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Africa Cannot Afford to Miss the Fourth Revolution — Bawumia

By
RICHARD OWUSU-AKYAW
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Vice President Dr Bawumia

Former Ghanaian Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia fired a bold warning to African leaders and policymakers on Saturday, declaring that the continent stands at a defining crossroads with artificial intelligence — and that missing this moment would be a historic failure the continent simply cannot afford.

Speaking at the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science during the LSE Africa Summit 2026, Dr. Bawumia delivered a sweeping address on the theme ‘Artificial Intelligence and Uniting Borders,’ calling on African governments to act with urgency, boldness, and continental solidarity in the face of a rapidly accelerating global digital revolution.

“Digitalization is no longer at the periphery,” Dr. Bawumia told the gathering of policymakers, scholars, innovators, and students. “It is front and center. It is a necessity for survival and prosperity in the
21st century.”

Three Revolutions. Three Missed Opportunities

Drawing on history to sharpen his argument, the former Vice President delivered a sobering audit of Africa’s relationship with industrial progress. The continent, he noted, was largely absent from the first industrial revolution — the age of steam and mechanized production. It missed the second, when electricity powered mass production and the assembly line rewired the global economy. And when computers ushered in the third industrial revolution, Africa again failed to ride the wave.

“We are now in the fourth industrial revolution,” he said, “where technologies have come together in a global network to create the internet — the greatest machine ever created by mankind — and using that to energise tools and equipment to make them smart.”

That fourth revolution, he argued, is unlike anything before it. Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things have opened up what he described as “amazing possibilities with no end in sight.” The window, he warned, is open — but it will not stay open forever.

‘Africa Does Not Lack Talent’

In remarks that drew evident attention from the audience, Dr. Bawumia pushed back firmly against any suggestion that Africa’s historical absence from industrial progress reflected a deficit of human capacity.

“Africa does not lack talent,” he said pointedly. “What we lack is deliberateness, leadership, and investment to create the ecosystems where innovations and innovators thrive.” He attributed the continent’s lag over the past century squarely to inadequate investment in research and development and a persistent failure by governments to build the enabling environments that allow innovators to flourish at home rather than abroad.

A Call for Bold, Cooperative Action

Bawumia urged African policymakers to draw a clear lesson from both the continent’s own painful history and from the trajectories of nations that have successfully industrialised: when something qualitatively new arrives, the response must be swift, decisive — and united.

“The key lesson is the awareness of the importance to recognise when something qualitatively new is going on, and the will to face what’s new — to act boldly, decisively, yet cooperatively,” he said.

That emphasis on cooperation carried particular weight against the backdrop of his speech’s theme. Artificial intelligence, he implied, is not a technology that any single African nation can master in isolation.Its potential on the continent will depend on shared infrastructure, cross-border data policy, and collective political will.

‘Embrace It, Don’t Fear It’

Closing his address, Dr. Bawumia delivered what amounted to a direct charge to every policymaker in the room.“We cannot afford to be left behind this time,” he said. “We should embrace the technology and not be intimidated by it.”

The LSE Africa Summit, now in its latest edition, has become one of the foremost platforms for debating the continent’s economic and political future. Saturday’s address by the former Vice President was among its most pointed — a speech that used the lessons of three lost revolutions to make the case that Africa’s engagement with artificial intelligence is not a matter of aspiration.
It is a matter of survival.

 

 

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Otto Addo’s Lack of Tactical Ingenuity Exposed as Austria Pummels Ghana

By
NAABENYIN JOOJO AMISSAH
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Coach Otto Addo

Ghana’s coach Otto Addo’s ability to build a strong Black Stars team to compete at the 2026 World Cup turned questionable after he failed to assemble a good team to Austria in their first high profile friendly game against the Austrians ahead of the World Cup

A poor tactical direction and approach from the technical bench led by Otto Addo caused the Black Stars to struggle to cope with the European side’s intensity and control of the game leading to Austria recording an impressive defeat 5-1 over the Stars

From the start of the game, it was clear that coach Otto Addo’s tactical decisions were going to create a bigger problem for the team as some players found themselves in an uncomfortable positions.

Caleb Yirenkyi who was deployed as right full back, struggled throughout the period he lasted in that position and mistakenly controlled the ball in a position that led to the second of the five goals against the Stars.

Ghana Black Stars

The poor tactical decision by the coach who took Ghana to the 2022 world cup and performed poorly, saw Austria dominate possession and create numerous chances and scored in the first opening minutes of the game from the spot.

The performance of the Stars exposed gaps in Ghana’s attacking mentality for the game, lack of coordination in the defense and midfield that the Austrians ruthlessly exploited.

For instance, experienced Thomas Partey and Kwasi Sibo failed to anchor the midfield for the Stars throughout the first half but Otto Addo appeared unfazed.

His eight substitutions later in the game proved counterproductive as his game plan lacked tactical ingenuity especially as he decided to stick to a rigid plan despite the game demanding adaptability.

Austria’s attacking prowess proved too much for Ghana’s unimpressive defensive play leading to a convincing 5-1 win that leaves the Black Stars with much to ponder ahead of their other upcoming fixtures in the international break and the World Cup in a few months time.

Ghana will play Germany in the next international fixture on Monday, 30 March 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany.

However , the poor performance the team showcased on Friday 27 March against the Austrians leaves a lot to be desired as their next opponents appear to be relatively composed and more in terms of attack.

 

 

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Iran-backed Handala hackers breach FBI director Kash Patel’s emails

By
admin
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Screenshot
FBI Director Kash Patel’s email account has been hacked by an Iran-linked group, with his private emails and photos being published online, the agency has confirmed.

The group, known as the Handala Hack Team, shared Patel’s purported resume and photos of him on its website along with a statement that says: “This is just our beginning.”

“If your director can be compromised this easily, what do you expect from your lower-level employees?,” it says. The FBI said the information accessed is “historical in nature and involves no government information”.

This isn’t the first time Iranian-backed hackers breached Patel’s account. He was also targeted in 2024, weeks before his appointment to the FBI.

Photos Handala claims to have taken from Patel’s email account have been circulating on social media with the group’s logo added as a watermark.

The photos show Patel at various unidentified locations, including standing beside a vintage convertible, smiling next to a jet, smoking and sniffing cigars, taking a selfie next to a bottle of liquor, and posing in what appear to be restaurants and hotels.

The BBC has not independently verified the leaked documents.In its statement announcing the hack, the Handala group said the “so-called ‘impenetrable’ systems of the FBI were brought to their knees within hours by our team”. “This is the security that the US government boasts about?! This is the cyber giant that thinks threats and bribes can silence the voice of resistance?!”

The FBI said that it was offering up to $10m (£7.5m) for information that helps identify members of the Handala group.
Last week, the US justice department seized several Handala domain names it says were involved in hacking schemes linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The department said Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) had been using the Handala websites to spread “terrorist propaganda,” conduct “attempted psychological operations targeting adversaries of the regime”, claim credit for hacking activity, and call for the killing of journalists and dissidents.

Handala said its hack into Patel’s email account was retaliation for the FBI’s seizure of its websites, as well as for the FBI offering a reward of $10 million for information on similar malicious attacks.

Earlier in March, Handala group also claimed responsibility for the cyberattack of US medical technology firm Stryker.
The Stryker incident saw the company’s employee login defaced with a message claiming data had been erased in a ‘wiper’ attack by the Iran-backed group of hacktivists.

In a post at the time on their now-suspended X account, Handala claimed it had wiped “over 200,000 systems, servers, and mobile devices” and extracted “50 terabytes of critical data” in the Stryker attack.

The group said the Stryker cyberattack was “in retaliation for the brutal attack” on an Iranian girls’ school at the start of the war, which killed over 160 people, as well as “in response to ongoing cyber assaults against the infrastructure” of Iran and its allies.

Source:BBC


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Razor-Eyed Police Track Narcotic Drugs … Abandoned In Adaklu Jungles

By
JOHN BEDIAKO
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IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno

Police in the Volta Region on Tuesday, this week took custody of a consignment of abandoned substances suspected to be narcotic drugs at Adaklu Ahunda near Ho.

Information available to The Chronicle from the Police Headquarters indicates that on Tuesday March 24, 2026, at about 1830hrs, the Volta Regional Drugs Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU) gathered intelligence that some unidentified persons using a tipper truck had concealed substances suspected to be narcotic drugs in sacks within an isolated bush at Adaklu Ahunda.

The Volta Regional Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Wisdom Akorli after being informed immediately constituted a team to retrieve the said narcotic drugs from the hideout.

The Regional DLEU with D/Sgt Roland Chewatey incharge and onboard a service pickup vehicle with registration number GP909, driven by Inspector Samuel Owusu proceeded to the location.

The team was backed by a Police Transfer Truck with registration number GP329, which was driven by G/Cpl Samuel Opare.

With the assistance of individual civilians, termed as witnesses, the team retrieved and loaded thirty-nine (39) sacks containing substances suspected to be narcotic drugs onto the service truck.

According to The Chronicle sources, the loading team took the lead, but later discovered that the loaded transfer truck had developed a minor fault and that the team needed to return to assist.

Upon arrival at the location, the team met three policemen, including D/C/Inspector Gabriel Saenafu, from Ho Division, who confronted the driver, and allegedly pointed a weapon at him and demanded his arrest.

The Director of the Regional DLEU, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Richard Dotsey Gablah was informed and he immediately proceeded to the scene together with the Volta Regional Director of Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) and the Ho Central Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Boakye Ansah.

The Police transfer truck, together with the exhibits were escorted first to the Municipal Police Station and subsequently conveyed to the Regional DLEU for safekeeping and further action.

 

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Heath Goldfields To Invest $500m In Bogoso-Prestea Gold Mine Over The Next 10 Years

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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Heath Goldfields newly acquired mining machines

The management of Heath Goldfields has announced plans to inject a whopping $500m in the next ten years into the operations of the Bogoso–Prestea mine. As part of the strategy, $135m will be invested in the first year of operation and out of this amount, $35 million had already been used to procure the state-of-the-art mining fleet.

The fleet, comprising Komatsu 785 haul trucks, excavators, dozers and loaders, has been deployed through a strategic partnership with Fridoug Company Limited, a Ghanaian local contractor, underscoring the company’s strong commitment to local content and participation in the mining value chain.

The Bogoso-Presta Mine

According to a statement issued by the mining giants, the aim of this huge investment is to restore the mine to sustainable production, improve operational efficiency, and also ensure safe and reliable mining activities.

“This development reflects our readiness to make the necessary investments to reposition Bogoso–Prestea as a modern, competitive and sustainable mining operation,” the company noted.

Beyond operational gains, the collaboration with Fridoug is expected to drive job creation, enhance skills development and stimulate economic activity within host communities.

Industry analysts say the scale of the planned investment signals renewed confidence in the mine’s recovery prospects and highlights the growing role of Ghanaian contractors in large-scale mining operations.

Heath Goldfields reaffirmed its commitment to responsible and sustainable mining, emphasizing its focus on delivering long-term value to stakeholders while contributing meaningfully to Ghana’s gold production.

 

 

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Police Hospital’s 70-Bed Ward Will Be Ready This Year –COP Nyarko

By
JOHN BEDIAKO
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The new 70-bed capacity ward under construction at the Police Hospital is set to ease pressure on emergency wards at the facility. The project, currently 70% complete, is expected to be handed over by the third quarter of this year.

The Medical Director in charge of the hospital, Commissioner of Police (COP), Dr Otu Nyarko who disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle said the four-storey building will decongest the hospital’s wards and provide much-needed space.

“The facility will apart from housing children’s ward, surgical ward, medical ward and executive ward on separate floors, also host a mini pharmacy, mini laboratory, eight (8) doctors and nurses resting rooms”, he said.

According to the Medical Director, the hospital, which was started in 1976 would be celebrating her golden jubilee this year and it is god news that the ward expansion, a major project, is also taking place at the same time.

Dr Otu Nyarko emphasised the construction of a standard paediatric intensive care unit as a jubilee project. He has, therefore, appealed to philanthropists and individuals to donate towards it.

The ward expansion work, which began with ground-breaking by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno on August 11, 2025 mainly relies on donations from individuals and organizations to fund it.

The facility provides free medical care for the vulnerable including destitute, suspects whose cases are under investigation and convicted prisoners.

The Police have two other hospitals in Kumasi and Tamale, as well as twenty (20) clinics across the country.

 

 

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Minority Unhappy With Mahama’s Use Of Private Jet

By
RICHARD OWUSU-AKYAW
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Hon Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused President John Dramani Mahama of breaching the 1992 Constitution by repeatedly using a private jet owned by his brother for official state travels, without paying the full commercial cost.

In a strongly worded statement issued yesterday, the Caucus described the arrangement as a “serious conflict-of-interest situation,” arguing that it violates Article 284 of the Constitution, as well as the President’s own Code of Conduct for public officials.

According to the Minority, the President has on at least six occasions since assuming office in January 2025 travelled on a Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft, linked to the company owned by his brother.

The Caucus claims that while the State covered limited expenses such as fuel and landing charges, the aircraft itself, crew, maintenance and other operational costs were borne entirely by the President’s brother without any formal billing.

The Presidency has not denied the arrangement. Speaking on Citi FM earlier this month, Presidential spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu confirmed that government does not pay for the aircraft beyond fuel and related charges. But the Minority insists that admission strengthens its case.

Cost Implications

Backing its claims with figures, the Caucus estimates that chartering a similar aircraft would cost about $18,000 per hour.

A recent round trip to Seoul, South Korea, which it says took roughly 20 hours would, therefore, amount to about $360,000 (over GH₵5 million) in waived rental costs.

“This far exceeds the GH₵20,000 gift threshold set under the President’s own Code of Conduct,” the statement noted, arguing that each trip constitutes a separate acceptance of a benefit.

At the heart of the dispute is Article 284 of the Constitution, which prohibits public officials from placing themselves in situations where personal interests conflict, or are likely to conflict, with their official duties.

The Minority contends that the relationship between the President and his brother, whose business interests intersect with government activities, creates at least a perceived conflict of interest.

Citing guidelines from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Caucus stressed that even the appearance of undue influence is sufficient to establish a breach.

“The issue is not whether corruption has occurred, it is whether the arrangement creates conditions that undermine independent decision-making,” the minority said.

Precedents Raised

The Caucus referenced past CHRAJ rulings, including cases where public officials were found to have violated conflict-of-interest provisions through personal or relational benefits.

It also recalled a 2016 CHRAJ finding involving President Mahama, where the acceptance of a gift was deemed a breach at the point of receipt, regardless of whether it was later surrendered.

Applying that reasoning, the Minority argues that each instance of using the aircraft constitutes a fresh violation.

Beyond legality, the statement raises broader ethical questions about governance and public trust.

It argues that the provision of high-value services by a close relative with business interests in the State creates a situation where public officials may feel constrained in making impartial decisions.

Civil society voices, including Sulemana Braimah of the Media Foundation for West Africa, have previously questioned whether such relationships could influence decision-making within government.

The Caucus is demanding that the President immediately cease using the aircraft for official travels as long as his brother maintains business interests connected to the State.

It is also calling for full public disclosure of all trips undertaken using the jet since January 2025, including the estimated value of services provided at no cost.

Finally, the Minority has announced plans to petition CHRAJ under Article 287 of the Constitution for a formal determination on the matter.

“The integrity of public office must not only be upheld, but must be seen to be upheld,” the statement concluded.

 

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Two Jailed for Stealing Motorbike Worth GH¢10,500

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Dansoman Circuit Court

The Circuit Court at Dansoman has sentenced two young men to prison for stealing a motorbike valued at GH¢10,500.

The convicts, Abdul Aziz Osman, 20, unemployed and Abdul Aziz Mohammed, 22, also unemployed, were sentenced by the court presided over by Her Honour Nancy Teiko Searyoh after they pleaded guilty to charges of stealing and conspiracy to commit crime.

On the charge of stealing, the court heard that on February 11, 2026 at about 10:00 a.m. at Mallam, in Accra, and within the jurisdiction of the court the two dishonestly appropriated an unregistered red Sonlink motorbike valued at GH¢10,500, belonging to one Agnes Tagoe, a self-employed woman residing near the Gbawe Guinness Depot.

The accused persons are residents of Kwashieman in Accra.

Prosecutors told the court that on March 11, 2026, the complainant returned home at about 1:00 p.m. and discovered that her motorbike was missing.

She reported the matter to the police the same day.

On March 12, 2026 the Surveillance Unit of the CID Headquarters informed the investigator that the accused persons had been arrested, together with the stolen motorbike.

They were subsequently handed over to the Gbawe-Lafa Police Station. In their caution statement, the accused admitted the offence and stated that they were on their way to Agbogbloshie, when they were arrested by the surveillance team.

After investigations, they were charged with stealing and conspiracy to commit crime. When they appeared before the court on March 17, 2026 both pleaded guilty.

In sentencing, Her Honour Nancy Teiko Searyoh said the court took into account the ages of the convicts and the fact that the stolen motorbike had been retrieved in good condition.

Abdul Aziz Osman (A1) was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment on the count of stealing and six months on the count of conspiracy, while Abdul Aziz Mohammed (A2) was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment on the stealing charge and 12 months on the conspiracy charge.

 

 

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Fashion Designer remanded over alleged possession, use of counterfeit money

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Remand

The Circuit Court in Tarkwa, presided over by Her Honour Bernice Mensimah Ackon, has remanded a 40-year-old fashion designer, Grace Arthur, into custody for allegedly possessing and uttering counterfeit Ghana cedi notes at Wasa Akropong in the Western Region.

The accused’s plea was not taken when she appeared before the court. The matter has been adjourned to April 8, 2026, while investigations continue. The case is being prosecuted by ASP Samuel Ahiabor.

Grace Arthur is facing two counts of possession of counterfeit currency notes and uttering counterfeit currency notes, contrary to the Currency Act, 1964 (Act 247).

According to the charge sheet, the accused, on March 19, 2026, at Wasa Akropong, was found in possession of thirteen pieces of GH¢200 notes and sixty pieces of GH¢100 notes, all bearing the same serial numbers and suspected to be counterfeit, without lawful authority.

On the second count, the prosecution alleges that on the same day at the Wasa Akropong New Market, the accused knowingly and fraudulently uttered a counterfeit GH¢100 note to one Araba Tawiah, a fishmonger, in payment for fish with intent to defraud her.

Presenting the brief facts, the prosecution said the complainant, Araba Tawiah, aged 58, was selling fish at the Wasa Akropong New Market at about 2:15 p.m. when the accused approached her and bought fish valued at GH¢20.00.

The court heard that the accused presented a GH¢100 note and requested GH¢80 change, but the complainant suspected the note to be fake while giving the change and raised an alarm, leading to the arrest of the accused and her subsequent escort to the Wasa Akropong Police Station.

Prosecution said a search conducted on the accused at the station led to the retrieval of thirteen GH¢200 notes and sixty GH¢100 notes, all bearing identical serial numbers and suspected to be counterfeit. The notes were retained as exhibits.

In her cautioned statement, the accused allegedly admitted the offence and told police that she obtained the suspected counterfeit notes from a man identified as Yaw, through a friend known as Ama Rose, both residents of Bogoso.

She reportedly stated that the plan was to use the fake notes to purchase goods from different places and exchange them for genuine currency, after which the proceeds would be shared among them.

Police say efforts are underway to arrest the two suspects mentioned, while investigations into the case are ongoing.

 

 

 

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Businessman Jailed 24 Months for GH¢180,000 Visa Fraud

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Court

The Dansoman Circuit Court has sentenced a 29-year-old businessman, Charles Komla Asigbey, to 24 months imprisonment for defrauding seven persons of GH¢180,000 under the pretext of securing visas for them to travel abroad.

The court, presided over by Her Honour Nancy Teiko Searyoh, handed down the sentence after the accused pleaded guilty to the offence of defrauding by false pretences, contrary to Section 131 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

Chief Inspector Kwadwo Aboagye, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the Republic, told the court that the accused collected money from the complainants with the promise of facilitating visas to Canada, Japan and Australia, but failed to fulfil the promise.

According to him, Asigbey, during September 2025 in Accra, with intent to defraud, obtained the consent of Kenneth Adu Gyamfi, Dauda Mohammed, Ebenezer Billa, Godwin Teku, Mujeed Mashood, Sani Azeem and Haruna Isaah to part with various sums of money totaling GH¢180,000 by falsely claiming he could secure visas for them.

Prosecution said the representation was false and the accused knew it to be untrue at the time he made it.

Brief facts

Presenting the facts, Chief Inspector Aboagye said the complainants, who are public and self-employed persons residing in Kumasi and Accra, paid the money to the accused after he assured them he could facilitate their travel documents within four months.

However, the accused failed to honour the agreement and went into hiding, ignoring calls from the victims.

Prosecution said on March 22, 2026, at about 7:30 pm, the accused was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport, Accra, while preparing to travel outside the country.

During investigations, Asigbey admitted the offence in his cautioned statement and disclosed that he gave GH¢20,000 to a travel and tour company known as Prime Workforce Company at Kasoa to process the visas, but used the remaining GH¢160,000 to establish a bakery business for himself.

Sentence

The court sentenced the accused to 24 months imprisonment. The complainants were advised to pursue civil action to recover their monies after the convict serves his prison term.

 

 

 

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