Category: Daily Guide Network

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.

Minister for Finance and acting Minister of Defence , Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising military infrastructure to improve the welfare and operational readiness of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

Commissioning new accommodation, office and training facilities at Burma Camp last week, Dr. Forson said the projects reflect government’s resolve to give personnel infrastructure that supports efficiency and better living and working conditions.

The facilities commissioned include the Butler Barracks accommodation and office complex, the Central Ordnance Depot Headquarters, the School of Ordnance, and new facilities for the Ghana Armed Forces Central Band and Music School.

The project comprises accommodation blocks, office complexes, classrooms, rehearsal halls, a multi-purpose hall, and welfare amenities for beneficiary units.

The Central Band also received a modern music hall and auditorium to support its ceremonial, training and professional duties.

‘The completion of these facilities demonstrates our determination to invest in the men and women who protect our nation,’ Dr. Forson said. ‘I officially commission the Butler Barracks accommodation and office complex together with its complementary facilities for use by the Ghana Armed Forces.’

He reiterated the government’s commitment to completing other strategic defence projects, including the Afari Military Hospital, and to pursuing sustainable infrastructure development across the country.

Unique Devt Ltd Commended

Dr. Forson commended the Military High Command, the Ministry of Defence, the contractor, Unique Development Limited, and the project implementation team for delivering the project.

He urged personnel to protect and maintain the facilities, describing them as national assets for current and future generations.

Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, Air Vice Marshal Joshua Mensah-Larkai, described the project as a major investment in military readiness.

‘Military readiness begins at home,’ he said. ‘Military barracks are not just accommodation. They are the foundation of military life, where discipline, leadership, comradeship and the values of duty, loyalty and sacrifice are nurtured. Every investment in personnel is an investment in Ghana’s peace, stability and national development.’

He added that the new Butler Barracks compare favourably with similar facilities in armed forces around the world and reflect recognition of the sacrifices of personnel and their families.

Presenting the project report, Brigadier General Jonas Wiafe, Director of Engineering Services, said the complex includes 15 offices with conference rooms, two six-classroom lecture blocks, two 100-man student accommodation blocks, and eight one-bedroom housing units.

The facilities are supported by water and electricity systems, access roads and drainage to enable effective operations.

Brig. Gen. Wiafe warned that the Military High Command will sanction anyone who damages or alters the infrastructure.

He thanked Unique Development Limited, led by Berchie Acheamfour, Project Engineer, Mark Daniels, and subcontractors for completing the work despite operational challenges.

Jailed Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has filed an application for bail pending the hearing of his appeal against his conviction and 20-year prison sentence for permitting others to mine on his company’s concession without ministerial approval.

The application argues that the trial was fundamentally flawed in law and that the appeal raises substantial, serious and arguable questions of law and fact with overwhelming prospects of success.

‘The conviction proceeded upon grave errors of law which substantially affected the outcome of the trial, and the appeal discloses several exceptional circumstances warranting the exercise of this Honourable Court’s discretion in favour of the Applicant,’ a portion of the application stated.

The affidavit in support of the application contends that the appeal raises genuine and substantial constitutional questions concerning the interpretation of Article 19(11) of the 1992 Constitution and the constitutionality of Sections 14(1), 59 and 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as penal legislation.

It further argues that the trial judge usurped the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in alleged violation of Article 130(2) of the Constitution.

The appeal also challenges the trial judge’s decision on the grounds that she failed to interpret the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended, as a whole.

According to the application, Sections 13(8) and 46 of Act 703 exculpate Chairman Wontumi and his company from all the charges and are consistent with their innocence.

It further argues that the appeal challenges the trial judge’s attribution of criminal liability to Chairman Wontumi despite the separate legal personality of his company, Akonta Mining Company Limited, contrary to established principles of company law and criminal responsibility.

‘In fact, where an appeal raises substantial questions of law with strong prospects of success, this Honourable Court may properly exercise its discretion in favour of admitting the Applicant to bail pending appeal,’ the application states.

The documents also indicate that while on bail during the trial, Chairman Wontumi fully complied with all the conditions of his bail, attended every court sitting as required, and at no time attempted to abscond, evade the court’s jurisdiction, interfere with prosecution witnesses or obstruct the administration of justice.

The affidavit further states that Chairman Wontumi is not a flight risk, describing him as a responsible and law-abiding individual with deep-rooted family, business, professional and community ties within the jurisdiction.

‘He has no intention whatsoever of evading the due process of the law, and he is fully prepared to submit himself to the authority and jurisdiction of this Honourable Court as and when required. Any apprehension suggesting otherwise would be wholly unfounded and devoid of merit,’ the affidavit states.

It also argues that Chairman Wontumi’s continued availability to his legal team is essential for the effective preparation and prosecution of the appeal, as he participated throughout the trial and is familiar with the proceedings.

‘Significantly, bail in his favour will not only enable him to work hand in hand with counsel towards his acquittal but also make him available to consult and confer with counsel, unlike his present confinement, which naturally frustrates lawyer-client engagement,’ the application states.

Conviction

Chairman Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour on July 20, 2026, by a High Court presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay after being found guilty of offences under the Minerals and Mining Act.

He was also fined GHS120,000, while his company, Akonta Mining Company Limited, was fined GHS180,000 for unlawfully assigning its mining concession to a third party.

Chairman Wontumi was convicted on one count of assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval and another count of intentionally facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, contrary to Section 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by Section 3 of the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).

Our elders have said it, owo ka aniberee meaning a snake bites or stings out of frustration or distress.

The last time the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, appeared in Parliament, he said, among other things, that there was no arrears and boasted that so much has been saved towards the settlement of the first batch of payments under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), for which he was highly praised and applauded for the sound management of the economy.

However, because the DDEP was used as a major political tool, the government is doing everything possible to meet commitments.

But that is not the case for some ordinary Ghanaians, who instead of investing their finances in financial instruments or bonds, decided to supply food items under the Free Senior High School Policy in the Fourth Quarter of 2024.

Because of our obsession with partisan politics, our simplistic understanding is that anybody who does business under a certain regime, willy nilly, is a member or fanatic supporter of the political party that is in control under that regime.

However, it is a basic fact that not every such person is a political animal but a prudent individual who wants to deploy their finances prudently.

More imperative, in our country, services and supplies for government business in the fourth quarter, are usually paid for in the First Quarter of the ensuing year.

So, it happened that in September 2024, the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, spoke to me personally to help supply maize to senior high schools in the Ashanti Region.

He did so because most members of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS) had recommended a company, Rostella Enterprise, as a dependent, committed and reliable supplier of domestic food items to the schools and the manageress of the company happened to be my wife.

She was initially reluctant but I prevailed upon her, pointing out that the Free SHS programme is one of the most transformative policy initiatives of the government, whose full impact would be realised after more than a decade of implementation, when the literacy rate of the country is assessed.

I also assured her that once it was a government project, payment could not be repudiated by any future government once it was established to be genuine.

As a micro businesswoman, she had more discernment than myself, an innocent public servant who had an idealistic appreciation of our fundamentalist partisanship considerations.

However, after much persuasion, she mobilised resources and supplied the food items.

Her initial fears started to crystalise when the new government in 2025, decided to undertake a forensic audit into those supplies before going on with payments.

Thankfully, the audit was concluded and in July last year, the President announced that all such outstanding payments were to resume.

Both the National Food Buffer Stock Company and the Ghana Commodity Exchange, because of her record and the comments from members of CHASS in the Ashanti Region, encouraged her to register for new supplies, which she did by paying the respective registration fees of GHc5000 each.

However, due to the infantile and puerile thinking that all such suppliers were partisan and loyal to the previous government she has not since been given a contract for supplies.

When implementation commenced and allocations began, otherwise cooperative officials in both institutions became elusive and hostile to her enquires including a comment by one of the key officers at Buffer Stock, that he was not a member of the allocation committee and should not thus be disturbed any more.

A few weeks back, she had assured that she was on the approval been list.

This can only be a reflection of our warped thinking that those who get contracts under a government programme are loyalists or fanatical party supporters.

The irony though is that when public, political and government officials get the opportunity to speak publicly, they openly proffer sentimental nationalistic slogans and regurgitate the false narration that the country belongs to all of us and no one would be excluded from the sharing of the national cake or resources and that government business is not based on nepotism nor partisanship but on competence, quality of work and value for money.

Thus for the past 19 months the debt owed to Rostella Enterprise and others like her, whose only crime was that they did good business with the past administration, have had their money in arrears and each time they call to find out, the refrain is that we are waiting for releases from the Ministry of Finance.

What is devilish is the fact that new suppliers appointed since 2025; ostensibly loyal partisan members of the government are paid from the Ghana Education Trust Fund.

The question is, if government is raising money and depositing it towards the future payments under the DDEP, why has the same government failed to pay for supplies, forensically audited and established to be legitimate.

What the hell is the difference between legitimate food supplied to Ghanaian senior secondary school students under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo regime and those supplied under President John Dramani Mahama, if not because of fanatical partisanship consideration.

In an interview on Ghana Television last Tuesday, August 5, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, my Law Class 2002 mate, pointed out that the uncapped portion of the GETFund, is being applied to pay for food supplies under the Free SHS programme.

During the past administration, when suppliers under the same programme were owed and besieged the offices of Buffer Stock, it became justifiably a political matter and the Speaker of Parliament visited Buffer Stock to understand issues after which he appealed to the government to pay the suppliers, ordinary micro and small scale business men and women.

It worked.

For my part, when the Ministry of Education resorted to what was termed emergency supplies, which attracted prompt payments but cost higher, I complained directly to the Chief of Staff to draw her attention to the injustice and the travesty of the act, where those who had their supplies in arrears were paid less whilst emergency suppliers who were paid promptly received higher.

She agreed with my submission that things bought on credit must cost more than those paid for instantly.

Things began to work thereafter.

Personally, what this government, through the Ministry of Finance has done to me is that, they have beaten me and compelled me from crying, but ‘anka wonua womu a yennyi wo mfiri mu.’

It is simple.

Beyond not paying my wife, as Chairman of the National Media Commission from 2018 to 2024, since the last Commission ended its tenure on December 24, 2024, we have not received our arrears for 2022, 2023 and 2024 although new members have been paid part of their allowance since they assumed duty in May 2025.

The Minister of Finance and his colleagues who were MPs together with other Article 71 office holders have received their full salary arrears together with ex gratia awards whilst members of the NMC, the least remunerated among Article 71 office holders, are waiting endlessly for payment.

Members of the NMC are unqualified for ex gratia because they are said to be part-time, although Council of State members, equally non-permanent, receive ex gratia, as per the denunciation made by Togbe Afede, against the lodgement of ex gratia money into his account some time ago.

Whenever any of the former members of the NMC call me as Chairman to find out when the arrears would be paid, I call the accountant who keeps on telling me that they had not heard from the Ministry of Finance although the ministry collected the details for the payment in March 2025.

Nsuo fono aponkyereni a ogye woo and more so, se kokoram amfere se obeto wo nan ho a wo nso wo mfere se wode asaawa anaa ntomago bekyekyere so.

That is why I am openly appealing and reaching out to my former Roommate President John Dramani Mahama to ensure that justice is done to the previous NMC members, and more so, suppliers under the Free SHS programme, whose supplies have been in arrears since September 2024, knowing that it is the tradition of our country to meet outstanding payments from the Fourth Quarter in the First Quarter of the ensuing year, and especially because all funds sitting in the accounts of public agencies between January and March 2025 were swept back into the Consolidated Fund at the end of March as it is usual.

Gospel Musician, Piesie Esther, has won the Gospel Song of the Year award at the 2026 Ghana Music Awards-USA, held last Saturday in New Jersey.

Piesie Esther’s ‘Nyame Ye’ song won against the likes of Mabel Okyere – ‘So Far, So Good’; Paul Enana – ‘Baba God’; Diana Hamilton – Aha Ye (ft. Elder Mireku and Ntokozo Mbambo); and Ewura Abena – ‘Ebefa’.

In a post on Instagram after receiving the award, Piesie Esther expressed gratitude to her followers, promising them the best of worship songs in the coming years.

‘To God be all the glory! What an incredible honour it is to be recognised as Gospel Song of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards USA. This award is not just a trophy to me; it is a reminder of God’s faithfulness and a testimony that when you surrender your gift to Him, He can use it to touch lives beyond what you could ever imagine.

‘To everyone who listened, streamed, shared, voted, supported, prayed, and believed in me; thank you! Your love and support mean more than words can express. To my team, my family, collaborators, and everyone who played a part in this journey, I appreciate you deeply. And to the Ghanaian and global gospel community, thank you for continuing to embrace and celebrate the gift God has placed in me. I receive this recognition with a humble and grateful heart, knowing that the glory belongs to God alone,’ she stated.

Lionel Messi was absent from Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup clash with Monterrey on Saturday following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, at the age of 68.

Jorge, who had battled a long illness, died in a hospital in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina. He had also served as Messi’s agent from the time the Argentine star was just 14 years old and played a significant role in his son’s football career.

Inter Miami honoured Jorge before their 2-1 defeat to Monterrey with a minute’s silence, while the players wore black armbands. His name was also displayed on the stadium’s big screens, and the club changed its social media profile images to include a black ribbon.

‘Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family,’ the club said in a statement.

Messi’s Argentina team-mate Rodrigo De Paul also paid tribute in an emotional celebration after scoring Miami’s opening goal. He removed his shirt to reveal a Messi shirt underneath.

Support for Messi was also visible among the supporters, with fans displaying handmade messages honouring Jorge and expressing their condolences to the Argentine forward.

Messi’s close friend and former Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez, who was suspended for the match, paid tribute to Jorge on social media, saying he would continue watching over his son ‘with pride, as he always did’.

Barcelona also honoured Jorge before their friendly victory over Nottingham Forest in Udine, Italy, observing a minute’s silence.

Jorge played an important role in taking his teenage son to Barcelona in 2000, when Messi was 13, helping facilitate the move that would ultimately launch one of football’s greatest careers.

Barcelona expressed gratitude to Jorge for trusting the club with the early development of his son and for his commitment throughout Messi’s historic career.

Tributes have also emerged across Argentina, with fans leaving flowers and flags outside Messi’s childhood home in Rosario. Boca Juniors and River Plate both observed moments of silence before their respective matches.

The Argentine Football Association described Jorge’s death as a profound loss and extended its condolences to Messi and his entire family.

Paris Saint-Germain, where Messi played from 2021 to 2023, also sent its support to the former player and his loved ones during the difficult period.

Access Bank (Ghana) Plc has signed a strategic financing partnership with Mantrac Ghana, the authorised dealer of Caterpillar equipment, to expand access to capital for contractors and mining companies across the country.

The agreement, signed at a ceremony in Accra, brings Access Bank together with four other leading local banks in a consortium financing arrangement designed to make it easier for businesses in Ghana’s infrastructure ecosystem to acquire heavy equipment and execute projects at scale.

Under the partnership, eligible contractors and mining firms will gain access to tailored financing solutions including working capital and equipment financing, structured to help them acquire world-class Caterpillar machinery without the constraints that have traditionally limited their growth.

Executive Director, Wholesale Banking at Access Bank, Nana Kwabena Afoom, described access to capital as one of the biggest barriers preventing contractors from scaling their operations.

‘At Access Bank, we understand that ambition has never been the challenge for contractors and mining companies. The real constraint has always been capital and access to capital. A contractor with a strong order book is not a bad risk. It is a mispriced one. We at Access Bank price it right.’

Mr. Afoom noted that Access Bank’s footprint across 16 African countries, alongside operations in the United Kingdom and Mauritius, positions the Bank to support contractors and mining firms on projects that extend beyond Ghana’s borders. He added that the Bank favours bespoke financing over standardised packages.

‘We don’t believe in templates. Every contractor has unique financing needs, and we are ready to sit with every customer to structure bespoke solutions that support their businesses. Equipment financed is equipment deployed. You have heard Banks make promises before. We are not visiting that sector, we live here.’

Frank Amegbeji, Group Head of Corporate Banking at Access Bank Ghana, described the partnership as a timely intervention that aligns with Ghana’s infrastructure development agenda and the government’s ongoing investment in major construction projects.

‘We see local businesses as the engine of Ghana’s economic growth. Through this partnership, Access Bank will provide working capital, equipment financing and other tailored financial solutions that will help contractors and mining companies execute projects successfully.’

Managing Director of Mantrac Ghana, Pierre Lambert Hill, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to making Caterpillar’s globally recognised equipment more accessible through innovative financing.

‘This collaboration brings together leading financial institutions to make quality equipment accessible to more companies. Whether small, medium or large, businesses will now have better financing options that enable them to acquire Caterpillar equipment and deliver quality projects,’ he said.

Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a surprise defeat in the Canadian Open weeks before she begins her US Open title defence, while Britain’s Cameron Norrie also bowed out in the last 16.

Sabalenka lost 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-4 to Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in a match lasting almost two and a half hours in Toronto.

The Belarusian recovered from a set down to force a decider, but a double fault when serving to stay in the match handed the number 16 seed victory.

It is the latest defeat in what has been a difficult summer for Sabalenka, who was knocked out in the quarter-finals and last 16 of the French Open and Wimbledon respectively.

‘I just tried to play every single point as if it was the last one because with her, you don’t [get] a lot of chances during the match,’ Alexandrova said.

‘I’m super happy that I could win because after the second set, I thought [the chance] was already past me.’

The Russian will face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina for a place in the semi-finals, after she defeated American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-2 6-4.

Third seed Jessica Pegula suffered a first career loss to Diana Shnaider, as the 22-year-old finished both sets strongly to win 6-3 6-3.

The Russian will face Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, after the seventh seed overcame opening set service troubles to defeat 10th seed Marta Kostyuk 3-6 6-1 6-2.

The six-time Grand Slam winner retired to the locker room after Kostyuk broke her serve four times during a shambolic a 39-minute opening set, but looked much improved when she returned.

In the men’s event in Montreal, British number two Cameron Norrie spurned two set-point opportunities as he was defeated 6-2 7-6 (10-8) by 18th seed Arthur Fils.

Norrie saved three match points in the second set to force a tie-break, but the Frenchman broke his serve to win in one hour and 43 minutes.

Fils will meet Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar in the quarter-finals, after the 19-year-old upset eighth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-3 6-3.

Brandon Nakashima and Luciano Darderi also progressed to the next round with gruelling three-set victories over Arthur Rinderknech and Nuno Borges respectively.

Italian Darderi used a mid-match changeover to enjoy an espresso as he battled to a 4-6 6-3 7-5 win.