In a tragic incident during the early hours of Friday, August 25, 2023, a man lost his life instantly after being hit by a speeding Lexus Saloon car on the Circle-Kaneshie stretch.
As reported by citinewsroom.com, the individual involved was a mentally unstable individual who collided with the car as it was descending from the second-tier interchange.
The injured driver of the vehicle, which has no registration number was quickly transported to the nearest hospital for treatment, citinewsroom.com reports.
Shortly after the accident occurred, the police arrived at the scene to convey the victim’s body to the morgue and put things in order.
The Fukushima nuclear plant’s operator asserts that the seawater in the vicinity of the facility poses no danger.
Tepco, the company in Japan, announced their testing results one day after they let out treated contaminated water. This water comes from a plant that got destroyed by a tsunami in 2011.
The waste released into the Pacific Ocean has caused people to protest and angered Beijing.
Japan advised its people residing in China to behave inconspicuously on Friday, which includes speaking softly in public.
“When you go out, try to be careful and avoid speaking Japanese loudly when it’s not necessary,” advised the Japanese embassy in Beijing. It also advised people to be careful and aware of the area around the embassy if they are planning to visit.
Japan’s consulate in Hong Kong, which is under Chinese rule, has issued a notice about upcoming protests regarding the water release. This comes after around 100 people expressed their objections by protesting on the streets last Thursday.
Chinese officials criticized Japan’s choice to release the water, calling it very selfish and irresponsible, even though the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has given the plan its approval.
Beijing, which buys a lot of seafood from Japan, stopped importing seafood from Japan after the water was released.
People are buying a lot of sea salt because they’re afraid it might become unsafe to use in the future.
China’s largest salt producer, the government-owned National Salt Industry Group, announced that it was increasing the amount of salt available because some people in certain areas of the country were rushing to buy more salt after the water was released.
However, Tepco stated that the levels of radioactivity in samples of seawater taken on Thursday afternoon were not causing harm and were considered safe.
“We have verified that the measured amount is the same as the calculated concentration and it is less than 1,500 bq/L,” said Tepco spokesperson Keisuke Matsuo during a press conference.
Becquerels per litre, also known as bq/L, is a way of measuring how radioactive something is. The safety standard for the country is 60,000.
Mr Matsuo said that the results were like our previous simulation and below the safety limit.
He said Tepco will keep analyzing every day for the next month and even after that, they will continue to analyze.
Japan’s environment ministry collected samples of seawater from 11 places on Friday. They will share the results on Sunday.
Over the next 30 years, more than a million tonnes of water stored at Fukushima will be released or let out.
Since 2011, Tepco has been adding water to cool down the parts that are left from three reactors. The dirty water is cleaned and kept in over 1,000 big tanks.
The person in charge of the plant said that the water has been cleaned to remove all radioactive substances except for tritium, and it is now considered safe.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday that the samples taken from the first amount of water that was made less strong to be discharged showed that the tritium levels were very safe.
Many scientists agree, but a group called Greenpeace, which focuses on the environment, says that the filtration process (called ALPS) does not work. They believe that a large amount of harmful radiation will be released into the ocean.
Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has exceeded its annual target by retrieving GHC79 million in illicit proceeds as of June 2023.
As reported by graphic.com.gh, EOCO surpassed its goal by recovering GHC50 million in crime proceeds in 2022, surpassing the targeted amount of GHC30 million.
These funds were sourced from both enterprises and individuals who had intentionally misrepresented their tax obligations to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), as well as from those who had illicitly amassed wealth, often by detrimentally impacting state entities like the Gaming Commission and the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA).
Proceeds of crime refer to funds or assets acquired by criminals through illegal activities or illicit wealth accumulation, often at the detriment of the state.
During an interaction with the media on August 23, 2023, the Executive Director of EOCO, Commissioner of Police (COP), Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, noted that several gains by the office extended beyond financial gains.
Among these achievements were rescuing and reuniting human trafficking victims with their families, raising awareness about activities that could make individuals vulnerable to economic and organized crime perpetrators, and collaborating with law enforcement agencies to combat and prevent criminal activities.
COP Maame Tiwa also shed light on EOCO’s crucial role in the country’s fight against economic and organised crimes.
She noted that one of the primary pillars of EOCO’s five-year strategic plan (2023-2028) involves collaborating with the media to educate the public about the office’s operations and also sensitise citizens about preventable crimes.
She said EOCO operated an open-door policy and was ready to partner the media to fight crime in Ghana.
Also, she highlighted EOCO’s commitment to working alongside international partners to clamp down on criminals who committed offenses abroad but can be traced back to Ghana, ensuring their prosecution and accountability.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) devised a comprehensive five-year strategic plan, aiming to recover and manage GH¢350 million in proceeds of crime by June 2028.
The office’s mandate includes investigations into various offenses, including financial loss to the state, money laundering, human trafficking, cybercrimes, tax fraud, and other serious transgressions.
As per Section three of the EOCO Act, 2010 (Act 804), the office is vested with the authority to take actions towards recuperating proceeds from such criminal activities.
In just under a month following the introduction of HIV self-testing kits in Accra, the program has garnered more than 70,000 users.
Launched on July 21, 2023, the self-testing kit had received more than 33,000 community requests during the launch period, and the number has now surged past 70,000.
This was disclosed by the Programme Manager of the National Aids Control Programme, Dr Ayisi Addo.
Dr. Ayisi Addo further added that there have been over 11,000 requests online and distributions of the HIV test kits are ongoing across the country.
However, during an interview with GNA, Dr Ayisi Addo conveyed his worry about how new infections are recorded despite the many measures put in place to cap the number of HIV/AIDS infections.
“We have been doing all these things and yet in 2022, by the end of that year, 354,000 people were estimated to have HIV, while still picking a little over 16,000 new infections,” he said.
The doctor on this note appealed to Ghanaians to accept and embrace the HIV self-testing kit to curb the frightening numbers.
“I am appealing to Ghanaians to embrace this new game changer. We have come very far from a state where one will have to go to a laboratory, which takes like two to three weeks to produce the results to now self-testing in the privacy and comfort of the individual,” he added.
Mahamudu Bawumia is a Ghanaian economist and former central banker who serves as the 5th Vice President of Ghana in the 4th Ghanaian Republic. He assumed office on 7 January 2017 as Vice President of Ghana. Mahamudu Bawumia is an economist, banker, and vice president of Ghana.
Born: October 7, 1963 (age 59 years), Tamale
Spouse: Samira Bawumia
Education: The University of Buckingham (1987), Tamale Senior High School, Simon Fraser University, Lincoln College
Books: Structural Adjustment, Economic Welfare and Electoral Behavior in the 1992 Ghanaian Presidential Election
Kwabena Agyei Agyapong
Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party [NPP]
Kwabena Agyei Agyapong was born on Independence Day, March 6, 1962 in Kumasi, Ghana, to the late Justice Kwadwo Adjei Agyapong and Mrs Margaret Agyapong. He is a Ghanaian, civil engineer and politician.
Born: March 6, 1962 (age 61 years), Kumasi
Spouse: Lawrencia Agyapong
Parents: Kwadjo Adgyei Agyepong
Education: Mfantsipim School, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Alan John Kwadwo Kyeremateng
Alan John Kwadwo Kyeremateng also known as Alan Cash is a Ghanaian politician and an International diplomat. Currently, he is running for the npp presidential candidate seat for a fourth time with the likes of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Agyepong and others.
Born: October 3, 1955 (age 67 years), Kumasi
Education: Adisadel College, University of Minnesota
Party: New Patriotic Party
Previous offices: Minister of Trade and Industry of Ghana(2017–2023),
Siblings: Bridget Kyerematen-Darko
Spouse: Patricia Christabel Kyerematen
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong
Kennedy Ohene-Agyapong, Assin Central MP
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong is a Ghanaian politician and businessman who represents Assin Central in parliament for the New Patriotic Party. He was first elected a member of parliament in 2000 to the seat of Assin North. He retained his seat in the 2004 and 2008 parliamentary elections.
Born: June 16, 1960 (age 63 years), Central Region
Children: Ken Takyi Agyapong, Amanda Agyapong
Party: New Patriotic Party
Education: Fordham University, Adisadel College
Siblings: Betty Agyapong
Spouse: Stella Wilson Agyapong
Office: Member of Parliament of Ghana since 2013
Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko
Boakye Agyarko, NPP Presidential hopeful
Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko is a Ghanaian economist, politician and a former banker. He was the vice president of the Bank of New York. He was the former Minister for Energy in Ghana.
Born: 1956 (age 67 years), Kumasi
Party: New Patriotic Party
Education: Pace University, Mfantsipim School, University of Ghana
Joe Ghartey
Hon Joe-Ghartey
Joe Ghartey is a Ghanaian lawyer, academic and politician. He is a former Attorney-General of Ghana, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Railways and Development Minister. Joe Ghartey hails from Shama, in the Western Region of the Republic of Ghana.
Born: June 15, 1961 (age 62 years), Accra
Education: University of Ghana (1982–1986), Mfantsipim School, Ghana School Of Law, Ridge Church School
Party: New Patriotic Party
Previous office: Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of Ghana (2006–2009)
Children: 5
Owusu Afriyie Akoto
Flagbearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto
Owusu Afriyie Akoto is a Ghanaian agricultural economist and politician. He is a member of the New Patriotic Party and was a Member of Parliament for the Kwadaso Constituency from 2009 to 2017.
Born: October 19, 1949 (age 73 years), Koforidua
Party: New Patriotic Party
Parents: Baffour Osei Akoto
Education: University of Cambridge, University of Ghana, Opoku Ware School
Children: 8
Previous office: Minister of Food and Agriculture of Ghana
Kofi Konadu Apraku
Flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku
Kofi Konadu Apraku is a Ghanaian politician and economist and a member of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana. He is a member of the New Patriotic Party. He was the Member of Parliament for the Offinso North constituency in the fourth parliament of the fourth Republic of Ghana.
Born: September 7, 1954 (age 68 years)
Education: Oregon State University
Party: New Patriotic Party
Kwadwo Poku
Sir Kwadwo N. Poku II is an energy expert and a former Chief Executive Officer of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, a popular football club in Ghana. He picked up his nomination form to contest the NPP presidential primary on June 21, 2023, at the party’s headquarters in Accra.
Francis Addai-Nimoh
Francis Addai-Nimoh, flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
Francis Addai-Nimoh is a Ghanaian politician and a member of the Sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. He represented the Mampong Constituency in the Ashanti Region on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.
Born: March 23, 1965 (age 58 years)
Education: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Party: New Patriotic Party
Previous office: Member of Parliament for Asante Mampong in the Ashanti Region, (2013–2017)
On Thursday, the United States government declared that it has imposed sanctions on six individuals from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These individuals are being accused of involvement in the continuous conflict happening in the eastern region of DR Congo.
The US Department of State said that these people are causing problems in the eastern region of DR Congo. They are also doing bad things like hurting people, especially by sexually assaulting them and hurting children.
There are six people who are involved in this situation. They include a leader in DR Congo’s military, a high-ranking officer in Rwanda’s armed forces, and members of two different groups, M23 and FDLR.
The penalties will lead to the individuals’ money and possessions being blocked in the US.
The sanctions also say that people cannot do business with Americans. They cannot get money, things, or help from Americans.
Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the tally of recorded fires at the conclusion of July was relatively minimal.
As per the Service’s statement, the count of reported incidents has been consistently diminishing on a monthly basis since January.
However, the number of cases registered climbed by 46 between June and July.
ACFO 1 Timothy Affum, the GNFS’s Public Relations Officer, revealed that at the end of July, we registered 3,819 fire incidents.
“When compared to last year, we documented over 4,010 cases, thus we can say that the cases have decreased.
The Daily Graphic’s report that this year’s cases had increased over last year was inaccurate.
The Chief Fire Officer informed them that the number of recorded instances has continuously decreased since January. However, the number of cases climbed by 46 between June and July. As a result, it cannot be asserted that this year’s case was more than last year’s.”
He was speaking on Rainbow Radio 87.5 FM’s Nyankonton Mu Nsem.
He revealed that domestic fires accounted for 38+ percent of all fire outbreaks.
He stated that this has been the situation every year.
Then there are commercial fires, including market facilities.
He also mentioned that institutional fires were a serious issue.
He said that more than 60% of all documented fire cases were avoidable and that the GNFS will continue to increase public education to prevent epidemics.
Another problem he observed was the high number of outbreaks in slums.
He disclosed that the GNFS is working with opinion leaders to increase public education and awareness in these regions.
The US has criticized Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, for saying that his rights in the occupied West Bank are more significant than the rights of Palestinians.
The state department said it strongly disapproved of the hurtful words and any racist talk.
His comments on Israeli television caused a lot of negative feedback on the internet.
Mr Ben Gvir said that the news coverage was not true and criticized the radical left for misrepresenting his words.
On the platform called X (previously known as Twitter), Mr. Ben Gvir criticized Bella Hadid for sharing a video of his remarks. He called her an “Israel hater” and accused her of making him appear racist and negative.
Ms Hadid shared the video on Instagram, and she has 60 million people who follow her there. She wrote a comment with the video saying that no life should be considered more important than another, no matter where or when.
MrBen Gvir is the leader of the ultra nationalist party called “Jewish Power,” and they support racist and anti-Arab policies. He has been found guilty in the past for encouraging racism and backing terrorism.
In December, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made him a high-ranking official. He was given a position in the security cabinet and put in charge of the police within Israel and its border police force operating in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
On Wednesday, there was a lot of violence where Palestinian gunmen killed three Israelis in different attacks. One attack happened near the city of Hebron in the West Bank, where Mr. Ben Gvir lives in a Jewish settlement.
This caused more limitations on the movement of many Palestinians as Israeli forces looked for the armed individuals.
Ben Gvir believes that my right, my wife’s right, and my children’s right to freely travel on the roads of Judea and Samaria are more important than the Arab’s right to move around. He used a biblical term for the West Bank to refer to the area.
He then spoke to Mohammad Magadli, a journalist from Israel who is Arab, in the studio. He said, “I’m sorry Mohammad, but what I just said is the real situation and it’s the truth. ” My life is more important than their ability to move.
A video of people’s comments became very popular on the internet and caused a negative response, including from Palestinians and Israeli politicians who disagree with the government.
The leaders of the Palestinian Authority strongly criticized the racist and terrible comments made by Israel’s minister Itamar Ben Gvir. They believe that these remarks confirm Israel’s unfair system of favoring Jewish people and promote fear among Palestinians.
It requested that Mr. Ben Gvir and other Israeli officials be punished and responsible for their actions.
Karine Elharrar, a member of the Yesh Atid party who disagrees with the government, called the minister a true representative of a very racist and extremist government that we have never had before.
MrBen Gvir has a background in Kahanism, which is a very racist movement that supports removing Palestinians from their homes forcefully.
An American spokesperson from the US state department said they strongly disagree with Israeli minister Ben Gvir’s hurtful comments about how Palestinian people can move around in the West Bank.
“We strongly denounce all racist speech. It is especially harmful when powerful people spread such messages, and it goes against the goal of promoting respect for the rights of every person. ”
On Friday, the EU criticized Mr. Ben Gvir’s comments and expressed disapproval. They emphasized that democracy and human rights are very important in the partnership between the EU and Israel, especially when it comes to the people living under occupation in Palestinian territory.
Palestinians in the West Bank currently face strict limitations on their ability to move around freely. They are unable to travel to Jerusalem or their family’s lands in Israel unless they have special permits. The Israeli government says they do this to make sure everyone stays safe.
Political parties that speak for Arab Israelis, who are Palestinian citizens of Israel, along with Israeli groups against the occupation, criticized Mr. However, they acknowledged that he was just expressing well-established facts in the West Bank.
In response to the statement from the US state department, Ahmed Tibi, an Arab Israeli MP, said that Ben Gvir, who was described as an important minister in Israel, supports the broad and overall Israeli policy that has been in place since 1967. Why are you crying about the description of a racist apartheid reality instead of acknowledging the actual reality.
B’tselem, an organization in Israel, helps Palestinians living under the control of the Israeli military. They said, “This is what we see happening every day for fifty years now. ” The rights of the Jews are seen as more important than the rights of the Arabs, and this is similar to how apartheid works.
MrBen Gvir blamed the “Israeli radical left” for misquoting him and accused them of selectively choosing his comments. This statement was posted online in English, possibly as a response to the global reaction to his remarks.
He explained that fake news spreads by twisting words. He mentioned that in a TV show, he expressed the belief that the safety of Jewish people is more important than the ease of travel for Arabs in Judea and Samaria. That’s why it’s important to have checkpoints on roads where Jewish people are often targeted by terrorists and jihadists who shoot at them.
“He said that this is exactly how the Left continues to provoke and encourage negativity towards the Israeli government worldwide. ”
After the attack on Monday, Israeli forces started putting up checkpoints at the entrances and exits of Hebron. They were talking to Palestinians and looking for the people who killed Batsheva Nigri. She was a 40-year-old nursery teacher and a mother of three who lived in a nearby settlement.
On that day, an Israeli soldier shot a Palestinian man in the head and he was badly hurt. It happened in a village close to Nablus. A video showed him without a weapon, running towards someone who was hurt. Then, he got hit by one shot.
Last week, a 15-year-old boy from Palestine was shot in the head by Israeli forces in East Jerusalem and he is now in serious condition. The police claimed that he tried to throw a homemade explosive at them while they were conducting a search.
On the same day, a video showed that Israeli soldiers shot and injured a Palestinian man. The man was not carrying any weapons and is reported to have mental health issues. The incident took place during a protest near the separation barrier in Qalqilya, Israel.
A heartfelt movie about a young person with albinism growing up will be the first Zambian film to be available on Netflix.
Can You See Us? is a movie made by Zambian filmmaker Kenny Mumba. It tells the story of a young person who has a genetic condition and shows how they deal with bullying, tragedy, and a little bit of hope.
People with albinism can have very light skin, white hair, have trouble seeing things that are far away, and are sensitive to bright light.
The movie “Can You See Us. ” was released to the public in 2022. It was shown at the Zambian film festival as a contender for the “best feature film” and “best cinematography” awards.
Zambia’s President, Hakainde Hichilema, also praised Mr. Mumba’s film, saying it was very moving and emotional.
Just a month ago, a new TV show from Zambia called Supa Team 4 was released on Netflix. It is the first animated series from Africa to be on the platform.
The People’s National Convention (PNC) has cautioned its party members to disregard Janet Nabla, the General Secretary who is currently under suspension.
This arises from Janet Nabla’s recent endeavors to supervise internal party elections, despite lacking the authority and entitlement to do so.
In a letter dated August 23, 2023, and signed by PNC Chairman Moses Dani Baah, the party communicated that Janet Nabla had been suspended by the party in 2021, and no decision or meeting has been conducted to reverse her suspension.
Hence attempting to organise and supervise party elections is uncalled for and the party will not sit aloof for it to happen.
“The PNC has taken notice of the subtle and the surreptitious attempts by the suspended General Secretary, Madam Janet Nabla to organise and supervise Constituency and Regional Conferences as part of a supposed reorganisation process of the party.
“Recall that in September 2021, the leadership of the party acting on the report of the Disciplinary Committee of the Party took a unanimous decision to suspend her as General Secretary for gross misconduct and dereliction of duty. Since then, no decision has been taken to revoke that suspension,” parts of the statement read.
The PNC further added that the suspension of Janet Nabla is still in court and yet to be determined.
“As unfortunate as the situation might be, the matter of her suspension is still in court and is yet to be determined. Following this, Janet Nabla cannot supervise any election in the party and any outcome of her purported supervision and election of executives is null, void and without effect as she stands suspended,” it added.
The handling of the election in Zimbabwe, where the votes are being counted, has drawn criticism from election observers from southern African nations.
The calm voting, according to the regional organisation known as SADC, fell short of some local laws and its own rules.
More than 40 poll watchers were detained late on Wednesday as they attempted to calculate their own vote total to compare with the official result.
Rights groups have denounced the arrests.
In the midst of high unemployment and rising inflation, President Emmerson Mnangagwa is running for re-election.
Nelson Chamisa of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change is his main rival.
A 30-year-old artisanal miner who sexually assaulted a nine-year-old daughter of his acquaintance in Prestea Himan, within the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality, has been handed a 12-year prison term involving hard labor by the Tarkwa circuit court.
Akwasi Abaidoo, who denied the charge of defilement, asserted that his actions were influenced by alcohol.
Prosecuting, Superintendent of Police Juliana Essel-Dadzie, told the court presided over by Mrs Hathie Ama Manu, that the complainant in the case is a seamstress and an aunt to the victim, a primary four pupil.
She said in the month of April 2022, the victim’s father brought the convict to live with him and his family at Prestea Himan.
The court heard that on July 15, 2022, at about 11:00 pm, while the victim and her siblings were asleep in their room, both parents left for a vigil within the neighborhood.
Superintendent Essel-Dadzie said realising that the victim’s parents were away, Abaidoo sneaked into the room and had sexual intercourse with the victim.
Prosecution said while in the act the victim suddenly woke up and saw the convict on top of her and she threatened to inform her parents, but he promised to give her GHS 20.00.
Superintendent Essel-Dadzie said the victim’s grandmother, however, spotted Abaidoo coming out of the room where the victim and her siblings were sleeping and demanded to know his mission there, but he claimed he went for his towel.
The prosecutor said when the victim’s parents got home the following day, she complained of abdominal pains and said Abaidoo had sex with her, a report was made to the police in Prestea the same day and he was arrested.
A medical form was issued to the parents to seek medical care for the victim at the Prestea Government hospital where Dr Kwasi Acheampong examined and confirmed that she had been defiled.
The prosecution said in the presence of an independent witness Abaidoo admitted the offence in his caution statement.
A laborer who is charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in Oshiyie, located in the Greater Accra Region, has appeared in front of the Gender Based Violence Court at the headquarters of the Ghana Police Service in Accra.
Kingsford Kyeremeh, 22 years old, facing a defilement charge, has entered a plea of not guilty.
Mr. Kwabena Kodua Obiri Yeboah, presiding over the court, has granted bail to Kyeremeh in the amount of GHC 30,000, requiring two sureties for his appearance on September 7, 2023.
The Chief Inspector heading the prosecution, Simon Tekpor, stated that the person lodging the complaint was a retiree and the father of the victim. The prosecution further explained that both the complainant and the accused individual lived in Oshiyie, Accra.
Prosecution said the victim’s friend resided in the same house with Kyeremeh.
On February 22, 2023, Prosecution said at about 4:00pm, the victim returned from school and misbehaved towards her mother, who threatened to report her conduct to the complainant who had then travelled, to discipline her on his return.
Prosecution said the victim, out of fear, ran away from the house to her friend but she met his absence.
It said the accused therefore offered the victim a place to sleep for two days. Kyeremeh took advantage of the victim by having sex with her.
While searching for the victim, the complainant had information that the victim was living with the accused person.
When the complainant reached Kyeremeh’s house, he fled on seeing the complainant.
Prosecution said the complainant therefore brought the victim home and when she was quizzed, she told the complainant that the accused person had sex with her on the night of February 23, 2023.
A report was made to the Police and the accused person was arrested.
A tiler who allegedly robbed a retired Principal of a Nursing School at gunpoint, stealing money and electrical devices, has been placed in custody by the Pakyi District Court.
John Owusu, aged 20, did not enter a plea, and his case was adjourned to September 8, 2023, for his next court appearance.
Meanwhile one Kwame David, his alleged accomplice, is on the run.
Police Chief Inspector Christian Amartey told the Court presided over by Madam Dora Nsiah Jackson that Madam Margret Acquaah, the complainant, was a retired Principal of Tepa Nursing Training College, residing at Atwima Trede New Site whilst Owusu, the tiler, and Kwame David, now at large, were classmates at Yeji Abease Senior High School.
He said in 2022, the complainant employed Owusu as her house help but he worked for some time and left.
Prosecution said Kwame David also worked in her house for seven months and quit. Chief Inspector Amartey said the complainant paid David accordingly before leaving the house.
On December 18,2022, at about 1800 hours, the complainant was in her bedroom when the accused person and Kwame David entered and Owusu pointed a pistol at her head as David stabbed her neck with a screw roller and demanded for money.
The Court heard that complainant hit the screw roller and David’s hand entered her mouth and she bit it, however, they succeeded in robbing her of two Samsung mobile phones, HP laptop computer, decoder, a backpack and cash.
He said the Complainant managed to open her door and rushed to the police station where she made a formal complaint.
Police tracked the stolen phones to Yeji Abease and proceeded there to retrieve the two Samsung phones and the HP laptop with the assistance of the Yeji Police without arresting the accused person and his accomplice.
He said on August 16, 2023, at about 2000 hours, the Yeji Abease Police informed Trede Police that Owusu had been arrested and detained. Owusu was then handed over to Trede Police for further investigations, Chief Inspector Amartey said.
He said in Owusu’s cautioned statement, he admitted conspiring with Kwame David to rob the retiree.
Efforts were under way to arrest Kwame David to assist in the investigation, the Court heard.
The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), has stated that just ten businesses within the Volta Region have engaged with the organization since its inception.
Director of Investor Services at the Center, Mr Edward Ashong-Lartey, mentioned that even though there is significant activity within the rapidly developing industrial area, the limited number of businesses collaborating with GIPC in the region mainly come from the agriculture, manufacturing, and trading fields. He emphasized the necessity for a greater number of companies to join and contribute to promoting the region.
The Director of Investor Services made these remarks during the inauguration of the Sixth Volta Trade and Investment Fair in Ho. This event has evolved into the most significant commercial gathering in the region and serves as an annual platform for promoting investment opportunities.
“Volta Region has lots of business opportunities. Agriculture alone had numerous opportunities, and all should come onboard,” Mr. Ashong-Lartey stated.
He said the GIPC had business development offices in the various regions including Volta, where it operates among others, an aftercare division to support existing businesses.
There is also a diaspora initiative to help Ghanaians living abroad establish businesses to support local economic development.
Mr Ashong-Lartey said businesses should therefore take advantage of the various programme and platforms, adding “GIPC is for Ghanaian business individuals”
He said the Region was being featured on its website and other platforms to help promote investment value and potential.
The sixth edition of the regional fair, the 2023 Volta Fair, is being organised by the AGI in collaboration with the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, and has the GIPC, the AfCFTA, and others including the Ghana Tourism Authority, and the Ghana Exim Bank as partners.
The GIPC Director of Investor Services said the private sector played a critical role in economic growth, and that the fair deserved the needed support to promote the sector and sustain its contributions to employment creation.
He said the GIPC was therefore pleased to be again associated with the fair; one it had supported from the onset.
Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister said the vision was to make Volta a production and exporting hub with the private sector at the centre, and that the fair provided “another opportunity to showcase the pride in the strong potentials in the Region.”
He entreated all to take advantage of the government’s efforts at creating an environment favourable for local economic development.
Indigenous companies from Togo, Kenya, Nigeria and India would be among 400 exhibitors participating in the Fair, with more than 4000 visitors expected during the two-week event.
It would be held at the Ho Sports Stadium from November 26 to December 10, 2023, on the theme “Leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area for Local Economic Development”.
Mr. Dela Gadzanku, Chairman of the AGI in the Eastern, Volta and Oti Regions, was happy the private sector was leading the event.
He said the fair had become “a well-established multi sectorial trade and investment platform for the Region,” and would showcase, aside investment, the economic and cultural wealth of participating communities.
The AGI regional chairman promised an “exciting lineup of side events,” including several seminars and business forums such as an AfCFTA innovation contest, regional tours, and a roundtable meeting on the automative industry.
Dr. Fareed Kwesi Arthur, National Coordinator of the Ghana National AfCFTA Coordination Office, was present at the launch, and so was Mr. Eliphas Barine, the Kenya High Commissioner to Ghana, who was the guest of honour.
Dr. Angela Lusigi, Resident representative of the UNDP, was special guest of honor who declared the launch, and said the Volta Region was best positioned to benefit from AfCFTA with its arable lands, industrial potential and youthful population.
The government’s prominent initiative, the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme (PFJ), is undergoing evaluation, paving the way for the commencement of its second phase, which aims to incorporate the participation of the private sector.
Consequently, the government has temporarily halted its subsidies on fertilizer and other agricultural inputs until the review process concludes, according to Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Regional Minister for Upper West.
However, despite this, significant quantities of fertilizers and various other agricultural inputs have been transported to the region and are readily accessible in the open market this year for the benefit of farmers.
Dr Bin Salih said the role of the government in the phase two of the PFJ programme would be to focus more on the private sector to deliver the farm inputs at subsidised prices.
The Regional Minister made this known at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council’s meeting in Wa with municipal and district chief executives, district coordinators, presiding members, heads of departments, institutions and agencies to discuss pertinent issues, especially government’s interventions and their impact on the wellbeing of the people.
He said information from the Regional Directorate of the Department of Food and Agriculture indicated that many farmers who cultivated large hectares of farmlands could not complete their planting due to the erratic nature of the rainfall pattern, which succeeded in shortening the planting window for this year.
“As a result, the land size cultivated this year had reduced. However, from close observation of the performance of the crops, food security would be assured”, he said.
He said for the past four years, many agriculture extension officers had been recruited to help improve the staffing situation of the department, and they had been deployed to the fields for every farmer to access advisory services.
The Regional Coordinating Council per Article 255 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, mandates the House to meet at least twice yearly to share ideas, advise on issues and take the right and appropriate decisions that would benefit the people.
The various assemblies presented reports on infrastructural development, security and government’s social and economic interventions on the living conditions of the people in the communities.
Observing the Earth firsthand while in space is an incredibly serene and loving encounter.
Two weeks prior, Ana Mayers found herself floating effortlessly in the vastness of space, completely devoid of any gravitational pull. And she went with her mother. The two people,as well as former Olympian Jon Goodwin, were on Virgin Galactic’s first tourist trip. This trip made them the first mother and daughter to go to space together.
Two weeks later, Ana is going to the University of Aberdeen to keep studying philosophy and physics.
BBC News beat spoke to the student before she traveled from Antigua in the Caribbean, where she lives, back to Scotland earlier.
“She said the entire experience made her feel deeply connected and emotional. “
“It has made me realize that we should value and take care of Earth. We should seize this chance to explore and develop a bond with nature.”
Ana, her mom Keisha, and Jon Goodwin were very happy after their 90-minute journey into space.
Ana and her mom, Keisha Schahaff, who is 46 years old, won a competition and got the chance to go on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Ana says that she was sleeping in her university dorm when she found out about it.
“She called me on Face Time late at night out of nowhere, and all I could see on the screen was my own face, with nothing else. ”
“Richard Branson grabbed the phone, and I was really shocked. ”
The two people, together with an 80-year-old man named Jon, left from Spaceport America in New Mexico on 10 August.
The flight lasted for about an hour and a half. During the flight, they experienced a feeling of weightlessness. This happened when they reached a height of about 85 kilometers or 280,000 feet above the Earth’s surface. From that height, they were able to see a very unique view of the planet.
It is not surprising that the space tourists received a lot of training to get ready for their trip. But Ana says she did not feel nervous when it was finally time to take off.
“It feels like you’re on a regular flight, very calm,” she says.
But I remember when they began counting down, saying there were three minutes left until they released something, and then one minute left. I thought to myself, “Oh my God, this is actually happening. “
According to Ana, she has never “been so engaged with anything in my life” as she has been with the space voyage.
And many people have begun to look to her as an inspiration now that she has returned to Earth.
She says, “I feel very honoured to be able to inspire so many others.
“I sincerely hope that it’s expanding people’s minds to other aspects of life as well as just space.
“I hope it’s motivating people to seriously consider themselves and to put in the necessary time and effort.
You must be willing to accept opportunities when they come your way.
Member of Parliament for Afigya Kwabre North, Collins Adomako-Mensah, has refuted awareness of the revised 2022 Bank of Ghana lending limit to the Ghanaian government.
He also asserted that he had not been informed about such matters being communicated to the parliament at any given moment.
His view contradicts that of Ernest Addison, the BoG governor, who said at a recent press conference that a new limit was agreed and formally communicated to parliament by the finance minister.
An aide to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, Gideon Boako; also said on Accra-based Metro TV that he was privy to discussions around the matter but that the new limit must have been formally communicated to parliament.
Speaking on the same show on August 23, 2023, the MP who is also a member of the finance committee of the House denied knowledge of a new lending cap.
“I am not aware of any new lending threshold, I am not aware… I read the governor’s statement, I must probably have to go back and read the finance minister’s statement. I am not aware.
Asked if he did not listen to the finance minister’s address earlier this year on the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), he responded: “Finance minister did not come to the finance committee and the law does not say he should come to the finance committee, the law says he should brief parliament.”
He confirmed having read the DDEP-IMF statement, which was upon a request from an MP for the minister to brief the House. “I didn’t see an announcement of a new limit as in the threshold… and I am being very frank,” he added.
New limit ‘secret’
Pushed to disclose the new figure by host of Good Morning Ghana show (August 22, 2023) the aide to VP Bawumia held back stressing that it was for the finance ministry and government to communicate same.
He also referred to the central bank governor’s recent claim via a press conference that applicable laws were triggered in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19, to allow a new limit to be set by relevant stakeholders.
“As far as I know, what the governor is saying is accurate and true, as far as I know, when these things happened, the section 30(6) was triggered and pursuant to this section… the arrangement that has to be made was made,” Boako submitted.
Show host Randy Abbey pressed for the new limit: “What is the new ceiling, the new limit? If you know that a new limit was set, what is that new limit?”
Boako held back explaining: “It is not within me to say that this was the limit… perhaps the question that we need to ask is to challenge parliament or perhaps the governor to provide further and better particulars.
“It is the finance minister and government who must communicate that publicly, not me. That is not for me to communicate. These discussions have been had, the limit has been set. The law says it is the finance minister who must report to parliament, not me to sit on radio or TV,” he added.
By law, the central bank is to lend as much as 5% of the previous year’s tax revenue to government except in emergency cases where a new limit can be agreed after a meeting between the finance minister, the BoG governor and the Controller and Accountant General; thereafter, the minister must inform parliament.
It has come to light that the BoG exceeded the 5% ceiling in lending to government and the bank through its governor has explained why.
What the governor said about new lending limit
When Ghana was hit with the Covid-19 in 2020, Section 30(6) of the Bank of Ghana Act (612), as amended, was triggered, and as indicated earlier, the Bank purchased GHC10 billion worth of Covid-19 bonds to support the economy through the pandemic.
This was done within the applicable laws governing the Bank of Ghana. When section 30 (6) of the Bank of Ghana Act (612), as amended, is triggered, it, allows the Governor, the Minister for Finance and the Controller and Accountant General to agree on a new limit of central bank financing.
The law further says that the Minister of Finance will then have to inform parliament and the Minister has since informed parliament as part of his briefing to update Parliament on the IMF program and status of the Domestic Debt Exchange.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has told Catholic followers not to do things that make poverty look good. A government spokesperson called these actions “cult-like. He talked about a Catholic pilgrimage that took place in June, as reported by the New Times newspaper.
Rwandan President Mr. Kagame is upset with the idea of people traveling to worship poverty. He says that if he hears about it again, he will bring trucks to gather those people and put them in prison. They will only be released when they stop thinking in a poverty mindset. Kagame made these comments to a group of young people at a conference in the capital city, Kigali.
We should not admire or worship being poor. “He said don’t do it again. ”
The government explained that Mr. Kagame was not talking about the well-known Catholic site in Kibeho where people believe the Virgin Mary appeared, as previously reported.
“President Kagame never mentioned any particular place for a pilgrimage, and definitely not Kibeho,” said spokesperson Yolande Makolo to the AFP news agency.
Ms Makolo explained that the president was probably talking about a casual journey-like event that happens in Rutsiro district.
According to Rwanda’s New Times, during this event, devoted people go on a three-day journey to a hill called Our Lady of the Poor.
The Japanese government is calling on China to rescind the ban they have imposed on seafood imports from Japan.This ban was put in place because Japan released treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant, which was approved by scientific experts.
China, who buys the most fish from Japan, said on Thursday that they are making the order because they are worried about the health of their consumers.
However, scientists disagree with this statement and say that the release does not harm the ocean life or the seafood we eat.
International trade law expert Henry Gao told the BBC that the main reason is not actually about safety concerns. “It is mostly because of Japan’s actions against China,” he explained, mentioning that Japan has been getting closer to the United States and South Korea in the past few years.
After the water was released, experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) measured its radiation levels. They found that the radiation levels in the water were even lower than the limits set by Japan, which is 1,500 becquerels per liter. This is about seven times lower than the global standard for safe drinking water.
And even though Japanese fishermen are worried, experts say that the negative impact on Japan’s industry from the trade will not last long and will be smaller than anticipated.
Japan primarily sells its fish to its own citizens.
The people who live in the area eat most of the fish, so the big fish companies Nissui and Maruha Nichiro don’t think China’s ban will affect them much. According to Reuters, both companies’ stock prices went up a little when the ban was announced at the end of the trading day.
No country other than China has suggested a complete ban. South Korea still does not allow imports of seafood from Fukushima and a few nearby areas.
Experts say that even if people eat a lot of seafood, they will only be exposed to very small amounts of radiation. This amounts to about 0. 0062 to 0032 microSv per year, according to Mark Foreman, a professor of nuclear chemistry in Sweden.
Humans can be safely exposed to radiation levels that are up to 1,000 times higher than that, which is equivalent to 1,000 microSv of radiation each year, according to Associate Prof Foreman.
The government of Japan has acknowledged that the local fishing industry will probably suffer significantly.
Beijing had already come under fire for disseminating “scientifically unfounded claims,” and on Thursday night, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pleaded with Beijing once more to check into the study.
On Thursday night, Mr. Kishida told reporters, “We have asked the revocation (of China’s restriction) through diplomatic channels. We firmly support expert conversation that is grounded in science.
Authorities had already implemented a limited restriction on seafood from select regions of Japan in China and its territories Hong Kong and Macau, but they have now increased that prohibition.
Mainland China and Hong Kong, which each purchase approximately $1.1 billion (£866 million) or 41% of Japan’s seafood exports, are the two largest foreign consumers of Japanese seafood.
According to local media, the leader of a Japanese fisheries union called Japan’s Industry Minister after China’s ban to ask him to push Beijing to lift the restriction.
However, those who monitor the sector are composed because they are aware of the customary fluctuations in supply and demand in international trade.
Although Prof. Gao anticipates some short-term disruption, he added that “soon the exporters shall be able to shift to other markets so the long-term effect will be small.”
In Chinese cities, there will be plenty of seafood delicacies available in restaurants. According to Reuters, China buys a lot more seafood from India, Ecuador, and Russia compared to the amount it buys from Japan. Japan only supplies 4% of China’s seafood imports from foreign countries.
China’s decision to stop importing seafood will hardly have any impact on Japan’s overall economy.
Marine products are only a small part of what Japan trades with other countries. Most of Japan’s trade is made up of cars and machinery exports. Experts say that the effect of prohibiting seafood is very small.
Stefan Angrick, an economist at Moody’s Analytics, said that the release of water in Fukushima has important implications for both politics and the environment.
Economically, if Japan’s food shipments are banned, it won’t have a big impact.
However, many people still believe that the industry is causing harm and is not safe. This is not only the case in China, but also in South Korea where there have been protests by large groups of people.
Before the water was released, fishermen in South Korea noticed that the money they earned from selling their fish was going down. However, the prices of the fish stayed the same on the day after the water was released.
In Japan, polls at people’s homes also indicate a disagreement among the population. The government has worked hard to make both the people feel safe and happy, and to satisfy the business sector. It has promised to give money and help seafood sellers if their sales go down.
On Friday, the government in Osaka suggested serving seafood from Fukushima at its office buildings. The Fukushima plant’s company, Tepco, said it would give money to local businesses if they lost money.
But the people who live here are tough too. After China’s announcement on Thursday, a lot of Japanese people on Twitter were happy about the ban. They jokingly said that it might make fish cheaper in Japan.
Great news despite rising prices. “Someone on Twitter said that Hokkaido sea urchin will be very affordable. “
In the past few months, floods in Niger, triggered by heavy rains, have claimed the lives of 32 individuals, ANP news agency reports.
According to new information from a department in the Ministry of Interior, Tahoua, located in the southern region, has the highest number of deaths with 12 people. Maradi, also in the south, has 10 deaths, followed by Zinder with six deaths.
Four people died. The death toll includes two fatalities in Tillaberi, one in Niamey, and another one in Diffa. According to the report, nine individuals lost their lives due to collapsing houses, while 23 perished as a result of drowning.
Very heavy rains happen in Niger every year during the rainy season. This season usually lasts for about three to four months, starting in mid-June and ending in mid-October.
Areas near Athens and the Evros region near the Turkey border are still experiencing uncontrolled fires that have already claimed the lives of 20 people in Greece.
It is suspected that the eighteen individuals who recently crossed the border and were found hiding in the forests north of Alexandroupolis have lost their lives, with indications that they were refugees or migrants. Greece is very sad about the deaths in the Dadia forest near the Turkish border.
Fires have been burning near the city and along the coast for five days.
Firefighters are working to prevent a fire from spreading on the slopes of Mount Parnitha, which is located to the northwest of Athens.
Their attempts are being stopped by powerful winds that are making the fire grow and very hot temperatures of up to 40C (104F).
The fire service found the victims on Tuesday near a small house outside the village of Avantas, which is located north of Alexandroupolis.
“Sadly, their time in the Dadia forest ended in tragedy,”stated Pavlos Marinakis, a spokesperson for the government. He mentioned that people in the area had raised an alert about their presence and sent emergency evacuation messages using the mobile 112 service.
People who want to go to the European Union may face many dangers, like getting hurt, having their things stolen, getting arrested, being sent back to their country, or dying in the Mediterranean Sea. Now there is also a dangerous situation in northern Greece called a ring of fire.
According to Yiannis Artopios, a spokesperson for the fire service, no one has been reported missing. The people who died are believed to have just crossed the long border between Greece and Turkey along the River Evros.
For many people who are really eager to get to the European Union, the river is the way they can enter and the big forest on the other side helps to hide them.
According to the local coroner Pavlos Pavlidis, all the people who died were males. Out of those, two were underage. Their bodies were discovered in an area within a 500m radius, and some were found near a sheep pen.
Their bodies have been moved to Alexandroupolis to be examined after death. However, it will be hard to recognize these individuals and authorities will require families to step forward.
A man from Syria told the BBC that he is worried his cousin, who is 27 years old, died in the fire because he hasn’t been able to contact him for four days. The cousin was with a group of people from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. They all wanted to go through a forest using a popular route.
The person from Syria said they wouldn’t have asked Greek authorities for help, even though they were told to evacuate, because they were scared of being sent back to Turkey.
Greek police have reported that during August, around 900 people per day attempted to cross the border, and several traffickers were taken into custody. People smuggling is a large and illegal industry that involves organized groups of criminals.
Last night, at the Ipsala border crossing, some young men attempted to climb onto a truck that was waiting to enter Greece.
Someone was able to hide by laying down flat on top of something. The rest of the people disappeared into darkness when they were seen.
Many people in the villages near Alexandroupolis are very angry because they think that the fires are being started by migrants who come across the border and hide in the forest before going further inland.
However, there is no proof that migrants caused the fire in the Dadia forest. Earlier this week, the mayor of Alexandroupolis said that the fires were caused by lightning during a storm.
A video was taken in Alexandroupolis that made many people in Greece very upset. It shows a man catching refugees and migrants and putting them in a trailer attached to his car. The man is walking around the trailer and blaming the migrants and refugees for trying to harm Greek people by setting them on fire. Then, he opens the door and inside are a group of scared young men.
The police took the man into custody, along with two other people who are believed to have assisted him. They also said that the video showed that 13 people from Syria and Pakistan were being held against their will, which is against the law.
Additionally, Georgia Adeilini, a top court investigator, is requesting two separate investigations. One will focus on determining what caused the fires in the Evros region, while the other will look into reported cases of racist violence towards migrants that have occurred after the tragic death of 18 individuals in the Dadia forest.
On the other side of the border, in a province called Canakkale in western Turkey, there have been wildfires for two days. Because of this, the government has asked 1,200 people from 11 villages to leave their homes for safety.
On Wednesday, boats were not allowed to travel in the Dardanelles Strait so that helicopters and other aircraft could collect water to fight the fires.
There are still fires happening in the Dadia forest in north-eastern Greece, but the largest area of fire in the Evros region has now moved to the west of Alexandroupolis.
The situation is getting worse for firefighters in the outskirts of Athens. They have evacuated three nursing homes from the town of Menidi.
Houses in Hasia and Fyli, near Mount Parnitha, have been destroyed by fire.
Greek authorities have asked thousands of people in the north-west part of the capital city, Ano Liosia, to leave due to safety concerns. However, many people have chosen to remain instead of evacuating.
Virginia Evelyn Palmer, the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, has expressed concerns over the anti-LGBTQ+ bill currently under consideration in Ghana’s parliament, cautioning that its passage could have detrimental effects on the country’s international trade relations. Speaking during an interview on TV Africa’s Breakfast Live show hosted by Dennis Osei Gyamfi, Ambassador Palmer emphasized that the bill’s potential enactment could lead to adverse economic and public order consequences.
Ambassador Palmer highlighted the apprehensions of U.S.-based businesses, noting that the bill’s passage might dissuade international consumers from purchasing Ghanaian products, such as cocoa, due to concerns about repression and discrimination. She stressed the importance of considering the economic repercussions, adding that the mere discussion of the bill has already led to an increase in violence against the LGBTQ+ community in Ghana.
“I have talked to a lot of USA-based businesses who are very concerned about it (the bill). And concerns are that consumers internationally would not want to buy products made in Ghana – give you cocoa for example- because it is made where there is repression if the bill passes,” she said.
“So I am raising the sort of economic consequences of that. I also think that there are public order consequences because even the discussion of the bill has already resulted in more violence against the LGBTQ+ community.”
The anti-gay bill, known as the 2021 Promotion of Appropriate Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, was passed by Ghana’s Parliament on July 5, 2023. The bill aims to strengthen existing laws against LGBTQ+ activities and advocates, introducing stricter penalties for those involved in such actions. Under the proposed legislation, advocacy, promotion, funding, and acts of homosexuality would be criminalized. Advocates of LGBTQ+ rights could face up to ten years in prison, while individuals identifying as LGBTQ+ could be sentenced to three years in jail.
Ambassador Palmer criticized the bill as discriminatory and inconsistent with Ghana’s constitution. She expressed concern about its potential negative impact on innocent lives and emphasized that it encroaches upon various human rights. The Ambassador also clarified that her stance was not about advocating for gay marriage or special rights, but rather about respecting Ghana’s constitution and its commitment to human rights.
She further underscored the need for respectful dialogue among Ghanaians about the bill and its implications. Ambassador Palmer concluded by emphasizing that the aim is to ensure the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals and to uphold Ghana’s reputation while respecting its constitutional principles.
“I want to really be careful and humble as a foreigner in approaching this, there are Ghanaian conversations that need to happen about this. So I am not talking about the morality of this, I am absolutely not advocating gay marriage as people have alleged. I am not advocating for special rights for anybody. I want to ensure that the Ghanaian constitution is respected and Ghana is well respected.”
“I commented before that we don’t want your straight children to be gay, we want your gay children to be safe and I think it is very important,” she concluded.
Greece has criticized those responsible for starting fires and called them “arsonist scum” after police arrested 79 people for causing the wildfires that are destroying the country.
The Minister of Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, said that some people tried to start more fires on Mount Parnitha near Athens.
The country has already experienced numerous fires that have resulted in the death of at least 20 people this week, and this fire is just one of them. Mr Kikilias said that you are doing something illegal against the country. “Mr Kikilias warned Greeks during a TV emergency briefing that bad people who start fires are putting forests, property, and especially human lives in danger. “
“We won’t let you get away with it. We will search for you and make sure you are responsible for what you did. “
Summertime fires often happen in Greece, and scientists believe that the growing number and strength of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, are caused by climate change.
Stefan Doerr, who leads the Centre for Wildfire Research at Swansea University, explains that when landscapes become more prone to catching fire, either because of hot weather or lack of proper vegetation control,it becomes easier for incidents like arson to quickly escalate into wildfires that spread rapidly.
The police and Greek intelligence service EYP are looking into the events, according to a report from AFP.
A government representative named Pavlos Marinakis told a Greek TV station that out of 140 people arrested for wildfires, 79 were arrested for starting the fires on purpose.
Many firefighters in Greece are fighting dangerous wildfires.
The big fire that started on Saturday near the city of Alexandroupolis has become the biggest fire ever recorded in the EU, says European commissioner Janez Lenarcic.
At the moment, there are fires happening on Mount Parnitha near Athens. These fires are burning in a forest that is close to the capital city, and they are also putting a national park at risk.
Earlier this week, the bodies of 19 people, including children, were found near the Evros region in northeastern Greece. It is believed that these people were migrants.
On Monday, a shepherd died in the fires in the Boeotia region.
According to Mr. Kikilias, the country is experiencing its worst summer since fire-risk maps were published in 2009.
Thousands of people were recently compelled to evacuate flames that broke out on the Greek island of Rhodes as well as in other parts of the nation.
Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, the leader of the coup in Niger, has issued an order permitting the military governments of Mali and Burkina Faso to send troops into his nation to assist in defending against an invasion.
Following their Thursday visits to Gen. Tchiani in Niamey, the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Olivia Rouamba, and Mali, Abdoulaye Diop, made the statement.
In order to restore Mohamed Bazoum, the democratically elected president of Niger, who was ousted by a handful of army officers last month, the West African regional grouping Ecowas has vowed to use force.
It has been attempting to negotiate with the coup leaders but has warned that if talks break down, it is prepared to send troops.
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen will visit Eswatini, its only African ally, next month to strengthen their relationship.
During the visit, she will go to parties to celebrate the country’s independence day and King Mswati III’s birthday.
She will go on a trip from 5th to 7th September, which is also the 55th anniversary of the countries’ friendship.
China says that Taiwan belongs to them and should not be allowed to have relationships with other countries as an independent state. It only has official connections with 13 countries, including Eswatini.
Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Roy Lee, said that the Taiwanese president’s visit to South Africa is not meant to rival Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the same country this week.
Ms Tsai went to Eswatini in 2018. This is the only African country that still talks diplomatically with the Asian island, while Burkina Faso changed to China’s side in May 2018.
Last year, the UAE stopped giving visas to Nigerians because Emirates airlines couldn’t fly there anymore. This happened because the airline couldn’t bring back money from Nigeria because of currency restrictions.
Emirates said at that time that it had not been successful in making progress, despite trying hard to talk with the relevant authorities to find a workable solution.
On Thursday, the president said the issue should be resolved right away, mentioning that he was ready to become personally involved.
We need to see the problems as something that affects our whole family and find a peaceful solution. We have to collaborate and help each other. “He said we have to come to an agreement on important topics like aviation and immigration. ”
Mr Al-Shamsi said that he had been working on 24 agreements with the Nigerian government. He also mentioned that these agreements were not major problems and they will be resolved because they are like issues within a family.
Military intelligence in Kiev has reported that Ukrainian special forces conducted a bold and risky landing in Crimea. A conflict took place on August 24th in Cape Tarkhankut, which is situated in a Russian-controlled peninsula. It was between the Russian occupiers and the special forces of Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian sources, the mission was carried out with success and no harm befell any Ukrainians.
In close vicinity to this place, Ukraine had destroyed a Russian S-400 air defense system merely a day ago.
A spokesperson from Ukrainian intelligence, Andriy Yusov, said that a special group from the Ministry of Defense landed in Crimea at Cape Tarkhankut. Despite providing limited details about the operation, he acknowledged that the objectives had been achieved.
Local sources are saying that the target might have been a radar station. They also heard explosions in Mayak, where a radar that can detect things from far away is located.
According to reports, the mission was a team effort involving the Ukrainian Intelligence and the Navy.
According to Russian sources, ten individuals arrived in two rubber boats and claimed to have fired shots at a campsite.
Telegram channel Baza says that people at a campsite in Olenivka, close to Mayak, heard two loud bangs at night.
Ukraine’s elite military forces successfully carried out a daring landing operation on Crimea, which had been taken over by another country.
When individuals went outside to check who was firing, they noticed two rubber boats with approximately 10 individuals in them, positioned about 10 meters away from the coastline. More guns were fired when the people who didn’t know they were seen realized they were noticed. The people in the boats quickly jumped into the water and swam away after a short exchange of gunfire.
Some Russian sources claim that the Ukrainian force was completely defeated, but there is no confirmation of this. In addition, pro-war Moscow channels have argued against these reports.
The leader of Ukraine’s military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, suggested that there might be some sort of action happening in Crimea.
Budanov said that we can attack any area of Crimea that is currently under temporary occupation. We can attack the enemy from any location. If someone has done foolish things, it’s best for them to go away.
Putin has been in charge of Crimea since 2014 when his troops took over the Black Sea peninsula.
Yesterday, there were reports that Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin may have died in a plane crash. Some people think that President Putin may have caused this as payback for Prigozhin’s attempt to overthrow the Russian government in June.
The first-ever image of Donald Trump captured at a police station showed a visibly angry demeanor, accompanied by a menacing gaze.
Trump’s most well-known picture was taken on Thursday night when he was arrested and sent to Fulton County Jail for charges related to interfering in the Georgia election.
The ex-president made a worried face and looked unhappy in the picture taken by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office before 9pm. He had on a red tie, a white shirt and a dark blue suit.
Trump looked very different from the others in his group photo. A few of them grinned.
In simpler terms: Trump spoke on a runway after being detained at a Georgia jail, calling it an unfair miscarriage of justice.
He is the first president, either current or past, to have a photo taken after being arrested. He is also the first president to be accused of committing a crime. Trump is being investigated for meddling in the Georgia election, and he also has three other legal cases going on.
Trump went to Fulton County Jail in downtown Atlanta to be booked around 7. 30pm He quickly finished his work in Georgia and only stayed there for about an hour and a half before going back to his golf club in New Jersey.
The paper that had his booking information showed he was arrested and mentioned that he was very tall (6 foot 3 inches), weighed 215 pounds, and had blue eyes and either blonde or strawberry hair.
Trump’s friends took advantage of his mugshot.
Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that this photo will be the one to win the 2024 Presidential election. She stood outside the jail to show her support.
At the same time, Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville said he knew Trump’s expression in the mugshot.
“I have observed President Trump wearing that expression occasionally while playing golf with him. It happens when he fails to make a putt or when I am winning a game of golf against him,” he explained on Newsmax.
It is said that the picture of Trump with an angry face was intentionally arranged. According to CNN, before taking him to jail, his team talked to him about it. He made a deliberate choice to appear “defiant” and purposely decided not to smile.
He gave up because most of the people he was accused with had already turned themselves in. Fani Willis, who is the District Attorney of Fulton County, told all 19 people accused of crimes that they must turn themselves in before Friday at noon. If they don’t, she will issue arrest warrants for them.
On Thursday morning, Mark Meadows, who used to be his main assistant in the White House, gave up and showed up angry with a slight snarl on his face.
On Wednesday afternoon, Rudy Giuliani, who used to be Trump’s personal lawyer, turned himself in. He looked serious and resolute in his mugshot. When it was made public, Giuliani was very critical of Willis’ investigation and said that he had spoken to Trump earlier in the day.
Giuliani said, ‘I believe in him completely. ‘
Trump looked much angrier in his mugshot than when he got off the plane at the airport to go to jail. He showed a thumbs up and a small smile.
A four-member crew of the Emergency Medical Technicians from the National Ambulance Service has rescued a two-week old female baby abandoned at the Achimota forest in the Greater Accra region.
According to an eyewitness, Mr Alex Garther, a pastor who went to the Achimota forest to pray, came across this wrapped baby in the forest.
In an interview he said, “I came here to pray and immediately I came out from my car, something pushed me to turn around. That was when I saw a new born baby wrapped and left alone in the bush. I called a woman who was passing by to have a look and later we saw an ambulance approaching, so we stopped them to help us in this rescue.
A member of the crew, SEMT Ebenezer Andoh-Acquah, said he saw the baby tightly wrapped with a polythene bag covering the head and neck.
The infant was at risk of suffocation.
“When we got to scene, I saw the child struggling to move, breath and then suffocating. So quickly I picked and unwrapped her, the vital signs were taken and we ensured proper airway maintenance,” he stated.
The two-week-old female baby has been transported to the Achimota hospital for further management.
The crew members are AEMT Jabez Dodoo, SEMT Ebenezer Andoh- Acquah, EMT Coster Brady and EMT Ezekiel Annan.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese leader Xi Jinping convened face-to-face to address the de-escalation of tensions along their contested border. It is a crucial encounter as the two countries have not engaged in face-to-face discussions since a lethal confrontation three years back. They reached a consensus to exert significant efforts in order to pacify the situation.
Modi and Xi have arrived in Johannesburg to attend a BRICS gathering.They talked on the side of the summit. On Thursday, India’s Foreign Secretary, Vinay Kwatra, informed reporters of this statement.The day before, the Chinese leader missed an important event. It is unusual for the leaders of India and China, both of which have the highest populations globally, to have personal meetings.
The argument over the border has caused tension between New Delhi and Beijing for a long time. This argument led to a war in 1962, which China won. In the years following that, a poorly defined unofficial border called the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has divided the two countries with nuclear capabilities.
Modi emphasized the importance of keeping peace and tranquility in the border areas and following the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This is crucial for improving the relationship between India and China.
On Friday, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the two leaders had an open and detailed discussion about the current relationship between China and India, along with other topics.
The text means that President Xi said it is important to make China and India’s relationship better,because it is good for both countries and their people. Both sides need to consider the overall benefits of their relationship and manage the border issue carefully to protect peace and calmness in the border area together.
The two countries, India and China, will have a meeting to try and improve their difficult relationship. This meeting is following their 19th round of talks to solve their border problem.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said that both sides had a good and detailed discussion on resolving the remaining issues on the border in the Western Sector.
Modi and Xi went to a meeting called the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Uzbekistan in September last year. They were both there, but they didn’t talk to each other about important matters. They spokes hortly a few weeks later during the sidelines of the G20leaders’ meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
The relationship between the two countries became worse after a fight in Aksai Chin-Ladakh in 2020. It got even worse last December when soldiers from both sides got into a fight in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh,causing minor injuries.
In April, the defense minister of India told the defense minister of China that when their shared border is crossed, it weakens the foundation of their relationship.
India has implemented multiple measures in response to the 2020 clash, aiming to counter the threats posed by China. Popular Chinese apps like TikTok and others have been banned, as authorities assert that these apps undermine their authority and solidarity.Moreover, they have taken steps to stop Chinese telecommunication companies like Huawei and ZTE from offering their 5G network.
Recently, there has been an increase in restrictions on journalists in both nations, resulting in a limited number of approved reporters in each other’s regions.
New Delhi expresses concern over Beijing’s increasing assertiveness as both countries prioritize their individual interests.Because of this, India has built a stronger relationship with the United States. They are part of a group called the Quad, along with Japan and Australia, which is seen as a way to balance China’s influence.
China opted not to participate in a tourism conference held in the region of Jammu and Kashmir, which was orchestrated by India.They said that they do not agree with having any G20 meetings in disputed territory. Both India and Pakistan say that the Kashmir region belongs to them. India’s choice to hold this year’s SCO online meant that Modi and Xi couldn’t meet in person. Xi is also likely to go to the G20 leaders’ meeting in New Delhi next month.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has criticized President Nana Akufo-Addo for abandoning the Saglemi Housing project initiated during his administration. Mahama has voiced his disapproval of Akufo-Addo’s decision to allocate billions of cedis to the controversial National Cathedral project while neglecting the Saglemi Housing initiative.
In a Facebook post on Monday, August 7, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer expressed his concern that the Akufo-Addo government chose to abandon the Saglemi Housing project solely due to its association with his administration. Mahama accused the government of prioritizing their own interests over the well-being of ordinary Ghanaians.
Mahama stated, “It is unacceptable for Akufo-Addo to spend over half a billion cedis on a national cathedral project that has ultimately failed due to corruption and is now abandoned, yet refuses to commit funds to complete a housing project that will benefit thousands of Ghanaian families.”
He criticized the government’s misplaced priorities, asserting that leadership should prioritize citizens’ welfare and ensure the completion of projects regardless of their origins. Mahama found President Akufo-Addo’s explanation that funds were lacking for the Saglemi project humiliating.
“The misplaced priorities of a government that claims it is unable to raise money to complete the Saglemi housing project and yet is willing to spend half a billion cedis on the largest civil excavation in Africa is a humiliating slap in the face of Ghanaians who entrusted Akufo-Addo with their mandate.”
Mahama lamented the missed opportunities for countless Ghanaian families to have better living conditions and for individuals to have a true place to call home in Saglemi.
President Akufo-Addo recently justified his government’s decision to initiate a new housing project instead of continuing with the Saglemi Housing project. He cited the issues surrounding the Saglemi project and the need to prevent further financial burdens on the country.
The Saglemi Housing Project began in 2016 but faced delays and setbacks. President Akufo-Addo stated that investigations had been initiated into the scope of work and expenses related to the project. He outlined the additional funds required to complete the Saglemi project and highlighted his government’s commitment to providing essential infrastructure to enhance living conditions.
The debate over the Saglemi Housing project reflects ongoing discussions about the allocation of government funds and the completion of crucial projects in Ghana.
The police have apprehended a man and a woman suspected of being involved in the death of a baby.The baby was found dead in a house in east London. At approximately 7:40pm on Tuesday, authorities came across something distressing at a residence located in the Harold Hill region of Havering.Upon receiving alerts suggesting the child’s safety was at risk, the police promptly headed to Mimosa Close.
The Met Police is looking into a death that they did not expect to happen.
Pictures were taken of forensic officers from the Metropolitan Police’s crime scene investigation team at the property.
There is a line made to keep people away, and some police officers can be seen watching nearby. The police took a man and a woman into custody because they think they may have killed the baby.
The authorities are continuously keeping them detained.
A spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police said that on Tuesday, August 22 at around 7:40 PM, the police were called to a house in Mimosa Close, Havering because there were worries about the safety and health of a baby.
The police came. They found a baby’s body. Right now, authorities are looking into the death as a surprise and are trying to figure out what happened.
There is still something happening at the address. Investigators are still looking into the situation.
A man and a woman have been arrested for possibly causing this incident’s death. They are still being held by the authorities.
UK defense sources have told the BBC that the FSB intelligence agency of Russia probably caused the plane of Prigozhin to crash.
Christopher Steele, who used to work for the Secret Intelligence Service and was in charge of the MI6 Russia desk, has also said that Russia’s Federal Security Service is to blame.
Mr Steele said to Sky News that he doesn’t think it’s very likely that the commanders of Wagner were actually responsible in the end. I strongly believe that it was likely a planned action carried out by the FSB or GRU (Russian intelligence agencies).
He said: ‘The day after General (Sergei) Surovikin was fired from his job in charge of protecting Russia, this happened. Remember, he was the commander in Syria and later in Ukraine. ‘
He was seen as someone who was on Prigozhin’s side and supported him.
‘It seems likely that there is a pattern of government involvement since he was removed a day before. ‘
Yesterday afternoon in Russia, a Russian aircraft, known as Embraer Legacy 600, manufactured in Brazil, crashed and engulfed in flames.This plane was notably associated with the Wagner group and their leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. After the intense uprising in June,it is believed that the aircraft bearing the registration number RA-02795 is the same one that transported Prigozhin to Belarus.
Russia’s TASS news agency said that a plane started flying from Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow, which is the busiest airport in the country. Despite its intended destination being St Petersburg, the plane tragically crashed instead.
The course taken and the specific point of a tragic outcome, which resulted in the loss of all 10 individuals on board, are depicted on our map.
Family of the young woman who survived a fatal gunshot inflicted by her boyfriend in Juaben, located within the Ashanti Region, has disclosed that they advised their daughter to end her relationship with the accused individual after discovering that he had brutally murdered his former wife.
Ama Attaa, aged 31, reportedly suffered a gunshot wound from her boyfriend on Saturday, August 19, 2023.
The 55-year-old individual self-proclaimed as a fetish priest, identified as Akwasi Antwi, reportedly employed a single-barrel long gun to shoot the victim after she terminated a romantic relationship with him.
Speaking to OTEC News Reporter, Jacob Agyenim Boateng, on Thursday, August 24, 2023, the uncle of the victim, Kaweba Asrifi said the family had no idea of the deceased’s relationship until a month ago.
“Akwasi Antwi had not approached the family about his intentions to marry our daughter so we had no idea they were having an intimate relationship until recently when we asked our daughter to end the relationship”
“Upon brief investigations about the man, we discovered he had previously killed his wife and so asked Ama Attaa to stop going out with him, our daughter, after several calls heeded our advice and eventually stopped seeing the man”, he told the host.
He also revealed that the fetish priest visited Ama Attaa at her drinking spot and shot her after attempts to convince her to reunite again.
He added that the girl is currently receiving treatment at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
The self-acclaimed priest is reported to have been killed by some unknown assailants in the area after shooting the girl.
Despite attending the BRICS summit, Vladimir Putin avoided discussing the plane crash and the alleged death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner’s group, during his address to other global leaders.
Putin did not talk about the topic and instead praised the South African president for the news that six countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina, are joining an economic alliance.
A video showed him saying hello to the people before he gave his talk, according to MirrorOnline.
When the accident occurred, Putin was seen having a good time at a concert that celebrated the anniversary of the Soviet troops’ win in the Battle of Kursk in World War II.
Preparations are underway for the much awaited New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Super Delegates Conference scheduled for August 26, 2023.
As part of these preparations, the party has canceled all programs in anticipation of the Conference.
On August 26, the party will head for the polls in efforts to shrink the number of its flagbearer aspirants from 10 to 5.
In order to facilitate a seamless procedure on Saturday, the party has urged its regional leaders to temporarily halt all scheduled activities such as retreats and workshops until the conclusion of the Super Delegates Conference.
This information was outlined in an official statement issued by William Yamoah, the secretary of the NPP’s Presidential Elections Committee, dated August 24, 2023.
“Moreover, all Regional Executive Committees are kindly requested to suspend any previously planned programmes, including but not limited to workshops, training, extended meetings, retreats, residential retreats, or any events involving delegates camping, for the duration of this week until the conclusion of the Electoral College Election,” the statement read.
The New Patriotic Party cleared all of its ten presidential aspirants to contest the flagbearer race in July.
The ten aspirants are Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Joe Ghartey; a former Minister of Trade, Alan Kyerematen; MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong; a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie; a former General Secretary of NPP, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong; a former MP for Offinso North, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku; a former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko; businessman, Kojo Opoku, and a former MP for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimoh.
The New Patriotic Party will hold its parliamentary and presidential primaries in November to determine the ultimate winner of the flagbearer race.
A 38-year-old man, Kwame Krampah (also known as Awana), has confessed to the murder of his 20-year-old girlfriend, Judith Kpeglo.
The man, a plumber who resides in Kpone Bawaleshie, admitted to using a nylon rope to strangle her, engaging in sexual activity with her lifeless body, and subsequently concealing the deceased’s remains within the local vicinity through secretive burial.
Disturbing revelations came to light during the proceedings at the Kaneshie District Court on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, where Krampah is facing charges of murder. The prosecution unfolded a narrative to the court, detailing how, on July 11, 2023, the accused allegedly used a nylon rope to strangle Kpeglo after she had visited him in his room.
Chief Inspector Margaret Boadi told the court that Joyce Agbo, mother of the deceased, and the complainant in the matter had reported to the police on July 17, 2023, about her missing daughter. The police immediately swung into action, leading to the arrest of Kwame Krampah(Awana), the boyfriend of Judith Kpeglo, the deceased.
Upon interrogation, Krampah confessed to killing the young woman in the afternoon of July 11 and burying the body in a nearby bush on the night of the same day. He then led police officers to the grave. The body was exhumed with a court order and has since been deposited in the Police Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy.
After hearing the prosecution, Ama Adomako Kwakye, the judge who presided over the case remanded Krampah in prison custody to reappear on September 5, 2023.
President Volodymyr Zelensky denied Ukraine’s involvement in the plane crash that resulted in the demise of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.- He has also made it clear that Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader, is the one who should be held responsible.
“He told reporters today that we are not related to this. ” “Everyone knows who does. ”
The Russian government’s air transport agency announced that they are starting an investigation into an airplane crash that happened yesterday in the Tver Region.
‘The list of passengers included the first and last name of Yevgeny Prigozhin. ’
The Balkans could potentially become Vladimir Putin‘s next area of interest, as suggested by a source that exposes confidential details.
Before the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, plans were made to cause problems in Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia. This is part of Moscow’s strategy to compete with the West.
The Kremlin’s plan involves training foreign students in Russia and placing them in government institutions in their home countries.
Petar Tanev, who was born in Bulgaria but lived in Moscow for 13 years, talked to Metro. couk about people trying to get him to spread harmful anti-EU and Nato messages.
The person is 23 years old and has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from RUDN University, which used to be famous as the most esteemed university in Russia.
Updates on Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner leader plane crash
Several months before Petar completed his studies in 2022, a Bulgarian friend invited him to go on a trip to annexed Crimea. The purpose of the trip was to organize events that would have an impact on the Balkan peninsula.
He said: ‘In the eyes of the Kremlin, students like me are possible agents. ‘ My colleague from Serbia and I were asked to join a project that aims to connect students from Balkan and Crimean regions. The individual who invited us possessed exceptional persuasive skills. He stated that my future representing Bulgaria in Russia held great potential, although it could also potentially go the other way. He already knew that I have citizenship in two countries.
This is a good example of how they make people interested. He told me to bring together other Bulgarians, as well as Serbians and Macedonians, who are living and studying in Russia, to invite them to Crimea as well.
I didn’t speak up because I didn’t want to admit that I am openly against the government in charge of Russia.
This man began calling me every day, but I just ignored him. I talked to my coworker, the person who was hired at the same time as me, and informed them that it seems like there are clear connections with secret intelligence organizations.
He replied, “Even better. ” As I know, he went to Crimea with Bulgarian students. I think they now work in our government departments.
This happened after a recent scandal where three Bulgarians were arrested in the UK, which showed how much the Kremlin has been secretly operating in Bulgaria.
Petar says that many young people from his country go to Russia for their college education.
He also said that the system is similar to the propaganda made by Joseph Goebbels, who was the main person responsible for spreading false information for the Nazi Party in Germany during World War II.
To prevent infiltration, he asked the Bulgarian government to greatly limit the hiring of individuals who have studied in Russia within the past three years or are currently studying there.
Petar emphasized that the government needs to be very careful when hiring someone who graduated from a Russian university when the war started, in order to protect Bulgaria’s sovereignty and security.
Petar remembered another time when he experienced the influence of the Kremlin. It happened when he was a teenager, working for a student group that focused on politics in the Balkans.
At that time, the Ministry of Education in Russia spent a lot of money on propaganda about Bosnia’s region called Republika Srpska, and the impact of Western countries.
Definitely, it is worrying that some people, including many who are citizens of the EU, have been influenced by similar organizations and may have been manipulated by them.
Petar explained that once someone becomes deeply involved in something, it is hard to get out of it.
In addition, the author mentioned that international security agencies have information about individuals who are receiving payment from the Kremlin.
Since the war in Ukraine started, Western sanctions have made it more difficult for Putin’s close associates to use their “official spies”. As a result, they are now using other methods.
Peter said that there are a lot of students who have passports from the EU and are studying in Russia. Using them is the best way to have an impact on political systems in the Balkans.
After coming back to Bulgaria last year, he has been persuading the government to support Ukraine and giving advice to MEPs.
His Instagram page shows the work he is doing to oppose Russia’s war in Ukraine. Recently, he collaborated with Anastasia Shevchenko, a Russian activist who was exiled from her country.
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
A cobbler, Owusu Ansah, has recounted how he ended up in the profession. He revealed that despite his high level of intelligence during his formative years, his education suffered due to his father’s alcoholism and lack of interest in his schooling.
He added that during his school years, he ranked within the top ten (10) students in his class. However, his father chose to spend his money on fulfilling his alcohol addiction instead of supporting his education.
During a conversation with Abigail Johnson on GhanaWeb TV’s program “Everyday People,” Owusu Ansah shared that due to his father’s reluctance to fund his education, he discontinued his schooling and was compelled to fend for himself.
“After my parents divorced, I stayed with my father for some time, and it wasn’t that I did not want to go to school; my father was a drunkard. Look, anytime we wrote exams, I was always one of the first 10 students in our school, but my father was a drunkard.
“My stepmother was also one of the reasons my father did not take care of me. I wanted to go to school, but no one was willing to help me, which is why I ended up as a shoemaker,” he explained to the reporter.
Owusu Ansah further disclosed that he has been a shoemaker for 17 years, and it is through that that he caters for his six children and wife.
He went ahead to say that he believes in education, thus he would do everything in his power to see all six of his children through school so they would not end up like him.
“Looking at my life and how I was unable to go far, I said to myself that if I didn’t work and provide my children with education, they would be like me, and I wouldn’t be proud of that. I want my children to have brighter futures than I did,” he said.
“I want my children to be like Kofi Annan, Jerry John Rawlings, Bill Clinton, George Bush, and other great personalities, so I am also challenged to take care of them,” he added.
Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, seems to be vigorously engaged in rectifying issues within the roads sector.
Lately, the minister has been seen openly admonishing individuals who have been found engaged in activities that undermine the progress of his department and impact road-related matters.
In a recent incident, he reprimanded and apprehended a group of illegal miners whose operations near a mine site were leading to traffic congestion and splattering mud onto the paved road in Akrofufu, located within the Atiwa West District of the Western region.
In a more recent video captured by graphic, Mr Amoako-Attah has described some staff and members of his ministry as thieves and corrupt.
According to him, these elements put their selfish interests above that of the country and this reflects in their failure to ensure the right thing is done at all times.
“There are a lot of corrupt people, there are a lot of thieves in my ministry. You sack them, you employ new ones, and when they come, the new ones are even worse than the old ones that you sacked, what kind of country are we building for ourselves?
“I don’t know what people want, we will die and leave everything behind. All of us, those who came before us are all gone. We heard the big names, people with money and wealth, where are they? Look at what we are seeing and we are citizens of this country,” he said.
The minister who was visibly upset about freight vehicles which park their goods along many roads in Ghana said some of these actions are going on as a result of the refusal and failure of elements in his ministry to apprehend culprits and met out the necessary punishments.
“And these drivers, what they cannot do in their country, they do it here with impunity because people choose money over protecting the roads.
“We have people in my own ministry involved. We have fought these wars for years and we don’t seem to win,” he added.
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the resumption of its registration exercise for first-time applicants of the Ghana Card, effective August 28, 2023.
The NIA will offer this service at no cost to individuals in Ghana who are 15 years and older.
Registration and issuance of Ghana Cards will be accessible at eight of the NIA’s 16 Regional Offices and all 276 District Offices throughout the nation.
The following NIA Regional Offices will not offer this service due to operating the Premium Registration Service:
Kumasi – Ashanti Region
Sunyani – Bono Region
Techiman – Bono East Region
Koforidua – Eastern Region
Tamale – Northern Region
Ho – Volta Region
Takoradi – Western Region
Sefwi Wiawso – Western North Region
This resumption is facilitated by the receipt of 484,000 blank cards from technical partners Identity Management Systems II Limited (IMS II) and CalBank PLC, following an initiative by the Ministry of Finance.
This initiative allows eligible Ghanaians who have not registered for the Ghana Card to do so.
The NIA made this announcement in a statement released by the Corporate Affairs Directorate dated August 23, 2023.
The registration process will occur in two phases:
Phase One – Restricted Registration (Limited to Public Sector Workers on Government of Ghana Payroll): Starting August 28, 2023, and concluding on September 8, 2023, this ten-day phase is exclusively for Public Sector Workers on the GoG payroll who are registering for the Ghana Card for the first time.
The goal is to verify these workers on the payroll system of the Controller and Accountant General’s Department using their Ghana cards.
Applicants must present their July 2023 Payslips alongside mandatory registration documents.
Phase Two – Open Registration: Beginning on September 11, 2023, this phase is for all Ghanaians aged 15 years and above who have not applied for the Ghana Card.
During this phase, Ghanaians can also replace lost, stolen, or damaged cards and correct personal information at any of the NIA’s 286 Operational Offices across the country.
While first-time registration is free, there is a GHS 34.50 statutory fee for card replacements or record corrections.
Additionally, NIA offers Special Mobile Registration services for households and institutions with specific fees.
For more information, citizens can visit the NIA’s official website or contact their Contact Centre hotline.
NIA emphasises its commitment to efficient and convenient registration services through its equipped offices across the nation.
This resumption of registration seeks to provide citizens with the essential Ghana Card for identification in various transactions and services.
Research into obstetric violence among Ghanaian women has uncovered that approximately two-thirds of pregnant individuals have experienced mistreatment at the hands of healthcare providers during labor andchildbirth.
Carried out by Dr Abena Yalley, a Ghanaian researcher based in Germany, along with her team, the study involved 2,142 mothers in the Western and Ashanti Regions, exploring cases of obstetric violence between September 2021 and February 2022.
The study, termed: “Humanizing the Birthing Process” sought to find out the factors impeding maternal and newborn deaths and the gaps between why many women accessed the antenatal care but did not translate into hospital deliveries and thus hampering the achievement of safe maternal care, morbidity, and mortality.
In Ghana, research had established that 310 deaths were recorded in 2017 out of 100,000 live births a major cause of worry to achieving some indicators of the SDGs.
Dr Abena Yalley at a dissemination workshop with nurses, midwives, doctors, women groups, and tutors of training institutions, said the burden of obstetrics violence in Ghanaian raised a matter of urgency.
“Obstetrics Violence in the facilities understudied manifested in the form of disrespect, lack of empathy, non-dignified care, neglect and abandonment, physical violence and non-consented.”
The Research noted shouting or yelling, beating of women in Labour, stitching of episiotomy without an aesthesia by health professionals after deliveries were some of the common but most dangerous practices in facilities.
The study established that women, particularly single mothers and teenage girls suffered most of these abuses.
The perceived impact of these negative tendencies demonstrated by health professionals according to the study had resulted in many women preferring traditional birth attendants to skilled birth attendants.
Women who had suffered this violence had also been affected either psychologically or emotionally and fear to attend facilities for deliveries.
A situation which the study established could reduce the gains on maternal and newborn deaths and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV and AIDS.
The study recommended that curricula of Health institutions must be revisited, and students armed with information on giving human face to their work, strategic intervention to break the cycle of violence and complaints systems to enable the abuse channel grievances.
Mikhail Kasyanov, an ex-Russia prime minister, holds a strong belief that Putin should be held accountable for the plane tragedy that is widely believed to have resulted in the fatality of Yevgeny Prigozhin.
‘I believe that Mr Putin is unable to forgive,’ Mr Kasyanov told Sky News.
Mr Kasyanov, I believe that Prigozhin betrayed the country after his unsuccessful rebellion in June.
This shows that any traitor would be killed in a unique manner, according to Mr. Kasyanov
Mr Putin has shown his anger in wanting to have control.
Prigozhin’s rebellion showed that Mr. Putin was not strong, so he needed to find a way to become powerful.
It has been reported by Russian sources that a bomb hidden inside a wine crate was allegedly discovered on an aircraft linked to YevgenyPrigozhin, causing concerns about the possibility of the plane losing control and crashing.
The 62-year-old soldier of fortune was allegedly one of 10 people who died when a privately owned plane rapidly descended 28,000ft. The main body of the plane emitted smoke before it crashed and was entirely obliterated.
A crew member told her family that the flight was delayed because there were some unexpected repairs needed. The pilot had to wait for permission before taking off.
The US president, Joe Biden, said that Vladimir Putin is to blame for the crash. A former MI6 chief also claims that the Russian president had someone named Prigozhin killed.
It happened two months after the leader of Wagner, who used to be close with Putin, led his fighters in a rebellion against the Russian military, but it didn’t succeed.
People are still guessing and talking about whether the warlord was really on the jet when it crashed 60 miles north of Moscow.
The soldiers from Wagner have warned Putin that their leader needs to be alive, otherwise they will go to Moscow again.
Ahead of the New Patriotic Party’s Super Delegates Conference, the party has released a set of guidelines aimed at ensuring a free, fair and successful election scheduled for Saturday, August 26, 2023.
The political group aiming to reduce its presidential candidates from 10 to 5 at the Super Delegates Conference has revealed that the August 26 event has been entirely entrusted to the oversight of the Electoral Commission.
Dated August 24, 2023, a communication signed by William Yamoah, the secretary of the NPP’s Presidential Elections Committee, has revealed that entrusting the entire electoral process to the Electoral Commission is aimed at enhancing transparency.
The NPP also warned party delegates against photographing their cast ballots, stating that those who violate this regulation may be subject to disciplinary measures.
“We wish to emphasise that capturing images of cast ballots is strictly prohibited and constitutes a breach of electoral regulations, warranting punitive actions.
“It is essential to note that publicly displaying cast ballots constitutes a criminal offence. We hereby serve notice that those who violate this provision shall be subjected to legal repercussions in accordance with the law. Delegates are hereby informed that any cast ballots publicly displayed will be rejected,” the party letter read.
NPP delegates are also expected to carry their identification cards for verification as well as conform to all electoral laws, regulations, and rules on the ground.
The New Patriotic Party also requests a suspension of planned programmes that require the camping of delegates this week.
The perspective held by Laura Robson suggests that Andy Murray will set his sights on reaching the second week of the US Open and potentially even surpassing that milestone. She has encouraged him not to retire yet.
Murray is going into the last big tennis tournament of the year after having a really good year. He has moved up in the rankings and won three lower-level tennis titles.
The 36-year-old three-time major champion made a comeback after having surgery on his hip. He now plays with a metal hip and hopes that a small injury to his stomach before the US Open won’t affect him too much.
Murray didn’t get ranked at Wimbledon recently, and he came really close to winning in the second round against the fifth-ranked player, Stefanos Tsitsipas, in an exciting match that lasted five sets.
This text means that the person mentioned was able to play against good players and wants the person mentioned to keep playing in the tennis competitions for a few more years, despite saying they might retire.
Robson said that Murray only has a small tummy injury after playing a lot of tennis matches in Toronto.
You shouldn’t try to play through it because serving is really important, especially before an important tournament.
It would be disappointing for him to not get a good ranking again, but I honestly think that he’s very happy to be back in the competition and playing in big tennis tournaments.
He believes he can go to the tournament and perform very well. His main objective is to reach at least the second week, or even progress further in the tournament.
I hope he can come to Flushing Meadows again because I think he has a lot more to offer. He has worked very hard to recover and become as healthy as possible with a metal hip. “I really want to watch him continue playing for a little longer because it looks like he still really likes it. ”
Robson also talked about Emma Raducanu, a British star who got hurt and won’t be able to play in the women’s singles because she is still getting better after surgery.
Raducanu won the US Open two years ago, but she has faced a lot of injuries and has been having a hard time performing well ever since.
Robson believes it’s crucial for Raducanu to take her time and not hurry her comeback to the WTA Tour. However, Robson supports the 20-year-old and thinks she will make a successful return to the highest level of the sport.
“It will take as much time as it needs, and you can’t set a specific time for it,” Robson explained.
You wouldn’t want to put extra pressure on yourself by setting goals like wanting to be in the top 50 by a certain time. In tennis, things can change very quickly.
You’re just hoping that in the beginning, for the first few months, you can avoid getting sick or injured so that you can play almost all of your planned activities. After that, you will have to wait and see how things turn out. I believe she definitely has the ability to return to the same position she was in before.
She is really good at hitting the ball cleanly. She is naturally talented at sports and moves well on the court. Everyone who talks to other players on the WTA Tour agrees that when they practice with her, they are amazed at how hard she hits the ball.
She is very young, so she has plenty of time to reach the highest level again. I believe she can do it.
‘After the US Open, it’s expected that she can make a comeback during the Asian swing. ‘
But I wouldn’t be surprised if she decided to wait until next year and spent a lot of time training and preparing for Australia in January. The tournament comes up really fast, so taking a break until then could help her get ready.
“I believe it’s important to let her body rest and not rush or exert it too much. ” It takes a lot of effort to reach a point where you feel well enough to fully exercise and a small problem can set you back for weeks. You can start things very quickly.
Inhabitants of Sukwei, Dweneho, and Asempanaye located in the Atwima Nwabiagya North and Ahafo Ano Southwest districts of the Ashanti Region have made a plea to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his intervention in addressing issues of unauthorized mining and illicit land transactions.
As per the inhabitants of these localities, the actions of unlawful miners are causing harm to their cocoa plantations, water sources, and woodlands.
The locals mentioned that the traditional authorities in the region have taken steps to address the issue; however, they require the assistance of the paramount ruler to bolster their efforts.
“As leaders and parents, we want to preserve these lands for the next generation so they will not go hungry. These illegal miners have destroyed our farms, and that has made food crops such as cassava so expensive. That is why we are appealing to the Asantehene to intervene.”
Other traditional leaders and residents accused the Benkumhene and family head of selling land to illegal miners.
Farmers, they claim, have come to the palace to express their outrage over the destruction of their farms and the lack of access to water caused by the destruction of water bodies as a result of illegal mining.
“The main challenge we face is that several farmers from the villages have come to complain to us about not having access to safe drinking water. We invited Benkumhene to come so that we could find a solution to the problems, but he declined. Furthermore, the family head is selling our lands to illegal miners. He’s sold the cemetery, the school grounds, and other properties. We are pleading with the Asantehene to step in. We are going through a difficult time, so we want him to step in.”
