In a powerful demonstration of compassion, rehabilitation, and social responsibility, Twinkle Health Foundation recently held a transformative Prison Therapy Project at James Camp Prison, touching the lives of inmates through mental health support, creativity, literacy, and practical care.

Walking into the prison chapel, the atmosphere was heavy faces tired, spirits guarded, expectations low. But as the day unfolded, something remarkable happened.

Through coaching and counseling sessions, inmates were guided to reflect, confront limiting mindsets, and rediscover inner worth often buried beneath years of survival and confinement.

The therapy sessions focused on themes such as self-awareness, personal responsibility, resilience, and hope.

Participants were encouraged to understand that their worth is not defined by their circumstances, that mindset remains powerful even behind walls, and that healing begins with honesty and awareness. Gradually, the room shifted eyes lifted, hearts opened, and meaningful conversations emerged.

Complementing the counseling was a calming Sip and Paint therapy session, which allowed inmates to express emotions creatively and experience a rare moment of peace and self-expression.

The program also included an Information Literacy, promoting literacy, reflection, and lifelong learning as essential tools for rehabilitation.

In addition to the therapy engagement, essential food items and books were donated to the prison, reinforcing the project’s holistic approach addressing both emotional well-being and basic needs.

This impactful outreach was made possible through strategic partnerships and generous support. The Adenta Mountain View Lions Club played a key role by partnering with the project and contributing resources that supported both the therapy activities and donations. Their commitment to humanitarian service significantly strengthened the project’s reach and impact.

The Anita Annan Centre, led by a professional coach and counselor, delivered the core counseling and coaching sessions.

Their expertise created a safe and structured environment where inmates could engage deeply, reflect honestly, and reconnect with a sense of purpose and possibility.

At the heart of the initiative is Twinkle Health Foundation, the main organizer of the Prison Therapy Project.

For the past three years, the Foundation has worked extensively in deprived and underserved communities, providing free medical screenings, health education through drama, free medications, eye screenings, laboratory tests, clean clothing drives, and direct community support.

The Prison Therapy Project reflects Twinkle Health Foundation’s broader mission: to improve quality of life by addressing not only physical health but also mental, emotional, and social well-being especially among vulnerable populations.

This outreach stands as a reminder that rehabilitation goes beyond punishment. When individuals are given support, dignity, and tools for self-reflection, transformation becomes possible.

As the program concluded, one message remained clear: hope can survive anywhere, healing can begin at any moment, and every life deserves a chance at restoration.

Chartered legal practitioner and entrepreneur Victoria Bright has expressed her support for the proposed amendment to Ghana’s Constitution to lower the minimum age for contesting the presidency from 40 to 30 years.

Speaking on Newsfile on JoyNews on Saturday, December 27, Ms Bright argued that the change aligns with global trends and Ghana’s evolving demographic realities, where the youth play a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s future.

The proposal to amend Article 62(b) of the 1992 Constitution was outlined by the Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee (CRC), Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, as part of broader recommendations aimed at modernising Ghana’s political framework. The CRC’s final report was submitted to President John Dramani Mahama on December 22.

Victoria Bright emphasised that the world has changed significantly since the current constitution was drafted, and today’s youth are increasingly making significant contributions not only locally but globally. She pointed to the success of young leaders and innovators worldwide as evidence of the capabilities of younger generations.

“I agree with the proposal to lower the age limit to 30,” Bright said. “The world has changed a lot since our constitution was written, and if you look at people making an impact, not just in their countries but globally, many of them are very, very young. Our demographics also reflect this shift. Most of Ghana’s population is youthful, and I believe they should be given the opportunity to represent us.”

Bright further argued that the proposed change would empower young people to take on leadership roles and encourage them to engage more actively in the political process.

“If you can present yourself as a 30-year-old to Ghanaians and they vote for you, then you obviously have what it takes,” she said. “The fact that the youth represent such a large portion of our population means they should be given a voice in our leadership.”

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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.

Somalia has demanded Israel reverse its recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland, condemning the move as an act of “aggression that will never be tolerated”.

Ali Omar, Somalia’s state minister for foreign affairs, told Al Jazeera in an interview on Saturday that the government would pursue all available diplomatic means to challenge what it described as an act of “state aggression” and Israeli interference in the country’s internal affairs.

Somalia has demanded Israel reverse its recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland, condemning the move as an act of “aggression that will never be tolerated”.

Ali Omar, Somalia’s state minister for foreign affairs, told Al Jazeera in an interview on Saturday that the government would pursue all available diplomatic means to challenge what it described as an act of “state aggression” and Israeli interference in the country’s internal affairs.

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known locally as Cirro, had been signalling for weeks that recognition by an unnamed state was imminent, though he didn’t clarify which country. Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa had been dotted with billboards in recent weeks, telling residents that recognition was coming.

Omar said the strategic importance of the Horn of Africa was driving foreign interference and interest. “The importance of this region isn’t new. It is still important for international trade today,” he said.

‘Displacement of Palestinians’

Omar accused Israel of pursuing Somaliland’s recognition in order to further displace Palestinians from Gaza. “One of the motivating factors is the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza,” he told Al Jazeera. “It has been widely known – Israel’s goal on that issue.”

Palestine’s foreign ministry backed Somalia, recalling that Israel had previously identified Somaliland as a potential destination for forcibly displacing Palestinians from Gaza, which it described as a “red line”.

On Saturday, Somaliland’s Cirro defended the Israeli move, insisting it was “not directed against any state, nor does it pose a threat to regional peace”.

Hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the recognition on Friday, Somalia’s prime minister’s office issued a statement describing Israel’s action as a deliberate attack on Somalia’s sovereignty and an unlawful step, and emphasising that Somaliland remains an integral and “inseparable” part of the Somali territory.

Netanyahu framed the diplomatic breakthrough with Somaliland as being in the spirit of the Abraham Accords and said he would champion Somaliland’s cause during his meeting with United States President Donald Trump on Monday. Netanyahu also invited Cirro to Israel, which the latter has accepted.

But Trump has distanced himself from close ally Netanyahu on the issue, telling The New York Post newspaper he would not follow Israel’s lead.

Somalia’s Public Works Minister Ayub Ismail Yusuf welcomed Trump’s stance, writing on social media: “Thank you for your support, Mr. President.”

Trump’s comments marked a shift from August, when he told a news conference his administration was working on the Somaliland issue. In recent weeks, the US president has frequently attacked the Somali community in the US and Somalia.

The US has also expressed frustration with Somalia, saying at a recent UN Security Council meeting that Somali authorities had failed in improving security in the country despite billions in aid, and signalling it will not continue to fund a costly peacekeeping mission.

Meanwhile, the African Union’s chairperson, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, rejected any initiative aimed at recognising Somaliland as an independent nation, warning it would set a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications. The continental bloc cited a 1964 decision on the intangibility of borders inherited at a country’s independence as a fundamental principle.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit also condemned what he described as a provocative Israeli assault on the sovereignty of an Arab and African state. He said the Israeli recognition was a clear violation of international law and a flagrant infringement of the principle of state sovereignty.

Despite the international reactions, thousands poured onto the streets of Hargeisa on Friday to celebrate what many saw as the end of 30 years of diplomatic isolation. The Israeli flag was emblazoned on the national museum as residents welcomed the breakthrough.

Somalia has historically had contentious relations with Israel, stemming from Israel’s historic ties with Somalia’s regional rival, Ethiopia.

During the Cold War, Israel provided Ethiopia with military training, intelligence and weapons, while Somalia, aligned with Arab states hostile to Israel, was defeated in the 1977 Ogaden War, a setback that helped fuel decades of civil unrest.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following persecution under former leader Mohammed Siad Barre, but Somalia has never recognised the breakaway region.

Earlier this month, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel revealed there had been communication with Somalia’s government about shared concerns over Houthi influence in the region.

But Omar, the Somali state minister for foreign affairs, strongly denied any ties with Israel, stating that the country’s position on Israeli policies remained unchanged.

Ghana defender Derrick Kohn has declared that the Black Stars are ready to face any opposition at the 2026 World Cup. 

The four-time African champions, who will make their fifth appearance at the Mundial, have been paired with Panama, England and Croatia in Group L.

Speaking in an interview with 3Sports, the Union Berlin left back expressed excitement with Ghana’s qualification, declaring that they are ready to face any team.

“For me personally, it’s the first time to qualify for a World Cup. I’m very excited, obviously. I can’t wait for the tournament to start,” he said.

“The group is hard, obviously, it’s the World Cup, so every opponent is good. But I think Ghana is good and a big nation. We don’t have to make ourselves small; we are ready, Kohn added.

Ghana will open their campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto. They will then face England on June 23 in Boston before concluding the group stage against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.

After early exits in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2022 tournament in Qatar, the Black Stars will be eager to make a deeper run in the expanded 2026 finals.

Sammy Gyamfi is the CEO of GoldBod

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, has hit back at critics of both the government and GoldBod over what he described as “imaginary losses” being unfairly imposed on the surplus-making institution.

According to him, the actions of these critics are driven by a desperate desire to see the government and the Board fail.

In a post on his Facebook page on December 27, 2025, Gyamfi stated, “In their desperation to see the transformational GoldBod and the Mahama government fail, the doom-wishers have created ‘by force’ imaginary losses and are aggressively imposing them on the surplus-making GoldBod. How ridiculous.”

GoldBod exceeds 2025 small-scale gold export target – Sammy Gyamfi

He explained that the public must understand that the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP) comes with intrinsic costs to the central bank, costs which, he said, critics had previously overlooked.

“They have soon forgotten the objectives, policy design, and costs associated with the DGPP they once touted, albeit with very little to show for it,” he added.

Gyamfi further noted that the policy justification for the DGPP is based on a careful analysis of “cost versus economic benefits,” emphasising that the current administration has delivered a strong economic record within a short period.

“Today, the doom-wishers are castigating the very administration of the Bank of Ghana that has delivered on its primary constitutional mandate of price stability and achieved in one year what they failed to do in eight years,” he said.

Check out Sammy Gyamfi’s Facebook piece below:

SP/MA

All you need to know about Ghana’s new vehicle number plates | BizTech:

Bance (L), Mweene (M) and Gedo (R) have over the years broken Ghanaian hearts at the AFCON

Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations history is filled with near misses, painful exits and moments that still sting years later.

Often, those scars are tied to single players, men who rose at decisive moments and turned Ghana’s dreams into regret.

From nerve-rattling penalty misses to late winners and heroic saves, certain players have carved their names into Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) history, not for uplifting the Black Stars, but for delivering moments of heartbreak or frustration on the continent’s biggest stage.

Here’s a look at some of the most memorable.

Aristide Bancé (2013)>

The 2013 AFCON semi-final between Ghana and Burkina Faso remains one of the most dramatic games in the competition’s history.

Locked in a tense battle, it was Ghana that struck first through a Mubarak Wakaso penalty.

However, Aristide Bancé, tortured Ghana’s defense all night before equalizing for Burkina Faso just on the hour mark and sending shockwaves through the Ghana camp.

Meet Georgi Minoungou: The Burkina Faso forward who is blind in one eye

Bancé’s goal forced Ghana into chase mode, turning pressure into panic.

Although the Black Stars later played with a man advantage, the psychological damage had been done.

Burkina Faso eventually triumphed on penalties, knocking Ghana out and marching on to their first-ever AFCON final.

Bancé’s name became inseparable from that heartbreak, the man whose goal tilted the tie away from Ghana when it mattered most.

Kennedy Mweene (2012)

If there is one moment that still makes Ghanaian fans wince, it is Asamoah Gyan’s missed penalty in the 2012 AFCON semi-final against Zambia. At the heart of that moment stood Kennedy Mweene.

With Ghana awarded a crucial first-half penalty, Gyan stepped up, carrying the hopes of an entire nation.

Mweene guessed right, dived brilliantly and saved the penalty, instantly flipping the emotional balance of the match.

Ghana never recovered. Zambia went on to win 1-0 and later lifted the trophy in one of football’s most emotional stories.

Mweene’s save was not just a stop; it was a turning point that denied Ghana a place in the final and cleared the path for Zambia’s fairy-tale triumph.

Reinildo Mandava (2023)

Few moments in recent AFCON memory have stung Ghanaian fans more than Mozambique’s dramatic comeback against Ghana in AFCON 2023.

With Ghana leading 2–0 and seemingly cruising to victory, Mozambique staged a stunning late fightback, sparked by Reinildo Mandava.

Mandava, normally known for his defensive work, first conceded a penalty that gifted Ghana a second goal, only to head home the equalizer deep into stoppage time, denying the Black Stars a vital win.

His header deep into added time not only shocked supporters but also played a key role in Ghana’s exit from the tournament.

Alain Mosely Nkong (2008)

Back in AFCON 2008, Cameroon’s Alain Mosely Nkong delivered one of the most painful defeats in recent Ghanaian history.

In the semi-final clash hosted in Accra, Nkong’s strike in the second half gave Cameroon a 1–0 win over hosts Ghana, dashing the Black Stars’ hopes in front of an expectant home crowd.

Nkong’s goal was a classic cup-tournament moment, a single, decisive strike that shifted a nation’s momentum and sent Cameroon through at Ghana’s expense.

Though he may not be as widely discussed today as some others, his contribution that night left a lingering memory for Ghanaian fans.

Mohamed Nagy Gedo (2010)

Perhaps no single goal has hurt Ghana more at the AFCON than the one scored by Egyptian striker Mohamed Nagy, better known as Gedo.

At the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted in Angola, Gedo emerged as the tournament’s top scorer, largely from the bench and delivered the decisive goal in the final against Ghana, handing Egypt a 1–0 victory and the continental crown.

Gedo’s late winner was a masterclass in timing and opportunism and it stood as Tantalus for Ghana: so close to crowning a squad brimming with talent, yet denied by a super-sub whose name lives in the minds of many Black Stars supporters.

FKA/JE

Lawyer and former Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Charlotte Osei, has emphasised the need for caution and balance in the ongoing constitutional reform process.

She stressed that the goal is to address existing challenges without creating new problems.

Her remarks follow the submission of the Constitution Review Committee’s (CRC) final report to President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, December 22.

The report includes major recommendations such as separating the legislature from the executive, reaffirming that there is no provision for a third presidential term, and proposing the extension of the presidential term from four to five years.

Speaking on Joy News on Saturday, December 27, she underscored that the process was guided by the principle of fairness for all public officeholders, including members of parliament, judiciary officials, and the executive.

“It is not just a matter of picking one aspect and saying ‘scrap it.’ When you remove an existing arrangement, what replaces it? We were very mindful not to create problems while trying to solve existing problems. If we do not have the expertise to set emoluments ourselves, it is logical to leave that to the experts,” Madam Charlotte Osei stated.

Madam Charlotte Osei, who served as a member of the CRC, explained the committee’s thorough and methodical approach.

“We have a document of about a hundred pages in which we examined, clause by clause, all the recommendations previously made. We recorded our own assessments in a separate column and began with the history, while also engaging the public to obtain feedback and decide whether to follow the existing recommendations or chart a new path,” she said.

Madam Charlotte Osei highlighted the committee’s careful handling of Article 71, which deals with the remuneration of public officeholders.

“This issue has appeared in every previous report. We decided to adopt a holistic approach through a one-stop Public Emoluments Commission, such as the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission. This allows us to address ex gratia payments and other concerns fairly and comprehensively, rather than simply abolishing arrangements without providing a practical alternative,” She explained.

The former Electoral Commission Chair also drew lessons from previous local government reforms, noting that commissions reviewing the constitution often face challenges in implementing solutions that endure over time.