Three judges nominated by President Akufo-Addo for the Supreme Court are currently appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament. These nominees have been put forward to fill vacant positions on the Supreme Court bench.
The first nominee to face the committee is Justice Henry Anthony Kwofie, followed by the other two nominees, Yaw Darko Asare and Richard Adjei-Frimpong. Both Yaw Darko Asare and Richard Adjei-Frimpong currently serve on the Court of Appeal.
Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML) has asserted that its innovative technologies played a crucial role in the substantial transformation of Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector, resulting in additional revenue for the government, following an inquiry conducted by the Fourth Estate.
SML has challenged the accuracy of claims made by the Fourth Estate in its recently released documentary.
In both a press statement and a technical briefing at their operational hub in Tema on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, the company presented a robust counterargument to address what it perceives as inaccuracies and misrepresentations in the investigative findings.
During interactions with the media, Prince Sarpong, the Head of IT in charge of Petroleum Operations, and Hamdan Abubakar, the Head of Engineering at SML, vigorously defended the company’s significant role in rejuvenating and advancing Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
“Contrary to the tone set by the Fourth Estate, SML has been instrumental in sanitising the downstream petroleum sector through the implementation of cutting-edge technologies and innovative practices,” stated Mr. Sarpong during the briefing.
SML, in a detailed presentation, underscored its pivotal role in reconciling fuel volumes between Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). Mr. Sarpong highlighted how, leveraging advanced technologies like Ultrasonic Flow Meters since 2020, the company has effectively addressed reconciliation challenges. This, in turn, ensures precise taxation of OMCs by the GRA.
SML asserted that these technological innovations significantly contribute to enhanced efficiency within the sector. Notably, the company cited an achievement where it increased the volume of fuel accounted for by the GRA from an average of 350 million liters per month to an impressive 450 million liters.
In terms of financial impact, SML claimed that its efforts, up to 2022, have yielded an additional ¢3 billion, contrasting with the negative portrayal in the Fourth Estate’s investigative report.
To rectify reported inaccuracies, SML clarified the contract duration, stating that its agreement with the GRA spans 5 years, contrary to the 10-year duration mentioned in the investigative report.
In a historic moment for Fulham Football Club, they advanced to the League Cup Semi-Finals for the first time in their history after a thrilling penalty shootout victory at Goodison Park.
A subdued 90 minutes saw the Whites take the lead late in the first half when Michael Keane inadvertently put the ball into his own net. However, Everton forced the match into penalties with Beto’s 82nd-minute equalizer.
The penalty shootout showcased a high standard of spot-kicks, with only three out of 16 takers missing. Tosin’s successful kick proved decisive, securing Fulham’s place in the final four of the Carabao Cup.
Manager Marco Silva fielded a strong starting XI, including the return of Calvin Bassey and the captaincy debut of Harrison Reed. The match, as predicted, was closely contested, with neither team creating significant chances until late in the first half.
Fulham’s breakthrough came when Antonee Robinson’s effort led to an own goal by Keane, ending Everton’s streak of not conceding a goal in five matches.
The second half featured more goalmouth action, with both teams having opportunities, but Fulham remained solid defensively. Beto’s close-range header for Everton equalized the game, leading to a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, both teams displayed clinical finishing, with the score level after the initial set of kicks. The tension increased when Pickford saved Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s attempt, but Bernd Leno responded with a crucial save against Amadou Onana.
Tensions rose further when Carlos Vinicius leveled the score, and a miss from Everton’s Idrissa Gueye gave Fulham the advantage. The pressure was on Tosin, who calmly slotted the ball beyond Pickford, securing a historic moment for Fulham Football Club.
Alhaji Mohammed Abdul Latif, a former active youth activist of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Northern Region, has officially declared his candidacy for the Gusheigu constituency Parliamentary seat.
Running on the ticket of the Movement for Change, led by former Trade Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, Alhaji Latif, a political strategist, contractor, and businessman, aims to unseat the incumbent first-term Member of Parliament, Hon. Alhassan Tampuli, in the upcoming 2024 elections.
In an interview, Alhaji Latif expressed his unwavering belief in the political agenda of the Movement for Change and is confident that the electorate in Gusheigu constituency will choose him and Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten.
He asserted his readiness to confront any individual or group attempting to impede his parliamentary aspirations.
Alhaji Latif extended a call to all disenchanted supporters of both the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as well as floating voters in the Gusheigu constituency, urging them to unite and support his candidacy.
In September 2023, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, the former Trade Minister, revealed the establishment of a new political movement with the intent to participate in the 2024 Presidential election as an independent candidate.
The one-time NPP Presidential aspirant envisions the Movement for Change as a credible alternative to the dominant NPP and NDC duopoly in Ghana’s political landscape.
As an autonomous political entity, it remains uncertain whether the leadership plans to field candidates for all 275 constituencies in the parliamentary elections. However, there is already expressed interest from some individuals seeking to run for parliamentary seats under the banner of the Movement for Change.
In a recent interview, Claudette, the sister of multiple Grammy winner Celine Dion, shared a somber update on the singer’s ongoing battle with Stiff-Person Syndrome.
According to Claudette, Celine Dion is facing challenges in controlling certain muscle movements.
“She’s working hard, but she doesn’t have control over her muscles. What breaks my heart is that she’s always been disciplined. She’s always worked hard. Our mother always told her, ‘You’re going to do it well, you’re going to do it properly.’ It’s true that in both our dreams and hers, the goal is to return to the stage. In what capacity? I don’t know,” she said.
This update follows a year after Celine Dion announced her diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder characterized by painful muscle spasms and stiffness that significantly impacts daily life for those affected.
Due to the challenges posed by the disease, Celine Dion had to indefinitely postpone her highly anticipated Courage World Tour in May 2023, offering apologies to her devoted fans.
In an August 2023 interview with Le Journal de Montreal, Claudette conveyed optimism regarding their ongoing search for therapeutic treatments for the condition.
Additionally, she shared that their sister, Linda Dion, had relocated to Celine’s home to assist with the care of her three sons—René-Charles, Eddy, and Nelson.
The entire family, including the sons and their aunt, is actively participating in Celine’s treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery process.
President Akufo-Addo is encouraging African leaders to sustain the momentum in the continent’s efforts to develop and manufacture vaccines domestically.
He has expressed optimism and described the progress made in the last year as encouraging, particularly in advancing the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing Project.
The President cited the successful initiation of technical work as a significant step forward in this endeavor.
President Akufo-Addo addressed a gathering of African leaders in Kigali, Rwanda, during the inauguration of a BioNTech Vaccine Manufacturing Site in the Central African country.
“Today is a reaffirmation of our commitment to the rest of the world that the construction of an end-to-end vaccine manufacturing facility – involving Rwanda, Senegal and my own country of Ghana – is truly underway,” he said.
President Nana Akufo-Addo said the import of the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing Project meant “we have to work together”.
“For us in Ghana, the Project fits perfectly with our roadmap for domestic vaccine development and manufacturing.
“Ghana is playing her role to this end, and I assure you once again of our determination to make the Project work successfully,” the President noted.
The development of the BioNTech Vaccine Manufacturing Site in Rwanda was funded by BioNTech, a German COVID-19 vaccine maker, at a cost of approximately US$150 million. BioNTech, known for developing one of the most widely used COVID-19 shots in collaboration with Pfizer, plans to enable African countries, including Rwanda, to produce its Comirnaty-branded vaccine under BioNTech’s supervision.
The mRNA vaccine factory in Rwanda, scheduled to begin production in 2025, will be the first of its kind established by a foreign company on the African continent. The facility is equipped to manufacture various mRNA-based vaccines tailored to the specific needs of African Union member states, encompassing vaccines such as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and BioNTech’s experimental vaccines for malaria and tuberculosis.
This initiative is significant for Africa, where vaccine dependency is prevalent, and it addresses a crucial aspect of health infrastructure on the continent. The computational discovery and therapeutic drug platforms employed by BioNTech contribute to the rapid development of novel biopharmaceuticals.
Ghana’s research institutions are undergoing capacity-building efforts to enhance their readiness for the discovery and development of vaccines and other biologicals. President Nana Akufo-Addo highlighted the collaborative efforts of DEK Vaccines Limited with BioNTech-Rwanda and BioNTech-Germany to achieve the country’s goals in filling, finishing, and packaging essential drug products.
The President announced that Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is on track to attain global benchmarking maturity level four, signifying a high standard in regulatory practices. Additionally, he mentioned the FDA’s support for Rwanda’s FDA in its pursuit of reaching the World Health Organization’s maturity level three, indicating a commitment to international regulatory standards.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized the strong collaboration between Ghana and Rwanda in research, citing a recent visit by a Rwandan team to research institutions in Ghana.
The Rwandan project follows President Nana Akufo-Addo’s groundbreaking ceremony in Accra, Ghana, for the DEK Vaccine Manufacturing Factory just eight months earlier. The DEK project, led by the European Union (EU) and DEK Vaccines Limited, a consortium of Ghanaian pharmaceutical companies, aims to enhance Ghana’s vaccine production capacity to 600 million doses annually, covering vaccines for diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, rotavirus, and cholera. The project encompasses the entire vaccine value chain.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has initiated the nomination process for its parliamentary primaries, focusing on constituencies where incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) are present.
This decision was made during the NPP’s National Executive Committee and National Council meeting, which convened on December 6 at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.
In an official statement outlining the election procedures, the party disclosed that nominations will be accepted until Monday, December 25.
The parliamentary primaries are slated to occur on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
The party’s leadership has underscored its dedication to ensuring the primaries are conducted in a manner that upholds principles of freedom, fairness, and transparency.
“The leadership of the party reiterates its commitment to free, fair, and transparent parliamentary primaries and counts on the support of all stakeholders,” it concluded.
Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) has issued a response to allegations surrounding a purported 10-year contract with the Finance Ministry during Ken Ofori-Atta’s tenure.
The company contested the claims made in “The Fourth Estate” documentary, asserting that it contains misrepresentations and false information.
In a press release from its Public Relations Unit on Tuesday, December 19, SML clarified that its contractual agreement with the Finance Ministry and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) spans 5 years, contrary to the reported 10 years. Additionally, the company denied the assertion that it annually receives a substantial $100 million for its services.
“The documentary represents a set of misrepresentations, false claims, and a general lack of understanding of the entire operations of the company. We challenge Fourth Estate to produce any contract anywhere that is for a 10-year period.”
“The 5th PPA Board at its 46th Board meeting in a letter referenced PPA/CEO/09/2286/23 approved a contract duration of five (5) years.”
“Again, it’s NOT TRUE that SML takes $100 million annually from its contract. The contract, which is yet to be operationalized, per their projections leads them to that claim,” an excerpt of their statement said.
A Fourth Estate report has raised concerns about the legitimacy of a contract, indicating that Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has expanded it, potentially costing the state $100 million over the next decade.
The contract assigns Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) the responsibility of monitoring and reporting fuel product diversion, dilution, and general noncompliance in the petroleum industry, tasks previously handled by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
In response to these revelations, the Minority in Parliament is urging a comprehensive parliamentary investigation into the government’s contract with SML. The objective is to ensure the protection of billions of cedis that could be at risk in the downstream petroleum sector.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to raise the district assembly common fund from the current 5% to 7% if he emerges victorious in the 2024 elections.
The presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress made this promise in Bole after casting his vote in the district assembly elections, emphasizing that it is part of the measures his government will implement to enhance local governance.
“If God smiles on us, and we win the 2024 elections, we are going to take decentralization seriously, the rest of the ministries seriously, and the rest of the MMDAs that are still centralized. We are going to complete the decentralization so that we truly hand over power to the people at the local government level. Until we get our decentralization right, Ghana is not going to go anywhere, and so we are going to take it seriously.”
“We are going to make sure that District Common Fund disbursement increases from 5% to 7%, as enforced in 2016, and that the District Assemblies Common Fund is going to be regular so that districts can take advantage of it to increase the pace of their development. So, for those who haven’t voted, please go to the polling stations and select your assembly members,” Mr. Mahama said.
In addition to his pledge to increase the district assembly common fund, Mr. Mahama urged the Electoral Commission of Ghana to implement measures to prevent issues such as malfunctioning equipment and delayed starts that were observed in the district assembly elections from recurring in the 2024 General elections.
He emphasized that addressing these concerns is crucial to avoid potential chaos during the upcoming national elections.
Parliament is preparing to conduct a public hearing vetting for nominees selected by the President to fill vacant positions on the Supreme Court bench.
The President nominated three justices currently serving on the Court of Appeal for elevation to the Supreme Court. The nominees are Henry Anthony Kwofie, Yaw Darko Asare, and Richard Adjei-Frimpong.
The Appointments Committee, chaired by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu, will oversee the vetting process and present a report to the plenary for consideration.
The President stressed the importance of promptly filling the vacancies caused by the retirement of some members on the bench in a letter dated October 11, 2023.
The Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has vehemently denied allegations of making derogatory remarks about the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
In a press statement issued by his spokesperson, Kofi Abrefa Afena on December 19, the Minister categorically refuted the accusations, asserting that the video in question was manipulated to sow discord.
“Dr. Prempeh wishes to reiterate his absolute belief and confidence in the Flagbearer of the NPP, His Excellency, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia as the most competent and credible candidate, with the proven incorruptibility, to beat the NDC Flagbearer in 2024, based on the NPP’s superior record in government.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Energy Minister is of the firm view that, the people of Ghana on the balance of probabilities, will renew the NPP mandate with Dr Bawumia because, even in the face of genuine global shocks, as attested to by former President Mahama in his foreign engagements, the government has remained resolute, steering the country out of the woods,” an excerpt of the statement said.
He further urged the public to dismiss the video entirely and not be swayed by its content.
“The general public is thus, kindly requested to totally disregard the deliberate slant and distortions put on the video.,” the statement concluded.
The statement underscored Dr. Opoku Prempeh’s unwavering confidence in Dr. Bawumia, labeling him as the best choice for both Ghanaians and the NPP to secure victory in the upcoming elections.
Skin-lightening which entails the use of products, treatments, or practices with the aim of lightening or whitening the skin tone, has a long history in Africa, with a significant percentage of women engaging in the use of skin-lightening products.
According to the World Health Organization’s 2011 statistics, 40% of African women use skin-lightening products.
In some countries, the prevalence is even higher, such as 77% in Nigeria, 59% in Togo, 35% in South Africa, 27% in Senegal, and 25% in Mali.
A new trend in skin lightening involves the intravenous application of glutathione, a natural antioxidant produced by the liver, according to the United Nations. This method is gaining popularity, although the United Nations warns about its potential risks.
The World Health Organization highlights that skin bleaching can lead to liver and kidney damage, psychosis, brain damage in fetuses, and an increased risk of cancer.
In the Bodi Tribe in Ethiopia, having a larger belly is considered more desirable, making men with bigger bellies more sought after.
The community engages in the annual Ka-el ceremony where men aim to grow the largest belly to increase their chances of attracting more wives.
The Bodi people hold the cow in high regard, considering it a sacred animal.
The cow’s blood, combined with fresh milk, is a significant source of sustenance for them.
The Bodi attribute various benefits to the cow and believe that consuming the blood mixed with honey and cow milk helps them almost double their weight.
Participants in the belly-growing competition go naked as a requirement for eligibility in the event.
It is alleged that the government, via the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, spent about GHC85,000 in the legal case between Achimota School and Tyrone Iras Marhguy, Oheneba Nkrabea; two Rastafarian students over admission to the institution.
Tyrone Iras Marhguy and Oheneba Nkrabea were denied admission by Achimota School in 2021 due to his dreadlocks. The denial of admission led to a court intervention in May 2021.
An Accra High Court delivered its ruling on Monday, May 31, 2021. Justice Gifty Adjei Addo, the Presiding Judge, disagreed with the submissions of the Attorney General and granted all the reliefs separately sought by the embattled students except the relief of compensation in the case of Tyrone Marhguy.
According to Justice Addo, it was preposterous for the Attorney General to have even suggested that the two were not students in the first place. Justice Gifty Adjei Addo consequently directed Achimota School to admit the two Rastafarian students.
But Achimota School and the Attorney-General’s office filed an appeal challenging the High Court’s order for the school to admit dreadlock-wearing student, Tyrone Marhguy.
According to the school, the court among others erred by indicating that the rules and regulations of Achimota School with regard to ensuring uniformity in appearance is unlawful and interferes with the manifestation of one’s religious rights.
The court dismissed the appeal, and three years down the line, Tyrone Iras Marhguy has completed his secondary education at Achimota School with flying colours.
Tyrone secured the highest grade possible, an A1, in all eight subjects he studied as a General Science student in the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Reacting to this news, X user, StatsGH revealed that “A law firm’s accountant estimated that Gov’t must have spent around GHS85,000 fighting the Achimota Rasta student case.”
Tyrone ‘s success was shared on X by a former aide to the NDC 2024 flagbearer, John Mahama, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
The Ghana Nurse-Midwife Trainees Association (GNMTA) is considering the option of staging a protest due to unpaid arrears.
The association alleges that the government has not fulfilled its commitment to pay members their allowances.
According to a statement from GNMTA’s National President, Adumbisa Pascal, and General Secretary, Blessing Ampofo, they submitted a petition to the Ministry of Health on November 25, 2023, regarding the outstanding arrears.
“Since the release of our letter on November 25, 2023, where we beseeched the Ministry of Health to address the long-overdue payment of our outstanding allowances, we have only been met with empty promises and false assurances. Out of the two years’ worth of arrears and the seven months’ clearance received from the Ministry of Finance, we have merely received payment for two months. This stark disparity leaves us bewildered, undervalued, and profoundly wounded,” the association said in a press statement.
Despite obtaining financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance for two years of arrears, trainees have reportedly only received payment for two months, leading to concerns among the members.
“Our reservoir of patience and tolerance has been exhausted. We demand immediate redress for this egregious injustice. The fate of nursing and midwifery in Ghana lies precariously in the balance, highlighting the indispensability of addressing this matter with the profound urgency and unwavering gravity it commands” the statement added.
Ecobank, a prominent Pan-African banking group, has been welcomed as the newest official sponsor of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (“AFCON”) Côte d’Ivoire 2023 by the Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”).
This partnership aims to strengthen Ecobank’s connection with the millions of Africans who will be celebrating the excitement of football during TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023.
Operating in 35 African countries, Ecobank has a presence in 16 of the 24 African nations participating in the tournament.
The President of CAF Dr Patrice Motsepe said: “CAF is proud to welcome Ecobank as the latest official sponsor of the AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire. One of our objectives is to ensure that CAF Competitions are exciting and appealing to fans and broadcasting spectators in Africa and globally and contribute to the growth and success of our Sponsors and Partners.”
The highly anticipated TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Côte d’Ivoire 2023, the most prestigious football event on the continent, is set to commence on Saturday, January 13, 2024, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank Group Mr Jeremy Awori said: “The TotalEnergies AFCON tournament highlights the immense sense of pride that Africans across our Continent and around the World feel during the matches. As the Pan-African bank, we are proud to associate Ecobank with the Confédération Africaine de Football to contribute to the success of TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023, the largest and most-enjoyed football tournament, inspiring passion across Africa. Football transcends borders. It brings communities together, fully aligning with Ecobank’s commitment to drive regional integration. It is an honour for Ecobank to play a key role in bringing millions of Africans together to live their passion for football, making sure that loyal customers benefit from this experience.”
Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kathleen Addy, has attributed the low interest of Ghanaians in District Level Elections (DLEs) to their lack of understanding of the local government system and the system’s failure to deliver.
Voter turnouts during DLEs have historically been low, and this trend continues in this year’s elections. The NCCE has been working to educate and motivate the public to participate in the elections.
Ms. Addy emphasized the importance of educating people about the local government system and encouraging them to vote, highlighting the potential benefits individuals can gain through participation in the assemblies.
“Everybody needs a pep talk and some encouragement and some pampering to go and vote at the local election…First of all, people really don’t understand the local government system, and then secondly, the local government system does not really deliver. People do not understand that your assembly holds your share of the public purse. Your slice of the national cake is in the assembly. But I think that because people do not elect the heads of the assembly, they don’t feel a link,” she said.
Ms. Addy further indicated, “So you can see that people hold the MPs accountable, and they put pressure on them to deliver something for them. So if the MMDCEs were to be elected, there would be a stronger link, there will be stronger accountability, and then that will motivate people to vote. Nonetheless, the assembly members and the unit committee members also play an important role in mobilizing public support around issues, in mobilizing the public to identify what the community really needs to be able to take it to the assembly to be worked on. So it is not a perfect system, and that is part of it, and it is not a system that is working in all its bits and pieces properly together, and that is why there is such low interest.”
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has shed light on how it identified instances of candidates relying on Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms during the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).
In the release of provisional results, WAEC stated that some candidates engaged in malpractices, leading to result cancellations and withholdings. WAEC says that subject results from 235 schools are under scrutiny due to candidates employing answers generated by artificial intelligence.
According to WAEC, the results of candidates from 235 schools were withheld due to the use of AI-generated answers.
The Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, Mr. John Kapi, explained in an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM that they discovered some candidates copied incorrect answers provided by the AI platforms.
He said, “One candidate typed in the question, and the response was that ‘I’m not familiar with the term you have used,’ and the candidate wrote the same response in the answer booklet. Another candidate wrote, ‘I cannot detect the term you have used.’ This is a clear indication of the use of AI.”
Mr. Kapi highlighted the evolving challenge of cheating methods, noting that candidates used to bring in mobile phones, take snapshots, send them for solutions, or sneak in with pre-solved answer sheets.
The rise of AI as a method of cheating presents a novel and substantial challenge.
The WAEC spokesperson highlighted intentions for collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure rigorous enforcement of rules concerning mobile phone usage in secondary schools.
Concerning the inquiry into the use of mobile phones, AI, or intercepted questions, Mr. Kapi stated that investigations into the matter are underway.
“We’ve monitored all the rogue websites that were publishing the questions we had put out there. Our investigations and some reports that were received from national security indicated that all the questions that were found online were put out there after the commencement of the examination. The suspicion is that these questions were out there after the supervisors or invigilators or even candidates had taken snapshots and put them out there seeking assistance,” he stated.
Mr. Kapi emphasized the significance of candidates engaging in independent work and relying on individual efforts for certification.
Those suspected of using AI are anticipated to be invited for a fair hearing as part of the investigation process.
Fellow citizens of Ghana, it is always a great honor and privilege to share my views about our dear motherland with you. I am a member of the Diaspora (I have lived over half a Century away from motherland, Ghana), and my heritage remains my most precious treasure because it was won for us through the blood and toil of our fathers.
By virtue of this treasure, it is very significant for every Ghanaian to exhibit steadfastness towards the building of a great and strong nation worthy of emulation not only by our sister African nations but also the entire world. We should forge ahead as in unity we stand and divided we fall. It is imperative that we design and implement those attributive features that attract us to the whole world. This will make us live a fulfilling life in our motherland. We must be faithful and loyal to Ghana, and uphold and defend her good name.
With these characteristics in mind, it is important to remember our forefathers who have exhibited exemplary lives in the past for the Black Star of hope and honor. They were real leaders with great leadership qualities. These qualities include selflessness, honesty, vision, integrity, compassion, transformation, and incorruptibility.
We remember most of these great men and women like Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. James E. K. Aggrey, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah, Mr. Simon Diedong Dombo, Tetteh Quarshie, Yaa Asantewaa (the Queenmother of Ejisu) and many others.
This article seeks to address the way and manner bribery and corruption raise serious moral and political concerns in our motherland. This is because they do not exhibit victimless crimes but rather involve very heavy economic, social and environmental costs.
Whereas bribery may involve money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgement of conduct of a person in a position of trust, the corruption of public or private officials and decision makers raise serious moral and political concerns because both of them create an unlevelled playing field for honest business, and cut deep into the social fabric of developed and developing countries alike. Corruption has a significant negative impact on the economy and society overall. It weakens the confidence of people in democratic institutions and processes in extreme circumstances.
Corruption affects good governance, competitive markets, and healthy public fiscal management. It weakens the confidence of people in democratic institutions and processes in extreme circumstances.
This article draws me to the report from the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) under the title “Airbus Agrees to Pay over $3.9 Billion in Global Penalties to Resolve Foreign Bribery and International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) Case” in which only one African country, Ghana, was cited (Reference: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/airbus-agrees-pay-over-39-billion-global-penalties-resolve-foreign-bribery-and-itar-case).
According to admissions and court documents, beginning in at least 2008 and continuing until at least 2015, Airbus engaged in and facilitated a scheme to offer and pay bribes to decision makers and other influencers, including to foreign officials, in order to obtain improper business advantages and to win business from both privately owned enterprises and entities that were state-owned and state-controlled.
In its attempt to resolve this evil behavior globally, the Airbus Company entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the United Kingdom’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) over bribes paid in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Indonesia and Ghana.
Ghana is underlined because that is our country, the only country in Africa to be cited in this scandal.
The Airbus Company has admitted hiring the brother of a top elected Ghanaian official as its consultant in the sale of the aircraft. The Company also confessed to paying the said consultant through a third party when its Compliance Unit raised red flags about the close relationship between the consultant and the top elected official who was a key decision-maker in the purchase of the military aircraft.
In fact, this Airbus corruption constitutes the biggest corruption case ever, and indeed, payment of bribes was made and received. The biggest beneficiary as alleged was codenamed GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ONE in the US Court documents. Furthermore, documents were falsified in making the payments to disguise the payment of bribes to GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ONE. GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ONE is on the record of the Court as the recipient of the corrupt proceeds from this transaction. And the most disgraceful statement established in Paragraph 136 of the US Court document actually describes Government Official ONE as having a reputation for bribe-taking.
Dear citizens of Ghana, it is an extreme disgrace and contempt to our beloved motherland for a trusted official in our country to behave and be described this way. Besides, it exposes the weaknesses of our governance system which allows greedy government officials to behave in such manner.
Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. James E. K. Aggrey, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah, Mr. Simon Diedong Dombo, Tetteh Quarshie, Yaa Asantewaa (the Queenmother of Ejisu) and others, did not sell their conscience to foreigners as we all remember from our history. They cherished fearless honesty, and resisted oppressors’ rule with all their will and might every time.
The pertinent question I wish to ask my fellow Ghanaians is simply this: are we proud to hire this Government Official ONE again into office to demonstrate to the entire world that we, as Ghanaians, always opt for corrupt people to lead us? Are we ready and desperate to inaugurate into office on 7th January 2025 an official described worldwide as having a reputation for bribe-taking?
I would opt for the leader who would serve the best interests of the people and who possesses goals greater than achieving his parochial interest. I would opt for the leader that is willing to accept responsibility and the ability to inspire our citizens. He must exhibit honesty, love for his heritage, vision, intellect, competence, incorruptibility, and above all, he should be transformational leader.
Our motherland needs a true leader who would establish flagship programs towards developments in the infrastructure, education, health, security, and the general economy of our great nation. Fellow citizens of Ghana, let us look closely at those candidates from the various political parties that are vying for the presidency of Ghana to determine which of them exhibits those enumerated qualities of a leader, and who the world would respect, cherish and hold in high esteem.
The True Leader in Ghana from January 7th ,2025, should be based on honesty, vision, incorruptibility, inspirational, and transformational.
I SHALL RETURN.
God bless our Homeland Ghana and make us great and strong!
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Eur Ing. Thompson Sarkodie-Gyan, D.Sc., VDI, FInstMC
Retired Tenured Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering
College of Engineering
University of Texas, USA
Email: tsarkodi@utep.edu
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, is advocating for Parliament to seek an interpretation of Article 108 of the Constitution from the Supreme Court.
This suggestion comes in light of President Akufo-Addo’s refusal to sign certain bills into law, citing violations of Article 108.
Sam George, the lead sponsor of the controversial anti-LGBTQ bill, suggests that a legal interpretation of Article 108 by the Supreme Court would provide clarity on its limits for Parliament.
“The resolution to this matter is for all of us to go to the Supreme Court. Parliament must go to the Supreme Court to seek interpretation of Article 108 and let the judges distinguish it for us.
“Is it the position of the law, or is it the intention of the framers of the 1992 constitution that Parliament can not on its own pass legislation? Then let’s know that parliament is a rubber stamp Parliament and can not pass legislation,” he said.
Sam George emphasized that seeking an interpretation from the Supreme Court is aimed at clarity and not a legal challenge against the President.
Additionally, Francis Xavier Sosu, a key sponsor of the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023, expressed disappointment, suggesting that the President chose to politicize the bill instead of considering the interests of vulnerable women.
“I think that he [President] is being misled or better still he is choosing politics over the protection of human rights. He is choosing politics over the protection of women’s rights. He is choosing politics over protecting vulnerable women in various witch camps probably dying on a daily basis,” he said.
On December 4, President Akufo-Addo mentioned that he couldn’t sign certain bills, including the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023 and the Armed Forces Amendment Bill 2023, into law due to constitutional concerns.
The Armed Forces Bill passed in July aims to amend sections of Act 29 and the Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105) to replace the Death Penalty with life imprisonment. The Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023 seeks to prohibit labeling individuals as witches, among other related matters.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is eager to “close a little circle” by adding the Club World Cup to the club’s trophy collection.
After achieving a historic Treble last season, winning the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup, City is in Saudi Arabia for the global competition.
The team faces Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-final in Jeddah on Tuesday, with the aim of reaching the final on Friday, and City is considered the overwhelming favorites for the tournament.
Guardiola said: “It’s a pleasure to be here, it’s an honour.
“It’s the first time Man City are here. That shows how difficult it is. We won’t take it for granted. We take it as a privilege.
“Of course, we want to win it. It is a trophy we don’t have. We want to close a little circle, that we have won all the trophies we could do. This is the last one.
“I don’t know if we’ll have another chance. Maybe it is a once in a lifetime. It is difficult to be here.
“I think the players know it and we are going to try to perform well tomorrow.”
Manchester City’s recent form has been inconsistent, with just one win in their last six Premier League games. Their latest disappointing result occurred on Saturday when they conceded two late goals, resulting in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.
This outcome left them five points behind league leaders Arsenal. Despite the concerns about results, manager Pep Guardiola expressed that he is not worried about the team’s performances.
He said: “We would prefer better results but, except the Aston Villa game, our performances were excellent.
“We have to improve how we finish our games, be more aware of what we have to do in certain moments but hopefully we can maintain our level of passion and desire to play at a high level with and without the ball against Urawa.”
Ghanaian international Thomas Partey has become a transfer target for Spanish giants Barcelona in the upcoming January transfer window, according to reports.
Barcelona is reportedly seeking a replacement for the injured Gavi, with Partey among the players being considered, as per Mundo Deportivo.
Other players on Barcelona’s list include Renato Sanches, Kalvin Phillips, Andrey Santos, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Yann M’Vila, and Grzegorz Krychowiak.
Partey, who has been sidelined by recurring injuries, has expressed his intention to leave Arsenal, and it remains to be seen whether Barcelona will pursue him or opt for other options.
The Ghanaian midfielder is currently recovering from an injury that has kept him out of action since early October. It’s uncertain if Partey will be available for the Black Stars in the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
The Director of Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has criticized the Electoral Commission for postponing local assembly elections in certain areas on the day of the polls.
Dr. Boamah urged the electoral management body not to repeat such actions during the 2024 polls.
This comes in response to the rescheduling of district-level elections in parts of the Ashanti and Eastern regions from Tuesday, December 19, 2023, to Thursday, December 21, 2023.
The EC cited technical challenges for the rescheduling and apologized for any inconvenience caused, assuring voters that the elections would proceed on the new date.
In a post on X formerly Twitter, Dr Boamah said, “The Electoral Commission of Ghana must learn lessons from this avoidable and unpardonable mistake. 2024 elections can not be business as usual!”
Manchester United’s football director, Paul Murtough, visited Saudi Arabia this month with the aim of negotiating the sale of four first-team players in the January transfer window.
Murtough was reportedly seeking interest in Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial, and Casemiro during his visit. While no deals were reportedly finalized, it is stated that relationships were established, and further talks are expected.
The primary focus is on offloading Jadon Sancho, who is currently not training with the first team and is out of contention to play after a reported clash with manager Erik ten Hag earlier in the season.
The other three players—Varane, Casemiro, and Martial—may not be forced out but are reportedly close to the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules limit.
Varane has recently returned to the side but faces competition, Casemiro has been sidelined with injury, and Martial’s contract expires this summer.
The Paramount Chief of Goaso Traditional Council in the Ahafo Region, Nana Kwasi Bosomprah, has clarified that his criticism of the government does not indicate a dislike for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He made this statement during a visit by the Asunafo North MP and Deputy Sports Minister, Evans Opoku Bobie, along with party executives and sports journalists, who informed him about the construction of an Astroturf at Goaso and introduced the contractor.
Nana Kwasi Bosomprah explained that his critiques are aimed at holding duty-bearers accountable for the pace of development in his community, emphasizing that his intention is not to express hatred towards the NPP.
“I do not hate the government. You know what I am saying is the truth and when I’m speaking the truth I do not fear anyone except God. Let us think of Ghana first. Everyone looking at me today can see how happy I am because my expectations have been met. I have the park I wanted,” he said.
Nana Kwasi Bosomprah urged other traditional leaders to advocate for the development of their communities without aligning themselves with any specific political party.
During a visit by the Asunafo North MP and Deputy Sports Minister, Evans Opoku Bobie, the completion of the Astroturf project was discussed. Bobie assured that the funds for the project are secure, and there will be no delays in its completion.
The Deputy Sports Minister emphasized that the Astroturf, expected to be finished within six months, will help unearth football talents in the Ahafo Region. He expressed gratitude to the Akufo-Addo-led government for its support in the project.
“There is enough money to get the Astroturf completed early. We had only two Astroturf in Ghana before the current government. But today we have 153 turfs. The president has helped the sports infrastructure department which is helping young ones to develop their talents.”
West Ham United manager David Moyes has commended Mohammed Kudus for his impressive start at the club, particularly highlighting his recent performance where he scored a brace against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.
Kudus, who joined West Ham, has been making a significant impact, scoring nine goals across all competitions, including five in the Premier League.
Moyes praised the 23-year-old’s adaptability to the Premier League, noting that it is not always easy for players transitioning from other leagues.
Kudus’ contributions have undoubtedly been valuable to West Ham, and Moyes is pleased with the player’s performance.
“I think he’s done great. He’s all-round a really good player, and we’re really thrilled,” he said.
Mohammed Kudus is anticipated to be unavailable for West Ham early next year due to his national team commitments with the Black Stars. Ghana is set to participate in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Ivory Coast.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has issued a warning, stating that he may cite Chairmen of Parliamentary Select Committees for contempt if they continue to delay the submission of reports.
This comes after accusations were made against the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Kwaku Kwarteng, by the Chairman of the Trade, Industry and Tourism Committee, Carlos Ahenkorah, and the Minister for Trade and Industry, K.T Hammond.
The accusations revolve around the alleged failure of the Finance Committee to consider and report to the plenary on tax waiver requests for factories under the One District One Factory Policy (1D1F).
The Speaker emphasized the importance of timely reporting, especially on matters such as tax waiver requests, and urged committees to submit reports for further action.
“My attention was drawn to one of them some time ago, and I spoke to the chairman of the committee. If you have any concerns, report to the house. But we cannot refer matters to a committee, and the committee on its own decides that it will not report to the house, and that ends the matter. That is unacceptable.”
“We may in future be compelled to take contempt cases against some of your people, and as leaders you also know that they disqualify themselves from holding some positions. When you are chair of a committee, and you are not performing, the standing orders allow the leadership to recommend for replacement,” he said.
During Monday’s parliamentary session, there was some friction as the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, ignored Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu during discussions over the amendment of the Criminal Offences Bill.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stood on his feet for close to two minutes, and all that while, Speaker Bagbin refused to pay heed to him.
During that period, Alban Bagbin strongly criticized President Akufo-Addo’s decision not to assent to the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill and Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill.
In a passionate address to Parliament, Bagbin accused the President of being “tragically wrong” and “ill-informed” in his rationale for rejecting the bills.
President Akufo-Addo, in a letter, cited financial implications on the state’s consolidated fund and potential breaches of Article 108 of the Constitution as reasons for his refusal. He specifically highlighted the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill, sponsored by MP Francis-Xavier Sosu, as having financial burdens associated with replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment.
However, Bagbin vehemently dismissed these concerns, asserting that the President was misguided in his assessment of the bills’ financial implications.
After making his submission, a disgruntled Majority leader stated that “You don’t even know what I’m going to say.”
The Speaker gave the indication that he should not be interjected while making his submission or a point of order or information must be raised – a gesture we cannot confirm whether or not Mr Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu used per the video sighted.
“Majority leader, you are not a first-timer in this House,” the Speaker said.
The Majority leader quickly replied, “I know” and was quickly told to resume his seat by the Speaker.
The two individuals, who would no longer listen to each other began speaking at the same time. The Speaker continued with proceedings while the Majority leader kept saying “What is this that you are seeing in Ghana’s Parliament. What is this?”
After receiving no attention from the Speaker, Mr Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu resumed his seat.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced the postponement of the district-level elections in some electoral areas in the Ashanti and Eastern regions.
The elections were slated for Tuesday, December 19, but in a press statement, the Commission noted that they have been rescheduled to Thursday, December 21, 2023.
The EC cited “a number of technical challenges” as reason for its recent decision. Lower Manya in the Eastern Region is among the affected areas.
“We apologize for the inconveniences caused residents of these Electoral Areas. We assure the residents of the affected areas that the District Level Elections will be held on Thursday, the 21st of December, 2023,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, five individuals in the Duta Electoral Area of Ketu South have obtained an interim injunction, through an ex parte motion, to prevent the Electoral Commission (EC) from conducting the upcoming District-Level Elections in the area on December 19, 2023.
The order, which is valid for ten days, restrains the EC, its assigns, and workmen from any involvement in the elections.
A total of over 66,000 individuals are vying for positions as assembly and unit committee members in these local polls.
As per the Electoral Commission’s recent statistics, there are 18,755 candidates contending for assembly member roles and 47,502 candidates for unit committee membership, summing up to 66,257 candidates.
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has strongly criticized President Akufo-Addo’s decision not to assent to the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill and Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill.
In a passionate address to Parliament, Bagbin accused the President of being “tragically wrong” and “ill-informed” in his rationale for rejecting the bills.
President Akufo-Addo, in a letter, cited financial implications on the state’s consolidated fund and potential breaches of Article 108 of the Constitution as reasons for his refusal. He specifically highlighted the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill, sponsored by MP Francis-Xavier Sosu, as having financial burdens associated with replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment.
However, Bagbin vehemently dismissed these concerns, asserting that the President was misguided in his assessment of the bills’ financial implications.
“Vehemently we disagree with the position taken by the president. The president has gotten it tragically wrong and I will submit in the form of a statement under article 53 my position in this matter and allow members of the house to make comments so that we can take a clear position in this matter.
“And I will do so during this week. The president has not been properly advised. The President has not been properly informed about the processes this bill has gone through. So I will submit a detailed write-up on it for members to make their comments but I am very clear that this message and the contents are irregular, wrongful and unconstitutional.
“The responsibility to decide whether a bill should come from a private member or not rests on the person presiding. The procedure in the act clearly states what the president is expected to do. It is not for the president to decide on the constitutionality or otherwise of a bill that has been presented and considered by parliament. This power of parliament will not be taken away by any exemptive authority,” he said.
The Ghana Immigration Service has allegedly revoked the residency permit of Shalimar Abbuissi, spokesperson for the New Force.
It is also reported that she will be repatriated to her home country, Belgium, today.
The specific reasons for the revocation were not immediately provided, per reports sighted online by The Independent Ghana.
This comes after Shalimar Abbiusi, who was recently granted bail to the tune of GHC20,000 after being accused of obtaining a permit by false declaration, was re-arrested.
She was picked up by personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), per a viral video on social media sighted by The Independent Ghana.
There was a confrontation between the GIS officers and the legal counsel of Shalimar.
Ms. Shalimar Abbiusi, was picked up by the officers of the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) on Monday, December 4, 2023, for lack of evidence to prove her work permit and immigration documents as well as her affiliation with The New Force.
According to the New Force Movement, in a press statement dated December 7, the NIB has since last Monday been questioning Shalimar Abbiusi about the New Force and “wanting to know which people are behind it and if the people want to run for President.”
During this period, she is said to have been denied access to legal representation and has been held beyond the legal 48-hour limit without formal charges.
“Further, despite the objections of Ms Abbiusi’s lawyers, her apartment was broken into without a warrant and the place ransacked. Yet not a single element of incriminating evidence was found against her,” the statement added.
The New Force says it is “concerned” over the recent events since having a political organization is not a criminal offense.
“As such the arbitrary detention of Ms. Abbiusi raises serious concerns about the abuse of power, persecution of perceived political opponents and several human rights violations,” the movement added.
It has been revealed that despite the fact that Ms Abbiussi’s residence permit was facilitated and issued to her over three years ago by the Ghana Immigration Service, the authorities told a District Court that they have temporarily charged her with an offence claiming that one of the documents she submitted could not be verified.
Spokesperson of the political movement #TheNewForce, Shalimar Abbiusi, who was recently granted bail to the tune of GHC20,000 after being accused of obtaining a permit by false declaration, has been re-arrested.
She was picked up by personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), per a viral video on social media sighted by The Independent Ghana.
There was a confrontation between the GIS officers and the legal counsel of Shalimar.
Ms. Shalimar Abbiusi, was picked up by the officers of the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) on Monday, December 4, 2023, for lack of evidence to prove her work permit and immigration documents as well as her affiliation with The New Force.
According to the New Force Movement, in a press statement dated December 7, the NIB has since last Monday been questioning Shalimar Abbiusi about the New Force and “wanting to know which people are behind it and if the people want to run for President.”
During this period, she is said to have been denied access to legal representation and has been held beyond the legal 48-hour limit without formal charges.
“Further, despite the objections of Ms Abbiusi’s lawyers, her apartment was broken into without a warrant and the place ransacked. Yet not a single element of incriminating evidence was found against her,” the statement added.
The New Force says it is “concerned” over the recent events since having a political organization is not a criminal offense.
“As such the arbitrary detention of Ms. Abbiusi raises serious concerns about the abuse of power, persecution of perceived political opponents and several human rights violations,” the movement added.
It has been revealed that despite the fact that Ms Abbiussi’s residence permit was facilitated and issued to her over three years ago by the Ghana Immigration Service, the authorities told a District Court that they have temporarily charged her with an offence claiming that one of the documents she submitted could not be verified.
The Majority in Parliament has expressed its disapproval of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s criticism of the President for not assenting to some private member’s bills.
President Akufo-Addo in a letter to Parliament, explained that his decision to decline assenting to the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill and the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill, sponsored by Madina MP Francis-Xavier Sosu, was based on the potential financial impact on the state’s consolidated fund and a violation of Article 108 of the constitution.
In response, Speaker Bagbin criticized the President, stating that he was “tragically wrong” and had been ill-advised by the Attorney General.
The Majority in Parliament views Bagbin’s ‘attack’ on the President as unfortunate, emphasizing the need for a more constructive and respectful discourse on matters of national importance.
Reacting to the matter in Parliament in Accra on Monday, Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu indicated that “If the Speaker disagrees with him, it is legitimate, and he could have ended at that. I disagree with the opinion of the president. Then maybe I also come up with my understanding of the law. But we all saw and heard the rather visceral language of the speaker.”
“I thought it was most unfortunate. The Speaker, after reading it, goes on his own frolic and attacks the president, and I felt it was most unfortunate.”
Ranking Member of the Youth, Sports, and Culture Committee of Parliament, Wisdom Kobena Woyome, has asserted that the Ministry of Youth and Sports will be required to provide an account for the missing amount from Ghana’s World Cup prize money.
Earlier reports indicated that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) received $7.9 million from FIFA for the Black Stars’ participation in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, falling short of the expected $9 million.
Mr Woyome emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the utilization of the funds, stating that the Ministry of Youth and Sports should explain the discrepancy and clarify how the funds were disbursed.
The unaccounted $1.1 million has raised concerns, and it is expected that further inquiries and investigations will be carried out to address the issue.
“We are that some transfers have happened in terms of the prize money from FIFA. It was a matter we raised at the committee,” he said in Parliament.
“The Minister has assured us that we will be forthcoming with the details of it in terms of liaising with the FA so that we will see what actually came.
“The report in the media can be put to proper perspective There will be the need for us to understand how much money was transferred, how much is coming to the ministry and how the ministry intends spending it.”
The Black Stars participated in three matches during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. They won one match against South Korea and lost the other two against Portugal and Uruguay.
Tyrone Iras Marhguy, the Rastafarian student who faced initial denial of admission by Achimota School in 2021 due to his dreadlocks, has achieved outstanding success in the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Despite the initial rejection, Tyrone secured the highest grade possible, an A1, in all eight subjects he studied as a General Science student at the school.
His success was shared on X by a former aide to the NDC 2024 flagbearer, John Mahama, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
The denial of admission led to a court intervention in May 2021, which mandated Achimota School to admit him after extensive deliberations on the matter.
The court ruling, delivered by Justice Gifty Adjei Addo, disagreed with the Attorney General’s submissions and granted the reliefs sought by the Rastafarian students, directing the school to admit them.
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has cancelled the entire results of 839 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) candidates for possessing mobile phones during the examination.
WAEC made this known after announcing the release of the provisional results for this year’s exams.
WAEC also reported the cancellation of subject results for 3,647 candidates due to the offense of “bringing foreign materials into the examination hall.”
Furthermore, the subject results of 4,280 candidates and the entire results of 1,005 have been withheld for various suspected offenses.
Results from candidates in 235 schools are also under scrutiny for collusion and the use of artificially generated answers through artificial intelligence.
According to WAEC, these cases are currently under investigation, and the release or cancellation of the withheld results will depend on the investigation outcomes.
Candidates can access their results online by visiting www.waecgh.org, as announced in a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi.
Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has made a pledge to introduce a 20% allowance for rural teachers if he is elected back into office.
This proposed basic allowance is intended to incentivize teachers to work in rural areas, addressing the shortage of educators in certain communities.
During a town hall meeting in the Western Region, John Mahama expressed his full commitment to addressing the challenges associated with the successful implementation of this allowance.
In response to concerns raised by teachers from the Ahanta West District, he highlighted the importance of categorizing both rural and urban areas to determine which teachers would be eligible for the allowance.
He acknowledged the complexity of this task, stating, “in Takoradi here, there are some villages within the city. Where will you categorize that? All of these would have to be considered. We will sit with you to address this.”
The former President acknowledged that a significant challenge in implementing the proposed policy lies in accurately categorizing rural communities deserving of the teacher allowance.
Simultaneously, private school owners expressed dissatisfaction, perceiving unfair advantages given to public school examinations.
In response to these concerns, Mr. Mahama expressed his commitment to investigating the issues raised by private school owners and proposing suitable solutions to address the challenges faced by rural areas.
He emphasized that the NDC government is dedicated to conducting a comprehensive review of the free senior high school policy. This review will involve engaging stakeholders such as parents, teachers, educationists, and students to ensure a thorough assessment and potential improvements to the existing educational policies.
“We will have a stakeholder consultation to examine the challenges with the policy and address them. For instance, due to an infrastructure deficit, the school operates on a shift system.
“Currently, some students are at home and will return to school in March. After such a long break, how do they retain what they were taught?” Mahama questioned.
Despite ongoing challenges and limited play due to injuries sustained in a 2021 car crash, Tiger Woods remains confident in his ability to secure a record 83rd PGA Tour victory.
The American, aged 47, has been managing a reduced playing schedule as he continues to recover.
Woods recently participated in the PNC Championship in Orlando, carding a final-round 61 alongside his 14-year-old son, Charlie. The event showcased not only his competitive spirit but also his commitment to the game as he navigates his recovery journey.
He said: “If I’m able to practise and do the things I know I can do, and prepare, I know I can still do it.
“I can still hit the golf ball. It’s just a matter of prepping, getting enough reps, being right physically and the endurance capability of it.
“I haven’t had the leg good enough where I’ve been able to compete and play a lot of rounds.
“I can still hit the golf ball. I can still chip. I can still putt.
“Granted it’s also putting it all together for 72 holes. That’s the challenging part of it.”
Woods’ last PGA Tour win was at the Zozo Championship in 2019 and took him level with Sam Snead’s record of 82 victories.
He added: “A lot of things are aching a lot more than my ankle, which is the way it goes.
“We’ve been working out hard, been able to recover. We’ve been training every day, which is great.
“It’s been nice to knock off a lot of the rust and some of the doubt that I’ve had because, quite frankly, I haven’t hit a shot that counted in a long time.”
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has declared that indelible ink will not be used in the district-level election and subsequent polls.
Indelible ink, a semi-permanent dye applied to voters’ fingerprints, is traditionally used to indicate that a person has cast their vote and to prevent double voting.
Jean Mensa, the chairperson of the EC, announced this decision at a press conference preceding the district-level election scheduled for December 19.
The omission of indelible ink is presented as part of the Commission’s efforts to enhance the electoral process and establish a more robust identification system.
“The issue of indelible ink, the question is when we were not doing biometric we were basically using your face, your card. We look at your face and we say this picture looks like you.”
“The biometric technology makes it difficult for a person who has been verified and cast their vote to come a second time. So, there is no need for indelible ink. Once you have been verified, it goes into the system and you cannot come back a second time,” she said.
Jean Mensa, has stated that the biometric identification system in place will identify and flag anyone attempting multiple registrations. This, she emphasized, ensures that individuals who have already been verified and cast their ballots cannot vote again.
Jean Mensa expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the new system and issued a challenge, daring anyone to attempt voting twice to test the system’s capability.
“Once you have been verified, it goes into the system and you cannot come back a second time. You can try it, if you wish at this election. Of course, it will be deemed as an electoral offence. Because of biometric technology your facial features are recognised, or your fingerprint is recognised. You cannot go a second time,” she added.
Leicester extended their lead at the top of the Sky Bet Championship to three points with a 3-2 victory against Birmingham at St Andrew’s, in a match that saw Stephy Mavididi score twice.
Leicester fans showed support for absent striker Jamie Vardy by wearing masks of his face, as his wife Rebekah recently lost a court case against Blues boss Wayne Rooney’s wife Coleen.
The game had a dramatic start with three goals in the first 22 minutes. Leicester took the lead in the 10th minute through a swift counter-attack, with Abdul Fatawu releasing Mavididi to score a classy finish. Birmingham leveled after 15 minutes with a low shot from Jordan James, following a pass from Ivan Sunjic.
Leicester regained the lead in the 22nd minute through another counter-attack, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scoring his seventh goal of the season.
Mavididi extended Leicester’s lead in the 50th minute with a curling shot, making it 3-1. Although Birmingham pulled one back after 74 minutes with a deflected shot from James, Leicester held firm to secure their fourth straight win and maintain their unbeaten run of six matches.
Starting this week, consumers can expect a slight decrease in the prices of petrol and diesel, attributed to a decline in the prices of finished petroleum products on the global market, according to the Institute for Energy Securities (IES).
On the flip side, the cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) might experience an upward trend due to a combination of an increased product price and the depreciation of the local currency.
“In the wake of the price falls recorded for liquid fuels: gasoline (2.84%), and gasoil (4.84%) on the international market, it is expected that the prices of the two commodities will fall on the domestic fuel market. In the final two weeks in December 2023, the price of liquid fuels on the local market are likely to drop marginally given that net price reductions recorded on international fuels market. However LPG could see its price go up following an increased product price coupled with a depreciated local currency”.
“Specifically, liquid fuels price could go down between 2%-4% respectively, whereas LPG price is expected to go up by about 5%”, it added.
As of December 11, 2023, the Global Standard & Poor (S&P) Platts reported closing prices for refined petroleum products on the world fuel market. The recorded prices per metric tonne were $767.20 for gasoline (petrol), $810.70 for gasoil (diesel), and $573.20 for Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
Upon conducting a comparative analysis of the refined petroleum price data, it was observed that the prices of petrol and diesel experienced a decrease of $22.55 and $39.30 per metric tonne, representing a 2.80% and 4.84% dip in prices, respectively. In contrast, Liquefied Petroleum Gas traded at $573.30, indicating an increase of $50.55 per metric tonne, reflecting a 9.71% rise in price.
During the initial pricing-window of December 2023, the fuel prices in the local market exhibited stability across all petroleum products.
All Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) monitored in the first two weeks of December 2023 chose to maintain the selling prices of both petrol and diesel, aligning them with the previous closing prices from the second pricing-window. Similarly, the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) remained consistent with the rates observed in the November second pricing window.
Specifically, petrol was retailed at ¢12.21, diesel at ¢13.10, and LPG at ¢13 per kilogramme during this period.
A social media user is calling for a thorough investigation into the work of KelniGvG, a company said to have saved Ghana an estimated GH¢1.5 billion in revenue losses through the Common Platform (CP).
This comes at a time when Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), allegedly an extension of a timber company, is facing scrutiny over a GH₵ 3 billion contract from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for “revenue assurance” services in the downstream petroleum sector.
The Fourth Estate’s investigative report reveals that SML, despite lacking experience, was “handpicked for the contract through the single-source procurement method.”
First was the claim SML made in March 2021 that it had saved Ghana over GH₵1 billion in revenue because of its services but that assertion per a report is false.
As such, there is a call for investigations into the claim that government was able to save an estimated GH¢1.5 billion in revenue losses through the Common Platform (CP) managed by KelniGvG.
“It’s time to expose SML’s twin bro KelniGVG, They claim to ve saved GHC1.5bn. Kelni hs tkn o/ the Comms Ministry. Rural Telephny, Girls in ICT all gvn to the same company. @UrsulaOw milkn Gh dry with one Chief Philip,” the X user wrote.
In 2021, Communication and Digitization Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, then a designate, said the amount is in addition to some GH¢470 million in revenue taxes saved between the first quarter of 2017 when the platform was announced.
Providing updates during her ministerial vetting on Monday, February 15, 2021, the nominee justified that the amount would not have been realised if not for the implementation of the Common Platform.
“An estimated GH¢470 million in taxes was saved between Q1 2017 till date as a result of the announcement of the implementation of the platform and a potential GH¢1.5 billion loss through to the end of the contract if the platform had not been implemented,” she told the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
Despite earlier reports suggesting his resignation, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta seems poised to continue leading the Ministry of Finance in 2024.
During a thanksgiving event with the Ministry of Finance staff in 2023, Mr. Ofori-Atta expressed gratitude for God’s mercy and preservation. He conveyed his belief that the Lord would continue to lead and guide the country in the coming year.
“I’m assure that the Lord will continue to lead and guide us in 2024. Our testimony is indeed victory on every side! Humbled to be leading the brilliant and resilient staff of Ministry of Finance,” the sector minister said.
In the face of economic challenges stemming from debt exchange and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Finance Minister Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta is positioned to spearhead a turnaround aimed at fostering productivity, prosperity, and employment.
Mr. Ofori-Atta consistently emphasizes that the government has successfully ‘turned the corner,’ highlighting achievements such as a notable reduction in inflation from 54% in December 2022 to 26.4% in November 2023, a stabilized exchange rate, and a significant decrease in the government fiscal deficit.
Following the post-COVID-19 period, the Minister initiated the ¢100 billion GhanaCARES (Obaatanpa) program, representing a four-year ‘clinical structural focus’ aligned with President Akufo-Addo’s transformation agenda. This program aims to expedite the government’s digitalization agenda, enhance efficiency in public service delivery, revitalize the housing and construction industry to address housing deficits, create job opportunities, and position Ghana as a regional hub.
The early stages of the GhanaCARES “Obaatan Pa” Programme are already showing promising results, with Mr. Ofori-Atta at the forefront of efforts to revolutionize Ghana’s rice sector through the implementation of the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) Programme.
As a crucial component of the revitalization efforts, Mr. Ofori-Atta spearheaded the establishment of “YouBanC” under the ambitious ¢100 billion GhanaCARES ‘Obaatanpa’ Programme.
“Our strategy to place the private sector at the heart of this endeavour is to accelerate competitive import substitution and export expansion to generate sustainable jobs for our teeming youth (under 35 years), who make up about 71% of the population”, Mr. Ofori-Atta stated.
Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, who is also the primary advocate for the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023, has voiced his dismay over the president’s decision to withhold assent from the legislation.
He contends that the president opted to politicize the bill instead of prioritizing the well-being of vulnerable women.
“I think that he [President] is being misled or better still he is choosing politics over the protection of human rights. He is choosing politics over the protection of women’s rights. He is choosing politics over protecting vulnerable women in various witch camps probably dying on a daily basis,” he said.
During an interview on JoyFM’s Newsnight on Monday, December 18, 2023, he shared his reservations. These remarks come in the wake of President Akufo-Addo’s decision to withhold assent to the bill, citing constitutional concerns related to Article 108.
The Madina MP expressed dissatisfaction with the President’s rationale, finding it unclear. He pointed out that in 2021, President Akufo-Addo had supported the bill and advocated for a bipartisan approach to its passage. Therefore, it seemed perplexing that the President was now citing Article 108 as a basis for his refusal.
The Madina MP emphasized that all legal procedures were diligently followed, with the active involvement of the Attorney General. Consequently, he found it challenging to comprehend the President’s expressed concerns.
Mr Sosu said, “For me, for the President to choose petty partisanship over the protection of the greater good of our society, the human rights of our people. For me, it is quite sad.”
“You will recall that when this bill was sent to the president, I mean on the second of August, the president assented through the bill that abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes under the Criminal Offences Act.”
“It was only when the other bills were presented that he refused to assent to the others and then decided to withdraw assent for the first one. So, the whole thing does not even make sense to me,” he lamented.
On December 4, President Akufo-Addo disclosed his inability to sign into law certain crucial bills passed by Parliament, citing specific constitutional concerns. Notably, among these bills are the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023 and the Armed Forces Amendment Bill 2023.
In July, Parliament approved the Armed Forces Bill, aiming to amend sections of Act 29 and the Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105), with the intent of replacing the Death Penalty with life imprisonment.
The Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023 addresses various issues, including the prohibition of declaring, accusing, naming, or labeling an individual as a witch, among other related matters. Despite parliamentary approval, the President’s hesitance to sign these bills revolves around constitutional considerations.
A video making rounds on social media has highlighted the first-hand experience of a foreigner with the Nigerian and Ghanaian police.
The footage shared by X user, @AththanGoodies, shares how Norally, shot down some ‘absurd’ requests by the Ghanaian and police officers at the Togo border and Abuja border, respectively.
The first part of the video documents Norally’s encounter with the Ghanaian policeman.
The officer begins the conversation with pleasantries and is as courteous as possible.
“How are you? Happy to meet you today,” he says, and then asks for her destination.
“I’m going towards Togo,” Norally answers.
He then requests the foreigner’s contact information.
“I take your number and then we will be communicating,” the officer said.
Norally was disinterested and replied, “No, no, it is okay.”
The Ghanaian police officer then asked her to carry on.
The second part of the footage shows a much more aggressive set of police officers said to be from Nigeria.
The initial dialogue was unsuspecting, as the Nigerian officer first asked about her well-being and where she came from.
Norally replied, saying she was from the Netherlands. She was heading to Abuja via a motorcycle.
Two officers then requested to know the items she brought along during her travel.
“Wetin you want give me. Oya, give me something,” one of the officers said.
She responded, “you give me something.”
One of the officers became clear with his request. “Give me money, money, money,” he said.
A video circulating on social media captures a young man being dragged by some individuals, including health professionals.
The unknown bloke is accused of stealing a newborn baby from Ridge Hospital, located in Accra.
In the video shared by X user @MaameAmaAdoma, the shirtless suspect bled from the nose. It is believed that he was assaulted when he got caught in the act.
The 41-second video failed to indicate if the suspect was handed over to the police or not for investigations to commence.
It is also unknown if the health professionals were able to retrieve the alleged stolen baby.
A young West Ham fan is praying for Ghana to be kicked out of the 2023 African Cup Of Nations (AFCON) to enable the Hammers have back Mohammed Kudus.
Kudus is expected to be absence from West Ham camp for about a month due to the tournament that will take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024, in the Ivorian cities of Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, San Pedro, and Yamoussoukro.
Ghana will be based in Abidjan, where they will play Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique in the group stage.
Kudus has proven to be a great asset to West Ham and for this young fan, he has been mesmerized by Kudus’ attack, which saw to the club’s recent victory.
“Let’s just hope that Ghana gets knocked out early so we can have him back. I’m telling y’all. He brings like the full package. He defends alright and his attack just flawless. He is so good and I love it when he does that celebration. It’s so good,” the male fan said.
Over the weekend, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, and Lucas Paquetá delivered an early Christmas gift to east London, orchestrating West Ham United’s commanding 3-0 Premier League triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Kudus, maintaining his exceptional form, netted two goals in the first half, while Bowen secured the third after the break. Paquetá contributed significantly with three assists as the Hammers climbed to seventh place with 27 points from 17 games.
In the 22nd minute, Kudus showcased his prowess with a remarkable pitch-length counter, initiated by Emerson, Edson Álvarez, and Paquetá. Breaking free down the right, Kudus cut inside and unleashed a left-footed drive from 20 yards, beating Nelson Semedo and goalkeeper Dan Bentley.
Just ten minutes later, Kudus found himself in a familiar position, courtesy of a brilliant diagonal pass from the Brazilian. Racing past former Hammer Craig Dawson, he confidently slotted the ball home with his right foot.
Already, West Ham United manager David Moyes has expressed his concern about the impact of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on his team.
“We’ve got Mo Kudus, and we’ve also got Saïd Benrahma from Algeria and Nayef Aguerd from Morocco. The disappointing bit, and the thing we’ll need to manage, is losing those players for a month during the African Cup of Nations. But that’s part of it,” he said.
Five individuals in the Duta Electoral Area of Ketu South have obtained an interim injunction, through an ex parte motion, to prevent the Electoral Commission (EC) from conducting the upcoming District-Level Elections in the area on December 19, 2023.
The order, which is valid for ten days, restrains the EC, its assigns, and workmen from any involvement in the elections.
The petitioners have also indicated that all 24 candidates and registered voters in the Duta Electoral Area are similarly restrained from participating in the elections.
“We also filed a Motion Exparte for an interim injunction to restrain the Electoral Commission from having anything to do with the conduct of the District Level Elections in the Duta Electoral Area on the 19th day of December 2023.”
The High Court, Ho presided over by His Lordship Yaw Owoahene –Acheampong graciously granted the Motion Exparte and restrained the Electoral Commission, its assigns, workmen, etc. from having anything to do with the conduct of the District Level Elections in the Duta Electoral Area on the 19th day of December 2023.
The order shall be valid for ten (10) days.
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana assures that it has implemented comprehensive measures to guarantee the fairness of the upcoming district-level elections.
Chairperson of the Commission, Jean Mensa, emphasizes that historical data indicates low participation in these elections. Therefore, the EC has proactively undertaken measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the electoral process.
“Experience over the years shows that this election is not highly participated in and we would like to entreat all Ghanaians and assure them that the Electoral Commission has put in place all arrangements, all necessary arrangements and modalities have been put in place for a smooth incident-free election and we will like to entreat all Ghanaians to take their time to go to their polling stations to cast their votes,” she said.
The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, conveyed this information during a press briefing on Monday, December 18, in anticipation of the district-level elections scheduled for Tuesday, December 19.
Madam Mensa emphasized the significance of the election in contributing to the nation’s developmental objectives, noting that many developmental initiatives originate at the local assembly level.
“Let us make this election meaningful. We are all aware that developments start at the district level and therefore it is important that as citizens we have a say and a stake in who brings development to our various districts,” she added.
Jean Mensa urged all Ghanaians to participate in the electoral process by casting their votes for members of their assembly and unit. Additionally, she cautioned against engaging in activities that could disrupt the orderly conduct of the electoral exercise.
Roma is set to clash with Feyenoord in the Europa League knockout round play-offs, marking their third consecutive encounter in European competitions.
Having triumphed over the Dutch side in the inaugural Europa Conference League final in 2022 and the Europa League quarter-final last season, Jose Mourinho’s team aims to secure a spot in the last 16.
The winner of this tie may potentially face Liverpool, West Ham, or Brighton, all of whom automatically qualified for the last 16 by topping their respective groups.
Another notable play-off fixture features AC Milan, Champions League semi-finalists in 2022-23, squaring off against Rennes.
Milan, yet to claim the Europa League title, enters the competition after finishing third in their Champions League group. Galatasaray, surpassing Manchester United in their Champions League pool, is set for a two-legged clash against Slavia Prague.
Ajax faces a potentially challenging route to the Europa Conference League last 16 as they are set to encounter Bodo/Glimt in the play-offs. Despite finishing third in their Europa League group, the Dutch giants aim to overcome the Norwegian side to advance in the European campaign this season.
The winners of the Conference League knockout round play-offs will be matched against the eight teams that secured the top spots in the group stage, including Premier League club Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, LaLiga side Real Betis is drawn against Dinamo Zagreb, and the 2021-22 Europa League champions, Eintracht Frankfurt, will take on Union Saint-Gilloise.
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has cancelled the entire results of 839 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) candidates for possessing mobile phones during the examination.
WAEC made this known after announcing the release of the provisional results for this year’s exams.
WAEC also reported the cancellation of subject results for 3,647 candidates due to the offense of “bringing foreign materials into the examination hall.”
Furthermore, the subject results of 4,280 candidates and the entire results of 1,005 have been withheld for various suspected offenses.
Results from candidates in 235 schools are also under scrutiny for collusion and the use of artificially generated answers through artificial intelligence.
According to WAEC, these cases are currently under investigation, and the release or cancellation of the withheld results will depend on the investigation outcomes.
Candidates can access their results online by visiting www.waecgh.org, as announced in a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi.