News
Asante Kotoko appoints Eric Tinkler as new head coach
Asante Kotoko Sporting Club has announced the appointment of Eric Tinkler as the club’s new Head Coach with immediate effect.
The Portuguese-South African tactician joins the Porcupine Warriors with a world-class CV, bringing proven pedigree, extensive top-flight experience, and a distinguished playing and coaching career at the highest level of African and global football.
Coach Tinkler holds a CAF A License and boasts over 30 years’ experience in elite football. He arrives at Kotoko on the back of an impressive coaching stint with some of South Africa’s biggest clubs, including Cape Town City FC, SuperSport United, Maritzburg United, Orlando Pirates, and Bidvest Wits FC.
During his time in the PSL, he achieved remarkable continental feats:CAF Champions League runner-up with Orlando Pirates, CAF Confederation Cup runner-up with SuperSport United.
He also lifted domestic silverware including MTN 8 championships and a Telkom Knockout Winners Medal.
As a player, Tinkler earned 48 caps for South Africa and captained the national team at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations.
He was also part of the historic Bafana Bafana squad that won the 1996 AFCON and represented the country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
His club career took him across Europe, where he featured for Barnsley FC in England, Cagliari Calcio in Italy, and Vitória de Setúbal in Portugal.
Renowned for his tactical acumen, structured methodology, and strong record of player development, Coach Tinkler will work closely with the club’s Director of Football, Stanley Menzo Purl, as Kotoko builds a formidable structure aimed at sustained success both domestically and on the continent.
Expressing delight at the appointment, Board Chairman of the club, Mr. James Osei Brown said, “Eric brings a wealth of experience, discipline, and winning pedigree to our technical bench.”
He added that “His track record of developing players and delivering results at the highest level in African football makes him the right man to lead our team at this important time. We warmly welcome him to the Fabulous family, a group united in heritage and driven by excellence, and look forward to the success ahead.”
Commenting on his appointment, Coach Tinkler noted that
“I am honoured and excited to join one of Africa’s most storied football institutions. Asante Kotoko’s rich history, passion for success and ambition for development is not hidden in Africa. I look forward to working with the players, staff, and management to build a team that can compete and win, both at home and on the continental stage. I feel proud to be associated with this great club at this historical moment.”
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the commencement of enforcement of the National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2523), warning institutions that fail to comply with the new requirements of possible fines of up to 2,000 penalty units.
The Authority says it will deploy a Biometric Verification Implementation Task Force to inspect institutions and ensure they comply with the regulations, following the expiration of a three-month grace period granted to businesses and public institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, November 2, 2026, the NIA’s Corporate Affairs representative, William Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, said the Authority had completed its public education and stakeholder engagement activities and was now moving into the enforcement and compliance monitoring phase.
He explained that the regulations require institutions that verify the identities of customers or applicants as part of their operations to use the NIA’s approved biometric verification platform instead of relying solely on visual inspection of the Ghana Card.
Under the new rules, institutions are prohibited from photocopying, scanning or keeping copies of the Ghana Card for identity verification purposes.
Mr Darlas stressed that simply collecting a customer’s Ghana Card, looking at the photograph and comparing it with the person presenting it would no longer be accepted as a valid method of identity verification.
He, however, clarified that the Ghana Card remains the country’s official national identity document and that citizens are not required to register for a new card or capture their biometrics again under the new regulations.
He said the new system is intended to reduce identity fraud, impersonation and other crimes by ensuring that the person presenting the Ghana Card is the actual owner.
According to him, the biometric verification process will rely on information already captured during Ghana Card registration, including fingerprints, iris details and facial features stored in the card’s chip.
Mr Darlas warned institutions against using third-party companies or individuals to access the NIA’s identity verification platform, insisting that the Authority does not work with intermediaries.
He said institutions seeking access to the National Identity Register must deal directly with the NIA and complete its official onboarding process.
The process requires institutions to prove that they are legally registered companies in Ghana, obtain certification from the Data Protection Commission and work with the NIA’s technical team to establish the necessary connection to its platform.
He further cautioned institutions already connected to the platform against subletting their access to other businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
He disclosed that the Authority had received reports of some institutions providing their verification services to other businesses without the NIA’s approval and warned that those involved would face legal action.
Mr Darlas said organisations that fail to comply with L.I. 2523 could face fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 penalty units, depending on the nature of the offence.
He explained that the NIA does not have the authority to impose the fines directly but would take offenders to court for the appropriate punishment.
He indicated that Institutions found guilty could also face additional administrative measures, including being barred from accessing the NIA’s verification platform in the future.
The NIA representative further clarified that the new regulations do not prohibit all institutions from physically using the Ghana Card during transactions.
The Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, Nana Kwesi Boatey, has revealed how he transformed a major overstaffing challenge into a success story through the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, November 2, Mr. Boatey disclosed that when he assumed office in February 2025, and inherited a bloated workforce of 250 employees doing work that could be efficiently handled by 150 people, a situation that created serious liquidity challenges for the state-owned company.
Instead of resorting to downsizing, he adopted an innovative approach by instituting a 24-hour operational system.
Under the new system, staff were redistributed across three shifts: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
This not only ensured optimal use of labour but also maximized machine utilization and improved overall output.
According to him, the single move redefined the productivity culture within the company, reinforcing discipline, accountability, and efficiency.
The Ghana Publishing Company’s turnaround is being cited as a practical example of how the 24-Hour Economy policy can drive growth without job losses.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
