Ghananewsaid, Isaac Tetteh Link, Accra (2026)

28/09/2026

*DVLA Clears 440,000 Backlogged Driver’s Licences*

_The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority says it has cleared 440,000 backlogged driver's licences as part of its recent digitalisation and service-delivery reforms. The disclosure was made during the Authority's 2026 Mid-Year Review Conference in Sunyani._

DVLA also highlighted the introduction of its Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) number-plate system as part of its efforts to modernise vehicle administration and improve road-safety systems.

_*“Digitalisation must ultimately eliminate backlogs, reduce delays and make public services more predictable for ordinary citizens.”*_

28/09/2026

*Government Positions Creative Arts as an Economic Growth Sector*

Government continues to position Ghana’s tourism, culture and creative-arts sector as an important contributor to economic growth, job creation and national development. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has called for stronger collaboration between government and private-sector stakeholders to improve the competitiveness of the sector.

Government's stated priorities include stronger storytelling, innovation, tourism promotion, investment and development of Ghana's creative industries. The film sector has also been identified as an area with potential for employment, tourism promotion and international cultural influence.

_*“Entertainment is no longer simply leisure. Music, film, fashion, digital content and cultural tourism can become export industries when creativity is connected to investment and markets.”*_

28/09/2026

_*Government Orders Resumption of 7.2km Tema–TOR Road*_

Government has directed the contractor on the 7.2-kilometre Tema–Tema Oil Refinery Road to resume construction after the project was incorporated into the Big Push Road Projects. The project involves a concrete dual carriageway linking Tema directly to the Tema Oil Refinery.

The project began in December 2020 and is reported to be approximately 35% complete. Government says the scope and technical requirements are being reviewed, with the objective of completing the project under the Big Push programme within about 18 months.

*“The success of the Big Push will ultimately be measured by completed infrastructure, not announced contracts. Every project must move from commitment to construction, completion and measurable public value.”*

16/09/2026

*4 Ghanaians linked to €225m co***ne shipment to France named and remanded*

Four suspects charged over the *3.9 tonnes of co***ne* seized at Dunkirk on Sept 10, hidden in a container of *plastic waste shipped from Ghana*. Street value *€225 million / ∼$261m*.

*Named by NACOC:*

1. *Desmond Koranteng Curiel* - aka *Paul Kweku Yeboah* or *"Biggs"*
2. *Musah Attah* - aka *"Kromo"*
3. *Kweku Otchere*
4. *Jessica Hartog*

They appeared before *High Court in Accra Wednesday Sept 16* and were *remanded for 4 weeks to reappear Oct 13, 2026* 1b33

*Charges:* conspiracy to commit crime - exporting narcotics without Health Minister licence, and actual exportation of narcotic drugs.

*5th person still on the run:* Dutch fugitive *Jos Leijdekkers* aka *"Bolle Jos"* - described as main organizer. Europol/Dutch most-wanted, €200k reward, sentenced in absentia in Rotterdam to 24 years for 6 shipments totalling 7,000kg. Believed to be hiding in Sierra Leone. Investigators believe he used the Ghana suspects to facilitate operations.

NACOC arrested 3 initially on Sept 14, then a 4th. French customs said seizure followed targeted operation - judicial police were already tracking network, inspected container at Dunkirk after intelligence during stop in Antwerp, Belgium (part of shipment destined for Antwerp).

Co***ne has since been destroyed in France. Investigation ongoing jointly Ghana-France-Netherlands.

Second big Ghana-linked bust this year after Australia m**h case in May.

16/09/2026

Confirmed today - *Olu Jacobs has died at 84.*

- *Date:* Wednesday, September 16, 2026 (today)
- *Announced by:* His son *Olusoji Jacobs* on Instagram + wife Joke Silva
- Statement: _"It is with gratitude to God for a life well lived and fought, that we announce the passing of our dear husband, father, grandfather and uncle. The Lion of Lufodo."_
They asked bloggers/social influencers to respect privacy.

*Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs MFR*
Born: July 11, 1942, Kano (Egba Alake, Abeokuta roots)
Trained: *Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London*
Early career: UK theatre + British TV - _The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, The Professionals, The Tomorrow People, Barlow at Large_, films _The Dogs of War (1980), Pirates (1986)_

Returned to Nigeria, became Nollywood icon - 130+ films, _Vigilante_, _Ashanti_, _Oloibiri_ etc.
Awards: Africa Movie Academy Award Best Actor (2007), AMVCA Industry Merit Award (2013), Lifetime Achievement, MFR national honour (2011)
Co-founder with wife *Joke Silva* of *Lufodo Group / Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts*.

He had battled health issues - wife disclosed in 2021 he had dementia with Lewy bodies. There were multiple false death rumours in 2020, 2022 that were debunked.

Tributes coming in from Atiku, Hannatu Musawa (Minister of Art/Culture), AGN, fellow actors.

May his soul rest in peace.

15/09/2026

From TheVaultzNews / MyJoyOnline today - *Sept 15, International Day of Democracy:*

*CSOs demand 4 guarantees before constitutional reform implementation begins*

Coalition: *Citizens' Platform on Constitutional Reform (CPCR)* - over 100 CSOs, labour unions, professional bodies. Convened by *CDD-Ghana, Democracy Hub, STAR-Ghana Foundation*. Chairperson *Prof. Akosua Keseboa Darkwah* spoke in Accra.

Government published *Constitution Review Committee Final Report + Government Position Paper on July 28, 2026*. CRC chaired by Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh, submitted Dec 22, 2025. Over *50 provisions* affected, *20+ are entrenched clauses* that need referendum.

CSOs say: _"How we make this Constitution matters as much as what we put inside it."_

*The 4 Guarantees demanded:*

*1. Roadmap Act - Constitutional Reform Implementation and Roadmap Act*
- Pass as FIRST step, before any bills
- Must fix order of reforms, who is responsible for each stage, and deadlines - from consultation, drafting, parliamentary consideration, civic education to referendum
- Argue past reforms failed: 2012 Dankwa Implementation Committee stalled, 2019 local govt referendum abandoned. This process has 50+ amendments, 14+ bills - can't finish in one Parliament without law.

*2. Broader mandate for Implementation Committee (CRIC)*
- Not just govt appointees - broad representation: civil society, academia, professional bodies, political parties
- Role should be coordination, consensus-building, not reopening CRC debates
- Needs independence from Executive

*3. Fair referendum guarantee*
- Credible, non-partisan referendum process for entrenched clauses
- Cross-party compact, code of conduct for campaigning
- Council of State review + Gazette for 6 months + referendum as required by Articles 289-291 must be respected, with clear calendar before 2028 elections crowd it out

*4. Protected funding for civic education*
- Dedicated, ring-fenced funding for public education and citizen participation

15/09/2026

*Minority demands economic justification for demolishing assets for 24-hour markets*

Ranking Member on Local Government Committee, *Francis Asenso-Boakye (Bantama MP)*, at press conference Monday, called for immediate halt/review of govt's *24-Hour Economy Market Programme*.

*Main complaint:*
> "At a time of severe fiscal constraints, government must explain the economic justification for destroying useful and in some cases recently constructed public assets only to spend scarce public resources replacing them."

Says govt is demolishing functioning infrastructure to build new markets, without feasibility studies.

*Demolition list cited by Minority:*

- *Asesewa Market*, Upper Manya Krobo - earmarked for demolition
- *Astroturf pitch under construction* at Mamponteng, Kwabre East - demolished
- *Nkenkaasu Market*, Offinso North - built 2007 under Kufuor - demolished
- *Enchi Market*, Aowin - newly built, not yet occupied - demolished despite resistance
- *Community bank at Aboabo* - demolished
- *Magistrate Court at Nandom* - demolished
- *Newly built school at Ahafo Ano South West* - marked for demolition, foundations for market already laid in middle of school compound
- Also mentions *Aboabo Market* Kumasi and *Nungua Market* traders opposing

*Other arguments:*
- 24-hour markets programme was not in NDC's 2024 manifesto as nationwide market infrastructure
- Imposing same market project across all districts ignores local needs - violates decentralisation, District Assemblies should decide
- A 24-hour market needs traders willing to work nights, customers, security, transport, electricity, water - "A market does not become a viable 24-hour market simply because government calls it one"
- Some districts have underutilised existing markets; others need roads, drainage, schools, Agenda 111 hospitals more

*Minority demands:*
1. Immediate comprehensive non-partisan review
2. Needs-based, demand-driven approach
3. Rehabilitate/expand existing markets instead of demo

12/09/2026

*Gospel artiste Bernice Offei dies at 63*

Veteran Ghanaian gospel musician *Bernice Offei* has died this morning - *Saturday, September 12, 2026*. Citi News sources say she passed early this morning.

Cause of death not yet confirmed. No funeral arrangements announced yet.

This comes just *days after she was reported missing*:

- Last seen *Sept 1* around Nyaho-Tamakloe Street, Agbogba, Accra
- Missing notice circulated Sept 2 - Diana Hamilton, Empress Gifty, Fiifi Folson and others amplified the search
- She was later found safe and reunited with family

*About her:*

- Hits: _"Hold On", "Life Is Short", "Kaase Gbeyei", "Odo A Wodo Mi Nti", "Nyame Kokroko", "N'adom Ara Kwa", "Don Bi Rebo"_
- Albums: _We Are Victors_ (1991), _Hold On_ (1991), _Me Kosu_ (2003), _Grateful_ (2004), _Life_ (2007)
- Awards: *Best Female Vocal Performance* and *Songwriter of the Year* at 2009 Ghana Music Awards (then Vodafone)

- Education: Achimota School, MPhil Crop Science - University of Ghana, MSc IT - UK
- Career: Also a banker with Standard Chartered Bank
- Family: Wife of *Prof. Samuel Kwame Offei*, former Pro-Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana, mother of two

Gospel fraternity is mourning - tributes pouring in on social media. May she rest in peace.

12/09/2026

*Govt to Recruit 10,000 More Teachers in 2027 - Haruna Iddrisu*

Education Minister *Haruna Iddrisu* announced on *TV3 Sunrise, Friday September 11, 2026* that government will recruit an additional *10,000 teachers in 2027*.

*Key points:*

- Provision will be made in the *2027 Budget*. Recruitment expected to start *Nov/Dec 2026* for posting in *January 2027*.

- This is on top of the *7,000 teachers* being recruited in 2026 (with appointment letters being issued this week). Over *40,000 applied for those 7,000 slots within 24 hours*.

- The Minister said Ghana's actual need is *50,000 to 90,000 teachers* (some estimates say 98,000), but budget constraints limit hiring. "I made a case for 50,000 teachers, and I got only 7,000."

- President Mahama earlier announced plan to stagger *16,000 teachers in two phases of 8,000 and 8,000* starting April 2027. The latest 10,000 figure is part of that phased approach to reduce backlog of 2023/2024 trained graduates.

- Infrastructure plans in 2027 GETFund formula: *$250-300 million* to expand facilities:
- Build 10 new model Category A schools
- Upgrade 20 Category B schools to Category A

- On SHS placement crisis: Minister said over *850,000 vacancies* declared nationwide, but *328,000 students chose Category A schools* with only *76,000 vacancies*. Said it's a "matter of choice" not lack of space: "Show me any minister who can place 313,000 in 76,000 vacancies."

He also criticized TVET: "90% theory and 10% practical - that is unacceptable."

12/09/2026

*French customs seized 3.9 tonnes of co***ne at Dunkirk*

- *Date:* Thursday, September 10, 2026 (some reports say flagged Sept 7 by sniffer dog, announced Sept 10)
- *Location:* Port of Dunkirk, northern France
- *Amount:* 3.85 - 3.9 metric tonnes - 167 bales in 8 bags
- *Value:* *€225 million* = *$261.45 million* street value
- *Concealment:* Hidden inside a container of *plastic waste / recycled plastic bags* arriving *from Ghana*, initially destined in part for *Antwerp, Belgium*
- *Detection:* Marked by specialised drug-detection dog, then X-ray scanner. Found concealed among recycled plastic.
- *Action:* Drugs have already been destroyed. French organised crime prosecutor (JUNALCO) has opened investigation. France's judicial police say they had targeted the criminal network before the seizure.

- Charges being investigated: organised importation of narcotics + participation in criminal association - up to 10 years in prison under French law.

French customs seized 108.81 tonnes of narcotics nationwide in 2025 worth €2.197 billion. This follows a historic 10-tonne seizure also at Dunkirk in March 2025, and over 13 tonnes in under two weeks recently.

No statement yet from Ghanaian authorities on this shipment.

MP Rev. Ntim Fordjour has called for accountability.

Ghananewsaid

28/09/2026

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