSA official cautioned journalists against sensationalising cases involving children, warning that careless reporting could further violate the privacy and dignity of victims.

He urged the media to protect the identity and personal information of child victims and avoid publishing details, images or materials that could expose them to further abuse, stigma or trauma.

He said the media must strike a balance between informing the public and protecting vulnerable victims.

Mr. Botchway also called on journalists to practise preventive journalism by using cybercrime reports as opportunities to educate the public on how criminals operate and how potential victims could protect themselves.

He said stories on online fraud, phishing, impersonation, mobile money scams, romance scams and sextortion should explain the warning signs and steps victims could take to seek help.

Fight Fake News

He further urged media organisations to strengthen fact-checking mechanisms to prevent misinformation and disinformation from spreading through their platforms.

Mr. Botchway noted that false information was increasingly being circulated through social media, fake websites, manipulated videos, fabricated screenshots and artificial intelligence-generated content.

He advised journalists to verify sources, independently confirm claims and authenticate photographs and videos before publication.

He also urged them to distinguish allegations from established facts, give affected persons the opportunity to respond and promptly correct errors when they occur.

He said the responsibility was particularly important during elections, emergencies, communal tensions and financial crises, when false information could spread rapidly and cause serious harm.

Mr. Botchway stressed that the media remained a powerful tool for prevention and public education and should therefore use its influence to create a safer digital environment, particularly for children.

Disc Jockey, DJ Mensah, and Streetbeatz have clashed on social media over a disagreement about a $5,000 setlist fee.

A setlist is a list of songs an artiste, band or DJ plans to perform during an event.

The issue started on Monday, September 7, 2026, after Streetbeatz questioned DJ Mensah’s decision to charge him before providing a setlist.

He tagged rapper Sarkodie on X and asked him to intervene.

‘King Sarkodie, please let DJMENSAH1 know that demanding payment from me before providing your setlist is really unfair. We all have bread sitting somewhere for years now. Thank you,’ Streetbeatz wrote.

DJ Mensah responded by referring to a previous business deal between them.

He said Streetbeatz had earlier charged him $5,000 for production work.

‘I approached you about doing a few projects, and you quoted me $5K per production. I didn’t argue… I simply moved on,’ DJ Mensah said.

According to DJ Mensah, Streetbeatz later asked him for setlists for international shows, prompting him to charge the same amount.

‘I gave you the same energy… $5K per setlist. Now you’re online looking for public sympathy because business didn’t go your way,’ he said.

DJ Mensah also told Streetbeatz, ‘Massa shift,’ while accusing him of seeking public sympathy over the matter.

He further said Streetbeatz should use professional platforms that provide setlist information instead of contacting artistes, DJs and entertainment platforms.

Streetbeatz rejected Mensah’s argument and said the two transactions were different.

‘Asking me to pay you before providing a setlist so that I can properly register the works performed and ensure the appropriate rights are accounted for is, in my view, completely uncalled for,’ he said.

He explained that the $5,000 he previously charged DJ Mensah was for production services, while his request for a setlist was aimed at properly documenting songs performed and ensuring rights holders receive their royalties.

Streetbeatz also denied that he was looking for publicity.

‘Do I look like someone who needs five minutes of fame? I have absolutely no interest in creating publicity from this,’ he stated.

The family of Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, has dismissed rumours that the actress is pregnant, months after reports of a separation from her estranged husband, Senator Ned Nwoko.

The speculation started after Regina was recently seen at Nwoko’s residence spending time with their children.

Some social media users focused on her appearance and claimed that her protruding tummy was a sign of pregnancy. Others also suggested that her visit could mean she had reconciled with Nwoko.

However, Regina’s younger sister, Destiny Daniels, has rejected the claims.

In a post on her Instagram Story, Destiny explained that Regina was only visiting her children and had gained some weight.

‘Y’all should chill. She was granted a visit to see her children just last night. No, she’s not pregnant either; it’s called putting on weight. She’s still very much single for now,’ she wrote.

Her comments were aimed at clarifying that Regina’s visit should not be interpreted as a return to her marriage.

Regina Daniels and Ned Nwoko got married in 2019 and have two children together.

Their relationship has remained a subject of public interest following reports of marital problems and separation, with their public appearances and social media activities often leading to fresh speculation about the state of their relationship.

Ghana’s Black Princesses suffered a disappointing start to their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign after losing 3-0 to Ecuador in their opening Group match.

Ghana created the first clear opportunity through Agnes Yeboah, but her effort was parried away by the Ecuadorian goalkeeper. Ecuador responded immediately, taking the lead in the second minute after beating Ghana goalkeeper Najat Abdul Salam.

The South Americans doubled their advantage in the 16th minute, before Najat was forced off with an injury and replaced by Precious Asante.

The Black Princesses pushed forward in search of a way back into the contest, but they were unable to convert their chances as Ecuador went into the break with a 2-0 lead.

Ecuador added a third goal after the restart to complete a 3-0 victory and leave Ghana without a point from their opening fixture.

The Black Princesses will look to bounce back when they face South Korea in their second group game on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

The University for Development Studies (UDS) has held the investiture of Professor Mohammed Muniru Iddrisu as the institution’s sixth Vice-Chancellor.

The ceremony brought together academics, chiefs, development partners, government officials and other prominent personalities.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Mohammed Muniru Iddrisu pledged to lead the university with humility.

‘I therefore accept this office with profound humility, immense gratitude and a clear understanding of its demands. The robes, symbols and rituals of this investiture carry honour, but they also carry obligation. They remind me that leadership is never a private possession. It is a public trust, measured not by the prominence of the office, but by the lives improved, the opportunities created and the institution strengthened,’ he said.

Prof. Iddrisu outlined a vision to strengthen UDS as a world-class university that delivers quality education, advances innovative research and community development, and produces skilled, ethical and responsible graduates capable of addressing local and global challenges.

He said a vision becomes credible only when people can see how it will be pursued, and promised to enhance academic excellence and holistic student development through rigorous, relevant and responsive programmes, periodic curriculum review, strengthened quality assurance, improved teaching and assessment, and meaningful student support.

Prof. Iddrisu noted the importance of good governance, accountability and ethical leadership.

‘Transparency must be routine, not occasional. Decisions must be informed by evidence, responsibilities must be clear and resources must be managed prudently. Every member of the university community should be able to trust our systems,’ he stated.

On financing, he said the university will pursue financial growth and sustainability through carefully managed income-generating activities while recognising that public funding remains vital, and pledged to broaden the university’s resource base by mobilising alumni and philanthropic support, developing strategic ventures and ensuring that every initiative is professionally governed and aligned with UDS’s academic mission.

He called on staff, the governing council, chiefs, partners, students and the general public to give maximum support to his tenure to ensure the university achieves its goals of academic excellence and development.

Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, commended the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Professor Seidu Al-Hassan, for his leadership and service to the university community.

He urged the new Vice-Chancellor to lead with a listening heart and to bring positive change to the university community.

‘The symbol you have received today represents authority, but it also stands for service. Carry it with dignity, and may you lead with a listening heart and leave a legacy that earns the university’s trust. I congratulate you and wish you a peaceful and successful tenure,’ Dr. Apaak said.

He reaffirmed the Ministry of Education’s commitment to work with the governing council, staff and the entire university community to support national development.

Rapper Medikal has surprised fans after he was spotted worshipping at a church service on Sunday.

A video of the rapper at Spiritlife Revival Ministries has gone viral on social media, attracting mixed reactions from social media users.

In the video, Medikal is seen actively participating in the service as he sings and dances along with the congregation.

He wore black trousers, a purple shirt, a black waistcoat and a black necktie with a cross symbol.

The founder of Spiritlife Revival Ministries, Prophet Bernard ElBernard Nelson-Eshun, welcomed Medikal during the service and used one of the rapper’s popular lyrics while addressing the congregation.

Quoting Medikal’s line, ‘?y? ?mose m’ada’ (‘They think I’m asleep’), the prophet said, ‘I’m not asleep. If you’re a prophet and you sleep, you’re in trouble. As a spiritual leader, when you sleep, w’akyi gu h?.’

His comment attracted laughter from the congregation.

The prophet later officially acknowledged the rapper’s presence.

‘This morning in service, we have been joined by the one and only Medikal. I am celebrating Medikal. Thank you so much for taking the time to come around and join us in service,’ he said.