TIG Post

Author: Amanda Cartey

  • Why spiritual compatibility is as important as sexual compatibility in your relationship

    Religious differences with your partner can unsettle your relationship.

    The likelihood that two people will be happy together in a relationship or marriage is predicated on their ability to find a common ground on many things. Couples in healthy relationships and happy marriages see eyeball to eyeball on so many subjects – sex, finances, communication, etc.

    It is what makes relationships tick; that connection of thoughts and a like-mindedness on all important matters of life. If you ever wonder why couples break up for irreconcilable differences, this is it: Their ideas of how things should work in the relationship became unworkably disconnected, detached to such extent that redemption could no longer be found for them.

    And here is what is more important to learn in this compatibility discourse: it is never enough to find agreement on just the insignificant aspect[s] of life. Partners’ views on life’s issues have to be in sync, particularly on matters that are fundamentally important to their togetherness – like sex and spirituality.

    Having said that; it’s about time we also touched on the spiritual angle of relationships and marriages, an issue that doesn’t get as much attention in the mainstream as other relationship issues, despite being just as important.

    In a society like ours where religion is a big deal and romantic relationships with huge potentials have been cut off due to religious differences, religious compatibility is something to reckon with when going into relationships. And while it may be an insignificant thing at the beginning when two people are just sizing each other up, going on dates and all, difference in religious beliefs could snowball into the a real dealbreaker when people somehow find themselves connected on all other important levels except on the subject of their faith.

    This is why it is important to ask from the get-go if differences in religious beliefs will be an issue down the road or not.

    While some will say their partner has to compulsorily practice the same religion as them, some aren’t so strict on the rule.

    Even when practicing the same religion as a partner, you need to know if your understanding of the religion is in the same line, or maybe theirs is a brand too zealous than you can handle.

    In Christianity for example; some folks have no problem giving all their income to God as seeds and covenant offerings. Is your Christian faith strong enough to the point that this won’t be an issue especially when a partner keeps doing it like, every month?

    There was a[n] [unconfirmed] story once reported on social media of a husband who gave up the only family car as an offering right in the middle of a church service, only for the wife to throw a very wild tantrum on their return home before going to get the car back from the man of God.

    Would it be an issue for you if, somewhere along the line, your partner becomes too invested in the things of the spirit to the point that it affects their outlook on life, dressing and appearance, child raising, sexual activities, availability, etc?

    It has become such a cliché soundbite to hear single people speak of a desire for only God-fearing partners. And while that may be admirable, it is also important that whether before or after getting those relationships, partners need to gauge and discuss their ideas on religious beliefs and spirituality; such that they’re always on the same page and operate on the same plane when it comes to the things they do in their faith, and how those things affect their relationship and marriage.

    Just as a disconnect in sexual energy can disturb the balance of a union and set a foundation for resentment, spiritual incompatibility also has the ability to cause some serious damage to that relationship or marriage you currently have, or the one you’re aspiring to.

     

    Source: Pulse

  • Here are 5 ways to do PDA that’s actually cute, not disgusting

    Putting your relationship out there without being distasteful about it.

    They’re those touches, kisses, hand holding and other acts of love you do with other people around and you really don’t care whether or not they watch or witness.

    PDA as it is more conveniently called has no doubt become more prominent with the popularity of all the social media platforms everyone now ceaselessly uses.

    Since it’s something so common, and apparently so desirable, how does one go about this both in real life situations and online without overdoing it and disgusting other people?

    If you don’t mind doing it in public, then, fine. Just keep the tonguing at the most minimal.

    And if you must share it on social media, once in a while is the best way to go about it. You can post as many cheek kisses as possible though.

    Hand holding, cuddles, embraces and snuggling up to each other are really cute and inoffensive, too.

    It goes without saying that if the people around you are starting to get uncomfortable about it, it may be time to actually stop, particularly if you’re being gross about it.

    You know, because anything worth doing at all should be done very well. You don’t want your picture appearing on Instagram blog pages looking like this:

    Your partner may be cool with PDA but only to a certain extent. You may love some ass-grabbing but your partner does not like being groped like that in public. And that should be OK because, even in relationships, people have boundaries and you should learn to respect that.

    As for social media, watch the words you use if you are writing about your partner on social media. Don’t give out too much information that m\y either haunt you, or make your partner feel awkward or embarrassed.

    No need for indecent exposure or other outrageous acts. Always try to avoid heavy petting, or dipping your hands in your partner’s most intimate parts. Leave out that part till you are behind closed doors.

     

    Source: Pulse

  • How to have the best sex if you live with your parents in the same house

    Having sex when your parents are sleeping in the next room sounds absolutely awkward.

    Our parents want us to have children but they look at us in another way if they know we are having sex.

    You and your wife or husband have to have sex, but is really awkward when you wake up and your parents give you a shameful look.

    If you are in that situation too where you have parents in the next room and it is awkward for you to even mention anything related to sex, let alone standing very close to your partner then worry not, we have some tips that will help you out.

    Scroll down to know these tips on having sex if you live in the same house with your parents.

    • Do it on the floor

    Instead of the creaking bed, you could try having sex on the floor itself. Throw in a few blankets and some lush cosy pillows to make it cosy and comfortable. This prevents the squeaky sounds or the headboard banging and you can do it easily.

    • Add some background music

    Just to avoid any awkward situation, it’s best to play some background music.

    You can turn on the radio or TV for the best cover-up. Just keep it real and normal so that it does not look out of place.

    • Do it in the bathroom

    If your bathroom is in your room then bolt your room from inside and head to the bathroom for a hot one-on-one. You could make a routine where you wait for your parents to retire to their bedroom even if for an afternoon nap and then do it in the bathroom.

    • Try weekend trips

    The best way to have fun, take it slow or experiment without meeting your parents in the hallway while you are at it, would be to take weekend trips.

    Try a hotel in the corner of their city or any suitable place away from home. You could call it a night out at a friend’s place but go to the place instead.

     

     

    Source: Pulse

  • How to select the best hairstyle and makeup for your wedding

    When it comes to wedding hair and makeup, the possibilities are endless!

    Find the right makeup and hairstyle for your big day.

    When it comes to wedding hair and makeup, the possibilities are endless!

    But the most important thing to remember is that you want your style on the wedding day to reflect you.

    On the day of your wedding, you will want to put your best face forward. However, to achieve perfection, it’s easy to get lost behind layers of foundation, eye shadows, and glosses.

    Maybe you’re feeling completely lost in a sea of pictures on the internet, or maybe you have no idea where to even begin with your search. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

    Here are some things to keep in mind while the best hair and makeup styles for your wedding:

    • Your outfit

    Turn to your wedding attire if you’re stuck on the topic of how to choose a wedding hairstyle and makeup look. What you’re wearing to the celebration can serve up plenty of beauty inspiration, so focus on the neckline, shape, material, colour and formality to help clue you in on the hair and makeup look that’ll make you look (and feel) best.

    • Your hair and skin type

    When it comes to choosing a wedding hairstyle and makeup look, it’s best to keep in mind what you’re working with. The length and texture of your hair may lend itself to certain styles more than others. Similarly, your skin type may inform your makeup choices.

    • Your venue

    If you’ve already picked your venue, your wedding hair and makeup can easily be based on that decision. Your wedding setting can determine what bridal hair and makeup look might work best, like loose waves and a bronze glowy look for a beach wedding. If you’re getting married in a formal ballroom, try an elegant hairstyle like a sleek top knot or smooth curls.

    It’s also important to consider the weather. If it’s going to be humid, an updo might be the best call, whereas crisp outdoor weddings might be the perfect occasion for a beautiful blowout.

    • Your wedding time

    The time of day of your wedding celebration can help inform your bridal hair and makeup decision. This is especially important as different lighting often calls for different makeup. If you’re planning on a casual daytime ceremony, you can opt for a lighter beauty look, but if your wedding is a black-tie evening affair, you may need a bolder look to stand out in the dim lighting.

    • Your colour scheme

    If you have your wedding colour palette picked out, you can use those colours as inspiration for your wedding day look. Incorporate the hues you’ve selected for your wedding day into your hair and makeup. For example: If purple is your accent colour, consider a muted violet smokey eye to match. If you’re going for simple green and white colour scheme, keep your hair and makeup on the same level by opting for a natural beauty look.

     

    Source: Pulse

  • How long is too long without sex in a relationship

    Sex is a human need.

    It may not be the only factor in a happy and healthy marriage, but it does hold quite some value.

    Every orgasm is known to release oxytocin, which is also known as the love hormone. The hormone is known to help improve heart health, reduce stress, limit the risk of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, and better sleep quality.

    Sometimes, couples agree not to have sex or they stop having sex.

    The question: Is sex a big part of a relationship and what happens when a couple doesn’t have sex for a long time? Is it normal to be in a relationship with no sex and how long is too long?

    Read this article to know how often couples should have sex and how long they can do without it.

    What happens when you don’t have sex for a long time?

    If you are going through a prolonged spell of no sexual activity, you could potentially be storing up a host of problems.

    Not having sex can be bad for you? There are many ways that a lack of action can affect your body.

    Sex is a powerful thing. It has the power to improve your mood and even whittle your waistline, and sex once a week can even increase longevity. But what if you’re not having regular sex—or any sex at all? The health effects of celibacy vary based on your health, how old you are, and even what kind of sex you were having but you will likely see some impacts.

    How often should a couple have sex?

    It’s completely natural to have insecurities around how much sex you and a partner engage in. But, it’s important to keep in mind each relationship is different, with varying sexual needs.

    More sex does not always equal a better relationship. Instead, focusing on the quality of sex, your connection with a partner, and what’s best for your relationship can make your bond stronger.

    Can a relationship survive without sex?

    It is not surprising to hear about sexless marriages. Most couples enjoy much sex at the beginning of their relationship but this can diminish over time as other things, including children, demand your energy and attention.

    While sex has its benefits, how important it is will greatly depend on an individual couple. If you are not interested in sex and you don’t need it to be happy, you can be in a sexless relationship. This should happen only if you both have agreed to it.

    How long is too long without sex in a relationship?

    The amount of time one can stay without sex varies from one person to another.

    Ultimately, there is no right amount of sex that one can have, and going for long without having sex should not impact your health negatively. However, it can take a toll on a relationship if the lack of sex makes one or both partners unhappy or affects the entire relationship.

    Studies have shown that couples that have sex at least once a week are happier than those that don’t get intimate once a week. Depending on the reason for having less sex.

    Meanwhile, don’t focus on how much and when to have sex in a relationship more than the feelings of intimacy and closeness you enjoy. You would rather enjoy satisfying and thrilling sex, even if it means once a month than have lots of bad sex that will only leave you unsatisfied.

     

    Source: Pulse

  • DIY Recipes: How to make Mango ice cream at home

    This mango ice cream is very easy and simple to make.

    The recipe does not have any added sugar as the sweetness from condensed milk is simply enough to sweeten the ice cream.

    Ingredients

    3 medium mangoes

    1 can sweeten condensed milk

    3.5 cups whipping cream

    1 teaspoon of vanilla extract – optional

    Method

    Rinse and then wipe dry 3 medium-sized mangoes. Then chop the mangoes.

    Pour the chopped mangoes into a blender jar or a bullet mixer.

    Then add 1 can of sweetened condensed milk (400 grams).

    Blend until smooth and set aside.

    Freeze for some minutes and serve.

     

    Source: Pulse

  • BOST holds first Annual General Meeting 29 years after its establishment

    The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) Limited Company has held its maiden Annual General Meeting since its establishment in 1993.

    The event, which took place at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, had many dignitaries gracing it with their presence.

    The AGM also comes as a great achievement to the company, as it signifies a financial breakthrough from several years of indebtedness.

    The Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who in his capacity as the sector minister is the authorized representative of the shareholder of BOST, applauded the company’s achievements over the years.

    “I have had the opportunity to take a look at the state of the company in January 2017 from a copious report I received and was surprised at the financial and operational out-turns of the company for the year 2021 which report I believe shall be a cardinal part of this Annual General Meeting.”

    He continued, “From a debt position of US$624 million owed suppliers and related parties, BOST has over the five years preceding the year in focus, 2021, paid US$611 million with IGF contributing about US$423 million. The BOST portion translates into an average of US$84.6 million of company generated cash per year being spent on debts accrued through the trading activities of the company in the past.”

    He further congratulated the Board of Directors and management of the company for the financial performance in the year ended 2021.

    “I am confident more can be achieved if the same momentum is sustained. A profit before tax of GH¢164 million from a previous year of GH¢2 million,” he added.

    The Minister for Public Enterprises, Joseph Cudjoe, tasked the Board of Directors of BOST to work harder towards making the company a dividend-paying enterprise following this first AGM.

    “BOST in 2021 made a turnaround from a heavy loss position of GH¢458.64 million in 2016 through a minimal loss of GH¢291.02 million in 2020 to a profit position of over GH¢160 million in 2021. I have learnt that this feat is the first in 11 years and I seize this opportunity to commend the current Board and Management for striving to attain this success. It is my fervent hope that Management will continue to tread this path to the extent of paying dividends to government, in accordance with the vision of the President.”

    Financial and Operational Performance

    BOST achieved a net profit after income tax of GH¢160,718,361 for the financial year 2021 after all provisions. This compares to a loss of GH¢291,017,758 in 2020 which contained a provision of GH¢292,935,973 for deferred taxation, resulting from the revaluation of the company’s assets in that year.

    Of greater significance is the increase in operational profit from GH¢1,918,215 in 2020 to GH¢163,871,810 in 2021.

    BOST saw a significant improvement in its core business in 2021 with an overall increase in gasoline and gasoil sales revenue of 83%. Revenue from gasoline sales increased by 144% from GH¢140 million to GH¢341 million with diesel sales also increasing by 46% from GH¢227 million to GH¢331 million.

    Revenue from our marine transportation business increased by 412% from the previous year’s revenue of GH¢2.9 million to GH¢14.9 million. This was mainly due to the full deployment of all four barges of the company after they had undergone extensive renovation. Storage and rack revenue also saw a steady growth of 4% from GH¢50.4 million to GH¢52.6 million.

     

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Mahama has still not recovered from the whipping I gave him in 2016 and 2020 – Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that former President John Dramani Mahama is still pained for losing twice to him in the general elections.

    He said the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 general elections is still reeling from the 2016 and 2020 defeats.

    Speaking on his 2-day tour of the Volta Region, President Akufo-Addo said Mr. Mahama still cannot believe he beat him twice.

    Akufo-Addo holds that it is the failure to accept his electoral losses that has triggered Mahama to be making certain hard-hitting comments about him and his government.

    “Mr. Mahama still has not been able to assimilate his defeat twice to the man who he had said could never come to power in Ghana and I think every night when he goes to bed, he is confused about the man who has not just come back but given him a good whipping on two separate occasions.

    “We won the landslide in 2016 and again decisive margin in 2020. He has never got the figures that I have got in elections in Ghana, he knows” Akufo-Addo said in an interview on Ho-based Stone City FM days ago.

    He holds that criticism of his government was a way by Mahama and his supporters to rubbish the progress his government continued to make despite challenges at hand.

    “He knows that significant progress and achievements have been made and that it is necessary for him and his supporters to denigrate that exercise, to go out of their way and to poo-poo everything that we have done,” he added.

    Mahama beat Akufo-Addo in the 2012 elections and also won a petition Akufo-Addo filed after the vote. In 2016, he lost his re-election bid with Akufo-Addo winning his first term as a result.

    In 2020, Mahama lost again to Akufo-Addo at the polls and in court, where his petition was unanimously dismissed by the court.

     

    Source: Pulse

  • Kwesi Pratt casts doubt on IMF boss’ commitment to finalize deal by end of year

    Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has reiterated his position on Ghana seeking financial help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Ghana seeks IMF bailout of US$3 billion to help the country navigate through her economic crisis resulting from the adverse effects of the deadly coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

    President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Monday, 5th September 2022, met with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

    The IMF boss expressed the institution’s determination to work with government and the Ministry of Finance and ensure an agreement before the end of the year.

    “We have started very constructive discussions already and to the people of Ghana, like everybody on this planet, you have been hurt by exogenous shocks.”

    “We have to support Ghana because your strength contributes to the strength of your neighbours; it contributes to a stronger world,” Kristalina Georgieva pledged.

    But Mr. Pratt maintains his position that IMF deal is not, has not and will never be a good deal for the country in terms of development and progress.

    He replied; “The President said that our proposal to the Kwesi PrattIMF is ready. As at that time, it had not been submitted. As at the time of the closed-door meeting, that proposal has not been submitted . . . So, what is basis for the IMF Managing Director’s statement that the deal will be finalized by December?”

    He further alluded to the stringent conditions that accompany the IMF help to the country which do not benefit the citizenry.

    “We have gone to the IMF for seventeen (17) times and it didn’t help us. What’s the assurance that going for the 18th time will help us?”, he questioned.

    He made these submissions on Friday’s edition of “Kokrokoo” on Peace FM.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • How a lesbian movie role nearly ended my career Kumawood actress

    Twenty-eight-year-old Kumawood actress Esther Donkor, popularly known as Esi Guy Guy has expressed regrets about playing a role of a lesbian in a movie.

    It would be recalled that a video went viral in 2018 in which a lady was seen begging her colleague friend not to break up with her promising to give her whatever she desired.

    The said video was a trailer for a movie Esther Donkor was the main actor.

    Speaking in an interview monitored by MyNewsGh.com, the popular Kumawood actress revealed that the trailer almost ended her career and ruined her hard-earned reputation.

    “The lesbian video was intentionally recorded to promote a movie we were shooting but later, I realized that the video went viral and dominated trends that we expected.”

    “I was tagged as a lesbian by the majority of Ghanaians who saw the video and I was chastised on social media. Some of my friends who watched the video decided to end their friendship with me,” she lamented.

    Esi Guy Guy added: “When the video went viral, I received a lot of proposals from some lesbians on social media but I took my time to advise and counsel them to desist from that ungodly act.”

    “Though the lesbian video which went viral almost ended my career, what makes me happy is that I was able to change some lesbians and I think the purpose of the video was achieved,” she explained.

    “I have regretted shooting that video because, after the video, I realized that people were pointing fingers at me. Some family members lambasted me when they watched the video.”

    “I consulted some family members and friends for their advice before I went to shoot that video. They gave me their support to do that. I will never be a lesbian no matter the offer a lesbian will bring on the table.”

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Black Sherifs ’embattled’ investor signs new talent

    The embattled investor of sensational Ghanaian musician, Black Sherif has signed a new talent to his record label, Wayne Chavis Entertainment.

    Despite the issues he has with Black Sherif Snap C does not have any problem with investing in other talents who are equally good in the industry.

    According to him, he has the record label at heart which is why he is determined to do proper investing and project other musical talents to the world.

    Against that backdrop, he has signed Cojo Rae, who is a fine young artist and is currently a form 3 student of Opoku Ware School in Kumasi.

    The record label believes that Cojo Rae is stepping in the great shoes of Kontihene, YPee, and Yaw Tog who are all old students of Opoku Ware to come out with a hit song before the completion of his Senior High School.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • GOGSPA sues Tullow Ghana over alleged local content violation

    An Accra High Court (Commercial Division) on September 8, 2022, adjourned the hearing of a motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction to restrain Tullow Ghana Limited from re-awarding any petroleum contract being executed by indigenous Ghanaian companies to foreign joint venture companies.

    The motion was brought by the Ghana Oil and Gas Service Providers Association (GOGSPA) pursuant to a writ of summons issued against Tullow Ghana Limited in suit number CM/BDC/0692/22.

    GOGSPA said it was seeking the order of the court to restrain Tullow Ghana Limited, its agents, assigns and any person acting under their instructions from violating the Local Content and Local Participation, (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (LI 2435) in the award of petroleum contracts in Ghana pending the determination of the suit.

    The plaintiff said the decision to sue followed many complaints that services reserved for indigenous Ghanaian companies under the laws in the upstream oil and gas sector were being taken away and awarded to foreign venture companies.

    Plaintiff said it raised the concerns of the indigenous companies with Tullow in a petition in June 2022 highlighting that any award of contract reserved for indigenous Ghanaian companies to foreign joint venture companies after February 17, 2022, would be in violation of the existing laws regulating the award of petroleum contracts reserved for local businesses.

    The plaintiff said the action of the defendant if not restrained by the court would lead to the mass unemployment of skilled Ghanaians in the upstream oil industry.

    The plaintiff therefore, prayed for a declaration that the award of petroleum contracts for the provision of goods and services exclusively reserved for indigenous Ghanaian companies under Petroleum (Local Content and Local Participation Regulations) LI 2204 (as amended) by Petroleum (Local Content and Local Participation) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (LI 2435) to Joint Venture Companies in Ghana by the defendant is Illegal.

    They also wanted a declaration that the award of any petroleum contracts for provision of goods and services reserved exclusively for indigenous Ghanaian companies under Petroleum (Local Content and Local Participation Regulations) LI 2204 (as amended) by Petroleum (Local Content and Local Participation) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (LI 2435) to joint venture companies in Ghana by the defendant is null and void.

    GOGSPA sues Tullow Ghana over alleged Local Content Violation
    The plaintiff seeks an order from the court directing the defendant to cancel every contract awarded for the provision of goods and services in contravention of the provisions of Petroleum (Local Content and Local Participation Regulations) LI 2204 (as amended) by Petroleum (Local Content and Local Participation) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (LI 2435).

    “Damages in favour of the plaintiff against the defendant,” the plaintiff said.

    They are seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, whether personally, through their agents, servants or privies or any person acting under their express or implied instruction from awarding any Petroleum contract in contravention of Petroleum (Local Content and Local Participation Regulations) LI 2204 (as amended) by Petroleum (Local Content and Local Participation) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (LI 2435) and other laws regulating the awards of petroleum contracts in Ghana.

    At the hearing of the suit, the legal representative of Tullow Ghana requested more time to respond to the application filed by the plaintiff. The court also advised parties to seek an amicable resolution of the matter, the case was thereafter adjourned to the 10th of October, 2022 for hearing of the motion.

  • Why Togbe Afede rejected Kennedy Agyapong’s ‘Yam Festival’ gifts

    On Friday, September 9, 2022, it emerged that Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, rejected some gifts presented by Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, MP, Assin Central, as part of his contribution to the people of the Asogli State who are celebrating the annual Yam Festival.

    In a graphic online reportage, some sub-chiefs and elders at the Asogli State Palace at Ho-Bankoe, in declining the MP’s gift made it clear to him that the Agbogbomefia was not ready to accept any homage whatsoever from him.

    Like any other festival, Kennedy Agyapong, who was officially invited by the Asogli State Council to join in the celebration of the Te Za (Yam Festival), turned up with his entourage at the Asogli Palace at Ho-Bankoe to pay homage to the Chiefs and people of the Asogli State. The Paramount chief by then was sitting in State at the Asogli State Palace forecourt, but he was not allowed to do so.

    Agyapong, who was then sitting close to the Volta Regional NPP Chairman, Kafui Woanya, was seen waving at a section of the audience who were at the durbar grounds and left the palace when his items were rejected by the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State.

    A spokesperson of the palace explained to graphic online that, the decision to turn away the MP’s gift was based on “his gross lack of respect” for the Agbogbomefia.

    “A few years ago, Kennedy Agyapong [had] referred to our Agbogbomefia as a corrupt person who used his position as the chairman of the National Investment Bank board to do fishy deals.

    “We have also not forgotten the comment Kennedy Agyapong made some years ago about the Ewe and Ga people,” said the palace spokesperson.

    Some sections of the media had reported that Kennedy Ohene Agyapong was chased out of Asogli State Palace but the palace spokesperson indicated that those reports were not factual.

    He stated that Kennedy Agyapong “left without anyone running after him soon after we told him that his presence and homage were unsolicited.”

    The Assin Central MP, graphic online report said, left the palace peacefully into a waiting vehicle after waving a section of the crowd.

    Kennedy Agyapong’s gifts which included cartons of bottled water, were packed back into the vehicle that brought them to the palace.

    This year’s yam festival of the Chiefs and people of Asogli State is being climaxed this weekend under the distinguished patronage of Togbe Afede XIV.

    The festival started on August 6, 2022, and is expected to end on Sunday, September 11.

    The one-month festival seeks to highlight unity, reconciliation, stocktaking and development and is also a platform for the annual reunion with the ancestors and the re-affirmation of allegiance by all chiefs and their subjects in the Asogli State to the Agbogbome Stool.

     

     

    Source:Ghanaweb

  • Bank of England delays interest rate decision after Queen’s death

    The Bank of England has postponed a key decision on interest rates following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

    It said that “in light of the period of national mourning”, the Monetary Policy Committee’s decision would now be announced at midday on 22 September.

    It follows moves by several public bodies to change their plans for the coming week after the death of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

    The Bank had widely been expected to increase rates on Thursday.

    Economists had been predicting that the UK’s central bank would raise rates to 2.25% – the highest level since December 2008.

    Last month, the Bank raised interest rates by the highest margin in 27 years in an attempt to keep soaring prices under control. It also predicted that the UK economy would fall into recession later this year.

    Higher interest rates can make borrowing more expensive, meaning people have less money to spend and prices will stop rising as quickly. However, some have question how effective UK rate rises can be when inflation is caused by global issues.

    Energy prices climbed sharply when lockdown was lifted and the economy started to return to normal. They have increased further as Russia sharply cut its gas supplies to Europe. It has pushed up the price of gas across the continent, including in the UK, having a huge knock-on effect on consumers.

    Speaking in front of the Treasury Committee earlier this week, the Bank of England’s governor, Andrew Bailey, defended its track record: “The person going to put the UK in recession is Vladimir Putin, not the MPC [Monetary Policy Committee].”

    He also said the Bank would take Prime Minister Liz Truss’s energy plan announcement “into account” when next deciding on interest rates.

    During her campaign, Ms Truss hit out at the Bank of England, accusing it of being slow to react to rising prices and protect vulnerable households.

    But the new Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, has reiterated his “full support for the independent Bank of England and their mission to control inflation, which is central to tackling cost of living challenges”.

    He has also said that he and Mr Bailey would meet twice a week from now on to discuss the rising cost of living.

    Prices are rising at its fastest rate in 40 years, with inflation at 10.1%.

    On Thursday, the prime minister has announced that the government would limit energy bill rises for all households for two years in an attempt to prevent widespread hardship.

    A typical household energy bill will be capped at £2,500 annually until 2024.

    Analysts say the huge support scheme could cost up to £150bn, but announcing the package Ms Truss said “extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures”.

    Further detail is expected by the end of the month, as the chancellor is expected to set out costings in a “fiscal event”, where he will outline the level of borrowing necessary and any new tax measures he deems necessary to fund the package of support.

    Source:BBC

  • Legon Cities confirm signing of former Hearts of Oak striker Kofi Kordzi

    Ghana Premier League side, Legon Cities FC have confirmed the signing of strong striker Kofi Kordzi.

    The highly-rated forward spent last season with Hearts of Oak after signing for the team on his return from abroad.

    Unfortunately, he had issues with the technical team after leaving camp to play a match when Hearts of Oak had a match to play.

    Due to the unresolved issues, he was released at the end of last season.

    On Friday, September 9, 2022, Legon Cities FC officially announced that Kofi Kordzi has been signed.

    “𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐘𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐁𝐀 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐑𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐋⚜️

    “When Philip Treacy said, “Royalty is completely different than celebrity. Royalty has a magic on its own”, he meant 𝐊𝐎𝐅𝐈 𝐊𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐙𝐈,” Legon Cities FC said in a statement.

    Kofi Kordzi is in line to feature for his new club this weekend when the team takes on Medeama SC on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.

     

    Source: Football Ghana

  • Rev. Lawrence Tetteh eulogises Queen Elizabeth II

    Renowned Evangelist, Reverend Lawrence Tetteh, has paid glowing tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday.


    Read the full tribute below:

    Queen Elizabeth Regina II had the gift of turning things around especially when situations looked dire and hopeless. She was often attracted to people from all walks of life by her firm disposition and the apparent solidity of her judgement. May the good Lord keep you safe. May God forever bless our Queen!!!

    It was an honour to know you personally as our queen and head of the commonwealth community.

    As a student at London School of Economics (LSE), I had always cherished your presence and sound sense of judgement. What makes you unique to my entire family was when my wife Barbara and I received your invite to be your guest at the Buckingham Palace. My fondest memory of you was your calmness yet a very unforgettable presence.

    Your acceptance to people of all walks of life was uncomparable. You lived long and served on the throne for more than seven decades, which was a sign of immense blessings. Rest well my Queen in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
    Our prayers are with King Charles III and the entire Royal family.

    Rev. Canon Dr Lawrence Tetteh World Renowned Evangelist

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • King Charles III: A guide to his Accession Council and proclamation

    The new king is due to be proclaimed by an Accession Council at 10:00 Saturday. What exactly does that mean?

    Charles is already king – under the terms of the Act of Settlement 1701, he automatically became so on the death of his mother. So the purpose of the Accession Council is basically a ceremonial one – it officially announces the name of the new monarch.

    Normally, this happens within 24 hours of the death of the sovereign. But on this occasion a little more time will have passed between the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the ceremony at St James’s Palace in London.

    In another break with tradition, King Charles III has decided that for the first time the Accession Council will be televised.

    Who attends, and what can we expect?

    The council is attended by members of the Privy Council (a group of senior politicians that formally advise the monarch), the Lord Mayor of the City of London, and senior judges and officials.

    The Accession Council is divided into two parts, and Charles will only be present for the second.

    In the first part, the Lord President – the MP Penny Mordaunt, appointed by Liz Truss on 6 September – will announce the monarch’s death.

    She will then ask the clerk of the council, currently retired civil servant Richard Tilbrook, to read out the Accession Proclamation, which confirms the name of the new monarch.

    The proclamation is then signed by the members of the Royal Family, the prime minister, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor and the Earl Marshall – the Duke of Norfolk, who is responsible for organising state ceremonies.

    After the signing, Ms Mordaunt will call for silence then read out the outstanding items of business, which include disseminating the proclamation and directing that artillery guns will be fired at Hyde Park in central London and the Tower of London.

    The proclamation will then be read out from a balcony above the Friary Court at St James’s Palace by the Garter King of Arms, England’s senior herald. He is joined by the Earl Marshall and other officials wearing traditional heraldic garments.

    The proclamation will also be read in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh, and other locations around the country.

    The accession of Queen Elizabeth II and the proclamation of her accession in 1952PA MEDIA

    The accession of Queen Elizabeth II and the proclamation of her accession in 1952

    What is Charles’ role?

    Part two of the Accession Council is the first meeting of the Privy Council held by the new monarch, and Charles is expected to begin with a personal declaration.

    According to Robert Hazell, professor of government and the constitution at University College London, this usually has three elements. The king will commemorate the Queen, affirm his fidelity to the constitution and express “hope for the support of the nation in his heavy responsibilities”.

    Under the terms of the Act of Union, new monarchs are also required to make an oath to maintain and preserve the Church of Scotland. Usually, this takes place at part two of the Accession Council and the new monarch signs two copies of the oath.

    Charles can say if he objects to any of the oaths he is asked to make, although the last time a new monarch did so was in 1910 when King George V rejected the anti-Catholic wording of the declaration oath. The government of the time evidently agreed with him as they changed the wording in the Accession Declaration Act 1910.

    After the Accession Council concludes its business, it may be some time before Charles’s coronation takes place. Some 16 months passed between the death of Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, in February 1952 and her coronation in June 1953.

     

    Source: BBC

  • Charles III to be proclaimed king at historic ceremony

    Charles III will be formally proclaimed king at a historic ceremony at St James’s Palace on Saturday morning.

    Flags lowered in mourning for the late Queen will fly full-mast after the Accession Council, which will be televised for the first time.

    A wave of further proclamations will take place across the UK until Sunday, when flags will return to half-mast.

    It comes after the King pledged to follow his “darling mama’s” life of service in an emotional first address.

    He told the nation on Friday evening of his “profound sorrow” at the loss of his mother, praising her warmth, humour and “unerring ability always to see the best in people”.

    The King promised to serve the nation with the same “unswerving devotion” as the late Queen had during her 70-year reign.

    Charles became king the moment his mother died, but the Accession Council is held as soon as possible after death of a sovereign to make a formal proclamation of the successor.

    At the council, which starts at 10:00 BST, the King will make a personal declaration about the death of the Queen and make an oath to preserve the Church of Scotland – because in Scotland there is a division of powers between church and state.

    Among those attending will be Camilla, Charles’s wife of 17 years who now has the title of Queen Consort, and the King’s son, William, the new Prince of Wales.

    Heralds and City dignitaries cheering the Queen at the Royal Exchange on 8 February 1952GETTY IMAGES

    The King’s accession will be proclaimed in the City of London’s Royal Exchange, as his mother’s was more than 70 years ago

    The first public proclamation is due to take place from the Friar Court balcony of St James’s Palace in London at 11:00, a moment that is usually accompanied by centuries-old pageantry, with trumpeters playing a fanfare and gun salutes fired in Hyde Park and at the Tower of London.

    Although they are not part of the formal proclamation, the words “the Queen is dead, long live the King” are often added afterwards.

    On Friday, Charles was met by cheers and shouts of “God save the King!” as he met people in the crowds who had gathered at Buckingham Palace.

    Later, he gave his televised address, expressing a wish that Prince William and his wife Catherine would – as the new Prince and Princess of Wales – “continue to inspire and lead our national conversation”.

    • The Accession Council, a formal ceremony to proclaim Charles as king, will be held at 10:00 BST
    • From 11:00, flags will fly full mast and royal gun salutes will be fired
    • Further public proclamations take place from a balcony at St James’s Palace and the City of London
    • Senior members of government will swear an oath to King Charles III in the House of Commons
      He expressed his “love for Harry and Meghan” and praised the “steadfast devotion to duty” of the Queen Consort.

    The King acknowledged that his life had now changed, saying he would not be able to give “so much of my time and energies” to the charities and issues he had supported for decades as heir to the throne.

    The 73-year-old monarch said he hoped that despite their sorrow at the Queen’s death, people in the UK and the Commonwealth “remember and draw strength from the light of her example”.

    What happens at the Accession Council?

    • Historically, it is attended by all members of the Privy Council, a body of advisors to the sovereign that dates back to the time of the Norman kings. But with the membership standing at 700, mostly past and present politicians, only 200 are to be summoned.
    • They initially gather at St James’s Palace without the King. Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt, appointed Lord President of the Privy Council by Prime Minister Liz Truss, will announce the death of the sovereign.
    • The clerk of the Council reads aloud the test of the Accession Proclamation, including Charles’ chosen title as king – which we know to be Charles III.
    • The proclamation is signed by a group including the Queen Consort, the Prince of Wales, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of York and the prime minister.
    • The Lord President calls for silence and reads the remaining items of business, dealing with the public proclamations and orders for the gun salutes at Hyde Park and the Tower of London.
    • The King enters for the second part of the council, attended only by privy counsellors and makes a personal declaration about the death of the Queen.
    • He takes an oath to preserve the Church of Scotland and signs two documents to record it, with the Queen Consort and the Prince of Wales among those witnessing his signature.
    • Privy counsellors will sign the proclamation as they leave.

     

    Source: BBC

  • Health Minister launches National Health Promotion Strategy 2022- 2026

    The Minister for Health, Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has launched the National Health Promotion Strategy 2022-2026, at the second Ghana Health Service, Senior Managers’ Meeting, in Accra.

    The theme of the meeting, “Promoting healthcare, planning for healthy lives: where healthcare systems meet healthy behaviours”, was in resonance of the theme with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 which states “Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Wellbeing for All at All Ages”.

    The Health Promotion Strategy 2022-2026, is expected to improve the quality of health promotion services at all levels, improve the health of communities in Ghana and increase collaboration and partnerships for health service provision.

    Mr. Agyeman-Manu, in his keynote address stated that, “The ability and leadership of the Ghana Health Service to coordinate the development of this meeting and the launch of the National Health Promotion Strategy 2022-2026 is a major step towards ensuring we have a roadmap to realize the integration of demand generation, behavior change and health service delivery. It is these essential elements that, when effectively planned and implemented with see measurable improvements in key health indicators and a healthier society.”

    At the meeting, the Director of the Health Promotion Division, Dr. Aboagye DaCosta, stated that the strategy will seek to build healthy public policy, create supportive environments, strengthen community action, develop personal skills and reorient health services.”

    He also expanded on the purpose of the strategy, to inform Ghanaians on how to stay healthy and to support the initiatives in the communities that influence health and wellbeing.

    He remarked that this will increase the ability of Ghanaians to increase control over and improve their health, involve the population in the context of their everyday lives and drive activities that are geared toward promoting health and preventing ill-health rather than focusing on people at risk for specific diseases.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • From a cook to ‘galamsey queen’: How Aisha Huang ‘metamorphosed’

    A former small scale miner, Robert Owusu, has disclosed that Aisha Huang came to Ghana as a cook for small scale mining engineers when small scale mining began some where in 2002.

    An Accra Circuit Court has remanded Chinese national, Huang Ruixia alias Aisha Huang and three others for allegedly engaging in illegal mining in Ghana.

    The accused persons were charged for engaging in sale and purchase of minerals without a licence.

    The other three are Jong Li Hua; Huang Jei and Huiad Hiahu, all Chinese nationals. Aisha Huang is facing an additional charge of engaging in mining without a licenceFrom a cook to ‘galamsey queen.

    She was arraigned last Friday [September 2, 2022] and her plea to the charges are yet to be taken by the court presided over by Bright Acquah since the court had no Chinese interpreter at the time.

    Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ programme, Mr Owusu who chronicled how Aisha Huan entered the country explained that she was first brought into the country to help her colleague Chinese nationals as a cook for them.

    He, however, noted that Aisha Huang developed an interest in galamsey and rapidly grew her business after getting connections with top Ghanaian government officials.

    Source: Ghanaweb 

  • 3 excavators, 3 pump action guns retrieved as police arrest 3 more Chinese over galamsey

    Police in the Western Region have arrested six Ghanaians and 3 Chinese nationals in an anti-galamsey swoop.

    According to a report by Onua FM, the police, during the arrest, retrieved three pump action guns and 3 excavators.

    The operation comes after the earlier arrest of five other Chinese nationals in connection with two missing excavators and illegal mining activities.

    Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive of Ellembelle, Kwasi Bonzo, and four others have been arrested and granted police enquiry bail over an incident involving one of the missing excavators.

    The DCE is accused of interfering in police duties by seeking to stop the transportation of the excavator to the Western Regional Police Command in Takoradi.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Medical therapy and spiritual regeneration: Blurring the lines

    Psychedelics haven’t changed my mind, but I can’t get them off my mind. I’m not a psychologist nor a medical researcher, and I have no aspirations of getting a certificate in psychedelic guidance counseling. What interests me, and is now firmly stuck in my mind, is how religious the psychedelic renaissance is. The potential medical benefits are stunning, the promising therapeutic breakthroughs are remarkable, and the palpable public excitement about these drugs, undeniable.

    But let’s face it, the religious undercurrents and more visible spiritual landmarks associated with the mainstreaming (mainlining?) of psychedelic drug treatment in the body politic also cannot be denied, and may serve as a useful focal point to better understand what is likely to bear on significant cultural shifts in American religious life. For a few minutes, consider the psychedelic renaissance as a religious moment and movement, embodying the usual attributes often associated with religious life.

    Two quick points.

    First, remember the ’60s? When psychedelics exploded on the scene and captured the imagination of the nation, medical use and therapeutic benefits did not frame and inform public conversations. Instead, along with the usual demonizing by more conservative voices fixated on hedonism, addiction, and death, was the proselytizing by high priest Timothy Leary and others about the spiritual value of and revolutionary possibilities available via psychedelics. Clearly, this was a different era than ours today, and the fear of spiritual contamination via mind-altering and consciousness-shifting drugs also most certainly was a factor in the larger disaster known as the “war on drugs” that took shape in the early ’70s.

    Second, in America today, roughly 30 percent of the population will identify as “none” when asked about their religious affiliation, a trend that truly picks up steam in the last three decades or so. That is a long and complicated story, no doubt, but it is important because the psychedelic renaissance has emerged and captured the imagination of Americans in this religious landscape, and during an era of spiritual reconfigurations and sacred realignments.

    The religious culture of psychedelics is readily evident in the testimonials of consumers, in clinical trials or outside of them, who speak of transformations and insights, alterations of consciousness and behavior, with words and language often ill-equipped for capturing what they experienced and witnessed while tripping. The data from utilizing the MEQ (Mystical Experience Questionnaire), discussion sections from published scientific studies, and self-reports from voluntary subjects in medically controlled research studies all provide evidence of religious powers that may or may not be associated with notions of God in these substances. Or listen to more celebrated, and perhaps more authoritative, religious testimonials from well-known celebrities like Meek Mill, or Aaron Rodgers, two among many entertaining examples.

    In addition to providing the uninitiated with personal accounts of the transformative if not salvific power of psychedelic use, these testimonials demonstrate how often notions and ideals associated with health, medicine, and healing can overlap with religious sensibilities and orientations. But, as I mentioned earlier, the power and potency of psychedelics as therapeutic agents are their primary value in public and political consciousness now, and the rigors of science rather than rogue spiritual gurus will back up the seemingly miraculous efficacy of their use.

    In today’s psychedelic religious culture, informed and informative public figures help frame and validate the increasing presence of DMT, mushrooms, MDMA, peyote, LSD, and other drugs in the media, online, in books, and across expanding communities of interested consumers. Whether you think of them as prophets or priests, or celebrities or saints, trailblazing pioneers like Terence McKenna, Michael Pollen, Roland Griffiths, and others are convincing people to change their minds about or, since we are talking about religion, perhaps convert them to a new orientation toward, the special powers of psychedelic substances that can heal beyond the mental, emotional, and physical.

    Given the unique qualities of these special powers and their uniquely ambiguous status in contemporary culture—medicine, sacrament, recreational, or all three at once; easily accessed or tightly controlled—we are also likely to see a crowded field of psychedelic experts seeking to command the attention, faith, and following of the growing number of Americans open to psychedelic experimentation and looking for impressive and effective experiences of healing and self-knowledge.

    The religious implications of the psychedelic renaissance are profound though submerged for the most part beneath the weight of medical research and clinical studies, which is probably for the best, for now. In our contemporary moment though, it is becoming increasingly clear how the boundaries of religious life are not only expanding but bleeding into other cultural spheres of everyday life. Dynamic and fluid forms of congregational life are thriving outside of churches and synagogues and temples and other traditional sites of worship, and the congregating around psychedelics from Hollywood to Johns Hopkins and beyond is already in full swing.

    Whatever one may say about the inner, psychological effects of ingesting psychedelics, they clearly have a long history of bringing groups of people together, formidable substances that have social potency and centripetal energies. Psychedelic medicinal therapies are not only affecting individual lives on multiple levels of consciousness including the spiritual, but they are also making an impact on the collective consciousness, and social divisions between the sacred and the profane that will inspire clear forms of religious life.

     

    Source:Psychology today

  • Menzgold customers plan Sept. 12 protest, set to petition Akufo-Addo

    Some aggrieved customers of the defunct gold collectable company, Menzgold, have served notice to walk to the office of the president to intervene in the payment of their locked-up funds on Monday, 12 September 2022.

    The walk according to the group will start from customs car park near Ministry, Accra to the Independence Square for press briefing and from there present a petition to the President at the Jubilee House.

    The operations of Menzgold were shut down in September 2018 by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    The company’s operating license which had initially been granted in 2014 by the Minerals Commission of Ghana was primarily for gold trading and export.

    However, as reports of a gold-investment scheme with high returns started to circulate, the Bank of Ghana begun to publish warnings which cautioned citizens to be wary of dealing with the firm and warned the firm against taking cash deposits.

    Some customers were adamant while the company also called the bluff of the regulatory authorities.

    Customers deposit at Menzgold have been locked out since the shutdown and can’t access their investments, leading to numerous demonstrations at its various branches to no avail.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Pass anti-LGBTQ+ Bill by October ending or we hit streets – Pentecostal Council to Parliament

    The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, GPCC, has given Parliament a deadline by which time to pass the anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer; LGBTQ+ Bill, currently before the House.

    The bill, officially known as ‘The Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill’ was laid before the House earlier this year and referred to the relevant Committee for among others, public consultation.

    With Parliament due to resume in the coming weeks, President of the GPCC, Rev. Prof. Paul Frimpong-Manso, has asked that the Bill should be passed by end of October.

    He cautions further that the GPCC will organize protests if that deadline is not met.

    “I wish to use this opportune platform to remind Government and in particular, the leadership of Parliament and its Select Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs that GPCC would not hesitate to call its members onto the streets should they fail to pass the Bill into law by the end of October 2022,” Rev. Prof. Frimpong-Manso stated.

    He was speaking at a farewell service held outgoing General Secretary of the group, Rev. Dr Emmanuel Teimah Barrigah.

    The event that took place in Accra last Saturday, also saw the induction into office of Apostle Immanuel Nii Okuley Tettey as the new General Secretary of the GPCC.

    The Bill is a private members bill sponsored by eight MPs, it seeks to criminalise all anti-LGBTQI activities in the country.

    It has generated widespread support across the social spectrum and a lot of heat especially after a group of academics and members of civil society openly backed the same-sex movement asking government to stay out of the sexual lives of the citizenry.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Should you be able to keep a secret from your spouse?

    Being honest with your spouse does not necessarily mean you must share every single thought, dream, fear, or fantasy with this person. In fact, honesty may be a double-edged sword in your marriage.

    Knowing what to share and what not to share is an important communication skill for couples to learn and use in their marriage. It may also be something that can help or hinder peace and harmony with your spouse.1

    Keeping Secrets and the Right to Privacy

    It is important to remember that you do not have to share everything with another person in a relationship. Some things to remember in any relationship:

    • You have the right to privacy in any relationship, including with your spouse, partner, and family.
    • In any relationship, you have the right to keep a part of your life secret, no matter how trivial or how important, for the sole reason that you want to.
    • You also have the right to spend some time alone and with only yourself.2

    In a healthy relationship, you honor the sense of emotional and physical privacy needed for yourself and your partner. Otherwise, ironically, you end up limiting your intimacy with one another, not enhancing it.

    You can’t be truly intimate with your mate without being in touch with the innermost parts of yourself, too.

    Is Honesty Always the Best Policy?

    There are valid reasons for keeping a secret from your spouse. You shouldn’t have to defend not revealing embarrassing or hurtful moments from your past. It is possible that the secret involves someone else who asked that the story not be told.

    There are many couples who have been married for a long time who have personal secrets that they haven’t shared with their spouses. The sense of space and the sense of a private part of oneself is important to many people.

    How to Decide When to Share a Secret

    If you have a secret that you think you should share, but you are unsure about it, look at your own physical responses when you are hiding the secret.3 If your blood pressure increases, or you find yourself blinking a lot faster, or your breathing is heavier, or you are perspiring more, then these could be clues that you should share that particular secret.

    If you are keeping a secret because you don’t want to face responsibility, this can create problems in your marriage. Withholding facts or information your spouse needs to know in decision making is harmful manipulation.

    Secrets that can hurt your marriage are ones concerning:

    • Having an affair
    • Job problems
    • Keeping an addiction or substance use habits hidden
    • Legal problems
    • Lending money
    • Lying about how you spend money
    • Not paying bills
    • Not revealing an illness
    • Seeing family and friends secretly

    Poor Times to Share a Secret

    If you are going to share a secret or difficult issue with your spouse, note that the following times are not a good time to have important conversations:

    • At bedtime
    • During periods of grumpiness
    • If either of you is drunk
    • When either of you is in a stressful situation
    • When either of you is tired or ill
    • When you or your spouse are angry
    • When your spouse is already dealing with bad news

    Seeking Help

    Honesty and trust are vital to the success of a marriage. It’s a thin line between what secrets are acceptable and which ones will haunt an individual and hurt a marriage.

    A partner who discovers that they have been directly lied to, given a half-truth, or not told critical information can feel an enormous sense of betrayal. These betrayals can be hard to come back from and your partner may never feel a full sense of trust again. If this situation applies to you, the sooner you face it the better.

    If you begin to feel the distance in your marriage and think it may be the result of a secret, then it is time to consult a professional therapist.

     

    Source: verywellmind

  • Aisha Huang is a Chinese spy deployed to wage economic warfare – Prof. Aning alleges

    Director of Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Professor Kwesi Aning, has asserted that notorious illegal small-scale mining kingpin Aisha Huang is a Chinese spy who is waging economic warfare on the country.

    In a September 7 interview with Accra-based Joy FM, Prof Aning anchored his argument on the reasons given by the state for the deportation of the Chinese national in 2018 when she was arrested for illegal mining activities otherwise known as galamsey.

    According to him, Aisha Huang was no ordinary person if the influence she wielded could affect the Sino-Hydro loan the country was seeking from China at the time of her deportation.

    He believes the galamsey kingpin is engaging in galamsey activities to pollute the country’s waterbodies, eventually affecting cocoa crops.

    “There’s a massive institutionalized trafficking scheme enabled by high-level corruption and collusion. And we find this in galamsey. In the Rosewood criminal enterprise, the Chinese merchant involved or the state agent involved is Huang Yan Chen, also known as Helena Huang, so what we are looking at is that these criminal enterprises are not just by ordinary people.

    “These are state agents who are almost untouchable because if we go back to 2017 and 2018 escape of Aisha Huang and the argument that she has been released because we were looking for the Sino-Hydro loan and that was she to be prosecuted, it would affect the loan, then Aisha is not an ordinary Chinese gangster. She’s an agent of the state. She’s a spy.

    “And her expertise is in economic warfare; deliberately destroying our environment and our water bodies through galamsey so that the cyanide and the mercury will go through our underground water, come through the food chain and destroy the cocoa crop. And we know that Japan, in particular, that loved our cocoa beans, is now disturbed because they found traces of chemicals in our cocoa beans. So we need to elevate this conversation over and above ordinary people stealing excavators,” Prof Aning said.

    Aisha Huang was recently arrested for engaging in galamsey-related activities. She is reported to have entered the country via the Togo border after her deportation.

    Aisha Huang has since been remanded by an Accra High Court and is set to reappear with three others on September 14.

    The Attorney General’s office has also assured that it will prosecute Aisha Huang for her past and present crimes.

    It will be recalled that Aisha Huang gained notoriety as an illegal mining kingpin in 2017. She was arrested for the same conduct but later deported, with the state discontinuing the trial against her.

    Justifying why the state had to deport the Chinese national, the Senior Minister, Nana Yaw Osafo Maafo, addressing some concerns of Ghanaians in the diaspora at a town hall meeting on April 18, 2019, revealed that, “Putting that woman [Aisha Huang] in jail in Ghana is not going to solve your money problem. It is not going to make you happy or me happy.”

    But President Akufo-Addo, in 2019, said the deportation of the Chinese galamsey kingpin was a ‘mistake’.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Murder of Tweneboa Kodua student: No show in court due to judge’s absence, family worried

    There was no show at the Jacobu District Court hearing the case in which three people are standing trial for the alleged murder of a final year student of the Tweneboa Kodua SHS.


    After waiting for long hours on Tuesday (September 7), the court adjourned the case to October 4, due to the absence of the presiding judge Joseph Akuoko.

    The late Daniel Osei-Mensah was allegedly stabbed by his attackers at Benebene near Manso Odaho in the Ashanti Region. His lifeless body was later found in a nearby bush in the area.

    The three suspects: Eric Anning, Jeptha Boadi, and Adu Philip have since been remanded into prison custody. The family of the deceased is however concerned over the slow pace of the court process.

    “Today the court adjourned the case, and the back and forth is affecting us financially as we have to travel all the way from Odaho to Jacobu. The slow pace of the court process is worrying”, said Amakwaa Isaac, the Head of the bereaved family.

    “We are appealing to the police and the court to expedite action to get justice for the deceased because the parents are still unsettled over the untimely death of our son”, he added.

     

    Source: dailymailgh.com

  • How India is building a pearl farming industry

    In 2016 Narendra Garwa was facing a desperate financial situation. His small book store in the village of Renwal, Rajasthan, was running at a loss.

    With a family to support and little education, he searched the internet for other money-making ideas. He had some success growing vegetables in plastic bottles, but then came across a potentially more profitable crop – pearls.

    “Rajasthan is a dry area with water issues. It was a challenge to think of growing pearls with limited water but I decided to try,” he says.

    Pearls are formed when a mollusc reacts to an irritant in its protective membrane. The mollusc deposits layers of aragonite and conchiolin, which together form nacre, also know as mother-of-pearl.

    In the wild, pearl formation is rare so most pearls sold these days are from farmed molluscs, usually oysters or freshwater mussels.

    A Kuwaiti diver searches for shells containing pearls during the annual pearl diving season on July 30, 2019 off the coast of the port city of Khairan, 100 kms (62miles) south of Kuwait City.
    Pearls are still gathered by divers from wild oysters and mussels

    To spur the mollusc to form a pearl, an irritant is artificially introduced into the creature. However, it is a delicate process and the mussels or oysters must be carefully handled, as Mr Garwa found.

    “My first attempt was a disaster,” he admits. Of the 500 mussels he purchased, only 35 survived.

    Mr Garwa had travelled to Kerala to buy the mussels – a journey of 1,700 miles involving a 36-hour train journey. He also used his savings and borrowed money to come up with the 16,000 rupees (£170; $200) needed to buy the molluscs.

    In addition, Mr Garwa had dug a 10ft by 10ft pound in his back garden to keep the creatures in.

    Despite the setback, he did not give up. Instead, he took a five-day course in pearl farming.

    “Growing an oyster is like bringing up a baby,” he says.

    “Monitoring the the water throughout the growth period is crucial to achieving high quality and volume of produce.”

    Now he has a 40ft by 50ft pond, which he treats with multivitamins and alum which maintains the correct pH level required for growth.

    A pearl technician prepares a mantle tissue from a donating oyster during nucleation process in Autore pearl farm at Malaka village, Gulf of Nara on March 21, 2022 in Lombok, Indonesia.
    Pearls are formed by oysters or mussels reacting to irritants

    The survival rate of his mussels has risen from 30% to more than 70% since becoming more familiar with the process. Mr Garwa expects to produce around 3,000 pearls this year, which he can sell for between 400 and 900 rupees (£4-£10; $5-$11).

    The Indian government has been encouraging pearl fishing as part of its Blue Revolution, a plan to modernise the nation’s fishing industry.

    Under the scheme the government pays for half the cost of setting up a pond for pearl fishing, and so far the Department for Fisheries has given financial support to 232 pearl farming ponds.

    “Pearl farming is one of the most lucrative aquaculture businesses and the government is encouraging farmers to take up this farming,” says Jujjavarapu Balaji, Joint Secretary of Marine Fisheries.

    Workers sort out pearls at a factory on July 20, 2022 in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province of China. (

    Not everyone is impressed with this wave of pearl farming activity. Critics include Gunjan Shah, who is the fifth generation of his family to be in the pearl trading business.

    “The culture of pearl farming has increased in India but I think the pearls grown in every nook and corner are not of very good quality” says the owner of Babla Enterprises, based in Mumbai.

    He says India is producing too many of the wrong kind of pearls.

    “What India needs at present is people who can grow sea water pearls if we want to compete with China. Indian oysters are small but China has hybrid oysters which produce large pearls.

    “Cultured South Sea pearls are the most valuable type of cultured pearl on the market today. These pearls come in a gorgeous variety of sizes, shapes and colours. A strand of South Sea pearls can be as expensive as $10,000 (£8,500) or more. They are very rarely produced in India.”

    He says the government should be looking to develop this part of the industry.

    In its defence, the government says it will take time to build up a competitive pearl farming sector.

    “Pearl family is specialised farming, so this sector will take time to grow. The plan is to see the increase in the next three years,” says Mr Balaji, from the Department for Fisheries.

    “Once we are able to grow enough pearls for local consumption then we can focus on exports,” he adds.

    Reena Choudary at her family's pearl farm

    As for Mr Garwa, as well as farming pearls, he also offers courses for those who want to learn how to do it.

    Reena Choudary, 28, was one of his students, and just like her tutor her first effort last year was a failure.

    “I lost all the oysters – none of them were able to produce,” she says.

    But this year, she expects to produce around 1,000 pearls.

    Starting an independent business was a big leap for her, particularly as women in her region are often expected to look after the home rather than work.

    “For people like us this smells like freedom,” she says. “We have learnt how we can be independent, help towards contributing to the family and have a say in family matters.”

     

     

    Source: BBC

  • BoG to impose sanctions on banks that breach digital financial services guidelines

    The Bank of Ghana may impose on banks or Specialized Deposit-Taking Institutions, an administrative sanction of not more than 10,000 penalty units for breach of new guidelines on digital financial services.

    In the case of continuous breach, an additional penalty of not more 50 penalty units shall be imposed for each day the breach continues.

    This is in accordance with section 92 of Act 930.

    Again, in accordance with section 44 of the Non-Bank Financial Institutions Act, 2008 (Act 774), the Central Bank may impose on a non-bank financial institution, an administrative sanction of not more than 10,000 penalty units for breach of this directive.

    In the case of continuous breach, an additional penalty of not more 50 penalty units shall be imposed for each day the breach continues.

    The Disclosure and Transparency Directives for digital financial services and products is aimed at providing the minimum disclosure and transparency framework to guide providers of Digital Financial Services and Products.

    The objectives of the directive according to the Central Bank is to provide a framework to guide providers with regard to the disclosure of information pertaining to digital financial services and products in a manner that repose trust and confidence in consumers, protect consumers of digital financial services and products by ensuring that institutions that provide these services, do so in a transparent and fair manner by disclosing to the consumers and prospective consumers, among others.

    Delivery of information

    The report stated that providers (banks, SDIs) shall ensure that all materials provided to consumers, are clear, complete, accurate, understandable and not misleading regardless of the delivery channel.

    Again, they shall be liable for all information delivered to the consumer.

    Delivery Channels

    A provider shall ensure that delivery channels for DFS do not expose consumers to undue risk of scams and fraud.

    They shall ensure consistency in the style and delivery of information and consistency in the medium of communication.

    Channels to deliver transaction confirmation

    At a minimum, a provider shall deliver a transaction through a short messaging service (SMS) or electronic mail (email).

     

     

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Aisha Huang: National Security handling issue because of sensitivity Immigration

    Director of public relations of the Ghana Immigration Service, GIS, Supt Amoako-Atta, has disclosed that the Aisha Huang case is currently being handled by National Security.

    He explained in an interview with Accra-based TV3 that the sensitivity of the matter was the reason why it had been taken over by National Security despite her interception by Immigration officers.

    Aisha Huang is a Chinese national who became notorious for her involvement in illegal small-scale mining, galamsey, and was deported in 2018 after the state discontinued a case against her.

    Asked what possible immigration charges Huang could face, he responded: “That is an illegal entry and currently as we speak, National Security is handling the issue because of how sensitive it is, and she was taken to court and a remand taken against her.

    The GIS spokesman also denied that Huang had been in the country for more than three months as reported by some media outlets. “The information I have from our officers is not the three months that you are talking about.

    “By mid-August and second September, she was intercepted by our officers… when it comes to the borders, we have not hidden the fact that our borders are porous especially in the subregion, and it is not peculiar to the West Africa subregion alone but across the world,” he added.

    Aisha Huang arrested

    On Monday, September 5, 2022, the Accra Circuit Court 9 presided by Samuel Bright Acquah, remanded Aisha Huang, into custody.

    This was after Miss Huang, together with three other Chinese nationals, were brought before the court on charges including engaging in the sale and purchase of minerals without a licence and mining without a licence.

    The court could not take into record the pleas of the four suspects because there was no interpreter to help translate proceedings for the Chinese nationals.

    The accused persons were not represented by a lawyer. The court adjourned sitting on the case to Wednesday, September 14, 2022.

    How she re-entered the country without detection till her recent arrest has been the major question on the minds of many Ghanaians.

    She had reportedly re-entered the jurisdiction through the eastern border with the name, Huang Fe.

    Aisha Huang arrested in deported from Ghana in 2018

    Ms. Huang, who was described as “untouchable” on some media platforms, was in 2017 charged with undertaking small-scale mining operations contrary to Section 99 (1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).

    She was also charged with providing mine support services without valid registration with the Minerals Commission, contrary to Section 59 and 99 (2) of the Minerals and Mining Act; and also charged with illegal employment of foreign nationals (in breach of section 24 of the Immigration Act and regulation 18 of the Immigration Regulations).

    Her deportation meant the state discontinued the trial against her.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • A free and vibrant press: An indispensable part of democratic governance in Ghana

    Democracy by definition is the system of government that allows individual citizens to participate in the governance process of a country. However, the term “democracy” is also known to have been defined by Abraham Lincoln in the year 1863 as “Government of the people, by the people and for the people.”

    Critically subjecting the definition of democracy by Abraham Lincoln, a lawyer by profession who served as the 16th president of the United State of America from 1861 until his unfortunate assassination in 1865, it could be observed that the term “People” is being repeated three (3) times in his definition.

    Nevertheless, the analysis is that, it is a set or a group of people who adopt unto themselves, a system of government that allows them to make decisions on their own freely. This clearly shows that, this system of government is people-centered whereby decisions are made by the people themselves and for their own good and benefit without necessarily involving military influence, dictatorship, and authoritarianism whatsoever.

    Ghana as a sovereign country has come far in its democratic dispensational journey. It must be brought to the knowledge of my most respected and revered readers that, Ghana has gone through myriad political struggles and happenings in the past before its citizens (Political Actors) eventually adopted the path of democracy in the political system. Nevertheless, in practicing democratic rule in Ghana, free and vibrant press is indispensably needed to ensure effective democratic governance.

    Again, it is also equally important to succintly talk about what a free and vibrant press means; having strong, effective, and efficient media houses such as the Print media (Newspapers), Magazines, Radio and Television news reports and others to ensure that the citizenry have the platform to express their views, opinions and thoughts on issues relating to the performance of the government of the day in a democratic manner.

    From the perspective of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the freedom and independence of the media are guaranteed under Chapter 12, Article 162 which is also nicknamed as the fourth estate of the realm. In fact, in a modern democracy, the Press forms an integral part of the democratic system which helps to put the government of the day on its toes and also objectively and constructively criticize its actions and inactions. However, a free and vibrant Press is an indispensable part of democratic governance in my most considered view basically owed to the following reasons:

    Constructive Criticism Machinery/Tool

    In democratic governance, the actions and inactions of the government of the day ought to be constructively and objectively criticized in order to put the government on its toes. This also tries to point out to the government of the day the shortcomings or loopholes identified by the citizenry whose interest the government is serving. However, this in effect, ensures that those identified shortcomings are finally corrected. It must, however, be noted also that, a free and vibrant press in Ghana ensures that this activity of objectively and constructively criticizing the government is done in a democratically structured system of government.

    More Deepened & Strengthened Democracy

    Obviously, one of the functions, in other words, benefits of the vibrancy of the Press is to deepen the democratization of our governance system. This can be done by way of offering the citizenry the opportunity and the platform to vent their criticisms and freely express their views, opinions, and thoughts in the democratic governance process adopted in our society.

    In fact, it must be stated that, if we have a very vibrant Press in our governance system, it will immensely contribute to a more democratized governance system and practice. Once again, it must be emphasized here that, a free and vibrant Press invariably gives the opportunity to the citizenry to freely express their frustrations, disappointments, anger, needs, and wants to the government for one-stop redress and attention in order to forestall further deterioration of the prevailing situation.

    In the same vein, a vibrant Press also grants and guarantees the citizenry, the avenue to shower praises on the government of the day whenever things seem to be going well for them.

    Correctional Rod/Mechanism

    Just like we the human beings, governments, both past and present do make mistakes in the process of discharging their constitutionally mandated duties and responsibilities to the citizenry who are important stakeholders in the governance process and procedure of our dear country Ghana. However, the operations of a free and vibrant Press then present to the government, the finest opportunity to fine-tune its performance in the democratic governance process.

    Ostensibly, a free and vibrant Press also ensures that the mistakes of the government of the day are pointed out to them to as a matter of necessity make corrections so that the system meets the myriad expectations of the citizenry as far as Ghana is greatly concerned.

    Essentially, the government is now presented with the finest opportunity to ensure that wrongs that were done either deliberately or indeliberately by them are righted so as to ensure that the citizenry is happy and comfortable in going about their businesses and lives in Ghana.

    Effective Channel for Dissemination of Information and Communication
    Agreeably, one of the important functions of every government all over the World is to effectively and timely disseminate information to the citizenry to keep them updated as to how the government is being run or fared in the country.

    However, it must be brought to the knowledge of my revered readers that, through the effective activities and operations of a free and vibrant Press in Ghana, the government can communicate its policies, plans, and programs to the citizenry. However, it is also worth mentioning that, a free and vibrant Press ensures that government advertises its procurement processes, job vacancies, and commissioned projects to the general public.

    Conclusion

    I would like to bring my article to a conclusion at this juncture by reiterating the fact that, a free and vibrant Press is extremely indispensable in the democratic governance of Ghana. However, this my position is ably supported with the expatiated points or reasons above.

    In fact, I want to bring to the knowledge of my most cherished readers that, the existence and operations of a free and vibrant Press are non-negotiable. That said, it really forms an integral part of our quest to democratize our governance systems, structure, and processes; this promotes freedom of speech and expression of the Ghanaian citizens as amply enshrined in Chapter 5 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

     

  • Stronger regional cooperation between tax authorities critical to success of AfCFTA

    Commissioner-General of Ghana Revenue Authority, Rev Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah has emphasized on the need for deepening regional cooperation between tax authorities of member states of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, as part of efforts to ensure its success.

    This, he believes will be critical in preventing tax evasion and aid in detecting various financial and customs related crimes.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony 7th Annual congress of the African Tax Administration Forum in Accra, Rev Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah also said the implementation of the AfCFTA will require the use of technical skills, enhanced processes and the use of technology and the cooperation of competent authorities such as the Ministry of Trade, Customs authorities, tax authorities, and other law enforcement agencies.

    “the need for regional cooperation between tax authorities is now more important than ever. Tax and customs authorities play a key role in the collection of information including beneficial ownership information and financial information, as well as the use of tax identifiers that link individuals to the companies in which they are shareholders.

    As border control, customs authorities are key in detecting and preventing smuggling, counterfeit goods and overall illicit trade, but in a future single market, one national authority cannot effectively execute this duty on its own. Cooperation between tax authorities, in particular, will be extremely important in preventing tax evasion and avoidance schemes,” he said.

    A deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, delivering the keynote on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta stated that it is critical for member-states under the African Continental Free Trade Area to resort to innovative revenue enhancing measures to boost customs revenue and domestic tax revenue mobilization.

    She noted that this will help mitigate the possibility of the slow pace in revenue growth resulting from the implementation of the AfCFTA in the initial stages.

    “With regards to the tax and revenue implications of the AfCFTA, it is likely that customs revenue will not see an upward movement in the short-term; however, this impact would be marginal compared to the share of intra-African exports as a percentage to total African exports, which is estimated around 21 percent in 2021. This figure remains relatively low compared to levels in Europe (69 percent), Asia (59 percent) and North America (31 percent).

    In the medium term, AfCFTA is expected to improve trade, and therefore, would impact positively on GDP. To boost customs revenue mobilization in the short-term, African countries could resort to other revenue enhancing measures that target domestic taxes,” she noted.

    The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA) is an initiative by African States focused to help develop Africa.

    AfCFTA is possibly the largest trade block by member-states, being a single market covering the entire African continent with a total population of 1.3 billion and a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of almost US$ 3 trillion.

     

  • Revenue Authorities, Ministries of Finance need to work on revenue losses from AfCFTA

    The Commissioner-General of GRA, Rev Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, says Revenue authorities will need to work with Ministries of Finance to fill in the revenue losses expected from the lowering of import duties in the implementation of the AfCFTA.

    The parties in the AfCFTA will have to reduce tariffs on “90% of goods that are traded within the continent” and this may result in short-term tariff revenue loss to most African member countries where trade taxes remain a key source of revenue.

    He said the execution of the AfCFTA would require technical skills, enhanced processes, and the use of technology by cooperating with competent authorities such as the Ministry of Trade, Customs authorities, tax authorities, and other law enforcement agencies involved in detecting various financial and customs-related crimes.

    Dr Owusu Amoah was speaking at the opening of the three-day African Tax Administration Forum and African Tax Research Network 7th Annual Congress on the theme: Tax and Revenue Implication of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

    He said as African Countries began trading under AfCFTA, they must recognize the critical role of tax and customs authorities and enhance their capacity and skills to operationalise the tariff concessions, administer the rules of origin and ensure that non-AfCFTA originating goods exploit the preferential treatment vis-à-vis the overlapping rules of the regional economic communities.

    Mr Owusu Amoah called for stronger regional cooperation between tax authorities now more than ever.

    “Tax and customs authorities play a key role in the collection of information including beneficial ownership information and financial information, as well as the use of tax identifiers that link individuals to the companies in which they are shareholders.

    “As border control, customs authorities are key in detecting and preventing smuggling, counterfeit goods, and overall illicit trade, but in a future single market, one national authority cannot effectively execute this duty on its own.”

    He said cooperation between tax authorities, in particular, would be extremely important in preventing tax evasion and avoidance schemes.

    He said ATAF, the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU must establish deeper engagement to protect the future revenues of our anticipated union.

    He highlighted information sharing and the use of technology, emphasizing the reshaping of the legal frameworks to enable the sharing of tax information between competent authorities.

    This could have multiple advantages including, preventing the duplication of efforts, detection of fraud, tax evasion, or avoidance schemes that make use of multiple jurisdictions, identifying and track the movement of goods.

    “Today is an opportunity to begin this engagement between key authorities to map the road towards an operational customs union,” he said.

    In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister, said regarding the tax and revenue implications of the AfCFTA, it was likely that customs revenue would not see an upward movement in the short-term.

    However, this impact would be marginal compared to the share of intra-African exports as a percentage of total African exports, which is estimated at around 21 percent in 2021.

    “In the medium term, AfCFTA is expected to improve trade, and therefore, would impact positively on GDP,” he said.

    According to the World Bank, real income gains from the full implementation of the agreement would increase by 7 percent or nearly US$450 billion.

    This would increase the domestic income levels of individuals and corporate entities and consequently increase both direct

    and indirect domestic taxes.

    He said to boost customs revenue mobilization in the short-term, African countries could resort to other revenue-enhancing measures that target domestic taxes.

    Mr Logan Wort, Executive Secretary ATAF, said the benefits of AfCFTA were expected to boost industrialization, and economic diversification and ensure sustainable,employment-generating growth for the whole of Africa.

    However, this may result in short-term tariff revenue loss to most African member countries where trade taxes remain a key source of revenue.

    “Therefore, since tariff revenues are currently a vital revenue source for many African countries, we must critically strategize on innovative ways to bridge these revenue gaps,” he added.

     

     

    Source: GNA

  • Mentally challenged man kills ambulance driver at Bole

    News from the Northern Region has indicated that an ambulance driver has been killed at Bole in the Savannah region.

    Mahama Imoro Luckey was alleged to have been killed by a mentally challenged man with a block on his head around the Bole L.A Primary School at Mempeaeem, a suburb of Bole.

    Reports confirmed that the deceased was believed to be making a call around the school where the suspect slept, and upon reaching the direction of the suspect, he allegedly hit the ambulance driver on the head with a block and fled the scene.

    Mahama Imoro was seen lying in a pool of blood by some residents and immediately raised an alarm.

    Imoro was pronounced dead on arrival at the Bole District Hospital.

    The recent killing has brought fear and panic among residents.

    There have been more than eight of such mysterious deaths in the Bole and Sawla communities since January 2022.

    Reports say some of the victims had parts of their bodies removed. Reports say the alleged mentally challenged have since fled the Bole Community.

    Meanwhile, a family member described the late Mahama Imoro as a calm man, and therefore his death came as a shock to the entire family.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Why men stay single

    As I addressed in a previous post, there are various reasons men and women prefer to fly solo. But especially after a particular age, single men face unique questions.

    People often speculate they must fear commitment, have been betrayed in a prior relationship, or have some type of personality disorder. Research indicates, however, that the explanation may be far more straightforward.

    Notwithstanding the proliferation and popularity of dating apps, it is also true that many people enjoy the freedom and flexibility of single life.

    Even many daters are reluctant to take relationships to the next level if it involves sacrificing autonomy and independence. Indeed, we all have friends who lead fulfilling lives, who seem perfectly content keeping romantic relationships at arms-length, often to the dismay of partners seeking greater intimacy.

    We tend to psychoanalyze relationship-reluctant individuals as if something was “wrong” with them. What happened to them in the past? Were they abandoned in childhood? Did an ex-partner betray them? We also stereotype men as more likely to be gun-shy regarding relational intimacy or walking down the aisle.

    Sometimes, relationship reluctance is indeed due to a past betrayal or broken heart. Other times, however, it is simply due to personal preference. According to research, for self-assured men, in particular, singlehood signals success and satisfaction.

    Single and Satisfied: The Significance of Self-Esteem

    Menelaos Apostolou and Rafaella Philippou (2022) explored the effects of self-esteem and desirable traits on the decision to remain single.ii They distinguished between involuntary singlehood, defined as people who would rather be in an intimate relationship and those who are single by choice. They investigated the link between possessing valuable traits that people prefer in a partner and self-esteem on singlehood status.

    They found that self-esteem was a significant predictor of marital status for men. Higher scores correlated with a higher probability of being in a relationship or single by choice rather than involuntarily single. They found no such link between self-esteem and marital status for women.

    The Deception of Desirability

    Apostolou and Philippou also looked at the impact of desirable traits on relationship status. They noted that, as referenced in current literature, such traits include intelligence, good character, appearance, social status, and resource acquisition potential. The researchers observed that people who lack such qualities would find it harder to attract and retain intimate partners.

    However, Apostolou and Philippou found that generally, for both genders, self-ratings of desirability did not directly predict marital status. However, some traits had significant indirect effects on men, the largest being “good looks,” where higher scores were linked with higher self-esteem, which was associated with a higher likelihood of being in a relationship or single by choice.

    Avoiding Stigma or Stereotype

    When considering the agenda, aspirations, or relationship potential of single men, especially men who have aged out of their younger years, we recognize that we shouldn’t stereotype or stigmatize. But we also should recognize the potential absence of ulterior explanations for resisting relationships; some self-assured men are simply single by choice.

    References

    [i] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/node/1173426/preview

    [ii] Apostolou, Menelaos, and Rafaella Philippou. 2022. “What Predicts Involuntary Singlehood: Investigating the Effects of Self-Esteem and Having Desirable Traits in a Greek-Speaking Sample.” Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, June. doi:10.1037/ebs0000299.supp (Supplemental).

     

     

    Source: Psychology today

  • Krachi East MCE reportedly found dead at hotel room in Kumasi

    The corpse of Municipal Chief Executive for Krachi East in the Oti Region, Francis Kofi Okesu, has been found in a hotel room inside Kumasi.

    Police found his lifeless body in a supine position in bed naked with his left arm hanging beside the bed on Sunday.

    A careful examination of the body by health professionals found no marks of violence, but traces of spermatozoa on his thigh.

    There were little drops of spermatozoa from the penis suggesting possible engagement in sexual act shortly before his death.

    Luv News checks reveal the MCE had checked into the hotel room at the late hours of Friday, September 2 with his driver who later left to lodge in a different hotel.

    The deceased was however not seen the day after checking into the hotel and efforts to reach him proved futile.

    Investigations established that driver of the deceased, Sylvester Attah could also not reach him on the scheduled day of return to Dambai which was on September 4.

    An official complaint was lodged with the police by the Manager of the said hotel in Kumasi. Subsequently, the police had to break into the room only to find the body of Mr Okesu.

    The Regional Crime Scene team of the police proceeded to the crime scene for investigations to commence.

    Police sources say they have conducted a search of the room but have found nothing incriminating so far.

    Meanwhile the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah and Municipal Chief Executive of Oforikrom, Abraham Antwi and other security operatives have been to the scene.

    The body has been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

     

     

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • Reactions from Bolgatanga as GES approves Gurune to be taught in basic schools

    Not long ago, the Ghana Education Service (GES), through the National Council for Curriculum Assessment, approved 11 local languages to be taught at the basic level in schools.

    Gurune, which is spoken by the Frafra people in the Upper East Region, happened to be one of these approved languages.

    GhanaWeb’s Upper East Regional Correspondent, Sarah Dubure, engaged a section of Frafras in Bolgatanga to gather their thoughts regarding the initiative.

    Madam Martha intimated that the directive is an opportunity for most children to learn Gurune since most parents speak English to their children.

    “Our children don’t understand our language, especially when they are in school. Now that they want to introduce it in the schools, it will help them to understand it better,” she said.

    She added that the initiative would increase the children’s understanding of the Gurune language.

    Mr. Richard, who works with a Child Rights Organization, expressed disappointment that some parents were in the habit of speaking English to their children instead of their native language, Gurune.

    “I’m so much disappointed in some parents in the sense that we have Gurune speaking people who are supposed to nurture and teach their children how to speak the language, rather speak English to them. These children will go to school and learn the English language,” he pointed.

    A teacher, Mr. Junior Faith, expressed the hope that the initiative would help the children learn more about their cultural practices.

    “It will enlighten the kids to know more about their culture – farming, funeral performance, marriage -. The children are amazed; they don’t know how we are able to pass all that from generation to generation,” he told the media

    Madam Vivian Nyaaba expressed excitement for the initiative and recounted how they had attempted to establish a similar policy when they were students, but it was abandoned soon after being introduced.

    She noted that if the directive is implemented with seriousness, it will go a long way towards helping most of the pupils at school.

    According to her, though she dropped out of school many years ago, anytime someone mentioned a word, she applied the consonant and vowel sounds which aided her in spelling the words.

    She noted with worry that most students in recent times had issues in spelling words.

    She expressed the hope that the policy, when implemented, would go a long way in helping the children overcome this deficit.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Woman dies in Saudi Arabia after she was forced by boss to remove her kidney

     

    A family is in pain and grief after their family member died three weeks after travelling to Saudi Arabia to work as domestic help.

    However, after a week on the job, according to information obtained by the family, she was forced to donate her kidneys to one of her ailing bosses, which she bluntly refused.

    She was forced to donate her kidneys to her boss’s sick child, which she initially refused, calling her husband and telling him what was going on and how her life was in danger when her boss forced her to donate her kidneys for his child donate, even after saying no and declining she would not donate her kidneys.

    Her husband then tried to reach her by phone but was unable to reach her. The husband, named Juma, did not hear from his wife again, only to be informed by her friend that she was gone. According to the employer, Rose Atieno, the deceased, was taken to hospital after falling while cleaning windows.
    She was pronounced dead and her body was sent to Kenya just so her family could see surgical procedures and patched wounds on her abdomen. Her family mourns her loss even though she refused to donate her kidneys, it was forcibly taken from her.

    She went to Saudi Arabia in search of greener pastures, but her body was sent back to her family.

    Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and I think it is high time our ladies stop rushing to Arab countries to work as maids, and they are put to work instead of getting killed.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Pepewase residents appeal for siting of school in the community

    Residents of Pepewase, a farming community in the Sunyani West Municipality of the Bono Region are appealing for the siting of a school in the community.

    Children of school-going age in areas such as Pepewase, Nanabaahkrom, Akuapem, Boahenkrom, Adusakrom and Johnkrom undertake the dangerous journey to Komfourkrom on foot which is over 5 kilometres away to school on daily basis.

    The young ones who cannot embark on this stressful and risky journey stay in the house as their parents are afraid to take the risk.

    According to the residents, the only way to solve the problem is for the assembly to site a school in the enclave so that the children can use.

    An opinion leader in the community, Yuorkuu Cosmas, tells GhanaWeb that siting a school in the area is long overdue because the little kids cannot walk to Komfourkrom.

    “Not having a school here is a problem for us because the little ones cannot walk that long distance to access education. The disadvantage is that they stay in the house for a long time until they grow before they embark on that journey”.

    Portia Ziema whose little daughter was with her in the house at the time this reporter visited the community added that her child was in the house because she cannot walk the entire distance to Komfourkrom to attend school.

    She appealed to the government to construct a school for the people in the area to serve small children in the over four communities in the enclave.

    “My child did not go to school because she cannot cover the entire distance to Komfourkrom so she is always in the house. She will continue to stay in the house until she is of age to trek with the other grown-up children. The journey is dangerous so we are appealing to the government to construct a school for us”.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Ghana kickstarts polio immunization campaign

    Ghana aims to stop local transmission of polio virus type 2 with the commencement polio immunization campaign across the country starting September 1 to 4, 2022.

    A second round of the vaccination campaign will start on October 6 to 9, 2022.

    The Minister for Health, Mr Kwaku Agyemag-Manu, disclosed this in a speech read on his behalf on Wednesday at the launch of the 2022 National Polio Immunization Days Campaign in Accra with the theme: kick polio out of Ghana, vaccinate your child now.

    He said the campaign was also designed to maintain population immunity, strengthen surveillance on polio and prevent further polio outbreaks in the country.

    Mr Agyemag-Manu announced that Ghana has made incredible progress toward polio eradication, reducing polio cases by 99.9% in the last 30 years.

    According to the Minister, through robust disease surveillance, the Ghana Health Services received notification of positive events and a case of polio from environmental sites in the Northern and Savannah Regions.

    He stated that as a result of those current polio events, the GHS and partners (WHO, CDC UNICEF) organized a systematic risk assessment and the results showed the whole country was prone to high levels of local transmission of polio virus, adding that, “As you know, polio viruses travel far and fast.”

    Mr. Agyemag-Manu indicated that the polio vaccination exercise would be mainly house-to-house and would be mobile terms and other designated static sites to serve the target population.

    He urged caregivers of children under five years to look out for the vaccination teams and ensure their children are vaccinated. He also encouraged the public to continue to observe improved personal and good sanitation practices.

    On his part, the Deputy Director General of Ghana Health Service Dr. Anthony Adofo Ofosu said through immunization the incidence of polio has decreased.

    He added, “Some of us can bear witness that now when you go round our primary schools you no longer see children who have been paralyzed. Formally, it was quite common in schools at least you will see one child with a withered limp but thanks to the vaccination, this is a thing of the past.

    “It is important to note however that the fight against polio in Africa is not over, despite the worldwide efforts, two countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan remain endemic, until polio transmission is interrupted in these countries, all countries remain at risk of importation of polio,” he added.

    The WHO representative to Ghana, Francis Chisaka Kasolo, recounted that in 1998, WHO adopted a resolution that called for the global eradication of the polio virus and through this initiative, the global cases of polio have decreased from an estimated 350,000 cases to only two in countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, a remarkable public health achievement.

    He stated that through technological advancement, the Novel Oral Polio Type 2 Vaccine has been tested and proven to be a game changer in fighting against polio and therefore encouraged the government to ensure continued support for immunization programmes and sustain a high level of vaccine reach.

    The Expanded Programme Manager on Immunisation, Dr. Kwame Amponsa-Achiano, said the immunization targets over 6 million children in 261 districts nationwide who are under five years of age.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Black Sherif lookalike mobbed at Circle; also performs at a show

    The doppelganger season plot has thickened as a new Black Sherif look alike has surfaced on social media. He showed up at Circle and was also spotted on stage performing at an event.

    The doppelganger season plot has thickened as a new Black Sherif look alike has surfaced on social media. He showed up at Circle and was also spotted on stage performing at an event.

    We have seen lookalikes of KiDi, Kuami Eugene, and King Promise stepping up to live life like the stars they look like. A few weeks ago, a young boy who looks like Black Sherif also showed up and delivered a ‘killer’ freestyle to show that he can as well sing like the Ghanaian sensational star.

    In the video that went viral, the unknown boy wowed social media users with his striking resemblance and similar mannerisms of the ‘Kwaku The Traveller’ singer. The yet-to-be-identified boy rattled a freestyle of Black Sherif’s verse on Darkoo’s ‘Always’ track.

     

     

    In new videos sighted by pulse.com.gh, there’s now another Black Sherif look-alike who was mobbed by fans at Circle. According to reports, his name is Emmanuel and lives in Madina within an area where his neighbours call him Blacko.

     

    In a new video which was a staged prank, Madina Blacko for some reason passed through Circle’s Tiptoe lane and caused traffic as onlookers mistook him for Black Sherif.

    Madina Blacko has taken things to another level as was also captured on stage in another video that saw him performing Black Sherif’s songs to a crowd at an event. The videos have since stirred a debate online.

    “Impersonations are becoming too much in this country, hence the curb,” a Twitter user wrote. Another said, “You guys should spoiling other people fame, this is really not good, if you are the fake just let people know, instead of claiming someone else glory, this is call scamming“.

     

     

    Source: Pulse

  • Black Star International Film Festival to be held from September 20-25 2022

    The Black Star International Film Festival announced the launch of the 7th edition of the Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF) dedicated to the development of the business of film, independent filmmaking and film artists in Ghana, Africa and the world. The Black Star International Film Festival is scheduled to take place from September 20-25 2022 in Accra, Ghana.

    The theme for this year’s BSIFF is, “Inspiring the Business of Film in Africa,” set to push the generation of young filmmakers and artists, whose passion and interest for the creative arts increases by day, to keep telling their stories, educate themselves and gain the needed skills, new knowledge and experiences that shape their passions and push the quality of their crafts.

    Across most of Africa, the business/economic potential of the film and audio-visual sectors remains largely untapped, with the film industry continuing to be structurally underfunded, underdeveloped and undervalued. According to the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI), the industry generates $5 billion in annual revenue out of a potential $20 billion (UNESCO Report, 2021).

    How can this gap be bridged and the utmost value placed on the industry ?

    The Black Star International Film Festival aims to bring together industry professionals from France, Sudan, Kenya, Ghana, USA, Uganda and 10 other countries, film students, film distributors and media partnersas well as the creative community to have relevant industry conversation, inspiring and developing strategies for a thriving film business landscape in Africa.

    Philippa Ama Bentuma Arthur, Director of the Black Star International Film Festival, said:

    “BSIFF in its 7th year, is proud to be the pacesetter, championing the business of film and using our platform to inspire and change narratives, celebrate independent filmmaking and film artists, educate and provide skill training for aspiring filmmakers and offer distribution opportunities to several filmmakers in Ghana, Africa and globally. We invite Ghana, Africa, Diaspora and the international film and creative arts community to join us to celebrate film, independent filmmaking and creative artists, from September 20-25th.”

    Activities for this year’s Black Star International Film Festival include: Film Screenings in partnership with the Silverbird Cinema, Masterclasses, Workshops in collaboration with GH Media School, Film Clinics, Industry Panels, Shorts on Shots (A Film Networking Party), Launch of the Africa Film Market, After-parties, the BlackStar Music Concert(BMC) partnered by the Black Market Records (BMR) in the United States, a Cultural Trip and the Blackstar Awards & Closing Night.

    The Festival has also launched a BSIFF Membership drive where BSIFF Members, referred to as, “Black Stars,” get to watch all 45 films at the Silverbird Cinemas and attend all the scheduled activities for free. An annual membership subscription fee is GHC100.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Losing my sight is my biggest fear – Ghanaian Vogue editor

    Ghanaian-born editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Edward Kobina Enninful, who has undergone several surgeries on his eye, has disclosed that losing his sight is his greatest fear.

    The 50-year-old, who left Ghana for Britain at the young age of 13 years, underwent four surgeries to correct his poor vision, and according to a BBC report, Mr. Enninful had four operations, including one on a detached retina.

    Giving an account of his procedures, the Vogue editor revealed that he spent weeks looking at the floor after surgery.

    When asked in his interview about whether he feared losing his sight, Edward Enninful answered in the positive.

    “It’s my biggest fear…I never had good eyesight anyway. I always had my minus 10 glasses and I had four retinal detachments [needing] surgery each time. Then three weeks looking at the ground in a dark room and not lifting up your head. And yes, it was very psychologically intense.

    “But what I’ve also learned is… you don’t need perfect vision to create. You don’t need 20/20 vision to see images. So that’s the irony of it: though I have bad eyesight, I’m still able to create images that people seem to resonate with,” he explained.

    Edward, who has had a succession in the fashion industry, was appointed fashion director of British fashion magazine i-D at the age of 18.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Xandy Kamel reveals Tracy boakye is very secretive

    Tracey Boakye nicknamed ‘East Legon Landlady’ has been branded as a woman who loves to flaunt her life and property on social media but according to her close confidant, actress Xandy Kamel, the movie producer is the most secretive among their circle of friends.

    Xandy has disclosed that friends of Tracey never knew the identity of her boyfriend, Frank Badu Ntiamoah until she published his photos just a few days before their wedding which came off on July 28, 2022.

    Xandy Kamel who suffered a messy divorce back in 2021 has also debunked claims of bad blood between herself and Tracey, adding that they still remain best of friends although she couldn’t make it to her wedding in Kumasi.

    Speaking on Mahyease TV Show with Afia Tamakloe, Xandy admonished her friend to keep a few friends and also continue to keep her family issues to herself.

    “There is no bad blood between us, we even had a chat this morning. When you are not close to someone, you turn to judge them wrongly…the only advice I will give her is this, she should keep her circle close. I opened my circle to friends who said crazy things about my marriage. The Tracey that I know is very secretive. Zionfelix and I are close friends of Tracey but we only got to see the face of the man she was in a relationship with the day she posted his photos on Instagram. We never knew the guy (Frank Ntiamoah).

    “When Tracey got pregnant, we didn’t even know. We visit her several times but didn’t figure it out. She should maintain that and just keep her circles close. She only talks to friends when it has to do with money or business. I will advise her to keep her family issues to herself, she should seek counsel from her mother,” said Xandy.

    Also commenting on the bond between herself and Tracey, the outspoken actress revealed that Tracey Boakye played a crucial role in the planning of her wedding with her ex-husband, Kaninja, a Ghanaian sports presenter in 2020.

    Speaking in the interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Xandy explained the circumstance leading to her failure to attend Tracey’s wedding in Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi.

    “I planned my wedding with Tracey, in fact, 90% of the preparation was with her. She couldn’t make it to my wedding because she delivered her daughter on the same day. I have heard stories claiming that I didn’t attend her wedding because she didn’t come to mine.

    “I had already bought my ticket for Ghana Music Awards France, but the date clashed with her wedding. It was also a weekday and I had work to also attend. I couldn’t travel to Kumasi and also the guy who handles my local flight said there wasn’t an available ticket. I would have attended her wedding if it was in Accra, I had made two dresses but I couldn’t wear them,” she explained.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

     

  • Contractor used three companies to bid for over GH¢178,000 BOST contract Audit report

    It has been established by the Auditor-General that three companies with the same owner bid for the award of contract for the installation of LED bulbs and streetlights.

    The contract was awarded by Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST).

    According to the 2021 Auditor-General report on Public Accounts of Ghana-Public Boards, Corporations and other statutory institutions, which has been addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, the companies involved were: Unity Enginmac Co. Precious Engineering and Dass-B Electricals.

    BOST, the report said, eventually awarded the contract to Enginmac Co. Ltd at a cost of GH¢178,252.52.

    “We noted that three (3) Companies, Unity Enginmac Co. Precious Engineering and Dass-B Electricals bided for the award of contract for the installation of LED bulbs and streetlights for BOST of which Enginmac Co was recommended by the evaluation team for the award of the contract to the tune of GH¢178,252.52.

    “We noted further that, Unity Enginmac Co. Ltd and the two other alternative tenderers namely Precious Engineering and Dass-B Electricals who participated in the procurement were all owned by one person.

    “We recommended that the contractor be invited to explain the ownership of the companies and tender documents submitted and admonish the evaluation team to do proper due diligence in the selection process as this lapse was identified in the previous year audit and cautioned,” page 16 of the report read.

    The Auditor-General noted that “BOST continues to pay avoidable judgment debts in the forms of cost and interest amounting to GH¢9,169,884.48 and US$3,057,096.00 to three contractors for breach of contract and undue delays in the payment of legitimate contract sums.

    “We recommended that should Management apply appropriate sanctions on all officers whose negligence have occasioned the loss. Additionally, we urged Management to heed to all contract terms and indulge in negotiations rather than lawsuit in resolving disagreements.”

     

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Are the benefits of lemon water backed by science?

    Watch any TikTok influencer’s “What I Eat In a Day” video and, more likely than not, they’ll profess to start the day off with lemon water. There are plenty of claims about the beverage, from its allegedly “detoxifying” properties to ability to hydrate you more thoroughly than regular H2O — but are they legit?

    According to dietitian Alissa Rumsey, author of Unapologetic Eating, “there’s no evidence to show that water with lemon is more hydrating than plain water.” One reason why people may find that they’re better hydrated when they switch to lemon water, she says, is because “sometimes people find it easier to drink a flavored water than plain water — so if it helps you drink more water overall, that’s great.”

    One thing that lemon water does have is a little bit of vitamin C, as lemon is a citrus fruit. However, the vitamin isn’t enough to support claims that lemon water is particularly superior over plain water. Brenna O’Malley, a non-diet dietitian and owner of The Wellful, a non-diet community and virtual private practice based in San Francisco, points out that while our bodies do engage in detoxification, that’s a natural process through the kidneys. We do need to stay hydrated for our kidneys to function optimally, she says, “but lemon in water specifically, is not needed to aid in this process.”

    “By staying hydrated, we facilitate our kidneys working to flush toxins from our bodies as part of their natural processes,” O’Malley explains. “There isn’t evidence to support that vitamin C or lemon juice supports this process.”

    When it comes to lemons in general, there are certain potential benefits to incorporating the fruit in one’s diet — which, yes, can include a squeeze in your morning glass of water. Integrative physician Dr. Taz Bhatia, who hosts the Super Woman Wellness podcast, says that lemons contain pectin, a soluble fiber that can aid in digestion.

    Lemon water may not be the miracle cure for all ailments, but it can have a place in one’s diet. If the taste of plain water gives you the ick, a squeeze of lemon may have you reaching for water over, say, another can of Diet Coke. While lemon water isn’t especially beneficial, the experts Yahoo Life spoke with said that staying hydrated is of prime importance.

    “Finding ways you enjoy to staying hydrated, whether that’s with plain water, lemon water or rotating flavors can be a great way to add variety and enjoy your drink a bit more,” O’Malley says.

    For people who don’t like plain water, she suggests using tea bags, cucumber, fruits or seltzer waters, which “can all add some flavor.”

    “Things other than water also count towards your hydration, like teas, juices, smoothies,” O’Malley adds. “Some people really like the water bottles that have fun sayings on them to remind you to drink throughout the day, or adding in some physical reminders to fill up — like when you get up from your desk to bring your bottle to fill up, or having a goal to fill up your glass before and after lunch.”

    Source: yahoo

  • 5 ways to naturally increase the size of your breasts

    Not all women are blessed with naturally full breasts but with these beauty hacks, you can give your boobs a much-needed boost. Keep reading to learn how to increase your breasts size.

    If you’re unsatisfied with the size of your breasts, this is for you.

    Lots of women are turning to a variety of natural methods to get bigger breasts without resorting to an extreme method such as surgery. While the results from these methods are far more subtle, if you exercise a little bit of patience and remain consistent, you will begin to see results.

    The size of your boobs is determined by a combination of genetics, lifestyle, and body weight and whilst there’s no magical formula to go up a cup size or two, building and toning your chest muscles can make your breasts look perkier. Regularly massaging and moisturising them might keep them soft and supple. If you quit smoking, you spare your skin elasticity which helps avoid sagging and drooping. Gaining weight is also a quick and easy way of getting some extra breast mass.

    If you want to give it a go, stick to pushups, dumbbell flys and chest dips. These are three of the easiest exercises that you can do and they are the most effective.

    A wide selection of herbs and plant supplements purported to cause breast growth are available for sale both online and at natural healing stores. Though some women swear by these natural medicines, none have been scientifically proven to be as effective yet some who believe in traditional medicine, swear by them. Some herbs that allegedly encourage breast growth are:

    Some sources claim that, by massaging the breasts with proper technique, it’s possible to cause slight breast growth.

    Sometimes, these sources recommend the use of special oils, creams, or gadgets to encourage growth. Though this may feel good and lead to relaxation which leads to an improvement in your mood.

    Breasts are mainly mad up of fatty connective tissue. Like the rest of the fatty tissue on the body, this is eventually lost when one loses weight. If you are thin and have small breasts, putting on just a few extra pounds of fat can help fill out your breasts.

    However, it’s important to note that all women carry their weight differently. Some women gain weight in their thighs, belly, or elsewhere before gaining weight in their chest so know your body before you take the plunge.

    For women who want to prevent pregnancy and also want bigger breasts, birth control pills can be an effective solution for both problems, as breast growth is a common side-effect of many hormone-based birth control pills.

    Most birth control pills contain the female sex hormone oestrogen, which, as discussed below, can cause slight breast growth. However, you should never take birth control just to get bigger breasts, as it’s a powerful medication that can have serious side effects. Make sure you consult you doctor before you take the plunge.

    Source: Pulse

  • Listen to Ghanaians and reshuffle non-performing ministers — Kofi Akpaloo tells Nana Addo

    The founder and the leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Percival Kofi Akpaloo, has appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to reshuffle his non-performing ministers to help inject what he described as fresh energy into the administration.

    He advised Nana Addo to shake up his government and reshuffle his appointees particularly non-performing ministers, deputy ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives as well as some CEOs of some state institutions to pave way for more competent and selfless hands to bring their expertise to bear on his administration.

    He said that some ministers have been tolerated for far too long, and their continuous stay in office was distracting government business, adding that it was time to show them the exit, and give the opportunity to those who are ready and prepared to serve in the interest of the party and the government.

    Kofi Akpaloo

    He cited the overwhelming thirst and request of the masses for his call stating that he believes that the call is in the right direction given the prevailing economic conditions in the country.

    In an interview on Kumasi-based Hello FM, Kofi Akpaloo stressed that he believed that the President himself must have heard about the calls and that he should act on same.

    He said: “There is an immediate need to make changes in his government because since 1992 we have not had successive governments ruling this country for almost 6 years without making ministerial changes.”

     

    Source: Pulse

  • Mahama is calling for mayhem in 2024 Allotey Jacobs blasts former President

    Former member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Jacob Allotey Jacobs has slammed ex-President John Dramani Mahama over his recent comments about the judiciary.

    Former member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Jacob Allotey Jacobs has slammed ex-President John Dramani Mahama over his recent comments about the judiciary.

    He said the NDC leader is fanning flames that could lead to chaos in the 2024 general elections.

    Speaking on Peace FM in Accra, the former Central Regional Chairman of the NDC said Mahama is calling for the devil in the next elections.

    “It looks like we are invoking the devil to descend [in] 2024. Is the devil going to be our Judge? You know what goes along with the devil; chaos, anarchy!”

    He explained that it is a strategy by the former President and the NDC to discredit the Judiciary and it is all in response to comments by the current President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, that he hopes to see a New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential candidate win the 2024 Presidential elections.

    John Mahama

    “The same old story; the fear of the 2020 verdict. So, if the President says this, then I’m not going to attack the President but I’m going to attack the Judiciary that gave the verdict for the President to be the President. That is the tactics,” he claimed while speaking on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” morning show.

    “The Judiciary is the four-foundation pillars upon which our democracy thrive . . . So, immediately you start to attack a pillar [not the four], even a pillar, it means there is something cooking somewhere . . . It is a strategy. This is a political strategy but it is unfortunate . . .”, he said.

    He also replied the former President saying, “when somebody talks about Ghanaians not liking the current Judiciary rules and so forth, it is the creation of the NDC. It is a fact. They have named these Judges as ‘Unanimous FC’. So, if somebody comes on platform and attribute it to Ghanaians, it is not Ghanaians but his own people. So, you can’t muddy the water and then come and accuse somebody”.

    The former President expressed bitter sentiments about the current leadership of the Judiciary

    Source: Pulse

  • Gov’t spent over GH¢9b on Free SHS, 1D1F, free water, etc — Auditor-General’s report

    The government has spent GH¢9,197,771,663.74 billion on its flagship programmes, the 2021 Auditor General’s report has revealed.

    According to the report, GH¢1,409,997,719.41 was allocated to Free Senior High School Programme-SHS/TVET while GH¢797,190,169.55 was allocated for Fertilizer Subsidy/Planting for food and jobs project.

    It said the government spent an amount of GH¢242,283,846.97 on COVID-19 free water while COVID-19 activity and Vaccine during the outbreak covered GH¢1,557,846,913.38.

    GH¢45,372,195,70 was spent on the government’s digital address system alone in 2021, whiles GH¢142,762,500 was spent on the controversial National Cathedral project as of December 2021.

    Below is the money spent on the flagship programmes of the government.

    Below is the money spent on the flagship programmes of the government.

     

    Below is the money spent on the flagship programmes of the government.

    Auditor General's report

    Auditor General’s reports
    Source: Pulse