A seasoned diplomat, Edgars Rinkevics, who had served as Latvia’s foreign minister since 2011, has made history as the first openly gay head of state of a European Union nation.
On Saturday, Mr Rinkevics was sworn in as Latvia’s president in Riga, assuming a role that, while largely ceremonial, grants him powers such as vetoing legislation and calling referendums.
While the European Union has seen openly gay heads of government in the past, it had not yet witnessed a gay head of state.
It’s important to note that in some countries, the roles of head of state and head of government are distinct, with separate positions such as president and prime minister.
The distinction of being the EU’s first openly gay head of government goes to former Belgian Prime Minister Elio di Rupo.
Coming out in 2014, Mr Rinkevics, 49, has been a vocal advocate for LGBT rights ever since. Despite same-sex marriage being illegal in Latvia, the country’s constitutional court recognized same-sex unions in the previous year.
In May, Latvia’s parliament elected Mr Rinkevics as the nation’s president after the third round of voting. During his inaugural speech on Saturday, he affirmed his commitment to supporting Ukraine’s ongoing conflict against Russia.
Assuming the role of Latvia’s president, Edgars Rinkevics emphasized the importance of a diligent foreign policy, stating that there is no room for mistakes. He pledged to act swiftly, decisively, and wisely in his new position.
In his inaugural speech, Mr Rinkevics also addressed the issue of inequality, encouraging young Latvians to shatter the glass ceiling.
He acknowledged the significant problem of social division within society and vowed to advocate for the creation of a modern and robust Latvia, characterized by legality, justice, well-being, inclusivity, and respect.
He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving these goals. Mr Rinkevics succeeds Egils Levits, who served as president for four years.
The new president will represent Latvia at the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Latvia, along with Lithuania and Estonia, joined the European Union in 2004 after gaining independence from the crumbling Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
These Baltic states have since played an active role within the EU.
The University of Ghana School of Law has taken the decision to withdraw more than 20 students due to their academic non-performance, according to reports.
A comprehensive list, containing names and ID numbers of the affected students, has revealed their failure to meet the minimum requirements necessary to maintain their enrollment.
Among the students who have been withdrawn, four were regular Law students, while the remaining 19 were Weekend students who had been admitted over the past two years to pursue the Postgraduate LLB Degree.
These dismissed students were notified of their status weeks ago and were given the option to reapply to the school, should they wish to pursue admission through a new process.
Notably, the list includes individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, including some who hold prominent positions and have familial ties to influential politicians.
However, their inability to meet the minimum academic standards has resulted in their dismissal from the institution.
The University of Ghana School of Law, known as the premier center for legal education in Ghana, has consistently played a leading role in preparing students for the legal profession.
Upon graduation, students from the School of Law proceed to the Ghana School of Law Makola for further training to become practicing lawyers.
Originally established as a department within the Faculty of Social Studies in the 1958/59 academic year, the UG School of Law later became a separate Faculty in 1960/61 and ultimately attained full status as a school in the 2014/15 academic year.
Nigerian artiste, Iyanya, who once dated Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson, has opened up about the backlash he faced from Ghanaians following the actress’s revelations about their failed relationship in her memoir.
Yvonne Nelson launched her memoir, titled ‘I Am Not Yvonne Nelson,’ on June 18, 2023.
The book touched upon various topics, including her past relationships, including one with Iyanya, which resulted in an abortion in 2010. She also discussed her estranged relationship with her biological father.
In her book, Yvonne Nelson revealed that she ended her relationship with the Nigerian musician due to his infidelity with another Nigerian actress while they were still together.
During an interview on GhOne TV’s show “Toast,” Iyanya shared that after this information was disclosed in the book, he faced significant backlash from Ghanaians, particularly on Twitter.
He mentioned losing around 10,000 Ghanaian followers on Twitter and also receiving threats from some individuals.
“When Yvonne said I cheated on her, I was in my room and I saw the post, ‘Iyanya cheated on me’ Let me tell you something. I remember that day I was looking at my Twitter and I lost almost 10,000 Ghanaian followers that day.
Also, I was receiving threats and all of that. Usually, I don’t come out to say this or that, like this lady I was dating had this flaw and this is what she did. This is because you guys will come out to say this guy is talking like a woman”, he explained.
Yvonne Nelson and Iyanya began a romantic relationship in 2012 but three years later, the inseparable couple broke up.
Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, has been awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree by Valley View University in recognition of her remarkable achievements and exceptional contributions to the advancement of Ghana.
Akosua Frema Osei-Opare holds the distinction of being the first female Chief of Staff in Ghana. Her notable endeavors in promoting rural development and advocating for gender equality have garnered admiration both within Ghana and internationally.
She is renowned as a global figure with a strong commitment to social protection initiatives and the empowerment of vulnerable communities through skills development.
“On the basis of these achievements and contributions that you, your honour, had made to the development of Ghana and the general progress of humanity, Valley View University hereby acknowledges these achievements and hereby confer on you the Degree of Doctor of Science (Honours Causa) this day, Friday, July 7, 2023,” part of the citation read.
As Ghana’s premier private tertiary institution, Valley View University was optimistic that, the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate on Osei-Opare will encourage her to continuously pursue excellence in public service with integrity.
Three other distinguished personalities were also honoured at the university’s first special congregation.
They are the President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, and former First Lady of Ghana, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
They received an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters.
The Special Guest of Honour at the congregation, President Nana Akufo-Addo, congratulated the recipients for their stellar achievements.
Before assuming her role as Chief of Staff, Osei-Opare served in various capacities in both the private and public sectors. Additionally, she represented the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency in the Greater Accra Region as a Member of Parliament for two terms, representing the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In a demonstration of their commitment to promoting rehabilitation and repentance, the Kano State Commissioner of Police (CP), Muhammed Usaini Gumel, announced plans to organize a football match between the police team and reformed individuals previously involved in criminal activities.
The CP made this statement during the parade of 108 suspects who were arrested for various crimes during the recent Sallah celebration.
He said, “We will develop a different approach to make sure these thugs are changing their lives and becoming better people. We will even organise sports competitions with them. We will play a football match, and we will play an indoor match.
“Our eyes are now focusing on the emerging thuggery (daba) activities, especially within the Kano metropolis. Going forward on this, we have set out operational strategies with robust intelligence gathering on the early warning signs and our assets are already in place towards surmounting all forms of the underlying crimes and criminality around the state.
“Already, the following identified suspected thugs (‘yan daba) kingpins are by this press conference invited to report at the nearest police station or else will be declared wanted and we will get them arrested at all costs and get them prepared for the full wrath of the law: they are Burakita of Dorayi Karama Quarters; Messi of Kan Tudun Dala; Dan Boss of Dala Makabarta; Ado Runto of Tudun Fulani; Baffa Killer of Mazaunar Tanko Quarters and Kamilu Duna of Adakawa Quarters. “Others are Chile Mai Doki of Tudun Fulani; Uzaifa of Unguwar Yola Quarters; Hantar Daba of Kwanar Disu Quarters; Bahago of Makabarta Kuka Bulukiya Quarters; Nasiru Naso of Kofar Wambai Quarters; Nazifi Nanaso of Zango Quarters; Sharu Gambo of Sharifai Quarters; Sharu Ali of Sharifai Quarters; Ma’aruf Goma of Hanga Quarters and Zubairu Mai Dala of Yalwa Quarters, Dala.”
Abdul Inusah, the son of former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, has reportedly been hit with a two-year jail term by an American court.
Abdul Inusah has been found guilty of participating in a fraudulent scheme based in Huntington. The scheme involved deceiving individuals across multiple states by utilizing fabricated online identities.
Following his imprisonment, he will be subject to three years of supervised release.
YouTuber Hello Frank, who first reported the news on Saturday, July 8, 2023, revealed that Inusah has been instructed to pay $128,000 in restitution.
This information was obtained from a statement reportedly released by the US Attorney’s Office Southern District of West Virginia, which outlined that the trial concluded after three days in court with a verdict delivered by a federal jury.
The statement from the United State’s Attorney, dated Thursday, March 23, 2023, added that Abdul Inusah was found guilty for being part of a “conspiracy that targeted victims using false personas via email, text messaging, online dating websites and social media platforms.
“From at least January 2018 through at least December 2019, the scheme participants sought to induce victims into believing they were in a romantic relationship, friendship, or business relationship with the various false personas. The victims were persuaded to send money for a variety of false and fraudulent reasons for the benefit of the false personas.”
The statement also detailed the various amounts of monies that were involved in this case, plus some of the names of the victims.
It added that Inusah’s involvement was largely through a shell company that was set up in his name and used in the crimes.
“One false persona, ‘Miarama,’ was used to induce an Alabama resident into providing $106,000 via wire transfers and cashier’s checks. The amount included $48,000 to pay overdue taxes on a nonexistent gold inheritance in Ghana and $21,000 wired to Bitsav Supply LLC, a shell company set up by Inusah. Another false persona, ‘Grace,’ persuaded a Washington resident to wire funds so ‘Grace’ could maintain her South African cocoa plantation and move to the United States to marry the victim. Other victims of the false personas included residents of Ohio and Florida.
“The federal jury found Inusah guilty of receipt of stolen money, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of wire fraud on August 12, 2022. Perhaps more than others involved, Abdul Inusah understood the scope of the criminal conspiracy and that it was exploiting innocent and often vulnerable victims,” the United States Attorney Will Thompson is reported to have said.
Abdul Inusah is also said to have engaged others in the romance scheme, making efforts to conceal his own involvement in the fraud.
Background
Abdul Inusah broke his silence on August 25, 2022, in response to allegations of his involvement in money laundering and wire fraud in the United States. During an interview on Asaase Radio, he echoed his father’s previous explanations regarding the reports.
According to Abdul Inusah, he became aware of the indictment linking him to various charges. He received the initial indictment on April 27, 2021, but it was not until June of that year that he received the details via a text message. Upon receiving this information, he promptly contacted his legal representatives, who began handling the case. The charges against him included two counts: wire fraud amounting to $20,000 and receipt of stolen money related to the aforementioned funds.
Asserting his innocence, Abdul Inusah expressed concerns about the circulation of what he considers to be “half-truths” in reports and how it may have impacted his family members and friends.
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has been hospitalised after suffering a brain haemorrhage while on vacation in Croatia.
The 52-year-old Dutchman was airlifted to a hospital on Friday afternoon and is currently in intensive care.
Van der Sar, who recently stepped down as the chief executive at Ajax, encountered bleeding around his brain while enjoying his holiday on a Croatian island.
Ajax has issued a statement acknowledging the situation and offering their full support to the former goalkeeper during this difficult time.
The statement said: “On Friday, Edwin van der Sar had bleeding around his brain. He’s currently in the hospital’s intensive care unit and is in a stable condition.
“Once there is more concrete information, an update will follow. Everyone at Ajax wishes Edwin a speedy recovery. We’re thinking of you.” Van der Sar enjoyed a successful career as a goalkeeper, notably representing Manchester United and Ajax.
After retiring from playing, he transitioned into a management role, contributing to Ajax’s operations as chief executive.
It has been alleged that the Director General of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, enlisted the assistance of hackers to breach WhatsApp and gain access to the messages of President Bola Tinubu’s political opponents during and after the 2023 presidential election.
These hackers were reportedly brought in from Cape Verde under the direction of the DSS boss.
During the 2023 presidential election, Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged as the winner.
However, his victory is currently being contested at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party, along with their respective candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
“The DG of DSS brought hackers from Cape Verde to help Tinubu break into WhatsApp messages of his opponents during the elections and afterwards,” one of the sources said.
In June, President Tinubu made a significant decision by authorizing the immediate retirement of various key officials, including the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, Advisers, and the Comptroller-General of Customs.
These retirements took effect immediately, and President Tinubu also announced their respective replacements.
Additionally, Chairman AbdulRasheed Bawa of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was indefinitely suspended from his position by President Tinubu.
“But guess who was spared from being axed! Yusuf Bichi. That is the reason why Tinubu retained Bichi after firing all the heads of security agencies,” one of the sources said.
The Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, in a statement, disclosed that the suspension would allow investigations into “weighty allegations” of abuse of office against the suspended chairman of the anti-corruption body.
“President Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension from office of AbdulRasheed Bawa, CON, as the Chairman, Economic, and Financial Crimes Commission to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office. This follows weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.
“Bawa has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Director, Operations in the Commission, who will oversee the affairs of the Office of the Chairman of the Commission pending the conclusion of the investigation,” the statement read.
Bawa was appointed by then President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2021 as the EFCC chairman following the removal of Ibrahim Magu, his predecessor, over allegations of corruption.
Bawa was subsequently invited for questioning by the DSS and has been in the custody of the secret police since then.
On June 28, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that Bawa had been moved from the headquarters of the secret police to a private facility.
Sources told SaharaReporters that Bawa was moved to another facility to have total control over him after he refused to write any statements in custody.
SaharaReporters also exclusively reported on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, that Bawa had refused to write statements at the secret police’s facility. It was learnt that Bawa told investigators that the DSS had no right to detain him without charges, hence his refusal to write any statements in custody.
“They’ve taken Bawa from DSS headquarters to one of their private facilities to have total control over him after he refused to write statements requested from him,” a top security source had said.
Following their suspension from their respective offices by President Tinubu’s administration due to corruption allegations and abuse of office, both AbdulRasheed Bawa, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, have been detained.
SaharaReporters previously reported that Emefiele implicated Bawa as an accomplice in the Naira redesign scandal that shook the country some months ago.
Bawa’s invitation and subsequent interrogation by the Department of State Services (DSS) occurred shortly after Emefiele’s arrest and transfer from Lagos to Abuja for alleged corruption and abuse of office.
On November 23, 2022, then-President Buhari and Emefiele unveiled new Nigerian currency notes with denominations of N200, N500, and N1,000.
Emefiele clarified that the old notes would no longer be considered legal tender after January 31, 2023. Emefiele emphasized that the move was not aimed at any specific individual, although there were speculations that it was influenced by the influential group within the Presidency to hinder the chances of Bola Tinubu, who was the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), from winning the election held on February 25, 2023.
This policy resulted in significant hardships for Nigerians due to the scarcity of new currency notes. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) struggled to meet the demand, leading to cash shortages and long queues at banks and ATMs.
Furthermore, Emefiele disregarded a Supreme Court ruling that extended the validity of the old notes until December 31. Former President Buhari distanced himself from the non-compliance with the court order.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Bola Tinubu emerged as the winner of the election, defeating 17 other candidates with a total of 8,794,726 votes. Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) secured second place with 6,984,520 votes, while Peter Obi of the Labour Party came third with 6,101,533 votes. Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party came fourth with 1,496,687 votes.
Manchester United’s slim chances of signing Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe this summer may be dashed by a ruling from UEFA, the governing body of European football.
Paris Saint-Germain has reportedly threatened to offload the 24-year-old superstar if he does not agree to a contract extension.
Manchester United, along with Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Liverpool, have all been linked with an interest in signing the forward.
However, The People’s Person reports that a peculiar UEFA ruling could potentially prevent Manchester United from pursuing a deal for Mbappe, should Sheikh Jassim’s bid to purchase the Premier League club be successful.
If the bid from Qatar fails to establish itself as a separate entity from PSG’s owners, UEFA will veto any potential transfer between the two clubs, thereby impeding Manchester United’s chances of making an offer for Mbappe.
The reasoning behind this ruling stems from a recent UEFA regulation that prohibits two clubs with the same ownership from acting independently.
There are speculations suggesting that Sheikh Jassim has a stake in PSG, hence the potential obstacle in Manchester United’s pursuit of Mbappe.
Mbappe hands Madrid transfer boost Meanwhile, Real Madrid are open to the idea of making a move for Kylian Mbappe this summer if that is what it takes to bring the Frenchman to the Spanish capital, Fansided reports.
Los Blancos are without a first-choice centre-forward heading into the 2023/24 season, and Mbappe has been identified as the ideal candidate to fill the role left vacant by the departure of Karim Benzema.
Mbappe has informed PSG that he is not interested in extending his deal with the Ligue 1 champions, forcing the club to listen to offers for him this summer.
Ghanaian star Mohammed Kudus has been the subject of transfer speculation, with several European clubs, including Manchester United, expressing interest in acquiring his services.
However, despite the active transfer market, there have been no concrete developments regarding Kudus’ future.
The talented youngster has garnered attention due to his impressive performances and potential, leading to him being linked with various clubs since last summer.
Although he has faced injury setbacks in the past two seasons, his value remains high, and he is highly regarded by several clubs.
While it is widely expected that Mohammed Kudus will leave Ajax during the current transfer window, reliable sources indicate that no club has officially made an offer to the Dutch Eredivisie champions thus far.
Among the potential suitors, Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Dortmund, and Manchester United have emerged as ideal destinations for the Ghanaian player.
Reports from the Netherlands suggest that Ajax is hoping to secure a transfer fee in the range of 60–80 million euros for the talented sensation.
Despite his injury setbacks, Kudus managed to impress during the previous season, scoring 18 goals in all competitions for Ajax, even though he missed a number of games due to his time on the sidelines.
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park (KNMP) in Accra has been temporarily shut down for preparations related to the commencement of commercial operations.
The closure, effective from midnight on Friday, July 7, 2023, will extend until Tuesday, July 11, 2023.
The Acting Director of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Mr. Edward Quao, announced this decision in a statement issued on July 7.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused, and we are committed to delivering a remarkable experience that exceeds the expectation of the community and visitors,” the acting Director added in a statement.
At a cost of $3.5 million, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra, which houses the remains of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and his wife, Fathia Nkrumah, has undergone extensive refurbishment.
The park is situated on the former polo grounds where Ghana’s independence was declared. On July 4, 2023, President Nana Akufo-Addo officially inaugurated the revamped park.
President Akufo-Addo expressed his optimism that the redeveloped park would attract approximately one million visitors each year, both from Ghana and abroad. He emphasized the government’s commitment to investing in the tourism sector as a means of revitalizing the economy.
Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, has announced that payment process to settle the arrears owed to members of the National Food Suppliers Association has already commenced.
In an interview on Citi FM, the minister noted that the first instalment is to be disbursed beginning Monday, July 17.
He stated that this information has been made known to the members of the National Food Suppliers Association, who have been sleeping at the premises of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) since Tuesday, July 4, to demand payment of GH¢278 million owed them.
“Luckily, there has been a reconciliation and payment is being processed for them and it will be paid to them starting July 17. I can assure you that from July 17, those who have supplied and have been cleared will be paid their money,” the Agric Minister said.
According to Mr Acheampong, government has already initiated the processes to ensure it pays what is due to the aggrieved food suppliers. He shot down claims that government has been compelled to act due to the picketing by food suppliers.
“There was no need to have the protest for these people to be paid from July 17, they are not being paid because they have protested because we had the timelines on when they were going to receive the money and the protest has only forced us to come out to tell them the date for the payment and so I told them today that it was not because of the protest that they were being paid.”
Following this announcement, some members of the Food Suppliers Association packed their belongings and left the premises of NAFCO, however, a few still remain.
They argue that leaving at this crucial time would nullify their initiatives taken to ensure their receive their money.
Officials have reported that heavy rainfall and subsequent landslides in Abidjan, the main city of Ivory Coast, have resulted in the tragic loss of at least 10 lives, according to AFP news agency.
The district of Yopougon accounted for nine fatalities, while the remaining victim was in Cocody-Angre. The head of the military firefighting brigade (GPSM) confirmed these details to AFP.
The unfortunate incidents occurred in Yopougon during the early hours of Thursday, where two landslides caused not only fatalities but also several injuries.
Source: The Weather Channel
In Cocody-Angre someone drowned after being “swept away by the waters”, Anicet Bah, GSPM captain and deputy head of operations, told AFP.
Heavy rains are not unusual at this time of year in Abidjan.
Four suspects have been apprehended by the Central North Regional Police Command in connection with the recent murder of a 50-year-old woman in Assin Dansame, located in the Assin North District.
According to reports, two of the suspects, who are in their 20s and hail from Swedru, joined forces with their counterparts in Assin Dansame, who are of the same age group, to allegedly carry out this heinous crime.
The victim, Esi Gegiw, a single mother of two, was brutally murdered by unidentified attackers on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, while she was leaving her home for work at around 3 am. The assailants used a blunt object to smash her head and inflicted fatal injuries to her neck, resulting in immediate death.
Furthermore, the perpetrators removed specific body parts, including the tongue, heart, and vagina, before fleeing the scene.
Upon receiving the distressing report, the police promptly intervened. They proceeded to the crime scene and transported the victim’s body to the Francis Xavier Hospital Morgue in Assin Fosu, Assin Praso, to facilitate further investigations.
Renowned business magnate, Sir Sam Jonah, has unequivocally refuted rumors suggesting his potential candidacy as former President John Mahama’s running mate for the upcoming 2024 elections.
The former head of the Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited has firmly stated that he has no interest in pursuing such a role.
In a statement on Metro TV’s ‘Good Evening Ghana’ he said, “Anyone who knows me well will attest to the fact that I have no interest whatsoever in going into the murky world of politics.”
According to Mr Sam Jonah, he turned down offers to be Vice President under former President Jerry John Rawlings in the 1990s.
“As a matter of fact, if I was interested, I would have been Vice President in 1992 and 1996 when I was offered the position on a silver platter,” he explained.
Some media outlets have speculated that Mr Jonah will be the NDC flagbearer John Mahama’s running mate, but he has described it as “worthless speculation.”
The last time former President Mahama contested in the presidential elections, he chose former Education Minister, Nana Jane Opoku Agyemang as his running mate.
Mr. Sam Jonah is widely recognized globally as an esteemed business icon, renowned for his remarkable achievements. His notable career began in 1986 when he assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer at Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited. Under his leadership, the company expanded from a single-mine operation into a multinational corporation.
A significant milestone was reached in 1996 when Ashanti became the first operating African company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, while already having listings in London and Ghana.
In May 2004, Mr. Jonah took on the role of Executive President at AngloGold Ashanti Ltd, following the merger of Ashanti with AngloGold Limited. This new entity became the world’s second-largest gold producer.
Mr. Jonah’s contributions to the business world have been widely recognized. In 2003, he was honored with an Honorary Knighthood as Knight Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II and Head of the Commonwealth. Furthermore, he was bestowed with Ghana’s highest national award, the Companion of the Order of the Star, in 2006.
His impact and influence have been acknowledged on multiple occasions. In December 2004, CNN and Time Magazine included him in their list of the world’s top 25 most influential business people, applauding his leadership, ethical practices, marketing expertise, and innovative approaches. Additionally, Mr. Jonah has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, including five Lifetime Achievement awards, the most recent being the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), the institution responsible for managing the National Interconnected Transmission System, has announced a shortage in thermal power generation.
This deficit is primarily attributed to the restricted availability of gas supply originating from both the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant (GPP) and the West African Gas Pipeline (WAPCo).
In a statement issued on Friday, July 7, GRIDCo said “This has created a supply gap of 650 Megawatts of power at peak time which will affect consumers in some parts of the country.”
GRIDCo has however assured that “Every effort is being made to restore gas supply from Atuabo.”
“As the situation improves, power will be restored to affected customers” the statement added.
In a recent statement released on Friday, July 7, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the power distributor, extended its apologies to customers who are currently facing power outages due to the prevailing circumstances.
It further explained that as a result of the gas situation at Atuabo and WAPCo, all Asogli phase-One units, Cenpower, and Aksa Power Plants have shutdown, leading to a generation shortfall.
It says the Ghana National Gas Company has assured that it will resolve the issue as soon as possible.
“Meanwhile, ECG expects power supply to be fully restored by 9:00pm today, Friday, 7th July, 2023” the statement added.
The Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has denied reports that he has been married twice.
According to him, he has only married once in his lifetime.
In a Facebook post on Friday, July 7, the former Okaikwei South MP, even though he had a relationship with lady 17 years ago and had two children with her, they never tied the knot.
He stated that the said relationship broke down 15 years ago.
The former Education Minister added that since then, he only married his “beloved Eno” in 2018 with whom he has a son with.
“Yes l had a relationship with a lady some 17 years or so. We have two lovely children but the relationship broke down more than 15 years ago. Since 2018, l have been married to the lovely Eno and we have a lovely baby boy together.”
Meanwhile, he accused the his former girlfriend of cyber bullying his wife to the extent of accusing her of murder.
“The mother of my first two children has engaged in cyber bullying of my wife for a long time. My wife has totally ignored her until she was accused of attempted murder. She has rightly gone to court to vindicate her name, as anyone would.”
“It is only recently in a response to the court(about a month ago) that l learnt l am married to the First Lady.”
“For the records, l have never been married to the first woman whether traditionally or otherwise. That can only be a figment of some malicious imagination.”
He concluded that his wife has not engaged anyone in a fight over him.
“This is another clear attempt at cyber tantrums/bullying which will not wash with me nor stop the court case.”
“My wife Eno is not engaged in any fight with another woman over me. Why would she? We are actually looking forward to another anniversary this year, by God’s Grace.”
Barely 5 hours after being dared to provide evidence to back his claim that Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, awarded a US$48million contract without Public Procurement Authority (PPA) approval, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has released his first evidence.
The North Tongu MP, Mr Ablakwa, after announcing his acceptance of the Communications Minister’s challenge on the US$48million scandal, has in a Facebook post provided a letter from Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) corroborating his claim.
Ablakwa, please produce the contract you claim I signed without PPA approval. This is the only RTP contract I have signed, approved by Parliament pic.twitter.com/KS1cfFxafz
Per the letter dated December 15, 2021, titled “Proof of existing contract between Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications and Ascend Digital Solutions Limited”, there is an existing contract with Ascend Digital Solutions, a Nigerian company Mr Ablakwa claims has hijacked the Communications & Digitalization sector.
Acting Administrator of GIFEC, Prince Ofosu Sefah, who is a signature to the said letter confirmed that the Nigerian company is currently executing on behalf of GIFEC a contract for Engineering Design, Build, Rollout and Telephony Project involving Cell Sites in the 2016 communities.
“Ascend Digital Solutions Limited has been delivering these services to us since February 2020,” the letter revealed, adding that “the duration of the Build and Rollout Contract is until August 2023, while the Managed Services Contract is renewable, after an initial agreement for two years.”
Background
Mr Ablakwa in a Facebook post on July 6, 2023, accused Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful of awarding a US$48million contract awarded without Public Procurement Authority (PPA) approval.
He made this claim while citing a PPA’s response to his request made under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The request dated 8th June was titled “REQUEST FOR INFORMATION,” and read in part: “Respectfully, can you confirm if the Public Procurement Authority has granted procurement approval as required per theProcurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) as amended with (Act 914) to Ascend Digital Solutions under a US$48 million Rural Telephony Project contract purportedly for Engineering, Design, Build, Rollout and Managed Services which is being executed by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization since the year 2020.”
The PPA in its response dated 30th June, 2023 and signed by Deputy Chief Executive Kwame Prempeh per the letter shared by the North Tongu MP read: “We wish to inform you that our records do not reflect any information of the above-mentioned project.”
But Mrs Ursusla Owusu-Ekuful insisted the claims levelled against her by Mr Ablakwa are false and asked him to “please produce the contract you claim I signed without PPA approval.”
Ablakwa, please produce the contract you claim I signed without PPA approval. This is the only RTP contract I have signed, approved by Parliament pic.twitter.com/KS1cfFxafz
According to Mr Ursula Owusu-Ekuful in a Twitter post on July 7, 2023, the only RTP contract signed is a commercial contract agreement between the government of Ghana, Huawei Technologies and China National Technical Import and Export Corporation.
An amount of €155,000,000 was requested by the Communications Minister to be used to execute the implementation of the Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project.
Source: The Independent Ghana | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey
Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has challenged Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to provide details of the said US$48million contract awarded without Public Procurement Authority (PPA) approval.
Mr Ablakwa in a Facebook post on July 6, 2023, claimed that “the contract was dubiously awarded to the same Nigerian cabal which has hijacked the Communications & Digitalization sector.”
He made this claim while citing a PPA’s response to his request made under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The request dated 8th June was titled “REQUEST FOR INFORMATION,” and read in part: “Respectfully, can you confirm if the Public Procurement Authority has granted procurement approval as required per theProcurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) as amended with (Act 914) to Ascend Digital Solutions under a US$48 million Rural Telephony Project contract purportedly for Engineering, Design, Build, Rollout and Managed Services which is being executed by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization since the year 2020.”
The PPA in its response dated 30th June, 2023 and signed by Deputy Chief Executive Kwame Prempeh per the letter shared by the North Tongu MP read: “We wish to inform you that our records do not reflect any information of the above-mentioned project.”
But Mrs Ursusla Owusu-Ekuful insists the claims levelled against her by Mr Ablakwa are false and has asked him to “please produce the contract you claim I signed without PPA approval.”
Ablakwa, please produce the contract you claim I signed without PPA approval. This is the only RTP contract I have signed, approved by Parliament pic.twitter.com/KS1cfFxafz
According to Mr Ursula Owusu-Ekuful in a Twitter post on July 7, 2023, the only RTP contract signed is a commercial contract agreement between the government of Ghana, Huawei Technologies and China National Technical Import and Export Corporation.
An amount of €155,000,000 was requested by the Communications Minister to be used to execute the implementation of the Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project.
Source: The Independent Ghana | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey
Threads, Meta’s response to Twitter, garnered an impressive five million sign-ups within just four hours after its launch, as stated by Mark Zuckerberg. With such a substantial user base, what can we expect from the platform?
Threads operates by allowing users to sign up using their Instagram login credentials. As they join, they will automatically be able to follow all the accounts they already follow on Instagram.
The platform enables users to share posts consisting of up to 500 characters, including images, gifs, and videos that can be up to five minutes in length. It bears similarities to Twitter, featuring short text-based content, options for likes and reposts, and the ability to quote a thread, similar to quote tweeting.
Based on its initial reception and features, Threads has the potential to become a significant player in the social media landscape. Its integration with Instagram and the familiar functionalities it offers may attract a considerable user base, facilitating engaging conversations, content sharing, and interactions within the platform.
Threads, since its launch, has faced criticism regarding its content display. Users have reported a mix of posts from the accounts they follow along with posts from random accounts.
Meta has acknowledged that this mixture is a combination of followed accounts and algorithmic recommendations. Presently, there is no option to view posts exclusively from the people users follow, and it remains uncertain whether Meta will introduce this feature in the future.
Additionally, at the moment, Threads does not offer a direct messaging feature, which might be a relief for some users who prefer to focus on public posts rather than engaging in private conversations.
To maintain a more personal Instagram experience, users can keep their Instagram account private while having a public presence on Threads. However, for users under 16, both Instagram and Threads accounts are private by default.
Users have the flexibility to make their Threads account private at any time and have control over who can reply to their posts.
At present, there are no plans to introduce a desktop version of Threads. The platform is accessible solely through the iOS and Android apps. Meta has not provided a timeline for the potential release of a desktop version.
Regarding monetization, Meta has confirmed that Threads will not be monetized in the current year. However, the door is open for potential advertisements in the future.
For convenience, users can log in to Threads using their Instagram credentials, and their existing Instagram username will be retained. This is reassuring for users concerned about the possibility of someone else claiming their username.
Meta wants the app to be similar to rivals like Mastodon, and be decentralised and allow users to transfer accounts to other platforms.
The company is working to make Threads compatible with ActivityPub which allows social networks to be interoperable and would let users of Threads take their accounts and followers to other ActivityPub-supported apps.
It’ll be stricter than Twitter around things like nudity, and will enforce content rules around hate speech that Twitter has been lacking in since Elon Musk took over.
According to sources from Meta, the delay in launching Threads in the European Union (EU) is attributed to regulatory considerations and concerns regarding compliance with stringent EU data privacy regulations.
Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the extensive range of personal information that Threads can collect, as indicated by its data privacy disclosure on the App Store. This includes health data, financial information, contact details, browsing and search history, location data, purchases, and “sensitive info.” These concerns have contributed to apprehensions about the app’s compliance with EU data privacy rules.
The EU places significant emphasis on protecting individuals’ privacy rights, and any app or service operating within its jurisdiction must adhere to strict data privacy regulations.
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is optimistic about its four-year agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to enhance the capacity and training of financial sector participants through the implementation of the Integrated Environmental Social Governance Principles (IESG).
The BoG believes this partnership will complement efforts to ensure a resilient and sound financial sector in the country.
The IESG Ghana Programme, supported by funding from the Swiss Economic Corporation (SECO), is a four-year initiative by the IFC.
It aims to foster an enabling environment for sustainable banking and strengthen capacity for improved Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices among financial intermediaries and corporate clients.
The programme aims to promote the growth of sustainable local businesses, encourage investments in key sectors, and contribute to a diversified and resilient economy.
Through collaboration with the BoG, the IFC will assist in implementing the Ghana Sustainable Banking Principles, enhance the capabilities of local training partners on ESG matters, and support the BoG’s regulatory developments related to ESG for banks and other regulated entities.
During the signing ceremony, the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Elsie Addo Awadzi, expressed the central bank’s expectation that this new partnership will firmly establish sustainable banking practices within the Ghanaian banking sector in the coming years.
“We see the launch of the IESG partnership today as a major milestone for promoting the resilience of the banking sector and the economy as a whole. Sustainable banking can be a crucial tool for addressing the structural vulnerabilities of our economy, and can create long-term value for all economic actors, by promoting a more sustainable and equitable future”.
Engaging the media at the signing ceremony, Senior Country Manager of IFC, Kyle Kelhofer said the partnership will provide players in the financial sector the tools to better address and assess risks while improving sustainability in long-term performance.
“This means not only is Ghana becoming more sustainable green today but becoming more sustainable green for future generations on climate change. This also means the banking system is being more sustainable and bankable so there is room for the banks to grow now as it embraces credit worthy sustainable principles,” MyJoyOnline quoted him to have said.
Meanwhile, the Swiss Economic Corporation and Development Ghana said it is committing $1.5 million to ensure financial sector players are trained on Environmental Social Governance Principles for the next four years.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Yofi Grant, has indicated that Ghana is preparing for external debt restructuring that is projected to secure financing of around $2.5 billion in the near future.
This announcement comes as the GIPC indicated that negotiations with important partners are nearing completion and are expected to be concluded by the end of the week.
The CEO emphasized that the country’s existing fiscal gaps will be addressed through external financial measures, including an anticipated agreement of $3 billion with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the aforementioned debt restructuring.
“With the current fiscal gaps, we anticipate external financing for the budget through the anticipated $3 billion agreement with the IMF. Additionally, we are working on some external debt restructuring to provide financing of approximately $2.5 billion,” he said.
“We anticipate concluding negotiations with our other key partners tomorrow to further enhance our financial position,” he added.
In December 2022, government introduced the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), bringing it one step closer to securing a $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. The programme was introduced to enable Ghana restructure its debt.
The government had initially earmarked 126.97 billion cedis ($10.67 billion) of domestic bonds for restructuring, but agreed to exempt pension funds in late December after labour unions threatened a general strike.
As of February 2023, the Finance Ministry said that around 85% of eligible bondholders had registered for the DDEP.
Twitter is reportedly contemplating taking legal action against Meta, the company behind Threads, a fast-growing rival app to Twitter.
Threads, which was recently launched to a substantial user base, offers similar features and has been positioned by Meta as a “friendly” alternative to Twitter.
Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter, expressed his opinion on the matter, stating that competition is acceptable, but cheating is not. However, Meta has denied allegations made in a legal letter claiming that former Twitter employees were involved in the creation of Threads.
Meta has reported that over 30 million people have already signed up for the new app. While this is a significant number, it represents less than one-tenth of Twitter’s estimated 350 million user base, as per Statista.
It is important to note that US copyright law does not safeguard ideas, meaning Twitter would need to demonstrate in court that its intellectual property, such as programming code, was unlawfully used.
Additionally, Meta holds a patent granted in 2012 for the concept of “communicating a newsfeed,” the system used to display the latest posts on platforms like Facebook.
The potential legal action between Twitter and Meta highlights the competitive dynamics in the social media landscape and the challenges surrounding intellectual property rights within the industry.
Both Mr Musk and Mr Zuckerberg have acknowledged the rivalry over Threads, which is linked to Instagram but works as a standalone app.
As it launched in 100 countries, Mr Zuckerberg broke more than 11 years of silence on Twitter to post a highly popular meme of two nearly identical Spider-Man figures pointing at each other, indicating a stand-off.
Shortly after, and as the word “Threads” trended globally on his platform, Mr Musk said: “It is infinitely preferable to be attacked by strangers on Twitter, than indulge in the false happiness of hide-the-pain Instagram.”
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has voiced his dissatisfaction with the Supreme Court’s ruling that invalidated the law allowing the granting of licenses for cannabis cultivation in Ghana.
In August 2022, the Supreme Court said Parliament did not act transparently in the passage of the Narcotics Control Commission Act.
Specific reference was made to portions of the law (section 43) which permitted the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes.
In July 2022, the Supreme Court struck down section 43 of the law, which empowered the Minister to issue licenses for the medicinal and industrial cultivation of cannabis.
In response, Speaker has expressed his belief that the Supreme Court made an error by not verifying the proper process and procedures involved in the enactment of a bill before rendering its ruling.
“I hope the three arms of government will work together and respect each other. In case of doubt, it’s important to consult the other arm before giving finality to whatever decision the other arm wants to take.
“I do not think it was proper for the Judiciary without knowing how we conduct our business here, really go into how we conduct the business and make such important decisions without consulting the House. That is improper,” he said in Parliament on June 6, 2023.
He said “to say section 43 is unconstitutional because there was no debate in my humble opinion is a grievous error.”
The Nandom MP continued that the bill does not seek to legalise the recreational use of cannabis but to allow the Minister to issue licenses to people who can produce at 0.3% THC.
He added that the legislation was to help government take a modern approach and allow for industrial and medicinal use of cannabis
Meanwhile, Speaker Alban Bagbin has referred the Narcotics Control Commission Act bill to the Parliamentary Committee of Defense and Interior for consideration.
The committee is expected in a weeks time to come up with the right provision needed to re-enact the law.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has taken action to alleviate business costs in the country by ordering the suspension of certain taxes and duties.
One of the measures suspended is a newly introduced 10% tax on single-use plastics, including plastic containers and bottles.
This tax aimed to address Nigeria’s significant plastic pollution issue, as the country contributes around 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, some of which ends up in the ocean.
Additionally, the executive orders signed by President Tinubu suspended the implementation of a 5% telecoms tax that was initially proposed by the previous government.
Furthermore, an increase in car import duty and excise duty on specific locally manufactured goods was halted.
The intention behind these measures is to reduce business costs in Africa’s largest economy.
“As a listening leader, the president issued these orders to ameliorate the negative impacts of the tax adjustments on businesses and chokehold on households across affected sectors,” Alake told reporters.
Tinubu, who took office in May, has embarked on Nigeria’s boldest reform agenda in decades, including the removal of a popular petrol subsidy and restrictions on foreign exchange trading, as he seeks to boost sluggish growth.
There would be no further tax rises without wider consultations, Alake said, adding that Tinubu would pursue business-friendly policies.
Effective today, General Manager of TV3 and 3FM, Francis Doku, after serving in the position for over six years bows out.
Doku initially joined Media General in August 2017 as the General Manager of MG Digital, where he made significant contributions to the company’s digital operations and played a crucial role in their growth and success.
In 2020, he was promoted to the position of General Manager of 3Group, overseeing the management of TV3 and 3FM. During his tenure, 3Group experienced substantial growth, and the popular television program Date Rush was launched under his leadership.
All these achievements did not come on a silver platter. Actually, these achievements would not have materialised but for the persistence of Media General. Francis Doku rejected the job offer at first but later gave in.
In a Facebook post on Firday, July 7, Francis Doku told a “short beautiful story.”
“Sometime in 2016 (must be in May), I had a call from an HR consultancy firm that I have been considered to interview for a position within one of the leading media groups in the country. I said I wasn’t interested because I had started a small media and events consultancy a few months earlier and wanted to focus on it.
The call came again and the caller was persistent. But I was going to travel in a few days and won’t be available for an interview, I noted. “Well we can interview via Skype,” he said. So it was that one Skype interview from Tucson, Arizona, another from Afrikiko, Accra, and yet another from the World Trade Centre, Accra later, I made a decision to join the Media General Group as General Manager, MG Digital Limited.
Before I would accept the offer and finally negotiated, I spoke to a few of my friends (actually only three of them) who worked with or have worked with Media General before and got assurance (and some good advice on survival) that I was headed to a good place. So 15th August 2016 happened. That was the day I reported to my new job. That makes it six years, 84 months, 359 weeks, and 2,517 of commitment to work.
As noted above, I started as GM for Digital but would have a role to play in other areas of the business including acting as GM for Radio (overseeing 3FM, Onua FM, Connect FM, and Akoma FM) and getting confirmed as substantive GM for MG Radio (simultaneously with Digital) before being asked to take up the role of television as GM for MG TV (overseeing TV3 and Onua TV). Since May this year, my final role has been GM for 3 Group with oversight responsibility for TV3 and 3FM.
Firstly, we came in at the time when the digital business was in its infant period. Followers of the social accounts were low compared to some of the competition at the time, engagement was low and the online news presence was very low and not big on the apps space. As the person responsible for the digital assets, I set up a team to ensure that we up the ante by developing platforms, creating strategies, and breaking our backs to bring the digital offering to an appreciable level.
Secondly, it was a time that TV3 had taken a dip, having been the market leader for well nigh 20 years. We had one job: make the station number one again. We rolled our sleeves, tapped the right talent, created good content, pulled everyone along and the industry data has spoken truth to media power month on month and year on year since 2019. The station regained its number position and has taken an unassailable lead by a country mile.
Thirdly, we had a task to launch new stations to augment what was in the portfolio of the group. That led to the birth of Onua TV and the launch of Akoma FM. Then there was the rebirth of other stations in the group, like Connect FM and 3FM. It’s fair to say that the brands within the Media General Group have seen a lot of improvement and have some goodwill over the past weeks like never before.
Today is officially my last day at Media General and this is where I should say that my decision to join Media General turned out to be a good one…. One that would never be regretted. I have been in media most of my adult life, but I can say that this experience at Media General has led me to many places I never would have gone to in my career if I hadn’t joined.
I have learned a lot in these six years. Working at Media General is like going through media school and earning more degrees by the time you are done. You also learn a lot about managing people and managing processes. You come out with either a Master’s Degree or a Ph.D. depending on how diligent you were and how hungry you are to learn. Above all things, I learned how to run a radio station and television station from the group that does it best.
I worked with some of the best people in media (swashbuckling top-class on-air personalities and technically good production professionals) and management and I am grateful that all of the people in management, in ExCo, and those that I worked with as colleagues contributed to ensuring that my stay would be good and we would all work to achieve great results.
While I am grateful to all the people I worked with over the period that I was at Media General, I should single out the third Group CEO (and the longest-serving one I worked with), Beatrice Agyemang for commendation. An outstanding professional, a great believer in results, and a leader you want to have in your corner. She is the reason leaving Media General has been so difficult to the extent that my planned two-year tour lasted six years. She is an amazing personality whom I will miss working with the most, besides Peffie Nfojoh (my Konkonsa partner).
I am grateful to God for the grace to be able to do what I (together with the different teams over the years across digital, radio, television, news, events, admin, production, technical, commercial, HR, finance, marketing, programmes, MI, corporate affairs, MCR, etc, etc, etc) did while I served at Media General.
I am also, very importantly so, grateful to my wife and children for allowing me to spend very long hours on the job during these 84 months. Their understanding is very appreciated as it helped me focus on work.
Some have asked what I will be doing now and I haven’t found the right answer for those who ask. Except to add that the bills won’t stop coming and when they come they won’t pay themselves. So, I will keep walking and hoping… May God bless us all! This ends my short beautiful story.”
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced plans to hold a ‘thank you tour’ in the Assin North constituency from Friday, July 7 to Sunday, July 9, in celebration of James Gyakye Quayson’s victory in the constituency.
The tour will encompass various activities, starting with a soccer gala, prayers with the Muslim and Christian communities, and a visit to injured supporters in Assin Dansame.
The highlight of the tour will be a grand rally held on Sunday, July 9, at the Assin Breku Methodist School Park.
The rally will feature notable speakers, including former President John Dramani Mahama, who also serves as the party’s flagbearer for the 2024 elections. Additionally, the National Chairman of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, and the Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson, will address the gathering.
Following the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold the annulment of the 2020 constituency election by a High Court, Mr. Quayson was removed from Parliament. Additionally, he is currently facing a criminal trial related to allegations of dual citizenship, which contributed to his expulsion from Parliament.
However, despite these challenges, Mr. Quayson managed to secure victory once again in the Assin North Constituency seat during the recent election. Remarkably, he garnered a wider margin of victory, receiving 17,245 votes representing 57.56% of the valid votes.
His primary opponent, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party, secured the second position with 12,630 votes, which accounted for 42.15% of the valid votes. Meanwhile, Bernice Enam Sefanu from the Liberal Party of Ghana obtained a minimal 87 votes, constituting only 0.29% of the valid votes.
The Assin North lawmaker is currently facing legal proceedings for forgery and perjury, as charged by the Attorney-General’s Office. Additionally, he is accused of deceiving a public officer and knowingly making a false declaration when he filed nominations for the 2020 election without renouncing his Canadian citizenship.
However, in response to the ongoing trial, he has filed a motion on notice at the High Court, seeking a stay of proceedings while awaiting an appeal. The motion requests the court to order a suspension of the ongoing legal proceedings until the appeal, which was filed on June 27, 2023, is determined.
Through the motion, the applicant is seeking the court’s intervention to temporarily halt the trial proceedings until the appeal is resolved.
The situation in the Tunisian port city of Sfax has become increasingly tense and dangerous.
Recent events include the reported killing of a Tunisian by migrants, resulting in concerns over retaliation and mass expulsions.
Disturbing testimonies from sub-Saharan African migrants have emerged, with claims that Tunisian security forces have dumped hundreds of men, women, and children on the border with Libya.
In response to the escalating tensions, Tunisian security forces have placed some migrants in shelters to protect them from potential revenge attacks. Around 200 other migrants sought refuge at the Sfax train station, intending to escape to the capital, Tunis, according to reports from Radio Mosaique.
Unfortunately, the fate of hundreds of other migrants remains uncertain and grim. Reports indicate that they were taken to an isolated beach near the Tunisian-Libyan land border, where armed individuals from both countries were present.
One migrant, a 29-year-old man from Ivory Coast, recounted his experience as part of a group of 600 sub-Saharan migrants caught in a precarious situation in a “no-man’s land” between the Mediterranean Sea and the Tunisian-Libyan border near Ben Guerdane. He explained that he was intercepted while waiting in a safe house to board a small boat to Italy, two days before the death of the Tunisian individual.
According to the man’s account shared during a video call with The Associated Press and his GPS location shared via WhatsApp, more migrants were reportedly taken from their homes in Sfax during the nighttime in subsequent days.
Sfax, situated on Tunisia’s eastern coast, has become a major departure point for migrants and refugees intending to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. The city has seen a significant influx of people, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, who undertake perilous journeys to Italy using small boats.
The name of the man, who said he entered Tunisia legally in 2019 and worked on a golf course, is being withheld for safety reasons.
Uniformed and armed men subsequently transferred his group to several police stations and National Guard bases before being dropped on the beach Sunday, he said.
The man spoke to the AP Wednesday and Thursday surrounded by other Black migrants including women and small children.
He accused the Tunisian National Guard of beating them and assaulting women in the group.
He also claimed that Libyan security at the border fired shots into the air to keep them at bay. A drone flew over them Thursday morning, he added.
Hostility towards Black migrants in Tunisia has been on the rise in recent months following remarks by Tunisian President Kais Saied in which he ordered a crackdown on sub-Saharan Africans.
They also come at the heel of a series of visits by European leaders pledging 1 billion euros ($1.09 billion) in financial aid to rescue the North African country’s crumbling economy and keep migrants from crossing the Mediterranean.
A physical altercation between a Bolt driver and a passenger, sparked by a disagreement over the cost of the ride, has gone viral on social media.
According to the details provided alongside the video, the Bolt driver successfully transported the passenger to their destination, and the online system generated a bill of GH¢1 for the journey upon arrival. It is unknown the distance covered.
However, the driver expressed dissatisfaction with the amount and requested a higher fare than what was initially indicated on the app.
The passenger, on the other hand, firmly stood their ground and insisted on paying only the price displayed on the app. He argued that if the app had shown an exorbitant fare of $1 million upon reaching the destination, the driver would have readily accepted it.
A Bolt driver and a passenger got into a physical altercation over the final cost of the ride after disagreeing on the fare
The driver refused to accept the fare of GH¢ 1, stating that it was too low as the trip was a lengthy one. The passenger argued that he would only pay the… pic.twitter.com/DbtLiLx6qt
Unfortunately, tensions quickly escalated, and both the driver and the passenger engaged in a physical altercation, exchanging heated blows.
Per comments from social media users, some consumers have the ability to rig the ride-hailing ride and are able to reduce their fare to as little as GH¢1.
Nigerian singer, Iyanya who had a whole chapter dedicated to himself in Ghanaian actress and producer, Yvonne Nelson’s memoir “I am not Yvonne Nelson” has finally shared how he felt about the entire situation.
In an interview on Starr Drive, the one time boyfriend of Yvonne admitted to feeling hurt after realising his role in the memoir.
According to him, he was much hurt since he aided with the endorsement video of the autobiography.
“I don’t really feel good that I have to sit on the radio to talk about this because it is emotional,” he added.
In her memoir, Yvonne accused Iyana of cheating on her with Nigerian actress Tonto Dike.
“..when I returned to Ghana after one of my visits to Nigeria and someone called me from his house.
The caller said anytime I left Iyanya’s place, another actress came over to him and sometimes slept over. The person felt strongly that there was something going on between them and thought I should know. That actress turned out to be Tonto Dikeh of Nigeria, one of the female celebrities Iyanya named in his “Ur Waist” song”, she wrote.
Despite not being pleased about being featured in the memoir, Iyana noted that Yvonne must not be criticised as she is healing from a painful experience.
“I also feel like at the end of the day she is healing. Let’s not forget that too whatever it is. But what we all need to understand is that everybody has been through ups and downs and being famous comes with the territory,” he said.
The artiste recently dropped an EP which features Kuami Eugene and other Africa music stars dubbed ‘ Love and Trust.”
Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lost the Assin North by-election due to three initiatives taken by the ruling party, according to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
NDC National Communication Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, explained that ahead of the by-election on June 27, the NPP undertook three actions namely; Deception, Inducement and Violence with the acronym “DIV”.
According to him, with regards to deception, the NPP unknowingly sold NDC’s James Gyakye Quayson while warning electorates of the possibility of him being imprisoned over the allegations of perjury and forgery.
“In their campaign, the ‘D’ was, don’t vote for Quayson, he lied to you. They (NPP) were spending about 30 minutes explaining why Gyakye Quayson will go to jail,” he said.
Another reason the NPP lost was due to the amount of money dashed to electorates, Mr Gyamfi said.
“They thought that the people of Assin will sell their conscience and mandate for a pittance for their 200 and 300 cedis most of which were misappropriated by the people they entrusted them with. When we were busy campaigning in the midnights, I would always see them by the roadside eating “chinchinga” (beef sewers) and dancing and drinking beer with their women and all that. Their only hope was that we are going to deceive this people”.
He also accused the NPP of orchestrating violent activities that ensued during the by-election. Per reports, the vehicles of Mr Gyamfi and other NDC executives were attacked.
“You saw how they deployed their hooligans, bandits and their thugs on the election day and how they sort to intimidate us and sort to attack some of us, shot into our cars, vandalized our cars but we and the good people of Assin were resolute throughout the process”
Mr Gyakye Quayson on Tuesday, June 27, beat his closest contender, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Assin North by-election by obtaining 17,245 votes out of the total valid votes of 29,962, representing 57.56 per cent.
Mr Charles Opoku, on the other hand, garnered 12,630 of the votes cast, representing 42.17 per cent while Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) secured 87 votes.
Real Madrid C.F. and Fenerbahçe SK have reached an agreement regarding the transfer of Arda Güler.
The talented player has officially signed a contract with Real Madrid for the upcoming six seasons, solidifying his commitment to the club.
On Friday 7 July at 12:00, Arda Güler will be unveiled as a new Real Madrid player at Real Madrid City. Following his presentation, Arda Güler will speak to the press.
Guler, 18, took to social media to bid farewell to his boyhood club. He said: “It’s time to say goodbye to Fenerbahce, where I had the best days of my life.
“I will never forget the first time I wore the kit that I dreamed of, the pride of the No10 jersey, the magnificent Fenerbahce fans and the amazing support I encountered everywhere I set foot.
“It’s hard to say goodbye but I had to take this decision to make those who believe in me more proud, to give hope to everyone who is about to give up, and to prove that Turkish youth can achieve anything they want.
“Thank you to everyone who has helped me become the person I am today.
“You will always be in my heart, my dear Fenerbahce, who opened the door for me to the national team, made a dream come true, and I will always remember it with good memories. Well done Fenerbahce.”
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) July 6, 2023
Guler adds to the growing pool of young midfield talent at Real Madrid, joining the likes of Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga.
As an adept left-footed player, he demonstrated his abilities by scoring four league goals and providing four assists in the previous season. His skills were on full display during the Turkish Cup final, where he assisted Michy Batshuayi for the opening goal and was awarded the man-of-the-match accolade in a 2-0 victory.
Notably, Guler made his senior debut at the age of 16 and made an immediate impact by providing an assist in his first appearance in the Super Lig.
Gabriel Jesus has disclosed that his decision to depart Manchester City was prompted by an emotional incident involving Pep Guardiola, which left him in tears after being excluded from a Champions League starting lineup.
In pursuit of more consistent opportunities in the starting eleven, Jesus made the move to Arsenal last summer from the reigning Premier League champions.
During an interview on the Denilson Show podcast, the Brazilian striker revealed that he realized he wanted to leave Manchester City when he was not selected to play in the team’s match against Paris Saint-Germain in November 2021.
The experience had a profound impact on him, leading him to seek a fresh start elsewhere.
Jesus said: “He put Zinchenko as a false nine. Crazy thing.
“The day before, he didn’t even use him [Zinchenko] in training, he had put me in as striker. Zinchenko even joked with me, ‘That day I felt bad for you’.
“He told us the team, I didn’t even eat. I went straight to the room, crying.
“I called my mother to talk, ‘I want to leave’. He put a left-back there. I went crazy.”
Pep Guardiola had a troubled relationship with Gabriel Jesus
The four-time Premier League winner, 26, also revealed that the PSG incident was not the only time that he did not see eye to eye with Guardiola.
He said: “Five minutes after Mbappe scored the goal for 1-0, he [Guardiola] called me. I gave an assist and scored and we turned it around 2-1.
“In the next game, I thought I was going to play and I didn’t play.
“There was a lot of that with him and it’s not easy. That’s when I decided I didn’t want to stay any more and I decided to leave.”
Both Jesus and Zinchenko signed for the Gunners months later, finishing as Premier League runners-up to City having sat top for the majority of the 2022-23 campaign.
During the British Grand Prix weekend, Hollywood actor Brad Pitt, who has been selected to portray an F1 driver in an upcoming movie titled “Apex,” will be seen showcasing his racing skills at the renowned Silverstone circuit.
Pitt will be filmed participating in a specially modified Formula 2 vehicle, taking to the track between practice sessions on Friday.
Assisting in the production of the film is British racing champion Lewis Hamilton, adding his expertise and involvement to the project featuring the acclaimed American actor.
In the movie, Pitt, a 59-year-old Oscar-winner, portrays the character of a seasoned driver making a comeback to the racing scene after an absence of three decades.
The plot line has raised eyebrows, given Pitt’s age, but Hamilton said: “Brad looks like he’s ageing backwards. He looks great for his age.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to have Brad Pitt in Formula 1. It’s incredible.”
Image caption,F1 champion Lewis Hamilton is helping to produce the movie starring Brad Pitt called Apex
At Silverstone, Brad Pitt will have the track to himself, driving a customized car prepared by Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team. However, with the help of computer-generated imagery (CGI), Pitt’s portrayal will be enhanced to give the illusion that he is racing alongside the current grid of the ongoing Formula 1 season.
In addition, the film crew will be present on the grid prior to Sunday’s race, further adding to the authenticity and capturing the essence of the F1 atmosphere.
Image caption,Apex has had its own “Pitt” stop built trackside for the movie
Hamilton has been involved in preparations for the movie, including trying to make it as authentic as possible – a criticism levelled at previous motorsport films.
He said: “It is massively exciting to know it is all coming together and we are starting to film this weekend.
“It’s nerves because we have been working on it for so long and we want people to love it and [think that] we captured what the essence of the sport is all about.”
Hamilton said he had spent time at a track in California with Pitt helping him to learn about race-driving.
Filming for Apex is due to continue throughout the remainder of the 2023 season.
Nigeria is currently facing an outbreak of diphtheria in its capital city, Abuja, following the tragic death of a four-year-old child.
This highly contagious infection poses a significant threat, especially to children, as it can lead to severe breathing difficulties and heart complications that may prove fatal.
Since late last year, multiple outbreaks of diphtheria have occurred throughout the country, resulting in nearly 800 confirmed cases and at least 80 deaths, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
Alarmingly, the majority of these cases involve individuals who have not received the necessary vaccination, despite diphtheria being included in Nigeria’s routine childhood immunisation program.
In response to this concerning situation, the NCDC is urging the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any symptoms to healthcare facilities.
Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in combating diphtheria. It is essential for individuals to recognize the signs of the disease and seek medical attention without delay.
Ghanaian socialite and influencer, Mona Faiz Montrage, widely known as Hajia4Reall, has reportedly been denied bail while petitioning for some freedom during her house arrest.
According to the US Department of Justice, Hajia4Reall must have a job and valid documentation linking her to the United States in order to be eligible for bail.
Furthermore, the court has expressed concerns about the weight of evidence against Hajia4Reall and the potential flight risk she poses, as outlined in section 3142-G of the US Justice system.
Hajia4Reall is alleged to be a member of a criminal conspiracy known as the Enterprise that specifically targeted older Americans through romance scams which were both financially and emotionally devastating for vulnerable victims.
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York, she had been doing this from about 2013 through to 2019.
Under false pretense, she is alleged to have induced victims to send money for payments to transport gold to the United States from overseas, resolve a fake FBI unemployment investigation and assist a fake United States army officer in receiving funds from Afghanistan.
She is said to have received approximately 82 wire transfers totaling approximately $89,000 to purportedly help with costs associated with her father’s farm in Ghana.
In total, Hajia4Reall is believed to have controlled bank accounts that received over $2 million in fraudulent funds from the Enterprise.
She is currently facing six charges, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of money laundering, each of which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
She is also charged with one count of receipt of stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. In total, she could see a possible 95-year jail term.
Hajia4Reall was arrested in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2022, and was extradited from the United Kingdom on May 12, 2023.
She has been extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States, where U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty will be handling the case.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mitzi Steiner and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.
The Mfantseman Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the police have apprehended over 100 goats and sheep in various communities within the Municipality of the Central Region.
The purpose of this operation, led by the Environment Health Department of the Assembly, is to address the issue of poor sanitation caused by free-range animals in the Municipality. The operation took place in more than ten communities.
Interacting with the media, the Mfantseman Municipal Environmental Health Officer, Yaw Boagyan, explained that animals such as goats and sheep tend to defecate on the streets, which negatively impacts sanitation conditions.
According to him, the Assembly initiated the swoop after multiple announcements advising residents to confine their domestic animals within a fenced area.
Meanwhile, owners of the animals captured will be required to pay a fee to reclaim them, along with a strong warning to always keep them confined within enclosures.
Failure to retrieve the arrested animals, the Assembly will be compelled to sell them at reduced prices in the market.
On the other hand, Mr Boagyan has cautioned residents against attacking officials during its operation and advised them to keep their domestic animals within their own fences to promote sanitation within the Mfantseman Municipality.
To ensure improved cleanliness in the communities, this exercise will be conducted every two weeks.
General Manager of TV3 and 3FM, Francis Doku, has announced his resignation after serving in the position for over six years.
Doku initially joined Media General in August 2017 as the General Manager of MG Digital, where he made significant contributions to the company’s digital operations and played a crucial role in their growth and success.
In 2020, he was promoted to the position of General Manager of 3Group, overseeing the management of TV3 and 3FM. During his tenure, 3Group experienced substantial growth, and the popular television program Date Rush was launched under his leadership.
Prior to joining Media General, Doku founded Maestro Africa Group Limited and gained experience working with MediaCom Ghana (now Vizeum), Adams Media Limited (Carat Ghana), and The Rave Group.
While Doku’s departure is undoubtedly a loss for Media General, he leaves behind a strong legacy and contributions to the company’s achievements. His final day in this role will be Friday, July 7.
CoCo Lee, a renowned singer and actress born in Hong Kong, passed away on Wednesday, as announced by her sisters on social media. Throughout her extensive career spanning several decades, she achieved great success with numerous albums, movies, and television shows.
Tragically, CoCo Lee had been battling depression for a number of years, and on Sunday, she made an attempt on her own life. Despite being hospitalized, she remained in a coma and, unfortunately, could not be revived. She passed away at the age of 48.
Her contributions to the entertainment industry and her talent will be remembered, while her untimely death serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing mental health challenges.
In their statement, the sisters wrote that this year marks the 30th anniversary of Lee’s singing career, during which she “won countless international acclaims with top selling songs and has left audience w an astounding impression of her excellent live performances.”
“CoCo is also known to have worked tirelessly to open up a new world for Chinese singers in the international music scene, and she went all out to shine for the Chinese. We are proud of her!” they wrote.
The post asked for privacy as the family grieves, adding: “Although CoCo stays in the world for not long a time, her rays of light will last forever!”
— Stream BE:US album by BGYO (@d_d3fri) July 5, 2023
Coco Lee, originally from Hong Kong and raised in the United States, began her music career after winning a singing contest during a visit to Hong Kong after high school. Throughout the 1990s, she achieved tremendous success in Asia, selling millions of albums and releasing music in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
Her unique blend of R&B and hip hop garnered attention in the United States, leading her to be chosen as the Mandarin voice of Disney’s heroine Fa Mulan in the 1998 film “Mulan.”
However, it was her involvement in the 2000 blockbuster “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” that propelled her to global stardom. Lee performed the romantic ballad “A Love Before Time” in the martial arts adventure film, which received critical acclaim and swept awards shows in the United States. Her performance at the 2001 Oscars, where she sang “A Love Before Time,” was witnessed by millions of viewers worldwide.
In recent years, Lee made appearances on popular Chinese singing competition television shows, including “Infinity and Beyond” and “Singer.”
Lee’s last Instagram post, dated December 31, 2022, acknowledged it had been an “incredibly difficult year,” but urged her followers to stay positive and spread love. “You are not alone, no matter how hard life gets, I’m with (you),” she wrote.
The announcement of her death sparked shock and grief online, with that final Instagram post flooded with condolence messages, including from other Hong Kong artists. The topic also trended on Chinese social media platform Weibo, gaining nearly 1.4 billion views.
It raised discussion around mental health and depression, with many pointing to Lee’s cheerful, bubbly public image, and urging people to support each other with kindness and sensitivity. Others praised Lee for breaking boundaries as an Asian American and providing young Chinese women a role model on the world stage.
“When I was little and saw her on the stage, I thought, ‘Oh, so Chinese women can be like this – powerful, bright, bold,’” one Weibo user wrote.
The Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament in Ghana is currently discussing potential amendments to the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill also known as the anti-LGBTQ bill.
The committee’s chairman, Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, has disclosed that they are considering the inclusion of specialized health facilities aimed at providing support and rehabilitation for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Speaking to JoyNews, he said “we are going to look at the amendment that we have made and the speaker prompted us that he may refer it back to us. For instance, the proposal that the person had practiced and owned up to rehabilitation and the person will want to go to the hospital.”
In addition, the Asante Akim Central MP has clarified that the proposed amendment would involve the participation of Christian and Muslim hospitals. These hospitals would play a role in assisting with the reintegration of LGBTQ+ individuals back into society, as part of the rehabilitation process.
“Health facilities from all the churches and Moslem communities, they have the health facilities and we want to bring them on board. We as a committee will have to meet them and take a decision on that,” he said.
When questioned about the current status of the lawsuit against the bill, the chairman of the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee stated that the committee will continue with its work as they have not yet been officially informed about any pending case in court.
“I have not had any hint about this case so when I am proceeding, I will proceed on this case. I have not had any hint and nobody has prompted me that this will not allow me to proceed, I can not on my own, I am hearing it on you for the second time that there is a case in court but I have not seen it,” he said.
The bill which has come to be known as anti-LGBTQ+ has come under scrutiny from some sections of the public and went through a second reading in Parliament on June 5, 2023.
The controversial LGBT bill is a private member’s bill that was presented to Speaker Alban Bagbin on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. It is being spearheaded by 8 MPs.
The proponents want the promotion, advocacy, funding, and acts of homosexuality to be criminalised in the country.
Although the Bill is in Parliament, the LGBTQ+ conversation was reignited during US Vice President, Kamala Harris’ visit to Ghana.
On August 26, Oleksandr Usyk, the unified world heavyweight champion, will defend his WBO, WBA Super, and IBF titles against Daniel Dubois.
The highly anticipated bout will take place at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland, which has a capacity of 24,000 spectators.
At 36 years old, Usyk will face Dubois, his WBA mandatory challenger. Dubois, a 25-year-old British boxer, holds the regular WBA belt and has an impressive record of 18 wins out of 19 fights. His sole defeat came against his fellow countryman Joe Joyce in November 2020.
The Greenwich-born challenger, 25, said: “He is a great fighter and I do respect him but it’s my time now.
“I’m going to shock the world and show people how good Daniel Dubois really is.”
Usyk has won all 20 of his professional fights and the bout against Dubois will be the second defence of his unified crown having dispatched Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia last August.
Daniel Dubois has won his last four fights after losing to Joe Joyce
The Ukrainian said: “I am very glad we have the opportunity to organise my fight in Poland, where I won my first world title seven years ago.”
he highly anticipated showdown between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois, initially set for August 12, has been rescheduled to August 26. This change was made to accommodate Ukraine’s Independence Day, which falls on August 24.
In addition to the fight, Usyk also expressed his appreciation for Poland, acknowledging the country’s compassionate response to the crisis caused by Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Poland has welcomed and provided refuge to over a million Ukrainians who have been displaced by the conflict. Usyk commended Poland for its support and solidarity during this challenging time.
He said: “I want to thank the Polish people who are helping Ukraine so sincerely.
“Hundreds of thousands of my compatriots have been hosted by this wonderful country.
“Therefore, I hope my fight will become one more opportunity for Ukrainians and people of Poland to unite and strengthen our friendship.”
Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, has criticized several heads of local assemblies within his jurisdiction, accusing them of mismanaging a project initiated by the Regional Co-ordinating Council.
The project aimed to clean and enhance the aesthetics of road medians in the region.
Mensah expressed his disappointment with the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), attributing their lackadaisical and indifferent attitudes as the primary reason for the abrupt discontinuation of the Ashanti project. The initiative had commenced five years ago but was halted due to the negligence of the MMDCEs.
The concerned minister voiced his concerns during a meeting with the MMDCEs in the Ashanti Region.
“I say with some regret that this project was originally launched in 2018 but was stalled due to the lackadaisical and uncaring attitudes of MMDCEs in the piloted areas. This time it should not fail,” he said.
Some 5,000 Royal Palm trees are expected to be planted in medians of the city’s ceremonial routes while sand and weeds will be cleared.
“These tree seedlings are being caged to prevent destruction by animals and pedestrians. The medians and road shoulders are also being cleared of sand and weeds that have accumulated over the period,” said the Minister.
Cesar Azpilicueta, the Spanish defender, has officially signed a one-year contract with Atletico Madrid following his departure from Chelsea.
The 33-year-old Azpilicueta had an impressive career at Chelsea, making a remarkable 508 appearances since joining the club from Marseille in 2012.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, Azpilicueta played a pivotal role in the team’s success, winning a total of nine major honors. He captained the side to victories in the 2019 Europa League, 2021 Champions League, and 2021 Club World Cup finals.
In an Instagram post, Azpilicueta, affectionately known as “Dave” to the fans, expressed his emotions about leaving Chelsea, stating that it was the most difficult letter he has ever had to write. He wanted to be the one to personally share the news with the supporters.
“This is, without doubt, the hardest letter I have ever had to write, but I want to be the one to share this with you.
“After 11 incredible seasons proudly keeping the blue flag flying high, the time has come for me to leave Chelsea.
“Our journey together started on August 24, 2012. After waiting impatiently to travel to London, my first day as a Chelsea player finally became a reality.
“From the first moment I wore the blue shirt, I felt right at home.
“I will always remember the butterflies in my stomach as I looked at all the trophies and successful moments posted on the wall of the training ground, a success that a young Azpi wanted to emulate.
“I could not have imagined to be here today after 508 appearances, winning nine trophies and becoming your captain.
“Adriana and I arrived in London as a young couple and we are leaving as a family of five, with our kids having been born and raised in England.
“Our bond with the city and the club will remain forever.”
Cesar Azpilicueta, with one year left on his contract, has decided to return to his home country and join Atletico Madrid under the management of Diego Simeone.
Azpilicueta now joins a growing list of players departing the Premier League side this summer, including Kalidou Koulibaly, Mateo Kovacic, Edouard Mendy, Kai Havertz, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, N’Golo Kante, and Mason Mount.
A statement from Chelsea read: “Azpilicueta will always retain the gratitude of those at Chelsea for his crucial role on and off the pitch during such a successful period for the club.
We are bidding an emotional farewell to a Chelsea great.
The Central Aflao Hospital in the Volta Region’s Ketu South Municipality, along with two nurses from the facility, is currently being investigated for alleged medical negligence.
The investigation stems from an incident where a critically ill patient, Linda Adua, was denied treatment unless a cash deposit was made, ultimately resulting in her death.
In response to this tragic event, the family of Linda Adua has submitted a petition to the President, the Minister of Health, the Ghana Health Service, and the Medical and Dental Council, seeking justice for their loved one.
According to the family, despite the pleas of both Linda Adua and her 19-year-old son, the nurses refused to accept mobile money payment for her treatment. As a result, the patient was left unattended until her untimely demise.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the Medical and Dental Council and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) have promptly reacted to the petition. They have dispatched a team of investigators to the hospital to conduct a thorough probe into the matter.
Dr. Gabrielle Kojo, the Medical Director of the Aflao Central Hospital, also known as Nkansah Hospital, has confirmed that a team from the Ghana Health Service is currently on-site at the hospital to investigate the incident.
“The police have summoned us to release the nurses involved for interrogation on the matter, which we have done,” he said.
Dr. Makafui Dagbasu, the Medical Director of the Ketu South Municipal Hospital, which serves as the primary referral center for the municipality, has also confirmed that an investigation is underway regarding the incident.
Abigail Adua, the elder sister of the deceased, informed the Daily Graphic that when Linda Adua seemed to have passed away, the hospital instructed her son to transfer her to a government facility, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Linda, who is yet to be buried, lived with her only son in Aflao, where she operated a restaurant.
“Much as we appreciate the work and dedication to duty of health professionals, we think that there are some bad lots among them in the hospitals and clinics, whose actions and inaction are denting the image of the medical and nursing professions and need to be brought to order to sanitise the system,” Ms Adua said.
She said Linda’s son, Jerry Nii Tetteh, had just gained admission to pursue a degree programme at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and was now left alone and traumatised as his reliable source of support and friend was gone.
The late Linda Adua
Abigail said on April 11 this year, Linda asked her son to accompany her to the hospital because she was not feeling too well.
“They reached the hospital around 4:05 a.m., and were met by two nurses on duty, who requested that they made a deposit of GH¢400 before she would be attended to,” Abigail narrated.
She said Linda offered to pay through mobile money transfer, but the nurses said electronic transfers were against the hospital’s policy, insisting that Tetteh should go out of the hospital to look for a mobile money merchant to withdraw cash for the payment.
“My sister pleaded with the nurses to take the MoMo and attend to her because it was too early in the morning to find a merchant to withdraw the money, but they refused,” she said.
Plea
She said Linda’s son later “had to walk from the hospital to Avoeme Junction before getting a motorbike to take him to the Aflao Border, about two kilometres from the hospital, in search of a mobile money merchant.
“All this while, Linda remained seated in a wheelchair in the outpatient department (OPD) unattended to by the nurses. No details of the complaints were recorded, and her vitals were also not taken except her name which was recorded in the patient register at the OPD,” she added.
The son found no merchant to facilitate the cash withdrawal, she said.
Linda, meanwhile, complained of difficulty in breathing and pleaded with the nurses to put her on oxygen.
“One of the nurses retorted that she was disturbing them as she scanned her phone,” she said.
She said Linda, who had been wheeled to a ward, asked the son to assist her to the washroom, but she fell on the way.
“It was at that point that another patient in the ward, who witnessed the whole incident, rushed out to inform the nurses about what had happened.
“The nurse, apparently sensing danger, told Linda’s son to get a taxi and take her to the Ketu South Municipal Hospital as her situation was beyond their capacity,” she said.
Confused and helpless
Abigail said the son rushed to get the taxi as his mother remained motionless, and by the time he got back to the hospital with the taxi, the mother had been put on a stretcher, and wheeled from the ward to the entrance of the hospital.
She said the nurses asked the young man to sit in the taxi as they pushed the motionless body of his mother into the taxi, with her head resting on his laps, and instructed him to take her to the Ketu South Municipal Hospital without a referral note or an accompanying officer.
“Just upon arrival at the Ketu South Municipal Hospital, Linda was pronounced dead by the medical staff who said they were sure she had died several minutes before being brought to their facility at about 7:40 a.m,” she said.
Abigail said when the news of the incident reached the family, they reached out to the management of the Central Aflao Hospital to understand what Linda’s son had narrated to them.
Deputy Ranking Member of the Education Committee of Parliament, Dr. Clement Apaak, has hinted that both the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, and the CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Mr. Hanan Abdul-Wahab, will be summoned before the House to address concerns regarding the debt owed to the National Food Suppliers Association.
Dr. Apaak made this known amidst a protest by members of the Association who gathered at the premises of NAFCO on Tuesday, demanding full payment of outstanding amounts owed to them for over two years.
He stated that the issue at hand “definitely requires an invitation to the Minister for Education and National Buffer Stock Food Company’s CEO to come to us, to explain to us exactly what is going on.”
The suppliers, who had traveled from all regions of the country, claimed that the government owed them GH¢270 million for food supplies provided to Senior High Schools from 2021 to 2023.
They expressed their intention to remain on the NAFCO grounds until the government fulfills its payment obligations. As of now, NAFCO has not provided a response to the demands put forth by the group.
Dr Apak further disclosed that, per the information he has received, he could foresee the country experiencing challenges in supplying food to secondary school institutions across the country if nothing is done to address the issue.
Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Andy Appiah Kubi, is optimistic that President Akufo-Addo will not object to accenting into law the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill following its approval by Parliament.
However, should the president register some concerns, the MP stated that he would have no other option than to sign into law the anti-LGBTQ bill.
“The clergy, civil society, even the Muslim community, so the whole Ghana is unanimous in the rejection of such an invitation to engage in LGBTQ so the President has no option.
“He has no option but to accent to the bill. I am positive and hopeful that the President will accent to the Bill to be law,” the lawmaker told Starr News.
During the presentation of the report, Chairman Kwame Anyimadu Antwi argued that the bill has undergone careful adjustments to align with the constitutional framework of the country.
Following overwhelming support from both sides, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin called for any opposing views to be expressed, but no dissenting voices emerged.
However, taking into account the significant number of members present in the house on July 5, 2023, the Speaker announced his decision to still allow for a debate on the matter.
Empathetic messages are pouring in on social media for former France Ambassador to Ghana, Anne-Sophie Avé, after revealing that she is battling cancer.
In a video on Instagram, Anne-Sophie Avé shared her ordeal with cancer.
Revealing her health issue, she shared, “As I told you, I had a health issue. It was a recess of cancer I had 14 years ago. I’ve been very lucky because it could be handled through surgery. And now I’m waiting for further treatment, but so far, so good. Next time, recover. I’m doing my very best.”
She specifically mentioned, “And what keeps me going on is that I’m really hoping that as early as August I will be able to come to Ghana, and see all my friends and say thank you to all those who have been so supportive during my time in the hospital and my time in recovery.”
The former ambassador extended her appreciation to those who had been close to her, checking up on her regularly and providing much-needed comfort.
News of her health struggle has deeply resonated with many individuals, who have expressed genuine concern and rallied around her during this difficult time.
Ghanaians have also highlighted the significant impact she made during her tenure as the France Ambassador to Ghana.
Her diplomatic efforts, cultural exchanges, and the deep connections she fostered between the two nations are remembered fondly.
An apartment building in Lviv, western Ukraine, has been struck by a Russian rocket, resulting in the loss of four five lives.
Among the victims are two women aged 21 and 95. The mayor of Lviv described this as one of the most severe attacks on the city’s civilian infrastructure, with 40 people sustaining injuries. Over 30 houses were destroyed, according to Maksym Kozytskyi, the head of the Lviv region.
Ukraine’s air force has accused Russia of launching the missiles from the Black Sea.
As of now, there has been no official comment from Russia’s military regarding the reported attack. President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged a substantial response to this assault by what he referred to as “Russian terrorists.”
Expressing his grief on Telegram, Mr. Kozytskyi stated, “Tonight, a rocket claimed the life of a young girl in her apartment in Lviv. She was only 21 years old. Russia is robbing us of our youth and our future.”
The number of victims of the Russian strike on #Lviv increased to 5, 40 more people were wounded. pic.twitter.com/na6TWbzUYS
Mr Kozytskyi said emergency services were still working to clear debris and rescue people who are feared to be trapped under rubble.
“There is a shelter next to the house that was hit by the missile,” he added.
“It is in good condition and was open at the time of the alarm. But, only five people were in the shelter from the entire building. Very disappointing.”
Dr Sasha Dovzhyk, who works at the Ukrainian Institute London but is currently in Lviv, described hiding in her bathroom when she heard the air raid siren.
“This is what we are supposed to do,” she told the BBC. “This is the Ukrainian routine.
“You are supposed to put two walls and preferably no windows, no glass, between yourself and the street, the outside.
“When the rocket, the missile, a Kalibr missile as we know now, hit the residential building 2km away, the walls in the bathroom where I was hiding shook, so the impact was quite strong.”
Image caption,Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said there are fears people are trapped under the rubble
Tragedy struck Kramatorsk, an eastern city near the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, last week when a restaurant and shopping center were targeted, resulting in the loss of 13 lives, including children.
Despite being located in western Ukraine, far from the front lines in the south and east, Lviv has also experienced previous attacks orchestrated by Russia.
Just last month, officials in Lviv reported a drone attack on vital infrastructure within the city. These incidents serve as grim reminders of the ongoing threat posed by Russian aggression and the indiscriminate nature of the attacks, which not only impact the conflict zones but also extend to areas further away from the front lines.
Chief Executive Officer of energy giant Shell, Wael Sawan, has argued that cutting oil and gas production would be “dangerous and irresponsible”.
In an interview with the BBC, he indicated that as moves to renewable energy were not happening fast enough, the world still “desperately needs oil and gas“.
“What would be dangerous and irresponsible is cutting oil and gas production so that the cost of living, as we saw last year, starts to shoot up again,” he added.
According to him, increased demand from China and a cold winter in Europe could push energy prices and bills higher again.
Mr Sawan said an international bidding war for gas last year saw poorer countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh unable to afford liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments that were instead diverted to Northern Europe.
“They took away LNG from those countries and children had to work and study by candlelight,” he said. “If we’re going to have a transition it needs to be a just transition that doesn’t just work for one part of the world.”
In recent times, leaders have pledged to keep the world from warming by more than 1.5C this century and as such are ready to ditch fossil fuels for greener alternatives.
In 2022, the European Commission outlined how the EU would speed up its shift to green energy to end its dependency on Russian oil and gas. Many countries do not have the infrastructure to move to more sustainable forms of energy.
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