Category: Daily Guide Network

The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, on Saturday, launched the Sacred Crown Awards, aimed at recognising individuals, institutions and communities that are preserving and promoting African heritage.

The new initiative, which will be held in October 2026 under the patronage of King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, also aims at honouring lasting legacies by celebrating excellence in culture, spirituality and wellness.

The awards, which organisers hope will generate both national and international awareness of African values and traditions, is also expected to identify, honour and promote outstanding contributors in the areas including impact, integrity, leadership and service to humanity.

A total of 66 awards will be presented during the main ceremony. The categories cover African heritage, spirituality, wellness and special honours.

The awards will include African Textile Brand of the Year, Traditional Footwear Brand of the Year, Heritage Brand of the Year, Indigenous Craftsmanship Brand of the Year and the African Fashion Innovation Award.

Other categories will also recognise heritage preservation initiatives, cultural education and advocacy, and community heritage impact.

According to the organisers, special honours will be reserved for individuals and institutions that have made exceptional contributions across all three pillars which include the highest distinction, the Sacred Crown Supreme Laureate Award, which will be presented to individuals whose impact demonstrates extraordinary service and leadership.

Addressing traditional leaders, the clergy, leaders from various communities, traditional healers and herbalists, the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, urged them to continue protecting the cultural values entrusted to them, while advising young Africans to embrace their history, respect their elders and honour their customs while building their future.

The Ga Mantse, who is also the President of the Ga Traditional Council, described the Sacred Crown Awards as a symbol of unity, identity and renewal for the continent.

The King noted that Africa possesses invaluable treasures, including its traditions, wisdom, spirituality, natural healing knowledge, royal institutions, festivals, music, dance and cultural symbols, which have shaped generations and continue to inspire the world.

According to him, cultural assets are sacred gifts handed down by ancestors and must be preserved for future generations, stressing that societies that forget their heritage risk losing their identity, while those that neglect spirituality and wellness lose their inner strength and balance.

‘We are not only launching an event; we are raising a crown of honour for Africa. We are lifting a symbol of unity, identity, healing and transformation,’ he said.

Deputy CEO of COA Research and Manufacturing Ltd, Princess Duncan, for her part, described the awards as a platform created to honour Africa’s identity, restore pride in its cultural roots and celebrate individuals safeguarding the continent’s heritage.

She explained that African heritage constitutes culture, language, traditions, music, art, food, leadership ancestral wisdom among others which reflects humanity’s deeper purpose and connection which, highlights Africa’s rich healing traditions, healthy lifestyles and natural approaches to well-being.

Also present at the launch include the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, Paramount Chief of the Breman Asikuma Traditional Area and President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, Odeefo Amoakwa Boadu VIII, Founder and General Overseer of the Parliament Chapel International (PCI) Rev. Amoako Attah, Founder and General Overseer of Alive Chapel, Bishop Salifu Amoako among several other dignitaries.

PRESIDENT JOHN Mahama has highly exalted faith-based organisations in the country, notably churches, for their significant contributions to national development.

He recounted that churches, over the years, have played crucial roles in helping to positively shape the lives of the citizenry, thereby leading to social cohesion and growth.

In this regard, President Mahama has pledged that his administration would continue to partner with churches in order to accelerate the developmental agenda of the country.

‘Nations are not built on infrastructure alone, peace, unity, social cohesion, humility and oneness are also needed to ensure development, and that’s where the churches come in.

‘The important roles of the churches has contributed to ensuring peace, unity and national cohesion, just to mention a few, and we must applaud them,’ the President remarked.

He made this known in a speech read on his behalf by Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah at the Calvary Charismatic Center (CCC) at Ayigya in Kumasi.

The occasion was the 70th birthday celebration of the Head Pastor of CCC, Rev. Ransford Obeng, which was graced by government officials, politicians, and pastors among others.

Continuing, the President commended Rev. Obeng for his humility, vision and dedication to God’s work for so many years, and urged the people to draw inspiration from his life.

‘Today is not just a 70 years celebration. It’s a celebration of a national icon and we should draw inspiration from his humility, dedication, hard work and vision,’ he admonished.

The mammoth church service was graced by politicians such as Alan Kyerematen, Kennedy Agyapong, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister, and Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi, Kumasi Mayor.

Janet Abobigu, CEO of Unijay Fashion, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and others were also present at the event.

Preaching the sermon, Rev. Obeng recounted the difficulties he had to endure in the early years of his life and ministry, and how God has remained faithful and helpful to him.

According to him, every man has a special assignment to fulfil in life, stressing that ‘When you know your assignment, you become bold and you don’t allow anything to deter you.’

Rev. Obeng entreated the congregation to emulate his down-to-earth lifestyle, humbleness, vision and dedication, so that they would also fulfil their assignments as ordained by God.

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has made significant progress towards implementing a new locally financed funding mechanism designed to raise working capital for cocoa purchases through the issuance of commercial paper, Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Finance and Administration, Ato Boateng, has disclosed.

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the Ghana-UK Investment Summit in London, Mr. Boateng said preparations for the programme were at an advanced stage, with plans to roll out the facility before the commencement of the 2026/2027 cocoa crop season.

He explained that pension funds, commercial banks, international cocoa buyers and other strategic players within the cocoa value chain had been identified as key sources of financing under the proposed arrangement.

‘We have made significant progress and engaged all the necessary advisors to support the issuance process. The advisors are working diligently to finalise the financing structure, which is now at an advanced stage, while addressing all regulatory requirements and concerns raised by the relevant authorities,’ he said.

The initiative forms part of the government’s broader efforts to transition away from the syndicated loan arrangement that has financed Ghana’s cocoa purchases for more than three decades.

He said the proposed commercial paper programme is expected to provide a more flexible and sustainable source of funding while deepening domestic participation in cocoa financing.

According to Mr. Boateng, pension funds have emerged as one of the most promising funding sources for the new model.

He indicated that COCOBOD was also exploring support from commercial banks and private placement arrangements involving international buyers and stakeholders across the cocoa value chain.

He described the initiative as an innovative financing solution that would enhance the resilience and long-term sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa industry.

‘We need to be innovative in our approach because we also want commercial banks to play an active role. To achieve this, we are exploring opportunities to bring Development Finance Institutions on board to enhance the lending capacity of participating banks,’ he stated.

Mr. Boateng noted that one of the key advantages of the proposed financing framework was its tranche-based structure, which would enable COCOBOD to draw down funds only when required for cocoa purchases.

‘The objective is to structure the financing in tranches, enabling us to draw down only the funds required for cocoa purchases at any given time. Once those funds are no longer needed, we can repay investors promptly, ensuring prudent utilisation of resources and minimising financing costs,’ he explained.

UNCONFIRMED REPORTS indicate that Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has been able to find a breakthrough in ending the doctors, nurses and midwives industrial action at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.

The minister was said to have reached a consensus with the aggrieved health workers during a meeting which was held at KATH on Sunday, June 7, 2026, barely 24 hours after the doctors and nurses had decided to embark on strike.

According to sources at KATH, the crunch meeting between the Ashanti Regional Minister and the health personnel was held in-camera, and it lasted for some hours before a breakthrough was eventually achieved.

‘We have had fruitful engagements with the leadership of the various associations, and the outcome has been positive. The leadership will communicate the details to their members and subsequently make their position known to the public,’ the minister is reported to have said after Sunday’s meeting.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, who is a medical doctor by profession, is also reported to have said that the meeting mainly talked about provisions that should be made by government in earnest to help reduce the immense pressure on KATH and its health workers.

For instance, he reportedly assured that government is doing its utmost best to ensure the immediate operationalisation of key hospital facilities in the Ashanti Region to ease the burden on KATH, which was among the key demands of the doctors, nurses and midwives before they embarked on the strike.

According to him, plans are in the pipeline to ensure that the Afari, Trede, Oforikrom and Sewua hospitals, which are almost completed, start operations so that the burden on KATH personnel could be reduced.

In a related development, reports indicated that KATH CEO, Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, whose two weeks suspension by Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, sparked the strike action, was not present at Sunday’s crunch meeting.

Interestingly, Dr. Amoakohene, reportedly, did not talk about the two weeks suspension of the KATH CEO.

Meanwhile, the paper could not get to the leadership of the KATH doctors and nurses to confirm the authenticity of reports that the Ashanti Regional Minister has been able to convince them to halt the strike.

A 27-year-old military officer accused of fatally shooting a civil engineer at the Ghana Armed Forces Central Command Headquarters in Kumasi has been remanded into custody by the Akropong District Court in the Ashanti Region.

Private Nsarkoh Christopher Nkyinkyi is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of Jeffrey Boakye Danquah, a 29-year-old civil engineer.

The court, presided over by His Lordship Emmanuel Wiafe Adu, maintained the charge against the accused and adjourned the case to June 22, 2026, to allow the police to continue investigations into the matter.

According to the prosecution, the incident occurred at the Ghana Armed Forces Central Command Headquarters following a misunderstanding between the accused and the deceased.

Police told the court that Private Nkyinkyi allegedly fired a round from an M16 rifle at close range into the chest of Jeffrey Boakye Danquah. The bullet reportedly pierced through the victim’s body and exited through his back, resulting in his death.

The prosecution indicated that investigations were still ongoing and requested additional time to conclude inquiries into the circumstances leading to the fatal shooting.

The accused was not required to enter a plea and is expected to remain in police custody pending the next hearing.

Speaking to journalists after proceedings, the prosecutor and Crime Officer at the Suntreso Police District Command, ASP Jonas Newlove Adjei, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision to adjourn the case.

He said ongoing investigations would help establish the full facts surrounding the incident and assist the court in ensuring justice for the deceased and all parties involved.

The incident, which occurred within a military installation in Kumasi, has attracted significant public attention. The court is expected to receive an update on the investigations when the case is called again on June 22, 2026.

Actress and social media personality Rosemond Brown, popularly known as Akuapem Poloo, has revealed that prison officers advised her to get married after she was released from prison.

Speaking in an interview with Nana Romeo on UTV’s Atuu programme, Akuapem Poloo said several prison officers spoke to her and offered guidance on how to move forward with her life.

According to her, the officers encouraged her to remain calm, stay out of trouble and consider settling down in marriage.

‘That was after I had gone to prison. A lot of prison officers talked to me. They advised me that I was already a calm and collected person, so I should just behave myself, be cool and even get married,’ she said.

Akuapem Poloo was sentenced in 2021 after sharing a photo on social media that showed her posing nude with her young son. The court ruled that the image violated the child’s dignity and privacy. She was convicted on charges related to the publication of obscene material and domestic violence involving a child.

The actress later received a reduced sentence on appeal and was released after serving part of her jail term.

Since her release, Poloo has spoken publicly about the lessons she learned from the experience and her efforts to rebuild her life and career.

Five hundred private basic schools across the country will, in August this year, converge on the Pentecost Convention Centre at Fetteh Kakraba to determine which school has learners with the best brain power and speed.

The event will see contestants answering 150 questions in eight minutes to test their thinking abilities in terms of concentration, imagination and visualisation skills, among others, to mark this year’s UCMAS national competition.

In attendance will be contestants from the Lower and Upper Primary as well as Junior High School (JHS) categories who will lock horns at different grade levels, usually represented in colours.

All the contestants who are from across the country have already emerged winners in their various districts, municipalities and metropolises across the country before qualifying to contest at the national level.

Speaking at the 7th inter-district competition for Krowor/Ledzokuku Municipality on Saturday, Mr. Emmanuel Boamah, Area Supervisor for UCMAS, Teshie-Nungua, described the contest as very productive since it has proven to develop the brains of all contestants nationwide.

He urged parents to take an interest in the investment they make towards their children’s education since its benefits were numerous.

Mr. Boamah explained that although the government and other institutions were making huge investment in the sector, there was also the need for parents to strive and do their part by providing the basic needs of the children so they could go to school always, irrespective of location, religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation, among others.

He indicated that although the UCMAS lessons were not part of the mainstream school curriculum, their impact on its learners is a good testament for all parents to enroll their children in the programme to sharpen their thinking skills with speed.

Mr. Boamah was upbeat that the competition will not only be handing over medals, prizes and other products from sponsors to the contestants, it will also equip them with various skills as they converge at such a platform to interact and compete with their age and grade mates across the country.

During UCMAS lessons and competitions, candidates are provided with tools that assist them in performing the necessary calculations quickly.

The UCMAS concept, although approved by the Ghana Education Service, is not in the mainstream school curriculum but handled by Maurya Education Limited, a private education consult.

Thirteen members of a family have been fined GHS50,000 each by the Asante Mampong High Court for contempt of court after allegedly disregarding an injunction and proceeding with an Islamic marriage ceremony involving a woman whose marriage was already the subject of a legal dispute.

The court, presided over by Justice William Boampong, handed down the ruling after a two-year legal battle between businessman Alhaji Abass, popularly known as ‘Alhaji Abass Transport,’ and the family of his fourth wife, Hajia Alima Issah.

The contempt proceedings arose after the family allegedly ignored both traditional and judicial directives aimed at preventing the marriage from taking place pending the resolution of the dispute.

Court documents indicate that Hajia Alima Issah, who shares five children with Alhaji Abass, left her matrimonial home and went to stay with her parents. About a month later, she reportedly decided to marry another man despite her existing marriage to Alhaji Abass.

Following reports of the planned marriage, Alhaji Abass first sought intervention from the traditional court of the Asantehemaa at Manhyia. The traditional authority reportedly issued an order restraining the woman’s family from facilitating any marriage ceremony until the matter had been settled.

The family, however, allegedly failed to comply with the directive.

Alhaji Abass subsequently filed an application at the Asante Mampong High Court, which granted an injunction against the intended marriage. The order was reportedly served on members of the family by court officials.

Despite being duly served, the family allegedly supervised and conducted the Islamic marriage ceremony between Hajia Alima Issah and her new husband.

Their actions prompted the court to cite 13 family members for contempt on grounds that they had wilfully disobeyed a lawful court order.

In delivering judgment, Justice Boampong found all 13 respondents guilty and imposed a fine of GHS50,000 on each of them. The court further ruled that any respondent who fails to pay the fine would serve 30 days in prison pending the hearing of the substantive case.

Three of the respondents were absent when the ruling was delivered. Consequently, the court issued bench warrants for their arrest.

The convicted family members were subsequently taken into custody and were reportedly being held behind bars as efforts were made to raise the fines required to secure their release.

The substantive case, which centres on the legality of the disputed marriage and related matters, is expected to continue before the court.

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has called on the Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi, Mr. Frederick Faidoo to ensure immediate sanitation improvement in the metropolis or risk the consequences.

Speaking during the 2026 World Environment Day commemoration in Takoradi, the minister warned that the city’s uncollected plastic waste could choke gutters and cause flooding when it rains heavily.

‘Plastic waste is visible everywhere in the metropolis and they could soon outnumber the fishes in local waters,’ he jokingly remarked.

He attributed the sanitation crisis to weak management, and called on the Metropolitan Assembly to step up enforcement and restore basic cleanliness and environmental discipline.

He stressed that the unchecked plastic pollution threatens not only the city’s image but also its coastal ecosystem.

‘I was not happy when I came here. The plastics issue is a problem. Why should we get more plastic than fish in our sea?

‘The plastics you see around will find their way into the sea. I do not want to conclude that Sekondi-Takoradi is the dirtiest metropolis. The Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi must be held responsible for the dirt,’ he said.

He proposed a national conversation on banning single-use plastic and rubber bags.

According to some residents, the minister’s remarks should intensify pressure on the Metropolitan Assembly to act swiftly as concerns grow over the city’s sanitation decline.

Former CEO of Ghana’s Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, touched down at Kotoka International Airport on Tuesday after the United States extradited her to serve a 10-year corruption sentence.

She was arrested in Nevada in January and convicted in absentia last year on 78 counts. The charges include stealing over GHS90 million, about $6 million, conspiracy, and money laundering.

Tamakloe-Attionu fled Ghana in 2021 for medical treatment but was certified fit for return by a US court in April.

This marks the first extradition from the US to Ghana since 2009. The US Embassy in Accra praised the move as proof of strong law enforcement ties between both countries.

In a social media post, the Embassy wrote: ‘The United States has extradited Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu to Ghana, following her conviction on 70+ corruption-related charges, including embezzling more than $6M equivalent in Ghanaian taxpayer funds. This demonstrates our strong U.S.-Ghana law enforcement partnership and shared commitment to accountability.’

Her return has reignited partisan calls for accountability across Ghana’s political lines, with many viewing the case as a test of Ghana’s anti-corruption resolve.