Category: Daily Guide Network

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has called for the establishment of a structured mentorship system in Parliament to guide first-time Members of Parliament (MPs) as they navigate their new roles.

The initiative, announced during an informal engagement with new MPs, aims to strengthen collaboration, institutional memory, and legislative effectiveness across the Legislature.

The Speaker explained that experienced legislators mentoring newcomers would help bridge knowledge gaps, ensuring continuity and fostering a culture of integrity, civility, and active participation.

He stressed that such a system would enable new MPs to balance party loyalty with national interest while effectively contributing to the country’s democratic processes.

‘Parliament has matured over the years, evolving from rigid, confrontational partisanship to a cooperative multiparty environment. Our duty is to maintain this progress while guiding new members to uphold both party principles and national priorities,’ he said.

Speaker Bagbin emphasised that partisanship is not inherently harmful, indicating that it only becomes problematic when misused.

According to Mr. Bagbin, the country’s multiparty system relies on diverse viewpoints, which are essential for a healthy democracy.

He encouraged MPs to specialise in legislative areas and actively participate in committee work, which he described as the engine of Parliament, critical for delivering meaningful representation.

The Speaker also explained misconceptions about MPs’ privileges and immunities, noting that these protections safeguard the people’s voice and allow representatives to perform their duties without undue interference.

He highlighted concerns over neglected constitutional provisions for local assembly members and pledged to strengthen decentralisation, insisting that Parliament, rather than the Executive, must determine the allocation of key funds such as the District Assemblies Common Fund.

Mr. Bagbin urged MPs to embrace unity in diversity and reject divisive narratives, while also defending parliamentary dress as a reflection of Ghanaian culture and pride.

He commended the MPs for their contributions in recent sessions and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting their growth in leadership, ethics, and legislative excellence.

New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful and former Assin Central Member of Parliament, Ken Ohene Agyapong, has reiterated his commitment to tackling unemployment as a top priority should he be given the mandate to lead the party, and eventually the nation.

Speaking during a campaign tour of the Central Region, the maverick politician made a bold promise to delegates, assuring them that empowering him would translate into real opportunities for the youth.

Addressing enthusiastic party supporters and delegates, Mr. Agyapong declared: ‘Give me power and I will give you jobs.’

He stressed that the country’s biggest challenge is unemployment, especially among the youth, and insisted that his experience as a job creator in the private sector places him ahead of other contenders.

According to him, political leadership should not be about delivering flowery speeches but demonstrating the capacity to transform lives through practical economic solutions. He noted that over the years, he has personally established businesses that employ thousands of Ghanaians, and he intends to replicate this effort on a national scale.

Mr. Agyapong also highlighted the need for visionary leadership that prioritises industrialisation, entrepreneurship, and skills development.

He told delegates that with strategic investments in agriculture, manufacturing, and technology, the country could drastically reduce its unemployment rate.

The delegates, many of whom expressed admiration for his frankness and track record, listened attentively as he outlined his vision. He encouraged them to choose a leader with proven capacity to generate wealth rather than one who makes promises without evidence of delivery.

Mr. Agyapong’s message in the Central Region forms part of his ongoing campaign to win the confidence of party delegates ahead of the upcoming primaries. His promise to create jobs continues to resonate strongly, particularly in communities where unemployment remains a major concern.

As the campaign intensifies, all eyes are on how his message will influence delegate decisions and shape the broader political conversation on economic empowerment.

The Minority in Parliament has rejected the latest upward adjustment in electricity tariffs, describing the cumulative hikes as ‘malicious, unjust, and destructive’ to struggling households and businesses.

Addressing journalists in Parliament yesterday, the Ranking Member on the Energy Committee and Member of Parliament (MP) for Asene-Manso-Akroso, George Kwame Aboagye, who was flanked by his colleagues, accused the government of worsening the economic hardships facing Ghanaians through what they called reckless and insensitive tariff policies.

According to the caucus, electricity tariffs have surged by 28.14% within a short period, despite what they described as persistent inefficiencies and losses within the power sector.

The Minority said it was unacceptable for government to impose higher costs on consumers when technical and commercial losses remain at 32%, a situation they said drains the sector of between US$80 million and US$90 million based on current energy pricing.

With the country’s normal demand averaging 3,500MW and peak demand recently reaching 4,080MW, the MPs argued that the scale of losses, which is equivalent to between 1,120MW and 1,305MW, reflects a severe managerial failure that government has refused to confront.

‘Why does the government ignore this reality and instead impose measures that further impoverish Ghanaians?’ the Ranking Member asked.

‘Instead of fixing the system, the government has chosen the lazy path of shifting its failures onto already suffering consumers,’ he asserted.

The Minority warned that the new tariff adjustments would erode the modest 9% wage increase approved for workers for 2026, rendering households more vulnerable at a time when inflation, rising food prices and business contractions already burden the population.

They further outlined a series of consequences that, in their view, would follow if government failed to withdraw the tariff hikes.

These include deepening utility poverty, the collapse of small and medium-sized enterprises, rising unemployment as industries scale down, declining productivity, and a general intensification of economic hardship for workers and families.

‘These tariff hikes are not reforms; they are punishment. They are not solutions; they are symptoms of failed leadership and poor policy choices,’ the caucus stressed.

The Minority insisted that the government must immediately halt and reverse the increases, arguing that real reforms must focus on reducing losses, improving revenue collection, and strengthening management practices within the energy sector.

They pledged to use every legitimate parliamentary tool to demand fairness, transparency and accountability in how the nation’s utilities are run.

‘Our position remains firm and non-negotiable. Ghanaians deserve relief, not repeated shocks. They deserve leadership, not exploitation. And we will continue to hold this government accountable and defend the rights of the people,’ the Ranking Member declared.

TUC Demands Immediate Suspension

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has also demanded an immediate suspension of the tariff increases, citing serious breaches in the consultative process with the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).

At a briefing following a leadership meeting yesterday, the union expressed outrage at the decision to raise electricity tariffs by 9.8% and water tariffs by 15.9%, insisting that the process leading to the announcement was neither transparent nor conclusive.

According to the TUC, discussions held with the PURC during the major tariff review, beginning with a meeting at the Alisa Hotel, had not reached any agreement when the Commission unexpectedly announced the new tariffs on December 2, 2025.

The announcement, they said, came despite the PURC’s earlier message scheduling further engagement with labour on December 8, 2025.

‘We find this unacceptable. In the spirit of fairness and mutual respect for our social partnership, we demand that government suspends the announced tariff increases,’ the TUC Secretary-General, Joshua Ansah, stated.

The union insisted that the PURC ought to return to the negotiation table to complete the consultative process before any tariff changes take effect.

The leadership warned that the latest adjustments threaten to erode the 9% wage increment secured for workers in 2026 unless the government shows willingness to review and top up the wage adjustment.

The TUC Secretary-General also questioned the timing of the tariff implementation, which is expected to begin on January 1, 2026, ahead of the payment of the new wage adjustment at the end of January.

‘This obviously borders on insensitivity. Why rush to impose a tariff increase when workers have not yet received the corresponding wage adjustment?’ the union quizzed.

The union assured workers that it would resist any tariff increases that undermine the negotiated wage gains. Mr. Ansah reaffirmed the union’s commitment to protecting workers’ incomes and pushing for a fair, well-grounded tariff determination process.

Fast-rising entertainment pundit, Nana Kojo Mula, has disagreed with Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD), following his statement against the Detty December brand.

In an interview with journalists, KOD stated that he does not fully embrace the concept, saying, ‘Personally, I am not a great fan of Detty December. It’s one of the reasons we are having events like the Diaspora Summit under the auspices of the President between December 19 and 20.’

He added that many visitors from the diaspora do not travel to Ghana solely for entertainment.

‘Many people from the diaspora are coming to Ghana. They are not all coming to have fun. Some people are here for business opportunities as well, so we want to go beyond the Detty December. Great opportunities to network and bring money home,’ he said.

Kojo Mula has called out KOD, saying the Detty December brand cannot be reduced to just parties, as it has seen its impact on tourism, businesses, and even individuals over the years.

‘We cannot diminish anything Detty December has done for just parties. We have seen what it has done for tourism. We’ve seen its impact on tourism, businesses, and even individuals.

‘Some of us are beneficiaries of Detty December and what it has brought. As an individual, I respect his decision to say I’m not a fan of it. But in his capacity as Director of Diaspora Affairs, I don’t think it’s the right thing to say at this particular time,’ he added.

MTN Ghana, in partnership with the University of Ghana and Defarmacist, has officially opened the Vegetable Hub of Excellence, a modern agricultural training and production facility designed to transform how young people engage in farming.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, described the project as ‘an amazing initiative’ that merges classroom learning with hands-on experience.

‘What is really encouraging is seeing young people embrace farming. As the President has stated, we must be able to stand on our own feet, not only producing enough food for Ghana, but also for the rest of Africa and the world. When you add technology to farming, it becomes attractive to the younger generation,’ he said.

He emphasised that protecting and supporting farmers is essential for national food security and noted that initiatives like the Vegetable Hub of Excellence play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of agripreneurs.

Blewett also highlighted the importance of agritech partnerships, explaining that technology helps reduce the uncertainties traditionally associated with farming.

Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID), Prof. Felix Ankomah Asante, described the hub as a powerful testament to what strategic partnerships can achieve.

Prof. Asante stressed that the hub presents a promising future for young people who often struggle to see agriculture as a viable career path.

He noted that many farmers, especially women, still lack access to modern technologies, skills, and market opportunities that could significantly improve their livelihoods.

The Co-founder of Defarmacist Group Limited, Charles Agyemang, explained that the hub provides a practical environment where students can learn hands-on cultivation techniques and modern farming methods that prepare them for commercial agriculture.

‘It’s not easy for an agriculture graduate to apply for a conventional job. So we want to ensure they come out with real skills that enable them to start production immediately,’ he said.

He added that the facility is not only for University of Ghana students but is open to others seeking practical agricultural training.

Last Saturday, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) was venue of a symposium to commemorate the 75th birthday of Ghanaian diplomat Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas.

The remarks and observations from West Africa’s security researchers and analysts at the engagement have provoked thoughts about the future of the troubled sub-region.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, one of the panelists of the carefully selected contributors to the symposium, talked about the dearth of quality leadership in the sub-region and how this is responsible for the sorry state of the sub-region.

Of course, as he noted, today’s leaders in the sub-region are incomparable to those at the helm in the latter part of the 1950s to the 60s.

Selflessness, the main attribute of the leaders of the aforementioned period, has fled through the window.

Mismanagement of the economies of the sub-region has encouraged military adventurists with no clue as to what to do to reverse the order to give democracy a bad name and hang it through equally unproductive coups.

We cannot but agree with him that, if we want democracy and peace to thrive in the component countries of the sub-region, we must manage our economies with integrity and bereft of corruption.

Pointing at the existence of just a few seemingly stable countries in the sub-region, he particularly pointed at Guinea Bissau as coup-prone, noting how Nigeria escaped one recently.

West Africa is at the crossroads and unless something is done and soonest about enhancing the principles of democracy and proper management of the economies, the military adventurists ruling Mali, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Niger will poison the political ambience of the sub-region by presenting coups as better options.

Today, the image of the Burkinabe strongman is common in some parts of West Africa, Ghana included.

The man has been able to create the impression that he is solving the challenges of his country; with Russian support as his counterpart in Mali. We must be watchful about the fallouts. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated videos show the man who hardly speaks English using that language to spread his propaganda incitingly, however, naive youth admire him.

A day had barely elapsed since the presentation of Lawyer Falana when an attempted coup was reported in Benin.

ECOWAS has announced the deployment of its standby force to support the friendly forces in the Francophone country.

Sounds interesting because the same standby force could not be deployed to Guinea Bissau when on the eve of a major election release a coup was announced.

What ECOWAS should be doing is to find out how best it can ensure that economies are not only managed well and for the good of all, but that constitutions, especially term limits, are not altered to give sitting leaders extra term as in Cote d’Ivoire.

Today, Togo as noted by the Nigerian lawyer has Eyadema II, a reality sounding like a monarchical arrangement.

Would ECOWAS send a standby force to Togo should there be an uprising in this dictatorial ambience?

Dean of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Law School, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Budu, recently concluded a landmark visit to The Hague as part of the Ghanaian delegation attending the 24th Annual Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice, the Dean paid a courtesy call on Marcin Czepelak, Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), at the Peace Palace.

The meeting focused on accelerating Ghana’s accession to the Hague Conventions for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes (1899 and 1907) and unlocking the attendant benefits for the nation’s legal and dispute-resolution framework.

During the discussions, Dr. Agyeman-Budu highlighted GIMPA Law School’s commitment to internationalisation and invited the PCA Secretary-General to visit Ghana.

The invitation aligns with the Law School’s track record of hosting high-profile visitors from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other international tribunals, who deliver public lectures, interact with faculty and students as well as engage with the country’s three branches of government on the invitation of GIMPA.

GIMPA Law School therefore hopes to explore a potential partnership with the PCA that could mirror the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the African Centre of International Criminal Justice (ACICJ), hosted by GIMPA Law School, and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

A collaboration with PCA would broaden academic exchange, joint research, and capacity-building initiatives, especially because of GIMPA’s innovative Master of Laws Degree (LLM) programme in Dispute Resolution Law and Practice, which will give students hands-on exposure to international arbitration and mediation mechanisms.

The potential visit to Ghana by the Secretary-General at the invitation of GIMPA would mark the first PCA leadership visit to Ghana, reinforcing the country’s role as a hub for international law in Africa.

Dr. Agyeman-Budu remarked that, ‘This visit will underscore GIMPA Law School’s mission to be a centre of excellence where theory meets practice. Partnering with the PCA will not only enrich our curriculum but also empower Ghanaian legal professionals to engage confidently in global dispute resolution.’

The meeting was put together by Ms. Christine Amankwa, a distinguished alumna of the GIMPA Law School and now an Assistant Legal Counsel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

Ghana’s accession to the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 on the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes will enhance country’s participation in peaceful dispute settlement mechanisms and open pathways for foreign investment and development cooperation.

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has cautioned borrowers to honour their credit obligations to help build a resilient and inclusive credit market.

The BoG Second Deputy Governor, Matilda Asante-Asiedu, who made the call during a sensitisation programme organised for the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) in Accra, said that while reforms have expanded lending opportunities for businesses, sustaining the system depends on how borrowers understand, manage, and honour their credit commitments.

According to Mrs. Asante-Asiedu, access to credit goes beyond the introduction of modernised legal frameworks and digital platforms; it also relies heavily on borrower behaviour, which requires discipline and responsibility.

‘With increased access comes a greater obligation on borrowers to understand the credit agreements they sign, to honour repayment schedules, and to use credit judiciously to strengthen their enterprises,’ she stated.

She explained that the credit law outlines key borrower rights, including access to information, fair treatment, and full pre-agreement disclosure, while also emphasising borrowers’ responsibility to be honest during loan applications.

Mrs. Asante-Asiedu urged business owners to become active participants in protecting the integrity of the credit system, encouraging them to seek clarity when loan terms appear ambiguous or conditions are unclear, and to provide feedback whenever they face operational challenges.

She further reaffirmed the BoG’s commitment to reforms aimed at improving credit information, strengthening lender confidence, and expanding opportunities for businesses of all sizes.

The Deputy Governor noted that progress made in addressing challenges to credit access must be safeguarded to avoid eroding the gains achieved by the Central Bank.

‘It requires continuous partnership with institutions like the GNCCI. Together, we can create a credit ecosystem where opportunity is not limited by size, where a promising business idea is not crippled by lack of collateral, and where borrowing becomes a catalyst for sustainable growth rather than a source of vulnerability,’ she added.

Former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, will embark on a three-day campaign tour of the North East Region from December 10 to 11, and December 14, 2025, ahead of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) upcoming presidential primaries.

This tour forms part of Dr. Bawumia’s ongoing nationwide tour aimed at reaching out to the delegates to give him another mandate as flagbearer of the party for the 2028 general election.

A statement by the North East Regional Secretary, Sulley Sambian, indicated that as part of the strategic regional engagement, Dr. Bawumia will tour the Chereponi and Bunkpurugu constituencies on December 10, 2025 and Yunyoo, Nalerigu/Gambaga and Walewale constituencies on December 11, 2025.

According to him, Dr. Bawumia will proceed to the Upper East Region from December 12, 2025 and later travel to Yagaba-Kubore constituency on December 14, 2025 to conclude his tour of the North East Region.

‘Whilst in the region, Dr. Bawumia will interact with all delegates across the constituencies,’ he said.

Lawyer Sambian urged all party delegates to come out in their numbers to welcome Dr. Bawumia and participate actively in all scheduled engagements.

FC AshantiGold ’04 tightened their grip at the top of the Division One League Zone Two table with an emphatic 3-1 win over UCC Youngsters on Sunday at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi.

Raphael Ankamah opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a composed finish, giving the Miners a deserved lead at halftime.

After the break, David Nanor took centre stage, striking twice in the 69th and 78th minutes to put the game beyond the visitors.

UCC Youngsters managed a consolation through Issah Yusif in the 80th minute, but it was not enough to dent AshantiGold’s momentum.

The victory takes AshantiGold ’04 to 23 points after ten matches, solidifying their position at the summit of Zone Two.

Meanwhile, at the Senya District Astroturf, Soccer Intellectuals ended a four-game winless run with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Police Nationals.

The breakthrough came early when Robert Addo Sowah mistakenly turned the ball into his own net in the 11th minute, handing the hosts their third win of the campaign.

In Dominase, newly promoted Nsuopun Fidelity returned to winning ways with a confident 2-0 victory over Future Stars FC. They scored in both halves to secure their sixth win of the season, snapping a brief two-game winless streak.

The debutants now sit second in Zone Two with 19 points after Matchweek Ten, keeping the pressure on leaders AshantiGold ’04.