Carlos Queiroz has been relieved of his position as head coach of Ghana’s senior national football team, the Black Stars, following a difficult start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Queiroz leaves Black Stars job
The Portuguese coach’s departure was reported on Thursday, October 1, 2026, following discussions between the Ghana Football Association and the coach after Ghana’s opening two matches in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
Carlos Queiroz Sacked as Black Stars Head Coach 2
According to reports, both parties agreed to part ways after the Black Stars suffered consecutive defeats against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia.
Black Stars suffer difficult AFCON qualifying start
Ghana opened their Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire before suffering a 4-2 loss to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Black Stars had taken a two-goal lead against The Gambia but were unable to maintain their advantage as the visitors completed a comeback.
The two defeats left Ghana without a point from its opening two qualifying matches.
Queiroz had defended his position after Gambia defeat
Following the defeat to The Gambia on September 29, Queiroz said his resignation would not by itself resolve the wider challenges facing Ghanaian football.
He said the decision over his future belonged to the Ghana Football Association and indicated that he would accept whatever decision the federation reached.
Short second spell ends
Queiroz had returned to the Black Stars in September after the GFA reached an agreement with him for a new coaching mandate following Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
His latest spell, however, lasted only a short period before the GFA and the Portuguese coach agreed to end their working relationship.
Ghana now faces a coaching transition
The departure leaves the Black Stars needing a new technical direction as preparations continue for the remainder of the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
Attention will now turn to the Ghana Football Association and the process for determining the team’s next head coach as Ghana seeks to recover from its opening results in Group C.
Ghana, South Korea Seek Deeper Partnership Ahead of 50th Anniversary
Ghana and South Korea are looking to deepen their longstanding bilateral partnership as the two countries prepare to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2027.
Ghana, South Korea Seek Deeper Partnership Ahead of 50th Anniversary 4
Ghana and South Korea strengthen bilateral ties
The relationship between Ghana and South Korea has expanded across areas including trade, investment, education, technology, infrastructure, culture and people-to-people exchanges. The two countries established diplomatic relations on November 14, 1977, according to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ghana.
The upcoming 50th anniversary provides an opportunity for both countries to reflect on decades of cooperation while identifying new areas for collaboration.
Focus on deeper cooperation
Recent engagements have placed renewed attention on strengthening economic and diplomatic cooperation between Ghana and South Korea. During President John Dramani Mahama’s working visit to South Korea in March 2026, discussions with President Lee Jae-myung covered areas including agribusiness, maritime security, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, automotive manufacturing, infrastructure, trade and capacity building.
The two countries have also taken steps to facilitate official travel. In June 2026, Ghana and South Korea signed a visa-waiver agreement covering diplomatic, official and service passport holders, with both sides describing the agreement as part of efforts to deepen bilateral relations.
Looking towards the 50th anniversary
The 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027 is expected to provide a platform for additional diplomatic, economic and cultural activities between Ghana and South Korea.
Both countries have maintained cooperation in several sectors, while recent engagements have placed greater emphasis on technology, investment, education, culture and trade. The anniversary will therefore come at a time of renewed efforts to broaden the relationship and develop new opportunities for cooperation.
A relationship spanning five decades
Ghana and South Korea’s diplomatic relationship dates back to 1977. Over the decades, the partnership has evolved from diplomatic engagement into broader cooperation involving government institutions, businesses, universities and cultural organisations.
With the 50th anniversary approaching, discussions around the future of Ghana-Korea relations are increasingly focused on how the existing partnership can be expanded and translated into practical opportunities for citizens and businesses in both countries.
Ghana-Korea relations in focus
The coming anniversary is expected to keep Ghana-South Korea relations in the spotlight as both countries consider new areas for collaboration and seek to build on the foundation established over the past five decades.
Diamond Garrett has opened up about the life-changing shooting that left her paralysed after she was shot nine times at the age of 18.
Garrett’s account, shared in a recent social-media interview, describes a terrifying incident in which 79 rounds were reportedly fired after she had given a friend a ride. Nine of the bullets struck her, leaving her with a spinal cord injury and paralysis from the waist down.
Diamond Garrett Reveals How She Survived Being Shot 9 Times 6
Garrett’s own account of the incident is consistent with information she has previously shared publicly. In a fundraising statement, she said she was shot nine times in 2012 at age 18 and that the injuries left her with a spinal cord injury and paralysis from the waist down.
According to a published biography of Garrett, the shooting occurred during a road trip in Florida, with 79 rounds reportedly fired in her direction. The same account says she was struck nine times and subsequently became paralysed from the waist down.
Rather than allowing the injury to end her ambitions, Garrett eventually found a way to continue dancing through wheelchair dance. Her story has since become closely associated with resilience, disability advocacy and gun-violence awareness.
Garrett has also spoken about how difficult the transition was after her injury. She has described learning to live independently, completing her bachelor’s degree and pursuing work that allows her to support other people living with disabilities.
She is now publicly described as a wheelchair dancer, motivational speaker, author, speech therapist and advocate for the disability community.
Her story has also been featured in podcast discussions focused on survivors and resilience, including an episode of Involving ME dedicated to her experience of surviving the shooting and continuing to dance.
Garrett’s experience is a powerful reminder of how dramatically gun violence can alter a person’s life, while also highlighting the possibility of rebuilding a future after devastating physical trauma.
Watch the interview and follow Garrett’s continuing journey through the original social-media post shared below.
Ghanaian commentator King Giovanni has passionately defended Felix Afena-Gyan following the forward’s performance in Ghana’s 4-2 defeat to The Gambia, insisting that the young attacker deserves greater support and protection from the Black Stars.
King Giovanni: Black Stars Must Protect Afena-Gyan — “My Boy Is Back With the Fire” 8
Afena-Gyan was one of Ghana’s standout attacking players on Tuesday, scoring Ghana’s second goal with a well-taken free-kick after the Black Stars had taken a 2-0 lead. Ghana eventually surrendered the advantage and lost the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier 4-2 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Writing about the forward’s performance, King Giovanni argued that Afena-Gyan’s contribution went beyond the goal he scored.
“If you can clearly notice well he is the reason behind our two goals. First he caused the corner and secondly he caused the freekick and scored from the spot,” King Giovanni wrote.
His comments referred to the sequence that led to Ghana’s opening goal and Afena-Gyan’s subsequent goal. Afena-Gyan’s effort shortly before the opening penalty resulted in a corner, while he later scored Ghana’s second goal from a free-kick.
King Giovanni also expressed frustration over the forward’s omission from Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, arguing that Afena-Gyan had worked hard to earn his place with the national team.
“Such a player should be protected if even he has a bad day at the Black Stars,” he said, stressing that footballers cannot perform at their best in every match.
“In Football you won’t have ur day always but trust me if you are a good player u have lot to offer on the pitch.”
Afena-Gyan, who began his professional breakthrough at AS Roma and rose to prominence after working under José Mourinho, has continued his career in Turkey. He joined Iğdır FK permanently in July 2026 after a loan spell at Amedspor.
King Giovanni believes the 23-year-old still has significant room to develop and contribute to Ghana’s national team.
“At his age he can play much more games for the stars, he is not a second batch player,” he wrote, calling on supporters to back the forward’s continued growth.
He ended his message with an expression of confidence in Afena-Gyan’s future.
“Support his growth because he has sacrificed a lot for the nation. Afena Afena Afena. My boy is back with the fire. 🔥”
Afena-Gyan’s goal against The Gambia was his first for Ghana in the current 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign. Despite his contribution, Ghana ultimately suffered a second consecutive qualifying defeat and currently have no points from their opening two Group C matches.
No matter who you are or what you do, we all have one constant companion we rely on every single day: our heart. Unseen but always at work, it beats around 100,000 times a day, keeping pace with us through every moment. Yet for something so essential to our lives, taking care of our hearts is often overlooked until it’s too late.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death worldwide, which is why the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Heart Federation recognize Sept. 29 as World Heart Day. It is a reminder that the choices we make today can make a meaningful difference tomorrow.
These choices don’t have to be big. From choosing when to go to bed to making time for even just 30 minutes of exercise, the small choices we make every day add up to a healthier lifestyle. The good news is that #SamsungGH Galaxy Watch can help you make proactive prevention part of daily life. By monitoring your sleep, activity level, stress and blood pressure, Galaxy Watch helps you better understand what’s happening in your body and what steps to take to ensure your heart is doing its job well.
A Healthier Heart Starts at Your Wrist 10
Understanding Your Body at a Glance: Heart Health Score
The American Heart Association recommends looking at Life’s Essential 8 as key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health: diet, exercise, sleep, weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and smoking cessation. But knowing what matters raises an important question: how do these factors change the choices we make every day?
Samsung Health’s Heart Health Score is designed to help you in this journey. It tracks and analyzes complex health indicators such as sleep duration, daily activity level, body composition and vascular load, converting them into a single, simple score that anyone can intuitively understand and follow.
Think about what happens if you miss your daily exercise for a few days: your Galaxy Watch recognizes your moderate-to-high intensity activity level has decreased, reflects this change in a lower Heart Health Score, and makes a recommendation to go for a run. With convenient insights right from your wrist, Galaxy Watch delivers personalized insights that make it easier to recognize changes, understand your habits, and take the next step toward healthier ones.
Advanced Sensor Technology: From Measurement to Meaning Samsung Galaxy Watches are equipped with an advanced BioActive Sensor which integrates three precision sensors in one: an optical heart rate sensor (PPG), an electrocardiogram sensor (ECG),4 and a bioelectrical impedance analysis sensor (BIA).
With calibration just once every four weeks using a home blood pressure monitor, you can easily check your blood pressure5 from your wrist anytime, anywhere. When you place your finger on the watch’s side electrode for just 30 seconds, the watch measures an electrocardiogram to detect signs of abnormal heartbeats like atrial fibrillation or ectopic beats. TheIrregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN) feature, which detects abnormal heart signals, monitors the user’s heart rhythm throughout the day and provides a proactive notification if abnormal signs are repeated.
Around-the-Clock Care: How Galaxy Watch Proactively Monitors Your Health Even During Sleep
Your heart is a constant you can count on, and it works whether you’re awake or asleep. When you wear your Galaxy Watch to sleep, it analyzes five major vital signs: heart rate during sleep, heart rate variability,7 respiratory rate, skin temperature and blood oxygen saturation. These signals are compared against your personal baseline.
When you wake up, your Galaxy Watch will send a notification if it detects meaningful deviations from your baseline. By highlighting meaningful changes early, it gives you an opportunity to rest, recover or seek medical guidance before small issues become larger concerns.
Heart to Heart: Connected Care That Adds Peace of Mind
Looking after your own heart is only one side of the story. From parents to partners, siblings to grandparents or even friends, the burden of caring for the hearts of those around you weighs heavily. Samsung Health’s Health Data Sharing function lightens the load by sharing agreed-upon data items (number of steps, blood pressure, heart rate, medication adherence, etc.) with loved ones.
You can check if your parents who live far away have completed their daily walk or taken their prescribed medication on time, just as if you were right there with them.
World Heart Day coincides with the seasonal transition when chilly winds begin to blow in the mornings and evenings. As the temperature gap between day and night widens, blood vessels constrict, sharply increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The key to preventing heart disease lies not in reactive treatment, but in proactive habits of paying close attention to the subtle signals your body sends every day. Start managing your heart health with Galaxy Watch, a reliable health partner that stays with you around the clock.
Ghanaian footballer Thomas Partey is mourning the passing of his father, Jacob Teye Partey, as the Partey family grieves the loss of a loved one.
Jacob Teye Partey was an important figure in Thomas Partey’s early life and football journey. Thomas, who was born in Krobo Odumase in Ghana’s Eastern Region, has previously spoken about the support he received from his father while pursuing his football ambitions.
Jacob Partey was publicly identified as Thomas Partey’s father in previous interviews and reports about the midfielder’s rise from Ghanaian football to Europe.
Thomas Partey Mourns the Passing of His Father, Jacob Teye Partey 12
Reports about the family’s loss have prompted messages of sympathy for Thomas Partey and his relatives as they mourn Jacob Teye Partey.
The circumstances and further details surrounding his passing have not been independently established in the sources reviewed by GhanaMedia.net.
GhanaMedia.net extends its condolences to Thomas Partey and the entire Partey family during this difficult period. May the soul of Jacob Teye Partey rest in peace.
Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has said he would be prepared to resign if his departure would provide a solution to the challenges facing Ghana football.
Speaking in an interview on September 29, 2026, Queiroz said the decision over his position should ultimately be left to the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Carlos Queiroz: “I’d Be the First to Resign” If It Solves Ghana Football 14
“If my resignation will be the solution for Ghana football, I’d be the first one to resign. But this is a decision I’ll leave for the federation,” Queiroz said.
The comments come as the Portuguese coach continues his second spell in charge of the Black Stars after the GFA reached an agreement with him to lead the team into the next phase of its programme.
Queiroz’s initial mandate ended following Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. He subsequently returned to the position after discussions with the GFA and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation. The GFA announced his reappointment on September 2, 2026.
During the World Cup, Queiroz guided Ghana to the knockout stage before the Black Stars were eliminated by Colombia. FIFA reported at the time that Queiroz had confirmed his departure from the role, while the GFA later reached an agreement with him for a new coaching mandate.
His latest remarks come amid continuing discussions about the direction of Ghana football and the structure of the Black Stars. Queiroz has previously stressed the need for greater consistency in player availability and selection, saying that repeatedly changing large numbers of players makes it difficult to build a stable national team.
The Black Stars are currently competing in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Ghana’s September programme includes matches against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, with the team also scheduled to face Morocco in an international friendly during the current international window.
Queiroz’s comments therefore leave the decision over his future with the GFA, while reaffirming that he does not intend to make his own resignation the central issue in addressing Ghana’s football challenges.
IEAG CALLS ON FDA TO URGENTLY RESOLVE DELAYS IN ISSUANCE OF IMPORT CODES TO PREVENT MOUNTING PORT COSTS
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has received concerns from members within the importing community regarding reported delays in the issuance of Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) import codes/permits for regulated consignments at the ports.
Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) 16
According to affected importers, some consignments have remained uncleared because the required FDA process has not been completed, preventing them from progressing through the clearance chain and, in some instances, making it difficult for them to complete the necessary customs clearance and take delivery of their cargo.
The IEAG considers this development a matter requiring urgent attention, particularly at a time when importers are already confronted with a number of operational and cost pressures at Ghana’s ports.
The Association recognises and fully supports the FDA’s statutory responsibility to protect public health by regulating food, drugs, cosmetics, household chemicals, medical devices and other regulated products entering Ghana.
Indeed, the FDA’s own published procedures indicate that its Centre for Import and Export Control (CIEC) operates at the Tema Port and that permit control is integrated into the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS). The FDA further states that verification and final release of regulated consignments can only take place when the relevant permit has been approved.
The IEAG therefore does not question the necessity of regulatory controls. Our concern is that where a regulatory process becomes delayed beyond the expected operational timeline, the consequences are borne disproportionately by the importer and ultimately passed through the supply chain.
A port clearance process is interconnected. A delay at one point can hold up several subsequent processes.
Where an importer cannot obtain the necessary FDA approval/code, the clearing agent may be unable to complete the relevant declaration and clearance process. This can consequently delay duty payment, customs release, terminal release and the physical evacuation of the container from the port.
The IEAG wishes to draw attention to the practical consequences of prolonged cargo dwell time.
When a container remains uncleared after the applicable free period, the importer may begin to incur additional costs, including, Terminal storage charges arising from extended cargo dwell time, Shipping-line demurrage, Container detention charges, additional handling, examination, documentation and administrative charges, increased financing costs, and additional trucking and logistics costs resulting from delays in scheduling cargo evacuation.
Consequently, when cargo remains in the port because one component of the clearance chain is unable to progress, the additional cost can accumulate across the entire logistics chain.
The IEAG is particularly concerned about the wider economic implications.
Importers are businesses. They cannot indefinitely absorb additional storage, demurrage, detention, financing, haulage and other logistics costs without eventually factoring those costs into the prices of goods. This creates a potential chain reaction.
At a time when businesses and consumers are already sensitive to the cost of goods and services, the Association believes that avoidable delays within the port clearance ecosystem must be addressed promptly.
The objective should be to maintain effective regulatory enforcement without creating unnecessary bottlenecks in the movement of legitimate cargo.
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana therefore respectfully calls on the Food and Drugs Authority to urgently investigate the reported delays in the issuance of import codes/permits and restore normal processing for compliant applications. Specifically, we call for:
i. Immediate identification of the cause of the reported delays and prompt resolution of any technical, operational or administrative challenges affecting the issuance of FDA codes/permits.
Expedited processing of pending applications involving consignments already landed at the ports and accruing storage and related charges.
Where the challenge is system-related or connected to ICUMS integration, the FDA and the relevant technical agencies should immediately engage and resolve the issue to prevent further disruption to the clearance chain.
Clear communication to importers, customs house agents and other port stakeholders regarding the nature of the challenge, affected categories of applications and the expected timeline for resolution.
Consideration of appropriate relief or administrative intervention for demonstrable delays attributable to regulatory or system failures, particularly where compliant importers have incurred avoidable additional costs through no fault of their own.
The IEAG wishes to reiterate that Ghana’s ports are not merely revenue collection points. They are critical gateways for trade, industry, manufacturing, distribution and national economic activity.
Every additional day that a legitimate consignment remains unnecessarily uncleared has a cost implication.
The Association therefore urges all government agencies and statutory bodies operating within the port clearance ecosystem to continuously review their processes, improve inter-agency coordination and eliminate avoidable bottlenecks.
We appreciate the important regulatory role played by the FDA and other government agencies at the ports. However, regulation and trade facilitation must operate together.
Effective regulation should protect the Ghanaian consumer while an efficient clearance system protects the importer, trader, manufacturer and ultimately the consumer from unnecessary cost escalation.
The IEAG remains committed to engaging the FDA, Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, shipping lines, terminal operators and other stakeholders to find practical solutions to challenges affecting the smooth clearance and evacuation of cargo.
We therefore call on the FDA to sit up to the urgency of the situation, address the reported bottlenecks and ensure that compliant importers are not left to bear escalating costs arising from delays within the regulatory clearance process.
The Association will continue to monitor the situation and engage the relevant authorities in the interest of a safe, efficient, predictable and business-friendly port environment in Ghana.
All is set for the maiden edition of the KRIF Ghana Procurement Masterclass 2026, scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Standards Heights by Cleaver House in Accra, with the programme already oversubscribed following strong interest from procurement professionals and corporate organisations.
All Is Set for KRIF Ghana Procurement Masterclass as Maiden Edition Gets Oversubscribed 18
The growing demand for the masterclass has prompted KRIF Ghana Limited to consider making the programme a more frequent event, rather than a one-off initiative. The company says the level of interest has demonstrated the need for more opportunities for professionals and organisations to strengthen their procurement knowledge and practices.
The masterclass, themed “Buying Better: Cost, Quality, Risk & Total Value in Workplace Procurement,” is designed to equip procurement professionals and organisational managers with practical knowledge and tools to improve procurement planning, supplier selection, contract management, risk management and value for money.
The event is expected to bring together professionals from procurement, supply chain, administration, finance, operations and other related fields, as well as corporate entities seeking to improve their procurement systems and decision-making.
The programme has been deliberately designed to move beyond conventional procurement lectures, with participants expected to engage in practical exercises, procurement case studies, simulations, scenario analysis, group problem-solving and real-life organisational examples.
The approach is intended to help participants translate procurement principles into practical decisions within their organisations, with key areas including price, total cost of ownership, supplier risk, specifications and value creation.
Participants will also examine why the cheapest option does not necessarily represent the best value, taking into account factors such as maintenance, consumables, downtime and replacement costs.
The masterclass will further address supplier reliability, warranty, after-sales service, authenticity, availability and supplier capacity.
Strong corporate interest
The oversubscription of the maiden edition has been attributed to growing interest from professionals and some corporate organisations.
The response has also opened discussions within KRIF Ghana about expanding the programme and organising subsequent editions more frequently.
The company’s decision to consider additional editions follows the strong demand ahead of the September 30 event, which organisers say demonstrates the appetite for practical procurement capacity-building.
The masterclass is targeted at procurement managers and heads of procurement, supply chain managers, administration and facilities managers, finance and operations managers, executive directors, heads of departments, project coordinators, procurement committee members, NGO and CSO managers, staff managing donor-funded projects, entrepreneurs and business owners responsible for purchasing.
Participants will also receive a practical Procurement Masterclass Toolkit to support the application of lessons from the programme within their organisations.
The September 30 event will take place at Standards Heights by Cleaver House, 42 Sekou Toure Street, Accra, from 8:00 a.m.
A young Ghanaian nurse has raised concerns over what she says are increasing cases of cerebellar ataxia among people associated with galamsey activities.
In a video circulating on social media, the nurse urged people who have relatives or friends involved in illegal mining to encourage them to stop, claiming that patients with the condition are increasingly being seen at their hospital.
Young Nurse Raises Alarm Over Cerebellar Ataxia and Galamsey 20
She specifically alleged that some cases of cerebellar ataxia were being contracted at galamsey sites and described the condition as incurable. However, the specific claim that galamsey sites are directly causing the reported cases has not been independently established in the material reviewed by GhanaMedia.net.
Cerebellar ataxia refers to impaired coordination and balance caused by dysfunction of the cerebellum. Medical literature has established that certain forms of mercury exposure can cause neurological effects, including ataxia and problems with coordination. The World Health Organization also identifies gold mining as a source of environmental mercury releases and warns that mercury can damage the nervous system.
Ghana has continued to face serious health and environmental concerns associated with galamsey. The Paediatric Society of Ghana has warned that illegal mining can expose communities to toxic substances including mercury, lead, arsenic and cyanide, with potential consequences for brain development and other aspects of health.
The nurse’s warning therefore adds to growing public concern about the health consequences of illegal mining. Further medical investigation would be required to establish whether the specific cases she referenced are connected to exposure at galamsey sites and what substances or pathways may be responsible.
Her appeal to families comes as Ghana continues to grapple with the environmental and public-health consequences of illegal mining, particularly contamination associated with mining activities.
