Category: Daily Guide Network

The US Embassy in Ghana has called on government to put in place the right policies and infrastructures to help the country fully capture the value of its creative industry.

Speaking at the Creative Economy Summit at the Google AI Community Center in Accra, Rolf Olson, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy, said government holds the key to unlocking jobs, investment and global competitiveness in the sector.

‘To the government officials, you hold the pen on the policies, tax structures, IP protections, production financing that determine whether Ghana captures the full value of its own cultural exports, and whether American companies feel comfortable investing in Ghana,’ Rolf Olson stated, and added that ‘contract sanctity matters, and we need to make sure that creators are paid for their efforts.’

Rolf Olson noted that the global appetite for authentic storytelling has created a huge opportunity for Ghana.

He cited the success of international content on platforms like Netflix, including Nollywood films. ‘Good storytelling is resonant anywhere in the world… How many different countries you can end up watching a show from because this show is really good and it’s set in Denmark or India, or wherever,’ he said, and added, ‘The opportunity to have exchanges on these things as this environment evolves, I think, is really valuable.’

Participants at the seminar

Mr. Olson also charged creatives to ‘insist that your story be told in your own voice,’ and urged investors to deploy capital early to build infrastructure that would allow the next generation to work at scale. ‘Like any other sector, this sector creates jobs, builds competitive advantage, attracts investment, and supports entrepreneurship and innovation,’ he added.

He described the summit as a ‘starting point’ toward deeper collaboration between Ghana and the US creative sectors, and ‘greater economic opportunity for the people building this industry.’

He added that the Embassy remains committed to working with the government, creatives, as well as investors to build a stronger bilateral relationship through the arts.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Stephen Amoah, has strongly rejected a recent Global InfoAnalytics survey that ranked him among low-performing legislators, describing the assessment as misleading, demotivating and based on flawed criteria.

Addressing journalists in Parliament on Wednesday, Dr. Amoah said he was ‘extremely surprised’ by the findings of the poll, conducted by the Global InfoAnalytics and led by pollster Mussa Dankwah, which reportedly assessed the performance of selected Members of Parliament and categorised them as either high or low performers.

The survey, conducted in June 2026 across 83 parliamentary constituencies, placed the Nhyiaeso legislator among MPs deemed to be performing poorly.

Dr. Amoah questioned the methodology used in arriving at the ranking, arguing that the core responsibility of an MP is to represent constituents and perform effectively in Parliament.

‘Your core function is what you do in Parliament,’ he said, insisting that his contributions on the floor of the House alone should have earned him recognition among the top-performing legislators.

The MP cited several policy proposals and statements he had made in Parliament, including calls for the government to address what he described as the anomaly of borrowing domestically at rates higher than those available to the private sector.

Beyond Parliament, Dr. Amoah outlined a ‘long list of development interventions undertaken in the Nhyiaeso Constituency.’

He said he had awarded more than 1,000 scholarships to students through the District Assemblies Common Fund, other funding sources and personal contributions.

The MP also disclosed that he had supplied tables and chairs for about 2,400 schoolchildren and provided computers to several senior high schools, including Kumasi Technical Senior High School, Opoku Ware School, and Prince of Peace SHS.

He challenged the pollsters to consult head teachers and education stakeholders in the constituency if they wanted an accurate assessment of his contribution to education.

Dr. Amoah further pointed to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of school infrastructure in parts of the constituency, including classroom blocks and educational facilities funded through his efforts.

In addition, he said he had distributed about 800 vocational equipment items, including sewing, barbering and dressmaking machines, to support youth employment and skills development.

According to him, more than 1,000 young people and women had benefited from training programmes in areas such as pastry production, bead making, bag and shoe production, and digital television installation.

The MP also highlighted investments in sports infrastructure, including support for the refurbishment of school parks and efforts that led to the construction of an astroturf facility in the constituency.

He noted that another sports facility being developed through support from Ghana Gas was nearing completion.

On security, he disclosed that he had procured a new Toyota Hilux vehicle to support efforts to combat crime in the constituency.

He also cited the provision of water projects in several communities, market support schemes for traders, and healthcare assistance for party activists and vulnerable residents funded from his personal resources.

The Nhyiaeso MP questioned why factors such as currency stability, national road construction and broader economic performance appeared to have been used in assessing MPs.

He argued that such indicators fall outside the direct responsibilities of Members of Parliament and should not be used to measure their effectiveness.

Dr. Amoah maintained that he enjoys strong support from his constituents and insisted that his record over the past six years compares favourably with that of many legislators across the country.

The MP cautioned that inaccurate evaluations could discourage public officials who are making genuine efforts to improve the lives of their constituents.

The African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), with support from UNICEF Ghana and Parliament of Ghana, has launched the Parliamentary Caucus on Children to provide a structured, non-partisan platform for Members of Parliament (MPs) who are committed to advancing children’s rights.

The caucus is envisaged as a strategic mechanism to promote sustained attention to children’s issues across parliamentary debates, committee deliberations, and legislative processes, ensuring that the best interests of the child are reflected in national laws and policies.

Executive Director of ACEPA, Dr. Rasheed Draman, on his part, indicated that the Parliamentary Caucus on Children will offer a response to challenges by bringing together committed Members of Parliament across party lines to champion child-focused legislation and accountability.

He indicated that by consolidating advocacy efforts, the caucus will strengthen Parliament’s ability to scrutinise draft bills and general policy propositions from a child rights perspective as well as influence legislative outcomes before unfavourable provisions are entrenched in law.

‘The caucus will also serve as a credible voice for children within Parliament, leveraging evidence, stakeholder engagement, and collective action to promote laws and policies that protect children’s rights, support their holistic development and ensure that the Ghanaian child is in a better position to reach his/her full potential,’ he said.

Camillo Pwamang, Deputy Clerk to Parliament, speaking on behalf of Clerk Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, said the initiative goes beyond creating ‘another parliamentary platform.’

‘Today’s launch represents a deliberate institutional commitment to ensuring that the interests and rights of children remain central to the work of Parliament,’ he said.

Mr. Djietror noted that Parliament has a constitutional duty not only to legislate but to ensure public resources improve children’s lives across the country.

The Clerk commended the unanimous election of the Chairpersons of the Committees on Children and Human Rights, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, to lead the caucus, saying it will encourage collaboration across committees and political parties. He assured that the Parliamentary Service will provide technical and research support to help the caucus function effectively.

Acting UNICEF Representative for Ghana, Anne Kariuki, says gaps in child welfare data highlight the urgent need for stronger parliamentary action to protect children.

Ms. Kariuki noted that only 49% of children under 18 are enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme, limiting their access to healthcare.

‘Behind each of these statistics are children whose health, learning, protection, and opportunities depend on the decisions that government makes. And that is why Parliament’s role is really, really important. Through legislation, Parliament can strengthen protection for children. Through budgets, as you discuss budgets in Parliament, we can ensure that resources reach the children and communities that need them most,’ she stated.

Musician, Stonebwoy, has appealed for greater unity among Africans after reacting to a video showing the alleged mistreatment of a Ghanaian in South Africa.

Speaking on the Sent Back Podcast, the award-winning musician said the incident deeply affected him and highlighted the need for Africans to embrace one another rather than promote division.

‘I saw a video when I was coming over here and a South African was bashing a Ghanaian and said, ‘we don’t need you guys here anymore.’ And my heart was just bleeding,’ Stonebwoy said.

The musician noted that it was painful to watch Africans turn against each other on their own continent, describing it as a sign that people have lost sight of the vision of African unity.

Stonebwoy stressed that Africans should be able to travel, work and connect freely across the continent without fear of discrimination. He warned that hostility towards foreigners could damage cultural exchange and limit opportunities for entertainers and other professionals.

He also pointed out that the government policies can influence how Africans interact with one another, urging leaders to support greater integration among African countries.

Despite his concerns, Stonebwoy clarified that he was not criticising South Africa as a nation, saying he appreciates the country’s contributions and holds no ill feelings towards its people.

‘I love South Africa. I love South Africa and the contributions they make. I love Africa as a whole. If I see some of these things on social media, we need to cut down that mentality as well,’ he said.

Stonebwoy concluded by encouraging young Africans to champion unity and reject divisive attitudes, saying a stronger and more connected continent can only be achieved when Africans stand together regardless of nationality.

The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has challenged the country’s current approach to assessing debt sustainability, arguing that Ghana’s heavy reliance on the debt-to-GDP ratio provides an incomplete and potentially misleading picture of the nation’s debt position.

Contributing to the debate on the Annual Public Debt Report for the 2025 fiscal year, the Ofoase-Ayirebi MP said while the report showed a significant improvement in the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio, from about 61 percent to 44 percent, the analysis failed to capture other critical factors that contributed to the decline.

According to him, the report largely attributed the reduction to the appreciation of the cedi in 2025 but overlooked the impact of the debt restructuring programme initiated by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said the former government successfully negotiated about US$5 billion in debt cancellation and secured an additional US$4 billion in debt-service cash flow savings, which played a major role in improving the debt indicators.

‘This is a very major reason for which we are seeing these good numbers dropping from 61 percent to 44 percent, and I think it is important that credit is given where credit is due,’ he stated.

The former Information Minister noted that approximately 98 percent of the country’s eligible debt had already been restructured before the change of government, contributing significantly to the country’s improved fiscal outlook.

He, however, argued that the debt-to-GDP ratio alone should not be the primary yardstick for measuring debt sustainability because countries do not repay debt with their GDP.

‘Nobody pays their debt with their GDP,’ he stressed.

Instead, he urged policymakers and analysts to place greater emphasis on indicators such as debt-servicing-to-revenue ratios, debt-servicing-to-tax revenue ratios, and the relationship between external debt obligations and export earnings.

According to him, these indicators provide a more realistic assessment of a country’s capacity to honour its debt obligations.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah also criticised the narrow scope of Ghana’s debt sustainability analysis, saying important liabilities are often excluded from official debt assessments.

He pointed out that contingent liabilities, debts owed by State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), and government guarantees are not adequately reflected in current debt analyses, creating an incomplete picture of the country’s financial exposure.

‘The scope itself is a bit too narrow. It gives us a very narrow view of what our debt picture is, and we always get surprised at the end of the day,’ he said.

The Ranking Member further cautioned against relying on currency appreciation as evidence that Ghana’s debt situation has improved.

He noted that while the cedi appreciated by about 43 per cent in 2025, helping to lower the debt-to-GDP ratio, the gains could easily be reversed by exchange-rate movements.

Citing recent figures from the Bank of Ghana, he disclosed that an estimated eight percent depreciation of the cedi this year had already increased the country’s debt stock by about GHS47 billion.

He also reminded the House that Parliament had recently approved nearly US$1 billion in new loans, which would add to the country’s debt burden.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah called on the government to complete negotiations on the remaining two percent of debt yet to be restructured and urged authorities to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation to reduce reliance on borrowing.

‘The most important thing is to get the domestic resource mobilisation measures to work so that you do not have to resort to these debts,’ he said.

The Government has ruled out presenting a supplementary budget for the 2026 financial year, asserting that it will maintain the spending ceiling approved by Parliament despite changing economic and development priorities.

Presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review to Parliament yesterday, the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, announced that the government would not seek additional appropriations but would instead undertake a strategic realignment of expenditure within the existing budget.

‘Today, I am not here to seek a supplementary estimate. The 2026 appropriations remain unchanged,’ Dr. Forson told the House, adding that the government would continue to finance its programmes by reprioritising expenditure rather than increasing the overall budget envelope.

The announcement means Parliament will not be asked to approve additional spending for the current fiscal year, a move often made through supplementary estimates when governments require extra resources beyond the original budget.

According to the Finance Minister, the decision reflects the administration’s commitment to fiscal discipline and prudent public financial management while ensuring that priority programmes continue to receive funding.

Instead of expanding expenditure, he explained that the government would strategically reallocate resources within the approved appropriations to respond to emerging national priorities without breaching the fiscal framework approved by Parliament.

The Minister reaffirmed the government’s key macroeconomic targets for 2026, maintaining projections of at least 4.8 percent real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, 4.9 percent non-oil GDP growth, end-year inflation of 8±2 percent, a primary surplus of 1.5 percent of GDP on a commitment basis, and gross international reserves sufficient to cover not less than three months of imports.

Dr. Forson indicated that economic performance during the first half of the year suggests that these targets are not only achievable but are already being exceeded in several areas.

He disclosed that the country’s economy expanded by 6.4 percent during the first quarter of 2026, significantly above the full-year growth target, while non-oil GDP growth reached 6.3 percent, underscoring broad-based economic recovery beyond the extractive sector.

Inflation, which the government has identified as a key indicator of economic stability, also recorded significant improvement.

According to the Minister, the inflation rate declined from 13.7 percent in June 2025 to 5.3 percent by the end of June 2026, which he indicated, is comfortably below the government’s projected year-end range.

He stated that fiscal performance also remained stronger than programmed during the review period.

The Finance Minister told Parliament that the primary fiscal balance recorded a surplus of 0.9 percent of GDP on a commitment basis by the end of June, placing the country firmly on course to achieve its end-year target of a 1.5 percent surplus.

He said the Gross International Reserves also exceeded expectations, rising to the equivalent of five months of import cover compared to the government’s minimum target of three months.

On expenditure management, Dr. Forson said total spending on a commitment basis stood at 8.0 percent of GDP at the end of June against a half-year target of 9.9 percent.

Primary expenditure, which excludes interest payments, reached 6.6 percent of GDP compared to the programmed target of 8.1 percent, while interest costs remained below expectations due to lower borrowing costs and improved debt management, he added.

He attributed the ‘stronger-than-expected fiscal performance’ to strict expenditure controls and the government’s commitment to its fiscal consolidation programme.

‘The provisional fiscal outturn for the first half of 2026 was stronger than anticipated, indicating continued prudence in fiscal management and adherence to Government’s fiscal consolidation agenda,’ he said.

Dr. Forson stressed that the government remains committed to strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation without imposing additional tax burdens on households and businesses.

He said efforts to increase non-oil tax revenue would continue to focus on improved tax compliance, wider tax coverage and enhanced revenue administration supported by technology rather than introducing new taxes or increasing existing tax rates.

Manager for Digital Commercialisation at MTN Ghana, Kelvin Ashie, says the company’s new ‘MTN One TV’ platform will be a ‘game changer’ for Ghanaian content creators.

Speaking at the Creative Economy Summit at the Google AI Community Center, Mr. Ashie said the pan-African streaming service will focus on scaling, monetising, and distributing local content to grow the country’s creative economy.

‘MTN, by leveraging its vast network, is currently working on a groundbreaking project known as ‘MTN One TV’. The reason we’re doing this is to basically support and drive the local creative economy,’ Mr. Ashie stated.

He explained that ‘MTN One TV’ will offer a blend of local African series and movies, live TV channels, and international programming.

According to Mr. Ashie, the platform will tap into MTN’s network of over 300 million people across its markets, creating what he called a ‘vast untapped opportunity’ for Ghanaian creators. The service will cover both short and long-form content across multiple verticals and is expected to roll out by the fourth quarter this year.

Kelvin Ashie stressed that MTN is in ‘huge conversations with a lot of partners’ to secure deals around content distribution. He noted that any model for Africa must be built for local realities. ‘We can’t import the models from the West and expect them to work. We need to understand the ecosystem we are in. There’s someone who will only be able to buy 500 megabytes of data at a time and will not be able to pay for a certain subscription to watch content. How do we bundle that with great hyperlocal content? And that is what we’re looking to do,’ he said.

Mr. Ashie said the evolution of storytelling means creatives must now think about cultural nuances by creating locally authentic stories that can reach an international audience. He added that Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a huge opportunity to ‘amplify existing talent’ in the creative industry, while also lowering the barrier to entry for new creators.

However, he cautioned that ethical use of AI must be prioritised. On intellectual property, Mr. Ashie urged creatives to protect their assets and negotiate licensing deals instead of giving away rights ‘in perpetuity’. He also called on local and international content platform distributors to continue investing in locally authentic but globally relevant content, noting that the diaspora can become the ‘biggest force multiplier’ for Ghanaian creativity.

BOST Energies Limited Company (BOSTenergies) has successfully concluded its 2026 Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Week with a colourful closing durbar, reaffirming the company’s commitment to fostering a strong culture of health, safety, and environmental stewardship across its operations.

Held from July 11-17, 2026 under the theme, ‘Engage, Educate, and Empower People for Improved HSE Culture,’ the week-long celebration brought together employees, management, stakeholders, and members of the media to promote safety awareness, healthy living, and environmental responsibility.

The week featured a variety of activities designed to strengthen HSE consciousness, including a Health Walk, Cleaning Exercise, Health Screening, Media Engagement, an HSE Quiz Competition, and the grand closing durbar.

These activities provided an opportunity to educate employees and stakeholders on HSE best practices, encourage preventive healthcare, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and reinforce the principle that safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Managing Director of BOSTenergies, Mr. Afetsi Awoonor, reiterated the company’s unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards of health, safety, and environmental performance as part of its operational culture.

‘Health, safety, and environmental excellence remain at the heart of everything we do at BOSTenergies. While the HSE Week provides an important platform to reinforce these values, our commitment extends beyond this week. We must all continue to engage, educate, and empower one another to ensure that safety remains a way of life throughout our organisation,’ he said.

He further encouraged employees and stakeholders to remain vigilant, uphold safe work practices, and continue contributing to a resilient HSE culture across the company.

The successful celebration reflects BOSTenergies’ continuous investment in safeguarding the wellbeing of its employees, protecting the environment, and ensuring operational excellence through strong health and safety practices.

BOSTenergies expressed its sincere appreciation to all employees, partners, facilitators, the media, and stakeholders whose support and active participation contributed to the success of the 2026 HSE Week celebration.

As the company continues its journey towards becoming West Africa’s leading net-zero, integrated energy logistics and trading company, it remains committed to embedding health, safety, and environmental excellence into every aspect of its operations, ensuring a safer and more sustainable future for all.

Newcastle United have reached an agreement to sign Monaco midfielder Aladji Bamba in a deal worth up to £34 million, with the highly-rated youngster expected to complete his move after undergoing a medical on Thursday.

The 20-year-old French midfielder, who made his senior debut for Monaco in August 2025, is set to sign a long-term contract at St James’ Park as the Magpies continue their squad rebuild.

Bamba becomes Newcastle’s latest midfield addition following the departure of Sandro Tonali to Tottenham last month. The Premier League side had also been pursuing Freiburg’s Johan Manzambi, but the Swiss youngster opted to join Aston Villa instead. Earlier this summer, Newcastle secured the signing of 18-year-old Sean Steur from Ajax.

The move reflects Newcastle’s growing emphasis on recruiting emerging talent with long-term potential. Bamba impressed during his breakthrough campaign in Ligue 1, finishing among the league’s top performers in key defensive metrics, including duels won, tackles, successful take-ons and aerial duels among midfielders who played at least 500 minutes.

Despite making only 12 competitive starts for Monaco, Newcastle believe the Frenchman has the qualities to develop into a key player in the Premier League.

Negotiations for the transfer were conducted quietly, with news of the agreement only emerging as Bamba travelled to Tyneside.

His arrival is expected to be Newcastle’s fourth signing of the summer as the club continues to strengthen under its new recruitment strategy, focusing on promising young players capable of developing into future stars.

Every morning, before many people have finished their first cup of coffee, the world has already arrived on their screens. One notification announces a conflict. Another reports an economic shock.

A third reveals a political decision or a natural disaster unfolding thousands of kilometres away.

Within seconds, millions of people know that something has happened. But knowing that something happened is not always the same as understanding why it happened.

This is the paradox of our age. We have more information at our fingertips than any previous generation. Yet we increasingly experience the world in fragments: a headline, a short video, a viral post, or a brief comment. These fragments may capture a moment, but they rarely reveal the history, forces, and human experiences behind it.

The greatest challenge of the information age is not a lack of information. It is a lack of understanding.

In conversations, classrooms, and online spaces, people often debate the same event while holding completely different accounts of what happened. The difference is not always a lack of facts; it is often a lack of context. Without the wider picture, information can create certainty without fostering genuine understanding.

Facts remain essential. They provide the foundation for knowledge. However, facts without context can leave people with an incomplete view of reality. Context connects events, explains causes, and reveals consequences. It enables societies to move beyond immediate reactions towards informed decisions.

Consider the rising cost of food. For many families, the experience is simple: prices are rising, and household budgets are under pressure. Behind that reality, however, lies a much larger story involving climate change, disrupted supply chains, energy markets, international conflicts, and decisions made far beyond local communities. Without context, people see the problem. With context, they begin to understand it.

Migration poses a similar challenge. Public debate is often shaped by powerful images of people crossing borders or seeking refuge. Those images matter, but they capture only a single moment in much longer journeys. Behind each person is a story shaped by conflict, economic uncertainty, environmental pressures, and the search for safety or opportunity.

When context disappears, complexity gives way to assumptions. People become symbols rather than human beings. Difficult issues are reduced to slogans. Understanding becomes harder than judgement.

Technology has accelerated this challenge. Social media enables information to travel instantly, but speed does not always ensure accuracy or meaning. A misleading claim can spread faster than a careful explanation, and a powerful image can shape opinions before its full context is understood.

Artificial intelligence has made this challenge even more urgent. Machines can now generate convincing text, images, and videos in seconds. As the ability to produce information expands, the ability to interpret it becomes even more important. Technology can generate content, but human judgement determines its meaning.

This is why critical thinking has become one of the most important skills of our time. Education must prepare people not only to collect facts but also to question, analyse, and connect them. The future will belong not simply to those who know more but to those who understand more deeply.

The greatest risk of the information age is not that society knows too little. It is that constant exposure to information creates the illusion of understanding. Seeing more does not necessarily mean knowing more.

Breaking news will always matter. It alerts us to events that demand attention. Yet every headline is only the beginning of a larger story. The deeper questions remain: Why did this happen? What shaped it? Who is affected? What comes next?

Information tells us what happened. Context tells us why it matters. Understanding shapes the choices we make as individuals, communities, and societies.

In a world overflowing with information, context is not a luxury. It is the foundation that helps us look beyond the moment, recognise our shared realities, and make wiser decisions about the future.