Category: Daily Guide Network

Veteran Ghanaian diplomat, James Victor Gbeho, has died at the age of 91, having served as a diplomat for more than four decades.

James Victor Gbeho, who was born on January 12, 1935, in Keta, Volta Region, died on Saturday, June 13, 2026. He was the son of Philip Gbeho, the renowned Ghanaian composer credited with composing Ghana’s national anthem.

James Victor Gbeho served as diplomat to Ghana’s missions in China, India, Nigeria, Germany, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

He later served as Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 1980 to 1990, representing the country during a period of significant geopolitical change.

In 1994, he was appointed Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to Somalia, a role that placed him at the centre of international efforts to restore stability in the Horn of Africa, and later served as ECOWAS Special Representative to Liberia following efforts to resolve the country’s civil conflict.

Under former President Jerry John Rawlings, Gbeho entered politics and served as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2001, and also represented the Anlo Constituency in Parliament from 2001 to 2005.

Apart from serving as Foreign Affairs Minister, Victor Gbeho was later elected as President of the ECOWAS Commission in February 2010, where he worked to deepen regional integration and strengthen cooperation among member states.

Gbeho continued to serve as a foreign policy adviser to former President John Evans Atta Mills, offering guidance on regional and international affairs after serving his tenure at the ECOWAS Commission in 2012.

Health experts have urged the government to scale up and integrate newborn screening for sickle cell disease as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention launches a new continental plan to tackle inherited blood disorders.

The coordinated regional framework on sickle cell disease was endorsed at a Technical Validation and Launch Workshop attended by health ministers, development partners, and international health agencies.

It builds on work by the American Society of Hematology’s Consortium on Newborn Screening in Africa. More than 300,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease annually in sub-Saharan Africa, with many undiagnosed or untreated.

The new strategy emphasises newborn screening, early intervention, workforce development, and sustainable financing.

Clinical Director of Hematology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dr. Maureen M. Achebe, called the launch a turning point for sickle cell care in Africa.

‘The Africa CDC has unveiled a continental plan for sickle cell disease and other inherited disorders, and this marks a turning point in the fight against one of Africa’s most severe health challenges,’ she said.

She noted it builds on a technical working group established in April 2025. Dr. Achebe pointed to lessons from CONSA, which has screened nearly 175,000 newborns across participating countries, showing that large-scale screening is feasible in African health systems.

‘They’ve all been models for different things. They haven’t necessarily done exactly the same thing but have been models in ways that sickle cell disease can successfully be addressed in different countries,’ she said.

Experts say Ghana must move from pilot and fragmented interventions to a fully integrated national programme embedded within existing healthcare structures.

Dr. Achebe said newborn screening can be incorporated into vaccination clinics and teaching hospitals rather than stand-alone programmes.

‘What there is to learn from CONSA is that it is to integrate newborn screening into healthcare systems that already exist,’ she stated. ‘Early intervention is critical, particularly in the first five years of life. Proven measures include penicillin prophylaxis, malaria prevention, routine vaccinations, and early hydroxyurea therapy.’

‘There is a stark difference between median life expectancy in high-income countries and under-5 mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. These preventative measures can prevent a significant amount of under-5 mortality,’ Dr. Achebe said.

Consumers and businesses are expected to enjoy some relief at the pumps from June 16, 2026, as fuel prices are projected to decline across major petroleum products during the second pricing window of the month.

According to the latest pricing outlook released by the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), petrol is expected to record the sharpest reduction, falling by 9.31 percent. Diesel prices are projected to decrease by 1.65 percent, while liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is expected to decline marginally by 0.52 percent.

COMAC attributed the anticipated reductions largely to a significant fall in international refined petroleum product prices, describing it as the steepest decline recorded since the beginning of 2026.

The Chamber noted, however, that the drop in diesel prices would be less pronounced because of the full removal of the government-industry intervention mechanism, while LPG prices continue to be influenced by existing tender arrangements that have locked in supply costs.

Global crude oil prices also recorded a sharp decline during the review period. Oil prices fell from US$110.59 per barrel to US$97.32 per barrel, representing a 12 percent reduction.

Similarly, refined petroleum product prices on the international market posted substantial decreases ahead of the June 16 pricing window. LPG recorded the largest decline at 19.94 percent, followed by petrol at 15.21 percent and diesel at 10.17 percent.

Despite the favourable international market conditions, the Ghana cedi weakened slightly against major trading currencies. The exchange rate moved from GHS11.59 to GHS11.80 to the US dollar, representing a depreciation of 2.45 percent.

Meanwhile, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has announced lower benchmark price floors for petroleum products for the second pricing window of June.

The minimum benchmark price for diesel has been reduced to GHS15.11 per litre from GHS15.49 per litre in the first pricing window, representing a decline of GHS0.38 per litre, or about 2.5 per cent.

Petrol recorded the most significant adjustment, with its price floor dropping to GHS13.39 per litre from GHS15.20 per litre previously. This represents a reduction of GHS1.81 per litre, equivalent to nearly 12 percent.

For LPG, the benchmark price floor has been lowered to GHS13.23 per kilogram from GHS13.48 per kilogram, which reflects a decrease of GHS0.25 per kilogram, or about 1.9 percent.

The NPA explained that the price floors serve as the minimum benchmark prices at which Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and LPG Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) are expected to retail petroleum products during the second pricing window of June.

Nii Nmai Dsane, Chief Executive Officer of Q-Advise, a global software licensing and contract advisory consultancy headquartered in the Netherlands, has been awarded a Citation of Appreciation by Methodist Basic School in recognition of his longstanding support and commitment to the institution.

The award was presented during the school’s 120th Anniversary celebrations, a landmark event that brought together traditional leaders, government officials, educators, alumni, and community stakeholders to celebrate more than a century of educational excellence.

In the citation, the school recognized Nii Nmai Dsane’s dedication to the growth and development of Methodist Basic School and his continued commitment to supporting educational advancement within the community. The recognition highlights the important role that alumni and supporters play in helping educational institutions thrive across generations.

While internationally recognized as the CEO of Q-Advise, Nii Nmai Dsane has remained deeply committed to educational and community development initiatives.

Beyond his support for Methodist Basic School, Nii Nmai Dsane has contributed to the development of several educational institutions across Ghana. His support has helped schools undertake development projects, strengthen learning environments, and create opportunities for students to reach their full potential. His commitment reflects a longstanding belief that education remains one of the most powerful drivers of social mobility, sustainable development, and national progress.

School authorities noted that his contributions and advocacy have helped strengthen the school’s mission and preserve its legacy as one of the region’s most respected educational institutions. Founded in 1906, Methodist Basic School has educated generations of students and continues to play a vital role in shaping future leaders.

Receiving the award, Nii Nmai Dsane expressed his appreciation to the school leadership and anniversary committee for the honor.

‘Education remains one of the most powerful tools for transforming lives and communities. I am humbled by this recognition and remain committed to supporting initiatives that create opportunities for future generations,’ he said.

The Citation of Appreciation formed part of a broader recognition program during the anniversary celebrations, honoring individuals whose service, leadership, and dedication have contributed significantly to the school’s success over the past 120 years.

For many attendees, the recognition of Nii Nmai Dsane symbolized the enduring impact that committed alumni and supporters can have on the institutions that helped shape their journey, ensuring that the legacy of Methodist Basic School continues for generations to come.

Sadia Sanusi, a distinguished fashion designer known for blending traditional textile influences with contemporary fashion, has died, sending shockwaves across the creative industry.

The couturier reportedly passed away in the early hours of Sunday, June 14, 2026. While the cause of death has not yet been officially disclosed, sources close to the family indicate that she died in her sleep.

Her passing has left the fashion community in mourning, and others broken. Through her unique designs, Sadia successfully transformed elements of her maternal textile heritage into stylish contemporary pieces that earned admiration within Ghana and beyond.

The news of her death comes at a moment when she was preparing to celebrate a decade in the fashion industry. As part of the anniversary activities, she had planned to host a masterclass next week to share her knowledge and experiences with emerging creatives.

Aside from her accomplishments in fashion, Sadia also made her mark in the pageantry world. She was crowned Miss Talent and finished as the 2nd Runner-Up during the 2012 edition of Miss Malaika Ghana, earning praise for her creativity and stage presence.

Sadia attended Accra Girls’ Senior High School before pursuing higher education at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Design.

Over the years, she became an inspiration to many young designers, earning recognition for her creativity, innovation and dedication to promoting Ghanaian culture through fashion. Her contributions helped elevate the profile of local fashion on both national and international platforms.

Since news of her death broke, friends, colleagues and admirers have flooded social media with tributes, remembering her as a talented designer, mentor and trailblazer whose legacy will continue to influence generations of creatives.

A press statement by the Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) has urged stakeholders, media, and the general public not to compare the GHS44.9 million paid by some 29 licensed Private Lotto Operators to the NLA to the over GHS173 million paid by KGL to the same institution.

The Association also confirmed that KGL is the largest contributor to NLA in terms of revenue generation for the Republic.

According to Section 2(1) of the National Lotto Act, 2006(Act 722), ‘National Lotto shall be conducted for the purpose of RAISING REVENUE for the NATION and for other purposes stated in this Act.’

Therefore, per Section 2(1) of Act 722, KGL has proven its worth in salt by helping the NLA to fulfil its number one (1) objective for which the Authority was established.

KGL operates as a collaborator under the same National Lotto Act, specifically Section 2(4) of the National Lotto Act, 2006(Act 722).

Members of GLOA and all other Private Lotto Operators are supposed to be licensed and regulated by the NLA under Section 22(1) of the Veterans Administration, Ghana Act, 2012(Act 844).

Staking of lottery by a Ghanaian citizen is an Optional duty, not mandatory like payment of taxes to GRA. It takes extremely huge investments into modern I.T. infrastructure, software systems integrations, ISO Certifications, and marketing to achieve the needed results in the mobile-based transactions. Also, attaining competitive advantage in that space is not by mouth but an expensive capital investment of about $500 million to $1billion to have the kind of Infrastructure architecture that KGL is currently operating in partnership with the NLA.

It is untrue for anyone to say that access to a dedicated USSD platform substantially expands transaction volumes while reducing operational complexity. If that is the case, then NLA would have been successful with the MOBI GAME 2 SURE in 2008, and MOBILE 5/90 between 2015 – 2017.

NLA through a collaborator started the operation of MOBILE 5/90 in 2015 and the revenues generated for 2015, 2016, and 2017 are respectively GHS517,967.50, GHS1,259,185.10, and GHS 367, 812.30.

Due to the poor performance of the MOBILE 5/90, the NLA ceased its operations in 2017.

Again, the revenue generated by USSD/MOBILE *890# VAG Lottery Intake, USSD/MOBILE *890# NLA 5/90 VAG lotto intake respectively for 2020 were GHS 31, 786.85, and GHS 938, 005.14. Also, the poor performance of the *890# short code forced NLA and Tekstart Afrika Limited to cease operations.

These historical failures of the aforementioned digitalisation projects by NLA and previous Collaborators cement and confirm that the success story of KGL did not come easy or cheap, but through tremendous work, dedication and investments into the operations of the company to ensure its success.

KGL carries heavy burden of infrastructure costs far more than costs incurred by private lotto operators.

Payments of winning tickets to the winners of national lotto, and investments into Marketing and CSR equally come at costs running into millions of dollars.

KGL, apart from its statutory payments to NLA, also pays GHS3 million annually to the NLA Stabilisation Fund which was created by the Authority. This fund is aimed at cushioning the Lotto Marketing Companies in the kiosks. In addition to that, KGL also pays GHS2 million annually to support NLA’s Good Causes Foundation. Each of the aforementioned payments by KGL is higher than the individual license fees of GHS1.5 million paid by a Private Lotto Operator.

Apart from the commitments to CSR and CSI Investments, KGL Group has provided jobs to millions of Ghanaians across the Country directly and indirectly.

MTN, Telecel, AirtelTigo, banks, advertising companies, media houses, and several companies are beneficiaries of KGL’s existence.

The marketing and sustainability investment undertaken by KGL also helps businesses in the economic ecosystem of Ghana to survive and expand, thereby retaining and employing more workers. Through the KGL Foundation, the livelihood of millions of household have been significantly improved especially the youth population.

In several countries, the retail is over 60-70%, and the digital is 30-40%. What the Private Lotto Operators need to do is to deploy modern Point of Sale Terminals or paper coupon with enhanced security features coupled with the right marketing strategies.

Music star, Black Sherif, has paid a visit to the Black Stars camp in the United States ahead of Ghana’s opening match against Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The visit comes as excitement continues to build among Ghanaians ahead of the national team’s first game of the tournament.

A video circulating on social media showed the award-winning artist spending time with the players and performing his hit song, ‘Top of the Morning.’

The Black Stars players appeared to enjoy the moment as they sang along, danced and interacted with the musician in a relaxed atmosphere.

The visit has since attracted positive reactions from football fans, with many praising Black Sherif for boosting the team’s morale ahead of their crucial World Cup opener.

Supporters have expressed hope that the positive mood in camp will inspire the Black Stars to deliver a strong performance when they take on Panama.

Ghana will be looking to begin its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on a winning note as the team seeks to make an impact on football’s biggest stage.

Ghanaian actor, Anthony Woode, has disclosed that he stands as a living testimony of persistence, consistency and God’s manifestation of goodness.

He made this pronouncement on his Instagram page with the caption, ‘I’m A Living Testimony’ accompanied with a photograph of him in tailored suit and other motivational frame pictures.

Some of the writings read, ‘You arrived late? Don’t stress! Just make good use of the time left’, ‘No matter what comes my way, I will face it.’

The post had Black Sherif’s ‘Lord I’m Amazed’ song on the background. The song was born from an overwhelming, inexplicable feeling of joy and gratitude, capturing a deeply spiritual and reflective moment of uncontrollable excitement of the journey so far.

Anthony Woode gained popularity playing the lead/21st-century ‘Inspector Bediako’ in the reboot of the legendary Ghanaian investigative drama series Inspector Bediako.

Known for moving between intense dramas, romantic leads, and comedies, Anthony Woode is described as ‘one of the most talented actors in Ghana’ with 11+ years in the industry. Notable movies released include Summer, Fifty Fifty – starred alongside John Dumelo, Majid Michel, and Yvonne Nelson.

Others include Double Deception (2023), Brown Sugar (2023), Kadara (2022), Terminus (2022), and Renewed – Announcement (2013).

He has to his credit awards such as Ghana Arts and Entertainment Awards (GAEA) 2023 – Best Actor, and Ghana Movie Awards 2021 – Best Actor of the Year.

Residents of Kulpi in the East Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region have staged protests over the disappearance of a newborn from the Salaga Government Hospital.

The protesters blocked major roads in the area and demanded that the baby be found and returned to the parents.

The protest reportedly led to residents chasing the Member of Parliament (MP) for Salaga South, Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah, who had visited the community to commiserate with the family.

According to residents, they will not accept expressions of sympathy from visitors unless the missing baby is returned to the family.

They have also indicated that they will pursue legal action against the hospital if the missing baby is not found.

Speaking to journalists, the MP said she understood the emotions surrounding the incident and the community’s reaction.

‘We need to come together and engage. We also need to respect their feelings, but turning people away may not be the best approach,’ she stated.

She added that the police and other authorities are working tirelessly to locate the newborn, and urged the family and residents to exercise patience.

‘You went with us to the police commander and have seen the efforts they are putting in to get the baby. We hope the baby is found so that we can mend our relationship with the community,’ she stressed.

The Administrator of Salaga Government Hospital, Aloysius Bakuma, said the hospital is doing everything within its power to aid the search.

‘The police came around and we are cooperating with the investigations,’ he said.

It would be recalled that a newborn went missing at the Salaga Government Hospital.

Two nurses, a male and female, have been arrested and arraigned before the Tamale Circuit Court.

They have since been charged with conspiracy and abduction, and are expected to reappear in court on June 18, 2026.

The Ghana Police Service has arrested 39-year-old Michael Mensah in connection with the murder of Innocentia Atsufui Avinu, a University of Cape Coast student.

The suspect was arrested on June 15, 2026, at about 7:15 p.m. by the IGP’s Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team at the Pedu Lorry Station in Cape Coast, following sustained intelligence-led operations.

Preliminary investigations revealed that on June 11, 2026, at about 6:48 p.m., the suspect – who claims to be a teacher by profession but also works as a driver – picked up the deceased from Ayensu Plaza within the UCC hostel enclave and drove her to Hutchland Beach, where she was last seen.

Investigations are ongoing. The Police Service said it will communicate any further developments in due course.