A suspected thief was allegedly tasered and pepper-sprayed after he was reportedly caught inside a parked vehicle at a car garage.
Video footage circulating online shows a shirtless man being restrained around a vehicle before he is seen sitting on the ground. Another clip shows him appearing distressed while people around him question his presence at the location.
According to the account accompanying the video, the incident occurred after the man was allegedly spotted entering one of the vehicles parked at the garage.
The individual reportedly claimed he was not the owner of the vehicle when questioned about why he was inside.
His explanation reportedly changed
According to social media user Kobby, who shared the account, the man initially denied being the owner of the vehicle.
He reportedly later changed his explanation, saying he had received an important phone call and had entered one of the parked cars simply to sit down and make the call properly.
The conflicting explanations reportedly increased suspicion among those who confronted him.
The footage subsequently showed the man being subjected to an electric shock and pepper spray.
Video draws attention online
The incident has generated reactions online, with viewers debating whether the response to the suspected theft was justified.
Some have focused on the apparent attempt to prevent a possible theft, while others have questioned whether members of the public should use force against a person suspected of committing an offence.
Importantly, the footage by itself does not establish whether the man actually intended to steal from the vehicle.
Nor does it independently establish who used the taser or pepper spray, whether those actions were lawful, or whether the man was subsequently handed over to police.
Suspected theft does not establish guilt
Being found inside another person’s vehicle can understandably raise serious concerns, particularly at a garage or parking facility.
However, an allegation of attempted theft is not the same as a criminal conviction.
The circumstances leading to the confrontation, including how the man entered the vehicle, whether anything was taken and whether a complaint was formally made to police, would need to be established through further investigation.
The same applies to the use of force against him.
Public urged to involve police
Where someone is suspected of breaking into or attempting to steal from a vehicle, security personnel or members of the public can alert the police rather than taking matters into their own hands.
This is particularly important because confrontations can escalate quickly and create additional risks for everyone involved.
Ghanaian authorities have repeatedly urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement and provide information that can assist investigations. Recent police reports also show that suspected robbery cases are being investigated through intelligence-led operations, with suspects placed in custody to assist investigations.
What the footage establishes — and what it does not
The available footage establishes that a man was confronted around a parked vehicle and later appeared to be subjected to what looks like an electric shock and pepper spray.
It does not, on its own, establish that he committed theft or that the use of force was legally justified.
GhanaMedia.net has also not independently confirmed the precise location, date or identities of the people involved.
The account shared online therefore remains the basis for the details surrounding the confrontation, while the allegations should not be treated as established criminal findings.
GhanaMedia.net has reviewed the supplied footage and accompanying account. However, we have not located an independent police or official report confirming the specific incident at the time of publication.
The story is therefore reported as an allegation involving a suspected thief, rather than a confirmed criminal conviction.
Ghana, Nigeria and Gabon lead inaugural African deployment as SYDC mobilises a new generation of youth diplomats for Africa’s Orange Economy, peacebuilding and green economy
The Supreme Youth Diplomatic Corps (SYDC) has opened applications for its inaugural 2026 Executive Appointment Cycle, inviting qualified emerging leaders to join a new multilateral youth-diplomatic institution focused on leadership, representation, access to opportunity and measurable impact.
Applications are global in scope, but the inaugural African deployment is currently concentrated in Ghana, Nigeria and Gabon.
Applications close October 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM GMT, although applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis. Individual offices and territorial vacancies may close earlier once suitable candidates have been vetted and appointed. Early application is strongly advised.
AFRICA FIRST IN ACTION
The inaugural 2026/2027 mandate is centred on:
Africa’s Orange Economy
Peacebuilding
Green Economy & Sustainability
The Orange Economy receives particular emphasis, encompassing Africa’s creativity, culture, entertainment, media, fashion, heritage, intellectual property, innovation and creative enterprise.
SYDC positions young leaders as representatives, mobilisers and connectors between talent, institutions, opportunity and influence.
WHAT IS THE SUPREME YOUTH DIPLOMATIC CORPS?
SYDC is described as a premier multilateral youth-diplomatic institution established to identify, mobilise, develop, organise and strategically position future statespeople, youth diplomats, creative diplomats, cultural envoys, humanitarian leaders and emerging global luminaries.
Its mission is to secure meaningful youth participation in spaces where decisions, policies, partnerships and opportunities are shaped, moving young people from passive participation into structured leadership, diplomatic engagement, Creative & Cultural Diplomacy, creative statecraft, humanitarian action, cross-border cooperation and institutional representation.
Its mandate is anchored in youth diplomacy, peacebuilding, Creative & Cultural Diplomacy, humanitarian leadership, creative statecraft, cross-border cooperation and institutional mobilisation, with emphasis on the Orange Economy, Green Economy and sustainable development.
SYDC operates through Campus, District, Regional/State/Provincial, National, Continental and Global executive structures.
Its institutional conviction is:
“Opportunity exists. Access determines who reaches it.”
SYDC says it exists to close that distance.
BORN FROM THE QUINQUENNIAL
The Corps emerged from the Quinquennial evolution and institutional transformation of the Supreme Dynamic Talent Academy and SDTA Global Awards, as the wider SDTA Global Group entered its Fifth Anniversary era.
SYDC was formally established and launched on March 6, 2026, at Black Star Square, Accra, Ghana.
It is CONVENED UNDER THE SOVEREIGN CHARTER OF SDTA GLOBAL AWARDS and operates within the wider SDTA Global Group architecture.
The Group focuses on education, creativity and cultural development, global recognition, youth diplomacy, philanthropy, humanitarian advancement, media, broadcasting, publishing, strategic communications, responsible corporate and economic impact, and international engagement.
Its Five-Star Defining Pillars are:
Diplomacy & Statesmanship
Humanitarian Influence & Social Impact
Creativity & Cultural Sovereignty
Responsible Corporate & Economic Impact
Youth Vanguard & Intellectual Prowess
Defining institutions include Supreme Dynamic Talent Academy (SDTA International) and SDTA Global Awards, formerly the SDTA Awards and colloquially known as the STAR Awards.
SYDC operates in execution of the SDTA Global Empowerment Mandate (GEM™), including approved missions such as Sovereign Evolution: SDTA Global 500™ and Supreme Emerging 25™ (SE25™).
THE FOUNDING PROPOSITION
SYDC argues that Africa possesses extraordinary human and creative capital, but that talent often lacks sufficient access, structure, preparation, opportunity and institutional bridges to become sustainable economic, cultural and soft power.
Its founding proposition is that the next generation must be equipped, organised and strategically positioned to create and influence opportunity and help shape the decisions determining its future.
The inaugural mandate asks:
Can a new generation of youth diplomats help turn Africa’s creative potential into civilisational asset?
The Corps believes they can.
SDTA GLOBAL 500™ SCHOLARSHIP MISSION
Central to the GEM™ framework is Sovereign Evolution: SDTA Global 500™, the Fifth Anniversary scholarship mission of the Supreme Dynamic Talent Academy.
Ghana, Nigeria and Gabon are the first three beneficiary countries, with 500 qualified beneficiaries targeted in each country — a total of:
1,500 BENEFICIARIES
Successful beneficiaries receive 100% tuition scholarships, valued at approximately US$900 per approved principal programme, at the Supreme Dynamic Talent Academy.
The initiative represents the Academy’s largest tuition-scholarship deployment and forms part of programmes commemorating its Quinquennial and Fifth Anniversary evolution.
The scholarship pipeline covers 12 schools:
SDTA School of Dramatic Arts & Screen Performance
SDTA School of Media Presentation & Broadcast Communication
SDTA School of Dance
SDTA School of Professional Modelling
SDTA School of Fashion Styling & Image Management
SDTA School of Professional Makeup Artistry
SDTA School of Global Diplomacy & Statecraft
SDTA School of International Relations
SDTA School of Creative & Cultural Diplomacy
SDTA School of Humanitarian Leadership & Social Impact
SDTA School of Pageantry, Presence & Personal Branding
SDTA Finishing School of Executive Presence, Etiquette & Personal Excellence
Supreme Youth Diplomats will help identify and mobilise qualified emerging talent into the SDTA admissions pipeline.
THE PIONEER 2026 CHARTER CIRCLE
Those appointed through the inaugural cycle will form part of the Pioneer 2026 Charter Circle, occupying offices across the developing Campus, District, Regional/State/Provincial, National, Continental and Global Command Structure.
Appointment is not merely representational.
OFFICE CARRIES RESPONSIBILITY.
Youth Diplomats are expected to demonstrate leadership, mobilisation, institutional visibility, talent discovery, stakeholder engagement, programme implementation and measurable impact.
Every duly appointed member carries the collective identity:
SUPREME YOUTH DIPLOMAT
EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS NOW OPEN
SYDC has commenced establishing its National Executive Architecture across Ghana, Nigeria and Gabon, including the Offices of:
Supreme National Envoy-Plenipotentiary
Deputy Supreme National Envoy-Plenipotentiary
Supreme Regional Commissioner
The present recruitment phase expands into Continental, Regional/State/Provincial, District and Campus levels.
Available offices include:
Deputy Supreme Continental Special Envoy (Africa)
Supreme Regional Commissioner
Supreme District Delegate
Supreme Campus Attaché
The territorial architecture covers all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, all 16 Administrative Regions of Ghana, and all 9 Provinces of Gabon.
EXECUTIVE VETTING & CONFIRMATION
Appointment is not automatic.
Applicants undergo formal Executive Vetting, followed by consideration by the Executive Vetting Committee and Supreme Global Secretariat.
Assessment considers leadership potential, professional conduct, communication, mobilisation, strategic thinking, reliability, institutional compatibility and readiness to serve.
Successful candidates initially enter office under an ad interim mandate.
Those who complete the provisional service period and meet applicable requirements become eligible for Confirmation of Office, formal Induction and Grand Investiture in Accra, Ghana.
Qualifying Officers are inducted into the:
SOVEREIGN FELLOWSHIP OF YOUTH DIPLOMACY
and receive the post-nominal:
SFYD — SUPREME FELLOW OF YOUTH DIPLOMACY
Following Grand Investiture, Fellows retain the approved style of their respective office together with SFYD.
UNITED KINGDOM TO HOST INAUGURAL SYDC GLOBAL YOUTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The United Kingdom has been designated host of the inaugural Supreme Youth Diplomatic Corps Global Youth General Assembly, a major milestone in the Corps’ 2027/2028 international cycle and the platform for officially launching SYDC United Kingdom.
Confirmed and eligible Supreme Youth Diplomats will be considered for the First Session, SYDCGA I.
The Assembly will address:
Africa’s Orange Economy
Green Economy & Sustainability
Peacebuilding
Creative & Cultural Diplomacy
Youth Leadership
Creative Statecraft
Cross-Border Collaboration
SYDC describes SYDCGA I as a working diplomatic forum where emerging representatives can engage decision-makers and institutional leaders, exchange ideas, build cross-border networks and contribute actionable perspectives on Africa’s Orange Economy and sustainable future.
Participation, accreditation and applicable sponsorship arrangements will be communicated to qualifying Officers by the Supreme Global Secretariat.
DIPLOMATIC & INSTITUTIONAL ENGAGEMENTS
Following Confirmation of Office, eligible Supreme Youth Diplomats may participate in approved:
Embassy and High Commission courtesy visits
Diplomatic and state-related engagements
Transnational cultural diplomacy meetings
Strategic creative diplomacy initiatives
Continental leadership summits
Stakeholder consultations
Ministerial and institutional briefings
Peacebuilding initiatives
Civic engagement programmes
Youth leadership missions
EMPOWERMENT, DISTINCTION & RECOGNITION
Every appointed Supreme Youth Diplomat enters an executive structure with applicable financial remuneration, institutional incentives, professional visibility and empowerment opportunities attached to service.
The most outstanding eligible Officer of the inaugural cycle will qualify for distinctions and recognitions including:
Supreme African Youth Diplomat of the Year, at the SDTA Global Awards 2027
Gold Citation for Supreme Leadership & Service
Global Diplomatic Placement, including Official Delegate Status and 50% sponsored accreditation for the SDTA Global France 2027 International Mission
Executive Citation of Honour for Exceptional Service
Presidential Commendation
VIP Sovereign Access at the SDTA Global Awards
Exclusive Conclave Invitations
Professional Leadership Profiling
Sovereign Digital Identity
Global Press Amplification
Ceremonial Investiture Presentation
100% Tuition Scholarship for the Executive Certificate in International Protocol, Elite Social Graces & Global Diplomacy
“THEY DO NOT MERELY WITNESS THE TRANSFORMATION”
Amb. Zino Lexili Ogazi, Global President of SYDC and Global Chairperson of SDTA Global Group, said the Pioneer Youth Diplomats are being entrusted with territory, responsibility and the opportunity to make leadership consequential.
“We are looking for young leaders who can open doors beyond themselves; who can identify potential, mobilise communities, create connections and help move deserving young people from obscurity to opportunity.”
She added:
“A title should mean something. Access should create access for others. Influence should produce impact.”
“They do not merely witness the transformation. They are among the primary conduits through whom it is executed,” she concluded.
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
According to the Secretary-General of SYDC, the Corps is seeking emerging leaders capable of more than simply holding office.
Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate that they can lead and mobilise, represent a constituency credibly, identify overlooked potential, connect people to opportunity and convert access into impact.
The Corps is particularly interested in leaders able to contribute to Africa’s Orange Economy, peacebuilding and sustainable future.
“If the answer is yes, the Supreme Youth Diplomatic Corps invites you to present yourself for consideration.”
APPLICATION DEADLINE
OCTOBER 6, 2026 — 11:59 PM GMT
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and individual offices or territorial vacancies may close before the deadline once suitable candidates have been vetted and appointed.
The published deadline is therefore the final application date and does not guarantee that every advertised vacancy will remain available until then.
The Supreme Youth Diplomatic Corps is calling on emerging leaders to join a pioneer generation focused on advancing Africa’s Orange Economy, strengthening peacebuilding and youth diplomacy, widening access to opportunity and helping shape an emerging national-to-continental-to-global leadership architecture.
A CCTV video circulating on social media has sparked fresh concerns about alleged extortion and the solicitation of money from passengers at Kotoka International Airport.
The footage, seen in the material provided to GhanaMedia.net, appears to show airport security personnel interacting with a passenger during a screening process, with money apparently changing hands.
However, GhanaMedia.net has not independently established the authenticity, date or full circumstances surrounding the latest footage. The identities of the individuals shown and the reason for the apparent exchange have also not been independently confirmed.
The video nevertheless comes at a time when authorities have intensified efforts to tackle alleged extortion and unofficial payments across Ghana’s airports.
GACL has already taken disciplinary action
The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) announced in August that it had stepped up measures against airport personnel accused of soliciting money from passengers.
On August 4, GACL Managing Director Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare disclosed that two car park workers at Kotoka International Airport had been dismissed after repeated passenger complaints that they were asking travellers for money.
GACL subsequently announced additional enforcement measures, including a mystery-shopping programme, tougher sanctions and a dedicated reporting mechanism for passengers.
The company also said personnel found culpable could be barred from working at airports under its management.
Immigration officer previously transferred
The latest video also follows an earlier case involving a Ghana Immigration Service officer.
GACL said in an August 6 statement that it had taken note of a viral video allegedly showing a GIS officer demanding “breakfast” money from a passenger.
According to GACL, the Ghana Immigration Service confirmed that the officer had subsequently been transferred from the airport.
That case was separate from another incident involving two Port Health officers who were barred from working at Accra International Airport and other GACL-operated airports after they were found to have charged a foreign passenger US$40 for a Yellow Fever Card, despite an approved fee of US$20. Their airport identification cards were withdrawn and deactivated.
The latest footage remains unverified
While the circulating CCTV footage is generating renewed discussion online, it is important not to treat the video alone as proof that the people shown committed bribery or extortion.
A visible exchange of money can have different explanations, and the footage available to GhanaMedia.net does not establish what preceded or followed the interaction.
There has also been no official statement located confirming that the individuals in the latest footage have been identified, investigated or sanctioned.
The distinction is important because allegations involving security personnel can have serious consequences for individuals and institutions.
Authorities want passengers to report suspicious demands
GACL has urged passengers to help expose inappropriate demands for money at airports.
The company has encouraged travellers to document incidents and use its reporting channels when they encounter suspected extortion or inappropriate conduct.
Recent guidance published amid the crackdown has also encouraged passengers to establish what they are paying for, verify the identity of people requesting payments and ask for official receipts where applicable.
GACL has established a dedicated extortion reporting hotline: 054 217 5636, with reports accepted through calls, WhatsApp and SMS.
Why the issue matters
Kotoka International Airport is one of the first points of contact for many visitors arriving in Ghana.
For passengers unfamiliar with Ghanaian procedures, an individual operating inside a controlled airport environment can appear to have official authority. This makes transparency around fees, procedures and staff conduct particularly important.
The wider crackdown therefore goes beyond individual allegations. It touches on passenger confidence, Ghana’s international image and trust in institutions responsible for aviation, immigration, health and security.
President John Dramani Mahama has also backed tougher action against airport workers who solicit or beg visitors for tips, warning that such conduct reflects badly on Ghana.
GhanaMedia.net has independently verified the broader airport anti-extortion campaign and previous disciplinary actions announced by GACL. However, the authenticity and circumstances of the specific CCTV footage supplied for this report have not been independently established.
GhanaMedia.net therefore does not identify the individuals shown as having committed bribery or extortion as a proven fact.
Any official investigation or response concerning the latest footage will be important in establishing what actually occurred.
A Chinese traveller’s frustrating experience at the Ghana-Burkina Faso border has triggered an important conversation about Ghana’s visa system, conflicting travel information and the need for foreign visitors to verify entry requirements before setting out.
The traveller, who shared her experience in a series of videos circulating online, said she had been looking forward to visiting Ghana after previously being informed that she could obtain a visa on arrival at the land border.
But when she arrived at the Ghana-Burkina Faso border, she said an immigration official informed her that she needed a visa before entering Ghana.
She described herself as “speechless” and questioned why she had earlier been given different information.
According to the account accompanying her videos, she had contacted the Ghana Embassy in Benin before travelling and said she was told that she could obtain a visa on arrival at the land border. She later received another response directing her to apply for an e-visa, forcing her to return to Burkina Faso.
Ghana’s official rules provide an important piece of the puzzle
Ghana’s immigration rules do provide for visas to be issued at entry points in certain circumstances. However, visa on arrival is not automatically available to every foreign traveller who reaches a Ghanaian border without a visa.
The Ghana Immigration Service explains that emergency entry visas or visas on arrival may be granted to people who arrive without a visa, but such applications are subject to conditions. In particular, emergency visas for travellers arriving from countries where Ghana has no diplomatic or consular representation must be authorised in advance by the Director of the Immigration Service through a Ghanaian sponsor.
The Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso similarly states that an emergency visa may be issued on arrival to travellers from countries where there is no Ghanaian diplomatic or consular representation, but the application must be authorised in advance by the Ghana Immigration Service through a sponsor.
That distinction is critical.
Chinese ordinary passport holders are not generally visa-exempt
Ghana’s published visa information lists China under the visa-exempt category only for holders of diplomatic and service passports, not ordinary Chinese passports. Ordinary visitors therefore need to comply with Ghana’s applicable visa requirements before entry.
The Chinese government’s current list of mutual visa-exemption agreements also shows that the Ghana-China arrangement covers diplomatic and service passports, rather than ordinary Chinese passports.
This means the traveller’s experience should not be interpreted as Ghana suddenly refusing Chinese tourists entry. Rather, it highlights the difference between being eligible to apply for a visa on arrival under exceptional circumstances and having an automatic right to receive one at the border.
Ghana has also changed its visa system
There is another important development travellers need to understand.
Ghana launched a new electronic visa system in 2026. The Ghana Embassy in Beijing says the new e-visa regime replaced manual visa procedures and is designed to make applications more efficient while strengthening border-security checks.
The Ghana Immigration Service continues to state that a visa is not itself a guarantee of admission. Entry remains subject to immigration checks and fulfilment of the applicable conditions at the point of entry.
For travellers, that means the safest approach is no longer to depend on an informal understanding that “you can get the visa at the border.”
A lesson for Ghana and for travellers
There are two sides to this story.
Travellers have a responsibility to verify their entry requirements before beginning a cross-border journey.
But immigration authorities and diplomatic missions also have a responsibility to provide clear, consistent and accessible information.
Imagine travelling hundreds of kilometres based on information received from an official channel, only to arrive at the border and discover that the requirement is different from what you understood.
That is precisely the kind of situation that can damage a country’s reputation among tourists, investors and other international visitors.
Ghana has invested heavily in presenting itself as an open, digitally connected destination. The introduction of the e-visa platform is supposed to make travelling to the country easier, not more confusing.
What foreign travellers should do before travelling to Ghana
For anyone travelling to Ghana on an ordinary foreign passport, especially by land, the safest approach is straightforward:
1. Check Ghana Immigration Service requirements before departure.
2. Determine whether your passport is visa-exempt.
3. If a visa is required, apply through the official e-visa system where applicable.
4. Do not assume that “visa on arrival” means you can simply arrive at the border and receive one.
5. If an embassy or official tells you that you qualify for an exception, request clear written confirmation and, where required, confirmation that the necessary authorisation has been issued before travelling.
6. Keep copies of your correspondence, visa approval and supporting documents while travelling.
This is particularly important for travellers entering Ghana through land borders, where a misunderstanding can leave someone stranded on the other side.
The bigger question
The Chinese traveller’s video should therefore not simply become another social-media argument about whether Ghana “welcomes foreigners.”
There is a more useful question:
Are Ghana’s visa rules being communicated clearly enough to international travellers before they begin their journeys?
Ghana’s official documentation shows that visa-on-arrival arrangements exist under specific conditions, while ordinary Chinese passport holders generally require a visa.
At the same time, the traveller says she received information that led her to believe she could obtain the visa at the land border.
That gap between what a traveller understands and what the border requires is exactly what needs to be addressed.
Ghana wants more tourism, more international business and greater connectivity with the rest of the world.
Because for a visitor standing at Ghana’s border after a long journey, confusion is not a minor inconvenience — it can determine whether the journey continues at all.
GhanaMedia.net has verified the applicable Ghanaian visa requirements against official Ghana Immigration Service and Ghana diplomatic sources. The traveller’s account of the specific interaction at the border is presented as her allegation/account; GhanaMedia.net has not independently established what information was communicated to her by the Ghanaian mission before her journey.
An 18-year-old Nigerian woman has sparked a major conversation online after sharing photographs comparing herself at age 15 with her appearance at 18, alongside a declaration that she has left Christianity and now identifies as an atheist.
The young woman, who uses the name Ogbanjésokawaii (@DUkauwa94288) on X, posted the comparison and reflected on her earlier years as a Christian.
Her post began with the words:
“Omo I suffer that year, Christianity really be aging you.”
She then added that she was 15 in the earlier photograph and 18 in the more recent one, describing herself as an atheist.
The post quickly travelled across social media, generating thousands of reactions and a heated debate over Christianity, personal identity, religious upbringing and the way young people experience faith. Independent coverage by Legit.ng and Linda Ikeji’s Blog confirms the post, the woman’s stated ages and her declaration that she had left Christianity.
But what does the transformation actually prove?
This is where the conversation deserves more maturity.
The photographs show that the woman looks different at 15 and 18. That part is obvious. But a photograph cannot establish that Christianity caused the physical changes between those ages.
People naturally change considerably between 15 and 18. Facial structure, hairstyle, makeup, clothing, weight, skin, environment and personal expression can all change during adolescence and early adulthood.
Indeed, the reports covering the post have treated the claim that Christianity was responsible for the change as her personal interpretation, rather than an established fact.
That distinction matters.
The bigger issue is not her appearance
The more important part of her post is not whether she looks “better” or “worse” in either photograph.
It is that she says her experience of Christianity was difficult enough for her to eventually abandon the faith.
That raises questions that deserve more serious discussion:
What happened to her during those years?
What did she experience in her religious environment?
Did she feel pressured, judged, restricted or misunderstood?
Was her decision based on intellectual questions, personal experiences, disappointment with religious institutions, or simply a change in worldview?
Those questions cannot be answered from two photographs or a short social-media post.
And that is precisely why the public conversation should go beyond mocking her appearance or attacking her for becoming an atheist.
Christians should listen — not only react
For Christians, the viral post can easily feel insulting.
The phrase “Christianity really be aging you” has understandably triggered defensive reactions, with some social-media users arguing that religion cannot be blamed for someone’s appearance. Others have criticised the young woman for what they consider disrespect toward Christianity. The reactions have themselves become part of the viral discussion.
But there is an important lesson here.
A young person leaving Christianity should not automatically be treated as an enemy of Christianity.
People can question a faith, leave a religion, return to it, explore another belief system or identify as non-religious. Those decisions can be deeply personal.
At the same time, someone else’s decision to become an atheist does not invalidate the faith of millions of Christians.
Both things can be true.
And atheists should also resist turning one story into a universal argument
The opposite extreme is equally problematic.
One person’s experience does not prove that Christianity is harmful to everyone.
Millions of people describe Christianity as a source of community, meaning, hope, moral guidance and personal transformation. Others have had painful experiences within religious communities. Both realities exist.
Therefore, this young woman’s story should be understood as one person’s experience, not scientific evidence that Christianity makes people look older or a universal indictment of the Christian faith.
The responsibility of churches
There is, however, a legitimate question for churches and Christian families.
Young people are asking difficult questions about faith, sexuality, identity, science, morality, suffering and the existence of God. Simply telling them to “pray about it” or condemning every difficult question may not always be enough.
Young Christians need spaces where they can ask uncomfortable questions without being humiliated.
They need adults who can distinguish between doubt and rebellion.
They need religious leaders who can acknowledge mistakes.
And they need to understand that faith that cannot survive honest questions may eventually lose young people who are searching for honest answers.
The responsibility of the young person
There is also responsibility on the other side.
Leaving a religion is a serious personal decision. It should ideally involve reflection rather than simply following whatever happens to be trending online.
The same applies to remaining religious.
A person should not believe something merely because family, friends or social media demand it.
Faith should be examined. Doubt should be examined. Atheism should be examined.
People deserve the freedom to arrive at conclusions thoughtfully.
This story is bigger than one Nigerian teenager’s photographs.
It is about how quickly social media can turn a deeply personal statement into a battle between opposing camps.
One side sees an attack on Christianity.
Another sees a young person celebrating freedom from a belief system.
Others are simply debating her appearance.
But underneath all of that is a young person saying that her experience of religion was difficult and that she has chosen a different worldview.
That deserves neither automatic applause nor automatic condemnation.
It deserves conversation.
Most importantly, people should not use her photographs to claim that Christianity made her physically age, because the available evidence does not establish that.
What is verified is much simpler: she said she was 15 in the first photograph, 18 in the second, and that she had become an atheist after leaving Christianity. Her post subsequently generated widespread online discussion.
Kwasi Pratt Reacts to Chief Justice Video: “Jesus, We Are Doomed”
Veteran journalist and political commentator Kwasi Pratt Jnr. has reacted strongly to a video involving Ghana’s Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, saying he initially misunderstood the person in the recording.
According to Pratt, had he only listened to the audio without watching the accompanying video, he would have assumed the person speaking was an NDC branch chairman rather than the Chief Justice of Ghana.
“If I had only listened to the audio without watching the video, I would have said it was an NDC Branch Chairman and not the Chief Justice of Ghana.”
Pratt said it was only after watching the video that he realised who was involved, prompting his shocked reaction.
“When I saw him the video, I shouted ‘Jesus, we are doomed’.”
The comments have generated discussion online, particularly over the conduct and public image of Ghana’s highest judicial office.
Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie is the current Chief Justice of Ghana. In recent public engagements, he has repeatedly stressed the importance of judicial independence, integrity, professionalism and public confidence in the justice system.
In January 2026, for example, the Chief Justice urged judges to remain firm in the face of pressure and determine cases strictly according to the law and evidence. He said judicial independence requires the courage to decide matters without being influenced by public opinion or persons in positions of authority.
The Judiciary has also outlined reforms aimed at improving efficiency, including expanded court sittings, specialised courts, revised court rules and measures to strengthen access to justice.
Pratt’s latest remarks, however, focus less on those institutional reforms and more on his reaction to the conduct seen in the circulating video.
GhanaMedia.net could not independently locate the original full recording or a transcript of the underlying incident through publicly indexed sources at the time of publication. The quotation above is therefore presented as attributed to Pratt in the Ghana Today material supplied for this report, rather than as an independently verified transcript.
The comments are likely to fuel further public debate about the Judiciary, political perceptions of judicial conduct and the standards expected from holders of Ghana’s highest constitutional offices.
A statement attributed to German politician Alice Weidel, promising sweeping changes to Germany’s migration policy within the first 100 days of an AfD-led government, is circulating widely online.
The viral post claims Weidel said she would close Germany’s borders, eliminate social benefits for migrants and carry out the country’s largest deportation programme.
GhanaMedia.net’s review found that the wording circulating online is not an exact transcript of the speech, but it closely reflects migration proposals Weidel made at the AfD’s federal party convention in Riesa on January 11, 2025.
What Weidel actually said
During her speech after being selected as the AfD’s candidate for chancellor, Weidel said an AfD government would pursue a series of measures during its first 100 days in office.
According to contemporary reports and a transcript of the speech, she said the party would seek to close Germany’s borders comprehensively and reject people entering illegally or without documentation. She also said asylum applicants’ support should be changed from cash to benefits in kind and that social benefits for people without a right to remain should be withdrawn.
Weidel also said the party would pursue large-scale returns and explicitly embraced the term “remigration” in describing its proposed policy.
The wording in the viral graphic — particularly the claim that she would “eliminate social benefits for migrants” and conduct “Germany’s largest deportations” — therefore appears to be a condensed English-language rendering of her broader proposals rather than a verbatim quotation.
The AfD’s migration position
Migration has remained one of the AfD’s central political issues.
The party has advocated substantially tighter border controls, restrictions on benefits for certain non-German residents and expanded deportation measures. Its regional programmes also continue to call for the rejection of migrants without a right to remain and changes to the way social assistance is provided to asylum seekers.
Weidel’s 2025 Riesa speech went beyond immigration policy. She also called for major changes to Germany’s energy policy and said the AfD would reverse policies involving renewable energy and nuclear power.
Viral claim needs context
The graphic currently circulating online presents the three migration measures as though they were a newly issued statement.
They are not new. The underlying proposals date back to Weidel’s January 2025 campaign speech.
The wording has nevertheless resurfaced online, generating renewed discussion about the AfD’s approach to migration and what an AfD-led government would seek to implement.
It is also important to distinguish between political pledges and actual government policy. Implementing such measures would depend on Germany’s constitutional framework, legislation, European Union rules and parliamentary majorities.
As of the current circulation of the claim, the evidence reviewed by GhanaMedia.net supports the substance of Weidel’s 2025 migration proposals but not the viral graphic’s wording as a verbatim quote.
Dainess Chef School has hosted the third edition of its annual Culinary Expo, bringing together chefs, hospitality professionals, culinary students, food entrepreneurs and industry stakeholders to explore how Ghanaian cuisine can be reimagined through modern techniques while preserving its cultural identity.
Held at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in Accra under the theme “Culinary Innovations: A Ghanaian Perspective,” the expo featured practical demonstrations, industry discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions focused on technical excellence, creativity and innovation in Ghanaian cuisine.
The annual event forms part of Dainess Chef School’s efforts to develop culinary talent and create opportunities for professionals and aspiring chefs to strengthen their technical skills, exchange ideas and explore new possibilities for Ghanaian food.
‘We have the ingredients, talent and heritage’
Principal and Co-Founder of Dainess Chef School and Executive Director of Dainess Foods, Pamela Sarkodee, described the expo as a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative aimed at contributing to Ghana’s wider culinary ecosystem.
She said Ghana already possesses the ingredients, talent and heritage needed to compete internationally but requires stronger infrastructure for culinary innovation, including training, industry networks, policy support and greater exposure.
According to Ms Sarkodee, the objective is not to replace Ghanaian culinary traditions with foreign cuisine but to develop new ways of presenting indigenous ingredients and dishes.
“Culinary innovation, from a Ghanaian perspective, is not the wholesale adoption of foreign cuisine.”
She said innovation should involve the “intelligent, respectful, and creative reinterpretation” of Ghanaian grains, tubers, spices, leafy greens, seafood, fruits and other elements of the country’s culinary heritage.
Traditional ingredients meet modern techniques
The expo demonstrated how familiar Ghanaian ingredients can be transformed through contemporary culinary techniques.
Among the demonstrations were the transformation of plantain using gelification techniques and the production of boba pearls from cassava flour.
General Manager of Dainess Chef School, Frank Antwi, said culinary education must extend beyond learning recipes.
He identified food safety, nutrition, food science, presentation, costing, technology and customer expectations as important areas that modern chefs need to understand.
Mr Antwi also highlighted molecular gastronomy as one avenue through which chefs can explore changes in texture, temperature, aroma, appearance and presentation while maintaining the identity of Ghanaian cuisine.
Call for stronger professional standards
The expo also placed emphasis on professional standards and certification within Ghana’s culinary industry.
President of the Hospitality Alliance of Ghana and chef, Joseph Wilson Tetteh, called for stronger professional certification for chefs, minimum standards for culinary training institutions and closer collaboration between training institutions and industry.
He noted that inadequate equipment and inconsistent training standards remain challenges in parts of the sector and advocated structured practical training alongside classroom education.
Chef Wilson also encouraged commercial kitchens to adopt standard operating procedures to ensure consistency in recipes, taste and service.
Food as Ghana’s cultural ambassador
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Eunice Martey Anakwah said Ghana’s culinary sector has significant potential to contribute to tourism promotion and cultural diplomacy.
She described food as Ghana’s “most delicious culture ambassador”, pointing to dishes such as jollof and kelewele as well as locally produced chocolate as vehicles for communicating Ghanaian culture to international audiences.
She said presenting traditional foods to international standards could help strengthen Ghana’s tourism offering and promote the country beyond its borders.
Ms Anakwah further stressed the importance of continuous training and retraining to ensure that Ghanaian culinary products and services meet the expectations of international visitors and consumers.
Chocolate, content creation and culinary storytelling
The expo also featured a chocolate demonstration by Shirley Temeng, Chief Executive Officer of Chocolate Mall.
She introduced participants to aspects of chocolate production and its applications in baking, confectionery and other culinary processes, while highlighting the importance of understanding chocolate composition and percentages when selecting products for specific applications.
The session also drew attention to opportunities for greater local value addition to Ghana’s cocoa.
Other demonstrations were delivered by culinary professionals and organisations including the Chefs Association of Ghana, White Restaurant, Alisa Hotel, Dainess Chef School and Chocolate Mall.
A session by Chef Abbys, titled “From Content Creation to Global Recognition,” explored how culinary professionals can use storytelling, creativity and digital platforms to build audiences and promote Ghanaian cuisine internationally.
Building Ghana’s culinary talent pipeline
The third Culinary Expo was supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ghana Tourism Authority, Chefs Association of Ghana, Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), and Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
Dainess Chef School said the expo reinforces its commitment to nurturing culinary talent, promoting innovation, strengthening professional standards and creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing across Ghana’s hospitality and culinary industry.
Established in 2018, Dainess Chef School says it was created to provide advanced professional culinary education in Ghana. Its programmes combine practical training with professional instruction, food safety, creativity and real-world kitchen experience to prepare students for careers in the food and hospitality industry.
The government is mobilising state and private-sector resources to tackle the mounting waste crisis at Jamestown in Accra, with a technical assessment now underway to determine the scale and requirements of a major evacuation exercise.
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Mahama Ayariga disclosed this on Thursday, September 3, 2026, during a media briefing at the Jamestown Waste Transfer Station.
The briefing formed part of a three-day assessment of Ghana’s waste management system, which included visits to the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP), Jamestown and Achimota Waste Transfer Stations, Kpone Landfill and the Adipa Engineered Landfill at Nsawam.
Government assessing exact scale of Jamestown waste
Mr Ayariga said the immediate priority was to establish the actual volume of waste accumulated at Jamestown before determining the resources required for its removal.
“We see this from afar. We drive by, we really have no sense of the enormity of the challenge.”
Technical teams from Zoomlion Ghana Limited are deploying drones to survey the site and estimate the volume of waste. The information will be used to determine the number of trucks, trips and the likely duration of the evacuation.
The Minister said the operation would be based on technical data rather than estimates, allowing contractors to commit to specific evacuation targets.
State and private equipment to be mobilised
Government plans to bring together the Ministries of Local Government, Roads and Highways, Defence, Finance and Environment to mobilise resources for the exercise.
Contractors across the Greater Accra, Eastern and Central regions are also expected to provide trucks, excavators, bulldozers and loaders, particularly equipment that may currently be idle at construction sites.
According to Mr Ayariga, the state already has more than 100 trucks and several pieces of heavy machinery that can be complemented by private-sector resources.
The government also intends to approach mining companies and major industries to support the operation through their corporate social responsibility programmes.
Rather than seeking cash donations, companies could deploy their own equipment or engage contractors to remove agreed quantities of waste.
Adipa landfill identified as possible destination
The intervention follows Wednesday’s announcement that accumulated waste from Jamestown could be transported to the Adipa Engineered Landfill at Nsawam, which has substantial remaining capacity.
However, Mr Ayariga stressed that clearing the waste would only address the immediate problem.
He said government must also tackle the underlying causes of waste accumulation, improve community organisation and overhaul the country’s waste management system to prevent the situation from recurring.
Plans to redevelop Jamestown
The Minister also outlined plans to redevelop the Jamestown area after the waste is cleared.
He said the redevelopment would seek to avoid displacing residents, with proposals including low-cost and high-rise housing, improved roads, sanitation facilities and other basic infrastructure.
The objective, he said, would be to improve living conditions while allowing residents to remain close to their livelihoods.
Wider waste management reforms
The Jamestown intervention forms part of a broader government review of Ghana’s waste management chain.
Mr Ayariga previously identified gaps in waste collection, transportation, treatment, recycling and final disposal during his September 1 tour of waste management facilities.
He has also called for stronger waste separation at household level, better positioning of transfer and treatment facilities, and a more efficient system that could reduce the cost of waste management for households.
The Minister has further backed the polluter-pays principle, under which individuals and properties generating waste would contribute fairly toward its management.
He said government intends to ensure that funds mobilised for waste management are used transparently and efficiently.
The Defence Ministry has already formed a support team, while further decisions are expected following President John Dramani Mahama’s return from international engagements.
For now, the exact volume of waste at Jamestown and the timetable for its removal remain subject to the ongoing technical assessment.
Mr Ayariga nevertheless said government was determined to mobilise national capacity and work with public and private-sector partners to confront the sanitation challenge.
He also urged the public to support the national sanitation agenda by participating in the first-Saturday clean-up exercise and maintaining cleaner surroundings throughout the year.
NewsGhana has been added to the Global Project Oasis Media Directory, a research initiative led by SembraMedia that maps independent digital media organisations around the world.
Project Oasis describes itself as a global research project focused on independent digital media, with its directory containing more than 3,000 media profiles across dozens of countries.
According to the information provided in the NewsGhana profile, the organisation is a digital-only publisher founded in 2015 and based in Accra. The profile identifies it as a for-profit organisation with a team comprising seven full-time employees, three part-time employees and six freelance contributors.
The profile says NewsGhana covers a broad range of subjects, including politics, business, health, education, technology, sports and human rights.
Its listed journalism formats include breaking news, explanatory reporting, investigative work and opinion pieces, reflecting a general-interest approach to digital journalism.
Inclusion in Project Oasis
Project Oasis says media organisations included in its directory are assessed against criteria designed to identify digital-native outlets that produce original content serving the public interest while operating with editorial independence and transparency.
The project also notes that information in individual profiles may be supplied directly by the media organisations and recommends that important details be verified with the organisation concerned.
A Growing African Media Directory
Project Oasis has been expanding its research into Africa, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Morocco.
The initiative’s broader objective is to improve understanding of independent digital media, their business models, challenges and contribution to the public interest.
For NewsGhana, the addition provides an international profile of the organisation’s digital operations, editorial coverage and audience reach while placing it within a growing global database of independent digital publishers.
Clarification: Project Oasis is led by SembraMedia and supported by the Google News Initiative. Being listed in the Project Oasis directory should not, by itself, be described as NewsGhana being a direct Google News Initiative partner or member.
