Category: Daily Guide Network

Two officials of the Energy Commission have been detained by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) as investigations intensify into the smuggling of $208 million worth of methamphetamine (meth) concealed in a consignment of charcoal from Ghana to Australia.

According to sources, the two officials were taken into custody to assist with investigations because of their alleged role in the approval process for the charcoal export.

Investigators say the detained officials may have information on how the shipment was cleared and whether proper export procedures were followed.

The arrest, according to state officials, forms part of a broader probe to uncover those behind the alleged trafficking network and to determine if there were any breaches or compromises in the export approval system.

While names of the alleged suspects have not been disclosed, authorities say investigations are still ongoing and the public will be updated as more details emerge.

Investigators suspect the charcoal was laced with methamphetamine in what is believed to be part of an international drug trafficking operation.

Before the detainment of the two Energy Commission staff, four other persons (names withheld) including a woman were arrested by the Narcotics Control Commission for their alleged involvement in the smuggling.

The commission arrested the first suspect, who works at the Tema Harbour and facilitated the documentation of the consignment.

The first suspect then led NACOC officers to the other two suspects, who were arrested in Kumasi, and the fourth suspect was arrested later in Accra.

All four suspects were under intense investigations.

Australian police launched an investigation in April after border authorities detected anomalies in two shipping containers that had arrived at Sydney’s Port Botany from Ghana.

Authorities found a ‘white crystalised substance’ after they X-rayed the contents of the containers, which were listed as bags of charcoal. Further testing confirmed it was meth.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has criticised the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy policy, describing it as a programme that has failed to deliver on its promises nearly two years after the National Democratic Congress (NDC) assumed office.

Contributing to the debate on the government’s 24-Hour Economy policy in Parliament, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah argued that despite Parliament approving about GHS650 billion in public expenditure over the period, there was little evidence that the policy had translated into the promised three-shift (1-3-3) system or meaningful industrial expansion.

According to him, the government has shifted attention to the construction of 24-hour markets and the promise of future incentives for the private sector instead of implementing measures capable of driving industrial production and job creation.

He described the proposed investment in 24-hour markets as an imprudent policy measure, arguing that infrastructure alone could not create demand for continuous trading without broader economic reforms.

The former Information Minister also criticised what he described as delays in introducing incentives for the private sector, saying government officials had admitted during committee deliberations that the incentive package was still being prepared.

He maintained that such incentives should have preceded implementation of the policy rather than being introduced almost two years into the administration.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah further urged the government to reconsider its decision to abandon the One District, One Factory (1D1F) programme, arguing that the initiative had already established a framework for industrialisation.

Citing the National Development Planning Commission’s 2024 Annual Progress Report, he said at least 150 1D1F factories were operational by the end of 2024 and contended that dismantling the policy architecture had stalled industrial growth.

He recommended that the government revive the programme and make any necessary improvements instead of replacing it with a policy that, in his view, had yet to produce tangible results.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah warned that the absence of a robust industrial policy was worsening youth unemployment, which he said stood at 32.4 percent, citing figures from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

He maintained that every day without an effective industrialisation programme represented lost employment opportunities for thousands of young Ghanaians.

Responding to the criticism, the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, insisted that the 24-Hour Economy extends far beyond the construction of markets.

He explained that the proposed 24-hour markets formed only one component of the broader Accelerated Export Development Programme aimed at stimulating domestic trade, promoting import substitution and expanding Ghana’s exports.

Mr. Iddrisu also rejected claims that the government had failed to submit its coordinated programme of economic and social development policies to Parliament, stating that the document had been laid before the House in February in fulfilment of constitutional requirements.

On the issue of industrialisation, he acknowledged the need for stronger incentives to support the private sector but disputed suggestions that the 1D1F initiative had successfully addressed unemployment.

He challenged proponents of the programme to demonstrate the number of jobs it created and its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), arguing that unemployment remained high even under the previous administration.

The Education Minister nevertheless agreed that the government must prioritise job creation and work with the Ministries of Finance and Trade, Agribusiness and Industry to ensure that the incentive regime under the 24-Hour Economy supports businesses and accelerates export-led industrial growth.

Ghanaians had another opportunity to assess the quality of the state’s management of coercive power through investigative bodies under the presidency of Commander-in-Chief John Dramani Mahama a few days ago.

The Director of Communications in the Office of the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dennis Miracles Aboagye, was Rambo-style arrested when he touched down from a foreign trip under a bizarre ‘Stop Order’. Label it ‘Stop Order Upside Down’ and you have not erred.

Why would a ‘Stop Order’ be issued when the subject is outside the jurisdiction of the country?

Why would such a noisy arrest method be carried out on a person who has already had a conversation with investigators at Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) earlier and before his trip abroad?

So far what Ghanaians are being served in terms of governance continues to be what they observed in the aftermath of the most foul of coups in the country – the so-called 1979 revolution.

For a political party birthed from a junta, these Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) traits should not surprise scholars of Ghana’s contemporary history.

These traits of violence are endemic to the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The President once boasted that when it comes to violence, no other party parallels the NDC. He is right as events being exuded show – suspected torture of persons being held for political comments is now being discussed by many Ghanaians.

EOCO was established by law to serve a good cause, but under the current political dispensation in the country, the Office’s Gestapo-style operation has earned for it and the government an unenviable notoriety.

Although Miracles is now home after weathering one of the typical punishing bail conditions, his arrest and detention for three days leaves a dent on the image of the government.

It is important to take another look at the objective of ‘Stop Order’ – meant to prevent a suspect in which the state has an interest from fleeing jurisdiction.

In the case of Miracles, he was stopped only when he was returning home.

We can argue that the subject cannot be a flight risk given his prominence on the political space and his position in the Office of the former Vice President.

The political leverage which EOCO and the government seeks to achieve from the deliberately noisy arrest method have fled through the window, leaving behind a further injured image for the President and his assigns; so avoidable when the subject could have simply been invited for a parley as happened earlier.

He wants to contest for the position of Communications Director of the NPP and must have his reputation dented by EOCO before he takes the first critical steps. This state investigative agency is on a mission to ‘destroy’, and with this fact already known, the goal is moribund.

We cannot be supporters of those who breach the laws of the land; we would however shout out the names of those who use the transient power at their disposal to overreach the state’s coercive power.

This Gestapo-tactics would not stop the subject and other Ghanaians from exposing the instances of bad governance of the NDC.

The NDC administration is mired in a coup mentality which is doing our democracy more damage than good.

EOCO is on overdrive. Who is the next politically-exposed person to be Rambo-style arrested?

Jamaican reggae artiste, Fantan Mojah, has died at the age of 49, leaving the global reggae community in mourning just weeks before his 50th birthday.

Reports indicate that the singer passed away on Tuesday, July 14, at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in Kingston after suffering complications related to a heart condition.

Born Owen Lennox Moncrieffe, Fantan Mojah rose to prominence in the early 2000s with his spiritually inspired reggae music and conscious lyrics rooted in the Rastafari faith. He became widely known for songs including Hail the King, Corruption, Hungry, Stronger and Rasta Got Soul, earning a loyal international fan base.

His booking agent, Vertex, said the singer’s health deteriorated rapidly after he returned from the United States and that led to his death.

According to reports, Fantan Mojah had been preparing to perform at this year’s Reggae Jam Festival in Germany before his condition worsened. He had also battled serious health challenges in recent years but had resumed touring after showing signs of recovery.

Tributes have since poured in from fans and fellow musicians, who have remembered the reggae icon for his uplifting music, powerful voice and unwavering commitment to spreading messages of faith, hope and social consciousness.

The Minority in Parliament has criticised the government’s response to the recent devastating floods, saying the victims deserve a national mourning period and a comprehensive sanitation policy rather than what it described as ad hoc measures.

The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who made the call on the floor of Parliament while contributing to the Business Statement, urged the government to show greater empathy for families who lost loved ones and property during the disaster.

According to him, although lives had been lost in the floods, there had been no official national mourning or presidential address to console affected families and reassure the nation.

‘People have died, Mr. Speaker. People have died,’ he stressed, and continued, ‘It is important that there is some official statement to commiserate and address the nation. We have seen other disasters where the President announced a national mourning. This we have not seen. That is very important.’

Mr. Afenyo-Markin argued that the scale of the disaster warranted a stronger national response, saying the suffering of ordinary Ghanaians should not be overlooked.

Calls for Sanitation Policy

The Minority Leader also urged the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources to appear before Parliament to outline the government’s long-term policy for addressing sanitation and flooding.

He recalled that when the Minister for the Interior briefed Parliament on the floods, he had indicated that the government would come out with a comprehensive policy to tackle the perennial flooding problem.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin, however, said Parliament was yet to receive details of such a policy.

He maintained that the declaration of two national clean-up days, while commendable, was insufficient to address the underlying causes of flooding.

The Minority Leader criticised what he described as the government’s ‘knee-jerk’ and ad hoc approach to flood management.

‘Enough of the knee-jerk posture and the ad hoc measures. We don’t need them,’ he said.

He stressed that any government genuinely committed to solving the country’s recurring flood crisis should, without delay, announce a comprehensive national sanitation policy.

Thousands Counting Their Losses

Mr. Afenyo-Markin lamented that thousands of flood victims, particularly low-income earners, had lost their homes, businesses and personal belongings, yet their plight had received inadequate national attention.

‘Thousands lost property. Maybe because they are not public servants, they are not politicians, we are not talking about it. Many poor people lost their property. Many poor people lost their businesses,’ he said.

Demands Accountability

The Minority Leader also demanded accountability for the GHS350 million emergency allocation approved by Parliament to support flood response efforts.

He noted that both the Majority and Minority had unanimously supported the request when it came before the Finance Committee because of the emergency nature of the disaster.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin, however, said Parliament now expected the Minister for Finance to return to the House to account for how the funds had been disbursed.

He explained that the request was justified because Parliament had approved the funds under Article 177 of the Constitution in response to a national emergency.

The Minority Leader also raised concerns over the distribution of relief items by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), citing reports that baked beans distributed to victims in Agbogbloshie and Maamobi were later explained to be donations rather than items procured with public funds.

‘When we raised it, we were told the baked beans were not part of the procured items but a donation. We do not know who donated them. This is an important matter that we believe the Finance Minister should brief this House on,’ he stated.

Thieves have broken into the transmission room of the Marhaba Media Limited, owners of Marhaba FM, a major Hausa radio station in Accra, making away with three air-conditioners.

The Monday theft occurred at the location of the transmitters at Kwabenya Comic near Brekusu.

The thieves also emptied the diesel fuel in the reserve tank at the station.

The fuel is used to power the standby generator when there is power outage at the location.

Given the importance of a cooling system for the transmitters, the CEO, Alhaji Baba Sheriff Abdullai, said replacements have been made already to maintain the integrity of the system and to ensure normal transmission of programmes.

Marhaba FM is the channel of choice for most residents of the many Zongo communities in Accra and beyond.

Metro TV, as the location of the transmitters is also called, host equipment of four other radio stations in Accra.

The theft was so craftily done that it was the handiwork of persons with knowledge of the place.

Serving as Australia’s High Commissioner to Ghana has been an immense honour. Over the last four years, I have come to know a country of exceptional richness, not only because of its natural resources, but above all because of the strength, creativity and resilience of its people.

I arrived as the world was still emerging from the pandemic. Since then, I have watched Ghana navigate economic pressure, hold elections, and remain a source of steadiness in a region where several neighbours have not had that luxury. What has stayed with me most, though, are the people: ministers and traditional leaders, entrepreneurs and artists, students and academics, market traders and small business owners. Each conversation taught me something I would not have understood from a briefing paper.

Arriving at a time of real economic strain gave me a front row seat to something I don’t think I fully appreciated before Ghana: the sheer fortitude it takes to keep a business open, keep a family fed, keep building toward something, when the cost of living keeps climbing and infrastructure can’t always keep pace. I don’t say that as an outside verdict on Ghana’s economy. I say it because living alongside it changed how I think about resilience altogether.

What struck me, again and again, was how little that resilience was matched by resignation. Ghana’s institutions have held. Its commitment to democratic governance has held. Its role in West Africa, particularly as a voice for stability, has been consistent even when the region around it has not been.

For Australia, Ghana is a trusted partner in a region of growing strategic and economic weight. For Ghana, I hope Australia has offered something of value in return, not just investment, but a genuine willingness to engage on equal terms. After four years here, I believe this is a relationship with strong foundations, built less on scale than on substance: practical, grounded in shared interest, and carried forward as much by people to people ties as by anything signed between governments.

Mining sits at the centre of that. Ghana’s position as a leading gold producer aligns naturally with Australia’s mining expertise, and I’ve watched Australian companies here take seriously their responsibility to host communities, investing in skills, safety and environmental standards alongside their operations. It’s a partnership I believe still has room to grow.

People to people links are the other cornerstone. Through the Australia Awards programme, Ghanaian professionals continue to access world class education and training, and return home to put it to work, building over time a network of alumni across government, industry and civil society that I think will outlast any of our individual postings. Alongside that, Australia’s Direct Aid Programme has backed local initiatives in education, gender equality and community development, work that succeeds because of the strength of Ghanaian partner organisations, not despite it.

A visit to Jamestown earlier this year offered a close look at community-led effort in practice: young people in workshops at the Adanse Stool House, mothers receiving care, including support for postpartum mental health, at the Jamestown Maternity Home, and a community working to preserve its own heritage even as it builds toward its future. It was the kind of visit that stays with you, and I was glad to put the organisers in touch with our Direct Aid Programme team.

I was also glad that during my time here, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) opened an office in Accra, supporting work on agricultural productivity and climate resilience that matters enormously in a country where food security and climate variability are not abstract concerns.

Ghana’s foundation for the years ahead looks strong to me: a resilient democracy, extraordinary human capital, abundant natural resources, and a diaspora that punches well above its weight globally. What comes next, turning that stability into transformation, is Ghana’s story to write, and I say that with real confidence in the people I’ve come to know here.

On a personal level, four years in Accra asked more of me than I expected, the heat, the traffic, the occasional bureaucratic maze that tests everyone’s patience eventually. But what I’ll carry with me is the warmth of the Ghanaian people, and how much that warmth taught me. In a region where my work spanned nine countries, it was the quality of individual connection here that made this posting feel genuinely human. Ghanaian culture opened doors I didn’t know I was looking for, music that travels far beyond these borders, visual artists whose work I still think about, a generosity of spirit I’ve tried to carry with me into every room since.

Some of what I’ll carry home is more personal than any programme.

Years ago, my own child needed heart surgery, and I never expected that experience to find its way back to me in Ghana. It did, when I found myself helping raise funds through the Melbourne Cup charity ball for The Children’s Heart Foundation Ghana. That effort helped fund surgery for two children in Accra this year. It’s not the kind of thing you plan for when you take up a posting, and it ended up meaning more to me than almost anything on the official calendar.

Ghana does not let you stay at arm’s length, and I’m grateful for that. I leave a better diplomat for having been here. More than that, I leave having been genuinely changed by this country, and by the people who were generous enough to let me in.

Auto firm Tryton Motors Ltd. has reaffirmed its support for Ghanaian football after signing sponsorship agreements with Women’s side Jonina Football Academy Ladies and Ghana Premier League club, Debibi United FC.

The deals, unveiled at a ceremony attended by football administrators, club officials, players and the media, are aimed at supporting club development, youth empowerment and community engagement through football.

Group Business Development Director of Tryton Motors, Alhaji Fadi Fattal, said the partnership goes beyond branding to include fan engagement activities, community outreach programmes, media campaigns and club activations designed to raise the visibility of both teams.

He described football as, ‘a powerful platform for inspiring young people, uniting communities and promoting values such as discipline, teamwork, leadership and perseverance.’

‘Tryton Motors remains committed to investing in initiatives that create opportunities for young talent while contributing to the overall development of Ghanaian football,’ Mr. Fattal added.

Jonina Ladies CEO, Betty Rosby Mensah, described the sponsorship as a significant milestone for the club and for women’s football in the country.

She said the deal reflects growing corporate confidence in the women’s game and pledged that Jonina Ladies would represent the Tryton Motors brand with professionalism, discipline and creativity while continuing to develop female talent.

Debibi United CEO, Richard Ntow, also welcomed the partnership, noting it comes at a critical stage in the club’s growth.

‘The support will help strengthen player development, improve the club’s operations and create more opportunities for young footballers to realise their potential,’ he said.

The event also highlighted financial challenges facing women’s football in Ghana.

Speakers urged more corporate organisations to invest in the women’s game.

They expressed optimism that partnerships such as Tryton Motors’ would inspire greater private sector support, improve player welfare and contribute to the long-term growth and sustainability of football in the country.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has annulled Constituency Executive Elections held over the weekend in three constituencies in the Ashanti Region, citing violations of party directives and electoral rules.

The decision was taken by the National Steering Committee at its meeting on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, as part of a review of the 2026 Constituency Executive Elections conducted across the country.

According to the party, the elections in Bantama, Afigya Sekyere East, and Adansi Asokwa constituencies were conducted in ‘flagrant disregard’ of party directives, the rules and regulations governing the 2026 polls, and in some cases, subsisting court orders.

The NPP said the purported elections in the three constituencies are ‘null and void with immediate effect.’

Ashanti Regional Executives Summoned

The National Steering Committee has also summoned the Ashanti Regional Steering Committee to appear before it on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

They are expected to account for the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the elections in the affected constituencies.

The party did not announce new dates for the elections but said further directives will be communicated after engagements with the regional leadership.

The 2026 Constituency Executive Elections are part of the NPP’s internal restructuring ahead of the 2028 general election.

New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged Ghanaians to protect the country’s inter-religious tolerance, saying faith must be a bridge for nation building and not a source of division.

He gave the admonition on Saturday in Wenchi during the dedication of a new 800-capacity cathedral of the Lighthouse Chapel International to the memory of Ghana’s former Prime Minister, Prof. Kofi Abrefa Busia.

The ceremony coincided with the anniversary of Prof. Busia’s death. The cathedral, with ancillary facilities, was financed by Prof. Busia’s children and former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The event was held under the theme: ‘Faith That Builds Nations: Character, Service and the Ghana We Want to Build Together.’

As part of the dedication, a biographical film titled ‘The Prof: A Heart of Faith’ was premiered. The 90-minute film traced Prof. Busia’s life from his childhood in Wenchi through his years as a university don to his tenure as Prime Minister between 1969 and 1972.

Dr. Bawumia described Prof. Busia’s life as one anchored in faith, character and service.

‘His life cannot be reduced to politics alone, it is a story that is shaped by faith,’ he said.

‘His faith formed him and because he was anchored on strong values, he was able to serve with a moral seriousness that still speaks to us today.’

He said the values that shaped Prof. Busia should compel Ghanaians to reflect on the kind of faith they profess, the character they carry, and the kind of service they offer.

‘Faith that does not help build a better society has not fully answered its calling,’ Dr. Bawumia stated. ‘It shaped his understanding of human dignity and commitment to democracy. It shaped his conviction that government must serve people and not dominate them.’

Speaking as a Muslim in a Christian cathedral, Dr. Bawumia said Ghana’s religious harmony is a blessing that must be guarded jealously.

‘As a Muslim, I stand here today in this Christian cathedral with deep respect and gratitude,’ he said.

‘In many parts of the world, religion has become a source of suspicion and conflict, but in Ghana, by the grace of God, faith can still be a bridge. This blessing we must protect jealously. We must never take it for granted,’ he stressed.

He called on citizens to come together across faith lines to build the country.

‘Faith should not divide us but deepen our humanity, not weaken us but enrich us, and not judge one another by labels but by the quality of our character and the sincerity of our service,’ he said.

Tributes

Archbishop Eddie Fabin, preaching on behalf of Lighthouse founder Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, commended the Busia family for building the cathedral.

Quoting 1 Kings 8:18, he noted that just as David’s son built the temple, it was fitting that Prof. Busia’s children built a house for the Lord.