The National Service Secretariat (NSS) has reassured personnel that all allowances owed them for the first half of 2023 will be paid.
The Secretariat, however, did not indicate the exact date the outstanding monies would be paid.
This comes on the back of the approval for an upward adjustment of monthly allowances for National Service personnel from GH¢559 to GH¢715.57.
In June this year, the Management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) announced that the government had approved the upward adjustment of monthly allowances for national service personnel from GH¢599.04 to GH¢715.57.
According to a press release dated July 18, 2023 and signed by the Deputy Minister for Finance, Abena Osei Opare, the National Service Scheme, Fair Wages and Salary Commission, and the Ministry of Finance engaged in a series of discussions that led to the approval and raise.
It also stated that “In effect, all National Service Personnel who are currently are entitled to arrears for the difference in the upward adjustment from January 2023, and would be paid accordingly.”
Meanwhile, reiterating government’s commitment, the acting head of corporate affairs for the National Service Scheme, Ambrose Entsiwah Junior, indicated in a media engagement that payment of the adjusted allowance will be backdated to January and paid to personnel.
“We were owing them [NSS personnel] for the month of June and July together with the arrears and last Friday, we paid them the June allowances, and we are working toward paying them the arrears which had been approved by the Ministry of Finance, and we have asked them to submit their data.”
“Maximum two weeks, we will pay the arrears from January to June, and after we have paid the arrears, we will pay the July allowance with the new rate.”
The last change to the NSS allowance was from GH 350.00 to GH 559 in January 2017.
Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum was kicked out of power by a coup on July 26 and has been kept in custody since then. But his daughter wrote a letter in a French newspaper called Le Figaro, telling us that her father won’t quit, and he’s very determined to protect democracy.
In the letter, Zazia Bazoum Mohamed, who lives in Paris, calls for the release of her father, held captive in the presidential palace, and the “restoration of constitutional order” in Niger.
She recalls that her father was “democratically elected”, that “he is the people’s choice”, and believes that he “has made a positive mark, both nationally and internationally”.
“He has made the fight against corruption and bad governance his main battleground”, she continues, underlining the progress made on the economic front.
“Today, taken hostage with his family, he is not resigning because he holds democratic values dear and has always fought against military regimes,” she adds. “He fights and sacrifices himself for the future of our dear country, Niger, for the Sahel and for the whole of West Africa”.
She points out that her father could have given up, “spared his family this suffering” and “found an important international position”. “But he decided to fight to safeguard democracy in Niger”.
The soldiers who overthrew President Bazoum, who is due to be elected in 2021, mainly justified their coup by the “deteriorating security situation”.
His daughter denounces these “totally fallacious” arguments.
“All the terrorist attacks denounced by the hostage-takers took place before my father was president and, better still, all the hostage-takers and their accomplices were already part of the system they denounce”, she writes.
What’s more, she points out, “Since they took my country, hostage, we have watched helplessly and sadly as terrorist attacks have increased at an alarming rate: more than seven attacks in three weeks, with many deaths”.
The countries of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) demand Mohamed Bazoum’s immediate release and reinstatement, which the military is refusing, making it difficult to find a solution to the crisis.
Ecowas has so far been unsuccessful in his attempts to use diplomatic channels while threatening military intervention.
“This injustice against my family and against Niger makes me wonder if there isn’t a link with the fact that Niger was due to become an oil-exporting country in three months’ time”, says Zazia Bazoum Mohamed.
According to her, “the hostage-takers and their accomplices know that no one will benefit personally from the oil windfall” with her father at the head of the country. Mohamed Bazoum “will always ensure that this wealth benefits the people of Niger and not an elite that believes itself superior to Nigeriens”, she assures.
A Tennessee news anchor, unaware that she was introducing her own proposal, is now engaged to be married.
Riley Nagel proposed to Cornelia Nicholson while she was on the set of NBC affiliate WRCB recording a news segment.
Video of the special occasion, which has gone viral on TikTok, showed a confused Nicholson introducing her own proposal before Nagel appeared with a bouquet of flowers for the “very special report.”
“I thought it’d be fitting to ask you this question here since we met in news,” said Nagel, who also works at WRCB as a reporter. “Cornelia Nicholson, would you marry me?”
“I’m going to cry!” Nicholson said in response before happily saying yes.
Nagel said the pair met in Montana nearly four years ago while working at a different news station. He “was very drawn to” her when they first met, and the two eventually began dating.
“You have such an amazing personality,” Nagel said during the proposal. “You’re so bright, and you always light up a room when you come in, and make everyone laugh.”
Nagel also praised his now-fiancée for being “incredibly talented, especially in news.”
“You’re one of the reasons, or pretty much the main reason I’m still in news today,” he said in the clip. “You’re always pushing me to do better in news and in other aspects in my life.”
The reporter then got down on one knee and popped the question, leaving Nicholson speechless.
In a segment from a subsequent newscast, Nagel quipped, “They don’t call me the romance reporter for nothing!” while his coworker wiped away a tear.
Nagel said Nicholson “had some hints” about what was going on, but ultimately had no clue that she would be introducing her own proposal.
In the caption of her TikTok post, Nicholson said she was “still at a loss for words” over the surprise segment.
“@Riley Nagel hid this so well,” she wrote. “I am so excited for our future together.”
On Wednesday, Zimbabweans will vote for their next president. This election will gauge the country’s young democracy in difficult economic times.
The result of the election will either make the ruling Zanu-PF party stronger or give a chance for the struggling opposition to make a comeback. The ruling party has been in power since 1980, while the opposition has faced challenges like crackdowns, intimidation, and arrests during this election period.
This is only the second time people in a southern African country are voting since their ruler Robert Mugabe was removed from power by the military in 2017.
Zimbabwe has many economic problems, such as a very high inflation rate of 175. 8%It is also struggling with a growing problem of high expenses for daily living. In June, the value of the local currency went down by more than half compared to the US dollar. Additionally, the country has a huge amount of debt that needs to be paid.
Long lines were forming at polling stations in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, on Wednesday morning. People were unhappy about the voting starting late.
I have been here since 5 in the morning. “Now it’s almost 9 a. m, and we haven’t started voting yet,” said Stella Maraire at a polling station in Mbare, a Harare neighborhood.
The Electoral Commission of Zimbabwe said that printing ballot papers took longer because of many court cases. This happened in Harare and Bulawayo provinces.
The committee stated that if polling stations open late, they will stay open longer so that people can vote even if they are delayed. Originally, it was planned for voting to stop at 7 p. mLocal time means the current time in a specific place or region.
A considerable number of Zimbabweans, less than 50% of the population, have registered for voting in this election, with many passionately calling for change.
For those people, the polls came at a very important time.
“Zimbabwe has fallen apart in every way. If all of us vote for change in large numbers, it will be very difficult for Zanu PF to cheat in the elections. ” “Please vote in large numbers and let’s defeat Zanu PF together,” a social media user named Lima Mthethwa wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, before the elections.
Even though Zimbabwe has a lot of valuable resources like gold, diamonds, and lithium, almost half of the people in the country are very poor and have to survive on less than $1. 90 per day Who are the main people running for the position.
Ten people are trying to replace the current president, who is 80 years old. The current president took over from Mugabe after helping to remove him by force.
Many people think that the contest will be won by either Mnangagwa or the main opposition candidate, Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC).
Chamisa is facing a difficult challenge because members of the opposition party are complaining about being heavily controlled and scared in Zimbabwe’s election period, which is something they have experienced before.
The last time they both competed for votes, Mnangagwa got 51% of all the votes and Chamisa got 44%.
Chamisa disagreed with the results of the election and claimed it was dishonest and against the law. He took legal action to challenge the results. But, Mnangagwa became the President of Zimbabwe after the constitutional court confirmed that he won.
Mnangagwa, also known as “The Crocodile,” will depend on his support in rural areas to win again. Chamisa, who is 45 years old, is a Christian minister and lawyer. He is well-liked by the people who live in Zimbabwe’s cities, especially the young people.
However, experts say he needs to gain support from the countryside to cause a surprise.
Spokesperson for the CCC, Fadzayi Mahere, told CNN that the police have banned some of the party’s rallies and roadshows. This is especially happening in rural areas where Mnangagwa’s party has a lot of supporters.
Mahere said that more than 102 of our rallies were not allowed, and party members were also taken into custody.
Last week, the police in Zimbabwe said they arrested many CCC activists for participating in a car rally that was not allowed.
Earlier in the week, the police said they used tear gas to break up a crowd at a CCC rally because they were worried about people’s safety and security.
Mnangagwa’s government was criticized for bringing in last-minute election rules that were seen as unfair to the opposition.
In June, Zimbabwe’s parliament agreed to raise the amount of money a person needs to pay to participate in the presidential elections. They increased the fee 20 times, from $1,000 to $20,000. This decision was made just a few days before the deadline for candidates to register.
Some political parties said they couldn’t have a candidate for president because they couldn’t afford the higher fees.
Mnangagwa’s party, Zanu-PF, stopped another person from running for president using the legal system.
Savior Kasukuwere, who used to work in the government under Mugabe and was once his supporter, cannot participate in the election. The court decided that he cannot run because the Zanu-PF party filed a complaint against him.
The ruling party argued in court that Kasukuwere had been out of Zimbabwe for over 18 months, so he could not be allowed to run for president.
Kasukuwere said that the winner of this election is benefiting from a process that is not perfect.
Before the elections, political analyst Ibbo Mandaza told CNN that some local people were made to go to the ruling party’s events even if they didn’t want to.
He told CNN that it is clear and obvious that the opposition is facing a lot of violence throughout the country.
“I personally witnessed it last week when a marketplace was shut down completely, and everyone was made to go to the rally in Harare,” he said. He also stated that there is no evidence to suggest that the elections will be unbiased, fair, and trustworthy.
“It’s a bunch of nonsense,” Zanu-PF spokesman Christopher Mutsvangwa said about the allegations.
We will know who the winner of the presidential race is within five days after people finish voting.
To become president, a candidate needs to get more than half of all the votes.
If no candidate gets more than half of the votes in the first vote, another vote will happen six weeks later.
This year, we are having an election for the president at the same time as an election for members of parliament.
A recent survey by the PPRIZ in Zimbabwe showed that over 70% of people who can vote want a different government.
The CCC, which is trying to make the economy stable, thinks that Zimbabwe’s economic situation will be very important for voters.
Mahere, the person who speaks for the opposing party, said to CNN that Zimbabwe was not being run well. She also said that during Mnangagwa’s first term as leader, poverty, unfairness, and corruption had become worse in the country.
The Zanu-PF does not agree. The person in charge, Mutsvangwa, told CNN that Mnangagwa’s government had done very well, especially in making sure there is enough food for everyone.
Mnangagwa talked about the things his government has done well before the election.
We have successfully made sure that everyone has enough food to eat. The government gave us wheat, soya, and maize seeds and other supplies. We are one of only two African countries that can produce enough wheat without needing help from others. Last month, the president wrote on social media platform X that no Zimbabwean will ever go hungry under their leadership.
According to the United Nations’ World Food Programme, almost four million people in Zimbabwe did not have enough food to eat from last year to this year.
Five years ago, Mnangagwa made big promises to improve the economy.
Analysts say he did not succeed in reaching those goals.
According to Eldred Masunungure, a politics and governance expert at the University of Zimbabwe, based on his election promises in 2018, he has not performed well. “Very few of the things he promised in his 2018 manifesto have actually been done. ”
Ukrainian forces have been trying harder to weaken Russian control over the skies in the war. They are attacking bases located deep within Russian territory that house very fast warplanes.
Kyiv (the capital of Ukraine) declared that it performed a drone attack on the Shaykovka Russian military air facility. This happened around 200 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of the Ukrainian border on Monday. During the weekend, Ukraine’s drone attacked a military airfield in the Novgorod region, which is located far away from Ukraine. Russia’s defense ministry reported this incident.
Moscow has been controlling the sky and this has made it difficult for Ukraine to counter-attack. Ukrainian soldiers have been carefully navigating through dense areas filled with landmines and many layers of protection on the frontlines in the past few weeks. They have also been frequently attacked from the air.
That’s why Kyiv really wants to get F-16 fighter jets from its allies. However, even though the Netherlands and Denmark agreed to give planes this week, it will take several months to train Ukrainian pilots on how to use them. Meanwhile, Ukraine is attempting to weaken Russia’s air power by attacking its air bases.
The Shaykovka military air base uses powerful planes called Tupolev Tu-22M3 to bomb places in Ukraine. These planes are very fast and can travel long distances. Russia has been using these planes to attack Ukraine since its invasion started last year. Recently, the Ukrainian air force said that planes from Shaykovka sent out four Kh-22 cruise missiles towards Ukraine.
Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, said that a drone attack happened on Monday at the Shaykovka base in Russia’s Kaluga region. The attack caused damage to at least one aircraft.
Yusov said that the strike was done with the help of a Ukrainian intelligence unit, and it was controlled from Russia.
Ukraine does different tasks within Russia in many other situations, he said.
Russia has not said anything official about the most recent incident. But Baza, a Russian social media blog connected to the country’s security services, stated that a Ukrainian drone crashed at the Shaykovka base on Monday. It mentioned that an aircraft that was not being used at the airfield got damaged. However, this information has not been officially verified yet.
Another Russian social media account called Mash also talked about the event.
A Ukrainian flying robot landed at an airfield earlier this morning around eight o’clock. The information we have says that there was a helicopter owned by regular people. The helicopter had a homemade bomb and a stronger battery. We saw it in time and shot it down.
Before, the leader of the area, Vladislav Shapsha, said that a drone attack was stopped in the Kirov district. The air base is located about 15 kilometers to the north of the town of Kirov.
Yusov said that Russia was downplaying the incident. At least one airplane is broken. Like in many situations, the Russian government is attempting to keep the actual amount of losses and harm a secret.
The attack on Monday was the second attack on a Russian air base that has important equipment, and it happened within a short period of three days.
Russia’s military department said on Saturday that a drone from Ukraine caused damage to a plane at a military airport in Soltsy, which is located in the northwest Novgorod region. Ukraine did not say anything about that happening.
The Russian ministry said that a drone hit the field on Saturday morning and started a fire. They said they saw the drone and it was shot at by guns. The government did not give any information about how much damage was done, but they stated that nobody got hurt.
A study by CNN using pictures from satellites found that the base was used to store very fast bombers called Tu-22M3.
A picture from August 8 shows several Tu-22 bombers parked there. A picture from August 21 seems to indicate that the ground where one of the Tu-22M3 planes was parked was burnt, but the other aircraft seem to have been relocated.
Two pictures on social media found by CNN show a plane on fire in the same place.
Russian bases have been attacked recently, according to Ukrainian media. The attacks destroyed a few airplanes, including two bombers. These claims were made by Ukrainian defense intelligence officials who were not named.
According to a group called the Institute for the Study of War, some military bloggers from Russia said that Ukrainian forces used a cheap and small drone to carry out the attack. They also criticized the Russian Ministry of Defense for not keeping the drone in safe hangars.
The ISW said that damaging or destroying two Tu-22M3 bombers will not have a big military impact. However, the reaction of Russian military bloggers shows that it helps the larger Ukrainian efforts to lower Russian morale.
A first year student of the University of Ghanaat the centre of the murder of a Ghanaian resident in Canada, Frank Kofi Osei, is set to commence her trial.
The trial of Safina Mohammed Adizatu, will start in September this year.
This deeply emotional case, drawing widespread interest across the country, is set to commence on September 18, 2023, at the High Court in Accra. In the following account, we delve into the distressing particulars of the event that precipitated this sorrowful legal proceeding.
Recall that in July 2022, tragedy struck at Ashaley Botwe School Junction when Frank Kofi Osei paid a visit to his girlfriend, Safina. What was meant to be a reunion turned into a horrifying nightmare as Frank was gruesomely murdered during his stay.
In the course of the preliminary hearings held at the Adentan District Court, Safina, also recognized as Safina Diamond, vehemently asserted her lack of guilt. She affirmed that she had not been inside the residence during the occurrence but rather was in close proximity, engaged in telephone conversations.
She specifically focused on a bag submitted as evidence by the prosecution, asserting that it belonged to her and contained beverages. Notably, she stressed that the bag was not found in Michael Arku’s room in Kumasi.
Nana Ama Adinkra, a State Attorney, is leading the case for the prosecution. The court was informed that the state intends to call nine witnesses during the upcoming trial before the High Court.
Notably, Michael Fiifi Ampofo Arku, who was initially held as an accomplice but later discharged following the Attorney General’s recommendation, will be among the witnesses.
In total, 31 exhibits are expected to be tendered during the trial.
These exhibits range from the autopsy report to various items allegedly connected to the crime, including five substantial dog chains, cello tape, four padlocks with ten keys, a cutter, a pair of gloves, three knives, and the accused person’s investigation caution statements.
The prosecution’s version of events paints a horrifying picture of that fateful night. It alleges that on Sunday, July 24, 2022, while Frank Osei was on vacation in Ghana, he visited Safina, his fiancée, at her residence in Ashaley Botwe School Junction. He intended to spend the night with her, but tragedy would soon strike.
According to the prosecution, Safina, along with Arku and other yet-to-be-apprehended accomplices, reportedly attacked Frank Osei.
The alleged assailants are said to have stabbed and strangled him to death with a knife. Shockingly, it’s claimed that Safina and her accomplices then cleaned the blood from the crime scene while Osei’s lifeless body remained in the room for a harrowing 24 hours.
The situation took a gruesome turn as Osei’s lifeless body was dragged from the first floor of the building, down the staircase, and left at the gate of the house. This is where Frank had parked his Toyota Tundra.
Safina reportedly called the police, notifying them that her boyfriend, who had visited her, had tragically passed away in her room. When the police arrived at the scene, they discovered Frank Osei’s lifeless body at the gate of Safina’s house, and she was subsequently arrested.
The upcoming murder trial of Safina Mohammed Adizatu is set to be a heart-wrenching chapter in Ghana’s legal history.
As the court proceedings commence on September 18, 2023, the nation will closely watch the events unfold, seeking justice for the tragic loss of Frank Kofi Osei by he University of Ghana student.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of a fair and impartial judicial process in unraveling the truth behind such heinous acts.
The little girl was found abandoned in the peace of the forest, wrapped in a black plastic bag. Fortunately, the miraculous rescue was made possible by the quick actions of the Ghana Ambulance Service team as they travelled to the Achimota School Police Station.
The committed staff moved quickly to gently extricate the infant from the confines of the polythene bag. They gave her the care and focus she so desperately needed by wrapping her in a white cloth. The baby received meticulous care inside the ambulance to ensure her security and welfare.
Following this tragic discovery, a report was immediately submitted to the neighbourhood police. The authorities have opened a thorough investigation into the situation in an effort to learn more about the details of this incident of abandonment.
Over twelve workers died when a bridge being built in northeast India fell down on Wednesday. This is part of a series of accidents involving infrastructure in India that have caused many deaths.
The bridge in the town of Sairang, Mizoram state, fell down and caused the death of at least 17 people. Many others were also injured. The chief minister of Mizoram, Zoramthanga, who is known by one name, confirmed this information.
Videos and pictures that Zoramthanga shared on Twitter, now called X, show a damaged building lying on the ground. There is a lot of dust and smoke rising into the air.
“He was really sad and emotionally affected by this tragedy,” he wrote. “I’m very sorry for the families who lost loved ones, and I hope those who were hurt get better quickly. ”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently in South Africa for the BRICS economic grouping summit, also expressed his sympathy to those who lost their lives in the incident.
Modi expressed his sadness about the accident that happened on the bridge in Mizoram. He offered almost $2,500 to the families of the people who died and $600 to the workers who got injured.
Mizoram is a state with lots of hills and mountains, located close to the borders of India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. The villages and towns depend on a system of rough roads and narrow tracks, highways and bridges, to stay connected.
Tuesday’s collapse is not the first time in recent months that India has had a major incident that has been widely reported. India has been working hard to improve its transportation system and has been investing a lot of money in upgrading its infrastructure.
In June, a bridge made of concrete that was being built across the River Ganges in the state of Bihar fell down again, just over a year after it fell down previously. This makes people wonder if the construction of the bridge was done well.
In October of last year, a suspension bridge that was recently fixed collapsed in the town of Morbi in Gujarat. Sadly, 135 people lost their lives in the accident.
The project is facilitated under the aegis of the UK-Ghana Business Council (UKGBC), which was founded in 2018 and co-chaired by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. It is a part of the government’s infrastructure development programme for the aviation sector, which aims to advance the aviation industry’s boundaries and establish Ghana as the aviation hub in the West African Sub-Region.
Dr. Bawumia, who broke ground on the Tamale International Airport Phase II project on August 15, 2019, expressed his happiness that it had been finished four years later.
“This project is so dear to the Government and particularly the hard-working people of the Northern Region and its trading partners across the length and breadth of the country and the Sub-Region,” Dr Bawumia stated at the Commissioning, held on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.
He added, “The completion of this ultra-modern terminal building together with a multi-purpose Terminal and other ancillary facilities are expected to provide the needed impetus for increased economic trading activities and to re-inforce the status of Tamale as a Sub-Saharan Hub Airport for flights to and from neigbouring West African countries and the Sahel Region. The Tamale International Airport will serve as an alternative to the Kotoka International Airport.”
An approximately 5,000 square metre expandable, ultra-modern airport terminal building with an annual passenger throughput of 400,000, a multi-purpose terminal (Hajj Facility), a 5 km single carriageway access road, a 330 space parking garage, a technical hub to manage electricity, waste water treatment, and other essentials, as well as other ancillary facilities, are among the projects that have been undertaken at the airport.
The New Terminal Building has a VIP lounge, two boarding gates, two self-service check-in kiosks, eight check-in desks, airline offices, and commercial retail spaces, among other amenities.
The cost of the Tamale Airport Phase II Project’s work is $70 million, which is considerably less than the $110 million cost incurred under Phase I, which was completed between 2014 and 2016. However, the scope of those works, which included extending the runway by one kilometre, installing lights, and partially enclosing the airport, were smaller.
The Vice President noted that the Northern Region is well known for its thriving agricultural and economic activities and that the airport’s location within the Sahelian belt, also known as Ghana’s food basket, is expected to improve access to markets for local agricultural products, boost tourism, and draw visitors from nearby countries.
“Indeed, Government intends to use Tamale International Airport to support the programmes of the Northern Development Authority (NDA) of Ghana to harness fresh agricultural produce for export to other parts of the world and to generate employment and create wealth in this geographical zone.
“The boost in agriculture would be leveraged to support the development of Agro-based industries in Northern Ghana. The expansion of the Tamale International Airport is expected to serve as a catalyst for industrialization and rapid socio-economic development.
“It is my hope that other service providers will leverage the completion of this project to invest in other areas such as the establishment of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, development of cargo facilities and cold stores for export of fresh produce and establishment of Aviation Training Organization (ATO) among others.”
Dr. Bawumia continued that the airport’s expansion is strategically important because it will make it easier for Muslims to travel to Mecca for their yearly pilgrimage.
“Significantly, it is also expected that the Tamale International Airport will make Tamale the Hajj hub in Ghana and facilitate seamless travel directly to Saudi Arabia for the seasonal pilgrimage to Mecca. It is gratifying to note that the multi-Purpose Terminal, which was completed in 2022, has been used in facilitating Hajj Pilgrims in 2022 and 2023.”
Vice President expressed concern about the widespread encroachment on airport lands, warning that it threatens future expansion of our airports and could hamper rescue efforts in the unlikely event of an accident.
“The operators and regulators of our airports, as well as, the Lands Commission need to work closely together to ensure that airport lands are properly protected and well managed not only for future airport expansion but also to safeguard lives and property in the unlikely event of an accident occurring at or around the airport enclave. I therefore charge the authorities involved to enforce the law and I also entreat all citizens to cooperate for us to fully benefit from the development of the aviation sector,” he stated.
The Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, urged airline operators in the subregion and beyond to take advantage of the increasing aviation offerings in Ghana, promising them an “unmatched travel experience” to – and in – Ghana.
Ghana’s Ambassador to Togo, Kofi Mensah Demitia, has underscored the significance of mutual trade between Ghana and Togo in advancing trade facilitation initiatives within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He pointed out that the adjacent nations hold extensive resources and trade opportunities that can be harnessed, particularly within the scope of the free trade agreement, which aims to generate billions of dollars annually.
He referenced Togo’s trade strategies as highly favorable for the private sector, thus facilitating the smooth flow of goods and individuals across the Ghana-Togo border.
“We need to strengthen the trade ties through improved road network infrastructure as Togo and Ghana have the best business relationship in the sub-region. This is the only neighbouring country where people walk to work across the border and go home at the close of work daily.
“…So, it is important to build synergy and foster trade relationships between the two countries for far reaching economic benefits.”
Ambassador Demitia delivered these comments during a courtesy visit by a Ghanaian delegation participating in an AfCFTA conference held in Lome, Togo. The conference was organized by the Ghana International Trade & Finance Conference (GITFiC) and took place on August 22, 2023.
He noted that the rollout of the AfCFTA has thus far eliminated some trade bottlenecks although there remains reports of smuggling and extortion on the part of some customs and immigration officers.
“If we work together, we can harness the necessary benefits of bilateral trade and ultimately become big players in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The policy has opened the doors but we need to develop the inter-connectivity, infrastructure and also ensure the youth can easily identify and access the cross-border opportunities for economic gains and sustainable growth,” he added.
Providing some updates on road networks for trade facilitation, the Ambassador said Togo currently has a dual carriageway to Benin under construction which holds great prospects to boost trade between the two countries.
He, however, lamented that the road networks between Ghana and Togo have not been in the best of shape even though trade volumes continue to remain high.
The Ambassador therefore appealed to the Ghana Highways Authority and other allied agencies in Ghana and Togo to ensure that these road networks are constructed or redeveloped for efficiency.
British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, has stated that the UK government’s financial commitment to northern Ghana, particularly in relation to the Tamale International Airport, will have a positive impact on both Ghana’s economic expansion and the promotion of tourism throughout the region.
She emphasized that the successful realization of the Tamale Airport Project is a demonstration of the favorable results stemming from the collaborative relationship between the UK and Ghana.
Ms Thompson made these remarks during the inauguration of Phase II of the Tamale International Airport Project in Tamale on Tuesday.
Harriet Thompson joined the Country Director from the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, Giselle Agyare and the UK’s Northern Ghana Attaché, Paul Edwards as Ghana’s Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia opened the new Tamale International Airport.
The UK government provided backing for the Tamale Airport project through its Ghanaian arm, UK Export Finance (UKEF).
The airport’s anticipated impact includes enhancing connectivity within the nation and the West African vicinity, alongside fostering economic development in northern Ghana. This will be achieved by facilitating increased exports of regional agricultural commodities like shea butter, cashew nuts, and mangoes.
Interacting with the media after the ceremony, Mrs Thompson said the expansion of the Tamale International Airport would galvanise investment and growth across the northern part of Ghana.
“Tamale and this whole area of the country are now connected to markets across the continent and the world.
“We also recognise the strength of the UK-Ghana economic partnership.
“This project was driven by the UK-Ghana Business Council, financed through UK Export Finance and built by British companies working alongside Ghanaian companies,” she said.
Led by UK Company QGMI UK, the project has already provided jobs for more than 500 people, seen 2000 trees planted across the site and seen the implementation of a Livelihood Restoration Plan by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), to adequately compensate landowners and users and support them in restoring their primarily land-based livelihoods.
The UK Minister for Exports, Lord Offord said: “Strengthening local infrastructure is key to supporting Ghana’s economic recovery.
“It’s fantastic to see the completed transformation of Tamale airport, backed by UK Export Finance and UK construction companies, which will create more travel options around the country, boost local jobs and generate further opportunities for businesses to invest.”
The new expansion will increase tourism to and from the North with a particular focus on the Hajj, benefitting Hajj pilgrims as the new Multipurpose Facility will serve as a terminal building during the Hajj Season.
The project was initiated by the UK-Ghana Business Council, since its formation in 2018.
The Council has supported more than £223m of investment in infrastructure across the country and created opportunities for both UK and Ghanaian businesses.
Next April, London will host the 2024 UK-African Investment Summit, bringing together political and business leaders, as well as representatives of international and regional organisations from the UK and African countries, including Ghana, as a further boost to trade and investment.
The UK Export Finance is the UK’s export credit agency and a government department, working alongside the Department for Business and Trade as an integral part of its strategy and operations.
The family of Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams just grew! The couple welcomed their second child, a baby girl named Adira, on August 22. Ohanian confirmed the name and date in an Instagram post showing a portrait of the family of four today.
“Welcome, Adira River Ohanian,” he wrote in the caption. “I’m grateful to report our house is teaming with love: a happy & healthy newborn girl and happy & healthy mama. Feeling grateful. @serenawilliams you’ve now given me another incomparable gift — you’re the GMOAT. Thanks to all the amazing medical staff who took care of my wife & our daughter 🙏 I’ll never forget the moment I introduced @olympiaohanian to her baby sister.”
Williams announced her second pregnancy at the 2023 Met Gala, where she debuted her baby bump while wearing a body-hugging black Gucci gown. Later on Instagram, she confirmed the baby news by expressing her excitement over “the 3 of us [going] to the Met Gala,” referencing her and Ohanian’s incoming addition as the third guest.
In an emotional essay published last year about her retirement from tennis, the superstar athlete revealed her intention to expand her family.
“I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people. Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution,” she wrote at the time. “I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me. A few years ago I quietly started Serena Ventures, a venture capital firm. Soon after that, I started a family. I want to grow that family.”
The UN says that the Taliban fighters have killed many people without any legal trial since they took over Afghanistan in 2021. This is happening even though there was a promise to protect the previous government with a “general amnesty. ”
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released a report on Tuesday. The report said that there were at least 218 killings which were done outside the law. There were more than 800 other crimes mentioned in the report. These crimes include arresting people without a reason, keeping them in prison without any trial, inflicting severe pain on them, and making people disappear without any trace.
According to the UNAMA, many former members of the Afghan National Army, police, and National Directorate of Security officials were targeted. The violations mostly happened in the months right after the terror group took over on August 15, 2021.
“The report shows a concerning image of how people linked to the old government and security forces of Afghanistan have been treated since the Taliban took control of the country,” said Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. This is even worse because they were guaranteed safety, so it’s a betrayal of the people’s trust.
The Taliban said they were going to be less extreme and forgive their enemies when they took over the country after the US and NATO troops left after a long war.
However, instead of focusing on solving the problem, they have been very strict with citizens, especially women. They have banned women from going to university and have also closed schools for girls. Afghan women can’t work at NGOs like the UN and cannot travel without a male companion. They cannot go to parks or gyms.
International organizations and the United Nations have accused the Taliban of reversing advancements in protecting human rights since taking control.
Afghan women who talked to CNN said that life under the Taliban was getting worse and more strict. They now have to cover themselves and can only go outside if a man accompanies them.
The UN report found more than 144 cases of torture and mistreatment of former government and security officials.
According to the UN, there have been over 424 arrests and detentions done without a reason, and at least 14 cases where people were forcibly made to disappear. One of these cases involves Alia Azizi, the leader of Herat Women’s Prison. Since October 2021, no one has seen her.
UN officials interviewed people who said that they were beaten with pipes and cables, verbally threatened, and abused by members of the Taliban security force.
According to the UNAMA, family members also said that their relatives had been arrested or went missing. Their bodies were found days or even months later.
The United Nations in Afghanistan said that Afghanistan has agreed to follow several international agreements that protect people’s rights, like not killing people without a trial, not arresting or holding people without a good reason, and not hurting or treating people badly. “Ex-government and security officials have the right to the same protection of their basic rights as all people in Afghanistan. ”
Turkey’s United Nations (UN) representative in charge of protecting people’s rights urged the Taliban to hold those who commit crimes accountable.
I want the authorities to think about the report’s findings and do what they need to do according to the law to stop more violations and punish those responsible.
In response to the UN report, the Taliban-led ministry of foreign affairs said they did not carry out authorized killings or target individuals who fought or worked for the previous government.
The group said that no military staff from the previous government has been arrested, held against their will, or harmed because of their work in the security organizations.
They said that there is a rule made by the Taliban’s leader to stop torture and protect the rights of people who are suspected or in prison. This rule is followed all over the country.
“If any government or military institution in the Islamic Emirate breaks the amnesty law, it will be looked into and the people responsible will be taken to court. ”
Taliban leaders claim they have made the country free from foreign forces that invaded it.
The Taliban deputy spokesperson Bilal Karimi said to CNN that the Afghan people got back their country, freedom, government, and their own control.
UNAMA Head Roza Otunbayeva asked the Taliban to show true dedication to the general forgiveness and make sure it is honored.
“This important step is necessary to bring about justice, reconciliation, and peace in the country,” stated Otunbayeva.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, departed from Ghana for Johannesburg, South Africa, in response to an invitation from President Cyril Ramaphosa. The purpose of the trip is to participate in the 15th BRICS Summit, a gathering of leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
The Summit which is being held from August 22 to August 24 will be attended by the leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Africa. President Vladimir Putin of Russia will not attend the Summit but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister, Mr Sergey Lavrov.
The world economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa collectively make up the BRICS, which was created in 2010 after South Africa joined the BRIC group. Despite the fact that the BRICS Summit is a gathering of heads of state and government, a comprehensive business programme has been organised around it, and it culminates in the BRICS Business Forum.
An address by President Akufo-Addo is expected at the summit. He was accompanied by Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, as well as representatives from the White House and the Foreign Ministry.
The Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, shall act in the President’s absence in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution. The Vice President will return to Ghana on Friday, August 25, 2023.
The Coalition of Transport Union and Association, which represents a substantial segment of Ghana’s transportation sector, has delivered a strong and firm deadline to the government.
They are requesting the removal of several taxes from the petroleum price structure in the following fourteen days; if this is not achieved, they are warning of a significant 20% rise in fares.
In a recent declaration, the coalition emphasized their central goal, which is to relieve what they termed as “unwarranted stress” experienced by both drivers and consumers within the nation.
The burden of several taxes and levies, specifically the Sanitation and Pollution Levy, the Energy Sector Levy, the Energy Sector Recovery Levy, and the Special Petroleum Tax, is at the core of their grievances.
The Sanitation and Pollution Levy, intended to fund environmental initiatives, has come under fire for its contribution to the rising cost of transportation. Additionally, the Energy Sector Levy and Energy Sector Recovery Levy have been heavily criticized for their role in inflating fuel prices, thereby increasing the cost of living.
The Special Petroleum Tax, which was initially introduced as a means to stabilize petroleum prices during market fluctuations, has also been singled out as a significant contributor to the financial strain experienced by drivers and consumers alike.
Leaders of the Coalition emphasized that they are not seeking to disrupt the economy but are compelled to take action due to the growing financial burden on their members and the public. They argue that the removal of these taxes and levies would lead to more reasonable fuel prices, ultimately benefiting both drivers and consumers.
Joy News has responded to former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, making it clear that there was no ethical or professional misconduct in reporting on the issues relating to her frozen bank accounts.
The former Sanitation Minister had written to Joy News demanding a retraction and an apology after we published verified facts regarding the sum of transactions assessed by investigators on two of her bank accounts over a period.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor is investigating the former minister for corruption and corruption-related offences. It is seeking to confirm in the high court the seizure of $590,000 and GHȼ2,730,000 million Ghana cedis found in her home upon a search.
The OSP is also seeking to confirm the freezing of her accounts. Joy News had reported that two of the accounts held $5 million and 48 million cedis, being the value of transactions assessed by investigators over a period.
In a reply to Madam Dapaah, Joy News through its lawyers stated, “The complained reportage, regarding the said two figures (amounts), is based on facts in the matter, the subject of the said criminal investigations.”
“That said amounts, as duly clarified in specific publications by our client, represent the value of transactions on those bank accounts over a period, the subject of an application by the OSP for the confirmation of a freezing order in court,” the lawyers said.
The letter ends by stating that “staff of our client will continue, in the public interest, to exercise their profession pursuant to editorial policy and the Constitution of Ghana.”
Bail has been granted to Job Pomary, the husband of one of the accused individuals accused of dishonestly receiving some of the stolen money from the residence of the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah.
The accused is alleged to have used the stolen funds to jointly buy a four-bedroom house in Kokrobite for GH280,000 with his wife, Christiana Achab.
The total number of those who were granted bail now stands at three.
Pomary was granted bail in the amount of $300,000 GHC with two justifiable sureties.
The two lactating mothers who were granted bail by the Circuit Court in July are still unable to follow through on it.
Both lactating mothers, Sarah Agyei and Achab, are finding it difficult to pay the GH1 million bail bond that was issued to them by the court presided over by Afia Owusuaa Appiah.
On September 5, 2023, the date set for the case to proceed, their attorneys are anticipated to submit a formal application for bail variation to be taken into consideration.
The date was set after an Assistant State Attorney, Akosua Agyapomaa Agyemang, who made her first appearance on behalf of the Attorney-General prayed for a two-week adjournment to enable the prosecution to complete investigations into the matter.
According to the evidence put forth by the prosecution, the complainants, Ms. Dapaah and her husband, reported the theft of some of their personal belongings and cash on June 20, 2023.
The police launched an investigation into the matter after receiving the complaint, which resulted in the capture of Botwe and Sowah at their hiding place in Tamale, in the Northern Region.
GH72,619.70 and $40,000 in cash were found during the search of their room.
According to the police investigation, the complainant Daniel Osei Kufour, the minister’s husband, returned from town in October 2022 to find their locked bedroom open and to hear an odd noise.
Kufour entered the room and found Botwe hiding behind his storeroom door with duplicate keys to his master bedroom.
The minister’s husband and other people later discovered property theft.
During questioning, Botwe admitted that she gave A5 $70,000 of the stolen funds in order for him to purchase a three-bedroom house in Amrahia for her.
The said house was also searched for brand-new goods that Botwe had purchased with some of the money that had been stolen.
These included a television, a washing machine, a chest freezer, a gas cooker, a water dispenser, and other related items. They also included a double decker refrigerator.
Additionally, according to police investigation, Botwe and Sowa used some of the stolen funds to purchase a Hyundai Elantra saloon car worth GH80,000.
Botwe also gave GH¢180,000 to Sowa who used same to purchase an unregistered Honda Civic saloon car.
The investigation also revealed that Botwe and Sowa rented a three-bedroom apartment in Tamale for a total of GH 105,600 over the course of two years using some of the stolen funds, according to the investigation.
Additionally, Botwe and Sowa rented a storeroom for GH 120,000 using some of the stolen money.
Botwe also mentioned Agyei as her accomplice to the effect that, when they were working in the complainants’ house, she used to keep watch of the main gate for Agyei to go into the complainants’ room to steal their money after which they shared the spoil.
Later, Agyei was captured from her covert location in Budumburam, a Kasoa suburb, and taken in for questioning.
Further investigation revealed that Agyei had constructed a three-bedroom house in Budumburam using some of the stolen funds.
Achab, Pomary, and Sarakpo were detained for questioning because they were wanted in connection with the case.
The prosecutor added that Pomary, who was aware that Botwe had stolen money from the complainants, paid Botwe GH 42,830,000 of the money that had been stolen.
Achab also bought herself an 11-unit chamber and hall self-contained house in Budumburam for GH800,000 after receiving the aforementioned sum.
Again for Botwe, Achab spent GH300,000 on a three-bedroom house in Aplaku.
Achab and Pomary also paid GH280,000 AS for a four-bedroom home in Kokrobite.
Achab called Sumaila from Tamale and purchased a three-bedroom self-contained house at Amrahia at a cost of Gh¢850,000 in the name of Sumaila.
Investigation further disclosed that Achab purchased two Honda Acura vehicles at a cost of GH¢300,000 each which are registered in the name of Sarakpo and Botwe respectively from the proceeds.
Assin North Member of Parliament, James Gyakye Quayson, representing the National Democratic Congress, has affirmed that he holds no apprehension about the prospect of being incarcerated should he be proven guilty in an ongoing legal case at the Accra High Court.
Nevertheless, Quayson emphasized his resolute trust in Ghana’s criminal justice system and expressed a strong belief that justice would ultimately prevail upon the conclusion of the trial.
When questioned during an interview on Accra’s Citi TV (August 22) about the potential for imprisonment and whether he felt apprehensive about such an outcome, his reply was: “No, why should I?”
I believe in the justice system. The fundamental thing about any judicial matter is that person intended to commit that crime. Did he plan it, I have not planned anything of such,” he stressed.
He continued: “My strongest conviction is that this is just a matter of time. When you believe you have done the right thing, you shouldn’t be afraid. I trust the court will deliver a very positive verdict. I trust my lawyers, I trust the conscience of the people.”
On February 12, 2022, the State charged James Gyakye Quayson with five counts; deceit of a public officer, forgery of a passport, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury, and false declaration, relative to his filings to contest in the 2020 parliamentary polls.
“So, I don’t fear going to jail at all,” he is quoted to have stressed after explaining the facts surrounding his trial.
Quayson drags AG to GLC
The lawmaker, last week, dragged the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Dame, to the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council (GLC).
In his letter to the GLC, the MP explained that the actions of the minister are contrary to the rules of professional conduct, in relation to his criminal case at the High Court.
Detailing how this is, James Gyakye Quayson explained that this was occasioned at the last adjourned date of the hearing of the criminal trial against him at the High Court, Criminal Division 3, Accra.
He stated in the letter that the AG provided testimony in court that contravened with the testimony of his own witness.
“At the last adjourned date (19th July, 2023), during the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Richard Takyi-Mensah, after the witness had testified confirming that he had given a statement to the police to which he attached certain documents, which testimony is also reflected in the police statement itself, the Attorney-General, responding to the an application by my counsel for disclosure of the attachments the witness referred to, stated that there were no attachments to the court which, I am advised and believe to be true, is clearly contrary to the rules of the professional conduct by lawyers in a case.
“The ‘testimony’ provided by the Attorney-General contradicted the testimony of his own witness and was presented for the first time without any prior notice to my lawyers or myself as to the facts known to the prosecution,” the letter signed by James Gyakye Quayson said in part.
The embattled MP also stated some other instances of professional misconduct that he is seeking the GLC’s intervention on.
The case of June 16, 2023, when the A-G said that he, the MP, was headed to jail, is one other instance he stated in the letter.
“On 16th June 2023, when my lawyer was seeking to bring to the attention of the court that I was a candidate in the then pending parliamentary bye-election in the Assin North Constituency, the Attorney-General used the following insulting language against me: ‘This is what I describe as a very totally irresponsible step. Beside it, to apply to contest again when he knew that these proceedings were pending for which he can go jail,’” he added.
The Lands Commission has mounted a strong defense for its staff over the findings of the recent survey carried out by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which characterized the commission as the most corrupt governmental body in Ghana.
According to the survey findings, officials from the Lands Commission were allegedly accepting substantial bribes, ranking them as the foremost recipients of bribes among public servants in the nation.
In reply, James Dadson, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, contends that the individuals who are receiving bribes are not bona fide employees of the commission.
He explained that many individuals are being ensnared by intermediaries who position themselves between the commission’s employees and the customers. This, in turn, leads to the solicitation of substantial sums of money.
A report by Myjoyonline.com quoted Mr Dadson as saying, “We are not trying to absolve our staff from any wrongdoing, as we acknowledge that we’re not immune to such actions within our office.
“Our main point is that if there are instances where our staff have engaged in such unacceptable practices, we are eager to be informed, as we have our own internal measures of accountability.”
He emphasized, “Every staff in the office is properly identified and so if somebody is out there soliciting and the person is not a staff and you go and transact with that person, the person takes money from you, then these researchers come and they interview you ‘oh I went to Lands and somebody took my money’ and it’s all about lands commission.”
Dadson continued, “We firmly believe that the approach taken by the researchers needs to be reevaluated. While acknowledging that the Lands Commission, like any institution, has its human aspects that might lead to certain misdeeds, I am confident that the majority of the reported bribes are not orchestrated by our staff members.”
He added that the bribery instances often involve external parties who engage with clients, often within the premises of chiefs, to facilitate land transactions.
These intermediaries may promise services like land registration after obtaining money from clients.
Despite this, Dadson noted that little can be done to curtail the activities of such intermediaries, often referred to as “goro boys,” within the premises of the Lands Commission due to its status as a public office.
According to reports, a Qatari banker named Sheikh Jassim has finally been given permission by the Glazer family to buy Manchester United for £6 billion. He has now started the process of thoroughly examining the details of the purchase.
The discussions about the takeover have continued for nine months. The Glazers initially mentioned in November last year that they were considering other options.
Since the end of last season, the selection process has been reduced to a direct competition between a person supported by Qatar named Sheikh Jassim and the person who founded Ineos, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The Glazer siblings, Joel and Avram, have been considering two offers for a while. They prefer Ratcliffe’s offer because it would let them keep their shares.
But Sheikh Jassim continued to increase his offer even though several deadlines passed. Now, The Sun is saying that the Glazers have finally agreed and will sell the entire club.
The report says that important people at Old Trafford told the Glazers that fans would be very angry if they kept any shares.
But Avram and Joel seem to have changed their minds and the family’s controversial 18-year rule at Old Trafford is likely to end soon.
Sheikh Jassim is going to buy the entire club and he will also get rid of the total debt of £725 million that was accumulated under the Glazers’ management of United.
The people from Qatar who want to buy the club are finishing the necessary investigations to make sure everything is okay before they can officially take over. They will probably finish the deal by around the middle of October.
Besides doing their own research and investigation, the Qatari bid must also meet the requirements set by the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ test, also known as the Fit and Proper Persons’ test, before it can be approved.
The agreement won’t be finished on time for United to spend money on new players before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. However, Sheikh Jassim plans to improve both Old Trafford stadium and the club’s Carrington training ground.
The Qatari and Ineos bids cannot provide any updates or make comments about the process because of non-disclosure agreements they signed.
But Ratcliffe said Sheikh Jassim won’t have unlimited money to spend. That was not always true, like with PSG and Manchester City.
The second round of voting in Zimbabwe‘s general elections has begun since the late leader Robert Mugabe was overthrown in a 2017 coup.
Approximately 6.6 million Zimbabweans have registered to vote in a population of more than 15 million.
In addition to 1,970 local and municipal leaders, Zimbabweans will elect a new president and 210 national lawmakers.
Zimbabweans are voting in presidential and parliamentary elections after a campaign dominated by the country’s soaring inflation.
The day has been declared a holiday to give the 6.62 million registered voters a chance to cast a ballot.
Ten candidates, including Nelson Chamisa of the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), are running against President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
For a candidate to win, they must receive more votes than 50% of the total.
A run-off election for president will be held on October 2 if there is no clear winner.
It is the first election since the passing of Robert Mugabe, who for many years ruled Zimbabwean politics and the country’s dominant Zanu-PF party.
Nearly two years after being overthrown by the military and replaced by Mr. Mnangagwa, he passed away in 2019.
Polling stations opened at 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) and voters are also choosing local councillors.
Election officials were establishing polling places in the capital city of Harare ahead of election day and removing political posters that were nearby to comply with electoral laws.
According to police chief Godwin Matanga, police have been stationed all over the nation to uphold order, and prison guards will increase their numbers.
He insisted that despite a few skirmishes, the time leading up to the election had been largely peaceful.
Opposition parties claim that an excessive amount of their rallies were either prohibited by the police or interfered with.
Violence earlier in the month resulted in the death of one CCC supporter. 15 suspects have been detained by the police in relation to the case.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has warned people not to wear nail varnish or nail extensions on their left pinkie finger, which will be marked with indelible ink after voting.
Monitoring organisations have voiced concerns about alleged irregularities on the voter list, alleging that some names have been transferred from their usual voting locations to other areas.
Boundary changes made at the last minute have also drawn criticism, as voters might not be aware that their designated polling location has changed.
Mr. Mnangagwa, who is running for re-election, is eager to have the vote approved internationally so that Zimbabwe’s foreign debt can be restructured and possibly new lines of credit that have been frozen for more than 20 years can be opened.
He has had difficulty controlling the inflationary roller coaster, which peaked in the single digits in late 2017. Annual inflation peaked at 176% in June, according to data released this week, but has since dropped to 77.2% from 101.3% in July.
With a mining boom and significant investments in infrastructure, Zanu-PF claimed that the president’s work speaks for itself and that no manifesto was necessary.
However, the CCC claims that the average person has not benefited, as one in four Zimbabweans no longer has a regular job. Mr Chamisa says he plans to scrap the volatile local currency if he wins.
Polls close at 19:00 local time (17:00 GMT). The presidential results are due within five days.
A contender for the flagbearer position in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has built his campaign around a slogan known as Patriotism, Integrity, and Discipline (PHD).
During a conversation on UTV’s Mpu Ne Mpu, Kennedy Agyapong, renowned for his stance against corruption, discussed his aspiration to combat corruption if he becomes president, aligning with the “integrity” element of his campaign slogan.
He emphasized his commitment to enforcing strong discipline within those holding public office, asserting that he will not tolerate any attempts to plead on behalf of individuals found guilty of wrongdoing.
“I have told you severally that in my tenure, if you are caught and punished, I won’t heed to pleadings from anyone, be it a pastor, a chief, a politician or my family member,” he stated.
He emphasised that such action will ensure truthfulness among public officers and will eventually lead to a reduction in corruption.
“That will compel everyone to be honest and truthful in the interest of Ghana,” he stated.
Kennedy Agyapong is among 10 individuals approved for the party’s upcoming flagbearer contest.
The party is scheduled to host a special delegates congress on August 26, 2023, to reduce the number of candidates from 10 to five before proceeding to a general delegates congress on November 4, 2023, to elect their flagbearer for the 2024 elections.
A person who was riding a jet ski was captured by South Korea for supposedly reaching the country without permission. According to activists, this person is a well-known Chinese critic who traveled a long distance on the sea to run away from China.
A man in his 30s was caught on August 16th by the Incheon Coast Guard near Incheon, which is along South Korea’s west coast and close to the capital city of Seoul.
He is believed to have traveled from a province in eastern China, which is about 400 kilometers or 250 miles away from Incheon across the Yellow Sea. The man had a helmet, binoculars, and a compass with him. He also tied five fuel tanks to the jet ski, which could hold 25 liters (6. 6 gallons) of fuel each.
When he arrived in South Korea, he got stuck on a muddy shore and had to call for help from an emergency line, according to the statement. He got arrested and his case was sent to Incheon prosecutors on Tuesday, as per the coast guard’s statement to CNN.
The South Korean government has not told anyone the man’s name. CNN cannot confirm who he is on their own.
But, according to Dialogue China, a group created by experienced Chinese activists who collaborate with other protesters, the person who was arrested is Kwon Pyong, a Chinese activist.
Kwon went to Iowa State University in the United States and then came back to China. He has always openly disagreed with the government’s strict rules and control over what people can say. According to Freedom House, he spoke against human rights violations on social media and took part in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests in 2014.
In August 2016, he posted a picture on social media where he was wearing a T-shirt with mean words for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, like “Xitler. ” However, the tweet is no longer there.
According to Freedom House, he was arrested by the police and charged for what he posted on social media just a month later. His lawyers were removed by Chinese authorities a few days before his trial started.
Lee Dae-seon, an activist with Dialogue China in South Korea, stated that Kwon was sent to prison but later released in March 2019. The two people had been talking since August 2019. Kwon said he wants to go to another country to find safety.
Lee said that Kwon told him he was prepared to leave China and go to South Korea. However, Lee was unsure of the method Kwon would use to arrive there.
“On August 16, he phoned me right after the coast guard rescued him and I went to visit him yesterday,” Lee informed CNN on Wednesday. He wants to go to another country. He went to Iowa State University, which is why he can speak English. He would like to visit a country where people speak English.
“He said that he broke the immigration law because he was forced to do so by the Chinese government. He had no other option because they were investigating him politically, treating him unfairly in court, and closely watching him. ”
In recent years, China under Xi’s rule has increasingly limited what people can say and share on social media and other websites. Xi Jinping’s third term as leader caused a lot of anger and protests because of the country’s strict zero-Covid policy and ineffective lockdowns. As a response, the authorities cracked down on the protests by increasing surveillance and detaining protesters for a long time.
Kumawood actor Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as Lil Win, has declared his intention to run for Afigya Kwabere South in the Ashanti Region.
In making his decision, he noted that traditional, influential, and opinion leaders and constituents at large provided numerous inputs.
Lilwin revealed this in an interview with Okay FM in Accra, adding that he would run as an Independent.
In October 2022, the call started coming, and they have already contacted my mother and other relatives, and I have also accepted.
In addition to investing in the district through the establishment of his school, Great Minds, the actor was told the constituents believe he will serve them better as a leader.
They are convinced that even though I may not make much money as an actor, I can accomplish a lot if given enough funding, as I was able to build a school and assist many locals in other ways.
Initially, I was not interested in the offer, but now, I feel like I need to answer my people’s call, he said.
Chinese pioneer Xi Jinping on Tuesday suddenly skipped a trade gathering of the BRICS financial gather in South Africa, sending his commerce serve instep to provide a red hot discourse in his title that censured US authority.
Xi, who arrived in Johannesburg on Monday for the yearly BRICS summit of major developing economies, was planned to convey a discourse at its commerce gathering on Tuesday evening nearby pioneers from India, Brazil and South Africa.
But the Chinese pioneer fizzled to appear up at the occasion, with no official declaration or clarification from Beijing.
Instep, his arranged explanation – peppered with thinly-veiled swipes at the Joined together States that have gotten to be a installation of Xi’s worldwide discourses – was examined out by Chinese Commerce Serve Wang Wentao.
Within the explanation, Xi called for the world to maintain a strategic distance from sleepwalking “into the chasm of a modern cold war.”
Without specifically specifying the US, the articulation said “some nation, fixated with keeping up its authority, has gone out of its way to cripple the developing markets, and creating countries.”
“Whoever is creating quick, gets to be its target of control. Whoever is catching up, gets to be its target of obstruction. But this is often futile,” it included.
Xi was the as it were BRICS pioneer who did not go to the trade gathering. Indeed Russian President Vladimir Putin, who may not connect the summit in individual due to an universal capture warrant for his brutal intrusion of Ukraine, conveyed comments essentially.
Xi’s shock nonattendance, famous by writers at the occasion, raised questions among long-term spectators of Chinese remote arrangement.
“It’s greatly bizarre for a Chinese pioneer to appear up in a nation facilitating a multilateral assembly – particularly one that China is profoundly contributed in, like BRICS – and come up short to appear up at the opening event,” said Bonnie Glaser, overseeing executive of the German Marshall Fund’s Indo-Pacific program.
Brian Hart, a individual with the China Control Venture at the Center for Key and Universal Considers, said Xi’s nonattendance is “highly unusual,” including that Chinese pioneers once in a while go off script at high-profile occasions like this.
“It appears that something pulled Xi absent from the assembly. It might have been a wellbeing occurrence or perhaps a squeezing matter that required his attention,” he said. “It is additionally conceivable Xi skipped the occasion for a few other reason – maybe in reaction to advancements at the summit.”
Earlier to the occasion, Xi met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday morning as portion of his state visit to the nation. Within the evening, Xi gone to a supper facilitated by Ramaphosa, along side the pioneers of Brazil and India as well as Russia’s outside serve.
“The reality that Xi skipped his discourse at this assembly, but appeared up to other engagements some time recently and after this one, recommends there was something intense that pulled him absent amid this window. But at this point we fair don’t know the reason,” Hart included.
Chinese state media and ambassadors have not given any clarification for Xi’s no-show. Instep, they “have indeed gone so distant as to apparently attempt to cover up Xi’s absence,” Hart said.
A report on the occasion by state news organization Xinhua made no say of Xi’s nonappearance – or the truth that his discourse was conveyed by Wang, the commerce serve.
Hua Chunying, a representative for the Chinese Outside Service, tweeted hours after the occasion that “Xi conveyed an address at the closing ceremony of the BRICS Trade Gathering 2023,” along side a picture showing the swarmed conference room.
Specialists say Beijing will likely never clarify why Xi fizzled to appear up.
“The (Chinese Communist Party) feels no commitment to supply clarifications approximately why its outside serve was supplanted or its beat pioneer was a no appear at the BRICS Trade Gathering. Anything can be a state secret,” said Glaser with the German Marshall Finance.
Last month, China suddenly evacuated Qin Pack as the country’s remote serve after he had vanished from open see for weeks. No clarification was given for the sensational move, which saw Qin all of a sudden supplanted by his forerunner Wang Yi. Qin has not been listened from in open since.
That shake-up really had an affect on the continuous BRICS summit, famous Hart at the CSIS. Qin would have gone to preliminary BRICS gatherings this summer, but amid his vanishing, his agent was sent in his stead.
“Beijing’s need of straightforwardness is obvious. When it comes to work force things or touchy issues, Chinese authorities firmly bolt down the stream of information,” Hart said.
“Abnormalities like Xi’s vanishing are however another update that Beijing can be a dark box.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, has raised serious concerns about the ongoing “legacy head office” construction project and has called for increased transparency in its execution. The project has come under scrutiny for its alleged lack of openness, budget overruns, and perceived deviations from proper procurement procedures.
Ablakwa’s criticism is directed at what he refers to as the “MisGovernor Addison,” an individual associated with the project. In a strongly-worded statement, Ablakwa expressed dismay over the secrecy surrounding the total cost of the project. Despite official press conferences and statements, Ablakwa highlights the absence of a clear disclosure of the project’s expenses. Notably, he claims that the project’s cost has ballooned to US$222.79 million, a figure that excludes the land acquisition cost. Ablakwa’s statements suggest that the lack of transparency raises concerns about accountability.
The MP also draws attention to the budget overruns that have plagued the project. Originally approved by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) with a budget of US$81.8 million, the project’s current cost stands at nearly three times that amount. Ablakwa’s criticism implies that the substantial increase indicates a lack of prudent financial management and raises questions about the decision-making process.
Ablakwa further raises issues regarding the financial implications of the project on the central bank. He cites alleged losses of GHS60.8 billion and negative equity of GHS55.1 billion that are attributed to the project. These figures, according to Ablakwa, underscore the detrimental impact of the project on the country’s finances and have fueled growing discontent.
The MP also points out concerns surrounding the timing of the project. Ablakwa questions the wisdom of embarking on such an extensive project during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and continuing through subsequent economic challenges. He contends that starting the project during such times demonstrates questionable decision-making and priorities.
Procurement procedures have also come under scrutiny in Ablakwa’s critique. He alleges breaches in these procedures, including claims that construction began before obtaining necessary approvals. Additionally, Ablakwa questions the use of specific sections of procurement law to justify certain actions, asserting that these actions have raised suspicions.
In light of these concerns, Ablakwa calls for increased accountability and transparency in the execution of the project. He emphasizes the need for proper investigations into the procurement process, budget management, and the partnerships involved. Ablakwa’s statement underscores the importance of adhering to established regulations and upholding the highest standards of financial responsibility in major public projects.
As the controversy continues to gain momentum, Ablakwa’s vocal criticism adds to the growing demand for greater transparency and oversight in the execution of the “legacy head office” project.
Franklin Cudjoe, the President of IMANI Africa, has drawn a comparison between the recent actions of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the performance of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government. Cudjoe points out that the Asantehene has taken decisive action by destooling five subchiefs in a span of four months due to insubordination and illegal activities, including land sales and involvement in galamsey.
Cudjoe’s Facebook post dated August 22 highlights that, in his opinion, the actions of Asantehene have been more forceful and proactive than President Nana Akufo-Addo’s approach to dealing with underperforming government appointees. He specifically mentions that despite the economic challenges faced during the Akufo-Addo administration, certain appointees continue to hold their positions.
“Asantehene is reshuffling. Destools 5 sub-chiefs in just 4 months. More in the pipelìne. This record is unnmatched by Nana, who seven years on is happy with his men even though they helped him ran the economy into a ravine,” Cudjoe stated in a Facebook post dated August 22.
Among the subchiefs destooled by Asantehene is Nana Kwaku Duah III, the Abuontemhene of the Kumasi Traditional Council. He was removed from his position for illegally selling lands under his jurisdiction. The decision to destool Nana Kwaku Duah III was made after accusations were brought against him by fellow subchiefs.
The subchiefs accused Nana Kwaku Duah III of disregarding the directives of Asantehene and engaging in unauthorized land sales. They claimed that he even used Asantehene’s name to gain approval for his activities related to the land sale, which was under investigation.
Nana Kwaku Duah III defended himself against some of the allegations but admitted his presence on the land in question. He argued that he had permitted others to work on the land with his approval. In response, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II stated that Nana Kwaku Duah III’s actions had violated his authority and orders, leading to his destoolment.
This comparison made by Franklin Cudjoe underlines the proactive approach taken by the Asantehene in addressing issues within his jurisdiction, as opposed to what Cudjoe perceives as a lack of similar actions by the Akufo-Addo government to address its challenges.
The Association of Electoral Area Coordinators in the Ashanti Region has issued an appeal to the Members of Parliament and Constituency Chairmen of the Ashanti Region to vote for the Vice President, HE Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in the upcoming Super Delegates Conference.
They assert that this support from the super delegates will lead to reciprocated support from polling station executives in future parliamentary primaries and constituency elections.
“…the grassroots have indicated that, once the super delegates vote for Dr. Bawumia, the polling station executives will also return the favour by voting for these MPs and Constituency Chairmen in the next parliamentary primaries and constituency elections.
“This is the reason why we are re-echoing their mantra, “you do us, and we do you”
“We work directly and closely with the Polling Station executives and grassroots members of the party and are therefore in the best position to articulate ore concerns and interests.
The association, representing the grassroots and polling station executives of the party, claims to have a direct and close working relationship with these members. They emphasize their unique position to communicate the concerns and interests of the grassroots within the party.
The appeal is based on the belief that if the MPs and Constituency Chairmen vote for Vice President Bawumia as the party’s Presidential candidate in the 2024 election, they will be honoring the wishes of the grassroots and polling station executives. They cite previous public declarations of support for Bawumia by the MPs and Constituency Chairmen during the Vice President’s visit to the region.
The leaders of the association provide contact information for inquiries or communication regarding their appeal.
This announcement comes in response to concerns raised by Alan Kyerematen’s campaign regarding Frema Osei-Opare’s qualification for the congress, specifically her categorization under the National Executive Committee (NEC) on the delegates list.
Kwabena Abankwah Yeboah, the Vice Chairman of the Presidential Elections Committee, addressed these concerns in a press briefing. He emphasized that the committee’s main focus had been on addressing various inquiries that arose during the process, with a particular emphasis on resolving issues related to the voters’ register. The committee had shared the provisional voters’ register with aspirants and encouraged them to carefully review it and report any discrepancies they found.
As a result of this collaborative effort, the committee received valuable feedback from the aspirants, highlighting concerns such as omission and duplication of names. Yeboah confirmed that the committee had diligently addressed all of these concerns to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
Regarding the eligibility of Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Yeboah clarified that based on the party’s official records, she held membership within the National Executive Committee. Moreover, due to her role as the patrons’ representative in the NEC, she had the right to cast her vote in the special delegates congress.
This announcement serves to reaffirm Akosua Frema Osei-Opare’s eligibility to participate in the special delegates conference. It also underscores the committee’s commitment to maintaining fairness and transparency throughout the electoral process of the New Patriotic Party.
Dancehall King, Shatta Wale has faced a heavy backlash after he expressed his admiration for Nigerian star, Asake for successfully filling the 02 Arena.
On Sunday night, Ahmed Oloade, also known as Asake, made history by becoming the first Nigerian newcomer to sell out the 20,000-seat O2 Arena in London, United Kingdom.
As he arrived on stage in a helicopter to raucous applause from the audience, the Mr. Money singer made a grand entrance.
He performed a medley of songs from his debut album, ‘Mr Money With The Vibe’ and his sophomore project, ‘Work Of Art.’ He also brought out his YBNL record label mate, Fireboy DML, Lil Kesh and hosts of other artistes.
On the list of Nigerian musicians who have sold out the O2 Arena, Asake has now joined Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy.
Reacting to this, Shatta said: ”Nigerians are making Ghana music look like feeding bottle compared to henessy bottle. Congrats to asake meeenn!!!”
Reacting to this, some netizens hurled insults at the dancehall king
Media personality Empress Nana Ama Mcbrown has disclosed that when her husband returns from a night out late, she does not take things lightly.
During a seminar, Nana Ama Mcbrown revealed this to a group of young women.
According to Mcbrown, she holds her husband responsible for his actions despite the fact that he was the head of the household.
Nana Ama Mcbrown added that she always confronts her husband when he arrives home late from clubbing to emphasize the point she was making.
While describing the ups and downs of marriage to young women, McBrown gave the advice that women should be established before thinking about marriage.
She used her own life as an example by making it known that, 12 years prior to marrying Mr. Maaxwell Mensah, she had her own home and a successful career.
Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a branch of the Jospong Group of Companies, has initiated the removal of waste from 33 garbage disposal sites in the Ahafo Region. This effort aims to enhance environmental hygiene and mitigate the spread of contagious illnesses in the area.
Mr Edward Agbenyega Ziddah, the Ahafo Regional Coordinator, mentioned that the waste management and sanitation firm is working in partnership with the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources to carry out the operation.
He said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency during the clearing of some of the refuse sites at Terchire, Jerusalem, Bourkrukruwa and Nsesreso in the Tano North Municipality of the region.
The company is expected to clear eleven refuse dump sites in the municipality, extend the exercise to parts of the region, and place containers at vantage points for easy refuse disposal.
He lauded the collaboration between the Zoomlion and the Ministry, saying the exercise would not only improve hygiene, but also avert the possible outbreak of communicable diseases in the localities.
Earlier, Dr Freda Prempeh, the sector Minister, and Member of Parliament for Tano North, inspected the clearing exercise and said the government had prioritised the improvement of sanitation in the country.
The exercise is a nationwide programme, she said, and cautioned the public against the indiscriminate dumping of refuse as the Ministry had deployed sanitation guards to check the menace and those found culpable would be punished.
She entreated the public to cooperate with the sanitation guards to help keep their surroundings clean.
NBA files petition as Baddest Nigerian Lawyer faces trouble over “marijuana smoking” online
Ifunanya has been posting images of herself dressed provocatively, which is against the traditional norms of the legal community.
Due to the legal profession’s reputation for tradition and professionalism, this has raised concern within the legal community.
However, the NBA has decided to look into the situation because of Ifunanya Grant’s behaviour, which has not been well received.
In a statement released at the weekend, NBA said: “Following the resolutions of the National Officers, the NBA has filed petitions at the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) against Ifunanya Excel Grant, a young lawyer of Aba Branch widely known as “the baddest lawyer” on social media.”
NBA said the complaints against Miss Ifunanya centred on her social media notoriety of posting pictures and videos of herself unclad and smoking marijuana.
The statement by Akorede Habeeb Lawal, NBA National Publicity Secretary, said the allegations of sexual assault against the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, is also being investigated as well as the alleged attempted bribe of Justice Flora Azinge of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Kano.
The statement reads:
“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has resolved to investigate the allegations of sexual assault against the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Prof. Cyril Ndifon.
“This decision was reached by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NBA at her recent monthly meeting presided over by the NBA President, Mr Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON SAN and which had all National Officers of the association in attendance.
“The NBA NEC subsequently empanelled an ad-hoc committee comprising the 1st Vice President of the NBA, Mrs Linda Rose Bala, the Assistant General Secretary of the NBA, Mr Daniel Kip, Chairperson of NBA Women’s Forum and the Chairman of the NBA Calabar Branch, to investigate the allegations against the University Don.
“You may also be aware of the recent media report of the attempted bribe of Justice Flora Azinge of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano. The NBA has, by a letter dated 16th August 2023, formally requested his lordship to avail the NBA of further details in this regard to enable investigation into this allegation.
“In a similar vein, the National Officers also deliberated at their earlier monthly meeting over the unbecoming conduct of some members of the legal profession. Following the resolutions of the National Officers, the NBA has filed petitions at the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) against Mr Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ifunanya Excel Grant, a young lawyer of Aba Branch wildly known as “the baddest lawyer” on social media.
“Mr Yunusa-Ari was petitioned over his role in illegally declaring the result of the supplementary 2023 gubernatorial election in Adamawa State while votes were still being counted. While the complaints against Miss Ifunanya centred on her social media notoriety of posting pictures and videos of herself unclad and smoking marijuana.”
The statement noted that it was important to underscore the fact that none of the lawyers petitioned or being investigated is deemed guilty of professional misconduct until the LPDC hands down its decisions after a fair trial.
The NBA President also emphasised the need for lawyers to continue to be of best conduct wherever they find themselves, and he reiterated that the present NBA leadership will not relent in ridding the profession of the very few bad eggs that may be found.
Renowned Economist, Prof Stephen Adei, has sounded an alarm over the potential repercussions that could unfold if the Bank of Ghana’s Governor and deputies were to step down from their roles.
He said the resignation of the aforementioned persons can pose a great threat to Ghana’s economy. He thus has cautioned persons calling for their resignation, especially those in opposition, to desist from the act.
“When the opposition talks about the Bank of Ghana Governor and his deputies should resign they don’t know what they are talking about. If the Governor and his deputies resign today, the impact on us will be gargantuan.
“It will impact the strength of the cedi; the total external confidence in our system. There are certain things you can only say when you’re in opposition but this is irresponsible opposition if you do that,” he said.
His remarks follow calls by the opposition for the Bank of Ghana Governor, Ernest Addison and his deputies to resign. Their demand for the resignation follows the BoG’s 2022 Annual Report & Financial Statements of the Bank of Ghana which captured a loss of GHC 60 billion by the bank.
The opposition deems Mr. Addison and his deputies unfit to hold their positions, asserting that they have supervised the loss of public trust and economic stability.
Diezani Alison-Madueke, former oil minister of Nigeria, has been accused of bribery in the UK.
She may have taken money in exchange for signing multi-million dollar oil and gas contracts.
She played a significant role in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government and was the first woman to lead the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The 63-year-old, who has been out on bail since her 2015 arrest in London, has refuted the accusations of wrongdoing.
The UK’s National Crime Agency has frozen valuable items worth millions of pounds related to the suspected crimes.
“These charges are a significant step in a comprehensive and complicated global investigation,” explained Andy Kelly, who works in the International Corruption Unit of the NCA.
The NCA claims that Ms. Alison-Madueke, who was the oil minister from 2010 to 2015, is accused of receiving benefits from:
At least £100,000 ($127,000) in money Chauffeur-driven cars are vehicles that are driven by professional drivers. Traveling on airplanes that are owned and used by individuals or companies for their own personal trips. . Fancy vacations for families . Using multiple properties in London. . Furniture, repairs and employees for the buildings. . Paying for fees at a non-government school. . Presents from fancy stores like Cartier and Louis Vuitton.
The US Department of Justice has found and taken back $53. 1 million connected to Ms. Alison-Madueke’s believed illegal actions. They were able to do this because of evidence that the NCA gave them in March.
The NCA said that its agents also worked closely with Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the EFCC.
The EFCC, which is a government agency, said that they found about $153 million and over 80 properties that belonged to a politician who was a member of the cabinet starting in 2007.
She started as the transport minister, then switched to the ministry of mines before becoming responsible for the oil sector.
MsAlison-Madueke, who currently lives in a suburb called St. John’s Wood in London, will go to court on 2 October according to the NCA (National Crime Agency).
Nigeria produces a lot of oil, but not many people in the country have actually gotten richer because of it.
It is one of the 13 countries that belong to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), which was created to handle the global supply of oil and determine its cost.
Chloe and Halle Bailey, the two beautiful sisters, have each been successful with solo projects lately, but what if the two come together on a joint collaboration, what will that do to fans?
The sisters achieved success with their collaborative album Ungodly Hour in 2020 before taking a lengthy sabbatical to concentrate on other projects.
Halle brought Ariel to life in Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid, and her solo single “Angel” launched her solo music career.
Chloe’s released hits at the same time, including “Have Mercy.”
In Pieces, her debut solo album, was released in 2023.
The question of whether they intend to continue concentrating on separate projects or anticipate a Chloe X Halle reunion may be on the minds of their fans. In a recent interview, they provided an answer to that query.
Speaking to Elle, Halle said that fans can “definitely” keep an eye peeled for another duo release.
“You can always expect new music from me and my sister,” she continued.
Chloe chimed in, adding that all of their individual projects will bring something new to the table when they get together again. “It’s gonna be fun now knowing who we are individually more, and what we can bring when we come back together as a group— that’s gonna be really exciting,” she said.
Halle further elaborated on the differences between working on solo music and creating with her sister: “I don’t have my sister’s skill and knowledge while I am creating, and typically while I’m producing or coming up with something, I’ll be like, “Sister, what do you think?
Halle further elaborated on the differences between working on solo music and creating with her sister: “I don’t have my sister’s skill and knowledge while I am creating, and typically while I’m producing or coming up with something, I’ll be like, “Sister, what do you think?
What are you contemplating?
It’s different with her since I can’t do that and I value her opinion more than anybody else, she said.
“You really need to have greater faith in yourself.”
Renowned Economist, Prof Stephen Adei, has asserted that the Bank of Ghana does not need the prior permission of Ghanaians before embarking on the construction of a new Headquarters.
He stated that the Apex bank can undertake such a project once it falls within the bank’s financial jurisdiction.
“I don’t think that normally when a Bank is building its headquarters, [especially] the Bank of Ghana being the Apex bank, has to come and tell Ghanaians ‘we are building our headquarters.’ So long as it’s within their financial remit, they can do it [and] it’s not something they consult Ghanaians on,” he said.
Prof Adei further intimated that the reason why the project has become a problem is because of recent developments, regarding some losses accrued by the bank as contained in the 2022 Annual Report and Financial Statement of the bank.
“The reason why it has become an issue is simply because this is an unusual time. You’re [BoG] declaring a loss of GHC 60 billion and that’s why it’s raising these issues. But I think that when there’s a problem, everything seems to be a problem,” he said.
In his view the estimated amount for the project is fitting.
“I can tell you that if $20 million is all they are using then that’s a small amount and the opposition would know that it’s a small amount if they hadn’t changed the cedis into dollars. So that they can tell Ghanaians – be economical about the truth – lies
(It is worthy to note that, the Professor while making his submission mentioned $20 million, however, the actual amount invested in the project according to the Bank of Ghana is $250 million)
The Minority in Parliament has described the justification for the new BOG head office, which is costing taxpayers a colossal $250 million as “bizarre”. “The excuse that the current Bank of Ghana Head office is not earthquake resistant is most ridiculous, to say the least,” the Minority said.
They have thus announced a planned ticket which is expected to come off on September 5, 2023.
Ghanaian actress,Efia Odo, has criticised Ghanaians for undervaluing their own musicians instead of supporting them.
She used her Twitter account to express her opinions in response to the recent success of the O2 arena performance by Nigerian singer Asake.
She asserts that although Ghanaian actors put in just as much effort as Nigerian actors do, the Ghanaian industry is underrepresented in terms of both numbers and support. She also accused Ghanaians of “pulling down” their own performances rather than providing the necessary backing.
“It’s not because Nigerian artiste are better than Ghanaian artistes. It’s because they get 100% support from their people! Ghanaians are too busy pulling each other down at every chance we get. We don’t have the numbers like Nigerians do neither do we support each other like they do,” she posted.
The remarks by Efia Odo are being debated at the moment regarding the state of the Ghanaian music industry. Ghanaian artists were criticised for not promoting their work as much as Nigerian artists on social media.
Numerous individuals in the industry, including artists Fameye and D’Black, have retaliated, blaming social media for failing to support Ghanaian acts and for constantly comparing artists, both of which stunt the development of the performers.
The prime minister of Spain is angry at Luis Rubiales for kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips. New reports suggest that Jenni’s statement saying it wasn’t a big deal was not actually written by her.
The women’s national team of Spain, known as La Roja, won the final of the Women’s World Cup against England with a score of 1-0 on Sunday. However, the focus has shifted away from their victory due to the behavior of the president of the Spanish football federation, Rubiales, during the medal ceremony.
The 45-year-old person hugged and kissed every squad member when they were going up to get the World Cup trophy. However, they went too far by grabbing Hermoso’s head and kissing her on the lips.
Hermoso, who is 33 years old, expressed her dislike for the situation in an Instagram livestream from the dressing room. However, she later released a more detailed statement on Sunday, describing it as a spontaneous and mutual act.
However, this did not satisfy those who were upset about it. Initially, Rubiales called the people criticizing him “idiots”. However, he later apologized in a video message on Monday and said he would learn from his mistakes.
However, according to Spanish outlet Relevo, there was a disagreement happening privately regarding the two statements. It is reported that Hermoso’s statement was written by the RFEF on her behalf, and she was not informed about what was written in it.
Rubiales asked her to be in a video where he apologized, but she didn’t want to. Her family tried to convince her with help from Jorge Vilda, a manager known for causing disagreements. Hermoso’s family were asked three times to get the Pachuca forward to be with Rubiales, but she still said no.
The incident has now turned into a political issue. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez, who met the whole squad and Rubiales on Tuesday, said that the RFEF president’s apology is not enough.
Sanchez said that the gesture we saw was not okay. Rubiales saying sorry is not good enough, I don’t think it is right.
He needs to keep explaining what we saw to make it clear. The players tried their best to win, but Rubiales’ actions indicate that fairness and equality still have a ways to improve.
Yolanda Diaz, who is Spain’s second deputy prime minister, went a step further and asked for Rubiales to step down from his position.
‘Their reasons for not doing something are not valid,’ she said. ‘The Spain team has taught us many things about fairness, not just in sports and football. ‘ They have taught us that there is still a long way to go in our country, and that there is still much work to be done in order for men and women to truly be treated the same.
Rubiales is being criticized for his actions at Sydney’s Stadium Australia. While sitting near Queen Letizia of Spain, he celebrated by touching his groin after the game ended.
Folarin Falana, also known as Falz, is a well-known Nigerian actor and rapper has recently revealed that he had surgery for a knee injury.
On May 10, 2023, the political activist posted on his Instagram page about how he had to have surgery after suffering a knee injury while playing football in 2022.
In a recent interview with Cool FM, Falz asserted that his love of football and participation in other sports were to blame for the injury.
The 32-year-old rapper claimed that he underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery because of the severity of the injury.
According to Falz, he has been playing football since he was a very young age, therefore he couldn’t explain what happened before his knee got broken.
The actor highlighted the fact that it is a common condition among athletes and described the situation as one of the most trying times of his life.
Falz said he was currently undergoing a recovery process that involved rigorous physiotherapy when asked if he would be having any additional surgery.
Falz made a joke of the situation during the interview by making fun of the fact that other players were envious of his excellent striker skills and tried to discredit him and get him kicked off the team.
The Philippines say they have sent new supplies to a faraway location they believe belongs to them in the South China Sea.
Manila says that Beijing tried to stop and disturb the supply mission, but they were not successful.
Chinese ships used water cannons to stop a Philippine supply mission from reaching Filipino troops at the Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed Spratly Islands.
Manila is using an old navy ship with a small number of soldiers to support its claim.
The embassy of China in Manila didn’t respond right away to a request for comment.
Beijing says that they own almost the whole South China Sea, including the Spratlys, but the Philippines also says that they own part of it too.
The ocean is a place where there are lots of fish and people think there might be a lot of oil and gas.
Supply missions to the shoal have caused a lot of problems between the two people arguing over it.
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also say that some parts of the sea belong to them. This sea is a very important route for trade, where around $3. 37tn or 21% of all global trade goes through each year.
On August 22, two ships brought new supplies to Second Thomas Shoal. They were protected by two coast guard ships. This was announced by the Philippines’ National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea.
Manila uses the name West Philippine Sea to talk about the part of the South China Sea that is under its control.
The task force said that they will continue to send supplies to the shoal regularly.
The United States, which is a country that has a treaty with the Philippines, is worried about the actions that China is taking in the South China Sea. The Philippines has described these actions as dangerous.
In addition to using water cannons, Chinese ships are said to have used strong lasers to temporarily blind the crews of Philippine vessels.
China tried many times to stop supply missions to Second Thomas Shoal. This was an important part of the Philippines’ winning case at the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague in 2014.
The court decided that China’s argument using old maps is not supported by evidence. But Beijing has not accepted the ruling and instead made fake islands on reefs that are being argued over.
China’s foreign ministry asked the Philippines to take away the ship on Second Thomas Shoal because they said Manila had promised multiple times to move the warship that is illegally stuck on the reef. It didn’t say who kept the promise.
The previous leader, Rodrigo Duterte, was the president for six years until mid 2022. He changed Manila’s partnerships to focus on China and Russia, which caused problems with their long-standing friend, the United States.
But the next leader, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, made the relationship with the US strong again and gave American soldiers more permission to use Philippine military bases in early 2023.
This made China upset because having more US military in the Philippines completes the chain of alliances in the region from South Korea and Japan to Australia.
Famous billionaire singer, Rihanna and her finacee A$AP Rocky reportedly welcome baby number two.
The fenty boss and entrepreneur Rihanna and rapper A$AP Rocky are said to have welcomed a boy as their second child.
The 35-year-old reportedly gave birth to a second baby boy earlier this month in secret, according to TMZ.
According to sources with firsthand knowledge, the baby arrived in Los Angeles, California, on August 3.
The couple’s first child, RZA Athelston Mayers, was born on May 13, 2022.
During her performance at the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime in Phoenix, Rihanna pulled down the zipper of her jacket to show off her expanding baby bump, announcing to the world that she is expecting a second child.
A sportsman who passed away during an Ironman triathlon in Cork was doing something he really enjoyed, according to his coach.
Ivan Chittenden, who was 64 years old, was one of two men who passed away in different accidents while swimming in the Youghal event.
Brendan Wall, aged 45, also passed away. His employer spoke highly of him, referring to him as an important team member.
Mr Chittenden, who was from Toronto, Canada, and Mr. Wall, who was originally from County Meath, had some trouble at Claycastle beach on Sunday morning.
On Monday, the organization in charge of triathlons in Ireland, called Triathlon Ireland, said they did not approve of the event because of bad weather conditions.
The company in charge of the event, Ironman Ireland, did safety inspections and determined it was safe to proceed with the event.
A representative said the group was deeply affected by the deaths and sent their condolences and prayers to the grieving families.
“The triathlon community is like a big family, and this loss has deeply hurt all of us,” a spokesperson shared. The text “devastating” means very destructive or causing a lot of damage.
According to Irish broadcaster RTÉ, Mr. Wall recently got engaged to his fiancée, Tina.
In May, he started working as a sales director at Top Tubes in Wednesbury, located in England’s West Midlands.
The person in charge of Top Tubes, April Pearson Myatt, said that Mr. Wall’s death was really sad and shocking.
“Brendan was an important part of our team and his absence will be deeply felt on a personal and professional level,” she expressed.
She also expressed her sympathy to Mr. Wall’s family, and said that the news was received with sadness at the company.
Mr Wall used to work for a company that makes cutting tools called ATA Group, which is located in Cavan. He also worked for a company called Elements Material Technology in London.
His funeral will be held at St Brigid’s Church in Grangegeeth, Slane on Thursday. ‘He was part of my family. ‘
Before he retired two years ago, Mr. Chittenden was a high-ranking executive at EY (Ernst and Young).
He started working for the company as a student in May 1979.
Mr Chittenden was married and had a family. He really enjoyed being a triathlete and had participated in Ironman events before.
Lisa Bentley, a trainer of Ironman, who has been coaching Mr. Chittenden for 12 years, said to RTÉ that he passed away while doing something he enjoyed.
He was my buddy. He was like a member of my family. Those are not what someone would normally say. That is true. She said she will miss him a lot.
I believe deep down that he was doing something he really enjoyed when he passed away. Ivan was in the best condition he had ever been in. He started moving quicker as he got older.
She said he had run in all of the biggest marathons in the world, like Tokyo, Berlin, Chicago, New York, London, and Boston.
A representative for the Irish Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media said that the deaths were a very sad event.
The Housing Minister of Ireland, Darragh O’Brien, said that important problems needed to be dealt with after the deaths of the two men.
He said that everyone involved needs to be honest about what happened and what safety measures were or were not taken.
Mr O’Brien also expressed his sympathy to the family. It did not show any understanding or concern for the people who said they were harmed.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) gathered information from people who survived. The United Nations has said similar things as Human Rights Watch before.
An unknown Saudi government official said the HRW report – which was based on interviews with survivors – did not come from trustworthy sources.
The US State Department is telling Saudi Arabia to investigate the killings in a careful and honest way. They have also told Saudi Arabia that they are worried about these allegations.
Ethiopia has announced that it will look into the claims that Saudi guards have been using guns and explosives to kill over 650 individuals who are trying to enter the kingdom from Yemen.
It said they would investigate together with the Saudi authorities.
The statement from the foreign ministry asked people not to make guesses and said that Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia have had a good relationship for a long time, even though something tragic happened.
It didn’t show any pity to the supposed victims.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) gathered statements from people who survived. The United Nations has said similar things as HRW before.
A Saudi government official, who did not want to be named, said that the HRW report, which relied on interviews with survivors, is not trustworthy because it is based on information from sources that cannot be relied upon.
The US government is telling Saudi Arabia to investigate the killings very carefully and openly. They have also talked to Saudi Arabia about their worries regarding these accusations.
Pep Guardiola will not be able to coach Manchester City in their next two Premier League games because he is recovering from a small operation on his back.
The club’s website said that Guardiola has been having really bad back pain. He traveled to Barcelona to get emergency surgery from Dr Mireia Illueca.
They are saying that the surgery went well and the manager will now have therapy in a Spanish city. He is expected to return to his coaching position after the international break in September.
This means that the 52-year-old will not be able to go to City’s game against Sheffield United on Sunday, as well as the game against Fulham at the Etihad on 2nd September.
If everything goes as planned, his first game when he returns will be against West Ham at the London Stadium on 16th September.
Until now, it has been said that assistant manager Juanma Lillo will be in charge of training the first-team players and will be the main person on the sidelines for the team Citizen.
The teams Marseille and Manchester City are playing against each other in Group C of the UEFA Champions League. Juanma Lillo came back to work as an assistant manager for Man City again this year.
Everyone at Manchester City hopes Pep gets better quickly and can come back to Manchester soon.
The city team has had a really good start this season. They won their first two games against Burnley and Newcastle. They are tied with Brighton and Arsenal in terms of points, but Brighton is ahead of them because of the number of goals they have scored.
Guardiola also helped the team win their first UEFA Super Cup by beating Sevilla on penalties in Athens. However, they lost the Community Shield shootout against the Gunners in the season’s first game.
Good news for City. They are going to sign a very talented winger named Jeremy Doku from Rennes. The deal is worth £55. 5 million
People who live there said Othman Abu Kharj was killed in a village called Zababdeh, close to Jenin. This happened when the army went into the village and caused fights with the people who live there.
The army did not directly say anything about his death, but they mentioned that Palestinians threw explosive objects.
People who saw what happened say that soldiers shot the teenager near a house that was being surrounded.
The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said that Abu Kharj is a fighter in their fast-acting team.
The army went to at least 20 places in the West Bank after three Israelis were killed in different attacks by Palestinian gunmen this week.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, promised to avenge the killers and those who send them, whether they are close by or far away. In simpler terms, he said Iran is responsible for the killings because they support Islamic Jihad and Hamas, the biggest Palestinian militant group.
The Palestinian Prisoners Club reported that over 50 individuals were detained overnight. They accused Israel of punishing the entire community and damaging the homes of families.
On Monday night, Israeli forces shot a Palestinian man in the head in a village near Nablus. He was seriously hurt. A video showed that he didn’t have a weapon and was running towards someone who was injured. But then he got shot by one bullet.
The West Bank is currently experiencing very violent conflict, which is the worst it has been in 20 years. This violence is happening because there is no solution to the political disagreement in the area. Additionally, Israel has been occupying the West Bank for 57 years.
Israel currently has a very nationalistic government, which is the most nationalistic government it has ever had. The politicians in power often ask for stronger military actions and more expansion of Israeli settlements.
At the same time, disagreements among Palestinians have caused their political rivalries to become worse, and the official leaders have lost control of important cities in the West Bank to militant groups.
On Saturday, two Israelis – a father and son – were killed by a Palestinian gunman at a car wash in the town of Hawara in the northern West Bank. Hawara has witnessed frequent violent incidents involving armed Palestinians and groups of Israeli settlers this year.
On Monday, in the southern part of the West Bank, Palestinian gunmen shot at a car multiple times. This resulted in the death of an Israeli woman named Batsheva Nigri, who lived in a nearby settlement. The man driving got hurt very badly, but Ms. Nigri’s 12-year-old daughter was okay and didn’t get hurt.
Last week, a 15-year-old boy from Palestine was badly hurt after being shot in the head by soldiers from Israel in East Jerusalem which is under Israeli control. The police claim that he attempted to throw a homemade bomb filled with petrol at them when they were searching a place.
On the same day, a video was shown of an apparently unarmed Palestinian man who is said to have mental health problems. He was shot and injured by Israeli soldiers during a protest near Israel’s separation barrier in Qalqilya. The military said they were looking into it.
The violence is making the political situation worse and causing people to talk and act more aggressively.
After Israelis were attacked, some online chat groups followed by Israeli settlers who have extreme political views called for “revenge” against Palestinians and for removing all Palestinians from the town of Hawara.
The National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is in charge of a party called Jewish Power, spoke against his fellow cabinet member, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. He suggested that Gallant is not strong enough on security. Another member of the party also asked Gallant to step down from his position.
However, Hamas showed approval for the attack that took place near Hebron on Monday. They described it as a natural reaction to Israeli settlement building in the West Bank and connected it to the threats on the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. The militant group Islamic Jihad sent a message saying that something worse and stronger is about to happen.
In July, the army launched a major attack on Jenin refugee camp, resulting in the deaths of 12 Palestinians, including fighters and young ones.
During the raid, a soldier from Israel was killed. The army said that he was shot by mistake by his fellow soldiers, who thought he was an enemy.
According to the army, on Tuesday night, soldiers arrested two Palestinians who are believed to have carried out the attack near Hebron on Monday.
Mr Gallant said that the terrorists who killed Batsheva Nigri will stay in jail for the rest of their lives. We will use every method possible to make our security stronger. We will go after and locate our enemies.
This year, 219 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza and 31 Israelis have died.
Per reports, after eight years of marriage, actress, TV host, and former Big Brother Africa housemate Selorm Galley popularly known as Selly Galley in the entertainment industry, has given birth to twins.
Selly Galley got married to Ghanaian musician, Praye Tietia in September 2015. The couple fell in love together and happily married. However, they have faced criticism and mockery for not having children since their marriage.
This news was announced by Snapchat gossip blogger, Sel The Bomb, in a report that says the couple welcomed their twins a few weeks ago in the U.S.
“After 8 years of marriage, Praye Tietia and actress Selley Galley have welcomed their first children together. Sel The Bomb has been reliably informed that the wife of the musician welcomed twins a few weeks ago in the U.S” the gossip blogger wrote.
Selly Galley and husband welcome Twins after 8 years of marriage
Meanwhile, Selly Galley and her husband are yet to confirm the news publicly. However, congratulations have been pouring in for the actress.
“I’m so happy for them. Dear God, please protect this beautiful family and preserve their happiness in Jesus’ name!” a fan wrote with another adding that “Congratulations to them.. selly has really suffered in netizens hands becos of kids”.
In 2020, A social media user who has been persistently trolling Ghanaian actress Selley Galley was called out and cursed by the actress. The social media user identified as Henewaa_Piesie2 called the actress “horror face and barren woman” in a comment.
According to Sel, the couple welcomed twins in America a few weeks ago. The actress and the musician are yet to publicly confirm the good news.
Congratulations to the couple! We look forward to meeting these new little damsels. See the breaking news below
Renowned music management company, Lynx Entertainment has veered into the movie industry with the release of a TV series.
The record label, which now doubles as a movie production house, is out with a film titled ‘Prophet Baddo’.
Richmond Amoakoh, better known by the stage name Lawyer Nti, is the main character in this brand-new TV show, which can be found on the Lynx TV YouTube channel.
The story of a random man who became a prophet in an effort to escape his problems is told in Richmond’s own book, “Prophet Baddo,” in an intense yet humorous manner.
The contrast between hopelessness and faith will take viewers on an exciting and enjoyable journey with a captivating cast of seasoned actors, including Fiifi Coleman, Princess Nkrumah, Andy Tetteh, Andrew Tandoh, Henry Agbai, and more.
‘Prophet Baddo’ was first premiered at the Silverbird Cinemas on July 21st, 2023, followed by a screening at the Golden Eagle Cinema in Kumasi on July 22nd.
The movie was created by Tigon Creative Studios, a subsidiary of Lynx TV and Lynx Entertainment.
A salesperson in Nairobi, Kenya has been accused of stealing two coffins and 26 coffin handles, as reported by local sources.
Maureen Khikani, who used to work at St Augustine Funeral Services, is being accused of taking things without permission for a whole week in May of the previous year. She says that she did not do anything wrong.
The coffins were worth 90,000 Kenyan shillings, which is equivalent to $622 or £488. The handles were worth $810.
The magistrate court Ben Mark Ekhubi has decided that the bail amount will be $1,380.
The lawyer who was helping Ms Khikani asked for easier bail conditions, highlighting that she is a mother who takes care of her children on her own.
