Author: aejay_wp

The Board Chairman of the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere, has announced plans by the power transmission company to provide grid consulting services to utility companies in the West African sub-region as part of its external relations.

According to him, GRIDCo is also reinforcing its position as a leader in the West African Power Pool (WAPP) as far as power transmission is concerned.

Addressing stakeholders at the 9th Annual General Meeting in Accra on Thursday, November 7, 2018, he assured that, GRIDCo will continue to focus on adopting strategies to maintain a robust Transmission System with ample reserves to meet the increasing demand for electricity nationwide for socio-economic development in Ghana.

Read: Government to convert US$140m GRIDCo debt to equity

Ambassador Blay-Amihere stressed on the commitment of the Board to guide the company in making steady investment into the National Interconnected Transmission System (NITS), to ensure reliable electricity supply.

“We are also optimistic about Shareholder’s support for the company with the needed financial assistance in the current financial year, to nurture the pursuit and implementation of the crucial strategies needed for optimal achievement of GRIDCo’s vision and mission,” he added.

Touching on the GRIDCo’s Telecommunication Business Unit, GRIDTel, which had been operationalized since 2017 after obtaining license from NCA to build and operate a National Terrestrial Fibre Network, he said, GRIDTel is poised to collaborate with stakeholders in the industry to bridge the digital divide in Ghana.

Read: GRIDCo suffers severe revenue shortfall in 2017

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCo, Jonathan Amoah-Baah, noted that the decision by Association of Ghana Industries to adjudge GRIDCo as the Energy Company of the Year in 2017, was a reflection GRIDCo’s adherence to operational best practices, resilience and an acknowledgment of its efforts at being a Model Electricity Grid Company.

He said GRIDCo will in 2018 invest in Research and Development (R&D), as well as augment the use of the technology in its operations, purposely to promote efficiency and ensure sustainability, adding that the company will also identify and implement cost efficient processes, including the institution of project evaluation techniques and the monitoring of firm adherence to budgetary provisions.

Read: Nearly GHS700m debt stifles GRIDCo power transmission

“GRIDCo recorded a total revenue of GHC715.2 million, representing a 6.14% increase on revenue accrued in 2016, which is GHC673.835 million. Despite this, the company had various financial limitations that affected its performed during the year. These included non-payment from its key customers and the inclusion of interest cost of loans contracted for the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) assets previously in the books of the Volta River Authority (VRA). These and other limited resulted in the Net Loss of GHC31.00m in 2017,” he said.

Source: Michael Creg Afful

The Board Chairman of the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere, has announced plans by the power transmission company to provide grid consulting services to utility companies in the West African sub-region as part of its external relations.

According to him, GRIDCo is also reinforcing its position as a leader in the West African Power Pool (WAPP) as far as power transmission is concerned.

Addressing stakeholders at the 9th Annual General Meeting in Accra on Thursday, November 7, 2018, he assured that, GRIDCo will continue to focus on adopting strategies to maintain a robust Transmission System with ample reserves to meet the increasing demand for electricity nationwide for socio-economic development in Ghana.

Read: Government to convert US$140m GRIDCo debt to equity

Ambassador Blay-Amihere stressed on the commitment of the Board to guide the company in making steady investment into the National Interconnected Transmission System (NITS), to ensure reliable electricity supply.

“We are also optimistic about Shareholder’s support for the company with the needed financial assistance in the current financial year, to nurture the pursuit and implementation of the crucial strategies needed for optimal achievement of GRIDCo’s vision and mission,” he added.

Touching on the GRIDCo’s Telecommunication Business Unit, GRIDTel, which had been operationalized since 2017 after obtaining license from NCA to build and operate a National Terrestrial Fibre Network, he said, GRIDTel is poised to collaborate with stakeholders in the industry to bridge the digital divide in Ghana.

Read: GRIDCo suffers severe revenue shortfall in 2017

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCo, Jonathan Amoah-Baah, noted that the decision by Association of Ghana Industries to adjudge GRIDCo as the Energy Company of the Year in 2017, was a reflection GRIDCo’s adherence to operational best practices, resilience and an acknowledgment of its efforts at being a Model Electricity Grid Company.

He said GRIDCo will in 2018 invest in Research and Development (R&D), as well as augment the use of the technology in its operations, purposely to promote efficiency and ensure sustainability, adding that the company will also identify and implement cost efficient processes, including the institution of project evaluation techniques and the monitoring of firm adherence to budgetary provisions.

Read: Nearly GHS700m debt stifles GRIDCo power transmission

“GRIDCo recorded a total revenue of GHC715.2 million, representing a 6.14% increase on revenue accrued in 2016, which is GHC673.835 million. Despite this, the company had various financial limitations that affected its performed during the year. These included non-payment from its key customers and the inclusion of interest cost of loans contracted for the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) assets previously in the books of the Volta River Authority (VRA). These and other limited resulted in the Net Loss of GHC31.00m in 2017,” he said.

Source: Michael Creg Afful

The Rebecca Foundation, headed by the First Lady of Ghana Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo has distributed books and assorted items to students of the KKMA Basic school in the Kpone Katamanso Municipality of the Greater Accra region.

The thoughtful gesture by First Lady included the distribution of items such as books, chocolates and shoes.

It is being executed under the Learning to Read and Reading to Learn Initiative launched recently by the Rebecca Foundation.

Read: Rebecca Foundation donates to six hospitals

This is an initiative, birthed by the Rebecca Foundation, and jointly implemented Foundation, the Ghana Education Service, the Ghana Library Authority and the Royal Commonwealth Society to improve literacy in children between ages six to fifteen.

The presentation was done on behalf of the Rebecca Foundation by its Deputy Director in charge of Operations Madam Perpetual Asante.

Read: First Lady commissions two projects at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital

Delivering the items to the enthusiastic students, Madam Asante advised them to use the items as tools that are meant to aid their learning process.

She congratulated the teachers for the stellar performances they pull up every day to ensure the physical and intellectual fortification of the wards and asked that they continue to remain professional.

The shoes will solve the material needs of children of these schools who mostly hail from deprived communities and homes.

She pledged the continued support of the Rebecca Foundation towards meeting the educational and health needs of mothers and their children across the country.

Read: First Ladies pledge to eliminate stigma associated with infertility, cancers

As part of the learning to Read and Reading to Learn Initiative about 20 libraries would be built across the country and begin a media campaign which would actively engage children and primary care givers as well as teachers in reading and comprehension exercises via television, radio and the internet.

The initiative will also undertake on a pilot basis adult/child partner reading in schools through the use of volunteers and national service personnel, who would assist teachers during the Ghana Education Service approved time outlined for reading in public school classrooms across the country.

Source: Richard Darko

The Rebecca Foundation, headed by the First Lady of Ghana Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo has distributed books and assorted items to students of the KKMA Basic school in the Kpone Katamanso Municipality of the Greater Accra region.

The thoughtful gesture by First Lady included the distribution of items such as books, chocolates and shoes.

It is being executed under the Learning to Read and Reading to Learn Initiative launched recently by the Rebecca Foundation.

Read: Rebecca Foundation donates to six hospitals

This is an initiative, birthed by the Rebecca Foundation, and jointly implemented Foundation, the Ghana Education Service, the Ghana Library Authority and the Royal Commonwealth Society to improve literacy in children between ages six to fifteen.

The presentation was done on behalf of the Rebecca Foundation by its Deputy Director in charge of Operations Madam Perpetual Asante.

Read: First Lady commissions two projects at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital

Delivering the items to the enthusiastic students, Madam Asante advised them to use the items as tools that are meant to aid their learning process.

She congratulated the teachers for the stellar performances they pull up every day to ensure the physical and intellectual fortification of the wards and asked that they continue to remain professional.

The shoes will solve the material needs of children of these schools who mostly hail from deprived communities and homes.

She pledged the continued support of the Rebecca Foundation towards meeting the educational and health needs of mothers and their children across the country.

Read: First Ladies pledge to eliminate stigma associated with infertility, cancers

As part of the learning to Read and Reading to Learn Initiative about 20 libraries would be built across the country and begin a media campaign which would actively engage children and primary care givers as well as teachers in reading and comprehension exercises via television, radio and the internet.

The initiative will also undertake on a pilot basis adult/child partner reading in schools through the use of volunteers and national service personnel, who would assist teachers during the Ghana Education Service approved time outlined for reading in public school classrooms across the country.

Source: Richard Darko

A victim in Thursday’s riot at Adentan, Accra says she and her son are traumatised after being hit by live bullets.

Ms Sylvia Sam told Graphic Online that she was driving home with her son when two men in helmets and on a motorbike took aim and shot at her through her car.

Read: Adentan-Madina road deaths: Dissolve Akufo-Addo government Gyampo

She said the incident happened at Kenkey House, where she had parked waiting to join the main road on their way home, and that they were not even aware there was a riot.

According to her, the bullet hit her first and then hit her son’s thigh.

Rebutting rumours that she and her son had not been shot at, the victim said “we were aimed at and shot at yesterday. It was not a stray bullet. That is the point I would like to make.”

Read: Residents block Madina-Adentan road as car knocks down one more person

“The bullet came through my side of the door, grazed my thigh and lodged in my son’s thigh,” Ms Sam narrated and added that she was equally traumatised but had to stay strong for her son.

Asked if the bullet was live, the victim answered in the affirmative and said the bullet was at the Nyaho Clinic. She further explained that the hospital was expected to file a medical report on the retrieved bullet.

Police

Ms Sam said she was yet to file an official report with the police. She also disclosed that the police were yet to contact her over the issue.

She said the family, which will issue a formal statement on the matter, towed the car to a safe location.

Read: Madina accidents: Police fire tear gas as residents block highway

Ms Sam admitted she could not recall those who shot at her but said witnesses later told her the men were in dark police uniforms and wore crash helmets.

“They were wearing black up and down outfit and also wore closed crash helmets so I could not see their faces,” Ms Sam said.

https://www.facebook.com/theindependentghana/videos/322071761721572/

Source: Graphic.com.gh

A victim in Thursday’s riot at Adentan, Accra says she and her son are traumatised after being hit by live bullets.

Ms Sylvia Sam told Graphic Online that she was driving home with her son when two men in helmets and on a motorbike took aim and shot at her through her car.

Read: Adentan-Madina road deaths: Dissolve Akufo-Addo government Gyampo

She said the incident happened at Kenkey House, where she had parked waiting to join the main road on their way home, and that they were not even aware there was a riot.

According to her, the bullet hit her first and then hit her son’s thigh.

Rebutting rumours that she and her son had not been shot at, the victim said “we were aimed at and shot at yesterday. It was not a stray bullet. That is the point I would like to make.”

Read: Residents block Madina-Adentan road as car knocks down one more person

“The bullet came through my side of the door, grazed my thigh and lodged in my son’s thigh,” Ms Sam narrated and added that she was equally traumatised but had to stay strong for her son.

Asked if the bullet was live, the victim answered in the affirmative and said the bullet was at the Nyaho Clinic. She further explained that the hospital was expected to file a medical report on the retrieved bullet.

Police

Ms Sam said she was yet to file an official report with the police. She also disclosed that the police were yet to contact her over the issue.

She said the family, which will issue a formal statement on the matter, towed the car to a safe location.

Read: Madina accidents: Police fire tear gas as residents block highway

Ms Sam admitted she could not recall those who shot at her but said witnesses later told her the men were in dark police uniforms and wore crash helmets.

“They were wearing black up and down outfit and also wore closed crash helmets so I could not see their faces,” Ms Sam said.

https://www.facebook.com/theindependentghana/videos/322071761721572/

Source: Graphic.com.gh

Oscar-winning French composer Francis Lai has died at the age of 86.

He was best-known for winning the prize for composing the memorable piano theme to the 1970 film Love Story.

Crooner Andy Williams also released (Where Do I Begin?) Love Story in 1971, which was a hit single, peaking at number nine in the US chart.

Lai also wrote the score for the 1966 film A Man and a Woman, with one song later chosen as BBC’s Panorama’s dramatic theme music.

He was born in Nice and played the accordion and piano, bug moved to Paris in his 20s, where he became accompanist for French singer Edith Piaf.

Lai then went on to collaborate many times with A Man and a Woman director Claude Lelouch, composing music for him for nearly 40 projects.

These included Edith and Marcel in 1983, A Man and a Woman, 20 Years Later in 1986 and their final film together, last year’s Everyone’s Life.

The news of his death was reposted by Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, who did not reveal the cause.

“It is with great sadness that I learn of the death of Francis Lai, this great composer from Nice,” Estrosi told local press.

“I will soon propose to his family to give his name to an emblematic place of our city,” added former president of the Cannes Film Festival, Gilles Jacob.

Source: bbc.com

Oscar-winning French composer Francis Lai has died at the age of 86.

He was best-known for winning the prize for composing the memorable piano theme to the 1970 film Love Story.

Crooner Andy Williams also released (Where Do I Begin?) Love Story in 1971, which was a hit single, peaking at number nine in the US chart.

Lai also wrote the score for the 1966 film A Man and a Woman, with one song later chosen as BBC’s Panorama’s dramatic theme music.

He was born in Nice and played the accordion and piano, bug moved to Paris in his 20s, where he became accompanist for French singer Edith Piaf.

Lai then went on to collaborate many times with A Man and a Woman director Claude Lelouch, composing music for him for nearly 40 projects.

These included Edith and Marcel in 1983, A Man and a Woman, 20 Years Later in 1986 and their final film together, last year’s Everyone’s Life.

The news of his death was reposted by Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, who did not reveal the cause.

“It is with great sadness that I learn of the death of Francis Lai, this great composer from Nice,” Estrosi told local press.

“I will soon propose to his family to give his name to an emblematic place of our city,” added former president of the Cannes Film Festival, Gilles Jacob.

Source: bbc.com

John Boyega and Letitia Wright are to star in a sci-fi romance story that is being billed as Romeo and Juliet meets Gravity.

The film is based on author Katie Khan’s novel, Hold Back the Stars.

The book is about a couple who reminisce on their love and life together on Earth with only 90 minutes of oxygen left.

“Hooray! Some absolutely dream casting for my novel,” Khan tweeted earlier today.

“Beside myself with excitement” she continued.

However, this isn’t the first time the British breakout stars have united.

Long before rocking the Met Gala red carpet together (and fuelling many rumours of dating), the pair have actually been good friends for a while, dating back to their days as students of the Identity School of Acting.

Stars Wars actor Boyega told The Grio in March that he and Wright would hang out at McDonald’s after classes and speak about their dreams and visions for the future. Little did they know they’d end up in some of the biggest films of the decade.

“I felt Letitia was the best thing in Black Panther. She was fantastic. Every time she came onto the screen, my heart was uplifted,” he continued.

Future starring roles

Boyega will reprise his role as Finn in Star Wars Episode IX which is expected to be released in December 2019.

He will also be providing the voice of Bigwig for the new Watership Down miniseries, airing on BBC One this Christmas.

Wright will also reprise her role as Princess Shuri in the Black Panther sequel and the Avengers film coming next April.

Mike Cahill will direct Hold Back the Stars. His most notable work, Another Earth, won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011.

Source: bbc.com

John Boyega and Letitia Wright are to star in a sci-fi romance story that is being billed as Romeo and Juliet meets Gravity.

The film is based on author Katie Khan’s novel, Hold Back the Stars.

The book is about a couple who reminisce on their love and life together on Earth with only 90 minutes of oxygen left.

“Hooray! Some absolutely dream casting for my novel,” Khan tweeted earlier today.

“Beside myself with excitement” she continued.

However, this isn’t the first time the British breakout stars have united.

Long before rocking the Met Gala red carpet together (and fuelling many rumours of dating), the pair have actually been good friends for a while, dating back to their days as students of the Identity School of Acting.

Stars Wars actor Boyega told The Grio in March that he and Wright would hang out at McDonald’s after classes and speak about their dreams and visions for the future. Little did they know they’d end up in some of the biggest films of the decade.

“I felt Letitia was the best thing in Black Panther. She was fantastic. Every time she came onto the screen, my heart was uplifted,” he continued.

Future starring roles

Boyega will reprise his role as Finn in Star Wars Episode IX which is expected to be released in December 2019.

He will also be providing the voice of Bigwig for the new Watership Down miniseries, airing on BBC One this Christmas.

Wright will also reprise her role as Princess Shuri in the Black Panther sequel and the Avengers film coming next April.

Mike Cahill will direct Hold Back the Stars. His most notable work, Another Earth, won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011.

Source: bbc.com

During di 2016 elections, New Patriotic Party argue say “we have the men,” one slogan which chaw Ghanaians follow take vote di party into power sake of dema claim say more intellectuals den experts dey di party inside.

But people start dey question where di men dey after another road accident for di Madina-Adenta highway top kill one senior high school student on di spot.

Di female student die sake of no footbridge dey di road top which make di over speeding vehicle kill am.

Read: Adentan-Madina road deaths: Dissolve Akufo-Addo government Gyampo

According to Selorm Brantie, one of di leaders for Concerned Residents of Adenta, dem count up to 192 deaths for di road top so far.

Di concerns be say despite di chaw ministers, government appointees, presidential staffers den noise wey Madina den Adenta residents make over di footbridge matter, government no take action yet until say violent protests happen.

Read: Residents block Madina-Adentan road as car knocks down one more person

After di riots, government release joint inter-ministerial committee press statement which indicate say dem go start fix am next week. But dis no impress some Ghanaians who dey argue say e be after di demo happen before dem wan solve di problem.

People enter social media dey express dema disappointment on di poor response to citizen concerns until say dem resort to violence before leaders go react.

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