Category: Daily Guide Network

The Federation of African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (FAPMA) and the Vizuri Health Dynamics, has announced the African Healthcare Manufacturing Trade Exhibition and Conference (AHMTEC 2025) scheduled from October 7 to 9, 2025, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.

The conference brings together more than 200 delegates from leading manufacturers and healthcare leaders. Also, 46 speakers and representatives from 111 organisations across 26 countries are expected to participate, as well as numerous Ghanaian manufacturers and stakeholders, who are central to delivering on the government’s agenda for jobs and its strategic goal of becoming a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub for West Africa.

Now in its second year, AHMTEC 2025 builds on the momentum of its inaugural event with the theme ‘Collaborate to Compete: Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Growth’ – driving an Africa-led shift from dependency to manufacturing self-reliance.

The Urgent Case for African Health Manufacturing

National health systems across the continent are grappling with disrupted global supply chains, less donor support, and an overreliance on imported medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics. African manufacturers currently supply less than 30% of the medicines consumed on the continent.

‘This is a life-threatening vulnerability, not just a market imbalance,’ says Dr. Skhumbuzo Ngozwana, FAPMA Board Member. ‘We are past the wake-up call. Our people’s lives depend on how quickly we move toward manufacturing self-reliance, and AHMTEC is the platform to drive that transformation.’

In response to this challenge, Ghana is taking decisive steps through initiatives like the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan and support for the African Medicines Agency (AMA). Hosting AHMTEC is a key strategy for success.

A Manufacturer-Led Agenda for Growth

Every session and panel session during AHMTEC aims to deliver practical solutions for: building competitive, financially viable manufacturing businesses and creating supportive policies, incentives, and investment. In parallel, AHMTEC will host a trade exhibition, investor-readiness workshops, visits to Ghanaian manufacturing facilities, and networking opportunities.

‘AHMTEC isn’t about speeches. It’s for manufacturers who are ready to grow,’ said Dr. Mariatou Tala Jallow, Council Chair of Vizuri Health Dynamics. ‘With Africa’s healthcare manufacturing at a crossroads, we either continue to wait for help or we actively build the systems ourselves, starting at AHMTEC.’

AHMTEC 2025 will debut the African Manufacturing Market Intelligence and Network Analysis (AMMINA), a groundbreaking data platform drawing from 700+ manufacturers and 2,500+ health products across 18 countries. With an interactive, data-driven dashboard, AMMINA is able to provide real-time data on manufacture capacity, products, and investment readiness.

It responds to a need long demanded by industry and partners. With AMMINA’s insights, decision-makers can better recognise opportunity and risk, inform policies, and mobilise greater investment across Africa’s manufacturing ecosystem.

Ghana’s selection as host underscores its leadership in advancing Africa’s health sovereignty. Its clear national agenda to become a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub for West Africa make it the ideal venue to forge the partnerships needed for a self-reliant healthcare future. Health security is a shared responsibility.

Sarkodie’s Rapperholic Homecoming Organiser, Nabil Alhassan, has explained songstress Gyakie’s absence on stage during the event which took place at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on September 27, 2025.

Explaining the situation on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z with Kwame Dadzie, Nabil cited weather conditions as a significant factor that disrupted the programme’s flow and performance schedule.

‘Gyakie was supposed to perform before Sarkodie took the stage. She was present, but due to the rain, attendees were scrambling for shelter. When she arrived, she faced considerable challenges just to enter the stadium. I witnessed her struggle to get in,’ he shared.

Nabil further elaborated that a shift in plans became necessary after Sarkodie opted to proceed with his performance despite the weather-related hiccups. ‘It would have been easier if Sarkodie had a collaboration with her. He got tired of waiting and wanted to start the show since everyone was eager to see him. We didn’t have time to coordinate who should perform at what time,’ he explained.

According to Nabil, Sarkodie began his set with songs featuring other artistes present at the event, complicating the possibility of including Gyakie in the lineup.

‘He doesn’t have a song with Gyakie, so there wasn’t an opportunity to slot her in. If they had collaborated, it would have been much simpler,’ he added.

The Rapperholic Homecoming concert, part of Sarkodie’s 2025 Rapperholic series, showcased a star-studded lineup that included Shatta Wale, Obrafuor, Reggie Rockstone, Kweku Smoke, Medikal, and many others. Despite the rain causing logistical challenges, thousands of fans filled the stadium to witness one of Ghana’s most anticipated music events.

Team Ghana wrapped up their impressive campaign at the 2025 Africa Aquatics Zone 2 Championships with a total of 69 medals as the three-day competition concluded at the Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra.

The host nation’s Junior Team, comprising 12 swimmers, finished first overall with 43 medals, with Senegal finishing second while Nigeria took the third spot.

In the individual junior awards, Benin’s Lonnah Eliane Douillet was named Best Female Swimmer, winning seven medals-including six gold medals.

Ghana’s Lea El Haj finished second with five medals (three gold), while compatriot Jada Yankey claimed third place with 11 medals, including two golds.

On the male side, Nigeria’s Aidan Dumuje-Abilli earned the Best Male Junior Swimmer title after collecting eight medals (six gold). He was followed by Senegal’s Nael Lamine Vision, who won seven medals (four gold), and Ghana’s Kal-El Ntiamoah, who secured five medals, including two gold.

Ghana’s junior contingent included: Tamba Akin Boamah, Yamin Amankwah Boamah, Michael Crabbe-Mann, Kal-El Ntiamoah, Andre Nimoh, Johnson Gyarko, Kwasi Frimpong, Oduma Aba Agyei, Jada Yankey, Mercedes Abdallah, Yemen Bozuma Cornie, and Lea El Haj.

In the senior category, Ghana dominated, finishing as the best team with 26 medals – 13 gold, 7 silver, and 6 bronze. Senegal followed closely with 36 medals (12 gold), while Benin placed third with 8 medals.

Senegal’s Oumy Diop was crowned Best Female Swimmer, winning 11 medals, nine of them gold.

Ghana’s Joselle Mensah finished second with five medals (three gold), while Noelie Lacour from Gabon placed third after collecting 11 medals, including one gold.

The strong performances from both Ghana’s junior and senior teams underscored the country’s growing presence in African aquatics, as the Borteyman Sports Complex once again proved to be a world-class venue for regional competition.

The Former Second Lady, Hajia Samira Bawumia, has called on stakeholders, especially governments, to prioritise the youth in their quest to seek for solutions to tackle climate crisis.

Speaking at the 2025 Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC) yesterday in Accra, Mrs. Bawumia said the youth, who consist of the continent’s growing population, could help provide bold ideas, meaningful partnerships and a renewed resolve to shape narratives on climate change.

She said, ‘We must ensure that every proposal considered is assessed for its potential impact on women, children, and young people. No longer should they be peripheral voices in climate action, they must be empowered and be at the front and centre, reflecting the lived experiences of its most vulnerable populations.’

According to her, the 2025 AFRIWOCC marks a pivotal moment in a journey that began just two years ago with the commitment to translate the aspirations into interventions, partnerships, and policy influence.

Touching on some successes chalked by the organisation, the former Second Lady said NextGen Youth Climate Forum at the Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa hosted by AFRIWOCC is considered the single most attended youth event at the summit.

She stated that the forum provided space for young Africans to present scalable climate solutions and integrate their innovations into the broader climate agenda.

Mrs. Bawumia however, indicated that despite the strides made, many commitments from the 2023 conference remain aspirational, particularly climate financing and the quest to achieving full inclusivity.

‘We’ve come a long way in a short time, but we still have a long journey ahead. We must translate dialogue into systemic reforms and get fully funded activities off the ground. Young voices must be at the table not just as leaders of tomorrow, but as leaders of today and with greater impact, we must connect these ideas to policy, financing, and implementation,’ she added.

The Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Myriam Montrat, for her part, reaffirmed commitment to climate education and skills training to tackle climate challenges.

She also emphasised the critical role of teachers in preparing students to tackle climate challenges, while expressing concern that only 30% of educators currently feel confident teaching climate-related topics.

The High Commissioner also highlighted the inadequacies in both infrastructure and curricula, which she said are often ill-equipped to address the urgent demands of climate education.

‘We believe that climate education must be integrated into broader educational goals, empowering students with the knowledge and skills to contribute to sustainable solutions,’ she stated.

She also mentioned the devastating impact of climate change on women and girls, particularly those who are socially excluded, noting that their increased care giving and household responsibilities heighten dependence on threatened natural resources, leading to ‘time poverty, limited adaptability, and reduced access to education and economic opportunities.’

The High Commissioner further noted that Canada is open to deeper engagement with Ghana’s Ministries of Education, Youth, and Gender to identify synergies in expanding skills training opportunities, especially for young women entering non-traditional job sectors.

The two-day event, which started on Monday, October 6 and ends today, Tuesday, October 7, brought together some members of the diplomatic community, academia, civil society organisations (CSOs), and students from some senior high schools, was held under the theme ‘Young Voices, Innovative ideas, Greater Impact for Africa’.

Ghanaian music executive, Richie Mensah, has been appointed as a voting member of the Recording Academy, the organisation behind the Grammy Awards.

The accomplished music producer, singer, songwriter, and Chief Executive Officer of Lynx Group of Companies, announced the news by sharing artwork from the Recording Academy confirming his appointment.

In a Facebook post, Richie captioned the artwork, ‘Thank you, Recording Academy, for the honor.’

His appointment has been met with excitement among Ghanaians, who view it as a significant milestone for the country’s music industry.

While a few Ghanaians are already members of the Academy but have kept it private, many believe Richie’s inclusion will further open doors for local talent.

Social media users have expressed hope that his appointment will positively impact the development of Ghana’s music scene.

Richie Mensah has produced numerous superstars from his label, Lynx Entertainment, which has launched talents such as Kuami Eugene, KiDi, Asem, Eazzy, MzVee, DopeNation, Zigi, and the late OJ Blaq, among others.

A 30-YEAR-old nurse has been arrested for allegedly murdering a 70-year-old woman at Amoamang near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

Suspect Selina Boateng, according to the Bohyen District Police, stabbed Margareth Oppong, with a kitchen knife, leading to her death on Sunday, October 5, 2025.

A police report, confirming the bloody incident, did not state the circumstances leading to the stabbing incident, but only disclosed that Selina had been apprehended for questioning.

‘On October 5, 2025, at 1530 hours, Kwame Nkansah of Afful Nkwanta, Kumasi, accompanied by Charles Ofei, and the former reported to police that his wife, Lucy Nkansah, had informed him that Selina Boateng, a 30-year-old nurse at Amoamang CHIPS Compound, had stabbed and killed her 70-year-old mother, Margareth Oppong, with a kitchen knife.

‘Upon receiving the complaint, the police with the complainant, proceeded to the scene at Amoamang.

‘On arrival they found the deceased, Margareth Oppong, lying lifeless on the floor with multiple stab wounds on her left breast and cheek in a supine position,’ a police report said.

The statement, which has been sighted by the paper, further narrated that a kitchen knife, stained with blood, which was allegedly used by Selina to stab the 70-year-old woman, has been retrieved and kept as evidence by the police.

The police said the suspect has since been arrested and brought to the station to assist in investigations, adding that the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Ebenezer Mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

American music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been sentenced to 50 months in prison after being found guilty of charges related to transporting individuals for sexual encounters.

The sentence was handed down by a federal judge in Manhattan on October 3, 2025. In addition to the prison term, Diddy was fined $500,000 and will serve five years of supervised release after completing his sentence.

During the court hearing, Diddy apologised for his actions, calling them ‘disgusting and shameful,’ and expressed remorse to the victims.

He was convicted in July 2025 under the Mann Act, but was cleared of more serious charges including sex trafficking and racketeering.

Diddy’s lawyers have said they plan to appeal the ruling, arguing that the judge considered evidence from charges he was acquitted of.

The rapper and producer has already spent about a year in custody and could serve roughly three more years in prison.

The case marks a major fall from grace for one of hip-hop’s biggest figures, once known for his business empire and chart-topping hits.

Delta Air Lines has reaffirmed its commitment to Ghana with the introduction of seasonal daily nonstop service between Accra and Atlanta, beginning December 1, 2025.

The move reinforces the airline’s long-standing investment in the Ghanaian market as it celebrates its 100th anniversary.

At a press briefing held in Accra recently, Michael Thomas, Delta’s General Manager of Communications, reflected on a century marked by innovation, reliability, and operational excellence, while highlighting Ghana’s pivotal role in the airline’s Africa strategy.

‘Ghana is a key gateway in Delta’s Africa network. Our decision to expand service from Accra reflects our confidence in this market and our commitment to delivering world-class travel experiences to our customers,’ he said.

‘Our nearly two decades of service in Ghana have shown us the strength, resilience, and ambition of this market. As we look ahead, we are not only investing in flights and aircraft; we are investing in people, partnerships, and Ghana’s growth story,’ he added.

According to him, Delta has served Ghana since 2006, carrying approximately 1.5 million customers on its New York-JFK route.

He stated that with the introduction of the new service, Delta will now operate two direct routes to Accra: year-round daily flights from New York-JFK and newly launched seasonal flights from Atlanta.

Mr. Thomas said for 19 years, Delta has served as a trusted link between Ghana and the United States, boosting economic activity, cultural exchange, and family connections across continents.

‘Delta’s commitment goes far beyond connecting markets. It’s about creating jobs, supporting local initiatives, and partnering with communities to make a difference where it matters most,’ said Mary Abisola Gbobaniyi, Manager, Sales West Africa.

‘We reinvest one percent of our global profits into programs like Junior Achievement Africa and Breast Care International, ensuring our impact extends far beyond aviation,’ she added.

She continued that Delta’s community partnerships in Ghana include a decade-long collaboration with Breast Care International (BCI) to promote breast cancer awareness and early detection.

Together, they have educated over 150,000 people, screened more than 20,000 individuals, and identified approximately 2,000 suspected cases. Through annual screenings and awareness walks, the partnership has reached rural areas, with over 65,000 women screened through targeted campaigns.

She said Delta remains the only U.S. carrier offering nonstop service from Accra to New York-JFK, providing seamless onward connections to over 200 destinations across North America.

The airline’s sustained presence in Africa underscores its strategic, long-term commitment to the continent.

Delta currently operates flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, Accra, and Dakar, and will expand to Marrakech later this month.

Founded in 1925, Delta has grown into one of the world’s leading airlines, known for reliability, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence. A century of innovation – including the introduction of the Airbus A330-900neo on the Accra route – continues to define its legacy of excellence and service.

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has outlined a five-pillar strategy to tackle illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, in the country.

The strategy emphasises stakeholder engagement, regulatory reforms, law enforcement, reclamation, and alternative livelihoods as the foundation for eliminating illegal mining and promoting responsible small-scale mining across the country.

The sector minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), who also doubles as the caretaker Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, said the move forms part of efforts to safeguard Ghana’s environment, water bodies, and mineral resources.

He disclosed this when President John Dramani Mahama held a stakeholder dialogue with civil society in Accra on galamsey.

Mr. Buah said the first pillar which is stakeholder engagement and collaboration will work towards bringing together everyone, including traditional leaders, local authorities, academia, civil society organisations, and residents, to build consensus against illegal mining through educational campaigns to encourage local ownership of the fight and promote responsible mining practices.

He noted that the Ministry is also strengthening the Licensing Regimes and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that only properly registered miners operate within the law.

‘The Ministry is also driving a decentralisation agenda to ensure that District Mining Committees are a central part of the process of the issuance of mining licences – they are to make recommendations to the Minerals Commission before any licence is issued,’ he added.

Mr. Buah said the law enforcement pillar involves close collaboration with law enforcement agencies to clamp down on unlicensed operators while protecting legally compliant miners.

‘The establishment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) – as the operational nerve centre for the coordination of all anti-illegal mining law enforcement operations is instrumental in the successes that the government has chalked so far. Digital tools are being deployed to track excavator imports, and geotagging and geofencing their use within stipulated jurisdictions,’ he said.

The fourth pillar involves the rehabilitation of degraded lands and the restoration of polluted rivers.

Under this pillar, the sector minister said two key initiatives have been launched – the Tree for Life Reforestation Programme and the Blue Water Initiative, respectively.

He also indicated that special attention is being given to communities severely affected by galamsey, with reclamation projects already underway in several regions.

‘Forest Reserves and Water Bodies have also been declared Security Zones to be manned by the NAIMOS task force.

‘Under the Blue Water Initiative, the first leg is the deployment of Blue Water Guards who serve as community vanguards in the riverine areas, driving awareness creation, warding off illegal miners on waterbodies, and serving as first responders for NAIMOS along the major waterbodies.

‘Through their work, some nine hundred (900) water pumps confiscated from illegal miners have been disbursed to farmers through the Ministry of Agriculture for better use,’ he added.

Mr. Buah again listed the provision of alternative livelihoods, which aims at providing sustainable economic opportunities for communities dependent on galamsey, as one of the strategies being used to fight illegal mining.

The strategy involves the training and support in agriculture, agro-processing, and other vocational ventures to reduce reliance on illegal mining. The Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) is the vehicle driving this programme.

‘It is fundamentally designed to achieve sustainable community transformation through three critical objectives; the Promotion and facilitation of environmentally responsible cooperative mining, Provision of vocational, technical, agricultural, digital, and entrepreneurial training to youth and women to equip them with relevant skills for alternative employment and self-employment, and the Restoration of lands degraded by illegal mining for productive use in agriculture, forestry, and other income-generating activities,’ he said.

According to the Minister, this multi-faceted approach will not only curb illegal mining but also ensure that small-scale mining contributes meaningfully to the country’s economy without destroying its environment.

President John Dramani Mahama pledged full transparency in the fight against illegal mining activities.

‘I’m determined. We need your support. We need your criticism, your advocacy, your pressure. Continue to put our feet to the fire, and let’s win this fight together. Our great-grandfathers gave us a beautiful country with trees and beautiful rivers, and we should not hand over poisoned water bodies or desecrated forests to our children and great-grandchildren. I want to personally assure you that as President, I will also continue to put pressure on the Minister and other officials in charge to deliver on our promise,’ the President said at the meeting.

With an unusual number of treatment plants being shut down by the Ghana Water Company, a situation occasioned by heightened illegal mining activities on water bodies, the Dormaahene’s picture of a declining incidence of illegal mining activities cannot be acceptable.

The water purification and distribution agency have had to take such difficult steps in the face of a consistent declining state of water at their intake points; muddied, arsenic and other heavy metals are proving too challenging to deal with.

The quantity of chemicals the water company must now use has to be increased, the cost and health implications of which should not be glossed over.

In the past eight months or so, food crops from galamsey areas are becoming toxic, a situation which has led to customers seeking to know the source of such items. The picture of reduced galamsey activities in the country as painted by the Dormaahene recently does not correspond with the reality on the grounds.

Last week, after becoming an Appeals Court judge, the Dormaahene gave a pass mark to the government for reducing illegal mining activities in the country.

The observation, a subtle commendation as it were for the government, went viral on especially political platforms because it was not in consonance with the reality on the ground.

The pitch of complaints about the seeming uncontrollable galamsey activities in the country is nearing rooftop, and attempts to change the narrative would incur the wrath of the people.

Our revered chiefs should especially be wary about how they jump into such delicate subjects lest they attract inappropriate reactions from their subjects.

Being custodians of our culture and regarded as representatives of our ancestors, we must be measured in dissecting and even responding to their remarks.

We are however in unchartered waters; the lives of the people have never been so threatened by an occupation which is not responding to treatment as represented by galamsey.

It is on this score that we wish to humbly tell the chief that his observation has attracted wry smiles among many Ghanaians who think that he could be observing the water bodies and forest reserves from another planet.

As a chief, he perhaps has not been briefed sufficiently by his subjects who might have not covered the galamsey hotspots.

National Security reports, restricted as they might be, offer a lot of insights into the galamsey menace.

The illegality has assumed an unprecedented rate, the reason for which reality is not farfetched. There is a certain brazenness among those engaged in the illegality which could be hinged upon the pre-election 2024 campaign promise to such persons by political actors.

The promise to release from imprisonment persons doing time because of their galamsey activities and the condemnation of sending soldiers to chase illegal miners both account for the boldness being exhibited by them.

That President John Mahama directed that Joseph Yamin and Abanga to be investigated by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for their alleged complicity in illegal mining and the subsequent non-action in that direction suggests a non-commitment to fight and eliminate illegal mining.

The recent engagement with civil society organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders on illegal mining is enough indication that matters regarding galamsey have come to a head.

Sending such signals to government about an abating galamsey is dangerous and does not help the cause of eliminating the menace.

The chief should seek another means of commending government but certainly not in the war against illegal mining, which from all indications has aggravated in scope and reach.