Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, the Chief Imam’s spokesperson, has expressed concern over the collateral damage that could result if the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sent troops to Niger to restore constitutional rule.
As a peace activist, Sheikh Shaibu claimed that since war has such terrible repercussions, it should never be considered as a solution to a dispute.
He drew attention to the terrible circumstances in Niger and expressed the opinion that, should ECOWAS invade the West African nation, the poor and vulnerable will be those who will be most negatively impacted.
“If you take Niger, 42.9% of citizens live below the poverty line. About 83% of them live in rural areas about 20% are unable to meet their daily needs.”
“And they are those going to bear the brunt of any looming war and given our sensitivity to the situation of such people, then what we will do is call for caution,” he told Evans Mensah on JoyNews’ PM Express.
Sheikh Shaibu urged ECOWAS to approach potential conflicts with extreme caution in light of these statistics and the already precarious circumstances that these populations face.
He believed that the ECOWAS could use diplomacy to restore democratic rule in Niger without resorting to force.
“So as a peace activist, war and violence are not part of my preference, rather, exhausting all the avenues available to get the junta to soften their positions and to give the opportunity for consultation that we will need for the restoration of constitutional rule,” he said on Wednesday.
This comes after the West African regional bloc decided to put together a standby force while attempting to resolve the Niger crisis through other diplomatic channels.
Already, a number of nations, including Ivory Coast, have agreed to send troops to the force. However, the opposition, which opposes the use of a military intervention, is criticising some of the leaders of nations like Nigeria and Ghana.
Security expert Rtd Colonel Festus Aboagye responded to ECOWAS’ decision to put together a force by saying that it might take some time before the group sends a military force to Niger in an effort to restore constitutional rule.
He added that member states must contribute to a standby force because some do not have enough personnel or resources to do so.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is’very’ close to returning to full health, according to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, but the Gunners will be without Gabriel Jesus for a while.
Zinchenko missed the Gunners’ victory over Nottingham Forest on opening weekend as he continues to recover from a calf injury he suffered in May.
Since coming from Manchester City last season, the Ukraine captain has been a fan favourite, and now that Jurrien Timber is injured, his position in the team is even more crucial.
The good news is that Arteta claims the defender is getting closer to making a comeback.
On Thursday morning, Arteta told reporters, “He’s been training with us and hopefully we’re going to have him available very, very soon.”
Less encouraging news was reported regarding Jesus, who has been sidelined for the past two weeks due to having to have knee surgery.
The Brazilian is still a ways off from playing for the first squad, Arteta acknowledges.
“Gabby [Jesus] is still not available and not fit, but the rest are all good,” the Spaniard stated.
Former Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Robert Ahomka-Lindsay, has proposed a review of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Law 2013, contending that its relevance has diminished over time.
The legislation [Act 271] prohibits foreigners from participating in specific trades or businesses reserved for Ghanaian citizens.]
The Ghana Statistical Service in its inaugural Trade Vulnerability Report said Ghana faced a notable trade imbalance in 2022.
The report reveals that the country’s imports exceeded its exports by GHC4.5 billion, underscoring a significant economic challenge.
Speaking on The Point of View on Citi TV, Mr Ahomka-Lindsay said, “To be honest with you, the GIPC 2013 law has outlived its usefulness and needs to be reviewed.”
The former deputy trade minister emphasized the need for the government to partner with investors to process Ghanaian products to enable Ghana compete on the international market, rather than allowing foreigners to trade in products meant for locals.
He cited the Chinese and Americans as examples of countries that know their trade needs and are working to beat competition, while Ghana seems to be shut out of the trade market.
Mr Ahomka-Lindsay, therefore, charged the government to spell out its trade needs so that its laws and regulations can reflect them.
“Part of the challenge we have is that, we have not defined very clearly what we want, and reflected our laws and regulations to them. The Chinese, Americans, and Asians know what they want, and when they don’t get it, they close the border. If we as Ghanaians say that we want bread producers because we can’t do it, I don’t believe we lack the capacity to manufacture all the inputs to consume bread in Ghana. We have lots of cocoa beans which we don’t know how to process, so let’s get FDI to come and set up a processing factory in Ghana.”
“You want Foreign Direct Investors to come and refine your products for you, you want FDI to add value to what you already have because you want to increase the total value of your exports in cocoa. FDI should be designed in what you desire in our economy”.
He bemoaned that Ghanaian some businesses are struggling to compete because they have not added value to their products.
“80 percent of our businesses have no value-added, how do you compete?” he asked.
Asked if Ghana’s economy is over-liberalised, he said, “The challenge we have is that we have wrong priorities.”
Manchester City defeated Sevilla on penalties to win the UEFA Super Cup after the game ended 1-1 on Wednesday night in Greece.
Youssef En-Nesyri’s spectacular header, which he drove past Ederson with in the first half, gave Sevilla the lead.
Manchester City didn’t tie the score until the 63rd minute, and as in the Community Shield, it was the attractive 21-year-old Cole Palmer who found the back of the net.
The Premier League winners levelled the game with a well-placed header, which may not be what he is known for at this point in his career.
More opportunities were created on both ends, but none were converted, forcing a penalty shootout to win the Super Cup.
Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Mateo Kovacic, Jack Grealish, and Kyle Walker all converted from the spot for City before Nemanja Gudelj smacked his attempt off the crossbar to give the English team the victory.
The game wasn’t always played at full speed on a hot night at Olympiacos’ home stadium, Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, but both teams were there to win.
Grealish and Palmer forced early saves from Sevilla goalkeeper Bono despite the fact that City entered the game as the overwhelming favourites and started the stronger of the two.
However, after 25 minutes, En-Nesyri strongly headed Marcos Acuna’s excellent cross into the goal to give Spain the lead.
The Moroccan international performed a powerful leap and a well placed header into the corner beyond Ederson after the left back whipped in a fantastic pass.
Shortly after the half, En-Nesyri was once again in the correct spot as Lucas Ocampos laid the ball on a plate for him in the penalty box, and things could have—and should—have gotten worse for the Premier League champions.
Ocampos slid in a low cross to the forward during a quick counterattack down the left, but the striker could only direct his striker directly at the custodian.
Just after the hour mark, Palmer levelled for City, proving once more how much potential he possesses. The Sevilla forward was regretting that missed opportunity.
Rodri sent a left-footed in-swinging cross into the box that appeared to be going to Erling Haaland, but the kid motioned for the Norwegian to leave it, and Palmer skillfully looped a header back over the custodian to score.
After that, Ocampos gave En-Nesyri another excellent opportunity, but the Moroccan could only shoot directly at Ederson.
Before the final whistle, both teams had opportunities to win, but Manchester City had the better of them. Nathan Ake missed the greatest opportunity when his late low header was saved.
Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Mateo Kovacic, Jack Grealish, and Kyle Walker all scored for City, while Gudelj was the only player to miss after the game went directly to penalties because the clubs were unable to establish a lead after 90 minutes.
The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has asserted that it will not end its strike until the government fulfills the terms and conditions of service that were previously agreed upon.
Commencing on August 1, CETAG launched the strike, attributing it to the government’s non-compliance with the NLC’s Arbitral Award Orders and the negotiated terms of service since May 2, 2023.
The National Labour Commission (NLC) on Monday directed the government to immediately implement the agreed-upon terms of the conditions of service with the Association as the prolonged strike continues to disrupt the education sector.
Government is yet to comment on the NLC’s directive and implementation roadmap.
But the national president of the Association, Prince Obeng Himah in an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM said the only thing that will get them to return to the lecture halls is assurance that they will be paid at the end of the month.
“We expect the government to as soon as possible implement our condition of service and no evidence will be stronger than seeing a validation that will guarantee us that we are going to get paid at the end of the month and if we can see that we have been validated to be paid the all-year-round compensation that we asked for, if there is that assurance that our members are going to get the fifteen days leave, if there is that assurance, there are concrete steps being taken to show how the staff audit report is going to be implemented, then we will gladly go back to the lecture halls.”
Mr. Himah further commended the NLC’s directive calling it a win for the rule of law.
“I must say that what happened on Wednesday is a victory for the rule of law, and it seeks to validate our position that the National Labour Commission must always exist to protect the labour interest of both employers and employees and I commend them for the statement that they have made, and we are going to stay home and wait for government to come out with a complete thing, and then we move forward.”
CEO of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Pius Enam Hadzide, has strongly criticized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in response to their objections towards the 10% betting tax.
The implementation of the 10% betting tax, a component of the government’s revenue generation initiatives, has been met with critique and apprehension.
In a communication endorsed by the National Youth Organizer, George Opare Addo, the youth division of the NDC issued a statement outlining a sequence of measures aimed at pressuring the government into retracting the 10% betting tax.
The decision comes in response to what the party perceives as a burdensome taxation policy that unfairly impacts the country’s youth and the broader betting industry.
Speaking on Eyewitness News with Selorm Adonoo, Pius Hadzie stated, “I’m pretty much scandalised listening to NDC, with the impression they are creating. If there is a problem with employment, in NDC’s view, young people should resort to betting, as a means of resolving whatever challenges young people are confronted with. I’m scandalised.”
“Let me just place it on record that, it is not just the Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who has issues with betting and what betting can do to the value system of any country, even the Minority Leader, Ato Forson has called on the state to ban all forms of betting”.
The CEO of NYA lambasted the NDC for instigating the youth to fight the government.
“The young people are being prepared for the future and if you want to lead the country, you should be discussing policies and not that there are hardships, young people should resort to betting, a game of luck, a game of chance. And that we are not going to encourage the Ghanaian youth who are hardworking, entrepreneurs, by the way, to continue to work hard.”
Pius Hadzide admitted that Ghana, like other developing countries, is also confronted with youth unemployment, but assured that the government is putting in measures to mitigate the issue.
“I do admit that just like other developing countries, there are challenges, youth unemployment, issues of education, issues of health…for the first time in this country, the young people of this country are now getting hope. Today, due to free SHS, hundreds of thousands of young people whose future would have been truncated at the basic level, are now in secondary schools,” the NYA CEO said.
Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince, has been invited to the UK, a government source claims.
According to the official diary, No. 10 would confirm the Prime Minister’s engagements in the usual way.
A different government source said there is no reason to think the visit won’t happen.
This would be the first visit since the journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
At the time, the Western world condemned the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi Arabian regime.
US intelligence agencies came to the conclusion that the prince must have approved the killing despite the prince’s assertions that he was involved in it.
In recent months, UK politicians have expressed a desire for tighter ties with the kingdom. To diversify its economy away from oil, the country built an office in London for its trillion-pound investment fund.
Grant Shapps, the secretary of energy security, met with Saudi Arabia earlier this year to discuss expanding cooperation in areas like space, technology, and essential minerals.
Additionally, the administration has been considering whether to back a trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council. James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, recently visited Kuwait, Jordan, and Qatar.
In the course of discussions with Gulf officials about reducing dependency on Russian oil and gas, the then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson met the crown prince in the Saudi capital of Riyadh last year.
He was invited to the Queen’s burial in September, but declined, sending a senior Saudi royal in his stead.
Six months before to Mr. Khashoggi’s death, in March 2018, Theresa May was the prime minister when he last travelled to the UK.
The prince, who serves as the de facto head of state for the largest oil exporter in the world, received praise from Western leaders for implementing certain changes in the traditional Gulf state, such as removing the ban on women driving.
However, the murder of Mr. Khashoggi seriously harmed his standing internationally.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Pius Enam Hadzide has strongly criticized the opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The reason for this criticism is their protest against the new 10% tax on betting that was recently introduced.
According to him, the NDC is supporting actions that will have an impact on the nation’s value systems by their behaviour.
In an interview with Citi FM on Wednesday, August 16, the former deputy minister of information urged Ghanaians to criticise the NDC.
He believes that the NDC is just being populist in order to win elections.
“I’m pretty much scandalised listening to NDC, with the impression they are creating. If there is a problem with employment, in NDC’s view, young people should resort to betting, as a means of resolving whatever challenges young people are confronted with. I’m scandalised.”
“Let me just place it on record that, it is not just the Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who has issues with betting and what betting can do to the value system of any country, even the Minority Leader, Ato Forson has called on the state to ban all forms of betting,” he said.
Additionally, Mr. Hadzide blasted the biggest opposition group for stirring up young people to rebel against the ruling party.
“The young people are being prepared for the future and if you want to lead the country, you should be discussing policies and not that there are hardships, young people should resort to betting, a game of luck, a game of chance.
“And that we are not going to encourage the Ghanaian youth who is hardworking, entrepreneur, by the way, to continue to work hard.”
The recently implemented 10% withholding tax on all gross gaming winnings has been requested to be immediately repealed by the government by the NDC Youth Wing.
According to them, the “insensitive policy” will worsen the plight of the already impoverished youths.
In a press statement issued by the National Youth Organiser of the party, George Opare Addo, the NDC Youth Wing threatened series of protests should the government fail to abolish the tax.
These actions include picketing at the Ministry of Finance and other government offices across the country.
“In the face of the unjust ten (10%) taxation on bet wins, we, the young people of Ghana and the NDC Youth, declare a resolute series of actions to resist the burdensome and insensitive policy.”
“Our unity is unwavering and our determination to protect the funds of the young people secured through betting is unyielding.”
“Through agitations, protection, advocacy, and civic engagements, we will ensure our voices are heard and demand that this corrupt Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government rescind its decision,” excerpts of the release said.
But Mr Hadzide says the NDC is just playing on the emotions of the Ghanaian youth.
Background
On Tuesday, August 15, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) commenced the implementation of a 10% withholding tax on all gross gaming winnings.
According to the GRA, the withholding tax will be charged on profits accrued after each win and the existing 15% Value Added Tax (VAT) rate on each stake will no longer be charged.
The GRA said that the new policy is in line with an amendment to the Income Tax Act 2023 (No.2), Act 1094.
After a boat carrying migrants was discovered off the coast of Cape Verde in West Africa, it is believed that more than 60 people are dead.
Video of the 38 rescues, some of whom were carried ashore on stretchers, showed that they included youngsters.
It is believed that almost everyone on board the boat, which was at sea for more than a month, was from Senegal.
To help stop more deaths, Cape Verde officials have asked for international action on migration.
Police informed the AFP news agency that the vessel was initially noticed on Monday. Although initial reports claimed the boat had sunk, it was later revealed that it had been discovered adrift.
A Spanish fishing boat saw the wooden pirogue-style boat some 320 kilometres (200 miles) off Sal, in the Cape Verde islands, and immediately contacted the authorities, according to the police.
Four children, ages 12 to 16, are among the survivors, according to an International Organisation for Migration (IOM) official.
The boat departed the Senegalese fishing community of Fasse Boye on July 10 with 101 people on board, according to survivors quoted by Senegal’s foreign ministry on Tuesday.
Nearly everyone on the boat had grown up in the area, according to elected official Moda Samb, who also noted that several local families were still awaiting word on whether their relatives were among the survivors.
The ministry declared that it was coordinating with Cape Verdean authorities to set up the repatriation of Senegalese people.
According to reports, the passengers also hail from Sierra Leone and, in one instance, Guinea-Bissau.
The survivors were being cared for, according to Jose Moreira, a health officer on Sal, with an emphasis on rehydration and tests for illnesses like malaria.
We are aware that migration concerns are global challenges that need for international cooperation, extensive discussion, and a worldwide plan, according to Health Minister Filomena Goncalves.
Most importantly, “we all – all the nations – have to sit down at the table and see what we can do” to prevent other maritime fatalities.
Safe migration routes, according to IOM spokeswoman Safa Msehli, are “sorely lacking” and provide “room for smugglers and traffickers to put people on these deadly journeys”.
According to reports, the group was aboard a boat resembling this one when 15 migrants drowned in an incident in July.
It’s possible that the survivors wound up in Cape Verde, but it wasn’t their original location.
The archipelago is 600 kilometres (370 miles) off the coast of West Africa and is a major migratory route to the Canary Islands, a Spanish enclave that many people view as a gateway to the EU. It is one of the riskiest voyages a migrant may take, according to the IOM.
As is always the case with irregular migration, exact numbers are difficult to ascertain, but at least 67,000 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands between 2020 and 2023.
Just over 2,500 people died during that time. The IOM notes that this number includes all registered deaths. The actual number may be far higher given the route’s erratic and covert characteristics.
What motivates people to leave their homes and take such a risky voyage, then? Poverty is frequently considered to be a significant issue. Many people view migration to Europe as a way to a better life and to send money back home to help their families.
But there are also other elements at work. A large portion of West Africa is becoming more insecure, and Islamist insurgencies and coups are making an already difficult situation even worse.
In Senegal, there have been reports of violent crackdowns by the government that resulted in the imprisonment of opposition figures. Despite the recent announcement that President Macky Sall would not run for a third term, emotions are still high.
Ultimately, there are just as many motivations to relocate as there are migrants. Each person has a unique drive and background. It appears that at least 60 of them met a tragic end in the Atlantic.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland didn’t do very well in the important final game. This has caused some worry among people who follow football.
They’re concerned because there’s an upcoming event called the Ballon d’Or, where the best player in the world is chosen.
In this event, Haaland will be competing directly with Lionel Messi, who is a really famous and skilled player.
Messi recently won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is a huge accomplishment. The fact that Haaland didn’t perform well in the finals makes people wonder if he will be able to compete strongly against Messi for the Ballon d’Or award.
Haaland performed poorly once more for Manchester City in a championship game; this time, it led to an Arsenal attempt that was unsuccessful on penalties in the Community Shield.
In the Community Shield match against Arsenal, Erling Haaland performed poorly.
Before Leandro Trossard equalised for the Gunners in the 101st minute, he was replaced in the 65th minute by academy star Cole Palmer, who scored a gorgeous curler and appeared to have won it for City.
Despite moving to the club from Borussia Dortmund last summer, the 23-year-old played in four finals for the English champions, including two Community Shield contests.
According to Squawka, he had 13 touches, attempted six passes, only completed four of them, and did not attempt a shot against Arsenal because France international defender William Saliba completely shut him out.
Sofascore went on to break down each of his performances in the club’s four finals to date, beginning with the Community Shield loss to Liverpool from the previous year, in which he had 16 touches, played three shots, and missed a significant opportunity.
The EPL golden boot winner had a similar performance in the FA Cup final against Manchester United when he had 35 touches and took three shots as Ilkay Gundogan came clutch for City with two goals early in either half to help with a 2-1 victory.
His outing in his biggest final so far, the 2023 UEFA Champions final, was dismal, as he had only 19 touches of the ball with only one shot. Spanish midfielder Rodri scored the only goal for Pep Guardiola’s men to complete a historic treble.
He had another quiet outing in the UEFA Super Cup final, he had zero shot on target meaning he couldn’t score, but buried his penalty.
His rival Lionel Messi, in the World Cup final against France, scored twice to help Argentina to a 3-3 draw and scored the first penalty of the shootout to help win the Mundial, a tournament Haaland was absent from as Norway did not qualify.
The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice (CCJ) has explained that there is no evidence of any corrupt scheme to misuse Ghana’s gold to the detriment of its people using the Gold Royalties Monetisation Transaction arrangement, commonly referred to as the Agyapa Deal.
According to the CCJ, the applicants of the suit who challenged the propriety of the Agyapa Deal failed to prove that the government was seeking to misappropriate Ghana’s commonwealth through the deal.
The court reasoned that the applicants’ pieces of evidence, Transparency International, Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), and Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), which included a corruption risk assessment on the Agyapa Deal by a former Special Prosecutor, Martin Alamisi Amidu, would not be sufficient in legal terms because they could not demonstrate any attempt to syphon Ghana’s wealth.
On July 10, this year, the court dismissed the lawsuit, but yesterday it released its full judgement and justification.
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has praised the CCJ’s ruling, calling it a vindication of the administration.
“As a party and government, we are happy, particularly that it was an ECOWAS Community Court of Justice that adjudicated the issue and arrived at the conclusion that there was no wrongdoing with the spirited move by the government to leverage our mineral incomes to accelerate development,” the Director of Communications of the NPP, Richard Ahiagbah, said in a statement.
According to the ruling, the sub-regional court’s three-member panel determined that the evidence they considered demonstrated that the Agyapa Deal had successfully completed all necessary steps, including receiving the approval of the Ghanaian Parliament.
“What this court has before it is in fact evidence of processes that flow from democratic institutions and have gained approval from the people’s representatives, that is Parliament.
“There is no evidence before this court pointing to the actual misappropriation of the commonwealth of the people of Ghana that has deprived the people from benefiting from it,” the court held.
The court, therefore, dismissed reliefs of the plaintiffs, including the cardinal one which was that the Agyapa deal was a violation of Article 21(1) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, which stipulates that natural resources of African countries would be utilised in the interest of citizens of such countries.
The three-member panel of the court which sat on the case in Abuja included Justice Dupe Atoki from Nigeria, Justice Sengu Mohammed Koroma from Sierra Leone and Justice Ricardo Claudio Monteiro Goncalves from Cape Verde.
Vindication
The NPP Director of Communications said at the heart of the matter was the establishment of Agyapa Royalties Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) owned solely by the government through the Minerals Income Investment Fund.
He explained that the entity aimed to publicly list up to 49 per cent of its shares on the London Stock Exchange, sparking extensive debates and accusations in the lead-up to the 2020 general election.
Mr Ahiagba praised the ECOWAS Court’s ruling, emphasising that it solidified the government’s steadfast commitment to transparent and legitimate practices.
He also commended the GII and the GACC for utilising their right to seek legal recourse and stated that the court’s verdict had comprehensively addressed their concerns.
“The ruling serves as a testament to the rule of law and the importance of civil society’s role in ensuring accountability,” Mr Ahiagba stated.
The NPP Communications Director also referenced President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s call for active citizenship, citing the civil society groups’ actions as a manifestation of that principle.
Mr Ahiagba said CSOs played an integral role in holding the government accountable, acknowledging that constructive criticism and concerns were vital in the democratic process.
He encouraged a continued dialogue between the government and those organisations for the betterment of the nation.
The NPP’s Director of Communications said the ruling was expected to bring closure to a contentious chapter and reaffirm the rule of law as a cornerstone of democratic governance in the country.
Background
Parliament passed the Minerals Income Investment Fund Act, 2018 (MIIF Act 978) with the key objective of maximising the county’s mineral wealth for the benefit of Ghanaians, while ensuring that receiving royalties from gold mining companies was sustainable.
The law was amended to enable it to incorporate subsidiaries and to use it as a special purpose vehicle to do business across the world.
The main subsidiary of the MIIF and holding company, Agyapa Royalties Investment Ltd, will be listed on the LSE, while its subsidiary, ARG Royalties Ltd, will be quoted on the Ghana Stock Exchange, both through initial public offerings.
The company will be responsible for managing 75.6 per cent of the country’s royalty inflow from the 12 gold mining companies that currently operate in Ghana, with four more expected to come on stream.
Deputy Finance Minister, Dr John Kumah, has encouraged the Public Interest Accountability Committee (PIAC) to take the lead in advocating for the reconsideration of current petroleum agreements. This push aims to enable Ghana to maximize its gains from its oil production endeavors.
He expressed that although the government was enthusiastic about boosting its involvement in the extractive industry, there were “interests and constraints” that create challenges in altering the terms of agreements.
“Some people have questioned why our interest in the extractive industries is limited to 10 per cent or 20 per cent of the resources and not 55 per cent or 60 per cent.
“When such issues are pushed vehemently and raised by PIAC, I believe as a nation we can see changes in the terms. It is not easy based on the contract we have signed but everything is possible once there is a will” he said.
Dr Kumah made the call at the unveiling ceremony of a new PIAC logo, a redesigned website, and a data dashboard.
The new logo incorporates features such as an oil rig, an oil drop, and the Ghana Cedi sign to reflect the workings and purpose of PIAC.
It also features PIAC’s corporate colours of black, representing crude oil, and gold (yellow), which signifies wealth.
The redesigned website also reflects the Committee’s attempt to intensify its public outreach, improve the visibility of PIAC and its work, and take feedback.
The Data Dashboard is intended to allow the public to gain simple access to information about Ghana’s petroleum sector.
It comprises an interactive platform that displays statistics on oil and gas production, receipts, and how those revenues are allocated and distributed.
Mr Kumah stated that the Government saw PIAC’s activities as complementary to the nation’s development in terms of the utilization and management of oil revenue.
“I do not think that government sees your contribution as a tango between what government does and what you say. In the end, the objective is for the nation to do better with our oil resources. Every criticism we make should be aimed at making the system better,” he said.
In an interview, PIAC Chairman Professor Kwame Adom-Frimpong urged the government to finance the committee’s statutory activities to enable it to lead the push for expanding Ghana’s oil stake.
“Once it is coming from him (Deputy Minister), from here I will follow up to ensure what he wants us to do is done with the needed resources,” he said.
Prof. Adom-Frimpong also said the committee hoped to be granted prosecutorial powers through the review of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA) to ensure that it could enforce compliance with the PRMA laws.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has presented substantiating documents to assert that the Bank of Ghana included a company, which had not been registered in Ghana previously, in the list of candidates for its upcoming office construction project.
In an extensive Facebook post dated August 17, the Member of Parliament provided a comprehensive account of several matters concerning the project. These ranged from its commencement date and procurement procedures to the fluctuating aspects of the project’s expenses.
He indicated that the initial expense began at a figure exceeding US$81 million and, in a span of eight months, escalated to reach US$121 million. He mentioned that the present estimate of US$250 million, as stated by the Parliamentary Minority, might be surpassed based on the information he possesses.
BoG, he revealed, got Public Procurement Authority (PPA) approval to use a restricted tendering process for the contractors and came up with five foreign companies namely:
i) Messrs. WBHO Ghana Limited,
ii) Messrs. Man Enterprise,
iii) Messrs. DeSimone Limited,
iv) Messrs. Ronesans Holdings and
v) Messrs. Goldkey Properties;
His post read in part: “It is not clear what criteria the BoG used in selecting its preferred 5 companies when Ghana’s built environment can boast of many established and celebrated construction firms such as Consar, Berock, Maripoma, Mawums, M. Barbisotti, First Sky, Antartic, Ussuya, Regimanuel, and so on and so forth;
“In a bizarre twist, further investigations reveal that one of the BoG’s 5 “ordained” companies: Messrs. Ronesans Holdings is not registered at the Office of the Registrar of Companies.
“How did an unregistered company qualify to participate in a restricted tender?” he asked
Ablakwa also claimed that he had intercepted another letter dated 4th September, 2020 also signed by PPA Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Frank Mantey which shockingly reveals that just within 8 months, the cost of the BoG Head Office project astronomically increased from US$81,882,640.00 to US$121,078,517.94.
The facility, which is currently costed at US$250 million according to the Minority in Parliament, has attracted a lot of reactions since the apex bank confirmed that it was indeed building a new head office.
The BoG in response to a press statement by the minority stated last week that the new office complex was necessary principally for security and other reasons, stressing that the current location was not safe in the case of an earthquake.
Ablakwa’s publication is the latest installment of pressure on the Ernest Addison-led BoG.
The Minority have demanded he resigns along with his two deputies over the 60 billion cedis losses recorded in 2022 as contained in an annual report released weeks ago.
The Minority has also served notice that it will picket at the premises of the bank if the governor refuses to resign after 21 days of their demand.
Read Ablakwa’s post below:
Unraveling the Bankrupt BoG Head Office Mystery— From an initial US$81.8million, suddenly escalating to US$121million & currently threatening to exceed US$250million
I have depressingly followed the national debate on what many outraged Ghanaians have described as the extravagant and wasteful US$250million new Bank of Ghana Corporate Head Office.
It is obvious from the Bank of Ghana’s feeble and anaemic defence that they have opted not to be transparent, candid and accountable to the good people of Ghana.
A shocking and embarrassing interview of Mr. Charles Elias Reindorf, Director of Finance at the Central Bank where he abruptly ended an interview following a harmless question on the cost of the project has since gone viral.
Instructively, the Bank of Ghana in all its public engagements has refused to disclose the current cost of the project, the procurement method, when the project was awarded and the scheduled completion date.
Some NPP propagandists including Mr. Richard Ahiagbah opportunistically jumped into the fray claiming that the project started under the NDC when Hon. Ato Forson served on the Bank of Ghana Board between 2013 and 2017.
Considering the deliberate distortion, lack of transparency, sponsored obfuscation and naked dishonesty; I decided to activate my constitutionally mandated parliamentary oversight role, so I could unravel the mystery in our collective national interest.
I can today report that I have intercepted unimpeachable, incontrovertible, irrefutable and undeniable documents from the Bank of Ghana and other credible sources which significantly reveal the following:
1. The Bank of Ghana commenced procurement processes for the controversial palatial head office on 14th January, 2020 when they wrote to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) seeking approval to strangely use the Restricted Tendering Procurement Method;
2. The PPA by letter dated 28th January, 2020 signed by its Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Frank Mantey communicated approval of the Board for the BoG to proceed with its desire to use the Restricted Tendering Method;
3. From the intercepted documents, procurement for the project did not commence under the NDC or during the tenure of Hon. Ato Forson as Board Member, neither did it start during the presidency of H.E. John Mahama, contrary to the vicious fabrications by some desperate NPP apologists;
4. The BoG’s unacceptable use of the Restricted Tendering Method amounts to a blatant violation of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) as amended in Act 914. Section 38 of Act 663 provides a limited scope for the use of Restricted Tendering in circumstances where goods, services or works are available only from a limited number of suppliers or contractors;
5. From the intercepted documents, the BoG handpicked the following companies: i) Messrs. WBHO Ghana Limited, ii) Messrs. Man Enterprise, iii) Messrs. DeSimone Limited, iv) Messrs. Ronesans Holdings and v) Messrs. Goldkey Properties;
6. It is not clear what criteria the BoG used in selecting its preferred 5 companies when Ghana’s built environment can boast of many established and celebrated construction firms such as Consar, Berock, Maripoma, Mawums, M. Barbisotti, First Sky, Antartic, Ussuya, Regimanuel, and so on and so forth;
7. None of the BoG’s shortlisted companies can lay claim to any patent or exclusive capacity which other construction firms in that category do not possess and therefore warranting or justifying the use of restricted tendering;
8. It is obvious that Ghana would have had better value for money if the BoG had been less shady and opened up the process — opting for a full competitive tendering process;
9. In a bizarre twist, further investigations reveal that one of the BoG’s 5 “ordained” companies: Messrs. Ronesans Holdings is not registered at the Office of the Registrar of Companies. How did an unregistered company qualify to participate in a restricted tender?;
10. I intercepted another letter dated 4th September, 2020 also signed by PPA Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Frank Mantey which shockingly reveals that just within 8 months, the cost of the BoG Head Office project astronomically increased from US$81,882,640.00 to US$121,078,517.94.
11. Experts say this staggering US$40million increase in the project cost between January and September 2020 in a dollar denominated contract is absolutely mind boggling;
12. A 40% hike merely after tender evaluation in dollar pricing, not cedis, raises many critical questions for the BoG;
13. A credible full competitive tender process would have avoided this arbitrary cost escalation and guaranteed value for money;
14. Ironically, all these procurement breaches and sleazy price escalation at taxpayer expense was happening during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic when President Akufo-Addo and Governor Addison had given Ghanaians assurances that they had put everything else on hold and were focusing on saving lives. Addison even claimed in June 2020 that the Central Bank was struggling in financing government because of Covid only to initiate this mega project on the blindside of Ghanaians;
15. Deeper investigations into the shady BoG head office project led me to discover another reckless and lawless conduct by the Addison-led Central Bank when they procured the services of a company known as MULTICAD to carry out project management through single-sourcing. (See PPA letter of 22nd September, 2021 as attached);
16. Section 40 of Act 663 provides the conditions for single-sourcing which do not apply in this instance;
17. There is no compelling genuine reason which justifies MULTICAD’s sweetheart deal of US$3.45million from Governor Addison;
18. What was Governor Addison’s special interest in ensuring that MULTICAD was single-sourced when there are hundreds of competitors out there who should have been allowed to compete for us to have value for money;
19. Curiously, this is a regime which made considerable noise in opposition against what they described as the dangers of single-sourced projects;
20. Strangely, MULTICAD’s articles of incorporation secured from the Office of the Registrar of Companies suggest that the company was registered on December 10, 2021 even though it received PPA approval on September 22, 2022. (See copy attached);
21. These numerous blatant procurement breaches, rigged procurement machinations, magical price escalations and lack of due diligence raise legitimate questions about the stewardship of PPA Board Chair, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi and his colleagues at the PPA;
22. Patriotic Bank of Ghana insiders working with me on this latest oversight project have expressed grave concern about how this BoG office complex which started at US$81.8million, surprisingly shot up to US$121million, and now variation reports are being prepared which are likely to exceed an incredible US$250million. This scary development invokes memories of the scandalous Akufo-Addo Cathedral which started at a US$100million and has now exceeded US$400million;
23. It is most astonishing for MisGovernor Addison who has presided over the BoG’s biggest losses in living memory of GHS60.8billion to initiate an US$81.8million head office project only to now saddle Ghanaians with a bill which is about three times more. The height of recklessness and gross mismanagement!;
24. Probably, MisGovernor Addison couldn’t be bothered about the frightening cost escalations for his new empire office project because he thought he could mindlessly continue with his illegal printing of cash;
25. This exposé clearly shows how MisGovernor Addison and his colleagues in management at the BoG have been deliberately lawless and remarkably destructive. Ironically, they punished others and collapsed their banks for far less.
26. All well-meaning Ghanaians must join the #OccupyBoGProtest. MisGovernor Addison and his fellow nation wreckers must go! Let us rescue our only country.
Gifty Dumelo, the wife of actor and politician John Dumelo, has shared images and videos of her late mother-in-law, Mrs. Antoinette Dumelo, that she believes capture her loving spirit.
Madam Antoinette, who passed away on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, was the subject of the images.
In a tribute posted to Instagram, Mrs. Dumelo thanked the deceased for her support while she was still alive.
Time spent with her, she noted, was filled with memories she will forever cherish.
“We will cherish the great memories, appreciate the stories, hospitality, support and love you gave us. We will always miss and love you. May your strong but gentle soul rest in perfect peace, and may eternal light perpetually shine upon you now and forever,” she mourned.
She continued, “The best mother-in-law anyone could ask for. Rest in peace, Mummy.”
Protesting against what they consider inadequate and subpar meals supplied by the administration, students from Jasikan College of Education in the Oti region have taken a stand.
The students have shown discontentment regarding the food quality, expressing various concerns that encompass issues from unhealthy options to insufficient side dishes.
As per the students who feel aggrieved, the institution has been providing them with plain porridge lacking sugar, milk, and bread for several months. They claim that this problem has persisted from the start of the academic year, leading to growing frustration among the student population.
Freeman Zokha, the President of the Student’s Representative Council (SRC), spoke to Accra-based Citi FM about their plight.
He revealed that the college administration had deducted GHC51 from the students’ monthly allowances to supplement the allocated feeding grants.
“Students are not happy with their breakfast; nothing is being added. We have been given white porridge without sugar, bread, or groundnut since the beginning of the year. The porridge is sometimes fermented. We protested on Tuesday morning against the poor foods we are being fed with. We are told feeding grants have not been paid, but we know it has been paid.
“The school management said they don’t take information from students when we made complaints to them. The protest was not only about the food, lights at the ladies’ dormitories had been disconnected. We are going through a lot,” citinewsroom.com quoted him to have said during the interview.
The students recently protested against the perceived neglect of their nutritional needs. The protest led to clashes between the students and law enforcement officers who were called in to manage the situation.
According to a court filing, she acknowledged making the call once detectives found her phone number.
You are in our crosshairs, we want to murder you,” Ms. Shry allegedly warned the judge handling a case against Mr. Trump alleging election interference in the phone call.
According to the prosecution, Ms. Shry said, “We are coming to kill you if Trump doesn’t win in 2024.”
According to the court document, the caller also threatened the LGBT community and all Democrats in Washington, DC.
She allegedly also threatened to murder Houston mayoral candidate and black Texas Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee.
Three days later, when federal investigators went to Ms. Shry’s house in the Houston suburb of Alvin, she claimed she had no plans to travel to Washington, DC, to carry out her threats, according to the court document.
She allegedly went on to say that “we need to worry” if Shelia Jackson Lee visits Alvin.
The day before receiving the menacing call, Mr. Trump had written in capital letters on his Truth Social social media page: “If you go after me, I’m coming after you!” On allegations related to the election conspiracy, he had been arraigned the previous day.
In a court session last Friday, Judge Chutkan cautioned that neither side should make any “inflammatory statements” regarding the issue.
The Moon’s little-explored south pole is where India’s third lunar mission plans to land a lander and rover on August 23.
The lander will split from the propulsion module that brought it relatively close to the Moon on Thursday, and “they will begin their separate journeys.”
But if a new Russian mission beats Chandrayaan-3 to the south pole, Chandrayaan-3 might not be the first to set foot there.
A day or two earlier landing is anticipated for Luna-25, which was launched last week.
Chandrayaan-3 will have to settle with coming in second place if the Russian spacecraft, which is doing its first Moon trip in nearly 50 years, when Russia was still a part of the Soviet Union, is successful in landing softly on August 21 or 22 as scheduled.
But after the US, the former Soviet Union, and China, India will still be the only other nation to make a gentle landing on the Moon.
Luna-25 was launched by Russia on August 10 but, thanks to the far more potent Soyuz rocket, it quickly escaped Earth’s gravity and arrived in lunar orbit on Wednesday, according to the Russian space agency Roscosmos.
The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft was launched on July 14 but made several Earth orbits before entering lunar orbit on August 5. Since then, the spacecraft has been circling the Moon in preparation for the landing.
There has been talk of a “mini space race” between the two Moon-bound spacecraft.
However, the Indian Space Research Agency (Isro) told the BBC that there will be a new’meeting place’ on the Moon and that it is not a competition.
An Isro official assured me that the organisation has never participated in any race since its founding in the 1960s.
“We designed the mission based on the spacecraft’s readiness and the technical window that was open for reaching the far side of the Moon. A long time ago, a mission called Luna-25 was planned. They must also have certain technological considerations, about which we are unsure.
The third mission in India’s lunar exploration effort, Chandrayaan-3, is anticipated to build on the accomplishments of its predecessors.
It was launched 13 years after the nation’s initial Moon mission in 2008, which showed that the Moon has an atmosphere during the daylight and that there are water molecules on its dry surface.
The July 2019 launch of Chandrayaan-2, which also included an orbiter, a lander, and a rover, was only partially successful. Even now, the orbiter is still circling and studying the Moon, but the lander-rover crashed upon touchdown since it was unable to make a soft landing.
Isro chief Sreedhara Panicker Somanath claimed that to solve the flaws in Chandrayaan-3, which weighs 3,900 kg and cost 6.1 billion rupees ($75 million; £58 million), simulation exercises had been performed.
The 26 kg rover, named Pragyaan, which means knowledge in Sanskrit, is carried within the lander module, which is named Vikram after the founder of Isro and weighs roughly 1,500 kg.
Scientists carefully decreased the rocket’s speed once the spacecraft entered the Moon’s orbit to provide a smooth landing for Vikram.
Mylswamy Annadurai, commander of India’s first lunar mission, told the BBC that once the lander module separated from the propulsion module on Thursday, it will do two manoeuvres over the following several days, coming closer to the Moon with each one until it reached an orbit of 30 km by 100 km every day before landing.
The six-wheeled rover will crawl out after the dust has settled, which will take a few hours after landing, and explore the Moon’s surface while collecting vital information and photographs that will be transmitted back to Earth for processing.
The rover is equipped with instruments that will be used to learn more about the Moon’s surface’s physical features, the atmosphere close to the surface, and the tectonic activity to investigate what occurs underneath the surface.
The south pole of the Moon is still mostly unexplored, and because it has a larger surface area that is always in shadow than the north pole, scientists believe that there may be water present there.
Finding water ice is one of the main objectives of Chandrayaan-3 and Luna-25, as it may one day allow for future human habitation on the Moon, according to scientists. Additionally, it might be used to refuel spaceships travelling to Mars and other far-off planets.
The host of the “Good Morning Ghana” show on Metro TV has expressed strong criticism against the Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) decision to construct a new head office. The proposed facility, which the Parliamentary Minority estimates to cost US$250 million, has sparked significant public reactions following the BoG’s confirmation of the project.
In response to a statement by the minority, the BoG explained that the new office complex was primarily justified by security concerns and the unsuitability of the current location in the event of an earthquake.
Randy Abbey, the show’s host, voiced his concerns about the decision to build a new office, particularly focusing on the timing and the project’s cost. During a discussion with Fuseini Issah, a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker, and John Jinapor, a Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu, Abbey criticized the allocation of a quarter of a billion dollars to construct an office.
He noted, “I don’t have a problem with a new office… I have not heard anybody raise the issue of location, in fact, just a 100m from where they are building, is where you have the Ecobank building.” Abbey compared the BoG’s project cost of US$250 million with the US$60 million price tag for the Ecobank building, which was situated nearby.
Abbey questioned the rationale behind investing such a substantial amount, considering the country’s economic situation over the past few years. He also made a reference to the controversial national Cathedral project, suggesting a similarity in mindset between the two endeavors.
In response, the former lawmaker argued that the BoG had stated that the Central Business District’s activities had shifted to the high street, and the bank had been acquiring space in the area until 2020, when it secured the current site through an executive instrument.
In response to allegations that two men desecrated the Quran, authorities allege that thousands of Muslims in a Pakistani city have burned down at least four churches and vandalised the homes of Christians.
Residents of Jaranwala, in eastern Punjab, claimed that up to a dozen structures belonging to churches were also harmed.
More than 100 protesters have been detained by police, who have also opened an investigation into the violence.
Authorities claim that things are still tight in Jaranwala.
According to Reuters, police have also denounced two local Christians for violating the death-sentence-carrying blasphemy statute.
Although no one has been punished in accordance with the law, hundreds have in the past been murdered by mobs after being falsely accused of blasphemy.
A man from Sri Lanka was slain and his body was burnt on fire two years ago after he was accused of blasphemy. Six persons were killed and over 60 homes were destroyed by a mob in Punjab’s Gorja area in 2009 after they were accused of disrespecting Islam.
During their colonial rule, the British enacted a blasphemy-punishing statute in the nineteenth century. But in the 1980s, law enforcement imposed harsher penalties for infractions, including the death penalty for anybody who insults Islam.
The majority of people in Pakistan are Muslims—about 96%. Other nations, such as Iran, Brunei, and Mauritania, also execute people for defaming a religion.
According to a local official who spoke to BBC Urdu, as stories of the two men reportedly desecrating the Quran, the holy book of Islam, spread on social media early on Wednesday morning, authorities received complaints concerning protests and fires.
According to the authorities, blasphemous writing was purportedly found on torn pages of the holy book that were discovered close to a Christian settlement.
The reports went viral on social media and in the city, upsetting the Muslim population. Mobs attacked and pillaged Christian homeowners’ homes during the ensuing bloodshed.
Christian Yassir Bhatti, age 31, was one of many who had to leave their houses.
He told the AFP news agency, “They broke the windows and doors and took out refrigerators, sofas, chairs, and other household objects to pile them up in front of the Church to be burned.
“They were ruthless; they burned and desecrated Bibles as well.”
Social media videos show demonstrators demolishing Christian structures as it appears that cops are looking on.
The alleged blasphemy was denounced by Punjab province’s communications minister, Amir Mir, who also said that thousands of police officers had been dispatched to the scene and that dozens of people had been detained.
According to a government source who spoke to Reuters, the majority of the mob was made up of members of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) political party. The TLP has refuted all accusations.
Anwar ul-Haq Kakar, the acting prime minister, urged immediate action against the perpetrators of the violence.
The adjoining city of Lahore’s bishop, a Pakistani named Azad Marshall, expressed that the Christian community was “deeply pained and distressed” by the happenings.
X, formerly known as Twitter, is where he issued the statement. “We cry out for justice and action from law enforcement and those who dispense justice, and the safety of all citizens to intervene immediately and assure us that our lives are valuable in our own homeland,” he wrote.
Family of the murdered investigative journalist Ahmed Suale-a key member of the Anas’ Tiger Eye PI-says they have given up on pursuing the case at the police station over lack of the progress.
Ibrahim Tahidu speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on August 16, 2023 said he had been pursuing the case for 4 years without results.
All 14 people brought in as suspects by the police were eventually released because further investigations proved their innocence, Mr Tahidu
“I stopped going to the police head office about 4 months ago. I decided not to bother myself because we were not getting result. All the people who were arrested have been discharged because it turned out they were not the culprits” he said
Meanwhile the Suale family are of believe that Mr Kennedy Agyapong‘s reckless utterances led to the gruesome murder of Ahmed
Ahmed Hussein Suale, who was with the Tiger Eye Private Investigations, was murdered by an unknown assailant in his vehicle on January 16, 2019, at Madina.
He was part of a team of undercover journalists led by renowned investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
He was shot three times, twice in the chest and another in the neck late Wednesday night at Madina in Accra while he was driving home by unidentified men.
The murder came shortly after the Number-12 documentary was released. It also came after the Assin Central MP on live TV incited the public to launch attacks on the journalist.
It has since remained unresolved though government promised to remain resolute in seeking justice for Mr Suale.
Mike Kofi Afflu, the former President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation Ghana and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana, has submitted a petition to the Public Accounts Committee, urging an investigation into the transfer of GH¢52.5 billion (equivalent to approximately US$9.1 billion) into an undisclosed account in 2020. Afflu’s petition is in response to a letter dated October 5, 2020, from the Audit Service to the Managing Director of GCB Bank Plc, in which the Auditor-General sought an explanation for the substantial transfer.
Afflu’s petition, dated August 11, 2023, and directed to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, outlines his concerns and queries related to the transaction. He requests clarification on several key points:
The destination of the transferred funds.
The authorization for the transfer from the bank.
The account into which the funds were transferred.
Detailed information about the recipient’s account and any associated matters.
He notes that the average USD to GHS exchange rate for October 2020 was 5.77522, which made the GH¢52.5 billion equivalent to US$9,090,783 (approximately $9.1 billion). Afflu highlights that if this significant sum had been properly directed to the Bank of Ghana as legally required, Ghana might not have needed the $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Afflu’s petition ultimately calls upon the Public Accounts Committee, chaired by the recipient of the letter, to summon the Auditor-General of Ghana for explanations and transparency. He underscores the importance of determining who withdrew the funds from GCB Bank Plc and the purpose behind the withdrawal.
This move is aimed at shedding light on a significant financial transaction that has raised questions about the management of public funds, and Afflu seeks to ensure accountability and clarity for the Ghanaian public.
Former president John Dramani Mahama has reacted to the death of Araba Tagoe, a prominent figure within the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Mahama described her as friend and activist of the party who laid down her life for the NDC multiple times.
A post on his social media handle stated in part: “Lordina and I are saddened by the news of the death of Aunty Araba Tagoe, a dear friend, an activist of the NDC, and member of the national executive committee of our party. “Araba laid down her life for the NDC in many ways, and the party will surely miss her.”
He also confirmed that she was battling an illness which unfortunately she couldn’t survive leading to her demise. The former president sent condolences to the family of the late party stalwart. Araba Tagoe was an influential member of the NDC and notably held the position of Women’s Organiser within the party’s Western Region.
Her dedication to the NDC and her role as Women’s Organiser reflected her commitment to advocating for women’s rights and their active participation in the political landscape. Condolence message from the Mahamas Lordina and I are saddened by the news of the death of Aunty Araba Tagoe, a dear friend, an activist of the NDC, and member of the national executive committee of our party.
Araba laid down her life for the NDC in many ways, and the party will surely miss her. Araba had been unwell for a short while, and we had all hoped for a full recovery. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. We mourn and extend our deepest sympathies to her family, her son, the Central and Western Region Caucuses of the party and the entire NDC party. May her soul rest in perfect peace.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has brought to light documents suggesting that the original cost of the Bank of Ghana’s new offices was slightly over US$81 million. However, he contends that the current estimated cost of the project could surpass the US$250 million figure stated by the Parliamentary Minority. In a publication dated August 17, 2023, Ablakwa revealed several key points. He highlighted that the procurement procedures for the office construction commenced in 2020, contrary to the prevailing belief that they were initiated during the previous government’s tenure.
Ablakwa’s publication comprises 26 revelations, addressing concerns spanning corporate governance matters from the project’s inception, issues related to the tendering and procurement processes, the selection of companies contracted for the project, and other matters of public interest.
The new office complex, projected to cost approximately US$250 million as indicated by the Parliamentary Minority, has triggered extensive public reactions. The Bank of Ghana responded to these concerns, emphasizing that the new complex’s construction primarily aims to enhance security and mitigate risks associated with the current location, particularly in the event of an earthquake.
This situation has intensified pressure on the leadership of the Bank of Ghana under Ernest Addison. The Parliamentary Minority has demanded the resignation of Addison and his two deputies, citing significant financial losses reported in the 2022 annual report released a few weeks prior. The Minority has additionally issued a warning that they will stage a protest at the bank’s premises if the governor does not step down within 21 days from the date of their demand.
Read Ablakwa’s post below:
Unraveling the Bankrupt BoG Head Office Mystery— From an initial US$81.8million, suddenly escalating to US$121million & currently threatening to exceed US$250million
I have depressingly followed the national debate on what many outraged Ghanaians have described as the extravagant and wasteful US$250million new Bank of Ghana Corporate Head Office.
It is obvious from the Bank of Ghana’s feeble and anaemic defence that they have opted not to be transparent, candid and accountable to the good people of Ghana.
A shocking and embarrassing interview of Mr. Charles Elias Reindorf, Director of Finance at the Central Bank where he abruptly ended an interview following a harmless question on the cost of the project has since gone viral.
Instructively, the Bank of Ghana in all its public engagements has refused to disclose the current cost of the project, the procurement method, when the project was awarded and the scheduled completion date.
Some NPP propagandists including Mr. Richard Ahiagbah opportunistically jumped into the fray claiming that the project started under the NDC when Hon. Ato Forson served on the Bank of Ghana Board between 2013 and 2017.
Considering the deliberate distortion, lack of transparency, sponsored obfuscation and naked dishonesty; I decided to activate my constitutionally mandated parliamentary oversight role, so I could unravel the mystery in our collective national interest.
I can today report that I have intercepted unimpeachable, incontrovertible, irrefutable and undeniable documents from the Bank of Ghana and other credible sources which significantly reveal the following:
1. The Bank of Ghana commenced procurement processes for the controversial palatial head office on 14th January, 2020 when they wrote to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) seeking approval to strangely use the Restricted Tendering Procurement Method;
2. The PPA by letter dated 28th January, 2020 signed by its Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Frank Mantey communicated approval of the Board for the BoG to proceed with its desire to use the Restricted Tendering Method;
3. From the intercepted documents, procurement for the project did not commence under the NDC or during the tenure of Hon. Ato Forson as Board Member, neither did it start during the presidency of H.E. John Mahama, contrary to the vicious fabrications by some desperate NPP apologists;
4. The BoG’s unacceptable use of the Restricted Tendering Method amounts to a blatant violation of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) as amended in Act 914. Section 38 of Act 663 provides a limited scope for the use of Restricted Tendering in circumstances where goods, services or works are available only from a limited number of suppliers or contractors;
5. From the intercepted documents, the BoG handpicked the following companies: i) Messrs. WBHO Ghana Limited, ii) Messrs. Man Enterprise, iii) Messrs. DeSimone Limited, iv) Messrs. Ronesans Holdings and v) Messrs. Goldkey Properties;
6. It is not clear what criteria the BoG used in selecting its preferred 5 companies when Ghana’s built environment can boast of many established and celebrated construction firms such as Consar, Berock, Maripoma, Mawums, M. Barbisotti, First Sky, Antartic, Ussuya, Regimanuel, and so on and so forth;
7. None of the BoG’s shortlisted companies can lay claim to any patent or exclusive capacity which other construction firms in that category do not possess and therefore warranting or justifying the use of restricted tendering;
8. It is obvious that Ghana would have had better value for money if the BoG had been less shady and opened up the process — opting for a full competitive tendering process;
9. In a bizarre twist, further investigations reveal that one of the BoG’s 5 “ordained” companies: Messrs. Ronesans Holdings is not registered at the Office of the Registrar of Companies. How did an unregistered company qualify to participate in a restricted tender?;
10. I intercepted another letter dated 4th September, 2020 also signed by PPA Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Frank Mantey which shockingly reveals that just within 8 months, the cost of the BoG Head Office project astronomically increased from US$81,882,640.00 to US$121,078,517.94.
11. Experts say this staggering US$40million increase in the project cost between January and September 2020 in a dollar denominated contract is absolutely mind boggling;
12. A 40% hike merely after tender evaluation in dollar pricing, not cedis, raises many critical questions for the BoG;
13. A credible full competitive tender process would have avoided this arbitrary cost escalation and guaranteed value for money;
14. Ironically, all these procurement breaches and sleazy price escalation at taxpayer expense was happening during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic when President Akufo-Addo and Governor Addison had given Ghanaians assurances that they had put everything else on hold and were focusing on saving lives. Addison even claimed in June 2020 that the Central Bank was struggling in financing government because of Covid only to initiate this mega project on the blindside of Ghanaians;
15. Deeper investigations into the shady BoG head office project led me to discover another reckless and lawless conduct by the Addison-led Central Bank when they procured the services of a company known as MULTICAD to carry out project management through single-sourcing. (See PPA letter of 22nd September, 2021 as attached);
16. Section 40 of Act 663 provides the conditions for single-sourcing which do not apply in this instance;
17. There is no compelling genuine reason which justifies MULTICAD’s sweetheart deal of US$3.45million from Governor Addison;
18. What was Governor Addison’s special interest in ensuring that MULTICAD was single-sourced when there are hundreds of competitors out there who should have been allowed to compete for us to have value for money;
19. Curiously, this is a regime which made considerable noise in opposition against what they described as the dangers of single-sourced projects;
20. Strangely, MULTICAD’s articles of incorporation secured from the Office of the Registrar of Companies suggest that the company was registered on December 10, 2021 even though it received PPA approval on September 22, 2022. (See copy attached);
21. These numerous blatant procurement breaches, rigged procurement machinations, magical price escalations and lack of due diligence raise legitimate questions about the stewardship of PPA Board Chair, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi and his colleagues at the PPA;
22. Patriotic Bank of Ghana insiders working with me on this latest oversight project have expressed grave concern about how this BoG office complex which started at US$81.8million, surprisingly shot up to US$121million, and now variation reports are being prepared which are likely to exceed an incredible US$250million. This scary development invokes memories of the scandalous Akufo-Addo Cathedral which started at a US$100million and has now exceeded US$400million;
23. It is most astonishing for MisGovernor Addison who has presided over the BoG’s biggest losses in living memory of GHS60.8billion to initiate an US$81.8million head office project only to now saddle Ghanaians with a bill which is about three times more. The height of recklessness and gross mismanagement!;
24. Probably, MisGovernor Addison couldn’t be bothered about the frightening cost escalations for his new empire office project because he thought he could mindlessly continue with his illegal printing of cash;
25. This exposé clearly shows how MisGovernor Addison and his colleagues in management at the BoG have been deliberately lawless and remarkably destructive. Ironically, they punished others and collapsed their banks for far less.
26. All well-meaning Ghanaians must join the #OccupyBoGProtest. MisGovernor Addison and his fellow nation wreckers must go! Let us rescue our only country.
Metro TV’s Paul Adom-Otchere has provided a list of members of parliament who have pledged their fealty to New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful Alan Kyerematen
The Good Evening Ghana host believes that beyond their pledges, the MPs will cast their votes favor of Alan at the upcoming super delegates conference schedule August 26, 2023
Below is the List as provided for by Paul Adom Otchere
At times, you require relaxation and outlets for expression. Engaging in exercise, writing, playing, creating, and reading are all ways to unwind—albeit with limits. Certain activities can escalate into costly habits if they lead to harm, serve as coping mechanisms, or become obsessive. If you’re caught in expensive addictive behaviors, it’s time for positive transformation.
Definition of Addictive Behaviors
Most people think of ‘addiction’ as being dependent on a substance like drugs or alcohol. Many people, however, are addicted to behavior’s rather than drugs and have similar feelings to those who are dependent on a substance. Some claim that “getting high” is a natural reaction that occurs in several situations.
Behavioral addictions are characterized by a series of acts that expose a person to “mood-altering events”[2] on which they gain pleasure and become reliant, which may change neurotransmitter function, notably mesolimbic dopaminergic turnover.
In other words, consuming substances causes the brain to release feel-good neurotransmitters that are also released by other reward-based actions, both healthy and bad. Rather than being motivated by the behavior itself, urges and desires to engage in certain behavioral addictions stem from wanting to feel that way again.
Because their brain chemistry alters as their addiction advances, a person with an addiction has little control over what they are doing, using, or taking. Their addiction may have progressed to the point where it is causing them harm.
Addictions are not restricted to the physical things we consume, such as alcohol or drugs, but can encompass almost anything, including gambling, sex, and food.
Psychological dependence, such as with a smartphone, sex, gambling, or job, is now widely regarded as an addiction since it causes emotions of shame, guilt, failure, despair, anxiety, hopelessness, and humiliation.
Some Characteristics of Addictive Behavior
1. Giving Up Social and Leisure Activities
Some persons may give up or stop participating in activities as a result of their addiction. An internet junkie, for example, may decide not to go camping if they know they won’t have access to the internet. Similarly, an alcoholic may avoid extended excursions where they will be unable to obtain alcohol.
2. Maintaining a Consistent Supply
Individuals addicted to a substance will always have enough of it, regardless of their financial situation, to guarantee that they have a sufficient supply.
3. Keeping a Stockpile
Addicts are known to keep small stashes of their drugs hidden about their homes or in their cars.
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4. Dangerous Behavior
Occasionally, an addict will engage in dangerous behavior to obtain their desired substance, such as trading sex for drugs, money, or stealing. An addict who is under the influence of drugs, on the other hand, may engage in unsafe activities such as irresponsible driving.
5. One Cannot Discontinue Using the Substance
In many cases, such as with alcohol or drug addiction, a person has made a sincere attempt to break free from their addiction at least once but has failed.
6. Their Addiction is Unaffected By Their Health Difficulties
Despite developing ailments linked to the substance, the person continues to take it as normal. An alcoholic, for example, may continue to drink even after learning that they have liver disease.
Here are some tips on how to identify addictive behavior’s and get rid of them.
1. Heed the Warnings
Right off the bat, I’m going to urge you to gauge whether this behavior has become harmful to you or someone else. While this article is not designed to address or diagnose unhealthy addictive behavior’s, it is a wake-up call.
If you or someone you know is compulsively engaging in a detrimental behavior, heed the warnings. Your first step should be to contact your local mental health provider or call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline1-800-662-HELP (4357). Addictive behavior’s that call for integrated treatment require more than self-help mechanisms and should always be handled by a professional.
2. Identify the Addiction
If the addictive behavior is something you can self-manage, then the first step is to put a label on it. Overeating, overworking, or spending too much time engaged in a hobby to the detriment of obligations are just a few examples.
I want to stress once more that even though these may often require professional support, some activities can help you thoughtfully manage them. Start by defining what that addictive behavior is. If you are over-stressed but find that eating gives you a pleasurable escape, then overeating may have evolved into that addictive behavior. If you are constantly on your phone or find yourself searching social media platforms all day long—and it’s not your job to do so—that could be a sign of another addictive behavior.
3. Understand the Addiction
The next step in getting rid of addictive behavior is understanding whether or not it is classified as an addiction or simply a bad habit. If the behavior has a pull so strong that you cannot separate yourself from it for very long, odds are it’s an addiction and will require professional support.
If you can, say, turn your phone off for several days without feeling anxious, depressed, or acting out or uncomfortable, then it may be something that you can control. If it is simply a bad habit, then practice separating yourself from the behavior for stretches of time until you no longer turn to it as an instant stress-releaser.
4. Know the Risks
Poor health, lost finances, and broken relationships are just a few of the costs associated with addictive behavior’s. One of the most compelling reasons for change often lies in understanding the risks involved. Gambling is an addictive behavior with enormous costs, but some cannot see the risk behind the potential reward.
If you are challenged in identifying why change is necessary, talk to someone and let them help you see how costly the behavior can be if left unchecked.
5. Understand Your “Why?”
Working too many hours, while seemingly a noble activity, can be a sign that you’re avoiding other activities in your life. It could mean that you are unprepared and disorganized or lack confidence in your abilities. Filling your void in your life with work, substances, and activities is either a sign that something is missing or a mask to avoid facing the truth. Working with a trained professional can help you uncover your “why” and healthily process the systemic issue that could be causing the addictive behavior in the first place.
6. Avoid Toxic People
People are often surprised to discover that relationships can also be addictive behavior’s. Deep connections with friends or loved ones that partake in unhealthy addictive behavior’s can be a slippery slope to adopting one for yourself. This kind of affiliative or peer pressure style addiction can prey on a weakness or need to feel a sense of belonging. Even the relationship itself can be unhealthy. Allowing a relationship with a negative or addicted person to continue is fostering a pattern that may eventually result in emotional pain.
7. Clarify Your Triggers
Triggers can be internal or external, and they can occur at any time and in any place to reinforce the addiction. Triggers cause stress which provokes addictive behavior that serves as a coping mechanism for calming the nervous system.
For example, if one is sensitive about their weight, unhealthy internal and external dialogue can lead to overeating or avoiding food altogether. Work-related stress such as having an overbearing supervisor could be the trigger that causes someone to either work themselves sick or shut down and fail to perform. There isn’t always a drastic reaction when a trigger takes place, nor does the trigger need to be catastrophic.
A friend shared that he ate most of his meals while watching television. He lives alone, so it helps him relax and he feels less guilty watching shows while eating because he’s doing something, rather than laying listlessly on the couch. But television also became his trigger. Every time it was on, he wanted to eat. So, watching and eating became an addictive behavior that he eventually needed to address.
8. Find a Substitute
Socially responsible addictions—like consuming caffeine and sugar—are still difficult behavior’s to change. And they do have their downsides. While you may not see the immediate downsides, failing to take into account the long-term effects of overindulging can be detrimental. Occasionally substituting decaf, tea, or fruit instead of candy is a gentle way to get rid of the addictive behavior without going cold turkey.
9. Find Some Support
People need people. And when it comes to addictive behavior’s, the best way to get rid of them is with the support of others. In addition to professional care, connecting with others that share the addiction can be comforting and supportive.
Communities exist in your neighbourhood and online for all types of addictive behavior and there are plenty of people to support your positive change and hold you accountable to your goals. Remember, this also includes your friends and family. While they may not share the same addictive behavior’s, they will be there for you when you need them.
10. Apply Healing Techniques
Some mild addictive behavior’s can be thoughtfully managed without the support of a professional. But it begins with understanding your “why.” When you define the underlying reasons, you might find there are healing techniques at the ready to help you overcome.
Take social media addiction. For some, the compulsion to always be on Facebook or other platforms can be tempered with practice, accountability, substitutions, and support. But digging a little deeper, you may find that your “why” is centred around a need to be liked. Applying positive self-talk, biofeedback, positive reinforcement techniques, exercise, and meditation may help shore up your confidence and self-image.
11. Build Your Willpower
It’s a known fact that when you can build your willpower through less daunting challenges than overcoming a more substantial one—like addictive behavior—it’s more likely that you’ll succeed. Navy SEALs in BUDS training go through gruelling tests, challenges, and exercises to build up their stamina and willpower so that when faced with real-time adversaries, they are conditioned to respond at a high-level.
While you don’t have to become a SEAL to overcome addictive behavior’s, you may find that smaller willpower-building exercises will help you manage bigger challenges over time.
Ahead of the impending NPP Presidential Primaries, rigorous steps have been implemented to guarantee an equitable and open electoral procedure.
An all-encompassing serialization mechanism has been introduced to uphold the credibility of the internal elections and mitigate the risk of possible discrimination.
The anticipated internal elections have been organized with the intention of concealing the identities of delegates and inhibiting candidates from discerning the voting patterns in favor of or against them.
Sources within both the Electoral Commission and the party’s leadership have confirmed that a robust serialization concept has been adopted to guarantee the anonymity of delegates.
The potent serialization strategy is complemented by the utilization of the walk-in approach in place of individual delegate identification. Additionally, the prohibition of smart devices and cameras will be enforced at the voting venues.
These models were introduced to safeguard the identity of the delegates and make it practically impossible to identify who voted for or against a particular candidate.
The absence of mobile phones and cameras is also to prevent members from snapping who they voted for or against as a way of sanitizing the voting space.
The walk-in concept will also prevent candidates from identifying who voted for who based on any agreed order or pattern.
The Super Delegates conference is slated for August 26, 2023, while the national presidential primary has been slated for November 4.
Nanahemaa Adwoa Awindor, host of the well-liked television programme “Greetings from Abroad,” has described how her daughter missed out on a significant project because of unfounded rumours.
Her daughter, popular singer and songwriter Jane Afia Awindor, popularly known as Efya, has been criticised online for her lifestyle.
The mother claims that the singer has suffered greatly in her career as a result of some of these rumours, which she has publicly denied. This can be extremely devastating and has a significant impact on the singer as well.
In an interview with Joy Prime’s Prime Morning, she described how Efya was in the middle of a significant business deal but lost the project after the investor heard untrue, defamatory rumours about her.
“One of the instances we were working on a project, a huge project and this broke it, the project didn’t happen and as a mother, I’ll feel bad about it.”
Nana Adwoa Awindor, while shedding tears, spoke about her life, and Efya revealed that some investors who want to back the singer and invest in her talent occasionally change their minds after hearing some of these rumours about her.
“These are instances where you’re working on something, sometimes we’re working on something that should push her somewhere and these things come up, that’s why I was saying earlier that we have to be careful the way we do and say things because you never know the effect,” she added.
“If you’re an investor and you want to invest in somebody and you hear things about the person, whether it’s true or not, before you say jack you may have taken a step back to check it, so yes, it does affect us.”
She claims, though, that she constantly urges Efya to keep going, to pray, and to concentrate on her career because God has better things in store for her.
“I know my daughter, I just tell her not to follow it, just take it in and pray about it, it will die off.”
“Like I said, the better part of us is yet to come not what is gone, I don’t believe in that, I believe in what is ahead and is bigger and better, so we’re praying for her,” she said.
The mother of the singer who is also a Queenmother at Afigya-Kwabre in the Ashanti Region, further added that she has no regrets about Efya going into the music industry.
She pledged her support as a mother even if Efya decides to venture into something else.
At the EMY Awards 2023 Soiree in Lagos, Caveman Watches, Africa’s leading emerging luxury brand, stepped into the spotlight by creating custom timepieces for the distinguished winners, including Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), Don Jazzy, Tony Elumelu, and other astute individuals.
Anthony Mensah Dzamefe, the multi-award-winning businessman who founded Caveman Watches, has created customised watches that reflect the unique accomplishments of each honoree, elevating the idea of an award to a level of sophistication never before attained.
At the event, the bespoke luxury timepieces were presented by renowned Ghanaian industrialist Dr Ernest Ofori Sarpong to honour ten (10) astute EMY winners’ circle who include; Akinwumi Adesina, Tony Elumelu, Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), Adebola Williams, Lanre Olusola, Seyi Tinubu, Ayo Animashaun, Don Jazzy, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, and Ayo Makun – AY, among others in the EMY Africa Awards Alumni (Nigeria) category.
Thanks to a collaboration with Caveman Watches, the EMY AFRICA Awards, which recognise people who have excelled in a variety of fields, add a touch of luxury that resonates with the spirit of achievement in this edition. The custom timepieces created for the EMY Africa Awards by Caveman Watches are painstakingly designed to highlight the distinctive achievements of each winner.
Each uniquely designed timepiece is a gift that commemorates the winner’s journey and significant achievements. The customised creations from Caveman Watches offer more than just a means of keeping time; they capture an occasion that will always be remembered for excellence. Each component, including engravings and design elements, makes a masterpiece special.
The event at the Mercedes-Benz showroom in Lagos served as a warm-up for the main awards ceremony on October 14 in Ghana.
The EMY Africa Awards are a prestigious ceremony held to honour outstanding African men and personalities for their outstanding accomplishments, significant contributions, and ability to inspire positive change in Africa and beyond.
This prestigious event, which Mr. Kojo Soboh founded, also features complimentary awards for women who are challenging the status quo.
The EMY Awards 2023 Soireè in Lagos honours both the current nominees and previous winners from Nigeria. The gathering will bring together young people who share similar goals and are breaking new ground in their respective fields. It’s designed to inspire excellence and uplift men, particularly in a Pan-African context.
The EMY Africa Awards not only celebrate achievements but also, aims to inspire the next generation of leaders.
Caveman Watches, has garnered international acclaim as the first Ghanaian-made watch brand to be featured in the esteemed New York Times. It stands proudly as Africa’s foremost emerging luxury brand. It has earned the endorsement of influential figures and celebrities across the continent and around the world.
Garda (Irish police) have reported that officers were dispatched to several cash machines as a result of technological issues at the Bank of Ireland that allowed users to withdraw money despite having little or no money in their accounts.
After word of the issue emerged on Tuesday, lengthy lines started to form at numerous cash machines throughout the Republic of Ireland.
Social media posts also seemed to depict officers who had been sent to cash machines.
The bank apologised for the inconvenience and stated the problems had been fixed on Wednesday morning.
It stated that consumers’ accounts would still be affected by transfers and withdrawals.
According to Garda, there has been an unusually high number of activity at various cash machines across the nation.
A spokeswoman said: “Local decisions were made on a case-by-case basis based on the public safety and public order presented to members of A Garda Sochána.”
“A Garda Sochána remind individuals of their personal accountability in conducting their personal banking.”
Although Northern Ireland clients were also impacted by the technical difficulties, according to Bank of Ireland, it “didn’t have similar reports of customers using Northern Ireland ATMs late last night.”
It also mentioned the possibility of overnight account payments into Wednesday.
The representative stated, “We are aware that some clients were able to withdraw or transfer monies above their customary limitations due to the technical difficulty.
These withdrawals and transfers will be credited to consumers’ accounts right away.
“We strongly advise any customer who believes they may be in financial trouble as a result of overdrawing their account to get in touch with us.”
Customers were unable to use the services on Tuesday afternoon, while contactless, card, and cash machine services were unaffected.
Social media reports claimed that certain clients had been able to move more money to external accounts than they had in their Bank of Ireland accounts, withdraw the money, and then transfer the money back.
One person waiting in queue outside an ATM in Stoneybatter, Dublin, informed the Irish Times that he had read about the error online and intended to use it.
“I don’t know if I’ll get away with it, but it’s worth a shot,” he added.
Popular gospel musician Joe Mettle has declared his love and devotion to his wife as he celebrates their third wedding anniversary.
Mettle marked the anniversary of his marriage to Salomey Selassie Dzisa, his wife of three years, on August 15 by posting a sentimental message and a beautiful photo to his social media accounts.
The” Bo no ni” hitmaker used the occasion to shower praises on his wife and expressed excitement to have her as a life partner.
“Three years and forever to go. Grateful to God for his grace, mercies, protection and provision. @serlcy_d I love you babe ❤️❤️❤️❤️ and honored to do life with you .
“Happy anniversary to Us 🕺🏽🕺🏽🕺🏽🕺🏽🕺🏽 ,” he posted.
Congratulations messages from fans and other artists flooded the comments section as well, praising the couple’s relationship and wishing them a lifetime of happiness.
The couple had their white wedding at the Christian Centre Assemblies of God Church in Tema’s Community 12.
Prior to that, on Thursday, August 13, they had their traditional wedding.
Alan Shearer, a former Newcastle United and England football player, has claimed that the more Saudi Arabia participates in sport, the more the government would come under scrutiny.
“That can only be a good thing,” he added, adding that more people were asking questions.
Shearer was replying to inquiries about objections to his charity taking a gift from the LIV golf league, which is supported by Saudi Arabia.
The response to any offer of money, he claimed, was “always a yes” during a crisis in the cost of living.
TheAlan Shearer Foundation, a charity run by the Match of the Day pundit, offers activities, residential care, and respite care to persons with significant disabilities.
It has accepted a donation of $25,000 (£19,600) from LIV, and at its Asian Tour event at Close House near Newcastle, there will be fundraising activities as well.
Although the organisation offers its facilities free of charge, Shearer explained that this means money must be generated to meet operating expenses.
Therefore, he remarked, “Whenever anyone asks if they can be involved with it, then it’s always a yes because times are hard now.”
“We still need to find a way to raise the money.”
Shearer acknowledged worries about the source of the funding, but added that he understood them.
I believe it’s critical that we discuss and inquire about that, he remarked.
“We must accept that LIV and the Saudis are in because it is such a significant aspect of sport today.
“But I believe that more people are raising the issues as a result of their current involvement, and that can only be a good thing.
“It can only be better if people have to answer more questions,”
Because of Saudi Arabia‘s dismal human rights record, a Saudi-backed acquisition of Shearer’s former team, Newcastle United, in 2021 generated controversy.
Amnesty International demanded that the Premier League review the agreement earlier this year.
The organization’s CEO, Sacha Deshmukh, blasted the choice to stage two Saudi international games at St. James’ Park on Wednesday, labelling it yet another illustration of “how sportswashing works.”
Assin Central MP, and aspiring presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, has voiced his opinion with regards to the 10% tax slapped on betting.
He has declared his support for the tax. Speaking in an interview on 3XTRA, he opined that the current 10% tax is insufficient and should be increased.
Tax on betting took effect from Tuesday, August 15, 2023, across the country. This comes after the government amended the Tax Act, therefore, introducing withholding tax on winnings from sports betting and lottery.
Although the Ghana Revenue Authority has stated that it intends to raise about GHC 1.2 million from lottery activities through this tax, the decision has been greeted with fierce rejection.
Ghanaians have condemned the tax and are calling for its withdrawal. Mr Agyapong on the other hand said the move by the government is a step in the right direction.
“The tax is in order and should have been more. In America, if you win a billion dollars lottery, you’ll take home about 6 million dollars. Why? Because it’s free money and it’s taxable,” he said, adding that the government has been charitable for slapping just 10% as tax on betting.
He additionally urged the youth to refrain from engaging in such activities, as they are detrimental to their future prospects.
“Betting is nothing good for your future, that’s why it should be punitive to discourage the young men and women coming up,” he added.
Two of Lithuania’s six border crossings with Belarus will be closed.
Starting on Friday, there won’t be any commercial vehicle traffic at the two remote crossing sites.
The administration claimed that the decision was made in reaction to smuggling, threats to national security, and changes in the geopolitical environment.
Since Minsk provided shelter to fighters from Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, Belarus’ western neighbours have tightened security.
This was a provision of a deal Wagner made to put a stop to a brief mutiny in Russia in June.
The Tverecius and Sumskas crossings will be blocked, according to the Lithuanian government, and traffic will be redirected to Medininkai, one of its six checkpoints.
The closures were just temporary, according to deputy minister of transport Agn Vaiciukeviciute, who spoke to the Associated Press.
Additionally, Poland has severely restricted entry from Belarus, and on Tuesday, Latvia ordered border reinforcements.
For the benefit of both his own citizens and the rest of Europe, Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karin said Belarus needed to understand that his nation was serious about defending its borders.
This summer, we have observed that Belarus has been exerting growing pressure rather than lessening, according to Mr. Karin.
“We are merely stepping up our presence and making it abundantly clear to both our own society and the Belarusian government that this is no joke,” the group stated.
Following an alleged invasion by Belarusian military helicopters, Poland declared last week that it was deploying 10,000 additional troops to its border with Belarus.
After Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki warned that Wagner militants could pose as migrants and enter the EU, Belarus’ government has pledged to help protect against mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group who have moved there.
Since June, when Wagner’s mutiny questioned President Vladimir Putin’s authority, worries have grown among Belarus’ neighbours. Belarus is a staunch ally of Russia.
A compromise put an end to a 24-hour uprising that saw the troops seize Rostov in southern Russia and advance on Moscow before stopping their advance barely 200 kilometres (124 miles) from the capital.
According to the deal, Wagner fighters had the option of joining the regular Russian army or relocating to Belarus.
The President of the GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwufour, signed on behalf of the professional body, and the Chancellor, Dr. Paul Kofi Fynn, signed on behalf of the schools.
Former Court of Appeal Judge and University Council Chairman Justice Isaac Duose attended the ceremony.
Ten GJA members would receive fully-funded scholarships each year to enrol in diploma and degree-level programmes in communication studies under the terms of the three-year agreement, which is renewable.
Additionally, the university will provide members and non-members of the GJA with a partial scholarship of 40% of the tuition cost to pursue diploma and degree programmes at the Wisconsin School of Communication Studies.
The agreement, which is effective right away, also requires the GJA to shortlist candidates for the scholarship (both full and partial), and then submit those candidates to the university.
The professional development of GJA members in particular and media professionals in general is expected to be improved by it, and it is subject to renewal at the end of its term.
The scholarship fulfils a commitment made by the WIUC-GH Chancellor in 2022 when members of the GJA’s National Executive paid him a courtesy visit following their election to office.
Prior to applying for the scholarship facility, interested parties must first submit an application for admission to WIUC-GH.
Application forms for scholarships are available on the GJA website at www.gja.org. Once completed, the forms should be submitted to the GJA Secretariat.
The applications will be reviewed, and applicants will be properly informed of the results of their applications, whether they were successful or not.
Dr Fynn said as one of the best private universities in the country, Wisconsin was happy to work with the GJA to offer scholarship to journalists.
He urged the leadership of the GJA to ensure fairness in the selection of beneficiaries, adding “the scholarship should not be based on friendship and any form of favouritism but rather focused on qualified individuals who are needy”.
The acting Dean of the School of Communication Studies at WIUC-GH, Baaba Cofie, said she was excited about the scholarship scheme because it would help build the capacity of journalists.
Gratitude
Mr Dwumfour thanked the Chancellor for the gesture, saying the scholarship would help to ensure professionalism and high journalistic standards.
“We see today’s programme as very historic.
We are aware the media will be very happy about this.
“One thing I can assure you of as a legacy regime is to work towards enhancing professionalism and high journalistic standards,” he said.
Kenyan MPs and public are debating whether TikTok should be banned in response to a petition.
Bob Ndolo, a Kenyan, presented the petition, which was discussed in the Kenyan parliament on Tuesday.
Mr. Ndolo requested that TikTok be made illegal, expressing worries that the platform imperils Kenya’s cultural and religious values.
The petitioner added that TikTok’s lax regulation in Kenya was to blame for the rise in abusive and inappropriate content on the platform.
According to Moses Wetangula, speaker of the Kenyan parliament, “the petition decries that while TikTok has grown in popularity among young people in Kenya, the content that is being shared on the platform is inappropriate, thus promoting violence, explicit sexual content, hate speech, vulgar language, and offensive behaviour, which is a serious threat to the cultural and religious values of Kenya.”
Mr. Ndolo continued by saying that the ban will protect Kenyans from the detrimental impacts of TikTok, such as addiction, which could impair kids’ academic performance and mental health. Mr. Ndolo also raised worry that the app might be gathering or disclosing personal information on Kenyans without their consent.
The proposed ban has received support from certain MPs and civilians, but others contend that it will hinder Kenya’s technology advancement and have an adverse financial impact on countless young Kenyans who make content for TikTok.
Instead of outright banning the platform, other politicians, including the majority leader in parliament Kimani Ichung’wah, have suggested stronger content regulations.
Relationship expert Okoro Blessing has once again made headlines after offering yet another contentious piece of advice.
A woman’s backside is not an indication of success or confidence, according to the self-described relationship expert, but rather an attraction.
She went on to say that if a woman uses her butt properly, she will probably be able to satisfy all of her materialistic desires.
In her opinion, having a backside has become somewhat of a requirement for all women because of how much modern men adore them.
“Yansh is not an achievement or confidence. But it’s an attraction to getting anything you want if you have brains. Forget the noise men love yansh, smart women will use it to attract them and get anything from them.
“Remember what they say they want in public is not what they want in private. Have yansh but have sense and everything will work together for your good. Women is ok to have yansh but don’t put pressure on yourself, just make money and every other thing shall be added on to you. Forget men they are just noise makers in public, in private yansh humble them,” she stated.
After bringing a lawsuit against the White House to challenge the cancellation of his press pass, Cameroonian journalistSimon Ateba has continued to battle the administration.
In recent interviews and posts on social media, Mr. Ateba has alleged that the White House has discriminated against him because of his colour, for asking challenging questions, and because he works for a smaller news organisation.
According to a lawsuit Mr. Ateba filed last Thursday against White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and the Secret Service, the White House singled him out and instituted a credentialing process to prevent him from renewing his press pass.
More than 400 additional White House reporters also lost their permits as a result of the rule change, including Mr. Ateba.
According to the revised guidelines, Mr. Ateba is not eligible to receive a White House press pass since Today News Africa, the news organisation he owns and operates, is not seen as a reliable source of information.
A protracted dispute between Mr. Ateba, Ms. Jean-Pierre, the White House press office, and several White House journalists who objected to Mr. Ateba’s repeated interruptions culminated in his ban and subsequent lawsuit.
He received a warning from the White House last month that if he continued to disrupt the briefings, he would lose his press credentials.
At least four times, he had interrupted briefings to chastise Ms. Jean-Pierre for consistently denying him the chance to ask questions.
Authorities claim that a gang of teenage Maasai people who reside in the Ngorongoro conservation area in northern Tanzania have injured three journalists and one language interpreter.
The BBC was informed by Elibariki Bajuta, the area’s deputy commissioner for conservation, that the attack took place on Tuesday when the journalists were observing how the government was delivering “conservation-based education” to the local populace.
According to Mr. Bajuta, the attack is being investigated, and anybody found responsible will face legal repercussions.
According to him, the injured are receiving medical attention at a hospital in the nearby town of Karatu.
It occurs in the midst of a dispute between the government and certain Maasai community members who opposed the authorities removing them from what they consider to be their ancestral territory that broke out last year.
The authorities have started transferring residents to Tanga’s coastal area, claiming that the region’s ecosystem is at risk due to the rising human population in Ngorongoro.
Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has stated that he did not issue any directive for Ahmed Suale to be killed.
Contrarily, he stated that he merely instructed his staff not to permit his presence at any of his business premises since he [Ahmed] is “a bad boy.”
“When I mentioned Ahmed Suale, my workers told me ‘he has been here for money; you gave him money for school fees. You gave him GHC1500 to pay his school fees,’ and I said I don’t know him. Then they said he has been coming here for money.
His own deeds caused his death, not me – Flagbearer hopeful of the NPP, Kennedy Agyapong clears the air on the late Ahmed Suale.#TV3NewDaypic.twitter.com/3O7V8iuBFG
A secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Regina Abanga, who has been accused of manipulating ATMs owned by ADB and withdrawing money totaling GHC 287,775 has pleaded not guilty.
Appearing at the Accra Circuit Court, Regina has been granted bail at a sum of GHC 250,000 with three sureties, one to be justified with landed property valued at GHC 125,000.
Additionally, the accused has also been tasked to report to the Police every Wednesday until the court resumes hearing on September 5.
The accused, who had a bank account at the Ridge branch between November 2022 and June 2023, frequently visited different ATM machines in the Accra metropolis and withdrew between GC2,000 and 6,000 each time she went on operation, according to the facts of the case presented to the court.
However, on June 15 at Labone, she was observed during one of her operations, and a man by the name of Solomon Inusah alerted the bank. Her ATM card was subsequently blocked.
After complaining to the bank about her difficulty using the card, she was arrested
According to police investigators, the accused acknowledged the activities and disclosed that funds from the business were used to finance the purchase of a Toyota Vits and buy a three-story building.
The accused was arraigned and accused of stealing on more than 100 counts.
Ghanaian musician Elorm Adablah popularly known as E.L. has finally opened up about why he doesn’t engage in beef with other artistes just like his other rappers.
He believes that he is not on the same level with some of these acts and that a beef with another rapper would be fatal.
He explained that his wide range of abilities and musical versatility have carved out a niche for him in the music business, and anyone looking to pick a fight with him is aware of what they are getting into.
The ‘Koko’ hitmaker mentioned that he is five artists in one body and that alone shows how versatile he can be on any beat that is presented to him.
“I possess the capabilities of five different artists in one. This allows me to explore various musical genres and styles,” he said.
He further emphasized his versatility by mentioning, “With my personal studio and production skills, I can seamlessly delve into any genre I desire.
“My achievements speak to this, having earned recognition as a producer with awards for ‘Producer of the Year’ on one or two occasions.”
Dancehall king Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale has released a song in response to Ola Michael’s popular shoe.
Shatta Wale and the renowned entertainer, singer, and director have been engaged in a feud for several weeks.
Ola Michaels has been in the trends these past few days after the shoe that he wore to the United Showbiz was captured by the lenses of their cameraman.
This caused an uproar on the internet, and Shatta Wale took advantage of the situation to make a song for his recently discovered enemy.
55 people have been killed and 146 injured in clashes between two strong militias supporting the UN-backed government of Libya in the nation’s capital, Tripoli, according to medical personnel.
The city’s main airport was forced to close due to the intense violence, which broke out on Monday and continued into late Tuesday.
Fighting only stopped after a commander whose incarceration started it was released by one side.
After long-time leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011, Libya is now in a state of political instability.
Currently, the nation is divided practically between a temporary, internationally recognised administration in Tripoli and another in the east.
A truce in 2020 has contributed to some degree of peace, but ingrained factionalism on all sides always poses a threat to disturb it.
The most recent conflict occurred in Tripoli, where Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah is in charge of the government.
A senior commander from the 444 Brigade was detained on Monday as he attempted to leave the airport by the Special Deterrence Force, which has control of the facility.
The leader had previously served as an officer in the competing militia, according to the Reuters news agency.
Battles broke out in various areas of the capital, notably Ain Zara in the southeast, trapping many residents inside their homes.
3 field hospitals were established to care for the casualties, 60 ambulances were dispatched, and 234 families had to be evacuated from frontline areas, according to Libya’s Emergency Medicine and Support Centre.
The commander was released to a “neutral party” when the prime minister intervened, according to the AFP news agency.
He later took a tour of the impacted neighbourhoods to gauge the extent of the harm.
Later on Wednesday, the airport reopened, according to AFP.
Concerned about the potential effects of these developments on the ongoing work to prepare for elections that were delayed two years ago, the UN mission expressed alarm.
“All parties must preserve the security gains achieved in recent years and address differences through dialogue,” its statement said.
At a castle in County Wexford, restoration work has revealed a hidden room.
A carpenter repairing on a window at Johnstown Castle on Sunday made the discovery.
The National Gates and Joinery Company’s workers discovered a hidden room that had been unoccupied for many years after breaking through a portion of wall.
The Irish Heritage Trust will now evaluate it to learn more about its use, timing, and previous owners.
In recent years, the gothic-revival castle outside of Wexford town has undergone extensive conservation and restoration work. It has been gradually reopening to the public.
The site’s first castle was built there more than 850 years ago during the Norman era.
Before becoming a part of the public domain in the late 20th century, it was owned by a number of various aristocratic families.
Following a €7.5 million renovation, the castle’s doors were first opened to the public in some areas in the middle of 2019 and more did so over the next two years.
Anne O’Donoghue, CEO of the Irish Heritage Trust, said it was an incredible discovery.
This is the second time that this has happened at Johnstown Castle after our discovery of a secret room under the tower at the lake only last year, she said. “It is highly unusual to find additional hidden treasures in heritage properties,” she said.
Only a boat can get to the room under the tower.
The room appears to have been covered up for a very long period, according to Brenda Comerford, manager of Johnstown Castle.
It is a portion of one of the towers, and based on our early observations, we believe it was probably a tiny turret bedroom.
There is a horrible family history connected to Johnstown Castle, so who knows if this room was closed off as a result of a catastrophe that might have occurred in the past.
Michel Labine, a longtime resident of Fort Smith, Canada, is frequently the one putting out fires or helping evacuees in his neighbourhood.
It was the 63-year-old’s first time being on the other side, but he was forced to flee last weekend as a nearby forest fire drew closer and closer to his neighbourhood.
The skies were hazy on that Saturday morning, but by noon the flames had turned the sky entirely black.
Then, according to Mr. Labine’s account to the BBC, “it broke up a little and there was just a red, amber sky.” He then observed fire trucks driving between homes, pleading the inhabitants to vacate.
Later, the military flew Mr. Labine and his family 365 kilometres (226 miles) to Fort McMurray, Alberta. The airlift is the largest rescue effort in the history of the territory.
The Labines were able to escape with nothing but the necessities.
“We had no luggage,” Mr. Labine said. “I just had my bag, which contained my medical supplies. We were in the dark.
He is one of around 6,500 people who have been told to leave certain areas of the Northwest Territories because there are currently 236 wildfires burning nearby.
The government proclaimed a state of emergency for the entire territory on Tuesday, and the mayor of the little town of Hay River issued an evacuation alert to her residents.
At a news conference, Kandis Jameson stated, “It is life-threatening to be here,” adding that the fire is roughly 15 miles from the town. 500 people, according to Ms. Jameson, have not yet left the area.
This is the second evacuation of Hay River this summer. Additionally, the municipality provided housing for Fort Smith evacuees who had to leave again on Sunday.
Over 5,000 people were present at Hay River when it was evacuated, according to Mr. Labine. “There would normally be 3,500, but a lot of people came from Fort Smith.”
According to Enterprise’s mayor on Tuesday, one of the fires nearly completely destroyed the hamlet, which is home to 120 people.
Michael St Amour told the CBC, “I think there are seven or eight houses and three or four businesses left.” “Around 85 to 90 percent of the community is gone.”
One mile from Fort Smith, according to Mr. Labine, there is another fire.
We might be saved if the wind is on our side, he replied. However, if the wind changes to the south, the settlement will be gone.
All we can do right now is pray and hope that the man upstairs decides to let us go this year, said Mr. Labine, who is currently taking refuge in a hotel with a lot of other evacuees.
Due to a drier than usual summer, Canada is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record, with roughly 1,100 active flames throughout the nation as of Tuesday.
Approximately the size of Greece, or 13.2 million hectares (32.6 million acres), have burned thus far.
To assist in putting out fires and organising evacuations, the Canadian government has sent members of the armed forces to the Northwest Territories.
In the meantime, the “imminent threat” of wildfires prompted Yellowknife, the territorial capital, to announce a local state of emergency on Monday night. The proclamation enables the city to respond in advance and get its citizens ready to flee at a moment’s notice.
The wildfire season this year, according to Mr. Labine, a former renewable resources officer whose duties included sending fire firefighters in his neighbourhood, is unlike any other he has seen.
This summer, the earth has been so dry that it has seemed like walking on broken glass.
It just crunched as you stepped on it, according to Mr. Labine. I’ve never noticed it to be so dry. There hasn’t been much rain.
Just before he and his family left for safety outside of Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Michel Labine captured this photo of the sky outside his house.
This July, Fort Good Hope in the Northwest Territories experienced its warmest July on record, with a high of 37.4C.
British Columbia, where multiple heat advisories are in effect this week owing to record-high temperatures, is also experiencing wildfires.
According to scientists, the hot, dry weather that is likely to start wildfires is more likely as a result of climate change.
Extreme heat that lasts for a long time dries out the soil and vegetation more and more.
Since the start of the industrial age, the world has already warmed by around 1.1C, and temperatures will continue to rise unless governments drastically reduce emissions.
Member of parliament representing Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, claims that Ghanaians frequently mistakenly interpret being straightforward as being arrogant and insulting.
He says he aligns himself with the former trait and rejects accusations that he is being arrogant when he speaks the truth on major issues or on attacks on his person.
In an interview on August 15 on Citi TV, he addressed how his public spat with socialite Afia Schwarzenegger started years ago.
“You mentioned Afia Schwarzenegger, I never knew her until she went on Peace FM to insult me,” Agyapong disclosed adding that his attention had actually been drawn to the insults by a colleague MP “who asked me that ‘what have you done to Afia Schwarzenegger?‘ and I said who is Afia Schwarzenegger?
“Then he retorted, you don’t even know her?” before asking him to go and get the recording of her attack on his person. He defended his subsequent response to Afia stating: “I had to go down to her level for her to feel the pain that every individual that she has insulted also feels.”
The conflict between the Assin Central Member of Parliament and Afia began in 2016, when she challenged him to disclose the source of his wealth after he disparaged the family and former president John Dramani Mahama.
Since then, the two have occasionally gotten into small back-and-forth arguments.
After the Member of Parliament for Assin Central announced his intention to run for his party’s flagbearership position with the hope of becoming Ghana’s president in 2024, Afia Schwarzenegger created a drawing of him and posted it recently.
The actress and comedian Afia Schwarzenegger has, however, denounced this dream, arguing that the MP’s flaws disqualify him from holding the position of highest office in the land.
The Killers have issued an apology after lead singer Brandon Flowers asked a Russian fan to play drums on stage during a performance in Georgia.
He prompted jeers and walk-outs from some sections of the crowd when he urged them to consider the Russian fan as their “brother.”
With its neighbour, Georgia, which declared its independence from Russia in 1991, has long had problems.
Invading Georgia in 2008, Russia still controls a portion of the former Soviet republic.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, a number of Russians moved to Georgia, which hastened tensions.
After the show, the Killers released a statement on social media in which they stated: “Good people of Georgia, it was never our aim to hurt anyone!
We’ve had a long tradition of allowing individuals to play drums, and from the stage, it looked like the audience initially approved of tonight’s audience participation participant joining us onstage.
“We acknowledge that a phrase that was intended to imply that the Killers’ audience and fans are all ‘brothers and sisters’ may have been misinterpreted.
We apologies for upsetting anyone; that was not our intention. We support you and intend to be back shortly.
Assin Central MP and NPP presidential aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, has revealed that he makes $800,000 a month from just rent.
The vociferous MP who was speaking on TV3’ NewDay, stated that he is engaged in numerous business ventures and does not depend on government procurement or contracts to generate income.
“I have a lot of businesses in the country. Even with rent alone, I make over $800,000 a month after withholding taxes. So now that I’m not doing any contract, am I not Kennedy Agyapong?” he said.
Among other things, the Assin Central MP absolved himself from blame in the killing of investigative journalist, Ahmed Hussein-Suale.
He reiterated that he had no hand in the killing of Mr Suale.
“His own deeds caused his death, not me,” he told the host of the show on Thursday, August 16, 2023.
He described him as a bad guy and said Anas used him.
