Prices for gasoline and diesel have more than doubled since the US-Israel conflict with Iran began in February, affecting transport businesses, farmers and anyone who drives a vehicle in America.

Ahead of the critical midterm elections, there have been growing calls for more to be done to reduce the price of fuel, and US President Donald Trump has made several comments and announcements aimed at getting costs down.

The question is: what is he able to do with just a few weeks to go before election day - and will it work?

Why does Trump want to reduce gas and diesel prices?

Trump's announcement of a waiver on the use of red dye diesel at a campaign stop this week underscored the importance of gas prices in a midterm election dominated by affordability issues.

The election comes as there is widespread public concern over the rising costs of fuel, food and other goods. Voters have tied the issue to Trump and his party, weighing down Republicans running in November.

Polls show a majority of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy and the war in Iran, which has contributed to high diesel and gas prices in the US.

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The Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Edmond Kombat, has been named Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP) Champion of the Year 2026 for the petroleum sector, following the resumption of refining operations and improvements in the state-owned refinery’s financial performance.

Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, presented the award at the ministry’s 2026 annual retreat, an energy sector performance review held at the Volta Serene Hotel in Ho.

Introduced in 2025, the ESRP Champion Award recognizes heads of energy sector institutions who make significant contributions to revenue generation, cost reduction, operational efficiency and good governance. The Electricity Company of Ghana’s Managing Director, Kwame Kpekpena, received the inaugural award.

The citation for Mr. Kombat highlighted the completion of major maintenance works on TOR’s Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), which paved the way for refining to resume after several years of inactivity. It also recognized the processing of one million barrels of Ghana’s Jubilee crude by August 2026.

“This recognition belongs to the entire TOR family,” Mr. Kombat said in a statement, commending staff for their dedication, resilience and sense of national duty.

“A refinery that was not refining”

The award marks a sharp reversal.

“We met a refinery that was not refining,” Mr. Kombat told media fellows touring the plant in March, describing what his management team inherited. He said debt had climbed back to about US$517 million, losses between 2017 and 2024 had reached about GH¢10 billion, and the company had gone six years without audited accounts.

Management repaired the CDU from internally generated funds, he said, raising cash by extending loading hours at the gantry and drawing private and regional firms to store and lift products at Tema. Refining resumed on December 19, 2025, after nearly five years offline.

The numbers have since moved. The State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA) said in a communiqué reported in June that TOR posted a profit before tax of GH¢1.24 billion for 2025, its first profit in a decade. The refinery also cleared a six-year backlog of audited financial statements, bringing its accounts up to date to 2025.Trade and other payables fell from GH¢7.1 billion to GH¢5 billion, according to SIGA, and the time taken to collect receivables dropped from 1,099 days to 652.

Between May and the end of July, TOR took delivery of three one-million-barrel crude cargoes: Bonga, Baleine and Ghana’s own Jubilee. President John Dramani Mahama commissioned the refurbished CDU on August 1 and said the recovery had been achieved without government money.

What remains

The recovery is not complete. SIGA cautioned that liquidity constraints, accumulated deficits and the need for further balance-sheet restructuring still require sustained attention. Its figures also put TOR’s foreign exchange gain for 2025 at GH¢1.3 billion, more than the pre-tax profit itself.

The government, meanwhile, wants more from the refinery. At the August commissioning, President Mahama directed Dr Jinapor to work with TOR’s board and management on a strategic plan to raise capacity to 100,000 barrels per day, more than double its nameplate 45,000. He also pledged to restructure TOR to end political interference in its operations.

Mr. Kombat, a lawyer and co-founder of the Institute for Energy Security, has led the refinery since 2025, when he was elevated from Deputy Managing Director. The ESRP honour follows the Outstanding Public Sector Leadership Award he received from the Ghana CEOs Network at the 10th Ghana CEOs Summit earlier this year.

He struck a cautious note on the latest recognition. “We are grateful for the recognition,” he said, “but we recognize that there is still much more work to be done.”

South Carolina Democratic Senate nominee Dr. Annie Andrews appears to be distancing herself from her past opposition to restricting transgender athletes in girls' sports, telling Fox News Digital she opposes biological males competing in women's sports and gender transition surgeries for minors.

As Democrats fight to regain control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections, Andrews is among a group of candidates in competitive races in red and swing states who seem to be shifting positions on transgender issues. Meanwhile, Republicans are aiming to use the highly-charged issue as a cudgel to bash Democrats for a second straight cycle.

"I don't support biological men playing in women's sports, and I don't support gender surgery on minors," Andrews told Fox News Digital.

Andrews, who's locked in an increasingly competitive midterm election showdown with Republican Sen. Darline Graham in reliably red state South Carolina, delivers the same message in a new campaign commercial, adding "I want you to hear me loud and clear."

DEMOCRATS THINK A BLUE WAVE IS FORMER - HERE ARE THREE FACTORS THAT COULD STOP IT

Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., speaks during a campaign event at the Green Boundary Club on Aug. 24, 2026, in Aiken, S.C. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

But Graham, who was appointed to the Senate following the sudden death this summer of her older brother, longtime Sen. Lindsey Graham, is accusing Andrews of trying to conceal her previous position on transgender athletes.

Andrews "has spent years supporting biological males competing in girls’ sports. Now that she’s running for Senate, she’s trying to hide from that radical record," Graham recently charged.

Graham and Republicans point to Andrews' opposition to a 2022 South Carolina law barring transgender athletes from competing on girls' and women's public school sports teams.

"This is shameful legislation that does nothing to protect or support women or children in SC. In fact, it is actively harmful. I will always support trans youth," Andrews wrote in a social media post at the time.

Republicans are seeking to once again make the issue a campaign liability.

The GOP effectively blasted Democrats in the 2024 election, with President Donald Trump's campaign targeting Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris with ads declaring "Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you."

WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN IN THE LATEST FOX NEWS MIDTERM POWER RANKINGS

Then-Vice President Kamala Harris and then-former President Donald Trump shake hands at their presidential debate, on Sept. 10, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Republicans spent more than $200 million to run ads targeting Democrats on the transgender issue in the 2024 campaign, arguably helping the GOP to sweeping victories.

The latest national polls indicate that most Americans oppose transgender athletes playing on sports teams that don’t match their birth sex.

More than three-quarters (76%) of those questioned in a Fox News national poll conducted last month backed banning biological men from competing in women's sports, with one in five opposed. The survey indicated bipartisan support, with 90% of Republicans, 77% of independents, and 61% of Democrats backing the ban.

Facing a rough political climate amid an unpopular war in Iran and soaring gas and diesel prices as they try to hold their fragile congressional majorities, Trump and the GOP are increasingly looking to replay their transgender political playbook.

Trump, at last month's GOP midterm convention, described anti-trans messaging as one of the party’s most effective campaign tools to drive voter turnout and target Democrats in the final stretch leading up to Election Day.

"It’s one of our great soundbites of all time," the president said at the two-day confab in Dallas.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

President Donald Trump speaks during the Republican convention at American Airlines Center on Sept. 9, 2026, in Dallas, Texas. (Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News via Getty Images)

And some of the other top speakers at the convention, including Vice President JD Vance, Speaker Mike Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and Senate and House GOP re-election chairs Sen. Tim Scott and Rep. Richard Hudson highlighted the issue in their addresses.

Meanwhile, Republican ads on the issue are running for a second straight cycle.

But Democrats are recalibrating, and learning to fight back.

One of the first to pivot following the 2024 election setbacks was California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate. In early 2025, he suggested that biological males playing in women's sports was "deeply unfair."

Also making headlines and sparking a debate among Democrats was Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, who said soon after the 2024 elections that he opposed transgender athletes competing in girls' sports and that Democrats spent too much time trying not to offend people.

Veteran Democratic strategist Maria Cardona told Fox News that "Democrats are being smart on this issue in terms of defining where they are on it so their opponents can't define them and then pivoting back to the issues that they know that voters actually care about."

"I have two little girls, I don't want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete, but as a Democrat I'm supposed to be afraid to say that," Moulton told The New York Times.

Fast-forward to present day, and while most Democratic politicians remain steadfast supporters of transgender rights, there are an increasing number who have changed course.

Texas state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic Senate nominee trying to flip a GOP-held seat in red-leaning Texas, has been targeted by Republicans over his past support for allowing transgender athletes in girls' sports. But he told Fox News last month, "I oppose trans athletes playing in girls’ sports if it endangers safety or fairness."

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Democratic Senate candidate state Rep. James Talarico speaks during a campaign rally at the Cailloux Theater on Aug. 31, 2026, in Kerrville, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

In Republican dominated Iowa, where Democrats are aiming to capture another open-GOP held Senate seat, Democratic nominee state Rep. Josh Turek has expressed opposition to biological males competing in women's sports and gender transition surgeries for minors after facing Republican criticism.

Longtime Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, who is facing a tough re-election bid, is running ads saying "boys should not play in girls’ sports" and that she is focused on "making your life more affordable."

In her campaign mailers she touts that she "voted to ban schools from touting gender ideology in classrooms," and, "Unlike the far left, I believe boys shouldn't play girls' sports."

But the National Republican Congressional Committee pointed out that Kaptur voted against the GOP-led Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in April 2023 and January 2025.

LONGTIME DEMOCRAT GETS HIT FROM THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT OVER THIS ISSUE

Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, is the longest-serving woman in House history and is running for her 23rd term in a key battleground race this November. (Getty Images)

"Lies from desperate Democrat Marcy Kaptur can't erase her radical record. Kaptur is in damage control, and she must remove herself as a co-sponsor of the Equality Act and disavow her previous votes or remove her lies from the airwaves," NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon told Fox News Digital.

Rep. Don Davis of North Carolina, another vulnerable Democrat seeking re-election, was one of only three House Democrats who voted last year for a GOP bill that could lead to prison for health care workers providing gender-affirming care for minors.

Davis, who played football at the Air Force Academy, appears alongside a football field in a re-election advertisement, saying, "I believe states should decide what's right for protecting women and girls, and North Carolina has decided."

But both Kaptur and Davis have faced pushback from Democrats over their messaging on the transgender issue.

And in deep blue Massachusetts, Moulton, who apologized for his past transgender comments, was still trounced in last month's Democratic Senate primary by progressive Sen. Ed Markey, who accused his challenger of throwing transgender children "under the bus."

CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLS IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS

Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., left, and Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., faced off for the Democratic nomination in Massachusetts. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images ; Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Republican strategist Colin Reed, pointing to Democrats who've shifted their positions, told Fox News Digital that "voters should be very skeptical in the authenticity of any shifting policy positions that occur weeks before an election, especially in red parts of America where these types of issues have proven to be so politically toxic in the past."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

But Cardona, a veteran of the Bill Clinton administration, the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama campaigns and the Democratic National Committee who currently serves as a DNC committee member, said Democrats are "defining where they are on the issue so their opponents can't define them and then pivoting back to the issues that they know that voters actually care about."

She argued that "Republicans won't be able to weaponize this issue this cycle the way they were able to in 2024 for two reasons. Democrats are fighting about and actually talking about it and defining themselves. But more importantly, when people can't make ends meet, they're not going to be drawn into culture issues which don't make a difference when you go to gas pumps and can't fill up your car to go to work."

Fox News' Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report

Department of Homeland Security Press Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Friday pushed back on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani who had lambasted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after agents opened fire and shot an individual in the city. 

Mamdani said on Thursday that ICE has "killed far more of our neighbors than they could ever have claimed to save," and reiterated his call to abolish the agency.

"His words are dangerous and incite hostility," Mullin said. "Well mayor, if you abolish ICE, who's going to take criminals off the streets of your own town?"

This is a breaking news story and will be updated

A Chinese glass manufacturer’s decision not to comply with a congressional oversight inquiry prompted Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., to convene a revealing roundtable with the plant’s former workers, where they described a series of hazardous work conditions and fears for their safety.

Khanna, the ranking member on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), first reached out to Fuyao Glass America and its Chinese parent company Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co., Ltd. in July, requesting documents detailing the company’s business and labor practices.

Fuyao quickly drew the attention of Americans in the Rust Belt and beyond when it became the subject of the 2019 Netflix documentary "American Factory," which chronicled its takeover of a former General Motors plant outside of Dayton, Ohio.

LAWMAKERS PRESS DHS IN LETTER OVER CHINESE FORCED LABOR ALLEGATIONS, FLAG POPULAR LABUBU DOLLS

The company has since been mired in scandals ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for workplace safety violations to the 2018 death of factory worker Ricky Patterson.

In a subsequent October letter to Fuyao leadership, Khanna decried the company’s refusal to dialogue, condemning them for only sending one single letter in response to his numerous inquiries. Fuyao's Sept. 23 response, Khanna wrote in his Oct. 1 letter to the company, "answers virtually none of the Committee’s questions in a material way and fails to include any document submissions."

CHINA’S INFLUENCE MACHINE: FEDERAL RECORDS EXPOSE BEIJING’S PUSH TO SWAY AMERICA

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., holds a roundtable discussion for union workers in Dayton, Ohio on Tuesday Oct. 6, 2026. (Robert McGreevy/Fox News)

Despite Fuyao’s silence, Khanna made the journey to Western Ohio, an area of the country decimated by a loss of manufacturing jobs in recent decades.

Khanna convened a roundtable discussion on Tuesday involving former Fuyao employees and current union leaders at the Industrial Division of the Communications Workers of America (IUE-CWA) headquarters in Dayton, Ohio.

DAVID MARCUS: IN DAYTON, OHIO, BOTH PARTIES FACE BITTER POLITICAL DESPONDENCY

During the discussion, former Fuyao workers described unbearable heat, an inability to communicate with their Chinese supervisors, and apparent labor violations involving their Chinese counterparts, among other grievances.

"The heat in there is unbearable. They don't care," Tiffany Moore, who worked at Fuyao for three years, told the group.

AMERICA’S BROKEN LEGAL IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS REPLACING US WORKERS BY DESIGN

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., holds a roundtable discussion for union workers in Dayton, Ohio on Tuesday Oct. 6, 2026. (Robert McGreevy/Fox News)

"There's the language barrier. They can't communicate with you. When you try to communicate with them, they'll send someone else to you. Maybe one of them speaks English," Moore continued.

Like many of the former Fuyao employees at the table, Moore now works at Duramax, a General Motors-owned engine manufacturer, where she says she is much happier. But to even apply for the position she had to employ clandestine measures to avoid retaliation from her Fuyao bosses.

I'M THE ACTING SECRETARY OF LABOR AND I'M HERE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE AMERICAN WORKER

"You can't put your two weeks in because if you put your two weeks, they'll get rid of you before your two weeks come up for any reason. They'll tell you they don't have to have a reason to get rid of you just so that they can fill your position. So when I left there, I had to actually sneak out, do my orientation at DMAX. And then call them and tell them that I wasn't coming back and for them to release my 401k," Moore said.

Demetria Hodges, another worker who fled Fuyao for Duramax, recounted the time a Chinese forklift driver, who she believed to be unlicensed, struck her with the machine and faced no accountability.

WELDER TURNED LAWMAKER SEES A ‘NUCLEAR BOMB FOR WORK’ — AND A CHANCE TO HELP BLUE COLLAR AMERICANS

"It was on camera, they have cameras in there, and they acted like they didn’t know who the forklift driver was," she told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview. "So when I tried to pursue a lawsuit and my workman’s comp, they pretended like they didn’t know who the person was."

Demetria Hodges and Tiffany Moore discuss their time working for Fuyao Glass America during a roundtable discussion for union workers in Dayton, Ohio on Tuesday Oct. 6, 2026. (Robert McGreevy/Fox News)

While the American workers described abysmal conditions for themselves, they said the Chinese workers were treated even worse.

WHAT THE GOLF CART INDUSTRY CAN TEACH US ABOUT CHINA’S THREAT TO AMERICAN JOBS

"They were treated horrible," Moore told the group. "They weren't allowed to take anything from us. They weren't really allowed to communicate with us. They weren't allowed to mix with us."

Moore, Hodges and others said the Chinese workers were almost always the ones chosen for promotions because Fuyao could pay them less. They also said the company was constantly busing in new workers from elsewhere.

CORPORATE AMERICA'S CHINA ADDICTION HAS BECOME A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT

"They used to rotate them out every couple months. Like they will go to New York and get a bus for or a van full of people and bring them down here. And they work for a certain amount of months and then they rotate and send them back," Hodges said.

Photo of Fuyao Glass America's plant in Moraine, Ohio taken on Oct. 6, 2026. (Robert McGreevy/Fox News)

When Hodges explained that workers were still forced to come to work the day after part of the factory caught fire, Khanna asked her if the workers were undocumented.

"I believe that's why they accepted it because they were undocumented," Hodges said.

Darrell Jones, another former Fuyao employee, told Khanna he felt the workers needed a union backing them, a point which quickly drew heated commentary from the group.

"They wouldn't let a union come in there," Moore chimed in. "You couldn't even speak of a union being in there."

"Or you could lose your job," Hodges added.

Jones went on to explain that Fuyao threatened employees, telling them the company would take away their health insurance if they unionized. Hodges then added that the company offered employees a one-time pay bump of $2 an hour if they voted no on a planned unionization referendum.

"They said if we ever get a union there, he was going to shut it down," Jones recalled a supervisor telling him.

Former Fuyao employee Darrell Jones speaks during an Oct. 6, 2026 roundtable in Dayton, Ohio. (Robert McGreevy/Fox News)

Jones also recalled the circumstances that led up to the tragic 2018 death of 57-year-old Fuyao factory worker Ricky Patterson.

"When that guy got smashed by that glass, we had to work that day," Jones recounted.

"He was a little shaky because he had just lost his mom. He was trying load up to glass. He cut one end of it. And then he was supposed to put the forklift in front of it, but he didn't put the forklift in front of it. When he cut that first side, the other side was loose," Jones said.

"Crushed him," he concluded.

OSHA fined Fuyao $7,000 in an informal settlement for a safety violation that led to Patterson's death.

"There's a guy used to work there, he passed away, he used to tell me all the time, he said he told you guys that 'you ought to be able to expect deaths in that plant,'" Sam Sanders, the president of IUE-CWA's local Dayton chapter told the group.

"He said what?" someone asked.

"Expect deaths in that plant," Sanders reiterated.

Sam Sanders (L), President of IUE-CWA Local 84775, listens to Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., speak during a roundtable discussion in Dayton, Ohio on Oct. 6, 2026. (Robert McGreevy/Fox News)

Khanna told the group he thought America needed new standards for foreign businesses purchasing or building factories in the U.S., a point he reiterated during an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital.

"We can welcome foreign investment in the United States of America, we should if they want to open factories, but they have to play by our rules. They have to do things, not like they do in foreign countries, but like they do in America," Khanna told Fox News Digital.

"That means having safety standards. That means safety standards that are enforced. That means labor neutrality, so you can't have anti-union campaigns. That means complying with anti-discrimination laws based on gender and race. That means having communication where workers have a voice, that you can treat workers is dispensable," he continued.

The Silicon Valley congressman went on to explain that he hoped to be able to craft legislation that would reform the current process that allows foreign companies to purchase U.S. factories without much oversight. He also argued that American manufacturing needs a boost from the U.S. government.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., outside of Fuyao Glass America's Moraine, Ohio plant on Oct. 6, 2026. (Robert McGreevy/Fox News)

"We need an industrial development bank in the United States that invests in places like Dayton, Ohio, to build new factories, to support manufacturers who are making things which we're currently importing. Why are we just relying on foreign investment?" he asked.

After not being granted an oversight look into the Fuyao factory itself, Khanna still wanted to get a look at the plant from outside, stopping to pose for a picture just a few feet off of company property.

"We need to understand how they're setting standards. We need to understand how they are complying with American labor law. We need to understand what the impact of foreign investment is so that we can craft legislation to address the issue," Khanna told Fox News Digital.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., poses outside of Fuyao Glass America's Moraine, Ohio factory on Oct. 6, 2026. (Robert McGreevy/Fox News)

"I'm disappointed they aren't complying because it's not in any way a gotcha issue. Legislators need this information to be able to address the issue," he said.

"Everyone should want good jobs where American national security is protected and American standards are protected," Khanna concluded.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Fuyao Glass America and Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co. did not respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.

The government has suspended the implementation of the Road Traffic Regulations 2026, Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2519, which sought to prohibit preaching and hawking inside moving commercial vehicles such as trotros and buses.

The regulations, which prescribed fines of between 10 and 50 penalty units, imprisonment of up to eight months, or both for offenders, drew widespread criticism after details of the provisions became public.

Under the rules, activities long common in Ghana’s public transport system—including religious preaching and the sale of goods to passengers while vehicles are in motion—would have attracted criminal penalties.

The suspension follows intense public debate with several religious leaders condemning the restriction as an attempt to curtail the voice of the church.

Among the most vocal critics are Reverend Dr. Kojo Boateng Bempah, Head Pastor of Holy Hill Chapel Assemblies of God, and South MP Reverend John Ntim Fordjour.

Speaking to his congregation, Reverend Bempah strongly rejected the ban.

“Now they say we shouldn’t preach in a bus, as if they bought the bus for somebody. When those little little things begin, they are trying to shut the mouth of the church,” he said.

“You didn’t buy a bus for anybody, you say we shouldn’t preach in a bus. When my bus is going, come and tell me.”

He continued: “So today, I send a message: who is behind that? The church is too quiet! People are secretly planning, planning, planning. I don’t know who they are, but I’m talking to them. But you will not succeed, though. What you are trying to do, you will not succeed. You won’t succeed.

“Wherever human beings gather, we will preach. Wherever human beings gather, the word must go forth. Wherever human beings gather, they go to the school, we’ll preach there. They enter phone, we’ll preach there. They enter the car, we’ll preach there. Even at the back of okada, we’ll be shouting the name Jesus,” he said.

Reverend Bempah added that the early spread of Christianity would not have reached Ghana if earlier believers had remained silent, urging the faithful not to “please people to displease God.”

The temporary suspension of L.I. 2519 allows time for further review of the controversial provisions amid the ongoing national conversation on balancing public order, safety, and constitutional freedoms.

Source: Starrfm.com.gh

Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has insisted that Ghanaian authorities led Operation Blackout, also known as Operation Cyber Hunt, rejecting suggestions that the operation was independently conceived or commanded by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

In a statement dated Thursday, October 8, 2026, the CSA said the operation was planned, coordinated and executed under Ghana’s legal and institutional frameworks, with support from local and international law enforcement agencies.

The operation involved Ghana’s National Security Council, the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service, the UK’s National Crime Agency, the FBI, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other Ghanaian institutions.

“Ghanaian authorities planned, coordinated and executed the operation within Ghana’s legal and institutional frameworks,” the CSA stated, insisting that it “was not conducted under a foreign operational command.”

The Authority acknowledged the intelligence contributions of the FBI and the UK’s NCA but urged the FBI to clarify its public account and recognise the roles played by Ghanaian institutions.

“Their participation must take place through lawful cooperation, with the authorisation and involvement of relevant Ghanaian authorities,” it said.

The operation uncovered suspected cybercrime centres in Greater Accra, leading to the arrest of eight suspects and the rescue of 120 people suspected of being trafficked and exploited for online fraud.

Intelligence received on August 26, 2026, reportedly identified apartments in Kpone Katamanso, Ga North and Ga West as bases for organised cybercrime, including romance scams.

Investigators seized 136 mobile phones, 130 laptops, four motor vehicles, internet connection devices, jewellery and 10 Nigerian passports. One of the vehicles was reportedly stolen from Canada.

The rescued victims were identified largely as Nigerians, with arrangements underway for their repatriation as investigations continued.

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has denied collecting money from applicants in exchange for visas or visa opportunities under its tourism promotion activities linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In a press statement issued on October 9, 2026, the Authority clarified that its role in the initiative was limited to identifying participants, facilitating institutional introductions and providing guidance on visa application procedures.

The GTA explained that the initiative, which received approval from its Board, was intended to showcase Ghana’s tourism, culture, music, fashion, crafts and creative industries to international audiences during the global football tournament.

As part of the process, the Authority said it engaged the United States Embassy and the Canadian High Commission to seek guidance on visa requirements for participants.

However, it stressed that it had no authority to issue visas, guarantee approvals or influence the outcome of individual applications, noting that such decisions rested exclusively with the respective diplomatic and immigration authorities.

“At no point did GTA possess the authority to issue visas, guarantee visa approvals or determine the outcomes of individual applications,” the statement said.

The Authority further disclosed that plans for private-sector sponsorship of participants proved impracticable because of the substantial financial requirements involved.

Consequently, participants were expected to bear their own visa application fees, travel and accommodation expenses.

The GTA also categorically denied allegations that it collected money from applicants in exchange for visa opportunities.

“The Ghana Tourism Authority unequivocally denies collecting money from any applicant in return for visas or visa opportunities,” it stated.

The Authority urged the public to distinguish between payments made to independent travel service providers and payments made to the GTA or its officials.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Maame Efua Houadjeto, has denied personal involvement in the sale of visas or the collection of money from applicants in exchange for visa opportunities linked to Ghana’s tourism promotion activities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In a press statement issued on Friday, October 9, 2026, Mrs Houadjeto said her involvement in the initiative was in line with her official responsibilities and the Authority’s mandate to promote Ghana as a tourism destination.

The programme was designed to showcase Ghana’s tourism, culture, music, fashion, crafts and creative industries to international audiences during the tournament.

“As the CEO of the GTA, I firmly deny any personal involvement in the sale of visas or the collection of money from applicants in exchange for visa opportunities,” she stated.

Mrs Houadjeto explained that the Authority had engaged the United States Embassy and the Canadian High Commission to seek guidance on visa application requirements as part of preparations for the initiative.

However, she stressed that the GTA had no authority to guarantee visa approvals or determine the outcomes of applications, which fall outside its mandate.

The GTA CEO also defended the inclusion of bloggers, social media influencers, digital content creators, photographers and videographers in the programme.

She argued that tourism promotion extends beyond conventional journalism, requiring the involvement of professionals with different skills and platforms to showcase Ghana to international audiences.

“The professional relevance of participants should be assessed against their intended functions and promotional responsibilities rather than exclusively against conventional journalism classifications,” the statement said.

Mrs Houadjeto further called for the circumstances surrounding the programme to be assessed based on verified facts, institutional records and the distinct responsibilities of the parties involved.

She maintained that her role in the initiative was connected to the GTA’s tourism promotion mandate.

President Donald Trump's looming changes to ​a rural energy program that has distributed billions of dollars in recent years will make it harder for many farmers to access funds ‌for such things as solar arrays and energy efficiency projects, farmers, energy companies and analysts said.

It is Trump's latest move to slash government support for renewable energy. While working on the changes, the administration had halted applications this year for the Department of Agriculture's Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP.

In the last decade, REAP has helped fund more than 19,000 energy projects by ​American farmers and small business owners, according to the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. The projects include solar and wind installations, manure biodigesters and energy efficiency ​upgrades.

Between 2014 and 2025, REAP invested more than $4.8 billion across grants and loan guarantees in renewable energy and energy efficiency ⁠projects, NSAC's analysis of USDA data said.

Since the US Congress authorized REAP in 2008, the program has allowed farmers who had not yet broken ground on ​a project to apply for grants covering as much as half the cost. But under changes released last week and effective October 16, farmers cannot apply for ​funding until they complete a project and demonstrate one year of energy savings.

Farmers have been hit hard this year by Trump's tariff policies and higher costs of fuel and fertilizer, and most will find it difficult to access the program, said Richa Patel, policy specialist at NSAC, noting REAP projects can cost several thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"For a lot of farmers, that ​just simply won’t be possible, especially with these times already being so financially uncertain," Patel said.

A USDA spokesperson said the changes to REAP "are intended to help ​the program pay for actual production and results of projects, not just projections."

PROGRAM HAD BEEN PAUSED

The Trump administration halted REAP applications this year as it worked to rewrite program regulations, and ‌last year ⁠it restricted eligibility for solar projects. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said solar was taking up prime farmland needed for crops.

Nearly 64% of REAP projects since 2017 were solar arrays, according to USDA data, enabling farms and other rural businesses to generate their own power and save on utility bills.

REAP has historically been a bipartisan, widely supported program, said Ann Mesnikoff, federal legislative director at the Environmental Law & Policy Center, which sued the Trump administration in September for its changes to REAP's solar eligibility.

More ​than two thirds of REAP grants have ​gone to recipients in Congressional districts ⁠held by Republicans, according to a Brookings Institution analysis of federal data published last year.

The program was so popular that Veronica McFadden in 2023 left her job with a solar company to start an Iowa-based business dedicated to helping farmers apply ​for REAP grants. Business has dried up since the program stalled and in August she was forced to lay off ​all five of ⁠her employees.

McFadden is uncertain whether many of her clients will be able to take advantage of the program under the new rules.

"Now it's much riskier," McFadden said of the rules unveiled last week. "And for small farmers, particularly young farmers ...they may not be able to do this, pay it all upfront."

McFadden recently helped Michigan dairy farmer Ron Rusk apply ⁠for a ​REAP grant to help fund an $85,000 ground-mounted solar project to provide about 80% of his farm's electricity, ​which he hoped would help him pass the farm on to his son.

"It would be a nice asset for him to have going forward to make this operation economically viable, which is not ​always the case," said Rusk, whose grant was never awarded.

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Some 78% of Americans blame President Donald Trump's policies for rising prices that are outpacing their earnings, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that found majorities of Republicans and Democrats citing the cost of living as their top concern ​ahead of next month's midterm elections.

Fifty-seven percent of Trump's Republicans said that costs have been growing faster than their paychecks, a stark example of how his pursuit of import tariffs, war with Iran ‌and other policies have clashed with a central 2024 campaign promise to kill inflation and lower prices "on day one."

Inflation instead has increased, to the point where the US Federal Reserve has pivoted to rate hikes to quell price increases policymakers have attributed to a variety of factors, including rising global energy costs following the start of the Iran war, and the administration's imposition of aggressive import taxes.

Concerns about the economy and the war have driven Trump's public approval to record lows and have been weighing onsupport for his party ahead of the November 3 election that will ​determine control of Congress for the next two years.

About one in four Republicans disapproved of Trump's handling of the economy, a view shared by 63% of independents and 92% of Democrats. Disapproval was even sharper when ​it came to inflation, with 68% of all respondents and 40% of Republicans dissatisfied.

Jeffrey Talley, 65, a retired bank examiner from Mission Hills, Kansas, is a registered Republican, who ⁠said he voted for Trump in 2016 but not in 2020 or 2024 and now plans to vote for Democrat Adam Hamilton in what has become an unexpectedly competitive Senate race in the state.

"I'm pretty much against all the nonsense that's ​going on in the Middle East with the Iran war, and pushing up the price of gasoline ... that's been very disheartening," said Talley. He views the election as a chance to elect "somebody to put a check and balance on the craziness ​that's going on in the White House."

The six-day Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted online and nationwide and completed on Monday, gathered responses from 4,506 US adults. It had a margin of error of 2 percentage points for Americans in general and 3 points for Republicans, Democrats and independents.

'EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP'

The national average price of a gallon of gasoline was $4.36 on Thursday compared with $3.11 a year ago, while diesel fuel prices stood at $6.28 after a record run-up perhaps felt deepest in farm states including Kansas.

Another Kansan, 41-year-old Athena Barrett of Kansas City, said Trump's performance had motivated ​her to register to vote because "I don't really like what the president is doing."

"Gas prices ... food prices, the cost of living -- everything has gone up; what's going on with Iran, and all the stuff with immigration," said Barrett, who ​is Hispanic.

Hispanic voters supported Trump in large numbers in 2024, but polls have shown support eroding.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said Trump had ended the "inflation crisis" of his predecessor in office, Democrat Joe Biden, by boosting the economy with tax cuts and lowering the ‌costs of prescription ⁠drugs. "The president has delivered tangible wins for American families," Rogers said by email.

Inflation spiked to a 40-year high during Biden's term and played an important role in Trump's 2024 election victory.

Its persistence, albeit off the highs of the COVID pandemic, has meant higher daily prices for things like gas, ground beef and airline tickets as well as higher interest rates. The 30-year home mortgage is now at 7.5%, double what homebuyers were used to just six years ago.

Poll respondents cited the cost of living as a top issue in their decisions on how to vote, with 54% of respondents, including 40% of Republicans, saying they felt it had increased a lot in the last year, compared with 30% who said it was up only a little and 10% ​who said it was unchanged.

Some 78% of the respondents - including ​64% of Republicans and 76% of independents - said some ⁠blame lies with the White House, with most Americans viewing tariffs as an important cause of higher prices.

LITTLE HIT TO SPENDING

The poll provided only limited indications of people cutting back on spending. Some 63% of respondents said they were eating out at restaurants less often, and 56% said they were spending less on entertainment or streaming services.

Smaller shares said they ​were driving less or falling behind on bills.

Economic data does show Americans in general still making modest gains in their income, even after accounting for taxes and rising ​prices. Overall hourly wage gains are ⁠growing roughly in line with the consumer price index, meaning much of any growth in pay is eaten up in higher prices, the type of treading water that can sour attitudes about the state of the economy.

Surveys of consumer confidence by both the Conference Board and the New York Federal Reserve have reflected a dim outlook.

Some of Trump's policies still resonate: 45% of respondents said unauthorized immigration was a root cause of higher prices, echoing the argument made by the administration that people in the country illegally ⁠create extra demand ​for things like housing, pushing up costs.

Herman Sims, 67, of Dallas, has voted Republican since 2012, and plans to continue doing so in a ​close Senate race between Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico even though he works for a trucking company hit hard by high diesel prices.

While he said he disagreed with Trump's decision to go to war with Iran, he would not vote for a Democrat: "What I've seen ​with the Democratic Party is they care more about themselves and will tell you anything, but they're more about spending."

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the US of ​being unwilling to help Ukraine after a Russian bomb attack on Thursday killed at least 35 people in the east, sending the two-day death toll ‌from Russian strikes to over 70.

Hours after the strike on the embattled city of Kramatorsk tore through two buses, Zelensky criticised Washington's effort to pursue economic ties with Russia while also seeking to mediate the more than four-year war.

City authorities reported a new drone attack in the evening that killed two people. That brought to 35 the total death toll in the city.

Local authorities reported that a Russian guided aerial bomb ​killed two people in a village in southeastern Dnipropetrovsk and one person died in the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk.

The attacks were launched a day after a mass ​Russian drone and missile assault killed dozens across Ukraine — 22 of them in a residential building in the central town of Pryluky, around ⁠130 km (80 miles) east of Kyiv.

Speaking in the early evening, Zelensky said 78 people were killed and 215 wounded by strikes in the last two days across Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters ​in Pryluky, the Ukrainian leader urged the US to accede to his requests to expand Ukraine's access to the Starlink satellite service to help it target Russian ballistic-missile launchers.

'THAT'S CALLED UNWILLINGNESS'

"Open ​Starlink for Ukraine. You did open it when you were responding to Iran ... I’ve said quite openly — give it to us, help us defend our skies and dominate there. And then Putin will sit down at the negotiating table," he said in an emotional statement.

Ukraine has in recent months aimed to wrest the battlefield initiative from Russia, whose gains have slowed this year, but is still suffering from Moscow's increasingly ​brutal air war.

"So where's the truth here, where's the honesty? Where's the stalemate? ... That's called unwillingness," he said, referring to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's assertion earlier on Thursday ​that the war is at a stalemate and that the United States would keep working toward a settlement.

"One cannot, on the one hand, negotiate with the Russians about future economic projects, whilst on the other ‌hand say that ⁠we find ourselves in some sort of ... diplomatic stalemate," Zelensky added.

Top Russian and US officials, including US Special Envoy Jared Kushner, have held talks about bringing a US investor into the Nord Stream pipelines that delivered Russian gas to Germany before Moscow invaded Ukraine, Reuters reported on Thursday. Ukrainian negotiators will travel to the US on Friday and Saturday for talks, Zelenskiy added, urging US President Donald Trump to increase sanction pressure on Russia.

Zelenskiy told reporters in Kyiv that he expected Kyiv's European partners to join the talks with the US. He also said Ukrainian negotiators would ​raise the issue of air defences in ​light of near-constant Russian attacks.

INTENSIFYING STRIKES

Twenty people ⁠were wounded in the Kramatorsk strike — one of the biggest single attacks of the year by Russia. Moscow has denied targeting civilians, but regularly pounds cities with missiles and drones.

"The Russians are deliberately targeting civilians. For them, a bus full of passengers is an attractive target precisely ​because a single strike can kill as many people as possible," regional governor Vadym Filashkin said on the Telegram app.

Images posted by ​officials showed bodies strewn across ⁠a street littered with debris and a charred shell of a bus. Some bodies had not been identified yet, Zelenskiy said, adding that the attack would not go unanswered.

Separately, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said four people were killed and 19 wounded in morning attacks on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Water and electricity supplies were subject to interruptions which officials said would take time to put ⁠right.

Russia has ​unleashed relentless drone strikes against Kyiv in recent weeks, targeting warehouses, data centres and renewing its campaign against ​Ukraine's power grid ahead of winter.

Russian technology and AI company Yandex said it could not yet determine whether equipment at a data centre hit by a Ukrainian drone attack could be restored. Zelensky did not refer specifically to the ​strike on Yandex, but said Ukraine was "mirroring" Russian attacks on data centres.

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Three Saudi nationals have been killed in two attacks on the international airport in the capital, Riyadh, the country's civil aviation authority has said after Yemen's Houthis said they targeted the facility.

The attacks also resulted in "injuries to a number of Saudi citizens and residents of various nationalities", the General Authority of Civil Aviation said in a statement on X.

It said the first attack on Thursday targeted the airport while the second one struck an aircraft belonging to state carrier Saudia.

One of its pilots was among those killed, the airline said in a statement.

Air traffic had returned to normal, the civil aviation authority said.

Yemen's Houthi group said on Thursday it had attacked the airport with two missiles, reports said.

The Iran-aligned group said it had also targeted an airport in Najran city near the Saudi border with Yemen, and Khamis Mushait air base further north. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed these attacks.

The latest casualties follow the deaths of three people in Houthi attacks on two Saudi airports on October 6 and 7.

Two were killed and 28 wounded in an attack at Abha International Airport, the civil aviation body said on Wednesday. Another person was killed at King Khalid airport.

The latest attacks come amid mark an escalation in renewed fighting between Yemen's Saudi-backed government forces and the Houthis, who control most of the country's north-west.

The Houthi military spokesperson said the previous two attacks on Saudi Arabia's airports were in "response to the Saudi aggression against our country" which saw "60 airstrikes and missile attacks in the past 24 hours".

The group says it is targeting Saudi Arabia over its support for government forces in Yemen's civil war.

The conflict has worsened in recent weeks, after the Houthis seized strategically important stretches of the Red Sea coast in a rapid offensive.

That included the port of Mokha on the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is the narrowest point of the Red Sea and a chokepoint for global shipping.

But Yemeni pro-government forces have since said they had "secured" the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea.

A Saudi-led coalition was formed in 2015 after Arab countries joined forces to stop the Houthis taking over Yemen from the country's internationally recognised government.

A temporary ceasefire was brokered in 2022 after years of air strikes and ground fighting led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, triggering one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

But the informal ceasefire began to unravel in July.

The Houthis announced a "maritime embargo" against Saudi Arabia and began missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities and tankers in the Red Sea. They said they were retaliating for what they say is a years-long Saudi blockade, and for an air strike on Sanaa airport.

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The newly elected national executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have pledged to strengthen party unity and consolidate its organisational structures as they prepare for the 2028 general election.

National Chairman John Boadu said this when he led the newly elected executives to call on former President John Agyekum Kufuor to formally introduce the new leadership and seek his advice.

Mr Boadu said the engagement was intended to draw on the former president’s political experience and understanding of the NPP as the party begins a new chapter under its newly elected leadership.

He noted that Mr Kufuor’s longstanding association with the party and commitment to its founding ideals made his counsel particularly valuable as the executives work to strengthen the party and prepare for the next electoral contest.

“We recognise that his wealth of experience, deep understanding of the NPP and enduring commitment to the ideals of our great tradition remain invaluable assets to the party,” Mr Boadu said.

He added that the delegation approached the meeting with humility, acknowledging the responsibilities associated with leading the party at a critical moment in its political journey.

“We listened with great humility to his words of wisdom and reflected on the responsibility that comes with leading the NPP at this critical moment,” he said.

Mr Boadu said the new leadership was determined to build on the party’s history while prioritising unity, stronger organisational structures and collective action towards the 2028 election.

“As a new leadership, we are committed to building on the party’s rich history, strengthening our unity, deepening our structures, and working tirelessly to restore the NPP to electoral victory,” he stated.

The NPP elected its new national executives at a delegates’ conference held in Kumasi on Saturday, 3 October, marking the beginning of a new phase in the party’s leadership.

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First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli called out California Democrats for watering down the state's criminal law after federal law enforcement led the charge on a massive drug crackdown in the infamous Skid Row neighborhood on Thursday.

Essayli told Fox News Digital in an interview that California's state and local law enforcement have worked with feds just fine, but that it's the politicians who are getting in the way.

"Unfortunately, states like California have totally watered down their laws, their criminal justice laws. They've also emptied their prisons and closed prisons, so effectively, there's not much of a deterrence on the state side. No one faces any serious consequences on the state side," Essayli said.

NEWSOM BLASTED BY SHERIFF IN HIS OWN BACKYARD OVER CALIFORNIA CRIME AS VICTIMS CRY FOUL

First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli answers questions during a news conference outside the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department in Rancho Cucamonga on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)

"We work really well with our local law enforcement partners," he continued. "Local law enforcement isn't the problem. It's more the governor, it's the legislature, it's these loud-mouth federal, you know, Congress members who all they care about is attacking the administration, attacking the president."

Essayli did give credit to Mayor Karen Bass for approving the Los Angeles Police Department to participate in Thursday's Operation Save Skid Row.

KAREN BASS GRILLED OVER BROKEN HOMELESSNESS PROMISE, BLAMES BUREAUCRACY FOR SLOWED PROGRESS

"This is a climate in which you have people right now trying to defund the police. You have people trying to disarm the LAPD, and those people are on the side of criminals," he added. "Anyone who's calling for disarming the police is on the side of the drug dealers that we arrested today, they're lunatics."

Law enforcement officers look at encampments that had been taped off in Skid Row on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026 in Los Angeles. Federal law enforcement officials, along with the Los Angeles Police Department, are targeting drug dealing in Downtown Los Angeles with "Operation Save Skid Row." (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Operation Save Skid Row saw federal and city authorities execute 28 arrest warrants and 44 search warrants in an effort to dismantle drug distribution networks in the notorious neighborhood.

TALARICO PUT ON DEFENSE AFTER 2020 COMMENTS ABOUT DEFUNDING POLICE RESURFACE: 'WE MUST REPLACE'

Over 100 law enforcement vehicles were involved in the operation, with arrests targeting members of multiple gangs, including the "Main Street Crips," "Grape Street/Raymond Avenue Crips" and the "Pueblo Bishop Bloods."

City workers clear encampments in Skid Row on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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"We are no longer going to have open-air drug markets in the United States, let alone on Skid Row. And that is the reason you see so many homeless people who are experiencing psychotic episodes, who are unwell, they aren't seeking help, it's because you have people, like the drug dealers we are arresting today, keeping them addicted and taking their public assistance money to pay for their drugs," Essayli said during a news conference on Thursday.

Agribusiness expert and Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Impact Ltd, Dr. (h.c.) Daniel Fahene Acquaye, has urged Christian business leaders and entrepreneurs to prioritise business sustainability, succession planning and strategic investment to build enterprises that can thrive across generations.

Dr Acquaye, who also serves as Chairman of the Apostolic Professionals Network (APN), made the call at the maiden Apostolic Business Leadership Summit, organised by the network on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Headquarters of The Apostolic Church- Ghana in Accra.

He said the high rate of business failures in Ghana and across Africa underscores the need for entrepreneurs to establish strong systems and structures that protect their investments and ensure continuity beyond the lifetime of their founders.

Dr Acquaye expressed concern that many businesses in Ghana collapse before their founders have the opportunity to pass them on to the next generation, unlike enterprises in some developed economies that have survived for several generations.

“There’s a growing concern among businesses, especially in Ghana and Africa. When you go to Europe and meet an enterprise, the first thing they would say is, ‘This is a family business, and we are the third generation or the fourth generation.’ They have been able to pass on their businesses from one generation to the other,” he said.
“Now, when you come to our setting, the first generation will not even expire, but the business will expire.”

Dr Acquaye attributed business failures to several factors, including the absence of effective succession plans, weak organisational structures, inadequate financial management and the inability of businesses to withstand changes in leadership.

He noted that some enterprises collapse when their founders become incapacitated or die, while others struggle to survive because they lack the systems required to protect their resources and reinvest profits for growth.

“We can’t continue to have businesses like that,” he stressed.

He urged business owners to institutionalise their operations, safeguard their investments and develop succession strategies that would enable their enterprises to grow beyond their founders.

Plan for retirement

Dr Acquaye also cautioned against waiting until retirement to venture into business, particularly in the agricultural sector, describing it as a potentially risky approach to investment.

He encouraged prospective entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas early, acquire the necessary experience and understand the risks involved before committing their retirement savings.

Business leadership is a divine calling

The President of The Apostolic Church-Ghana, Apostle Dr Aaron Ami-Narh, urged Christian business leaders to see their enterprises and leadership positions as a calling from God, with a responsibility to influence society and advance His purposes.

Drawing lessons from the biblical account of Queen Esther, he challenged participants to reflect on why they had been given their talents, opportunities and positions of influence.

“Your business is not just a business; it’s your calling. Your leadership role is not just a role; it is your calling and your mandate, and God is using it for something,” he said.

Apostle Ami-Narh noted that Christian professionals and entrepreneurs had a responsibility to use their positions to make a difference rather than approach their work solely as a means of earning a living.

Preventing revenue leakages

Also addressing the gathering, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Elder Professor Samuel Antwi, called on business owners to take deliberate steps to prevent revenue leakages and improve operational efficiency.

He emphasised the need for strong internal controls, effective procurement practices and the recruitment of employees with integrity to protect business resources and promote sustainable growth.

“Put in processes to prevent, detect and correct fraud. Watch who you employ into your business. They can make or unmake your business. If I catch you stealing, you are out,” he said.

“Look for men and women with integrity and employ them. It solves half of your leakage problem,” he added.

The maiden Apostolic Business Leadership Summit was held under the theme, “Equipping Christian Business Leaders for a New Era” and brought together business leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs and industry experts.

The Apostolic Professionals Network is a professional body within The Apostolic Church-Ghana established to raise and prepare a pool of professional men and women who can contribute to the professional development of the Church.

The Network also seeks to nurture and empower young entrepreneurs by creating platforms for effective networking among professionals and business communities.

Through training, motivation and mentorship, APN aims to support aspiring professionals while promoting Christian values, ethics and Godly maturity in members’ professional and business relationships. The maiden Apostolic Business Leadership Summit forms part of APN’s efforts to equip Christian professionals and entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills and networks needed to thrive in an evolving business environment.

Other seasoned speakers and industry experts who spoke at the summit include Deputy CEO of Agri-Impact Ltd, Mrs. Juliana Asante-Dartey, General Manager of JP Petroleum, Mr Joshua Larbi; Risk and Compliance Officer at Mobile Money Fintech Ltd, Mr Godwin Tamakloe; Partner at PwC Ghana, Mr Hayfron Aboagye, Managing Partner at Newage Agric Solutions Limited, Roland Quaye, Chief Farmer at Agokings, Nana Owusu-Achau among others.

EXCLUSIVE: American autism care providers who backed the Trump administration's crackdown on Medicaid fraud are now sounding the alarm, warning that efforts to root out abuse could have unintended consequences after reimbursement cuts put therapy for Georgia foster children at risk.

The Autism Families Alliance, which describes itself as a national advocacy organization dedicated to supporting Applied Behavior Analysis providers and the families who rely on their services, said that efforts by the Trump administration and state leaders to fight fraud have gone too far, potentially leaving many of Georgia's children with autism in foster care without the care they need.

This warning is in response to a move by Amerigroup, the insurer that covers Georgia’s foster children through Medicaid, to cut what it pays autism therapy providers by 30%. Providers caution that they may no longer be able to afford to treat vulnerable children and that many foster families will be unable to switch them to another insurer.

"It's scary to see that so many different things are being slashed in terms of Medicaid, and that we're seeing this drastic outcome," Taylor Sanders, a family advocate at the Autism Families Alliance, told Fox News Digital. "It's so important that we keep in mind that children with autism are in a very vulnerable place where they're still needing to learn safety skills. There are some children who have extremely aggressive behaviors, challenging behaviors. So when we're seeing some of these cuts, we're seeing it affect the providers who are able to provide access to these services."

AUTISM PROVIDERS CHEER TRUMP CRACKDOWN AFTER MILLIONS ALLEGEDLY STOLEN THROUGH MEDICAID FRAUD

American autism care providers backed the Trump Administration's crackdown on Medicaid fraud. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

"If we're not able to provide a good amount of pay to our providers, we're not able to make sure they're set up for success to be able to give some of these services and we're going to see less and less children being able to access services at all," she added.

Sanders said 75% of clinics will have to close their doors or stop serving foster kids due to the massive cuts.

The 30% cut will not only affect providers' ability to provide access to these families, but it will also limit foster children's opportunities to learn essential skills, according to Sanders. Foster children with autism depend on regular therapy to develop everyday skills, but a sudden loss of that support could set them back.

"If they don't learn these school skills at an early intervention or an early age, it'll be a lot more costly later on," she said.

In August, the Autism Families Alliance put its support behind the Trump administration's crackdown on Medicaid fraud, arguing that the alleged theft of millions of federal funds has hurt both taxpayers and children with autism who rely on those services. Some states, including Georgia, have also taken steps to enhance oversight of autism services.

The group backed eliminating fraud and prosecuting suspected criminals, but also feared that broad federal and state efforts to root out fraud could unintentionally make it more difficult for legitimate providers to care for children with autism. The coalition called on policymakers to ensure fraudsters are removed from the system without creating what they described as unnecessary barriers for families of vulnerable children seeking care.

RFK JR ANNOUNCES 'LARGEST AUTISM FRAUD BUST IN AMERICAN HISTORY' WITH $46.6M MEDICAID SCHEME INDICTMENT

The Autism Families Alliance said that efforts by the Trump administration and state leaders to fight fraud have gone too far. (REUTERS/Kylie Cooper)

Now, the group says Georgia’s foster families face the risk that they had previously raised concerns about.

"I think fraud should be prosecuted by all means," Sanders said. "Anybody who is engaging in fraudulent behavior should be prosecuted to the highest extent of the law. Are we able to not only tackle the fraud, but still give access to services for our children? Why can't we do both at the same time?"

"What's really happening here is we're going in with a sledgehammer when really we should be going in with a scalpel," she continued, adding that officials need to be "approaching this in a way where it's not going to totally obliterate the care to our families."

One Georgia foster mother has already been told her nearly 3-year-old son’s provider may be forced to stop treating him after he started to make progress, according to the Georgia Recorder.

"Reforms that improve care, increase efficiency and prevent abuse are something we all support, but when those efforts make it harder for children with autism to get the care they need, something has gone terribly wrong," Kelsey Bennett, a family advocate with the Autism Families Alliance, told Fox News Digital.

One Georgia foster mother has already been told her nearly 3-year-old son’s provider may be forced to stop treating him after he started to make progress. (Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images)

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"No one wants to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse more than the providers who dedicate their lives to caring for these children. Every taxpayer dollar should go toward helping the people it was intended to serve. But you can't fix a system by making it harder for vulnerable children to get help. Reforms that end up hurting the very children the system is supposed to protect are not in Georgia's best interests," she continued.

Bennett urged Georgia's lawmakers "to bring everyone to the table, including the Medicaid managed care companies and the providers who care for these children every day."

"By listening to those on the front lines and working together, they can find a better way forward that improves efficiency without putting children's access to care at risk," she said.

"Children with autism, especially those in foster care and those welcomed into loving foster families, already face enough challenges. Their families shouldn't have to worry about whether the care they depend on will suddenly disappear. Georgia's leaders need to step in, address these cuts and make sure these children aren't the ones paying the price for efforts to save money," she added.

RED OAK, Texas — A data center firm is taking a very different approach by integrating into the communities where they build the massive facilities needed to power Americans' technology and support the growing artificial intelligence (AI) boom.

As these centers face flak over growing concerns of their impact on resources and infrastructure, Compass Datacenters CEO Chris Crosby tells Fox News Digital that it's up to companies like his to work with communities, identify local needs, plan improvements and invest in projects that benefit residents.

And that's what he aimed to do from the start when building out a hyperscale data center campus in a town of approximately 20,000 people just 20 miles south of Dallas. Crosby detailed how he was able to create a data center with "no noise, no light pollution" and a completely water-free cooling system.

"Do you need a fire truck? Do you need a new school? Do you need baseball fields for your community?" Crosby proposed in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. "These are important capital investments that can really boost a community, and many communities should be asking for those things."

ONE SOUTHERN STATE’S RISE IS MAKING IT AMERICA’S NEW ‘ECONOMIC CENTER OF GRAVITY’

Compass Datacenters CEO Chris Crosby speaks with Fox News Digital during an interview at the company’s Red Oak, Texas, campus on September 28, 2026. Crosby says developers should work with communities to address local needs as they build. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

"When you think about durability and putting a hundred year type asset into a community, you better do that really well and in conjunction with that community," he added.

In Red Oak, Compass donated $15 million to build an animal shelter after the SPCA ended its contract in the town last year, Crosby said.

His company also partnered with Texas State Technical College on a $12.6 million training facility to expand the school’s Mechanical, Electrical and IT Data Center Pathway program. The 12-week course is designed to help people enter skilled trades and technical careers that data centers rely on. The work includes electricians, mechanics and technicians, as well as construction trades such as carpentry, welding and concrete work.

Crosby said the program is open to people without prior qualifications and prepares them for careers across the industry.

"We can’t get enough people into this career," he said. "Unfortunately, there was a war on blue-collar jobs a while back and everybody had to get a four-year degree. I’m so glad that’s over with."

Compass — headquartered in America's datacenter capital in Loudoun Country, Virginia — began developing its Red Oak campus in 2019.

It now includes 10 data center buildings, a Schneider Electric manufacturing facility and the training center. Crosby said about 900 people work on site — roughly 600 for Compass and 300 for Schneider Electric — in addition to the thousands of construction workers who have worked on the project over the past five years.

AMERICA’S NEW BLUE-COLLAR JOB BOOM IS ONE NOBODY SAW COMING — AND IT’S JUST GETTING STARTED

Compass Datacenters’ Red Oak campus, about 20 miles south of Dallas, includes 10 data center buildings spanning roughly 2.6 million square feet. (Courtesy of Compass Datacenters)

"I am tired of the elitism that this doesn’t create jobs," Crosby said of his sprawling data center and the rhetoric that they do not rbing lasting American jobs.

"You tell that to the 900 people who work here on this campus and you tell that to the thousands of construction workers who have worked here for five years plus," he added. The jobs and community investments are one side of a debate playing out across the country.

As data centers expand nationwide, their electricity and water use — and the strain they can place on local infrastructure — are drawing growing scrutiny.

But Crosby said Compass has not used water to cool its data centers since the company began operating, a choice he said is personal and practical.

"We haven’t used water since inception, because I grew up in North Texas. I know water is a precious resource," he said.

At the Red Oak facility, water is used only for bathrooms, according to Compass. The company uses a hybrid cooling system that can operate with air or liquid cooling. Crosby said avoiding water cooling can reduce efficiency, but he considers the trade-off worthwhile.

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A worker inspects equipment at Compass Datacenters’ Red Oak campus, where the company is training workers for careers in the fast-growing industry. (Courtesy of Compass Datacenters)

Power is another concern as data centers add demand to the grid. Crosby said Compass favors connecting to the grid and believes data center companies can help pay for transmission and generation upgrades.

"We think that we can contribute to the infrastructure for the grid," he said, adding that data center companies can "co-invest" in upgrades. He also said facilities could help reduce peak demand and grid congestion by adjusting when they draw power.

At Red Oak, Crosby said Compass donated seven parcels to the transmission provider to route power lines without using eminent domain. He said that also means controlling noise and light pollution and meeting EPA noise limits at the property line.

"It’s very important to be a quiet neighbor — no noise, no light pollution, and, of course, taking care of the precious resources that are there in that community," he said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is confident that Democrats will win the Senate, but whether they support him as leader remains to be seen.

Schumer, who has led the Senate Democratic Caucus since 2017, believes that Democrats have "wind in our sails" heading into what some Republicans fear could be a brutal midterm election in November.

And win or lose, he plans to retain his spot as the top Democrat in the Senate.

12 RACES SCRAMBLE SENATE BATTLEFIELD AS DEMOCRATS EYE COMEBACK

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., during a news conference following Senate Democrat policy luncheons at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 3, 2026. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"I am running for re-election for leader," Schumer told Politico. "Period."

But some of his own candidates on the trail running in elections that could shape the balance of power in the Senate aren’t keen on supporting him to once again lead Senate Democrats since he took the mantle from his friend and mentor, the late Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Adam Hamilton, who has gained enough ground on incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., in ruby-red Kansas to make it a toss-up race, reiterated this week that he won’t support Schumer for leader in either a majority or minority.

"And no disrespect for him at all, it's just that I think we need new ideas," Hamilton told CBS News. "We need new ideas, we need fresh leadership. I support term limits. I support age limits, and I just think there's a time where we need to have new and fresh leadership coming in, and I think this is one of those times."

SCHUMER DUCKS QUESTION ON CAMPAIGNING WITH SOCIALIST CANDIDATE WHO REFUSES TO BACK HIM AS LEADER

He’s not alone, either. Both Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota have been noncommittal — during and after their primary victories earlier this year — with their support of Schumer, despite both welcoming dollars from the Senate Majority PAC, the political action committee closely aligned with the Democratic leader.

Fox News Digital reached out to both campaigns for comment.

Since the 2024 election, when Schumer lost the Senate, Democrats have quietly questioned a new path in leadership. Those conversations emerged twice last year — when Schumer refused to allow a shutdown early in President Donald Trump’s term, and when he was unable to prevent Democrats from jumping ship to end the longest full government shutdown in history.

SLOTKIN SAYS DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS 'NEW LEADERSHIP': 'OLD MODELS ARE NO LONGER WORKING'

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., talks to reporters as he heads for a vote at the U.S. Capitol on June 1, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)

While many Democratic senators won’t publicly engage with the topic of replacing Schumer, Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., did. Earlier this year she argued that Democrats were still reeling from the 2024 election, and that "every day, there’s a debate within the party about the path forward."

"That’s why I believe we need significant new leadership," Slotkin said. "The old models are no longer working, and that includes the Democratic Party."

One lawmaker has emerged as a possible replacement who has the backing of progressives, including El-Sayed: Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.

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Van Hollen declined to say whether he would mount a bid against Schumer, but said before leaving Washington, D.C., last month that the midterms were "all I am focused on."

Other Democrats aren’t quick to weigh in, either. When asked if retaking the upper chamber could strengthen Schumer’s hand, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., declined to say.

"I’m not doing those questions now," Murphy said.

The US FBI team and their Ghanaian counterparts during one of the raids

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a major crackdown on a suspected scam operation in the country.

According to the Bureau, the operation has so far recorded nearly $10 million in identified losses with 89 victims.

More than 130 individuals have been arrested or detained, including victims who are expected to be repatriated to their home countries.

In addition, over 300 electronic devices have been seized as investigations continue under ‘Operation Blackout’.

The FBI’s announcement on Thursday of a major scam bust in Ghana is the latest in a series of crackdowns targeting fraud compounds in the country.

FBI Director, Kash Patel, said in a post on X on Thursday, October 8, 2026, that under ‘Operation Blackout’, its global scam-centre demolition campaign, another takedown was carried out in Ghana this week.

According to Patel, “the Ghana raid has so far resulted in nearly $10 million in identified losses, 89 victims identified, 130+ individuals arrested or detained, including victims who will be repatriated to their home country and 300+ devices seized.”

The FBI says the investigation is ongoing and did not disclose the exact location in Ghana, the identities of those arrested, or which Ghanaian agencies participated.

The Bureau noted that some of those counted in the 130+ figure are actually victims who were trafficked into the scam compound and will be repatriated, not suspects.

Previous Raids

The latest operation comes after several separate cybercrime cases in Ghana.

In August 2025, the Cyber Security Authority and the CID arrested 39 people at Adom City Estate in Tema Community 25 over suspected cyber-fraud activities.

In December 2025, Ghanaian national Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, was arrested following a US extradition request over an alleged $8 million romance-fraud scheme targeting American victims. He was extradited to the US in July 2026.

In November 2024, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) also raided a QNET network in Kumasi where 320 people were taken into custody as rescued trafficking victims.

Kash Patel said ‘Operation Blackout’, globally, has so far led to roughly $17 billion in assets seized, hundreds of alleged scammers arrested, thousands of trafficked workers freed, and over 10,000 Americans warned before losing money, preventing an estimated $670 million in losses.

By Prince Fiifi Yorke

An Accra Circuit Court has remanded two men in police custody over an alleged GH¢800,000 fraud involving a Ghanaian resident in the United States.

The two, Bilyaminu Ibrahim, a media worker, and Mohammed Musah, a journalist, were charged with conspiracy to commit crime, namely defrauding by false pretence and harbouring a criminal, respectively, Ghana News Agency reported.

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Ramata Asumah, told the court that Fawuziya Issaka, younger sister of the alleged victim, Tourwana Katakarauo, who lives in the United States, reported the case to the police.

The prosecution said in 2021, Katakaraou Jabiru, an alleged accomplice of Ibrahim, learnt that Tourwana was facing challenges and allegedly planned with Ibrahim to obtain money from her under false pretences.

Jabiru allegedly told Fawuziya that he knew a spiritualist who could help Tourwana, with Ibrahim allegedly posing as the spiritualist.

According to the prosecution, the two collected about GH¢800,000 from Tourwana in instalments, claiming the money was needed for sacrifices and other spiritual activities to avert attacks against her and her mother.

They later allegedly told her that her late father was indebted to an unknown person who intended to haunt her spiritually, resulting in further payments for Quran recitals and other activities.

The matter was initially reported to family elders but could not be resolved, leading to a police complaint.

During investigations, Ibrahim allegedly admitted posing as a spiritualist. Court documents indicate that the police have recovered GH¢49,000 from him.

The prosecution said Jabiru fled to Togo after Ibrahim’s arrest, but returned to Dodowa in September 2026 and stayed with Ibrahim and Musah.

On October 1, police officers who went to Jabiru’s residence allegedly met Musah, who told them Jabiru had gone out.

Musah later sent Jabiru a message saying, “Don’t come to the house.”

The prosecution said Musah admitted sending the message because he did not want Jabiru arrested. The police says Jabiru is currently at large.

The two pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been remanded into police custody by the court, presided over by His Honour Joseph Kunsong, to reappear on October 20, 2026.

BY Gibril Abdul Razak

Daniel Dagbah

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Akatsi South, Daniel Dagbah, has admitted to releasing the road construction equipment for the government’s District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) to undertake work outside the municipality.

According to the MCE, the deployment of the equipment outside the district was strictly for inter-governmental assistance and not for private commercial activities.

There has been allegations that the machines were being used for non-government purposes outside the district.

Mr. Dagbah’s response follows allegations contained in a leaked audio recording accusing the MCE of diverting DRIP equipment for purposes other than public road rehabilitation, including work allegedly connected to private individuals and properties.

According to the allegations, the machines were used at several locations to load and transport chippings and other construction materials, while payments for some of the work were allegedly collected.

A driver of one of the equipment, who was suspended by the MCE, said he was dismissed after he questioned the use of the equipment for non-public activities.

But speaking in an interview with the Daybreak newspaper, Mr. Dagbah flatly denied the allegations.

Asked whether he had suspended a driver because the driver questioned the use of DRIP equipment for his personal activities, Dagbah responded: “I would tell you it’s not true. It’s not true.”

The MCE, nonetheless, confirmed that DRIP equipment assigned to Akatsi South had been deployed to other municipalities and locations to undertake construction-related work.

He cited an ICT laboratory project at Ketu North as one of the projects for which the machines were released.

According to him, the equipment initially worked on the project for five days before returning and later being deployed again for another five-day period.

Mr. Dagbah said the arrangement was part of what he described as “inter-governmental assistance”, under which Assemblies support one another on development projects.

He further disclosed that the machines were subsequently released to assist with the construction of a health facility as a way of lobbying the financier, who is a private citizen, to also come and do same in Akatsi South.

“We released the machine again for the construction of a health facility,” he said, explaining that the project was associated with the Ketu South Municipal Assembly.

The MCE also acknowledged that the machines had been used to provide materials such as chippings, laterite and white sand, adding, “We are not using DRIP machines for private work.”

Mr. Dagbah maintained that the activities did not amount to the commercial use of government equipment.

He explained that DRIP operators were not paid directly for the work and that arrangements were made for beneficiaries of the assistance to provide fuel and other support.

According to him, beneficiaries were required to pay about GH¢500 for the operators when the machines were deployed and refill the fuel tanks before the equipment returned to the Assembly.

He also said one beneficiary repaired the air-conditioning system of a machine and purchased two new tyres for it.

However, Dagbah complained that the driver whom he had suspended had not returned the tyres to the Assembly.

The allegations also claim that DRIP machinery was seen at several locations, including properties associated with Dagbah and his family.

When asked about claims that the equipment had been used at his father’s property, the MCE rejected the claim.

“It’s my village. It’s not my father’s,” he said, arguing that there was no law preventing a public official from using resources or vehicles for activities outside government work as long as public funds were not being used improperly.

He also pointed to his personal use of his private vehicle for government activities as an example of what he described as cooperation between public and private resources.

The controversy comes at a time when the management and use of DRIP equipment are attracting increasing public attention.

The District Road Improvement Programme was launched in 2024 with the deployment of heavy-duty road construction machinery to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to support local road rehabilitation and other development needs.

National DRIP Coordinator, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has repeatedly warned Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) against using the equipment for private purposes, stressing that the machines are national assets entrusted to assemblies for public development.

He has also disclosed that the programme’s tracking system had detected cases of misuse, resulting in the demobilisation of some machines.

A Daily Guide Report

Some participants at the launch

Adamus Resources has launched a breast cancer awareness campaign in Nzema in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region as part of activities marking the global breast cancer awareness month from October 1 to the end of the month.

Present at the event were the President of the Adamus Ladies Association, Hannah Chemel; Site Doctor of Adamus Resources Limited, Dr. Abdullah Abass; Gynaecologist, Dr. Roland Paaga; and women from surrounding communities.

In a presentation, Dr. Paaga advised women to conduct monthly breast self-examinations and seek clinical breast examinations at least every six months. He identified major risk factors for breast cancer as shisha smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet and lack of physical activity.

He indicated that one of the clinical pathways for women who detect a lump is to undergo a full blood count, ultrasound or mammogram, and a biopsy to determine the appropriate treatment options. He stated that doctors may sometimes recommend complete removal of the breast, even where a lump is small, to prevent cancerous cells from spreading to other parts of the breast tissue.

The Corporate Affairs and Public Relations Officer of Adamus Resources Limited, Archangel Kaku Bennett, said the initiative formed part of the company’s sustained investment in women’s and community welfare.

He said the company, through its Ladies Association, had over the years extended health education beyond the mine to basic and senior high schools, as well as provided education on reproductive health in its operational areas.

The President of the Adamus Ladies Association, Hannah Chemel, urged participants to examine their breasts regularly and report early warning signs for prompt medical attention, noting that early detection could help prevent further complications, while advising women not to resort to self-medication or ignore unusual changes in their breasts.

Participants, who expressed their appreciation for the initiative in an interview, said the event had enabled them to better understand some of the myths surrounding breast cancer and the importance of regular breast examinations.

They said they would report any unusual changes they observed in their breasts to the nearest health facility, and appealed to the company to extend similar programmes to other communities in Nzema, where many residents struggle to access health facilities for basic health screening.

By Ebenezer K. Amponsah

A group photograph during the meeting

A delegation from the Assemblies of God (AG) World Congress, led by the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Ghana, Rev. Stephen Wengam, has paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, at his office in Accra.

Rev. Wengam was accompanied by the General Secretary, Rev. Albert Anane, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Rev. Andrews Awintia, and other members of the committee.

The Minister was joined by his Deputy, James Gyakye Quayson, Chief Director, Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, and other senior officials to receive the delegation.

The visit was to officially inform government about the 10th Triennial Congress of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship scheduled for October 14 to 16, 2026 in Accra, and to seek the support of the Ministry in hosting the event.

Rev. Wengam noted that it is the first time the Congress is being held in Africa and in Ghana, adding that it will bring significant spiritual and economic benefits to the country, especially at a time when the sitting President is a member of the Church.

He expressed gratitude to President John Mahama and the Government of Ghana for their support in organising the event, and appealed for assistance at Ghana’s embassies abroad to facilitate visa acquisition for international guests where necessary.

He also disclosed that former President of Malawi, Rev. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, a former General Superintendent of Malawi Assemblies of God, will be in attendance.

Mr. Ablakwa commended the World Assemblies of God Fellowship for choosing Ghana and Africa as hosts, acknowledging that the Assemblies of God, as the largest Protestant denomination in the world, has contributed immensely to global evangelisation and peace.

He pledged government’s full support to ensure the success of the Congress, noting that President Mahama had directed his Ministry to provide all necessary assistance.

The Minister appointed two senior officials of the Ministry to serve on the Local Organising Committee, in addition to a staff member already serving on it.

Rev. Wengam presented a Bible as a gift to the Minister, admonishing him to be guided by the Word of God as he leads the sector.

A Daily Guide Report 

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

The Government has announced its decision to join the BRICS organisation, a move that has triggered concerns over its implications for the country’s national interest, with the Minority in Parliament demanding answers from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Reacting to the announcement, Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, acknowledged the potential benefits should the country’s bid be successful, but was quick to highlight the far-reaching adverse implications that must be addressed.

He questioned why only three African countries have so far become full members, and what lessons can be drawn from Ethiopia’s experience since joining BRICS, including its balance of trade performance.

He also raised concerns about why Ghana is not taking the path of Nigeria, which is a partner country of BRICS and not a full member, but is also an accredited member of the New Development Bank (NDB), the financial arm of BRICS, thereby limiting its exposure and risk.

“What will be the implication of that on our national economy and the finances of our country, what will be the implication on our country’s national economy vis-à-vis it potentially becoming a dumping ground for the big nations of BRICS such as China, especially when our country is largely an import-driven economy,” he asked.

Mr. Jinapor further highlighted the implication for geopolitics, given that Ghana is a non-aligned country.

He, therefore, demanded that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, when Parliament resumes, brief the House as a matter of urgency.

“We think the Foreign Affairs Minister, once Parliament resumes, ought to brief Parliament as a matter of urgency to set out the full details of this decision and the full contours of our relationship.

“Our potential relationship with BRICS, and what the implications will be on our national economy, our national interest, and Ghana’s standing in the international community, given the decision that has been taken,” he said.

Background

BRICS was formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. In 2024, the bloc expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, with Indonesia joining in 2025, bringing membership to 11, with Nigeria and several others as partner states.

The bloc positions itself as a platform for South-South cooperation, reform of global governance and alternative development financing through the New Development Bank based in Shanghai.

Government is yet to provide full details of its BRICS application, the timeline for accession and the expected benefits.

A Daily Guide Report

Chairman of the Apostolic Professionals Network (APN), Elder Dr. Daniel Fahene Acquaye, has urged businesses in Ghana to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies to improve productivity and remain competitive.

He warned that businesses that fail to integrate AI into their operations risk falling behind competitors offering more efficient services, better products and competitive prices.

Speaking at the maiden Apostolic Business Leadership Summit organised by the APN at the TAC Tower in Accra on Thursday, October 8, Dr. Fahene Acquaye said AI was already transforming business operations and reducing the time required to complete routine tasks.

“If you have enterprise or you are in business, and you don’t begin to use AI in your operations, then know that in some years to come, you will gradually be fading out of business,” he said.

He explained that businesses that embrace AI could improve efficiency, enhance productivity and strengthen their competitiveness.

“Because people will be more efficient, they will be more price competitive, they will have superior products and services, and you will be lagging behind.”

Dr. Fahene Acquaye also challenged the perception that technological advancement would necessarily reduce employment, arguing that innovation could create new economic opportunities.

Using mobile money as an example, he highlighted how technology had created employment beyond traditional banking.

“I use Momo as an example. Before Momo, how many people were employed in the bank? How many people were employed in the bank? Now with the introduction of Momo, how many people are now engaged, setting up Momo centers? Far outnumber the number of people who are working in traditional banks.”

He said AI would similarly require people who could apply the technology to improve business processes.

“In the same way that even when you have the AI, you will need people who will use the AI to bring efficiency.”

Dr. Fahene Acquaye was speaking at the one-day summit held under the theme, “Equipping Christian Business Leaders for a New Era.”

The summit brought together business leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs and industry experts to discuss business sustainability, productivity, cybersecurity, risk management, leadership and strategies for growth.

The Apostolic Professionals Network, a professional body within The Apostolic Church-Ghana, seeks to support the professional development of church members and nurture entrepreneurs through training, mentorship and networking.

By Benjamin Sackey

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia

The former Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Election 2028 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been urged to ensure that the party’s 2028 parliamentary primaries are conducted, devoid of vote buying, gift sharing and favouritism.

According to Mr Yaw Dabie Appiah Mensah, a member of the Bono Regional Council of Elders of the NPP, the party was determined to win, and regain political power in the Election 2028.

He said that could be achieved if the former vice president and the newly elected national, regional, constituency and polling station executives ensured that winnable parliamentary candidates were elected, regardless of their financial status.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Mr Mensah, 75 years and popularly known in the political circle as “Orga” congratulated the newly elected national executives of the NPP.

He reminded them that their elections went beyond just political position, however, reminded them that they were elected to identify and tackle the challenges that contributed to the NPP” s humiliating defeat in the Election 2024.

Mr Mensah, also a former organiser of the NPP in the then Brong-Ahafo Region, stressed that vote buying and favouritism in successive NPP parliamentary primaries remained major setbacks which ought to be tackled head-on.

“So Bawumia and his newly elected national, regional and constituency executives must ensure that the NPP presents the choice of the electorate as parliamentary candidates in the Election 2028, and not those who are able to influence the delegates to vote for them basically because of their wealth”, he stated.

Mr Mensah said that his hopes in the newly elected NPP national executives remained higher with the conviction that they together with Alhaji Dr Bawumia could wrestle political power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He expressed the optimism that the party would bring on board everybody for an effective electioneering for election victory in 2028.

Mr Mensah called the various candidates who contested in, but lost the national, regional and constituency positions to allow the supreme interest of NPP to override their personal political ambitions.

Instead, he advised them to continue to remain loyal and contribute their quota towards making the NPP more appealing to especially floating voters and to enhance its fortunes of winning the 2028 General Election.

Source: GNA

Professor Joseph Amoako, the President of the Ghana Association of Radiation Professionals (GARP), has called for stronger radiation protection systems and the training of competent professionals to safeguard workers, patients and the public from potential risks associated with radiation sources.

He said radiation protection was essential across sectors where they were used, including healthcare, mining, telecommunications, industry and research, stressing the need for adequate expertise, regulation and infrastructure.

Prof. Amoako was speaking at the maiden Non-Ionizing Radiation Symposium organised by GARP on the theme: “Radiation Safety: Protecting the Public, Patients, Workers, and the Environment,” as part of the celebration of the 2026 Radiation Protection Week.

He explained that radiation was energy that could broadly be classified into ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, with ionizing radiation possessing sufficient energy to affect human cells and DNA.

He explained that non-ionizing radiation generally did not have the same level of energy but could produce heating and other effects in biological tissues.

He gave some common sources as mobile phones, microwave ovens, antennas, visible light, lasers, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) devices, while noting that technologies using non-ionizing radiation had become integral to modern life.

Prof. Amoako said concerns about mobile phones and other electronic devices, particularly on claims linking them to cancer and other diseases, had created the need for public education based on scientific evidence.

“We need to depend on science,” he said, explaining that the symposium was intended to provide the public with accurate information, address misconceptions and enable experts to respond to lingering questions about non-ionizing radiation.

He noted that non-ionizing radiation had numerous applications in medical technology, electricity generation and transmission, telecommunications, broadcasting, electric vehicles and internet-based technologies, which had contributed significantly to technological advancement.

However, the benefits of those technologies should be accompanied by appropriate measures to address concerns about their potential health effects, he said.

Prof. Amoako said GARP was advocating the training of competent health physics and radiation protection professionals who could work in areas such as mining and the extractive industry, telecommunications and healthcare facilities, including radiology, diagnostic and radiotherapy centres.

He said a strong licensing regime was also necessary to ensure that practitioners had the requisite knowledge and experience to perform their duties safely.

Prof. Amoako called for a well-defined and streamlined legal and regulatory framework covering areas where radiation sources, whether ionizing or non-ionizing, were used.

He said such measures would help protect workers, patients in healthcare facilities and members of the public who might be exposed to radiation sources in public spaces.

Dr Roland Yaw Kudozia, the Head of Resource Market, Access and Compliance, National Communications Authority, called for increased public education, continuous testing and scientific research to address concerns about radiofrequency emissions from telecommunications infrastructure and devices.

He explained that wireless communication relied on radio waves, with mobile phones connecting to base stations through specific portions of the radiofrequency spectrum.

Dr Kudozia said the NCA worked with the Ghana Standards Authority and industry stakeholders to establish common technical standards, while ensuring that imported mobile phones underwent approval processes to meet minimum safety specifications.

He stressed the need for transparent communication of radiation measurements and public education based on scientific evidence to help consumers understand the levels considered safe.

He noted that continuous research and testing were necessary despite existing studies on the safety of telecommunications technologies.

“The mere fact that we know that studies have found out that these things are safe doesn’t mean that we go and sleep. We must always do studies and research to ensure that we are still safe,” he added.

On 5G technology, Dr Kudozia explained that it offered faster data speeds and greater bandwidth than earlier generations of mobile networks, including 2G and 3G, enabling quicker internet access and supporting remote work and other data-intensive activities.

Source: GNA

The Jatikay Centre has warned that arrests alone will not end cyber fraud in Ghana unless authorities also address the social acceptance of unexplained wealth and lavish lifestyles associated with suspected fraudsters.

The Centre’s comments follow the FBI’s announcement on October 8, 2026, that its Ghana operation had identified 89 victims, with nearly US$10 million in losses, and led to more than 130 arrests or detentions and the seizure of over 300 electronic devices.

The FBI, however, cautioned that those arrested or detained should not all be viewed as suspected fraudsters, as some were potential victims expected to be repatriated to their home countries.

In a statement, Adib Saani of the Centre commended Ghanaian security agencies and their international partners, including the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the UK’s National Crime Agency, for their recent crackdown on suspected cyber-fraud networks.

“We cannot arrest our way out of a culture that society increasingly tolerates,” the statement said.

The Jatikay Centre said the fight against cyber fraud must include stronger financial investigations, asset recovery, prosecution and public education.

READ: Minority demands removal of Kofi Adams, GTA boss over World Cup visa ‘scandal’

It also called for a sustained national campaign to “de-glamorise unexplained wealth and make cyber fraud socially unacceptable again,” citing peer influence, unemployment pressures and the get-rich-quick culture as factors linked to fraud in Ghana and West Africa.

A firefighter has collapsed after inhaling smoke while battling a late-night fire at a warehouse at Tamale Station in Techiman in the Bono East Region.

The firefighter was rushed to the Holy Family Hospital for medical attention after collapsing during the firefighting operation.

According to the statement by the Ghana National Fire Service, “There was a fire outbreak at a warehouse at Tamale Station, Techiman” late Thursday night.

The warehouse stored “items including tyres and other motor bike parts,” the statement said.

The fire call was received at 2129 hours, with the first appliance from Nkoranza arriving at 2130 hours.

The Regional Commander, ACFO I Adobea, was at the scene to take operational command as fire appliances from Techiman and Nkoranza responded to the incident.

READ: Two injured as diesel tanker overturns on Accra-Kumasi Highway – GNFS

GNFS further indicated that “A zen filling station Nearby was Salvaged” during the operation, preventing the fire from spreading to the facility.

The fire is now under control, although appliances from Techiman and Nkoranza remain at the scene.

The cause of the fire and the extent of damage to the warehouse were not immediately established.

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has warned the public against taping, gluing or stapling torn cedi banknotes for resale or recirculation, directing holders of damaged notes to submit them to commercial banks for examination and possible replacement.

The caution follows the circulation of a social media video showing individuals repairing and rejoining torn and soiled Ghana cedi notes with adhesive tape as a business activity.

In a statement dated October 7, 2026, the central bank said improperly repaired banknotes are unfit for circulation and could undermine the integrity of the currency.

According to the BoG, such notes may damage automated teller machines (ATMs) and currency-processing equipment. They could also be rejected when presented for payment or exchange, potentially causing financial losses to their holders.

“The Ghana Cedi banknote is legal tender and an important national symbol. No person should engage in the repair, re-joining or other alteration of mutilated banknotes for re-issuance or recirculation,” the statement said.

The central bank stressed that it has the sole mandate for managing Ghana’s currency and urged the public to use approved channels when dealing with damaged notes.

“All mutilated banknotes should be presented to a commercial bank for examination and replacement in accordance with the Bank’s laid-down procedures,” it said.

The BoG added that more than half of the original banknote must be presented for examination.

The warning comes days after the central bank and the Ghana Police Service arrested seven people in Accra over the alleged sale of cedi notes fashioned into money bouquets and cakes.

READ: Inflation hits 5.2% in September, up from 5.0% in August – GSS

The seven suspects, all reported to be women, were arrested at different locations in Accra on Monday, October 5, 2026, as part of an enforcement operation targeting the improper handling of Ghanaian currency.

The latest advisory reinforces the central bank’s efforts to protect the cedi and discourage practices it considers harmful to the currency’s integrity and proper circulation.

READ: Sino Africa cautions public over Borteyman land after Supreme Court judgment in its favour

The BoG has urged the public to handle banknotes carefully and report people involved in the improper repair, rejoining or mutilation of notes to the central bank or the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

“Respect the Cedi. It is our national pride,” the statement added.

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has warned the public against using 20 mobile loan applications operating without its approval.

The digital lenders are offering credit services without the required licence or authorisation from the central bank, the BoG said.

In a notice, the Bank said the operations of the unlicensed providers contravened the Directive for Digital Credit Service Providers in Ghana and posed risks to users.

The affected applications are Agile Loan, AmanaPay, CashWay, Foutou Credit, HastyCredit, InsCash, KudiNow, LendAura, Lever Credit, LoanGlide, NovaCedi, Palm Loan, PocketLoan, Rite Credit, SikaCare, SikaNow, Susu Loan, Taploan Up, Temivo Cedi and Zatuloan.

The BoG said the operations raised concerns over customer data privacy, consumer protection and compliance with financial sector regulations.

It urged the public to use only financial institutions and digital credit providers licensed and approved by the central bank.

The Bank said it was working with relevant state agencies to identify, investigate and take enforcement action against unlicensed operators.

It said the measures were aimed at protecting consumers and maintaining the safety, integrity and stability of the financial sector.

Source: GNA

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THE St Barnabas Anglican Church at Osu has marked its 100th anniversary with a call on the church to strengthen its ministry and deepen its impact on society in the years ahead.

The centenary celebration, held under the theme “100 Years of Evangelism and Anglicanism in Osu,” was also an opportunity to commemorate the church’s rich history and reflect on its contribution to the growth and spread of Anglicanism.

Speaking at the climax of the celebration in Accra on Sunday, the Parish Priest of St Barnabas Church and Archdeacon of Accra East, the Venerable John Antonio Tello Nelson, acknowledged the church’s longstanding contribution to the growth of the Anglican Church in Ghana.

He said the church had played a pivotal role in the establishment and growth of several Anglican churches across the country, describing its contribution as an important pillar in the expansion of the Church’s ministry.

The Venerable Nelson said that over the years, St Barnabas had supported the establishment of several churches, including St Paul Aragon Church, St Bartholomew Anglican Church at Teshie, Holy Gabriel Anglican Church at Kutunse, St Timothy Anglican Church at Nima, Transfiguration Anglican Church at Haatso and St Agnes Anglican Church at Ako Adjei.

He said the church had also contributed significantly to the training and development of lay pastors, evangelists, lay readers, children’s service teachers and church organists, while playing an important role in the formation of clergy.

According to him, more than 15 priests had undergone training at St Barnabas and were currently serving in various capacities within the Anglican Diocese.

He said the church’s work extended beyond worship to community outreach, particularly through its youth ministry and evangelism activities.

The Venerable Nelson expressed gratitude to God for sustaining the parish throughout its 100-year history and prayed for its continued growth and greater impact in the years ahead.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr Dan Taylor, said St Barnabas Anglican Church was founded on September 16, 1926, by four members — Lucas Randolph, Josephus Christian Taylor, Nii Boi Acquarsen and Nesbit Cochrane.

He said the founders established the church to provide a convenient place of worship for residents of Osu, who at the time had to travel to Trinity Cathedral in Accra to attend church services.

Mr Taylor said the founders initially held services in an old carpenter’s shed at Barnabas House, near Osu Castle, after securing permission from the family that owned the property.

According to him, the church was formally named St Barnabas in 1928 and subsequently acquired its present site in 1931.

BY PRINCE ADDO FRIMPONG AND VINCENT DOH

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THE South East Ghana Union Mission (SEGUM) is set to make its first appearance at the global leadership council of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, with its President, Pastor Col. (Rtd.) Peter Nyarko Duodu, joining church leaders from around the world at the 2026 Annual Council in Silver Spring, Maryland, in the United States.

The participation of the newly established Union Mission comes as the General Conference Executive Committee meets from October 7 to 14 to deliberate on the mission, administration, growth and global direction of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

In a statement issued in Accra yesterday and shared with the Ghanaian Times, the SEGUM Communications Department said the event, being held under the theme, “Called for Mission”, would bring together General Conference leadership, division presidents, union presidents and other church administrators and representatives from across the world.

It said Pastor Duodu’s participation represented more than attendance at an international church meeting, describing it as a new chapter in the development of the Union Mission and an opportunity for its leadership to join those responsible for guiding the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church globally.

“He is expected to participate in official engagements and discussions on evangelism, discipleship and strategies for strengthening the Church’s mission in different parts of the world,” the statement said.

It added that a major focus of the Annual Council would be OneVoice27: Mission for All, the global evangelistic initiative being developed towards September 2027.

The initiative, the statement said, sought to mobilise Adventists worldwide for a coordinated effort to share the gospel through local churches, individual members, the media and digital platforms.

The Annual Council programme includes dedicated LEAD Conference sessions on OneVoice27, as well as daily prayer preparation and other mission-related activities.

Another major area of discussion will be Mission Refocus, an initiative aimed at strengthening the Church’s focus on unreached communities and disciple-making.

Mission Refocus forms part of the Church’s broader priorities, which include Communion with God, Identity in Christ, Unity through the Holy Spirit and Mission for All. A dedicated programme on the initiative is scheduled for Friday, October 9.

The Council will also combine administrative business with spiritual renewal, with daily devotionals and prayer sessions forming part of the programme. The “Back to the Altar” Revival Session is scheduled for October 11 to 13.

On Sabbath, October 10, the General Conference President, Erton C. Köhler, is expected to deliver the message, “Called for Mission”.

Pastor Duodu will participate alongside the President of the West-Central Africa Division, union presidents and other leaders representing Adventist work from different regions of the world.

BY TIMES REPORTER

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MR CORNELIUS NAASOA WUOBAR has picked nomination forms to contest the position of Deputy Upper West Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), bringing to the race more than a decade of experience in party organisation, elections, communications and grassroots mobilisation.

A long-standing NDC activist from the Nandom Constituency, Mr Wuobar has served the party at the constituency, regional and national levels in various capacities.

His recent engagements include serving as Supervisor for the NDC Branch Executive Elections in the Sissala East Constituency in June and July 2026. He was also a member of the NDC campaign team in the Nandom Constituency for the 2024 General Elections.

Since 2023, Mr Wuobar has been a member of the Upper West Regional Elections and IT Directorate of the NDC.

He also played a role in the party’s 2023 presidential primaries, where he trained polling agents and collated results from the Upper West Region on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama.

His involvement in political communication dates back to 2014, when he joined the Upper West Regional Communications Team, where he continues to serve.

At the constituency level, Mr Wuobar served as Nandom Constituency Secretary from 2018 to 2022 and had earlier acted as Constituency Secretary from 2017 to 2019.

He was also a member of the Nandom Constituency campaign team for the 2020 General Elections and served as Deputy Youth Organiser from 2014 to 2018.

His electoral experience also includes serving on the 2016 General Elections Campaign Team and the Constituency Elections Directorate from 2012 to 2014. During the same period, he was a member of the Constituency Communications Team and served as a polling agent in the 2012 General Elections.

One of his notable contributions to the party was his adoption of the Tuopare Primary School branch ahead of the 2020 General Elections, which he helped the NDC win.

Mr Wuobar’s involvement in the party began during his student days at the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (USTED), Kumasi, then known as UEWK, where he served as Financial Secretary of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) during the 2010/2011 academic year.

He had earlier served as Deputy Chairman of the TEIN Elections Committee and, at various times, as a member of the committee.

His training includes NDC Party School programmes in party reorganisation and effective communication, as well as training for constituency secretaries in information management.

Mr Wuobar has an academic background in accounting and is also a professional teacher.

BY GORDON WELLU

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THE Ghana Navy Band has launched activities to mark its 60th anniversary, celebrating six decades of musical service and contribution to the Ghana Navy and the nation.

The launch, held in Accra yesterday under the theme, “The Sound of Service: Celebrating 60 Years of Musical Finesse in the Ghana Navy,” brought together senior naval officers, representatives of the Narcotics Control Commission, invited guests and other stakeholders.

The anniversary is expected to highlight the band’s achievements, preserve its rich musical tradition and strengthen its role in supporting the ceremonial and professional activities of the Ghana Navy.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Executive Officer of Zonda Tec Ghana Limited, Ms Yang Yang, said the Ghana Navy Band had become an important symbol of the professionalism, tradition and pride of the Ghana Navy through its performances at national celebrations, military ceremonies, state functions and other official occasions.

She said the band had also contributed to Ghana’s international engagements and peace-support efforts, particularly through performances across the West African sub-region, making it not only an ambassador of the Navy but also of Ghana.

Ms Yang stressed the need for the band to continue developing its skills, modernising its equipment and providing its members with the training and facilities required to maintain high standards of professionalism.

She disclosed that Zonda Tec would establish a Zonda Academy where personnel of the Ghana Navy could receive technical training, with professors and technical experts from China expected to train Ghanaian engineers.

She said Zonda Tec was contributing to Ghana’s industrial development through local vehicle assembly, machinery and skills development, adding that collaboration between Ghanaian institutions and industries could help build national capacity.

Ms Yang also encouraged the Ghana Navy Band to extend its performances to countries including Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Mali, where Zonda Tec had operations.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Ghana Navy, Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, in his welcome remarks, said the 60th anniversary represented six decades of dedication, discipline, resilience, professionalism and service.

He said the band had remained an important part of the ceremonial life and traditions of the Ghana Navy, with its music inspiring personnel, strengthening esprit de corps, adding dignity to ceremonies and reinforcing the identity of those who served.

BY STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG

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Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has cast doubt on the chances of Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo being fit to face Manchester City on Sunday.

The pair both returned home early from international duty with Sweden and the Netherlands with thigh and ankle problems respectively.

Having inherited Hugo Ekitike’s long-term Achilles injury, Iraola could be without his two senior forwards for Sunday’s highly-anticipated clash, City’s first match since an independent commission found them guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules.

“I think Alex Isak and Cody Gakpo both have had to leave the national teams with injuries,” Iraola told beIN Sports.

“Now it’s a matter of if they are going to recover in time to help us in the next game or not. But right now they are both injured.”

Iraola did not mention the status of centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, who was omitted from France’s 4-1 victory over Belgium on Monday with a hamstring strain.

The visit of City is the biggest game of Iraola’s Liverpool career so far and despite four wins and three draws his side have struggled to find anything close to their best form.

“We’ve been unbeaten but they’ve won all of them, so it makes a big difference in their side,” he said.

“I think we need to be very, very good if we want to beat City because they’ve been especially offensively scoring a lot of goals lately.

“We know the names that are very dangerous. But I think also we’ve shown good defensive improvements lately and I hope we can defend the threats that they have and also hurt them on the other side.”

The international break will have done little to help the consistency Iraola needs as he tries to get a squad which hugely underperformed last season to successfully adopt his methods.

“I think the goal is quite clear and I think everyone understands what we are trying to build,” he said.

“Try to be more intense, more vertical, but also you want to control the games.

“For example, I think in Newcastle (a 2-2 draw) we played a good game but probably we conceded two goals in transition (and) you want to control a little bit more of the games.

“I think lately we’ve been controlling the games much more but we lacked a little bit (of) this offensive fluidity that we had in the first game. So, now it’s a matter of balancing this a little.

“Obviously we want to attack very well and defend very well but sometimes you have to choose or you have to adapt the team to what you prefer or what is the requirements of a specific game and we are trying to balance all this.”-PA

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Former Manchester City and Spain midfielder David Silva has come out of retirement after three years to join Supreme Sha Tin, the Hong Kong club announced.

The 40-year-old Silva, a member of Spain’s 2010 World Cup winning squad, ended his career in the summer of 2023 after sustaining a serious knee injury while in preseason training with Real Sociedad in Spain.

“I am delighted to join Supreme Sha Tin,” Silva, who made 125 appearances for Spain, said in a video posted on the club’s social media channels.

“I’m really looking forward to going to Hong Kong to enjoy the culture, the people, and the food in Sha Tin and the football in Hong Kong, of course.”

Supreme Sha Tin was promoted to the Hong Kong Premier League last season and is currently 8th in the 11-team competition.

“David Silva will be in Hong Kong soon to settle in, link up with squad training, and build up to peak match fitness before making his pitch debut,” the club said.

Silva joined Manchester City in 2010 and spent 10 seasons there, winning 11 major honors, a record now under scrutiny after the club was charged last week with 114 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules-AP

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THE final of the 2026/27 MTN FA Cup will be contested over two legs for the first time in the history of Ghanaian domestic football, marking a major change to the competition’s traditional format.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has scheduled the first leg of the historic final for June 5-7, 2027, with the return leg set for June 12-13, 2027.

The landmark decision is intended to give the competition greater exposure while ensuring both finalists have the opportunity to stage a showpiece fixture in front of their home supporters.

“The change represents a significant departure from the traditional single-match final and is expected to add another layer of excitement and competition to the country’s premier knockout tournament,” a statement from the GFA said.

The road to the historic final will begin with the preliminary round, scheduled for October 23-26, 2026.

The Round of 64 will follow from November 27-30, before the Round of 32 takes place over the weekend of February 12-15, 2027.

The quarter-finals are scheduled for March 19-22, while the semi-finals will be played between April 23 and 26.

The two-legged final will then bring the competition to a historic climax in June, with the finalists having the opportunity to compete across two decisive encounters for the coveted trophy.

Nations FC are the reigning champions after defeating Dreams FC 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time in last season’s final.

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THE University of Ghana Stadium in Legon will come alive on Sunday as debutants Port City cross swords with Accra Hearts of Oak SC in a Ghana Premier League Matchday Six encounter.

Both teams come into the game with contrasting fortunes, setting the stage for an exciting clash.

Visitors Port City are in fine form, having recorded three wins, one loss and a draw, including an impressive 2-0 away victory over former league champions Bibiani Gold Stars.

Ahead of the fixture, the Adonten Royals, as they are nicknamed, have served notice of their intention to beat the Phobians on their own grounds, just as their feeder side, True Life Academy, did against the same opponents in last season’s MTN FA Cup.

The Phobians have picked up just two points from a possible nine in their last three games, a run that has left their vociferous fan base livid.

Furthermore, Port City’s warning has sent shivers down the spine of the Phobian family, with fans growing increasingly impatient with the management, technical team and playing body following the team’s recent poor results.

The Hearts technical team, led by Serbian coach Nebojša Kapor, is well aware of the consequences should his side falter in this fixture.

Hearts have recorded just one win in their last three seasons against newly promoted sides, a record Port City will look to exploit on Sunday.

Before that eagerly anticipated clash, Asante Kotoko will travel to Swedru Stadium on Saturday to face Swedru All Blacks.

The game has generated plenty of talking points, especially among All Blacks fans, who are unhappy after claiming they received a raw deal at the hands of referee Nathan Anafo in their previous game against Aduana FC in Dormaa.

While urging their team to topple the visitors, the fans have called for fair officiating, which they consider a key factor in determining the outcome of the match.

Kotoko, however, have maintained a low profile ahead of the game, preferring to do their talking on the pitch.

League leaders Medeama SC will remain at the TnA Stadium to battle Kpando Heart of Lions in another top-liner this weekend.

In other matches, fourth-placed Aduana FC will travel to Wenchi Stadium to face Young Apostles FC.

Berekum Chelsea FC will welcome Debibi United to Golden City Park in Berekum, while Gold Stars SC will face Basake Holy Stars FC at Bibiani Dun’s Park.

At Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem, Bechem United will look to put their disappointing 3-1 defeat to debutants Port City in Akyem Kukurantumi behind them when they host Vision FC.

Newcomers FC Ashantigold 04 will take on Samartex FC at Len Clay Stadium, while Karela United will welcome bottom-placed Dreams FC to Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium.

BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY

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GHANA’S Golden Shuttlers bounced back to winning ways at the ongoing 2026 BWF World Junior Championships in Cairo, Egypt, recording three successive victories in the Mixed Team Relay after losing their opening three matches.

The Golden Shuttlers started their campaign with defeats to Chinese Taipei, New Zealand and Azerbaijan, leaving the team under pressure to recover in their remaining matches.

The team responded in impressive fashion, defeating their African counterparts, Algeria, 2-0, with set wins of 55-24 and 54-29 on Wednesday.

The momentum continued yesterday when they maintained their winning run with another 2-0 victory over Austria, winning 55-53 and 55-45 respectively.

Later in the evening, the team completed a remarkable day of victories by defeating hosts Egypt 2-0. They won the first game 55-54 and the second 55-41.

The Golden Shuttlers will now look to build on their impressive turnaround when they compete in the men’s singles, women’s singles, mixed doubles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles events as they seek to accumulate points for the world rankings.

BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY

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