Category: Daily Guide Network

Fresh attention has been drawn to the family of late highlife icon Daddy Lumba after a video surfaced online showing Odo Broni dining with the singer’s children from his first wife, Akosua Serwaa.

The short video, which has quickly gained traction on social media, shows Odo Broni seated with the children at a dining table in a calm and friendly atmosphere. The relaxed interaction has surprised many observers, especially following the intense controversy that surrounded Daddy Lumba’s funeral arrangements.

Reactions online have been divided. While some users have welcomed the scene as a positive sign of harmony and healing within the family, others believe it may be an attempt to lower tensions after weeks of public disagreement and scrutiny linked to the burial.

The footage comes at a time when discussions about Daddy Lumba’s family affairs remain fresh in the public space. Prolonged legal disputes and internal disagreements had delayed the burial, turning the funeral into a major national conversation.

Despite the challenges, the family went ahead with the final funeral rites on December 13, 2025.

Hundreds of Sacred Heart Technical Institute students have been educated on how to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV), as part of MTN Ghana’s 2025 16 Days of Activism campaign, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service’s Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU).

General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Isaac Martey, noted that the event was not simply the end of a global campaign, but part of a continuous effort to shape responsible future leaders, reaffirming the telecommunication company’s commitment to combating GBV through youth empowerment.

According to him, engaging students early is crucial to breaking the cycle of violence, saying, ‘We know that our young people grow up to be men and women, so when we get them to understand gender-based violence at this age, we believe they will grow to become responsible men and women.’

Mr. Martey noted that although the formal 16-day calendar had ended, the work of advocacy, sensitisation, and partnership continues throughout the year.

Speaking about online bullying, he said the company is strategically focusing on creating meaningful change in the hearts and minds of young people, while incorporating digital literacy into its GBV campaigns to help young people navigate both the opportunities and risks of online spaces.

The Director of DOVVSU, ACP Owusuaa Kyeremeh said that although the official campaign period had ended, the commitment to advocating against violence must continue throughout the year.

ACP Kyeremeh emphasised that while women and girls are often the primary victims, boys and men also experience various forms of abuse and must not be forgotten in national protection efforts.

She announced new reforms aimed at making DOVVSU more accessible to the public, including the launch of a dedicated helpline and a toll-free number, 800900, to ensure that individuals can easily seek help or report cases.

ACP Kyeremeh reiterated DOVVSU’s commitment to responding quickly and protecting vulnerable groups across the country.

Ghanaians can now access private health insurance directly through the MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) App, following the launch of a digital health insurance solution by DOSH Health Insurance, in partnership with Mobile Money Limited.

This innovative partnership, a first for mainstream health insurance, provides comprehensive outpatient and inpatient care through a nationwide network of accredited healthcare providers, alongside preventive and wellness support, and fast, transparent claims processes.

With this solution, Ghanaians can now access health insurance as easily as buying airtime or paying utility bills, removing long-standing barriers to health insurance access, particularly for individuals and families who remain uninsured due to cost, complexity, and lack of awareness.

Speaking at the launch of the partnership yesterday, CEO of DOSH Health Insurance, Frank Augustine Dagbui, said integrating DOSH Health Insurance into the MTN MoMo App eliminates traditional obstacles such as paperwork, long processing time and other requirements, making health insurance accessible with just a mobile phone.

‘Too many people delay care or face financial strain simply because health insurance feels complicated or out of reach. DOSH Health Insurance was created to change that, to make health protection simple, accessible, affordable and available through tools people already trust,’ he stated.

Mr. Dagbui, said the digital platform allows users to subscribe, manage their coverage, and access services seamlessly, emphasising that DOSH offers a range of health insurance packages designed to meet the needs of individuals, families, and businesses.

Chief Product and Services Officer of Mobile Money Ltd, Sylvia Otuo Acheampong, said the partnership reflects the company’s broader commitment to using digital technology to deliver practical solutions that improve everyday life.

According to her, ‘MoMo’s strength lies in its reach, availability and simplicity. Partnering with DOSH allows us to extend that strength beyond payments into health protection, ensuring more Ghanaians can secure insurance conveniently and with confidence.’

Mrs. Acheampong added that the collaboration aligns with MoMo’s strategy of enabling inclusive digital services that support national development and improve access to essential services.

Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, in a speech read on his behalf described the initiative as a practical example of how innovation and private-sector collaboration can support the government’s health priorities.

‘Expanding health insurance coverage remains central to our drive toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC). By leveraging digital platforms that millions of Ghanaians already use daily, initiatives such as this remove long-standing barriers and bring financial protection closer to the people who need it most,’ he said.

The Minister noted that while the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) continues to play a critical role, complementary private-sector solutions are essential in closing coverage gaps, particularly for informal workers and underserved populations.

The DOSH-MoMo partnership represents a new chapter in private health insurance delivery in Ghana, bringing together healthcare expertise and digital innovation to support broader health care financing and universal health coverage goals.

The Office of former President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has refuted media reports suggesting that he is seeking President John Mahama’s intervention to secure what has been described as ‘safe passage’ for former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

A rejoinder issued by the Office of the former President on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, described the publication by the Herald newspaper titled ‘Troubled Akufo-Addo seeks Mahama’s Audience for Ofori-Atta’s Return’ and subsequently reported by other media outlets, as false.

‘The Office wishes to state emphatically that this publication is utterly false. It is a total fabrication by the supposed source,’ it disclosed.

The Office further stated that ‘Nana Akufo-Addo has neither contemplated such a consideration nor expressly or impliedly made any such request or representation to President John Dramani Mahama, his agent(s) or assign(s).’

It noted, ‘As a firm believer in democratic tenets, Nana Akufo-Addo’s fidelity to the Rule of Law has never been in question.’

The Office said though the fate of Mr. Ofori-Atta is of considerable concern to the former President as a cousin, he was also the Minister for Finance while in government.

It stressed that the concern however does not extend to interfering with the rule of law, as it sets the records straight on the matter.

‘The Office also demands that the errant publications reproduce this rejoinder in accordance with the former President rights,’ it added.

Evangelist Nana Yaw Akosah, popularly known as Papa Shee, has explained why the late highlife legend Daddy Lumba’s first wife, Akosua Serwaa, and several other prominent individuals did not attend the musician’s funeral held on December 13, 2025.

Speaking in an interview on Adom TV’s morning show on December 15, 2025, Papa Shee revealed that Akosua Serwaa was in Germany at the time of the funeral and did not travel with her children to Ghana for the burial.

According to the evangelist, Akosua Serwaa was neither formally invited nor officially informed about the funeral arrangements, despite ongoing legal issues between her and a section of Daddy Lumba’s family.

‘Maame Akosua Serwaa was not officially notified about the funeral date and only heard about it through hearsay,’ Papa Shee claimed, adding that she chose to leave the matter in God’s hands after learning of the date indirectly.

Papa Shee further alleged that the head of Daddy Lumba’s family failed to extend invitations to some key traditional authorities in the Ashanti Region, including the Nsutahene, Parkosohene and Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

He disclosed that several close family members were also unable to attend the burial because they reside abroad. According to him, these relatives had earlier appealed for the funeral to be postponed to allow everyone to be present, but the request was not granted.

The evangelist explained that he personally stayed away from the funeral out of respect for elders who had withdrawn from the funeral arrangements, opting instead to remain at home in prayer and worship.

Daddy Lumba passed away at the Bank Hospital in Cantonments on July 26, 2025, at the age of 60 after a short illness.

The final funeral rites were attended by several prominent Ghanaians, including veteran musician Nana Acheampong, businessman Dr Osei Kwame Despite, Dr Ernest Ofori Sarpong, Kennedy Agyapong (Kenpong), Johnson Asiedu Nketia and Dr Frank Amoakohene.

Family members present included Daddy Lumba’s children, his younger sister Faustina Fosu, the Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu and his second wife, Odo Broni.

However, Akosua Serwaa, Daddy Lumba’s elder sister Ernestina Fosu, Papa Shee and other immediate family members who were involved in a legal dispute with the Abusuapanin over the funeral arrangements were notably absent from the final burial rites.

The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Trade, Industry and Tourism Committee, Michael Okyere Baafi, has called for urgent and decisive government action to protect the country’s rubber processing industry, warning that the continued export of raw rubber is crippling local factories, destroying jobs and undermining value addition.

Addressing a press briefing after the Committee made a statement on the floor of Parliament, the New Juaben South MP said Ghanaian rubber processors have for years struggled to secure raw materials, forcing many to scale down operations despite having the capacity and capital to produce.

He said the industry had long appealed to successive governments to either suspend or ban the export of raw rubber to ensure local factories had adequate supply, but those calls yielded little progress until the recent Budget Statement.

According to him, the Finance Minister’s declaration that raw rubber exports should no longer be permitted was a welcome intervention that must now be firmly enforced.

Mr. Okyere Baafi explained that the nation’s rubber processing sector, made up of about five or six major companies, including Ghana Rubber Estates and others, is currently operating far below capacity due to acute shortages of raw rubber.

He revealed that some companies have lost lucrative international contracts with major tyre manufacturers as a result.

‘Ghana Rubber Estates, for instance, now deals only with Michelin, and even that contract has been reduced. They have also lost their contract with Pirelli, one of the world’s biggest tyre manufacturers,’ he said, describing the situation as deeply troubling for the country’s industrial ambitions.

He noted that these challenges prompted the Trade, Industry and Tourism Committee to visit rubber factories last week to assess conditions on the ground.

The visit, he said, confirmed that factories were not shutting down due to lack of machinery or capital, but simply because they could not access rubber to process.

Mr. Okyere Baafi blamed the situation largely on the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), accusing it of failing in its regulatory mandate.

He said instead of supporting local processors, the Authority has sided with exporters who purchase rubber at the farm gate and ship it abroad in raw form, to the detriment of factories established in the country.

As a result, he said, employment in the sector has plummeted. Ghana Rubber Estates alone, he noted, has reduced its workforce from over 4,600 to about 3,000 workers, with some operating on shifts or temporarily shutting down sections of their plants.

Industry-wide, he said, employment has fallen to fewer than 6,000 workers, far below its potential of nearly 20,000.

‘This directly affects jobs, tax revenue and the overall economy,’ he stressed, adding that companies cannot pay more taxes if they are unable to produce at full capacity.

The MP also raised concerns about unfair practices involving foreign buyers who, through local agents, offer higher prices to farmers at harvest time, breaching existing contractual arrangements with processors who had guaranteed loans for out growers to establish their farms.

He questioned why businesses that invest locally, guarantee farmer financing and create jobs should be disadvantaged in favour of exporters whose operations are difficult to trace and add no value to Ghana’s economy.

Mr. Okyere Baafi therefore called on the Ministers of Finance, Agriculture and Trade to jointly summon the Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crop Development Authority and issue clear directives to prioritise and protect Ghanaian processors.

‘The Authority must support local industry, not become a thorn in the flesh of Ghanaian processors,’ he said, insisting that banning raw rubber exports is firmly in the national interest.

The fight against corruption received a major boost in the Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri and Yunyoo-Nasuan districts of the North East Region on December 9-10, 2025, when the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) led school engagement events to mark International Anti-Corruption Day.

As part of nationwide activities to commemorate the day, GACC brought together hundreds of young people to deepen their understanding of corruption, its dangers, and their role in building a more accountable society.

With support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the GIZ and European Union (EU)-funded PAIReD programme, GACC engaged students at Yunyoo Senior High School (SHS) and Jimbale Junior High School (JHS) in the Yunyoo-Nasuan District, and at Konchian-Gberuk JHS and Nakpanduri SHS in the Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri District.

A speech read by a representative of Aid for Peace Rural Education and Development, Mohammed Haki, on behalf of GACC Executive Secretary Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh, noted that corruption remains one of Ghana’s greatest threats to development, economic progress and democratic stability.

‘Corruption drains public resources and weakens institutions. Every cedi lost is a missed opportunity for better schools, improved healthcare, stronger infrastructure and decent jobs. The burden of corruption falls heavily on young people, whose aspirations are undermined by weakened systems and distorted opportunities,’ he said.

Mr. Haki indicated that this year’s global theme, ‘Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity,’ aligns closely with GACC’s nationwide work in schools and communities, noting that its Local Accountability Networks (LANets) reached more than 50,000 young people across 34 districts with anti-corruption education and election-integrity campaigns.

He said empowering the youth is a strategic investment in Ghana’s future, and urged parents, teachers, faith and community leaders, as well as state institutions to support young people in upholding integrity and promoting justice.

During open-forum sessions, many students shared personal encounters that illustrated how corruption affects their daily lives.

A student at Nakpanduri SHS described favouritism at health facilities, saying, ‘When you go to the hospital, the person who knows someone gets treated first, even if they came late. I have seen it many times, and it is painful.’

Other students recounted police checkpoints where officers allegedly take bribes from riders and drivers, shaping their views of fairness and public service.

‘We see it every day. Some people feel that bribery is normal because adults do it openly. We need leaders to set better examples for us,’ one pupil said.

Students also highlighted broader community consequences, such as abandoned borehole projects, uneven distribution of development resources and misuse of public property.

‘We have communities where projects start and are never completed. When you ask why, adults say the money has been ‘eaten’. It makes us feel that nothing will change unless we speak up,’ a Jimbale JHS student said.

Teachers noted that corruption contributes to infrastructural deficits, inadequate furniture, poor sanitation and incomplete school projects, which harm teaching and learning.

Students and teachers therefore proposed practical measures to prevent corruption in schools and communities, including strengthening school integrity clubs, holding community dialogues, encouraging whistleblowing, and integrating ethics and integrity into the curriculum.

At the close of the programme, students made a collective pledge to stand against corruption, act honestly in their daily lives and inspire their peers to do the same.

Teachers commended the students’ enthusiasm, saying that shaping future leaders begins with nurturing integrity today.

Ghana, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has petitioned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to investigate and intervene against alleged interference with Ghanaian businesses in Nigeria.

The petition was made at the 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of ministers, held in Abuja, Nigeria from Wednesday December 10 to Friday December 12, 2025.

During the meeting Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Okudzeto Ablakwa, raised concerns over alleged treatments meted out to Ghanaian businesses by authorities in neighboring Nigeria, condemned what he described as the harassment of Ghanaian investors particularly Jonah Capital PLC, a real estate company, owned by Ghanaian businessman, Sir Samuel Jonah.

The minister then presented a petition on behalf of the company, urging the council to take action to avert any cross-border trade conflict that may arise as a result.

The ECOWAS Council noted the concern raised by Mr. Ablakwa and requested for additional information on the allegations.

The Minister’s petition to ECOWAS follows nearly a year long ownership dispute over a multi-billion-naira River Park Estate in Abuja which has escalated into a full-blown corporate crisis.

There is mounting pressure on Nigeria’s Minister of Trade over allegations that Ghanaian-owned companies operating in Nigeria were being subjected to an extraordinary corporate expropriation-a development that could trigger a Nigeria-Ghana trade dispute between two countries long regarded as regional partners and economic allies.

At the centre of the controversy is a Senior Advocate of Niger and the Registrar-General of Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

The issue has reportedly triggered concerns within the political ranks in Nigeria and the controversy has also spilled beyond Nigeria’s borders.

Despite being formally petitioned, Nigeria’s Minister of Trade has yet to issue a public response, deepening concern among investors and foreign business community.

With ECOWAS now aware of the matter and the CAC RG under intense scrutiny, observers warn that Nigeria’s next steps may determine whether this dispute is resolved institutionally-or escalates into a broader economic and diplomatic confrontation between two of West Africa’s closest allies.

Genius Loci, operators of the Seasonal Raffle Draw ‘The Luckiest,’ has supported the Ghana Blind Union as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The donation which included one thousand pieces of white canes, home appliances, television sets, and mobile phones represents a token to appreciate the work of the teachers who are not only giving the students skills but also providing them with direction to achieve their goals.

The team also toured various centres including a visual arts centre, and the tailoring and leather works department where the students are learning to acquire hands-on skills to produce bags, door mats, dresses among others.

Speaking in an interview, Chief Executive of the Genius Loci, organisers of ‘The Luckiest’ Seasonal Draw said it was important for them to extend a hand to the physically impaired persons especially during the festive occasion where most people would spend time with their families.

He said apart from the white canes provided, the team will continuously support the Union following their request from management during the visit while calling on other institutions to remember persons with special needs.

‘Today is a very great day for us. We made a promise to the Ghana Blind Union to buy some white canes to distribute to its members and today we’ve redeemed that promise by presenting a thousand white canes to them,’ he said.

‘As an organization, ‘The Luckiest’ sees this as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility and we encourage other corporate bodies to emulate such support. We have also seen that there are people with Down Syndrome but the good thing is that they have a place to study so we can partner them to do more in the coming year,’ he stated.

According to him, the Luckiest platform which had about 170,000 people since its inception currently has about a million people participating to win various prizes and ultimate prize of 2.5 million at its raffle to be held on December 20.

Executive Director, Ghana Blind Union, Dr. Peter Obeng Asamoah, expressed gratitude to the organisation for supporting them while appealing to other institutions to emulate the gesture.

According to him, the Union with other physically challenged persons at the facility needs the support of all members of society especially corporate bodies in terms of logistics to be able to provide them with hands-on skills.

The second edition of the Ghana Kidz Fashion Festival is scheduled to take place on December 20, 2025, at the Mikado Conference Centre.

Activities of the day will begin at 5:00 pm. This year’s event will feature a dual showcase comprising runway fashion shows and the Ghana Kidz Top Model Competition, aimed at celebrating creativity, confidence and talent among children in the fashion and modelling space.

The Ghana Kidz Top Model competition is designed to discover, groom and empower young talents, while promoting modelling done the right way. Contestants will impress audiences through traditional and cultural displays, commercial photo shoots to build public speaking skills, and various runway activities focused on confidence and self-esteem development.

Adding glamour to the event, children will model stunning designs from one of Ghana’s top fashion designers, Allan David, alongside emerging designers such as Sinwomba, Frankie’s Couture, Asak Clothing, Val Fredlance Clothing, and others.

The festival will also feature musical and dance performances, as well as other exciting surprises for attendees.

Organisers, Exopa Modelling Agency, say the initiative is part of efforts to popularise kids’ fashion shows in Ghana and beyond, while building sustainable talent pipelines within the fashion and modelling industry. The platform also provides young fashion designers with the opportunity to showcase their creativity and promote Ghana’s rich cultural fashion heritage.

Parents have welcomed the initiative, expressing excitement about the opportunity for their children to showcase their talents in a supportive and professional environment.

The Ghana Kidz Fashion Festival / Ghana Kidz Top Model 2025 is organised by Exopa Modelling Agency and supported by Ghandour Cosmetics, Image Reflexion, GH Reporter, Daily Guide, Shine Publications, among others.