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Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko Appointed Ag. Director General of NCA
President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko as the Acting Director General of the National Communications Authority (NCA).
This marks a historic moment for the Authority, as it is the first time a Director General has been appointed from within the organization.
Rev. Ing. Fianko is an electronic communications engineer with over twenty (20) years of expertise in radio frequency spectrum management, telecom and broadcasting regulation, policy formulation, change management, ICT industry research, writing, publishing, teaching, and public speaking.
In 2022, he was elected to the prestigious Radio Regulations Board (RRB) by Member countries of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to serve the global radiocommunications community for a four-year term (2023–2026).
Since joining the NCA as a National Service Person in 2004, Rev. Ing. Fianko has risen through the ranks and was confirmed as the Director for the Engineering Division in January 2024. In this role, he has led teams to plan, administer, manage, license, and monitor radio frequency spectrum for telecommunications and broadcasting services in Ghana. He has also served as Chairman of the Significant Market Power (SMP) Operations Team.
Rev. Ing. Fianko has chaired and also served as a member of several Technical and Regulatory Committees that have shaped industry standards, guidelines, and procedures. Internationally, he has played a significant role in organizations such as the African Telecommunication Union (ATU), the Regional African Satellite Communication Organization (RASCOM), the ITU Policy and Regulation Initiative for Digital Africa (PRIDA) and the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission. His work has also benefited neighbouring countries such as Benin and The Gambia.
Additionally, Rev. Ing. Fianko spearheaded Ghana’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting and served as Secretary to the Digital Broadcasting Migration Committee (DBMC) from 2010 to 2016. His contributions include developing DTT receiver specifications, which were later adopted as ECOWAS standards.
He holds a first degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), a Masters in Communications Management from Buckinghamshire New University, England, and an MPhil in Applied Business Leadership and Management from Universidad Católica de Murcia, Spain.
Rev. Ing. Fianko is a member of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He is also a Minister of the Methodist Church Ghana, a published author, and the founding leader of the evangelistic outreach ministry, Nkwa.Life.
With a proven track record in technology regulation, leadership, and innovation, Rev. Ing. Fianko brings a wealth of experience to the NCA and is expected to lead Ghana’s communication industry into a new era of growth and technological advancement.
He succeeds Dr. Joe Anokye, as the Acting Director General of the NCA.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened applications for members interested in contesting as its parliamentary candidates in the 2028 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the party said interested members must declare their intention to contest between Sunday, November 1, and Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
According to the statement signed by the party’s Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, prospective candidates must complete an online form within the specified period.
The party said a non-refundable application fee of GH¢5,000 would be charged to each prospective candidate.
It added that all applicants would undergo vetting and screening to determine their eligibility to contest on the party’s ticket.
The NPP announced plans to organise capacity-building workshops for prospective candidates in December 2026. The workshops will be held across the Northern, Middle and Southern zones, with details of the venues to be announced later.
The party stressed that the guidelines would apply to all prospective candidates, including sitting NPP Members of Parliament who wish to contest again.
It further warned aspirants against starting campaign activities following the opening of the application process.
According to the statement, the existing directive prohibiting campaign activities remains in force until the party gives official clearance.
It cautioned that anyone who violates the directive would face appropriate sanctions under the party’s constitution and regulations.
The NPP said the process was designed to promote fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for all aspirants as it prepares to select candidates for all 276 constituencies ahead of the 2028 elections.
It urged prospective candidates to follow the guidelines and conduct themselves with discipline and respect for one another throughout the process.
The party said its broader objective was to strengthen unity within its ranks and rebuild public confidence ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
eputy Foreign Minister accompanies Veep to Shanghai to champion Global South reform, industrial drive
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, accompanied Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on a successful working visit to Shanghai, China, from 15th to 19th October 2026, at the invitation of the East China Normal University (ECNU).
The highlight of the visit was the 2026 Global South Academic Forum held on 17th October, which brought together over 200 scholars, policymakers, political party leaders and media professionals from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, under the theme “Global South Political Parties: Governance and Modernisation.”
In her keynote address, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang asserted that political independence is only truly the beginning, stating that “winning political power and governing effectively are related but not the same responsibility.” She called for stronger South-South cooperation, multilateralism and reform of the global financial architecture to end debt traps, ensure fair risk assessments and promote climate policies that respect different national circumstances.
On 18th October, she addressed a business forum with Chinese investors, linking Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy policy to industrialization. Warning that training youth without factories creates unemployment, she appealed for factories to be established in Ghana to serve the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market, with priority on value addition in cocoa processing, shea butter, cashew, coconut and timber.
On October 19, Ghana’s Ambassador to China, Kojo Bonsu, hosted a dinner at the Shangri-La for the Vice-President, attended by members of the Ghanaian community and business leaders, who praised the thorough preparation by the Ghana Embassy staff for the visit.
Throughout the trip, Mr. Quayson coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to align the engagements with Ghana’s jobs and transformation agenda.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
