Category: Daily Guide Network

First daughter of late Highlife icon, Daddy Lumba, Denise Lady Ama Saah Fosu, has appealed to fans and the public to join the family in honouring her father as they prepare for his final funeral rites on December 13, 2025.

Denise, who arrived in Ghana on 30 November 2025, recorded the message from the celebrated musician’s East Legon residence.

Dressed in mourning cloth, she sat beside an elderly family elder, with two of her younger siblings-children of Lumba’s second wife, Odo Broni-standing solemnly behind her.

Speaking on behalf of the entire family, she said, ‘Hello, my name is Denise Lady Ama Saah Fosu, the eldest daughter of the late Charles Fosu, also known as Daddy Lumba. I’m here, representing my entire family today. We would like to kindly invite you to my father’s funeral, which will take place on the 13th of December in Kumasi. We wish all well-wishers and mourners to join us to celebrate his life.’

The funeral date, originally announced for December 6, was recently pushed to December 13 following a crucial meeting at the Otumfuo Saamanhene Palace on November 10, 2025.

During the gathering, a new funeral committee-chaired by Dadiesoabahene-was appointed to oversee the arrangements and ensure a peaceful, well-coordinated ceremony befitting the stature of the late legend.

The meeting also saw Daddy Lumba’s sister, Ernestina Akosua Brempomaa, call for a postmortem, voicing concerns about possible foul play surrounding her brother’s death. She appealed for the burial to be delayed until the autopsy results are released to provide clarity and closure.

As preparations continue, Denise’s message echoes the family’s desire to unite fans, loved ones, and the nation in celebrating the extraordinary life, legacy, and music of Charles Kwadwo Fosu, fondly known as Daddy Lumba.

A KUMASI-based tele-evangelist has done a life-saving act by constructing a mechanised borehole to supply free potable water to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.

Rev. Counselor Peter Kwaku Yeboah of Royal TV in Kumasi, the benefactor, constructed the borehole on the premises of KATH about 10 years ago and the hospital’s staff and patients have been relying on it for water.

Few years ago, there was the need for the top medical facility in the northern sector of the country to expand, so a new infrastructural project was constructed at the very site where the borehole was located.

Considering how the original borehole had supported KATH’s staff and patients over the years, the hospital’s management therefore decided to construct a new borehole to honour the famous tele-evangelist.

The KATH Director of Administration, Mr. Fred Effah-Yeboah, speaking at the recommissioning ceremony, said the construction of the borehole to honour the tele-evangelist shows that KATH values its helpers.

‘The mechanised borehole, since its original construction over a decade ago by Rev. Counselor Peter Kwaku Yeboah, has been a blessing to this facility, helping to curb water crisis at KATH in the past.

‘The need for the recommissioning arose when the original borehole had to be decommissioned to make way for the construction of a new block, as the two structures occupied the same site.

‘The management of KATH therefore decided to reconstruct the mechanised borehole in a new location to honour the donor, Rev. Counselor Peter Kwaku Yeboah,’ Mr. Effah-Yeboah explained.

He also called for more donations to the ongoing ‘Heal Komfo Anokye Project,’ a comprehensive initiative which is aimed at upgrading and modernising the hospital’s old Gee Blocks to enhance healthcare.

Rev. Yeboah expressed his profound gratitude to the KATH management for the thoughtful initiative of restoring his original project to ensure constant water supply in the hospital.

Recounting the motivation behind his decade-old donation, he said, ‘God dropped it on my heart to help the hospital by providing water assistance,’ which eventually helped KATH to avert water crisis.

Rev. Yeboah called for the highest maintenance culture so the borehole would last for future generations to also benefit from it, urging the public to also assist KATH.

Across Africa, agriculture contributes 32% to Africa’s GDP and employs 65% of the labour force on the con tinent, according to the World Bank. That notwithstanding, the people who drive the sector, smallholder farmers, rural entrepreneurs, and cooperatives, are part of the most financially excluded communities on the continent.

Data from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) shows that in 2024, internet usage in African urban areas reached 57 percent, but only 23 percent in rural areas, creating the largest urban-rural gap in the world. This limited connectivity, along with geographical isolation and low financial literacy, results in millions of farmers with little to no access to mainstream credit or financial services.

Without affordable and reliable credit, many farmers struggle to invest in irrigation, essential equipment, seeds and fertiliser. Persistent economic fluctuations, including inflation that raises the cost of inputs and volatile market prices for produce, further erode already thin margins. And where local processing and transformation capacity is limited, farmers are forced to sell raw commodities at lower prices, missing out on added value. Without adequate savings or insurance, a single flood, drought, or price shock can wipe out years of effort, fundamentally undermining both livelihoods and broader rural development across Africa.

To overcome this challenge, financial inclusion in rural areas must go beyond access to accounts or credit. It must focus on building resilience, and that’s where microfinance institutions are stepping in to reengineer the future of rural financial inclusion across the continent.

Designing the right approach: The case of Advans’ High-Tech, High-Touch

Traditional banks have long struggled to serve rural populations because of high operational costs, isolated communities, and the informal nature of farming incomes. The rise of digital finance has not significantly changed the narrative, as few farmers still have reliable Internet access. With a 26% increase in agricultural loans in just one year, Advans, a leading microfinance group active in several African countries, recognized this early on, and adopted a high-tech, high-touch approach in rural areas.

First, by partnering with cooperatives and village associations, Advans built a model rooted in proximity and in-person relationships to inform, educate, and share risk. Technology was then introduced gradually to facilitate transactions and loan repayments, and to provide school loans. This expansion is driven by digital innovations tailored to rural realities. For Instance, in Ghana, Mobibank, a USSD-based platform, has become the primary channel for rural loan repayment, allowing clients to transact without Internet access. In Côte d’Ivoire, Advans Mobilité offers mobile banking features that enable farmers to check balances and manage finances through basic feature phones.

In rural Africa, cooperatives have proven to be the key intermediaries between microfinance institutions such as Advans and communities. In Côte d’Ivoire, for example, cocoa farmers can expand their plantations thanks to loans secured through their cooperatives and support from Advans Côte d’Ivoire. The story of Herve, one such farmer, illustrates how financial institutions can build with existing community groups.

‘Through the 700 cooperatives and village associations (AVEC) we partner with, we reach and serve close to 40,000 farmers; not only in the cocoa value chain, but increasingly in other farming activities such as corn, pineapple, mango, and rice. We are also exploring additional value chains,’ says Albert Dah, Agriculture Director at Advans Côte d’Ivoire.

The impact of such a collaborative approach is also evident in neighbouring Ghana, where Advans worked with women’s cooperatives in the shea butter value chain, offering both financing and financial education. In two years, more than 2,000 cooperative leaders have been trained in financial management and savings, leading their members to reinvest profits, strengthen their businesses, and gain greater financial independence.

A New Urgency: Climate Change and Agricultural Resilience

The challenge of rural development is now inseparable from the challenge of climate change. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and floods are disrupting production across the continent. In Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s largest cocoa producer, output for the 2024/25 farming season is estimated to have dropped to 1.7 metric tonnes due to heat stress, drought, and pests. In Tunisia, prolonged drought and water scarcity are threatening key crops such as olives and dates.

Climate change is not only an environmental threat, but it is a financial one. For farmers, it means unstable incomes and higher debt risks. For lenders, it demands new tools to secure both livelihoods and portfolios.

Microfinance institutions are emerging as vital drivers of climate resilience. Advans Tunisia, for instance, has developed an individual loan called ‘Crédit Saba’ enabling smallholder farmers to borrow up to 13,000pound , with a flexible repayment plan adapted to the seasonality of their activities and their cash flows, as well as a grace period in case of an extreme climate event. As a result, more than 1 in 2 Tunisian clients say they feel more prepared for a future climate shock thanks to their loan from Advans, and 30% talk about purchasing and installing irrigation systems.1 Agricultural finance now represents one-third of Advans Tunisia’s portfolio.

Advans Côte d’Ivoire takes a comprehensive approach to helping farmers adapt to climate risks. The institution has provided training to over 1,000 farmers on managing hazards, from diversifying crops to adopting agroforestry practices. One key initiative, the Agroforestry Credit program, offers loans through four partner cooperatives to fund agroforestry projects, The project is supported by AFD2 and benefits from technical assistance from the NGO AVSF.

In addition, farmers are gaining access to climate index insurance through a partnership with AssurTech OKO. Following a pilot phase that tested two distinct insurance models, the new solution now protects more than 800 producers through their respective cooperatives. Payouts are automatically triggered by low rainfall. The coverage period runs from October 2025 to March 2026, aligning with the seasonality of agricultural activity.

Building a Resilient Future for Rural Finance

The lesson is clear. Africa’s agricultural growth requires a rethink and redesign of rural financial solutions to ensure access to financial services even in areas with limited connectivity. With a strategy rooted in local realities, Advans combines technology with proximity-whether through individual support in Tunisia or by leveraging cooperative and village association networks in Côte d’Ivoire.

Rural financial inclusion is advancing. Advans’ High-Tech, High-Touch approach illustrates how to drive it forward, combining innovation, proximity, and partnerships to help farmers move toward a more resilient future.

The commentary on the 2025 WASSCE results reflects a profound misunderstanding of how achievement systems function and a misreading of WAEC’s own administrative data. High stakes examination outcomes do not shift because of folklore about ‘apor,’ political timelines, or moral judgements about cohorts. They shift when the instructional, organisational, and supervisory conditions of schooling change. This is established in decades of empirical research. If system conditions are strengthened and performance improves, the claims currently being advanced collapse immediately. Explanations that cannot withstand changes in system quality lack analytical credibility.

Comparative research also shows that public narratives about educational performance often obscure the real drivers of achievement. Lubienski and Lubienski (2013) demonstrate that supposed advantages attached to particular groups or sectors disappear once system level factors such as instructional coherence, organisational support, and leadership arrangements are examined. Achievement follows systems, not stereotypes.

Assumption Over Analysis

The present debate illustrates this pattern exactly. Assumptions are being used where analysis is required. The idea that the 2025 decline occurred because students belonged to a previous administration is analytically indefensible. Political ancestry is a distant variable with no causal mechanism that can produce a sudden national decline in performance.

Achievement is shaped by immediate conditions such as instructional quality, curriculum pacing, assessment preparation, supervision, and school level organisation (Fullan, 2007). When these conditions weaken, performance declines. When they strengthen, performance improves. The causal structure is clear and has no interest in partisan timelines.

The argument that strict enforcement caused the 2025 decline is equally weak. WAEC’s own data show that 2024 was the more stringent year.

Three hundred and nineteen schools had results withheld for alleged collusion in 2024, compared to one hundred and eighty five schools in 2025. A claim that contradicts its own numerical evidence cannot stand. If strictness were responsible, the collapse would have occurred in 2024. The administrative record disproves this argument comprehensively.

Attributing the decline to the absence of leaked materials reflects a limited understanding of assessment validity. Even where surface level practice exists, dramatic national decline does not occur unless the educational infrastructure has weakened.

In assessment scholarship, test scores function as delayed indicators of system health (Brookhart, 2003). When leadership coherence, teacher support, curriculum coverage, or supervisory integrity decline, performance drops immediately and across the system. This is exactly the diagnostic pattern visible in 2025.

The steep and sudden decline observed in 2025 is itself a critical marker. Sharp one cycle reversals indicate organisational disruption rather than long term pedagogical weakness.

If inflated scores or widespread malpractice had been the main cause of previous success, performance would correct gradually as conditions changed. Instead, we see an abrupt collapse consistent with what organisational theory identifies as a breakdown of instructional coordination, a mechanism well documented in leadership research (Leithwood, Harris and Hopkins, 2008).

Attempts to present the 2025 results as a revelation of ‘true competence’ ignore the essential fact that achievement arises from distributed instructional processes.

When these processes fail because of weak supervision, fragmented leadership, poor pacing, or inadequate preparation, the consequences appear immediately in national examinations (Popham, 2017). The evidence points clearly to system performance rather than the character of students.

No Verdict

The 2025 WASSCE results are therefore not a verdict on previous governments, nor a moral judgement on students.

They are the predictable consequence of weakened system conditions. Achievement reflects the quality of instructional support, leadership coherence, and institutional readiness.

The research, the data, and the theoretical frameworks all point to the same conclusion. Systems produce outcomes, and when systems falter, outcomes fall.

Former U.S. international Alexi Lalas says he is eager to see Ghana drawn alongside the tournament hosts in next year’s FIFA World Cup.

The Black Stars, who secured qualification with an impressive 25 points at the top of their group, are set to make their fifth appearance at the global showpiece.

Speaking on Fox Sports’ World Cup preview programme ahead of Friday’s draw at the John F. Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C., Lalas said he would welcome a U.S.-Ghana matchup, despite acknowledging the threat the West Africans traditionally pose.

‘This isn’t a great Ghana team. Give me Ghana,’ the former defender declared. ‘This isn’t a great Ghana team, but it is still Ghana. They have plenty of history when it comes to playing against us.’

Ghana and the United States have developed a compelling World Cup rivalry. The Black Stars won their first two meetings-2-1 in the 2006 group stage and again 2-1 in the 2010 round of 16, with Asamoah Gyan delivering the decisive blow in extra time.

The U.S. claimed their only victory in 2014, edging Ghana 2-1 in their opening group match in Brazil.

Ghanaian highlife star, Kofi Kinaata, has released ‘Have Mercy 2’, a sequel to his 2022 track, teaming up with rap icon Sarkodie for a powerful fusion of highlife and hiplife.

The track delivers everything fans admire about both artistes: soulful melodies, reflective storytelling, and sharp lyrical craftsmanship.

Kofi Kinaata’s storytelling pairs with Sarkodie’s preacher-style flow, creating a highlife-hip-hop blend that fans are calling their New Year resolution.

Produced as a heartfelt collaboration, since Sarkodie first co-signed Kinaata in 2013, the song arrives with visuals framing it as a musical service, drawing streams across YouTube and Audiomack.

Following the release of the song, Kofi Kinaata and Sarkodie have been trending on X, with many praising the two musicians for the collaboration.

According to Ara Maestro, ‘There’s a reason Kofi Kinaata has won four Songwriter of the Year awards. He’s the best songwriter in Ghana #HaveMercy2.’

Sage Kenny wrote, ‘Sarkodie has the greatest flow in the whole world bro herh. Words so touching. ‘Have Mercy 2′ by Kofi Kinaata featuring Sarkodie is my New Year resolution.’

Big Stomzy also wrote, ‘The storytelling on ‘Have Mercy 2′ is unmatched. Kinaata did not come to play! #HaveMercy2.’

Big Kay wrote, ‘Rev. Sarkodie and Apostle Kofi Kinaata bless us with a new banger, a true reminder that there’s still hope ahead.’

KJunior added, ‘Kofi Kinaata never misses. absolutely incredible pen game from him featuring The Landlord. a time to be alive.’

Delta Air Lines has officially launched its expanded seasonal Accra-Atlanta service, first announced earlier this year, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra.

The daily flight, which will operate for six weeks through January 16, is in response to strong travel demand between the U.S. and Ghana, particularly during the peak December-January holiday season.

The new service adds to Delta’s year-round daily flights from New York-JFK, offering greater flexibility for both business and leisure travellers.

Speaking at the launch, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy, Ghana, Rolf Olson, highlighted the diplomatic and economic significance of the service.

‘The launch of Delta’s expanded Accra-Atlanta service symbolises the strengthening partnership between Ghana and the United States. More than a convenient connection, this route opens doors for economic growth, cultural exchange, and collaboration, providing new pathways for people to engage across continents.’

Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, reflecting on the operational and infrastructural perspective, said;

‘Ghana Airports Company Limited welcomes the expansion of Delta’s operations with this new Accra-Atlanta service. As passenger demand continues to grow, partnerships like this reinforce KIA’s role as a premier regional hub. We are proud to collaborate with Delta in delivering a seamless, world-class experience for travellers and advancing Ghana’s prominence in global aviation.’

Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority,Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur, commended Delta Air Lines for its continued commitment to Ghana and welcomed the new service with gratitude and optimism;

‘On behalf of the Board, Management, and Staff of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, I express our profound gratitude and joy in witnessing this maiden flight from Atlanta to Accra. We wish Delta Air Lines the very best as they operate this service, and believe that they will put smiles on the faces of families, friends, loved ones, officials, and the like.

The Accra-Atlanta flights will operate on Delta’s state-of-the-art Airbus A330-900neo.

Delta’s GSA Manager in Ghana, Eloina Baddoo, expressed gratitude to the dignitaries and partners whose continued support has been crucial to Delta’s growth and operations in the country.

This launch represents a strategic advancement in Delta’s dedication to Ghana and West Africa, improving regional access, responding to growing global travel demand, and reinforcing Ghana’s role in international networks, while delivering a premium service for passengers.

THE FOOTBALL Association of Wales (FAW) and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have entered a new strategic partnership aimed at improving coach development, promoting knowledge exchange, and expanding football cooperation between the two nations.

As part of the agreement, Ghanaian coaches will gain access to the FAW’s highly regarded coaching education system.

A select group of coaches identified by the GFA will travel to Wales in 2026 to begin specialised training-an opportunity expected to strengthen Ghana’s long-term football development.

The partnership was formalised during a visit by a high-level GFA delegation led by President Kurt Okraku to the FAW’s headquarters in Hensol.

There, the delegation held talks with FAW CEO Noel Mooney and Chief Football Officer Dr. David Adams. The discussions explored opportunities for collaboration, including potential youth and senior international fixtures between Wales and Ghana, who recently secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

FAW CEO Noel Mooney expressed enthusiasm for the agreement, noting that partnerships of this nature ‘create valuable opportunities to exchange ideas and support the continued growth and development of football across the world.’

Dr. David Adams, the FAW’s Chief Football Officer, highlighted the broader benefits of the initiative, emphasising that it would provide Welsh youth players with the exposure needed to experience football beyond Europe. He added that the collaboration would also allow both nations to share expertise as they seek to excel at major tournaments.

GFA President Kurt Okraku welcomed the partnership, describing it as a significant milestone in Ghana’s efforts to build a more innovative and globally connected football ecosystem. He praised the FAW’s strong reputation in coaching development and said the initiative would ultimately enhance player performance and strengthen Ghana’s national teams across all age categories.

The Inspector General of Police’s (IGP) Special Operations Team, has allegedly shot and killed one person at Waterworks, a suburb of Tamale in the Northern Region.

The body of the unidentified man, in his late 30s, has been transported to the hospital for preservation.

Eyewitnesses told journalists that the deceased came across the IGP’s Special Operations Team around a popular football park at Waterworks, and reportedly tried to escape on a motorbike. The victim, unfortunately, was hit by a bullet and died on the spot.

The IGP’s Special Operations Team, has stormed the Northern Region embarking on series of operations to clamp down on drug peddling and related criminal activities in the region.

Some residents have raised concerns about the nature of operation by the IGP’s Special Operations Team, and have called for a halt to their operations.

Others have also applauded the IGP’s Special Operations Team for bringing some sanity to the region and chasing out criminals from their hideouts in the region.

Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Police Command is yet to comment on the incident.

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that President John Dramani Mahama will, from January 1, 2026, formally declare education for all persons with special needs free in Ghana, describing the policy as a landmark social intervention aimed at protecting some of the country’s most marginalised citizens.

Contributing to a statement on the floor of Parliament yesterday, Mr. Iddrisu said the declaration was in line with the country’s international commitments to the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities, including global resolutions made under the auspices of the United Nations.

He recalled discussions at major global platforms such as the World Summit on Social Development in Doha, which reinforced the need for inclusive and equitable societies.

The Minister noted that despite global and national commitments, persons with disabilities in the country continue to face significant social, economic and infrastructural barriers.

He praised the government’s earlier introduction of free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, saying the new policy would deepen inclusion across all levels of special needs education.

He revealed that Ghana currently has about 39 special needs institutions across the country, particularly in the Ashanti and Volta regions and other parts of the country, where feeding grants for beneficiaries stand at about GHS8 per day.

The government, he said, has approved an increase of the daily feeding support to GHS15.

To provide a firm legal and financial backing for the policy, Mr. Iddrisu disclosed that his ministry would be laying before Parliament an amendment to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Act to formally guarantee free special needs education.

As part of the amendment, he stated that Parliament would be required every two years to approve a minimum allocation of between GHS65 million and GHS100 million from GETFund specifically for the feeding of learners in special needs institutions.

Beyond tuition and feeding, the Minister said the government would also prioritise the provision of assistive devices for learners with disabilities, particularly hearing aids and other specialised equipment used internationally to support persons with hearing and visual impairments.

Mr. Iddrisu further disclosed that President Mahama has directed an increase in the District Assemblies Common Fund allocation for persons with disabilities from three per cent to five per cent, with a strict requirement that the funds be utilised at the local level.

He said access to the fund would involve the Federation of Disabled People to ensure transparency and proper targeting.

While commending earlier contributors to the debate, Mr. Iddrisu admitted that many institutions in Ghana, including Parliament itself, remain disability-unfriendly due to poor infrastructure.

He stressed the urgent need for reforms to guarantee full accessibility for persons with disabilities as the country moves toward a more inclusive education system.