Category: Daily Guide Network

Last week witnessed a resurrection of the vexed subject of LGBTQI+. Not that the subject died anyway; it rather went into a hibernation.

Now a full-fledged political issue, it has popped up with a fresh sense of urgency.

Given the sensitivity of the subject and in the light of ease of children’s access to social media, related discussions, we request, must be measured by all who consider themselves as responsible and interested in the progress of the country.

If for sincere and productive reasons the subject must be on the front burner of public discourse, there must be a layer of veneer to such discussions bereft of explicitness.

We pray that this suggestion is acceptable in the interest of our traditional values as Ghanaians. The explicit discussions in the media leaves much to be desired by persons who should know better the limits to which we can go as far as such matters are concerned.

The resuscitation of the subject occasioned by the alleged distribution of a teachers’ manual on ‘Physical Education and Health (Elective) for Senior High Schools’ and the reaction of the Minority in Parliament has effectively opened the floodgates for a public conversation on LGBTQI+.

Under such circumstances and against the backdrop of public opprobrium against anything related to homosexuality, the outcome is bound to be a free-for-all affair and unmeasured at that.

The Minority in Parliament while giving fuel to the incendiary subject is of the opinion that the subject has been smuggled, as it were, into the school curriculum, charge which the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) disagrees with.

We find it difficult to comprehend the ongoing debate between the Minority and Majority in Parliament on a subject which touches our traditional and cultural values.

It is a subject which has remained a conundrum on our socio-political space for the past few years. A few years ago, it was on the front burner with the dominant political parties trading accusations about their handling of the subject.

Has a book been authored on the subject besides the manual and ready to be distributed to students in senior high schools as being alleged?

If indeed the 2024 Physical Education and Health core teacher manual focuses strictly on physical health, wellness, fitness and recreation but the subsequent one dated 2025 includes sexual identity, gender expression, sexual rights or protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation, then we spot an integrity challenge.

The Ministry of Education should, considering the seriousness of the subject and in the light of the vociferousness with which the National Democratic Congress (NDC) tackled the subject when they were in opposition, go beyond merely telling Ghanaians that ‘government only recognises male and female gender.’

Ghanaians, given our proclivity to politicising every subject under the sun, would need further efforts at convincing that there is no cause for alarm.

We are open for convincing about the legacy content of the manual as claimed by NaCCA.

We need as many more participants in this debate as we had when the subject was being pushed around by those who claimed to be opposed to any semblance of giving LGBTQI+ a traction in Ghana.

A taxi driver has thwarted an armed robbery at Darkuman by deliberately ramming his vehicle into two suspects who had attacked a MoMo vendor and stolen GHS7,700. One suspect escaped, while the other was apprehended.

The taxi used in the intervention was damaged during the rescue, with photos showing its front bumper smashed. Online calls have been made to support the driver, urging donations to repair his vehicle, which is his main source of income.

The driver’s courageous action has been widely praised, highlighting Ghanaians’ determination to combat rising urban robberies.

William Kusi, lawyer for Akosua Serwaa, one of the spouses of the late highlife legend Daddy Lumba, has alleged that he is facing serious threats over his decision to appeal a court ruling in the ongoing legal battle over the musician’s estate.

Speaking in a viral interview with Kumasi-based Orange FM, Mr. Kusi claimed unknown individuals have been issuing threats against him and his family since he announced plans to appeal the Akosua Serwaa-Odo Broni ruiling.

According to him, the threats have escalated to chilling death warnings directed at his wife.

‘They told me, if you don’t stop the case, we will bring your nude pictures. They’ve threatened to kill my wife if I don’t stop the appeal and all that,’ Mr. Kusi revealed.

He suggested the intimidation was an indication that the court’s ruling was flawed. ‘I said to them, it means they are aware that the judgment was bad,’ he added.

Asked whether the threats had shaken him, Mr. Kusi said his greatest concern was his wife’s safety. On the possibility of withdrawing from the case, he admitted it could happen. ‘We’re thinking about it. Why not? Everything is possible,’ he said.

The controversy stems from a December 12, 2025 ruling by an Accra High Court, which granted an injunction sought by Daddy Lumba’s maternal family to stop his funeral scheduled for December 13, 2025. The court, however, ordered the family to deposit GHS2 million to cover funeral-related costs already incurred.

The family’s inability to raise the amount led to the injunction being lifted, allowing the funeral to proceed as planned.

Reacting to the outcome, Mr. Kusi described the ruling as illegal and ‘an absurdity,’ warning that the case could attract international attention and damage Ghana’s judicial image.

‘If the international community hears these things, what are they going to say about us and our judiciary,’ he asked.

The Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana (CIB Ghana), has capped 2025 with significant institutional progress, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening its impact on the country’s financial system and expanding selected programmes across the West African sub-region in 2026.

Chief Executive Officer of CIB Ghana, Robert Dzato, said 2025 was a successful year, marked by notable advances in education, ethics and professional standards within the banking industry.

According to him, the Institute remained firmly focused on its statutory mandate to promote the study of banking and regulate professional practice in Ghana, while responding to the evolving needs of the industry.

‘The year has been particularly good. We launched a number of programmes to advance our educational mandate and pushed the ethics agenda strongly across the banking industry,’ he noted.

Mr. Dzato said CIB Ghana also intensified its sustainability focus through strategic collaborations with key institutions, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Bank of Ghana.

These partnerships, he explained, were aimed at strengthening trust, competence and responsible conduct across the financial sector.

The CEO described 2026 as a defining year for the Institute, with plans to extend the reach of some flagship programmes beyond Ghana.

He revealed that CIB Ghana intends to regionalise selected offerings across West Africa, beginning with the Chartered Banker Executive Leadership Programme (CBEL), which he described as one of the Institute’s most impactful professional development products.

‘Last year alone, we graduated about 57 professionals in key management positions across the banking sector, including the central bank. It is a strong solution that we must take to other markets,’ Mr Dzato said, adding that the Institute’s broader purpose is to help address Africa’s human capital needs through trusted professionals.

He further indicated that the Institute would sustain its core programmes in 2026, particularly the Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB) qualification, which remains its flagship pathway for bankers.

New initiatives such as Ethics 2.0, the Branch CEO Programme and the Digital Academy are also expected to gain traction in the coming year, with a strong emphasis on competence, character and conduct across the profession.

‘These are critical if trust is to be deepened in the banking sector as we move into 2026,’ Mr Dzato stated.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the Governing Council, the President of CIB Ghana, Benjamin Amenumey, also described 2025 as a year of transformation and growth for the Institute.

Mr. Amenumey paid tribute to the Governing Council, management, staff, fellows and members of the Institute, as well as key stakeholders such as the Ghana Association of Banks and the Bank of Ghana, for their sustained support.

‘None of this would have been possible without the collective effort and commitment of our partners and stakeholders,’ he said.

He expressed confidence that the Institute would enter 2026 with renewed energy and a deeper commitment to integrity, service and excellence, stressing that values must remain central to professional practice.

He also conveyed seasonal goodwill to members and stakeholders, expressing optimism that the new year would bring progress and further elevate the standing of CIB Ghana.

For decades, Africa has been treated as a source of raw materials and a market for Western goods rather than a continent capable of leading its own economic destiny. The Trump administration, unlike previous U.S. governments, largely ignored Africa in its foreign policy, highlighting Africa’s longstanding reliance on external actors for trade, aid, and economic stability.

However, this shift in U.S. engagement exposed a deeper issue: Africa’s economic model, largely dictated by institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, has kept the continent dependent on foreign capital and resources rather than fostering self-sufficiency and industrialisation.

Today, with the collapse of IMF-led financial policies and increasing instability in the global market, African nations face a critical opportunity to redefine their economic path. The IMF’s failures have left many African economies in cycles of debt, unable to build sustainable industries or invest in long-term growth.

The debt burden, coupled with structural adjustment programmes that prioritise foreign debt repayment over local development, has created a system where African nations are forced to export raw materials cheaply while importing expensive finished goods.

A Broken System: The IMF and Western Financial Control

The IMF’s approach to African economies has been deeply flawed. Countries that have relied on IMF loans have seen their social services cut, local industries weakened, and sovereignty compromised. The IMF often imposes austerity measures, reducing public spending, privatising essential services, and increasing taxes and all of which disproportionately harm working-class communities, particularly women.

Rather than supporting industrialisation or value addition within Africa, the IMF and other Western financial institutions have promoted extractive economies, where Africa’s resources such as gold, coltan, cocoa, oil are mined, processed abroad, and then sold back to Africa at inflated prices. This model keeps Africa trapped in economic servitude, unable to break free from neocolonial control.

However, with the global financial order shifting, Africa is in a position to forge a new economic path; one based on self-sufficiency, innovation, and African-led solutions.

The New World of Work: African-Led Solutions

Africa has the resources, talent, and knowledge to transform its economies from being raw material exporters to producers of globally competitive brands. The key lies in creating and enhancing African value chains that produce goods for both local and global markets.

Indigenous Plant Research and Natural Resource Innovation

Africa’s biodiversity is one of its greatest untapped assets. The global wellness industry is worth over $35 billion, yet Africa benefits minimally despite being home to medicinal plants, natural oils, and skincare ingredients that fuel this industry. Instead of allowing Western companies to patent and profit from Africa’s natural resources, African researchers, entrepreneurs, and governments must invest in:

Research and Development (RandD): Creating laboratories and innovation hubs to study and refine African plant-based wellness products.

Standards and Certification: Ensuring African products meet international quality and safety standards, making them competitive in global markets.

Intellectual Property Rights: Protecting African resources from exploitation through patents and trademarks.

By developing African-owned wellness and beauty brands, the continent can shift from being a supplier of raw ingredients to a leader in the global skincare and health industries.

Building Production Hubs and Market Access

One of Africa’s biggest economic challenges is its lack of production infrastructure. Many African countries export raw materials only to buy back finished products at a premium. This must change. African countries need to:

Invest in local manufacturing to produce finished goods from Africa’s raw materials.

Create regional production hubs that specialise in different industries-textiles, agriculture, cosmetics, and technology.

Develop e-commerce platforms and global distribution networks that allow African businesses to sell directly to international consumers, bypassing Western middlemen.

If Africa can process its own raw materials, it will generate millions of jobs, increase GDP, and strengthen intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Women-Led Social Enterprises and Economic Empowerment

African women have historically been the backbone of African economies, running businesses, leading agricultural production, and sustaining local markets. Yet, they continue to face economic barriers, from limited access to credit to exclusion from major industries.

A sustainable way forward for Africa must center on women’s economic leadership through:

Women’s Credit Unions and Financial Cooperatives: These will provide direct funding and low-interest loans to women entrepreneurs, freeing them from exploitative banks.

Business Incubation and Training Programmes: Supporting women-led startups in sectors such as agribusiness, fashion, beauty, and technology.

Agro-Tech and Value Addition Initiatives: Encouraging women to move beyond small-scale farming and into agro-processing and export businesses.

By investing in women’s financial independence and business skills, Africa can unlock economic potential and ensure wealth is distributed at the community level.

Moving Beyond Dependency: A Pan-African Future

To break free from Western financial control and IMF-driven policies, Africa needs to adopt a Pan-African economic approach that prioritises:

Standardisation and Market Integration

Establishing African-led certification bodies to ensure products meet international standards.

Strengthening regional trade agreements to make African products more competitive globally.

Investing in infrastructure and logistics to connect African markets efficiently.

Social Innovation and Indigenous Knowledge

Reviving traditional knowledge systems in agriculture, health, and industry.

Supporting research on African technologies and inventions that can drive local economies.

Promoting social enterprises that focus on sustainability and cultural preservation.

Economic Independence Through Value Addition

Encouraging governments to implement policies that require local processing of natural resources before export.

Developing African brands in skincare, wellness, fashion, and food that can compete internationally.

Building strong export networks to connect African businesses to global markets.

The Journey Ahead: Women, Innovation and Self-Reliance

The future of Africa’s economic success depends on embracing self-reliance and rejecting dependency. With the IMF model collapsing, it is clear that Africa cannot continue following Western financial prescriptions. The time has come to prioritize African-led solutions by:

Empowering women through social enterprises and financial independence.

Investing in local production, indigenous knowledge, and innovation.

Strengthening intra-African trade and building strong Pan-African economies.

If Africa moves in this direction, it will not only survive but thrive. By creating sustainable jobs, transforming indigenous plants into billion-dollar industries, and promoting African brands, Africa will reclaim control over its economic destiny-not as a supplier of raw materials but as a global powerhouse of innovation and enterprise.

Africa’s future is in African hands. For too long we have accepted an identity of being victims. That narrative or identity is something we reject at Social Innovation Africa. While we do not deny the injustices of the past we are convinced that our greatest era is upon us.

Like other nations who started from nothing we too can rise and be intentional about our development. Hand in hand with our Diaspora communities who are an essential part of this trajectory.

The world has changed. Africa must rise to the challenge. Africa must lead.

Anatu Ben-Lawal is a Princess and the founder of Social Innovation Africa-. SIA is a think tank and project implementer passionate about designing new governance systems and models in agricultural food systems for the new Africa post-aid.

A passionate agro-ecologist and innovator who cites agriculture as her first love she currently leads a movement of rural women farmers across the north of Ghana.

Her new show: The Earth Priestess is out later this year.

Senegal beat Morocco to win the Africa Cup of Nations for a second time, but only after a dramatic and controversial final that saw the champions briefly refuse to continue play.

The match, which was goalless deep into added time, was overshadowed when Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty, prompting Senegal’s players to walk towards the tunnel in protest. Order was eventually restored, and Senegal went on to seal victory in the fourth minute of extra time.

Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal with a brilliant solo effort in the 94th minute, securing a second continental crown in five years for the Lions of Teranga.

Controversy erupted in the 98th minute when referee Jean Jacques Ndala, following a VAR review, awarded Morocco a penalty after El Hadji Malick Diouf was judged to have fouled Brahim Diaz. Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw reacted angrily, attempting to lead his team off the pitch after believing his side had earlier been denied a legitimate goal.

Moments before the penalty decision, Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr had bundled the ball home, but the goal was ruled out for a foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi.

When play resumed, Diaz’s Panenka penalty in the 114th minute was saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, keeping Senegal ahead.

Senegal only returned to the field following intervention from captain Sadio Mane. Morocco later substituted Diaz in extra time as their wait for a first AFCON title since 1976 continued.

Popular Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson, has dropped all charges against TikToker, Eedie Bliss, leading to the content creator’s release from police detention.

Eedie Bliss regained her freedom on Saturday, January 17, 2026, following intense public outcry across social media platforms.

The decision came hours after controversial social media critic VeryDarkMan publicly called out the actress, accusing her of oppression and stressing that defamation is a civil, not criminal, matter. He also issued an ultimatum demanding the TikToker’s release.

Shortly after, VeryDarkMan announced that Eedie Bliss had been freed.

Eedie Bliss was arrested days earlier over a TikTok video she posted in December 2025, in which she made allegations about Mercy Johnson and her husband, Prince Henry Okojie.

In the video, the TikToker claimed that Prince Okojie bought a house for a pregnant mistress and further alleged, citing gossip blog Cutie Juls, that Mercy Johnson was involved in actions that led to the mistress losing the pregnancy.

Following widespread criticism and calls for restraint, Mercy Johnson opted to withdraw the case, bringing the matter to a close for now.

When students from Kona District Assembly (D/A) Primary and Junior High School mounted the podium at the 2025 Ghana Robotics Competition (GRC), their victory told a bigger story of access, opportunity, and strategic investment in education.

With just three days of preparation and competing for the first time, three students from the community of Kona in the Sekyere South District of the Ashanti Region emerged as the ultimate winners of the Techs League category of the GRC. The team comprised Austin Okra, aged 13 and a JHS 3 student, Godfred Ofori, aged 14 and also a JHS 3 student, and Victoria Tabi Boakye, aged 10 and a Primary 5 pupil. Their remarkable achievement was made possible through an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Smart Laboratory established in the Kona community in May 2024 by Newmont and the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation.

The Techs League category of the competition is designed primarily for primary/basic level students.

A Win Built on Opportunity

The Kona team was coached by Adom Bismark, a teacher at Kona D/A, with technical support from Coral Reef Innovation Africa, the implementing partner for the AI Smart Labs programme. Their participation was fully supported by the headteacher, Jonathan Agbenyame, who described the outcome as unexpected but deeply encouraging.

‘The team had very limited time to prepare. It was their first competition, but they exceeded all expectations,’ Agbenyame said. ‘We are grateful to Newmont, the Otumfuo Foundation, and Coral Reef for this opportunity. Not many schools have access to this kind of support,’ he added.

Austin Okra, who led the team, also received an individual award known as Controller Conqueror for his exceptional skill, confidence, and precision in robot control. Reflecting on the experience, Austin said, ‘We went for exposure, not to win. So winning the trophy made us happy.’

Victoria described the moment simply as ‘a good feeling’, while Godfred called it ‘exciting’.

More Than a Trophy

For Newmont, the achievement represents more than competition success. According to Danquah Addo-Yobo, Country Manager for Newmont’s operations in Ghana, the victory highlights what is possible when students, irrespective of location, are given the right tools early.

‘This achievement goes beyond the trophy. It should remind these students and others like them that greatness is possible and their surroundings should never define or limit their potential,’ he said.

Audrey Bertha Nartey, Country Head of Coral Reef Innovation Africa, described the outcome as clear evidence that strategic partnerships in education deliver measurable results.

‘We are proud of this achievement, considering the time these children had to prepare for the competition. Everyone had three weeks but they had only three days to prepare. This win also proves that such partnerships work,’ she said, adding that a fourth lab under the programme has now been commissioned in Sankore in the Ahafo Region, with two more expected to be completed in 2026.

Newmont’s Commitment to Future-Ready Education

The Newmont-Otumfuo Foundation AI Smart Labs is a joint initiative between Newmont and the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, aimed at expanding access to quality, technology-driven education in under-resourced communities.

In 2023, both institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish six AI Smart Labs as part of a broader education-focused collaboration, driven by technology. Under the MoU, Newmont committed One Million, Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH?1,710,000) to bridge the digital divide by equipping students and teachers in less endowed communities with modern tools and future-ready skills.

Each Smart Lab is equipped with laptop computers, tablets, robotics and electronic kits, projectors, smart charging units, broadband-enabled devices, and access to virtual libraries containing approximately 50,000 eBooks. Training in robotics, coding, digital literacy, and design thinking is delivered by Coral Reef Innovation Africa.

Delivering Measurable Impact

As at December 2025, four of the six planned AI Smart Labs had been commissioned and were operational in Wioso, Kona, Toase, and Sankore. Kona D/A’s first-place finish at the 2025 GRC, along with Wioso St Peter’s fifth-place achievement at the 2024 GRC, marks a significant milestone that underscores the effectiveness of Newmont’s investment in education and innovation. The four schools with commissioned labs are expected to participate in the 2026 GRC, demonstrating the programme’s ongoing impact.

Creating Opportunity, Creating Value

The success of the Kona D/A students at the Ghana Robotics Competition reflects Newmont’s broader commitment to creating shared value through strategic investments in education and human capital development across Ghana. By investing in education that equips young people with future-ready skills, Newmont is helping to shape a generation of innovators capable of competing and winning on national and global stages.

For Austin, Godfred, and Victoria, the journey has only just begun. For Newmont, it is another step forward in building sustainable impact through education, innovation, and partnership.

The ‘Concerned Youth of Nzema’, a community-based group in the Western Region, has bemoaned the alleged abandonment of the Petroleum Hub project in the Jomoro area by the current government.

The project, which was initiated under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, is aimed at boosting Ghana’s energy sector, creating employment opportunities, and promoting industrial and economic development.

The Petroleum Hub was announced as a strategic national project expected to position Ghana as a major petroleum and petrochemical hub in West Africa.

However, despite public assurances and stakeholder engagements, the project has not begun after a sod was cut for its commencement prior to the last general election.

The situation has raised serious concerns among the public, particularly residents and youth of Nzema, who were hopeful of employment and economic benefits.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, the president of the group, Jonas Kabutey, noted that the delay in starting the project and making it operational is dashing the hope of most of the youth who were expected to be employed.

He asserted that the situation has also reduced investor confidence in the area and slowed economic development in the host communities.

He, therefore, called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to provide clear explanation on the reasons the Petroleum Hub has not started or not operational.

‘We want the authorities concerned to explain the current status of the project and provide realistic timeline for the commencement of the project and its operations,’ he stated.

He stressed the need for transparency and regular communication with the public on the progress of the project.

‘We suggest that the Petroleum Hub and its Board should engage major stakeholders, including traditional leaders, regularly, to brief them on the current status of the project.

‘The Ministry of Energy and other relevant state agencies, for instance, can engage the public to let them know the current challenges, if any, and concrete steps being taken to address the challenges,’ he indicated.

‘We are confident that your intervention will help address these concerns and restore public confidence in this important national project,’ he added.

President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Simeon-Okraku, has taken a brief break from his official responsibilities at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco to interact with Ghanaian media professionals covering the tournament in Rabat.

The CAF 2nd Vice-President shared a relaxed and engaging moment with members of the Ghanaian press, reflecting on past experiences while exchanging views on the competition and broader national issues.

The interaction was marked by humour and open conversation, reinforcing the strong working relationship between football administrators and the media.

The informal gathering brought together several respected journalists and broadcasters, including George Addo Jnr, Juliet Bawuah, Enoch Fiifi Forson, Fentuo Tahiru, Gary Al-Smith, Philip Sitsofe Atsrim, Bill Eshun, Michael Asare Boadu, Jon Boafo, Selwyn Sackey, Yvonne Worwornyo Woyome, Janet Nana Akua Amankwaa Quaye, Akosua Adjei, Clifford Owusu Peprah and Yaw Ofosu Larbi, among others.

Also present were internationally renowned YouTuber Wode Maya and popular digital content creator GH Hyper, adding a modern media touch to the gathering.

Mr. Simeon-Okraku is in Morocco not only to support activities surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations but also to participate in key high-level meetings organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The engagement highlighted the importance of collaboration between football leadership and the media in promoting the growth and image of the game across the continent.