Category: Daily Guide Network

At the start of the 2024/2025 academic year, Ghana’s secondary education sector saw a massive reform with the introduction of a new SHS curriculum by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) and the Ghana Education Service (GES).

According to Prof. Samuel Bekoe, ‘this curriculum aims to equip learners with 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and digital literacy whiles also promoting core Ghanaian values and inclusivity’.

A crucial part of ensuring the new curriculum equipped learners with these skills is pointed directly not only to teaching and learning but also how learners would be assessed. Considering this, significant part of the rollout of the new curriculum for Senior High Schools (SHS) is the introduction of a new approach to assessment and the student transcript portal.

The new curriculum promotes a balanced approach to assessment. It encourages varied and differentiated assessments and proposes an internal assessment, comprised of formative (portfolios, performance and project work in the classroom) and summative assessment, which can be an end-of-term examination. In addition, there would be external assessment, which is a comprehensive summative assessment to be conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) at the end of the year 3.

Supporting this shift in assessment is the introduction of the Student Transcript Portal (STP), which is explained in detail below.

The Student Transcript System/Portal (STP)

The Student Transcript System (STP), which is a centralised repository for learner information, provides a comprehensive record of the student’s academic performance and character qualities.

.. It contains key details such as learner bio-data, semester information, learning areas, subject combinations, assigned classes, continuous assessments information, credits hours, grades, Grade Point Averages (GPAs) and Cumulative Grade Point Averages (CGPAs). Additionally, a dedicated qualitative information section captures brief descriptions of learners’ character qualities over the period.

The introduction of the Student Transcript System marks a significant leap forward in Ghana’s effort to reform secondary education.

As Ghana continues to build a global competitive education system, innovations like the STP are laying the foundation for a new generation of learners who are confident, capable, and ready for the future. This is not just an assessment reform; it is an educational renaissance.

According to Mr. Lawrence Dogbatse, Deputy Registrar of WAEC, ‘This new curriculum reflects WAEC’s strong commitment to transforming traditional assessment methods. We are moving beyond exam-based evaluation to incorporate project work, practical applications, and critical thinking.’ He added, ‘The introduction of the Student Transcript Portal (STP) is a key part of this shift, as it ensures that every aspect of a learner’s growth, not just test scores, is recognised and valued.’

Benefits for Stakeholders

For learners, the STP encourages them to be consistent and engaged, knowing that every group project or values-based lesson contributes to their academic profile. It promotes intrinsic motivation and moves away from the old ‘chew, pour, pass, forget’ approach.

Parents gain access to a fuller understanding of their child’s strengths and areas for improvement. Instead of seeing only end-of-term grades, they see how their child participates in class, leads group discussions, and develops problem-solving skills.

Teachers and schools’ benefit from clear guidelines, assessment rubrics, and technology-enabled systems that support more accurate and equitable evaluations. This makes it easier to tailor support to different learner needs, including students with disabilities or special needs.

Tertiary institutions and future employers receive access to a rich dataset on prospective students. The STP reflects not just academic scores but also competencies like leadership, ethics, and teamwork, skills that matter in the real world.

Speaking on the significance of the STP, Prince Agyemang-Duah, Director of Schools and Instruction at GES, expressed, ‘Learning is not just about what students can memorise and reproduce in a two-hour paper. It’s about how they think, collaborate, create, and apply knowledge to real-world situations’. The Student Transcript Portal enables us to document this broader learning experience.

It ensures that students are recognised for the full range of their efforts. This is how we nurture confident, competent, and future-ready graduates. In line with the ambitions of the new SHS curriculum, STP revolutionises how we define and recognise learning, moving from rote memorisation to real-life application, inclusivity, and personal development.

A Shift in Assessment Philosophy

The new curriculum champions a balanced approach to assessment with internal assessments such as portfolios, project work, and practicals are now given eight alongside external examinations. Lawrence Dogbatse from WAEC explains that, ‘While WAEC still conducts final assessments, its methods have evolved to measure higher-order thinking: only 30% of the exam now assesses factual recall, while 70% evaluates critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication.’

As Ghana embarks on this transformative educational journey, it is imperative for all stakeholders-teachers, parents, and students-to embrace the shift towards this future-ready curriculum.

The Minority in Parliament has raised fresh alarm over the worsening scourge of illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, describing it as Ghana’s gravest governance failure and a full-blown national disaster that threatens lives, livelihoods, and the country’s environmental future.

Addressing Parliament at the opening of the Third Meeting of the First Session, Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, delivered a sobering account of what he called ‘the poisoning of Ghana’s soul,’ warning that unchecked illegal mining has pushed the nation to the brink of irreversible ecological collapse.

‘Even as we convene today, our rivers run brown with pollution, vast tracts of once fertile land lie scarred and toxic, and many of our citizens in mining communities face illness and death from poisonous chemicals,’ Afenyo-Markin declared.

He cited new findings by Pure Earth and Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which revealed that mercury contamination in some mining communities is 134 times above safe levels, while arsenic concentrations have surged 4,000 percent higher than World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

‘These poisonous metals are seeping into the water, into food crops, into the very bodies of our people. Doctors are reporting children with mercury pellets in their X-rays, children now requiring dialysis because of the poisonous fruits of galamsey,’ he lamented.

The Minority Leader said the menace had persisted across successive governments but had worsened under the current administration.

Recounting earlier warnings, he cited the 2010 Africa Investigates documentary by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, which exposed the human and environmental toll of galamsey, including the Dunkwa-on-Offin pit disaster that killed over 150 people.

The Minority Leader described the crisis as both an environmental and an economic catastrophe, noting that the rise of unregulated small-scale gold mining has created an underground economy draining state revenue while empowering criminal networks.

‘In just eight months this year, small-scale gold exports surged to over $6.3 billion, according to the Ghana Gold Board. Yet much of this trade is believed to be illicit. The state loses billions while communities suffer devastation,’ he said.

He called for a non-partisan national crusade against illegal mining, anchored on transparency, accountability, and sustainable livelihoods for affected communities.

The Minority Leader urged the government to work with civil society, religious bodies, and traditional authorities to design an all-inclusive recovery plan for degraded mining zones.

‘If we fail to protect our rivers, land, and communities, we risk failing an entire generation,’ he warned.

The Minority in Parliament has called on the government to urgently implement measures to improve safety on the Volta Lake following a tragic boat accident near Kete Krachi on October 11, which claimed 15 lives.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Minority Caucus expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families and described the recurring fatalities on the lake as ‘unacceptable,’ demanding immediate and decisive government action to prevent further loss of life.

The Caucus recalled that in 2020, the government secured a $150 million facility from the Korean Exim Bank to finance the installation of modern inland water transport infrastructure and floating pontoons under the Volta Lake Transport Revamp Project.

The initiative was expected to modernise and secure inland water transport systems across the Volta Lake corridor.

According to the statement, a comprehensive feasibility study conducted by local consultancy firm Vision Consult has already outlined the necessary infrastructure and deployment strategies to make the Volta Lake a safe and efficient inland waterway.

The study, the Minority noted, underscores the technical competence of Ghanaian engineers and aligns with the vision for a nationwide multimodal transport system integrating road, rail, and water networks.

‘We therefore demand that the current government treats this as a matter of national priority and urgently follow up to ensure these funds are disbursed for the immediate execution of this vital project,’ the statement read.

‘Any further delays would represent a profound failure of the government’s duty to safeguard about two million Ghanaians who rely on the Volta Lake for their daily lives,’ it added.

The Minority also urged the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) to intensify its oversight of inland water transport operations on the Volta Lake and other navigable routes in the Afram Plains.

This includes the strict registration of vessels and pontoons and enforcement of loading regulations to curb overloading and ensure passenger safety.

Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, who signed the statement, emphasised that the Volta Lake remains a critical national asset whose safety must be protected in honour of those who have lost their lives and for the millions who depend on it daily for transport and trade.

‘The time for rhetoric has long passed. Ghana must act now to make our inland waters safe,’ the Minority intimated.

Nigerian social media influencer, activist, and critic, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has recounted moments where he used dancehall act Shatta Wale’s birthday wishes to help him extend his stay in Ghana.

He claims that after Shatta Wale wished him a happy birthday, he added the greeting to his CV. When he presented it to Ghanaian immigration officials, they were impressed, and he was granted a 60-day stay instead of the initial two weeks.

He made this revelation on ‘X’, replying to the ongoing misunderstanding between Shatta Wale and Nigerian social media influencer Big Jiggy. The issue between Shatta Wale and Big Jiggy appears to be a fallout after Big Jiggy’s appearance at ShattaFest 2025, Shatta Wale’s birthday concert.

Big Jiggy, a Nigerian TikToker, claims he was invited to perform at the event but was disrespected and humiliated. He alleges that Shatta Wale promised him proper treatment, but things didn’t go as planned, considering the days of promoting Shatta Wale’s music.

On social media, the outspoken commenter VDM waded into the conversation to share his thoughts on the matter.

According to him, many individuals in Ghana have promoted Shatta Wale’s music for years, but have never received a call or a text as compared to him.

‘I know people in Ghana who have promoted Shatta for years, but they’ve never received a call or text from him to talk, or see him. Big Jiggy vibed to a couple of his songs, and boom, Shatta invited him. Bro, he got to Ghana and had NO PATIENCE,’ part of the post read.

He further stated that, ‘Got angry that Shatta introduced him as a fan. Do you know what it means for the biggest Dancehall artiste in Africa to introduce you in front of 200k people? And you performed with him? But his pride got the best of him.’

The post continued, ‘Bro got back and blocked Shatta. What a joke! Do you know what it takes to prepare for such a concert? You can’t be focused. You must miss certain things. This lil bro needed to calm down, and after the concert, he had an audience with the King.

‘You dey block the person wey the whole country and Africa plus Jamaica love? Persons wey fit change your life? That’s lame (sic).’

‘Shatta wished me a happy birthday, and I added it to my CV. I showed it when I was at immigration in Ghana, and they gave me 60 days in the country instead of 2 weeks,’ he added.

The Tamale Teaching Hospital and Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Hospital have received advanced cervical cancer screening equipment from Telecel Group to enhance early detection among women in the regions.

The initiative, which forms part of the telco’s support for the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (Mahama Cares) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, also covers free screening for women at the facility over the next two years.

The newly installed digital colposcopy machines equipped with Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), HPV testing kits, biopsy instruments and other consumables will enhance both hospitals’ capacity to detect and treat cervical cancer at an earlier stage.

Receiving the equipment on behalf of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Abubakari Bawah Abdulai, said, ‘Telecel has consistently supported this hospital over the years, and this donation is another demonstration of their commitment to healthcare in the northern part of the country. As the only tertiary hospital serving the five northern regions, this equipment will go a long way in saving lives. I urge our staff to ensure its proper use and maintenance.’

As the Western North main referral health facility, the Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Hospital until now, relied largely on visual inspection methods for cervical cancer, which limited clinicians’ ability to detect early-stage precancerous lesions with accuracy.

‘With this new colposcopy machine, we can finally move beyond relying solely on the naked eye. This technology allows us to identify cervical abnormalities much earlier and with greater precision. It’s a significant step forward for women’s health in our municipality and across the Western North Region,’ said Dr. Mary Benyiwaa Amuah, the hospital’s medical superintendent.

The Director for External Affairs at Telecel Ghana, Komla Buami, reaffirmed the telco’s broader commitment to initiatives that advance public health and community well-being.

‘Telecel’s purpose goes beyond connecting people through technology; it’s also about connecting them to better health and brighter futures. This colposcopy machine, equipped with a UPS and maintained by Telecel for the next two years, reflects our commitment to improving women’s health outcomes in Northern Ghana,’ Mr. Buami said.

Representing the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Director of Operations, William Omane Adjekum, highlighted the national significance of the initiative in combating cervical cancer.

‘Each year, about 3,000 women in Ghana are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and too many lose their lives due to late diagnosis and lack of diagnostic equipment. This donation by Telecel Group through the Ghana Medical Trust Fund represents hope for the women of Northern Ghana, enabling early detection, early intervention, and the possibility of saving countless lives,’ he said.

The equipment handover in Tamale and Sefwi Wiawso marks the second and third donations under Telecel Group’s cervical cancer care initiative in partnership with the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and the Ministry of Health. The first installation took place at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.

Several shops at Kantamanto Tazani Lane near Ecobank in Accra have been destroyed by fire.

According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), a distress call came in at about 1:31 a.m. yesterday, causing an immediate response from multiple fire stations across the capital.

The first fire appliance arrived at the scene 11 minutes after the call came in, thus 1:42 a.m., with fire fighting teams battling the blaze for more than three hours before bringing it under control.

An intensive firefighting operation by personnel of the GNFS brought the fire under control around 4:49 a.m.

The Acting Chief Fire Officer, the Director of Operations and the Greater Accra Regional Commander, were present at the scene to assess the extent of damage as well as coordinate ongoing response efforts.

So far, no injuries were reported, even though properties lost are expected to rise due to the commercial nature of the area.

The GNFS is expected to conduct a full investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

Kantamanto, a trading hub in Accra with many traders dealing in second-hand clothing, has witnessed several fire outbreaks. The last recorded fire outbreak was on January 2, 2025, which destroyed over 7,000 shops and affected 30,000 traders.

The Minority in Parliament has raised fresh alarm over the worsening scourge of illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, describing it as Ghana’s gravest governance failure and a full-blown national disaster that threatens lives, livelihoods, and the country’s environmental future.

Addressing Parliament at the opening of the Third Meeting of the First Session, Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, delivered a sobering account of what he called ‘the poisoning of Ghana’s soul,’ warning that unchecked illegal mining has pushed the nation to the brink of irreversible ecological collapse.

‘Even as we convene today, our rivers run brown with pollution, vast tracts of once fertile land lie scarred and toxic, and many of our citizens in mining communities face illness and death from poisonous chemicals,’ Afenyo-Markin declared.

He cited new findings by Pure Earth and Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which revealed that mercury contamination in some mining communities is 134 times above safe levels, while arsenic concentrations have surged 4,000 percent higher than World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

‘These poisonous metals are seeping into the water, into food crops, into the very bodies of our people. Doctors are reporting children with mercury pellets in their X-rays, children now requiring dialysis because of the poisonous fruits of galamsey,’ he lamented.

The Minority Leader said the menace had persisted across successive governments but had worsened under the current administration.

Recounting earlier warnings, he cited the 2010 Africa Investigates documentary by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, which exposed the human and environmental toll of galamsey, including the Dunkwa-on-Offin pit disaster that killed over 150 people.

The Minority Leader described the crisis as both an environmental and an economic catastrophe, noting that the rise of unregulated small-scale gold mining has created an underground economy draining state revenue while empowering criminal networks.

‘In just eight months this year, small-scale gold exports surged to over $6.3 billion, according to the Ghana Gold Board. Yet much of this trade is believed to be illicit. The state loses billions while communities suffer devastation,’ he said.

He called for a non-partisan national crusade against illegal mining, anchored on transparency, accountability, and sustainable livelihoods for affected communities.

The Minority Leader urged the government to work with civil society, religious bodies, and traditional authorities to design an all-inclusive recovery plan for degraded mining zones.

‘If we fail to protect our rivers, land, and communities, we risk failing an entire generation,’ he warned.

THE BLACK Queens held their first training session in Ismailia, Egypt, on Monday evening as they stepped up preparations for their crucial 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier against the Pharaohs of Egypt.

Eighteen players took part in the session, which was led by Head Coach Kim Lars Björkegren and his technical team.

The drills focused on light recovery routines, ball control, and tactical work designed to help the players adapt to the weather and pitch conditions in Ismailia.

Coach Björkegren expressed satisfaction with the players’ commitment and energy levels, describing their focus as ‘excellent’ as the team fine-tunes its strategy for the upcoming encounter.

The remaining squad members are expected to arrive in camp to complete the team’s roster before the final training session ahead of the match on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Ismailia-Suez Canal Stadium.

Acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie is set to appear before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for vetting following his nomination by President John Dramani Mahama as the next Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana.

The nomination, made in accordance with Article 144(1) of the 1992 Constitution, was announced in a formal message from the President, which was read on the floor of Parliament yesterday by Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.

According to the message, President Mahama’s decision followed consultations with the Council of State, as indicated in its letter dated October 14, 2025. The President described Justice Baffoe-Bonnie as a distinguished jurist of ‘unwavering integrity, sound judicial temperament, and deep commitment to the rule of law.’

‘Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has demonstrated professionalism, fairness, and a passion for justice throughout his meritorious service on the Supreme Court. He possesses the leadership, administrative competence, and vision to drive ongoing judicial reforms and to strengthen public confidence in the Judiciary,’ the President stated.

The Speaker, after reading the President’s message, referred the nomination to the Appointments Committee for public hearing and scrutiny.

He noted that while all Members of Parliament (MPs) may attend the committee’s sittings, only members of the committee have the right to vote.

Speaker Bagbin stressed the importance of the vetting process, urging MPs to approach it with transparency and dedication to ensure the nominee’s suitability for the highest judicial office.

‘We trust that this will be done in accordance with the laws of this country, and at the end of the day, we will assist His Excellency to ensure that confidence in the arms of government is restored and enhanced,’ he remarked.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s vetting is expected to draw significant public attention, given the controversy surrounding the removal of his predecessor.

If approved, he will assume leadership of the Judiciary, one of the three arms of government.

Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica have joined forces with the United States in a joint bid to host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup – a move that would make the tournament the first-ever to be staged across four countries.

The expanded 48-team competition would mark a new era for women’s football, with the North American and Caribbean nations pledging to deliver the ‘biggest and most impactful Women’s World Cup in history.’

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed in April that the United States had submitted the sole bid to host the 2031 edition, with ‘potentially some other Concacaf members’ expected to join – a scenario now officially realized.

US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone said the joint bid represents a historic opportunity to elevate the women’s game globally. ‘Together, we have an extraordinary opportunity to host the biggest and most impactful Women’s World Cup in history, one that will inspire a new generation of fans and help grow the women’s game across our entire region and around the world,’ she said.

‘We’re excited to drive lasting progress for women’s soccer by creating a legacy that reaches far beyond 2031 and sets a new global standard for the sport.’

Concacaf president and FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani also threw his full support behind the collaboration, describing it as a reflection of the confederation’s unity and commitment to women’s football.

‘Concacaf fully supports this four-nation bid, which embodies our One Concacaf philosophy,’ he stated. ‘Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2031 will build on the momentum we’ve created, inspiring future generations of players and fans across North America, Central America and the Caribbean.’

The joint bid follows the successful co-hosting model of the 2026 Men’s World Cup by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

FIFA has already confirmed that Brazil will host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, while the United Kingdom is currently the sole ‘valid’ bidder for the 2035 edition. The hosts for both the 2031 and 2035 tournaments are expected to be officially announced at next April’s FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada.