Category: Daily Guide Network

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.

MTN GHANA has expanded its annual sustainability drive into a full month-long programme, marking what the company calls a major step in embedding responsible business practices across its operations.

The 2026 Sustainability Month was launched by the company’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Adwoa Wiafe, who said the move reflects MTN’s commitment to moving beyond symbolic gestures.

‘Sustainability goes beyond environmental conservation or symbolic actions such as wearing green or driving electric vehicles. It is about shaping responsible business practices, creating shared values and working collectively to improve society,’ Adwoa Wiafe said.

Planned activities include lunch-and-learn sessions, visits to recycling plants, tree-planting exercises, and departmental sustainability conversations aimed at strengthening the company’s sustainability culture.

Mrs. Wiafe said the timing is critical as Ghana prepares to implement the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Sustainability Disclosure Standards (S1 and S2), which will require businesses to measure, disclose and report their environmental and social impacts.

MTN Ghana CEO, Stephen Blewett, said the decision to dedicate a full month shows the growing importance of the agenda. ‘For the past two years, we used one week to focus attention on sustainability. This year, MTN Ghana is dedicating a full month for this agenda. The responsibility is bigger. And the opportunity is bigger,’ Mr. Blewett stated.

This year’s theme, ‘Together for a Sustainable Future: Small Actions, Big Impact,’ stressed that sustainability must be treated as a core business discipline, not charity.

‘Our growth must open doors for people, strengthen communities, enable businesses, protect the environment and build trust. As we mark 30 years of enabling the benefits of a modern connected life, we can be proud of what has been built’ he said.

Mr. Blewett added that ESG is ‘not a label, it is a leadership discipline’ that turns shared value into results. ‘Through Doing for Planet, we treat resource efficiency, climate responsibility and waste reduction as business resilience issues, not just environmental ones,’ he noted.

‘As CEO, my expectation is clear: sustainability must show up in how we plan, how we execute, how we choose suppliers, how we design products, how we manage risk and how we hold ourselves accountable. Sustainability is not a department. It is a discipline,’ he said.

Mr. Blewett added that the month-long campaign will focus on moving sustainability ‘from awareness to ownership, and from ownership to measurable impact’ as the company aligns with its Ambition 2030 strategy.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Sunday joined mourners and members of the Kristo Asafo Church for a grand national thanksgiving service in honour of the late Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka.

The service was held at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi.

Dr. Bawumia was warmly received by the late Apostle’s first child, Adwoa Safo Kantanka, former MP for Dome Kwabenya, who assisted him to exchange pleasantries with family members, friends, and congregants.

Other prominent NPP figures present included Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, former Majority Leader who now serves as Chief of Staff for Dr. Bawumia’s restructured political office and 2028 campaign architecture, and Nana Akomea, former Minister for Information, alongside other party bigwigs.

The thanksgiving service, which began at 9:00 a.m., was organized by the Kristo Asafo Mission in collaboration with the Kantanka family to express gratitude to God for the life of Apostle Emeritus Professor Engineer Kwadwo Safo.

Clad in all-white printed cloth bearing the face of Apostle Safo Kantanka, members of Kristo Asafo from across the country assembled to honour the legacy of one of Ghana’s most celebrated spiritual leaders, inventors, industrialists, technologists and philanthropists.

According to the organizers, the service was intended not only to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Apostle, but also to thank God for blessing his family, the Church, and the nation with a visionary whose 113 years on earth left a lasting impact.

They noted that his contributions continue to influence Ghana’s spiritual, technological, industrial, agricultural and socio-economic development.

The final thanksgiving marked the close of the formal commemorations for the late Apostle Kantanka, who remains revered for his pioneering work in faith, innovation, and industry.

A driver and his mate are receiving treatment at the Nyinahin Government Hospital after sustaining serious injuries in a road crash at Adiembra in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region.

The two men were travelling in a tipper truck that reportedly lost control, veered off the road and crashed, leaving both occupants with severe injuries.

The Assembly Member for the Adiembra Electoral Area, Ibrahim Issahak, who confirmed the incident, said residents and other road users rushed to the scene and rescued the victims before they were transported to the Nyinahin Government Hospital for emergency treatment.

According to him, medical personnel attending to the victims indicated that they were responding to treatment but remained under close observation due to the severity of their injuries.

Mr. Issahak expressed concern over the increasing number of road crashes on that stretch of the road, describing it as an accident hotspot.

He appealed to the government to take urgent steps to improve road safety by installing warning signs and implementing other measures to reduce accidents in the area.

Police officers visited the scene shortly after the crash and have commenced investigations to determine its cause. The damaged vehicle has since been towed from the scene.

The latest incident adds to the growing number of road accidents recorded in the Atwima Mponua District in recent months, prompting renewed calls from road safety advocates for motorists to exercise greater caution, particularly when travelling on rural roads.

The Northern Regional Police Command, has commenced investigations into the death of two females whose bodies were found in a room at Cab Hospitality Hotel, located in the Gbewa Residential Area of Tamale in the Northern region.

A statement signed by the Northern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Wisdom Lavoe, indicated that following a report from the hotel management, Police proceeded to the scene where the bodies of the two females believed to be Benin nationals were found.

He stated that the bodies have since been conveyed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital Mortuary for preservation and a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

DCOP Lavoe, disclosed that preliminary investigations have commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths, identify the deceased persons, and liaise with the relevant authorities to facilitate contact with their families.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has deployed a special team of Investigators, Intelligence Officers and a Crime Scene Team from the National Police Headquarters to assist the Northern Regional Police Command with the investigations.

The Northern Regional Police Command has urged the public with credible information to report to the nearest Police Station.

The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has banned two Port Health officers from working at the Accra International Airport and all other airports under its management after they were caught extorting money from a passenger, in the first major disciplinary action under its renewed crackdown on corruption at the country’s airports.

The officers, who were stationed at Terminal 3 of the Accra International Airport, were found on August 5 to have charged a foreign passport holder US$40 for a Yellow Fever Card instead of the approved US$20 fee.

In a statement issued yesterday, GACL announced that the officers’ identification cards had been withdrawn and deactivated, effectively barring them from operating at any airport managed by the company.

‘As of Thursday, August 6, 2026, the two officers are no longer permitted to work at Accra International Airport or any other GACL-operated airport,’ the statement said.

The sanctions come barely 24 hours after GACL unveiled a raft of measures aimed at eliminating extortion and other unethical practices at the country’s airports.

The latest action is the first known enforcement measure following a stakeholder meeting convened by GACL on August 5 to address what it described as the ‘unacceptable practice of extortion (begging)’ by personnel operating within airport facilities.

At the meeting, stakeholders agreed to introduce a ‘mystery shopping’ initiative, under which undercover operatives will monitor service delivery and identify officials who demand or receive unauthorised payments from passengers.

The company also announced a ‘name and shame’ policy intended to expose officers found engaging in extortion as part of efforts to deter misconduct and strengthen accountability.

According to GACL, personnel found culpable will face disciplinary sanctions and will no longer be allowed to work at any airport or within airport premises.

In a related development, the company disclosed that it had taken note of a viral video showing a Ghana Immigration Service officer allegedly demanding money for ‘breakfast’ from a traveller.

GACL said the Ghana Immigration Service had confirmed that the officer featured in the video had since been transferred from the airport.

The company stressed that the latest sanctions underscore its commitment to enforcing a zero-tolerance policy on extortion and warned that surveillance and enforcement measures would continue across all airports under its management.

‘Everyone is being watched,’ the statement cautioned.

As part of efforts to improve passenger experience and protect Ghana’s aviation reputation, GACL has also established a dedicated public reporting hotline through which travellers can report incidents of extortion and misconduct.

It urged passengers to support the campaign by reporting any officials who solicit unauthorised payments, adopting the slogan: ‘Spot it. Record it. Report it.’

Hundreds of supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) yesterday marched to the Jubilee House and, after a brief standoff over protocol, presented a petition to President John Dramani Mahama under protest, accusing the government of undermining democracy, abusing state power and selectively administering justice.

The protest, dubbed ‘Democracy Under Attack’, saw party supporters dressed in red and black march through the principal streets of Accra, chanting party songs and carrying placards with messages, including ‘Two judges, two sets of laws in Ghana’, ‘Stop the abuse of power’, ‘Courts are for justice, not political revenge’, and ‘Stop criminalising free speech.’

The presentation of the petition was briefly delayed after NPP leaders objected to the government’s decision to assign a Presidential Staffer, Nana Yaa Jantuah, to receive it on behalf of President Mahama.

The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, insisted that a petition presented by senior officials of the largest opposition party, including himself and the party’s General Secretary, deserved to be received by a senior government official.

Describing the arrangement as disrespectful, Mr. Afenyo-Markin initially declined to present the petition but later agreed in the interest of democracy. He subsequently designated the party’s Deputy National Youth Organiser, Sandra Sarkodie-Addo, to hand over the document to Nana Yaa Jantuah.

Presenting the petition, Mr. Afenyo-Markin cautioned the government against using state institutions to persecute political opponents, stressing that political power is temporary.

‘We are saying democracy is under attack, and let us all take steps as players in the governance structure to correct it and make Ghana a better place,’ he stated.

He added that assigning only Nana Yaa Jantuah to receive the petition amounted to disrespect for the NPP.

‘Without prejudice to your person, to nominate only you to come amounts to disrespecting us as a political party,’ he remarked.

The protest march drew several prominent figures within the NPP, including the General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong; the Deputy General Secretary, Haruna Mohammed; former National Chairman, Freddie Blay; National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye; former Works and Housing Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah; former Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei Asare; former Abuakwa South MP, Samuel Atta Akyea; former National Lottery Authority Chief Executive and MP for Akuapem North, Sammy Awuku; former Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye; and Weija-Gbawe MP and Minority Whip Jerry Ahmed Shaib.

Before arriving at the Jubilee House, the demonstrators had presented separate petitions to the Supreme Court and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), raising concerns over what they described as growing threats to judicial independence and the rule of law.

Responding on behalf of the Presidency, Nana Yaa Jantuah explained that senior government officials were unavailable because they were participating in activities marking the first anniversary of the military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of several government officials and security personnel. She also urged all political actors to operate within the country’s laws.

Addressing supporters after the petition was presented, Mr. Afenyo-Markin accused the Mahama administration of abandoning major campaign promises, including the proposed 24-Hour Economy, job creation initiatives and the ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ programme.

Instead, he alleged, the government had shifted its focus to pursuing members of the opposition through weaponisation of state institutions.

He cited the imprisonment of the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, as an example of what he described as political persecution and questioned the circumstances surrounding the case.

The Minority Leader further accused EOCO of imposing excessive bail conditions on opposition figures by demanding properties worth millions of cedis before granting bail.

In the petition, the NPP demanded that the Attorney General publish a comprehensive account of all criminal cases involving persons affiliated with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) that had been discontinued, withdrawn or otherwise terminated since January 2025, together with the reasons for those decisions.

According to the party, such disclosure is necessary to promote transparency, accountability and fairness in the administration of justice.

‘Without a doubt, our democracy is under siege. The 1992 Constitution, for which so many sacrificed, is being hollowed out before our very eyes, and all well-meaning Ghanaians, irrespective of political affiliation, ethnicity or creed, must rise to defend it,’ Mr. Afenyo-Markin declared.

He thanked party supporters for their massive turnout and conveyed appreciation from the NPP’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and the National Council, saying the demonstration had shown that the party remained united and capable of mobilising despite being in opposition.

He urged members to remain united and work towards recapturing political power in the 2028 general election.

Actor and New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporter, Prince David Osei, has thrown his support behind the party’s ‘Democracy Under Attack’ demonstration, saying the voices of Ghanaians cannot be silenced.

Ahead of the protest, which was held on Wednesday, August 6, Prince David Osei took to social media to call for what he described as true democracy, urging citizens to stand up for their constitutional rights.

‘Our voices will never be silenced. We are not afraid. True democracy is what we seek as a nation – enough of the intimidation and arrests of citizens for exercising their constitutional rights. Ghana, wake up! Stand up for justice, freedom and the principles that unite us,’ he wrote.

The demonstration attracted scores of NPP supporters, sympathisers and party executives from across the country, who marched through the principal streets of Accra from the vicinity of the Supreme Court to the Jubilee House.

Protesters carried placards bearing inscriptions such as ‘Democracy Is Not a Crime,’ ‘Free Our TikTokers,’ and ‘Hostel Fees Are Too Much,’ as they expressed concerns over what they described as undemocratic practices by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

According to the NPP, the demonstration was organised to defend the rule of law, constitutional governance and democratic accountability. The party said the protest was also intended to highlight what it considers growing threats to Ghana’s democratic principles under the current administration.

The NPP further stated that the demonstration forms part of its campaign against what it describes as political persecution, selective justice and the abuse of state institutions.

Among the issues raised by the party was the acquittal and discharge of former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, which it said raised concerns about the consistency and impartiality of the justice system.

The party also protested what it described as the arbitrary arrest, detention and harassment of some of its members by state investigative and security agencies, arguing that the actions were politically motivated and intended to intimidate the opposition.