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President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku engages Destination DC ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup
President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has paid a one-day working visit to Destination DC as part of efforts to explore areas of mutual interest and strategic collaboration ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be staged in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The visit comes on the heels of the Final Draw for the World Cup, which confirmed Ghana’s placement in Group L. With preparations now accelerating, the GFA is seeking global partnerships that can enhance Ghana’s presence, visibility and operational readiness during the tournament.
President Simeon-Okraku and his delegation engaged Destination DC leadership on potential avenues for cooperation, particularly in the areas of tourism promotion, cultural exchange, commercial opportunities and diaspora engagement during the World Cup period.
The delegation also held discussions with Kimberly Bassett, Secretary of the District of Columbia, who joined the meeting to further support conversations around collaboration and shared interests.
The GFA President was accompanied by Executive Council member Frederick Acheampong, Director of Marketing Jamil Maraby and Chief of Staff Michael Osekre.
Destination DC, the official destination marketing organisation for Washington, D.C., plays a major role in driving economic development through travel and tourism.
The GFA views this engagement as an important step in leveraging the strong Ghanaian and African communities in the U.S. to rally support for the Black Stars while building long-term development links beyond the tournament.
Ghana’s World Cup schedule for Group L will see the Black Stars face Panama on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 in Toronto, England on Tuesday, June 23 in Boston and Croatia on Saturday, June 27, 2026, in Philadelphia.
The visit marks a continuation of the GFA’s proactive international engagement strategy, aimed at positioning Ghana both competitively on the field and strategically off it as the countdown to the 2026 World Cup intensifies.
Destination DC is a private, non-profit corporation with a membership of 1,000+ businesses and organizations that support the DC travel and tourism sector.
A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Bekwai Circuit Court for his role in a 2022 robbery at a mining site at Manso Akwasiso in the Ashanti South Region.
The convict, Dominic Ofori, also known as Fanta, was arrested on 16th February 2026 after years on the run. He pleaded guilty before the Bekwai Circuit Court to robbery contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 Act 29, and was accordingly sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour.
On March 20, 2022, the Manso Adubia District Police received intelligence that a group of armed men from Manso Abodom were planning to attack a mining site at Manso Akwasiso to rob the owner of gold concentrate. Acting on the information, police mounted a coordinated operation and laid an ambush at the site.
At about 5:30 pm the same day, four-armed men arrived at the site, fired indiscriminately, and robbed the miners of their gold concentrate. The police team on surveillance intervened, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Three of the suspects, Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif, and Gideon Takyi, sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at St Martins Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum. Dominic Ofori escaped at the time but was later arrested and put before the court.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has assured the public of its continued commitment to combating violent crimes and bringing offenders to justice.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested 45-year-old Isaac Boafo, also known as “Duabo King,” for allegedly publishing false news intended to cause fear and panic.
Police said the arrest follows a viral TikTok video in which Boafo claimed that four officers at the Central Police Station in Kumasi engaged in inappropriate conduct with commercial sex workers during night patrols in Asafo.
Officers from the Police Intelligence Directorate (Ashanti Region) apprehended Boafo after receiving intelligence about the video.
During questioning, he admitted to creating the video to attract views and engagement online, and acknowledged that he could not prove the allegations.
Boafo also admitted making comments about the President of the Republic for content purposes and could not defend those statements.
He has been formally charged and is in detention as investigations continue.
The Ashanti Regional Police have warned the public against publishing or sharing false information on social media, noting that such acts can cause fear, panic, and damage reputations.
They said anyone found engaging in similar conduct will face legal action.
By: Jacob Aggrey
