This critique follows Bawumia’s recent triumph in the NPP’s flagbearer election held on November 4, 2023.
Felix Ofosu Kwakye highlighted that, based on the election results, nearly 40% of NPP supporters appear to have reservations about the vice president’s bid to lead the party.
He suggested that Dr. Bawumia’s prior statements and actions, which have been captured in various videos and statements, might potentially be used against him in the upcoming 2024 election.
Kwakye Ofosu’s post on social media, accompanied by a video of Bawumia, read: “NPP delegates have elected the worst NPP Prez candidate ever.
Nearly 40% of NPP folks do not like him and rightly so, because his own words of the past will be his undoing. For instance, in the video below, he explains why he should be thrown out at the polls in 2024.”
NPP delegates have elected the worst NPP Prez candidate ever. Nearly 40% of NPP folks do not like him and rightly so, because his own words of the past will be his undoing. For instance, in the video below,he explains why he should be thrown out at the polls in 2024. pic.twitter.com/dULAzqYN6o
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo officially handed over the leadership of the NPP to Dr. Bawumia after a 16-year tenure.
Akufo-Addo had served as the party’s leader since 2007. According to the NPP’s constitution, Dr. Bawumia assumed the role of the new leader of the party following his victory in the presidential primaries.
Dr. Bawumia secured his victory with 61.43% of the total votes, with Kennedy Agyapong, his closest rival, receiving 37.41% of the vote share.
Director of Research at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Dr. John Kwakye, has criticised the General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, for a statement he made regarding the party’s intentions to secure victory in the 2024 general elections.
He referred to this statement as using inappropriate language and encouraged Mr. Kodua to adopt a more humble tone while appealing to the electorate to support the NPP.
John Kwakye further clarified that the NPP’s General Secretary cannot compel the Ghanaian people to vote for his party.
In a tweet, the IEA Director of Research said, “What do you mean by “whatever it takes”? It’s bad language. Be modest and appeal to the electorate to vote for you. You can’t force them to vote for you!”
Justin Frimpong Kodua, on October 29, 2023, indicated that the party will go to all lengths to retain power.
He said the focus of the party was to break the eight; therefore, anything that would make the dream a reality would be done.
Justin Kodua Frimpong made this known when he was asked if the party would consider talking to Alan Kyerematen about returning to the NPP.
He said, “Our focus is to win the elections in 2024, and for anything that needs to be done for us to win the elections, we are all up for it.”
In the latest development, the NPP has chosen Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as its flagbearer for the upcoming 2024 presidential elections.
Dr. Bawumia clinched the victory with a substantial 61.43% share of the total votes, while his closest competitor, Kennedy Agyapong, received 37.41% of the vote share.
Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has expressed her disappointment with the outcome of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primary in her constituency.
Despite being a known supporter of Mahamudu Bawumia, her constituency was won by Kennedy Agyapong after the conclusion of the polls.
According to the constituency’s results, Agyapong garnered 724 votes, while Bawumia received 679 votes. Agyapong also secured victory in the region, along with the Volta Region, while Bawumia claimed victory in the remaining 14 regions, emerging as the winner and the NPP’s next flagbearer.
Following the declaration of results in the constituency, Hawa Koomson addressed journalists, attributing her loss to payments made to delegates and allegations of misappropriation of funds.
“I am not surprised, honestly; if all 1,400 plus were to vote, that would have been good for me. So, what we have done is good. My people should not be disappointed; we should wait for the general outcome, which I know is going to be good.
“Like I said, I am happy that on the 24th of August, I was able to beat Kennedy in the region, so if he has beaten me in my constituency, well, it could be, but that doesn’t mean he is stronger than me in the constituency,” she stressed.
On November 4, 2023, Vice President Bawumia emerged victorious in the NPP flagbearer election.
The announcement of Bawumia’s victory was made by Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, the Director of Elections at the Electoral Commission, at the Accra Sports Stadium.
According to the official results, Bawumia secured a landslide victory with 118,210 votes, which accounted for 61.47% of the total votes cast.
His closest rival, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, came in second with 71,996 votes, representing 35.52% of the total valid votes.
The remaining two contenders received less than one percent of the vote each, namely Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Francis Addai-Nimoh.
Bawumia’s win marked his formal succession to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the party’s leader, becoming the fourth flagbearer in the party’s history.
He is set to lead the NPP into the 2024 general elections.
The General Secretary of the rulingNew Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has provided assurance to the people of Ghana that the prevailing economic challenges in the country will soon be resolved.
He expressed confidence that the NPP, as a political party, possesses the necessary capabilities to address and improve the economic situation.
These statements were made during his address at a press conference where he unveiled the details of the NPP’s presidential elections scheduled for November 4.
“When it comes to managing Ghana’s economy, our opponents do not have a comparable record. It is the case that today, the NDC feels emboldened because COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine War have vanquished the gains we made immediately upon taking over on January 7, 2017.”
He said, “Under President John Agyekum Kufuor, from January 7th, 2001, to January 7th, 2009, the NPP pulled Ghana’s economy out of the stagnation the NDC left.
“Again, under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, we grew the economy by an average of 7 percent from another NDC stagnation for three consecutive years before the disruptions of theCOVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The truth is that we are fixing the economy, and soon the hardships of today will be history. The assurance to Ghanaians that we will regenerate the economy is manifest in our record.”
During the summer, the newly signed player achieved a historic feat by becoming the youngest player inPremier League history, achieving five goal involvements in a single game at the age of 21 years and 161 days.
This remarkable performance came to light after he scored a goal and provided four assists in the match against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium.
Not only did he score, but he also became the youngest player to provide four assists in a single game.
In the 30th minute, the winger found the back of the net, and he went on to set up Bernardo Silva twice, as well as Manuel Akanji and Phil Foden, contributing significantly to the Cityzens’ impressive performance.
Nathan Ake also got on the scoresheet for the team, which resulted in them taking the top position in the league table.
On the other side, Bournemouth managed to pull one goal back through Luis Sinisterra, but they currently sit in the 17th position in the league.
5 & 4 – With one goal and four assists at the age of 21 years and 161 days, Jérémy Doku has become both the youngest player in Premier League history with five goal involvements in a single game, as well as the youngest player to assist four goals. Griddy. pic.twitter.com/ipIAYBqK6C
Doku made his move to City during the summer, transferring from Ligue 1’s Rennes for a fee of €65 million (£56m/$70m)($68.5m). While he had showcased glimpses of his quality earlier in the season, this particular game marked the moment when the Belgian international truly introduced himself to the Premier League.
City’s upcoming match is scheduled for Tuesday in the Champions League, when they will be hosting the Swiss side Young Boys.
On November 4, 2023, at the Accra Sports Stadium,President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo expressed his unwavering dedication to ensuring the triumph of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the forthcoming 2024 general elections.
This commitment was made during the official unveiling of Dr. Bawumia as the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
President Akufo-Addo underscored the party’s strong commitment to democracy and commended the transparent nature of the flagbearer election process that led to Dr. Bawumia’s selection.
He urged the people of Ghana not to permit the leadership of John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to return to power for a second term.
He stated, “You have shown that today, Ghana’s democracy is safe in your hands. I am confident that Mahamudu Bawumia will unite the party with the assistance of Ken Agyapong, Addai-Nimoh, Afriyie Akoto, and others.
“The second message, a very simple one, is congratulations to the flagbearer, Mr. Vice President Flagbearer. Today I’m passing on the flagbearer of our party to a new leader. I want to thank everyone here for the honour done to me to serve my party and to serve the people of this great country.”
He added, “I have done my best, but I still have one more task to do, and that is, with all my strength and all my energy, to help the new flagbearer, Mahamudu Bawumia, win the election of 2024.
“Ghana cannot afford the return of the NDC, especially under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama,” he charged.
After a 16-year tenure, Akufo-Addo passed on the leadership of the NPP to Bawumia. Akufo-Addo had held the position of the party’s leader since 2007. In accordance with the NPP’s constitution, Dr. Bawumia, following his victory in the presidential primaries, assumes the role of the new party leader.
Dr. Bawumia secured his victory with 61.43% of the total votes, with Kennedy Agyapong, his closest rival, receiving 37.41% of the vote share.
Erling Haaland suffered an injury and had to be substituted at half-time during Manchester City’s match against Bournemouth, despite their dominant 6-1 victory in the Premier League on Saturday.
Haaland’s exit from the game raised concerns among Cityzens as he limped off the field following a collision on the ground.
Nathan Ake, Haaland’s teammate, expressed uncertainty about the striker’s condition after the match but hoped that the injury wasn’t too severe.
Pep Guardiola later provided an update on Haaland’s injury status, acknowledging that he might miss the upcoming Champions League fixture in midweek.
“Twist in the ankle; we didn’t want to take risks with him; he didn’t feel comfortable,” he said. “He’ll be back, maybe Tuesday, but maybe next Sunday.”
Jeremy Doku, Manchester City’s recent acquisition, had a remarkable performance against Bournemouth and achieved two Premier League records.
By contributing four assists and scoring a goal, the Belgian winger, at just 21 years and 161 days old, became the youngest player in Premier League history to record five goal involvements in a single game.
He also set a record as the youngest player to provide four assists in a single match.
With three victories in their first three Champions League matches, Pep Guardiola might consider giving the star from Borussia Dortmund some rest during their midweek fixture against Young Boys.
Real Madrid has categorically denied rumours suggesting that they are in negotiations with PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe.
Reports from Spanish outlet AS had previously claimed that the French World Cup winner had agreed to forfeit around €100 million (£87 million) in loyalty bonuses that he would have been entitled to, potentially alleviating PSG’s concerns about losing him for free in the summer of 2024.
While there have been previous reports suggesting that Mbappe had tentatively agreed to join Real Madrid, the Spanish club has consistently refuted such claims.
“Given the information recently issued and published by different media outlets, in which there is speculation about alleged negotiations between the player Kylian Mbappé and our club, Real Madrid CF would like to state that this information is completely false and that no such negotiations have taken place with a player who belongs to PSG,” read a club statement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XIAia7Y3uA
Mbappe extended his contract with PSG for an additional year during the summer.
Nevertheless, it was revealed that the last year of that contract is discretionary, granting him the option to depart in 2024 instead of 2025.
Notably, clubs like Liverpool and Real Madrid have been associated with the French star, suggesting that this protracted transfer saga is far from over.
Dr. Bawumia secured a resounding victory in the Ashanti Region with 22,205 votes, which translates to 65.6% of the total vote count.
His closest rival, Kennedy Agyapong, managed to gather 11,390 votes, equivalent to 33.7% of the ballots.
In contrast, former Agriculture Ministers Dr. Afriyie Akoto and Francis-Addai Nimoh received a combined total of 167 votes, constituting 0.5%, and 74 votes, making up 0.2%, respectively.
Manchester City is considering a move for teenager Kobbie Mainoo, who currently plays for their rival club, Manchester United, according to reports.
Mainoo, a UK-born Ghanaian with Ghanaian heritage, is highly regarded in English football and recently received praise for his performance, which included two assists, with Manchester City’s Under-21 team.
The talented midfielder had previously impressed during pre-season and was named the man of the match in a friendly game against Arsenal, though he later suffered an injury setback.
However, he has since recovered, and Manchester City is reportedly interested in signing him, despite the rivalry between the two clubs, as per Four Four Two.
The report doesn’t indicate whether Manchester United would be open to considering an offer from their fierce rivals.
Furthermore, the potential transfer fee remains unknown.
The interest from Manchester City is partly attributed to their commitment to nurturing young and talented players, while Manchester United is facing financial constraints due to financial fair play regulations.
Mainoo, who hails from Stockport, made his senior debut for Manchester United last season in the Carabao Cup match against Charlton.
He also played a significant role in the academy’s victory in the FA Youth Cup. The 18-year-old made his Premier League debut as a substitute in a 3-0 win against Leicester City.
Notably, Mainoo has only made one appearance forManchester United but has already contributed two assists during that time.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo chose not to directly address an economic question when he voted at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) headquarters in Accra.
In response, he inquired whether the time and place were suitable for such a discussion.
After participating in the November 4 Presidential Primaries of his party, reporters approached the president, posing inquiries about his observations of the process and his opinions on the potential winner of the flagbearership race among the four contenders.
“It is the people who decide,” he said before a question on the economy was asked by another journalist.
“Mr President, would you say you’ve managed the economy well?” the yet-to-be-identified journalist asked.
Pausing briefly and turning to the direction of the said journalist, the president retorted, “You want me to come and have this interview here today?”
After making this statement, the president signalled to the party’s general secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, with a nod, indicating his readiness to leave the centre.
The NPP is holding a crucial election to choose its flagbearer for the upcoming 2024 general elections in Ghana. This election is significant as it aims to break the traditional eight-year election cycle pattern in the country.
There are four contenders in this flagbearer race.
Among them, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is considered a frontrunner, while Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the Member of Parliament forAssin Central, is expected to be a strong competitor, particularly after his surprising second-place finish in the party’s Super Delegates Conference, which took place in August.
Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has expressed scepticism regarding the possibility of Ghanaians favouring the National Democratic Congress over the ruling New Patriotic Party in the 2024 elections.
He emphasised that the government has been confronted with unprecedented global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but remains committed to addressing these issues.
“We don’t know that. It’s amazing when you think that something that has not happened in 100 years has happened and we are where we are compared to other countries.
And knowing that we understand the problem and are committed to solving it,” he told journalists when they appeared to vote during the NPP delegates conference.
Furthermore, he suggested that Ghanaians would have a clearer understanding of which decision to make at the 2024 polls as the year approaches.
“I think Ghanaians will make up their minds at that time. I’m sure the economy will be stronger; we have a growth agenda that tackles the issue of jobs and we will prevail. We’ve done it before and we will do it again,”Ofori-Atta said.
Presbyterian Senior High Technical School, located in Aburi, within theAkuapem South Municipality of the Eastern Region, is currently grappling with numerous obstacles that are significantly impeding the teaching and learning processes.
Among these challenges are the absence of a library, a dedicated ICT centre, a fully-equipped science laboratory, an incomplete girls’ dormitory, a shortage of classrooms, insufficient teaching and learning resources, laptops for educational and research purposes, a vehicle for administrative duties, and a workshop that lacks necessary equipment.
Furthermore, there is a shortage of furniture, a lack of perimeter fencing to ensure students’ security against potential intruders and criminals, and an absence of metal beds to protect students from bed bugs.
Compounding these difficulties is the fact that the teaching staff does not have access to residential accommodation.
Consequently, all teachers reside off-campus and commute to the school daily, with the exception of the headmistress and a select few other staff members.
These challenges were highlighted during the school’s 12th speech and prize-giving day ceremony, which recently took place.
Challenges
A stalled one-storey classroom block
At the event, which was on the theme “Preparing the next generation for the future: A shared responsibility for stakeholders in secondary technical schools”, the head of school, Joyce Appiah, devoted much of her time to enumerating the challenges facing the school.
She said the challenges had made it difficult for teaching and learning, especially for the National Science and Mathematics Quiz (NSMQ) competition.
The teachers, Mrs Appiah also indicated, had to face the brunt of the problem because they had to stay outside the school and attend classes daily.
She, therefore, appealed to all stakeholders, especially the government and other benevolent organisations dedicated to the welfare of schools, to come to their aid.
She said despite such challenges bedevilling the school, which was established in 1991 as an experimental school and upgraded to its current status, it had been progressing academically.
For instance, Mrs Appiah told the gathering that students whoparticipated in the NSMQ competition were able to reach the quarter-final stage in 2016 when the school participated for the first time.
She said the school was also adjudged the second-best Presbyterian Senior High School in the country after the Presbyterian Boys SHS (PRESEC) at Legon.
The ceilings of the school’s science laboratory are in a bad state
She explained that despite the school’s challenges, teachers were committed and dedicated to imparting knowledge to the students and that the school was also doing well in the NSMQ competition.
She described the students as practical-oriented because they were eager to learn and make good grades to climb the academic ladder higher.
Mrs Appiah commended the government for assisting with the infrastructure of the school, such as the construction of a girls’ dormitory, classroom blocks and a boys’ dormitory, among others.
She said some of the projects, nonetheless, had been delayed and, therefore, urged the contractor to speed up work for its completion.
Some innovative products made by some of the students on display
Addressing challenges
Deputy Minister of Education responsible for Technical, Vocational, Education, and Training (TVET),Gifty Twum Ampofo, expressed her satisfaction with the school’s current performance.
She emphasised the government’s dedication to addressing the challenges faced by senior high schools in the country.
Ms. Ampofo pointed out that the government is fully committed to nurturing the potential of the youth, which is why STEM and TVET educational institutions have been introduced in the country.
She also stressed the role of parents and guardians in teaching their children moral values, cooperation, empathy, and other life skills that cannot be solely acquired in schools.
Despite the current challenges faced by the school, she noted that its academic performance is commendable and encouraged students to maintain their excellent work. The Deputy Minister in charge of TVET further acknowledged the varying levels of parental cooperation with teachers in moulding children into responsible citizens.
Shared responsibility
Ms Ampofo noted that the future of the children was a shared responsibility, with the number one beneficiary being the children, second the parents and lastly the teacher.
“We have a lot of resources in the country. However, the ultimate resource will be to develop without any class or limitations,” Ms Ampofo stated.
Otoobour Djan Kwasi II, who serves as the Aburihene and holds the title of Adontenhene in the Akuapem Traditional Area, recognized the importance of providing support to the school. He commended the school for its academic achievements and appealed to the government to provide assistance in terms of infrastructure and equipment. This support, he emphasized, would help the students fulfill their aspirations of becoming productive citizens in the country.
Otoobour Kwasi also encouraged the students to maintain their dedication to learning, while respecting their teachers and parents.
Accommodation Jennifer Agyei, one of the school’s educators and the recipient of the title of Overall Best Female Teacher at the school, echoed the issue of inadequate staff accommodation, emphasising that all the teachers had to reside outside the school premises.
This situation was negatively impacting the teaching and learning environment, as the teachers had to commute from nearby communities to reach the school.
Mrs. Agyei made a heartfelt plea to the government and other well-off individuals, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to promptly step in and address these challenges.
These included the poor state of the school’s science laboratory, a shortage of furniture, the absence of a library, the lack of a protective fence wall, and the need for metal beds to address the issue of bed bugs within the dormitories.
She emphasised the critical importance of providing these facilities to ensure a brighter future for the students. Matilda also called upon the government and charitable organisations to extend their support to the school in acquiring these essential items.
As part of the event, several deserving students and teachers were recognised and honoured for their exceptional hard work and dedication, which contributed to the school’s overall performance.
AC Milan has publicly denied any prior knowledge of Sandro Tonali’s gambling addiction amid concerns of further repercussions for the Newcastle player.
The 23-year-old Italian international recently faced disciplinary action for violating gambling regulations sanctioned by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
As a consequence, he received a 10-month ban from all football-related activities, along with an additional eight months of therapy-assisted rehabilitation.
Furthermore, FIFA has officially ratified this suspension, making it applicable on a global scale.
Tonali’s transfer to Newcastle occurred earlier in the summer from AC Milan for a reported £55 million ($68 million), sparking speculation about whether the Rossoneri were aware of his gambling addiction.
In the midst of these discussions, Newcastle’s sporting director, Dan Ashworth, acknowledged the possibility but emphasised that confirming such knowledge is “really difficult.”
“It’s really difficult for me to get into what other clubs do or don’t know,” said Ashworth. “All we can do is look at our own internal investigation and internal process. It’s a really difficult question for me to answer; I just don’t know.”
This prompted the Lombardy Club to release an official statement as a response to Ashworth’s statement.
“We first learned about Tonali’s addiction through media reports and what we know is only what we read. We don’t know anything else.”
The FA have also reportedly started a separate investigation to find out if Tonali continued with his habit after shifting base to the shores of England, as his agent, Giuseppe Riso, admitted that the player was struggling with a gambling addiction.
Tonali will not be available for selection for Newcastle until the end of August 2024 and the club is mulling over bringing in a replacement in the winter transfer window for the midfielder.
Some delegates have confirmed to have received between GHC 200 and GHC 750 from the camps of bothVice President Bawumia and the Assin-North Member of Parliament (MP).
Delegates from Ablekuma Central, Adenta and Suame have confirmed receiving GHC 300 from Kennedy Agyapong and GHC 400 from Vice President Dr. Bawumia.
Which they describe as transport fare and chop money.
However, the contender for the New Patriotic Party flagbearership role, Hon. Francis Addai-Nimoh, expressed optimism about his win in the November 4 polls.
Speaking to the media after casting his vote at the NPP headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra, Addai-Nimoh exclaimed with surprise after being asked about inducing delegates with GHC 1000 in Brekum South constituency. ”
He said, “Eeei me ? me? Then I’m sure that is not me to vote for me ? I’m sure that is false”, he denied.
However, he went on to say that he has nothing to offer but peace, unity and prosperity.
“I have not given any money. Silver and gold have I none, but what I have is peace, unity, and prosperity, he said.
Francis Addai-Nimoh is one of four candidates vying to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general elections.
The other three candidates are the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a former Minister of Food and Agriculture,Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.
A total of 420 delegates are expected to cast their ballots at the party’s headquarters in Accra.
President of theNational Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, has emphasised the need for the educational system to grant teachers their rightful annual leave entitlement in accordance with Ghana’s Labour Laws.
He pointed out that although Ghana’s labour laws stipulate that teachers are entitled to leave, this benefit is not typically provided to them.
He emphasized that leave cannot be replaced by the vacation breaks that students enjoy, as teachers are still engaged in tasks such as grading students’ exam papers during those breaks.
During a radio interview with Citi FM on November 3, 2023, Mr. Carbonu expressed concern that the well-being of teachers seemed to be disregarded, noting that many educators are facing health issues and even death due to excessive work and lack of rest.
He further expressed his apprehension that, despite the demanding nature of teachers’ roles, their compensation remains inadequate.
More than 200 delegates from the Suame Constituency of theNew Patriotic Party (NPP) are reportedly considering boycotting the presidential primaries if they do not receive financial support from Kennedy Agyapong’s camp.
While over 800 delegates have already cast their votes, around 200 have expressed their intention to abstain from the event due to what they refer to as a lack of “transport money.”
In an interview with TV3, two of the delegates urged Kennedy Agyapong to show his support in the constituency, or they would withhold their votes.
They mentioned that they have already received financial support from the camp of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia but have yet to receive any assistance from Kennedy Agyapong.
One of the delegates suggested that Kennedy Agyapong might have allocated funds for their “transport,” but they have not yet received them. Consequently, they called on Kennedy Agyapong’s representatives to release the funds, or they would refrain from voting.
“We’ve come from far so we need help. We don’t have a problem with Bawumia but where is Ken? We are waiting for Ken; otherwise, we will not vote”, he said.
The issue of vote-buying has become prevalent during the ongoing NPP presidential primaries on November 4, 2023.
In the La Dade Kotokopon constituency, TV3 reports that some delegates allege they have received GHC450 from the camp of the vice president.
A viral video on social media features a candidate named Sir Collins, who explained that he chose to vote for Kennedy Agyapong because he found the money offered by Agyapong’s camp more appealing than that of the vice president.
During an interview with GHOne TV, Collins expressed his profound dissatisfaction, characterizing Dr. Bawumia’s offer of a mere GH¢400 per delegate as an insult.
Collins emphasized the disparities in resources and support, questioning why another contender, Kennedy Agyapong, who reportedly has less support from government appointees and the party’s rank and file, offered GH¢300.
“I voted for Ken,” he said in the Twi language as he proceeded to give his reason.
“Bawumia has the support of ministers,MCEs and government officials yet they gave us GH¢400 while Ken gave us GH¢300. That’s an insult. How can you have the support of everyone and give us GH¢400 when an individual Ken is giving us GH¢300?”
On GTV, another delegate, Samed Nuhu, who serves as a polling station executive, emphasized that delegates in the Krowor constituency should not let the money they’ve received from the candidates sway their decisions.
He confirmed receiving money from both the Bawumia and Kennedy Agyapong camps but pledged to vote for the person he believes will keep the party in power.
He admitted to voting for Bawumia and revealed that he received an envelope containing money, although he expressed disappointment that the amount wasn’t substantial.
“I have finished voting and gone for my envelope but the money isn’t much. The process has been cool and without hitches. The people are also conducting themselves well so its going on smoothly. I also took an envelope from Ken. I didn’t fight for it but they give it to me. I have not opened the envelopes yet”, he said.
In the Ellembelle constituency, some delegates are cling that the monies offered them are beyond expectations.
“We were told that they would give us GHC100 each to take cars to Nkroful here to vote, but they have given us just GHC50”, they said.
“They have cheated us because these monies are from the national headquarters, and it is not fair at all. We are telling the national executives that they should call our constituency executives to order and add the GHC50 before we leave here”, they added.
France Football, the organisation behind theBallon d’Or Award ceremony, has published the complete voting list for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, in which Lionel Messi emerged as the winner.
A panel of 100 journalists from various countries was selected to cast their votes for the 30 shortlisted players.
Representing Ghana, Michael Oti Adjei from the TV3 network participated in the voting, and for Nigeria, Samm Audu from scorenigeria had a vote.
The selection of journalists is based on FIFA’s rankings, ensuring that one journalist from each of the top 100 ranked nations has a vote.
The voting process entails each journalist selecting their top five players, with the first choice receiving six points, the second choice getting four points, the third choice receiving three points, the fourth choice earning two points, and the fifth choice getting one point.
The three players with the highest total points constitute the top three shortlist, with the player receiving the highest points among them winning the award.
Oti Adjei voted for Erling Haaland, Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Kevin De Bruyne, and Victor Osimhen as his top five choices. On the other hand, Audu voted for Messi, Haaland, Mbappe, Osimhen, and Jude Bellingham.
Messi secured the top spot in the cumulative votes, amassing 462 points, surpassing Haaland, who secured the second position with 357 points.
This victory marked Lionel Messi’s eighthBallon d’Or award, further extending his record as the player with the most Ballon d’Or awards, three more than Cristiano Ronaldo.
Jurors who had ceased their duties due to unpaid allowances have now returned to work at the High Court in Accra.
Their protest last Monday compelled judges to adjourn murder cases, as reported by the Daily Graphic in Accra.
According to sources, the jurors had decided to halt their work because they had not received their allowances for the period from January to June 2023.
However, as of yesterday at 11:00 a.m., it was observed that jurors under the criminal jurisdiction of the High Court had resumed their work, and court cases were once again being heard.
The jury comprises seven ordinary but educated individuals who, under the guidance of a judge, make determinations regarding the guilt or innocence of an accused person in cases tried upon indictment.
Cases On Monday, October 30 of this year, two murder cases being heard at the High Court in Accra were unable to proceed, as jurors in both cases had abandoned their duties because of outstanding arrears.
The cases in question were the trials of 14 accused individuals in connection with the death of a military officer, Major Maxwell Mahama, and two teenagers involved in the death of an 11-year-old boy in Kasoa, Central Region.
Although the accused parties, state representatives, and defence counsel were all present in court, the proceedings had to be adjourned due to the absence of the jurors.
This marked the third instance this year in which jurors had discontinued their duties due to unpaid arrears.
In April of this year, jurors handling the murder case of the late Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa North Constituency, J.B. Danquah Adu, had notified the presiding judge that they could not continue attending court proceedings due to the non-payment of their allowances, which had not been disbursed since March 2022.
Cost
The jurors explained that the failure to pay the allowances affected their ability to carryout their duties because they could not continue to bear the cost of footing their transportation to attend the court hearings.
Again, in July this year, proceedings in some cases, including murder and manslaughter, were suspended in the Upper West Region after jurors staged a walkout over their allowances, which had been in arrears since 2021.
Today, a total of 203,439New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates are expected to exercise their voting rights in all 276 constituencies across the country to choose a flag bearer who will lead the party in the 2024 general election.
Some delegates, particularly those from diaspora branches, will cast their votes at the party headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra, which adds up to a total of 277 voting centres for the polls.
The governing NPP has four presidential aspirants who emerged from a selection process involving ten candidates through the Super Delegates Conference.
The outcome of today’s vote will determine who will be entrusted with the party’s leadership and the potential to break the pattern of no party ruling for more than eight consecutive years since the Fourth Republic began.
The four aspirants and their respective positions on the ballot are as follows: Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin Central, is in the first position; Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia occupies the second position on the ballot; Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, is listed third on the ballot sheet; and Francis Addai-Nimoh, a former MP for Ashanti Mampong, is the fourth on the ballot.
EC/Police
The Director of Electoral Services of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, confirmed to the Daily Graphic that the electoral management body, entrusted by the party with sole responsibility for overseeing the election, is fully prepared for the polls.
All electoral materials have been dispatched to voting centres throughout the country.
During a meeting with the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) and representatives of the presidential aspirants a week ago, the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, provided assurance of a robust police presence during the election.
He affirmed the police force’s commitment to fulfilling its role in both internal party and national elections, contributing to the advancement of the nation’s democracy.
“All we require from you is that you support us in order to play our roles, and with that, we will be able to ensure that the police and the EC will do their work, all the people who will be voting across the country will come out freely and willingly to vote and all the agents will do what they are supposed to do,” he said.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NpV62IedRPg
PEC
The Prof. Mike Oquaye-chaired PEC, tasked with conducting the presidential primary of the party, has reiterated its commitment to ensure a transparent, free and fair election.
The guidelines issued by the party directed that there would be no congregation on the day of voting; hence, no provision would be made to address delegates or the public by any national, regional or constituency executives, contestants or their representatives or any government official on the day of the voting.
It said no government official or any delegate listed to vote in the election could serve as an agent.
Those banned from serving as polling agents for the aspirants are metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives, ministers and their deputies, MPs, chief executive officers of state-owned enterprises, managing directors of government institutions, national, regional, constituency, electoral area coordinators and polling station executives.
Voting
It stated that voting would take place in an open place in the full glare of the public.
“Any person found directing a delegate on which contestant to vote commits an offence and shall be removed by the police,” the guidelines said.
It said the EC and the police “shall enforce and adhere to restricting delegates from taking their phones and other electronic photographic gadgets to the voting scene”, and that any vote that had been shown to the public would be nullified.
“The police has also been directed to deny and arrest influencers,’machomen’, and undesignated persons,” it added.
The guidelines also directed presiding officers not to call out the names of delegates in the queue to vote, adding that individuals would walk to the officials and they would be assisted to vote accordingly.
Other measures
The NPP General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, at a meeting with the four aspirants and leaders of the party in Accra last Thursday, also announced that because the constituency council of elders and the constituency council of patrons were not part of the electoral college, the PEC had decided to make the chairmen of the two organs oversee the constituency elections.
“They are the ones to supervise the elections at the constituency, and no officer of the party, be it constituency officer or regional officer, will have any power to interfere in the work of this committee. The police, the EC and the aspirants will be dealing directly with this committee,” he added.
He said suspended members of the party, whose cases had not been dealt with by the disciplinary committee, would be allowed to vote.
However, if the committee had recommended sanctions and upheld them, the person would not be allowed to vote.
He announced that all members of the party, whether they had paid up their dues fully or not, must be allowed to cast their ballot. The writer is Executive Director. Centre for Communication and Culture
Resignations from the highest office of the land, anywhere in the world, are rare and usually come usually after protracted internal power-play. When on August 8, 1974, Richard Milhous Nixon announced his resignation as the 37th President of the United States, he was bowing to pressures from leaders of his party after two years of bitter public debate over the Watergate scandals.
Resignations from the highest office of the land, anywhere in the world, are rare and come after protracted internal power-play. When on August 8, 1974, Richard Milhous Nixon announced his resignation as the 37th President of the United States, he was bowing to pressures from leaders of his party after two years of bitter public debate over the Watergate scandals.
On November 22, 1990, when Margaret Thatcher, three times British Prime Minister, announced her resignation after eleven years in office, it was the result of disaffection within her own party.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned from his seat in the House of Commons in connection with wild parties held in his (Prime Minister’s) official home office when the country was in lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Ghana, resignations from high office have become unthinkable. In his broadcast to announce the coup of December 31, Rawlings asked Ghanaians to take him to the firing range “if what I’ve tried to do for the second time in my life does not meet the approval of Ghanaians”.
Great speech.
The question was, who, in Ghana, could dare tell Rawlings that he had failed?
I am not unmindful of the supreme sacrifices of the few brave ones. On line
On July 11, 2017, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, addressing a two-day workshop on galamsey for traditional leaders, vowed that “I am prepared to put my Presidency on the line on this matter.”
As I write this Tuesday morning, rivers that have been with us for centuries are drying up.
Farmlands are being destroyed and our water is polluted.
It is estimated that we lose $2.3 billion annually to galamsey.
Five years later, on October 5, 2022, Akufo-Addo, speaking to the National House of Chiefs at Manyhia on Wednesday, admitted that his government “is yet to win the fight against illegal mining”.
Everybody knows what this means, yet who dares to bell the cat: you would be tagged instantly.
Yet we know that when someone puts their “job on the line”, it admits of no other interpretations, no ambiguities in interpretation.
Our President has all but thrown in the towel.
Call it candour, call it honesty, the President is stating one fact: he has failed – the biggest battle we ever fought.
We failed because, despite all the nice words, the President has not seen, and does not see galamsey the way it is.
A friend and senior professional colleague, Frank Apeagyei, sees it this way:
“It is a war, simplicita, and it ought to be fought as such.
Wars are not fought with laws and committees.”
I couldn’t agree more. Great question
In 1862, German Chancellor Otto von Bismark told his people that the great questions of the day would not be decided by speeches and majority resolutions — but by blood and iron!”
Bismark said it at the time, and it is true for all time, that the weak will always be devoured by the strong.”
In Ghana, our leaders, except for Rawlings, have emboldened and empowered the galamseyers into devourers.
If galamsey were a war in the language of Akufo-Addo, why would his government free Aisha Huang, the Chinese woman described as the ‘Queen of Galamsey’?
We have failed because of the President’s strategy for prosecuting the war.
Commissions and committees are good, but, at best, they will only present a report – as Professor Frimpong Boateng did.
He submitted a report that was not only ignored for two whole years but was finally trashed.
He was not only questioned but also arrested, even if technically so, while those he accused had never been invited – even for tea and biscuits!
We have failed because galamsey is the reward for party loyalty.
Is any Ghanaian surprised when the Attorney-General says there is no hard evidence to nail the so-called big fishes?
Did the A-G look for the evidence? The award-winning documentary by Joy FM’s Erastus Asare Donkor has evidence to put 20 culprits into prison.
Is he?
The President must be a man under moral pressure – or is he?
When certain individuals generally considered the moral conscience of the nation, start voicing their worry about national affairs, Akufo-Addo must worry that all his holy mantras are in tatters.
Two of them — the respected Justice Atuguba and Professor Stephen Adei—have made statements that question the integrity of the political leadership of the country.
There have been recent references to “people without official positions but who push through agendas”.
These are voices no president dares ignore.
These people don’t mean ill.
And, whatever happened to the “missing” excavators?
Pep Guardiola has addressed Roy Keane’s criticism of the lively on-field conversation he had with Erling Haaland following theManchester derby.
After Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over United on Sunday, a camera captured Guardiola discussing Haaland’s heading technique as they exited the Old Trafford pitch.
Roy Keane, a Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United midfielder, accused Pep of “putting on a show” and suggested that the City manager should reserve tactical discussions for the dressing room.
“I respect Roy Keane a lot,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday. “Sometimes I finish the game and go inside; sometimes I stay there. When I find a player, we chat about the game.
“I know the camera is there; it is everywhere. I could tell him [Haaland] when we were inside but at that moment I was outside because I wanted to be with the fans, especially away. For the fans, United is an important game.
“We chatted about the second goal, the miss for the last minute with the [Andre] Onana action [save]. He [Haaland] could be better and stronger. The header [could be] stronger to put the ball in the back of the net with more power.”
Guardiola emphasised that publicly discussing issues with players is nothing new for him. He added, “It happened with Erling [Haaland] in Burnley. I can avoid it. Maybe Roy is right but it happens. I don’t need to do something for people my age.
“Sometimes I go inside; sometimes I say ‘hi’ to the referees. It’s what I feel in the moment. I don’t think after the game to go to the players to do some spectacle for the people. I’m old enough already.
“I’ve done it all my career. I did it at Bayern [Munich] sometimes with Joshua Kimmich. It depends on the moment but it is not to make us feel how special we are.”
After enjoying a rare midweek without a match, City will look to keep up the pressure on Premier League leaders Tottenham when they welcome Bournemouth to theEtihad Stadium on Saturday.
Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma West Constituency, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has asserted that her constituency will deliver a clear message to New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Agyapong about his standing within the constituency following the conclusion of the party’s presidential election.
Ursula has stated that the key influencers in the constituency have pledged their support to flagbearer hopeful Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and are fully committed to the “DMB project.”
She further expressed confidence that Bawumia will secure an overwhelming victory in the constituency, earning nothing less than 80% of the total votes.
“I know what the kingmakers in this constituency have told me. We have had an extensive conversation with them and they’ve told us that they are fully aligned and behind the DMB project. So we are just waiting to see by what margin he wins in this constituency,” she told Joy News.
“We will find out soon enough. Nothing less than 80%,” she added.
The Minister of Communications and Digitalization also noted that Kenedy Agyapong is aware that outwitting Bawumia looks impossible.
“At the end of the day, everybody will see their smoothness level in this constituency. Even he knows that it will be a really, really uphill task for him to change what has already been ordained.
“We’ve been working here for a long time. We’ve lived with our constituents for a long time. We’ve engaged with them; we’ve spoken to them and they’ve told us what their concerns are and what their expectations are.”
The NPP is on the verge of selecting a new flagbearer to succeed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the party’s leader for the 2024 general election.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Francis Addai-Nimoh are the candidates vying for the leadership role.
The eagerly awaited presidential primaries are scheduled for today, November 4, 2023.
He mentioned that the Ministry of Finance is actively working to expedite the settlement of the debt.
Previously, one of Ghana’s UK properties, the Regina House, which is utilized for commercial purposes, was earmarked for potential sale. Nonetheless, the High Commissioner confirmed that this property would not be utilized to offset any portion of the debt.
“We will not get to that stage where these assets will be sold to defray the debts, because of progress made on reaching a settlement,” he said as quoted by myjoyonline.com.
He added that reports that the judgment deal had brought work at the High Commission to a standstill are untrue.
“Whatever happened has not affected work or the services that we are offering here in London and the UK,” he said.
A United Kingdom High Court rejected the Ghanaian government’s challenge to the procedures used for serving it with proceedings related to a judgment debt claim by GPGC, a subsidiary of the international commodities company Trafigura.
GPGC had taken legal action against the Ghanaian government due to the termination of two power agreements and was granted a judgment debt of US$140 million by a UK court.
However, Ghana argued that, in accordance with existing laws, the company should have served the government through diplomatic channels rather than using alternative methods, as permitted by a previous ruling.
The High Court determined that Ghana’s invocation of theState Immunity Act provisions to prevent Trafigura from serving them with judgment debt documents through post and email was not valid.
British High Commissioner to Ghana,Madam Harriet Thompson, has revealed that trade between Ghana and the United Kingdom (UK) has experienced consistent growth, reaching £2.4 billion in 2022.
During this period, Ghana’s primary agricultural exports to the UK included vegetables and fruits valued at £59.4 million, fish and shellfish worth £39.6 million, and coffee, tea, and cocoa with an approximate value of £18.7 million.
At a reception to welcome a delegation from the Agriculture and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) of the UK, the High Commissioner emphasized the significance of meat in the trade relationship between Ghana and the UK.
The 10-member AHDB delegation is engaged in a three-day trade mission to Ghana with the objective of establishing closer collaborations in areas such as improved genetics and agricultural innovation, encompassing both arable and livestock agriculture.
Madam Thompson, while addressing the gathering at her residence in Accra, emphasised the British High Commission’s commitment to increasing trade volumes between the two nations by facilitating British exports to Ghana and Ghanaian exports to the UK.
The delegation, comprising UK meat producers and exporters, has been introduced to meat importers in a bid to foster new connections and business relationships for companies in both Ghana and the UK.
The British High Commissioner noted that Ghana stood as one of the largest importers of British meat beyond the European Union (EU) and expressed optimism that trade figures would see further growth with the delegation’s visit to Ghana.
Between 2019 and 2021, Ghana held the distinction of being the most significant importer of British beef among all exports outside the EU and represented one of the primary non-EU destinations for British sheep meat.
Madam Thompson also highlighted the UK’s world-leading agri-tech expertise, which encompasses various fields such as satellite farm networks, precision agriculture, engineering, crop protection, soil health, livestock productivity, health, welfare, and agri-data.
“Our business and trade team at the British High Commission in Accra is always ready to help businesses identify partners with that expertise to help their businesses grow,” she said.
The agriculture sector contributed nearly 19 percent to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product in 2022 and around 40 percent of the country’s workforce.
Therefore, Madam Thompson said, “The growth in Ghana’s agriculture really matters, so the expertise that the UK can bring really matters.”
She suggested that the UK’s expertise and investments could play a vital role in supporting the second phase of the Planting for Food and Jobs program, which underscores the importance of commercial agriculture, as announced by the President.
Within the framework of the UK-Ghana Trade Partnership Agreement, there exists a provision for both duty-free and unrestricted access to British markets and products.
She also highlighted the Growth Gateway, a UK government initiative offering free business support services to both UK and African businesses, facilitating access to markets in both the UK and Africa.
The Ambassador urged Ghanaian exporters and producers to seize this opportunity, as it provides tailored support to help them advance to the next level of their export endeavours.
Dr. Awal Fuseini, Senior Exports Manager (AHDB) and the head of the delegation, emphasised that this mission was mutually beneficial, aiming to bolster collaboration and enable meat importers to establish direct access to supplies in the UK.
Regarding the advantages of this partnership for Ghanaian producers, he stressed that the agriculture sector, in general, would benefit from improved genetics in terms of animal breeds while assisting in addressing the meat supply deficit in the UK.
Dr. Fuseini also commended the government’s Rearing for Food and Jobs Program, which aims to boost animal and meat production in Ghana.
However, he said, “You need the right animals, veterinary interventions, the right feed and the right housing to be able to commercialise production.”
Dr Fuseini, also theSector Manager for Halal, said, “There’s no point turning animals to a farmer who hasn’t got the right feed, the right housing, and the right veterinary interventions.”
Ghana Football Association (GFA) has officially scheduled the postponed Premier League match between Heart of Lions and Hearts of Oak for Wednesday, November 8.
This fixture will take place at the Hohoe Sports Stadium.
“The Ghana Football Association has announced dates for two outstanding BetPawa Premier League matchday five matches.
“The match between Heart of Lions FC and Heart of Oak SC will be played on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at the Hohoe Sports Stadium,” a communiqué from the Ghana FA said on Friday, November 3.
Meanwhile, the other outstanding Ghana Premier League game between Medeama SC and Nsoatreman FC will be played on Thursday, November 9.
“Medeama SC will also host Nsoatreman FC at Akoon Park on Thursday, November 9, 2023, in their outstanding league fixture,” the GFA communiqué said.
Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, has declared unequivocally that Alan Kyeremanten’s departure from the party following his defeat in the presidential primaries was unnecessary.
In response to the party’s decision to allow the four candidates to sign the pledge not to resign, he stated, “Every election has rules and regulations, and party members should respect and abide by these rules.”
He went on to say that anyone who loses an election and leaves the party is not a good candidate or a trustworthy person who should be followed.
He told the parliamentary press corps that “what Alan did was terrible.” When running for office, you should be aware that there are rules that govern elections. He didn’t have to resign from the NPP.”
He also believes that individuals who want Alan to be talked to so he will return to the NPP should cease since it is unnecessary.
He claimed that the fact that he left the party in the first place demonstrates that he was never a member of the party in the first place.
“Why should we beg you to rejoin a party you claimed to be a member of?” Who should come up to you and persuade you to come back to the party?
“Why should you leave the party in the first place if you were a member? Anyone who suggests that we must beg him to return is hazardous. “Leaving the party was a bad decision, and there’s no reason for us to go and beg him to come back,” he added.
The National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has voiced criticism against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for requiring its flagbearer hopefuls to sign an agreement promoting unity and cooperation before, during, and after the party’s presidential election, scheduled for November 4.
The decision to have the four NPP flagbearer aspirants sign a four-page Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was reached following discussions between the National Council of Elders and the aspirants.
The purpose of this agreement is to establish a framework for fostering harmony and solidarity within the party.
However, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has raised questions about the wisdom of such an agreement.
He expressed concerns about the potential consequences of preventing candidates from voicing grievances if they believe they have been treated unfairly during the election process.
He also expressed surprise that legal experts within the party were involved in drafting the MoU, as it implies that, once signed, the agreement automatically resolves all potential disputes and conflicts.
“Who can make laws in this country that, if you are being cheated, you shouldn’t complain? Apart from command institutions like the military, where action is taken before complaining, in the free world, I am surprised that great lawyers sat down to draft this MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) that, when signed, becomes the solution,” he said.
He continued, “I believe that is not the right approach. I am urging them that if there are issues that their candidates have raised, they need to address them. This will ensure peace after the post-election period.”
A document obtained by GhanaWeb contains six clauses, with four of them being central to the process. These key clauses include the acceptance of primary election results, the promotion of peace and unity, a commitment not to resign from the party, and a pledge to support the eventual winner.
The remaining two clauses pertain to the enforcement mechanisms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and its timeline and duration, which span from the moment it was signed until the announcement of the election’s winner.
All four aspirants who attended the meeting, along with the Chair of the Elections Committee, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, and his vice and secretary, affixed their signatures to the document.
Following the meeting, Justin Frimpong Koduah, the General Secretary of the NPP, addressed the press and explained that the aspirants have committed to embracing the primary election results while prioritising the party’s interests.
“We were able to get all four aspirants to sign an undertaking, and in summary, they are to accept the primary results and promote peace and cohesion. If they don’t win, they will not resign from the party and will support the winner of the primary,” Koduah stated.
Additionally, the aspirants have agreed to “ensure and enforce mechanisms that have been established by the party and also work within the timelines and duration that have been established by the party from now until the results are declared, and to respect the decision of the delegates of our party.”
Saturday’s presidential primaries are expected to be a closely watched event, with Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia tipped by many as the front-runner in the race.
His main contender is Kennedy Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin Central, while former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and former Mampong MP, Francis Addai-Nimoh, are also in the race for the flagbearer position.
According to a source within the church, as reported by Joy News based in Accra, the robbers requested a sum of US$160,000 to free the deacon.
However, the source also mentioned that no payment was made before the deacon’s release.
It’s possible that the widespread attention drawn to their criminal act may have prompted the robbers to abandon their initial ransom demand.
“They had demanded that the money be paid in four days or the church would have itself to blame. Thank God the footage of the incident went viral. It is certain that is what broke their resolve and scampered with their plans.
“The church did not pay anything. Eventually, the abductors set the deacon (name withheld) free in an outlandish location.
“A good Samaritan discovered him where they abandoned him by the roadside,” the source is quoted to have said.
“The good Samaritan took him to the nearest police station, from where the Ghana High Commission and church leaders were alerted of his discovery,” they added.
The incident occurred a week ago in Johannesburg, and the release of the hostage was officially confirmed on November 1 by Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Charles Owiredu.
The incident was captured on video, showing the criminals entering the church premises while a service was in progress.
In the footage, the priest and other congregants can be seen lying flat on the ground,complying with the menacing robbers and surrendering their valuables.
Independent flagbearer hopeful Alan Kyerematen, has cautioned the National Democratic Congress (NDC) about potential complacency ahead of the 2024 elections, highlighting the danger of assuming an automatic shift in power every eight years.
Kyerematen, addressing his supporters in Kumasi, highlighted what he perceives as a prevalent mindset within the NDC that anticipates a change in government every eight years, regardless of the quality of governance.
He stressed the need to avoid the notion of ‘it’s your turn’ as a determining factor for leadership transitions.
“The NDC operates under the belief that a change in government occurs every eight years, adhering to the principle of ‘it’s your turn.’
However, this perspective disregards the essence of meritocracy. I, Alan, would have been a flagbearer of the NPP if I adhered to such a principle,” Kyerematen stated.
His departure from the NPP and subsequent establishment of a new political movement arose due to diverging perspectives on leadership principles.
“In my case, the grassroots pushed for me to lead, but there was opposition from certain quarters. Consequently, I’ve moved on to form a separate political movement,” he added.
Kyerematen further suggested that the belief in an eight-year power cycle could create an opening for broader change in the political landscape.
He suggested the possibility of a departure from the typical partisan structure and alluded to a scenario in which Ghana could see the election of a non-partisan president.
“So, if the NDC thinks it has eight years and therefore it is their turn to come to power, the Movement for Change is coming… and in 2024, history will be made in this country and you will have the first president of Ghana who will be elected as the first non-partisan president,” Kyerematen stated.
Alan Kyerematen, a key figure in the establishment of the New Patriotic Party, has veered away from the party and shifted his attention to his new political movement.
During an interview on TV3’s The Day Show on November 2, 2023, Kofi Amoabeng mentioned that certain influential individuals within the Akufo-Addo administration, whom he referred to as ‘cockroaches’ driven by jealousy, used state institutions to target him and inflict harm.
He explained that while he was facing legal proceedings for alleged financial misconduct by the government, the court granted him permission to travel to the United States of America (US) for a medical examination.
However, according to him, powerful figures within the government manipulated state institutions to inform the US embassy that he posed a security risk, resulting in his prohibition from travelling for the medical check-up.
“I left the bank about 18 months before the bank closed. I’m in court now as we speak. I mean, 18 months, if there had been anything, it would have come out. Because there was a new MD (managing director) and the board was also functioning.
“I wanted to go for a medical check-up, and we went to court for them to release my passport to me. After up and down, up and down, the judge said, ‘I don’t see how I would keep his passport; let him go and check himself and come back because, after all, if he dies, the case would die’.
“I went to the American Embassy, and since I have been going to America since the 1980s, the embassy refused me an entry visa.
When I checked through the back doors, there was a letter from some government department saying I was a security risk,” he narrated.
Political science lecturer at theUniversity of Ghana Legon, Dr. Asah Asante, has expressed concern about the prevalence of financial inducements in Ghana’s political landscape.
In the run-up to the crucial election, the two main contenders, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who is seeking to lead the party in the 2024 general election, and the Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong, have engaged in mutual allegations.
Incidents of vote-buying have arisen in the lead-up to the presidential primaries of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking on the Morning Starr with Francis Abban, the political science lecturer stated: “In a democracy, our leaders’ decisions they take, the ideas they draw out—if we listen to them and we are satisfied, we go with that and we go ahead and vote them into office.
“We only get there and we are given transport or we demand transport intended for that purpose”.
“For me, it is a worrying development; for me, that is something we are not doing right. So people have developed this thing to the point that whoever is able to give more has more people attending to you. Because obviously, everybody needs money in this state”.
“But if there is somebody who will give you more, why would you want to waste your time on another who will give you less? So that is what is happening,” he added.
Dr. Asante further stated that the sharing of money among delegates in the upcomingNPP presidential primaries is across the board and not by any particular candidate.
The 23-year-old star exhibited his exceptional talent, leaving fans and football enthusiasts in sheer amazement with his mesmerising performance, which contributed to West Ham’s resounding 3-1 victory over their London rivals at the Olympic Stadium.
Kudus not only found the net in the match but also wowed everyone with a perfectly executed lofted ball over Tomiyasu, leaving fans and viewers in awe.
The video capturing Kudus’s skill has quickly gone viral on various social media platforms.
Since his arrival at West Ham, Kudus has been in scintillating form, tallying four goals in various competitions for the London club.
His impressive goal haul includes a memorable brace on his Europa League debut as well as strikes in the Premier League and the EFL Cup, where he showcased his prowess against Arsenal.
Kudus’s electrifying performance has solidified his reputation as one of the brightest talents to emerge from Ghana, and his journey in English football is one that fans are eagerly tracking.
West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen has lauded his teammate, Mohammed Kudus, as an exceptional player following his outstanding performance in their Carabao Cup victory over Arsenal.
The Black Stars midfielder played a pivotal role in West Ham’s 3-1 triumph over Arsenal at the London Stadium.
Kudus earned admiration from both fans and teammates for his spectacular goal, doubling West Ham’s lead as he brilliantly connected with Nayef Aguerd’s long-range pass inside the box.
Bowen, who also had a stellar outing in the match, was quick to praise Kudus for his remarkable talents.
Speaking about Kudus, Bowen said, “He’s a really special player. We are kind of similar in terms of left-footed off the right wing, so when he has the ball, I kind of think, What would I do? Does he need me to help him or leave the space for him to go one vs. one?”
Bowen went on to emphasise Kudus’s unique qualities and his ability to make a significant impact on the game.
The goal Kudus scored in the match perfectly illustrated his talent, from his exquisite touch to the clinical finish.
”It’s just about knowing the players and he’s a top, top player. You see, with the goal tonight, the touch and the finish, he’s really, really special,” the West Ham forward said.
Mohammed Kudus, who joined West Ham United at the start of the season, is making an impressive start to life at the London Stadium and has scored four goals in his first 12 appearances across all competitions.
Former Manchester City right-back Micah Richards has revealed some intriguing incidents at the team’s training ground during the tenure of Italian coach Roberto Mancini that led to the club approving the departure of English full-back Kieran Trippier.
Trippier, a product of the Manchester City academy, was released by the club in 2012 after a successful loan stint at Burnley.
During an episode of the Rest is Football podcast, Micah Richards suggested that Emmanuel Adebayor played a part in the club’s choice to let go of Trippier.
“I just remember in training, we were doing this session of attack versus defence; you might have four defenders versus three attackers or vice versa. He was up against Adebayor, you know Adebayor always went to the left side, held it up and did some skills or whatnot.
“Every time Adebayor got the ball, he absolutely destroyed Trippier in a one-on-one situation. The manager at the time, I think, was Mancini, but what everyone didn’t know was that the part of his game that was the best was going forward.
“They were exploiting his weaknesses and not seeing his strengths.
“When he was allowed to go to Burnley, I remember all of the lads saying this is the biggest mistake ever. Send him out on loan for a couple of seasons, and when he fills out a little bit…but the technique he had, the timing of his runs, the passing, the commitment he showed I was like, he’s going to be a top player,” he said.
Kieran Trippier’s impressive spell at Burnley in the Championship prompted Tottenham Hotspur to secure his signature. Subsequently, his career trajectory has taken him to clubs like Atletico Madrid and Newcastle.
Rio Ferdinand believes that England midfielder Jude Bellingham turned down a move to Manchester United in 2020 due to a lack of guaranteed regular first-team opportunities.
United made significant efforts to sign the midfielder three years ago, even inviting him and his parents to the club’s Carrington training base in March, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time, Bellingham was with Birmingham City and attracting substantial interest.
However, the 20-year-old, who is currently regarded as one of the best players in the world, opted to join Borussia Dortmund in July of the same year.
He believed that Dortmund would provide him with the best platform to elevate his game to the next level. During his nearly three-year stint with the Bundesliga club, he made 132 appearances and scored 24 goals.
In June, Bellingham was acquired by Real Madrid, where he has excelled, netting 13 goals in his first 13 games, including a brace in a 2-1 victory over Barcelona.
United, as reported by theManchester Evening News in December, had not ruled out the possibility of making a second attempt to sign Bellingham in the most recent transfer window
Organiser of the Global Blueprint Excellence Awards, Kwame Owusu Fordjour, who iswidely known as Dr. UN, has asserted that he played a part in boosting Sarkodie’s popularity in the country.
According to him, Sarkodie’s fame in Ghana experienced a surge after his infamous UN award garnered significant attention, particularly when it became clear that the award scheme was not authentic.
Dr. UN, the organiser of the Global Blueprint Excellence Awards, also stated that he has had several interactions with Sarkodie after the event.
He emphasised that their relationship has not been as contentious as some people may perceive it to be.
“I have met Sarkodie several times after the awards; he is my fan. Do you know that I made him Sarkodie? His previous branding was not good enough. If it was not me, why does he trend with the awards?
“I made him trend all the time. After his issue with Yvonne Nelson, he was not popular until he used my trend and that is where the money is.
“Why is it that after my award, which was held three years ago, anytime the media interviews him, they hammer on my award?” he said in a video shared by Express GHTV on their Youtube channel.
When he was asked for his take on Sarkodie’s issue with Yvonne Nelson and what he makes of it, he said, “Sarkodie did not show responsibility as a man. In such situations, you have to man up and accept it whether you have money or not. Leaving her (Yvonne Nelson) to go through that trauma was not the best.”
Earlier in 2020, social media went wild after the likes of Sarkodie, D-Black, Berla Mundi, members of the academia, and some politicians fell for hisfake UN award scam.
If billboards had their own economy, they would likely be sporting smiles, especially with the onset of the political season in the country.
However, one particular billboard, carrying a message shrouded in mystery, has garnered significant attention in recent days.
Before delving into the details of this conversation, it’s important to note that the largest opposition party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has experienced its fair share of political fervour in 2023.
This included the election of John Dramani Mahama, a former president of Ghana, as its flagbearer, along with the selection of parliamentary candidates for all 275 constituencies in the country.
Conversely, the incumbent party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is currently immersed in a wave of political excitement as it gears up to choose its flagbearer on November 4, 2023. The selection of its parliamentary candidates is expected to follow at a later date, possibly in 2024.
But one question that has lingered for decades is, ‘Can Ghana get a third political force: whether from a political party (or an amalgamation of smaller ones) or from independent candidates?’
Could that be what this new, much-talked-about billboard could be presenting?
A man in a wooden mask stirs social media reactions:
The billboard features an image of a man wearing what appears to be a wooden mask. He is attired in a tailored suit, complete with a flying tie and a pocket square, conveying a straightforward message: ‘Leadership for the next generation.’
On the lower right corner of the billboard, the flag of Ghana is displayed, accompanied by the hashtag #TheNewForce along the bottom.
It wouldn’t be bad if is Cheddar. He dey inspire many of the youth.
While many have suggested that it might be entrepreneur and socialite Nana Kwame Bediako, also known as Freedom Jacob Caesar and popularly referred to as Cheddar, the true identity behind the mask remains undisclosed.
Barcelona is activelysearching for an alternative to their 35-year-old striker, Robert Lewandowski, and Diario Sport has compiled a comprehensive list of forwards that have piqued the interest of the La Liga giants.
At the top of their list is Manchester United’s Anthony Martial, a 27-year-old Frenchman, despite his recent struggles to make an impact for the Red Devils this season, having played just 221 Premier League minutes without scoring.
Another candidate is Artem Dovbyk, a 26-year-old who has impressed with five LaLiga goals and two assists since joining high-flying Girona.
Mehdi Taremi, a 31-year-old from Porto, may draw interest due to his contract expiring in the summer, while Juventus’ 23-year-old Moise Kean is being considered for his physicality and experience.
Barcelona is also looking at youthful options in 19-year-old Evan Ferguson from Brighton & Hove Albion and 18-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko from Borussia Dortmund.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kcm1BFEiWDc
They are exploring the potential signing of Feyenoord’s 22-year-old Mexico international Santiago Giménez, who has scored 15 goals this season.
Victor Boniface, a 22-year-old from Bayer Leverkusen with 10 goals this season, and Serhou Guirassy, a 27-year-old from Stuttgart with 15 Bundesliga goals, are among the options under consideration.
The Premier League performances of 27-year-old Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa have also garnered Barcelona’s attention, as has the impressive form of 23-year-old Jonathan David from Lille.
The final name on their list isVictor Osimhen, a 24-year-old Nigerian international from Napoli who has continued his prolific goal-scoring form with six goals in eight Serie A appearances this season.
However, his potential transfer would come at a significant cost, around €150 million, a substantial sum for a financially strained club.
Liverpool reportedly maintains hope of completing a surprising move for Kylian Mbappe, even after six years of ongoing talks with his representatives, as indicated by French reports.
Mbappe’s future with PSG remains uncertain following his rejection of a contract extension earlier this summer, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.
While Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal made a world-record bid of £257 million for Mbappe, the player showed no interest in making the move.
Initially, Real Madrid appeared to be the most likely destination for the 2018 World Cup winner, who was briefly sidelined to play with PSG’s B-team.
Following the summer departures of Neymar and Lionel Messi, Mbappe has returned and made a significant impact, scoring 12 goals in as many matches. However, with his contract entering its final six months and no new deal signed, a transfer away seems increasingly likely.
According to L’Equipe, while the possibility of a contract renewal is not ruled out, Liverpool is one of the clubs looking to take advantage of the situation.
The Reds had attempted to sign Mbappe in 2017 before he joined PSG from Monaco, and it’s reported that Jurgen Klopp had met with the player for talks. Their communication has apparently continued since then, but Real Madrid is seen as the frontrunner in the race to sign the attacker.
Mbappe’s situation took an additional twist with the news that he may have to remove his own mother as his agent due to a new FIFA rule.
Mbappe with his mom
Lamari, his mother, lacks the necessary licence to be a registered agent, and she cannot represent players in negotiating contracts and collecting payments for her involvement in deals.
She won’t be eligible to obtain the required licence until May 2024, and she must pass an exam. Continuing to act as Mbappe’s representative could lead to both of them facing a substantial fine and potentially reporting to FIFA.
Aston Villa’s Alisha Lehmann, renowned for her skillful dribbling and goal-scoring abilities, surprised fans by showcasing her talent for rapping.
This revelation came during her appearance on the BBC series “Unlocked.”
Lehmann, the Swiss international, shared that in addition to her prowess on the field, she and her former Aston Villa teammate, Shania Hayles, have been experimenting with a rap song, offering a sneak peek into their creative venture.
“My last note?” she asked through laughter. “Me and Shania [Hayles]—she played with me last season—we wrote a little rap song. But I can’t show it,” she said. “It’s unreleased. You will hear it when it’s released.”
However, after repeated coaxing, she shared a line that went like this: “I have a necklace, right? It [says] ‘AL’,” before reading the line, ‘Strutting with my necklace on, it’s AL baby, that’s my name’.”
When asked if she would release the song, Lehmann promptly replied, “No, obviously not. I’m a footballer!”
Lehmann is an Instagram sensation and boasts of having over 16 million fans on the social media platform, which makes her one of the most followed women’s football figures globally.
Her popularity cut across celebrities, including some Hollywood A-listers.
Lehmann had earlier revealed that music sensation Drake sent her a private text message asking for a jersey, whereas, on another occasion, she was offered £90,000 by a famous celeb while she was partying at a club in Miami.
Lehmann will be eager to answer her critics on the pitch when Aston Villa host Chelsea on Saturday in the WSL after she was targeted by trolls for wearing makeup during Switzerland’s 7-1 loss to Spain.
Erik ten Hag has reportedly demanded one-on-one meetings withkey Manchester United players in an attempt to repair broken squad morale.
The Red Devils are gradually descending into abysmal chaos, with on-field performances further going south following two consecutive 3-0 defeats to Manchester City and Newcastle within the span of a week.
In fact, Ten Hag now oversees the club’s worst season start in six decades, as they suffered their eighth loss in the first 15 games of the season.
It has been reported that the Old Trafford dressing room is divided into factions, as Ten Hag has been accused of protecting his “favourites” while “rounding on” others.
As reported by The Sun, the Dutch manager is determined to address internal issues within the squad and is committed to identifying and rectifying any problems, whether they are within the team, his coaching staff, or himself, to tackle the ongoing crisis.
To gain a fresh perspective before the upcoming match against Fulham, he has arranged one-on-one meetings for both Friday and Saturday to engage with the team.
Amidst the widespread discontent within the squad, Scott McTominay has come to the defence of his manager, staunchly supporting Ten Hag’s methods and expressing confidence that positive results will follow in the near future.
It is widely believed that Ten Hag’s position at United is precarious, and a failure to return to the path of victory before the November international break could potentially lead to his dismissal.
Therefore, the significance of the next three games cannot be overstated, starting with an away fixture at Craven Cottage against Fulham on Saturday, followed by a Champions League match against FC Copenhagen, and another league game against Luton Town. These matches are crucial for determining his future at the club.
Furthermore, reports have surfaced indicating thatManchester United is actively exploring potential replacements, with Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim and Zinedine Zidane emerging as frontrunners in the race to take over.
Messi, the extraordinary talent from Argentina, secured his eighth Golden Ball on Monday, thanks to his remarkable performances for Paris Saint-Germain and the national team.
Inter Miami, his current club, revealed their plans on Friday to mark this historic achievement by scheduling a friendly match. On November 10, Miami will go head-to-head with New York City FC, a fellow team in the Eastern Conference, in a “night full of festivities.”
Noche d’Or 💫 8️⃣
Come join us as we celebrate history at @drvpnkstadium!
Next Friday, Nov. 10th we will commemorate Messi’s historic eighth Ballon d’Or with a night full of festivities featuring a friendly match against New York City FC, and an afterparty by @fiestabresh!… pic.twitter.com/mNAPBEm6C2
The decision to pay tribute to Messi is a relief for Miami fans, who were uncertain about seeing the 36-year-old in action earlier this week.
The team, under the leadership of David Beckham, had to cancel their China tour on Wednesday due to apparent “commercial and bureaucratic issues.” Now, the gap in their schedule will be filled by the upcoming ‘Noche d’Or’ event.
Since his arrival inMiami in July, Messi has made a remarkable impact with 11 goals and eight assists in 14 appearances across all competitions.
Despite playing in only half of the campaign, he finished second in the MLS Newcomer of the Year award.
Manchester United is reportedly monitoring Porto’s goalkeeper, Diogo Costa, in anticipation of Andre Onana’s absence during the 2023 AFCON in January.
Consequently, as per the Spanish outlet Fichajes, the Red Devils are exploring options to bolster their goalkeeping department, with Costa being a potential target. Costa has previously been linked to Manchester United and has received praise from some of the club’s players.
It’s important to note that United’s interest in Costa arises from their need for backup in the goalkeeping position rather than Onana’s performance, which has had a slow start to the season.
However, acquiring Costa would likely require a substantial investment of around €50 million (£44 million or $53 million).
At 24 years of age, Costa is three years younger than Onana, offering long-term competition for the Cameroonian international.
Yet, it remains uncertain whether Manchester United’s interest in the Portuguese goalkeeper will translate into a formal offer.
Getty Images: Costa has been at Porto his entire career, racking up a mammoth 122 senior appearances.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly prepared to invest £245 million ($300 million) from his personal wealth to overhaul Manchester United’s ageing infrastructure.
Sky News indicates that this substantial contribution is separate from the £1.25 billion he intends to spend to acquire a 25 percent stake in the club.
Importantly, this investment will not add to Manchester United’s existing debt.
The funds will be disbursed in stages, with a significant portion being allocated to the club by the end of this year.
The entire sum is earmarked for the enhancement of the club’s infrastructure and will not be allocated to strengthen the squad.
However, the transformation of Manchester United’s stadium into a world-class facility on par with venues like the Emirates and the Etihad may demand more extensive financial resources.
It is believed that Ratcliffe is open to additional investments to equip Old Trafford with state-of-the-art facilities.
The question remains whether these plans will be disclosed when the takeover is officially announced, a process that might conclude in around 15 days as both parties are currently engaged in negotiations.
It has also been reported that, once the takeover is finalised, Sir Ratcliffe will assume control of sporting matters at the club.
There are rumours that he may appoint the former Tottenham head of recruitment, Paul Mitchell, as the director of football.
This move is aimed at rejuvenating a Manchester United side that has encountered challenges in achieving success under themanagement of Erik ten Hag.
Glen Johnson has expressed significant concerns regardingChelsea’s rising star, Levi Colwill, for the current season. He has also issued a warning to Mauricio Pochettino regarding the young defender.
Colwill has been an ever-present figure in the Premier League this season for Chelsea, not missing a single minute of action.
His consistent performances earned him a spot in the starting lineup following a successful loan spell at Brighton.
Mauricio Pochettino holds a strong admiration for the player, and it’s believed that the Argentine manager rejected the possibility of a permanent transfer to Brighton during the summer transfer window.
At just 20 years old, Colwill possesses versatility, capable of playing both as a center-back and a left-back. He has showcased his abilities in both positions under Pochettino’s guidance.
But former Chelsea defender Johnson has urged Pochettino to stop using Colwill as a left-back because he could get ‘found out’ and ‘isolated’ in the position.
‘If you asked Levi Colwill, he’d probably tell you he doesn’t want to be playing left-back,’ Johnson told Compare.bet.
‘He’s not the quickest and for me to be a full back, you have to have some pace and so he looks like he’s playing out of position. ‘It’s great that the manager trusts him enough to give him minutes but it would be best to play him where he plays best, which is at centre-back.
‘He’s technically good, good at passing it through the lines, and reads the game well but he just needs the right players around him.
The goals came from Ben White’s own goal as well as strikes by Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen, putting the home team in the lead.
Martin Odegaard managed to score a late consolation goal for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta made six changes to the Arsenal lineup, compared to the team that had achieved a 5-0 win against Sheffield United the previous Saturday.
Notable players like Declan Rice, William Saliba, and Bukayo Saka began the match on the bench against West Ham.
Arteta’s team selection had faced criticism from Arsenal supporters, but David Moyes, the West Ham manager, defended his counterpart’s decision to make changes for their Carabao Cup fixture.
When questioned about Arteta’s choice to shuffle his Arsenal lineup for the match, Moyes responded, “Having been involved in football for such an extended period and being one of the most experienced managers, I believe that managers are persistently queried about their team rotation decisions.”
‘It really surprises me that you haven’t; the journalists who watch all the football wouldn’t say, ‘Well, you’ve got 18 or 19 players in your squad who are probably good enough to play; you have a lot of football to play’.
‘They’ve got two games that those sort of questions you wouldn’t say you would take it near enough for granted that lots of the managers would change their team.
‘I find it quite surprising, really, not that you would ask, but I’m sure you’ve all considered that Arsenal have got Newcastle on Saturday, then they’ve got Sevilla, so they’ve got big games coming up.
‘That’s the way you see it but maybe there’s bigger things they see than maybe tonight’s game.’
Arsenal appears to be nearing a €15 million deal for promising Belgian talent Arthur Vermeeren, dealing a setback to Barcelona, as reported.
The Gunners are on track to finalise this transfer during the upcoming January window, leaving Barcelona to miss out on a player they had targeted.
Arsenal is confident that 18-year-old midfielder Vermeeren will seamlessly transition to Premier League football, and the reported transfer fee stands at around €15 million (£13.1 million), according to Spanish reports.
Vermeeren has spent his entire career at Royal Antwerp in Belgium, progressing through the club’s academy and accumulating 53 senior appearances to date.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxmcjbApAbI
The young talent recently earned his first cap for the Belgium national team, highlighting a promising future.
Vermeeren is described as a blend of a conventional holding midfielder and a box-to-box midfielder.
Notably, Marc Overmars, a former Arsenal star and Royal Antwerp’s director of football, has previously drawn comparisons between Vermeeren and football icons Andres Iniesta and Xavi.
Ex-Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld, team-mates with Vermeeren at Royal Antwerp, is also a big fan of the teenager.
‘He arrived in the team by force of circumstance, but since then he has learned very quickly,’ Alderweireld said via The Sun. ‘He reads the game very well; his potential is enormous.Have I seen this before? Rarely, I think.’
Mamadou Sakho has departed from his Ligue 1 club, Montpellier, in the wake of an incident at the training center last week, as stated by the defender on Thursday.
According to reports in the French media, the 33-year-old, who previously played for Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, was said to have been involved in a dispute with the manager, Michel Der Zakarian.
Sakho, who has earned 29 caps for his national team, made the move to Montpellier from Premier League side Crystal Palace after his contract there expired in 2021.
“You have to know how to leave the table when respect is no longer served,” Sakho wrote on Instagram.
“Following the incident that took place last week at the training centre and for which I decline all responsibility, I decided… to end my collaboration with Montpellier.”
Montpellier said the two parties have decided to end the contract after 10 days of reflection.
Getty Images: Costa has been at Porto his entire career, racking up a mammoth 122 senior appearances.
