Category: Daily Guide Network

Founder of Fidelity Bank Ghana Ltd. and the Fidelity Group, Edward Effah, has been honored with the prestigious FAF Eminent Achievement Award, a landmark initiative by the Faculty of Accounting and Finance (FAF) at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).

The award celebrated Mr. Effah for his entrepreneurial foresight and transformative leadership in Ghana’s financial sector.

The Faculty’s citation lauded him for building Fidelity Bank, ‘into one of the nation’s most trusted and admired financial institutions, a beacon of indigenous excellence and sound governance.’

Presenting the award on behalf of the Faculty, CEO of the Ghana Association of Banks, John Awuah, highlighted that Mr. Effah’s ‘visionary leadership continues to inspire enterprise, innovation, and mentorship within Ghana and across the continent.’

In his remarks, Professor Isaac Boadi, Dean of the Faculty of Accounting and Finance at UPSA, articulated the award’s profound purpose.

‘The FAF Eminent Achievement Award was conceived by UPSA to honor trailblazers whose careers have driven ‘excellence and transformation’ in accounting, finance, banking, and economics,’ he said.

Mr. Effah’s journey is a chronicle of this transformation. After a distinguished career in finance in London and Accra, he founded The Fidelity Group in 1998, followed by the launch of Fidelity Bank in 2006.

His leadership was pivotal in growing the institution from a corporate finance advisory firm into one of Ghana’s leading Tier 1 banks.

The United States government has launched a new priority visa programme for fans attending the FIFA World Cup 2026S, offering expedited interview appointments for all ticket holders travelling to the country for the tournament.

The initiative, known as the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS), was formally unveiled at a high-profile event at the White House attended by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, members of the White House Task Force and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The programme will allow every fan with a valid match ticket to secure a prioritised visa interview, a move that both FIFA and U.S. officials describe as a major step toward ensuring smoother travel for international visitors ahead of the tournament.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the announcement as a milestone achievement in the lead-up to the first 48-team World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

‘America welcomes the world,’ Infantino said. ‘We have always said this will be the greatest and most inclusive FIFA World Cup in history – and the FIFA PASS service is a concrete example of that. I extend my sincere gratitude to President Donald J. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary Marco Rubio, Secretary Kristi Noem, Executive Director Andrew Giuliani and the White House Task Force for their incredible support.’

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio encouraged fans to take advantage of the service immediately.

‘The United States is offering prioritised appointments so FIFA World Cup fans can complete their visa interviews and show they qualify,’ Rubio said. ‘The kick-off is coming up, so now is the time to apply. We’re honored to host the greatest and safest World Cup in history.’

More than six million tickets are expected to be available for the 2026 tournament, which will take place in 16 host cities across North America. Fans from countries with open interview appointments are urged to submit their U.S. visa applications as soon as possible. Further details on the FIFA PASS system will be communicated to ticket holders in early 2026.

Travellers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries may still be eligible to enter the U.S. through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

President John Mahama says the Cedi does not serve as a unit of neither account nor a medium of exchange but symbolises the country’s identity and capacity to manage its monetary affairs.

Speaking at the Cedi at 60 Currency International Conference in Accra yesterday, President Mahama stated, ‘Sixty years ago, Ghana took a bold and sovereign step by introducing the cedi not merely as a unit of account nor a medium of exchange but as a declaration of independence, our identity and the capacity of our State.

‘The cedi at 60 is more than a celebration, it is a moment for analysis, it is a chance to consider what our currency stands for, how it has developed, and how it must be fortified for the years ahead’.

According to President Mahama, the world is experiencing the emergence of a hybrid monetary eco-system a new paradigm, where cash electronic payment and digital assets co-exists.

That, he indicated, has tested traditional monitoring policies, making trust in institutions as crucial as technical capacities and placing a significant responsibility on central banks not just as regulators of money but as guardians of trust.

He said the conference provides Ghana and Africa with invaluable platforms for evidenced based dialogue, comparative learning and forward looking policy innovation heightened by Ghana’s notable progress over the past ten months in achieving macroeconomic stability and restoring confidence in the country’s economy and currency.

‘Ghana’s gains must be protected, consolidated and expanded through policy discipline and institutional coherence. The core principle of effective economic management is an independent credible and professionally insulated central bank,’ he stated.

President Mahama, therefore, urged the Bank of Ghana to strengthen nationwide public education on promoting the use of the cedi in all domestic transactions in order to help strengthen economic stability and reduce unnecessary exposure to exchange rate volatility.

Parliament has approved, by consensus, a request to review the Investment Policy and Management of the Ghana Petroleum Funds in line with Section 30(1)(a) of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act 815).

The decision was taken after the House adopted the report of the Committee on Economy and Development.

The motion was moved by the Chairman of the Committee, Eric Afful, Member of Parliament (MP) for Amenfi West. The request for the review was first presented to the House on Thursday, November 13, 2025, by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and subsequently referred to the Committee for consideration.

The Committee met with the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Apem Darko, and officials from the Ministry to examine the proposal.

Their discussions centred on the guiding provisions of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, which was enacted to provide a clear framework for the collection, allocation, and long-term management of Ghana’s petroleum revenues in a transparent, accountable, and sustainable manner.

The Act establishes a robust governance structure for the management of petroleum resources. Section 29 of the law sets up an Investment Advisory Committee to guide the Minister on performance monitoring of the Ghana Petroleum Funds, while Section 27(2) mandates the Minister to periodically review the range of qualifying instruments in which the Funds may be invested.

According to the Committee, the request for review is timely and appropriate, as it will allow the government to broaden the scope of qualifying investment instruments. This, they noted, would position the state to earn higher returns on the Ghana Petroleum Funds while aligning with the country’s long-term development objectives.

Having completed its deliberations, the Committee unanimously recommended the adoption of its report.

The Ahanta West Constituency branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it does not believe that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) will operationalise the Agenda 111 hospital in the area.

‘We do not believe there is genuine commitment on the part of the ruling NDC to operationalise the Agenda 111 Hospital in Bokoro in the constituency,’ the NPP asserted.

According to the Ahanta West NPP, in March this year, the Minister for Health and the NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Kuukua Bissue, indicated that an amount of GHS140 million was needed to operationalise the Agenda 111 Hospital at Bokoro.

However, the party noted that during the recent presentation of the budget statement in Parliament, the Finance Minister disclosed that GHS100 million has been allocated to complete ten of the Agenda 111 hospitals across the country.

NPP pointed out that, it was clear that the earlier figure by the Health Minister and the MP was a misleading and inflated one, confirming the party’s long-held suspicion that there is no genuine commitment to make the health facility in their area operational.

This was contained in a statement issued by the NPP Communication Bureau of the constituency and signed by its Director, Barnabas Annan.

‘We are asking whether the Bokoro Agenda 111 Hospital is part of the ten facilities to be completed? The constituents deserve an honest answer,’ the statement stressed.

The statement asserted that the fully completed health facility by the previous Akufo-Addo-led NPP government is deteriorating.

The Ahanta West NPP also lamented that nothing was heard in the budget statement about the Western Regional Hospital started by the previous government, which is also in the constituency.

‘The budget only mentioned the upgrading of the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital and the construction of a health facility at Shama as far as the Western Region was concerned.

‘The omission of the Regional Hospital strongly suggests that the development of the Ahanta West Constituency is not a priority to the current government,’ the statement added.

The Ahanta West Constituency NPP also bemoaned the deplorable nature of the Agona Nkwanta-Dixcove road in the area.

According to the NPP’s statement, the MP for Ahanta West and the area’s Municipal Chief Executive had earlier stated that the road project would be completed by December 2025.

‘But the project was not mentioned in the budget statement. We do not even believe that the road could be completed within this short period.

‘Now there was no allocation for the project and currently and there is no commitment on paper to complete it. When will the NDC stop deceiving the people of Ahanta West?

‘We deserve development not just speeches. Government should prioritise these projects, and show clear commitment to operationalise the Bokoro Agenda 111 Hospital, complete the Regional Hospital in the area and the Agona Nkwanta-Dixcove road,’ the statement added.

PRESIDENT JOHN Dramani Mahama has stated his willingness to assent to the controversial ‘Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill’ also known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, if only Parliament passes the bill and sends it to his office.

Addressing a delegation from the Christian Council at the Jubilee House yesterday, President Mahama emphasised his stand on the passage of the bill, indicating that his office is ever ready to sign the bill anytime Parliament presents it to his office.

‘A person’s gender is determined at birth, and the family is the foundation of our nation. That is our position. So there are no questions or equivocations about what we believe.

‘I believe that we have no questions or equivocations about what we believe. I believe that we are completely aligned with the Christian Council in terms of your belief. We agree with the Speaker to relay the bill and let Parliament debate it.

‘And if there are any amendments or adjustments that need to be made, if the people’s representatives in Parliament endorse the bill, vote on it, and pass it, and it comes to me as President, I will sign it,’ President Mahama said.

During the early days of John Mahama’s administration, he is on record to have said that the bill is not needed if Ghanaian schools do a good job of teaching family values.

‘If we are teaching our values in school, we won’t need to pass a bill to enforce our family values. That’s why I think more than even the Family Values Bill, it is agreeing on a curriculum that inculcates these values into our children as they are growing up, so that we don’t need to legislate it,’ he said during a meeting with religious leaders.

Bill Reintroduction

Speaker Alban Bagbin recently clarified that the anti-LGBTQ+ bill must be reintroduced in the current Parliament after it expired at the end of the 8th Parliament.

This was after the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, argued that the bill had already been passed and did not need to be reintroduced.

‘The Eighth Parliament is history. So are all the businesses that were pending in the Eighth Parliament. They all ended with the Eighth Parliament, and so we have a new Parliament, the Ninth Parliament, and therefore what was pending there came to an end and has to be reintroduced,’ the Speaker stated.

The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill (Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill) was introduced in 2021, seeking harsher penalties and bans on LGBTQ+ advocacy.

In February 2024, Parliament unanimously passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, imposing up to three years prison term for identifying as LGBTQ+ and up to five years for funding/organising related groups.

In the lead up to the December 2024 general election, rumours purported by the then National Democratic Congress (NDC) indicated that former President Nana  Akufo-Addo was unwilling to assent to the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.

Rev. Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South, who doubles as a sponsor of the bill, in an interview, clarified that legal challenges prevented the bill from reaching the President’s desk for consideration.

‘I have never said that anyone can blame President Nana Akufo-Addo for our loss. Neither did I say that President Akufo-Addo failed or refused to assent to the bill,’ he said.

‘When the hands of Parliament were stayed and enjoined from transmitting the bill, the President could not even have the privilege of receiving it to take a decision upon.’

Rev. Fordjour explained that from the early stages of the bill’s journey through Parliament, it faced multiple legal hurdles. These challenges, he said, started from the first reading and stakeholder engagements through to the amendment stages.

‘Even before the third reading, there were many legal challenges. A lot of dissenting opinions tested it in court, and determinations were made,’ he noted.

He further added that just when Parliament thought all legal issues had been resolved and the bill could be transmitted, a fresh lawsuit emerged.

This new legal action placed an injunction on Parliament, effectively halting the process of forwarding the bill to the President.

THE GHANA Football Association (GFA) has expressed its profound sorrow following the tragic death of two Aduana FC supporters who were involved in a fatal accident on Sunday while returning from their club’s league match in Kumasi.

The fans had travelled to cheer Aduana FC in their 1-1 draw against Asante Kotoko, but their journey home ended in tragedy.

The GFA described the deceased supporters as devoted followers whose passion and loyalty to their club ‘will never be forgotten.’

In a statement, the Association extended its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, the injured, the playing body and the entire Aduana FC community.

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the departed, the injured supporters, the players and all Aduana FC fans during this profoundly difficult time,’ the statement read.

‘The Football Association, together with Premier League clubs, stands firmly in solidarity with Aduana FC as we mourn this heartbreaking loss.’

Executive Council member Frederick Acheampong has visited the injured supporters receiving treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The GFA says it remains in close contact with Aduana FC leadership and will continue providing all necessary support.

Meanwhile, Kumasi Asante Kotoko has also extended condolences to Aduana Stars and the families of the deceased supporters following the deadly accident.

‘The passing of these passionate fans, who were returning from supporting their beloved club, is an immense loss that we feel deeply,’ a Kotoko statement noted.

The statement further wished the two injured supporters ‘a full, swift, and successful recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families during this challenging time of healing.’

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has assumed jurisdiction in the case filed by former Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo challenging the legality of her removal from office.

This was after the court, sitting in Abuja, Nigeria dismissed the preliminary objections filed by the Republic of Ghana through the Attorney General, challenging its jurisdiction to hear and determine the case.

The court in its decision on the preliminary objection held that the case filed by the former Chief Justice had raised prima facie hence the court has jurisdiction to determine the matter.

Meanwhile, the court has dismissed an application by the former Chief Justice asking for provisional measures, including reinstating her as Chief Justice pending the determination of the case.

The court held that she did not exhibit the urgency required to grant such a request, given the fact that the suspension had taken place over three months before she approached the court for legal redress.

The court has given Ghana 30 days within which to file its defence to the substantive case.

Justice Torkornoo filed a suit before the regional court alleging breaches of her rights to dignity, fair hearing and right to work when President Joh Dramani Mahama suspended her on April 22, 2025 following the setting up of a committee to probe three petitions calling for her removal from office.

Ghanaian gospel songstress, Grace Ashly, has recounted how her song, ‘Gethsemane’, saved a man from committing suicide.

Speaking in an interview on Flight Time hosted by Lord Sly on Guide Radio 91.5 FM, the renowned gospel act stated that ‘my word composition in my song has encouraged people and, to some extent, helped someone terminate the decision to commit suicide.

‘We have a force that pushes us to write the song, and it’s from God. I have this song, ‘Gethsemane’. This was talking about the death of Christ and the benefit of the death. This song, somebody was about to commit suicide, and after watching the video, the song made him have a change of mind.’

She reiterated that choosing words for song composition is vital, as it has the tendency to change the present situation of an individual within a short space of time.

Grace Ashly added that growing up, she mirrored Esther Nyamekye, and Daddy Lumba’s music inspired her music. She called for proper structures in the Ghana music industry to support aged veterans who have supported the growth of the industry.

Grace Ashly is known for her powerful, spirit-lifting songs and for blending modern gospel with traditional Ghanaian rhythms. Over the past 25 years, she has become a household name, especially for her ‘queen of supporters’ songs’ that energised the Black Stars and united fans across the country.

She recently celebrated a silver anniversary concert and shifted focus to mentorship, outreach, and new worship projects.

Margins ID Group has partnered with the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA) to redevelop the Kinbu Triangle, one of central Accra’s busiest intersections, as part of the company’s 35th anniversary celebration.

The project, fully financed by Margins as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitments, will introduce new greenery, safer pedestrian routes and renewable-energy lighting to ease congestion as well as reduce rising urban temperatures.

The handover of the site was formalised on November 17, 2025, when the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of KoKMA, Alfred Allotey-Gaisie, officially transferred responsibility for the redevelopment to Margins.

The MCE said the professionalism and strong presentation delivered by the youthful Margins team played a significant role in the Assembly’s decision to partner with the company.

He explained that several open and green spaces across the municipality require rehabilitation, noting that neglected areas quickly attract hawkers, create disorder and become difficult to reclaim. He described the initiative as a timely intervention that supports efforts to restore Accra’s image as a modern and well-organised capital city.

‘We are happy to have you as partners and look forward to working with you,’ he said.

Founder and CEO of Margins, Moses Kwesi Baiden Jnr., said the project reflects the creativity and leadership needed to address local urban challenges.

‘We are all part of government, and citizens must also play a role in finding solutions,’ he noted. ‘These solutions are not always financial; sometimes they require vision and partnerships with those who share a mutual interest in national development.’

Mr. Baiden commended the Assembly for recognising the problem and engaging suitable partners to deliver a sustainable solution. He said such collaboration is essential to addressing Ghana’s broader development challenges by combining the resilience of the private sector with public-sector leadership.

He highlighted Margins’ experience in public-private partnerships, citing the Ghana Card project as a strong example of the benefits of aligning public mandates with private expertise.

‘We’ve walked past this area many times, wondering why it had become occupied and neglected,’ he said. ‘Your vision, coupled with our partnership, can transform this barren space into a landmark. All it takes is leadership and clarity of purpose.’

Mr. Baiden reaffirmed Margins’ commitment to ‘lighting up the triangle’ and ensuring the redevelopment becomes a model for similar initiatives nationwide.

‘This partnership reflects our belief that responsible companies must contribute to the communities they operate in. Ghana has the talent and capacity; we simply need to work together,’ he stated.

The redevelopment forms part of Margins ID Group’s wider Sustainable Development Goals programme, particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The upgraded Kinbu Triangle is intended both as a public benefit and as a symbolic milestone marking the Group’s 35 years of service.

Margins ID Systems Applications Limited, the Group’s technology arm, will lead implementation and provide annual maintenance to keep the space functional and well-preserved.

Architect for the project, Ama Ogbugo of Slate Urban Design, said the aim is to create a sustainable, visually appealing and iconic destination that meets SDG standards. The design team aims to complete the redevelopment by Christmas and will work closely with Department of Parks and Gardens and KoKMA to address any challenges that arise.

The project responds to concerns about heat, air quality and pedestrian safety along a commercial corridor linking major roads and office complexes. The redesign will introduce climate-resilient landscaping, defined walkways and improved crossings to create a cooler, safer and more accessible environment.

The redesigned Kinbu Triangle will feature solar lighting powered by 300-watt panels, defined walkways, decorative kerbs, protective fencing, ornamental plants and a central sculptural installation.