Newsfile to discuss EOCO arrest of Manhyia South MP, drug trafficking, teachers’ strike and Ghana’s sports crisis

JoyNews' Newsfile, scheduled for Saturday, will delve into several major issues currently dominating Ghana's national conversation. First up, the ongoing investigation by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) into Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah. Awuah voluntarily turned himself in to EOCO after a High Court warrant for his arrest was issued, leading to searches at his office and residence.

The probe centers on alleged criminal conspiracy, financial losses to SIC Savings and Loans, money laundering, and tax-related offenses. Although Awuah is cooperating with investigators, his legal team and some members of the opposition have raised concerns over the proceedings and his detention.

Next, the program will address Ghana's escalating drug trafficking concerns, following a series of significant seizures linked to the country. The debate has intensified over how narcotics are making their way through Ghana's ports and if weaknesses in the system are being exploited by organized criminal networks. There are also allegations of possible political protection, though such claims remain unproven and require evidence.

The 2025 Global Organized Crime Index highlights that Ghanaian organized crime groups have emerged as significant players in the global cocaine trade. Law-enforcement officials and civil-society stakeholders consulted for the assessment suggested that political protection by certain government sectors may explain the decline in cocaine seizures and reduced visibility of trafficking.

The teachers' strike continues to be unresolved, with thousands of educators refusing to return to classrooms due to demands such as overdue promotion arrears, automatic placement on new salary grades, the Deprived Area Allowance, and a new collective agreement. Negotiations between the government and teacher unions have yet to reach a settlement, raising concerns about the strike's impact on the academic calendar.

Lastly, Ghana's sports administration faces new challenges. The departure of Black Stars coach Carlos Queiroz, following Ghana's difficult start to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, and the suspension of National Sports Authority Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, linked to an alleged World Cup visa facilitation arrangement, have raised questions about the sector's direction. Queiroz has denied wrongdoing, while Ampofo Ankrah has denied allegations and has been suspended pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.