Residents in the Weija Gbawe municipality in Accra are in a state of mourning following the death of seven students.
The school children are said to have met their untimely demise on May 10, 2023, after the boat they were travelling by capsized on a river at Wiaboman.
They are said to have been returning to their respective homes from school.
It is yet to be confirmed the exact number of individuals on the boat.
Meanwhile, the bodies of seven children have been recovered while rescue efforts are underway to identify the missing individuals.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has admitted that under his governance in 2016, some Ghanaians were subjected to immense suffering.
However, according to the NDC presidential aspirant, what was experienced in the past seven years can in no way be compared to the hardship currently being experienced under the Akufo-Addo-led administration.
According to him, the economic challenges have worsened and the standard of living has significantly dropped.
Addressing party faithful in the Upper West Region, Mr Mahama said “In 2016 all the lies they told and all the propaganda they told, Ghanaians can now see. All the preaching that we were sitting on money and yet we are hungry and the claims that Ghanaians were suffering, Ghanaians are now suffering more than they were in 2016.
“Any work that anyone does, you hardly get profit. I can beat my chest and say in 2016 our lives were far better than we are today,” Mr Mahama added.
Mr Mahama hopes to return to his previous position as president come 2025 after the 2024 general elections.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has announced its decision to withhold its services to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for its primaries slated for May 13, 2023.
The EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, made this known today after she met agents of all the three flagbearer hopefuls of the NDC; John Mahama, Dr Duffuor, and Kojo Bonsu.
According to the EC Chair, her outfit will only supervise the upcoming primaries after the current legal issues hovering around the primaries are resolved to prevent being cited for contempt.
“Yesterday we were served with an Application for Interlocutory Injunction seeking to restrain the Commission from supervising the conduct of the Presidential and Parliamentary Primaries due to the alleged anomalies with the register.
Gentlemen, in order that we are not cited for contempt, the Commission has taken the decision not to supervise the conduct of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections until after the determination of the case by the court,” the Chairperson of the Commission, Madam Jean Mensa is quoted to have said by JoyNews.
EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa
Dr Kwabena Duffour has filed an interlocutory injunction application against the party’s upcoming primaries.
Dr Duffuor wants the primaries halted over some alleged discrepancies his team has identified in the party’s voters register.
In a writ filed at an Accra High Court, Dr Duffour indicated a partial photo album register given to his team on May 4, 2023, by the party recorded the number of constituencies at 220 as opposed to the alleged number of 228 constituencies currently being indicated.
He stated that verification of the 220 constituencies established basic errors and inaccuracies that render the Photo Album Register inaccurate and unreliable for a free, fair and credible elections.
Ahead of the suit, Dr Duffuor requested for a postponement of the elections until a full photo album register is secured.
Meanwhile, responding to the claims, Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, says the accusations levelled against the party have no basis.
One of the three presidential aspirants of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kojo Bonsu, has faulted the leadership of the party of the decision to rally their support behind former President John Dramani Mahama.
According to Mr Bonsu, who once served as the Mayor for Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, it is against the party’s rules for its Executives to declare support for a candidate running for a position.
“I’m doing a decent campaign. My issue is that the party has rules and the election regulations say that when you are an executive, you cannot support one person because you are part of the leadership of the party.
“But these things they are doing are wrong. Someone who wants a position would place his/her sticker alongside his contender and that’s not fair. Everybody is doing what they like, is that democracy,” he quizzed in an interview with Kumasi-base OTEC FM on Tuesday, May 9.
Former President John Mahama, former Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffuor and Mr Kojo Bonsu want to participate in the 2024 Presidential elections on the ticket of the NDC.
Despite the current situation in the party, Mr Bonsu says he remains resolute in his efforts to emerge victorious.
According to him, such endorsement does not win elections as the NDC failed to win the 2016 general elections albeit millions showed support.
“I’m not discouraged, no way. I’m still focused, I’m a serious person. It doesn’t discourage me because, during the 2016 elections, there was a big rally in Accra, millions of people were there but after the elections were over, we lost over one million votes.
“So things like this do not frighten me,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Duffor has filed an interlocutory injunction at an Accra High Court to halt the primaries scheduled for May 13, over “faulty voters register.”
The Bank of Ghana has entreated commercial banks to lower lending rates at a time macroeconomic performance of the nation, including inflation, is improving.
Elsie Addo Awadzi, the second deputy governor of the Bank of Ghana, claims that the rate of inflation has steadily decreased from the start of the year to 41.2%, signaling indicators of economic recovery.
Addressing at the inauguration of a partnership between Absa Bank and the Mastercard Foundation to offer 10% interest rates on loans to small enterprises, the second deputy governor said “as the economy picks up and there is a signal of improvement in the macro economy, we expect things to get better. Moments ago before I got here, inflation has dropped to 41.2% for April [2023], from the about 50% some months ago”.
“We as a regulator and at the Monetary Policy Committee project that things will improve. Inflation rate will drop further and lending rates will come down. I, therefore, encouraged you all as banks to emulate Absa Bank and bring the lending rates down further”, she added.
“I want to see more lending to the sector at lower rates so that these Ghanaian businesses can be very competitive,” she reiterated.
Furthermore, she said the Small and Micro Enterprises are the backbone of the economy especially with the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement onboard.
Country Manager for Mastercard Foundation, Rossy Fynn used the occasion to announce plans by the foundation to introduce innovative products to support small businesses especially those on sustainable and green initiatives.
Managing Director for Absa Bank, Abena Osei Opoku assured that the bank will remain the best choice for SME lending.
She also indicated that the plan for the SME loan at 10% is to reach out to more than 5,000 small businesses and make them investor ready.
The Absa SME loan is a low rate special offer at 10% for women owned businesses and SMEs.
In April 2023, inflation dropped for the fourth consecutive month, to 41.2% from 45% in March 2023, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
Since January 2023, Ghana has been recording a fall in inflation.
The Ghana Statistical Service reports that both food and non-food inflation decreased last month.
The Bank of Ghana may be forced to maintain its policy rate at 29.5% when the Monetary Policy Committee convenes its 112th Meeting on May 17, 2023 as a result of this drop in inflation.
Credit is still pricey, though, with typical loan rates hovering around 35%.
According to the figures, food inflation went down to 48.7% in April 2023, from 50.8% in March 2023, whilst non-food-inflation declined to 35.4% in April 2023, from 35.4% in March 2023.
Also, inflation for locally produced items stood at 38.2%, whereas inflation for imported items was 43.1%.
Five groups recorded inflation higher than the national average. They were Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels (59.0%); Furnishing, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance ( 56.3%); Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages ((48.7%); Personal Care, Social Protections and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (48.5%) and Transport (42.5%).
Volta region records lowest inflation of 28%
The Volta region continued to record the lowest inflation among the the regions. It recorded 28.0% year-on-year inflation in April 2023.
On the other hand, the Western North region registered the highest inflation of 64.0%
Ghana’s populous regions – Ashanti and Greater Accra recorded inflation of 31.3% and 39.1% respectively.
8 food items recorded inflation higher than overall food inflation
For food inflation, Tea and Related Products (82.3%); Cereals and Cereal Products (62.9%); Milk and Diary Products (61.8%); Fish and Other Sea Foods (58.3%); Sugar, Confectionary and Desserts (56.7%); Fruit and Vegetable Juices (55.2%); Oil and Fats (53.2%) and Water (49.6%) recorded year-on-year inflation higher than the overall food inflation.
For the month-on-month, inflation stood at 2.4% in April 2023. Food and Alcoholic Beverage however recorded the highest inflation of 4.3%, whilst non-food inflation was 0.7%.
One out of the seven construction workers who sustained injury after a three-storey building collapsed in currently in a critical condition.
Per reports, the said constructor has been transferred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital from Bortianor Polyclinic due to the severity of the matter.
The six others are receiving medical attention at the Bortianor Polyclinic.
On Tuesday, May 9, 2023, a three-story auditorium of the Word In Action Church collapsed at Old Bortianor.
Current state of the Word In Action Church
Per eyewitnesses’ account, the victims of the accident were working on an extension project around the building.
Meanwhile the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has visited the site to determine whether there are any additional victims under the rubble.
It is unknown what may have triggered the accident and whether the church had secured a permit to undertake construction.
The District Planning Authorities shall through appropriate medium make available the procedure, requirement and general information for securing planning and development permits.
A Cape Coast High Court has fined Nana Kwesi Mensah III, Chief of Kwaprow, and John Kilson Mensah, a Kwaprow Assembly Member, GHS6000 each for contempt of court.
On October 11, 2022, the two defendants forcibly entered Solomon Faakye’s office, the head of the legal affairs office at the University of Cape Coast, and threatened him with death if he continued to handle cases involving their and their community’s encroachment on UCC land.
Counsels for the applicants, Philip Young, Anastasia Asante and Emmanuel Yaw Hukpatsi, argued that the respondents’ action, which sought to disrupt the work of officers of the court, brought the reputation of the court into disrepute and was therefore contemptuous of the court.
The two offenders will each be imprisoned for three months in default.
They signed a bond promising to behave well for 18 months by the High Court, which was presided over by Her Ladyship Malike Awo Woanyah Dey J.
Encroachment of UCC Lands
The UCC, has for some time now, under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko-Boampong initiated several legal actions to recover the university’s legally acquired lands from some chiefs and to stop them from selling portions of the lands to unsuspecting Ghanaians.
Land measuring over 400 acres was acquired for the University of Cape Coast by an Executive Instrument 13 of 1972. In January 2023, members of the governing council of UCC toured the university lands that had been encroached upon by some private developers and individuals.
The purpose of the visit was to enable the council members to see at firsthand the level of encroachment on the university land.
The council resolved to address the massive land encroachment and had taken lawful steps to reclaim all encroached portions of land.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a domestic intelligence and security department of the United States of America (USA), has been able to trace a modern Maserati that was snatched at gunpoint and had its owner fatally shot in the US to Ghana, The New Publisher can disclose.
The FBI were able to locate the vehicle shipped on their blind sight before it was cleared from the Tema Ports.
The FBI reportedly flew to Ghana even before the car arrived at the country’s ports. This was to allow them to obtain finger prints and other crucial clues to identify those responsible for the victim’s murder and the theft of his car.
According to insiders, the FBI flew to Ghana before the car arrived at the country’s ports in order to take finger prints and other crucial leads to identify those responsible for the victim’s murder and the theft of his car.
Security agents in Ghana towed the car from the ports of entry and collaborated with the FBI to unravel the case.
Since completing their initial investigations, FBI agents have left the country to further investigate the matter.
It is said that the vehicle was put in a container with some other luxurious vehicles that made way to the Tema Port.
Sources told The New Publisher for weeks since it was taken by the security agencies, no one has come forward to claim ownership with titles.
In a related story, the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) three weeks ago announced that some Ninety-Five(95) luxurious cars have been frozen by its Executive Director.
These cars which are in the possession of some individuals and car dealerships were supposed to be brought to the offices of EOCO no later than May 3, 2023.
Owners of these vehicles were expected to come along with the needed documents.
The statement from EOCO said if owners of the said vehicles do not report with them on the said date, it will take the needed steps to confiscate them in accordance with the law.
It would be recalled that in December last year, the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the FBI busted a vehicle stealing syndicate in Ghana.
A statement from EOCO said an Intelligence-led operation resulted in the retrieval of some luxury cars stolen from the United States of America and Canada.
During the operation, which took place on December 9, 2022, thirty-seven (37) of the cars were retrieved from garages in Accra.
Ten people were also arrested in the process. The suspects have since been questioned and granted bail.
Former Minister of Education, Professor Dominic Fobih, has encouraged Ghanaians to desist from criticising the decisions he takes with regards to his romantic life.
Prof Fiboh’s recent marriage has been one of the topical issues this week. It was earlier reported that the 80-year-old got married for the ninth time with lady less than half his age.
But Prof Fiboh dismissed such reports, noting that he has just one wife.
“I don’t have nine wives, I have one wife, I just got married. I didn’t have a wife before so I’ve just got married. Who in Ghana has nine wives. If anybody is commenting on nine wives the person has been misled. Those who are commenting are commenting on what they’ve read and that is borne out of ignorance,” Prof. Fobih said in a radio interview with Accra-based Starr FM on Tuesday (May 9, 2023).
The conversation then shifted to the age gap between the two.
In response to the latest development, the former minister said he is an adult and knows what is best for him. He stressed that his marriage is not to impress anyone but to fulfil his own needs.
“I’m a very strong-willed person and I’m always convinced about what I decide to do and is best for me. I know why I’m doing this and so they can tell all sort of things. I didn’t marry for anybody, I married for myself,” Prof. Fobih added.
In Ghana, although surprising, it is not uncommon for a man relatively older to tie the knot with a relatively younger lady.
Professor Fobih, who was a legislator from January 2001 to January 2017 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party, described himself as a strong-willed person who knows what is best for him.
Black Sherif may have won the biggest award of the night at the 24th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA24), but he was not happy about missing out on another coveted prize.
The rapper and singer, who took home the Artiste of the Year trophy, was hoping to also bag the Album of the Year award for his debut LP, The Villain I Never Was. However, he was beaten by King Promise, who won with his sophomore album, 5 Star.
Black Sherif opened up about his disappointment in an interview with Berla Mundi on TV3’s New Day programme. He said he was expecting to hear his name when the winner was announced at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on Saturday, May 6, 2023.
“When they didn’t mention my name, I said: ‘Yawa!’” he revealed, making a sour face and then laughing it off.
‘Yawa’ is a Pidgin word that can mean various things, such as ‘trouble’, ‘oh my goodness!’, ‘f**k!’, ’embarrassment’ and ‘big disappointment’.
Despite his frustration, Black Sherif was gracious enough to admit that King Promise deserved the award. He also praised the other nominees in the category: Sarkodie (Jamz), Gyakie (My Diary), Kwesi Arthur (Son of Jacob) and Joe Mettle (The Kadosh).
“If I felt like the one receiving the award didn’t deserve it, then I would feel some way,” he said. “But everyone in that category deserved to win else, they wouldn’t have put their name up in the first place.”
He added that all the nominated albums were worthy contenders because “they put work in”.
Black Sherif rose to fame in 2021 with his viral songs “First Sermon” and “Second Sermon” . He is known for his unique blend of rap and singing, and his lyrics that reflect the struggles of the youth.
Manchester City’s unbeaten record in the Champions League now stands at 21 games.
Pep Guardiola’s team has been unbeaten since early February, with 17 victories and four draws, as they prepare for the finish of the season and a possible trophy treble.
City are aiming to repeat Manchester United‘s 1998-99 achievement of winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League all in the same season.
Thirty-seven points from the past 39 available have enabled them overtake long-time league leaders Arsenal, with four games remaining and a one-point advantage over the Gunners.
They have beaten their title rivals twice in that time, 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium and 4-1 back home a fortnight ago.
Improbably, relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest are the only side to take a point off them in that time after Chris Wood’s late equaliser.
Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Southampton, Leicester, Fulham, West Ham and Leeds are their other victims, with 36 goals scored in those 13 games and 10 conceded.
Their other draws have come in the away legs of their three Champions League ties, all 1-1 against RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Real.
The home legs against the two Bundesliga sides saw Leipzig beaten 7-0 and Bayern 3-0, while in the FA Cup they beat former City captain Vincent Kompany’s Burnley 6-0 and two other Championship sides, Bristol City and Sheffield United, 3-0 to set up a Manchester derby in the final.
Such form in the run-in is nothing new to City, who won last season’s league title by a point after finishing with a 12-game unbeaten run including nine wins and also won their last 14 in succession to pip Liverpool to the 2018-19 title – as part of a domestic treble.
Erling Haaland is unsurprisingly City’s top scorer in the current run with 20 of City’s 61 goals.
That includes back-to-back hat-tricks against Leipzig – with an astonishing five goals – and Burnley, helping him past a half century for the season while he has a record 35 for a Premier League campaign.
Kevin De Bruyne’s stunner against Real was his seventh goal of the run while Haaland’s sometime deputy Julian Alvarez has six.
There have been five apiece for Riyad Mahrez, who scored a hat-trick in the FA Cup semi-final against the Blades, Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan. Twelve City players in all have scored, in addition to an own goal from Bournemouth’s Chris Mepham.
Winger Jack Grealish spoke after the draw at the Bernabeu of his confidence of reaching the Champions League final, based on City’s formidable home record.
“Within ourselves at the Etihad, we feel unstoppable there,” the England international told BT Sport after playing his part in a feisty first-leg encounter.
His view is borne out by the statistics, City winning all 11 home games in their current run with 40 goals scored and just five conceded.
That sequence at the Etihad extends to 15 straight wins since their New Year’s Eve draw with Everton and 17 unbeaten since losing to Brentford in November.
Away from home, since the Tottenham defeat, City have won six games and drawn four, scoring 21 goals and conceding eight.
Police have summoned a controversial Kenyan preacher as the government tightens down on what it terms renegade churches and radical religious leaders.
On Tuesday, Eliud Wekesa, famously known as “Jesus of Tongaren” and the leader of the New Jerusalem sect, was summoned for interrogation over his questionable religious beliefs.
He has convinced his church members to believe that he is Jesus. Mr. Wekesa has 12 disciples named after biblical Jacob’s descendants.
On Wednesday, he is scheduled to appear before police in the western county of Bungoma.
According to local media, the preacher claims he has done nothing wrong to deserve his detention and that he only shares the gospel.
This comes as investigators on Tuesday exhumed 21 more bodies in the coastal Kilifi county, bringing the total of those known to have died in the doomsday cult to 133.
Pastor Paul Mackenzie, the leader of the Good News International Church based in Kilifi, is awaiting trial, amid accusations of ordering his followers to starve themselves to death.
Hundreds of others have been reported missing.
President William Ruto has formed a commission of inquiry to probe the now-called Shakahola cult deaths in Kilifi county.
Police in the neighbouring Kwale county on Monday rescued 200 people, including 50 children, from a forest in a suspected case of religious kidnapping.
Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu has cast aspersions on the integrity of NPP flagbearer hopeful, Mr. Boakye Agyarko over some unsavoury comments made by the latter.
This stems from comments made by the two two years ago over who to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general elections.
The Majority leader on the matter advised that it would be beneficial for their party not to choose an Akan as flagbearer.
“Inwardly, I know I have the competence to lead the party but it is wise that after two Akans – former President Kufuor and current President Akufo-Addo to present a flagbearer candidate with different ethnicity. I think it is not good for a party that has been accused by some of being overly Akanistic in nature. But not everybody would agree with me and that is the beauty of democracy”, he said.
In response, Mr Boakye Agyarko, a former Energy Minister, said he was disappointed with Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu since he was bringing “noise into the party”.
“I am totally disappointed with the Majority leader. Are you the one going to bring this noise into the party? I use to remember conversations I used to have with him, whiles I was based in the USA, on the phone all the time. You let some of our children ‘some bloody fool bring such noise into the party,” Mr Boakye Agyarko said.
Two years later in a rebuttal while speaking on Angel FM Kumasi, the Majority leader suggested that the unsavory words used by Mr Agyarko do not make him fit to be a leader.
“You insult by telling the Majority Leader what he is saying is bloody fool talk. Is that the hallmark of a leader?” Hon Osei-Kyei-Mensah is quoted by GhNews to have quizzed.
“Boakye Agyarko sat on Oman FM and described what I said as bloody fool talk. I said I didn’t want it, but the same Boakye Agyarko says he wants to lead the party so we should vote for him. Is he telling us what he is doing is not engaged in bloody fool talk? Is it, not idiotic talk for him to say we should vote for him?” Hon Osei-Kyei-Mensah further stated.
Dr Kwabena Duffour, a flagbearer candidate for the National Democratic Congress, has filed a lawsuit against the party over what he claims are errors in the party’s voters registration to be utilized for the election.
Dr Duffour alleged in a writ filed at an Accra High Court that the party failed to deliver the required picture album register five weeks before the elections, as specified in the party’s rules.
He added that his team received a partial photo album register on May 4, a few days before the polls, rather than in March, when they requested one.
“The Plaintiff adds that to their utmost surprise, upon verification, it was found that the number of constituencies on the hard drive given to his representatives was 220 in number as opposed to the alleged number of 228 constituencies indicated by the Defendant,” he stated.
“The Plaintiff adds further that an initial verification of the said 220 constituencies on the hard drive given to his representatives by the 2nd Defendant established basic errors and inaccuracies that render the Photo Album Register inaccurate and unreliable for a free, fair and credible elections.”
Dr Duffour added that despite his request for a postponement of the elections until a full photo album register is secured, the party has failed to heed his request.
Thus, he is asking the court to grant an interlocutory injunction to restrain the party and sued persons – General Secretary, Election Director, co-contestants John Mahama and Kojo Bonsu, and the Electoral Commission – from holding the elections scheduled for May 13.
This is “pending the production of a complete and accurate photo album register and delivery of same to the Plaintiff and other Presidential aspirants of the National Democratic Congress at least five weeks ahead of the elections as per grounds deposed to in the accompanying affidavit and for any further orders the Honourable Court may deem fit.”
This comes after Dr Kwabena Duffuor, on May 9, asked the party to postpone its upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries scheduled for Saturday, May 13.
The party rejected the plea, while some officials accused his team of bad faith.
It is known information that Nigerian artiste, Tiwa Savage had the opportunity to perform at King Charles III’s coronation concert over the weekend.
But just before her entrance, something happened. The Master of Ceremony for the show, Hugh Bonneville, a renowned British actor, whilst introducing Tiwa Savage, named her as the Queen of Afrobeat.
He said “Next up tonight on the coronation concert stage is the Queen of Afrobeats, make some noise for the amazing Tiwa Savage”.
For many, this may not come as a surprise however it does not take away the fact that this becomes the most popular and prestigious globally recognized stage and platform where the title has been conferred on the singer.
Tiwa Savage performed Beyonce’s ‘Keys To The Kingdom’ track which features Mr Eazi and herself.
Sharing her excitement about the performance, she took to social media to say that “One day I will tell my son that this is “Tiwa Savage”.
The number of people displaced within Sudan by violence between opposing military factions has more than doubled in the last week to over 700,000 people, according to a UN organization.
Despite ceasefire talks being held in Saudi Arabia, the increase in displacements has generated concerns about an escalation of bloodshed.
Air raids and ground clashes continue in Khartoum, the capital.
Entire neighborhoods have been deserted as residents evacuate their houses.
Khartoum has a population of 5.4 million people, but the once-peaceful city has been ravaged by the fighting that began on 15 April.
One resident told the BBC that she heard gunfire again on Tuesday from many directions, and the distant sound of air strikes.
Others said the military’s fighter jets were flying all over south Khartoum and heavy battles were raging in the middle-class neighbourhood al-Sahafa, not too far from the international airport, which is shut.
The fighting is between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led respectively by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti.
More than 600 people have now been killed and 5,000 wounded in the conflict.
Heavy fighting has also been reported in two cities adjacent to Khartoum – Bahri and Omdurman – and the western region of Darfur.
“Many IDPs [internally displaced people] are sheltering with relatives, while others are gathering in schools, mosques and public buildings,” said Paul Dillon, a spokesman for the UN’s International Organization for Migration.
Mr Dillon said people were running out of cash, and basic supplies like fuel.
“The ATMs aren’t working and the banking system is not functioning. Fuel is difficult to come by and expensive,” he added.
Last week, the UN said that about 100,000 people had fled to neighbouring states, and the number could reach more than 800,000 if fighting does not stop.
Representatives of the the army and RSF have been holding their first face-to-face talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah in a bid to negotiate a ceasefire.
Speaking to Egypt-based Al-Qahera News on Monday, Gen Burhan said that a “permanent ceasefire” needed to come into effect in Khartoum before a political settlement could be negotiated with the RSF.
“We can discuss a settlement after we reach a permanent ceasefire in Khartoum,” he said.
RSF are in control of much of the capital, with the military’s air strikes aimed at weakening its positions and to prevent it from getting reinforcements.
On Tuesday, May 9, 2023, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) severed water supply to the headquarters of Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited.
It is reported that Guinness Ghana Breweries owes the Ghana Water Company Limited GH6.7 million.
Due to the lack of water supply, the breweries company has been shut down.
The Guinness Ghana Breweries is yet to comment on the matter.
Similar exercises are ongoing nationwide as part of the revenue mobilisation drive to redeem debts owed to GWCL.
According to GWCL, nationally, over 800 million are owed in arrears with 90 percent being domestic consumers and 10 percent government institutions.
Until such time as they pay up their debts in full or in part, as assessed by the company, and a reconnection charge, defaulters have their pipelines disconnected.
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in its 2022 Labour Statistics report has revealed that 5.4 million Ghanaians in the labour force are multidimensionally poor.
Out of this figure, 4.8 million are those employed.
Multidimensional poverty encompasses the various deprivations experienced by poor people in their daily lives – such as poor health, lack of education, inadequate living standards, disempowerment, poor quality of work, the threat of violence, and living in areas that are environmentally hazardous, among others.
The report indicates that the part of the labour force being employed earn so little they are barely able to take care of their basic needs.
According to the GSS’s report, as of the 2nd quarter, 46% representing 14.1 million of the entire Ghanaian population were multidimensionally poor.
The data revealed that there are relatively more multidimensionally poor persons in the Ashanti Region than in any other region with a sizable number of 2.1 million in Q2 of 2022.
The report stated that among the multidimensionally poor, deprivation in health insurance coverage and unimproved toilet facilities are the plausible drivers of poverty in Ghana.
Deprivation in health is the largest contributor to multidimensional poverty, with a 44.1% rate, followed by standard of living at 32.8%, and education at 23.1% as of Q2 2022.
Meanwhile, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index Report 2022 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) indicates, that 24.6% of Ghana’s population based on a 2017/2018 survey, are multidimensionally poor.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued a public warning concerning the recall of all batches of Polyfort Suspension in Nigeria.
According to a statement made by the Authority on Tuesday, the recall is the result of bad results from a series of continuing stability tests.
Swiss Pharma Limited manufactures the drug, which is used to treat heartburn, indigestion, and hyperacidity.
According to the FDA, its surveillance team is actively monitoring the country’s ports of entry and markets to ensure that such unregistered products are not available in the country.
It however advised that anyone who comes across this product in trade in Ghana should report to any of the FDA’s offices across the country.
A National Service Person teaching at Sehwi Asawinso Methodist Primary B in the Sehwi Wiawso Municipality of the Western North Region has been arrested for allegedly defiling three of his students.
The suspect, Bismark Ansu, has been remanded into police custody by the Bibiani Circuit Court and is to reappear before the court on 29th May 2023.
He has been charged with three offenses; i) threat of death contrary to section 75 of the criminal offences 1960 [ACT 29], ii) defilement contrary to section 101 of criminal offences 1960 [ACT 29], and iii) threat of harm contrary to section 74 of the criminal offences 1960 [ACT 29].
Per reports from the court, Bismark reportedly managed to defile the minors in January 2023 in his house while holding extra classes to ensure he completes the syllabus.
This initiative is said to have not been approved by the school authorities.
It was only after the victims between the age of 8 and 9 started complaining of abnormal blood discharges that the alleged action came to light.
According to reports, the students kept silence in fear of losing their lives.
Following this, a report was made to the police at Sehwi Asawinso and a medical form was issued to the complainants to take the victims to any government hospital for examination, treatment, and endorsement, all of which corroborated the defilement claims.
The accused person was subsequently arrested. Meanwhile, the victims are responding to treatment.
In recent weeks, a fresh rendition of Noble Adu Kwasi’s ‘Akwankwaa Hiani’ has become the toast of most music fiends.
The timbre of the unknown voice behind the refix is the timbre of the song titled ‘Alomo Gyata’.
Many people love the music so much that they spread it without even thinking about the person who created it. Aligata is a reggae, dancehall, and afrobeats musician who has released freestyles and original songs over the years.
He is the same voice behind ‘Gbemiwaa’, a freestyle of Stonebwoy’s ‘Gidigba’ which talks about the poor state of the economy in Ghana.
Listen to ‘Alomo Gyata’ by Aligata which he claims was done five months ago, below:
Headmaster of Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO), Doughlas Haruna, who was interdicted over the alleged conversion of washrooms into dormitories has reportedly been reinstated.
The GES in a statement issued dated April 16, the Regional Director of Education asked both the head and senior housemaster to step aside for a thorough investigation into the matter.
“The Headmaster and the Senior Housemaster have been directed to step aside to allow for further investigations into the matter by the Regional Director of Education and report back in two weeks,” the statement signed by the Head of the Public Relations Unit, Cassandra Twum Ampofo disclosed.
On the matter, Mr Haruna denied the claim of washrooms being converted into dormitories to address accommodation challenges in the school.
Following this, many organisations called on the GES to immediately reverse the decision.
Amongst the organisations and persons were the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Builsa South MP Dr Clement Abass and Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu.
For GNAT, it said the move by the GES would affect the confidence of the embattled headmaster, Doughlas Haruna.
An official communique from the Ghana Education Service to confirm the report is yet to be obtained.
Also, it is unknown whether the GES has completed its investigations into the matter.
A Malawian high court has ruled that students with dreadlocks be admitted to public schools across the country.
The court, which was sitting in the eastern city of Zomba, was hearing a plea filed by two Rastafarian youngsters who were denied entry to public schools in 2016 and 2010.
The two students, on the other hand, have been attending school since they won a court injunction.
Negotiations between Malawi’s Rastafarian community and the country’s attorney general to settle the dispute failed, leading in a lengthy judicial battle, the outcome of which was announced on Monday.
Judge Zione Ntaba ruled that barring children with dreadlocks from attending school was a breach of their right to education.
“The Ministry of Education should issue a statement to allow all children of the Rastafarian community with dreadlocks to be allowed in class. The circular should be done by 30th June,” Justice Ntaba ordered.
The case was filed by three human rights organisations on behalf of the Rastafarian community in the country.
President Vladimir Putin while addressing the Victory Day parade in Moscow stated that the world is at a “turning point,” as various events throughout the country are being canceled due to security concerns.
The yearly military parade honors the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany during WWII.
Putin attempted to link Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the fight against Nazism once more, stating that Russia was preserving its sovereignty.
Addressing the crowds in Red Square, President Putin said “Today civilisation is again at a decisive turning point.”
“A real war has again been unleashed against our Motherland but we have countered international terrorism, we will protect the inhabitants of the Donbas and we will protect our country.”
He noted Russia wants to see a “peaceful future”, but said the Western elites are sowing the seeds of “hatred and Russophobia”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was joined by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Moscow Credit: Reuters
Victory Day marks the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.
Germany officially signed its surrender late on 8 May, which was already 9 May Moscow time.
The Soviet Union had lost around 27 million citizens during World War Two, far more than any other country involved in the conflict; it is often said that every Soviet family lost at least one immediate or distant relative in the war.
On Sunday night, Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukraine, like the rest of Europe, is commemorating Europe Day, which aims to promote peace on the continent.
Ningo Prampram MP, Samuel Nartey George, has told former Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffuor, who is campaigning to be elected flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), that former President John Dramani Mahama is not his match in the race for the NDC presidential candidate ahead of the 2024 elections.
Sam George stated that Mr. Mahama was a Vice President and President of Ghana who accomplished a lot, in contrast to Dr. Duffuor, who served as Finance Minister under the Mills/Mahama administration.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer hopeful, Dr Kwabena Duffuor
Sam George said on Tv3 on Monday, May 8, that even if Dr Duffuor wins, he will depend largely on Mr Mahama’s successes to campaign in the 2024 general elections.
“In the very unlikely event, in the 0.0001per cent probability chance that he becomes the flagbearer of the NDC, whose records is he going to campaign on? Is it not John Mahama’s records? Mr Duffuor has no record. He was the Minister in the government when John Mahama was the Vice President, Monkeys play by sizes. he cannot compare himself with Former President Mahama.
“President Mahama has a track record as president, he has a track record as an appointee of Mr Mahama’s government because Mr Mahama and President Mills formed the government and appointed him.
“Everything he has achieved or claimed to have achieved was at the direction and behests of Prof Mills and Mr Mahama,” Sam Goerge who is also seeking reelection as lawmaker said.
John Dramani Mahama, a former President of Ghana and a presidential aspirant for the NDC
He added “When it comes to records, Mr Mahama took over the reins of government at a time when we had only one oil field and bequeathed three oil fields to this government.
“In the area of education, Mr Mahama started construction of one hundred and twenty-three blocks, of Community Day Senior High Schools, forty-five of them were completed before he left office, and the rest were at various stages of completion.
“Under President Mahama you saw universities built. If you are talking about President Mahama as vice president and as president, you have the University of Health and Allied Sciences in the Volta Region, the University of Energy and Natural Resources in the then Brong Ahafo Region then you have the university in Somanya that President Mahama found the money for.”
The Greater Accra Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Executives have described former Attorney-General, Mr. Joe Ghartey, as hardworking and capable.
The Executives showered praise on Joe Ghartey during a meeting in Accra last Thursday when announced his decision to run for NPP flagbearership position.
The presidential aspirant presented a strong case for himself taking the Regional Executives through the work he had done as the Attorney-General, as Second Deputy Speaker and as Minister for Railways Development.
He said these positions in law and order, Parliament and infrastructure development had prepared him for the position of President. On law and order, he said a country which does not practice the rule of law cannot develop. Equality before the law he said was critical. Joe Ghartey stated that as Attorney General he not only believed in law and order but he also practiced using the law as a tool for social and economic engineering.
He said he was of the firm view that being an experienced legislator and a former Deputy Speaker he was confident that he would as President develop a good working relationship with Parliament for the benefit of the country.
On railways development he said he was glad he was given the opportunity to manage what is arguably the most difficult infrastructure sector to manage. Joe Ghartey explained the by January 2020 the passenger lines form Takoradi to Tarkwa and Accra to Tema were operational.
He said their operations were closed due to COVID. The restrictions did not allow for the trains to run at full passenger capacity and therefore operating the trains was not sustainable.
In any event the decision had been taken to change all the old lines so it was decided that the service be halted.
Mr Ghartey said the development of the Western Line was ongoing and the Tema to Mpakadan line was almost complete. He said that railway development would be a key part of his development agenda when elected as President.
Mr Joe Ghartey mentioned other sectors that would receive attention by his government which he said would be lean and efficient with a maximum of 60 Ministers.
Hon Joe Ghartey recounted his long association with NPP Greater Accra. He said he was so active that during the first term of Hon Jake Obetsibi Lamptey as Greater Accra Regional Chairman he was appointed Chairman of the Greater Accra Disciplinary Committee.
Hon Joe Ghartey said from 1992 he had always worked tirelessly in the Greater Accra Region for the Party. Contributing resources at all levels and to several constituencies.
He therefore requested the support of the rank and file of the party.
On their part, the Greater Accra Regional Executive were unanimous in the fact they knew Joe Ghartey and they were aware that he was hardworking and competent and wished him the best.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Chief of Army Staff paid a working visit at AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi mine.
The goal of the tour was for Major-General Oppong-Peprah to become acquainted with mine operations and mining security challenges.
He arrived with a team of high-ranking military officers and was greeted by Eric Asubonteng, Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti (Ghana) Limited, and his leadership team.
Mr Asubonteng expressed his gratitude in his welcome remarks for the vital contribution made in combating unlawful mining at the Obuasi mine.
“The increasing aggression of armed illegal miners is a major challenge for the Obuasi mine. As such, we appreciate the support of the government of Ghana in ensuring the safety and security of our employees, host communities and assets,” Mr Asubonteng stated.
Major-General Oppong-Peprah thanked and appreciated the Obuasi mine for its years of assistance and cooperation.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s Public Security Agencies’ ongoing commitment to defending the Obuasi mine from security concerns, stressing extensive discussions to construct a Forward Operating Base in Obuasi to help maintain peace and order.
The Forward Operating Base is intended to aid in the fight against illegal mining and related criminal activities.
Illegal mining and associated activities present safety risks to illegal miners, socio-economic and environmental risks to the company’s host communities, as well as a significant threat to AngloGold Ashanti’s operations at the Obuasi mine.
The Chief of Army Staff and his team were given a tour of the mine’s operations and illegal mining hotspots within the concession.
In response to a request by the mine for enhanced support to protect its concessions, four new military vehicles were unveiled to strengthen patrol effectiveness within the mine’s operational areas.
Eight tonnes of regulated food and medication goods that were dangerous and valued more than GH$200,000 have been destroyed by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in the Eastern Region.
The unwholesome goods were seized during a routine examination by the Food and Drugs Authority from a number of markets and stores in Koforidua and neighboring districts and towns.
The items included a variety of expired or unregistered food items, substandard medications, bloated foods and beverages, herbal capsules and concoctions, expired sanitary pads, bakery items, date-marked products with tempered dates, dented and rusted items, and cosmetics containing the bleaching agent hydroquinone.
The destruction of the products is part of efforts by the FDA Eastern Regional Office to ensure that only safe and quality products were available on the market for consumption.
Speaking to Ghana News Agency, Madam Anita Kuffuor Owusu, Eastern Regional Head of FDA, disclosed that the items were seized from pharmacies, warehouses, supermarkets, beauty supply shops, provision shops, food retail establishments, over-the-counter medicine shops, as well as table tops in the New Juaben south and north municipalities.
She warned people against consuming unwholesome products that could harm their health and urged them to always pay attention to the expiration and manufacturing dates of products before buying them from the market.
She urged people to report any non-compliant products they see on the market to the FDA office so that the necessary regulatory actions could be taken.
Madam Kuffuor also cautioned regulated companies against disposing of regulated products and medications on their own, emphasising the need for safe disposal of these items per policies and procedures.
The FDA Head of Enforcement Unit and other officers from relevant agencies supervised the products being crushed and buried at the Akwadum dumping site near Koforidua.
In order to work together toward a common objective, the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) and Africa Environmental Sanitation Consult (AfESC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Director General Prof. Samuel Boakye Dampare led the GAEC team, and AfESC’s managing director Dr. Abena Asomaning Antwi served as the team’s representative.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding, the two parties are required to build new collaborations and broaden existing ones between GAEC/RAMSRI and JGC/AfESC in order to provide participants in the public and commercial sectors projects that are helpful to health, nuclear medicine, the environment, and sanitation.
Professor Samuel Boakye Dampare; Director General of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission in his remarks, expressed great delight and optimism about the collaboration between Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) and Africa Environmental Sanitation Consult (AfESC) as he envisages much deeper works into the areas of cooperation in the MoU and to a larger extent improve the lives of Ghanaians and beyond.
Speaking in regards to the MoU, Dr. Abena Asomaning Antwi; Managing Director of Africa Environmental Sanitation Consult (AfESC) described the collaboration as a refreshing one that comes to augment existing efforts by the two parties in achieving higher heights in the areas of common interest. Additionally, she expressed her joy to see this collaboration that has been on the table for quite some time firmed up.
Ghana Atomic Energy Commission is mandated to carry out research into the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology and its development and is engaged in research, education, and commercialization of its research among others through its institutes which include the Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute (RAMSRI). RAMSRI is a medical research institute employing nuclear and allied techniques to promote human health and nutrition in Ghana.
Africa Environmental Sanitation Consult, a research wing of the Jospong Group of Companies is mandated to provide sustainable environmental solutions and consultancy services.
AfESC also undertakes a broad spectrum of research, training, and problem-solving to develop viable solutions for private and public organizations, institutions, and individuals in the environmental sector and beyond.
The image in question may be taken for granted, particularly by those who have had access to computers or laptops.
This is because it is an image that has been sighted so many times that its presence may be barely noticed.
Yes, the subject of this article is that image – a plain green field married against a blue sky and fluffy clouds, featured as a default Windows XP background for many years.
The image, according to Historical Pictures, is called ‘Bliss,’ and was shot by Charles O’Rear, an American photographer, in 1996.
In an April 8, 2014, report by mid-day.com, it said that Charles O’Rear told said, “There was absolutely no Photoshop or any editing involved. I live 60 miles north of San Francisco in a wine region of Napa Valley. I took the photograph in an area called Carneros.”
The report added that O’Rear spent his career with National Geographic magazine as a photographer till 1995.
From then on, he has devoted his time to capturing wine regions of the world for wine magazines, and for photo archive website Corbis, which is owned by Microsoft owner, Bill Gates.
Corbis was the reason Microsoft engineers found ‘Bliss’.
The Public Defenders’ Division of the Legal Aid Commission has cautioned the public against giving “fuel money” to lawyers as it is not a requirement for the free legal services they offer.
According to an Assistant Legal Aid Officer with the Commission, Rita Kunkuti Ali, all services provided by the organisation are free, and no lawyer is allowed to accept any form of payment from clients.
“The services of the commission are entirely free. Everything is free. And no lawyer is entitled to take transportation or anything from any of our clients or accused person,” she stated during a discussion on JoyNews’ The Law on Sunday, May 7th 2023.
Rita Kunkuti Ali, an Assistant Legal Aid Officer
Madam Ali acknowledged that the Commission faces financial challenges, which can make it difficult for lawyers to attend court in some cases.
However, she emphasized that lawyers should not feel entitled to request “fuel money” or any other payments from their clients or accused persons.
Assistant Legal Aid Officer Jeffery Addey Adamson also appeared on the show and acknowledged the logistical challenges that attorneys face, particularly with regards to acquiring a vehicle to drive to court.
He advised lawyers who are unable to represent their clients in court to request an adjournment in writing from the court and explain why they would be unable to attend in person.
The Legal Aid Commission provides free legal services, and lawyers should not request any payments or transportation from clients. The public is advised to be aware of this and report any such incidents to the appropriate authorities.
Madam Ali, however, also pointed out that due to financial challenges of the Commission, a lawyer may actually find it difficult to attend court even in certain cases.
She stated in such an instance, she did not consider it to be an imposition if the lawyer asked a client they were representing for assistance.
“If a lawyer is representing you in a criminal matter where your liberty is at stake, and court day is tomorrow, and he doesn’t have fuel in his car or he’s not even driving. He doesn’t have a car, and he says that can you?
“He’s not entitled, but he can ask, can you? And then you have, I don’t think that will be too much to ask. But you (the lawyer) are not entitled to, you are not supposed to. It’s not in our books,” Madam Ali explained to the host of the show.
A co-panelist on the programme, Assistant Legal Aid officer Jeffery Addey Adamson, acknowledged that acquiring a vehicle to drive to court is one of the main logistical challenges faced by attorneys.
He suggested that the attorney request an adjournment in writing from the court and explain why they would be unable to be present in person.
A scaled-up corporation and funding to the tune of about €4.1 million will be provided for two flagship projects led by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research as part of a special joint mission by the conducted by the French government’s L’Initiative together with international partners – Global Fund.
According to a statement issued by the French Embassy in Ghana, the action is intended to increase access to healthcare for the most vulnerable or marginalized individuals and to make sure that the Ghana Health Service (GHS), under the Ministry of Health, deploys national and regional interventions that will meet the population’s healthcare needs.
“To date, the grant awarded for a period of 4 years of an amount of €2,830,258.83 represents the largest envelope ever allocated to a project by Initiative since its creation in 2011,” the statement noted.
The L’Initiative-funded project aids GHS in developing the systems that will scale up the community scorecards, which have been in place since 2018, with a renewed goal of enabling the system’s spread to the entire nation.
“This project aims to enhance the role of patients within the healthcare system and improve the quality of services provided to them”. The statement added while explaining further that the beneficiaries are members of the Community Health Management Committees (CHMC) and District/Sub-District Health Committees, and indirectly all users of the Ghana health system.
L’ Initiative says it will continue to conduct a joint mission with the Global Fund and France Team to support Ghana in its fight against pandemics and strengthen its ties with civil society organizations and local partners.
At the end of April, L’ Initiative organized a joint mission with the Regional Health Adviser and the Global Fund’s country team in order to further develop its portfolio in the country in synergy with other French actors, the French Embassy, AFD and IRD.
On May 13, 2023, two females will battle at the National Democratic Congress’ Parliamentary primaries to decide to represent the Korle Klottey Constituency in the 2024 parliamentary elections.
The incumbent Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings will compete against Meredith Naakai Lamptey-Addy to retain her seat.
Here are the profiles of both contestants:
Profile of Zanetor Rawlings
Dr. Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings is a legislative member on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress, the party founded by her father, Jerry John Rawlings, former president of the Republic of Ghana.
Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings was elected as Member of parliament for the Klottey-Korle Constituency in 2016 and has since retained the seat.
The MP was born in Ghana and had her basic education in North Ridge Lyceum and Achimota School. She later proceeded to Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast in 1995.
She had her tertiary education at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland where she graduated as a medical doctor.
Zanetor has won the Klottey-Korle seat consecutively since 2016. This will be the third time she is contesting for the seat on the ticket of the NDC.
Profile of Meredith Naakai Lamptey Addy
Meredith Naakai Lamptey Addy, the daughter of the late business mogul and financer of the NDC Party; David Lamptey, is seeking to replace Zanetor Rawlings in the NDC parliamentary contest in the Klottey Korle Constituency.
Meredith Naakai Lamptey Addy whose father was also the Member of Parliament of the same seat in 1996 is seeking to continue the works of her late father.
In an interview with GhanaWeb’s Nimatu Yakubu Atouyese, she said, one of the reasons she is eyeing the seat is largely because of her concern for the prosperity of the people in the area.
“Over the years, a number of issues have continuously impeded development in the community. Some of these landmark challenges include the lack of viable job opportunities and the absence of effective structures to address the welfare needs of constituents.
“Despite some interventions made in the past, there is still more to be done. On that note, I shall as a matter of priority, if ultimately elected, work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that lucrative job avenues are made available to all; especially the youth. This will be accompanied by the creation of networking opportunities for self-development and capacity-building,” she said.
Meredith also added that she is seeking to strengthen the cracks of the party as it appears to be weakening in the constituency.
Meredith Naakai Lamptey Addy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science University of Ghana.
She also has a Master’s in Business Administration from GIMPA and is currently undertaking a Masters in Human Resource Management also at GIMPA.
She served as her father’s personal Assistant who was C.E.O of Sidalco group of companies, Dominion Oil, Radio and TV XYZ during her National service between 2008 and 2009.
She is currently serving as the Ranking Member of the NDC, National Business development committee, member of the NDC National Welfare Committee, Sports Committee and Ga Dangme caucus.
Meredith Naakai Lamptey Addy is also the Managing Director of Patmeco Ghana Limited, Game Idol printing and advertising and Worldwide Alliance Investment Limited which is also a real estate company owned by herself and her husband.
Members of the Pensioners Bondholders Forum have thronged Finance Ministry’s premises to demand payment for their matured coupons and principal.
Pensioner bondholders who were spared from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) have complained that the government has not upheld its responsibilities to them.
After protesting their involvement in the DDEP, the agitated bondholders are back with placards to picket the offices and cladded in red bands chanting war songs in hopes of getting the authorities’ attention.
‘Show us some care’, ‘Pensioners’ funds = Pension funds’ are some of the inscriptions on the signage they hoisted.
Pensioners Bondholders Forum say their bonds matured as far back as March and have not been paid, hence the action.
A retired police officer who has his funds locked up lamented the situation’s impact on his activities.
“He [Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta] should try and pay my money to me. Even if they will cease the issued and give us our capital or principal money we used in the bonds, they should give it to us,” he told JoyNews.
As the 2024 general elections draw nigh, more projections for a win for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) troop in.
Among the recent individuals to declare victory for the NPP is former head of monitory at Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu.
In an interview with Peace FM on its “Kokrokoo” programme, Mr Owusu said the winner of the elections has already been chosen by God and that there isn’t much the main opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) can do about it.
“Nana Akufo-Addo has broken the record already. He will hand over to his own party…The 2024 elections have already been decided…God has already chosen the one who will lead this country,” he said.
According to him, he would not have been disturbed should Mahama have been chosen by God to lead the country due to his experience, but that is not the case, he said.
To buttress his point, he reiterated that “NPP will win the next 2024 elections, come what may”.
Prior to this, the Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong noted that by all means, the NPP will remain in power come 2025.
His statement met stern opposition from the NDC who described the MP’s words as “treasonable”.
On the matter, the Police is said to have they find no fault with Mr Acheampong’s comment, however, advised that politicians refrain from inciting the public to engage in violence in the next polls.
The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has vowed to go on an indefinite strike should government fail to ensure a wage raise and back pay from January 2023 are granted.
This information was provided in a letter written to the executive secretary of the National Labor Commission (NLC).
According to the letter from Abdulai Yakubu, general secretary of JUSAG, the government has until Friday, May 12, 2023, to accept and implement reviewed salaries with all back pay from January 2023; otherwise, the association will go on strike.
The letter referred to a previous letter dated May 5, 2023, addressed to the President, which requested approval of the recommendation of the Judicial Council on the review of salaries and related allowances for staff of the Judicial Service in line with Article 149 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
The letter also acknowledged the economic challenges in the country and the withdrawal of the Cost of Living Allowance in December 2022, but noted that members of JUSAG had shown patience for the past four months.
Judicial staff
JUSAG has reiterated its notice to the National Labour Commission, stating that if the approval is not received by the stated date, members will wear red armbands to work from May 15, 2023, for one week.
The letter further states that if no approval is received by May 19, 2023, JUSAG will embark on an indefinite strike. The association’s leadership urged the President to act swiftly to prevent adverse consequences to justice delivery.
At the National May Day parade in Bolgatanga, Mr Yakubu, speaking through the Ghana News Agency, the JUSAG General Secretary called on the government to urgently review their salaries.
He pointed out that members of the Judicial Service, the third arm of government that provided critical services, were dissatisfied with their salaries, which had not been reviewed for two years and four months.
He emphasized that they had exercised enough patience and that the President needed to approve the new salary recommendation.
Former Minister of Education and Assin South Member of Parliament, Professor Dominic Fobih, has tied the knot for the ninth time.
According to reports, the new wife is a young woman of 27. The age gap between the two is 53 years.
A brief video from the event shows the politician/educator dancing joyfully with his new wife, who was dressed in a white and gold beaded-lace corset gown.
The two danced to Dada KD’s love song “Fatia Fata Nkrumah” while he held his wife’s waist with his right hand and she placed her hands on his shoulders. The audience applauded as they performed.
Love knows no age: Ex-Education Minister Prof Dominic Fobih marries 9th wife at 80 pic.twitter.com/8cfxDcA9Yp
— The Independent Ghana (@independent_gh) May 8, 2023
An appreciation message that came with their picture read: “Thank you for celebrating our special day with us and making it the most memorable day of our lives. Mr and Mrs Fobih.”
Born on July 16, 1942, Dominic Fobih was a legislator from January 2001 to January 2017 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party. He was also the Minister of Lands, Forestry, and Mines during Ex-President John Agyekum Kufour’s administration.
He was once a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast.
Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, a former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, has stated that he will not accept any ministerial position from any government again. He said he remains an active politician, but he does not want to be part of the cabinet.
“I am still a politician but to accept a ministerial appointment, no, it will never happen again,” he said on UTV.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng also defended his role as the former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining. He said he was not scared or intimidated by any lawsuits or allegations against him over the ‘galamsey’ report. He said he did his best to fight illegal mining, but some people in government sabotaged his efforts.
“I fear God, I respect people but I’m not afraid of humans. And you cannot intimidate me,” he said.
He advised government officials to be honest and upright in their work and not to compromise their integrity for personal gain.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng served as the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation from 2017 to 2021. He is a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and the founder of the National Cardiothoracic Centre.
A memorial service for fallen firefighters who perished in the line of duty was held in Accra last Thursday to honor International Firefighters’ Day.
The celebration’s theme was “Recognizing the sacrifices of Firefighters and Our Fallen Heroes.”
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) also launched its 60th anniversary celebration at the event.
The Chief Fire Officer of the GNFS, Julius Aalebkure Kuunor, said it was important to honour the memory of the departed fire officers for the sacrifices they made.
“What remains hidden to the general public is the risk firefighters go through by the minute to keep them safe.
“Their good works will follow them to their Maker and we shall not forget them,” he added.
In attendance at the event included the Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery; the Chairman of the Fire Service Council, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi; Directors of the GNFS, retired chief fire officers and some family members of the departed firefighters.
The Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, who launched the anniversary celebration, commended the firefighters for their tireless efforts and for staying true to the cause of saving lives and properties.
The year-long celebration is themed: “60 years of existence: The role of the Ghana National Fire Service in national development “.
Mr Dery said the celebration offered a unique opportunity to reset and adapt to the changing times in line with international standards of firefighting.
Prayers were said for the lost souls who were also posthumously presented with the “Firefighter Coin”, specially minted and engraved with images and symbols that represent the firefighters’ courage, bravery and dedication to service.
Traditional authorities have bemoaned the lack of virgin girls at Dodowa in the Shai Osudoku District for Dipo – a rite of passage for pubertal females among the Krobos.
Some women who spoke to the media noted that to ensure the continuation of the rite, they are now compelled to introduce girls who have had sexual intercourse, which is against the tradition.
They indicated that most girls no longer practice chastity.
The leader of the “mothers”, Awunye Ashiakie, who has been involved in Dipo rites for the past 60 years believes there has been a decline in interest for Dipo due to formal education, Christian Religion and the media.
According to her, the rite among the Krobo people has been described as an evil doctrine by pastors to the world.
“It is the misconception people peddle around that is preventing others from bringing their daughters. I have heard people say you will not give birth or get married when you go through it and that is false,” she said.
One, Maameo, perturbed about the trend fears Dipo rite would gradually fade away till nothing of it is remembered.
Despite the current circumstance, they are resolute to preserve their tradition.
When asked whether Dipo had outgrown its usefulness and should be cancelled, they are said to have retorted loudly, “y3 ntwa mu,” to wit “we will never cancel it.”
Dipo
The Dipo rite transitions a female from childhood into womanhood.
The initiates would be aged between 10-14 and the rite traditionally could take up to three years of which the girls had to remain on the Krobo mountain.
In both the Shai and Krobo communities going through the Dipo rite is a prerequisite in becoming a woman who is capable of fully participating in the community, being a wife and having a family.
In the olden days, those who did not do it or got pregnant before the Dipo rite was done were considered outcasts – some banished from the community.
Steps
The initiate has to be stripped of who she was before in preparation of the transition into womanhood all of these actions are carried out by elderly women in the house.
Yi Si Pomi – The shaving of the head. The lower part of the head of each initiate is shaved. This is usually done by an adult female in the house
Kpa womi- Tying of the string. All jewellery and beads worn by the initiate are removed and she is given a string bracelet with a single reddish bead called lɛ
Tying of the Sɔni – This is a raffia type fibre tied around a girls neck
During this time the Dipo initiates are not allowed to wear any footwear.
Food
1) They cannot drink pipe borne water except on the Monday Niwomi ceremony.
2)They are not allowed to eat foreign foods such as Peanuts and Roasted Maize.
3) They can only eat typical Krobo foods such as Alamua (called ‘water yam’), hyɛ (white guinea yam), Plantain, Wuwui etc.
Further rituals take place where initiates will visit the shrine, Klama songs will be sung, and the girls will have a period of time away from the community where they are taught about the Krobo way of life.
At the end of their rites, they will be dressed beautifully and paraded around the town as worthy Krobo women.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the North Tongu member of parliament, has finally explained why he kicked court papers delivered to him by a fictitious bailiff in February of this year.
The MP was brought before the court for the behavior, which the plaintiff, Victor Kusi Boateng, claimed amounted to contempt for the legal system.
The contempt case, which only sought a jail sentence for Ablakwa, was dismissed last Thursday with the judge awarding Ablakwa a fine of 10,000 cedis.
In an interview on Metro TV, Ablakwa provided an explanation for why he violently kicked court papers delivered to him.
According to the MP, he was provoked as the young man who was sent refused to identify himself to him.
“I was extremely provoked; I was asking the gentleman who are you and he wouldn’t tell me. He just says ‘I have documents for you,’ I say ‘which documents?’ Just let me know, then he threw it at me.
“So, I lost my cool… honestly that is not me. It was an unfortunate incident …but I felt so disrespected. I was driving myself and I thought I could just kick it out of my way and go away,” he added.
He also reiterated that in court, the plaintiff failed to provide proof of service when the judge demanded it because the supposed bailiff was not known to the court, a fact his lawyers established when they went through the court registry.
The said bailiff had gone to serve defamation suit on Ablakwa from Kusi Boateng, an official of the National Cathedral Project who Ablakwa had been publishing damning allegations about since last year.
Method acting is a technique of acting in which an actor tries to immerse themselves in the character’s personality, emotions, and experiences, often staying in character even off-screen.
Method acting can produce powerful and realistic performances, but it can also be challenging and demanding for the actors. Here are seven African actors who put the method in method acting.
Chiwetel Ejiofor
The Nigerian-British actor is known for his versatile and nuanced roles in films such as 12 Years a Slave, The Martian, and Doctor Strange.
For his role as Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 12 Years a Slave, Ejiofor spent months researching the history of slavery and learning how to play the violin.
Chiwetel Ejiofor
He also endured physical hardships such as hanging from a tree and being whipped on set. Ejiofor said that he wanted to “honor Solomon’s experience” and “connect to his soul”.
Lupita Nyong’o
The Kenyan-Mexican actress rose to fame with her Oscar-winning debut performance as Patsey, a slave who suffered brutal abuse at the hands of her master in 12 Years a Slave.
Nyong’o prepared for the role by reading slave narratives, visiting plantations, and practicing picking cotton.
Lupita Nyong’o
She also isolated herself from the rest of the cast and crew to feel the loneliness and desperation of her character. Nyong’o said that playing Patsey was “the most difficult thing I’ve ever done” and that she had to “go to some dark places within myself”.
Daniel Kaluuya
The Ugandan-British actor is best known for his roles in Get Out, Black Panther, and Judas and the Black Messiah.
For his role as Fred Hampton, the charismatic leader of the Black Panther Party who was assassinated by the FBI in Judas and the Black Messiah, Kaluuya spent months studying Hampton’s speeches, mannerisms, and ideology.
Daniel Kaluuya
He also met with Hampton’s family and friends, and even took up smoking to emulate Hampton’s voice. Kaluuya said that he felt “a huge responsibility” to portray Hampton accurately and respectfully.
Charlize Theron
The South African actress is renowned for her ability to transform herself physically and emotionally for her roles.
For her role as Aileen Wuornos, a serial killer who was executed for murdering seven men in Monster, Theron gained 30 pounds, shaved her eyebrows, wore prosthetic teeth, and used makeup to create a rough and aged appearance.
Charlize Theron
She also studied Wuornos’s interviews, court transcripts, and letters to get into her mindset. Theron said that she wanted to “find the human being” behind the monster.
Forest Whitaker
The American actor, who has Nigerian ancestry, is acclaimed for his portrayals of historical figures such as Idi Amin, Cecil Gaines, and Zuri.
For his role as Idi Amin, the notorious dictator of Uganda who was responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths in The Last King of Scotland, Whitaker learned Swahili, mastered Amin’s accent and body language, and stayed in character even when the cameras were not rolling.
Forest Whitaker
He also met with Amin’s relatives, former generals, and victims to understand his personality and motivations. Whitaker said that he tried to “comprehend” Amin rather than “condemn” him.
Sophie Okonedo
The Nigerian-British actress is celebrated for her roles in Hotel Rwanda, The Secret Life of Bees, and Ratched.
For her role as Tatiana Rusesabagina, the wife of Paul Rusesabagina who saved over a thousand people during the Rwandan genocide in Hotel Rwanda, Okonedo visited Rwanda and spoke to survivors of the genocide.
Sophie Okonedo
She also learned how to speak Kinyarwanda, the language of Rwanda, and wore traditional Rwandan clothing. Okonedo said that she felt “a great sense of duty” to tell Tatiana’s story with “authenticity and dignity”.
Idris Elba
The British actor, who has Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian roots, is famous for his roles in Luther, The Wire, and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
For his role as Nelson Mandela, the legendary anti-apartheid activist and president of South Africa in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Elba spent months researching Mandela’s life, reading his books, listening to his speeches, and meeting with his family and friends.
Idris Elba
He also learned how to speak Xhosa, Mandela’s native language, and spent a night in Robben Island prison where Mandela was incarcerated for 18 years. Elba said that playing Mandela was “a massive challenge” and “a real honor”.
A fan who is accused of using racial slurs against Tottenham striker Son Heung-min on Saturday has been presented a club ban by Crystal Palace.
Social media users have been sharing video of a guy purportedly making a racist gesture toward Son at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium’s away end.
The incident happened in the 89th minute of Tottenham’s 1-0 victory when South Korea captain Son was replaced by substitute Arnaut Danjuma, who had to walk past the Palace traveling fans and around the edge of the pitch.
A Palace statement said: “We are aware of a video circulating online (as well as reports made directly to us) regarding an individual in the away end at Spurs yesterday, appearing to make racist gestures towards Heung-min Son.
“Evidence has been shared with the police, and when he is identified, he will face a club ban. We will not tolerate such behaviour in our club.”
A Tottenham statement read: “We are aware of an allegation of racial abuse towards Heung-min Son during yesterday’s match.
“Discrimination of any kind is abhorrent and has no place in society, our game and at our club.
“We are working with Met Police and Crystal Palace to investigate and identify the individual involved.
“We will do everything in our powers to ensure that if found guilty, the individual will receive the strongest possible action — as was the case earlier this season when Son suffered similar racial abuse at Chelsea.”
Tottenham supporters’ group Spurs REACH, which stands for Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage, wrote on Twitter: “Why oh, who, oh why, do adults in this day and age think that this is an acceptable way to behave towards another human being?
“We sincerely hope that Crystal Palace Football Club identify and ban this individual for life!”
Son was also racially abused during a match between Chelsea and Tottenham at Stamford Bridge in August.
Chelsea banned a season-ticket holder indefinitely after footage emerged on social media of a fan in the home end making a racist gesture towards Son in the 2-2 draw.
The Crown Prosecution Service in March issued the Chelsea supporter with an order banning him from attending live football matches for three years.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II celebrated his 73rd birthday in London while he and his wife Lady Julia were present for King Charles III’s coronation.
Since his accession to the throne in 1999, Otumfuo’s birthday has frequently been commemorated by opulent celebrations at home or wherever he goes on May 6.
A viral video on social media showed the Asantehene and his wife Lady Julia dancing on the dance floor to the song “Iron Boy” by Amakye Dede.
— The Kingdom Of Asante (@KingdomOfAsante) May 7, 2023
Guests for the 73rd birthday banquet in London included former president John Agyekum Kufuor, current president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and several subchiefs.
President Akufo-Addo in his speech eulogized the Asantehene for his role especially in promoting peace and stability in Ghana before proposing a toast in his name.
Otumfuo and his wife arrived in the UK last week and met King Charles at a private meeting before joining the coronation events on May 6 clad in Kente. The president also attended the coronation along with First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo.
Nana Asantehene is the 16th Asantehene, enstooled on 26 April 1999. He was born on May 6, 1950 making him 73 years this year.
His stool name, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is in direct succession to the 17th-century founder of the Ashanti Empire, Otumfuo Osei Tutu I.
He is currently the Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and one of the most revered traditional authorities in the country.
The Nigerian police say they have freed 58 persons who had been kidnapped and held prisoner in Kogi state’s central region by criminal groups.
How long they had been detained remained unclear.
According to a police spokeswoman, the rescue in Udulu Forest was a cooperative effort by local volunteer defense organizations.
She claimed that one captive died during the operation while the abduction group fled with minor injuries.
Bola Tinubu, the incoming president who will take office later this month, will face a number of difficult security concerns, including kidnappings for ransom.
During Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure as president, they spread to numerous states and became typical.
Here are ten facts about the Cullinan Diamond on the Imperial State crown and the Sovereign Sceptre
The Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, weighing 3,106 carats (621.20 grams) and measuring 10.1 x 6.35 x 5.9 cm.
The Cullinan Diamond was discovered on 26 January 1905 at the Premier No.2 mine in Cullinan, South Africa, by Frederick Wells, the surface manager of the mine. He initially thought it was a piece of glass.
The Cullinan Diamond was named after Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the mine and the chairman of the Premier Diamond Mining Company. He was also a prominent figure in South African politics and business.
The Cullinan Diamond was bought by the Transvaal Colony government for £150,000 and presented to King Edward VII of the United Kingdom in 1907 as a gesture of loyalty and goodwill. The king accepted the gift and entrusted it to a Dutch jeweller named Joseph Asscher to cut it into smaller stones.
The Cullinan Diamond was cut into nine major stones and 96 smaller ones by Joseph Asscher and his team in Amsterdam. The cutting process took eight months and involved several challenges and risks. The first cut broke the knife instead of the diamond, and Asscher fainted after he successfully split the diamond into two pieces.
The largest stone cut from the Cullinan Diamond was named Cullinan I or the Great Star of Africa. It is a pear-shaped diamond that weighs 530.4 carats (106.08 grams) and is the largest clear-cut diamond in the world. It is mounted in the head of the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross, one of the British crown jewels.
The second-largest stone cut from the Cullinan Diamond was named Cullinan II or the Second Star of Africa. It is a cushion-shaped diamond that weighs 317.4 carats (63.48 grams) and is the fourth-largest clear-cut diamond in the world. It is mounted in the front of the Imperial State Crown, another British crown jewel.
The other seven major stones cut from the Cullinan Diamond are known as Cullinan III to IX and range in weight from 94.4 carats (18.88 grams) to 4.39 carats (0.88 grams). They are part of Queen Elizabeth II’s personal jewellery collection and are not on public display. They include brooches, pendants, rings, and a necklace.
The Cullinan Diamond and its nine major stones have been used by various British monarchs at coronations, jubilees, state openings of parliament, and other ceremonies. They have also been displayed at various exhibitions around the world, including South Africa in 1994. They are estimated to be worth more than $2 billion today.
The Cullinan Diamond is estimated to have formed in Earth’s mantle transition zone at a depth of 410–660 km (255–410 miles) and reached the surface 1.18 billion years ago. It has a near-colourless hue and a high clarity grade. It also contains a small pocket of air that produces a rainbow effect at certain angles.
The re-registration of SIM cards has descended into controversy following disclosures that some members of the public have registered SIM cards that they did not own using their Ghana Cards.
Some SIM card owners are concerned that unauthorized numbers have been registered using their Ghana Cards.
The information came to light after the mobile network providers, the Ministry of Communication and Digitalization, and the National Communications Authority (NCA), as a security measure to prevent the purpose of the re-registration exercise from being defeated, offered a check route through the short code 4021#.
In one instance, a victim, Adwoa Vic, said she could not believe it when she went through the checking process with the short code.
“My card is registered with five unknown numbers aside from mine. I use only one sim card, an MTN number,” she said.
She asked whether subscribers were safe in the country, given the revelations about the virtual theft of people’s Ghana Card details for indiscriminate SIM card registration purposes.
The short code allows persons to cross-check the list of SIM cards registered with their Ghana Card.
The system allows subscribers to request a SIM card to be delinked if they were unaware of the SIM card registered in their name.
“If you identify any unknown mobile number(s) linked to your Ghana Card, request for a delinking of the number(s) from your service provider as soon as possible,” the communication to that effect said.
Observation
Observing some people verify the number of sim cards linked to their Ghana Card, the Daily Graphic realised that while those who completed their sim re-registration at the offices of the moble network operators (MNOs) had no problem with their cards, many of those whose cards were linked to numbers not known to them had completed the two-phase process with some authorised agents.
In the peak of the re-registration exercise, some interventions were rolled out to make the process of registration more accessible and convenient as the offices of the MNOs recorded large crowds of people who wanted to complete the process.
Experiences
In separate interviews with the Daily Graphic, some SIM card owners said they were amazed how their Ghana Cards were used to register other multiple numbers without their consent or knowledge.
A victim, Kwame Kankam, said he was only alerted by his network service provider that he had exceeded the maximum 10 SIM cards registrations permitted by the system.
The message from MTN, dated April 15, 2023, read: “Dear Valued Customer, you have exceeded the maximum of 10 SIMs that can be registered by an individual. Kindly visit the nearest service centre before April 17, 2023, for further assistance as the additional SIMs will be disconnected. Kindly treat as urgent”.
Mr Kankam said he was told at the MTN office that not only were some unknown MTN numbers registered with his Ghana Card, but that several AirteltiGo numbers had been registered in his name as well.
He explained that while it did not take long to delink the eight additional numbers from his Ghana Card at the AirteltiGo office, he had to go back and forth to do same at the MTN office.
He said he suspected his Ghana Card was used by an agent he had transacted business with to register some MTN and AirteltiGo lines he knew nothing about.
“For now they have delinked all the numbers; it is now left with the MTN line,” he said.
Paul Nyonyo, also a victim, said three other additional Vodafone lines he did not own were registered in his name with his Ghana Card.
“I had two Vodafone lines, but when I checked, they had registered three other lines with my card. I went to their office in Cape Coast where I met other people in a long queue with a similar problem. After waiting for my turn, the other three numbers were delinked from my Ghana Card number,” he said.
He said he did not understand how the problem happened since he bought and registered his sim card at a Vodafone office.
Doho Haruna said he detected through the checking process that his Ghana Card had been linked to three numbers.
“I do not own the third number, which is a Vodafone number. I have only one Vodafone line, which I have used for more than a decade,” he said.
Crucial intervention
Another subscriber, De-Graft Aboagye Williamson, however, described the cross-checking initiative as a good intervention, saying “at least, we have made some progress so far”.
He expressed the hope that other challenges would be addressed going forward.
Also, Yaw Adjei, whose card was linked to three numbers he did not know, described the intervention as “crucial as it would save people like him from trouble.”
“I see this Ghana Card identity theft as similar to what happens to ATM card fraud. This intervention is very crucial because some of us will be there and suddenly picked up for a crime we have not committed, but which has our ID linked to that crime.”
Other people who also spoke to the Daily Graphic said that the NCA coming up with such an intervention was indicative of the problem. They expressed the hope that the efforts to clean up the system would also not encounter any subtle impediment from the mobile network operators (MNOs) that may want to hold on for their numbers to look good.
NCA
At a recent news conference, the NCA said SIM registration was a key national assignment fundamental to the country’s digital transformation agenda.
According to the Director-General of the NCA, Joe Anokye, the exercise was critical to build trust and confidence in the use of telecommunications, financial and other essential services, adding that “a reliable SIM register will support security and law enforcement activities to safeguard our common peace and promote socio-economic development”.
Efforts to get the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications to also indicate what interventions they were putting in place to ensure that the issue was resolved in order not to pose any threat to those who had identified the illegal linkage of their Ghana cards to unknown numbers were unsuccessful.
SIM registration
The SIM card registration exercise in the country began on October 1, 2021.
After an initial six-month deadline, the exercise has been extended a number of times to enable all subscribers to register.
Individuals can register up to 10 SIMs while businesses can register more.
The NCA, at a news conference recently, gave customers of telecommunication networks who were yet to register their SIM cards up to May 31, 2023, to do so or be deactivated.
This is likely to affect some 11,122,295 (30.4 per cent) persons who are unregistered and yet to complete the SIM card registration process to link their phone numbers to the Ghana Card.
The NCA further said it would deactivate and delink SIM cards that had not completed the SIM registration process with the Ghana Card.
As of Wednesday, April 26, 2023, there were 36,571,256 active SIM cards of the various telecommunication networks in the country.
About 6,178,452 SIM cards have since been deactivated and delinked as a result of the failure to complete the SIM registration process.
A total of 25,448,962 (69.6 per cent) persons have completed the two-stage registration process.
Despite the upheaval in the banking industry and the effects of increasing borrowing prices, job growth in the US remained strong last month.
253,000 new positions were added by employers, which was more than many analysts had predicted.
The unemployment rate decreased to 3.4%, hitting a low not seen in many years.
The improvements served as a reminder of the US labor market’s tenacity, which has endured despite vigorous attempts by the US central bank to slow the economy.
The Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest rate from near zero to between 5% and 5.25% in little over a year, an abrupt shift aimed at curbing prices that were soaring last year at the fastest pace in decades.
These increases have sharply increased the cost of buying a home or car, as well as making it more expensive to borrow to expand a business or take on other debt. In theory, that should reduce demand, leading the economy to slow and easing the pressures pushing up prices.
But while job gains have moderated since last year, they continue to outpace the numbers that economists estimate are needed to keep up with population growth.
In its Friday report, the Labor Department said hiring had been weaker than previously estimated in February and March.
But last month, job creation picked up again, while wages were up 4.4% from a year ago.
“Today’s report clearly suggests weakening labour markets – most obviously in the downward revisions of prior months data – but from a very strong starting point,” said Ronald Temple, chief market strategist at Lazard.
Many economists expect the US economy to fall into recession later this year, noting big slowdowns in key sectors such as housing.
Recent weeks have seen a flurry of job cut announcements by big companies such as Facebook-owner Meta, Amazon, entertainment giant Disney, banks and other firms.
The rate rises also contributed to turmoil in the banking sector, which has been rocked by the most serious string of failures since the 2008 financial crisis.
But the head of the US central bank, Jerome Powell, said this week that the continuing strength of the labour market made him hopeful that this time would be “different” – and the US could avoid a downturn that would throw millions of people out of work.
“That would be against history,” he acknowledged. “I fully appreciate that.”
Image caption,Brian Zovko is optimistic that he’ll get a new job
Software engineer Brian Zovko was laid off from his job in the car industry in February.
He said he was surprised because his company had been posting strong profits. But more recently bosses had raised the prospect of cost cuts, noting that they were concerned about the impact of higher borrowing costs and a slowdown in the economy.
The 27-year-old, who lives in Texas, says he has been relying on savings and trying to spend cautiously. He said he sensed that the market has cooled over the past few months – but he remained hopeful he would find a new job shortly.
“I’m mildly optimistic that I should be able to get back on track,” he said. However, he added, “it seems like there’s a decent risk the economy gets worse”.
