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Ghana hosts 7th National Qur’an Memorization Competition, wiinner set for continental stage
The Ghana branch of the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Oulema has successfully held its 7th Annual National Qur’an Memorisation Competition, reaffirming its commitment to promoting Islamic scholarship, moral development, and unity among Muslim communities.
The national preliminary event brought together talented Qur’anic memorisers from across the country, as well as respected Islamic scholars and traditional leaders.
The programme took place on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at the Islamic Council for Development & Humanitarian Services ( ICODEHS) in Kotobabi, Accra.
The competition forms part of a broader continental initiative aimed at strengthening religious understanding and intellectual engagement among Muslims in Africa.
Organisers highlighted that the competition is designed to encourage the memorisation, recitation, and proper psalmody of the Holy Qur’an, while inspiring Muslim youth to adopt its teachings as a framework for both personal growth and societal development.
The initiative also seeks to foster values of peace, discipline, and spiritual excellence, while enhancing cooperation among Islamic institutions across the continent.
This year’s competition recorded an exceptional level of performance, with participants demonstrating remarkable mastery in Qur’anic recitation styles and precision in memorization. Observers noted that the quality of participation reflected both rigorous preparation and deep spiritual dedication.
Winners Across Three Categories
The competition featured three main categories, with winners emerging as follows:
Five Thematic Parts of the Qur’an,1st Place: Sufyan Abdul-Aziz, 2nd Place: Rahma Ibrahim, 3rd Place: Sudais Uthmam.
Full Qur’an Memorisation (Warsh Style), 1st Place: Abdul-Muhaimin Ramadan Sharafudeen, 2nd Place: Ibrahim Abdul-Salam, 3rd Place: Ahmad Mohammed
Hafs and Others Recitation Category, 1st Place: Zainab Abdul-Rahman, 2nd Place: Hafiz Abdul-Rahman, 3rd Place: Abdul-Hanan Mohammed.
All contestants received copies of the Qur’an, Islamic books, and cash prizes, with top performers receiving additional awards.
Winners from each category will go on to represent Ghana at the upcoming All-Africa Qur’an competition organised under the auspices of the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Oulema, Morocco. The venue and date for the continental event are expected to be announced in due course.
The annual Qur’an memorisation competition continues to serve as a vital platform for nurturing intellectual and spiritual excellence, while contributing to social harmony and peaceful coexistence in Ghana and across Africa.
Members of the Lions and Leo clubs have undertaken a month-long e-waste awareness campaign to mark Environment Month in April.
They comprise of the Tema Supreme Leo Club, Tema Supreme Lions Club, Kumasi Adehyee Leo Club, Accra Sankofa Leo Club, Regional Maritime University Leo Club and Koforidua UTech Leo Club under Lions Clubs International District 418, Ghana.
The initiative, which commenced on April 1, combined digital outreach with community engagement to highlight the risks associated with improper disposal of electronic waste.
As part of the exercise, organisers rolled out a sustained social media campaign on platforms including Facebook and Instagram, featuring educational videos, animations, photo stories, interactive content such as puzzles and riddles, and perspectives from device repairers.
An online Google meet forum was also organised, bringing together resource persons from various Lions and Leo Clubs to discuss the realities of e-waste and its implications for public health and the environment.
To conclude the campaign, participants visited the Agbogbloshie E-waste Site to engage workers and document conditions at the site.
The project, themed “From Waste to Worth: Rethinking E-Waste in Ghana,” provided a platform for interaction with scrap dealers and workers who depend on this informal recycling process for their livelihoods.
Discussions centred on the risks associated with current disposal practices, particularly the burning of electronic materials, the risk of working without protective boots, hand gloves and masks which poses serious health and environmental concerns.
Project Lead, Leo Priscilla Ofei-Mensah, said the initiative aimed to deepen understanding and promote responsible practices and later provide some working essentials and training on safe recycling processes.
“Impact happens when we understand the problem. When people are aware of the dangers, they can make safer choices for themselves, their families and their communities,” she stated.
Agbogbloshie is one of the country’s major informal processing centres for discarded electronic devices, where materials such as copper and aluminium are recovered. While the activity provides a source of income, it also exposes workers and nearby residents to hazardous substances.
During interactions with the workers, many indicated that economic hardship and limited employment opportunities had led them into the trade.
She noted that the exercise forms part of a broader environmental focus and represents the beginning of sustained efforts to address the e-waste challenge.
She indicated that future interventions would promote safer alternatives that support livelihoods while improving environmental and health conditions.
Partner organisations also contributed to the initiative.
Creative Director at Inkspire Creative Studio, Alexander Annan highlighted the need for responsible management of electronic devices.
In addition, founder for Smiles in Colour, Mercy Peprah Asare drew attention to the health risks, particularly among children in affected communities.
We Communicate Impact handled documentation and storytelling, while Samrich Photography Foundation supported the production process and facilitated youth participation in a photography training initiative.
The team at the end of the activity expressed optimism that the campaign would encourage individuals and institutions to adopt more responsible approaches to electronic waste management. A documentary capturing conditions at the site is expected to be released.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Bono East Regional Police Command has arrested two men for possessing suspected narcotic drugs without lawful authority following a patrol operation at Kintampo.
In a press release dated April 27, 2026, the police said the suspects, identified as Sadic Wemah, 42, and Senbeti Karim, 39, were arrested on April 26 at about 12:40 p.m.
According to the statement, a patrol team from the New Longoro Police Station intercepted an unregistered white Toyota Highlander on the Kintampo–New Longoro road. The vehicle, which was coming from the Kintampo direction, was searched by officers.
Police said the search uncovered two sacks containing 166 parcels of dried plant material suspected to be cannabis.
The suspects were arrested at the scene and taken to the Kintampo Divisional Criminal Investigations Department for further investigations. During interrogation, they admitted the substance was cannabis and claimed ownership, the police said.
The statement added that the suspects told investigators they bought the substance from a man identified only as Edem, also known as “Confirm,” who allegedly transports cannabis from the Volta Region through Tamale.
They further indicated that they received the drugs at a filling station near the new market in Kintampo and intended to transport them to Banda Nkwanta in the Bono Region for sale.
Police estimated the street value of the seized substance at about GH¢107,000.
The suspects are currently in police custody assisting with investigations, while the exhibits, including the suspected cannabis and the vehicle, have been retained for evidential purposes.
The Bono East Regional Police Command said it remains committed to fighting drug trafficking and related crimes.
It assured the public that efforts are underway to arrest other persons linked to the case, including the said Edem.
By: Jacob Aggrey
