Category: Daily Guide Network

The Greater Accra representative of Ghana’s Most Beautiful (GMB) 2026, Lamiley, took home the ultimate ‘Star Performer’ title in last Sunday’s show.

Themed ‘My Region,’ the first episode of the 20th anniversary edition of the pageant saw the 16 contestants educating viewers on the uniqueness of their regions.

Lamiley embodied the true authenticity of the Ga people.

Beyond the bustling city lies a rich cultural heartbeat, Lamiley told viewers as she revealed a Greater Accra where heritage and modernity exist side by side. She also spoke on the benefits of tourism and festivals to the Ga people.

Lamiley made a grand entrance to Nii Funny’s hit song ‘Ga Vibes,’ featuring Mzbel. Her high-energy and rhythmic dance got the audience on their feet and left the judges impressed.

After her performance, Resident Judge Janet Sunkwa-Mills applauded Lamiley for staying true to her culture and self.

Born Paciencia Naa Lamiley Boye, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Theatre Arts and a Master’s degree in Information Technology Law, reflecting her passion for both creativity and intellectual excellence.

Known for her eloquence, knowledge, and intentional approach to life, Lamiley is deeply passionate about using her voice to inspire and create meaningful impact.

A true pageant enthusiast, she believes the stage is a powerful platform for culture, leadership, and transformation. Through Ghana’s Most Beautiful, she hopes to celebrate the rich heritage of Greater Accra while championing purpose, service, and excellence.

Former Minister for Power under the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, has distanced himself from any involvement in the bribery scandal that led to the conviction of the former Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Asante Kwaku Berko, in the United States.

Dr. Donkor, in a statement issued by his legal team, indicated that he has never met the former Goldman Sachs banker, neither demanded money from him nor received any personal benefit connected with the negotiations.

‘Our client instructs us in very crystal clear language that he has absolutely no knowledge about the allegations linked to him. He completely and emphatically denies any knowledge of a request or demand for any money as alleged,’ the statement said.

The statement acknowledged that Dr. Donkor was the Minister for Power for the period the alleged bribing of government officials occurred, when the government of Ghana was negotiating with Turkish company ASKA Energy to generate more electricity for Ghana during the power crisis popularly known as Dumsor.

It said a technical team comprising representatives of power sector stakeholders travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, during the negotiations to conduct what they describe as ‘regular practice of pre-shipment inspection.’

‘According to our client, at no point in the course of this negotiation did he once set eyes on the said Mr. Asante Berko nor has he since,’ the statement pointed out.

The statement further pointed out that Dr. Donkor never met Mr. Asante Berko all his life; he never discussed any personal benefit of any value whatsoever with him and ‘never authorised any person to discuss any such matters on his behalf; he never received any money in any denomination or any personal benefit of any value from Mr. Asante Berko or any other person.’

It also stated that any person or persons who may have made any such criminal demand in his name did so for that person or persons’ own benefit.

It added that Dr. Donkor does not understand that any evidence was led in the US trial which linked him with demanding or receiving any money, Cedis or Dollars or anything of value to him personally.

‘He does not accept that evidence that some other person or persons claimed that they required money from their principals for the benefit of ‘Senior Ghana Official’ or any other title holder metamorphosed into any evidence of criminality or wrongdoing against him,’ the statement added.

EOCO Probe

Meanwhile, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) says it has commenced the process of intensifying its investigation into the Ghanaian dimension of the bribery scandal.

EOCO in a statement said it is also tracing assets, where appropriate, of individuals named in US investigations and court proceedings that led to the conviction of Mr. Asante Berko who was found guilty of bribing some government officials and Members of Parliament (MP) between 2014 and 2017.

A federal jury in Brooklyn found Mr. Asante 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.’

Mr. Asante Berko, 52, faces up to 30 years in prison and has been remanded into lawful custody pending sentencing in November 2026.

Several individuals and Civil Society Organisations have called on the Attorney General (AG) and state institutions to pursue the matter and ensure Ghanaians involved in the bribery scandal are made to face the law.

There is already an indication of the Attorney General working with United States authorities to initiate criminal proceedings against former government officials and MPs who benefited from the bribery scheme.

The Office of the Special Prosecution (OSP) has also pointed out its involvement in the successful prosecution of Mr. Asante Berko, indicating that it provided investigation and evidentiary assistance to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States through Ghana’s established mutual legal assistance framework.

Asset Tracing

EOCO, in a statement, indicated that it closely monitored the proceedings in the United States and given the nature of the allegations and the international dimensions of the case, it considered the evidence emerging from the U.S. proceedings to be potentially material to determining the appropriate scope and direction of any comprehensive investigation in Ghana.

It pointed out that the Attorney General has subsequently directed EOCO to escalate its investigations as the relevant information and official records are obtained from the competent authorities in the United States.

‘The Office will examine, where supported by evidence, whether any proceeds, benefits, assets or property may have been derived from or connected to suspected criminal conduct and where the law permits, pursue the appropriate measures for their preservation, recovery and restitution to the state,’ EOCO said.

The anti-graft agency also pointed out that it intends to follow the evidence and financial trail, including any relevant transactions, beneficiaries, assets and proceeds that may fall within its jurisdiction.

It, however, emphasised that the conclusion of proceedings against Mr. Asante Kwaku Berko in the United States does not, by itself, establish criminal liability on the part of any person in Ghana.

‘Any individual whose name appears in evidence obtained through the international cooperation process will be assessed independently on the basis of the evidence relevant to that person and in accordance with Ghanaian law,’ it stated.

EOCO assured the public that its collaboration with U.S. law enforcement authorities and the Attorney General’s Office remains active, adding that it will not disclose sensitive operational information that could compromise ongoing investigations, the integrity of evidence or any future prosecution.

‘EOCO remains committed to following the evidence without fear or favour, identifying and investigating economic and organised crime within its mandate, and pursuing the recovery of assets and public resources where the evidence and the law so require.’

The Ghana Chamber of Clean Energy has launched an industry-led push for reforms to Ghana’s electric vehicle import regime, with the inauguration of its Electric Vehicle Working Group.

The meeting brought together key players across the country’s emerging electric mobility ecosystem to develop a coordinated position on fiscal policy and advocate for measures that will make EVs more affordable while supporting local industry.

Members of the Working Group include EcoDrive, Solar Taxi, Grace Mobility, Leasafric Ghana, Uber, the Importers and Exporters Association, as well as EV assemblers, importers, technology providers and other industry associations.

GCCE said the group was formed in response to the lack of a unified industry voice on electric mobility policy. Although government has announced policies to support EV adoption, high import duties and slow implementation of incentives continue to limit affordability and slow market growth.

Individual companies have engaged government separately, but GCCE noted that a coordinated approach is now needed to drive practical and fiscally responsible reforms.

Three Strategic Priorities

To guide its advocacy, the Working Group identified three priority areas. First, it will develop evidence-based proposals to reform Ghana’s EV import duty framework, draft recommendations to support Ghana’s growing EV assembly and manufacturing sector and build a single industry position to guide engagement with government on the design and rollout of electric mobility policies and fiscal incentives, including for two- and three-wheelers.

Speaking after the meeting, GCCE Lead for the Working Group, Emmanuella Biney, said Ghana has made progress in setting policy direction for electric mobility, but cost remains the biggest barrier.

‘Ghana has made important progress in setting the policy direction for electric mobility, and we’re seeing more companies investing in the sector,’ she said. ‘But for many businesses and consumers, the cost of electric vehicles is still too high. This Working Group gives industry the opportunity to come together, engage government with one voice, and help bring about the reforms that make electric mobility more affordable while supporting local industry.’

She added that the Chamber’s objective goes beyond duty reductions.

‘Our objective is not only to advocate for lower import duties. We want to work with government to design reforms that improve access to electric vehicles, strengthen local assembly and manufacturing, and build an electric mobility ecosystem that delivers cleaner air, creates quality jobs, and supports Ghana’s long-term socio-economic growth.’

Following the inaugural meeting, the Working Group will hold technical discussions over the coming weeks.

It will then begin direct engagement with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport, Ghana Revenue Authority, and other relevant government institutions and development partners.

Vivo Energy Ghana PLC, the exclusive marketer of Shell-branded fuels and lubricants, has marked its 2026 Safety Day and Awards at the Airport City Shell service station in Accra with a renewed call for preparedness across the petroleum industry.

Held under the theme, ‘Prepare to Respond,’ the event brought together employees, regulators, industry leaders, business partners and the media to reinforce the company’s commitment to Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Quality – HSSEQ.

Speaking at the ceremony, Managing Director, Christian Li, said safety must be deliberate, not left to chance.

‘The future of safety will not be defined by luck, but by preparation. Safety does not happen by accident; it is deliberate, disciplined, and a collective responsibility,’ he said.

He noted that Vivo Energy Ghana’s safety culture is anchored on its values of Safety, Excellence, Caring, Respect and Integrity, and reflected in over 5,600 ‘Goal Zero’ days with zero harm.

The theme was particularly relevant given recent industry concerns. Engagements by the National Petroleum Authority and the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies have highlighted tanker accidents, fuel siphoning at accident scenes, and the need for stronger safety practices in the downstream sector.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Environmental Protection Agency, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, commended Vivo Energy for its leadership. She said preparedness must go beyond emergency response to include prevention, compliance and environmental protection.

‘Preparing to respond means preparing to prevent. Together, by fostering a culture of compliance, vigilance and safety, we can protect our people, preserve our environment, and secure a sustainable future,’ she stated.

Chamber Of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) Board Chairman, Gabriel Kumi, in a goodwill message, said effective safety requires strong leadership, robust systems and continuous learning.

‘Safety remains a shared responsibility. Our actions, decisions, inactions, and preparedness can make a meaningful difference when situations demand a response,’ he noted.

A panel discussion featuring the Ghana National Fire Service, COMAC, transporters and retailers explored how the value chain can strengthen emergency preparedness, risk management and communication.

Panellists stressed continuous training, strict adherence to procedures and collaboration as key to preventing and managing incidents.

The highlight was the Safety Awards, which honoured employees, transporters, contractors and retailers who demonstrated outstanding commitment to safety and operational discipline.

The awardees were recognised for supporting Vivo Energy’s Goal Zero ambition.

Vivo Energy said Safety Day is not a one-off event but part of a continuous effort to embed safety in all operations. With a vision to be Africa’s most respected energy business, the company pledged to work with employees, regulators, partners and transporters to strengthen safety standards and ensure everyone returns home safely each day.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano North and Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr. Gideon Boako, has said Ghana’s economic recovery cannot be considered complete unless improvements in macroeconomic indicators translate into better living conditions for ordinary citizens.

Dr. Boako said economic performance should ultimately be judged by the experiences of unemployed graduates, traders, farmers, contractors and households rather than solely by figures such as inflation, fiscal balances and economic growth.

He argued that citizens are more concerned about access to jobs, functioning businesses, good roads and the ability to meet their daily needs than positive statistics presented in government reports.

‘Ultimately, citizens do not vote for economic statistics. They vote for better lives,’ he said, and added that the real verdict on the economy would be determined by ‘the unemployed graduate searching for work, the trader trying to keep her business alive, the contractor waiting to be paid, the farmer transporting produce over poor roads and every Ghanaian family still waiting for the promise of economic recovery to arrive at their doorstep.’

He said Ghana needed to move beyond headline economic improvements towards broad-based and inclusive growth that creates opportunities and raises living standards.

According to him, sustainable economic stability should provide the foundation for stronger productivity, employment and improved livelihoods rather than become an achievement in itself.

‘Until that happens, growth without visible progress will remain an incomplete success,’ Dr. Boako said, stressing that Ghana could not achieve broad-based, shared and inclusive growth without strong and sustainable economic stability.

The MP criticised what he describes as an excessive focus on macroeconomic indicators, arguing that economic growth must ultimately translate into jobs, higher incomes and improved living standards.

According to him, the greatest test of the government’s economic policies is whether young people can secure decent employment and whether businesses, farmers and households are experiencing meaningful improvements.

He said a young graduate would gain little from lower inflation or a reduced fiscal deficit if there was no job available after completing university.

‘A young graduate does not celebrate a lower fiscal deficit if there is no job waiting after university. A farmer does not benefit from higher GDP figures if poor roads continue to prevent produce from reaching markets,’ he stated.

Dr. Boako also argued that traders and businesses judge the economy by the purchasing power of consumers, access to credit and the ability to sustain operations, rather than by fiscal indicators alone. He said contractors waiting to be paid and farmers struggling with poor roads similarly feel little benefit from fiscal surpluses that do not translate into actual economic activity.

He said Ghana had achieved periods of macroeconomic stability in the past. Still, the country’s recurring economic challenges showed that stability must be converted into productive investment, industrialisation, employment and rising incomes.

‘Macroeconomic stability should never become the final destination. It should be the platform from which governments build prosperity,’ he stressed.

Dr. Boako said the real measure of the current recovery would therefore be whether factories expand production, agriculture becomes more productive, exports diversify, infrastructure improves and young Ghanaians find meaningful employment.

The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recommendation that the Bank of Ghana (BoG) reassess its Domestic Gold Purchase Programme because of its impact on the central bank’s balance sheet deserves careful consideration.

The IMF’s concerns about transparency, governance and the programme’s quasi-fiscal costs are legitimate. It estimates the programme generated a quasi-fiscal loss of about US$214 million, arising from trading activities, fees and exchange-rate movements, and has called for those costs to be recognised transparently.

However, evaluating the programme primarily through its accounting costs risks overlooking a more fundamental question: did the economic benefits outweigh the financial costs?

The Domestic Gold Purchase Programme was never conceived as a profit-making venture. It was designed as a monetary and reserve management instrument to strengthen Ghana’s foreign exchange buffers, support the cedi, improve external resilience and reinforce macroeconomic stability at a time when the country was emerging from its worst economic crisis in a generation.

By the IMF’s own assessment, Ghana consistently exceeded its Net International Reserve targets under the Extended Credit Facility programme, with the Fund acknowledging that this outperformance was ‘notably due to the large-scale deployment of the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.’

The programme also supported the rebuilding of official reserves even as the Bank of Ghana continued to intervene in the foreign exchange market to stabilise the cedi.

The results are evident. Gross international reserves, which stood at US$3.66 billion, equivalent to 1.6 months of import cover, at the start of the IMF programme, are projected to rise to US$10.73 billion, covering 3.7 months of imports, reflecting one of the strongest reserve recoveries in Ghana’s recent history.

At the same time, the Bank of Ghana’s gold holdings increased to 19.2 metric tonnes by February 2026, while the government has since expanded its reserve accumulation strategy with the long-term objective of building reserves equivalent to 15 months of import cover by 2028.

The programme contributed to a remarkable increase in Ghana’s gold-related foreign exchange inflows, from approximately US$1.7 billion in 2023 to US$12.7 billion in 2025, significantly improving the country’s reserve position and supporting exchange rate stability.

While the Bank of Ghana may have incurred financial costs in purchasing gold, those costs should be compared against the substantial economic benefits generated for the country.

A stable exchange rate delivers benefits that extend well beyond the central bank’s balance sheet. It reduces imported inflation, lowers the cost of fuel, medicines, machinery, and industrial inputs, preserves household purchasing power, improves investor confidence, and creates a more predictable environment for business and long-term investment.

Equally important, exchange rate stability is essential for maintaining Ghana’s public debt at manageable levels. A significant portion of the country’s debt is denominated in foreign currencies. Sharp depreciation of the cedi automatically increases the cedi value of external debt, raises debt-servicing obligations, widens fiscal deficits, and places additional pressure on government finances.

By helping to moderate exchange rate volatility, the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme may have prevented substantial increases in the domestic cost of servicing external debt. These avoided fiscal costs should be recognised as part of the programme’s economic return. In effect, the programme may have protected both the sovereign balance sheet and taxpayers from the far greater costs associated with a rapidly depreciating currency.

Similarly, inflation imposes a hidden tax on households and businesses. If the programme contributed to lower inflation through exchange rate stability, then it helped preserve real incomes, protect savings, reduce business operating costs, and support economic growth. These benefits cannot be measured solely through the Bank of Ghana’s profit and loss statement.

Central banks around the world frequently undertake policy interventions that may reduce their accounting profits in the short term but generate much larger long-term economic benefits. Their mandate is to preserve price stability, financial stability, and confidence in the national currency-not to maximise earnings.

For this reason, the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme should be evaluated using a comprehensive national cost-benefit framework. Such an assessment should include:

– The financial cost incurred by the Bank of Ghana.

– The reduction in inflation attributable to exchange rate stability.

– The savings from lower import costs.

– The reduction in exchange rate volatility.

– The avoided increase in the cedi value and servicing cost of Ghana’s external debt.

– The improvement in investor confidence and economic activity.

– The broader social and economic benefits arising from macroeconomic stability.

Judging the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme solely by its impact on the Bank of Ghana’s profit and loss account risks overlooking its broader contribution to the economy, the more relevant question is whether the programme generated greater national value by strengthening the cedi, containing inflation, improving external resilience, protecting the sustainability of public debt, and reinforcing Ghana’s macroeconomic stability.

The IMF’s evaluation would therefore be more balanced if it considered both the direct financial costs to the central bank and the substantial economic and fiscal benefits delivered to the nation. In macroeconomic policy, the true measure of success is not the profitability of the central bank, but the stability, resilience, and long-term prosperity of the economy it is mandated to safeguard.

Businessman, Ibrahim Mahama, has donated GHS200,000 towards the funeral arrangements of late Ghanaian actress Beverly Afaglo.

The donation was announced during Afaglo’s funeral ceremony at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra on Saturday, August 8, 2026.

Ibrahim Mahama was among the personalities who attended the ceremony to mourn and honour the actress, whose death has drawn tributes from Ghana’s entertainment industry and the wider public.

Announcing the donation, the master of ceremonies said Ibrahim Mahama had presented the family with ‘2 billion old cedis, GHS200,000’, prompting applause from mourners.

The contribution is expected to support the bereaved family as they go through the funeral and related arrangements.

Afaglo died on May 24, 2026, at the age of 42, following a reported two-year battle with cancer. She built a career spanning more than two decades and featured in several Ghanaian movies.

She is survived by her husband and two children.

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

The donation from Ibrahim Mahama forms part of the support extended to Afaglo’s family as loved ones, colleagues and members of the entertainment industry continue to celebrate her life and legacy.

The good book says that for every briber there is a bribee. Bribery, unlike ‘alikoto’, is usually a game for at least two.

Somebody gives. Somebody takes.

Somebody offers. Somebody accepts.

Somebody promises. Somebody demands.

Which brings us to the curious case of Asante Kwaku Berko, the former banker recently convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn of violating the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and related offences arising from more than $1 million in bribes paid to Ghanaian government officials in connection with a power-plant project. The verdict followed a nine-day trial.

What lessons can Ghana learn from the Berko affair?

For every briber, there is usually a bribee

This sounds obvious, but our conversations about corruption sometimes forget it. When a public official takes a bribe, we rightly condemn the official. But somebody paid it. The person who deliberately offers money to corrupt a public decision is not an innocent victim of corruption. He is one of its authors.

The giver and the taker are partners in the corrupt transaction. A serious anti-corruption system must therefore have eyes for both hands.

This story did not start with Thursday’s conviction

Berko was appointed Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) in January 2020 but resigned in April, shortly after U.S. authorities announced allegations arising from the power project.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission separately accused him of helping funnel millions of dollars through an intermediary to facilitate bribes to Ghanaian officials, including alleged payments that he personally made. In June 2021, Berko settled the SEC civil case without admitting or denying the allegations, agreeing to disgorge $275,000 plus $54,163.92 in prejudgment interest and to an injunction against future FCPA violations.

So this has been a long-running matter. What began as U.S. civil allegations in 2020 has now culminated, years later, in a criminal jury conviction.

That history reminds us that corruption files may grow old, but they do not necessarily die.

The FCPA historically focused principally on the hand that gives

The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), enacted in 1977, principally attacks the supply side of foreign corruption.

That law says: do not go abroad handing out ‘holy rain’ to foreign public officials to obtain or retain business.

You cannot pay the bribe yourself. You cannot promise it. You cannot authorise it. And you cannot simply route it through Brother Kofi, Sister Akos, Uncle Consultant or Honourable Middleman and pretend your hands are clean.

That is essentially how Berko found himself in a Brooklyn courtroom.

For many years, this produced an interesting asymmetry

Imagine Mr Otua, doing business in the USA, pays $500,000 to Honourable Ogyegyefuo, a Ghanaian official. Mr Otua could potentially be prosecuted under the FCPA for paying the bribe.

But Honourable Ogyegyefuo, the Ghanaian official, generally could not be prosecuted under the FCPA merely for receiving that same bribe.

Same envelope. Two hands. But Only One FCPA defendant.

That did not necessarily make Honourable Ogyegyefuo safe. Other American laws, including money-laundering laws, might apply depending on the facts. And Ghana’s laws could certainly apply.

But the FCPA itself principally targeted the supply side.

America has now decided to watch both hands

Enter the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act, or FEPA. FEPA reaches the demand side. In qualifying circumstances, foreign officials who corruptly demand, seek, receive, accept, or agree to receive or accept bribes can themselves face U.S. prosecution.

So the basic American framework can now be remembered this way:

FCPA: Don’t bribe the foreign official.

FEPA: Foreign official, don’t ask for or take the bribe.

Two hands. Two sets of prohibitions.

The lesson? Let the bribee beware. In a qualifying case, America can now come for the receiving hand too.

But FEPA cannot simply be transported backwards to 2015

This is important in discussing the Ghanaian officials allegedly involved in the Berko transactions. The criminal scheme charged against Berko ran from approximately December 2014 through March 2017.

FEPA came much later. Criminal laws cannot simply be applied retrospectively to make yesterday’s conduct punishable under a statute that did not exist yesterday.

So Berko’s conviction does not mean that the Ghanaian officials can now automatically be prosecuted under FEPA for receiving those alleged payments.

Nor does it necessarily mean that they face no possible U.S. exposure. Depending on the evidence concerning particular individuals, the movement and concealment of money and other conduct, other offences may become relevant.

But that is America’s problem. Our problem is Ghana.

Ghana must also learn to watch both hands

Suppose a foreign company wants a government contract in Ghana. Its executive comes to Accra and pays a Ghanaian official $1 million to influence the award.

Who has corrupted Ghana?

The official who took the money? Certainly.

But what about the person who deliberately supplied the $1 million? He too participated in corrupting Ghanaian public administration.

Our laws and enforcement practices should therefore make it unmistakably clear that where the evidence permits, Ghana can pursue both the foreign briber and the Ghanaian bribee.

The foreign briber should not be able to say: ‘But I am not Ghanaian.’

If you deliberately corrupt the exercise of Ghanaian public power, Ghana should have something to say about it. ORAL should track you wherever you may be and, where the evidence permits, bring you onto the J1 highway.

Ghana’s anti-bribery law should also travel with Ghanaians abroad

Now reverse the example. Suppose a Ghanaian company goes to Country Z and pays $2 million to a minister to obtain a mining concession.

Should we shrug and say ‘That is Country Z’s corruption problem’?

No. If we object when foreigners corrupt Ghanaian officials, we must equally object when Ghanaians corrupt foreign officials.

We should therefore examine whether our laws provide sufficiently clear and effective jurisdiction over foreign bribery committed by Ghanaian citizens and companies abroad.

The principle should be simple:

Don’t bribe our officials.

Don’t let our officials take bribes.

And don’t leave Ghana to bribe somebody else’s officials.

Three sentences. One anti-corruption policy.

Special lesson for Ghanaians working abroad

A Ghanaian professional may work for a bank in New York, an energy company in London or an investment firm in Dubai. This is excellent.

He understands Ghana. He knows the institutions. He knows the people. He knows whom to call. He knows how things move.

Those connections can be enormously valuable. Indeed, that knowledge and access are among the great contributions diaspora professionals can bring to Ghana.

But those connections must never become the bridge over which a foreign company’s bribe travels into Ghana.

Working abroad does not give anyone a licence to return home bearing holy rain. The message to our diaspora professionals should therefore be simple:

Use your connections to bring investment home. Don’t use them to bring bribes home.

The leadership of the Adabraka Zongo community has called on the public to stop discriminating against persons struggling with substance abuse, saying such treatment discourages them from seeking help.

Speaking at the Adabraka Zongo Durbar Health Walk themed ‘Education and Sensitisation: Dangers of Drug Abuse,’ Faisal Ibrahim Cisse, Advisor to the Zongo Chief, said discrimination is one of the main reasons why many young people are unable to seek help.

‘Discrimination has deterred a lot of youth from seeking help. But here at Adabraka Zongo, we have a conducive environment to welcome those who are drug addicts and are seeking help to end it. We have helped many of them and have also aided them to get jobs to cater for themselves,’ he said.

Mr. Cisse further stated that the palace is working with vocational training institutes within the community to enroll not only persons addicted to drugs, but also other youth interested in acquiring skills for a living. He said this initiative will help end all forms of social vices within the community.

The Chief of Adabraka Zongo, Alhaji Abdul Mumuni Bagigah, also reiterated his commitment to fighting drug addiction in the community, and called on corporate Ghana and other stakeholders to support the campaign.

Speaking on the growing concern, Alhaji Bagigah noted that drug abuse, especially among the youth, has become a major threat to the peace, health, and future of Adabraka Zongo.

He warned that Ghana risks losing a generation of potential leaders, artisans, and entrepreneurs if the trend is not checked.

Alhaji Bagigah therefore called on corporate organisations, NGOs, religious leaders, and government agencies to partner with the Zongo leadership to provide education, rehabilitation, skills training, and alternative livelihood opportunities for the youth.

The Chief emphasised that a collective approach is needed to protect the youth, secure the future of Adabraka Zongo, and build a healthier, more responsible generation.

JonahCapital Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Sir Jonah’s investment group owned by Ghanaian businessman, Sir Sam Jonah has dragged the Nigerian government to international arbitration over a disputed 501-hectare land in Abuja, in a case valued at an estimated $500 million.

The arbitration is being heard at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris. It follows the November 2025 termination of a development lease on Plot 4, Cadastral Zone E30, Lugbe West, near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The property held by JonahCapital Nigeria Limited, was allocated in 2007 under Nigeria’s Mass Housing Scheme and later developed into River Park Estate – one of Abuja’s largest private estates with residential units, offices, shops, clinics and places of worship.

JonahCapital claims its lease is valid until June 2030 and that Nigeria breached the agreement. In its filing, the company accuses the Federal Capital Development Authority of failing to provide basic infrastructure like roads, water and electricity, forcing the developer to fund them.

It also alleges breaches on building approval fees, and that authorities fenced off parts of the land while arbitration is ongoing.

The company further claims it spent years fighting off third-party attempts to claim portions of the estate during development.

Nigeria’s position

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike confirmed the arbitration is underway.

‘The other party has gone to arbitration and we say okay, until you finish from arbitration,’ he said. The minister insists the government lawfully recovered the land after the lease expired. He also said some developments on the site were done by Paulo Homes Limited, a separate firm engaged by JonahCapital for approvals.

Alongside the arbitration, Nigerian authorities have filed a 26-count criminal charge against Sir Sam Jonah and others at the FCT High Court. The charges relate to alleged forgery and unlawful share allocation in companies linked to the Abuja project.

Sir Jonah denies the allegations.

The case has become a diplomatic issue. In late 2025 Sir Jonah petitioned Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, over threats to his investment.

Ablakwa later raised the matter at an ECOWAS Council of Ministers meeting in Abuja, citing it as an example of challenges facing Ghanaian investors in Nigeria.

He had earlier visited River Park Estate and pledged government support for protecting Ghanaian businesses abroad.

By choosing ICC arbitration, the dispute will be decided by an independent tribunal.

Awards under the New York Convention, which Nigeria has signed, are enforceable in over 170 countries. No date has been set for the hearing. The criminal proceedings in Nigeria are also pending.

Sir Sam Jonah holds investments in mining, energy and real estate across Africa, with River Park among his biggest property projects outside Ghana.