TIG Post

Author: Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey

  • Parliament forms bi-partisan committee to probe death of woman in ambulance

    Parliament has constituted a bi-partisan committee to probe the death of Augustina Awortwe, a pregnant lady who died in transit from Takoradi to Accra due to the alleged negligence of the National Ambulance Service.

    The committee was formed after a debate on a private members motion filed by three members of the minority.

    The six-member committee will be chaired by MP for Effiduase-Asokore, Dr Ayew Afriyie.

    The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, expressed the hope that the committee members will set aside their political interests and professionally probe the issue.

    “This house has accordingly constituted a bi-partisan committee to probe the circumstances leading to the death of Madam Augustina Awortwe who died in an ambulance when she was being transported from Holy Child Catholic Hospital to Korle Bu.”

    Augustina had to be referred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital due to some complications associated with a caesarean section by doctors at the Holy Child Catholic Hospital.

    Her trip was, however, diverted to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital due to her worsening condition.

    The staff of the Holy Child Hospital have been blamed for referring the patient to Korle-Bu instead of the nearest referral centre, Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital.

    Source: Citinewsroom

  • In pictures: Highlights from Day One of the Jubilee

    The Prince of Wales was spotted speaking to well-wishers near Buckingham Palace.

    Prince Charles, wearing his scarlet Colonel of the Welsh Guards uniform and green thistle sash, was seen alongside his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, meeting people who had lined up along the Mall.

    Charles speaking to well wishers
    Credit: Alexandra Vanotti
    Royal fans Caellia (L) and Yoshilen wear costumes as they arrive on the Mall to celebrate the first day of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
    Copyright: Getty Images
    Early risers: Royal fans Caellia (L) and Yoshilen were among those who went to the Mall in central London this morning – where some royal supporters had spent the night in tents.
    Irish Wolf Hound 'Turlough Mor' (aka Seamus), regimental mascot of the Irish Guards, marches down The Mall during the Trooping the Colour parade
    Copyright: Getty Images

     

    British police escort protestors away from the Mall during the Queen's Birthday Parade, the Trooping the Colour
    Copyright: AFP via Getty Images

    Image. 

    Members of the public fill The Mall ahead of a flypast over Buckingham Palace
    Copyright: Getty Images

    The Queen is pictured on Buckingham Palace balcony
    Copyright: Getty Images

    RAF Red Arrows perform a flypast over Horse Guards Parade and Buckingham Palace
    Copyright: Reuters

    Prince Charles, the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children on Buckingham Palace Balcony

    Copyright: Getty Images

     

    Source: BBC

  • Koforidua Pentecost Preparatory School bus containing 30 students involved in accident

    A Koforidua Pentecost Preparatory School bus carrying about 30 students has been involved in an accident. 

    The bus with registration number GN- 7377- Y, was conveying the students to school on Thursday morning, June 2, when the incident occurred. 

    The Koforidua Pentecost Preparatory School is located at Oyoko roundabout in the New Juaben North Municipality of the Eastern Region.

    It is reported that the driver of the vehicle encountered a brake failure thereby losing control of the steering wheel. The bus then somersaulted.

    Confirming the incident to Citinews, Deputy Eastern Regional Fire PRO AD0-II Daniel Tetteh, noted that no deaths have been recorded.

    Individuals who sustained injuries, he said, are being treated at the Eastern Regional Hospital.

    Meanwhile, the Eastern Regional Police Command and the Ghana National Fire Service have commenced investigations into the cause of the accident.

     

    Source: The Independent Ghana



  • Special Prosecutor freezes all assets of Sir John

    Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has frozen the assets of the late Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie.

    According to Citinews, processes are underway to also freeze his assets overseas.

    Reports reaching The Independent Ghana reveal that a press statement from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), announcing the recent development, will be released soon.

    This comes after the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) commenced investigations into the Will of the late Owusu Afriyie, also known as Sir John.

    In the said Will shared by the Fourth Estate, some portions of the Achimota Forest, known to be a state property, but allegedly owned by Sir John, were to be inherited by some relatives.

    Also, the list indicated other 75 properties that were owned by the former general secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    Special Prosecutor freezes all assets of Sir John

    This included a 6-bedroom house located at Patangbe, five plots of land located at Millenium city, Kasoa, a Mercedes Benz E68 Sport AMG and over GH2million investment.

    The OSP commenced investigations shortly after the Fourth Estate reported that the late Forestry Commission CEO did not declare his assets as mandated by law while alive.

    According to Act 550 of the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) ACT 1998, all public office holders must submit a written declaration to the Auditor-General of all properties or assets possessed by them, as well as all liabilities payable to them directly or indirectly.

    Per the law, the declaration of assets shall be made by the public officer “before taking office, at the end of every four years, and at the end of the term of his office and shall in any event be submitted not later than 6 months of the occurrence of any of the events specified in this subsection.”

    On the other hand, the Lands Commission has rejected reports that portions of the Achimota Forest were owned by Sir John.

    According to the Commission, there are no records establishing such claim.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Minority calls for public inquiry into Covid-19 expenditure

    The Minority in Parliament has accused President Akufo-Addo of presiding over what they describe as “gargantuan fraud in the spending and disbursement of COVID expenses”.

    According to Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority is vindicated by the fact that a leading member of the NPP disclosed publicly to the effect that, COVID Funds were shared with Party Executives.

    His comment follows claims that some COVID monies were shared amongst NPP members.

    Speaking at a press conference, the Minority Leader said: ”As much as we feel vindicated, we also feel equally scandalised by emerging reports by leading members of the NPP in particular, a leading Vice-Chair called Felicia Tetteh who is publicly reported to have said, that COVID monies were shared amongst party leadership, Constituencies Regional and for my purposes, I add National.”

    He said these claims call for an imminent investigation.

    “That in fact makes our call for an imminent investigation of the highly anomalous COVID expenditure spending to be probed. We now can understand why a motion by the Minority in Parliament to probe Covid by an institution which should be the most fundamental institution and guardian of the public purse, Parliament, will dismiss the motion even at birth by actors of the New Patriotic Party political administration,” Mr. Iddrisu explained on May 31, 2022.

    He added that the Minority will refile a motion for a probe.

    “We will renew our position. We will refile a motion for a probe but to the Ghanaian public, these are those who parade that they care and they are protectors of the public purse.”

    “We are calling on President Akufo-Addo and reminding him that the 1992 constitution is premised on probity and accountability and that if he has any respect for the values of integrity let him probe COVID and COVID-19 spending across the country.”

    Source: Ghanaweb via gbcghanaonline

  • Akufo-Addo’s 18 ministers who fully complied with assets declaration law

    Per Ghana’s laws, all public office holders must submit a written declaration to the Auditor-General of all properties or assets possessed by them, as well as all liabilities payable to them directly or indirectly.

    Act 550 of the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) ACT 1998 stipulates the period in which this task must be carried out.

    The declaration of assets shall be made by the public officer “before taking office, at the end of every four years, and at the end of the term of his office and shall in any event be submitted not later than 6 months of the occurrence of any of the events specified in this subsection.”

    The President, Vice-President, the Speaker, Deputy Speakers of Parliament, ministers and deputy ministers of state, ambassadors, the Chief Justice and managers of public institutions are all to declare their assets.

    President Akufo-Addo after assuming office in 2017 directed that all his appointees declare their assets.

    But reports by the Fourth Estate say not all the ministers complied with the directive.

    This article will reveal the 18 out of over 120 ministers provided by the Fourth Estate who adhered to the constitutional provision in Article 268 (1) of the 1992 Constitution.

    Dominic Nitiwul, the Minister of Defence declared his assets for the first term on March 20, 2017, and October 6, 2020. He again fulfilled this constitutional obligation on August 16, 2021 after his reappointment in 2021.

    Defence Minister
    Dominic Nitiwul is the Minister for Defence and MP for Bimbilla

    Owusu Afriyie Akoto is Minister of Food & Agriculture. He also declared his assets in his first term. This was done on January 23, 2017. He also declared his assets on March 26, 2021, three months after the end of his first term.

    Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto once again, on April 1, 2021, declared his assets for the second term.

    The 18 Akufo-Addo ministers who fully complied with assets declaration law
    Agric Minister Dr Afriyie Akoto

    The third minister is Cecilia Abena Dapaah, who is in charge of Sanitation and Water Resources.

    Just like the Agric Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah declared her assets. The first was on March 15, 2017. Her second declaration was done on March 2, 2021. On March 12, she declared her assets after being reappointed.

    The 18 Akufo-Addo ministers who fully complied with assets declaration law
    Cecilia Abena Dapaah

     

    On March 14, 2017, Ignatius Baffuor Awuah declared his asset. He did same on March 15, 2021, after serving as the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations.

    In 2021, he also declared his asset on April 27, after his reappointment.

    The 18 Akufo-Addo ministers who fully complied with assets declaration law
    Ignatius Baffuor Awuah

    Alima Mahama: The Minister of Local Government & Rural Development declared her assets on March 14, 2017, and March 30, 2021.

    The 18 Akufo-Addo ministers who fully complied with assets declaration law
    Alima Mahama

    Trade and Industry Minister, Alan K. Kyerematen, did his entry declaration on March 14, 2017, and exit on March 31, 2021.

    He again declared his assets for his second term on March 31, 2021.

    The 18 Akufo-Addo ministers who fully complied with assets declaration law
    Alan K. Kyerematen

    Gloria Afua Akufo, who served as Attorney-General & Minister of Justice declared her assets on February 21, 2017 and January 5, 2021, at the end of her tenure.

     

    The 18 Akufo-Addo ministers who fully complied with assets declaration law
    Gloria Afua Akuffo

    Anthony Akoto Osei, one-term minister for Monitoring and Evaluation declared his assets on March 14, 2017, and at the end of his term, which was on April 28, 2021.

    The 18 Akufo-Addo ministers who fully complied with assets declaration law
    Anthong Akoto-Osei

    Otiko Afisa Djaba is the former Gender, Children & Social Protection Minister. She declared her assets on September 14, 2017. She resigned later and declared her assets on May 23, 2018.

    The 18 Akufo-Addo ministers who fully complied with assets declaration law
    Otiko Afisa Djaba

    Ibrahim Mohammed Awal: He served as the Business Development Minister in 2017, and did declare his assets on March 14. On March 15, 2021, he did same after the end of his tenure.

    He was later reappointed as Tourism Minister and on March 15, 2021, declared his assets.

    The 18 Akufo-Addo ministers who fully complied with assets declaration law
    Ibrahim Mohammed Awal

    Former Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour, declared his assets on February 2, 2017, and February 24, 2021, when he ended his tenure.

    More Than 10 1D1F Factories Operational In Eastern Region - Hon. Kwakye Darfour - Net 2 Television
    Eric Kwakye Darfour

    Joseph Cudjoe served as Deputy Minister of Energy and was responsible for Finance and Infrastructure. He declared his assets on June 15, 2017, as well as March 30, 2021.

    On March 30 last year, he declared his assets after being appointed Minister for Public Enterprises.

     

    The 18 Akufo-Addo ministers who fully complied with assets declaration law
    Joseph Cudjoe

    Godfred Yeboah Dame, who is currently the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, declared his assets on July 20, 2017, when he served as a deputy. He did same when he exited on January 26, 2021.

    Serving as the Attorney General, he declared his assets on May 25, 2021.

    The 18 Akufo-Addo ministers who fully complied with assets declaration law
    Godfred Dame

     

    Yaw Osei Adutwum served as the Deputy Education Minister. On June 14, 2017, and February 8, 2021, he declared his assets.

    He was appointed Education Minister in 2021 and on August 10, he declared his assets.

    The 18 Akufo-Addo ministers who fully complied with assets declaration law
    Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum

    Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover once served as the Transport Minister. He declared his assets on September 7, 2017 and October 6, 2020.

    Titus Glover
    Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover

    Freda Prempeh was Ghana’s deputy Minister for Works & Housing during President Akufo-Addo’s first term.

    She declared her assets on August 11, 2017, and on October 8, some months before the election, she declared her assets.

    After being appointed deputy Minister of Gender, Children & Social Protection, she declared her assets. This was done on August 11, 2021.

    The 18 Akufo-Addo ministers who fully complied with assets declaration law
    Freda Prempeh

    Eugene Boakye Antwi declared his assets as the Deputy Minister of Works & Housing on September 27, 2017, and on September 28, 2020.

    He also declared his assets as a Member of Parliament for Subin Constituency. On February 12, 2021, he declared them.

    Eugene Boakye Antwi, Biography
    Eugene Boakye Antwi

    Elizabeth Agyemang declared her assets on March 9, 2017 and on March 9, 2020, when she served as the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister.

    Food for cash scandal: I'm ready to furnish CID with evidence Former Deputy Minister
    Elizabeth Agyemang

     

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • List of all 97 soldiers who ransacked, brutalised residents in Wa

    The final Investigative report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the Incident of the Military-Civil Brutality in Wa has been made public.

    In the report, it recommended that more experienced hands in the military be sent to the 10 Mechanised Battalion to help with the execution of the tasks assigned to them in the northern parts of the country.

    It would be recalled that on July 1, 2021, multiple reports indicated that a number of uniformed soldiers had stormed the Wa township and were brutalising the citizens in what was said to have been necessitated after one of the men lost his mobile phone.

    At the end of investigations, the Committee recommended a number of other things, including some punitive actions all the soldiers who were found out to have been involved in the violence.

    GhanaWeb has the full document and presents below, the full list of the soldiers and their respective punishments.

    DEMOTIONS

    1 Duty Sergeant
    1967612
    SSGT SARPONG ADU KWAME
    Demoted to: Corporal

    2 Guard Command
    204359
    CPL TORKUEBU OBED
    Demoted to: Private

    3 Sentry
    209033
    LCPL ANIWE HARRISON
    Demoted to: Private

    30 DAYS IN DETENTION

    1 PRIVATE NYAAMAH JOSEPH-AUGUSTINE ABOAGYE (211812)
    2 PRIVATE APPIAH ABOAGYE PRINCE (2129674)
    3 PRIVATE ADDISU GODSWAY (211855)
    4 PRIVATE APPIAH BONSU BERNARD (212047)
    5 PRIVATE OSEI MESHACK (212251)
    6 PRIVATE MENSAH PAUL (212005)
    7 PRIVATE OWUSU AMPOFO GRAHAM (211953)

    14 DAYS IN DETENTION

    1 PRIVATE NYAMAH JOSEPH-AUSTINE (211812)
    2 PRIVATE OSEI BAFFOUR OKYERE (211834)
    3 PRIVATE APPIAH ABOAGYE PRINCE (212964)
    4 PRIVATE AGYEMANG AKWASI JASON (212913)
    5 PRIVATE GREGORY OXIAS TANOE (212927)
    6 PRIVATE AHENE JOSHUA (212894)
    7 PRIVATE AKOTO XAVIER FRANCIS (212898)
    8 PRIVATE FRIMPONG EMMANUEL (212884)
    9 PRIVATE FOBI DANIEL (212864)
    10 PRIVATE AMOAH OWUSU ERNEST (212583)
    11 – PRIVATE SEIDU ABUBAKARI (212583)
    12 – PRIVATE AGYEI ANGELO (212521)
    13 – PRIVATE NSOWAAH ANTHONY (212521)
    14 – PRIVATE BAWA KWABENA SAMUEL (212496)
    15 – PRIVATE OUT MENSAH RICHARD (212502)
    16 – PRIVATE NYARKO TETTEH EMMANUEL (212504)
    17 – PRIVATE AYISI OHENE DANIEL (212434)
    18 – PRIVATE OTENG BERNARD (212439)
    19 – PRIVATE BAHARIA CALISTUS NAAH (212451)
    20 – PRIVATE ADZRAKU MAXWELL (212458)
    21 – PRIVATE YEBOAH ATTA EMMANUEL SNR. (212461)
    22 – PRIVATE AGYEMANG SAMPENE BERNARD (212466)
    23 – PRIVATE NKUNKAR JOSHUA (212484)
    24 – PRIVATE WIREDU KIRSKY (212411)
    25 – PRIVATE HOENYEFIA LAWRENCE MAWUKO (212413)
    26 – PRIVATE ACQUAYE OBENG ALEX (212407)
    27 – PRIVATE GYAMFI FRIMPONG HARRISON (212398)
    28 – PRIVATE ARHIN PHILIP (212363)
    29 – PRIVATE MOHAMMED WASIUW (212372)
    30 – PRIVATE BOSOMPEM ABRAHAM (212380)
    31 – PRIVATE BOADU EMMANUEL (212382)
    32 – PRIVATE ANTWI MANU SOLOMON (212356)
    33 – PRIVATE OPARE ERIC (212358)
    34 – PRIVATE ATUAHENE BRIGHT (212317)
    35 – PRIVATE KORANTENG SETH (212322)
    36 – PRIVATE COBBINAH DENNIS (212330)
    37 – PRIVATE OWUSU ENNIN ENOCK (212298)
    38 – PRIVATE GYAMFI ERIC (212302)
    39 – PRIVATE LAATE LAATEK SIMON (212309)
    40 – PRIVATE DORMABALEE EMMANUEL (212293)
    41 – PRIVATE GYAKYE RICHARD (212282)
    42 – PRIVATE LATERI DAVID BAMONDO (212285)
    43 – PRIVATE MENSAH OSBORN (212240)
    44 – PRIVATE KANRAH BERNARD (212249)
    45 – PRIVATE MENSAH BOATENG EMMANUEL (212250)
    46 – PRIVATE OSEI MESHACK (212251)
    47 – PRIVATE FREMPONG ISAAC OFOSU (212258)
    48 – PRIVATE SAM DANIEL (212259)
    49 – PRIVATE ANNOBIL EZEKIEL (212230)
    50 – PRIVATE HANSON BRIGHT (212233)
    51 – PRIVATE KYEREMEH DAVID (212216)
    52 – PRIVATE BOAKYE ISAAC KOFI (1212169)
    53 – PRIVATE OPEI SHADRACK (212172)
    54 – PRIVATE BOAMAH BENJAMIN ATTA (212178)
    55 – PRIVATE MAMUD JIBRINE (212187)
    56 – PRIVATE EHOMAH PAUL BLISS (212188)
    57 – PRIVATE AKOMEY RONALD (212071)
    58 – PRIVATE SARFO SHADRACK (212077)
    59 – PRIVATE OSEI EMMANUEL JUNIOR (212124)
    60 – PRIVATE ANTSAH SOLOMON (212131)
    61 – PRIVATE DWOMOH MICHAEL (212139)
    62 – PRIVATE OPPONG PROSPER KWADWO (212147)
    63 – PRIVATE ASANTE MICHAEL-AKYEA (211864)
    64 – PRIVATE NYANOR AMANING ABRAHAM (211866)
    65 – PRIVATE KANKAM SAMUEL (211873)
    66 – PRIVATE KYEI BAFFOUR LORD (1211875)
    67 – PRIVATE AHMED FORDJOUR SALIM (211877)
    68 – PRIVATE KARIKARI YEBOAH VINCENT (211878)
    69 – PRIVATE OWUSU CLEMENT (211916)
    70 – PRIVATE TWUMWAA DORIS (211951)
    71 – PRIVATE OWUSU AMPOFO GRAHAM (211953)
    72 – PRIVATE OPPONG EVANS KWAKU (211956)
    73 – PRIVATE KAKARI JOSEPH (211976)
    74 – PRIVATE AMANIAMPONG ADDAI EVANS (211978)
    75 – PRIVATE ARCHAR KWAKU JOACHIM (211996)
    76 – PRIVATE MENSAH PAUL (212005)
    77 – PRIVATE NYAMEKYE ISAAC (212012)
    78 – PRIVATE AZUMAH GODWIN YAO (212019)
    79 – PRIVATE DOOM DOMINIC (212022)
    80 – PRIVATE ARHIN CHRISTOPHER PERRY (212029)
    81 – PRIVATE MOHAMMED RUFAI (212031)
    82 – PRIVATE APPIAH BONSU BERNARD (212047)
    83 – PRIVATE NYAMPONG PATRICK (211850)
    84 – PRIVATE ASIEDU PRINCE (211852)
    85 – PRIVATE ADISU GODSWAY (211855)
    86 – PRIVATE AGYEMANG DUAH THOMAS (211856)
    87 – PRIVATE ADDAE EVANS (212342)
    88 – PRIVATE ANDOH BISMARK (212507)

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Economic hardship: Prices of food are rising, but salaries are not – Dr Adomako Kissi

    Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi, the MP for Anyaa-Sowutuom, has admitted that there is economic hardship in the country since prices of goods and services rise daily but salaries remain unchanged.

    He blamed the increase in fuel prices observed worldwide for the recent condition Ghanaians are facing.

    Per media reports, the Russia-Ukraine war is exacerbating the rise in fuel prices.

    His analysis was that, the cost of transportation is affected by changes in price of fuel, and the former affects the prices of general goods and services, hence the rise in fuel prices is expected to affect the welfare of individuals.

    “The key thing about prices is transportation goods and the key index there is fuel. Everything runs on fuel. That is a fact. Once fuel prices worldwide have issues and are not controlled necessarily by government, these are expected.

    “These are facts. The key thing is that, world wide, prices are changing almost every three weeks or so and that is a fact. Whether you are an oil producing country or not, you don’t have the luxury of fixing your prices.”

    Following the economic principle that needs and wants are limitless, however, resources are scarce, he advised Ghanaians to adjust their daily spending as that is the only way to ensure savings.

    “I beg Ghanaians, we all need to adjust and the appropriate word is tightening our belts in the sense that, that is the only way you can save some money.

    If I’m visiting twice a week, I have to change that. Salaries are not going up and that is a fact, but our needs and demands are going up.”

    According to him, Members of Parliament are also being affected by the recent economic challenges.

    Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi revealed that the number of constituents he assists in a week has doubled, thereby affecting the weight in his pocket.

    “The pain is not discriminatory. Every part of the country is going through it. Once our constituency members are struggling, we are struggling. We are going through what they are going through. If there were 10 people coming to me for help, obviously now it is 20 and that drains all of us.”

    Due to the weight, the MP is thinking of running a series to inform Ghanaians on the responsibilities of Members of Parliament.

    Ghanaians are to brace themselves because the Institute of Energy Security (IES) has predicted that a litre of petrol will be sold at GH₵12.

    Currently, a litre of petrol and diesel are selling at GH₵9.85 and GH₵11.95 respectively at the pumps.

    There have been no comments about transport fares increasing yet should the prediction come to pass.

    Already, transport prices have been reviewed twice this year. The first was in February, by 15% and the second, in May, by 20%.

    These adjustments have affected the prices of commodities. A ball of kenkey is currently going for GH₵3.

    Source: The Independent Ghana



  • More than 30 people, including children, killed in stampede at church event in Nigeria

    More than 30 people were killed and others injured when a stampede broke out at a church event in the southeastern Nigerian city of Port Harcourt on Saturday, according to police and security officials.

    Most of the casualties were children.
    The incident took place at a local polo club, where the nearby Kings Assembly Church had organized a gift donation drive, according to Olufemi Ayodele, a regional spokesman for Nigeria’s Civil Defense Corps.
    “During the process of distributing the gift items, there was a stampede due to overcrowding,” he said. “Casualties were children mostly.”
    The drive had not yet started when the stampede took place, said Grace Woyengikuro Iringe-Koko, a spokeswoman for the state police.
    Woyengikuro Iringe-Koko said the crowd forced their way into the venue, despite the fact that the gate was closed, resulting in the deadly charge.
    Thirty-one people have been confirmed dead, Woyengikuro Iringe-Koko said. Seven injured people were hospitalized after the incident, she added.
    Source: CNN

  • UK criticized for excluding graduates from African universities in new work visa rule

    Britain will offer work visas to graduates from the world’s best universities in an expansion of its post-Brexit immigration system that is designed to attract the “best and brightest” workers.

    But no African universities are included in the list of eligible institutions.

    Under the scheme announced on Monday, graduates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree from the top 50 universities abroad can apply for a two-year work visa and will be allowed to bring family members with them.
    Those who receive doctorates can apply for a three-year visa. Successful applicants will then be able to switch to longer-term employment visas, the government said.
    Eligible universities must appear in the top 50 rankings of at least two of the following: the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the Academic Ranking of World Universities and the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings.
    Those rankings must be for the year of the applicant’s graduation, which must be within the past five years.
    The most recent list of eligible universities from 2021, published online by the UK government, comprises more than two dozen US universities, as well as institutions in Canada, Japan, Germany, China, Singapore, France and Sweden.
    No African university is on the latest eligibility list, nor on lists for previous years.
    The decision to exclude graduates from African universities has been criticized.
    “To exclude an entire continent brimming over with the enormous creative and intellectual energies of its youth on the basis of its absence from arbitrary, culturally biased, abuse-prone university rankings is shortsighted….Several unranked African universities have produced, and continue to produce, some of the brightest minds in the world,” said Professor Farooq Kperogi of the Kennesaw State University, Georgia.
    “University rankings are a Euro-American obsession. They are no more than perceptions of institutional prestige and name recognition…which do not necessarily reflect quality,” Kperogi added.
    “It is unfortunate that African graduates are being excluded,” said Dr. Owoyemi Elegbeleye of Nigeria’s University of Lagos.
    “The UK government should consider a spread in this policy so that Africans can benefit. They can spread the eligibility list to the top 300,” he told CNN.
    Irina Filatova, an emeritus professor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, remarked that the ranking system was “skewed in favor of English language and technological universities.”
    “It is good that universities compete, but the problem is that the system of ranking is skewed in favor of English language and technological universities. If you look at the top universities, they are the best in technology,” Filatova said.
    CNN has reached out to the UK Home Office for comment.

    Africa’s best rated universities

    The University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University — both in South Africa — are the best-rated institutions in Africa, according to the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings data.
    However, none of them are listed in the top 50 or 100 rankings of the top global rating agencies.
    Cape Town ranks a distant 183 on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2022, followed by Stellenbosch, which ranks between 251-300.
    According to the last published figures of the Academic Ranking of World Universities, the University of Cape Town was rated among the top 210-300 best universities globally with Stellenbosch ranked between 401-500.
    Cape Town and Stellenbosch universities were ranked 226th and 482nd respectively in the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings for 2022.
    Since leaving the European Union, Britain has ended the priority given to EU citizens and introduced a points-based immigration system that ranks applicants on everything from their qualifications and language skills to the type of job offered to them.
    But the country has faced a tight labor market for several years — compounded by Brexit and Covid-19 — and companies in manufacturing, logistics and the food sector have urged the government to loosen the rules for entry-level jobs.
    Rishi Sunak, the British finance minister, said the scheme would enable the UK to grow as an international hub for innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
    “We want the businesses of tomorrow to be built here today — which is why I call on students to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to forge their careers here,” Sunak said.
    The government said candidates must pass a security and criminality check, and be able to speak, read, listen and write English to an intermediate level.
    Source: CNN

  • Kenya marks 59 years of self-rule

    Kenya celebrated Wednesday 59 years of self-rule. Thousands had gathered at the Uhuru Gardens of Nairobi to mark Madaraka Day.

    It is before a large crowd, dignitaries such as the first couple of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the diplomatic corps, VP William Ruto and politician Raila Odinga that the President addressed the nation.

    “Madaraka Day is significant in our history because it is on this day in June 1963 that our founding fathers of our nation replaced the outgoing colonial government and formed the first indigenous government of Kenya”

    For his last ceremony in office, Kenyatta invited his people to consider “stability” when voting for the next election.

    “These forthcoming elections, general elections, on the 9th of August 2022 is to choose peace and stability over fear, hope over hate, and progress over retrogression.”

    President Kenyatta can no longer stand for re-election but his deputy Ruto and his now ally Odinga are just two among a record number of aspiring candidates.

    Source: Africanews

  • Bayern Munich: Robert Lewandowski exit points to uncertain future

    The era of Robert Lewandowski at Bayern Munich is coming to an end.

    The Poland striker, who has scored 344 goals in 374 competitive games for the German side, has made it very clear he wants to leave this summer.

    “My story with Bayern is over. I don’t see any possibility to play for this club any more,” Lewandowski said during a press conference with the Poland team.

    These are harsh words coming from one of Bayern‘s mainstays during the past 10 years. Lewandowski, advised by agent Pini Zahavi, has chosen confrontation over dialogue with his club to force a move.

    In recent weeks, Bayern’s management repeatedly stated Lewandowski is not for sale, pointing at his contract that runs until 2023.

    However, the striker, who will turn 34 in August, intends to sign one last lucrative deal this year and has chosen Barcelona as the destination for what will likely be the final stage of his career.

    He has a verbal agreement with the Catalan club over a three-year deal. The potential move could become a drawn-out affair though, as Barcelona are under strict financial supervision by the Spanish league and cannot easily pay a likely transfer fee of about 40m euros (£34m).

    Lewandowski’s exit is only one issue, though, for a club considered a European superpower for more than a decade but one now in danger of falling even further behind the continent’s top clubs.

    Rich in German terms, but getting poorer

    The quarter-final loss to Villarreal in this year’s Champions League has raised questions about Bayern’s competitiveness outside the Bundesliga.

    Winning the league for a 10th time in a row means little, as the domestic competition, including Borussia Dortmund, is miles behind Bayern.

    In contrast, Bayern are fighting an uphill battle internationally because of financial constraints. Having made the Champions League semi-finals in eight of the past 13 seasons, Bayern have now been knocked out at the quarter-final stage in the last two years – and there are fears things could soon get even worse.

    Bayern can count on reliable sponsors but do not have billionaire owners.

    Consequently, their liquid assets decreased from 221m (£188m) to 113m euros (£96m) during the past two years, mainly because of the impact of Covid-19 on revenue streams. A further decrease down to 60m euros (£51m) is expected.

    Bayern are simply not able to keep up with Paris St-Germain, Manchester City or Real Madrid economically. Hence, they have to act extremely cleverly in the transfer market and maintain a winning culture.

    Can Mane prove Bayern’s saviour?

    Bayern have already made peace with the fact they will lose their top striker this summer and are planning for a future without Lewandowski. According to sources within the club, their plan includes playing with a fluid three-man attack and not a ‘target man’.

    While Bayern are interested in traditional number nines such as Austria’s Sasa Kalajdzic and the 19-year-old Slovenian Benjamin Sesko, the club’s executives and manager Julian Nagelsmann know they will not be able to replace Lewandowski adequately.

    There are only a handful of strikers on Lewandowski’s level and none of them are available to Bayern.

    So, Nagelsmann is planning for a three-man attack like Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, because Leroy Sane, Thomas Muller, Kingsley Coman and Jamal Musiala are suitable for such a set-up.

    Bayern have also approached Sadio Mane’s management and are working hard on a deal with the Senegal forward, although there are still some financial issues to resolve in those negotiations.

    He would not be a Lewandowski replacement, but he could be seen as a statement signing for the German side and possibly prevent Bayern from falling behind even further on a European level.

    Rifts and an ageing squad

    In a moment when calmness and cohesion are needed, Bayern are more unsettled than they have been in several years. Nagelsmann and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic have differing opinions on many things, including an ageing squad.

    An increasing number of players also seem unhappy about their situation.

    “I cannot imagine good co-operation after all that has happened in the past few months,” Lewandowski said recently.

    We do not know whether his statement was only a means to force a move or mirrors his honest opinion, but it is good fodder for those that have criticised the communication within the club.

    Serge Gnabry is another key player who could jump ship soon. As with Lewandowski, financial incentives are not the main motivation for the Germany winger as he considers his departure, because Bayern recently made a lucrative extension offer. Instead, he feels he is not respected enough.

    Nagelsmann himself is also not liked by everyone in the dressing room, which could cause a rift if Bayern are going through a dry spell in the first few months of next season as they get used to playing without Lewandowski.

    How the German champions, one of the best-oiled machines in European football in the past decade, negotiate the early weeks of next season will be a significant guide as to how successfully they will tackle their uncertain future.

    Source: BBC

  • Queen’s Birthday Honours: Rio Ferdinand, Gareth Bale, Eve Muirhead and Moeen Ali honoured

    Olympic gold medallist Eve Muirhead has been named on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, alongside cricketer Moeen Ali and ex-footballer Rio Ferdinand.

    Muirhead won curling gold at the Beijing Winter Olympics and has been made an OBE, while the rest of her team become MBEs.

    Moeen and Ferdinand are both made an OBE, while Wales footballer Gareth Bale becomes an MBE.

    Broadcaster Clare Balding and Tracey Crouch MP are both made CBEs.

    The latest round of honours are to mark the Queen’s Jubilee Birthday celebrations to mark 70 years of service.

    Former sports minister Crouch chaired a fan-led review of football following a number of high-profile crises in the sport, such as the failed European Super League and the collapse of Bury FC. Its primary recommendation to create a new independent regulator for English football has been endorsed by the government.

    Balding is recognised for her ability in front of the camera and her charity work. She holds ambassadorial positions with many organisations, including StreetVet and the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity.

    Simpson brothers Neil and Andrew are also included on the list of MBEs after both winning gold at the Paralympic Games.

    Younger brother Neil, 19, was guided by brother Andrew, 21, to become GB’s third-ever Winter Games gold medallist and the first male to achieve the feat after successes for Kelly Gallagher in 2014 and Menna Fitzpatrick in 2018.

    Muirhead’s rink defeated Japan to win Team GB’s only gold medal in Beijing. Team-mates Vicky Wright, Jen Dodds, Hailey Duff and Mili Smith become MBEs, along with coach David Murdoch.

    Scot Muirhead, 32, who has appeared at four Olympics, added to the bronze she won in Sochi in 2014.

    England and Worcestershire all-rounder Moeen, 34, announced his retirement from Test cricket in September 2021 but has continued to play for the limited-overs side and was part of the Twenty20 team to reach the semi-finals of last year’s World Cup.

    He scored 2,914 runs and took 195 wickets in 64 Test matches, having made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2014.

    Television pundit and former Manchester United, Leeds, West Ham and England defender Ferdinand is honoured for services to football and charity. He set up the Rio Ferdinand Foundation this year, which works with young people and aids community development.

    Snooker players Judd Trump and Mark Selby win recognition too. Former world champion Selby has become an advocate for mental health awareness after admitting his mental health struggles in January. Trump reached the final of this year’s World Championship, losing to Ronnie O’Sullivan.

    Wigan Warriors and England rugby league legend Sean O’Loughlin is also included.

    Football players honoured

    Others made an OBE include former England footballers Mike Summerbee and Luther Blissett, who starred for Manchester City and Watford respectively.

    Wales and outgoing Real Madrid forward Bale won a joint-record fifth Champions League title on Saturday, albeit having barely featured this season. He spent last season on loan at former club Tottenham.

    However, he won three La Liga titles, four Club World Cups, three Uefa Super Cups, one Copa del Rey and three Spanish Super Cups with Madrid, as well as helping Wales to two successive European Championships.

    He is joined as an MBE by veteran Liverpool and former England midfielder James Milner.

    In the past season Milner helped Liverpool win the FA Cup and League Cup, as well as reach the Champions League final.

    Richard Bevan, the chief executive of the League Managers’ Association, has also been made an OBE while former Scotland and Hibernian goalkeeper Alan Rough is an MBE.

    Paralympians and Olympians

    Husband and wife Neil and Lora Fachie are MBEs after both winning Paralympic cycling gold within the space of 16 minutes.

    Neil and pilot Matt Rotherham smashed their own world record to win gold in the B 1,000m time trial, before Lora and Corrine Hall successfully retained their B 3,000m pursuit crown.

    Gaz Choudhry, who won Paralympic wheelchair basketball bronze and coached the team in Tokyo and Para-athlete Sammi Kinghorn, a Paralympic silver and bronze medallist, are both made MBEs.

    Georgina Harland is also an MBE for her work as the first female chef de mission of the British Olympic Association for the Winter Olympics.

    Swimmer Hannah Miley, who represented Britain in swimming at three Olympic Games and won the Commonwealth Games 400m individual medley titles in 2010 and 2014, has also been recognised with an MBE.

    Muirhead ends wait for gold medal

    Muirhead brought watching British team-mates in the Ice Cube to their feet as she scored a superb four in the seventh end to effectively clinch the Olympic title.

    Her performance was the more remarkable for her having returned from hip surgery.

    She described the winning moment as a “dream” after emulating the gold won by Rhona Howie’s team at Salt Lake City in 2002.

    Muirhead said: “There were times during this season that I would never have thought what I managed to go on and achieve was possible.

    “I am absolutely delighted to be sharing this honour with my team-mates, because without them there’s no way I could have been in this position.”

    The gold medal capped an incredible 12 months for Muirhead, who led Scotland to eighth at the World Championships last year.

    After that disappointment nine players were put into a squad selection process and Muirhead, Wright, Dodds, and Duff emerged. They went on to win the European Championships in December before sealing their spot in Beijing in a tense qualifier just weeks before the Games.

    Muirhead added: “It just goes to show that the team around me never gives up and that you can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it.”

    Moeen rewarded for career

    Moeen says he ended his Test career because he found the format “really difficult to get into” and “really long” – despite having an impressive career and being promoted to vice-captain.

    The left-handed batter and off-spinner hit five centuries and took five five-wicket hauls in Tests, finishing with a batting average of 28.29 and a bowling average of 36.66.

    Only 15 bowlers have taken more Test wickets for England and Moeen is ranked third among English spinners, behind Derek Underwood (297) and Graeme Swann (255).

    “It’s an honour to be recognised, it’s amazing and my family are really proud and happy,” he said. “More than anything, I know it makes my parents happy.”

    But he acknowledged his Pakistani heritage and Muslim faith had made him an ambassador for inclusivity in the sport too.

    “It’s not about runs and wickets. I think it’s more about the journey I’ve been through. It’s my background, my upbringing and all those kinds of things I’ve been through throughout my life.”

    In 2017, Moeen became the fifth-fastest player in terms of matches played to reach 2,000 runs and 100 wickets, also taking a hat-trick against South Africa that year to seal a series win at The Oval.

    He was part of the 2015 Ashes winning side but struggled during the 2017-18 series in Australia and took a break from cricket after being dropped during the 2019 Ashes at home.

    The Queen’s Birthday Honours list for sport

    Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

    Clare Victoria Balding (broadcaster), for services to sport and charity

    Tracey Crouch MP (former sports minister), for parliamentary and public service

    Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

    Moeen Ali (cricketer), for services to cricket

    Richard Harrison Bevan (chief executive of League Managers Association), for services to football

    Luther Loide Blissett (ex-footballer and patron, Sporting Memories), for services to football and to charity

    Lora Marie Fachie (cyclist), for services to cycling

    Neil Michael Fachie (cyclist), for services to cycling

    Rio Gavin Ferdinand (pundit and ex-footballer), for services to football and to charity

    David Peter Hadfield (president, Boccia International Sports Federation), for services to sport

    Corinne Claire Hall (cyclist), for services to cycling

    Hugh Morris (chief executive, Glamorgan County Cricket Club), for services to cricket and to charity

    Eve Muirhead (skip, British Olympic Curling Team), for services to curling

    Sean O’Loughlin (rugby league player), for services to rugby league

    Professor Nicholas Sheridan Peirce, (chief medical officer, England and Wales Cricket Board), for services to sport during Covid-19

    Michael Summerbee (ex-footballer), for services to football and to charity

    Karen Margaret Tonge (chair, Para Table Tennis), for services to table tennis

    Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

    Gareth Frank Bale (footballer), for services to football and to charity

    Ghazain Choudhury (wheelchair basketballer), for services to wheelchair basketball

    Jennifer Carmichael Dodds (curler), for services to curling

    Hailey Caitlin Rose Duff (curler), for services to curling

    William Robert Leckie Duncan (curler), for services to curling and to charity

    Thomas Scott Dyson (chief coach, Paralympic Pathway, British Rowing), for services to Paralympic rowing

    Gary Kenneth Hall (Performance Director, British Taekwondo), for services to taekwondo

    Benjamin Robert Hawes (chair, Athletes Commission, British Olympic Association), for services to sport

    Elizabeth Ellen Hughes (director of special projects, Sport England), for services to sport during Covid-19

    Samantha May Kinghorn (para-athlete), for services to disability sport

    Shirley McCay (hockey player), for services to hockey and to the community in Northern Ireland

    Hannah Lousie Miley (swimmer), for services to swimming and to women in sport

    Dr Ian Stuart Miller (lately chief medical officer, British Paralympic Association), for services to Paralympic Sport

    James Philip Milner (footballer), for services to football and charity

    David Matthew Murdoch (head coach, British Curling Team), for services to curling

    Verity Leigh Naylor (director of operations, British Paralympic Association), for services to Paralympic sport

    Alan Rough (ex-footballer), for services to football and to charity in Scotland

    Eilish Rutherford (para-hockey player), for services to sport and to charity in Northern Ireland

    Andrew Peter Ryan (executive director, Association of Summer Olympic International Federations), for services to sport

    Douglas Gordon Samuel, (lately chief executive officer, Spartans Community Football Academy). For services to Association Football and to the community in North Edinburgh

    Georgina Claire Seccombe (Harland) (chef de mission, Team GB, Olympic Games 2021), for services to Olympic sport

    Mark Selby (snooker player), for services to snooker and to charity

    Neil Douglas Hamilton Simpson (para-alpine skier), for services to skiing

    Andrew William Ramsay Simpson (para-alpine skier), for services to skiing

    Mili Smith (curler), for services to curling

    Stephen Connell Stewart (director of sport and exercise, University of St Andrews), for services to sport

    Judd Trump (snooker), for services to snooker and to charity

    Anwar Uddin, (Fans For Diversity campaign manager, The Football Supporters’ Association), for services to association football

    Georgina Astrid Usher, (British Fencing chief executive), for services to fencing (London)

    Tracy Whittaker-Smith (head national coach, Trampoline, British Gymnastics), for services to trampolining

    David Brynmor Williams (ex-rugby union player), for services to sport and to charity in Wales

    Victoria Wright (curler), for services to curling

    Source: BBC

  • PFA awards: Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne and Liverpool trio among players’ player nominees

    Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne and Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo join a trio of Liverpool players among nominations for the Professional Footballers’ Association men’s players’ player of the year award.

    Forwards Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, along with centre-back Virgil van Dijk are the three Reds names on the list.

    Tottenham’s Harry Kane is also included but the league’s joint top scorer Son Heung-min has not been nominated.

    The winner will be revealed on 9 June.

    Premier League winner De Bruyne was City’s top scorer and assist provider this season with 15 goals and eight assists. He has already been voted the 2021-22 Premier League player of the season.

    Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool dominate the list having won two domestic cups, come within one point of winning the Premier League and reached the Champions League final, only to lose to Real Madrid.

    Salah, the league’s joint top scorer along with Spurs’ Son, scored 23 times and he also ended the campaign with 13 assists, which saw him secure the Premier League’s playmaker award.

    Mane was Liverpool’s second highest scorer with 16.

    Netherlands captain Van Dijk helped the Reds concede only 26 goals in 38 league games, the joint least with champions City.

    Kane was last season’s Golden Boot winner, sharing the award with Salah, and it comes as a surprise that the England skipper, who scored 17 goals this year, makes the shortlist rather than Spurs’ top scorer Son.

    Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo is perhaps another unexpected name in the nominations after Manchester United finished sixth, 13 points off Champions League qualification.

    However, bar Son and Salah, Ronaldo was the Premier League’s top scorer with 18.

    PFA Young Player Award

    Phil Foden
    Manchester City’s Phil Foden scored 14 goals in all competitions this season

    City’s Phil Foden is among six players nominated for the Professional Footballers’ Association men’s young player of the year award.

    The 22-year-old, who won last season’s PFA young player award, is joined by Arsenal pair Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe in an all-English line-up.

    Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, defender Reece James from Chelsea and Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey complete the shortlist.

    Despite missing the first month of the season with an injury he picked up with England at Euro 2020, Foden registered nine goals and five assists for Pep Guardiola’s Premier League-winning side.

    With 11 goals, Saka was Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League this season and also provided the joint-highest number of assists for them – tying with Alexandre Lacazette on seven.

    Meanwhile, Saka’s team-mate Emile Smith Rowe, who won his first England caps this season, was second on the Gunners’ league goalscoring list with 10.

    Gallagher, who has just completed a season’s loan at Crystal Palace from Chelsea, scored eight goals for Patrick Vieira’s side and made his England debut in November.

    Chelsea defender James completes a family double with his nomination – as sister is on the women’s young player shortlist.

    He scored five goals and provided nine assists this season, while offering defensive solidity in a side who conceded fewer goals in this season’s Premier League than every other side bar Manchester City and Liverpool.

    Aston Villa’s Ramsey has flourished under the management of Steven Gerrard and established himself as a first-team regular this season, picking up the club’s players’ player of the season award.

    Source: BBC

  • Impressive Argentina beat Italy in Finalissima

    Lionel Messi and Angel di Maria shone as Argentina beat Italy at Wembley in the Finalissima – a renewal of the contest between the champions of Europe and South America.

    Messi’s run and cross set up the opener for Lautaro Martinez, who then turned provider for Di Maria to chip a second.

    Substitute Paulo Dybala rounded off a handsome win in injury time.

    Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini played the first half of what was his 118th and final international match.

    The contest is the first between the two continental champions in 29 years.

    It is a revival of the Artemio Franchi Cup, competed for twice before – in 1985, when France beat Uruguay and in 1993, when Argentina beat Denmark on penalties.

    Argentina further underline huge potential

    Argentina’s victory in front of 87,112 continues their remarkable run of results since June 2019 – they are unbeaten in 32 matches, winning their first Copa America since 1993 and cruising through qualification for the World Cup in Qatar in the process.

    Their side at Wembley showcased a host of elite global talent, including a stellar front three of Di Maria, Martinez and Messi, who were a menace throughout with their movement and neat interplay.

    It was Di Maria and Messi who truly stood out, however, staging their own mini contest with Paris St-Germain club-mate and Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in what became an increasingly one-sided affair.

    Inside two minutes, Di Maria was attempting to lob Donnarumma from close to halfway. By the end of the first half, he had scored a magnificent chip to follow up Martinez’s opener, created by a typically untouchable Messi run and cross.

    Italy were simply grateful to their keeper for the string of impressive saves he made to keep the scoreline respectable, before Dybala fired in low with the last kick of the game.

    Behind Argentina’s front three, Giovani lo Celso and Rodrigo de Paul were a constant source of energy and positivity while Nicolas Otamendi and Cristian Romero provided grit and guile when needed at the back.

    It is 36 years since Argentina won the World Cup. With this side, marrying its undoubted talent with a supreme work-rate, they would appear to have an excellent chance of ending their wait for a third global crown.

    Disappointing Wembley return for Italy

    For Italy, Wednesday’s game could have been a celebration – a return to the scene of their Euro 2020 triumph and a chance to say goodbye to one of the modern game’s great defenders.

    Instead, what started out as a bitter-sweet occasion ended as a chastening one.

    The Azzurri know it will be at least four years before they have the chance to face elite non-European opposition such as Argentina in a competitive fixture again. They also now know just how wide the gulf is between themselves and such sides.

    Their failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup – the second in a row they will have missed – is undoubtedly a huge blow to a nation that had come so far under the management of Roberto Mancini and would have fancied their chances in Qatar.

    It was only nine months ago that they recorded the longest unbeaten run in international football – 37 matches, during which they won the Euros for the second time in their history.

    But as the shock play-off defeat by North Macedonia made abundantly clear, theirs is a side in clear need of renewal – a process possibly better enabled by being away from the pressures of competing at a major tournament in the middle of another gruelling domestic season.

    The process has already begun. Roberto Mancini’s matchday squad had an eye on the future, including inexperienced 23-year-olds Alessandro Bastoni and Gianluca Scamacca and a fourth start for 22-year-old forward Giacomo Raspadori.

    His hand has also been forced, with Chiellini departing the international stage after a typically combative 45 minutes, taking 118 caps’ worth of experience with him.

    Further changes and experiments will come, but so do stern fixtures in the shape of Germany, Hungary and England in the Nations League.

    For Argentina, the sky is the limit; for Italy things may get worse before they get better.

    ‘It was a beautiful final’ – what they said

    Messi’s performance was at odds with his first season in French football, in which he has only scored 11 times – his lowest return in 16 years. But he thrived in an atmosphere fuelled by vocal Argentine support.

    “We knew it was going to be a nice match and a nice setting to be champion,” he said.

    “It was a beautiful final, full of Argentines. What we experienced here was beautiful.”

    Italy boss Mancini spoke in equally glowing terms of the setting – but less enamoured with the result.

    “To play in Wembley is fantastic,” he said. “Every time we play here it is an incredible moment for football and for us.

    “The atmosphere tonight was absolutely fantastic, in the end for us maybe not so good but this is football.

    “I think they played better than us. They have a fantastic striker, midfielders, they played very, very well.”

    Source: BBC

  • Johnny Depp wins libel case against ex-wife, Amber Heard

    Johnny Depp brought the six-week court case after an op-ed in the Washington Post in December 2018 in which Amber Heard said she had endured domestic violence during their 15-month marriage.

    A US jury has found Amber Heard defamed ex-husband Johnny Depp with an article in which she claimed she was a victim of domestic abuse.

    Jurors awarded Mr Depp – who denied abusing Ms Heard – $15m (£12m) in compensatory and punitive damages.

    Ms Heard, 36, won one of three counter-claims against Mr Depp, 58, and was awarded $2m in compensatory damages.

    The Hollywood stars, who divorced in 2017, presented conflicting versions of their doomed relationship in the trial.

    Over six weeks, the court in Fairfax, Virginia, heard tawdry details of Mr Depp and Ms Heard’s tempestuous marriage, and its unhappy ending.

    Polls suggested many Americans were more interested in the legal drama than the war in Ukraine or a potentially historic ruling on abortion expected any day from the US Supreme Court.

    Coverage of the trial – which was televised and livestreamed – hit billions of views on social media.

    After nearly two days of deliberations, jurors found on Wednesday that Ms Heard’s statements about her marriage were “false” and she had acted with “actual malice”.

    But they also found that Mr Depp had defamed Ms Heard when his lawyer gave a statement to the Daily Mail in 2020 calling her abuse allegations a hoax.

    As the seven-member jury delivered its verdict, screams and chants of “Johnny, Johnny, Johnny” erupted outside the court.

    Mr Depp was not in court due to “previously scheduled work commitments”, his spokesperson said. The actor was said to be watching from the United Kingdom, where he has played three surprise concerts alongside his friend, British musician Jeff Beck, since the jury began deliberating on Friday.

    On the eve of the verdict, Mr Depp received a standing ovation after performing with Mr Beck at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

    In a statement on Wednesday, he said: “The jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled.”

    He added, in Latin: “Truth never perishes.”

    Mr Depp’s statement continued: “I hope that my quest to have the truth be told will have helped others, men or women, who have found themselves in my situation, and that those supporting them never give up.”

    Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Penney Azcarate reduced the punitive damages awarded to Depp to $350,000, the statutory cap in Virginia. That leaves his total damages at $10.4m. Ms Heard was not awarded any punitive damages.

    The actress, who sat sombrely throughout the reading of the verdict, said in a statement that she was “heartbroken”. She argued that the jury had ignored evidence in her favour.

    “I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American – to speak freely and openly,” said the actress, who stars in an Aquaman sequel due out next year.

    She added: “I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated.”

    A spokeswoman for Ms Heard has said she plans to appeal the ruling.

     

    Source: BBC

  • Volta ECG revenue taskforce recoups GHC1.5 million from clients

    The Volta Region Revenue Taskforce of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), in a clampdown exercise has recouped more than GHC1.5 million to the Company.

    The money was accrued from clients in arrears and those engaged in illegal power theft through surcharges.

    The exercise, which begun early this year, in its catchment areas across Volta and Oti Regions took the operation to households, hostels, hotels, cold stores, pubs, restaurants and government institutions, who owed the company to comply with settlement of debts or power terminated.

    The task force has visited customers in Ho, Denu, Sogakope and Kpando Districts and are set to visit about 100 debtors to ensure they settle their debts.

    Mr Emmanuel Lumor, the Volta Regional General Manager of ECG, speaking to the media, said the directorates are replicating “the inauguration of the national taskforce by the Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, to help the Company retrieve monies owed it by some customers and to curb the menace of illegal connection.”

    He said the Revenue Taskforce empowered by LI 2413, allows the Company to disconnect clients who refuse to pay their bills within 14 days after receiving the bill.

    He added that the taskforce has also served some institutions disconnection notices in accordance with LI 2413, giving them three days to settle their debt or face disconnection.

    The General Manager said two such tertiary institutions responded with dispatch to settle their indebtedness after receiving notices of disconnection and warned clients who remained adamant would be taken off the national grid, until they do the needful.

    He said the Company has intensified stakeholder engagements including announcements and radio education to sensitise customers on the need to pay their bills promptly to help ECG serve them better.

    Mr Lumor disclosed some illegalities uncovered during the ongoing exercise to include meter bypass, unauthorised and direct connections, and meter tampering.”

    He bemoaned how illegal connections by some customers affected the financial strength of the Company, which hinders it from undertaking capital intensive projects that would inure to the benefit of customers.

    “As a Company, we have to pay power producers when we purchase power from them to distribute to our cherished customers, hence consuming power illegally prevents the Company from generating money to pay these key players on the electricity supply chain,” he said.

    According to Mr Lumor, illegal connection affects the distribution system by overloading transformers, which eventually leads to the breakdown of transformers and causes outages.

    He cautioned the public to do the right thing through prompt payment of bills and desist from illegal acts such as meter bypass since it is a criminal and dangerous act, which could cause fire outbreak and the loss of life through electrocution.

    Mr Lumor announced that the Company has the authority to prosecute persons engaged in such illegal acts within ECG network by an Executive Instrument (EI) 38 of the Appointment of Public Prosecution Instrument (2010).

    He called on the public in general to support the Company in its fight against illegal connection by reporting people who engaged in such acts to the nearest ECG office or call the national taskforce via telephone number 0551444011 and indicated that it comes with a financial reward.

    “There is a six per cent commission of any amount we recoup as an incentive for anyone who gave us reliable information to unearth any illegality,” he said.

    Source: Ghanaweb via GNA

  • Reconsider June 4 protest – Police tells Fix Ghana Now members 

    The Ghana Police Service has indicated that it would be unable to provide security to members of FixGhanaNow movement should they protest on June 4.

    This comes after the group on Sunday, May 29, served notice to the Police of their intention to embark on a demonstration on the said date in question.

    According to the Police, in the said notice, group comprising broadcaster Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly known as ‘Captain Smart’, lead convenor for FixTheCountry movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Okatakyie Afrifa and Benjamin Darko, sought to do the following:

    • Embark on a three-day demonstration starting 4th June, 2022.
    • Contract a private security company to provide protection for the demonstrators.
    • Contract a private security personnel to be armed with weapons
    • Picket at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and the Ghana Police Headquarters
    • Demand to speak directly to the nation on GTV and layout their grievances

    In a press statement dated June 1, the Police explained that the nature and character of the intended demonstration contravenes the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 49).

    The Service therefore has suggested to the Movement that it rescheduled the date for its protest while working with the Police to organise a “lawful, peaceful and successful demonstration.”

    “We wish to assure the public that in the interest of public safety and security, the Police are putting in place all necessary measures to ensure that unauthorised persons do not march the streets with weapons,” the statement added.

    What does PUBLIC ORDER ACT, 1994 ACT 491 say:

    Section 4 notes that “Where a police officer notified of a special event under subsection (1) has reasonable grounds to believe that the special event if held may lead to violence or endanger public defence, public order, public safety, public health or the running of essential services or violate the rights and freedoms of any other  persons, the police officer may request the organiser to postpone the special event to any other date or to relocate the special event.”

    Per Section 5, an organiser requested to postpone or relocate the holding of a special event shall “within forty-eight hours of the request, notify the police officer in writing of the willingness to comply.”

    Section 6 adds that Where the organiser refuses to comply with the request or fails to notify the police officer, “the police officer may apply to a Justice or the chairman of a Regional Tribunal for an order to prohibit the holding of the special event on the proposed date or at the proposed location.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Adwoa Safo is no longer our MP although we voted for her – Trader at Dome market 

    Dome Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has been relieved of her duties, and this is according to a trader at the Dome Market.

    Interacting with the Pulse in the local parlance, a female trader noted that although she remains their MP by law, they have denounced her as their representative.

    According to the unidentified trader, since her re-election, Adwoa Safo has failed to work for the people of Dome Kwabenya as mandated.

    “We those at the market have relieved her of her duties. When we voted for Adwoa Safo, what did she do for us? She has done nothing and we have never set our eyes on her after the election.

    “We have taken the MP position from her. She just has the title ‘MP’ but in our minds, she no longer represents us,” her comments translated by The Independent Ghana reads.

    Adwoa Safo, following her re-election has been absent from Parliament and her constituency.

    She has been abroad for almost a year. In an interview with JoyNews, Adwoa Safo, who doubles as the Gender Minister, revealed that her focus has been to nurse her sick child.

    Maintaining that this remains her priority, she revealed that she would only return to Ghana after seeing to the welfare of her son.

    “As you know, my son is unwell and has to transition to school, so I have to ensure that all that is settled before I can resume my duties and that is exactly what I am doing.

    “I have been doing a lot to take care of my children which the law requires and as you know here in the foreign land, I have to comply with whatever I am directed to do and until all that is sorted out, I have to do what I have to do and then I will return to my duties.”

    According to her, Ghanaians would be disappointed if she failed to live up to her mandate as the Gender Minister, therefore, her decision to choose her son over her duties here in Ghana.

    She made the revelation on May 27, the day she was to appear before the Privileges Committee of Parliament.

    Adwoa Safo indicated that she was not formally written to appear before the committee for interrogation after being referred by Speaker Bagbin together with two others for breaking the 15-sitting rule.

    The two are Ayawaso Central MP, Henry Quartey and the Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong.

    According to the Dome Kwabenya trader in question, they will vote against Adwoa Safo in the next Parliamentary elections to elect someone who is ready to work.

    “We have taken our decision and we will vote against her. We do not know where she is so why should we vote for her again. She should remain abroad so we also stay here. We will look for someone who can work for us,”  her comments translated by The Independent Ghana reads.

    The continuous absence of Dome Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, from Parliament and her constituency has led to a public uproar.

    Majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has advised the MP to  step aside and declare her seat vacant.

    He added that by so doing, the government will be able to hold bye-elections to choose a candidate committed to representing the people of Dome-Kwabenya in Parliament.

     

    Source: The Independent Ghana



  • First flight taking Channel migrants to Rwanda set for 14 June

    The first flight to Rwanda carrying migrants who cross the English Channel is set to leave in two weeks’ time on 14 June, the Home Office has said.

    Officials have begun issuing formal directions to the first people set to be flown to the African country.

    It is expected there will be legal challenges against the move.

    The controversial plan has been criticised by politicians, charities and the Archbishop of Canterbury who called it the opposite of God’s nature.

    Under the scheme, some asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK are being sent to Rwanda where their application will be processed.

    While their application is considered they will be given accommodation and support and, if successful, they will be able to remain in Rwanda with up to five years’ access to education and support.

    Home Secretary Priti Patel said the partnership with Rwanda was “a key part of our strategy to overhaul the broken asylum system and break the evil people-smugglers’ business model”.

    More than 4,850 people have crossed the Channel in small boats this year, with more than 3,000 making the dangerous journey in March compared to 831 in the same month last year.

    The Home Office has not confirmed how many people will be issued with the removal notices at first, but one official told BBC News all those who will be issued with the directions are currently in asylum detention.

    A source said “fewer than hundreds” of migrants were being given directions at first.

    The removal directions confirm to people that they are being sent to Rwanda, and when.

    The Home Office is expecting legal action, both by individuals threatened with removal and by campaign groups opposed to the government’s policy.

    Ms Patel said issuing the removal directions was “another critical step” and that while she knew “attempts will now be made to frustrate the process and delay removals” she said she would not be deterred.

    The Home Office said officials are working to ensure individuals are given the “appropriate support” ahead of departure.

    The scheme will focus mainly on single people who arrive in the UK in small boats or lorries and those who arrived by such means since 1 January will be considered to be sent to Rwanda.

    Those who fail in their asylum bids in Rwanda will be offered the chance to apply for visas under other immigration routes if they wish to remain in the country, but could still face deportation.

    People cross the English Channel by boat

    Critics of the scheme have described it as “cruel” and have raised concerns about the African nation’s human rights record.

    Last year the UK government expressed concern at the United Nations over “continued restrictions to civil and political rights and media freedom” in Rwanda, but when announcing the scheme Prime Minister Boris Johnson described it as one of the safest countries in the world.

    Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said on Tuesday the scheme was not about deterring criminal gangs or small boat crossings but “chasing headlines”.

    “This is a completely unworkable, extortionately expensive, and deeply un-British policy,” she said. “There is no proper process for identifying people who have been trafficked or tortured.”

    Ms Cooper added that the Home Office still had not announced how much the scheme will cost per person on top of an initial £150m.

    Source: BBC

  • DR Congo to free Rwandan soldiers amid tensions

    Angolan President João Lourenço says the Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to release two Rwandan soldiers it detained last week, amid rising border tensions.

    Mr Lourenço – who’s acting as a mediator – made the announcement after separate talks with his Congolese and Rwandan counterparts.

    His office said Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame had agreed to meet face-to-face in Angola, but didn’t give a date.

    Rwanda and the DR Congo have accused each other of aiding armed militias in the border region and encouraging attacks.

    Source: BBC

  • Texas shooting: Uvalde gunman entered door that did not lock

    Texas police have said the gunman who shot 21 people dead at a school last week entered through a door that was supposed to lock, but somehow did not.

    The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), which is investigating the shooting response, confirmed a teacher had initially propped open the door.

    But a spokesman on Tuesday said the teacher closed the door once the gunman entered the campus.

    Public anger has risen as new details of the shooting emerge.

    Initial reports of the gunman getting into the school via an exterior door that was accidentally left open by a teacher had suggested a breach of school policy. Employees at Robb Elementary School are required to keep doors closed and locked.

    However, an attorney for the unnamed employee told the San Antonio Express-News on Tuesday that she had closed it and “thought the door would lock because that door is always supposed to be locked”.

    Don Flanary said the woman had propped the door open with a rock so she could carry food from a car into a classroom, but she “kicked the rock away when she went back in” after realising a gun-wielding assailant was on campus.

    Texas DPS spokesman Travis Considine said on Tuesday that video footage verified the door had been shut. He said investigators were now looking into why it had not locked.

    “She came back out while on her phone, she heard someone yell, ‘He has a gun!’, she saw him [the gunman] jump the fence and that he had a gun, so she ran back inside,” Mr Considine said, adding that the employee had removed the rock as she re-entered the building.

    The DPS also confirmed on Tuesday that Uvalde school district police chief Pete Arredondo had not yet responded to a Texas Rangers’ request made “a couple of days ago” for a follow-up interview.

    The school and the city police force have faced intense scrutiny since last week’s attack.

    At a heated news conference on Friday, DPS chief Steven McCraw confirmed 19 police officers had lingered in the hallway as the gunman barricaded himself inside a classroom.

    He said the commanding officer had waited until the school janitor arrived with the keys because he did not believe it was still an “active shooter” situation.

    “Of course it was not the right decision,” Mr McCraw said. “It was the wrong decision.”

    The first funerals after the shooting took place on Tuesday, as Amerie Jo Garza and Maite Rodriguez, both 10, were laid to rest.

    More funerals are planned for Wednesday, including a joint service for Irma Garcia, a 48-year-old teacher, and her husband, who died of a suspected heart attack two days after the shooting.

    Meanwhile, President Joe Biden said he plans to meet members of Congress to look for any possible way forward on gun control.

    But the prospect of any such measure passing on a polarised Capitol Hill is widely seen as a long shot.

    Source: BBC

  • Ukraine has no intention of attacking Russia – Zelensky

    Ukraine’s President Zelensky has said his country has “no intention of attacking Russia”.

    In an interview with conservative US TV channel Newsmax, the Ukrainian leader insisted the artillery would be used solely for self-defence.

    “We are not interested in the Russian Federation. We are not fighting on their territory like they do with us,” Zelensky told Newsmax’s Rob Schmitt.

    Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has agreed to send Ukraine more advanced rocket systems.

    This is in the hope that more artillery power will level the playing field between the two sides and make a diplomatic solution to bring the war to an end more likely.

    But the US has agreed to provide the precision-guided missiles, which can reach targets as far as 70km (45 miles), only after gaining assurances that the weapons would not be used to attack targets inside Russia.

    Source: BBC

  • Ukraine war: US to send longer-range rockets in latest aid package

    The US will send Ukraine more advanced rocket systems to help it defend itself, President Biden has announced.

    The weapons, long requested by Ukraine, are to help it strike enemy forces more precisely from a longer distance.

    Until now, the US had refused the request out of fear the weapons could be used against targets in Russia.

    But on Wednesday, Mr Biden said the lethal aid would strengthen Kyiv’s negotiating position against Russia and make a diplomatic solution more likely.

    Writing in the New York Times, he said: “That is why I’ve decided that we will provide the Ukrainians with more advanced rocket systems and munitions that will enable them to more precisely strike key targets on the battlefield in Ukraine.”

    This is a fine balancing act for Mr Biden, as providing more powerful weapons could risk drawing the US and its Nato allies into direct conflict with Russia.

    New weaponry will include the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), a senior White House official said – although he did not specify how many of them would be supplied.

    The systems can launch multiple precision-guided missiles at targets as far as 70km (45 miles) away – far further than the artillery that Ukraine currently has. They are also believed to be more accurate than their Russian equivalents.

    Image shows HIMARS rocket system in useGETTY IMAGES
    A US-made M142 HIMARS rocket launcher takes part in military exercises last year

    Last month, Ukraine‘s army chief said that getting the HIMARS units would be “crucial” in allowing it to counter Russian missile attacks.

    The US expects Ukraine to deploy the weapons in the eastern Donbas region, where the fighting is most intense, and where they can be used to strike Russian artillery units and forces targeting Ukrainian towns.

    White House officials agreed to provide the rockets, they said, only after gaining assurances from President Volodomyr Zelensky that the weapons would not be used to attack targets inside Russia.

    “We are not going to send to Ukraine rocket systems that can strike into Russia,” Mr Biden wrote on Wednesday.

    Mr Zelensky confirmed this in an interview for US network Newsmax.

    “We’re not interested in what is happening in Russia,” he said. “We’re only interested in our own territory in Ukraine.”

    Image shows rocket firingGETTY IMAGES

    Pro-Russian ‘DPR’ forces fire a rocket targeting Ukrainian positions in Yasynuvata, Donetsk

    The latest rockets will be the centrepiece of a $700m (£556m) support package for Ukraine that will be formally unveiled on Wednesday, White House officials said.

    Helicopters, anti-tank weapons, tactical vehicles and spare parts are to be included in what will be the 11th package of military aid approved by the US for Ukraine since the invasion began in February.

    In Wednesday’s article, Mr Biden wrote that the US’s goal was simply to see a “democratic, independent, sovereign” Ukraine, not to oust Mr Putin from his role as Russian president or to seek broader conflict with Moscow.

    He blamed Russia’s continued aggression for the stalling of peace efforts, adding that the US would never put pressure on Ukraine to concede any of its territory in return for an end to the conflict.

    Directly addressing the risk of nuclear weapons being used in Ukraine, Mr Biden said “we currently see no indication” of this being Russia’s intention – but warned that doing so would be unacceptable and bring with it “severe consequences”.

    Soon after Mr Biden’s piece was published, Russian military officials announced that the country’s nuclear forces were holding drills in Ivanovo province near Moscow, Interfax news agency reported.

    Previously Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the West of “pumping up the Ukrainian nationalists with weapons” and said that any cargo of arms bound for Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Moscow.

    The ministry has said that Nato countries are “playing with fire” by sending weapons to Ukraine.

    Image shows map

    1px transparent lineMeanwhile in Ukraine, fighting is continuing in the eastern Donbas region.

    On Tuesday, the governor of Luhansk said that one of Ukraine’s last holdouts in the region – the eastern city of Severodonetsk – was now mostly under Moscow’s control.

    Russian forces now occupy almost all of Luhansk and are focusing on seizing neighbouring Donetsk, the two regions which collectively make up Donbas.

    Source: BBC

  • Chris Hughton keen to get players to naturalise for Ghana in future

    Black Stars Technical Advisor, Chris Hughton is keen on getting Ghanaian players abroad to play for the Black Stars in the near future.

    Several players abroad have popped up recently in Europe including Brighton Hove Albion right back, Triq Lamptey, Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah and many others.

    Bristol City striker Antoine Semenyo was handed a maiden Black Stars call-up by coach Otto Addo ahead of the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar on Wendesday and is is expected to make his debut.

    “It’s something that I’ll certainly get involved in the dialogue with,” Hughton told BBC Sport Africa.

    “This is something the Ghanaian Football Association have been involved in for a while. So on the conversations that I might have, as regards a player that has Ghanaian parentage, the Association are fully aware and also Otto’s somebody who is very much on the pulse.

    Source: Football Ghana

  • Tchouameni close to €100m Real Madrid transfer despite late PSG bid for Monaco star

    Real Madrid and Monaco are close to reaching an agreement for the transfer of Aurelien Tchouameni, GOAL can confirm.

    The France international midfielder has turned down advances from Liverpool and PSG to make the move to the European champions.

    The Spanish side hope to seal the arrival of the defensive midfielder in the next few hours.

    Tchouameni had decided he wanted to join Madrid weeks ago, turning down interest from Liverpool and, latterly, Paris Saint-Germain.

    What do we know about Tchouameni’s move to Madrid?

    After weeks of negotiations, Monaco and Madrid are close to reaching an agreement.

    The Champions League winners will pay around €100 million (£85m/$107m) including signing bonuses for the 22-year-old.

    PSG, led by incoming sporting director Luis Campos and Kylian Mbappe, moved in late to try an convince the France international to remain in his homeland, but his representatives met with the leaders of the Ligue 1 champions to inform them that Tchouameni had chosen Madrid.

    When will Tchouameni join Real Madrid?

    Tchouameni is currently with the France squad as they prepare for their UEFA Nations League matches this month.

    But he will undergo a medical in the coming days and then sign a contract with the Santiago Bernabeu outfit.

    Madrid have been working on the signing of Tchouameni for most of 2022, and have long been confident that he would agree to join.

    However, they stepped up their efforts to avoid any surprises after Mbappe surprisingly decided to reject their advances to sign a new three-year contract at PSG.

    Source: Goal.com

     

  • Scotland ready for emotionally charged encounter

    An emotionally charged Hampden will host a World Cup play-off semi-final between Scotland and Ukraine on Wednesday in a game given global attention by Russia‘s invasion.

    The carrot for the winners is not only national pride, but a place in Sunday’s final against Wales in Cardiff.

    Scotland are aiming to reach their first men’s World Cup in 24 years, while Ukraine are hoping to add to their one appearance in 2006.

    But their preparations have been disrupted by the ongoing conflict in their homeland, which led to the fixture being delayed from its original date in March.

    Given special dispensation to play amid a call-up of many of the country’s men to the army, Oleksandr Petrakov’s squad have spent the last month preparing at a training camp in Brdo, Slovenia.

    Friendlies in Germany, Italy and Croatia followed a qualifying campaign in which they were unbeaten in their eight group games, but finished behind holders France courtesy of six of those matches being draws.

    Scotland head coach Steve Clarke expects the visitors “will be ready for the game, no worries”.

    “They are a very talented team with very talented players,” he added. “They are a good team, but we’re a good team too.”

    Indeed, Clarke’s side, who finished second behind Denmark in their qualifying group, are unbeaten in their last eight.

    “We’ll play the same way – wanting to get on the front foot – and I think the Ukrainian team will be the same,” he added. “They will want to attack – I’ve watched them and they are a good team going forward.

    “The guys know when they turn up that we’re on a good run and they want to keep that going for at least two more matches.”

    Team news

    Scotland are without key defender Kieran Tierney as the Arsenal player recovers from knee surgery, while Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack had to withdraw due to a calf injury.

    Nathan Patterson has “run out of time a bit”, having not played since late March as the Everton defender makes his way back from an ankle operation, but may be available should Scotland reach the final.

    Ukraine’s home-based players have not been involved in any competitive action since December as the war began during their winter shutdown.

    Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was the last to join the squad after being an unused substitute for Real Madrid in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final.

    Ukraine midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko
    Ukraine midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko arrives in Scotland on the back of a Premier League title with Manchester City

    What they said

    Ukraine midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko: “Our mood, I would describe as a fighting mood, because everyone understands what is going on in Ukraine these days, what the situation is like on the ground.

    “That’s why I would say our motivation is definitely 100 per cent to win. I’m pretty sure that all in Ukraine who have this opportunity is going to watch us, and we are going to feel this support 100%.

    “We can speak a lot but we need to do it on the pitch. We are going to try to make them happy and proud.”

    Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon: “Everybody will be feeling the enormity of the occasion, but we are kind of shielded from what’s going on, on the outside, and we prepare like any other game we have done.

    “It’s probably impossible for us to actually know the full extent of everything they’re going through, but Ukraine have been in a training camp for over a month now, so we’re not expecting anything but their very best.

    “It will be a difficult one, but we’re ready for it. We’re in a good place.”

    Match stats

    • This is the first meeting of the sides since October 2007 in a European Championship qualifier, with the Scots winning 3-1 through goals from Kenny Miller, Lee McCulloch and James McFadden.
    • Ukraine’s sole victory over Scotland came in October 2006, Oleksandr Kucher and Andriy Shevchenko scoring in Kyiv.
    • Since losing consecutive World Cup qualifiers in October/November 2016 against Slovakia and England, Scotland have only lost one of their last 16 such games – a 2-0 defeat to Denmark in September 2021 – and won 11.
    • This will be the fifth time Ukraine have competed in a World Cup qualification play-off, failing to progress from any so far: in 1997 v Croatia (lost 3-1), 2001 v Germany (2-5), 2009 v Greece (0-1) and 2013 v France (2-3).
    • Scotland have won seven qualifiers during this campaign, their joint-most ever. They also won seven in qualifying for the 1998 tournament, which was the last time they reached the finals.
    • This is Scotland’s first World Cup play-off since 1985, when they faced Australia for a place at the 1986 finals. In the first leg, they won 2-0 at Hampden with goals from Davie Cooper and Frank McAvennie and drew 0-0 in Melbourne.
    • Both John McGinn and Lyndon Dykes have scored four goals in this campaign for Scotland. The last Scottish player to net more goals in a single campaign was Kevin Gallacher in qualifying for the 1998 finals (six).

    Source: BBC

  • French Open: Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic in late-night thriller

    Rafael Nadal demonstrated once again why he is the greatest player in French Open history by beating long-time rival Novak Djokovic in a late-night thriller to reach the men’s singles semi-finals.

    Nadal, going for a 14th title, started superbly and fought off resistance from defending champion Djokovic to win 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6 (7-4) at Roland Garros.

    Nadal secured victory at 1:15am local time after over four hours on court.

    The 21-time Grand Slam winner now faces third seed Alexander Zverev on Friday.

    Germany’s Zverev, 25, reached the semi-finals for the second successive year after surviving teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz’s fightback earlier on Tuesday.

    “To win against Novak there is only one way: to play your best from the first point to the last,” said 35-year-old Nadal, who thanked the Paris crowd for showing their “love”.

    “This is one of those magic nights for me.”

    Victory for fifth seed Nadal avenged his semi-final defeat by Djokovic last year and extended his all-time record on the Roland Garros clay to 110 wins in 113 matches.

    The rivalry between the pair is the most enduring in men’s tennis, with Nadal winning their 59th meeting seeing him narrow the gap to 30-29 in the head-to-head.

    “Nadal showed why he is a great champion and stayed mentally tough. No doubt he deserves it,” said Djokovic.

    “He was the better player in the important moments, he started well and I didn’t start so well.

    “I gained momentum in the second set and I thought I was back in the game. But he was able to take his tennis to another level.”

    Source: BBC

  • GBA places GH¢20k bounty on heads of Bole-Bamboi road killers

    The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has announced its commitment to finding justice for the killing of Lawyer Richard Badombie.

    In a press release dated May 30, the association pledged to offer a GH¢20,000 bounty to any individual who can provide credible information that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of the killers.

    “The GBA stands ready and prepared to give a reward of Twenty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢20,000.00) to anyone who volunteers credible and legitimate information that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime.”

    The deceased, Richard Badombie, was attacked and killed by suspected robbers at the Bole-Bamboi highway on May 28.

    Expressing fears over the upsurge in armed robbery and other violent crimes, GBA has implored security agencies to carry out swift and thorough investigations of the incident in order to identify the perpetrators of this heinous to prevent other future occurrences.

    The GBA, commiserating with the family and colleagues of Richard Badombie, assured that the association will do everything to bring these perpetrators to book.

    “The GBA would like to assure its entire membership that the Association will do everything within its power to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of this abominable crime,” it added.

    Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has dismissed claims by GBA that there is an increase in armed robberies and violent attacks in the country.

    The Service says the assertions are untrue because the security in the country is under control and remains committed to its crime-fighting efforts.

    “We fight every day and treat every crime with the same urgency and same professional attitude, and we regret the loss of every life. ”

    So far, the Police in the Savannah Region have arrested three suspects said to be involved in the highway robbery and murder.

    The Police have also mounted a search for the other suspects who are still on the run.

    Background

    Suspected armed robbers on Saturday attacked the vehicle of Lawyer Badomie who was travelling to Jirapa in the Upper West Region with some relatives.

    The armed men reportedly emerged from the near-by bush and signaled the vehicle in which the lawyer and his relatives were travelling to stop.

    One of the suspects immediately shot dead the driver of the vehicle, Richard Badombie, who is a lawyer with Lartey, Badombie & Co. Associates in Accra.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • NPP Regional Executive Election: We need unity, there was no loser – Chairman Wontumi

    The re-elected Ashanti Regional Chairman for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiko, has urged all supporters of the party to remain united following the regional executive elections held on Saturday, May 28.

    Delivering his victory speech, Mr Antwi-Boasiko, also known as Chairman Wontumi, informed party faithfuls there were no losers or victors in the just-ended elections held in the region.

    In the local parlance, translated by The Independent Ghana, he said: “All those who vied for positions in this election, no one can be described as a loser.”

    In view of this, he urged all supporters of the party to stay united and resolve whatever grievances that they may have.

    He referenced the adage that talks about how the teeth and tongue sometimes clash, but remain united after whatever conflict there was.

    Chairman Wontumi told the supporters that without unity, it would be difficult for the governing NPP to emerge victorious in the 2024 general elections.

    He also used the opportunity to thank all who believed he could hold the fort and voted to retain him as the Ashanti Regional Chairman.

    This is the third time Chairman Wontumi has been elected to serve in that capacity.

    Mr Bernard Antwi-Boasiko first won the position in 2014. He was re-elected in 2018.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Gunshot wound exposes runaway armed robber

    A 27-year-old suspected armed robber has been arrested by the Effiduase District Police in Ashanti region after being on the run.

    The suspect, identified as Darlington Worchie is said to have sustained gunshot wound in an attempt to rob a resident of Effiduase.

    According to the Effiduase Police, during the robbery, the victim shot the suspected robber in his right arm.

    But during an interrogation, Darlington Worchie told the police that he had a misunderstanding with someone at a smoking base and in the process, the person stabbed him with an unknown object.

    He was later sent to the St. Joseph Hospital for examination where the Medical Officer stated that the wound is suspected to be a gun wound with penetration

    Upon thorough interrogations, the suspect later admitted that at he and two unknown accomplices attempt to rob someone but unfortunately he was shot by the person.

    That same night, he went to Appiadu Police station and rather reported that he was attacked by armed men in a bid to rob him but he struggled with them and he was shot where he was issued with Police medical form which enabled him to attend the said Hospital.

    Later the suspect led police to the location where he was arrested and a small polythene bag was retrieved which contains a black T-shirt that he wore on the date of the incident with the suspected gunshot penetration and a singlet and boxer shorts socked with blood.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Samuel Kanu: Kidnapped Nigerian Methodist Church leader freed

    The head of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, Samuel Kanu, has been freed after being abducted on Sunday, a church official confirmed to the BBC.

    He was travelling with two other priests on a highway in the south-eastern state of Abia when they were kidnapped, police told the BBC.

    It is unclear how they were freed, but separatist groups frequently carry out abductions in the region.

    His release has led to jubilation in Nigeria’s Christian community.

    Soon after the news of the abduction came out, members of the Methodist Church in the country started hourly chain-prayers for the release of Dr Kanu and the other priests.

    “His Eminence, Samuel Kanu, is a peace-loving Christian leader” whose abduction “came as a shock”, the Very Rev Nosakhare Nosayaba of Abuja’s Methodist Cathedral of Unity told the BBC after his kidnapping.

    Kidnappings, often for ransom, are common in many parts of Nigeria.

    There has also been a resurgence of attacks by armed gangs, including Islamist militant groups in the north, as the country prepares for a general election next year.

    Much of the unrest in Nigeria’s south-east region stems from separatists who are demanding a breakaway state.

    The government blames the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) movement for many attacks in the region, which Ipob denies. But the group continues to enforce sit-at-home orders on Mondays, which are usually preceded by attacks on Sunday evenings to scare people into complying.

    However, it is not known who abducted the clergymen on Sunday, who were said to be gunmen. A number of recent violent attacks in the country also remain unsolved.

    Last week, two Roman Catholic priests were kidnapped in the north-western state of Katsina and are still being held in captivity. Gunmen burgled the rectory of a church to abduct the clergymen and two others.

    A local MP was also kidnapped by unknown gunmen recently. His headless body was later found.

    In April, a male and a female soldier who hoped to get married were beheaded when they travelled to the region to inform their relatives about their planned wedding.

    In a separate incident on Sunday morning, two people were abducted when gunmen entered their home in Lafia, Nasarawa state, near the capital, Abuja. One person was shot dead during the attack.

    Source: BBC

  • Crown Resorts: Casino firm fined over illegal China dealings

    Australian gaming operator Crown Resorts has been fined A$80m ($57.4m; £45.6m) for illegally accepting Chinese bank cards at its casino in Melbourne.

    Regulators say the transactions were falsely classified as hotel services.

    To deter money laundering and excessive gambling casinos in Australia are not allowed to accept bank cards.

    Crown acknowledged its “historic failings” and says its top executives were in the process of reforming how the company operates.

    On Monday, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) said Crown had breached Australia’s casino regulations by allowing gambling funds to be withdrawn using credit or debit cards.

    The regulator found that Crown had processed A$164m Australian dollars in China UnionPay card payments, drawing in A$32m of revenue in the process, between 2012 and 2016.

    It said the transactions were falsely classified as “services” provided by the Crown Towers hotel in Melbourne.
    However, patrons were given vouchers that could be exchanged for cash or chips at Crown’s neighbouring casino.

    According to the regulator, the “clandestine” scheme also allowed some Chinese nationals to spend more in foreign currencies than was allowed under Chinese law.

    “Crown benefited handsomely from its illegal conduct,” VGCCC chairwoman Fran Thorn said in a statement.

    “The fine will ensure that Crown is stripped of the revenue it derived from the process and will send a clear message that it must comply with its regulatory obligations,” Ms Thorn added.

    In response, the gaming group said its board and senior management were “committed to the delivery of a comprehensive reform and remediation programme to ensure Crown delivers a safe and responsible gaming environment”.

    Crown – which operates integrated resorts in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney – is also under scrutiny from regulators who have alleged the company had knowingly dealt with criminal organisations then misled authorities about those dealings.

    Its casino in Melbourne is currently only allowed to operate under the supervision of a government-appointed manager.

    Source: BBC

  • Handguns: Canada proposes complete freeze on ownership

    Canada should introduce a total ban on the buying and selling of all handguns, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said.

    His government is proposing a new law that would freeze private ownership of all short-barrelled firearms.

    The legislation would not ban the ownership of handguns outright – but would make it illegal to buy them.

    Mr Trudeau’s proposal comes days after a deadly shooting at a Texas primary school, in the neighbouring US, killed 21 people.

    The bill, which was presented to Canada’s parliament on Monday, makes it impossible to buy, sell, transfer or import handguns anywhere in the country.

    “Other than using firearms for sport shooting and hunting, there is no reason anyone in Canada should need guns in their everyday lives,” Mr Trudeau told reporters.

    “As we see gun violence continue to rise, it is our duty to keep taking action,” he said.

    It marks the most ambitious attempt yet by his government to restrict access to firearms.

    The bill would also require rifle magazines to be reconfigured so they can hold no more than five rounds at a time.

    And it would take away firearms licences from gun owners involved in domestic violence or criminal harassment.

    Unlike in the US, gun ownership is not enshrined in Canada’s constitution, but firearms are still popular, especially in rural parts of the country.

    Canada already has stricter rules on gun ownership than its southern neighbour and records fewer firearm incidents every year.

    For example, all guns must be kept locked and unloaded and anyone wishing to buy a firearm must undergo extensive background checks.

    But there have been calls in recent years to tighten gun legislation there even further, especially following a number of deadly shootings.

    In April 2020, a gunman posing as a police officer killed 22 people during a shooting spree in Nova Scotia – the deadliest in Canada’s history.

    Within days, Mr Trudeau announced an immediate ban on 1,500 different kinds of military-grade and assault-style weapons.

    The new bill would effectively limit the number of legally-owned handguns in Canada to present levels.

    Source: BBC

  • Russian oil: EU agrees compromise deal on banning imports

    European Union leaders have agreed on a plan to block more than two-thirds of Russian oil imports.

    The ban will only affect oil that arrives by sea but not pipeline oil, following opposition from Hungary.

    European Council chief Charles Michel said the deal cut off a huge source of financing for the Russian war machine.

    It is part of a sixth package of sanctions approved at a summit in Brussels, which all 27 member states have had to agree on.

    Russia currently supplies 27% of the EU’s imported oil and 40% of its gas. The EU pays Russia around €400bn ($430bn, £341bn) a year in return.

    So far, no sanctions on Russian gas exports to the EU have been put in place, although plans to open a new gas pipeline from Russia to Germany have been frozen.

    EU members spent hours struggling to resolve their differences over the ban on Russian oil imports, with Hungary its main opponent.

    The compromise followed weeks of wrangling until it was agreed there would be “a temporary exemption for oil that comes through pipelines to the EU”, Mr Michel told reporters.

    Because of this, the immediate sanctions will affect only Russian oil being transported into the EU over sea – two-thirds of the total imported from Russia.

    But in practice, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the scope of the ban would be wider, because Germany and Poland have volunteered to wind down their own pipeline imports by the end of this year.

    “Left over is around 10-11% that is covered by the southern Druzhba,” Ms Von der Leyen said, referring to the Russian pipeline supplying oil to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

    The European Council will revisit this exemption “as soon as possible”, she added.

    Image shows oil pipelines

    1px transparent lineThe ban on Russian oil imports was initially proposed by the European Commission – which develops laws for member states – a month ago.

    But resistance, notably from Hungary, which imports 65% of its oil from Russia through pipelines, held up the EU’s troubled latest round of sanctions.

    Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban declared the agreement a victory for his country.

    “We succeeded in defeating the proposal of the European Council which would have forbidden Hungary from using Russian oil,” he said in a Facebook video.

    Other landlocked countries, such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic, also asked for more time due to their dependence on Russian oil. Bulgaria, already cut off from Russian gas by Gazprom, had likewise sought opt-outs.

    The cost of living crisis being felt across Europe has not helped either. Sky-rocketing energy prices – among other things – have curtailed some EU countries’ appetite for sanctions which could also hurt their own economies.

    Source: BBC

  • Champions League final: Uefa commissions independent report into scenes outside stadium

    Uefa has commissioned an independent report into the scenes outside the ground that delayed Saturday’s Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.

    Kick-off at the Stade de France in Paris was delayed by over half an hour with Liverpool ticket-holders seen waiting in huge queues, and French police later using tear gas on crowds.

    On Monday, French authorities complained of what they called “industrial-scale” ticket fraud amid a row over the game’s policing.

    French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said there were “no problems” regarding Madrid supporters and the Spanish side had controlled their travelling fans better than Liverpool, who had let their supporters “out in the wild”.

    Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has since written a letter to Oudea-Castera “demanding an apology” for her comments.

    Werner wrote: “The events that occurred in and around the Stade de France on Saturday night at the Uefa Champions League final were not only incredibly dangerous for all who attended, but raised serious questions about the organization and operation of the event.

    “This should be the focus of all interested parties today rather than pursuing a blame game strategy via press conference.

    “The Uefa Champions League final should be one of the finest spectacles in world sport, instead it devolved into one of the worst security collapses in recent memory.”

    Liverpool chief executive Billy Hogan has said the club are “reviewing legal avenues available to us on behalf of affected supporters”.

    In an interview on the Liverpool website, Hogan said he was “incredibly surprised” by Oudea-Castera’s remarks, calling them “completely inappropriate”.

    He added: “We just feel that everyone should be focused on getting the investigation right and less about making inflammatory comments that attempt to deflect responsibility for what happened on Saturday night.”

    Uefa said a “comprehensive review” would examine a number of factors which include the decision-making, responsibility and behaviour of all parties involved in the final, it added.

    Uefa said in a statement: “Evidence will be gathered from all relevant parties and the findings of the independent report will be made public once completed. Upon receipt of the findings, Uefa will evaluate the next steps.”

    The report will be independently compiled and Dr Tiago Brandao Rodrigues from Portugal will lead the production of the review.

    Uefa initially blamed the “late arrival” of fans for the problems, delaying kick-off by 36 minutes, with Liverpool going on to lose 1-0 to Spanish champions Real Madrid.

    France’s interior and sports ministers acknowledged difficulties in managing crowds at the final but have been pointing blame for the chaos at fans with fake tickets and local youths trying to force their way into the stadium.

    However, a spokesperson for France’s independent police commissioner’s union (SICP), Mathieu Valet, told the BBC’s Newshour that “supporters without tickets or with fake tickets were not the main problem”.

    “It’s clear that we needed more police – we didn’t have enough on the ground,” he said.

    On Sunday, Liverpool called for an investigation into the “unacceptable issues” faced by fans before the match.

    Many claimed they had been at the stadium hours before kick-off but were stopped from getting into the ground.

    UK sports minister Nigel Huddleston said he was “very concerned about the upsetting scenes”, while Reds defender Andy Robertson said the organisation of the match was a “shambles”.

    Source: BBC

  • See all the 15 newly-elected NPP regional chairmen

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the weekend elected 15 people to manage the affairs of the party in the administrative regions of the country.

    Out of the 15, 12 retained their positions while new chairmen were elected in the Bono East and the Western North region and the incumbent chairman of the Eastern region did not seek re-election.

    There is an outstanding election in the Central Region due to a court injunction on that poll.

     

    See the entire list below;

    1. Divine Otoo Agorhom – Greater Accra Region
    2. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi – Ashanti Region
    3. Nurudeen Fuseini – North East Region
    4. Anthony Namoo – Upper East Region
    5. Kwabena Owusu Sekyere – Ahafo Region
    6. Mohammed Adam Bantima Samba – Northern Region
    7. Iddrisu Sulemana – Savannah Region
    8. Kwame Baffoe, aka Abronye – Bono Region
    9. Makafui Woanya – Volta Region
    10. Evans Yaw Dapaah – Oti Region
    11. Sanbaye B. Kangberee – Upper West Region
    12. Ibrahim Baba Bukari – Bono East Region
    13. Benjamin Armah – Western North Region
    14. Jeff Konadu Addo – Eastern Region
    15. Francis Ndede Siah (unopposed) – Western Region
    16. Central Region – Outstanding poll

     

    Source: Graphic online

  • Full list: All 148 newly-elected NPP executives in 15 regions

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the weekend had their internal elections to elect it regional executives to manage the affairs of the party in the administrative regions of the country.
    With the exception the Central Region, a total of 148 NPP executives were elected across the country.
    Prior to the election, an injunction was filed by some aggrieved persons to halt the exercise in the Central Region.
    The newly-elected NPP executives are as follows;
    NPP Greater Accra Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN – Divine Otoo Agorhom
    1ST VICE – Joana Adda Frances
    2ND VICE - Eric Nartey
    SECRETARY - Odarlai Parker
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY - Baba Seidu
    TREASURER - Racheal Tutu
    ORGANIZER - Prince Obeng
    WOMEN ORGANIZER - Grace Acheampong
    YOUTH ORGANIZER - Moses Abor
    NASARA COORDINATOR - Jeff Kassim
    NPP Ashanti Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN - Bernard Antwi Boasiako
    FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN - Patrick Chairman
    SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN - Victoria Owusu-Achiaw
    SECRETARY - Lawyer Kwame Ado Appiah
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY - Allen Gyimah
    TREASURER - Hajia Zainab Sallow
    ORGANIZER - Francus Adomako
    YOUTH ORGANIZER - Raph Sarfo Patrick
    WOMEN ORGANIZER - Nana Ama Ampomaa
    NASARA COORDINATOR - Alhaji Saalim Bamba
    NPP Eastern Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN - Jeff Konadu Addo
    1ST VICE CHAIRMAN - Twum Barima
    2ND VICE CHAIRMAN - Frank Appiah
    SECRETARY - Anthony Adjei
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY - Nana Yaw Papin
    REGIONAL TREASURER - Kumi Larbi
    ORGANIZER - Jerry Osei Poku
    WOMEN ORGANISER - Mercy Amoh-Darkoah
    YOUTH ORGANIZER - Adamu Musah Raha
    NASARA COORDINATOR - Baba Fadilu Fafana
    NPP Western Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN - Francis Ndede Siah
    1ST VICE - Asafoakye Badu
    2ND VICE - Kwame Armah
    SECRETARY - Okatakyie Amankwaa Afrifa
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY - Nana Adjoa Appiah
    TREASURER - Horma Akesi Mieza
    ORGANIZER - Abdul Ganiyu Mohammed
    WOMEN ORGANIZER – Josephine Yaa Odoom
    YOUTH ORGANIZER - Benedict Addae
    NASARA COORDINATOR - Al-Labib Imam Ali
    NPP Western North Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN - Benjamin Armah
    1ST VICE CHAIRMAN - Theophilus Tandoh Eric
    2ND VICE CHAIRMAN - Ernest Nkrumah
    SECRETARY - Felix Foster Ackah
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY - George Alex Monney
    TREASURER - Armoh-kye John
    ORGANIZER - McDaniels Nyame
    YOUTH ORGANIZER - Gabriel Doh
    WOMEN ORGANIZER - Golly Antwi Boasiako
    NASARA COORDINATOR - Yunus Abubakar
    NPP Northern Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN - Mohammed Baantima Samba
    FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN - Iddrisu Sunday
    2ND VICE CHAIRMAN - Abdul Rahman Salihu Mahama
    SECRETARY - Hudu Zakaria
    REGIONAL ORGANIZER - Salifu Rashid
    WOMEN ORGANIZER - Hajia Rahana Aziz
    YOUTH ORGANIZER - Mohammèd Alhassan
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY - Aniwaba Kwaku Bediako Jeremiah
    TREASURER - Yussif Toyibu
    NASARA COORDINATOR - Alhaji Fatawu Adam Danjega
    NPP North East Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN - Akamara Bawa Henry
    1ST VICE - Alhaji Gado
    2ND VICE - Abdul Rahaman Gariba
    SECRETARY - Sambie Suley
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY - Yamusah Ibrahim
    ORGANIZER - Amos Yambil
    YOUTH ORGANIZER - Mumuni M. Nurudeen
    WOMEN ORGANIZER - Haruna Humu
    NASARA COORDINATOR –
    NPP Upper East Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN - Anthony Namoo
    FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN - Isaac Adawele Atasige
    SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN - Bampil Dabeabo Moses
    SECRETARY - Elvis Figo A. Awonekai
    ASSISTANCE SECRETARY - Atangiba M. Shakiru
    YOUTH ORGANIZER - Mush Salahu-deen
    WOMEN ORGANIZER - Ayamba Georgina
    TREASURER - Daniel N. Ayine
    NASARA CORDINATOR - Salley Musah Delwinde
    NPP Upper West Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN - Mr. Sanbaye B Kangbere, AKA Chairman Heavy Weight
    1ST VICE - Abdul-Rahaman Abdul-Aziz
    2ND VICE - Alhaji Aziz Gado
    SECRETARY - Tanko Daniel Dauda
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY - Alhassan Yussif
    TREASURER - Alhassan Suleman
    YOUTH ORGANIZER - Hamid Mohammed Saana
    NASARA COORDINATOR - Ali Mohammed Nuri
    NPP Volta Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN - Makafui Woanya
    1ST VICE - Abdulai Mohammed
    2ND VICE - Richard Kwadekpo
    SECRETARY - Pope Yao Yevu
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY - Samuel Anku
    ORGANIZER - Kosi Bodza
    YOUTH ORGANIZER - Destiny Bright Tettey
    WOMEN ORGANIZER - Rejoice Afi Adzagbo
    TREASURER - Wisdom Gakpo
    NASARA COORDINATOR - Mudashiru Adebayo
    NPP Savannah Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN - Alhaji Iddrisu Sulemana (Incumbent)
    1ST VICE CHAIRMAN - Dr. Abudu Amadu Musah (unopposed)
    2ND VICE CHAIRMAN - Johnson Kwame Gyinde
    SECRETARY -  Mohammed Issah
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY - Mayoyo Aminu Sulemana (Incumbent)
    ORGANIZER - Kwame Aboagye
    TREASURER - Abu Lutie
    YOUTH ORGANIZER - Raphael Akati Mahama (Incumbent)
    WOMEN ORGANIZER - Hajia Safia Mohammed (Incumbent)
    NASARA COORDINATOR - Mohammed Marhey Bamba
    NPP Oti Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN - Evans Yaw Dapaah
    1ST VICE - Collins Ahenkora Castro
    2ND VICE - Doris Abronye
    SECRETARY - Akpabeh Jonathan Manu
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY - Daniel Asiedu
    ORGANIZER - Felix Ade
    REGIONAL YOUTH ORGANISER - Prince Amanor
    TREASURER - Joe Denteh
    WOMEN ORGANIZER - Alice Mensah
    NASARA COORDINATOR - Aliu Bashiru Sharabutu
    NPP Bono Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN - Kwame Baffoe
    1ST VICE - Joseph Mensah
    2ND VICE - Kate Nana Ya Amponsah Agyare
    SECRETARY - Kofi Ofosu Boateng
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY - Isaac Kwame Benkae
    TREASURER - Alhaji Issaka Issa
    ORGANIZER - Evans Afari Gyan Yeboah
    YOUTH ORGANIZER - Abdul Razak Oppong
    WOMEN ORGANIZER - Doris Asomah (grassroot mama)
    NASARA COORDINATOR - Alhaji Oman Faisal
    NPP Bono East Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN - Ibrahim Baba Bukari
    1ST VICE CHAIRMAN - Dr. David Amoah
    2ND VICE CHAIRMAN - Baba Ahmed
    SECRETARY - David Boakye
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY - Seidu Limann
    ORGANISER - Sule Musa
    WOMEN ORGANISER - Sophia Danso Afriyie
    YOUTH ORGANIZER - Charles Addo
    TREASURER - Martha Baffoe
    NASARA COORDINATOR - Jibril Abubakari
    NPP Ahafo Regional Executives
    CHAIRMAN - Kwabena Owusu Sekyere
    1ST VICE - Justice Appiah-Antwi
    2ND VICE - Collins sei Bonsu
    SECRETARY - Nana Antwi Eric
    ASSISTANT SECRETARY - Samuel Akoto Owusu
    TREASURER - Eugene Kusi Boakye
    ORGANIZER - Alfred Asiedu
    YOUTH ORGANIZER - Seth Oduro

  • 5 gold armed robbers arrested, over GH9000 and 9 gold nuggets retrieved

    Five out of eight robbers involved in a robbery operation at Akyem Adukrom in the Eastern Region have been apprehended by the Police Service.

    Three additional suspects are currently on the loose, and authorities are on the lookout for them.

    According to a press statement issued by the police, the eight criminals assaulted and robbed a gold dealer at gunpoint of his or her gold.

    Adams Awal, Ibrahim Hamidou (Akwasi Anokye, Insuah Moro, Nasiru Salifu, and Kwadwo Amponsah) were among the eight people apprehended by the police.

    They are currently being held by the police. The robbers were also found to be in possession of a number of weapons.

    An AK 47 Assault Rifle, two magazines with 24 rounds of ammunition, a python revolver handgun, eight BB live cartridges, and nine gold nuggets are among the items.

    The police also recovered an amount of GH9077.

    Meanwhile, the police have seized a Toyota Land Cruiser with the licence plate DV 4142 7, which was used in the latest robbery.

     

    Source: The Independent Ghana



  • Police mount search for armed robbers who killed lawyer on Bole-Bamboi Highway

    The Savannah Regional Police Command says it has mounted a manhunt for the three suspected armed robbers involved in the murder of an Accra-based lawyer on the Bole-Bamboi Highway over the weekend.

    The deceased, Richard Badombia, was heading for Jirapa with two family members when they were stopped by the men who immediately shot him.

    A statement issued by the Police revealed that the victim was driving a Hyundai Accent saloon car when the incident occurred.

    “When they got to a section of the road between Banda Nkwanta and Nuoyiri communities, three armed men emerged from the bush and signalled them to stop and while slowing down, one of the robbers shot and killed the driver.

    “We will do whatever it takes to get these miscreants arrested and brought to justice,” the Police assured in the statement.

    Already, residents within the Banda Nkwanta and Nuoyiri communities have been alerted to assist the Police with relevant information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the suspects.

    Meanwhile, member of the NDC and private legal practitioner, Edudzi Tamakloe has paid tribute to the lawyer; noting that his murder broke his heart.

    “My deepest condolences to your immediate family and the Umbrella family. You were so dedicated to the fight in the last election. National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo presented this certificate to you last year. Please Rest In Peace.”

    Source: MyJoyOnline

  • Priscilla Ami Dogbeda Dzokoto is Ghana’s first female Navy Commanding Officer

    Priscilla Ami Dogbeda Dzokoto has been named the first female commanding officer of a Ghana Navy ship, making her the second woman to join the Navy’s Executive Branch.

    She joins Lt. Commander Faustina Maame Boakyewaa Anokye Boakye, the Navy’s first female naval officer.

    On the Ghana Navy Ship (GNS) ANKOBRA, a River Class Ship, Lieutenant Commander Priscilla Ami Dogbeda Dzokoto will be in command of activities.

    She is reportedly in charge of a combined maritime exercise between Ghana and Nigeria.

    Profile

    Lieutenant Commander Priscilla Ami Dogbeda Dzokoto was born on Saturday, March 8, 1986 in Takoradi.

    She had her primary education at Pentecost Preparatory and JSS and later attended Holy Child School, Cape Coast in the Central Region.

    In 2004, she completed her secondary education. She pursued Mathematical Science at the University of Ghana, Legon, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Statistics and Computer Science in 2009.

    Ghana Navy returns hijacked vessel by pirates to Tema Port

    On September 14, 2012, Priscilla Ami Dogbeda Dzokoto was enlisted into the Executive Branch of the Ghana Navy as part of Ghana Military Academy Regular Career Course Intake 52.

    At the Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth in the United Kingdom, she had her initial training. This was in 2013.

    Later in 2016, she underwent the Sub Lieutenants Technical Course in Ghana.

    She furthered her education at the Navigation Direction School in Kochi, India from July 2021 to February 2022 where she graduated as a Navigation Specialist.

    Source: The Independent Ghana



  • Vacate your seat if you cannot be in Parliament – Majority Leader tells Adwoa Safo

    Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader, has expressed his displeasure with Dome Kwabena MP Sarah Adowa Safo over her recent statement regarding her absence from Parliament.

    In an interview with Joy News last week, Madam Safo stated that her return to serve her country is dependent on her son’s health.

    In response, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated that the MP’s absence for 15 sittings without the Speaker’s authorization is a violation of Standing Order 17(1) of Parliament and Article 97(1)(c) of the Constitution.

    The Suame legislator described Adwoa Safo’s absence as concerning in an interview with Okay FM, urging that she leave her position if she has no information of her return to parliament.

    Adwoa Safo, he claims, cannot abandon her responsibilities and deny her constituents the right to be heard and represented in parliament.  As a result, declaring her seat vacant would be a step in the right path.

    The Majority Leader added that by leaving her seat, the government will be able to hold bye-elections to choose a candidate committed to representing the people of Dome-Kwabenya in Parliament.

    She has been in the United States for over a year, looking after her children, especially one who, according to her, requires particular care due to medical concerns.

    Due to her prolonged absence, Adwoa Safo has been referred to the Privileges Committee with two other MPs, Henry Quartey of Ayawaso Central and Kennedy Agyapong of Assin North.

    The Privileges Committee was to meet the Dome Kwabenya MP today, May 27, over her absence in Parliament.

    However, due to her absence, the said interrogation which was to be held in private, as stated by Ranking Member on the Privileges Committee, Ricketts Kweku Hagan, would not take place.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Tema District Court fines a dog keeper GH₵5,000

    The Tema District Community Centre Court has fined Essien Terry, a dog keeper GH₵5,000 for rearing dogs for commercial purposes in a residential area without a permit from the Tema Metropolitan Assembly.

    The court presided over by Mr. Festus Fovi Nukunu, slapped the fine on Terry on his plea of guilty to three counts: unauthorized keeping of dogs in dwelling house, keeping of animals on-premises, and non-compliance with an abatement notice.

    The court also gave Terry one month to relocate the dogs from the residential area, after pleading with the court, and was to report back on June 22.

    Prosecutor Saudatu Issaka, the Environmental Health Analyst said Terry was a resident of Tema Community.

    According to the prosecution, sometime in February this year, a complaint was made to the Environmental Health Office by some residents in the community about the rearing of dogs and cats on a large scale by the accused.

    The residents claimed that it was causing nuisance such as offensive odour and noise among others.

    The prosecution told the court that on February 18, 2022, a team of Environmental Health officers inspected the place and found that the accused had a big cage housing about 10 dogs and cats believed to be on a commercial basis.

    The accused was given a brief education and a notice was served to him to remove them from the house to a more convenient place, but he failed and was subsequently charged to appear and answer before the court.

    Source: Ghanaweb via GNA

  • Ukraine war: Eurovision trophy sold to buy drones for Ukraine

    Kalush Orchestra, the Ukrainian band which won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, have sold their trophy for $900,000 (£712,000; €838,000) to raise money for the war in Ukraine.

    The crystal microphone was auctioned on Facebook, with the aim of buying drones for Ukraine’s military.

    The sale coincided with the band’s appearance at a charity concert at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.

    It aimed to raise money for medical care and supplies.

    Speaking at the concert, band member Oleh Psiuk appealed for people not to get used to the war, which has left at least 4,031 civilians dead and 4,735 injured, according to the UN, along with an unknown number of combatants.

    It has also forced more than 14 million people to flee their homes since Russia invaded on 24 February, with towns and cities reduced to rubble.

    “I think it should be on the front pages always, until peace comes,” said Psiuk, whose Eurovision win had been hotly tipped in the run up to the contest. Their song, Stefania, was originally written in tribute to Psiuk’s mother, but emotive lyrics like “I will always walk to you by broken roads” have been re-interpreted as a rallying cry.

    Ukrainian TV presenter Serhiy Prytula announced that the money raised from the sale of the trophy would be used to purchase three Ukrainian-made PD-2 drones, Reuters news agency reports.

    Drones are used heavily by Ukrainian and Russian forces, both as weapons and reconnaissance aircraft.

    Source: BBC

  • Ukraine war: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov denies Putin illness

    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has denied speculation that President Vladimir Putin is ill.

    In an interview with French TV, Mr Lavrov said the Russian leader appears in public every day, and no sane person would see any signs of an ailment.

    There has been increasing unconfirmed media speculation that Mr Putin, who turns 70 this year, may be suffering from ill health, possibly cancer.

    The interview came as Russia continues its advance in Ukraine’s Donbas region.

    Mr Lavrov said the “liberation” of the eastern region was an “unconditional priority” for Russia.

    He repeated the Kremlin’s widely discredited line that Russia is fighting a “neo-Nazi regime”.

    A Ukrainian serviceman inspects an area damaged by a Russian military strike, as Russia"s attack on Ukraine continues, in the town of Marinka, in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 28, 2022.REUTERS
    A Ukrainian soldier inspects Russian shell damage in Marinka, Donetsk region, this weekend

    Noting that President Putin regularly appeared in public, Mr Lavrov told TF1: “I don’t think that sane people can see in this person signs of some kind of illness or ailment.”

    “You can watch him on screens, read and listen to his speeches,” he said in comments released by the Russian foreign ministry.

    “I leave it to the conscience of those who spread such rumours despite daily opportunities to assess how anyone is looking.”

    British intelligence sources were quoted telling media outlets that Mr Putin was seriously ill in the last week. However, rumours about the condition of the Russian leader, long known for his healthy lifestyle and love of sport, have surfaced periodically for years.

    Asked about the human cost of the fighting, which has seen devastating artillery and rocket attacks on some urban areas, the foreign minister insisted Russian soldiers were “under strict orders categorically to avoid attacks and strikes on civilian infrastructure”.

    Since Russia invaded on 24 February, at least 4,031 civilians have been killed and 4,735 injured, according to the UN, and an unknown number of combatants have died or been wounded. More than 14 million people have fled their homes, with towns and cities reduced to rubble.

    The fighting is now focused on the Donbas – the mining belt made up of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Separatists in the two regions, which historically have strong ties to Russia, broke away in 2014 and are now fighting alongside Russian troops to take full control.

    Mr Lavrov told TF1 that winning in “the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, recognised by the Russian Federation as independent states, is an unconditional priority”.

    However, he added, it was up to the rest of Ukraine if people there were “happy to return to the authority of a neo-Nazi regime that has proven it is Russophobic in essence“.

    Russia has already been forced to pull back from an attempt to overrun the capital Kyiv, after been repelled by Ukrainian forces.

    They have also been pushed back from the second city, Kharkiv, in recent weeks, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky making a morale-boosting trip to the battle scarred city on Sunday.

    Speaking in the city, he said his soldiers would defend their land “to the last man”. “They [the Russians] have no chance,” he said. “We will fight and we will definitely win.”

    Map showing area around Severodonetsk, updated 27 May

    Source: BBC

  • Port Harcourt: Nigeria church crush leaves 31 dead

    Nigerian police say they have launched an investigation after 31 people died in a crush in the southern city of Port Harcourt.

    It happened in a sports field on Saturday morning where a church was handing out food to the poor, some of whom had waited there overnight.

    The crowd “became tumultuous and uncontrollable” and organisers failed to calm the situation, police say.

    Many of those who died in the crush were women and children.

    Witnesses told the AFP news agency there was frantic pushing and some were trampled underfoot when people trying to reach the entrance were forced back.

    “They were telling people ‘Go back, go back, go back,’” Chisom Nwachukwu said. “Some people that were pushing from backwards were marching on those people.”

    Security and emergency services were called to the scene to try to bring the situation under control. Some of the injured are being treated at Port Harcourt’s military hospital.

    The King’s Assembly Church said it was “deeply saddened” by the incident, and was reviewing its safety and crowd management procedures.

    It started the annual charity in 2014 but said this year’s “turnout, build up and the attendant circumstances were absolutely unanticipated”, and that attendees started gathering before security teams for the event were on site.

    Rivers state police commissioner, Eboka Friday, has called on religious and charity groups to “ensure they work with the police for security and crowd control” in organising such programmes in the future.

    In addition to the police investigation, a regional government committee will be formed to look into the circumstances of Saturday’s incident, says Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike.

    Nigeria has seen several similar tragedies in recent years, including an aid agency food programme in Borno state last year where seven women were trampled to death.

    Port Harcourt is the main oil hub in Nigeria, but despite the country’s oil wealth about 40% of Nigerians live below the poverty line.
    Source: BBC

  • Ukraine war: Russia says ‘liberation’ of Donbas its key priority

    The “liberation” of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region is an “unconditional priority” for Russia, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said in an interview.

    Defending Russia’s ongoing military operation more than three months after it invaded, he said again it was aimed at “demilitarising” its neighbour.

    He repeated the Kremlin’s widely ridiculed line that Russia is fighting a “neo-Nazi regime”.

    And he denied speculation that Russian President Vladimir Putin was ill.

    The man who has dominated Russia for more than two decades turns 70 in October.

    Noting that President Putin regularly appeared in public, Mr Lavrov told TF1: “I don’t think that sane people can see in this person signs of some kind of illness or ailment.”

    Source: BBC

  • Russia-Ukraine war: Powerful blast ‘hits Melitopol’

    The Russian-appointed head of Melitopol says there has been a powerful explosion in the south-eastern city on Monday morning.

    Plumes of black smoke are visible in the centre of the city, Vladimir Rogov said on the Telegram messaging app.

    The explosion shook the walls and windows of buildings on several streets, he added.

    According to some reports, the blast occurred in the area where the Russian-appointed “head of the Zaporizhzhia region” Yevgeny Balitsky is located.

    Russian forces took over the city early on in the war, back in February.

    But there has been fierce resistance from residents ever since.

    Source: BBC

  • Traders in Upper West region bemoan high cost of food prices

    Following the continuous surge of food inflation in the Upper West Region, many traders and consumers have been expressing concern about the situation.

    Various reasons have been attributed to the increasing prices of foodstuffs in the region.

    The region recorded 24.7% food inflation rate in April which was the highest amongst all the regions in the country for that month.

    Closely following were the Northern and Upper East regions recording 20.6% and 19.8% respectively.

    Even in overall inflation for January 2022, the region recorded 15.6%, second to Greater Accra.

    GhanaWeb’s Upper West regional correspondent, Ilyaas Al-Hasan, spoke to some traders on the hike in inflation.

    Faatima Muhammad, a trader in Wa Municipal, while sharing her view attributed the increase in food prices to the purchasing of foodstuff and other items from neighbouring countries.

    She added that the high exchange rate also has a dire consequences on traders and the economy at large.

    “Take tomatoes, rice and cooking oils for instance, which we buy from Burkina Faso, we don’t use Cedis to buy the items. We change Cedis to their currency to be able to trade there and we all know how the Cedi keeps falling every now and then. You go and buy items and the next time you go again, the exchange rate goes up. So you see, when you bring the items you’re also forced to increase the price of the item,” she said.

    Another trader, Iddrisu Alhasan also cited the importation of food items as one of the reasons for high prices of foodstuffs in the region, however, believes the desire for abnormal profit margins by some traders is also a major cause.

    “Some of us (traders) are simply greedy and selfish. The desire to make too much profit at the expense of the ordinary consumer is our bane. As business people, we like pricing items the way we want since there is no any kind of regulation to that effect,” the business man lamented.

    Mark Ismail, also a trader in his opinion said the geographical location of the region is also another factor affecting the rising prices of food as well as food items in the region.

    He stated that because of the distance of the region, the cost of items brought in from the other part of the country obviously goes high, and sometimes too high due to the exorbitant transportation fares.

    He mentioned that, “It’s not only food items but the price of every item here tends to keep soaring higher and higher. Because of the distance, the cost of transportation for goods is usually high and therefore leading to increase in prices. As you know, anytime fuel prices go up, transport operators also increase their charges which obviously increases the cost prices of our items.”

    “And one thing is that since we don’t cultivate everything we eat here, we’ll always need to buy from southern Ghana and elsewhere to feed the region. If fuel prices are stable, that’ll also help stabilise prices of foodstuffs,” he added.

    The traders, therefore, called for a more conducive trading environment to reverse the trend to be able to attract more investors to the region.

    Source: Ghanaweb 

  • Expert advises public against high expenditure

    Mr. Dominic Opoku Fofie, Audit Committee Member of the Health Accounting Staff Association of Ghana has advised Ghanaians to lower their expenditure to meet the increasing cost of living in the country.

    He said the economic challenges in the country had some severe consequences on the financial stability and well-being of citizens.

    Mr. Fofie who gave the advice in an interview with Ghana News Agency in Tamale stated that many citizens were now struggling to pay for essential needs such as food, energy, fuel, and transport due to the high cost of living.

    He said most citizens were also struggling to make ends meet or simply want to save a little more money and called on all to consider taking various measures that would help them to reduce their spending.

    Mr. Fofie advised the citizenry to keep track of their spending habits to know where their money was going as one of the ways to check unnecessary expenses.

    He said it was important for citizens to also start planning for the future, which could also reduce the financial burden on them.

    Source: Ghanaweb via GNA