In a recent jailbreak in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, gunmen took former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara and three others.
Authorities confirmed at least nine fatalities, including suspected attackers, security personnel, and civilians.
Camara and two co-accused individuals were later returned to jail, where they are facing trial for their alleged involvement in the deaths of over 150 protesters at Conakry stadium 14 years ago.
The circumstances surrounding the release or kidnapping of Camara and the others remain unclear.
In its most recent auction on November 3, 2023, the government successfully secured GH¢2.693.23 billion, surpassing the target of GH¢2.152 billion by GH¢541.23 billion.
Interest rates on treasury bills have continued to rise for the 36th consecutive time this year, with the 365-day bill reaching 33.7%.
Meanwhile, the 91-day bill and the 182-day bill have seen interest rates rise to 29.96% and 32.1%, respectively.
Despite concerns about the government’s ability to meet maturities, the International Monetary Fund has noted that the rates are within an acceptable range and are still lower than the current inflation rate of 38.1%.
According to the Bank of Ghana’s auction results, not all bids submitted in this week’s auction were accepted.
The 91-day bill received total subscriptions of GH¢2.02 billion, GH¢439.28 billion was accepted from the 182-day bill, and GH¢233.69 million was accepted from the 364-day bills.
The government has set its next auction target at GH¢3.105 billion.
Effective November 8, 2023, the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) is poised to suspend the listing status of PBC Limited (PBC) in accordance with Rule 13(1) of the Exchange’s Listing Rules.
The decision was conveyed through a circular directed at Licensed Dealing Members, Investors, and other concerned stakeholders.
It emphasized that PBC failed to provide its financial results following the close of its fiscal year in September 2022, contravening the stipulations for timely disclosure outlined in Rule 13(4)(c) and (e) of the Exchange’s Listing Rules, despite repeated reminders.
Rules 13(4)(c)(f) grant the GSE the authority to suspend a listing or mandate the de-listing of securities when a company fails to comply with, or is unable or unwilling to meet, the Exchange’s requirements for ongoing listing obligations and disclosure policy.
Rule 13(4)(e) recommends similar measures when a company disregards its Listing Agreement or other agreements with the Exchange or violates the Exchange’s Rules.
In accordance with these regulations, the GSE has determined that PBC’s listing status will be suspended from November 8, 2023.
Officials in the south-western region of Cameroon have reported a deadly attack on a village by suspected separatist rebels.
The assault resulted in the tragic loss of at least 20 lives, leaving several others severely injured, and homes set ablaze in the Manyu area.
Since 2017, when separatists initiated clashes with government troops, the two Anglophone regions of Cameroon have been marred by persistent violence.
Throughout the conflict, both sides have faced accusations of committing widespread atrocities, leading to a death toll of at least 6,000 people and the displacement of nearly a million others.
The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) has projected a deceleration in the services sector’s performance for the year 2024, with an anticipated growth rate of 1.8%. This projection marks a decline compared to the previous year’s performance.
Nevertheless, ISSER remains optimistic about the future, predicting that the services sector will rebound with a 3.0% growth rate in 2024 and a more robust 5.0% growth rate in 2025.
In 2023, both the Services and Agriculture sectors are expected to be the primary drivers of economic growth in Ghana.
ISSER further emphasized that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal is poised to boost investor confidence and domestic tourism in Ghana. This, in turn, is expected to bring substantial advantages to the services sector.
In summary, ISSER anticipates that the services sector will continue to demonstrate resilience and serve as a vital pillar supporting overall economic growth, particularly with the successful implementation of the IMF deal.
Services sector main contributor to Ghana’s growth recovery
The services sector played a pivotal role in Ghana’s economic recovery, with a growth rate of 5.5% in 2022, compared to the impressive 9.4% achieved in 2021, as highlighted in the SGER 2021 report.
However, despite its continued dominance in 2022, the sector’s performance fell short of the estimations set in 2021.
The relatively slower growth of the sector in 2022 can be attributed to a general slowdown in the growth of all subsectors, except for Finance and Insurance, Education, and Health and Social Work.
Notably, the ICT subsector remained the best performer, although its growth in 2022 was less than the rate achieved in 2021. ISSER suggested that this might be partly due to a decline in the intensity of virtual services usage after the pandemic.
Remarkably, the education subsector experienced its highest growth rate in 2022 since 2015.
Services sector records 6.3% GDP growth in quarter 2, 2023
The Ghana Statistical Services reported that, in the second quarter of 2023, the services sector experienced substantial growth, reaching a rate of 6.3%.
During this period, data revealed that 10 out of the 11 sub-sectors within the services sector expanded, signifying a positive trend in the overall sector’s performance.
The sole sub-sector that experienced a contraction during this time was “Trade, Repair of Vehicle and Household Goods,” with a decrease of -5.3%.
In contrast, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is forecasting a 1.5% growth rate for Ghana for the current year, while the World Bank is projecting a slightly higher GDP growth rate of 1.6%.
When an elderly couple organized a garage sale following the sale of their second home in the southern region of France, they had no inkling that they would find themselves entangled in a high-stakes legal dispute.
The 88-year-old husband and his 81-year-old wife, identified in court documents by their initials but confirmed by CNN as Mr. and Mrs. Fournier through their attorney, decided to part with an ancient African mask passed down from Mr. Fournier’s grandfather.
Their grandfather, René-Victor Edward Maurice Fournier, had served as a colonial governor in Central Africa during the early 20th century, a time when significant portions of the continent were under French colonial administration.
In September 2021, the Fourniers sold the mask to a second-hand dealer for 150 euros, as evidenced by court documents. According to their attorney, Frédéric Mansat Jaffré, they were unaware of the mask’s true market value and believed the dealer had offered a fair price.
Several months later, they discovered through a newspaper article that their antique mask was being auctioned and was worth considerably more than what the dealer had paid for it.
Just two days later, the mask was sold for 4.2 million euros, as indicated by a sale receipt shared with CNN, equivalent to over $4.5 million.
The Fourniers initiated a civil lawsuit against the dealer, which they lost in the autumn of 2022, and they were ordered to cover the court costs.
They are now appealing the earlier court decision, asserting that the dealer failed in his “obligation to provide pre-contractual information” and committed “a breach of consent.”
The couple is seeking to nullify the mask’s sale and claim the proceeds from the auction. CNN has reached out to the dealer’s attorney for further comments.
An extremely rare artifact
As the appeal commenced at the Alès Tribunal in southern France on Tuesday, the Gabonese government waded in and formally requested a suspension of the proceedings.
The dealer’s defense, according to court documents, maintains that he was unaware of the value of the mask when he purchased it from the couple and only discovered it once he went to the auction house to have it appraised.
Court documents show that his lawyers argued that “the sellers have no grounds for claiming error. They themselves offered the item for sale at 150 euros. They made an inaccurate economic assessment of the value presented by the mask.”
Gabon has filed a separate court case for the handling of stolen goods, accusing Mr Fournier’s ancestor of having stolen the Ngil mask and therefore never being its rightful owner, Olivia Betoe Bi Evie, one of the lawyers representing Gabon, told CNN
If the court accepts its petition to suspend the current legal proceedings on the sale of the Ngil mask, the country will be able to pursue its separate case for the handling of stolen goods and fight for the mask to be returned to its country of origin.
The court is expected to make its decision known on December 19.
The mask is an extremely rare artifact of great spiritual value to the Gabonese people, Betoe Bi Evie told CNN.
Dating from the 19th century, it belonged to the powerful Ngil society, a secret group tasked with administering justice within the Fang communities of Gabon, according to Betoe Bi Evie.
“For Westerners, the mask is an art object,” Betoe Bi Evie said, “but for Africans, for the Gabonese… it’s a ritual object used to ensure peace in society. It’s very important.”
According to a Sotheby’s listing for a similar Ngil mask, these artifacts “are among the rarest and most highly celebrated of all African artworks,” making them “keenly sought after as indispensable keystones of the best collections of African art.”
The auction catalog for the mask said it had been “collected around 1917, under unknown circumstances, by the French colonial governor René-Victor Edward Maurice Fournier (1873-1931), probably during a tour of Gabon,” according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.
A fraught legal battle
The couple’s lawyer argued in court that the dealer deliberately withheld information about the origins of the mask from them and planned to split the money with their gardener, who had provided him with information about the Fourniers’ ties to the former colonial governor.
It was through this information that the dealer was able to deduce the origins of the mask, Mansat Jaffré, the lawyer, told CNN.
The dealer and the gardener allegedly visited the auction house together, presenting themselves as co-owners of the mask, the sellers assert in court documents.
The couple say the dealer did not inform them of his relationship with their gardener, nor that he had any intention of auctioning off their mask, according to their lawyer.
“We think he (the dealer) already had an idea at the back of his head, and that he knew the mask was rare,” Mansat Jaffré told CNN. “My clients… are not art collectors, they’re amateurs… they didn’t know better,” he added.
After the Fourniers discovered the mask was being auctioned off, they contacted the dealer, who offered 300,000 euros in compensation, equivalent to the auction house’s estimate of the mask’s worth, Mansat Jaffré said.
The couple’s children advised their parents to refuse the sum and file a lawsuit.
For the moment, 3.2 million euros, the amount the dealer earned from the sale of the mask after tax deductions and commission fees, have been frozen in his bank account by the courts, Mansat Jaffré said.
The trial has attracted attention among France’s large African diaspora and among those at the court were several Gabonese protesters demanding that the mask be returned to their country.
Some were also present at the auction house when the mask was sold, back in March 2022, according to Solange Bizeau, president of the Collectif Gabon Occitanie, the organization behind the protests.
She told CNN that she was “shocked” to see how little respect for her culture was displayed in the courthouse.
“The two lawyers told the court that we, the Gabonese people and the Gabonese State, have no legitimate claim to (the mask),” said Bizou. “I was shocked to see that they (those participating in the trial) weren’t interested in the mask, they didn’t care what it meant for us, all they wanted was money.”
Today, only a dozen Ngil masks remain in the world, according to court documents.
Many, according to Betoe Bi Evie, are in the hands of private collectors. So far, the identity of the mask’s buyer remains unknown to everyone except the dealer and the auction house, neither of whom has disclosed it, Mansat Jaffré told CNN.
Calls for restitution
French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly called for the restitution of colonial artifacts from French collections to their original owners. After his election in 2017, he expressed his desire for “the conditions to be in place within five years for temporary or permanent restitution of African heritage to Africa.”
According to a report submitted to Macron in 2018, there are at least 80,000 objects from Sub-Saharan Africa held in French public collections. Until now, only a handful have been returned to their countries of origin.
Some artifacts have been returned indefinitely, like the 26 looted royal objects that comprise the Treasure of Behanzin, restituted to Benin in 2020.
Others were returned to their birthplaces on long-term loans, like a sword and scabbard of West African leader Omar Tall, currently exhibited in Senegal’s Museum of Black Civilizations.
In addition to Benin and Senegal, five other African countries – Chad, Madagascar, the Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, and Mali – have made official requests for restitutions from the French government.
However, as the Ngil mask at the center of the ongoing trial wasn’t held in a public collection, Gabon cannot demand its restitution from France.
A small moment during King Charles’ state visit to Kenya may have defined it.
An elderly war veteran was waiting in a wheelchair for his turn to meet the British monarch at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Kariokor cemetery in Nairobi on Wednesday morning. It’s a peaceful oasis in a bustling neighborhood where makeshift market stalls line the streets.
Cpl. Samwel Nthigai Mburia fought for the British in multiple campaigns during World War II from 1939 to 1945, deploying to Ethiopia, Egypt, and Myanmar. He served under the command of Charles’ mother, Elizabeth II, who was still Queen of as well as the United Kingdom at the time. Mburia received several medals for his service, but in the 1950s he threw them away.
Why? Because anyone back then who had supported the British colonial power became a target for the Mau Mau resistance who were on their own campaign to seize their country back. Kenya ultimately gained its independence in December 1963, but the violent period in the lead-up saw thousands killed.
Ahead of Kenya’s 60th anniversary of independence, King Charles, accompanied by Queen Camilla, laid a wreath for Kenya’s fallen at the cemetery, then made his way over to meet veterans, including Mburia. Charles was briefed on Mburia’s service and was informed of his age. Military records revealed Mburia was born in 1906, according to the palace, which said he was 117 years old. His age would suggest he could be the oldest person in the world. (The world’s oldest verified living person is 116-year-old María Branyas Morera, according to Guinness World Records.)
Charles was handed a tray of shiny new medals which he presented to Mburia to replace the ones he had lost. “I hope they’re all the right ones there,” the King said, before remarking on the veteran’s age. “You must be on wild locusts and honey or something.” Mburia smiled as his honors glistened in the sunshine on his lap.
Royals are all about symbolism and this interaction spoke to everything the King and his aides were hoping to achieve on this trip. If the old medals represented a legacy of colonialism and violence, the new ones represent a redefined relationship between two independent states.
That afternoon, Charles gathered representatives of those who fought the British in Kenya during their struggle for statehood. It was a private meeting, and no media were allowed to observe. But Evelyn Kimathi was there.
Her father, Dedan Kimathi, led the resistance and was executed by the British. She revealed to us that she’d told Charles she wanted help finding her father’s body, which is missing, and that her family wanted their land back.
As a constitutional monarch, there’s little the King can do, and these demands are matters for his government. However, he can listen and make sure people like Evelyn are heard at the highest levels. That’s the power of monarchy. It can elevate issues and arguments even if it can’t be seen to influence them.
This discussion was one example of following through on a promise Charles had made at the state banquet as the visit kicked off. “In coming back to Kenya, it matters greatly to me that I should deepen my own understanding of these wrongs, and that I meet some of those whose lives and communities were so grievously affected,” he’d said.
The monarch has also visited the Uhuru Gardens, the site of Kenya’s declaration of independence, and toured a new museum showcasing Kenya’s history, including a “Tunnel of Martyrs,” where British-signed death warrants serve as a stark reminder of past injustices.
Charles’ approach to confronting challenging chapters in Britain’s history is a strategy we’ve seen from the new monarch in recent months.
This is the third state visit of Charles’ reign. The first two, to Germany and France, were thoughtful but in a different way. Relations with both countries became strained after the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016. On those trips, he delicately referenced that turbulent period in speeches to politicians, earning him standing ovations in both parliaments.
King Charles’ moves are a progression from the way his mother operated. While Queen Elizabeth II always opted for impartiality and avoided the most sensitive political issues, Charles has shown no fear about wading into them while still finding a way to maintain a neutral position.
Many, like Evelyn, will say that “the struggle continues” and carry on demanding formal apologies and reparations. But the response from people he meets and local politicians to Charles’ actions on these trips would suggest that he is helping with some of the healing of these deep historical wounds.
He may not be a political figure, but he is a symbolic one. The “Listening King” may be giving the UK a more sensitive brand.
In a compassionate tone, Vice President Dr. Bawumia expressed his understanding of the economic challenges facing Ghanaians. He assured the public that these difficulties will be addressed once he is granted the opportunity to lead the nation in 2024.
Dr. Bawumia outlined his vision to establish an inclusive, food self-sustaining, data-driven, and system-oriented country that actively participates in the global digital revolution to tackle the nation’s issues.
Speaking after he was elected the flagbearer of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said, “The cost of living has increased dramatically and Ghanaians are feeling the pinch. I have seen the sacrifices of Ghanaians are making and the hardships many Ghanaians are going through and I am as concerned as my fellow countrymen and women.”
He added that, “my vision is to build an inclusive, food self-sufficient, data driven and systems based nation that will fully participate in the global digital revolution to solve our problems and also usher in a golden age of benefits from our natural resources”.
Following the conclusion of the presidential primaries on Saturday, November 4, 2023, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia emerged as the victor, securing 61.43% of the overall votes.
His closest competitor, Kennedy Agyapong, attained 37.41% of the vote share.
The remaining two candidates, Dr. Afriyie Akoto and Francis Addai Nimo, received 0.75% and 0.41% of the votes, respectively.
On Sunday, November 5, more than 20 individuals lost their lives as shells struck a market located in a suburb near Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, as reported by a committee of lawyers advocating for democracy.
This incident represents the most recent occurrence of violence in the ongoing conflict that began in April, involving the military forces led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to a statement from the pro-democracy lawyers’ committee, the shelling took place in Omdurman during a fierce firefight between the two opposing factions.
“More than 20 civilians have been killed and others have been wounded,” said the statement, which was sent to AFP. The committee keeps track of rights violations during the conflict and its civilian victims.
A medical source reported on Saturday that 15 civilians lost their lives as a result of shells hitting residential houses in Khartoum. Omdurman has frequently been the epicenter of intense clashes between the opposing sides.
Although most of the conflict had previously been concentrated in the capital and the western Darfur region, witnesses have noted its expansion to areas south of Khartoum.
According to a conservative estimate by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, the Sudan conflict has claimed the lives of more than 10,000 individuals.
However, humanitarian organizations and medical professionals have consistently cautioned that the actual toll surpasses the documented numbers, as many of the wounded and deceased never make it to hospitals or morgues.
The war has forced an estimated 5.5 million people to flee, with displacement occurring both within Sudan and across its borders, as reported by the United Nations.
The nation has set a substantial goal of attaining 24 million tonnes of carbon credits by the year 2030, demonstrating its unwavering dedication to curbing carbon emissions and addressing the far-reaching consequences of climate change.
During the second joint meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts for North Africa and West Africa held in Accra, Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah, the Deputy Minister of Finance, underscored the nation’s ambitious commitment. He stated, “the country is poised to have approximately 24 million tonnes of carbon credits available for transactions on the compliance market by 2030”.
The theme of the joint meeting, ‘investing in Energy Transition, Food Security, and Regional Value Chains for Sustainable Development in North and West Africa Sub-regions’, the joint meeting has brought to the forefront the pressing challenges confronting both sub-regions, including concerns related to food security, the transition towards sustainable energy, and the development of regional value chains.
These challenges hold significant implications for the well-being and sustainable development of the regions.
Ghana has achieved a notable milestone by becoming the second country in Africa, following Mozambique, to receive payments from the World Bank’s trust fund for efforts in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, commonly referred to as REDD+. Under this program, the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) has disbursed US$4.86 million to Ghana.
This payment acknowledges Ghana’s reduction of 972,456 tonnes of carbon emissions during the initial monitoring period, spanning from June to December 2019.
This payment marks the first installment of the country’s Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) with the World Bank, aiming to demonstrate the potential for results-based payments in exchange for carbon credits.
Ghana stands to receive up to US$50 million, subject to achieving results in curtailing deforestation activities. Specifically, this funding is tied to reducing 10 million tonnes of CO2 emissions by the conclusion of 2024.
These actions are focused within a six-million-hectare region in the West Africa Guinean Forest, where biodiversity and forests face considerable pressures from activities such as cocoa farming, unsustainable harvesting, and small-scale mining.
It is noteworthy that Ghana is among the 15 countries that have entered into ERPAs with the World Bank.
Climate shocks
Dr. Kumah underscored the pressing nature of these challenges, particularly in light of the fact that as of 2022, over 20 million people in Africa, including at least 10 million children, grapple with severe food shortages. The situation is exacerbated by increasing debt levels and the growing frequency and severity of climate-related shocks, which impede investments in long-term climate-resilient solutions.
Despite the intricate and demanding global context, Dr. Kumah conveyed his optimism. Drawing from Ghana as an illustrative case, he highlighted the nation’s improved fiscal standing, successful reviews with the IMF, and advancements in achieving macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability.
He asserted that the current focus lies in orchestrating an economic revitalization underpinned by strong institutions and an active private sector, a model he believes can be replicated across the continent.
The deputy minister stressed the significance of nurturing regional value chains in West Africa’s manufacturing sector, which currently contributes to less than 10 percent of GDP. With the African Continental Free Trade Area in operation, enhancing competitiveness and fostering resilience against global shocks becomes pivotal.
Kumah pointed out that agricultural value chains possess the potential to reshape the economic landscape of North and West Africa. They can address food insecurity, create trade opportunities, and generate quality employment for the burgeoning youth populations. He accentuated the importance of scaling up private-sector-led initiatives to boost efficiency and productivity improvements throughout the continent.
Dr. Kumah directed his attention to the issue of energy poverty, acknowledging its substantial impediment to economic development and trade in Africa. He noted that nearly half of sub-Saharan Africa lacks access to electricity, with a substantial gap in rural areas. He highlighted Ghana’s commitment to sustainable development and climate change mitigation through the implementation of the National Energy Transition Framework.
The deputy minister reiterated Ghana’s dedication to reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change, emphasizing their commitment to green businesses and green jobs.
He pointed out that these efforts not only benefit the environment but also offer enhanced financial and social returns compared to traditional ‘business-as-usual’ investments.
The African diaspora is the biggest funder of change on the continent. Since remittances are informal, often unreported, and narrowly targeted, they tend to be overlooked.
But their scale is large, sustained by diasporic Africans’ powerful commitment to improve the lot of family members and communities they love.
Formal givers like me should not only learn from this, but also seek opportunities to collaborate with the diaspora to strengthen its members’ impact.
In 2022, the 160 million Africans who live outside of the continent sent home more than $95 billion in remittances.
Of that, about $53 billion went to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe the top destinations. This compares with $30 billion in foreign direct investment and just $29 billion in official development aid for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Notably, FDI and aid declined last year, as global challenges, such as surging inflation and the Ukraine war, caused donors to reduce or redirect their giving. But remittances increased for many of the same reasons: Africans in the diaspora knew that their families and communities were grappling with food insecurity, as well as natural disasters like floods and severe drought.
After ensuring that families are fed, remittances are used mostly to fund health and education expenses. There is good reason for this: investments in health and education are the single best means of putting people on a path toward prosperity. Unfortunately, African countries still face a huge financing gap for human-capital development.
Africa’s health financing gap amounts to at least $66 billion. When it comes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal targets of delivering universal pre-primary, primary, and secondary education by 2030, Sub-Saharan African countries face a shortfall of $70 billion per year, on average. Remittances will not close these gaps, but they can go further.
Members of the African diaspora have often shared with me their desire to expand their giving beyond their immediate family or community.
The problem, they explain, is that they do not know which local organizations they can trust. That is why credible actors should be connecting the diaspora with community-based organizations that need and deserve support.
Like the diaspora, those running community-based organizations in Africa are often motivated by love for their communities and a deeply held commitment to catalyzing lasting change. Thanks largely to this passion, they have often proved adept at leveraging limited resources to achieve impressive results.
But with more funding, community-based organizations could do even more. As it stands, they often lack the know-how to engage in effective fundraising or reporting – a shortcoming that severely limits their ability to raise funds from structured philanthropies.
The newly created Masana wa Afrika foundation – of which I am a funder and board member – is committed to helping organizations overcome this weakness, by providing them with small grants and tailored support.
More efforts of this type are needed. We know that the community-based organizations we support are trustworthy and engaged in hugely important work, from supporting disabled children in Lesotho to providing life-saving nutrition to babies in Uganda. What if – through Masana wa Afrika or a similar organization – members of the African diaspora could find out about such organizations, and support them directly?
The benefits of such an approach would extend beyond the communities being directly targeted. If the diaspora is doing more to finance cost-effective, community-based projects, big funders and structured philanthropies can focus their attention and resources on tackling larger-scale problems, such as eradicating neglected tropical diseases, closing the gender gap, and improving food security.
But truly maximizing the impact of remittances requires more data. Part of the reason why diaspora giving has been overlooked for so long is that little concrete data on inflows and impact are available. We have estimates of total funds sent to particular countries. But we lack a complete picture of volumes, preferred channels, and frequency.
The good news is that the World Bank is already working on filling gaps in the data on incoming remittances. But more robust ways to track and measure the impact of remittances on communities are still needed.
The challenge will be to find ways to capture, collate, and share people’s stories – of children educated, medication acquired, and crops planted thanks to diaspora giving – in a form that can guide decision-making.
Giving by the African diaspora might lack the structure and formality of traditional philanthropy, but it plays a central role in keeping people out of poverty and advancing community prosperity. Moreover, given the personal motivations behind it, diaspora finance is support people can count on. If philanthropic organizations commit to enhancing its impact, we might be surprised by what we can achieve.
In a recent development, former Attorney-General, Joseph Nii Ayikoi Otoo, has raised concerns regarding Kennedy Ohene Agyapong’s readiness to assume a leadership role within the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr. Agyapong, who serves as the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, recently encountered a setback in the NPP presidential primary. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia emerged as the party’s chosen flagbearer for the upcoming 2024 general elections.
During an appearance on TV3 on November 4, 2023, while offering insights into the NPP presidential primary, Ayikoi Otoo questioned Agyapong’s political journey and the guidance he may have received to prepare him for a leadership position.
Despite Agyapong’s considerable resources, Ayikoi Otoo suggested that he might not have adequately readied himself for the leadership role he aspired to within the NPP.
“You can’t teach new tricks to a mature dog. You find that the more it tries to get away from its old ways, the more it finds itself being submerged into it because that’s how it is. So, you need to be groomed.
“…I don’t think that anybody advised him (Kennedy Agyapong) on the way he was going,” onuaonline.com quoted him to have said.”
He added “As for the resources to do the work, he has them, and he was able to get to wherever he is now largely based upon those resources.”
In the NPP presidential primary,Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia emerged victorious in the race for the party’s flagbearer position. This election saw Kennedy Agyapong, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former Agriculture Minister, and Francis Addai-Nimoh, a former MP for Mampong, facing defeat.
Dr. Bawumia secured his victory with 61.43% of the total votes, making him the clear winner. Kennedy Agyapong, who was the closest rival, received 37.41% of the vote share.
In contrast, the other two contestants, Dr. Afriyie Akoto and Francis Addai-Nimoh, garnered 0.75% and 0.41% of the votes, respectively.
Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, is encouraging the public to adopt the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) policy.
This move aims to enhance safety and expand LPG access to 50% of the population by 2030. He emphasizes that this policy will establish rigorous and standardized health, safety, and environmental practices across the entire spectrum of LPG production, marketing, and consumption.
“What we need to know is that the CRM is here to curb our fear of gas being filled close to our homes,” he said.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid made the call on Friday at the launch of the Consumer Week Celebration in Takoradi in the Western Region on the theme: “LPG: Clean Cooking, Healthy Lifestyle”.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) marks the Consumer Week Celebration annually as a part of the Global Consumer Service Week. This observance serves to educate the public about their rights and responsibilities and safe practices when using petroleum products.
The head of NPA emphasized that LPG is a cleaner-burning fuel that facilitates smoke-free indoor cooking and contributes to the reduction of outdoor and urban air pollution.
“LPG produces 50% less carbon dioxide (CO2) than coal, 20% less CO2 than heating oil and 10-12% less CO2 than petrol. Gas (LPG) has been accepted as the most dependable transition fuel, especially in our homes. It provides health, environmental, and economic benefits, especially to our households,” he said.
Regrettably, Dr. Abdul-Hamid pointed out that the adoption of LPG in the country is currently low, standing at approximately 37%, and it requires proactive promotion.
This means that a significant portion of the population still relies on traditional methods of cooking, such as charcoal or wood fuel, despite the numerous advantages of LPG over these alternatives.
“We also need to commence action on addressing alternative livelihood for families that depend on the charcoal business for their livelihood to curb the onslaught on the already depleting forest cover”, he said.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid emphasized that safety has been a top priority for President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government, resulting in the introduction and implementation of the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM). He pointed out that accidents related to LPG in households often occur due to a lack of adherence to safety precautions regarding LPG usage.
He also highlighted the NPA’s commitment to addressing these incidents, emphasizing the intensification of public education regarding the safe handling of LPG. The NPA Chief encouraged all stakeholders, including bulk storage haulage, retail, and domestic LPG handlers, to strictly adhere to LPG safety guidelines to minimize or potentially eliminate accidents.
In his address, Deputy Minister of Energy, Andrew Egypa Mercer, underlined the significance of the timing for the promotional and awareness campaign, given the ongoing discourse on climate change and its associated environmental and health impacts. He stressed the need for Ghana to take a leading role in discouraging activities that harm the environment and affirmed the Ministry of Energy’s support for the NPA and other relevant institutions in environmental conservation efforts.
Western Regional Minister, Dr. Okyere Darko Mensah, urged the public to avoid complacency and ensure strict adherence to safety rules when dealing with LPG and other petroleum-related products.
On November 6, 2023, the Interbank forex rates from the Bank of Ghana reveal the following exchange rates for the Ghana Cedi:
Against the US Dollar, the buying price is 11.4960, and the selling price is 11.5076. In a forex bureau in Accra, the US Dollar is being bought at a rate of 11.85 and sold at 12.10.
Against the Pound Sterling, the buying price is 14.2287, and the selling price is 14.2440. At a forex bureau in Accra, the Pound Sterling is being bought at a rate of 14.30 and sold at a rate of 14.80.
The Euro is trading at a buying price of 12.3448 and a selling price of 12.3560. In a forex bureau in Accra, the Euro is being bought at a rate of 12.50 and sold at a rate of 12.90.
The South African Rand has a buying price of 0.6306 and a selling price of 0.6313. At a forex bureau in Accra, the South African Rand is being bought at a rate of 0.35 and sold at a rate of 0.95.
The Nigerian Naira has a buying price of 67.8355 and a selling price of 68.4745. In a forex bureau in Accra, the Nigerian Naira is being bought at a rate of 8.50 Naira for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 14.50.
For the CFA, the buying price is 53.0881, and the selling price is 53.1363. At a forex bureau in Accra, the CFA is being bought at a rate of 17.00 CFA for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 19.50 CFA for every 1 Cedi.
Note that these rates may be different at a forex bureau near you. Our forex bureau rates are provided by Afriswap Bureau De Change in Osu, Accra.
Our forex bureau rates are provided by Afriswap Bureau De Change in Osu, Accra.
Former National Democratic Congress Chairman for the Central Region, Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has anticipated victory for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential primaries.
Allotey Jacobs, while sharing his confidence in Bawumia’s prospects in the NPP election, underscored that if the vice president secured a specific percentage of votes in the party’s primary, he could potentially secure the presidency in 2024.
“If Bawumia gets about 72 to 73%, by my calculation Dr Mahamudu Bawmumia can win the elections with 52.6% and with 142 MPs only if the national officers of the party can effectively manage their upcoming parliamentary elections,” he projected.
On Saturday, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia clinched the NPP flagbearer position in a closely contested election, featuring nearly 200,000 delegates who had to choose between four candidates.
Dr. Bawumia secured an impressive 61.47% of the total votes, surpassing his rivals Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Francis Addai-Nimoh, and Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, thereby earning the nomination as the NPP’s presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.
In a grim case of retribution, a heartbroken man who had previously killed his ex-girlfriend and inflicted machete wounds on her twin sister met a similar fate and was killed in Enyan Oboom, Central Region, on Saturday.
The deceased’s body has been placed in the Ajumako Mando Etuafoa Mortuary.
According to information gathered by GHOne News reporter Yaw Boagyan, the late suspect, Bentsil Bubarick, aged 28 and an ex-convict, entered the house of his ex-girlfriend, who happened to be an identical twin, on Thursday evening, October 2, 2023.
Mistakenly believing the twin he encountered was his ex-girlfriend, he launched a vicious attack on her without any provocation, inflicting multiple wounds on her body. She was promptly rushed to the Ajumako District Government Hospital for medical attention. After assaulting the twin, he also stabbed their father and then went into hiding.
The following day, Friday, October 3, 2023, GHOne News reporter Yaw Boagyan, who had gone to the community to investigate the incident, interviewed the other twin sister, Ata Kakra. She explained that she had ended her relationship with the suspect because he had refused to heed her advice to stop using marijuana.
Less than an hour after the interview, while en route to the Ajumako Government Hospital to check on the victim, Yaw Boagyan received a call that the twin sister he had interviewed earlier had also been brutally killed by the same suspect. The suspect had realized his mistake and went back to murder his actual ex-girlfriend, dumping her lifeless body in a river.
After butchering her, the suspect dragged her to a river and disposed of her, before going on the run. Enraged residents, unable to tolerate the suspect’s heinous actions, launched a manhunt and successfully apprehended him. He was subjected to a severe beating and ultimately lost his life.
The deceased’s body has been taken to the Ajumako Mando Etuafoa Mortuary.
Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has called upon the public to fulfill their tax obligations, emphasizing the importance of taxation in enabling the government to generate revenue for economic growth.
He stressed that paying taxes is a civic duty that every citizen must fulfill to contribute to the funding of policies and developmental projects aimed at improving the overall standard of living.
Mr. Ofori-Atta made this appeal during his visit to the Sol Cement Manufacturing Company in Tema, which had been temporarily shut down due to tax arrears.
He expressed concern over the significant company’s failure to meet its tax obligations to the government, highlighting that the company would not be allowed to resume operations until its outstanding taxes were settled.
Mr. Ofori-Atta asserted that it is unlawful for companies to utilize the country’s infrastructure, services, and resources to generate substantial profits while evading tax payments.
The Finance Minister commended the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for its efforts in enforcing tax laws, underscoring the importance of these efforts in generating income for economic development.
He regarded this situation as a signal of increased vigilance and emphasized that it serves as a reminder to other companies to meet their tax responsibilities.
Mr. Ofori-Atta assured the GRA that the Ministry of Finance would provide support in their pursuit of effective tax collection.
“When the GRA brings up their audit of a company we will follow up and support them”, he said.
He further emphasized the need for citizens to stay watchful and support the compliance of taxpayers, while urging those engaged in such activities to cease their actions.
Mr. Edward Gyamerah, the Commissioner of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division at GRA, noted that it had been two weeks since the factory was closed, yet no payment had been made.
He explained that the company had suggested a payment plan, but the Authority was dissatisfied with the proposal.
Mr. Gyamerah outlined the conditions for the company to resume its operations, stating that they would be allowed to operate when they paid at least 40% of the outstanding liability and established a satisfactory arrangement for settling the remaining 60%.
The liability encompassed a three-year default, including all types of taxes.
He mentioned that the company had a 30-day window to provide a satisfactory arrangement for settling their liability. Additionally, he cautioned that a failure to fulfill their financial obligation would result in the auctioning of the company to recover the outstanding taxes.
“You cannot operate in a country and not pay tax, it is not done anywhere”, he said.
The Commissioner emphasized the significance of the Finance Minister personally witnessing the shutdown and gaining insight into the grassroots aspects of tax collection.
Amani Linbo Zhu, the General Manager of Sol Cement, appealed to the Authority for permission to resume their operations, citing the need to generate income to settle their debts.
Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Dr. John Ofori Tenkorang, has urged the public to prioritize retirement planning in order to ensure financial security during their elderly years.
He emphasized the need for both formal and informal workers to take into account the longer life expectancy of the current generation and proactively plan for their retirement.
Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang delivered this message during a discussion with the informal sector in Ho. He stressed that retirement planning is crucial, as both parents and their children will ultimately depend on their own retirement savings for financial security.
“You cannot always depend on your children for your retirement. Your children cannot guarantee your retirement support.
“Life expectancy is high and dependence by parents would affect us all. You would enter retirement while your parents are still alive and your will be burdened,” he stated.
The Director-General urged all to seek the advantage of the State-run insurance scheme, which continued to support the ending years of the nation’s retired workforce.
“When that income you using disappears from you, the insurance company called SSNIT will come and replace that income from you. SSNIT is the foundation of pensions, Tier II is the block work, Tier III is the roof, and your little investments somewhere could finish the room”.
The Director-General highlighted the lack of a strong pension insurance culture within the informal sector, with only 57,000 out of 6.7 million individuals being part of the SSNIT program. In contrast, the formal sector boasts a 60% participation rate, with 3.2 million workers enrolled in a scheme, as mentioned by Dr. Ofori, “we need to change the narrative”.
“SSNIT is from the State and the State protects it,” he added.
The SSNIT Scheme currently offers a remarkable 13.5% return rate, acknowledged as one of the highest in the industry, and it offers a range of payment options, including digital and cash methods.
Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang affirmed that pension payouts have seen a notable 21% increase, and the Scheme is committed to its tradition of making timely disbursements.
This engagement was organized in partnership with the Trade Union Congress, which facilitated outreach to diverse unions within the informal labor sector.
Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang underscored that this event forms part of a nationwide campaign to enhance pension awareness within the predominant informal sector. He also highlighted the successful collaboration with the TUC, which contributed to increasing SSNIT enrollment from 14,000 to 57,000 in approximately three years.
“The notion that SSNIT is for government workers only is not true. The growth has been commendable and its positive for the efforts to bring in more self employed”.
The Director-General emphasized the significance of “enabling technologies” in maintaining the progress, noting that the recent adoption of biometric cards and advancements in electronic payment systems have consistently facilitated the inclusion of the informal sector.
Member of Parliament representing the Abuakwa South Constituency, Samuel Atta Akyea, has spoken passionately about the strong bond he shared with the late legal luminary, Anthony Akoto Ampaw, during the one-week celebration held over the weekend.
Mr. Atta Akyea paid tribute to the late Akoto Ampaw, recounting how the legal expert’s profound expertise was instrumental in preventing him from facing incarceration when he was falsely accused of embezzling funds from a client.
“It is when you are in trouble that you know whether you are misbehaving or you are being rational. So, I got into trouble, my trouble was very terrible; if anybody were to say you’ve stolen his money and you are a lawyer, your career is on the line because no amount of money is equal to you functioning as a lawyer and having your certificate.
“My greatest trouble in my career is when my client said I have stolen his money. I didn’t break into his room. The idiocy of the case is that he doesn’t want to settle,” he narrated.
The Member of Parliament stated that he enlisted the services of Akoto Ampaw.
“Guess who I consulted? The same law firm I was trained, I called upon Akoto Ampaw and said Shay, look at where they are taking me. He said you shouldn’t worry at all. We started the case.
“I want to cut it short, the way the case was travelling and the sense of Akoto Ampaw, and the powers of cross examining an adversary and the rest of it.
“The lawyer called and said let’s settle. You have a giant tearing you into pieces, you have to settle. So we settled the matter and it was so clear that I was entitled to my money,” he stated.
Mr. Atta Akyea continued to portray his relationship with Akoto Ampaw as akin to that of brothers, underlining the late lawyer’s remarkable humility.
Akoto Ampaw served as the head of the legal team that defended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s victory in the 2020 presidential elections at the Supreme Court. He was widely anticipated to be appointed as the Special Prosecutor following the president’s approval of the Office of Special Prosecutor Bill.
Fondly known as ‘Shey Shey’ from his days as a student at the University of Ghana, Mr. Ampaw also played a crucial role in the New Patriotic Party’s legal team during the Election Petition of 2013. He was a partner in Akufo-Addo’s law firm, Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co.
Lawyer Ampaw left an indelible mark on the legal profession, particularly for his advocacy of human rights and the pursuit of justice. He earned his law degree from the University of Ghana in 1973 (LL.B.) and completed his legal studies at the Ghana School of Law in 1993 (B.L.).
Renowned for his takeover of Twitter, Elon Musk, which is now known as X, has been making headlines due to his witty and sarcastic social media posts.
Recently, he took another swipe at Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, suggesting that he should alter Facebook’s name. Musk claimed to have numerous ideas for the new website.
The business magnate and investor, Elon Musk, who owns companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and X, has once again turned his attention to Facebook.
He publicly declared that he would offer one billion dollars to Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, in exchange for changing the platform’s name.
Musk’s statement was in response to a post by the BabylonBee, a parody news site, which quoted him as offering $1 billion to Zuckerberg to rebrand the social media platform.
Musk further emphasized his point by endorsing the name suggested in the parody news article, stating, “It would be a much better name!”
What is the problem here?
It is important to note that Musk frequently makes statements and posts things on social media that are rarely controversial over time. Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk have been trolls and having discussions for a long time. Currently, Musk is advising Zuckerberg to rename Facebook in exchange for a large payment to Meta’s head from Tesla’s owner.
The BabylonBee reports that Elon Musk suggested that Mark rename Facebook to “Faceboob.”
Musk to pay 1 billion USD to Facebook’s founder
Elon Musk has proposed an intriguing offer to Mark Zuckerberg, suggesting that if the Facebook name is changed to ‘Faceboob,’ he will provide one billion US dollars in return. Musk encouraged Meta’s founder to contemplate the idea, emphasizing the potential for making numerous people happy with the name change.
Musk also mentioned that he has a wealth of concepts for the revamped website, hinting at the rebranded Facebook.
It’s worth noting that prior to his recommendation for Facebook, Elon Musk had similarly advised Wikipedia to alter its name to ‘Dickipedia,’ offering one billion dollars for the change.
Government’s spokesman for governance and security, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has described President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo as is a strong and determined politician who pays close attention to the smallest details of governance and ensures they are addressed thoroughly.
According to him, Ghanaians should express their gratitude for the government’s efforts in mitigating the challenges brought about by the Russian-Ukraine war and the global pandemic.
“President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo is not a weak politician. He is a very tough politician. He is not a sleeping president. He is a president that takes to the latter the very details that are needed, ” he told the media.
A few months ago, Mr. Boakye-Danquah issued a warning to politicians, advising them against openly displaying physical cash in public places.
He argued that such a show of opulence exposed them to high risks.
In Palgrave’s perspective, politicians who engage in such behavior, claiming it is to attract delegates’ votes or showcase their wealth to the general public, inadvertently make themselves vulnerable to various risks, including robbery.
During an appearance on GHOne’s current affairs program, “The Breakfast Review,” on Monday, Mr. Boakye-Danquah extended his caution to the general public, urging them to refrain from adopting such practices that are gradually seeping into Ghanaian society, particularly in the realm of politics.
Political science lecturer, Prof. Samuel Adu-Gyamfi, has clarified that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) did not exert pressure on the four candidates contending for the flagbearer position to sign a peace agreement. This followed a meeting held on November 2, 2023.
In his view, these candidates are mature individuals well-versed in the workings of politics, and as such, they do not require external coercion to support policies they may disagree with.
“It will be surprising to assume that these gentlemen went to sign the particular document under compulsion or under duress. I think that in their right frame of thought, in their own understanding about the politics that they have engaged themselves in, I believe they understand the need to further go and sign this document.”
“Having said that it is important to think through the process, Possibly some of these gentlemen might have signed because if they do not do so, they will be defined as persons or individuals who would rather want to cause a mischief or trouble on the day of election or post election. And so some way some how they found a way of appreciating the need to come to the drawing board and to sign seeking that they will have peace and patch up for the future, ” Prof. Adu-Gyamfi told the media
The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, announced that the four candidates vying for the flagbearer position have signed an agreement barring any candidate from breaking away from the party after the November 4 primaries.
He made this known after a meeting by the NPP National Council of Elders held on November 2, 2023, that saw two main contenders, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, exchange pleasantries.
Mr Frimpong Kodua revealed that the candidates; Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former Agric Minister, Dr Owusu Akoto Afriyie, former MP for Mampong Francis Addai-Nimoh, have signed an agreement stating that following the primaries, “candidates will accept election primary results, promote peace and cohesion.”
“In the event that they don’t win, they will not resign from the party. They will support the winner of the election primary. Ensure and enforce mechanisms established by the party and also to work within the timelines and durations that has been established by the party from now till the results are declared and to respect the decision by the delegate of our party,” he added.
NPP Flagbearer race: Party didn't use coercive force, aspirants complied in their free will. – Prof Samuel Adu Gyamfi, Political Scientist, KNUST#GhanaTonightpic.twitter.com/GkGmfbGXxO
In December 2022, Amaka Animba, a 52-year-old mother of five, was living a content and vibrant life, running a prosperous kitchen and household wares business in Lokoja, Kogi State.
However, her life took a drastic turn when she was diagnosed with advanced-stage kidney failure (Chronic Kidney Disease).
Since then, her family has been in a relentless battle to save her life, depleting their investments, savings, and resources to support her thrice-weekly haemodialysis sessions, which cost a minimum of N35,000 per week.
Additionally, her treatment includes blood-forming injections and other medications, tallying up to approximately N90,000 monthly, as reported by the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja.
Emeka Animba, her son, reveals that the family’s monthly expenses on medications and hospital bills range between N450,000 to N500,000.
Mrs. Animba, now at the Federal Teaching Hospital Kogi State, can barely communicate and has exhausted the family’s financial means. She fervently appeals to fellow Nigerians for assistance in her time of need.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni revealed that her diplomatic adviser has resigned in the wake of a prank call incident, as reported by Reuters.
Earlier this week, Ms. Meloni’s office confirmed that she had engaged in a phone conversation with a Russian comedian who posed as a high-ranking African Union official.
During the call, Ms. Meloni inadvertently fell for the prank and discussed issues like international “fatigue” concerning the war in Ukraine.
She also expressed frustration over Italy’s limited support from European partners in addressing migration challenges.
This amusing yet unfortunate incident occurred in September. Ms. Meloni formally announced her aide’s resignation on Friday, stating, “This matter was not handled well, we are all sorry, Ambassador (Francesco) Talo took responsibility for it.”
One of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s prominent stars, Fally Ipupa, has achieved remarkable success.
His song “Un Coup,” featuring Congolese-French singer Dadju, has amassed over 80 million YouTube views, drawing throngs of fans to his electrifying live performances.
In a notable incident, the demand to witness him perform in Kinshasa’s Stadium of Martyrs resulted in an overcrowded venue, leading to a tragic incident where initial government reports cited 11 casualties. However, this figure remains unconfirmed, according to both Ipupa and the BBC’s Kinshasa reporter.
Ipupa’s concerts have often made headlines, such as his 2020 performance in France, which saw riots outside the venue in Paris, including the burning of bins and motorbikes.
These tumultuous events were fueled by political tensions, as members of the diaspora, for the past decade, have attempted to prevent Congolese musicians from performing in Europe to voice their opposition to political figures in their home country.
They have accused prominent artists of maintaining close ties to the political establishment and failing to denounce the abuses occurring in DR Congo.
So it is a big moment for Fally Ipupa that for the first time in his career he is finally due to perform in London. His concert will be in December, when elections are scheduled to be held back home.
The 45-year-old singer and his management tell me that an agreement has now been reached with sceptical Congolese communities and he is set to perform again in Paris and Brussels.
“Most of the people know now that I don’t do political things, I am just a musician and they have realised that you cannot punish your child all his life,” he said.
Ipupa does have some sympathy for those who boycotted his concerts but he feels it is time to move past politics and support DR Congo’s music industry.
“I agree that things were happening politically which were not correct in DR Congo, and I’ve always told them that I agree with certain of the protesters who wanted to get the message across and raise awareness in people.
“But now the time has come to say look guys, we have punished the artists, we have slowed down Congolese culture, it’s time to show the world that we have very, very strong music.”
He feels that Congolese music has really suffered, losing its place in Europe to music from Nigeria, Ghana and Jamaica. Nigerian Afrobeats artists are now filling the major venues that Congolese artists used to fill 10 years ago. But he is confident that this can change.
“Congolese music is one of the most beautiful and rich, we have many talented artists, so if our brothers and sisters in Europe say no more blocking of Congolese music in Europe trust me we’re going to take our place in the world,” he said.
Authorities from both the United States and Kenya have initiated a joint effort to apprehend the perpetrator responsible for the tragic death of a Kenyan-American woman, whose lifeless body was discovered at Boston Logan International Airport in Massachusetts.
The victim, identified as Margaret Mbitu, aged 31, was found in a horrifically injured state while in the passenger seat of a vehicle parked at the airport.
The primary suspect in this case is believed to be Ms. Mbitu’s partner, Kevin Kangethe. He is suspected of having fled to Kenya after leaving her body at the airport.
According to Ms. Mbitu’s mother, who spoke with Boston’s 25 News channel, her daughter had been in the process of ending her relationship with Mr. Kangethe.
The last confirmed sighting of Ms. Mbitu occurred as she departed from her workplace on Monday night. Both US and Kenyan authorities are actively working to unravel the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
Recent flash floods have struck parts of Kenya, resulting in road closures and submerged vehicles.
In Mombasa, a coastal city, roads in a section of the city were severed by floodwaters, compelling many motorists to abandon their cars and resort to motorbikes to reach the airport and train station on Friday.
In northern Kenya’s Isiolo County, locals are engaged in a search for a young man who was swept away by floods while riding a motorbike on Thursday.
Additionally, the conservation organization Save the Elephants executed a daring rescue mission, saving eight individuals from a sinking lorry on Thursday after they became trapped in floodwaters.
This is not the first instance of a conservation group intervening to save people from floods in Kenya. Earlier this year, The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust used their helicopter to rescue a stranded driver.
The Kenyan meteorological department had previously issued warnings of potential El Niño rains, anticipated to affect Kenya and other East African nations from mid-October, potentially leading to flooding, infrastructure damage, and loss of life.
Additionally, neighboring Tanzania and Somalia have also witnessed heavy rains in recent days.
However, on October 22, Kenyan President William Ruto stirred controversy by asserting that the country would not experience El Niño, a natural weather phenomenon, contrary to earlier predictions.
“The meteorological department has now said there will be no El Niño. We will only have heavy rains but they will not reach a destructive level,” Mr Ruto said.
As well as causing changes to rainfall, global temperatures typically increase during an El Niño episode.
In an unprecedented move, Rwanda has extended visa-free travel privileges to Ghanaians and all other African nationals. The transformative policy was announced by Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Thursday, November 2, in Kigali, signaling a new era of interconnectedness for the continent.
President Kagame, speaking at the 23rd Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council, underscored Africa’s untapped tourism potential and the need for unity, stating, “Any African can get on a plane to Rwanda whenever they wish, and they will not pay a thing to enter our country.”
He stressed the importance of harnessing the African market for tourism, a sector dominated by non-African tourists, as 60% of visitors to the continent come from abroad, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
This policy positions Rwanda as an advocate for the African Union’s vision of a borderless continent, much like the European Union’s Schengen zone.
Rwanda now joins a select group of African countries, including Gambia, Benin, and Seychelles, that have removed visa requirements for African travelers.
The momentum for a more integrated Africa gained further support when Kenya’s President William Ruto announced plans to introduce visa-free travel for all Africans to Kenya by the end of the year.
President Ruto highlighted the counterproductive nature of visa restrictions at an international summit in Congo Brazzaville, stating, “Visa restrictions amongst ourselves are working against us. When people cannot travel, business people cannot travel, entrepreneurs cannot travel, we all become net losers.”
This initiative follows the African Union’s 2016 launch of the African passport, a landmark project aimed at mirroring the European passport system and unleashing the continent’s potential. Despite the excitement, the African passport remains exclusive to diplomats and AU officials.
The African Union advocates for the African Passport and free movement of people as key steps towards eliminating travel restrictions for Africans within their own continent.
Additionally, the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area—a free trade zone with a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion—aims to create a unified market for Africa’s 1.3 billion inhabitants, promoting economic growth and integration.
This latest development with Rwanda’s visa-free policy not only enhances tourism but also fosters economic collaboration, cultural exchange, and political solidarity across Africa.
Social media platforms have emerged as a leading option for brands and businesses to market their goods and services in recent years.
Nearly half of Millennials and 75% of Gen Zers now base their purchasing decisions on social media advertisements, and one-third of all social media users search social media platforms for products to purchase. Facebook is the top option for the majority of them.
With an average 53% share in the top markets, Facebook emerged as the most widely used social media platform for product purchases in 2023, according to data provided by OnlyAccounts.io.
The United States and Australia are the Top Two Markets for Facebook Shopping
Through the realm of social commerce, brands and businesses can swiftly transform social media users into paying customers, all within the confines of the social media platforms. Furthermore, they can engage in direct communication and cultivate a more robust brand presence. While platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have experienced significant user growth in recent years, none of them can quite match Facebook’s prowess in the domain of social commerce.
In accordance with the 2023 Klarna survey, Facebook emerged as the foremost social media platform for purchasing products on a global scale this year, boasting an impressive average market share of 53% across the top nine markets.
Within this selection of countries, the United States and Australia stood out as the top users of Facebook for shopping, with shares of 62% and 60% respectively among survey respondents.
Instagram secured the second spot as the most favored social media platform for shopping, wielding an average market share of 46% within these markets. Notably, unlike Facebook, Instagram reigned supreme for shopping in Spain and Portugal, garnering a substantial 57% share among social media shoppers.
YouTube followed closely behind Instagram, ranking as the third most popular platform with an average market share of 42% among respondents in the nine markets.
Intriguingly, statistics indicate that approximately 33% of social media shoppers turned to TikTok for their product purchases, positioning it as the fourth most popular platform for engaging in social commerce.
Millennials Shop on Facebook, while Gen Zers Choose Instagram and TikTok
According to the Klarna survey, Facebook emerged as the preferred social media platform for purchasing products across all generations, except for Gen Z, who showed a preference for Instagram.
Gen Zers also demonstrated a significant inclination toward using TikTok for social commerce, with nearly half of them utilizing the platform for their shopping needs.
In contrast, YouTube claimed the top spot among Millennials, with 47% of this generation opting for its platform when making product purchases.
When the survey results were dissected by countries, it became evident that Americans were the most avid social media shoppers, with 58% of respondents confirming that they had made purchases after encountering products on the platform.
This percentage exceeded the shares of respondents in the United Kingdom and Germany by almost 15%. On the other end of the spectrum, Finland and the Czech Republic occupied the lower ranks, with a 29% share of social media shoppers in these countries.
Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland, Papa Owusu-Ankoma, has provided an update on the Ministry of Finance’s efforts to resolve the $140 million judgment debt owed to Singaporean commodity trading firm, Trafigura.
He stated that there has been substantial progress made in reaching a settlement for the debt.
Notably, the property known as Regina House, which serves commercial purposes and had been seized by Trafigura, will not be sold to offset a portion of the debt.
“We will not get to that stage where these assets will be sold to defray the debts, because of progress made on reaching a settlement”, he stressed.
On November 2, 2023, he appeared on PM Express Business Edition in London with host George Wiafe.
Although Mr. Owusu-Akomah acknowledged that the circumstances leading to Trafigura’s action were regrettable, he insisted that every effort is being made to address the matter.
Background
In January 2021, Trafigura, a Singaporean commodities trading company and majority owner of GPGC, a power company, secured an award following a tribunal ruling in England.
The tribunal determined that Ghana had unlawfully terminated a contract for the installation and operation of two power plants.
Subsequently, on November 4, 2021, the Court granted Trafigura permission to enforce the award in a manner similar to a judgment of the High Court.
Following this development, on May 17, 2022, Trafigura initiated an application for charging orders pertaining to five properties in London in which Ghana held either freehold or leasehold interests.
However, Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, in an interview with Joy News, revealed that the government had already directed the Finance Ministry to take measures to settle the debt.
According to him, the Finance Ministry had reached an agreement with the judgment creditors regarding the method of payment for the approximately $140 million debt.
While an initial partial payment was made, the Deputy Attorney General acknowledged that the state had failed to uphold its commitment to adhere to the installment agreement.
Has the action affected Ghana’s High Commission?
Mr. Owusu-Ankomah rejected claims that the development has brought work at Ghana’s High Commission to a “Stand Still”.
“Whatever that happened has not affected work or the services that we are offering here in London and UK”, he said.
He clarified that the Ghana International Bank which operates from the Regina House has not been affected.
Mr. Owusu-Ankomah however acknowledged that the news is unfortunate.
Ghana UK Trade Relations
Touching on trade issues, Mr. Owusu Akomah said there has been some progress in trade between Ghana and the UK.
He advised Ghanaian businesses seeking to partner with investors in the U.K to take advantage of the opportunities designed by government to foster bilateral relations.
He pointed out that Ghanaian business owners can take advantage of technical assistance provided by the U.K government.
IMF programme and UK relationship
Speaking about the IMF program, the High Commissioner stated that the United Kingdom had unfrozen a portion of its financial assistance to Ghana as a result of signing on to the program.
He gave his word that the High Commission will keep pushing British investors to collaborate with Ghanaian companies.
Rwanda has declared that citizens of other African nations would be able to enter the East African nation without a visa.
The most recent nation on the continent to enact a law aimed at promoting human freedom of movement is Rwanda.
At the World Travel and Tourism Council’s 23rd Global Summit, President Paul Kagame made the announcement.
Despite Africa’s reliance on foreign tourists which is manifested by 60% of its tourist being foreigners, Paul Kagame, at the event, pitched Africa’s potential as “a unified tourism destination”.
“Any African, can get on a plane to Rwanda whenever they wish and they will not pay a thing to enter our country.”
“We should not lose sight of our own continental market. Africans are the future of global tourism as our middle class continues to grow at a fast pace in the decades to come,” he added.
Starting November 2023, Ghanaians will enjoy visa-free travel to South Africa, enabling citizens of both nations to visit each other without the requirement of a visa for stays up to 90 days.
Additionally, Kenya has revealed its intentions to facilitate the unrestricted entry of Africans into the country.
Upon implementation, Rwanda will become the fourth African country to eliminate travel restrictions for its citizens. The Gambia, Benin, and Seychelles have already exempted African citizens from visa requirements.
In 2016, the African Union introduced the African passport with the goal of unleashing the continent’s potential, mirroring the European Union’s model.
The African Passport and the concept of free movement for people aim to eliminate constraints on Africans’ ability to travel, work, and reside within their own continent, according to the AU’s website.
It’s worth noting that, until now, the travel document had only been issued to diplomats and AU officials.
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, announced a substantial increase in monthly revenue generated by the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, which surged from GH¢20,000 to GH¢1.1 million.
This revelation was made during the Ghana Mutual Prosperity Dialogues held in Accra on Thursday, November 2, 2023.
Dr. Awal also shared that following the park’s rehabilitation, an additional 50 employees have been hired.
“Before the rehabilitation, they were doing GH¢20,000 a month. We do GH¢1.1 million now,” Dr Awal said at the Ghana Mutual Prosperity Dialogue.
Dr. Awal highlighted a remarkable surge in revenue generated by the national museum. Previously, the museum brought in GH¢25,000 per month, but after its rehabilitation, it now generates GH¢350,000. Additionally, the facility has employed 15 more workers.
The redevelopment of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park aims to promote domestic tourism and attract foreign visitors to Ghana.
The entry fees for non-Ghanaian adults are set at GH¢100, while Ghanaian adults are charged GH¢25.
School children now pay GH¢5, up from the previous GH¢1. Non-Ghanaian tertiary students visiting the facility will be charged GH¢60, while Ghanaian tertiary students will pay GH¢15.
It’s worth recalling that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo officially inaugurated the redeveloped park on July 4, 2023.
During his address, he expressed optimism that the revamped park would draw around one million domestic and international tourists annually.
Vice President of the policy think-tank IMANI-Africa, Bright Simons, has voiced concerns about a $40 million agreement related to cargo tracking at the ports.
This deal has left various stakeholders in a state of apparent unease. The government agencies involved include the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Shippers Authority, the Ministry of Ports, and the Ministry of Trade, among others.
Simons’ disclosure follows a Finance Ministry statement denouncing the authenticity of a circulating letter titled “Re-enhancing Shipping Data Collection and Management in Ghana through Smart Port and Electronic Cargo Tracking,” which purportedly originated from the Finance Ministry.
Bright Simons said: “A deal estimated to be worth about $40m a year has all manner of govt bigshots throwing blows at each other. GRA, Ghana Shippers Authority, Ports, Trade Ministry, etc. Finally, the boss of bosses, Finance Ministry, has stepped in to declare one spunky contractor as fraudulent!”
Expounding on the nooks and crannies of the matter, Bright Simons, said the company that claims to have been validated by the government is a “mysterious entity”.
“The company that claims to have been mandated by Ghana to validate all cargo imports & which the Finance Ministry accuse of fraud & fakery, is a mysterious entity called Antaser, with a string of aliases across Africa (TPMS, BBVA, etc). Its adventures deserve Holywood treatment,” he said.
The Finance Ministry said the said letter noted that from September 15, 2023, all shipments to Ghana, including transit shipments are required to obtain an Electronic Cargo Transit number (ECTN/SPN) and submit it to Antaser Afrique BVBA for verification.
Shippers and stakeholders should be aware that the letter and its contents are fraudulent and ought to be disregarded, according to the Ministry.
The finance ministry thanked shipping agents and other interested parties for prompting them about the alleged letter in a statement released on October 31, 2023, and promised to notify the public of any new tax policies the government may be planning.
“We thank all stakeholders who alerted us and made enquiries and wish to assure them that, as is done with all policies, extensive consultation will be done with relevant stakeholders whenever the government wishes to introduce a new policy or tax,” parts of the statement read.
Homeowners are being cautioned about the potential adverse effects of having a mirror facing their bed, as it can disrupt their sleep and create unfavorable Feng Shui.
Me and My Glass experts have highlighted several reasons why placing a mirror near your sleeping area may not be advisable. Firstly, according to Feng Shui principles, mirrors positioned opposite the bed can reflect negative thoughts, stresses, and worries, which can hinder one’s ability to sleep.
Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese practice, focuses on the arrangement of objects in our surroundings and is rooted in the belief that our homes mirror our inner states. Practitioners of Feng Shui arrange items in their homes to establish harmony with the natural world, and experts in this field can provide guidance on optimizing the flow of energy in your living spaces.
Sleep & Interiors Expert from Vinus, Victoria Cedeno, said ‘While homeware and furniture choices ultimately depend on personal preference, incorporating Feng Shui principles can help create a home environment that feels calming and harmonious.
‘In particular, paying attention to Feng Shui in the bedroom can promote better sleep patterns and overall wellness.
‘Feng Shui practices offer varying perspectives on the role of mirrors in the bedroom.’
‘Some suggest avoiding them altogether, while others recommend positioning them away from the bed.’
‘This advice is rooted in the notion that mirrors have the power to reflect and intensify both positive and negative energy, potentially interfering with sleep quality.’
She advised ‘to add a mirror to your bedroom, consider placing it facing the window to encourage the natural light, which can then be adjusted with curtains if necessary.
‘Avoid placing the mirror at bed level by hanging it above drawers.’
‘Alternatively, those wanting a full-length mirror without it being prominently displayed should try positioning it inside a wardrobe.’
Another Feng Shui expert, Janine Lowe, added ‘A mirror can bring discord to a relationship if placed in the wrong position in the bedroom.
According to Feng Shui rules, mirrors opposite your bed can reflect negative thoughts, stresses and worries, which may make it harder to sleep
‘I have my mirror placed inside my wardrobe door and that solves all problems.
‘Hallways are excellent areas to place mirrors. Placement depends on what way your front door opens.
‘So, my suggestion is, as your door opens place it on the facing wall, allowing the positive energy from the outside to reflect off the mirror and bounce around the house.’
Aside from the Fung Shui guidelines, placing a mirror in this position is frowned upon and associated with bad luck in many cultures.
Placing a mirror in front of your bed raises additional design considerations.
A big object like a bed can reflect light and “draw the room inward,” giving the impression that it is smaller and more claustrophobic.
“From a design perspective, your mirror shouldn’t really face your bed,” said John Cutts, the creator of Me and My Glass.
‘If you’re a bit of a messy person the mirror is only going to amplify your unmade bed along with any other clutter you may have on there.
‘The reflection of a big bed can also make your room appear smaller. To maximise the use of a mirror in the bedroom and help the space to look bigger, you’ll want to make sure the mirror is reflecting natural light.’
Based on the teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine, feng shui (meaning wind and water) is dubbed ‘acupuncture for the home’ because it benefits your health through opening up channels in your environment where energy can flow.
How does it work?
A feng shui consultant analyses your home or workplace and advises how ‘chi’ or energy can circulate through your home more freely.
If your apartment or office is small and compact, he might introduce the impression of space through hanging mirrors – where ‘chi’ can bounce off the glass and circulate the room.
Alternatively, a practitioner might install potted plants into a room. According to Raymond Catchpole, chair of the Feng Shui Society, money plants are particularly helpful in unblocking energy because it absorbs harmful ions in our environment.
‘The air we breathe is made up of two different types of electrically charged particles called ions – negative ions and positive ions,’ he says.
Surprisingly, the negative ions are better for us than the positive ones because oxygen consists of negative ions and nitrogen of positive ones.
To maintain our health, the air’s concentration of positive and negative ions must be precisely balanced.
We will be breathing in less oxygen if the negative ions are reduced in any way. Reduced blood oxygen levels can cause a number of health issues, including allergy and respiratory disorders.
What is the proof that it is effective?
NASA experiments have demonstrated that a variety of common pot plants can efficiently detoxify our homes by removing harmful vapors and reintroducing oxygen into the atmosphere.
In the culmination of a month-long trial in New York, Sam Bankman-Fried, the former head of one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has been found guilty of charges related to fraud and money laundering.
The jury delivered its verdict after only four hours of deliberation.
This marks a dramatic downfall for the 31-year-old former billionaire, once a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency industry. Bankman-Fried was apprehended last year following the bankruptcy of his firm, FTX.
He now faces the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence, with his sentencing scheduled for March 28, 2024.
“Sam Bankman-Fried perpetrated one of the biggest financial frauds in American history – a multibillion-dollar scheme designed to make him the king of crypto,” US attorney Damian Williams said in a statement after the verdict.
“This case has always been about lying, cheating, and stealing, and we have no patience for it,” he added.
Prosecutors alleged that Bankman-Fried had engaged in deceitful practices, including misleading investors and lenders, and misappropriating billions of dollars from the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, ultimately contributing to its downfall. He faced seven counts of fraud and money laundering.
Bankman-Fried consistently pleaded not guilty to all charges, asserting that, despite his errors, his actions were carried out in good faith.
After the verdict Bankman-Fried’s lawyer Mark Cohen said: “We respect the jury’s decision. But we are very disappointed with the result.”
“Mr Bankman-Fried maintains his innocence and will continue to vigorously fight the charges against him,” he added.
A BBC request for comment regarding a potential appeal from Bankman-Fried’s spokesperson remained unanswered at the time of reporting.
Furthermore, three of Bankman-Fried’s former close associates, among them his ex-girlfriend Caroline Ellison, admitted guilt and entered into agreements to testify against him, aiming to secure reduced sentences for themselves. Their sentencing will take place at a later date.
“The government won this case by putting a lot of pressure on cooperators, getting deals with them very early on and trying this case in a very streamlined way,” said former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti.
“Instead of overcomplicating the case, turning it into some complicated crypto case, they tried it as a garden variety fraud.”
During the trial, the prosecution provided evidence indicating that Bankman-Fried’s crypto trading company, Alameda Research, had accepted deposits on behalf of FTX customers during the exchange’s early stages. Traditional banks had initially refused to grant FTX an account.
Contrary to Bankman-Fried’s public assurances to safeguard these funds, he used the funds for purposes other than their intended protection. Specifically, he used the money to settle debts with Alameda lenders, purchase property, and make various investments and political contributions.
Bankman-Fried’s parents seemed disheartened when the court announced the guilty verdict.
At the time of filing for bankruptcy in November, Alameda had an outstanding debt of $8 billion (£6.5 billion) to FTX.
“He took the money. He knew it was wrong. He did it anyway, because he thought he was smarter and better and that he could figure his way out of it,” assistant US attorney Nicolas Roos said in his closing arguments.
In an attempt to persuade jurors that the prosecution had not produced sufficient evidence to support his claim of criminal intent, Bankman-Fried took the bold decision to testify on his own behalf.
“There was bad judgment,” said defence lawyer Mark Cohen, offering a portrait of a nerdy mathematician who was overwhelmed as his companies grew rapidly.
“That does not constitute a crime.”
Bankman-Fried defended the money transfers between his firms as “permissible” and testified that he was largely unaware of the financial hole described by his deputies until a few weeks before the FTX collapse last year.
The downfall left many customers unable to recover their funds.
Lawyers working on the bankruptcy case have since said they have recovered the vast majority of the missing money.
Bankman-Fried’s trial was closely watched for its implications for the crypto industry as a whole, which has failed to recover from last year’s market turmoil.
He has been seen as a poster child for the problems in the sector, which top regulators in the US have described as rife with criminality.
Before the collapse of his companies, he was known for hobnobbing with celebrities and appearing frequently in Washington and in the media, to discuss the sector.
The rapid growth of FTX and his deal-making last year, when a market downturn hit other crypto firms, earned him the moniker “the king of crypto”.
With Congress unlikely to pass new rules for crypto anytime soon, Mr Mariotti said he expected US courts to continue to be the site of battles over the industry.
“I really think having specific crypto regulations in the United States would reduce the sort of crime that occurred in this particular case,” he said.
“Sadly I don’t think we’re going to see regulation in the very short term… But it certainly means that the fight is going to continue in courts and civil cases litigated by the SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission] and CFTC [Commodity Futures Trading Commission]” he added, referring to US financial regulatory agencies.
Today’s Bank of Ghana Interbank Forex Rates, as of November 3, 2023 has it that, the Ghana Cedi is trading against the US Dollar at a buying price of 11.4960 and a selling price of 11.5076.
Against the Pound Sterling, the Cedi is trading at a buying price of 13.9930 and a selling price of 14.0081.
The Euro is trading at a buying price of 12.2071 and a selling price of 12.2192.
The South African Rand is trading at a buying price of 0.6226 and a selling price of 0.6231.
The Nigerian Naira is trading at a buying price of 72.1183 and a selling price of 72.3461.
For the CFA, it is trading at a buying price of 54.1491 and a selling price of 54.1983.
Forex Bureau Rates in Accra for the same date:
The US Dollar is being bought at a rate of 11.85 and sold at a rate of 12.10.
The Pound Sterling is being bought at a rate of 14.30 and sold at a rate of 14.80.
The Euro is being bought at a rate of 12.50 and sold at a rate of 12.90.
The South African Rand is being bought at a rate of 0.35 and sold at a rate of 0.95.
The Nigerian Naira is being bought at a rate of 8.50 Naira for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 14.50.
The CFA is being bought at a rate of 17.00 CFA for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 19.50 CFA for every 1 Cedi.
A group of NPP supporters at the Kejetia, central, and race-course markets in Kumasi, known as ‘Kumasi Central, Kejetia and Race-Course Traders for Bawumia,’ has declared their unwavering support for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s leadership in the party.
Their primary objective is to assist the NPP in maintaining power in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
These traders firmly believe that Dr. Bawumia possesses the track record and capability to secure victory and break the eight-year rule jinx.
They have urged party delegates in the upcoming presidential primary to rally behind Dr. Bawumia and lead the party to success in the 2024 general elections.
Elder Emmanuel Gyekyi, Chairman of the group, emphasized Dr. Bawumia’s outstanding performance as Vice President, highlighting his ability to steer the country and continue the development agenda initiated by the Nana Akufo Addo government.
He stated that Dr. Bawumia had demonstrated his capacity to sustain the ongoing transformation and development momentum in the country.
Elder Gyekyi stressed that traders in the markets, who represent the grassroots of the party, have strong faith in Dr. Bawumia’s leadership to lead the party to victory in the 2024 general elections. He called on the delegates to prioritize the broader interests of national development over personal gains.
Hajia Hawa, the Women Organizer of the group, conveyed that customers who visit the market consistently express their belief in Dr. Bawumia’s ability to lead the party to triumph.
She appealed to the delegates not to be swayed by propaganda and to remain loyal to the Vice President, who has played a significant role in transforming the country alongside Nana Akufo Addo.
Nana Yaa Dufie, one of the queens at the central market, expressed that all the queens in various markets are eager for Dr. Bawumia to lead the NPP to victory in the 2024 elections. She called for unity among party supporters to ensure that the party emerges stronger from the primaries and secures victory in the 2024 general elections.
On November 3, 2022, Pierre Laporte, the Country Director of the World Bank, stated that if immediate action is not taken to address climate shocks, approximately one million Ghanaians may become impoverished.
He said that by 2050, impoverished households’ incomes might be cut by as much as 40%.
Read the full story originally published on November 3, 2022
As a result of climate shocks, at least one million more people may become impoverished, according to the World Bank’s most recent Country Climate and Development Report for Ghana, unless quickly remedied.
By 2050, income for low-income households could potentially drop by as much as 40%, according to the report.
According to the report, policies and investments from the public and private sectors should be combined to create a development pathway that increases resilience to climate change and promotes the shift to low-carbon growth.
“Ghana’s economic and human development is vulnerable to climate change. On average, flooding affects around 45,000 Ghanaians every year, and half of Ghana’s coastline is vulnerable to erosion and flooding as a result of sea-level rise,” Pierre Laporte, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone stated in a Joy FM report.
According to the World Bank’s assessment, Ghana must promptly address the growing threat of rising temperatures and heat stress, which can harm crop and labor productivity. Additionally, the increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns pose risks to buildings and infrastructure.
The report emphasizes the broader consequences of land degradation, water insecurity, and local air pollution on human capital and overall productivity.
Despite achieving significant development milestones over the past thirty years, Ghana’s progress has decelerated, as highlighted by the World Bank. The report explicitly states that the West African nation has not effectively harnessed its natural resources to build the necessary infrastructure, human capital, and institutional capacity for sustainable growth.
“The report demonstrates that Ghana can simultaneously pursue its long-term development and climate goals,” Pierre Laporte added. “Ghana’s contribution to global greenhouse gases emissions is small, with emissions on a per capita basis at 24% of the global average. The country can take a more resilient development pathway, avoiding costly lock-ins, leapfrogging to cutting-edge technologies, and starting to mobilize climate finance.”
The World Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Reports identified six priority areas for a Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Development pathway that will foster a greener, resilient, and inclusive growth in the country.
Others include the new core diagnostic reports that explore the interlink between climate change and development. They help countries prioritize the most impactful actions that can foster a low-carbon transition and boost resilience while delivering on broader development goals.
CCDRs build on data and rigorous research and identify main pathways to reduce GHG emissions, their externalities and climate vulnerabilities, including the costs and challenges as well as benefits and opportunities from doing so.
In the aftermath of the Accra High Court ruling on his marriage annulment case, Asamoah Gyan and his legal counsel, Edwin Kusi Appiah, have embarked on a media tour to rectify what they perceive as a deliberate misinterpretation of the verdict.
On November 1, 2023, Gyan initiated his media outreach by addressing the matter in an interview with Asempa FM, where he cautioned his former spouse to rein in individuals who have been distorting the narrative. Additionally, Gyan has been actively using social media to respond to comments that he believes misrepresent the actual events.
Simultaneously, his attorney has been engaged in a series of media appearances, discussing the court ruling and making certain bold claims regarding the case. He has appeared on more than five media platforms to clarify the situation.
Below are five of them:
Asamoah Gyan has spoken to his ex-wife
In his Asempa FM interview, Asamoah Gyan disclosed that he has talked to Gifty Oware and discussed the need to avoid muddying the waters.
If the attempts to distort the verdict are not addressed, Gyan stated he will be forced to come forward and reveal information.
Ex-wife presented fake parents for marriage
Attorney Edwin Kusi Appiah revealed that it was discovered during court proceedings that the individuals Gifty Oware had named as Asamoah Gyan’s parents were in fact not her parents.
This was revealed during the testimony of witnesses presented by Asamoah Gyan during the trial, which lasted three years, according to Edwin Kusi Appiah, the former striker for the Black Stars.
“When we went to court, people familiar with the woman who testified in court said that the people the woman brought to witness the marriage as her father and mother were actually not her father and mother and they are the people she introduced to Asamoah as her parents,” the lawyer said in an interview on UTV on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
Asamoah Gyan was threatened
It has been disclosed that Asamoah Gyan was forced to take a DNA test on his three children as a result of purported threats to take the children away from him made by his ex-wife’s purported husband.
Attorney Kusi Appiah claimed that Gyan knew his wife was having an affair and that the other man was claiming his kids, especially the firstborn.
“Asamoah Gyan married his wife in 2013 but had been with her since 2003. He got information that prior to marrying her, the lady had married another man. Their marriage had three kids with the firstborn coming in 2005. Asamoah Gyan told me he was threatened by someone that the children, particularly the firstborn were not his and that they belonged to him (the person issuing the threat).
“That is what forced us to go to court and seek permission to conduct DNA on the kids. Thankfully, the DNA test proved that Gyan was the father of the children and he was really happy with it. Gyan was happy because he loved the children. That is the main reason Asamoah Gyan went to court,” he said.
Gifty is still married
Court records state that Gifty is wed to a Ghanaian man who resides in the United Kingdom. The man goes by Mr. Oware, according to reports.
As disclosed in court, Gifty had been wed to the man since 2002, the year prior to her encounter with Asamoah Gyan.
As per the court’s decision, the marriage remains valid.
Date of birth on Gifty’s BECE certificate and passport are different
The Court Dismisses Age-Cheating Allegations in Asamoah Gyan’s Case as Passport Date Prevails
In the legal proceedings, the court rejected allegations of age-cheating put forth by Asamoah Gyan’s legal team, opting to acknowledge the date on Gifty’s passport as valid. According to Asamoah Gyan’s lawyer, even though the two documents displayed differing dates, the court chose to uphold the passport’s date.
Consequently, the court affirmed that, at the time of marrying her husband, Gifty was 17 years old, a contradiction to the age previously asserted by Asamoah Gyan.
Popular Nigerian actor and producer, Osita Iheme, commonly known as “Pawpaw,” has spoken out about his colleague John Okafor, also referred to as Mr. Ibu.
Mr. Iheme, who co-starred with Mr. Okafor in the popular television series is hopeful that his colleague, who is presently receiving treatment, will soon make a full recovery.
He said in an interview with Hitz FM’s Doreen Avio during the recent AMAAs in Nigeria that “Sickness is something that can come upon anybody,” he said, in an interview . Illness can strike anyone at any time. We give God the glory for creating life and sustaining it.”
“By God’s grace, he is receiving treatment right now and he will be fine. I have been talking to him for a while now, the sickness is not just something that just started today. It has been a long. We have been talking about it,” he said.
This development follows the revelation made by the comedic actor on October 18, when he made a heartfelt plea and launched a fundraising campaign to cover his medical expenses while receiving treatment at a hospital in Lagos.
He disclosed that he had been admitted for two weeks due to an “unusual and critical ailment.” Additionally, the actor, who celebrated his 62nd birthday in October, shared that his doctor had raised the possibility of amputating his legs.
In the video, Mr Ibu, who was in the company of his wife and daughter, said: “As I speak to you, I am still lying down in the hospital; the medical director of this hospital said that the best solution is that, in case his new idea didn’t work, the best idea is to cut off my leg.”
John Okafor, an actor, gained popularity in 2004 when he played Mr. Ibu. ‘This Girl’ and ‘Do You Know’ are two of his brief musical endeavors that were released in 2020.
Controller and Accountant-General of Ghana, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, has officially announced his intention to run for Parliament as a member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In a recent rally held in Swedru, he led over 2,000 party supporters on a three-hour health walk through the main streets of Swedru, as reported by the state-run Daily Graphic.
During the November 30 walk, the enthusiastic supporters also emphasized their endorsement of Kwaning-Bosompem’s candidacy. He encouraged his supporters to maintain their focus on promoting his candidacy and to avoid engaging in attacks against other aspirants when nominations open in December, ahead of the primaries scheduled for February 2024.
Additionally, Kwaning-Bosompem outlined his plans for the region in the event that he becomes the candidate and is elected to office following the December 2024 elections.
During the presidential flagbearer race on November 4th, the aspirant urged party members to maintain decorum throughout the process, emphasizing the importance of effective preparation for the 2024 elections.
He underscored that the selection of the presidential candidate marked the commencement of the NPP’s mission to break the electoral eight-year cycle on December 7, 2024, and urged all not to engage in actions that might undermine this commitment, as reported by the Daily Graphic.
It is worth noting that this is not the first instance of high-ranking government officials announcing their aspirations to run for parliament. Several current NPP Members of Parliament had previously held public offices before deciding to contest for parliamentary seats in the 8th parliament.
Who is Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem?
Mr. Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem is a renowned Public Servant of 34 years standing in Ghana’s Public Service with extensive senior management and leadership experience across varied governmental institutions, agencies, local authorities and private organizations.
Some of the areas he specifically served include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD), Ghana Cement Works, Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and Driver and Vehicle License Authority.
He is a Chartered Management Accountant with 29 years post qualification experience and holds an MBA in Strategic Management from the Paris Graduate School of Management.
He’s also a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana and has done courses in Management and ICT. He is skilled and passionate about Public Sector Reforms and Institutional restructuring.
With a humble beginning as an Accountant at the Koforidua Central Hospital in 1988, Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem has grown to become the Controller and Accountant -General of the Republic of Ghana.
He is credited for leading the implementation of policies aimed at expenditure rationalization and efficiency; coordinating strategies that improved revenue mobilization and administration to achieve government’s fiscal consolidation goals.
He significantly contributed to the development of Ghana’s National Policy on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP), which ensures value for money, affordability, efficient risk allocation, local content, and transfer of technology in the promotion and administration of PPPs.
He facilitated the implementation of the Programme Based Budgeting System in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a major policy shift in the budget preparation process for the Ghana Government.
Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem has always upheld the highest professional standards to ensure the best outcomes and is competent at influencing others without undermining their professional judgement through the application of objective and empathetic reasoning. He has cultivated a strong moral foundation to be able to address ethical dilemmas when they arise.
He is a member of the of the Ghana Road Fund board, Energy Commission and a Council Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana. He also served on the Boards of Makola Market Company and the Accra Abattoir.
He has lots of International exposures through training and conferences.In 2019, Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem received an award in the category of Governance and Civil Leadership Awards of the Year and also ushered into Ghana Leadership Hall of Fame.
Having displayed integrity and excellence in both his public and private life, Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem was among 12 distinguished individuals awarded by the 2021 West African Nobles Forum (WANF) at its 32nd Annual Congress and Awards.
Member of parliament for the Ningo Prampram Constituency, Samuel Nartey George, has expressed regret over what he claims to be an increase in kidney failure cases among young people.
The MP claims that although some people may have received the diagnosis for no apparent reason, many of the cases among young people are the result of bad decisions made in life, such as the widespread use of shisha, or flavor-infused tobacco.
“I am going to say something that Ghanaian youth will not be happy about but look, we are a very irresponsible people when it comes to our healthcare and our life choices.
“There are people who have developed kidney challenges by no fault of theirs but a majority of those reporting with this thing is just horrible, irresponsible life choices,” he stated during an interview on Joynews.
“They are smoking like locomotive engines, they have dumped cigarettes and have jumped on that killer called shisha and it is killing; you drive in Accra, around East Legon and you see young people putting off steam like locomotive engines all in the name of fashion,” he added.
The recent surge in documented cases of kidney failure has ignited a significant level of public apprehension within the community. Adding to this concern is the extended closure of the Renal Unit at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which has been unavailable for dialysis services for some time.
In the midst of these growing concerns, Sam George highlighted that crucial health and lifestyle decisions, including dietary, beverage, and inhalation choices, have become pivotal factors contributing to the declining health among the younger population.
“They’ve flavoured death for you in pineapple, watermelon and whatever flavour and you are licking death. I mean, we are not eating well. Alcohol; we are a country of just 33 million and we have almost a hundred different types of bitters. I mean, all kinds of concoctions in the name of aphrodisiacs.
“It’s like we are a sex crazy generation that needs to do anything and everything just to prove a point. We are drinking the wrong things, eating the wrong things and smoking our lungs into oblivion. We need to check our life choices as a country. It’s a problem; it is a pandemic,” the MP lamented.
Ghanaian youths are irresponsible – Sam George
Via: Joy News #INDNews R2bees | Nana Ama McBrown | Asamoah Gyan | Victor Osimhen | Messi | Bawumia | Copa America | Shatta Wale pic.twitter.com/SHMNr090U2
The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Justin Frimpong-Kodua, has announced that candidates who do not emerge as winners in the NPP primaries on November 4, 2023 to elect a flagbearer for the 2024 general elections will not be allowed to resign from the party.
He made this known after a meeting held on November 2, 2023, by the NPP national council of elders, which gathered all the aspirants together to foster unity and address their differences as a cohesive party family.
Mr. Kodua revealed that the candidates, including Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former Agric Minister, Dr Owusu Akoto Afriyie, former MP for Mampong Francis Addai-Nimoh, have signed an agreement stating that following the primaries, “candidates will accept election primary results, promote peace and cohesion.”
“In the event that they don’t win, they will not resign from the party. They will support the winner of the election primary. Ensure and enforce mechanisms established by the party and also to work within the timelines and durations that has been established by the party from now till the results are declared and to respect the decision by the delegate of our party,” he told the media.
The dust will soon settle as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primaries, slated for November 4, 2023, draw nearer.
‘Breaking of the Eight’ mantra as posited by the NPP is currently seen carried shoulder high by two of the contestants, namely Current Vice President Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia and Assin Central Member of Parliament, Ken Ohene Agyapong.
The election will take place in the various constituencies across all 16 regions of the country. It is going to be a four-horse race between the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, MP for Assin, Central Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former Agric Minister, Dr Owusu Akoto Afriyie, and former MP for Mampong Francis Addai-Nimoh.
A $40 million deal involving cargo tracking at the ports has stakeholders in a seemingly uneasy state, according to Bright Simons, Vice President of Policy at IMANI-Africa.
He mentioned the following government organizations: the Ministry of Trade, Ports, Ghana Shippers Authority, and the Ghana Revenue Authority.
His admission follows the Finance Ministry’s declaration that branded a letter going around with the headline.
“Re-enhancing Shipping Data Collection and Management in Ghana through Smart Port and Electronic Cargo Tracking”, purportedly sent from the Finance Ministry.
Bright Simons said: “A deal estimated to be worth about $40m a year has all manner of govt bigshots throwing blows at each other. GRA, Ghana Shippers Authority, Ports, Trade Ministry, etc. Finally, the boss of bosses, Finance Ministry, has stepped in to declare one spunky contractor as fraudulent!”
Expounding on the nooks and crannies of the matter, Bright Simons said the company that claims to have been validated by the government is a “mysterious entity”.
“The company that claims to have been mandated by Ghana to validate all cargo imports & which the Finance Ministry accuse of fraud & fakery, is a mysterious entity called Antaser, with a string of aliases across Africa (TPMS, BBVA, etc). Its adventures deserve Holywood treatment,” he said.
In the aforementioned letter, the Finance Ministry stated that all shipments to Ghana—including transit shipments—must obtain an Electronic Cargo Transit number (ECTN/SPN) and provide it to Antaser Afrique BVBA for validation as of September 15, 2023.
Shippers and stakeholders should be aware that the letter and its contents are fraudulent and ought to be disregarded, according to the Ministry.
The finance ministry thanked shipping agents and other interested parties for prompting them about the alleged letter in a statement released on October 31, 2023, and promised to notify the public of any new tax policies the government may be planning.
“We thank all stakeholders who alerted us and made enquiries and wish to assure them that, as is done with all policies, extensive consultation will be done with relevant stakeholders whenever government wishes to introduce a new policy or tax,” parts of the statement read.
“We thank all stakeholders who alerted us and made enquiries and wish to assure them that, as is done with all policies, extensive consultation will be done with relevant stakeholders whenever government wishes to introduce a new policy or tax,” parts of the statement read.
A deal estimated to be worth about $40m a year has all manner of govt bigshots throwing blows at each other. GRA, Ghana Shippers Authority, Ports, Trade Ministry, etc. Finally, the boss of bosses, Finance Ministry, has stepped in to declare one spunky contractor as fraudulent! 🤦🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/HZ7Kkp5oHH
Court-Connected ADR has led to a request for the court to release the accused individuals.
The accused individuals, namely Gideon Amartey (aka Kitinki), Richard Amartey Mensah, Eziel Adjetey Adjei, Nii Anang Mameley, Mensah Ago, Michael Adjei, Amarh Amartey Kwei, Ebenezer Laryea, Joseph Nii Mensah Anang, Emmanuel Ago Doko, Reuben Tetteh, Samuel Armah Amartey, Isaac Mensah Lumor, Isaac Armah, Felix Adjei, Ernest Addo, Wisdom Tawiah, Amos Adjei, Isaac Afotey, Mershark Amartey, and Jospeh Amartey Lartea Perry, were charged with conspiracy to commit the crimes of assault and causing damage. They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.
The accused persons’ lawyer requested that, given that their families lived in the same vicinity, they would prefer to resolve the matter through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). The court granted the defense counsel’s request.
According to the prosecution, the complainant, Nii Amartey Kwei III, is the Chief of Kweiman in Accra. In May 2023, the Chief granted a parcel of land in Kweiman to a developer, which was met with opposition from the youth.
On July 6, 2023, the grantee and the Chief began working on the land, but the accused individuals, reportedly armed with offensive weapons, arrived at the site and prevented the developer from proceeding.
The prosecution stated that the accused individuals also went to the Palace and attacked four elders with cutlasses, wood, and metallic objects.
During this altercation, they allegedly destroyed 12 plastic chairs and a table valued at GHC800. A police report was filed, and the accused individuals were subsequently arrested. Medical forms were issued to four complainants— Ibrahim Anum, Benjamin Amartey, Joshua Odai, and Francis Mensah—to seek medical attention. Upon reviewing the medical reports, it was confirmed that the complainants had been assaulted.
A honeymooning couple and their tour guide were tragically killed in an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) at Queen Elizabeth National Park last month.
The victims were British citizen David Barlow, his South African wife Emmaretia Geyer, and Ugandan tour guide Eric Alyai. In response, Ugandan troops initiated an operation to locate and neutralize the militants responsible.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has reported that at least 11 militants, including those involved in the attack, were killed during the operation.
The attackers were cornered and eliminated on Lake Edward, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“It should be noted that this was a part of the group that killed the tourists. The operation is still on to finish all the splinter groups of ADF,” he said.
Although ADF is a rebel group associated with the Islamic State, it is primarily active in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including western Uganda.
41 children were killed when ADF fighters carried out a surprise attack on a Ugandan school in June.
The Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, will address Parliament on Thursday, November 9, 2023, about reported military actions in Garu and Tempane, Upper East Region, on October 29, 2023.
Following criticism and concerns from MPs, the minister was summoned to explain the military’s involvement in the area.
Garu experienced incidents of brutality when military personnel allegedly conducted a retaliatory attack, leaving residents injured, after a clash involving national security operatives.
On November 1, 2023, Deputy Speaker Andrew Amoako Asiamah directed the Minister of National Security to appear before the entire House to provide details about the situation on November 9, 2023.
“At the moment, what I want to do is to invite the Minister to appear before the entire House, come and brief us. Probably what we are hearing is different from what the Minister has at his sleeves. So let us invite the Minister to appear before the House, he will come and brief the House, and we will take it on from there.
“So I am asking that the Minister appear before the house on Thursday, the 9th of November 2023, to brief the House concerning issues related to happenings at Garu and Tempane,” the Second Deputy Speaker said.
MTN Ghana has reported a GH¢2.77 billion profit for the first nine months of 2023, marking a 32% year-on-year growth, as per its financial performance update until the end of September.
The growth was primarily attributed to a 36.0% year-on-year increase in service revenue, driven by the expansion of voice, data, and mobile money services.
The company emphasized that this growth was supported by ongoing execution of Ambition 2025 and continuous investments in capital expenditure to enhance service quality and expand network capacity and coverage.
Mobile voice revenue grew by 14.5% year-on-year to ¢2.7 billion. However, the National Communications Authority’s (NCA) directive on SIM disconnections resulted in a 9.3% year-on-year decrease in the subscriber base to 25.8 million, causing a 28.1% decrease in revenue from voice services.
Revenue from data services surged by 47.6% year-on-year to ¢4.1 billion, driven by an increase in the number of active users and higher data consumption per active user. Data traffic increased by 39.6% year-on-year, with the contribution of data revenue to service revenue rising from 39.5% to 42.8% year-on-year.
In the mobile money sector, revenue increased by 51.6% year-on-year to GH¢2.1 billion, supported by substantial growth in cash-out revenue, advanced services revenue, and peer-to-peer (P2P) revenue. The contribution of MoMo revenue to service revenue increased from 19.1% to 21.3% year-on-year.
Nevertheless, digital revenue decreased by 15.0% year-on-year to ¢96.3 million.
MTN Ghana reported a positive turnaround in the third quarter, with a 3.5% quarter-on-quarter growth, and anticipates this trend to continue into the fourth quarter and beyond.
The company’s Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) increased by 32.6% year-on-year to ¢5.4 billion, although there was a 1.5 percentage point margin decline to 56.0% due to the effects of elevated inflation.
“We remain committed to executing our expense efficiency programme, the impact of which continues to reduce the full exposure of the current macroeconomic challenges on the business”, the company said.
For its outlook, the company said it will continue to invest to develop its platforms and improve its network and services to unlock value for stakeholders in line with our Ambition 2025 strategy.
“We will also keep exploring efficiency measures, preserving liquidity, and take steps to strengthen the balance sheet further against a background of uncertainties within the operating environment. Taking into consideration the macroeconomic uncertainties, MTN Ghana maintains its guidance of high-twenties (in percentage terms) growth in service revenue”.
Telecommunications company MTN Ghana has joined forces with the Ministry of Communications to provide training and essential ICT skills to over a thousand girls.
This mentoring initiative is a component of the Communications Ministry’s Girls-in-ICT program.
Since its initiation, MTN Ghana has contributed ¢12.6 million to cover project expenses from 2021 to 2023.
During a ceremony marking the culmination of the Girls-in-ICT program in Koforidua, Adwoa Wiafe, the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, expressed her satisfaction with the enthusiastic participation of young girls in the program.
Speaking at a ceremony to climax the celebration of the Girls-in-ICT program in Koforidua, the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability officer of MTN Ghana, Adwoa Wiafe said “It is very gratifying to see young girls fully engaged in this programme.”
“In a world where technology drives innovation, empowerment, and progress, it is important to celebrate and encourage the participation of girls and women in the ICT sector. So, we are here today to acknowledge the incredible potential we see in you with the aim to inspire, educate, and empower you, the future generation of women in technology”.
She claims that the event’s theme, Digital Skills for Life, perfectly encapsulates the goals of the company and has great resonance in the quickly changing world.
“Our ambition at MTN is to lead digital solutions for Africa’s progress and deliver a bold new digital world. ICT is the future. It offers limitless opportunities for creativity, innovation, and career growth. It is possibly the answer to many of our developmental challenges.
By exposing you to ICT, we hope that you will indeed provide the solutions required for Africa’s progress,” she stated.
She clarified that MTN supports and encourages girls to explore and embrace the world of technology fearlessly in order to create an inclusive environment where everyone will have the chance to succeed and innovate.
“Supporting girls to explore and embrace technology not only unlocks their potential but also contributes to a more diverse and inclusive technological landscape”. She said.
While acknowledging the positive aspects of technology, Miss Wiafe cautioned the participants to exercise caution regarding their online postings, emphasizing that “the internet does not forget.”
In a grand finale, the ministry presented 100 brand new laptop computers to the top 100 girls who excelled in this year’s Girls-in-ICT training, encompassing Upper primary and junior high schools in the Eastern Region.
A total of 1000 girls from basic schools participated in the competition, with each of them receiving certificates of participation.
Additionally, the top ten girls will have ICT labs established in their schools or have existing ones refurbished. The top 3 achievers were recognized with cash prizes and plaques.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines has cautioned that the mining industry could face a gradual decline in the coming decade unless the government makes essential investments in the sector.
Statistics provided by the Ghana Chamber of Mines indicate that in 2022, the mining sector, which currently employs 11,284 individuals, contributed GHC7 billion to the country’s revenue.
Addressing reporters during the Chamber’s Editors Forum in Accra on October 31, Joshua Mortoti, the Chamber’s President, emphasized that Ghana presently lacks the necessary exploration pipeline development.
“…But ask yourself, when were Cardinal Resources, Azuma Resources, Ahafo North Resource all identified? 20 years ago, so where are the resources that were identified a year and five years ago? zero.
“Those are the questions we need to be asking ourselves, and not just whitewashing the industry, this industry will die if we don’t have the needed exploration pipeline development.”
“As we are speaking, some of our mines are shutting down, in the 2-3 years, you will see some of our mines shutting, what is the replacement? So it is not a surprise when you hear mining firms shutting down, our industry is not in the right place,” Mortoti said.
About Ghana Chamber of Mines
The primary organization representing Ghana’s mining sector is the Ghana Chamber of Mines. The Chamber speaks for the interests of all Ghanaian businesses engaged in the extraction, processing, and exploration of minerals.
Over 90% of Ghana’s mineral output is produced by its member companies, who provide all funding for the organization’s operations.
Since 1928, the Chamber has fought for the rights of the industry.
