Category: Daily Guide Network

The Minority in Parliament has urged President John Dramani Mahama to call officials of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to order after accusing the state anti-graft agency of abusing its powers following its attempt to arrest the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, on court premises yesterday.

The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, said the incident raised serious concerns about the conduct of investigative agencies within court premises and called on the Chief Justice to examine whether such agencies were permitted to enter court premises for the purpose of arresting suspects or accused persons.

According to him, the MP, who is a lawyer, had gone to court to represent his client and was confronted by EOCO officers shortly after leaving the courtroom.

‘The issue of arrest of persons on court premises – this matter, I think, should attract the attention of the Honourable Chief Justice,’ Mr. Afenyo-Markin said at a press briefing in Parliament.

He said the action amounted to an abuse of power and accused the state institution of attempting to undermine and intimidate a citizen who was both a lawyer and a legislator.

The Minority Leader said the caucus had listened to the account given by the MP and had no doubt that EOCO was ‘on a path to abuse his rights’ and fundamental right to freedom.

He maintained that the Minority was not opposed to accountability or the lawful work of state institutions, but insisted that such institutions must operate within the law.

‘We are not against accountability. We always say that we are not against any state institution going about its lawful duty, as enshrined in any enactment or the Constitution,’ he said.

‘But what we are saying is that a state institution must be seen to be doing its work lawfully,’ he stressed.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin further asserted that EOCO had gained notoriety for abusing its mandate, and urged President John Dramani Mahama to bring his appointees to order.

He also appealed to the President to reflect on his legacy, saying the President had about two years left in office and would ultimately be judged by how he managed such issues.

‘Mr. President, reflect on your legacy,’ he said, and added, ‘Enough. Bring your appointees to order. Call them to order. This is not the Ghana we want.’

For his part, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah narrated that he was at court yesterday representing Salomey Awiti Bafoh, a nurse and head of emergency medicine at Abrefi Hospital in Techiman, in a case involving her fundamental human rights.

He said after the court proceedings, which had been adjourned to the following day, he went to the foyer to address the press.

According to him, after speaking to the media, a woman approached him, touched his hand and told him to accompany her because he was required at EOCO.

He said when he questioned the woman about the invitation, she claimed he had previously been invited but had failed to honour it.

Nana Awuah said he told her he was prepared to follow her to EOCO in his own vehicle, but she allegedly insisted that she would forcibly take him into an EOCO vehicle.

He said he subsequently asked the woman to identify herself as an EOCO official and produce an arrest warrant, but she failed to provide either.

‘At that point, I needed to defend and protect myself for the benefit of the good people of Manhyia South, who I serve, the Minority Caucus, my children and my whole family,’ he stated.

He said he consequently drove away from the court premises to safety before proceeding to Parliament, where he was required to undertake committee work.

Nana Awuah said the incident occurred while he was returning to Parliament, and thanked members of the Minority Caucus for their solidarity.

He also linked the incident to the broader concerns surrounding the treatment of persons by state authorities.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has conducted a mandatory training programme for Ghana Premier League players and officials to improve their understanding of the Laws of the Game and promote professionalism and respect for match officials.

Players and officials from Accra Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko, Bibiani Gold Stars, Basake Holy Stars, Karela United, Heart of Lions and Medeama have completed the training.

Representatives of Young Apostles, Swedru All Blacks, Vision FC, Debibi United and FC Ashantigold 04 have also participated in the programme, with Berekum Chelsea, Bechem United, Dreams FC and Port City FC still scheduled to undergo the training.

Led by GFA Technical Referees Instructors, the sessions cover the latest amendments to the Laws of the Game for the 2026/27 season.

The programme is designed to ensure players and club officials are properly informed about the rules and can support their correct application during matches.

The initiative forms part of the GFA’s broader efforts to promote professionalism, integrity, respect and responsible conduct across Ghanaian football while strengthening cooperation between clubs, players and match officials.

Players and officials have also participated in integrity and safeguarding sessions and signed an Integrity Form, reaffirming their commitment to fair play, ethical conduct and protecting the integrity of the game.

The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has announced the opening of applications for the second edition of SheRhythms Festival, Ghana’s premier all-female music festival.

This year’s festival, which is under the theme ‘Amplifying Her Voice, Elevating Her Art,’ will take place on December 11 and 12, 2026, at the Alliance Française, Accra.

The main event will be preceded by a professional masterclass at the Music Department of the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Legon.

The call for applications closes on October 30, 2026.

SheRhythms Festival is organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and the Creative Arts Agency, in collaboration with Alliance Française Accra and powered by Benayacom.

MUSIGA President, Bessa Simons, shared the vision behind the festival, saying, ‘SheRhythms is more than performance. It is about providing women with a dedicated platform to showcase their art, build their capacities, and network with peers and industry leaders. We want every female musician in Ghana to see herself on that stage, to grow her craft, and to connect with opportunities that can sustain her career. We are also calling on international artistes to also register to participate in the festival.’

Abena Ruthy, the 2nd Vice President for MUSIGA says, ‘The one-day intensive training session at the University of Ghana, Legon, will be focusing on performance excellence, music business fundamentals, and brand development for female artistes, and we are lining up some very exciting resource persons. The workshop and panel discussions will be led by experienced resource persons to equip participants with practical tools for career growth.’

Female musicians interested in performing at the SheRhythms Festival are encouraged to submit their applications before the October 30, 2026 deadline.

Application forms and further details are available through MUSIGA’s website and official social media channels.

Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi has won a silver medal at the Asian Games after overcoming significant challenges to pursue her career in the sport.

Hashimi fled Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Before leaving the country, the 23-year-old trained in disguise as a man because of restrictions on women and fears for her safety.

She won silver in the women’s road race near Nagoya, Japan, on Tuesday, following a seventh-place finish in the women’s individual time trial on Sunday.

Hashimi, who began cycling at 15 alongside her sister Yulduz, said she often wore multiple masks and dressed as a man to avoid being recognised while travelling to training in her home province of Faryab.

She also faced hostility while riding, including people throwing stones at her.

Hashimi now lives and trains in Italy with support from former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto.

She and her sister represented Afghanistan at the 2024 Paris Olympics and are now targeting the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Describing her silver medal as ‘something special’, Hashimi said she hopes her achievement will inspire women in Afghanistan and elsewhere to pursue their dreams.

‘I hope that the next generation will come here and represent their country without any fear,’ she said.

Hashimi added that the medal represented the resilience of Afghan women and said she would never give up on her Olympic ambitions.

Musician, Akwaboah, has advised men to secure stable jobs and reliable sources of income before getting married.

This is because, according to him, men should not allow their wives to work for other men, a comment that has drawn attention on social media.

‘Never let your woman work for another man,’ Akwaboah wrote in a social media post, while encouraging men to carefully consider certain issues before entering marriage.

His comments come amid a series of relationship-related posts in which he has shared his views on love, marriage, financial responsibility and relationships between men and women.

Akwaboah has indicated that his posts are intended as general advice to his followers and should not necessarily be interpreted as commentary on his own marriage.

The musician has previously said in an interview that he is happily married.

His marriage has, however, been the subject of speculation in the past, particularly following claims that alleged marital difficulties were affecting his appearance and health.

Akwaboah dismissed those claims and also rejected suggestions that he was going through problems in his marriage.

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.’

Betty Akamani, a 35-year-old woman, has been charged with the murder of her US-based Ghanaian husband, Dr. Kofi Akamani, a Southern Illinois University professor.

The mother of two was charged on Monday, September 21 with two counts of felony first-degree murder and one count of endangering the life or health of a child.

Betty Akamani is accused of shooting her husband, 48-year-old Dr. Kofi Akamani multiple times while he sat in his car in her driveway at her Murphysboro home.

He later died at a Carbondale hospital.

According to court records and the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office, the couple had been separated for two years, and were in the middle of a divorce.

In court on Monday, Betty Akamani was denied release. She will remain in the Jackson County Jail.

She is set to appear in court again on October 6 for a preliminary hearing.

According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), deputies were called to a reported shooting around 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 19.

The 48-year-old academic was found with gunshot wounds and was rushed to the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, where he was pronounced dead.

Police say investigations have commenced but are still in the early stages.

The Jackson County Ambulance Service, the Coroner’s Office, and the State’s Attorney’s Office are assisting with the probe.

The Sheriff’s Office added that no further details would be released for now as investigations continue.

Dr. Akamani began his tertiary education in Ghana at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Development Planning, specialising in Urban Planning.

He initially intended to pursue further studies in Urban Planning but was advised that the future of planning lay in sustainable development.

Jeff Harmon, chief communications and marketing officer at SIU, said, ‘It is with a heavy heart that we have learned of the tragic passing of one of our faculty members, Dr. Kofi Akamani. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and students during this difficult time.’

According to a Facebook post by the Southern Illinois University, a vigil is scheduled today at 6 p.m. at the Ag building front lawn. They say a memorial will follow at a later date.

Illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, has become one of the most serious environmental threats facing West Africa, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has warned.

According to him, the destructive practice, together with other forms of environmental degradation, is threatening livelihoods, economic security and the quality of life of people across the sub-region.

The Speaker made the observation in an address delivered on his behalf by the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Andrews Amoako Asiamah, at the joint opening ceremony of the ECOWAS Parliament’s seminar and the Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Accra yesterday.

The seminar is being held on the theme, ‘Climate Change, Environmental Degradation, Population Displacement and Growing Insecurity in the ECOWAS Region.’

Mr. Bagbin said galamsey was contributing to water contamination, deforestation, destruction of habitats, soil erosion and degradation, air pollution, biodiversity loss and health risks.

He said the environmental challenges were interconnected and therefore required an integrated response from countries in the region.

He noted that climate change was already disrupting weather patterns, intensifying floods and droughts and putting increasing pressure on natural resources, while deforestation, pollution and unsustainable exploitation were weakening the resilience of communities.

The Speaker said the consequences of environmental degradation went beyond damage to the environment, as they also affected economic security and the livelihoods of vulnerable populations.

He said the growing insecurity in the region showed that security could no longer be understood only in traditional terms but must also encompass human security, including the safety of people, their livelihoods, food systems and the environment.

According to him, climate change could intensify competition over scarce resources, while environmental degradation could drive migration and expose displaced populations to exploitation and trafficking.

He, therefore, called for greater investment in preventive capacity and resilience-building instead of waiting for environmental and security crises to occur before responding.

Mr. Bagbin urged parliamentarians across the ECOWAS region to support legislation on environmental governance, climate adaptation, disaster preparedness and natural-resource management.

He also called for stronger regional cooperation to address population displacement and protect displaced persons, refugees and host communities.

He stressed that no single ECOWAS member state could tackle the challenges alone because rivers and ecosystems crossed national boundaries, while environmental crimes operated across jurisdictions.

He called for adequate financing for sustainable development, climate adaptation, peace and security, urging the ECOWAS region to strengthen its own capacity to finance these priorities.

Mr. Bagbin said the transition towards a climate-resilient and sustainable West Africa could also create opportunities for economic growth and employment, particularly in climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy and entrepreneurship.

He urged the region to demonstrate political will and solidarity in addressing environmental threats, stressing that the security and prosperity of one-member state were inseparable from those of the entire ECOWAS region.

President John Dramani Mahama has distanced himself from controversial US-based Ghanaian broadcaster, Kevin Taylor, saying he has never met or spoken with him.

According to President Mahama, Kevin Taylor was previously a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) but turned his criticism against the party after becoming disappointed with its leadership.

President Mahama was speaking at a breakfast meeting with the clergy on the theme, ‘Building the Ghana We Want Together.’

‘Kevin Taylor was a member of the NPP. He showed his NPP card on his programme but he has fallen out with the party because of disappointment,’ President Mahama said.

He explained that Kevin Taylor’s disenchantment with the NPP had led him to direct his criticisms at the party and some religious leaders.

‘That is why he has turned his fire on NPP and even added some pastors. For him, I don’t know him and I haven’t spoken to him before,’ the President stated.

President Mahama, however, said he was familiar with Kevin Taylor’s father, who is a chief at Asamankese, and recalled encountering him during one of his campaign tours in the area.

‘He has some people he respects. The other time when I was on a campaign tour at Asamankese, where his father [is] the chief. I know his father,’ he said.

The President indicated that he would rely on that relationship to address concerns surrounding Kevin Taylor’s insults against individuals.

‘I will leverage on that to deal with his issue (insults on people),’ he added.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Marketing and Special Duties) of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey Santana, has eulogised the Asante Kingdom, describing it as one of the most revered in Africa.

Speaking as a guest judge for last Sunday’s Ghana’s Most Beautiful (GMB) episode, the renowned broadcaster and cultural advocate said the Asante Kingdom stands tall among Africa’s powerful kingdoms for its preservation of cultural heritage.

‘There is no traditional paramountcy that has preserved its heritage like Asanteman. When we say this, this is not tribal bigotry. It is a fact. You can go and check it on Google or anywhere,’ he said.

‘Ashanti Region and Asante Kingdom is known and listed among the 11 to 15 most powerful kingdoms in Africa. From the ancient military prowess of the Asante Kingdom to present-day rich culture and heritage, Asante is the citadel of culture, and its culture and tradition has been preserved.’

Abeiku Santana cited the Manhyia Palace Museum as evidence of the Kingdom’s unmatched historical preservation.

‘If you go to the Manhyia Museum, you see the effigies of the kings and queens, from the first occupant of the Golden Stool to the 16th occupant. There is no traditional paramountcy that has preserved its heritage from antecedent to date where you can go there and see that this is the first king, the second king, the third king. It is only the Asante Kingdom,’ he stressed.

He also highlighted the global influence and reach of Asante culture.

‘Asante has a lot, and I like the fact that you said we are the only region that has a flag. You have your flag, and the flag of Asante is like the flag of Jamaica. The Maroons in Jamaica all trace their roots to Asante. The Asante Kingdom is not regional. It transcends to Côte d’Ivoire, parts of Oti Region, Volta Region, Eastern Region – we have Asante Akyem and all that,’ he noted.