Hot!
We’ve got to halt the early exits!
• Kurt Okraku – Ghana FA President
There were mixed feelings of potential accomplishment when Ghana’s national team, Black Stars, bade the nation farewell to embark for the 2022 Qatar World Cup tournament – still ongoing.
Some Ghanaians were fairly optimistic about the team’s adventure in their fourth Mundial – others were not, insisting the present Black Stars consisted of too many inexperienced players who would find the terrain too hot to handle.
Thus, essentially, many were told to manage their expectations.
What may have slightly raised the hopes of some Ghanaians was when the Stars comprehensively beat Switzerland 2-0 in their last preparatory game before departing for Qatar. Indeed, it was a compellingly magnificent performance and on the face of it, it was going to be difficult to totally write off the team at the tournament.
Ghana found itself in Group H alongside Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay. It was a tricky group though, and qualification was going to be one that deserved lots of fight, sweat, blood and sacrifice.
Question: Did the Black Stars fight hard enough? We shall come to that.
The Stars rolled off their campaign with a 2-3 loss to Portugal, a game that could have ended in a draw had the referee not gifted Cristiano Ronaldo an undeserved penalty after Mohammed Salisu’s innocuous challenge in the area. Stirring appeals from the players for the knight-of-the-whistle to consult VAR to check the authenticity of that lousy decision, fell on rocks.
It seems to be a huge plot that will never be overturned as Ronaldo proceeded to tuck it away, becoming the first player to score in five World Cup tournaments.
Spunkily, Ghana managed to put that defeat behind them, upstaging South Korea 3-2 on a frenetic night in their second game to bounce back into contention.
Ghana’s win catapulted them to second spot and needed to draw with Uruguay in the final group game to stand any chance of plucking a Round of 16 berth.
Uruguay, who had lost and drawn with Portugal and South Korea respectively, also had to chase victory against old foe Ghana with the Koreans given the more arduous hurdle of accounting for Portugal.
Believe it or not, South Korea put up a bigger-than-life performance to fetch the desired result over the Portuguese – beating them 2-1 on a memorable night to punch their way into the Round of 16 stage.
Sadly for Ghana, the Stars slumped 2-0 against Uruguay – skipper Andre Ayew having squandered a 21st minute penalty that could have galvanized the team to run their opponents rugged.
It was a revenge that never was, and many Ghanaians around the world felt the pain and anguish of being eliminated by a Luis Suarez-led side that did the unthinkable to Ghana some 12 years ago at the South Africa World Cup.
In that infamous game, Suarez callously ‘hand-volleyed’ out a goal-bound ball in the last seconds of their quarter-final game against Ghana for a penalty that forward Asamoah Gyan would go ahead to blow off.
An ensuing penalty shoot-out after extra-time did not also favour Ghana as the Stars were denied the glory of becoming the first African team to make it to the last-four berth of the World Cup.
It is the reason Ghanaians are saddened by the fact that yet again, Uruguay were responsible for their exit at the World Cup. Perhaps, the only semblance of revenge here is that in spite of the win, the Uruguayans could not progress; as they needed more than the two goals they scored, to sail through.
But on a more critical note, the Stars fail to glow in the Mundial as expected – and bowing out in the first round is not something we should be proud of at all. No matter how you look at it, they failed – and it is good they have apologized to the nation for the let-down.
Indeed, it is so sad that we have to embrace another calamitous first round exit at the World Cup – just like it happened in Brazil 2014, the last time we participated in the Mundial. This has to be halted!
From a modest Round of 16 start (Germany 2006) to a stunning quarter-finals (South Africa 2010), many predicted Ghana to make a brave crack at the World Cup coronet in the next decade or so – or possibly venture into the last-four. Forlornly, it is not what we are seeing now.
This year alone, we have been eliminated in the opening round of two major tournaments – the first being the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, early January.
As one of the continent’s football powerhouses, this does not speak good of us at all. It is as if we are only interested in qualifying for major tournaments only to go and make the numbers. This must stop!
We should be competitive and be famished for honours – and this we can only achieve if we bury our self-interest and put the nation first above any other thing.
Fortunately, we have some great quality young players in this present Black Stars team which when well-harnessed and guided, could take the world by storm in subsequent tournaments.
It is not all bleak and despair; there is a glowing light at the end of the tunnel. But we must start working now if we are really desirous of halting this trend of disastrous first round eliminations.
By John Vigah
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Armed Forces has confirmed that an escort convoy protecting civilians was attacked in Binduri in the Upper East Region, leaving three people dead.
In a press release issued on April 27, 2026, the military said the convoy, which was escorting about 140 civilians from Bawku to Bolgatanga, came under gunfire from unknown attackers.
It said the attackers shot at the convoy several times, killing three of the civilians being escorted and injuring one other person.
According to the statement, soldiers returned fire and were able to repel the attack. In the process, seven of the assailants were killed.
The military added that during a follow-up operation, weapons and ammunition were retrieved from a suspect who had taken refuge in a mosque.
The items included a G3 rifle, two loaded magazines, and additional rounds of ammunition.
It said ten other suspects have been arrested and are assisting with investigations.
The Ghana Armed Forces cautioned the public against engaging the military or any security agency during operations.
It extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished the injured person a speedy recovery.
By: Jacob Aggrey
