Border agents in the United States of America has briefly detained an unnamed Ghanaian traveler after finding prohibited big African snails in his luggage.
When the individual arrived at the Customs and Border Protection station at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, agents conducted an inspection and discovered his shipment.
According to a report from the Associated Press (AP), the incident occurred on March 9.
The man transporting the snails is a resident of Ghana and said they were to be eaten. He was released without further actions, the AP report stated.
Even though the incident happened on the 9th, it was on 17th that the customs officials revealed the incident to the media. They did not state whether he was allowed to go with the snails.
“It is not uncommon for travelers to bring food items from their native countries, which underscores the importance of the inspection process upon arrival to U.S. ports of entry,” Customs and Border Protection spokesman Steven Bansbach said.
“This allows CBP officers and agriculture specialists the opportunity to determine whether these goods are permissible or not, while mitigating the potential for public health or environmental issues.”
The mollusks, it is said, can carry diseases that affect humans.
Giant African land snails are prohibited in Michigan and the rest of the United States. They eat at least 500 different types of plants, along with plaster and stucco on buildings.
They grow as long as 8 inches (20 centimeters) and carry a parasite called the rat lungworm that can cause meningitis in humans. They also can produce up to 1,200 eggs a year.
“Our CBP officers and agriculture specialists work diligently to target, detect, and intercept potential threats before they have a chance to do harm to U.S. interests,” Port Director Robert Larkin said.
Switzerland’s biggest bank, UBS, is in advanced talks to to purchase all or a portion of Credit Suisse, a troubled rival..
After claiming to have discovered “significant weakness” in its financial reporting, Credit Suisse is experiencing a crisis of trust, and its shares have dropped precipitously recently.
The Swiss National Bank’s emergency $54 billion (£44.5 billion) bailout hasn’t made a difference.
Regulators are trying to facilitate a deal before markets reopen on Monday.
There are concerns that Credit Suisse shares could continue to plummet, after they fell 24% on Wednesday.
This prompted a general sell-off on European markets, and fears of a wider financial crisis.
The Swiss government held an emergency meeting on Saturday night, but so far there has been no official statement on the progress of the negotiations.
UBS is said to have asked the Swiss government to cover about $6bn (£4.9bn) in costs if it were to buy Credit Suisse, according to sources quoted by Reuters.
Any deal may also result in significant job losses.
The problems have coincided with the failure of two lenders in the US – Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank – raising fears over the health of the banking system.
Credit Suisse, which was founded in 1856, has faced a string of scandals in recent years, including money laundering charges.
It reported a loss of 7.3bn Swiss francs ($7.9bn; £6.5bn) in 2022 – its worst year since the financial crisis of 2008 – and has warned it does not expect to be profitable until 2024.
UBS, however, made a profit of $7.6bn in 2022.
As well as being a domestic bank with 95 branches, Credit Suisse has a global investment banking operation and manages the assets of rich clients.
It is one of 30 banks worldwide deemed too big to fail because they are of such importance to the international banking system.
At the end of last year Credit Suisse had a global staff of 50,480, including 16,700 in Switzerland, though 9,000 jobs were to be axed, the Swiss broadcaster SRF reports.
In some regions of South Sudan, a girl’s value is based on how many animals the potential husband demands in exchange for her hand in marriage. Cattle are not simply another type of animal or a food source; they are also considered to be a symbol of stability, wealth, and security. Owning a herd of cattle is the equivalent of saving money in some areas. Pastoral people in Sudan take great satisfaction in caring for their cattle; it has been done in this way for thousands of years.
The recent civil war in the nation may have upset numerous long-standing traditions that the people had upheld for ages, but one of them has endured: their marriage custom. When a man wants to get married, it is mandatory he works toward securing dowries, which traditionally come in the form of cattle. The bidding for eligible women in some instances can cost prospective grooms and their families a lot of cattle worth hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Aside from the associated costs, there are laid down determinants for the number of cattle a man needs to provide before a girl’s hand is given out in marriage. These elements include the height of the woman, her level of education, and the family background she belongs to. If a woman is very tall and voluptuous with a good pedigree, the possibility of the man providing more cattle is high. The average dowries in this case can range from 10 to 60 cattle, according to the Times.
In some pastoral communities, the number of cattle demanded is tied to the girl’s level of education. This emerging trend has become an incentive for some families to educate their girl child to higher levels. The reason is simple, a well-educated girl attracts more cattle, which costs $250 per head. According to UNICEF, 35 percent of South Sudanese girls go to school.
It is significant that many communities are using this age-old tradition to stem the tide of high school dropouts among girls. Staying in school is now more attractive for girls because the length of a girl’s educational period determines the weight and demands of her dowry. The families consider paying tuition as a form of investment that can be retrieved when the dowries of their daughters are paid, according to relief web.
UNICEF states that educating girls is one of the most effective ways to promote development and growth. In the past, marriage has been a way of ending the education of girls and getting them tied to domestic chores. A positive trend has emerged in more recent times as a result of the premium placed on educating girls.
This has also inadvertently influenced the type of cattle the family requires. There are age-old classifications the bull or cow must meet; the key characteristic that is looked out for is the color of the coat. This is followed by the horns the animal must have. A bull is considered a prized one when the horn is neither too big nor small and is slightly bent, which is an indication that it is unique and extraordinary. With such qualities, the groom will be willing to pay any price to enhance their chances of winning the bride.
Aside from several significant highlights that went viral on social media, the late Christian Atsu Twasam’s funeral service was also notable for other noteworthy occurrences.
As people from all walks of life flocked to the State House’s forecourt to pay their final respects to the former Black Stars footballer, cameras captured both interesting and wacky scenes.
The burial went well, but these intriguing occurrences couldn’t be ignored.
1. Sulley Muntari almost attacks paparazzi
But for the timely intervention of some individuals present, former Black Stars Player, Sulley Muntari, would have landed a blow on the faces of some videographers and bloggers who chased him around with cameras while he was busily mourning his friend.
Unclear what necessitated the scuffle, things escalated so fast and Muntari almost beat the ‘living daylight’ out of these individuals.
This incident occurred not too long after he arrived at the event grounds while being escorted toward his seat.
2. Hundreds of mourners swamp Christian Atsu’s hearse
The last time such an incident was witnessed was in 2018 when scores of teaming fans invaded the funeral grounds and crowded the hearse carrying the late Ebony Reigns’ mortal remains.
On Friday, March 17, 2023, shortly after Christian Atsu’s mortal remains was lifted and placed in the hearse, it was an extremely difficult task for the security to dispatch the crowd and clear the path for it to head to the burial grounds.
All kinds of sympathizers, particularly some members of the Black Stars Supporters Union were captured wailing on the streets, making it difficult for the body to exit the event grounds.
In honour of his late colleague, former Black Stars Captain, Asamoah Gyan took the center stage, grabbed the microphone, and entertained fans at Christian Atsu’s funeral held at the forecourt of the State House in Accra.
‘Baby Jet’, who is also known to be a well-talented musician, fed the audience with back-to-back songs and awesome performances that got fans on their feet.
He also performed a couple of songs noted as the late Christian Atsu’s favorites.
4. Beautiful cultural display
The display of tradition was at its best at the funeral grounds where some cultural troupes fully represented Christian Atsu’s tribe in grand style.
The late footballer who is said to be of Ga-Adangbe and Ewe descent had both beautiful cultures displayed at his funeral held at the State House in Accra,
The costumes, dance, drumming, and incantations of tribute at the event were an interesting sight to behold.
Former president John Dramani Mahama and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recently had a public meeting.
The two were present during the funeral service for Black Stars footballer Christian Atsu, which was held on March 17 in Accra on the front lawn of the State House.
President Akufo-Addo, the last guest to arrive before the programme officially kicked off went across the dais to greet other guests present before taking his seat.
Mahama and his son Sharaf were among the first he greeted but it is his firm handshake with his predecessor that has gotten people on social media excited.
The particular photo as shared on Mahama’s Facebook timeline showed the two men in a tight handshake whiles looking into each others faces.
Commenters are employing jovial interpretations whiles others are making political predictions from the photo.
It had received over 120 comments at the time of filing this report.
Eight people are feared dead at Azizanya. They are said to have drowned in at the Ada estuary.
The incident which occurred around 9:00am on Saturday was allegedly caused by strong winds.
Residents of Agbeve community blame the dredging activities in the area, which they say has confirmed their fears.
The residents explained that the accident was due to flow velocity due to increased water depth, leading to a recorded increase in volumes of incoming water into the estuary which makes underwater current heavier and swifter.
Eight people are feared dead at Azizanya. They are said to have drowned in at the Ada estuary.
The incident which occurred around 9:00am on Saturday was allegedly caused by strong winds.
Residents of Agbeve community blame the dredging activities in the area, which they say has confirmed their fears.
The residents explained that the accident was due to flow velocity due to increased water depth, leading to a recorded increase in volumes of incoming water into the estuary which makes underwater current heavier and swifter.
According to reports, the boats used by the residents from the same community of Azizanya-Kewunor capsized because they were overloaded.
Reports also had it that the residents who were on their way to a funeral at Kasseh in Ada had no life jackets on.
Search is still currently ongoing for more people suspected to have drowned.
According to some of the survivors, they alerted the sailor about the overload. The boat was supposed to carry about 25 people but loaded more than 60 passengers.
The incident unfortunately happened mid way into the journey, resulting in the loss of the 8, including 3 children and 2 women.
The sailor has been reportedly arrested to help with investigation
An arrest order has been issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin by the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC).
The basis for the request is the allegation that Putin illegally deported at least 100 children from Ukraine, a nation his troops invaded more than a year ago, committing a war crime.
70-year-old Putin is a former military intelligence officer and the third president who is currently in office who and wanted for arrest.
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi of Libya and Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan were the other two African leaders.
The former is currently in jail after a civilian-led mass protest forced hi from office years ago whiles Gaddafi was killed in the 2011 NATO-backed revolution that threw the North African country into chaos.
Implications of arrest warrant
According to a Reuters report, the legal move will obligate the ICC’s 123 member states to arrest Putin and transfer him to The Hague for trial if he sets foot on their territory.
Moscow has repeatedly denied accusations that its forces have committed atrocities during its one-year invasion of its neighbour and the Kremlin branded the court decision as “null and void”.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine are members of the ICC, although Kyiv granted it jurisdiction to prosecute crimes committed on its territory. The tribunal has no police force of its own and relies on member countries to detain and transfer suspects to The Hague for trial.
While it is unlikely that Putin will end up in court any time soon, the warrant means that he could be arrested and sent to The Hague if travelling to any ICC member states.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia found the very questions raised by the ICC “outrageous and unacceptable”.
Asked if Putin now feared travelling to countries that recognised the ICC, Peskov said: “I have nothing to add on this subject. That’s all we want to say.”
In Daura on Saturday, President Muhammadu Buhari advised Nigerians to accept the bribes offered by politicians rather than succumbing to them and cast their ballots in accordance with their moral convictions.
The Patagonia Desert- A 4k Aerial Film of Argentina
The President made this known in a chat with journalists after casting his vote at Ward A, Sarkin Yara Polling Unit, 003 in Daura, Katsina State.
He also said the new naira policy has ensured a shortage of naira notes that would have been used by unscrupulous elements to influence the outcome of the elections in their favour.
“I am aware that the money is not there like before for people to sway voters like they used to do.
“And if they bring out money now, the people should pocket it, and still vote their conscience,” he said.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement he signed on Saturday titled ‘Nigerians know we mean what we say, they will vote for us again, says President Buhari.’
According to Buhari, the electorate should follow their conscience in choosing the right leaders, both state executives and legislatures.
He affirmed that his regime had “diminished” the era of vote buying.
The President also commended the role of the media in empowering people with information on their rights and providing a platform for voters to challenge leaders on promises and records, therefore, deepening democratic culture and awareness among Nigerians.read moreTribune Online5hLagosDecides2023: APC’s Sanwo-Olu votes, kicksagainst voters intimidationRedeem your image by conducting credible governorship- election- —TMG- to- INEC-Share Story FacebookLinkedInTwitterTelegramWhatsAppCopyAboutLogin
“The media is doing very well in creating awareness and enabling the right conversation. You can hear the tough questions for leaders during interviews on TV, radio and other platforms, and the journalists always press for answers,” the President noted.
On the outcomes of the Governorship and State of Assembly elections, he expressed confidence that they will favour the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the country as Nigerians know the party “means what it says, and says what it means.”
The President noted that he was not surprised at the results of the Presidential elections on February 25, 2023, which saw Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerging as President-elect, since the APC campaigns were thorough and detailed.
“I am sure we are going to win, again,” he said.
Buhari urged the electorate to follow their conscience in choosing the right leaders, both state executives and legislatures, admonishing that the era of vote buying had been diminished.
“I am aware that the money is not there like before for people to sway voters like they used to do. And if they bring out money now, the people should pocket it, and still vote their conscience,” he said.
The President noted that the APC followed the constitutional procedure for the entire electoral process, choosing a party Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, who had served as a two-term Governor in Nasarawa State, and legislator in the Senate, with experience that will secure the electoral value and relevance of the party.
“Nigerians trust us because we mean what we say and say what we mean. We have maintained that trust. We told Nigerians that we will work for them, and we have done our best in education and health facilities, and Nigerians appreciate our efforts,’’ he said.
Buhari’s family members and aides also voted at the ward.
Nigerians have responded to Folarin Falana, also known as Falz, and others’ announcement of a new alternative result upload site.
The platform ensures effective supervision of the political process, particularly the results, according to the musician and attorney.
However, Nigerians have mixed reactions to this move. Tribune Online gathered some netizens’ reactions across various social media platforms.
@Ishola Sunday Abe: Being a lawyer doesn’t mean you are above the law, people should rely on our credible newspapers to post the results released from inec offices. Omode koni sa laise ise omode
@Adeniyi Gbenga: Only inec can upload result by law If u upload result and inec Neva upload OYO na ur case
@Ademola V. Adeyemi: But the presiding officer at their various units have been announcing that they won’t upload results from polling unit already.
@Olagoke Tanmola Samuel: Go and sit down oga inec, I don’t you ve change ur name to yakuub mahood inec chairman
@Yekeen Afeez Abiodun: Pained falz and macaroni@Deborah Oden Adie: Which results? The ones Agberos are writing? My brother, history will remember that you did your best. Shame on those whose god is their belly…
Segun Agbaje, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the postponement of Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections in 10 polling units in the Victoria Garden City (VGC) around the Lekki area of the state.
Agbaje made the announcement when he addressed reporters at the VGC, corps members deployed as and-hoc staff were hesitant to enter the estate as they alleged that they were held hostage in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
According to Agbaje, voting materials were set up in front of the estate on Saturday but the estate residents claimed that hoodlums might disrupt the process, so they did not feel secure and could not cast their votes.
The INEC Commissioner explained that he’s in the area alongside his team because the situation was difficult for security agents to contain.
He said, “We have eight polling units here with 6,024 registered voters and out of which 5,624 people have their PVCs,” he stated, adding that two other polling units at the estate’s main gate were also affected. “Eight here (in the estate) and two outside,” he noted.
“After due consultation and further directive from the national headquarters that we should remobilise here tomorrow (Sunday) morning by 08:30am to conduct the elections.
“By 08:30am tomorrow (Sunday), we will reconvene here.”
According to him, safety of corps members, INEC staff and voters has been assured by the chairman of the security committee of the estate.
Some of the polling units affected include PU 032,033, 119 -124.
The growing number of Chinese public figures whose deaths are being made public is prompting people to question the official Covid death toll.
The death of Chu Lanlan, a 40-year-old opera singer, last month came as a shock to many, given how young she was.
Her family said they were saddened by her “abrupt departure”, but did not give details of the cause of her death.
China scrapped its strict zero-Covid policy in December and has seen a rapid surge of infections and deaths.
There are reports of hospitals and crematoria becoming overwhelmed.
But the country has stopped publishing daily cases data, and has announced only 22 Covid deaths since December, using its own strict criteria.
Now only those who die from respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia are counted.
On Wednesday the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that China was under-representing the true impact of Covid in the country – in particular deaths.
But the deaths of Chu Lanlan and others is sparking speculation about greater losses than those reported on official accounts.
According to the specialist news website Operawire, Chu Lanlan was a soprano who specialised in Peking Opera – a theatrical art in which performers use speech, song, dance and combat movements to tell stories – and was also involved in charitable causes.
On New Year’s Day news of the death of actor Gong Jintang devastated many Chinese internet users.
Image caption,Gong Jintang was known for his performance in the country’s longest-running TV series, In-Laws, Out-laws.
Gong, 83, was known to many households for his performance in the country’s longest-running TV series, In-Laws, Out-laws. His portrait of Father Kang had captivated fans for more than two decades since the show first aired in 2000.
The cause of his death is unclear, but many social media users linked it to the recent deaths of other older people.
“Please god, please treat the elderly better,” his co-star Hu Yanfen wrote on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
“R.I.P Father Kang. This wave have really claimed many elders’ lives, let’s make sure we protect the elderly in our families,” one user wrote on Weibo.
Acclaimed scriptwriter Ni Zhen was also among recent deaths. The 84-year-old was famous for his work on the 1991 film Raise the Red Lantern, which is widely considered to be one of the best Chinese films by critics.
Meanwhile Hu Fuming, a former journalist and retired professor of Nanjing University, died on 2 January at the age of 87.
He was the main author of a famous commentary published in 1978 that marked the start of the China’s “Boluan Fanzheng” period – a time of eliminating chaos and returning to normal after the upheaval of the Cultural Revolution under the country’s first Communist leader Mao Zedong.
Image caption,Hu Fuming was a well known scholar and author
According to a tally by Chinese media, 16 scientists from the country’s top science and engineering academies died between 21 and 26 December.
None of these deaths were linked to Covid in their obituaries, but that hasn’t prevented speculation online.
“Did he also die of ‘bad flu’?” one of the top-rated comments under news of Mr Ni’s death said.
“Even if you trawl through the whole internet you can’t find any reference to his cause of death,” said another internet user.
But there was also criticism of demonstrators who took to the streets in November in rare political protests calling for the end of leader Xi Jinping’s zero-Covid policy.
“Are those people happy now, seeing old people… now paving the way for their freedom?” asked one social media user.
Mr Xi appeared to refer obliquely to the protests in his New Year’s address, saying it was natural in such a big country for people to have different opinions.
But he urged people to come together and show unity as China entered a “new phase” in its approach to Covid.
The Chinese authorities are aware of the widespread scepticism although they continue to play down the severity of this wave of Covid sweeping the country.
In an interview with state TV, the director of Beijing’s Institute of Respiratory Diseases admitted the number of deaths of elderly people so far this winter was “definitely more” than in past years, while also stressing that critical cases remained a minority of the overall number of Covid cases.
This week the People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s official newspaper, urged citizens to work towards a “final victory” over Covid and dismissed criticism of the previous zero-Covid policy.
The World Health Organization has warned that China is under-representing the true impact of Covid in the country – in particular deaths.
The removal of most restrictions last month has led to a surge in cases.
But China has stopped publishing daily cases data, and has announced only 22 Covid deaths since December, using its own strict criteria.
“We believe that definition [of a Covid death] is too narrow,” WHO emergencies director Dr Michael Ryan said.
Dr Ryan said China’s figures “under-represent the true impact of the disease in terms of hospital admissions, in terms of ICU admissions, and particularly in terms of deaths”.
China last month changed its criteria for what constitutes a Covid death, meaning only those who die of respiratory illnesses are counted.
This goes against WHO guidance, which encourages countries to count the number of excess deaths – how many more people die than would normally be expected based on death figures before the pandemic hit.
Dr Ryan added that China had increased its engagement with the WHO in recent weeks, and said he looked forward to receiving “more comprehensive data.”
But he also suggested individual health workers could report their own data and experiences.
“We do not discourage doctors and nurses reporting these deaths and these cases,” Dr Ryan said. “We have an open approach to be able to record the actual impact of disease in society.”
The UK science data company Airfinity estimates more than two million Covid cases a day in China, and 14,700 deaths.
Since China abandoned key parts of its “zero-Covid” strategy almost a month ago, there have been reports of hospitals and crematoriums being overwhelmed.
More than a dozen nations have introduced travel restrictions on travellers from China. Beijing has criticised these as politically motivated and threatened to retaliate.
On Wednesday, the European Union issued new guidance “strongly” recommending that all member states introduce the requirement that passengers flying from China provide a negative Covid test before their departure.
No new Covid variants have been detected in China, despite the surge in cases. However, the WHO has warned this could be due to a decrease in testing.
The Chinese authorities have announced they are sending medical supplies to rural hospitals before an expected wave of coronavirus infections in the countryside – where vaccination rates are patchy.
Dr Abdi Rahman Mahamud, director of the WHO’s alert and response coordination department, has warned China may see another wave of infections as families gather for China’s Lunar New Year in a few weeks – one of the country’s busiest travel periods.
Months after their system was clogged up with requests for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, Ticketmaster apologized to the singer and her fans in front of the US Senate.
Thousands of ‘Swifties’ were unable to buy seats due to the issue.
“We need to do better and we will,” Joe Berchtold, president of Live Nation, Ticketmaster’s parent company, told lawmakers on Tuesday.
A bot attack was responsible for “a terrible consumer experience”, he said.
Ticketmaster, which merged with Live Nation in 2010, has repeatedly faced criticism from fans and politicians, who say it has too much control over the live music market and artificially inflates the cost of tickets with fees and service charges.
According to Senator Amy Klobuchar, who chairs the US Senate committee on consumer rights, Ticketmaster is responsible for 70% of ticket sales in the US.
“In truth, there is no other choice. It is a monopoly,” she told MSNBC last year.
Regarding the Swift tour, she added: “The high fees, site disruptions and cancellations that customers experienced shows how Ticketmaster’s dominant market position means the company does not face any pressure to continually innovate and improve.”
Image caption,Senator Amy Klobuchar has criticised Ticketmaster’s dominance of the US live music market
Swift herself said it was “excruciating” to watch fans struggling to get tickets, and that she had been assured Ticketmaster could handle the demand.
In its written testimony ahead of its Tuesday grilling by US senators, the company explained for the first time how its systems had been targeted by software “bots” used to illegally obtain tickets.
The attacks came despite the use of Ticketmaster’s “verified fan” scheme, which requires customers to pre-register their interest, allowing the company to check whether they are genuine fans intending to see the show.
“We knew bots would attack… and planned accordingly,” wrote Mr Berchtold.
‘Terrible consumer experience’
“We were then hit with three times the amount of bot traffic than we had ever experienced, and for the first time in 400 Verified Fan onsales they came after our Verified Fan access code servers.
“While the bots failed to penetrate our systems or acquire any tickets, the attack required us to slow down and even pause our sales. This is what led to a terrible consumer experience that we deeply regret.”
Mr Berchtold also acknowledged that the company should have staggered the sales “over a longer period of time” to stop its systems being overloaded, and that it should have done “a better job setting fan expectations for getting tickets”.
Penny Harrison was part of a small group protesting Ticketmaster outside the Capitol building as the hearing unfolded.
She recalls spending nine hours trying to get Swift tickets for her three children. At first she was frustrated, then emotional, and finally angry.
“I was pissed off,” Ms Harrison said, adding that she missed two doctor appointments in her all-day attempt to secure tickets.
“As I’m sitting in the queue looking, I’m seeing tickets going on resale prices for $10,000 or $20,000 (£16,223),” Ms Harrison said. “And if you were lucky enough to get tickets in your cart, they were gone before you had a chance to pay it.”
In the end, Mr Berchtold said 2.2 million tickets were sold, with less than 5% ending up on resale sites, where scalpers tend to charge inflated prices.
In response to other criticisms, he said Ticketmaster does “not set ticket prices” and that “the majority” of added fees “go to the venue, not to Ticketmaster”.
Ms Harrison believes anyone interested in ever attending a concert or sporting event “need to speak up, they need to get mad, and they need to demand a change”.
She is one of over 300 plaintiffs who have filed a class-action lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation.
According to the lawsuit, the companies imposed artificially high pre-sale, sale, and re-sale prices on fans.
Image caption,Joe Berchtold (left), CEO of Live Nation Entertainment, testified before the US Senate today
The debacle over Swift’s tour prompted Tuesday’s hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will examine competition in the ticketing industry.
As well as Live Nation, senators will hear from representatives of SeatGeek, concert promoter JAM Productions and singer-songwriter Clyde Lawrence, an outspoken critic of Ticketmaster’s business practices.
Live Nation included several letters of support with its testimony, including one from country star Garth Brooks, who called on US lawmakers to take a tougher stance on ticket touts.
“My question is, as a country, why don’t we just make scalping illegal?” he wrote. “The crush of bots during an on-sale is a huge reason for programme failure.
“And the one who always pays for this atrocity is the customer, the last one on whom that burden should fall.”
However, it is unclear whether Tuesday’s hearing will prompt any meaningful change, unless evidence is presented of anti-competitive practices by Ticketmaster – for example, unfairly pressuring artists to use their services.
The company has repeatedly denied any such dealings.
At the Grammy Awards in February, Harry Styles experienced a nightmare when the stage he was on began to turn in the opposite direction.
When a technical issue caused their stage to go backward, the performer and his dancers had to hastily alter their act.
But rather than berate the technicians, Styles “called the team in charge to make sure they were OK,” says Grammys set designer Julio Himede.
The mishap “was heart-breaking,” he told the BBC’s Eurovisioncast podcast.
“In rehearsals his performance was so polished. I was sitting there admiring how amazing Harry and his dancers were to just run with it and cope with it.
“To continue the performance live and all of a sudden think, ‘I have to just go in reverse now’, is quite incredible”.
Image caption,Dancers had previously said they had to think on their feet when the turntable they had rehearsed on started spinning the wrong way
After the Grammys, Himede’s next major project is the set design for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.
He said mishaps like the one Styles endured show why multiple rehearsals are so important for live television.
“What’s really interesting about working on Eurovision is that we have 37 artists performing on that stage,” he told Eurovisioncast.
“Whereas, when we do the Grammy’s we might have up to 13 performances. Everything [at Eurovision] is bigger and larger. Everything’s faster.”
He explained that a typical award show has three minutes between performances. At the song contest, the stage has to be reset in less than 60 seconds.
“It is mesmerising because most people don’t realise, unless you’re there in the arena, what it takes.
Watch: Mae Muller’s song entry for Eurovision 2023 and fan reaction
This year’s Eurovision stage is based on the themes of “togetherness, celebration and community”, acknowledging that the UK is hosting the show on behalf of last year’s winners, Ukraine.
The stage “takes inspiration from a wide hug, opening its arms to Ukraine, the show’s performers and guests from across the world,” Himede said when his design was unveiled last month.
Construction will begin construction at Liverpool’s M&S arena by the end of the month, with several previously-booked shows cancelled or moved to make way for the competition.
Weeks of rehearsals will be held to ensure that none of the performers suffer a similar fate to Styles, in front of the contest’s 160 million viewers.
Tickets for the nine shows in Liverpool sold out in 90 minutes last week, with fans being warned that hotels they have booked are being targeted by phishing email cyber-attacks putting their data at risk.
Presidential staffer, Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe has asserted that his criticism of investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ methods in a Facebook post from last year has been vindicated.
The presidential staffer’s post was denounced the presidential staffer’s article
In the wake of a March 15 High Court ruling that questioned Anas’ methods dismissing a defamation suit he had brought against a Member of Parliament, Tagoe reshared a critical post he made of Anas’ work to respond to Mr. Baako’s clapback at the time.
“Careers have been destroyed all in the name of “investigative journalism”. When I spoke about the modus operandi, they told me I was part of the problem and definitely not the solution. Like I said the other day, we are all in the hands of the Lord,” he posted with a photo of his post ast year.
The said post was made after Anas’ Galamsey Fraud investigation that cost Charles Adu Boahen, a Minister of State at the finance ministry his job.
Teiko Tagoe’s 2022 post read in part: “Recording people and editing the recording with your own voice over to suit your story is nothing but share wickedness and evil. He did it to Kwasi Nyantakyi and the country looked on. All I can say is that, we are all in the hands of the Lord.”
Kweku Baako responded in the comments section: “You’re part of the PROBLEM. And not the SOLUTION! Respectfully!”
Anas vs. Ken Agyapong defamation case
An Accra High Court on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, struck out a defamation suit brought by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas against Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
The plaintiff, filed the case in 2018, seeking among other reliefs monetary damages to the tune of GH¢25 million.
However, the court presided by Justice Eric Baah despite finding various claims made by the defendant against the plaintiff as potentially defamatory, ruled that the comments were factual and fair.
The court subsequently dismissed the suit and awarded the defendant a sum of 50,000 Ghana cedis to cover his legal costs.
The MP has subsequently referred to the ruling as a victory for straight talk over investigative terrorism.
The journalist also expressed grave misgivings about the ruling describing it in part as a travesty of justice. He, has also confirmed that his legal team will file an appeal, stressing that his fight against corruption will continue unabated.
In central Paris, protesters and police have once more exchanged blows over the French government’s proposed pension reforms.
Police fired tear gas to disperse the thousands of protesters who set fires and some of whom tossed firecrackers at them.
Since President Emmanuel Macron chose to enact the divisive measures to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a vote, there have been two nights of disturbance.
No-confidence motions have been filed against his government in response.
The first was signed by independents and members of the left-wing Nupes coalition in parliament, while a second came from the far-right National Rally party.
Both are expected to be debated early next week.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally MPs in parliament, called the decision to push through the pension changes “a total failure for the government”.
Police made dozens of arrests during the unrest at Place de la Concorde, not far from the parliament building.
Protests also took place on Friday in other French cities – notably Bordeaux, Toulon and Strasbourg.
“We won’t give up,” one demonstrator told AFP news agency. “There’s still hope that the reform can be revoked.”
Another told Reuters that pushing the legislation through without a vote was “a denial of democracy… a total denial of what has been happening in the streets for several weeks”.
The government has said the changes to pensions are essential to ensure the system is not overburdened and prevent it collapsing.
But many people, including union members, disagree and France has now seen more than two months of heated political debate and strikes over the issue.
Transport, public services and schools have all been affected, while a rolling walkout by waste collectors has seen thousands of tonnes of rubbish left on the streets of the capital.
Fuel deliveries have also been blocked and there are plans to stop production at a large refinery in Normandy in the coming days.
“Changing the government or prime minister will not put out this fire, only withdrawing the reform,” said the head of the moderate CFDT union, Laurent Berger.
Military officials at Fort Hood concluded that there was no foul play in the death of Pvt. Ana Basaldua Ruiz, despite her family’s allegations that she was being sexually harassed,
According to a statement from Fort Hood, 20-year-old combat engineer Basaldua Ruiz of the 1st Cavalry Division passed away on Monday.
The Army Criminal Investigation Division and the chain of command are actively looking into the details and circumstances surrounding her death, according to the statement, which was made public on Wednesday.
Basaldua Ruiz’s mother, Alejandra Ruiz Zarco, was told by Army officials that Basaldua Ruiz died by suicide, the mother told CNN affiliate Univision and Telemundo News.
Ruiz Zarco told both outlets she questions the claim and says her daughter was being sexually harassed at the base.
The Army would not confirm Basaldua Ruiz’s cause of death to CNN but said in a statement that “any possible harassment will be addressed and investigated fully.”
“Army CID will continue to conduct a thorough investigation and gather all evidence and facts to ensure they discover exactly what transpired,” the statement said.
In a news conference Friday evening, Fort Hood commander Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe said the criminal investigation division – which is independent of Fort Hood’s chain of command – is “not ruling anything out and will investigate the circumstances leading up to Ana’s death fully and completely.”
The allegations of harassment are being investigated, Bernabe said, adding “we do not tolerate harassment of any type.”
Basaldua Ruiz’s family members will soon be visiting the base, and Bernabe said the army remains “committed to maintaining open lines of communication” with the family and are prepared to “receive them and to support them” during the visit.
The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest Hispanic civil rights organization in the US, called for an independent FBI investigation into Basaldua Ruiz’s death.
The organization wants the probe to be conducted outside the Army structure and for the evidence to be identified, assessed and evaluated independently, said league spokesperson David Cruz.
Basaldua Ruiz’s death comes three years after the murder of Fort Hood Army Spc. Vanessa Guillén, who disappeared in April 2020 and was later found dead in a shallow grave. Her family said Guillén was being sexually harassed and planned to file a complaint; she was killed the day before she would have filed it. The suspect, a fellow Fort Hood soldier, killed himself after being confronted by police, officials said. Guillén’s family said the man became enraged when he found out she planned to file a sexual harassment report and killed her.
An investigation in the wake of Guillén’s death led to the punishment of 14 senior officers and raised concerns about the culture at the base.
The Fort Hood Independent Review Committee found “a deficient climate” there, including “ineffective implementation of the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program that resulted in a pervasive lack of confidence, fear of retaliation, and significant underreporting of cases, particularly within the enlisted ranks,” the Pentagon said in 2020.
Basaldua Ruiz was from Long Beach, California, and entered the Army in 2021, officials said. She had been assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division for 15 months.
“A loss of any one of our Soldiers is a tragedy,” said Col. Christopher Dempsey, commander, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “Our hearts and thoughts go out to the family, friends and colleagues of Ana.”
CNN’s Chris Boyette and Andy Rose contributed to this report.
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, and US Vice President Joe Biden has applauded this.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) charged President Putin with war crimes in Ukraine, which President Biden stated the Russian president had “obviously” committed.
The allegations center on the forcible removal of kids from Ukraine to Russia following Moscow’s incursion in 2022.
Moscow has denied the allegations and denounced the warrants as “outrageous”.
It is highly unlikely that much will come of the move, as the ICC has no powers to arrest suspects without the co-operation of a country’s government.
Russia is not an ICC member country, meaning the court, located in The Hague, has no authority there.
However, it could affect Mr Putin in other ways, such as being unable to travel internationally. He could now be arrested if he sets foot in any of the court’s 123 member states.
Mr Putin is only the third president to be issued with an ICC arrest warrant.
President Biden said that, while the court also held no sway in the US, the issuing of the warrant “makes a very strong point”.
“He’s clearly committed war crimes,” he told reporters.
His administration had earlier “formally determined” that Russia had committed war crimes during the conflict in Ukraine, with Vice-President Kamala Harris saying in February that those involved would “be held to account”.
The United Nations also released a report earlier this week that found Moscow’s forced removal of Ukrainian children to areas under its control amounted to a war crime.
In a statement on Friday, the ICC said it had reasonable grounds to believe Mr Putin committed the criminal acts directly, as well as working with others. It also accused him of failing to use his presidential powers to stop children being deported.
Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, is also wanted by the ICC for the same crimes.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has said the warrants were “based upon forensic evidence, scrutiny and what’s been said by those two individuals”.
The court had initially considered keeping the arrest warrants a secret, but decided to make them public to try and stop further crimes being committed.
“Children can’t be treated as the spoils of war, they can’t be deported,” Mr Khan told the BBC.
“This type of crime doesn’t need one to be a lawyer, one needs to be a human being to know how egregious it is.”
Mr Khan also pointed out that nobody thought that Slobodan Milosevic, the Serbian leader who went on trial for war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s, would end up in The Hague to face justice.
“Those that feel that you can commit a crime in the daytime, and sleep well at night, should perhaps look at history,” Mr Khan said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any of the court’s decisions were “null and void” and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev compared the warrant to toilet paper.
Russian opposition activists have welcomed the announcement. Ivan Zhdanov, a close ally of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has tweeted that it was “a symbolic step” but an important one.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his thanks to Mr Khan and the ICC for their decision to press charges against “state evil”.
Fire safety procedures at the Kejetia market facility have serious flaws that haven’t been fixed for years, according to head of safety and environment at the plant, Nana Opoku-Amankwah,.
His remarks follow a fire that broke out at the ultra-modern Kejetia facility, destroying thousands of Ghana cedis’ worth of goods from vendors and the market complex.
Mr. Opoku-Amankwah was speaking in an interview with Abusua FM’s Kojo Bimpong Marfo in Kumasi weeks before the fire yesterday, March 15, 2023
He stated there have always been serious lapses in the fire management regime put in place for the facility.
Responding to a question about the compatibility of fire tenders and hydrants in the market by the host of Abusua Nkomo, this was Mr. Amankwah’s response.
“It is true the hydrants and the tenders are mismatched (not compatible), surprisingly when this project was handed to the managers (KMA) by contractors somebody took hold of it. Someone approved all was ok and we are here with this. When I resumed my post, we did an assessment including equipment we needed to acquire to improve the safety system there. this included the fire hydrants even though that is not the singular most important equipment in dousing the fire in the market.”
Actress Lydia Forson has requested journalists to be sensitive and respectful of bereaved family members’ right to privacy.
Her call over Twitter was in response to an incident that occurred at the memorial service for her friend Christian Atsu, where it was said that a reporter had questioned the deceased’s son about his feelings.
Many criticized the journalist for being inconsiderate to the situation and hardship of the young boy who merely smiled without responding after the comment went viral on social media.
“Funerals are not concerts or for entertainment! Reporters should learn some decorum in how they cover and engage with mourners! How do you ask someone if they’re “sad”?!
“And shoving cameras in peoples faces and not giving them even a moment of privacy. Like?!!” Forson’s tweet of March 17 read.
She was part of wellwishers who thronged State House forecourt for the final funeral of the former Black Stars player. Atsu has since been interred in his hometown.
The March 17, 2023 final funeral rites of Christian Atsu attracted people from all walks of life as the forecourt of the State House buzzed with activity.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his vice were in attendance along with a high-powered government delegation. Also in attendance was the former president John Dramani Mahama.
Funerals are not concerts or for entertainment!
Reporters should learn some decorum in how they cover and engage with mourners!
How do you ask someone if they’re “sad”?!
And shoving cameras in peoples faces and not giving them even a moment of privacy. Like?!!
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) was led by its president Kurt Okraku who also led members of the association and a group of former Black Stars players.
Atsu died in the February 6 earthquake that struck Turkey and parts of Syria. He was declared missing till his remains were recovered on February 18.
A local TV journalist who was impolite while performing her job has received harsh criticism.
How do you feel?, a question she asked the little son of the late player Christian Atsu, soon gained popularity on social media sites as others accused her of being careless and downright unprofessional.
The child was interviewed by the reporter as the Atsu family made their way back to the seating area at the State House’s forecourt, where the former footballer’s final funeral service was held.
The boy spotted a smile at the question even as he was whisked away from the microphone as reporters retreated.
The boy had just together with his mother and aunt, Atsu’s twin sister, read a tribute and laid a wreath before returning to their seats.
One of the ardent critics happened to be actress Lydia Forson, a close friend of the deceased.
“Funerals are not concerts or for entertainment! Reporters should learn some decorum in how they cover and engage with mourners! How do you ask someone if they’re “sad”?!
“And shoving cameras in peoples faces and not giving them even a moment of privacy. Like?!!” Forson’s tweet of March 17 read.
How do you feel? Sɛsɛn? In which world is it appropriate to try to interview such a small boy who probably doesn't even understand what is going on? This is just sickening. Ghana media sit up! @adom_tv@Adom1063fm
That Adom tv journalist who asked Atsu’s child “how he feels “,I don’t have any word for him/her. Small small Everybody will know the level of journalism in this part of the world.
Who is the female journalist at the funeral of Christian Atsu who thinks it is appropriate to ask a little boy who has come to bury his father "How do you feel?"
Like SERIOUSLY! 😡😡😡 The need for an exclusive story doesn't mean negating ethics and empathy. pic.twitter.com/NJtDbQ3Aho
This is only not unprofessional, but an extremely stupid behavior from this @adom_tv reporter. How on earth do you put a microphone to the mouth of a boy who is mourning his father?
In the course of their duties, two police officers in the western Canadian province of Alberta were shot and killed while attending to a family dispute.
A 16-year-old male is the suspect in the fatal shooting, according to Edmonton police.
The adolescent self-inflicted a gunshot wound, according to police.
The teenager’s mother, a 55-year-old woman, was also shot and taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The officers killed were Travis Jordan, 35, and Brett Ryan, 30. Both worked with the Edmonton Police Service. Mr Jordan had been with the force for more than eight years, while Mr Ryan had been an officer for more than five years.
Police Chief Dale McFee said the two officers were shot on Thursday after responding to a domestic dispute call at an apartment complex in Edmonton at around 00:47 local time (06:47 GMT).
The call was made by the suspect’s mother, police said, and officers met her outside the building. As they approached the apartment, the officers were shot multiple times by a young male suspect at the door.
Devin Laforce, Edmonton police’s chief deputy of investigations, said neither officers discharged their firearm as they had “no opportunity” to do so. They also were not aware that the teenager had a weapon prior to arriving, as the initial 911 call made no mention of it.
Deputy Chief Laforce said the suspect and his mother then got into an altercation, during which she was shot as well.
Police did not name the suspect or his mother, who remains in hospital in serious but stable condition.
Chief McFee said the two officers were given aid immediately and rushed to hospital. “Unfortunately, they were both declared deceased at the hospital,” he said.
Deputy Chief Laforce said the teenager was known to police, who had responded to the apartment in the past for “non-violent” mental health calls. The suspect did not have a criminal record, he said.
Police did not reveal what type of gun was used in the shooting, and said they are currently investigating where it originated from.
Condolences have poured in from several police forces around Canada, including in Vancouver and Toronto, as well as from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“Every day, police officers put themselves in harm’s way to keep people safe,” Mr Trudeau said in a post on Twitter. “The news that two Edmonton police officers have been killed in the line of duty reminds us of that reality. I’m sending my condolences to the officers’ loved ones and colleagues – we’re here for you.”
Edmonton mayor Amarjeet Sohi described it as a “very difficult and sad day”.
“Every day, families of the police officers send their loved ones off to duty, to work and hope they return home safely,” Mr Sohi said.
“We hold you in our hearts as you mourn this profound loss and we mourn it with you,” he said.
Eight police officers have been killed on the line of duty in Canada in the last six months. The other fatalities occurred in Ontario and British Columbia.
A rights advocacy organization has urged Mozambique to look into claims that police used tear gas to scatter people during the funeral of well-known artist Edson da Luz, also known as Azagaia.
Azagaia was a vehement opponent of the administration. He passed away last week at the age of 38 at his Maputo home.
Social media footage showed police firing tear gas on a procession of mourners as it headed towards the official residence of the president – an area off limits to pedestrians.
The hearse carrying the rapper’s coffin was allowed to pass a police barricade, but pedestrians were forced to take an alternative route.
“An impartial investigation is needed to determine whether officers unnecessarily rushed to use tear gas and to hold them accountable,” said Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz, the Deputy Director of the Africa Division at Human Rights Watch.
The opposition protests scheduled for Monday, according to South African police, are an attempt to overthrow the government rather than just a shutdown.
In response to the nation’s electricity crisis, the opposition group Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is planning statewide marches and has demanded that President Cyril Ramaphosa step down.
“This is an attempt to overthrow the government. This is not a shutdown, but it’s anarchy,” KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, said on Friday while briefing media on security plans to deal with threats posed by the protests.
“The magnitude of threats differs from other planned shutdowns and that is why we have to be extra vigilant,” Mr Mkhwanazi was quoted by local media as saying.
He said police have received no notices of any planned gatherings in the province, adding that over 18,000 security officers would be deployed during the march, eNCA TV reported.
President Ramaphosa on Thursday warned that anarchy will not be tolerated during the protests and called on security forces to “defend our people”.
Mr Ramaphosa said the only way to get him out of office and power is through a vote.
Julius Malema, the EFF leader, insists the protests are not illegal and has warned that anyone who attempts to stop them would “meet their maker”, News24 reported.
Thirty-seven individuals have died from cholera in the last six months, according to Ethiopia’s Public Health Institute (EPHI), mostly in areas most severely affected by a protracted ongoing drought.
The UN reports that the greatest drought in 40 years is currently occurring in the Oromia and Somale regions, where the outbreak started in August 2022.
The issue has been contained, according to authorities, by the establishment of treatment facilities.
In its report, EPHI also says that a measles outbreak has claimed 148 lives in the past 18 months.
In response to Russia’s escalating invasion of Ukraine, a group of painters painted murals throughout Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
“The policy of destruction and elimination of Ukrainian identity is one of Russia’s key elements in the war against Ukraine,” said Emine Dzhaparova, Ukraine’s deputy minister for foreign affairs.
“In our temporarily occupied territories, Russian invaders closed Ukrainian schools and imposed their language and history,” the minister added.
Kenyan artists Moha and Eliamin Ink and their Ukrainian counterparts Alina Konyk, Nikita Kravtsov, and Andrii Kovtun created the mural that stands on the wall of Phoenix House at the heart of Nairobi city.
“I am sure that our artistic collaboration is a perfect opportunity to start our diplomatical relationships in a place of culture,” said Nikita Kravtsov, a Ukrainian concept-artist.
The mural uses coffee and wheat grains to symbolise the political, economic, and diplomatic ties between Kenya and Ukraine.
Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has said he, together with his team, will appeal the judgment delivered by Justice Eric Baah in the GHS25 million defamation suit he filed against the MP for Assin Central Mr. Kennedy Agyapong.
The judge dismissed the case.
Justice Baah, in his judgment, said Mr. Aremeyaw engages in investigative terrorism rather than investigative journalism.
He said all the evidence adduced in court showed that Mr. Aremeyaw uses blackmail and extortion against people to fleece them.
The judge said Mr. Agyapong was right in describing Mr. Aremeyaw as a blackmailer, extortionist, criminal, corrupt, and evil person.
Reacting to the judgment, Anas in a two-minute video said: “Although the news about the dismissal of our defamation suit against the Member of Parliament was unexpected, I disagree with the judge’s reason both in law and the facts. My team of lawyers and I have carefully studied the judgment delivered by the court, and we are unanimous that the judge made an overreach and descended into the arena and made criminal pronouncement about me as if I was standing a criminal trial.
He also justified the MP accusing me of the murder of the late JB Danquah, murder of 20 Chinese nationals and a host of other crimes. We are filing an appeal because there was no evidence provided.”
In the lengthy judgment, Justice Baah also revealed that the Tiger Eye P.I. CEO, confessed on tape to being bribed with $100,000 by one Baba Tunde, one of the suspects in the $1.9-million gold scam saga, which never got aired by the journalist despite having investigated it, so the evidence could be manipulated to exclude the payer of the bribe.
Additionally, Justice Baah said in his judgment that one of the exhibits tendered in court, also captured Anas on tape confessing to giving a former Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service, Mr. Adu Poku, some $75,000 as bribe.
The journalist, who was the plaintiff in the defamation case in which he sought damages against Mr. Agyapong for calling him names such as “blackmailer, corrupt, extortionist, criminal, evil and murderer” in the ‘Who Watches The Watchman’ documentary aired in 2018 on Net2 TV, a media house owned by the politician, to, ostensibly expose the alleged shady deals of the Tiger Eye P.I. CEO, also disclosed on tape, according to the judgment, that an amount of $5,000 was wired into the bank account of the prosecutor who handled the gold scam case, in order to shield Baba Tunde and “turn” the evidence on one Hafiz, who refused to cooperate with them.
Read Justice Eric Baah’s judgment in relation to the gold scam saga below, for which reason he determined that Mr. Agyapong was justified in calling Mr. Aremeyaw a “blackmailer, extortionist, criminal, and corrupt”:
Exhibit KOA1 begins with one Hafiz Abdallah, who appeared on Net 2 TV on 31 May 2018 to allege that the plaintiff took a bribe of $50,000 (fifty thousand dollars) to quash an investigation into a gold scum by the said Hafiz and others.
According to Hafiz, it was as a result of the bribe taken by plaintiff that he failed to publish the videos on that case.
The next part of the video is a conversation between the plaintiff on one part, and Baba Tunde and Mubarak on the other part.
The conversation hovered around a gold scam involving a huge sum of 1.9 million dollars, with Baba Tunde, Mubarak and Hafiz Abdallah and others as suspects.
According to Mubarak, of the sum of $1.9 million, they were paid a total of $560,000.
This sum, he claimed, were shared with Hafiz, and “those at the airport and all other persons.”
Mubarak made it clear in the presence of the plaintiff that they were part of an international criminal gang.
Said Mubarak: “The guy who brought the business was from Cotonou. He is called Abbas but his business name in Cotonou is Kwame. That is the name he uses for business. He is not here.”
He told the plaintiff that one of the suspects, “Prince is not here, he is in Cotonou.”
Mubarak confessed his involvement in the crime in the following words: “We don’t hide anything. Actually, if it was 1.9, I can’t confirm. But me, I know I am part of the whole deal.”
He then proceeded to state how much was received, and how much each suspect, and their accomplices got.
The plaintiff and the two suspects then engaged in a lengthy conversation, in which they plotted how they would contrive a story to scapegoat one Hafiz, who had refused to cooperate with the plaintiff by giving him money, and how they could tell their sweet story to the police, and also secure the proceeds of the crime in their bank accounts.
After this encounter, the plaintiff met the prosecutor in the gold scam case in what his lawyer said was a rehearsal for the trial.
Indeed, the early part of their investigation revolved around the evidence plaintiff had gathered about the suspects.
He showed the video of his encounter with the suspects and tried to explain the events to the prosecutor.
The conversation then changed from the suspects to money and the plaintiff and the prosecutor.
The plaintiff confessed to the prosecutor that he had been bought with $100,000.00. This is how the conversation went: ‘Prosecutor: Hmm, they have really been working and settling everybody. Anas: …his demeanour, 1.9 million dollars from where? Who did they take it from? Then he started telling me how the people came here and were working with them. So, at that time, they bought me with hundred thousand dollars because he is somehow related to me. Somehow. I don’t know how…?’
The prosecutor wanted to know who paid the money to plaintiff, and how much she was to receive, and how the evidence was to be skewed to scapegoat (Hafiz).
The following conversation ensued between the two: ‘Prosecutor: Is it the two of them? Anas: No, it was Baba Tunde. He now wanted to fight for himself. Prosecutor: Tell me the amount transferred to me. Anas: $5,000 (five thousand dollars) Prosecutor: We all want money, we all need money… Anas: Exactly. Prosecutor: That’s the reason why I had to know the evidence he had and then we turn it to suit the presentation you have in court’.
In a voluntary confession by the plaintiff that he had paid bribe to the Director General of the CID, this is what the video says: ‘Anas: They have…by then Adu Poku was the CID boss. So, I met him and gave him seventy-five thousand dollars’.
The claim by plaintiff that the event in the office of the prosecutor, on the second part of the video was a rehearsal, turned out to be largely false.
The event indeed started as a rehearsal but veered off into matters unrelated to the rehearsal.
It quickly degenerated into a strategy section on how to share bribes and sabotage the then-pending criminal case on the gold scam.
Otherwise, how related was the rehearsal to the confession of plaintiff that Baba Tunde had bought him with $100,000.00, a claim which became proven by the exclusion of Baba Tunde from the charges despite his tape-recorded confession which was in the possession of the plaintiff?
How related was the rehearsal to the plaintiff’s confession that he met the then Director General of CID, Ghana Police Service, and bribed him with $75,000.00?
And how related was the rehearsal to the plaintiff’s confession that he had paid a bribe of $5,000.00 into the account of the prosecutor?
Plaintiff evaded the critical issues raised by his confession statements in exhibit KOA1 and hid under the shaky and porous banner of the rehearsal.
Even though the prosecution sought to tender a tape of plaintiff on the accused persons, there is no evidence of the actual copy that was to be tendered.
It could have been the same copy as in exhibit KOA1, but it could have been an edited and doctored version.
By plaintiff’s own account, he rested himself when the court overruled the application of the prosecution to admit the tape.
The tape then went into abeyance and was brought to the attention of the public only when defendant aired his “Who Watches Watchman.”
Had it not been for the efforts of the investigators of that piece and the defendant, Ghanaians and the world would never have become aware of that tape and the culprits therein.
The mantra of plaintiff repeated ad nauseum in our ears, and of which I take judicial notice is “Name, shame and prosecute.”
Pursuant to that, plaintiff has rushed to air audio-visuals on his investigations to the public, often at a fee (judicial notice).
Judicial notice is further taken of the fact that in some of the investigations aired to the public, the bribes collected involves thousands of cedis and or goats, yam, etc. Refer to the investigation on judges dubbed: “Ghana in the eyes of God, epic of injustice”, cited by the plaintiff’s counsel.
In the case under reference, the amount stolen was $1.9 million, most probably, the biggest crime by quantum that has been investigated by the plaintiff.
As mentioned above, the culprits confessed on tape and in the face of plaintiff, their involvement in the crime.
The suspects indicated that they are an international criminal gang operating between Ghana and Cotonou.
A tape covering the self-confession of the suspects in a gold scam involving $1.9 million and a cross-border gang with accomplices at the airport and other places, would have been explosive on the airways.
But the airwaves were kept silent by the plaintiff and his team.
In this case, the plaintiff forgot to name and shame the criminals by publicly airing the explosive video, as has been his tradition.
He, uncharacteristically deferred first, and not last, to the court. However, even when the court rejected the tape, and the case was truncated for lack of prosecution, plaintiff kept the tape under wraps.
His silence continued.
He kept mute from 2009 to 2018, when the tapes first hit the public space, courtesy the defendant.
That was not as a result of change of heart or policy, because plaintiff has continued to show tapes on investigations conducted by him.
What incapacitated the plaintiff from showing the tape to the public?
The answer is in the tape.
In the tape, Hafiz decoded the reason why the plaintiff refused to air the tape as was his tradition in other investigations.
Said Hafiz of the plaintiff’s conduct: “So, why didn’t you show the videos? You showed the customs officers, you showed the judges, but when it came to our time because he took the 50,000 (fifty thousand dollars), he didn’t show it.
You understand where I am coming from? All that am trying to say to Ghanaians is that this guy is not correct. He is not a correct human being because he comes to do this thing, he goes to edit what he wants to add and minus what he wants-like any movie producer will do. That is exactly what he is doing. It is a movie that he is producing.”
The claim of Hafiz, when considered in the context of other events in the case, assumes the status of high credibility.
In the tape, the plaintiff appeared to plot with Mubarak and Baba Tunde, on how to shield them and the other culprits and shift the blame onto Hafiz.
When the plaintiff met the prosecutor in her office, the plot continued.
To that end, the prosecutor told plaintiff: “That’s the reason why I had to know the evidence he had and we turn it to suit the presentation you have to do in court.”
To “turn” evidence to suit plaintiff’s narration in court, was to bend the evidence, in breach of the law, and in violation of the ethics of prosecution.
As a prosecutor, you do not turn or bend one piece of evidence to suit the other. You present it as it is, even if it would be to the accused’s benefit.
The ethics of prosecution goes on to require that if a prosecutor has evidence that will benefit or exonerate the accused, and which evidence the accused person does not possess, the prosecutor must hand over that piece of evidence to the accused.
The up-quoted part of the conversation meant one and only one thing, that there was a plot between the plaintiff and the prosecutor to sabotage the trial.
In the court proceedings (exhibits KOA2/ F-series), the case began with Mohammed Hafiz Abdallah. Then an unnamed person was added. Later, the three persons appearing as accused persons were: Mohammed Hafix Abdallah, Mubarak Seidu and Prince Kingston Kwame.
Conspicuously missing was Baba Tunde, who plaintiff had captured on tape confessing to the crime.
Why was Baba Tunde left out? If he was left out by the prosecution without the knowledge of plaintiff, did the plaintiff petition the Attorney General for his inclusion since he had his confession on tape?
The evidence before me amply proves that Baba Tunde was excluded from the charges through the machinations of the plaintiff, after receiving a bribe of $100,000.00 from Baba Tunde, and on grounds of their family relationship.
For the sake of emphasis, I will repeat the relevant aspect of the conversation between the plaintiff and the prosecutor on Baba Tunde: ‘Prosecutor: Hmm they have really been working and are settling everybody. Anas: “…his demeanour, 1.9 million dollars from where? Who did they take it from? Then he started telling me how the people came here and were working with them. So, at that time they bought me with hundred thousand dollars because he is somehow related to me. Somehow. I don’t know how…? Prosecutor: Is it the two? Anas: No, Baba Tunde. He now wanted to fight for himself’.
If plaintiff says that Baba Tunde, in fighting for himself, bribed him with $100,000.00, who else can say he didn’t?
True to the scheme, Baba Tunde who had confessed to a crime involving $1.9 million on a tape in the possession of plaintiff, was excluded from the charges.
The video of his confession was never shown to the public.
Bribery and corruption by and of public officers are a crime under sections 239 (1) and (2) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). Section 239 (1) and (2) provides: “(1) Every public officer or juror who commits corruption, or wilful oppression, or extortion, in respect of the duties of his office, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour. (2) Whoever corrupts any person in respect of any duties as a public officer or juror shall be guilty of a misdemeanour.”
Corruption by and of a Public Officer, etc. has been explained in sections 240 and 241 of Act 29 as follows: “Section 240. A public officer, juror, or voter is guilty of corruption in respect of the duties of his office or vote if he directly or indirectly agrees or offers to permit his conduct as such officer, juror, or voter to be influenced by the gift, promise, or prospect of any valuable consideration to be received by him, or by any other person, from any person whomsoever.
Section 241
A person is guilty of corrupting a public officer, juror, or voter in respect of the duties of his office or in respect of his vote, if he endeavours directly or indirectly to influence the conduct of such public officer, juror, or voter in respect of the duties of his office or in respect of his vote, by the gift, promise, or prospect of any valuable consideration to be received by such public officer, juror, or voter, or by other person, from any person whomsoever.
In criminal trials as aforesaid, a voluntary confession statement is admissible against the maker.
The confession statements relieved the defendant of the onus of proof to the standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt”, which is the requirement of proving an allegation of a crime in a civil trial.
The conclusion is that the defendant proved the criminal allegations against the plaintiff based on exhibit KOA1, beyond a reasonable doubt.
Plaintiff’s counsel sought to establish the accusation by theoretical arguments and logical deductions.
Manchester United will meet Spanish side Sevilla in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Should they advance, Erik ten Hag’s side will meet either Juventus – whose squad includes former United midfielder Paul Pogba – or Arsenal’s conquerors Sporting Lisbon in the semi-finals.
In the other last-eight ties, Roma face Feyenoord and Bayer Leverkusen meet Union Saint-Gilloise.
The first legs take place on 13 April, with the return games on 20 April.
The suspected murder of the District Pastor of Narrow Gate Faith Ministries in charge of Bonakye on his farm by unidentified assailants has left residents of Bonakye, a suburb of the Nkwanta South Municipality in the Oti Region, in a state of fear.
The deceased, Pastor Bless Denutsi, a 50-year-old man, was found lifeless on his farm a few meters away from the Bonakye town in a supine position with blood oozing from his nose and ears believing that he was hit by sticks by his assailants.
Emilia Denutsi, wife of the deceased narrating the sad news to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during a visit to the scene said, the husband left home to the farm early hours of Wednesday, March 15, but failed to return as he usually does.
She narrated she became alarmed after all efforts to reach him proved futile.
“Later in the evening I went and informed some leaders of our Church about the situation after I went to the farm but didn’t find him.”
The leaders of the Church together with some members of the community then went in search of him but found the Pastor dead.
A team of Police officers from the Nkwanta South Municipal Command led by Detective Lance Corporal Kumi Seidu, visited the crime scene this morning and conveyed the body to the Nkwanta South Municipal morgue awaiting autopsy.
Superintendent of Police, Lawson Lartey, Nkwanta South Municipal Police Commander said the Police suspected foul play, have begun investigations into the death of the Man of God, and assured that the culprits would be brought to book.
Sammy Kuffour, John Paintsil, and Yaw Acheampong, all ex-football players from Ghana, could not contain their sobs as they passed the mortal remains of their late colleague, Christian Atsu.
The former football players were seen sobbing on GhanaWeb footage as they approached Atsu’s body to say goodbye.
At the State House in Accra’s forecourt, the body of the former Newcastle United footballer lies in state as friends, former teammates, and the nation as a whole pay their respects.
Christian Atsu passed in February after his lifeless body was recovered from the rubble of his collapsed apartment in Hatay following an earthquake that struck Turkey on February 6, 2023.
The former Ghanaian International in his 7 years international career played at the World Cup and help Ghana finish second in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, in which he won the best player of the tournament.
The funeral of Christian Atsu who passed away in February 2023, was graced with the presence of New Black Stars coach, Chris Hughton was present at the burial service of Black Stars winger, Christian Atsu
Hughton and his first assistant George Boateng attended the service on March 17, 2023, at the State House in Accra.
Prior to his official introduction on March 20, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager traveled to Ghana to attend his father Willy Hughton’s funeral.
He attended the funeral upon his arrival to pay his respect to the late footballer who died after an earthquake in Turkey.
Former Black Stars include, Samuel Osei Kuffour, Stephen Appiah, John Mensah, Sulley Muntari, John Paintsil, Richard Kingston, Augustine Arhinful, Prince Tagoe, and a few others also attended the funeral to say their final goodbyes.
Former president John Dramani Mahama and other dignitaries all arrived at the ongoing service as well as former Togo national team skipper, Emmanuel Adebayor.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his vice Mahamudu Bawumia and other government officials, local and international teammates, and officials all graced the burial ceremony.
Mubarak Wakaso, a midfielder with the Black Stars, has acknowledged that it will take him some time to adjust to the loss of his close friend Christian Atsu.
In a homage to his deceased friend, Mubarak Wakaso shared the emotional pain he has been going through ever since it was announced that Christian Atsu had passed away.
He recalled some of their enjoyable times together while acknowledging that he would find it challenging to move on from this experience.
“It’s so difficult for me to express in words how I am feeling. Since hearing about the earthquake on 6th February, I had hope that you were still alive. I never believed that this hope would turn into sadness. You were my everyday guy, my friend, my brother. We played together, we laughed together we ate together.
“You were someone who I trusted in everything because in a good or bad situation, you was always there for me. I have been here just looking at our pictures, reading our messages, watching our videos. All I have now is the memories in which I will cherish forever. Rest in perfect peace, Love from your brother Wakaso Mubarak,” he said.
Wakaso was among a host of former teammates of Christian Atsupresent at his funeral held at the forecourt of the State House on Friday, 17 March 2023.
Wakaso arrived with the likes of Muntari, Sammy Kuffour, Sulley Muntari, John Mensah and a host of others.
Christian Atsu passed in February after his lifeless body was recovered from the rubble of his collapsed apartment in Hatay following an earthquake that struck Turkey on February 6, 2023.
The former Ghanaian International in his 7 years international career played at the World Cup and help Ghana finish second in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, in which he won the best player of the tournament.
A group thought to be from Ada, the hometown of the late Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu, put on a vibrant cultural presentation.
The group, which consisted of roughly twelve people and carried a variety of things, entered the funeral grounds dancing, showcasing their rich cultural heritage.
Following the rituals at the State House’s forecourt, Christian Atsu will be buried in Dogome, which is part of the Greater Accra Region.
Following an earthquake that rocked Turkey on February 6, 2023, Christian Atsu passed away in February when his lifeless body was discovered in the ruins of his collapsed flat in Hatay.
The former Ghanaian International in his 7 years international career played at the World Cup and help Ghana finish second in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, in which he won the best player of the tournament.
General manager of Dreams FC, Ameenu Shadow, has acknowledged that he is currently in discussions with the Ghana Football Association about taking over as the Black Stars’ next team manager.
Prior to the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, Ameenu Shadow was reportedly named the national team’s squad manager, according to earlier local media sources.
In an interview with Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM, Shadow stated that although the appointment has not yet been announced, conversations are still ongoing.
“The truth of the matter is that there have been talks, we have had discussions. There is no confirmation now but the truth of the matter is that there’s been discussions with respect to that position. “he said.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars will host Angola on March 23, 2023 at the Baba Yara Stadium before the reverse fixture in Luanda four days later.
The Black Stars lead Group E of the qualifiers with four points, followed by Angola who are also on four points before Central African Republic and Madagascar follow in that order.
Captain of Medeama FC, Kwasi Donsu, has voiced his trust in Evans Adotey, the team’s recently named Technical Director.
Following the departure of former coach Umar Abdul Rabi, Adotey has rejoined the organization for a third time and has been hired to serve as the team’s interim manager for the duration of the 2022–23 season.
Donsu, who has been with the squad for a while and has previously worked with Adotey, thinks the club made the right decision by appointing the new Technical Director.
In his own words, “I have been with the team for a long time. I’ve worked with him (Adotey) before, and I’m happy he has rejoined us.
“We are happy, and I’m confident he will help us achieve our targets this year. We thank him for accepting the offer to work with us.”
Adotey is a well-known Ghanaian coach who has led both male and female teams.
Five young Iranian women who were dancing to the song “Calm Down” by Nigerian Afrobeat artist and rapper Divine Ikubor, also known as Rema, are purportedly in custody.
Due to their lack of head scarves while dancing to Rema’s hit song, the five ladies’ video went viral on Tuesday.
The Times of Israel reported that there are anxieties about their well-being for filming themselves dancing as they were arrested and forced into confessing by Iran’s authorities.
The footage showed the women dancing and slightly showing their stomachs, near highrise buildings in the Tehran residential district of Ekbatan to the song.
It spread widely on TikTok and other social media channels last week around International Women’s Day on March 8.
Activists, apparently from the Ekbatan area, first posted the video on Telegram and Twitter. They said authorities had been asking residents in the area if they knew the women, based on the footage, The Times of Israel said.
On Tuesday, the activists alleged the women had been detained and forced into making a video in which they expressed regret.
In the Islamic Republic, it is illegal for women to dance in public as well as to not wear the Islamic headscarf.
Abolition of the obligatory headscarf rule has been one of the chief demands of the civil unrest that erupted in September after the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the dress code.
This video of Iranian girls in Tehran’s Ekbatan neighbourhood dancing unveiled to the song Calm Down by Rema and Selena Gomez has gone viral.
After the initial viral footage of the five, another video emerged on social media of four women, their heads fully covered, stepping forward one by one to express regret.
It appeared to have been filmed in a similar Ekbatan area, but neither the video nor the circumstances in which it was made could be verified.
Whether the women had been released was also not immediately clear.
Ekbatan, a middle-income area popular with young professionals and families, saw repeated anti-regime actions in the past few months.
Rema retweeted the video of the women dancing with their long hair uncovered and commented: “To all the beautiful women who are fighting for a better world, I’m inspired by you, I sing for you and I dream with you.”
The song “Calm Down” became a global hit after Rema issued a remix with superstar Selena Gomez.
The impact of the Domestic Debt Exchange Plan on the operations of nine Ghanaian banks could render them insolvent if the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 9 is enforced strictly.
Six banks, however, might not sustain any capital losses, while eight banks might sustain just slight losses.
A domestic debt exchange could have a significant impact on the balance sheets of 23 banks and their capacity to extend credit to the economy, according to a paper by banking consultants Dr. Richmond Atuahene and K. B. Frimpong. This is because the banks currently hold about 37% of all government securities.
These losses could be due to a combination of coupon or interest rate reduction, and maturity extension with below-market coupon rates.
“From the data, the capacity of the banking sector to absorb losses is lower not where it is well capitalised to absorb the estimated losses from the debt exchange programme. Ghanaian banks will not be able to absorb losses without having to resort to a recapitalization from the government, or resorting the shareholders and banks for recapitalization quickly to mitigate the risk of bank failure and also protect the stability of the entire banking system and the economy”, it said.
Below is the research
ANALYSING THE DOMESTIC DEBT EXCHANGE PROGRAMME AND FAIR VALUE ACCOUNTING IMPACT ON LOCAL BANKS’ SOLVENCY
(DR RICHMOND A. ATUAHENE AND K.B. FRIMPONG FCCA)
1.0 BACKGROUND
The Ministry of Finance invited on December 5, 2022 holders of 60 old domestic debts to voluntarily exchange ¢137.3 (US$14.3) billion domestic bonds and notes including E.S.L.A and Daakye Bonds, for a package of twelve new eligible domestic bonds. Under the debt swap or exchange announced on December 5, 2022, local holders including domestic banks, Bank of Ghana, Firms and Institutions, Retail and Individuals, Insurance Companies, Foreign Investors, Rural and Community Banks and SSNIT were to exchange ¢137.3 billion (US$14.3) worth of 60 eligible domestic bonds for 12 new eligible bonds maturing between 2027 to 2038.
Under the initial offer for bondholders with bonds maturing in 2023, the government promised four new bonds that were expected to mature in 2027, 2029, 2032 and 2037 with zero coupon rate in 2023, 5% coupon rate in 2024 and 10% coupon rate in 2025, which would continue till the maturity of last bonds in 2037. Initially, the Ministry of Finance stated that debt the exchange programme would affect local banks, Bank of Ghana, Firms and Institutions, Foreign Investors, Insurance Companies, Pension Funds, Rural and Community Banks and SSNIT but excluding Retail and Individual Bondholders. The debt exchange programme was extended to December 30, 2022 because could not achieve the 100% voluntary participation. After fierce resistance from trade unions about the inclusion of pension funds in the domestic debt exchange programme and for the lack of enough voluntary participation, the government announced the extension of the voluntary participation in the programme to January 16, 2023 with following modifications:
Offering accrued and unpaid interest on eligible bonds and a cash tender fee payment to holders of eligible bonds maturing in 2023.
Increasing the new bonds offered by adding new instruments to the composition of the new bonds for a total of 12 new domestic bonds, one maturing each year starting January 2027 and ending January 2038.
Modifying the exchange consideration ratios for each new bond. The exchange consideration ratio applicable to eligible bonds maturing in 2023 will be different other from other eligible bonds.
Setting a non-binding target minimum level of overall participation of 80% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of eligible bonds.
Expanding the types of investors that can participate in the exchange to include individual investor.
On January 16, 2023, the government extended the deadline for the domestic debt exchange programme to January 31, 2023, after another resistance by some creditor group particularly individual investors whom the government promised not to include in the programme.
The government made some modifications including:
Offering accrued and unpaid interest on eligible bonds and a cash tender fee payment as a carrot to holders of eligible bonds maturing in 2023.
(ii) Increasing the new bonds offered by adding eight new bonds to the composition of the new bonds, for a total of 12 new bonds, one maturing each year starting in January, 2027 and ending January 2038. The third extension of deadline for domestic debt exchange programme from January 31, 2023 to February 7, 2023, for voluntary participation and also as the final deadline for institutions and individuals to sign up to domestic debt exchange programme. The government has made offer which includes the exchange of new bonds with a maximum maturity of five years instead of original 15 years and a 10% coupon rate to individual bondholders below the age of 59 years to encourage them to participate in the domestic debt exchange programme. Additionally, all retirees including those retiring in 2023 will be offered bonds with a maximum maturity of 5 years instead of 15 years and a 15% coupon rate per annum.
Subsequent extensions of dates and payment maturities meant that the remaining stock was reduced from ¢137.3 billion to ¢130 billion. However, the eligible bonds as per memorandum meant an exclusion of pension funds and bonds that were subject to swap mechanisms for monetary and exchange rate policy operations. This then brought the eligible bonds tendering to ¢97.75 billion. Out of the total eligible bonds for tendering, ¢83 billion ($ 6.7 billion) was successfully tendered-accounting for about 85% of outstanding eligible amounts and meeting the target 80% as expressed in the memorandum of the exchange.
Nevertheless, the ¢87 billion (64%) that were successfully tendered represent only 60% of the original outstanding debt stock of ¢137.3 billion. The strategy employed by the Government of Ghana to achieve full participation for the GDX was aggressive. Although there was some financial sector consultation on expanding the range of instrument offering prior to crafting the exchange, the debt transaction offer was unilateral with a ‘take‐it‐or‐leave‐it’ approach.
With voluntary participation of only 64% (GH¢87 billion, not underpinned by strong fiscal consolidation, it will not necessary to reverse the adverse fiscal dynamics and reduce the debt overhang that has plagued Ghana for the four years and it will be difficult to achieve Debt to GDP ratio of 55% in 2028.
2. DATA ANALYSIS USING THE NPV OF LOCAL BANKS HOLDING OF GOVERNMENT BONDS AND NOTES.
According to Ministry of Finance (2022), the total government bond and domestic notes value of ¢137.3 billion with the local banks allocated ¢50.6 billion (37%); Firms and Institutions, ¢34.73 billion (25.3%), retail and individuals, ¢22.3 billion (13.9%), Foreign investors, ¢14.83 billion (10.8%); Bank of Ghana, ¢13.73 billion (10%); Rural and Community banks, ¢1.92 billion (1.04%); Insurance companies, ¢1.2 billion (0.09%) and SSNIT ¢55million (0.04%) excluding Pension funds ¢7.69 billion (5.6%) and Treasury bills valued at approximately ¢26.25 billion.
From our data analysis showed that the impact of losses on bank balance sheets had been significant because government securities comprised a large share of bank assets. Any loss in value of government debt exposures had led to capital losses in financial institutions unless these have already been absorbed by provisioning and Mark-to-Market (MTM) accounting which for past years most banks were not applying the MTM.
These recent losses could be due to a combination of coupon or interest rate reduction, and maturity extension with below-market coupon rates of 19.3%. The capacity of the banking sector to absorb losses had been lower, as the banking sector capitalization only to place three years ago. When banks are able to absorb losses without having to resort to a recapitalization from the government, the fiscal consolidation and/or burden-sharing by other creditors required to restore debt sustainability would be smaller
From our data analysis using the Net Present Value of the government bondholding of ¢50.6 billion (37%) of the total bonds, then the private sector could face severe challenges in the area of provision of new credit and extension of existing credit as a result of liquidity and solvency crisis in the banking sector. The impact of a domestic debt exchange on 23 banks’ balance sheets (and their ability to provide credit to the economy) could be significant as the Ghanaian domestic banks are holding about 37% of government securities.
Any loss in value of government debt exposures will lead to regulatory capital impairment in banking institutions at the time of the restructuring unless these have already been absorbed by loan-loss provisioning and mark-to-market accounting which was never applied prior to the restructuring. Such reduction in the value of government debt portfolio could be due to any changes to the original contractual value of the debt security, such as coupon reduction from 19.3% to a weighted coupon rate of 9%, and maturity extension from 5 years to 15 years.
From the existing discount rate of 19.3 % with 5-year maturity period to the weighted average coupon rate of 9% new bonds with extended maturity period of 15 years, our data analysis showed estimated losses using Net Present Value of ¢41,315,326,692 would impact negatively on 23 banks’ solvency. For example, Bank B with bond holdings of ¢9,106,452,000, it is estimated that with discount rate of 19.3% using weighted coupon rate of 9% NPV estimated losses resulted in ¢7,435.494,850 from the total shareholders’ equity of ¢2,853,177,000 (December 2021), thus giving the negative net worth of GHC4,452,317,850 making the bank insolvent.
If the IFRS 9 is applied in stricter sense nine banks could be insolvent. From the data analysis only last six banks, R.S.T.U.V and W may not experience any capital losses while eight banks may experience mild capital losses. These losses could be due to a combination of coupon or interest rate reduction, and maturity extension with below-market coupon rates. From the data, the capacity of the banking sector to absorb losses are lower not where it is well capitalized to absorb the estimated losses from the debt exchange program.
Ghanaian banks will not be able to absorb losses without having to resort to a recapitalization from the government, or resorting the shareholders and banks for recapitalization quickly to mitigate the risk of bank failure and also protect the stability of the entire banking system and the economy. Capital shortfalls are more likely to emerge for a tail of weak banks like A, B, E, D, G, J, K and few others because of their higher share of exposure to government domestic debt relative to their capital.
With the estimated losses using the NPV of banks holding of government bonds, the domestic debt exchange could also have a negative impact on the capital adequacy ratio of banks. The conversion of short-term debt into long-term had increased the risk-weighted assets of the banks which could reduce their capital adequacy ratio. This could lead to decline in the financial stability of local banks and increase the risk of bank failures.
The decline in capital adequacy ratio would lead to a reduction in the overall financial stability of the sector. Though the Bank of Ghana as part of the domestic debt restructuring, announced a regulatory forbearance for banks, it is very important for shareholders and board of directors for banks to take steps to mitigate the negative impact of domestic debt exchange programme exercise on their capital in the balance sheets as their corresponding banks may not recognize the Bank of Ghana’s regulatory forbearance.
The minister of defense, Dominic Nitiwul, has warned the public in no uncertain terms about the murders of security agency employees.
He asserted that the death of the young soldier, Sheriff Imoro, ought to be the last time a member of Ghana’s security agencies is murdered by the same people they have promised to protect.
Major Mahama, an army officer, was allegedly assassinated in 2017 by several Denkyira-Obuasi villagers while he was out for a morning health stroll. It’s said that the young soldier was mistaken for an armed robber.
“Let be the last time that men and women in uniform will be killed by the people they want to protect. Men and women in uniform – Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police, Immigration, all of them,” Mr. Nitiwul warned.
He sounded the caution on Thursday when he led members of the Defence and Interior Committee on a fact-finding mission to Ashaiman to investigate circumstances leading to the death Sherrif Imoro and the subsequent brutality meted out to residents.
The Committee’s first point of call was the residence of the deceased soldier where the Defence Minister said the killers will be made to face the full rigours of the law.
He also consoled the family on their loss and urged them not to seek revenge for the demise of their relative.
“…If it is not the will of God it will never happen. Those criminals would never have succeeded. God wanted it to happen that is why He allowed it to …Don’t take revenge as a family and as people of Ashaiman, the God of Ghana will answer for you. I know that it is difficult for all of us, but God has a way of defending the defenceless and Ghana will defend this family,” he said.
He assured that the doors of the Ministry of Defence are open to the family.
According to him, the President is very disturbed about the turn of events at Ashaiman, adding that the development “only tells us that we have a lot to do.”
He noted that the military brutality of the residents of Ashaiman will be tackled at another forum.
“We will address the military action at another time but today, we are here to commiserate with the family and to let you know that the state is with you. The people of Ghana are mourning with you and will support you throughout your journey of grief and afterwards,” he stated.
“On behalf of the government, I want to extend our deepest condolences to all of you,” he added.
According to him, the Ashaiman incident will be a stepping stone to addressing some happenings in the country.
He urged Ashaiman residents to live peacefully with the security services in the area.
He also commended the Police and intelligence agencies for their swiftness in the arrest of the suspects, adding that it is welcome and has served as a relief.
He added that, “I hope our law courts will not say that justice is delayed. Justice grinds slowly but it will surely come, but in this case, we want justice to grind very fast.”
The wife of deceased Black Stars player, Christian Atsu Twasam Marie-Claire Rupio, and kids have arrived in Ghana for the funeral rites of the familyy.
The late football star’s spouse, her parents, other family members, and her three children with Atsu arrived at the Kotoka International Airport on the evening of Thursday, March 16, 2023, according to a report by the media.
A video of their arrival as shared by Kofi TV shows the family being rushed into a waiting car before departing the airport.
The State-Assisted funeral of Atsu is underway at the forecourt of the State House, Accra where thousands are expected to pay their last respect to the player.
Christian Atsu met his untimely death when he was recovered from the rubble of his collapsed apartment in Hatay following an earthquake that struck Turkey on February 6, 2023.
South African police have taken down a video from Twitter that appears to urge violence against people who choose not to participate in protest marches planned for March 20.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), an opposition party, have organized statewide marches to protest the nation’s electricity shortage and have demanded that President Cyril Ramaphosa step down.
The Film and Publication Board (FPB) issued a statement in which it said that the video warns that teachers, police officers, and students who are wearing school uniforms during the protests will all be physically assaulted.
The video was posted by a person claiming to be a member of EFF, it said.
“Internally, the FPB shall monitor the take-down by Twitter to ensure that no further dissemination or distribution by the public occurs,” the board said.
Members of the public have been advised not to share, re-post or distribute the said video and offenders could face prosecution for disseminating or distributing prohibited content.
Police have said they will be on high alert to avert any violence as the Julius Malema-led EFF party vowed to “shut down” the entire country on Monday.
Mr Malema insists the protests are not illegal and has warned that anyone who attempts to stop them would “meet their maker”, News24 reported.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Niger on Wednesday on the second leg of his brief tour of African nations.
He is expected to announce more US support for Niger’s fight against a jihadist insurgency that has forced millions of people from their homes in the Sahel.
The United States has been losing influence in Africa to China and Russia.
Mr Blinken is one of the many US officials who have been visiting the continent in recent months.
Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum was praised by his US counterpart last year for building democracy in a country that has witnessed numerous military coups.
Nollywood actor Seun Jimoh has advised married women to never disclose cheating scandals to their cheating scandals from their partners.
The actor stated it on his Instagram page on Thursday, 16th March 2023.
He added that the confession should be between the woman and God.
Explaining his reason, He said men do not forgive cheating scandals.
” Dear female, I Know this may be a hard pill for men to swallow, if you ever cheat on your man by mistake, don’t ever confess! Keep it between you and God. Men don’t forgive cheating, and if they do, they will hold it over and punish you with it for the rest of your life, ” Mr. Jimoh explained
The Namibian government has abandoned plans to provide extra meals to VIPs at the country’s independence day celebrations next week, including Greek salad after criticisms on social media.
On Tuesday, the northern district of Omusati’s capital of Outapi will host formal celebrations to honor 33 years of independence.
The suggested menu was leaked in a letter to the chairman of the committee planning the celebrations, Omusati Governor Erginus Endjala, which sparked a social media uproar.
According to the letter, caterers were to be instructed to prepare the following:
For the public, the menu included potato salad, butternut, rice, fried beef and fish.
For the VIPs – such as foreign dignitaries – extras like Greek salad, steamed carrots, maize pap (porridge made from maize meal), mahangu pap (porridge made from millet flour), baked fish and game stew.
The social outrage over the government’s perceived “elitist tendencies” was summed up in Wednesday’s headline in the Namibian Sun: “U-turn on ‘lords and peasants’ independence menu”.
However, Mr Endjala told the paper that these had only been suggestions.
“We have realised that the proposal was far-fetched from reality. The menu was revised and the public will now have more food than the VIPs,” he is quoted as saying.
Audrin Mathe, a senior officer in the information ministry, told The Namibian that the government would be spending less than $134,000 (£112,000) for this year’s independence day celebrations.
Twenty-five broadcasters in Nigeria has sanctioned for breaking broadcasting restrictions while covering the general elections last month
According to local media, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has also given 16 additional people a final warning for various poll-related offenses.
Seventeen stations were accused of airing partisan content 24 hours prior to election
Three were sanctioned for inciting comments
Four were said to have aired divisive ethnic or religious content
One was sanctioned for announcing results ahead of an official announcement by the electoral commission.
“Subversive discussions and reckless comments, capable of tearing us apart as a people were broadcast freely without proper gatekeeping. Ethics and professionalism were thrown overboard,” the director-general of NBC, Balarabe Ilelah, said.
Mr Ilelah urged all broadcast stations to adhere to the provisions of laws on broadcasting ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial and state assembly polls.
A classroom in Zimbabwe has collapse into a sinkhole in the Zimbabwean city of Kwekwe causing at least 14 elementary school students suffering injuries.
Chairs and desks were ingested, and one child is said to have suffered significant injuries.
The Globe and Phoenix school is close to two gold mines and local authorities have blamed the accident on illegal underground mining.
Classes have been suspended and officials are trying to find other schools for the pupils.
Earlier the news site ZimLive.com tweeted photos taken at the school in Kwekwe, which is about 200km (125 miles) south-west of the capital, Harare:
The MP told the AFP news agency on the phone from the scene of the accident: “They are still blasting and the whole school premises is shaking.”
The 2023 UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show by Pepsi®, which will take place on Saturday, June 10, at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, will feature award-winning and multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter, and producer Burna Boy as co-headliners.
Known for his global chart-topping hits Last Last and It’s Plenty, the Nigerian star will bring his energy and signature soulful vibes of afrobeats to millions of fans before the biggest club fixture in football gets under way.
Burna Boy
“As a huge football fan myself, I know it doesn’t get any bigger than the UEFA Champions League! That’s why I’m so excited to be performing on the Pepsi stage at this year’s final. Music and football are the ultimate combination, so you already know I’ll be bringing the vibes and making magic in Istanbul. The world isn’t ready for what we have in store!”
Now in its seventh year, the UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show by Pepsi® – formerly known as the UEFA Champions League Opening Ceremony – unites music, sport and culture through a show-stopping performance. This year’s other co-headliner will be announced soon.
Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA marketing director, said: “The UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show is a significant part of our joint efforts with Pepsi, providing an incredible opportunity to reach new and younger audiences with the some of the biggest names and rising stars in music. We’re excited to showcase a line-up of talented artists at this season’s final in Istanbul in what is sure to be an energetic and memorable performance.”
Burna Boy to perform at 2023 UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show by Pepsi®
For the first time ever, fans have the opportunity of a lifetime to be a part of the performance and can visit the @PepsiGlobal TikTok channel for more information.
Gustavo Reyna, Pepsi senior director of global marketing, said: “The UEFA Champions League final is the stand-out date of the club football calendar, and Pepsi prides itself on marking the occasion with the very best entertainment spectacles. The newly named ‘Kick Off Show by Pepsi’ is going to be huge this year; we’re so excited to welcome Burna Boy, one of the world’s most exciting artists, to the final stage and we can’t wait to see which fans are selected to feature as part of this truly unmissable performance.”
Energy Minister Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh says Ghana is ready to become the energy hub of the West African sub-region by leading the agenda for providing reliable and sustainable energy to stimulate socio-economic growth.
He made this known while speaking at North Africa and Europe Energy Exhibition and Conference (NAEPEC) still underway in Barcelona, Spain.
Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh said in order to achieve the vision of becoming the energy hub of the West African sub-region, the government has developed policies and strategies to ensure the smooth operations of the sector.
The Minister indicated further that the global energy transition presents Ghana and probably the entire globe, with an opportunity to improve on our existing policies and initiatives to foster the development of all sectors of our economies through the provision of affordable and reliable energy and importantly, improve on even the quality of the air we breathe.
Read His Statement Below
On Monday, 13th March, 2023, I asked investors and global energy decision makers gathered at this year’s North Africa and Europe Energy Exhibition and Conference (NAEPEC) still underway in Barcelona, Spain, to explore the several opportunities in Ghana’s energy sector for the mutual benefit of both Ghana and the investors.
Speaking on the topic: “Ghana’s current Energy Sector initiatives, the global energy transition, and opportunities available in Ghana’s near – term initiatives and projects”, the very first keynote speech of the conference, I indicated clearly, that Ghana stands as a beacon for the African continent with energy access of 88.75% and is ready to become the energy hub of the West African sub-region through leading the agenda for providing reliable and sustainable energy to stimulate socio-economic growth. This, I said, has made government develop policies and strategies to ensure the smooth operations of the sector.
I further rehashed that, the global energy transition presents Ghana and probably the entire globe, with an opportunity to improve on our existing policies and initiatives to foster the development of all sectors of our economies through the provision of affordable and reliable energy and importantly, improve on even the quality of the air we breathe.
Indeed, I also said that Ghana’s US$562.00 billion Energy Transition Framework aims to provide the optimal and sustainable pathway for fuel supply security, diversified energy mix and cost-efficient electricity generation with an estimated medium to long term average electricity generation tariff of US$4.5cents/kwh to accelerate the socio-economic development of Ghana
I told the gathering that, Ghana is endowed with critical metals such as lithium, manganese, iron ore, among others, which are essential for the manufacturing of clean energy technologies such as lithium-ion batteries for both power and e-mobility sectors. Ghana and the world as a whole, I said, must leverage on these resources to develop the needed green infrastructure and technologies through value creation along the entire mineral value chain.
As we continue to project Ghana positively on the international front, in the context of our abundant natural resources, strong democratic credentials, a tested Constitution and a thriving independent media landscape, backed by a sound legal and regulatory framework of the energy sector, I am optimistic that our engagements here will yield the needed results for the shared prosperity of our Ghanaians.
Singer and actress Adomaa has opened up on a robbery incidence she suffered in 2022.
According to the ‘Dede’ hit TV series, the incident has left her traumatised and paranoid.
“Last year, two guys with machetes on a bike robbed me,” she revealed on Twitter, Wednesday, March 15, 2023. “Now every single time I hear a bike roar in the distance, my heart skips several beats. [downcast emoji]”
The multi-talented creative arts star also mentioned a 2009 car accident and hinted at another untoward happening for which she provided no details.
“Still haven’t gotten over sharp turns since the car accident in ‘09,” she said. “Now this new addition. I hate this. Kmt [kissing my teeth].”
Meanwhile, Adomaa has been featured in the American Drama/Crime hit TV series ‘Snowfall’.
Season Six, Episode Three of Snowfall, titled ‘Door of No Return’ was filmed in Ghana, West Africa, capturing the gloom of slavery in Ghana, which boasts three famous slave castles, and Africa.
‘Snowfall’ is centred on the 1980s crack-cocaine pandemic in Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
On November 16, 2022, Adomaa officially returned to music after a 7 year break with the release of a 7-track extended play (EP) titled ‘Becoming Adomaa’. The tape’s muse is her fight with depression and self-doubt which led her to attempting suicide. The EP ends with a bright and hopeful resolution and melodic rebirth.
Blogger, Zionfelix attempted to smoke the peace pipe on Monday 13, 2023 by responding to some claims made by musician Mzbel over an interview he conducted with Afia Schwarzenegger on his YouTube channel.
The blogger has denied specifically attacking Mzbel’s brand and encouraging assaults on his platform, and he has added that he has no control over the responses the people he interviews provide.
Zion, who was confronted by Mzbel in a Facebook live, declared his love for Mzbel and expressed his desire that they may work things out and reunite in the future.
“Mzbel is dear to my heart, I like Mzbel, I liked Mzbel. I have also loved Mzbel. We haven’t spoken to her in a long time but I still love her even after her video…there are certain things she said that I want to address. My intent was never for people to attack Mzbel,” he said.
The famous blogger was, however, quick to lament her move of dragging his family into their little misunderstanding.
Mzbel in reaction to the latest video published on Zion’s channel turned down his attempt to make peace, instead, reminded him to desist from citing her on his platform.
She made use of some unprintable words in her clap back on Wednesday.
Her post read: “Zionfelix count the number of monetized interviews u have about me on your YouTube Channel with lies and insults about my private life and come back and explain which ones u apologized for!
“Haven’t I politely spoken to u several times to stop? Oh so u have feelings abi? Kwasia mu Kwasia!”
Renowned Actress and Eentrepreneur, Nana Ama McBrown, quitted her job with the Despite media (UTV) to Media General (Onua TV) Iin recent times.
This decision she made has received both positive and negative feedback from the general public.
The Despite Media group’s former coworkers have generally been the only detractors.
Yet, she has also received a lot of encouragement from important figures in the entertainment industry as well as from her peers.
The media identifies some public figures who have backed her decision
A Plus
Commenting on the issue on Instagram, A Plus who is a regular guest on UTV’s United Showbiz, the show McBrown used to host on the Despite Media platform, said: “If UTV made her a great presenter, then we should be excited to be part of her success story. Do yours and wish others well.”
Reggie Rockstone
In an Instagram comment amid the brouhaha, Reggie acknowledged the criticism he received when he joined the music group VIP after Promzy’s exit but emphasized that everyone enjoyed the music they created together.
He also expressed his belief that change is good and that people should move on.
“Till this day, some folx still cuss me about joining VIP into VVIP, but all enjoyed the music we made lol smh! Humans can be sum way huh! Change is good, and we all move on! Bless us all, AMEN,” he shared.
Akrobeto comes to McBrown’s defense
Reacting to McBrown’s move, Akrobeto in a radio interview announced that there is nothing wrong with the actress’ move adding that the station does not own her.
“It is a business, we all moved from somewhere to our current job. We’ve seen couples divorce and remarry. People relocate to different countries, UTV hasn’t bought Nana Ama, they don’t own her.
“She came to work and has decided to move. Maybe she loved the offer she got and felt it was okay and so if she is leaving, there is nothing wrong,” he explained in Twi.
Akrobeto also debunked claims of Despite Media sacking McBrown as the host of United Showbiz. According to the actor, their employers had no option but to let her go when she confirmed her decision.
“Footballers in various clubs play for the money. The team doesn’t belong to anyone reason why we witness transfers. Nana hasn’t wronged anyone, and neither is UTV.
“She feels that the right decision has been made. It is simple as ABC, nobody sacked her, ignore such rumours…you can call Fada Dickson to confirm that she wasn’t sacked. The decision was taken by Nana,” Akrobeto disclosed.
Captain Smart
Whiles responding to a critique by Afia Schwarzenegger for his role in welcoming McBrown on her first day at Media General (March 13), Captain Smart explained that he had a long history with McBrown dating back to his days at Fox FM in Kumasi.
“What I don’t like is for people who don’t know the struggles a person has been through, feeling pained because of their progress.
“Look, out of spite, I will even go and get a tattoo of McBrown on my back,” he stated on the Onua Maakye programme of March 14. I will draw a photo of McBrown on my back,” he stressed.
McBrown joins Media General after Despite Media exit
On Monday, March 13, the popular actress and show host was unveiled as the latest member of Media General, confirming her move from Despite Media where she hosted United Showbiz for over 3 years.
The move has witnessed some staff of Despite Media describing McBrown as ungrateful with others claiming that her former employers groomed her in being a better television presenter.
Recalling her life struggles on 3FM with Johnnie Hughes, the award-winning media personality took credit for her growth in acting and every aspect of her life.
“It didn’t start today, I started this long ago. I knew and saw this picture long ago. I am not impressing anybody, I am working for myself…it is part of the job when people come after me. How about the blessings? It is the same way when the ambassadorial deals are coming.
“Whoever is saying what about me, I leave that person to God because I know myself and I know I have worked my way through here. I didn’t come here just for the sake of my beauty or maybe my smile. I have worked to make my smile impactful. I am here because I have worked, oh Jonnie I have worked!” she hammered with pride.
LagosDecides2023: APC’s Sanwo-Olu votes, kicksagainst voters intimidationRedeem your image by conducting credible governorship- election- —TMG- to- INEC-Share Story
