Category: Daily Guide Network

The Media Coalition Against Open Defecation (M-CODE) has called for massive education on sanitation issues among the population to drive behavioural change.

The Coalition also called on the assemblies to commit to cleaner societies through proactive systems of dredging, waste collection and disposal, as well as the application of appropriate sanctions on sanitation offenders to safeguard the public health of communities.

Madam Maribel Akuorkor Okine, a Gender Advocate and Mr. Oliver Cromwell, Public Health Consultant as well as Mr. Emmanuel Opoku, Western Regional lead of the DAILY GUIDE mooted these ideas at a radio sensitisation programme as part of a campaign to make sanitation a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for the assemblies.

The programme was supported by the World Vision.

According to Mr. Cromwell, advancing proper sanitation programmes in the assemblies could reduce drastically OPD attendance and save families from disease burdens and its associated costs.

He, therefore, prayed the assemblies to be responsive and spend deliberately on improving cleanliness.

Madam Maribel Akuorkor Okine, the Western Regional Director for the Department of Gender, noted the need for proper planning by prioritising the sanitation needs of both men and women.

She added that there was also the need for an orientation, education and continuous sensitisation on sanitation related issues in the communities, adding, ‘If we all begin to do our part, we may not need an increased budget but commitment to right behaviours.’

Mr. Emmanuel Opoku stated that the budget allocation to the assemblies should not be a barrier to cleaner societies.

He reminded schools at all levels of their critical roles to shape the minds of children in particular on waste handling to avoid indiscriminate dumping in communities.

‘We also need the communal spirit and sense of responsibility as Ghanaians towards the environment; when we preserve it well today, our children and future generations stand to benefit,’ he added.

Former Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has expressed his desire to return to coaching following his departure from the Ghana national team, insisting he still has the passion to succeed in management.

The 50-year-old was appointed Black Stars coach for a second spell in March 2024 but was relieved of his duties earlier this year after a disappointing series of results, despite leading Ghana to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

His exit followed four consecutive friendly defeats to South Korea, Japan, Germany and Austria during the Black Stars’ preparations for the tournament in North America.

Addo said he remains motivated to continue his coaching career and is open to working either as a head coach or an assistant.

‘I am at a certain age now that I do believe that I want to continue as a coach or assistant coach,’ he said.

Addo added that while he would enjoy serving as an assistant, he is also eager to prove himself again in a managerial role.

‘Assistant coach will also bring me a lot of joy, and of course, in certain areas I would naturally like to prove myself as a coach.’

Since leaving the Black Stars, Addo has remained active in football through his role with FIFA’s Technical Study Group at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The former Borussia Dortmund assistant is now focused on securing his next coaching opportunity, either at club or international level, as he looks to continue building his career.

British-Nigerian actor, Damson Idris, has reportedly missed out on a coveted role in the next Black Panther film, with the part going to British actor David Jonsson.

According to industry reports, Idris was in contention for a key role in Marvel’s upcoming Wakanda-centred project.

Black Panther 3, directed by Ryan Coogler, during the cast announcement revealed that ‘David Jonsson is your new Black Panther which arrives in theaters on December 15, 2028.’

David Jonsson is not a recast of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa-but the grown-up version of his son introduced in Wakanda Forever.

Marvel chose to continue the legacy instead of replacing it.

However, sources alleged that Idris missed the spot due to misunderstanding with some cast members.

Zerowontmiss on X wrote, ‘Hearing that the reason Ryan Coogler didn’t choose Damson Idris as Black Panther is because he’s close with Michael B. Jordan who supposedly has beef with Idris because Damson dated his ex-girlfriend Lori Harvey…’

Idris, best known for Snowfall and F1, has been one of Hollywood’s most talked-about names for major franchise roles over the past year. His screen presence and action chops made him a fan-favourite pick for the Black Panther universe.

Jonsson, 23, has quickly risen through the ranks since his debut. His physicality and breakout buzz from A Quiet Place: Day One are believed to have tipped the scales in his favour for Marvel’s next phase of Wakanda stories.

The new Black Panther film is expected to expand the world of Wakanda following Wakanda Forever, with a focus on new heroes and threats.

The Green Traceability Minds Foundation (GREEN T), has given government a 21-day ultimatum to halt what it calls the harassment, intimidation and extortion of licensed artisanal and cooperative miners by unauthorised security personnel and self-styled taskforce operatives.

In a statement issued on July 23, 2026, and signed by Francis Opoku, PRO of the foundation, said licensed miners continue to face arbitrary seizure of equipment and demands for money before excavators and machinery are released, despite operating within the law.

GREEN T argued that the actions undermine government’s efforts to formalise the sector through the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), and the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP).

The foundation noted that the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector now contributes over 40% of Ghana’s total gold production. It cited data showing the sector exported 103 metric tonnes of gold valued at approximately US$10.8 billion in 2025, surpassing large-scale mining for the first time.

Between January 2025 and May 2026, it added, GoldBod purchased and exported gold worth US$16.11 billion, with about 98% of the purchases coming from small-scale miners.

‘Given this contribution to forex reserves and the strength of the cedi, licensed miners deserve protection, not harassment,’ the statement said.

Allegations of Extortion

GREEN T expressed concern that miners who have registered under rCOMSDEP and obtained licences are still being targeted, even when operating outside prohibited areas such as forests, water bodies and road reservations.

It alleged that excavator parts are frequently seized without due process, with miners compelled to pay cash for their release.

The foundation also referenced similar concerns raised by the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) over multiple taskforces and individuals posing as security personnel to extort money from miners.

It said although the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources had announced plans to introduce an identification system for anti-galamsey taskforce members, little has been done to shield licensed operators from abuse.

Demands

GREEN T is demanding that government: direct all security agencies and taskforces to stop harassing licensed miners immediately; establish a mandatory ID system for all authorised officers at mining sites; investigate and prosecute persons involved in extortion; release all equipment seized from licensed miners without due process; and provide adequate protection for rCOMSDEP-registered cooperative miners.

The organisation said small-scale miners remain committed to responsible and traceable mining in line with GoldBod’s vision.

However, it warned that if the issues are not resolved within 21 days, miners may be forced to suspend operations ‘to protect their livelihoods and dignity.’

GREEN T has also called on civil society organisations, the media and the general public to support its demand for justice and protection for licensed small-scale miners.

Residents of Ninting and Hwidiem in the Ashanti Region have undertaken an emergency communal labour exercise to clear overgrown vegetation along the Mampong Scarp following a series of accidents that have claimed lives and left several others injured.

The intervention comes after at least three serious crashes were recorded on the four-kilometre stretch of the Kumasi-Asante Mampong-Ejura highway within the past two weeks.

The accidents reportedly resulted in at least one death, while several injured victims are receiving treatment at the Mampong Government Hospital and other health facilities.

Motorists who regularly use the road blamed the accidents partly on thick vegetation along the shoulders of the highway.

‘Plying this road becomes difficult when the road becomes bushy. Just three days ago there was an accident here which claimed three lives. Highways claims it is the duty of Road Safety to clear it, but they are not doing it,’ a commercial driver, Charles Oduro, said.

Concerned about the increasing accidents, residents of Ninting and Hwidiem mobilised to clear the bushes along the entire stretch from the GBC Television Station Junction at Ninting to Jamasi.

The exercise received support from the Mampong Municipal Assembly and the Municipal Office of the Department of Urban Roads.

Leading the exercise, the Assembly Member for the Ninting/Hwidiem Electoral Area, Nicholas Osei-Wusu, described the overwhelming public participation as an example of patriotism and community spirit.

He praised residents for their commitment to national development through communal labour.

‘Your support from day one of my tenure has been overwhelming. Your response to National Sanitation Day and this exercise is mind-boggling,’ he said.

The Mampong Municipal Chief Executive, Yakubu Issifu, also commended the communities for taking the initiative to improve road safety.

Sharing his personal experience of responding to one of the recent crashes, he described the communal exercise as a timely intervention that could help save lives.

He also announced plans to visit the communities on a thank-you tour and encouraged residents to present their priority development needs for consideration by the Municipal Assembly.

During the event, the Municipal Chief Executive accepted an appeal by the Assembly Member to provide street bulbs to restore lighting in parts of Ninting that have remained in darkness for several months.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has held a consultative meeting with all 18 Ghana Premier League clubs as preparations gather pace for the start of the 2026/27 season.

The meeting, which took place on Friday, July 24, was chaired by General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo, with support from Acting Director of Competitions Maxwell Caesar Kemeh.

Discussions centred on reviewing the recently concluded 2025/26 campaign and planning for the upcoming season.

Club representatives shared feedback on the organisation of last season, acknowledging areas of improvement while proposing measures to further enhance the competition.

The GFA also presented the fixtures for the new campaign, with both parties discussing ways to strengthen collaboration and ensure a more competitive and professionally managed league.

Key issues addressed included match scheduling, stadium availability, kick-off times, television production and broadcasting, matchday experience, ticketing, security, officiating, disciplinary matters, integrity, publicity, reporting, match observers and the festive season fixture calendar.

The meeting also explored strategies to boost fan attendance through affordable and innovative ticketing initiatives, while taking into account broadcasting requirements, security arrangements, travel logistics and venue availability.

In addition, clubs were encouraged to invest more in youth development through colts football and to deepen their commitment to women’s football as part of the long-term growth of the game in Ghana.

Prosper Harrison Addo praised the clubs for their candid contributions and reaffirmed the GFA’s commitment to maintaining regular dialogue with stakeholders.

A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for Monday, July 27, to focus specifically on the registration of youth players ahead of the new season.

Ghanaian music duo, R2Bees, has crossed a major streaming milestone in 2026, surpassing 100 million global streams across all major Digital Service Providers (DSPs) year-to-date.

According to music data platform Charts Ghana, the Tema-based pair are now the 12th Ghanaian artistes to hit the 100 million mark this year, cementing their status as one of the most consistent acts to come out of Ghana.

For R2Bees, the numbers are just the latest proof of a career built on hits, versatility, and influence.

Since breaking out in the late 2000s, Rashid Mugeez and Faisal ‘Paedae’ Hakeem have shaped Ghanaian pop, hip-hop and Afrobeat.

They have multiple Ghana Music Awards wins and nominations, including Group of the Year and Best Rap Performance. The group also worked with Wande Coal, Davido, Sarkodie, Efya, and Tinchy Stryder, helping to export Ghanaian sound.

R2Bees has to its credit projects like ‘Da Revolution I’ and ‘Da Revolution II’, which became blueprint albums for a new generation of Ghanaian acts blending rap, melody and street sound.

The family of late Ghanaian Highlife legend, Daddy Lumba, on Sunday, July 26, gathered at his residence to commemorate one year since his passing.

Family members were dressed in white and black ceremonial attire as they remembered the celebrated musician and reflected on his life and legacy.

The occasion also marked the first time Daddy Lumba’s wife, Odo Broni, appeared in white since his death, signifying the completion of traditional mourning rites.

As part of the emotional tribute, Odo Broni also honoured her late husband by unveiling a tattoo of Daddy Lumba’s portrait on her body, describing it as a lasting symbol of the love, memories and bond they shared throughout their lives together.

Several people attended the memorial, including Daddy Lumba’s former headmistress, Mama Acheampong, family head, Abusuapanin Tupac, son, Calvin Kwadwo Fosu, his manager Ruman Fada, presenter, Mickey Darling and members of the musician’s extended family and children.

The gathering provided an opportunity for family, friends and loved ones to celebrate Daddy Lumba’s life and enduring contribution to Ghana’s music industry.

The occasion was also used to reveal where the remains of the legend were buried.

Daddy Lumba, born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, died on July 26, 2025. His death brought an outpouring of grief across Ghana and beyond, with tributes pouring in from fans, musicians, political leaders and other public figures who hailed him as one of the country’s greatest Highlife artistes.

The music icon was laid to rest later that year in a funeral attended by thousands of mourners, who paid their final respects to the man whose career spanned more than three decades and produced countless hit songs.

One year after his passing, Daddy Lumba continues to be remembered as one of Ghana’s most influential musicians, with his songs and legacy still inspiring generations of music lovers.

ýThe European Union (EU) has awarded 446 Ghanaians with the prestigious Erasmus+ Scholarship Programme for 2026. This year’s scholarship awards include 28 students for the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, 14 of whom have received full scholarships to study in top universities across Europe, and 418 students and staff selected under International Credit Mobility, the short-term exchange programme.

ýýSpeaking at the event, the European Union Ambassador to Ghana, Rune Skinnebach, highlighted that these figures are important, but what matters even more is what they represent: ‘real opportunities, real ambitions, and real stories of transformation. This effort is made possible through a strong Team Europe approach.’

ýýThe Erasmus+ Programme is the EU’s flagship mobility initiative to support education, training, youth and sports in Europe under its Global Gateway initiative with a strong focus on social inclusion, green and digital transitions and promoting young people’s participations in democracy and efficient governance.

ýýThe Ambassador expressed EU’s pride in welcoming the new scholars, saying, ‘the EU is certainly proud of welcoming you to our top academic institutions in Europe, but today is not only a celebration of your success, it’s also a celebration of partnership between Ghana and Europe, between institutions and, above all, between people.’

ýýHe further underscored the broader scope of studying abroad, stressing that study opportunities in Europe are much more than academic achievement alone, ‘they are about learning, about discovery, about exchange and about building the skills and networks that will shape your future. They are also about strengthening mutual understanding and deepening the ties between Ghana and EU.’

ýýHighlighting the financial commitment to youth empowerment, he noted that the European Union attaches great importance to education, youth and mobility. The EU Global Gateway initiative, Youth Mobility for Africa, dedicates pound 970 million towards youth exchanges and mobility between Africa and Europe, including Erasmus+ and other initiatives.

ýý’Through Erasmus+, we invest in people, in knowledge, and in long-term partnerships. Since 2014, 3,618 Ghanaian students and staff have travelled to Europe for study, training or teaching opportunities,’ the Ambassador disclosed.

ýýEmphasising the collaborative nature of the initiative, he stated that this effort is made possible through a strong Team Europe approach. ‘Promoting Study in Europe and Ghana is a shared endeavour. In partnership with GIZ, through the Ghanaian-European Centre for Jobs, Migration and Development, we have established a network of ‘Study in Europe’ desks in 30 Ghanaian universities.’

ýýAccording to him, these desks play an important role in raising awareness of opportunities in Europe by providing information sessions and counselling on Erasmus+, as well as on programmes offered by Campus France and DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service.

ýýLooking beyond the academic period, he urged continuous engagement, stating, ‘We want your journey with the EU not to end when the scholarship ends, and this is why we are looking to build a stronger alumni community to keep young beneficiaries of EU programmes engaged, connected and informed about future opportunities.’

ýý’Also, we are proud to work closely with ASAF, the African Student Alumni Forum, which plays an important role in connecting and mobilising young alumni across the continent, as well as with the Erasmus Mundus Association, and I’m also grateful for the presence of the Erasmus Plus National Focal Point,’ he added.

ýýConcluding his address, Ambassador Skinnebach encouraged students to be curious, ambitious, as well as open to new ideas, to new friendships, and to new perspectives. He charged them to learn as much as they can and carry Ghana proudly with them, reminding them that they are not only students, but future leaders, professionals, and bridges between Ghana and Europe, adding that, he ‘hope to see them come back as EU ambassadors to Ghana.’

Access Bank (Ghana) Plc has challenged youth-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a critical driver of innovation, competitiveness and sustainable growth, urging entrepreneurs to ‘disrupt or be left behind’ in an increasingly digital economy.

The call was made at the BUILT Powered by Access U AI Business Sprint, an entrepreneurship and capacity-building workshop organised by Astra Roster in Accra to equip young business owners with practical AI skills to strengthen their brands, improve productivity and scale their enterprises.

The Sprint forms part of Access U, Access Bank Ghana’s flagship platform for empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs through knowledge, innovation and strategic partnerships that unlock opportunities for growth and economic inclusion.

Speaking at the event, Nana Akuffo, Head of Youth Banking at Access Bank Ghana, described AI as ‘the great equaliser’ – a force that enables businesses to compete, innovate and expand regardless of their size or stage of development.

‘AI gives you the chance to seize new territory and fundamentally redefine how business gets done, regardless of where you’re starting from. The entrepreneurs who embrace it today will be better positioned to lead tomorrow’s economy,’ he added.

Nana Akuffo pointed to Africa’s rapidly changing demographics as both an economic opportunity and an urgent call to action, noting that by 2050, the majority of the continent’s population will be under the age of 25.

He said the demographic shift makes investment in youth entrepreneurship and digital capabilities essential to Africa’s future prosperity.

‘The question is no longer whether this shift is coming. It’s already here. The question is whether you will be among those who lead it. Africa’s economic future is being built today by its young entrepreneurs, and they must be equipped with the tools and skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving global marketplace,’ he stated.

He added that AI is not simply another business tool but a transformative force reshaping industries worldwide.

According to him, it enables young entrepreneurs to overcome traditional barriers to growth, including limited access to capital, networks and operational capacity.

Technologies that once required years of investment and institutional support are now within the reach of entrepreneurs willing to apply AI strategically to improve efficiency, enhance customer experience and unlock new markets, he said.