Category: Daily Guide Network

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.

Vice President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has cautioned stakeholders against being complacent with the cedi’s recent recovery, urging them to develop financial discipline to help sustain the trend.

Speaking at the opening at the Ghana Economic Forum 2025, themed, ‘Current Stability – A Reset for Sustainable Economic Growth,’ Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stated that the value of the cedis is determined by hard work and deliberate disciplinary choices.

‘And when we fail to discipline our fiscal habits, the Cedi pays the price. The cedis recovery is not a miracle. It is the outcome of deliberate disciplinary choices. The Bank of Ghana’s careful policies, stronger export performance and the Gold Board initiative, which ensures our gold directly strengthens our gold reserves, have helped to increase cedis confidence both at home and abroad.

‘Investors are returning. However, this is not a time for complacency. It is a time for consolidation,’ she said.

The Vice President said value addition to raw materials produced in the country will make the cedi strong. ‘The cedi will never be as strong as it should be if we continue to export, for example, cocoa beans instead of chocolate, bauxite instead of aluminum,’ she stated.

The Vice President added that through prudent expenditure cuts, strengthening employment controls and sound financial management by the government, the economy is restoring confidence, rebuilding value and achieving tangible economic gains.

CEO of Business and Financial Times (BandFT), Dr. Godwin Acquaye, emphasised that a stable currency is more than an economic indicator. According to him, it reflects national confidence, business certainty, and social well-being. ‘When the cedi is stable, businesses can plan better, investors are more likely to stay longer, and households thrive.’

He also highlighted the Ghana Economic Forum’s impact, saying it has not only discussed problems but also generated insights, influenced policies, and strengthened public-private sector collaborations.

Chairman of the Ghana Economic Forum 2024, Edward Annan, emphasised the need to learn from the past, acknowledge the present, and envision the future to build a Ghana that is more competitive, inclusive, and resilient.

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in partnership with Logeist Group Limited, has launched an Eco-Reclaim Project in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region to restore degraded lands and promote sustainable livelihoods.

The initiative forms part of the government’s broader commitment to reclaim lands destroyed by illegal mining activities popularly known as galamsey, and to promote environmental sustainability and economic resilience.

The project is being implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, with collaboration from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Minerals Commission, Forestry Commission, Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, and the Amansie Central District Assembly.

The Ministry granted Logeist Group Limited approval to pilot the project in recognition of the company’s technical expertise and commitment to sustainable reclamation.

Speaking at the launch, Technical Director for Lands, who represented the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hope Boye Agbah, described the project as a vital intervention to address the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.

He lamented the extensive damage to arable lands, rising costs of food production, and the pollution of water bodies, emphasising that reclaiming degraded lands is essential for long-term food security and environmental protection.

Mr. Agbah also called on traditional authorities and local leaders to lend their full support to ensure the project’s success, assuring the company of the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to achieving its objectives.

The CEO of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, indicated that the Eco-Reclaim Project will employ advanced eco-restoration techniques, including the planting of indigenous phytoremediation tree species that extract heavy metals from contaminated soils.

She added that the initiative integrates agroforestry systems and sustainable farming practices to restore ecological balance while creating jobs and improving livelihoods.

‘We must all become custodians of the environment to ensure that our lands remain fertile and productive for generations to come,’ she said.

For his part, Mr. Daniel Doe Tamakloe, CEO of Logeist Group Limited, reaffirmed his company’s commitment to the success of the Eco-Reclaim Project.

‘We are here to reclaim the land and make it better for use, not to engage in illegal mining. We call on the people of Amansie Central to collaborate with us and support this national vision for restoration and sustainable livelihoods,’ Mr. Tamakloe said.

The Kumasi High Court has dismissed an application seeking to halt the final funeral rites of legendary Ghanaian musician, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba.

The ruling, delivered yesterday by Her Ladyship Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur, gives the family the go-ahead to proceed with the funeral arrangements slated for December 6, 2025.

The late musician’s wife, Akosua Serwaa, had filed an interlocutory injunction praying the court to restrain Daddy Lumba’s extended family from organising the funeral until certain family matters were resolved.

However, the court held that under Ghanaian customary law, the authority over the body of a deceased person lies with the family, not the spouse.

Justice Smith Arthur noted that restraining the family would not be in the interest of justice or public order.

‘The application for interlocutory injunction is hereby refused,’ the judge ruled.

With the court’s decision, preparations by the family for the much-anticipated funeral can now continue without legal hindrance.

Daddy Lumba, whose music career spanned over four decades, is expected to be laid to rest on December 6, 2025, in a ceremony expected to draw thousands of fans, friends, and dignitaries from across the country and beyond.

The Office of the Attorney General (AG) has filed an application asking the Supreme Court to grant it leave to file out of time, a response to a writ filed by Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, challenging the processes regarding the petitions that resulted in the removal of Justice Gertrude Torkornoo as Chief Justice.

The MP had sued the government through the Attorney General in April 2025, arguing that upon a true and proper interpretation of articles 146(1), (2), (4), (6) and (7), 23, 57(3) and 296 of the Constitution, the President is mandated to notify the Chief Justice as well as obtain a response from her before referring the petition to the Council of State or commencing the consultation process.

He contends that a failure by the President to furnish the Chief Justice with copies of the petition seeking her removal, and she responding to the allegations made against her before the initiation of the consultation process with the Council of State violates Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution.

In spite of the writ being filed in April 2025, the Attorney General has not filed a statement of defence, six months after his office had been served with the writ.

While the Attorney General was waiting to file a defence, a five-member committee chaired by Justice Gabriel Pwamang, a Justice of the Supreme Court, heard one of the petitions and recommended that Justice Torkornoo be removed from office.

The President, on September 1, 2025, enforced the recommendation and removed Justice Torkornoo from office as Chief Justice as well as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

The Attorney General has now filed an application asking for leave to file a defence out of time, indicating that the delay was due to ‘administrative procedures and arrangements attendant to the 2025 presidential transition and the subsequent compulsory retirement of the Solicitor-General.’

The application further indicates that the delay in preparing and filing the statement of defence was neither deliberate nor in bad faith.

The Christian Faith Child and Youth Development Centre based at Breman Essiam in the Central Region is equipping the youth in the area with the requisite knowledge to become responsible adults and impact their communities positively.

The centre is a Compassion-Assisted Project under Compassion International Ghana and established through a partnership with the Christian Faith Church International (CFCI).

Since its inception about 15 years ago, the number of children who have been taught, equipped and resourced by the centre is about 316.

The centre was officially inaugurated in March 2010 with the primary aim of supporting the holistic development of children within the Breman Essiam community and its environs.

The project was birthed through the vision and leadership of Rev. Eric De-Graft Tawiah, who is the District Overseer of CFCI in Central District ‘B’.

He desired to see children and families experience transformation through Christ-led life.

He sought endorsement from the head office of the church, which was graciously granted by the Presiding Bishop of Christian Faith Church International, Bishop Emmanuel Botwey.

The project commenced with an initial enrollment of 200 participants and later increased to 316 in 2013.

The centre has since grown remarkably, impacting many lives spiritually, cognitively, physically, and socio-emotionally.

At a durbar to mark the 15th anniversary of the school, Rev. De-Graft Tawiah noted that over the years, the centre has worked closely with parents, caregivers and other stakeholders.

The event was on the theme: ‘Celebrating the Goodness of God’s Glory through Divine Grace’.

He explained that the centre was among other things to ensure that every child in the area received care, guidance, and opportunities to achieve their God-given potentials.

He praised the first Project Director, Mr. Seth Acquah Hackman, whose leadership laid a strong foundation for the project.

‘I also want to thank his successors and other dedicated staff and traditional leaders who have also contributed immensely to the growth of the project,’ he added.

The General Secretary of CFCI, Apostle John Ashun, indicated that in the last 15 years, the ingenuity and hard work of Rev. De-Graft Tawiah, resulted in the establishment and efficient management of the centre.

The Energy Commission has appealed to the media to intensify energy efficiency and conservation awareness creation.

‘We are appealing to the media to educate and motivate individuals and organisations to adopt energy efficient technologies and practices’, the commission indicated.

This came to light during a training workshop for media practitioners on the country’s new Energy Efficiency Regulations in Takoradi, the Western Region.

It was in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP,) the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP,) and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) under the AGORA project.

It was also part of a nationwide campaign aimed at engaging journalists on energy-saving practices and effective communication.

Assistant Manager, Energy Efficiency Regulations, at the Energy Commission, Hubert Zan, urged the public to adopt energy-efficient appliances to help reduce electricity bills.

He described the rising consumption of electrical appliances as urgent reasons for regulatory enforcement and increased public awareness.

He added, ‘The Commission found it necessary to educate the public and so we identified the media as one of the stakeholders when it comes to awareness creation’.

He pointed out that over the past years the Commission, as part of its regulations, started with the standards and labelling of three appliances including air-conditioners, refrigerators and lighting devices.

He said due to the successes chalked, the Commission has been able to expand the scope and with the approval of Parliament, come up with 19 more appliance regulations.

Manager of Energy Efficiency Regulation at the Energy Commission, Richard Donkor, explained that energy efficiency as using less amount of energy to get a job done without compromising on quality.

GoldBod Jewellery, a subsidiary of the Ghana Gold Board, has announced the appointment of media personality, Kwabena Anokye Adisi, popularly known as Bola Ray and actress, Joselyn Dumas as its brand ambassadors.

This strategic move aims to promote the country’s rich gold heritage and highlight it’s expertise in crafting authentic and exquisite gold jewellery through world-class artistry and ethical sourcing.

With Bola Ray’s charisma and Joselyn Dumas’ elegance, GoldBod Jewellery is poised to reach new heights, showcasing the beauty of Ghana’s gold ornaments to the world.

Speaking at the unveiling event held at the GoldBod Head Office in Accra, Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, expressed his excitement about the partnership, describing it as a strategic move to project Ghanaian craftsmanship in jewellery fabrication for both the domestic and international markets.

‘Bola Ray and Joselyn Dumas represent excellence and authenticity- the very values that define the Goldbod Jewellery brand. Their appointment as brand ambassadors of GoldBod Jewellery marks a major milestone in GoldBod’s mission to promote local value addition to the country’s gold resources.’

Mr. Gyamfi further noted, that the collaboration marks the first step towards the actualisation of President Mahama’s vision of making Ghana a leading hub of authentic gold jewellery and ornaments in Africa.

As part of their ambassadorial roles, the two will spearhead brand campaigns, media engagements, and public outreach initiatives that showcase GoldBod’s latest collections of fine gold and diamond jewellery, bespoke ornaments and refined luxury accessories.

The Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana, Wael Fathy, has assured his outfit’s support to the Eco Technical Institute, specialised manufacturers of high-tech furniture, to enhance its production.

Speaking after touring the institution’s facility at Spintex in Accra, Ambassador Fathy applauded the leadership of the institute for its enhanced technical craftsmanship, emphasising that technical vocational training skills is the way to go.

‘It gives me great pleasure to visit Eco Tech today and all the projects. We are here to help the Ghanaian people and government to achieve success. Having toured the facility, I’m very impressed,’ he said.

He added that both nations have historical relations between them. ‘We are working towards facilitating visas between both countries, and we will train a lot of technicians to present their experience to the Ghanaian people,’ he stated.

His country, he went on, will help in capacity building of Ghanaians.

‘We have a lot of institutes and authorities in Egypt that are working in capacity building and training, so we are very keen to transfer our experience to our brothers in Ghana,’ he added.

He further mentioned that the new government in Ghana is doing a great job to enhance the economy as well as creating job opportunities for all Ghanaians.

Egypt, according to him, has expertise in the production of handicraft and the management of small enterprises, knowledge which he said his country would like to impart to Ghanaians.

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Eco Group of Companies, George Oti Bonsu, expressed optimism of the ambassador’s assurance to support the institution.

He emphasised that when support from agencies and government institutions are provided, more youth will be equipped with the training skills and this, according to him, will address youth unemployment.