TIG Post

Author: aejay_wp

  • Rehabilitation in the railway sector recording great progress Oppong-Nkrumah

    The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has disclosed that the railway system in Ghana has recorded significant progress in the past two years under the Akufo-Addo-led administration.

    Speaking at a press briefing, the Minister indicated that the rehabilitation of the 56km narrow gauge line from Kojokurom to Tarkwa, through Nsuta is nearing completion.

    He said that this would lead to the restoration of passenger rail services from Tarkwa to Takoradi for the first time since 2007.

    Read: Government signs MOU with UMat to train students on railway works

    Mr Oppong-Nkrumah also revealed that the freight service from Manganese mine at Nsuta to Takoradi is in operation and in addition to that, the on-going rehabilitation has brought about “a spectacular reduction of derailment and incidence that occur on the line.”

    “In 2017, due to the total deterioration of the Western line, a total of about 700 major and minor incidents were recorded on that line, including derailment.

    “The average incidence since January 2018 when rehabilitation commenced in earnest are 5 incidence per month, down from an average of about 16 incidence per month in 2017.”

    Read: Railway Ministry to receive 22 world class coaches

    The Minister stated that government seeks to reduce the incidents to the barest minimum.

    New Standard Gauge Line

    My Oppong-Nkrumah revealed that the construction of a standard railway gauge line from Kokokurom to Manso is underway.

    The railway is a distance of 22 kilometers and is being funded by the government of Ghana.

    Accra-Nsawam Eastern railway line

    The Ghana Railway Company Ltd. Has commenced its rehabilitation works on the 70km narrow gauge section of the Eastern railway line from Accra-Nsawam and Accra to Tema.

    According to the Information Minister, works on the Achimota to Tema section of the line is approximately 90% complete. He assured the public that the project will be open for operation once test runs have been completed.

    The Minister added that work is ongoing on the Achimota to Accra Central, Achimota to Nsawam sections of the line and should be completed before the end of the year.

    Read: Feasibility on Sky Train project to commence January 2019

    Moreover, he disclosed that changes are in progress in the passenger coach system.

    “Ten existing passenger coaches also undergone refurbishment. This is expected to enhance passenger comfort when the sub-urban commuters service re-opens on this line.”

    Mr Oppong-Nkrumah indicated that these projects are in fulfillment of the railway Master plan which envisages that total rail network will be standard gauge and executed in six phases.

    Source: backend.theindependentghana.com

  • Rehabilitation in the railway sector recording great progress Oppong-Nkrumah

    The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has disclosed that the railway system in Ghana has recorded significant progress in the past two years under the Akufo-Addo-led administration.

    Speaking at a press briefing, the Minister indicated that the rehabilitation of the 56km narrow gauge line from Kojokurom to Tarkwa, through Nsuta is nearing completion.

    He said that this would lead to the restoration of passenger rail services from Tarkwa to Takoradi for the first time since 2007.

    Read: Government signs MOU with UMat to train students on railway works

    Mr Oppong-Nkrumah also revealed that the freight service from Manganese mine at Nsuta to Takoradi is in operation and in addition to that, the on-going rehabilitation has brought about “a spectacular reduction of derailment and incidence that occur on the line.”

    “In 2017, due to the total deterioration of the Western line, a total of about 700 major and minor incidents were recorded on that line, including derailment.

    “The average incidence since January 2018 when rehabilitation commenced in earnest are 5 incidence per month, down from an average of about 16 incidence per month in 2017.”

    Read: Railway Ministry to receive 22 world class coaches

    The Minister stated that government seeks to reduce the incidents to the barest minimum.

    New Standard Gauge Line

    My Oppong-Nkrumah revealed that the construction of a standard railway gauge line from Kokokurom to Manso is underway.

    The railway is a distance of 22 kilometers and is being funded by the government of Ghana.

    Accra-Nsawam Eastern railway line

    The Ghana Railway Company Ltd. Has commenced its rehabilitation works on the 70km narrow gauge section of the Eastern railway line from Accra-Nsawam and Accra to Tema.

    According to the Information Minister, works on the Achimota to Tema section of the line is approximately 90% complete. He assured the public that the project will be open for operation once test runs have been completed.

    The Minister added that work is ongoing on the Achimota to Accra Central, Achimota to Nsawam sections of the line and should be completed before the end of the year.

    Read: Feasibility on Sky Train project to commence January 2019

    Moreover, he disclosed that changes are in progress in the passenger coach system.

    “Ten existing passenger coaches also undergone refurbishment. This is expected to enhance passenger comfort when the sub-urban commuters service re-opens on this line.”

    Mr Oppong-Nkrumah indicated that these projects are in fulfillment of the railway Master plan which envisages that total rail network will be standard gauge and executed in six phases.

    Source: backend.theindependentghana.com

  • 2018 Gold Fields PGA Golf Championship commences

    Golfers at the ongoing Gold Fields Professional Golfers Association(PGA) Golf Competition at Damang in the Western region have been urged to maintain a high standard of discipline till the end of the competition.

    According to Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Hans deBeer who was speaking at the opening ceremony yesterday, despite the tedious nature of the course, it was important for golfers to play with integrity as the game demands.

    He said, “the Damang course is one of the most difficult courses in the country but that was necessary since we are preparing golfers for international competitions.”

    Read: China National Day Golf set for Sunday

    “It is important to honour the discipline on the golf course since that is the only way to excel in international competitions, which have more difficult courses, “he stressed.

    Currently, he said, Damang is only behind Achimota in terms of the best course in Ghana but would be dethroned next year as they continue with efforts to make Damang the best in Ghana.

    He said, 2016 edition winner,Vincent Torgah looks favourite to win the competition following his incredible run throughout the year though defending champion, Kojo Bannie would give him a run for his money.

    Senior Executive Member at the PGA, Ahmed Padori also urged golfers to contribute their quota to ensure a very successful competition.

    Read: GEC Open Golf Tournament returns to Ghana

    He said it was important to abide by the rules and be courteous all times especially to prepare golfers for tougher challengers outside Ghana.

    In all, 72 golfers from across the continent are competing for glory. Participating countries include, Togo, Nigeria, Senegal, Zimbabwe and host Ghana.

    Already up for grabs on day way was a brand new Toyota vehicle for the hole-in-one play and the closest to achieving that, was defending champion Kojo Bannie who missed the hole by inches.

    Read: China National Day Golf set for Sunday

    The competition continues today with 30 players to emerge for the next stage tomorrow and Saturday where the champion would be crowned.

    Organizers have expressed appreciation to other sponsors including, Toyota, BCM, Engineers and Planners, Genser Energy, ATS and Zen Ghana.

    Source: Nana Prempeh

  • 2018 Gold Fields PGA Golf Championship commences

    Golfers at the ongoing Gold Fields Professional Golfers Association(PGA) Golf Competition at Damang in the Western region have been urged to maintain a high standard of discipline till the end of the competition.

    According to Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Hans deBeer who was speaking at the opening ceremony yesterday, despite the tedious nature of the course, it was important for golfers to play with integrity as the game demands.

    He said, “the Damang course is one of the most difficult courses in the country but that was necessary since we are preparing golfers for international competitions.”

    Read: China National Day Golf set for Sunday

    “It is important to honour the discipline on the golf course since that is the only way to excel in international competitions, which have more difficult courses, “he stressed.

    Currently, he said, Damang is only behind Achimota in terms of the best course in Ghana but would be dethroned next year as they continue with efforts to make Damang the best in Ghana.

    He said, 2016 edition winner,Vincent Torgah looks favourite to win the competition following his incredible run throughout the year though defending champion, Kojo Bannie would give him a run for his money.

    Senior Executive Member at the PGA, Ahmed Padori also urged golfers to contribute their quota to ensure a very successful competition.

    Read: GEC Open Golf Tournament returns to Ghana

    He said it was important to abide by the rules and be courteous all times especially to prepare golfers for tougher challengers outside Ghana.

    In all, 72 golfers from across the continent are competing for glory. Participating countries include, Togo, Nigeria, Senegal, Zimbabwe and host Ghana.

    Already up for grabs on day way was a brand new Toyota vehicle for the hole-in-one play and the closest to achieving that, was defending champion Kojo Bannie who missed the hole by inches.

    Read: China National Day Golf set for Sunday

    The competition continues today with 30 players to emerge for the next stage tomorrow and Saturday where the champion would be crowned.

    Organizers have expressed appreciation to other sponsors including, Toyota, BCM, Engineers and Planners, Genser Energy, ATS and Zen Ghana.

    Source: Nana Prempeh

  • Benjamin Alati is Boxer X Champion Cups Ogboo rider

    The second phase of the Boxer X Champion Cup finally came to an end at the Nima Kawukudi park on 25th November 2018.

    The competition which took place in six different biking communities started from Kasoa, then to Amasaman, Dzodze and Ho. It further continued to Ashaiman and finally ended at Nima.

    Benjamin Alati, a 29-year-old motorbike repairer from Chokor was crowned the regional OGBOO RIDER at the finals which took place at the Kuwukudi park.

    Read: Shocking! TKO punch kills boxer in WBC title fight [Video]

    Benjamin initially emerged winner for the Nima competition and went on to win the regional finals after beating five other contenders who came to represent the other towns as winners. 26 out of the town winners were present and participated in the final competition for their individual towns.

    The five other winners from the final competition were Emmanuel Ayitey who came up second, Kwame Gadasu who came third. Awudu Issah was fourth, while Jacob Allotey and Wonder Awudza were fifth and sixth respectively.

    The tournament was organized by Bajaj Auto Limited and Somoco Ghana and powered by EXP Ghana. The competition was to exhibit the unique biking experience of the Boxer X-125 motorcycle to conquer rough terrain, across the various biking communities in Ghana.

    Read: Isaac Dogboe is a fighter not a boxer Bukom Banku

    The riders had to manoeuvre through different obstacles (sharp curves, S-Shape, rolling hills, tabletop, mud, etc) when they came across them to lessen the possibilities of accidents while riding.

    The Boxer X 125 is designed in a way to reduce the rate at which people have difficulty in manoeuvring through obstacles and this is what the race basically sought to highlight in the championship.

    For his prize, Benjamin Alati took home a brand new Boxer X 125, brand new Bruhm TV, cash, trophy and medal. The second winner also took home Bruhm Food Processor, cash and medal. Third and fourth place winners took home Bruhm Sound Bar, cash and medal each. The fifth and sixth winners both got for themselves cash and medals.

    Head of Sales for Somoco Ghana, Shankar Sharma congratulated the regional winners and also thanked all the riders for being a part of the tournament from when it started at Kasoa to the finals at Nima.

    He further asked them to look out for the next phase of the competition.

    Source: Anthony Arthur

  • Benjamin Alati is Boxer X Champion Cups Ogboo rider

    The second phase of the Boxer X Champion Cup finally came to an end at the Nima Kawukudi park on 25th November 2018.

    The competition which took place in six different biking communities started from Kasoa, then to Amasaman, Dzodze and Ho. It further continued to Ashaiman and finally ended at Nima.

    Benjamin Alati, a 29-year-old motorbike repairer from Chokor was crowned the regional OGBOO RIDER at the finals which took place at the Kuwukudi park.

    Read: Shocking! TKO punch kills boxer in WBC title fight [Video]

    Benjamin initially emerged winner for the Nima competition and went on to win the regional finals after beating five other contenders who came to represent the other towns as winners. 26 out of the town winners were present and participated in the final competition for their individual towns.

    The five other winners from the final competition were Emmanuel Ayitey who came up second, Kwame Gadasu who came third. Awudu Issah was fourth, while Jacob Allotey and Wonder Awudza were fifth and sixth respectively.

    The tournament was organized by Bajaj Auto Limited and Somoco Ghana and powered by EXP Ghana. The competition was to exhibit the unique biking experience of the Boxer X-125 motorcycle to conquer rough terrain, across the various biking communities in Ghana.

    Read: Isaac Dogboe is a fighter not a boxer Bukom Banku

    The riders had to manoeuvre through different obstacles (sharp curves, S-Shape, rolling hills, tabletop, mud, etc) when they came across them to lessen the possibilities of accidents while riding.

    The Boxer X 125 is designed in a way to reduce the rate at which people have difficulty in manoeuvring through obstacles and this is what the race basically sought to highlight in the championship.

    For his prize, Benjamin Alati took home a brand new Boxer X 125, brand new Bruhm TV, cash, trophy and medal. The second winner also took home Bruhm Food Processor, cash and medal. Third and fourth place winners took home Bruhm Sound Bar, cash and medal each. The fifth and sixth winners both got for themselves cash and medals.

    Head of Sales for Somoco Ghana, Shankar Sharma congratulated the regional winners and also thanked all the riders for being a part of the tournament from when it started at Kasoa to the finals at Nima.

    He further asked them to look out for the next phase of the competition.

    Source: Anthony Arthur

  • Government signs MOU with UMat to train students on railway works

    The George Grant University for Mines and Technology at Tarkwa have signed an MOU with the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) to train students in the various specialised areas of the railway sector.

    The Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah addressing the press in Accra on Wednesday, November 28, 2018, stated, “the school will, in 2019, start running courses in railways related subjects such as railways engineering, signalling, telecommunication and infrastructure.”

    Read: 2019 Budget: Government unveils GHC73.4bn for roads, railways, Free SHS, industries

    He explained these courses and training are to help build a core of Ghanaian professionals in the railway sector. Joe Ghartey who is the Minister for Railway, in May 2018 said, “the Railway Development Authority needs properly trained people to be able to build the railway infrastructure and to maintain it.”

    Speaking at a ceremony held at the Old Railway school in Essikado in the Western Region, Mr. Ghartey stated, “if we train the students properly, jobs will stay in this country. We won’t bring people from outside to come and do certain things for us. We will employ our own.”

    Read: Railway Ministry to receive 22 world class coaches

    Mr. Nkrumah added, “the Railway Location Workshop is also being modernised and equipped to become a one-stop workshop to serve the railway, mining, petroleum and agricultural industries in Ghana.”

    He mentioned that two out of the seven workshops have been rehabilitated in 2018.

    The Information Minister also stated many of the railway works under construction are near completion.

    He said the rehabilitation of the Achimota to Tema section of the line is approximately 90% complete and test runs have commenced.

    Read: Railways Minister signs MOU with Chinese engineers for Kumasi-Tamale rail lines

    Also, the Ghana Railway Company Limited, with its own workforce, commenced rehabilitation works on the 70.8km narrow gauge section of the Eastern Railway Line from Accra to Nsawam and Accra to Tema.

    “The procurement process to develop a new standard gauge line for the Eastern Railway Line with a distance of about 340km, is ongoing. This is from Accra-Tema to Kumasi with a branch line from Busoso to Kyebi,” Mr. Nkrumah stated. According to him, eight consortia submitted their final bids on October 11.

    “The government will complete negotiations with the most preferred Concessionaire before the end of this year to develop the project on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis,” Mr. Nkrumah said.

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Government signs MOU with UMat to train students on railway works

    The George Grant University for Mines and Technology at Tarkwa have signed an MOU with the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) to train students in the various specialised areas of the railway sector.

    The Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah addressing the press in Accra on Wednesday, November 28, 2018, stated, “the school will, in 2019, start running courses in railways related subjects such as railways engineering, signalling, telecommunication and infrastructure.”

    Read: 2019 Budget: Government unveils GHC73.4bn for roads, railways, Free SHS, industries

    He explained these courses and training are to help build a core of Ghanaian professionals in the railway sector. Joe Ghartey who is the Minister for Railway, in May 2018 said, “the Railway Development Authority needs properly trained people to be able to build the railway infrastructure and to maintain it.”

    Speaking at a ceremony held at the Old Railway school in Essikado in the Western Region, Mr. Ghartey stated, “if we train the students properly, jobs will stay in this country. We won’t bring people from outside to come and do certain things for us. We will employ our own.”

    Read: Railway Ministry to receive 22 world class coaches

    Mr. Nkrumah added, “the Railway Location Workshop is also being modernised and equipped to become a one-stop workshop to serve the railway, mining, petroleum and agricultural industries in Ghana.”

    He mentioned that two out of the seven workshops have been rehabilitated in 2018.

    The Information Minister also stated many of the railway works under construction are near completion.

    He said the rehabilitation of the Achimota to Tema section of the line is approximately 90% complete and test runs have commenced.

    Read: Railways Minister signs MOU with Chinese engineers for Kumasi-Tamale rail lines

    Also, the Ghana Railway Company Limited, with its own workforce, commenced rehabilitation works on the 70.8km narrow gauge section of the Eastern Railway Line from Accra to Nsawam and Accra to Tema.

    “The procurement process to develop a new standard gauge line for the Eastern Railway Line with a distance of about 340km, is ongoing. This is from Accra-Tema to Kumasi with a branch line from Busoso to Kyebi,” Mr. Nkrumah stated. According to him, eight consortia submitted their final bids on October 11.

    “The government will complete negotiations with the most preferred Concessionaire before the end of this year to develop the project on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis,” Mr. Nkrumah said.

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • GRA storms Kempinski over tax stamps

    The Ghana Revenue Authority has seized some assorted beverages on sale at the bar and stores of Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City over non-compliance with the tax stamp law.

    The liquors include Chase Vodka, Martin Blanco, Havana Club, Chivas Rigal, William Chase Elegant, Russian Standard Vodka, Hemey Cognac among others.

    The move is coming on the back of similar action at manufacturing firms and retail shops.

    Read: GRA storm Kempinski and Movenpick to seize products without tax stamps

    The Excise Unit and GRA task force which conducted the seizure explained that the move is part of efforts to ensure full compliance of the tax stamp law.

    The Excise Tax Stamp Act, 2013 (Act 873) which was passed by Parliament in December 2013 stipulates that excisable goods should be affixed with the tax stamps before they are put on the market for sale.

    The excise tax stamps are specially designed digital stamps with security features which are affixed on specified excisable goods, whether locally manufactured or imported.

    https://www.facebook.com/theindependentghana/videos/361369141107625/

    Goods affected by the law include cigarettes and other tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, whether canned or contained in kegs, non-alcoholic carbonated beverages, whether bottled, canned or packaged in any other form, and bottled water.

    The enforcement of the act started at the ports on January 1, 2018, and the points of sale on March 1, 2018, with a special task force commencing the first phase of an enforcement exercise in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi.

    During the exercise, goods which did not have the excise stamps affixed on them were removed from the shelves of some shops but they were not seized.

    Source: Starrfmonline.com

  • GRA storms Kempinski over tax stamps

    The Ghana Revenue Authority has seized some assorted beverages on sale at the bar and stores of Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City over non-compliance with the tax stamp law.

    The liquors include Chase Vodka, Martin Blanco, Havana Club, Chivas Rigal, William Chase Elegant, Russian Standard Vodka, Hemey Cognac among others.

    The move is coming on the back of similar action at manufacturing firms and retail shops.

    Read: GRA storm Kempinski and Movenpick to seize products without tax stamps

    The Excise Unit and GRA task force which conducted the seizure explained that the move is part of efforts to ensure full compliance of the tax stamp law.

    The Excise Tax Stamp Act, 2013 (Act 873) which was passed by Parliament in December 2013 stipulates that excisable goods should be affixed with the tax stamps before they are put on the market for sale.

    The excise tax stamps are specially designed digital stamps with security features which are affixed on specified excisable goods, whether locally manufactured or imported.

    https://www.facebook.com/theindependentghana/videos/361369141107625/

    Goods affected by the law include cigarettes and other tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, whether canned or contained in kegs, non-alcoholic carbonated beverages, whether bottled, canned or packaged in any other form, and bottled water.

    The enforcement of the act started at the ports on January 1, 2018, and the points of sale on March 1, 2018, with a special task force commencing the first phase of an enforcement exercise in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi.

    During the exercise, goods which did not have the excise stamps affixed on them were removed from the shelves of some shops but they were not seized.

    Source: Starrfmonline.com

  • Shingles outbreak on UEW-Kumasi campus; 375 students infected in 2 weeks

    Students of the Kumasi campus of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) have been panic-stricken following an outbreak of a rash-like disease they suspect to be Shingles.

    So far, 375 students have been infected by the disease within a space of two weeks, causing fear and panic on campus.

    The students have petitioned the management of the university to immediately provide free medical treatment to the affected students and also fumigate the entire campus to deal with the outbreak.

    Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash.

    In an interview with Class News, the chief petitioner on behalf of the students, Samuel Clinton Boateng said the situation keeps getting worse by the day.

    He has urged the management of the school to take swift action.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Shingles outbreak on UEW-Kumasi campus; 375 students infected in 2 weeks

    Students of the Kumasi campus of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) have been panic-stricken following an outbreak of a rash-like disease they suspect to be Shingles.

    So far, 375 students have been infected by the disease within a space of two weeks, causing fear and panic on campus.

    The students have petitioned the management of the university to immediately provide free medical treatment to the affected students and also fumigate the entire campus to deal with the outbreak.

    Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash.

    In an interview with Class News, the chief petitioner on behalf of the students, Samuel Clinton Boateng said the situation keeps getting worse by the day.

    He has urged the management of the school to take swift action.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Work on Kumasi Airport expansion progresses steadily

    Work is progressing on the second phase of the Kumasi Airport which consists of building a new terminal and expanding the existing one to accommodate more passengers.

    There will also be an extension of the runway and the building of a bigger car park.

    When completed, the facelift will bring the Kumasi Airport to an international standard.

    Currently, all the concrete columns for the new terminal have been erected, and the withholding wall is currently under construction.

    During an inspection of the project, the Minister of Aviation, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, expressed satisfaction at the progress of work done so far.

    Read: Tuface Idibia makes interesting comparison between Ghana and Nigeria airports

    He said the speed at which the contractors were working brought hope that the project would be completed on schedule.

    Mr Adda said the country was in the process of becoming the aviation hub of West Africa.

    The aviation minister was accompanied by his deputy, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company Limited, Mr John Dekyem Attafuah, the Director of Regional Airports, Mr Kwadwo Abrefa Sarkodie, and the Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Mr Sam Allotey.

    Mr Adda said all was set for the entry of two new domestic airlines into the industry, with trial flights in December.

    Read: Cedi-dollar fluctuations affecting profits Ghana Airport

    The second phase of the airport expansion started in May 2018 and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.

    The 64-million euro project is being executed by Contracta UK.

    According to the Project Manager, Mr Jorge Tavares de Almeida, work on the foundation was 60 per cent complete while the entire project was about 16 per cent complete.

    He said the rains delayed the project a bit but said the work was on course for completion on schedule.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Work on Kumasi Airport expansion progresses steadily

    Work is progressing on the second phase of the Kumasi Airport which consists of building a new terminal and expanding the existing one to accommodate more passengers.

    There will also be an extension of the runway and the building of a bigger car park.

    When completed, the facelift will bring the Kumasi Airport to an international standard.

    Currently, all the concrete columns for the new terminal have been erected, and the withholding wall is currently under construction.

    During an inspection of the project, the Minister of Aviation, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, expressed satisfaction at the progress of work done so far.

    Read: Tuface Idibia makes interesting comparison between Ghana and Nigeria airports

    He said the speed at which the contractors were working brought hope that the project would be completed on schedule.

    Mr Adda said the country was in the process of becoming the aviation hub of West Africa.

    The aviation minister was accompanied by his deputy, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company Limited, Mr John Dekyem Attafuah, the Director of Regional Airports, Mr Kwadwo Abrefa Sarkodie, and the Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Mr Sam Allotey.

    Mr Adda said all was set for the entry of two new domestic airlines into the industry, with trial flights in December.

    Read: Cedi-dollar fluctuations affecting profits Ghana Airport

    The second phase of the airport expansion started in May 2018 and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.

    The 64-million euro project is being executed by Contracta UK.

    According to the Project Manager, Mr Jorge Tavares de Almeida, work on the foundation was 60 per cent complete while the entire project was about 16 per cent complete.

    He said the rains delayed the project a bit but said the work was on course for completion on schedule.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Electrician turned footballer: Former Kotoko player Ernest Boateng shares his story

    Former player of Asante Kotoko Ernest Boateng has revealed how he combined his work as an electrician while playing for the Porcupine Warriors.

    The ex-footballer who joined the Porcupine Warriors in 1994 disclosed he had initially not want to sign for the club but had to be convinced by a fan of the Reds.

    Ernest Boateng was one of the pioneers of the Asante Kotoko U-20 team before going to become a first team member.

    “I was an electrician before joining Kotoko U-20, we were the players they used to form the U-20,” he told ASH FM.

    “I was one day called for a justify in the Senior team and after the justify the management called me to sign a contract surprisingly but i refused at the spot, so a die Hard fan of Kotoko i know much came and convince me before i signed for Kotoko which was in 1994/95 season,” he added.

    “Even when i signed for Kotoko i was still doing my job as an electrician.”

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

  • Electrician turned footballer: Former Kotoko player Ernest Boateng shares his story

    Former player of Asante Kotoko Ernest Boateng has revealed how he combined his work as an electrician while playing for the Porcupine Warriors.

    The ex-footballer who joined the Porcupine Warriors in 1994 disclosed he had initially not want to sign for the club but had to be convinced by a fan of the Reds.

    Ernest Boateng was one of the pioneers of the Asante Kotoko U-20 team before going to become a first team member.

    “I was an electrician before joining Kotoko U-20, we were the players they used to form the U-20,” he told ASH FM.

    “I was one day called for a justify in the Senior team and after the justify the management called me to sign a contract surprisingly but i refused at the spot, so a die Hard fan of Kotoko i know much came and convince me before i signed for Kotoko which was in 1994/95 season,” he added.

    “Even when i signed for Kotoko i was still doing my job as an electrician.”

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

  • Your deposits safe Bawumia

    Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said the government will protect all deposits in licensed financial institutions as the process of sanitizing the financial system goes on.

    Dr Bawumia said this in his keynote address at the 22nd Annual National Banking Conference of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana, in Accra on Tuesday, 27 November 2018.

    Read: Give government credit for saving 1.5m depositors Baako

    “In the process of sanitizing the banking sector, we have to be very cognizant of the fact that we have to protect depositors of the licensed financial institutions,” he stated, adding that: “The sanitization of the financial system cannot be at the expense of depositors because we need the confidence of the depositors to maintain the stability of the system.”

    The Governor of the central bank, Dr Ernest Addison recently said many commercial banks are close to meeting the Bank of Ghana’s GHS400 million Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR) as the 31 December 2018 deadline approaches.

    Read: Banking crisis: Government had no choice but to protect depositors Osafo Marfo

    Dr Addison also said the BoG is monitoring the savings and loans as well as the microfinance sphere to mop up the “distressed institutions in the sector” with the help of the Ministry of Finance.

    Ahead of the deadline, seven local banks have already gone under.

    They include UT Bank and Capital Bank, which were taken over by the state-owned GCB Bank in August 2017.

    In August 2018, five other struggling local banks: The Beige Bank, The Royal Bank, The Construction Bank, uniBank and Sovereign Bank, were all put together to form the all-new state-owned Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG).

     

    Source: classfmonline 

  • Your deposits safe Bawumia

    Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said the government will protect all deposits in licensed financial institutions as the process of sanitizing the financial system goes on.

    Dr Bawumia said this in his keynote address at the 22nd Annual National Banking Conference of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana, in Accra on Tuesday, 27 November 2018.

    Read: Give government credit for saving 1.5m depositors Baako

    “In the process of sanitizing the banking sector, we have to be very cognizant of the fact that we have to protect depositors of the licensed financial institutions,” he stated, adding that: “The sanitization of the financial system cannot be at the expense of depositors because we need the confidence of the depositors to maintain the stability of the system.”

    The Governor of the central bank, Dr Ernest Addison recently said many commercial banks are close to meeting the Bank of Ghana’s GHS400 million Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR) as the 31 December 2018 deadline approaches.

    Read: Banking crisis: Government had no choice but to protect depositors Osafo Marfo

    Dr Addison also said the BoG is monitoring the savings and loans as well as the microfinance sphere to mop up the “distressed institutions in the sector” with the help of the Ministry of Finance.

    Ahead of the deadline, seven local banks have already gone under.

    They include UT Bank and Capital Bank, which were taken over by the state-owned GCB Bank in August 2017.

    In August 2018, five other struggling local banks: The Beige Bank, The Royal Bank, The Construction Bank, uniBank and Sovereign Bank, were all put together to form the all-new state-owned Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG).

     

    Source: classfmonline 

  • 3 persons shot at Gbetsile by land guards

    Three persons are nursing wounds they sustained for attempting to stop a machine operator from encroaching on a parcel of land in dispute at Gbetsile in the Kpone Katamanso Municipal Area.

    According to the injured Tetteh Frederick, Timothy Bortey and Comforter Ablodey, “we were home when we heard the sound of a payloader machine working on a particular land within our jurisdiction which is in dispute and the matter pending before the law court. We then approached the operator to stop him but one ex-soldier who goes by the name Ahmed Ransford Tetteh who was allegedly dismissed from the service and had led the machine to work on the disputed land commanded the machine operator to continue working. This resulted in some exchange of words of which he threatened to kill one of our uncle’s and deal with the rest of us”.

    Read: Insecurity in Dawhenya as youth vows to fight armed military landguards

    The victims continued that few moments after they had challenged the ex-military man on his orders asking the machine operator to work, he left the scene only to return a few minutes later.

    “Before we could say jack some land guards wielding gun and irons pounced on us and beat us to pub amidst the firing of guns. I was hit several with the gun butt until I started bleeding and fell unconscious” one of the victim’s alleged.

    According to them the said Ahmed is alleged to be the leader of a group of land guards known at Gbetsile and its environs and have been terrorising developers and residents for no apparent reason. A situation some residents complain is a worry to them.

    To them, several complaints have been lodged with the police of various brutalities meted out to developers and residents by the said Ahmed but nothing has since been done.

    Read: Abokobi notorious landguard busted

    The injured noted that a complaint has been lodged at the Emef Police station where a medical report was issued out to them. They have since been treated and discharged.

    They noted that, the Municipal Chief Executive of the Area, Solomon Tetteh Appiah, together with the Emef Police Commander and some detectives later arrived at the scene of the incident, where the police collected some empty cartridges fired by the said land guards.

    The Police Commander at the Emefs Police station who is seen as one person fighting activities of these land guards in the area was however locked up in a meeting when attempt was made to seek his reaction.

    Meanwhile, information has it that the alleged suspect behind the rampant attacks was invited by the Emef Police for interrogation.

    When contacted, the said Ahmed rained unprintable insults on the reporter.

     

    Source: Kay Agbenyega

  • 3 persons shot at Gbetsile by land guards

    Three persons are nursing wounds they sustained for attempting to stop a machine operator from encroaching on a parcel of land in dispute at Gbetsile in the Kpone Katamanso Municipal Area.

    According to the injured Tetteh Frederick, Timothy Bortey and Comforter Ablodey, “we were home when we heard the sound of a payloader machine working on a particular land within our jurisdiction which is in dispute and the matter pending before the law court. We then approached the operator to stop him but one ex-soldier who goes by the name Ahmed Ransford Tetteh who was allegedly dismissed from the service and had led the machine to work on the disputed land commanded the machine operator to continue working. This resulted in some exchange of words of which he threatened to kill one of our uncle’s and deal with the rest of us”.

    Read: Insecurity in Dawhenya as youth vows to fight armed military landguards

    The victims continued that few moments after they had challenged the ex-military man on his orders asking the machine operator to work, he left the scene only to return a few minutes later.

    “Before we could say jack some land guards wielding gun and irons pounced on us and beat us to pub amidst the firing of guns. I was hit several with the gun butt until I started bleeding and fell unconscious” one of the victim’s alleged.

    According to them the said Ahmed is alleged to be the leader of a group of land guards known at Gbetsile and its environs and have been terrorising developers and residents for no apparent reason. A situation some residents complain is a worry to them.

    To them, several complaints have been lodged with the police of various brutalities meted out to developers and residents by the said Ahmed but nothing has since been done.

    Read: Abokobi notorious landguard busted

    The injured noted that a complaint has been lodged at the Emef Police station where a medical report was issued out to them. They have since been treated and discharged.

    They noted that, the Municipal Chief Executive of the Area, Solomon Tetteh Appiah, together with the Emef Police Commander and some detectives later arrived at the scene of the incident, where the police collected some empty cartridges fired by the said land guards.

    The Police Commander at the Emefs Police station who is seen as one person fighting activities of these land guards in the area was however locked up in a meeting when attempt was made to seek his reaction.

    Meanwhile, information has it that the alleged suspect behind the rampant attacks was invited by the Emef Police for interrogation.

    When contacted, the said Ahmed rained unprintable insults on the reporter.

     

    Source: Kay Agbenyega

  • 2,000 laptops lying waste at Science Ministry – Dr. Bernice Heloo

    About 2,000 computers are lying idle in the stores of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Bernice Adiku Heloo, former Deputy Sector Minister revealed on Tuesday.

    She said the Government must adopt a coordinated approach for the distribution of computers to students for the conduct of research.

    “How are we going to strengthen the study of science in our development agenda if such a huge number of laptops are being kept in the stores of the Ministry, when students need them for research and their studies” the former Deputy Minister asked.

    Read: GSA confiscates substandard cables at Tema Port

    In a contribution to the debate on the 2019 Budget and Economic Policy of the Government on Tuesday, the former Deputy Minister, who is also the MP for Hohoe Constituency in the Volta Region, observed that the budget statement had deficiencies on policy issues on science, and the Ministry also lacked co-ordination in some of its science programmes.

    Dr Heloo, called on the Government to promote the study of science through scholarships and grants to students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programmes in Ghana.

    However, Mr Kennedy Kwasi Kankam, a Member of the Environment, Science and Technology select Committee, explained that the said laptops were imported into the country by the previous Government, and that the laptops did not have programmes and memory on them.

    Mr Kankam further debunked a position from Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, MP for Lower Manya Krobo Constituency in the Eastern Region, who in a contribution to the debate on the budget, said there had been lack of coordination between the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and other related Ministries on imports, citing the import of some chemicals in the recent past.

    Read: Mahama cocoa fertilizers left to rot Eric Opoku

    Mr Kankam alerted the House that the MOFA needs a certificate of clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency before such imports would be allowed into the country.

    Mr Terlabi also called on the Government to establish an Inter-Ministerial Council to coordinate the activities of all the Ministries and fashion out a policy to mainstream science and technology, preservation and conservation of biodiversity into national economic policy.

    Additionally, Mr Terlarbi appealed to Government to bring back to site the contractor working on the uncompleted road and school building project in the constituency to complete the job.

     

    Source: ghananewsagency

  • 2,000 laptops lying waste at Science Ministry – Dr. Bernice Heloo

    About 2,000 computers are lying idle in the stores of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Bernice Adiku Heloo, former Deputy Sector Minister revealed on Tuesday.

    She said the Government must adopt a coordinated approach for the distribution of computers to students for the conduct of research.

    “How are we going to strengthen the study of science in our development agenda if such a huge number of laptops are being kept in the stores of the Ministry, when students need them for research and their studies” the former Deputy Minister asked.

    Read: GSA confiscates substandard cables at Tema Port

    In a contribution to the debate on the 2019 Budget and Economic Policy of the Government on Tuesday, the former Deputy Minister, who is also the MP for Hohoe Constituency in the Volta Region, observed that the budget statement had deficiencies on policy issues on science, and the Ministry also lacked co-ordination in some of its science programmes.

    Dr Heloo, called on the Government to promote the study of science through scholarships and grants to students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programmes in Ghana.

    However, Mr Kennedy Kwasi Kankam, a Member of the Environment, Science and Technology select Committee, explained that the said laptops were imported into the country by the previous Government, and that the laptops did not have programmes and memory on them.

    Mr Kankam further debunked a position from Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, MP for Lower Manya Krobo Constituency in the Eastern Region, who in a contribution to the debate on the budget, said there had been lack of coordination between the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and other related Ministries on imports, citing the import of some chemicals in the recent past.

    Read: Mahama cocoa fertilizers left to rot Eric Opoku

    Mr Kankam alerted the House that the MOFA needs a certificate of clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency before such imports would be allowed into the country.

    Mr Terlabi also called on the Government to establish an Inter-Ministerial Council to coordinate the activities of all the Ministries and fashion out a policy to mainstream science and technology, preservation and conservation of biodiversity into national economic policy.

    Additionally, Mr Terlarbi appealed to Government to bring back to site the contractor working on the uncompleted road and school building project in the constituency to complete the job.

     

    Source: ghananewsagency

  • Government to support Zongo ‘waakye’, ‘sobolo’ businesses Mustapha Hamid

    The government has said it will support Zongo women who are into ‘waakye’ and ‘sobolo’ making, as part of moves to empower them to be economically productive.

    According to the Minister of Inner-city and Zongo Development, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the ministry has since its inception put in place a number of socio-economic programmes to improve household incomes of such communities.

    Read: Startup businesses to get tax break for first 3 years Mohammed Awal

    Dr Abdul-Hamid, who was speaking in parliament on Tuesday, 27 November 2018 in response to a parliamentary question filed by Garu MP, Albert Akuka Alalzuuga, also noted that most of the youth in the Zongo communities will be trained in ICT to enable them redirect their skills into productive ventures.

    The Islamic scholar said: “The ministry has initiated a number of socio-economic programmes that are aimed at developing the human capacities of the people in Zongo communities, empower them to be economically productive and support the promotion of their indigenous businesses in order to improve household incomes.

    “To this end, the ministry is working with the National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI) to train selected women across Zongo communities who have businesses, and especially in Zongo cuisine like “waakye,” “sobolo,” “tubani,” “koko” and the rest of them, first of all, to improve the development and packaging of these foods in order to add value and increase incomes associated with these businesses.

    Read: 1D-1F: 5-years duty and a tax holiday for all investors Trade Minister

    “NBSSI aims to accredit some of these women to become ready sources for provision of these foods to conferences, meetings, and hotels.”

    The minister added: “Mr Speaker, there is also the Zongo Coded Programme, which is to train, improve and redirect the ICT skills of the youth in Zongo communities into productive ventures…”

     

    Source: classfmonline 

  • Government to support Zongo ‘waakye’, ‘sobolo’ businesses Mustapha Hamid

    The government has said it will support Zongo women who are into ‘waakye’ and ‘sobolo’ making, as part of moves to empower them to be economically productive.

    According to the Minister of Inner-city and Zongo Development, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the ministry has since its inception put in place a number of socio-economic programmes to improve household incomes of such communities.

    Read: Startup businesses to get tax break for first 3 years Mohammed Awal

    Dr Abdul-Hamid, who was speaking in parliament on Tuesday, 27 November 2018 in response to a parliamentary question filed by Garu MP, Albert Akuka Alalzuuga, also noted that most of the youth in the Zongo communities will be trained in ICT to enable them redirect their skills into productive ventures.

    The Islamic scholar said: “The ministry has initiated a number of socio-economic programmes that are aimed at developing the human capacities of the people in Zongo communities, empower them to be economically productive and support the promotion of their indigenous businesses in order to improve household incomes.

    “To this end, the ministry is working with the National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI) to train selected women across Zongo communities who have businesses, and especially in Zongo cuisine like “waakye,” “sobolo,” “tubani,” “koko” and the rest of them, first of all, to improve the development and packaging of these foods in order to add value and increase incomes associated with these businesses.

    Read: 1D-1F: 5-years duty and a tax holiday for all investors Trade Minister

    “NBSSI aims to accredit some of these women to become ready sources for provision of these foods to conferences, meetings, and hotels.”

    The minister added: “Mr Speaker, there is also the Zongo Coded Programme, which is to train, improve and redirect the ICT skills of the youth in Zongo communities into productive ventures…”

     

    Source: classfmonline 

  • Lesotho MPs ‘demand 100% pay rise’

    The privately owned Lesotho Times newspaper says it has learned  that the nation’s MPs are demanding a 100% pay increase.

    The newspaper reported that Prime Minister Thomas Thabane had instructed Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro to explore a “revised salary structure” for parliamentarians.

    It quoted an unnamed MP as saying their “entry point” in talks with the government was to demand a 100% hike, while another MP said they were prepared to forfeit interest-free loans they received provided their salary was doubled.

    Lesotho’s MPs are already among the nation’s best-paid people and if the demands are met, their new monthly salary would double to $5,344 (£4,191), according to the newspaper.

    It says the average factory worker in Lesotho earns up to $144 a month.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Lesotho MPs ‘demand 100% pay rise’

    The privately owned Lesotho Times newspaper says it has learned  that the nation’s MPs are demanding a 100% pay increase.

    The newspaper reported that Prime Minister Thomas Thabane had instructed Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro to explore a “revised salary structure” for parliamentarians.

    It quoted an unnamed MP as saying their “entry point” in talks with the government was to demand a 100% hike, while another MP said they were prepared to forfeit interest-free loans they received provided their salary was doubled.

    Lesotho’s MPs are already among the nation’s best-paid people and if the demands are met, their new monthly salary would double to $5,344 (£4,191), according to the newspaper.

    It says the average factory worker in Lesotho earns up to $144 a month.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Shawn Mendes feels need to ‘prove’ he’s not gay

    Singer Shawn Mendes has said ongoing rumours about his sexuality make him feel the need to prove he’s not gay.

    In a candid interview with Rolling Stone, he admits considering setting up photos of himself with women to make a point to the media and his fans.

    “In the back of my heart, I feel like I need to go be seen with someone – like a girl – in public, to prove to people that I’m not gay,” he explained.

    He also admitted the scrutiny made him constantly analyse his gestures.

    “Even though in my heart I know that it’s not a bad thing. There’s still a piece of me that thinks that. And I hate that side of me.”

    The Canadian told the magazine he often watches his own interviews back, analysing his voice and body language, to identify traits which make people think he is gay.

    “I’d like to say I don’t care about it, but that’s not true,” the 20-year-old admitted.

    He added that although the speculation had caused him a lot of stress and anxiety, it would bother him more if he actually were gay – as it would make him more reluctant to come out.

    Mendes explained he had a moment of frustration last year, while reading YouTube comments about his sexuality.

    “I thought, ‘You guys are so lucky I’m not actually gay and terrified of coming out,’

    “That’s something that kills people. That’s how sensitive it is. Do you like the songs? Do you like me? Who cares if I’m gay?”

    This isn’t the first time Mendes has addressed rumours about his sexuality.

    In a Snapchat story posted last year, he was seen saying: “I noticed a lot of people were saying I gave them a ‘gay vibe’.

    “First of all, I’m not gay. Second of all, it shouldn’t make a difference if I was or wasn’t.”

    Mendes also recalled to the magazine a video posted by Taylor Swift when the pair were touring together.

    After she uploaded a video – with his permission – showing Mendes with glitter on his face, he quickly regretted it being made public.

    “I felt sick,” he said. “I was like, ‘Why did I let her post that?’ I just fed the fire that I’m terrified of.”

    Source: bbc.com

  • Shawn Mendes feels need to ‘prove’ he’s not gay

    Singer Shawn Mendes has said ongoing rumours about his sexuality make him feel the need to prove he’s not gay.

    In a candid interview with Rolling Stone, he admits considering setting up photos of himself with women to make a point to the media and his fans.

    “In the back of my heart, I feel like I need to go be seen with someone – like a girl – in public, to prove to people that I’m not gay,” he explained.

    He also admitted the scrutiny made him constantly analyse his gestures.

    “Even though in my heart I know that it’s not a bad thing. There’s still a piece of me that thinks that. And I hate that side of me.”

    The Canadian told the magazine he often watches his own interviews back, analysing his voice and body language, to identify traits which make people think he is gay.

    “I’d like to say I don’t care about it, but that’s not true,” the 20-year-old admitted.

    He added that although the speculation had caused him a lot of stress and anxiety, it would bother him more if he actually were gay – as it would make him more reluctant to come out.

    Mendes explained he had a moment of frustration last year, while reading YouTube comments about his sexuality.

    “I thought, ‘You guys are so lucky I’m not actually gay and terrified of coming out,’

    “That’s something that kills people. That’s how sensitive it is. Do you like the songs? Do you like me? Who cares if I’m gay?”

    This isn’t the first time Mendes has addressed rumours about his sexuality.

    In a Snapchat story posted last year, he was seen saying: “I noticed a lot of people were saying I gave them a ‘gay vibe’.

    “First of all, I’m not gay. Second of all, it shouldn’t make a difference if I was or wasn’t.”

    Mendes also recalled to the magazine a video posted by Taylor Swift when the pair were touring together.

    After she uploaded a video – with his permission – showing Mendes with glitter on his face, he quickly regretted it being made public.

    “I felt sick,” he said. “I was like, ‘Why did I let her post that?’ I just fed the fire that I’m terrified of.”

    Source: bbc.com

  • Tony Baffoe commends John Antwi

    Former Ghana international Tony Baffoe has congratulated the John Antwi following his exploits in the Egyptian Premier League.

    Antwi officially became the top scoring foreigner in the history of Egyptian football as he his hat-trick against ENPPI on Sunday took his total tally to 63.

    Read: Kevin Prince Boateng set to undergo test after sustaining injury in Serie A

    The former Ghana star was full of praise for Antwi as he took to twitter to congratulate him on his remarkable feat.

    “John Antwi-becomes all time top foreign goal scorer in the Egyptian league 63 goals and he happens to be Ghanaian!congrats to the product of Dreams FC. Baffoe tweeted.

    Read: Fenerbahce fans praise Andre Ayew for playing with broken finger

    Antwi moved to Egypt in the summer of 2012 and has featured for Ismaily and Al Ahly whilst spending a season in Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia in 2015.

     

    Source: footballmadeinghana.com 

  • Tony Baffoe commends John Antwi

    Former Ghana international Tony Baffoe has congratulated the John Antwi following his exploits in the Egyptian Premier League.

    Antwi officially became the top scoring foreigner in the history of Egyptian football as he his hat-trick against ENPPI on Sunday took his total tally to 63.

    Read: Kevin Prince Boateng set to undergo test after sustaining injury in Serie A

    The former Ghana star was full of praise for Antwi as he took to twitter to congratulate him on his remarkable feat.

    “John Antwi-becomes all time top foreign goal scorer in the Egyptian league 63 goals and he happens to be Ghanaian!congrats to the product of Dreams FC. Baffoe tweeted.

    Read: Fenerbahce fans praise Andre Ayew for playing with broken finger

    Antwi moved to Egypt in the summer of 2012 and has featured for Ismaily and Al Ahly whilst spending a season in Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia in 2015.

     

    Source: footballmadeinghana.com 

  • Russia warns of escalation in Crimea over martial law in Ukraine

    Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Ukraine is to blame for the confrontation in Crimea, as Moscow warned that the conflict could escalate because of Kiev’s decision to declare martial law.

    In a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday, Putin said he is “seriously concerned” about the weekend’s incident.

    He said Ukraine provoked the confrontation for political reasons.

    Merkel’s spokesperson, Steffen Seibert, said the chancellor in the conversation with Putin stressed the need for de-escalation and dialogue.

    Hours after the phone call, the Kremlin issued a follow-up statement denouncing the martial law in Ukraine.

    “The imposition of martial law in some regions may pose a risk of escalating tensions in the conflict-hit region, namely the south-east,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in comments carried by the state news agency, TASS, on Tuesday.

    Ukraine’s leadership responded to the clash, between the Ukrainian navy and Russia’s coastguard, by imposing martial law throughout much of the country on Monday.

    On Tuesday, the country’s state security service announced that its intelligence officers were among the crew on Ukrainian naval ships seized by Russia.

    The SBU agency said the officers were fulfilling counterintelligence operations for the Ukrainian navy, in response to “psychological and physical pressure” by Russian spy services.

    It did not elaborate, but demanded that Russia stop such activity.

    Meanwhile, Al Jazeera’s Andrew Simmons, reporting from Kiev, said that the SBU has acknowledged that two fighter jets opened fire with missiles on three Ukrainian boats on Sunday.

    “This hasn’t been heard of before,” Simmons said, adding that there were injuries during the incident.

    Earlier, Russia’s main intelligence agency released a video of three seized Ukrainian crew members allegedly involved in the incident on Sunday.

    The FSB put out the video on Tuesday, showing interviews with three seamen, all of whom confirmed that they violated the Russian border.

    It was not immediately possible to ascertain if the men were talking under duress. One of them was clearly reading from a teleprompter.

    Pro-Russian separatist groups, which Russia has represented in negotiations, and the Ukrainian military have been battling in Ukraine’s two eastern-most regions for the past four years.

    With tensions spilling over, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas suggested on Tuesday that Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine could work together to resolve the tensions between Moscow and Kiev.

    “We must do everything for de-escalation, to prevent this crisis turning into an even more serious crisis for security in Europe,” Maas said.

    He called on the two parties to show the greatest possible restraint, and offered to work on a solution to end the crisis.

    On Monday, the UN also held an emergency session to discuss the incident.

    Source: aljazeera.com

  • Russia warns of escalation in Crimea over martial law in Ukraine

    Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Ukraine is to blame for the confrontation in Crimea, as Moscow warned that the conflict could escalate because of Kiev’s decision to declare martial law.

    In a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday, Putin said he is “seriously concerned” about the weekend’s incident.

    He said Ukraine provoked the confrontation for political reasons.

    Merkel’s spokesperson, Steffen Seibert, said the chancellor in the conversation with Putin stressed the need for de-escalation and dialogue.

    Hours after the phone call, the Kremlin issued a follow-up statement denouncing the martial law in Ukraine.

    “The imposition of martial law in some regions may pose a risk of escalating tensions in the conflict-hit region, namely the south-east,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in comments carried by the state news agency, TASS, on Tuesday.

    Ukraine’s leadership responded to the clash, between the Ukrainian navy and Russia’s coastguard, by imposing martial law throughout much of the country on Monday.

    On Tuesday, the country’s state security service announced that its intelligence officers were among the crew on Ukrainian naval ships seized by Russia.

    The SBU agency said the officers were fulfilling counterintelligence operations for the Ukrainian navy, in response to “psychological and physical pressure” by Russian spy services.

    It did not elaborate, but demanded that Russia stop such activity.

    Meanwhile, Al Jazeera’s Andrew Simmons, reporting from Kiev, said that the SBU has acknowledged that two fighter jets opened fire with missiles on three Ukrainian boats on Sunday.

    “This hasn’t been heard of before,” Simmons said, adding that there were injuries during the incident.

    Earlier, Russia’s main intelligence agency released a video of three seized Ukrainian crew members allegedly involved in the incident on Sunday.

    The FSB put out the video on Tuesday, showing interviews with three seamen, all of whom confirmed that they violated the Russian border.

    It was not immediately possible to ascertain if the men were talking under duress. One of them was clearly reading from a teleprompter.

    Pro-Russian separatist groups, which Russia has represented in negotiations, and the Ukrainian military have been battling in Ukraine’s two eastern-most regions for the past four years.

    With tensions spilling over, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas suggested on Tuesday that Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine could work together to resolve the tensions between Moscow and Kiev.

    “We must do everything for de-escalation, to prevent this crisis turning into an even more serious crisis for security in Europe,” Maas said.

    He called on the two parties to show the greatest possible restraint, and offered to work on a solution to end the crisis.

    On Monday, the UN also held an emergency session to discuss the incident.

    Source: aljazeera.com

  • China orders probe into first ‘gene-edited babies’

    Chinese officials and scientists have denounced the claims of a geneticist who said he had created the first gene-edited babies.

    Authorities have ordered an investigation as a hospital linked to the research suggested its ethical approval had been forged.

    The National Health Commission said on Monday it was “highly concerned” and had ordered provincial health officials “to immediately investigate and clarify the matter”.

    The government’s medical ethics committee in Shenzhen said it was investigating the case, as was the Guangdong provincial health commission, according to Southern Metropolis Daily, a state media outlet.

    More than 100 scientists said in an open letter the use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit the genes of human embryos was risky, unjustified and harmed the reputation and development of the biomedical community in China.

    CRISPR-Cas9 is a technology that allows scientists to essentially cut-and-paste DNA, raising hope of genetic fixes for diseases. However, there are also concerns about its safety and ethics.

    Pandora’s box

    In videos posted online, scientist He Jiankui defended what he said he had achieved – embryonic gene editing to help protect twin baby girls born this month from infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

    “Pandora’s box has been opened. We still might have a glimmer of hope to close it before it’s too late,” the scientists said in their letter, a copy of which was posted by the Chinese news website the Paper.

    “The biomedical ethics review for this so-called research exists in name only. Conducting direct human experiments can only be described as crazy,” the Chinese-language letter, signed by approximately 120 scientists, says.

    Yang Zhengang, a Fudan University professor, told Reuters he signed the letter because gene editing was “very dangerous”.

    China’s Genetics Society and the Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research said in a statement that the geneticist had acted as an “individual” and his work posed “tremendous safety risks for the research subjects”.

    “We believe the research led by He is strongly against both the Chinese regulations and the consensus reached by the international science community,” the two groups said in a statement posted online.

    He, who is due to speak at a summit on human genome editing at the University of Hong Kong on Wednesday, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

    The Shenzhen Harmonicare Hospital, listed on China’s online clinical trial registry as having given ethical approval for He’s experiment, denied having ever taken part in any clinical operations relating to “gene-edited babies”.

    ‘Very shocked’

    The signatures on the online form were suspected of having been forged and “no relevant meeting of the Medical Ethics Committee of the hospital in fact took place”, Hong Kong-listed Harmonicare Medical Holdings said in a statement.

    The Southern University of Science and Technology, where He holds an associate professorship, also said it had been unaware of the research project and that He had been on leave without pay since February.

    The Shenzhen City Science and Innovation Committee, a municipal fund which was also listed on the clinical trial registry as having backed the trial, said in a statement on Monday it had never been involved in the project.

    Xu Nanping, vice minister in China’s science and technology ministry, told reporters he was “very shocked” on hearing He’s claim, adding that such work had been prohibited since 2003.

    Details of the case were still unclear, Xu said.

    “We don’t know if this work is real or fake. If it’s real, then this is certainly banned in China.”

    The official Xinhua news agency said ethics could not be ignored.

    “Scientific exploration is never-ending … but this does not mean that the morals of science can be abandoned or that ethical standards can be ignored,” the news agency said in a comment posted on social media.

    The committee organizing the Hong Kong conference where He is due to speak – the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing – said in a statement on Monday it had only been informed of He’s work on the genes of the twin girls.

    “Our goal is to help ensure that human genome editing research be pursued responsibly,” the committee said.

    Source: aljazeera.com

  • China orders probe into first ‘gene-edited babies’

    Chinese officials and scientists have denounced the claims of a geneticist who said he had created the first gene-edited babies.

    Authorities have ordered an investigation as a hospital linked to the research suggested its ethical approval had been forged.

    The National Health Commission said on Monday it was “highly concerned” and had ordered provincial health officials “to immediately investigate and clarify the matter”.

    The government’s medical ethics committee in Shenzhen said it was investigating the case, as was the Guangdong provincial health commission, according to Southern Metropolis Daily, a state media outlet.

    More than 100 scientists said in an open letter the use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit the genes of human embryos was risky, unjustified and harmed the reputation and development of the biomedical community in China.

    CRISPR-Cas9 is a technology that allows scientists to essentially cut-and-paste DNA, raising hope of genetic fixes for diseases. However, there are also concerns about its safety and ethics.

    Pandora’s box

    In videos posted online, scientist He Jiankui defended what he said he had achieved – embryonic gene editing to help protect twin baby girls born this month from infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

    “Pandora’s box has been opened. We still might have a glimmer of hope to close it before it’s too late,” the scientists said in their letter, a copy of which was posted by the Chinese news website the Paper.

    “The biomedical ethics review for this so-called research exists in name only. Conducting direct human experiments can only be described as crazy,” the Chinese-language letter, signed by approximately 120 scientists, says.

    Yang Zhengang, a Fudan University professor, told Reuters he signed the letter because gene editing was “very dangerous”.

    China’s Genetics Society and the Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research said in a statement that the geneticist had acted as an “individual” and his work posed “tremendous safety risks for the research subjects”.

    “We believe the research led by He is strongly against both the Chinese regulations and the consensus reached by the international science community,” the two groups said in a statement posted online.

    He, who is due to speak at a summit on human genome editing at the University of Hong Kong on Wednesday, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

    The Shenzhen Harmonicare Hospital, listed on China’s online clinical trial registry as having given ethical approval for He’s experiment, denied having ever taken part in any clinical operations relating to “gene-edited babies”.

    ‘Very shocked’

    The signatures on the online form were suspected of having been forged and “no relevant meeting of the Medical Ethics Committee of the hospital in fact took place”, Hong Kong-listed Harmonicare Medical Holdings said in a statement.

    The Southern University of Science and Technology, where He holds an associate professorship, also said it had been unaware of the research project and that He had been on leave without pay since February.

    The Shenzhen City Science and Innovation Committee, a municipal fund which was also listed on the clinical trial registry as having backed the trial, said in a statement on Monday it had never been involved in the project.

    Xu Nanping, vice minister in China’s science and technology ministry, told reporters he was “very shocked” on hearing He’s claim, adding that such work had been prohibited since 2003.

    Details of the case were still unclear, Xu said.

    “We don’t know if this work is real or fake. If it’s real, then this is certainly banned in China.”

    The official Xinhua news agency said ethics could not be ignored.

    “Scientific exploration is never-ending … but this does not mean that the morals of science can be abandoned or that ethical standards can be ignored,” the news agency said in a comment posted on social media.

    The committee organizing the Hong Kong conference where He is due to speak – the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing – said in a statement on Monday it had only been informed of He’s work on the genes of the twin girls.

    “Our goal is to help ensure that human genome editing research be pursued responsibly,” the committee said.

    Source: aljazeera.com

  • Ukraine-Russia sea clash: Captured sailors shown on Russia TV

    Statements by three captured Ukrainians have been released by Russia’s internal security service after Russian ships opened fire and seized three Ukrainian boats off the coast of Crimea.

    One of the men, Vladimir Lesovoy, said he was aware of the “provocative nature” of the Ukrainian action.

    Ukraine’s navy commander said the men were forced to tell lies under duress.

    Western nations have condemned Russia’s use of force, four years after it annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula.

    Why this crisis is fraught with risk

    The flare-up is the first outright clash between Ukraine and Russian forces for years, although pro-Russian separatists and Russian “volunteers” have been fighting Ukraine’s army in two eastern regions.

    Tensions escalated when Russia opened a bridge this year between Russia and Crimea over the Kerch Strait, which leads into the Sea of Azov. Ukraine has two big ports on the northern shore of the Azov sea, and a 2003 treaty allows both countries free access to its waters.

    Russia has accused the two Ukrainian gunboats and a tug of violating Russian territorial waters as they sailed through the Kerch Strait. But Ukraine says the incidents happened in areas that are free for shipping.

    Why Ukraine is imposing martial law

    On Monday night, Ukraine’s parliament responded by backing President Petro Poroshenko’s decision to impose martial law for a 30-day period on 10 border regions from Wednesday.

    Mr Poroshenko warned the threat of a Russian land invasion was “extremely serious”.

    Five of the 10 regions border Russia while two are adjacent to Moldova’s breakaway Trans-Dniester region, where Russian troops are stationed. The other three regions border the Black Sea or Sea of Azov close to Crimea.

    Since April 2014, Ukraine’s army has been fighting pro-Russian separatists in two eastern regions of Ukraine bordering Russia, Luhansk and Donetsk.

    The move to martial law is unprecedented in Ukraine, and gives military authorities the right to ban protests and strikes. Mobilisation of civilians for military service is possible but not inevitable.

    What the sailors said

    Twenty-three Ukrainian sailors were captured by Russia on Sunday and at least three were wounded. Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Lyudmila Denisova, said the sailors were due to appear in court in the Crimean town of Simferopol on Tuesday.

    Late on Monday night, the FSB security service released videos of three of the men:

    • Andrei Drach said on camera he was on the Nikopol gunboat with an order to sail from Odessa to Mariupol. “We were warned by the Border Service of the Russian Federation that we were violating Russian law. They had repeatedly asked us to leave the territorial waters of the Russian Federation,” he said.
    • Sergei Tsybizov said he was also on the Nikopol
    • Vladimir Lesovoy said he was commander of a military unit and was part of a naval task force. “I deliberately ignored requests via ultra-short-wave band,” adding that there were small arms on board as well as machine-guns.

    The head of the Ukrainian navy, Ihor Voronchenko, told Ukrainian TV that the three men had given false statements under duress.

    “I know those sailors from Nikopol. They have always been honest professionals in their jobs, and what they say now is not true,” he said.

    The head of Ukraine’s SBU security service, Vasyl Hrytsak, confirmed Russian reports that members of the service were on board the boats, but added that it was a “routine counter-intelligence mission” of a type that the Russian navy carried out regularly too.

    Source: www.bbc.com

  • Ukraine-Russia sea clash: Captured sailors shown on Russia TV

    Statements by three captured Ukrainians have been released by Russia’s internal security service after Russian ships opened fire and seized three Ukrainian boats off the coast of Crimea.

    One of the men, Vladimir Lesovoy, said he was aware of the “provocative nature” of the Ukrainian action.

    Ukraine’s navy commander said the men were forced to tell lies under duress.

    Western nations have condemned Russia’s use of force, four years after it annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula.

    Why this crisis is fraught with risk

    The flare-up is the first outright clash between Ukraine and Russian forces for years, although pro-Russian separatists and Russian “volunteers” have been fighting Ukraine’s army in two eastern regions.

    Tensions escalated when Russia opened a bridge this year between Russia and Crimea over the Kerch Strait, which leads into the Sea of Azov. Ukraine has two big ports on the northern shore of the Azov sea, and a 2003 treaty allows both countries free access to its waters.

    Russia has accused the two Ukrainian gunboats and a tug of violating Russian territorial waters as they sailed through the Kerch Strait. But Ukraine says the incidents happened in areas that are free for shipping.

    Why Ukraine is imposing martial law

    On Monday night, Ukraine’s parliament responded by backing President Petro Poroshenko’s decision to impose martial law for a 30-day period on 10 border regions from Wednesday.

    Mr Poroshenko warned the threat of a Russian land invasion was “extremely serious”.

    Five of the 10 regions border Russia while two are adjacent to Moldova’s breakaway Trans-Dniester region, where Russian troops are stationed. The other three regions border the Black Sea or Sea of Azov close to Crimea.

    Since April 2014, Ukraine’s army has been fighting pro-Russian separatists in two eastern regions of Ukraine bordering Russia, Luhansk and Donetsk.

    The move to martial law is unprecedented in Ukraine, and gives military authorities the right to ban protests and strikes. Mobilisation of civilians for military service is possible but not inevitable.

    What the sailors said

    Twenty-three Ukrainian sailors were captured by Russia on Sunday and at least three were wounded. Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Lyudmila Denisova, said the sailors were due to appear in court in the Crimean town of Simferopol on Tuesday.

    Late on Monday night, the FSB security service released videos of three of the men:

    • Andrei Drach said on camera he was on the Nikopol gunboat with an order to sail from Odessa to Mariupol. “We were warned by the Border Service of the Russian Federation that we were violating Russian law. They had repeatedly asked us to leave the territorial waters of the Russian Federation,” he said.
    • Sergei Tsybizov said he was also on the Nikopol
    • Vladimir Lesovoy said he was commander of a military unit and was part of a naval task force. “I deliberately ignored requests via ultra-short-wave band,” adding that there were small arms on board as well as machine-guns.

    The head of the Ukrainian navy, Ihor Voronchenko, told Ukrainian TV that the three men had given false statements under duress.

    “I know those sailors from Nikopol. They have always been honest professionals in their jobs, and what they say now is not true,” he said.

    The head of Ukraine’s SBU security service, Vasyl Hrytsak, confirmed Russian reports that members of the service were on board the boats, but added that it was a “routine counter-intelligence mission” of a type that the Russian navy carried out regularly too.

    Source: www.bbc.com

  • ‘Asleep’ pilot missed destination in Australia, officials say

    A small plane overshot its destination in Australia by almost 50km (30 miles) after its pilot fell asleep in the cockpit, air safety officials say.

    The pilot was the only person on board the freight flight from Devonport to King Island in Tasmania on 8 November.

    The incident, classified as a case of “incapacitation”, is being investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

    Officials have not said how the pilot awoke before landing the plane safely.

    The Piper PA-31 aircraft, operated by Vortex Air, had been due to complete the 240km trip at 07:15 local time.

    “During the cruise, the pilot fell asleep, resulting in the aircraft overflying King Island by 46 kilometres,” the ATSB said in a brief statement.

    Aviation expert Neil Hansford said that Australia had strict rules relating to pilot fatigue.

    “There is no way in the world that someone should’ve taken on that flight fatigued,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

    On its website, Vortex Air says it runs charter flights for “groups, corporates and leisure travellers” around Australia.

    The ATSB said it would interview the pilot and review operating procedures before releasing a report next year.

    Last year, five people died when a plane on its way to King Island crashed moments after takeoff in Melbourne.

    Source: bbc.com

  • ‘Asleep’ pilot missed destination in Australia, officials say

    A small plane overshot its destination in Australia by almost 50km (30 miles) after its pilot fell asleep in the cockpit, air safety officials say.

    The pilot was the only person on board the freight flight from Devonport to King Island in Tasmania on 8 November.

    The incident, classified as a case of “incapacitation”, is being investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

    Officials have not said how the pilot awoke before landing the plane safely.

    The Piper PA-31 aircraft, operated by Vortex Air, had been due to complete the 240km trip at 07:15 local time.

    “During the cruise, the pilot fell asleep, resulting in the aircraft overflying King Island by 46 kilometres,” the ATSB said in a brief statement.

    Aviation expert Neil Hansford said that Australia had strict rules relating to pilot fatigue.

    “There is no way in the world that someone should’ve taken on that flight fatigued,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

    On its website, Vortex Air says it runs charter flights for “groups, corporates and leisure travellers” around Australia.

    The ATSB said it would interview the pilot and review operating procedures before releasing a report next year.

    Last year, five people died when a plane on its way to King Island crashed moments after takeoff in Melbourne.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Sarkodie is my favourite Ghanaian artiste Omotola

    Nigerian movie icon, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, has disclosed that rap star; Sarkodie is her favorite Ghanaian artiste.

    According to the movie personality, she has been in love with Ghanaian music for a long time.

    When she was asked which Ghanaian artiste is her favorite, she immediately replied, Sarkodie.

    Read: Ghana must go and they are gone Omotola

    The actress revealed this during an interview with GHone TV at the just ended All Africa Music Awards 2018 (AFRIMA) which came off in Ghana over the weekend.

    “I do follow Ghanaian music and actually my favorite Ghanaian artiste is Sarkodie. She said

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BqprCyOg3yZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

     

    Source: asempanews

  • Sarkodie is my favourite Ghanaian artiste Omotola

    Nigerian movie icon, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, has disclosed that rap star; Sarkodie is her favorite Ghanaian artiste.

    According to the movie personality, she has been in love with Ghanaian music for a long time.

    When she was asked which Ghanaian artiste is her favorite, she immediately replied, Sarkodie.

    Read: Ghana must go and they are gone Omotola

    The actress revealed this during an interview with GHone TV at the just ended All Africa Music Awards 2018 (AFRIMA) which came off in Ghana over the weekend.

    “I do follow Ghanaian music and actually my favorite Ghanaian artiste is Sarkodie. She said

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BqprCyOg3yZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

     

    Source: asempanews

  • Kevin Prince Boateng set to undergo test after sustaining injury in Serie A

    Sassuolo midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng is set to undergo a scan after picking up an injury whiles playing for the club on Sunday in the Serie A.

    Boateng was involved as Sassuolo lost 2-1 to Parma in the Reggio-Emilia Derby on Sunday.

    Read: I will invite Kevin Prince Boateng if he apologizes Kwasi Appiah

    The 31-year-old was replaced on 60 minutes by Stefano Sensi after picking up what appears an ankle problem.

    He is expected to undergo further test on Monday to ascertain the veracity of the injury picked up.

    Boateng has been impressive for Sassuolo since joining, scoring four goals and providing an assist.

    But his early shower did not help matters as they lost to their local rivals who leapfrogged them in the table.

    Read: Asamoah Gyan joins Kayserispor training ahead of Trabzonspor clash

    This was not only the first edition of the Reggio-Emilia Derby since the Ducali went bankrupt in 2015 and clambered their way back into the top flight, but also a head-to-head for position, as only one point separated the local rivals going into the Stadio Tardini.

    Boateng is now a doubt for their next match against Udinese at home.

     

    Source: footballghana

  • Kevin Prince Boateng set to undergo test after sustaining injury in Serie A

    Sassuolo midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng is set to undergo a scan after picking up an injury whiles playing for the club on Sunday in the Serie A.

    Boateng was involved as Sassuolo lost 2-1 to Parma in the Reggio-Emilia Derby on Sunday.

    Read: I will invite Kevin Prince Boateng if he apologizes Kwasi Appiah

    The 31-year-old was replaced on 60 minutes by Stefano Sensi after picking up what appears an ankle problem.

    He is expected to undergo further test on Monday to ascertain the veracity of the injury picked up.

    Boateng has been impressive for Sassuolo since joining, scoring four goals and providing an assist.

    But his early shower did not help matters as they lost to their local rivals who leapfrogged them in the table.

    Read: Asamoah Gyan joins Kayserispor training ahead of Trabzonspor clash

    This was not only the first edition of the Reggio-Emilia Derby since the Ducali went bankrupt in 2015 and clambered their way back into the top flight, but also a head-to-head for position, as only one point separated the local rivals going into the Stadio Tardini.

    Boateng is now a doubt for their next match against Udinese at home.

     

    Source: footballghana

  • Four people drown trying to rescue another person

    Four persons have drowned in an attempt to rescue another person from drowning at the Bosomtwe Sam Fishing Harbour at Sekondi in the Western Region.

    The four, aged between 20 and 23 years, had gone for swimming late afternoon Sunday and were returning when they saw someone drowning.

    Read: 5-year-old boy drowns in manhole at Begoro

    They jumped into the water in a bid to rescue him but unfortunately got drowned, an eyewitness, Kojo Mensah, told Takoradi-based Connect FM Monday morning.

    The person who they were trying to rescue however survived and is receiving treatment at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital.

    The four, whose bodies were retrieved Monday morning, have been identified as Papa Assan, Egya Ackon, Evans and Juju. The bodies are currently in the morgue at the same Hospital.

    Read: Pastor drowns while chasing offering bowl

    They are all said to be residents of Ketan, a suburb of Sekondi.

    The incident has shocked residents in the area and the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis at large.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Four people drown trying to rescue another person

    Four persons have drowned in an attempt to rescue another person from drowning at the Bosomtwe Sam Fishing Harbour at Sekondi in the Western Region.

    The four, aged between 20 and 23 years, had gone for swimming late afternoon Sunday and were returning when they saw someone drowning.

    Read: 5-year-old boy drowns in manhole at Begoro

    They jumped into the water in a bid to rescue him but unfortunately got drowned, an eyewitness, Kojo Mensah, told Takoradi-based Connect FM Monday morning.

    The person who they were trying to rescue however survived and is receiving treatment at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital.

    The four, whose bodies were retrieved Monday morning, have been identified as Papa Assan, Egya Ackon, Evans and Juju. The bodies are currently in the morgue at the same Hospital.

    Read: Pastor drowns while chasing offering bowl

    They are all said to be residents of Ketan, a suburb of Sekondi.

    The incident has shocked residents in the area and the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis at large.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Over 16,000 trained teachers posted for National Service

    The National Service Scheme (NSS) has released the maiden postings for some 16,000 newly trained teachers.

    A statement by the NSS said the teachers have been posted to various educational facilities across the 10 regions of the country.

    Read: NSS: 260 people impersonated, culprits blocked

    It comes after a protracted impasse between the education ministry and teachers over the decision to start posting trained teachers on national service.

    The teachers say they have already undertaken their mandated horsemanship and will therefore be unfair to ask them to also do national service.

    Read:Scam rocks NSS after registration of teachers on study leave

    The standoff prevented government from posting the trainees since July when they completed their training.

    Source: Starrfmonline.com

  • Over 16,000 trained teachers posted for National Service

    The National Service Scheme (NSS) has released the maiden postings for some 16,000 newly trained teachers.

    A statement by the NSS said the teachers have been posted to various educational facilities across the 10 regions of the country.

    Read: NSS: 260 people impersonated, culprits blocked

    It comes after a protracted impasse between the education ministry and teachers over the decision to start posting trained teachers on national service.

    The teachers say they have already undertaken their mandated horsemanship and will therefore be unfair to ask them to also do national service.

    Read:Scam rocks NSS after registration of teachers on study leave

    The standoff prevented government from posting the trainees since July when they completed their training.

    Source: Starrfmonline.com

  • 18 Ghanaian players set to feature as preliminary round qualifiers begin today

    GHANASoccernet.com’s African Football specialist Nuhu Adams reports on 18 players who could feature in the 2018/2019 CAF Champions League qualifiers which starts today with the first round ties.

    In Senegal, ASC Diaraf will be hosting Togolese champions Koroki FC. Former Tema Youth forward Michael Kporvi could feature for the Senegalese if selected.

    Read: Essien to retire from football in 2020

    Defender Richard Baffour is expected to play for the Egyptian giants Ismaily SC who make a trip to Burundi to face Messager Ngozi.

    AS Sonidep will stay in Niger to welcome Zambian champions ZESCO United.

    Striker Rahim Osumanu is in the squad and could play a role for ZESCO United.

    When Mozambican side UD Songo tackles Nkana FC at home, former AshantiGold and Dreams FC centre back Richard Ocran will be in contention to play for the Zambians.

    There could be as many as five Ghanaians involved when Simba SC take on eSwatini giants Mbabane Swallows.

    Kwasi Asante, Nicholas Gyan and James Kotei could feature for the Tanzanian side whereas Richard Sewu and Daniel Yeboah Atakora are in the books of Swallows.

    Djiboutian side Telecom will be welcoming Jimma Abba Jifar. Former Ghana goalkeeper Daniel Agyei is line to start for the Ethiopian champions.

    Read: Asamoah Gyan joins Kayserispor training ahead of Trabzonspor clash

    In Kigali in Rwanda, APR FC will tackle Tunisian side Club Africain who have registered form Aduana Stars striker Derrick Sassraku.

    Last edition’s quarter-finalists Horoya AC host Liberian side Barack Young Controllers. Godfred Asante, Brefo Mensah, Sebe Baffour Kyei, Patrick Razak, Ocansey Mandela and Hudu Yakubu are available for selection for the Guinea champions.

    Semi-finalists Primeiro de Agosto begin their campaign at home to Otoho D’oyo in Luanda, Angola.

    Former New Edubiase United captain Nartey Polo could play a role in the fixture for the Congolese champions.

     

    Source: ghanasoccernet.com 

  • 18 Ghanaian players set to feature as preliminary round qualifiers begin today

    GHANASoccernet.com’s African Football specialist Nuhu Adams reports on 18 players who could feature in the 2018/2019 CAF Champions League qualifiers which starts today with the first round ties.

    In Senegal, ASC Diaraf will be hosting Togolese champions Koroki FC. Former Tema Youth forward Michael Kporvi could feature for the Senegalese if selected.

    Read: Essien to retire from football in 2020

    Defender Richard Baffour is expected to play for the Egyptian giants Ismaily SC who make a trip to Burundi to face Messager Ngozi.

    AS Sonidep will stay in Niger to welcome Zambian champions ZESCO United.

    Striker Rahim Osumanu is in the squad and could play a role for ZESCO United.

    When Mozambican side UD Songo tackles Nkana FC at home, former AshantiGold and Dreams FC centre back Richard Ocran will be in contention to play for the Zambians.

    There could be as many as five Ghanaians involved when Simba SC take on eSwatini giants Mbabane Swallows.

    Kwasi Asante, Nicholas Gyan and James Kotei could feature for the Tanzanian side whereas Richard Sewu and Daniel Yeboah Atakora are in the books of Swallows.

    Djiboutian side Telecom will be welcoming Jimma Abba Jifar. Former Ghana goalkeeper Daniel Agyei is line to start for the Ethiopian champions.

    Read: Asamoah Gyan joins Kayserispor training ahead of Trabzonspor clash

    In Kigali in Rwanda, APR FC will tackle Tunisian side Club Africain who have registered form Aduana Stars striker Derrick Sassraku.

    Last edition’s quarter-finalists Horoya AC host Liberian side Barack Young Controllers. Godfred Asante, Brefo Mensah, Sebe Baffour Kyei, Patrick Razak, Ocansey Mandela and Hudu Yakubu are available for selection for the Guinea champions.

    Semi-finalists Primeiro de Agosto begin their campaign at home to Otoho D’oyo in Luanda, Angola.

    Former New Edubiase United captain Nartey Polo could play a role in the fixture for the Congolese champions.

     

    Source: ghanasoccernet.com 

  • Asamoah Gyan joins Kayserispor training ahead of Trabzonspor clash

    Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has returned to Kayserispor training ahead of their Turkish Super Lique game at home to Trabzonspor on Saturday.

    Gyan was part of the team that trained on Monday morning as they step up preparations for the game on Saturday.

    Read: Essien to retire from football in 2020

    The former Sunderland player was handed an extended break following his involvement with the Black Stars for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with Ethiopia during the international break.

    Gyan is expected to work his way into the squad for the game at the Kadir Has ?ehir Stadium.

    Its been a frustrating spell for the Ghanaian skipper since he joined the side due to recurrent injuries.

    Read: Gyan is a better goal scorer in World Cup history compared to Messi Countryman Songo

    Asamoah Gyan has managed only four substitute appearances for the side since the start of the new campaign.

    But he appears reinvigorated for the clash and could be thrown into the hat for the crucial game at home.

    He is likely to move away from the club during the January transfer window.

     

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Asamoah Gyan joins Kayserispor training ahead of Trabzonspor clash

    Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has returned to Kayserispor training ahead of their Turkish Super Lique game at home to Trabzonspor on Saturday.

    Gyan was part of the team that trained on Monday morning as they step up preparations for the game on Saturday.

    Read: Essien to retire from football in 2020

    The former Sunderland player was handed an extended break following his involvement with the Black Stars for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with Ethiopia during the international break.

    Gyan is expected to work his way into the squad for the game at the Kadir Has ?ehir Stadium.

    Its been a frustrating spell for the Ghanaian skipper since he joined the side due to recurrent injuries.

    Read: Gyan is a better goal scorer in World Cup history compared to Messi Countryman Songo

    Asamoah Gyan has managed only four substitute appearances for the side since the start of the new campaign.

    But he appears reinvigorated for the clash and could be thrown into the hat for the crucial game at home.

    He is likely to move away from the club during the January transfer window.

     

    Source: footballghana.com