Category: Daily Guide Network

Black Starlets coach Kassim Ocansey has called for further improvement from his players despite their 3-1 victory over Benin at the ongoing WAFU B U17 Championship.

Ghana recorded their second win of the tournament, strengthening their position in the competition, but Ocansey believes his side must eliminate lapses in concentration to maintain their momentum.

The coach was particularly concerned about his players’ failure to maintain their intensity after establishing a two-goal advantage, a lapse that allowed Benin to reduce the deficit and threaten Ghana’s control of the game.

Ocansey, however, praised the team for responding positively in the second half and finding the net again to secure the victory.

He told reporters that the result reflected the team’s progress, although the players needed to remain focused throughout their matches.

The coach also highlighted the impact of their recent training sessions, revealing that the technical team had placed particular emphasis on improving their finishing.

While pleased that Ghana converted their opportunities into three goals, Ocansey believes the team could have been more clinical in front of goal.

‘We could have scored more than three, but Alhamdulillah, we are okay. We worked on goalscoring at training and we have scored three today. If your team creates chances and they end up scoring three, it is okay, but there is more room for improvement,’ he said.

The Black Starlets will now seek to build on the victory as they pursue further progress in the WAFU B U17 Championship.

Narawa Company Limited, a gold mining firm, is demanding immediate state intervention to halt what it describes as an armed invasion, looting of assets and illegal mining activities on its concession.

At a press conference in Accra yesterday, Head of Corporate Affairs of the company, Doris Attoh, said the concession has been under illegal occupation since August 12, 2026.

She said the site was forcefully taken over by both civilians and military personnel in an armed takeover during which all closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems were destroyed.

‘There was torturing, butchering, and shooting; lives were lost and people were injured,’ she stated.

According to the company, three lives have been lost and eight people injured, including a police officer, as a result of fatal violence and security logistics incidents on the concession up till October 1, 2026. Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the incidents.

Mrs. Attoh extended condolences to families of the deceased and injured, stating that the company stands in solidarity with them and will ensure justice prevails.

She clarified that at the time of the incident, administrative management was conducting background evaluations and onboarding interviews to strengthen authorised civil watch teams outside the operational area to protect civilian safety.

She noted that preliminary law enforcement assessments of personnel at the site differ from the company’s records, which show a staff strength of 150 employees. The company, she said, is cooperating with investigations and welcomes the arrest of the three suspects.

Mrs. Attoh stressed that any police review involving specific individuals should be treated separately from the company’s corporate identity and its statutory concessions, which have been established for over 30 years.

‘We hold valid and binding possessory title protected by active High Court provisional orders, including an order sealed on the 19th of February, 2021. We believe that the forceful takeover, looting of our assets, and continued presence of unauthorised persons are contrary to those court orders,’ she said, adding that the company’s legal team has brought the alleged breaches to the High Court’s attention.

‘We want to establish the facts to ensure that no private actor is using state uniforms or the appearance of state authority unlawfully,’ Mrs. Attoh added.

According to site reconnaissance, approximately 13 rogue groups, including individuals believed to be foreign nationals, are currently conducting illegal mining (galamsey) on the concession in violation of Section 70 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).

She said the groups have stolen six excavators and gold concentrates valued at approximately GHS100 million, and destroyed plant infrastructure valued in excess of US$2 million.

Mrs. Attoh said armed persons have prevented management from accessing the concession, making it impossible to carry out environmental mitigation duties. The company has therefore notified the Chief Inspector of Mines and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of the damages.

The company said legal proceedings have been instituted before the High Court against private individuals, corporate trespassers and complicit entities.

‘We intend to seek appropriate remedies for asset losses, business interruption, and interference with our operations. Our objective is accountability through the law,’ she pointed out.

Narawa is urging the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces, Minerals Commission and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to secure the concession, as well as calling on government and state security agencies to issue immediate written directives to remove all unauthorised persons and restore lawful access.

The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for greater independence for parliamentary legal offices across Africa, warning that legislatures cannot effectively scrutinise and restrain executive power when they depend on the Executive for legal advice.

He said the autonomy of parliamentary legal counsel was essential to the effective functioning of the separation of powers and the preservation of constitutional democracy.

Addressing the Eighth African Colloquium of Parliamentary Legal Counsel in Accra, he argued that a Parliament which relied on the Executive for legal opinions was a diminished institution, deprived of the full constitutional capacity to hold the government accountable.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin said parliamentary legal counsel must owe their allegiance to the Constitution and the institutional authority of Parliament, rather than the government of the day or the political party in power.

The Minority Leader noted that parliamentary legal counsel played a critical role in safeguarding institutional independence, particularly when contentious bills, emergency loan agreements and statutory instruments with implications for civil liberties were presented to the House.

‘In this regard, the office of the legal counsel must be fully autonomous for the separation of powers to function effectively,’ he said.

He explained that the Minority could not reasonably depend on lawyers serving the Executive to provide impartial interpretations of the law on matters requiring scrutiny of government decisions.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin warned that compromising the independence of parliamentary legal offices could reduce parliamentary oversight to political theatre.

The Minority Leader said parliamentary legal counsel operated at the centre of political contestation and often had to work under tight deadlines, partisan disagreements and pressure from parliamentary majorities and executives seeking legal flexibility or statutory advantage.

He therefore urged the lawyers to uphold professional ethics and integrity by refusing to draft provisions inconsistent with constitutional requirements.

He also called on them to provide candid and impartial advice to the Speaker, the Clerk to Parliament and committee chairpersons, even when their advice could challenge attempts to marginalise minority voices, restrict legitimate scrutiny or suppress dissent.

He stressed that the requirement for parliamentary legal offices to remain apolitical, impartial and nonpartisan should not be interpreted as passivity.

Rather, he said, nonpartisanship demanded an active commitment to procedural justice and the protection of constitutional rights.

According to him, the Constitution and the Standing Orders guaranteed minority members the right to ask questions, participate in deliberations, examine evidence and propose amendments.

‘Parliamentary counsel have an important responsibility to provide guidance that ensures numerical majorities do not extinguish democratic rights,’ he said.

The Minority Leader further called for a rigorous review of the Nairobi Principles as the African parliamentary legal community undertook a 15-year review of the framework.

He urged participants to use the exercise to assess the extent to which parliamentary legal offices across the continent were genuinely autonomous and identify instances where executive influence had weakened their independence.

He also challenged the colloquium to examine whether parliamentary counsel had been marginalised or denied the institutional authority needed to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

He said African citizens looked to their parliaments as institutional safeguards against authoritarianism, corruption, arbitrariness and the abuse of power.

The Majority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has defended the GHS49.72 million spent on the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa, describing the expenditure as prudent and insisting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided a comprehensive account of the exercise.

The caucus said the total cost of GHS49,721,786 represented an accurate reflection of the expenditure incurred during the evacuation, rejecting allegations by the Minority that substantial sums of public funds remained unaccounted for.

Addressing a news conference in Parliament on Tuesday, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, stated that the Committee received a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 18, 2026, accompanied by a register containing the particulars of all 1,964 evacuees.

The documents, he said, included their names, dates of birth, passport numbers, professions, contact details, amounts received and signatures.

The caucus added that the necessary details and attestations had also been provided for minors through their parents or legal guardians.

The Majority further indicated that the Ministry had submitted receipts and other supporting documents covering chartered flights, commercial airline tickets, transportation, feeding, accommodation and other logistical arrangements made by the Ghana’s High Commission in South Africa.

Mr. Vanderpuije said the documentation also included evidence of the GHS16 million donation by Engineers and Planners, owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, together with correspondence relating to the contribution and letters of appreciation acknowledging it.

The caucus maintained that the documents demonstrated the Ministry’s commitment to transparency and parliamentary accountability.

He also said no Ghanaian evacuated from South Africa had come forward to complain about not receiving the GHS5,500 integration and transportation allowance.

‘For the avoidance of doubt, every minor received an allowance. Any calculation of the total allowances paid must account for them as well. Surely, counting children when compiling the list of evacuees and conveniently forgetting them when calculating allowances is a rather disingenuous approach to arithmetic,’ the caucus argued.

The Majority commended President John Dramani Mahama and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, for their roles in securing the evacuation, describing the exercise as a humanitarian intervention aimed at protecting the lives and welfare of Ghanaians abroad.

The caucus further disclosed that the Ministry had invited the Auditor-General to undertake an independent audit of evacuation exercises conducted from 2017 onwards.

Mr. Vanderpuije noted that the proposed audit would cover the COVID-19 evacuation in 2020, the evacuation from Ukraine in 2022, the Sudan evacuation in 2023 and the recent exercise in South Africa, as well as other relevant operations.

The Majority said such an audit would provide an opportunity for expenditure under successive administrations to be examined against the same standards of accountability.

They cited GHS44.46 million spent on quarantine arrangements during the 2020 COVID-19 evacuation under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, raising questions about value for money.

The caucus also criticised the Minority for allegedly boycotting a briefing the Foreign Affairs Minister had offered the Committee before raising the financial concerns publicly.

The NDC MPs argued that the allegations should be assessed against documentary evidence rather than political claims.

The Minority had raised concerns about the evacuation expenditure, alleging that substantial amounts of public funds remained unaccounted for.

By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House

Ghanaian influencer and X personality, KalyJay, has told Ghanaians seeking his services to go through his Personal Assistant (PA).

In a post on X, KalyJay said he does not like it when people call him directly without sending a text message first.

‘I don’t like it when you get my number from someone and call me directly without sending a text message first. I sometimes have a lot going on. If you text me on WhatsApp, it’s easier for me to double check and get back to you. My email is also in my bio. My personal assistant’s handle is in my bio,’ he wrote.

According to him, he is often in serious meetings when strange numbers keep calling him just to invite him for an event.

‘For some weird reason, you will be in a serious meeting and a strange number will be blowing up your phone because he wants to invite you for an event or something. Just leave me a text, I’ll respond when I can or text my PA. Plus, I like to leave trails or receipts for future references,’ he added.

KalyJay further lamented poor network reception at his residence, saying he has to step outside to answer calls.

‘The house I stay, if you call unless I go stand outside and answer, cos (because) the network no good. And I can’t be standing outside every time I get a call. So please do the right thing. I’m not hard to reach, you just don’t use the right channels (sic),’ he said.

He also cautioned individuals who randomly request meetings without proper introduction.

‘Also, the ‘I want to meet you’ people. Someone will text you, a random person. Out of the blue. Hello KalyJay I want to meet you, my boss want to see you. When go fit work for you. These things don’t work that way. At least let me know who you are, what you do and WHY you want to meet me (sic),’ he noted.

‘Sometimes you go rush left Spintex go meet someone over for a 3 mins conversation and you go be pissed. Something that can be said through texts and all. You people for do better (sic),’ he concluded.

The trial of former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Solomon Asamoah and former Board Chairman of the Fund, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, is set to resume on October 19, following the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) to dismiss a challenge against the order on the accused to open their defence.

A five-member panel of the apex court, presided over by Justice Gabriel Pwamang, yesterday dismissed an application for certiorari and prohibition filed by Mr. Asamoah which sought to strike out the High Court’s order on the accused to mount a defence.

The two are standing trial for allegedly causing $2 million financial loss to the state by investing it in the Sky Train project.

They have each been charged with three offences, including one count of conspiracy to commit crime, causing financial loss to the state and intentional dissipation of public fund.

Lawyers for Mr. Asamoah had argued that the trial judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, made prejudicial statements in the ruling on a submission of no case to answer, comments she should not have made at that stage of the trial.

Moving the motion yesterday, Prince Asafo Agyei contended that the trial judge’s indication that ‘the applicant (Mr. Asamoah) is the direct cause of the loss’ goes beyond what the judge is supposed to determine at the stage of submission of no case.

This, he argued, is prejudicial to any defence the accused is going to mount, pointing out that the judge exceeded her jurisdiction when she made those definite findings that went outside the scope of her powers at that stage.

Mr. Agyei further argued that the trial judge, in determining an application for stay of proceedings filed by Mr. Asamoah, decided to vary the terms of his bail condition, without giving him an opportunity to have any input in the decision.

‘The applicant was not given notice and was not heard in the matter. There was no application for variation of bail before the court,’ he said.

He added that the cumulative effect of the definitive findings made by the court, the variation of bail conditions and the off-record proceedings is that a reasonable objective mind will reach the conclusion that Mr. Asamoah will not receive an impartial hearing of his defence.

Opposition

The application was opposed by the Deputy Attorney General, who argued that the claim of the judge exceeding jurisdiction is not founded at all, noting that the allegation is ‘based on a misapprehension of what the element of the offence is.’

On the issue of the judge varying the bail terms, he said the court had initially changed the bail terms because of the pendency of the trial and simply varied it to the old terms because of the pending legal vacation.

He said the allegations made by the lawyer for the accused did not meet the threshold of likelihood of bias espoused by the Supreme Court in multiple cases.

The panel, Gabriel Pwamang (presiding), Samuel Asiedu, Hafisata Amaleboba, Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko-Essah and Anthony Forson Jnr., in a ruling, refused the application.

A High Court in Accra yesterday struck out a GHS15 million defamation suit filed by the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, against the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi and Multimedia Group for being procedurally defective.

The court, in a ruling on a preliminary objection raised by lawyers for Sammy Gyamfi, held that his writ of summons filed on behalf of the Member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency failed to comply with mandatory procedural requirements regulating libel actions.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin had filed the suit following allegations of extortion made against him by Sammy Gyamfi in the hit of exchanges surrounding the alleged US$1.7 billion loss associated with the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme in 2025.

Sammy Gyamfi’s lawyers entered conditional appearance and raised an objection to the propriety of the writ and urged the court to set it aside for failing to meet the requirements of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (C.I. 47), which prescribe specific requirements for writs in libel actions.

In its ruling, the court, presided over by Justice Agyenim Boateng, held that a writ in a libel action must contain sufficient particulars of the alleged defamatory publication to enable the publication in question to be identified.

He said it is trite an amendment cannot be granted or sought for the purpose of conflicting an objection to a process that is pending before the court, adding that it would not consider the amended process for the purposes of the ruling.

The court explained that the application before it was brought under Order 57, Rule 2, which requires a writ in an action for libel to be endorsed with sufficient particulars of the allegation forming the basis of the action.

The court agreed with the applicant that the failure to endorse the particulars of the alleged defamatory publication on the writ of summons rendered the action defective.

The court also held that it was unable to accept the argument that the particulars contained in the statement of claim could cure the defect in the writ in the circumstances of the case.

Consequently, the court set aside the plaintiff’s writ of summons and statement of claim filed on August 24.

The court did not make any order as to costs.

Writ

Mr. Afenyo-Markin, in his statement of claim, was seeking general damages for libel, aggravated damages, exemplary damages and an order directing Sammy Gyamfi and Multimedia Group to publish a full, unconditional and unequivocal retraction of the defamatory statements

He was also seeking an order directing the Defendants to publish a full, unconditional and unequivocal public apology to the Plaintiff

‘An order directing that the retraction and apology be published and/or broadcast with substantially the same prominence and reach as the original publication.

Again, he sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants, their servants, agents, assigns and/or any persons acting under their authority from further publishing the defamatory words or any words to the same or substantially similar effect concerning the Plaintiff

He further sought costs of GHS15 million, including legal costs.

PRESIDENT JOHN Dramani Mahama says Ghana is safer today than before due to major security interventions initiated under the current Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno.

Speaking at the commissioning of an 85-bed ward facility at the Police Hospital, President Mahama said since assuming office, he has received testimonies about how his government has prioritised internal security, making Ghana a destination for peaceful cohabitation.

‘Our country is safer today than it was before. And I wish to repeat the testimony of a bus driver who said that before they were afraid to travel in the nights because of highway robbery. He says today, any time the bus is full, even at 2 a.m. they take off because the roads are safer. We also have a reduction in unresolved murders,’ he stated.

He commended COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), for her fight against crime. ‘Indeed, this police administration is doing a yeoman’s job, and as Commander-in-Chief and President of the Republic, I want to express the gratitude of our nation to all of you, and urge you to keep up the good work.

‘It’s no wonder everybody wants to visit Ghana because they say it’s the safest country in the whole of West Africa, and I can assure you that we’ll continue to provide you with the logistics that you need to continue to do your job,’ he added.

President Mahama said the facility represents an important investment in the health and welfare of personnel. ‘This new block strengthens the Police Hospital’s capacity to meet those needs. It provides additional space for care and supports our efforts to improve treatment for officers injured in the line of duty,’ he added.

President Mahama disclosed that he has requested the Minister of Finance to provide GHS300 million in the 2027 budget to construct 250 new apartments for the police, to ease congestion in barracks.

‘Last December, I handed over 50 armoured vehicles to the Ghana Police Service. I’m pleased to announce that a second batch of 40 armoured vehicles is expected in the coming weeks. We are also procuring additional body armour for officers on operational duties,’ he said.

He announced the termination of a 22-year-old contract for the Police Hospital expansion due to disagreements and cost overruns. ‘Cabinet took a decision to terminate the contract. I’ve asked the Minister of Finance to provide approximately GHS200 million in the 2027 budget to complete it before the end of next year,’ he disclosed.

According to him, when completed, the expansion will add 106 beds, bringing total capacity to over 300 beds, with a 12-bed Intensive Care Unit, a new Accident and Emergency centre, 11 consulting rooms, four paediatric consulting rooms, modern MRI and CT scan equipment, three general surgical theatres, an orthopaedic theatre, an endoscopy unit, and a 222-capacity mortuary.

Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, commended government for its commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and the welfare of security personnel.

Speaking at the commissioning of the newly constructed ward, the minister said the facility is a testament to government’s determination to build resilient public institutions and provide quality healthcare.

He expressed gratitude on behalf of the Interior Ministry and the Ghana Police Service for government’s support in improving the welfare and working conditions of personnel.

IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno said the new complex increases the hospital’s total bed capacity to over 200 and marks a significant milestone as the facility celebrates 50 years of operation.

According to him, the new ward complex features: a dedicated paediatric unit with separate male and female children’s wards, executive wards for serving and retired officers; ultra-modern equipment, diagnostic and monitoring devices; an elevator for safe movement of patients and equipment; an in-house pharmacy and laboratory, administrative offices, a 50-capacity car park and a welfare shop.

‘The facility is expected to allow more specialised care to be provided on-site, reducing the need to transfer patients and cutting associated costs. The administration noted that the about 100-bed Tamale Police Hospital has been completed and equipped ahead of its operationalisation, with similar efforts underway for the Kumasi Police Hospital, in line with the national agenda to decentralise healthcare.

‘The Police Administration has committed to ensuring the new complex is managed responsibly and maintained to the highest standard,’ he said, stressing that its true value will be measured by the quality of healthcare provided to every patient.

Telecel Ghana has won two of six major honours at the 2026 Chamber of Commerce and Industry France-Ghana (CCIFG) Awards, earning recognition for digital transformation and sustainability.

The company received the Digital Transformation and Innovation Excellence and Sustainability and ESG Impact awards at a ceremony attended by key figures from the business community, including the French Ambassador to Ghana, Diarra Dime-Labille, and the Economic Adviser to the President and former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper.

The awards recognise organisations demonstrating business leadership, innovation and measurable impact. Entries were assessed by an independent, multi-sectoral jury comprising industry leaders, consultants and diplomats.

Telecel Ghana’s digital transformation award acknowledges its investment in technology solutions designed to improve customer experience, facilitate secure digital transactions, expand e-commerce and promote financial inclusion.

The company has been expanding its digital services beyond traditional telecommunications connectivity to build an integrated ecosystem serving individuals, businesses and communities.

Its sustainability award, meanwhile, recognises initiatives in environmental protection, social development and corporate governance.

Over the past five years, Telecel Ghana has planted 43,000 trees and introduced solar power at 16 network exchanges across the country as part of efforts to reduce its environmental footprint and improve operational efficiency.

Through the Telecel Ghana Foundation’s Connected for Good agenda, the company also supports programmes in education, digital inclusion, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), healthcare and community empowerment.

These initiatives benefited more than 6,000 people during the year under review, according to the company.

Telecel has also promoted financial and digital literacy among women entrepreneurs, alongside workplace diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Its governance measures focus on ethical business conduct, transparency, regulatory compliance, data protection and accountability.

Commenting on the awards, Telecel Ghana’s External Affairs Director, Komla Buami, said the recognition affirmed the company’s efforts to combine technological advancement with social and environmental responsibility.

‘These awards are a strong endorsement of the work Telecel Ghana is doing to drive meaningful digital transformation while creating lasting value for society,’ he said.

He added that the recognition highlighted initiatives aimed at expanding financial inclusion, strengthening digital access, supporting communities and advancing sustainability.

The awards were presented at an event organised by CCIFG, whose board president, Guillaume Valence, was also among the distinguished guests.

Telecel Ghana said the recognition reflected its strategy of pursuing commercial growth while delivering benefits to communities and contributing to Ghana’s digital development.

A STAUNCH Kumasi Asante Kotoko supporter, Ali Abubakar, has graduated with a Business Management Diploma Certificate in Canada.

Affectionately called ‘Ali Maradona’ in the football circles, he graduated from the CJ Health Care College in Toronto, Ontario Canada.

This follows Ali Maradona’s successfully completion of a one-and-half-year Business Management course in the educational institution.

‘The graduation ceremony was held on August 7, 2026 and it was a grand ceremony’, Ali Maradona who was extremely excited told the DAILY GUIDE on phone.

According to him, he is aware of the importance of education, especially in this computer era, hence his decision to pursue for higher education in Canada.

Ali Maradona, who is currently domiciling in Canada, disclosed that he has the desire to pursue for higher educational laurels in future.

‘Education is the major key to success in these modern times and I will advise everybody to pursue education since it will help open big doors for them.

‘This certificate will serve as a springboard for me to pursue for even higher educational standards in the near future’, he confidently stated to the paper.

Ali Maradona’s relationship with Kotoko started about three decades ago in Kumasi. He was always seen following the club to the various league venues.

When radio became popular, he then switched to defending his beloved Kotoko on sports shows, both on radio and TV in Kumasi before he relocated to Canada for greener pastures.