Kwahuhene Demands Responsible Mining In Kwahu

The Kwahuhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III, has called on mining companies operating in the Kwahu area to adopt responsible mining practices in line with Ghana’s mining regulations.

The king made the appeal when the management of Akoroma Mining Company, a gold mining firm operating at Obo, paid a courtesy call on him to officially introduce themselves.

Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng III also called on Akoroma Mining Company and other mining firms in the region to prioritise the welfare of host communities, urging them to fulfil their corporate social responsibility (CSR) of reclaiming mined lands in order to contribute to sustainable development.

He further urged mining companies to create job opportunities for the youth in affected communities, highlighting that this would help address unemployment and reduce social vices.

In support of the Kwahuhene’s message, Odeefour Effah Opinamang III, Kwahu Obomenghene and Acting Nifahene of the Kwahu Traditional Area, commended Akoroma Mining Company for sustaining a positive relationship with the community over the past 20 years.

The company’s delegation was led by Odeefour Effah Opinamang III and included Tom Wan, Administrative Manager, and Enock Kwasi Abglor, Community Relations Officer.

6 Illegal Miners Arrested In Western North

An anti-illegal mining operation carried out by the Western North Regional Police Command has led to the arrest of six suspects.

The six individuals were arrested at Sefwi Mrewa in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region while engaging in illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey.

The six suspects, aged between 20 and 42, were subsequently arraigned before the Sekondi High Court and remanded into prison custody.

They are to reappear before the court on October 22, 2025.

Their names were given as Emmanuel Addae, 20; Boating Enoch, 26; Kwa Yurimpue, 26; Elvis Dery, 37; Nana Kwabena, 42 and Quansah Albert, 40.

According to a police press statement, the operation was conducted on September 25, 2025, in response to a request from Koantwi Mining Company Limited, to apprehend individuals mining on their concession.

A team of 20 police officers, led by the Regional Operations Commander, stormed the mining site and encountered about 20 individuals.

According to the police statement, although most of the illegal miners escaped, six of the suspects were apprehended.

It indicated that when the police were transporting the arrested suspects from the mining site, a group of thugs blocked the road and attacked two police officers on a motorbike.

In the process, one of the attackers, Dickson Nkrumah, 24, sustained a gunshot wound, and he is receiving treatment at a hospital.

The Regional Police Command has indicated its commitment to combating illegal mining, and warned that attacks on security personnel during their operations will be met with a swift response.

Elon Musk Becomes First Person To Become Half A Trillionaire

Elon Musk has become the first ever person in the world to reach a net worth of more than $500 billion.

The Tesla boss and X owner saw the value of his businesses rise to £370.9 billion yesterday afternoon, October 1, the Forbes’ billionaires index reported.

This further cements his status as the world’s richest person, with most of his wealth tied closely to his 12% stake in Tesla.

The value of the car company shares has risen by more than 20% over the last year.

Musk is also in sight of becoming the world’s first trillionaire, as he will receive a huge payout if Tesla reached its list of ambitious targets.

These include selling a million AI robots, another 12 million Tesla cars and boosting the company’s value eight-fold.

Investors have welcomed Musk focusing more time on his businesses, which also includes artificial intelligence startup xAI and rocket company spaceX, rather than politics.

He came under fire this year after working with Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was tasked with cutting jobs and spending.

But he is back ‘front and centre’ of Tesla according to the company chair Robyn Denholm.

’Mahama Must Apologise For Galamsey Strategy’

The Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Haruna Mohammed, has criticised President John Dramani Mahama over what he described as a flawed and inconsistent approach to tackling illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

His comments come after the government announced plans to engage civil society organisations (CSOs) in a renewed dialogue on addressing the menace.

According to Mr. Mohammed, this latest move contradicts President Mahama’s earlier position on the matter.

‘This clearly shows that the President is not committed to the fight against galamsey. When he was in office, he had enough time to consult civil society, who were already raising concerns and pushing for solutions. But he failed to act on their proposals,’ he said.

He recalled that civil society groups had previously recommended measures such as declaring a state of emergency and amending sections of the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) governing small-scale mining-proposals that then-President Mahama acknowledged but never implemented.

‘So, if today the President says he is inviting CSOs to the table, it only proves he has not been clear or sincere with Ghanaians about how he intends to deal with galamsey.

‘This is a clear departure from his own earlier position, and instead of being praised, he should apologise to the people of Ghana,’ he added.

Black Starlets Face Ivory Coast In WAFU B U17 Final Showdown

The stage is set for a thrilling finale at the 2025 WAFU B U17 Boys Championship as Ghana’s Black Starlets take on hosts Ivory Coast in Yamoussoukro on Saturday.

Ghana booked their place in the final with an emphatic 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Nigeria in the semi-finals.

First-half goals from Michael Awuli and Robinho Yao Gavi sealed the win, sparking jubilant celebrations in the Starlets’ camp and heightening hopes of continental qualification.

Ivory Coast, meanwhile, edged Burkina Faso 2-1 to secure their spot in the decider. The hosts carry a psychological advantage, having defeated Ghana in the group stage. But the Starlets’ resurgence has been remarkable-recovering from that early setback to dismantle Niger 3-1 before dispatching Nigeria with authority.

Saturday’s clash promises more than just silverware. For Ghana, it is a chance at redemption and pride, while Ivory Coast will aim to repeat their group-stage heroics on home soil.

The Charles Konan Banny Stadium is expected to be a cauldron of passion as two of West Africa’s finest youth teams battle for regional supremacy and a place in history.

Digibrush clinches third consecutive Grand Prix at SLIM Digis 2.5

This year’s edition, SLIM Digis 2.5, was the most competitive yet, with over 450 entries submitted. The judging process was led by a distinguished panel of more than 50 experts including leading brand custodians, digital strategists, and representatives from global digital platforms ensuring every recognition reflected the highest standards of creativity, effectiveness, and innovation in digital marketing.

Against this backdrop of fierce competition and rigorous evaluation, Digibrush’s performance stood out, clinching the coveted Grand Prix for the third consecutive year along with 23 other awards across categories. With this milestone, the agency cemented its position as the only one in SLIM Digis history to achieve a tally of four Grand Prix wins.

This year, Digibrush’s award haul comprised the Grand Prix, three Golds, and five Silvers: part of 23 awards won across a wide range of categories. Highlights included standout wins for Emerald, HUTCH, Zesta, Keells,Harris By Jat and Milady reflecting strength in best use of Agile Moment Marketing, Small Budget, Performance Marketing, E-commerce, Social Platform Integration, Digital Bravery, Cross-Media Integration, and more: showcasing the agency’s ability to deliver impact across diverse industries and categories.

A defining feature of Digibrush’s journey at SLIM Digis has been its consistent strength in Performance Marketing. This year alone, four different brands from four industries were awarded in the category, maintaining a streak of recognition for Digibrush since the category’s inception. This consistency underscores the agency’s reputation for driving measurable outcomes through data-driven creativity.

Digibrush Co-Founder Hisham Zulfiqar said: ‘To win the Grand Prix three years in a row and to be the only agency to claim four in total, is a testament to the culture we’ve built at Digibrush. We believe in empowering our teams, challenging ourselves to think beyond the obvious, and focusing on work that doesn’t just win awards but drives real impact for brands and consumers alike. None of this would be possible without our amazing clients, who are brave enough to push boundaries with us and work in true collaboration to make bold ideas a reality.’

Design Innovation Co-Founder and Head Fazaal Naufer added: ‘Awards come and go, but what stays with us is the drive to keep creating work that matters. These wins remind us how far we’ve come, and how much further we can go when we stay curious, humble, and committed to experimenting and shaping what’s next in digital.’ From its humble beginnings to becoming one of Sri Lanka’s most awarded agencies, Digibrush continues to expand its footprint both locally and internationally. With a client portfolio spanning telecom, apparel, FMCG, finance, real estate, and more, the agency has proven its ability to create meaningful digital impact across industries. On the global stage, Digibrush partners with multinational giants such as General Mills, working with iconic brands including Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, and Old El Paso, further reinforcing its reputation as a trusted partner beyond Sri Lanka.

Weapons cache uncovered near Weheragala reservoir

Police in Kataragama have begun an inquiry following the discovery of a cache of weapons close to the sluice gate of the Weheragala reservoir.

The find was made after Army personnel alerted Police when falling water levels in the reservoir exposed the items. Among the recovered materials were 74 T-56 rifle magazines, 36 magazines for light machine guns, T-81 ammunition, two ammunition boxes, corroded bullets, and assorted weapon components.

The reservoir is situated at the junction of the Kataragama, Lunugamvehera, and Gonaganara Police Divisions. Officers from Kataragama Police visited the site and subsequently reported the recovery to the Tissamaharama Magistrate’s Court.

India-Sri Lanka CWC25 opener sets new attendance record

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2025 got off to a historic start in Guwahati on Tuesday, with the opener between India and Sri Lanka setting a new opening day attendance record at any Women’s CWC.

The game drew 22,843 fans at the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) Stadium, a record for the most attended group stage fixture at any Women’s World Cup.

The previous record of 15,935 was set during the India-Pakistan ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Group A clash in 2024.

The milestone is the latest to come from the ongoing marquee tournament, which has also set new benchmarks in fan accessibility and a record prize money pool in women’s cricket history.

ICC Hall of Famer Sachin Tendulkar has lauded the great miles covered by women’s cricket in recent times.

‘I must acknowledge the strides made in the past few years. The Women’s Premier League (WPL) has been nothing short of a game-changer,’ Tendulkar said in his column for ICC. ‘It has provided the platform, visibility, and financial security that generations of women cricketers could only dream of.’

‘A lot of credit must go to Jay Shah, who, during his time as Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, pushed for equal match fees for men and women and laid the foundation for the WPL. These steps may appear administrative on paper, but in reality, they change lives. They tell every aspiring young girl that her passion is valued equally. I also want to thank the ICC for announcing record prize money for this tournament, even surpassing what was on offer for the men’s World Cup in 2023.’

He added: ‘Symbolically and practically, it sends a powerful message-that women’s cricket deserves not just applause, but equal respect.’

The ongoing Women’s CWC is the 13th edition of the tournament. The eight-team competition sees the best in the world vying for the ultimate prize in the game.

AKD calls on Japan’s Emperor Naruhito

President Anura Kumara Disanayake called on Japan’s Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace on Tuesday during his State visit. Upon his arrival at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, the official residence of the Emperor of Japan, President Disanayake was warmly received by Emperor Naruhito and the two subsequently engaged in a cordial discussion. Disanayake returned to Sri Lanka yesterday morning after the three-day visit to Japan.

HNB Assurance Wins Silver at Dragons of Sri Lanka 2025 Awards

Breaking boundaries in brand storytelling, HNB Assurance proudly bagged a Silver at the Dragons of Sri Lanka 2025 Awards for its Virtual Avurudu Village campaign under the Digital Category. This innovative initiative redefined how traditions can meet technology, turning a beloved cultural festival into an immersive digital experience that struck a chord with a new generation of audiences.

Commenting on this achievement, Lasitha Wimalarathne, Executive Director / CEO of HNB Assurance, stated, ‘We are very pleased to receive this Silver Dragon for our Virtual Avurudu Village campaign. At HNB Assurance, we believe in constantly exploring new and innovative ways to connect with people and this campaign was a perfect example of that. By reimagining a traditional celebration in a virtual format, we were able to create an engaging experience that resonated strongly with both younger and wider audiences. My sincere thanks and heartfelt congratulations to all the teams involved in designing and delivering this campaign.’

Sharing his thoughts, Dinesh Yogaratnam, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer/ General Manager of HNB Assurance, added, ‘Winning a Silver Dragon this year reinforces the importance of evolving our communication strategies to keep pace with consumer trends. With Virtual Avurudu Village, we not only embraced innovation but also stayed true to our cultural roots by bringing Avurudu festivities to a digital platform. This enabled us to create a unique blend of tradition and technology, opening the door to new audiences while strengthening brand affinity. I’d also like to extend my gratitude to our digital partner, Kites Global, for their contribution in bringing this idea to life.’