Category: Daily Guide Network

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that Ghana’s debt-to-GDP ratio will reach 59.1 percent by the end of 2025.

The forecast, contained in the October 2025 Fiscal Monitor Report, was released during the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C.

According to the report, the projection is slightly lower than the government’s 60 percent target for the same period. The IMF further expects Ghana’s debt ratio to decline to 56.1 percent in 2026, 53.7 percent in 2027, and 51.3 percent in 2028, suggesting that by 2028, the country will outperform the 55 percent debt-to-GDP benchmark set under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) Programme.

In its World Economic Outlook released on October 14, 2025, the IMF also forecasted that global economic growth will slow from 3.3 percent in 2024 to 3.2 percent in 2025, and further to 3.1 percent in 2026, despite a slight upward revision from its April projections.

The Fund noted that the global economy is being reshaped by new policy measures and trade dynamics, with some temporary boosts expected from fresh trade agreements and tariff adjustments introduced in early 2025.

‘Advanced economies are expected to expand by about 1.5 percent, while emerging markets and developing economies will grow just above 4 percent, reflecting resilient domestic demand in Asia and parts of Latin America,’ the IMF stated.

It added that global inflation is projected to continue easing, though it remains above target in the United States and subdued in several other regions.

An inquest into the death of former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton has been opened and adjourned at the South Manchester Coroner’s Court in Stockport.

The 46-year-old, who earned global fame after winning world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight, was found dead at his home in Hyde on 14 September.

During the brief hearing, the court heard that Hatton was discovered by his manager, Paul Speak, who had gone to his home that day to collect him for a flight to Dubai.

Alison Catlow of Greater Manchester Police told the court that Hatton was last seen by his family on 12 September and had appeared to be in good spirits at the time. He reportedly failed to attend an event the following day as expected.

Senior coroner Alison Mutch said the final cause of death has yet to be determined, though the preliminary indication was hanging. No members of Hatton’s family were present at the hearing.

The full inquest into the death of the man affectionately known in the boxing world as ‘The Hitman’ has been scheduled for 20 March

The Kumasi High Court has adjourned to October 28, 2025, the case involving Akosua Serwaa, who claims to be the legally wedded wife of the late highlife legend, Daddy Lumba.

The case seeks to determine who has the legal and traditional right to perform the widowhood rites of the celebrated musician.

The late Daddy Lumba, born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, passed away on July 26, 2025. His family has since announced that his final funeral rites will take place on December 6, 2025, at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

However, that event could be affected by the ongoing legal dispute initiated by Akosua Serwaa against Kofi Owusu Fosu, head of Lumba’s extended family, and Priscilla Ofori, popularly known as Odo Broni.

She is seeking a court declaration affirming her status as the only surviving spouse and the sole individual entitled to perform the widowhood rites.

She also wants an injunction restraining Odo Broni from publicly presenting herself as the musician’s wife.

During yesterday’s proceedings, lawyers for the defendants informed the court that they had filed an application to challenge Akosua Serwaa’s legal capacity to bring the matter before the court.

However, Her Ladyship Justice Mrs. Dorinda Smith Arthur declined to hear that motion, explaining that it was not the business before the court for the day.

Counsel for the plaintiff, William Kusi, argued that the court should instead proceed with the hearing of their injunction application to prevent the defendants from interfering in the widowhood rites.

After listening to both sides, Justice Smith Arthur urged the parties to explore an amicable settlement, noting that the case would be given priority if it proceeds.

The court then directed all parties to file their responses within 14 days before adjourning the matter.

Speaking after the proceedings, Mr. Kusi expressed hope that the case would not drag on until December, warning that such a delay could disrupt the scheduled funeral.

In her statement of claim, Akosua Serwaa insists she is the legally wedded wife of Daddy Lumba and that neither she nor her children were consulted before the family announced the funeral date – which they only learned of through social media.

She contends that her marriage to the musician was valid and subsisting at the time of his death.

She further alleges that the family head informed her that she would not be permitted to perform the widowhood rites, a role traditionally reserved for the lawful spouse.

According to her, Odo Broni surfaced after the musician’s death, claiming to have been married to him and to have had children with him.

Akosua Serwaa maintains that any attempt by the family to allow Odo Broni to perform the widowhood rites would be unlawful, as she believes Odo Broni was never legally married to the late Daddy Lumba.

She is therefore asking the court to intervene to prevent what she describes as an injustice that would deny her rightful recognition as the only legally acknowledged wife of the late musician.

GrowLead, a not-for-profit organisation, has been launched with a call on society to empower women, especially the youth, to actively participate in decision making to enable them contribute meaningfully to the development of society.

The launch, held in Accra, brought together women groups, some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), past District Chief Executives, Nana Otubea II, Paramount Queenmother of the Nkonya Ahenkro Traditional Area, members from the academia, students, among several other dignitaries.

Speaking at the event, a lecturer at the Department for the Study of Religions at the University of Ghana, Dr. Fatimatu N-Eyare Sulemanu stated that given how resourceful women are, they cannot be relegated to the background but should be included in decision making.

She said, ‘We cannot call leadership inclusive until women and girls are empowered to learn; the digital revolution requires deliberate efforts to ensure women are not left behind.’

While commending various civil society groups for working towards improving the livelihoods of women, she, however, called on society to provide the needed support to enhance the livelihoods of women.

She said efforts geared towards supporting women and girls in any sector of the country should not be viewed as charity but legacies to enable them take up leadership roles in society.

The former Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, said ‘we have general problems, and then we have some problems that are very pertinent in marginalised communities, and we came together as friends and as a collective to try and solve one of the problems, and it has to do with the fact that there are a lot of young women from underprivileged communities who do not have mentors.’

‘We are filling in the gap for communities where they don’t have female mentors to give that kind of helping hand in terms of grooming, in terms of capacity building, and also providing scholarships for girls to pursue post graduate studies in some specific field,’ she stated.

‘We must go into any other agency with passion, but those from marginalised communities who desire to pursue higher education should be given the facility and resources to do so. So we’ve come together to form some form of a big sister club, and to reach out to girls on social media through our website GrowLead,’ Ms. Abubakar added.

GrowLead aims to nurture leadership, amplify voices and create opportunities for women and girls to participate meaningfully in civic life and decision making.

The law of karma is exposing many unworthy politicians these past few months.

They make utterances which expose them big time and reduce them to laughing stocks.

Sadly and unfortunately, their conduct give the noble occupation a bad name fit to be hanged at the marketplace.

After the cacophonous noise about the inability of the government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to stop illegal mining or galamsey, the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia has stated that nine months is too short to end it.

Of course nine months is such a short period to reward illegal miners for supporting his party to desecrate.

We cannot doubt the speculation that such miners, some of whom contributed pickup vehicles and cash to the cause of the then opposition NDC, are being overlooked as they engage in galamsey.

Even as the heat mounted on the then President Akufo-Addo to end galamsey with a declaration of a state of emergency, NDC activists were canvassing for votes in illegal mining areas by promises of not stopping them from plying their occupation.

Today, nine months is too short to end galamsey. Hmm. Time, it is said, will tell, and political hypocrisy will be exposed eventually as the NDC’s real position on galamsey is out for all to see.

It is not difficult to tell how lies and sheer propaganda was used by the NDC to win votes, especially in galamsey endemic areas of the country.

It is now clear that illegal mining will not stop anytime soon.

The recent engagement with stakeholders on the so-called way forward was nothing but a ruse. Buying time as the illegality persists with devastating destruction of our forest cover and pollution of water bodies is the endgame.

It would not be long for Ghanaians to start demanding for the sources of selected foodstuff such as cassava, kontomire and tilapia in a bid to avoid mercury and other heavy metal infested food. The speed with which we reached this notch is amazing.

On the other side of the aisle, we have heard about how Pius Hadzide, a former National Youth Authority CEO pointed at Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the reason the NPP did not win the 2024 polls.

Interesting how some politicians can prompt discourses about their bad deeds buried by time.

We are constrained to recall the gentleman’s Australia visa scandal and how this impacted negatively on the electoral fortunes of 2024.

The scandal notwithstanding, he promised facilitating trips for the youth of the Asuogyaman Constituency to the United States when he was parliamentary candidate. Of course, the constituents remembered the scandal and denied him their votes. Today, he has the guts to blame others for the NPP loss, ignoring the Aussie visa scandal which dented the image of the NPP at the time.

Some politicians do not learn lessons which come their way gratis and so talk loosely, thereby exposing the contents of their closets.

As the two dominant parties seek to pick their flagbearers, many of the contestants will shoot themselves in the foot, thereby enabling the delegates to pick the most appropriate.

The Moroccan national football team achieved a historic feat by securing a world record 16 consecutive victories by beating Congo (1-0) in the World Cup Qualifier on Tuesday evening at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

With this performance, Morocco managed to dethrone Spain and Germany, who held the top spot with 15 consecutive victories, respectively in (2008-2009) and (2010-2011).

The Atlas Lions extended their winning streak to 16 in a row, across all matches, including matches in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and friendly matches.

The record confirms the considerable growth that Moroccan football is experiencing, as well as the prestigious place it now occupies on the international scene.

Apart from the winning streak, the highlight of the Atlas Lions’ exceptional run, under the leadership of national coach Walid Regragui, are the impressive scores recorded in the various matches.

In numbers, the Atlas Lions have scored 50 goals in 16 matches, an average of more than 3 goals per game, while conceding only 4 goals.

Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has kept 12 clean sheets in those matches, reflecting the team’s defensive solidity and rigorous tactical discipline across various lines.

The results achieved in recent years by different age categories are only tangible proof of this qualitative leap in Moroccan football, now a reference and an example to follow at the Arab and African levels.

This achievement also reflects the national team’s consistent levels of tactics, discipline, and the ability of its players to compete with the biggest football schools in different age categories, which explains Morocco’s rise in the current FIFA rankings, where it recently reached 11th place in the world, while continuing to dominate the African and Arab rankings.

The series of victories makes Morocco a formidable opponent for continental and international titles and paves the way for new generations of talents to continue writing the history of Moroccan football.

Some major principal streets in Accra were filled with excitement as Ghanaian content creator Chef Abbys fed over 15,000 people to commemorate World Food Day yesterday.

Chef Abbys distributed rice meals with beverages as well as breakfast items using a branded truck at three advantage points and a mini vintage point, which included Efua Sutherland Park, Fadama Astroturf Stadium, Madina Astroturf, and Kwabenya Market, a small vintage point food stand.

Chef Abbys, together with her team, also made a mini Yango truck available for entering specific towns, such as Dansoman, Nima, Dome, and Teshie, among others.

The dedicated trucks, on the other hand, distributed food from Kwabenya to Accra Central, Atomic Junction, Accra Mall, Achimota, Lapaz, Mallam, and Circle.

Several influencers, such as Kwadwo Sheldon, SDK, and AMG Iron Boy Dances, pulled up to support her initiative from various vantage points.

Chef Abbys, in an interview, said the initiative, themed ‘Wherever You Are, Food Will Find You,’ aimed to foster community, dignity, and hope through the unifying power of food.

She said, ‘This is World Food Day with Chef Abbys! To all the partners and sponsors as well as volunteers, I am so grateful. To everyone as well for the constant repost support and encouragement, I am so grateful.’

Chef Abbys, who was recently named on the 2025 TIME100 list of the world’s most influential people, emphasised that this celebration is not just about feeding people, but about using food to unite, nourish, and restore hope.

President John Dramani Mahama has appointed private legal practitioner, Tony Lithur, as the Board Chairman of the Mahama Cares Foundation.

The announcement was made yesterday at a brief ceremony at the Jubilee House in Accra, where the President emphasised the need for a transparent structure for the foundation.

President Mahama, in his address, stated, ‘The work of uplifting the most vulnerable in our society cannot be improvised.’

He said it requires sustainability, integrity, and strong leadership.

Mr. Lithur, who was the President’s lawyer in 2012 and 2020 elections’ petitions, in a response, said, ‘I am honoured by the trust the President has placed in me.’

He noted that his primary focus will be to build a governance structure that is beyond reproach, ensuring that the foundation operates with the highest levels of transparency and efficiency.

The Mahama Cares Foundation aims to provide financial assistance for specialist-level treatment of chronic diseases like cancer, kidney failure, and cardiovascular conditions.

It will cover costs not included in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and it also seeks to relieve the financial burden on individuals and families affected by these diseases.

The 2024 presidential candidate of the Movement for Change (M4C), Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has officially transitioned his political movement into a full-fledged political party known as the United Party (UP Plus), vowing to end the nation’s political duopoly and build a prosperous nation under what he calls the ‘Paradise Project.’

Unveiling the new party at a ceremony attended by representatives of civil society groups and faith-based organisations in Accra yesterday, Mr. Kyerematen described the rebranding as ‘a new dawn in Ghanaian politics.’

He said the UP Plus would bring an end to the divisiveness and acrimony that have long characterised the country’s politics.

‘We are ushering in a new era; a new dawn that will end the culture of winner-takes-all and the duopoly of the two major parties. A new dawn that will bring about economic transformation, massive job opportunities, a golden age of business, and prosperity for our country,’ he declared.

Mr. Kyerematen said the party’s vision, branded as Vision 2040, seeks to make Ghana the ‘economic powerhouse of Africa’ by the year 2040.

He pointed out that the long-term development framework, which he calls the Paradise Project, is built around unity, accountability, and inclusive opportunity.

‘Our vision is to make Ghana the economic powerhouse of Africa by 2040, and we are branding this as the Paradise Project. By the grace of God, if the people of Ghana entrust us with power, we promise that by 2040, Ghana will become a paradise,’ he said.

He explained that the UP Plus will focus on building ‘one united, peaceful, secure, and prosperous country’ by promoting equal opportunities for all citizens, particularly the youth, women, and the vulnerable.

Mr. Kyerematen also outlined the party’s core values, including integrity, discipline, rule of law, meritocracy, patriotism, tolerance, free speech, and ethical leadership.

He emphasised the need to ‘bring decency back into Ghanaian politics,’ arguing that national development depends on moral and disciplined leadership.

‘The United Party will promote a new culture of decency, discipline, and patriotism. We want to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of Ghanaians and restore respect for ethical leadership in public life,’ he said.

The former Trade and Industry Minister added that the UP Plus remains anchored in the Movement for Change’s Great Transformational Plan (GTP), a comprehensive policy framework he developed during his presidential campaign, and reaffirmed that the new party would pursue Ghana’s transformation beyond partisanship.

‘We are building on the foundation of the Movement for Change. Within just nine months, we saw the energy of the people, from those wearing yellow T-shirts to supporters abroad. That spirit is what we are carrying forward,’ he said.

Interim National Chairman, Abubakar Saddique Boniface, said the United Party represents a broad coalition of citizens from diverse political backgrounds united by shared values and a commitment to national progress.

‘Ghana’s political history is full of divisions between left and right. But we, the UP Plus, are centrists; we bring the good from both sides to the centre. We are not just forming another party; we are forming a movement for honest, disciplined, and God-fearing leadership to serve Ghana.’

He added that UP Plus blends the experience of veteran public servants with the energy of the youth and women, ensuring a balanced approach to national renewal.

‘Our government will be based on unity – unity of ideas, unity of resources, and unity in sharing the benefits of development. The UP Plus exists as a viable alternative with open doors, welcoming merit and competence,’ he stated.

Interim General Secretary, Yaw Buaben Asamoah, was also present at the event, alongside representatives from the Christian Council of Ghana, the Trades Union Congress (TUC), FixTheCountry Movement, Ghana Pentecostal Council, Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA), Election Watch Ghana, and Youth for Change.

It was declared at the event that Alan Kyerematen’s UP Plus, symbolised by yellow, black, and white colours, has officially received its registration from the Electoral Commission, which signals the emergence of a centrist political force that pledges to build a united and prosperous Ghana by 2040.

Ghana’s small-scale gold export sector has generated over US$8 billion this year, a significant increase in revenue generated by the sector in previous years.

This impressive performance is fueled by various reforms in Ghana’s gold sector, with the introduction of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) playing a key role.

It is also attributed to improved regulation, enhanced export monitoring, and renewed investor confidence in Ghana’s small-scale mining subsector, which is jointly managed by GoldBod and the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC).

Figures from the GoldBod and the PMMC show that Ghana earned a whopping US$8.06 billion between January and mid-October 2025.

The figures show that the total gold exported by small-scale miners during the period amounted to 81,719.22 kilogrammes (kg), representing a significant increase over the 63,647.22kg exported in 2024 and 37,454.01kg in 2023.

This significant improvement is also reflected in GoldBod’s monthly data which show steady growth in both weight and value from January to October 2025.

For instance, in January this year alone, exports reached 6,178.69kg, valued at US$506.41 million, almost triple the US$170.66 million recorded in the same month of 2024.

The performance peaked in May, when small-scale exports hit 11,068.55kg, earning Ghana US$1.17 billion-the highest monthly figure recorded so far.

This strong trend continued in June and July, which recorded values of US$957.90 million and US$829.84 million, respectively.

September 2025 recorded export of 10,533.56 kg, amounting to US$1.16 billion, indicating consistent performance in the third quarter.

The success chalked this year show a significant improvement over the last three years, as figures indicate that between 2023 and 2024, small-scale gold exports increased by about 70 per cent in weight and more than doubled in value, from US$2.19 billion in 2023 to US$4.61 billion in 2024.

In 2025, the sector has seen another leap, recording a 75 per cent increase in export weight and nearly 75 per cent growth in value within a year.

Economic analysts have linked this growth to enhanced traceability systems, improved documentation, and reforms.

GoldBod Impact

GoldBod, which was established in 2025 to regulate and streamline small-scale gold exports, has been credited with restoring confidence in the sector.

The Board, working with PMMC, has introduced strict compliance measures and to ensure that all gold exported passes through official channels.

Officials of GoldBod have attributed the impressive results to improved monitoring, digital tracking of gold movement, and increased community engagement.

These interventions have helped reduce smuggling and enabled small-scale miners to obtain fair value for their products.

Economic Impact

Gold remains Ghana’s top foreign exchange earner, and the rise in small-scale exports is expected to strengthen the country’s external reserves.

The US$8.06 billion earned so far this year comes at a crucial time when the economy is recovering from recent fiscal challenges.

Economists believe the growth in gold export receipts could help stabilise the cedi, reduce pressure on foreign reserves, and support the government’s fiscal consolidation efforts.

With small-scale miners now playing a key role in the official export chain, the subsector is increasingly viewed as a major contributor to Ghana’s economic resilience.