President John Mahama has announced that the government has secured a 300-million-dollar facility from the World Bank to upgrade 50 senior high schools across the country as part of efforts to improve access and quality in secondary education.

Speaking at the commissioning of a PET Scan at the Swedish Ghana Medical Centre, President Mahama said the initiative, known as the Transformative Secondary Education for Access, Results and Relevance for Jobs project (STARR-J), would play a major role in ending the Double Track system by 2027.

“The STARR-J project is going to assist the Ghana government achieve its target of bringing an end to double track in our secondary school system by next year. By 2027, there should be no secondary school implementing a double track system in Ghana,” he stated.

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According to the President, the project will see 30 Category C senior high schools upgraded to Category B, while 20 Category B schools will be elevated to Category A.

“This strategic investment is not simply about expanding infrastructure. It is fundamentally about promoting equity, improving quality, and widening opportunities for every Ghanaian child,” he said.

President Mahama disclosed that new E-block community day schools would also be constructed in urban and peri-urban communities to ease pressure on boarding facilities and improve access to secondary education.

“So what this means is that if we get some of the children to go to school within their communities, it will ease the pressure on the boarding schools that are elsewhere,” he explained.

He added that the schools would be strategically located in communities where students can commute easily between home and school.

Beyond infrastructure, the President said the STARR-J initiative would focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning, particularly in technical and vocational education.

“As part of this initiative, all teachers in our secondary schools will benefit from continuous professional development programmes designed to sharpen their skills and improve classroom effectiveness,” he noted.

He said the training programmes would equip teachers with “21st century competencies, including digital literacy, critical thinking, innovative pedagogical approaches, artificial intelligence integration, and learner-centred teaching.”

President Mahama further praised teachers for their contribution to national development, describing education as the “bedrock of national development.”

“Behind every successful doctor, every successful engineer, entrepreneur, public servant, scientist, and let me add, behind every president, there stands a teacher who inspired, nurtured and guided them on that journey,” he stated.

The President also talked about recent reforms to career progression within the teaching service, saying the government had introduced measures to allow teachers to rise through the ranks based on merit, competence, experience, and performance rather than the availability of administrative positions.

“This reform ensures that excellence in the classroom is recognized and rewarded, whilst strengthening professionalism, morale, and dignity across the teaching service,” he added.

The newly commissioned PET Scan machine at the Swedish Ghana Medical Centre is expected to significantly improve advanced diagnostic healthcare services in Ghana.

A PET Scan, short for Positron Emission Tomography scan, is an advanced imaging technology used to detect and monitor diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and brain disorders by showing how tissues and organs are functioning inside the body.

The technology helps doctors identify diseases at early stages, improve treatment planning, and monitor patients’ responses to treatment.

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A Canadian court has sentenced Emmanuel Yeboah, a 38-year-old self-styled Ghanaian pastor based in Barrie, to 18 months in prison following his conviction in a case involving a 13-year-old girl connected to his congregation.

The sentencing, delivered by Justice Robert Gattrell, has drawn attention within both the Ghanaian and wider immigrant communities in Canada, where the case has sparked discussions about religious authority, accountability, and the responsibility of community leaders entrusted with the care of young people.

Yeboah was convicted of sexual assault, sexual interference, and assault after a trial centred on an incident that occurred three years ago.

Court proceedings heard that Yeboah was regarded not only as a pastor by members of his congregation but also as a trusted family friend of the victim’s relatives. According to evidence presented in court, he had offered to take the teenager to a piano lesson, an outing prosecutors argued later became an abuse of trust.

While the court avoided disclosing graphic details, testimony indicated that inappropriate conduct occurred while the pair were alone together. The victim later returned home, distressed by the experience.

During sentencing, Justice Gattrell noted that some of Yeboah’s actions reflected behaviour commonly associated with grooming, including attempts to build trust through gifts and friendly gestures.

The emotional impact on the teenager became more evident days later when she unexpectedly encountered Yeboah again at her family home. The court heard that she became frightened and sought refuge at a neighbour’s residence.

The case later resulted in an additional assault conviction linked to efforts to return her home.

Throughout the proceedings, Yeboah maintained his innocence. Even after the guilty verdict, the court heard that he continued to receive support from some members of his congregation and community.

During sentencing submissions, Crown prosecutors sought a four-year prison term, arguing that the offences involved a serious breach of trust and emotional harm to a vulnerable young person.

However, the defence requested a reduced sentence of one year, citing Yeboah’s lack of a prior criminal record, his role as the sole provider for his family, and the continued support he received within his community.

Justice Gattrell ultimately imposed an 18-month custodial sentence, taking into account several mitigating factors raised by the defence.

Among the considerations were the impact the sentence would have on Yeboah’s wife and children, as well as the immigration consequences he may now face as a permanent resident of Canada.

Under Canadian immigration law, non-citizens who receive custodial sentences exceeding six months may face removal proceedings. Although criminal courts do not directly determine deportation matters, the judge acknowledged that Yeboah could face deportation after serving his sentence.

Upon his release, Yeboah will also be subject to strict court-imposed conditions restricting contact with persons under the age of 18 unless another responsible adult is present.

The proceedings also raised questions about Yeboah’s pastoral background and qualifications.

Although he was widely described during the trial as a pastor, little information was presented about any formal religious training, official ordination, or the registration of a church organisation associated with him.

A LinkedIn profile linked to a Barrie resident with the same name identified him primarily as a courier driver and did not reference pastoral work. Court records also indicated that Yeboah supported his family through work as an Uber driver and other gig economy jobs.

The case has generated extensive discussion within sections of the Ghanaian-Canadian community, particularly regarding the level of trust placed in religious figures and the need for stronger accountability within faith-based settings.

Community advocates say the case serves as a reminder that positions of spiritual leadership should never place individuals beyond scrutiny or responsibility.

Child protection experts have long warned that abuse involving trusted authority figures can be especially traumatic because victims often fear they will not be believed or worry about dividing families and communities.

Following the sentencing, Yeboah was taken into custody while his wife, who had accompanied him to court, quietly left the courtroom alone, underscoring the wider emotional consequences the case has had on multiple families.

Although the legal proceedings have concluded, the broader impact of the case is expected to continue resonating within the community for years.

For many parents, faith leaders, and child advocates, the case has become a sobering reminder that trust must be matched with accountability, transparency, and safeguards designed to protect vulnerable young people.

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The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Senior High School (KNUST SHS) in Kumasi has confirmed the death of one of its candidates following a brief illness during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Management of the school said it is mourning with the bereaved family while ensuring that the remaining candidates are provided with the necessary support and a conducive environment to continue their examinations.

The school also reported that another registered candidate has discontinued schooling and is currently absent from the examinations.

In addition, a pregnant candidate successfully participated in the English Oral examination alongside her colleagues.

A total of 1,022 candidates from the school are sitting for this year’s WASSCE, as core subjects commenced nationwide.

The Assistant Headmaster (Academic) and Assistant Examination Supervisor, Agyekum Kwaku, described the conduct of the examination so far as smooth, noting that the institution maintains a strict culture of zero tolerance for examination malpractice.

He expressed satisfaction with the orderly nature of the exercise, adding that invigilators and supervisors were ensuring strict compliance with examination regulations.

Meanwhile, examination centres such as St Louis Senior High School and T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School also reported calm and orderly proceedings, as more than 500,000 candidates across the country continue with the nationwide WASSCE, the news team reported from Kumasi.

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