The Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, has raised the alarm over what he describes as a severe neglect of food provision for the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) under the previous Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration, revealing that Ghanaians are facing an “avoidable food supply problem.”
In a Facebook post last Friday, Dr Omane Boamah, disclosed that a crucial meeting was held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, to deliberate on a sustainable food supply for the military.
During this meeting, it was revealed that the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government, had accumulated a substantial food supply debt of approximately GH¢270 million from August 2023 to December 2024.
For eight years, Dominic Aduna Bingab Nitiwul, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bimbilla constituency in the Northern Region, served as President Nana Akufo-Addo’s defence minister.
He often painted a glowing picture of the state of the Ghanaian military and even oversaw the promotion of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to the rank of General, as a mark of better-armed forces.
However, reports indicate that the reality of Ghana’s military situation is quite the opposite. The GAF lacks the requisite complement of military vehicles, weapons, and other logistical support necessary to mount a serious defence in the event of an attack.
The Herald has learned that the United Nations (UN) has, in recent times, queried Ghana about the quality of logistics, particularly the armoured vehicles deployed for peacekeeping missions. The UN has even threatened to withhold reimbursements if the vehicles are not upgraded.
“It was revealed that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government did not prioritise food provision for the Ghana Armed Forces. Yet, we all know soldiers do not march on empty stomachs,” Dr Omane Boamah, who succeeded Nitiwul, wrote on March 21, 2025.
Dr Omane Boamah, explained that the debt has placed significant pressure on food suppliers, thereby affecting the feeding of military personnel. However, the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has pledged to clear current bills, while working towards settling the outstanding arrears.
“Finance Minister Ato Forson has promised to pay current bills as we work towards settling the arrears of over GH¢270 million left behind by the NPP government,” Dr Omane Boamah stated.
The defence minister, further assured that the government is committed to implementing both short-term and medium-term solutions to address the military’s food supply challenges.
“We will commence that journey of food supply solutions next week,” he said, adding, “We’re determined to provide short-term and medium-term solutions to this avoidable food supply problem.”
This revelation has sparked concerns about the welfare of the armed forces, with many questionings how such a critical issue was overlooked. Observers will be closely monitoring how the new administration tackles the crisis.
Ghanaian giants Accra Hearts of Oak have expressed their delight over the impressive performance of their goalkeeper, Benjamin Asare, in Ghana’s dominant 3-0 victory against Madagascar in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The club took to social media to celebrate Asare, who kept his second consecutive clean sheet for the Black Stars, playing a crucial role in securing another vital win for Ghana.
“Congratulations to the Black Stars.
“A dominant 3-0 victory and a performance to remember!
“The team showed skill, passion, and teamwork to secure the win. Special shoutout to our goalkeeper Benjamin Asare for an incredible clean sheet.
“A word of encouragement to our captain.”
The shot-stopper, who has been in outstanding form in the Ghana Premier League, once again demonstrated his composure and ability on the international stage.
He commanded his area with confidence, making crucial interventions and ensuring that Madagascar never found a way past him.
Asare’s performance has further fueled the growing confidence in locally based goalkeepers, with many calling for him to cement his spot as Ghana’s first choice shot-stopper.
Speaking after the game Ghana’s head coach Otto Addo said, “I think the next game is in June, and at the moment, he’s the number one. We decided for him. He did well in training. We have a good situation where the keepers are pushing each other,”
With back-to-back clean sheets against Chad and Madagascar, Asare has justified his inclusion in Otto Addo’s squad, further strengthening his case as a key figure in Ghana’s journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana now sits atop Group I with 15 points and will look to maintain their winning momentum in the upcoming qualifiers in June.
Congratulations to the Black Stars ⚽
A dominant 3-0 victory and a performance to remember! 💪🔥
The team showed skill, passion, and teamwork to secure the win. Special shoutout to our goalkeeper Benjamin Asare for an incredible clean sheet.
The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has sharply criticized those responsible for managing the AirtelTigo transaction, describing them as “enemies of the state” over the sale of the telecommunications company.
He raised concerns over the decision to sell AirtelTigo—burdened with a GHC3.5 billion debt—for a token price of just one dollar.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Monday, March 24, the Minister questioned the patriotism of those who oversaw the process.
“Those who managed the AirtelTigo process are enemies of our state and individuals who have no sense of patriotism. So for anybody to have told us that they bought AirtelTigo for 1 dollar, and now that we have taken over the ministry, ATC (American Tower Company), just one of the companies AirtelTigo owes, has presented us with a bill of 1.5 billion Ghana Cedis,” he stated.
He further disclosed that discussions with the American Embassy brought to light concerns over AirtelTigo’s financial liabilities.
“The American Embassy, along with their team, was in my office, and one of the major issues raised was the indebtedness to ATC. The debt sitting on the books of AirtelTigo exceeds 3.5 billion Ghana Cedis.
“So if someone told you that they bought it for 1 dollar, who is going to pay the 1.3 billion that is sitting there and accumulating interest?” he questioned.
Retired Captain Prince Kofi Amoabeng, founder of the defunct UT Bank, has expressed his disappointment over the lack of support from former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta following the collapse of his bank.
Despite having personal relationships with both individuals, Amoabeng revealed that they did not assist him when UT Bank faced financial difficulties.
Speaking on The Point of View with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV on Monday, March 24, Rtd. Capt. Amoabeng recalled that UT Bank had previously provided financial assistance to Ofori-Atta’s company during challenging times.
He expressed regret that, despite this history, neither Akufo-Addo nor Ofori-Atta offered him support when UT Bank was affected by the financial sector clean-up in 2017.
“I knew him [Akufo-Addo], he had been to my house in Kukrantumi before and all that. So these were not people I didn’t know. I knew the former President. The former Minister of Finance also knew about the problems. As for him, I talked to him like a brother and all that. Because he had been there before, at a point, he had all sorts of cases, and I had to give him a loan,” Amoabeng recounted.
When asked whether he believed the former president’s actions were personal, he explained:
“That is why I went to him again to say fine, maybe it was a genuine decision you have taken, but what about the other companies you have frozen accounts?
“And he said I should speak to his Personal Assistant. So it weakened everything that we built. If you are my friend and I have to make a decision that goes against you, I will call you to see what we can do for you to come back.
“But not just immediately nail your other companies and everything and then refuse to see me. At some point, I said it was that bad and I said well, I had to take care of myself.”
UT Bank was one of several banks whose licenses were revoked in 2017 as part of the Akufo-Addo administration’s financial sector restructuring.
Defunct UT bank: Many Ghanaians still owe me – Kofi Amoabeng
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There are few US presidential actions more sensitive, more fraught with peril, than when and where to use American military force.
If such information were obtained by American adversaries in advance, it could put lives – and national foreign policy objectives – at risk.
Fortunately for the Trump administration, a group chat with information about an impending US strike in Yemen among senior national security officials on the encrypted chat app Signal did not fall into the wrong hands.
Unfortunately for the Trump administration, the message thread was observed by an influential political journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg.
The Atlantic Magazine editor-in-chief, in an article posted on Monday on his publication’s website, says he appears to have been inadvertently added to the chat by White House National Security Adviser Michael Waltz.
Members of the group seemed to include Vice-President JD Vance, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, among others.
A National Security Council spokesman told the BBC the text message thread “appears to be authentic”.
Goldberg says the group debated policy and discussed operational details about the impending US military strike – conversations that provided a rare near-real-time look at the inner workings of Trump’s senior national security team.
“Amazing job,” Waltz wrote to the group, just minutes after the US strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen took place on Saturday 15 March.
He followed up with emojis of a US flag, a fist and fire. Other senior officials joined in on the group congratulations.
These White House celebrations may prove short-lived after Monday’s revelations, however.
That an outsider could inadvertently be added to sensitive national defence conversations represents a stunning failure of operational security by the Trump administration.
And that these conversations were taking place outside of secure government channels designed for such sensitive communications could violate the Espionage Act, which sets rules for handling classified information.
“This administration is playing fast and loose with our nation’s most classified info, and it makes all Americans less safe,” Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, posted on X.
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Angel FM (Accra) morning show host Saddick Adams has revealed that Ghanaian illegal miners have hired Cameroonian militants, along with dangerous militants from Ivory Coast, to guard their concessions in the forest.
Speaking on his show in a video shared on social media, he claimed to have seen firsthand how armed and ready these terrorist organizations are.
“Currently, there are Cameroonian and Ivorian militants in Ghanaian forests. I have witnessed this. A lot of illegal miners at galamsey sites in the forests are not Ghanaians. I mean, those who are armed at these sites are not Ghanaians, especially in the Western Region.
“There is a town in Côte d’Ivoire called Bengassou, where there was illegal mining. The Ivorian authorities have shot and killed illegal miners in a bid to stop illegal mining. The people of Bengassou established a militant group that provides security for the illegal miners. In November 2024, the Ivorian authorities killed nine of the militants, and they also killed four soldiers in a clash, while 22 were injured. The story is online.”
Saddick Adams continued, “The Bengassou militants are now in Ghana. The illegal miners have hired militants from Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire along the border. So, it is difficult to end galamsey in the Nimiri Forest in the Western Region because these militants are there. These are militants who have been recruited into terrorism. They don’t understand your language; they just shoot to kill. Pickup vehicles have been prepared for them, so when they shoot and kill, and reinforcement is called in, they run to Côte d’Ivoire.”
Meanwhile, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has launched the government’s flagship Blue Water Initiative, aimed at restoring polluted water resources.
As part of the initiative, he announced the commencement of a four-week training program for the first batch of 460 Blue Water Guards, who will provide 24-hour monitoring and protection of the nation’s water bodies.
The minister emphasized that the Blue Water Guards will serve as vigilant stewards, safeguarding water resources from the devastating effects of illegal mining. He also revealed plans to train and deploy 2,000 guards nationwide in the coming months.
“The call for urgent action has never been more pressing. People often do not want us to say it, but this is a crisis of our lifetime. At the heart of why we are here is the Blue Water Initiative, and at the heart of this initiative is the role of the Blue Water Guard. This aims to train 2,000 individuals across the country to protect our valuable water bodies.”
“They will serve as the frontline defenders of our water bodies and ensure that our water bodies remain a source of life and livelihood for generations to come. The responsibility of the Blue Water Guards is paramount in the fight against illegal mining,” he stated.
Angel FM (Accra) morning show host Saddick Adams has revealed that Ghanaian illegal miners have hired Cameroonian militants, along with the dangerous militants from Ivory Coast, to guard their concessions in the forest.
Partey (L) celebrating with Salisu (M) and Jerome (R)
Ghana’s Black Stars continued their dominant run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Madagascar at Le Grand Stade d’Al Hoceima in Morocco on Monday, March 24, 2025.
The win, Ghana’s fourth successive triumph in the qualifiers, solidified their position at the top of Group I with 15 points, bringing them closer to securing a place at the global showpiece.
Coach Otto Addo made two changes from the side that dismantled Chad 5-0, handing starting spots to Jerome Opoku and Abu Francis in a 3-5-2 setup. Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare retained his place in goal following an impressive debut.
The Black Stars wasted no time asserting their dominance and were rewarded in the 11th minute. Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey rose highest to head home a pinpoint free kick from Jordan Ayew, beating Madagascar’s goalkeeper Geordan Dupire to give Ghana an early lead.
Ghana nearly doubled their advantage moments later, but Dupire brilliantly denied Mohammed Kudus’ close-range effort.
After a commanding first-half performance, Ghana continued to dictate the tempo, and Partey struck again nine minutes after the break. The midfielder once more connected with an Ayew delivery, this time from a corner kick, to make it 2-0.
The Black Stars remained relentless, and in the 74th minute, Kudus put the game to bed with a clinical finish after being set up by captain Ayew.
Madagascar struggled to create clear-cut chances, as Ghana controlled possession and saw out the game comfortably.
With this victory, the Black Stars have strengthened their grip at the summit of Group I and are edging closer to securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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The District Manager of the Forest Services Division in Nkawie, Abraham Essel says no arrests have been made so far in connection with the attack on its officer.
The victim, a member of the Rapid Response Team of the Forestry Commission was attacked by unidentified armed persons in the Offin Shelter belt Reserve in the Ashanti Region.
Fuseini Sulemana, was ambushed and severely injured while on an operation to clamp down on illegal mining activities in the reserve.
The incident has left Sulemana hospitalised and awaiting surgery.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Monday, Essel said that a coordinated effort involving the divisional police command, the regional security coordinating unit, and his office led to an inspection of the crime scene.
“As of now, no arrests have been made. I mentioned earlier that the divisional police command and the regional security coordinating unit, jointly in conjunction with my office, visited the scene,” he stated.
However, the perpetrators were no longer present, and all equipment used for the illegal mining, including excavators, had been evacuated from the site.
The injured officer’s condition remains stable, and preparations for surgery are underway.
Essel shared that he had been with the victim throughout the day, closely monitoring updates from medical professionals.
“He has been prepared for surgery, and so we are only hoping that the surgery will be successful. But his condition is stable per the assessment that the doctors have made,” Essel noted.
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The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), in collaboration with the police, visited some shops in Adabraka and took samples of their paints to test and ensure they conform to required standards.
The team, made up of three, inspected about 15 shops that sell paints within the enclave in the Greater Accra region.
Mr George Kojo Anti, Head of Special Projects, GSA, speaking to the media, said the exercise was necessitated based on the intelligence concerning the quality of paints on the Ghanaian market.
“We noticed certain people displaying products which they themselves admitted were of inferior quality or were substandard.
“In fact some persons said that the products they were displaying were not meant to be sold because they themselves knew that those products had some issues with quality or even in some cases had expired,” he said.
“We also noticed a very worrying occurrence where people had all manner of unlabelled products.
“Some had product labels which they would stick on these paint buckets upon purchase, and other people were mixing all sorts of things, different kinds of paints, into desired colours for consumers.”
Mr Anti stated that the incident was in flagrant breach of the relevant provisions of the GSA Act 1078, which prohibited even the display of products or goods that did not conform to applicable standards.
He said the products would be tested and subjected to all the relevant tests to see if they conformed to the applicable standards or not, and in the cases where they did not, the applicable sanctions in line with Act 1078 would be applied strictly to all offenders.
He said section 73 of Act 1078 of the GSA Act empowered the Authority to levy certain penalties on offenders.
“So what we normally do is that once we have the results of the tests and we realise that certain offences have been committed under the Act, we simply look at the applicable sanctions,” he said.
He said their work was not only to halt the sale of these substandard products but also to move the offenders from non-compliance to compliance after the applicable sanctions have been applied.
Mr Anti urged traders to be vigilant of the products they buy and ensure there were labels on them, adding that the government was interested in them doing good business and making a good profit.
Some market analysts have raised concerns over the recent downward trend in treasury bill rates, cautioning that it could have unintended consequences on the economy, particularly the foreign exchange market.
The declining yields, which contrast with other key economic indicators, may trigger shifts in investor behavior and put pressure on the cedi.
Professor Peter Quartey, Director of the Institute for Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), warned that the government’s revised borrowing strategy must be carefully managed to prevent market destabilization.
“Let’s not celebrate this artificial decline in the Treasury bill rate; it is not sustainable. Let’s allow market forces to work. If not, it will put pressure on the exchange rate because there will be currency substitution,” he stated.
He further explained: “A recent check with my bank reveals that fixed deposits attract an interest of 10 percent, but inflation is 23 percent. Do you think if someone has money, they will give it to you for 10 percent? And so people have started buying the dollar to store.”
Prof. Quartey emphasized that the pace of Treasury bill rate reductions must be strategically monitored to avoid market shocks.
“If we don’t check this trend, it’s going to create problems for the monetary authority. There could be capital flight; people who have bought bonds will just sell and leave,” he cautioned.
Meanwhile, the latest auction showed that the yield on the 91-day T-bill declined by only 12 basis points to 15.85%.
However, the rate on the 182-day bill remained unchanged at 16.92%, while the yield on the 364-day bill fell marginally from 18.96% to 18.84%.
Government is being urged to take swift action to prevent potential natural gas shortages following Tullow Ghana’s commencement of a 16-day maintenance shutdown on the Jubilee oil field today.
Market analysts within the energy sector warn that the temporary halt in production could lead to a deficit of approximately 50 to 90 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day, potentially impacting power generation and industrial activities.
Speaking to Citi Business News, Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy, Benjamin Nsiah, cautioned that without timely intervention, the shutdown could exacerbate Ghana’s energy challenges.
“FPSO Kwame Nkrumah is one of the major suppliers of natural gas for our power generation locally and if it is going to go through a maintenance process for 16 days it means that we are going to have some amount of shortfall in the supply of natural gas,” he said.
He added that :”So what it means is that as a country we need to have some sort of funding or financing available to continue to procure emergency fuels which are also quite expensive and this also balloon the expenditure at the time government also needs revenue to offset the liabilities in the sector.”
He emphasized the need for alternative supply arrangements and strategic planning to mitigate any disruptions.
“We must be proactivebecause if we don’t take steps and if this maintenance begins and we don’t have any other fuels available then we are likely to experience dumsor.”
Citi Business News understands that thegovernment has reportedly reached an agreement with Tullow Ghana to temporarily source gas from the TEN fields during the maintenance period.
However, analysts argue that additional measures, such as optimizing domestic production and exploring LNG imports, may be necessary to ensure energy security.
Meanwhile,the oil and gas exploration company has explained that the shutdown forms part of long-term efforts to extend the operational life of the FPSO and is a precursor to a mini-drilling campaign scheduled for May 2025.
With Ghana’s energy sector already facing financial constraints, stakeholders are closely watching how authorities navigate this critical period to maintain stability in the power supply.
The Odumase-Krobo Circuit Court, presided over by Kwasi Apiatse Abaidoo, has remanded a 26-year-old car washer, Isaac Tetteh Angmortey, in custody for three weeks for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend, 29-year-old Hannah Amedi.
Angmortey pleaded guilty to causing harm under Section 84 of the Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29) and was remanded in prison custody to reappear before the court on April 10, 2025.
The prosecution officer, Police Chief Inspector John Brahene, stated that the police received a distress call from an unknown individual reporting that a pregnant woman was being severely beaten along Mount Mary Road in Somanya.
Upon receiving the call, the police quickly responded to the scene and found the accused physically assaulting the pregnant woman. They were able to arrest him and take him to the police station for further action.
Inspector Brahene noted that the complainant, who is six months pregnant, sustained multiple injuries, including a swollen forehead, and was bleeding from her lips, neck, and ears.
She was given a police medical form and referred to the Yilo Krobo District Hospital for treatment due to the severe beatings she endured.
The prosecution officer mentioned that the complainant had been staying with her aunt for about a month due to the accused’s abusive behavior.
During interrogation at the police station, the accused claimed that he was at work when he suspected that the complainant was having sexual relations with another man in his home. He quickly returned but found no one in the room. Enraged, he went to his girlfriend’s aunt’s house and began beating her.
The accused was arraigned before the court and subsequently remanded.
Checks by the Ghana News Agency at the Yilo Krobo District Hospital confirmed that the complainant had not lost her unborn child.
Meanwhile, authorities have condemned the attack, emphasizing the urgent need to address the rising cases of domestic abuse.
The community has expressed shock and outrage over the incident, calling for justice and stronger actions against domestic violence.
This incident has sparked renewed conversations about the importance of tackling domestic violence and protecting vulnerable individuals from harm.
53% of premix fuel profit derived from sales in the last eight years remains unaccounted-for
The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, has vowed to recover the unaccounted-for 53 percent premix fuel profit derived from sales in the last eight years.
She has expressed readiness to track down and retrieve the 53 percent of premix fuel profit allocated for developing fishing communities – emphasising that the money ought to be used for its intended purposes.
The National Premix Fuel Committee (NPFC) Regulations, 2016 (L. I. 2233) instructs the Landing Beach Committee (LBC) to undertake developmental projects within the community using profits from the sale of premix fuel – of which 53 percent is allocated for community development.
“When premix is sold and there is a profit, 47 percent goes to the Landing Beach Committee but the remaining 53 percent is for community development. We will ensure that MPs and DCs account for the 53 percent. In the same vein, all those who sold premix eight years ago and have not accounted for it… we will go after them,” she said.
She bemoaned the attitude of some executives of the Landing Beach Committee who consistently sell premix at exorbitant prices and also to persons who are not in the fishing business.
The minister made this known during Norway’s Minister of International Development Asmund Grøver Aukrust’s visit to the Tema Canoe Landing Site to interact with fishermen on benefits of Norway’s support under the Fish for Development Programme.
Meanwhile, she also emphasised that all current MPs and DCEs must ensure that they put in the right measures to utilise the 53 percent profit appropriately, as they will equally account for all the profits they make from every sale.
For his part, Mr. Aukrust mentioned that the fishery sector and ocean bring the two countries together, highlighting the essence of collectively protecting and preserving the blue economy and emphasising that it remains the most important resource for Norwegians.
While acknowledging the fishing sector’s contributions to job creation and building societies, he lamented human activities that threaten the ocean – urging fishermen to preserve it for future generations.
“But there is also quite a serious situation because the ocean is threatened. It’s threatened by pollution, climate change and overfishing. So, to secure that the fishery will be a renewable resource which lasts for coming generations, we need to protect the ocean, he said.
The minister also reiterated there will be no closed season for artisanal fishermen and added that when the economy stabilises, they will continue to provide fishermen and fishmongers with appropriate inputs.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Representative to Ghana ad Interim, Priya Gujadhur, emphasised FAO’s commitment to supporting the country in areas of nutrition and food security.
She underscored the need for more investments and interventions in fisheries development, nutrition programmes and sustainable aquaculture to create lasting impact, strengthen food systems, improve livelihoods and advance national and regional development goals.
Mr. Aukrust and the delegation from Norway paid another visit to Miniplast at Spintex, an investee of Norfund, to understand Norway’s contribution to strengthening businesses that create jobs and reduce poverty in developing countries.
Ghana coach Otto Addo has named Benjamin Asare as the Black Stars’ first-choice goalkeeper after the Hearts of Oak shot-stopper put up two consecutive clean sheets in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper received his maiden invitation in March and did not disappoint, recording a clean sheet in Ghana’s dominant 5-0 triumph over Chad on March 21 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Asare retained his spot for Monday’s match against Madagascar, in which he had a clean sheet in a 3-0 win, adding to Ghana extending their lead at the top of Group I to 15 points.
Speaking with 3Sports after the match, Otto Addo praised Asare’s performances and reaffirmed that he is Ghana’s number one.
“I think the next game is in June, and he is already the number one. We made that decision for him. He trained very well. We have a good atmosphere where the keepers are pushing each other,” Addo asserted.
Aside from Asare’s promotion, Addo also commended the healthy rivalry among the players, citing the effort of Lawrence Ati Zigi and Joseph Wollacott.
“[I’m] very grateful to the way Ati Zigi and Wollacott also behaved this week and the way they tried to probe Benjamin, help him, and guide him. I don’t take it for granted. Big credit to them. [Asare] was worth it. I’m glad for him.”
Ghana’s World Cup qualifying quest is back on track.
With the Black Stars to begin their next World Cup qualifier next month, everyone’s eyes will be on Asare to determine if he can transfer his good runs into the game and cement himself as Ghana’s best goalkeeper.
President John Dramani Mahama, upon the recommendation of the Armed Forces Council, has promoted five senior officers to the rank of Major General or its equivalent across the Ghana Armed Forces.
The promotions took effect on Monday, March 24, 2025, ahead of the formal transition of the outgoing administration.
A statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communication, confirmed the appointments. Major General William Agyapong has been named the Chief of Defence Staff, while Major General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu will serve as the Chief of Army Staff.
Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing has been appointed Chief of Naval Staff, with Air Vice Marshal Eric Agyen-Frempong taking over as Chief of Air Staff. Air Vice Marshal Joshua Lartei Mensah-Larkai has been designated as Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces.
President Mahama extended his best wishes to the newly promoted officers, urging them to serve with commitment and unity in protecting the country.
“The new Service Chiefs must work loyally and diligently with patriotic courage as a united team cooperating to protect and defend our dear nation, Ghana,” the statement read.
A landlord has been granted a GH¢20,000 bail by an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly stealing GH¢7,067.87 worth of power, belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The Court presided over by Mr Bright Samuel Acquah and ordered that Eric Afriyie, the accused, should get a surety to execute the bail.
He has since denied the theft, causing unlawful damage to ECG’s meter and intentionally allowing interference with the supplier’s distribution system by-pass ECG meter without authority.
The Court asked Afriyie to return on April 11, 2025.
The prosecution told the Court that Madam Regina Ayim, the Complainant is a trader residing at Alhaji Tabora.
Afriyie, 53, a self-employed, is the landlord to the complainant and on March 03, 2025, the complainant reported that her landlord had been collecting money from them (she and her co-tenants) to buy power but ended up using the money.
The Court heard that based on the behaviour of the landlord, ECG officers visited the house for meter inspection.
However, they detected that the meter was tempered with thus all the tenants in this house highly suspected the landlord as the one behind the said illegality.
The Prosecution told the Court that ECG officers realized that he had done a by-pass on the meter.
The occupants, the Court heard, were disconnected and served with ECG summoned to report for the issue to be addressed.
The prosecution said when the ECG officers disconnected the tenants, they went to their office and the issue was addressed.
The tenants were later reconnected, but the landlord refused to honour the invitation and that, he was not connected to the power.
He went and brought someone, and the person illegally connected him, and he was using power without paying, the Court heard.
Police said on March 19, 2025, he was arrested and he admitted the offence in his cautioned statement, he pleaded that, he was sorry to have challenged the authority of the ECG.
He was then charged with the offences after investigations and put before court.
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Retired Captain Prince Kofi Amoabeng, founder of the defunct UT Bank, has shared a significant milestone from his time at Adisadel College, recalling how he won the National Maths Quiz for the school in 1968.
Reflecting on his alma mater’s impact on his life, Rtd. Capt. Amoabeng credited Adisadel College for shaping his personal and professional journey.
In an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Monday, March 24, he described Adisadel College as the best school, highlighting its role in his development.
“I don’t know, but maybe I will be bragging a bit,” he said. “But you know, in my time, in 1968, I won the National Maths Quiz. It was the top schools, and they brought the top students. It was one student, and you went on your own. I wasn’t even the best student at Adisadel College, interestingly enough.”
Adisadel College, popularly known as ADISCO, is celebrated for its academic excellence and history of producing distinguished alumni.
The school won the National Science and Maths Quiz in 2016 and was ranked 10th among the top 100 high schools in Africa by Africa Almanac in 2014, based on factors such as quality of education, student engagement, alumni strength, and media visibility.
AG not overstepping his powers – Srem-Sai responds to Minority
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The President gave the commendations in his address at the inauguration of the Armed Forces Council
President John Dramani Mahama, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, has lauded General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, for his dedicated and committed service to the nation.
The President also commended Lieutenant General Bismarck Kwasi Onwona, the outgoing Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, the outgoing Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Marshal Frederick Asare Bekoe, the outgoing Chief of Air Staff, for diligently serving the nation.
He gave these commendations in his address at the inauguration of the Armed Forces Council at the Ministry of Defence in Accra.
As stipulated in the 1992 Constitution, the Council is chaired by the Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
The Council advises the President on matters of policy relating to defence and strategy, including the role of the Armed Forces, military budgeting and finance, administration, and the promotion of officers above the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel or its equivalent.
Other members of the Council include Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence; Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Alhaji Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, Minister for the Interior.
The rest are Daniel Addo, Fuseini Iddrisu, and Madam Nancy Dankwa Ampofo.
“At this point, I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to the outgoing members of the Armed Forces Council and the service commanders who have diligently served our nation,” President Mahama stated.
“Your dedication and leadership have contributed immensely to strengthening our military and maintaining the high professional standards and discipline that have been the hallmark of the Ghana Armed Forces.
“Your service has been invaluable, and Ghana is deeply grateful for your efforts.”
The President also congratulated all newly sworn-in members of the Armed Forces Council.
“I have no doubt that you will serve with honor, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to Ghana.”
He assured that the Government would ensure the military remains not just an institution of defense but a symbol of national unity, excellence, pride, and progress.
“Together, we can shape the future of our Armed Forces for generations to come,” he said.
“We will continue to advocate for better conditions of service, access to quality health care, and opportunities for career advancement within the military.”
President Mahama urged all stakeholders to work together toward building a stronger, more modern, and more resilient Ghana Armed Forces.
To the newly sworn-in members of the Ghana Armed Forces Council, the President encouraged them to embrace their responsibility with dedication and a clear vision.
Vice President Opoku-Agyemang, in her acceptance speech on behalf of the Council, expressed gratitude to President Mahama for the honor bestowed upon them.
“And I want to assure him that as members of the Council, we will rise to the responsibility and ensure that his confidence is not misplaced,” she said.
“I think this is very important. As a Council, we accept the duty to serve diligently, loyally, and with patriotic zeal to reset Ghana and the Ghana Armed Forces to ensure that we have peace and stability for our beloved nation.”
She reiterated the Council’s commitment to ensuring that the Ghana Armed Forces retain, sustain, and even enhance their globally recognized reputation.
Mustapha Gbande, Deputy Director of Operations at the presidency
Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande has asked the minority in parliament to go and burn the sea.
According to him, the game has just started, and they should expect more action to clamp down on every former appointee who is cited for engaging in any form of corruption.
To him, the minority in parliament should brace themselves because the government is ready to investigate all past leaders who were engaged in acts of corruption.
“The Minority can go and burn the sea,” he said, adding that “any former government appointee who is on record to have cheated the people of Ghana, dissipated public funds, stolen same, that person will be arrested.
Even if it has to do with President Akufo-Addo, he will be put on house arrest. You are shielding criminals with what they are doing. Individuals have squandered money; they’ve been in positions and done things that Ghanaian people believe something went wrong and that is why NPP had 38%. Ghanaians are looking forward to President Mahama to bring… The hue and cry from the minority is uncalled for,” he said in an interview on Asempa FM.
His comment comes after the minority in parliament held a press conference to condemn the abuse of office by the attorney general who they believe should not be consenting to raids and partaking in investigations.
Private sector leaders have called on the government to prioritize tax reforms and reduce port duties to create a more favorable business environment that will drive economic growth.
This appeal was made during the 2025 Corporate Excellence Awards held in Accra, where over 29 individuals and companies were recognized for their contributions to the nation’s economy and social development.
The awards ceremony, organized by Imperial Communications, honored professionals and organizations from various sectors, including banking, agribusiness, hospitality, healthcare, academia, technology and innovation, manufacturing, export, and trade.
Commending the government’s initiative of a 24-hour economy aimed at creating more job opportunities, industry leaders acknowledged that while some companies are already implementing this approach, the government’s formal endorsement could enhance productivity and economic resilience.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, one of the awardees stated, “If the government truly wants to see the private sector thrive, there must be deliberate efforts to lower taxes and create a robust structure that supports investment. The backbone of any developed economy is the private sector, and Ghana must not be an exception.”
Another awardee emphasized, “Every economically developed nation thrives on a strong private sector. The government must not only focus on policies but also take concrete actions, such as reducing port duties and taxes. That’s what will attract investment and help businesses flourish.”
Award recipients expressed gratitude for the recognition, with one banking sector awardee stating, “This recognition by Imperial Communications encourages us to keep striving for excellence. But it also highlights the need for a more business-friendly environment to support our efforts.”
Industry leaders reiterated that for the government’s 24-hour economy vision to succeed, it must be supported by strategic policies that reduce the cost of doing business and improve the overall investment climate.
The event not only celebrated excellence but also served as a platform for stakeholders to voice their concerns and propose solutions to foster economic growth through a more empowered private sector.
Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has shared his reaction following the Black Stars’ impressive 3-0 victory over Madagascar in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Monday, March 24, 2025.
Gyan, who is currently with the team in Morocco as part of Ghana’s contingent, was seen giving a pep talk to the players before the match.
His presence and words of motivation seemingly played a role in inspiring the Black Stars to another crucial win.
Ghana dominated proceedings at Le Grand Stade d’Al Hoceima, displaying composure and attacking brilliance to secure three valuable points.
Thomas Partey led the charge, scoring twice with well-placed headers in the 11th and 54th minutes both assisted by Jordan Ayew.
Mohammed Kudus put the game to bed in the 74th minute with a clinical finish after a precise pass from Ayew.
With this victory, the Black Stars solidified their position at the top of Group I with 15 points, taking a significant step toward securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Gyan, Ghana’s all-time leading scorer, has been a vocal supporter of the team, and his involvement off the pitch continues to be invaluable.
Gold prices surged past the US$3,050-per-ounce mark last Wednesday, setting a new all-time record and underscoring the potential impact a locally backed gold Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) could have had on Ghana’s investment landscape.
The Minerals Income and Investment Fund (MIIF) has since 2023 been working on launching a physical gold-backed ETF, which was expected to be listed by the fourth quarter of 2024.
However, regulatory delays—particularly from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), seem to have slowed the process, leaving investors unable to capitalize on one of the best-performing assets in recent years.
A market gap in Ghana’s investment options
Currently, the only gold-backed ETF available on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) is South Africa’s NewGold ETF (GLD), which has appreciated by over 160% in the past three years. However, demand often outstrips supply for the units, leaving Ghanaian investors with limited access to gold-linked assets.
Had the MIIF ETF been operational, it would have provided a liquid and transparent vehicle for investors to gain exposure to gold prices, especially as global markets continue to favor gold as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty.
Why a Gold-backed ETF matters
A gold-backed ETF would offer several key benefits:
A Hedge Against Inflation and Currency Depreciation – With the cedi facing periodic depreciation, a gold-backed ETF would provide a safe-haven investment for local investors.
Portfolio Diversification – Gold is historically a stable asset during market downturns, making it an attractive alternative for investors looking to balance their portfolios.
Enhanced Market Liquidity – Unlike the limited availability of the NewGold ETF (GLD), a Ghana-based gold ETF would ensure local investors can consistently access gold-linked investment options.
Support for Ghana’s Gold Sector – MIIF plans to source gold for the ETF from its Small-Scale Gold Mining Incubation Programme and Gold Trade Program, ensuring the ETF directly benefits Ghana’s mining industry.
Challenges and future prospects
While MIIF under the previous CEO, Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng, had earlier announced plans to list the ETF on the GSE by the end of 2024, several regulatory and logistical challenges—compounded by the change in government—could impact the timeline. MIIF, according to earlier new reports in 2024, has appointed transaction advisors to oversee the process, but approvals from the SEC remain a key hurdle.
A case of delayed gains
Had the MIIF gold-backed ETF been launched earlier, investors could have already capitalized on gold’s historic rally. Since January 2024, gold prices have seen a remarkable upward trend, making the delay in ETF approval a missed opportunity for local investors.
This regulatory setback has prevented Ghanaian investors from fully leveraging the benefits of gold’s price appreciation, further emphasizing the need for faster implementation of innovative financial instruments in the country’s capital markets.
With gold prices still showing strength, anticipation for the MIIF ETF’s launch remains high. If successfully listed, it could become a game-changer for Ghana’s financial markets, providing an accessible and profitable investment avenue for both institutional and retail investors.
Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Member of Parliament for Old Tafo
Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, has officially petitioned the Right to Information Commission (RTIC) over the failure of the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice to respond to his request for critical legal documents.
In a letter dated March 24, 2025, Assafuah expressed frustration over the Ministry’s non-compliance with the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2019 (Act 989). He stated that he had initially submitted an RTI request on February 12, 2025, seeking access to memos, letters, and internal correspondence from the Prosecution Department to the former Attorney-General regarding the discontinuation of certain legal cases.
However, after receiving no response within the 14-day statutory period, Assafuah filed a formal internal review request on March 3, 2025, in accordance with Section 31 of Act 989. The law mandates a response within 15 days, but the Attorney-General’s Office has reportedly failed to comply.
Describing the situation as a violation of his constitutional right to access public information, Assafuah argued that the lack of transparency undermines accountability and good governance.
In his appeal to the RTI Commission, the MP requested:
An investigation into the Attorney-General’s Office for failing to comply with the RTI Act.
A directive compelling the office to provide the requested information or a legally valid reason for refusal.
Enforcement of compliance with statutory obligations to prevent arbitrary denials of access to information.
Assafuah emphasized that transparency in government institutions is crucial for upholding justice and democracy. He urged the RTI Commission to take swift action in addressing the Attorney-General’s Office’s non-responsiveness.
The MP also indicated his willingness to cover any necessary processing fees for the request, signaling his commitment to obtaining the information in question.
The Institute of Progress Governance (IPG) has described President Mahama’s 2025 budgetary statement, which the finance minister read on his behalf, as filled with lamentations.
Reacting to the 2025 budgetary statement presented by the finance minister, the Executive Director of IPG, Dr. George Domfe, emphasized that the budget failed to give Ghanaians hope and that it is filled with lamentations.
“The finance minister created the impression that the Ghanaian economy was run aground by the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration. The minister also lamented about what he termed as an alarming rate of unemployment left behind by the Akufo-Addo administration” he stated.
“Data from the Bank of Ghana and the Ministry of Finance provide a very different picture. Nana Akufo-Addo left the economy growing at 5.7% in 2024 whereas Mr. Mahama left it growing at 3.4% in 2016. On unemployment, Mahama left an official unemployment rate (using a narrow measure) of 5.2% and President Akufo-Addo reduced it to 3% by the end of the year 2023.
“Whilst acknowledging that unemployment is still a problem, Dr. Domfe commended Ghana Statistical Service for using a broad measure to recently capture unemployment at 14.7%. He quickly added, “It is wrong for President Mahama and the NDC ministers to use the 2016 narrow measure of 5.2% to compare to the 2023 broad measure of 14.7%. I don’t expect the President to make such basic mistakes!” He added.
“On Budget Deficit, the NDC left it at 9.0% on a cash basis in 2016 whereas the NPP left it at 5.2% (on a cash basis) and 7.9% (on a commitment basis) in 2024. “This renders NPP performance as superior” he explained.
Dr. Domfe also indicated that NPP again performed better with the Gross External Reserves. “Whilst NDC left it at 2.8-month import cover (about $6.1 billion), NPP left a 4-month import cover (about $ 8.98 billion). “The difference is clear in terms of who managed the economy better” He explained.
On debt to GDP, the IPG boss indicated that Mahama left the figure at 73.3% (in 2006 constant prices) in 2016 with Ghana’s debt being unsustainable. The country was plunged into a debt crisis in 2014 and in April 2015, we quickly ran to IMF for external credibility. Dr. Domfe explained that while Ghana’s debt had remained unsustainable since 2020, the country is now out of danger with a debt-to-GDP of 61.8% at the end of 2024.
The Development Economist and Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Policy Studies (CSPS) at the College of Humanities, University of Ghana, concluded that President Mahama’s claim of the economy having been criminally managed is, therefore, untrue.
“Looking at the data which is verifiable from the Bank of Ghana, Finance Ministry and the IMF, President Mahama’s claim that the economy was criminally managed is far from the truth” the IPG boss concluded.
The Volta and Oti Regions are set to host their first-ever Volta Athletics Championship, an initiative aimed at fostering athletic development and encouraging youth participation in sports.
Bringing together over 1,000 athletes, the competition will feature a range of track and field events, providing young athletes with a platform to showcase their abilities and gain competitive experience.
In addition to the sporting contests, the event will include coaching development sessions to equip coaches, athletes, and officials with industry best practices.
The Project Manager of the Volta Athletics Championship, Eldee Sefadzi, emphasized the initiative’s role in advancing athletic development in the country and serving as a talent pipeline for future competitions.
“We are excited to host this inaugural event, which will showcase the athletic talent within the Volta Region. Our objective is to establish a sustainable platform for athletics development, and we see this championship as a crucial step toward that goal.
“Through this initiative, we aim to nurture a pool of athletes prepared to compete at both national and international levels,” said Eldee Sefadzi, Project Manager.
Organized by Enzee Events, the championship will take place between March and June 2025.
Beyond the athletic competitions, the event will incorporate coaching development sessions aimed at educating coaches, athletes, and officials on best practices in athletics.
By providing structured training opportunities, the championship seeks to elevate the standard of coaching and officiating, ultimately enhancing the quality of athletics in the region.
The championship is expected to receive strong support from various stakeholders, including the Ghana Athletics Association, DDP Outdoors, the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, and Emmanuel Bedzrah, MP for Ho-West. Their involvement underscores the importance of the initiative in strengthening Ghana’s athletics ecosystem and creating more opportunities for aspiring athletes.
To officially kick off the event, a launch ceremony will be held on March 27, 2025, marking the beginning of three exciting days of athletic competition.
“The Volta Athletics Championship is a significant milestone for our region, as it provides a much-needed platform for young athletes to showcase their talents and pursue their dreams in sports. For too long, many gifted athletes in our communities have lacked the opportunities and support needed to excel.
“This initiative will not only promote athletics but also inspire a new generation to embrace sports as a pathway to personal and professional growth. We believe it will contribute to the overall development of our youth and bring pride to the Volta Region,” said Togbe Gobo Dake, the Chief of Tsito Awudome.
The Volta Athletics Championship is a regional initiative promoting athletics development in Ghana’s Volta and Oti Regions.
It provides a structured platform for young athletes to compete, improve their skills, and gain exposure. Through competitions, training, and community engagement, it fosters a strong athletics culture while identifying future champions. By collaborating with key stakeholders, the Volta Athletics Championship aims for sustainable growth and a long-term impact on Ghana’s athletics ecosystem.
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Meanwhile, catch the first in the series of our special episodes on Forgotten Forts on People and Places on GhanaWeb TV below. This episode focuses on Fort Amsterdam at Abandze:
A mother in northern Nigeria is visibly upset as she clutches her two-year-old child, who has burns and discoloured skin on his face and legs.
The 32-year-old used skin-whitening products on all six of her children, under pressure from her family, with results that she now deeply regrets.
Fatima, whose name has been changed to protect her family’s identity, says one of her daughters covers her face whenever she goes out in order to hide her burns.
Another was left with darker skin than before – with a pale circle around her eyes, while a third has whitish scars on her lips and knees.
Her toddler still has weeping wounds – his skin is taking a long time to heal.
“My sister gave birth to light-skinned children but my children are darker-skinned. I noticed that my mother favours my sister’s children over mine due to their skin tone and it hurt my feelings a lot,” Fatima says.
She says she used creams she bought at her local supermarket in the city of Kano, without a doctor’s prescription.
One of Fatima’s daughters has marks on her lips as a result of using the creams
At first, it seemed to work. The grandmother warmed towards Fatima’s children, who were aged between two and 16 at the time.
But then the burns and scars appeared.
Skin-whitening or lightening, also known as bleaching in Nigeria, is used in different parts of the world for cosmetic reasons, though these often have deep cultural roots.
Women in Nigeria use skin-whitening products more than in any other African country – 77% use them regularly, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
In Congo-Brazzaville the figure is 66%, in Senegal 50% and in Ghana 39%.
The creams may contain corticosteroids or hydroquinone, which can be harmful if used in high quantities, and in many countries are only obtainable with a doctor’s prescription.
Other ingredients sometimes used are the poisonous metal, mercury, and kojic acid – a by-product from the manufacture of the Japanese alcoholic drink, sake.
Dermatitis, acne and skin discolouration are possible consequences, but also inflammatory disorders, mercury poisoning and kidney damage.
The skin may become thinner, with the result that wounds take longer to heal, and are more likely to become infected, the WHO says.
The situation is so bad that Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) declared a state of emergency in 2023.
It is also becoming more common for women to bleach their children like Fatima did.
“A lot of people link light skin to beauty or wealth. Women tend to shield, as they call it, their children from that discrimination by bleaching them from childbirth,” Zainab Bashir Yau, the owner of a dermatology clinic in the capital, Abuja, tells the BBC.
She estimates that 80% of the women she has met have bleached their children or plan to do so.
Some were bleached themselves as babies, she says, so are just continuing the practice.
One of the most common ways to tell whether someone is using skin-whitening products in Nigeria is by the darkness of their knuckles. Other parts of people’s hands or feet get lighter, but knuckles tend to remain dark.
However, smokers and drug users also sometimes have dark patches on their hands, due to the smoke.
So users of skin-lightening products are sometimes mistakenly assumed to belong to this group.
Colour contrasts on bleached hands are sometimes thought to resemble the marks found on a drug addict’s hands
Fatima says that is what happened to her daughters, aged 16 and 14.
“They faced discrimination from society – they all point fingers at them and call them drug addicts. This has affected them a lot,” she says.
They have both lost potential fiancés because men do not want to be associated with women who might be thought to take drugs.
I visited a popular market in Kano, where people who call themselves “mixologists” create skin-whitening creams from scratch.
The market has a whole row of shops where thousands of these creams are sold.
Some pre-mixed varieties are arranged on shelves, but customers can also select raw ingredients and ask for the cream to be mixed in front of them.
I noticed that many bleaching creams, with labels saying they were for babies, contained regulated substances.
Other sellers admitted using regulated ingredients such as kojic acid, hydroquinone and a powerful antioxidant, glutathione, which may cause rashes and other side-effects.
I also witnessed teenage girls buying bleaching creams for themselves and in bulk so that they could sell them to their peers.
Market salesmen use powerful substances to mix skin-lightening creams – adapting them at the request of customers
One woman, who had discoloured hands, insisted that a seller add a lightening agent to a cream that was being mixed for her children, even though it was a regulated substance for adults and illegal to use on children.
“Even though my hands are discoloured, I am here to buy creams for my kids so they can be light-skinned. I believe my hands are this way just because I used the wrong one. Nothing will happen to my children,” she said.
One seller said most of his customers were buying creams to make their babies “glow”, or to look “radiant and shiny”.
Most seemed to be unaware of the approved dosages.
One salesman said he used “a lot of kojic” – well over the prescribed limit – if someone wanted light skin and a smaller quantity if they wanted a subtler change.
Fatima’s toddler still has sores on his face from skin-lightening products that are taking time to heal
The approved dosage of kojic acid in creams in Nigeria is 1%, according to Nafdac.
I even saw salesmen giving women injections.
Dr Leonard Omokpariola, a director at Nafdac, says attempts are being made to educate people about the risks.
He also says markets are being raided, and there are efforts to seize skin-lightening ingredients at Nigeria’s borders as they are brought into the country.
But he says it was sometimes hard for law-enforcement officials to identify these substances.
“Some of them are just being transported in unlabelled containers, so if you do not take them to the labs for evaluation, you can’t tell what is inside.”
Fatima says her actions will haunt her forever, especially if her children’s scars do not fade.
“When I confided in my mum about what I did, due to her behaviour, and when she heard the dangers of the cream and what stigma her grandchildren are facing, she was sad that they had to go through that and apologised,” she says.
Fatima is determined to help other parents avoid making the same mistake.
“Even though I have stopped… the side-effects are still here, I beg other parents to use my situation as an example.”
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The initiative aims to enhance the mental resilience of athletes
The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has launched Ghana’s first-ever certificate course in sports psychology, calling for a greater emphasis on mental preparedness in sports training.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, aims to enhance the mental resilience of athletes and integrate psychological training into coaching and management.
At a ceremony held in Accra on March 24, 2025, Kofi Adams underscored the crucial role of psychology in athletic success.
He emphasized that mental preparedness is often the missing link in Ghana’s sports development.
“Sports cannot thrive without considering all its components. In the past, we neglected the mental conditioning of our athletes, but psychology plays a huge role in their success,” he stated.
He noted that psychological resilience has enabled para-athletes to excel despite their physical limitations and stressed that mental barriers often hinder otherwise talented athletes from performing at their best.
“Some athletes shine in training but struggle in competition due to psychological factors such as stage fright or intimidation by international competitors. If our trainers understand this and incorporate psychology into their work, our athletes will be better equipped to compete at the highest level,” he added.
The Acting Director-General of the National Sports College, Fuseini Bawa, highlighted the significance of the course, stating that while sports psychology is traditionally studied at the PhD level, this initiative offers a professional certification that is widely accessible.
“Ghana has never lacked talent or strategy, but we have often overlooked the psychological aspect of sports. This course is designed to change that,” he noted.
Bawa also urged sports federations and clubs to utilize the trained professionals, stressing that their knowledge should be put to practical use.
“If you send people for this training but fail to use their expertise, then what is the point? We want to ensure that the skills acquired here contribute meaningfully to sports development,” he emphasized.
The Acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, described the launch as a “historic moment” and pledged the NSA’s commitment to promoting sports psychology in Ghana.
The five-day program is being facilitated by Dr. Elvis Hagan Jnr. from Germany and Dr. Medina Srem-Sai from the University of Education, Winneba.
Participants will receive a professional certificate from the National Sports College, the only accredited institution in Ghana authorized to issue such qualifications.
AM/KA
Meanwhile, catch the first in the series of our special episodes on Forgotten Forts on People and Places on GhanaWeb TV below. This episode focuses on Fort Amsterdam at Abandze:
Legal practitioner Theophilus Dzimega Jnr has raised concerns about the legality of a recent search conducted at the residence of the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana.
Speaking on GHOne TV, he questioned why security operatives disabled cameras before carrying out their operation.
“If you say the search was legal, you had a warrant to do that. Why are you disabling cameras in his home before the search is done?” he asked in an interview monitored by MyNewsGH.
Dzimega suggested that the cameras themselves may have been a key reason for the search, as there were allegations that the former official had a camera linked to his previous office.
“It is alleged that the governor had a camera linked to his previous office and for which data is being transmitted to his home via the cameras,” he stated.
He further explained that if intelligence officers were conducting a search, their first priority should be to seize any relevant evidence immediately.
“If someone comes to search here and finds my phone, intelligence-wise, the first thing you will pick is the phone. I may use the phone for something else,” he remarked.
Drawing parallels to previous cases, Dzimega emphasized that the pattern of targeting certain individuals was not new.
He cited instances of military officers who were dismissed or sidelined only to later assume high-level roles.
“We were in this country when there was a certain officer who was dismissed, but during another administration, he played high-level roles,” he pointed out.
According to Dzimega, the search and the narrative surrounding it appeared to be part of a broader strategy to discredit the individual involved.
“The idea about the Jakpa case is just them getting the hawks to circle around the guy and to make him feel that he shouldn’t work,” he asserted.
The Member of Parliament for Subin, Kofi Obiri Yeboah, has blamed the recent devastating fire outbreak at Adum in the Central Business District of Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region, on erratic power supply, commonly referred to as ‘dumsor’.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday, March 24, 2025, he urged the government to resolve the ongoing power crisis.
According to him, his engagements with some affected traders and eyewitnesses revealed that the fire was triggered by power fluctuations.
“In my interaction with traders and eyewitnesses, it was revealed that this fire was allegedly triggered by dumsor. Power had been out, and the moment electricity was restored, it sparked and triggered the fire. This is most unfortunate, considering how far we have come as a nation.” he said.
On Friday, March 21, 2025, fire ravaged a three-storey commercial building at Adum destroying several shops.
The blaze which started at the Blue Light Arena in the Railways area, spread rapidly before fire officers arrived to contain it.
JKB/KA
Meanwhile, watch this captivating story of the Ghana’s 100-year-old World War II veteran whose name is widely known in the Buckingham Palace, below:
In a resounding display of football prowess, grit and experience, the Black Stars have significantly bolstered their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup by defeating Madagascar 3-0 in Morocco on Monday evening.
This emphatic victory follows their impressive 5-0 win over Chad just days prior.
Otto Addo’s team, who arrived in Morocco on Saturday, managed to adapt swiftly despite limited preparation time.
They shifted from the successful 4-1-4-1 formation used against Chad to a 5-3-2 setup, introducing Jerome Opoku and Francis Abu into the starting lineup who replaced Inaki Williams and Ernest Nuamah.
The Black Stars began the match with vigour, nearly scoring early on from a Jordan Ayew free kick that found an outstretched Mohammed Salisu, who couldn’t get his effort on target.
However, it was Thomas Partey who broke the deadlock, connecting with Ayew’s delivery from a similar spot to give Ghana the lead.
Despite this early success, Ghana struggled to maintain momentum as Madagascar gradually gained confidence, though they failed to pose a significant threat by halftime.
In the second half, Ghana regained their stride, doubling their lead through Partey once again, this time from an Ayew corner kick.
The game was sealed when Mohammed Kudus scored the third goal, ending a year-long drought with the national team.
Kudus’ goal was beautifully set up by Ayew, who completed the night with a hat-trick of assists.
A flurry of changes from both sides was a signal of acceptance as the Black Stars strolled to the finish line to pick up crucial three points.
This win extends Ghana’s lead at the top of Group I to five points, positioning them favourably for qualification with four matches remaining.
The Black Stars will next face Chad in September, aiming to secure their fifth World Cup appearance.
Greenland’s politicians have condemned plans for high-profile US visits, in the wake of President Donald Trump’s threats to take over the island.
Second Lady Usha Vance will make a cultural visit this week, and a separate trip is expected from Trump’s National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.
Outgoing Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede described the plan as aggressive, and said the duo had not been invited for meetings. Meanwhile, the island’s likely next leader accused the US of showing a lack of respect.
Greenland – the world’s biggest island, situated between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans – has been controlled by Denmark, nearly 3,000km (1,860 miles) away, for about 300 years.
It governs its own domestic affairs, but decisions on foreign and defence policy are made in Copenhagen. The US has long held a security interest – and has had a military base on the island since World War Two.
It is also thought Trump is interested in the island’s rare earth minerals. His son Donald Jr visited Greenland before Trump’s inauguration in January.
Announcing Mrs Vance’s visit, the White House said the second lady would visit historical sites and attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland’s national dogsled race.
Her delegation – including her son – would be there to “celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity”, the statement said.
Waltz’s trip was confirmed by a source who spoke to the BBC’s US partner, CBS News. He is expected to visit before Mrs Vance and to travel with Energy Secretary Chris Wright, according to the New York Times.
Outgoing PM Egede described Waltz’s visit in particular as a provocation. “What is the security advisor doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to show a demonstration of power to us,” he told Sermitsiaq newspaper.
Speaking to the same paper, Greenland’s probable next PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen accused the American officials of showing the local population a lack of respect.
US National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said the United States has a vested interest in the Arctic, and so “it should not be a surprise the National Security Advisor and Secretary of Energy are visiting a US Space Base to get first-hand briefings from our service members on the ground”.
He said that the visit is also an opportunity to ” build on partnerships that respects Greenland’s self-determination and advances economic cooperation” and to “learn about Greenland, its culture, history, and people”.
Trump appeared to escalate his campaign to take over the island during a conversation with Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte earlier this month.
Greenland was already on the defensive about Trump’s talk of a takeover, but he sent further shockwaves by implying he might ask to take the island with support of Nato, a military alliance of which Denmark is also a part.
“You know, Mark, we need that for international security… we have a lot of our favourite players cruising around the coast, and we have to be careful,” Trump said. “We’ll be talking to you.”
When asked about the prospect of annexation, Trump said: “I think that will happen.”
The move prompted Greenland’s leading political parties to issue a joint statement to condemn the American president’s “unacceptable behaviour”.
The issue took centre-stage in the recent election, during which Egede’s governing Inuit Ataqatigiit party was defeated in a surprise result by Nielsen’s Democratic party, which favours a gradual approach to independence from Denmark.
Earlier this month, during a speech to the US Congress, Trump said he strongly supported the people of Greenland’s right to determine their own future. “If you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America,” he said.
According to recent polls, almost 80% of Greenlanders back independence from Denmark. But an opinion survey in January suggested an even greater number rejected the idea of becoming part of the US.
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The Member of Parliament for Subin, Kofi Obiri Yeboah, has blamed the recent devastating fire outbreak at Adum in the Central Business District of Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region, on erratic power supply, commonly referred to as ‘dumsor’.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday, March 24, 2025, he urged the government to resolve the ongoing power crisis.
According to him, his engagements with some affected traders and eyewitnesses revealed that the fire was triggered by power fluctuations.
“In my interaction with traders and eyewitnesses, it was revealed that this fire was allegedly triggered by dumsor. Power had been out, and the moment electricity was restored, it sparked and triggered the fire. This is most unfortunate, considering how far we have come as a nation.” he said.
On Friday, March 21, 2025, fire ravaged a three-storey commercial building at Adum destroying several shops.
The blaze which started at the Blue Light Arena in the Railways area, spread rapidly before fire officers arrived to contain it.
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Popular Ghanaian actress Beverly Afaglo has shed light on the challenges she and many other artistes faced during her early years in the film industry.
Speaking in an interview on Joy Learning TV, the accomplished actress and entrepreneur revealed that producers practiced discrimination by casting light-skinned actors over darker actresses for major roles in movies.
Afaglo explained this industry preference stemmed from the widespread belief that lighter complexions appeared more appealing on camera.
“Our time, what most of the producers were doing was, you have to be a half-cast. I think Jackie Appiah was the only person because she was a star already so they needed her.
“Producers thought light-skinned actors looked better on TV. As a result, most of them preferred casting light-skinned individuals,” she said.
The actress described the intense pressure actors faced during auditions, where one mistake could cost them rare opportunities.
“There was talent. It wasn’t about beauty or what you were wearing or anything. Everybody was ready to act. People were acting. We were really daring.
“People can master lines in one minute because when you get that chance to audition for a role, it was your only chance and the queue behind you was so long that you don’t want to make a mistake. But the casting for producers made it difficult for us to get into the acting field,” she narrated.
She noted the industry only became more inclusive when storytelling demands forced producers’ hands.
““It got to a time that they didn’t have a choice but to use us because, at that time, most of the stories that were out were about kingdoms, princesses, girls-girls, those stories. So girls-girls, you will need us. You can’t use just one person; you need everybody. So they knew that they had to work with us,” the actress observed.
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The former Member of Parliament for Dormaa East, Paul Apraku Twum Barimah, has criticised President John Mahama for failing to fulfil his campaign promised of ending illegal mining activities, popularly called galamsey.
He has therefore advised the president and his ministers to apologize to former President Akufo-Addo Akufo Addo for levelling falls allegations against him as a beneficiary of illegal mining.
In the run up to the December 2024 general elections, President Mahama promised to end the galamsey menace in his first 90 days in office but that is yet to be fulfilled.
‘As I speak to you now, the galamsey menace has gotten out of control with armed guards moving into forest reserves attacking and killing officers of the Forestry Commission . This is not what Ghanaians were promised. Ghanaians were promised an end to galamsey but that is not what we are experiencing”, he said.
According to Mr. Twum Barimah, President Akufo Addo in his eight-year tenure fought strongly against illegal mining to a point that the NPP lost votes in mining areas and mining communities in the 2020 and the 2024 general elections.
“President Akufo Addo never got any support from Mahama and the NDC in his fight against illegal mining at the time to tackle the menace. The NDC rather protested against the NPP government and succeeded making it unpopular among Ghanaians. Today, their members are deeply engaged in galamsey and destroying our forest reserves”, he expressed unhappiness.
He called on President Mahama to apologies to Ghanaians since he and his government have not been able to end galamsey in three months as they promised.
“They need to apologise to President Akufo Addo”, he stressed.
“Mahama and Sam George denigrated President Akufo Addo and even accused the former president of being complicit and a beneficiary of galamsey, a sad situation. Today it has become obvious that President Akufo Addo is not complicit and also not a beneficiary of illegal mining, so they have to apologise to Nana Akufo Addo,” he concluded
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Legal counsels for Kwabena Adu Boahene, the former Director of the National Signal Bureau (NSB), and his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, have lambasted the Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, for engaging in a “trial by media” rather than letting the due process run its course.
The lawyers, Zoe, Akyea & Co, in a letter dated March 24 denounced the AG for calling their clients as “state looters” during a press conference while acknowledging that the Economic and Organised Crime Office’s (EOCO) investigations were still under progress.
“The Learned Attorney-General has cheapened the press conference by pronouncing our clients guilty in the court of public opinion,” the letter stated.
“He unprofessionally labelled prejudicial information as ‘evidence,’ poisoning public perception before any formal charges.”
The lawyers contended that such action violates constitutional protections that prevent accused from being judged before their trials.
“It is difficult to come to terms with the fact that the Attorney-General is comfortable with the press where there is “no proof beyond reasonable doubt.” The Attorney-General has become the media persecutor of our Clients, a judge in his own court while simultaneously asserting that he is still investigating the case. This is counter-intuitive.”
“We do not believe a change of government through constitutional means should degenerate into a reset version of rule of law in which the press is fed with a pathetic one-sided and untested position by the leader of the Bar. This unmitigated prejudice with defamatory consequences will be prosecuted in the appropriate forum.”
The lawyers further stated that the AG’s action was politically motivated.
“When a case from the highest level of the Attorney-General is tried in the press, it degenerates from prosecution—which must be impartial—to persecution.”
Get yourself a new black short haircuts, take advantage of your actual step to obtain lovely short hairstyles. Before you go to the hair salon, spend some time finding through websites and find out that which you like. If at all possible, it’s best to bring the hairdresser an image as example so you could be near fully guaranteed to have it the way you love it.
President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of 25% on US imports from countries that purchase oil from Venezuela.
Trump described the move as a “secondary tariff” aimed at punishing the Latin American country “for numerous reasons”, including allegedly “purposefully” sending gang members to the US.
Separately, Trump suggested he was softening his plans for tariffs on imports from other countries, saying he “may give a lot of countries breaks”.
Markets ended the day higher after the comments, which appeared to confirm reports that he was narrowing the taxes he plans to announce on 2 April.
Trump has previously said he was looking to impose “reciprocal” tariffs on countries around the world, outlining plans for a system whereby “they charge us, we charge them”.
But on Monday he suggested the White House might be “nicer than that” when it came to the new tariff rates.
“We may take less than what they’re charging because they’ve charged us so much, I don’t think they could take it,” he said, while also acknowledging that some countries might be spared from the measures.
Leading share indexes in the US, which have fallen in steeply in recent weeks following Trump’s tariff threats, all rose on Monday.
The S&P 500 closed 1.7% higher, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 1.2% while the Nasdaq finished 2.2% ahead.
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Veteran Ghanaian actor Mawuli Semevo has passed away after sustaining severe burns in a domestic fire at his residence in Adenta SSNIT Flats, Accra.
The incident occurred on Friday, February 7, when a fire broke out in his living room while he was asleep in the bedroom. Reports indicate that he ran through the flames to escape but collapsed outside. Neighbours rushed him to Ridge Hospital, where he was receiving treatment for his injuries.
Medical experts had initially estimated that his chances of survival could only be determined after 21 days. However, he succumbed to his injuries today, just 13 days after the incident.
His death was confirmed by actor and creative lead of Image Bureau, George Quaye, who paid tribute to Semevo’s legacy, describing him as a remarkable talent in Ghana’s entertainment industry.
Semevo was widely respected for his contributions to both stage and screen. His filmography includes notable roles in productions such as Harvest at 17, A Stab in the Dark, Escape of Love, Like Cotton Twines, and The Good Old Days: The Love of AA.
He also played Baba Fakunle in the adaptation of Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not to Blame, staged at the National Theatre last year by Image Bureau and April Productions.
His passing marks a significant loss to Ghana’s creative arts industry.
Ghana head coach Otto Addo has warned that the Black Stars are not yet guaranteed a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite their emphatic 3-0 victory over Madagascar in the qualifiers.
Thomas Partey scored twice, with Mohammed Kudus adding another, as captain Jordan Ayew registered all three assists in a dominant display in Morocco.The win puts Ghana in a strong position in Group I, but Addo insists the team must remain focused.
“We are in a good position [to qualify for the 2026 World Cup], but this is also dangerous,” Addo said at the post-match press conference.
“Now, I am thinking about how to keep our heads focused [because] the job is really not done. Maybe if Comoros wins, it’s just a three-point gap ahead of Comoros, and it’s still a long way to go. We have to stay focused. If anyone thinks we are through, then he’s making a big mistake.”
With several games left in the qualifiers, Addo stressed the need for his players to maintain their concentration and avoid complacency.
“I have seen a lot of football, a lot of things happening, and we have to stay focused. I am happy, but like I said, the job is really not done,” he reiterated.
Ghana will now turn their attention to the next round of qualifiers in June, as they look to solidify their place at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
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A flight carrying 199 Venezuelans deported from the US to their homeland has landed at Simón Bolívar airport near Caracas.
US repatriation flights to Venezuela had ground to a halt weeks ago after the Trump administration revoked a licence allowing Venezuela to export some of its oil to the US despite sanctions.
But on Saturday the two governments, which have no diplomatic relations, reached an agreement on resuming the flights, as part of the Trump administration’s plan to remove undocumented migrants.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro described the flights as a chance to “rescue and free migrants from prisons in the US”.
As they disembarked from the plane early on Monday, some of the deportees raised their arms and waved.
They had earlier been transferred from the US state of Texas to Honduras, in Central America, from where they were flown by Venezuelan flag carrier Conviasa to Maiquetía, north of Caracas.
The US Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs described them as “illegal aliens” who “had no basis to remain in the United States”.
The head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, on the other hand stressed on Saturday that migration was “not a crime”.
Venezuela had originally agreed to take in Venezuelan deportees from the US in a deal struck by President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Richard Grenell, in Caracas in January.
It was widely seen as a victory for Trump, who has made deporting undocumented migrants a priority.
However, Maduro said on 8 March that the US administration’s decision to revoke the licence of oil giant Chevron to operate in Venezuela had created “a little problem”.
“They damaged the line of communication we had opened, and I was interested in those lines of communication… because I wanted to bring home all the Venezuelans they have in custody they have unjustly persecuted,” he said.
A week later, the Trump administration deported 238 Venezuelans to a mega-prison in El Salvador, arguing that they were members of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang.
It caused an outcry in Venezuela, where several relatives of those deported to El Salvador insisted their loved ones had no criminal connections.
On Monday, Trump said on Truth Social that Venezuela “has been very hostile to the United States”.
He said its government “purposefully and deceitfully sent to the United States, undercover, tens of thousands of high level, and other, criminals, many of whom are murderers and people of a very violent nature.”
He also announced a “secondary tariff” on Venezuela, meaning that any country purchasing oil and gas from Venezuela would be hit with a 25% tariff when trading with the United States.
The deportation of Venezuelans to El Salvador’s feared Cecot prison was followed by a warning posted on X by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week that Venezuela would face “severe and escalating” sanctions if it refused to accept its citizens deported from the US.
The following day, Maduro ordered his government to “step up the action needed to guarantee return flights for detained migrants”.
Tariffs are a tax on imports. They are paid by the company that is buying the goods as opposed to the overseas business that is selling the product.
Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly used tariffs – or the threat of them – in an attempt to gain leverage in a range of disputes, only some of which are related to trade.
He said on Monday he still planned to impose tariffs on specific products, including cars, lumber and computer chips, claiming the possibility of such measures were already helping to spur investment in the US.
His latest threat against Venezuela is expected raise pressure on current buyers of oil – which include China, India and Spain – to reduce their dealings in the country, which have provided a critical financial lifeline to the Venezuelan government.
Trump has already raised tariffs on Chinese imports to at least 20% since February. He told reporters he intended to the latest announcement to be added on top of existing levies.
For Venezuela, China is a major buyer of its oil. But Venezuela is not a big source of crude for China, which imported more than 11 million barrels per day last year.
The US is a major buyer of Venezuelan oil, as a result of exemptions from economic sanctions granted to US oil firm Chevron.
The Trump administration has previously signalled its intention to end those exemptions.
On Monday, the administration updated its order, giving Chevron until 27 May to wind down its operations in Venezuela, extending the deadline by two months.
Chevron declined to comment.
Oil prices rose more than 1% after the announcement.
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Thomas Tuchel always did bring the best out of Reece James. They won the Champions League together at Chelsea in 2021.
Tuchel’s belief in James was again vindicated here when the defender scored one of the best free-kicks ever seen at Wembley.
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This moment of brilliance from James broke the stout Latvian defence on 38 minutesCredit: Getty
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Tuchel knows all about James’ qualityCredit: Getty
It wasn’t quite on a par with Paul Gascoigne’s curling classic for Tottenham Hotspur against Arsenal in 1991. Or Frank Lampard’s for Chelsea against Spurs in 2012. Or Charlie Adam’s for Blackpool against Cardiff City that helped bring promotion to the Premier League in 2010.
James’ was a terrific goal out of keeping with a routine qualifying win over lowly visitors who came to defend.
There were other positives for Tuchel beyond victory and James’ all-round excellence.
There was further evidence of Myles Lewis-Skelly’s technical class and tactical nous, greater involvement from Marcus Rashford this time, a 71st goal for Harry Kane and a spritely goalscoring cameo from the bench from Eberechi Eze.
Morgan Rogers, who unleashed some driving runs, advanced his case, too. Some will moan over the absence of sustained quality, but qualifying is about the destination rather than the journey.
Latvia reflected their lowly status and ranking of 140th in the world, nestling between Burundi and Dominican Republic. They had little ambition, and simply invited England to try to break down their 5-4-1 configuration.
The game was largely attack against defence. England had to stay patient.
So did the fans, although a few launched paper aeroplanes. Wembley had sold out, although wasn’t full, and those here were at least treated to James’ gem.
Few, if any, will have seen such little celebration by the goalscorer. He reflected afterwards about his frustration at missing so many games.
But surely there should have been a cathartic outpouring? A goal of such beauty deserved greater celebration than a raised left eyebrow by James. It deserved a full Marco Tardelli joyous slalom or a Thierry Henry knee-slide.
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James’ celebration was surprisingly muted for so such a moment of qualityCredit: Getty
Maybe it was simply relief for James. His England career has been pockmarked by injury and long absences.
His commitment to the cause was even questioned by Gareth Southgate when he opted to stay and train at Chelsea rather than play in a Euro 2024 qualifier. Now Trent Alexander-Arnold has a challenge to regain the right-back position.
Tuchel knows James’ qualities well. James played wing-back against Manchester City in that epic 2021 Champions League final.
He tried to get forward from right-back here, linking with Jarrod Bowen but the moment that defined the half, and lifted some of the tedium, came from a dead-ball.
Lewis-Skelly, again starting at left-back but stepping earlier into midfield as a 6, won this momentous free-kick after 38 minutes. It was almost 30 yards from goal, right of centre.
It was cleverly worked by England, and a reminder of Anthony Barry’s presence in Tuchel’s staff. Barry has an extensive portfolio of set-piece plans.
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Kane scored the second goal of the night, his 71st in an England shirtCredit: Getty
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While Eze’s deflected effort put the World Cup qualifier to bedCredit: Getty
Rogers and Rashford formed a mini shadow wall to the right of Latvia’s five-man barrier. That blocked the view of Latvia’s excellent keeper, Krisjanis Zviedris.
James ran in, the wall jumped, but Latvia’s leapers were never going to reach a ball that rose and soared and then dropped and curled in at the far-post. Zviedris hardly had time to see it, let alone get near it.
James was engulfed by teammates delighted in a popular player’s first goal for England and on his first start since September 2022.
He didn’t celebrate beyond a laugh with Jude Bellingham. But it was the sweetest of moments for a talented right-back stalked too often by ankle, hamstring, knee and thigh injuries.
It was a moment of glee and relief for Tuchel, who certainly didn’t hold back in his celebrations.
Tuchel had set up England to attack, attack, attack but they lacked a killer pass.
‘Next Ashley Cole’ – Myles Lewis-Skelly compared to Premier League legend
Declan Rice anchored in a 4-1-4-1 system that switched into 3-2-2-3 in possession. Lewis-Skelly stepped into midfield alongside Rice. Bellingham and Rogers were joint 10s, quick to support Kane through the middle.
Rashford and Jarrod Bowen stayed wide, and tried to run their wing-backs. Latvia simply doubled up on them.
England had a problem to solve. Rashford’s impact against Albania on Friday evening was questioned by the demanding Tuchel.
He did more here, running with increasing determination in from the left. He created five chances in the first half alone.
He was challenged by Roberts Savalnieks and went down far too cheaply, claiming a penalty, rightly waved away by the referee.
England then suffered a scare. Latvia’s very lone striker, Vladislavs Gutkovskis, almost in a separate postcode to his team-mates, pounced on a mix-up between Jordan Pickford and Marc Guehi.
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England are top of their qualifying group thanks to two wins from a possible twoCredit: Getty
Gutkovskis was right of the goal, the angle tight, and found only the side-netting. Pickford looked relieved. This was not have been a good memory from the night he moved alongside two celebrated England goalkeepers in David Seaman and Joe Hart on 75 caps.
Latvia’s keeper, Zviedris, enjoyed the more impressive half, saving from Ezri Konsa. But he had no chance when James came calling.
Tuchel made a switch at the break, instructing Rashford and Bowen to swap flanks.
He began his changes on the hour. Eze replaced Bowen and there was surely a temptation to hook Bellingham.
England’s No.10 had finished the first half with a booking for a late challenge on Dmitrijs Zelenkovs and then began the second by diving in and catching Raivis Jurkovskis. The referee showed remarkable clemency.
Bellingham is such a special player and England need him on the pitch and fully focused if they are to advance far in the World Cup. He has already been warned by Tuchel about his discipline and was withdrawn after 67 minutes here.
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Bellingham was yellow carded and was subsequently substituted in the second halfCredit: Getty
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Bellingham’s discipline is something to keep in the rear view mirrorCredit: Getty
Phil Foden came on, and into his best position, as a No 10. Rashford was still right with Eze left.
Rashford was involved in the slick move that brought a nerve-settling second after 68 minutes.
James dinked the ball down the inside-right channel, Rashford linked with Rogers, the overlapping Rice crossed and Kane pounced from close range.
Eze had to wait a while to have his first goal for England confirmed. He ventured in on a switchback run from the left and his shot deflected in off Latvia’s captain, Antonijs Cernomordijs, before eventually being awarded to Eze.
Tuchel then made some strange changes by sending on Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker, part of England’s past surely, and Curtis Jones, who is definitely part of England’s future.
Why not Morgan-Gibbs White? Bizarre. Rashford, Rice and Lewis-Skelly departed. Wembley was slowly emptying by then.
England hadn’t really excited, beyond James’ moment of set-piece mastery. But it was another step closer to the World Cup.
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has confirmed that Benjamin Asare is currently Ghana’s first-choice goalkeeper following his impressive performances in training and World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.
The Hearts of Oak shot-stopper kept two clean sheets in first two games as national team goalkeeper.
Speaking after Ghana’s 3-0 victory over Madagascar in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Addo stated that while the next game is months away, Asare remains the preferred option between the posts.
“At this point, the next game is in June, but at the moment, I think he [Benjamin Asare] is number one. We have decided on him. He did well in training,” Addo said.
The coach, however, emphasised that the competition among goalkeepers remains strong, with Lawrence Ati Zigi and Joe Wollacott continuing to push for a starting spot.
“Like I said, it is not that there’s a huge gap between him and the other goalkeepers. We have a good situation where the goalkeepers are pushing each other, and we are really thankful for the way Ati Zigi and Wollacott behaved this week and the way they also tried to push Benjamin—to help him and support him—which is not… I don’t take it for granted,” he noted.
Addo praised Asare’s work ethic and performances in both league matches and training, highlighting his deserved rise to the number-one spot.
“Big props to them for pushing him… this is really good teamwork. Benjamin deserved it. He did well in the league and also in the few training sessions we had; he did very well, and I am happy for him,” he added.
With Ghana set to continue their qualification campaign in June, Asare’s status as the Black Stars’ number one will be closely monitored in the coming months.
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Head coach of the Black Stars Otto Addo has revealed the team put a lot of work into set pieces ahead of the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.
Ghana were comfortable victors in both games but a large majority of chances were created from set pieces.
Against Chad, the goals from Inaki Williams and Mohammed Salisu were as a result of a set piece as Ghana won 5-0.
Thomas Partey connected twice from a Jordan Ayew free kick and corner kick on either side of the half to score a brace, taking the total number of goals from set pieces this international break to four from Ghana.
Speaking in a press conference after the 3-0 win over Madagascar Addo attributed the success from dead balls to thourough preparation though they had been previously unlucky.
“I think we analysed well. For example against Sudan we had about 16 set pieces and we were also a bit unlucky. Alexander Djiku hit the post and we created a lot of chances.”
Addo was also quick to highlight the work of new assistant coach Desmond Ofei and new chief video analyst Gregory De Grauwe.
“In football if you work hard and are patient the results will come. I have to also pay big respect to the assistant coaches Desmond Ofei and also Gregory De Grauwe who are working hard and trying to find new ideas and it worked well as we won 3-0.”
Ghana currently sit top of Group I in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with 15 points after 6 games and will next face Chad in September.
Ghana’s Black Stars delivered a commanding performance to secure a 3-0 victory against Madagascar in their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying match.
The game, held at the Mimoun Al Arsi Stadium in Morocco, showcased the team’s dominance and skill as they solidified their position at the top of Group I.
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey was the star of the night, scoring two crucial goals.
Partey opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a powerful header from a Jordan Ayew free kick. The duo combined again in the 54th minute, with Partey heading home another precise delivery from Ayew to double Ghana’s lead.
Mohammed Kudus added the third goal in the 58th minute, capitalising on Ayew’s hat-trick of assists. Kudus’ strike marked his return to scoring form for the national team, ending a 431-day goal drought.
The victory places Ghana firmly at the top of Group I with 15 points, ahead of Madagascar, Mali, and Comoros. The Black Stars’ impressive performance has boosted their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, as they continue to demonstrate their prowess on the international stage.
Retired Captain Prince Kofi Amoabeng, founder of the defunct UT Bank, has disclosed that several individuals and major Ghanaian businesses still owe him significant sums following the bank’s collapse in 2017, which resulted from the financial sector restructuring under the previous administration.
In an interview with Bernard Avle on The Point of View on Channel One TV on Monday, March 24, Rtd. Capt. Amoabeng voiced his frustration over the dishonesty of some borrowers who have failed to repay their loans.
While he acknowledged recovering portions of the outstanding debts, he noted that a substantial amount remains unpaid.
When asked about his efforts to assist borrowers who later defaulted, he responded, “Plenty of them, if I say I’m going to write on all of them, they won’t fit in. I dealt with some of them, but we still have some that were incorrigible, and it couldn’t end well.”
The collapse of UT Bank has been largely attributed to a high volume of non-performing loans and internal mismanagement.
The bank’s failure highlights the critical need for stricter loan repayment enforcement and the ongoing challenges financial institutions face in ensuring borrower compliance.
AG not overstepping his powers – Srem-Sai responds to Minority
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The Duchess of Sussex has launched a new digital shop, allowing fans to purchase her favourite clothing, accessories and jewellery recommendations.
Meghan, who described her ‘high-low’ style approach to mixing designer and accessible fashion during an episode of her recent Netflix series, shared the ShopMy link to her 2.6 million Instagram followers on Monday.
She included the disclaimer that she would receive a sales commission on some products purchased through the affiliate links she shared.
The ShopMy platform is marketed at “elite creators” as a way for them to earn revenue if someone purchases an item through a link they have shared – with a commission as high as 30%.
Meghan described the pieces in the online shop as a “handpicked and curated collection of the things I love”, adding she had long been asked to share her wardrobe inspiration.
Outfits the Duchess has been pictured in previously have been known to sell out in minutes – a white coat by the Canadian brand Line the Label which she wore to announce her engagement to Prince Harry in November 2017 was reportedly so in demand it crashed the clothing brand’s website.
A month later she was photographed carrying a £500 ($675) midi tote bag made by Strathberry, which led to the item selling out in 11 minutes flat across its global, US and China website.
The 32 piece collection unveiled on Monday revealed a capsule wardrobe of neutral staples in muted colours – white, beige, light blue and black – and natural fabrics like linen and cashmere.
Items included the “perfect” white cotton t-shirt, a striped blue “boyfriend” shirt and white linen trousers, as well as more formal items such as a black wool blazer and a full-length, ivory-coloured evening dress.
The majority of the products are from upscale high-street brands, including Theory, Reformation, Polene, Madewell, J Crew, but they also include luxury and budget options. A trench coat she linked to is a £99 Uniqlo option, while a pair of brown leather slip-on sandals from Saint Laurent retail for £595.
According to ShopMy, commissions earned from the platform typically from 10 to 30% “depending on the brand or retailer”. The platform also allows creators to “discover and manage paid collaboration opportunities” with over 47,000 brands.
The duchess’s latest venture comes just weeks after the debut of her glossy Netflix lifestyle show which portrays her life at home, lunches with friends and various gardening and cooking activities.
Last year she also launched a lifestyle brand, originally called American Riviera Orchard and now known as As Ever that aims to sell “beautifully crafted essentials” like artisan preserve and tea.
Fashion, lifestyle and product recommendations are all areas the duchess has explored before. Meghan set up and ran her own lifestyle blog called The Tig for almost three years before closing it in April 2017 – just months before her engagement to Prince Harry was announced.
On The Tig, Meghan shared beauty, diet and fashion tips, recipes, travel advice, and words of wisdom about love and life.
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Dominic Nitiwul, former Minister of Defence
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), in collaboration with the police, visited some shops in Adabraka and took samples of their paints to test and ensure they conform to required standards.
