Author: Constance Awunor

VFS Global has warned Ghanaians to be careful of visa fraud and use only official channels when applying for visas. The company said some agents and middlemen continue to mislead applicants. They often promise faster appointments or guaranteed visa approvals in exchange for money. VFS Global stressed that no third party can influence visa decisions or appointment availability. The warning comes as visa applications continue to increase, especially during busy travel periods for students, families, business travellers, sports teams, and organised groups. Use only official channels Prashant Kansara, Regional Head for Central and West Africa at VFS Global, said trust…

The Government of Ghana has declared Friday, July 3, 2026, a public holiday to commemorate Republic Day. The announcement was made by the Ministry of the Interior in a statement issued on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. According to the Ministry, Republic Day, which is a statutory public holiday, falls on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. However, under the government’s revised public holiday policy, holidays that fall in the middle of the week are observed on a Friday, while those that fall on weekends are moved to the following Monday. The Ministry explained that President John Dramani Mahama, acting through an Executive…

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has destroyed large quantities of narcotic substances and drug-infused products seized during operations conducted between July 2011 and May 2026. The destruction exercise took place at Bondase and was supervised by the Commission’s Director-General, Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, his deputy, and representatives from several state institutions, including the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA). According to NACOC, the operation followed the issuance of court-approved destruction certificates authorising the disposal of the seized drugs. GSA verifies destruction process Officials from the Ghana Standards Authority monitored the exercise to verify the items being destroyed and ensure transparency. NACOC…

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has dismissed all seven claims brought by former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo against the Republic of Ghana, according to Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Justice Srem-Sai. Justice Torkornoo had challenged her suspension and removal from office before the regional court, arguing that the actions violated her rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The ECOWAS Court had earlier addressed preliminary objections and procedural applications relating to the matter before proceeding to determine the substantive claims. Court rejects compensation request In a Facebook post on Wednesday, June 24, Dr Srem-Sai disclosed…

Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name deeper into football history by becoming the first player to score in six FIFA World Cups as Portugal cruised to a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. The 41-year-old forward struck twice in a commanding display that sent Portugal to the top of Group K and silenced critics after their disappointing 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their opening match. Ronaldo wasted little time making an impact. In the sixth minute, he met Joao Cancelo’s cross with a low half-volley to open the scoring and become the second-oldest player to score at a World Cup, behind Cameroon’s…

The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) has announced plans to evacuate more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Gulf following months of disruption caused by the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the operation would be carried out in collaboration with Iran, Oman, the United States, other coastal states and stakeholders in the maritime industry. According to him, all necessary safety assurances have been secured to allow ships to navigate safely during the evacuation process. “We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and have thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation to…

Ghana delivered a determined defensive display to earn a hard-fought 0-0 draw against England in their second Group L match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The result leaves both sides in strong contention for a place in the Round of 32, with qualification set to be decided on the final matchday. England dominated possession throughout the game, controlling nearly 80 percent of the ball. However, the Black Stars remained organised and disciplined, limiting the Three Lions to few clear-cut opportunities. The first half offered little excitement in front of goal. England struggled to break through Ghana’s compact defence, with…

The Judicial Service of Ghana is set to deploy an artificial intelligence-powered judicial assistant to all 445 judges and magistrates across the country in a move aimed at improving efficiency and speeding up justice delivery. The initiative, developed through a partnership between Kwame AI and the Judicial Service, is being described as one of the most ambitious technology integrations in Africa’s justice sector. Under the programme, every judge and magistrate will receive access to an AI-powered platform known as Eskwai Clerk. According to Kwame AI, the tool is designed to assist judicial officers with legal research, document analysis and the…

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has announced a new official gold pricing regime that will take effect from July 1, 2026. The new framework follows extensive consultations with stakeholders in the gold trading value chain. According to GoldBod, the changes will affect licensed gold buyers, aggregators, self-financed aggregators and other licence holders. GoldBod adopts LBMA benchmark prices Under the new regime, GoldBod will stop publishing continuously updated live gold prices. Instead, it will use the internationally recognised London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Gold Price AM and LBMA Gold Price PM as the only benchmarks for determining official local gold purchase…

Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani is preparing to list Jio Platforms in a deal that could raise about $4 billion and rank among the biggest initial public offerings in India’s history. The planned listing marks another milestone for Reliance Industries and could strengthen Jio’s ambitions beyond Asia, with Africa emerging as a potential growth market. Jio bigger than MTN and Airtel Africa combined Jio Platforms has more than 500 million subscribers, making it one of the world’s largest telecom operators. Its customer base already exceeds the combined subscriber numbers of MTN Group and Airtel Africa. As a result, Jio has established…