Category: Daily Guide Network

The Minority in Parliament has alleged that GHS6.27 million meant for the reintegration and transportation of Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa has not been properly accounted for in records provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to the Minority, only 824 of the 1,964 evacuees could be confirmed from the payment registers as having received both the GHS5,000 reintegration grant and the GHS500 transport allowance, contrary to the ministry’s stated position that all evacuees received the two packages.

Addressing the media in Parliament yesterday, Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and Member of Parliament for Bosome-Freho, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, said the discrepancy leaves 1,140 evacuees whose payments could not be properly reconciled, requiring the ministry to explain the whereabouts of the funds.

The press conference followed the Minority’s review of documents supplied by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in response to a request under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The Minority stated that its analysis involved matching names on the signed registers for the GHS5,000 reintegration package against those on the GHS500 transport allowance register to establish the number of evacuees who could be confirmed as having received both payments.

It said the findings formed part of broader discrepancies identified in the records relating to the evacuation exercise, which the minister has valued at GHS49.72 million.

According to the Minority, the amount comprises GHS33.72 million in government-funded expenditure and GHS16 million attributed to Engineers and Planners for air tickets and reintegration support.

The caucus intimated that the minister also indicated that 1,964 Ghanaians were evacuated following xenophobic violence in South Africa, with each person receiving a GHS5,000 reintegration grant and a GHS500 transport allowance.

However, the Minority said its examination of the documents raised questions about whether the reported number of evacuees and the expenditure incurred could be fully supported by the records supplied.

It also cited differences in the number of people who signed for the two payment packages.

The Minority said 1,708 people signed for the reintegration grant, while 1,001 signed for the transport allowance, leaving a difference of 707.

The Minority argued that the figures required an explanation, given the minister’s assertion that all 1,964 evacuees received both packages.

Beyond the payment discrepancies, the Minority questioned the records supporting the cost of commercial flights and related layover expenses.

It said the ministry reported spending GHS9.42 million on flight tickets and layover expenses for the 1,038 people presumed to have travelled by commercial flights, after 926 evacuees were transported on chartered flights.

The Minority, however, claimed that the documents provided could establish the evacuation of only 247 people by commercial flights.

Together with the 926 people recorded as having travelled on chartered flights, it said the records accounted for 1,173 evacuees, leaving 791 people whose evacuation it could not verify from the documents.

Using its estimated average flight and layover cost per person, the Minority put the amount requiring further explanation at GHS7.18 million.

It further identified alleged duplicate names in the reintegration and transport registers and flight manifests, raising questions about whether some individuals had been counted more than once in the reported figures.

Mr. Ayeh also raised concerns over 442 minors listed in the reintegration register, questioning whether the ministry had established specific safeguards for payments involving children and whether the money was received directly by them or through parents or guardians.

The Minority estimated the combined value of the reintegration and transport packages associated with the 442 minors at GHS2.431 million and said the ministry needed to clarify how the payments were handled.

Combining the discrepancies it identified in the payment registers, flight records and other documents, the Minority put the total amount requiring satisfactory explanation at GHS16.42 million, representing about 33 per cent of the reported cost of the evacuation exercise.

Mr. Ayeh said the discrepancies could mean that the ministry had not provided the complete details of the exercise or that the number of people evacuated and the expenditure incurred had been overstated.

The Minority called for a full and independent audit of the exercise, proposing that it be conducted by Deloitte Ghana, KPMG Ghana, PricewaterhouseCoopers Ghana or Ernst and Young Ghana, or another firm of comparable standing.

It also demanded that the audit’s terms of reference and findings be made public to enable Ghanaians to scrutinise the use of public funds.

While acknowledging that the minister had responded to its RTI request and invited the Auditor-General to audit the exercise, the Minority maintained that the response did not fully address its concerns over payment reconciliation, duplicate and unsigned entries, and supporting documentation for flight and logistics costs.

It urged the minister to provide a comprehensive account of the expenditure, insisting that public funds used to evacuate and support Ghanaians fleeing xenophobic violence must be subjected to transparent and verifiable accounting.

The Deputy Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports and Member of Parliament (MP) for Oforikrom, Michael Kwasi Aidoo, has called on government and the Ministry of Finance to ensure the timely release of funds to the National Youth Authority (NYA) and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).

He noted that delays in releasing the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), on which the NYA largely depends, were affecting operations and hindering the Authority’s target of training 100,000 young people this year, with fewer than 20,000 trained so far.

‘We are therefore appealing to the government and the Ministry of Finance to turn their attention to the agencies under the Ministry of Youth Development. If the issues of the youth are truly close to their hearts, they should ensure that the necessary funding is made available to these agencies,’ Mr. Aidoo said.

He disclosed that the Committee had also inspected the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex, where the NYA has managed to improve the facility despite limited resources, and expressed optimism that it would be fully operational by the end of the year or early next year.

Mr. Aidoo made the appeal when the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports paid a working visit to the National Youth Authority Headquarters to assess its operations, programmes and challenges.

The Chief Executive Officer of the NYA, Osman Ayariga Esq., briefed the Committee on the Authority’s mandate, operations and ongoing efforts to advance youth development in Ghana, highlighting key programmes and constraints.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations and Programmes, Alhaji Inusah Mahama, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to fulfilling its mandate and working closely with Parliament to address existing challenges.

The Chairman of the Committee and MP for Ashaiman, Ernest Henry Norgbey, acknowledged the challenges confronting the Authority and commended the CEO and staff for their continued efforts despite limited resources, pledging the Committee’s support to help resolve the issues.

MTN Ghana is intensifying its digital financial inclusion drive with a campaign to transition customers from traditional Mobile Money (MoMo) transactions to the MoMo App, which the company says offers a wider range of convenient financial services.

Isaac Agyenim Boateng, Manager for Brands and Communication at MTN Ghana, speaking at MomoFest in Ho said the event was part of the company’s broader digital agenda to encourage customers to transact digitally and take advantage of the expanded services available on the MoMo platform.

He said while many customers continued to rely on the *170# short code for basic transactions, the MoMo App had evolved into a one-stop financial tool offering customers convenience and access to services beyond money transfers, including savings, investments, loans and pension products.

According to him, MTN had, over the past two weeks, undertaken a number of activations in the Volta Region, including in Ho and other locations, moving into communities, homes and offices to assist customers to download and use the app. ‘For us as a business now, we are moving from wallet to financial well-being,’ he said.

Mr. Boateng said the objective was to help customers move beyond simply sending and receiving money to using their MoMo wallets to improve their financial stability and grow their finances.

He also encouraged customers to embrace the digital era and make the MoMo App their preferred channel for accessing MTN’s financial services.

On security, he assured customers that the MoMo platform was ISO-certified and designed with robust security measures to protect users.

He, however, cautioned customers to take responsibility for protecting their accounts, stressing that their PINs and one-time passwords must never be disclosed to other persons.

He said MTN was complementing its technological security measures with continuous customer education through social media campaigns, SMS messages, weekly fraud-prevention tips and a fraud education series on its YouTube channels. ‘Your PIN is your key. It is a key to your wallet,’ he cautioned.

Some vendors participating in the MomoFest also praised the cashless payment system, saying it had made transactions safer and more convenient.

Abandoned Grace Oma, a vendor, said the system reduced the risks associated with carrying cash after sales, while Millicent, popularly known as MG of MG Scoreset, said cashless transactions had become an integral part of her online business.

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is set to issue a new Credit Risk Management Directive to strengthen lending practices, improve loan recovery and address rising non-performing loans (NPLs) in the financial sector.

The Second Deputy Governor, Matilda Asante-Asiedu, announced this at the commissioning of Advans Ghana Savings and Loans’ new head office at Dzorwulu in Accra.

She said the directive will require Regulated Financial Institutions (RFIs) to establish robust credit risk management frameworks covering credit underwriting, loan administration, risk measurement, monitoring and recovery.

‘This directive aims to ensure that Regulated Financial Institutions (RFIs) develop and implement appropriate frameworks for managing their credit risk by establishing a robust credit risk environment; a sound credit-underwriting process; and maintaining appropriate credit administration, measurement, monitoring, and recovery processes and functions,’ she stated.

The directive will also set clear requirements for how institutions assess borrowers, manage credit risk and monitor loans to reduce the accumulation of bad debts.

Savings and Loans NPLs Rising

The announcement comes as the savings and loans sub-sector faces growing pressure to improve its loan portfolios.

The BoG expects RFIs to bring their NPL ratios down to no more than 10 per cent by the end of December 2026. While the industry-wide ratio has improved, the sub-sector’s has deteriorated.

‘The banking industry’s ratio stood at 16.1 per cent at end-June 2026, down from over 23 per cent a year earlier. However, for the Savings and Loans sub-sector, the NPL deteriorated from 15.35% in June 2025 to 19.44% for the same period in 2026. So, there is real work ahead of us in this last quarter to bring this in line with the regulatory expectation,’ Mrs. Asante-Asiedu said.

She noted that the BoG’s 2025 Notice on Non-Performing Loans had already set supervisory expectations for credit risk governance, prudential limits for NPL ratios and remedial measures for willful defaulters.

The new directive, she said, reinforces these measures by requiring stronger credit risk management systems and more effective oversight of lending across the loan cycle, complementing existing regulatory measures to improve asset quality and strengthen the financial system.

Ghanaian disc jockey, DJ Sonatty, real name Peprah Daniel, has made a major breakthrough in the DJ industry after surpassing one million followers on TikTok.

The feat marks another major milestone in the career of one of the country’s rising DJ talents.

The achievement further underlines Sonatty’s growing influence in Ghana’s entertainment space, particularly among a new generation of music lovers who consume and discover content through social media.

His rise has also been marked by a series of significant moments at the Ghana DJ Awards, the country’s biggest DJ stage.

In 2024, Sonatty performed at the Ghana DJ Awards alongside Team AVO, led by acclaimed DJ Shiwaawa, putting him on one of the biggest stages dedicated to celebrating Ghana’s DJ culture.

That same year proved to be a defining period in his career. Sonatty went on to win Discovery of the Year and Best DJ – Central Region at the Ghana DJ Awards.

He followed those achievements in 2025 by winning Mixtape of the Year, taking his Ghana DJ Awards tally to three major honours.

His latest achievement on TikTok adds a significant digital dimension to that growing profile.

Surpassing one million followers places Sonatty among Ghanaian DJs who have successfully turned social media into an extension of their craft, using digital platforms to connect with audiences beyond clubs, radio and live events.

For a new generation of DJs, platforms such as TikTok have become powerful tools for showcasing personality, music selection, creativity and performance while building direct relationships with audiences.

Sonatty’s journey reflects that evolution.

From performing at the Ghana DJ Awards with Team AVO in 2024, to being recognised as Discovery of the Year and Best DJ – Central Region, and subsequently winning Mixtape of the Year in 2025, his career has continued to gather momentum.

The one-million-follower milestone now provides another measure of that growth.

As Ghana’s DJ culture continues to expand and DJs increasingly become content creators and digital personalities, Sonatty’s rise demonstrates how recognition on the industry’s biggest stage can develop into a wider audience online.

With three Ghana DJ Awards to his name and a TikTok community of more than one million followers, DJ Sonatty is building a career that extends well beyond the decks; and his digital journey appears to be just getting started.

An Accra Circuit Court has remanded two men in police custody over an alleged GHS800,000 fraud involving a Ghanaian resident in the United States.

The two, Bilyaminu Ibrahim, a media worker, and Mohammed Musah, a journalist, were charged with conspiracy to commit crime, namely defrauding by false pretence and harbouring a criminal, respectively, Ghana News Agency reported.

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Ramata Asumah, told the court that Fawuziya Issaka, younger sister of the alleged victim, Tourwana Katakarauo, who lives in the United States, reported the case to the police.

The prosecution said in 2021, Katakaraou Jabiru, an alleged accomplice of Ibrahim, learnt that Tourwana was facing challenges and allegedly planned with Ibrahim to obtain money from her under false pretences.

Jabiru allegedly told Fawuziya that he knew a spiritualist who could help Tourwana, with Ibrahim allegedly posing as the spiritualist.

According to the prosecution, the two collected about GHS800,000 from Tourwana in instalments, claiming the money was needed for sacrifices and other spiritual activities to avert attacks against her and her mother.

They later allegedly told her that her late father was indebted to an unknown person who intended to haunt her spiritually, resulting in further payments for Quran recitals and other activities.

The matter was initially reported to family elders but could not be resolved, leading to a police complaint.

During investigations, Ibrahim allegedly admitted posing as a spiritualist. Court documents indicate that the police have recovered GHS49,000 from him.

The prosecution said Jabiru fled to Togo after Ibrahim’s arrest, but returned to Dodowa in September 2026 and stayed with Ibrahim and Musah.

On October 1, police officers who went to Jabiru’s residence allegedly met Musah, who told them Jabiru had gone out.

Musah later sent Jabiru a message saying, ‘Don’t come to the house.’

The prosecution said Musah admitted sending the message because he did not want Jabiru arrested. The police says Jabiru is currently at large.

The two pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been remanded into police custody by the court, presided over by His Honour Joseph Kunsong, to reappear on October 20, 2026.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a major crackdown on a suspected scam operation in the country.

According to the Bureau, the operation has so far recorded nearly $10 million in identified losses with 89 victims.

More than 130 individuals have been arrested or detained, including victims who are expected to be repatriated to their home countries.

In addition, over 300 electronic devices have been seized as investigations continue under ‘Operation Blackout’.

The FBI’s announcement on Thursday of a major scam bust in Ghana is the latest in a series of crackdowns targeting fraud compounds in the country.

FBI Director, Kash Patel, said in a post on X on Thursday, October 8, 2026, that under ‘Operation Blackout’, its global scam-centre demolition campaign, another takedown was carried out in Ghana this week.

According to Patel, ‘the Ghana raid has so far resulted in nearly $10 million in identified losses, 89 victims identified, 130+ individuals arrested or detained, including victims who will be repatriated to their home country and 300+ devices seized.’

The FBI says the investigation is ongoing and did not disclose the exact location in Ghana, the identities of those arrested, or which Ghanaian agencies participated.

The Bureau noted that some of those counted in the 130+ figure are actually victims who were trafficked into the scam compound and will be repatriated, not suspects.

Previous Raids

The latest operation comes after several separate cybercrime cases in Ghana.

In August 2025, the Cyber Security Authority and the CID arrested 39 people at Adom City Estate in Tema Community 25 over suspected cyber-fraud activities.

In December 2025, Ghanaian national Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, was arrested following a US extradition request over an alleged $8 million romance-fraud scheme targeting American victims. He was extradited to the US in July 2026.

In November 2024, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) also raided a QNET network in Kumasi where 320 people were taken into custody as rescued trafficking victims.

Kash Patel said ‘Operation Blackout’, globally, has so far led to roughly $17 billion in assets seized, hundreds of alleged scammers arrested, thousands of trafficked workers freed, and over 10,000 Americans warned before losing money, preventing an estimated $670 million in losses.

The Government has announced its decision to join the BRICS organisation, a move that has triggered concerns over its implications for the country’s national interest, with the Minority in Parliament demanding answers from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Reacting to the announcement, Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, acknowledged the potential benefits should the country’s bid be successful, but was quick to highlight the far-reaching adverse implications that must be addressed.

He questioned why only three African countries have so far become full members, and what lessons can be drawn from Ethiopia’s experience since joining BRICS, including its balance of trade performance.

He also raised concerns about why Ghana is not taking the path of Nigeria, which is a partner country of BRICS and not a full member, but is also an accredited member of the New Development Bank (NDB), the financial arm of BRICS, thereby limiting its exposure and risk.

‘What will be the implication of that on our national economy and the finances of our country, what will be the implication on our country’s national economy vis-à-vis it potentially becoming a dumping ground for the big nations of BRICS such as China, especially when our country is largely an import-driven economy,’ he asked.

Mr. Jinapor further highlighted the implication for geopolitics, given that Ghana is a non-aligned country.

He, therefore, demanded that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, when Parliament resumes, brief the House as a matter of urgency.

‘We think the Foreign Affairs Minister, once Parliament resumes, ought to brief Parliament as a matter of urgency to set out the full details of this decision and the full contours of our relationship.

‘Our potential relationship with BRICS, and what the implications will be on our national economy, our national interest, and Ghana’s standing in the international community, given the decision that has been taken,’ he said.

Background

BRICS was formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. In 2024, the bloc expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, with Indonesia joining in 2025, bringing membership to 11, with Nigeria and several others as partner states.

The bloc positions itself as a platform for South-South cooperation, reform of global governance and alternative development financing through the New Development Bank based in Shanghai.

Government is yet to provide full details of its BRICS application, the timeline for accession and the expected benefits.

Ghanaian spiritual Highlife and Afro-fusion sensation, AratheJay, is set to light up XCape Beach Resort in Cape Coast on Sunday, October 11.

The singer, born Samuel Ofei Ankrah Badu, says the concert will be a special moment for the Central Region, as it marks his first-ever live performance in the historic city.

‘This will be a special moment for the people of Cape Coast, because for the first time, I’m going to have a show there. It’s going to be a live band performance,’ AratheJay said.

The Cape Coast show forms part of a nationwide city tour leading up to his major headline concert in Accra this December.

According to the artiste, the tour is designed to give fans an intimate experience of his evolving sound.

‘We are leading the audience to an experience which is going to happen in December in Accra. But before that, we are going to touch a couple of cities, so we just came from Kumasi, we do Cape Coast and hopeful another city before closing the year with Nimo Live Experience in Accra,’ he explained.

The award-winning crooner promised fans in Cape Coast an unforgettable night with his live band, featuring some of his biggest records.

Fans should expect AratheJay to unleash countless hit songs to create an irresistible atmosphere.

He described the upcoming concert as a deeper connection to his artistry.

‘Nimo Live is AraTheJay live on stage. One set at a time, you get to hear AratheJay and listen to his music, but this time you get to feel the individual, get to understand the depth of what he makes music with. It’s not just lyrics and melodies; it’s more than that. That’s why I yearn for the audience to come for Nimo Life, come and experience me more live,’ he said.

Known for blending traditional Ghanaian Highlife with Afro-soul and contemporary Afrobeats, AratheJay has been spotlighted by Apple Music’s Africa Rising Class of 2025 and Up Next programme, OkayAfrica and Amplify Africa a testament to his potential to take on the world.

Fidelity Bank Ghana has officially launched activities to mark its 20th anniversary under the theme, ‘Twenty Years of Audacious Steps,’ celebrating two decades of bold decisions, innovation, customer partnership and commitment to Ghana’s socio-economic development.

The celebration marks a significant milestone in the journey of a bank that began in 1998 as Fidelity Discount House with an initial capital of US$1 million before becoming a universal bank in 2006.

Speaking at the launch, Founder, Edward Effah, reflected on the original dream behind the institution: to build a world-class Ghanaian bank that would make a meaningful difference to individuals and businesses while contributing to Ghana’s economic development.

That vision, he said, has remained central to Fidelity’s evolution, from financial inclusion and SME support to financing major projects in the energy, housing and healthcare sectors.

Speaking at the launch, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Ghana, Julian Opuni, said the Bank’s 20-year journey had been shaped by bold choices and a willingness to take calculated risks, challenge convention and invest in the future.

‘We did not get here by standing still. We have taken calculated risks, entered new markets, challenged convention, invested in our people, embraced innovation and made difficult decisions when the easier option would have been to play safe,’ he said.

As part of the anniversary, Fidelity Bank has announced a major new corporate social responsibility commitment to install solar energy systems in 20 community hospitals across Ghana.

Additionally, the Bank will also launch ‘Impact at Twenty’ where staff teams will deliver 20 community projects, contribute more than 2,000 volunteer hours and reach more than 20,000 people, with a focus on health, climate action and the communities where Fidelity employees live and serve.

Fidelity Bank also unveiled the Fidelity Jubilee Drive Promo, Double Double Edition, as part of its tradition of rewarding customers at major milestones.

The promotion, which runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 March 2027, will give customers the opportunity to win eight electric vehicles and GHS340,000 in cash prizes, with monthly draws culminating in a Grand Draw in April 2027. The draws will be conducted by the National Lottery Authority on its Caritas platform.

Under the promotion, customers earn tickets by saving and maintaining multiples of GHS1,000 in their Fidelity accounts. Customers who save GHS2,000 or more receive double tickets, giving the campaign its ‘Double Double’ concept.

The introduction of electric vehicles marks a first for Fidelity’s customer promotions and reflects the Bank’s growing focus on sustainable finance and cleaner mobility.

As Fidelity Bank begins its third decade, the anniversary celebration is positioned not simply as a reflection on the past, but as a statement of continued commitment to customers, communities and Ghana’s future.