Category: Daily Guide Network

THREE SUSPECTED robbers have reportedly been killed in a fierce gun fight between some hoodlums and policemen at Poano in the Ashanti Region, the Ashanti South Regional Police Command has officially announced.

The deceased persons are Emmanuel Boamah Gyebi alias ‘Begee’, 38; Felix Topman, aka ‘Rasta’, 29; and Yaw Adu Gyamfi alias ‘Forsher’, 56, who is alleged to have killed some of his robbery victims in the past.

The three suspects, especially Forsher, who was on police wanted list for committing numerous crimes, were arrested by the police at Dousarp Hotel at Atwima Mmim near Nkawie in the Ashanti Region on September 22, 2026.

During interrogation, the trio admitted their guilt and told police that they were planning another robbery attack at Anwia Nkwanta-Antoakrom road, adding that their guns have been hidden in a bush at Poano ahead of the robbery attack.

The suspects then led the police to Poano to retrieve the hidden weapons. But unknown to the police, some members of the robbery gang, who were armed, had already laid ambush in the bush at Poano.

The trigger-happy hoodlums instantly opened fire at the police and injured one of them when they reached the bush. At that moment, the three arrested suspects started to run to escape arrest, but they were hit by bullets fired by the police.

The three injured suspects were then rushed to the Bekwai Municipal Hospital for treatment, but they were declared dead on arrival by medical personnel on duty. Their bodies have been deposited in a morgue for autopsy.

‘On September 22, 2026, the Ashanti South Regional Police Command gathered intelligence to the effect that the suspect popularly known as Forsher and his gang, who are wanted in connection with a series of robberies in Obuasi, New Edubiase and Manso areas in the Ashanti Region, were believed to be hiding at Dousarp Hotel at Atwima Mmim near Nkawie in the Ashanti Region and preparing to commit crime.

‘A team of police officers was dispatched to the said hotel. At about 1400 hours, suspects Yaw Adu Gyamfi alias Forsher, 56; Emmanuel Boamah Gyebi alias Begee, 38; and Felix Topman alias Rasta, 29, were arrested.

‘During interrogation, suspect Yaw Gyamfi alias Forsher admitted involvement in several robbery incidents and killings, including the following.

‘The killing of the Chief of Atwima Mmim, who was allegedly killed in a bathroom some years ago; the killing of the Chief of Atwima Koforidua; the Mankranso robbery which occurred on August 7, 2026 at about 0225 hours; several roadblock robberies at Nkawie and its environs, the dates of which they could not remember. He also admitted that he shot DCOP/Rev./Dr./ Nana Samuel Adane Ameyaw Nyamekye (Rtd) in the leg.

‘Yaw Gyamfi aka Forsher implicated Emmanuel Boamah Gyebi alias Begee and Felix Topman alias Rasta as his accomplices. A search conducted during their arrest revealed one pump-action gun, twelve (6) rounds of BB cartridges and eight (8) rounds of .32 Auto ammunition.

‘The suspects further disclosed that they were planning to carry out an attack tonight on the Anwia Nkwanta-Antoakrom Motor Road. They indicated that additional weapons had been concealed underground in a bush at Poano, which they claimed were intended for the planned attack on road users.

‘At about 1900 hours, the police team continued with the operation, during which the suspects led the team to the said location at Poano to retrieve the concealed weapons.

‘During the search, unknown person(s) from within the bush opened fire on the police team, and the suspects also ran and attempted to escape through the bush. The police team returned fire in self-defence, resulting in all three suspects sustaining gunshot injuries.

‘In the course of the exchange of gunfire, C/Insp. Joseph Kwakye also sustained a minor injury and is currently receiving medical treatment. The other suspect firer(s), believed to have sustained gunshot wounds, managed to escape into the bush,’ a police report, sighted by the paper, disclosed

The police, during a search in the bush, recovered one unmarked AK-47 assault rifle loaded with 16 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition, two unmarked pump-action guns and 24 rounds of ‘BB’ cartridges, concealed in a sack and hidden under a palm tree.

Meanwhile, the Ashanti South Regional Police Command has assured that investigations are ongoing and strenuous efforts are also being made to apprehend the escaped suspects who opened fire at the police in the bush.

The Black Starlets have departed the country for Morocco as they step up preparations for the upcoming WAFU Zone B U17 Championship.

The team left Ghana on Thursday morning and will engage Morocco’s U17 side in two international friendly matches as part of their preparations. The games will provide the technical team with an opportunity to assess the players and make final adjustments to the squad.

The first friendly is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026, with the second encounter set to take place four days later on Wednesday, September 30.

The Black Starlets are expected to return to Ghana on October 1, 2026, after completing their short stay in Morocco to wrap up preparations ahead of the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship.

Coach Kassim Mingle will use the two matches to fine-tune his team, assess the readiness of his players and work on areas that require improvement ahead of the WAFU Tournament.

The WAFU Zone B U17 Championship will serve as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations, making the Morocco friendlies an important part of Ghana’s preparations for the competition.

Social media influencer, Adwoa Tee, has called on Ghanaian youth to stop betting and channel their energy into more meaningful ventures.

Adwoa Tee made the call in a post on X (formerly Twitter), joining a growing number of voices advocating for proper regulation of the betting industry.

Her post simply read, ‘Stop Betting.’

Although she did not give reasons for her stance, her bold statement has been applauded by many on social media, while others argue that the surge in betting among the youth is a symptom of rising unemployment.

Market Circle redevelopment project.

It said a new funding arrangement is being pursued to settle the outstanding pound 18 million owed the contractor.

According to the government, the proposed funding mechanism is expected to facilitate the contractor’s return to site within the next two months.

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, disclosed this when he inspected the project which has been stalled since 2023.

The redevelopment of the Takoradi Market Circle was initiated in 2020 under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration to replace the old market structure, which was constructed in the 1920s.

However, construction works were suspended in early 2023 following the government’s debt restructuring programme, leaving the project unfinished.

Prior to the 2024 general election, the then presidential candidate of the NDC, John Mahama, promised the traders in Takoradi that his government will complete the project when the party comes to power.

However, almost two years after the NDC assumed office, nothing has happened to indicate that the project will continue.

During the visit, the minister toured the project site and was taken around by the project consultant and representatives of the contractor.

They briefed him on the current state of work and the challenges affecting the completion of the project.

The minister expressed optimism about the new funding arrangement and said the government expects construction works to resume shortly and the project to be completed within one year after the contractor returns to site.

He mentioned that commercial banks would be engaged to support the traders in paying their re-entry fees, to enable a smooth occupation of the facility upon completion.

As part of his visit, the minister also inspected the Assembly’s landfill site at Sofokrom in the metropolis to familiarise himself with the operations of the facility.

He assured of his ministry’s full commitment to improving the management of the landfill site to enhance environmental sanitation and sustainable waste management in the metropolis.

Internet sensation, Efia Odo, has declared that she does not belong to any political party, insisting she stands for truth.

Efia Odo made the statement in a reply to activist Kalyjah, saying, ‘How funny of you to tell me that I belong to the NPP all of a sudden because I tagged you to speak about galamsey? Is it so wrong for me to uphold you to such a task? I don’t belong to any political party, I belong to truth. If you wanted to text you would’ve done that.’

This comes after Kalyjah made a post stating: ‘You Are With the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and I’m with the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Together we will still be in power and in opposition. I still love you @Efiaodo1. Text my love.’

Ghanaian actress and socialite Efia Odo has been one of the few celebrities consistently vocal on social issues in the country.

Her advocacy became most prominent during the #FixTheCountry and #OccupyJulorbiHouse movements. In 2021, she joined calls for better governance, arguing that low wages and high cost of living were pushing the youth into desperation. She famously stated that Ghana’s minimum wage was ‘slavery’ and that teachers earning GHS250-GHS700 a month had no choice but to struggle.

She also highlighted economic hardship in interviews, saying Ghanaians are not lazy but are trapped in a paycheck-to-paycheck cycle. ‘We are merely working to afford a meal of waakye. The thought of buying a house or a car is a distant dream,’ she stated.

Her most recent activism has been against illegal mining (galamsey). Efia Odo joined the #EndGalamseyNow and #StopGalamseyNow protests organised by Concerned Citizens Against Galamsey in 2024, alongside figures like John Dumelo and Gyakie. Dressed in all-black to mourn environmental destruction, she called for government action to protect water bodies, forests and farmlands.

She has repeatedly linked galamsey to public health crises, saying, ‘Galamsey will Destroy Future Generations’ and pointing to birth defects and contaminated water.

Her activism has not been without cost. Efia Odo has revealed she received death threats, including threats to throw acid on her face, for speaking against the sitting government during the #FixTheCountry protests.

Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew have sacked their reserve team coach after he refused to let go of a female referee’s hand and said ‘don’t forget this is a man’s game’.

Federico Higuain, brother of former Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, was sent off and given a two-match suspension for the incident during an MLS Next Pro league match.

‘We determined it’s in the best interest of our club, players and support staff to dismiss Federico Higuain from his responsibilities,’ Crew general manager Issa Tall said in a statement.

‘After conversations this week and further assessing the past month, our club’s standards of what’s expected from a leader for one of our teams have not been met.’

Meanwhile, the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) criticised the league’s response, saying Higuain’s two-game ban ‘falls drastically short’.

A statement from the referees’ union added: ‘A male head coach committed two deliberate acts of physical abuse and sexism against a female official – squeezing her hand and refusing to let go after being told to stop three times.

‘This physical intimidation was compounded by a demeaning, sexist remark to the official: ‘Don’t forget, this is a man’s game.’

‘Women make every level of this game better. They should not have to endure intimidation or degrading comments to prove it.

‘Our female officials have proven their excellence on the world stage. They deserve the same respect, dignity, and safe working environment as every other official.’

When Daniel Agudey Doe entered the University of Ghana to study Computer Engineering, he had a clear idea of what he wanted to become. He was interested in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and hoped to eventually build a career in Robotics. What was less certain was whether he would have the financial support needed to complete his degree.

Daniel’s family wanted to support his education, but their financial circumstances made it difficult to consistently meet his university expenses. During vacations, while many of his colleagues returned home or looked for internships, Daniel took up manual labour jobs, including work on construction sites, to raise money for the next semester.

At school, he had to manage his limited resources carefully, sometimes skipping meals to make ends meet. ‘I was simply trying to make it through university. If things became impossible and I had to drop out, at least I could say I had given university my best attempt,’ he said.

For Daniel, the uncertainty was particularly difficult because he knew that completing his education was essential to pursuing his career ambitions.

The scholarship that changed the equation

Daniel’s story changed when he was selected as a beneficiary of the MTN Ghana Bright Scholarship.

The scholarship covered his tuition and hostel fees and provided support for his studies. With those costs taken care of, Daniel could devote more time and attention to his studies instead of spending his vacations looking for money to return to school.

‘For the first time, I had the privilege many financially stable students have, the ability to focus on my studies without constantly worrying about tuition, hostel fees or survival,’ he said.

The support also brought relief to his family, who no longer had to constantly worry about how to finance his education.

Daniel was able to participate more fully in group studies, collaborate with his colleagues and give greater attention to his coursework.

*From financial struggle to the best graduating student*

His academic performance reflected the change. Daniel graduated from the University of Ghana as the Best Graduating Computer Engineering Student, a distinction that marked the culmination of his studies and the determination that had kept him in school despite the financial difficulties he faced.

For him, the achievement is closely linked to the opportunity the scholarship provided. ‘Without the scholarship, I genuinely do not believe I would have completed university. I may have dropped out as early as Level 200 due to financial pressure,’ he said.

The young man who once worried about whether he would make it to Level 200 had gone on to become the best graduating student in his programme.

Support beyond the classroom

The support Daniel received also extended beyond his tuition and accommodation. As he prepared for National Service, he received guidance from his scholarship coordinator, Mr George, which helped him make a considered decision about his placement and career direction.

That guidance contributed to his decision to pursue an opportunity that aligned with his long-term interests in technology.

Building a career in data and robotics

Daniel is currently serving his National Service at Amalitech as a Data Engineer. The role forms part of a career path he has mapped out for himself. He hopes to build expertise in data engineering, move into Machine Learning and eventually pursue Robotics.

He also plans to pursue further studies, with a possible master’s degree in Robotics or a related field combining Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.

For Daniel, the journey from construction sites to a career in technology has reinforced the importance of having the opportunity to remain in school and develop his abilities.

The MTN Bright Scholarship

Daniel’s experience is part of a wider programme through which the MTN Ghana Foundation has supported young people pursuing tertiary education.

Launched in 2017 to mark MTN Ghana’s 20th anniversary, the Bright Scholarship has supported 1,220 brilliant but needy students to complete their tertiary education.

The scholarship provides support for tuition and accommodation, as well as a laptop and a stipend for books and study materials.

Over nine years, the programme has reached students in 18 tertiary institutions across the country, including the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the University of Ghana and the University of Cape Coast, as well as colleges of education and health training institutions.

The academic achievements of the scholars also tell part of the story. Seventeen Bright Scholars have graduated as valedictorians or best students at their universities, while 299 have graduated with first-class honours, 47 with second-class upper and 16 with second-class lower honours.

Daniel is among those whose academic journey has added to that record.

A story of opportunity and impact

Looking back, Daniel says the MTN Bright Scholarship has had an impact beyond his own education. ‘The MTN Bright Scholarship did not just change my life, it positively impacted my family, and my community,’ he said.

As MTN Ghana marks 30 years of operations in Ghana, Daniel’s experience forms part of the stories of young people whose educational journeys have been supported through the MTN Ghana Foundation’s investment in education.

A student who once worried about making it to Level 200 completed university as the best graduating student in his programme and is now beginning a career in Ghana’s technology sector.

Ghanaians living abroad staged a demonstration near the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Wednesday, September 23, over the arrest of Senior Nursing Officer Salomey Awity Bafoh for her alleged connection to the anonymous TikTok figure ‘Ghana Jollof.’

The group is also demanding greater accountability from the Mahama administration over campaign promises and governance issues.

Salomey Awity Bafoh was arrested and remanded into police custody in September 2026 for her alleged connection to the account.

The Ghana Police Service arrested her for allegedly abetting the publication and dissemination of false information, inciting comments, and offensive conduct. Police identified the TikTok account holder as Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, alias ‘Ghana Jollof,’ who is believed to be based in the United Kingdom. Kodua allegedly published videos containing unverified claims, including a purported near-coup d’état at the Jubilee House.

The demonstrators are calling for accountability and urging the government to uphold democratic structures.

emPLE Life Insurance has been named Rising Brand of the Year 2025, Life Category at the 6th Chartered Insurance Institute of Ghana (CIIG) Insurance Excellence Awards.

According to the company, the recognition marks an important milestone and reflects the company’s growing presence and commitment to delivering relevant, accessible and dependable life insurance solutions.

Commenting on the award, emPLE Ghana CEO and Country Head, Dr. Rafique Daudi, said the company was honored to receive this recognition which he said belonged to its customers, employees, partners and shareholders who continue to believe in its vision.

‘The award strengthens our commitment to delivering insurance solutions that empower people to achieve their aspirations,’ he said.

He said guided by its brand promise, ‘Empowering People,’ emPLE Life Insurance continues to focus on customer experience, innovation and solutions that help individuals, families and organisations protect what matters most and plan confidently for the future.

The company further expressed its appreciation to the Chartered Insurance Institute of Ghana for the recognition and its continued contribution to professional excellence within country’s insurance industry.

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for the regional integration of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) to go beyond treaties, protocols and institutional meetings to deliver tangible benefits to citizens across West Africa.

He said the true value of ECOWAS integration must be felt in communities through opportunities for young people, the free movement of citizens and businesses, and the collective ability of member states to confront challenges that individual countries cannot tackle alone.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin, who is the immediate-past Leader of Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, made the call at the conclusion of an ECOWAS parliamentary seminar in Accra, where he reflected on the challenges confronting the region and the responsibility of the ECOWAS Parliament to remain connected to the people it represents.

According to him, the ECOWAS Parliament must periodically move its activities beyond national capitals and engage directly with communities as part of efforts to deepen regional integration.

He cited Winneba, the capital of his Efutu constituency, as an example of how bringing parliamentary activities closer to citizens could promote public participation in regional affairs.

He noted that the ECOWAS Parliament held a parliamentary seminar in Bongo Town, Liberia, in 2019, before holding a seminar and extraordinary sessions in Winneba in 2021.

By 2024, he said, Winneba had hosted activities of the Community Parliament on four occasions.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin said the engagements provided traditional authorities, the University of Education, Winneba, businesses, young people and residents with opportunities to interact with the regional Parliament and participate in discussions on regional integration.

He expressed satisfaction that the initiative of taking major parliamentary activities beyond national capitals was continuing, citing engagements in Kano and Port Harcourt, with Bayelsa expected to continue the tradition.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin, who is also the Minority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament, again drew attention to the relationship between environmental stress and insecurity in the region.

‘Without reducing every conflict to climate change alone,’ he said, climate change could intensify existing pressures, worsen poverty, deepen competition over land and water, and weaken livelihoods.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin, who remains a member and Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, said his tenure as leader of Ghana’s delegation had strengthened his conviction that the regional body must remain close to the people in whose name it serves.

He subsequently handed over leadership of Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament to George Kwaku Ricketts-Hagan, Deputy Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South.

He expressed confidence that Mr. Ricketts-Hagan would bring his experience, commitment to parliamentary diplomacy and understanding of regional integration to the new responsibility.

Mr Afenyo-Markin pledged his continued support to his successor and urged participants at the seminar to ensure that their deliberations translated into practical outcomes for the people of West Africa.