Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene of Asante Kingdom, pictured before departure for official break.
The Monarch of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has officially taken a break from all official duties effective February 3, 2026. His Majesty departed the country on Tuesday morning, pausing his engagements to attend to personal and official matters abroad.
Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Takes Break from Duties, Travels Abroad 3
Leadership in His Absence
During the Asantehene’s absence, Kumasi has been delegated to Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI, Bantamahene, while Asanteman affairs are overseen by Nana Dwamena Akenten II. This arrangement ensures continuity of leadership and governance within the Asante Kingdom while respecting traditional protocols.
Significance of the Break
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s temporary withdrawal from official duties is seen as a rare occurrence, emphasizing the importance of rest and strategic planning for the Kingdom’s long-term stability and cultural preservation.
Renowned Ghanaian broadcaster Bola Ray has sat one-on-one with Hamamat Montia, founder of the Shea Butter Museum, in a deeply cultural and revealing interview that traced ancestry, African knowledge systems and the medicinal roots of shea butter. Hamamat revealed that her inspiration came directly from her grandmother, a traditional herbalist, whose life’s work pushed her to carry the baton and preserve indigenous African practices through the Shea Butter Museum.
Bola Ray interviews Shea Butter Museum founder Hamamat Montia on heritage and healing
According to Hamamat, her journey is not accidental but rather a fulfilment of duty within her family lineage. She explained that her work represents generational continuity, adding that she is grateful for the impact she has made so far and remains hopeful for even greater contributions in the future. Her passion for African heritage is also reflected in her advocacy for body confidence and natural beauty, themes she has openly discussed in the past, including her viral stance on natural breasts as documented by GhanaMedia.net here.
On a more serious historical note, Hamamat disclosed that shea butter was originally developed by African midwives, possibly from ancient Ghanaian communities, during early centuries to assist women during childbirth. She explained that the natural oils helped reduce friction and supported smoother deliveries, a practice that predates modern obstetrics and aligns with documented African traditional medicine systems recognised by institutions like Encyclopaedia Britannica and UNESCO.
Bola Ray Interviews Shea Butter Museum Founder Hamamat Montia on Heritage, Healing and African Midwifery 6
Beyond maternal health, Hamamat highlighted shea butter’s lesser-known internal healing properties, noting that it can help treat stomach ulcers by forming a protective layer that prevents sores from spreading along the stomach lining. This explanation aligns with broader research into plant-based protective compounds acknowledged in global health discussions by bodies such as the World Health Organization and medical science platforms like PubMed Central.
The interview reinforced the growing global appreciation of African-origin products, particularly shea butter, which is now widely used in dermatology and wellness, as noted by National Geographic and Mayo Clinic. Hamamat Montia’s work through the Shea Butter Museum continues to position Ghana as a historical and cultural authority in natural healing and ancestral knowledge.
As shared with Bola Ray, Hamamat believes Africa’s future lies in reclaiming and properly documenting its past, ensuring that traditional wisdom is preserved, respected and passed on to generations yet unborn.
Hamamat happen to have lived in the dane neighbourhood (Tantra-Hills) with Daniel Jeddman who happens to be the writer of this article.
ACCRA, Ghana | LONDON, UK | February 2, 2026 — Permia Sensing, a London-based agritech company deploying artificial intelligence, bioacoustic sensing and drone imaging to detect palm pests and tree stress early, has been named a winner of the prestigious UAE FoodTech Challenge 2026, reinforcing Ghana’s growing role in climate-smart agriculture innovation. The announcement aligns with Ghana’s broader push toward sustainable food systems, regularly highlighted on GhanaMedia.net’s agriculture coverage.
Permia Sensing expands AI palm pest monitoring in Ghana after UAE FoodTech Challenge 2026 win.
The UAE FoodTech Challenge attracted 1,215 submissions from 113 countries, narrowing to 10 finalists for live pitches before selecting four winners announced at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Winners share a $2 million prize pool and gain entry into the UAE’s national agri-tech ecosystem, including pilot opportunities, access to research facilities, investor introductions, mentorship and market-entry support designed to scale solutions globally, especially across emerging markets like Ghana.
Permia Sensing Wins UAE FoodTech Challenge 2026, Bringing Award-Winning Palm Pest Monitoring to Ghana 9
Why the UAE FoodTech win matters for Ghana’s oil palm sector
Coconut and oil palm are cornerstone crops in Ghana, cultivated across more than 450,000 hectares and supporting livelihoods across farming, processing and export value chains. However, African and red and black palm weevils pose increasing threats, causing yield losses of up to 30 percent and significant tree mortality. According to GhanaMedia.net analysis on agricultural challenges, pest control and climate stress remain key obstacles to sector growth.
Permia’s early-detection platform directly targets these risks, enabling precision interventions that reduce losses, minimize blanket pesticide use and support climate-smart agriculture aligned with Ghana’s sustainability goals.
“Ghana has a powerful growth story in coconut and oil palm, but it will only scale sustainably if we get ahead of biotic stress,” said Efrem De Paiva, CEO of Permia Sensing. “Working hand-in-hand with CSIR–OPRI, we’re adapting a platform proven under Innovate UK-backed trials to Ghana’s conditions, enabling earlier detection and targeted response that boosts productivity, reduces blanket pesticide use and supports climate-smart agriculture across West Africa.”
From proven global results to Ghana-based scale-up
Permia’s technology is already deployed at scale in Sri Lanka, covering more than 15,000 hectares of palm plantations and protecting millions of trees through early detection of dehydration, pest infestation and disease. Building on this success, the company is now advancing pilot discussions with corporate farms in Ghana, following positive outcomes from its Innovate UK-funded work spanning both commercial estates and smallholder farming systems.
“This award validates years of hard, field-first engineering, not just a lab concept,” De Paiva added. “Ghana is already a priority market for us. We are on the ground with respected research partners and are now moving from validation to scale, working with corporate farms and stakeholders to protect yields, reduce tree losses and strengthen climate resilience for coconut and oil palm.”
About Permia Sensing
Permia Sensing is a London-based agritech company using AI, bioacoustic sensors, satellite imagery and aerial drone data to monitor palm tree health and detect pests and stress early, enabling targeted interventions that improve yields, reduce food loss and support sustainable agriculture.
About the UAE FoodTech Challenge
Now in its third edition, the UAE FoodTech Challenge identifies and accelerates agri-food technologies that increase food production and reduce food loss in climate-stressed environments. The 2026 competition was organized by the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court and Tamkeen, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, ne’ma and Silal.
Ghana’s coconut and oil palm industries are poised for transformative growth, but sustainable scaling requires tackling biotic stress effectively. Daniel Jeddman reports on Permia’s innovative approach in collaboration with local and international research partners.
CEO Insights on Ghana’s Growth Potential
“Ghana has a powerful growth story in coconut and oil palm, but it will only scale sustainably if we get ahead of biotic stress. Working hand-in-hand with CSIR–OPRI, we’re adapting a platform proven under Innovate UK-backed trials to Ghana’s conditions, enabling earlier detection and targeted response that boosts productivity, reduces blanket pesticide use, and supports climate-smart agriculture across West Africa,” said Permia’s CEO.
Permia collaborates with CSIR–OPRI to boost Ghana’s coconut and oil palm productivity.
Next Steps and Timelines in Ghana
Next steps in Ghana are already underway through Permia’s Innovate UK-funded project with CSIR–OPRI (Kade) and Embrapa, structured to test and scale the early-detection platform in both commercial and smallholder contexts. The initiative aims to provide actionable insights for farmers, reduce crop losses, and support sustainable practices.
Permia Drives Climate-Smart Agriculture in Ghana’s Coconut and Oil Palm Sector 12
Impact on Climate-Smart Agriculture
By integrating advanced biotic stress detection with local farming knowledge, Permia’s approach promises to reduce unnecessary pesticide use, improve yields, and strengthen Ghana’s role in West Africa’s climate-smart agricultural transition. The platform also creates opportunities for local farmers to adopt technology-driven methods that are both environmentally friendly and economically beneficial.Learn more about Ghana’s oil palm and coconut sectors through related insights: FAO Palm Oil Insights, International Coconut Community, and CSIR–OPRI Ghana Research.
Ghana is accelerating reforms to its technology and digital governance laws to support the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), financial technology (fintech), and cybersecurity, as the country positions itself as a leading digital hub in Africa.
Modernising Laws for the Digital Economy
Government authorities say existing legal frameworks must evolve to keep pace with emerging technologies. The reforms are expected to strengthen regulations around data protection, digital payments, online identity, and responsible AI use while encouraging innovation and investment.
Ghana advances legal reforms to support AI, fintech and cybersecurity
Boost for AI and Emerging Technologies
Policy experts note that clear AI-focused legislation will help Ghana harness machine learning, automation, and data analytics across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and public service delivery, while reducing ethical and security risks.
Fintech Sector to Benefit
Ghana’s thriving fintech ecosystem, driven by mobile money and digital banking, is also set to gain from the reforms. Improved regulatory clarity is expected to enhance consumer protection, attract foreign investors, and support startups building payment, lending, and blockchain solutions.
Cybersecurity Takes Centre Stage
With rising cyber threats, the proposed legal updates aim to strengthen cybersecurity resilience by improving incident reporting, data breach response, and enforcement mechanisms. Authorities say protecting digital infrastructure is critical to sustaining trust in Ghana’s digital economy.
Positioning Ghana as a Regional Tech Hub
Analysts believe the reforms will boost Ghana’s competitiveness in Africa’s tech space, supporting job creation, skills development, and cross-border digital trade while ensuring innovation grows within a secure and well-regulated environment.
The Bank of Ghana has issued a firm warning to the general public against the use of Ghana cedi notes as gifts, souvenirs, or decorative bouquets, stressing that the practice is illegal and punishable under the laws of Ghana.
Misuse of Currency Constitutes an Offence
According to the central bank, activities such as spraying money, stapling, taping, folding excessively, or arranging cedi notes into bouquets amount to mutilation and defacement of legal tender. The Bank of Ghana explained that the national currency must be handled with care and dignity at all times.
Bank of Ghana warns against misuse of cedi notes at social events
Social Events Not Exempt
The warning targets popular practices at weddings, funerals, birthday celebrations, and graduations where cedi notes are openly displayed or sprayed on individuals. The Bank of Ghana emphasised that cultural or celebratory motives do not exempt offenders from prosecution.
Legal Consequences for Offenders
The central bank cited existing financial and criminal laws which make it an offence to damage or misuse currency. Persons found guilty may face fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the offence.
BoG Urges Alternative Gift Options
The Bank of Ghana encouraged the public to adopt safer alternatives such as envelopes, bank transfers, mobile money, or digital payments when gifting money, to help preserve the integrity of the Ghana cedi.
Protecting the Ghana Cedi
The Bank of Ghana reiterated that protecting the value and image of the Ghana cedi is a shared national responsibility, urging citizens to support efforts aimed at reducing currency abuse and replacement costs.
The road to the CAF Futsal AFCON kicked off with an absolute rollercoaster as Ghana’s national futsal team played out a high-octane 6–6 draw against Zambia. Hosted at the University of Cape Coast Sports Hall, the match lived up to the hype, leaving fans breathless and the aggregate score perfectly balanced.
The Ghana National Futsal Team (Black Stars) in high-intensity action against Zambia during the first-leg 6–6 thriller at the University of Cape Coast Sports Hall.
Despite the home advantage, the Black Stars couldn’t pull away from a resilient Zambian side. The encounter was a tactical chess match played at breakneck speed, with both teams showcasing clinical finishing and a few defensive lapses that kept the scoreboard ticking. According to FIFA’s latest futsal insights, the pace of the African game has increased significantly over the last qualification cycle.
Ghana and Zambia Trade Blows in 12-Goal Futsal Thriller at Cape Coast 18
Ghana will now have to sharpen their edge as they prepare for a daunting trip to Lusaka. With the return leg scheduled for February 8, the stakes couldn’t be higher: a spot in the continental showpiece is effectively down to a “winner-takes-all” showdown in Zambia. Fans can follow live updates on the Ghana FA official channels as the squad departs for the final leg.
Ghana and Zambia Trade Blows in 12-Goal Futsal Thriller at Cape Coast 19
The transfer saga that gripped the football world has reached its conclusion. French midfield maestro N’Golo Kanté has officially completed his move to Turkish giants Fenerbahçe, marking a sensational return to European football.
N’Golo Kanté Returns to Europe
After a period of uncertainty following administrative complications at Al Ittihad, Kanté has successfully terminated his contract with the Saudi Pro League side. The 34-year-old World Cup winner has put pen to paper on a long-term deal that will keep him in Istanbul until June 2028.
The Road to Istanbul
The move comes after a dramatic week involving FIFA intervention. A technical error in the Transfer Matching System (TMS) initially delayed the paperwork, leading to reports of Kanté briefly striking to force the move. However, with all legal hurdles now cleared, the “midfield engine” is set to bolster Fenerbahçe’s title ambitions.
This high-profile transfer coincided with Moroccan forward Youssef En-Nesyri moving in the opposite direction, joining Al Ittihad on a four-year contract. The exchange represents one of the most significant pieces of business in the current window, bridging the gap between European and Saudi football elite.
“N’Golo Kanté brings a wealth of experience and a winning mentality that will be pivotal for our upcoming campaigns,” a club spokesperson stated during the unveiling.
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards has witnessed a seismic shift in hip-hop history. American rap titan Kendrick Lamar has officially surpassed Jay-Z’s long-standing record of 25 Grammy awards, solidifying his status as the most-decorated rapper in the history of the Recording Academy with a career total of 27 wins.
The New King of the Grammys: Kendrick Lamar holds the record for most wins by a rapper after the 2026 ceremony.
Entering the night with nine nominations, the Compton-born lyricist dominated the rap categories with his critically acclaimed 2024 album, GNX. The milestone was reached during the 2026 ceremony held at the Crypto.com Arena, where Kendrick’s haul of five trophies pushed him past both Jay-Z and Kanye West.
A Night of Pure Dominance for GNX
Kendrick’s path to the record began early during the non-televised premiere ceremony, where he picked up three awards: Best Rap Performance for his feature on Clipse’s “Chains & Whips,” Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Luther” (featuring SZA), and Best Rap Song for “TV Off.”
The momentum continued into the live broadcast, where he secured the Best Rap Album trophy for GNX and the prestigious Record of the Year for “Luther.”
“I’m not good at talking about myself, but I express it through the music. Hip-hop is going to always be right here. We’re going to be having the culture with us,” Lamar stated during his humble acceptance speech.
Surpassing the Throne
For over a decade, Jay-Z held the crown with 25 wins, followed closely by Kanye West with 24. Kendrick’s rapid ascent—achieving 27 wins with only six studio albums—highlights an unprecedented level of critical success. This victory follows his monumental 2025, where his chart-topping hit “Not Like Us” also swept multiple categories.
Controversial Ghanaian entertainer and 2Hype Gang leader, Sam Kwabena Sarfo, popularly known as Showboy, has been taken into police custody. The arrest follows a tense standoff with officers from the Ghana Police Service at his residence, an incident that has quickly gone viral across social media platforms.
Showboy in handcuffs: The controversial entertainer was taken into custody after a viral standoff with police.
Initial reports indicate that Showboy initially resisted the attempt by the police to apprehend him, demanding a formal arrest warrant before cooperating. The entertainer, known for his outspoken nature, went live on TikTok during the encounter, capturing the moment CID officers arrived at his premises.
The Confrontation and Resisting Arrest
In the video footage seen by Ghana Media, Showboy appeared agitated as he questioned the authority of the officers. Despite his initial defiance and refusal to follow the officers, the police managed to maintain control of the situation. After a period of back-and-forth, the entertainer was eventually subdued and transported to the station.
“He initially refused to go with the team, insisting on legal documentation, but the Ghana Police Service successfully executed the arrest after the brief resistance.”
Legal Troubles Continue for the Entertainer
While the specific charges leading to this recent arrest have not been fully disclosed by the police hierarchy, sources suggest it may be linked to ongoing investigations involving public conduct or previous legal petitions. Showboy, who recently returned to Ghana after serving time in a US prison, has remained a polarizing figure in the entertainment industry.
He is currently being held for questioning as his legal team prepares to address the allegations. This development has sparked a massive debate online, with fans and critics alike weighing in on the “38” hitmaker’s latest run-in with the law.
