Category: Daily Guide Network

The Volta Regional Police Command, in collaboration with officers from the National Headquarters of the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU), has destroyed 11 large cannabis farms in the Peki-Dzake enclave as part of intensified efforts to combat the cultivation and trafficking of illicit drugs in the region.

The operation, carried out on Thursday, July 9, 2026, followed intelligence reports indicating that cannabis was being cultivated in remote locations within the enclave.

A total of 60 police personnel drawn from various units of the Volta Regional Police Command participated in the exercise. The team comprised officers from the Drug Law Enforcement Unit, Police Intelligence Directorate (PID), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, Regional Defence Force (RDF), Highway Patrol Unit and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

The operation was led by the Volta Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent Mick Omari Boakye, and the Regional Director of the Drug Law Enforcement Unit, DSP Richard Dotsey Gablah. They were supported by the Regional Director of the Police Intelligence Directorate, Superintendent Alexander Adade Yeboah, the Regional Operations Commander, DSP Augustine Awuah, and other senior officers of the command.

Following a briefing, the police team proceeded to the identified locations within the enclave and successfully located and destroyed the 11 cannabis farms. The cannabis plants, which were at an advanced stage of growth, were cut down and completely burnt in a controlled operation to prevent the fire from spreading to adjoining bushes.

According to the Volta Regional Police Public Affairs Officer, Chief Inspector Francis Gomado, no arrests were made during the operation as some individuals found on one of the farms reportedly detected the approach of the security team due to the difficult terrain and fled before officers could apprehend them.

Chief Inspector Gomado described the scale of cultivation discovered as a clear indication that illegal drug farming remains a serious challenge in parts of the region. He, however, assured the public that the police would continue to intensify intelligence gathering and operations aimed at tracking down those behind the cultivation and trafficking of narcotic substances.

He further appealed to residents to volunteer credible information to support law enforcement efforts, assuring them that all reports would be treated with strict confidentiality.

The Volta Regional Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to combating the cultivation, trafficking and abuse of narcotic substances as well as maintaining the safety and security of communities across the region.

The latest operation underscores the Ghana Police Service’s resolve to intensify the fight against drug-related activities and dismantle illegal narcotics networks operating within the Volta Region.

Media personality, Kwame Afrifa Mensah, popularly known as ‘Okatakyie’, and one Osman Awuni, have been hospitalised following violent clashes that nearly marred the Effigya Sekyere East New Patriotic Party (NPP) Constituency polls on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

The police has disclosed that while voting was in progress, Okatakyie led about 30 muscularly built men to the SDA Church polling station in Wiamoase to disrupt the elections, claiming that there was an injunction against the elections, even though the police and Electoral Commission (EC) claimed they were not served.

According to the police, the ensuing violent clashes between the macho men and police led to the arrest of Okatakyie and six other people, who are perceived to be his supporters, a security action which eventually helped to restore law and order for the voting process to continue.

However, Okatakyie and Osman, whilst in lawful police custody, suddenly complained that they were not feeling well and needed medical attention. The police therefore rushed them to the Mampong Government Hospital, where they were admitted for immediate treatment under police guard.

Assistant Superintendent Emmanuel Agbodzi, Head of Public Affairs Unit, Ashanti North Police Command, in a statement, reiterated that the police and the Electoral Commission, who supervised the polls, were not aware of Okatakyie’s claims that there was injunction against the election.

‘Preliminary investigations indicate that suspect Kwame Afrifa Mensah claimed that some of his supporters had been side-lined in the electoral process and that he had obtained an interlocutory injunction to halt the elections. However, neither the Electoral Commission nor the police received any court order or injunction directing that the elections be suspended.

‘Following the intervention of the police, calm was restored and voting resumed under adequate security. The election ended peacefully at about 4:00 p.m., after which the Electoral Commission duly declared the results,’ Assistant Superintendent Agbodzi said, adding that investigations into the case were still ongoing, with the necessary arrangements underway to haul Okatakyie and the six other people who were arrested at the polling station to court.

Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, widely known as COKA, an aspiring Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has pledged to construct an additional multi-purpose office complex for the party in the Ashanti Region if elected.

According to him, he will cut the sod for the construction of the multi-purpose facility within his first 100 days in office, in addition to ensuring that work begins on the regional party office. He also assured party members that he would complete whatever aspects of the existing office project remain unfinished to ensure the region has a fully functional party headquarters.

COKA made the pledge when he appeared on Lawson TV/FM’s Ghana Se Sen programme hosted by Kwame Tanko on Monday, July 13.

He explained that the Ashanti Regional branch of the NPP deserves modern office facilities that would serve both administrative and other party activities, stressing that the additional multi-purpose complex would enhance the operations of the party in the region.

Responding to a question on whether the incumbent Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, had failed by not constructing a regional office during his tenure, COKA declined to criticise him.

Rather, he commended Chairman Wontumi for his contributions to the growth and electoral fortunes of the party in the Ashanti Region, insisting that he harbours no ill feelings towards him.

Drawing inspiration from the Bible, COKA cited the story of King David, who desired to build a temple for God but was unable to do so, with the task eventually being completed by his son, King Solomon.

He said, in the same vein, although Chairman Wontumi may not have built the party office, he could be the one to bring that vision to fruition if elected.

COKA further pledged to unite the rank and file of the NPP in the Ashanti Region and work tirelessly to help the party recapture political power from the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2028 general election.

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has commended President John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), the media, Zoomlion Ghana, and citizens for the successful nationwide clean-up exercise held on July 10 and 11, 2026.

The two-day exercise was declared in response to devastating floods that hit seven regions, claiming lives, displacing families, and destroying homes, businesses and infrastructure.

In a statement signed by GJA President, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, the Association described the initiative as timely and necessary.

It said the exercise effectively mobilised citizens, institutions and communities to restore environmental cleanliness and reinforce national commitment to tackling poor sanitation.

The GJA particularly praised President Mahama for leading by example. ‘His decision to personally participate sent a powerful message that environmental sanitation is a shared national responsibility,’ the statement noted.

Mr. Dwumfour also joined the President, government officials and thousands of volunteers in Accra, reaffirming the GJA’s commitment to national development and environmental sustainability.

The Association further applauded the MLGCRA, Regional Coordinating Councils, sanitation agencies, traditional authorities, security services, CSOs, youth groups and community volunteers for coordinating efforts that ensured success across the country.

Special commendation went to the Ghanaian media for extensive education, updates and community mobilisation before and during the exercise. The GJA was proud of journalists who reported from drains, streets and communities, saying their work reflected the highest ideals of civic and development journalism.

The GJA also lauded Zoomlion Ghana Limited and Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong for deploying personnel, trucks, heavy-duty equipment, and opening waste treatment facilities to support the campaign.

While celebrating the success, the GJA urged Ghanaians to make cleanliness a daily habit. It called on the media to keep sanitation, climate resilience and flood prevention on the national agenda through sustained education and accountability.

‘Together, through responsible leadership, active citizenship and collective action, Ghana can build cleaner, safer and more resilient communities,’ the statement concluded.

The German Development Cooperation, in partnership with Saving Grains 301 GmbH, has handed over a newly constructed community warehouse to farming communities in Shebo in the Northern Region in efforts to reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access for smallholder farmers.

The warehouse, inaugurated during the closing week of the Fund for the Promotion of Innovation in Agriculture (i4Ag) project, will provide safe grain storage, facilitate aggregation and quality management, and serve as a marketplace where farmers, traders and buyers can connect and conduct business.

Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in collaboration with Saving Grains 301 GmbH and local farming communities, the i4Ag project sought to address one of the most persistent challenges facing Ghana’s grain sector, post-harvest losses, which can account for up to 40 percent of harvested grain.

Over the past two years, the project introduced an integrated package of innovations aimed at improving post-harvest management. These included hermetic storage bags, digital quality monitoring and traceability systems, improved storage infrastructure, biomass-based grain drying technologies and market-driven business models designed to create new economic opportunities for rural entrepreneurs while enhancing market access for smallholder farmers.

Project results showed significant improvements in the adoption of modern post-harvest technologies and farming practices.

More than 16,000 smallholder farmers, including over 8,000 women, received training in improved post-harvest management. About 90 per cent of those trained adopted at least one of the promoted innovations, while 80 per cent reported a reduction in post-harvest losses.

The project also facilitated the formation of 27 farmer groups, many of them led by women and young people, to strengthen collective marketing, improve knowledge sharing and increase access to financial services.

Working with Saving Grains 301 GmbH, the project also demonstrated the commercial viability of market-based post-harvest solutions.

More than 18,000 farmers registered on the Saving Grains digital platform, over 1,000 metric tonnes of grain were traded during the past 12 months, more than 6,000 hermetic storage bags were introduced onto the Ghanaian market, and post-harvest losses within the company’s business model were reduced by 17.5 percent.

Speaking on behalf of the Sector Coordinator for Sustainable Economic Development at GIZ Ghana, Issah Nadjo, attributed the project’s success to strong collaboration among public and private sector partners.

According to him, partnerships with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Farm North Ghana, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), SESI Technologies and other national stakeholders enabled innovative technologies to be tested under Ghanaian conditions while strengthening local ownership and laying the foundation for their continued use after the project’s completion.

‘As the project comes to an end, its legacy extends beyond the innovations introduced,’ he said, adding that the partnerships forged had strengthened institutional capacity and promoted sustainable agricultural development.

The Greater Accra Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture, Rogatta Antwi-Baadu, said the project’s impact would continue to benefit farming communities long after its completion.

She noted that infrastructure such as the Shebo community warehouse, together with strengthened partnerships and enhanced technical capacity, would contribute significantly to reducing post-harvest losses, improving food security and creating new economic opportunities for smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs across the country.

The shift in Ghana from the traditional extended family system toward a more nuclear family structure has intensified challenges associated with elderly care by weakening intergenerational household support. Economic pressures and urban migration have further contributed to the decline of the extended family system, which previously served as a primary source of care for older persons.

Consequently, many elderly individuals are increasingly left alone during the day, even when they reside within family households. Ghana continues to rely largely on fragmented policy measures and family-based care arrangements. In contrast, several countries have moved toward more structured, state-supported elderly care systems.

In the United Kingdom, elderly persons are referred by general practitioners to community-based centres where they engage in structured activities such as exercise classes, art therapy, gardening, music sessions, and peer interaction groups. The UK model known as ‘social prescribing’ places strong emphasis on mental health and loneliness prevention.

In Japan, elderly persons regularly attend local community centres where they participate in physical exercise, cultural activities, games, and social interaction. These centres are often supported by municipal governments and integrated with the national health insurance system. Medical personnel routinely monitor elderly participants, ensuring early detection of health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and mobility challenges.

South Africa provides community-based care systems combined with social protection grants. Elderly persons receive monthly financial support from the state. In addition, many communities operate day-care centres and home-based care services supported by NGOs and local municipalities.

South Africa’s approach is significant because it combines income security with community care, ensuring that older persons are not only financially supported but also socially engaged.

For Ghana, these lessons are particularly relevant. They provide valuable insights that can guide the country in forging ahead with deliberate, well-planned interventions to address the challenges and opportunities associated with its aging population.

By drawing on proven experiences from other jurisdictions and adapting them to Ghana’s unique realities, aging can be approached not as a looming crisis but as an opportunity to build a society where older persons can live with dignity, purpose, and care.

Conclusion

Old age is not a destination reserved for a few unfortunate people. It is the road upon which every living person is travelling. The elderly you see today were once the vibrant youth who sacrificed sleepless nights, postponed their dreams, and endured countless hardships so that we could stand tall today. To abandon them in their twilight years is to forget the very roots that nourished us.

A society that does not value its older people denies its roots and endangers its future. Let us strive to enhance their capacity to support themselves for as long as possible and, when they cannot do so anymore, to care for them. -Nelson Mandela

The love, patience, and care we extend to them today are seeds we sow for the future. Let’s care for the elderly with love and compassion, for age is a journey we all hope to undertake. Caring for the aged is not an act of charity; it is an act of love, gratitude, and a solemn reminder that every life deserves to age with dignity, peace, and warmth. If aging is a blessing, then dignity in old age must become a right, not a privilege reserved for the fortunate few.

Recommendation

Protecting the dignity of older persons in Ghana requires more than sympathy and occasional acts of charity. It requires deliberate legal reforms, institutional support, and a revival of the culture of care and respect that once characterised Ghanaian society. Growing old should not become a sentence to loneliness, neglect, or indignity. The following measures are therefore recommended.

Ghana can establish Community Active Ageing Centres in every district to support the well-being, dignity, and social inclusion of older persons. These centres should be deliberately designed as safe, accessible, and friendly spaces where elderly persons can regularly gather, interact, and participate in structured activities with their peers.

Instead of aging in isolation at home, older persons would have the opportunity to engage in social interactions, fellowships, light physical exercises, cultural activities, storytelling, games, and other recreational programmes that promote mental stimulation and emotional well-being. Regular interaction with peers can significantly improve mental health outcomes and restore a sense of belonging and purpose.

Growing old brings unique health challenges. Such centres would also serve as platforms for emotional support and psychological care. Importantly, each centre should be staffed with trained medical personnel and social care workers, including nurses, counsellors, and community health officers.

These professionals would provide routine health monitoring such as blood pressure checks, basic medical screening, medication reminders, and referral services where necessary. This ensures that health challenges are identified early before they become severe or life-threatening.

A key feature of this model is that it should be affordable and sustainable, with older persons contributing a small subsidised fee where possible, while government and district assemblies provide the main financial and infrastructural support. The objective is not to commercialise aging but to ensure dignity through shared responsibility and sustainability.

Alternatively, it is recommended that, in the event of limited central government capacity to fully fund and implement the programme, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) should take proactive steps to sensitise their communities on the importance of the initiative and introduce appropriate local levies to support the implementation of this critical and beneficial project. Financial and material support for the project may be obtained through sponsorship from corporate organisations, religious bodies, and private organisations.

Many elderly persons suffer emotional, physical, and financial abuse at the hands of relatives and caregivers. Others lose their properties because they are weak or unable to defend themselves. Parliament should enact an Older Persons Act to provide clear rights and obligations relating to healthcare, social security, housing, long-term care, protection from abuse, and access to justice.

Such legislation should criminalise elder abuse and neglect and establish mechanisms for reporting and responding to cases involving vulnerable elderly persons. Public awareness campaigns should educate families and communities about the rights of older persons and the consequences of abuse and neglect.

Government and private health institutions should develop home-based care services in which trained personnel periodically visit older persons living alone or experiencing mobility challenges. An elderly person who falls in his or her home should not have to wait for hours before receiving assistance.

In addition, a dedicated transport service could be introduced to provide daily transportation for older persons with mobility difficulties to and from the proposed community centres at a modest fee. Such a system would enable them to participate in social, recreational, and wellness activities with their peers while reducing social isolation and loneliness. Together, these interventions would promote active aging, enhance the quality of life of older persons, and ensure that they remain connected to their communities.

Faith-based communities should ensure that those who spent decades serving God are not forgotten when age weakens their bodies. Some congregations have already taken commendable steps by organising exercise sessions and providing free medical screenings for older persons, including checks for blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and body mass index (BMI).

Such initiatives should be encouraged and expanded to promote healthy and dignified aging. Employers should organise programmes that prepare workers for life after retirement, emphasising financial planning and savings, social engagement, health management, and the importance of maintaining meaningful relationships.

Government alone cannot replace the family. Children must remember that the parents who now walk slowly once carried them in their arms. The hands that tremble today once fed them. The eyes that struggle to see today once stayed awake throughout the night whenever they were sick.

Visiting parents should not be reserved for funerals. A simple phone call, a short visit, a conversation, or spending time together may mean more to an elderly parent than expensive gifts. Many older persons do not complain because they need money. They complain because they miss companionship. Retirement should not become a transition from usefulness to loneliness.

INTERNET SENSATION, Efya Odo, has criticised the government over Ghana’s waste management system, following the just-ended two-day nationwide sanitation exercise.

The social media personality said despite the nationwide clean-up exercise, many communities still have heaps of refuse left along roadsides. She blamed the situation on what she described as the country’s poor waste management system.

Reacting to a Joy News post on X which showed a video of a heap of refuse under the caption, ‘National Clean-up Day 2: Heaps of refuse remain at Tema Lorry Station,’ Efya Odo responded to the post saying, ‘Lmao exactly! No proper waste management. I guess they expect the citizens to also take the trash to the dumping grounds.’

Her comments have since sparked reactions online, with many followers sharing their frustrations and calling on government to put proper systems in place.

X user Dennison wrote: ‘What a joke this country has become… This country owes every Ghanaian healthy water, waste management, electricity, retirement system, better city plan, a functional transportation. I hate that our leaders are putting it all on the citizens to handle.’

Another user, I am Akafaevag, questioned where the waste collected during the exercise would end up: ‘But the inevitable question remains; ‘Where will all the waste and rubbish cleaned by the patriotic citizens who I am proud to be part of, END UP?’ Back at holding points or edge of gutters? Which all ends up back in floods and gutters. Or; Recycled in 100% totality? By WHO?’

Governorkid also weighed in, suggesting a structured collection system: ‘That is where the problem is, assuming every week there’s a rubbish truck that comes for the rubbish at a fee, it will help a lot.’

The two-day national sanitation exercise was aimed at ridding major cities and towns of filth and improving public health. However, concerns about waste disposal and sustainability of such exercises continue to dominate public conversation online.

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is set to begin a massive GHS190 million redevelopment of Burma Camp, aimed at replacing aging barracks with modern, multi-level family housing and multi-purpose office complexes.

The project is expected to be completed within nine months. The initiative covers three key projects: the El-Wak Redevelopment Project, the Post Office Redevelopment Project, and the Burma Camp Redevelopment Project. Together, they are designed to address the military’s housing deficit and significantly improve living conditions for personnel.

Currently, the El-Wak site has 18 blocks of accommodation housing 180 families. The buildings, constructed as far back as Kwame Nkrumah’s era, are now in a dilapidated state. Under the new plan, two types of accommodation will be introduced: Two-Bedroom Half-Compound Units: each unit has two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, sanitary facilities, and an entrance foyer. One block will contain eight (8) apartments; One-Bedroom Studio Apartments: each studio has a single room with a kitchenette, living area, and washroom. One block will contain 32 apartments. At completion, the project will deliver 192 housing units, replacing the existing 180. The contractor is Belamos Construction Company Limited.

The Post Office Redevelopment Project will be executed by HMS Construction Limited. It involves a two-storey multi-purpose facility located opposite Ecobank at Burma Camp. Ground Floor: will house two banks, each with its own banking hall, customer service area, vaults, bank manager’s office, and other ancillary facilities.

The first floor will accommodate relocated post office staff. It will also include a forex bureau, travel and tour facilities, and office space for rent. Officials say the new building will replace the current outdated structure and improve the outlook around the Command Gate area.

The Burma Camp site currently has 18 blocks housing 36 families. The redevelopment will introduce: Deluxe Studio Apartments – with a living area, bedroom, kitchen, storeroom, and sanitary area. Two-Bedroom, Three-Storey Accommodation – each unit with two bedrooms, living room, kitchen, sanitary areas, and entrance foyer.

One block will house 12 apartments. When completed, the project will provide 248 family units, replacing the existing 36.

This represents a 600% increase in housing capacity. Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony last Thursday, Deputy Minister of Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, described the programme as a major investment in the welfare of military personnel. ‘Soldiers who dedicate their lives to protecting the country deserve decent accommodation,’ he said. He added that the redevelopment of Burma Camp and other barracks would preserve an important part of the country’s military history while modernising facilities to meet present and future operational needs.

THE CHIEF Executive Officer of the National Ambulance Service (NAS), Dr. George Kojo Owusu, has called on motorists, especially public transport drivers, to make way for ambulance vehicles to ensure timely response to emergencies.

Speaking at the 2025 Annual and 2026 Mid-Year Review Meeting of the National Ambulance Service, Dr. Owusu said navigating through traffic in congested cities like Kumasi and Accra remains a major challenge for emergency teams.

‘For many years, ambulances were largely perceived as vehicles for transporting patients from one location to another. Today, however, emergency medical care has evolved significantly,’ he said. ‘Even when our lights are on with sirens blaring, it is still very difficult for drivers to give way. But any time you hear the sound of an ambulance siren and see the flashing lights, please request right of way. That patient could be your father, your mother, or your relative. It may be you tomorrow,’ Dr. Owusu stressed.

The NAS CEO disclosed that demand for ambulance services has witnessed a 4.6% growth, putting more pressure on the Service to improve response time. ‘This means we have to be up to the task. People are now aware that they need ambulances, so we must ensure more of our fleet is available, our staffs are up to date with their medical skills, and we improve on response time,’ he stated.

He added that President John Mahama has directed that ‘no person in Ghana will die because an ambulance failed to come,’ and the Service is working to meet that directive.

Dr. Owusu also announced a new initiative by the Ministry of Health, to roll out a National Integrated Bed Management System. The system will provide real-time visibility of available beds at receiving and referring facilities, allowing ambulance crews to know where to send patients before they set off.

‘This will prevent what we call ‘no bed’ situations. Before we even leave, we will know precisely where we are going. I believe when we roll this out, our system will be second to South Africa in Africa. It is a very good initiative that we must all support,’ he said.

Dr. Owusu said the National Ambulance Service is leading a transformation in emergency care in Ghana. ‘Our vision rests on three critical pillars: strengthening prehospital emergency care, stabilisation, and timely patient transfer. We remain committed to investing in continuous professional training, equipping our ambulances with modern life-saving equipment, strengthening dispatch and referral systems, and working closely with hospitals and partners to ensure every Ghanaian receives quality emergency care regardless of location,’ he added.

He urged the public to treat ambulances as priority vehicles on the road, noting that seconds saved can mean the difference between life and death.

Leader of Universal Spiritual Outreach, Bishop Kwabena Asiamah, popularly known as ‘Ajagurajah’, says he will no longer publicly mention celebrities’ names if he receives spiritual revelations about them.

Speaking in an interview with Nana Romeo on Okay FM, Ajagurajah explained that his decision follows the backlash he faced after sharing what he described as a revelation about Ghanaian rapper Criss Waddle.

According to him, the criticism and ridicule he received after making the comments left him deeply hurt.

‘If I receive another revelation about a public figure, I won’t mention the person’s name publicly again,’ he said.

Ajagurajah described speaking about Criss Waddle as one of the biggest regrets of his life, saying he believed the revelation was genuine but did not expect the public reaction.

The comments relate to a public exchange between the two in June 2026 after Ajagurajah claimed he had foreseen danger approaching the musician and called on him to seek spiritual intervention.