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Of Ghana’s Black Stars and Code of Conduct
Ayew – Signing the Code of Conduct
Ghana’s Black Stars rolled off their Qatar 2022 World Cup campaign on Thursday against Portugal with an upshot that would unquestionably have many experts of the game talking.
It is the team’s fourth appearance at the Mundial.
The Stars are hoping to carve a gorgeous piece of football in the Arab land, and possibly retrace their halcyon moments which saw them book a quarter-final berth at the 2010 edition in South Africa.
As of the time of filing this piece, the Stars were lacing their boots for their second game against South Korea at the 45,350-capacity Education City Stadium, located in Al Rayyan.
South Korea’s Taegeuk Warriors have qualified for 10 consecutive World Cups, beginning with the 1986 competition. While normally exiting during the group stage, this team could easily reach the knockout stages as their Portuguese manager Paulo Bento, wields a strong roster of veteran players and younger European-based talent that will handle the twinkling lights of Qatar.
Qualification was a relative promenade. South Korea eased through Group H of the Asian Football Confederation’s second round with a 5-0-1 record, surrendering a single goal. The succeeding round was similarly perfunctory: a second-place finish in Group A with a 7-1-2 record, two points behind Iran. The challenging friendly slate over the past year should pay dividends at the final competition.
Ghana, on the other hand, struggled in qualification – only edging out Nigeria’s Super Eagles on the away-goal rule. But the Andre Ayew-led Ghana side have demonstrated in their 2-0 final brush-up win against Switzerland that they could only be underestimated at anybody’s peril.
The discipline, passion, poise, drive and the determination was fully showcased on the field and it is the expectation of Ghanaians that they sustain that virtue throughout their stay in the tournament.
In a bid to maintain this degree of discipline and avert the sins of Brazil 2014 where the Stars exited shamefully in the opening round – amid the scuffles that engulfed the camp, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) last week badgered on all the players, technical and management team to sign a Code of Conduct ahead of the game against Portugal two days ago.
The Code, according to the GFA, enjoins them to be ethically upright, respectful and honest, to have a high level of Integrity, and to uphold the good name of the Black Stars, GFA and Ghana during their stay in Qatar for the global tournament.
It also defines the norms, rules, duties and responsibilities, or proper practices of each member as well as the collective behaviour of the team.
Indeed, Ghana’s run in Brazil was rocked by pervasive reports of indiscipline from officials and players – giving the Ghanaian contingent a dreadful, despicable image.
From their body language and demeanour, it does not look like repeating itself this time around – even before the contingent were made to sign the code.
For now, we can only continue to wish the team well, whilst we hope for the best from the players ahead of the games against South Korea on November 28 and Uruguay on December 2.
By John Vigah
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Armed Forces has confirmed that an escort convoy protecting civilians was attacked in Binduri in the Upper East Region, leaving three people dead.
In a press release issued on April 27, 2026, the military said the convoy, which was escorting about 140 civilians from Bawku to Bolgatanga, came under gunfire from unknown attackers.
It said the attackers shot at the convoy several times, killing three of the civilians being escorted and injuring one other person.
According to the statement, soldiers returned fire and were able to repel the attack. In the process, seven of the assailants were killed.
The military added that during a follow-up operation, weapons and ammunition were retrieved from a suspect who had taken refuge in a mosque.
The items included a G3 rifle, two loaded magazines, and additional rounds of ammunition.
It said ten other suspects have been arrested and are assisting with investigations.
The Ghana Armed Forces cautioned the public against engaging the military or any security agency during operations.
It extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished the injured person a speedy recovery.
By: Jacob Aggrey
