Author: Kenneth Nii Tete Annan

Vinicius Jr ended an emotional week with his fifth goal in four games, but was unable to prevent Real Madrid losing 2-1 to Osasuna and handing Barcelona the initiative in the La Liga title race. Real were looking to go five points clear, but a first-half Ante Budimir penalty and a late Raul Garcia strike condemned Alvaro Arbeloa to a first league defeat in six games as manager. Days after claiming to have been subjected to racist taunts during Real Madrid’s Champions League triumph against Benfica, Vinicius tied the score in the 73rd minute. The Brazil forward had a quiet…

Ghana and Burkina Faso have formalized a sweeping diplomatic reset, signing seven pivotal bilateral agreements this week aimed at stabilizing one of West Africa’s most critical corridors. The pacts target chronic instability, transit bottlenecks, and border insecurity. The deal marks the successful conclusion of a session of the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC). This vital diplomatic engine was reactivated after a “six-year period of inactivity.” The revival follows high-level diplomacy in early 2023 between President John Mahama and President Ibrahim Traoré, which “set the tone for renewed bilateral cooperation.” A New Security and Humanitarian Architecture A primary driver for the…

The Ghana Police Service has launched an investigation into a violent incident that disrupted the District Schools Athletics Games in Agona Swedru in the Central region on February 19. The purpose of the gathering was to honour kids’ athletic abilities, but it apparently turned chaotic after a fight broke out between students from two different schools. According to eyewitnesses, tensions flared between students of Obrachire Senior High Technical School and the Swedru School of Business (SWESBUS), leading to a physical altercation. In the course of the disturbance, a student from Obrachire was allegedly attacked by a group believed to be…

Ghanaian musician Samini has responded to complaints by some Ghanaians over the growing influence of foreign music in the local market. According to him, the trend should rather inspire artists to work harder and expand beyond their borders. In an interview, Samini stated that he believes crossing borders with music is not a bad thing, but rather an opportunity for growth and global exposure. “I look at Africa as a united group of people. To me, Nigerian music or Ghanaian music is African music. Music from North America and music from South America is music from in that case, if I…

Management of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital has confirmed that a security officer on duty at the facility was assaulted in an incident that occurred earlier this week. In a press statement dated February 20, 2026, the hospital indicated that the incident took place on February 18 at about 7:28 p.m. at the Labour Ward. The officer is accused of being attacked by an 18-year-old man named Gabriel Dimson, who had gone to the hospital with his mother and a friend. According to management, the young man had been instructed to relocate to the reception area because hospital regulations prohibit…

President John Dramani Mahama has extended warm wishes to Ghanaians as the holy month of Ramadan begins. In a message released on Friday, February 20, he and his wife, Lordina Mahama, wished Muslims across the country a spiritually fulfilling and blessed Ramadan. In his statement, President Mahama described Ramadan as a “special time; a month of reflection, renewal, and coming together as one community.” He urged Muslims who observe the fast to pray for good health, mental tranquillity, and an abundance of mercy throughout the month, as well as to seek iman strengthening and heart cleansing. He noted that while…

Eric Dane, the actor best known for his roles on Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, has died less than a year after revealing he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was 53. Dane starred as the family patriarch, Cal Jacobs, on the hit HBO teen drama Euphoria. Before that, he was perhaps best known as Dr Mark Sloan, or ‘Dr McSteamy’, on medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. The California-born actor was diagnosed last year with ALS and spent the last few months raising awareness for the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND). “With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane…

Ghana’s second group game at the World Cup against England could be cancelled due to an escalating funding dispute surrounding the stadium scheduled to host the match. FIFA is facing the alarming prospect of relocating seven matches away from Gillette Stadium, barely four months before the tournament begins, according to a UK newspaper, The Mirror. Several World Cup matches, including Ghana vs. England, are scheduled to take place at the location that is home to the New England Patriots and New England Revolution. Scotland’s first two World Cup matches against Haiti and Morocco are also scheduled to be played there,…

The government has released GH¢855 million to settle arrears owed to cocoa farmers after a prolonged payment crisis that left many producers unpaid for months, despite delivering their produce to licensed buying companies. The payment is part of an emergency intervention to stabilise the cocoa sector and restore confidence among farmers and buying companies. A wide range of reforms have been announced by the government in the wake of the crisis to reorganise the sector and place the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) on a more stable financial foundation. These reforms include a controversial reduction of more than GH¢1,000 in the…

Phillipe Coutinho says he is leaving boyhood club Vasco da Gama because he is “tired mentally” and his “cycle at the club has ended”. The former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder was substituted at half-time after being booed by fans during Vasco’s win on penalties over Volta Redonda last week. Coutinho, who has 68 caps for Brazil, watched the rest of the game from the bench in the second half. In a lengthy, emotional statement on Instagram, the 33-year-old says he is leaving Vasco because “now is the time to take a step back”. “I would never disrespect the fans, my…