RINSE &amp; REPEAT OR A RESET? The Black Stars' disappointment is a familiar story. We used to have talent, and they said talent alone is not enough.Now, we don't even get the talent selected. It is a total sham.The good news is that an overwhelming degree of our people, home and abroad, still retain an insane level of interest in the Black Stars. People from all classes, across the political divide, young and old, invest an enormous interest in the Black Stars mainly during the African Cup or the World Cup. As always, it commences like it did and ends as it did. High hopes, massive expectations and crashing disappointment.Having observed the level of interest the game generates, the global recognition it offers and ultimately the revenue football makes available, do we want a repeat, or do we want a transformation?There is no doubt that football is the most popular and lucrative sport.Fortunately, Ghana, this small dot on the map, is incredibly advantaged as a global talent factory of this sport. My conversation with Tom Vernon, the British football agent who established Right to Dream Academy, the institution that produced Majeed Waris, Mohammed Kudus, Ernest Nuamah, Caleb Yirenkyi, etc., will always re-echo. To him, Ghana is only scratching the surface of the immense talent laden within. Actually, every household in Ghana has one 14-year-old boy who is capable of becoming a $5m-valued footballer in five years, with an enabling environment. SO WHY DO WE KEEP FAILING? All the work in ensuring that a country has a good World Cup campaign happens when there is no World Cup happening. And this is where everyone goes to sleep. Ghana will receive from FIFA, for qualifying and reaching the Round 32 of this World Cup, over 13 million dollars.These funds in the hands of an honest leader or institution are enough to completely begin a fundamental overhaul of structures and set the tone for what could be.We earned USD 8 million in 2006USD 14 million in 2010USD 9.5 million in 2014USD 10.5 million in 2022USD 13.5 million in 2026By the end of this month, we will have made a total of $55.5 million from our five World Cup campaigns. This is minus the millions of dollars of sponsorships from Gold Fields Ghana, MTN, GNPC, and Engineers and Planners.Each time, there has been a promise, by the sports ministers and GFA officials, of how the money will be reinvested. From building a three-star football hotel to the construction of an ultra-modern football centre.We are in 2026, which is 20 years later, and to this day, the Black Stars you watched in Kansas last night DO NOT have a single world-class training pitch in Accra or anywhere in the country where they could train when they assemble here to prepare. I did not mean a mini stadium. A common training pitch befitting a national team. The team continues to lodge in private hotels, mixing with guests from all walks of life while preparing for games. On the contrary, Cape Verde, whom Ghana defeated by 6-0 on aggregate to qualify for the World Cup in 2006, have, in the last ten years, transformed their game by building one of the best football complexes on the continent. Morocco, who just defeated host nation Canada, has one of the best football training and development complexes in the world. Ghana's football creates a fake facade to largely make individuals rich and the game continually poor. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?1. If I have my way, a sports ministry that knows its work will ensure an allocation of at least $20 million to completely revamp Winneba Sports College or the construction of a 100-bed football house with ancillary facilities such as a medical facility, a school, swimming pools, etc. One is in the middle belt, and one is in the southern zone. The Ministry of Sports, the NSA and the GFA collaborate with the GES and ensure that THE PLAYERS of the JHS inter-schools, below the age of 12 from each region, begin the building process. A total of 55 U-12 players, selected by a national team selection board from the interschools, were placed in the Northern Sector National Football House. Another 55 are best from the South and selected and housed in the southern sector. Selection shall strictly be by merit, devoid of cronyism and nepotism. These two national football centres must operate as schools under the GES curriculum. Between the ages of 12 and 15 years, they'll be housed, fed and compete in the National Third Division or Colts football during the weekends. That team will be the Ghana National YOUNG Selection.Here, talented young footballers from villages, poor homes with no support, get supported by the government to learn and hone their talent under a government scholarship.There is no better way to build a player’s patriotism than selecting him at age 14 from Sefwi Wiaso MA School or Yamfo Anglican to develop his talent under government care until he earns a European move.These are the players willing to put their necks on the line to avoid defeat and who cry their hearts out when the national team loses. It is a natural consequence.There should be a framework to conduct mid-year exercises where non-performing players are evicted and other top kids identified through comprehensive scouting are trialled and admitted as replacements. Best youngsters not identified through the school system should also be extensively scouted from villages, districts and local teams in order not to lose out on any quality talent.Before they are 17, Ghanaians should be able to know who the next big thing is. Who could become the next Asamoah Gyan, Muntari or Essien? We should be going to the stadium regularly to watch our best young talents. They should be household names. We should know our best three centre-backs before they even play at U-20.That is how no GFA official can ship in their favourite in the thickness of night. That is the only way the public can participate in the selection process of the Black Stars from the base. The GFA and Sports Ministry must conduct an annual competition between the Northern Sector national side and the Southern Sector side at the National Stadia, with fans in attendance.This is to begin building confidence and exposure even at that stage while using the exercise as a platform to monitor those with the requisite physique and psyche to be selected for the national U-15 and U-17 sides.By age 16, the core of our national U-17 team would have played together for at least three or four years.Transition of these players into Europe should be well controlled. Any sale of any of these national youngsters made to European clubs should attract a determined percentage into the national coffers to help sustain the facility. This has been the French football model.Mbappé was selected for the French academy when he was 10, as were all the other top stars on their team. It is not a miracle.Laryea Kingston, John Mensah, Michael Essien and others, I once read, played for the Ghana U-13 team in the early nineties. Their cohesion was not by magic. 40% of Ghana's 2006 World Cup squad, including Muntari, Essien, Owu, Derek, John Mensah, Paintsil, Pimpong, Appiah, Pappoe, etc., mostly featured for Ghana at the U-17 to U-20 levels. Since 2015, Ghana has failed to qualify for the U-20, which we were the first African country to win in 2009.It has been 10 years since Ghana qualified for the U-17 World Cup, which used to be our bedrock. So how did we end up selecting the team for our World Cup? Fr3f3k) b) we used to call it. Before facing Italy in the 2006 World Cup, Michael Essien, John Mensah, John Paintsil, Sulley Muntari, and Stephen Appiah, who formed the nucleus of the team, had played over 26 games together. From U-17, U-20, the Olympic team and the Black Stars.Our defence last night of Ati Zigi, Luckarsen, Jerome Opoku, Gideon Mensah and Senaya were playing together as a unit for the first time in their lives.In fact, the entire lineup was playing together as a unit for the first time. A test of lineup and trial and error of this scale in the most crucial World Cup game is an unpardonable sin.The current mode of selection where the GFA and ministry fly around countries, begging players born to Ghanaian parents in Europe, is unsustainable.Most of these players join with little or no orientation to the typical Ghanaian game and have never played together before, resulting in ZERO team spirit, which is a critical requirement at this stage. In order to attract talents from the Diaspora, GFA Mini offices can be established in London, Amsterdam and Hamburg. Ex-footballers such as Tony Baffoe, Eric Addo, Essien, etc. are tasked with identifying highly talented Ghanaian-European-born talents at an early age, inviting them back home, orienting them and selecting them for the U-17 for friendly competitions. Patriotism and commitment are built from here, not when they are 30.This is the Moroccan football model. The majority of the Moroccan players born in Europe started featuring for Morocco from the U-17 or Olympic teams. That is how they compete as a collective unit and not the disjointed side we paraded. By the 2034 World Cup, players from the National U-14 side we assemble will be 22 years old and prime-ready for a World Cup appearance and may WIN IT someday.I will address the issue of the collapsed National Leagues and coaching training when time permits.It is a game; we are blessed immensely. A game we love so dearly, but a game that has been destroyed by greed and lack of direction.Written by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x1ejq31n x18oe1m7 x1sy0etr xstzfhl x972fbf x10w94by x1qhh985 x14e42zd x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 x3ct3a4 xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xkrqix3 x1sur9pj x1fey0fg x1s688f" href="https://web.facebook.com/sportsobama?__cft__[0]=AZbXR8T9sLpjwnxbO8NjXIba5r9hb9Iy-_KkHCvzzvye3NxNNzSJ4vsvRsPhjJCSQZFjXDe6YtyqclKafXee2_hnj_-0Go3MyiVg07cVTdAt-g8CjcpYYbsZLdMA5oELH6XjKc6lvns4Ar1_WgSdlaIHob6xWHYsXTZp7jif9ZEEifiK0i01dRrZhcOQ9xFh9D4&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Saddick Adams</a>

Black Stars World Cup Exit: Why Ghana must reform its football system instead of repeating past mistakes

What really is our problem as a people?Entertainment shows, concerts, and all kinds of public events receive massive support, applause, and attention. Nobody complains. Nobody feels offended. But the moment it has anything to do with God or the gospel, it suddenly becomes an issue.Why?Christians are citizens too. We pay taxes, obey the laws, contribute to society, and have the same constitutional right to freedom of expression and worship as anyone else.If musicians, comedians, and entertainers are allowed to project their messages freely, then believers must equally be allowed to express their faith openly without intimidation, mockery, or restrictions.The gospel is not noise. It is hope. It speaks peace, morality, love, discipline, and purpose values that actually help build society, not destroy it.Silencing Christianity in the name of “tolerance” is itself intolerance.And for those constantly shouting about Alpha Hour Convocation, let’s be very clear: the people who chose to be there have not complained of losing their jobs, missing opportunities, or suffering hardship.They went there by choice. It is their faith, their conviction, and their personal decision that led them there, not force, not pressure.So critics should honestly rest. If nobody at the convocation is crying, then there is no problem to fix.Everyone has the right to choose what they believe in and where they invest their time.Chale, as I said sometime ago, nothing can stop the gospel.No system, no trend, no individual. And no man born of a woman can shut the voice of truth.History has proven it time and time again: the more people try to suppress the message of Christ, the louder it becomes.If we can make space for entertainment, we must make room for God.Faith should never be treated as a nuisance. It is a right and one that will continue to stand.Source: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline" href="https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherSededziKwame">Christopher Sededzi Kwame</a>

Alpha Hour Convocation: Why faith is attacked while entertainment is celebrated

We often underestimate the power of heartbreak. We treat it as a temporary sadness, something time will heal. But those who have truly experienced it know better. Heartbreak doesn't just wound; it transforms.This is a story about how emotional pain reshapes people and why understanding this truth should change how we love, leave, and remember those we once held dear.If you truly understand what heartbreak does to a human being, you will never intentionally break someone's heart.What people casually call a "broken heart" is not just pain.It is a force that can change a person's entire personality.A broken heart can turn an introvert into an extrovert.It can turn a quiet church girl into someone the world no longer recognises.It can turn a virgin into a hookup girl.It can turn a loyal man into someone toxic to every woman he meets after you.When a man feels you left him because he was always indoors, he starts going out, to parties he never enjoyed, to places he never needed to be.When he feels you left him because he was too faithful, too loyal, too available, he starts withholding love from others. He becomes cold. He becomes careless.Heartbreak doesn't just hurt people.It reshapes them.That ex you once admired, the one you loved deeply, can suddenly become the ex you never wanted to have.And when you see them like that, please don't judge them the way the world does.You know who they really were. You know who they became because of pain.Be there for them when everyone else walks away.<h2>Emily's Story</h2>Emily was a quiet lady. She didn't post on social media. No WhatsApp status. No attention-seeking photos.While she was dating, her boyfriend was always posting on Snapchat, mostly with other girls who clearly showed interest in him. Whenever Emily complained, he would tell her, "Don't worry. You are the special one."Emily slowly got used to it.Her boyfriend wasn't a cheater. He was calm, gentle, and deeply in love with her. He was also a photographer, surrounded by beautiful female models. Emily often noticed how he admired their looks, their confidence, and their seductiveness. It made her uncomfortable, but she stayed.Then came a misunderstanding. And the relationship ended.Emily broke.Out of depression, she changed. She became what she thought would get his attention.She started dressing differently. Posting seductive pictures. Uploading Snapchat stories with other men, hoping her ex would see them, hoping he would feel something.Years passed.Her ex never came back.The lifestyle she adopted out of pain became her new identity.When Emily later dated another man and he complained about her lifestyle, she replied, "It's normal. My ex did the same thing with other girls, and I didn't complain. He wasn't cheating."The new man couldn't accept it. He left too.The quiet, cool Emily was gone. In her place was a woman the internet loved, but the people who once truly knew her barely recognised.Her ex, the man who once wanted to marry her, later asked his friends, "Is this really the girl I wanted to spend my life with?"<h2>Another Ending</h2>In a similar story, another man chose a different path.Instead of judging his ex, he protected her name. Instead of laughing with others, he reminded the world she was a good woman. He tried to help her heal.He valued who she was, not who pain turned her into.<h3>Conclusion</h3>Heartbreak can change people in ways you may never understand until it happens to you.So when you see your ex struggling, acting out, or living differently, don't be quick to judge. You know their real personality. You know the version of them before the pain.Be that ex who doesn't mock. Be that ex who doesn't join the laughter. Be that ex who shows compassion when everyone else disappears.Because sometimes, love doesn't end when a relationship ends. Sometimes, love shows up as understanding.By <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline" href="https://web.facebook.com/lucy.nanaabena">Lucy Mawufemor Kpeglo</a>

If You Truly Understand Heartbreak, You Will Never Break Another Person’s Heart

The phrase “Decisions I made in my pyjamas”, popularised by Ghanaian musician Black Sherif, carries a meaning far removed from the subject of this article. Yet, it offers a powerful reflection point. It reminds us that in moments of comfort, desire, or impulse, the decisions people make—especially men—can have life-altering consequences.This piece uses that line as a literary device to draw attention to a troubling reality: the reckless sexual decisions some men make, often in private moments, that result in rape. It also bridges contemporary music and social awareness, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of what the law in Ghana considers rape.<h2>What Ghanaian Law Says About Rape</h2>Rape in Ghana is defined under Section 98 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), as the unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman without her consent. However, modern legal interpretation makes it clear that rape is not limited to fully completed penetration.Courts have held that:Even the slightest genital intrusion qualifies as rape if there is no consent. Consent must be clear, voluntary, and unambiguous.Relationship status does not create automatic consent. In several High Court decisions involving sexual offences, judges have emphasised that partial insertion, attempted insertion, or genital contact leading to intrusion is sufficient to constitute rape. Ejaculation, or completion of the sexual act, is irrelevant.The law focuses on intrusion without consent, not on the degree or duration of the act.<h2>When Rape Occurs: Scenarios Often Ignored</h2>Public perception often associates rape with violent strangers. But most cases in Ghana happen in private, between people who know each other. Common but misunderstood scenarios include:1. When the woman is asleep or intoxicatedIf she is unconscious, drugged, asleep, or unable to understand what is happening, any sexual contact is rape.2. When the parties are dating or marriedA relationship does not equal perpetual consent. A woman has the right to refuse at any time.3. When there is “just a little intrusion”Even the slightest genital intrusion without consent is rape.“Just the tip” is not an excuse; it is a crime.4. When the woman is pressured or afraidConsent obtained through fear, manipulation, threats or undue pressure is not valid consent.5. When there is silenceSilence is not consent.Reluctance is not consent.Tense cooperation due to fear is not consent.These examples reflect the law’s commitment to bodily autonomy and the protection of vulnerable persons, particularly women.<h2>The Cost of Pyjamas Decisions</h2>Many rape cases occur because men lose control in moments of desire—moments where they allow what is inside their pyjamas to think for them instead of using their brains.Statements such as:“I thought she was okay with it.”“She didn’t resist enough.”“I was already in the mood,”“We’ve done it many times,”are commonly heard in police statements and courtrooms. But none absolve a person from criminal liability.A few seconds of uncontrolled desire can lead to:1. imprisonment,2. a criminal record,3. public disgrace,4. psychological trauma for victims, and5. Shattered families and community trust.<h2>A Call to Men: Think Before You Act</h2>Sexual desire is normal. But self-control is a responsibility, not an option.When the urge rises:1. Pause.2. Ask clearly for consent.3. Walk away if consent is absent or uncertain.Every man must understand this simple truth:Your desire cannot override another person’s dignity, safety, or rights.Conclusion“Decisions I made in my pyjamas” may be a catchy lyric, but it is also a wake-up call. It reminds us that the reckless decisions made in moments of passion or impulse can ruin lives.Ghanaian law is clear. The message should be even clearer:Control your actions. Seek consent. Let your brain—not your pyjamas—guide your decisions.By: Horlali Yaw Haligah<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline qbe-widget" href="mailto:yawhaligah@gmail.com">yawhaligah@gmail.com</a>Facebook: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline" href="https://www.facebook.com/hhaligah/about">Horlali Yaw Haligah</a>

Decisions I Made in My Pyjamas: Rape and the Law in Ghana

By Akure Albert MbawiniGhana's healthcare system is at a crossroads. Many qualified nurses and midwives are waiting for job opportunities while nurse assistant programmes continue to churn out graduates, adding to the growing pool of unemployed healthcare professionals and making it unbearable.I have witnessed colleagues struggling with unpaid salaries for months, and it is heartbreaking.The Health Minister has acknowledged the inherited problems, and it is clear that healthcare politics play a significant role in shaping our system's future.In 2017, the NPP government took a bold step towards reforming nursing programmes by issuing a directive to all health training institutions, instructing them to halt admissions into certificate nursing programmes, including Nurse Assistant Clinical (NAC) and Nurse Assistant Preventive (NAP) courses. Unfortunately, the government abruptly reversed its decision less than a week later, citing political pressure.Read Also:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline" href="https://www.ghnewsmedia.com/news/biography-of-coach-daniel-annor-walker"> Annor Walker: The tactician whose legacy outlives him</a>This sudden change has had a lasting effect, with private institutions continuing to produce nurse assistants and flooding the job market, making employment very scarce.Let us take a closer look at how this decision has impacted our healthcare system.Nurse assistant programmes were designed to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural and underserved areas, providing opportunities for individuals to join the workforce and improve healthcare delivery in these regions.While they have made valuable contributions to the healthcare fraternity, it is time to reassess their relevance in today's landscape.With many qualified nurses and midwives awaiting employment, we need to evaluate whether these programmes are meeting our healthcare system's needs today.Read Also: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline" href="https://www.ghnewsmedia.com/news/julius-malema-convicted-faces-15-year-prison-sentence">Julius Malema convicted, faces 15-year prison sentence</a>The silence from key stakeholders is deafening. The Nurse and Midwifery Council, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), and the Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives Ghana (UPNMG) all seem to be holding their tongues, potentially due to conflicting interests.Meanwhile, the unsustainable production of nurses and midwives continues, with private institutions churning out graduates without adequate oversight, further exacerbating the existing backlog of unemployed healthcare professionals.This raises critical questions about the future of Ghana's healthcare workforce and the need for urgent reform.Ghana has made significant progress in developing a robust pool of qualified nurses and midwives. This shift might change the role of nurse assistant programmes in our society today.By cancelling or modifying these programmes, we could alleviate some challenges faced by unemployed nurses and midwives and create a more efficient healthcare system that we need.Let us weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of this decision.By taking a thoughtful and long-term approach, policymakers can make informed decisions that will benefit the country today and in the future.Read More: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-800 underline" href="https://www.ghnewsmedia.com/news/black-stars-to-camp-in-morocco-for-car-world-cup-qualifier">Black Stars to camp in Morocco for CAR World Cup qualifier</a>Phasing out or adjusting nurse assistant programmes could be a step towards creating a more effective healthcare system. It will equally help to ensure that healthcare professionals are well equipped to deliver their service.Let us consider the potential impact on our healthcare workforce and the country's overall well-being as we move forward as a nation.The NDC/NPP's politics and silence in addressing and modifying these nursing programmes will continue to have repercussions for them as politicians and policymakers.Similarly, nurses and midwives will continuously be frustrated and stage demonstrations over issues like posting, unpaid rotation allowances, and delayed salaries, ultimately affecting the political landscape.The earlier this is taken into consideration, the better for the health sector of our country and the future.<h3></h3>

Opinions

Black Stars World Cup Exit: Why Ghana must reform its football system instead of repeating past mistakes

Alpha Hour Convocation: Why faith is attacked while entertainment is celebrated

If You Truly Understand Heartbreak, You Will Never Break Another Person’s Heart

Decisions I Made in My Pyjamas: Rape and the Law in Ghana

Ghana's nursing conundrum: Politics over practicality