Category: Daily Guide Network

Highlife musician, Kofi Nti, has revealed that he has quit smoking and drinking alcohol, saying the habits once threatened to ruin his music career.

In an interview with Nana Romeo on October 7, 2025, the Rakia hitmaker admitted that while he was never a chain smoker, the lifestyle negatively affected his health, focus, and career growth.

‘Even though I wasn’t a chain smoker, smoking is something you can get addicted to, and it can destroy your career and life,’ he said.

He further explained how addiction could prevent artists from building valuable connections. ‘You can be so addicted that even after a show, when you should be networking with VIPs who may help boost your career, you would be at the back smoking,’ he added.

Kofi Nti said he made the bold decision to quit both smoking and drinking after realising how destructive the habits were to his progress. ‘I was influenced by friends, and because of that, I don’t go close to such friends. I feel I might be tempted to start again if I keep associating with them,’ he noted.

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Sanitation Court has fined seven persons a total of GHS4,200 for breaching the city’s environmental by-laws through open defecation and indiscriminate dumping of refuse at unauthorised locations.

The convicts – Albert Quaye, Kwame Owusu Ansah, Daniel Nunoo, Razak Siedu, Haruna Abdul Rauf, Desmond Okeyika, and Moro Sebere – were found guilty by the court presided over by Rosemond Vera Aryeetey and each fined 50 penalty units, equivalent to GHS600.

Those unable to pay the fine will serve three months in prison.

Prosecutor, Nii Okine Aryee, told the court that the offenders were arrested by AMA Public Health Officers during a special sanitation enforcement operation on October 7, 2025.

The exercise, led by the Head of Public Health, Florence Kuukyi, formed part of the Assembly’s intensified efforts to curb unsanitary practices and promote public hygiene across the capital.

The AMA said the enforcement campaign targets individuals and households engaged in activities such as open defecation, littering, and dumping refuse at unauthorised sites – actions that pose health risks and undermine Accra’s cleanliness drive.

In a statement, the Assembly reiterated its commitment to enforcing sanitation laws to maintain a cleaner environment.

It warned that offenders will face swift prosecution and urged residents to comply with sanitation regulations.

‘Keeping Accra clean is a shared responsibility,’ the AMA stressed, calling on all citizens to support efforts toward achieving a clean, green, and healthy capital city.

The Head of the Global Freedom Network (GFN), Franca Pellegrini, has called for renewed global commitment to ending modern slavery, describing the challenge as ‘immense but surmountable through faith, unity, and action.’

Speaking at the GFN’s tenth anniversary gathering in Accra, Ms. Pellegrini expressed both gratitude for the network’s achievements and urgency about the ongoing fight. She recalled the GFN’s founding in December 2014, when twelve global religious leaders from Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and Buddhism signed a historic declaration at the Vatican to eradicate modern slavery within a generation.

‘That moment was not just symbolic,’ she said. ‘It signalled that slavery is a moral crisis – and that faith communities have a unique role in confronting it.’

Ms. Pellegrini explained that over the past decade, GFN has mobilised faith leaders worldwide, equipped communities to recognise and respond to slavery, and championed survivor-led initiatives that ensure lived experiences inform policy and action. The organisation has also fostered strong partnerships among faith communities, governments, and civil society to strengthen prevention and promote ethical practices.

She warned that despite these successes, modern slavery persists, with more than 50 million people worldwide trapped in various forms of exploitation, from forced labour to domestic servitude and child marriage, and asked stakeholders to take decisive steps towards ending this menace.

‘Slavery continues to evolve adapting to conflict, climate change, migration, and inequality. Our response must match its scale and complexity.

‘Ending modern slavery is the work of all of us together. Faith leaders, use your pulpits as platforms for freedom. Governments, let your policies uphold dignity. Civil society, continue to reach the marginalised. Survivors, your leadership is essential.’

‘The road ahead is long, but our unity makes it possible. May our faith guide us, our unity give us strength, and our action bring freedom, dignity, and justice to all,’ she said.

The founding executive director of the Sanneh Institute, Dr. John Azumah, drew links between slavery and religion, and admitted that there were many instances where religious leaders used scriptures to justify the act.

‘Faith leaders in many different ways have been complicit in using very oppressive religious texts to justify slavery; religion was always corrupted to justify the practice,’ he said.

He also urged the government to prioritise the passage of a bill aimed at addressing witchcraft accusations, highlighting that the recent change in parliament has hindered the progress of this important legislation, which was close to being approved.

‘We have campaigned along with faith leaders in this room and other organisations for the last four years to really get the government to pass a bill against witchcraft accusations. We managed to get a bill passed in 2023 by Ghana’s parliament, but unfortunately, the bill was not signed into law. We’re praying that the current government will take responsibility and do something about this kind of danger to our vulnerable,’ he added.

The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress (TEWU of TUC-Ghana) is calling for a 50 per cent base pay rise as it heads into salary negotiations with the government.

According to TEWU, only a substantial pay rise can restore fairness and cushion workers against the prevailing economic pressures.

National Chairperson, Salamatu Mahamah Braimah, said the union expects a significant improvement in workers’ conditions, stressing that rising living costs, utility tariffs, and increased fuel prices have significantly eroded the real value of workers’ salaries, hence the demand.

‘We are selling our labour, and as you know, each time things change, it means that our working conditions must change as well. So we are going into these negotiations with the mindset that there will be an improvement in the base pay.

‘I think the minimum will be 50%. So even if the government gives us 100%, we will say thank you, Mr. Government or Mr. President and walk away,’ she said.

Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, acknowledged the concerns raised and said the government would review the proposal carefully.

He expressed hope that any agreement reached will reflect both the needs of workers and the state’s financial capacity.

He assured that the government will carefully assess the proposal as part of ongoing negotiations with organised labour.

GCB Bank Plc has unveiled a comprehensive sustainability programme that sets a new standard for responsible banking in the country.

At the heart of the programme are six flagship initiatives, namely Sheagles Soar, R³ (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle), i-360, Evolve, and EagleTouch, designed to embed social impact, environmental stewardship, and strong governance across the bank’s operations. Together, they position GCB as a leader in sustainable finance.

Launching the programme, the Board Chairman, Professor Joshua Alabi, described it as a ‘blueprint for a sustainable future,’ noting that GCB is determined to lead sustainable banking in Ghana and beyond.

‘As the premier bank, we must lead by example. By putting people and planet first in all our operations, we will secure profit in the truest sense, profit that is inclusive, resilient, and beneficial to all stakeholders,’ Prof. Alabi said.

The Managing Director, Farihan Alhassan, emphasised that sustainability is not an add-on but a cultural shift within GCB.

‘Our strategy is anchored in a baseline assessment aligned with national and global commitments, including the Paris Agreement and the UN SDGs. Built on three pillars, Environmental Stewardship, Social Responsibility, and Ethical Governance, it reflects the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit.’

Head of Special Projects and Investor Relations, George Fuachie, added that GCB is determined to lead the charge. ‘Sustainability is no longer a buzzword; it has become a way of doing business.’

The launch featured a panel discussion titled ‘People, Planet, and Profit: Sustainable Operations for Impact and Opportunity,’ moderated by Cynthia Ofori-Dwumfuo, Chief Marketing, Communications and Customer Experience Officer of GCB Bank.

The panel included GCB Board Member Pamela Addo, SUCCA Africa’s Mark Ofori Kwafo, and GCB’s Head of Credit Risk, Edward Sasu Adofo.

Panelists called for sustainability to be fully integrated into banking operations, highlighting financial inclusion, gender-responsive products, youth banking, and climate-smart agriculture as key to long-term impact.

They cautioned that climate risks pose real threats but also open opportunities in renewable energy, green jobs, and sustainable farming.

Profitability, they stressed, must advance hand in hand with social empowerment and environmental care.

Heavy metal pollution is a growing concern in many parts of Ghana, especially in communities near galamsey (small-scale gold mining) sites.

Toxic metals like arsenic, mercury, lead, and cadmium can seep into rivers, soils, and food crops from mining runoff and mercury use in gold extraction.

Long-term exposure to these metals is linked to serious health issues – from nerve and brain damage to organ failure and cancer.

The good news is that families can take action at home.

This article explores truly cost-free methods to reduce or remove heavy metals from drinking water and foods using only readily available, discarded, or natural materials.

It explains how each method works scientifically and provides step-by-step guidance, backed by research and public health sources, to help keep your household safe.

Heavy Metals and Galamsey: A Hidden Danger

Illegal and small-scale mining (galamsey) often contaminates nearby water sources and farmlands with heavy metals. For instance, mercury used to extract gold can wash into rivers and fish. Arsenic occurs naturally in some gold-bearing rocks and can leach into groundwater.

Lead and cadmium may also be present in mining waste and fertilizers, ending up in soils or water. These metals are odorless and tasteless in water and can accumulate in food crops without obvious signs. Consuming even low levels over time can cause chronic poisoning.

Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable – lead, for example, harms brain development. This makes it vital for households in mining-affected areas to adopt simple precautions in daily cooking and drinking habits.

Easy Water Purification Techniques

Ghana’s climate and local resources offer several low-cost water treatment methods that require no fancy filters or expensive chemicals. Below are effective techniques using everyday materials like fruit peels, charcoal from cooking fires, and even sunlight.

Each method targets heavy metal contaminants by either adsorbing (binding) the metal ions or physically separating them from the water. You can use these methods individually or even combine them for better results.

Always start with the clearest water possible (let muddy water settle, or filter debris with a cloth) before applying these treatments. And remember: after removing heavy metals, you should still boil or disinfect water to kill microbes if it’s not from a treated source.

Banana Peel Water Filters

Banana peels, a common throw-away item, turn out to be powerful natural water purifiers. Banana peels contain pectin and other compounds with negatively charged carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. These functional groups attract and bind heavy metal ions (which are positively charged) like a magnet.

Researchers have found that dried banana peel can adsorb substantial amounts of metals from water – for example, up to 7.97 mg of lead and 5.71 mg of cadmium per gram of peel in lab tests.

In fact, minced banana peel was shown to remove lead and copper from river water as effectively as or better than many commercial filtering materials. Banana peel filters worked across a wide range of water pH and could be reused multiple times without losing potency.

How To Use Banana Peels To Purify Water:

Collect and prepare peels: Rinse banana peels to remove dirt or pesticides, then cut them into small pieces. For best results, sun-dry the peel pieces or lightly heat them (not burning) to remove moisture – dry peels seem to adsorb metals more effectively. You can crush or grind the dried peels into a coarse powder if possible, to increase the surface area.

Soak or filter the water: Place the peel pieces/powder in the contaminated water. Use about one peeled banana’s worth of material per few liters of water (exact amounts aren’t critical; more peel can grab more metal). Stir the water and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. During this time, the heavy metal ions will attach to the banana peel. Studies show that simply mixing banana peel with arsenic-spiked water and shaking for 30 minutes removed up to 90% of the arsenic.

Separate the peels and use the water: After soaking, strain out the banana peels by pouring the water through a clean cloth or fine mesh. The heavy metals remain bound to the peels you remove. Discard the used peels in the trash or by burying – do not eat them or feed them to animals, since they now contain the concentrated toxins. Finally, for drinking water, it’s wise to boil or disinfect the filtered water.

Rice Husk and Plant Waste Adsorbents

Rice husks, coconut shells, maize cobs, or sawdust are excellent natural filters. Rice husks are rich in silica and cellulose, giving them a natural ability to bind metals like lead, cadmium, and copper. To use, pack a cloth bag with clean rice husks and pour water through.

Alternatively, burn the husks lightly to create rice husk ash, stir it into water, and let it settle before decanting. The ash’s fine silica attracts heavy metal ions, cleaning the water. Dispose of the husk or ash safely afterward.

Moringa Seed Powder (Natural Coagulant)

The seeds of the Moringa tree can clarify dirty water and remove some heavy metals. Shell the seeds, grind the kernels into powder, and stir one or two seeds’ worth into a bucket of water. After 30 minutes, particles settle at the bottom. Decant or filter the clear water at the top. The seed’s natural proteins bind with metals and microbes, helping purify the water.

Safer Food Preparation Techniques at Home

Heavy metals also enter through food. These techniques can lower your exposure:

– Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly to remove dust and soil.

– Peel or discard outer layers of root and leafy vegetables.

– Cook rice or greens in plenty of water and discard the water afterward; this leaches out arsenic and lead.

– Soak produce in mild vinegar or lemon water for 10-20 minutes, then rinse. The acid helps dissolve metal residues.

– Avoid concentrating sauces or dried foods from contaminated produce, as this increases metal concentration.

– Choose smaller fish (like tilapia or sardines) instead of large predators like tuna or shark, which accumulate mercury.

– Eat a varied diet rich in calcium and iron to reduce heavy metal absorption in your body.

Safety and Disposal Tips

Used banana peels, charcoal, or rice husks will contain the metals they absorbed. Do not reuse them or add them to compost for food crops. Bury or discard them safely. Replace and adsorbents regularly. Combining methods – such as Moringa plus sand filter – can improve results. In severely contaminated areas, push for community water testing and alternative clean sources. Join the anti-galamsey campaign.

Conclusion

Heavy metal pollution from galamsey and other sources is a serious challenge, but families can protect themselves using simple science and local resources. Banana peels, rice husks, Moringa seeds, and sunlight can all make water safer. Proper washing, soaking, and cooking reduce metals in food.

These methods cost nothing yet can save lives. Clean water and safe food are possible when households take small, informed steps – turning waste into protection.

The Upper West Regional Police Command has arrested two men, Sherif Abdulai, 30, and Mahamuda Lamin, 25, in connection with some murder cases recorded in the region since 2021.

The suspects were arrested following investigation into the recent killing of a night security guard.

Speaking with the media, Upper West Regional Police Commander, ACP Francis Yiribaare, said one of the suspects has confessed to killing 15 people.

According to him, the suspect admitted during interrogation that he has killed 15 people in the Wa Municipality since 2021, prior to the recent murder of Yahaya Issah, and confessed that he usually targets watchmen and sometimes mentally challenged persons.

‘He confessed that he had killed three mad men and two watchmen at Bole, one mad man in Banda Nkwanta and a mad woman in Bambs, both in the Savannah Region. He carries victims on his shoulder and buries them in bushes unnoticed,’ ACP Yiribaare stated.

ACP Yiribaare disclosed that the cases under investigation include some 15 murder cases recorded in the region between 2021 and 2022, and the recent case involving the murder of a watchman, Issah Yahaya, at Wa-Dobile on September 21, 2025.

He explained that in most of these cases, the victims were watchmen who were attacked while on duty, and they were either strangled to death or suffered head injuries from being hit in the head with blocks.

He revealed that following a careful review of the cases and the pattern that seemed consistent in all the cases, the Inspector General of Police, Christian Tettch Yohuno put together a team of intelligence officers and investigators from the National Headquarters and dispatched them to the Upper West Region to work with the regional team.

He disclosed that based on initial forensic analysis and acting on credible intelligence, the police arrested suspect Mahamuda Lamin on October 3, 2025, who led them to the second suspect.

He noted that the second suspect, Sherif Abdulai, an ex-convict who goes by aliases, Saani, Mohammed and Critos, was arrested at Adabiya, a suburb of Wa on Monday, October 6, 2025.

The Upper West Regional Police Commander also disclosed that a search conducted on him led to the retrieval of a Villaon keypad mobile phone and an X-Base solar-powered portable radio. Both items were later positively identified as property of the deceased, Issah Yahaya, and upon interrogations, the suspect claimed that he had bought the phone from a galamsey site in Bole.

The Upper West Regional Police Commander said both suspects are in the custody of the police assisting with investigation, adding that suspect Mahamuda Lamin was put before the Wa Magistrate Court, where he was remanded into police custody to reappear on October 21, 2025.

A 45-year-old woman at Assorko Essaman in the Shama District of the Western Region identified as Regina Nyame, has died under some bizarre circumstances.

The woman and her daughter, Sheila Baidoo, 21, were in their room when someone allegedly set the building ablaze, which led to the death of the woman.

Even though the perpetrator of the alleged crime has not been identified, the residents suspect a jealous boyfriend of the deceased might be behind the attack.

Sources had it that the alleged perpetrator poured petrol into the room through the window and set it ablaze.

According to the residents, the suspected boyfriend became very angry after the woman recently informed him that she could no longer marry him.

Narrating her ordeal in an interview with Takoradi-based Connect FM, Sheila Baidoo said she was in the bedroom with her mother around 10 p.m. on Tuesday when the incident happened.

She indicated that her mother was asleep while she was still on her phone browsing social media.

She said, ‘All of a sudden, someone poured petrol and set the room on fire. It happened so fast that I could not understand what was going on, the whole room caught fire instantly.’

She said in an attempt to save her mother, she managed to pass through the fire to call for help.

‘I managed to run through the flames to call for help. People in the area rushed in and managed to quench the fire and pulled my mother out.

‘She was rushed to the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital but passed away later due to the severity of her burns.

‘The doctors were preparing to transfer her to another facility yesterday morning, but she unfortunately passed away,’ she disclosed.

Sheila stated that she also suffered some burns on her back, and was receiving treatment at the same hospital.

She asserted that her stepfather had been having issues with her mother for some time.

‘I did not see him setting the fire, but witnesses say the person they saw allegedly pouring the fuel matched his description,’ she added.

‘My mother recently told him she could not marry him, a rejection that might have triggered the act,’ she alleged.

Meanwhile, the Assembly Member for the electoral area, Nana Kwesi Arko, has indicated that the police have begun investigations into the incident.

Crude oil production declined by 25.92 percent, from 24,857,477.52 barrels in the first half of 2024 to 18,415,410.74 barrels in the first half of 2025.

The decline, revealed in the 2025 Semi-Annual Report by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), highlights the country’s struggle to attract new investments in the upstream petroleum sector, with no new petroleum agreement signed since 2018.

Speaking at a press briefing on the report’s findings, PIAC Vice-Chair, Odeefuo Amoakwa Buadu VIII, urged government and relevant agencies to take urgent steps to reverse the downward trend and attract more investment into the country’s oil industry.

‘The Committee observed that, for period-by-period comparison, crude oil production declined by 25.92 percent, from 24,857,477.52 barrels in H1 2024 to 18,415,410.74 barrels in H1 2025,’ the report stated.

Covering the period January to June 2025, the report examines key aspects of petroleum revenue management, including production data, liftings, total revenue accrued to the State, allocations, utilisation of the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA), and the management of the Ghana Petroleum Funds.

The Committee recommended that government focus ABFA allocations on fewer, well-defined infrastructure projects, funding them from start to finish, and ensure completed projects are properly branded.

It also urged that more ABFA resources be directed toward completing the Agenda 111 project for the benefit of citizens.

‘The Committee reiterates its earlier recommendation that the country should develop a broad-based, long-term national development plan approved by Parliament to ensure continuity in the use of national resources, including the ABFA,’ the report noted.

PIAC also revealed that the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) had reported centrally earmarked projects to be financed from the ABFA, a practice deemed non-compliant with Article 252(3) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates that monies accruing to the Fund be distributed among all District Assemblies.

Additionally, the report disclosed that no expenditure was incurred under the government’s ‘Big Push’ programme for infrastructure development, despite an allocation of US$146.36 million from petroleum revenues during the review period.

The Committee assured the public that, although its mandate is primarily advisory, it remains committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure that revenues generated from the country’s petroleum resources are used effectively and transparently.

THE GHANA Football Association (GFA) has released the official programme for the first-ever MTN Elite U19 Championship, an 11-day youth tournament aimed at developing and showcasing emerging football talent across the country.

Set to take place from October 23 to November 2, 2025, the competition will bring together ten Regional Football Association (RFA) U19 teams at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

Preparations for the event will begin with a media soiree on Monday, October 13, followed by the official launch and draw on Tuesday, October 14.

A stakeholder engagement meeting between the Organising Committee and the ten RFA chairmen will then be held on Wednesday, October 15 to finalise technical and logistical arrangements for the championship.

Participating teams are expected to report to Prampram on Thursday, October 23, with the tournament officially kicking off on Friday, October 24, 2025.

Sponsored by telecommunications giant MTN, the Elite U19 Championship serves as a key youth development initiative aimed at discovering, nurturing, and advancing young footballers from the grassroots.

It will provide a valuable platform for players from the second division and regional leagues to demonstrate their skills, gain competitive experience, and draw the attention of national selectors, top academies, and professional clubs.

The initiative forms part of the GFA’s broader ‘Power to the Youth’ policy, and aligns with major football development programmes such as the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS), the Elite Academies Project, and the Catch Them Young Refereeing Programme.

According to the GFA, the maiden MTN Elite U19 Championship represents a significant step in Ghana’s football development structure, serving as a bridge between grassroots participation and elite performance – and setting the stage for the discovery of the country’s next generation of football stars.