Hilda Effiong Bassey, better known as Hilda Baci, is elated and cannot hide her emotions after receiving the long-awaited confirmation from the Guinness World Records.
Today, the Guinness World Records announced that Hilda has officially broken the record for the longest cooking marathon (individual), with a time of 93 hours 11 minutes.
They also noted that Hilda attempted to set a record of 100 hours, however, almost seven hours were deducted from her final total because she mistakenly took extra minutes for one of her rest breaks early on in the attempt.
Guinness World Records congratulated Hila for the feat attained.
In response in less than an hour after the news broke, an emotional Hilda took to Twitter to share her joy.
Awe-shocked, she wrote: “This is the best news ever omg omg omg thank you so much.”
Hilda began cooking on Thursday 11 May and continued through to Monday 15 May, cooking over 100 pots of food during her four-day kitchen stint.
The 26-year-old Nigerian chef is not the only one jubilating over this victory. Her family, friends and supporters in Nigeria and across the world are so thrilled by the news.
They have also taken to social media to share their joy.
The former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue, has been declared wanted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
This declaration comes after Mr Bissue failed to comply with an invitation from the Special Prosecutor to appear and provide answers pertaining to the ongoing investigation into suspected corruption within the dissolved IMCIM.
In response to the investigation led by the Special Prosecutor into alleged corruption involving Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, the Chairman of the IMCIM, Mr. Bissue took legal action by filing a writ at the High Court in Accra. His objective was to prevent the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) from prosecuting him.
Within the writ, Mr. Bissue revealed that he had received a letter from the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which deemed his presence necessary for the investigation and requested an interview with him.
Back in December 2022, Mr. Bissue initiated legal proceedings by issuing a Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim against the OSP and two others after the OSP announced in its Half-Yearly Report that it had concluded investigations into corruption allegations made by Tiger Eye P.I. and Anas against Mr. Bissue.
In January 2023, Mr. Bissue amended the writ and subsequently filed an injunction to restrain the OSP from further investigating and prosecuting him. The Office of the Special Prosecutor was granted permission to file its statement of case in opposition to the Motion.
However, despite several adjournments in the proceedings, Mr. Bissue has not taken any action on the injunction application.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor considers Mr. Bissue’s failure to honor the invitation as a significant hindrance to the investigation and has declared him wanted.
Guinness World Records says it can now confirm that Hilda Effiong Bassey, better known as Hilda Baci, has officially broken the record for the longest cooking marathon (individual), with a time of 93 hours 11 minutes.
The 26-year-old Nigerian chef began on Thursday 11 May and continued through to Monday 15 May, cooking over 100 pots of food during her four-day kitchen stint.
Hilda attempted to set a record of 100 hours, however, almost seven hours were deducted from her final total because she mistakenly took extra minutes for one of her rest breaks early on in the attempt.
As with all ‘longest marathon’ records, the participant is permitted a five-minute rest break for every continuous hour of activity.
These rest breaks can be accumulated if not taken. They were the only times Hilda could use the bathroom or sleep during the attempt.
The previous record of 87 hours 45 minutes was set by Lata Tondon (India) in 2019.
Hilda attempted this record to “put Nigerian cuisine on the map” and “to inspire young African women to chase their dreams.”
“I also decided to break this record to truly push my limits and test my abilities,” she added.
Hilda prepared for the event by creating a 35-item menu “as a guide” for every meal that she would cook.
She ensured that she had the necessary ingredients to make each recipe, with her team procuring further food items while the cook-a-thon was underway “based on what was needed to be topped up.”
Hilda’s record attempt took the world of social media by storm, with millions in Nigeria and beyond following her progress via an Instagram live stream.
Hilda’s cook-a-thon was in fact so popular that our website crashed for two days due to the immense volume of traffic we received from her legion of loyal fans.
Several high-profile Nigerian figures visited Hilda to support her during her record attempt, such as the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu; and award-winning singer Tiwa Savage.
Hilda was required to abide by several rules during her record-breaking cook-a-thon:
There must be at least two items being prepared or cooked at any time
A sous-chef is permitted to assist in prep work, washing up, and cleaning the kitchen area, but all the cooking must be done by the individual attempting the record
One of the most important rules of our food-related record attempts is that all items must be consumed after cooking. To this end, Hilda invited any and all members of the Nigerian public to come and eat her freshly made meals. All leftover food was donated to the Festus Fajemilo Foundation.
“My team’s and my goal for this event was to make it free to all and to feed the less privileged,” Hilda said.
According to Hilda, each pot of food she cooked was big enough to serve 30-35 people, and “appropriate stock control was conducted” to avoid any wastage of food.
After graduating from Madonna University, Nigeria, with a degree in sociology, Hilda decided to embark on her culinary career. She was inspired by her mother, Lynda Ndukwe, who is also a chef.
Hilda went from success to success, hosting television show Dine on a Budget in 2020, before winning the Jollof Face-off competition in 2021. Representing her native Nigeria, Hilda beat Ghana’s Leslie Kumordzie to claim the victory.
Now, in 2023, she is officially a Guinness World Records title holder. Congratulations, Hilda!
Ekiti-based Adedamilola Adeparusi, known as Chef Dammy, is currently aiming to cook continuously for 120 hours.
Per reports, Chef Dammy has now passed Hilda Baci’s 93 hours by cooking for 105 hours.
She is one of two Nigerian chefs who are vying to break Hilda Baci’s record and secure the title of world-record holders for the longest continuous cooking session.
Today, the Guinness World Record announced that Hilda Baci has officially broken the record for the longest cooking marathon (individual), with a time of 93 hours 11 minutes.
Hilda attempted to set a record of 100 hours, however, almost seven hours were deducted from her final total because she mistakenly took extra minutes for one of her rest breaks early on in the attempt.
Also, Temitope Adebayo, a chef based in Ibadan, has revealed plans for a remarkable 140-hour cook-a-thon, as reported by the Vanguard newspaper.
The remarkable cooking endeavors of these chefs have garnered support from politicians, celebrities, and enthusiastic onlookers who cheered them on throughout their cooking marathons.
A tragic incident in Nottingham city centre has led to the apprehension of a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murder.
The police were alerted to the scene on Ilkeston Road at 04:00 BST, where the bodies of two individuals were discovered.
Subsequently, there was another distressing occurrence involving a van that allegedly targeted three individuals, leaving them injured. Additionally, the lifeless body of a man was found on Magdala Road.
In response to these events, a sizable cordon has been established in the city, and the police are urging the public to remain patient while investigations are carried out.
Consequently, several roads have been closed, and public transportation services, including buses and trams, have been temporarily suspended.
Expressing her sentiments on the matter, Nottinghamshire Chief Constable Kate Meynell remarked, “This is an horrific and tragic incident.”
There’s a large police cordon in place and multiple road closures across Nottingham – all causing significant disruption.
Police are urging the public “to be patient while inquiries continue”.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria has enacted a groundbreaking student loan bill, marking a significant milestone in the country.
The new law provides financial support to underprivileged students pursuing higher education.
This legislation enables local students enrolled in tertiary institutions, including universities, colleges, and polytechnics, to easily access interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, covering their tuition fees.
I was pleased, today, to have signed into law, the Access to Higher Education Act which provides interest-free loans to deserving students across the country who wish to further their education in tertiary institutions.
In November, the Nigerian parliament approved the bill, which aimed to establish a national education bank responsible for offering loans to students. However, former President Muhammadu Buhari did not give his assent to the bill before leaving office on May 29. No official explanation was provided for his inaction.
The bill was initially introduced in 2016 by Femi Gbajabiamila, who served as the speaker of the House of Representatives and currently holds the position of Chief of Staff to President Tinubu.
He now says the “future of the country” is guaranteed, adding that “no Nigerian child [will] be denied access to tertiary education on account of lack of financial resources”.
Beneficiaries of the loan are expected to start repayment as soon as they gain employment, following the completion of their studies and mandatory national service.
Before now, banks in Nigeria could only grant student loans to parents of the students with very stringent conditions.
Some students have had to drop out or get odd jobs to pay their way through college.
Sixty-five survivors of a Kenyan Christian cult are currently facing charges of attempted suicide for their refusal to consume meals provided to them at the rescue center where they were taken.
During the court proceedings on Monday, the prosecution sought to have the survivors detained in prison, allowing for mental and medical evaluations as the rescue center could no longer accommodate them. A decision regarding this application is expected later this week.
In Kenya, it is considered a criminal offense to take one’s own life, a law originally established by British colonizers. However, in England, these laws were abolished over 60 years ago.
Advocates in Kenya are now fighting to bring an end to such legislation within their country as well.
The 65 survivors are reported to be followers of Pastor Paul Mackenzie, the alleged leader of the cult. It is believed that Pastor Mackenzie persuaded his congregants to engage in a fast leading to their deaths, with the belief that it would enable their ascension to heaven.
Thus far, authorities have discovered over 280 bodies in shallow graves within the extensive Shakahola forest near the coast, where the pastor operated. On Monday, an additional ten bodies were exhumed.
Autopsy reports have indicated that most of the victims, including children, perished from starvation, while others were subjected to strangulation, physical assault, or suffocation.
Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s citizenship, has become a subject of debate in recent times, with allegations of dual citizenship raised by his political opponents.
This controversy was ignited by claims made by former ambassador Sam Pee Yalley, who accused Bawumia of holding British citizenship while serving as a director of the Ghana International Bank Plc in London.
In this article, The Independent Ghana delves into the details of the controversy and presents the statements provided by both sides to shed light on the matter.
Accusations and evidence:
Sam Pee Yalley alleged that Vice President Bawumia acquired British citizenship during his tenure as a director of the Ghana International Bank Plc in London. He based his claims on information from the UK Companies House website, which listed Bawumia as a British national and a former director of the bank. According to the website, Bawumia was appointed as a director on 18 October 2006 and resigned on 15 April 2009.
Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s citizenship, has become a subject of debate in recent times, with allegations of dual citizenship raised by his political opponents. This controversy was ignited by claims made by former ambassador Sam Pee Yalley, who accused Bawumia of holding British citizenship while serving as a director of the Ghana International Bank Plc in London. In this article, The Independent Ghana delves into the details of the controversy and presents the statements provided by both sides to shed light on the matter.
Accusations and evidence:
Sam Pee Yalley alleged that Vice President Bawumia acquired British citizenship during his tenure as a director of the Ghana International Bank Plc in London. He based his claims on information from the UK Companies House website, which listed Bawumia as a British national and a former director of the bank. According to the website, Bawumia was appointed as a director on 18 October 2006 and resigned on 15 April 2009.
Dismissing the claims:
A spokesperson for Vice President Bawumia, Dr Gideon Boako, vehemently denied the allegations and clarified that his boss neither holds nor has ever held British citizenship. Dr Boako emphasized that Bawumia was only seconded to the Ghana International Bank Plc by the Bank of Ghana and did not require British citizenship to fulfil his responsibilities there.
Here is an appointment form, obtained from a reliable source, where Bawumia has indicated his nationality as Ghanaian.
The precedent and constitutional prohibitions:
The controversy surrounding Bawumia’s citizenship arises in the aftermath of a Supreme Court ruling that nullified the election of James Gyakye Quayson, an MP for Assin North, due to his dual citizenship status at the time of filing his nomination with the Electoral Commission. This ruling has sparked discussions regarding the eligibility of other public office holders who may hold dual citizenship. The Ghanaian constitution prohibits dual citizens from occupying specific public offices, including members of parliament, ministers of state, ambassadors, and judges.
The controversy surrounding Vice President Bawumia’s citizenship has stirred debates and raised questions about the qualifications of public office holders in Ghana. As the matter unfolds, further scrutiny and clarification may be required to address concerns regarding the eligibility of individuals serving in public office and ensure adherence to constitutional provisions.
The Vice President and James Gyakye Quayson are not the only public office holders whose citizenship has been contested under the 4th Republic. The following individuals amongst others have also been accused of holding dual citizenship at some point in their political journey.
Adamu Daramani Sakande: The NPP MP for Bawku Central was convicted in 2012 for holding dual citizenship at the time he contested for the seat in 2008. He was found guilty of perjury, false declaration of office, and deceiving a public officer. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined GH¢12,000. He was also stripped of his parliamentary seat and ordered to refund all salaries and allowances he received as an MP.
Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings: The NDC MP for Klottey Korle was challenged in 2016 by another NDC aspirant, Nii Armah Ashitey, for not being a registered voter at the time she filed her nomination to contest for the seat. Ashitey also alleged that Zanetor held dual citizenship of Ghana and Germany. However, Zanetor denied holding dual citizenship and said she had renounced her German citizenship before filing her nomination. The High Court dismissed Ashitey’s case and upheld Zanetor’s candidacy
Richard Anane: The NPP MP for Nhyiaeso and former minister of health and roads and transport was accused in 2007 by a US-based Ghanaian lawyer, Kwame Mayor, of holding US citizenship in addition to his Ghanaian one. Mayor claimed that Anane had acquired US citizenship through naturalization after marrying a US citizen in 1996. However, Anane denied holding US citizenship and said he had never applied for naturalization or taken an oath of allegiance to the US.
Dorcas Affo-Toffey: The NDC MP for Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region was sued by a resident of Jomoro, Joshua Emuah Kofie, for holding dual citizenship of Ghana and Ivory Coast at the time she filed her nomination to contest for the seat in 2020.
The petitioner claimed that she had not renounced her Ivorian citizenship before filing her nomination, which violates the 1992 Constitution. However, she denied holding any other citizenship apart from Ghanaian and said she had renounced her Ivorian citizenship before filing her nomination. She also said she had never acquired American citizenship as alleged by the petitioner. The Sekondi High Court dismissed the petition and affirmed her eligibility as an MP.
A spokesperson for Vice President Bawumia, Dr Gideon Boako, vehemently denied the allegations and clarified that his boss neither holds nor has ever held British citizenship. Dr Boako emphasized that Bawumia was only seconded to the Ghana International Bank Plc by the Bank of Ghana and did not require British citizenship to fulfil his responsibilities there.
Here is an appointment form, obtained from a reliable source, where Bawumia has indicated his nationality as Ghanaian.
The precedent and constitutional prohibitions:
The controversy surrounding Bawumia’s citizenship arises in the aftermath of a Supreme Court ruling that nullified the election of James Gyakye Quayson, an MP for Assin North, due to his dual citizenship status at the time of filing his nomination with the Electoral Commission. This ruling has sparked discussions regarding the eligibility of other public office holders who may hold dual citizenship. The Ghanaian constitution prohibits dual citizens from occupying specific public offices, including members of parliament, ministers of state, ambassadors, and judges.
The controversy surrounding Vice President Bawumia’s citizenship has stirred debates and raised questions about the qualifications of public office holders in Ghana. As the matter unfolds, further scrutiny and clarification may be required to address concerns regarding the eligibility of individuals serving in public office and ensure adherence to constitutional provisions.
The Vice President and James Gyakye Quayson are not the only public office holder whose citizenship has been contested under the 4th Republic. The following individuals amongst others have also been accused of holding dual citizenship at some point in their political journey.
Adamu Daramani Sakande: The NPP MP for Bawku Central was convicted in 2012 for holding dual citizenship at the time he contested for the seat in 2008. He was found guilty of perjury, false declaration of office, and deceiving a public officer. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined GH¢12,000. He was also stripped of his parliamentary seat and ordered to refund all salaries and allowances he received as an MP.
Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings: The NDC MP for Klottey Korle was challenged in 2016 by another NDC aspirant, Nii Armah Ashitey, for not being a registered voter at the time she filed her nomination to contest for the seat. Ashitey also alleged that Zanetor held dual citizenship of Ghana and Germany. However, Zanetor denied holding dual citizenship and said she had renounced her German citizenship before filing her nomination. The High Court dismissed Ashitey’s case and upheld Zanetor’s candidacy
Richard Anane: The NPP MP for Nhyiaeso and former minister of health and roads and transport was accused in 2007 by a US-based Ghanaian lawyer, Kwame Mayor, of holding US citizenship in addition to his Ghanaian one. Mayor claimed that Anane had acquired US citizenship through naturalization after marrying a US citizen in 1996. However, Anane denied holding US citizenship and said he had never applied for naturalization or taken an oath of allegiance to the US.
Dorcas Affo-Toffey: The NDC MP for Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region was sued by a resident of Jomoro, Joshua Emuah Kofie, for holding dual citizenship of Ghana and Ivory Coast at the time she filed her nomination to contest for the seat in 2020.
The petitioner claimed that she had not renounced her Ivorian citizenship before filing her nomination, which violates the 1992 Constitution. However, she denied holding any other citizenship apart from Ghanaian and said she had renounced her Ivorian citizenship before filing her nomination. She also said she had never acquired American citizenship as alleged by the petitioner. The Sekondi High Court dismissed the petition and affirmed her eligibility as an MP.
The chief of Mempeasem in Accra, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw, has issued an apology for not standing up during the national anthem at the Green Ghana event held on the University of Ghana campus last Friday.
In a statement released on Monday, July 12, 2023, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw acknowledged that he was feeling physically weak and unwell on that particular day, which prevented him from standing for the national anthem.
Responding to media reports and President Akufo-Addo’s directive regarding his actions, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw clarified that he immediately expressed his apologies through the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, who was present at the event.
Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw further explained that his medical condition significantly affected his ability to stand during the national anthem on that specific occasion.
Background
On Friday, June 9, 2023, Ghana observed Green Ghana Day to plant 10 million trees as part of efforts to recover the vegetation cover lost.
However, the day was not devoid of drama as the Chief of Mempeasem, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw, and his elders refused to stand when all were directed to rise to observe the national anthem after the arrival of the president.
Observing this, President Akufo-Addo fumed, and subsequently directed the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quarter, to engage the traditional authorities.
Sources say the issue was clarified and the traditional authorities followed protocol in subsequent activities including rising for the national anthem to mark the end of the event.
Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw’s explanation
“… I will like to state for the records that I did not elect to willfully refuse to stand to observe of the national anthem. No patriotic son of the land will do so, let alone a chief, more so in the presence of the president and other distinguished guests.”
“I did not stand up to observe the national anthem because I felt weak. Even though I was not well and was on medication, I endeavoured to attend the programme because I share the vision of the President for the Green Ghana Day initiative. I was hoping everything will go as planned so I could retire home in time to continue with my recuperation.
“Unfortunately for me, the programme commenced rather late, I had been sitting for a considerable period of time and thus, felt weak from the efforts of the medication and my ill health, by the time the national anthem was being observed, which was why I was unable to stand on my feet to observe it.”
“…I immediately apologised through the Regional Minister to the President. After that, even though I was still not feeling well, I did my best to stand on my feet for the opening prayer and subsequently, the second observation of the national anthem at the end of the programme in reverence to the President and all the distinguished guests. This is contrary to the erroneous impression being created in some circles that I sat throughout the programme.
“I wish to assure the president and the good people of Ghana, that I am law abiding citizen of this country and also as a chief, it is incumbent on me at all times to uphold the sovereignty of this nation as enshrined in the national anthem.
“I will like therefore [to state that], but for my temporary incapacitation, I will never refuse to willfully properly observe something as important as the national anthem. I am therefore by this communication, unreservedly apologising, and also encouraging all Ghanaians to exercise restraint with their reactions, especially as directed to the number gentleman of the land.
“The president is the custodian of our sovereignty and thus, it is his duty at all times to be zealous in defending same. I wish to thank all Ghanaians for their concern for our forward march and wish mother Ghana peace and prosperity. May God bless our homeland Ghana and make it great and strong.”
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has released an updated schedule of activities for its presidential and orphan constituency primaries in preparation for the 2024 general elections.
The primary process will conclude with the selection of five final aspirants who will participate in the party’s National Congress on Saturday, 4th November, 2023. In the event of a tie in the candidate election, a runoff will take place on Saturday, 11th November, 2023.
Currently, ten aspirants have obtained nomination forms to compete for the position of flagbearer.
As per the revised timelines outlined in a press release issued by the party on June 12th, several key steps will be followed. This includes the ballot position drawing on Monday, 24th July, 2023, the publication of the first Notice of Poll on Tuesday, 25th July, 2023, and, if necessary, a national congress by a special electoral college on Saturday, 26th August, 2023.
The revision of the primary timelines for both presidential and orphan constituency primaries was approved during an emergency Steering Committee (SC) meeting held on Tuesday, May 30th, 2023. The decision was made following the Electoral Commission’s press release and the party’s preparations for the Assin North by-election.
Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, has appealed to the government to increase its budget allocation to the judicial service to ensure its sustained growth.
In her acceptance speech after being sworn-in as Chief Justice today, June 12, Justice Torkornoo noted that government has made a significant investment towards the growth of the judicial service.
She highlighted the digitalization of court processes as one of the benefits derived from the government’s numerous developmental projects.
However, Justice Torkornoo, stated that despite the achievements chalked, much remains to be done, hence the need for increased investment through a rise in budgetary allocation for the Judiciary.
Parts of her speech read: “As much as the Judiciary appreciates the level of investment being made in yhr physical structures of new courts, we have also taken steps to review all rules of court to enhance their operation and application in digital arenas.
“Your Excellency, it is clear to me as an active player in all the different facets of the reform initiatives we have referred to above, since I joined the Judiciary in 2004, that to speed up the efficiency and effectiveness of our systems, so much more is need for and from the Judiciary than determination and our vowed purpose.
“There is a need to expedite the National digitalization agenda to allow for easier networking of all stakeholders.
“There is a need to increase the budget of the Judiciary to allow us room to expand our infrastructure in the automation and digitalization agenda because undoubtedly, the efficiency of court processes and administration is assured with more deliberate use of technology.”
According to the Chief Justice, only 26 per cent of courts are networked and only 12 per cent of courts have been brought into the bracket of full automation in the operation through digitalization of their processes.
Justice Gertrude Torkornoo lamented the laborious processes some courts in the country continue to practice despite the advancement of technology.
Bemoaning the relatively low acceptance of the digitalization drive in the judicial system, Justice Torkornoo revealed that just 62% of courts in the country use computers while tackling the issue of automation.
This implies that 48% of courts continue to use the” laborious inefficient models of taking evidence in manuscript, and managing administration.”
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has expressed his determination to continue being a dependable and trustworthy partner to the Judiciary.
“I want to assure Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo that just as I did with her predecessor, I will be a dependable and trustworthy partner of the judiciary,” he said.
The President noted that this would ensure that “the Executive and the Judiciary work together in the spirit of mutual respect to consolidate the tenets of good governance for the benefit of the Ghanaian people.”
Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale-North, Alhassan Suhuyini, has supported 50 artisans in his constituency with items including vulganizing machine, industrial sewing machines, welding machines, among others.
The lawmaker donated two brand new motorbikes to some selected persons in the constituency.
He also commissioned an ultra-modern ten-seater public toilet facility for the people of Kalpohini, a community in the Tamale-North Constituency today, Monday, June 12.
According to Mr Suhuyini, he remains resolute in providing the best for his constituents as part of his mandate.
“I have a social contract with my people and they have not failed in doing their part, so I cannot also fail. I will do whatever I can to ensure that my people are made better.”
“My support will cut across for everyone and anyone in the constituency. That is my job and I don’t take it for granted,” he told the media.
Media personality, Bridget Otoo, has gone into an agreement with management of Metro TV to venture into broadcast journalism once again.
The media house is not a new space for Bridget as she joined Metro TV in August 2021 after being off screen for over a year following her departure from TV3.
Not long after joining Metro TV, there were speculations that the journalist had parted ways with the company over political issues.
But the management of Metro TV debunked these rumors, noting that “Our latest addition Bridget Otoo remains a part of the Metro TV family and a happy one as such. Rumours alleging government’s interplay in a supposed dismissal from this august organisation are totally false and should not be heeded.”
“Bridget is happy to be here as are we, having her on board and we look forward to reaching higher heights together,” it added.
The grapevines remained and following this, Bridget had been off screen for about 6 months but the reasons remain unknown.
However, what is substantive is Bridget’s return to Newsnight at 7pm on Metro TV, per close sources.
This is said to be the handwork of management who were able to persuade the journalist to make her return.
On Monday, June 12, an armed group carried out a devastating attack on the LALA camp for displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of Congo, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 40 lives.
Richard Dheda, an official from the local administration of Bahema Badjere in Ituri province, has attributed the killings to the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO) group.
CODECO is one of several militias operating in the conflict-ridden eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The targeted camp is situated just 3 miles away from Bule, where a United Nations peacekeeping base is located. CODECO has a history of targeting displacement camps, and last week, its fighters launched an attack on an army position in the Djukoth area, claiming the lives of at least seven civilians.
Notably, this is not the first time CODECO has inflicted violence on a camp near Bule. In a previous horrific massacre last year, the group reportedly killed around 60 people, marking one of its deadliest assaults.
As the death toll from the attack on the LALA camp is expected to rise, the CODECO leadership has yet to make any public statement regarding the incident.
Abdul Rahman Acquah, a 22-year-old mobile money merchant, is said to have tragically taken his own life in Assin Kruwa, located in the Assin South District.
The incident occurred after he reported the loss of GHS3,500 which went missing.
On Tuesday, June 8, at around 3:00 PM, Abdul Rahman Acquah went missing and extensive searches were conducted within the community and district, but he could not be located despite efforts from officers from the Kakum wildlife division.
Ultimately, the wildlife officers discovered his body in a dense forest. He had hanged himself on a tree using a copper wiring cable.
The police were immediately notified and they arrived at the scene. The body was then transferred to the morgue at Abura Dunkwa Hospital for autopsy and preservation.
The hospital’s initial reports indicated no signs of physical violence on the body. Abdul Rahman Acquah’s uncle, Kwaku Quansah, shared that the deceased had been under pressure as his boss demanded the missing money and threatened to have him arrested.
Mr Quansah suggested that the tragic outcome may have been a result of frustration.
Newly sworn-in Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, has lamented the laborious processes some courts in the country continue to practice despite the advancement of technology.
On Monday, June 12, at the Jubilee House, the Chief Justice noted that the overarching objective, to introduce efficiency and effectiveness into case management with strategic options that allowed courts to be assiduous with adjudication has been compromised.
Bemoaning the relatively low acceptance of the digitalization drive in the judicial system, Justice Torkornoo revealed that just 62% of courts in the country use computers while tackling the issue of automation.
This implies that 48% of courts continue to use the” laborious inefficient models of taking evidence in manuscript, and managing administration.”
“After two decades of tackling the issue of automation, only 62 per cent of courts use computers as part of their work. And computerization is only the first level of automation of court processes.
“After acquiring electronic devices to capture records of court, the registry and offices of stakeholders must be networked in order to allow for the next level of automation.
“This is the national burden and we are slowed down by any sluggishness in the nation’s digitalization drive,” she said in her acceptance speech as Chief Justice.
For Justice Torkornoo, this is far from worrying as the automation of courts has morphed into the digitalization of court processes that allow for electronic filing, electronic case distribution, creation of electronic dockets and the conduct of virtual trials for over two decades ago.
Meanwhile, only 26 per cent of courts are networked and only 12 per cent of courts have been brought into the bracket of full automation in the operation through digitalization of their processes, according to the Chief Justice.
President Akufo-Addo is administering the oath of office to Justice Gertrude Araba Essaba Torkornoo as the new Chief Justice of Ghana.
Justice Torkornoo assumes the position following the retirement of Justice Kwesi Anin Yeboah in May. She received parliamentary approval on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
Notably, this appointment marks President Akufo-Addo’s third selection for the Office of Chief Justice since assuming office in January 2017.
Alphonso Davies, the Bayern Munich defender, has revealed that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) approached him to represent Ghana, but the contact occurred too late for him to consider the offer.
Although born in Ghana to Liberian parents, Davies had the option to play for either Ghana or Liberia. However, after obtaining Canadian citizenship in June 2017, he chose to play for Canada.
Davies expressed that despite his involvement in football for some time, he was never considered by Ghana because he wasn’t a prominent figure in the sport. It was only after his notable transfer move that Ghana made an attempt to approach him.
He stated that there was indeed an Instagram contact from the Ghana FA at some point, but the timing of the approach was too late for him to reconsider his decision to represent Canada.
“Ghana never reached out and also my mum was like, no [to the idea of me playing for Ghana],” he said when quizzed whether was an option to play for the country of his birth.
“I was playing like not even like the academy they never like said [anything about wanting me] I wasn’t a big name. When the news came out that I was going to Bayern, then I got a message from the Ghana federation.
“I think it was someone on the federation he texted me on Instagram because he didn’t have my number or email. But it was too late, at that time I had already got my citizenship and already made it to [represent] Canada.”
Alphonso Davies reveals he was approached to play for the Black Stars via Instagram but the message came too late. #Joysportspic.twitter.com/tpnDN43Xn9
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has finally addressed the contentious issue of ending the fuel subsidy.
He broke his silence on the matter, which he initially announced as “gone” during his inauguration two weeks ago. The decision resulted in a rapid increase in petrol prices.
Speaking on Nigeria’s Democracy Day holiday, President Tinubu empathetically stated, “I feel your pain,” acknowledging the concerns of the citizens regarding the removal of the fuel subsidy.
In exchange for the ending of the subsidy, Tinubu promised that he would repay Nigerians “through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives”.
But he said that sacrifices must be made: “This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements.”
The sudden announcement of the end of the fuel subsidy during President Bola Tinubu’s initial moments in power came as a surprise to many, despite expectations for its eventual termination.
For a significant number of Nigerians, the subsidy had been viewed as one of the few benefits provided by the state. However, it also placed a substantial burden on public finances, prompting the need for its cessation.
The occasion of Democracy Day holds special significance as it commemorates Chief Moshood Abiola, who was presumed to be the winner of the 1993 presidential election held on June 12. Regrettably, the military annulled the election, and this day serves as a tribute to his memory.
President Akufo-Addo is set to administer the oath of office to Justice Gertrude Araba Essaba Torkornoo as the new Chief Justice of Ghana.
Justice Torkornoo assumes the position following the retirement of Justice Kwesi Anin Yeboah in May.
She is expected to be sworn in at the Jubilee House.
After receiving parliamentary approval on Wednesday, June 7, following concerns by the NDC MPs on the Appointments Committee, Justice Torkornoo is now set to take on the role.
Notably, this appointment marks President Akufo-Addo’s third selection for the Office of Chief Justice since assuming office in January 2017.
Profile of Justice Torkornoo
Full name: JUSTICE GERTRUDE ARABA ESAABA SACKEY TORKORNOO
Supreme Court, Judicial Service of Ghana
Date of Birth – 11th September 1962.
Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo (Mrs) joined the Judicial Service in 2004 as one of the first Justices of the Commercial Division of the High Court. She has been active in the core reform agenda and activities of the Judiciary and the Judicial Service of Ghana (JSG) since 2005.
The organs through which these reforms have been implemented have included the specialized divisions of the High Court, the Judicial Training Institute, administrative committees set up to ensure the implementation of the automation and digitalization of court work and administration of JSG, the streamlining of alternative dispute settlement mechanisms in justice delivery, and communication channels between the Judiciary and its stakeholders.
Leadership Profile
The leadership roles Justice Sackey Torkornoo has played in ensuring the achievement of judicial reforms include being vice chair of the E-Justice Oversight and Implementation Committee (E-Justice OC) from its inception in 2019 and chair of the E-Justice OC since August 2021.
She has served as a member of the faculty and Governing Board of the Judicial Training Institute, vice chair of the Internship and Clerkship Committee of the Judiciary since 2012, Supervising Judge of the Commercial Division of the High Court since 2013, member and chair of the E-Judgment Committee since 2010, member and chair of the Publications and Editorial Committee of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana since 2006, and member and chair of various ad-hoc committees needed for the smooth administration of the work of JSG.
Justice Sackey Torkornoo has served as a judicial leader in the development and oversight of several reform projects of the Judiciary involving the European Union, USAID, DFID, and collaborations with other African countries. She has also been a member of the Law Reform Commission since 2016.
E-JUSTICE Oversight and Implementation Committee
The leadership requirements of this Committee include liaising with all external stakeholders in the provision and sustainability of the infrastructure of the E-Justice, setting up and overseeing the activities of all staff, Judges and committees involved in managing the infrastructure, ensuring cultural change from the use of manual systems to operating in the virtual realm and planning for the progressive achievement of electronic justice delivery nationwide.
Currently, her work as chair of E-Justice includes ensuring the streamlining into efficiency, the use of the Ghana Case Tracking system commenced as part of the Security Governance Initiative implemented by the Judicial Service of Ghana, Ghana Police Service, Economic and Organised Crimes Office, Ghana Prisons Service, National Signals Bureau, and Ministry of Justice and Office of the Attorney General. This work is being supervised by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization.
The E-Justice Oversight Committee has also conducted a close examination of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules CI 47, the District Court Civil Procedure Rules CI 59, and the Criminal and Other Offences Act Act 29 to ensure that all rules that govern judicial proceedings allow for easy implementation of E-Justice. The outcomes of that work will be presented to both the Rules of Court Committee for statutory reforms, and to the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization for incorporation into the scope of works for the next phase of E-Justice deployment.
Supervision of the Commercial Division of High Court
As Supervising Judge of commercial courts since 2013, Justice Sackey Torkornoo has set the agenda for and chaired the meetings and programs of the Users Committee of the Commercial Courts. She has quietly ensured the sustenance of a keen culture of efficiency in the commercial division of the High Court nationwide through leadership initiatives such as ‘brown bag learning sessions’ for Judges of the court, consistent meetings with staff and leadership of the court, engagements with external service operators such as process servers, valuers, auctioneers and the Users Committee of the court and presentation of policy briefs to Chief Justices on needed reforms in commercial justice delivery as well as the administrative needs of the court.
Justice Sackey Torkornoo presided over the implementation of the Business Environment Engineering Project (BEEP) funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom.
Her leadership directions in that project ignited and provided the Ministry of Trade and Industry with guidance on the introduction of Users Committees into other institutions that participated in the BEEP project. The BEEP project further influenced the active development of the Business Environment Reforms being streamlined into national institutions by the MOTI.
She serves as chair of the Technical Working Group on ‘Enforcing Contracts’ set up to steer change in the business law environment. Outcomes of the work of the BEEP project within the Judiciary included the design of necessary reforms in the monitoring and evaluation of data collection currently being implemented by the Judiciary, the design of necessary reforms in the post-judgment and execution part of justice delivery, and reforms in streamlining of ADR in commercial justice delivery in Circuit and High Courts that led to the passage of High Court (Civil Procedure) Amendment Rules 2020, CI 133.
Judicial Training
As part of the faculty of the Judicial Training Institute since 2005 and a board member of the JTI since 2018, Justice Sackey Torkornoo has actively participated in initiatives to enhance the learning of Judges through awareness of distinctions between judicial skills, the social context of judicial work and core black letter law. This work has included being a trainer of trainers, the development of a curriculum for teaching Judicial Ethics, a manual for training in Judicial Ethics, and the lacing of applications of ethical principles into the daily routines of Judges. Through being a constant trainer in Judicial Ethics, she has worked to motivate Judges to aspire to excellence through the development of research and writing skills, case and courtroom management, as well as the application of judicial ethics in their work and private lives.
Learning Resources
After assuming the chair of the Editorial Committee for the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana in 2009, Justice Sackey Torkornoo led the publication of an annual magazine for Judges, ensuring that issues pertinent to the development of competence in the judicial career and the discharge of the Judiciary’s constitutional mandate were brought to the fore in this magazine. She has also chaired the E-Judgment Committee responsible for developing electronic research resources for Judges since 2012 and has achieved the current creation of an e-judgment research resource with key-word search-ability properties for Judges.
In her work as vice chair of the Internship and Clerkship Program, Justice Sackey Torkornoo has actively participated in the smooth administration of the internship and clerkship program run jointly with law faculties, law firms, the Judiciary, the Ghana Bar Association and the Ghana School of Law since 2012.
Awards
In 2010, Justice Sackey Torkornoo became the first awardee of a scholarship by the International Association of Women Judges, after a global selection process. She undertook and excelled in an LLM in Intellectual Property, International Law and Internet Law at the Golden Gate University, San Francisco where her thesis on reforming Ghana’s Copyright Law relating to Folklore and Art was published as the lead article in the University’s Annual Survey on Comparative and International Law.
In 2015, she was awarded the Women of Excellence Award in Judicial Integrity under the auspices of the Ministry for Gender, Children and Social Protection.
While not compromising on the quality of her courtroom work and judgment writing, Justice Sackey Torkornoo has become noted for excellence in administrative leadership, continuing study, teaching, writing, and the judicial ethics of competence, diligence and integrity. She has served under and worked closely with four Chief Justices namely Chief Justice George Kingsley Acquah (decd), Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood (Rtd), Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo (Rtd) and Chief Justice Anin Yeboah.
She was promoted to the Court of Appeal in October 2012 and to the Supreme Court in December 2019.
CURRICULUM VITAE
JUDICIAL WORK
Dec 2019 – date: Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, with responsibility for constitutional cases, final appeals over chieftaincy cases, supervisory jurisdiction over superior courts, final appellate jurisdiction in the judicial hierarchy, and presidential election petitions. Panel member in the 2021 presidential election petition.
OCT 2012 – APRIL 2019: Justice of Court of Appeal, Ghana with responsibility for hearing and determining appeals from High Courts. Sat on the court of appeal panels in Kumasi (Oct 2015- July 2017), and Tamale (Oct 2017 to December 2019).
Averaging two judgments a month, she assisted with and wrote more than 180 well-researched appellate judgments on substantive law, legal philosophies, rules of procedure & equity, delivered with a focus on doing substantial justice and avoiding miscarriage of justice.
MAY 2004 – OCT 2012: Justice of High Court, Ghana and Judge / Neutral with responsibility for court-assisted mediation & negotiation in pre-trial settlement conferences.
During the period, she wrote more than 150 well-researched judgments delivered after the adjudication of commercial disputes; and more than 350 disputes were resolved and un-appealable decisions were recorded after mediated settlements.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT WORK IN THE JUDICIARY
Chair, E-Justice Committee – Leading the planning of automation of all levels of courts, procurement and incorporation of the use of electronic resources and software in the work of Judicial Service
Supervising Judge – With oversight responsibility for the smooth running of Commercial Divisions of High Courts since 2013.
Chair, ‘Enforcing Contracts’ Subgroup of the Business Regulatory Reform Program – A program for designing and implementing interventions to ensure efficient enforcement of contracts with funds from the World Bank and executed under the auspices of the Ministry for Trade and Industry.
Chair, The Business Environment Enablement Program – Multimillion pound sterling project for reforming commercial justice delivery implemented by the Judiciary with funds from DFID, United Kingdom between 2015 and 2020.
Chair, E-Judgment Committee – Planning and implementation of electronic library resources for the Judiciary and Judicial Officers since 2015.
Vice-Chair – Internship and Clerkship Program for the Judiciary.
Faculty Member – Judicial Training Institute – facilitating learning in Judicial Ethics, Judgment Writing, Case Management, Courtroom Communication, and Commercial Law.
Member – Governing Board of Judicial Training Institute – Responsible for planning and monitoring training programs and learning resources for the Judiciary and Judicial Service staff.
Member, Editorial Committee of Association of Magistrates & Judges of Ghana – Responsible for leading the publication of Journals, Newsletters & Magazines for the Judicial Service and the Judiciary.
Member – Committee responsible for the development of the Judicial Charter and other written resources for the Judiciary.
Chaired interview panels for the engagement of senior officers of the Judicial Service.
Chaired various committees for procurement of equipment and construction services for the Judicial Service.
PRE-JUDICIARY WORK EXPERIENCE
1997-2004 Managing Partner, Sozo Law Consult – Law Firm providing consultancy services for business ventures, project planning and supervision, advocacy in litigation, arbitration and negotiations;
Chief Executive of SLC Law Forum – A Publishing, Training & Research Support Service for Business Law (subsidiary of Sozo Law Consult). Organized several training programs in Commercial Law topics and legal skills such as negotiation of project contracts for the business community. Undertook consultancy services for the Business Law Division of the Ministry of Justice. Led the publication of A Handbook on Business Law, and the annual publication of Legislative Watch;
1994-1996 – Director, Fugar & Co, Accra Responsible for assisting with the management of the law firm and its project initiatives while continuing to work as solicitor and barrister
1987-1994 – Associate, Fugar & Co, Accra
Working as Solicitor engaged in the negotiation & drafting of commercial agreements, project documentation; company secretarial services; Barrister assisting with or leading litigation in all levels of courts.
During this period, she also worked as:
External Solicitor for City of Tema – Giving legal advice on Administrative Law issues for the Tema Municipal Assembly; commencing and defending legal actions against TMA; leading the negotiation of development projects for the municipality.
Facilitator in Construction Law and Project Management Training Programs for the Ministry of Roads & Highways, Ghana Institute of Engineers, Ghana Institution of Architects, Ghana Institute of Construction.
Awards:
1989 – Received award from the International Bar Association for the top essay in a global essay competition on international law considerations in project contracts organized to assist with increasing knowledge of lawyers in construction and project contracts. The prize included cash and working in the Construction Law Department of Nabarro Nathanson, a top 20 law firm in London, UK
Academic Research, Articles, Publications
‘The Doctrine of Sovereignty in International relations v. The doctrine of Sanctity of Contracts – The case of renegotiating the Ghana Valco Agreement’.
International Business Lawyer Dec 1989
‘Human Rights, Indigenous Rights, Minority Rights, Looking at the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through the lens of tribal groups in Ghana’.
Research Paper on International Human Rights submitted as part of an LLM Requirement; Golden Gate University 2011.
‘Nuremberg, Congo, and Libya, Has Might Remained Right Or Right has become Might; A Look at the International Commitment to peaceful resolution of Conflicts.
Research Paper on Peaceful Settlement of Disputes Between Nations submitted as part of an LLM Requirement; Golden Gate University 2011.
‘Fitting Square Pegs in Round Holes – The Vexed Question Of Harmonizing International Legal Regulation Of Traditional Cultural Expressions in Intellectual Property Law’
Research Paper presented at Fulbright Symposium on International Law Developments, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, 2011
Creating Capital from Culture, Rethinking the Provisions on Expressions of Folklore in Ghana’s Copyright Law
Volume XV111, Spring 2012; Annual Survey of International & Comparative Law, Golden Gate University School of Law
Considerations (Non-Considerations) of International Law in Domestic Decisions of the Superior Courts In Ghana
Judicial Journal, 2014
‘The Case for Prioritization of Commercial Justice Reforms in Africa: Lessons from Ghana’ –
Paper delivered at Conference on Administration of Commercial Justice in Africa – Arusha, TANZANIA, September 2007
‘A review of Remedies in Intellectual Property Cases under Civil Procedure Rules 2004 CI 47’ –
Presented at Conference on ‘Reviewing the Scope of Intellectual Property laws in Ghana’ – WIPO/Judicial Service of Ghana, June 2008
Judicial Ethics Training Manual (Chief Editor), 2009
‘Can we thrive in a virtual world’
Presented at ‘2022 Bench/Bar/Faculty Lectures in Ghana April 2022
Several articles on the tension between interest rates and debt sustainability, other commercial law subjects, judicial ethics and leadership published in the Judicial Journal (now The Bench) between 2009 and 2022
EDUCATION
2010-11 – LLM, Intellectual Property Law – Golden Gate University San Francisco, USA
2001 – P.G.Dip, International Law & Organizations for Development, Institute of Social Studies (now part of Erasmus University), The Hague, Netherlands
1986 – Professional Certificate in Law, Ghana School of Law
1984 – BA- Law & Sociology, University of Ghana
1980 – GCE A Level, Achimota School, Accra
1978 – GCE O Level, Wesley Girls’ High School, Cape Coast
Other Trainings and Presentations
2022 Technology and the Courts – Singapore
2022 Navigating Presidential Petitions, the Law and Remedies. (Seminar organized in preparation for the 2022 Kenyan elections) Mombasa, Kenya
2018 Ghana’s Strategic Plan In Combatting Pharmaceutical Crimes – West Africa Regional Training Center of US Embassy, Accra
2017 Trends in Intellectual Property Litigation – WIPO, Geneva
Commercial Justice and Legal Ethics – Law Society of Zimbabwe
2016 Managing Electoral Petitions -Judicial Training Institute, Ghana
2010 Auditing Systems of Justice Delivery – Malawi
2008 a. Diplomatic Immunity
Judicial Case Management – Judicial Training Institute, Ghana
2007 a. Judicial Ethics
Labor Law Access to Justice – Judicial Training Institute, Ghana
2007 Facilitating Judicial Education–National Judicial Inst, Canada in collaboration with Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute, Ottawa, Canada
Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights -Global Intellectual Property Academy, Virginia, USA
2006 a. Mining Law – Environmental Protection Agency
Electoral Laws – Judicial Training Institute
2005 a. Finance and Accounting for Judges – Judicial Training Institute
2005 b. Fighting Counterfeit Medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
Mediation and Arbitration, International Law Institute Washington
2004 a. Legal Integration in West & Central Africa – The OHADA module, Dakar, Senegal
Development of Commercial Courts- RIPA International, UK
2003 Program for Advanced Leadership, Haggai Institute, Hawaii
2000 Legal Issues in Structuring Public Private Partnership Projects – Institute of Public Private Partnerships, Washington, DC
1998 Alternative Dispute Resolution’; University of Ghana, LECIA
1997 ADR & Conflict Management; University of Ghana, LECIA
1995 International Construction Contracts; The Study Group, Oxford, UK
OTHER INTERESTS
Writing Poetry, Plays and Fiction, Evangelism
Books and Plays
Gertrude Torkornoo (Ed.) ‘Business in Ghana – A handbook on laws and regulations’ 1st Edition – 2000; 2nd Edition – 2003 (Published by SLC Law Forum)
Gertrude Torkornoo (Ed) ‘Legislative Watch’ (A research tool on the laws amended, reviewed and newly passed in Ghana) – From 1997 (Updated annually until 2002; now being developed as an electronic resource) (Published by SLC Law Forum)
Gertrude Torkornoo 2010, ‘The Child and the Rainbow’ – Anthology of Poetry printed by Combert Impressions
Gertrude Torkornoo 2010, ‘The Wise Still Hear the Birds’ – Anthology of Poetry printed by Combert Impressions
Plays – Blood & Roses (2016); The Richest King (2017); A Day For Rain (2018) (Written for Radio)
Memberships
2018 – present: Member, Governing Council, Central University 2016 – present: Member, Law Reform Commission of Ghana 2016 – present: Fellow, Ghana Institute of Construction 2010 – present: Member, International Association of Women Judges 2007 – present: Fellow, Commonwealth Judicial Educators Institute, Canada 2005 – present: Faculty member, Haggai Institute for Advanced Leadership, Singapore/Thailand and Hawaii, USA 2004 – present: Member, Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana 1992 – present: Executive Board Member, Aglow Fellowship International, Tema 1991 – Council Member, Theovision International
Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo is married to Mr. Francis Torkornoo, a Pharmacist, and has four daughters and three grandchildren.
On Sunday night, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni took to Twitter to confirm that he was still self-isolating, countering rumors circulating that he had succumbed to COVID-19.
After testing positive for the virus on June 7, President Museveni announced on the following day that he would be taking a period of “forced leave” to focus on his recovery.
“Greetings. It is now day five of my corona-status. Last night, I slept very well up to the 10th hour of the night (saa kumi za usiku – what the Europeans call 4am)”, the Ugandan leader said in a long Twitter post.
In an effort to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, President Yoweri Museveni urged the people of Uganda, particularly the elderly, to get vaccinated against the virus and also consider receiving booster shots.
Ugandans and, especially the Bazzukulu.
Greetings. It is now day 5 of my corona-status. Last night, I slept very well up to the 10th hour of the night (saa kumi za usiku –what the Europeans call 4am). This time, the dull headache was not there, nor was the mild throbbing… pic.twitter.com/Zikr4WjBbm
However, rumors circulating on Twitter in recent days falsely claimed that President Museveni had been moved to intensive care and subsequently passed away due to complications from COVID-19. These rumors are unfounded and should be disregarded.
While the World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared that COVID-19 no longer posed a global health emergency, it cautioned that the virus would continue to undergo mutations.
This emphasizes the importance of continued vigilance and adherence to preventive measures, including vaccination, to mitigate the spread and impact of the virus.
Vice President Dr. Bawumia has indicated the Gold for Oil policy which has contributed to exchange rate stability is projected to save the country approximately $4.8 billion annually.
Speaking at the 2023 energy sector retreat, the Vice President made the projection.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh who was also present emphasized that the Ministry of Energy’s diligent monitoring of every aspect of the Gold for Oil value chain to ensure that the program’s objectives are successfully achieved without compromise.
Both leaders have assured that the government is fully committed to ensuring Ghana reaps maximum advantages from the program.
The Gold for Oil policy has been credited as one of the measures that have led to stable fuel prices.
The Head of Financial Markets at the Bank of Ghana, Steven Opata, said the government’s policy had resulted in increased competition among traders of refined petroleum products, leading to reductions in prices at the pumps.
As a result of the implementation of the policy, petroleum prices, which hovered averagely at GH¢15 in January 2023, now sells at about GH¢12 on the average and are expected to further go down in the coming months.
As of May 29, 2023, the price of gasoline in Ghana was GH¢13.2 per litre, roughly $1.19, indicating a decrease from the prices in December 2022 .
The implementation of the Gold for Oil programme commenced with the arrival of the first consignment of about 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel on January 15, 2023, valued at about $40 million.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) in a statement said the prime objective of the programme is to use additional foreign exchange resources from the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase programme to provide foreign currency for the importation of petroleum products for the country which currently stands at about $350 million per month.
Payment for oil supply is to be done in two channels: by way of barter trade where gold is exchanged for oil or via broker channel where the gold is converted into cash and paid to the supplier.
The first consignment of 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel constitutes about 10 percent of the country’s combined monthly demand for petrol and diesel.
According to the NPA, the plan is to gradually increase imports under the programme to constitute about 50 per cent of the country’s total demand for petrol and diesel.
The implementation of the programme will ease pressure on the dollar (the currency used for the importation of petroleum products) and avoid the occasional increases in petroleum prices resulting from the depreciation of the cedi against the dollar.
In addition, the programme will ensure that the cost of importing the products from international oil traders will be comparatively cheaper.
Silvio Berlusconi, the former Prime Minister of Italy, known for his ability to rebound from sex scandals and corruption allegations, has passed away at the age of 86.
According to Italian media, Berlusconi died at Milan’s San Raffaele hospital. In April, he had received treatment for a lung infection associated with a previously undisclosed case of chronic leukemia.
Berlusconi, a charismatic billionaire media mogul, initially assumed office in 1994 and served as the head of four governments until 2011.
He led the center-right Forza Italia party, which later formed a coalition with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni following the September elections. During these elections, Berlusconi himself was elected to Italy’s upper house, the Senate.
Berlusconi’s political career was marked by controversies and legal battles, but he remained a prominent figure in Italian politics for several decades. His passing marks the end of an era in Italian politics, leaving behind a complex and influential legacy.
Political Scientist and lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has criticised the work of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over its investigations into corruption and corruption-related activities on illegal mining.
Over the weekend, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, noted that the OSP cannot treat any individual accused of engaged in corrupt activities as saints as it would derail its fight against corruption.
He explained that “in consecrating your saint and heroes, mind you, I am your conscience, I’m the spirit of the nation and the office stands for that.
“In the estimation of the office, there are no saints, there are no heroes. Now if I approach this job of fighting corruption, that there are some persons in the society who have attained the status of sainthood, we will lose the fight against corruption,” he told Samson Lardi Anyenini, host of JoyNews’ Newsfile last Saturday.
In response, Professor Gyampo in a Facebook post today noted that Mr Kissi Agyebeng’s comments are not founded in law as it is the principle that “all are innocent or ‘consecrated saints’ until proven guilty.”
“So, where from this new alien legal maxim being propounded and must we allow Kissi Agyabeng to impose it on us as a people?” he therefore quizzed.
The Newsfile show mostly centered on the recent arrest of Professor Frimpong Boateng, the former Chair of Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) and former Environment Minister and the work of the OSP in capturing individuals engaged in galamsey, also known as illegal mining.
The lecturer also took a swipe at the Special Prosecutor for noting that despite the good works of Professor Frimpong-Boateng, he was apprehended in a manner that is not befitting, particularly when no charge was levelled against him.
The Special Prosecutor said “I respect the credentials of the Professor, and I doff my hat to him. You know me very well and I am an academician as well so I respect such people on all scores.”
“I mean the CV is unbelievable, I respect that and I applaud him for that but I have a charge to keep. The charge I have to keep is to the Republic of Ghana and to the public,” he added.
In reaction, Prof Gyampo stated “Even though he admits and applauds the achievements and contributions of Prof Frimpong Boateng to Ghana, some of his comments surreptitiously rubbish such heroic contributions. We must guillotine this attitude of ingratitude and prevent it from festering, or else no one will die for Ghana like the Special Prosecutor wants us to believe he’s currently doing, but which I honestly doubt.”
Find the full statement by Prof Ransford Gyampo below:
I have been pondering over the responses of the Special Prosecutor on Newsfile over the weekend. Though I initially thought the interview brought out some useful information, reflecting on the responses again in more sobriety, makes me a bit worried. Kissi Agyabeng says he doesn’t consecrate saints, and that he is the conscience and soul of Ghana. Not consecrating saints can be interpreted to mean every suspect is a criminal ab initio. But in his own law that he studied, there is a principle that all are innocent or “consecrated saints” until proven guilty. So, where from this new alien legal maxim being propounded and must we allow Kissi Agyabeng to impose it on us as a people?
Even though he admits and applauds the achievements and contributions of Prof Frimpong Boateng to Ghana, some of his comments surreptitiously rubbish such heroic contributions. We must guillotine this attitude of ingratitude and prevent it from festering, or else no one will die for Ghana like the Special Prosecutor wants us to believe he’s currently doing, but which I honestly doubt.
Kissi’s claim that he, an individual, and a mortal human being, who isn’t a saint himself, is the conscience and soul of Ghana, sounds religiously and politically blasphemous and problematic, as he suddenly attempts to play God in Ghana. Per his own enabling act, he walks in the shadows of the Attorney General who is a partisan appointee. He can be directed and dictated to, by the Attorney General in the conduct of his work.
Such a dependent Special Prosecutor, cannot arrogate to himself the role of an Independent Public Prosecutor. You cannot walk in the shadows of a partisan appointee and still describe yourself as the conscience and soul of the nation. Even the Citizen Vigilante, Martin Amidu, in spite of all that he did prior to his appointment and during his appointment as Special Prosecutor, never described himself as the conscience and soul of the nation.
It may be possible for someone or an institution to emerge one day, as the soul and conscience of the nation. But even if this may be possible, trust for such institutions created by partisan executive presidents in Ghana can only be built over time, not at once, as aptly argued by Kofi Bentil on Newsfile over the weekend.
If politicians have succeeded in bastardising and making even constitutionally created independent institutions nearly dependent, even to the point of ordering their staff to submit their CVs to them for scrutiny, then Kissi Agyabeng cannot force Ghanaians to trust him all of a sudden as being independent.
Back in school, he wasn’t a tough person. But of course, he may have built his psyche and grown to become a strong-willed person over the years, and this may be a positive attribute required to head the office he occupies. But granted this, mere talk, and display of a certain body language (that I do not want to describe as arrogance), cannot suddenly force all Ghanaians to believe that the Special Prosecutor is independent.
Let him truly go after all who are culpable in this galamsey menace; let him look into the faces of his friends and political appointees and refuse to favour them in his quest to help the fight against galamsey; and let him do these over a period of time, and he will surely win the hearts of all Ghanaians.
Yaw Gyampo A31, Prabiw PAV Ansah Street Saltpond & Suro Nipa House Kubease Larteh-Akuapim
A tragic incident occurred in the renowned Hunter Valley wine region of Australia, where a wedding bus crash claimed the lives of at least 10 individuals, with an additional 25 individuals currently receiving medical treatment in hospitals.
The passengers, who had attended a wedding ceremony at a local winery, were on their way back when the unfortunate accident transpired, causing the bus to overturn.
Law enforcement authorities have taken action by pressing charges against the 58-year-old bus driver, accusing them of 10 counts of dangerous driving leading to fatalities. Authorities are still in the process of positively identifying the deceased victims.
Fortunately, the newly-wedded couple was not aboard the ill-fated bus during the incident.
Police commissioner Karen Webb said the site of the crash is “still an active crime scene”. “We’ve got forensics officers processing the crime scene, we’ve got crash investigation unit officers, we’ve got rescue officers [on scene],” she added.
Tragedy struck at approximately 23:30 local time [13:30 GMT] as heavy fog engulfed the area, resulting in a devastating accident. According to the police, the incident occurred when the wedding bus attempted to negotiate a turn at a roundabout off a highway in Hunter Valley. The bus rolled over due to the circumstances, causing significant damage. Authorities have successfully managed to upright the vehicle.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman of the NSW Police revealed that the passengers were en route to Singleton, presumably heading towards their accommodations. Among the survivors, two individuals required emergency airlifts from the crash site. Reports from local media suggest that one of the survivors remains in critical condition, underscoring the severity of the incident.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it is “so cruel, so sad and so unfair” for a “joyous day in a beautiful place like that to end with such terrible loss of life”.
“People hire a bus for weddings in order to keep their guests safe, and that just adds to the unimaginable nature of this tragedy,” he said at a press conference in Canberra.
Mr Albanese said some of the injured passengers are at John Hunter Hospital, but many have been flown to Sydney.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the loss of so many lives was “nothing short of heartbreaking”, adding: “For this horrific crash to have occurred on a day that should have been filled with love and happiness only adds to the heartbreak.”
“For a day of joy to end in such devastating loss is cruel indeed. Our thoughts are also with those who have been injured,” he said.
Hunter Valley in New South Wales is known for its vineyards and native bushland, making it a popular spot for wine lovers and group outings or celebrations.
A guest at the wedding said the day had been a “fairy tale” until news of the accident broke.
“We all started panicking,” he told 7 News.
Police said they are still working to identify the crash victims and contact their next of kin.
“Family and friends of a person who may have been on board the bus are urged to contact Cessnock Police Station,” they said in a statement.
The governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, has been arrested by authorities shortly after being suspended from his position by the country’s new president, Bola Tinubu.
The Nigerian secret police confirmed Emefiele’s custody, stating it was for “investigative reasons,” although no further details were provided.
Emefiele had served as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria for nine years, overseeing the monetary policy affairs of Africa’s largest economy and most populous country.
However, following his suspension by President Tinubu on Friday night, his tenure was abruptly halted.
Emefiele’s suspension “is sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy,” according to a statement from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, a deputy governor at the bank, immediately took over as acting governor.
The arrest of Emefiele concludes several months of investigation into his position by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), which previously attempted to arrest him in December but was denied by a local court. The secret police had accused him of terrorism financing and economic crimes; however, a judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support these allegations. It remains unclear if any new findings have emerged from the ongoing investigation.
Financial analysts noted that Emefiele’s removal from office did not come as a surprise, citing certain controversial policies he implemented in recent months. These policies included the bank’s currency swap program and its decision to engage in continuous money printing and lending to the Nigerian government. Abiola Gbemisola, a financial analyst based in Lagos, highlighted these policies as contributing factors to the perceived controversy surrounding Emefiele’s tenure.
“The central bank governor was very powerful” in office, Gbemisola said.
“I wasn’t expecting him to stay under the new administration, especially given the fact that he was not so kind in his policies leading up to the (February presidential) election. Rather than focusing on reducing inflation, he contributed to Nigeria’s high inflation by giving money to the federal government, printing money essentially to give loans,” added Gbemisola.
Under Emefiele, Nigeria’s economy struggled with a weakened currency caused by the foreign exchange crisis as well as a surging inflation rate, which was at a near-two-decade high of 22.2% in April.
The bank’s move to replace the local naira currency with newly designed ones caused economic hardship for so many Nigerians that it affected the turnout in the February election while authorities were forced to reintroduce the old bank notes being replaced.
“The fact that he has been removed is a positive thing for the (financial) market and we can now expect to see something different,” Gbemisola said.
Iga Swiatek faced her toughest challenge in a grand slam final yet, but ultimately emerged victorious to secure her third French Open title.
The Polish tennis player showcased her resilience as she overcame a strong comeback from Karolina Muchova, ultimately winning the match 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. This triumph marked Swiatek’s third championship win in Paris and her fourth overall grand slam title.
In other tennis news, there were notable achievements for British players as Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid claimed success in the men’s wheelchair doubles, while Andy Lapthorne emerged victorious in the quad wheelchair doubles.
Seventeen-year-old Tokito Oda defeated Hewett 6-1 6-4 to win the men’s wheelchair singles title.
The junior titles were decided on Saturday, with 15-year-old Russian Alina Korneeva making it back-to-back grand slam successes, while Croatian Dino Prizmic ended his junior career with his first slam trophy.
Novak Djokovic bids for sporting immortality in the men’s singles final on Sunday.
The 36-year-old will aim to become the first man ever to win 23 grand slam singles titles, while he would also be the first man to win all the majors at least three times.
Standing in his way is Norwegian Casper Ruud, who is going for a first slam crown in his third final.
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has noted that he is not on a settling score spree.
According to Mr Kissi Agyebeng, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP)is not a weapon used for settling scores either for himself or others.
“The OSP, at least since I have been in charge of it is not a weapon for settling scores. The OSP does not settle scores,” he said in an interview on JoyNews on Saturday.
“No, you think no one offended me before I became a Special Prosecutor? Why then don’t I use my power and go back and start making the list of all the people who crossed me or the people who fell out of favour with me and start going after them? This is not how we conduct business. The Attorney General is a friend of mine but that doesn’t mean I am going to settle scores for any named individual but if you have your fight with someone in court, that is your kettle of fish,” he added.
He, therefore, described as “preposterous” comments that he is using his office to settle scores for some people by going after the former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, Prof Frimpong-Boateng.
According to him, “it was because of such suggestions, I characterised the timing as a ‘luck-less coincidence.”
Mr Agyebeng’s comments come after a section of the public accused the Special Prosecutor of trying to use the former minister as a scapegoat over his leaked report on illegal mining.
In the 36-page report, Mr Boateng cited top officials engaged in illegal mining as well as persons hindering his fight against the canker.
Mr Agyebeng stated that had he invited Prof Boateng first on his list or waited to invite him in December 2023, there would not be such talks.
He noted that the government of the day cannot instruct him to go after people to embarrass them, adding that no one has tried to do that before.
According to him, he does not fear political interference because no one will dare it with him.
He, however, stated that what he feared was the likely interference of chiefs and religious leaders.
With a mix of astonishment and sheer joy, the 3-member team from Goka Senior High and Technical School has secured a place in the national championship of the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), marking their school’s return after 30 long years.
Against the odds, they narrowly clinched the final spot alongside Methodist SHTS-Berekum, Nafana SHS, Sunyani SHS, and Notre Dame Girls, to represent the Bono region in the prestigious 2023 NSMQ.
Despite being written off by their peers, the Goka SHS team remained determined to succeed, determined to end their school’s three-decade absence from the national championships.
“Our friends never believed us. They told us we were just coming to fail. But we had to press on,” one of the contestants said.
The team travelled all the way from Jaman North to Bono’s capital, Sunyani in a public transport as their school has no functional bus.
With fewer preparatory materials but two committed teachers to cheer the three students on, they beat their contenders by a slim margin.
“I was surprised when we won. I thought we were second rather. I just couldn’t believe it,” the female contestant on the team said.
They won with 22 points, one point ahead of their closest contender, Koase SHS, followed keenly by Dormaa SHS with 20 points, while Berekum Presby SHS managed only 14 points.
Displaying prowess and finesse, Notre Dame Girls’ SHS proved their dominance over their competitors, winning their contest by a 20-point margin.
They slugged it out with Sumaman SHS, Twene Amanfo SHS, and Diamono SHS for a place in the national championship.
They say they are in an unstoppable motion to win the trophy this year.
“Our molecules are moving fast. This year the other schools’ collusion won’t be effective. We are coming for the trophy,” one of the students said.
Meanwhile, Nafana SHS ended their 4-year drought of qualifying for the national stage after beating Berekum SHS in a tie-breaker.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has cautioned the public against the practice of keeping gas cylinders indoors, emphasizing the extreme danger associated with this behavior.
The NPA highlighted that gas leaks are not visible to the naked eye, making it crucial to store cylinders outside in order to prevent potential fire outbreaks.
During an LPG awareness and sensitization lecture at the Takoradi Technical University, Kwami Sefa Kayi, a member of the NPA Governing Board and Chairman of the Consumer Services sub-committee, emphasized the importance of storing cylinders outdoors.
He acknowledged that some individuals hesitate to keep their cylinders outside due to concerns about theft.
“If you have cylinders in any enclosed place, go and bring them out. Don’t complain that it will be stolen”, he urged.
Mr. Sefa Kayi, who is a veteran broadcaster, gave the assurance that the NPA would do everything to ensure the price of LPG remains competitive and “soft on consumers.”
The lecture organised by the Corporate Affairs and Gas Directorates of the Authority was on the theme: “Safe Use of LPG Protects Lives and Property.”
The sensitisation exercise on the safe use of LPG and the general operations of NPA involved one-on-one engagements with traders and lectures in educational institutions in the Western and Central regions.
Other institutions visited included the Sekondi Nursing and Midwifery Training College and the Cape Coast Nursing and Midwifery Training College.
Answering a question on NPA’s complaint procedure, the Consumer Services Manager, Eunice Budu Nyarko, urged the public to immediately report fuel stations suspected of cheating to the Authority.
She said when complaints are made within 48 hours of purchase of fuel, prompt investigations are conducted to establish the facts before the product is sold out.
“Consumers should report within 48 hours. If we delay, we may risk the loss of evidence. Consumers should report and then we can act immediately,” she said.
However, Mrs. Budu Nyarko said consumers could still report after 48 hours of the purchase of the fuel.
“We will still investigate but that product you bought might have been sold out. So what the NPA does is to keep the station under surveillance, meaning the Authority’s inspectors will be visiting there unannounced for sometime.
“The NPA will always protect the interest of stakeholders, consumers and petroleum service providers”, she stressed, and announced the customer lines.
In his presentation, Assistant Divisional Fire Officer, David Essuman, cautioned the public against placing stones and heavy materials on valves to supposedly prevent leakage.
He said the heavy materials could not stop the leakage, and indicated that the best thing was for the people to replace the faulty valves.
Welcoming the lecturers and students on behalf of the NPA Chief Executive, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the Communications Manager of NPA, Mohammed Abdul-Kudus, noted that Europeans and Americans depended solely on gas for their domestic activities but they hardly recorded fires.
Therefore, he said, if gas users in Ghana observed the safety tips, they could reduce gas-related fire outbreaks.
Aston Villa has reached an agreement to sign Youri Tielemans, the Belgium international, upon the expiration of his contract with Leicester City, who were relegated from the Premier League.
Villa has officially announced that the 26-year-old midfielder will become a part of their team starting from July 1, following his four-year stint at the King Power Stadium.
A statement on the club’s official website said: “Aston Villa is delighted to announce that the club has reached an agreement to sign Youri Tielemans.
Aston Villa is delighted to announce that the club has reached an agreement to sign Youri Tielemans.
“The Belgian international will officially become a Villan on July 1 after his contract with Leicester City has expired.”
Tielemans joined Leicester from Monaco in a £40million deal in July 2019 after a successful loan spell during the second half of the previous season, having begun his career with Anderlecht.
In all, he made 195 appearances for the Foxes and scored 28 goals, including the spectacular winner as they beat Chelsea 1-0 in the 2021 FA Cup final.
He also represented his country at the finals of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and Euro 2020.
Torgbui Agbodzalu Amuzu, the Fiator of Nogokpo, has appealed to the Christian Council of Ghana to take necessary action in order to prevent religious conflicts within the country.
Fiator Agbodzalu Amuzu highlighted the attacks on Nogokpo by certain self-proclaimed pastors, including Nana Agrada and others.
This comes after a video of the founder and General Overseer of Perez Chapel International, Archbishop Charles Agyinasare categorising the town as the headquarters of demons in the Volta Region went viral on social media.
The General Overseer said he had no intention to cast a slur on certain groups of people or their communities and had described “any misrepresentation or misinformation that has characterised the subsequent commentary and reportage” as unfortunate.
But the Chiefs insist that failure on the part of the man of God to appear before them in two weeks would compel them to take another action.
In an interview, Fiator Agbodzalu Amuzu emphasized that the entire situation is being misconstrued by Christians, and many individuals on social media are making uninformed comments without grasping the actual facts on the ground.
Fiator Agbodzalu Amuzu pointed out that the Bible does not mention Nogokpo or anything regarding the shrine in Nogokpo. Nogokpo is a town where the deity of justice and thunder is revered.
“The bible never mentioned maami water or the marine spirit, Nogokpo, juju or any deity in their write-ups, and so Christians must stop talking anyhow on the issue, especially on the social media platforms and television channels before they bring religious conflicts, “Fiator Agbodzalu Amuzu said.
The Fiator further requested the Christian Council to advise Christian communities to refrain from making references to Nogokpo, in order to promote peace and understanding among religious groups.
Fiator Agbodzalu Amuzu has emphasized that Nogokpo, situated in the Ketu South of the Volta Region, is a peaceful town that upholds its principles.
He clarified that the shrine Zakadza, known as the ‘god of justice’ and thunder, is located in Nogokpo. He urged Christians to ensure they possess accurate information before engaging in discussions regarding these matters.
According to Fiator Agbodzalu Amuzu, it is imperative for the Christian Council to promptly address and cease all negative commentary and insults directed towards the deity and the town of Nogokpo. He emphasized the importance of Christians focusing on their own spiritual journeys and responsibilities, in order to avoid any potential religious conflicts within the country.
“If Christians claim to have God they should rather show good examples as followers of Christ instead of trying to bring conflicts in the country, “he said.
“Those pastors and Christians saying all sorts of things against Nogokpo do not own Ghana and Ghana does not belong to any of them but for everyone, so they must be careful,” Fiator Agbodzalu Amuzu warned.
Fiator also urged the chiefs to be steadfast in all they do and fight for their thrones and titles.
He noted that chiefs must fight for their titles and forget about whatever any other Chief said regarding distancing themselves from Nogokpo.
He called for unity among the traditional leaders in the Volta Region.
On the matter, the National Peace Council has called for calm to protect Ghana’s religious peace.
Manchester City have won the Champions League to add to their Premier League and FA Cup triumphs.
Rodri scored the only goal of a tough contest in the 68th minute at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, landing City’s first European crown after several years of near misses and completing the treble.
Though the final secured the victory, there are others whose input ensured their stunning treble.
Erling Haaland
The Norwegian has been an absolute sensation, scoring a record 36 goals in City’s Premier League campaign and 52 in all competitions.
People doubted whether he would be able to maintain the phenomenal scoring rate of his early career once he arrived in the Premier League following his £51million move from Borussia Dortmund but he quickly dispelled their reservations.
He formed a potent partnership with Kevin De Bruyne and bagged six hat-tricks in all competitions including a stunning five-goal Champions League haul against RB Leipzig.
City had to adjust their playing style to accommodate him but things had truly clicked by the run-in as City reeled in Arsenal and tasted glory on three fronts.
Kevin De Bruyne
It may not have been a vintage De Bruyne season, and some of Guardiola’s comments about him at times suggested the manager was not entirely satisfied with the Belgian, but he still produced another highly-effective campaign.
He truly got going and delivered when it really mattered as City entered the run-in, with his statistics again impressive.
He led the Premier League with 16 assists, and while that figure is also testament to the brilliance of Haaland’s finishing, it was four more than anyone else in the competition.
He also weighed in with seven goals, with a further two goals and seven assists in Europe, though his final ended before half-time due to injury for the second time in three years.
Jack Grealish
It has taken time for Grealish to live up to his £100million billing but his second season at the club has been a considerable improvement on his first.
There were some impressive performances in the early part of the campaign and since the World Cup he has reached that level on a consistent basis.
He now seems more confident on the ball and has been harder for defenders to knock off it, while also showing a greater ability to pick out his team-mates.
His progress has been good and City will hope there is more to come.
John Stones
The second half of the season saw Stones successfully combine all facets of his game.
The England centre-back’s defending has improved considerably in recent years and, now comfortable in that role, he is confident enough to step into midfield when City are in possession.
With his ball-playing ability, this defence-midfield hybrid role has added an extra dimension to the team’s play.
The Spaniard’s influence in the City midfield has grown steadily since his arrival in 2019 and this season has seen him come of age.
Rodri
Physically strong and highly energetic, Rodri has been City’s driving force. He reads the game superbly, breaks up opposition attacks and powers forward.
His passing ability and vision have been excellent with the likes of Haaland, De Bruyne and Grealish all benefiting enormously. His four goals included the key strike against Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
Pep Guardiola’s first signing in 2016, Gundogan has gained a larger share of the limelight this season than ever before.
The Germany international has the versatility to play anywhere in midfield and his quiet leadership has been backed up by vital goals – never more so than his two in the FA Cup final to echo last season’s title-winning league brace against Aston Villa.
Guardiola, no stranger to world-class talent, last month labelled him “one of the best players I ever trained in my career”.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has successfully completed the construction of a 33KV feeder that stretches from Aflao to Keta, aiming to enhance power supply in the southwestern part of the Volta Region.
As part of this project, the power distribution company has undertaken various activities including the installation of new lines, the erection of poles, the upgrade of sections of existing lines, and the installation of transformers.
Ing. Michael Babin, the acting Volta Regional General Manager, emphasized that the primary objective of these efforts is to support the local economy by ensuring a consistent and reliable power supply to communities such as Keta, Kedzi, Adafienu, Adina, Agavedzi, Blekusu, Vodja, and the surrounding areas.
“The aim to provide quality, reliable and safe electricity services to support the socio- economic growth and development of Ghana informed management’s decision to complete this project to provide convenience for our customers”, he said in an interview with myjoyoline.com.
Ing. Buabin explained that the under-listed communities experienced frequent power cuts and low voltage because they depended on supply from the Sogakope Bulk Supply Point. He added that the transmission lines also had a transformer exceeding its maximum capacity.
“These challenges led to occasional low voltage in some areas, hence the need to construct a dedicated line from the Aflao Bulk Supply Point to the Anloga Switching Station.
The benefits of the project include a reduction of system losses, improved reliability and stable power supply, operational efficiency and flexibility since the company can now supply power to the keta enclave from either Sogakope or Aflao Bulk Supply Point”, he said.
Ing. Buabin announced that the company has also undertaken a series of projects to enhance service delivery and ensure customer satisfaction.
“We are constructing a switching station at Peki and Dzrakate, a primary substation at Sokode, and an express line from Kpando to Hohoe to augment power supply in the region”, he said.
Ing. Buabin entreated the public to act as whistle blowers to guard against theft along ECG networks and illegal connection.
He reminded customers of ECG going cashless, and entreated them to use the ECG PowerApp to make prompt payments of their bills to enable the power distribution company undertake projects to enhance service delivery, which will inure to their benefit.
“We urge our customers to pay their bills by downloading the ECG PowerApp from google playstore or AppStore or pay through the shortcode *226# before our Revenue Officers visit their premises since this system enables customers to transact business with ECG anywhere or anytime. Customers can also pay at any bank.
Customers who still wish to visit the ECG office to transact any business should load the money on their mobile money wallet before going to the office since ECG Office no longer accepts cash”, he concluded.
The decisive goal came in the 68th minute at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, with Rodri etching his name on the scoresheet. This triumph not only marked City’s first European crown but also completed their treble, adding to their previous successes.
Guardiola expressed his hope that City’s remarkable accomplishments, including their five Premier League titles in the past six years, will now receive the recognition they deserve. With the shadow of Champions League under-achievement finally lifted, the manager believes City’s successes can be fully appreciated and acknowledged.
The City manager said: “Especially this season, the entire world has said if we don’t win the Champions League we will not be complete, it will not be enough.
“Winning these five Premier Leagues and arriving in three semi-finals, and two finals, is exceptional, but everyone says, ‘no, you have to win’.
“But winning the Champions League every season is difficult unless you are Real Madrid. The other ones sometimes arrive and do it.
“Not just for me, for the club, for our CEO and players – we had everything but not the Champions League, as if the Premier League is nothing.
“So I like this competition for the fact we won it, to be part of history. The players know they will be remembered for the rest of their lives.
“But now give credit for the five Premier Leagues we won in six years.
“It is important because people now forget about it and focus on creating a museum to put all our trophies in, because what we have done in the last years is unbelievable, not just the Champions League, but many titles.”
City had to dig deep to claim the trophy against a determined Inter side.
The Italians sat deep to soak up pressure but, with City also lacking their usual sparkle and losing Kevin De Bruyne to injury in the first half, they grew in confidence.
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 11, 2023
Inter were just beginning to assert themselves when Rodri broke the deadlock, driving from the edge of the area after a Bernardo Silva pass was deflected into his path.
They then lived on the edge with Federico Dimarco hitting the bar and having another good chance before Romelu Lukaku was denied by Ederson in the dying moments.
City will now celebrate their treble with an open-top bus parade in Manchester on Monday.
Guardiola has said he hopes City’s Champions League win will prove the first of many but his tongue was firmly in cheek as he responded to a question over whether the club could build a dynasty like Real Madrid.
“We are just 13 Champions Leagues away from them – just 13!” he said. “So be careful Real Madrid because we are on our way. If you sleep a little bit we will catch you.”
National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Yammin, has expressed that Gyakye Quayson, the party’s parliamentary candidate for the Assin North by-election, is willing to make personal sacrifices for the betterment of his constituents.
According to him, Mr Quayson is even willing to lose his freedom should he be imprisoned after the polls.
Mr Yammin believes that the people of Assin North are prepared to vote for Quayson as they recognize his commitment to accelerating the progress of developmental projects in the region.
Gyakye Quayson
“We thank Gyakye Quayson for helping to speed up stalled projects after the 2020 elections. We are ready to vote for him in the upcoming by-election. If he is imprisoned after being re-elected, we believe another by-election will be organized, and that will help in the completion of the ongoing developmental projects,” said Yammin.
He emphasised that no one is more popular and appealing than the former MP of the constituency, hence the unwavering confidence of the NDC to retain the seat.
“We have a more popular and appealing candidate than any other parliamentary candidate in that area,” he told Obidehyie Ofori Amanfo, co-host of ‘Kuro Yi Mu Nsem’ show on Nhyira FM.
According to Mr. Yamin, the NDC does not have any major concerns about the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate, Charles Opoku, except for the fact that he is not a registered voter in the constituency and therefore should not be eligible to contest in the upcoming by-election.
Despite an ongoing criminal case against Charles Opoku, the NDC asserts that the former Assin North Member of Parliament can still participate in the by-election.
Abraham Amaliba, the NDC’s Director of Legal Affairs, emphasized in a recent interview on JoyFM that Charles Opoku has not been found guilty of any crime. However, it is worth noting that Charles Opoku was disqualified from Parliament by the Supreme Court due to his failure to renounce his dual citizenship status before contesting the 2020 parliamentary election.
Although some have questioned the party’s decision to retain Mr Quayson, Mr Amaliba says as long as he can be found innocent, the NDC is ready to take a “calculated risk.”
“Is there the possibility of him being acquitted and discharged, if the answer is yes, that will be a calculated risk to take. If we are talking about whether or not the law court will sentence him, it can also acquit him,” he said.
In 2022, James Gyakye Quayson was slapped with charges including forgery and perjury by the Attorney-General’s Office.
He is also accused of deceiving a public officer and knowingly making a false declaration.
The case was filed after the High Court in July, 2021 annulled the Assin North Parliamentary election results saying Mr. Quayson was not eligible to contest the polls.
In May 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s decision stating that Mr Quayson was not qualified at the time of filing his nomination forms.
It further held that the EC allowing him to contest when he had not shown evidence of renunciation of his citizenship of Canada is unconstitutional.
In a hard-fought final at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Saturday, Manchester City secured Champions League glory and completed the treble with a narrow 1-0 victory over Inter Milan.
Rodri, the midfielder, became the hero by firing home the winning goal in the 68th minute.
Despite losing Kevin De Bruyne to injury in the first half, City persevered and wore down the resilient Italian side.
Inter successfully contained the prolific Erling Haaland, but it was Rodri who finally broke through the defense with a powerful strike after receiving a deflected pass from Bernardo Silva.
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 10, 2023
It capped a momentous season for City having also won the FA Cup as well as a fifth Premier League title in six years. Their success means they also join rivals Manchester United as the only side to have won all three of those trophies in the same season.
It meant mission accomplished for owner Sheikh Mansour, who was present in Istanbul at only his second match since purchasing the club in 2008 and subsequently propelling them to the game’s top table.
Manager Pep Guardiola could also celebrate Champions League success again 12 years after the second of his two wins as Barcelona boss.
City had gone into the match as strong favourites but Inter proved more than a match, setting out with a determination to soak up pressure.
It made for a slow start and City lacked their usual sparkle.
That gave Inter confidence and Federico Dimarco sparked a threatening attack after seizing possession but Marcelo Brozovic’s shot was deflected wide.
Ederson also seemed nervous and misplaced a pass that handed Nicolo Barella a long-range sight of goal. Fortunately for the Brazilian, Barella’s effort was nowhere near the target.
Haaland had his first attempt after being played in by De Bruyne but Andre Onana blocked his first-time shot.
De Bruyne tried his luck himself from distance but his effort lacked power and his final was, once again, to end in frustration soon after.
The Belgian went down clutching his hamstring 10 minutes before the interval and, despite attempts to run off the problem, was forced to admit defeat soon after and was replaced by Phil Foden.
It meant further Champions League final woe for De Bruyne after he left the field with a facial injury during City’s loss to Chelsea two years ago.
The opening stages of the second half followed a similar pattern but Inter eventually started to assert themselves more and they began to look dangerous.
City had a let-off just before the hour when Manuel Akanji reacted slowly to a Silva pass and Lautaro Martinez charged into the box. Former Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku was well placed in the centre but Martinez opted to shoot and Ederson smothered his effort.
City made the most of that reprieve and took the lead moments after a John Stones cross was deflected close to his own goal by Alessandro Bastoni.
Akanji played the key pass as he picked out Silva and his cutback eventually fell to Rodri, who thumped the ball into the net from the edge of the area.
City fans greeted the strike with a mixture of celebration and relief but they were given a scare minutes later when Dimarco hit the bar with a looping header and then headed against Lukaku on the rebound.
Foden had a chance to put City in firm control when he burst through a gap into the area but Onana got down well to save.
City survived a late scare when a Lukaku header hit Ederson’s legs and was put behind by Ruben Dias and the final whistle was greeted by jubilant celebrations.
City will now begin the 2023/24 season with an opportunity to play in the European Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time, as well having the chance to become the first team in the history of English football to win four league titles in succession.
The Police have revealed that five land guards were shot dead during an anti-robbery and land guard operation at Bortianor in Accra on June 8, 2023.
It was earlier reported that 9 land guards were shot dead but the death toll has been clarified.
In a statement signed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Director of Public Affairs, Grace Ansah-Akrofi noted that “These individuals had been terrorizing residents and landowners in Bortianor and nearby communities.”
It stated that suspects upon noticing the police team “opened fire from their hideout, prompting the Police to return fire.”
While the five shot were pronounced dead at the hospital, the remaining suspects fled the scene and are still on the run, the police noted.
According to the Police, a total of five weapons were recovered from the scene.
They include: one AK47 Assault rifle, 10 rounds of AK47 ammunition, one pump action gun with nine rounds of BB cartridges, two pistols with 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, one unregistered Toyota Tacoma pickup, four motorbikes, three of which are unregistered, a knife and a pepper spray.
The police are actively pursuing the remaining suspects, some of whom are believed to have sustained gunshot injuries during the operation.
They have therefore urged the public, especially residents of the Bortianor community, to promptly report any individuals with gunshot wounds who may be seeking medical treatment.
“Your cooperation will assist the Police in taking immediate action,” the police appealed.
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has reacted to concerns over the timing of the arrest of former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Prof Frimpong-Boateng.
For some citizens, the Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s arrest raises an eyebrow as he was apprehended in about a month after his reports on the work of the IMCIM surfaced.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, June 10, the Special Prosecutor noted that there was no malice, describing the incident as a “luck-less coincidence.”
“What time is the right time for me to direct the head of this dissolved committee to attend to us to answer questions? What time is the best time? I would say that this is a luck-less coincidence,” he said.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng was invited by the OSP on May 16 as “a person necessary for the investigations” into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of the activities and expenditure of the dissolved IMCIM.”
He willingly honoured the invitation, however, events that ensued meant that Prof Frimpong-Boateng was a suspect. He was cautioned and granted bail, for which he says a friend had to stand surety, and officers of the OSP had to follow the friend to verify his residence.
Reacting to this, Mr Agyebeng said everyone a complaint has been made against with regard to the dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee of Illegal Mining will be made to show up at the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
He added that all members of the erstwhile IMCIM are subjects of the ongoing investigations into corruption and corruption-related offences relative to galamsey.
According to Mr Agyebeng, the committee has long been under investigation by the OSP following accusations and counter-accusations of suspected corruption.
He went on to say that the information of the arrest and bail of the former Minister wouldn’t be in the public domain if Prof Boateng hadn’t made it so.
“Had the Professor not come out to grant interviews, you wouldn’t have known that he has come to us weeks ago. Since I become Special Prosecutor in August 2021, I don’t put out these things unless you give me cause. For instance, we’ve directed you to show up and you are not showing up, I will declare you a wanted person,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Kissi Agyebeng has indicated that it does not deem any person sacred enough to excuse them from interrogations or investigations relating to corruption and corruption-related offences.
According to Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, regardless of the fact that the public may perceive a person to be upright in their dealings, the OSP, as far as it is concerned, does not consider any person to be an angel or a saint, and therefore can be subjected to investigation until proven innocent or otherwise.
Turkish security forces have confiscated $1 billion worth of counterfeit money in Istanbul and arrested six individuals involved in the scheme.
The arrested individuals include one Ghanaian and three Swedish nationals, as stated by the governor’s office on Friday, according to Reuters.
The suspects were tracked by gendarmerie forces to a storage facility located in Istanbul’s Kagithane district.
It was at this location that a substantial quantity of counterfeit $100 bills intended to be distributed in African countries was seized, according to the governor’s office.
In addition to the raid on the storage space, searches were conducted at the suspects’ residences, resulting in the seizure of cash and jewelry.
The Swedish and Ghanaian consulates were also informed of the arrests and the ongoing investigation.
The governor’s office highlighted that this counterfeit money seizure represents the largest in Turkey’s history, underscoring the significance of the operation.
The first batch of pilgrims for the 2023 hajj are said to have flown from the Tamale Airport to the Holy City of Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia yesternight.
Nearly 430 pilgrims are said to have been taken to board the first flight.
An agent for the Hajj pilgrims, Ahmadu Inusah in an interview with Citi News expressed satisfaction with the process so far.
“Today is the first flight and my people are moving. They are going to have medical checks starting at 12pm and everything is moving on smoothly. Some of the people will join the next flight because their visas are not yet in.
“This year’s Hajj is unique, we have a secretariat here in Tamale where pilgrims’ passports are printed in Accra and distributed here, and our visas come for pick up,” he said on Friday.
Mr. Amadu also assured that “nobody will pay this year and will not go because we have enough visas, and we have enough time and flights, and I am advising people to be patient because no one will be left out.”
West Ham United have been formally charged by UEFA in response to the behavior of their fans during the Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina.
The incident occurred when Fiorentina’s captain, Cristiano Biraghi, was struck on the head by a plastic cup thrown from the section occupied by West Ham supporters while he was preparing to take a corner in the first half.
West Ham fans were throwing objects onto the pitch and caught Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/KJZb2DMATL
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 7, 2023
In addition to this charge, West Ham is also facing accusations of field invasion.
Fiorentina, on the other hand, has received two charges relating to the ignition of fireworks and throwing objects.
The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) will be responsible for reviewing the case and making a decision in the near future.
The Pensioner Bondholders Forum has affirmed that its members will persist in their demand for interest on their principal payments, even if their petition to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is unsuccessful.
In response to the government’s refusal to pay accrued interest on outstanding principal payments, the group has declared its intention to petition the CHRAJ.
The purpose of this petition is to seek a determination from the commission regarding whether the government is entitled to withhold their funds without providing the due interest.
Dr. Adu Anane Antwi, the convenor of the Pensioners, emphasized their determination to exert pressure on the government to ensure they receive what is rightfully owed to them. In an interview with Citi News, Dr. Antwi expressed their unwavering commitment to pursuing their cause.
“If CHRAJ does not support us, then we will also picket for our interests. We are considering this an administrative justice issue. You have taken money from your citizens, you must pay them interest while you are still keeping their money.”
“They said that for the three years, you were keeping their money, you were servicing it and paying interest. Now it is due, and you must return it, but you have not been able to return it. And your citizens are saying that if you are still keeping the money, pay me interest because the government is not different from any other borrower in this country,” he stated.
Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani has reached an agreement to sell his majority stake in the club to 49ers Enterprises, the American investment group.
This development will grant 49ers Enterprises, who have been minority shareholders in Leeds since 2018 and also own the NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers, full ownership of the club.
“Leeds United can confirm an agreement has been reached between Aser Ventures and 49ers Enterprises for the purchase of the club,” said a statement.
Leeds United can confirm an agreement has been reached between Aser Ventures and 49ers Enterprises for the purchase of the club
“Both parties continue to work through the details, and further updates will be provided soon.
“All of our focus remains on a quick return to the Premier League.”
In 2021, 49ers Enterprises raised its stake in Leeds to 44 percent, with an option to acquire the remaining 56 percent held by Andrea Radrizzani before January 2024. Originally, the American group aimed for a complete takeover during this summer, contingent upon Leeds remaining in the Premier League. However, following the club’s relegation last month, both parties engaged in intense negotiations, resulting in a agreed valuation of approximately £170 million.
This agreement signifies the conclusion of Radrizzani’s six-year ownership of Leeds. He took over the club entirely from Massimo Cellino in 2017, which was widely supported by fans. Radrizzani’s ownership saw the repurchase of Elland Road stadium, previously privately owned since 2004, and introduced fresh investment when 49ers Enterprises initially acquired a 10 percent stake in 2018.
Furthermore, the pivotal appointment of Marcelo Bielsa as manager proved to be a masterstroke, as Leeds secured promotion back to the Premier League after a 16-year absence.
During this period, 49ers Enterprises steadily increased its ownership stake in Leeds, while the relationship between chairman Andrea Radrizzani and the Leeds fanbase began to deteriorate, particularly when Marcelo Bielsa was dismissed from his managerial position in February 2022.
Leeds narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the 2021-2022 season under Bielsa’s successor, Jesse Marsch. Radrizzani assured fans that the club would not be involved in another survival battle. However, the team’s performance did not improve during the following season, leading to Marsch’s dismissal in February. Javi Gracia and later Sam Allardyce, who was appointed for the final four games, were unable to stop the downward trend.
When Leeds’ relegation was confirmed with a defeat to Tottenham on the last day of the season, Radrizzani was absent from Elland Road as he was finalizing his takeover of Sampdoria in Italy. In a personal statement posted on social media, he admitted that the board had made mistakes and apologized for the club’s relegation.
Radrizzani’s legacy faced further tarnishment when it was revealed that he had offered Elland Road as collateral when securing a £26 million bank loan to purchase Sampdoria. It became apparent that the stadium was owned by one of his companies, not Leeds, which further added to the criticism against him.
Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the Convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey (MCAG), is urging the media and civil society groups to exert pressure on leaders to ensure the prosecution of the directors of Akonta Mining Limited.
According to Dr. Ashigbey, the directors of Akonta Mining Limited have caused significant destruction to water bodies and land within their operational area, making their prosecution long overdue.
To address this issue, he is calling on civil society organizations and the media to launch a robust advocacy campaign to ensure that the directors of Akonta Mining Limited face legal consequences for their actions.
On Thursday, June 8, 2023, the MCAG had a meeting with senior officials from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) to discuss the progress of the investigation into the mining activities of Akonta Mining Limited in the Tano Nmira Forest Reserves.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Dr. Ashigbey pointed out that “there was enough evidence that Akonta Mining had sinned against the Minerals Commission. Therefore, we were expecting that after this long period, some action would have been taken, and they would have been in court by now.”
“If you take our Constitution, sovereignty resides in the people. The same Constitution also gives the media the mandate to hold leadership to account. Citi FM and other media houses, you need to make sure that the Director General of CID, the Attorney General, and the judiciary ensure that the likes of the directors of Akonta Mining and other influential people, including Aisha Huang and Yaw Danso Bosome Freho, the former District Chief Executive, are brought to book.”
The Convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey posited that it would be meaningless for leaders to plant trees without safeguarding the existing forests.
“It is really important that leaders take action. Today, we are out there planting trees. For example, in the case of Akonta Mining, the number of trees that have been cut down from these forests is alarming. As much as we want to plant trees, we need to ensure that we safeguard our forests, cocoa, and not support this illegality. It is important that all of us, including civil society and the media, ensure that we get leaders to do what they ought to do,” Dr. Ashigbey asserted.
MCAG sent two petitions to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, in January 2023, to carry out swift investigations into the alleged illegal mining activities by Akonta Mining, which is owned by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako.
The MCAG said it was informed that investigations were ongoing, but the group expressed disappointment that the directors of Akonta Mining Limited had not yet been prosecuted, despite the clear evidence of their alleged wrongdoing.
During a press conference held at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on Friday, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne openly confessed that winning the Champions League is not only a long-standing dream but also an overwhelming obsession for the club.
Having established their dominance in domestic competitions in recent years, City now finds themselves on the brink of achieving an unprecedented treble as they prepare to face Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul on Saturday.
However, their relentless pursuit of Europe’s most prestigious trophy has so far eluded them, adding to the club’s burning desire to secure it.
Speaking about the upcoming final, both Guardiola and De Bruyne emphasized the significance of the Champions League and its immense importance to Manchester City.
They acknowledged the club’s relentless pursuit and unwavering determination to lift the coveted trophy for the first time.
De Bruyne was asked first if he felt victory was a “dream” or an “obsession”.
The Belgium international said: “Maybe both. It depends who you ask. Every professional player wants to win the Champions League and be on top.
“If you can win the Champions League, you’ve reached one of the biggest things you can.”
Guardiola was in agreement when asked the same question.
The Catalan, who guided Barcelona to victory in the competition twice, has taken City into the knockout stages seven times but their runner-up finish in 2021 is the closest they have come to success.
“Absolutely it’s a dream,” he said. “To achieve things you have to have correct portion of obsession and desire, it’s a positive word, and willingness to try to do it, but of course it’s a dream.”
No individual in government will be able to disrupt the work of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has said.
Speaking on JoyNews on Saturday in an interview monitored by The Independent Ghana, the Special Prosecutor specifically noted that the President and the Attorney-General “would not dare” to impede his work.
However, Mr Kissi Agyebeng indicated that what he fears most is the interference by traditional authorities including Chiefs and spiritual leaders such as pastors.
According to Mr Agyebeng, he is a traditional man as such is cautious since he would not be able to decline a summon by traditional authorities.
The Special Prosecutor assured of his commitment to investigate any individual irrespective of their calibre should they be accused of engaging in corruption or corruption-related activities.
Mr Kissi Agyebeng in his recent interview was speaking about the OSP’s recent arrest of former Environment Minister, Professor Frimpong-Boateng over some discrepancies in the work of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
Despite holding Professor Frimpong-Boateng in high esteem, the Special Prosecutor noted that he had to be brought in as the committee “has much to account for” during its operating period up until 2020.
Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has stated categorically that every individual who formed part of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) is a target in the OSP’s investigations into corrupt and corruption-related activities.
Mr Kissi Agyebeng made this known in an interview on JoyNews on Saturday monitored by The Independent Ghana following the arrest of the defunct-IMCIM’s Chair, Professor Frimpong-Boateng. Per reports, some amount of GHS350 spent by the committee is yet to be accounted for.
According to former Environment Minister, Prof Frimpong-Boateng, he feels victimized.
Among the ministries which formed the Committee are Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Chieftaincy & Religious Affairs, Regional Re-Organisation and Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Water and Sanitation, Interior, Defense and Information.
Among the tasks of the Committee was to sanitise and regularise small-scale mining activities in the various mining districts to ensure that miners work within legal framework.
The committee’s mandate was brought to an end by President Akufo-Addo due to its ineffectiveness. Per reports, some excavators seized by the committee are also unaccounted for.
According to Mr Kissi Agyebeng, the committee “can’t account for so many things.” He however clarified that he holds no personal case against Professor Boateng and is working per his mandate.
In his recent report on the work of the IMCIM, Prof Frimpong-Boateng accused some members of the Committee of sabotaging its work to check illegal mining also known as galamsey.
“Apart from the Ministers for Sanitation and Local Government and Rural Development, all the others abandoned the Committee,” he stated in the report, said to have been submitted on March 19, 2021.
“To make matters worse, the Chairman was personally attacked, vilified and framed for things he had not done.
“Such assaults came from many people, including some of the ministers who effectively left the committee.”
He cited Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, and then Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Mafo, as among the ministers who deliberately worked against the committee.
Meanwhile, the Special Prosecutor has noted that to prevent reputations from being damaged, the OSP will only bring out names should it have gathered sufficient evidence against an individual.
According to Mr Kissi Agyebeng, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has investigated tens of people and is likely to see the number run into the hundreds.
Horace Ekow Ewusi, the former 1st Vice-Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Central Region, and Seth Mantey, a journalist with Peace FM, were both arrested and questioned as part of the ongoing probe.
On the other hand, the Special Prosecutor has shot down claims that the OSP is operating in a military style. According to him, the OSP will however step up should individuals fail to honour its invitation in its investigations.
Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has indicated his outfit has brought in tens of people for its investigations into corruption and corruption-related activities with regard to illegal mining also known as galamsey.
In an interview with JoyNews on Saturday monitored by The Independent Ghana, Mr Kissi Agyebeng noted that since galamsey is happening in significant parts of the country, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) will likely probe hundreds of people.
In its investigations over illegal mining, the OSP has brought in former Environment Minister, Professor Frimpong-Boateng, who is being accused of being unable to account for some money spent by defunct- IMCIM.
His apprehension and subsequent release on bail did not sit well with some individuals including University of Ghana lecturer, Professor Gyampo, who says Prof Frimpong-Boateng was arrested without a charge.
Also, Horace Ekow Ewusi, the former 1st Vice-Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Central Region, and Seth Mantey, a journalist with Peace FM, were both arrested and questioned as part of the ongoing probe.
According to Mr Kissi Agyebeng, he does not have the luxury of treating people accused of engaging in unlawful acts as saints.
Currently, persons directed to come to the OSP as part of investigations are considered suspects, the Special Prosecutor said.
In preparation for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Madagascar, Chris Hughton, the head coach of the Black Stars, has made a substitution in the squad due to an injury.
Kasim Adams has been called up to replace Alexander Djiku, who had initially been named in the Ghana squad but had to withdraw due to an ankle injury.
The Hoffenheim center-back, who had a great campaign on loan at Swiss side, FC Basel, in the just-ended season comes in with loads of experience.
The 27-year-old has 11 appearances for Ghana since his debut in 2017.
Adams has featured 28 times for Basel in the Swiss Super League, scoring a goal and provided one assist.
He has also played 11 times in the UEFA Europa Conference League, scoring an extra-time winner against Nice that sent them to the semifinal. Overall, he has 46 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals, with one assist.
The Black Stars will begin camping in Accra on Monday, June 12 to commence preparations for the Madagascar qualifier scheduled to be played in Antananarivo on Sunday, July 18, 2023.
