Category: Daily Guide Network

Telecel Ghana has been honoured with the ‘New Media Campaign of the Year’ award, in recognition of its groundbreaking rebranding campaign dubbed, ‘Telecel Ghana is Here’ at the recently held Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) Awards.

The accolade celebrates Telecel Ghana’s bold and strategic brand transition following its acquisition of majority shares in the Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited.

The campaign, designed to introduce the new identity while maintaining customer confidence, successfully announced the telecom brand’s arrival, educated the public on their value, and reaffirmed the continuity of trusted connectivity services.

Executed nationwide across key customer touchpoints beyond media segments including markets, bus stations, and high-footfall areas, the ‘Telecel Ghana is Here’ campaign achieved exceptional visibility and recorded total of 71% brand awareness nationwide within seven months of launch, driving mass awareness and relevance across Ghana.

According to the CIMG citation, the campaign stood out for its ‘strategic clarity, impactful reach, and customer assurance,’ achieving impressive results including a 14.9% market share that firmly positioned Telecel Ghana as one of the country’s leading telecom brands.

Speaking on the recognition, Head of Brand, Marketing Communications and Events, at Telecel Ghana, Andre Tayo Jnr, expressed appreciation to the campaign team and external stakeholders for their commitment and creativity.

‘This award speaks to the dedication, innovation, and passion of the Telecel Ghana team. Rebranding a household name was no small feat, but through collaboration, innovation, agility, and a deep understanding of our customers, we have built a strong new identity that Ghanaians trust and connect with,’ he said.

CHINA CITY Mall, a major retail shopping center located at Santase Roundabout in Kumasi, has been razed down by fire.

The fire, reportedly, started yesterday afternoon when people were shopping in the facility.

According to eyewitnesses reports, shoppers and the attendants at the mall, upon seeing the fire, took to their heels to save their lives.

The dangerous inferno, destroyed items in the shop, valued at millions of Ghana Cedis.

The exact cause of the fire was not immediately known but some people at the scene suspected electrical power fluctuation may have sparked the inferno.

Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) who were called to the scene managed to douse the fire.

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Chief Executive, Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi aka ‘Zuba’ also rushed to the scene to console the owners of the facility.

The cause of the fire was being investigated by the GNFS when the story was being filed.

The Republic of Paraguay materialized, on Wednesday, its recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara through the announcement of the opening of a Consulate General.

During his meeting in Rabat with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Paraguay, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, reaffirmed his country’s full support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara and for the autonomy initiative presented by the Kingdom in 2007, considered as the only serious, credible and realistic basis for settling the regional dispute.

On this occasion, the Paraguayan Foreign Minister announced his country’s decision to soon open a Consulate General in the southern provinces, as a clear sign of support for the Kingdom’s territorial integrity.

This stance follows the withdrawal, in 2014, of Asunción’s recognition of the puppet entity, as well as the series of joint statements and political consultations that have since consolidated Paraguay’s support for Morocco’s national cause.

Paraguay’s decision to open a Consulate General in the Kingdom’s southern provinces constitutes a strong political act, illustrating the growing recognition, in Latin America, of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces and the strength of the ties of friendship and cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Paraguay.

Former Executive Director of National Service Authority (NSA), Osei Assibey Antwi looked dispirited yesterday when he left a High Court in Accra, where he was granted a whopping GHS800 million bail for allegedly stealing about GHS650 million from the state.

He was dragged before the court on allegations of authorising payments of allowances to over 60,000 non-existent national service personnel between August 2021 and February 2025, causing the state financial loss in the process.

He has been charged with a total of 14 counts of stealing, causing financial loss to the state and money laundering.

Osei Assibey has been accused of causing financial loss of GHS8,256,000 to the state by authorising transfers from the NSA’s Control Account to e-zwich card number 1177042059 which is registered in his name.

He is again accused of laundering the GHS8,256,000 by diverting it into his e-zwich account, knowing the money formed part of unlawful activity.

The former Mayor of Kumasi is also facing charges of causing financial loss of GHS55 million belonging to the NSA by authorising the withdrawal of the said amount from Project Account number 1018631542212 for the Kumawu Farm Project ‘without expending it on the project.’

He appeared before the court yesterday where he pleaded not guilty to all the 14 counts of offences levelled against him.

His lawyer, Osei Owusu, pleaded with the court to grant him bail pending trial, indicating that the accused person is in a hurry to prove his innocence before the court.

He pledged total cooperation on the part of the accused and his legal team ‘for an expeditious trial that will lead to his acquittal and discharge.’

He further pointed out that Osei Assibey is a known figure as indicated by the prosecution, having served the nation in various capacities and shall not in any way violate any term imposed on him to stand trial.

‘We pray that the accused person be admitted to self recognisance bail so that he can enjoy all the freedoms that the constitution guarantees him to defend himself properly before you,’ Mr. Owusu added.

Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, did not oppose the grant of bail but told the court to take into consideration that ‘under the watch of the accused person the nation cannot find GHS1.5 billion.’

He also urged the court to consider the gravity of the offence, the amount of money lost and whether the accused person is likely to present himself for the trial.

‘Persons with sufficient means and who are faced with offences of grave weight as in this case, present a much, much higher flight risk. We pray that the court will take this into account in determining the bail conditions of the accused persons,’ Dr. Srem-Sai added.

Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie, the presiding judge, granted Osei Assibey bail of GHS800 million with six sureties who are to present security with landed property equivalent to the bail sum.

The sureties are to deposit copies of their ID cards with the registry of the court while the accused is to deposit his passport with the registrar.

The accused was further placed on the Ghana Immigration Stop List pending the determination of this case. The trial was adjourned to December 2 for case management.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has announced that it will charge former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and five others over alleged corruption and other related offences following investigations into Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilization Ghana Limited (SML) contract.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday in Accra, Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, said a comprehensive investigation uncovered evidence of serious financial irregularities involving some top officials of the Ministry of Finance and GRA, as well as individuals connected to SML.

Other individuals, apart Ken Ofori Atta, who would be charged include former Chef de Cabinet to the former Minister of Finance, Ernest Akore, former Commissioner-General of the GRA Emmanuel Kofi Nti, and former Commissioner-General of the GRA, Rev. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah.

The rest are former Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA, Isaac Crentsil, former Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA and Member of Parliament for Jaman South, Kwadwo Damoah and General Manager for Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited.

He indicated that each of the suspects will face charges of corruption and corruption-related offences before the end of next month.

‘The outcome of the investigation is that the OSP will charge the following persons with various corruption and corruption-related offences before the end of November 2025,’ Kissi Agyebeng announced

‘As part of the process, the OSP will seek to recover the financial loss caused to the Republic from the persons listed. a total amount of GH?125 million from SML by way of disgorgement of unjust enrichment of overpayment by the return of the benefit this amount obtained unfairly at the expense of the Republic,’ he said.

The Minority in Parliament has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Majority caucus of gross dereliction of duty despite commanding an unprecedented super majority in the House.

The criticism follows the invocation of Article 102 of the 1992 Constitution by the Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Iddrisu Habib, to stall parliamentary business because the House did not have a quorate number to commence business.

Yesterday, the House was thrown into controversy after only 81 Members of Parliament were counted in the chamber at the commencement of business, far short of the 92 required to meet the constitutional threshold for deliberations.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, described the development as an embarrassment to the legislature and a betrayal of the confidence reposed in the governing party by the electorate.

‘The Ghanaian people gave the NDC 189 seats, a super majority, to ensure the business of government proceeds smoothly. But they cannot even produce 90 members to form a quorum,’ he said.

According to him, never in the country’s Fourth Republic has a governing side held such an overwhelming numerical advantage, two thirds of the entire House, yet failed to meet its most basic obligation of attending parliamentary sittings.

‘We have a Parliament where the Majority alone has the numbers to conduct government business without needing the Minority. They can take decisions, pass laws and approve government programmes on their own. And yet, day after day, they fail to turn up,’ he lamented.

The Minority, he stressed, has consistently attended sittings and stands ready to support the passage of critical government business, but cannot ‘carry the burden of a Majority that is refusing to show up.’

He cited the day’s Order Paper, which included major agenda items such as matters relating to the scholarship scheme and other pressing national programmes, noting that these could not be addressed due to absent MPs.

Procedural Tensions in the Chamber

The issue first surfaced on the floor when Deputy Minority Whip Iddrisu Habib, who is also the MP for Tolon, invoked Article 102 of the Constitution, which sets the quorum requirement.

‘Out of 276 MPs, we are only 70 in the chamber,’ he pointed out, urging the Speaker to apply the constitutional rules.

The Speaker subsequently asked for verification of attendance and suspended business in line with Standing Orders.

As the situation unfolded, Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini pushed back, suggesting the Minority should also take responsibility.

‘This House is not made up of only majority members. We expect the minority to be marshalled to be in the House as well,’ he argued, insisting the Whip system must function on both sides.

Mr. Jinapor, however, countered that in the previous hung Parliament the then NDC Minority maintained near complete attendance, despite a much tighter numerical balance.

‘When they were in opposition with 137 seats, they were in the House every day. Now they have power, and they are taking the Ghanaian people for granted,’ he asserted.

A Question of Mandate and Discipline

The Minority argued that the problem is not isolated absenteeism but a pattern that undermines governance. To them, the NDC super majority, which was hailed as historic, is being wasted through indiscipline and complacency.

‘This Majority has no excuse,’ Mr. Jinapor insisted, adding, ‘Even if every minister stayed away because of government duties, they would still have enough MPs left to form quorum and transact business. Yet they fail repeatedly.’

He added that the situation risks eroding public trust in Parliament and delaying key policies and bills essential to national development.

The controversial issue of whether or not to sell non-performing Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) hotels popped up yesterday during a media engagement organised by the Trust.

Fielding a question on the subject, the Director-General (DG) of SSNIT, Kwesi Afreh Biney was emphatic: ‘we will not sell any hotel.’

SSNIT, he said, is rather considering various options to address the challenge, one of which is a partnership arrangement with a hotel group.

‘La Palm needs remodeling and we are getting proposals from interested partners. There is no way we would sell it,’ he disclosed.

Under such an arrangement, the group will run the hotel as professionals even as SSNIT maintains its ownership.

He painted a bright outlook for the Labadi Beach Hotel, which he said ‘will not be sold.’

One of the hotels owned by SSNIT, the Elmina Hotel, he said ‘is a tough one but engagements are on to turn things around.’

He, for instance, pointed arrangement by which the tourist potential of Elmina will be leveraged upon. The Labadi Beach Hotel, he said, can host tourists who will be moved to the Elmina Beach Hotel through internally managed coaches. This way, he noted, the fortunes of the Elmina Hotel can be turned around.

Dubbed ‘Media Connect,’ the engagement was part of activities marking SSNIT’s 60th anniversary under the theme ‘A Legacy of Service.’

The DG’s could not have captured the journey from its humble beginnings as a provident fund as thought out by Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah, in the following words: ‘from brick and mortar to digital.’

Today, in the comfort of their homes, pensioners and contributors can join SSNIT’s portal to access their statements among other details, he said.

So efficient and wide covering has SSNIT been in recent times that, according to the DG, the youngest pensioner is aged 32 while the oldest beneficiary is 92.

The digital transformation featuring in the operations of SSNIT accounts for the phenomenal progress being witnessed in the Trust.

The foregone, he went on, has also led to an internal efficiency which in turn ensures improved services to pensioners and contributors.

Improved life expectancy in the country has come with a situation where SSNIT pays beneficiaries for longer. This, he added, is gladdening to the Trust because it means people are witnessing improved lives.

The Trust, he said, continues to support pensioners as in among others providing them with meeting locations in district and regional offices across the country.

The SSNIT DG is an accomplished chartered accountant and chartered banker with many years in the banking industry. He was recently elected President of a West African Social Security grouping.

The women’s wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Professionals Forum has paid glowing tribute to the late Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.

They described the former First Lady as a pioneering figure in Ghanaian politics who championed women’s empowerment.

A statement issued by the group, which was signed by the Women’s Commissioner, Sophia Ama Otabir, said ‘As the former First Lady of Ghana, she left an indelible mark on our nation through her tireless advocacy for women’s rights and social justice.’

‘We extend our heartfelt condolences to her children, Zanetor, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina, and Kimathi, and to the entire family. May they find strength and comfort in the legacy she left behind,’ the statement noted.

The NDC women said, as a founding member of the 31st December Women’s Movement, Nana Konadu’s dedication to empowering women and girls would continue to inspire generations.

‘We stand in solidarity with the family, the National Democratic Congress, and the people of Ghana during this difficult time.

‘May her courageous spirit and selfless service be a guiding light for all. May her soul rest in peace,’ they indicated in the statement.

President John Dramani Mahama and French President Emmanuel Macron have held discussions on security cooperation, economic development, and regional stability at the Élysée Palace in Paris, France.

The meeting was organised on the sidelines of the 2025 Paris Peace Forum.

Both leaders praised the Paris Peace Initiative and the strengthening of relations between the two countries.

President Mahama, during the meeting, called for France’s assistance in combating piracy in Ghana’s territorial waters in order to protect maritime integrity.

The leaders also discussed the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel region, particularly terrorist incursions in Mali and other countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

President Mahama used the opportunity to appeal for France influence with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to secure Ghana’s access to the facility from the French Development Bank, noting Ghana’s improved debt-to-GDP ratio.

He used his office as the African Union (AU) Champion of African Financial Institutions to call for stronger collaboration to renegotiate loan agreements with lower interest rates for infrastructure projects in the country.

He further emphasised Ghana’s position on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat and the need for enhanced road infrastructure to promote intra-African trade.

Mahama requested the support of France to train additional French language teachers to improve language education in Ghanaian schools, while highlighting Ghana’s one-million-coders programme, which has currently registered 200,000 students.

President Macron, on his part, noted several upcoming opportunities for partnership which, includes the VivaTech Summit to be organised in Nairobi in May 2026, the African Union-European Union summit in Angola, and the June 2026 G7 summit, where Ghana could showcase its digital innovation capabilities, and France to advocate for increased support for Ghana.

President Macron praised President Mahama’s government and Ghana’s economic reforms, pledging to continue France’s support to Ghana’s development agenda.

Actor, Yaw Dabo, has added his voice to discussions about the alleged use of black magic, commonly known as juju, within the country’s movie industry, describing those who rely on such practices as ‘shallow-minded.’

A resurfaced video of Dabo’s interview on Oyerepa TV has been circulating on social media, sparking renewed discussions about spirituality and superstition in the entertainment industry.

When asked if he had ever fallen victim to spiritual attacks, the actor expressed confidence in his Christian faith, stating that it shields him from any form of evil.

‘As for me, I have surrendered my life to Christ. I know He would not allow anything to work against me. I believe no one has sent me to juju; even if you do that, it won’t work,’ he said.

Dabo went on to question the motives of anyone who might seek to harm him spiritually, emphasising that he poses no threat to his colleagues in the industry.

‘If you’re a star and you want to destroy me with juju, then you’re shallow-minded. The kind of roles I do are different from what others do. I pose no threat to anyone, so why would they attempt to sabotage me?’ he quizzed.

Responding to whether he had ever used juju himself, Dabo dismissed the notion, insisting he has neither the interest nor the time for such practices.

‘I have not, and I do not have the time to do so. What would I gain from that? I have no problem with anyone,’ he added.