Using your phone while sitting on the toilet could have serious consequences for your health, according to a recent study.
Its results indicate that this bathroom habit isn’t just unhygienic, but could significantly increase your risk of developing haemorrhoids, otherwise known as piles: swollen veins in the anal or rectal area that can cause pain and bleeding.
Scientists in the US conducted a survey of 125 adults whose gut health was being investigated with a colonoscopy (a procedure where doctors insert a camera into the intestines).
Participants answered questions about their lifestyle and toilet habits, and the doctors who completed their colonoscopies assessed them for haemorrhoids.
In total, 66 per cent of the participants said they used their smartphones while dropping a number two, mostly admitting to scrolling on social media or reading the news. Toilet scrollers were more likely to be younger than non-scrollers.
The researchers used statistical analysis to adjust for other factors linked to haemorrhoid risk, such as physical activity, age and diet.
They then found that individuals who brought their phones to the toilet had a 46 per cent higher risk of haemorrhoids than those who didn’t.
So why is scrolling so bad? It all comes down to how long you’re sitting on the toilet, which is likely to increase when you’re distracted by your phone.
In fact, 37 per cent of toilet scrollers in this study admitted to spending more than five minutes on the toilet per visit, compared to just 7.1 per cent of non-scrollers.
The scientists suggested that spending this extra time could increase pressure on the bottom – including the anal tissues at risk of swelling up into haemorrhoids.
Senior author Dr Trisha Pasricha, instructor of medicine at Harvard University, told BBC Science Focus: “Don’t bring your smartphone to the toilet! It distracts you from the task at hand.”
At the very least, she recommended setting a five-minute timer or opting for old-school entertainment, such as a magazine, “that isn’t expressly designed to make you lose all sense of time, like social media is.”
Haemorrhoids, otherwise known as piles, are lumps inside and around your bottom that may cause itching, pain and bleeding – Credit: seksan Mongkhonkhamsao via Getty Haemorrhoids lead to nearly four million visits to the doctor or emergency room per year in the US – and in the UK, haemorrhoids are estimated to affect around 10 per cent of the population per year.
Through anecdotal claims, they were already associated with bathroom phone use – but there are surprisingly few studies that provide evidence for this.
“I think we still have so much to learn about the health impacts of constant scrolling on our phones,” said Pasricha. “Our study pointed, for the first time, to a link between smartphone use on the toilet and haemorrhoids, but it’s only the first step in what I hope will be much more research into this area.”
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
Videos circulating online capture about 20 illegal miners who took to their heels following an unexpected dawn raid by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) task force on Saturday, November 15, at a popular galamsey hotspot called “Yellow Face” at Wassa Abrehyia in the Western Region, as part of its intensified efforts to combat illegal mining popularly known as galamsey.
According to reports, many of the illegal miners began fleeing the site upon sighting the anti-galamsey taskforce in the enclave to escape arrest.
In the video, the illegal miners were seen running in different directions up a hill while a voice believed to be that of one of the NAIMOS taskforce members gave orders of gunshots.
Following this, the task force destroyed the makeshift shelters and equipment believed to be used for illegal mining activities. They set ablaze the structures and found evidence of widespread use of hard drugs and dynamites at the location.
NAIMOS says similar targeted actions will continue in the coming days and weeks as part of its broader strategy to disrupt illegal mining networks and clamp down on the growing menace of illicit drug use found at these sites.
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) was established on June 26, this year under the President Mahama led administartion and under the leadership of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, in Accra. It was launched with support from the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, and the Minister for Defence, the late Dr. Omane Boamah.
As of November 2025, NAIMOS has conducted over 40 coordinated field operations nationwide, targeting illegal mining sites along major rivers (Pra, Ankobra, Offin) and in forest reserves. These operations have led to the seizure of hundreds of excavators and water-pumping machines, the arrest of dozens of illegal miners (both Ghanaian and foreign nationals), and the restoration of several degraded lands.
Meanwhile, in one of NAIMOS operations last week A notorious galamsey operator, Iddrisu Zakari, also known as Yaayaa, who carries out illegal mining activities in the Osino area, was been apprehended.
His arrest, which occurred on Monday, November 10, at around 6:06 pm, came after he met with NAIMOS operatives to discuss the release of his associates. Iddrisu Zakari is currently in the custody of the Ghana Police Service for further interrogation.
Illegal mining continues to pose a major challenge to the country, with several foreign nationals implicated and multiple arrests made. In June, NAIMOS warned criminal groups to vacate galamsey areas.
Weeks ago, the Commanding Officer of NAIMOS, Colonel Dominic Buah, signaled an imminent and aggressive crackdown on illegal miners.
“I would like to send this warning to illegal miners, their assignees, and financiers that they are the first or prime enemies of the state, and they will be dealt with as such. There will be no room for them to escape or to hide. NAIMOS will smoke them out very soon. There’s no resting place for them,” he said at a stakeholder engagement at the Jubilee House on October 3, 2025.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has emphasized that his government is not backing down in its fight against the longstanding menace of illegal mining (galamsey).
According to the President, the country will soon be cleared of the menace as the government plans to launch a programme in the coming days to reclaim degraded lands.
He added that youths in affected communities will be employed under the programme, each receiving a monthly stipend of GH₵1,500.
“We’re restoring degraded lands while creating thousands of jobs for young people in affected communities. I have asked the Minister of Finance to increase the budget allocation so that we can recruit more youth into forest tree planting and the Blue Water Guard to safeguard our water bodies.
“These youth are to be recruited from affected communities, and they will receive a monthly stipend of GHC1,500. I wish to commend journalists who persist in exposing environmental crime at great personal risk. Your bravery is noted, and it’s patriotic. I wish to assure you, as the President, that I will never give up the fight,” President Mahama said.
President Mahama made the remarks at the 2025 GJA/KGL National Awards held at the Manhyia Palace on Saturday, November 8. Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Accra on October 3, the President said: “There are new chemicals that have come that allow you to treat water and take out the toxins and the heavy metals. One of them is called dowtine. The people came, and we sent them there. They took samples, tested. We are waiting for them to bring the results back.”
President Mahama urged patience in the long-running battle against galamsey, noting that declaring a state of emergency alone will not end the menace.
He said government advisors believe the country can overcome galamsey by adopting best practices in small-scale mining and technologies that neutralize or remove harmful chemicals from water bodies. He also pledged to act on calls for a state of emergency if his advisors recommend it.
“While we are fighting the menace, I am also saying we should uptake technology in order to protect the environment. So yes, let’s fight the illegal mining but at the same time, let’s bring the new technology that will help us protect our environment. Now with the elephant in the room, state of emergency, yes, I have the power to do it, but the president acts on the advice of the National Security Authority, and as at now, this moment, the National Security Authority believes that we can win the fight against galamsey without declaring a state of emergency. I want to assure you that the day they advise me otherwise, that boss, now we need a state of emergency, I won’t hesitate,” he added.
Despite renewed efforts, the canker continues to wreak havoc. The newly established National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) task force narrowly escaped death in a mob assault at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region on Saturday, November 1, during an operation that resulted in several arrests, including a Burkinabe national. Locals were seen in a viral video confronting the NAIMOS team and demanding the release of those arrested. NAIMOS spokesperson Paa Kwesi Schandorf described the attack as “extremely and profoundly disappointing,” saying the officials “survived clearly by the mercy of God. If you look at how they were charged, the rest of the team could have lost their lives.”
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, on Saturday, November 15, visited victims of the El-Wak Sports Stadium stampede.
She was accompanied by the Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Gyemfi, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General William Agyapong. The Vice President visited the wards of the injured, interacted with them, and assured them of the government’s support toward their full recovery.
“We spent time with each patient, offering words of encouragement and assuring them of our support as they recover, she told the media.
Prof Jane Opoku-Agyemang went on to applaud the medical team at the 37 Military Hospital for their swift and timely intervention following the incident and the emergency staff for their professionalism and dedication.
She noted that their timely response was crucial in saving the lives of the victims, particularly those who were in critical condition.
“We are deeply grateful for the tireless work of the medical team. Their commitment at this very difficult moment has been truly commendable,” she said.
The Vice President further extended her thoughts and prayers to all injured persons and their families, reiterating that the nation stands with them as investigations into the tragic event continue.
Authorities are expected to provide an update on the ongoing inquiry in the coming days.
The Minority in Parliament, thus the members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have ordered the release of the report on the cause of the stampede that occurred during the recruitment screening by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on the morning of Wednesday, November 12, in Accra.
It all started when thousands of Ghanaian youth hoping to gain entry into the military thronged the stadium in the early hours of Wednesday. However, even before the screening exercise could begin, the unfortunate happened when a surge of applicants breached security protocols and rushed toward the gates.
The uncontrolled crowd movement caused people to fall and be trampled, resulting in fatalities and multiple injuries.
In a swift response, the government set up a Board of Inquiry to probe the El-Wak Stadium stampede. The Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, chaired by Hon. James Agalga, has announced it will conduct its own probe into the incident.
Speaker Alban Bagbin directed the committee to take a keen interest in the investigations, ensuring accountability and transparency.
In reaction to this, the leader of the Minority Caucus in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo Markin, in a two-page statement, has demanded that the committee present the findings within fourteen (14) days.
“We note that the Ghana Armed Forces has initiated a preliminary enquiry. However, we demand that this investigation be independent, thorough, and time-bound, with findings made public within fourteen (14) days. The families of the deceased and the nation deserve transparency, not bureaucratic opacity”, parts of the statement read.
Following the incident, several suggestions have been made to the government, including the modernisation of the process using technology and the screening exercise done in batches and spread across the days of the week.
Consequently, part of the four demands listed in the statement also charge the government to provide “a clear timeline for implementing corrective measures” as well as settle the affected families as far as compensation is concerned, calling for an immediate suspension of the exercise.
“All ongoing recruitment exercises should be halted immediately until adequate crowd management protocols, emergency response systems, and venue safety standards are verifiably in place. Compensation and support for the families of the deceased and those injured”, the statement noted..
They also called on the country’s national defence force to assure the public that there would not be a recurrence of such an incident again in the history of Ghana. The Minority said, “A commitment from the Ghana Armed Forces and relevant government agencies that such a tragedy will never recur.
Just hours after the El-Wak tragedy, reports confirmed a stampede at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium during the same Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise, leaving at least five applicants injured and hospitalised. The cause, according to reports, is similar to what happened in Accra: overcrowding and poor crowd control. One person was reported to be in a critical condition and receiving treatment at the Emena Hospital in Oforikrom Municipality, according to reports, while four others are at the Ashanti South Government Hospital for treatment.
In the latest development, the Member of Parliament representing the Ketu North Constituency has announced on X (formerly Twitter) that “Deputy Defence Minister Brogya Genfi has stated that all personnel responsible for the screening process during the military recruitment have been asked to step aside while official investigations into the stampede are conducted”.
Meanwhile, President Mahama paid a visit to applicants who had been hospitalised at the 37 Military Hospital from the stampede hours after the incident ahead of his trip to Kumasi for the launch of one of his flagship policies, “Nkoko Nketenkete” programme in Kumasi on Wednesday.
Delivering a speech at the launch, he confirmed that all the fatalities recorded linked to the stampede at El-Wak were females. The President described the incident as “a heartbreaking loss for the entire nation,” while extending his condolences to the bereaved families.
According to him, “The tragic news is that I have been informed by the military that six young women, who simply sought an opportunity to serve their nation, lost their lives in this heartbreaking incident. We are praying for the 12 others who remain in critical condition.”
He also took to his official X (formerly Twitter) to express his condolences to the families of the applicants who lost their lives in the stampede.
He said, “I visited the 37 military hospital this afternoon to check on our young men and women who were injured earlier this morning following a stampede at the Elwak Stadium recruitment centre, where thousands of potential military recruits had gathered for a selection exercise. Lordina and I wish all the injured a speedy recovery, and our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives as a result of the stampede.”
The government has announced new developments in the recruitment process into the country’s internal security agencies, that is, the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Prisons Service and the Ghana Customs. The recruitment, which is set to begin on Monday, November 17, will see prospective applicants automatically assigned to a screening centre.
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, during a media address on Friday, November 14, explained that a new system “will automatically allocate applicants to screening centres and time slots….If you apply from Tamale, for example, and there are three centres… the system will automatically assign you to one of them and indicate whether you are scheduled for the morning or afternoon session.”
According to him, the new recruitment system will be a centralised, fully digital e-recruitment portal. It is designed to harmonise hiring across all security agencies under the Ministry of the Interior, eliminate paper-based processes, and allow applicants to complete the entire recruitment process using their mobile phones, either via the short code given by their outfit or via the portal.
“The application process will be fully online, utilising a secure portal capable of handling large volumes of applications efficiently. The portal is user-friendly and accessible on smartphones, tablets, and computers,” he noted.
This comes to replace an old system where the recruitment process was manual and decentralised. Applicants had to physically choose or travel to screening centres themselves, often leading to overcrowding, long queues, and even dangerous stampedes. Assignments were not automated; instead, they were managed by human administrators, with candidates sometimes directed to centres based on availability or their own preference.
The new system has become necessary following an unfortunate stampede that occurred at the El-Wak Stadium on Wednesday, November 12, during a Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise in Accra, leading to six fatalities and about twenty-four (24) people injured.
To prevent a recurrence, Mr Muntaka revealed that about 5-10 screening centres will be made available to avoid overcrowding.
“Multiple centres will be available for screening applicants. In areas where we expect very large numbers (for example, Accra), we are considering using 10 to 15 centres a day to prevent overcrowding. Centres will be strategically located nationwide to ensure accessibility and convenience.
“The exercise will be region-based, and depending on the numbers in each region, there may be 3, 4, 5, 10 or more centres operating simultaneously. Several phone numbers will be provided on the portal for assistance, available 24/7 for all services, Police, Fire Service, Immigration, and Prisons Service”.
He went on to explain that the screening centres will attend to 1000 applicants a day, with split times: five hundred in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. He warned that those who fail to adhere to their assigned screening times risk automatic disqualification.
“Every screening centre will not screen more than one thousand applicants a day. Even the one thousand will be split, 500 in the morning and 500 in the afternoon. If you are scheduled for the afternoon session and decide to come in the morning, that becomes grounds for disqualification because you are refusing to follow instructions,” he said.
He assured applicants that the newly launched centralised e-recruitment portal for security services is simple, accessible, and convenient, even for those with limited digital skills.
The portal covers recruitment for agencies under the Ministry of Interior, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and Ghana Immigration Service, as well as the Narcotics Control Commission, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and the Gaming Commission of Ghana.
Meanwhile, applicants who suffered injuries from the El-Wak stampede remain hospitalised at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
President Mahama visited the victims on the day of the incident and shared on his official X handle (formerly Twitter) to express his condolences to the families of the applicants who lost their lives in the stampede.
“He said, “I visited the 37 military hospital this afternoon to check on our young men and women who were injured earlier this morning following a stampede at the Elwak Stadium recruitment centre, where thousands of potential military recruits had gathered for a selection exercise”.
Also, the Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, visited the victims on Saturday, November 15, accompanied by the Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Gyemfi, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General William Agyapong.
The Vice President spent time at the various wards, interacting with each of the injured and offering words of comfort. She assured them of the government’s full support as they undergo treatment and recovery. Professor Opoku-Agyemang commended the medical personnel at the 37 Military Hospital for their swift intervention following the incident and the emergency staff for their professionalism and dedication.
“We are deeply grateful for the tireless work of the medical team. Their commitment at this very difficult moment has been truly commendable,” she said.
Earlier, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, donated GH¢100,000 to support the medical treatment of victims injured in the El-Wak Sports Stadium stampede.
Mr Bagbin, who was with a delegation of Parliament, explained that the gesture is Parliament’s way of showing solidarity with the affected families and helping ease their financial burdens.
He said the gesture was to help alleviate the financial burden on the victims and demonstrate Parliament’s solidarity with affected families.
The Speaker also expressed grave concern about the recurring challenges associated with public sector recruitment exercises, emphasising the need for urgent reforms to make the process safer and more efficient.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is set for a retooling as Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson announces the procurement of four new helicopters for the National defense force.
The Minister during the 2026 Budget Statement presentation on Thursday November 13 on the floor of Parliament disclosed that, as a part of government’s broader national strategy to enhance defence readiness in response to evolving security challenges.
Significant investments are being made across all three Services, the Ghana Army, Navy, and Air Force,to upgrade logistics, equipment, and infrastructure.
Dr Cassiel noted that, next year, the government will begin the procurement engagements for the helicopters; however, all four are expected to be delivered in Ghana within the next four years if the process goes smoothly as planned and expected.
He said, “The Ghana Air Force will be retooled. Beginning 2026, the Government of Ghana will begin the procurement process for the acquisition of four modern helicopters… These aircraft are expected to be delivered in four years, if the procurement processes are completed in 2026.”
The type of helicopters the Minister said would be “one long-range and one medium-range aircraft.”
Dr Forson also paid tribute to the late Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, who died in a helicopter crash earlier this year, describing him as “a fallen hero and the brain behind the strategy to retool the Ghana Armed Forces.”
Addressing the state of the Ghana Army, Dr Forson revealed that the government had disbursed US$40 million out of a US$80 million supplier credit agreement signed with ELBIT Systems Land Ltd in 2020 for the procurement of 19 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs). However, he noted that no equipment had yet been delivered.
“Despite the disbursement of US$40 million to the supplier, the Ghana Army has not received a single APC,” he said, adding that the government has taken steps to renegotiate the agreement to prevent financial loss to the state.
Turning to the Ghana Navy, Dr Forson acknowledged ongoing challenges, including an ageing fleet and uncompleted operating bases.
He announced that the government will acquire two 72-metre Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), each equipped with helipads and combat systems, to strengthen maritime security operations.
“These vessels will enable the Navy to conduct long-endurance patrols, safeguard the Exclusive Economic Zone, prevent maritime crimes, and protect critical offshore infrastructure,” he said.
His announcement of four helicopter procurement comes a few days after the investigative Committee charged to probe the cause of the Adansi 6, helicopter crash which claimed the lives of eight gallant men including the Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator in charge of Human Security, Alhaji Muniru Limuna Mohammed; Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Samuel Sarpong; Deputy Director-General of NADMO, Samuel Aboagye.
Others included Squadron Leader Peter Analaa of the Ghana Air Force, Flying Officer Tsum Ampadu of the Ghana Air Force, and Sergeant Ernest Addo of the Ghana Air Force.
While the Board, chaired by the National Security Coordinator, with members drawn from the Ghana Air Force and the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), largely attributed the cause of the crash to a sudden and intense downdraft, which led to a rapid loss of altitude and lift, the Board also highlighted the inadequacy of necessary safety devices, such as warning systems, sensors and protective mechanisms, which played a role in the Z-9 helicopter crash, the investigative committee that probed the incident has disclosed.
According to one of the 11-member committee, Captain Forjoe, there is a need for Ghana to get a new fleet of helicopters as the old ones are without some safety requirements.
“The crash could have been prevented if it had had enhanced equipment. And it could have put the pilot in a better situational awareness mode. And it could have put them in a much better place to have made better decisions, which could have prevented this. What they went through, even the best anywhere would have struggled to get out of, with the limited instruments they had. If you have all these other enhancements, it really helps
“Despite all this, the aircraft was in good condition to fly and met all safety requirements. Investigation has strongly recommended that aircraft with these additional safety enhancements be acquired immediately for the air force. We have recommended that the Air Force acquire modern aircraft with terrain avoidance warning systems and modern navigation systems. The aircraft should also have cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders, which are the audio-visual capable types,” he added.
Also, ruling out potential human failures, Captain Forjoe noted that the captain of the helicopter, Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala, exhibited all the requisite skills to handle the aircraft. He said Peter Anala had hands-on experience dating back to 2015. According to him, Peter Anala had a green instrument rating, making him both qualified and experienced.
“To rule out any potential human causes, we also examined the qualifications, experience, and competence of the crew. The captain has a postgraduate certificate in safety and accident investigations from Hansfield University, UK, in 2024. The captain was a qualified FAA, thus the Federal Aviation Administration Commercial and instrument-rated pilot from Crystal Academy in the USA in April 2015, 10 years ago. Within the Airforce he was recategorised in March 2025 as a Cat C pilot. The pilot was qualified to be a Captain of the Z-9 helicopter, and he had a green instrument rating.”
Meanwhile, Ghana’s presidential jet has been in France’s Dassault Falcon Service in Le Bourget, France, for its mandatory 24‑month and 1,600‑flying‑hour inspection since March. Eight months on, the Falcon 900EX EASy with registration number 9G-EXE remains grounded, with new faults discovered each time it is scheduled to be dispatched back home.
Initially scheduled for dispatch in mid-year, the Deputy Minister for Defence Brogya Genfi, during a briefing on the floor of Parliament yesterday, November 6, on the reasons for the delay, noted that new technical faults were discovered while the original fault, that is, a corroded fuel tank, was being fixed.
According to Mr Genfi, “The reported corrosion spots detected within the aircraft’s fuel tanks, which affected the aircraft’s delivery date, have undergone extensive repairs. These corrosion issues in the fuel tanks have since been resolved.”
However, he explained that further inspections revealed new problems that caused additional delays.
“In the course of the inspection, fuel leakages were observed from the right-hand wing tank. Unfortunately, after successfully repairing the section of the wing that experienced the leakages, another challenge was encountered while reinstalling the lower panel beneath the wing,” he told Parliament.
The Deputy Minister said the situation required specialised intervention from the manufacturer.
“Following the difficulties encountered, Dassault Aviation invited the Falcon Wing original equipment manufacturer to the Dassault Falcon Services hangar to enable the OEM to conduct an on-site assessment of the right-hand wing lower panel and provide independent technical recommendations aimed at expediting the repair and reinstallation process,” he said.
Mr Genfi added that these repairs have now been completed.
“The repair from the OEM has been successfully carried out, and the right-hand wing repair has also been completed. Upon the completion of this rectification, the aircraft has to undergo a leak test of the fuel tanks, a third engine ground run, painting of the wing lower panel, and finally, an acceptance flight will be performed,” he explained.
President Mahama has ordered the newly inaugurated Hajj Board to start preparations for the next Hajj “immediately”. He made these remarks during the swearing-in ceremony, held at the Presidency on Friday, November 14, in Accra.
Hajj is a sacred journey to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia—the annual Islamic pilgrimage that stands as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Every Muslim who is physically and financially able is required to perform it at least once in their lifetime.
To ensure smooth coordination and avoid last-minute alterations and changes, which would likely cause disruptions, President Mahama urged the Board to start preparing for the pilgrimage.
“Begin preparations immediately for the next Hajj. Announce schedules, registration processes, and cost structures promptly so that pilgrims and agents can plan effectively. Last-minute changes must become a thing of the past”.
President Mahama also charged the new board to learn from past organisational and coordination experiences to implement new and effective changes in honesty, transparency and excellent service to all pilgrims. For effective delivery of their work, he highlighted five major areas of priority that the Board is expected to pay attention to.
“But each experience has taught us valuable lessons about the importance of early planning, inter-agency coordination, and financial discipline. Today, I want this new board to build on those lessons we have learned. Let this mark the beginning of a new chapter, one where efficiency, honesty, and service define every stage of the pilgrimage process.”
Over the years, there have been reports of pilgrims being charged levies outside the official payment channels to cover their travel and related expenses. These practices have been widely criticised, as the additional fees often lacked transparency, leaving pilgrims and their families uncertain about how their money was being used.
Consequently, the president has charged this new board to reflect effective leadership by being transparent.
“The second is transparency and accountability. Pilgrims and their families must know how their money is used. All payments must pass through approved and traceable channels. No unofficial levies. No hidden charges. Transparency builds trust, and trust is the currency of leadership”.
The priority area, as mentioned by the President, is the health of pilgrims, particularly of the aged and persons with disabilities.
Fifteen lives have been lost in the last two years following their travel to the Holy Land of Mecca.
In 2024, eight pilgrims lost their lives, and their deaths were linked to an extreme heat wave, with temperatures above 41°C. Saudi authorities even directed pilgrims to remain in tents during peak heat hours to reduce exposure. Although in 2025, the death toll went down by one, five females and two males lost their lives to similar conditions of heat exceeding 48°C, which posed serious risks, especially for the elderly.
To avoid a recurrence, he told the board, to liaise with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), to give priority to the health of pilgrims, particularly the elderly, “coordinate with the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Transport, and our embassy in Riyadh to ensure safe travel, decent accommodation, adequate meals, and strong medical support. Happily, we have a doctor, a heart surgeon, on the Hajj Board this time, so I expect health issues to be managed effectively. Pay special attention to elderly pilgrims, women, and persons with disabilities. Their comfort is a sacred duty of the Hajj Board”.
He continued, “The fourth is conduct and service. Every official, from board members to volunteers, must act with courtesy, discipline, fairness, and honesty. Our pilgrims should feel respected at every point, from registration to their safe return home. The fifth is partnership and communication.
Maintain open and constant engagement with the Office of the National Chief Imam, your regional imams, travel partners and agents, and especially the Saudi authorities.
Coordination prevents crises, and communication prevents rumours”.
He also tasked the Board with developing a Hajj Mobile Application to enable pilgrims to register, verify their status, track payments, and access travel information, noting that such innovation would reduce fraud and ease congestion.
In a related development, President Mahama in May this year announced that the continuous appreciation of the local currency could reduce the fees Ghanaian Muslims pay to travel to Mecca to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
President John Dramani Mahama announced this during his Thank You Tour in Kintampo in the Bono East Region on Thursday, May 29.
According to him, pilgrims are likely to pay as low as GHC 50,000 next year, down from GHS 62,000.
“At the time we started paying for the Hajj, the Cedi was at GHC15.5 to the dollar. So, the fare we came up with for the $4,000 cost to do the Hajj came to GHC 62,000,” he explained.
“Next year, if you do a calculation with where the Cedi is currently—GHC 10.5—it means the fare for Hajj may go below GHC 50,000.”
This year’s pilgrimage recorded a massive turnout due to the Mahama-led government’s decision to reduce the Hajj pilgrimage fee to 62,000 to 75,000 Ghana cedis under the previous administration.
Approximately 6,000 Ghanaian Muslims travelled to Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025. These numbers show an increase of 2,000 Ghanaian participants as compared to 4,000 last year.
The Hajj pilgrimage begins on the 8th day of Dhul Hijjah and lasts till the 13th of the month.
A total of 42 Hajj agents have been accredited and approved to facilitate the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.
This was officially announced by the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG).
A statement signed by the Director of Communications at PAOG, Alhaji Mohammed Amin Lamptey, dated 22 October 2025, indicated that the approved list had been vetted and approved by the Hajj Agents Association of Ghana (HAAG) in collaboration with PAOG.
The release further warned prospective pilgrims to strictly work with these officially recognised agents to discourage fraudulent activities and inconveniences.
“The public, particularly all intending pilgrims for Hajj 2026, are strongly advised to deal only with these approved and accredited agents to avoid any inconvenience or fraudulent activities.
“PAOG remains committed to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth, transparent, and successful Hajj operation for the year 2026,” the statement read.
The full list of the 42 approved agents has been attached to the release and is available through PAOG’s official communication channels.
In late October, a total of 42 Hajj agents were accredited and approved to facilitate the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage as the next Hajj is set to take place from Monday, 25 May 2026 to Saturday, 30 May 2026, corresponding to 8th–13th Dhul-Hijjah 1447 AH.
For effective planning and coordination, President John Dramani Mahama, on Friday, November 14, inaugurated the newly constituted Hajj Board, chaired by Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko at the Presidency.
Speaking during the inauguration and swearing-in ceremony, President Mahama charged the new board to learn from past organisational and coordination experiences to implement new and effective changes in honesty, transparency and excellent service to all pilgrims. For effective delivery of their work, he highlighted five major areas of priority that the Board is expected to pay attention to.
“But each experience has taught us valuable lessons about the importance of early planning, inter-agency coordination, and financial discipline. Today, I want this new board to build on those lessons we have learned. Let this mark the beginning of a new chapter, one where efficiency, honesty, and service define every stage of the pilgrimage process.”
The five key priorities include early and predictable planning, transparency and accountability, safety and welfare of pilgrims, discipline and courtesy among officials, and strong stakeholder communication.
On the early and predictable planning, President Mahama instructed the Board to desist from making eleventh-hour adjustments to avoid disruptions, adding the need for early communication of schedule plans, cost, among other necessities needed to ensure a smooth run of service for pilgrims.
He said, “Begin preparations immediately for the next Hajj. Announce schedules, registration processes, and cost structures promptly so that pilgrims and agents can plan effectively. Last-minute changes must become a thing of the past”.
Ghana has a history of Hajj pilgrims being asked to pay levies, extra charges, and fees outside the official payment channels to cover their travel and related expenses. These practices have been widely criticised, as the additional fees often lacked transparency, leaving pilgrims and their families uncertain about how their money was being used.
Consequently, the president has charged this new board to reflect effective leadership by being transparent.
“The second is transparency and accountability. Pilgrims and their families must know how their money is used. All payments must pass through approved and traceable channels. No unofficial levies. No hidden charges. Transparency builds trust, and trust is the currency of leadership”.
The priority area, as mentioned by the President, is the health of pilgrims, particularly of the aged and persons with disabilities.
Fifteen lives have been lost in the last two years following their travel to the Holy Land of Mecca.
In 2024, eight pilgrims lost their lives, and their deaths were linked to an extreme heat wave, with temperatures above 41°C. Saudi authorities even directed pilgrims to remain in tents during peak heat hours to reduce exposure. Although in 2025, the death toll went down by one, five females and two males lost their lives to similar conditions of heat exceeding 48°C, which posed serious risks, especially for the elderly.
To avoid a recurrence, he told the board, to liaise with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), to give priority to the health of pilgrims, particularly the elderly, “coordinate with the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Transport, and our embassy in Riyadh to ensure safe travel, decent accommodation, adequate meals, and strong medical support. Happily, we have a doctor, a heart surgeon, on the Hajj Board this time, so I expect health issues to be managed effectively. Pay special attention to elderly pilgrims, women, and persons with disabilities. Their comfort is a sacred duty of the Hajj Board”.
He continued, “The fourth is conduct and service. Every official, from board members to volunteers, must act with courtesy, discipline, fairness, and honesty. Our pilgrims should feel respected at every point, from registration to their safe return home. The fifth is partnership and communication.
Maintain open and constant engagement with the Office of the National Chief Imam, your regional imams, travel partners and agents, and especially the Saudi authorities.
Coordination prevents crises, and communication prevents rumours”.
He also tasked the Board with developing a Hajj Mobile Application to enable pilgrims to register, verify their status, track payments, and access travel information, noting that such innovation would reduce fraud and ease congestion.
In a related development, President Mahama in May this year announced that the continuous appreciation of the local currency could reduce the fees Ghanaian Muslims pay to travel to Mecca to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
President John Dramani Mahama announced this during his Thank You Tour in Kintampo in the Bono East Region on Thursday, May 29.
According to him, pilgrims are likely to pay as low as GHC 50,000 next year, down from GHS 62,000.
“At the time we started paying for the Hajj, the Cedi was at GHC15.5 to the dollar. So, the fare we came up with for the $4,000 cost to do the Hajj came to GHC 62,000,” he explained.
“Next year, if you do a calculation with where the Cedi is currently—GHC 10.5—it means the fare for Hajj may go below GHC 50,000.”
This year’s pilgrimage recorded a massive turnout due to the Mahama-led government’s decision to reduce the Hajj pilgrimage fee to 62,000 to 75,000 Ghana cedis under the previous administration.
Approximately 6,000 Ghanaian Muslims travelled to Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025. These numbers show an increase of 2,000 Ghanaian participants as compared to 4,000 last year.
It was reported that,this year’s Hajj was expected to take place between 4th June and 9th June. The exact date of Eid al-Adha will be determined once the moon is spotted.
Meanwhile, the government declared Friday, June 6, a statutory public holiday for the Eid al-Adha celebration.
A statement from the Interior Ministry noted, “The general public is hereby informed that Friday, 6th June 2005, marks Eid-Ul-Adha, which is a Statutory Public Holiday and should be observed as such throughout the country.”
Families of the prospective applicants who lost their lives in the El-Wak stampede, which occurred on Wednesday, November 12, in Accra, have been allowed to present names of relatives who qualify to be absorbed into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), officials announced.
It all started when thousands of Ghanaian youth, hoping to gain entry into the military, thronged the stadium in the early hours of Wednesday. However, even before the screening exercise could begin, the unfortunate happened when a surge of applicants breached security protocols and rushed toward the gates.
The uncontrolled crowd movement caused people to fall and be trampled, resulting in fatalities and multiple injuries. claimed the lives of six (6), all females and over twenty-eight (28) were left injured, with some confirmed to be in a critical condition.
During a visit to one of the bereaved families at Eyan Maim in the Central Region, the Deputy Defence Minister, Ernest Brogya Genfi, revealed that President John Dramani Mahama has instructed that each affected family be given an automatic slot.
“Due to what happened, the recruitment in Accra has been suspended by the President, so that we will ensure that measures are put in place to avoid a repeat of such incidents.”
“The President has sent us to inform you that the State will stand with the families in the burial and funeral arrangements for the families. The President has also asked us to inform you that all those who wanted to wear the military uniform but died in the process, their families should present a replacement for those people to be absorbed into the military. So, the authorities representing the government in the region will engage you in that regard for the family to decide on who can be enrolled into the military.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, described the incident as deeply heartbreaking and affirmed that the state will ensure all six victims receive befitting burials in honour of their service.
“The government wants you to know that you’re not in this alone; the whole nation is affected. Your children also belong to the State. The President wants you to know that he’s standing with you in this period of mourning. You’re not alone. His Excellency John Mahama stands with you through this painful period.”
The arrangements in place for the deceased and the injured ones, the President says, he’s standing with all of them. Those who require a befitting burial, he will stand with the support of the family to give them a befitting burial. And those who are also recovering at 37 Military Hospital, the government is bearing all the cost until such time that they fully recover.”
The GAF preliminary inquiry indicates that the stampede was triggered when applicants breached security protocols and rushed through gates ahead of schedule.
The government’s gesture seeks to honour the memories of those who died in pursuit of serving their country and to reassure families of its commitment to their welfare.
During a visit to the victims of the stampede at the 37 Military Hospital on Thursday, November 13, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, donated GH¢100,000 to support the medical treatment of victims injured in the El-Wak Sports Stadium stampede.
Mr Bagbin, who was with a delegation of Parliament, explained that the gesture is Parliment’s way of showing solidarity with the affected families and help ease their financial burdens.
He said the gesture was to help alleviate the financial burden on the victims and demonstrate Parliament’s solidarity with affected families.
The Speaker also expressed grave concern about the recurring challenges associated with public sector recruitment exercises, emphasising the need for urgent reforms to make the process safer and more efficient.
President John Dramani Mahama described the incident as “a heartbreaking loss for the entire nation,” while extending his condolences to the bereaved families.
According to him, “The tragic news is that I have been informed by the military that six young women, who simply sought an opportunity to serve their nation, lost their lives in this heartbreaking incident. We are praying for the 12 others who remain in critical condition.”
Ghana Black Stars have booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be hosted in the US, Mexico and Canada.
Consequently, the government has announced a (GHS 150million) hundred and fifty million(($13m) to fund the team’s preparations for the World’s biggest football tournament.
During the presentation of the 2026 Budget Statement by the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, on the floor of Parliament yesterday, he explained that,
“The government’s sustained investment in sports yielded impressive results, with the Black Stars qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. An amount of GH¢150 million has been allocated for the Black Stars to participate in the World Cup,” he stated.
Dr Forson explained that the funding underscores the government’s wider strategy to support national teams competing on the global stage and to strengthen sports development nationwide.
He added that the government remains committed to improving sports infrastructure and nurturing talent across the country, noting that plans are underway to build new stadiums in selected regions.
The Minister went on to commend the Black Stars for their hard work, which has led Ghana to secure its fifth qualification, cementing their place among Africa’s most consistent footballing nations.
“Mr Speaker. We also take this opportunity to acknowledge the resilience and commitment of our Black Stars, whose qualification for the World Cup continues to inspire the nation”, Dr Forson noted.
According to him, government commitment to the Sports sector has yielded what he describes as “impressive results”.
He said, “the Black Stars qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Black Queens won bronze at the Women’s AFCON. Ghana’s U-15 Girls won the CAF African Schools Championship, and the U-15 Boys placed third.
The Golden Palms defended their African Youth Baseball Championship, and the GRA Ladies Hockey Team retained their continental title. Athletes Anita Afrifa and Rose Yeboah set new national records, while para-athletes Zinabu Issah and Gilbert Ampiah won medals in Morocco. Abdul-Rasheed Saminu ranked among the world’s fastest 100m runners. 579.
Mr Speaker, Team Ghana won 55 medals at the African Arm-wrestling Championships and excelled across athletics, badminton, boxing, tennis, and wrestling. Ghana also hosted the 2025 CAA Region II Senior Championships, securing 23 medals”.
He also announced that the government has targeted more investments into the Sports sector, which includes the building of ultra-modern stadia in regions that do not have any, particularly the new regions which were created under the Akufo-Addo-led administration.
“In 2026, the Government will invest in athlete welfare, sports infrastructure, and talent development in preparation for the FIFA World Cup, Commonwealth Games, and other tournaments. The Anti-Doping Regulations will be finalised to enforce clean sports. 581.
Construction of modern stadia will begin in three of the eight regions without such facilities. The Ministry will also develop Bills for the National Sports College and Sports University, and organise inter-school, district, and regional sports competitions nationwide”, he added.
Over the years, past governments have mostly offered some form of financial support, be it full or partial, for supporters who travel to attend the World Cup. However, it has become a challenge over the years due to financial constraints.
With the current state of the country’s sports sector, Ghana’s Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, has revealed that, while it has been a long-standing act, he “doesn’t recommend” it.
Speaking during an interview with Peace FM, Mr Adams revealed that, while no allocation will be made for flying fans to the tournament, the government will offer other support, but not financial, citing that anyone who intends to go to the World Cup will have to find their own resources.
He said the country’s economic challenges as the main reason for the government’s decision not to finance fan travel.
“Well, there is no game or tournament we don’t go with supporters, but whether I will take them or someone else will take them is a different ball game,” he said.
Mr Adams says there is a need for the government to prioritise investment in the country’s sports infrastructure instead of spending it on fan sponsorship.
“We are in a period of austerity. We need money to build sports infrastructure in Ghana. If we are going to spend money to transport supporters all the way to America, that same amount can build five multipurpose parks in some communities,” he stated.
While confirming that government funding is off the table, Mr Adams encouraged individuals and corporate organisations to step in.
“I believe there are a lot of Ghanaians in those areas. Anyone who wants to go should find their own resources; we can facilitate their travel documents. Or we can mobilise support from corporate bodies — both private and public, to assist the fans.
“Government can collaborate with corporations to support, which would be a good idea, but putting government money into the budget to take supporters, I don’t think so,” he added.
The Black Stars are expected to learn their group-stage opponents when the World Cup draw takes place on December 5.
Ghana suffered a 0-2 defeat to Japan in their preparatory match against Japan earlier today, Friday, November 14, at the Toyota Stadium, Aichi.
Japan notched their first goal just fifteen minutes into the game courtesy of Takumi Minamino. Japan dominated at a point after the possession was shared by both teams for a long period, giving Ghana a hard time breaking into their defence.
After the first half, the Black Stars conceded another goal in the 59th minute, when Ritsu Doan gave a fine strike, curling the ball into the bottom corner to seal the win. Ghana nearly responded, but Brandon Thomas-Asante dragged his effort wide.
This came after Ghana suffered a setback when Abu Francis picked up a serious injury and was stretchered off, prompting Alidu Seidu’s introduction. Prince Kwabena Adu also replaced Semenyo.
Ghana’s defeat has been partly attributed to Coach Otto Addo fielding debutants like Derrick Kohn and Joseph Annan.
Addo made further substitutions, bringing on Gideon Mensah for Jerome Opoku and Christopher Baah Bonsu for Thomas-Asante, but Japan maintained control to secure the victory.
The Black Stars now turn their focus to their final friendly of the international window, a meeting with South Korea on Tuesday, November 18, as they continue preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Both Japan and South Korea have already booked their places at the 2026 World Cup and are expected to field full-strength lineups, providing Ghana with a crucial test ahead of next year’s continental and global competitions.
The Asian tour forms part of the Ghana Football Association’s broader plan to give coach Otto Addo the platform to evaluate his squad and fine-tune tactics before the global showpiece.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama hopes the Black Stars will aim higher beyond their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has urged the team to emulate Morocco and, in broader terms, envision doing more.
President Mahama cited Morocco as a model because they made history at the 2022 FIFA World Cup by becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals.
Ghana sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Comoros courtesy of a decisive goal from Mohammed Kudus in their final Group I qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, marking the country’s fifth appearance at football’s biggest tournament.
Referring to an unforgettable situation in the history of Ghana football, where Asamoah’s penalty miss cost Ghana’s place in the semi-finals, he urged the team,
“We must follow in the footsteps of Morocco by going beyond the semi-finals and, who knows, with fingers crossed, bring the World Cup trophy home to make Ghana and Africa proud”.
He further went on to call on Ghanaians to support the team without any bias.
“We must all rally behind the Black Stars. We must support them to the hilt. Let’s not bring in any partisan or ethnic considerations. Let’s give them our full support,” he added.
Following a group-stage exit at their previous World Cup in Qatar, Ghana now hope to make a lasting impact in the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated Ghana for securing its ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a congratulatory message shared via video on the football governing body’s Instagram, Infantino praised the four-time African champions for their achievement and expressed excitement about their return to the world stage.
“Congratulations to the Black Stars on reaching the FIFA World Cup for the fifth time in history. Your fans will bring colours, style and passion to the greatest FIFA World Cup ever in 20226 in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
“We expect that your team will establish more global stars to follow in the footsteps of the famous team that made the quarterfinals of the tournament in South Africa in 2010, but for now, enjoy this special moment, and we cannot wait to see who the Black Stars will face when we have the final tournament draw on the 5th of December.
“See you very soon and well. Congratulations!”
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has reacted to questions surrounding his future with the team.
His second coming as a Black Stars head coach was met with mixed reactions. While some supported him as the most familiar to handle the team, others questioned his maturity, his tactical prowess, especially after the Black Stars’ group-stage exit at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 2022 under his leadership.
However, his recent record as the first coach in Ghana’s football history to oversee the team’s qualification to the world’s biggest football tournament, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, twice, has sparked some confidence from fans about his competency, as well as questions surrounding his long-term future due to his inconsistencies in performances.
Ahead of Ghana’s final game for the 2026 World Cup clash with Comoros, in an interview with the Ghana FA website, the former Dortmund talent coach intimated that his focus is to make Ghanaians happy and not to worry about keeping his job, a situation he has no control over.
“What happens after is not in my hands. I hope that a lot of people, if we win, can go to America. We have to win this game. This is what we are looking at. If Ghanaians are happy, then we are happy,” he said.
Addressing calls for his dismissal, including ones from the former Majority speaker of Parliament and the former Suame Member of Parliament (MP), Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, noted that the dismissal of Otto Addo is not a solo decision he can make but several factors will need to be considered before decision about the coach’s future is made.
“If you listen to Otto Addo on the team, he said he will try a lot of legs to know who will go or not, but I believe the management and everybody who is involved in hiring the coach will consider a lot of factors,” “I pay him, but it is not my decision alone. The GFA has a role to play, and it is not about this or not and going forward, we will have all these conversations,” Mr Adams said during an interview on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show.
President Donald Trump gave the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) three days to retract, apologise and compensate him for reputational damages or face a billion-dollar lawsuit.
This comes after the British broadcaster apologised to the President for airing a Panorama documentary in October 2024 that included an edited version of Donald Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech. The edit showed Trump appeared to say he would walk with supporters to the Capitol and “fight like hell,” which critics argued implied he was inciting violence.
Today, Friday, November 14, the British broadcaster has apologised but has, however, declined to compensate the president.
In a statement to President Trump, the broadcaster stated that “While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree that there is a basis for a defamation claim.”
The broadcaster emphasised that while they were sorry for the error, they rejected Trump’s demand for compensation, stating his defamation claim “lacks merit.”
“We accept that our edit unintentionally created the impression that we were showing a single continuous section of the speech, rather than excerpts from different points in the speech, and that this gave the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action,” the statement said.
Lawyers for the BBC have written to President Trump’s legal team in response to a letter received on Sunday, a BBC spokesperson said.
“BBC chair Samir Shah has separately sent a personal letter to the White House making clear to President Trump that he and the corporation are sorry for the edit of the president’s speech on 6 January 2021, which featured in the programme,” they said.
They added: “While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree that there is a basis for a defamation claim.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, during an appearance on BBC Breakfast, expressed that she was confident the corporation was “gripping this with the seriousness that it demands”, adding her role was to ensure “the highest standards are upheld”.
But she also told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the BBC’s editorial standards and guidelines were “in some cases not robust enough and in other cases not consistently applied”, adding that there would need to be people “at a very senior level with a journalistic background”.
Political appointments to the corporation’s board would be examined in the BBC’s charter review, she said in response to a question asking if member Sir Robbie Gibb, a former political adviser to Theresa May, had overstepped his remit and weighed into politics.
While this was a matter for the board and its chairman, she said, those appointments “damaged confidence and trust in the BBC’s impartiality”.
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey had urged the prime minister on Thursday to “get on the phone to Trump” to put a stop to his lawsuit threat and “defend the impartiality and independence of the BBC”.
Director-General Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness stepped down on Sunday following the escalating backlash.
Trump, on the other hand, happily welcomed the BBC leader’s resignation, labelling them as “corrupt” and “dishonest”. His press secretary also referred to the broadcaster as “100 per cent fake news.”
This is not the first time Trump has filed a lawsuit against media houses. In 2024, he sued ABC, CBS, and in September, he sued The New York Times, according to APP.
In 2024, he sued ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos for defamation. The anchor alleged that the President had been found liable for rape, a claim the President blatantly denied, labelling them as lies and highly defamatory. By December 2024, they settled the caseafter which ABC agreed to pay $15 million to a Trump-related foundation, cover $1 million in legal fees, and formally apologise.
Before the lawsuit against ABC News, Trump, in November that same year, sued CBS News over a 60 Minutes interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris. He claimed the network deceptively edited the interview in a way that misrepresented Harris’s remarks. The case concluded in July 2025 when CBS’s parent company, Paramount, settled for $16 million. As part of the settlement, CBS agreed to release full transcripts of presidential candidate interviews in the future to ensure transparency.
Most recently, on September 16, 2025, Trump filed a massive $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times. He accused the paper of publishing malicious and fabricated claims in articles and a book released before the 2024 election. While a federal judge struck parts of the complaint in September 2025, Trump refiled an amended version in October 2025. The case remains ongoing.
However, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman emphasised the BBC’s importance in combating disinformation:
“It’s important that the BBC acts swiftly to maintain trust and correct mistakes quickly when they occur.”
The government is preparing a review of the BBC’s charter, which governs the corporation’s governance and funding, set to expire in 2027.
The BBC, facing budget cuts and hundreds of job losses, is funded by a licence fee paid by anyone who watches live TV in Britain.
The BBC’s latest crisis intensified after the right-wing Daily Telegraph reported that warnings from a former external standards adviser about serious failings of impartiality and systemic bias had been ignored.
Earlier this year, the BBC also apologised for “serious flaws” in a documentary about the Gaza war, deemed “materially misleading” by the UK media watchdog.
Additionally, the broadcaster faced criticism for failing to remove a livestream of punk-rap duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury, after anti-Israel comments were made by the frontman.
President John Dramani Mahama announced a GHS 200 million disbursement to Bufferstock to tackle the grain glut going on across the country.
Speaking at the launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Poultry Initiative in Kumasi, President Mahama said the government had already released GH₵100 million to address the situation, but the funds were not enough to clear the surplus.
Reacting to the disbursement order, in the morning of Thursday, November 13, the National Food Buffer Stock Company, during a press conference, revealed that they requested at least GH¢770 million to effectively address the issue of the food glut.
Chief Executive Officer, George Abradu-Otoo, noted that the GHC 200 million was “a drop in the ocean.”
According to him, the current food glut Ghana is facing is evidence of the long-term funding gaps his outfit has faced over the years, noting that the Buffer Stock Company has never received dedicated funds to mop up excess produce from farmers.
While he described the money as a drop in the ocean, he commended the government for the move, saying, “Initially, we were given GHȼ100 [million]. The minister wrote to me recently that they have added another GHȼ100 [million]. I hear in the next budget that will be read on Thursday, there’s some GH¢200 [million] that will come. It’s like a drop in the ocean, but I am happy because this is the first time this is happening.
He continued that, even though they requested about GHC 770 million, the fund earmarked for his outfit is a step in the right direction; an expression of hope and comfort that more funds will be released for their work, stating that, “For so many years, nobody ever gave Buffer Stock money, or no government gave Buffer Stock money to go out to the field and mop up the excess [produce]. This is the beginning. The amount of money I requested is far higher than what they have given us now, but I am steadfast in the comfort that it is a modest beginning.
He added, however, that the Buffer Stock Company is currently deploying its contracted agents to farm gates to purchase excess produce for storage in its warehouses.
“We are in the field now, and very soon the noise will go down. Initially, we requested GH¢770 million minimally, but so far they have given us GHȼ100 million,” George Abradu-Otoo said.
There have been reports of gluts in key food crops, with farmers struggling to find ready markets for their produce.
Farmers have protested, and others have described this year as their worst year in decades, following a massive maize and rice glut plaguing the country. During a peaceful protest held by some farmers in Tamale, they held placards with inscriptions which read “Eat Ghana Rice” and “Boycott Farmers’ Day Until Farmers Are Heard”, accusing the government of failing to honour its pledge to buy local grains through the Buffer Stock Company.
Another remark President Mahama made was an expression of his concerns about the worries of farmers.
“Our farmers are worried. There’s a glut on the market, so I asked the Finance Minister to provide GH₵100 to the National Buffer Stock Company to buy up the surplus maize so that when there’s a shortage later in the year, it can be released. They have finished purchasing with the first GH₵100 million, but there’s still a lot of maize on the market and prices remain low.”
He explained that with prices continuing to fall and farmers unable to make profits, the government had decided to take further action.
“I’ve directed the Finance Minister to release an additional GH₵200 million to buy the remaining glut and store it for future use. President Mahama added that the same approach would be applied to other crops, including rice. It is the same situation with rice. I’ve instructed the Buffer Stock Company to purchase the excess and keep it as well,” he stated.
This move forms part of the government’s wider plan to curb food wastage, strengthen national food security, and preserve surplus produce for future use.
The President also mentioned measures to support poultry farmers. “I have also instructed Buffer Stock to purchase rice from our local farmers to prevent losses. For eggs, I have asked the managers of the school feeding programme to include eggs in student meals,” he added.
He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting farmers, stabilising agricultural markets, and protecting the nation’s food supply chain, stressing that “no Ghanaian farmer should suffer losses simply because they produced in abundance.”
What is Bufferstock?
Buffer Stock in Ghana refers to the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), a government initiative that purchases surplus food from farmers, stores it, and redistributes it to stabilise prices and prevent food waste.
The National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) was established in 2010,
Farmers have protested, and others have described this year as their worst year in decades, following a massive maize and rice glut plaguing the country. During a peaceful protest held by some farmers in Tamale, they held placards with inscriptions which read “Eat Ghana Rice” and “Boycott Farmers’ Day Until Farmers Are Heard”, accusing the government of failing to honour its pledge to buy local grains through the Buffer Stock Company.
Consequently, Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, during an interview on Citi Breakfast Show, confirmed that the government earlier released GH₵100 million on November 10.
In addition to the GHC 100 million, President Mahama, during a speech in Kumasi on Wednesday, November 12, at the launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Poultry Initiative, announced that he has ordered the Finance Minister, Ato Forson, to disburse another GHC 200 million, citing that the first disbursement couldn’t clear the surplus.
He acknowledged the troubles of the farmers, citing that the yet-to-be disbursed funds will be used to purchase the surplus grains and be stored for future use.
Speaking at the launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Poultry Initiative in Kumasi, President Mahama said the government had already released GH₵100 million to address the situation, but the funds were not enough to clear the surplus.
“Our farmers are worried. There’s a glut on the market, so I asked the Finance Minister to provide GH₵100 to the National Buffer Stock Company to buy up the surplus maize so that when there’s a shortage later in the year, it can be released. They have finished purchasing with the first GH₵100 million, but there’s still a lot of maize on the market and prices remain low.”
He explained that with prices continuing to fall and farmers unable to make profits, the government had decided to take further action.
“I’ve directed the Finance Minister to release an additional GH₵200 million to buy the remaining glut and store it for future use. President Mahama added that the same approach would be applied to other crops, including rice. It is the same situation with rice. I’ve instructed the Buffer Stock Company to purchase the excess and keep it as well,” he stated.
This move forms part of the government’s wider plan to curb food wastage, strengthen national food security, and preserve surplus produce for future use.
The President also mentioned measures to support poultry farmers. “I have also instructed Buffer Stock to purchase rice from our local farmers to prevent losses. For eggs, I have asked the managers of the school feeding programme to include eggs in student meals,” he added.
He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting farmers, stabilising agricultural markets, and protecting the nation’s food supply chain, stressing that “no Ghanaian farmer should suffer losses simply because they produced in abundance.”
In the morning of Thursday, November 13, the National Food Buffer Stock Company, during a press conference, revealed that they requested at least GH¢770 million to effectively address the issue of the food glut.
Chief Executive Officer, George Abradu-Otoo, noted that the GHC 200 million was “a drop in the ocean.”
According to him, the current food glut Ghana is facing is evidence of the long-term funding gaps his outfit has faced over the years, noting that the Buffer Stock Company has never received dedicated funds to mop up excess produce from farmers.
While he described the money as a drop in the ocean, he commended the government for the move, saying, “Initially, we were given GHȼ100 [million]. The minister wrote to me recently that they have added another GHȼ100 [million]. I hear in the next budget that will be read on Thursday, there’s some GH¢200 [million] that will come. It’s like a drop in the ocean, but I am happy because this is the first time this is happening.
“For so many years, nobody ever gave Buffer Stock money, or no government gave Buffer Stock money to go out to the field and mop up the excess [produce]. This is the beginning. The amount of money I requested is far higher than what they have given us now, but I am steadfast in the comfort that it is a modest beginning.
He added, however, that the Buffer Stock Company is currently deploying its contracted agents to farm gates to purchase excess produce for storage in its warehouses.
“We are in the field now, and very soon the noise will go down. Initially, we requested GH¢770 million minimally, but so far they have given us GHȼ100 million,” George Abradu-Otoo said.
There have been reports of gluts in key food crops, with farmers struggling to find ready markets for their produce.
The government in September announced a thirty percent (30%) increase in farmgate prices for three staple crops in Ghana.
In a statement shared by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), it announced a minimum guaranteed farmgate price set for gari, rice and maize.
Farmgate refers to the point where agricultural products are sold directly by the farmer, typically at the farm itself, before any additional costs like transportation, packaging, or retail markups are added. This forms part of the government’s efforts to give farmers the option to sell directly to the National Food Buffer Stock Company at fixed rates.
Farmers now have a minimum price assurance, protecting them from exploitative middlemen and volatile market swings and protecting them against post-harvest losses. With NAFCO ready to buy at guaranteed rates, farmers are less likely to leave produce unsold or rotting and stabilise the agricultural value chain.
“Any farmer experiencing difficulties with buyers who attempt to purchase below the guaranteed prices should sell their stock directly to NAFCO, where they will be assured of the approved price. The guaranteed prices are intended to tackle the problem of unsold surplus grains, provide fair earnings for farmers, and stabilise the agricultural value chain,” parts of the statement said.
Consequently, “farmers are strongly encouraged not to sell their produce below these announced prices.”
The prices were approved by the Producer Price Determination Committee during its first meeting, which took place from September 11 to 12 after its inauguration earlier this month.
Under the new structure, a 100-kilogramme bag of maize will be purchased at GH¢450, a 50kg bag of rice at GH¢625, and a 34kg bag of gari at GH¢340.
This translates into GH¢4.50 per kilogramme for maize, GH¢12.50 per kilogramme for rice, and GH¢10 per kilogramme for gari.
Before the government announced the new prices, farmers were primarily selling their staple crops at significantly lower and fluctuating rates. For example, the price of maize before the increase ranged from GH¢2.80 to GH¢3.50 per kilogram.
These prices were not fixed and could change, especially during glut periods when there was an oversupply in the market, which impacted pricing. During such times, prices often dropped sharply, forcing many farmers to sell below their production costs to prevent their crops from spoiling, often due to inadequate storage facilities.
The Minority in Parliament, thus the members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have ordered the release of the report on the cause of the stampede that occurred during the recruitment screening by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on the morning of Wednesday, November 12, in Accra.
It all started when thousands of Ghanaian youth hoping to gain entry into the military thronged the stadium in the early hours of Wednesday. However, even before the screening exercise could begin, the unfortunate happened when a surge of applicants breached security protocols and rushed toward the gates.
The uncontrolled crowd movement caused people to fall and be trampled, resulting in fatalities and multiple injuries.
In a swift response, the government set up a Board of Inquiry to probe the El-Wak Stadium stampede. The Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, chaired by Hon. James Agalga, has announced it will conduct its own probe into the incident.
Speaker Alban Bagbin directed the committee to take a keen interest in the investigations, ensuring accountability and transparency.
In reaction to this, the leader of the Minority Caucus in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo Markin, in a two-page statement, has demanded that the committee present the findings within fourteen (14) days.
“We note that the Ghana Armed Forces has initiated a preliminary enquiry. However, we demand that this investigation be independent, thorough, and time-bound, with findings made public within fourteen (14) days. The families of the deceased and the nation deserve transparency, not bureaucratic opacity”, parts of the statement read.
Following the incident, several suggestions have been made to the government, including the modernisation of the process using technology and the screening exercise done in batches and spread across the days of the week.
— Osahen Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin (@AfenyoMarkin) November 12, 2025
Consequently, part of the four demands listed in the statement also charge the government to provide “a clear timeline for implementing corrective measures” as well as settle the affected families as far as compensation is concerned, calling for an immediate suspension of the exercise.
“All ongoing recruitment exercises should be halted immediately until adequate crowd management protocols, emergency response systems, and venue safety standards are verifiably in place. Compensation and support for the families of the deceased and those injured”, the statement noted..
They also called on the country’s national defence force to assure the public that there would not be a recurrence of such an incident again in the history of Ghana. The Minority said, “A commitment from the Ghana Armed Forces and relevant government agencies that such a tragedy will never recur.
The Minority went on to condemn the incident, slamming GAF for what they described as “a catastrophic failure of crowd control and safety planning”, which needs to be addressed without delay.
“In all the years of military and security service recruitment in this country, we have never witnessed such a catastrophic failure of crowd control and safety planning. This tragedy demands urgent answers, unflinching accountability and immediate systemic reforms”, the statement continued.
The Afenyo-Markin-led caucus also expressed its sympathies with the bereaved and affected families, stating that,
“ Our deepest condolences go to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones in these heartbreaking circumstances. We also extend our solidarity and prayers to all those injured. The pursuit of national service must never be marred by preventable tragedy or compromised by inadequate safety measures. The pursuit of national service must never be marred by preventable tragedy or compromised by inadequate safety measures.
While this tragedy is the deadliest in recent memory, Ghana has experienced similar stampedes during recruitment exercises before, though earlier incidents caused injuries rather than deaths.
Just hours after the El-Wak tragedy, reports confirmed a stampede at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium during the same Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise, leaving at least five applicants injured and hospitalised. The cause, according to reports, is similar to what happened in Accra: overcrowding and poor crowd control. One person was reported to be in a critical condition and receiving treatment at the Emena Hospital in Oforikrom Municipality, according to reports, while four others are at the Ashanti South Government Hospital for treatment.
In the latest development, the Member of Parliament representing the Ketu North Constituency has announced on X (formerly Twitter) that “Deputy Defence Minister Brogya Genfi has stated that all personnel responsible for the screening process during the military recruitment have been asked to step aside while official investigations into the stampede are conducted”.
Meanwhile, President Mahama paid a visit to applicants who had been hospitalised at the 37 Military Hospital from the stampede hours after the incident ahead of his trip to Kumasi for the launch of one of his flagship policies, “Nkoko Nketenkete” programme in Kumasi on Wednesday.
Delivering a speech at the launch, he confirmed that all the fatalities recorded linked to the stampede at El-Wak were females. The President described the incident as “a heartbreaking loss for the entire nation,” while extending his condolences to the bereaved families.
According to him, “The tragic news is that I have been informed by the military that six young women, who simply sought an opportunity to serve their nation, lost their lives in this heartbreaking incident. We are praying for the 12 others who remain in critical condition.”
He also took to his official X (formerly Twitter) to express his condolences to the families of the applicants who lost their lives in the stampede.
He said, “I visited the 37 military hospital this afternoon to check on our young men and women who were injured earlier this morning following a stampede at the Elwak Stadium recruitment centre, where thousands of potential military recruits had gathered for a selection exercise. Lordina and I wish all the injured a speedy recovery, and our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives as a result of the stampede.”
The Ghana Armed Forces announced an extension of the date for its originally scheduled one-month recruitment exercise. The national defence force’s recruitment exercise, which was expected to end on October 31, has now been extended to November 7. GAF announced the new date in an official statement shared on November 1st via their official X (formerly Twitter). The statement titled “Extension of recruitment deadline” and signed by the Acting Director General, Public Relations, Evelyn Ntiamoah Asamoah, reads,
“The Ghana Armed Forces has extended the deadline for the ongoing recruitment exercise by one week due to some technical challenges encountered on the recruitment portal during the initial period. The new deadline is 7 November 2025.”
Just before Ghana could finish mulling over the failures that led to the helicopter crash on August 6, claiming the lives of eight gallant men, the nation has been hit with another tragedy.
A stampede occurred during screening for enlistment into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Wednesday, November 12, at the El-Wakstadium claiming the lives of six (6) and over twenty-eight (28) were left injured, with some confirmed to be in a critical condition.
During a visit to the victims of the stampede at the 37 Military Hospital on Thursday, November 13, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, donated GH¢100,000 to support the medical treatment of victims injured in the El-Wak Sports Stadium stampede.
Mr Bagbin, who was with a delegation of Parliament, explained that the gesture is Parliment’s way of showing solidarity with the affected families and help ease their financial burdens.
He said the gesture was to help alleviate the financial burden on the victims and demonstrate Parliament’s solidarity with affected families.
The Speaker also expressed grave concern about the recurring challenges associated with public sector recruitment exercises, emphasising the need for urgent reforms to make the process safer and more efficient.
However, the Ghana Armed Forces has since suspended the recruitment exercise at El-Wak pending investigations into the circumstances that led to the stampede.
All six potential recruits who tragically lost their lives in the stampede at El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra during the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise on Wednesday, November 12, were female.
President John Dramani Mahama made the revelation at the launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Poultry Initiative in Kumasi. The President described the incident as “a heartbreaking loss for the entire nation,” while extending his condolences to the bereaved families.
According to him, “The tragic news is that I have been informed by the military that six young women, who simply sought an opportunity to serve their nation, lost their lives in this heartbreaking incident. We are praying for the 12 others who remain in critical condition.”
Reports indicate that the incident occurred as thousands of young Ghanaians thronged the stadium, forcing their way through entry points in an attempt to secure enlistment into the Service. The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the 37 Military Hospital morgue, while several others are receiving emergency treatment.
The Ashanti Region has also reported that at least five potential recruits reportedly collapsed during the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Wednesday, November 11. One person is in critical condition and receiving treatment at the Emena Hospital in Oforikrom Municipality, according to reports, while four others are at the Ashanti South Government Hospital for treatment.
To reduce overcrowding and prevent a potential stampede, authorities have asked some applicants to attend the exercise on Thursday and Friday.
Also, President Mahama paid a visit to the 37 Military Hospital to see 22 victims receiving treatment, accompanied by senior officials, including the Deputy Defence Minister, Chief of Defence Staff, and Chief of Staff, before his trip to Kumasi for the launch of the ‘Nkokoo Nketenkete’ programme. He also took to his official X (formerly Twitter) to express his condolences to the families of the applicants who lost their lives in the stampede.
He said, “I visited the 37 military hospital this afternoon to check on our young men and women who were injured earlier this morning following a stampede at the Elwak Stadium recruitment centre, where thousands of potential military recruits had gathered for a selection exercise.
Lordina and I wish all the injured a speedy recovery, and our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives as a result of the stampede.”
Effiduase-Asokore Member of Parliament, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, has suggested that the Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces should offer automatic enlistment to family members of deceased victims as a form of compensation.
The Ghana Armed Forces announced an extension of the date for its originally scheduled one-month recruitment exercise. The national defence force’s recruitment exercise, which was expected to end on October 31, was extended to November 7.
I visited the 37 military hospital this afternoon to check on our young men and women who were injured earlier this morning following a stampede at the Elwak Stadium recruitment centre where thousands of potential military recruits had gathered for a selection exercise.
GAF announced the new date in an official statement shared on November 1 via their official X (formerly Twitter) handle. The statement, titled “Extension of recruitment deadline” and signed by the Acting Director General, Public Relations, Evelyn Ntiamoah Asamoah, reads:
“The Ghana Armed Forces has extended the deadline for the ongoing recruitment exercise by one week due to some technical challenges encountered on the recruitment portal during the initial period. The new deadline is 7 November 2025.”
Before the extension, GAF, in a statement signed by Acting Director General for Public Relations, Veronica Afei Arjun, outlined a new development in which the recruitment exercise would be conducted in all sixteen (16) regions nationwide. It noted that this marks a significant change in the security force’s recruitment process, moving away from the traditional method that was largely centralised in a few selected centres such as Accra, Tamale, and Kumasi.
The new approach, GAF explained, is to ensure equal opportunity for applicants across the country, particularly those in remote or underserved areas who previously had to travel long distances and incur high costs.
“The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to inform the public that the 2025 Enlistment/Recruitment Exercise into the Ghana Armed Forces will commence in the coming days at all the regional capitals of the 16 Regions of the country. This approach offers equal opportunity for all potential applicants in the entire country,” parts of the statement read.
According to GAF, recruitment announcements will be made through its official website and Ghana’s two main state-owned national newspapers. GAF also warned the public to disregard recruitment advertisements circulating on social media, stressing that no member of the force would issue such notices or ads.
“The general public is kindly informed that any purported recruitment links on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or any other social media platforms inviting people for protocol recruitment are a scam and should be ignored. Additionally, no such enlistment/recruitment invitation will emanate from any member of the Ghana Armed Forces or its High Command and should be ignored as well,” it added. “The Ghana Armed Forces counts on the cooperation of the general public in this endeavour.”
The strong warning comes against the backdrop of fraudulent recruitment schemes that have increased in recent years, particularly on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. These scams often promise “protocol recruitment,” suggesting backdoor access in exchange for payment. Scammers typically impersonate senior officers, circulate fake enlistment links, and demand fees in return for guaranteed placement.
Over the years, some scammers have demanded protocol fees ranging from GH¢2,000 to GH¢10,000, depending on the promises made and the desperation of applicants. Victims often paid multiple instalments, believing they were securing officer roles or fast-tracked enlistment. Payments were usually made in cash or through mobile money without receipts, making prosecution difficult. GAF has repeatedly stressed that recruitment is free and that any demand for payment is illegal.
Some key players, including Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, are missing from the squad listed to play Japan in the friendlies tomorrow.
Their absence has sparked reactions from fans and pundits seeking explanations for the absence of such players.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has responded, stating that their exclusion was based on legitimate reasons. Speaking during an interview on Asempa FM in Accra, yesterday, Wednesday, November 12, the Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, clarified that their absence is to allow budding talents to prove their worth in the senior national team.
Head coach Otto Addo opted to give opportunities to emerging talents, including Kelvin Nkrumah, Prince Kwabena Adu, and Prince Osei Owusu.
According to Henry, it was mutual consent that some key players were left out of the squad;some needed to rest.
“Absentees from the Black Stars squad for the Japan and South Korea friendly games are due to legitimate reasons and not the travelling distance. We all came to an agreement that some players will need to rest while others are nursing injuries, so we had to let them stay behind. The new faces in the squad have been on the radar of the technical team for some time now, and this is an opportunity for them to prove their worth in these games,” he said.
He further noted that the friendlies form part of a broader development plan aimed at building a strong team for future competitions.
“These friendly games are aimed at working on something within the Black Stars setup and among the players. We just want to make use of the best talents for the future,” he added.
The Black Stars opened camp on Tuesday, November 11, and have already held their first training session ahead of their match tomorrow in the Kirin Cup on Friday, November 14, before taking on South Korea on November 18. The matches are part of the team’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Both Japan and South Korea have already booked their places at the 2026 World Cup and are expected to field full-strength lineups, providing Ghana with a crucial test ahead of next year’s continental and global competitions.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed the arrival of eighteen players at the Black Stars’ camp at the Ana Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nagoya as they prepare ahead of Ghana’s friendly match with Japan on November 14.
In a statement shared by GFA yesterday, Tuesday, November 11, the football governing body explained that, “eighteen players are currently in camp at the Ana Crowne Plaza hotel in Nagoya ahead of the international friendly against Japan on Friday, November 14, 2025. Sixteen of them arrived on Tuesday to join two home-based players, Kelvin Nkrumah and Prince Owusu, who departed Accra on Sunday”.
Sixteen players arrived on Tuesday to join home-based talents Kelvin Nkrumah and Prince Owusu, who travelled from Accra on Sunday.
The current squad in camp includes Joseph Anang, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Derrick Kohn, Jerome Opoku, Ebenezer Annan, Jonas Adjetey, Kojo Oppong Peprah, Caleb Yirenkyi, Alidu Seidu, and Gideon Mensah.
Other members are Abu Francis, Kwasi Sibo, Prince Owusu, Kamal Deen Sulemana, Antoine Semenyo, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Kelvin Nkrumah, and Prince Adu Kwabena.
More of the squad are expected to join camp on Wednesday, 12 November; they include,
“Accra Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, who was in goal for his side in the Super Clash against Asante Kotoko on Sunday, will join the squad on Wednesday. Also expected on Wednesday are Christopher Bonsu Baah, Prince Osei Owusu, and Mohammed Salisu.
Ghana sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Comoros in their final Group I qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, marking the country’s fifth appearance at football’s biggest tournament.
The Asian tour forms part of the Ghana Football Association’s broader plan to give coach Otto Addo the platform to evaluate his squad and fine-tune tactics before the global showpiece.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama hopes the Black Stars will aim higher beyond their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has urged the team to emulate Morocco and, in broader terms, envision doing more.
President Mahama cited Morocco as a model because it made history at the 2022 FIFA World Cup by becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals.
Referring to an unforgettable situation in the history of Ghana football, where Asamoah’s penalty miss cost Ghana’s place in the semi-finals, he urged the team,
“We must follow in the footsteps of Morocco by going beyond the semi-finals and, who knows, with fingers crossed, bring the World Cup trophy home to make Ghana and Africa proud”.
He further went on to call on Ghanaians to support the team without any bias.
“We must all rally behind the Black Stars. We must support them to the hilt. Let’s not bring in any partisan or ethnic considerations. Let’s give them our full support,” he added.
Following a group-stage exit at their previous World Cup in Qatar, Ghana now hope to make a lasting impact in the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated Ghana for securing its ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a congratulatory message shared via video on the football governing body’s Instagram, Infantino praised the four-time African champions for their achievement and expressed excitement about their return to the world stage.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has shot down the “unrealistic” speculations of a possible Messi return.
Lionel Messi, one of the club’s favourite, greatest-ever players and longest-serving modern icon, paid an unannounced visit to the stadium on Sunday, November 9, ahead of his camping in Spain with Argentina and ahead of Camp Nou’s partial reopening this November in their clash against Athletic Club in La Liga.
During his visit, he expressed his desire to return not only to bid farewell to fans and the club officially, but for something more than just a goodbye.
In an Instagram post, he wrote alongside pictures he took at the stadium, “Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart,” he wrote alongside the images on Monday. It’s a place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel like the happiest person in the world a thousand times over. I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do…”
In reaction to this, Laporta has stated that, “Out of the utmost respect for Messi, the professionals at the club, Barca, and the Barca club members, I believe that now, for me to make speculation that is unrealistic, nor do I think it is fair, well, I believe that is not appropriate,” Laporta told Catalunya Radio.
Barcelona moved temporarily to the Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc when renovation works began at Spotify Camp Nou in the Summer of 2023.
While it was set to be ready so use in the 2024/25 season, it saw some delays, pushing the reopening to August 2025.
Barcelona are set to return during the 2025/26 La Liga season, though only the lower tiers will be complete. Work on the upper tiers will continue throughout the season.
Messi spent about twenty-one years at Camp Nou. He joined Barcelona’s famous academy at the age of 13, from Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, between 2000–2004. He made his debut appearance at age 17 when the club played against Spain on October 16, 2004.
Lionel Messi played 778 official matches for Barcelona, scoring a club-record 672 goals, providing 269 assists, and winning 35 major trophies, including 10 La Liga titles, 7 Copa del Rey titles, 4 UEFA Champions League titles, 3 FIFA Club World Cups, 3 UEFA Super Cups, and 8 Spanish Super Cups.
He played his last match in August 2021 vs Celta Vigo, before leaving due to financial constraints at the club, and making a ‘hasty’ exit to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
His departure wasn’t formally done due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in place at the time.
Laporta has spoken about a desire to bring Messi back for a tribute game, suggesting it would be the perfect way to inaugurate the new Camp Nou, which has been closed for redevelopment since 2023.
“It would be a great way to open the stadium [when it’s finished], with 105,000 packed in and paying tribute to Leo,” Laporta reiterated to reporters after an open training session in front of 23,000 fans at Camp Nou last week.
“Always, of course, depending on what [the Messi camp] wants. There are also presidential elections before then, but in the case I am still president, I would love that.”
Messi, whose relationship with Laporta cooled following his departure, has never previously commented on the possibility of returning to participate in any such game. Work is still ongoing on Camp Nou.
Barça currently have a license to host games with 25,991 fans present, but hopes to secure a permit to increase that to 45,401 later this month, at which point they will return to the arena, having spent over two years playing at the Olympic Stadium in the city.
However, the third tier still needs to be finished and the roof added. When the refurbishment is completed, which is not anticipated to be until 2027, the capacity will rise to 105,000.
Messi returned to Europe over the weekend after scoring twice on Saturday as third-seeded Inter Miami ousted sixth-seeded Nashville SC in the decisive Game 3 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.
Meanwhile, Messi, speaking at the America Business Forum, held at the Kaseya Centre in Miami, highlighted that winning the title of football’s greatest tournament, the FIFA World Cup, is the highest achievement any player can attain in football.
According to him, he feels fulfilled after leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the memory continues to excite him every time it comes to mind.
The Barcelona icon noted that clinching the Mundial was the perfect way to cap off his footballing career, and nothing more could be asked of him.
“Winning the World Cup is the ultimate achievement. After the World Cup, there’s nothing more you can ask for. It’s hard to explain the feelings from that moment. It’s difficult to find words to describe what that title meant on a personal level, for my family, my teammates, and for the country.
“It was clear how the whole nation celebrated it, the need and desire we all had for that to happen again after such a long time”.
He continued that it was an exceptional experience in his life, having won trophies in his career, but winning the World Cup “completed my entire career with that trophy.”
“…It was special. I had already been lucky enough to achieve everything else before, at club level, individually. That was the one thing missing, the one that completed my entire career with that trophy.”
This comes after his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo rejected the notion that he needs to lead Portugal to a World Cup title to be considered among the greatest players in history.
Ghana sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Comoros in their final Group I qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, marking the country’s fifth appearance at football’s biggest tournament, which will be hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Past governments over the years, mostly offered some form of financial support, be it full or partial, for supporters who travel to attend the World Cup. However, it has become a challenge over the years due to financial constraints.
With the current state of the country’s sports sector, Ghana’s Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, has revealed that, while it has been a long-standing act, he “doesn’t recommend” it.
Speaking during an interview with Peace FM, Mr Adams revealed that, while no allocation will be made for flying fans to the tournament, the government will offer other support, but not financial, citing that anyone who intends to go to the World Cup will have to find their own resources.
He said the country’s economic challenges as the main reason for the government’s decision not to finance fan travel.
“Well, there is no game or tournament we don’t go with supporters, but whether I will take them or someone else will take them is a different ball game,” he said.
Mr Adams says there is a need for the government to prioritise investment in the country’s sports infrastructure instead of spending it on fan sponsorship.
“We are in a period of austerity. We need money to build sports infrastructure in Ghana. If we are going to spend money to transport supporters all the way to America, that same amount can build five multipurpose parks in some communities,” he stated.
While confirming that government funding is off the table, Mr Adams encouraged individuals and corporate organisations to step in.
“I believe there are a lot of Ghanaians in those areas. Anyone who wants to go should find their own resources; we can facilitate their travel documents. Or we can mobilise support from corporate bodies — both private and public, to assist the fans.
“Government can collaborate with corporations to support, which would be a good idea, but putting government money into the budget to take supporters, I don’t think so,” he added.
The Black Stars are expected to learn their group-stage opponents when the World Cup draw takes place on December 5.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed the arrival of eighteen players at the Black Stars’ camp at the Ana Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nagoya as they prepare ahead of Ghana’s friendly match with Japan on November 14.
In a statement shared by GFA yesterday, Tuesday, November 11, the football governing body explained that, “eighteen players are currently in camp at the Ana Crowne Plaza hotel in Nagoya ahead of the international friendly against Japan on Friday, November 14, 2025. Sixteen of them arrived on Tuesday to join two home-based players, Kelvin Nkrumah and Prince Owusu, who departed Accra on Sunday”.
Sixteen players arrived on Tuesday to join home-based talents Kelvin Nkrumah and Prince Owusu, who travelled from Accra on Sunday.
The current squad in camp includes Joseph Anang, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Derrick Kohn, Jerome Opoku, Ebenezer Annan, Jonas Adjetey, Kojo Oppong Peprah, Caleb Yirenkyi, Alidu Seidu, and Gideon Mensah.
Other members are Abu Francis, Kwasi Sibo, Prince Owusu, Kamal Deen Sulemana, Antoine Semenyo, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Kelvin Nkrumah, and Prince Adu Kwabena.
More of the squad are expected to join camp on Wednesday, 12 November; they include,
“Accra Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, who was in goal for his side in the Super Clash against Asante Kotoko on Sunday, will join the squad on Wednesday. Also expected on Wednesday are Christopher Bonsu Baah, Prince Osei Owusu, and Mohammed Salisu.
The Black Stars will hold their first training session in Nagoya on Wednesday, November 12, ahead of the Kirin Cup clash against Japan on Friday, November 14, 2025”, parts of the statement said.
Ghana will face South Korea three days later, on November 17, after their Japan clash as part of their preparations for the World Cup next year.
Both Japan and South Korea have already booked their places at the 2026 World Cup and are expected to field full-strength lineups, providing Ghana with a crucial test ahead of next year’s continental and global competitions.
The Asian tour forms part of the Ghana Football Association’s broader plan to give coach Otto Addo the platform to evaluate his squad and fine-tune tactics before the global showpiece.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama hopes the Black Stars will aim higher beyond their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has urged the team to emulate Morocco and, in broader terms, envision doing more.
President Mahama cited Morocco as a model because it made history at the 2022 FIFA World Cup by becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals.
Referring to an unforgettable situation in the history of Ghana football, where Asamoah’s penalty miss cost Ghana’s place in the semi-finals, he urged the team,
“We must follow in the footsteps of Morocco by going beyond the semi-finals and, who knows, with fingers crossed, bring the World Cup trophy home to make Ghana and Africa proud”.
He further went on to call on Ghanaians to support the team without any bias.
“We must all rally behind the Black Stars. We must support them to the hilt. Let’s not bring in any partisan or ethnic considerations. Let’s give them our full support,” he added.
Following a group-stage exit at their previous World Cup in Qatar, Ghana now hope to make a lasting impact in the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated Ghana for securing its ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a congratulatory message shared via video on the football governing body’s Instagram, Infantino praised the four-time African champions for their achievement and expressed excitement about their return to the world stage.
“Congratulations to the Black Stars on reaching the FIFA World Cup for the fifth time in history. Your fans will bring colours, style and passion to the greatest FIFA World Cup ever in 20226 in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
“We expect that your team will establish more global stars to follow in the footsteps of the famous team that made the quarterfinals of the tournament in South Africa in 2010, but for now, enjoy this special moment, and we cannot wait to see who the Black Stars will face when we have the final tournament draw on the 5th of December.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed the arrival of eighteen players at the Black Stars’ camp at the Ana Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nagoya as they prepare ahead of Ghana’s friendly match with Japan on November 14.
In a statement shared by GFA yesterday, Tuesday, November 11, the football governing body explained that, “eighteen players are currently in camp at the Ana Crowne Plaza hotel in Nagoya ahead of the international friendly against Japan on Friday, November 14, 2025. Sixteen of them arrived on Tuesday to join two home-based players, Kelvin Nkrumah and Prince Owusu, who departed Accra on Sunday”.
Sixteen players arrived on Tuesday to join home-based talents Kelvin Nkrumah and Prince Owusu, who travelled from Accra on Sunday.
The current squad in camp includes Joseph Anang, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Derrick Kohn, Jerome Opoku, Ebenezer Annan, Jonas Adjetey, Kojo Oppong Peprah, Caleb Yirenkyi, Alidu Seidu, and Gideon Mensah.
Other members are Abu Francis, Kwasi Sibo, Prince Owusu, Kamal Deen Sulemana, Antoine Semenyo, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Kelvin Nkrumah, and Prince Adu Kwabena.
More of the squad are expected to join camp on Wednesday, 12 November; they include,
“Accra Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, who was in goal for his side in the Super Clash against Asante Kotoko on Sunday, will join the squad on Wednesday. Also expected on Wednesday are Christopher Bonsu Baah, Prince Osei Owusu, and Mohammed Salisu.
The Black Stars will hold their first training session in Nagoya on Wednesday, November 12, ahead of the Kirin Cup clash against Japan on Friday, November 14, 2025”, parts of the statement said.
Ghana sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Comoros in their final Group I qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, marking the country’s fifth appearance at football’s biggest tournament.
While they look forward to finding out who their group-stage opponents will be when the official draw is held on December 5, they will face South Korea three days later, on November 17, after their Japan clash as part of their preparations for the World Cup next year.
Both Japan and South Korea have already booked their places at the 2026 World Cup and are expected to field full-strength lineups, providing Ghana with a crucial test ahead of next year’s continental and global competitions.
The Asian tour forms part of the Ghana Football Association’s broader plan to give coach Otto Addo the platform to evaluate his squad and fine-tune tactics before the global showpiece.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama hopes the Black Stars will aim higher beyond their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has urged the team to emulate Morocco and, in broader terms, envision doing more.
President Mahama cited Morocco as a model because it made history at the 2022 FIFA World Cup by becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals.
Ghana sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Comoros courtesy of a decisive goal from Mohammed Kudus in their final Group I qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, marking the country’s fifth appearance at football’s biggest tournament.
Referring to an unforgettable situation in the history of Ghana football, where Asamoah’s penalty miss cost Ghana’s place in the semi-finals, he urged the team,
“We must follow in the footsteps of Morocco by going beyond the semi-finals and, who knows, with fingers crossed, bring the World Cup trophy home to make Ghana and Africa proud”.
He further went on to call on Ghanaians to support the team without any bias.
“We must all rally behind the Black Stars. We must support them to the hilt. Let’s not bring in any partisan or ethnic considerations. Let’s give them our full support,” he added.
Following a group-stage exit at their previous World Cup in Qatar, Ghana now hope to make a lasting impact in the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated Ghana for securing its ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a congratulatory message shared via video on the football governing body’s Instagram, Infantino praised the four-time African champions for their achievement and expressed excitement about their return to the world stage.
“Congratulations to the Black Stars on reaching the FIFA World Cup for the fifth time in history. Your fans will bring colours, style and passion to the greatest FIFA World Cup ever in 20226 in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
“We expect that your team will establish more global stars to follow in the footsteps of the famous team that made the quarterfinals of the tournament in South Africa in 2010, but for now, enjoy this special moment, and we cannot wait to see who the Black Stars will face when we have the final tournament draw on the 5th of December.
“See you very soon and well. Congratulations!”
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has reacted to questions surrounding his future with the team.
His second coming as a Black Stars head coach was met with mixed reactions. While some supported him as the most familiar to handle the team, others questioned his maturity, his tactical prowess, especially after the Black Stars’ group-stage exit at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 2022 under his leadership.
However, his recent record as the first coach in Ghana’s football history to oversee the team’s qualification to the world’s biggest football tournament, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, twice, has sparked some confidence from fans about his competency, as well as questions surrounding his long-term future due to his inconsistencies in performances.
One of the leading contenders for the NPP’s National Chairmanship, John Boadu, has warned Parliament not to downplay the Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie’s, remarks on notorious criminal Atta Ayi’s prison sentence.
In 2005, Justice Paul gave Atta Ayi a 70-year prison sentence, convicting Atta Ayi of multiple counts of robbery and conspiracy to rob.
Twenty years later, he addressed the issue, citing it as an example in response to a question about sentencing guidelines and recent concerns over lengthy sentences for minor, non-violent offences during his appearance before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for his appointment as Chief Justice nominee.
According to him, the unusually lengthy sentence he gave Atta Ayi was to ensure the safety of his family; a shorter sentence could have allowed the criminal to target them after his release. emphasised that while sentencing guidelines provide a framework, judges must sometimes exercise discretion to address the broader context of a case, including public safety and the protection of vulnerable parties.
“The judges and magistrates, they are trained, they have sentencing guidelines,” he said. “But sometimes they have to go beyond it. In my youthful days, I gave somebody 70 years, Atta Ayi.
“I gave him 70 years. And what I told myself was that if Atta Ayi was given 30 years and he comes back, my family will be the first he will attack. So by the time he comes back after 70 years, I will be dead and gone,” he said lightheartedly to laughter in the audience,” he noted.
NPP’s aspiring Chairman is not content with the Justice’s answer, raising concerns about his reputation as the soon-to-be highest judicial officer in Ghana and his impartiality in future cases.
During an appearance on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Mr Boadu said Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s remarks about the 70-year jail sentence handed to notorious armed robber Ataa Ayi were “unfortunate”.
Speaking and raising concerns about his impartiality in future rulings.
“What the Chief Justice nominee said was absolutely wrong. Such statements from someone expected to uphold justice are troubling,” he stated.
He further questioned whether Justice Baffoe-Bonnie could remain neutral in cases involving his personal or political interests.
“If a case that affects his personal interest comes before him, can we expect a fair trial?” he asked.
Consequently, he has admonished Parliament to take up the matter, highlighting the need for lawmakers to protect the rights of citizens and uphold judicial independence.
“The parliamentarians who vetted him have an honourable duty to protect the liberty of our people. This should not be about personal interest; it affects the government as a whole. If a case comes to him that involves his personal interests, can we really expect a fair trial? If my case goes before him, I would be fearful because if our political views do not align, he may try to favour his personal interests,” he added.
Background
Ataa Ayi, who was described by the police as the nation’s most notorious bandit,t had a high price tag placed on his head by the police. His whereabouts before he was captured prompted the largest manhunt in the nation’s crime history, with expensive billboards bearing his portrait mounted in five of the ten regions of the country. Ataa Ayi was arrested in his hideout in the Teshie Tsui Bleo, a suburb of Accra.
His girlfriend, suspected to be an accomplice, was also arrested in the raid.
Before his arrest, the police had been on his heels for months. His deputy, Emmanuel Tetteh, also known as Mpata, was also arrested. It was believed that information provided by Mpata might have helped to track down the elusive Ataa Ayi.
According to police, Ataa Ayi was the brain behind most of the brutal armed robberies in Accra. He and members of his gang were alleged to have, at gunpoint, stolen money, cars, jewellery and other valuables from various people in the national capital. He was also alleged to have shot several people who resisted his attacks.
Meanwhile, during the vetting, the Minority Caucus staged a walkout during the vetting process of the Chief Justice nominee.
This unfolded after the Minority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, led his colleagues in raising issues against the nomination and also the processes that led to the removal of Gertrude Torkornoo as Chief Justice.
“We vote to reject the nominee. The Majority can proceed with the questions; we do not intend to proceed with any question. We are, however, registering in the strongest terms that we reject the nomination, and the records should reflect that the report of this committee be a majority report,” their leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, said during the vetting process.
In response, the Chair of the Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, said, “We thank you very much, we wish you well.”
Tension flared between Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin during the vetting session for the Chief Justice nominee.
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, insisted that his caucus reserves the right to refer to Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as the contested Chief Justice nominee.
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised strong objections to Parliament’s decision to continue with the vetting of Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, calling it a violation of constitutional principles, the rule of law, and a situation that presents a conflict of interest.
In a statement issued on November 10 and signed by General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua, the party maintained that the vetting should have been put on hold until cases filed by former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo were fully addressed.
According to the NPP, seven substantive legal actions related to the matter are currently pending before Ghana’s Supreme Court, the High Court, and the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
Baffoe-Bonnie was nominated by President John Dramani Mahama in accordance with constitutional provisions following the removal of the former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo from office.
The vetting will assess his qualifications, judicial experience and overall suitability for the role before the committee submits its report to the plenary for consideration.
This comes despite Minority Members of Parliament filing a motion seeking to halt the vetting of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie.
In a statement dated October 29, 2025, the Minority indicated that the vetting process should be suspended until all pending suits and applications concerning former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo have been heard and determined.
The Minority, citing Articles 110(1), 125–127, 144(1) and 146 of the 1992 Constitution and relevant Standing Orders, urged Parliament to suspend the Appointments Committee’s vetting and any plenary debate or approval processes.
The motion cited cases including the ECOWAS Court suit, the Supreme Court and the High Court applications.
“That this Honourable House, having regard to Articles 110(1), 125-127, 144(1) and 146 of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Orders 57(1)-(3), 93, 103(f), 216 and 217, resolves to suspend forthwith all further proceedings, both at the Appointments Committee and at Plenary, on the nomination of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Chief Justice until all pending suits and applications directly bearing on the removal of Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo (including ECOWAS Court Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/32/25 on provisional measures, multiple Supreme Court proceedings, and High Court applications) are finally determined or withdrawn,” the statement said.
The government has made public the findings from the helicopter crash which occurred on August 6 at Adansi, claiming the lives of eight gallant men, including Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Sarpong, who lost his life just hours after his appointment as Board Chairman-designate of the Cocoa Processing Company.
According to the investigative board’s report released on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, the crash was caused by a sudden loss of altitude and lift resulting from a downdraft.
“The investigation determined that the accident was caused by a sudden loss of altitude and lift due to a downdraft. This loss of altitude, without any change in power or pitch attitude, is consistent with downdrafts associated with changing environmental conditions over high terrain,” a member of the committee stated.
Speaking after the presentation of the report’s findings, a relative of Mr. Sarpong expressed his satisfaction with the committee’s work, saying that the crash was caused by nature, which was beyond human control.
“We are very satisfied because, based on the briefing we received, we understand that this was an act of God. Nobody controls the weather except the Almighty, and for that matter, we have accepted it in good faith,” he said.
He added, “I believe strongly that, per the briefing we’ve had today, this will put all speculation to rest. Captain Forjoe took time to explain everything to us in detail, and even yesterday we had a closed-door briefing. We are okay; we have accepted everything and are very satisfied with the outcome.”
The committee, chaired by National Security Coordinator DCOP Abdul-Osman Razak, submitted its final report to the National Security Council on Monday, November 10, 2025.
The board comprised representatives from the Ghana Air Force and the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB-Ghana), with technical and advisory support from the United States Air Force.
The committee was aided by aviation experts from China as well as other relevant institutions in decoding the black box.
The helicopter crashed into a forested mountainside in Ghana’s Ashanti Region on August 6, 2025. All eight people on board, consisting of five passengers and three crew members, were killed.
In the early hours of Tuesday, November 11, it was widely reported that President Mahama had received the report from the committee tasked to conduct the probe into the crash. In August, the Ministry of Defence announced that it had officially begun a probe into the unfortunate incident, following the establishment of an investigative board.
The presentation of the report comes after the government, in early October, announced that the report on the probe into the crash would be made ready in two weeks from the 11th day of October. The investigation findings were presented to the National Security Council in November 2025. About a month later, the report has now been presented to the president.
The victims of the crash included Minister for Defence Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah; Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology Alhaji Dr. Murtala Mohammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna; and Samuel Sarpong.
The others are Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Samuel Aboagye; Deputy Director-General of NADMO, Squadron Leader Peter Anala of the Ghana Air Force; Flying Officer Tsum Ampadu of the Ghana Air Force; and Sergeant Ernest Addo of the Ghana Air Force.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) reported that its Air Force helicopter Z9, which took off on August 6 at 0912 hrs from Accra and headed for Obuasi, was off the radar.
Hours later, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah confirmed the unfortunate demise of the eight individuals, comprising three crew and five passengers.
As part of the three-day national mourning, the “Evening of Reflections and Memorials” took place at the Forecourt of the State House on Saturday, August 9. The event was open to all Ghanaians, including the general public, friends, and family of the departed.
On the first day of mourning, which began Thursday, August 7, a public laying of flowers and lighting of candles at the Ceremonial Garden at the front of the Presidency took place to honour victims of the tragic GAF helicopter crash.
Members of the public, families, and friends were present. President John Dramani Mahama and Chief of Staff Julius Debrah shed tears while laying a wreath in honour of the eight victims.
The public laying of flowers and lighting of candles at the Ceremonial Garden at the front of the Presidency to honour victims of the tragic GAF helicopter crash continued on August 8. It was held at the Ceremonial Garden, Presidency.
This provided more time and space for citizens unable to attend Day 1 to pay their respects and join the national act of mourning. The samples of the remains of the deceased involved in the tragic Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on August 6 were transported to South Africa for DNA analysis to aid in their identification.
Per reports, the autopsy and identification procedures were to have been carried out by the 37 Military Hospital; however, the conditions of the bodies called for advanced forensic processes.
Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology Alhaji Dr. Murtala Mohammed and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, two out of the eight who perished in the August 6 helicopter crash, were buried in accordance with Islamic tradition, custom, and practices.
They were buried following the arrival of the DNA results on Saturday, August 9. On Sunday, August 10, Muslim Jannaza prayers were offered at the Forecourt of the State House.
Following that, the deceased were buried at the Military Cemetery, Accra. The Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, led the prayers.
President Mahama later announced that he would set up a fund to cater for the families of the gallant men who lost their lives while serving the country.
He announced the creation of the fund during an address on Tuesday, August 12, while attending the funeral rites for the late Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, which was held at Adenta, but officially announced it while speaking at the state funeral organised for the victims at Black Star Square on Friday, August 15. “At the funeral, we will announce a programme for creating a fund that will assist with the education of their children. Persons who want to contribute to the future of the children they’ve left behind would have the opportunity to do so.”
President Mahama emphasised the need to protect the victims’ dependents from hardship, specifically mentioning the two-month-old child of the military pilot, Peter Bafemi.
“It’s a difficult calamity. Because if you look at all those who died, they were at the prime of their lives and had so much responsibility; children still in school, and some even with infants as young as two months.
“These responsibilities are what we have to take up to make sure that the absence of the parents does not adversely affect the innocent children,” he said.
One of the government’s flagship programmes, “Nkoko Nkitinkiti”, is set to be launched today, Wednesday, November 12. This was announced by the Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
He confirmed the launch of the programme in a Facebook post on Sunday, November 9, through a Facebook post and subsequent media briefings, noting Kumasi as the venue for the launch. The post explains the purpose of the programme and its anticipated impact on the country’s poultry sector.
“This week is a very important one for our country. On Wednesday, November 12, President John Dramani Mahama will launch one of the government’s flagship programmes, Nkoko Nkitinkiti, in Kumasi. This initiative will boost poultry production, reduce imports, and create jobs for thousands of households,” adding that “Later in the week, the Finance Minister will present the 2026 Budget to Parliament. We will also receive the final report on the Adansi helicopter tragedy. A week of accountability and progress.”
Though the exact operational details of the programme remain undisclosed, it is expected to focus on community development and youth empowerment initiatives in line with the government’s social intervention agenda.
The Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative, which is also labelled as ‘backyard poultry programme’ by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, is set to empower about 60,000 households in all the 276 constituencies nationwide to produce 3 million birds. According to him, the programme is targeted at single mothers, Persons with disabilities and other vulnerable people in the community during an address on October 16.
Speaking during a media briefing ahead of the launch tomorrow, Mr Opoku clarified that “the government’s Nkoko Nkitinkiti policy, which is to be launched, does not cover commercial poultry farmers. The policy is purposely for households. While the government is starting with the Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative, the public must understand that it is just one aspect of the government’s poultry production plans. We have another program under which we are targeting existing poultry farmers.”
The Government of Ghana, under the Feed Ghana Programme, is taking strategic steps to revitalize the poultry industry through the Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative. pic.twitter.com/Nw0Wbx8Xnj
However, he noted that the government has other policy directives that will be rolled out to support large-scale and medium-scale poultry farmers.
The policy is part of the broader Feed Ghana strategy and includes training, access to feed, and improved breeding stock. Originally set for July, it was delayed to October for stakeholder engagement. By reducing the $300 million spent annually on poultry imports, the initiative seeks to revitalise agriculture, empower youth, and strengthen Ghana’s self-sufficiency in protein production.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture stated that technical staff from the ministry are engaging stakeholders in the poultry industry to gather data and information on how best the policy can be rolled out, noting that the information received from the field officers will guide them as to who gets to be selected to benefit from the policy rollout.
“What we are doing now is dealing with backyard poultry farming. That has nothing to do with the commercial farmers. It has nothing to do with the commercial farmers. In fact, the technical people are already in the field. We are selecting the beneficiaries based on their capacities in their various places.
“So, in Bono Ahafo, for instance, the people have submitted their reports. They have gone to their places of work and have identified those people we can work with. Now, we have to engage with them based on the information that we have before we roll out that one”, the Minister said.
Hon. Opoku then noted that there are other plans underway that are purposely for large-scale and medium-scale commercial farmers, emphasising the need for an overall increment in poultry production in the country to reduce imports and over-reliance on imported poultry and poultry produce.
The minister noted that there is an existing program from last year where some poultry farmers were provided with the logistics and financial support, with the understanding that they would pay back after harvest.
In an earlier address in April by President Mahama, he revealed that the policy will be implemented in collaboration with Poultry Farmers Associations, which will support “hatcheries, feedmills, veterinary services and poultry processing centres.
This year, 50 anchor farmers will be supported to produce four million birds, which will be equivalent to 10,000 tonnes of chicken. Additionally, a supplementary programme will involve the registration of 55,000 households across this country, and each of these households will produce 500 birds every year. We believe that this will rear over 1 million birds to improve the income of women and the nutrition of their children”.
Meanwhile, while farmers have commended the government for the initiative to deal with poultry importation, they have expressed concerns about being sidelined in designing the programme. Some farmers also expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to exclude commercial farmers, who have described themselves as a crucial party in ensuring the effectiveness of the programme. The National Poultry Farmers Association (NPFA) have also warned that the government may incur losses if the programme is not effectively implemented.
They are calling for a balanced household empowerment with support for commercial farmers, and to ensure proper training and monitoring so the initiative doesn’t backfire.
Meanwhile, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who also represents the people of Effutu Constituency in January this year expressed his belief in the government’s proposed poultry programme.
Speaking during the vetting of Agriculture Minister-designate, Eric Opoku, Mr Markin described it as a potential solution to the country’s high youth unemployment rate.
Mr Afenyo-Markin noted that, as an entrepreneur, he recognises the pressure the youth unemployment crisis places on the political class and believes the programme could offer a viable solution.
“I heard it from President, Mahma, and for me as an entrepreneur, knowing the pressure from our youth on all of us as a political class, beyond the political rhetoric, I believe that if it [nkoko nketenkete] is implemented, it will help the youth because a lot of them are dejected in this country. They don’t have jobs, and the pressure is on us,” he stated.
Manhyia Palace has received one hundred and thirty (130) gold and bronze artworks from South Africa and Britain.
These artefacts, crafted in Kumasi, the Ashanti Region, about a century and a half ago, were purchased by AngloGold Ashanti and have now been returned to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace and to the museum.
Some of these pieces are aged between forty-five (45) and one hundred and sixty (160) years, reflecting governance systems in villages and towns as well as the socio-economic importance of gold.
In a ceremony marked by traditional Asante cultural protocols such as drumming, dancing, and the presence of chiefs and elders, some executives of AngloGold Ashanti, led by Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer Stuart Bailey, presented the items to the Asantehene. They were accompanied by the Managing Director of the Obuasi mine, Samuel Boakye Pobee, and former MP of Obuasi, Edward Ennin.
The Ashanti Overlord, in response, expressed his gratitude to the gold trading firm for their kind gesture in returning the artefacts, which they had purchased from the open market. He commended them for thinking it “appropriate to give back to the source from which they were taken.”
A total of 110 items that were returned have now been added to those already in Kumasi, bringing the total number of returned objects to 140. These objects originally came from the Barbier-Muller Museum in Geneva, which had collected them through its founder, Josef Muller, starting in 1904.
Aside from the donations by AngloGold, an 86-year-old British art historian and curator, Hermione Waterfield, donated 25 more objects from her personal collection. She had joined the famous art auction house Christie’s in London in 1961 and, in 1971, established the Tribal Art Department.
Detailing Waterfield’s donation, Historian and Director of the Manhyia Palace Museum, Ivor Agyeman-Duah, mentioned that it included a 46-inch wooden fontomfrom drum, which was part of the loot from the Palace.
These items were taken away by British Colonial Officer Sir Cecil Hamilton Armitage, who led the advance force in the siege of Kumasi in 1900 during the Yaa Asantewaa War and later became British Colonial Governor of The Gambia.
Waterfield inherited these drums and owned fourteen other gold weights purchased between 1967 and 1973, including from Christie’s auctions.
Mr. Agyeman-Duah continued that the authority on the returned objects from South Africa “and indeed of metal or goldsmith arts in West Africa was the late British art historian and archaeologist, Timothy Garrand, who lived for a time in Kumasi and Accra and also Bouake in the Ivory Coast. Together with the octogenarian Waterfield, they have helped shape our understanding not just of gold and bronze collecting but of the heritage of their manufacturing processes.”
Among Waterfield’s donations is the famous brass self-portrait of Timothy Garrand on his motorbike in Kumasi, created by Yaw Amankwa in 1980.
Mr. Agyeman-Duah, who last October signed the deaccession papers with Waterfield in London, said that among other great works to be displayed at the palace museum are those of Ghanaian and African masters, including Ablade Glover, El Anatsui, Ato Delaquis, Nee-Owoo, Anthony Kwame Akoto, Vincent Koffi, and Edwin Kwasi Bodjawah.
In February 2024, the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in London restituted 32 royal Asante artefacts to Ghana, including gold regalia, ceremonial objects, and historic treasures taken during the Anglo-Asante wars of the 19th century.
Another restitution took place eight months later that same year, when a set of 17 artefacts was repatriated from the Fowler Museum at UCLA (United States) to the Manhyia Palace, alongside another return of items from South Africa’s AngloGold Ashanti. The multinational company returned the items from their collections, marking the beginning of a partnership to restore cultural heritage.
According to documented records, the donations from both South Africa and Britain bring the total tally of artefacts to about one hundred and sixty-two (162): thirty-two from Britain in February 2024 and the 130 delivered this month.
Meanwhile, in unrelated development, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has called on African leaders to tap into the continent’s rich human and resource capital for development and to attain self-sufficiency. He made these calls in June this year.
His call comes on the back of Africa’s over-reliance on international aid for development. He believes the continent is rich in everything from human capital to natural resources and considerable infrastructure to create ‘the Africa we need.’
African universities possess the expertise and capacity to produce the skilled workforce needed to drive progress, transforming knowledge into tangible development.
“We have all the resources we need. Look at the graduates here today, there’s nothing they cannot achieve. The question is, what are we lacking to motivate them? We must empower our engineers to manufacture what we need locally. Our professors and lecturers are brimming with knowledge; we have the capacity to make this happen,” he said.
The Asantehene continued with calls for unity and self-reliance, urging citizens to take ownership of the continent’s progress.
“Let us challenge ourselves as Africans, as Ghanaians, and work together to build our future,” the Asante Overlord said during an address at the 58th Special Congregation of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) over the weekend.
To attain this continental unity, Otumfuo called for unity, collaboration, and partnerships among African countries to unlock growth and development within the region.
“We must collaborate effectively as African nations. We’ve held discussions on Ghana’s relations with Eswatini and South-South cooperation to explore stronger partnerships. As Africans, we must prioritise trade and business among ourselves. Our economies are in our hands; if we fail to act and continue relying on the so-called ‘developed’ world, especially in these uncertain times, we risk stagnation. Africa must come first,” he stated.
The Asantehene was accompanied by His Majesty King Mswati III, Ingwenyama of the Kingdom of Eswatini, who embarked on a four-day state visit.
US President Donald Trump has threatened the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) with a billion-dollar lawsuit.
This comes after the British broadcaster apologised to the President for airing a Panorama documentary in October 2024 that included an edited version of Donald Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech. The edit showed Trump appeared to say he would walk with supporters to the Capitol and “fight like hell,” which critics argued implied he was inciting violence.
President Trump’s legal team, in a letter addressed to the BBC, ordered the broadcaster to remove the documentary containing the edit, apologise and “appropriately compensate” the president for the reputational damage.
The BBC is expected to comply with the orders in the letter by November 14.
“If the BBC does not comply, President Trump will be left with no alternative but to enforce his legal and equitable rights… including by filing legal action for no less than $1,000,000,000 (One Billion Dollars) in damages,” the letter stated.
It added that, “The BBC is on notice. PLEASE GOVERN YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY.”
The BBC’s Director-General and the organisation’s top news executive resigned on Sunday amid the row, following accusations that a Panorama programme documentary last year featured extracts from a Trump speech that were edited misleadingly.
The BBC said it would “review” the letter from Trump’s legal team.
It all started when Trump made allegations that the 2025 elections had been rigged. His supporters raided the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, while officials were certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. It was considered one of the most serious assaults on American democracy in modern history.
One of Trump’s spokespersons from the legal team confirmed that the letter has been sent detailing that, “President Trump will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in lies, deception, and fake news.”
This is not the first time Trump has filed a lawsuit against media houses. In 2024, he sued ABC, CBS, and in September, he sued The New York Times, according to APP.
In 2024, he sued ABC News and anchor George Stephanopoulos for defamation. The anchor alleged that the President had been found liable for rape, a claim the President blatantly denied, labelling them as lies and highly defamatory. By December 2024, they settled the caseafter which ABC agreed to pay $15 million to a Trump-related foundation, cover $1 million in legal fees, and formally apologise.
Before the lawsuit against ABC News, Trump, in November that same year, sued CBS News over a 60 Minutes interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris. He claimed the network deceptively edited the interview in a way that misrepresented Harris’s remarks. The case concluded in July 2025 when CBS’s parent company, Paramount, settled for $16 million. As part of the settlement, CBS agreed to release full transcripts of presidential candidate interviews in the future to ensure transparency.
Most recently, on September 16, 2025, Trump filed a massive $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times. He accused the paper of publishing malicious and fabricated claims in articles and a book released before the 2024 election. While a federal judge struck parts of the complaint in September 2025, Trump refiled an amended version in October 2025. The case remains ongoing.
Meanwhile, BBC chairman Samir Shah, in a formal letter to MPs, admitted that his outfit edited Trump’s speech, making it “…give the impression of a direct call for violent action.”
“The BBC would like to apologise for that error of judgment,” he added, assuring that it would do better in terms of oversight within the broadcaster.
Director-General Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness stepped down on Sunday following the escalating backlash.
Trump, on the other hand, happily welcomed the BBC leader’s resignation, labelling them as “corrupt” and “dishonest”. His press secretary also referred to the broadcaster as “100 per cent fake news.”
However, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman emphasised the BBC’s importance in combating disinformation:
“It’s important that the BBC acts swiftly to maintain trust and correct mistakes quickly when they occur.”
The government is preparing a review of the BBC’s charter, which governs the corporation’s governance and funding, set to expire in 2027.
The BBC, facing budget cuts and hundreds of job losses, is funded by a licence fee paid by anyone who watches live TV in Britain.
The BBC’s latest crisis intensified after the right-wing Daily Telegraph reported that warnings from a former external standards adviser about serious failings of impartiality and systemic bias had been ignored.
Earlier this year, the BBC also apologised for “serious flaws” in a documentary about the Gaza war, deemed “materially misleading” by the UK media watchdog.
Additionally, the broadcaster faced criticism for failing to remove a livestream of punk-rap duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury, after anti-Israel comments were made by the frontman.
The President has received the report of the August 6 Adansi helicopter crash, which claimed the lives of eight gallant men in their service to the nation.
Acting Minister for Defence, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who also serves as the Finance Minister, led the committee that investigated the crash yesterday, November 10, to present its report and findings to President John Mahama during a meeting of the National Security Council.
Officials say the report explained the cause of the crash, citing recommendations and measures to be taken to prevent similar future occurrences
Government sources have confirmed that the full report will be made public on Tuesday.
The helicopter crashed into a forested mountainside in Ghana’s Ashanti Region on August 6, 2025. All eight people on board, consisting of five passengers and three crew members, were killed.
The presentation of the report comes after the government, in early October, announced that the report on the probe into the crash will be made ready in two weeks from the 11th day of October. About a month later, the report has now been presented to the president.
The committee was aided by aviation experts from China as well as other relevant institutions in decoding the black box.
The victims included The deceased are Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Alhaji Dr Murtala Mohammed, Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology; Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; and Samuel Sarpong.
The others are: Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress; Samuel Aboagye, Deputy Director-General of NADMO; Squadron Leader Peter Anala of the Ghana Air Force; Flying Officer Tsum Ampadu of the Ghana Air Force; Sergeant Ernest Addo of the Ghana Air Force.
Ghana observed three days of national mourning, and a state funeral was held for the deceased. An investigation was launched, and flight recorders were recovered. The investigation findings were presented to the National Security Council in November 2025.
In August, the Ministry of Defence announced that it had officially begun a probe into the unfortunate incident, following the establishment of an investigative Board.
The Board is chaired by the National Security Coordinator, with membership drawn from the Ghana Air Force and the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
This was contained in a press statement issued by the Acting Defence Minister, Ato Forson.
“The Ministry of Defence hereby informs the public that the Investigation Board established to inquire into the recent Z-9 helicopter crash has formally commenced its work,” parts of the statement read.
According to the Ministry, “the United States of America is providing advice and assistance to the board through visiting investigators from the U.S. Air Force”.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) reported that its air force helicopter Z9, which took off on August 6th at 0912 hrs from Accra and headed for Obuasi, was off the radar.
Hours later, the Chief of Staff Julius Debrah confirmed the unfortunate demise of the 8 individuals comprising three crew and five passengers.
As part of the 3-day national mourning, the “Evening of Reflections and Memorials” took place at the Forecourt of the State House on Saturday, August 9. The event was open to all Ghanaians, including the general public, friends, and family of the departed.
On the first day of mourning, which began Thursday, August 7, a public laying of flowers and lighting of candles at the Ceremonial Garden at the front of the Presidency took place to honour victims of the tragic GAF helicopter crash.
Members of the public, families, and friends were present. President John Dramani Mahama and the Chief of Staff Julius Debrah shed tears while laying a wreath in honour of the eight victims.
The public laying of flowers and lighting of candles at the Ceremonial Garden at the front of the Presidency to honour victims of the tragic GAF helicopter crash continued on August 8. It was held at the Ceremonial Garden, Presidency.
This provided more time and space for citizens unable to attend Day 1 to pay their respects and join the national act of mourning. The samples of the remains of the deceased involved in the tragic Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on August 6 were transported to South Africa for DNA analysis to aid in their identification.
Per reports, the autopsy and identification procedures were to have been carried out by the 37 Military Hospital; however, the conditions of the bodies have called for advanced forensic processes.
Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, Alhaji Dr. Murtala Mohammed, and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, two out of the eight who perished in the August 6 helicopter crash, were buried in accordance with Islamic Tradition, Custom, and Practices.
They were buried following the arrival of the DNA results on Saturday, August 9. On Sunday, August 10, Muslim Jannaza prayers were offered at the forecourt of the State House.
Following that, the deceased were buried at the Military Cemetery, Accra. The Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, led the prayers.
President John Dramani Mahama and Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin attended the prayers, who were also attended by Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, religious leaders, and institutional heads, among many other Ghanaians.
At the burial site, President Mahama used the opportunity to thank all who were present and showed their sympathy to the family and country as a whole. He also expressed gratitude to the family for their patience in ensuring the DNA tests are carried out to aid the identification of the two deceased.
On“Today is not a day for talking; I want to thank you for your sympathy. I want to thank the two families for their patience. I want to thank the family for accepting my decision for the two brothers to be buried here. The families are free to visit anytime they want to do so,” he added.
Minister for Health Minister Akandoh and the Inspector General of Police, COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, on Sunday, August 10, received the DNA results for the remaining six deceased in the August 6 helicopter crash.
Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has explained the motive behind his sentencing of notorious criminal, Raymond Atta Ayi.
In 2005, Justice Paul gave Atta Ayi a lengthy 70-year prison sentence, convicting Atta Ayi of multiple counts of robbery and conspiracy to rob.
Twenty years later, he addressed the issue, citing it as an example in response to a question about sentencing guidelines and recent concerns over lengthy sentences for minor, non-violent offences during his appearance before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for his appointment as Chief Justice nominee.
According to him, the unusually lengthy sentence he gave Atta Ayi was to ensure the safety of his family; a shorter sentence could have allowed the criminal to target them after his release. emphasised that while sentencing guidelines provide a framework, judges must sometimes exercise discretion to address the broader context of a case, including public safety and the protection of vulnerable parties.
“The judges and magistrates, they are trained, they have sentencing guidelines,” he said. “But sometimes they have to go beyond it. In my youthful days, I gave somebody 70 years, Atta Ayi.
“I gave him 70 years. And what I told myself was that if Atta Ayi was given 30 years and he comes back, my family will be the first he will attack. So by the time he comes back after 70 years, I will be dead and gone,” he said lightheartedly to laughter in the audience,” he noted.
Background
Ataa Ayi, who was described by the police as the nation’s most notorious bandit,t had a high price tag placed on his head by the police. His whereabouts before he was captured prompted the largest manhunt in the nation’s crime history, with expensive billboards bearing his portrait mounted in five of the ten regions of the country. Ataa Ayi was arrested in his hideout in the Teshie Tsui Bleo, a suburb of Accra.
His girlfriend, suspected to be an accomplice, was also arrested in the raid.
Before his arrest, the police had been on his heels for months. His deputy, Emmanuel Tetteh, also known as Mpata, was also arrested. It was believed that information provided by Mpata might have helped to track down the elusive Ataa Ayi.
According to police, Ataa Ayi was the brain behind most of the brutal armed robberies in Accra. He and members of his gang were alleged to have, at gunpoint, stolen money, cars, jewellery and other valuables from various people in the national capital. He was also alleged to have shot several people who resisted his attacks.
“In my youthful days, I sentenced Ataa Ayi to 70 years. If he had been given 30 and returned, my family would have been his first target. By 70 years, I’ll be gone.” – Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Chief Justice Nominee, undergoing vetting before Parliament. 📺 Watch live:… pic.twitter.com/89vQieDWUN
Manchester City has had an incredible form this season, with back-to-back wins, recording their very recent win in their clash with Liverpool on Sunday, November 9, yesterday at the Etihad Stadium.
They thrashed the title holders in a 3-0 clash, focused on themselves, not on what other teams like Arsenal are doing.
Jeremy Doku, who was awarded man of the match after being awarded a penalty and sealing City’s win, has noted that, until other clubs match their energy this season, he is certain his side cannot be beaten.
They believe they’re improving step by step, and even though they were happy with their performance against Liverpool, they know they still need to keep getting better every game.
“We’re just looking at ourselves. We have been building, and we know that we can still improve. The performance that we delivered [against Liverpool], we’re very happy, but we still have to improve every game. And we know that if we are playing well, it’s difficult to stand next to us”, Doku said.
Man City’s coach Pep Guardiola, during a post-match conference, announced his side’s readiness to contend with Arsenal for the title this season as Arsenal currently sits about three (3) points clear of City on the Premier League table.
Asked whether City were focused on Arsenal’s form and their position at the top, he responded, “We’re not really looking at Arsenal, though. What the other teams are doing, because at the end of the day, we know that it depends only on us. “
Doku is enjoying his best season at City since arriving from Rennes in 2023.
The 23-year-old has three goals already, including his stunner against Liverpool, which is only five behind his season-best tally of eight. While he is on course to break that record, the Belgium international insists that he’s not focused impressed by statistics. On his part, his definition of a bad game is not in numbers but when he feels he was ineffective in a game.
“I don’t do that, because I think those come from themselves. I just work to have more of that, but I’m not a player that’s going to look after a game and say, ‘you didn’t score, you didn’t assist, you had a bad game. I’m not that type of player. A bad game is for me if I don’t touch the ball, if I’m not effective or if I lose a lot of balls; that’s a bad game. If I didn’t score today, would I have said this is a bad game? No, I would have said this is a good game. That’s how I am and how I’m going to be,” he continued.
Meanwhile, City moved to within four points of leaders Arsenal at the top of the table thanks to goals from Erling Haaland, Nico González and Jérémy Doku.
The result against Liverpool came 24 hours after Mikel Arteta’s side drew 2-2 with Sunderland, and Guardiola said afterwards it felt like a significant performance against the current champions.
“I think Liverpool and us said ‘oh wow, Arsenal dropped points finally and conceded two goals. But in the end, we have to do it, and I said to the players. Don’t do it because yesterday Arsenal didn’t win. Do it because we believe in ourselves that we can play against the champions of England and show them we are ready to be there with them this season,” said Guardiola.
He added, “Today, we proved it. We did it.”
Guardiola went on to praise Jeremy Doku for his stunning display during the match. He won a penalty earlier in the 13th minute of the match when Doku made a trademark dribbling run into the Liverpool penalty area.
“He [Doku] is demanding himself to be better, he listens, and he has special attributes with dribbling,” said Guardiola.
Guardiola was impressed with the Belgian, particularly after Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley had such a good game against Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior on Tuesday.
“Today, Conor [Bradley], the right-back of Liverpool, I’m really, really impressed
“Pep Lijnders told me a thousand incredibly good things about that guy. He can do everything. I know the game against [Real] Madrid, how good [he was] against Vinícius.
“And he [Doku] handled it. He was aggressive, quick without the ball, and we tried to help him. He played an outstanding game.”
Victory over Liverpool was the perfect way for Guardiola to celebrate his 1,000th game as a manager.
“Thank you to the players and staff for giving me an incredible present against the most important opponent we faced in my time here,” said Guardiola.
“It has been nice playing against them and seeing Virgil [van Dijk], [Andy] Robertson, and Mohammed Salah after all the battles we have had.
“It has been a special night with my kids here.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s 0–3 defeat to Manchester City on 9 November was their 5th loss in 11 Premier League matches since the start of the 2025/26 season.
Their coach, Arne Slot, jokingly made remarks that his squad have been very consistent this season in terms of losing games.
They played Brentford some days before their City clash on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium. They suffered a 2–3 defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium, prompting a reaction from former Man Utd forward and the club’s all-time leading goal scorer, Rooney.
Messi hints at a return to Camp Nou as he shares pictures of his visit to the renovated stadium of Barcelona.
Barcelona moved temporarily to the Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc when renovation works began at Spotify Camp Nou in the Summer of 2023. While it was set to be ready so use in the 2024/25 season, it saw some delays, pushing the reopening to August 2025.
Barcelona are set to return during the 2025/26 La Liga season, though only the lower tiers will be complete. Work on the upper tiers will continue throughout the season.
Lionel Messi, one of the club’s favourite, greatest-ever players and longest-serving modern icon, paid an unannounced visit to the stadium on Sunday, November 9, ahead of his camping in Spain with Argentina and ahead of Camp Nou’s partial reopening this November in their clash against Athletic Club in La Liga.
During his visit, he expressed his desire to return not only to bid farewell to fans and the club officially, but for something more than just a goodbye.
In an Instagram post, he wrote alongside pictures he took at the stadium, “Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart,” he wrote alongside the images on Monday. It’s a place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel like the happiest person in the world a thousand times over. I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do…”
Messi spent about twenty-one years at Camp Nou. He joined Barcelona’s famous academy at the age of 13, from Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, between 2000–2004. He made his debut appearance at age 17 when the club played against Spain on October 16, 2004.
Lionel Messi played 778 official matches for Barcelona, scoring a club-record 672 goals, providing 269 assists, and winning 35 major trophies, including 10 La Liga titles, 7 Copa del Rey titles, 4 UEFA Champions League titles, 3 FIFA Club World Cups, 3 UEFA Super Cups, and 8 Spanish Super Cups.
He played his last match in August 2021 vs Celta Vigo, before leaving due to financial constraints at the club, and making a ‘hasty’ exit to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
His departure wasn’t formally done due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in place at the time.
Club president Joan Laporta has spoken about a desire to bring Messi back for a tribute game, suggesting it would be the perfect way to inaugurate the new Camp Nou, which has been closed for redevelopment since 2023.
“It would be a great way to open the stadium [when it’s finished], with 105,000 packed in and paying tribute to Leo,” Laporta reiterated to reporters after an open training session in front of 23,000 fans at Camp Nou last week.
“Always, of course, depending on what [the Messi camp] wants. There are also presidential elections before then, but in the case I am still president, I would love that.”
Messi, whose relationship with Laporta cooled following his departure, has never previously commented on the possibility of returning to participate in any such game. Work is still ongoing on Camp Nou.
Barça currently have a license to host games with 25,991 fans present, but hopes to secure a permit to increase that to 45,401 later this month, at which point they will return to the arena, having spent over two years playing at the Olympic Stadium in the city.
However, the third tier still needs to be finished and the roof added. When the refurbishment is completed, which is not anticipated to be until 2027, the capacity will rise to 105,000.
Messi returned to Europe over the weekend after scoring twice on Saturday as third-seeded Inter Miami ousted sixth-seeded Nashville SC in the decisive Game 3 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.
Meanwhile, Messi, speaking at the America Business Forum, held at the Kaseya Centre in Miami, highlighted that winning the title of football’s greatest tournament, the FIFA World Cup, is the highest achievement any player can attain in football.
According to him, he feels fulfilled after leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the memory continues to excite him every time it comes to mind.
The Barcelona icon noted that clinching the Mundial was the perfect way to cap off his footballing career, and nothing more could be asked of him.
“Winning the World Cup is the ultimate achievement. After the World Cup, there’s nothing more you can ask for. It’s hard to explain the feelings from that moment. It’s difficult to find words to describe what that title meant on a personal level, for my family, my teammates, and for the country.
“It was clear how the whole nation celebrated it, the need and desire we all had for that to happen again after such a long time”.
He continued that it was an exceptional experience in his life, having won trophies in his career, but winning the World Cup “completed my entire career with that trophy.”
“…It was special. I had already been lucky enough to achieve everything else before, at club level, individually. That was the one thing missing, the one that completed my entire career with that trophy.”
This comes after his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo rejected the notion that he needs to lead Portugal to a World Cup title to be considered among the greatest players in history.
Manchester City’s 2023-24 season is widely regarded as their worst under Guardiola, marked by their lowest points tally at the halfway stage and a struggle to keep pace with Arsenal, according to statistics.
However, holders of the three straight Premier League titles have seen a massive run of good form this season. Following their 3-0 win against Liverpool on Sunday, 9 November at the Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola has thrown a challenge to Arsenal that their win shows they are ready to battle for the title.
City moved to within four points of leaders Arsenal at the top of the table thanks to goals from Erling Haaland, Nico González and Jérémy Doku.
The result against Liverpool came 24 hours after Mikel Arteta’s side drew 2-2 with Sunderland, and Guardiola said afterwards it felt like a significant performance against the current champions.
“I think Liverpool and us said ‘oh wow, Arsenal dropped points finally and conceded two goals. But in the end, we have to do it, and I said to the players. Don’t do it because yesterday Arsenal didn’t win. Do it because we believe in ourselves that we can play against the champions of England and show them we are ready to be there with them this season,” said Guardiola.
He added, “Today, we proved it. We did it.”
Guardiola went on to praise Jeremy Doku for his stunning display during the match. He won a penalty earlier in the 13th minute of the match when Doku made a trademark dribbling run into the Liverpool penalty area.
Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, came off his line to challenge. As Doku tried to skip past him, Mamardashvili caught Doku with his left knee, bringing him down, earning Man City an immediate penalty award from the referee. Haaland took the penalty, but he missed.
“He [Doku] is demanding himself to be better, he listens, and he has special attributes with dribbling,” said Guardiola.
Guardiola was impressed with the Belgian, particularly after Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley had such a good game against Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior on Tuesday.
“Today, Conor [Bradley] — the right-back of Liverpool — I’m really, really impressed
“Pep Lijnders told me a thousand incredibly good things about that guy. He can do everything. I know the game against [Real] Madrid, how good [he was] against Vinícius.
“And he [Doku] handled it. He was aggressive, quick without the ball, and we tried to help him. He played an outstanding game.”
Victory over Liverpool was the perfect way for Guardiola to celebrate his 1,000th game as a manager.
“Thank you to the players and staff for giving me an incredible present against the most important opponent we faced in my time here,” said Guardiola.
“It has been nice playing against them and seeing Virgil [van Dijk], [Andy] Robertson, and Mohammed Salah after all the battles we have had.
“It has been a special night with my kids here.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s 0–3 defeat to Manchester City on 9 November was their 5th loss in 11 Premier League matches since the start of the 2025/26 season.
Their coach, Arne Slot jokingly made remarks that, his squad have been very consistent this season in terms of losing games.
They played Brentford some days before their City clash on Sunday at the Etihad stadium. They suffered a 2–3 defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium prompting a reaction from former Man Utd forward and the club’s all-time leading goal scorer, Rooney.
Speaking in the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, the five-time Premier League winner said the body language of captain Virgil van Dijk and talismanic forward Mohamed Salah during Liverpool’s troubled spell was a “big concern”.
He believes that the duo have signed a contract extension with the club, but their posture this season does not reflect that of good leadership, one that is in charge, citing that as one of the reasons behind the team’s struggles.
“This is a time when the manager and the leaders in the team need to figure it out very quickly. Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah they’ve signed new deals, but I don’t think they’ve really led that team this season. I think body language tells you a lot, and I think we’re seeing slightly different body language from the two of them. They are the top two players in that team, and if their body language is not right, that affects everyone else,” he said.
On his part, the team is clearly having a hard time overcoming their struggles, as they never anticipated such results, which have now placed them seventh in the Premier League table. He has called on the leadership of Liverpool to treat the team’s current form with urgency.
The Reds have lost four consecutive Premier League matches and are now seven points behind leaders Arsenal.
“No one has seen this coming; it’s hit them quick, it’s hit them hard, and I think they’re struggling to find a way out of it,” he added.
“I might be wrong on this, but if I were a Liverpool fan or the manager, that would be a big concern for me.”
In reaction to this, Virgil van Dijk has shot down the legend’s claims, flawing them as lazy criticism.
According to him, a team’s form is not entirely the responsibility of a few players but that of every member of the team citing the silence of the former Man Utd legend when the club was their best last season where they won the Premier League title last season. He said the remarks didn’t hurt him.
He said, “I didn’t hear him last year,” Van Dijk told reporters, after Liverpool arrested their slide with a win against Aston Villa on Saturday. It doesn’t hurt me. Just to come back to this particular player, obviously a legend, a big player of the game who inspired so many, I can say only positive things, but I feel that comment is just, I would say it’s a bit of a lazy criticism. It’s easy to blame the other players, but he knows we do it together, trying to help each of us to try to get out of this. Last year, when things went well, you didn’t hear that at all”.
On his part, Rooney’s remarks are an opinion, and as a pundit, he is entitled to his opinion and which is to say, he is doing his job.
“It is what it is.[Pundits] have to do that job. He has an opinion, and we have to deal with it. There’s no hard feelings. I don’t take it personally,” he continued.
Cristiano Ronaldo in a recent interview with Piers Morgan aired on Wednesday, November 5, stated that winning a World Cup wasn’t a dream.
“If you ask me, Cristiano, is it a dream to win the World Cup? No, it’s not a dream. To define if I’m one of the best in history, to win one competition, six games, seven games, you think that’s fair?” the Al-Nassr captain noted.
Hours later that day, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and his long-standing rival, Lionel Messi, speaking at the America Business Forum, held at the Kaseya Centre in Miami, highlighted that winning the title of football’s greatest tournament, the FIFA World Cup, is the highest achievement any player can attain in football.
According to him, he feels fulfilled after leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the memory continues to excite him every time it comes to mind.
The Barcelona icon noted that clinching the Mundial was the perfect way to cap off his footballing career, and nothing more could be asked of him.
“Winning the World Cup is the ultimate achievement. After the World Cup, there’s nothing more you can ask for. It’s hard to explain the feelings from that moment. It’s difficult to find words to describe what that title meant on a personal level, for my family, my teammates, and for the country.
“It was clear how the whole nation celebrated it, the need and desire we all had for that to happen again after such a long time”.
He continued that it was an exceptional experience in his life, having won trophies in his career, but winning the World Cup “completed my entire career with that trophy.”
“…It was special. I had already been lucky enough to achieve everything else before, at club level, individually. That was the one thing missing, the one that completed my entire career with that trophy.”
This comes after his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo rejected the notion that he needs to lead Portugal to a World Cup title to be considered among the greatest players in history.
The Real Madrid legend is expected to feature in FIFA’s flagship event in 2026, his sixth appearance at the tournament, but insists he does not need a World Cup win to validate his legacy.
Meanwhile, the Argentina and Inter Miami CF captain Messi has expressed his desire to join his country to defend their title after winning the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
However, he said he is yet to make a final decision on whether or not he’ll play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be co-hosted by Mexico, USA and Canada.
Speaking during an interview with NBC News that aired Monday, October 27, the 8-time Ballon d’Or winner said,
“Well, the truth is that yes, it’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup,” Messi said in an interview. “And I would like to be there. To feel well and to be an important part of helping my national team, if I am there”.
While he expressed his desire to represent his country at the global level, he stressed his unflinching commitment to Argentina but noted that his final decision will depend largely on how he feels physically and whether he remains fit enough to compete at the highest level.
“I am going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter [Miami] and see if I can really be 100%. I’m really eager because it’s the World Cup. We’re coming off winning the last World Cup, and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because it’s always a dream to play with the national team, especially in official competitions, so hopefully God will allow me to do it once again.”
Messi noted that his fitness is a major concern and determining factor in making a final decision to feature in the Argentina squad because he is not at his best when he is not fit during games.
“…we’ll see. I’m trying to feel good and, above all, be honest with myself. When I feel good, I enjoy it, but when I don’t, honestly, I don’t have a good time, so I prefer not to be there if I don’t feel good,” Messi said after a World Cup qualifying win over Venezuela in September.
The Inter Miami captain has formed an integral part of the team’s success throughout the 2025 campaign, featuring in MLS, Leagues Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup and Club World Cup action. He recently clinched the 2025 MLS Golden Boot after recording 29 goals in 28 regular-season games, earning the accolade for the first time since he joined Miami in 2023.
He’s also a finalist for the 2025 MLS MVP trophy for his contributions to Inter Miami. Should he win the MVP award, Messi would become the first player to win the trophy in two consecutive seasons.
Messi just extended his contract with Inter Miami, signing a new three-year deal through the end of the 2028 MLS season.
“I’ve always said that I’ll base my decision [about playing] on how I feel day to day and how I feel physically and mentally to continue playing and to continue being part of this club,” Messi told NBC on Monday. “Honestly, I felt really good during the year. I’m happy living in Miami, as is my family, and honestly, the decision was easy.”
Inter Miami currently prepares to face Nashville SC on Saturday in the second game of the best-of-three round one series of the playoffs. The Herons lead the series 1-0 after triumphing against Nashville at Chase Stadium with two goals from Messi and one from Tadeo Allende.
Comrade Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has delivered a powerful Pan-African clarion call for reparations. Reparations is a bold, unapologetic 152-page demand for reparative justice — not only for slavery but also for colonialism.
The strength of this book is evident in how much it influenced President Mahama’s 2025 UN address, a speech that was hailed across the African continent and diaspora.
My favourite chapters are Chapters 3 and 4. In Chapter 3, titled The Case for Reparations, Mr Pratt writes, “On a moral level, it is pretty straightforward. The transatlantic slave trade led to the kidnapping and forced labour of over 12 million Africans, along with countless deaths.
After that, colonialism brought even more misery: taking land, forced labour, stealing resources, destroying cultures, and mass killings. These were not just mistakes; they were deliberate actions by governments and institutions looking to profit off African lives.”
Elsewhere, he observes, “Reparations are also about reshaping the story. They take history back from those who oppressed and give it back to those who were oppressed.”
Mr Pratt supports his argument with strong historical precedents, including the billions paid by Germany to Israel and Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, by the United States to Japanese Americans, and by Western nations to indigenous populations. He notes that the African Union’s calls for reparations are grounded on these very precedents.
He transforms the call for reparations from a purely African demand into a global movement by citing the case of India, which lost an estimated USD 45 trillion to Britain between 1765 and 1938.
He insightfully identifies the debtors of reparations as “states, corporations, religious orders, and wealthy families whose fortunes are built on the backs of enslaved Africans, colonized people, and pillaged resources.”
Mr. Pratt also explores possible models of reparations — including cash payments, debt cancellation, and investment in infrastructure, technology, and education.
Particularly compelling is his call for the establishment of Pan-African universities to educate and empower the continent’s youth. He proposes that reparations should be both continental and diasporic, estimating the cost at $2 trillion in slave labour and between $4–6 trillion for colonial resource extraction.
However, I noted two major omissions and a few cautions in this otherwise commendable work.
First, the book overlooks the Arab slave trade, which lasted longer and may have extracted even more labour from Africa. Secondly, it does not adequately address the complicity of African interior empires and coastal elites who became indispensable partners of European slave traders. These elites transformed cities such as Anomabu, Cotonou, and Dakar into wealthy trading hubs that rivalled Liverpool, Charleston, and Savannah in their time.
Additionally, I am concerned about accountability for reparations funds. If some elites in Ghana could misappropriate Covid-19 relief funds, and Nigerian kleptocrats could loot recovered Abacha assets, who can guarantee that reparations funds would not suffer the same fate?
Despite these minor blemishes, Comrade Pratt has written a classic that deserves to stand beside Adam Hochschild’s King Leopold’s Ghost, Eduardo Galeano’s Open Veins of Latin America, and Walter Rodney’s How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. It is a vital contribution to global justice and should be required reading for anyone who believes in moral restitution and historical truth.
In salute, I say, “Comrade Kwesi Pratt, Aluta Continua, Victoria e certa!”
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
For someone who once described late Liverpool and Portuguese national Diego Jota as a close friend, whose demise made him cry a lot, Cristiano Ronaldo faced severe backlash from netizens and fans when he didn’t show up at his teammate’s funeral.
Some supporters and commentators saw Ronaldo’s absence as disrespectful, while there were speculations that Ronaldo was holidaying in Mallorca at the time, which fueled anger and disappointment among fans.
However, the Al-Nassr captain has rebuffed the claims, stating that his absence was in respect to the memory of Jota.
During his interview with Piers Morgan, which aired on November 5, Cristiano Ronaldo said he didn’t attend Diogo Jota’s funeral because he barely goes out; anytime he appears somewhere, the place turns into “a circus,” and he didn’t want to create such a scene.
Liverpool and Portugal forward Jota and his brother André Silva tragically died in a car accident in July.
Ronaldo told Piers Morgan why he didn’t attend, saying: “Two things; people criticise me a lot. I don’t care about that. When your conscience is good and free, you don’t have to worry about what people say.
“But one of the things I don’t do? After my father died, I have never been to a cemetery again. When you know me, and you know my reputation? Wherever I go, it is a circus. I don’t go out because, if I go, the attention goes to me. I don’t want this sort of attention,” he mentioned.
According to him, he avoids granting interviews during sensitive times, as he believes those moments are not appropriate to speak about the people involved.
“I don’t like it when you go to a sensitive moment to do interviews, to speak about him, to speak about football. This shows how a circus is life, sometimes. I am not a part of that. If you want to be a part of this world, good luck, but I will be a part of another side.
Despite what people said, about his being absent, he felt okay with his decision.
“People can continue to criticise. I felt good with my decision.”
Virgil van Dijk, Arne Slot and Andy Robertson led the Liverpool squad at the funeral of Jota and his brother.
Former teammates Jordan Henderson and James Milner also attended, as well as Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes. Jota earned 49 caps for his country, twice winning the Nations League.
He also won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup with Liverpool.
The late Liverpool player, Diogo Jota and FC Penafiel’s Andre Silva.
The brothers were killed in a tragic car crash on July 3 in the Spanish province of Zamora in the early hours of Thursday, July 3, at approximately 12:35 a.m. local time. Their funeral was held on July 5, at 10 a.m. local time in the Portuguese town of Gondomar.
The bodies of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva were sent to Gondomar, Portugal, on the night of Friday, July 4, just after 11:00 p.m. local time.
A convoy of hearses transported them from Puebla de Sanabria, Spain, near the site of the tragic crash, and they were met with quiet applause and mourning crowds outside the local chapel.
According to ESPN, as reported by Spain’s Guardia Civil (Civil Guard). An investigation team has reported that the two’s accident occurred when they overtook a car, their tyre blew, which led to their veering off the road and crashing into a barrier, and then immediately burst into flames.
The Spanish government official, Ángel Blanco, revealed that the car was completely burned and that the two players were inside the vehicle.
According to Miguel Gonçalves, a Portuguese physiotherapist who had recently treated Jota, the Liverpool forward had been advised to travel by car instead of flying after undergoing minor surgery on his right lung at the end of the season. Jota won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal last month.
Due to the severity of the fire, authorities had to use DNA testing and documents found in the wreckage to confirm their identities.
The brothers were reportedly en route to Santander to catch a ferry to the UK, as Jota had been advised not to fly following recent lung surgery.
Diogo recently got married two weeks before to his long-term girlfriend, Rute Cardoso. He is survived by three children. Diogo Jota’s brother was a 25-year-old Penafiel player in the Portuguese 2nd League.
The brothers boyhood club Gondomar SC, have honoured them with a special kit for the 2025-26 season for the two brothers.
The tribute kit by Gondomar SC was officially announced on August 3 via the club’s Instagram account and other social media platforms.
The club posted images of the new 2025–26 home, away, and third kits, each featuring large portraits of Diogo Jota and André Silva on the front, with their names appearing on the back beneath an infinity symbol, symbolising eternal remembrance.
The caption of the post read,
“Our new jersey brings in the great image of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, two sons of Gondomar who left us too soon, but who will live forever in the history of our club and our football. Every time our athletes put on this jersey, it’s like stepping on the field with them”.
According to Gondomar SC, though the goal of football, as many perceive, is just notching goals and earning victories, they explain it as one that goes beyond this.
“Because football is more than victories and goals, it’s legacy, it’s family, it’s love for our land.”
The fourth-tier Portuguese side added: “More than a jersey, a tribute eternal.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has reacted to Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarks about the club’s problematic structure that needs an urgent fix.
Ronaldo, during an interview with Piers Morgan, which was aired on November 5, suggested a complete change, particularly in the club structure, as soon as possible before they get worse, lauding the club as “one of the most important clubs of the century”, citing that the club’s current woes are not entirely the fault of the head coach Ruben Amorim. He said the Portuguese coach can’t work “miracles” to change the club’s fortunes; it’s impossible.
Al-Nassr striker Ronaldo, a former international team-mate of Amorim, argued that while some of United’s players were good, others did not have the “mind” of a player for the club.
Responding to him, Amorim admitted that the club has made mistakes, but stressed it must look to the future rather than dwell on the past.
“He [Ronaldo] knows he has a huge impact with everything he says,” Amorim said. We know that as a club, we made a lot of mistakes in the past. We are trying to change that. Let’s not focus on what happened [in the past]. We are changing a lot of things; the structure, the way we want the players to behave. We are improving. Let’s forget a little bit about the past,” he noted during his side’s trip to Tottenham on Saturday (12:30 GMT).
Ronaldo also continued that, “We all have to be honest and look at ourselves and say, Listen, they are not on a good path. So they need to change.”
Cristiano Ronaldo went on to lament the decline in Manchester United’s structure and foundation compared to the club’s earlier years.
“You have to follow with intelligent people, smart people, to create a base for the future, as Manchester United did so many years ago. Nicky, Garys, Roy Keanes, Beckhams, they became big players, but they had youth,” he added.
Ronaldo’s last interview with Piers Morgan followed a massive fallout with Man Utd, three years ago.
The interview was widely reported as an explosive one. Aired in two parts on November 16 and 17. During the interview, he slammed the coach at the time, Ten Hag. He noted he doesn’t respect him because the coach doesn’t respect him, too, adding that, following Sir Fergusson’s departure, everything at Man Utd had come to a standstill. He also
“I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me.” Ronaldo accused Ten Hag of trying to force him out and criticised how he was treated, especially after refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham. “Nothing has changed since Sir Alex left. The pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym… they stopped in time.”
Speaking on the club’s younger teammates attitude, Ronaldo lamented that,
“They don’t listen. They don’t care. They have everything too easy,” expressing his disappointment in some players and other members of the club, including the coach, who wanted to see him exit the club.
“Yes, not only the coach but two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed,” he added.
About five days after the interview aired, Man Utd terminated the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s contract by mutual consent in November 2022.
After leaving Manchester United in November 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr, a Saudi Arabian club, in December 2022. He signed a contract reportedly worth over $200 million per year, including commercial agreements, making it one of the most lucrative deals in football history.
His contract with Al-Nassr added greatly to his already solid financials. According to Forbes’ ranking released in May 2025, CR7 emerged as the highest-paid athlete for the third consecutive year.
According to the ranking, NBA star Stephen Curry has taken Lionel Messi’s position as the second-highest paid, falling four places behind his rival.
Curry, the Golden State Warriors guard who became the first NBA player to reach 4,000 career three-pointers in March, recorded $156 million (approximately £117 million) in income.
Forbes says Ronaldo has been on the list five times in his career and has since increased his estimated total earnings by $15 million, reaching $275 million (about £206 million). Cristiano Ronaldo’s earnings have increased following his juicy contract with Al-Nassr and partnerships with Nike, Binance, and Clear, as well as his brand and huge social media following.
A study conducted by some students of the University of Ghana and published in April 2017 shows that many females in Ghana are aware of the female condom, but just 2% of them use it.
This has translated into a loss for the National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NACP), conducted by the Public Health Division of the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
According to the Deputy Programme Manager of the National AIDS/STI Control Programme, Dr Anthony Ashinyo, his outfit has had to trash about 50,000 female condoms procured following a low patronage and demand, leading to their expiry.
During an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Dr Ashinyo explained that the expired condoms formed part of large consignments meant to promote safer sex among women, but poor patronage rendered most of them unused.
“We bought a lot of female condoms in the past, but they were not being used. Over time, they expired, and we had to throw them away. Now, procurement is done in very small quantities because the demand is not there,” he said.
He explained that many women stay away from female condoms because of how society views them. To them, using female condoms means distrust of their partner or that she is sexually promiscuous.
“Many women believe that wearing female condoms means they cannot be trusted by their partners, so they would rather rely on male condoms. The desire and interest to use the female condoms are just not there,” Dr Ashinyo added.
He also expressed concern about the misuse of female condoms, revealing that some women remove the rims to design bangles and clothes, while others complain about discomfort and overstimulation when using them.
Dr Ashinyo continued that the low patronage of the female condoms poses a threat to Ghana’s fight against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.
“Condoms serve as a biomedical protective tool that collects secretions containing viruses. When people don’t use them, those secretions come into direct contact during intercourse, increasing the risk of infection,” he noted.
To check this worrying trend, Dr Ashinyo called for increased awareness and public education and advocacy to clear the misconceptions about it and ensure that the supplies to pharmacies and public health facilities see a boost again.
The low demand, he said, has affected the supply chain, with pharmacies and public health facilities now stocking only limited quantities. He called for renewed public education and advocacy to address misconceptions and encourage female condom use as part of national HIV prevention efforts.
According to the 2024 National and Sub-National HIV and AIDS Estimates and Projections Report, about 334,721 people are currently living with HIV in Ghana. The country recorded 15,290 new infections and 12,614 AIDS-related deaths last year.
The Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, said new infections among the youth are rising due to low condom usage and complacency about HIV risks.
To reverse the trend, he announced plans to install condom dispensing machines at public spaces such as transport terminals, university campuses, and youth events to increase accessibility.
“A person living with HIV still fears disclosure, still fears ostracism, and still fears for their future. We must challenge this,” Dr Akanbong urged, calling on Ghanaians to treat people living with HIV with dignity and respect.
Globally, HIV has claimed an estimated 44.1 million lives as of July 2025, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The agency notes that while transmission remains widespread, effective prevention and antiretroviral therapy (ART) continue to offer hope for managing and reducing infections.
In late October, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) revealed that an average of 42 new HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infections are recorded daily among adults and children across the country.
According to the Commission’s 2024 National and Sub-National HIV Estimates and Projections, a total of 334,721 people are currently living with HIV in Ghana. Out of this figure, 105,460 are males, representing 31.5 percent, while 229,261 are females, accounting for 68.5 percent.
The Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regional Technical Coordinator of the GAC, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim Bimbilla, who disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, said the data provides crucial insight into the scale of the epidemic and guides effective planning.
He revealed that 15,290 new HIV infections were recorded in the country, comprising 4,987 males, representing 32.6 percent, and 10,303 females, representing 67.4 percent.
Mr. Bimbilla also noted that AIDS-related deaths currently stand at 12,614, consisting of 5,445 males and 7,159 females. He said approximately 229 deaths are prevented each week through the provision of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) services.
Providing a regional breakdown, he said the North East Region recorded the lowest HIV population with 1,717 cases, while Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Eastern recorded the highest figures of 77,821, 63,159, and 44,792 respectively.
He added that seven regions known as Ahafo, Upper East, Northern, Upper West, Oti, Savannah, and North East each recorded HIV populations below 10,000.
According to him, HIV prevalence is highest in the Bono Region with 2.22 percent, followed by the Eastern Region with 2.08 percent and Ahafo with 1.88 percent, while the North East Region recorded the lowest prevalence at 0.43 percent.
He further indicated that five regions, namely Oti, Upper East, Savannah, Northern, and North East, recorded prevalence rates below 1.0 percent.
Mr. Bimbilla stated that the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Eastern regions also recorded the highest number of new HIV infections, with 3,436, 2,997, and 2,019 cases respectively, while the North East Region recorded the lowest with 97 cases.
Eleven regions, including Bono, Volta, Bono East, Western North, Ahafo, Upper East, Northern, Upper West, Oti, Savannah, and North East, recorded fewer than 1,000 new infections.
Commenting on the trend, Mr. Bimbilla described the decline in HIV prevalence, new infections, and AIDS-related deaths as a positive development, which he attributed to the growing uptake of ART services.
He expressed optimism that the downward trend would help Ghana achieve epidemic control and urged continued efforts in public education, testing, and access to treatment to sustain progress toward eliminating HIV and AIDS.
In 2024, the Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr. Steve Kyeremeh Atuahene, partly attributed the rise in new HIV infections in Ghana at the time to individuals’ reluctance to disclose their HIV status to their spouses, fearing desertion.
Dr. Atuahene emphasized that the refusal of some HIV-positive individuals to continue their medication was a significant factor in the spike.
He explained, “The fear of the husband or wife deserting them leads some not to disclose their status. Some are afraid their spouse may discover they are taking daily medication, leading them to hide or discontinue their medicines.”
Ghana’s presidential jet has been in France’s Dassault Falcon Service in Le Bourget, France, for its mandatory 24‑month and 1,600‑flying‑hour inspection since March. Eight months on, the Falcon 900EX EASy with registration number 9G-EXE remains grounded, with new faults discovered each time it is scheduled to be dispatched back home.
Initially scheduled for dispatch in mid-year, the Deputy Minister for Defence Brogya Genfi, during a briefing on the floor of Parliament yesterday, November 6, on the reasons for the delay, noted that new technical faults were discovered while the original fault, that is, a corroded fuel tank, was being fixed.
According to Mr Genfi, “The reported corrosion spots detected within the aircraft’s fuel tanks, which affected the aircraft’s delivery date, have undergone extensive repairs. These corrosion issues in the fuel tanks have since been resolved.”
However, he explained that further inspections revealed new problems that caused additional delays.
“In the course of the inspection, fuel leakages were observed from the right-hand wing tank. Unfortunately, after successfully repairing the section of the wing that experienced the leakages, another challenge was encountered while reinstalling the lower panel beneath the wing,” he told Parliament.
The Deputy Minister said the situation required specialised intervention from the manufacturer.
“Following the difficulties encountered, Dassault Aviation invited the Falcon Wing original equipment manufacturer to the Dassault Falcon Services hangar to enable the OEM to conduct an on-site assessment of the right-hand wing lower panel and provide independent technical recommendations aimed at expediting the repair and reinstallation process,” he said.
Mr Genfi added that these repairs have now been completed.
“The repair from the OEM has been successfully carried out, and the right-hand wing repair has also been completed. Upon the completion of this rectification, the aircraft has to undergo a leak test of the fuel tanks, a third engine ground run, painting of the wing lower panel, and finally, an acceptance flight will be performed,” he explained.
However, he stressed that the jet will return to Ghana only when it has been confirmed by experts to be safe and airworthy.
“The challenge had to do with the wing of the aircraft, and that’s why they had to engage the original equipment manufacturer to resolve it. The specific tests that will be run include the fuel tanks and a ground engine run. After that, the repaired wing will be painted. All of these have to be completed before the aircraft will return to Ghana,” he concluded.
In July this year, News about the jet surfaced after Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, questioned why the Vice President travelled by a rented jet instead of the state’s upon her return from the UK following her medical treatment. He asked whether the presidential jet was unavailable, restricted, or reassigned at the time of her private return in May.
In response to this, late Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah revealed that the jet has been grounded in France for repairs and due to the unavailability of a critical component, the turbofan, which had become severely rusted and required urgent replacement.
He said, “Ghana’s presidential jet, if I am to summarize, is an aircraft that is almost 15 years old that has massive multifocal corrosion, including very important parts of the machine.”
realised“These defects, we are trying to fix them, but they keep identifying new defects as they fix them. And one serious aspect of the identification is that, when they realised that the turbofan was heavily corroded and it required replacement, the company did not have a readily available spare,” he noted.
He also highlighted the challenges of accessing certain spare parts in the coming months or years, given the rapid advancement of technology and the fact that aircraft manufacturers rarely produce many components for older jets like Ghana’s Falcon.
“Normally, like all technologies over time, when you do not have many of that in circulation, companies do not produce many of such spares. But after a series of negotiations, a spare was received, and that has been installed successfully. And no one can predict going forward, if other spares also get dysfunctional, whether we are going to be able to have others for replacement,” the Defence Minister added.
The document, which states the detailed status report of the Falcon 900EX indicates that technicians discovered severe corrosion in the aircraft’s left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) feeder tanks, as well as the centre wing tanks. Corrosion and damage on Engine No. 2’s air intake plug receptacle and turbofan, which had to be completely replaced. Intermittent tripping of the starter-generator on Engine No. 2.
A series of deferred defects accumulated over previous operations that required manufacturer-level repair. The report also noted that the fuel tank contamination, if left untreated, can potentially cause engine failure during flight, posing a serious safety risk.
All these have pushed back the initial return of the presidential jet, which was initially bound for return on March 26, 2025; the aircraft’s delivery has now been postponed multiple times.
According to the Defence Minister, the delays the jet has faced at the workshop are a “worrying pattern” and indicate “an aging presidential jet.”
When the jet was flown for repairs in 2020–2021, it saw no delays. In 2022–2023, it was delayed 2.5 months. Fast forward to 2024, it saw another 2 months, and in 2025, it has been delayed for four months and counting, with the hope of its return ending in July.
Meanwhile, a security analyst, Emmanuel Kotin, did not mince words when he spoke about Ghana’s presidential jet on TV3’s The KeyPoints on Saturday, July 12.
He said, “Six years ago, I described it as a flying coffin. That is what it is. Let’s put politics aside; let’s treat this as a national emergency.”
Given Ghana’s status as a sovereign and independent country, Kotin believes, “Nobody would advise the president to use the jet. We need an aircraft befitting our status as a sovereign country.”
While some netizens have advised on the purchase of a new jet, some have also accused the government of wanting to exploit Ghanaians to purchase a new jet for their selfish gains and comfort.
The Defence Minister has highlighted the need to treat the state of the jet as a national issue and a security reason rather than a partisan one, citing that “…this is an air asset of the Air Force that carries not just the President, not just the Executive, but sometimes the Legislature, sometimes other arms of government, and sometimes other institutions.”
President John Dramani Mahama has announced a set of prison reforms set to be undertaken by his administration. The Prison service in Ghana is swaddled with several challenges, including overcrowding, poor infrastructure facilities and limited resources, which mostly affect their feeding.
The conditions in Ghana’s prisons are generally reported as unfavourable, prompting President Mahama’s announcement of a reform agenda.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Damongo Prison Camp on Wednesday, November 5, he mentioned that, “it rests on a fundamental belief that no Ghanaian should be stripped of their humanity, even when they are in prison. We’re therefore implementing far-reaching reforms”.
He also added that there will be an “expansion of the use of alternative sentencing for minor and non-violent offences; reviewing bail conditions to avoid undue hardship, especially for the poor; introducing a parole system to reward good behaviour and accelerate reintegration”.
Mostly in Ghana, it is a reported challenge that many governments tend to abandon or delay projects started by their predecessors, especially when there is a change in political leadership. The president, Mahama, during his first term, began the construction of an 800-inmate capacity remand prison at Tamale in 2014. It stalled in 2016 due to funding issues and political discontinuity after the change of government, leaving it incomplete to this day.
However, President Mahama has announced that his government will complete the facility and develop a modern correctional centre for men, women and juveniles.
“…completing the 800-inmate capacity remand prison at Tamale initiated by my previous administration in 2016, which has been left abandoned…”, he added.
While their facilities are being improved, the condition of service for the officers is also set for a change.
“We’re enhancing the conditions of service for our prison officers, modernising prison infrastructure, and expanding rehabilitation programs connected to sustainable livelihood and employment after release,” President Mahama added.
Additionally, conditions of service for officers are to be enhanced, and the expansion and rehabilitation programmes connected to sustainable livelihoods and employment after release.
“The Prison Service will contribute to the 24-hr economy policy by running prison enterprises, including manufacturing, sewing school uniforms, agro processing to generate income for the Service and prepare inmates for life after prison,” he stressed.
Speaking on the church’s contribution to building the society, President Mahama lauded the Church of Pentecost’s gesture, highlighting that it was a demonstration of what could be achieved if faith-based organisations partnered with the State in its development drive.
“It affirms the timeless truth that nation building is not the sole responsibility of the government but the collective moral endeavour of all who believe in the inherent dignity and potential of every human being,” President Mahama underlined.
In the view of the President, faith involves more than worship as it encompasses practical compassion and transformative action.
“We’ve all shown that when we work together, Ghana works better,” the President said, adding that the facility would serve as a sanctuary for rehabilitation, a centre for a second chance at life and a workshop to transform lives.
The Damongo facility is the third correctional centre being built by the Church of Pentecost and forms part of its safety and security project under the ‘Possessing the Nations Agenda’, focused on constructing state-of-the-art facilities in selected locations across the country.
“From our ministry’s perspective, transformation involves both conversion of souls and society through the Gospel. This is because, as we all know, human beings are not isolated individuals but persons in communities embedded in complex socio-economic structures,” Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, noted.
He said the Church considers the agenda as the “Kingdom project” designed not only to save souls but to foster the transformation of society and pursue the incarcerated, which humans call sinners.
“For us, sinners are our clients. And we look for them wherever they can be found. Our objective as a church is to redeem their souls for heaven, empower them, facilitate their transformation and ultimately reintegrate them as productive members of society,” he added.
The facility is equipped with quarters, classrooms, a workshop, health care units, and digital learning facilities.
Before President Mahama’s proposed reforms, Ghana’s courts often imposed custodial sentences even for misdemeanours such as petty theft or minor fraud. According to research conducted by Dalhousie University in April 2019, offenders for minor offences mostly serve up to 3 years’ jail term. Conditions of bail, such as high sureties or cash deposits, become a challenge, particularly for the poor or disadvantaged, keeping them in custody while the relatively advantaged suspects secured release.
Also, the parole system in Ghana was not properly structured. Ghana did not have an official, structured program or legal process that allowed prisoners to be released early under supervision for good behaviour or rehabilitation progress. Prisoners served full sentences unless granted a presidential pardon or remission
Parole is a system of conditional release from prison before the full sentence is served, allowing an inmate to re-enter society under supervision. Female inmates are housed in dedicated wings of major prisons like the Nsawam Female Prison. Facilities remain limited and often overcrowded.
Ghana has only one Senior Correctional Centre for young male offenders in Accra, and one Juvenile Correctional Centre for females managed by Social Welfare. These centres provide vocational training and education, but are few in number and under-resourced.
In a related development, President Mahama, on August 18, granted amnesty to 998 prisoners across Ghana’s correctional facilities, marking the first major exercise of the presidential prerogative of mercy under his current administration.
The move was in accordance with Article 72 (1) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which empowers the President to grant amnesty in consultation with the Council of State. The offenders were released based on consultations and recommendations from the Prisons Service Council. The president granted amnesty to 998 inmates out of 1,014 recommended.
The beneficiaries of the president’s pardon include 787 first-time offenders, 36 elderly inmates over 70, 33 seriously ill prisoners, and 2 nursing mothers. He also commuted 87 death sentences to life imprisonment, reduced 51 life sentences to 20 years, and approved 2 special petitions.
King of the Asante kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, has welcomed the new Ashanti Regional Police Commander, charging him to stay within his jurisdiction and stay away from matters that fall under his authority, including chieftaincy and land disputes.
Commissioner of Police (COP) Emmanuel Teye-Cudjoe, who occupied the position as the Regional Police Commander, has received a promotion following a reshuffle that was carried out in October at the order of the Inspector General of Police.
Taking his place is DCOP Arthur Osei Akoto, who paid a courtesy call at the Manhyia Palace on Wednesday, November 5. During his visit to the Palace yesterday, the Asantehene charged him to remain within his jurisdiction, avoid interference in land and chieftaincy disputes, and resist intimidation from individuals who might misuse the King’s name.
“I’m sure by now, your predecessor has briefed you about your jurisdiction. Ultimately, peace is what we all seek. In the Ashanti Kingdom, matters relating to land and chieftaincy disputes fall under my authority, not that of the police. If anyone, including a chief, brings such a case to you, simply tell them, ‘Hold on, let me consult the Asantehene. Whatever the case may be, once it reaches my attention, peace shall prevail. If anyone attempts to act arrogantly or remains unyielding, especially in land cases, report it to me; those issues are not part of your mandate”, he noted.
He continued, “However, cases involving theft, robbery, and other social vices fall within your responsibility. Handle them diligently and ensure that peace is maintained throughout our region and kingdom.”
The 1992 Constitution of Ghana affirms that all stool, skin, and family lands are vested in the appropriate stool or skin on behalf of, and in trust for, the subjects of that stool or skin. This gives chiefs a legally recognised role as custodians.
This means that chiefs and other traditional authorities hold land in trust for their people. They cannot treat stool or skin lands as private property.
Asantehene, since his enthronement in 1999, has been the primary arbiter of land conflicts in Asanteman 1999, handling countless cases through traditional structures and reinforcing his authority by warning chiefs against illegal practices like using land guards.
During the new Commander’s visit to the Manhyia Palace, he reiterated his commitment to nipping in the bud the resurgence of land guards, warning dethronement for chiefs who employ the services of landguards.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II fumed at the actions of these land guards, adding that such conduct was against the traditional governance system of Asanteman.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II further called on individuals or chiefs involved in land disputes to seek amicable resolution through proper channels rather than resorting to violence or unauthorised security arrangements.
“I will destool any chief who engages the services of land guards. They know very well that they have no such authority. When those lands were entrusted to them upon their enstoolment, I never instructed them to hire land guards to protect them. I did not grant them the power to employ people to use guns and harm others.
“If you have any land disputes with anyone, bring it before me, and we will resolve it amicably, for peace to prevail,” the Asantehene said.
In July, the Asantehene issued a similar warning, declaring his readiness to destool any chief found harbouring or condoning the illegal activities of land guards within their jurisdictions. The Asantehene’s declaration came during the first Asanteman Council meeting following the culmination of the Silver Jubilee celebrations at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Thursday, July 4, 2024.
Asantehene has built a reputation over the years as a credible arbiter, making him a good candidate to be a part of the mediation team to help resolve the long-standing conflict in Bawku.
During President John Dramani Mahama’s first administration, he named Otumfuo to play a mediating role in the Bawku conflict.
He began the mediation around 2013, but the process was stalled due to the renewed violence and difficulties in securing cooperation from the feuding factions, and the need to reorganise the peace framework.
Mediation efforts began in 2023, but by 2024, the process was paused. During this period, Otumfuo emphasised that he would only continue if both sides were committed to dialogue. In April 2025, Otumfuo resumed mediation at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s involvement in the peace process has been met with widespread approval, with many hopeful that his leadership will play a critical role in restoring peace and stability to the troubled Bawku region.
Colonel Festus Aboagye (Retired), a distinguished security expert, has called for greater support for Otumfuo’s initiative, stressing the importance of embracing multi-track diplomacy to strengthen the peace process.
Colonel Aboagye urged a more inclusive approach to the mediation, calling for the involvement of various national stakeholders such as diaspora leaders, youth advocates, and women’s peacebuilding networks.
He believes that a broader, multi-dimensional strategy will result in a more sustainable and inclusive solution to the conflict.
“Support Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s mediation through multi-track diplomacy, incorporating diaspora leaders, youth influencers, and women’s peacebuilding networks,” he proposed.
He also cautioned that traditional diplomatic efforts alone might not be enough to resolve the deep divisions that have fueled the protracted conflict.
Ghana’s gold reserves have seen a 2.64% increase on October 31 from the 37.06 tonnes worth of gold recorded in September.
According to market data released by the Central Bank on November 5, Ghana’s total gold reserves reached 38.04 tonnes as of October 31, 2025.
This was contained in market data released by the Central Bank on November 5, 2025.
The latest figure represents more than a 35% increase compared to the 28.1 tonnes recorded in October 2024, highlighting continued growth in Ghana’s official gold holdings.
According to the data, the Bank of Ghana’s total gold holdings stood at 30.53 tonnes in December 2024, meaning about 7.51 tonnes have been added between January and October this year.
A careful look at the data showed that in some cases, the amount of gold reserves added by the Bank of Ghana on a month-to-month basis went up by more than 4%.
The Bank of Ghana has attributed the steady growth in its gold reserves to its Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, launched in June 2021.
The Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, launched in June 2021 by the Bank of Ghana, is designed to boost Ghana’s foreign reserves by purchasing gold locally from mining firms and aggregators, paying in local currency, and refining it to international standards.
At the time when the programme was launched, the country’s gold reserves stood at about 8.7 tonnes, and since then until October 2025, Ghana’s gold reserves have grown by approximately 337%.
The increased reserves help the Bank of Ghana stabilise the cedi against external shocks.
The move was also part of efforts to help reduce the Bank’s reliance on the US dollar, which is more vulnerable to global market volatilities and shocks compared to gold.
The Central Bank had previously raised concerns about Ghana’s low gold reserves and stressed the need to improve the situation to strengthen the country’s external position.
Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Asiama, in a recent interview with Joy Business, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to preserving and growing Ghana’s total international reserves.
“This move should also go a long way in helping to firmly stabilise the cedi,” he added.
Not only have Ghana’s gold reserves increased, but revenue from gold has also skyrocketed, particularly since the introduction of GoldBod.
Ghana GoldBoard (GoldBod) has reported a significant revenue accrued from small-scale gold export between January and October 15.
GoldBod is the sole authority with exclusive right to buy, sell, weigh, grade, assay, value and export gold and other precious minerals in Ghana. The Ghana Gold Board functions under the oversight and supervision of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Ghana.
The sector has earned US$8 billion in foreign exchange within ten months, according to data from the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) and the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC).
The data reports that small-scale miners exported 81,719.23 kilograms of gold during the period, valued at US$8.06 billion. This marks a sharp increase from US$4.61 billion recorded in 2024 and nearly quadruples the US$2.19 billion achieved in 2023.
Also, the data shows that gold export increased by 29% between 2024 and 2025, thus from 63,647 kilograms to 81,719 kilograms. When compared to 2023, GoldBod’s earnings have grown more than threefold.
The data highlights a consistent upward trend in both gold volume and export value over the three years, reflecting improved regulation, transparency, and compliance within Ghana’s small-scale mining sector.
The data also showed a robust month-on-month growth in the second quarter of the year, with a revenue of US$1.17 billion recorded in May, US$957.9 million in June, and US$897.6 million in April.
The country’s official gold buying and distribution authority has linked its significant gains to its partnership with PMMC and strengthened oversight of small-scale gold exports and other related gold-purchasing and regulations. The GoldBod-PMMC collaboration has proved efficient since mid-April 2025, when the former began operations, absorbing the functions of the latter.
The collaboration has been instrumental in curbing illicit trade and ensuring that proceeds from gold sales are properly repatriated into the Ghanaian economy.
Meanwhile, GoldBod has been quite instrumental in dealing with leakages in Ghana’s gold trading by regulating the affairs of licensed traders.
It functions under the oversight and supervision of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Ghana.
GoldBod announced the suspension of the licence of a Tier 2 licensed gold buying company in Tarkwa over breach of several gold laws.
In a statement dated Wednesday, September 16, the governing body overseeing all gold trading and export activities in Ghana informed the public that the company’s license has been suspended and all its shops closed.
“The Ghana Gold Board (“GoldBod”) wishes to inform the general public that it has suspended the license and closed all trading shops of NK Benak Enterprise, a licensed gold buyer (Tier 2), with immediate effect,” the statement stated.
The suspension comes on the heels of the company’s breach of several gold trading laws, leading to the arrest of its CEO, who is currently facing prosecution.
“This action has been taken on grounds of NK Benak Enterprise’s complicity in several gold-related offences, which have led to the arrest of the sole proprietor, Bernard Nkrumah, and his prosecution before the High Court,” GoldBod added.
Consequently, Bernak has lost the right to trade with all other licensed gold trading companies. GoldBod emphasised in the statement, highlighting the commitment to ensuring the appropriate enforcement of all gold trading laws to ensure transparency.
“Notice is hereby given to all licensed traders, miners, and the general public to desist from trading and/or engaging in any form of gold transaction with NK Benak Enterprise forthwith. GoldBod remains committed to enforcing the laws and regulations that govern the gold trading sector in the spirit of accountability and transparency,” it added.
This is not the first gold trading company that has been suspended by GoldBod over breach of trading laws. In late August, GoldBod announced it had suspended the license of Evanex Gold Enterprise, a licensed gold buyer (Tier 2), with immediate effect. They took this action following an adverse investigative finding of illegal gold pricing made against the company, contrary to the terms and conditions of the license of the company.
The GoldBod has thereby cautioned licensed traders, miners, and the general public against trading or engaging in any form of gold transaction with Evanex Gold Enterprise forthwith.
“GoldBod remains committed to enforcing the laws and regulations that govern the gold trading sector in the spirit of accountability and transparency,” a statement issued by GoldBod read.
Ghana’s gold industry made a significant contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), recording GH¢88 billion in 2024, according to Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
She made this revelation during the inauguration of the Newmont Ahafo North Mine on Thursday, October 30. According to her, Ghana’s gold exports stood at US$11.2 billion as of August 2025.
“The opening of the Ahafo North Mine is an act of partnership and progress, and the fruit of mutual respect and collaboration. Last year, Ghana’s gold industry contributed GH¢88.1 billion to our GDP. Also, this year, our gold exports reached a record of US$11.2 billion. These figures demonstrate and encourage more confidence in our economy, governance, and national potential,” she added.
The National Sports Authority (NSA) has lifted the ban on professional boxing in Ghana, effective today, Thursday, November 6.
The Authority on September 24 placed a ban on boxing and all other boxing-related activities following the death of rising boxer, Ernest Akushey aka “Bahubali” on Tuesday, September 23.
Consequently, Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, announced during an appearance on Ultimate FM that no professional bout will be held until investigations into Bahubali’s death are finalised.
After a month and a week into the ban, NSA in a statement issued yesterday, that, “The National Sports Authority (NSA) is pleased to announce that the suspension on professional boxing in Ghana is set to be lifted officially on Thursday, November 6th 2025, following successful consultations with Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Interim Management Committee (IMC) overseeing the sports normalization process”.
This follows a successful approval of enhanced medical, safety, insurance and administrative protocols to ensure the sports normalisation and restore the sport’s heritage and reputation.
“The IMC has reported significant progress in addressing the key issues that led to the suspension, particularly the strengthening of medical and safety protocols, as well as improvements in governance and administrative structures. This marks a major step toward restoring Ghana’s illustrious and proud boxing heritage”, parts of the statement read.
NSA commended the IMC, athletes, and industry stakeholders for their cooperation and patience throughout the sport’s normalisation period.
“The NSA commends the IMC, athletes, boxing stakeholders, and the entire sporting community for their patience, diligence and cooperation during this period of reform. The Authority looks forward to a vibrant return of professional boxing and also encourages local as well as foreign promoters investors to bring international bouts and collaborations to Ghana under these enhanced standards,” the statement added.
However, the sports governing agency listed six key reforms (core pillars) that form the foundation of the new professional boxing framework in Ghana
“In the coming days and weeks, there will be education and regular engagements to roll out new exciting partnerships aimed at uplifting the general well-being of Ghanaian boxers and the sports brand. The core pillars include, published medical and safety manuals, codes, and regulations, functional interim medical commission, centralized medical database, approved insurance framework, sustainable medical support system, certified ringside and medical staff,” NSA said.
Meanwhile, the NSA boss also questioned why Akushey had been allowed to engage in multiple bouts in the last 12 to 24 months.
“Ernest Akushey is said to have fought in multiple bouts over the past 12-24 months, which shouldn’t have happened,” he added.
Some reports suggest that doctors have confirmed Akushey died from internal bleeding and malaria.
According to reports from James Town TV and Africabox Showup, Ernest Akushey gave up the ghost today, Tuesday, September 23, after he was rushed to the LEKMA hospital following complaints of undisclosed symptoms on Monday.
The symptoms are said to have worsened, and around 2 am the following day he was confirmed dead.
Bahubali’s death comes barely a week after he suffered a thrashing defeat in a bout with rising opponent Jacob Dickson at the Bukom Boxing Arena, which took place on Saturday, September 13, 2025.
Fans braved early morning rain to attend the event at Bukom Boxing Arena, which was part of the “Monaco – The Night To Prove” boxing showcase.
According to reports, the bout appeared to have favoured Akishey’s opponent as he dominated right from the beginning until he clinched his victory when the final bell rang with an eighth-round technical knockout (TKO).
Widely circulated videos of the fight showed Akushey struggling under relentless pressure, sparking sympathy among fans even before the tragic news of his death.
Consequently, many have speculated that the heavy punches he received during his last fight might have caused him some internal injuries, which have led to his death. However, the family has presented no official autopsy report to support this claim.
A video which was trending on social media after Akushey’s death captures former IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey talking to Ernest “Bahubali” Akushey after the bout with Dickson. It was about time he decided, as he wasn’t fit enough to continue in the sport, which warned him of imminent health problems.“Bahubali, it’s about time that you made a decision. I have told you to stop boxing. The reason I told you that is because I know you feed from boxing. I don’t know when you started fighting, but up to where you have gotten to now. But you need to make a decision and know what you’re doing because those small punches in the games, and you’re falling. You’re going to many wars, and you might not realise the effects today, but in the future, when you grow,” he warned.
According to reports, Akushey collapsed after his bout with Dickson, with many speculating that their bout was a mismatch and a one-sided affair given the dominance of Akushey’s opponent right from the start to finish.
Akushey, who rose through the ranks at the Wadada Gym in James Town, was once an undefeated prospect with a 6-0-0 record.
He earned his “Bahubali” moniker from his ferocious, crowd-pleasing style, likened to the warrior hero in the Indian blockbuster film.
“Bahubali’s” death marks the second case at Bukom. The first death linked to Bukom was that of a Nigerian, Segun “Success” Olanrewaju, who died after collapsing in the ring in the middle of a professional bout with a Ghanaian opponent, Jon Mbanug, at Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday night, March 29, at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, where the 40-year-old fighter Olanrewaju, a former holder of both the Nigerian and West African light-heavyweight titles, had been putting on a strong performance before suddenly losing consciousness mid-fight.
Spectators and officials watched in horror as medical personnel rushed in to provide emergency assistance.
A widely shared video of the match shows the moment he collapsed, leaving fans and members of the boxing community in shock.
Fourteen years after oil first trickled out of the Jubilee field, Ghana has little to show for the windfall.
Since 2011, the state has earned about $11.58 billion from crude production, yet the transformation once promised has proved elusive.
The state’s share comes from royalties of 5% to 12.5%, surface rentals of $30 to $100 per square kilometre, a 15% minimum carried interest, a 35% corporate income tax and a mix of negotiated bonuses and other entitlements with each operator.
These inflows peaked in 2022, when the government collected $1.43 billion, but production has faltered since.
In the first half of 2025, receipts dropped to $370 million. That’s less than half of the $840 million earned a year earlier. A sharply appreciating cedi eroded the dollar value of these inflows even further.
In all, Ghana has pumped around 675 million barrels of crude since 2010.
The question today is not whether the country has benefited from petroleum, but how far the money has carried it.
Through the Africa Extractives Media Fellowship (AEMF), led by Newswire Africa and the Australian High Commission, Isaac Dwamena, coordinator of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), the independent body that monitors the use of Ghana’s petroleum revenues, outlined how the state has handled the cash so far.
Under the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, all petroleum income flows first into a central account, the Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF), before being shared among key recipients.
The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation has received about $3.15 billion to finance operations and exploration.
Another $2.6 billion has been paid into the Ghana Stabilisation Fund to cushion fiscal shocks, while the Ghana Heritage Fund, reserved for future generations, has received $1.1 billion and now holds roughly $1.3 billion.
The largest visible impact has come through the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA), which has absorbed about $4.5 billion since 2011 and supports the government’s yearly budget, making it the channel through which most citizens feel the benefits of oil revenue.https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ZWgrn/2/
These ABFA resources have financed headline projects including Kotoka Airport’s Terminal 3, the Kojokrom–Tarkwa railway, the Axim coastal protection works, the Tamne irrigation scheme, Free Senior High School and the Atuabo gas processing plant.
The investments are visible enough, yet many Ghanaians still wonder whether the wider promise of oil wealth has translated into everyday improvements.
Mr Dwamena argues that spending has lacked a clear guiding framework.
Ghana still has no long-term national development plan approved by Parliament to steer the use of petroleum revenues.
The absence of such a plan, he says, has produced a patchwork of projects launched at once, stretching resources thin and creating bottlenecks, delays and cost overruns.
A new shift is also taking shape in how petroleum funds are allocated.
Under the 2025 budget, the government has directed 95% of the ABFA into its Big Push programme to accelerate major road construction nationwide. The remaining 5% goes to the District Assemblies Common Fund.
It is a sharp pivot from previous years, concentrating almost the entire ABFA on a single priority rather than spreading it across several sectors.
Fourteen years after first oil, the gains remain uneven.
Ghana’s experience contrasts with that of Norway, which channels oil income into a large sovereign wealth fund, invests almost entirely abroad and limits withdrawals to preserve capital for the long term.
Ghana’s own rules for managing petroleum wealth were drafted more than a decade ago. They now require fresh scrutiny.
Public consultations, expert input and legislative review could help adapt the framework to today’s economic pressures and the coming energy transition.
Citizens have seen how the laws they helped craft have worked in practice; they must now consider whether the current system delivers what they intended.
For now, Ghana’s oil money has built airports, schools and pipelines. What it has not yet delivered is the economic transformation its discovery once promised.
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a message to the management of his former club, Manchester Utd’s management, to effect a thorough structural change following their dip in form in recent years.
Under Erik ten Hag, the team ended the 2023 season in eighth place on the Premier League table, missing out on all European competitions after failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. They missed out again the following year under Rúben Amorim, finishing 15th on the table.
Their position sparked concerns among fans and pundits of a possible relegation.
Reacting to the ‘bad state’ of Man Utd, but for the brief resurgence in their last three matches, Ronaldo has suggested a complete change, particularly in the club structure, as soon as possible before they get worse, lauding the club as “one of the most important clubs of the century”.
He said, “So, Manchester United right now, they don’t have a structure. I hope that changes in the future the present future, because the potential of the club is amazing” while comparing the club’s status and form during the stint of “Nicky, Garys, Roy Keanes, Beckhams”.
For a club like Man Utd, that were a champion a few years ago, their current state breaks his heart, Ronaldo continued.
“For me, it’s… I’m sad because of the club, one of the most important clubs in the world, and a club that I still have in my heart because of obvious reasons. You have to follow with intelligent people, smart people, to create a base for the future, as Manchester United did so many years ago. Nicky, Gary, Roy Keane, Beckhams, they became big players, but they had youth.
“So, Manchester United right now doesn’t have a structure. I hope that changes in the future, the present future, because the potential of the club is amazing”, he added.
Cristiano continued that the club’s current form is not entirely the coach’s fault, highlighting the need for a general structural change, as Amorim would not be able to do miracles at United as some expect him to.
He said the Man Utd he knows is currently not on a good path, and that saddens him.
“Miracles? Miracles are impossible. We say in Portugal, miracles are only in Fátima. For me, I’m sad because of the club, one of the most important clubs in the world and a club that I still have in my heart because of obvious reasons.
He continued, “We all have to be honest and look at ourselves and say, Listen, they are not on a good path. So they need to change”.
The club is currently like this because some of the Man Utd players have not improved in their mindset, some of the players, in Ronaldo’s opinion, are yet to see the value and worth of the club, though he applauded some good players in the team.
Ronaldo’s last interview with Piers Morgan followed a massive fall out with Man Ut, three years ago.
The interview was widely reported as an explosive one. Aired in two parts on November 16 and 17. During the interview, he slammed the coach at the time, Ten Hag. He noted he doesn’t respect him because the coach doesn’t respect him, too, adding that, following Sir Fergusson’s departure, everything at Man Utd had come to a standstill. He also
“I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me.” Ronaldo accused Ten Hag of trying to force him out and criticised how he was treated, especially after refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham. “Nothing has changed since Sir Alex left. The pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym… they stopped in time.”
Speaking on the club’s younger teammates attitude, Ronaldo lamented that,
“They don’t listen. They don’t care. They have everything too easy,” expressing his disappointment in some players and other members of the club, including the coach, who wanted to see him exit the club.
“Yes, not only the coach but two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed,” he added.
About five days after the interview aired, Man Utd terminated the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s contract by mutual consent in November 2022.
After leaving Manchester United in November 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr, a Saudi Arabian club, in December 2022. He signed a contract reportedly worth over $200 million per year, including commercial agreements, making it one of the most lucrative deals in football history.
His contract with Al-Nassr added greatly to his already solid financials. According to Forbes’ ranking released in May 2025, CR7 emerged as the highest-paid athlete for the third consecutive year.
According to the ranking, NBA star Stephen Curry has taken Lionel Messi’s position as the second-highest paid, falling four places behind his rival.
Curry, the Golden State Warriors guard who became the first NBA player to reach 4,000 career three-pointers in March, recorded $156 million (approximately £117 million) in income.
Forbes says Ronaldo has been on the list five times in his career and has since increased his estimated total earnings by $15 million, reaching $275 million (about £206 million).Cristiano Ronaldo’s earnings have increased following his juicy contract with Al-Nassr and partnerships with Nike, Binance, and Clear, as well as his brand and huge social media following.
The only sportsman that has surpassed the Al-Nassr star is former world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather, who earned $300 million in 2015 (then £194 million) and $275 million in 2018 (then £205 million).
Tyson Fury moved to third place on Forbes’ highest-paid athletes list, replacing Dak Prescott, the American football quarterback. Prescott, who was previously ranked third, has now dropped to fourth place, earning $137 million in 2025.
Fury was the beneficiary of a Netflix reality television show and a partnership with Maltese tourism.
Man Utd hasn’t been in their best form since Amorim took over from former coach Erik ten Hag in November 2024, with both fans and the club’s hierarchy anticipating a turnaround in results and overall team performance.
However, until their last three matches, where they recorded wins, head coach Amorim had taken just 34 points from his 33 Premier League games in charge.
Speaking about his former club, Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo, during an interview with Piers Morgan, aired on Tuesday, November 4, noted that the club’s current form is not entirely the coach’s fault, highlighting the need for a general structural change, as Amorim would not be able to do miracles at United as some expect him to.
He said the Man Utd he knows is currently not on a good path, and that saddens him.
“Miracles? Miracles are impossible. We say in Portugal, miracles are only in Fátima. For me, I’m sad because of the club, one of the most important clubs in the world and a club that I still have in my heart because of obvious reasons. Manchester United right now doesn’t have a structure. I hope that changes in the near future, because the potential of the club is amazing,” he said.
He continued, “We all have to be honest and look at ourselves and say, Listen, they are not on a good path. So they need to change.”
Cristiano Ronaldo went on to lament the decline in Manchester United’s structure and foundation compared to the club’s earlier years.
“You have to follow with intelligent people, smart people, to create a base for the future, as Manchester United did so many years ago. Nicky, Garys, Roy Keanes, Beckhams, they became big players, but they had youth” he added.
Ronaldo’s contract at Old Trafford was terminated after an interview with Morgan in November 2022, in which he said he felt “betrayed” by United and that he was being forced out.
He added that he did not respect then-manager Ten Hag and criticised the Dutch boss again in September 2024, saying that United must “rebuild everything”.
Ronaldo signed a new contract last summer with Al-Nassr that expires in 2027, and he is expected to play for Portugal in the 2026 World Cup.
Asked by Morgan when he might retire, Ronaldo replied: “Soon. But I think I will be prepared.
“It will be tough, of course. But Piers, I prepared my future since the age of 25, 26, 27 years old. So I think I will be capable of supporting that pressure.”
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, has confirmed the club’s plans to support head coach Amorim to build the team’s capacity.
They intend to sign more players in the next transfer window, either in January or next summer, as Amorim’s three consecutive wins have sparked some optimism about his future at Old Trafford. His last three matches against Sunderland, Liverpool, and Brighton have been just wins.
Wilcox said the club’s hierarchy have already identified the loops that need to be closed to ensure better performance.
“We have got a clear plan. We know what we have to do, and we know the areas of the team that we have to improve. For us to get in the top four and consistently challenge for Champions League places, win Champions Leagues, and win Premier Leagues, we have to invest in the squad. We have to buy the right players. The right players who are talented but also who can deal with the pressure, who can take the squad forward,” Wilcox said in an interview with United’s website.
United have spent close to £250 million ($329m) on new players since Amorim took the job at Old Trafford in November 2024.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe suggested during the October international break that he is willing to give the 40-year-old “three years” to implement his plan.
And Wilcox has backed the British billionaire’s comments by saying the board will “stay calm” even if United’s form dips.
“We have just got to keep this going now. Not get too carried away when we win and not get too disappointed when we lose. We know we are making progress. I am sure there are going to be bumps in the road, but we have just got to make sure we stay calm irrespective of the noise outside,” Wilcox said.
Wilcox’s remarks follow heightened conversations about Amorim’s competence and tactical prowess to help improve Man Utd’s dwindling form, particularly since his takeover from Ten Hag, who was dismissed in November 2024 over a poor run of results.
On September 14, Man Utd suffered an embarrassing defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. The Reds lost against their rivals in a 0-3 derby with a brace from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden.
Speaking in a post-match conference, Amorim addressed some mistakes made by his side, highlighting the confused state of the players at times. According to him, some goals could have been avoided, but he admits he made poor decisions during the game.
On his tactical philosophy, which has come under massive attack, particularly after the derby defeat against City, he reiterated that he will not change it. Some critics have slammed him for his 3-4-3 setup, which appears to be affecting players like Bruno Fernandes or Benjamin Šešk, given United’s current position on the league table.
“It’s not a record that you should have at Manchester United… But I’m not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man.”
The Minister of Sports and Recreation, who also doubles as Member of Parliament for Buem Jasikan, Kofi Adams Iddi, has announced government plans to construct about seven state-of-the-art sports stadium in the Oti Region, aimed at improving local sports infrastructure.
President Mahama, since assuming power, has on countless occasions expressed his commitment to improving sporting infrastructure across the country.
During the President’s first formal meeting with the press, on September 10, he reiterated that the Ministry of Sports and Recreation is actively designing and costing new stadiums as part of the government’s broader effort to nurture regional talent and promote community engagement.
Speaking at the 65th anniversary of Bueman Senior High School, the Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building seven new regional modern sports stadiums, with the Oti Region set to benefit significantly.
He also mentioned that his outfit would construct a modern sports complex at Bueman Senior High School to nurture young talent. The planned facility will feature a basketball court, volleyball court, tennis court, and handball court, which will serve both students and members of the community.
He also promised to support the school with some study materials, including textbooks, sports kits, and digital devices, reinforcing the government’s commitment to expanding grassroots sports and creating educational pathways for young people.
He further announced plans to establish a National School Authority to ensure students from basic school through tertiary level have access to well-funded educational and sporting activities.
In another related development, Ghana has a mixed history when it comes to the quality of our pitches, with rare cases of consistent maintenance often from hosting football, concerts, and rallies. Lack of pitch covers, among others.
In light of this, the Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, attributed Ghana’s lack of pitch covers to a possible oversight; however, he assured that his outfit was making arrangements to secure some to ensure the sustainability and quality of stadia’s turfs nationwide.
The poor condition of several pitches, largely due to inadequate maintenance and the absence of protective covers, has raised concerns about their suitability for hosting matches.
“We are in the process of acquiring pitch covers for our stadia. In the past, maybe it was an oversight, and that is why we don’t have some at the moment, but for now, we are making arrangements to get them,” he said.
He stressed that the move is aimed at preventing further deterioration of the facilities. “We don’t want our pitches to deteriorate, as we witnessed in the past,” Ampofo Ankrah added.
The national stadia include Accra Sports Stadium, Aliu Mahama Stadium, Essipong Sports Stadium, Baba Yara Stadium, and Cape Coast Stadium.
His remarks come at a time when he clarified the Authority’s decision to allow Ghanaian rapper and highlife artist Michael Addo, popularly referred to as Sarkodie, to host his Rapperholic concert this Saturday, September 27, at the Baba Yara sports stadium in Kumasi.
Estimated costs for pitch covers
Pitch covers vary significantly in cost depending on their design, durability, and deployment methodThe cost of a basic tarpaulin cover typically ranges from $5,000 to $20,000 USD, thus approximately around (GH₵ 61,750 -GH₵ 247,000). They are mostly manually deployed sheets designed to protect the pitch from rain. Comparatively cheaper but offer limited durability and seasonal flexibility.
Heavy-duty weatherproof covers cost between $20,000 and $50,000 USD (G₵ 617,500- GH₵ 247,000). These are UV-resistant and suitable for multi-season use. They provide better protection against both rain and sun, making them ideal for regions with fluctuating weather patterns like Ghana.
Mechanised retractable covers are significantly more expensive, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 USD or more. These systems are automated and typically used in elite stadiums around the world. They allow for quick deployment and retraction, often integrated with advanced turf management systems.
Full dome or roof structures, which go beyond simple pitch covers, can cost anywhere from $1 million to $10 million USD or more. These are permanent installations that protect the entire stadium and are usually reserved for high-capacity, multi-purpose venues in wealthier countries.
Sarkodie, responding to the NSA’s directive, took to his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to assure fans that, as he had been explicitly directed from the outset, he expressed his intention to host the concert at the stadium and would not break any rules.
“The rules were set from day 1, and we are not ready to break it (sic),” he said.
About Rapperholic
The Rapperholic Concert was founded in 2012 to showcase Sarkodie’s music, celebrate Ghanaian rap, and thrill fans with exciting performances from both local and foreign artists. The concert is usually headlined by Sarkodie, who mostly gives opportunities to emerging rappers to perform. Rapperholic is mostly nothing short of an actual display of fashion and culture, with fans dressing in streetwear, among others.
This year promises nothing different. The concert is set to host artists like Black Sherif, King Promise, Efya, and surprise international acts. Under the theme “Rapperholic: The Homecoming”.
The Baba Yara Stadium is currently under renovation to meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA standards, making preservation of the playing surface a top priority.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is set to hold a match in honour of Ghana’s all-time leading goal scorer and Africa’s highest goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history, Asamoah Gyan, who is affectionately called ‘Baby Jet’.
In a statement shared on GFA’s website on Tuesday, Nov 5, the match will be organised “to celebrate his illustrious career and immense contribution to Ghanaian football”.
The details of the match, GFA noted that they, “ …working with Gyan, will provide further details of the event in due course. The testimonial will serve as a befitting tribute to a player whose name has become synonymous with Ghana’s football history”.
Highlighting some of his contributions to Ghana football, particularly for the Black Stars, Ghana’s senior national team, GFA lauded his “enviable record as Ghana’s all-time top scorer with 51 goals in 109 appearances for the Black Stars. He is also Africa’s highest goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history, having scored six goals across three tournaments: Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, and Brazil 2014.”
In 2012, Gyan was appointed captain, where he succeeded John Mensah. He served in the captaincy capacity until 2019, when he handed over to Andre Dede Ayew ahead of the 2019 AFCON.
During his stint as captain, he led the Black Stars in two FIFA World Cups (2014) and three Africa Cup of Nations (2013, 2015, 2017).
He began his career with Ghana’s Liberty Professionals in 2003, where he stayed for barely a year before leaving for Italy’s Serie A club Udinese that same year. His European journey began with Udinese, where he stayed for five years. Out of the five years, he played for Modena from 2004 to 2006, displaying brilliant form. While at Modena, he notched 15 goals in 53 appearances, cementing his reputation as a solid rising striker.
He later signed with France’s Stade Rennais (Rennes) in 2008. He made a good impact during his two-season stint with the Ligue 1 side, netting 14 goals in 48 appearances.
His performances earned him a move to the English Premier League, where he signed with Sunderland in 2010. Gyan quickly became a fan favourite, scoring 10 goals in 34 appearances over two seasons. His flair, pace, and goal-scoring instincts made him one of the standout African players in the league at the time.
In 2011, Gyan made a high-profile switch to the United Arab Emirates, joining Al Ain initially on loan before making the move permanent. Between 2011 and 2015, he enjoyed a prolific spell, scoring an astonishing 95 goals in 83 games. He was the UAE Pro League top scorer multiple times and became a household name in Middle Eastern football.
After a brief return to the UAE with Al Ahli on loan during the 2016–2017 season, Gyan added 6 goals in 14 appearances to his tally. In between, he had a stint in China with Shanghai SIPG from 2015 to 2017, where he scored 7 goals in 20 appearances, despite battling injuries.
Gyan’s final major club move was to Turkey, where he joined Kayserispor in 2017. Over two seasons, he made 26 appearances and scored 5 goals, bringing his illustrious club career to a close in 2019.
In June 2023, Asamoah Gyan officially announced his retirement from active football during a panel session at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2023) held at the Accra International Conference Centre. In an emotional moment, Gyan said:
“It is time… that voice has been clear in my ears, and I have succumbed to it. It is time to hang the jersey and boots in glory as I retire officially from active football.”
After he retired from official football, Gyana has carved a reputation as one of the former players that has usually been available for the current crop of players.
He often joins the national team camp to uplift spirits, especially during major tournaments like AFCON and World Cup qualifiers, where he leads Gyama sessions and offers technical advice to some of the players, including Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus.
“Through his dazzling performances, leadership, and charisma, Asamoah Gyan has left an indelible mark on Ghanaian and African football. The upcoming testimonial promises to be a memorable occasion to honour his legendary achievements and celebrate a career that inspired millions across the continent,” GFA added.
Meanwhile, Ghana sealed their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Comoros in their final Group I qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, marking the country’s fifth appearance at football’s biggest tournament.
Following this, several foreign-born players, including Hudson Oddoi, Eddie Nketiah, Francis Amuzu and other players, have expressed their readiness to switch their allegiance from their current countries to Ghana to represent at the global tournament in 2025.
Speaking on the issue and matters arising concerning it, the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, during an interview with 3Sports, explicitly stated that Ghana will not make room for just talent but genuine commitment, respect and love for Ghana.
Referring to his son, who was born and raised in the UK, the GFA President noted that his outfit has no intention to snub any talent, but these players must demonstrate they understand their roots and are committed to making a difference in the team.
“To be honest, we treat these matters on a case-by-case basis. I often use my own son, Kurt Junior, as an example,” Okraku explained.
“He was born and schooled in England, and if he were as talented as Abedi Pele, I wouldn’t deny him the chance to play for Ghana just because he was born abroad. But if he wants to represent Ghana, he must show that he loves, respects, and is committed to Ghana. Thankfully, he visits Ghana every year, so he understands his roots.”
He also stressed that GFA will not entertain players who are suddenly showing interest in representing Ghana just because the squad made it to the tournament, adding that players who previously turned down opportunities to represent the Black Stars would not automatically be reconsidered.
“I don’t want mercenaries coming to Ghana. I don’t want players jumping on board just because we’ve qualified for the Mundial. I want players who love Ghana, who play from the heart, with passion, and are proud to represent the nation in every competition.”
“I’ve been very categorical; if you refused us in the past or showed disrespect to Ghana, I won’t open the door to you just because we’ve made it to the World Cup.
“I don’t care about what the coach wants in that regard. You must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you want to wear the national colours, that you’re proud to be Ghanaian, and that you’re fully committed to the flag,” he added.
The Black Stars are scheduled to learn their group opponents for the 2026 World Cup on December 5.
His remarks about the call-up come to affirm the Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo’s, during a media engagement days ago.
Speaking during an interview with 3Sports, which was aired on Tuesday, October 15, Otto Addo explicitly stated that players who have ignored their calls despite continuous efforts from the national team’s technical staff since 2021 should not expect any call-up now that the Black Stars have secured their ticket to the World Cup.
“We will look at each case one by one. There are players I have been chasing since 2021, who didn’t reply to our calls or want to come. It’s a different thing if we haven’t approached you and now you want to come. But if we have been approaching you all the way and you said no, and now we are at the World Cup, so you want to come, that’s a different matter,” Addo said.
His remarks follow reports that Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah are considering switching allegiance to play for Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The government has announced the commencement of recruitment for internal security agencies. The one-month recruitment exercise is scheduled to begin on November 15 and end on December 15. This was stated in a formal statement issued by the Interior Ministry on Tuesday, November 4.
The Ministry of the Interior wishes to inform the public that from 15th November to 15th December 2025, applications will be received for recruitment into the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and Ghana Immigration Service.
The Ministry explained that, “This nationwide recruitment exercise forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Ghana’s internal security architecture, enhance public safety, and promote effective service delivery across all security agencies. The Ministry, therefore, invites suitably qualified, disciplined, and patriotic Ghanaian citizens who desire to serve the nation with integrity, professionalism, and dedication to submit their applications within the stated period.”
The statement also warned interested applicants to avoid middlemen who may claim they can influence the recruitment process, adding that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted to proceed with the rest of the process.
“Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted and invited for screening, aptitude test, and background verification. Applicants are cautioned not to deal with individuals or groups who claim they can influence the recruitment process for a fee. The Ministry of the Interior and its Agencies do not charge any fee at any stage of the exercise. Any applicant found to have submitted false information or forged documents will be disqualified and may face prosecution. Additionally, applicants who engage middlemen at any stage of the recruitment process will be automatically disqualified from the process,” parts of the statement noted.
The general eligibility requirements for the Ghana Police Service are as follows: “ All applicants for the 2025 Ghana Police Service recruitment must be Ghanaian by birth, of good character, and free of any criminal record. They should not have been dismissed from any public service or other employment, and must meet the age limits set for their chosen category by November 1, 2025.
Also, “Male applicants are required to be at least 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall, while females must be at least 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm). Candidates must be physically and medically fit, have five passes in BECE including English and Mathematics, and be ready to undergo basic police and other specialised training”.
However, the Police Service has five categories of entry, including general duty recruits, tradesmen, graduates (general duty), medical professionals, and religious affairs. Under each of the above-listed categories are specific eligibility requirements as stated by the Interior Ministry.
The common qualification across all tradesmen categories states that each applicant must not be more than 35 years old by November 1, 2025, and must possess a technical or vocational certificate (such as GES/COTVET, National Proficiency, City & Guilds, or NVTI) relevant to their trade.
Ghana Prisons
Recruitment into the Ghana Prisons Service also seeks professionals across several disciplines, including General Duties, Agriculture, Education, Legal, and Medical Services. All applicants are expected to be “Ghanaian by birth, of good character, and free from any criminal record. Candidates must have completed National Service, be computer literate, and physically and medically fit according to the Prisons Service standards. Applicants should be aged between 18 and 35 years by November 1, 2025, and must not have been dismissed from any public service or other employment. Male applicants must be at least 1.68 metres (5 ft 6 in) tall, while females must be at least 1.57 metres (5 ft 2 in). Candidates must also have an active e-mail account, a mobile phone number, and be ready to undergo paramilitary and physical training. Medical professionals are additionally required to have completed one year post-housemanship in a registered hospital or clinic.”
Applicants seeking entry into the general duties of the service are expected to hold a first degree (at least Second Class Lower Division) in Humanities or Social Sciences and have at least one year of post-qualification work experience. Additional qualifications are considered an advantage.
Interested applicants for the service’s Agriculture and Education sectors are also expected to possess a first degree (Second Class Lower or above) in fields such as Animal Science, Crop Science, Soil Science, General Agriculture, Agricultural Mechanic, Agribusiness, Agricultural Biotechnology, Agricultural Engineering, or Agricultural Economics, along with one year of post-qualification experience. Applicants for the Education sector must have qualifications in Basic Education, Early Childhood Education, or Guidance and Counselling, with at least one year of post-qualification experience.
For legal officers, candidates are required to possess a law degree (LLB/BL) and must have been called to the Bar with at least a year of post-qualification experience. Medical professionals are mandated to possess a professional qualification, council registration, and some post-qualification experience.
Ghana National Fire Service
Eligible applicants for the Ghana Fire Service must be Ghanaian by birth, of good character, and free from any criminal record. They must not have been dismissed from any public service or other employment and must meet the age requirements for their category: 18–35 years for Officer Corps, 18–32 years for non-Tradesmen, and 18–35 years for Tradesmen/Artisans, as of 1st November 2025. Candidates must be physically and medically fit according to Fire Service standards and meet the minimum height requirement of 1.73 metres (5 ft 8 in) for males and 1.63 metres (5 ft 4 in) for females. Applicants must also have five credits at BECE and five passes at WASSCE/SSSCE, including English and Mathematics, or the equivalent trade qualifications for Tradesmen/Artisans. Additionally, applicants must not be bonded by any organisation.
Ghana Immigration Service
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) 2025 recruitment exercise is open to applicants under five main categories: General Duties (Graduate and Non-Graduate), Medical, Religious Affairs, and Tradesmen/Artisans.
Categories A and B target university graduates ready for officer-level roles and diploma or secondary school graduates joining as recruits, respectively. All applicants interested in any of the five categories are expected to be Ghanaian citizens by birth, have no criminal record, be physically and medically fit, possess good character, not be bonded or dismissed from any public service, and meet the minimum height requirement of 1.68 metres for males and 1.57 metres for females.
The internal security recruitment announcement comes a few days after the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) announced an extension of the date for its originally scheduled one-month recruitment exercise.
The national defence force’s recruitment exercise, which was expected to end on October 31, has now been extended to November 7. GAF announced the new date in an official statement shared on November 1 via their official X (formerly Twitter) handle. The statement, titled “Extension of recruitment deadline” and signed by the Acting Director General, Public Relations, Evelyn Ntiamoah Asamoah, reads:
“The Ghana Armed Forces has extended the deadline for the ongoing recruitment exercise by one week due to some technical challenges encountered on the recruitment portal during the initial period. The new deadline is 7 November 2025.”
GAF announced its recruitment on Monday, September 29, in a statement signed by Acting Director General for Public Relations, Veronica Afei Arjun.
It outlined a new development in which the recruitment exercise would be conducted in all sixteen (16) regions nationwide.
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is set to release about $1 billion into Ghana’s foreign exchange (FX) market this month, November, under its Foreign Exchange Market Intermediation Programme.
The Foreign Exchange Market Intermediation Programme is a strategic initiative by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to stabilise the Ghanaian cedi and improve liquidity in the forex market by auctioning US dollars directly to commercial banks.
The injection will be done twice every week in November, where the central bank will hold two separate auctions and sell the money ($300 million) to licensed commercial banks through spot sales.
However, the amount for the following months will depend on market conditions,i.e., how strong or weak the cedi is.
The BoG highlighted its commitment to transparency, stressing that it will publish all information about all its forex operations and interventions so the public knows what’s happening. In October 2025, the BoG already injected $1.15 billion into the market.
This will not be the first injection by the Bank of Ghana this year. News about the injection emerged when the cedi began to stabilise in the first quarter of the year, following the President’s confirmation during his first official meeting with the press in September, where he noted that the BoG has withdrawn its intervention in the forex market, stressing the need to strike a balance between supporting exporters and not overburdening importers.
IMF, in its country report, confirmed that the central bank injected $1.4 billion in the first quarter of the year. In March 2025, an additional $264 million was released specifically to counter volatility and reinforce the cedi’s strength.
Subsequently, a substantial injection of $1.15billion was made in October following the launch of the BoG’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme in July, where part of the programme covers the sale of some of the gold it acquires to raise foreign exchange, and then pump it into the country’s forex market to stabilise the cedi.
Looking ahead to November 2025, the Bank has announced plans to inject up to $1 billion through twice-weekly spot auctions to commercial banks. This move is part of its ongoing strategy to maintain currency stability and ensure adequate forex supply. If the November auction happens just as reported, that will bring BoG’s forex intervention to a total of approximately $3.814 billion this year.
In total, the Bank of Ghana’s interventions for the year amount to approximately $3.814 billion, based on publicly available data and projections.
As a result, the cedi became stronger in October. The Ghana cedi’s strong performance was a central theme highlighted by President John Mahama in an interaction with potential investors in Singapore and Japan, during his visit to the Asian continent. President Mahama emphasised the robust performance of the local currency to underscore Ghana’s macroeconomic stability and attractiveness as a destination for foreign capital.
However, the cedi’s brief gains proved short-lived after its rapid depreciation made it the worst-performing currency in a latest report by a global financial news outlet, Bloomberg. According to Bloomberg’s recent report released on Thursday, September 4, the Ghana cedi was ranked as the worst-performing currency among all trading currencies, attributing the depreciation to a surge in demand for dollars by companies paying for imports. “A surge in demand for dollars by companies paying for imports has ended the Ghana cedi’s recent strong performance,” Bloomberg said.
Bloomberg explained that the new developments were attributed to the“strong gold prices”, while emphasising that Ghana’s cedi has seen more than a ten percent (10%) depreciation in the current quarter. This, Bloomberg noted, has erased the fifty-percent gain against the dollar in April and June, Bloomberg detailed. According to Bloomberg, the cedi traded 0.1 per cent weaker at GH¢11.9507 per dollar at 1:50 a.m. Despite the losses, it has gained 23 per cent so far this year.
“Now, the currency, which had ranked first globally on the back of strong gold prices, has weakened by 13 per cent in the current quarter. Bloomberg data showed this was the steepest fall worldwide, erasing part of the 50 per cent gain recorded between April and June”, the report said.
But Bloomberg indicated that “Despite the losses, it has gained 23 per cent so far this year based on market data. Reacting to Bloomberg’s report, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) noted, “The cedi should be stable within a reasonable range,” the central bank said in an emailed response. Our role is to ensure fluctuations remain orderly, that they reflect fundamentals, and that they do not undermine confidence in the broader economy”. This informed BoG’s decision to pump millions into the forex market which led to the cedi’s appreciation.
According to BoG data, the cedi gained 13.9% against the dollar by the end of October 2025. Overall, it had appreciated 34.86% since the start of the year. Average daily dollar trading was about $22 million, with a total of $484 million traded on the interbank market in October.
Meanwhile, a strong cedi tends to have an impact on several aspects of the economy, including fuel and energy costs, reduced costs for imports and the anchoring of inflation expectations. The Bank of Ghana has projected that headline inflation will fall within its medium-term target of 8 ± 2% by the end of 2025.
The Central Bank attributed this expected decline to tighter monetary policy, the strengthening of the cedi, and continued fiscal consolidation efforts.
It added that supply-side pressures have eased, resulting in lower food and overall inflation, with risks now tilted to the downside.
Nonetheless, the Bank warned that some upward risks persist, including supply chain disruptions, global trade tensions, a 2.5% increase in utility tariffs, and a new 1.0% energy levy on ex-pump prices, which could push inflation up.
Looking ahead, the Bank expects exchange rate stability to continue, supported by a stronger external sector and a buildup of international reserves that have exceeded program targets under the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility.
It noted that a tight monetary policy stance, fiscal discipline, and stable crude oil prices are likely to cushion the economy against inflationary pressures.
They say history repeats itself, but at this year’s Kolor Paaty, it came with a hilarious twist, a little irony, and a whole lot of orange!
For years, one colour had reigned supreme at Ghana’s most vibrant family fiesta – white.
The Entertainment team, led by the ever-energetic radio icons, had turned that colour into a symbol of fun, music, and magical memories at the decade-old family event.
An image of Kolor Paaty 2025 (top image) when the entertainment team used the orange colour and Kolor Paaty 2024 (bottom image) when the entertainment team used the colour white. But for 2025, a bold rebellion brewed.
Kobby Stonne, the ever-charismatic and outspoken leader of the “sports boys’ camp,” had had enough of the white monopoly.
“White is too easy!” he argued passionately, rallying a chorus of support from fans who felt it was time to shift the paradigm.
The organisers listened. For the first time in Kolor Paaty history, colours would be decided by ballot.
A fair and thrilling twist! The day came, the transparent box was brought out, and as fate, and maybe a bit of cosmic humour, would have it — Kobby Stonne drew white.
He, along with his friends within the sports unit, was jubilant upon drawing white at the ballots.
Cue laughter. Cue disbelief. Cue poetic justice!
Meanwhile, Jerry Justice and his Entertainment team landed on the colour orange – bright, bold, and bursting with energy.
What followed was a friendly but fierce campaign: both camps rallying fans, flooding social media with their chosen hues, and promising to “own the garden” come party day.
And oh, what a sight it was when the day finally arrived!
Legon Botanical Gardens was a sea of colour, rhythm, and radiant smiles. But as the music soared and the dance-offs began, one colour seemed to blaze brighter than the rest – orange.
Neither Tima Kumkum nor Afia Amankwaa’s millions of social media following was enough to outshine the orange colour with their chosen ‘red’.
From T-shirts to tutus, face paint to festival flags, the orange army turned up in record numbers. It was official: the Entertainment team had done it again!
Even Kobby Stonne, decked out in crisp white, couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. Next year, maybe he may just pick orange from the start!
Kolor Paaty 2025 will be remembered not just for its music, laughter, and family fun, but for the year the protester became the punchline, and orange proved that no matter the colour, it’s the energy that wins the day.
Because at Kolor Paaty, one truth stands tall: it’s not just about the colour you wear, it’s about the love and joy you bring.
AFC Bournemouth forward and Ghana international Antoine Semenyo has revealed his ambitious goal target for the season in the Premier League.
During an interview with Sky Sports, he revealed that, each campaign, he writes a goal target he seeks to achieve by year’s end. This year, he wants to attain 15 goals, having notched 11 Premier League goals last year and eight in the previous year (2023). Antoine highlighted his commitment to constant self-improvement.
“Every year, I write my goals, what I want to achieve.“I always want to do better than what I’ve done in previous seasons. I set a challenge for myself this year, and I really want to push myself. I think I am a good finisher. Fifteen goals would be great,” he told Sky Sports.
He continued that, “I can help the team in many ways, and credit to the manager [Andoni Iraola] and all the players, they’ve been so helpful”.
The Ghana international has made a blistering start to the campaign, netting six goals and providing three assists in just 10 league matches. Only Manchester City’s leading scorer, currently on 13 goals, has been more prolific
The 25-year-old has also been shortlisted for the Premier League’s October Goal of the Month award, competing against Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo, Bournemouth teammate Justin Kluivert, and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendía.
Following his impressive form this season, he attracted the attention of several European clubs according to reports.Those clubs include, Man Utd, Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Following his impressive form this season, he attracted the attention of several European clubs according to reports.Those clubs include, Man Utd, Liverpool and Real Madrid.
AFC Bournemouth forward and Ghana international Antoine Semenyo has revealed his ambitious goal target for the season in the Premier League.
During an interview with Sky Sports, he revealed that, each campaign, he writes a goal target he seeks to achieve by year ending and this year, he wants to attain 15 goals, having notch 11 Premiel League goals last year and eight in the previous year (2023), Antoine highlighted his commitment to constant self improvement.
“Every year, I write my goals, what I want to achieve.“I always want to do better than what I’ve done in previous seasons. I set a challenge for myself this year, and I really want to push myself. I think I am a good finisher. Fifteen goals would be great,” he told Sky Sports.
He continued that, “I can help the team in many ways, and credit to the manager [Andoni Iraola] and all the players, they’ve been so helpful”.
The Ghana international has made a blistering start to the campaign, netting six goals and providing three assists in just 10 league matches. Only Manchester City’s leading scorer, currently on 13 goals, has been more prolific
The 25-year-old has also been shortlisted for the Premier League’s October Goal of the Month award, competing against Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo, Bournemouth teammate Justin Kluivert, and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendía.
Following his impressive form this season, he attracted the attention of several European clubs according to reports.Those clubs include, Man Utd, Liverpool and Real Madrid.
However, addressing these links, duing an interview with Sky Sports which was aired on October 30, Antione mentioned that, he has seen the reports, but denied the purported links , saying he is enjoying his stay at Bournemouth.
“I don’t think about it too much,” he said. “I try to stay present as much as I can. You see the news all the time, I see it as well, I’m not oblivious, but I try to keep focused. I’m enjoying my football here. If I’m not scoring goals, all of that goes away. I try to stay present, do the best I can for the team, score goals, and whatever happens in the future happens,” he noted.
Semenyo explained that he was convinced to stay after being encouraged by the club’s vision and summer recruitment.
“When they all left in the summer, there was a lot of interest and back and forth with the club. But I knew in my head that the manager’s got something up his sleeve this year.
“How we finished off the season last year was so good, and we could continue, especially with the players we’ve brought in as well. I wasn’t too sure at the start, but we’ve kicked on like a house on fire. I’m glad I committed to staying here because I’m enjoying every moment,” he added.
Semenyo has scored six goals and provided three assists in just 10 Premier League matches. According to The Telegraph, AFC Bournemouth reportedly rejected £50 million offers from both clubs Man Utd and Spurs for Semenyo during the summer transfer window.
Antoine’s form has been consistent even during international games. Last season, he scored six goals in nine appearances and provided three assists. His only contender this season has been Man City’s Erling Haaland, who has a higher goal record ahead of Semenyo.
Despite interest from top clubs in Europe, he decided to stay at the Vitality Stadium, signing a new long-term contract that included a pay rise. His contract with Bournemouth’s expiry was set for 2026; however, in July, he extended his contract until 2030.
Meanwhile, the Ghana international was recently subjected to racism during a clash on Friday, August 15, against Liverpool.
During the first half of the Premier League opener, Semenyo was preparing to take a throw-in when a 47-year-old man passed some offensive comment at him. According to reports, Semenyo asked that the man repeat what he said, he did and even threw a gum at him.
He immediately reported it to referee Anthony Taylor, who paused the match in the 28th minute.Subsequently, he was seen out of the stadium by the police and held in custody for a racially aggravated public order offence, according to the Merseyside Police on Monday.
He has, however, been granted bail on the following conditions that, not attend any regulated football match in the UK and prohibited from going within one mile of any designated football stadium. A police investigation into the incident is ongoing.
President Mahama issued a termination directive of Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), a deal that was supposed to help check revenue in the oil (upstream) and mining (mineral) sectors, on October 31.
The order was communicated through a letter signed by Dr Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, and addressed to Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, following a comprehensive investigation conducted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), led by Mr Kissi Agyebeng.
Following the investigations, the anti-corruption agency discovered procurement breaches and irregularities in contract awards, contractual overreach beyond SML’s original mandate, lack of value for money due to inflated costs and questionable service delivery, and legal concerns.
The SML contracts included several components, thus a Transaction Audit and External Price Verification service agreement, a Measurement Audit for Downstream Petroleum Products contract, and later agreements for Upstream Petroleum and Minerals & Metals audit services.
On 3 May 2024, GRA terminated two of those contracts (the Transaction Audit & External Price Verification) and suspended the Upstream Petroleum & Minerals Audit portion under the erstwhile government.
In June this year, following the OSP’s findings, the Measurement Audit for Downstream Petroleum Products (the main SML contract) was completely terminated, saving Ghana over GHS 1.2 billion.
In an addendum shared on its X (formerly Twitter) handle, the OSP noted that more has been saved in finances aside from the GHC 1.2billion. The OSP announced that Ghana has saved more than GHS 2.6 billion and US$173 million.
The additional savings, it said, arose from avoiding payments tied to crude oil and gold export monitoring services that were never implemented.
“Following the earlier announcement that Ghana saved over GHS 1.2 billion from the cancellation of the main SML revenue assurance contract, there an additional savings from the upstream and mineral sector components of the agreement. These contracts, which were based on a variable fee structure linked to exports of crude oil and gold, would have cost the State approximately US$173 million for crude oil and GHS 2.6 billion for gold exports over five years.
SML did not commence work as the arrangement coincided with the KPMG audit. Owing to the criminal investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the subsequent cancellation by the President, Ghana has now avoided these further costs,” the OSP noted in its statement.
In a highly detailed press briefing following a comprehensive investigation, the OSP mentioned critical findings that exposed systemic breaches of public financial regulations and a clear misuse of authority that caused the state to lose money.
“There was no genuine need for contracting SML for the obligations it’s purported to perform,” the Special Prosecutor declared.
Mr Agyebeng has solidified the case against the contentious Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) contract, alleging that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta approved payments without any technical or operational justification.
According to the OSP, Ofori-Atta failed to intervene even though SML openly lacked the necessary capacity, expertise, and tools to execute its contract. Instead, he allegedly remained complicit, approving payments from the Consolidated Fund, the Petroleum Revenue Account, and the Tax Refund Account.
The OSP’s investigation concluded, “Had he not been personally benefiting from the SML’s unlawfully procured contracts, the openly displayed by SML of a lack of capacity’s expertise and tools would have immediately triggered his intervention to halt payments to SML and demand accountability. Instead, he looked on conspiratorially in silence, while endorsing and approving payments to SML from the Consolidated Fund, Petroleum Revenue Account, and Tax Refund Account with no technical or operational basis,” the OSP said during a press conference on Thursday, October 30.
The OSP’s findings expose SML’s clear inability to perform the revenue assurance services it was contracted for, which included key responsibilities such as transaction audits and external price verification.
According to the investigation, the continuous “troubleshooting displayed during this period was born of the unlawful imposition of SML in the space and the still lingering reality of SML’s lack of capacity to carry out transaction audits and external price verification.”
Even after 15 months of engagement, SML reportedly “had no system in place to receive CCVRs” (customs control and valuation records), the essential data needed to execute its tasks. Additionally, the existing data provider, West Blue, was under “no legal obligation to release the vital data” to SML.
As a result, the assigned work remained uncompleted, yet the company “continued to be paid,” reinforcing the OSP’s conclusion that the situation led to a financial loss to the state.
It is important to note that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been declared wanted by the OSP for causing financial loss to the state in several dealings, including the contractual arrangement between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority for the stated objective of enhancing revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and minerals and metals resource value chain.
The activities of SML came to light years ago after Manasseh Azure Awuni raised contractual breaches in a deal involving the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML).
The original purpose of the GRA-SML contract was to boost revenue assurance in vital sectors of Ghana’s economy, including the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and the minerals and metals value chain. The goal was to streamline revenue collection, ensuring greater transparency and efficiency in these high-revenue sectors.
Following concerns, an in-depth audit was carried out by international firm KPMG, commissioned by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The audit was launched to examine the contractual agreements between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and SML, with a particular focus on the procedures and approvals related to the contract.
The KPMG audit uncovered significant procedural errors and regulatory violations in awarding the contract. Specifically, the GRA did not obtain the required approvals from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) and failed to seek parliamentary oversight before finalising the agreement with SML.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) entered into six service agreements with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) using the single-source procurement method without obtaining approval from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).
The first agreement, covering Transaction Audit Services, was signed on June 1, 2018. This was followed by a Contract Extension on January 1, 2019. On April 1, 2019, the GRA entered into another agreement with SML for External Price Verification Services. Subsequently, on October 3, 2019, the two parties signed a Consolidation Services Agreement, which combined the Transaction Audit and External Verification Services.
That same day, a separate agreement was also signed for the Measurement Audit of Downstream Petroleum Products. Later, on July 29, 2020, an Addendum to the Measurement Audit for Downstream Petroleum Products Agreement was executed.
The audit report also revealed that SML owes the government over GHC31 million in taxes.
Ghana sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Comoros in their final Group I qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, marking the country’s fifth appearance at football’s biggest tournament. This qualification also marks Black Stars head coach Otto Addo’s new record in the history of Ghanaian football.
The achievement comes after he led the senior national team to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by three countries.
Following Ghana’s qualification, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Kofi Adams, joined Otto Addo and his family in a thanksgiving service held at the Trinity United Church to celebrate Ghana’s successful qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“Today, I joined Black Stars Head Coach Otto Addo and his family at the Trinity United Church for a thanksgiving service to thank God for Ghana’s successful qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The service brought together the President of the Ghana Football Association, members of the GFA Executive Committee, the technical team of the Black Stars, officials from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, and representatives from the Supporters Union. It was a moment of gratitude, unity, and reflection on how far we have come as a footballing nation,” the Sports Minister shared in a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter), he noted.
He continued, “As we prepare for the journey ahead, we remain confident that with discipline, teamwork, and faith, the Black Stars will make Ghana proud once again on the world stage”.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated Ghana on securing its ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a congratulatory message shared via video on the football governing body’s Instagram, Infantino praised the four-time African champions for their achievement and expressed excitement about their return to the world stage.
“Congratulations to the Black Stars on reaching the FIFA World Cup for the fifth time in history. Your fans will bring colours, style and passion to the greatest FIFA World Cup ever in 20226 in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
“We expect that your team will establish more global stars to follow in the footsteps of the famous team that made the quarterfinals of the tournament in South Africa in 2010, but for now, enjoy this special moment, and we cannot wait to see who the Black Stars will face when we have the final tournament draw on the 5th of December.
“See you very soon and well. Congratulations!”
Meanwhile, the Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, has been quite critical and vocal about the performance of Ghana Black Stars head coach Otto Addo.
During an appearance on United Television (UTV) that was published on October 29, Mr Adams noted that, despite the Black Stars’ qualification for the World Cup , he expects Otto Addo to up his game; to do a lot more ahead of the tournament.
“I am happy we have qualified, but that does not mean everything was cool. I expect the coach [Otto Addo] to do a lot more,” the Member of Parliament for the Buem constituency said.
He further explained that the World Cup presents a much tougher challenge than the qualifiers.
“The qualifiers are entirely different, and sometimes you get a superior advantage over other countries and opponents, but at the World Cup, you can come up against the Asians, Europeans, the South Americans, North Americans, and what have you and these countries have a different style of play, so your reading of the game must be different,” he added.
In earlier interviews, the Minisiter mentioned his dissatisfaction with Otto Addo’s performance as Black Stars headcoach .
“If I tell you I am impressed with Otto Addo, then it means I do not know my job,” he said after Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON. Also in an interview with Citi FM following Ghana’s 5–0 win over the Central African Republic, Adams said:
“He’s done his bit, he’s done well, and we give him credit. Despite the criticism of some of his decisions, which I share sometimes, he’s come through as a coach who has been quite lucky.” “Even Otto Addo himself, he wasn’t happy that I described his situation as lucky.”
Ghana will discover their group-stage opponents when the World Cup draw is conducted on December 5.
Meanwhile, Otto Addo’s inconsistencies raised questions about his long-term future as Black Stars coach.
In reaction, Dr Abbey, speaking during an engagement with Asempa FM, acknowledged the public’s concerns but stated that, as it stands, the employers of the former Dortmund coach haven’t expressed their disinterest in Otto Addo’s role as head coach, hence the need to shift all focus on celebrating the feat he has attained.
“From the time we came in, look at the statistics. Otto Addo is the head coach of the Black Stars, and that has not changed. I don’t have any issues with the ongoing discussions. He has a contract, and his contract has not ended. His employers have not said they are done with him. He has qualified for the World Cup, and he must be celebrated for that, but every Ghanaian deserves to have an opinion, and Otto Addo remains the Black Stars coach,” Dr Abbey said.
Responding to a question about whether the committee had identified any weaknesses within Addo’s technical set-up, Dr Abbey replied, “Except God, everyone has weaknesses.”
