Category: Daily Guide Network

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.

A High Court in Accra yesterday dismissed an application by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) asking it to stay the execution of its order for the Attorney General (AG) to take over all cases being prosecuted by the OSP because it does not have power to prosecute without authorisation from the AG.

The court, presided over by Justice Eugene John Nyante Nyadu, refused the application which had asked the court to halt the implementation of the order to allow the OSP appeal the decision.

The OSP has indicated that it will immediately repeat the application for stay of execution at the Court of Appeal.

The OSP has already filed legal challenges at the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal challenging the High Court’s decision.

No Power To Prosecute

The court, in April this year, set aside all convictions secured by the OSP as a result of its failure to obtain the authorisation of the Attorney General to initiate the prosecution of those cases as spelt out in Section 4(2) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).

According to the court, the OSP does not have the power to initiate the prosecution of criminal offences without the express authorisation of the Attorney General, who is mandated by Article 88 of the 1992 Constitution to initiate criminal cases in the name of the Republic.

‘The purported exercise of prosecutorial power by the respondent (OSP) without lawful authorisation is unlawful,’ the court held its ruling on an application challenging the authority of the OSP to initiate prosecution of corruption and related offences without the authorisation of the Attorney General.

The order only affects two known cases in which the OSP has secured convictions-both of which resulted in a plea bargain with the accused persons.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Nyante Nyadu, came at the back of an application for review against charges initiated by the OSP against James Keck Osei, the Administrator at the Office of former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; Issah Seidu, a staff at the National Insurance Commission; John Abban and Peter Archibald Hyde, all senior Customs officers at the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).

Among the accusations against the accused is the alleged use of fake documents and letters from the Office of the Vice President to clear a container from the Tema Port.

The application filed by Archibald Hyde was challenging the powers of the OSP to prosecute cases without the authorisation of the Attorney General.

He sought among others, a declaration that in the absence of such authorisation from the Attorney General, the OSP’s exercise of prosecutorial powers is unconstitutional, unlawful and null and void.

He also sought a restraining order on the OSP from initiating, conducting, or continuing prosecutions in the name of the Republic unless duly authorised by the Attorney General.

Ruling

Justice Nyadu, in his ruling, held that perhaps the officers of the OSP by their name ‘Special Prosecutor’ had erroneously assumed that Section 4(2) of Act 959 consequentially amended Article 88 of the Constitution and placed them at par with the Attorney General.

The court held that since Article 88(3) makes the Attorney General responsible for the initiation and conduct of prosecution of all criminal offences in Ghana, the Attorney General is ordered to take over all prosecutions currently being handled by the OSP in the various courts pending the submission of its application to the Attorney General for the grant of authorisation to its officers by way of an Executive Instrument to enable them prosecute criminal offences.

The court consequently nullified all convictions secured by the OSP as a result of the ‘purported exercise of prosecutorial power.’

Justice Nyante Nyadu further ordered the retrial of the persons convicted through trials initiated by the OSP pending the Office applying to the Attorney General for its officers to be authorised to conduct criminal prosecutions and the issue of the necessary Executive Instrument in that regard.

The sorry picture peasant farmers have painted about the state of their occupation in recent times could not have been direr.

Literally throwing their hands in the air in despair, they say they do not have sufficient inputs such as fertiliser to feed their farms. With one of them claiming it has never been this bad in the past thirty years, poor harvests could be beckoning the nation, the repercussions of which can only be imagined.

Peasant farming accounts for a substantial quantity of food crops produced and consumed in the country and any government which pays lip-service to this fact will be acting unwisely.

For them to threaten cutting down on their farms just so they can manage the quantity of inputs at their disposal speaks about what awaits the country in terms of food crops production. Besides affecting food production, this would impact our efforts to reverse poverty, which is already on the rise in both the rural and urban areas.

Wouldn’t the youth shy away from farming if such challenges are being faced by the ageing farmers? And the authorities pretend to be making farming attractive for the youth?

Sufficient information has been sent to government about what is happening to farmers in the country in real time. We do not expect the relevant authorities to overlook the pleas and treat it with the usual ‘business as usual’ approach.

It is disgusting to think that the situation has been triggered somewhat by the bad blood between the Finance and Agriculture ministers, both of them vying for the flagbearership slot of their party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Ghanaians would never forget the NDC should the situation of the farmers result in poor harvests. We cannot afford to fold our arms as the two ministers refuse to resolve their differences but rather allow this to spill to the public space with irritating repercussions.

We do not care about their personal interests but rather what inure to the good of the country, and that is abundant food at affordable prices.

Unfortunately, the President is yet to respond to the growing incidence of indiscipline that has gripped his government as witnessed by ministers trading invectives in the media. These appointees must be called to order lest the arrogance impacts good governance, which is happening already.

At this time, we expect the President to issue a statement responding to the plight of the farmers. This has gone beyond the ministers whose reactions would only exacerbate the situation because of the incendiary rhetoric these would contain.

The planting season is on, and if farmers are unable to get the assurance so they can plan their assignments, harvests would be impacted definitely.

Farms are hungry for fertilisers as the farmers said, and would need these inputs in their assorted forms to rejuvenate them for the next bout of planting which is due.

The Finance and Agriculture Ministers must work hand in hand to ensure the country does not suffer poor harvests and their attendant negative impacts. If they cannot, they must get off the positions they hold.

National Chief, Imam Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, has called on all Ghanaians to offer prayers and unwavering support for the Black Stars as the team begins its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.

In a press statement issued on Monday, June 15, the Chief Imam extended ‘warmest goodwill, solidarity, and prayers’ to the Black Stars as they prepare to face Panama in their opening Group L match on Wednesday, June 17, at BMO Field in Toronto.

‘His Eminence prays that Almighty Allah grants the players, technical team, and management divine guidance, strength, wisdom, unity, discipline, and resilience throughout the tournament,’ the statement read.

He further prays for safety, protection from injury, and the fortitude to perform with excellence, dignity, and honour.

Following a recent visit by the Ghana Football Association to his office, the Chief Imam has directed Imams across the country, particularly Regional and District Imams, to remember the Black Stars in their prayers and supplications. Special prayers are being offered for the team’s opener against Panama and for Ghana’s entire World Cup campaign – the nation’s fifth appearance at the tournament.

‘The Black Stars carry not only the aspirations of football supporters but also the collective hopes, pride, and identity of the Ghanaian people,’ the Chief Imam noted.

‘Their participation on the global stage serves as a powerful symbol of national unity and patriotism, transcending political, ethnic, and religious differences.’

He urged Ghanaians to ‘rally behind the team with one voice and one spirit’ as Coach Carlos Queiroz’s men look to make the nation proud.

‘May Almighty Allah bless the Black Stars with success and make their participation a source of pride, joy, and inspiration for Ghana and future generations. Go Black Stars! Go Ghana!’

The Black Stars depart Rhode Island for Toronto on Monday ahead of Wednesday’s 11pm 7:00 kickoff.

The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has refuted claims of abuse of the single-sourcing procurement process in the award of road contracts under the ‘Big Push’ initiative, stating that over 90 percent of the projects were awarded through competitive tendering.

Addressing journalists as part of Government Accountability series in Accra yesterday, Kwakye Ofosu revealed that the Presidency has released findings of a 72-page report which will be published today.

A summary issued on Monday outlines the government’s response to claims made by the Fourth Estate and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in an April 1, 2026 publication, which indicated that government did not breach procurement laws.

President John Mahama referred the matter to the Senior Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs on April 2, 2026, to investigate the allegations. The Ministry of Roads and Highways submitted its response on April 21, and the final report was delivered to the President on May 22.

On the contract breakdown, the report established that 1,441 road contracts have been awarded by the Ministry of Roads and Highways under the current administration. Of that total, 1,301 contracts, or 90.28%, were awarded through open or competitive tendering.

The remaining 140 were awarded under the ‘Big Push’ initiative. Of those, 66 were single-sourced, 51 were through restrictive tendering, and 23 were ongoing single-source projects inherited from the previous government and absorbed into ‘Big Push’.

Under ‘Big Push’ alone, 47.14% of the 140 contracts were single-sourced. All implementing agencies including Ghana Highway Authority, Department of Urban Roads, and Department of Feeder Roads obtained Public Procurement Authority Board approval for single-source and restricted tender awards, part of the report stated.

Justification for Single Sourcing

The report found that single sourcing 47.14% of ‘Big Push’ contracts was ‘informed by urgent and compelling national considerations.’ It cited accelerated infrastructure delivery, procurement efficiency, public and national security urgency due to road degradation, and fiscal risk mitigation against inflation.

The ministry followed procedures required by law and did not breach procurement rules under the Public Procurement Act, 2003, the report concluded.

On claims about the Dodo-Pepesu-Nkwanta Road, the report said the Ministry of Finance’s July 11, 2025, Commitment Authorisation listed the estimated cost at GHS684,001,621.50.

A Ghana Highway Authority letter dated December 31, 2025, stated that the contract sum awarded was GHS683,902,957.69. A higher figure of GHS804,828,456.81 published elsewhere ‘would appear to have been a genuine typographical error,’ the report said, as the Commitment Authorisation does not allow payment above GHS684,001,621.50.

Value for Money Claims

The report rejected claims that awarding multiple lots to one contractor inflates costs. ‘This logic implies that diversifying contractors across lots would reduce expenditures,’ it said, noting independent contractors would not share preliminaries and general costs.

On the 25km Winneba-Cape Coast Road Lot 2 costing GHS3.859 billion versus Lot 1 at GHS1.878 billion for 24km, the report said the higher cost per kilometre was due to a different scope, including three grade-separated systems, a 1,200-metre viaduct, and four long-span bridges.

Regarding the Dodo-Pepesu Nkwanta Road, the report clarified that work inaugurated in 2016 was double bituminous sealing, not asphalting. The current scope includes scarification, new drains, subbase, crushed rock base, asphalt binder, and asphalt wearing surface, accounting for higher costs.

Recommendations

The report made four recommendations: All public sector single-source contracts above a set threshold must get a Value for Money Certificate before award.

Such contracts must also receive Cabinet approval; legislation to tighten discretion on single sourcing should be accelerated; and procurement entities must publish approved single-source contracts, valuations, and beneficial owners on an open e-procurement portal.

Conclusion

The report concluded that the Ministry of Roads and Highways ‘did not abuse the single source procurement process’ and ‘acted within legal provisions.’

It recognised the transparency efforts of the Fourth Estate and MFWA as ‘serving an essential role in fostering public accountability’ while also recognising the ministry’s commitment to the ‘Big Push’ agenda to accelerate infrastructure development.

The legal team of Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) has changed following the decision to drop Andy Appiah-Kubi and appoint Samuel Atta-Akyea, as a High Court in Accra is set to deliver its judgment in the Samreboi ‘illegal’ mining case.

The court, yesterday struck out an application filed by Mr. Appiah-Kubi to withdraw as counsel for Chairman Wontumi, who has been accused of permitting others to mine on his Akonta Mining Company Limited’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region without authorisation from the sector minister.

The court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, said the application was alien and not known to any criminal procedure rule, and subsequently dismissed it for being incompetent.

Withdrawal

Mr. Appiah-Kubi had filed an application seeking to withdraw his services as Chairman Wontumi’s lawyer, barely three weeks before the court delivers its judgment.

He indicated in the application that he believes his client’s interest will be better served if he withdraws to allow other professionals to come in and take over from where he is leaving off.

He pointed out that the decision to withdraw is influenced by certain occurrences during the trial and some decisions taken by the court in which he said he feels disappointed and does not want same to affect his performance and, ultimately, the fortunes of his clients.

He moved the application yesterday before the court, hoping the court will grant his request. Prior to that, he had announced himself as counsel for the accused person.

Opposition

The application was opposed by Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, who argued that the court did not have jurisdiction to determine such an application.

He argued that there is no rule or legal requirement requiring a defence counsel in a criminal trial to seek leave from a judge before withdrawiung his service for an accused.

He further argued that Mr. Appiah-Kubi has no standing in the matter as he is not an accused person, hence could not file an interlocutory application for the court to grant such request.

Dr. Srem-Sai therefore urged the court to strike out the application for being incompetent.

Ruling

Justice Kocuvie-Tay, in her ruling, held that just as there is no procedural requirement for a defence lawyer to file appearance in a criminal trial, there is no such requirement on him to file a motion seeking leave of the court to withdraw his services.

She was of the opinion that Mr. Appiah-Kubi did not need her permission to withdraw his service, noting that that decision is a matter between him and Chairman Wontumi.

She, however, expressed concern about the lawyer ‘abandoning’ his client at this stage of the trial when the court had set a date for judgment.

That notwithstanding, she said the current development will not affect the court’s timeline.

She extended the time given to the prosecution and the defence to file written addresses from June 17 to June 24, 2026, while maintaining July 3 as the day to deliver her judgment.

Atta-Akyea

Moments after the court’s decision, information popped up that Chairman Wontumi had appointed Mr. Atta-Akyea as his new counsel.

Chairman Wontumi indicated in a statement that the decision was taken after careful consultation and in the exercise of my constitutional right to legal representation by counsel of my own choosing.

‘It is intended to ensure that my defence is presented fully, effectively, and in accordance with the law,’ he said.

He further indicated that his decision to hire a new counsel ‘should not be construed as a reflection on their competence or dedication but rather as an exercise of my legal right to determine the composition of my defence team.’

He expressed gratitude to his previous legal team for ‘their services and commitment throughout these proceedings.’

Fast-rising Ghanaian musician Mercy Onuawonto Sam, widely known in the entertainment industry as iOna Reine, has officially signed a management agreement with Aneki LLC.

The move is expected to significantly accelerate her growth and visibility in the music industry. With her new management team now in place, iOna Reine is optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead and believes the partnership will help take her career to the next level.

The singer described the signing as a turning point that could transform her journey as an artiste. ‘This signing is a career boost that will push me to the top, and I am ready to work hard,’ she said.

According to iOna Reine, the challenges of operating independently have taught her valuable lessons, but she believes having a professional management team behind her will make a significant difference in achieving her long-term goals.

‘I’m very excited about the signing and I believe this is what every artiste wants to boost their career. As an independent artiste, it was difficult, but with my new family, I believe it’s going to boost my career and release good music to fans,’ she said.

The partnership with Aneki LLC is expected to focus on artiste development, brand growth, strategic marketing, and creating opportunities that will expose her music to larger audiences both locally and internationally. Industry insiders see the move as a positive step that could position the singer for greater success in an increasingly competitive music landscape.

Beyond the business aspect of the deal, iOna Reine says her primary focus remains on her fans and delivering music that reflects her growth and artistic evolution. She revealed that exciting projects are already underway, and promised supporters that they can expect fresh releases in the coming months.

KGL Foundation last week sponsored a health screening exercise for many residents of Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital.

The screening covered a broad and critical range of health conditions; Hepatitis B and C, HIV, malaria, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and basic health assessments. Crucially, the exercise also incorporated mental health screening, an often-overlooked dimension of wellbeing that rarely features in community health outreach.

A blood donation drive rounded out the programme. These are conditions and causes that matter precisely because so many of them develop silently, showing no obvious symptoms until the damage is already done.

Programmes Manager, Nii Ankonu Annorbah-Sarpei put it plainly: ‘A lot of Ghanaians don’t really pay much attention to their health, so this initiative will help people to know their health.’

He stressed that knowing one’s health status is the first and most important step toward preventing complications. And that early detection, not emergency treatment, is where lives are truly saved. His concern about late diagnoses and avoidable deaths felt less like a talking point and more like a genuine appeal from someone who has seen what happens when people wait too long.

Public Health Nurse, Rosemary Akolbire, echoed that sentiment, pointing to the quiet epidemic of non-communicable diseases spreading through communities undetected. ‘Of late, we have other non-communicable diseases that people are moving around without knowing,’ she noted, adding that free community interventions like this one are essential for bridging the healthcare access gap, especially for vulnerable groups and low-income families. Hypertension, diabetes, hepatitis, HIV, and mental health conditions do not discriminate by income. But access to diagnosis often does, and that is the gap events like this one exist to close.

For beneficiary Abubakar Zakaria, the exercise was more than timely. It was necessary. ‘Many people had never undergone some of these tests before due to cost barriers,’ he said, speaking for a significant portion of those who showed up that rainy morning, determined to leave knowing more about themselves than when they arrived. Others left with something perhaps equally valuable: a renewed awareness of personal health management and what it actually means to be proactive about one’s wellbeing.

Mr. Annorbah-Sarpei also took a moment to spotlight the centrality of women and children in Ghanaian society, noting that healthy mothers and children are not just family assets. They are national ones.

The calls from beneficiaries for other organisations to follow suit were loud and clear. But for now, the KGL Foundation has set a standard worth noting.

The Managing Director of Telecel Cash and Digital Transformation, Philip Amoateng, has called on Ghana to treat internet connectivity as a fundamental human right, arguing that the country cannot achieve its ambition of becoming a leading and inclusive digital economy without making digital infrastructure a national development priority.

Speaking at the 10th Ghana CEO Summit in Accra, Mr. Amoateng stressed that economic transformation would require more than investments in roads, bridges and other physical infrastructure.

Addressing the summit’s opening high-level leadership dialogue on the theme, ‘From Vision to Action: Leadership, Technology and Industrialisation as Catalysts for Ghana’s Economic Transformation,’ he urged policymakers to integrate internet connectivity into every major infrastructure project across the country.

The summit was attended by business leaders, policymakers, investors and industry experts, with President John Mahama delivering the keynote address as Special Guest of Honour.

Mr. Amoateng noted that Ghana’s development planning has traditionally focused on physical infrastructure while overlooking digital connectivity, which he described as equally essential for national growth.

‘As a nation, we tend to focus only on physical highways when building national infrastructure, without thinking about incorporating internet connectivity from the foundation. If we are serious about connecting every community in Ghana, our national focus must be to prioritise digital infrastructure in every development plan,’ he said.

He further called for all second-cycle educational institutions to be connected to the internet, describing digital access as critical to preparing young people for participation in the modern economy.

Touching on spectrum licensing policies, Mr. Amoateng cautioned against approaches that prioritise short-term government revenue at the expense of long-term connectivity goals.

While acknowledging that upfront licence fees provide immediate income for governments, he argued that excessive costs could slow investments in telecommunications infrastructure and limit the expansion of digital services.

Using the nation’s 5G licensing process as an example, he advocated a balanced approach that includes favourable financing arrangements and incentives for telecom operators that extend connectivity to public institutions and underserved rural communities.

His remarks come as the country seeks to accelerate digital transformation and expand access to high-speed internet services nationwide.

At the summit, Telecel Ghana’s Chief Executive Officer, Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai, was honoured with the ‘CEO of the Year – Telecom’ award in recognition of her leadership and the company’s continued growth in revenue, profitability and customer numbers.

Launching the CEO-Government Compact 2026, a new framework aimed at strengthening accountability and innovation in public-private partnerships, President Mahama underscored the importance of sustained collaboration between government and the private sector.

He said the relationship must go beyond annual engagements and be reflected in concrete investments, innovation, industrial growth and job creation.