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High-powered Sunderland delegation calls on Speaker of Parliament
Mr. Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, owner and Chairman of English Premier League side Sunderland AFC, on Wednesday led a powerful delegation to call on the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin in Accra.
The visit of the Sunderland AFC team was in response to a recent visit by the Speaker of Parliament to the headquarters of the EPL club, which forms part of a strategic partnership for the annual Democracy Cup match initiated by the Speaker.
Mr. Louis-Dreyfus, in addressing a team of Ministers, Chief Executive Officers of some corporate institutions, said, the visit was in response to an earlier visit by the Speaker to the United Kingdom, as well the institution of a relationship between the club and Ghana.
He said Sunderland AFC has over the years had a long-standing relationship with Ghana, as the likes of Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari and John Mensah have once played for the EPL side and made significant impact with the team.
“We have over the years have different connections with Ghana and it’s time to institutionalized the relationship for the mutual benefits of both sides.
“We have had some great Ghanaian players playing for our club in the past and they indeed contributed their quota to the team. We appreciate their contributions and we see this relationship as a step towards a better future,” Mr. Louis-Dreyfus stated.
Mr. Scott Mc Cubbin – Commercial Manager of Sunderland AFC highlighted the need to formalized and take advantage of the relationship between his outfit and Ghana.
He said Ghana stands to benefit immensely from relationship with Sunderland, especially in the area of youth development and women football.
Mr.Bagbin commended the delegation for following up on his visit, which was an indication that, they were keen on institutionalizing the relationship.
He noted that, the visit goes beyond football as the delegation will take advantage of the trip to explore other areas of the Ghanaian economy and business opportunities.
“This visit goes beyond football. There are many business opportunities for us as a country to explore. That is why we carefully selected participants for this important meeting.
“I hope the ministers, and members of the business community will take advantage of the meeting and explore business opportunities available to them,” Bagbin noted.
Bagbin said, EPL team will also explore avenues to support and promote the annual Democracy Cup.
“Football is the most populous sport in the country and the relationship will help strengthen its growth in Ghana. We are looking forward to having deeper relationship with Sunderland to help us in the areas of youth development and women football,” he added.
The Speaker presented a special fugu to each member of the delegation.
The National Media Commission has appointed Dr Isaac Okpoti Nai as the new Managing Director of New Times Corporation, publishers of Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers.
In an engagement with staff of the Corporation today, June 5, 2026, Dr.Nai, expressed his appreciation to everyone for holding the forth and contributing to the growth of the company.
He said, his leadership philosophy is based on professionalism, integrity and team work.
The new Managing Director said, he will be on a journey which would require everyone to take ‘ownership’.
” You need to work as though the company belongs to you. You are not doing it for me, take ownership, let’s work as a team,” he stressed.
With this, he said “we will be able to grow and sustain NTC. Let’s respect deadline and time.”
Dr.Nai pleaded with the staff to play their roles effectively to add value to NTC.
The Board led by Prof Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo expressed his excitement and wished the new MD and staff well in the years ahead.
The Chairperson of the Interim Management Committee, Dr.Charity Binka urged the staff to give the new MD their utmost support to help him succeed.
The appointment dated June 5, 2026, was done by the National Media Commission (NMC) In consultation with His Excellency the President of Ghana.
The appointment is in accordance with Article 168 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and section 2(1)(e) of the National Media Commission Act, 1994 (Act 449).
Dr. Isaac Okpoti Nai is a management executive, academic, and corporate leader with over 25 years of professional experience spanning financial management, corporate governance, strategic planning, internal audit, risk management, and organisational development across Ghana and the United Kingdom,.
Before this appointment, Dr. Nai served as General Manager, Finance and Administration at the State Housing Company Limited.
Dr.Nai has held senior leadership positions with the Ghana Integrity Initiative (Transparency International Ghana), Central Region Development Commission, London Borough of Croydon, London Borough of Merton and Ananemantey & Co. His experience covers both public and private sector institutions, including donor-funded organizations, local government authorities, financial institutions, and higher education establishments.
As an academic, he has lectured in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, and Management, contributing to the development of future business leaders and professionals.
Dr. Nai holds a Doctor of Business Administration (Financial Management) from Anglia Ruskin University, United Kingdom, an MBA in Finance and Strategic Management from the University of Greenwich, and a B.Sc. (Hons) in Accounting from Oxford Brookes University. He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICA).
Throughout his career, Dr. Nai has been recognised for strengthening financial controls, improving organisational performance, leading transformational initiatives, and providing strategic leadership that delivers sustainable growth and value creation.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
News
MomsConnectGH marks Mental Health Awareness Day and Mother’s Day with donation to Accra Psychiatric Hospital
As part of activities to commemorate Mental Health Awareness Day and Mother’s Day, MomsConnectGH last Saturday organised a donation drive to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital under its outreach initiative, The Hannah Project.
The initiative formed part of the organisation’s broader commitment to supporting vulnerable groups in society while creating awareness around mental health challenges, particularly those affecting women and mothers.
The donation included essential supplies and welfare items for patients at the hospital.
Speaking during the donation, Co-Partner of MomsConnectGH, Elizabeth Owusu-Boadi, said the initiative was inspired by the need to show compassion and support to people facing mental health challenges, especially women and mothers.
She noted that many women continue to struggle silently with mental health conditions such as postpartum depression.
“Postpartum depression is one of the mental health issues many women go through, yet it is not spoken about enough. Many mothers suffer in silence because of stigma, lack of awareness, and limited support systems,” she said.
Mrs Owusu-Boadi explained that the decision to visit the Accra Psychiatric Hospital was intentional and aimed at reminding patients that they are loved, valued, and not forgotten.
“We wanted to come here not just with donations, but with kindness, hope, and support for the patients and staff here,” she added.
She also called on the government, civil society organisations, and private institutions to increase support for psychiatric healthcare facilities across the country.
“Mental healthcare is just as important as physical healthcare. We all have a role to play in supporting mental health institutions and creating more awareness around these issues,” she stated.
Head of Public Relations at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, Dr Peggy Asiedu Ekremet, thanked MomsConnectGH for the gesture and encouraged the public to pay more attention to mental health.
“Mental health issues can affect anyone. Seeking help is a sign of strength and not weakness. We encourage people to speak up and seek professional support when they need it,” she said.
MomsConnectGH said The Hannah Project forms part of its broader mission to build a supportive community for mothers while impacting lives positively through outreach and wellness initiatives.
The group also expressed appreciation to all individuals, partners, and organisations who contributed to the success of the donation exercise.
