Category: Daily Guide Network

At least 57 Nigerian nationals have been rescued by personnel of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, while five suspects were arrested for alleged involvement in a cybercrime and human trafficking case.

The suspects identified as Joel Nosa, Collins Rotimi, Shadrack Lulu, Austin Amahuaro, and John Uloko were arrested at Adorn Estates, Community 25, in an intelligence-led operation conducted by the Unit.

According to a statement issued by the CID PRO, Chief Inspector Brigitte Babanawo, their preliminary investigations have established that the suspects operate a human trafficking network responsible for luring and transporting young men and women from Nigeria to Ghana under the guise of securing them employment and educational opportunities.

‘Upon arrival, the victims, aged between 18 and 26 years, were coerced into engaging in online romance scams and other heinous activities,’ she said.

Chief Inspector Babanawo further mentioned that during the operation, the police retrieved seventy-seven (77) assorted laptops, thirty-eight (38) mobile phones, two (2) vehicles, three (3) television sets, and other internet-enabled devices suspected of being used in perpetrating the crimes.

She further stated that all fifty-seven (57) rescued victims are currently receiving the necessary care and support, while the suspects remain in police custody, assisting with ongoing investigations. The retrieved exhibits have been retained for further forensic examination.

‘The Ghana Police Service would like to caution the general public, particularly the youth, to remain vigilant about offers of employment, educational opportunities, or travel arrangements made through social media or other unverified sources,’ she cautioned.

FIFA TALENT Coach Stuart McLaren has praised the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for introducing the Elite Youth Regional Championship, describing it as a crucial initiative for the development of women’s football in Ghana.

McLaren commended the high level of talent and enthusiasm displayed throughout the competition, noting that the tournament provides an ideal platform for identifying and nurturing young female footballers.

‘I’m hugely impressed. The talent on show has been absolutely fantastic,’ he said. ‘Equally important is seeing so many young girls playing with smiles on their faces, showing real competitive spirit, and supporting their teammates. The celebrations from all the teams showed just how much the girls enjoyed the experience.’

The FIFA Talent Coach emphasised the importance of such initiatives in discovering and developing players across all positions.

‘I’ve seen very competent goalkeepers, composed defenders, intelligent midfielders, and creative forwards with good finishing,’ McLaren noted. ‘There is strength in every area of the pitch, but we must keep striving to improve in all aspects.’

He also highlighted the value of passion, character, and teamwork in young players, stressing that these traits are as vital as technical ability.

‘When identifying talent, we look for players with energy, passion, and resilience – those who can respond to challenges and support their teammates,’ he explained.

McLaren urged stakeholders to continue providing opportunities for young girls to play and compete in top-level environments.

‘We must keep creating platforms like this, where the best face the best. It challenges and improves the players,’ he said. ‘The future of Ghana women’s football is incredibly bright, and everyone involved has a responsibility to nurture it.’

The Elite Youth Regional Championships, launched by the GFA last year, aim to scout and develop young female talents to strengthen the national teams and ensure a sustainable pipeline of skilled players for the future.

THE RULING National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been accused of peddling lies to lure the electorate into voting for the NDC to win the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.

New Patriotic Party (NPP) Vice Presidential candidate for the 2024 polls, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, making the claim, said the NDC blatantly lied that the NPP was promoting illegal mining.

According to him, the NDC also campaigned that the illegal mining menace would be a thing of the past when they win political power.

He said due to the NDCs continuous lies, some of the electorates, including some NPP members, developed anger against the then government and refused to vote in the 2024 election, leading to NPP’s defeat.

According to him, the President John Dramani Mahama-led NDC administration has clearly been exposed after winning political power as they (NDC) have woefully failed to stop the illegal mining as promised.

Speaking at the NPP Manchester Youth Conference in the United Kingdom (UK), the former Energy Minister stated that the NPP did a lot to develop the country but suffered due to NDC’s lies.

Dr. Prempeh aka ‘Napo’ particularly said despite introducing the free Senior High School (SHS) policy to boost education, the NDC managed to lie to Ghanaians that the NPP had no vision for the country.

‘Sadly, after all our tireless efforts in introducing the free SHS social intervention programme to improve the human resource base of our country, some of the people believed the NDC lies and rejected the NPP,’ he said.

Ghanaians, Napo stated, especially those who refused to exercise their franchise during the 2024 polls due to their anger against the NPP administration, have now regretted their actions.

According to him, most of the people who didn’t vote in the 2024 presidential and presidential polls ‘will rush to vote for the NPP after experiencing NDCs bad rule’.

Touching on the NPPs upcoming presidential primaries, Napo entreated the NPP delegates to elect a candidate who has the qualities to attract more votes and help the party to recapture power in 2028.

‘We are not electing just a flagbearer, we are electing the next president of Ghana. In this regard, we should cast our ballots for the person who has those special qualities for that top and enviable seat,’ he said.

King Mohammed VI, has sent a message of congratulations to the Moroccan national under-20 football team following their World Cup triumph in Chile.

The Sovereign in a message praised the players’ ‘immense joy, deep pride and heroic journey’ which was crowned by ‘your well-deserved U-20 World Cup victory.’

He extended his warmest congratulations to the national team on this new global achievement, the first of its kind in the history of Moroccan football.

‘We commend this sporting feat, the result of your high self-confidence, your unwavering belief in your potential and talent, the spirit of unity and harmony you have demonstrated, as well as your outstanding professional performance throughout this World Cup,’ He adds.

King Mohammed VII further noted that the members of the national team have honorably represented their country and its youth, as well as the African continent as they should.

‘As much as you have delighted and brought joy to football enthusiasts, you have also filled us, and the entire Moroccan people, with happiness,’ he said, stressing that the national team have clearly shown that their beloved homeland has the potential and young talents capable, through the skills they have acquired, of taking on challenges and making history.

He also praised the efforts of all coaches, players, technical, medical, and administrative staff, and officials of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation for their various roles in the victory.

He also conveyed his high esteem for their patriotism and steadfast commitment to moving forward, to confirm and foster Moroccan football’s rightful place at the summit of world football.

While reiterating his warm congratulations to the national team and his heartfelt gratitude for this world title offered to the Moroccan Nation, King Mohammed the VII called on them to keep the course with the same sense of dedication.

The Sovereign implored the Almighty to protect them, guide their steps, and grant them full success in their promising sporting careers, with further glories and titles to come, while assuring them of His High solicitude and benevolence.

The Centre for Policy Scrutiny (CPS), has urged the government to integrate the 24-Hour Economy programme into the country’s medium term development framework of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).

Executive Director at the Centre, Dr. Adu-Owusu Sarkodie, made the call during a review by the Policy Think Tank on the government’s 24 Hour -Economy flagship programme in Accra yesterday.

He pointed out that integrating 24-Hour Economy programmes into the National Development Planning Commission’s long term programme will not only ensure alignment with national priorities but also help eliminate duplication.

According to him, the 24-Hour policy reflects the government needs to fill the pressing need for a stronger, more diversified economy, aligning with the country’s pursuit for long term transformation.

Dr. Sarkodie, however, stated that the success of the programme will not only depend on its vision but also on coherence and efficiency to reduce implementation and fiscal risk.

He also called on the government to establish transparent costing and phased fiscal planning to enhance the credibility for effective implementation of the progamme providing cost estimates based on impact and feasibility.

According to the think tank, such transparency will support budget discipline, improve stakeholder confidence, reduce the risk of overextension in a constrained fiscal environment.

He mentioned that the Centre observed that the 24 Hour programme correctly diagnosed Ghana’s development challenges and prescribes solutions similar to previous development ambitions and strategies contrary to earlier interpretations centred on adopting a three-shift employment system across the public and private sectors.

‘None of the programmes suggested outcome indicators relates to shift work, whether projected rate of adoption or its projected prevalence in the economy by some future date,’ he noted

‘While the term 24-Hour economy may suggest round the clock -operations, the programme represents a broader national transformation agenda. The shift system may be one of the strategies employed but it is neither a perquisite nor a defining feature of economic transformation’ the Centre observed.

The event which brought together some executives of the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, members of the academia, members of the diplomatic corps, students as well as several other dignitaries assessed the strategic coherence, fiscal credibility and feasibility of the 24 Hour Economy programme.

Residents of Ataso, a farming community in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region, are grappling with poor mobile network coverage that has disrupted communication and economic activities in the area.

According to the residents, the situation has persisted for years, forcing them to climb trees, rooftops, and even uncompleted buildings in search of a signal to make phone calls or conduct mobile transactions.

‘The network is our major problem, and it’s affecting us a lot,’ lamented one resident, Kofi Boateng. ‘It’s difficult transacting business in this village. We’re pleading with the government to come to our aid.’

The residents explained that the poor network has made it difficult to communicate with relatives, access emergency services, or engage in mobile money transactions – a vital part of rural economic life.

They have therefore appealed to telecommunication companies to extend their coverage to the community, and called on the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations to intervene urgently.

The residents believe that improved network infrastructure would not only enhance communication, but also boost business activities and overall development in the area.

An unwanted feud seems to be brewing between the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), over investigations into former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, who is accused of corruption and related offences during the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

The Office of the Attorney General is rumoured to be frustrated by delays by the OSP to transmit the docket on Mr. Ofori-Atta to it, so as to carry out the extradition process initiated by the OSP.

Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, in an interview on GHOne TV, minced no words when he said his office has written several letters to the OSP demanding the docket, a request which has since not been met.

The OSP, in a sharp rebuttal in the aftermath of the interview, made its position clear on the matter, noting that it ‘does not sacrifice excellent and professional investigations on perceived frustration over a response.’

Ofori-Atta Wanted

On June 2, 2025, the OSP re-entered the name of Mr. Ofori-Atta on the list of wanted persons and declared him a fugitive from justice in relation to an ongoing investigation into corruption and related offences.

The OSP also triggered processes for the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice of the location and provisional of arrest of Mr. Ofori-Atta in whichever jurisdiction.

Clash

Since then, the public hasn’t heard anything about the matter again until the Deputy Attorney General’s comments on GHOne TV that the OSP is yet to supply a docket on the investigations despite several requests.

According to him, only the Attorney General’s Department has the legal authority to initiate the extradition of Mr. Ofori-Atta, but the Office cannot carry out the action without a docket from the OSP.

‘The Interpol alert is not an extradition procedure,’ Dr. Srem-Sai pointed out. ‘We are the only authority that can make an extradition request, but we need a docket from the OSP to be able to make that request. Without the docket, you cannot go to the American authorities and say this is the person we want.’

In spite of this, he noted that ‘We’ve made several requests to the OSP, written letters, written demands, asking that now that you’ve announced to the world that you are ready to have this person extradited. we still do not have the docket from the OSP.’

The Deputy Attorney General stressed the importance of the docket, nothing that the extradition request must be accompanied by evidence of an ongoing investigation, just like the United States does before persons are extradited from Ghana.

‘When they ask for people to be extradited, they bring the full docket as if they are going to court. We must do the same,’ Dr. Srem-Sai added.

OSP Fires Back

But the OSP, in a strong-worded press statement, indicated that it had informed the Attorney General that the Office was in the process of boarding-up the various dockets on the subject, but its work had been extended by a search and seizure of documents and computer servers carried out by it and National Security at two offices of Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) on June 10, 2025.

It said the OSP is not frustrating and will not frustrate its own extradition request, noting that ‘there is absolutely no reason for the Attorney General’s Department to feel frustrated, if that is the case, in respect of a matter it is not involved in substantively, in respect of the investigation and prosecution of suspected persons – since OSP investigations and prosecutions are independent of any other authority.’

It further indicated that upon the communication to the Attorney General that the investigation had been extended since June 10, 2025, owing to the haul of more evidence at SML, ‘reasonable patience is required for the detailed examination and analysis of the newly discovered evidence.’

The statement, however, suggests that the OSP is not at loggerheads or in dispute with the Attorney General’s Department, emphasising that ‘the OSP is confident that that should be the position of the Attorney General’s Department.’

It further pointed out that the two offices are distinct by design but remain complementary arms of justice under Ghana’s constitutional architecture. ‘Differences in function do not imply conflict; they ensure accountability through procedural checks and balances.’

It said that the OSP will continue to cooperate fully with the Attorney General’s Department to ensure that the matter proceeds lawfully and efficiently, adding ‘the investigations remain very active, the extradition processes are underway.’

Afrobeats star, King Promise, is under fire after a video surfaced showing him claiming that Lagos, Nigeria, is bigger than the entire country of Ghana.

In the viral video, filmed during a chat with Nigerian TikTok streamer, Peller, in Accra, King Promise compared the populations of the two locations while discussing streaming numbers – but his comments quickly sparked outrage.

‘Nigeria is bigger than Ghana; come to think of it, the whole of Ghana is not bigger than Lagos. Lagos is bigger than the whole of Ghana. And it’s not even the capital of Nigeria. So if you are doing numbers-wise, it is not even fair; Ghana has 24 million people. Nigeria is about 300 million,’ he said.

The statement drew swift backlash on social media, with many Ghanaians accusing the singer of spreading misinformation and downplaying his own country.

Comments poured in, with users writing, ‘Bro is still holding on to the social studies he was taught in 2013,’ and ‘The ignorance on display is staggering.’

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, Ghana’s population stood at 30.83 million in the 2021 census and is projected to reach 33.7 million by 2025. In contrast, official figures from the Lagos State Government estimate the population of Lagos at over 22 million, though precise numbers remain uncertain.

At the start of the 2024/2025 academic year, Ghana’s secondary education sector saw a massive reform with the introduction of a new SHS curriculum by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) and the Ghana Education Service (GES).

According to Prof. Samuel Bekoe, ‘this curriculum aims to equip learners with 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and digital literacy whiles also promoting core Ghanaian values and inclusivity’.

A crucial part of ensuring the new curriculum equipped learners with these skills is pointed directly not only to teaching and learning but also how learners would be assessed. Considering this, significant part of the rollout of the new curriculum for Senior High Schools (SHS) is the introduction of a new approach to assessment and the student transcript portal.

The new curriculum promotes a balanced approach to assessment. It encourages varied and differentiated assessments and proposes an internal assessment, comprised of formative (portfolios, performance and project work in the classroom) and summative assessment, which can be an end-of-term examination. In addition, there would be external assessment, which is a comprehensive summative assessment to be conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) at the end of the year 3.

Supporting this shift in assessment is the introduction of the Student Transcript Portal (STP), which is explained in detail below.

The Student Transcript System/Portal (STP)

The Student Transcript System (STP), which is a centralised repository for learner information, provides a comprehensive record of the student’s academic performance and character qualities.

.. It contains key details such as learner bio-data, semester information, learning areas, subject combinations, assigned classes, continuous assessments information, credits hours, grades, Grade Point Averages (GPAs) and Cumulative Grade Point Averages (CGPAs). Additionally, a dedicated qualitative information section captures brief descriptions of learners’ character qualities over the period.

The introduction of the Student Transcript System marks a significant leap forward in Ghana’s effort to reform secondary education.

As Ghana continues to build a global competitive education system, innovations like the STP are laying the foundation for a new generation of learners who are confident, capable, and ready for the future. This is not just an assessment reform; it is an educational renaissance.

According to Mr. Lawrence Dogbatse, Deputy Registrar of WAEC, ‘This new curriculum reflects WAEC’s strong commitment to transforming traditional assessment methods. We are moving beyond exam-based evaluation to incorporate project work, practical applications, and critical thinking.’ He added, ‘The introduction of the Student Transcript Portal (STP) is a key part of this shift, as it ensures that every aspect of a learner’s growth, not just test scores, is recognised and valued.’

Benefits for Stakeholders

For learners, the STP encourages them to be consistent and engaged, knowing that every group project or values-based lesson contributes to their academic profile. It promotes intrinsic motivation and moves away from the old ‘chew, pour, pass, forget’ approach.

Parents gain access to a fuller understanding of their child’s strengths and areas for improvement. Instead of seeing only end-of-term grades, they see how their child participates in class, leads group discussions, and develops problem-solving skills.

Teachers and schools’ benefit from clear guidelines, assessment rubrics, and technology-enabled systems that support more accurate and equitable evaluations. This makes it easier to tailor support to different learner needs, including students with disabilities or special needs.

Tertiary institutions and future employers receive access to a rich dataset on prospective students. The STP reflects not just academic scores but also competencies like leadership, ethics, and teamwork, skills that matter in the real world.

Speaking on the significance of the STP, Prince Agyemang-Duah, Director of Schools and Instruction at GES, expressed, ‘Learning is not just about what students can memorise and reproduce in a two-hour paper. It’s about how they think, collaborate, create, and apply knowledge to real-world situations’. The Student Transcript Portal enables us to document this broader learning experience.

It ensures that students are recognised for the full range of their efforts. This is how we nurture confident, competent, and future-ready graduates. In line with the ambitions of the new SHS curriculum, STP revolutionises how we define and recognise learning, moving from rote memorisation to real-life application, inclusivity, and personal development.

A Shift in Assessment Philosophy

The new curriculum champions a balanced approach to assessment with internal assessments such as portfolios, project work, and practicals are now given eight alongside external examinations. Lawrence Dogbatse from WAEC explains that, ‘While WAEC still conducts final assessments, its methods have evolved to measure higher-order thinking: only 30% of the exam now assesses factual recall, while 70% evaluates critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication.’

As Ghana embarks on this transformative educational journey, it is imperative for all stakeholders-teachers, parents, and students-to embrace the shift towards this future-ready curriculum.

The Minority in Parliament has raised fresh alarm over the worsening scourge of illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, describing it as Ghana’s gravest governance failure and a full-blown national disaster that threatens lives, livelihoods, and the country’s environmental future.

Addressing Parliament at the opening of the Third Meeting of the First Session, Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, delivered a sobering account of what he called ‘the poisoning of Ghana’s soul,’ warning that unchecked illegal mining has pushed the nation to the brink of irreversible ecological collapse.

‘Even as we convene today, our rivers run brown with pollution, vast tracts of once fertile land lie scarred and toxic, and many of our citizens in mining communities face illness and death from poisonous chemicals,’ Afenyo-Markin declared.

He cited new findings by Pure Earth and Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which revealed that mercury contamination in some mining communities is 134 times above safe levels, while arsenic concentrations have surged 4,000 percent higher than World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

‘These poisonous metals are seeping into the water, into food crops, into the very bodies of our people. Doctors are reporting children with mercury pellets in their X-rays, children now requiring dialysis because of the poisonous fruits of galamsey,’ he lamented.

The Minority Leader said the menace had persisted across successive governments but had worsened under the current administration.

Recounting earlier warnings, he cited the 2010 Africa Investigates documentary by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, which exposed the human and environmental toll of galamsey, including the Dunkwa-on-Offin pit disaster that killed over 150 people.

The Minority Leader described the crisis as both an environmental and an economic catastrophe, noting that the rise of unregulated small-scale gold mining has created an underground economy draining state revenue while empowering criminal networks.

‘In just eight months this year, small-scale gold exports surged to over $6.3 billion, according to the Ghana Gold Board. Yet much of this trade is believed to be illicit. The state loses billions while communities suffer devastation,’ he said.

He called for a non-partisan national crusade against illegal mining, anchored on transparency, accountability, and sustainable livelihoods for affected communities.

The Minority Leader urged the government to work with civil society, religious bodies, and traditional authorities to design an all-inclusive recovery plan for degraded mining zones.

‘If we fail to protect our rivers, land, and communities, we risk failing an entire generation,’ he warned.