Category: Daily Guide Network

A new study by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has uncovered alarming levels of lead contamination in everyday consumer products across the nation, posing a serious health threat to children and pregnant women.

The joint research, conducted across all 16 regions of the country, found lead, a highly toxic heavy metal, in commonly used items such as traditional eyeliners, white baked clay, turmeric, cereals, and even household plumbing materials.

Lead, though used in various industries such as battery production, ceramics, and paints, is extremely hazardous when ingested or inhaled.

According to health experts, even small amounts can cause irreversible damage to the brain and nervous system, reduce Intelligence Quotient (IQ), and trigger developmental, learning, and behavioural disorders in children.

The study revealed that about 80% of traditional eyeliners (popularly known as kaji kaji or kholi) contained dangerously high levels of lead, in some cases tens of thousands of times above permissible limits.

White baked clay, locally called ‘shire’, ‘ayilor’, or ‘farinkasa’ and commonly consumed by pregnant women to ease nausea, was also found contaminated in nearly 25% of samples, with the North East and Greater Accra regions recording the highest rates.

Similarly, over 42% of ground turmeric samples tested positive for excessive lead levels, particularly in the Greater Accra, Central, and Bono regions.

Corn-based cereals such as Tom Brown, a popular weaning food for children, showed contamination in about 4.4% of samples, mostly from the Eastern Region.

The FDA also warned that old plumbing systems and cookware may be additional sources of lead exposure, as the metal can leach into drinking water or food during preparation.

Experts note that lead poisoning in children can lead to anemia, growth retardation, vomiting, abdominal pain, seizures, and hearing loss, while in pregnant women, it can cause low birth weight, premature delivery, miscarriages, and stillbirths.

Describing the findings as a ‘critical public health concern,’ UNICEF urged swift national action to eliminate sources of lead exposure.

The agency called for increased public awareness, stronger product regulation and enforcement, and routine screening for lead, especially among children and pregnant women.

‘Lead poisoning is entirely preventable,’ UNICEF said, adding that it remains committed to supporting Ghana to strengthen regulation, protect consumers, and ensure every child has a healthy start in life.

Bernice Aboagye, a staff nurse is staring possible disciplinary actions in the face as the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued a formal query against her for comments she made in viral videos directed at the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.

The GHS, in a letter issued on October 10, 2025, and sighted by DAILY GUIDE, accuses the nurse of using ‘unprintable, inappropriate and scandalous words’ directed at the sector minister and has the potential of damaging the image of the health profession.

The letter signed by Dr. Samuel Freeman Mensah, a Medical Superintendent, noted that the GHS has since the circulation of the videos, ‘received several calls from well-meaning Ghanaians registering their misgivings and reservations about the content of the videos.’

Ms. Aboagye allegedly made the comments on October 2, 2025, when the Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives hit the streets of Accra in protest of government’s failure to pay the salaries of nearly 7,000 health workers who have not been paid for the last ten months, despite being at post.

The aggrieved health workers began the demonstration from the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park and marched through some major streets in Accra to drum home their demands.

They gathered at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health, where they presented petitions to the government. Government has promised to resolve the issue, noting that it will be captured in the 2026 budget.

The comments are said to have generated discussions and backlash on various social media platforms ‘with people making all manner of disparaging comments about the service.’

GHS has since issued a formal query to the nurse, attaching the impugned videos and has given her up to October 24, 2025, to explain why disciplinary action should not be instituted against her.

She is to explain why she should not face sanctions for ‘use of unacceptable and inappropriate words resulting in a rude behaviour towards the Honourable Minister for Health contrary to Section 8.1(c) of the code of conduct and disciplinary procedures.’

She is also to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against her for ‘use of abusive [words] on the Honourable Minister of Health contrary to Section 8. I (1) of the Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures.’

Finally, Ms. Aboagye is to explain why she should not be punished for ‘tarnishing the corporate image of the Service and bringing the name of the Service into disrepute contrary to Section 4.1 (d) of the Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures.’

Amnesty

Meanwhile, the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has appealed to the GHS to temper justice with mercy in addressing the matter.

According to him, both he and the government welcome divergent views and constructive criticism as part of his commitment to fostering tolerance and openness to diverse opinions.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Health ‘further urged all health workers to express their opinions responsibly and respectfully, without resorting to insults, as this contributes to the healthy growth and development of the health sector.’

It emphasised that the Ministry has no objection to demonstrations, as they are legitimate expressions of frustration and a constitutional right of every citizen.

‘However, the Ministry will not condone the use of abusive language or acts of indiscipline during such demonstrations,’ it said.

The statement further reminded all health professionals to be circumspect in their public communications and social media engagements.

With the advent of technology, soccer practitioners and especially performance analysts collect a wide range of data to analyse and help improve coach, player, and team performance.

As a soccer practitioner, you are expected to collect authentic data before and during a football match and evaluate performance in a variety of ways depending on the level of competition.

In modern football, data-driven insights are crucial for enhancing performance and gaining a competitive advantage. Performance analysis with accurate data will help to provide objective and actionable insights that can help coaches, teams, and players to improve and not destructive criticism or condemnation.

Some of the basic metrics you need to know and apply in a football match performance evaluation are as follows:

1. Team possession: High possession of the ball can indicate control over the game and ability to dictate the pace and neutralise an opponent

2. Passing accuracy: Accurate passing is very vital for dominating possession and building attacking players to convert half chances into full chances.

3. Defensive metric: Good tackles, interceptions, and clearance are crucial for defensive evaluation.

4. Midfield metric: Effective communication among defenders’, midfielders and attackers is vital to help midfielders dictate possession and provide accurate passes to strikers.

5. Short on target :This metric reflects the effectiveness of a team offensive play.

Payer statistics:

1. Distance covered: sprint, speed, and stamina. By tracking these statistics, practitioners can assess physical performance and identify areas of improvement of a player.

2. Match event: Important information during a match such as tackles, goals, assists, interceptions, fouls, and set pieces. These indicators provide a comprehensive view of the game and help in evaluating both individual and team performance.

3. Positional data: tracking the positions and movements of players throughout the match can help understand players’ roles, tactical disposition, tactical execution, tactical awareness, and tactical discipline.

In modern football:

It is important to state that experts have revealed that in modern football performance analysis, data-driven insights are pivotal for enhancing performance and gaining a competitive edge. Performance analysts must rely heavily on accurate and verifiable data to help provide objective and actionable insights for teams and players to improve on their performance. By applying accurate data, performance analysts or football practitioners can uncover game patterns, make informed decisions, and optimize game strategies.

Performance analysts play a crucial role in modern football by helping teams maximise their performance through data-driven insights and not emotional and unverifiable thoughts.

The Loop would want to urge all football practitioners in Ghana and beyond to consider this piece as a clarion call for a reset of how football matches, coaches, and players are evaluated before, during, and after football matches.

It’s not too late for all our sports desks in the country to help facilitate for some sports journalists to go into this very important area to help minimise harm on how we some times destructively criticise our coaches, players and teams.

Football we say is the passion of the nation, but we should not allow our ulterior motives, personal interests, and emotions to lead us to the level of mediocrity and condemnation of innocent individuals.

Media personality, Serwaa Amihere has officially been called to the Ghana Bar, marking a remarkable new chapter in her career.

At a ceremony held on October 10, 2025, Serwaa joined the latest cohort of 824 lawyers to be admitted, transitioning from acclaimed broadcaster to full-fledged legal practitioner.

The event drew members of the Judiciary, the General Legal Council, senior lawyers, academics, and well-wishers from the media and entertainment industries, who gathered to celebrate her achievement. Social media was awash with messages of pride for Ghana’s newest lawyer.

A leading news anchor and host at GHOne TV, Serwaa has pursued her legal ambitions quietly over the years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Finance from Methodist University College and an LLB from GIMPA, where she graduated with second-class upper honours before advancing to the Ghana School of Law.

Reflecting on her journey, Serwaa expressed gratitude to her family, mentors, and supporters for their encouragement during years of balancing broadcasting with rigorous study.

’40 subjects, 40 exams, over 2,500 lecture hours and countless sleepless nights – this is the side of my life I kept private for five years,’ she wrote on X (formerly Twitter). ‘Thanks to God, my beloved family, and everyone who supported me through it all. To a new chapter.’

With her admission to the Bar, Serwaa Amihere says she hopes to use her voice and platform to promote justice, good governance, and public education – proving that determination, discipline, and purpose can indeed coexist with passion.

The Black Stars of Ghana have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after hosting and beating Comoros at the Accra (Ohene Gyan) Sports Stadium.

The Sunday, October 12, 2025, match ended with a goal in favour of Ghana.

Mohammed Kudus’ 47th minute goal ensured Ghana joined four other African nations who have recently qualified for the World Cup: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.

Ghana leads Group I with 25 points, after 10 matches.

A historic 48 nations are participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by Canada, United States of America, and Mexico.

Ghana Black Stars will be making their fifth appearance at the World Cup, their best performance so far being their time in South Africa in 2010 when Uruguay kept them from a historic semi-finals entry.

It is a proud moment for Coach Otto Addo who suffered great humiliation amid calls for his sack after a disastrous 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign.

Togo international Samuel Asamoah is facing the possibility of paralysis after breaking his neck in a horrific accident during a league match in China.

The 31-year-old midfielder, who plays for second-tier side Guangxi Pingguo, collided head-first with a pitch-side LED advertising board after being pushed by an opponent during a domestic fixture on Sunday.

In a statement, Guangxi Pingguo confirmed that Asamoah had suffered multiple neck fractures and severe nerve damage, leaving him at risk of ‘high-level paraplegia,’ a condition that causes loss of movement in the lower body.

The club announced that Asamoah has since undergone surgery and is currently in stable condition.

‘His recovery progress will be announced in due course after follow-up examinations,’ Guangxi Pingguo said.

Chongqing Tonglianglong midfielder Zhang Zhixiong received a yellow card for the shove that caused the incident.

Asamoah, who previously played the bulk of his career in Belgium before joining the Chinese club in 2024, has represented Togo six times at the international level.

TWO MALE suspects are in the firm grips of the Ashanti South Regional Police Command for allegedly robbing and murdering a 20-year-old man.

Suspects Solomon Opoku and Collins Aboagye, reportedly, killed one Kofi Mensah, at Tweapease-Aboo in the Ashanti Region and stole his Haojin motorbike.

The heartbreaking incident was said to have happened on October 6, 2025, and reported to Bediem District Police Command by an assemblyman.

After committing the heinous crime, the two suspects managed to elude arrest for some days until Solomon Opoku was apprehended on October 10, 2025.

According to reports, Opoku was in the process of selling the deceased’s stolen Haojin motorbike at the Council Quarters in Obuasi when police finally grabbed him.

After interrogation and further investigations, the police managed to arrest second suspect, Aboagye at Kokotesua, near Obuasi, to also assist in investigations.

According to police sources, who have demanded anonymity, the two suspects have since confessed to committing the heinous crime.

Meanwhile, it looks likely that the two suspects, who are still in police custody, would be sent to court today, Monday, October 13, 2025 on charges of robbery and murder.

The Fosu Royal Family of Parkoso and Nsuta has issued a formal response through its lawyers, Baba Jamal and Associates, addressing complaints by Akosua Serwah Fosu, a woman based in Germany, regarding funeral arrangments of the late Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba.

In the statement dated October 1, 2025, the family’s solicitors outlined their position, noting that Akosua Serwah Fosu had long separated from the late musician after refusing to return to Ghana to support him during a period of ill health.

According to the family, she left the marriage over 15 years ago and later initiated divorce proceedings that were never pursued to completion.

The letter further stated that by the customs of the Asante and Fosu Royal family, Akosua Serwah Fosu had already symbolically dissolved the marriage by presenting traditional drinks to signify her separation – a gesture accepted by the family of the late musician.

The Fosu Royal Family also clarified that Priscilla Ofori, also known as Odo Broni, is recognised as the lawful wife of the late Daddy Lumba. She reportedly lived with him for more than 15 years and had six children with the musician. The family said Odo Broni cared for the late artist until his passing, and therefore holds the family’s recognition as his surviving spouse.

Addressing property matters, the lawyers indicated that all of the late Daddy Lumba’s assets form part of his estate, which must be distributed lawfully among his children and those entitled to benefit. They advised that all parties remain calm until a fair distribution is carried out under the supervision of the Fosu Royal Family.

The family’s lawyers also revealed that they are in possession of written instructions left by the late Daddy Lumba concerning his funeral and estate. These, they said, would guide how his burial and property distribution should be handled.

In conclusion, Baba Jamal and Associates, acting on behalf of the Fosu Royal Family, urged all parties to avoid unnecessary disputes that could tarnish the legacy of the late musician. The family expressed its willingness to engage in peaceful discussions to ensure a dignified and respectful burial for the celebrated artist.

Law Suit

Prior to this, Akosua Serwah had filed a lawsuit at the Kumasi High Court seeking to be declared the sole surviving spouse of Daddy Lumba.

She is also asking the court to grant her exclusive rights to perform the widowhood and funeral rites of the late musician.

Daddy Lumba passed away on July 26, 2025, at the Bank Hospital in Accra.

His final burial rites are scheduled to take place on December 6, 2025, in Kumasi.

Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has expressed strong optimism about his chances in the upcoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primaries, declaring his readiness to secure a decisive victory when delegates go to the polls on January 31, 2026.

Dr. Bawumia, who has been on a series of engagements with party executives and coordinators in the Greater Accra Region, concluded his latest round of meetings with a renewed call for unity and teamwork among NPP members as the party prepares for the crucial internal contest.

‘I concluded my special engagement with Electoral Area Coordinators in the Greater Accra Region yesterday with a call for unity and a shared vision as we head into the January 31 polls,’ he said in a message shared on his social media pages.

‘I am heartened by the very warm welcome offered me and remain confident that together, we can #WinWithBawumia.’

The former Vice President’s engagements in the region formed part of a broader effort to consolidate grassroots support and strengthen the party’s internal cohesion ahead of the vote.

Over several days, Dr. Bawumia met with current and former constituency executives, regional leaders, and former government appointees, emphasising the importance of solidarity and purpose as the NPP seeks to position itself for a return to power in the 2028 general election.

‘I engaged some Electoral Area Coordinators in the Greater Accra Region today to solicit their support for the upcoming election. I appreciate their commitment and motivation to work together towards achieving an emphatic win with Bawumia on January 31,’ he added.

The meetings, which spanned from October 1 to October 6, saw Dr. Bawumia touring various constituencies and interacting with party faithful.

His message throughout the tour remained consistent on unity, hard work, and faith in the NPP’s vision, which were the keys to reclaiming national leadership in the next general election.

‘Together, God willing, we will recapture power in 2028,’ he assured supporters at the start of the tour, expressing gratitude for what he described as ‘overwhelming support and readiness to work together’ from the Greater Accra delegates.

Throughout his campaign, the former Vice President emphasised his record in digital transformation, economic management, and his vision for a modern, inclusive Ghana under a future Bawumia administration.

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding customers as part of its regulatory mandate in the banking and financial sectors.

In a statement issued on Friday, October 10, to mark this year’s Customer Service Week celebration, the Central Bank said it continues to fulfil its mandate through active engagement and recognition of all stakeholders within the banking industry.

According to the statement, the celebration, held under the theme ‘Mission Possible – Making the Impossible Possible,’ reflects the BoG’s institutional values and its dedication to customer protection.

The statement highlighted the introduction of the Consumer Recourse Mechanism Guidelines, designed to ensure fair, transparent, and timely resolution of customer complaints across regulated financial institutions.

For the BoG, the guidelines require institutions to establish robust internal complaint-handling mechanisms that not only resolve customer issues but also serve as diagnostic tools for identifying systemic weaknesses and improving service delivery.

The statement added that the guidelines empower institutions to monitor recurring issues and mitigate associated risks.

‘To ensure an effective complaint resolution regime, the Bank of Ghana adopts a three-tier Complaint Resolution Framework,’ the statement said.

‘Financial institutions are mandated to receive and resolve customer complaints as the first point of contact. The Bank takes up all referred or unresolved complaints or disputed decisions and acts as an arbitrator,’ it added.

It further explained that where a consumer remains dissatisfied with the Bank of Ghana’s decision, they may seek redress in a court of law.

The Central Bank also emphasised that since its establishment on March 4, 1957, the BoG has embodied the spirit of possibility, with a vision to build an independent sovereign monetary authority that serves as a pillar of stability, innovation, and resilience.

‘As we celebrate this year’s Customer Service Week, the Bank of Ghana entreats all its regulated institutions to uphold the spirit of ‘Mission Possible’ by committing to excellence in customer service, embracing innovation, and ensuring that every customer interaction reflects values of fairness, transparency, and responsiveness,’ the statement concluded.