Newspaper Headlines, October 21, 2026
This is what the front pages of the papers reported:
Daily Graphic
1. MAIN HEADLINE: Let’s have counselling authority – To protect students from sexual abuse – Child Right Int’l urges [Page 3]
Summary: Child Rights International (CRI), led by Executive Director Bright Appiah (pictured), is calling for the counselling unit of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to be elevated into an independent authority. The call follows persistent cases of sexual abuse involving children in basic and senior high schools, with CRI cataloguing about 11 cases in 5 regions between 2018 and 2025.
2. Small-scale gold exports hit $10.8bn in 2025 — GoldBod [Page 13]
Summary: GoldBod reports that small-scale gold exports have reached $10.8 billion in 2025.
3. Gold alone can’t sustain economic gains — ISSER [Page 13]
Summary: The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) warns that reliance on gold alone cannot sustain Ghana’s economic gains.
4. I’m not an ICGC Rev. Minister – Amanonehene apologises for misrepresentation [Page 20]
Summary: Amanonehene has apologised for misrepresenting himself as a Reverend Minister of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) and clarified he is not one.
Ghanaian Times
1. MAIN HEADLINE: GoldBod reforms create 4,866 jobs – Small-scale mining support programme planned for 2027 — CEO [Page 12]
Summary: The CEO of GoldBod, Mr Sammy Gyamfi, says reforms undertaken by the institution have created 4,866 jobs. He also announced that a small-scale mining support programme will be rolled out in 2027.
2. Newark Homowo festival opens doors to Ghana-US investment [Page 14]
Summary: The celebration of the Newark Homowo festival is being positioned to attract investment and strengthen economic ties between Ghana and the United States.
3. Establish independent child protection body in schools — CRI [Page 13]
Summary: Child Rights International (CRI) is calling for the establishment of an independent body to handle child protection issues in schools. Quote attributed to Mr Bright Appiah.
4. 7 fishermen missing after canoe fails to return [Page 13]
Summary: Seven fishermen are reported missing after their fishing canoe failed to return from sea.
5. Minority Leader withdraws defamation suit against Goldbod, NEIP CEOs [Page 3]
Summary: The Minority Leader in Parliament has withdrawn a defamation lawsuit he filed against the CEOs of GoldBod and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP).
Daily Guide
1. MAIN HEADLINE: Small Scale Gold Exports Hit $11.6bn – As Mahama Backs Local Gold Testing, Refining [Page 3]
Summary: Ghana’s small-scale gold exports have hit $11.6 billion. The story attributes this to GoldBod (Sammy Gyamfi pictured) and notes President Mahama’s support for local gold testing and refining to add value.
2. Heads Roll At GES Over NDC Headmaster Sex Scandal – Zakaria Abdulai [Page 2]
Summary: The Ghana Education Service is taking action following the sex scandal involving Obuasi SHTS Headmaster and NDC Juaben Secretary, Zakaria Abdulai. Heads are reported to have rolled at GES.
3. Who Succeeds Chief Justice? – Justice Gabriel Pwamang vs Justice Senyo Dzamefe [Page 2]
Summary: The paper examines succession to the Chief Justice position, profiling Justices Gabriel Pwamang and Senyo Dzamefe as contenders.
4. Ex-NAFCO Boss Trial Takes Month’s Adjournment – Hanan Abdul-Wahab [Page 6]
Summary: The trial of former NAFCO boss, Hanan Abdul-Wahab, has been adjourned for a month.
5. Probe Obuasi SHTS Sexual Abuse – NPP To CID – Mavis Hawa Koomson [Page 6]
Summary: The New Patriotic Party (NPP), through Mavis Hawa Koomson, is calling on the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to probe the alleged sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School.
The Chronicle
1. MAIN HEADLINE: SA Evacuation: MINORITY DISPUTES OKUDZETO’S RECORDS [Page 3]
Summary: The Minority in Parliament (pictured Nana Asafo-Agyei Ayeh) is disputing records presented by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa regarding the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa (SA).
2. GoldBod Reforms Create 4,866 Jobs – Sammy Gyamfi [Page 3]
Summary: GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi says reforms at GoldBod have created 4,866 jobs.
The New Publisher
1. MAIN HEADLINE: New Writs, Same War: Afenyo-Markin Sues Sammy Gyamfi, Eric Adjei Again
Summary: Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has filed a new defamation suit against GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi and NEIP CEO Eric Adjei. This is a second writ after he reportedly withdrew an earlier suit.
2. SHS Sex Probe Thickens: 19 GIRLS, ONE HEADMASTER [Page 3]
Summary: The investigation into alleged sexual abuse at Obuasi Senior High Technical School thickens. The case involves 19 girls and the headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai (pictured as The Accused Headmaster).
3. Two Presidents, One Afternoon: Mahama visits Kufuor at home [Page 2]
Summary: President John Mahama visited former President John Kufuor at his home. Photo shows the two former and current presidents together during the visit.
The Metro Lens
1. MAIN HEADLINE: Prez. Mahama Praises GoldBod As Exports Surge By 40 Tonnes [Page 9]
Summary: President John Mahama has praised GoldBod for its performance as gold exports surge by 40 tonnes.
2. 14+ Students, One Headmaster! Obuasi SHTS Rocked by Sexual Abuse Allegations [Page 6]
Summary: Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) has been rocked by sexual abuse allegations against its Headmaster, Zakaria Abdulai (pictured). More than 14 students are said to be involved.
3. Government Accountability Series With Malik Basintale [11:00 AM Wednesday, 21 Oct, 2026]
Summary: Presidency Communications presents the Government Accountability Series featuring Malik Basintale, Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency, scheduled for 11:00 AM today.
The Ghanaian Publisher
1. MAIN HEADLINE: GoldBod ASM Gold Exports Hit $11.6bn [Page 3]
Summary: GoldBod CEO Mr Sammy Gyamfi (pictured) reports that Artisanal Small-scale Mining (ASM) gold exports have reached $11.6 billion.
2. Obuasi SHTS Sex Abuse: Say Something, Madam – Hawa Koomson To Veep [Page 2]
Summary: NPP Women’s Organiser Mavis Hawa Koomson (pictured left) is calling on Vice President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang (pictured right) to speak out on the sexual abuse scandal at Obuasi Senior High Technical School.
3. Officers Aiding Drug Trade – Muntaka [Page 2]
Summary: Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak (pictured) alleges that some officers are aiding the drug trade.
The NewsCenta
1. MAIN HEADLINE: GoldBod Racks Up $11.6bn – From 85.4 tonnes of gold exported as local refining surge [Page 2]
Summary: GoldBod has raked in $11.6 billion from the export of 85.4 tonnes of gold, driven by a surge in local refining. CEO Sammy Gyamfi pictured.
2. NPP Youth Organiser hints at demo over rot, hardship [Page 4]
Summary: The National Youth Organiser of the NPP (Abanga Yakubu Fusani pictured) hints at organizing a demonstration over rot and hardship.
3. CHASS demands timely SHS funding, payment of arrears
Summary: The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) is demanding timely release of funding for Senior High Schools and payment of arrears.
4. Alleged Obuasi abuse scandal exposes GES failures – CRI [Page 3]
Summary: Child Rights International (CRI) says the alleged sexual abuse scandal at Obuasi SHTS exposes failures in the Ghana Education Service. Comment by Obuasi SHTS GES reform – CRI.
5. Mahama touts GoldBod gains to African countries [Page 9]
Summary: President John Mahama (pictured) is touting the gains made by GoldBod to other African countries as a model for gold management.
Daily Analyst
1. MAIN HEADLINE: Mahama Hails GoldBod – Over $10.8bn In Foreign Exchange Earnings
Summary: President John Dramani Mahama (pictured) has praised GoldBod for generating over $10.8 billion in foreign exchange earnings.
2. Juaben NDC Secretary resigns – After mounting pressure over sexual abuse allegations [Pages 3&4]
Summary: Zakaria Abdulai, Juaben NDC Constituency Secretary (pictured), has resigned following mounting pressure over sexual abuse allegations at Obuasi SHTS where he was headmaster.
3. Police search for missing fishing canoe, seven crew members
Summary: The Police have launched a search for a missing fishing canoe and its seven crew members. Photo shows a fishing canoe at sea.
4. Telecel Cash Ready Loan surpasses GHS 1 Billion in Loan disbursements!
Summary: Telecel’s Ready Loan product has surpassed GHS 1 billion in total loan disbursements. Comment by Philip Amoateng, Managing Director of Telecel Mobile Financial Services.
5. Priorise Environmental Impact Assessment of Ghana’s Cultural Heritage – Archaeologist warns
Summary: An archaeologist, Dr Samuel Ntewusu (pictured), warns that Ghana should prioritise Environmental Impact Assessment of its cultural heritage sites.
The Daily Searchlight
1. MAIN HEADLINE: WHO SUCCEEDS GHANA’S CHIEF JUSTICE? – Judicial experience, seniority, leadership credentials and reform agenda shape debate over future of Supreme Court [Pages 2]
Summary: The paper leads with the debate over who will succeed Ghana’s Chief Justice. It examines judicial experience, seniority, leadership and reform agenda as key factors, profiling 7 justices including Justice Amadu Tanko, Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, Justice Dennis Dominic Adjei, Justice Emmanuel Henry Kound, Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Justice Henrietta Joy Abena Nyarko Mensa-Bonsu, and Justice Senyo Dzamefe.
2. Mahama Hails GoldBod Policy to Retain More Gold Value in Ghana [Page 8]
Summary: President John Mahama has praised the GoldBod policy aimed at retaining more gold value in Ghana.
3. Afenyo Markin Files Fresh Defamation Suits Against Eric Adjei, Sammy Gyamfi [Page 7]
Summary: Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has filed fresh defamation suits against NEIP CEO Eric Adjei and GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi.
4. Ghana’s Lithium Promise: A Fading Dream? [Page 13]
Summary: The paper questions whether Ghana’s promise of lithium mining wealth is fading, with an image of lithium ore.
5. Nicholas Normeshie Picks Form to Contest as National Executive Member of NDC [Page 13]
Summary: Nicholas Normeshie has picked nomination forms to contest for a National Executive Member position in the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
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