Category: Daily Guide Network

informal trade increasingly transitioning into structured digital economies.

IGNITE said its business model provides micro-entrepreneurs and brand affiliates with training, digital tools and consumer product lines.

Reacting to his appointment, Bola Ray said the platform offered practical pathways for young people seeking to build businesses.

‘Across Ghana and Africa, thousands of ambitious individuals are seeking practical pathways to acquire digital skills, launch viable businesses, and generate sustainable wealth. IGNITE is not merely introducing consumer items; it is architecting an enduring socio-economic ecosystem,’ he said.

At the event, IGNITE unveiled four core product lines: Aria Wellness Pendant, BRIGHT Skincare, SENA Timepieces and brAInify.

The company described the Aria Wellness Pendant as incorporating Sanarey Fusion Technology (SFT) and an activated wafer core.

According to it, BRIGHT Skincare is a range developed in South Korea and formulated with polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) compounds, while SENA Timepieces comprises Malaysian-assembled automatic watches fitted with Japanese Miyota movements.

The brAInify range features artificial intelligence-powered digital learning tools and skills acquisition modules designed to support affiliates in social selling and business management.

IGNITE said the rollout of its products in West African markets would take place in phases, subject to regulatory approvals and market readiness.

The company’s Global Advisory Board will serve as an independent consultative body on corporate governance, expansion and cross-border trade ethics across Asia, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The board is chaired by a Malaysian corporate leader, Dato’ Sri Subahan Kamal, and includes biophysicists Dr. Konstantin Korotkov and Dr. Beverly Rubik, as well as Bola Ray, Chief Executive Officer of EIB Network Group and founder of Empire Group.

Dato’ Sri Subahan Kamal said the company’s growth must be grounded in transparency and socio-economic value.

‘As IGNITE scales across Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, our growth must remain grounded in ethical transparency and tangible socio-economic value for the communities we enter. Bola Ray’s deep insight into African enterprise and youth culture will ensure IGNITE’s footprint in Ghana and across the continent is built on sustainable, long-term foundation,’ he said.

There is growing concern over the execution of this year’s ‘December in GH’ initiative following a reported misunderstanding between the leadership of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).

With just a few months to Christmas and barely two days after the Authority launched the 2026 edition of ‘December in GH’, a letter from the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in charge of Marketing and Special Duties, Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey Santana, has exposed cracks at the top.

The letter, dated October 22, 2026, addressed to the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and titled ‘Challenges in Securing Timely Access to the Chief Executive Officer for Official Consultations and Decision Making,’ details difficulties the Deputy CEO faces in accessing the Chief Executive Officer, Maame Efua Houadjeto.

According to the letter, Mr. Aggrey has had to request meetings through the CEO’s secretary and personal assistant, only to be told she is unavailable, a situation he says is affecting decision making.

The letter reads in part: ‘I wish to bring to your attention a recurring challenge in accessing the Chief Executive Officer for consultations on urgent operational matters relating to my responsibilities as Deputy Chief Executive Officer, particularly in Domestic Tourism, Special Events, and Marketing.

‘On several occasions, I have had to request meetings through the CEO’s secretary or personal assistant, only to be informed that she is unavailable.

‘While I appreciate the demands on her schedule, this has made it difficult to obtain timely guidance, approvals, and decisions needed to carry out my duties effectively. This situation sometimes causes delays in operations, stakeholder engagements, and the implementation of key assignments.

‘My intention is not to make a personal complaint, but to highlight a communication gap that needs to be addressed in the interest of effective management and institutional efficiency.’

Mr. Aggrey is therefore seeking the intervention of the Minister, with the knowledge of the Board Chairperson, to establish a more effective communication and consultation arrangement between his office and that of the CEO on urgent official matters.

He stressed that he remains committed to working professionally with the CEO and the entire management team to achieve the Ministry’s objectives and strengthen the performance of the Authority.

The development has sparked worry among industry players who fear the internal wrangling could jeopardise the successful execution of ‘December in GH’, Ghana’s flagship end-of-year tourism initiative which was launched on October 20 at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, and is scheduled to run from December 1, 2026 to January 3, 2027.

The letter was copied to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the Board Chairperson of GTA, and the Chief Executive Officer of GTA.

Response

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Maame Efua Houadjeto, has responded to concerns raised by her Deputy over challenges in accessing her office for official consultations.

In a response letter dated October 22, 2026, the CEO maintained that she operates an open-door policy, especially for executive and senior management officers.

‘As Chief Executive Officer, I operate an OPEN DOOR policy, especially when it comes to Executive and Senior management officers of our organisation,’ she noted.

Mrs. Houadjeto said while she was surprised and disappointed that the Deputy’s letter does not reflect the true state of her availability, she agrees that the Deputy’s responsibilities in Domestic Tourism, Special Events and Marketing require timely consultations.

To address the concerns, she proposed five measures to strengthen internal consultation: scheduled executive consultations; urgent matters and escalation; coordination through the executive office; clear delegation and decision-making; and regular management coordination.

She emphasised that the objective is not to address individual concerns but to strengthen overall management effectiveness as well as promote a more responsive and results-oriented institution.

The CEO assured the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts that management remains committed to professionalism and harmonious working relations, and proposed a meeting at the earliest convenient time to agree on practical arrangements for implementing the measures.

Mrs. Houadjeto said she values the contribution of the Deputy CEO and expects collaborative work with mutual respect to achieve the Authority’s mandate.

Nollywood actors have paid tribute to veteran colleague Francis Duru, who died at the age of 57 after a brief illness.

Duru’s family announced his death in a statement on his official Instagram page on October 23, 2026.

Actor Kanayo O. Kanayo described him as one of Nigeria’s most versatile and prolific performers.

‘A consummate actor has left the stage. One of the most flexible, prolific performers Nigeria ever produced. Rest in peace, my brother,’ he wrote on Instagram.

Actress Kate Henshaw also mourned Francis Duru, reflecting on the brevity of life and praying for his soul to rest in peace.

Mercy Johnson-Okojie expressed shock over the loss, while Stephanie Linus described his death as tragic and heartbreaking, praying for strength for his family.

Francis Duru’s death comes two years after he lost his 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi.

The veteran actor enjoyed a career spanning more than three decades and was widely known for his role as Ahanna in Amaka Igwe’s classic film ‘Rattlesnake’.

His death has sparked grief among colleagues and fans, who continue to celebrate his contributions to the Nigerian film industry.

Ghanaian top Basketball coach Lawal Peregrino-Brimah aka Alhaji Lancaster passed on last Saturday morning at his Nyamekye residence in Accra.

He is known for training his nephew, one of Ghana’s basketball stars, Amida Peregrino-Brimah who played for the US NBA team.

In a tribute to the deceased, the Ghana Basketball Federation said his dedication to the development of basketball in Ghana will be remembered.

‘Coach Lawal devoted a significant part of his life to the game, serving in several coaching capacities and contributing to the development of players at both club and national levels,’ the Federation said.

Throughout his coaching career, he served Braves of GRA, Tudu Magic, Galaxy Academy and Accra Technical University, leaving his mark on the teams and players entrusted to his guidance.

‘His service to Ghana’s national teams, including the senior men’s national team and the U18 and U16 boys’ national teams, further reflected his commitment to developing talent a contributing to the growth of basketball in the country. His recognition as a two-time Ghana Basketball Coach of the Year was testament to the esteem in which his work was held,’ the federation noted.

It further noted that Coach Peregrino-Brimah ‘occupied a special place within the basketball fraternity, noting that the many names he was affectionately known by ‘reflected the personal connections he built throughout his journey in the sport and the lasting relationships forged with colleagues and players alike.’

The federation also noted that his passing represented a great loss to Ghana Basketball and extends beyond the teams he coached and the competitions he participated in.

‘It lives on through the players he mentored, the knowledge he imparted and the contribution he made to successive generations of basketball talents.’

His passing, the federation noted marks the end of a chapter in the lives of many who passed through him.

There was a large presence of members of the basketball fraternity at is pre-burial gathering at Nyamekye last Saturday.

The third day aduwa or Islamic prayers for the deceased will be held today at his Nyamekye residence at 2pm today.

The late Lancaster also coached in Kano, Nigeria, where he mentored many before returning home to undertake various coaching assignments.

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) CEO, Sammy Gyamfi’s green light to illegal miners to proceed to the land and mine even without licence could not have come from the blues.

It was a major decision from government which was delivered via an unconventional method. Ordinarily, such a policy shift from government should have come from the lips of the Government Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu. Being such a scathing decision on the image of government, it was released through the GoldBod CEO to avoid an immediate public backlash.

For us as Ghanaians, this message is sufficient proof that the galamsey war has ended in earnest.

What is National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) doing at this stage when small-scale miners no longer need licences to operate, provided their activities would spare forest reserves and water bodies? Should the soldiers RTU or Return To Unit?

The hypocrisy of government in this so-called anti-galamsey war could not have been better elaborated.

The campaign message to illegal miners that they would be given a good deal should the National Democratic Congress (NDC) win the last polls has come to pass, and they have cause to celebrate.

It is heartbreaking that government, for the sake of political leverage, would take this ecologically destructive stride.

For a group of politicians who demanded a state of emergency when they were campaigning for power to take this move speaks volumes about the level of chicanery in the NDC.

Until Ghanaians vote this political grouping out of power, the level of destruction to our ecology can only be imagined.

The environmental suicide as others have chosen to describe the trajectory upon which the government has embarked on behalf of the citizens it represents is as heartbreaking as it is mindboggling.

Posterity will deal harshly with this government which has decided to gamble with the fortunes and even lives of Ghanaians.

The story continues to be told about the chemical abuse on the environment where illegal mining activities are taking place at an unprecedented scale.

Oops! There is no longer illegal mining or galamsey because, as per Sammy Gyamfi’s definition, they no longer require licences to mine who decide to take that occupation provided they would not do so on forest reserves and water bodies.

With cocoa farms and even neighbourhoods at their disposal, small-scale miners, a better moniker for them, have a larger swathe of land to prospect for gold. Ghana of course would be the loser, and do they care who have taken this most abusive decision yet on the country’s ecology.

No wonder the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church took exception to the claim of the NAIMOS boss when he lied that the war against illegal mining was being won. Whatever criteria to determine the progress is best known to him. Perhaps he has been infected with the propoaganda contagion that is the lot of the NDC, especially Sammy Gyamfi.

When you wake up tomorrow and find a group of men prospecting for gold beyond your house, do not fight them, they are only enjoying the freedom to mine without licence offered by Sammy Gyamfi on behalf of the government.

A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by its Resident Representative to Ghana, Adrian Alter, has visited the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to familiarise itself with the refinery’s operations and ongoing rehabilitation works.

The visit forms part of the IMF team’s engagements with government authorities and selected State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to understand their operations, financial positions, challenges and contributions to the economy.

Addressing the delegation, Managing Director of TOR, Edmond Kombat, outlined the operational and financial challenges inherited by the current management and measures introduced since May 2025 to restore the refinery to sustained operational and financial stability.

He said management had relied on internally generated funds to keep the refinery running since assuming office, with priority given to financial discipline, operational improvements and rehabilitation of critical facilities.

Mr. Kombat disclosed that TOR inherited a debt burden of about US$517 million, out of which about US$120 million is owed to government.

‘Out of the US$517 million debt we inherited, we owe about US$120 million to government. We are trying to restructure our debt with government,’ he said.

He said management is engaging government over its outstanding obligations, with discussions focused on restructuring and reconciliation of historical financial commitments between the refinery and the state.

On financial performance, Mr. Kombat said TOR recorded a profit in the previous year and is hopeful of maintaining profitability in the current and subsequent years, attributing the positive outlook to improved macroeconomic stability and ongoing reforms at the refinery.

As part of its long-term strategy, he said management is considering listing TOR on the Ghana Stock Exchange to attract investment and raise additional capital for operations and expansion.

He explained that a listing would allow Ghanaian institutions and other investors to acquire shares in the company and provide another avenue for raising funds to support its recovery and growth.

On operations, Mr. Kombat said the refinery has processed about five million barrels of crude oil, including about two million barrels sourced from Ghanaian fields, with the remainder from external sources.

He said TOR’s first domestic crude supply came from the Jubilee field through a transaction with Vitol, which was fully paid for.

He acknowledged the role of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), which supplied its share of Ghana’s crude allocation to the refinery.

He noted that Ghana produces about 38 million barrels of crude oil annually, with about 11 million barrels representing government’s share. He expressed hope that GNPC would make its full allocation available to TOR for refining by next year to improve feedstock availability and ensure more consistent operations.

Mr. Kombat highlighted TOR’s contribution to domestic petroleum product availability and price stability, noting that domestic refining could reduce Ghana’s exposure to external supply shocks, especially during periods of geopolitical tension and uncertainty in global oil markets, including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

He also acknowledged government interventions aimed at cushioning consumers against petroleum price changes.

Highlighting TOR’s commercial potential, he said the refinery has about one million metric tonnes of storage capacity, three times the capacity of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST).

He added that TOR is connected to eight privately operated depots, enabling it to pump petroleum products directly to those facilities, an arrangement that provides additional revenue opportunities alongside other commercial activities including laboratory services for product testing.

Mr. Kombat further disclosed that the Ghana Audit Service has undertaken an audit to clear a six-year backlog, adding that management intends to appoint an external audit firm at the next Annual General Meeting to undertake subsequent audits.

After the discussions, the delegation toured parts of the refinery to observe rehabilitated facilities and ongoing engineering works. The IMF team expressed appreciation for the engagement and the opportunity to understand TOR’s recovery efforts.

Violence, clashes and ballot box drama marred some constituency executive elections of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) across the country on Saturday, with suspected thugs snatching a ballot box, supporters exchanging blows and voting being called off in one constituency.

At Teshie in the Ledzokuku Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, supporters clashed over who should be allowed to witness the counting of ballot papers, sparking tension at the polling centre.

The situation took a more troubling turn at Sefwi Akontombra in the Western North Region, where suspected thugs reportedly snatched a ballot box from police protection after voting had ended.

Police officers fired several warning shots in an attempt to control the situation, but the individuals reportedly made away with the ballot box.

In the Odododiodio Constituency, a police officer had to whisk a ballot box to safety amid rising tension and an attempt by some individuals to snatch it.

The exercise was also rocked by a bitter disagreement over the counting procedure in the Tema East Constituency, where some aspirants resisted a proposal to pool ballots from all polling stations for a collective count.

The proposal was made by Kempes Papa Nii Ofosu Ware, a former Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive and the incumbent NDC Tema East Constituency Chairman.

Hajia Samara, the NDC regional representative, directed that the ballots be counted collectively, saying the arrangement was intended to prevent divisions within the constituency and preserve unity among party members.

However, some aspirants rejected the proposal, triggering confusion over how the ballots should be counted.

Calm was eventually restored after Hajia Samara announced that the ballots would be counted according to individual polling stations. Counting subsequently began under the revised arrangement.

At Wassa Amenfi East Constituency, the exercise ended abruptly after confusion over the number of polling stations designated for the elections.

The election was expected to cover 217 polling stations, but the number reportedly rose to 230, sparking disagreements among supporters of the various candidates.

The disagreement escalated into violence, with supporters engaging in fisticuffs, forcing the cancellation of the exercise.

Winners

Despite the disturbances, the elections produced new constituency executives in several parts of the country, with some incumbent chairmen retaining their positions.

In Greater Accra, the Ablekuma North Chairman, Harry Akoto, retained his seat with 1,067 votes against Clifford Mensah Adjei’s 922.

In Lawra in the Upper West Region, Joseph Bati retained the chairmanship for a second term with 281 votes, narrowly defeating James Lonteng, who secured 272.

The communications officer contest ended in a tie, with Simon Dery Sobrkyile and Stephen Gandaanuo each polling 230 votes. The matter is expected to be referred to the party’s national headquarters for direction.

In Adaklu in the Volta Region, the former Constituency Secretary, Hayford Amenuvie, was elected chairman with 236 votes, defeating Charles Agbesi, who polled 192, and Reverend Fred Agbogbo, who received 47. Eugene Akpatsa won the Secretary position with 253 votes against Habel Segbe Agbee’s 220.

In Akatsi South, Anthony Kojo Owusu secured a third term with 786 votes, defeating Anthony Solo Adotevi, who polled 406.

The New Juaben South Chairman, Salassie Amuzu, also retained his position with 738 votes, ahead of Charles Boakye, who obtained 663.

Other elected chairmen included Paul Oblie Laryea in Odododiodio, Kwame Mborale Supply in Bimbilla, Alexander Sackey in Sekondi, Frank Gavor in Ayawaso West Wuogon, Haruna Abukari in Salaga North, Hasum Osman in Dome-Kwabenya and Ahorlu Ferguson Kwabla in Ketu South.

In the Akan Constituency in the Oti Region, Eric Kwadwo Apeadu was elected chairman. The constituency recorded a turnout of 1,049 out of 1,069 registered delegates, representing about 98 percent.

In the Effia Constituency in the Western Region, Seidu Adams also retained the chairmanship after securing 265 votes, defeating Hameed Kwesi Williams, who polled 248 votes, Azalekor Edward Senam, who obtained 228 votes. Stephen Kwabena Aminamah secured 112 votes, and Samuel Arthur received 17 votes.

Black Maidens head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa has expressed pride in his players after Ghana secured a place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Canada.

Adarkwa said the team was delighted to achieve its target, praising the players for delivering the result they had worked towards.

The coach also commended his technical team, highlighting the impact of their second-half substitutions in helping Ghana secure the victory.

He acknowledged that the next stage would present a tougher challenge, with the Black Maidens set to face Argentina on October 28.

Adarkwa said the team would prepare thoroughly for the encounter as they look to maintain their progress in the competition.

Ghana finished the group stage with four points after losing 3-0 to Norway, drawing 3-3 with Brazil and defeating Canada 2-0 to book their place in the knockout stage.

Argentina, who topped their group with an impressive campaign, will provide a stern test for the Maidens, but Ghana will head into the encounter full of confidence after their spirited recovery in the group phase.

Solomon Reuben Jabari has defeated incumbent Simon Alonga by a wide margin to become the new Atwima Kwanwoma Constituency Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), polling 1,319 votes against his rival’s 263 in Saturday’s constituency executive elections at Twedie Technical Institute in the Ashanti Region.

Mr. Jabari, after his emphatic victory on October 24, warned the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to prepare for a tough contest in the constituency in the 2028 general election, citing the youthful composition of the new executive team as a major strength.

He also used the opportunity to apologise to the Electoral Commission (EC) over his earlier allegation that its officials were working for their ‘paymasters’ during the electoral process.

Speaking to the media after the elections, the chairman-elect commended the EC officials and the Ghana Police Service for their professionalism in ensuring a peaceful and orderly exercise despite some misunderstandings at the voting centre.

‘I commend the police and the EC for their professionalism because everything was done in the right direction. This was an election, and there wouldn’t be everything that you might get perfect, but I admit that the police and the EC did what was expected of them,’ he said.

Mr. Jabari explained that his earlier accusations were made in the heat of the contest, adding that he was prepared to learn from his mistakes.

He also praised the police commander for the efforts made to maintain peace and order throughout the exercise.

Unity Agenda

The chairman-elect has pledged to unite the various factions within the constituency and bring all defeated aspirants on board to strengthen the party ahead of the 2028 general election.

He maintained that the internal contest should not be seen as a battle between winners and losers, insisting that all aspirants belonged to the same political family.

Mr. Jabari disclosed that he would engage the party’s elders, imams and pastors in communities across the constituency to help reconcile members and promote lasting unity.

He expressed confidence that the new executive team would work collectively to strengthen the NDC’s grassroots support and improve its performance in the constituency.

NPP Warning

Mr. Jabari warned the NPP not to underestimate the NDC in Atwima Kwanwoma ahead of the 2028 general election, insisting that the new executives were prepared to intensify grassroots mobilisation.

He said the youthful composition of the team would bring renewed energy to the party’s campaign efforts and help increase its electoral margins.

‘To have a solid team like this in Atwima Kwanwoma, trust me, the NPP will not have it easy. We are all young, and when we go down to campaign, the youth in the constituency are going to support us,’ he declared.

Drawing on his military background, Mr. Jabari said he was ready to work with the constituency secretary, communications officer and other executives to strengthen the party’s structures and prepare for the next general elections.

He, however, acknowledged that addressing the development challenges confronting the constituency would be crucial to the party’s electoral ambitions.

He appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to fix what he estimated to be 40 per cent of the roads in the constituency, arguing that addressing the road challenges would help the NDC’s efforts to secure the parliamentary seat in 2028.

Other Winners

In the other contests, Lawrence Obiri Yeboah won the vice-chairmanship position with 1,081 votes.

Lukman Mumuni retained the constituency secretary position, while his closest rival, Kingston Opoku Bediako, polled 523 votes.

Appiah Augustine won the deputy secretary position with 1,176 votes, while Appiah Isaac secured the deputy organiser position with 916 votes.

Daniel Basepwah won the treasurer position with 974 votes, while Desmond Aziwini secured the deputy treasurer position with 1,276 votes.

Frank Kwame Agyekum was elected constituency communications officer with 1,100 votes, while Blessing Nti Fordjour won the deputy communications officer position with 1,030 votes.

Osman Mohamed won the Zongo caucus position with 961 votes.

Isaac Painstil and Rosemary Adjei secured the youth organiser and deputy youth organiser positions with 97 and 67 votes respectively.

Barikisu Musah won the women’s organiser position with 144 votes, while Ellen Owusu secured the deputy women’s organiser position with 107 votes.

Ledzi Ekpen won the other youth organiser position with 97 votes.

The eight additional constituency executive positions went to Rita Prempeh, Asamoah Emmanuel, Matthew Mensah, Osei Bonsu, Adwoa Konadu, Monica Tosu, Edawanim Justice Osei and Matilda Kandibiga, who were elected from a field of 19 aspirants.

Mr. Jabari expressed gratitude to party members who participated in the elections and pledged to work with all stakeholders to build a united constituency executive team focused on the party’s future.

The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Emmanuel Nii Ashie-Moore, has congratulated members who emerged victorious in the party’s constituency elections, urging them to promote unity and strengthen the party’s structures ahead of the 2028 general election.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Regional Executives and the entire membership of the party, Mr. Ashie-Moore described the victories as a testament to their commitment, dedication and hard work.

He said the outcome reflects the confidence party members have reposed in their leadership.

‘Your victories are a testament to your commitment, dedication, hard work and the confidence that the party members have reposed in your leadership. I commend you for your determination, the sacrifices you have made and your willingness to serve both the NDC as a party and the people of mother Ghana,’ the statement said.

Mr. Ashie-Moore urged the newly elected executives to remain humble, united and committed to the ideals and principles of the party, stressing that their election is a call to responsibility.

He said they must work to strengthen party structures, promote unity and advance the collective vision of the NDC.

To unsuccessful aspirants, the Regional Chairman called for steadfastness and continued contribution to the growth of the party.

‘Every member has a valuable role to play, and our collective strength lies in our ability to work together despite our differences,’ he said, urging members to put the contest behind them and reconcile where necessary.

He said the party must work together to realise its vision for 2028 and to advance the vision of President John Dramani Mahama.

Mr. Ashie-Moore also called for the same unity and sense of purpose ahead of the upcoming regional elections.

‘Let us put our hands to the task ahead and achieve victory for our great party,’ he stated, wishing the elected executives wisdom and success in their new roles.