Category: Daily Guide Network

Founder and Party Leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), The Gambia, Prince Ebrahim Sanyang, has declared war on poverty, insisting that ‘poverty is not the destiny of the Gambian people.’

Speaking to a packed audience at the official launch of EFF Gambia at Jama Hall on Saturday, August 22, 2026, Sanyang said his political movement was born out of years of listening to the cries of ordinary Gambians – mothers struggling to feed their families, youth without jobs, and communities crushed by the rising cost of living.

‘No family should go hungry because basic commodities have risen beyond its reach,’ he declared. To tackle the cost of living crisis head-on, the EFF leader outlined an ambitious food security plan.

He pledged to establish Freedom Stores across the country to provide affordable and subsidized essential commodities, and a National Food Buffer Stock Company to stabilize prices and prevent artificial scarcity.

For agriculture, he promised a sector-wide revolution through the ‘1 Village, 1 Cooperative’ initiative, the revival of produce marketing boards, and increased access to modern machinery, irrigation systems, and financing for farmers.

He further announced plans to establish a National Fishing Company aimed at making fish – a staple protein – affordable for every Gambian household while creating thousands of jobs for youth along the coastal communities.

‘We have come with credible solutions and to restore politics to its highest purpose: the honest and courageous service of the people,’ Sanyang said.

Sanyang stressed that the ultimate test of development is not GDP figures, but whether a mother can feed her children and whether every child has a fair chance at education.

He therefore outlined what he described as ten solemn, non-negotiable promises to the Gambian people:

Food Security: Establish Freedom Stores, a National Food Buffer Stock Company and a National Fishing Company, while reviving the ‘1 Village, 1 Cooperative’ initiative.

Jobs and Economy: Adopt zero unemployment as a national mission, introduce ‘1 Ward, 1 Industry’ and a 24-hour economy, and provide enterprise grants for young people and women.

Education and Health: Progressively provide free quality education and free primary, maternal and emergency healthcare, alongside the ‘1 Village, 1 Clinic’ and ‘1 Community, 1 Ambulance’ initiatives.

Family Relief and Dignity: Provide monthly relief packages for low-income households and a D1,500 monthly stipend for all citizens aged 60 and above.

Infrastructure: Ensure every household has affordable access to water, electricity and internet, and launch a ‘1 Village, 1 Borehole’ initiative to bring clean water within reach of every community.

Public Safety: Establish ‘1 Community, 1 Police Station’ and ‘1 District, 1 Fire Service’ to keep every neighborhood safe, while defending the nation’s sovereignty and borders.

Women, Youth and Families: Recognize women and young people as equal partners in nation-building, and invest in youth leadership, sports, and skills training so families across the country can thrive together.

The Gambia in Africa and the World: Maintain the Republic’s independence in foreign affairs while building friendly ties with all nations, deepen cooperation across Africa, promote trade and investment abroad, and stand up for Gambians living in the diaspora.

Honest Government and Strong Institutions: Fight corruption at every level, manage public funds transparently, strengthen the courts and oversight bodies, and make sure every Dalasi collected from the people serves the public good.

World-Class Infrastructure and Sustainable Communities: Develop major long-term projects such as a national railway, a new international airport, a national airline and a shipping line, alongside affordable housing and industrial parks, and build safe, well-planned communities in cities and villages alike.

‘No Gambian who works honestly should remain trapped in poverty. This is not charity from political leaders but the rightful return of the people’s resources to the people,’ he declared.

Other social commitments under the EFF’s family relief and dignity agenda include a national living wage, improved conditions for civil servants, affordable housing schemes, and dedicated support for persons with disabilities.

Ban NAWEC To Fix Power Crisis

In one of his most hard-hitting pronouncements, Prince Sanyang vowed that if elected, his government will ban the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) in its current form. He said NAWEC has failed Gambians and become a symbol of inefficiency, erratic supply, and crippling bills that have stalled businesses and disrupted daily life. ‘When we come to power, NAWEC will be banned,’ he stated emphatically.

He promised to replace it with a sustainable, modern electricity plan that will ensure stable and affordable power for households and industries. Sanyang pledged that every commitment made by the EFF will be properly accounted for, phased and monitored, adding that his government will only borrow to finance productive development that creates wealth and jobs for Gambians.

Commuters across the country are expected to pay more for public transport from this week, with the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) preparing to announce a new fare structure following the latest increase in petroleum prices.

According to the union, the adjustment has become necessary to enable commercial transport operators to cope with escalating operating costs, including fuel, vehicle spare parts, lubricants and taxes.

Deputy Spokesperson of the GPRTU, Samuel Amoah, said the union’s leadership was assessing the latest fuel price changes before determining the extent of the increase.

He indicated that the new fares would be announced by the end of the week, bringing an end to uncertainty over the union’s earlier proposal for a substantial adjustment.

‘The leadership will also meet to take their decision, whether we are still going by the 30%, if it will come down to 20% or whatever,’ Mr. Amoah told Joy News yesterday.

‘I strongly believe by the close of this week, by the end of this week, something will come out for our drivers and then our passengers to also comply with,’ he added.

The GPRTU had proposed a 30 percent increase in transport fares at a meeting in August this year but put the decision on hold after the government announced a GHS2 reduction in the price of diesel.

According to Mr. Amoah, the union suspended its planned adjustment on the understanding that the reduction in fuel prices would ease the financial pressure on transport operators.

However, he said the anticipated reduction did not materialise during the middle pricing window of August, while the cost of running commercial vehicles remained high.

The latest increase in petroleum prices has consequently renewed pressure on the union to adjust fares, he intimated.

Mr. Amoah said maintaining the existing fares had become increasingly difficult for drivers, who were already dealing with higher costs across several areas of their operations.

‘Going forward, there is nothing we can do than to come out officially by increasing the fares for our drivers to also continue doing their business,’ he said.

He stressed that fuel prices were only one component of the cost pressures confronting commercial transport operators.

According to him, the prices of spare parts and lubricants have also increased significantly, while taxes and other charges continue to add to the cost of operating commercial vehicles.

Mr. Amoah said the leadership would first complete its assessment of the latest petroleum price changes before settling on the new fares.

ASANTE CULTURE took over Bowie State University in Maryland as the 6th Akwasidae USA Festival was held over the weekend with rich colour, heavy drumming and a majestic display of Bonwire Kente.

The highlight of the celebration was the grand entrance of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, guardian of the Golden Stool.

His entry, accompanied by heavy drumming and a royal procession, sent the press and bloggers into a frenzy as cameras captured the moment. The festival attracted a massive crowd of Nananom, royals, dignitaries, and members of the Ghanaian diaspora who thronged the campus to pay homage to the Asantehene as well as celebrate Asante heritage, tradition and unity on American soil.

The grounds of Bowie State University came alive with what many described as a vibrant tapestry of culture. A magnificent display of authentic Bonwire Kente by Dr. Osei Kwame Despite, members of the East Legon Executive Club, and Ghanaians from across the diaspora dominated the occasion.

The celebration was further elevated by a captivating performance from the Symphony of Soul Band of Bowie State University, which delivered a blend of Ghanaian music and foreign dance, placing Asante culture at the centre of the international scene.

Traditionally observed every sixth Sunday in Kumasi, Akwasidae is a sacred Akan ceremony that pays homage to ancestors, royalty, and the Golden Stool – the symbol of the soul and unity of the Asante Kingdom.

This year’s US edition was graced by the Governor of Maryland and the leadership of Bowie State University, underscoring its significance beyond culture. Organisers say Akwasidae USA has become a powerful symbol of African heritage in the United States and a bridge between Africa and its diaspora, helping to pass down history, tradition, and identity to new generations deeply rooted in Ghana.

MobileMoney Fintech LTD (MMFL) will open MoMoFest 2026 in Berekum on September 4, 2026, using music, culture and community engagement to help customers ‘Do more with MoMo’.

The two-day Revival Concert, scheduled for September 4 and 5 at Golden City Park, will feature Kweku Smoke and friends and launch a three-week activation focused on MoMo App onboarding, cashless payments, merchant engagement and fraud education.

The Berekum activation will combine pre-festival sign-up drives, festival-week customer experiences and post-festival follow-up to move customers from awareness to confident use of the MoMo App and other digital financial services.

MoMoFest has grown into a nationwide platform for digital inclusion, taking MoMo to customers through concerts, traditional festivals, tertiary activations, merchant engagements and community touchpoints that make digital finance practical, visible and relevant to everyday life.

Throughout the activation, customers and merchants will experience how MoMo can simplify daily transactions, support small businesses, expand access to financial services and make cashless payments more convenient.

Customer safety will remain central to the experience, with education on fraud tactics, PIN protection, transaction verification and official reporting channels, reinforcing MMFL’s message that as customers do more with MoMo, they must also do it safely.

Head of Marketing at MobileMoney Fintech LTD, Alfred Dowuona-Hammond, said, ‘Our goal is simple: to help every customer do more with MoMo, and do it safely. MoMoFest gives us a direct and engaging way to show customers how MoMo can support everyday payments, business transactions and access to more financial services, while helping them stay alert and protected.’

The 2026 edition of MoMoFest supports MMFL’s ‘Do More with MoMo’ agenda by turning entertainment, culture and commerce into practical gateways for adoption, inclusion and trust.

Supreme Court judge nominee, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, has said Artificial Intelligence (AI) is unlikely to replace diligent lawyers, but could render ‘lazy lawyers’ redundant.

He has consequently advocated the integration of AI into the country’s judicial system, saying the technology could improve efficiency, strengthen legal research and help expedite the determination of cases.

Justice Amoako Asante made the remarks last Thursday when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for his vetting following his nomination and two others by President John Dramani Mahama to the Supreme Court.

Responding to questions about the potential impact of AI on the legal profession and the justice delivery system, Justice Asante expressed strong support for its adoption, describing it as an inevitable development that institutions across the world were increasingly embracing.

He said AI could be particularly useful in legal research, case management and the processing of information, thereby reducing delays and improving the efficiency of the judiciary.

Justice Asante said his experience at the ECOWAS Court of Justice had exposed him to the growing application of AI and related technologies.

He disclosed that judges and staff at the regional court had received training in the use of AI, adding that the technology had become increasingly prominent in their work.

‘AI is the way to go now and the world has gone AI and there is nothing anybody can do. ‘We have had some training in AI at the ECOWAS Court, both judges and the staff,’ he said.

According to him, AI could be incorporated into the judicial system of the country if the Chief Justice decided to pursue such an initiative.

‘It is a matter of trying to get people to set it up for us. The algorithm is built for you and it is tailor-made. It is a system that can easily be done, and once it is done, it will bring efficiency into our judiciary system,’ he said.

Justice Asante said the technology could enable lawyers and judicial officers to conduct research more quickly while assisting in the processing and management of cases.

‘Cases will be dealt with fast and research can be done through it as well but it is all about the finances,’ he added.

He, however, cautioned against viewing AI as a substitute for human expertise, particularly in the legal profession, arguing that lawyers who continued to develop their skills would remain relevant.

He suggested that rather than fearing AI, the legal profession and the judiciary should learn to harness its capabilities to complement human judgement and improve justice delivery.

Ghana’s Black Princesses will enter the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland with several key players missing from their squad.

The tournament gets underway in five days, with Ghana preparing for their eighth consecutive appearance at the competition.

However, the Black Princesses are yet to progress beyond the group stage in any of their previous seven outings.

Coach Charles Sampson has named his final squad, but injuries and club-related issues have ruled out some important players.

Linda Owusu Ansah is arguably the biggest absentee. The Black Princesses captain secured Ghana’s World Cup qualification with the decisive goal against Uganda in Kampala but suffered an ACL injury in August.

The injury occurred during the closing stages of the Black Queens’ 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying play-off against Côte d’Ivoire in Casablanca.

Comfort Yeboah will also miss the tournament after Ghana could not reach an agreement with her Spanish club, Logroño United, over her release. The defender had already featured for the Black Queens at the 2026 WAFCON.

Jessica Appiah Asamoah, who played in every qualifier and was expected to be one of Ghana’s players to watch, suffered a knee injury shortly before the team travelled to Poland.

Mercy Attobrah is another notable absence. The striker scored in both of Ghana’s matches against Tunisia during the qualifiers but has been recovering from an ACL injury suffered while playing for her Egyptian club.

Mary Amponsah, who replaced Attobrah during the qualifiers, is also unavailable after suffering an ACL injury in the second leg against South Africa. She has since undergone surgery.

The Black Princesses begin their campaign against Ecuador on September 5, before facing South Korea and France in the group stage as they aim to finally break their group-stage curse.

THE ASHANTI Regional branch of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has charged the ruling government to, as a matter of urgency, work to complete all Agenda 111 hospital projects in the region to boost healthcare delivery.

The party expressed gross concern over the undue delay in the completion of Agenda 111 projects in the region, noting that residents were struggling to access healthcare while the Agenda 111 projects have been stalled.

According to the largest opposition party, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration clearly doesn’t seem to have the passion to complete the health facilities for the people in the region to benefit from them.

The party has therefore charged the NDC, led by President John Dramani Mahama, to with immediate effect, show commitment by completing the health projects to help lessen the burden of the people.

Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as COKA, who is the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, made the strong call to the government during a meeting with leaders of political parties in the Ashanti Region, few days ago.

He openly expressed disappointment over how the completion of Agenda 111 projects have been delayed in the Ashanti Region, even as the people continued to struggle to access quality healthcare in the region.

According to him, the development of the region, especially the completion of ongoing government projects, have been stalled since the NDC assumed the mantle of leadership from the NPP administration two years ago.

‘Several important infrastructural projects in the region, including the Agenda 111 projects have been stalled since the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration took over power,’ COKA pointed out.

The Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman, who has the interest and development of the region at heart, therefore called on minority political parties across the region to unite and champion the development of the Ashanti Region.

‘I believe we can work together to push for the interest of the Ashanti Region and lobby for more developmental projects so that we can all share in the benefits,’ he said, adding that political insults should also be avoided in the region.

SCORES OF people, including women and children, have been rendered homeless after a ravaging inferno destroyed their homes on Thursday dawn.

The heartbreaking incident happened at a densely populated slum just close to the Pelele river in Asawase, in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

Preliminary investigations by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) indicated that the fire started from one of the many wooden structures and extended to others with speed, however, the exact cause of the dangerous blaze was yet to be identified when this report was being filed.

Hundreds of dwellers in the community, reportedly, became frightened after seeing the fire, so they had to run out of harm’s way in order to save their lives.

Luckily, even though the inferno caused massive destruction to properties worth thousands of Ghana cedis, no injuries or deaths were recorded at the disaster scene.

According to reports, but for the timely intervention of firefighters, the blaze would have caused more damage. The firemen did a yeoman’s job to stop the fire from spreading.

When the media visited the scene around 7 a.m. on Thursday, the hundreds of affected people were desperately searching through the debris to help save some of their goods.

There was also a sad spectacle at the fire scene, as some of the severely affected people were seen shedding uncontrollable tears over their predicament.

Meanwhile, the affected people have appealed to the government and well-to-do-people in society to come to their aid.

In a related development, the paper has been reliably informed that personnel of the GNFS started their investigation immediately they brought the fire under control.

Liverpool have completed the signing of France international Bradley Barcola from Paris St-Germain in a deal worth up to £123 million.

The Reds will pay an initial £106m, with a further £17m available in performance-related add-ons. PSG had initially valued the 23-year-old at around £145m.

Barcola has signed a five-year contract and becomes Liverpool’s fifth signing of the summer, following Victor Munoz, Jeremy Jacquet, Ronald Araujo and Ifeanyi Ndukwe.

The winger, who will wear the number 29 shirt, expressed his excitement after completing the move.

‘I’m really happy today to be able to play for Liverpool and all I want is to be on the pitch and be able to play,’ Barcola said.

He added that winning the Premier League is one of his biggest ambitions and explained that his long-term contract reflects his desire to establish himself at Anfield.

Primarily a left winger, Barcola can also operate in other attacking positions and is expected to provide additional options for Andoni Iraola’s side following Mohamed Salah’s departure, Hugo Ekitike’s long-term injury and the possibility of Cody Gakpo leaving.

Barcola enjoyed an impressive campaign with PSG last season, registering 13 goals and seven assists in 49 appearances across all competitions.

He also featured in all eight of France’s matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring three goals as Les Bleus advanced to the third-place play-off.

The CEO of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Abdulai Ayariga, Esq., has called for increased social media campaign on ‘Red Means Stop’, an initiative that seeks to raise awareness among young people about the harmful effects of drug and substance abuse.

At the climax of the National Youth Month, with ‘Red Means Stop’ campaign at the Independence Square in Accra, Osman Ayariga was of the view that intensifying drug abuse campaigns on social media is necessary because digital platforms widely normalise substance use, serve as illicit marketplaces, and house the young audiences most vulnerable to peer pressure.

He indicated that young people spend hours daily on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, hence the campaigns must meet them where they are.

‘I am here to tell you that let us all be agents of the campaign against substance abuse and against Red. Let continue on our social media handles, the bloggers who are here please continue to post the campaign on your various media handles to propagate the word to help us fight it,’ he stated.

He said the NYA would continue to leverage platforms and activities that attract and connect with the youth to promote healthy, responsible and productive lifestyles.

Mr. Ayariga further urged young people to resist peer pressure and stay away from drugs and other harmful substances that could negatively impact their health, education, relationships and future prospects.

The event featured a variety of entertainment and youth-focused activities, including music, dance, comedy, skating and biking shows and other engaging activities, all designed to connect with young people.

Present at the event were the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, and the Deputy Director-General in charge of Enforcement, Control and Elimination at the Narcotics Control Commission, Mr. Alexander Twum-Barimah.

The celebration also featured performances and appearances by bikers from BikeLife and A1 Bikers, as well as the Ambassador for the ‘Red Means Stop’ campaign, Medikal. Other artistes and entertainers who thrilled patrons included MzVee, Sefa, Funny Face and Showboy.