Category: Daily Guide Network

Ghana has been silently chosen by drug pushers as a principal hub for the movement of cocaine to Europe and other parts of the world in recent times.

The camaraderie between Accra and Bogota following the establishment of special ties has seemingly provided an auspicious ambience for the illicit trade, so think watchers of the recent hike in drug movements from Ghanaian ports.

It is instructive that the historic ties between the two countries created at the Foreign Affairs level has witnessed the heightened movement of drugs from Ghanaian ports to their European counterparts.

The recent busts in France and earlier the meth-in-charcoal in Australia which originated from Ghana are cases which put us in an unenviable position of drug hub. These, however, are outside the Bogota network.

To what end will the post 2024 special links with Colombia serve the interests of Ghana?

While we may not know the answer, the Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa certainly took the decision for reasons only known to him and his boss the President.

All we know as citizens of this great country of ours is that the new link has come at a cost to our image; the heightened drug movement from our coast which has gotten us worried.

Even as the President and his security chiefs met over the embarrassing drug busts in the light of the growing bad image we are earning as a country, isolated yet worrying busts continued to be made as if to mock the Commander-in-Chief. In one of the busts, the police made a successful interception of drugs locally. In yet another one, a man whose journey originated from Ghana was arrested in South Africa with cocaine. These happened when the outcome of the presidential meeting on drugs is out of the public view.

The development is no longer funny and any attempt to confine the truth under the carpet will not serve our interest.

The man who claimed he had orders from above when the France bust came under scrutiny must sing more so the details of ‘the above orders’ will be made public.

As we pointed out in an earlier commentary, a serious tackling of the subject under review can only be done in the context of a holistic approach. Choosing which of the series to investigate and which not, only reinforces the suspicion of Ghanaians that some highly placed persons are involved in the drug business. They are untouchable because they are connected to the political system.

Our security personnel are primed to get to the root of the drug deals which appeared on the public radar if they are given the orders to do so.

Parading suspects is not a good means of convincing us that some headway is being made.

We have been at a stage where some Indians were paraded as brains behind some missing Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) imported items at the Port of Tema. The case died as soon as it was mentioned in the media. Even the whole so-called theft was seen by cynics as part of a propaganda manoeuver by officialdom.

Former National Vice Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sophia Horner-Sam, has been confirmed dead.

The death was announced by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Takoradi, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, in a Facebook post on Monday.

‘I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of H.E. Sophia Horner-Sam, former National Vice Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party, Deputy Western Regional Minister, Deputy Minister for Ports, Harbours and Railways, and Ghana’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands,’ part of the post read.

According to the MP, the late Horner-Sam was a distinguished stateswoman, a dedicated diplomat, and a true pillar of the party.

‘We thank her for her outstanding service to the New Patriotic Party, the Western Region and our dear Nation. Her wisdom, counsel, and unwavering commitment guided the NPP through many challenging times and left an indelible mark on Ghana’s public service,’ he stated.

‘On behalf of the people of Takoradi, I extend my heartfelt condolences to her family, loved ones, the NPP and all who mourn this great loss.

‘May the Almighty grant her soul eternal rest and peace, and may He comfort all who are grieving. Rest in perfect peace, H.E. Sophia Horner-Sam,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the family of the late diplomat is yet to issue an official statement on her demise.

Horner-Sam served under the John Agyekum Kufuor administration as Deputy Western Regional Minister and later as Deputy Minister for Ports, Harbours and Railways. She was appointed Ghana’s Ambassador to the Netherlands in 2006, where she served until 2009, and later served as a member of the NPP’s National Council of Elders.

THE FATHER of the late 20-year-old Central University Law student, Evans Baidoo, has described his son’s death as murder, not an accident.

During the reading of his tribute on Saturday, Mr. Baidoo broke down as he paid tribute to his son, Ivan Apprey Baidoo. ‘The circumstances of your sudden demise make me inconsolable. You did not die, son; you were murdered. Brutally murdered by a police officer, paid for with your parents’ taxes to offer protection to you. Who did this to you, and what was your crime?

‘Your death reflects the society we live in – disrespect for one’s fundamental human rights and the right to life, and inequality before the law. Our dreams were woven around your pursuit of legal education. You carried a deep passion to become a voice for the voiceless and an advocate for the oppressed. Yet, heartbreakingly, your own life has been cut short by the very ills you hoped one day to confront – injustice, fear, intolerance and violence.

‘Apprey, we are deeply saddened and devastated by the manner of your passing. I do not have the words to express it, except to say that just Lord, the judge of all creation, will avenge your loss. I have missed your calm and assuring presence. We cannot bring ourselves to fathom how we will watch Arsenal matches without you being part of the watch party,’ parts of the tribute read.

Ivan Apprey Baidoo, a Level 200 Law student of Central University, had boarded a Yango motorbike, ridden by Samuel Wesley Arthur, from Ashongman Estates to the East Legon AstroTurf Park to play football. At the UPSA traffic intersection, the rider allegedly jumped a red light.

Corporal Robert Katey Koranteng, 34, of the Traffic Management Enforcement Unit at the Police Headquarters, who was on duty at the intersection, gave a wild chase and signaled the rider to stop. The prosecution says the rider failed to stop and continued through the Okponglo traffic light and the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange onto the Tema Motorway. Beyond the Old Tollbooth on the Tema Motorway, Corporal Koranteng allegedly kicked the moving motorbike, causing the rider to lose control and crash into a concrete barrier.

The officer is accused of speeding away without stopping to assist the victims or arranging medical help. Members of the public later conveyed Baidoo and the rider to the Tema General Hospital, where Baidoo was pronounced dead on arrival. The rider was treated and discharged. A postmortem conducted on September 3 by Dr. Eric Dumfeh at Tema General Hospital gave the cause of death as haemorrhagic shock resulting from bilateral haemothorax and haemoperitoneum caused by blunt trauma to the chest and abdomen.

General Corporal Koranteng has since been arrested and charged with murder under Section 46 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). He was arraigned before the Adabraka District Court on September 15 and remanded into custody to reappear on September 29, 2026.

Adamus Resources Limited has enhanced its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by honouring the best 100 students in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region who sat for the recent Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

Each beneficiary received a chop box, 15 exercise books and pens.

The District Director of Education, Wilfred Katey Adodoadji, described Adamus’ gesture as ‘the first of its kind in the whole district.’

‘Such extraordinary act of generosity will help considerably to alleviate the financial challenges of parents of the beneficiaries,’ he said.

Mr. Adodoadji expressed profound gratitude to Adamus for breaking new philanthropic grounds with the donation.

He suggested that the educational support be extended to cover the best 50 students in all 40 basic schools in the circuit, which would increase the number of beneficiaries from 100 to 400 every year.

The Senior Liaison Officer of Adamus Resources Limited, Salifu Awumbilla, said the company places a special premium on laying a solid educational foundation for children in the area.

‘Adamus will therefore not relent in doing everything within its resources to support school children in the Ellembelle District to excel,’ he stressed.

The Ellembelle District Director of Education, who received the items on behalf of the BECE candidates and their parents, said the Directorate had religiously selected the best 100 students who excelled in the 2026 BECE.

He expressed gratitude to Adamus Resources for the initiative as part of its commitment to support education delivery in the area.

Mr. Adodoadji urged parents to invest in the education of their children to enable them to grow up and contribute to the development of the district and the country at large.

He also appealed to the BECE candidates who were being enrolled into Senior High Schools to take their studies seriously, to enable them to take up responsible positions in the mining

company.

Mr. Francis Kwaw Mensah, Assembly Member for the Nkroful Enlunlibo Electoral Area, who is also an employee of Adamus Resources Limited, commended the company for the broad social intervention programmes lined up for communities in and out of its catchment area.

He said his office would team up with the CEO of Nguvu Mining Limited and the District Assembly to bring meaningful development to the area.

The new General Council officials of Assemblies of God (AG), Ghana, comprising the Executive Presbytery and National Departmental Directors and Coordinators, have taken office.

The ceremony climaxed a four-day Leadership Prayer and Orientation Retreat at the Assemblies of God Headquarters in Accra.

The General Superintendent, Rev. Stephen Yenusom Wengam, who was overwhelmingly returned to office, charged the new officials to run with the church’s Transformation Agenda.

The Agenda has been designed to aggressively disciple the entire nation, specifically to reach every village, town and city with the Word of God.

It also aims to enhance the welfare of pastors, particularly those serving in rural areas, pursue massive human and infrastructural development and restore the Pentecostal fervour of Assemblies of God.

Rev. Wengam stressed the need for church leaders to ‘demonstrate absolute loyalty to Christ, to leadership, and to the doctrines and constitution of the Assemblies of God, Ghana.

The new officers are Rev. Kwadwo Boateng Bempah – Assistant General Superintendent; Rev. Albert Anane – General Secretary; Rev. Mrs. Esther Dwommoh – National Women’s Ministry Director; Rev. Aaron Fant – Home Missions Director; and Rev. Boniface Keelson – Foreign Missions Director.

Other speakers at the handing-over ceremony were Rev. Ernest Birikorang, outgoing General Secretary; and Rev. Godwin Tito Agyei, outgoing Assistant General Superintendent.

Topics covered included the Metaphor of the Head, Loyalty as the Key Ingredient to Successful Leadership, and Wisdom for Leaders.

Three loyal customers of MTN Ghana have hit the jackpot after winning brand-new 2026-model Toyota Land Cruiser Prados in the company’s MTN@30 anniversary promotion.

There was wild jubilation, singing and dancing at the MTN Kejetia branch in Kumasi as the three winners were presented with the keys to their luxurious vehicles.

Family members, friends and residents who thronged the premises joined the winners in celebrating what has become a life-changing moment for them.

The lucky winners are Madam Faustina Asante, a Kumasi-based soft drinks dealer; Madam Mahama Wasila, a farmer and businesswoman from Bawku; and Mr. Alidu Tanko, a businessman from Tamale in the Northern Region.

The excitement reached a crescendo when the three winners took turns to mount the stage and display their dancing skills before receiving their vehicle keys from Simon Amoh, Senior Sales Manager, MTN Ghana Northern Business Sector.

The beneficiaries could hardly contain their excitement, with each of them expressing gratitude to God for the unexpected fortune.

They also praised MTN Ghana for what they described as the transparency and genuineness of the promotion, while encouraging other subscribers to take part in future promotions.

For Mr. Tanko, the experience was particularly remarkable because it was his first time participating in an MTN promotion.

He commended the company and its personnel for the transparent manner in which the promotion was conducted, saying his experience had strengthened his confidence in MTN’s promotional activities.

Speaking to journalists, Senior Manager, Consumer Marketing at MTN Ghana, Sandra Oduro, said the promotion formed part of activities to celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary.

She explained that the ’30 Years of Progress, Powered by You’ promotion ran from June to August 2026 and was aimed at rewarding up to 30,000 loyal customers across the country.

According to her, customers did not need any special registration to participate, as points were automatically accumulated through their regular use of MTN services, including calls, data bundles and MoMo transactions.

The prizes, she said, ranged from data and cash rewards of up to GHS30,000 to brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser Prados.

Madam Oduro disclosed that the first three Prados had been presented to winners in the Greater Accra Region, while the Kumasi ceremony marked the presentation of the second batch of three vehicles.

She said the remaining three Prados would soon be presented to their winners, stressing that several customers who participated in the promotion had already received their rewards.

MTN Senior Manager, Regional Sales, Simon Amoh expressed appreciation to Ghanaians, particularly MTN subscribers, for their loyalty and support over the past three decades.

He noted that MTN Ghana, which evolved from Spacefon, had grown into one of the country’s leading telecommunications companies.

He assured customers that the company would continue to improve its services while finding more ways to reward loyal subscribers and give back to society.

An overwhelming majority of New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates expect Eugene Boakye Antwi to win the party’s National General Secretary election slated for October 3, 2026.

This is contained in a research conducted by lecturers of the University of Ghana, Legon, led by Dr. Chris Atadika on the NPP National General Secretary race.

According to the findings, when respondents were asked: ‘Which candidate do you think will win the General Secretary position come 3rd October?’, 74.2% (657 out of 889 respondents) tipped Eugene Boakye Antwi to win.

Incumbent General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, was tipped by 25.1% (223 respondents) to win, while Sylvester Tetteh was tipped by 0.7% (6 respondents).

The report summarised: ‘Among the respondents represented in the supplied data, 73.90% identified Eugene Boakye when asked which candidate they thought would win the General Secretary position on 3rd October.

‘Justin Frimpong Kodua accounted for 25.09%, while Sylvester Tetteh accounted for 0.67%. These figures represent the expectations expressed by the surveyed respondents and should not be presented as an independent prediction of the election outcome.’

The research also shows Boakye Antwi leads on other key indicators: Most Preferred Candidate: Eugene Boakye Antwi – 76.6%, Justin Frimpong Kodua – 23.1%; Candidate Who Can Help Party Win 2028: Eugene Boakye Antwi – 60.1%, Justin Frimpong Kodua – 39.2%; Name Recognition: 82.7% of delegates mentioned Eugene Boakye Antwi when asked to name those vying for the position, compared to 13% for Justin Frimpong Kodua.

The respondents identified good communication skills and boldness (14.3%), ability to ensure victory in 2028 (11.3%) and ability to unify the party (9.7%) as the top characteristics needed for the position – qualities many respondents associate with the former Subin Member of Parliament.

The study was conducted among 889 NPP stakeholders with 100% awareness of the General Secretary race.

Industrial expert, Prof. Douglas Boateng will on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 deliver a keynote address at the largest professional gathering on supply chain and industrialisation in Livingstone, Zambia.

A statement issued by African Supply Chain Confederation (ASCON) Communications said Prof. Douglas Boateng will address the largest professional gathering on supply chain and industrialisation on the continent under the theme, ‘Breaking down Barriers through Made in Africa’

It stated that Professor Boateng will argue that African-manufactured products should progressively carry MADE IN AFRICA as a shared continental identity, qualified by country of production such as MADE IN AFRICA, Produced in Ghana; MADE IN AFRICA, Produced in Nigeria; MADE IN AFRICA, Produced in Zambia.

‘The country of production tells us where the product comes from. MADE IN AFRICA tells the world the economic family to which it belongs. A product can be proudly produced in Ghana and proudly Made in Africa. National pride and Pan-African economic identity should reinforce, not compete with, each other,’ it stated.

The statement indicated that Professor Boateng believes genuine continental integration demands more than customs posts and trade agreements but rather requires dismantling the psychological, procurement and institutional barriers that keep Africans from producing for, trading with, and confidently buying from one another.

‘For too long, Africa has exported what it has, imported what it could progressively learn to produce, and then wondered why industrial jobs are being created elsewhere. We cannot continue exporting the seed, importing the finished fruit, and complaining that our young people cannot find work.’

‘Every significant procurement decision is potentially an industrialisation decision, when an Institution spends, it is also deciding whose factory receives demand, whose workers remain employed, and where tomorrow’s productive capability will be built’. Parts of the statement read

Secretary General of the African Supply Chain Confederation (ASCON), John Kirani, said the gathering will serve as an opportunity to connect Africa’s professional capability with its wider industrial ambitions adding that Prof. Boateng’s address will challenge them to connect national productive strength into a stronger African economic ecosystem.

While commending Prof. Boateng for his contribution to supply chain and industrialisation across the continent, it added that the Africa people desired will not simply arrive at the ports in containers but should be imagine, financed, sourced, produce and trade in it themselves.

Chief Fire Officer Madam Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong says the commissioning of new fire tenders and equipment demonstrates a collective commitment to strengthening Ghana’s emergency response capacity and ensuring the safety of lives, properties and the environment.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, she noted that the Ghana National Fire Service is operating in an increasingly complex environment.

‘Urbanisation, industrialisation, increased vehicular traffic, commercial activities and emerging technologies continue to create more challenging fire and emergency risks. These developments require a fire service that is properly equipped, adequately prepared and capable of responding rapidly and professionally to emergencies,’ she said.

According to her, the addition of the new vehicles and equipment comes at a crucial time and will enhance operational capabilities, improve mobility and response times, as well as enable personnel to perform their duties more effectively.

‘More importantly, they will contribute to our ability to save lives, protect properties and minimise the impact of disasters in our communities,’ she stated.

Madam Ntow Sarpong, however, emphasised that equipment alone does not make a professional fire service. ‘The effectiveness of these resources will depend on the competence, discipline, maintenance culture and commitment of the officers who operate them,’ she stressed. She therefore charged all personnel entrusted with the vehicles and equipment to handle them with the highest level of professionalism and responsibility.

The Minister for Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, led the commissioning of the fleet of vehicles and operational equipment under the Automated Fire Compliance and Safety System (AFCASS) to boost the Ghana National Fire Service’s (GNFS) operational capacity.

Commissioned in Accra on September 18, 2026, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka said the donation demonstrated the collective commitment of the government and its partners to protecting lives and property.

He said the GNFS played a critical role in Ghana’s security and emergency management system, with its personnel responding to fires, road traffic accidents, disasters and other emergencies, often under difficult conditions.

‘Their effectiveness, however, depends not only on their professionalism and courage, but also on access to modern equipment, reliable logistics, and operational tools necessary to respond swiftly and effectively whenever duty calls,’ he stated.

Mr. Muntaka said the newly commissioned assets would strengthen the Service’s ability to deliver. ‘These assets will strengthen operational readiness, improve emergency response time, support firefighting and rescue operations, and enable our personnel to serve the public with even greater efficiency, effectiveness, and professionalism,’ he explained.

According to him, investment in emergency response should not be viewed merely as government expenditure but as an investment in public safety, national resilience and sustainable development.

He urged the leadership and personnel of the GNFS to ensure that the newly acquired assets were properly maintained and responsibly deployed. The minister also called on Ghanaians to support the work of the Service by observing fire safety regulations, promoting safety awareness and cooperating with emergency responders.

The Twelve Tribes of Israel (TTI) Ghana Chapter will commemorate its 40th anniversary with a grand celebration on December 6, 2026, at the Arts Centre, Accra.

The milestone event will showcase a powerful lineup of international and Ghanaian reggae and highlife artistes, alongside a series of community-focused activities designed to honour Rastafari’s contributions to national development over four decades.

The anniversary concert will feature acclaimed international reggae voices including Micah Shemaiah, Patrick Junior, and Mariam Simone, who will share the stage with home-grown talents such as Aklerh, Ras Caleb Appiah Levi, Nii Darko Positive D, Natty Gad, and other special guests.

The event will feature an evening of conscious music, cultural expression, and unity in celebration of TTI Ghana’s enduring legacy.

In keeping with its commitment to social responsibility, the 40th anniversary celebrations will extend beyond the concert hall. Activities lined up for the milestone include a donation to the Nsawam Prisons to support rehabilitation and welfare initiatives as well as a community soccer challenge to engage the youth in the community and foster unity through sports. There will also be a visit to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and other places of historical interest to reflect on Ghana’s leadership in Pan-Africanism and justice. These activities underscore TTI Ghana’s dedication to community development, youth empowerment, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Speaking on the significance of the anniversary, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey, Overseer of Twelve Tribes of Israel Ghana, stated, ‘The celebration is to herald what Rastafari has contributed to national development.’

He cited President John Dramani Mahama’s recent statement at the United Nations, where he described slavery as ‘the gravest crime against humanity’, as a reflection of the values and advocacy work TTI has championed over the last 40 years.

The Twelve Tribes of Israel Ghana Chapter is a faith-based and cultural organisation rooted in Rastafari principles.