Category: Daily Guide Network

A High Court in Accra has ordered Yaw Odame-Darkwa, the prosecution’s first witness in the trial of former Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), to evaluate and produce 16 email correspondences between him and other board members of the Fund.

The order follows the witness’ hesitation to use either his own phone or a court provided computer to log into his email account and access the emails dating back between July and September 2018.

Former Chief Executive Officer of GIIF, Solomon Asamoah and the erstwhile Board Chairman of the Fund, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, have been charged before a High Court in Accra for their alleged involvement in unapproved $2 million investment in the Accra Sky Train project which allegedly resulted in financial loss to the state.

The prosecution’s first witness, Yaw Odame-Darkwa, in his testimony, had claimed that although a minutes from board meeting referred to the Sky Train project, the minutes do not accurately reflect the board’s deliberations or decisions concerning the Sky Train project at any time.

He also indicated that the Sky Train concept was only introduced at one of the board’s meetings, claiming that the board did not receive any substantive proposal on the project and, hence, it did not deliberate or take any decision on the project.

It was for this reason that Victoria Barth, counsel for Mr. Asamoah, introduced the emails between board members of the Fund, some of which were authored by the witness and mentioned the Sky Train project.

Yaw Odame-Darkwa, while under cross-examination, confirmed to the court that before board meetings were held to discuss new projects or existing projects, there would usually be a preceding meeting of the investment committee of the board of GIIF.

He also confirmed that the investment committee of which he was a member would usually receive an email notice from either the acting secretary Kofi Boakye, the CEO (Solomon Asamoah) or Harriet Aban, the substantive company secretary.

‘These email notices would usually include the agenda and documents or board pacts for the upcoming meeting of the investment committee,’ the lawyer asked and the witness answered ‘Yes.’

The witness also confirmed to the court that he has not deleted the email correspondences he received through his Gmail and Yahoo accounts during his time on the board of GIIF.

When confronted with one such email threads, the witness said they looked like one he received but would need time to verify same.

Yaw Odame-Darkwa turned down the opportunity to log into his email using his own mobile phone to evaluate the emails, saying he is not currently using that email address on his phone.

‘If the first accused (Solomon Asamoah) is called upon to go into his email account on a device provided by the court with internet access right now and the emails are retrieved, would that help you confirm that you received these emails?’ Victoria Barth pushed.

‘In this era of AI (Artificial Intelligence), anything can be done. So, I’ll trust what I would retrieve from my own mail. That is why I’m asking the court to give me time to go through my personal email,’ the witness rebutted.

Madam Barth further pointed out to the witness that time is of the essence and there are many emails to be shown to him, ‘so, it should be possible for you right here and right now to go on to that smart phone of yours and retrieve the emails in question. Is it not possible?’

But the witness said, ‘My Lady, it is not possible because I’m not using that email right now and I cannot access it now.’

The defence lawyer therefore, prayed the court to order the witness to access those emails with internet support that would be provided right in the courtroom through hotspot.

The request was opposed by Sefakor Batse, a Principal State Attorney, who said the witness who had already indicated that he could provide the emails at a later date, cannot be compelled to access them in the courtroom.

Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, the trial judge, subsequently ordered the witness to access the emails and produce them on December 15, 2025, which is the next court date.

‘To enable the witness do a comprehensive verification, I’m praying the court to order him to review and produce emails to the following dates in time,’ Madam Barth said before going ahead to list 16 different email correspondences.

As 2025 wraps up, the versatile artiste Young Rob is eager to go out with a bang. He returns with ‘Fire Dey,’ a high-octane Afrobeats anthem full of unstoppable energy.

In the artiste’s own words, ‘Fire Dey’ is all about momentum. He shares, ‘It’s the kind of song meant to keep the party moving whenever it comes on’. Co-produced by Rwanda’s Mad BnS, this vibrant new drop continues Young Rob’s tradition of cross-country collaborations this year, blending irresistible beats with a catchy hook.

The result is an explosive track made to keep listeners charged.

Following his Daft Punk-inspired single ‘Just Dance’, ‘Fire Dey’ slots in as Young Rob’s fourth release of the year. It marks his return to Afrobeats after his recent foray into the Pop and Electronic genres. As such, fans can expect an infectious groove destined to dominate playlists, clubs, and parties worldwide.

Government has taken a major step toward legalising commercial motorcycle transport, popularly known as okada, with the introduction of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in Parliament yesterday.

The bill, which underwent its First Reading, seeks to revise the existing Road Traffic Regulations (L.I. 2180) to formally recognise motorcycle taxis as an approved mode of commercial passenger transport.

The Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, who laid the bill, explained that the amendments are aimed at modernising the regulatory framework for road transport and addressing long-standing realities on the country’s roads.

He said the proposal will not only legalise okada but also introduce new safety standards, including adjustments to seat belt regulations and a stricter alcohol limit for drivers, reducing the permissible blood alcohol concentration from 0.08 to 0.05 percent.

According to the Minister, the amendments will ensure safer mobility, protect riders and passengers, and bring an already widespread informal transport industry under proper regulation and enforcement.

Mahama’s Long-Standing Promise

The move aligns with President John Mahama’s long-standing position on legalising okada operations. During an interaction with motorbike riders in Ashaiman on May 31, 2024, President Mahama reiterated that a National Democratic Congress (NDC) government would legalise and regulate commercial motorbike transport to create jobs and formalise the sector.

‘We have in our manifesto that we will legalise okada, but we lost the elections and so that promise was not fulfilled. Our opponents objected, claiming okada activities, if operationalised, will cause accidents,’ President Mahama told riders at the time.

Other Bills Before the House

Parliament also took the First Reading of the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to further strengthen the independence of the central bank and tighten limitations on monetary financing.

Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, who presented the bill, said the amendments aim to reinforce macroeconomic stability, safeguard monetary policy decisions from political cycles, and ensure compliance with modern central banking standards.

Both bills have been referred to the appropriate parliamentary committees for consideration and subsequent reporting to the House.

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has been urged to intensify efforts to curb the influx of substandard products particularly electrical items on the Ghanaian market.

Chief Executive of New Lucky Electricals, Joseph Obeng, who made the call during the launch of the new Liper range of switches in Accra noted that strict enforcement by the GSA would enhance competition and discourage the importation of inferior products.

‘We are asking the Ghana Standards Authority to help us. We need parity and fairness. Sanitising the space will help us to be able to grow our business and also protect consumers from purchasing electrical products from people who may pretend to sell quality goods and yet are very much aware that their goods are inferior,’ he stated.

Mr. Obeng, who also serves as President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), advised consumers to seek the services of certified electricians who can assess product quality, lifespan and safety as quality electrical products sometimes appear the same with inferior ones.

He explained that the new Liper switches and sockets are state-of-the-art products made from pure copper to resist rust and electrical shocks with 50-year warranty unlike many switches on the market that use copper-cladding and metals coated with copper.

Mr. Obeng said the Liper products are already available on the market and therefore urged the public to purchase them from New Lucky Electrical House, the sole agent for the brand in Ghana, with outlets in West Legon, North Legon and other branches nationwide.

President of the Ghana Electrical Contractors Association, Awal Sakib Mohammed, also described the Liper switches as one of the best across the globe encouraged consumers to buy from credible sources such as New Lucky Electricals to avoid using counterfeit electrical products, which remain a major challenge in Ghana.

Mr. Mohammed added that New Lucky Electricals is a trusted supplier with the highest number of outlets in Ghana adding that the liper brand will offer a strong competition on the market due to its quality and price.

President John Dramani Mahama has stressed the need for Africa to take greater control of its health agenda.

Speaking at the World Health Expo (WHX) Leaders Africa 2025 Summit opening in Accra, President Mahama argued that the continent’s biggest obstacle is not a lack of talent or opportunity, but a failure to fully control its own health agenda.

He said the continent’s health system weaknesses which were exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic will persist unless Africa builds its own manufacturing capacity, strengthens supply chains, and invests in resilient, innovative, and self-sustaining health systems.

He urged African countries to take charge of vaccine production, medical manufacturing and health technologies, noting that global emergencies repeatedly leave the continent at the back of the queue.

President Mahama also highlighted the urgency of strengthening Africa’s health security frameworks while scaling innovation and regional manufacturing through partnerships.

‘Governments need to combine forces with the private sector and other partners to make sure we have universal healthcare,’ President Mahama stated and added, ‘WHX Leaders Africa is a defining continental moment where Africa asserts its rightful place. Let’s recommit ourselves to shape our own future. Africa cannot afford to be a bystander. Africa must be a participant in shaping our own future.’

This year’s summit aims to unlock strategic investments and forge alliances that will create world-class, resilient healthcare systems in Africa.

In his keynote address, Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, emphasised Ghana’s commitment to driving continental progress and charged stakeholders to embrace partnerships.

‘We are not at WHX Leaders Africa to talk about the future, we are here to build it,’ Minister Akandoh said, and added, ‘Let this summit be remembered as the time Africa took the chance to build resilient partnerships, because even the strongest national visions cannot succeed without partnerships. Partnerships in the health sector are not optional, they are indispensable. And when they are aligned with national visions, they amplify our strength.’

Opening the summit on behalf of Informa Markets, Peter Hall, President for Middle East, India, Trkiye and Africa, reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to building platforms that unlock investment and create enduring partnerships.

‘WHX Leaders Africa is not an assembly of expertise but a call to action. We are aiming to create a powerful platform capable of shaping investment priorities and unlocking sustainable solutions. At Informa Markets, we remain committed to ensuring WHX Leaders Africa becomes a truly catalytic platform that sparks new alliances, amplifies local and regional ambitions and accelerates momentum,’ he stated.

Following the opening ceremony, a series of ministerial and executive-led sessions exploring core pillars of Africa’s health transformation were held focusing on infrastructure investment, local pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, women’s health and family planning, centres of medical excellence and sustainable healthcare financing.

Ghana midfielder Francis Abu is making encouraging progress in his rehabilitation, following a return to gym-based training this week as part of his recovery programme.

The Toulouse FC player suffered fractures to two bones during an international friendly against Japan in Nagoya, an injury that required immediate surgery.

The procedure was successfully carried out, and Abu has now moved into a new phase of his recovery, focusing on strength and conditioning work under medical supervision.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA), together with the Black Stars’ medical and technical teams, has expressed gratitude to Ghanaians for their overwhelming support since the incident.

Officials say the player is recovering exceptionally well and remains on track to regain full fitness.

The GFA reassured supporters that Abu’s rehabilitation is progressing positively and that the midfielder is determined to return stronger.

TADS Fashion Institute, Ghana’s fast-rising fashion education institution transforming young talents, has announced its readiness to partner with the government’s 24-Hour Economy agenda to help redefine the future of technical and creative training across the country.

According to Executive Director of TADS Institute, Eric Grundberry Aidoo Gabrah, the fashion institute which begun some five years ago has now evolved into a national movement built on skills development, opportunity creation, and the vision of contributing meaningfully to Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy agenda.

He stated that following the launch of the school’s apprenticeship centres in October 2025, between 3,000 and 5,000 individuals have been trained annually. These efforts align directly with national priorities in youth empowerment, job creation, and vocational development.

He added that the institution, so far, has trained 273 students, comprising 218 females (80%) and 55 males (20%) and has awarded scholarships to more than 60% of all enrolled students.

‘We provide professional exposure through internships, runway showcases, industry collaborations, and market linkages. We are very capable of supporting the 24-Hour Economy agenda by training these unemployed youth to be equipped with skills to also join the agenda,’ he said.

Mr. Grundberry added that the institution has been engaging in other impactful outreach events through which students and trainers visit communities to teach tie-dye, batik, tritik, bead-making, and fabric weaving among others.

‘In just three months, more than 300 people across six communities have benefitted-many receiving structured vocational training for the first time. TADS is not just training fashion designers, it is building industries, empowering communities, and rewriting the African narrative,’ he added.

Mr. Grundberry called on the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat for collaboration, saying, ‘Our institution is open to collaborate with your office to make sure many more youth join the agenda to support the economy.’

Renowned food advocate, content creator, Abena Amoakoa Sintim-Aboagye, popularly known as Chef Abbys, has secured eight prestigious awards in 2025 from leading national and international award bodies.

These include the TikTok Awards, Women’s Choice Awards Ghana, Pulse Influencer Awards, YEN Ghana Awards, Global Entrepreneurship Festival, and the GH Creators Festival, testament to her outstanding influence in food advocacy, digital creativity, and community empowerment.

At the TikTok Awards (International), Chef Abbys earned Food Creator of the Year – 1st Runner-Up. At the Women’s Choice Awards Ghana, she received Young Star of the Year.

This award acknowledges her inspiring leadership, excellence, and commitment to amplifying women’s voices through her work and public impact.

Her remarkable creativity was further celebrated at the Pulse Influencer Awards, where she won the Most Innovative Creator of the Year, Food Creator of the Year, and TikTok Creator of the Year.

Recognised for her role in inspiring entrepreneurship and youth participation, she also received an Ambassadorial Award from the Global Entrepreneurship Festival (GEF). At the GH Creators Festival, she was honoured as Food Creator of the Year.

Her exceptional work on TikTok and across digital platforms also earned her TikTok Creator of the Year at the YENcomgh Awards.

These achievements collectively underscore her growing influence as a leading voice in food content creation, digital storytelling, and social impact, particularly through initiatives focused on food security, nutrition awareness, and community well-being.

As the founder of the Zero Hunger Project, Chef Abbys continues to champion sustainable solutions to hunger by supporting vulnerable communities, driving awareness, and partnering with organisations to address food insecurity across Ghana.

‘It is an incredible honour to be recognised on such meaningful platforms. These awards reinforce my mission to use food as a tool for impact, empowerment, and hope. I remain committed to ensuring that no family goes hungry and that Ghana’s rich food culture continues to shine,’ she said.

These accolades solidify Chef Abby’s position as one of Ghana’s most impactful culinary creatives, an influential advocate for food security, and a humanitarian dedicated to transforming lives through food and compassion.

Health Systems in Crisis: The Human Cost of Military Rule

The disruptive effects of recurring coups on fragile healthcare sectors have received insufficient attention despite their devastating impacts. Military takeovers interrupt healthcare systems, cause economic downturns, and create political instability that directly compromises public health outcomes. The consequences for maternal and child health, medical supply chain disruptions, and public health policy implementation are severe and long-lasting.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed these vulnerabilities with particular clarity. The pandemic negatively affected countries most prone to coups by straining already tight budgets and placing further restrictions on populations already sceptical of their government. In coup-affected nations, healthcare responses to the pandemic were further compromised by political instability, loss of international support, and the diversion of resources to security concerns.

Sudan’s October 2021 coup provides a stark illustration. Under al-Burhan’s leadership, the Sudanese Armed Forces’ war tactics included indiscriminate bombing of civilian infrastructure, attacks on schools, markets, and hospitals, and extrajudicial executions.

The conflict that emerged after the coup killed thousands and created one of the world’s most catastrophic humanitarian situations. Healthcare facilities became targets, medical personnel fled, and populations lost access to essential services, including emergency care, maternal health services, and chronic disease management.

In countries facing jihadist insurgencies alongside coups, health outcomes deteriorated even more precipitously. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger all experienced coups while battling armed groups that deliberately targeted healthcare infrastructure.

The combination of conflict-related destruction, coup-induced aid suspension, and military governments’ prioritisation of security over health created perfect storms for public health disasters.

Educational Collapse: Undermining Future Generations

Education represents both a casualty and a cause of coup cycles. In the 1960s, Africa’s overall primary school enrollment rate averaged 42 per cent, compared to nearly 100 per cent in OECD or East Asian countries.

Had Africa achieved OECD-level enrollment rates during that period, its average annual growth rate would have been significantly higher. Improved enrollment rates since then suggested brighter economic prospects, but recent coups have reversed these gains.

Military governments consistently deprioritise education in favour of security spending. In February 2024, Niger issued new regulations securing unrestricted access to state resources for military spending, which became independent of public procurement regulations and thus independent control. This facilitated faster weapons purchases and mercenary deployment, but also enabled personal enrichment of rulers while education budgets were slashed.

The displacement caused by insecurity in coup-affected states compounds educational deterioration. In Burkina Faso, where an estimated 1.9 million people were internally displaced, entire communities lost access to schools. Teachers fled conflict zones, facilities were destroyed or occupied by armed groups, and families displaced by violence lacked the stability necessary for children’s education. The long-term consequences are catastrophic: a generation growing up without education, reducing human capital and perpetuating poverty cycles that make future coups more likely.

Guinea’s experience reveals how political repression under military rule extends into educational spheres.

Universities and research institutions that could strengthen governance capacity faced budget cuts and political interference. Journalists and media regulators who implicated the Doumbouya regime with corruption were imprisoned for defaming the head of state, creating climate where intellectual inquiry and critical thinking-essential foundations for educational excellence-became dangerous activities.

The Standard of Living Decline: Measuring Coup Impacts on Daily Life

Comprehensive governance indices provide quantitative evidence of coups’ devastating impacts on citizens’ quality of life. All four countries experiencing recent coups-Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger-experienced declines in Security and Safety, Anti-Corruption, Participation, Inclusion and Equality, and Business and Labour Environment subcategories.

Mali’s governance deterioration was particularly severe. Only 37.7 per cent of surveyed Malians supported democracy after the coups, representing the largest decline in democratic support, while living conditions continued deteriorating despite-or because of-military rule. The promise of improved security proved hollow as the Alliance of Sahel States (formed with Burkina Faso and Niger) aligned closer with Russia and expelled French forces without achieving meaningful security improvements.

In Guinea, approximately two-thirds of Guineans surveyed viewed their living conditions as bad or very bad in 2021-2023, despite Doumbouya’s promises of transformation. The gap between military rulers’ rhetoric and citizens’ lived experiences reveals a fundamental flaw in coup logic: seizing power cannot substitute for building institutions that deliver services, protect rights, and create economic opportunities.

Niger’s experience demonstrates how coups accelerate multidimensional decline. The country deteriorated in the Security and Rule of Law, Participation, Rights and Inclusion, and Human Development categories. Support for democracy declined precipitously as citizens witnessed how military rule constricted political participation without delivering promised security improvements. The closure of civic space, imprisonment of opposition figures, and restrictions on media freedom created environments where grievances could not be addressed through democratic channels, storing up conditions for future instability.

Historical Parallels: Lessons Unlearned from Africa’s Coup Cycles

Africa’s history provides abundant evidence that coups compound rather than solve governance problems. The immediate post-independence period between the 1960s and 1970s saw the first wave of coups, which were generally bloody and resulted in the deaths of twelve African leaders, extrajudicial killings, and widespread human rights abuses. These coups were often praised for truncating one-party statism and life-long presidencies, yet they failed to build sustainable democratic institutions.

The second wave from 1990 to 2001, led largely by mid-level military officers touting economic mismanagement justifications, accounted for only 14 per cent of leader deaths but still represented major threats to security of tenure and the emerging democracy. This wave prompted the 2000 Lomé Declaration and tightened continental norms against unconstitutional changes of government. Yet despite these normative frameworks, coups have resurged since 2020.

The current third wave exhibits concerning characteristics. Recent coups in Guinea, Niger, and Gabon have been led by elite presidential guards rather than regular armies, highlighting how those closest to power can most easily seize it. These units, often better armed and trained than regular forces, use their proximity to presidencies to take control before lobbying for broader military support. This pattern suggests that creating powerful security forces to protect regimes paradoxically makes those regimes more vulnerable to overthrow.

Mali’s history is particularly instructive. The country witnessed coups in 1968, 1991, 2012, 2020, and 2021, demonstrating how each military intervention fails to break the coup cycle. Thomas Sankara’s revolutionary government in Burkina Faso (1983-1987) initially inspired hope for transformative change, only to be overthrown by Blaise Compaoré, who then ruled autocratically for 27 years before being deposed in 2014. The pattern repeats: coup leaders promise reform, fail to deliver, and create conditions for future coups.

Some young Ghanaian students have made the nation proud after emerging as standout performers at the world’s premier youth robotics championship held recently in Wuzhen, China.

The ENJOY AI Global Robotics Finals featured participants from 62 countries.

The 62-member Ghanaian delegation, which was made up of learners aged 6 to 16, teachers, parents and school leaders, was coordinated by The MakersPlace, a leading Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) organisation in Ghana.

The student competitors were drawn from Ahtoo Montessori School (Accra), Oyster Academy (Tema), Globen School, Christ the King International School, Hallmark International School (Haatso) and Greater Grace School in the Central Region.

Ghana delivered a commanding performance, finishing as second runner-up to host nation China in the fiercely contested Robot Game Category, becoming the only African country to secure an award in that segment.

Judges praised the team for their technical dexterity, collaborative spirit and resilience under pressure.

The group also clinched the coveted Team Spirit Award, presented to delegations that demonstrate discipline, unity and perseverance in navigating both strategic and technological hurdles.

Officials at the event commended the Ghanaian side for maintaining high energy and determination throughout the competition.

Kenya joined Ghana on the continental honours list, picking up awards in Smart Design and Creativity.

Ghana’s presence in Wuzhen also carried a strong cultural resonance. Students from Ahtoo Montessori School opened the ceremony with a vibrant display of Ghanaian tradition, performing a choreographed dance to Nat Brew’s classic song ‘Wogbe’.

The performance drew loud applause from international delegates and offered a colourful introduction to Ghana’s cultural heritage.

At the opening ceremony, The MakersPlace received the 2025 ENJOY AI Excellent Organiser Award in recognition of its role in hosting the ENJOY AI African Open earlier this year in Accra.

The citation highlighted the organisation’s leadership in mobilising volunteers, schools, government agencies and sponsors to expand robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) education across Ghana and the sub-region.

As a STEM.org-accredited institution, The MakersPlace plays a central role in bridging Ghana’s digital skills gap by providing hands-on robotics, coding and AI training for learners and teachers, developing home-grown STEM programmes and leading the country’s participation in top-tier global competitions.

On the back of Ghana’s strong showing in China, African National Organisers unanimously selected Accra to host the ENJOY AI 2026 African Open from September 24-25 next year.

The event is expected to draw teams from across the continent, with organisers projecting expanded participation and early engagement with sponsors.