Ghana News
Top Ghana Headlines: December 9, 2025 – US Tourist Kidnap Claim, Wesley Girls Dispute, Daddy Lumba Funeral Tensions, Plus More
A compilation of leading stories from newsrooms in Ghana on December 9, 2025, show police-related controversies, religious litigation, family feuds, law enforcement operations, political rebuttals, and anti-corruption critiques.
Christian Council Urges Out-of-Court Settlement in Wesley Girls’ vs. Shafic Osman Hijab Dispute: The Christian Council of Ghana, led by General Secretary Rev. Dr. Cyril Fayose, is pushing for an amicable resolution to the lawsuit filed by lawyer Shafic Osman against Wesley Girls’ High School in December 2024, alleging religious discrimination through bans on hijabs and Ramadan fasting for Muslim students, in violation of constitutional rights under Article 21. Fayose, appealing to Osman’s dual roles as an Islamic scholar and legal expert, emphasized that court rulings create divisions in sensitive faith matters and urged dialogue for national harmony. The case awaits Supreme Court hearing, with the school’s board granted 14 days from November 25 to respond; the Attorney-General’s office is defending the institution. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu backed inclusive practices, while the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, via Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, voiced regret over the suit, citing a 2025 interfaith MOU on tolerance in religious schools and the need to preserve Wesley Girls’ Christian ethos amid ongoing debates.
Asantehene Postpones Meeting on Daddy Lumba’s Funeral Amid Escalating Family Divisions: Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, delayed a scheduled December 8, 2025, mediation session with the family of the late highlife legend Daddy Lumba (Charles Kwadwo Fosu), rescheduling it to December 11 to address rifts over the planned December 13 funeral at Baba Yara Stadium. The gathering highlighted fractures: Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu, representing the royal Ekuona family of Parkoso, led one group to brief the king, while elder sister Ernestina Fosuh, alongside uncle Wofa Yaw Opoku and maternal grandaunt, headed the opposing faction. Disputes center on widowhood rites, event organization, and unauthorized withdrawals from a memorial fund, prompting Ernestina’s group to sue for an injunction, with the first hearing aligning with the rescheduled meeting. Post-session reactions were polarized—Ernestina’s side expressed satisfaction, while Abusuapanin and widow Faustina Marfo appeared frustrated—stirring public discourse on traditional protocols versus modern family dynamics in celebrity farewells.
American Woman in Ghana for Detty December Claims She Was Kidnapped and Robbed by Police — But Many Ghanaians Say Her Story Doesn’t Add Up: U.S. content creator Ari Mackey, a TikTok influencer with over 34,000 followers who arrived in Accra via a brand-sponsored trip, alleged on December 6 that three masked police officers stopped her Uber at a checkpoint, inspected her belongings, seized cash and devices, and forced her into their vehicle—complete with covered license plates—to an ATM for extortion. In a viral video warning tourists not to “look rich” or challenge officers, she described the ordeal as terrifying amid Detty December festivities. However, Ghanaians online have dismissed the account as implausible, citing inconsistencies like masked officers without badges, which contradict standard Ghana Police protocols; comments include “Ghana police will not kidnap you—they’ll just ask for a tip” and “This isn’t the Ghana police; plates aren’t covered like that.” Speculation points to imposters, with no official response from authorities yet, fueling social media debates and calls for verification.
Read more here: GhanaNewsGlobal
Police Arrest Three Suspected Kidnappers After Fierce Gun Battle in Northern Region: The Northern Regional Police Command apprehended three members of a kidnapping syndicate—Haruna Seidu, Amidu Bandi, and Osman Bandi—on December 6 in Bokpaba along the Bimbilla-Yendi road following an intelligence-led operation. The group had abducted a 42-year-old man from Wapuli in Yendi District, demanding GH¢100,000 in ransom. A five-member team from the Regional Police Intelligence Directorate tracked the suspects, engaging them in an intense exchange of gunfire on December 5. The victim was rescued unharmed, while the fourth suspect escaped with gunshot injuries. Authorities recovered weapons and are urging residents in affected areas to report suspicious activities to facilitate the fugitive’s capture. The arrested trio remains in custody pending court arraignment.
Bawumia’s Aide Counters Kufuor: Not All Went Well Under His Regime: Ellen Ama Daaku, aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, rebuked former President John Agyekum Kufuor for critiquing the Akufo-Addo administration’s policies during an appearance on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on December 9. Daaku argued that no leader is infallible, noting Kufuor’s own tenure had shortcomings despite its developmental strides, and insisted Akufo-Addo’s record should stand on its merits. Kufuor, on The Delay Show, had lambasted decisions like the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, National Cathedral project, and Power Distribution Services deal, claiming they contributed to the NPP’s 2024 election loss and that he was sidelined in consultations. Daaku urged evaluating each presidency independently, amid ongoing NPP introspection.
Sam Okudzeto Declares OSP a Failure, Slams Ghana’s Anti-Corruption Model: Veteran lawyer and former Ghana Bar Association President Sam Okudzeto lambasted the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) as ineffective on JoyNews’ PM Express on December 8, asserting it has done little to deter rampant corruption, evidenced by persistent bribe demands across sectors. He decried the OSP’s establishment as redundant, given the Attorney-General’s Department—via the Director of Public Prosecutions—already holds prosecutorial powers over all crimes, including graft. Okudzeto advocated dissolving the OSP in favor of bolstering the AG’s office, warning against personality-driven institutions that risk collapse upon leadership changes. He highlighted the OSP’s lack of institutional depth, positioning it as a flawed experiment in Ghana’s fight against endemic corruption.
Ace Ankomah Proposes Merging OSP, DPP, and EOCO for Independent Prosecutions: Legal expert Ace Anan Ankomah urged the fusion of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) into a unified, autonomous body on Channel One TV on December 8. He argued the current framework, tethered to the Attorney-General under constitutional Articles 88(3) and (4), lacks the expertise to tackle sophisticated corruption cases, often undermined by robust defenses. The OSP Act underscores these deficiencies, per Ankomah, who envisions the merger leveraging OSP’s focus, DPP’s stability, and EOCO’s investigations to form an impartial entity free from political sway. This reform, he contended, is essential to rebuild trust in prosecutions and combat economic crimes effectively.
Prof. Prempeh Warns OSP Faces Extinction Without Constitutional Overhaul: Executive Director of CDD-Ghana, Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh, cautioned that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) could vanish amid escalating disputes unless anchored in comprehensive constitutional reforms, as stated on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on December 8. He dismissed superficial fixes or court battles as inadequate, advocating a root-and-branch redesign inspired by global models to fortify the institution. Prempeh’s alert follows Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga’s push to abolish the OSP and revert duties to the underfunded Attorney-General’s Department, citing the OSP’s failure to deliver amid heavy investments. The discourse underscores broader calls to refine Ghana’s anti-corruption architecture for sustainability.
FDA Intensifies Market Raids to Combat Counterfeit and Expired Goods: The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has escalated surveillance operations across markets to eliminate fake and expired products posing health risks, as part of a renewed crackdown announced on December 9. While specific details on recent seizures remain limited, the initiative targets unregulated vendors in major urban centers, emphasizing consumer safety through spot checks and public awareness drives. Officials reiterated the agency’s commitment to stringent enforcement, warning traders of severe penalties for non-compliance and urging citizens to verify product authenticity. This uptick in activity aligns with rising concerns over substandard imports affecting public health nationwide.
Headlines from the print media







Ghana News
MTN Ghana Reveals Massive Fiber Cable Sabotage Crisis Disrupting 157 Network Sites
Accra, Ghana – MTN Ghana’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Blewett has raised serious concerns about the escalating wave of fiber-optic cable sabotage and damage, revealing that recent incidents have knocked 157 network sites offline and severely degraded service for millions of customers across the country.
Speaking at the MTN Ghana Accra Media and Stakeholder Forum on April 17, 2026, Blewett described fiber cuts as one of the biggest operational challenges currently facing the company.
He explained that because fiber cables serve as the critical backbone linking multiple cell towers to the core network, a single cut — often caused by road construction or deliberate theft — can trigger widespread connectivity failures across entire suburbs and commercial areas.
“It’s not really just talking about cutting fiber to someone’s home,” he said. “When you cut fiber, you bring down all those sites, and that’s problematic.”
The disruptions are driven by two main factors: uncoordinated road expansion works and acts of vandalism or theft. Blewett noted that such incidents are not minor inconveniences but major threats to reliability, affecting businesses, hospitals, emergency services, and everyday users.
Despite MTN’s heavy investment in 4G and 5G infrastructure, the physical vulnerability of the fiber network continues to undermine service quality.
The CEO called for fiber-optic cables to be classified as Critical National Infrastructure to impose stricter legal penalties and urged better coordination between construction agencies and telecom operators.
As Ghana pushes its Digital Ghana agenda, analysts say resolving this “perennial headache” is essential for maintaining a robust and reliable digital economy.
Ghana News
Woman Demands GH¢150,000 from UK ‘Borga’, MTN Reveals Massive Fiber Sabotage and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today
We are bringing you the most relevant stories from Ghana today to keep you updated. Stories include an interesting dispute between a woman and her UK-based partner, revelations about major telecom infrastructure sabotage, health alerts on Mpox, and other key national developments.
Woman Demands GH¢150,000 from UK ‘Borga’ After He Allegedly Failed to Marry Her
Esther Latebia, a mother of two from Kasoa, is demanding GH¢150,000 in compensation from Mr Osei, a UK-based Ghanaian known locally as a “borga,” after he allegedly failed to honour his promise of marriage following a six-year romantic relationship conducted mainly through video calls. According to her account shared on Nhyira FM’s Obra Show, Mr Osei promised to build her a house, buy her a taxi for work, waive her rent until the house was completed, and support her two children until they completed tertiary education or found jobs. He also promised to marry her as his second wife. After six years, he reportedly changed his mind and withdrew all commitments, leaving her feeling used and seeking redress.
Read the full story here
A Muslim Woman’s Vision of the Second Coming of Jesus: A 30-Year Burden Finally Told
A 69-year-old Muslim woman from Ghana has finally shared a powerful spiritual vision she received in the 1990s about the second coming of Jesus Christ, a 30-year secret she kept due to fear, community pressure, and misunderstanding from both Muslims and Christians. In the vision, she stood in a massive global market where people were trading gold, diamonds, and engaging in various activities when a divine presence behind her instructed her to tell the world that “Jesus Christ is coming — very soon.” Despite the urgent message echoing across the market, no one seemed to notice or listen. The experience left her in uncontrollable tears the next morning, leading to years of isolation as she struggled to understand why, as a Muslim, she would receive such a message.
Read the full story here
157 Sites Disrupted – MTN CEO Reveals Massive Scale of Fibre Cable Sabotage
MTN Ghana CEO Stephen Blewett has revealed that recent fibre-optic cable sabotage has knocked 157 network sites offline, causing widespread connectivity failures across multiple suburbs and affecting millions of customers. Speaking at the MTN Ghana Accra Media and Stakeholder Forum on April 17, 2026, he described fibre cuts — caused by uncoordinated road construction and deliberate theft or vandalism — as a “serious threat” to seamless service delivery. The interconnected nature of the infrastructure means a single cut can bring down numerous cell towers, disrupting businesses, hospitals, and emergency services. MTN is advocating for fibre-optic cables to be classified as “Critical National Infrastructure” to impose stricter penalties and is calling for better coordination of construction schedules.
Read the full story here
CHASS Warns Schools May Shut Down Over Free SHS Feeding Crisis
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has warned that many Senior High Schools could be forced to shut down if the current crisis in the Free SHS feeding programme is not urgently addressed. School heads report severe delays in the release of feeding grants, leaving them unable to provide meals for students and forcing some schools to rely on credit from suppliers. The situation has created significant operational challenges and raised concerns about the sustainability of the flagship education policy. CHASS is calling on the government to release outstanding funds immediately to prevent further disruption to academic activities.
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Ghana’s NTEs Hit $5.006 Billion in 2025
Ghana’s Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) reached a record $5.006 billion in 2025, representing a more than 30% increase compared to the previous year, according to the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare. Launching the 2025 Ghana Export Promotion Authority report in Accra, the minister described the growth as strong evidence that the country’s export diversification agenda is gaining momentum. NTEs now account for about 16% of Ghana’s total export earnings, signalling a gradual shift away from heavy dependence on traditional commodities like gold, oil, and cocoa. The government continues to support exporters through improved production capacity, quality standards, and access to finance via the Ghana EXIM Bank.
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Vice President Opoku-Agyemang in Spain to Participate in Fourth High-Level Meeting
Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has arrived in Barcelona, Spain, to participate in the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the Initiative “In Defence of Democracy.” She was received by members of the Ghanaian community in Spain, led by Ghana’s Ambassador to Spain, Madam Kalsoume Sinare Baffoe. The Vice President is expected to join global leaders in high-level discussions focused on strengthening democratic governance and advancing collective efforts to safeguard democratic values worldwide.
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Ghana Health Service Confirms Over 1,000 Cases of Mpox
The Ghana Health Service has confirmed four new cases of Mpox, bringing the national total to 1,062 as of April 11, 2026. No new hospital admissions have been recorded, while the death toll remains at eight. Surveillance is ongoing across all 16 regions, with health teams actively monitoring to prevent further spread. Mpox is transmitted mainly through close physical contact, and the public has been advised to maintain strict hygiene, avoid contact with unusual rashes, and seek early medical care for flu-like symptoms.
Read the full story here
Ghana News
Ghana to Open New Embassy in Singapore in Bid To Strengthen Trade Ties with Asia
Accra, Ghana – The Government of Ghana has formally initiated high-level diplomatic engagements with Singapore to establish a permanent embassy in the Asian financial and technology hub, marking a strategic expansion of its global diplomatic presence.
The announcement follows a working visit by a Ghanaian delegation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs James Gyakye Quayson to Singapore from April 10 to 15, 2026.
During discussions with Singapore’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Social and Family Development, Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, Ghana officially conveyed its intention to open a resident mission.
The proposed embassy aims to enhance consular services for Ghanaian nationals, facilitate trade and investment flows, and deepen institutional cooperation in technology, capacity building, and economic development.
This move forms part of a broader foreign policy drive by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish new diplomatic missions and permanent chanceries in strategic locations, while reducing heavy reliance on rented premises that currently cost the state around $15 million annually.
Earlier commitments outlined at the 2025 Conference of Heads of Mission include opening missions in Massachusetts (USA), Dublin (Ireland), Lisbon (Portugal), and Singapore by 2026. Recent developments under this agenda include the opening of a new chancery in Ethiopia in February and planned missions in Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Serbia, and Hungary.
Singaporean authorities welcomed the proposal and expressed strong commitment to expanding bilateral ties with Ghana. Officials from both sides see the new mission as a platform to boost South-South cooperation and tap into Asia’s dynamic economic opportunities.
The establishment of the embassy is expected to be completed within the government’s 2026 diplomatic expansion timeline.
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