Category: Daily Guide Network

Many Ghanaians do not trust the government and would always want to ascribe shadowiness to everything that emanates from the Presidency and its appendages.

Such suspicions are grounded in precedents. Many exposés have been released to the public through the Minority in Parliament’s painstaking oversight responsibilities over government business.

The government of settings, as the youth would describe the propaganda-laced operations, do not portray the President and his team in good light and it hurts. Taking one step forward and doing double that backwards does not augur well for progress, unfortunately we are in a resetting mode under which anything is possible.

After much backward and forward movements, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu arrived in the country and in a wheelchair.

The manner of her arrival, according to Ghanaians, was choreographed to give the lady, a convict, a touch of decency which she doesn’t deserve.

The arrival of Ken Ofori-Atta, yet to be tried in Ghana, would have received a manipulative fanfare intended to embarrass him and his family.

Ken Ofori-Atta would have been treated like a common criminal at the Accra International Airport, with his pictures splashed on NDC platforms across the nation.

Anyway, Ghanaians do not think that Sedina is even where she is supposed to be, having been convicted and expected to have commenced her sentence.

Trust Ghanaians and their sense of humour. They are saying that she is far away from the gates of prison and that anything about her in the media are intended to throw dust into our eyes.

With the Minority in Parliament jumping into the fray, the coming days would be interesting.

Just how far the Minority can go in determining whether or not the lady is where she is supposed to be or somewhere cooling off under state security. After all, Kevin Taylor when he arrived in Ghana did so under state security, followed by the charges levelled against him dismissed – acquitted and discharged – as simply as that.

An NDC government can do anything except change the sex of a person. Reminds us of Swiss political theorist Jean-Louis de Lolme’s coinage on the powers of the British Parliament: ‘the British Parliament can do everything but make a woman a man, and a man a woman.’

Under their circumstances, the NDC in government can do many things regardless of their oddity or unconstitutionality, under the cloak of resetting.

If the legal process of nolle prosequi can be so abused as being witnessed today, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu would soon be set free. Until then however, let us encourage the Minority in Parliament to press on with their commitment to verifying the location of the lady. Let them however expect stumbling impediments at the country’s plenipotentiaries because the Prison authorities would definitely be instructed not to cooperate with them. With the lady possibly not in any of them, their efforts could be rendered a wild goose chase, and she cools off over akple and spicy okro soup with red crabs in zomi. This is Ghana under NDC.

The Bank of Ghana (BoG), has announced that the Rural Banking (also Rural and Community Banking) Sector has been converted to Community Banking Sector in line with the guideline on the Revised Microfinance Sector Framework, 2026.

A statement issued by the Bank of Ghana on Wednesday June 17, 2026 said existing Rural Banks have therefore become Community Banks and are required to complete all statutory name changes, corporate rebranding, and other regulatory alignments by the end of December 2026.

It stated, ‘The Bank of Ghana (BoG) informs stakeholders and the public that, in line with the Guideline on the Revised Microfinance Sector Framework, 2026 (Notice No. BG/GOV/SEC/2026/03), the Rural Banking (also Rural and Community Banking) Sector has been converted to Community Banking Sector.

‘This conversion represents a strategic milestone under the ongoing microfinance sector reform and is intended to usher in a new phase of community-level financial intermediation. The conversion also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of rural banking in Ghana, providing a timely moment to transition the subsector into its next chapter’.

It further stated that Rural Banking was initiated in 1976 by the government and the Bank of Ghana to expand access to financial services in rural communities and integrate them into the national financial system but over the past five decades, the subsector has become a core pillar of the banking industry and national financial inclusion efforts.

‘It currently comprises 147 licensed institutions, with about 1,000 branch networks nationwide, and serving over eight (8) million customers. Its growth and impact reflect a combination of sustained policy support, a development-oriented regulatory approach, and a unique synergy derived from shared community ownership and customer base,’ parts of the statement read.

According to the Central Bank, through the conversion, it is repositioning the Community Banking sector as a modern banking segment to deepen inclusive finance in both rural and urban communities and integrate them into the national financial architecture.

Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang paid a morale-boosting visit to the Black Stars in Toronto, urging the team to represent Ghana with pride as they prepared for their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Vice President met players and technical staff at the team’s hotel on Tuesday, accompanied by a delegation that included Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, and Nana Otuo Siriboe II, who represented Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.

Delivering a message on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang encouraged the players to approach the tournament with discipline, unity and determination.

She assured the squad of the nation’s unwavering support and called on them to make Ghanaians proud as they began their World Cup journey.

The delegation was received by Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Edwin Okraku and members of the Black Stars Management Committee.

Mr. Okraku expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as a significant show of confidence in the team.

According to the GFA President, the presence of senior national figures highlighted the importance of the Black Stars to the country and provided extra motivation for the players ahead of the crucial fixture.

Former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has donated vehicles and medical equipment to the Ghana Police Service and 17 health facilities across the country as part of activities marking his 66th birthday.

The former New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant presented a brand-new pickup vehicle to the Greater Accra Regional Police Headquarters and 15 motorbikes to support police operations within the region.

Mr. Agyapong, who was accompanied by some well-wishers, also presented a saloon vehicle and medical equipment to the 37 Military Hospital.

He also donated 56 incubators, standalone radiant warmers, radiant warmers with trolleys, nose masks, lamps, and other essential medical supplies to Winneba Hospital, Fosu Polyclinic, and Juaboso Government Hospital.

Other beneficiary health facilities included Suaman Hospital, Bibiani Government Hospital, Drobo St. Mary’s Hospital, Tema General Hospital, the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), as well as government hospitals at Atiwa East in the Eastern Region and Mampong in the Ashanti Region.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Commander of the 37 Military Hospital and the Acting Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces Health Services, Brigadier General Evelyn Vivian Abraham-Kwabiah and the Head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Brigadier General Richard Naab, thanked Mr. Agyapong for the gesture.

Officers at the Accra Regional Police Command including Superintendent Juliana Obeng, Director of Public Affairs for the Greater Accra Regional Police Command, who also received part of the donation, commended Mr. Agyapong for the support, stating that the vehicles and motorbikes would go a long way in enhancing police operations in the region.

Speaking to the media after the presentations, Kennedy Agyapong said the gesture was his way of expressing gratitude to God for His blessings and guidance throughout his life, as there was no better way to glorify God on his birthday than to give back to society.

Mr. Agyapong described the donation as his ‘widow’s mite’ and explained that he chose to support hospitals because of the critical role they play in the lives of individuals and communities.

He stated that healthcare facilities serve everyone regardless of their social status and therefore deserve continuous support, while commending the Queen Mother of Asante Mampong for contributing some of the items donated as part of the birthday celebrations.

He further emphasised that, regardless of a person’s social standing, access to quality healthcare remains essential, even for those who may seek medical treatment outside the country, and therefore urged the general public to support key state institutions, particularly hospitals and security agencies, which play vital roles in national development.

The former NPP flagbearer aspirant also highlighted the important role played by the Ghana Police Service in maintaining law and order, as well as ensuring public safety, and called for continued support for the Service.

Ghana and Canada are set to deepen economic cooperation as investors, business leaders, policymakers, and development partner gather in Toronto for the 2026 Ghana-Canada Investment Forum.

The event which took place yesterday at the Westin Harbour Castle Conference Centre (Frontenac Ballroom) in Toronto, Ontario, served as a platform to explore strategic investment opportunities, foster partnerships, and advance initiatives that support Ghana’s economic transformation agenda while strengthening commercial ties between both countries.

The forum was organised by the GHFA Global Investment Forum Initiative in collaboration with Strategic Communications Africa Limited (Stratcomm Africa), Ghana’s premier total communications agency with Kwakaf International a Toronto based business events agency.

The Forum spotlighted Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme (24H+), providing participants with insights into the policy’s objectives and the opportunities it presents for industrialization, export expansion, trade competitiveness, job creation, and productivity growth.

Discussions also examined how Canadian businesses and investors can partner with Ghanaian enterprises and institutions to contribute to and benefit from the country’s economic transformation agenda.

In collaboration with the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat and the Ghana Tourism Authority, the event will bring together investors, business leaders, policymakers, and development partners to explore investment opportunities that support Ghana’s Reset Agenda and deepen economic cooperation between Ghana and Canada.

A key feature of the forum was the Deal Room Session facilitated by ThirdWay Capital, a Canadian impact-focused investment firm and venture holding company that invests in growth-ready small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Sub-Saharan Africa and The Asili Initiative, a Canadian nonprofit organisation focused on strengthening economic relations between Canada and African countries.

The session will connected high-level delegates, investors, and business leaders from both Ghana and Canada, showcasing Ghana’s compelling investment opportunities, strengthening bilateral business relationships, and catalyzing strategic partnerships that contribute to sustainable economic growth.

Universal Merchant Bank (UMB), the Lead Sponsor of the event, continues to demonstrate its commitment to driving economic growth, entrepreneurship, and facilitating investments that contribute to Ghana’s long-term development and competitiveness. Other partners include the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and Third Way Capital.

Hosted during the FIFA World Cup period, the forum is uniquely positioned to leverage the presence of a diverse international audience, creating a unique platform for investors, business leaders, and policymakers to connect, explore mutually beneficial opportunities, and forge strategic partnerships that strengthen trade and economic collaboration between Ghana and Canada.

Founder and Chief Executive officer of Stratcomm Africa, Esther A. N. Cobbah, said ‘There are tremendous opportunities to build on the historic ties between Ghana and Canada. We are excited to be joining forces with Kwakaf International and the various national agencies for this event. Occurring on the sidelines of the first World Cup match of the Black Stars, we look forward to multiple successes of team Ghana in Canada in this month of June.’

Aspiring New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairman Awentami Paul Afoko has indicated that the NPP has a unique shot at reclaiming power in 2028, driven by a new political landscape and the strength of its flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Speaking to regional executives, patrons, and elders of the party in the Volta, Oti, and Eastern regions, Mr. Afoko argued that 2028 will be different because ‘the one person who has been on the ballot paper for several elections will not be on the ballot paper.’

That absence, he said, gives the NPP space to properly market Dr. Bawumia, who he described as a ‘formidable force to reckon with’ and ‘battle-tested and ready to win.’

He drew parallels to 2016, when the NPP unseated a sitting government. ‘We had to put a plan in place to make sure we come to power and we came to power. This time around, he will not be on the ballot paper and this offers us a unique opportunity,’ he said. But unity is non-negotiable, he warned. ‘Without unity we will not get there.’

He cautioned members against letting personal grievances derail the party’s goal. ‘You can’t sit here and look at the lady sitting next to you and say I don’t like her so we can’t work together. We are working together for power, and if we let emotions get in the way, we lose.’

Mr. Afoko is pushing a 3R Agenda: Reunite, Rebuild, and Recapture power. He said the party must adopt a clear message to win back Ghanaians’ confidence, and believes Dr. Bawumia is ‘the right candidate’ to guarantee victory in 2028.

‘For years, I chose to work quietly behind the scenes, supporting the NPP in private,’ Afoko said. ‘But recent developments have compelled me to step forward. We need to get our party back into winning ways, and that starts with unity of purpose.’

He framed the period ahead as a test of whether NPP politics will mature or stay trapped in cycles of blame. Still, he expressed optimism that ‘everyone who loves the party would come on board to realise the goal of making Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia the next President of Ghana.’

Not all information should be let out to the public. These are confidential state secrets which when let out can impugn national security or interest.

During belligerencies between one country and another, the disposition of the military among other information constitute secrets which the media should avoid disseminating by all means should they chance upon same. Disrespecting such matters would impact national interest.

Every country has such confidential files, the contents of which are classified and would be declassified when the time is due. Some classified files may not be open to the public until sometimes three decades, depending upon the sensitivity of their contents.

It is for good reason therefore that holders of certain state positions must swear the oath of secrecy, breaches of which are serious infractions.

Some information however do not fall under the foregone and must be quickly let out to the citizens without undue delay when developments occur.

The resignation of a member of the Council of State in the person of Justice Sophia Akuffo is certainly not one of such secrets.

She is said to have kept away from activities of the Council since September last year, information which was kept away from Ghanaians until a media broke the news.

Having opposed the dismissal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo whose ouster took place in September 2025, same year she is said to have walked out of the Council, her principles stand prominent and unwavering.

Ghanaians have engaged in street gossips about the resignation, which though a high profile development, was deliberately kept away from public notice.

Rightfully, Ghanaians are posing questions about why a resignation which took place in September 2025 was not brought to the notification of the public.

It appears the action was not the standard formal penning of words to announce a resignation.

Of course, government was uncomfortable about the repercussions of such information making it to the public space, the questions thereof embarrassing.

Eventually, the genie is out of the bottle as the idiom goes, and all we can do is relish the many speculations or even rumours about what really drove the woman to do as she did.

What could have informed the resignation of the former Chief Justice whose position on the Council of State is a constitutional requirement?

So government or the President looked on as the constitutional infraction of the absence of a former Chief Justice from the Council persisted? For how long will the situation last?

Given her vociferousness against matters which border on corruption and bad governance in general, could she have noticed moral infractions and decided that ‘I have had enough of the crap?’

Could she have fallen out with the President on matters of principles? Was her access to the President declined upon a directive from the Commander-in-Chief as being speculated?

If the basis of her resignation are anchored on bad governance or other constitutional infractions as being wondered by Ghanaians, Justice Sophia Akuffo has proven her mettle. She is unlike sycophants who have seen nothing wrong with the listing ship of state.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced that a widely circulated notice stating that the 2026 school selection exercise for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates will commence on June 15, 2026 is false.

In a statement, GES clarified that it has not announce the commencement of the school selection process and has cautioned candidates, parents, guardians, teachers, and the public against relying on the information shared on various platforms.

According to the Service, the notice has falsely informed stakeholders that candidates are required to select and submit five preferred schools ahead of the placement process.

The notice did not state the deadline for submissions and has directed candidates and parents to seek assistance through an unofficial whatsApp support line.

GES has cautioned that the publication did not originate from the Service adding that such information should be disregarded entirely warning parents and candidates against submitting personal information or engaging with individuals behind the fake announcement.

It further stated that such misinformation could expose unsuspecting members of the public to fraud and other forms of exploitation.

It noted that all official information regarding school selection and placement exercises would be communicated through its recognised and authorised platforms.

GES has urged stakeholders to verify education-related announcements before acting on them and also rely only on information released through official government and education sector communication channels.

The Service has reaffirmed its commitment to ensure a transparent and credible placement process and has assured the public to communicate officially with due process.

When global climate negotiations open in Antalya this November, they will be presided over by an arrangement that has few precedents in the history of the UN climate process: one country hosting the conference, and another leading the negotiations, as equal partners.

That arrangement, between Trkiye and Australia, was the subject of detailed explanation at a public lecture held on 8 June 2026 at the University of Ghana, organised by UGBS, C3SS, and the Australian High Commission. For many in the audience, it was the first time the mechanics of the COP31 co-presidency had been laid out in a Ghanaian setting.

H.E. Dilara Cesar, Deputy Ambassador of the Embassy of the Republic of Trkiye in Ghana, described the partnership as both a practical and symbolic choice. ‘We consider this responsibility not only a reflection of our commitment to multilateralism,’ she said, ‘but also as an opportunity to help restore confidence in the global climate regime at a time when trust is under strain.’

The division of labour is clear. Trkiye will serve as COP31 President and host the conference in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026, including the World Leaders Summit on 11 and 12 November, and will lead the Climate Action Agenda. Australia will serve as President of Negotiations. H.E. Cesar described the model as one guided by three core principles: dialogue, consensus, and action.

The Australian High Commission, for its part, framed its role as facilitator rather than director. The Commission’s representative was clear that the function of the Presidency of Negotiations is to build consensus across parties, not to impose outcomes. Australia is approaching its mandate with a stated emphasis on transparency, inclusiveness, and real-world results.

For Africa, the significance of this arrangement lies in who is in the room. Both co-presidents have included vulnerable regions, among them Africa and the Pacific, explicitly in their stated priorities. H.E. Cesar noted that the COP31 Presidency is ready to support efforts to increase the adaptation capacity and resilience of the African continent, and that Africa’s adaptation and resilience priorities will remain central to its approach.

The lecture at UGBS was itself a product of this diplomatic footprint. Convening students, researchers, and civil society stakeholders in Accra ahead of COP31 is part of how the Australian High Commission is executing its responsibility as President of Negotiations: by listening before the negotiations begin.

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused the government of plotting to pay an unjustified US$85 million to the contractor of the Afari Military Hospital project in Kumasi, describing the move as a deliberate attempt to ‘create, loot and share’ public funds.

Addressing a press conference in Parliament yesterday, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee, Kofi Amankwa-Manu, alleged that claims by Deputy Defence Minister, Ernest Brogya Genfi, regarding the status of the project were false and intended to justify ‘an outrageous financial demand.’

According to him, assertions that the 500-bed military hospital at Afari in the Ashanti Region was only 60 percent complete were inconsistent with official records available at the Ministry of Defence.

Mr. Amankwa-Manu said documents from the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) indicated that as of September 2024, the core hospital facility was already 92.5 percent complete, while the overall project had reached 98 percent completion by January 2025.

He explained that civil works on the core hospital stood at 97.5 percent, architectural works at 87 percent, support facilities including staff housing at 77 percent, while road works and landscaping had reached 80 percent and 77 percent completion, respectively.

‘The narrative being peddled that the facility is only 60 percent complete is a complete fabrication designed to justify an outrageous financial demand,’ he stated.

The former Deputy Defence Minister further challenged claims that the contractor, Euroget De-Invest (EDI), had demanded US$85 million before returning to site to complete the project.

He described the alleged debt as a ‘manufactured crisis’ and maintained that records at both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Defence did not support such a claim.

Providing what he described as the financial facts surrounding the project, Mr. Amankwa-Manu said the original US$180 million contract sum financed through a loan facility had been fully paid.

He added that an additional US$19.3 million approved by the ‘Government of Ghana’ to compensate the contractor for delays arising from the relocation of the project had also been settled in full.

According to him, a subsequent claim of more than US$6.5 million submitted by the contractor was negotiated down to US$3 million, out of which US$2.5 million had already been paid.

‘The only outstanding amount owed to the contractor is US$500,000,’ he said.

Mr. Amankwa-Manu questioned how an outstanding balance of US$500,000 could suddenly become an US$85 million demand, arguing that such a development lacked any financial or contractual justification.

He alleged that any attempt to authorise payment of the amount would constitute a serious abuse of public funds and vowed that the Minority would resist any such move.

The lawmaker also used the occasion to revisit the history of the project, blaming the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for delays that he said significantly increased costs and prolonged completion.

According to him, the project was originally awarded in 2008 under the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufuor and was initially intended to be constructed at Sofoline in Kumasi.

However, he said that following the change of government in 2009, the project was moved from Kumasi to Tamale, then to Accra, before eventually being relocated to Afari.

He argued that the multiple relocations delayed implementation by six years and led to additional compensation claims by the contractor.

Mr. Amankwa-Manu further claimed that by the time the NDC left office in December 2016, the project had achieved only 40 percent completion despite construction having commenced in 2014.

He credited the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration with advancing the project from 40 percent completion to 98 percent by January 2025.

While reaffirming the Minority’s support for the completion and operationalisation of the facility, he insisted that the project must not become a vehicle for what he termed ‘daylight robbery.’

‘We all want the Afari Military Hospital completed to serve the health needs of the Ghana Armed Forces and the people of the Ashanti Region, but this must not become a conduit for the siphoning of public funds,’ he said.

The Minority therefore called on the government to abandon any plans to honour the alleged US$85 million claim, settle the outstanding US$500,000 owed to the contractor and ensure that the remaining work on the project is completed without further delay.