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A tragic galamsey accident in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region has left at least seven people dead and several others injured after an illegal mining pit caved in at Kasotie on Wednesday evening.

The incident, which occurred around 6:00 p.m., involved about fifteen miners who had descended into the pit in search of gold. Eyewitnesses said the ground suddenly gave way, burying many of them alive.

Rescue efforts by surviving miners, supported by personnel from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and security services, managed to pull out some of the trapped individuals.

Eight miners were rushed to the Mpasaaso Government Hospital with varying degrees of injury, while bodies of the deceased were later retrieved from the rubble.

Initial reports suggested five deaths on Wednesday night, but by yesterday morning, the death toll had risen to seven after two more bodies were recovered. Fears remain that the number of fatalities could climb further, as some community members believe other miners may still be trapped.

‘The search went on through the night. We managed to rescue some alive, but sadly, we also found more bodies. We suspect others are still underground,’ an eyewitness told reporters.

The disaster has plunged the Kasotie farming community into mourning, with anxious families waiting for confirmation of missing loved ones. The identities of the deceased are yet to be officially released.

Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has been briefed on the tragedy and is expected to deliberate on measures to address the growing menace of illegal mining in the area. Investigations are ongoing into the exact cause of the collapse.

FIFA has informed the Ghana Football Association of a venue change for the Black Stars’ penultimate 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic.

The match, which remains scheduled for Wednesday, 8 October 2025, will now be played at the Stade d’Honneur de Meknes in Morocco. Kick-off is set for 16:00 GMT.

The date, time, and officiating arrangements remain unchanged. Mauritian referee Patrice Milazare will take charge of the game, supported by assistants Louis Ralph Fabien Cauvelet of Mauritius and Shaji Padayachy of Seychelles.

Seychelles’ Noris Aaron Godfrey Arissol will serve as the fourth official, while Senegal’s Fatou Gaye acts as referee assessor.

Morocco’s Jamal Kaouachi has been appointed as match commissioner, with Odochi Joan Efughu of Nigeria handling security duties.

The Black Stars will be looking to strengthen their qualification hopes with a decisive performance in Meknes.

The Chief and people of Nkaseim in the Asutifi South District, have commended President John Mahama, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, and Newmont Gold Limited for their joint efforts in granting the community its long-awaited cooperative mining request, which is expected to create over 5,000 jobs.

According to residents and traditional leaders, the project, when officially launched, will not only provide sustainable employment for the teeming youth and boost the local economy, but will also help mitigate illegal mining activities and foster peaceful coexistence between the community and Newmont.

At a community engagement in honour of visiting officials from the newly established Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) and the Minerals Commission, traditional leaders expressed confidence in the government’s commitment to addressing their concerns.

Led by the Nkasiemhene, Nana Danso Agyei Ababio II, the chiefs praised the administration’s timely intervention and ongoing negotiations with Newmont to cede part of its concession for the community-led initiative.

‘I thank His Excellency [President Mahama] that when we petitioned, they did not turn a blind eye. We look up to the government to ensure our youth can mine in peace and earn a decent living without fear,’ Nana Ababio II stated.

20-Years of Struggle

On his part, the Sompahene of Nkaseim, Nana Yaw Sarpong, expressed profound joy, recalling the community’s nearly 20-year struggle to obtain legal authorisation to mine on their ancestral lands.

‘This did not start today. It began back in 2007. We tried everything to get the licence so we could survive, but we never succeeded. People are working in the area, but when they hear officials are coming, they run into the bush. Why? Because technically, we are trespassing on someone else’s land,’ he lamented.

He added, ‘We’ve gone through multiple administrations without success. But when President Mahama came to power, within three months, he and Minister Kofi Armah-Buah came together to support us. Today, a delegation from Accra has come to verify our claims and engage us on the way forward. We are hopeful that when they report back, a lasting solution will be found.’

The government delegation was led by George Dadzie Jnr, Deputy National Coordinator of rCOMSDEP in charge of Operations.

The team engaged the Nkaseim Traditional Council and the broader community to discuss progress as final talks with Newmont continue.

The community has long appealed for the designation of a concession at Nkaseim-Mempehia, currently within Newmont’s operational area, for a formal community mining scheme.

For decades, residents have been working the land without legal authorisation.

Efforts by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to finalise the arrangement fell through, leaving the project in limbo.

However, the current administration has revived the conversation through rCOMSDEP, leading to positive developments.

The delegation toured the proposed mining site to gather firsthand insights and assess progress on the ground.

The traditional leaders expressed deep gratitude to President Mahama, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and the entire government for their proactive steps to make the community mining initiative a reality.

Other dignitaries present at the engagement included Nana Boafo Armah, District Officer of the Minerals Commission at Kenyasi, Yaw Okyere, Council of State representative for the Ahafo Region, the Association of Nkaseim Youth, and several opinion leaders from the traditional area.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has introduced its Football4Girls initiative in the Takoradi Metropolitan area, a grassroots programme aimed at giving young girls the opportunity to play football, develop their love for the game, and connect with the broader goals of the GFA Women’s Football Strategy.

The launch drew participation from ten schools across the metropolis, including Bedu Addo Methodist Basic, Takoradi Presby Primary, Bishop O’Rorke Anglican, All Saints Anglican, Woode Methodist, Korsah Complex, Bethel Methodist Basic, Perry Hayford, Axim Road Primary, and Bishop Essuah Catholic School.

Designed to boost awareness and participation in girls’ football, the event highlighted the pathways outlined in the Women’s Football Strategy, showing participants the range of opportunities available to them in the sport, whether as players, coaches, referees, administrators, or other professionals.

Alongside educational sessions, the day featured fun activities and friendly matches, which gave the girls a chance to enjoy the game, build confidence, and forge new friendships.

Head of Women’s Football Development at the GFA, Jennifer Amankwaa Sarpong, described the initiative as part of a revolution in grassroots women’s football.

She stressed that Football4Girls is a central pillar of the Women’s Football Strategy, crafted to inspire and empower girls while laying a strong foundation for the long-term growth of women’s football in Ghana.

The Minority in Parliament has launched a blistering attack on the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam Nartey George, accusing him of populism, deception and gross incompetence in his handling of the dispute with pay-TV operator MultiChoice, owners of DStv.

At a press conference in Parliament yesterday, the Deputy Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Communications and Information, Charles Asuako Owiredu, said the minister’s conduct has embarrassed the country, undermined regulatory processes, and misled Ghanaians with false claims about a supposed breakthrough in negotiations with MultiChoice.

According to him, Minister Sam Nartey George must ‘render an unqualified apology to Ghanaians’ and resign, failing which President John Dramani Mahama must dismiss him.

The controversy began in August when the minister demanded a 30 percent reduction in DStv subscription fees, citing disparities between Ghana and Nigeria.

The DStv premium bouquet costs about $83 in Ghana compared to $29 in Nigeria. Mr. George argued that such a price gap was unjustifiable given the relative strength of the Ghana cedi.

The Minority said MultiChoice, however, rejected the demand as ‘untenable,’ warning that a forced reduction could lead to job losses and diminished service quality.

The Deputy Ranking Member asserted that the company proposed that it could only upgrade consumers to the next bouquet, a position the minister dismissed as illogical.

The Minority noted that efforts by South Africa’s foreign minister to mediate the impasse proved unsuccessful, accusing Sam George of adopting an ‘intransigent stance.’

Mr. Owiredu said matters came to a head when the Communications Minister publicly declared that he would personally convene a meeting between Ghanaian and South African representatives to ensure a reduction in subscription fees.

The Minority narrated that the minister, at one point, insisted, ‘I am clear in my mind that the meeting will not come to an end without an agreed price reduction.’

However, on September 29, after weeks of back and forth, Mr. Nartey George announced what he described as a major ‘success story’ – an offer by MultiChoice to allow subscribers to enjoy upgrades to higher packages under its long-running ‘Step Up’ promotion.

The Minority stated that he hailed this as a generational win for Ghanaian consumers.

Mr. Owiredu intimated that this was a blatant distortion of facts, arguing that MultiChoice has been running the ‘Step Up’ campaign in Ghana and other African countries since January 2025, alongside reduced decoder prices.

‘To repackage a routine promotion as the outcome of high-level negotiations is deceitful,’ he said.

He noted that MultiChoice itself appeared to confirm the Minority’s stance, citing a public statement in which the company denied agreeing to any fee reduction and explaining that the promotion was part of its ongoing consumer appreciation programmes, not a concession extracted by the minister.

‘This only proves what we have been saying all along – that the minister either does not understand the issues or is deliberately fabricating victories he has not won,’ Mr. Owiredu charged.

‘Such behaviour is not only disingenuous, it is dangerous for investor confidence in Ghana’s digital and communications landscape,’ he asserted.

The Minority further accused the minister of sidelining regulators such as the National Communications Authority (NCA), usurping their mandate, and adopting an arbitrary decision-making style.

They said his posture violated the President’s own code of conduct for ministers, which requires honesty, candour and respect in public service.

They also demanded accountability for fines reportedly imposed on MultiChoice, questioning how much had been collected and how the proceeds had been used.

‘Instead of answering legitimate questions from Ghanaians, the minister resorted to his usual trait of insults and attacks on critics,’ Mr. Owiredu said.

Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry will take on former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the co-main event of UFC Qatar on 22 November.

The 27-year-old Irishman is coming off a victory over Carlos Prates in April, having bounced back from his first UFC defeat at the hands of Shavkat Rakhmonov in December 2024.

Muhammad, meanwhile, lost his title to Jack Della Maddalena in May and will be looking to re-establish himself in the title picture with a win over Garry.

The outcome of the bout could set up a future meeting with the winner of Della Maddalena’s first title defence against Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 later in November. Makhachev, who recently vacated his lightweight belt to move up in weight, is eyeing a second championship run in a new division.

In the main event in Qatar, Armenia’s Arman Tsarukyan will square off against New Zealand’s Dan Hooker in a lightweight clash.

Tsarukyan makes his return after withdrawing from a scheduled title fight with Makhachev in January, while Hooker is set to compete for the first time since August 2024 following a long spell out with hand injuries.

The card also carries wider implications for the lightweight division, with Liverpool’s Paddy Pimblett closing in on a potential title shot.

Pimblett, 30, is seen as one of the frontrunners alongside American Justin Gaethje to challenge newly crowned champion Ilia Topuria.

However, the UFC could also choose to pair Topuria with Max Holloway, who is coming off a statement win over Dustin Poirier in July.

The Coalition of Unpaid Nurses and Midwives hit the streets of Accra yesterday in protest of government’s failure to pay the salaries of nearly 7,000 health workers, who have not been paid for the last ten months, despite being at post.

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

They gathered at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health, where they presented petitions to government officials, hoping to receive a favourable outcome in the coming days.

Some of the health workers carried placards with various inscriptions, including ‘We are Ghanaians! Why are you exploiting us’, ‘We survive on gari three times a day’, ‘Empty Promises, Empty Stomachs, MoF, MoH, Enough is Enough’, ‘We Can’t Survive on Promises’, among others.

Convenor of the group, Stephen Kwadwo Takyiah, who was visibly frustrated, described the government’s handling of the situation as unfair and unsustainable.

He said the group was not comfortable with staging a demonstration ‘but it has become necessary.’

‘We are citizens, trained as professional nurses and midwives from nursing training colleges and universities,’ he said.

Takyiah said the group is made up of those who graduated in 2020, completed their rotations, and waited at home for three years before being employed in 2024 after the Ministry of Health announced it had secured financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance to employ about 13,000 of them.

‘But in April 2025, only some of our colleagues started receiving salaries. As we speak, just over 6,500 have been paid, while nearly 7,000 of us have worked for close to 10 months without pay,’ he indicated.

He pointed out how the decision to withhold their salaries has had untold challenges on the members, urging government to act swiftly to intervene as a delay in the issue could affect healthcare delivery in the country.

‘One of my colleagues just underwent surgery, and we are still struggling to pay her hospital bills. Another is an asthmatic patient who spends about GHS300 every month on inhalers, buying them three times a month. Our people are suffering and some are dying, yet we have worked honestly,’ he said.

Takyiah cited the words of President John Dramani Mahama at the recent UN General Assembly in New York, USA, and painted a rather gloomy picture of government treating them like modern-day slaves.

‘The President said slave trade is the biggest crime against humanity. Today, I stand here to say this is modern-day slave trade. To deny citizens and health workers their salaries is the greatest crime any leader can commit. We are pleading with the government to act urgently-if not, we are dying, and our healthcare system is collapsing,’ he said.

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has announced that it has completed drafting the Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill, which is currently progressing through the processes leading to consideration by Parliament.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, the BoG said the draft had undergone extensive review by industry groups, relevant state institutions, and international development partners.

‘The Bank of Ghana wishes to update the public and industry stakeholders on progress towards establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for virtual asset activities in Ghana. Working in close collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), the Bank has completed the drafting of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill,’ it stated.

As part of the preparatory process, the Bank said it conducted a mandatory registration exercise for all virtual asset service providers in July 2025.

The exercise, according to the central bank, provided updated baseline information on virtual asset activities in Ghana and offered valuable insights to guide the design of a regulatory framework that is both market-relevant and fit for purpose.

The BoG said it has adopted a structured roadmap to guide the phased implementation of the framework and the operationalisation of the forthcoming VASP Act.

It indicated that immediate priorities include continued consultations with the Executive arm of government, Parliament, and other stakeholders on the draft bill.

The Bank also disclosed plans to launch a dedicated online portal to serve as a central source of information and compliance support for VASPs, as well as to facilitate nationwide awareness and engagement activities with both industry players and the public.

The BoG assured that it is ‘committed to fostering a safe, transparent, and innovative virtual asset ecosystem that protects users, encourages responsible innovation, and safeguards the integrity of the financial system.’

The campaign team of Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has called on the Presidential Election Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to put in appropriate measures that will enhance the credibility of the party’s voter register.

According to the team, the move will safeguard the rights of all eligible members, in line with the spirit of inclusivity resolved at the party’s July 2025 Delegates’ Conference.

The team said that, at the Annual National Delegates Conference held in Accra, it was resolved that all former Regional, Constituency and National Officers as well as External Branch Executives, former External Branch Executives, and all former party card-bearing members, including Members of Parliament, Parliamentary Candidates, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) be included in the voter register for the presidential primary scheduled for January 31, 2026.

It added that to facilitate the process, the party provided an online registration link and manual forms for all eligible past officers.

The campaign team added that although the registration deadline was initially set for September 19, 2025, it was extended to September 30, 2025, to accommodate members facing challenges.

However, a statement issued by the team and signed by Charles Bissue, Director of Operations, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong Campaign, said despite the extension, several eligible past officers have reported difficulties in completing their registration.

The statement mentioned that the problem is primarily due to challenges in obtaining endorsements from constituency chairmen and secretaries.

‘These issues risk disenfranchising qualified members who are entitled to participate in the process,’ it disclosed.

‘To address the problem, we respectfully propose that coordinators of all presidential aspirants within the constituencies meet with constituency party officers to resolve discrepancies and ensure accurate registration,’ it added.

The statement indicated that the step will help verify the number of registered members in each constituency before the final voter list is compiled at the national level.

‘We trust that the national leadership will treat this matter with the urgency it requires,’ the statement pointed out.

The government has announced a 12 percent increase in the producer price of cocoa, raising the rate from GHS3,225 to GHS3,625 per 64-kilogram bag.

The adjustment, which takes effect today, October 3, 2025, also translates to GHS58,000 per tonne.

The new price represents a GHS400 increase per bag compared to the previous figure announced in August this year.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who made the announcement at an emergency press briefing in Accra yesterday, said the review was necessary to improve the welfare of farmers and reflects adjustments in government’s revenue forecast.

‘This means that for every bag sold, the cocoa farmer will now earn an additional GHS400,’ Dr. Forson explained, adding, ‘Government remains committed to monitoring international market trends and taking timely decisions to safeguard the interest of farmers.’

He confirmed that all existing margins, fees, and rates for stakeholders, including COCOBOD, remain unchanged.

The Minister said COCOBOD will, however, continue interventions aimed at sustaining production and improving farmer livelihoods.

These include the free distribution of inputs such as liquid and granular fertilisers, insecticides, fungicides, spraying machines, and flower inducers.

The minister also reaffirmed COCOBOD’s pledge to roll out the Tertiary Education Scholarship Scheme for children of cocoa farmers in the 2026/27 academic year, part of efforts to extend the benefits of cocoa revenue to farm households.