Category: Daily Guide Network

Embattled businessman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, yesterday pleaded not guilty to amended charges filed by the Office of the Attorney General, accusing him of causing financial loss of GHS30 million to a public entity through a loan he obtained from the Ghana Export-Import Bank (Ghana EXIM Bank) in 2018.

Joshua Sackey, a Principal State Attorney, withdrew the initial charge sheet filed on May 15, 2026, replacing it with a new one which jumped the charges from four to five.

Chairman Wontumi, who is already serving twenty years for mining related offences, has been accused of obtaining GHS14,302,000 from the Ghana Export-Import Bank in 2018 under false pretences.

His lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, told the court that by all indications, the prosecution’s own documents point to the fact that the matter is a civil one.

The former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is further accused of using a forged receipt, knowing that the same is not genuine, to obtain about GHS4,000,000 from the bank in 2017 and 2018.

Chairman Wontumi pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against him, and the court, presided over by Justice Halima El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit, ordered that he remained on his previous bail condition.

The prosecution was directed to file disclosures and serve same on the defence. The case was adjourned to October 27, 2026.

Charged alongside him are Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, who is on the run, and his company, Wontumi Farms Limited.

They are facing one count of defrauding by false pretences, two counts of uttering of a forged document, one count of intentionally causing financial loss to a public body and another count of money laundering.

Failed Plea Bargain

Chairman Wontumi and his legal team had attempted but failed to strike a plea bargain with the Office of the Attorney General in order to avoid going through a full trial.

The court, as a result, directed the Attorney General to file all disclosures and witness statements for case management, after which the trial will commence.

Chairman Wontumi’s legal team was given three opportunities and two adjournments to conclude negotiations of a plea bargain with the Attorney General.

But the negotiations came to a standstill after both sides could not agree on an acceptable figure as the money lost and restitution to the state.

Accusations

Court documents indicate that sometime in January 2018, Wontumi approached the Ghana EXIM Bank for a grant of GHS19 million facility to embark on a farming venture.

Wontumi is said to have declared in the grant application that a parcel of land – 100,000 acres in size – has been secured for the project.

The Attorney General alleges that the bank had disbursed a total of GHS14,302,000 to Wontumi Farms Limited, but the accused persons did not undertake the proposed farming activity.

‘They bought no agricultural plant and machinery. They employed no one to work on the farm. They did not own or secure the parcel of land which they represented to the Bank as a parcel of land secured for the proposed farm,’ court documents allege.

It added that Wontumi withdrew huge sums of the funds from his company’s bank accounts and spent the same for his personal use, including investing such sums in other business enterprises.

Actor, Van Vicker, is allegedly demanding GHS10 million in damages from colleague, Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as LilWin, over alleged defamatory comments about his conduct on a movie project.

In a writ dated October 10, 2026, circulating on social media, Van Vicker asks the court to declare the statements defamatory and order LilWin to publish a public apology and retraction on news portals for four consecutive weeks.

He is also seeking general damages for libel and legal costs.

The suit follows a video in which LilWin accused Van Vicker of failing to fulfil his responsibilities on a film production, ignoring calls from the production team and making false claims about their disagreement.

LilWin also accused the actor of seeking public sympathy by discussing the matter with GhanaWeb.

He said Van Vicker was expected to feature in his upcoming movie, Journey to Africa, but could lose the role if he failed to show remorse.

Van Vicker, however, denies the allegations, arguing that they portray him as dishonest, arrogant and unprofessional. He contends that the comments were malicious and intended to damage his reputation.

He further argues that the video remains accessible online, potentially causing continued harm to his professional standing.

His lawyer, Ebenezer Asare, issued the writ.

The Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Muslim Peace Committee under the National Peace Council, Sheikh Mohammed Ridwan, has called for urgent United Nations (UN) intervention to prevent further escalation of reported attacks on Saudi Arabia attributed to Yemen’s Houthi movement.

He warned that continued hostilities could endanger civilian lives and undermine regional stability, urging the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to restore calm and prevent a prolonged regional crisis.

Sheikh Ridwan, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Radio, called on the United Nations Security Council and other international stakeholders to prioritise dialogue and peaceful negotiations over military confrontation.

In a press release issued on Monday, October 12, 2026, the peace advocate expressed concern about the impact of armed conflicts on innocent civilians, particularly women and children, who often bear a disproportionate share of the suffering.

He urged all parties to exercise restraint, protect civilian lives and pursue diplomatic solutions rather than intensify military operations.

Sheikh Ridwan cited the 2025 Global Peace Index, published by the Sydney-based Institute for Economics and Peace, which recorded 59 active state-based conflicts worldwide, the highest number since the end of the Second World War.

The report also indicated that 78 countries were involved in conflicts beyond their borders in 2024.

According to him, the figures highlight the urgent need for world leaders to prevent the reported Saudi-Houthi hostilities from developing into another prolonged regional crisis.

He said reports of strikes on Riyadh’s airport and other facilities made civilian protection and de-escalation efforts particularly urgent.

The peace committee chairman further noted that Saudi Arabia hosts Islam’s two holiest mosques in Makkah and Madinah, making the security of the Kingdom a matter of deep concern to Muslims worldwide.

He appealed to Saudi Arabia’s international partners, particularly Pakistan and Trkiye, to support diplomatic initiatives and avoid actions that could widen the conflict.

‘Military escalation will deepen suffering and make a peaceful settlement harder to achieve. The international community must act urgently to protect civilians, restore calm and create space for meaningful dialogue,’ he said.

Sheikh Ridwan urged all parties to respect international law and resolve their differences through peaceful means, stressing that urgent diplomatic engagement was necessary to prevent further violence and restore stability in the region.

President Mahama’s appointment of Emelia Afi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) raises a question that no impressive CV can answer: why burden an institution requiring public confidence with an avoidable controversy over political allegiance?

The appointment is confirmed; reports identify her previous NDC campaign role and circulating posts supporting Mahama.

Her competence is not the central issue. Neither is there any need to accuse her of intending to manipulate elections. She may possess exceptional ability and impeccable personal integrity. The concern is whether appointing someone publicly associated with one competitor demonstrates sound judgement when the office requires credible impartiality towards every competitor.

Even an angel should not arrive at the referee’s table wearing yesterday’s campaign jersey.

Good governance requires attention to actual, potential and perceived conflicts of interest. An electoral commissioner must exercise independent judgement. Citizens must also have reasonable grounds to trust that judgement. Appointments that create foreseeable doubts impose an unnecessary credibility burden on both the appointee and the institution.

Constitutional authority answers who may appoint; wisdom addresses whom they should appoint.

Mahama has instructed the new deputies to treat everyone fairly and give his government no preferential treatment. That assurance is welcome. But presidential instructions cannot erase a publicly established political association or substitute for careful selection. Trust should be protected at appointment, rather than repaired through speeches afterwards.

The consequences extend beyond partisan argument. Where confidence deteriorates, routine administrative decisions become suspected schemes. Genuine mistakes become alleged conspiracies. An accurate electoral verdict may encounter rejection because citizens distrust the people delivering it. That creates a foreseeable national security risk: heightened tensions, inflammatory mobilisation and potentially violent confrontation. Such outcomes are neither inevitable nor justified. Political leaders nevertheless have a duty to avoid supplying unnecessary fuel.

This standard must apply equally to the NDC, the NPP and every future government. Yesterday’s questionable appointment cannot legitimise today’s. Institutional damage does not become acceptable because opposing parties take turns inflicting it.

The President should reconsider this appointment and explain the safeguards used to assess political impartiality. Ghana has capable citizens whose selection would inspire broader confidence.

The nation deserves an electoral referee whose appointment does not begin with an argument about which team she supports.

The Executive Committee of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship has paid a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama ahead of the church’s World Congress which opens in Accra today.

The delegation was led by Global Chairman, Rev. Dominic Yeo and host, General Superintendent, Rev. Stephen Wengam.

Rev. Wengam said all is set for the World Congress, which is taking place on African soil for the first time in the 115-year history of Assemblies of God worldwide.

He commended President Mahama and the government for supporting the organisation of the event.

Rev. Wengam explained that the change of venue for the morning conference, from Independence Square to the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre, was due to technical hitches, adding that the new venue is more conducive.

The Global Chairman, Rev. Yeo, congratulated Ghana on being the first country in Africa to host the World Congress, just as it was the first in sub-Saharan Africa to gain political independence.

He expressed the gratitude of the Executive Committee to President Mahama and the government for their diverse assistance to ensure the success of the World Congress.

He commended the President for his visionary and transformational leadership which ‘is reflected in economic stability and massive road development.’

He urged the President to continue to represent Christ well in politics and to remain steadfast in his faith.

President Mahama welcomed the delegation to Ghana and assured them of the government’s continued support to ‘ensure that the event is peaceful, successful, and impactful.’

He recounted how he joined the Assemblies of God, saying: ‘I have no regrets.’ He commended the current leadership of the church for its visible growth and transformation.

Rev. Yeo presented Congress souvenirs to President Mahama and led the delegation to pray for him and for the prosperity of the nation.

A 14-year-old final-year Junior High School (JHS) student has died from severe burns after allegedly setting herself ablaze at Mpraeso Amanfrom in the Kwahu West Municipality of the Eastern Region.

The deceased, Keziah Mirekua, a student of Mpraeso Amanfrom Basic School, reportedly poured petrol on herself and set herself on fire at a school park in the community at about 10 a.m. on Sunday, October 11, 2026.

She was rushed to the Holy Family Hospital at Nkawkaw for emergency treatment and later referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, where she died.

Conflicting Accounts

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, with the deceased’s family divided over claims that an alleged pregnancy might have contributed to the tragedy.

Her grandmother, Madam Christiana Nkansah, told Osofoba Enoch, a local reporter in the community, that the family had been informed that the incident might have stemmed from a dispute involving a young man who allegedly denied responsibility for the pregnancy.

She said Keziah made some disclosures while receiving treatment before her death.

However, the teenager’s mother and sister have disputed the pregnancy claim. Although acknowledging that she was involved in a relationship with a young man, they insist she was not pregnant.

They believe other circumstances might have led to the incident and are calling for a thorough investigation to establish what happened.

The allegations surrounding the pregnancy and the reported dispute have not been independently established.

Dancehall King, Shatta Wale, is set to headline the 2026 edition of MoMoFest, dubbed ShattaFest26, scheduled for Saturday, October 17, at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The festival, which blends music and Ghana’s biggest cashless market experience, will also feature performances from Captan, Chief One and Mona4Real, alongside a host of upcoming talents.

Upcoming artistes billed for the night include Great Money, 28Frikky, Origyinal and Vybzlord.

Ahead of the show, Captan, Shatta Wale’s protégé, took to social media to eulogise his boss after being shortlisted to perform.

‘A white night? Not just a show, but a celebration of a King, a legacy and a MOVEMENT that can never be erased. Being the #1 son of the king comes with a different kind of pride, loyalty and responsibility. Some bonds go beyond music. #1family minamino,’ he wrote.

Organisers say pitch covers are ready and preparations are in full swing for the historic night. Fans are being urged to purchase tickets via the SHAXI app or website at http://shaxigh.com.

‘The heat in the city is real! Accra, get your drip and your crew ready for ShattaFest x MoMoFest this weekend. From the Cashless Market to the Keteke Game Show and plenty more, we’re bringing the vibes and the fun! Grab your ticket and come do more with MoMo,’ a promo flyer read.

The event also marks a milestone in Ghanaian event ticketing, with Shatta Wale selling VVIP Prime tickets for GHS10,000 and standard VVIP tickets for GHS2,000 – believed to be the highest-priced tickets in Ghanaian music history.

Shatta Wale has, however, clarified that his decision to host ticketed events was at the request of fans.

ShattaFest x MoMoFest 2026 is expected to draw thousands of Shatta Movement fans to the Accra Sports Stadium this Saturday.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised Ghana’s economic growth forecast for 2026 to 5.7 percent and projected year-end inflation at 4.8 percent, despite global economic pressures and uncertainty.

The growth forecast represents an increase of 1.1 percentage points from the 4.6 percent projected in April.

The projections are contained in the IMF’s latest economic outlook report, released on the sidelines of the Annual IMF/World Bank Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.

The upward revision reflects Ghana’s commitment to fiscal discipline, spending targeted at stimulating growth, and strong commodity export earnings, particularly from gold.

Ghana’s commitment to targets under the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI) programme also contributed to the revised outlook, according to information available to Joy Business.

However, sources close to the Fund have expressed concern about Ghana’s reliance on gold exports and urged the government to diversify its export earnings.

The IMF expects growth to moderate to 5.2 percent in 2027. Its 2026 forecast exceeds the government’s estimate of 4.8 percent outlined in the 2026 Budget, indicating a more optimistic assessment of Ghana’s growth prospects.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the economy expanded by 6.0 percent in the second quarter of 2026, bringing first-half growth to 6.2 percent.

The IMF projects that Ghana will end 2026 with inflation of 4.8 percent, down from its April forecast of 7.9 percent.

The revised projection is also below the government’s and the Bank of Ghana’s target band of 8 percent ± 2 percentage points, which ranges from 6 percent to 10 percent.

With September inflation at 5.2 percent, the IMF’s forecast suggests a further easing in price pressures by the end of the year.

Bank of Ghana internal projections cited by Joy Business had anticipated an increase in inflation in September, while expecting the year-end rate to remain within the target band.

If the IMF’s forecast materialises, Ghana would record single-digit year-end inflation for a second consecutive year, following a similar outcome in 2025.

World Bank maintains forecast

The World Bank, in its Africa economic update released in October 2026, maintained its growth forecast of 4.8 percent for Ghana, unchanged from April. It projects 4.9 percent growth in 2027.

The Bank expects growth to be supported by the services sector, a recovery in oil and gas activity, and continued progress with structural and fiscal reforms under national programmes.

It described economic activity in the second quarter of 2026 as robust, although growth moderated slightly, with real GDP expanding by 6.0 percent year-on-year.

On the expenditure side, the Bank said growth was supported by strong domestic demand. Investment increased by 53.0 percent, while domestic demand rose by 11.2 percent, reflecting continued strength in private and public spending.

TRAGEDY HAS struck Tosen, a community near Adum and Boso in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region, after a man allegedly shot his wife before turning the gun on himself in a shocking incident that has left residents in deep sorrow.

The horrifying incident, which occurred on Saturday, has thrown the community into mourning, with the circumstances surrounding the alleged shooting remaining a mystery.

An Okada rider identified as Emmanuel, who witnessed events shortly after the shooting, said he heard two gunshots while riding past the area.

He disclosed to DAILY GUIDE that, he initially thought the sounds came from a ceremony being held in the town and, therefore, did not pay much attention to them.

However, moments later, two children reportedly emerged from the house screaming for help, alleging that their father had shot their mother.

Emmanuel said the children’s desperate cries prompted him to rush to the police station to report the incident.

The motive behind the alleged shooting remains unknown, as residents struggle to comprehend what could have triggered the tragic development.

Police officers subsequently visited the scene and conveyed the bodies to the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

Investigations have since commenced to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Central Regional Football Association (RFA) has held its congress at Siwdu Stadium in Cape Coast to review its activities and discuss strategies for improving football administration and development in the Region.

The meeting brought together key football stakeholders to deliberate on issues affecting the game and identify ways to promote its continued growth across the Central Region.

Participants also reviewed the activities of the regional football fraternity, addressed challenges facing the sport and reaffirmed their commitment to developing football at all levels.

The congress forms part of the Association’s broader efforts to strengthen collaboration with stakeholders, improve football governance and promote grassroots development by creating more opportunities for players and other participants in the game.

The successful gathering marked the end of the 2025/26 season and provided a platform for the Association and its stakeholders to assess progress while preparing for the next phase of football development in the region.