Category: Daily Guide Network

Four Ghanaian aspiring sports journalists have arrived in Paris to begin a week-long internship under the CAF African Schools Football Championship Young Reporter Programme.

The selected participants – Ruth Naa Amanoa Asamoah (25), Belinda Nketia (24), Andrews Sefa Bamfo (23), and Emmanuel Andam (25) – touched down in the French capital on Monday, December 8, ahead of the intensive five-day training.

The group was chosen following a competitive selection process during the CAF African Schools Football Championship Continental Finals held in April.

Their selection was supervised by CAF, CANAL+, and experienced sports journalists, marking them out as some of the continent’s most promising young media talents.

Throughout the programme, the participants will undergo hands-on editorial immersion at the CANAL+ headquarters, where they will gain practical newsroom experience, join live sports productions, and take part in content creation sessions.

The initiative is part of a broader Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year between CAF and CANAL+, aimed at empowering African youth through football and media capacity development.

CAF’s Director of Member Associations, Sarah Mukuna, described the initiative as a major step toward nurturing the next generation of African storytellers and media leaders.

‘This programme is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to preparing young Africans to play impactful roles in football – not only on the field, but also as media professionals, storytellers and leaders,’ she said. ‘These four young reporters exemplify the potential and creativity that define our continent.’

The Director of Institutional Relations – Africa at CANAL+, Grace Loubassou, expressed the organisation’s pride in hosting the young reporters.

‘We are honoured to welcome these young African talents to Paris to learn from our experienced journalists. African football deserves exceptional coverage that matches its passion and global following. We thank CAF for trusting us to help develop future generations of sports media professionals.’

CANAL+ continues to strengthen its footprint across Africa, especially in English-speaking regions, and operates in more than 47 countries. Sports remain a central pillar of the company’s identity and long-term investment strategy on the continent.

The Young Reporter Programme forms part of CAF’s wider commitment to youth development, aligning football with education to create meaningful opportunities for African youth.

The Minority Caucus has accused Parliament of committing a ‘grave constitutional violation’ by prematurely notifying the Electoral Commission (EC) of a vacancy in the Kpandai Constituency despite active legal processes challenging the High Court ruling that annulled the seat.

Addressing a press conference in Parliament yesterday, Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, warned that the move, initiated through a letter from the Clerk to Parliament, constituted ‘a direct assault on the constitutional rights of the people of Kpandai’ and a dangerous departure from the House’s long-standing precedents.

According to her, the action not only breaches the separation of powers but risks disenfranchising thousands of voters who delivered the New Patriotic Party’s Matthew Nyindam a decisive victory of 3,734 votes in the 2024 general election.

‘Judgment Legally Suspended’

Ms. Appiagyei stressed that the High Court ruling that voided the Kpandai election cannot be treated as final. She noted that Mr. Nyindam had already exercised his constitutional rights by filing a stay of execution, lodging a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal, and initiating a certiorari application at the Supreme Court.

‘What manner of Parliament are we that we would rush to enforce a judgment that is legally suspended, ignore appeals that are actively proceeding, and arrogantly presume to pre-empt our superior courts before they have uttered a single word?’ she asked.

She described Parliament’s action as a sharp break from institutional history, insisting that the House has never treated a first-instance ruling as grounds for immediate removal of a sitting Member of Parliament (MP).

Minority Cites Historical Precedents

The Deputy Minority Leader recalled a series of cases in which Parliament deferred action until the completion of the appellate process or until the highest court issued a final and explicit directive.

She cited the cases of Samuel Nyimakan of Wulensi in which Parliament allowed him to remain MP until the Court of Appeal issued its final ruling; Eric Amoateng of Nkoranza North, which despite his detention abroad on criminal charges, Parliament declared the seat vacant only after he formally resigned; Dan Abodakpi of Keta, which despite a 10-year conviction, he remained an MP and returned after receiving a presidential pardon. His seat was never declared vacant; and Adamu Dramani Sakande of Bawku Central, who continued serving until a final criminal conviction rendered him legally incapacitated, months before the 2012 general election.

Ms. Appiagyei also rejected comparisons with the well-known James Gyakye Quayson case, emphasising that decisive action in that matter only followed explicit Supreme Court injunctions and final orders, not the initial High Court judgment.

‘To use the Quayson case to justify instant action in Kpandai turns the truth upside down. In Quayson’s case, Parliament acted on direct Supreme Court orders. In Kpandai, the Supreme Court has not spoken at all,’ she stated.

Dangerous Precedent

The Deputy Minority Leader warned that if Parliament proceeds, it risks setting a ‘toxic precedent’ where a parliamentary majority could weaponise a first-instance court ruling to unseat opponents instantly, rendering the appellate process meaningless.

‘This is not upholding the law. It is a selective, cynical, and historically illiterate application of it,’ she said.

She argued that Article 99(1)(e) of the Constitution, which states that a parliamentary seat becomes vacant upon a determination by the appropriate judicial authority, has always been interpreted to mean a final determination after appeals are exhausted.

‘Treating a stayed, appealed, and contested judgment as final violates both the Constitution and our parliamentary tradition of restraint,’ she added.

Minority Demands

The Minority Caucus called for the immediate withdrawal of the notification sent to the EC. They urged Parliament to respect the stay of execution, await the outcome of the appeals, and uphold its own precedents.

Ms. Appiagyei emphasised that the issue transcends partisanship and strikes at the heart of constitutional fidelity.

‘This is a call for basic respect for the rule of law and for our parliamentary history. The people of Kpandai are watching. Ghana is watching. History is watching,’ she said.

She insisted that Mr. Nyindam must remain recognised as MP until the appellate process reaches its conclusion or the Supreme Court issues a definitive ruling.

‘As things stand, the notification to the EC is unlawful, premature, and must be withdrawn without delay,’ she concluded.

Parliament was plunged into hours of chaos yesterday as discipline broke down completely and Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin lost control of proceedings, triggering one of the most tumultuous sittings in the Fourth Republic.

What began as a protest by the Minority over the declaration of the Kpandai parliamentary seat vacant quickly escalated into a full-blown confrontation, with both sides breaching Standing Orders, defying the authority of the Speaker, and converging around the ceremonial Mace – the symbol of parliamentary power and legitimacy.

The disorder erupted shortly after the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, delivered a strongly worded protest against the Speaker’s decision to notify the Electoral Commission of a vacancy in the Kpandai seat.

The declaration followed a High Court order for a rerun of the Kpandai parliamentary election, but the Minority insists the Speaker acted prematurely because an application for a stay of execution is still pending.

Mr. Annoh-Dompreh argued that the Speaker had disregarded binding parliamentary procedures. He reminded the House that on November 24, 2025, the Speaker himself had ruled, in response to an earlier request from the Majority, that no action could be taken while a stay application was pending.

Drawing parallels with the James Gyakye Quayson case in the last Parliament, he questioned why the Speaker’s position had suddenly shifted.

‘With respect, the question that naturally arises is: why has the principle changed? Why does the stay rule apply in one circumstance but not the other, particularly when the factual and procedural posture is virtually identical? Is this because Honourable Matthew Nyindam is a member of the New Patriotic Party?’ Annoh-Dompreh charged.

He warned that selective application of procedural rules undermines the rule of law and erodes confidence in the legislative arm of government.

The Minority, he stressed, rejected entirely the December 4, 2025 letter written by the Clerk to Parliament notifying the Electoral Commission (EC) of the vacancy.

The letter, addressed to the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, cited the High Court’s order instructing a rerun of the Kpandai election.

The Minority described it as ‘out of place’ and ‘a violation of procedural justice,’ and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

Moments after the statement, the Minority erupted into sustained chanting, singing repeatedly the concluding line of the National Anthem: ‘And help us to resist oppressor’s rule / With all our will and might for evermore.’

Their singing drowned out proceedings and electrified the chamber, as they rose to their feet and flooded the centre aisle.

The Majority, equally charged, crossed the aisle in response. Both sides converged in the middle of the chamber, shouting, gesticulating and defying all attempts to restore order.

In the heat of the confrontation, the sanctity of the Mace, the embodiment of parliamentary authority, was defied as MPs surrounded it aggressively.

Fearing it would be toppled or damaged, the Marshal quickly summoned Parliament’s security, who cordoned off the Mace and stood guard to prevent any physical contact.

With disorder deepening, Speaker Bagbin attempted to reassert authority using every procedural signal at his disposal, including rising to his feet, a traditional command requiring all MPs to sit.

But neither side complied. For nearly eight hours, from midday through to almost 8:00 p.m., the chamber remained engulfed in chaos, with MPs shouting over each other, and refusing to adhere to Standing Orders.

At several points during the upheaval, the Speaker appeared visibly frustrated and helpless as the House ignored instructions.

Despite the disorder, he allowed business to continue intermittently, a decision that further angered MPs who believed order should first be restored.

The Second Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, who presided over part of the sitting, also attempted repeatedly to calm tempers.

But like the Speaker, he was overpowered by the relentless noise and confrontation. When all efforts failed, he eventually suspended proceedings indefinitely, bringing the chaotic session to a dramatic halt.

The turmoil deepened tensions between the two caucuses, with the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, serving notice that cooperation would suffer.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it will continue to provide the needed support to the embattled Member of Parliament (MP) for Kpandai Constituency, Matthew Nyindam, following a High Court ruling ordering a rerun of the constituency’s election.

Addressing a press conference at the party’s headquarters yesterday in Accra, the National Organiser of the NPP, Henry Nana Boakye, described the victory of the MP for the area as legitimate, hence the party will not rest until that choice is vindicated.

He said, ‘We will walk every step of this legal journey with you. We will fight in every court, at every hour, with every resource at our command, to defend the mandate you freely gave. Your victory was legitimate. Your choice was just. We will not rest until that choice is vindicated and your rightful Member of Parliament is restored.

‘We see your clearly expressed will, written in the indelible ink of 3,734 votes. We hear your sovereign voice, which this judgment tried to silence. Do not lose heart. The New Patriotic Party has not abandoned you. We have not retreated. We are with you, completely and unfailingly.’

The party’s action follows Parliament’s formal notification to the Electoral Commission (EC) on Monday, December 8, 2025, that the seat had become vacant, in line with a High Court ruling ordering a rerun of the constituency’s election.

In a letter dated December 4, 2025, the Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, informed the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, that the seat was vacant pursuant to the court ruling delivered on November 24, 2025.

But according to the NPP, the ruling sets a dangerous precedent it believes will create chaos, as well as destroy the country’s democracy, stressing that the party will deploy various legal options to overturn the judgment.

The party also accused the High Court of ignoring key electoral regulations, specifically Regulation 48(2) of C.I. 127, which states that the absence of a candidate or agent does not invalidate acts lawfully conducted by the returning officer.

The NPP further described the ruling as ‘double standard’ in the court’s reasoning, stating that the judge refused to attribute vandalism at the collation centre to the petitioner due to insufficient evidence, yet later relied on ‘speculation and unsubstantiated assertions’ to conclude that irregularities affected the results.

According to the party, the petitioner provided no credible alternative tally and failed to demonstrate how disputed votes amounting to just over 500 could overturn a margin of 3,734, cancelling the entire election, and rewarding the petitioner for failing to provide evidence.

‘This is a grotesque perversion of the burden of proof. The Kpandai judgment stands dangerously out of step. This is the core, unforgivable flaw measured against this unbroken line of authority, the Kpandai judgment is starkly, dangerously out of step,’ the party noted.

The NPP also argued that the court abandoned the constitutional duty to act proportionately, citing Section 19 of PNDCL 284, the party noted that the court had three options: to cancel the election, seat another candidate, or dismiss the petition.

The National Organiser of the party indicated that because these choices touch Article 42 on the right to vote, the court is constitutionally bound to act cautiously to preserve the voters’ choice where possible, making reference to the Supreme Court’s substantial compliance doctrine in previous electoral cases.

The NPP mentioned that the court could have relied on all existing records gazette for lower remedies such as scrutiny, recollation or a limited rerun instead of annulling the entire election that has no convincing reason for such action to be taken.

The party also urged the appellate court to set aside judgment and restore the mandate the people of Kpandai overwhelmingly gave to the Member of Parliament for Kpandai, Matthew Nyindam.

The NPP also accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and its leadership of attempting to undermine democratic institutions, annexing seats and rewarding violence.

‘This catastrophic judgment did not happen in isolation. It is part of a deliberate pattern. It is a thread in a sinister, calculated agenda by the National Democratic Congress to use captured state institutions to silence opposition, suppress dissent, and hold Ghana’s democracy hostage,’ the National Organiser added.

The Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union (KKFU) has cut sod for the construction of key educational and health facilities across four beneficiary communities in the Asante Akim North Municipality and the Juaben Municipality, as part of efforts to improve living standards in cocoa-growing areas.

The projects including two fully furnished six-unit classroom blocks and two maternity units, are being funded under the, ‘Way To Go Project,’ a partnership between KKFU, LIDL International, Fairtrade Africa, and Fairtrade Germany.

The initiative aims to enhance the livelihoods of cocoa farmers through sustainable community development.

Speaking during the various ceremonies, President of KKFU, James Agyekum Kwarteng, appealed to opinion leaders and traditional authorities to support the Union in attracting more farmers, saying this would enable KKFU to expand cocoa production and strengthen its business operations.

‘One of our key objectives is to support every government in nation-building, especially in rural infrastructural development. KKFU exists to help all Ghanaian cocoa farmers, particularly our members. For the past 30 years, we have remained the only indigenous cocoa company,’ he said.

He further appealed to the government to support indigenous companies such as Kuapa Kokoo with financial assistance to enable them compete effectively with foreign licensed buying companies.

‘We exist to improve the well-being of cocoa farmers, and I am calling on the government to support indigenous companies with the necessary funds to help us purchase cocoa promptly and sustain our operations,’ he added.

Projects

The ‘Way To Go Project,’ which began in 2020, allocates a portion of profits from Fairtrade-certified cocoa used in LIDL chocolate production to community development. Its second phase runs from 2024 to February 2026.

Deputy Project Coordinator, Clinton Donkor Sarkodie, the decision to embark on the four projects followed extensive community assessments that identified education and health as the most pressing needs.

The beneficiary communities include: Asenkyem: Construction of a fully furnished six-unit classroom block with a headmaster’s office, staff common room, library, and ICT laboratory. Nyankoma (Asante Akyem South): Construction of a similar six-unit classroom block with a 12-seater toilet facility. Bomfa RCH Centre: Construction of a maternity unit. Foase Health Centre: Construction of a maternity unit.

The six-month project is expected to begin in December 2025 after which the facilities will be handed over to the communities, with KKFU providing periodic supervision and maintenance support initially.

Local Authorities Praise KKFU’s Support

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Juaben, Eunice Ohenewa Ansu, described the intervention as timely and transformative.

‘Juaben Municipality is an orphan municipality with many developmental needs-schools, toilet facilities, roads, potable water, and more. We are truly grateful for what Kuapa Kokoo is bringing to us and we are still asking for more,’ she said.

She pledged to serve as an ambassador for KKFU, championing their efforts as a key partner in developing vulnerable farming communities.

The Juaben Municipal Disease Control Officer, Isaac Boakye Afrifa, also praised the initiative, explaining that the lack of a suitable space for Child Welfare Clinics had long been a challenge for health workers.

‘This project will go a long way to relieve us of the stress we previously faced. We value it greatly and will ensure it is properly maintained,’ he said.

Residents of the beneficiary communities also expressed joy and relief, describing the projects as long overdue. They were optimistic that the new facilities would enhance educational opportunities for children and improve healthcare delivery, particularly for mothers and infants.

A 29-year-old woman, identified as Esther Amoah, an insurance agent, died instantly when she was run over by a Benz truck loaded with cement on the Apowa-Agona main road in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region.

According to eyewitnesses, the deceased was returning home after visiting her younger brother, a student of St. Mary’s Boys’ Senior High School at Apowa in the Ahanta West Municipality, when the incident occurred.

She was reportedly attempting to cross the road when she was knocked down and run over by the truck, killing her instantly.

The unfortunate incident happened last Saturday.

One of the eyewitnesses, Isaac Conduah, said, ‘We were standing just at the entrance of the St. Mary’s Boys’ SHS. We were supposed to cross the road to the other side.

‘As she decided to move, two vehicles were moving in the opposite direction so she became confused.’

‘Unfortunately, the cement truck knocked and run over her. She was still holding food flask after going to give food to her brother in the school,’ he disclosed.

He indicated, ‘We looked in her bag and saw identity cards bearing her name, and we also found some phone numbers and called her family members.’

Meanwhile, the police have disclosed that the driver of the vehicle, with registration number AS 630 P, is currently in custody assisting with investigations.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Obuasi, Faustilove Appiah Kannin, has appealed to farmers to take advantage of the Feed Ghana Programme, describing it as a vital intervention that can significantly boost local agricultural output.

Madam Appiah Kannin emphasised the importance of investing in improved seeds, irrigation, climate-resilient technology and small-scale processing facilities to enhance productivity and reduce post-harvest losses.

Addressing the 41st National Farmers’ Day celebration in Obuasi, the MCE also reiterated her call for a stronger collective effort to combat illegal mining, which she said continues to destroy arable land and water bodies. She urged traditional leaders to allocate land to young farmers and encouraged the public to support this year’s national theme, ‘Eat Ghana, Grow Ghana, Secure the Future.’

Madam Appiah Kannin expressed appreciation to AngloGold Ashanti, rural banks and other private partners for their sustained support to the agricultural sector in the municipality.

The Municipal Director of Agriculture, Mr. Yaw Donkor Jnr., encouraged farmers to adopt modern and efficient technologies, continuously consult the Agriculture Department for technical assistance, as well as form cooperatives to improve market access and pricing.

This year’s celebration saw Peter Torkpo being adjudged the Overall Best Farmer for the Obuasi Municipality. Torkpo, who operates a diversified farm with cocoa, oil palm, vegetables, cassava and plantain, expressed gratitude to God and the Municipal Assembly for the recognition.

He appealed for government support to provide reclamation machines to restore farmlands affected by illegal mining. His prize package included a tricycle, 65-inch Samsung television, knapsack sprayer, boots, cloth, a radio, soap, weedicide and cutlasses.

Several other farmers and agricultural workers were recognised for excellence in various categories. Among them were Justice Abban, who was named runner-up to the Overall Best Farmer; Edward Atongotore, Harriet Oduro, Emmanuel Owusu, Stephen Osei Boateng, Charles Nkrumah, Akwasi Amankwah, Hakim Adamu, Stanley Oppong Ofori, Yaw Frank, James Owusu, Eugene Coffie, Hannah Preprah, Faith Annor, and Salam Barikisu, who distinguished themselves in fields ranging from cereals, vegetables, tree crops and cocoa to youth farming, agro marketing, non-traditional agriculture and women in agriculture.

A total of 90 suspected illegal forex traders have been arrested by personnel of the Ghana Police Service, of which 13 have been charged and brought before the Accra Circuit Court for prosecution.

Cash exhibits retrieved during the operations, which began in August this year, have been secured and forwarded to the Bank of Ghana for safekeeping as investigations continue.

Addressing journalists at a brief press conference at the Police Headquarters, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, said the suspects are not only Ghanaian nationals, but also Nigerians, Togolese, Beninois, among other African nationals, and are deeply engaged in illegal forex trading in the country.

She said the operation, a collaboration between the CID and the Bank of Ghana, targeting illegal foreign exchange activities in Accra, is part of a nationwide effort to clean up the foreign exchange market, promote economic stability, and ensure that all forex activities comply with Ghana’s laws and regulations.

COP Yaako Donkor also revealed that the operation conducted a criminal investigation yesterday, Tuesday, December 9, at major hotspots in targeted areas of Accra, including Tudu, Circle, Airport, and Osu, and arrested some 29 suspects, recovering GHS1,266,770.

‘These locations were identified as consistent sites for illegal forex trading. In total, 29 suspects, including Togolese, Beninois, Nigerians, and Ghanaians, were arrested. About an hour after the earlier operation, the team revisited the said locations and arrested 12 more suspects, bringing the total arrests for today, 41,’ she added.

COP Yaako Donkor also stated that a similar operation was conducted on November 20, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Osu Oxford Street and Kwame Nkrumah Circle near GCB, where many of the suspects were arrested for engaging in illegal forex trading.

‘I urge Ghanaians who trade in forex to do so with the banks rather than these illegal forex traders, as the police are bent on cracking them down,’ she added.

Every 2026 World Cup game will pause for three-minute ‘hydration breaks’ in each half, FIFA has announced.

The new measure has been introduced to ‘prioritise player welfare,’ amid expectations of high temperatures at next summer’s expanded tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will see every game – regardless of weather conditions – paused at the 22-minute mark, effectively turning the match into a four-quarter affair.

The decision was made after consultation with coaches and broadcasters.

FIFA say it is ‘a streamlined and simplified version of the breaks used at some previous tournaments, including the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.’ At last summer’s Club World Cup, water breaks were used, but only in games in extreme heat.

Some games at that tournament topped 100 degrees fahrenheit (38 degrees celsius).

‘I don’t think I have ever played in such heat,’ Benfica forward Andreas Schjelderup said after playing against Bayern Munich. ‘I don’t think it’s healthy, to be honest, but I managed to get through it.’

Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández added later in the tournament: ‘The other day I got a bit dizzy during a play. I had to lie down on the ground because I was really dizzy.

‘Playing in this temperature is very dangerous, it’s very dangerous.’

The full schedule for the World Cup was confirmed on Saturday.

The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Fredrick Faidoo, has emphasised that agriculture remains a vital pillar of livelihood particularly for residents in rural and peri-urban communities in the metropolis.

He said, ‘From Adiembra to BU, from Eshiem to Whindo, from Kojokrom to Kansaworado, from Essikado to New Takoradi and Sekondi, agriculture remains the mainstay of the people’.

He acknowledged the efforts of farmers in feeding the growing population, industries and contributing towards the nation’s foreign exchange earnings.

The Sekondi-Takoradi Mayor was speaking at this year’s Metropolitan Farmer’s Day celebration which was held at Essikado themed, ‘Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future’.

A 57-year-old farmer from Kansaworondo in the Essikado-Ketan Constituency, Eric Amoasi, was adjudged the Metropolitan best farmer. He took home a tricycle, and other farming implement as his prize.

Jonathan Aidoo, took the best farmer within the disability category, Madam Esi Dagomba was the best fish processor and Ahmed Yussif was adjudged the best for youth in agriculture.

Best inshore fisher went to Isaac Eshun with John Bosomtwe taking the best Canoe fisherman while Amos Ackon took the best in aquaculture.

Institutional Awards went to GNAT, Ntarmakrom JHS, and Saint James Anglican Basic in Akromakrom.

Mr. Faidoo noted that the theme aligns strongly with the government’s renewed effort to modernise agriculture through technology, value addition, commercial scale production, and the buildup of strong agricultural cooperatives.

‘It reminds us that the future of the country rests on the collective commitment to food security, sustainable agriculture, and the empowerment of those who produce the food every day,’ he added.

He said fishers, processors, crop farmers, coconut farmers, vegetable growers, backyard gardeners, and poultry farmers continue to demonstrate that agriculture was not merely an occupation but a sacred responsibility.

He disclosed that 50 groups, comprising 657 individuals and eight institutions, had already been registered onto the government’s Feed Ghana Programme portal and awaiting inputs to commence full scale production.

Mr. Faidoo said the government’s renewed emphasis on poultry production was taking shape with about 1,000 individuals already registered under the initiative.

Metropolitan Best farmer Mr. Amoasi called for financial assistance to encourage more youth to venture into agriculture.