The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Elections Committee held a high-stakes consultative meeting with former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at his private office in Labone on Friday, January 9, 2026.

The meeting forms part of a series of strategic engagements aimed at ensuring a seamless and transparent process as the party prepares to elect a successor to lead the NPP into the next general elections.

The committee, led by seasoned party stalwarts, briefed the former President on the current roadmap, logistical preparedness, and the vetting protocols established to maintain party unity.

The upcoming presidential primary is widely regarded as a watershed moment for the NPP.

Following the party’s transition into opposition, the leadership is under immense pressure to present a candidate capable of reclaiming power.

Sources close to the committee indicate that the meeting at Labone focused on voter register integrity and conflict resolution mechanisms.

Former President Akufo-Addo, acting in his capacity as an elder of the party, reportedly emphasised the need for an even playing field to prevent internal fissures that could jeopardise the party’s chances in the national polls.

The engagement at the Labone office is seen as a move to secure the institutional blessing of the former President, whose influence remains significant within the party’s core base.

Insiders suggest that former President Akufo-Addo urged the committee to prioritise data-driven campaigning and to ensure that the eventual winner receives the total support of all losing candidates.

The Presidential Elections Committee is expected to release a final list of qualified candidates, following the conclusion of the appeals process for any disqualified aspirants.

The 2026 flagbearer race is expected to be one of the most contested in the party’s history.

Below are the critical details governing the process:

• Voter Base: Approximately 200,000 delegates are expected to cast their ballots across all 275 constituencies. This includes constituency executives, regional executives, members of parliament, and representatives from the party’s external branches.
• Vetting Standards: The Committee has introduced more stringent vetting criteria, focusing on the “marketability” and “untainted track record” of aspirants to withstand the rigours of a national campaign.
• Decentralized Voting: In a bid to enhance transparency and reduce the risk of centralising influence, the party will utilize a decentralised voting model, where delegates will vote simultaneously at designated centres across the country.

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Published:
Friday, 09 January 2026

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has confirmed the draw procedures for the African qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026, with 31 teams set to compete for four qualification places at the global finals.

The draw for the qualifiers will take place in Rabat, Morocco on Saturday, 10 January 2026 from 13h00 local time (12h00 GMT / 14h00 Cairo) and will be live on CAF TV. 

The qualification competition will be played over three home-and-away knockout rounds. The four teams emerging victorious from the final qualifying round will represent Africa at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026.

Ranking of teams
A total of 31 CAF Member Associations will take part in the qualifiers. As the top-ranked side, Nigeria are exempt from the First Round.

The other 30 teams have been ranked based on their performances in the last five editions of the qualifiers. They have been placed in the following pots, with geographic considerations taken into account:

Pot 1 (Highest ranked in WAFU A, WAFU B & UNIFFAC): Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal

Pot 2 (Lowest ranked in WAFU A, WAFU B & UNIFFAC): Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Niger, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia

Pot 3 (Highest ranked in COSAFA, CECAFA & UNIFFAC): Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

Pot 4 (Lowest ranked in COSAFA, CECAFA & UNIFFAC): Botswana, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Zimbabwe

Qualifying format
The qualification process begins with a First Round involving 30 teams, who will compete in 15 home-and-away ties. The winners of these ties progress to the Second Round, where they are joined by Nigeria.

From the Second Round, eight teams will advance to the Third and final qualifying round. The four winners of the Third Round ties will secure Africa’s qualification places for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026.

First Round draw procedure
For the First Round draw, CAF has structured the process to take geographical considerations into account as far as possible. Teams are distributed into four draw pots based on zonal representation, with pairings arranged between teams drawn from specific pots.

The first team drawn from Pot 2 will play against the first team drawn from Pot 1. The second leg will be played on the territory of the second team drawn. This process is repeated seven times.

The first team drawn from Pot 4 will play against the first team drawn from Pot 3. The second leg will be played on the territory of the second team drawn. This process is repeated eight times.

Second Round pairings
The Second Round fixtures are pre-determined based on the competition bracket. The winners of the first two First Round matches will face the team entering at this stage, while the remaining First Round winners are paired against each other according to the established draw sequence.

All Second Round ties will be played over two legs, with the eight winners advancing to the Third Round.

Third Round and qualification
The Third Round will feature eight teams competing in four home-and-away ties. The winners of these final fixtures will qualify directly for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026, completing the African qualification process for the tournament.

 

For more on the African qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026, visit www.cafonline.com.

Further Inquiries: 
[email protected]
CAF | Communication Department

The Ministry of Health has signalled the possibility of inclusion of neurodegenerative and genetic disorders under the government’s flagship health intervention, Mahama Cares.

The move follows a heartfelt public appeal by Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, who recently disclosed his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and called for enhanced state support for the estimated thousands of Ghanaians living with the condition.

In a detailed response shared via social media on Friday, January 10, 2026, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, lauded the proactive nature of the current administration’s health policies.

She indicated that the framework of ‘Mahama Cares’ is uniquely positioned to address the high costs associated with managing long-term, non-communicable diseases.

“Mahama Cares might be able to be some solution to those living with hereditary and genetic diseases [and] the non-communicable diseases,” Dr. Ayensu-Danquah stated.

Specifically addressing the IMANI President’s condition, the Deputy Minister, who is also a medical professional, noted that the scientific classification of Parkinson’s as a potentially hereditary or genetic disorder makes it a prime candidate for the fund’s support.

“So Parkinson’s may fall under the hereditary genetic type so that they can also be supported through this fund. So it is a good thing.”

The Deputy Minister’s comments come at a time when the administration is seeking to solidify its legacy in the health sector.

She credited the vision of President John Dramani Mahama for creating a safety net that transcends traditional health insurance, which often excludes expensive neurological treatments and specialised medications.

“Thankfully, through President John Dramani Mahama, whom we should continue to thank for this wonderful [initiative], I think so far, in terms of health, we could never ask for a better person for the health of Ghanaians,” she remarked.

She further noted that the policy is no longer just a conceptual promise but is actively impacting lives: “I want to take this opportunity to thank President Mahama for this wonderful policy that has already started, and we’re beginning to see the fruitfulness of this.”

While the political will to include Parkinson’s in ‘Mahama Cares’ appears strong, health advocates point out that the financial inclusion is only one part of the battle.

As previously highlighted by Franklin Cudjoe, Ghana faces a shortage of specialists, with only 15 neurologists serving a population of nearly 35 million.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder caused by the death of dopamine-producing brain cells, leading to impaired movement control and symptoms like tremors, stiffness (rigidity), slow movement (bradykinesia), and balance issues, though it also causes non-motor problems like depression, constipation, and sleep issues.

It’s a lifelong condition where symptoms worsen slowly over time, affecting millions globally, with no current cure, but treatments help manage the symptoms.

Key Characteristics:

• Cause: Loss of brain cells that produce dopamine, a chemical crucial for smooth movement.
• Main Symptoms (Motor):
  • Tremor: Shaking, often starting in a hand or foot at rest, sometimes appearing as “pill-rolling”.
  • Rigidity: Muscle stiffness and aches.
  • Bradykinesia: Slowness of movement, making simple tasks difficult.
  • Postural Instability: Balance problems, increasing fall risk.
• Other Symptoms (Non-Motor): Depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, loss of smell, constipation, and cognitive changes can also occur.
• Progression: Symptoms typically start subtly on one side and worsen over years, affecting both sides eventually.
• Diagnosis: Clinical, based on symptoms and neurological exam, though brain scans can support diagnosis.
• Treatment: No cure exists, but medications, exercise, and lifestyle changes help manage symptoms. 

What is Mahama Cares?

Mahama Cares, officially known as the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, is a healthcare initiative launched by President John Dramani Mahama to provide financial support for citizens with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer, kidney failure, and heart conditions, covering costs not met by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and investing in infrastructure and specialist training.

The fund aims to make specialist care more accessible and affordable, ensuring financial hardship doesn’t prevent people from getting life-saving treatment, with President Mahama donating six months of his salary to start it. 

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Brahim Díaz has tightened his grip on the Golden Boot race at the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, extending his lead after scoring again on Friday night as hosts Morocco booked their place in the semi-finals.

Díaz found the net as Morocco beat Cameroon 2-0 in a high-stakes quarter-final in Rabat, a result that followed Senegal’s narrow 1-0 victory over Mali earlier in the evening.

The Real Madrid winger’s latest strike took him to five goals in five matches, a remarkable return that underlines his growing influence at the tournament.

The goal came in front of a packed Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where Díaz got the decisive touch to Ayoub El Kaabi’s 26th-minute header.

Ismael Saibari later sealed the win, but once again it was Díaz who stole the spotlight, maintaining a perfect scoring run that no other player at the finals has matched so far, with Díaz emerging as the tournament’s most reliable attacking threat.

Behind him, the race remains tightly packed. A group of seven players are tied on three goals, including Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen, Côte d’Ivoire winger Amad Diallo, Egypt talisman Mohamed Salah, Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez, Morocco striker Ayoub El Kaabi and Mali forward Lassine Sinayoko.

With the two quarter final matches yet to be played and still semi-finals still to come, the chasing pack will be hoping to close the gap.

Further down the list, a cluster of players sit on two goals each, representing a wide spread of nations still involved or recently eliminated.

In total, 61 players have scored exactly one goal at the tournament, highlighting both the competitive balance of AFCON 2025 and the variety of attacking threats on display.

As the competition moves into its decisive phase, Díaz’s blend of composure and timing has set him apart. 

AFCON 2025 Top Scorers (quarter-finals)

5 goals

3 goals

• Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
• Amad Diallo (Côte d’Ivoire)
• Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco)
• Lassine Sinayoko (Mali)
• Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
• Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
• Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)

2 goals

• Bazoumana Touré (Côte d’Ivoire)
• Chérif Ndiaye (Senegal)
• Christian Kofane (Cameroon)
• Elias Achouri (Tunisia)
• Gaël Kakuta (DR Congo)
• Geny Catamo (Mozambique)
• Ibrahim Maza (Algeria)
• Iyle Foster (South Africa)Nicolas Jackson (Senegal)
• Oswin Appollis (South Africa)
• Pape Gueye (Senegal)
• Raphael Onyedika (Nigeria)

Plus 61 players with one goal each at AFCON 2025.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Dr Gideon Boako is the Member of Parliament for Tano North

Tano North MP, Dr Gideon Boako, has suggested that additional losses linked to GoldBod could soon appear in the Bank of Ghana’s audited accounts, beyond the $214 million already reported by the IMF.

In an interview on Thursday, January 8, Dr Boako said the IMF report, dated September 2025, highlighted trading losses from the Gold for Reserve programme and associated intermediation activities.

He warned that subsequent quarters could see further losses recorded in the official accounts once the Bank of Ghana’s audit is published.

“The losses are coming from two streams,” he said. “The $214 million loss is from GoldBod’s trading activities. But there is another leg of the loss that will come up in the BoG’s audited accounts, and it will be higher.”

Dr Boako explained that the additional losses are connected to how the Bank of Ghana operates its cedi-dollar-gold transactions.

He criticised the current regime, under which cedis are collected from banks to purchase gold at Bloomberg rates, only to sell the resulting dollars back at the Bank of Ghana’s artificially appreciated rate.

Dr Boako attributes this new loss to the additional six tonnes of gold in the Bank of Ghana vault. According to him, because the central bank is currently operating a multiple exchange rate system—a practice criticised by the IMF—Bank of Ghana buys the reserve gold at a higher Bloomberg rate and keeps it in their vault at an artificial rate 10% lower than the Bloomberg rate. This is why Dr Boako strongly believes the auditors of BoG will value the reserve gold at a rate lower than how much it was purchased for, leading to exchange losses.

“The IMF report has said this is not good and will continue to cause more losses,” he added.

He concluded that these emerging figures reflect the policy environment rather than the operational design of GoldBod.

According to Dr Boako, without adjustments to the exchange rate regime, further financial strain on the Bank of Ghana and GoldBod is inevitable.