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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.
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
