Category: Daily Guide Network

The Black Stars took a giant step towards automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 5-0 convincing victory over Central African Republic in Morocco.

The senior national team now need just one point from their remaining qualifying match against Chad which is scheduled for October 12, 2025 at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Ghana could still achieve automatic qualification even if they lose the next game against Chad as they have a superior 8-goal advantage over Madagascar.

A 20th minute goal from Mohammed Salisu set the Stars on course to qualify as the team held on to end the first half without conceding.

The Black Stars made a slow start to the game but gained momentum after the first goal, and dominated the game from that point on.

The second half was a one-sided game which saw Ghana ran riot with four unanswered goals from Thomas Partey Partey, Alxeander Dziku, Jordan Ayew and Kamaldeen Sulemana who scored his first goal for the Stars,.

Ghana now needs just a draw in their last game to play in their fifth FIFA World Cup.

The Black Stars will go into the last qualifying game with confidence after the eye-catching game against Central African Republic.

They now top Group I with 22 points, three clear of second-placed Madagascar who won defeated Comoros in a 2-1 dramatic game.

Otto Addo’s team has now won seven of nine World Cup qualifiers, losing one against Comoros and drawing the other 1-1- against Chad.

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.

Ghana will be hoping to book a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they take on the Central African Republic (CAR) today, October 8, 2025 in Morocco.

The Black Stars currently boast a three-point lead in Group I, ahead of the fixture against CAR, with victory enough to see them advance into the global showpiece.

Otto Addo’s side has dropped just five points throughout the games played in the qualifiers, coming against Comoros (1-0 loss) and Chad (1-1).

CAR sit fifth on the table with just five points from eight games so far, leaving them out of the race to qualify for the World Cup.

Ghana go into Wednesday’s fixture on the back of a draw against Chad and a 1-0 win over Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium during the September international break, while CAR lost both of their games against Madagascar and Comoros, respectively.

Otto Addo is expected to have a full complement of the squad on Tuesday as he currently has 23 players available. Twenty players were involved in the team’s second training session in Casablanca before their departure to Meknes, where they take on CAR.

The gaffer’s 24-man squad has just two new faces, with Kojo Peprah Oppong of OGC Nice and Medeama’s Prince Owusu coming into the team. Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Alidu Seidu, who suffered long-term injuries to the cruciate ligament, have also returned to the Black Stars fold for the final round of qualifiers.

The Black Stars are hoping to qualify for the fifth World Cup since 2006, having missed only the 2018 edition during that period.

The Police in the Walewale District of the North East Region, has arrested one person for inflicting multiple machete wounds on a victim at Walewale.

On October 4, 2025, the suspect, Rafai Tahiru, 25, and two others currently at large alleged that the victim had stolen a mobile phone belonging to suspect Rafai Tahiru.

The three suspects then tied up the hands and legs of the victim with robes, put him in a tricycle, whipped him with canes, and inflicted multiple machete wounds on his forehead and body.

The victim was however rescued by onlookers and rushed to the Walewale Government Hospital for medical attention, while a report was lodged with Walewale Police.

Robert Anabiik Anmain, Deputy Superintendent of Police Public Affairs Unit, North East Region, who confirmed the incident to DAILY GUIDE, said suspects fled the scene after committing the crime. However, on October 5, 2025, based on intelligence, suspect Rafai Tahiru was arrested at his hideout in Tampulungu, a suburb of Walewale.

According to him, a search in the suspect’s room led to the discovery of a machete which was stained with blood and believed to be the weapon the suspects used to inflict the wounds on the victim.

He disclosed that the suspect will be arraigned before court, while efforts are being made to arrest his accomplices.

Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has reiterated the need for justice delivery to be anchored on leadership, innovation and technology to enable the Judiciary to deliver on its mandate of adjudicating cases efficiently.

According to him, ‘the convergence of leadership, innovation and technology is not accidental; it is strategic,’ adding that ‘when we integrate these three pillars, we create a justice system that is resilient, inclusive and future-ready.’

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, in a message ahead of the 2025-2026 legal year, noted that the challenges confronting our justice system-heavy caseloads, case backlogs, limited resources and procedural delays-cannot be addressed by doing things the same way they have always been done.

He, however, pointed out that innovation is not only about introducing new systems, but also about cultivating a culture that values efficiency, openness and adaptability.

‘Court users should encounter not barriers but pathways-clear signage, simplified forms, helpful court staff, and procedures that respect their time and dignity,’ he noted.

He added that the Judiciary must be open to progressive interpretations that reflect the changing realities of society, balancing continuity with the need for justice that is relevant and living.

Touching on technology, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie indicated that it is no longer a luxury for justice delivery but a necessity.

‘The recent global crises have underscored the importance of digital tools in ensuring continuity of service. Virtual hearings, e-filing systems, electronic case management, and digital registries are no longer optional experiments-they are the new frontiers of justice,’ he disclosed.

He said embracing technology enhances transparency by allowing litigants to track their cases, reduces delays by automating repetitive processes, and widens access by breaking geographical barriers.

He, however, advocated caution, noting that technology must not create new divides between those who can access it and those who cannot.

‘As we digitise, we must ensure that no citizen is left behind – that rural communities, the elderly and those without digital literacy are equally empowered to benefit from modernised justice systems,’ he stressed.

He added that ‘investing in technology must also go hand in hand with building the capacity of our judges, lawyers, and court staff. Training and re-training are essential if digital tools are to be effectively used and sustained.’

Justice Baffoe-Bonie also called for strong leadership in the Judiciary, noting that it ‘means more than maintaining tradition; it means having the courage to reform where systems are failing, to speak truth where silence enables injustice, and to remain steadfast in upholding the Constitution even in the face of pressure.’

The Anglican Bishop of Accra, Rt. Rev. Dr. Daniel Sylvanus Mensah Torto, speaking at a church service to usher in the new legal year, noted that the Judiciary must be seen to foster trust among the public and ensure that justice is served without bias, ill will, or favour.

‘The Judiciary must follow due process, not to be against the processes. There must continue to be a non-political arm of government where she acts with integrity and follow the rule of law,’ he added.

There is no dearth of news on the political terrain in the country, and with limited space at the disposal of editorial boards, the task of what to tackle becomes challenging.

Even more challenging is the case where a subject is before our law courts, in which case we must tread carefully lest we breach the standards; and there is one such case on the bosom of our judges.

Be it as it may, last week and the current have been laden with so much to deal with.

One of the flagbearer aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia won the hearts of many Ghanaians, both within his party and outside it, when out of humility he pleaded with NPP supporters and by extension floating voters to forgive the past administration for not meeting their expectations in certain regards.

The Akufo-Addo administration of which he was a part did a lot in the area of good governance and infrastructural development. In spite of these, however, being a human institution and therefore not without blemishes, the need to plead for forgiveness where toes were stepped on should be regarded as a mark of maturity and good leadership.

The recent request for forgiveness where the expectations of the people were not met should not be tendentiously misconstrued and hanged as some seek to do within the party.

Many NPP supporters were incensed about some interventions during the previous regime, as did floating voters. This accounted for the record number of NPP supporters who refused to go and cast their votes, a protest refusal if you like.

The debt rescheduling initiative was one of such programmes which had Ghanaians, especially pensioners, complaining in spite of the many feats chalked, one being the famous Free Senior High School (SHS), which remains unparalleled in terms of social intervention.

In one of his post-office discourses, former President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the concern expressed by many, especially pensioners, about the mandatory haircut. His remorseful remark triggered a conversation among party supporters and victims of the haircut.

It is worrisome therefore when begging for forgiveness on behalf of the NPP becomes a matter of political polemics when indeed there is a plethora of bad governance being committed by those at the helm today.

One of the acts of humility from former President Akufo-Addo was when in the face of public furore when he uttered ‘all die be die’, he told Ghanaians if that had touched their sensibilities he was sorry.

It was such a show of humility which calmed tempers, and to date the subject is hardly remembered. To err is human, and to forgive is divine.

Expressing apology cannot be equated with knocking oneself down, ignoring the fallouts from stepping on toes of the governed by the governors is.

Chief Executive Officer of M.Y. Caesar Company Limited, Dr. Caesar, has expressed grave concern over the rising number of kidney-related deaths in the country, urging citizens to adopt healthier lifestyles and prioritise regular medical check-ups to curb the trend.

According to him, recent data suggest that kidney disease claimed 4,161 lives in 2020, representing 2.38% of all deaths in Ghana.

He said the country now ranks 56th globally in kidney disease mortality – a statistic that has alarmed health experts and prompted renewed calls for preventive action.

‘This trend is alarming. Many of these deaths could have been prevented through early diagnosis and lifestyle changes,’ Dr. Caesar said and added, ‘We cannot sit back and allow this to continue. Prevention must be our first line of defense.’

Dr. Caesar, a strong advocate for natural health solutions, noted that most kidney complications develop silently and go unnoticed until they reach advanced stages.

He emphasised that early detection through regular screening can save lives and reduce the growing burden on the nation’s health system.

He urged Ghanaians to adopt healthier habits to protect their kidneys, including reducing salt and fat intake, managing blood sugar and blood pressure levels, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, staying hydrated, and refraining from misuse of over-the-counter painkillers.

‘Regular health screening is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. Early detection can mean the difference between life and death,’ he stressed.

Dr. Caesar also highlighted the need for continuous public education on kidney health, warning that lifestyle-related diseases are fast becoming one of the country’s major public health threats.

He noted that through M.Y. Caesar Company Limited, the Kumasi-based natural health enterprise, he has led initiatives promoting the use of food supplements and natural therapies to support patients battling conditions such as kidney disease, liver disorders, diabetes, and infertility.

His holistic approach, he said, aims to complement conventional medicine and bring relief to people seeking safe and sustainable health alternatives.