Category: Daily Guide Network

hanaian dancehall star, Shatta Wale, once again proved his dominance as he headlined ShattaFest Accra 2026 at MoMoFest, sponsored by Mobile Money from MTN Ghana.

The concert, held on October 17, drew thousands of fans to the Accra Sports Stadium for an afternoon-to-night celebration that turned into a historic all-white spectacle.

ShattaFest, which also served as the musician’s birthday celebration, featured performances from over a dozen artistes. The lineup included Medikal, Sista Afia, and Patapaa, among other top acts who kept the crowd on their feet with back-to-back hits.

The night was marked by several emotional moments. Shatta Wale broke down in tears of gratitude as he addressed the massive crowd, while actress Nana Ama McBrown surprised him on stage.

Notable guests at the event included the CID Director and Black Stars goalkeeper Benjamin Asare. One of the highlights of the night was an emotional onstage collaboration between Shatta Wale and Medikal, which sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Fans, clad in all white, sang along word-for-word to every song, turning the stadium into a giant choir. The energy remained high from the first performance to the last, with the audience visibly excited and yearning for more, even after the final set.

Clips of the intimate family moments and the overwhelming crowd energy have since circulated widely on social media, with fans hailing the night as historic.

ShattaFest Accra 2026 cements Shatta Wale’s status as one of Ghana’s most consistent live performers, delivering yet another sold-out moment powered by MoMoFest.

Ghana’s Black Starlets will face Ivory Coast in the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship after the Ivorians secured second place in Group B with a 1-1 draw against Nigeria on Saturday.

The West African rivals will meet in the first semi-final on Tuesday at 16:00 GMT, with a place in the final and qualification for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco at stake.

Ivory Coast finished behind Group B winners Niger to set up the crucial encounter against Ghana, who topped Group A with an unbeaten record.

Coach Kassim Ocansey’s side collected seven points from three matches, defeating Togo and Benin before drawing 0-0 with hosts Burkina Faso in their final group fixture.

The Black Starlets scored four goals and conceded just one to finish top of the standings, demonstrating their defensive solidity throughout the group stage.

Ghana will now seek to extend their unbeaten run and secure qualification for the continental tournament in Morocco. The team will also be eager to reach the final as they pursue the WAFU Zone B U17 title.

However, Ivory Coast are expected to provide a stern test, with both teams knowing that victory will secure qualification for the 2027 U17 AFCON, while defeat would end their hopes of qualifying through the tournament.

The semi-final therefore represents a crucial test for Ocansey and his players, who will be determined to deliver a strong performance, overcome their Ivorian rivals and book their place at the continental showpiece.

Lower interest rates are reaching borrowers of Ghana’s universal banks faster than customers of community and microfinance banks, according to a survey of banks presented at the third Post-Monetary Policy Committee (Post-MPC) Policy Seminar of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana (CIB Ghana).

The seminar, held at the CIB Ghana Auditorium and streamed on the Institute’s social media platforms, brought together the Bank of Ghana (BoG), the Ministry of Finance, banks, traders and industry.

Discussions centred on monetary policy transmission, credit growth and non-performing loans (NPLs).

It followed the 132nd meeting of the BoG’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which voted unanimously on September 24 to keep the policy rate unchanged at 14.0 percent.

Opening the seminar, the President of CIB Ghana Governing Council, Dr. Mrs Ellen Ohene-Afoakwa, FCIB, said monetary policy had implications beyond economists and central bankers, as its effects were transmitted through financial markets, lending conditions, businesses and households.

She said the effectiveness of monetary policy depended not only on changes in the policy rate but also on the extent to which those changes were transmitted to the wider economy.

‘As an institute, we recognise that credit growth and credit quality must move together,’ she said, adding that Ghana needed a banking sector capable of providing adequate credit to productive sectors while maintaining strong risk management and responsible lending.

On NPLs, she said greater attention should be placed on preventing bad loans than on recovering them after they had deteriorated.

In remarks read on his behalf by the BoG’s Director of Research, Dr. Simon Harvey, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson P. Asiama, said changes in the policy rate do not pass through to borrowers at once, because banks also weigh funding costs, credit risk, operating costs and expected losses when pricing loans.

‘This transmission is neither automatic nor instantaneous,’ the Governor said, noting that the aim of monetary policy was not simply to achieve lower interest rates but to maintain anchored inflation expectations, a stable currency and sound financial institutions.

He said the MPC found CIB Ghana’s Pre-MPC survey, which is presented to the Committee ahead of each meeting, insightful and complementary to its own analytical models.

Presenting findings from the September Pre-MPC sentiment survey, Chief Executive Officer of CIB Ghana, Robert Dzato, FCIB, said the survey showed strong appetite among banks to lend, although the impact of monetary policy transmission varied across market segments.

‘We see appetite to lend is quite high,’ he said, noting that ‘the real impact of the transmission of monetary policy varies across the various segments.’

Lending rates differed widely by type of bank. Most universal banks surveyed reported lending at 10 to 15 percent. Among community banks, 46 percent reported lending at 21 to 25 percent, up from 36 percent in the July survey, while microfinance banks reported rates of roughly 31 to 40 percent.

Although most banks were confident about the wider economy, a majority expected inflation to rise in coming months, an upside risk that also featured in the panel’s discussion of the MPC’s decision to hold.

On asset quality, he described banks’ confidence in meeting the NPL target of 10 percent by year-end as encouraging but warned that faster credit growth had to be matched by stronger monitoring, recovery and risk mitigation.

‘We are driving credit growth for obvious reasons,’ Mr. Dzato said, adding that loans not repaid on time could create another problem for the sector.

The panel was moderated by Mrs. Ellen Gyamera, ACIB, Head of the Petroleum Fund at the BoG, and comprised Dr. Harvey; Mr. Frederick Amissah, Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Finance; Dr Charles Atuahene, Executive Member of the Finance and Administration Committee of the Association of Ghana Industries; Mr. John Awuah, CEO of the Ghana Association of Banks; and Mr. Clement Boateng, President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA).

Dr. Harvey set out the basis for the MPC’s decision to hold, including upside risks to inflation. Mr. Amissah spoke on coordination between fiscal and monetary authorities and the role of fiscal discipline in keeping prices stable and lowering government borrowing costs.

Panellists noted that loan pricing had fallen from past highs and discussed scope for further declines. Mr. Awuah addressed access to credit, documentation borrowers need to qualify, and the role of collateral enforcement and courts in recovering bad loans, drawing comparisons with NPL levels elsewhere in the region.

Mr. Boateng called for repayment terms, including grace periods that reflect traders’ import cycles and shipping delays. Dr. Atuahene discussed how exchange rate movements affect exporters’ competitiveness, input costs and appetite to borrow.

Dr. Ohene-Afoakwa highlighted the Institute’s growth in professional education, certification and ethics, including its Non-Interest Banking Certification, Branch CEO Programme, digital and ESG certifications and Ethics 2.0 class.

She also noted Ghana’s success in winning the right to host the World Conference of Banking Institutes in 2028 and appealed for support for the Institute’s planned modern bankers’ house and business complex.

ONE PERSON has been killed and a police officer injured following a shooting incident at Manso-Nsiana in the Ashanti Region.

The incident occurred when a mob from the community allegedly attacked a police team and demanded the release of a suspect who had been arrested for narcotics-related offence.

The confrontation reportedly led to the shooting, leaving one person dead and a police officer injured.

The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has since restored calm in the community, while security has been intensified to prevent further disturbances.

According to a press release issued by the Police and posted on their official Facebook page, the body of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue for preservation and autopsy.

The injured police officer, meanwhile, is receiving medical attention.

The statement added that the Ashanti South Regional Police Commander and a team of officers visited the scene following the incident and engaged community leaders as part of efforts to restore calm.

The Police have intensified security in the area as investigations continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Serene Insurance Limited, a member of First Sky Group, has officially handed over the renovated and refurbished 5th Floor of the Surgical Department at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).

The transformation features upgraded doctors’ and nurses’ quarters, alongside new patient amenities including modern beds, bedside lockers, television sets and en-suite washrooms designed to improve patient privacy, comfort and care.

Chief Executive Officer of Serene Insurance, Mercy Naa Koshie Boampong, said the journey began in December 2025 during a visit to the company’s late General Manager on the 6th Floor VIP Ward, when Dr. Maurice Dordunoo approached management to highlight the challenging conditions on the 5th Floor.

She said Dr. Dordunoo expressed concern over washrooms being a source of discomfort and potential infection, and subsequently followed up with a formal written request for assistance.

Mrs. Boampong explained that the comprehensive renovation gave both male and female wards a complete facelift and provided three side wards with modern washrooms where none previously existed.

‘The full scope of the project included the complete tiling of the entire floor, renovation and upgrading of washrooms, painting of the wards and surrounding areas, replacement of furniture at the reception area, refurbishment of the nurses’ station, upgrading of the pantry and doctors’ offices, provision of ward curtains for patient privacy and dignity, and the supply of fifty-five new and complete hospital bed sets,’ she stated.

She emphasised that Serene Insurance views corporate social responsibility as a deliberate commitment to creating visible, measurable and lasting impact rather than a ceremonial exercise.

Highlighting their ongoing commitment, Mrs. Boampong disclosed that Serene Insurance also made a donation valued at GHS100,000 to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, consisting of food items, toiletries, sanitary products, computers and office furniture, as part of a quarterly intervention programme started in December 2023.

She acknowledged parent company, First Sky Group, for its longstanding healthcare interventions and collaboration with KBTH, particularly on the Kidney Support Project.

The Executive Chairman of First Sky Group, Eric Seddy Kutortse, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to supporting government and KBTH in delivering quality healthcare, emphasising that healthy citizens and quality healthcare are vital to productivity and GDP.

According to him, for the past 10 years, First Sky Group has supported KBTH’s renal unit by providing free dialysis.

‘Patients seeking a free kidney transplant at Korle Bu must submit their applications and undergo medical and ethical due diligence directly through the head of Korle Bu’s renal unit rather than sending applications directly to First Sky Group. Once approved, the total amount is forwarded to First Sky Group for full payment,’ he stated.

Chief Executive Officer of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Yakubu Seidu Adams, said the renovation marks a major improvement in the facility’s overall standards and will have deep impact on quality patient care.

‘Providing a comfortable, dignified and well-equipped space plays a vital role in accelerating the healing process for patients while significantly enhancing working conditions for healthcare professionals,’ he stated.

Dr. Adams highlighted the enduring partnership between the hospital and First Sky Group which began in 2016, noting that over the years the Group’s contributions have included donating more than GHS2 million to the Renal Dialysis Unit, providing an operational pick-up vehicle, as well as contributing approximately GHS1 million quarterly to subsidise treatment costs for kidney patients.

He expressed profound gratitude to the Executive Chairman and Founder of First Sky Group, the CEO and staff of Serene Insurance, and urged other corporate bodies to emulate the Group’s commitment to strengthening the country’s healthcare infrastructure.

For students who spend more than three months in school before returning home for vacation, staying healthy is not just a personal concern; it is essential to their education.

That was the motivation behind an 18-year-old student, Thomas, for participating in a health screening exercise organised by the KGL Foundation in Techiman, where over 200 people, including young people, men and women, benefited from screening services aimed at promoting early detection and preventive healthcare.

‘This is my first time participating in health screening because we will spend more than three months in school before vacation. We need to be healthy to study in school,’ Thomas said.

He expressed hope that the exercise would not uncover an illness that could become a hindrance to their education, while urging fellow students to take regular health checks seriously.

‘Some illnesses cannot be detected with our physical eyes. It will require medical screening, so I encourage every student to participate in health screening,’ he added.

The health screening, organised during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, offered breast cancer screening alongside checks for blood pressure, human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and eye conditions, among other services.

The outreach was organised by KGL Foundation in collaboration with Koranteng Memorial Clinic and AgricoHub.

The initiative sought to encourage early detection of potential health problems while bringing essential screening services closer to residents.

Beyond breast cancer awareness

Programmes Manager of KGL Foundation, Mr. Nii Ankonu Annorbah-Sarpei, said the exercise was designed to promote breast cancer awareness while helping participants assess their general health.

‘We’re not just covering breast screening; we’re also checking people’s general well-being, specifically ear screening, eye testing, and blood pressure,’ Mr. Annorbah-Sarpei said.

Mr. Annorbah-Sarpei added that the target audience included the general population, particularly young people and women, while encouraging both men and women to participate in breast screening.

Health professionals say such initiatives can help address misconceptions about breast cancer and encourage people to seek medical attention before conditions become more difficult and expensive to manage.

Madam Elizabeth Korsah Koranteng, CEO of Koranteng Memorial Clinic, one of the Foundation’s partners for the exercise, stressed that early screening could support timely diagnosis and treatment.

‘Breast cancer can financially derail you, so it’s important to screen for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment,’ she stated.

She also challenged misconceptions that breast cancer is a curse, emphasising the importance of accurate health information and early medical assessment.

Connecting health to livelihoods, education

For AgricoHub, the collaboration reflects the relationship between personal wellbeing and economic productivity.

CEO of AgricoHub, Mr. George Antwi Boasiako, said business owners must pay attention to their health as they pursue growth.

‘We believe that while you focus on your business and business growth, it is important to look at your health and wellbeing, which is why we are collaborating with KGL Foundation for the health outreach,’ he disclosed.

‘The idea is that you should be healthy and able to run your business,’ Mr. Antwi Boasiako added.

Blood donation exercise

Alongside the screening services, the outreach included a blood donation exercise, with a medical expert describing voluntary blood donation as an important contribution to lifesaving medical care, noting that anyone could eventually need a transfusion, either personally or through a friend or family member.

Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez expects to return to action in a few weeks after undergoing successful surgery for a broken jaw.

The 34-year-old Argentina international sustained the injury during Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.

Martinez collided heads with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite in the second half and received eight minutes of treatment before being stretchered off. He was subsequently taken to hospital, where he underwent surgery.

The goalkeeper provided an update on Sunday, sharing a photograph of himself in a hospital gown on social media.

‘Thanks to everyone for the messages. The operation went well,’ Martinez wrote.

‘The most important thing is that we won, and kept a clean sheet. In a few weeks we’ll be back.’

His absence is expected to give Mike Penders an extended run in goal after the 21-year-old replaced him against Everton to make his Premier League debut.

Penders is likely to feature in Chelsea’s next three matches at least, with the Blues scheduled to face Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in the Premier League, alongside a Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool.

The Belgian-born goalkeeper joined Chelsea from Genk in 2024 for a reported £17 million and has previously featured in cup competitions.

Chelsea manager Alonso expressed confidence in Penders, praising his personality and performance against Everton.

‘Mike has personality. He’s brave and we have full trust with him. He did well when he came on,’ Alonso said.

‘He played in the cup games and whenever he’s needed. Like the other players, whenever they are needed they can perform.’

Alonso added that giving every player the opportunity to contribute was important to maintaining a strong squad.

Chelsea will monitor Martinez’s recovery as they prepare for a demanding schedule, with Penders expected to deputise during the Argentine’s absence.

Narawa Company Limited has called for urgent state intervention over what it describes as an armed takeover of its mining site, killings, injuries and destruction of property.

In a statement issued in Accra on October 18, 2026, and signed by Head of Corporate Affairs and Official Spokesperson, Doris Amedior, the company said its concerns go beyond the alleged illegal termination of its Osiem and Nsutam mining leases.

The company reported that three people were killed and ten injured, including a police officer, between August 12 and October 7, 2026, following the takeover on August 12, 2026. It said the reported attacks involved gunfire and machetes.

‘No alleged wrongdoing by Narawa Company Limited justifies unlawful killings, attacks on workers or violence against a police officer seeking to restore order,’ the company said.

Narawa also reported the theft of six excavators, gold and gold concentrate valued at approximately GHS100 million, and the destruction or theft of industrial washing plants and other equipment valued at over US$2 million. It said cash and other assets were also taken.

‘The destruction, removal of essential equipment and continuing interference have severely impaired our mining plant and brought our operations close to collapse,’ the company said.

The company alleged that as of October 13, groups involving Chinese nationals were mining at the concession under protection of persons identified as military personnel and armed land guards. It said about six military personnel alongside armed civilians remained at the site, and asked the Ghana Armed Forces to confirm their identities and mandate.

On the lease dispute, Narawa challenged the alleged illegal termination of its leases, including a disputed financial assessment, saying its requests for reconciliation did not constitute acceptance of the amount. It said it obtained provisional measures in an order sealed on February 19, 2026, pending arbitral determination, which it said restrained the Republic from removing it or transferring the sites.

The company said it reported the incidents to the Eastern South Regional Police Headquarters in Kibi, and commended the police for work that had led to three recent arrests as of October 13, 2026.

It acknowledged that a preliminary police account of October 1, 2026 differs materially from its own, and requested impartial examination of all evidence.

Narawa also called for protection of workers and witnesses, withdrawal of armed persons without lawful authority, investigation of killings and theft, inspection of current mining activities, and preservation and recovery of assets.

‘Who authorised the armed takeover, who is protecting the operators reported to be mining at the site, and what immediate action will the State take to prevent further destruction?’ the company asked.

The Calvary Charismatic Centre (CCC) has organised a medical outreach and humanitarian relief programme for residents of Krapa in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

The programme, held at the CCC Agape City Church in Krapa, formed part of the church’s annual ‘October Commission’ initiative, which seeks to provide healthcare, relief supplies and spiritual support to underserved communities.

Hundreds of residents participated in the exercise, which began at about 7:00 a.m., receiving medical consultations, health screenings, prescription medications, food items and clothing.

The church’s medical team collaborated with doctors, nurses and other health professionals from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and other health facilities to provide a range of services.

The screenings covered breast and cervical cancer, hypertension, elevated blood sugar levels and diabetes. Participants also benefited from general medical consultations, dental checks and body mass index assessments.

As part of the exercise, health professionals educated women on breast self-examination and encouraged men aged 40 and above to undergo regular prostate screening.

Speaking to journalists, the Resident Pastor of CCC’s main campus at Ayigya, Pastor Joshua Obeng, expressed gratitude to residents for their participation and commended the medical personnel and church volunteers for their dedication.

He said the initiative reflected the church’s belief that Christianity must extend beyond worship and spiritual development to practical service to society.

‘True Christianity goes beyond building spiritual capacity through the knowledge of Jesus Christ; it requires unleashing those principles for the tangible benefit of society,’ he stated.

Pastor Obeng said Christians had a responsibility to serve their neighbours with the resources, talents and gifts entrusted to them by God.

He described the outreach as an expression of that responsibility and commended the leadership and members of CCC Agape City Church in Krapa for helping to organise the programme and support the community.

The ‘October Commission’ is an annual CCC initiative held every October, bringing together the church’s congregants and ministry teams, including its media, outreach and medical units, to provide practical assistance to communities across the region.

Tribe Culture Fest and its Chief Executive Officer, Nana Boateng Gyimah, have denied allegations by the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, that the organisation illegally received $611,000 from private individuals to facilitate visas for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is refusing to refund the amount.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Gyimah said the allegations attributed to the minister were not supported by established facts, and challenged Kofi Adams to provide evidence to back his claims.

He maintained that neither Tribe Culture Fest nor its CEO had received the money from the individuals mentioned in the allegations.

He explained that the organisation’s engagements with the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) were based on institutional and contractual arrangements for specific programmes and activities.

‘Our position is clear. Tribe did not receive the alleged $611,000 from the private individuals referred to in the public allegation, and we did not enter into the personal financial arrangements being attributed to us,’ Gyimah disclosed.

Gyimah’s denial follows claims by Minister of Sports and Recreation that Tribe Culture Fest took $611,000 under an arrangement with the GTA to facilitate visas for individuals who sought them for the 2026 World Cup held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and is refusing to refund same.

The minister disclosed that the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service is investigating the broader visa-related allegations that has rocked the Sports Ministry and the National Sports Authority, leading President Mahama to suspend its Director-General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.

Tribe Fest Denial

Tribe Culture Fest has, however, denied the minister’s allegation, pointing out that the arrangements between the organisation, the NSA and GTA covered event logistics, travel coordination, hotel reservations, transportation and security services.

Gyimah noted that Tribe charged $3,000 and $2,000 as full and final payments for its role in the relevant activities, insisting that the organisation had not received money directly from individuals seeking assistance to travel abroad.

He further stressed that the arrangements did not involve personal financial transactions with people seeking visas to travel to the United States, Canada or Mexico.

Gyimah has, therefore, called for verifiable evidence to establish the identities of those who allegedly made the payments, the recipients of the funds, the dates and methods of payment, and the accounts through which the money was transferred.

He also demanded copies of any agreements, receipts or acknowledgements linking Tribe Culture Fest or its chief executive to the alleged funds.

Additionally, he called for clarification of the legal or contractual basis on which the organisation was being asked to refund the money.

‘These are not unreasonable demands. They are minimum evidentiary requirements for determining responsibility in a matter of this nature,’ he said.

Gyimah argued that any investigation into the allegations must identify the actual recipients of the money and determine whether the funds were paid to an intermediary and, if so, where they ultimately went.

‘Our position is not that allegations should never be investigated. On the contrary, all credible allegations should be investigated thoroughly. Our position is that investigation must precede conclusions about guilt, and that public accusations should be grounded in verifiable facts,’ he stated.

He maintained that responsibility for the alleged transactions should be established through evidence rather than assumptions or public allegations.

‘If a claim is made that Tribe received or must refund a particular amount, the evidence should establish the basis for that claim,’ he added.