Category: Daily Guide Network

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.

Jamaican tourism entrepreneur and CEO of Asterix Tourism Services Limited, Mr. Roy Page, has met with the Deputy CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey and some management board of the authority, as part of his two-week visit to Ghana to advance collaboration between Jamaica and Africa.

The meeting formed part of Mr. Page’s engagements to launch community-based business initiatives in Ghana, with Paga in the Upper East Region selected as the first beneficiary community.

Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Page said his mission in Ghana goes beyond tourism. ‘Our real reason to be here is to be able to have community businesses. We really want to turn communities into businesses,’ he stated.

According to him, the initiative is built on the concept of ‘Village as a Business’ under the Country Style Community Tourism Network, where every member of a community is empowered to see themselves as business owners.

Mr. Page also outlined his flagship initiative dubbed ‘Know Thyself,’ aimed at fostering cultural exchange and reconnection between Africans and the diaspora.

He explained that under the initiative, 100 persons from Jamaica, including Maroons, Rastas and Tainos, will visit Ghana to interact with chiefs, kings and royal families to share in music, culture and history, while 100 Ghanaians will also travel to Jamaica.

‘We want Caribbean persons to come to Africa and Africans to go to the Caribbean. We are starting with Jamaica and Ghana because we believe in models. We want the models to work, and then we can establish it throughout Africa and the Caribbean,’ he noted.

Mr. Page disclosed that discussions are ongoing with airlines to operate a charter flight for the exchange programme, with the first trips expected around Ghana’s 70th anniversary in March and a homecoming event in December 2026 featuring reggae artiste Gramps Morgan.

‘We are planning a twinning of these eras. In Jamaica, we have some strong Maroon communities. They have had meetings and they are already in agreement. They want to come to Ghana,’ he added.

Mr. Page emphasised that the focus of his visit remains community development and execution of concrete projects. ‘We really want to execute everything that we mentioned. We really want the Caribbean to come to Africa and learn from Africans, and Africans to go to the Caribbean and learn from the Caribbeans, because although we are distance apart, we are still one,’ he stressed.

Mr. Abeiku Aggrey and the board assured him of the authority’s willingness to collaborate with his organisation to create impressive experiences for the initiative.

What good is a reproductive health lesson if the teacher delivering it lacks the confidence to answer students’ questions? What happens when an adolescent seeking contraception or health advice is met with judgment instead of understanding? And how can Ghana expect young people to make informed decisions about their health when the very people entrusted with guiding them are not adequately prepared for the task?

These questions expose a critical gap in Ghana’s efforts to strengthen Reproductive Health Education (RHE). While policies, textbooks and adolescent-friendly health facilities are important, their impact ultimately depends on the people responsible for putting them into practice. Without appropriate training, practical skills and institutional support, investments in RHE risk falling short of their intended purpose.

Beyond the Textbook: Preparing Teachers to Deliver RHE

Teaching reproductive health is not simply about familiarity with a textbook. It requires the ability to explain sensitive issues accurately, respond to difficult questions and create a classroom environment where students feel comfortable seeking information. Teachers therefore need appropriate preparation and practical skills to deliver RHE effectively.

In Ghana, reproductive health education is integrated into existing school subjects and the School Health Education Programme (SHEP), rather than being taught as a stand-alone subject. A January 2025 report by the Population Council, MSI Reproductive Choices, the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) examined the perspectives of SHEP coordinators and identified challenges and opportunities in delivering RHE in schools. The report also highlighted the potential of establishing RHE as a stand-alone subject to strengthen implementation (Population Council et al., 2025).

The report reinforces the need to look beyond the presence of RHE topics in the curriculum and consider how consistently and effectively they are taught. UNESCO’s International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education also emphasises the importance of preparing educators to deliver structured, evidence-informed sexuality education (UNESCO et al., 2018).

When teachers are uncertain about how to address sensitive questions or lack the skills to facilitate these discussions, students may receive uneven levels of information. Strengthening teacher preparation should therefore be part of Ghana’s wider effort to improve the quality and consistency of RHE delivery.

Building a Workforce That Can Deliver

Closing this gap requires a sustained institutional commitment, not isolated training activities. The Ghana Education Service should work with teacher training institutions to strengthen RHE in pre-service teacher education, ensuring that teachers acquire the necessary knowledge and practical teaching skills before entering the classroom.

Continuous professional development should also be supported through regular, adequately funded opportunities. A standardised teaching guide would provide clear, accurate and culturally relevant content, helping teachers deliver RHE more consistently across schools.

Equally important is the support teachers receive after training. School Health Education Programme coordinators should provide ongoing mentorship, while clear institutional guidance should help teachers respond to sensitive questions and address concerns raised by parents or community members.

Training teachers is essential, but empowering them to apply that knowledge confidently is what will make the difference.

Adolescent-Friendly Facilities Need Adolescent-Friendly Professionals

The workforce challenge does not end at the school gates. Ghana has developed policies and guidelines to improve health services for adolescents. The Ghana Health Service and UNICEF’s Adolescent Health Service Policy and Strategy (2016-2020) sets out the importance of providing quality health care that responds to adolescents’ needs. The GHS’s National Operational Guidelines and Standards for Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Health Services also establishes standards intended to improve the quality of services available to adolescents and young people (Ghana Health Service and UNICEF, 2016; Ghana Health Service, n.d.).

However, the existence of policies and designated service spaces does not, by itself, demonstrate that every adolescent receives a positive experience when seeking care.

Adolescents need health professionals who can communicate respectfully, protect confidentiality and provide appropriate information without judgment. If young people fear being scolded or embarrassed when seeking contraception, counselling or other reproductive health services, they may be less willing to ask questions or seek care.

This is why the Ghana Health Service must continue to strengthen the capacity of professionals providing adolescent health services. Standardised training for health workers assigned to adolescent service points should cover relevant clinical protocols, effective communication, confidentiality and respectful care. ARHR should advocate for such training to be a defined requirement for placement, rather than an optional opportunity dependent on available funding.

Training must also be reinforced through routine supervision, confidential feedback channels for adolescents and regular refresher courses. These measures would help health facilities assess young people’s experiences, identify gaps in service delivery and strengthen accountability for the quality of care they provide.

From Infrastructure to Impact

Ghana’s progress in establishing policies and facilities for adolescents must be matched by investment in the people who make these services work. Teachers need the competence and confidence to deliver accurate RHE, while health workers must be equipped to provide respectful, confidential and appropriate care.

This responsibility also extends to the wider community. Journalists, media influencers, religious leaders and traditional leaders should be engaged to address misinformation, strengthen public understanding and build support for reproductive health education.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of RHE cannot be measured by the availability of textbooks, the number of training workshops conducted or the presence of adolescent-friendly health corners alone. What matters is whether young people receive accurate information in classrooms and can access health services without fear of judgment.

If Ghana is serious about improving adolescent health outcomes, it must invest in the people responsible for delivering these services. A trained, supported and accountable workforce is not an optional addition to RHE; it is central to its success.

The Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has warned that Ghana should not be comfortable with intelligence assessments that suggest the country is unlikely to suffer terrorist attacks.

According to him, no country is immune to terrorist attacks and Ghana must remain on high alert, especially given its 590-kilometre porous border with Burkina Faso.

The Assin South Member of Parliament (MP) made the call at a Symposium on Terror in the Middle East and Africa held under the theme: ‘Terror in the Middle East and Africa: Shared Challenges, Shared Responses.’

‘We should not discount any signal. We should not get comfortable with assessments that seem to preclude us from attack. No country is beyond attack,’ he cautioned.

Mr. Fordjour said lessons from the October 7 massacre in Israel, where over 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage despite Israel’s sophisticated intelligence apparatus, should put Ghana on an alert status.

He noted that terrorism continues to claim thousands of lives across Sub-Saharan Africa, citing the 2016 Grand Bassam attack in Ivory Coast, the February 14 attack in Katiola in Burkina Faso where eight Ghanaian traders were killed, and over 10,000 deaths from over 3,026 attacks by the JNIM group alone within the Sahel.

The MP said Ghana faces a unique challenge due to its northern frontier, warning that assessments show terrorist groups could have access to Ghanaian citizens through porous routes if they intend to attack.

‘We share over 590-kilometre northern border with Burkina Faso, and I cannot say that the border is foolproof. Other assessments have it that the JNIM group actually does have access if they want, as and when they want, through some of the porous routes,’ he stated.

He acknowledged that successive governments have built strong kinetic and non-kinetic systems for terrorism prevention, but stressed that Ghana cannot stay resilient in isolation. ‘Joint intelligence sharing is one very critical factor. We all understand how our multilateral and regional security sharing at some point was strained, and we’re striving to get it back to the optimal level,’ he said, calling for revived diplomatic engagement with Sahel neighbours.

Mr. Fordjour also referenced recent data collected by CDD-Ghana which surveyed 17 districts on vulnerability to violent extremism. According to him, the findings show that it is not necessarily poverty, but the desire to have more money that makes violent extremism attractive to some youth in certain districts – a trend he described as ‘not very comfortable’ for Ghana.

‘Ghana cannot be comfortable, but we have to continue to collaborate, both multilateral, bilateral, regional, sub-regional, joint intelligence sharing, so that we will not be surprised,’ he emphasised, urging the country to strengthen early warning systems and response mechanisms.

The Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Roey Gilad, who also spoke at the symposium commemorating the third anniversary of the October 7 attack, said the trauma of the massacre still lives with Israelis, and challenged the basic belief that the Jewish state is the ultimate guarantee for the security of the Jewish people.

‘Every Israeli remembers very well where he or she was on October 7, 2023, at 6:29 a.m., just as every American remembers where he or she was on September 11, 2001. Israel after the October 7 massacre is not the same country,’ Ambassador Gilad said.

He noted that Israel is no longer naive but stronger, adding that the proverb ‘He who wants peace should be ready for war’ has never been truer.

He thanked Ghana for its contribution to Israel’s security through the Ghanaian battalion serving with UNIFIL along the Israeli-Lebanese border.

Veteran football administrator, Fitzgerald Barkers Woode has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to prioritise careful consideration over haste in selecting the next Black Stars head coach.

Popularly known as Nana Fitz, he believes the appointment must be guided by the candidate’s understanding of Ghanaian football rather than the pressure to secure an immediate replacement for Carlos Queiroz.

Queiroz’s departure followed a difficult start to Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, with the Black Stars losing 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire away before suffering a 4-2 defeat against The Gambia at home.

In response, the GFA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have formed a five-member committee to assess applicants, conduct interviews and identify suitable candidates. The deadline for applications is October 15.

With Ghana scheduled to play Somalia twice in November at the Accra Sports Stadium, an interim technical team is expected to take charge of the fixtures while the search for a permanent manager continues.

Nana Fitz emphasised that the next appointment must reflect the realities of football in Ghana, including the country’s playing philosophy, local challenges and available resources.

He believes a coach with a firm grasp of these factors would be better positioned to settle into the role quickly and meet expectations.

The Black Stars have endured a disappointing start to their qualifying campaign and currently occupy the bottom of Group C without a point from their opening two matches.

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has questioned the Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame, John Darko, as part of investigations into matters involving SIC Savings and Loans and Equity Savings and Loans.

Mr. Darko was questioned on October 13, 2026, following an invitation from EOCO to assist with its investigations, according to a statement issued by his law firm, Darko, Keli-Delataa and Co.

The statement said the interrogation focused on his role as legal counsel for Equity Savings and Loans during litigation with SIC over a matured but unpaid investment, as well as his membership of Equity’s board between 2015 and 2023.

Mr. Darko told the investigators that his law firm had handled the litigation and the recovery of part of the judgment awards in favour of SIC but had no involvement in any subsequent settlement between the two parties.

The firm said it was unaware of a decision by Equity to dispose of land that was subject to judicial attachment to a third party, ECOSWISS.

It said it had already terminated its legal services to Equity before those post-judgment developments because of the company’s failure to pay legal fees.

The statement, signed by the firm’s Managing Partner, K. Keli-Delataa, said Mr. Darko had ceased to be a board member of Equity by September 2023 and was not involved in any decision to compromise the court judgment.

It further rejected any suggestion that Mr. Darko participated in a scheme to deny SIC the benefits of its court awards.

The law firm said its client remained committed to the ongoing investigations and was prepared to provide further assistance to EOCO regarding his role and that of the firm in the matter.

It also commended the investigators for their professionalism during the questioning.

When Hamdia Issahaku gained admission to the University for Development Studies (UDS) to study Nursing, she was excited to begin her journey towards becoming a professional nurse.

But financing her education was a major concern.

Growing up in Gambaga in the North East Region, Hamdia lost her mother at a young age. By the time she was preparing to enter Senior High School, her father had retired, leaving the family with limited financial resources.

The situation became more difficult when her brother was involved in a serious accident and required a craniotomy. The cost of his treatment exhausted much of her father’s savings and left the family struggling to meet other needs.

A Childhood Acquainted with Loss

Hamdia’s childhood was shaped by the loss of her mother and the financial challenges that followed.

Her father had worked hard to support his children, but retirement meant the family had to manage with much less. Her brother’s medical emergency further stretched the family’s finances, even after relatives helped to raise money for his treatment.

When Hamdia gained admission to UDS, her family could not comfortably meet the cost of tuition, accommodation, books, and other expenses. Determined to remain in school, she looked for ways to support herself.

Hawking Between Hostels

Hamdia began selling body splash to students on the UDS campus, moving from one hostel to another to earn money for her basic needs.

The small business helped her meet some expenses, but balancing it with a demanding nursing programme became difficult.

‘I had to sell body splash from one hostel to the other just to cater to some of my needs. As a result, I started facing academic setbacks, sometimes missing lectures,’ she said.

She applied for the Tisungtaba Scholarship, but the support was not enough to meet her needs.

It was at this point that Dr Umar Haruna, then Vice Dean of Students at UDS, directed her to the MTN Bright Scholarship.

The Day Everything Changed: The MTN Ghana Bright Scholarship Selection

Hamdia was selected as an MTN Bright Scholar. The scholarship covered her tuition and accommodation and provided a laptop and a stipend for books and study materials.

For Hamdia, the support meant she no longer had to depend on selling body splash to meet the cost of her education.

‘I had tears of joy because finally I had gotten the support I really needed, a fully funded scholarship. It remains one of the happiest days of my life,’ she said.

With the financial pressure reduced, she was able to concentrate more fully on her studies.

The scholarship selection process also helped her develop confidence, particularly in public speaking and presenting herself before others.

From UDS to Tema General Hospital

Hamdia completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at UDS and graduated as the Best Female Graduating Student at the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

She is now putting her training into practice through her national service at Tema General Hospital, where she is gaining practical experience as she begins her professional career in nursing.

Away from the hospital, Hamdia has also maintained her entrepreneurial spirit. She has started a small beverage business, producing and selling Sobolo and Zomkom.

For now, her focus is on building her nursing experience and preparing for the next stage of her career.

A Legacy of Gratitude and Giving Forward

Looking back, Hamdia says the MTN Bright Scholarship allowed her to focus on her education at a time when her family was struggling financially.

‘MTN Ghana Foundation has made it clear that you just have to take the first step, and there will be someone to support you throughout the journey,’ she said.

The MTN Bright Scholarship

Hamdia’s story is part of the impact of the MTN Ghana Foundation’s Bright Scholarship, which is being highlighted as MTN Ghana celebrates 30 years of operations in Ghana.

Launched in 2017 to mark MTN Ghana’s 20th anniversary, the programme has supported 1,220 brilliant but needy students to complete their tertiary education. The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, a laptop, and a stipend for books and study materials.

Over nine years, it has reached students across 18 tertiary institutions, including the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the University of Cape Coast, as well as colleges of education and health training institutions.

Seventeen Bright Scholars have graduated as valedictorians or best students at their universities, while 299 have graduated with first-class honours, 47 with second-class upper, and 16 with second-class lower honours.

For Hamdia, those figures have a personal meaning. Her own journey has taken her from selling body splash between UDS hostels to becoming the Best Female Graduating Student at the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Former Managing Director of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), Nana Akwasi Awuah, has challenged an account presented by the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) regarding the auditing of PMMC’s books for the period 2020 to 2024.

According to him, he requested a multi-year audit of the company’s accounts from the Auditor-General as far back as September 2, 2024, contrary to the impression that the process was initiated by the new management in 2025.

In a statement responding to reports of GoldBod’s engagement with PAC on Monday, Mr. Awuah said the delay in auditing the company’s accounts was not the fault of management but resulted from bureaucratic difficulties associated with appointing a new external auditor through the Ghana Audit Service.

‘My attention has been drawn to a report emanating from today’s engagement by GoldBod with the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament of Ghana,’ he said.

According to him, the report indicated that PMMC’s books and accounts had not been audited for the years 2020 to 2024 and that it was not until 2025 that the new management requested a financial audit.

Mr. Awuah said that account did not reflect the steps taken during his tenure to secure the audit.

He explained that, following his request to the Auditor-General in September 2024, the Parliamentary Select Committee on State Enterprises also wrote to the Auditor-General in support of the multi-year audit.

The Auditor-General subsequently assembled a team that began work in the same month, he said.

Mr. Awuah added that the final audit reports covering the years in question were concluded, signed and submitted in April and June 2025.

He also cited a performance audit conducted by the Auditor-General in 2023, describing it as the first of its kind at PMMC in about two decades.

The former managing director said the audit reports showed that PMMC had struggled financially in earlier years but had been turned around by the end of 2024, creating a firm foundation for the establishment of GoldBod, its successor institution.

Founder of the International God’s Way Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim, has criticised his estranged wife, Florence Obinim, over property and financial demands she has reportedly made in their ongoing divorce proceedings.

In a video shared on TikTok on Tuesday, the pastor was seen reading through a list of properties he claimed Florence was seeking as part of the divorce settlement.

Obinim accused his estranged wife of prioritising his properties over the welfare of their children, questioning whether she was paying enough attention to their upbringing.

‘As a mother, you have refused to think about the kids. Are you mad? Do you want my children to go wayward,’ he said.

He also referred to an incident involving their child, Promise, who reportedly had a tattoo on her neck, saying he had appealed to her to remove it.

‘Last week, I called Promise on a video call, begging her to remove the tattoo. I asked her to remove the earring as well,’ he added.

The pastor further expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of concern for the children, insisting that he was equally concerned about their welfare.

Meanwhile, Florence Obinim is reportedly seeking GHS2 million, a house in Barcelona and a monthly allowance of GHS10,000, among other demands, in court as part of the divorce proceedings.