Hot!
Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo: The day Kudus shone, in Jordan’s shadow
An inspired Jordan Ayew performance may not be something you get to see every day, but, hey, don’t feel compelled to adjust your reality at all.
Pinch yourself, if you must, but do no more: this really happened.
There have not been many games like this for the youngest of the Ayews, to be honest. The last was, I think, the mind-bending display in that 2-2 draw with Benin at AFCON 2019, when Jordan led the line with aplomb; before that, you’d have to go back some five years, to the friendly match that immediately preceded Ghana’s participation at the 2014 Fifa World Cup, against South Korea.
The popular opinion, across the 12 years of his senior Ghana career, is that Jordan – often accused of being lazy, selfish, or downright ineffectual – isn’t worthy of this shirt. That claim appears legitimised by the forward’s record of just 19 goals in 85 appearances, despite Jordan having had the most games for the Black Stars of all active internationals (behind his older brother, Andre, who’s already in triple figures).
Imagine, then, how many must have grimaced and cursed and swore on seeing Jordan’s name among those who’d line up to face South Korea in the second group fixture on Monday.
Jordan… again?
Sigh.
But the Crystal Palace forward put up a performance to be remembered by, the highlights of which were deliveries into the box so good that even Kevin De Bruyne would behold in awe; on SuperSport punditry duty, former England international Owen Hargreaves compared Jordan’s input to what could be expected of still another master of the art, the legendary David Beckham.
As high praise comes, it gets no higher.
After an opening 15 minutes in which Ghana were reduced to a mooching, stumbling band of white-shirted spectators, the Black Stars finally broke from the shackles of the South Koreans, thanks in large part to Jordan’s artistry.
Dropping deep, tracking back and switching flanks – all stuff he does for Crystal Palace, his club, so well that it’s reportedly set to earn him another contract extension – Jordan grabbed the game, from his station on the left wing, and bent it to his will.
And it was with the first ball that he really bent into the South Korean area, from a foul he drew as a just reward by being so lively, that Jordan set into motion a sequence of touches that culminated in centre-back Mohammed Salisu giving Ghana the lead.
As he stood over the free-kick alongside Mohammed Kudus, Jordan, if the majority of his countrymen had their way, wouldn’t have been anywhere near that ball; he had after all, taken quite a few in the past to precious little effect.
Heck, even the dynamics appeared to favour Kudus whose left foot looked best-suited to an out-swinger.
Instead, the Ajax Amsterdam man merely made a dummy run, Jordan’s cure to follow it up promptly with a masterful cross, perfect in speed and in height. But the true quality of that ball lay in the position where Jordan placed it – right between the goalkeeper and the defensive line, the so-called corridor of uncertainty.
The ensuing confusion created a melee, and a failed attempt to clear the ball resulted in Salisu bundling home the rebound; crappy goal (much like the Southampton man’s first for Ghana less than a fortnight ago), yes, but Jordan’s superlative play still shone through that mess.
That, technically, didn’t count as an assist, but Jordan set that right just ten minutes later with another big contribution.
Receiving the ball from Gideon Mensah – the 30th pass in a brilliant build-up by the Black Stars – Jordan whipped it in an arc beyond the farthest South Korean defender, picking out the run of Kudus who only had to direct it with a glancing header. Ghana were 2-0 up, cruising to victory well before the first half was over, with Jordan pulling the strings.
This was the performance of a true Jordan; not Michael, the Chicago Bulls legend, no, but close enough in sheer magnitude and majesty, if in nothing else.
The detractors of Ghana’s No.9, from Adabraka to Bompata, had their mouths stuffed with humble pie – and Jordan even had a third serving coming.
Had Thomas Partey just angled his body ever so slightly in connecting with another teasing ball, in fact, Jordan would have got a third goal contribution to his name; the injustice here, with the Arsenal midfielder sending the ball just over, was that this was probably the pick of the six crosses Jordan had provided by the time he was replaced by the more eye-catching Kamaldeen Sulemana.
For the first time in years – maybe ever? – Ghanaians almost felt sad seeing Jordan substituted; only last March, in fact, he was booed and jeered all the way off the field in the first leg of Ghana’s Qatar 2022 play-off tie with Nigeria.
Kudus would score again, after South Korea levelled in the second half, to win the game, and was named ‘Man of the Match’. Instead of lapping up the glory, however, Kudus – known as much for his modesty as for his skill – shared the moment with his teammates by paying tribute to them, reserving special mention for the outstanding Jordan.
It was, truly, Jordan’s day, the day Ghanaians were reminded of just what he offers this team. 
The fickle nature of football fans, especially in these parts, suggests the exhibition in selflessness and excellence Jordan gave would be filed under the ‘forgotten’ category the very next time he has a less-than-stellar game for Ghana. Even so, the memory of this showing – immense, impeccable and imperious – would linger quite a bit.
It’s probably something about the South Koreans that gets Jordan scouring through his locker for his rarely-seen A-game – recall the hat-trick from 2014? – and maybe he should be playing the East Asians a bit more regularly.
Or, maybe – just maybe – there are a few more strings to his bow than we’ve ever been willing to give him credit for, which is why, on occasions like these when he hits a bullseye, we’re left rubbing our eyes in disbelief.
Well, you do just that; and if you’re still not convinced any of this is real… feel free to pinch yourself, one more time.
Source: Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo
Credit : www.myjoyonline.com
The Global Network of Export-Import Banks and Development Finance Institutions (G-NEXID) successfully held its sixth (6th) Exchange Programme, hosted by the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) Bank in Accra from March 22 to 23 March.
The event brought together member institutions, partner organisations and Ghanaian public entities to advance dialogue on South-South trade, investment and development finance, while also creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing and institutional cooperation.
Organised as a capacity-building and networking platform, the 2026 edition of the G-NEXID Exchange focused on GEXIM’s experience in developing innovative solutions to promote intra-African and extra-African trade.
It also highlighted trade and investment opportunities in Ghana, particularly in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and broader national development initiatives.
The Exchange Programme forms part of G-NEXID’s mandate to foster cooperation among export-import banks and development finance institutions in support of South-South trade and investment.
This 6th edition follows earlier successful programmes hosted by India Exim Bank (2016), BNDES (2017), Indonesia Eximbank (2018), Afreximbank (2019) and Saudi EXIM Bank (2025).
On the first day, participants were presented with G-NEXID institutional information and received an update on the Network’s 2026 work programme.
There were a series of substantive presentations, including an overview of the Ghanaian economy by the Ministry of Finance, with particular attention to debt-related challenges; a presentation by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), on investment opportunities in the country; and institutional presentations by GEXIM and Development Bank Ghana (DBG) on their respective mandates, initiatives, products and services.
Discussions during the sessions underscored strong interest in sector-focused webinars and business dialogues, particularly in agribusiness value chains such as poultry and rice.
Participants also emphasized the importance of continued information exchange and the sharing of best practices, especially in the area of guarantees.
The second day opened with a presentation on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, a national economic transformation strategy launched by President John Dramani Mahama in July 2025.
The initiative aims to enhance economic productivity through continuous industrial activity, accelerated export development and strategic import substitution.
As the programme is expected to mobilise both private and development capital, it presents concrete opportunities for G-NEXID members in areas such as co-financing, guarantees, trade finance and technical cooperation.
The programme also featured institutional presentations by guest organisations, namely the African Guarantee and Economic Cooperation Fund (FAGACE) and the West African Development Bank (BOAD), which shared their mandates, initiatives, products and services.
Following these exchanges, the G-NEXID Secretariat held bilateral discussions with both institutions as part of the Network’s ongoing membership drive.
Participants further benefited from a presentation by the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB), as well as a showcase of GEXIM’s key pipeline projects.
On the margins of the Exchange Programme, G-NEXID members also held their 20th Annual General Assembly Meeting to review progress and discuss strategic priorities.
Following the event, participants joined the GEXIM@10 International Conference, held from March 24-25, 2026 under the theme, “A Decade of Enabling Export Trade and Industrial Transformation: Resetting GEXIM for the Next Frontier.”
The conference provided an important platform for exploring how Ghana can strengthen its transition from a primary commodity exporter to a more competitive player in value-added trade and industrial development.
Source – G-NEXID
President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, signed five bills including three amendment bills passed by Parliament into law.
They are: Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025; University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Bill, 2025; Ghana Deposit Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Growth and Sustainability Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and Education Regulatory Bodies (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
In a brief remark after assenting to the bills, President Mahama explained that the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2026, scraps the Office of Minister of National Security and frees the President’s to appoint any Minister to supervise the security agencies.
He said it also reverses the name of the office of National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), to the original name, Bureau of National Intelligence, (BNI).
This the President said, addresses the confusion between that security agency and a well-known Ghanaian financial institution, the National Investment Bank.
President Mahama also noted that the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Act, 2026, establishes another University in the Eastern Region, at Bonsu, with three campuses – the main campus at Bonsu in the Eastern Region, with the second campus to be cited at Ohawu in the Oti Region.
The third, the Presdient assed will be located at Acherensua in the Ahafo Region.
Touching on the Amendment to the Growth and Sustainability Levy Act, the President said, “As you’re aware, the act was amended to increase it from 1% to 3%, and so this act reduces it again. That is the levy on mining companies. It reduces it again to 1%, because of the introduction of the sliding scale of royalties.”
He also spoke to the passage of the Government Education Regulatory Bodies Amendment Act, emphasising that amends Act 1023 to grant greater flexibility to private tertiary institutions and the option to Charter.
The Ghana Deposit Protection Amendment Act, the President concluded, is an amendment to an original act that was supposed to guarantee deposits held in commercial banks or financial institutions.
It basically expands protection to include mobile money wallets and other digital platforms, ensuring a wider scope of digital financial assets are secured.
The signing ceremony, was witnessed by the Clerk of Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dr Dominic Akrutinga Ayine, Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, a Senior Presidential Advisor and a Special Aide to the President, Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, and the Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang.
