On Saturday, October 10, JoyNews’ flagship current affairs show Newsfile will air from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon on Joy 99.7 FM, JoyNews and other platforms, to examine four national issues that have dominated public debate over the past week.
Hosted by Samson Lardy Anyenini, the programme will first tackle allegations that some individuals paid between US$7,000 and US$14,000 for visa processing related to Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup, a claim raised by the Minority in Parliament. The Minority also questioned the verification of personnel names submitted by the Ghana Tourism Authority and the National Sports Authority to the US and Canadian embassies. President John Dramani Mahama has asked former NSA Director‑General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah to step aside, appointing Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong as acting Director‑General.
The second segment will focus on the demolition of structures along La Beach in Accra, including La Pleasure Beach and the Polo Beach Club near the Labadi Beach Hotel. The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) defended the operation as a response to unlawful occupation and encroachment, while Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe said the work was not part of the government’s flood‑mitigation exercise but was conducted under National Security supervision at the request of the Labadi Beach Hotel. The Ghana Journalists Association has condemned alleged attacks on journalists covering the demolitions and demanded accountability from the Ghana Armed Forces.
The third topic will cover the impact of strikes by pre‑tertiary teachers and university administrators. The Ghana National Association of Teachers, the National Association of Graduate Teachers and the Pre‑Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana have been on strike since September 25 over delayed promotions and new collective bargaining agreements. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has pledged to validate salary grades and pay arrears for 51,000 promoted teachers by October 16. Meanwhile, the Ghana Association of University Administrators has been on strike for more than two months, threatening to collapse the academic calendar at institutions such as the University of Ghana and KNUST.
The final segment will examine Ghana’s formal application to join the BRICS economic bloc, announced by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The Minority in Parliament has called for an urgent briefing on the decision, with Ranking Member Samuel Abu Jinapor questioning why Ghana seeks full membership rather than a partner status like Nigeria. Mr Ablakwa defended the move as an opportunity to broaden Ghana’s development and diplomatic options, a stance welcomed by India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, who noted that expansion requires consensus among existing BRICS members.
Viewers can expect a comprehensive look at each issue, with institutional responses and calls for further investigation highlighted throughout the programme.
