Category: Daily Guide Network

In a major recognition of his contributions to the nation’s socio-economic landscape, Executive Chairman of the KGL Group, Alex Dadey, has been selected as a recipient of the Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Diaspora Award for Business Excellence in Ghana.

The award will be presented during the high-profile Diaspora Summit 2025, scheduled to take place at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) from today, December 19 to December 20, 2025.

The summit, themed, ‘Resetting Ghana: The Diaspora as the 17th Region,’ is being held under the auspices of President John Dramani Mahama.

A Legacy of ‘Diaspora Direct Investment’

Mr. Dadey, a seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of global experience, has been a vocal advocate for the inclusion of the Ghanaian diaspora in the country’s development. Having spent more than two decades in the United Kingdom before returning to Ghana, he has pioneered the concept of ‘Diaspora Direct Investment’ (DDI)-encouraging Ghanaians abroad to move beyond remittances and actively invest their capital and expertise into the local economy.

His leadership at the KGL Group has transformed the company into a leading African corporate brand, particularly in the fintech and digital solutions sectors. Under his stewardship, KGL has revolutionised the lottery and gaming industry in Ghana through digitalisation, enhancing government revenue mobilisation and promoting financial inclusion.

Driving National Development

Beyond his business successes, Mr. Dadey is recognised for his commitment to ‘Responsible Corporate Citizenship’.

The notification of the award, signed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), emphasises that the honour acknowledges individuals whose work has ‘significantly advanced the pursuit of reparative and social justice, Pan-Africanism, and the promotion of Ghana’s global image.’

The presentation ceremony will take place during a Dinner and Awards Gala on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Banquet Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The summit is expected to draw Heads of State, international dignitaries, and senior government officials, marking a pivotal moment for Ghana’s engagement with its global community.

President John Dramani Mahama has announced government’s plans to elevate the Ho and Hohoe Municipal Assemblies to Metropolitan status, a move aimed at strengthening local governance and accelerating urban and economic development in the Volta Region.

The President made this known during the sod-cutting ceremony for the Ho Oxygen City Affordable Housing Project, a major housing initiative being developed by the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) in partnership with government, traditional authorities and private sector stakeholders. The project, which is expected to significantly expand access to affordable housing, also forms part of a broader vision to promote planned urban growth beyond Ghana’s traditional metropolitan centres.

According to President Mahama, the decision to earmark Ho and Hohoe for metropolitan elevation is informed by their rapid population growth, expanding commercial and economic activities, and increasing strategic importance within both the Volta Region and the national development framework. He noted that the two municipalities have outgrown their current administrative status and now require stronger institutional capacity to effectively manage urbanisation pressures.

He stated that attaining metropolitan status would enhance the ability of the assemblies to plan, regulate and coordinate development more efficiently. This, he said, would translate into improved service delivery in critical areas such as housing, road infrastructure, sanitation, water supply, health, education and other social services.

‘Decentralisation remains a central pillar of our governance philosophy,’ President Mahama stated, and added, ‘By strengthening local government structures and giving them greater authority and resources, we bring development closer to the people and ensure that growth is inclusive and sustainable.’

The President further noted that metropolitan status would make Ho and Hohoe more attractive to both public and private investment, create new employment opportunities as well as stimulate accelerated infrastructure development. He emphasised that planned urban expansion, supported by affordable housing schemes such as the Oxygen City project, is essential to preventing unplanned settlements and improving overall living standards.

Ghana’s decentralisation system is anchored in the 1992 Constitution and operationalised through the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936). The policy seeks to transfer political, administrative and fiscal authority from central government to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), thereby promoting participatory governance and local development.

Under the decentralised system, local assemblies are responsible for development planning, budgeting, revenue mobilisation and service delivery within their jurisdictions. The system is designed to ensure that decisions affecting local communities are made at the local level, with direct input from the people.

Assemblies in Ghana are categorised based on population size, level of urbanisation and economic activity. Generally, a District Assembly serves areas with populations below 75,000. A Municipal Assembly is established for towns and cities with populations of at least 95,000 and significant urban characteristics. A Metropolitan Assembly is created for large urban centres with populations of 250,000 or more, or with special strategic and economic importance.

The creation of an assembly requires a government proposal, approval by Parliament through a Legislative Instrument, and endorsement by the President. In some cases, population thresholds may be complemented by considerations such as regional capital status, economic significance and development potential.

Ho currently serves as the Volta Regional Capital and has witnessed steady growth in population, commerce, education, health services and real estate development. Hohoe, on the other hand, has emerged as a key commercial and transit hub in the northern corridor of the region, with increasing industrial and agricultural activity.

President Mahama indicated that the processes toward metropolitan elevation would involve technical assessments, stakeholder consultations and the necessary legal and administrative steps. Once completed, the new metropolitan assemblies would have enhanced staffing, expanded departments and greater fiscal authority to manage development.

He assured residents that government would work closely with traditional authorities, opinion leaders and the general public to ensure a smooth transition and to maximise the benefits of the new status.

The planned elevation of Ho and Hohoe, coupled with major housing and infrastructure projects, signals a renewed focus on decentralisation as a tool for balanced national development. For the people of the Volta Region, the move is expected to open a new chapter of growth, opportunity and improved quality of life.

More than 1.3 million youth aged 15 to 24 years, representing 21.5 percent, and about 1.95 million people aged 15 to 35 years, also representing 19.5 percent, were not in education, employment, or training (NEET) in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting persistent labour market pressures.

The Quarterly Labour Force Survey covering quarter 1 to 3 of the labour force statistics for 2025 released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) provides a nationally representative assessment of labour market participation.

The survey captures critical information on employment, unemployment, labour force participation, job quality, skills utilisation, and work arrangements across the country, covering nearly 14,000 households in all 16 regions, spanning both urban and rural areas.

It stated, ‘In Q3, approximately 1,343,113 persons aged 15-24 years (21.5%) and 1,953,297 persons aged 15-35 years (19.5%) were not in education, employment, or training (NEET).’

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, the unemployment rate averaged 12.8 percent during the first three quarters of 2025, rising slightly to 13.0 percent in the third quarter.

Youth unemployment continued to exceed the national average, with the highest rates of 32.4 percent recorded among persons aged 15-24 years. In addition, about 21.5 percent of young people in this age group were not in employment, education, or training.

The report further indicated that the female unemployment rate consistently remained higher than the male unemployment rate, with an average gap of 3.7 percentage points in each quarter.

‘Across the three quarters, the unemployment rate averaged 15.1 percent in urban areas, which is 5.5 percentage points higher than the rural average of 9.6 percent,’ the report added.

That, it explained, represents a significant loss of productive potential and underscores the urgency for targeted youth employment and skills intervention.

In terms of employment, the report also stated that female employment consistently exceeded male employment in all three quarters, with over 7.2 million females employed compared with about 6 million males.

The report also indicated that employment levels were consistently higher in urban areas than in rural areas, with the biggest gap recorded in the second quarter, when urban employment exceeded rural employment by about 1.49 million people.

‘In the third quarter of 2025, more than 15 million people participated in the labour force, with approximately 87 percent employed. Employment increased by over 330,000 persons between Quarter 1 and Quarter 3 of 2025, reflecting continued absorption of labour.

‘Female employment consistently exceeded male employment throughout the period. Urban areas recorded higher employment levels than rural areas, while Greater Accra and Ashanti regions accounted for the largest shares of employed persons,’ parts of the report stated.

Touching on some sectors of the economy, the report noted that the Service sector remained the largest employer, engaging 6 million people, followed by Agriculture with 5 million and Industry with 2.5 million.

It, however, mentioned that given the current structure of employment, the country still faces challenges in its efforts to sustain the jobs and increase productivity, adding that urban unemployment remained higher than rural unemployment, while females continued to experience higher unemployment rates than males.

On skills utilisation and work arrangements, the report noted that while over half of employed people reported that their skills and qualifications were fully utilised, about one in five people reported that their skills were underutilised, particularly women and rural workers.

‘Skills mismatch remains evident, with over-skilling more common among men and urban workers, and underqualification more pronounced in rural areas. Night work remains rare, involving fewer than two percent of workers,’ it stressed.

GSS also mentioned that 46.5 percent of employed persons who were not engaged in shift work in the third quarter however expressed interest in shift-based work.

The interest, it stated, was particularly strong among men, representing 53.6 percent, and rural workers, 51.7 percent, while 14 percent would consider it depending on conditions.

Based on the outcomes of the survey, the GSS recommended government to tackle youth unemployment urgently through apprenticeships, school-to-work transition programmes, digital and technical skills training, and reintegration pathways for not in education, employment, or training populations, while emphasising on the need to improve job quality to reduce vulnerable employment.

‘Job quality must improve, particularly by reducing vulnerable employment through formalisation, enterprise development, access to finance, and labour protections, especially in Agriculture and rural areas. Skills development must align with labour market demand, requiring stronger coordination between government, training institutions, and employers, and continuous monitoring of skills utilisation,’ it added.

The report further stressed that shift-based and flexible work arrangements must be supported responsibly, with clear standards to protect workers’ safety, health, and income security as the government advances its 24-Hour Economy agenda.

‘Overall, the labour market in the first three quarters of 2025 reflects progress with purpose but also exposes pressure points. While employment is growing, many workers remain in insecure jobs, a large number of young people are excluded, and skills are not always fully utilised,’ it noted.

The Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has declared his firm and unflinching support for former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, describing him as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) best candidate ahead of the party’s presidential primaries scheduled for January 2026.

Speaking ahead of a campaign engagement in the Savannah Region, Mr. Jinapor affirmed that Dr. Bawumia remains the best option to lead the NPP into the 2028 General Election.

‘Dr. Bawumia can unite our base, appeal to the floating voters, and inspire hope across the country. He is not just a candidate for the primaries, he is our pathway to victory in 2028,’ he stressed.

Mr. Jinapor highlighted what he described as Dr. Bawumia’s clean reputation and strong track record.

‘He is well marketed, he is formidable, and he is credible,’ he noted, adding that the former Vice President is ‘somebody you cannot associate with anything of corruption or incompetence.’

The former Lands Minister argued that Dr. Bawumia’s visibility and performance in the 2024 national elections have made him an already recognisable figure to the Ghanaian electorate, positioning him as a candidate with broad national appeal.

‘I believe if we present him again for 2028 and we rally behind him, he has a strong chance of winning the 2028 election,’ Mr. Jinapor said.

He added that the party’s grassroots are ready to support Dr. Bawumia’s renewed bid for the flagbearer slot.

‘I am convinced the party will support him on January 31, and I am convinced the party will elect him because the party wants to win,’ he declared.

Dr. Bawumia, known for spearheading the Akufo-Addo-led government’s digitalisation agenda, is seeking to return as the NPP’s presidential candidate. His campaign has gained momentum as influential figures within the party continue to publicly rally behind him.

Mr. Jinapor’s endorsement reflects growing confidence within the party that Dr. Bawumia is the candidate most capable of uniting the NPP and securing a decisive win in the next national polls.

The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has announced the transfer of the complete processes seeking to extradite former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta and his Chef de Cabinet, Ernest Darko Akore from the United States to stand trial in Ghana for corruption and related offences.

The two former government appointees have been charged by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) alongside six others for their involvement in a revenue assurance contract awarded by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) which, according to the OSP, has caused the nation over GHS1.4 billion financial loss.

Both men are said to be in the United States and the OSP has since the middle of this year initiated processes to have them extradited to Ghana to stand trial on charges which are currently before a High Court in Accra.

Addressing the press at the Presidency yesterday, Dr. Ayine said the Office of the Attorney General on December 10, 2025, transmitted the complete extradition request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for onward submission to the Department of Justice in the United States of America.

‘At this point, it is left to the American authorities, especially the judicial authorities, to make a decision on whether a sufficient basis exists for the two accused persons to be extradited to Ghana to stand trial,’ Dr. Ayine added.

Ofori-Atta Fights Back

Meanwhile, the Attorney General has disclosed that Mr. Ofori-Atta has hired some top lawyers in the United States to challenge his extradition to Ghana.

‘I just got to know yesterday [December 17] that he has hired some of the top lawyers in the United States of America, very experienced lawyers, to defend him,’ Dr. Ayine told the press.

He said the legal battle could go on for a long time given the federal nature of the US legal system which has several levels of appeal, a factor that could delay the extradition process.

‘I’m not afraid at all,’ Dr. Ayine stated, while indicating that ‘but it means that there’s going to be a fight in the federal courts in the US. If the district court says no, he will go to the circuit court. If the circuit court says no, he’s entitled to go to the US Supreme Court to fight his case.’

He added that ‘So, I cannot tell you that he will come tomorrow or he will come the next day. I’m just being honest. Accounting to the people means being explicit and truthful. This is what we are faced with.’

He also stressed that government is committed to ensuring that Mr. Ofori-Atta receives a fair trial, while encouraging him to return to Ghana voluntarily.

‘.If I were him, I would join the next available flight. Under my watch, he will not be treated unfairly; he will go through due process and be prosecuted just like any other person,’ he stated.

The Minority in Parliament has accused the government of sidelining Parliament in key national security decisions, following the deployment of Ghanaian troops to Benin and Jamaica without prior parliamentary approval.

Addressing a press conference in Parliament yesterday, the Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, said while the Minority has no objection to Ghana offering assistance to friendly countries, the constitutional procedures governing such deployments were ignored.

According to him, decisions involving the deployment of military personnel outside Ghana require prior consultation with, and approval by, Parliament to allow for transparency, accountability and scrutiny of the operational framework, duration and financial implications.

‘We don’t have a problem with the principle of assisting other countries, but the procedures and due process must be followed,’ Rev. Fordjour stressed, adding that Parliament was denied the opportunity to interrogate the modalities and cost of the deployments.

He questioned why Parliament was consulted when the government sought to procure military helicopters, but ignored when it decided to deploy troops to Benin and Jamaica. ‘What are they hiding?’ he asked.

The Minority is demanding answers from the Minister for Defence and other relevant agencies on the legal protocols governing the Benin deployment, the number of troops involved, the duration of the mission and the cost to the state.

Rev. Fordjour further cast doubt on the effectiveness and propriety of the deployment, recalling a similar mission to Guinea-Bissau where Ghanaian troops were present when a coup eventually occurred.

‘In a situation where a coup attempt had already happened in Benin, what impact will this post-factual deployment make, considering the cost to the nation?’ he queried.

The Minority also criticised what it described as a show of force by security agencies on the streets of Accra, involving personnel from the military, police, fire service and immigration service.

Rev. Fordjour described the action as misplaced and inappropriate, especially given unresolved security flashpoints elsewhere in the country.

He cited areas such as Bawku and illegal mining sites, where security officers face real threats, as more deserving of decisive security operations than peaceful high streets in Accra, including areas around the Supreme Court and Accra High Courts.

According to him, the deployment of armoured vehicles and security personnel in the capital without consulting Parliament or the Defence and Interior Committee amounted to a waste of resources and achieved no meaningful objective.

Rev. Fordjour warned that the executive must not run the country as a one-party state, and urged the government to respect institutions of accountability.

He expressed concern about Ghana’s declining ranking on the Global Peace Index, noting that the country has slipped from being among the most peaceful nations in Africa.

The Minority called on the government to refocus its security efforts where they are most urgently needed and to take decisions that would restore Ghana’s reputation as one of the most peaceful countries on the continent.

Black Females in Architecture will on December 20 stage an exhibition, a fusion of arts and entertainment themed, ‘You Are Invited’, a showcase co-curated and co-designed with ?dan Ghana, exploring women’s ways of knowing the city Accra, Ghana.

Speaking in an interview on Guide Radio, Carina Tenewaa Kanbi, founder of Edan Studios, said through artist works and public activations, the showcase aims to foreground and celebrate the resilience, creativity, and essential contributions of women to African cities.

The event, which seeks to engage hundreds of guests, envisions the showcase as an extension of Accra’s urban landscape, promoting care and community, inviting visitors into a shared space of rest and reflection.

Guests will have a chance to interact with artists behind span visual art (painting, murals, textiles, sculpture, mixed media, film, and print). There will also be performances, design, music, and participatory practice.

The event, organised in collaboration with ?dan Ghana, will centre on women’s lived experiences, and everyday practices that shape the urban environments of Accra and beyond.

The trial of Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, is set to commence on January 12, 2026, following the conclusion of case management conference.

Wontumi is on trial on allegations he permitted other individuals to undertake mining on his Akonta Mining concession at Samreboi in the Western Region without a written approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

The Office of the Attorney General has indicated that it will be calling four (4) witnesses to prove the allegations made against Wontumi.

The office has since filed disclosures and witness statements for the witnesses it intends to rely in securing a conviction against the NPP official.

Part of the disclosures before the court include an amount of GHS157,000, live BB cartridges and other items confiscated at the mining site.

The prosecution has also disclosed caution and charged investigation statements given by Wontumi when he was invited by law enforcement agents.

The Attorney General will call its first witness on January 12, 2026, formally opening the case. The defence would be expected to cross-examine the witness after giving his evidence-in-chief.

‘The prosecution, having finished their disclosures and in the absence of any application, this matter is set for the court to receive evidence. Prosecution to put first witness in the box on January 12, 2026,’ Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, the presiding judge, ruled.

Allegations

Wontumi is on trial on allegations he permitted other individuals to undertake mining on his Akonta Mining concession at Samreboi in the Western Region without a written approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

He has been charged with one count of assignment of mineral rights without approval, and another count of purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, contrary to Section 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by Section 3 of the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).

His company, Akonta Mining and another person identified as Kwame Antwi, who is on the run, have been charged with the same offences.

He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was granted a bail of GHS15 million by the court.

He is to provide three sureties, two of whom must be justified with landed property within the jurisdiction.

Wontumi was further ordered to deposit his passport(s) with the registrar of the court. The court has also placed him on the Stop List at all entry points of the country.

The prosecution’s brief fact indicates that the police had arrested Michael Ayisi Gyasi, a 50-year-old and 28 others within Akonta Mining’s concession in Samreboi on April 17, 2025, following an operation.

During the arrest, the police retrieved several items, including eight (8) pump action guns, one (1) single-barreled gun, five (5) pieces of metal suspected to be gold concealed in a sachet, four (4) machetes, several water pumping machines, 310 AAA/BB cartridges, and one (1) grease gun.

Others include four (4) motorcycles, two (2) vehicles, 25 serviceable excavators, four (4) non-serviceable excavators and GHS157,000 cash.

The prosecution says it will pray the court at the end of the trial for a forfeiture order in respect of all items of value retrieved from the concession.

Six winners of the MTN Ghana’s ‘Me Nsa Aka’ Mobile Money (MoMo) promotion held from September 15 to December 15 were on Wednesday awarded.

The ultimate winner, Frank William Kwasi Beecham walked away with an impressive GHS100,000 at the grand finale of the three-month campaign.

Mr. Beecham expressed his intention to invest the money by purchasing more MTN shares. The other winners include Dorothy Esenam, who received GHS50,000 and stated that she would share her winnings with her family and friends.

Hui Ling took home GHS30,000, while Texson, Joseph Kofi Agbavor, and Gideon Obeng each won GHS10,000. Both Texson and Joseph Kofi Agbavor indicated that they would, like the overall winner, invest their prizes by buying additional MTN shares.

Speaking at the event, Faisal Ali, Channel Development Manager at MTN Ghana, highlighted that the ‘Me Nsa Aka’ promotion was MTN’s way of appreciating customers for their loyalty and consistent use of MoMo.

He explained that the campaign also aimed to encourage customers to transition from the USSD channel (*170#) to the MoMo App, which offers a more seamless and convenient digital experience. He took the opportunity to remind customers to stay safe during the festive season by keeping their PINs secure and avoid sharing sensitive details such as OTPs.

He emphasised that MTN only contacts winners through its official number, 024 300 0000. Mr. Ali further announced an ongoing free weekend transaction offer for MoMo App users, allowing customers to enjoy zero transaction fees on all weekend transfers made via the app.

A representative from the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Ernestina Ofosua Addo, who supervised the draw, assured the public of the transparency and credibility of the process. She stated that the NLA, as a regulator, carefully scrutinised and validated all entries before the final selection of winners.

‘Everything was done right, and the process was fair. We are excited about the outcome and congratulate all the winners,’ she remarked. The grand finale brought the ‘Me Nsa Aka’ promotion to a celebratory close, reinforcing MTN Ghana’s commitment to rewarding customer loyalty while promoting safe and convenient digital financial services.

Nigerian Afrobeats superstar, Davido, has openly declared his desire to collaborate with global pop icon Rihanna, saying the pairing would produce ‘dope music’.

The singer made the revelation during a live Twitch stream hosted by popular Nigerian streamer and singer, Carter Efe, which ran for about three hours on Wednesday evening.

When asked which artists he would love to feature, Davido did not hesitate.

‘I would definitely love to do a song with Rihanna, Kehlani as well. I think me and Rihanna would make some dope music. And also my colleagues, Tems, Ayra, and Morravey,’ he said.

Davido’s comments have quickly stirred excitement among fans, especially coming just days after an AI-generated song allegedly blending Rihanna’s style with Davido’s vocals went viral online.

The viral track reignited conversations about a possible real-life collaboration between the Afrobeats hitmaker and the Barbadian superstar-something many fans have long hoped for.