Category: Daily Guide Network

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.

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has intensified its enforcement drive against illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey,’ in the Western Region.

The Secretariat has also vowed to ensure that regulated community mining operations do not serve as a cover for illegal activities.

This renewed effort follows the recent inauguration of Community Mining Schemes in the Ahanta West and Nzema East municipalities of the Western Region.

As part of the intensified operations, a NAIMOS Task Force recently conducted an enforcement patrol in the Yakaw area of the Ahanta West Municipality.

During the patrol, several suspected illegal miners were found operating within palm plantations.

The Task Force raided the identified sites and arrested 14 suspected illegal miners, who were subsequently handed over to the Agona Police Station for further investigation.

During the operation, personnel also destroyed 19 chanfang machines, 18 water pumps, and two makeshift structures used to support the illegal mining operations.

Metal scrap and other materials from the dismantled sites were removed with the support of personnel from the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC).

The Yakaw operation demonstrates NAIMOS’ determination to extend enforcement beyond illegal mining carried out directly in rivers.

Investigations revealed that illegal miners are increasingly moving into farmlands, cocoa and palm plantations, and roadside areas. Consequently, NAIMOS has served notice that it will expand and intensify its operations across these locations.

In an official statement, the Secretariat emphasised that Community Mining Schemes provide a regulated framework for eligible miners to operate within approved areas and under prescribed conditions.

‘So, illegal miners who choose to operate outside the law should expect sustained enforcement action. Their sites will be targeted, their illegal operations will be disrupted, and their equipment dealt with,’ the statement warned.

‘The task force will do so in accordance with applicable procedures, and any persons apprehended will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for investigation and prosecution,’ the statement added.

The Secretariat noted that NAIMOS will continue to work closely with security agencies, local authorities, and other relevant institutions to ensure that responsible, lawful mining is protected.

‘NAIMOS will ensure illegal mining is systematically disrupted across the Western Region and other affected parts of the country,’ the statement pointed out.

The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU) has accused the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources of making false claims that it had extensively consulted the Union over government’s new directives on contract mining.

The Union says no consultation has taken place despite two months of appeals for dialogue.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the leadership of the GMWU of TUC-Ghana, the Union said it had sighted a press release from the Ministry dated October 21, 2026, captioned ‘Government Issues Further Policy Directive on Contract Mining,’ in which the Ministry claimed to have undertaken extensive consultation with the leadership of the Union.

‘The GMWU wishes to state, unequivocally, that this claim by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in its press release of October 21, 2026 is factually inaccurate,’ the statement said.

According to the Union, it petitioned the Ministry on August 20, 2026 after publicly expressing disagreement with aspects of the Local Content Policy, particularly on contract mining, citing exploitation, abuse, casualisation of labour and erosion of worker protections.

The petition called on government to suspend the directive and initiate a ‘genuinely inclusive, transparent, and good-faith stakeholder engagement process that places workers at the centre.’

The Union said over two months on, and despite repeated reminders, no practical steps had been taken to meet with it.

‘It is therefore both misleading and unfortunate for the Ministry to suggest that extensive consultations have taken place when no such consultations had occurred as of the date of its press release. The Union consequently rejects this assertion and calls on the Ministry to correct the record,’ it stated.

The GMWU, which represents over 15,000 mineworkers, stressed that it is not opposed to responsible participation of Ghanaian businesses in the mining sector, but is opposed to any policy that ‘transfers wealth from workers to contractors, weakens social protection, undermines decent work and violates workers’ rights.’

‘Local content must create decent and sustainable jobs and provide opportunities for all Ghanaians. It cannot become a vehicle for exploitation to enrich a few contractors at the expense of the workers who risk and sweat day and night in the bowels of the earth to produce the wealth,’ the statement added.

The Union also raised concerns about recent media engagements involving the Minerals Commission and government on contract mining and conditions of service, reminding the Commission that worker-related issues fall within the framework of collective bargaining regulated by the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651).

‘The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union remains committed to working with other stakeholders to develop the industry and protect the interest of all stakeholders, including workers. Local content must promote national development while safeguarding workers’ rights, dignity, and livelihoods,’ the Union concluded.

One of the world’s leading marathon runners, Ruti Aga, has been banned for six years after anti-doping investigators found she submitted a fake prescription to explain a failed drug test.

The Ethiopian athlete won the Tokyo marathon in 2019 and has reached the podium at the Berlin and New York marathons. She tested positive for the banned substance methylprednisolone after winning a half-marathon in China in March, the Athletics Integrity Unit said on Thursday.

Aga said she had been given the substance by a doctor in Ethiopia to treat knee pain, but the AIU said it found the clinic named on the document did not exist and the supposed prescription had been signed by a family member who was not a registered doctor.

After that, Aga failed to respond to charges for the use of methylprednisolone and ‘tampering’ with the anti-doping process, the AIU added, meaning the six-year ban was issued without a hearing. The 32-year-old runner’s ban includes two years for the use of the substance and four more for tampering.

The Office of the Attorney General (AG) has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court (SC) challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal to temporarily halt the trial of former Chief Executive Officer of National Food Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, pending the determination of an appeal against the trial court refusing to strike out the charges.

The Notice of Appeal signed by Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, says the Office is challenging the entire decision of the Court of Appeal delivered on October 19, 2026.

It is asking the apex court to overturn the decision of the Court of Appeal and order the trial court to proceed with the trial.

‘Take notice that the Prosecution/Respondent/Respondent/Appellat, being dissatisfied with a ruling of the Court of Appeal (Coram: J. Noble- Nkrumah, l. O. Marfo, and G. Buadi, JJ.A.), Accra, dated October 19, 2026, granting an interlocutory application for stay of proceedings pending appeal, hereby appeals to the Supreme Court on the grounds set out below and for the reliefs stated hereunder,’ the notice partly read.

The Notice of Appeal contends that the Court of Appeal erred in holding that the mere challenge against a charge sheet constitutes an exceptional ground upon which to stay proceedings in a criminal trial.

It also contends that the ruling of the Court of Appeal cannot be supported having regard to the record.

The AG further pointed out that additional grounds for appeal may be filed upon receipt of the certified ruling of the Court of Appeal.

Trial

Mr. Aludiba is standing trial with his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, for allegedly stealing and causing financial loss to the state totalling GHS62.6 million.

The Court of Appeal, on October 19, temporarily halted the trial of the couple pending the determination of an interlocutory appeal against the charges that initiated the trial.

This was after a three-member panel of the court granted an application for stay of proceedings filed by Godfred Yeboah Dame, lead counsel for Mr. Aludiba, challenging the decision of the High Court to dismiss a challenge against the charges.

Mr. Dame had challenged the charges filed by the Office of the Attorney General, contending that they are vague, ambiguous, duplicitous and renders a fair trial impossible, as well as violate his fundamental human rights as an accused person under the constitution.

The court, on July 23, dismissed Mr. Aludiba’s request to strike out the charge sheet for being ‘fatally defective.’

According to the court, apart from count 9 and 14 which it has directed the prosecution to amend, all the other 18 counts on the charge sheet provide enough details to inform the accused of the charges levelled against them.

On the issue of the prosecution charging the accused with the offence of stealing and defrauding by false pretences in respect of the same transaction, Justice Achibonga said there was nothing legally wrong with preferring both offences in distinct counts.

The court, however, acknowledged that there cannot be a conviction for the offences of defrauding by false pretences and stealing if they arise from the same facts.

Interlocutory Appeal

Mr. Dame subsequently filed an interlocutory appeal challenging the High Court’s decision and followed it up with an application for stay of proceedings pending appeal.

That application was dismissed by the trial court, thereby opening the door for the defence lawyer to file a repeat application at the Court of Appeal. The Office of the Attorney General opposed the application.

Moving the motion before the Court of Appeal last Monday, Mr. Dame argued that the issues raised are fundamental and hinge on the accused’s right to a fair trial, such that allowing the trial to continue will occasion substantial miscarriage of justice.

He further contended that a charge sheet invokes the court’s jurisdiction and must be prepared in accordance with the law.

‘We contend further that any defect which inhibits an accused person from knowing the particulars of the offence with which the accused is charged, and withholds material information about the offence, does not invoke the jurisdiction of the court,’ Mr. Dame, a former Attorney General, argued.

Again, he argued that it is unfair for the accused to be subjected to a trial for stealing over payments spread across such a broad period.

‘The facts say 86 transactions. Even if the Court considered this, there are more fundamental issues. There are no specificities. It is unfair for an accused to be subjected to such a trial,’ he added.

The three-member panel, Justices Noble Nkrumah (Presiding), Lydia Osei Marfo, and George Boadi, in a ruling, said the charge sheet carries the superstructure of the trial and a challenge to that must be dealt with.

‘We find the matters raised by the applicant to be exceptional and to warrant the grant of a stay. The application is granted,’ the court held.

Jamaican-based Countrystyle Community Network, under its Villages as a Business Model, has launched its first pilot project in Africa, dubbed the Royal Community Tourism Development Program.

The program targets communities with tourism potential that can be harnessed into business ventures and investor destinations for diasporans in the Caribbean, Europe and the Americas.

Championed by the Network’s African Ambassador, Dr. Prince Tengol Klepmani, a delegation of two from Jamaica was brought to Ghana to undertake feasibility studies and engage with traditional leaders as well as community members of the first pilot area, which is Paga in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region.

A delegation from the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network from Jamaica, including its Chairman Roy Page and Senior Architect Jason Stone, together with the Chiefs and People of Paga and the Paga Youth Movement, launched the program on Tuesday, October 20, at Paga Town Park.

Key among the programs to be initiated include the establishment of identity centres that would serve as a place to showcase the communities’ identities, including the Royal Truth Museums.

Another key initiative will be the ‘Know Thyself’ initiative that will champion cultural and business exchanges between the diasporan community and the Paga Community.

As part of the Know Thyself Initiative, 100 Jamaicans are expected to visit the Paga Community next year to reconnect with their heritage and develop personal and business relationships.

The delegation, while in northern Ghana, paid homage to the Buipe Wura, Paramount Chief of the Buipe Traditional Area in the Gonja Kingdom, Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor II, who also serves as the Vice President of the National House of Chiefs. As part of the visit, the team engaged the Upper East Regional Minister, Akamugri Donatus Atanga, who pledged government’s support for the initiative.

The Upper East Regional Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority, led by Mr. Joseph Appiagyei, was also visited. The delegation also visited the palace of the Bongo Naba, Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region, the palace of the Navro-Pio, Pe Aneakwoa Balinia Adda Asagpaare II, and the palace of host, Paga-Pio, Pe Charles Awiah Awampaga II, Paramount Chief of the Paga Traditional Area.

The Upper East Regional Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority, together with the Paga Youth Movement, led the delegation to visit tourist sites in the region, including the Pikworo Slave Camp, the two major crocodile ponds in Paga – The Chief Pond and the Zenga Pond, the Ghana-Burkina Faso border, and the Upper East Regional Museum.