Author: Constance Awunor

Spain have been crowned 2026 FIFA World Cup champions after defeating Argentina in an enthralling final to lift their second men’s world title. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time before captain Rodri lifted the World Cup trophy at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, capping a tournament in which Spain emerged as the standout team. Spain dominate the final Spain controlled much of the contest, finishing with 65 per cent possession, 20 shots and an expected goals (xG) figure of 1.94. Former England captain Alan Shearer praised Spain’s performance, saying the best team deserved to win. “There is…

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has disclosed that the country’s credit-to-GDP gap remained negative, although it continued to improve gradually, signalling a steady recovery in private-sector credit growth. In its latest Monetary Policy Report, the Central Bank said the indicator suggests that lending to the private sector is still growing below its long-term trend or that economic output is expanding faster than credit. A negative credit-to-GDP gap is generally associated with a period of credit contraction. Limited financial stability risks According to the Bank of Ghana, the continued negative gap points to limited systemic risks arising from excessive credit growth.…

The Veterinary Medical Association has called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, veterinary professionals and other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the government’s Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme. Speaking at the JoyNews Business Roundtable on Ghana’s poultry industry on Friday, July 17, Dr Kwao Pecku said the initiative has the potential to transform the sector but warned that its success would depend on effective implementation and broad stakeholder participation. The roundtable was held under the theme, “Can Ghana Feed Itself? The Future of Poultry Beyond Nkoko Nkitinkiti.” Stakeholder involvement is key Dr Pecku said the association is committed to supporting…

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested three suspects after intercepting approximately five million tramadol tablets with an estimated street value of GH¢100 million at the Accra International Airport (AIA). The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation in which officers intercepted a shipment believed to contain the illegal pharmaceutical drugs. In a Facebook post on Friday, July 17, NACOC said the operation forms part of its ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and protect public health and national security. Preliminary investigations indicate that the consignment was intended for distribution within Ghana and possibly other countries in the sub-region. Investigators believe the…

Gold prices were on track for their biggest weekly decline in six weeks on Friday as escalating tensions between the United States and Iran pushed oil prices higher, raising concerns about inflation and the prospect of higher US interest rates. Spot gold rose 0.5% to $3,988.20 an ounce by 0313 GMT after touching its lowest level since July 1 earlier in the session. US gold futures for August delivery were little changed at $3,992 an ounce. Despite the modest rebound, gold has fallen 3.2% this week, marking its steepest weekly decline since early June. Rising oil prices weigh on gold…

FIFA will award championship rings to the winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, introducing a tradition commonly associated with major American sports. The announcement comes as the White House confirmed that US President Donald Trump will attend Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The championship rings will be presented to 30 members of the victorious team. FIFA will also produce 1,996 commemorative rings for fans. Each ring will feature a miniature World Cup trophy and an engraved band. Winner rings are a long-standing tradition in American sports, particularly in the NFL,…

New York has issued an air quality alert just days before the FIFA World Cup final as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to blanket the region. The final between Spain and Argentina is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The haze prompted health officials to advise residents to limit outdoor activities and stay indoors where possible. Air quality deteriorated shortly before Spain arrived in New Jersey on Wednesday night following their semi-final victory over France in Texas. Despite the conditions, Spain trained outdoors on Thursday and has not expressed…

The United States has launched a fresh wave of military strikes on Iran, marking the sixth consecutive night of attacks as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate over the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command (Centcom) said the strikes targeted Iranian military assets to further weaken the country’s military capabilities. It also confirmed that US forces had boarded a vessel as part of an ongoing blockade of Iranian ports. Iranian authorities, however, accused the United States of hitting civilian infrastructure, including bridges, a railway station and an airport. Iran reports civilian casualties Iranian state media and provincial…

MTN Ghana not leaving GhanMTN Ghana has dismissed concerns that it could scale down or exit the Ghanaian market following recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, where its parent company is headquartered. The company’s Chief Internal Audit and Forensics Officer, Michael Gbewonyo, said MTN remains fully committed to Ghana and has no plans to leave the country. Speaking at the 2026 MTN Media and Stakeholder Forum in Takoradi, organised for journalists from the Central and Western regions, Gbewonyo stressed that Ghana continues to be one of the company’s most important markets. “MTN is here to stay. We are not going…

Consumers are expected to pay more for petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from today, July 16, as the second pricing window for July takes effect. Industry projections by the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) indicate that petrol prices could increase by 5.3%, diesel by 7.5%, and LPG by 1.3%. The expected increases are being driven by rising global crude oil prices and the recent depreciation of the cedi, both of which have increased the cost of importing petroleum products into Ghana. Global oil prices push fuel costs higher According to COMAC, renewed volatility in global energy markets…