Category: Daily Guide Network

The Nsuta Circuit Court in the Sekyere Central District of the Ashanti Region has sentenced two men to two years’ imprisonment each for stealing a motorcycle belonging to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) at Effiduase.

The convicts, Oppong Stephen, alias Gye Nyame, 25, a trader, and Samuel Owusu Antwi, aka C-Jay, 20, a motor mechanic, both residents of Effiduase, pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing.

The court, presided over by Simon Nketiah Gagah, handed down the sentence on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

Prosecuting, Inspector Nicholas Amoako told the court that the complainant, Williams Kwarteng Asare, is an accounts officer at the NHIS office at Effiduase.

He said on August 29, 2026, the complainant, after closing from work, rode an unregistered Royal motorcycle belonging to the NHIS to his residence.

He parked the motorcycle in front of his house, near the police barrier at Effiduase, and went to bed.

However, the following morning, he discovered that the motorcycle, valued at GHS16,000, was missing.

The complainant subsequently reported the matter to the Effiduase Police, who launched investigations and mounted surveillance to track down the culprits.

According to the prosecution, the surveillance led to the arrest of Stephen Oppong, who, during interrogation, admitted stealing the motorcycle.

He also named Samuel Owusu Antwi as his accomplice and disclosed that the stolen motorcycle had been kept at Samuel’s residence.

Oppong subsequently led the police to Samuel’s house at Juaben, where he was arrested.

The stolen motorcycle was retrieved and conveyed to the police station, where it was impounded as evidence.

The court further heard that the two convicts later led investigators to the scene of the crime and demonstrated how they removed the motorcycle from the complainant’s residence.

They also confessed to the offence in statements made in the presence of an independent witness.

The statements formed part of the evidence presented before the court, leading to their conviction after they pleaded guilty.

Following the conviction, the court ordered the prosecution to release the impounded motorcycle to the NHIS.

Former Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has called for the continuous retraining of teachers to enable them to deal with the growing influence of social media language on students’ academic work.

He said the use of informal expressions and social media jargon in the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) should prompt schools to strengthen classroom supervision, teacher development and academic counselling.

In an interview with JoyNews yesterday, Dr. Adutwum said teachers had a critical role to play in helping students understand the difference between informal communication and the language required in academic settings.

He said the situation did not constitute a crisis but presented an opportunity for the education system to improve the professional development of teachers.

‘I don’t think the sky is falling. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s an opportunity for teacher retraining, professional development,’ he said.

Dr. Adutwum explained that teachers should be able to identify instances where students use inappropriate social media expressions in their schoolwork and correct them before they become established habits.

He advocated continuous professional development programmes and professional learning communities through which teachers could share experiences and discuss emerging challenges affecting students.

‘These issues can be discussed there, for teachers to then go back to their classrooms and be able to spot these things and advise students,’ he said.

According to him, the problem should be addressed long before students entered the examination hall, arguing that classroom exercises and internal examinations provided opportunities for teachers to detect weaknesses in students’ use of formal language.

He said students who repeatedly used social media expressions in their academic work needed to be guided on the consequences of carrying such habits into external examinations.

Dr. Adutwum also emphasised the importance of strengthening guidance and counselling in schools to help students develop a clear understanding of when informal language was appropriate and when formal language was required.

He said a coordinated approach involving teacher retraining, regular assessment and academic counselling would help schools respond effectively to the influence of social media on students’ writing.

The former minister said strengthening these areas would enable teachers to intervene early and help prevent the use of social media jargon from affecting students’ performance in future examinations.

Beauty and Wellness Industry Hosts Workshop On Comprehensive ReportzA stakeholder technical workshop has been held to begin the development of the inaugural Ghana Beauty and Wellness Report, which seeks to provide a comprehensive assessment of Ghana’s beauty and wellness industry.

The workshop was organised by Makeup Ghana, organisers of the Ghana Beauty Awards, in collaboration with senior faculty members of the College of Humanities at the University of Ghana at the West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC) Legon.

It brought together stakeholders from government institutions, regulatory bodies, academia, financial institutions, development organisations, industry associations, training institutions and the private sector.

The workshop formed part of activities marking the 10th Ghana Beauty Awards, which is being celebrated under the theme ’10 Years of Impact: The Legacy Era.’

The proposed report is expected to address the lack of reliable data and documentation on Ghana’s beauty and wellness sector.

It will examine the industry’s economic contribution, businesses and employment, skills development, consumer trends, local manufacturing, standards and regulation, access to finance, investment opportunities, challenges and prospects for growth.

Founder and CEO of Makeup Ghana, Lady Rebecca Donkor, said the report would help move discussions about the industry from general observations to credible, evidence-based information.

Professor Sheena Lovia Boateng, Associate Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the College of Humanities, University of Ghana, is the Chair of the Steering Committee and Lead Researcher for the project.

The committee includes professionals from the Bank of Ghana, beauty and wellness businesses, legal practice, technology, entrepreneurship and industry associations.

Participants at the workshop discussed key issues including the size and structure of the industry, employment, professional training, standards and certification, access to finance, local manufacturing, consumer behaviour, regulation and investment opportunities.

The stakeholders also shared recommendations to help shape the research framework and implementation plan for the report.

Following the workshop, the research team will refine the research framework, collect relevant data, conduct further stakeholder consultations and analyse the findings before compiling the final report.

Makeup Ghana is calling on businesses, brands, institutions, development partners, financial organisations and individuals to support the initiative through sponsorship, advertising, partnerships and data contributions.

The organisation said the report is expected to provide a stronger foundation for the professionalisation, recognition and sustainable growth of Ghana’s beauty and wellness industry.

National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has withdrawn from the contest for National Organiser in the party’s upcoming national officers elections.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the National Officers Elections Committee, Mr. Mustapha formally communicated his decision to pull out of the race.

‘I write to formally communicate my decision to withdraw from the contest for the position of National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP),’ he stated. According to him, the decision was a difficult one, particularly considering the encouragement, goodwill and overwhelming support he received from party members, delegates, colleagues and well-wishers across the country.

He, however, noted that due to circumstances beyond his control, he is unable to continue with his candidature. Mr. Mustapha emphasised that his withdrawal does not diminish his commitment to the NPP or to the ideals and values of its tradition.

‘My dedication to the Party remains firm, and I will continue to serve and contribute towards its unity, rebuilding and electoral success, and also to make Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia the next president of Ghana,’ he said.

He expressed gratitude to all who believed in his vision and supported his journey, appealing to his supporters to accept the decision in good faith and remain united.

‘Political positions may come and go, but our commitment to the NPP and the future of our Party must remain greater than any individual ambition,’ he added.

He wished the party and all candidates participating in the internal electoral process well, noting that their actions must ultimately strengthen the party and position it for victory in the future.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has cautioned against opening Parliament to dual citizens, insisting that membership of the legislature must be reserved for people whose allegiance to the country is beyond question.

The union says it sees no justification for changing the constitutional restriction that prevents Ghanaians who hold citizenship of another country from contesting parliamentary elections without first renouncing that citizenship.

The issue has emerged as the government considers recommendations submitted by the Constitutional Review Committee for changes to the 1992 Constitution.

At a press conference to outline its position on the proposed reforms, the TUC Secretary-General, Joshua Ansah, said the recommendation on dual citizenship was unacceptable to organised labour.

‘The TUC disagrees with the recommendation to amend Article 94(2) to allow US citizens to contest parliamentary elections and become Members of Parliament while remaining a citizen of another country,’ he said.

Mr. Ansah described the proposal as ‘self-serving’ and a threat to the principle of genuine citizenship, arguing that it would not advance Ghana’s national interest.

‘In fact, we characterise the recommendation as self-serving and a direct assault on genuine citizenship. It is contradictory and serves no useful purpose for the country,’ he added.

The TUC believes that anyone entrusted with the responsibility of making laws and representing Ghanaians in Parliament should have an undivided commitment to the country.

It has therefore urged the government to retain the existing restrictions on dual citizens seeking parliamentary office.

Consensus Needed

The union also wants the constitutional review process to be subjected to wider consultation, warning against amendments that could be shaped primarily by the interests of the government of the day.

Mr. Ansah said political parties, organised labour and other relevant groups must be brought into the process to build broad agreement around any proposed changes.

He said although the Constitutional Review Committee consulted sections of the public, its approach could not be compared with the inclusiveness of the Constituent Assembly that produced the 1992 Constitution.

The TUC is particularly concerned about the possibility of a referendum being limited to issues selected by the government, potentially excluding proposals supported by other stakeholders.

‘We foresee a danger,’ Mr. Ansah said, cautioning that such an approach could allow future governments with the necessary parliamentary majority to amend non-entrenched provisions of the Constitution to suit their political philosophies and manifestos.

‘We must not open up the Constitution for partisan political manoeuvring,’ he stressed.

Supports Five-Year Term

The TUC, however, does not oppose every proposed constitutional change.

It has endorsed the proposal to increase the presidential term from four to five years, although it wants the extension to be accompanied by measures that strengthen governance and accountability.

The union has also backed proposed changes to Article 70 aimed at reducing the President’s appointment powers.

It maintains, however, that reviewing Article 70 alone would not adequately address the issue and that the provisions of Article 195 should also be considered as part of the exercise.

The TUC’s position comes as government advances the constitutional reform process.

The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has already inaugurated an 11-member Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) to work on the proposals arising from the review.

For the TUC, however, any changes to the country’s supreme law must be based on broad national consensus rather than the interests of a particular political administration.

GENERAL SECRETARY of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, insists the Ashanti Regional branch of the party has a crucial role for the NPP to return to political power in 2028.

In this regard, he tasked the newly elected regional executives of the party, headed by Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, affectionately called COKA, to embrace hard work from now till the day of the elections.

Mr. Kodua Frimpong stated emphatically that the NPP leadership is expecting the party to win more than 1.5 million votes in the presidential elections, in order to boost Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s chances of emerging victorious in the 2028 elections.

‘The victory of the NPP in the 2028 elections will be determined by the Ashanti Region, our stronghold. We are therefore giving the newly elected executives a target of more than 1.5 million votes,’ the NPP scribe said.

The NPP General Secretary was speaking during a thanksgiving church service, which was organised by the newly elected Ashanti Regional executives of the party in Kumasi on Sunday.

According to Kodua Frimpong, the NPP, unfortunately, has been performing abysmally during the last two elections in the Ashanti Region, stressing the need for the newly elected executives to stop the negative trend.

‘You are all aware that the NPP, surprisingly, has been depreciating in the votes we obtained in the 2020 election as compared to 2024, and we need to change the narrative as we prepare to face the 2028 polls.

‘On behalf of the national executives of the party, I’m tasking the newly-elected Ashanti Regional executives to work extra hard to maximise the votes for Dr. Bawumia and our parliamentary candidates,’ he said.

According to him, the Ashanti Regional NPP executives, led by COKA, have the support of the party and the people in the Ashanti Region, so he is expecting them to capitalise on that to win more votes for the NPP in 2028.

He stated that the party is poised and determined to wrest political power from the non-performing National Democratic Congress (NDC), noting that the party is expecting Ashanti Region to lead the path to victory.

‘The Ashanti Regional NPP must take the lead in the party’s national campaign to secure victory in 2028. This region is our stronghold so you should start the crusade to topple the NDC in 2028 for other regions to follow,’ he pointed out.

Mr. Kodua Frimpong also charged the NPP Ashanti Regional executives to intensify grassroots mobilisation exercises in order to help the party to recover the votes it lost during the 2024 election.

The NPP scribe also entreated the newly elected executives to work together to maintain peace and unity in the party, saying, ‘I’m expecting the regional executives to build on the massive support you have been enjoying and bring everyone on board to ensure a resounding victory for the NPP in 2028.’

Miss Ghana 2026, Rumzia Sule, has returned home after representing Ghana at the 2026 Miss World Festival in Vietnam, receiving a vibrant and heartfelt welcome from members of the Miss Ghana Organisation, her fellow queens and runners-up, family members, and well-wishers.

Rumzia arrived at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, where she was greeted with fresh flowers and the Ghanaian flag as she reunited with loved ones and supporters following her international pageant journey.

Rumzia was among 111 national ambassadors who participated in the 2026 Miss World Festival in Vietnam. The grand finale took place on September 5 in Nha Trang, where Joheirry Mola Domínguez of the Dominican Republic was crowned Miss World 2026, with Elisabeth Reynés of Spain named first runner-up and Taanusiya Chetty of Malaysia emerging as second runner-up.

Although Ghana did not take the overall crown, Rumzia delivered a powerful performance throughout the festival, particularly in the flagship Beauty with a Purpose segment. Her community-driven sanitation project earned her a place among the Top 6 African finalists in the category.

Her advocacy focuses on promoting environmental sanitation, encouraging individual and collective responsibility for clean communities, and inspiring young people to become active custodians of a healthier environment.

As part of her practical advocacy, Rumzia, working through the Miss Ghana Foundation, joined the President’s national clean-up campaign and collaborated directly with the Bus Stop Boys to clean principal streets across Accra.

In support of these efforts, she presented a GHS10,000 donation on behalf of the Miss Ghana Foundation to aid the sanitation work of the Bus Stop Boys and assist victims of the devastating Accra floods in June 2026.

Sanitation will remain a central pillar of Rumzia’s ongoing reign. Later this year, she is scheduled to roll out outreach campaigns across schools and local communities, engaging children and young people on hygiene and environmental maintenance.

The 69th Miss Ghana Pageant and the international Miss World campaign were organized by Exclusive Events Ghana Limited and supported by an extensive network of corporate, media, and hospitality partners.

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for an honest national conversation on the country’s education system following concerns over the latest West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results and challenges confronting the placement of Junior High School (JHS) graduates.

According to Mr. Afenyo-Markin, the latest examination outcomes should concern every Ghanaian, as they point to deeper challenges in the country’s education system and could have serious implications for the future of thousands of young people.

He said 183,233 young people completed secondary education without obtaining a credit in Core Mathematics, while the credit pass rate in English Language fell to 62.40 percent, its lowest level in four years.

The Minority Leader said the performance in both subjects was also below the levels recorded in 2024, describing the situation as a matter that required urgent national attention.

He argued that the concerns extended beyond the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), pointing to challenges surrounding the placement of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates into Senior High Schools (SHS).

Mr. Afenyo-Markin said 54,985 BECE candidates were initially denied automatic placement, with reports also emerging of some children being wrongly placed in special schools and others arriving at their assigned schools only to discover that there was no space for them.

He questioned the apparent disparity between the number of candidates awaiting placement and the vacancies reportedly available.

According to him, government figures show that there are 859,828 vacancies for 623,072 candidates, while 85 private schools participating in the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme also have capacity.

He said the availability of a self-placement portal could not be equated with providing students with actual school places.

‘A self-placement portal is not a school place; every child needs an actual seat in a functioning classroom,’ he said.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin consequently warned that more than 200,000 young Ghanaians could be left behind at different stages of the secondary education system if the challenges were not addressed.

He urged the government to move beyond reacting to problems after they had become public and instead adopt measures to address the underlying challenges confronting education.

He called on the government to publish the final placement outcomes and explain the rules and pass marks applied in the placement process to ensure transparency and public confidence.

The Minority Leader also called for adequate funding for teaching and remedial programmes to support students who had performed poorly in the examinations.

He further urged the government to establish clear pathways into technical and vocational education and training (TVET), apprenticeships and skills development for young people who failed to obtain the required WASSCE credits.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin said the challenges required the government to treat education as a major national crisis demanding immediate intervention and sustainable solutions.

He called for a national discussion on educational funding, teaching quality, contact hours, teacher motivation, learning materials, infrastructure and supervision.

According to him, such a conversation should rise above partisan politics because the consequences of weaknesses in the education system would affect an entire generation.

‘This must rise above partisan excuses because the future of an entire generation is at stake,’ he said.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin also defended the record of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in expanding access to education, citing the introduction of Free SHS as well as Free TVET, apprenticeship and skills-development opportunities.

He said the objective of those interventions was to ensure that poverty or examination results did not permanently deny any Ghanaian child an opportunity to build a future.

He maintained that the immediate concern was to find practical solutions for both groups of affected young people.

‘The 54,985 BECE candidates need real school places; the 183,233 WASSCE graduates need a second chance,’ he said.

The Minority Leader said the situation was putting pressure on parents, children and teachers, and urged President John Dramani Mahama and his administration to act promptly.

He said the country’s response should focus not only on the immediate placement difficulties and examination results but also on the broader quality and effectiveness of education.

‘When our children’s education is in crisis, Ghana’s future is in danger. The time to act is now,’ he said.

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has suspended its proposed 30 percent increase in transport fares following discussions with the Ministry of Transport.

National Deputy Public Relations Officer of the GPRTU, Samuel Amoah, said the decision follows an agreement between the transport unions and government to conduct a survey into the cost of operating commercial vehicles.

Mr. Amoah said the GPRTU had submitted a proposal to the Transport Ministry for a 30 percent fare increase, citing rising fuel prices, the cost of spare parts, lubricants and taxes.

He said the union agreed to suspend the proposed increase after government committed to reviewing the factors contributing to rising transport operating costs.

‘We all agreed that the GRTCC together with the GPRTU and the Transport Ministry will form a committee to do this survey,’ Mr. Amoah said.

According to him, the committee will assess whether the prices of spare parts and other inputs have actually declined and examine broader market conditions.

Mr. Amoah said the committee is expected to present its findings before the parties return to the negotiating table to determine whether a fare increase is necessary.

‘After presenting their report, we will again come back to the negotiation table to do another review to see if there is the need for us to go ahead and do that,’ he said.

Current Fares To Remain

Mr. Amoah said transport operators are expected to maintain existing fares until a new agreement is reached.

He said the union expects the review to be completed before the next fuel pricing window, which is expected between this week and next week.

‘We have given them a job to do and I believe that the next price window is just around the corner. Between this week and next week, I believe all this survey will be done for them to submit their report,’ he said.

Mr. Amoah also acknowledged concerns over government’s decision to reduce the price of diesel by GHS2 per litre, while petrol users have not received a similar reduction.

He said the transport unions raised the issue during their meeting with government.

According to him, government explained that the reduction was targeted at diesel because a larger number of commercial vehicles use diesel and its price remains relatively high.

Mr. Amoah said the unions would continue to engage government on the matter, but for now, commercial transport operators are expected to maintain current fares until the review is completed and a decision is reached on any possible adjustment.

Best Assurance Company Limited has partnered with the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) under the Educational Financial Partnerships Initiative (EFPI) to support educational development in underserved communities across the country.

As part of the partnership, the insurance company presented a cheque for GHS100,000 to GETFund to support the provision of essential teaching and learning materials.

The presentation took place at a brief ceremony at the GETFund Head Office, where the Managing Director of Best Assurance, Robert Wugah, presented the cheque to the GETFund Administrator, Paul Adjei.

Mr. Wugah commended GETFund for its efforts to address infrastructure and resource gaps in the education sector, explaining that the contribution would support the procurement of textbooks, stationery and other educational aids to improve classroom instruction.

He said the donation formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives and expressed the company’s interest in developing a broader and long term relationship with GETFund.

Mr. Wugah also offered to provide GETFund with comprehensive corporate insurance solutions covering motor, fire, engineering, marine, bond and accident portfolios to support the Fund’s institutional and logistical needs.

Mr. Adjei expressed gratitude to Best Assurance for the intervention, noting that the support would contribute to improving learning outcomes in underserved communities.

He welcomed Best Assurance to the EFPI programme and assured the company of GETFund’s commitment to building a sustainable and mutually beneficial partnership.

Mr. Wugah was accompanied by the Deputy Managing Director in charge of Operations, Kofi Lartey; Deputy Managing Director in charge of Finance, Margaret Mutumina; and the Chief Distribution Officer, Kweku Arko.