JoyNews’ flagship current affairs programme, Newsfile, will air on Saturday, October 10. The show will run from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon on Joy 99.7 FM, JoyNews, and other platforms. Hosted by Samson Lardy Anyenini, it will discuss four major national issues.
The first topic is the allegations regarding Ghana’s visa arrangements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns about these arrangements. At a press conference on October 7, Vincent Ekow Assafuah claimed some individuals paid between US$7,000 and US$14,000 for visa processing.
The Minority also questioned the verification of personnel submitted by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the National Sports Authority (NSA). They alleged that only two out of fifty names from the GTA were verified as media professionals. Additionally, fifteen out of one hundred two names from the NSA were confirmed as actual employees.
President John Dramani Mahama has asked former NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah to step aside. Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong has been appointed acting Director-General. The Ministry of Sports and Recreation provided a timeline of its engagements related to World Cup preparations.
The second topic will address demolitions along La Beach in Accra. This includes structures at La Pleasure Beach and Polo Beach Club near Labadi Beach Hotel. The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) defended these actions as necessary due to unlawful occupation and encroachment.
SSNIT stated that both hotels are part of its investment portfolio and must be protected. Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe clarified that this operation was not linked to government flood mitigation efforts but was conducted under National Security supervision at Labadi Beach Hotel’s request.
The Ghana Journalists Association condemned attacks on journalists covering these demolitions. They have given the Ghana Armed Forces two weeks to account for their personnel’s actions during this operation.
The third discussion will focus on strikes affecting Ghana’s education system. Pre-tertiary teachers’ unions have been striking since September 25 over delayed promotions and allowances. A meeting with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission ended without an agreement on October 6.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu promised that salary grades for at least 51,000 promoted teachers would be validated by October 16. He stated that if arrears are not paid by October 30, he would feel dishonored.
Meanwhile, university administrators have also been striking for over two months, disrupting services at public universities. University of Ghana Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Gordon Awandare warned that academic calendars could collapse if strikes continue into next week.
KNUST has postponed its reopening indefinitely due to ongoing strikes. Discussions will consider unresolved grievances and their impact on students.
Lastly, Newsfile will examine Ghana’s application to join the BRICS economic bloc announced by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The Minority in Parliament seeks clarity on this decision’s geopolitical implications for national interests.
Ranking Member Samuel Abu Jinapor questioned why Ghana is pursuing full membership instead of following Nigeria’s example as a partner country in BRICS. Mr Ablakwa defended the application as a means to broaden development options for Ghana.
India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar welcomed Ghana’s interest but noted that expansion requires consensus among existing BRICS members. The panel will explore potential opportunities arising from this bid alongside existing international partnerships.
Newsfile airs on Joy 99.7 FM, JoyNews, and other platforms from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
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