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Meet new faces in Black Stars
TARIQ LAMPTEY
Many legends have had the chance to represent Ghana on various international soccer stages while donning the national shirt, raising the Ghana flag high.
Since the trailblazers, numerous Ghanaian footballers have established themselves as household names. This week, The Spectator focused on some of the fresh faces at the World Cup in Qatar.
MOHAMMED KUDUS
Mohammed Kudus was born in Accra on August 2, 2000. He plays defence for Ajax of the Eredivisie. His UEFA Champions League start against Liverpool at home took a bad turn as he sustained a meniscus injury that sidelined him for several months.
He scored his first Champions League goal in a 4-0 victory over Rangers on September 7, 2022. He has been a member of the Ghana national team since 2019 and has contributed with multiple goals. His most memorable performance occurred in the 2022 FIFA World Cup match against South Korea, where he scored twice and helped his team to win a 3-2 victory.
KAMALDEEN SULEMANA Kamaldeen Sulemana was born on February 15, 2002 in Techiman. He is a Ghanaian professional football player who competes for both the Ghanaian national team and Ligue 1 club Rennes as a winger. Before joining FC Nordsjaelland, a Right to Dream cooperative club in Denmark, in January 2020, Kamaldeen was a student there. On his 18th birthday, he committed to a five-year contract with the team, and a week later, he made his club debut. Kamaldeen won the Superliga Player of the Month award for April 2021 after tallying five goals in five games. On September 25, 2020, in advance of the match against Mali, he received his first call-up to the Ghana national team.
IÑAKI WILLIAMS
Iñaki Williams was born on 15th June, 1994 in Bilbao, Spain. He plays as a forward for La Liga club Athletic Bilbao and the Ghana national team. Born to Ghanaian parents, Williams spent most of his childhood living in Pamplona. He was playing youth football with local CD Pamplona when he was spotted by Athletic Bilbao. He was therefore signed to their youth setup at the age of 18. Williams made his full debut for the Spanish national team in 2016. In 2022, he chose to represent Ghana at international level, being selected for the 2022 World Cup.
His younger brother, Nico, is also a footballer and a forward; he too was brought up at Athletic Bilbao. He speaks Spanish, Akan, Basque and English.
TARIQ LAMPTEY Tariq Kwame Nii-Lante Lamptey was born to Ghanaian parents on 30th September 2000. He is a professional footballer who plays as a right wing-back or right-back for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the Ghana national team. Previously a youth international for England, Lamptey switched allegiances to represent Ghana at senior international level and made his debut in 2022. After playing for the Chelsea Academy, on 31st January, 2020, Lamptey signed for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion on a three-and-a-half-year contract. In May 2022, it was announced that Lamptey was considering switching allegiances to Ghana. He made his debut on 23rd September, 2022 coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute, replacing Denis Odoi in a 3–0 friendly loss against Brazil.
OSMAN BUKARI Osman Bukari born on 13th December 1998, is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Serbian club Red Star Belgrade and the Ghana national team. First European club in Osman Bukari’s professional career was Slovakian side AS Trenčin. He joined them in July 2018 from Accra Lions in his homeland. After his eye-catching performances in Slovakia, Belgian side KAA Gent signed Bukari on 4th September, 2020. He made his club debut against Radnički Niš and got on the scoresheet in the same match. Bukari made his Ghana bow on 25th March, 2021 against South Africa in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match. He scored his first goal for Ghana in an AFCON qualifier against Madagascar and recently against Portugal in the ongoing World Cup.
MOHAMMED SALISU Mohammed Salisu Abdul Karim (born on 17th April, 1999) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Southampton and the Ghana national team. Born in Kumasi, Salisu started his career at his local youth club Kumasi Barcelona Babies before joining West African Football Academy in 2013. In October 2017, he joined Real Valladolid’s youth setup. A year later, Salisu was promoted to the senior Valladolid squad. Salisu made his Southampton debut the following year, playing the full 90 minutes. Salisu made his debut for Ghana on 23rd September, 2022, as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 friendly defeat against Brazil. On 17th November, 2022, he scored his first goal in a friendly match against Switzerland, which Ghana won 2–0.
ALEXANDER DJIKU Alexander Kwabena Baidoo Djiku born on 9th August, 1994 is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Ligue 1 club Strasbourg. Born in Montpellier, France, he represents the Ghana national team. Djiku spent his youth career at Bastia. Djiku made his debut in a Coupe de la Ligue match against Évian in December, 2013. Djiku is of Ghanaian and French descent. He debuted with the senior Ghana national team in a 3–0 friendly loss to Mali on 9th October 2020. Djiku’s third match came when he was given the opportunity by the Black Stars new head coach to start against Zimbabwe in a World Cup qualifier where Ghana won 3–1. He was part of Ghana’s team at the 2021 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon. Djiku is married to Heley Djiku. The couple have two children, Wesley and Elyana.
By Yunusah Essandoh
The Ashanti South Regional Police Intelligence Directorate has arrested two suspects in connection with a robbery attack on an Indian national in Obuasi and a separately planned robbery operation targeting a distribution company in the same area.
On April 16, 2026, Police received credible intelligence that a group of armed men were planning an attack in Obuasi. A police team moved swiftly into the area and arrested suspect Iddrisu Fuseini, also known as “Iddi”, at his hideout in Bedieso, Obuasi.
During interrogation, he confessed to being part of a six-member gang that attacked an Indian national at his residence at New Baakoyeden, Obuasi, on April 12 2026, robbing him of GH₵150,000.00.
He disclosed that the attack was orchestrated following a tip-off from suspect Ibrahim, an employee of the victim, who informed the gang that the victim kept large sums of money.
Further investigations led to the arrest of a second suspect, Shaibu Mohammed, also known as “SM” or “Cicinati”, on 20th April 2026 at his hideout in Gausu, Obuasi. During interrogation, he admitted to participating in the planning of the robbery and confirmed that the gang had further planned to rob a distribution company near Mawuli Hotel in Obuasi.
Investigations have further revealed that both suspects are currently standing trial at the Obuasi Circuit Court in connection with a separate robbery of GH₵600,000.00.
A manhunt is ongoing to arrest the remaining accomplices, identified as Khalifa, Edward, Prof, Waddle, Ebbe, and Ibrahim, and to recover a pump action gun and a locally manufactured pistol believed to be in their possession.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, together with members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), on April 17, 2026, decorated nineteen (19) senior officers who have been promoted to their next ranks based on the recommendations of the Police Council and approval of the President, John Dramani Mahama.
The ceremony, held at the National Police Headquarters in Accra, forms part of efforts to recognise merit, dedication, and long-standing service within the Ghana Police Service, while strengthening leadership across key operational and administrative levels.
The officers promoted from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) to Commissioner of Police (COP) are Dr. Luke Asue-In-Yeng Zakpaa, Mr. Frederick Agyei, Mr. Duuti Tuaruka, Mr. Arthur Osei-Akoto, Mr. Darko Offei Lomotey, Mr. Eric Ken Winful, Mr. Barnabas Nambont Nasumong, and Mr. Desmond Owusu Boampong.
The IGP and members of POMAB congratulated the officers and urged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
