The closure of the Niger border due to the ongoing coup in the West African nation has led to significant losses for onion traders, who are witnessing multiple bags of onions spoiling, causing financial setbacks.
From the start of the turmoil, onion traders, especially in the Ashanti region, who rely on imports from Niger, have encountered considerable financial setbacks due to the extended duration it takes for the goods to reach Ghana.
In an earlier report, the traders noted that they had to sell a bag of onions which originally costs GH¢1300 for GH¢100 because they had gone bad upon their arrival in Ghana.
The latest video on the development has shown several bags of onions going bad as traders are unable to transport the commodity to their intended destinations.
Commentary being run on the video which was shared by GHOne on Instagram revealed that the truck drivers have been left to their fate as the borders remained closed.
The male voice running the commentary in Twi could be heard saying: “Because of wicked African mindset, they will not open the borders for their fellow African to pass. God must help us. All these bags of onion are going to waste.”
On the other hand, some traders have noted that they have lost almost GH¢500,000 due to the phenomenon.
Bono Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe Abronye, has alleged that some organizers within the party’s potential presidential candidates are engaging in undisciplined behavior and unproductive rumors.
He holds the view that it is inappropriate for a representative of a presidential contender, who strongly criticized him during their regional campaign, to actively create problems within the party.
“There has been indiscipline and unnecessary gossiping by coordinators or some presidential aspirants.
“These coordinators have made it a point to destroy some delegates or party officers in order to make money from them,” Mr Abronye disclosed in a letter dated August 20, 2023.
He continued: “It is unnecessary and undisciplined for a regional officer to be coordinator for more than 5 presidential aspirants, promising them the number of votes they will receive from him.”
He has also indicated that after extensive consultation, he has decided not to be part of the party’s upcoming special delegates congress.
The Bono regional chairman cataloged a number of reasons he wants to abstained from the congress including alleged extortion.
Some Community Police Assistants at Ajumako Bisease in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam District of the Central Region, have successfully apprehended Augustine Ghansah, a prison inmate who escaped from confinement and had been evading capture.
The individual fled from the Osamkrom Prison facility located in the Agona West District of the Central Region.
The case was later reported at the Ajumako Bisease Police Station, following which the Police commenced investigation.
The escapee inmate, after hearing that police are on a hunt for him went and hid in a thick forest in Ajumako Bisease. Hence, nine Community Police Assistants were dispatched to the forest to search for him.
After spending three days in the forest hunting for the suspect, they finally saw him hiding behind a big tree near a thick bush. He was given a hot chase and arrested.
He was then dragged to the police station and put into cells, but later sent back to the Osamkrom Prison camp.
The arrest of the jailbreaker has got many people praising the good job of these nine Community Police Personnel stationed at the Ajumako Bisease Police Station.
Residents have appealed to the Government and the Inspector General of Police, George Akuffo Dampare to recruit these nine Community Police Personnel into the Ghana Police Service permanently to serve the country.
Following her conviction last week for the murder of seven newborns and the attempted murder of another six at the UK hospital where she worked, a British nurse is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday.
A jury at Manchester Crown Court in northern England found Lucy Letby, 33, guilty in a case that appalled the nation and branded her the most prolific child serial murderer in recent memory.
According to testimony given in court on Friday, Letby physically assaulted the infants in her care and injected air into their blood and stomachs, overfed them with milk, poisoned them with insulin, and overfed them with air.
There were concerns about how Letby was able to avoid detection for so long after the accusations against her and her conviction, which led to a government investigation.
She surreptitiously attacked 13 newborns on the neonatal ward at the Countess of Chester hospital between 2015 and 2016, according to a statement released on Friday by the British Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The prosecution contended that Letby planned to murder the infants while deceiving her coworkers into thinking there was a natural cause of death.
Parents of the victims gave heartbreaking testimony in front of the Manchester court throughout the trial, including in one instance where Letby attempted to kill a baby boy after killing his twin brother.
While testifying in court, the mother of Children E and F stated that she “completely” believed Letby’s counsel.
When her infant Child E began to wail in the intensive care unit one night, she claimed she “knew there was something wrong” and that she immediately felt better.
It was discovered that when Letby attempted to assault Child E, he began bleeding before she killed him. The twin of that infant, Child F, later lived through an attempt by Letby to poison him with insulin. Additionally, it was disclosed that police had discovered several handwritten messages by Letby, one of which read: “I am evil I did this.”
Letby was twice detained by police in connection with their probe in 2018 and 2019, according to PA. In November 2020, she was detained once more.
During inspections of Letby’s residence, authorities discovered the notes she had written.
“I’m not worthy of life. She wrote in one memo, “I killed them on purpose because I’m not good enough to care for them,” and in another, “I am a terrible evil person,” adding in big letters, “I am evil I did this.”
On Friday, the UK government released an independent investigation into the killings, which covered how authorities and the country’s National Health Service handled consultants’ concerns.
According to testimony given in court in Manchester, hospital staff noticed an increase in the frequency of infants dying or suddenly collapsing in the neonatal unit.
The UK’s PA Media news agency stated that the hospital’s management originally disregarded clinicians’ warnings over the elevated mortality rate of patients under Letby’s care.
According to attorneys representing the relatives of the victims, the probe is “not good enough” because it lacks the authority to call witnesses, PA said.
Letby won a grievance lawsuit against her employers in 2016 after learning of their first accusations.
She was supposed to visit the neonatal unit again in March 2017, but that didn’t happen. The police were informed by the hospital trust, and they started an inquiry.
Fundraising Manager at Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the local chapter of Transparency International, Michael Boadi, has highlighted the importance of overseeing the financial aspects of political campaigns.
His comment is in a bid to bolster the fight against corruption.
“We cannot successfully combat corruption without controlling the financing of political parties. We must establish mechanisms to regulate political campaign finance,” stated Boadi during a session at the Ghana News Agency’s Boardroom Dialogue in the Tema Regional Office.
The event centered around the theme, “The fight against corruption in the Fourth Republic: A Mirage or Reality?”
Boadi pointed out that political campaign financing had become a significant catalyst for corruption, often leading to misappropriation of the country’s abundant resources if left unchecked.
“The situation is becoming increasingly perilous. According to research by the Centre for Democratic Development-Ghana, winning a parliamentary seat costs approximately US$300,000.00, a figure that continues to rise,” he noted.
Questioning the source of substantial funds required for political campaigns, Mr Boadi raised concerns over transparency and accountability.
“If a parliamentary seat in a smaller constituency demands $300,000.00, one must ponder the source of even larger sums spent by presidential candidates,” he commented.
Boadi stressed the urgency of disclosing the origins of funding for political parties and their candidates at both the presidential and parliamentary levels.
He warned that the failure to scrutinize funding sources could potentially lead to criminal entities such as money launderers, drug traffickers, and terrorists wielding influence over the country’s political landscape.
The efficacy of anti-corruption efforts, Michael Boadi argued, hinges on addressing these challenges and ensuring greater transparency.
He cautioned against the politicisation of corruption investigations, which has, in some instances, impeded the functionality of relevant institutions and dampened public interest in their proceedings.
To remedy this, Boadi suggested that corruption investigations be conducted transparently and without external interference. Such an approach, he believed, would encourage citizens to actively participate in the fight against corruption in Ghana.
On Tuesday, suspects in the theft case at Cecilia Dapaah’s residence are expected back in court.
This will be their second appearance since police prosecutors amended the charge sheet on the advice of the Attorney General.
So far, eight people have been charged with stealing and conspiracy to steal for allegedly stealing over $1 million and 300,000 Euros from the former sanitation minister’s home.
One of the eight is reportedly on the run, while seven of the eight were brought before a judge on August 8.
Due to their status as nursing mothers, two of the seven people who were charged with a crime were granted bail, while the other five were placed on remand.
Two house helps of the former minister and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, are before an Accra Circuit Court, for allegedly stealing monies and items running into millions of Ghana Cedis and allegedly sharing the booty with other people.
Madam Dapaah resigned on July 22 after a public uproar.
Officials from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on July 24, 2023, placed the former minister under arrest and searched her home.
The OSP had disclosed that its officers found a substantial sum of US$590,000 and GHC2.730,000 in cash during the search.
Her seven bank accounts also have been frozen by the OSP.
Background
It emerged on Friday, July 21 that two house helps of the Minister were facing charges before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly stealing an amount of $1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghanaian cedis at the former minister’s residence at Abelenkpe, Accra, in October 2022.
The two, 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei allegedly stole the monies and personal effects of the couple, between the months of July and October 2022.
Both have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing US$1 million, €300,000 and millions of Ghana cedis.
The 68-year-old former Minister disputes the figures given in the court document, but the revelations outraged many in Ghana.
Cecilia Dapaah’s lawyers had contended that the OSP took action to freeze the former minister’s account in response to the media outrage.
In the first round of Ecuador’s presidential and legislative elections, which have been marred by political assassinations as the Andean nation battles a wave of violence that has pushed homicide rates to record highs, Luisa González of the Movimiento Revolución Ciudadana party took a lead on Sunday.
According to the National Electoral Council of Ecuador (CNE), Gonzalez will compete against the unexpected second-place finisher Daniel Noboa in a run-off election in October because neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote.
The CNE’s Diana Atamaint declared on Sunday that the preliminary results “already show a trend that guarantees that Ecuadorians will go to a run-off on October 15.”
González is seen as a protégé of former socialist president Rafael Correa, who continues to hold significant power in the nation and supported her campaign while living in exile in Belgium. The former president, who has consistently rejected the charge of severe bribery, was given an eight-year prison sentence in absentia in 2020.
González aims to address the security situation by addressing the underlying causes of violence, such as poverty and inequality, and has pledged to increase public investment and social programmes. González, a former minister of tourism and labour in the Correa administration, has also advocated for the court to be strengthened to aid in prosecutions, according to commentators.
Lvaro Noboa, a banana businessman who has himself stood for president at least five times, is the father of Daniel Noboa. Prior to the legislature being dissolved and early elections announced by outgoing President Guillermo Lasso, the 35-year-old was a politician.
The centrist, who is a member of the Accion Democratica Nacional party, has promised to increase the number of jobs available to young people, attract more foreign investment, and propose many anti-corruption measures, including harsher penalties for tax evasion.
This year’s presidential election has focused heavily on crime, which was highlighted by the murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, an outspoken critic of corruption in the media.
His death has drawn attention to a recent uptick in violence, spurred by a cocaine boom, in which local gangs and multinational criminal organisations have overtaken prisons, engaged in high-level extortion, and murdered anyone who stands in their way.
A left-leaning local party official named Pedro Briones was shot and killed in the province of Esmeraldas a few days after Villavicencio’s death.
On Thursday, while Noboa was travelling through the province of Guayas, gunfire broke up his caravan. However, according to the authorities, Noboa was not the intended target of the crime.
On election day, candidates wore bulletproof vests as security personnel stood guard outside voting places amid threats of violence.
Christian Zurita, Villavicencio’s successor, voted in the nation’s capital Quito while being heavily guarded by the police and military of Ecuador.
However, on Sunday, authorities detected cyberattacks on the nation’s telematic voting network from a number of nations, including Bangladesh, China, Russia, and the Ukraine. The nation’s National Electoral Council stated that the incident impeded voting access but underlined that the votes cast were valid.
Many Ecuadorians have been forced to flee the nation due to the escalating violence and the lack of promising economic possibilities.
However, the winner of the run-off election in October won’t have much time to come up with a solution. They will only be in government until 2025, which is the conclusion of Lasso’s six-year tenure. According to experts, this is not enough time for even the most seasoned politician to make significant changes to the country.
The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources has beefed up its efforts to control indiscriminate waste disposal by introducing sanitation guards across the country to monitor and manage the haphazard disposal of plastic waste and garbage.
For now, the sanitation guards without uniforms have been stationed in various prominent cities and urban areas such as Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Tamale.
Individuals caught littering or discarding plastic waste and polythene bags will be required to either collect their litter, pay an immediate fine, or potentially undergo legal proceedings, according to Dr. Freda Prempeh, the Minister in charge of the sector.
The Minister was interacting with the media after she inspected work on the evacuation of 10 refuse dumps in some communities in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region.
The Ministry, in collaboration with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a private waste management and sanitation company, is evacuating the refuse dumps, which had been in the communities over the years.
Already, it had evacuated some refuse dumps at Terchire, Nsesreso, Jerusalem and Bourkrurkiwa near Duayaw-Nkwanta, the municipal capital, and constructed some toilet facilities in some of the deprived communities to serve the people.
Dr Prempeh, also the Member of Parliament for Tano North, said the Ministry was engaging relevant institutions and key stakeholders to draft a bill that would support and sustain the nationwide exercise, which sought to promote environmental cleanliness and control the outbreaks of communicable diseases.
She expressed disgust about the bad attitude of some Ghanaians towards environmental protection and hoped the exercise would not only keep the environment clean but change the poor attitude of some people towards sanitation practices.
The Ministry was working hard towards the segregation and recycling of waste for other purposes, she said, and thus called on households to desist from keeping plastic and other waste materials together.
She urged the public to cooperate with the Ministry and support the exercise to achieve desirable outcomes in order to channel the huge sums of money the government spent on waste management into other development ventures.
Mr Sampson Akwettey, the Acting Director, Environmental Health and Sanitation at the Ministry, said bad sanitation practices remained a huge problem in the country, which ought to be tackled decisively and proactively.
He said the outbreak of communicable diseases such as cholera and typhoid was due to poor sanitary environment and cautioned the people against indiscriminate waste disposal.
Mr Edward Ziddah, the Ahafo Regional Coordinator of Zoomlion, told the Ghana News Agency the firm was evacuating 33 refuse dumps in the entire region.
At Nsesreso, Mrs Clara Adu Sarpong, a resident and an opinion leader, expressed appreciation to the Ministry for evacuating the refuse dumps.
Hitherto, she said the refuse dump served as breeding grounds for rodents and snakes while malaria was common because of the mosquitoes.
The coup leader in Niger has promised to return the country to civilian rule within three years.
Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani made the announcement after meeting mediators from the West African regional bloc Ecowas in the capital, Niamey.
In the event that negotiations break down, Ecowas has threatened to take military action to undo President Mohamed Bazoum’s overthrow from last month.
The junta head said that Niger did not want a war but would defend itself against any foreign intervention.
“If an attack were to be undertaken against us, it will not be the walk in the park some people seem to think,” he warned in his televised address on Saturday evening.
Gen Tchiani also reiterated criticism of what he called the “illegal and inhumane” sanctions imposed by Ecowas on the landlocked country.
This has included cutting electricity, resulting in blackouts in Niamey and other major cities, as well as blocking crucial imports.
Lorry drivers have been stuck for weeks waiting to bring in supplies, forcing up food prices.
“Sanctions are not conceived with the aim of finding a solution but to bring us to our knees and humiliate us,” Gen Tchiani said.
Thousands of men came to a stadium in Niamey on Saturday to register for a volunteer force in case of invasion – although overcrowding prevented the registration process from starting, the Reuters news agency reports.
Crowds near General Seyni Kountche Stadium in Niamey on Saturday
Regional efforts to reverse the coup have been backed by the US and France, which both have military bases in Niger. These bases are part of efforts to tackle jihadist groups in the wider Sahel region.
The junta leader, who headed the presidential guard before seizing power on 26 July, said military intervention could worsen the Islamist insurgencies linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
“They seem ignorant to the fact that it is in large part thanks to the professionalism and valour of the defence and security forces of Niger that Niger has remained a barrier preventing terrorist hordes from destabilising the whole region,” he said.
The coup mirrors similar recent takeovers in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali.
And the influence of Russia in the wider Sahel region is also growing through its mercenary group Wagner.
Gen Tchiani did not give details about the handover of power, but said the principles for the transition would be decided within 30 days at a “dialogue” hosted by the coup leaders.
Ecowas has not yet commented on the announcement except to say that during the visit on Saturday, mediators also met Mr Bazoum, who has been in detention with his wife and son since the coup.
Their delegation was led by former Nigerian military leader Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar and also included Nigeria’s most senior Muslim leader, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III.
He wields huge influence in Niger, part of which used to be in the Sokoto Caliphate, a powerful kingdom before colonial rule.
Saturday’s meeting was was the first between leaders of the junta and Ecowas.
Programme Director of INVEST, Appiah Wiafe Adofo, has stated that despite recent investments and renewed endeavors to align Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with the nation’s industrial goals, the persisting issue of perceiving TVET as suitable only for those with weaker academic inclinations remains a significant obstacle.
In addition to this, a significant challenge identified three years into the implementation of the Innovation in Non-Traditional Vocation Education and Skill Training (INVEST) project, a five-year initiative by the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) aimed at training 5000 young women in TVET nationwide, is the lack of synchronization between government and private sector involvement in curriculum development and student training.
Asked what the missing links are in the quest to transform the TVET space, she said: “I think there are two main challenges. One of them is the negative perception of TVET in general in the country. Most people still think TVET is for people who did not perform well in school, meanwhile you need to be strong in Mathematics and Science to venture into TVET. So, I think the perception of the TVET is one of the huge plots”.
“The second thing is the lack of coordination between the public sector and the private sector. There is an avenue for bringing in industry to contribute to the development of curriculum and training. So far, this has not been done in the most practical way,” Ms Wiafe Adofo stated.
With title or no involvement of industry in the development of curriculum and the training of students, she lamented that there continues to exist a gulf between TVET education – classroom lessons and the needs of industries, a situation which has the potential to derail the industrial aspirations of the country if not addressed urgently.
“What I’m basically saying is that you can make the curriculum relevant and train students to the best you want; but if you are not training in skill areas that industry needs, then it is still not useful. This is the other major disconnect,” she told the B&FT during an INVEST project review workshop in Accra.
Way forward
To make TVET education align with the industrialisation goals of the economy, Ms. Wiafe Adofo called for a change in how society views TVET education and profession, emphasising the need for more technical hands in the country’s development.
In addition to this, she underscored the significance of industry and decision-makers working hand in hand to tailor curriculum and TVET training to the current and future needs of industry.
Apart from this, she advocated increased sensitisation for young people to enable them to understand the available opportunities and the kind of training required to take advantage of them.
“There are a whole number of young people who are not informed about opportunities and the kind of training they need to take advantage of these opportunities,” she further noted.
Workshop
The INVEST project by WUSC – an international non-governmental organisation, aims to facilitate women entry into the labour market, particularly male-dominated disciplines, utilising technical vocational education and training at zero cost to beneficiaries.
So far, Madam Wiafe Adolfo disclosed at the workshop that more than half – 2,900 – of the 5000 target has been achieved, with its organisers confident that the set number will be realised by the March 2025 deadline. “We targeted 5000 young women to be reached through different pathways, including access to skills training, access to financial support, access to business supporting services like entrepreneurship as well as mentorship and coaching.”
She expressed appreciation for the support from industry and other key stakeholders, adding that the project has been hugely successful. “We have received resounding support from the industries that we work with and we hope to continue creating an enabling environment for women to thrive,” she said.
The number of maternal death cases reported in the Ahafo region during the first half of 2023 has alarmed Ahafo Regional Minister George Boakye.
He has urged the Regional Health Directorate to exert greater effort in combating this alarming trend.
During the Goaso-based Ahafo Regional Health Directorate’s 2023 Mid-Year Performance Review Meeting, the Minister expressed his worries.
He pointed out that despite the dedicated efforts of healthcare workers, the region has seen a significant rise in maternal deaths compared to the same period last year, which is deeply troubling.
Mr Boakye emphasised the urgency of the situation, noting that the reported figures for maternal deaths in the first half of this year are alarming.
He urged the Regional Health Directorate to strengthen its strategies and interventions to effectively curb this rise in maternal mortality.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kwabena Boakye Boateng, the Ahafo Director for the Ghana Health Service, echoed the Minister’s concerns.
In an interview with Adom News, he acknowledged that maternal deaths remain a critical issue in the Ahafo Region, despite the efforts of healthcare staff.
Dr Boateng disclosed that while the region recorded three cases of maternal deaths within the first six months last year, the number has risen to ten cases for the same period this year.
He revealed that the Directorate is currently conducting a comprehensive assessment to identify the underlying causes of this increase and to develop targeted strategies for its prevention.
The Ahafo Regional Health Directorate’s commitment to addressing this pressing issue is evident as they work to ensure that every mother in the region receives quality healthcare and experiences safe pregnancies and childbirth.
Some 249 individuals will commence their roles as permanent employees at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in September this year.
“The development is a significant milestone as the office operated without permanent staff since its establishment in 2018,” a report issued by the Special Prosecutor, Mr Kissi Agyebeng and copied the Ghanaian Times has stated.
The report titled “Two Years on, Gains So Far!” said in addition to retrofitting 10 storey structures from zero to 249 permanent staff, the report stated that the OSP extended its three-bedroom house to 10-storey building.
Mr. Agyebeng listed several ongoing investigations, which encompass cases involving the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited, unauthorized mining, the National Sports Authority, Ghana Water Company, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Airbus SE, Bank of Ghana, Ghana Police Service, and the assets of Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie also known as Sir John.
He said the OSP had improved citizens’ engagement through a functioning website and social media handles.
According to Mr Agyebeng, ongoing trials in five cases in three regions were at various stages.
The cases were the Republic v. Adjenim Boateng and another, the Republic V. Issah Seidu, the Republic v. Alexander Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka, the Republic v. Sumaila Abdul Seidu and Andrew Kuundaari, OSP v. Charles Owusu and another (Estate of Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie), and OSP v. Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
Mr Agyebeng said his office completed investigations into the case of Charles Adu Boahen, former Deputy Minister of Finance, Gaming Commission, and Charles Bissue, former Presidential and awaiting consequential orders.
He said the OSP stopped payment of Northern Development Authority (NDA) contract sum in excess of GH¢5m.
Investigating issuance of customs advance rulings and markdowns, investigating irregular auction of sales of vehicles, and recovery of a little over GH¢ 1 million.
The OSP said the European Union (EU) was funding cybersecurity lab including forensic laboratory, operational vehicles and vehicles for senior staff.
To ensure good governance, Mr Agyebeng said the OSP had intensified public education on corruption- issued two major special corruption reports; Customs-Labianca report, NDA report, public education on role and functions of the OSP, compliance of prevention of corruption directive to Ghana Revenue Authority (production of Integrity plans) and publication of up-to-date Statutory Half Yearly report and a toll free line for filing of complaints.
A Ghanaian national has made it at the BBC News Komla Dumor awards.
TV presenter and journalist Paa Kwesi Asare has won the 2023 BBC News Komla Dumor Award.
The 36-year-old is the eighth recipient of the award and the first to come from Ghana, like the late Komla Dumor.
Asare is currently the head of business news at Ghana’s private TV3 channel, where he has worked for seven years as one of its main news anchors.
The award was created to honour Dumor, a presenter for BBC World News, who died suddenly aged 41 in 2014.
He had worked tirelessly to bring a more nuanced African narrative to the world, representing a confident, savvy and entrepreneurial side of Africa.
The judges were impressed by Asare’s strong journalism and his ability to explain complex topics compellingly and clearly.
“This for me is a watershed moment in my career and an opportunity I’ll grab with both hands,” said Asare, who will spend three months working with BBC News teams in London across TV, radio and online.
The Ghanaian broadcaster will also receive training and be mentored by leading BBC journalists.
As part of the placement, he will travel to a country in Africa to report on a story that will be broadcast to the BBC’s global audiences.
“I feel very elated to have won the BBC News Komla Dumor Award,” Asare said.
“This is arguably the most prestigious award for any African journalist. Komla’s talent is one that I greatly admired and to be found worthy of walking in his shoes is not only a joy but also a great privilege.”
Previous award recipients are Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya, Victoria Rubadiri, Solomon Serwanjja, Waihiga Mwaura, Amina Yuguda, Didi Akinyelure and Nancy Kacungira, the inaugural winner.
Last year, Buyoya travelled to the Seychelles to report on how the country’s ocean plants can help tackle climate change.
Some government employees in the capital of Indonesia started working from home on Monday as part of initiatives to ease traffic congestion and lessen the terrible air pollution that has gripped the city and is thought to be the cause of President Joko Widodo‘s ongoing cough.
With a population of 10.5 million, the megacity of Jakarta has seen its air quality worsen to alarming levels recently. On August 9, the Swiss technology company IQAir named Jakarta the most polluted city in the world.
Widodo has called for urgent government action, and on August 14 he presided over an emergency cabinet meeting with ministers to tackle the deteriorating air quality. He also made an appeal to workers in the capital to reduce traffic by working from home.
“The air quality in the Greater Jakarta Area has been very, very bad,” remarked Widodo. “Pollution levels have increased due to the prolonged dry season, which has lasted for the past three months… We will promote a hybrid work system in offices, which combines on-site and remote work, if it is judged required.
Heru Budi Hartono, the interim governor of Jakarta, issued an order mandating that half of the public service begin working from home on Monday. From September through October 21, the percentage of employees who work from home would progressively rise to 75%.
According to Sigit Wijatmoko, a spokeswoman for the Jakarta provincial government, the restriction will only apply to government offices and not to hospitals, fire and rescue services, or public transportation.
According to Wijatmoko, “work from home arrangements won’t disrupt public services,” in remarks carried by CNN affiliate CNN Indonesia. The work will go on.
Distance learning will be required of students at nearby schools starting in September, noted Wijatmoko.
The 43rd ASEAN Summit, which will take place at the Jakarta Convention Centre in early September, is putting pressure on Indonesian politicians. Ten Southeast Asian nations are part of the regional bloc known as ASEAN, many of which have long struggled with high pollution levels in their major cities.
President Widodo’s cough has been bothering him for weeks, according to ministers in the Southeast Asian nation, who also claimed it might be due to the deteriorating air quality in Jakarta.
According to experts, industry, coal-fired power plants, and traffic jams all contribute to the air pollution that has long plagued the Greater Jakarta area.
Sandiaga Uno, the minister of tourism, told reporters following last week’s emergency cabinet meeting that the government was considering “concrete steps” to long-term improve Jakarta’s air quality.
Sandiaga Uno, the minister of tourism, earlier remarked, “If we look at Beijing’s success, I am very confident that with the collaboration of local governments and businesses, we can also improve the air quality in Jakarta.” She was referring to the Chinese government’s success in doing the same in its capital.
The health costs of Indonesia’s air pollution cannot be understated, experts previously told CNN.
Until recently, when the West African country experienced some economic downturns, Ghana has been touted as one of the fastest-growing Up until a recent period, Ghana had been recognized as one of the rapidly expanding economies in Africa, but this perception shifted due to economic challenges faced by the West African nation.in Africa.
The nation has also received endorsements as a secure center for business activities and investment opportunities.
Ghana is home to more than 100 individuals with multimillionaire status, including some who remain unfamiliar to the public.
Nonetheless, among those who have publicly disclosed their net worth, the count of men surpasses that of women.
According to billionaires.africa.com, her wealth is estimated at $720 million.
Patricia holds the 12th position among Ghana’s millionaires. Nonetheless, she stands out as the sole woman possessing a substantial net worth of $720 million.
Here is a list of the richest people in Ghana
Charles Ampofo $1.46 billion
Ernesto Taricone $1.3 billion
Dr. Kwame Addo Kuffuor $1.2 billion
Samuel Esson Jonah $1.2 billion
Osei Kwame Despite $1 billion
Nabil Edmond Moukarzel $900 million
John Mahama $900 million
Michael Ibrahim Mahama $860 million
Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed Odaymat $850 million
Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong $800 million
The Ilanis $800 million
Patricia Poku-Diaby $720 million
Among the women whose net worths are known, Patricia Poku Diaby leads the list with the highest.
About Patricia Poku Diaby
Patricia Poku Diaby is a Ghanaian with over 29 years of experience as an entrepreneur, innovator, and business leader who has been recognized both locally and globally.
According to reports, her career took off at a trading and transport company owned by her father in Abidjan.
The experience gained propelled Patricia into the establishment of her own trading company, Plot Enterprise, in Côte d’Ivoire.
She has also established a large-scale cocoa processing factory to add value to cocoa, as against exporting the raw material, she went on to establish Plot Enterprise (Gh) Ltd, a modern, state-of-the-art cocoa processing facility, in Takoradi, in 2010.
The company gained international recognition within a relatively short period and is ranked among the highest in Food Safety Management Systems.
In her quest to achieve horizontal integration and offer multiple-origin products, Plot Enterprise SA, Côte d’Ivoire, acquired a cocoa grinding facility in Abidjan.
Patricia’s current business portfolio includes two cocoa sourcing companies in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, of which she is the founder and chair of the board of directors.
The highly anticipated Chale Wote Street Art Festival begins in Accra today, August 21, and will bring together style, fashion, procession, and uplifting works of art in one place.
The week-long celebration, which kicks off with an all-white procession Monday evening, is anticipated by patrons as another exciting event.
All age groups will participate in the “remembrance walk,” which will leave from Christianborg Castle and travel through Osu Township and a few key streets.
Other events planned include art exhibits, local movie screenings, the theatre production “Na Wo Se Sn,” a live performance by top Ghanaian musicians, and a variety of thought-provoking engagements. On Sunday, everything will come to a head at Black Star Square.
The decision to move this year’s celebration to Osu and the Black Star Square was made because organisers anticipate a large turnout, just like in previous years.
Leading Ghanaian and international artists will present collections of their works that illustrate the Gold Coast’s long history of colonial invasion resistance as well as pieces that were influenced by the 1835 uprising of enslaved Afro-Brazilians.
Visitors can explore historic sites and buildings in addition to seeing the artistic creations of the artists to learn about the fascinating history of the Osu neighbourhood.
Chale Wote is described as “an exploration of the full spectrum of all genres of fine and performing art; giving a sunrise opportunity for less well-known art and artists” in addition to being an art and music festival.
In the coming seven days, keep an eye on this space for in-depth coverage of the Chale Wote experience.
As Beijing increases its attention and rhetoric on national security, Chinese officials on Monday officially accused a government employee of spying for the CIA. This is the second high-profile espionage case to be made public this month.
The Ministry of State Security, the nation’s civilian intelligence organisation, stated in a statement that it is looking into a cadre at an unnamed ministry who was allegedly recruited by the CIA when he was studying in Japan.
According to the ministry, the 39-year-old Chinese national, only known by his last name Hao, met a representative of the US embassy in Japan while he was requesting a US visa.
According to the statement, the US official treated Hao to dinners, sent him gifts, and paid him to assist with the writing of a research paper in order to foster a close relationship.
The ministry asserted that after introducing Hao to a coworker, a representative of the US embassy requested him to go back to China to work for a “core and critical department.” The colleague eventually revealed himself to be a CIA agent.
According to the statement, Hao allegedly consented, signed an espionage contract with the US, and underwent training.
After arriving home in China, Hao was hired by a ministry and allegedly met with CIA officials several times to “provide intelligence and collect espionage funds,” according to the Chinese spy agency. It stated that more research is being done on the matter.
A worker at an unnamed Chinese military industrial organisation who was supposedly recruited while studying in Italy was found to be a spy for the CIA, according to a declaration made just 10 days earlier by the same ministry.
The Ministry of State Security made statements regarding both events on Wechat, China’s super app, where it had earlier this month created its first social media account with a public profile.
The covert organisation, which manages counterintelligence operations both domestically and abroad, has raised its prominence to deter espionage among Chinese citizens.
The ministry encouraged “all members of society” to take part in the fight against espionage in its first post on Wechat, and it promised awards and protection for those who shared information.
To combat what he perceives as mounting threats from “foreign forces,” particularly the United States, to undermine China’s progress and political stability, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has made national security a top priority.
Long-standing spying relationships between the US and China have intensified due to the recent deterioration in relations between the two greatest economies in the world.
Two US Navy sailors in California earlier this month were detained on suspicion of giving Chinese espionage agents confidential US military information.
Minister of Roads and highways,Kwasi Amoako Atta, arrested two illegal miners and forced them to wash mud on tarred Akrofufu to Twapease roads in Atiwa West District.
The illegal miners brought an excavator with a low-bed truck vehicle from their mining site close to the roadside, spreading mud on the tarred road and causing congestion.
The Minister who is also a Member of Parliament for the area in the company of some constituency executives of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) bumped into the gridlock while returning from a funeral at Twapease over the weekend.
When the Minister saw the destruction to the road shoulders and the mess the illegal miners had made on the road, he furiously ordered his police guard to arrest the illegal miners; two of them were caught, but the others managed to flee.
The illegal miners were forced to wash mud on about one kilometer of the road.
“My party executives and I were from a funeral, and we came to meet this low bird trailer with Galamsey excavator. Look at this distance, more than a kilometer of road have been destroyed -so muddy.
“The entire stretch of the tarred road has been muddied so no car could cross. All the vehicles have parked at both. They have destroyed the shoulders if the road so I stopped and ordered my bodyguard to arrest them”.
He continued that the illegal miners arrested have been handed over to the police.
”Their galamsey activities are destroying the road constructed with huge amount of the taxpayer’s monies. Look at the destruction”.
I have handed them over to the police for the law to take its cause. The police in their own wisdom will carry their own investigation”.
Hon. Amoako Atta declared what he calls “negative tolerance” to illegal mining in the area warning that henceforth, illegal miners will be clamped down in the district.
“I am the member of Parliament for this constituency, and I am going to work with my District Chief Executive who is head if DISEC to support the position of Government. The President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo has put his presidency on the line to fight Galamsey to protect the environment for posterity. We have to protect our water bodies we to protect our land.”
Fresh details on how much government has invested into the new Bank of Ghana headquarters have popped up.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has published new documents relating to the now controversial new head office of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
The documents relate to correspondence between the Ministry of Finance and the central bank on among others, the issue of variation of project cost.
The most recent of the four letters published – two on the part of the Ministry and two from the BoG, is dated
17th January 2023, and is written by the Central Tender Review Committee (CTRC) of the ministry.
Among others, the committee said issues it had raised in an earlier correspondence remained “unsatisfactorily addressed” by the BoG. It also advised the BoG to stick to all designs at present “to avoid huge variation costs in future procurement.”
The letter also affirmed that the revised scope of work had been pegged at US$222,760.55.
The lawmaker pointed out that the current figure was not inclusive of the cost of land for the project which he hinted was also saddled with issues.
“It is imperative to point out that the latest variation figure of US$222.79million is without the cost of the land. The cost of land and its dubious acquisition would be the focus of another episode.
“Contrary to claims by some NPP propagandists that the skyrocketing cost of the BoG head office project is due to general inflation and in particular, rising cost of building materials — the Central Tender Review Committee exposes those claims as false,” his post read in part.
Days after its rivals in the region staged a historic summit, and as joint military drills between the US and South Korea begin nearby, North Korean official media revealed pictures of its leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a missile launch on Monday.
Kim was reportedly present to see the launch of strategic cruise missiles from a patrol ship that is a part of the North Korean Navy’s East Sea Fleet, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Kim was on board the patrol ship as it was examined for armaments and combat readiness. According to KCNA, Kim “highly praised the ship for maintaining high mobility and mighty striking power and constant preparedness for combat to cope with sudden situation.”
The missile test, it was stated, showed off the ship’s capabilities and trained the sailors for “carrying out the attack mission in actual war.”
Kim can be seen in photos published by KCNA, standing on the ship’s deck next to uniformed sailors while wearing a white and black outfit. Other images capture the actual test, in which a missile is seen launching from a ship in a cloud of smoke.
While the article did not mention the test’s date, KCNA published the images on Monday, the first day of the US and South Korea’s ten-day, extensive joint military exercises.
In response to the rising risks in the Indo-Pacific region and North Korea’s quick expansion of its own nuclear testing programme, the two nations have recently boosted their military and economic cooperation.
According to South Korean authorities, suspected North Korean hackers allegedly targeted a company involved in the exercises on Sunday, just before the joint manoeuvres started. However, the security system stopped them, and no military-related data was taken. The US military and South Korean officials are currently investigating the hacking attempt.
Seoul also reacted to the North Korean missile exercise on Monday, labelling state media claims as “exaggerated and in many cases different from the facts.” The Joint Chiefs of Staff of the nation stated that Seoul and Washington were both keeping an eye on Pyongyang’s activities and that the South Korean military was prepared to “respond to any provocation by North Korea.”
After making a commitment to forge a stronger alliance during the first-ever stand-alone trilateral summit on Friday at Camp David in the US, the leaders of South Korea, Japan, and the US conducted a missile test shortly after.
Following their meeting, the three presidents unveiled a new yearly trilateral summit, a three-way hotline, and an agreement to hold yearly military drills and exchange intelligence.
The summit was a show of force against China’s military and economic aggressiveness and North Korea’s provocative behaviour, even though it did not result in a three-way collective defence agreement.
The three presidents reaffirmed their call for North Korea to denuclearize in their joint statement, asking it to “abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes,” and denouncing its “unprecedented number of ballistic missile launches.”
Menzgold Ghana has announced the cancellation of a paid customer validation process in its efforts to facilitate the processing of payments for its aggrieved customers.
The company informed its clients in a letter dated August 18, 2023 that the validation was necessary following the initial assessments, which revealed that a significant number of claims contained unacceptable infractions.
In response to the press release, customers still seeking their funds and people believing that the embattled CEO Nana Appiah Mensah (NAM1) was attempting to fleece former clients were outraged.
Two days on, in a press release dated August 20, the company announced that it was abandoning the plan that requested GH¢650 from customers.
It read in part: “Following concerns by some well-meaning Ghanaians and an extensive engagement with stakeholders with respect to our 18th August, 2023 press release, we have resolved as follows;
“That Menzgold would cease the production and printing of the PVC Digital Access Cards, which imposes cost burden and shall resort to the printing of the PIN Codes only, for onwards distribution at no cost.
It stated a number of conditions under which the new arrangement will be carried out. Among others,
READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
20″ August, 2023
RE: GET VERIFIED AND GET PAID
Following concerns by some well-meaning Ghanaians and an extensive engagement with stakeholders with respect to our 18” August, 2023 press release, we have resolved as follows;
1. That Menzgold would cease the production and printing of the PVC Digital Access Cards, which imposes cost burden and shall resort to the printing of the PIN Codes only, for onwards distribution at no cost subject to the following conditions, that;
* Clients with INVALID status may choose to ether walk away or still in the face of the ‘one or several of the ten (10) invalidity status reasons provided, adamantly proceed to seek redress or review of the invalidity determination, which shall come at a fee to avoid the abuse of our time, human and logistic resources.
2. To request an Access Card for verification, we require Customers to satisfy “Proof of transaction with Menzgold by providing the following documents via Email at; info@payboy.com;
* A copy of the Customer’s Gold Trading Agreement and a copy of any National ID
card, with both documents bearing the same name.
* Copies of the supporting documents submitted for validation acknowledgement
receipt.
3. We urge Customers to contact any of the authorized Payboy Agents introduced in our release on the 16” August, 2023, for courier arrangements to receive the Verification Access Cards.
4. Please note that by this development, the roadmap outlined in our 9” August, 2023 release shall be unaffected. The verification exercise Is stl scheduled for the 14% August, 2023 to 16 September, 2023.
In a race clouded by worries of a democratic backslide, anti-corruption candidate Bernardo Arévalo of the left-leaning Movimiento Semilla party appears to have won Guatemala’s presidential election on Sunday. He defeated former first lady Sandra Torres.
Arévalo claimed at a press conference shortly after unofficial election results showed he had won a majority that the people had “spoken loudly.”
“Enough of so much corruption,” the populace is screaming at us, he continued. “This is a demonstration of the change of thought that we are witnessing in Guatemala. “Guatemalans today have hope, and we are commemorating the restoration of our nation’s sense of hope on the streets.”
He noted that the presidents of Mexico and El Salvador, as well as President Alejandro Giammattei, had already called to congratulate him on his victory.
According to official figures from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, Arévalo received 59.1% of the vote against Torres’ 36.1% after more than 95% of the ballots had been counted.
It’s a surprise victory for the former diplomat who rekindled the campaign after the state disqualified opposition candidates for speaking out against corruption, raising concerns from rights organisations and Western allies.
“Corruption is a phenomena that has crept into society’s many institutions and has invaded a variety of settings. “Recovering those spaces will be our task,” Arévalo stated on Sunday.
As it became clear that Arévalo had won by a wide majority on Sunday night, the president of the electoral tribunal, Irma Palencia, declared during a press conference that “today, the people voice’s spoke.”
“Long live Guatemala!” was written by Arévalo in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Alejandro Giammattei, the president of Guatemala, congratulated Arévalo on his victory and promised to “extend the invitation to start the ordered transition the day after the results are official.”
With his pledges to reduce crime and corruption, combat malnutrition, and spur prosperity in a nation with one of the highest levels of inequality in the region, the center-left politician Arévalo tapped into enormous public anger.
Arévalo, whose father was the nation’s first democratically elected president, won’t have an easy time achieving those aims because Congress is expected to be dominated by establishment parties, including Torres’ Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza.
Analysts warn that there might also be attempts to thwart Arévalo’s victory, citing efforts by state actors to have him disqualified following his unexpected second place performance in the first round of voting in June.
Rafael Curruchiche, the head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity and a member on the Engel List of “corrupt and undemocratic actors,” asked a Guatemalan court to suspend his Movimiento Semilla party.
Arévalo has refuted the accusation that Movimiento Semilla forged citizens’ signatures, which Curruchiche claimed was the subject of their investigation.
In recent years, thousands of Guatemalans have migrated to the United States as a result of increased kleptocracy, graft, and a weakened rule of law, according to regional experts. His victory comes amid this trend.
After the dissolution of the CICIG anti-corruption commission in 2019, which rights organisations claim contributed to hundreds of convictions, the situation reportedly got worse.
Many of the commission-related prosecutors and judges who were detained and subjected to investigations have now left the country. High levels of poverty and malnutrition have been present in the succeeding years.
Media professionals who have fought corruption in their reports have also seen legal repercussions. José Rubén Zamora, a well-known journalist from Guatemala, was sentenced to six years in prison this year for money laundering in what the ruling press organisations called an assault on free expression.
A soldier’s life was tragically lost at the Michel Camp, as confirmed by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF). Private Bayou Roger, a member of the 5 Infantry Battalion, met an unfortunate end when his rifle accidentally discharged, leading to his instant demise.
The incident occurred on August 19, 2023, at the Base Ammunition Depot (BAD), where Private Bayou was stationed as part of a platoon from the Southern Command. According to the preliminary investigative report, he was sitting on his bed, waiting to take over a duty post at 0800 hours. In a heartbreaking turn of events, his rifle discharged unexpectedly, striking him beneath his chin and causing fatal injuries.
The Ghana Armed Forces, represented by Brigadier General E Aggrey-Quashie, Director General of Public Relations, expressed profound condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones of the deceased soldier. The tragedy has prompted a collaborative effort between the Homicide Unit of the Ghana Police, specifically from the GBETSELE Police Station, and the Military Police to thoroughly investigate the incident.
As Private Bayou Roger is conveyed to the 37 Military Hospital mortuary, the GAF emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive inquiry into the matter. Accidental incidents like these underscore the significance of safety protocols and training within military environments. The loss of a dedicated soldier serves as a solemn reminder of the risks inherent to their profession.
Attached below is a copy of the statement SUSPECTED ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING AT BASE AMMUNITION DEPOT The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) regrets to announce the death of a soldier from the 5 Infantry Battalion, Private (Pte) Bayou Roger, as a result of a suspected accidental discharge. Pte Bayou, was part of a platoon from Southern Command performing duties at the Base Ammunition Depot (BAD) near Michel Camp. The sad incident occurred on Saturday, 19 August 2023 at about 0750 hours at BAD. Preliminary investigative report indicates the soldier was seen sitting on his bed, waiting to relieve his colleague at a duty post at 0800 hours when his rifle went off hitting him under his chin; killing him instantly. The body of the deceased soldier has since been conveyed to the 37 Military Hospital mortuary. A team from the Homicide Unit of Ghana Police (GBETSELE Police Station) is collaborating with the Military Police to investigate the fatal incident. GAF takes this opportunity to express its deepest condolences to the bereaved family, colleagues, friends and loved ones of the deceased soldier.
A developer associated with the Millenium City Construction Company in the Central region, Kofi Asthma, has revealed plans to demolish more than 5,000 houses in the vicinity due to encroachment activities.
Under the leadership of the Central East Police Command, a group of more than 100 police officers conducted a marking operation to pinpoint residences that have unlawfully encroached upon the properties of others.
Kofi Asthma indicated that the marking of the houses is the first stage of the process as a result, those who were affected are to visit their office for negotiation or face demolition of their apartments which is the second stage.
The developer at Millennium City called on the affected individuals to comply with the directive otherwise their houses would be demolished.
“If you have seen Police men going around in Millennium City, it is by the order of the court. People are trying to destroy our estate. Most of them are foreigners and because of small money, they are giving us trouble. Our clients are unable to develop their land when they buy from us.
“They keep saying I don’t have any land in Millennium City, but I am daring them to come forward with documents. We went to Ofaakor Circuit Court to take a court order to move the encroachers from our land. Those whose houses have been earmarked must know that this is the first phase of the exercise, the second phase will be the demolition stage. They must either come forward for renegotiation or face demolition,” Citinewsroom.com quoted Kofi Asthma as having said.
The developer of the construction company lamented the activities of land guards that have created an unconducive atmosphere in the area.
“The issue of the land guard is disturbing the peace of the people of Millennium City. They demand digging fees, threatening the lives of developers, and making life unbearable for developers,” Kofi Asthma said according to citinewsroom.com
A famous rapper from Tunisia has moved to Italy without permission because the economy in his country is getting worse.
A person, whose songs have been seen almost 15 million times on YouTube, recently took a risky boat journey to Sicily.
The news outlet Mosaique FM reported that the rapper arrived in the southern Italian city of Palermo. He had traveled with a group of migrants from his hometown, Sousse.
People on social media are sharing a video that they think shows Hassen (whose real name is Hassen Sassi) crossing the Mediterranean Sea on a little boat with other people from Tunisia. But, it has not been confirmed by anyone else.
Tunisia is facing a serious economic crisis that has forced a lot of people to do extreme things in the hope of having a better life in another country. Earlier this year, a football club from Tunisia stopped playing because 32 of its players moved to Europe.
Tunisia is now the main place where African migrants leave from when they want to go to Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea. More and more Tunisians are choosing to travel by sea on a very dangerous route for migration.
In Port-au-Prince, thousands of Haitians have fled their homes due to the rising gang violence, which has claimed more than 2,400 lives so far this year.
The Carrefour-Feuilles district was taken over by gang members this week, according to the UN, and 5,000 people fled the area.
As government efforts to stop the violence failed, local aid organisations have suspended essential services.
A decision regarding the dispatch of a multinational force to assist in reestablishing order must be made by the UN Security Council soon.
In Carrefour-Feuilles and nearby areas, where there has been a lot of fighting between gangs for several months, many people were seen carrying suitcases or loading their cars with their belongings to leave.
A video from Reuters news agency showed women crying next to the body of a man who was murdered by gang members.
According to Reuters, a lot of people who were able to get away gathered at a nearby military base and asked for assistance in dealing with the gangs.
Haiti is one of the poorest and most-violent countries in the world due to many years of instability, disasters, and economic problems.
Gang fighting has increased a lot since President Jovenel Moïse was killed in 2021. This made many parts of the country not under the control of the government anymore.
The fighting over land has led to more people needing to leave their homes, not enough food to go around, many people being killed, people being taken against their will, and sexual crimes happening more often.
According to Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the UN rights office, this year, at least 2,439 Haitians have died, 902 have been hurt, and 951 have been taken by force.
She said that news from Haiti this week has shown that the violence against the people there is very brutal.
She said that people joined together to form vigilante groups to fight against the gangs, but unfortunately, these groups caused 350 individuals to be killed since April. Out of these, 310 were said to be members of a gang, and one of them was a police officer.
As per early information shared by a local rights group, 30 individuals lost their lives and more than a dozen were injured in assaults in the city on Thursday.
The US embassy, which has already sent home workers who are not needed urgently, shut down on Thursday because there was continuous shooting nearby.
Haiti’s government said they will send all their people to bring back order to Carrefour-Feuilles. However, the police force that is not well-prepared has had difficulties in dealing with gangs who have a lot of weapons.
The International Red Cross said that within a few days, the level of violence increased significantly. This was especially true in the places where they were collaborating with local organizations.
The street barriers put up by fighting gangs were preventing people from getting assistance, it said.
Ann Lee, one of the founders of a crisis response group called CORE in the US, said that a lot of global organizations had left because of more and more threats and violence towards their employees.
Someone who works for us had a tragic event happen. Her daughter passed away because she had a sudden health problem and couldn’t reach the hospital in time. We have a worker whose brother was killed by cutting off his head.
Ms Lee said that every member of CORE’s team in Haiti personally knew someone who had been a victim of the violence.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a report on Tuesday that a strong military presence from multiple countries is necessary to bring back peace and take away weapons from the gangs.
Kenya has said that it is willing to take charge of such a group. The council will think about the issue in the next few weeks.
From October 15 to October 29, 2023, the Ga Traditional Council has implemented a temporary suspension of funeral events in the Greater Accra Region.
The Council has stated that the instruction aims to establish a tranquil environment in preparation for the funeral of the late Ga Manye, Naa Dedei Omaedru III, who passed away in December 2022.
There will be an observation of a two-week period of rites that will be performed to bid farewell to the late Ga Manye, whose funeral is slated for October 23 to 30, 2023.
The Ga Traditional Council disclosed the ban on August 15, 2023, when a book of condolence was opened for the chiefs to sign in honor of the late queen’s mother.
“From the 15th of October, no funerals will be allowed in the region because we have to observe that two-week period from that 15th to 29th for only the rites leading to the proper farewell for the queen mother. Then there will be no installation of any traditional office holder till after the funeral.
“But in the week of the burial, there will be additional measures which we will put out very soon. The additional measures will include the period where shops and commercial activities will be stopped and also there are certain streets which will be closed,” they said, a citinewsroom.com report said.
Ghanaian rapper and Black Avenue Music CEO D-Black expressed regret for having backed the current Akufo-Addo administration in a series of tweets lamenting the state of the nation’s economy.
His outburst was sparked by a throwback post in which he praised President Nana Akufo-Addo and Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta for lowering taxes and making spare parts more affordable.
D-Black bemoaned the high cost of living in the country while withdrawing his praise for the government in a series of tweets in 2017.
In a new twist to events, D-Black now shares the assertion that the reduced taxes for which he praised the government back in 2017 was a tactic to lure citizens to believe a false sense of comfort.
“Chale this be the wagadriii dem take catch we all. No be me p3,” he expressed in English and the Akan language.
Replying to fans on claims that he had been silent on the country’s current state, D-Black wrote,
“Never quiet. We in a big mess right now . And we gotta rise to make a change . Or make we move go kenya ?” he called.
The sushi hitmaker joins a list of celebrities who have regretted their open support for the current government due to economic hardships.
After publicly endorsing the NPP party for three years, actor Prince David Osei recently complained on Twitter about the high cost of living in the country.
Chef Bryant Williams, also known as Chef Baul, started cooking experiments when he was 8 years old.
He has worked in the hospitality sector for more than ten years. But over the years, he has learned about different cuisines on his own.
Having many siblings allowed him to experiment with different cooking techniques. At age 18, he started working as a dishwasher. A few months later, he asked the head chef if he could try cooking. He started working as a prep chef and fell in love with jobs like chopping onions.
Working with food became an outlet for him, giving him priceless alone time to think and make plans for his future. This made him realise how much he loved cooking for other people. He started to picture himself doing this every day and made the decision to start his own private catering company.
He established Chef Baul Catering in 2013, specialising in upscale catering with a focus on southern, Caribbean, and Asian cuisine. He became well-known in the music industry thanks to his delectable dishes and upbeat demeanour, which led to him working as a chef for well-known performers like Cardi B, Offset, Lil Baby, Kendrick Lamar, and Gucci Mane. He eventually accepted the position of personal tour chef for the rappers Migos during their global tour.
After enjoying his role as a personal chef on tour, Chef Baul decided to fulfill his dream of opening his first restaurant in 2019. His goal was to offer his heartfelt dishes in a sophisticated and cozy environment, according to Forbes.
Unfortunately, despite initial success, his restaurant venture quickly collapsed, resulting in the loss of the opportunity that was meant to transform his life. This setback led Chef Baul into a state of despair, causing him to lose not only his aspirations and savings but also his self-assurance. This difficult period eventually led him to homelessness.
In the midst of the gloom, Chef Baul experienced a significant turnaround when he crossed paths with Daniella “Ivy” Emillien. Ivy, a former celebrity hairstylist and the creator of The Ivy League Academy, a financial literacy program, played a pivotal role in his comeback. Through her program, hundreds of black-owned businesses have been able to secure over $1 million in business funding by harnessing the potential of good credit and tailored resources. Ivy, who later became Chef Baul’s wife, helped him rebuild his life thanks to her finance and business skills.
A community of Nigeriens have risen in Ghana as a powerful voice of solidarity and support for their homeland’s former leader, President Bazoum, who has been deposed due to an ongoing coup in Niger.
The group in Ghana are calling for his reinstatement, justifying his calls with claims that the ousted President has played a pivotal role in spearheading transformative development initiatives for Niger.
“Mohamed Bazoum is a good man. We’ve not had a President like him. If he stays in Niger for like 10 years all Niger will develop,” a member of the agitated group said.
On 26 July 2023, a coup d’état occurred in the Republic of the Niger when the country’s presidential guard detained president Mohamed Bazoum, and presidential guard commander general Abdourahamane Tchiani proclaimed himself the leader of a new military junta, shortly after confirming the coup a success.
This was the fifth military coup d’état since the country gained independence from France in 1960, and the first since 2010. The coup was widely condemned by the United States and the country’s former colonialist France, and by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, the latter of which threatened military intervention against the junta. This led to the 2023 Nigerien crisis after the coup.
On 6 August, 57,000 soldiers were counted among the putschists, and 245,000 from ECOWAS members, with France refusing to intervene.
As the call for his reinstatement reverberates across the continent, the collective sentiment from this community echoes loudly: Bazoum must be released.
“We are not happy with how the soldiers came and seized power and it’s affecting everything. People are losing their businesses. The country is in a standstill now. So the soldiers should reinstate the President and hand over power to him because he’s the only one who can develop Niger,” the protesting group said.
Ghanaian musician, Wanlov the Kubolor, has relayed some messages to the Ghana Armed Forces.
The musician has warned against taking part in the coup that is currently taking place in Niger and expressed concern about the possibility of the conytry’s army being called upon to restore order there.
According to Wanlov, the Nigeriens had a reason for overthrowing their ex-president, stating that the overthrown president was corrupt and was giving out the country’s resources to the Europeans.
He added that if chaos results from this coup, “blacks” will not profit in any way from it.
In a post shared on his Twitter page, Wanlov said:
“I have a message to the Ghana Army. I hope you’re all doing well. I am begging you, people, not to risk your lives to go fight other fellow black people in Niger because when you do that, you are going to fight for Macron, you are going to fight for white people and what white people need from Niger”.
“The fact is that the government of Niger is corrupt, they give all their resources to Europe and that is why the Nigeriens got angry and overthrew the president”.
He went on to say that if “Black” troops were sent to fight in Niger, they should be prepared for the possibility of killing one another.
“What you guys are going to do now is that you are going to carry a corrupt person and put him back in charge. Nobody in Niger will welcome you guys. All Nigeriens are against that president. So, this is not a small issue you guys are going to engage yourself in. At the same time, you’re risking your life, you are going to meet fellow Ghanaians, fellow Nigerians, and fellow Africans, and fight them to put in a puppet who belongs to Europe and does their bidding. I beg you guys”, Wanluv the Kubolor said.
After Harry Maguire‘s proposed transfer to West Ham fell through, Erik ten Hag gave a harsh appraisal of his chances of fighting his way back into his plans.
The England defender has had a difficult 18 months, and as a result, his manager has moved him down the central defensive pecking order behind left-back Luke Shaw.
When Ten Hag abruptly withdrew the 30-year-old of his position as club captain earlier this summer, Maguire seemed to have little chance of recovery.
Later, United and West Ham reached an agreement worth £30 million, but this week’s sale failed because Maguire reportedly wanted to stay at Old Trafford and compete for a starting position.
When asked how much football Maguire could anticipate playing this season, Ten Hag scoffed, “It’s up to him [how much he plays].”
He is aware of what I am capable of. You already know what I expect from a centre half since I’ve been here for a year.
“And he can do it; I’ve told you repeatedly that he has the capacity to do it; he just needs to demonstrate it.”
“Then it comes down to character; he has all the skills to play that role, and it is up to him when the time [opportunity] is there,” the author writes.
We need a strong squad, and Harry is one of our players. With Luke Shaw, we have five strong centre backs, and we need that because we will play 50 to 60 games this season.
“We have a very heavy load to cover because all the players are internationals, so I’m glad Harry Maguire is here.”
Benjamin Pavard, a versatile defender for Bayern Munich, had been linked to a move to United, but Maguire’s continued association with the team seems to have allayed the need for reinforcements.
All of the positions in our team are covered, but since we are Manchester United, we are constantly searching for ways to get better. When the chance arises, we will take advantage in the upcoming two weeks.
As I previously stated, we are constantly looking for opportunities, but I believe our squad is strong. With this squad, we are confident that we can achieve our goals.
DopeNation, the innovative Ghanaian twin music duo renowned for their distinctive fusion of Highlife, Afrobeats, Afro-fusion, and Amapiano, is poised to enthral music lovers everywhere with the release of their eagerly anticipated 7-track EP, titled “GhanaPiano.” This thrilling musical journey will revolutionise the sound of modern African music and provide listeners with an unmatched aural experience.
The seven-track EP, “GhanaPiano,” is a testament to DopeNation’s originality and skill at creating contagious melodies that effortlessly straddle genres.
The EP demonstrates the twin duo’s extraordinary songwriting and production skills, fusing Ghana’s vibrant rhythms with elements of the Highlife, Afrobeat, and Amapiano genres to create a harmonious fusion they have aptly dubbed “GhanaPiano.”
Each track on the EP carries its distinctive flavor, offering a rich canvas of emotions and stories that reflect the intricacies of life and the vibrant culture of Ghana.
‘GhanaPiano’ promises to take listeners on an unforgettable musical journey that transcends borders. DopeNation’s dedication to pushing musical boundaries is evident in GhanaPiano’ where they seamlessly blend traditional African sounds with modern production techniques.
The EP also features collaborations with prominent artists such as renowned award-winning rapper, Sarkodie and Medikal.
Commenting on the release, DopeNation expressed their excitement, saying, “We are thrilled to finally share GhanaPiano with the world. This project is a labor of love, and we’ve poured our hearts into every track. We believe it’s a new chapter for us as artists, and we can’t wait for our fans to experience the magic we’ve created.”
‘GhanaPiano’ is scheduled for release on August 18, 2023. DopeNation’s loyal fan base, as well as music enthusiasts worldwide, are eagerly anticipating the EP’s launch.
A contender for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidacy, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has emphasized that the party must adopt a transformative leadership strategy in preparation for the 2024 national elections if it aims to secure victory for a third consecutive term, commonly referred to as “Breaking the 8.”
He expressed concern that the unfavorable condition of the party’s financial situation poses a significant challenge as the 2024 elections approach.
Dr Afriyie Akoto emphasized that unless the party takes proactive steps to address the financial difficulties currently faced by its leadership, the consequences could be dire for the NPP as it approaches the upcoming elections in the coming year.
In an interview with the Ghanaian Times newspaper on August 14, 2023, ahead of the special delegates conference, Dr. Afriyie Akoto disclosed that some of the party’s executives are disappointed due to the financial constraints.
“The party has a long tradition stretching for over 70 years in the state that cannot be relied upon to deliver the elections next year if nothing is done about it. It needs a radical shake, leadership is weak, financially the party is down and it is affecting the front-line executives as the expectations of their welfare have been disappointed with this low morale, I don’t think one can go into next year,” the Ghanaian Times Newspaper quoted him as having said.
The former minister of Food and Agriculture indicated that the country’s over-dependence on cocoa as a major source of revenue is worrying, hence he will focus on other crops that will help to raise income if elected as president of Ghana.
“We have the potential, we have been relying on cocoa for the past 130 years as our major experience revenue, there are more crops to bring, more but we have been ignored. This is my vision for the party and the country.
“In 2021, agriculture sector growth went up by 8.4 percent and that has never happened like that before, we have expanded the sector to about 1.7 million farmers who have benefitted from this,” he said according to the Ghanaian Times newspaper.
Backround
10 people would be contesting in the NPP presidential primaries which are slated for August and November 2023.
A super delegate conference would be held in August 2023 to reduce the number of contenders to five while the main primaries would be held in November 2023 to choose the party’s presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.
The ten candidates include Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; a former Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen; Kwadwo Poku, an energy expert; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Joe Ghartey; a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto; a former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong; MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong; a former MP for Offinso North, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku; and a former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko.
Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kwadaso constituency, Dr Kingsley Nyarko, has emerged as a vocal critic of the Niger junta’s actions, boldly labeling the coup as “needless.”
The coup, which saw the military wrest control of the West African nation, has ignited a firestorm of debate both domestically and internationally.
And at the center of this discourse stands the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS which is deploying means to restore power to Niger. The outspoken MP also in his reaction to the development minced no words in condemning what he perceives as an unjustifiable power grab.
He, thus, pleaded with the coup leaders to heed the ECOWAS call and restore democratic rule in the country.
On the ECOWAS threat of military invasion, the MP advised the African leaders to resort to dialogue in resolving the conflict saying “I support negotiations that will cause them to go back to democratic rule.”
Celebrity Manchester United fan Rachel Riley claims that if and when the team brings Mason Greenwood back, she will no longer be able to support them.
The 21-year-old has been on indefinite suspension from his club due to allegations involving a young woman after pictures and videos were uploaded online.
Up until the Crown Prosecution Service made the announcement that the case had been dropped six months ago, Greenwood was facing accusations that included attempted rape and violence.
Throughout this time, United has continued to suspend the forward while conducting an internal investigation.
The Premier League powerhouses were reportedly ready to reintegrate the striker earlier this week, but the club has said that is not the case.
However, The Athletic said that CEO Richard Arnold intended to make a video that would be sent to club employees and supporters and explain why he decided to reintegrate Greenwood a week ago.
Greenwood’s return has since been postponed, and Countdown host Riley, a lifetime United supporter who has previously worked for the team, says that once the player’s return is officially announced, she will no longer be able to identify as a fan.
Riley declared on social media that she would be unable to support United if Greenwood remained at the organisation.
We’ve all had enough to see and hear. Part of the issue would be pretending that everything is fine.
It would be disastrous for my club to support a mindset that sweeps this under the rug. I sincerely hope they act morally.
Riley is not the only one who has expressed concern about Greenwood’s prospective comeback; a number of supporters demonstrated in front of Old Trafford before Monday night’s Premier League opener against Wolves.
In a lengthy statement, Female Fans Against Greenwood’s Return claimed that Greenwood’s reintegration “tells us, as women, that we don’t matter.”
Lecturer with the Department of Management and Public Administration at Central University, Dr Benjamin Otchere Ankrah, has stated that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is no longer useful.
He made the remarks on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo morning show following the Coup in Niger and the ECOWAS response to the coup.
Dr Otchere’s concern stems from failure of ECOWAS to address what he believes are pertinent issues bothering the West African bloc, which are also likely to cause instability in the bloc.
One of the key issues he raised is failure of ECOWAS to address the issue of power-hungry politicians clinging to power for extended periods on the African continent, and said these unaddressed issues contribute to the recent uprising on the West African Bloc.
“ECOWAS is not just weak. They are not useful. There are leaders who have been in power for over 30 years and ECOWAS has been silent on that and these are all fertile grounds for such activities [coup],” he said and entreated ECOWAS to up its game.
“The problems of ECOWAS in 1991 are still the same. So let’s look at how to govern the subregion properly and put the ego aside,” he added.
The Premier League returned last weekend with a bang, and the action isn’t slowing down with some exciting games coming up in the coming days.
New-look This weekend’s top matchups are between Tottenham and Manchester United, both of which are eager to build on their performances from their opening games.
With a 5-1 victory over Aston Villa, Newcastle demonstrated that last season was no fluke.
However, an even more difficult test of their improvement under Eddie Howe will come on Saturday night when they go to Manchester City.
With difficult travels to Crystal Palace and West Ham, Arsenal and Chelsea have two London derbies to look forward to.
As usual, Dimitar Berbatov, a representative of Betfair, is present to preview the action. Sheffield United vs. Nottingham Forest
Credit to Forest for the fantastic way they pulled through last season. Both clubs will be fighting for their lives this season, but I predict Forest will triumph this Saturday. Although Sheffield United’s previous game was unfortunate, they will face many challenges in the Premier League. Expectation: 2-1. Bournemouth versus Liverpool
Liverpool struggled against Chelsea and will be eager to earn their first victory of the year. They are very potent, and I anticipate them showing up for this one. I predict Liverpool to win this match. A 3-0 prediction. Brighton vs. Wolves
Wolves’ performance against Man United was impressive, but we also know what Brighton is capable of on a given day. I really like to watch Brighton play because they put in a lot of effort and are extremely good. I’m going to pick Brighton to win this. Expectation: 1-2.
Brentford vs. Fulham
Fulham will do for me. They beat Everton well, Mitrovic is still there, and Adama Traore was acquired. Since Fulham has a strong team, I’ll choose them to win. I’m going with 1-0. Spurs vs. Man U
I’ll be there, and it’ll be a good game. Man United will lose if they continue to play as they did against Wolves. Tottenham did well to score twice against Brentford, but they still need to improve their defence. I believe this situation might easily end in a tie.
Newcastle vs. Man City: Prediction: 2-2
This game is important. Newcastle is not given much credit by the public. The group is excelling. Man City won’t underrate them, but I think this game could have a surprise in store for us, therefore I’m going with a draw. Expectation: 2-2. Everton vs. Aston Villa
For Everton, it will be difficult. The loss on the first day will make Aston Villa unhappy. This weekend, they’ll be looking to get back on track, and I predict they’ll triumph. Expectation: 2-0. Chelsea vs. West Ham
People were astonished when I claimed Chelsea may win the title this year, but they have made some solid acquisitions, and I believe they will defeat West Ham. Chelsea will do very well this year. Expectation: 0–2. Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace
Arsenal will aim to maintain its performance from last year. They need to exercise caution against Palace because they were rusty last week. Going there is not simple, and I believe Palace will make life difficult for Arsenal. I’ll attempt to sketch. I’ll say it’s 1-1.
Following Liverpool’s failure to land their top defensive midfield targets, Jurgen Klopp has justified the decision to sign Wataru Endo.
Endo, the captain of Japan, unexpectedly signed with Liverpool on Friday. The two parties agreed to a four-year contract.
After the Reds missed out on top targets Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, the 30-year-old’s acquisition seemed to come out of nowhere.
Instead of accepting the opportunity to transfer to Anfield, the young talents joined rival Chelsea for a combined cost of £173 million.
Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, two English talents who Liverpool had been trying to acquire, ended up transferring to Real Madrid and Arsenal, respectively, since they were too expensive for Liverpool to pursue.
As a result, some fans are not too pleased with the signing of Endo for the club, at least not in comparison to other players they had been associated with.
Klopp, however, maintains that his new No. 3 is extraordinarily gifted and the ideal addition to his squad, telling LFCTV: “I’m really happy.” Wataru is an excellent player.
“I understand how things work in the world of football and stuff like that, but look at him; he’s a really good player.”
“Experienced player, captain of Stuttgart, captain of Japan, good English speaker, nice guy, family man, footballing machine on the pitch and sensational attitude.”
So, I’m quite pleased. He plays football well, has a lot of experience, and enjoys working very hard.
Following the losses of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and James Milner this summer, Klopp was in a critical need to bring in a defensive midfielder and a player with leadership qualities.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso, Kingsley Nyarko, has opined that corruption cannot be completely eliminated.
Rather, he believes it can only be curtailed.
Speaking in an interview on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo morning show, he said: “No country can eliminate corruption. It’s not possible.”
His remarks follow the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report on corruption and related activities in the country, which revealed that 5 billion cedis have been paid in bribes by Ghanaians to public officials.
Covering the year 2021, the United Nations report revealed that Ghanaians provided bribes to public officials as a means to receive assistance in various sectors such as healthcare, education, security, and the delivery of justice.
In his submission on the report, Dr Kingsley Nyarko noted that corruption is a part of the Ghanaian fabric and there is nothing no one can do to completely eradicate it.
Nonetheless, he held the viewpoint that both the government and the populace have the capacity to adopt behaviors that can effectively reduce the prevalence of corruption.
In his perspective, the most effective strategy to combat corruption involves participating in endeavors that minimize its occurrence and its detrimental effects on the economy. Therefore, he calls upon the nation to embrace appropriate conduct.
Before a Friday noon deadline for evacuation, residents of Yellowknife, Canada, are rushing to flee the city by plane and car.
Hundreds of people have been turned away from crowded flights due to hours-long lines at the airport.
Long traffic lines can be seen on the major route as officials worry that the road may get blocked as the fire gets closer.
On Thursday, it was roughly 15 kilometres (9 miles) from Yellowknife and was one of the 240 fires in the Northwest Territories.
On Saturday, the 20,000-person neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city might be in danger.
Angela Canning told the Associated Press after loading her camper van with her essential items and her two dogs, “I’m really anxious, I’m scared, I’m emotional.”
“I don’t know if I’m coming home or what I’ll find there when I get there. There are simply a lot of unknowns here.
Authorities ordered the evacuation on Wednesday because they are concerned that the major road into and out of the city may be closed off before the fire even gets that far.
In Calgary, Alberta, reception areas have been set up to receive evacuees arriving by plane or vehicle.
In other areas of the territory, about 7,000 people have had to leave their homes due to evacuation orders, while western Canada is also experiencing its worst fire season on record.
The city of Kelowna in British Columbia has declared a state of emergency, and officials there warn that the upcoming days could be among the “most difficult of the summer.”
A sizable queue of people in Yellowknife had gathered outside a nearby high school on Thursday as they waited to sign up for evacuation flights out of the city.
Police and military men proceeded down the queue while it was lightly raining, passing out chairs, snacks and drinks.
Amy Kennedy, the government’s director of communications, however, announced by afternoon local time that just 400 additional passengers could be airlifted out of Yellowknife.
We recognise how extremely frustrating this is for people who have been in queue for several hours and will have to wait in queue once more the following day’, Ms Kennedy wrote.
She claimed that people who had mobility challenges and those with compromised immune systems had been moved up the queue.
Officials stated in a briefing on Thursday night that 22 planes were scheduled to fly on Friday and that 1,800 passengers should be able to board those flights.
According to them, 5,000 individuals must depart Yellowknife by plane.
Locals have charged WestJet and Air Canada with raising the cost of departures from the city as well as the change costs for passengers with impending flights into Yellowknife.
An Air Canada representative told CBC News that direct flight prices had been limited and that the company was now expanding its regular operations in the city.
He did, however, mention that there were “limitations being imposed on flying due to the fires” and that Air Canada had cancelled flights for the day on Saturday.
WestJet informed the publication that it has changed prices to prevent “price escalation” and was cancelling change costs for passengers flying to Yellowknife within the next five days.
Additionally, other airlines have been invited to assist with the city’s exodus.
The city’s mayor and the prime minister reportedly “touched base” to talk about the current state of affairs.
He posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, “I reaffirmed our government’s commitment to providing support both now and in the days and weeks ahead.”
The Northwest Territories are home to about 46,000 people, and the Canadian military has been organising the biggest airlift evacuation operation in the area’s history.
Additionally, evacuation orders have been issued for the towns of Fort Smith, K’atl’odeeche First Nation, Hay River, Enterprise, and Jean Marie River.
An order to evacuate Kakisa, a town of 40 people located 130 km from Hay River, was given on Thursday.
With roughly 1,100 active flames throughout the nation, Canada is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record.
The cause has been attributed by experts to an abnormally warm and dry spring.
According to scientists, the hot, dry weather that is likely to start wildfires is more likely as a result of climate change.
Following Reggie Zippy’s announcement of their divorce, Edith Ward, his ex-wife has taken to social media to launch a barrage of accusations on him.
Edith has asked Reggie to stop portraying her as the villain in her post, adding that it was actually him who ended their relationship.
A ‘fed up’ Edith said she filed for divorce based on infidelity, lies, alcohol, and financial abuse among others.
She expressed that for the past two to three years, Reggie had been involved in an extramarital affair with a certain white lady.
Edith Ward also stated that Reggie had stopped fulfilling his financial obligations to his family, a situation which compelled her to work around the clock just to make ends meet.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, she wrote,
“I walked away and filed for divorce after you betrayed and walked away from our covenant (marriage). Lies, deceit, constant cheating, years of alcohol, and financial abuse made me work day and night to save my family. My love, care, and patience still weren’t enough for you to stop it all, so I decided to save myself and my children from hell. I walked away and never looked back. Now continue to live happily with the ‘white’ (as you like to brag to me) woman you have been with for the past 2-3 years, while still married.
“Start providing for your kids financially and stop creating this false narrative online to make me look bad. I have tried to be the bigger person for a long time and have kept quiet. Now I have had enough too and hope that you can put a stop to this constant emotional abuse. #Truthalwaysprevails#Enoughisenough.”
Reggie bitterly broke the news of his divorce in a long Instagram post, where he ironically detailed how he is tired of not being appreciated enough, and being labeled an irresponsible father among others.
The content of his post seemed as though he has accepted his fate and the constant name-calling from his wife.
“I just want to keep this simple and straight to my point so kindly bear with me. As of Friday 11th, August 2023, at 12:00noon, I am no longer a married man after 15 years of being extremely irresponsible and wicked towards my children and their mother and I apologize to them for my unacceptable behavior as a very foolish father and husband, it was all my fault, I should have known better instead of caring for my children or family. going forward.
“Any woman you see me with is not a side-chick or mistress. I am now a single man who has the freedom and right to live my life and date any woman I want to, especially when she loves me and treats me with respect and gratitude for the little things in any beautiful relationship. After 15 years of being a very useless, selfish, arrogant, manipulative, abusive, gaslighting and heartless father of 3 beautiful children, I have finally accepted that I Reggie Halm am such a horrible human being who doesn’t deserve to ever see or speak to his children because I am a very irresponsible man and father,” parts of his post read.
Popular Kumawood actor, Kwadwo Nkansah widely known as Lilwin has revealed that he charges only Ghc200 as a monthly boarding fee at his school, Great Minds International.
In a recent YouTube video, the actor-musician explained why he chose to assist parents who are unable to pay the high cost of their children’s education.
“Fees are so high in various schools and yet, they are not providing any quality education to reflect the huge monies they are taking.
“Some of these institutions are just taking advantage just because the school is situated in Kumasi. There are those who attend school in Kumasi yet they have nothing to show for while others attend school in a remote village yet have come far in life,” he stated.
He added that although his school is not participating in any kind of competition, they are still making efforts to enable students to achieve excellence.
“My school, Great Minds is not in competition with any school so we are managing the school within our means. As you can see, the school is progressing with the second batch of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) students graduating last Friday,” he said.
The comic actor added that “the only challenge at the moment is that we don’t have enough buses but we are working on it to ease the movement of students from the various townships to town.”
Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye, more than 500 seasoned Ghanaian nurses were lost in the year 2022.
The Ghana Health Service’s Director General mentioned that his organization has implemented strategies to hire and develop additional nurses to address the gap created by the significant number of nurses who have left.
During a press conference organized by the Ministry of Information on August 17, 2023, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye stated that more nurses are expected to be recruited in the next two years per the measures they have put in place.
“We have also lost experienced and skilled staff, but we are also putting systems so that [within] the next two years, we are able to replace them with further training and recruitment.
“[in] the last year we lost about 525 nurses, but we are currently having recruitment for additional nurses across the country,” he said according to the Chronicle newspaper.
He also added that Universal Health coverage by the year 2030 is a major priority for the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to enhance the quality of health care in the country.
“This Service has revisited the strategy to strengthen primary healthcare and deepen our collaboration with partners toward redesigning the primary healthcare system to improve the quality and more patient-centered care” he stated.
The head of the UN’s human rights office has voiced deep concern for the Nigerese people, who he claims will now face even greater hardships as a result of last month’s coup.
Volker Türk urged the military generals to swiftly reestablish the rule of law.
He claimed that in a nation where over half the population lives in abject poverty, the situation was getting worse due to closed borders, halted trade, power outages, and increased food prices.
In order to coordinate potential military action should diplomatic efforts to overthrow the coup fail, West African army chiefs are gathering in Ghana for a second day at the time of his remarks.
The wife of Ghanaian musician Reggie Zippy,Edith Ward, subtly announced her divorce from Reggy Zippy a week ago on her Instagram page.
The member of the X Factor famous Reggie N Bollie music group and his wife have reportedly divorced.
In an instagram post, Edith said, You can’t make people do right by you but you can decide how often you can let them do you wrong. I filed for it. I paid for it. Dealt with it in private. Today it has been granted. My freedom walk continues in truth and peace #ThankYouGod.”
Meanwhile, officially announcing their divorce, Reggy Zippy took to his Instagram post and wrote:
“I just want to keep this simple and straight to my point so kindly bear with me. As of Friday 11th, August 2023, at 12:00noon, I am no longer a married man after 15 years of being extremely irresponsible and wicked towards my children and their mother and I apologize to them for my unacceptable behavior as a very foolish father and husband, it was all my fault, I should have known better instead of caring for my children or family. going forward.
“Any woman you see me with is not a side-chick or mistress. I am now a single man who has the freedom and right to live my life and date any woman I want to, especially when she loves me and treats me with respect and gratitude for the little things in any beautiful relationship. After 15 years of being a very useless, selfish, arrogant, manipulative, abusive, gaslighting and heartless father of 3 beautiful children, I have finally accepted that I Reggie Halm am such a horrible human being who doesn’t deserve to ever see or speak to his children because I am a very irresponsible man and father,” parts of his post read.
Although some netizens have sympathized with Reggie, others are waiting to hear his ex-wife’s side of the story.
In addition to joking that Fulham should be seeking to win the Premier League, Bernd Leno is adamant that they should be looking to finish the job and qualify for Europe this season.
A run of eight losses in their last 13 matches in the top division put an end to the Germany goalkeeper’s hopes of qualifying for Europe last season.
Even though their outstanding first season back in the top flight came to an end in tenth place, Marco Silva’s team was at least spared the scrap for relegation.
After the Londoners’ 1-0 victory at Everton on Saturday, Leno thinks they should once again set lofty goals.
When asked about Fulham’s goals for the upcoming season, he said, “Same as last season – after 20-25 matches we can change the target and say, “We go for Europe or mid-table or whatever” or for the (league) trophy.” No, I’m kidding.
We “only prepare for [the upcoming game] and not what might occur in May of next year.”
Leno asserts that the fact that Fulham managed to keep Manchester City and Manchester United close both at home and away last season should give supporters hope that they can compete with their more seasoned rivals on an equal level.
I think now everyone is aware of our competitiveness. We are capable of competing against the top clubs, especially at home,’ he continued. You can tell that United and City fought against us by looking at them.
‘At the end, we lost these games, but as you can see, the outcome depended on little things, like a goal versus United in the final seconds.
It will be a struggle because we know how to compete with these teams and they know what to anticipate from us.
The Fulham No. 1 acknowledges that the fact that the transfer window is still open and players like Aleksandar Mitrovic and Joao Palhinha are drawing interest will make the coming weeks challenging.
Al-Hilal, a Saudi club, sought Mitrovic, and manager Silva rejected a £40 million deal from Al-Ahli. Al-Hilal is expected to make a new offer of £47 million. West Ham and Liverpool have both been mentioned in connection with Palhinha.
Before Saturday’s home derby against Brentford, there might also be incomings, and Leno said: “Every season you have the same problem.” I arrived the day before the opening match versus Liverpool the previous season. Because I didn’t train much at Arsenal, I didn’t participate in any preseason games or friendlies.
“I had no rhythm, so I had to adjust as quickly as possible, but that’s what we do and why we’re professionals,” the speaker said. I don’t worry about it because the team is really easy to adapt to and the fans help players adapt and gain confidence.
Leno was tight with Aaron Ramsdale, who later took over as the Gunners’ custodian after Leno departed the Emirates in quest of regular first-team action.
Ramsdale recently disclosed that his wife lost her unborn child in January. When asked if he had contacted Ramsdale, Leno replied, “No, not yet. He’s a genuinely nice man, and I believe I truly admire him as a person. Even when we were both goalkeepers for Arsenal, our friendship was great.
“I’m going to talk to him soon, and I think it’s great that he speaks so openly about his personal life. I wish him the best in the future.”
Jofra Archer was shocked to learn Harry Brook was not selected for England’s 50-over World Cup team.
In preparation for their ODI series against New Zealand, which will also compete in the World Cup, England picked a 15-man squad on Wednesday.
Ben Stokes, the team’s Test captain, rejoined the group after ending his ODI retirement, although Brook was not included.
With four hundreds and seven fifties in 20 Test innings, Brook has had an incredible start to his international career. He also helped England win the T20 World Cup at the end of 2022.
The 24-year-old was a regular contributor with four fifties in the last four Tests, despite failing to score his first Ashes hundred in the recent tied series against Australia.
When he learned of Brook’s exclusion, Archer, who was also left off of England’s World Cup roster after experiencing a new injury setback earlier in the year, joined Sky Sports’ coverage of The Hundred.
When asked about the biggest surprise from the announcement of the England squad, women’s captain Heather Knight responded, “I don’t think Harry Brook.
He has certainly been in excellent form and has had a fantastic start to his international career, but there are just too many players to get into that team. It may get challenging.
The Hundred competition was then brought up, and Archer was asked for his thoughts, but he was obviously distracted by the Brook news.
He apologised, “I want to go back to that.” I didn’t even realise Brooky wasn’t present, she said.
Yes, um… Could you repeat that, please? I’m just a little confused, so could you repeat the question, please?
Luke Wright, the national selector for England, acknowledged that leaving Brook out was a “incredibly difficult” choice.
The former England all-rounder remarked that it was the hardest decision he had ever had to make.
He is without a doubt someone we hold in the highest regard. However, the middle order was going to be squeezed with Stokesy’s return, which made it extremely difficult.
Jos Buttler’s team, who won the 50-over cricket global championship on home soil in 2019, will aim to defend their global Cup trophy in India later this year.
Up until September 28, England’s roster is still subject to change, but save for injuries, they are expected to continue with this 15-man bunch.
Even in the best-case situation, Archer will only be healthy for the second part of the competition, thus Brook and Archer may go as backups.
The 28-year-old bowled England to victory in the World Cup championship super over, but ever since that summer, he has struggled with injuries.
Wright continued, “There has to be a duty of care with Jof.” “We all know how desperate we are to have him, but we also have to do the right thing for him,” someone said.
He has suffered terrible luck with his wounds, therefore we must do it correctly. Despite the temptation to hurry him in so he will be there for the start of this World Cup, we will just be out of time.
In the coming years, Manchester United will need to spend an additional £100 million to upgrade Casemiro, according to Jamie Carragher, who believes they made a big mistake by signing him last summer.
The 31-year-old helped the team win the Carabao Cup in his first season in English football after moving from Real Madrid to Old Trafford in a £70 million move last summer.
He struggled greatly in Monday night’s 1-0 victory over Wolves, though, as the visitors’ running from deep caused him all kinds of issues. Gary Neville even went as far as to claim that he was “torn to shreds.” He did, nevertheless, occasionally display signs of ageing.
Sofyan Amrabat of Fiorentina is the midfielder most likely to join United as they search for a replacement to complement him and help with the defensive load.
Carragher, however, believes that by buying Casemiro, who lacks the vigour and mobility of younger midfielders at rival teams, United have put themselves in a precarious position and that they will soon need to replace him in order to remain competitive.
I never thought Casemiro would be a good investment. Not because he hasn’t been a world-class player—he has—but rather because he’s reached a point in his career where he can’t fully recoup United’s enormous investment, the former Liverpool defender wrote in his column for The Telegraph.
‘He was a panic buy when he joined a year ago, bought right after the failed attempt to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona; an ageing, stellar name signed for big money and on a massive salary to appease growing fan resentment, despite the fact that he will need to be replaced with a similarly massive outlay two years from now.
He is just the type of acquisition that United has been steering clear of this summer as they look to the future.
Casemiro struggled against Wolves, according to Carragher, who noted that Casemiro “lacked the dynamism and energy required for such a responsible position” and was “too often isolated.”
Erik ten Hag is already in a position where he must redesign his midfield because Casemiro lacks the stamina to work by himself. Having someone beside him will be beneficial, but it won’t go back in time and create the 25-year-old who won the Bernabeu lottery.
His peak years were passed by the time he came to Old Trafford, therefore his overall contribution could only be useful for a limited time. Is that a resource-wise use of them?
Casemiro, a recent addition to Manchester United, is “ready to go.”
“United are now being strongly linked with players like Sofyan Amrabat to help Casemiro protect their back line, but they did not challenge Arsenal and Chelsea for Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez, or Declan Rice because they believed Casemiro was the same type of midfielder when they paid a premium for him.
“That shows how unwise it was for them to pay so much,” someone said. Real Madrid just won’t let players of that calibre go until they believe they have gotten the best of them. Given that Casemiro still has four years left on his rumoured £300,000-per-week Old Trafford contract, United is still facing a huge financial obligation. They have already lost the opportunity to purchase a younger substitute.
They won’t be title challengers until they identify a Rodri, Caicedo, or Rice of their own, he continued.
The current market says they will need another £100 million for the midfielder to do so for the following five years after spending £70 million for someone who could do the job five years ago but will continue to struggle to achieve his prior high standards.
