Category: Daily Guide Network

Veteran musician, Ofori Amponsah, has revealed that the late highlife legend, Daddy Lumba, foresaw the turmoil that would erupt after his death, insisting the late icon even sang about it in one of his songs.

Speaking on Talkertainment with Elsie Lamar on GhanaWeb TV, Ofori Amponsah said the scale of the chaos surrounding Daddy Lumba’s funeral did not surprise him, describing it as the price of greatness.

‘Greatness attracts these kinds of things. I know everybody wants a piece of this great man. I believe he knew that when he’s not around, something of this sort will happen,’ he said.

The musician, who described himself as ‘not part of the family, just a ‘son’, warned that the public dispute among Daddy Lumba’s relatives risks damaging the legacy the celebrated artiste spent decades building.

According to Ofori Amponsah, disagreements over funeral arrangements and rites should have been handled privately to protect both the family’s dignity and the emotional wellbeing of Daddy Lumba’s children.

‘This is the time for them to sit down carefully. The legacy he left is for the children and the family. Any misunderstanding should be settled in the backyard,’ he urged.

Ofori Amponsah, who has previously described working with Daddy Lumba as the peak of his career, added that he hopes the late musician will one day be honoured with a mausoleum.

‘I am envisioning that one day I will see a mausoleum of this great man, and I’ll be the first person to visit,’ he said.

His comments come against the backdrop of a highly publicised legal battle that followed Daddy Lumba’s death on July 26, 2025. The Kumasi and Accra High Courts were drawn into a flurry of injunctions and lawsuits over funeral arrangements, widowhood rites and custody of the musician’s remains.

An injunction filed by Daddy Lumba’s legally married wife, Akosua Serwaa, sought to halt funeral preparations and assert her role in widowhood rites, but it was dismissed by the Kumasi High Court.

Days later, maternal relatives secured another injunction to block the release of the body, but it was lifted hours after they failed to pay a GHS2 million compensation for costs incurred.

The funeral eventually took place on December 13 in Kumasi, though notable absences included some members of the family, particularly Daddy Lumba’s legal wife.

The countdown is officially on as Global Fashion Week returns to celebrate 12 years of creativity, culture, and couture on the grandest runway in Accra.

Set to take place on December 20 to 21 this year, the runway fashion show organised by Global Ovations is gearing up for two unforgettable nights of fashion excellence where visionary designers, bold artistry, and global style take centre stage.

Patrons will firsthand have a preview to newest collection from the continent’s finest designers, notable among them include Rayaw By Asante (@rayawbyasante), who brings a modern day fashion experience at the Global Fashion Week XII.

Bilindtir brings to the stage beauty and elegance from (@bilindtir), where every thread and garment tell a story.

Jevi Couture (@jevicouture) is set to take the runway to make a bold statement. All eyes are set on Chapters Couture (@chapterscouture) as they take the stage at Global Fashion Week XII. It urged patrons to expect bold silhouettes, refined craftsmanship, and a story told through every look.

hamz.fashion steps into the spotlight at Global Fashion Week bringing sharp tailoring, strong details, and a powerful presence to the stage.

Organisers have called on the public to save the date and secure seats at the continent’s most anticipated fashion experience by contacting 0557331947.

‘Let’s make history. Let’s create magic. Let’s celebrate the art of fashion together. This is one showcase you don’t want to miss. The runway is set. Are you ready?’ they stated.

The High Court in Koforidua has dismissed a petition challenging the election of Frank Asiedu Bekoe, popularly known as Protozoa, as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Suhum, upholding his victory in the 2024 parliamentary polls.

The petition was filed by Kwadjo Asante, an independent candidate in the election, who asked the court to annul the results and order a fresh parliamentary election, citing alleged irregularities in the conduct of the polls.

In its ruling delivered yesterday, the court held that the petitioner failed to adduce sufficient and credible evidence to support the allegations contained in the petition.

The court consequently affirmed the declaration of Mr. Asiedu Bekoe as the validly elected MP for the constituency and awarded GHS200,000 in costs against the petitioner. The respondents had initially sought GHS500,000 following the year-long trial.

Mr. Asiedu Bekoe won the Suhum seat with 16,855 votes, narrowly beating the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Prince Kwadwo Addo Tabiri, who polled 15,259 votes. Kwadjo Asante placed third with 14,860 votes.

Speaking to journalists after the ruling, Mr. Asiedu Bekoe thanked the people of Suhum for their support and prayers throughout the legal process, describing the court’s decision as a clear vindication of the will of the electorate.

‘The case that was taken to court involved six polling stations where the petitioner claimed there were infractions. Even in those polling stations, by all calculations, I won there,’ he said.

He explained that Suhum has 165 polling stations and one special voting centre, making a total of 166.

According to him, results from 160 polling stations were collated by the Electoral Commission, while the remaining six became the subject of protest by the independent candidate and his supporters, who allegedly opposed their inclusion at the collation stage.

‘Even though I won all the six polling stations, the votes from the 160 polling stations were enough to make me the winner. So I was not moved when they said they would not allow the EC to add the six polling stations. The EC therefore declared the results without those six polling stations,’ he stated.

Mr. Asiedu Bekoe noted that despite later challenging the outcome in court, the petitioner’s polling agents had signed all Statements of Poll and Declaration of Results forms, commonly known as pink sheets, without recording any objections at the polling stations.

‘It was only at the collation centre that issues were raised. In court, the petitioner himself could not even mount the witness box, and he failed to call a single polling station agent to testify. He relied on collation agents, whose evidence fell flat,’ he said.

According to the MP, the petitioner later applied for additional witnesses, but one of them turned out to be an agent of another candidate, who testified that no irregularities occurred at the polling station he supervised.

‘He could not adduce any evidence that irregularities took place or that his supporters were prevented from voting. The court therefore threw out the case and awarded costs against him,’ Mr. Asiedu Bekoe added.

Award-winning Ghanaian comedian, OB Amponsah, has thrown down a bold challenge to the entertainment industry, declaring that comedians, not musicians, could be the ones to fill iconic venues like London’s O2 Arena.

Speaking in an interview on Hitz FM on December 16, 2025, OB Amponsah said comedy has the reach, originality and audience loyalty to pull off what some musicians have struggled to achieve.

‘The O2 Arena is not impossible. Some musicians couldn’t fill it, but comedians might do it,’ he said confidently.

The stand-up star attributed his optimism to the growing support system within the country’s creative space, singling out the African Arts Network and its founder for believing in his vision from the outset.

‘When I first went to him and shared the vision, he told me not to worry-just go and write the jokes. We need more people like that in the industry,’ OB Amponsah noted.

According to the comedian, success in entertainment goes beyond talent, stressing that strong backing and belief from industry players can be the difference between ambition and achievement.

‘Having people who support your vision and add to it is everything,’ he added.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has indicated that a final decision on Francis Abu’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup will only be made once the midfielder has fully recovered from his injury.

GFA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum said Abu is still in the rehabilitation phase following a serious ankle injury sustained during the Black Stars’ international friendly against Japan last month.

The Toulouse FC midfielder fractured two bones after an awkward landing while attempting to block a shot.

In an interview with Joy Sports, Asante Twum explained that Abu’s recovery timeline is closely linked to the specific surgical procedure he underwent.

‘Recovery usually depends on the nature of the surgery. Thankfully, we were able to secure the services of an excellent surgeon in Japan, who assured us that Abu would return sooner than expected,’ he said.

Initial medical assessments from Toulouse had suggested the injury could rule Abu out of the World Cup. However, his early return to training has since boosted hopes of a potential comeback ahead of the tournament.

‘We need to allow him to recover fully. Our hope is that he regains fitness in time and begins on-field work,’ Asante Twum added. ‘Once he starts featuring regularly in matches, a clear decision will be taken.’

Black Stars head coach Otto Addo is expected to announce Ghana’s final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by June 1, 2026.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed the fifth review of Ghana’s US$3 billion, 39-month Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, clearing the way for the immediate disbursement of about US$385 million (SDR 267.5 million).

The latest tranche brings Ghana’s total receipts under the IMF-supported programme to approximately US$2.8 billion.

In a statement following the Board’s decision, the Fund said Ghana’s reform programme is yielding positive results, after policy slippages recorded last year.

According to the statement, economic growth through September 2025 exceeded expectations, supported mainly by strong performance in the services and agriculture sectors.

The IMF said inflation has returned to the Bank of Ghana’s target range, while the external sector has strengthened, buoyed by robust gold and cocoa exports. International reserve accumulation surpassed programme targets, the cedi appreciated, and the country’s debt trajectory improved markedly.

IMF Deputy Managing Director, Bo Li, commended Ghana’s progress but underscored the need for sustained reforms to consolidate the gains made.

‘Ghana’s performance under its ECF-supported reform programme has been generally satisfactory. Going forward, continued reform efforts remain essential to maintain macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, while addressing longstanding structural vulnerabilities,’ she said.

She stressed that strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation and streamlining primary expenditure are critical to sustaining fiscal discipline.

These efforts, she noted, must be backed by reforms to improve tax administration, expenditure control, arrears management, and the efficiency and governance of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

The IMF also highlighted the need to decisively address challenges in the energy sector, particularly the accumulation of arrears, to contain fiscal risks.

While acknowledging progress in improving financial sector stability through ongoing bank recapitalisation, the Fund cautioned that vulnerabilities persist, especially among state-owned banks.

It called for stronger governance, full use of the bank resolution framework, contingency planning for undercapitalised banks, and robust supervisory strategies.

The IMF said the BoG had appropriately begun a cautious monetary easing cycle, adding that any further easing should be gradual and data-dependent. It also welcomed the introduction of a structured foreign exchange operations framework to smooth excessive market volatility and support reserve accumulation.

On fiscal policy, the Fund noted that Ghana’s 2026 budget is aligned with programme objectives and the new fiscal responsibility framework, while accommodating development and security needs.

However, it cautioned that successful implementation will depend on effective revenue mobilisation, expenditure rationalisation, and measures to protect vulnerable groups.

FIFA has announced a 50% increase in prize money for teams participating in next year’s World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, in a move that comes amid growing criticism over ticket prices for the tournament.

The increased payouts form part of a record financial distribution of $727m (£544.8m), approved by Fifa’s council and funded by revenues generated from the competition.

Under the new structure, the World Cup winners will receive $50m (£37.4m), while the runners-up will earn $33m (£24.7m). Teams eliminated at the group stage will still take home $9m (£6.7m).

In addition to performance-based rewards, each qualified nation will receive $1.5m (£1.1m) to cover preparation costs. This means every participating member association is guaranteed a minimum payout of $10.5m (£7.8m).

Fifa president Gianni Infantino described the increased payments as a landmark moment for the sport, saying the tournament would be ‘groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community’.

The governing body has already forecast record revenues of $13bn (£9.7bn) for the 2023-2026 cycle.

The announcement follows renewed scrutiny of Fifa’s ticket pricing strategy for the expanded 48-team World Cup, which will feature 104 matches. A day earlier, the organisation introduced a limited number of £45 tickets for every match after a public outcry over affordability.

Supporters’ groups have welcomed the move but insist more needs to be done. Tom Greatrex, chair of the Football Supporters’ Association, said the record prize fund showed there was ‘no shortage of money associated with the World Cup’ and urged Fifa to rethink its approach to ticket pricing.

He warned that the organisation still had time to avoid ‘all but killing what is special about the World Cup’ and called for immediate action.

The partial concession on ticket prices was welcomed by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who nonetheless encouraged Fifa to go further in making the tournament accessible to fans.

At the same meeting, Fifa’s council also approved the creation of a post-conflict recovery fund, aligning with its stated aim of promoting football’s unifying values. The initiative follows an announcement made by Infantino at the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace in October 2025, where he pledged to establish a support mechanism for regions affected by conflict.

Fifa said the new financial instrument would be open to third-party contributions and subject to strict oversight, complementing existing support provided through the Fifa Forward Programme and other development initiatives.

Fidelity Bank Ghana has positioned itself as the financial anchor for a new era of South-South cooperation, following a high-level strategic dialogue with Francia Elena Márquez Mina, Vice President of the Republic of Colombia, at the Bank’s Headquarters in Accra.

The engagement brought together Colombian business leaders, Ghanaian entrepreneurs, and representatives of the financial sector to explore opportunities for job creation, technology transfer, and sustainable economic growth across both countries.

Speaking on the outcome of the engagement, Atta Yeboah Gyan, Deputy Managing Director for Operations and Support Functions at Fidelity Bank, described the meeting as a catalyst for deeper economic cooperation.

‘This was largely a facilitating role for us,’ he said. ‘We brought together business owners from Ghana, who are our clients, and the Colombian business delegation to explore areas where collaboration and mutual support are possible. The meeting was a huge success because we identified clear sectors where further collaboration is needed.’

Key areas identified for collaboration included agribusiness and agri-processing, industrial machinery, and joint financing structures between local banks in Ghana and Colombia.

Mr. Gyan noted that similarities between the two economies create opportunities for South-South cooperation, particularly in adapting machinery and processing technologies suited to local conditions.

‘There should be no reason why governments from Colombia and Ghana cannot empower local banks to finance development, instead of relying solely on European or American banks,’ he said. ‘We have the capacity here in Ghana, and we see opportunities to syndicate with Colombian banks to finance projects that advance our economies.’

Addressing the gathering, Vice President, Francia Márquez Mina, reaffirmed Colombia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through private-sector engagement and cultural connection. She underscored the importance of restoring historic trade routes as channels for dignity, opportunity, and shared prosperity.

‘We are here to encourage business people and entrepreneurs to see mutual opportunities in the exchange of goods and services,’ she said. ‘Colombia wants to serve as a bridge, not only to our country, but to Latin America and the Caribbean, just as we see Ghana as our gateway to Africa.’

She also highlighted Colombia’s focus on energy transition, tourism, technology, pharmaceuticals, and food production, inviting Ghanaian entrepreneurs to explore investment opportunities.

‘The opportunities to do business between our nations are very great,’ she said. ‘We want Ghana to be the gateway to Colombia, and for Colombia to be considered the gateway to Latin America.’

The Colombian Deputy Minister for Trade, Tito Yepes, expressed strong optimism about the partnership, describing the opportunities as ‘enormous.’ He highlighted Colombia’s broader Africa strategy and the symbolic importance of strengthening ties with Ghana.

‘We are starting here with Fidelity,’ Mr. Yepes declared. ‘Fidelity has proposed facilitating engagement between the two private sectors to enable collaboration. We see Ghana as a gateway to West Africa because our sectors are complementary. Ghana has inputs we need, especially in agriculture and cosmetics, while Colombia has machinery and technology adapted to similar economic realities. This is not theory; we are already taking samples and exploring purchases.’

Mr. Yepes also outlined ambitions to improve connectivity between the two countries, including maritime and air links, to reduce travel and trade barriers.

‘Why not have a maritime route between Cartagena and Accra, or a direct flight from Bogotá to Accra,’ he said. ‘Instead of taking 40 hours through Europe, we can do this in 12 hours.’

The engagement marks a significant step in advancing Ghana – Colombia private sector cooperation, with Fidelity Bank positioned as a key enabler of trade finance, investment partnerships, and long-term economic collaboration between the two regions.

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.