News
Ashanti Region crowned 2026 MTN Elite U-19 Champions after seven-goal thriller
Ashanti Region have been crowned champions of the 2026 MTN Elite U-19 Championship after edging defending champions Eastern Region 4-3 in a pulsating final at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence, Prampram.
The final provided a fitting climax to 11 days of exciting football, delivering a seven-goal thriller at the GFA Technical Centre on Friday.
In a contest full of attacking intent and drama, Eastern Region fought back three times but Ashanti held their nerve to dethrone the holders and send the trophy to Kumasi.
Ashanti made a blistering start and took the lead in the 7th minute through Mohammed Dayvon. Eastern responded quickly, with Umar Archraf levelling matters in the 12th minute.
Issah Seidu restored Ashanti’s advantage six minutes later, but Tetteh Narh again drew Eastern level at 2-2 before the break in what was a fiercely contested first half.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Elvis Kwarteng put Ashanti ahead for the third time in the 78th minute with a performance that would later earn him the Final’s Most Valuable Player award.
Eastern refused to give up and equalised again three minutes later to make it 3-3, setting up a tense finish.
But their joy was short-lived. Substitute Emmanuel Boateng struck the winner in the 82nd minute to seal a dramatic 4-3 victory for Ashanti.
Eastern piled on pressure in the closing stages, but Raphael Amankwah’s side stayed resolute to see out the win.
The triumph capped an impressive campaign for Ashanti, who showed consistency and resilience throughout the tournament.
Individual Honours
Elvis Kwarteng was named Most Valuable Player of the final, while Central Region’s Desmond Korlettey was adjudged Overall Most Valuable Player after winning four MVP awards during the tournament.
Central Region also picked up the Fair Play award, while Ashanti’s Raphael Amankwah was named Best Coach.
Kelvin Osei Owusu of Ashanti won Best Goalkeeper, with Greater Accra’s Dennis Adjei finishing as Top Scorer with six goals.
The closing ceremony was led by Chairman of the Championship Committee, Hon. Eric Edem Agbana, and MTN representative Andy Cofie, joined by Executive Council members Samuel Aboabire and Eugene Noel Nobel, Juvenile Committee Vice-Chairman Samuel Anim Addo and Black Satellites head coach Maxwell Konadu.
Reserved exclusively for Second Division players, the championship once again proved a vital platform for discovering and showcasing Ghana’s next generation of talent.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Management and staff of Owass FM have announced the passing of media personality, comedian and politician Seth Kwame Dzokoto following a medical emergency during a live morning show discussion at the station earlier today.
According to the station, Dzokoto was participating in a panel discussion on its morning show “Oman Nkoso” when he suddenly took ill and collapsed.
A statement from the station said its team immediately rushed him to the hospital for medical attention, but he was pronounced dead by the attending medical doctor upon arrival.
“We are deeply saddened by this unfortunate incident, which occurred in the course of our regular programming. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones, colleagues, and all those who have been affected by his passing,” the statement said.
Management acknowledged that information about the incident is already circulating in the public domain, but appealed to the public and colleague media houses to respect the privacy of the bereaved family and refrain from circulating unverified information or speculation regarding the circumstances of his death.
Owass FM extended its heartfelt condolences to the family of Seth Kwame Dzokoto.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The State through the Attorney General (AG) has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the suspension of the trial in the case of The Republic v Hanan Aludiba and Faiza Seidu.
On Monday, the Court of Appeal suspended the trial in the case. But the prosecution says it has filed an appeal against the suspension order.
According to the update, the law does not allow a criminal trial to be suspended simply because an accused person has complained about some of the charges on the charge sheet, particularly when those complaints were dismissed as meritless.
It argues that if the Court of Appeal’s decision is allowed to stand, no prosecution will ever be possible, since all it would take for a trial to be suspended is an accused person complaining about anything on the charge sheet.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
