BlueCrest College Shines At Black Star Fashion Summit

BlueCrest College School of Fashion was among the key institutions invited to participate in the maiden Black Star Fashion Week, which kicked off with a summit at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

The event, organised by the Rex Omar-led Black Star Experience under the theme ‘Put Ghana On’, brought together government officials, policymakers, designers, entrepreneurs and industry players for masterclasses, panel discussions, fireside chats, exhibitions and networking.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, was the special guest of honour. Also in attendance were the Ghana Tourism Authority CEO, Maame Efua Houadjeto, the Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Presidency, Kofi Okyere Darko, UNESCO representative Edmond Moukouala, and other stakeholders.

BlueCrest College’s invitation was no coincidence. The institution has maintained a collaborative relationship with the organisers of the Black Star Experience, having participated in some of their previous events.

As one of Ghana’s leading design schools, BlueCrest was invited to participate as a partner in fashion education, in recognition of its contribution to fashion training and its commitment to nurturing the next generation of fashion professionals.

A significant aspect of the College’s identity – and a major reason for its invitation – is its commitment to sustainable fashion.

This commitment is reflected in its curriculum, teaching approaches and various institutional activities, which seek to promote responsible fashion practices and prepare students to become more conscious, innovative and environmentally responsible professionals.

Coordinator of the Black Star Experience, Rex Omar, said the fashion week offers a key platform for conversations around industry data and international competitiveness, access to finance, market development, infrastructure, skills development, and intellectual property protection.

He announced that the Black Star Experience Secretariat will begin publishing an Annual Ghana Fashion Industry Report from 2027.

The festival continued at the Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo on November 7, with the Presidential Runway fashion show – one of the main highlights of the maiden Black Star Fashion Week.

Cyprus – Greece Education Ministers point out challenges to prep schools for AI era

Cyprus and Greece are adapting their education systems to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, with an emphasis on digital skills, critical thinking, responsible use of technology and closer links between education and the labour market, the two countries’ Education Ministers said on Tuesday.

Addressing the 22nd Annual Cyprus Summit, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said AI was already transforming the labour market and that preparing young people for continuous technological change required investment in people alongside investment in technology.

She stressed that future workers would need more than technical expertise, highlighting the importance of critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, ethical judgement, problem-solving and resilience.

Michaelidou said these priorities were being incorporated into Cyprus’ education reforms through revised curricula, stronger digital education and the implementation of the 2025 Policy and Guidelines for the Responsible and Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Primary and Secondary Education.

She also referred to the promotion of interdisciplinary learning through STEAM education, the Technical Gymnasium initiative, which combines general education with practical learning, and efforts to modernise technical and vocational education and strengthen cooperation with employers.

Greece to change all school textbooks in 2027

Greek Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki, who addressed the summit via video connection, said Greece would change all school textbooks next year and introduce a multiple-textbook system, allowing teachers to choose between different books for each subject.

She said the reforms formed part of wider efforts to improve basic skills and teaching methods, following worrying results in the latest PISA study, particularly in numeracy, literacy and physical sciences.

Zacharaki also referred to a national dialogue on upper secondary education and the possible introduction of a national baccalaureate, with support from the OECD and the European Commission, including through its Technical Support Instrument. The reforms aim to strengthen curricula and skills development, particularly among students aged 15 to 17.

On artificial intelligence, she said she was working closely with Michaelidou on its responsible and ethical use in schools, as well as teacher training and vocational education. She noted that Greece had adopted a joint ministerial decision last year setting out principles for the ethical and appropriate use of AI in secondary education.

Both Ministers referred to the need for continuous upskilling and reskilling, in line with the European Commission’s education and skills strategy and the Union of Skills initiative.

One Critically Injured In Atafoa Multi-Car Crash

One person has been critically injured following a horrific multiple-vehicle accident at Atafoa in the Bantama Constituency of the Ashanti Region, involving a Toyota Corolla, a charcoal truck, a Highlander and a tricycle.

The accident, which occurred after a head-on collision between a Toyota Corolla and a charcoal truck, left the vehicles badly damaged and brought traffic on the busy Atafoa stretch to a standstill.

The Toyota Corolla, with registration number ER 350-15, reportedly crashed head-on into the charcoal truck, registered 6796-V, which was loaded with charcoal.

Eyewitnesses said the Corolla driver was allegedly speeding and attempting a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre when he veered into the opposite lane and collided with the oncoming truck.

The devastating impact sent the vehicles crashing into others nearby, including a Highlander and a tricycle, leaving the tricycle and the other vehicles damaged.

The driver of the Corolla suffered serious injuries and became trapped in the mangled vehicle for several minutes.

He was eventually rescued by passers-by, who reportedly struggled to pull him out of the wreckage before rushing him to hospital. His condition was described as critical.

The accident also triggered a massive traffic gridlock, as the wreckage blocked the road, leaving motorists and commuters stranded for several hours.

Recurring Accidents

Two eyewitnesses, Mr. Morgan Annor and Mr. Alfred Agyei, expressed worry over the recurring accidents on the Atafoa stretch, insisting that the latest crash was not an isolated incident.

They blamed the frequent accidents on excessive speeding and the absence of speed ramps and adequate road signs to regulate motorists’ movements.

According to them, several lives had been lost and properties destroyed through previous accidents on the same stretch, but the authorities had failed to take concrete measures to address the situation.

They appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority, the Bantama Member of Parliament and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to urgently install speed ramps and appropriate road signs to prevent further carnage.

The eyewitnesses also warned motorists against reckless driving, urging them to reduce their speed,

No plans for President meeting with Erdogan in Antalya, says Letymbiotis

A meeting between the President of the Republic and the Turkish President or the country’s Foreign Minister during Christodoulides stay in Antalya has not been planned, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said, while noting that Events like this are well suited to bilateral contacts and meetings, even if these are not scheduled.

Asked whether the President would meet the UN Secretary-General in Antalya, the Spokesperson noted that this would depend on Antonio Guterres’ schedule, taking into account the President’s brief stay in Antalya, as he will then travel on to Dublin. ‘We will endeavour to make it happen if possible,’ he said, noting, however, that due to the tight schedule, he did not know whether this would be feasible.

Furthermore, in his opening statement, the Spokesperson outlined the details of the President’s trip to Antalya, Turkey, where he will take part in the Leaders’ Summit of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), and subsequently to Dublin, where he will take part in the European Political Community (EPC) Summit and the informal European Council meeting, on 12 and 13 November respectively.

He noted that the President’s participation in the COP31 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya ‘forms part of a specific diplomatic framework, taking into account the circumstances surrounding the Conference and the diplomatic processes that preceded it, in close coordination with the European institutions and the Member States of the European Union (EU)’.

As part of these processes, there was close and systematic coordination between the Republic of Cyprus and the European institutions and the Member States of the EU, based on the common European position that the equal participation of all Member States in international processes is a fundamental principle, he noted.

According to the Spokesperson, during the Leaders’ Summit on Wednesday, 11 November, President Christodoulides will address the Heads of State and Government, ‘highlighting the Republic of Cyprus’s support for the common European position on strengthening global climate ambition, the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement and accelerating the fulfilment of international commitments’.

Particular emphasis, he said, will be placed on the Republic of Cyprus’s regional Initiative on Climate Change in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, which provides an essential framework for scientific cooperation, coordinated response to common risks and the promotion of specific actions and projects to mitigate the impacts of and adapt to climate change.

At the same time, he continued, the President of the Republic will highlight the initiative undertaken during the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU to strengthen the EU’s strategic approach to international climate negotiations. He noted that this initiative comprises seven actions, which were also promoted at ministerial level, whilst their implementation is continuing under the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The Spokesperson also mentioned that, on the sidelines of the COP31 Leaders’ Summit, there will be an opportunity for the President of the Republic to hold bilateral meetings. In this context, he added, the President is also expected to meet with the President of the European Commission.

He added that tomorrow, 11 November, the President of the Republic will travel to Dublin, where on Thursday, 12 November, he will take part in the EPC Summit, attended by leaders from across the European continent and focusing on common challenges to security, stability and cooperation in Europe.

President Christodoulides will, in particular, take part in the thematic debate on ‘Securing and defending a democratic Europe’, during which contemporary geopolitical challenges, the strengthening of European security and the protection of democratic institutions.

He also said that on Friday, 13 November, the President of the Republic will take part in the informal European Council meeting, which will focus on Artificial Intelligence, with particular emphasis on strengthening European competitiveness and technological autonomy, as well as addressing the social challenges and security issues associated with the rapid development of new technologies.

‘The agenda of the Summit is fully aligned with the priorities set by the Republic of Cyprus through its new National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence, with a horizon of 2032, which is being approved today by the Council of Ministers,’ the Spokesperson noted.

‘The convergence of national and European priorities is reflected in the shared aim of harnessing Artificial Intelligence as a driving force for competitiveness, productivity, innovation and the modernisation of the state, whilst ensuring its responsible and safe use,’ he concluded, adding that the President of the Republic would return to Cyprus on Friday evening.

Accra Shoplifter Nabbed

The Eastern Regional Police Command has arrested a 57-year-old man believed to be behind a series of shoplifting incidents captured in videos that recently went viral on TikTok and other social media platforms.

The suspect, Nsiah Samuel, a self-acclaimed chief and minister of the gospel residing at Akrade in the Eastern Region, was arrested on November 5, 2026 by the Somanya District Police Command, acting on intelligence gathered in collaboration with the Borteyman Police in Accra.

He was arrested at a hideout at Akode, near Somanya, at about 3:30 p.m. In a statement signed by Chief Inspector Bridget Opoku of the Public Affairs Unit, Eastern Regional Police Command, the police said the suspect, upon interrogation, admitted to stealing consumable items, electronics, clothing, and other shop goods from retail outlets across Kibi, Suhum, Ashaiman, Accra Central, Koforidua, Tema, Akosombo, Adenta, and other locations in the southern part of Ghana.

The suspect has since been handed over to the Borteyman Police for further investigation.

The arrest followed days of intense public anger on social media after several closed-circuit television (CCTV) clips purportedly showing the same man taking items from shops circulated widely online, particularly on TikTok.

The videos, which showed the suspect allegedly stealing from different retail outlets, quickly trended, attracting widespread public attention and prompting public calls for police action.

Many social media users expressed shock and outrage that the man, who presented himself as a chief and a minister of the gospel, could allegedly be involved in repeated thefts.

Others shared the videos repeatedly, tagged the Ghana Police Service, and demanded his immediate arrest, while some shop owners also came forward to share similar experiences. The online agitation, according to the police, contributed directly to the breakthrough, as members of the public provided vigilance, information and intelligence that helped officers trace the suspect to his hideout.

Cyprus aims to develop at least 3,000 AI professionals by 2032, Damianou says

Cyprus aims to develop at least 3,000 artificial intelligence (AI) professionals by 2032 and establish itself as a regional hub for AI skills, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Nicodemos Damianou, said on Tuesday, outlining the country’s plans to expand AI education, training and adoption.

Speaking at a panel discussion titled ‘AI: Driving growth or deepening inequality?’ at the 22nd Annual Economist Cyprus Summit in Nicosia, Damianou presented the main priorities of the National AI Strategy 2032, stressing that Cyprus’s objective was not simply to compete in the global AI race but to promote its practical adoption in areas where it could generate the greatest value.

He announced three initiatives aimed at strengthening skills and widening access to the technology: a Cyprus AI Literacy Framework, which will introduce AI and critical thinking into schools while keeping teachers in control; a National AI Skills Observatory, designed to align training with labour-market needs; and FutureAI CY, which will offer modular reskilling opportunities for workers and small businesses.

These initiatives will be part of what Damianou described as an ‘AI Social Contract’, under which technology should empower people rather than quietly replace them.

He stressed the need to ensure that the benefits of AI were shared more widely, warning that access to the technology was becoming a new source of inequality.

‘The digital divide is becoming an intelligence divide,’ he said, noting that fewer than one in five working-age people worldwide currently use AI, while 2.2 billion people remain offline.

He also highlighted the impact of AI on employment, particularly among younger people entering the labour market, and called for a shift towards ‘pro-worker AI’.

Damianou also called for greater access to open AI models and shared computing infrastructure, arguing that companies benefiting from AI should contribute to widening access.

‘AI will drive growth. Whether it deepens inequality is a choice and we have time to act,’ he said.

AI access key to preventing new inequalities, Greek official says

Access to AI and, more importantly, the ability to use it effectively will be key to preventing new inequalities, Greece’s Secretary General for Information Systems and Digital Governance, Dimosthenis Anagnostopoulos, said.

Speaking at the same panel discussion, Anagnostopoulos said AI offered powerful tools for increasing productivity but also carried a significant risk of concentrating economic power in the hands of a few.

Governments should act as enablers of AI adoption in both the public and private sectors, rather than merely as regulators, he said.

Referring to disparities in AI adoption, he cited figures showing that in 2025 around 50-55% of large European enterprises used AI tools, compared with just 17% of small businesses. The rate was approximately 42% in Denmark, while Greece and Cyprus were close to 9%.

Anagnostopoulos presented Greece’s efforts to broaden access to AI, saying 60,000 licences for digital tools had been provided to public employees, while 30,000 employees had received training. Free training courses were also made available to the public.

Referring to AI infrastructure, Anagnostopoulos said Greece’s Daedalus supercomputer, ranked 31st globally, was expected to begin offering AI services, training and model-running capabilities the following month. He also referred to Pharos, an ecosystem designed to develop AI models and promote their use, describing such capabilities as important not only for Greece but also for the EU.

Gauff Opens WTA Finals With Gritty Win Over Pegula

Coco Gauff battled to a three-set victory over fellow American Jessica Pegula as she made a winning start to the WTA Finals.

Gauff, the 2024 champion, demonstrated resilience and superb athleticism to overcome 2023 runner-up Pegula 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 at Indian Wells in California.

Gauff – at 22, the youngest player to appear at five consecutive WTA Finals since Martina Hingis in 2000 – last competed at the China Open in early October.

‘I’m really proud of myself for this one,’ she said.

‘To play a tournament like this with no preparation is something I’ve never done in my career, but I’m just really happy to get through.

‘It was a tough match. I was having a lot of fun.’

Gauff has won only one title this year, when she beat Pegula in the Cincinnati Open final in August.

Pegula, 32, won titles in Dubai and Charleston and reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and US Open.

She is only four wins behind Elena Rybakina’s tour-leading 54 this season, despite playing only one match since the US Open ended in September.

‘Jess is an incredible player. We always go back and forth,’ Gauff said.

‘Today the key was just trying to be aggressive, but I also had to run a lot.

‘My shoes are pretty torn up now. Some of my shoes are somewhere on the court there. So I’ll have to change shoes tomorrow.’

Telecel Targets 500 Patients For Discharge Under Homecoming Initiative

The Telecel Ghana Foundation has launched the 2026 edition of its flagship Homecoming initiative, targeting the settlement of medical bills for more than 500 financially distressed patients across 16 government health facilities nationwide.

The initiative, which seeks to address the financial barriers preventing medically recovered patients from leaving hospital, will also support participating health facilities to recover outstanding bills and free up beds for other patients requiring medical attention.

At the launch at the Shai Osudoku District Hospital in Dodowa, the Foundation settled the medical bills of 29 patients who had completed treatment but remained hospitalised because they could not afford their outstanding bills.

The Foundation also facilitated the registration and renewal of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) membership for 120 people as part of efforts to improve access to healthcare and reduce the financial burden on vulnerable households.

Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, Head of the Foundation, Sustainability and External Communications at Telecel Ghana, said the initiative was designed to ensure that patients who had recovered did not remain in hospital because of their inability to pay medical bills.

She said the programme, which was established in 2011, had become an important intervention in supporting vulnerable patients while helping hospitals address the accumulation of unpaid medical bills.

She explained that the Foundation worked with selected government hospitals and the Department of Social Welfare to identify patients who were medically fit for discharge but were unable to settle their bills.

Beyond settling patients’ medical bills, the Foundation is extending support to healthcare facilities through the provision of essential maternal-health equipment.

At the Shai Osudoku District Hospital, it presented maternal-health equipment to strengthen the facility’s capacity to provide healthcare services.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Alexander Adjei, said partnerships with private sector organisations were critical to addressing resource constraints and improving healthcare delivery.

He said the intervention would provide relief to patients and support healthcare professionals in responding to the growing demands on the facility.

‘Healthcare delivery thrives on strong partnerships. At the hospital level, limited resources and financial constraints can affect our ability to respond to the growing needs of patients, which makes collaborations such as this extremely important,’ he said.

He expressed appreciation to the Foundation for settling patients’ bills and providing equipment to strengthen service delivery.

One of the beneficiaries, Florence, said the intervention had brought an end to more than two weeks of uncertainty after she completed treatment but could not leave the hospital because of her outstanding bill.

She said her inability to settle the bill had prevented her from returning to her family, a situation that was particularly difficult because she was pregnant.

Speakers Announced For Glitz Africa Beauty Forum

Glitz Africa Magazine, organisers of the Glitz Africa Fashion Week, have announced the distinguished speakers for this year’s Beauty Forum, set to lead conversations shaping the future of African beauty.

The speakers are Valerie Lawson, Professional makeup artist, educator, and brand consultant; Sandra Alexandrina Don-Arthur, Multiple award-winning Ghanaian professional makeup artist, entrepreneur, and creative director and Founder and CEO of Alexiglam Co. Ltd; Trudy Arnold Boateng (Tru Arnold), Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Studio 7 Clinic and Med Spa; Jahara Osman, CEO of Premier Aesthetic Clinic; and Debbie Beeko, Fashion stylist and creative consultant.

The rest are Gilbert Asante, Ghanaian creative director, photographer, and multidisciplinary artist; Akai Kotei, Beauty and lifestyle content creator; Sasha Sahnoon, Beauty enthusiast and CEO of SlashBeauty; Nana Amobi Chambers, Ghanaian entrepreneur, co-founder and brand builder best known for co-founding Polish’d Beauty Bar; and Violet Amoabeng, Founder and CEO of Skin Gourmet.

The Forum opens the four-day Glitz Africa Fashion Week 2026, which runs from November 10 to 13, 2026 at The Underbridge, Accra, under the theme ‘Sustainable by Design: Shaping Africa’s Fashion Future.’

This year’s Beauty Forum holds today, Tuesday, November 10, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at W. Emporium, Accra, in partnership with Scentopia GH.

The speakers – industry experts, beauty entrepreneurs, and creative voices – will explore the theme: ‘Sustainable Beauty by Design: Can African Beauty Grow Without Compromising Its Future?’

According to the organisers, the Beauty Forum is a dedicated industry platform advancing Africa’s beauty, cosmetics, wellness, and personal care industries through innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and business development – convening entrepreneurs, manufacturers, wellness brands, retailers, investors, and SMEs.

Topics for discussion include Beauty as Business: Building Brands that Last, sustainability, local manufacturing, and brand development.

Tricycle Operators Clash With Students, Two Arrested

Two tricycle operators have been arrested following a clash between some operators and students of Atwima Kwanwoma Senior High School at Trede in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region.

One person was reportedly injured in the confrontation, which occurred during the school’s entertainment week celebration.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about security on the school premises, with the headmaster, Mr. Clement Asambire, blaming the recurring confrontations partly on the absence of a perimeter fence wall.

Mr. Asambire, who confirmed the incident to DAILY GUIDE, said it was not the first time students and tricycle operators had engaged in such a confrontation on the school compound.

According to him, the absence of a fence wall had created several unauthorised access routes into the school, allowing tricycle operators to enter the premises without using the main entrance and sometimes causing trouble.

He disclosed that the school currently had only three security guards responsible for both day and night duties, making it difficult to provide adequate security for students and staff.

The headmaster also raised concerns over the continuous encroachment on the school’s lands, warning that the situation could deprive the institution of land needed for future infrastructural development.

He further lamented the school’s inadequate classroom and accommodation facilities, revealing that some classrooms had been converted into girls’ dormitories to address the shortage of sleeping facilities.

He said the school had also resorted to temporary classrooms where benches were being used as chairs, a situation he described as inimical to effective teaching and learning.

Mr. Asambire appealed to the GETFund Secretariat, the District Assembly, the MP’s Common Fund, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), old students and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support the school with the needed infrastructure.

He said the construction of a perimeter fence wall, additional classrooms and dormitories would help address the school’s pressing challenges and improve security.

Meanwhile, the Trede District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Vincent Appiah, confirmed the clash and disclosed that two tricycle operators had been arrested pending investigations.

He said the police intended to organise a stakeholders’ engagement involving the school authorities, traditional authorities, tricycle operators and the police administration to find a lasting solution to the recurring confrontations.

Chief Superintendent Appiah expressed hope that the engagement would help address the concerns of all parties and prevent further clashes between the students and tricycle operators.