A 32-year-old Nigerien tricycle rider, Mustapha Usman, has been sentenced to seven months in prison for facilitating the unlawful entry of four Nigerien nationals into Ghana.

The Denu Circuit Court handed down the sentence after Usman pleaded guilty to charges of migrant smuggling and causing a false representation to be made. The sentences—three months for migrant smuggling and four months for false representation—will run concurrently.

According to the prosecution, Usman, who resides in Togo, was engaged by the four migrants to help them enter Ghana. They allegedly agreed to pay him GH¢200 each to transport them from the Lagos Lorry Park in Lomé to Kojoviakope, near the Aflao Beat Six area.

The prosecution told the court that after arriving at Kojoviakope, Usman contacted an accomplice identified as Remy, who is currently at large, to assist with getting the migrants across the border.

In an attempt to evade immigration checks, the four Nigeriens were allegedly hidden inside the bucket of Usman’s tricycle and covered, making the vehicle appear empty.

The prosecution said Remy later arranged for another tricycle rider to transport the loaded vehicle into Ghana while he and Usman monitored the operation from a distance.

The tricycle crossed into Ghana at about 6:30 p.m. but was intercepted by Ghana Immigration Service officers around Beat Seven.

The other rider reportedly fled the scene, while Usman later appeared and identified himself as the owner of the tricycle.

Investigators subsequently questioned the four migrants, who reportedly told authorities that they had each contributed towards the GH¢200 payment made to Usman.

Usman was arrested by officers of the Ghana Immigration Service, Aflao Sector Command, and was prosecuted under provisions of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), as amended.

The court ordered that he be returned to the custody of the Aflao Police Station pending his transfer to Ho Central Prison.

Meanwhile, the four Nigerien migrants have been repatriated.

Dr Benjamin Oduro Arhin, popularly known as Bnoskka, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to honour the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s manifesto commitment to commence plans for a second National Theatre in Kumasi, warning that the creative industry was not consulted before an alternative proposal was presented to Cabinet.

The Senior Lecturer at the Department of Music Education at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), expressed concern over a statement by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, suggesting that government should prioritise completing existing theatre and cultural infrastructure in the Ashanti Region instead of starting a new project.

In a press release dated September 19, 2026, Dr Arhin said the proposal had raised questions about the government’s commitment to its manifesto promise and the extent to which creative industry stakeholders had been involved in decisions affecting the sector.

Dr Arhin drew attention to the NDC’s 2024 manifesto, specifically Chapter 3, Section 3.3.2, titled Building a Thriving Creative Industry, on page 53, point 12.

According to him, the manifesto states:

“We will rehabilitate the National Theatre in Accra and commence plans to build a second National Theatre in Kumasi.”

He said the commitment was also reiterated by President Mahama on November 12, 2024, in Kumasi.

During the engagement, the President reportedly indicated that the proposal had already featured in the NDC’s 2020 manifesto and was repeated in the 2024 manifesto because, in his words, “Kumasi is the centre of Arts and Culture in this country.”

Dr Arhin further noted that the government’s commitment was reflected in the 2026 Budget Statement, which indicated that government would rehabilitate the National Theatre in Accra and commence site acquisition and design work for a second National Theatre in Kumasi.

He said these commitments had created expectations among creative industry stakeholders, particularly those in the Ashanti Region, who anticipate the establishment of a major national cultural facility in Kumasi.

The UEW lecturer’s concerns follow comments made by the Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Minister during the Government Accountability Series on Monday, August 10, 2026.

At the event, the minister reportedly said she had toured theatre facilities and Centres for National Culture in the Ashanti Region and subsequently proposed that government focus on completing existing projects rather than beginning construction of a new theatre.

Her statement, as reproduced in Dr Arhin’s release, reads:

“I took a tour of Ashanti Region’s theatre and Centre for National Culture spaces, and I have suggested to Cabinet that instead of starting a new one, we focus on finishing what has been started and Cabinet is in approval of that suggestion.”

Dr Arhin said the minister’s proposal was concerning because, in his view, creative industry stakeholders in Kumasi and across the country had not been consulted before the recommendation was presented to Cabinet.

He argued that stakeholders should have been allowed to express their views on whether government should proceed with the construction of a new National Theatre in Kumasi, as promised in the manifesto, or concentrate on completing existing theatre and cultural infrastructure.

According to him, the minister’s decision should not be presented as representing the collective position of creative industry stakeholders when, he maintains, they were not consulted.

He stressed that the absence of consultation was a central issue in the disagreement over the proposed direction of the project.

Dr Arhin appealed directly to President Mahama not to accept the minister’s recommendation at the expense of the proposed new National Theatre in Kumasi.

He maintained that stakeholders had not been consulted and insisted that they did not support the minister’s reported proposal.

In his appeal, he urged the President to proceed with plans to build a new theatre in Kumasi in fulfilment of the NDC’s manifesto commitment.

He also invoked the legacy of former President Jerry John Rawlings, who oversaw the construction of the National Theatre in Accra.

Dr Arhin argued that building a second National Theatre in Kumasi would similarly establish a lasting legacy for President Mahama, particularly in the decentralisation of arts and culture.

He said the project would demonstrate a commitment to extending major cultural infrastructure beyond Accra and providing the Ashanti Region with a national facility dedicated to the creative arts.

The creative arts researcher and commentator described Kumasi as the cultural heartbeat of Ghana, pointing to the city’s contribution to the country’s artistic and cultural identity.

He cited Kumawood, Highlife music, Adowa and the craft industry as examples of the cultural traditions and creative activities associated with the Ashanti regional capital.

According to him, these contributions reinforce the importance of establishing a major national theatre in Kumasi.

He expressed hope that the President would consider the concerns raised by creative industry stakeholders and ensure that the manifesto commitment was fulfilled.

Dr Arhin concluded his statement by arguing that the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts should be held accountable by creative industry stakeholders if the manifesto promise to commence plans for a second National Theatre in Kumasi is not fulfilled.

He maintained that the President had made a commitment to the project and should proceed with it rather than abandon it in favour of the minister’s reported recommendation.

The lecturer reiterated his appeal for the government to honour its pledge, stressing the importance of stakeholder consultation and the need to consider the views of those working within the creative industry.

The statement was signed by Dr Benjamin Oduro Arhin, also known as Bnoskka, of the Department of Music Education at the University of Education, Winneba, who describes himself as a creative arts researcher and commentator.

September 21, 2026

Oil prices fell to their lowest level in more than a week on Monday as investors assessed the possibility of renewed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict involving Iran. The decline came ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where attention is expected to focus on efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East.

The Austrian Fix for the Manufactured Iranian Energy Crisis | Mises Institute

Crude prices retreat

Brent crude futures fell to around $101.71 a barrel, down about 2.1%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude declined to approximately $98.15 a barrel. Both benchmarks earlier touched their lowest levels since September 10.

The market movement reflects a reduction in the additional price premium investors have attached to the possibility of further disruption to Middle Eastern oil supplies. Analysts cited by Reuters said expectations of a diplomatic route toward de-escalation were contributing to the decline.

Watch War in Iran: Market Underestimates Iran on Oil, Hormuz, Rapidan Energy’s McNally Says – Bloomberg

Diplomatic activity in focus

The upcoming UN General Assembly has increased expectations of diplomatic engagement. U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he would be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is expected in New York for the gathering.

Iran has also reportedly communicated conditions for returning to negotiations through mediators. However, there has been no confirmation that a direct meeting between the two leaders will take place.

The diplomatic uncertainty means markets remain sensitive to developments from Washington, Tehran and other regional governments.

News, Information and Reports Related to Strait of Hormuz

Saudi oil exports provide another factor

Oil prices have also been influenced by signs that Saudi Arabia is recovering some of its disrupted export capacity.

Attacks on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline affected crude shipments and led Saudi Aramco to redirect more exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Provisional shipping data cited by Reuters showed Saudi oil flows through the strait averaging about 2.9 million barrels per day in recent days, compared with roughly 700,000 barrels per day in August.

Saudi exports had fallen sharply in August, but provisional data indicated that shipments had recovered to more than 4 million barrels per day so far in September.

Strait of Hormuz could be vulnerable to Iran retaliation. Here’s what …

Iran war will throttle oil flows even if Strait of Hormuz reopens soon …

Middle East risks remain

Despite the decline in crude prices, the underlying risks to energy supplies have not disappeared. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has continued attacks in the region, including strikes reported around Riyadh and against infrastructure connected to Saudi Arabia’s oil industry.

The Strait of Hormuz also remains central to the global energy market because of its role in transporting oil and liquefied natural gas from the Gulf to international markets. Continued disruption around the region could therefore quickly change market expectations.

For now, traders appear to be balancing two competing developments: hopes that diplomatic engagement could reduce the conflict and continuing concerns about security and energy supplies.

The direction of oil prices in the coming sessions is likely to depend heavily on whether diplomatic contacts produce concrete progress and whether regional oil shipments continue to recover.

By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | Technology & Business Report

A launch day marked by a labor dispute

Apple’s latest iPhone launch in Italy coincided with a nationwide walkout by Apple retail employees, putting a labor dispute alongside one of the company’s biggest annual retail events.

On 18 September 2026, workers at Apple Retail Italia stores staged a full-shift strike over working conditions. The action was organized by Filcams CGIL, Fisascat CISL and Uiltucs and coincided with the Italian launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Reuters reported that the action concerned more than 1,600 employees across 17 Apple stores.

What workers are asking for

The unions say the dispute centers primarily on staffing, workloads and employment arrangements.

Among their demands are:

• Additional permanent hiring
• Conversion of some fixed-term contracts into permanent positions
• The opportunity for part-time employees to voluntarily increase their working hours
• Adequate staffing levels for individual stores
• Changes to working arrangements and job responsibilities

Union representatives have also complained about increasing workloads and what they describe as greater overlap between employees’ responsibilities. According to the unions, new procedures and productivity requirements have added pressure to store personnel.

Fisascat CISL reported an average strike participation rate of 70%, with some locations reaching higher levels. That figure is a union-reported estimate rather than an independently verified participation figure.

Aperto l’Apple Store a Milano, centinaia in fila – Corriere.it

Why launch day was significant

The timing was deliberate.

The iPhone 18 Pro went on sale worldwide on 18 September, generating queues at Apple stores in several countries. In Milan, however, customers arriving for the new device encountered demonstrations by Apple retail workers outside the company’s prominent glass-cube store.

Reuters footage showed employees using flags, whistles and rattlers during the demonstration while customers queued nearby. A union representative told Reuters that the iPhone launch was chosen because of its importance to Apple’s public image.

The result was an unusual contrast: customers arriving to celebrate a major technology launch while employees were using the same event to highlight an unresolved workplace dispute.

Neuer Apple-Flagship-Store in Mailand: Springbrunnen-Eingang und verändertes Innen-Layout | News | MacTechNews.de

Apple’s response

Apple said its Italian retail and online stores remained open during the strike and that it was prepared to welcome customers.

The company also defended its employee compensation and benefits, pointing to medical, dental and vision coverage as well as mental-health and wellness support.

This provides an important distinction in the dispute: the unions’ assessment of working conditions and Apple’s description of its employment package are different perspectives, and neither should be treated as an independently established conclusion about the overall quality of employment without further evidence.

El éxito supera a la producción: más de un mes de espera para conseguir el nuevo iPhone

What happened inside the stores?

Available reporting indicates that the stores continued operating despite the industrial action. Reuters reported that Apple said its outlets would operate normally. At the same time, pickets were organized outside selected stores, including Apple’s flagship location in central Milan.

The strike therefore did not amount to a nationwide closure of Apple’s Italian retail network. Rather, employees withheld their labor while Apple maintained retail operations.

The dispute goes beyond the iPhone

The disagreement is part of a broader negotiation between Apple Retail Italia and employee representatives.

According to Fisascat CISL, discussions have included staffing levels, contract arrangements, working hours and the organization of store duties. The union says an earlier meeting on 29 July 2026 did not produce agreement on its proposed structural staffing measures.

ANSA likewise reported union concerns about staffing shortages, heavier workloads and pressure surrounding hourly productivity.

The commercial backdrop

The labor dispute occurred as Apple launched its latest premium iPhone generation.

Reuters reported that the iPhone 18 Pro starts at €1,489 in Italy. The launch also comes ahead of Apple’s planned release of its Duo foldable smartphone, scheduled for 23 October, which unions say could create another period of heightened activity for retail employees.

The bigger picture

The Italian walkout illustrates how major product launches can become important moments in labor negotiations. For Apple, launch day is designed around customer attention, retail activity and global publicity. For the unions, the same visibility provided an opportunity to put employment concerns before the public.

The immediate effect appears to have been limited: Apple’s stores remained open, while demonstrations took place outside several locations. But the underlying negotiations remain unresolved, according to the unions, and further industrial action could follow.

Bottom line: The 18 September walkout was not a protest against the iPhone 18 Pro itself. It was a labor dispute involving Apple retail employees, centered on staffing, contracts, working hours and workload, and deliberately timed to coincide with one of Apple’s highest-profile retail days of the year.

A reflection on Ghana’s Founders’ Day debate has drawn on two traditional symbols — Afuntummireku and Tikro Nkɔ Agyina — to call for political unity, consultation and a shared national purpose.

The writer, Seth Afum A. Dankwah of J. G. Knol Technical Institute at Adukrom-Akuapem in the Eastern Region, argues that although Ghana’s two major political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), may have different political identities, they ultimately share the same national interest.

In a statement dated Monday, September 21, 2026, Mr Dankwah said the lesson could be captured in the traditional concept of Afuntummireku, represented by the Funtunfunefu Denkyemfunefu symbol — two creatures with separate heads but sharing one stomach.

He said another symbol, Tikro Nkɔ Agyina, which conveys the idea that one head cannot go into council alone, equally offers an important lesson for Ghana’s political system.

According to him, the two symbols became particularly meaningful to him during a recent visit to the Presbyterian College of Education at Akropong-Akuapem.

Mr Dankwah said that while walking through the campus one morning, he noticed the two symbols displayed on the walls of separate halls.

He explained that he had used the route several times but had never stopped to pay attention to the inscriptions until that particular morning.

“On one wall was the Afuntummireku symbol — Funtunfunefu Denkyemfunefu — two creatures with two separate heads but sharing one stomach. On another wall, a few footsteps away, was Tikro Nkɔ Agyina — two heads joined together as one,” he wrote.

For him, the two walls carried one message for Ghana: political and ideological differences should not destroy the shared national interest.

Mr Dankwah linked the traditional symbolism to the long-running debate over Ghana’s Founders’ Day commemoration.

He noted that the political interpretation of Ghana’s founding history has differed depending on which political party is in government.

“When the NPP is in power, it is called Founders’ Day. When the NDC is in power, it is called Founder’s Day,” he said.

He added that one political side argues that Ghana’s independence cannot be attributed to only one individual, while another places particular emphasis on Dr Kwame Nkrumah as the founder.

“Same independence, same history. Different heads, different spellings, but same stomach called Ghana,” Mr Dankwah wrote.

He said the debate becomes particularly significant on September 21, a date associated with the commemoration of Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

According to him, Ghanaians often debate whether the appropriate emphasis should be on Founder or Founders, or whether the country’s independence story should focus on Nkrumah or include the wider group of personalities associated with the independence struggle.

He argued that the debate should not become an excuse for one side to diminish the contribution of another.

“We argue as if by diminishing the other head, our head becomes taller,” he said.

Mr Dankwah used the Afuntummireku symbol to describe the relationship between the NPP and NDC.

He said the two parties have spent decades competing against each other through elections, parliamentary debates, political campaigns and public commentary.

“For thirty-two years, our democracy has lived like those symbols. The NPP and the NDC represent the two heads of ‘AFUNTUMMIREKU’,” he wrote.

He accused both sides of engaging in political battles without always considering the wider consequences for Ghana.

According to him, the parties may be politically divided, but they are connected by the country’s economy, environment, institutions and overall wellbeing.

“They snap at each other every morning on radio, they argue in Parliament, they campaign as if the other must not eat. Each wants to eat first. Each wants to starve the other,” he said.

But he argued that, like the two creatures represented by Afuntummireku, both political sides ultimately share one “stomach” — Ghana.

“When the economy bleeds, it is that one stomach that bleeds,” he wrote.

He cited issues including illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, economic difficulties, fuel prices, the depreciation of the cedi and investor confidence as matters that can affect Ghanaians regardless of their political affiliation.

He specifically referenced the impact of galamsey on water bodies in areas such as Obuasi and Tarkwa, arguing that environmental damage does not discriminate between supporters of different political parties.

“When galamsey poisons the rivers at Obuasi or Tarkwa, both creatures will drink the same poisoned water,” he stated.

He also criticised what he described as partisan reactions to economic difficulties, arguing that celebrating negative economic developments simply because one’s political opponent is in government ultimately harms the country.

“If that stomach gets an ulcer from winner-takes-all politics by the government, from propaganda, from debt and greed, both heads will die with it,” he wrote.

Mr Dankwah said the central lesson from Afuntummireku should not be interpreted as a call for the NPP and NDC to stop competing.

Instead, he said political competition is necessary in a democracy, but it should not become destructive.

“That is the first thing the wall taught me: We can have different heads, but we cannot afford a divided stomach. Competition is allowed. Destruction is not,” he said.

He further applied that principle to Ghana’s history, particularly the debate over the country’s founders.

He argued that presenting Ghana’s independence story exclusively through the contribution of Dr Kwame Nkrumah would leave out other personalities and groups, just as presenting the story only through the Big Six would overlook Nkrumah and the wider mass movement that supported the independence struggle.

“To tell Ghana’s story with only Nkrumah and without Danquah and the Big Six is incomplete history,” he said.

He added: “To tell it with only the Big Six and without Nkrumah and the thousands of market women, farmers, students and ex-servicemen who followed him is also incomplete history.”

Mr Dankwah therefore described Ghana’s independence as a collective national achievement involving different individuals and groups.

“Ghana’s independence had many heads, but one stomach — freedom,” he stated

The second symbol, Tikro Nkɔ Agyina, according to Mr Dankwah, carries a different but complementary message.

He interpreted it as a reminder that one person or one group should not assume that it has all the answers.

“Tikro Nkɔ Agyina. One head does not go into council,” he wrote.

He said the principle should guide political leadership regardless of which party controls government.

“Our greatest mistakes as a nation have come when one head thought it was singularly enough. And both sides have been guilty of this act,” he stated.

Mr Dankwah argued that successive governments have sometimes acted as though they possessed all the answers and did not need sufficient input from others.

He also extended the criticism to Parliament, saying majorities can sometimes behave as though they do not need minority voices.

According to him, the situation can reverse when political power changes hands, with a new majority potentially repeating the same pattern.

“One majority in Parliament sometimes decides it does not need the minority, and when the tables turn, the new majority repeats the same arrogance,” he wrote.

Mr Dankwah said Ghana’s governance would benefit from greater consultation, particularly on major national policies and historical issues.

He argued that political power should not become a one-head council, regardless of the political party in government.

“Ghana suffers when power becomes a one-head council, no matter which head wears the crown,” he said.

He claimed that the consequences can include policies being introduced without adequate consultation, historical narratives being changed without broad agreement and opposition parties being treated as enemies rather than alternative voices in a democratic system.

He also said ordinary citizens should have a place in the national conversation.

He mentioned teachers, farmers, students and traditional leaders as among the groups whose views should not be excluded from the national agyina or council.

Mr Dankwah ultimately urged supporters of both major political parties to see themselves as participants in the same national project.

He said the NPP and NDC should not be treated as enemies despite their political differences.

“The NPP and NDC are not enemies. They are Siamese twins,” he wrote.

He used the metaphor to emphasise that the two parties may have separate political identities but remain connected by Ghana’s national interest.

He argued that if the country were to adopt the lessons represented by Afuntummireku and Tikro Nkɔ Agyina, political parties could continue to compete strongly during elections while cooperating on matters affecting the long-term wellbeing of the country.

“If we lived by those two inscriptions, our politics would change. We would still compete fiercely at elections, but we would protect the stomach together after elections,” he said.

Mr Dankwah concluded his reflection by returning to the two symbols he encountered at the Presbyterian College of Education at Akropong-Akuapem.

He said Afuntummireku should remind both the NPP and NDC that their political differences do not change the fact that they are connected by Ghana.

“Afuntummireku tells both NPP and NDC: You are different, but you are joined. Stop fighting over food that will end up in the same stomach,” he wrote.

He said the debate over whether the country should commemorate “Founder’s” or “Founders’” Day should not overshadow the broader national interest.

“Whether you call it Founders’ or Founder’s, the stomach you are feeding is Ghana,” he stated.

He said Tikro Nkɔ Agyina, on the other hand, should serve as a reminder to whoever holds political power that no government or leader has all the answers.

“Your head alone is not enough. Come into council. You cannot decide Ghana’s history alone; you cannot govern Ghana alone. Listen to dissenting opinions,” he said.

He described the two inscriptions as a lesson extending from the walls of the Presbyterian College of Education at Akropong-Akuapem to Ghana’s political institutions in Accra.

“That is the lesson from the walls of the Presbyterian College of Education at Akropong-Akuapem to the walls of power in Accra,” he wrote.

Mr Dankwah ended the statement with a message marking the September 21 commemoration:

“Happy Founder’s Day. Happy Founders’ Day. Happy Birthday Ghana — our one stomach.”

Ghana’s official public discourse around national unity has also continued to emphasise the idea of a shared national identity. In a New Year message for 2026, President John Dramani Mahama said Ghana’s political differences should not undermine the country’s common purpose, stressing that there is only one Ghana.