Category: Daily Guide Network

Former Deputy Housing Minister and Member of Parliament for Kwesimintim, Dr. Prince Hamid Armah, has challenged claims by President John Dramani Mahama there was never a policy to introduce Arabic and Chinese into Ghana’s schools and that the matter should be put to rest because Cabinet has not approved it.

Dr. Armah believe the facts on the ground tell a completely different story.

He said before the president’s statement, Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, had announced in public that Chinese and Arabic would become compulsory foreign languages at the secondary school level.

‘He did not whisper it. He linked it directly to the President’s own vision. By then, the wheels were already turning. This was not social media rumour. This was government policy in motion – commissioned, developed, presented, referred and taught,’ he said.

Dr. Armah, who is also a former head of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), said Mr. Iddrisu commissioned NaCCA to do the work with NaCCA assembling 160 writers and reviewers.

‘In July 2026, that curriculum was finished and formally presented to the Minister. Inside it – Arabic and Chinese as foreign language options,’ he noted.

Dr. Armah said the Minister referred it to the Ghana Education Service (GES) for review ahead of final implementation only to make a turn when Ghanaians started asking questions.

‘When Ghanaians started asking questions, government did not say ‘we never considered this.’ Its defence was different: at the basic level, the languages would be optional, not compulsory. An admission that the policy existed,’ he said.

Dr. Armah further noted that on September 3, 2026 – just days before the President’s ‘no policy’ claim, NaCCA trained teachers to implement the new Chinese curriculum.

‘So what exactly is the President asking Ghanaians to put to rest? If there was ‘absolutely no new policy,’ who authorised the Minister to announce a compulsory language policy in the President’s name? Who authorised NaCCA to mobilise 160 experts and spend months developing a curriculum? Who authorised the use of public resources for that exercise? Who authorised the referral to GES and the nationwide training of teachers for a policy that did not exist?,’ he asked .

‘And if government did not know where Ghana would get Chinese teachers from – as the President himself now asks – why did it advance the policy to the point of training teachers before answering the most basic implementation question? Cabinet approval may be the final step, but Cabinet approval does not erase the months of work that happened before it,’ Dr. Armah.

He thus stressed that the government cannot commission a policy, develop it, present it, defend it as ‘optional’, train teachers for it, and then turn around to tell Ghanaians it never existed.

‘The record is clear: The Minister spoke. NaCCA delivered. GES received it. Teachers were trained. That is not a rumour. That is a government caught implementing a policy it now denies,’ he said.

The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, will be the Special Guest of Honour at the 2026 World Shea Expo, scheduled to take place in Tamale in the Northern Region from September 15 to 17, 2026.

The expo is being held on the theme: ‘From Local Commodity to Global Brand: Accelerating Women and Youth-Led Value Addition in Shea.’

President John Dramani Mahama has fully endorsed the World Shea Expo, which is being organised by Savannah Golden Tree Limited (SCTL) and the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA) at the Office of the President.

Ahead of the commencement of the event, the Vice-President will tour a 32-acre piece of land secured for the planting of shea trees in the Nanton District of the Northern Region.

The expo is expected to bring together more than 8,000 participants from across the shea value chain, ranging from women harvesters to global investors.

It will feature exhibitions, high-level panel discussions, an investment forum, entrepreneurial workshops and policy dialogues, among other activities.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Tamale, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and Director of the West African Centre for Shea Innovation and Research (WACSIR) of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Prof. Abukari Alhassan, said the 2026 World Shea Expo must be more than an exhibition.

He said it should serve as a platform for investment, business partnerships, technology transfer, research collaboration, market access and policy dialogue.

‘It should connect women entrepreneurs to investors, connect young innovators to industry, connect researchers to businesses and connect rural producers to global markets. It should create opportunities for African shea brands to tell their stories to the world,’ he noted.

He called on investors, financial institutions, development partners and industry leaders to look beyond the traditional shea business model.

‘For generations, shea has been central to the livelihoods, food systems and economies of communities across West Africa. For millions of women, particularly in rural communities, shea provides income, employment, household support and resilience,’ he said.

According to him, despite the enormous value of shea, much of the highest-value activity, including product development, formulation, packaging, branding, certification and access to premium international markets, continues to take place far from the communities where the resource originates.

‘We must change this situation. We should not be satisfied with being primarily suppliers of raw materials. West Africa must increasingly become a producer of finished products, a developer of innovative technologies and an owner of globally recognised shea brands.

‘The future of shea is therefore not simply about exporting more kernels or butter. It is about creating more value from shea and ensuring that a greater share of that value reaches the people who sustain the resource,’ he stated.

Prof. Alhassan indicated that women had sustained the industry for generations, while young people brought ideas, energy and technological capabilities to the sector.

He said researchers were also developing new scientific frontiers, while global markets were increasingly interested in natural, sustainable and responsibly produced products.

‘What we need now is bold investment, coordinated action and a deliberate commitment to value creation.

‘At WACSIR and the University for Development Studies, we are committed to working with government, industry, communities, development partners and the global shea community to build a shea sector that is productive, innovative, inclusive, sustainable and globally competitive,’ he disclosed.

Former Ghana Football Association vice-president George Afriyie says the Black Stars have ‘no business’ failing to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana will begin their Group C campaign away to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on September 24 before hosting The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later.

Somalia complete the four-team group, with the top two teams qualifying for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Afriyie believes Ghana should comfortably finish at least second in the group despite the presence of Côte d’Ivoire.

‘Let’s say Côte d’Ivoire is the top team in the group, so let’s take them out,’ Afriyie told Graphic Sports.

‘But we have no business doing football in Ghana if we can’t beat Gambia and Somalia in picking at least the second spot.’

The former GFA official also called on the association to ensure the Black Stars’ management structure is fully operational ahead of the qualifiers.

He stressed the importance of proper planning, logistics and timely player call-ups.

‘We must ensure a full Black Stars Management Committee is active and focused on qualification, logistics and player call-up timing, and prepare thoroughly for the qualifiers,’ he said.

The opening game against Côte d’Ivoire will be an immediate test for Carlos Queiroz, who has been retained as Black Stars coach following Ghana’s 2026 World Cup campaign.

Ghana reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 2010 under the Portuguese coach.

The Black Stars missed the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, ending a run of 10 consecutive appearances at the tournament. They will now seek an immediate return to Africa’s premier international competition.

Hajia Nura Quaye has been declared Ayawaso Central Women Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after a keenly contested race held at Alajo.

As part of the elections held last Sunday at Alajo, the Women Organiser segment did not bring out a winner, the contest marred by controversy. A recount however gave an emphatic win for Hajia Nura Quaye, declaration which was made at the Kotobabi Police Station. Her closest competitor was Esther Andoh.

In her post victory remarks while speaking to DAILY GUIDE, the winner called for all hands on deck since the battle ahead requires unity.

The most critical assignment lying ahead of all NPP supporters and other stakeholders is about winning the 2028 elections so Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will emerge as winner of the presidential polls, she said.

‘I stretch my hands in all sincerity to my contestants to join in me and the other executives in delivering victory to the NPP. We have to work hard to regain the Ayawaso Central seat which belongs to us,’ she stated.

Hajia Nura Quaye has already began the task of winning the hearts of especially women in the constituency, having began reaching out to them in her bid to help in regaining the seat which the party lost to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 polls.

Hajia Nura’s victory was characterised by merrymaking in Alajo, as she and her supporters engaged each other in a spirit of thanksgiving.

‘The work has already started and we are turning all stones to ensure that by the grace of God we take back our seat and our flagbearer becomes President. With determination and unity, we can make it insha Allah,’ she said.

Enterprise Properties Limited, a subsidiary of Enterprise Group, has presented educational materials to 200 pupils from four selected basic schools in the Odododiodio Constituency in Accra as part of activities marking its 15th anniversary.

The beneficiary schools are Accra Sempe Basic School, John Wesley Methodist Basic School, 28th February Road Basic School and Private Odartey Lamptey Memorial Basic School.

The pupils received backpacks containing learning materials, as well as copies of the Young Investor’s Compass, which introduces children to the fundamentals of financial literacy, including money management, saving, budgeting, responsible spending and informed financial decision-making.

Speaking at the presentation at the John Wesley Methodist Church at James Town, the Managing Director of Enterprise Properties Limited, Kwadwo Nini Owusu, said the company’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiative formed part of its commitment to making a positive impact in the communities where it operates.

According to him, Enterprise Properties, which was founded 15 years ago with a vision to create exceptional spaces where businesses could work, grow and thrive, and where families could live, connect and enjoy life, had built offices and managed properties over the years.

He, however, stated that the greatest legacy of the company would not only be measured by the buildings it owned and managed or the communities it served, but also by the lives it shaped and influenced in society.

Mr. Owusu said over the years, the company had built offices and homes, managed properties, strengthened relationships and earned the trust of its clients, partners and the communities it served.

‘Our answer, ‘Learn Today. Lead Tomorrow’. This is more than the name of an initiative. It is a belief that when you invest in a child, you are not simply helping that child today; you are investing in a future family and a future community,’ the Managing Director added.

He explained that CSI remained an important part of the Enterprise Group’s operations, with education, health and the wellbeing of underprivileged people serving as the Group’s key areas of focus.

Mr. Owusu said the initiative would help the pupils grow academically while developing the discipline and financial responsibility needed to make sound decisions and create lasting value beyond the company’s business operations.

The Member of Parliament for Odododiodio, Alfred Ashie Nii Kortey, commended Enterprise Properties for supporting the pupils and urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity.

He also encouraged them to remain focused on their education and desist from engaging in social vices to enable them to achieve their goals in life and contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities.

Ellen Agyei Gyamfi, a representative of the Metro Education Director, expressed appreciation to Enterprise Properties for supporting education, particularly at a time when many parents needed assistance with school-related expenses.

She said the initiative demonstrated the importance of partnerships between the private sector and the education sector in equipping young people with the skills, knowledge, values and confidence needed to become responsible leaders.

She encouraged the pupils to make good use of the learning materials and use the opportunity to work towards achieving their dreams.

The Headmaster of 28th February Road and Private Odartey Lamptey Memorial Basic School, Benjamin Kpakpo Allotey, thanked Enterprise Properties for the gesture.

He said the initiative would not only motivate the pupils to take their studies seriously but also encourage healthy competition among them.

President John Mahama yesterday swore in three new justices to the Supreme Court, urging them to uphold the Constitution.

The President also called on the three new judges – Justices Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Edward Amoako Asante, and Anthony Forson Jnr. to protect the rights of citizens, and ensure that no individual or institution is placed above the law.

This brings to 10, the total number of Supreme Court Judges appointed by President Mahama since taking office on January 7, 2025.

The three were approved by Parliament on August 27, 2026 despite protest by the Minority who walked out during their vetting.

The Minority had alleged that both sides of the House had agreed to vet the three then nominees in October when Parliament resumes from recess, pointing out that there was no urgency for the nominees to be rushed through a vetting process before the agreed timeline.

Justice Delivery

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony at the Jubilee House, President Mahama noted that the authority of the Supreme Court should not come from political influence or force but from the confidence Ghanaians have in its ability to deliver justice fairly and independently.

He indicated that the Supreme Court holds a critical position in Ghana’s democratic system, pointing out that its decisions have far-reaching consequences; from interpreting the constitution to resolving matters of national importance and shaping the development of Ghana’s laws.

‘As the final judicial authority, its decisions give meaning to our Constitution, settle questions of profound national importance and shape the evolution of our laws,’ the President said.

President Mahama further pointed out the Ghanaian public must be assured that cases brought before the Supreme Court ‘will be determined independently, impartially and strictly according to the law.’

He added that those appointed to the Supreme Court must possess more than just legal knowledge, while encouraging them to ‘demonstrate sound judgment, personal integrity, intellectual courage, patience and a deep commitment to justice.’

Highest Standards

Meanwhile, President Mahama has urged the newly sworn-in judges to uphold the highest standards of integrity and demonstrate sound judgment, intellectual courage, patience and an unwavering commitment to justice.

He also encouraged them to be prepared to protect constitutional rights, uphold the separation of powers and ensure that no individual or institution is placed above the law.

President Mahama expressed concern about prolonged cases, avoidable adjournments and delays in delivering judgments, warning that such challenges could erode public confidence and impose significant hardship on ordinary citizens

He added that public confidence in the judiciary is shaped not only by the quality of judicial decisions but also by the conduct of judges, the accessibility of the courts and the timely delivery of justice.

Justice Amoako Asante previously served as President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice after he was appointed to the Community Court of Justice in July 2018.

He was elected by the College of Judges as the Sixth President of the Court and served as President until October 2024, after being re-elected twice to the role.

Having concluded his tenure as President of the ECOWAS Court, he returned to Ghana and joined his colleagues at the Court of Appeal following his appointment in August 2020.

Justice Sophia Bernasko-Essah also brings extensive legal experience to the job having served as a judge over the years.

MTN Ghana has equipped about 200 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Greater Accra Region with digital solutions to accelerate their growth.

The initiative was held under the MTN SME Business Clinic as part of the Greater Accra Review and aimed at providing SMEs with practical tools to scale up their operations.

Speaking at the event, themed ‘Developing an Effective Marketing Strategy for Domestic and Global Business Advantage,’ the Senior Manager for SME Sales, Partnerships and Business Broadband at MTN Ghana, Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed, said many SMEs were stuck in survival mode because they had not adopted digital transformation.

‘Majority of them are doing very great work. However, because they are not adopting digital tools, it is making their businesses move sluggishly,’ he said.

He explained that MTN’s YellowBiz suite offered SMEs stable internet connectivity and the ability to create business websites to access the global market.

The suite also includes Microsoft 365 with Teams, which enables productivity and collaboration from different locations.

Mr. Mohammed said statistics showed that more than 51 percent of SMEs were championed by women.

He said the package offered affordable voice and data services, as well as additional benefits such as doctor-on-call services and insurance cover.

On financing, Mr. Mohammed said MTN was partnering with banks under its SME Accelerate programme and offering MoMo loans to address funding gaps.

He said MTN had so far trained more than 1,400 SMEs this year.

‘This is the sixth clinic in 2026 after four last year, with previous editions held in the Volta, Western, and Northern regions,’ he said.

The programme is being implemented in partnership with SMEGA, which tracks the impact of the interventions to ensure that businesses transition from survival to growth.

The Co-Founder of SMEGA (Small and Medium Enterprises Ghana Awards), Richard Norgah, said the major challenges facing SMEs went beyond access to finance.

According to him, although financing had long been considered the main constraint facing SMEs, research conducted by SMEGA showed that the challenges were broader.

‘We have believed so far that it is financing, but doing our own research, we realised that it wasn’t financing. It’s beyond financing. It has been the way they manage their products, the way they package it, and also client management,’ he said.

He said SMEGA had partnered with MTN to address those gaps through training focused on product improvement and client management.

Mr Norgah also disclosed that SMEGA had an e-commerce platform that allowed businesses to sell their products to customers in a manner similar to platforms such as Alibaba and Amazon.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has increased the number of delegates eligible to vote in the elections for National Youth Organiser and National Women’s Organiser at its national executive elections scheduled for October 3.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines following a National Executive Council meeting yesterday in Accra, the Chairman of the NPP National Officers Elections Committee, Frederick Opare Ansah, said under the new arrangement, all delegates below the age of 40 will be eligible to vote for the National Youth Organiser, while every female delegate will vote in the election of the National Women’s Organiser.

According to him, the changes, which were approved by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council, are expected to significantly increase the number of delegates required to vote during the elections.

He said, ‘Previously, voting in the youth organiser election was limited to youth organisers and their deputies, TESCON representatives and Members of Parliament below the age of 40. The new arrangement, however, allows all delegates under 40 to participate, pushing the number of eligible voters for the National Youth Organiser election to more than 2,000.’

Mr. Opare Ansah said the electorate for the National Women’s Organiser election has also been expanded from women organisers and their deputies to include every female delegate, adding that the expanded voting base makes it unnecessary for the party to organise separate special conferences for the two positions.

He also explained that the National Elections Committee was established by the NEC and National Council to oversee, plan and administer the processes leading to the party’s conference in Kumasi, but said the committee has completed the nominations, voting and balloting processes, with all aspirants who have been cleared assigned positions on the ballot paper.

Mr. Opare Ansah stated that the committee therefore had to brief the National Executive Council that constituted the committee on the progress of its work so far, as well as seek approval for the remaining processes ahead of the elections.

He disclosed that the decision to broaden the delegate base for the youth and women’s organiser elections was among the key arrangements approved by the party’s leadership at the meeting.

He said the National Executive Committee and National Council of the party also approved proxy voting for its National Officers’ Elections despite earlier rules that prevented delegates from using proxy votes during some recently held internal elections of the party.

The chairman indicated that the latest arrangements were carefully presented to the National Executive Council and approved to ensure the elections proceed smoothly, especially as it provided an opportunity to enable eligible members of the diaspora to participate in the election without any difficulty. He added that the National Communications Director position which was filed by Dennis Miracles Aboagye will not require any contest since he was the only candidate to contest for the position.

‘With the arrangements accepted by NEC and the Council, including proxy voting, we can now proceed towards the elections without any hitch. In accordance with Ghana’s electoral practice, a candidate who is the sole valid contestant is declared elected unopposed on the appointed date and subsequently sworn into office,’ he stated.

GOSPEL POWERHOUSE, Diana Hamilton, is going head-to-head with some of Ghana’s biggest secular artistes at the 9th Taabea Ghana Music Awards UK (GMA-UK), after securing nine nominations.

The ‘Adom’ hitmaker is jointly the second most nominated artiste this year, alongside Kojo Blak and Shatta Wale, while Stonebwoy leads the pack with 10 nominations.

Diana Hamilton, whose inspirational songs continue to dominate both gospel and mainstream charts, has earned slots in major competitive categories often dominated by secular acts, proving her strong crossover appeal.

Stonebwoy tops the nominations list with 10 nods, followed closely by Diana Hamilton, Shatta Wale and Kojo Blak with nine nominations each. The top stars will be competing directly in these key categories: Artiste of the Year: Diana Hamilton, Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale will battle for the ultimate prize. Most Popular Song of the Year: Diana Hamilton – ‘Aha Ye’ competes against Shatta Wale – ‘Street Crown’ and ‘Shoulder’ featuring Medikal, and Kojo Blak – ‘Excellent Remix’ and ‘Gymnastic’ featuring KiDi.

Collaboration of the Year: Diana Hamilton – ‘Aha Ye’ featuring Elder Mireku, Kojo Blak – ‘Gymnastic’ featuring KiDi and ‘Excellent Remix’, Stonebwoy – ‘Asor Remix’ featuring Kwabena Kwabena, and Shatta Wale – ‘Shoulder’ featuring Medikal. Male Vocalist of the Year: Kojo Blak and Stonebwoy – ‘Asor Remix’ are in contention, while Diana Hamilton picks up the Female Vocalist of the Year with ‘Aha Ye’.

Individually, Diana Hamilton earned nominations for Artiste of the Year, Collaboration of the Year – ‘Aha Ye’, Gospel Artiste of the Year, Gospel Song of the Year – ‘Aha Ye’, Most Popular Song of the Year – ‘Aha Ye’, Songwriter of the Year – ‘Aha Ye’, Music Video of the Year – ‘M’aseda’, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Gospel Song of the Year – M’aseda featuring Kofi Owusu Peprah.

Kojo Blak grabbed nominations including New Artiste of the Year, Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste of the Year, Afrobeats/Afropop Song of the Year – ‘Gymnastic’ and ‘Excellent Remix’, and two nominations each in Most Popular Song and Collaboration of the Year.

Stonebwoy’s 10 nominations include Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year, Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year – ‘Torcher’, Highlife Song of the Year and Collaboration of the Year with ‘Asor Remix’, Songwriter of the Year, Music Video of the Year – ‘Shine’, and Independent Artiste Event of the Year for his Up and Running show at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Shatta Wale’s nine nominations span Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year, Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year – ‘Street Crown’ and ‘Harmattan’ featuring Gyakie, Hiplife/Hip-Hop Song of the Year and Music Producer of the Year.

Following revelations and confessions originating from the stalled National Cathedral project, former President Akufo-Addo can have the last laugh.

And it came to pass that a national cathedral was conceptualised, its features standing it as one of the largest of its kind in the world. Besides the spiritual dimension, it was intended to serve as a tourist attraction.

It was stalled at its foundation stage, victim of the abrasive propaganda of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the run-up to the 2024 elections.

All manner of monikers were heaped upon the project by politicians who colluded with a pack of willing clergymen to give the project a bad name and hang it.

They succeeded in having their way, the corruption tag festooned around the neck of the project too visible to be ignored by voters. The regime change agenda worked, but time has let out the contents of its belly.

Audited reports by world-class PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) absolved management of the project of corruption. A further auditing scrutiny was ordered, this too to no avail in establishing even an iota of corruption.

With nothing to stand on as grounds to smear the trustees and even the then New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of corruption, a flimsy charge by the Attorney General was that a house of God should not be built the way the project under review is. Whatever that means?

Another weak excuse was that the project should not have been sited where it is.

The foregone are indicators about the politicisation of the project and how hard the bad guys sought to drown the image of the respected personalities at its helm.

God’s war will be fought by Him alone, not by humans. This is being manifested by the matters arising thereof.

While Mahama Ayariga said the project should not be stalled, his party having stood against it earlier, the wicked agenda of the NDC is too clear.

The bombshell however originated from one of the two trustees who seemingly expressed regret about the non-execution of the project, having resigned from his trusteeship position on the board.

Archbishop Duncan-Williams, who resigned, has absolved the project of the corruption charge on a hindsight.

The project was stopped not because of corruption, but the non-commitment of Christians to have it completed.

This variation from the corruption suspicion he expressed in his letter of resignation is rich and mind-boggling, given his position on the Christianity space in the country.

He referred to selfish Ghanaians who are concerned about themselves and not the Dominion.

What he did not do during his presentation was apologise over his earlier stance when he smelled corruption. Such expression of remorse would have been good.

Pastor Otabil, another member of the board of trustees of the project, recently rebuked Ghanaians for allowing partisan politics to derail the $97 million National Cathedral project.

See why former President Akufo-Addo can open a bottle of champagne and drink to the good health of the proposed National Cathedral? Laughing last is best.