Otiko Afisa Djaba, a former gender minister for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has criticized the NPP administration for what she claims is their lackadaisical attitude toward the economy and the cries of Ghanaians.
She claimed that when Ghanaians decided to support the NPP in the 2020 elections, they placed their lives and future in the hands of the ruling government. As a result, it is the responsibility of the government to sit up and make better judgments.
She noted that although the challenges are not peculiar Ghana, President Akufo-Addo must improve himself an extraordinary leader.
“I am very angry with my government. That issues like this, in terms of the caterers, prompt action is not being taken,” she said.
“When 1 million people give their votes to you, you must do the right thing by them. This is not about politics, this is about the development of the people, with the people. Giving them the necessary information. Where you cannot meet them, talk to them. They are human beings; they will understand because the NPP is a listening government. These are serious times and we need serious decisions to be taken.
“Food prices are like that all over the world, it’s not only Ghana but why are you a leader? You are a leader to solve the problems,” she added.
Her remarks follow an uproar from several caterers in the Ashanti Region who complained about the delay in paying their arrears and the 97 pesewas given to kids.
According to the former minister, it is not about “breaking the 8, It’s about solving the problems of the people of Ghana that is why you are elected.”
“I have nothing to be peeved about, I have so much joy about my party and I’m very proud of them. Akyia, emmu y3! But we must be serious and understand that it is a privilege to be in this position, you will never get it again. Out of the 30 million Ghanaians, you have been given the single privilege to take Ghana to the next level.
“Let’s die trying, let’s put in the structures, the fight that we fought during the campaign, let’s reignite it, and open fire, then the people of Ghana will understand that, we are serious about their development and we will win back their trust. Take the apathy out. Yes, there are issues but which life hasn’t got issues? It is our time to get it right and we must die getting it right and that is why I am so angry and I want all the ministers and appointees and everybody that believes in Ghana to get angry enough. And the government should not take it as somebody is shaming them oh, criticism is good to prepare you to get it right.
“The people of Ghana are waiting for us to do the right thing and by God if we are alive today, let’s do everything we can. All the challenges, are opportunities for us to think outside the box and get it right. Ghana deserves it, you and I deserve it,” she added.
In my first article, I reported the many benefits derived from groundnut soup. The benefits are enshrined in the peanut used for groundnut soup. The reason why groundnut soup could help men’s sexual health is due to the important compound in peanuts called arginine. Now, let us examine the science of arginine and sexual health.
One study by Morris et al.(2017) found that arginine is necessary for the development of T-cells, which are white blood cells that play central roles in the immune response. It is an amino acid that helps the body build protein. Your body usually makes all the L-arginine it needs. L-arginine is also found in most protein-rich foods, including fish, red meat, poultry, soy, whole grains, beans, and dairy products. As a supplement, L-arginine can be used orally and topically.
Another study by Mirmiran et al. (2017) also reports that arginine is found in high amounts in meat, poultry, dairy, nuts, soy products, and fish. The average daily intake of L-arginine from foods is reported to be 4–6 grams. The study also shows that a typical Western diet provides between 25–30% of total arginine present in the body (Rosenthal et al. 2016). Arginine in peanuts used for groundnut soup is also used in formulating supplements and can be found in powder, liquid, capsule, and tablet forms at grocery stores, supplement stores, etc. In this article, I highlight the benefits of arginine and the various form available apart from groundnut soup.
L-Arginine
L-arginine is found naturally in groundnut, meat, poultry, and fish. It can also be made synthetically in a lab. s an amino acid that helps make proteins. It also becomes the gas nitric oxide (NO) in the body. NO is important for erectile function because it helps blood vessels relax, so more oxygen-rich blood can circulate through your arteries.
Healthy blood flow to the arteries of the penis is essential for normal erectile function. Effectiveness of Arginine Barassi et al. (2017) have conducted extensive studies on L-arginine as a possible treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) and many other conditions. They found that a supplement form, though generally safe and well-tolerated by most men, won’t help restore healthy erectile function. The Mayo Clinic gives L-arginine a C grade when it comes to scientific evidence of successful ED treatment.
The interesting thing is that when combined with other supplements, it provides great support. Let’s examine them: L-arginine and yohimbine hydrochloride Akhondzadeh et al.(2010) study found that when Yohimbine hydrochloride, also known as yohimbine, an approved treatment for ED is combined with L-arginine, it shows some promise.
The study showed that the treatment is meant only for mild to moderate ED.
L-arginine and Pycnogenol
Stanislavov and Nikolova (2010) also found that when L-arginine and Pycnogenol supplements helped a significant number of men ages 25 to 45 with ED achieve normal erections. The treatment also didn’t cause side effects that occur with ED medication.
Pycnogenol is a trademark name for a supplement taken from the pine bark of a tree called the Pinus pinaster. Other ingredients may include extracts from peanut skin-groundnut skin) this is why groundnut could do magic for your ED, grape seed, and witch hazel bark. Remember this is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Other studies as standalone
The most recent systemic review and meta-analysis of arginine on erectile function, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, looked at 10 randomized controlled trials with a total of 540 subjects. They found that arginine ranging from 1,500 to 5,000 mg per day improved mild-to-moderate ED compared to placebo(Rhim et al. 2019).
Warnings
For those who would prefer to take an L-arginine supplement. Take note that L-arginine supplement, not groundnut soup has several possible side effects.
These include:
increased risk of bleeding unhealthy imbalance of potassium in the body change in blood sugar levels decreased blood pressure
For those who are already on prescription ED drugs, such as sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis). L-arginine may cause your blood pressure to drop, so if you have low blood pressure or take medications to control your blood pressure, you should avoid L-arginine or consult a doctor before trying it.
You should talk to your doctor if you have symptoms of ED. In many cases, ED has an underlying medical cause. And for many men, stress, and relationship troubles are also factors.
But before taking medications or supplements, consider trying home remedies such as groundnut soup to improve erectile function because it is loaded with arginine used for the supplement.
Besides, groundnut is naturally combined with ginger, garlic, hot pepper, fish is a good alternative. Diet can improve sexual function simpliciter. You just need time when opting for natural and home remedies to manage your sexual function.
If you smoke, quit. Smoking damages your blood vessels, so quit as soon as you can. Also, one small study reported that after one month of treatment with a combination of L-arginine and pycnogenol, only 5% of study participants experienced better erections.
But after three months of treatment, nearly 93% of men could experience a normal erection (Stanislavov, 2003). So it takes time even with combination therapies. Hence, using home remedies such as groundnut soup should be a habitual diet.
Take Home
Arginine is an important ingredient found in the ground that supports sexual function. Hence, home remedies such as groundnut are important to support men’s sexual health. Alternatively, arginine supplements are also available in pharmacy shops.
However, from studies, for those with ED, combination therapy was superior to monotherapies. Hence, just in case you want to combine L-arginine supplement with pharmaceutical you need to discuss it with your doctor. On the other hand, groundnut soup could be your savior.
And it’s also for women. Do not feel left behind, L-Arginine equally benefits women as it tackles typical issues such as loss of libido, inability to achieve orgasm, and lack of sensitivity in the genitals. Women users have attributed the increased ability to achieve orgasm and increased sensitivity leading to better sex to L-Arginine. Improved blood circulation due to the use of L-Arginine has indicated higher fertility.
NB: Prof. Nyarkotey has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations to justify his write-ups. My articles are for educational purposes and do not serve as Medical advice for Treatment. I aim to educate the public about evidence-based scientific Naturopathic Therapies.
The writer is a Professor of Naturopathic Healthcare, a Medical Journalist, and a science writer. President, Nyarkotey College of Holistic Medicine & Technology (NUCHMT)/African Naturopathic Foundation, Ashaiman, Ghana. E. mail: professor40naturopathy@gmail.com.
References
Martin D Rosenthal, Phillip W Carrott, Jayshil Patel, Laszlo Kiraly, Robert G Martindale, Parenteral or Enteral Arginine Supplementation Safety and Efficacy, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 146, Issue 12, December 2016, Pages 2594S–2600S, https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.115.228544
Rhim HC, Kim MS, Park YJ, et al. The potential role of arginine supplements on erectile dysfunction: a systemic review and meta-analysis [published correction appears in J Sex Med. 2020 Mar;17(3):560]. J Sex Med. 2019;16(2):223-234.
Akhondzadeh S, Amiri A, Bagheri AH. Efficacy and Safety of Oral Combination of Yohimbine and L-arginine (SX) for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction: a multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Iran J Psychiatry. 2010 Winter;5(1):1-3. PMID: 22952481; PMCID: PMC3430403.
Morris CR, Hamilton-Reeves J, Martindale RG, Sarav M, Ochoa Gautier JB. Acquired Amino Acid Deficiencies: A Focus on Arginine and Glutamine. Nutr Clin Pract. 2017 Apr;32(1_suppl):30S-47S. doi: 10.1177/0884533617691250. Epub 2017 Feb 1. PMID: 28388380.
R. Stanislavov & V. Nikolova(2010) Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction with Pycnogenol and L-arginine. Journal of sex and Marital Therappy. https://doi.org/10.1080/00926230390155104.
Mirmiran P, Moghadam SK, Bahadoran Z, Ghasemi A, Azizi F. Dietary L-Arginine Intakes and the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome: A 6-Year Follow-Up in Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. Prev Nutr Food Sci. 2017 Dec;22(4):263-270. doi: 10.3746/pnf.2017.22.4.263. Epub 2017 Dec 31. PMID: 29333377; PMCID: PMC5758088.
A. Barassi, M. M. Corsi Romanelli, R. Pezzilli, C. A. L. Damele, L. Vaccalluzzo, G. Goi, N. Papini, G. M. Colpi, L. Massaccesi, G. V. Melzi d’Eril(2017) Levels of l-arginine and l-citrulline in patients with erectile dysfunction of different etiology. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12293
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has been entreated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to expedite the appointment of Justice Gertrude Torkonoo as the new Chief Justice.
The President emphasized in a letter to the Speaker that this is being done to prevent a vacancy in the Chief Justice’s position upon Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah’s retirement as the departing head of the judiciary.
“It is my respectful hope that the approval by Parliament of Justice Torkonoo can proceed expeditiously to enable her assume office as soon as practicable following the retirement of Chief Justice Anin Yeboah”, parts of the letter read.
Last week, the President nominated Gertrude Araba Esabaa Torkornoo, a Justice of the Supreme Court, as the next Chief Justice of Ghana.
Her nomination is subject to approval by Parliament.
When approved by Parliament, Justice Torkornoo will replace Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, who retires as Chief Justice on May 24, this year, when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70 for justices of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
In a letter to the Council of State, President Akufo-Addo said Justice Torkornoo who has been “on the Supreme Court for the last four (4) and has been a member of the Judiciary for the last nineteen (19) years is duly qualified and eminently fit to discharge the functions of Chief Justice.”
Justice Torkornoo will become the third female Chief Justice in history, following the footsteps of Justices Georgina Theodora Wood and Sophia Akuffo.
Justice Torkornoo will be President Akufo-Addo’s third appointment to the office of Chief Justice since he assumed office in January 2017.
Already, the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has massively endorsed the nomination of Justice Gertrude Torkornoo as the incoming Chief Justice.
JUSAG wants Justice Torkornoo, whose nomination is subject to Parliamentary approval, to outrank current Chief Justice Anin Yeboah as the best Chief Justice with the issues of labour at heart.
Since January 2022, there have been a total of 119 criminal cases pending at the High Court and a few Circuit Courts across the nation. These cases involve the prosecution of roughly 725 people for crimes related to illegal mining (galamsey) in the nation.
The main regions where the prosecution of people involved in illicit mining is being done are the Eastern, Ashanti, Western, and Greater-Accra Regions. There are some in the Northern and Upper East Regions as well.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, provided a breakdown to the media and said that, on average, a typical galamsey case entails the arrest and prosecution of at least six or seven people.
For that matter, the total number of persons standing trial in the 119 cases is over 727. Most of the cases are prosecuted in the region in which the arrests were effected.
According to Mr. Dame, certain Ghanaians, Chinese, Nigerian, Nigerien, Burkinabe, and other West African nationals are involved in the trials.
Thirty-three (33) cases are being prosecuted at Tarkwa and Sekondi in the Western Region, twenty-three (23) cases are being prosecuted in the Obuasi and other parts of the Ashanti Region, and seven (7) cases are now pending in the High Court in Accra.
In the courts in Bolgatanga and Tamale, the Upper East and Northern Regions have three (3) and one (1) cases, respectively.
The Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995) defines the offenses for which the accused are being tried as undertaking a mining operation without a license and buying or selling minerals without a license.
The passage of Act 995, spearheaded by the Akufo-Addo administration in 2019, enhanced the sentences for both buying and selling minerals without a licence and undertaking a mining operation without a licence.
In the case of a Ghanaian, it is now a term of a minimum of fifteen years imprisonment and a maximum of twenty-five years together with a fine of a minimum of ten thousand penalty units and not more than fifteen thousand penalty units. In the case of a non-Ghanaian, Act 995 has enhanced the punishment for the same offences to a term of a minimum of twenty years imprisonment and a maximum of twenty-five years, together with a fine of a minimum of one hundred thousand penalty units and not more than three hundred and fifty thousand penalty units.
The new punishment regime is in contrast to the situation under Act 703 passed in 2006, which prescribed a penalty of a minimum of three thousand penalty units or imprisonment of not more than five years for the offence of trading in minerals and mining without a licence.
Some severe challenges with prosecution of galamsey cases
The Attorney-General drew attention to some of the challenges which have accounted for the relatively slow pace of prosecution of suspected galamsey offenders.
He stated that the grant of bail by the court to accused persons on very lenient conditions enables accused persons to easily meet them and abscond afterwards.
A number of the accused persons standing trial around the country have absconded after they were granted bail by the courts. Estreating the bail bonds has proved futile since the sureties have also absconded. Even when they do not abscond, they go back to engage in galamsey after having been granted bail by the courts.
The A-G indicated that the Judiciary ought to cooperate in this fight against galamsey by being cautious in the grant of bail and speeding up its processes to ensure swift prosecution and punishment of offenders.
There is also a lack of cooperation on the part of witnesses. The prosecution sometimes finds it difficult to secure witnesses who initially give statements at the investigations stage to come to Court to testify.
The unwillingness to testify is attributable to the fact that witnesses in galamsey cases live in the same community as the accused persons and are often threatened and intimidated by them.
Mr. Dame also indicated that sometimes, investigators fail to seize the illegal mining equipment used to commit the crime, and even when they do, they fail to bring the items to court. This makes the case of the prosecution quite difficult.
Another challenge is the failure of arresting officers to arrest suspects on the mining site itself, thereby making it difficult to link the suspects to the offence.
The absence or lack of court interpreters who can speak and interpret court proceedings in the language accused persons may want to use, as witnessed in the trial of a Vietnamese national in Accra, slows down court proceedings.
The A-G assured the nation of the commitment of his Office to the prosecution and punishment of suspected offenders following the conclusion of sound investigations.
Wrong sentencing by the court
One major drawback to the prosecution of galamsey offenders is what the A-G describes as the “strange and absurd situation” where some judges fail to apply the new mandatory punishment for convicted persons and rather sentence them to a fine only.
He cited the example of a conviction of some Chinese and Ghanaian nationals for galamsey by a Circuit Court in Tarkwa in 2021 and the accused persons were sentenced to a fine.
Pursuant to the instruction of the A-G, the Western Region Office of the Attorney-General intervened and applied to the High Court for judicial review of the orders of the Circuit Court.
This application was upheld and the accused persons were then sentenced to terms of fifteen and 20 years as required by law, which are being served.
A similar situation has occurred in the Upper East Region with persons being prosecuted by the Police, having been convicted in 2022 and sentenced to only a fine. This has come to the attention of the A-G, who has instructed the Upper East Regional Office of the Attorney-General to take over and file applications to quash the sentences and for the mandatory minimum of fifteen years in jail to be imposed.
Galamsey cases in the Greater-Accra – Aisha Huang
Even though Greater Accra is not a “galamsey region”, the High Court, Accra, has been the scene of many high-profile prosecutions in the fight against galamsey, especially involving Chinese and other foreign nationals.
Notably, in September 2022, the Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, revived the prosecution of the alleged notorious galamsey queen, En Huang also known as Aisha Huang, after her prosecution had been discontinued by the Republic in 2018, and she had been subsequently repatriated.
The prosecution of Aisha Huang is proceeding steadily, with the prosecution expected to close its case by Thursday, 4th May, after having called 11 witnesses.
Mr. Dame stated that most of the galamsey cases involving foreign nationals are often coupled with charges under the immigration laws of Ghana, in view of the regular infraction by them of those laws. Most immigration offences are however punishable with the option of a fine, a situation the Attorney-General cited as responsible for the persistent violation by foreign nationals. There is a need for a strengthening of Ghana’s immigration laws to make the punishment for a violation stricter and more deterrent.
Prosecution of galamsey in the Eastern Region
50 galamsey cases are currently pending in the High Court and Circuit Courts in the Eastern Region. The prosecution has closed its case in about eight (8) of them, with the court holding that a case has been established for the accused persons to open their defence. The accused persons are thus calling evidence in their defence.
Convictions in the Eastern Region
The Attorney-General had cause to recognise the exceptional contribution of the Eastern Regional Office of the Attorney-General for their distinct contribution to the punishment of galamsey.
It would be recalled that in October 2022, the Attorney-General reported the conviction of 187 persons, including twenty-nine (29) nationals of Niger, seven (7) Nigerians and 3 Chinese for galamsey offences between 2017 and October 2022.
A majority of the accused persons were tried and sentenced under the old section 99 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), which allowed punishment by a simple fine. This situation often compelled accused persons to plead guilty and walk away with just the imposition of a fine. The enhancement of the punishment for galamsey with the mandatory 15 years in prison, in the case of a Ghanaian and 20 years imprisonment in the case of a foreign national, in the view of the Attorney-General, has made trials in galamsey cases last longer as accused persons resist pleading guilty and resort to various processes to frustrate their trial.
This notwithstanding, out of the 187 convicted persons, thirty-three (33) were tried and sentenced under the new Act 995 between August 2021 and September 2022, and are currently serving various prison terms of between 15 years and 20 years, together with fines imposed by the court.
Galamsey trials in the Western Region
Mr Dame stated that 23 galamsey cases are currently pending, mostly at the courts in Tarkwa and Sekondi. These cases involve a range of people, including foreign nationals and officers of companies which have abused their exploratory and prospecting licences to illegally engage in mining.
Prosecution of galamsey offences in the Ashanti Region
The Ashanti Region also records 33 pending galamsey cases since 2022. The Attorney-General indicated that until recently, dockets on galamsey cases were prosecuted entirely by the Ghana Police Service, a situation which was fraught with serious challenges and which compelled the Attorney-General to instruct the Head of the Kumasi Office of the Attorney-General to call for all dockets on galamsey for prosecution.
This has sped up and boosted the general efficiency of prosecution of galamsey cases in the Ashanti Region.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the minister of education, has been installed Tepa’s development chief (Nkosuohene) in the Ashanti region.
Consequently, Nana Yaw Adutwum I, the stool name, has been given to him.
The Paramount Chief of Tepa, Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampen I, revealed through an interpreter that Dr. Yaw Adutwum received the chieftaincy title in recognition of his work promoting education in Tepa and its surroundings.
He emphasized how the minister has intervened to address numerous educational infrastructure issues in the region, including those at the elementary, senior high, and tertiary levels.
He particularly commended the minister for his role in making the Tepa Nursing Training operational.
The Tepa Traditional Council in a citation presented to the minister said they are proud of him based on his contribution towards education in the area.
“Mother Ghana is proud of you. You and your hard work have always been beyond our expectations and have contributed to our journey of success in this community. Thank you for choosing to be with Tepa community. Tepaman will forever be grateful for your immense contribution to the development and expansion of educational facilities in the municipality. Thank you for motivating and encouraging us with your actions and words over the years. May you continue to inspire us for many years to come. We are indeed proud of you, the citation read”.
After the installation, the Tepa Traditional Council then urged the Education Minister to pay serious attention to the Tepa Senior High School to address some critical challenges facing the School.
The traditional council called on the minister to particularly address infrastructural challenges facing the school.
The Education Minister on his part said he was proud to be installed as a chief in the area, and assured of playing any role possible to spearhead development in the area and make Tepa a module for the whole Ghana.
The minister also promised to address various challenges facing Tepa Senior High.
“You talked about Tepa Senior High School. The school has always been on my mind and it is on my priority list. After being installed a chief here, that means that I will give it double attention. I will do whatever I can to ensure the development of Tepa”.
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor Senior, a candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearership, holds the assertion that his son Dr. Kwabena Duffuor Junior has got what it takes to become a leader in the country.
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor Junior hopes to become the MP for Sekyere Afram Plains Constituency.
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor Senior has assured of his support to his son since he deems him capable and worthy.
“I have blessed my son to win the elections and become MP. He had his Ph.D. at the age of 28 years and is 40 now. He is more than ripe to lead the Constituency”
“I am supporting him fully, no question about that. My son consulted me and I Okayed him going for it. He has my support,” he revealed.
“He is my son and I am supporting in fully, I am supporting him to win and he will win.”
The NDC goes for primaries on the 13th of May to elect representatives for some constituencies and also a flag bearer.
The Sekyere Afram Plains Constituency will be a contest between an uncle current MP Alex Adomako-Mensah and a nephew Dr. Kwabena Duffuor Junior as the NDC incumbent candidate is a blood relative of the Duffuors.
Dr. Kwabena DuffuorSenior is also in a contest with former President John Mahama and Kojo Bonsu former KMA mayor in a flagbearership race on the same date.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has provided Ghanaians five pieces of staggering information about the national cathedral project just as promised on May 1, 2023.
The latest information comes on the back of a trip to the United States of America by the MP.
Mr Ablakwa in a write-up revealed that the project is registered in the US state of Washington DC under the name: “National Cathedral of Ghana and Bible Museum Foundation, Inc.”
“Articles of Incorporation we have secured from the District of Columbia Government’s Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (corporation’s division) confirm that a nonprofit corporation has been registered known as the “National Cathedral of Ghana and Bible Museum Foundation, Inc.”
This National Cathedral of Ghana and Bible Museum Foundation, Inc. received its Certificate of Incorporation with its effective date being May 3, 2021 and signed by Josef G. Gasimov, Superintendent of Corporations, Corporations Division.
According to him, the name National Cathedral of Ghana and Museum Foundation, Inc. is unmistakably different from what was incorporated in Ghana some two years prior, specifically on the 18th of July, 2019 as the National Cathedral of Ghana.
No member of clergy listed in US documents
He also claimed that even though there are three members listed as trustees in the US documentation, only one of them contained in counterpart registration papers of the National Cathedral of Ghana.
“Curiously, we have also discovered that none of the prominent Ministers of the Gospel who serve as Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana feature in the articles of incorporation and list of governors as submitted to US authorities.
The names of governors and authorized persons as contained in the Two-Year Report for Domestic & Foreign Filing Entity, he said, are: Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, Eric Okyere Darko and Dr. Vernon Darko.
“In US corporate terms “governor” typically refers to a member of the board of directors.
“We know Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah as the Executive Director of the “National” Cathedral Secretariat, however, it is unclear why government preferred Mr. Eric Okyere Darko and Dr. Vernon Darko over and above the prominent clergy serving on the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana,” he stated.
Address to US registration is fraudulent
“Even more shocking, we have discovered that the address provided on both the “National” Cathedral of Ghana website and to US authorities as the official address of the National Cathedral of Ghana and Bible Museum Foundation, Inc. is absolutely fraudulent. The advertised address is: National Cathedral of Ghana and Bible Museum Foundation, Inc. 1090 Vermont AVE NW, Washington, DC 20005.
“A personal visit to this address in Washington, DC and thorough verification from managers of the property indicate that the National Cathedral of Ghana and Bible Museum Foundation, Inc. has never been a tenant at that address.
“Indeed, none of the offices of the 12-floor apartment building has ever been occupied by the National Cathedral of Ghana and Bible Museum Foundation, Inc. or any agency representing this entity. The managers of the property were furious and clear that what was going on was simply criminal,” the post read in part.
Ablakwa ‘busts’ American consultant to project
We also decided to embark on the long travel to Springfield in Missouri where Mr. Cary Lee Summers who has been given US$6million of our money is described on the National Cathedral of Ghana website as “Consultant for the United States.”
On the “National” Cathedral website, the website of Nehemiahgroup.io and with official documents filed with US authorities, Cary Lee Summers provides this address for his Nehemiah Group: 3119 S Scenic Ave, Suite A, Springfield, MO 65807.
When we arrived at that address, there was nothing about the Nehemiah Group. We surprisingly saw quite a ramshackle warehouse with the inscription: Churchill Coffee Company, Wholesale Division.
While I was assessing the shacky warehouse which has portions used as a gym, Mr. Cary Lee Summers stepped out of his coffee wholesale division and made it into my pictures while briskly entering his car in very casual attire
Ablakwa reveals identity of two ‘unknown’ men in US incorporation documents
Checks conducted indicate that Mr. Eric Okyere Darko was appointed to the Board of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) by President Akufo-Addo and sworn in by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on October 12, 2021 — a few months after he was listed as one of three governors of the National Cathedral of Ghana and Bible Museum Foundation, Inc.
Mr. Eric Okyere Darko was also one of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong’s lawyers in the recent case against Anas.
Dr. Vernon Darko on the other hand is said to be the founder and CEO of EQUIPXP® (EXP) and a small business exporter. It is not clear what his usefulness will be to a National Cathedral project.
A government minister who was under the care of a Ugandan national army member has been shot dead.
The deputy minister of labor, retired colonel Charles Okello Engola, was shot on Tuesday morning at his residence in Kampala, the country’s capital.
It is still unclear if the soldier and his employer had a disagreement.
According to other eyewitnesses, the soldier shot into the air as he went through the neighborhood.
BREAKING NEWS: State Min. for housing Charles Okello Engola has been killed by his UPDF bodyguard before killing himself over salary delays The incident happened in the minister's home in Kyanja Engola had just lost his son in 2019 due to blood pressure #8thMAY2023UgandaProtestspic.twitter.com/zvBjpsM74b
Minutes afterwards, the soldier, whose identity has not yet been officially released, shot himself to death.
Reports say a number of people were injured in the incident.
Videos on social media show locals gathering at the scene in shock.
WATCH: What police said about the shooting of Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola, the State Minister for Labor, Employment and Industrial Relations.#MonitorUpdatespic.twitter.com/AFxKLBHkJ0
Tennis player Serena Williams announced her second pregnancy when she and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, arrived at the Met Gala.
Williams wore a long-sleeved V-neck dress with pearl necklaces to highlight her growing belly.
Writing on Instagram, Williams said she was “so excited when Anna Wintour invited the three of us to the Met Gala”.
Hers was not the only pregnancy revealed on the red carpet – model Karlie Kloss also announced she is expecting her second child with husband Joshua Kushner.
“I got a plus one, don’t tell anybody,” Kloss joked in an interview with Vogue on the red carpet. “You know what, this is also the first time I’m sharing my news, so it’s very special.”
The Met Gala is an annual invitation-only fundraiser for the Costume Institute, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In a TikTok post on Monday, Williams said she was “so excited when Anna Wintour invited the 3 of us to the Met Gala”.
The A-list attendees were requested to dress in attire that honored the German fashion designer, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 85, for the Met Gala’s theme this year.
From 1983 until his passing in 2005, Lagerfeld was the creative director of Chanel. In his memory, many Met Gala attendees wore timeless looks from the French fashion company.
Others, however, preferred to make reference to Lagerfeld’s adored cat Choupette, who was just as closely associated with the German designer’s signature style as his sunglasses and white hair ponytail.
The biggest night in the fashion calendar was unfortunately not attended by Choupette herself, but she apologized in an Instagram post.
“Many people invited me to walk the red carpet of the Met Gala in tribute to Daddy [Lagerfeld], but we preferred to stay peacefully and cosy at home,” said the cat.
“We pay tribute to my Daddy every day since his parting and we are very moved to see one more day dedicated to him.”
Here are some of the most eye-catching outfits from this year’s Met Gala.
1. Doja Cat understood the assignment
When your stage name is Doja Cat, and you’re asked to pay tribute to a man who loved his cat, your red carpet look really takes care of itself.
The US rapper did not disappoint, wearing a gown which featured cat ears, while sporting facial prosthetics to give herself more cat-like features.
Her glittering silver dress was designed by Oscar de la Renta and featured a dramatic ruffled train, which she accessorised with some equally dazzling jewellery.
2. Barry Keoghan and Burna Boy matched up
We’ve all experienced one of those awkward moments where you turn up at work and find you’re wearing an identical outfit to one of your colleagues.
So we sympathise with Irish actor Barry Keoghan and Nigerian singer Burna Boy, who wore strikingly similar chequered blue Burberry outfits to the Met Gala.
To be fair, both of them looked brilliant, and we applaud male stars who shun the standard black tuxedo on a red carpet in favour of a splash of colour.
3. Lil Nas X won the night by a whisker
The rapper turned up covered in sparkling silver body paint and jewels and wearing a matching metallic thong, in one of the most ambitious and unusual outfits of the night.
Upon closer inspection, fans spotted that his bejewelled eye mask also featured beaded whiskers – another likely reference to Lagerfeld’s cat.
To hammer home the point, when Lil Nas X was interviewed by reporters on the red carpet, he answered their questions by simply meowing and waving his claws.
4. Jenna Ortega hit peak Wednesday
While Ortega wore a bright pink Valentino dress to last year’s Met Gala, this time around she went with a distinctly spookier and more gothic vibe.
Her dark ensemble fitted the Lagerfeld aesthetic, but also reflected Ortega’s starring role in Wednesday, Netflix’s hugely successful Addams family spin-off.
Ortega recently told InStyle that playing the character had influenced her personal style. “I do think that Wednesday changed my taste a lot,” she said. “I have a hard time getting her off of me, at least clothing-wise.”
5. Jared Leto gave everyone paws
OK, back to the cats.
Actor Jared Leto can always be relied upon to deliver some of the craziest looks at the Met Gala – but he really outdid himself this year.
The Oscar winner turned up literally dressed as a cat. That’s it. There really isn’t much more we can say.
We’re lucky he decided to remove his giant cat head while posing for photographs – or we may never have even known it was him.
6. Ice Spice didn’t want to forget her first Met
The hottest rising star in music was making her Met Gala debut this year, so she understandably wanted to remember every moment.
Perhaps unaware of the invention of the smartphone, the 23-year-old instead brought her own jewel-encrusted camera to take photos (and complement her custom Balmain outfit).
According to TMZ, the New York rapper was personally invited to the Met Gala by Anna Wintour, who asked her to attend as a guest of Vogue.
7. Janelle Monáe is up for a game of badminton
The singer and actress looked frankly stunning in her mismatched black-and-white Thom Browne coat, which she later took off to reveal a shuttlecock-shaped sheer dress.
“My first Met Gala was in 2011, and I went with Karl [Lagerfeld]. So this is sort of full circle for us to be honouring him,” Monáe told People.
Monáe accessorised with a white leather quilted cat bag – yet another reference to Choupette.
8. Jeremy Pope wore Karl on a cape
The outfit which perhaps most explicitly referenced Lagerfeld was worn by actor Jeremy Pope.
The Hollywood star lit up the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s grand staircase in a huge cape emblazoned with the recognisable face of the designer.
The 30ft cape featured a hand-drawn illustration of Lagerfeld and was reportedly made by 70 seamstresses, with more than 5,000m of silk chiffon.
9. David Byrne forgot his helmet
Despite being famous for hits such as Lazy, singer David Byrne was possibly the only guest who turned up looking ready to do some exercise.
The Scottish-born star brought his bicycle with him – but wisely decided to walk it up the red carpet, which we imagine was a relief to the Met’s health and safety team.
Byrne wore an all-white outfit – which must have got muddy when he presumably had to cycle home – with some brightly-coloured trainers.
You may recognise the monochromatic suit, as it’s the same one Byrne wore when he performed the theme song to Everything Everywhere All At Once at the Oscars in March.
10. Glenn Close had a bit of trouble changing her sheets
We’ve all been there. You attempt to change your bedsheets by yourself, lose track of which corner is which, and end up in a right old tangle.
Actress Glenn Close arrived at the Met Gala looking as if she was still trying to figure it all out, so decided to bring her entire bedspread with her.
Her flowing gown was, in fact, a custom Erdem dress. “Like any great fashion designer, he has a passion to create something beautiful and distinctive,” the actress said of the designer.
11. Margot and Nicole remembered Karl
The Australian actresses both paid tribute to Lagerfeld with their choice of gowns and shared their memories of the designer.
Kidman wore a pale pink dress adorned with 3,000 silver crystals created by Lagerfeld for a Chanel No. 5 commercial she starred in.
“I’m very grateful to wear it,” Kidman told The Associated Press. “He was so much a part of my life, as were his whole team. He was the one really sort of shepherded me… in terms of my love of fashion.”
Robbie, meanwhile, explained she was the last Chanel ambassador to be handpicked by Lagerfeld. She said it was an “honour” to wear a 1993 black Chanel gown which Cindy Crawford first wore on a runway.
12. Jordan Roth doesn’t need an air conditioner
The US theatre producer may not be a household name, but he has consistently served up interesting looks at the Met Gala.
This year, Shiaparelli’s designer Daniel Roseberry transformed Roth into a human fan for the evening.
In an article for Vogue, Roth explained the outfit was an homage to the signature accessory that Lagerfeld often carried around with him.
“The fan is a form that transforms, has function as well as decoration, and it has inherent movement,” Roth explained. “It calls to be to be animated and energised, as an extension of your own body.”
13. Billie Eilish brought her brother
The singer wore a black lace gown, embellished with a floral design by Irish designe Simone Rocha.
“I was inspired by Billie herself, her talent, her world and her powerful femininity,” Rocha said of creating Eilish’s custom look. “I wanted to celebrate her femininity through fragility and strength.”
The star was accompanied by her brother and musical collaborator Finneas, who went for a more casual outfit, wearing a textured brown trench coat tied at the waist.
14. Florence Pugh defied gravity
The British actress wore a strapless white Valentino gown, but everyone’s attention was firmly on her head.
Firstly, because Pugh wore a headpiece that looked like it would come in handy clearing cobwebs from a ceiling.
But also because Pugh’s appearance confirmed recent rumours she had shaved her hair off for a role in a forthcoming film.
“I’ve actually had it for about three weeks now,” she told reporters of her shaved head. “I thought, what is a better way than to release it at The Met?”
15. Rita Ora had better not bite her nails
The British singer walked the red carpet with her partner, film director Taika Waititi, wearing a reported $90,000 (£72,000) worth of Buccellati jewellery.
It included a pearl bracelet and long diamond extensions which hung off the end of her nails.
Waititi wore a gun metal blazer by Prabal Gurung which he wore shirtless and paired with smart white trousers.
16. Kendall referenced Karl’s collar
Kendall Jenner wore a sparkly leotard with long sleeves which efficiently doubled as a train. The whole outfit, including the sparkly towering black boots, was designed by Marc Jacobs.
But there was also a reference to Lagerfeld in her outfit – Jenner’s high white collar was a nod to those worn by the late fashion designer.
17. Serena and Karlie revealed their pregnancies
Tennis star Serena Williams arrived at the Met Gala with her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and confirmed that she is pregnant with her second child.
Williams showcased her baby bump in along-sleeved dress with a V-neckline, paired with pearl necklaces.
Writing on Instagram, Williams said she was “so excited when Anna Wintour invited the three of us to the Met Gala”.
Hers was not the only pregnancy revealed on the red carpet – model Karlie Kloss also announced she is expecting her second child with husband Joshua Kushner.
“I got a plus one, don’t tell anybody,” Kloss joked in an interview with Vogue on the red carpet. “You know what, this is also the first time I’m sharing my news, so it’s very special.”
Image caption,Karl Lagerfeld’s sunglasses, white ponytail, and beloved cat Choupette were all part of his signature look
The US believes that since December, fighting in Ukraine has claimed the lives of around 20,000 Russian servicemen.
According to National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, who was using recently released intelligence, an additional 80,000 people have been hurt.
The Wagner mercenary company, which has been targeting the eastern Bakhmut city, is responsible for half of the fatalities.
In a grueling war of attrition, Russia has been attempting to conquer the little city since last year.
Most of Bakhmut is currently under the hands of Moscow, while a tiny area to the west of the city is still under the control of Ukrainian forces. For both sides, the intense conflict has acquired a great deal of symbolic significance.
Ukrainian officials have also said they are using the battle to kill as many of Russia’s troops as possible and wear down its reserves.
“Russia’s attempt at an offensive in the Donbas [region] largely through Bakhmut has failed,” Mr Kirby told reporters. “Russia has been unable to seize any real strategic and significant territory.
“We estimate that Russia has suffered more than 100,000 casualties, including over 20,000 killed in action,” he added.
The toll in Bakhmut accounts for losses since the start of December, according to the US figures.
“The bottom line is that Russia’s attempted offensive has backfired after months of fighting and extraordinary losses,” Mr Kirby said.
He added he was not giving estimates of Ukrainian casualties because “they are the victims here. Russia is the aggressor”.
The BBC is unable to independently verify the figures given and Moscow has not commented.
Image caption,A local resident pushes his bicycle down a street in Bakhmut in January
The capture of the city would bring Russia slightly closer to its goal of controlling the whole of Donetsk region, one of four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine annexed by Russia last September following referendums widely condemned outside Russia as a sham.
Analysts say Bakhmut has little strategic value, but has become a focal point for Russian commanders, who have struggled to deliver any positive news to the Kremlin.
The Wagner mercenary group – which widely uses convicts and has become notorious for its often inhumane methods – has taken centre stage in the Russian assault on Bakhmut.
Its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has staked his reputation, and that of his private army, on seizing the city.
But he recently threatened to pull his troops out of Bakhmut.
In a rare in-depth interview to a prominent Russian war blogger, he vowed to withdraw Wagner fighters if they were not provided with much-needed ammunition by the Russian defence ministry.
Wagner fighters could be redeployed to Mali, he warned.
He has often clashed with Russia’s defence ministry during the war, accusing officials of not providing his fighters with enough support.
Mr Prigozhin also called upon the Russian media and military leadership to “stop lying to the Russian population” ahead of an expected Ukrainian spring counteroffensive.
“We need to stop lying to the Russian population, telling them everything is all right,” he said.
He praised the Ukrainian military’s “good, correct military operations” and command.
A top Ukrainian general said on Monday that counterattacks had ousted Russian forces from some positions in Bakhmut, but the situation remained “difficult”.
New Russian units, including paratroopers and fighters from Wagner, are being “constantly thrown into battle” despite taking heavy losses, Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, said on Telegram.
“But the enemy is unable to take control of the city,” he said.
The cedi will lose 30% of its value against the dollar in 2023, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
However, this is less severe than the local currency’s approximate 44% depreciation in 2022.
The UK-based company stated that it anticipates the cedi to decline sharply this year in its 2023 Country Report on Ghana.
“We now expect the currency to weaken to ¢12.46:US$1 at end 2023 (from ¢10.95:US$1 as at mid-April).”
It further said that the cedi depreciation will be driven by increased demand for hard currency due to high import prices, inflation, capital flight, rising profit repatriation by Ghanaian-based multinationals and weak investor sentiment in the face of the ongoing debt crisis.
However, sustained fiscal and monetary tightening and the anticipated Executive Board approval of an IMF program by mid-2023 will slow the cedi’s relative decline over the second half of the year.
It added “we expect further gradual depreciation in 2024-2027, to ¢14.70: US$1 at end 2027, but at a much slower pace than in 2022-2023 as debt-restructuring uncertainties abate. Ghana’s sustained depreciation reflects the country’s structural current-account deficit and higher inflation than its trading partners”.
It concluded that reserves will average 3.3 months of import cover over 2023-2027, just above the internationally regarded prudential minimum of three months.
The cedi begun trading May 2, 2023 at ¢12.10 pesewas to the dollar on the forex or retail market.
It is also selling at ¢14.98 to the pound and ¢13.00 to the euro.
Vice President of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons, has provided information indicating that the colours used in the Ghana flag originate from Ethiopia.
The late Theodosia Salomey Okoh is credited with creating the recognizable Red-Yellow-Green with Black Star flag of Ghana, therefore whenever her name is spoken, the Ghana flag immediately comes to mind.
The explanations for the choice of colours for the Ghanaian flag are given as the Red- signifying the blood and toil of our fathers who fought for independence for the country.
Gold-being the minerals and other extractive resources, the country can boast of.
Green- signifying the green vegetative cover of the country. Black- is the centre of Hope for the Ghanaian people.
But according to Mr Simons, in 1798, the tricolours (red-gold-green) heraldic banner of the old Abyssinian kings became the triangular pennant flag of the Empire of Ethiopia. At that time, the red was on top and the green was at the bottom.
2/ In fact, Ethiopia itself has changed its flag several times over the course of history. The latest one was *designed* by Abebe Alambo. BUT all the versions take their inspiration from the original Tricolor. Likewise, the "black star" in Ghana's flag was inspired by Garvey. pic.twitter.com/JSAGV05tB7
“The Mighty Menelik II, flush with victory after Adowa, converted the pennant into a rectangular flag in 1897, with the green still at the bottom and red remaining on top.
“But following an interregnum that will see the rises of Ras Tafari (Haile Salassie I) as Negus Nagast (king of kings), we see by 1914 a sudden change of colours. The green has risen to the top and the red demoted!” he wrote.
In Bright Simons’ submission, the reinvented flag by the of the Haile Selassie became known as the ‘pan African’ flag in the era when African leaders such as Nkrumah and the emperor himself, were fighting for a one African state.
“In fact, Ethiopia itself has changed its flag several times over the course of history. The latest one was ‘designed’ by Abebe Alambo. BUT all the versions take their inspiration from the original Tri-colours. Likewise, the “black star” in Ghana’s flag was inspired by Garvey.”
“Ghana, however, reverted to the Menelik design when it also chose the Abyssinian tricolour standard for its national flag,” he added.
He revealed the meaning behind the colours used.
Green represents fertility and natural abundance; Yellow represents hope; Red represents blood of the martyrs and Golden Pentagram stands for unity in diversity.
Rashid Inusah, the Director of the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) for the Ashanti Region and a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is advocating for the expansion of the law prohibiting dual citizenship for Members of Parliament (MPs) to include Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).
His claim is that people who run these state institutions and have dual citizenship are occasionally inclined to perform less admirably because they have a backup somewhere to go if they mismanage things.
The 1992 Constitution for example in Article 94 (2A) states that “a person shall not be qualified to be a Member of Parliament if he – (a) owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana”.
It goes further to state holders of dual citizenship cannot hold certain specified offices in Ghana, including the following: Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court, Ambassador/High Commissioner and Secretary to the Cabinet.
But the NPP man believes it should be extended further.
Speaking on Kumasi-based Garden City Radio, Mr. Inusah noted that persons who hold dual citizenship and are in high places sometimes don’t have the love for one to start to work towards its development.
“We should not wait till parliamentary contest before telling people to denounce their dual citizenship; it must trickle down through other CEOs of state agencies. The point is that most of these people who hold dual citizenship run some of these state agencies down badly and after their tenure leaves the country back to other countries; they hold allegiance to, that law must be extended to cover a lot more people running state institutions not just MPs,” he said.
He added that, “When you believe in the dream of Ghana you must relinquish every citizenship and hold on to Ghana. You can’t be a CEO of a state agency and hold two allegiances, if they run the systems down all they do is grab their passports and run and leave you and me the loyal citizens to suffer, if their party wins power again and they are lucky they come back to do the same things, this is not fair.”
“The law must be extended to cover all that so that any big company or agencies of state will be handled by true Ghanaians in the office,” he noted.
In 2021, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akim Swedru in the Eastern Region, Kennedy Nyarko, presented the Citizenship Amendment Bill to Parliament.
The bill, if passed, will amend the 1992 Constitution to remove restrictions imposed on dual citizens and persons who owe allegiance to a country other than Ghana from holding public office.
Positions dual citizens can occupy if the bill is passed will include Ambassador or High Commissioner, Secretary to Cabinet, Chief of Defense Staff, Inspector General of Police, Director of Immigration Service and MP.
It must also be noted that President Akufo-Addo in 2019 said the government would be laying a bill before Parliament to allow persons with dual citizenship to hold public office, described it as the Diaspora Engagement Policy Bill and was being worked on by the Office of Diaspora Affairs.
Prospective flagbearer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Kwabena Duffuor, has entreated Ghanaians to keep up the ‘can-do-spirit’ in the quest to transform the economy.
According to him, the country has the people need to turn around its fortune, hence the need to remain hopeful. He stressed that no matter how dire the current conditions are, a brighter future awaits Ghanaians.
“Indeed, the nation is bedevilled with crisis on many fronts and incomes and pensions are falling apart.
“A better Ghana has been built before and can be built again with the right tools. I wish all workers of Ghana well on this day for the celebration of Labour.”
“Let us keep hope alive and embrace the future with greater optimism,” he said.
However, in a statement titled ‘Appreciating Our Labour Day With Greater Commitment’ to celebrate the Ghanaian worker, Dr. Duffuor stated that actions by managers of the public purse must reflect this year’s theme “Protecting incomes and pensions in the era of economic crisis: Our responsibility”.
“Worldwide, the efforts and contributions of workers to the growth of economies, is being appreciated and celebrated today. In Ghana, we are celebrating our Day under the theme: Protecting incomes and pensions in the era of economic crisis: Our responsibility,” he said.
“As apt as the theme is, there must be a genuine desire and commitment from the purse managers and policymakers to breathe life into the theme.
“Responsible” management of our economy is well reflected in the theme: it must not be just rhetoric,” Dr. Duffuor stated.
Joel Baah, an ICT tutor at Asuansi Technical Institute (ASUTECH) School, has urged the government to take into account the use of mobile phones at the different Senior High Schools (SHS).
According to him, effective technology integration in the classroom is being hampered by the ban on cell phones in second-cycle institutions.
As a result, its introduction and control are required to enhance student technology use.
“I want to humbly but passionately state that the banning of the usage of mobile phones in the second cycle institutions is rather now a hindrance to the effective technology integration and technology application in the classroom,” Mr Baah said.
Mr Baah said the ban would never promote digital divide, that the mirage of academic taboo was imposing thievery, deceitfulness and technologically undynamic on the students.
The mobile phone had become an auxiliary to digitization and was to allow but regulate the usage of mobile phones in the second cycle institutions.
‘When a student gains admission into tertiary education, the mobile phone, the then immediate abominable academic gadget, suddenly becomes the most valuable technological tool to complement academic success’.
The ICT tutor noted that the mobile phones assist in research, teaching and learning which helps both teachers and students.
Additionally, the mobile phone could serve so many purposes just by installing a particular app on it, adding that they could install CalcEX to turn your mobile phone into a scientific calculator and flashlight to turn your phone into a torch.
He commended the government’s effort to champion digitization in schools and in the country at large adding that it was time to bridge the gender gap in ICT and STEM.
Baah appealed for more infrastructure on campus to support quality service delivery on campus as it focuses on STEM education.
On Sunday, April 30, 2023, former president John Dramani Mahama joined Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, and the Ashanti people to commemorate the third Akwasidae for 2023.
The former president was surrounded by chiefs and attendees of the occasion in a video of his arrival at the event that Opemsuo Radio posted.
As the crowd applauded Mahama, some chiefs and queens could be seen greeting him in lines.
The former was accompanied by leading figures in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) including the Ashanti Regional chairman of the party, Augustus Andrew Nana Kwasi, former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Betty Mould Iddrisu, former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Joshua Alabi.
The Akwasidae festival commemorates the time that the Ashanti Golden Stool was magically brought down from heaven and is celebrated once every six weeks on a Sunday.
Every paramount chief in Asanteman (Ashanti Kingdom) observes the Akwasidae in his own jurisdiction, however, the main event is held at the Manhyia Palace, in Kumasi.
There, the Asantehene sits in state for his subjects and other visitors to pay him homage.
On Sunday, April 30, 2023, the Ashantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, his sub-chiefs, and the Ashanti people marked their third Akwasidae for the year 2023.
Several dignitaries, including former President John Dramani Mahama, attended the vibrant event.
The Asantehene celebrated the 24th anniversary of his coronation as the King of the Ashanti Kingdom just before the 3rd Akwasidae.
The Asantehene made his customary grand entrance to the festivities in a palanquin festooned with Kente cloth and gold ornaments, complete with pageantry, drumming, and dance.
Audio-visuals shared by Opemsuo Radio showed the Ashanti King majestically riding in a palanquin as he danced and waved at his subjects and guests.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II can also be seen in a video displaying his Adowa dance skills when he stepped down from the palanquin.
The Akwasidae festival commemorates the time that the Ashanti Golden Stool was magically brought down from heaven and is celebrated once every six weeks on a Sunday.
Every paramount chief in Asanteman (Ashanti Kingdom) observes the Akwasidae in his jurisdiction, however, the main event is held at the Manhyia Palace, in Kumasi.
There, the Asantehene (Ashanti king) sits in a state for his subjects and other visitors to pay him homage.
Liverpool still believes they can make the top four, but if manager Jurgen Klopp’s remarks regarding referee Paul Tierney come back to haunt them, their late push for Champions League participation might be thwarted.
Klopp said he did not know what the official “has against us” following the thrilling 4-3 victory over Tottenham, in which the Reds required a goal in stoppage time from Diogo Jota to extend a four-match winning streak after blowing a 3-0 lead in the first 15 minutes.
Klopp was booked for his over-zealous celebration in front of fourth official John Brooks but said of Tierney’s attitude: “What he said to me when he gave me the yellow card is not OK.”
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited was quick to respond, saying in a statement: “PGMOL is aware of the comments made by Jurgen Klopp after his side’s fixture with Tottenham Hotspur.
“Match officials in the Premier League are recorded in all games via a communications system and having fully reviewed the audio of referee Paul Tierney from today’s fixture, we can confirm he acted in a professional manner throughout including when issuing the caution to the Liverpool manager so, therefore, we strongly refute any suggestion that Tierney’s actions were improper.”
But it is Klopp’s suggestion of bias which is likely to land him in trouble with the Football Association and could lead to him receiving a touchline ban for Liverpool’s remaining few matches.
He had previously received a warning for his behavior following a one-match suspension and a £30,000 fine following the FA’s successful appeal of the severity of his penalty for abusing an assistant referee during the home victory over Manchester City in October.
Liverpool’s momentum and slim chances of catching fourth-placed Manchester United, who are currently ahead by seven points with a game remaining, could be destroyed if Klopp is not on the sidelines for any or all of their remaining games against Fulham, Brentford, Leicester, Aston Villa, and Southampton.
One mistake and the best Liverpool can hope for is Europa League football but they came close to throwing it away against Spurs having coasted into a three-goal lead through strikes from Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah.
Harry Kane equalled Wayne Rooney’s Premier League tally of 208 goals just before half-time, leaving only Alan Shearer (260) ahead of him in the all-time list, and when Richarlison’s first league strike in added time followed Son Heung-min’s 77th-minute effort, Spurs looked like they had escaped with an unlikely draw.
However, just 99 seconds after equalising, Jota slotted in his fifth goal in four matches to spark wild – some would argue too wild in Klopp’s case – celebrations as Liverpool’s slim Champions League qualification hopes were kept alive.
“Sometimes we don’t half make it hard for ourselves,” said midfielder Harvey Elliott, back in the side after almost a month.
“We started the game unbelievably well, got three goals in quick succession, and personally I think we took our foot off the gas a little bit and allowed them to play a bit more football while not playing football ourselves.
“It’s a tough one to explain. It’s not a lack of concentration. Maybe because going 3-0 up early hardly ever happens so the way we deal with it is new to us.
“It’s always a hard situation because emotions are high, performing well and then we just decide to switch and didn’t do our game-plan.
“We decided to keep the ball and I felt it was just a bit slow in the way we moved it around and that caused ourselves problems. That’s something we need to snap out of.”
Ryan Mason, two matches into another spell as interim head coach following the sacking of Cristian Stellini after the 6-1 embarrassment at Newcastle, was less interested in Tottenham’s top-four chances now they had dropped to sixth than he was of repairing some of the recent damage.
“My priority is to get some togetherness, create some good feelings and energy around the place and bring our fans with us,” he said.
“The only way to do that is winning matches so it’s difficult to take. We’re just devastated in the way we lost the game.”
As a result of defective injectors, the government’s One-Constituency-One-Ambulance program’s supplied ambulance to the Pru East area in the Bono East Region has been grounded.
The ambulance hasn’t operated in the past four months, according to reporter Twum Barimah of Accra 100.5 FM.
The ambulance could not be taken to Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region, for service due to the malfunctioning injectors, he explained to Odehyeeba Kofi Essuman, the host of the Ghana Yensom morning show.
According to him, given the circumstances, patients must pay close to GHC 1,700 to GHC 2,000 for the services of an ambulance.
He said the situation has been a source of worry to some well-meaning people in the district.
Alhaji Adams Abdullai, the Municipal Chief Executive of Pru East District Assembly, confirmed that the vehicle had been faulty.
He said the vehicle is grounded because parts for fixing it are unavailable.
“The officer in charge at Yeji has given the assurance that an order has been placed for the parts,” he added.
He said the Assembly is planning to have the vehicle fixed by the end of the month to help save the situation.
He added that the Assembly will take steps to have the vehicle fixed by early next week if the parts from the workshop of the National Ambulance Service delays.
The chief executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey, has voiced her displeasure with the hygiene and condition of the Agbogbloshie market.
According to the AMA boss, there is a significant amount of rubbish being disposed of carelessly in the market.
She bemoaned that despite the AMA’s efforts to clear out vehicles parked on the road shoulders, move vendors who sell along the road, and desilt clogged drains in the market, they have returned.
She warned that the AMA would embark on a decongestion exercise that would not be a nine-day wonder but a continuous exercise carried out regularly until sanity was restored at the Agbogbloshie market.
She threatened to prosecute anyone who violated Assembly bylaws.
“I am extremely disappointed. We visited the gutters and cleared the area, but it appears that we did nothing here. We built a wall and asked them to sell behind it. However, they are sitting near the futter and selling, and after they close, you will see rotten onions, yam and other items thrown into the gutter. That is heinous and illegal,” She said.
“I’m sending them this warning. This would be their final day to do so. Every day, I dispatch a task force to the area. If we come across you selling on the streets, your items will be seized and you will be fined. Those who buy would also be fined,” the AMA boss stated.
The National Democratic Congress’ (NDC’s) National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, has accused the presidency of misleading Ghanaians with regards to President Akufo-Addo’s home allegedly being affected by unlawful small-scale mining (galamsey).
He claimed that rather than the residence that was demolished by galamsey operations, the president and his office bused journalists to his mother’s home in Kyebi, in the Eastern Region.
“The president doesn’t own just one property in Kyebi. The house he took the journalist to is his mother’s residence at Kyebi Newtown. But apart from that, Akufo-Addo owns a property in between Kyebi Esikam and Adukrom, honourable Ofosu Ampofo’s hometown.
“This property is a security zone, which is fenced. And on that property, which is managed by the said Eric Antwi, a national security operative, he (the president) runs a cattle farm there and has a garden there.
“I’m daring the presidency that if they say that galamsey is not going on any property of the President in Kyebi, let them bus media men to that property and let’s see what will come out,” he said in an interview on TV3 monitored by GhanaWeb, on Saturday.
He further claimed that national security operative have warned to shoot anyone who comes close to the premises.
“We are not children in this country. We know what is happening, we have our ears on the ground. Some of them got wind of the fact that we were intending to come there, and they have been sending threats that if we come there, they will shoot and kill us,” he added.
In a report provided to the president, former environment minister Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng stated that unlawful small-scale mining (galamsey) has devastated areas of the Eastern Region, including the president’s private residence in his village.
According to the report, a local youth organizer for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) had been playing galamsey close to the president’s home till it damaged the home’s landscaping.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng added that he dispatched a team that verified the incident and without telling the President Akufo-Addo went ahead to reclaim the land and vegetate the area.
However, audio-visuals of the said residence show no sign of the said destruction.
The vegetation and structures of the residence appear not to have been tampered with.
Speaking to the media at the residence, the chief of Kyebi, Osabarima Marfo Kwabre, said that the claims made by Prof Frimpong-Boateng are mere fabrications.
He said that the trees and environment of the Akufo-Addo’s house speak for themselves. He, therefore, the former science and technology minister to retract and apologise for the claims he made, asaaseradio.com reports.
“I wonder why people with high positions can bring themselves so low to that extent of telling lies… I don’t see the point because there is a house here with trees in it up to this point, and I’m not sure how we were able to dig the gold, remove the trees, and replace them,
“So, the trees speak for us, and I don’t believe we need to. The trees and the environment speak for themselves,” the chief is quoted to have said.
The TUC General Secretary, Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah, has asked the government to stop wasting money on projects like the National Cathedral.
He made the request while speaking during the May Day celebration parade being held at Bolgatanga.
The TUC asserts that the government should redirect monies from discretionary spending to more productive endeavors in order to create jobs and revenue in order to alleviate the current economic depression.
He suggested that it would serve the country better if the national cathedral project was converted from a cathedral to a national hospital instead.
“We have to change the situation ourselves as Ghanaians. We believe strongly that government can lead us out of this crisis, and the government can do so by cutting expenditure on non-essentials including the need to stop spending our hard-earned revenue on a national cathedral.”
“The president has always said he wants to create another Notre Dame in Ghana so we can attract a lot of visitors but we disagree. In fact, comrades, it will be better to convert the project into a national hospital,” he said.
He further reiterated calls for the government to reduce its size to save costs.
“Mr. President you can also reduce the size of your government. Ghana has too many ministers and deputy ministers.”
Government spent ¢142 million on National Cathedral project in 2021 – Auditor-General’s report.
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, claims that the National Cathedral project will cost over GH¢1 billion.
This year’s May Day celebration is on the theme; “Protecting incomes and pensions in an era of economic crisis: Our responsibility.”
A prospective New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has sent a sincere message to Ghanaian workers thanking them for their dedication.
Ahead of the May Day celebration, Dr Akoto in a statement issued on Sunday, April 30, 2023, said “I salute all workers of Ghana for their immense contribution to our nation building.”
The former Agric Minister also noted that he acknowledges “the potential of our workers to advance the development of our dear nation”.
International Labor Day also known as May Day is celebrated every year across the world on May 1.
It is mainly celebrated in recognition of the struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. It is also celebrated to raise awareness about the rights and opportunities every labour should get for their welfare and betterment.
Monday, May 1, 2023, which marks May Day has been declared a Statutory Public Holiday in Ghana by the Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery.
The day will be marked at Bolgatanga, capital of Upper East Region where the President of the Republic of Ghana is expected to address thousands of Ghanaian workers.
Reports in the media claiming that one of its students had been murdered by armed robbers have been denied by the administration of the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) in Kumasi.
The level 100 English student in question was attacked and left for dead on the Kumasi-Sunyani Highway, but the institution claims he survived.
The victim has been released from the hospital and is in good condition, the institution claimed in a letter.
“Indeed, on April 25, 2023, a student, after studying late into the night was returning to his hostel, outside the campus. The student was attacked by unknown assailants and abandoned along the Kumasi-Sunyani Highway, somewhere near the University.
“Thankfully, a Campus Security Staff sported the student. The security staff rallied the support of others and rushed the victim to the University Clinic for initial medical care. Subsequently, the patient was referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for further treatment.
“We wish to put on record that the student is in good condition and has been discharged from the hospital,” parts of the letter read.
Two very alarming videos of some unidentified people acting illegally have surfaced online, demonstrating the level of harm done to some of the nation’s existing railway lines.
The depth of the damage inflicted by the rail lines are shown in the first video, while the second shows a trailer hauling many heavy metals that are ostensibly the railway lines that were cut.
The voice of the person behind the camera in the first video narrates what he was displaying, beginning at a place on a railway line.
The man is heard referring to a certain person called ‘Collabo,’ and goes on to take a long walk along where this railway line is.
While on the walk, the narrator keeps urging the person he is addressing in the video to ensure that he organises people to come and stop the perpetrators of this crime.
He continues to indicate, in the Twi language, that he is certain the persons may return to continue cutting the railway line.
“They have cut this whole place, Collabo. As far as you can see in this video, they have cut off all the metal. Collabo, be aware so that you can return to undertake an operation,” he said.
In the second video, the narrator videoed a truck that had been loaded with metal that looked like railway lines and packed at the edge of the road. The narrator claimed that the goods on that truck form part of the stollen railway lines.
“The train industry that the government has been spending so much o with the hope that it will become a reality is what you can see here, as someone has cut them and given them to a trailer, and being transported to Tema,” the voice said.
It is, however, unclear if these two videos were either shot by the same person or not, if the Ghana Police Service was able to apprehend the perpetrators, or even how recent or not the videos are.
A financial market infrastructure (FMI) will be launched by Bank of Africa (BOA) Ghana and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to support trade and other economic activities across African nations.
The collaboration will give BOA-Ghana customers access to tens of thousands of end users already connected across the platform’s expanding community of financial institutions while also enabling them to trade and make payments within Africa.
With new central banks joining the PAPSS infrastructure, the payment system’s overall reach expands to millions more people, which benefits intra-African trade.
According to BOA management, it is the vision of both PAPSS and the bank to leverage this platform in collaborating with other regional and continental cross-border payment systems to extend its range beyond African borders to support growth in trade and investments within the African continent.
Managing Director of BOA, Kobby Andah, explained that for now, customers of the bank can originate PAPSS transactions from Bank of Africa-Ghana to other banks located in countries of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ): namely Nigeria, Liberia, Gambia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone; and in the near future to the rest of Africa.
“This is a great feat for us at BOA-Ghana, and I take this opportunity to invite all our existing customers, especially small- and medium-scale enterprises (SME) and trade customers, to use this platform for all cross-border retail and trade transactions. PAPSS offers our customers the opportunity to receive and make payments within Africa in our Local currency – the Ghana cedi – without worrying about conversion rates,” he said.
The MD further stated that this partnership, coupled with the bank’s presence in over 16 countries in Africa and the robust systems and infrastructure of the BOA, strengthens the bank’s position as the lead trade bank of Africa.
Chief Executive Officer of PAPSS, Mike Ogbalu III, also expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership and said: “Through this partnership, we look forward to ensuring seamless and speedy cross-border transactions for Bank of Africa-Ghana customers. In fact, BOA clients can now originate, receive and settle payments in Ghana cedi, avoiding foreign currency risks and lowering transaction costs to boost banking services in Africa.
“At PAPSS, we are dedicated to enhancing African economies by providing innovative payment solutions that meet the needs of our partners and benefit the end-customers.”
About PAPSS
The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System – PAPSS – is a centralised financial market infrastructure that enables efficient flows of money securely across African borders, minimising risk and contributing to financial integration across the regions.
PAPSS works in collaboration with Africa’s central banks to provide a payment and settlement service to which commercial banks and licenced payment service providers across the region can connect as participants.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has revealed that in a span of six years, the ruling government has increased the number of officers in the Immigration Service by 11,450.
As a Special Guest of Honour at the passing out ceremony for the Narcotics Control Commission’s Cadet Intake 7 held at the Ghana Immigration Training School, Assin Foso, on April 28, he revealed that in 2017, the Immigration Service had a total staff of 2,850 officers.
As of now, the number stands at 14,300. He noted that the increased number has been accompanied with “increased training, accommodation and other facilities.”
“By contrast, in the 8 years before we came into office the number of people recruited into the Immigration service was less than 500 in total,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Vice President advised the new recruits to adhere to the principles of hard work, patriotism and integrity in the execution of their duties.
In the Bibiani municipality of the Western North Region, the Bibiani Police, under the direction of Superintendent Seth Sewornu, have destroyed a number of “wee ghettos.”
The police operation was a component of the efforts to apprehend local criminals.
The activities of those responsible for the rising criminality in the neighborhood have attracted the attention of the police as well.
The police have burnt several ‘wee ghettos’ in Old Town, Attakrom and Nantwikumye all in the Bibiani community of the Bibiani Anhweaso-Bekwai municipality in the Western North Region.
However, no person was arrested during the operation.
The police in an interview disclosed they will continue their activities until all ‘wee ghettos’ are collapsed in the municipality.
Meanwhile, residents have appealed to the police to continue the destruction of the ‘wee ghettos’ to make Bibiani a better living place.
Despite the drop in the price of finished goods on the global market, petroleum product prices may remain unchanged for the next two weeks.
The Institute for Energy Security claims that the sharp decline in the value of the Ghana cedi relative to the US dollar during the past two weeks may have prevented the anticipated decrease in fuel prices in the upcoming weeks.
According to statistics from the IES Economic Desk on the local foreign exchange (forex) market over the previous two weeks, the cedi concluded trading at 12.01 to the US dollar, up from 11.55 at the beginning of the pricing window, according to the energy think tank’s prediction of petroleum prices for this window. A value loss of around 3.98% resulted from this.
“Prices of all petroleum products monitored by the Institute for Energy Security (IES) on the international market fell, alongside the price of Brent crude over the last two weeks. Price of Gasoline [petrol], Gasoil [diesel] and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) fell by 3.56%, 3.69% and 2.37% respectively, over the period. On the domestic front, the Ghana cedi lost a value of roughly 3.98% against the US dollar, as monitored on the foreign exchange market”, it stated.
Fuel prices went up marginally in the just ended pricing window [April 16 – April 30].
World oil market
Crude oil prices extended last week’s losses and traded lower at $83.3 per barrel for Brent crude at the end of the pricing-window under review, from an initial average price of $85.29 per barrel.
The prices were weighed down by lingering concerns about demand amid economic growth worries.
Local fuel market performance
The second pricing-window for April 2023 saw domestic petroleum products prices make some recoveries at the pump in respond to rising international commodities prices, as recorded in the first-half of April 2023.
The IES monitoring of various Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) during the pricing-window under review finds the national average price per litre for petrol at ¢12.76p, diesel at ¢12.86p and LPG at about ¢11.60 per kilogramme; clearly showing the price increases at the pump, except for LPG.
To commemorate Ghanaian workers today, former President John Dramani Mahama has entreated the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to approve Ghana’s request for a $3 billion credit facility in the shortest possible time.
In a Facebook post, the former president noted that it has become imperative that the IMF steps in in order to protect Ghanaian workers.
According to him, further delay may translate into Ghanaian public workers not receiving salary from the government.
“If the Fund does not act urgently, the government would struggle to meet its responsibility of paying workers.
“The situation of our teeming unemployed youth is exacerbated by the government’s inability and unwillingness to pay crucial social protection funds such as LEAP, GETFund, NHIL, and DACF,” portions of his statement read.
He noted that the current rate of unemployment is the worst ever recorded and workers cannot suffer another blow.
“This being the case, government workers – teachers, health workers, civil servants, and security personnel – continue to shoulder the additional burden of an expanding population.
“This desperate state of unemployment comes with extra demands on the time and energy of existing workers and sadly deprives their families of their presence at home.
“The truth, however, is that our nation cannot continue this disastrous path; a path where government deprives the youth of opportunities to work and refuses to secure the investments of retirees because of its reckless mismanagement of the economy leading to the collapse of businesses including Ghanaian-owned banks,” he added.
Despite the current challenges, Mr Mahama urged Ghanaian workers to remain gallant and hope for a better future.
He asserts that the better future “will protect the investments of retirees, restore and revamp collapsed businesses and banks, create genuine jobs and ensure that our statutory vehicles that offer protection to the vulnerable in society are not cruelly starved of funds.”
He indicated that hope cannot be lost as “you (workers) are the backbone of our country, and you epitomize the Black Star of hope and honour, so proudly extolled in our national anthem.”
“It is your steadfastness and dedicated service to our dear nation that has kept us afloat amid our present economic turbulence.
I salute you, Ghanaian Workers, for inspiring us to be resolute and work toward Building the Ghana we want Together,” he concluded.
The 2023 May Day (Workers’ Day) celebration was held at the Jubilee Park in Bolgatanga, the capital of the Upper East Region.
Present at the event were President Akufo-Addo and a number of ministers as well as MPs.
Several personalities such as former President John Dramani Mahama and state institutions including the Ghana Police Service have wished Ghanaians a happy day.
Lance Corporal Lancelot Allotey of the Ghana Police Service graduated from the University of Ghana as the class valedictorian with a 3.82 Final Grade Point Average (FGPA).
After completing the March 2023 congregation’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program, he finished top of his class with a major in music.
Allotey attended the Presbyterian Senior High Technical School in Aburi in the past. He joined the Brass Ensemble of the Department of Music in 2018 when he enrolled at the institution, with a focus on playing the trumpet. He quickly rose to the position of principal trumpet in several performances, departmental concerts, and student musicals.
He is married with two children. Delivering the Valedictory speech on behalf of his colleagues, Lance Corporal Allotey recounted how he was able to combine work and schooling.
“My first few weeks on campus were quite difficult, being both a student and a worker.
After my night duty shift, I had to report to the class the next morning and then back to work in the evening after lectures.
“There were times when I struggled to stay awake during lectures, but as the saying goes, ‘you cannot cheat nature,’” he said.
He further expressed appreciation to the university’s management for giving them an environment conducive for teaching, learning, and research.
A Ghanaian pastor, Neil Acheampong, has made a compelling argument against the implementation of a new regulation that disregards parental agreement in the transitioning of pupils into various transgender groups in a viral video seen by GhanaWeb.
The founder and senior pastor of Family Life Chapel spoke at his town meeting in Maryland and called the regulation known as regulation 443 troubling.
“There is an issue that actually bothers me about it, and I want to just make that clear if there will be a review of the policy in regards to the fact that asking if my child could be able to be a transgender, and then a school teacher or somebody else in the system could help the child to make that decision without going through the parent is actually disturbing,” he said.
According to the pastor, there is a need for the policy to be reviewed as it takes away the parents role as the first line of safety and defense for their child in such an important decision-making process.
“I think that policy needs to be looked at again because if my five-year-old is crossing a street, a parental instinct will be that I will never allow the child to cross the street by herself. Because the first line of safety for a child is a parent, and I believe we need to go back to those basic things,” he stated.
He noted how the consent of parents is sought for things that he described as simple, including the administration of pain medications for children in school, and thus questioned while parents are being taken out in the case of Policy 443.
“Every little thing has parental consent except this. So I am asking myself what is going on here. I see a door being opened for predators who are gradually creeping into the school system to destroy. Your good work will be destroyed, so I ask you to go back and look at policy 443.
“I will always pray for you and trust that you do a good work. But for this one thing, please reconsider and let’s change it. Because we are building a society that ought to thrive tomorrow and not to create kids who are confused,” Pastor Acheampong said.
His statement has earned him plaudits from individuals, including parents who are anti-LGBTQ+ on social media.
Ghanaian parent in America calls out school over policy that allows children to become LGBTQ+ pic.twitter.com/OnRXy77w8w
Currently before the parliament of Ghana is a bill that seeks to legalize the activities of homosexuals in the country.
The bill, which has received wide public support, will, among other things, ascribe various punishments, including jail terms, for individuals practicing homosexuality or advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.
A business associate of Kennedy Ohene Agyapong of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. William Oppong Bio, has supported the presidential flagbearer hoepful’s claim that he obtained a loan to finance the party’s 1992 campaign.
Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, a candidate for the NPP flagbearership, disputed Kennedy Agyapong’s assertion that he and his business partner obtained a $3 million loan to settle debts incurred by the NPP after the 1992 general elections.
But Mr. Oppong Bio, Kennedy Agyapong‘s partner and a witness, has spoken about the incident in an interview with Kumasi-based Sompa FM.
Kwabena Agyapong (left), Kennedy Agyapong (right)
He mentioned that the loan was obtained through Cal Bank, which was then run by Fred Oware, who is now the chief of staff at the Office of the vice president’s office.
“We paid the debt. When they went for the money and we lost the 1992 and 1996 elections, everyone ran away from it so we paid it; our company paid.
“The circumstances at the time caused our company to pay. Fred Oware, who is now at the vice president’s office, was the managing director at the time, and when they heard NPP had contracted a loan there, he had to hide it on our company account. That’s how it came about,” he said.
He added that the likes of Kwabena Agyepong may not have been privy to the matter because he was young at the time.
“It was what caused Fred Oware to lose his job and why Rawlings wanted to imprison him. It is a very big issue. At the time, some people were young and would not have known about it. Even today, does all of us know what is happening in the NPP?” he questioned.
Kennedy Agyapong, who is now the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, has been touring the country and engaging with delegates of the NPP ahead of the party’s upcoming primaries to elect a flagbearer.
In various interactions with the delegates, the MP has sought to highlight his contributions to the establishment and growth of the party, including financing its activities over the years.
In order to reverse the drop in the output of petroleum products, the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), has pleaded with the government to quicken the sustainable development of petroleum resources.
Nasir Alpha Mohammed, the vice chairman of PIAC, argued that the government should implement the required policies to draw fresh capital into the industry and guarantee the early completion of ongoing projects.
According to him, Ghana’s petroleum production has been declining in recent years, necessitating a significant expenditure to find new oilfields.
Mr. Mohammed said this at a forum organised by PIAC in Wa for stakeholders in the Upper West Region to make inputs into the management and utilisation of petroleum revenues in the country.
Heads of Department and Agencies, the security services, representatives of political parties, district chief executives, civil society organisations, traditional leaders, among others, participated.
Fifteen people made up the first General Legal Council of Ghana, which was presided over by Sir Arku Korsah, who was also the Chief Justice at the time.
The council was established after March 6, 1957, when Ghana gained independence.
On September 1, 1958, Mr. K.S. Yaasi, the Supreme Court’s Acting Chief Registrar, named the first group of members for the legal council.
The General Legal Council, which was established as the primary legal regulating organization, was given the responsibility of conducting and governing legal education and practice in Ghana.
By design, the council has the authority and capacity to decide on the direction and policy for legal education and training, as well as the rules governing professional legal practice and related issues.
This was later published in the Daily Graphic on September 2, 1958.
According to the article, the 15 members were;
Chief Justice, Sir Arku Korsah, Chairman, Mr. A. E. A. Ofori-Atta, Minister of Local Government, deputy chairman, Mr. Justice Van Lare, Justice of Appeal, Mr. Justice Granville Sharp, Justice of Appeal, Mr. Geoffrey Bing, Q.C., Attorney General, Professor J. H. A. Lang, head of the faculty of law, University College of Ghana, Mr. Justice C.S. Acolatse, Puisne Judge, Sir Leslie M’Carthy, retired Puisne Judge, Sir Emmanuel Quist, retired Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Kojo Botsio, Minister of Trade and Industries, Mr. Kweku Boateng, barrister-at-law, Mr. A. M. Akiwumi, Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. R. S. Blay, barrister-at-law, Mr. Cobina Kessie, M.P. barrister-at-law and Mr. Akufo-Addo, barrister-at-law.
The General Legal Council was set up by an Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the Legal Profession in Ghana. The Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32). The Legal Profession Act among other things is expected to organize legal education and uphold standards of professional conduct and discipline.
Private attorney Martin Kpebu has vowed to file a lawsuit against Databank, a business owned by Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, should the New Patriotic Party fail to retain power in the upcoming elections.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, the president’s cousin, is accused of advising the government on loans that benefit his own company (Data Bank).
Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta
Mr Kpebu has threatened to take legal action to ensure that the state is repaid for these funds.
“Less than 20 months or thereabout, President Akufo-Addo will be going with Ofori-Atta. They’re going to be out of government, then we’ll go to court. They will vomit it. We’ll take this money back. The money Databank made from the bonds, we’ll take it back. Not here in Ghana. Are we fools?” he said.
“You come and promise that you’re the philosopher king, incorruptible, “I’m not corrupt” then we vote for you and then clearly, so blazingly, very nauseating, broad daylight then you put Databank there and they’re making hundreds of millions of dollars from our bonds,” he lamented on last Saturday’s edition of Key Point on TV3.
He also criticized the Akufo-Addo government for causing hardship for Ghanaians while enriching themselves and called for the NPP to be voted out of government.
“Today our people are dying; today people can’t buy drugs; today people are starving; today people can’t pay rent; and you have become richer. We’ll take that money back as long as we live,” he added.
Ghana is currently going through severe economic hardship, which has had a serious impact on the cost of living for its citizens.
The government is seeking to remedy the situation through a $3 billion credit facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
However, critics of the finance minister say the minister and, in extension, the government bear responsibility for the economic challenges arising from what they say is reckless borrowing since assuming office.
The bodies of a man and woman who drowned after their boat capsized on Volta Lake in the Krachi West Municipality of the Oti Region on Friday have been recovered.
At the morgue at Krachi West Municipal Hospital, the bodies have since been deposited.
Both of the bodies have been identified; the woman is a native, and the man is a teacher on one of the islands, according to JoyNews sources.
Eyewitnesses claim that the lake was experiencing severe gusts, which led several passengers to end their journey.
However, the duo that drowned, according to the rescuer, were returning from Kete Krachi, the municipal capital, to their island communities on a fishing boat after the boat they were travelling on abandoned them on another island due to a storm.
“They said that they were passing through Kotoku because they needed to alight one passenger there. But because it was late at night, they bypassed the community before they realised it.
“So they divided to curve to go back and drop the passenger so it was in the process that that he lost control of the boat and it capsized,” he narrated.
Meanwhile, the canoe’s rider, who is said to be a fisherman, has survived.
Seventy-six Ghanaians have successfully been relocated from Sudan to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia for safety, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
On Tuesday, May 2, 2023, seventy-four of these people are anticipated to be flown to Accra.
While two other football players are going through immigration procedures, a football player and two engineers have received assistance to cross the Egyptian border at Hadi Walfa.
Ghanaians moved to Addis Ababa
The Ministry has remained steadfast in its pledge to remove every one of its citizens who are entangled in the turmoil taking place in Sudan.
Ghanaians moved to Addis Ababa
Sudan began to observe chaos after the government’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces clashed over two weeks ago.
Over 300 lives have been lost and several properties have been destroyed.
International bodies have called for an end to the ongoing conflict. There appeared to be progress when a truce was held.
However, reports indicate that fighting has resumed in the country’s capital, Khartoum.
Countries such as Nigeria, UK, South Africa, Turkey among others have evacuated their nationals.
As part of efforts to get rid of information released to deliberately mislead members of the general public, the Ministry of Information has come up with five countermeasures.
According to the Ministry headed by Mr Oppong-Nkrumah, “fake news, conspiracy theories, hoaxes, or rumours that are presented as facts to the public” are weakening confidence in media outlets and government institutions, hence the need to tackle the canker immediately.
“It undermines our democracy, the trust in our institutions and affects the smooth administration of governance activities,” the Information Minister added.
The Ministry has therefore come out with five measures that should be utilised by the public in order not to be misinformed.
The initial step involves the public reading the entire information being presented. This, the Ministry says, is to check for evidence which has been presented to support the theme of the matter.
Secondly, the public is to verify the credibility of the source of the information.
“Check if the source is reputable and if they have a history of providing accurate information,” it added.
Another tactic to be employed is cross-checking whether the information has also been reported by other reputable sources.
“Please look for evidence that supports the information being provided. This evidence can include the date, time or headline,” the fourth measure states.
In the absence of evidence, the Ministry encourages questioning the authenticity of the information.
The last but not least step requires members of the public visiting the website, www.ghanatoday.gov.gh, created by the Ministry for fact-checking.
According to the Information Minister, a collective effort is necessary for Ghana to be “successful in this enterprise.”
In view of this, a hashtag #verifyfirst has been initiated to get all Ghanaians on board in the fight against disinformation.
Some personalities such as investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure; media personalities including Naa Ashorkor, Ameyaw Deborah, Nakeeyat Dramani Sam are actively supporting the government’s campaign.
Officials in the eastern Ukraine province of Donetsk, which is seized by Russia, report that two people have died and 12 have been injured as a result of shelling.
“Twelve civilians were wounded to varying degrees of severity in the Petrovsky and Leninsky districts of Donetsk, Yasinovataya,” the Donetsk People’s Republic said in a statement.
Donetsk is one of four Ukrainian territories that Moscow unlawfully annexed last year and has been held by separatists with Russian support for eight years.
This past weekend, there were a flurry of purported Ukrainian strikes. The local governor reported that two civilians were murdered in a village in the Bryansk area of Russia as a result of Ukrainian shelling.
Meanwhile, two civilians have died in a village in Russia’s Bryansk region following Ukrainian shelling, the local governor Alexander Bogomaz said.
One residential building had been completely destroyed and another two houses were partially damaged, he said.
The Bryansk region shares a border to its south with Ukraine and to its west with Belarus.
⚡️The Armed Forces of Ukraine shelled the village of Suzemka in the Bryansk region, Russia. pic.twitter.com/xQkqvuevHl
On Saturday, officials in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine reported attacks. A suspected drone triggered a fire in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol while the southern Ukrainian town of Nova Kakhovka came under “severe artillery fire.”
The news comes amid warnings from Ukraine that its preparations are almost complete for a spring counter-offensive that many experts believe could mark a pivotal moment in the conflict.
President Akufo-Addo has expressed his dissatisfaction with the spate at which Africans, particularly the youth are illegally travelling out of the continent to Europe.
In his speech, the president said, “Africans taking distressing risks across the Sahara and around the Mediterranean trying to reach a better life in Europe, whilst we strive to provide the youth with the right environment in Africa, which will enable them enhance their skills, receive appropriate training and have access to digital technology and enhance economic opportunities.”
He said this during the visit of the Austrian Chancellor to Ghana, Karl Nehammer which is also the first visit of the Austrian Chancellor since bilateral ties began between the two countries at the Jubilee House in Accra.
He also revealed the Austrian Chancellor and his delegation’s determination to champion the need for humane treatment of illegal migrants as well as the protection of their human rights in accordance with international law both in Austria and in the European space.
According to a report by the International Organization for Migration, more than 29,000 migrants have died trying to reach Europe since 2014.
The report notes that the deadliest migration route continues to be the Central Mediterranean, where 2,836 people have died since January 2021 attempting to reach Italy or Malta, mainly from Libya and Tunisia.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the minister of education, has examined the development of the building of a junior high school (JHS) for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in Kumasi.
The Minister who was on a four-day working visit to the Ashanti Region, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and charged the contractors to deliver within the scheduled time.
He said it was important to complete the project on time because it would be open for admission during the next academic year.
The Arab Development Bank is funding the first model STEM junior high school initiative, which is now taking place at Asem Junior High School.
In the Ashanti Region’s Bantama, Juaben, Onwe, and Ejisu, the government is constructing comparable schools with physics, biology, and chemistry labs in conjunction with its development partners.
The expectation is that the model STEM JHS concept would transform basic education by equipping pupils with 21st-century skills required for the manpower needs of the country.
The President’s vision to accelerate development through education is being driven by STEM and Technical and Vocational Education, which is being vigorously pursued by the government, he indicated.
Prior to the inspection of the project site, the Minister paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II after which he visited some selected schools in the Metropolis.
Among the schools visited were Wesley College of Education, Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School, Kumasi Girls Senior High School, and Kumasi High School.
The Hohoe Circuit Court has given farmer Bright Abri, 29, a one-year prison term for stealing two obsolete water pumping machines valued GH1,600.
Even though Abri offered a justification for his guilty plea, it was insufficient to clear him.
The complainant was a mechanic, Inspector Rachel Osei Agyapomaa informed the Mr. Michael Johnson Abbey-presiding court.
The complainant left a few outdated water pumping devices in his shop on April 15.
At around 0500 the following morning, he left his house for his farm. While there, he received a call saying that Abri had been arrested with various water pumping devices, so he should go and identify the items.
The prosecutor said the complainant, upon arrival at his shop, detected that two of the water pumping machines brought to him for repairs had been stolen.
He then proceeded to the convict’s house, where he identified the two machines.
Witnesses in the case told the complainant that the convict was caught with the machines at the time he was bargaining with a scrap dealer passing by.
Inspector Agyapomaa said the convict was arrested and sent to the police station with the machines, where a formal complaint was made.
The convict denied stealing the machines during initial investigations from the complainant’s shop but later admitted the offence.
He said on the said date, at about 0430 hours, he went to the complainant’s motor shop and stole the two machines, which he sent to his house to sell as scraps.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the minority leader, has criticized the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration for the problems the banking industry is facing.
He claims that several careless government measures have reduced the capital of some Ghanaian banks.
He claimed that the various banks are suffering as a result of the government’s Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), which makes it difficult for them to provide loans to businesses.
In a tweet on April 29, the Minority Leader lamented, “I am deeply concerned about the current state of our banking sector, especially the impact of government policies on our local banks. It’s no secret that many of these banks, which are essential to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana, are facing severe financial difficulties”.
Dr. Forson opined that stakeholders engage in some discussions on how to support local banks.
“I believe it’s time for a serious discussion about how we can support our local banks and help them weather this difficult period,” he suggested.
Background
Ghana’s move to restructure its local currency and overseas debt resulted in the first loss on record for two of the country’s top banks.
GCB Bank Plc, the country’s largest lender by assets, posted a GH¢593.4 million ($50.5 million) net loss for the year 2022.
According to Bloomberg, Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Ltd., the biggest by market value, also reported a loss of 297.8 million cedis.
Banks operating in West Africa’s second-largest economy have taken a hit of about $1.4 billion, according to Bloomberg calculations, as Ghana restructures most of its public debt, estimated at 576 billion cedis.
Amnesty International has noted that there has been an increase in police violence in Ghana, including assaults on journalists performing their jobs.
A number of these violations were listed in the most recent global report on the State Human Rights (2022/23) published by Amnesty International, according to the organization’s country director in Ghana, Genevieve Partington, who highlighted the matter on Joy News.
“We are looking at police brutality, there have been a number of cases where you journalists have been attacked wrongfully. At the end of the day, even if you have done something wrong you are innocent until proven guilty, so you can’t have the police asking you to do inhumane things whilst you are awaiting trial or being held against your will so police brutality has gone up,” she said.
Excerpts of the State of Human Rights Document issued by Amnesty International noted that “Various incidents were reported of police officers using excessive force”.
It stated that on February 3 2022, a group of plain-clothes security officers assaulted a radio presenter, reportedly damaging his eardrum, when he refused to surrender his phone.
The presenter filmed the officers escorting handcuffed suspects in Takoradi.
Also, it added that on May 17, 2022, protesters attacked a police station during a violent protest in Nkoranza, Bono East Region.
The police fired shots, killing a bystander. At least five protesters sustained injuries including gunshot wounds.
On the 13th of June, 2022 the media reported that police used tear gas and fired warning shots into the air to disperse a student protest in the Ashanti Region.
At least 25 students were treated for respiratory issues and other injuries. The government denied that any live shots were fired at the students.
An investigation was opened and three police officers were disciplined as a result.
Joy News’s Latif Iddrisu was assaulted in the line of duty at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Headquarters in Accra.
He had been assigned to report on a demonstration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) against the arrest of the former Deputy General Secretary of the party, Koku Anyindoho.
Human rights groups express worry that Latif and scores of other victims continue to reel under the effects of the use of excessive force by the police.
Former Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has claimed that the government will need to raise about $10.5 billion by the end of the year to save the economy from collapsing.
Giving a breakdown, he explained that the government plans to receive $3 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and bilateral or multilateral donors each.
However, he noted that the government is currently unable to determine where exactly it would raise the remaining $4.5 billion to ensure full recovery.
“The expectation is that 3 billion (dollars) will come from the IMF. Another 3 billion (dollars) from bilateral and multilateral donors. The other 4.6bn (4.5bn) sic. Government has no clue where that will come from. We are in distress, major economic distress. We have gone beyond an economic crisis,” he told JoyNews.
With respect to receiving support from the IMF, the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, asserted that Ghana would only be able to access the money in July of this year.
He did not provide reasons for this assertion, however, he said “I do not foresee an IMF closing until July 2023.”
Government has failed to meet the deadlines it has provided to receive assistance from the Fund. Government had predicted March but failed to see to it.
The Fund is currently unable to release the funds to Ghana due to the country’s inability to receive financial assurance from creditors who are to provide assurances they will restructure its debt as a condition of signing off on the loan.
According to the IMF, until this is done, it would not be able to provide the credit facility.
In view of this, economic experts are projecting that Ghana would receive assistance from the IMF by May this year.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has said a memorandum of understanding with official creditors and an agreement in principle on Eurobond restructuring are expected by July, with a 2030 Eurobond partially guaranteed by the World Bank included in the restructuring.
Ghana began formal engagements with the IMF in July 2022 and reached a staff agreement in December of that year.
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor II, a contender for the Sekyere Afram Plains parliamentary seat, has referred to a campaign poster featuring him and former President John Mahama as fake.
In his campaign to represent Sekyere Afram Plains in parliament, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor II is depicted alongside former president Mahama in a flier going around social media.
The Economist cum Politician made it clear in a statement that he doesn’t have and won’t have a poster of himself with the image of any prospective flagbearer.
“I want to make it clear that I have not authorized or endorsed any poster featuring a picture of myself alongside any aspiring Flagbearer. Any such fake posters in circulation are without my approval or sanction and are not representative of my position or views.”
“As we approach the Presidential primaries, it is crucial that we all remember that the decision of who to elect as Flagbearer lies with the delegates. While I have confidence in my father, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, as a competent leader for the NDC, it is not for me to make that decision,” the statement added,
Dr. Duffuor II, extended his respect to all persons vying to lead the NDC, adding that “it is essential that as conduct ourselves with dignity and respect. Let us all work together towards Victory 2024. May God bless us all.”
