Category: Daily Guide Network

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A FIFA Foundation Board Member, Isha Johansen, has called for stronger collaboration to harness football as a catalyst for social change and prison reform across Africa.

She made the call during a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the Ghana Prison Service, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, in Accra, as part of her regional engagement tour promoting football for rehabilitation, reintegration, and social development within correctional institutions.

Commending the Ghana Prison Service for its progressive approach, Madam Johansen praised the Service’s commitment to inmate welfare, skills development, and rehabilitation.

She lauded Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie’s ‘visionary and transformative leadership,’ urging her to sustain programmes that restore purpose and hope to inmates.

Drawing from her extensive experience as a former FIFA Council and CAF Executive Committee member, as well as past President of the Sierra Leone Football Association, Madam Johansen shared success stories of football-based rehabilitation projects in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

She noted that the sport has helped inmates develop discipline, teamwork, and self-confidence – essential values for positive behavioural change.

As part of her proposals, Madam Johansen suggested the creation of a ‘Football for Reform Summit’ to be hosted in Ghana.

The summit would bring together Football Associations and Prison Services from Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone to exchange best practices and explore innovative ways of integrating football into correctional reform initiatives.

In her response, Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie expressed gratitude for Madam Johansen’s visit and her commitment to advancing the Service’s reformation agenda.

She commended the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for their support through the GFA Foundation Ghana Prisons Project and the CAF Football for Reform initiative.

Both parties underscored their shared commitment to promoting dignity, purpose, and transformation within correctional facilities, emphasizing that football can serve as a powerful instrument for social change.

From the Ghana AIDS Commission comes a worrying and scary disclosure about the declining patronage of condoms among Ghanaian youth.

Those who laugh off this trend must have a rethink. The reality of the virus and its fallouts cannot be ignored in a society where sex has become a common practice, especially among the youth.

This segment of the population from census figures is large, the reason the trend should attract the attention of all stakeholders.

So rampant is sex among the youth that even Senior High School (SHS) students partake in the adult practice and largely without condoms.

There was a high patronage for condoms a few years ago until recently, and the reason is not farfetched.

The youth seek maximum satisfaction which, according to them, is inhibited by the use of condoms, hence their preference for condom-less encounter.

The AIDS Commission campaign against unprotected sex from all indications has witnessed a downward spiral from its previous impressive high. We do not know whether this is as a result of budgetary constraints from both local and the international community.

Be it as it may and given the effects of AIDS infection, the state must make up for the shortfalls in the budgetary allocations from development partners. This way, the educational campaign among the youth and others will be gingered up.

The Ghana Social Marketing Initiative which saw the wide distribution of condoms gratis over a decade ago made a significant difference in the use of preventive latex.

These days, AIDS as a scary ailment hardly gets no mention in public conversations, putting it erroneously in the bracket of eradicated diseases like small pox and yellow fever.

We were recently told that a vaccine had been developed and already gone through clinical trials.

We can bet that news about the arrival of the vaccines in Ghana will be the end of condom use.

The AIDS Commission and the educational authorities such as the Ghana Education Service should partner for an enhanced campaign on the dangers of unprotected sex.

Churches and mosques, including parents, have pivotal roles to play in this direction because AIDS is real and if stakeholders fold their arms as the irresponsible and unprotected sex prevails, it would not be long before we are confronted with an alarming health challenge.

The situation can be reversed if the previous template which saw condom use on the rise is applied and, as we pointed out, it is about making appropriate budgetary allocation to the AIDS Commission and triggering a productive partnership between the Commission and relevant stakeholders across the country.

Brong Ahafo Region produced a commanding performance to defeat Western Region 4-1 in their final Group A fixture of the MTN Elite U19 Championship on Wednesday morning at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

The emphatic win keeps Brong Ahafo firmly in contention for a semi-final spot, pending the results of the remaining group matches.

Western Region drew first blood in the 4th minute when Ahmed Yankey finished off a brilliant solo run to give his side an early lead. However, Brong Ahafo quickly regained control, with Dankwah Bismark equalising in the 22nd minute to set up a thrilling contest.

After the break, Gideon Otabil – the talented left-footer who later deservedly earned the Player of the Match award – fired Brong Ahafo ahead in the 57th minute with a composed strike.

The team’s momentum continued as Mohammed Hafiz extended the lead ten minutes later, before Lord Quansah’s unfortunate own goal from an Otabil cross sealed a comprehensive 4-1 victory for Brong Ahafo.

The result lifts Brong Ahafo to nine points from four matches, level with Eastern Region at the top of Group A. However, their qualification to the semi-finals will hinge on the outcome of the final group games, with Northern Region – on six points with a game in hand – still in the running.

In Group B, Central Region will face Upper East in their final group fixture, while Greater Accra and Ashanti Region remain well-placed to secure spots in the knockout stage following impressive campaigns.

Running from October 23 to November 2, 2025, the MTN Elite U19 Championship features ten regional teams from across Ghana.

The competition serves as a vital platform for the country’s most promising young footballers to showcase their talents, gain valuable experience, and catch the eye of national team selectors and professional scouts.

The 4th edition of the Ghana Models Awards Juniors was successfully held on Saturday, 25th October 2025, at the Mikkado Conference Centre in Accra, celebrating young talents and potential in the modelling industry.

Seventeen awards were presented to outstanding child models and personalities amid cheers from parents and guests. Some winners retained their titles from the previous year, marking consecutive achievements.

Founder and Executive Director, Jerry Wonder Sampson, stressed that the scheme is not a competition or talent show, but a platform to recognise children’s potential. He called on parents and corporate Ghana to support the initiative.

The night saw Alvin Amfo Boakye of Godzy Modelling Agency crowned Overall Male Model of the Year and Puriel Sarpong of Exopa Model Agency named Overall Female Model of the Year. Exopa Model Agency also won Model Agency of the Year.

Other young models such as Diamond Aseda Larbi, Jason Kofi Asante, and Nicoletta Arabella Barbieri were celebrated for their exceptional promise, while Nene Nartey Ofei charmed the audience to earn the Baby/Toddler Model of the Year title. There were also notable performances from Emerald Nhyira Larbi, who won Best Dance/Choreography of the Year, and Awurakua Nyamenaose Cromwell, who claimed Breakout Model of the Year.

The night also recognised models for eloquence, acting, and editorial excellence, including Puriel Maame Serwaa Sarpong, Alvin Amfo Boakye, and Michaela A.D. Quaye, with a Special Award for Proficiency in Editorial Modelling presented to Godlove Nhyira.

A touching moment came when Mrs. Sarpong received the Best Parent/Guardian/Mentor Award for her dedication and support to her child’s modelling journey.

England manager Sarina Wiegman has admitted she is ‘not very positive’ about the injury suffered by forward Michelle Agyemang, who was carried off on a stretcher during England’s 3-0 victory over Australia at Pride Park on Tuesday night.

The 19-year-old, currently on loan at Brighton from Arsenal, appeared to sustain a serious knee injury just 13 minutes after being introduced as a second-half substitute. She was replaced by Chloe Kelly and later left the stadium on crutches.

Speaking after the match in Derby, Wiegman expressed concern over the forward’s condition.

‘Of course it was an awful moment it doesn’t look good,’ she said. ‘We don’t know yet, but I’m not very positive about what I’ve seen.’

‘Sarina’s comments said a lot because the manager will always be the first person to get a little nod from the medical team,’ Beattie said. ‘I think her whole demeanour spoke volumes. I don’t want to speculate I just hope she’s OK.’

Agyemang played a pivotal role in England’s Euro 2025 triumph, scoring crucial goals from the bench in the quarter-final against Sweden and the semi-final against Italy, both of which forced extra time.

Her standout performances in Switzerland earned her a Kopa Trophy nomination, awarded to the world’s best under-21 female footballer.

She has been in fine form for Brighton this season, featuring in five of their six Women’s Super League matches and starting each one before joining up with the Lionesses.

Former Chief Executive Officer of National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, have been charged by the Attorney General for allegedly stealing and causing financial loss to the state totaling GHS78 million.

Charged along them is Richard Sam-Asante, who is said to be on the run, as well as The Ludiba Foundation and Energy Partners Limited, two companies related to the couple.

The accused persons are facing charges of stealing, fraudulently causing financial loss to the state, abetment of stealing, money laundering, defrauding by false pretences, intentional dissipation of public funds, using public office for profit, dishonestly receiving and intentionally causing financial loss to the state.

According to the charge sheet, Mr. Abdul-Wahab allegedly stole GHS50.879 million from NAFCO by transferring it to James Tieku-Apawu, operating under the name Sawtina Enterprise, between February 2017 and February 2025.

Faiza Seidu Wuni allegedly laundered a total of GHS34,608,834.62 knowing at the time of taking the money that it was acquired through a criminal enterprise.

She is also accused of dishonestly receiving GHS4,401,831.58 from NAFCO between 2018 and 2023, knowing very well that the money was appropriated through stealing.

Richard Sam-Asante, on the other hand, has been charged for conspiring to steal GHS5,495.748.36 from NAFCO between February 2017 and February 2019.

Court documents indicate that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) received tipoffs that Abdul-Wahab has, over the eight years that he was the CEO of NAFCO, embezzled hundreds of millions of Ghana Cedis from NAFCO and used the embezzled monies to acquire vast estates and businesses across the country and elsewhere.

The brief facts indicate that EOCO’s preliminary investigations revealed that almost GHS78 million had moved from the bank accounts of NAFCO to Sawtina, and that these funds were transferred in a series of 86 transactions between October 2019 and September 2023.

It further indicates that the transfers were made from NAFCO into Sawtina’s bank account with the Republic Bank, Labone branch, where Abdul-Wahab maintains several bank accounts with the same bank relationship officer managing all the accounts.

The Attorney General says the relationship officer will testify for the prosecution in the course of the trial.

Subsequent investigations revealed that somewhere 2018, James Tieku-Apawu, the then Regional Manager at NAFCO, approached Abdul-Wahab and informed him of his desire to buy and supply foodstuff to NAFCO and he agreed.

Abdul-Wahab allegedly had James Tieku-Apawu’s business – Sawtina – quickly approved as a licensed buying company and immediately started trading with NAFCO.

Under interrogation, Tieku-Apawu allegedly admitted receiving a total of GHS69,616,226.29 from NAFCO into Sawtina’s bank account, court documents point out.

‘He, however, explained that only about 20% of that amount was for genuine supplies he made to NAFCO,’ while EOCO’s investigations reveal that the remaining 80% of the bank transfers was for no supplies.

Investigations have established that more than GHS50 million was transferred from Sawtina’s bank account back to Abdul-Wahab directly, to his other businesses, to his wife’s businesses, and for the acquisition of landed properties in prime areas in Accra.

The document further indicate that Abdul-Wahab allegedly caused GHS4,401,831.58 to be paid from NAFCO’s funds to Alqarni Enterprise, although the company which is the personal trading name of his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, never supplied foodstuff to NAFCO.

THE BLACK QUEENS of Ghana delivered a commanding performance to defeat Egypt 4-0 in the second leg of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium, sealing their qualification for next year’s tournament in Morocco.

Ghana, who had won the first leg 3-0 in Ismailia, completed the job in emphatic fashion to advance with a 7-0 aggregate victory.

The Queens dominated proceedings with a potent attack led by Princess Marfo and Doris Boaduwaa, while Evelyn Badu, Grace Asantewaa, and Jennifer Cudjoe controlled the midfield. Cynthia Findiib Konlan was solid between the posts, keeping the visitors at bay throughout.

After a goalless first half, Doris Boaduwaa broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute before doubling Ghana’s advantage just three minutes later, finishing off a fine combination between Grace Asantewaa and Princess Marfo.

Comfort Yeboah made it 3-0 in the 57th minute, and Boaduwaa completed her hat-trick in stoppage time to cap off a superb display.

The result marks a significant milestone for the Black Queens as they return to the continental stage with renewed confidence.

Ghana will now aim to build on their strong resurgence, having claimed bronze at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where they edged South Africa 4-3 on penalties in a thrilling third-place playoff.

RNAQ Holdings, a private holding company, has launched a GHS300 million ‘Scale-Up Fund’ to boost existing Ghanaian businesses.

The launch, held yesterday in Accra, brought together over 500 participants who among others interacted with business leaders including the President of RNAQ Holdings, Richard Nii Armah Quaye.

The strategic investment initiative is a collaborative effort between RNAQ Holdings and Quick Angels, which focuses on supporting ventures that have proven business achievements, but in their early stages.

According to RNAQ Holdings, the Scale-Up Fund will offer a unique opportunity for Ghanaian entrepreneurs who are between the ages of 20 to 45 years and are already operating businesses as well as ready to scale up opportunity to pitch their business plans to receive funding support.

The launch, which also featured a panel discussion by the Chief Executives of some companies under RNAQ Holdings, discussed with participants various strategies and preparedness businesses need in order to become successful.

Participants, who commended RNAQ for the initiative to support existing businesses as well as sharing their experiences in establishing successful brands, also asked questions on the business pitch, which is expected to start on Monday, November 3, 2025.

RNAQ Holdings holds equity in several leading entities, including Quick Angels, Bills Micro Credit and the RNAQ Foundation.

Speaking at the launch, President of RNAQ Holdings, Richard Nii Armah Quaye, cited several businesses such as Pizzaman Chickenman, Oya Micro-Credit, Sankofa, Burger King, King Ranch, and Pinkberry as examples of enterprises that started with a clear vision and have since achieved remarkable results.

Mr. Armah Quaye also mentioned that through vision and determination, many small dreams have become national brands while others have also taken steps toward global relevance.

That, he stated, was not achieved because the people involved were related by blood, neither were they friends nor hailed from the same tribe.

He indicated that most of them pooled their resources together and eventually succeeded to become global brands without conflict.

He further stated that successful businesses in advanced economies are rarely owned by one person but rather a diverse group of people who bring unique strengths, resources, and capital to the table.

‘The Scale-Up Fund, with GHS300 million behind it, reflects one clear belief; Ghana has abundant talent and innovative ideas, but what it often lacks is the capital and systems necessary to scale businesses effectively,’ he stressed.

‘The Scale-Up Fund is specifically designed for entrepreneurs who have already taken the first step; those who have proven they can start a business but now need the support to scale properly. It’s a fund built for execution, offering the resources and guidance required for businesses to thrive,’ he noted.

Mr. Armah Quaye also pointed out that most of the world’s successful businessmen don’t own a majority stake in the companies they founded, and therefore expressed confidence in the next generation of entrepreneurs.

‘Owning 1% of greatness is better than 100% of nothing. I encourage all Ghanaian entrepreneurs to open their businesses to equity investors, scale up their operations, and focus on long-term growth,’ he stressed.

He noted that smart entrepreneurs attract outside resources by giving up a portion of their stake in exchange for significant capital, which could propel the business to greater heights, citing the example of Elon Musk, who owns only 13 percent of Tesla, Jeff Bezos who owns 10 percent of Amazon, and Bill Gates who owns less than 1 percent of Microsoft.

President John Dramani Mahama’s speech at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly gained significant attention.

His address touched on pressing issues – from Africa deserving its rightful seat on the Security Council to the continent’s future being shaped by its unstoppable youth. Without a shred of doubt, his speech resonated with many.

The part that particularly stood out for me, however, was his statement on the rising levels of mis/disinformation, hate speech, and political polarization.

As a frontliner in this space, his statement resonated deeply. In my work as a Media and Information Literacy (MIL) trainer and advocate, I have witnessed firsthand how fake news and hate speech are continuously being weaponized on platforms like TikTok and X to mislead and divide our societies.

This is not the first time President Mahama has spoken about information disorder since assuming office on 7th January 2025.

In his inaugural address, he stated, ‘Technology, such as Artificial Intelligence, has taken us to new heights, opening up the potential for national, financial, and personal security issues that we cannot yet imagine. One example is the use of misinformation and algorithm manipulation on social media platforms to sway a particular group’s sentiments.’

In recent events, when the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) executives paid a courtesy call on him at the Presidency and during his first media encounter, he hinted at plans to track the IP addresses of individuals who engage in such menaces and to regulate the operations of bloggers (new media).

The president’s continuous emphasis on this issue across national and local platforms underscores how seriously he and his government view these threats.

The Seriousness of Information Disorder

While the President’s focus on tracking IP addresses and regulating bloggers highlights the urgency of the issue, these measures primarily address the symptoms of information disorder through enforcement and control. To build long-term, societal resilience, we must also treat the root cause: the public’s vulnerability to mis/disinformation. This is where a proactive, educational strategy becomes indispensable.

The seriousness of this issue is reflected in recent events. Over the past few months, several arrests have been made concerning threats to kill government officials, journalists, and civil servants.

Similar incidents occurred under the previous administration of President Akufo-Addo, where individuals were arrested for social media comments that incited violence or were said to have caused fear and panic.

The root of this new reality lies in technology. We are no longer living in normal times. The unprecedented speed and scale at which information travels, enabled by global connectivity and social media, have transformed how societies communicate and make decisions.

While this is a positive development, it has also created vulnerabilities, leading to the spread of misleading and manipulated information. The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has further exacerbated this challenge.

AI tools can now create realistic images, audio, videos, and text, drastically lowering the barriers to producing highly convincing false content.Deepfakes and AI-generated mis/disinformation now pose serious threats to public trust, electoral integrity, and social cohesion.

The Foundational Solution: Media and Information Literacy (MIL)

As disinformation tactics evolve, so must our strategies to counter them. While an effective response demands a multifaceted approach, including regulation and platform accountability, I would like to underscore the critical role of MIL. As a country, our topmost priority should be teaching and equipping people (both young and old) with the skills to access and assess reliable information.

The focus on MIL is aligned with global priorities. Enhancing skills and competencies in MIL is widely recognized as a key weapon in the fight against mis/disinformation, hate speech, and other online harms.

The Pact for the Future adopted at the UN Summit of the Future in September 2024 positions MIL as an essential tool for promoting information integrity and fostering inclusive societies. At UNESCO, MIL is a flagship programme and a vital contributor to sustainable development and effective global governance of digital platforms.

The Heightened Need for Media and Information Literacy (MIL)

While its definition has evolved to include AI literacy, MIL can be explained as a set of competencies that empower citizens to access, reflect, understand, evaluate, use, create, and share information and media content in all formats, using various tools, in a critical, ethical, and effective way.

Key trends that point towards the heightened need for enhanced MIL include an increased reliance on digital platforms to access public interest information, reduced trust in traditional journalism and the growing influence of content creators as information channels, rapid developments in AI, and increasing online harms and risks to digital safety.

Worldwide, MIL is increasingly being integrated into formal education through its inclusion in school curricula. In countries like Finland, MIL has been incorporated to enhance students’ critical thinking, communication, and digital skills.

This approach integrates critical thinking and source verification skills across all educational levels, from basic school to tertiary, enabling citizens to develop lifelong capabilities to evaluate information quality and identify potential manipulation.

Other countries such as Taiwan, Estonia, and Singapore have also implemented comprehensive MIL programmes with measurable success in building digital resilience among their populations.School supplies

Beyond formal education, a national MIL strategy that engages all segments of the population is essential. For Ghana, the path forward is clear. We must develop a comprehensive National MIL Strategy, coordinated by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations in partnership with civil society organizations like Penplusbytes.

This strategy should integrate MIL into our national curriculum while simultaneously championing widespread public awareness campaigns, workplace training, and community outreach. Given Ghana’s diverse linguistic landscape, such a strategy must also prioritize delivering MIL content in local languages to ensure inclusivity and maximum reach.

Conclusion

Addressing misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and political polarization certainly requires a whole-of-society approach. Essential strategies like universal access to fact-based information sources, strong legislation rooted in a human rights framework, and transparent standards for both legacy and new media are crucial. However, these top-down measures will have limited effect if the citizenry lacks the fundamental skills to distinguish fact from falsehood. Mr. President, getting the basics right is not just an educational priority but a national security imperative. Media and Information Literacy is that essential foundation. It is the vaccine against information disorder, empowering citizens to build their own cognitive defenses and, in doing so, safeguarding our democracy.