According to him, the Greater Accra branch of the National Ambulance Service records about 5,000 prank calls each month. Ambulance Dispatch Centre records 200 prank calls in one hourSpeaking on Channel One TV on Friday, February 20, 2026, Asare said, “Prank calls normally happen when you raise a false alarm. There's no emergency, but you are calling that somebody is lying somewhere, so the ambulance service should come in. National Ambulance Service bombarded with 4,800 prank calls daily“Sometimes the number will call multiple times. So the prank calls really affect us.

The suspect, identified as Mohammed, is alleged to have impregnated the minor and later taken her to a private health facility to terminate the pregnancy without the knowledge or consent of her parents. “He has been charged with defilement and causing abortion,” the report said. 40-year-old man jailed 10 years for defilement, impregnating daughterThe victim’s father, Mohammed Salifu, said the family remains resolute in seeking justice, despite attempts by some community leaders to have the matter settled privately. He disclosed that two chiefs and other opinion leaders had visited their home to persuade them to withdraw the case, but the family rejected the proposal and insisted on pursuing legal action. Meanwhile, sources indicate that the family and some individuals connected to the case have allegedly received threats from persons believed to be linked to the accused.

Politics of Friday, 20 February 2026Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Minority Caucus has criticised what it describes as inconsistencies and policy symbolism within the Mahama administration’s flagship programmes, including the 24-hour economy initiative. According to the statement signed by Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the 24-Hour Economy “has departed totally from its original vision”. It pointed to what it described as contradictions between claims of 300,000 jobs and assertions of one million jobs created. “A government that cannot agree with itself on employment data cannot credibly manage national employment policy,” the statement said, adding that headlines were being prioritised over verified facts. The statement concluded that reform without implementation design amounts to “policy symbolism”, warning that legislative announcements without structural backing risk eroding public trust in governance and national transformation efforts.

Entertainment of Friday, 20 February 2026Source: www.ghanaweb.comA Ghanaian psychologist, Joseph Osafo Adu, has raised concerns about the psychological implications surrounding the use of Kayamata, describing it as a practice rooted in manipulation and low self-confidence. Speaking in an interview with Elsie Lamar, featured in a new exposé on the dark side of Kayamata, aired on GhanaWeb TV on February 18, 2026, Professor Osafo Adu explained that the fundamental motivation behind the use of Kayamata is manipulation. “The fundamental thing for the use of Kayamata is manipulation. Kayamata can damage liver, kidneys and cause infertility – Dr Francis Baidoo warnsProfessor Osafo Adu further warned about the long-term consequences of relationships built on manipulation rather than genuine emotional connection. Professor Osafo Adu added, “You can imagine a young lady who has used this and managed to get herself a very wealthy man.

Speaking at the commissioning of the B5 Plus LTD Steel Manufacturing Plant, onFriday, February 20, 2026, he said the facility will strengthen Ghana’s domestic steel production capacity. “If we reduce steel imports by even 20 to 30 percent annually, the foreign exchange savings alone could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars. “Steel consumption is a strong indicator of industrial development. Across emerging economies, per capita steel consumption rises in tandem with infrastructural development, urbanisation, and industrial expansion", he added. The commissioning of the plant is expected to advance Ghana’s industrialisation agenda by creating jobs, supporting infrastructure development, and reducing dependence on imported steel.

While Benjamin Asare has earned plaudits for his performances in the Ghana Premier League, Coach Nimley argued that domestic statistics are misleading. "The quality of finishing in our local league is not a good enough test." In a move to bring confidence to the post, Coach Nimley urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to look toward the Eredivisie. He specifically named Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro, the highly-rated AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper who plays his club football in the top tier Dutch league, as the ideal candidate for the Black Stars. For Coach Nimley, that starts with a ruthless overhaul of the goalkeeping department, prioritizing elite-level testing over local league form.

General News of Friday, 20 February 2026Source: www.ghanaweb.comTraffic on the Apam Junction–Winneba stretch of the highway has been temporarily halted following an accident involving a fuel tanker at Ekumfi Essarkyir Junction in the Central Region. The tanker reportedly lost control while in motion and overturned, blocking a section of the busy highway and causing significant disruption to vehicular movement in the area. Officers from the Ghana Police Service also cordoned off the affected area and suspended traffic as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety. Emergency teams are currently transferring the remaining fuel into another tanker to minimise the risk and facilitate the clearing of the highway. Authorities have advised motorists to use alternative routes while efforts continue to restore normal traffic flow and fully secure the accident scene.

General News of Friday, 20 February 2026Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Ghana Police Service has had the suspect in the Mamprobi Polyclinic baby theft case remanded in custody for two weeks after being denied bail, despite arguments by her lawyer citing family responsibilities. However, after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence, the judge ruled that the suspect should remain in custody to allow investigations to continue. She will reappear before the court on March 4, 2026, for the hearing to continue. Police undertook a manhunt, and at about 3:40 AM on Wednesday, the suspect was found at the premises of the Korle‑Bu Teaching Hospital with the baby, believed to be the missing child. More details emerge as neighbours of Mamprobi baby thief speakPolice disclosed that upon interrogation, Salifu claimed she had delivered at the hospital and was discharged due to a lack of bed space, but officers found no record to support her claim.

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Politics of Friday, 20 February 2026Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Minority Caucus has expressed concern that Ghana is returning to what it describes as dangerous over-reliance on commodity prices to sustain economic stability. In its latest statement, the Caucus warned that improvements in macroeconomic indicators are being driven largely by global gold prices rather than domestic structural reforms. “Without subjecting recent developments to these three tests, national discourse is reduced to slogans, not governance,” the Minority stated. On the cocoa sector, the Caucus claimed farmers are losing more than GH¢1,000 per bag due to structural changes in trading systems and the removal of stabilisation and hedging buffers. Ending on a cautionary note, the Minority stated that “this is not economic resilience; it is renewed commodity dependence and a return to old structural vulnerabilities”.

Politics of Friday, 20 February 2026Source: www.ghanaweb.comGeneral Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has clarified reports regarding a cash donation purportedly offered to Hajia Amina Mahama, widow of the late Ayawaso East MP, by the Majority Caucus. Ayawaso East By-Election: Umar Sanda expelled from NDC over independent bid“Speaking to some of the key leaders like the Majority Leader and Majority Chief Whip, they clearly did not know anything about this particular donation,” he said. I think it is individuals, and those individuals portrayed that they were representing the Majority as a whole,” Kwetey added. BackgroundThe campaign manager for Mohammed Baba Jamal, the NDC parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso East, had accused the party’s Majority Caucus in Parliament of favouring Hajia Amina Mahama during the recent primaries. For them to turn around and accuse someone else because their preferred candidate lost is unacceptable,” Khalid said.

Business News of Friday, 20 February 2026Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Deputy Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Sampson Ahi, has assured of government’s commitment to address challenges affecting Ghana’s textile and garment industry. Speaking at the Public-Private Dialogue on Textile and Garment Trade Facilitation Challenges in Sogakope on Wednesday, February 19, 2026, Ahi emphasised that the industry holds immense potential for job creation, particularly for women and the youth, while strengthening Ghana’s position in regional and global value chains. According to a report by myjoyonline.com, on February 20, 2026, the minister stated that industry players continue to face constraints across the trade value chain, including customs and clearance procedures, compliance requirements, logistics bottlenecks, and underutilisation of trade facilitation schemes. Government to grow textile and garment industry to $2 billion by 2033“This dialogue has been convened not merely as a forum, but as a partnership…the Ministry is committed to listening, learning, and collaborating with private sector actors and trade facilitation institutions to implement workable reforms,” he said. In her remarks, the Director for West Africa and AfCFTA at TradeMark Africa, Harriet Gayi, underscored the urgency of evidence-based trade facilitation reforms to reposition Ghana as a competitive garment manufacturing hub.

During an interview on JoyNews’ AM Show on February 20, 2026, Prof Boadi described President John Dramani Mahama’s signing of the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill as “symbolically powerful. “The signing yesterday had an investor signalling. Don't rush 24-hour economy policy rollout - Yendi MP warnsHe explained that the policy targets key sectors including manufacturing, agribusiness, agro-processing, health, retail, transportation and hospitality — areas where continuous operations and time efficiency are crucial. President Mahama assents to 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill“You want to do a programme… do you have the money now?” he asked, emphasising that financial readiness is key to achieving real results. "When you go to DVLA or the Passport Office, and they say they are operating a 24-Hour Economy, under which law?” he asked.

Business News of Friday, 20 February 2026Source: www.ghanaweb.comThe Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Simon Madjie, has urged investors to take advantage of emerging opportunities within Ghana’s coconut value chain to drive industrial growth, export diversification and environmental sustainability. He made the call in Accra at the Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition organised by the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA). He described coconut as one of the most commercially viable, yet underdeveloped crops in Ghana’s agricultural portfolio. He stressed that the coconut value chain offers investment prospects across plantation development, structured out-grower schemes, aggregation, storage, processing and advanced manufacturing. “The majority of value in the global coconut industry is captured after the farm gate.

Sports News of Friday, 20 February 2026Source: www.ghanaweb.comManchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has said that racism can best be addressed in society through educational institutions and not football. According to him, racism remains prevalent in society, where people discriminate against others and foster feelings of superiority. The Spanish manager stressed that racism is not only about skin color but also about behavioral traits that make individuals feel superior and undermine others. Do you think racism is only about skin color? Speaking on how to combat the menace, Guardiola stated that schools should lead the fight since most people pass through their systems during training and education.