News
Praise Achievement Awards 2026 announces successful petitions, adds two new nominations
The Board and Executives of the Praise Achievement Awards (PAA) have officially announced the outcome of successful petitions received during the petition window for the 5th Edition of the Praise Achievement Awards 2026.
Following a comprehensive review of submissions, supporting documentation, and applicable nomination criteria, the Awards Board has approved the reconsideration and inclusion of two entries into the official PAA 2026 nominees list.
The approved nominations are: Christian Music Event of the Year, Holy Ghost Concert 2025, by Efua Black
Also Urban Gospel Song of the Year, ‘Finding Hope’ by Miss Walters has been included.
The approvals follow the official petition window held from October 19 to 23, 2026, during which artistes, management teams, and other eligible stakeholders were given the opportunity to request reconsideration of nominations.
According to the Board, the newly approved entries have now been incorporated into their respective categories on the updated official nominees list and are recognized as eligible nominees for the 2026 Awards.
The Board congratulated Efua Black and Miss Walters on their successful reconsideration and extended appreciation to all stakeholders who participated in the petition process.
The Praise Achievement Awards is a Gospel music and creative arts recognition platform dedicated to honouring outstanding achievements, celebrating excellence, and promoting the advancement of Gospel music and Christian creative expression.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has interdicted two officers over an alleged illegal scheme involving the issuance of Ghanaian Service Passports to unqualified individuals in exchange for money.
The officers are the Acting Director of Passports, Mahama Yahaya Amantana, and a junior Foreign Service Officer, Alhassan Sumani, who has been identified in petitions received by the Ministry as the alleged mastermind of the scheme.
In a statement issued on November 8, 2026, the Ministry said it had referred both officers to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations and possible prosecution.
It explained that the investigation followed two petitions received by the Ministry, with the first submitted on October 8, 2026, prompting the establishment of a committee on October 13, 2026, on the instructions of the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
According to the Ministry, the first petitioner claimed to have paid US$29,000 in 2023, while the second alleged that he paid US$5,000 in 2026 to individuals involved in the scheme.
Preliminary findings by the committee have reportedly confirmed that 10 individuals who did not qualify for Service Passports were issued the documents between January 2023 and August 2026 after allegedly making illegal payments to a syndicate.
The Ministry named the beneficiaries as Richard Sakyi Apenteng, Augustina Agyei Boateng, Juliet Amankwa, Rebecca Agyeiwaa, Prince Ahensah, Maybel Ahensah, Twumasi Francis Kwame, Gyabaah Anthony, Frederick Ennin and Bosompem Richard.
It said the alleged scheme had been operating since 2023 and that Sumani, who was described as a key figure in the petitions, had operated as a middleman before joining the Foreign Service on November 29, 2024.
Meanwhile, the Ministry used the statement to reaffirm its commitment to improving passport administration in the country, highlighting reforms introduced under the government of President John Dramani Mahama.
These include the introduction of chip-embedded passports that meet international standards, the establishment of Passport Application Centres in all 16 regions, 24-hour operations, free courier delivery and an electronic tracking system.
The Ministry announced that the passport application fee had been reduced from GH¢500 to GH¢350 to make the document more affordable.
It said the reforms were aimed at improving the security, efficiency, accessibility and integrity of Ghana’s passport administration system.
By: Jacob Aggrey
NanaThomas Kwame Okrah Debrah, the Amansie West District Coordinating Director, in the Ashanti Region, was on Wednesday enstooled Amantiahene and Omanhene Mponuahene of the Akyem Bosume Traditional Area.
The coordinator director, who had been in the traditional acting position, now assumes the stool name Obrempon Otupiri Okrah Debrah of the Akyem Amantia in the Asante Akyem South Municipality of the Ashanti Region, after 10 years of traditional governance stewarship marked by discipline, strong advocacy and unalloyed loyalty to the traditional area.
Amantia is the Mponua division of the Akyem Bosome Traditional Area, under the Paramountcy of Okotwaresuo Kantamanto Oworae Agyekum III, as the Omanhene and President of the traditional council, with Akyem Swedru as Ahenkrom.
He swore the oath of allegiance at a colourful and brief customary rites before, Okotwaresuo Kantamanto Oworae Agyekum III, the Omanhene and President of the traditional council.
The ceremony held in line with the customs,practises and tradtition of the area, and the Chieftaincy Act 2008( Act 759) was chaired and presided over by Obrempong Ayim Mmoronsam III, Amanasaahene, who is also Akyem Bosume Akyeamehene and acting Krontihene.
The Amantiahene and Mponuahene said it was with “profound humility, immense gratitude and reverent heart” to be callled by the ancestors, elders and kingmakers to the sacred stool.
Reaffirming his commitment to the stool and the tradtional area, the astute tradtional and local governance expert expressed appreciation for the “confidence and trust placed on him’” by the kingmakers and vowed to uphold the custom,traditions,practices of the place and provide the needed leadership to facilitate rapid socio- economic development.
Present at the ceremony were Nana Akwesi Obeng, Akyem Bosome Adontenhene and Twafohene of Akyem Brenaase; Abrewa Tia,Nana Amma Desuaa Anamaase Chief Priest; Abusuapanin Akwesi Tenadu; Nana Kwaku Adarkwaa, Kyindomhene Nana Yaw Appiah Duodu; Adontohene Nana Kofi Frimpong Manwerehene.
Alao present were Okotwaresuo Kyeame, Nana Akese Brempong,and host of other Nananom,elders, from the Bosome Traditional Area, and Agona Royal family members of the Amantia Mponua Stool.
