As reported by local authorities and a consulate spokesperson, at least two persons were killed in a shooting incident on Wednesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, close to the American embassy. One of those killed was a security guard for a consulate.
“A person in a car stopped near the American consulate building in Jeddah Governorate and got out of it carrying a firearm in his hand,” Saudi state news agency SPA said quoting a statement by the spokesperson for the Mecca city police. According to the report, the victim was killed during a gunfight with security personnel.
It also stated that “a Nepalese employee who was employed as a security guard at the consulate was injured and later died.”
A spokesperson for the consulate confirmed the incident. “There were two fatalities, including a member of the Consulate’s local guard force as well as the assailant, who was killed by Saudi security forces,” they said.
The spokesperson said the consulate was locked down during the incident, no Americans were harmed in the attack, and all official American and locally employed staff have been accounted for.
“We offer our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased local guards member,” the spokesperson said.
Saudi authorities are investigating the the incident.
Ma Khin Hla and her five siblings in Myanmar‘s central Sagaing region were unable to flee as a fighter jet buzzed over their village.
“We six siblings were sitting and talking at home as our brother monk was visiting us from town,” recalled Ma Khin Hla, 67, who requested to be identified only by a first name for security concerns.
“A jet fighter’s sounds were the first ones we heard. Since it started dropping bombs right away, we were unable to flee.
Ma Khin Hla claims that after the Tuesday strike, when she opened her eyes, she noticed the bodies of her siblings lying all around her.
“All were lying dead nearby me,” she said. “My entire body is shaken by rage and numb in sadness to see my siblings killed.”
At least 10 civilians died in the airstrike and more than a dozen others were wounded, local officials and eyewitnesses said, the latest deadly attack in the military junta’s violent campaign for control since seizing power in a coup.
Three bombs dropped by a military fighter jet on Tuesday landed close to a monastery in Nyaung Kone village, Pale township, according to Zaw Htet, head of the town’s People’s Administration.
“Three women and seven men, in total 10 people were killed including a monk, while about 15 people were injured and sent to hospital,” Zaw Htet told CNN.
The official also said 13 houses were destroyed in the attack.
Battles between the military and resistance groups have unfolded almost daily across Myanmar since army general Min Aung Hlaing seized power in February 2021, plunging the country into economic chaos and fresh civil war.
Airstrikes and ground attacks on what the military calls “terrorist” targets occur regularly and have killed thousands of civilians, including children, according to monitoring groups. Whole villages have been burned down by junta soldiers and schools, clinics and hospitals destroyed in the attacks.
The village struck Tuesday was part of a self-governed area in the Sagaing region not under junta control.
Administration official Zaw Htet said there were no resistance fighters – known as Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) – in the village and accused the junta of targeting civilians.
“They (the military) just came and dropped the bombs,” he said. “What they did was very inhuman and cruel as if the village was the military target.”
CNN cannot independently verify the incident, but eyewitness accounts match reports in local media and from Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government.
CNN reached out to junta spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment on the airstrike but did not receive a response.
Images from the aftermath of the attack, obtained by CNN, show the burnt embers of destroyed houses and villagers dousing water on the smoldering remains.
Ma Khin Hla, whose five siblings were killed, said she has been forced to take shelter with relatives in another village.
“My house was burned to ashes … (there’s) nothing left,” she said. “We were farmers … just ordinary people working in the farm.”
Ar Lu, another resident of Nyaung Kone village, told CNN he helped to extinguish the fires and bury those who died.
“We buried the people in a pit altogether,” he said.
Nay Phone Latt, spokesperson for the shadow National Unity Government confirmed the deadly attack.
“I condemn SAC (State Administration Council) on their target against the civilians,” he told CNN, using the official name of the ruling junta. “They are deliberately doing this in order to instill the fear in the people.”
In April, a junta air attack on Pazigyi village, also in Sagaing region, killed 186 people, including dozens of children, according to the NUG and eyewitnesses.
The military said it was targeting “terrorists” but eyewitnesses interviewed by CNN said those targeted were unarmed civilians enjoying a community celebration.
That attack sparked international outcry and increased calls for a ban on aviation fuel imports as well as a comprehensive arms embargo on Myanmar.
In May, a United Nations report found the junta had imported at least $1 billion in weapons and military-related equipment since its coup, with much of the equipment coming from individuals and businesses in Russia, China and Singapore.
An improbable survivor after its host star threw a fit may be a Jupiter-like planet located 520 light-years from Earth.
The gas planet, 8 UMi b, was discovered by Korean astronomers in 2015 and given the name Halla. The tallest mountain in South Korea is Halla, which is revered as a sacred site.
The exoplanet revolves around the huge star Baekdu, often known as the “Little Bear,” which is more massive than our sun.
Halla orbits Baekdu at a distance about half that between the Earth and the sun at 0.46 astronomical units, or 42,759,659 miles (68,815,020 kilometers). Halla is considered a “hot Jupiter,” a classification for exoplanets similar in size to Jupiter that have higher temperatures given how closely they orbit their host stars.
Astronomers believe that Halla somehow survived after its star experienced a violent transition that should have destroyed nearby planets. A study detailing the findings published Wednesday in the journal Nature.
Observations of Baekdu were made using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, which studies nearby stars. The team’s observations revealed that the star is burning through the supply of helium at its core, since it already appears to have exhausted its hydrogen. The revelation suggests to astronomers that the star once expanded into a red giant star.
“Engulfment by a star normally has catastrophic consequences for close orbiting planets. When we realised that Halla had managed to survive in the immediate vicinity of its giant star, it was a complete surprise,” said study coauthor Dr. Dan Huber, Australian Research Council Future Fellow at the University of Sydney and associate professor at the Institute for Astronomy of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, in a statement.
“As it exhausted its core hydrogen fuel, the star would have inflated up to 1.5 times the planet’s current orbital distance — engulfing it completely in the process — before shrinking to its current size.”
Our sun is expected to reach the end of its lifespan in 5 billion years, when it will expand to 100 times its current size and likely engulf and obliterate Earth and other planets in the solar system.
While our solar system only has one star, many stars across the universe exist in binary pairs. Astronomers are still investigating how planets form around these double-star systems — and the fate of those planets, as well.
When the research team realized the star was likely once larger than the current orbit of the planet, they carried out follow-up observations in 2021 and 2022 using the W. M. Keck Observatory and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii.
The additional observations revealed that the planet’s nearly circular orbit, which takes 93 Earth days to complete, had remained stable for more than a decade.
“Together, these observations confirmed the existence of Halla, leaving us with the compelling question of how the planet survived,” said lead study author Dr. Marc Hon, astronomer and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Hawaii, in a statement. “The observations from multiple telescopes on Maunakea were critical in this process.”
Now, astronomers are trying to determine if it’s possible that the planet could withstand such a cataclysmic stellar event.
Scientists believe that gas giants like hot Jupiter exoplanets begin by orbiting at a greater distance from their host stars before eventually migrating closer. But that may not be the case for Halla, which orbits a rapidly evolving star.
“We just don’t think Halla could have survived being absorbed by an expanding red giant star,” Huber said.
It’s entirely possible that Halla never faced any danger to begin with, according to the researchers.
“The system was more likely similar to the famous fictional planet Tatooine from Star Wars, which orbits two suns,” said study coauthor Tim Bedding, an astronomer and professor at the University of Sydney, in a statement. “If the Baekdu system originally consisted of two stars, their merger could have prevented any one of them from expanding sufficiently to engulf the planet.”
In such a scenario, the stars would have fed off each other, according to the researchers.
Another possibility is that Halla is a fairly young planet born from a gas cloud that was created by a catastrophic collision between the two stars, making it a second-generation planet created in the system.
Rev. Canon John Awodi passionately asserts that “homosexuality is a sin that must be repented of” and that it is against the “order of God” while presiding over Sunday services at All Saints’ Cathedral in Kampala, the capital of Uganda.
“Homosexuality is an abnormal behaviour. The church in this location takes that stance. It is against biblical and natural law, the Anglican priest told CNN.
Particularly since Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act was enacted last month, these themes have emerged frequently in his sermons and interviews.
The act outlaws gay marriage in Uganda, punishes same-sex acts with life imprisonment, and calls for the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” – which includes sex with a minor or otherwise vulnerable person, having sex while HIV positive and incest.
After initially wavering and sending the bill – which is widely popular with lawmakers, Christian and Muslim leaders in Uganda, as well as commentators on social media – back to parliament for review, President Yoweri Museveni eventually signed it into law in May, leading to global criticism, existential dread within the LGBTQ+ community, and legal challenges.
“It dehumanizes us as human beings, it doesn’t treat us as citizens. We are literally criminals and we are illegal in our own space that we call home. Nowhere is safe for any queer person living in Uganda,” Joan Amek, co-founder of Rella Women’s Foundation, told CNN.
Even though she created a safe space and shelter for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women through her organization, she says, she herself faces eviction from her rented apartment by the end of July. She believes it is because of her sexuality and prominence in queer activism, even though her landlord didn’t explicitly say so but her suspicions rose after a neighbor tipped her off.
“I have had myself being chased away from where I’m staying,” she said.
Returning to her parents’ house was not an option either. “My mum stands in solidarity with me but from a distance. When we had the conversation that I had been evicted, she didn’t say ‘you can come home’ she just said ‘oh, sorry, I’ll pray for you.’ How is prayer going to help?” Amek asked.
In recent weeks, disturbing videos have surfaced showing mounting hostility towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex individuals in Uganda since the reintroduction of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
In one video, verified by a consortium of civil society groups called the Strategic Response Team (SRT), a transgender woman is marched naked on the streets while a jeering crowd follows, and a lesbian couple endures ridicule from neighbors, among other forms of public shaming.
At least 300 human rights violations against suspected homosexuals have been reported in Uganda arising from the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023, the SRT told CNN. As it investigates them, the SRT says it submitted a list of 50 verified cases to a judge while seeking an injunction against the law.
They include cases of evictions, so-called “corrective” rape, outing, termination from employment, blackmail, threats of violence or physical attacks and incidents of mob justice, according to SRT.
However, opposition lawmaker Asuman Basalirwa, who introduced the 2023 bill, dismissed the latest reports of human rights violations as “distortions” and fabrications.
He told CNN the allegations were “completely false,” and backed the law.
“Who has been fired from their jobs? Who has been evicted from their houses? This is a very innocent law. No one has been targeted,” he said.
Nash Wash Raphael, a 30-year-old transgender man, says he was attacked on the night Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act. He was left with a broken ankle and relies on crutches to walk while it heals.
This was not the first time Raphael had faced violence; he says it was the ninth assault since his transition. Raphael describes his life as “hell,” and says he attempted suicide when pictures of him and his partner were leaked and went viral. While they weren’t intimate photos, they still outed him.
“I feel like I should take my own life as there is nothing else I’m left to protect. This is my second year on hormones, and I was supposed to get my top surgery next year, but all this has been shattered, and I can’t even afford it,” Raphael said. Top surgery refers to the procedure to remove breast or chest tissue.
Raphael says he no longer walks during the day, afraid that he might get attacked again.
After getting fired from his job for not wearing traditional women’s clothes, he tried casual jobs in Dubai and Saudi Arabia and hawking baked goods in Kampala but says he couldn’t keep his identity hidden for long.
He says his Muslim family disowned him and he remains in contact only with his youngest sister out of six siblings. His father told CNN that Raphael is his daughter who has refused to come home.
“My life is actually useless to them. I literally tell myself that I don’t have a family in this world. The same God that created them has a reason why he made me the way I am,” Raphael says, his voice breaking.
The new law states that “a person who promotes homosexuality commits an offense and is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twenty years.”
It also requires Ugandans to report suspected homosexuals or violations of the law to the authorities.
On Museveni’s recommendation, the law prescribes rehabilitation for convicted homosexuals to change their sexual orientation, even though scientists say so-called conversion therapy is harmful and ineffective.
Ugandan lawmakers, who overwhelmingly supported the bill, railed against the supposed “recruitment” of young people into homosexuality, pedophilia and grooming.
Basalirwa, the lawmaker, told CNN he had met with people who had been “recruited” but had, in his words, “counseled out of it.”
“I want to disagree with the people who say homosexuality is a Western concept. No, it is not. We’ve lived with homosexuality here in this country, in Africa. What is foreign is recruitment and promotion. That’s un-African,” he said.
Human rights advocates say that the offense of “promotion” of homosexuality could be weaponized against activists, journalists, or any ordinary citizen.
“Someone can accuse anyone of being queer and they’ll get arrested. And next thing you know, you could be spending up to life in prison,” Amek told CNN.
Amek has grown accustomed to the dangers of her work, after she says her organization’s offices were raided by police three times, forcing them to move to a new shelter for vulnerable queer women.
It is the cost of continuing to operate in a conservative Ugandan society where homophobic messaging emanates everywhere from churches and mosques to the highest political offices, Amek said.
The Church of Uganda openly defied the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and supported the Anti-Homosexuality Act, accusing the global head of the Anglican Church of misinterpreting the Bible.
Welby wrote to the leader of Ugandan Anglicans expressing his “grief and dismay” for at that support, but it fell on deaf ears. The Church of Uganda says it will separate from the Church of England over their differences on the issue of homosexuality.
The Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023 is a revival of a previous version nicknamed the “Kill the Gays” Bill that Uganda’s parliament passed in 2014 but which was blocked in court on a technicality. This current law is also being challenged in court.
Amek understands that she risks jail time by speaking up, but she persists, saying it is worth it. “I don’t want to be a martyr and die. But I want to stand strong for protection of the LGBTIQ generation and community now, but also for the future,” she said.
“Silence equals death. And regardless of whether I stay silent or not, they’ll still kill us, they’ll still criminalize us.”
The Kremlin has denied claims made by the UN that it violated children’s rights in Ukraine, claiming that instead its armed forces were rescuing youngsters from dangerous situations.
According to a significant study published on Tuesday, since the battle started in February of last year, Russia has been accused of imprisoning more than 800 civilians, including some children, and 77 civilians have been put to death.
According to the research, 480 attacks on schools and hospitals and 518 kid maimings were committed by Russian armed forces in 2022.
It also accused them of using 91 children as human shields.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a regular briefing that Moscow ‘firmly rejects’ such accusations.
‘Our military, repeatedly risking their own lives, took measures to save children, to take them out from under shelling, which, by the way, was carried out by the armed forces of Ukraine against civilian infrastructure,’ he said.
Russia regularly rejects accusations of human rights abuses in Ukraine and also denies deliberately targeting civilians in what it calls a ‘special military operation’.
Tuesday’s 36-page U.N. report, based on 70 visits to detention centres and more than 1,000 interviews, also said that Ukraine had violated international law by arbitrarily detaining civilians, but on a considerably smaller scale.
A Twitter user by name Medikal @AmgMedikall has shared a tweet which indicates that he has been blocked on Twitter by Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson who has recently been in the headlines over her controversial book “I am not Yvonne Nelson.”
Although the user is uncertain what could have triggered the action by the actress, a section of the public is speculating that the decision was influenced by some comments made by the user after Sarkodie released a song to address the claim by the actress in her memoir that he got her pregnant and rejected the child.
Sarkodie’s song addressing the abortion brouhaha
The said user who appeared to be making fun of the situation reacted to the song with some tweets which seem to have infuriated the actress, including the following comments: “Sarkodie has just narrated Yvonne’s book with just less than 2 minutes lines. LANDLORD – )si Try Me.” Another said: “Is not that the book is good but we are living in a world where negativity sells!” -Sarkodie”
Sarkodie has just narrated Yvonne’s book 📚 with just less than 2 minutes lines😂 LANDLORD – )si Try Me 😂 pic.twitter.com/sjHNYmS7uj
Musician, Michael Owusu Addo, better known as Sarkodie has in a newly released track told his side of his involvement in the life of actress Yvonne Nelson, and the pair’s controversial abortion ‘beef’.
Yvonne Nelson in her recently published tell-it-all book, ‘I am not Yvonne Nelson’, revealed that she had had an affair with the rapper in 2010 which had resulted in a pregnancy.
In Chapter 8 of the book, she recounts her decision to terminate the pregnancy because the rapper did not accept responsibility.
According to her, she later found out that the rapper had another girlfriend who was studying in a university abroad hence his rejection.
However, replying to Yvonne Nelson’s allegation, Sarkodie in his new release ‘Try Me’, a direct reply to Yvonne, says he never encouraged the actress to have an abortion.
According to him, while he was not ready to be a father, he had told her to keep the pregnancy but Yvonne chose to go ahead with the abortion due to her schooling at the time.
“So don’t you make it seem like I was the one pushing you for abortion,” he said in Try Me.
“I was a bit disappointed to hear that from a president who is a lawyer”, Mr Quayson told journalists after his re-election in Tuesday’s by-election.
He said, “the good people of Assin North have demonstrated that they have a conscience and they believe in me and I have a vision to execute”.
Mr. Quayson polled 17,245 votes representing 57.56 per cent of the total valid votes.
He beat his archrival Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who polled 12,630 votes representing 42.15 per cent of the total votes.
A third candidate, Bernice Enyonam Sefenu, of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), polled 87 votes (0.29%).
Crowning the NPP’s campaigning in the lead-up to the by-election, President Akufo-Addo told the constituents of Assin North: “It is crucial for us to exercise our voting rights responsibly,” adding: “We should not support or vote for individuals who are entangled in legal controversies that may eventually lead them to face imprisonment”.
“We need someone who can come and help you. Someone who will work in your interest. I heard Gyakye Quayson say that, ‘Even in prison, you people will vote for him’. Can he work from jail? We vote for people to go to parliament to work. How can he work from prison? So, don’t vote for someone who will end up in jail. Vote for someone who can work to improve your lives”, the president urged the Assin North voters.
The by-election was conducted after the Supreme Court declared Mr Quayson’s 2020 election victory as null and void with reason that he held Canadian citizenship in addition to his Ghanaian citizenship, as of the time of filing to run for office in the 2020 polls.
After his by-election victory, Mr Quayson said: “I stood for justice and development and I still haven’t swayed, and I will continue to pursue the same agenda because that is the mandate Assin North has given me and this is a victory not just for me but for the people of Ghana and hopefully, one day, we will pursue a good direction of justice and also to realise that politics is not about sharing money to people to get a vote.”
He noted: “Democracy is about development, and we are going to set this trend along to make sure that people who are represented get a fair share of the national cake and how to develop their communities”.
Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George, has been captured on video engaging in a banter with some soldiers over the assault launched on him by some security personnel during the Ayawaso West Wuoguon by-election.
In the video sighted by The Independent Ghana, the legislator is seen and heard questioning the presence of military escorts at an election ground during the Assin North by-election held on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, and telling them not to repeat the 2019 incident.
“It’s only the President and the Vice President and of late, the Attorney General who use the military. Even the speaker was denied military service so who else will use the military? Or the Minister of Defense? Are you with the Defense Ministry?
“Chief, we don’t want any basabasa [to wit we don’t want any chaos]. We don’t want any Ayawaso West Wuoguon. You see, today I’m not wearing any tactica I’m wearing civilian,” he said and appealed to the military men not to facilitate any chaos.
The outspoken NDC MP was assaulted by some security personnel believed to be members of the SWAT team of the Ghana Police Service at the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, in January 2019 during a by-election to elect a replacement for the then deceased MP for the area, Emmanuel Kwabena Kyeremateng Agyarko who died on November 21, 2018.
Mr. Sam George was seen in a video shouting at the security personnel in a parked vehicle, claiming they wanted to kill a man in his house.
It was during the exchange that one of the security men stepped out of the parked pick-up truck of security personnel to slap the MP.
He was then punched by another person in uniform suspected to be part of the security team.
The video which went viral on social media indicated that the attack on the MP resulted in fisticuffs between the police and supporters of the NDC.
There was also a shooting incident which resulted in the withdrawal of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), from partaking in the by-election.
The party also withdrew its polling agents and observers from the area after consulting with its parliamentary candidate.
Some National Security Operatives were alleged to have fired shots at a polling centre at La Bawaleshie, injuring about six persons believed to be NDC supporters.
A reliable government source has confirmed that there will be no shutdown of power plants following the deadline set for Independent Power Producers (IPPs). The government source reiterated the commitment to maintaining a stable power supply to meet the energy needs of the nation, even as negotiations with the IPPs continue.
A highly placed source close to the government has given the assurance that there will be no power outages as a result of power plants being shutdown by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) by the end of June 2023 contrary to such speculations in the media.
This comes on the back of threats from the Chamber of IPPs that members will shut down their plants if the government fails to clear debts owed them.
According to the Chamber, the government owes members more than $1.4 billion out of a total of $ 2 billion in energy sector debt, which makes it difficult to keep their plants on.
They have asked the government to pay thirty percent of the debt owed members or risk a shutdown of plants indefinitely after June 30. This threat was due to the government’s failure to commence payment negotiations with the IPPs.
A couple of weeks ago, Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama said his outfit is leading talks with the Independent Power Producers to avoid a possible shutdown of the power plants. JoyNews source closes to the presidency has confirmed that indeed the talks have started, and already yielding the desired results.
“ECG has reached an agreement with at least Aksa power generation and Karpower. They won’t shut down their plants. ECG is making progress with the remaining Independent Power Producers and it will be difficult to foresee a power plant shutdown after the expiration of their June 30 deadline. In fact, there won’t be any shutdown by the end of June”, the source said.
Capacity charges
The source also revealed that the negotiation currently being undertaken by the ECG is corroborating the government’s position that capacity charges are largely to blame for a chunk of the debt in Ghana’s energy sector.
“After the negotiation with Karpower for example, out of the $320 million that ECG owed them, it is only 40% that is as a result of energy consumed. The rest is for capacity charges”, the source noted.
The National Graduates Association of Teachers (NAGRAT) has expressed displeasure over how authorities of a Senior High School handled an incident in the school which resulted in the death of one student.
President of the group, Angel Carbonu, criticised the authorities of St. Monica’s Senior High School in Mampong, over the death of a female student.
According to a news reports, the deceased was denied an exeat to go to the hospital by a house mistress, resulting in her untimely death.
The report stated that the unfortunate incident happened in May 2023 thus the management of the school is being investigated.
Angel Carbonu who has been devastated by the news, in an audio recording, furiously questioned why the management of the school could act in such a manner by denying a sick girl the access of going to the hospital for treatment.
He said “A girl falls sick and comes for exeat to go to the hospital, the girl is shown to the house staff. And the girl was denied exeat, leading to the death of this girl. Now people are threatening brimstone against the Ghana Education Service, teachers are being insulted left-right, and center on local radio stations, and so on and so forth.
“My colleagues, sometimes I don’t know what is wrong with us the teachers, drawing onto ourselves, problems, and challenges that no one compensates us for. If a student is sick, and there is evidence that the student is sick, and the student comes to you for an exeat, what on earth do you benefit from refusing an exeat for the student to go to the hospital? What do you stand to gain as a teacher for refusing to give exeat to a student to go to the hospital?”
Angel Carbonu further explained that the issue of students being denied exeat to go for treatment or treat other important matters has been going on for a while and it must come to a halt.
He also argued that teachers are the cause of their own troubles, adding that when they feel they are being overburdened by a lot of responsibilities, they should quit and allow a responsible person to take over.
“We have reports where parents have come to the schools to take their own children home for this and that reason and school authorities will say I will not allow it. At the end of the day, when there is a problem, you want all of us to share the problem. How much are you being compensated for, for a job that is unnecessarily done by you? That people don’t even recognize? The story in Mampong is a very sad one. An innocent girl lost her life just because a house mistress refused to do her duty.
“How can you say it’s not time for exeat and therefore whether you are sick or not, dying or not, I’m not going to give you exeat? Colleague teachers, sometimes we attract ourselves into invectives and negative expressions people make against us. If you feel that the housemistress job is too much for you, you can resign. There’s no need for this girl to die at St. Monica’s SHS at all,” he pointed out.
President Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to continue to support the government’s mandate in the ongoing efforts to revive the economy.
He reiterated that his government will honour promises made to revive the economy.
Speaking at the Eid-ul-Adha celebration, President Akufo-Addo expressed confidence in his government’s ability to bring about significant progress in the country.
“Muslim faithful, fellow Ghanaians, in the spirit of Eid, I asked you to continue to support the government, your government to deliver the needed progress and prosperity that we all seek.”
He also affirmed his promise to bring the economy back to life.
“I said in the height of the Covid-19 pandemic that we do not know how to bring back lives, but we know how to bring the economy. I stand by those words. We’re working to restore the economy to full health and Inshallah, we shall do so.”
In a related development, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, has prayed that Allah bestows wisdom on the leaders of Bawku in the Upper East Region to ensure that the conflict in the community is resolved amicably.
Speaking at the Eid-al-Adha celebration on June 28, he said the protracted conflict was a major concern since it has the ability to derail the peace the country has enjoyed.
Saying a prayer through his aide, he said “On this special occasion, I commit the whole nation to the care of Allah. Allah has kept order in our country and given us peace.
“We ask him to enhance peace and harmony. The situation in Bawku is of concern to us. We ask Almighty Allah to bring his peace to Bawku.”
Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry,Dr Stephen Amoah, has raised concerns about the potential negative impact of excessive interest rate hikes on trade and industry, particularly in light of the persistent inflationary pressures experienced in the country.
Dr. Amoah urged policymakers to exercise caution when adjusting interest rates, as their strategy could inadvertently worsen the goal of reducing inflation.
Addressing an audience of economists, policymakers, and industry experts at the 2023 Financial and Economics Seminar, Dr. Amoah highlighted the need for a nuanced approach to monetary policy, taking into account the underlying causes of inflation.
Drawing attention to the cost-push factors driving inflation in Ghana, he emphasized the pivotal role of interest rates in the cost structure of businesses, given the limited availability of equity financing in the country.
“By repeatedly increasing interest rates in an attempt to curb inflation, we risk exacerbating the challenges faced by trade and industry,” Dr. Amoah cautioned.
“If the rising cost of doing business, which is one of the main contributors to inflation, is already straining the sector, further interest rate hikes could inadvertently hamper growth and productivity.”
The Deputy Minister stressed that a holistic understanding of the macroeconomic landscape is essential to effectively combat inflation.
While acknowledging the importance of managing inflationary pressures, Dr. Amoah advocated for a balanced approach that considers the potential adverse effects on trade and industry.
Bisa Kdei faced a wave of online trolls after expressing his support for Sarkodie’s response to Yvonne Nelson on Twitter. The highlife singer praised Sarkodie’s song ‘Try Me,’ which quickly gained popularity on social media. However, his comments were met with negative reactions from some users.
Bisa Kdei retweeted the said song and wrote as caption, “I’ve listened to this like 10 times. Heeerrrrrh…with fire emojis.”
This triggered wild responses from netizens who have claimed that the ‘Mansah’ hitmaker is taking sides.
“Comot for der.. opana dey fool u dey praise am,” a social media user wrote.
“You’ve listened to the song more than the number of hit songs you have recorded,” another tweep wrote.
“If Becca is to write a book about you, would you get the words to reply? Pipe down Masa,” said another.
While the trolls intensified, Bisa stormed Twitter, once again, clarifying his statement.
“We don’t have to attach negativity to everything someone writes. I’m acknowledging a song and a rap legend as a writer. Their problem is their problem boss.”
Sarkodie’s reply
Sarkodie released a track titled ‘Try Me’, which is his intended response to Yvonne Nelson’s claims.
One can recall that after narrating how the rapper impregnated her and denied responsibility, Yvonne Nelson, in her memoir also detailed how he drove her to a health facility where she bled profusely in his absence.
In a chapter titled ‘Abortion’, in her book, ‘I Am Not Yvonne Nelson’ the actress disclosed how Sarkodie accompanied her to the Mamprobi polyclinic for abortion and since never bothered to find out how the procedure went.
However, telling his side of the story in the single, ‘Try Me’, Sarkodie detailed that it was Yvonne’s sole decision to abort the pregnancy.
Although the rapper admitted that they had a relationship, he said Yvonne was only playing victim and taking advantage of the fact that the world listens to women more than men.
The National Ambulance Service has said it was not informed about the final Division Two League match between Home Star FC and Inter Allies FC played at the Ho Sports stadium in the Volta Region over the weekend.
A policeman collapsed at the Ho Sports Stadium during the match on Sunday, 25 June 2023, and died upon arrival at the hospital.
Reacting to the incident, the National Ambulance Service indicated they were not informed about the football game.
According to the ambulance service, neither the National Sports Authority (NSA) or the Football Association in the Volta Region contacted it prior to the football game at the Ho stadium.
Speaking to Class 91.3 FM’s Volta Regional Correspondent Kingsley Attitsogbui, the Volta Regional Commander of the National Ambulance Service, Kingsley Bright Manu, disclosed both the Volta Regional Football Association and the NSA have not requested for the services of his outfit since he took over as Regional Commander.
Mr Manu, however, revealed that other districts including; Hohoe, Kpando, Sogakope and Keta request for their services each time they have events.
He advised individuals and groups who organise events in the region to request for the services of his outfit to avoid losing lives during emergencies.
Mr Manu condemned the practice of holding events without inviting the ambulance service.
“Emergency is an emergency, no one knows when the unfortunate will happen. It is wrong practice not to have invited the ambulance service to such an event,” he said.
The policeman, Phillip Nil Tayie Lomotey, who was a match commissioner and a member of the Ho Municipal Football Committee, collapsed and died while watching the game.
He also used to be a referee.
There was, however, no ambulance available to attend to the police officer.
Eyewitnesses say, despite the presence of the Red Cross, they were unable to attend to the deceased when he collapsed because his colleague police officers decided to carry him in a pickup to the hospital without administering any first aid.
The police officer was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
Speaking to Torgbui Ahorgo on the Ho 92.5 FM’s Adanu Morning Show, Monday, 26 June 2023, the Chairman of the Volta Regional Football Association, (VRFA), Daniel Agbogah, expressed the FA’s shock at the demise of the police officer.
“We are very saddened by the demise of Mr Philip Nil Tayie Lomotey popularly called PNT. He was a lovely person who related well with all of us. He was a former referee and currently a match commissioner and an executive member of the Ho Municipal Football Association,” he remarked.
As part of efforts of putting smiles on the faces Muslim community during this year’s EID celebration, MTN Ghana will be giving over 300 customers an exclusive invitation to watch the blockbuster movie “The Flash” at Golden Eagle Cinemas in Kumasi on 30th June 2023.
Over the years, MTN has been focused on brightening the lives of its customers at various touch points by delivering a distinct customer experience.
As the biggest family in Ghana, the company also delights in putting smiles on the faces of Ghanaians for their priceless contributions that have contributed to the growth of the MTN brand.
The MTN Movie Mania is one of the innovative programs that MTN introduced 9 years ago to reward high-value customers for their brand loyalty. It provides customers with free tickets to watch movies at the Silver Bird Cinema at the Accra Mall.
However, customers will get an extra ticket when they purchase a movie ticket at the movies on Thursdays. Offer is available at Silverbird Cinemas in Accra and at the Golden Eagle Cinema in Kumasi.
More so as part of this year’s Father’s Day celebrations, MTN Ghana in partnership with Jumia gave a special treat to over 50 men across the country by giving them free electronic vouchers to shop online.
MTN delights in using special celebrations to brighten the lives of its customers and Eid -Movie Mania and Father’s day are a few of such loyalty rewards.
Movie – The Flash
Synopsis
Worlds collide when the Flash uses his superpowers to travel back in time to change the events of the past. However, when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, he becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation.
With no other superheroes to turn to, the Flash looks to coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian — albeit not the one he’s looking for.
The VGMA (Vodafone Ghana Music Awards) recently honored two exceptional individuals, Elder SK Ampiah and Francis Kwakye, with the prestigious Titan Award at the National Music Summit 2023. This award is a testament to their immense contributions to the development and growth of the music industry in Ghana.
Both Elder SK Ampiah and Francis Kwakye have dedicated their lives to elevating the music industry and their efforts have not gone unnoticed. The event happened at La Palm Beach Hotel on 21st June 2023, in commemoration of World Music Day. Elder SK Ampiah has played a pivotal role in the gospel music industry.
As a writer, instrumentalist, and singer, his music compositions have been the true vehicle for praise and worship over decades. He’s composed over 200 songs over 5 decades, including Onyame Tumfo (God Almighty), Onyame yɛ Nyame Kɛse (God is a great God), Yesu ne wu (The death of Jesus), Me tower ɔbotan bi (I lean on a particular rock), Mmo Yesu (Well done, Jesus).
It is common knowledge that his songs are performed in almost every Christian gathering in Ghana as praise and worship.
Similarly, Francis Kwakye has made significant contributions to the music industry through his relentless efforts since 1969. For 54 years his dedication, commitment, and selflessness to sound engineering in the Ghana music industry has known no bounds, working with virtually all legends and A-lists artists in Ghana, and providing services for entertainment shows across the nation and internationally. Via a self-founded company, Rythms Africa, he’s extended his services to over 1000 events and programs.
The VGMA Titan Award serves as an inspiration to others in the industry, encouraging them to strive for excellence and make a positive impact. It also highlights the importance of recognizing and honoring individuals who have dedicated their lives to the betterment of the music industry.
Elder SK Ampiah and Francis Kwakye’s contributions will continue to inspire future generations of musicians, producers, and industry professionals to work toward the development and growth of the music industry in Ghana. It is through their vision, passion, and determination that the music industry in Ghana continues to thrive.
The Titan Award is a fitting tribute to their exceptional achievements and the legacy they leave behind.
Mr. Kwakye’s presentation was heartily presented by the legendary singer and Acting President of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons, who could not hold back his personal tribute in the process.
Elder SK Ampiah, who was represented by his son, had his plaque presented by legendary singer and former President of MUSIGA Diana Hopson. With an excitement that could not be hidden, she did not only give her personal tribute in words, but she also brought Elder SK Ampiah’s songs to life by singing them live.
The event was hosted by Andy Dosty with performances from Prince Hakeem, Indigenous Band, and Nii Tete Tetteh & the Tendaan Muzik.
Ghanaian Mzbel recently shared pictures of her baby bump and announced on social media that she had a safe delivery. However, she has chosen not to reveal the identity of her daughter’s father, and she has provided her reasons for this decision.
According to her, her daughter’s husband means a lot to her thus, she wouldn’t reveal his identity for people to start calling him names and digging up into his past.
In an interview with Emmanuel on OBI TV which was shared by thosecalledcelebss on Instagram, the singer shared the view that every social media platform is full of negative vibes and if one wishes to keep something that is valuable, then social media should be the last place to let all and sundry know about that valuable item.
She went ahead to explain how the platform has caused a number of damages to people which included broken marriages, broken friendships, and others.
“I can’t reveal his identity. Because of what I have seen on social media, I will never post anything that’s very dear to me on such a platform. Someone got married and announced it on social media and a few days later, it was revealed that her husband is a carpenter, make-up artiste, macho man, and other things, and eventually, the couple divorced.
“If you have something you cherish, you are happy about it, and wish to keep it forever, then please social media should be the last place to make people know about it but for my daughter’s father, I wouldn’t post him for an ordinary person to disrespect and associate him with false information”, she said.
Prolific GH, the organizers of the Western Gospel Awards, have officially started accepting nominations for the third edition of their award scheme. The initiative aims to acknowledge and honor talented individuals who are dedicated to spreading the message of God through music in the Western region.
The third edition will be launched this Thursday virtually via their online portals.
Artiste managers, producers, presenters, record labels, and Gospel musicians can submit their entries online via https://prolificgh.com/from July 1 to July 31.
Categories to be awarded include: Gospel Artiste of the Year, Gospel Collaboration of the Year, New Gospel Artiste of the Year, Female Gospel Artiste of the Year, Male Gospel Artiste of the Year, Gospel Song of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Gospel Radio/TV Presenter of the Year, Gospel Radio/TV Show of the Year and Choral Choir/Group of the Year, Minister of the year (New)
The rest are Contemporary Choir/ Group of the Year, Urban/Contemporary Gospel Artiste of the Year, Best Lyrical Content of the Year, Producer of the Year, Sound Engineer of the Year, Instrumentalist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Gospel Music Video of the Year, Best Gospel Artiste – DIASPORA and Choreography/Mime Group of the Year.
In all, 22 awards will be given on the awards night come Sunday, November 5, 2023
Organizers of the event (Prolific GH) said the award scheme aspires to foster quality works from Gospel artistes in the Western Region.
Last year, gospel musician KDM has adjudged the overall Artiste of the Year at the Second Edition of the award scheme.
Cwesi Oteng graced the occasion with a performance and was awarded as a pacesetter and contributor to Urban Gospel.
Rev. Amy Newman was honored with the lifetime achievement award for her immense contribution to the Gospel Fraternity.
Dr. Steven Wayoe (CEO of Wayoe Engineering and Construction LTD) was also honoured for his Remarkable contribution to the growth of the Gospel industry in the Western Region.
Christiana Awuni, a popular Ghanaian movie star, has disclosed that she was subjected to forceful coercion to endorse the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the 2016 elections.
Speaking in a video seen by MyNewsGh.com’s Amansan Krakye, the actress said producers and directors warned to sideline her if she doesn’t comply.
“In 2016 some people coerced us forcefully to endorse NPP unwillingly which were our producers and movie directors,” she disclosed.
She revealed “They cautioned us that woe betide anyone who will join NDC or endorse their candidate, they won’t work with you. So we had to comply and follow their instructions because that’s the only job we do to feed ourselves and apart from acting we don’t have another job doing if they don’t cast us in their movies anymore.
Asked whether the decision has influenced positive results and also about the whereabouts of the said producers, she said,
“We had to force ourselves to do it by all means but now we don’t know the whereabouts of those producers and now we don’t care whatever they decide to do next.
“Even if the movie directors and producers want they can now go burn the sea it doesn’t bother us any longer because we’re now on our own going forward,” she said
Yvonne Nelson’s response to Sarkodie’s narrative about the 2010 abortion has raised some observations of potential contradictions in her stance, as she attempts to counter his perspective.
Yvonne in her book ‘I Am NotYvonne Nelson’ had accused Sarkodie of impregnating her in 2010, refusing to accept responsibility and expressing what appeared to be an inflexible desire for her to abort the baby.
The rapper in his rebuttal captured on the ‘Try Me’ track, said he did not ask Yvonne Nelson to abort the baby; it was her sole decision. According to him, he asked her to keep the baby but she chose her education above the baby.
Yvonne has since the release of the song been tweeting, expressing her disgust with the posture and lyrics of Sarkodie as she said the rapper is rubbishing her pain.
One of Yvonne’s tweets, however, appears to contradict what she said on page 85 of her book, The actress said in her tweet that it was untrue she was in school at the time; hence, Sarkodie’s claim that she told him she wanted to focus on her education was false.
Yvonne’s tweet read: “Michael, you claim I was desperate to abort because I needed to complete school. In 2010 when I became pregnant, I had completed the university. Anybody can verify this. I wasn’t in school and you know it. If you want to lie, find a logical lie.”
However, in Chapter 7 of Yvonne Nelson’s book which talks about her ban by movie producers, the actress mentioned on page 85 that when she was banned, she was in her final year at the university. She mentioned that the ban, coupled with the pregnancy made the circumstance tough.
“I must admit it was a tough year. I was in my final year at the university. I was banned from acting. I was pregnant and definitely was not prepared to host another human being,” the first three sentences on page 85 read.
FIPAG’s ban
The Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) in 2010 banned Yvonne Nelson after she had an altercation with movie producer Abdul Salam Mumuni.
In her account, she had been on set on two separate days, and missed lectures and a quiz but the shoot did not happen as planned because “one of the lead characters did not show up”. The situation required she would have to be available the next day but that was not going to happen.
“My fight with Abdul Salam- if I can call it a fight happened when we were acting 4Play Reloaded. I was in my final year at Central University when Abul Salam called me to join the cast. He was well aware of my commitment to academic responsibilities and that I didn’t have much time to spare. I was not ready to defer my programme, and leaving CUC without a degree would leave me in despair…”
“I had sacrificed a quiz and answered an urgent call to go on set for the shoot when he called me. I left campus and went to sit the whole day, but there was no show. One of the lead characters did not show up.
“The following day, I again abandoned class and went for the shoot, but nothing happened. One of the lead actors, we were told, was a judge in the Miss Malaika beauty pageant. Those responsibilities had kept her away and kept me at bay from academic work.
“When I was leaving that day, I told Abdul Salam that I had already missed two days of class and a quiz, so I wasn’t coming the following day. What I said was as if I had struck a match stick and dropped it in fuel. He flared up and started a condescending attack on me. I have never seen him angrier. Roger Quartey, one of the crew members, kept fueling his ego and stoking the fire that raged until I left that day.
“I didn’t receive any call to go back on set for the shoot. The next time I heard from or about him was a week later when I heard in the media that FIPAG had banned me from acting for a year. It was the top story on every entertainment show,” she wrote in her book.
Yvonne Nelson moves to ‘clarify’ school narrative.
The actress has in another tweet sought to clarify that she was indeed not a student at the time as she was waiting for her certificate.
She stated: “I was pregnant at the time I launched my glaucoma foundation, around October 2010. I graduated from Central University in Oct. 2010. It was my final year, but I’d completed my course work months before the October graduation and my pregnancy. I was only waiting for my certificate.”
Shortly after Sarkodie shared his version of events regarding his past pregnancy with Yvonne Nelson through an audio track on his YouTube page, the actress and author responded to his statements on Twitter.
“Insults won’t work Michael. Respect womanhood, Im happy the world gets to see how you are playing this and the real you. Young women get to learn from this. You would get applause for a rap. still doesn’t change the TRUTH,” one of her tweets read.
She accused him of attempting to use rap to rubbish the pain she felt as a young woman.
“In my book, i narrated how you got me pregnant, How you couldn’t wait for me to get rid of it. How you DROVE me to have an abortion. As usual, you want to use rap to rubbish a pain a young woman felt. We both have daughters, lets see what life throws at them. #triedyou” she added.
Sarkodie trended for the better part of last week when he was mentioned in a past relationship with actress Yvonne Nelson in the latter’s memoir titled ‘I am not Yvonne Nelson.’
Yvonne detailed her version of how Sarkodie impregnated her but asked her to abort the child because at the time he was young and not ready to become a father.
She also spoke about being driven to the clinic where the procedure was undertaken but abandoned to deal with the associated pain all alone by Sarkodie.
A little over a week on, the rapper has posted a track titled ‘Try Me’ on his official YouTube page telling his side of the story.
“The track has a mixture of English and Twi rebuffing Yvonne’s narrative about the pregnancy and what ensued after she disclosed it to him. If you don’t love me, leave me. Why are you pestering me?
“What is meant for me you have gone to give to Kwame. I have become teary. If you don’t love me, leave me let me be. Someone else is longing to be with me, when you were leaving me you failed to notify me. Baby girl don’t try me,” the chorus goes.
On Wednesday, June 28, 2023, social media users were greeted with a new track titled “Try Me” by Sarkodie. In the song, Sarkodie strongly denies Yvonne Nelson‘s allegations of rejecting her, pressuring her to have an abortion, and subsequently abandoning her.
This triggered Yvonne, who has since stormed social media with ‘back-to-back’ rants targeted at the rapper.
However, netizens, particularly celebrities, have stormed social media with various reactions to the development which has once again ‘crashed’ the internet.
While some are hilariously reacting to it, others have taken time to carefully dissect the rapper’s lyrics and declared their stance on the matter.
Sarkodie’s reply
Sarkodie released a track titled ‘Try Me’, which is his intended response to Yvonne Nelson’s claims.
One can recall that after narrating how the rapper impregnated her and denied responsibility, Yvonne Nelson, in her memoir also detailed how he drove her to a health facility where she bled profusely in his absence.
In a chapter titled ‘Abortion’, in her book, ‘I Am Not Yvonne Nelson’ the actress disclosed how Sarkodie accompanied her to the Mamprobi polyclinic for abortion and since never bothered to find out how the procedure went.
However, telling his side of the story in the single, ‘Try Me’, Sarkodie detailed that it was Yvonne’s sole decision to abort the pregnancy.
Although the rapper admitted that they had a relationship, he said Yvonne was only playing the victim and taking advantage of the fact that the world listens to women more than men.
Yvonne Nelson’s rants
After dissecting the contents of Sarkodie’s reply to her earlier allegations, Yvonne Nelson has stormed Twitter with a series of rants targeted at the former. She has since been tackling the lyrics and responding to the parts that hurts her the most.
Sarkodie has extended his prayers and support to Nelson, recognizing the courage it takes to share such painful experiences. His sincere message is a testament to the compassion and understanding that exists within the entertainment industry.
Renowned Ghanaian musician Sarkodie has expressed his sincere prayers and well-wishes to fellow industry peer, Yvonne Nelson, for her healing and recovery over the various traumatic events captured in her memoir as part of the painful part of her life.
Parts of Sarkodie’s lyrical response to Yvonne Nelson’s allegations capture the former praying for the latter.
Some lines in the rapper’s “Try Me” song expressed, that above everything, he prays Yvonne Nelson gets the healing that she needs.
According to Sarkodie, all the actress sought to achieve was to make money, adding that her ‘so-called’ expose never brought back happiness to her life.
“You know what? Shawty just chasing the bag. Cos after all these, does it bring happiness back? I pray you get the healing that you need,” he expressed in the song.
Sarkodie also charged the actress to quit attacking him for what he described as the “bad choices” she has made.
“Take the blame and stop the personal attacks. Nobody should be blamed for your bad choices,” he added.
Sarkodie’s response that stirred reactions online
Sarkodie released a track titled ‘Try Me’, which is his intended response to Yvonne Nelson’s claims.
One can recall that after narrating how the rapper impregnated her and denied responsibility, Yvonne Nelson, in her memoir also detailed how he drove her to a health facility where she bled profusely in his absence.
In a chapter titled ‘Abortion’, in her book, ‘I Am Not Yvonne Nelson’ the actress disclosed how Sarkodie accompanied her to the Mamprobi polyclinic for abortion and since never bothered to find out how the procedure went.
However, telling his side of the story in the single, ‘Try Me’, Sarkodie detailed that it was Yvonne’s sole decision to abort the pregnancy.
Although the rapper admitted that they had a relationship, he said Yvonne was only playing victim and taking advantage of the fact that the world listens to women more than men.
Yvonne Nelson’s rants
After dissecting the contents of Sarkodie’s reply to her earlier allegations, Yvonne Nelson has stormed Twitter with a series of rants targeted at the former.
She has since been tackling the lyrics and responding to the parts that hurts her the most.
Fans and admirers of Adjetey Anang, popularly known by his stage name “Pusher,” will have the opportunity to delve deeper into his life and experiences, as the renowned actor is set to launch an autobiography which captures both key and minor events in his life.
The actor intends to launch his book to celebrate his 50th birthday on July 8, 2023. In a previous interview, stating his motive for launching the book, the actor said he wanted to inspire young people with his story.
“I thought it was about time to do so because I’ve moved from two phases. People will say that I was in a certain generation, but I’m now in another generation, and I thought that the timing was right for me to sort of chronicle my last 50 years through school, work, bad choices…”
“I didn’t want to wait because we have a generation that is budding and wants to take up the world. I still needed to let them realise that there are things that they need to really consider; otherwise, they’ll repeat the mistake that we all made,” he explained in an interview on JoyPrime.
Mr Adjetey Anang has arguably made his mark in the Ghanaian movie industry. He has featured in a significant number of movies and has firmly established himself as one of Ghana’s most accomplished actors, showcasing his talent in numerous award-winning films, television series, and stage productions.
He is also greatly admired by his fans and has garnered immense respect and adoration from both industry peers and audiences alike.
The autobiography promises to offer an intimate and insightful exploration of Anang’s personal journey, from his early beginnings to his rise to stardom. Readers will get to know about some of the challenges, triumphs, and pivotal moments that have shaped his life.
Throughout his acting career, the actor has always thrilled his audiences with sterling performances, playing diverse roles; from emotionally charged dramatic roles to lighthearted comedic performances.
His notable appearances in groundbreaking productions such as “Things We Do for Love” and “A Sting in a Tale” have left an indelible mark on Ghana’s entertainment industry.
The autobiography is expected to shed light on Anang’s artistic process, providing valuable insights into his approach to acting and the dedication required to excel in the demanding world of show business.
It appears scammers have invaded Facebook’s marketplace, posing a significant threat to unsuspecting buyers and sellers.
The rise in online shopping, coupled with the rapid growth of Facebook Marketplace as a prominent platform for buying and selling goods apparently has attracted the attention of fraudsters seeking to exploit vulnerable users.
While some products may be genuinely selling (at the right price), it is evident that some products which range from electronics to furniture, to vehicles, etc. are also mere projections of scammers who are looking for an opportunity to dupe their unsuspecting victims. This is evident through the amount some of these products are being sold at.
For instance, a Sony camera which sells on the average between GHC 5,652 to GHC21,542 is selling on the platform at GHC250. Also, a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge which sells at GHC 3,465 has been projected by a user on the platform as selling at GHC400. Furthermore, a Samsung Galaxy A23 AGB which is selling at GHC 2,699 is selling on the platform by one user as GHC550.
However, in light of the surge in scams on Facebook Marketplace, consumers are advised to follow a few essential guidelines to protect themselves:
Verify Sellers: Check the seller’s profile for credibility, including reviews, ratings, and previous transactions. Be cautious of sellers with limited or no history on the platform. Conduct Research: Before making a purchase, research the product, its market value, and typical pricing. If a deal appears too good to be true, it likely is.
Insist on In-person Transactions: Whenever possible, arrange to meet the seller in person and inspect the item before making payment. Exercise caution when dealing with sellers who refuse to meet in person.
Secure Payment Methods: Use secure payment options that offer buyer protection, such as PayPal or escrow services. Avoid wire transfers or direct cash payments.
Report Suspicious Activity: If you encounter a suspicious listing or suspect fraudulent behavior, report it to both Facebook and local law enforcement authorities. By adopting these preventive measures and staying vigilant, users can help curb the prevalence of scams on Facebook Marketplace and protect themselves from financial loss or identity theft.
Netizens have descended on Sarkodie after his release of his ‘diss’ track in response to Yvonne Nelson’s memoir “I am not Yvonne Nelson”.
In the late hours of Tuesday, June 27, 2023, Ghanaian rapper, Sarkodie released a song titled ‘Try Me’.
The song’s lyrics make it clear that it’s are a response to Yvonne Nelson’s claim that Sarkodie forced her to abort a child in 2010—a claim she made in her memoir, “I Am not Yvonne Nelson.”
A week ago, Sarkodie trended on social media due to information contained in the actress’ book about him, including their relationship and how she became pregnant for him and then asked him to abort the child.
A number of Ghanaians were unhappy to hear such news about the rapper because he was perceived to be a ‘gentleman’ thus all and sundry were shocked to know Sarkodie was capable of committing such an act.
In reacting to these allegations, Sarkodie in his ‘Try Me’ song went hard on Yvonne Nelson making some shocking revelations Yvonne Nelson failed to include in her memoir.
Sarkodie detailed that it was Yvonne’s sole decision to abort the pregnancy.
Although the rapper admitted that they had a relationship, he said Yvonne was only playing the victim and taking advantage of the fact that the world listens to women more than men.
After dissecting the contents of Sarkodie’s reply to her earlier allegations, netizens stormed Twitter with a series of rants targeted at Sarkodie
The African Union (AU) force in Somalia has handed over three more military bases to the Somali army as part of a gradual withdrawal meant to conclude by the end of next year.
By the end of June the plan is to withdraw around 2,000 troops from Somalia.
Tuesday’s handover took place in Adale, Mirtaqwa and Hajji Ali, in the Middle Shabelle region, bases which fell under the control of the mission’s Burundian contingent.
So far this year the AU force has handed over six military bases, five of them in Middle Shabelle.
The first base, located in Heliwa district of the capital, Mogadishu, was handed over on 22 January. It was also run by Burundian forces.
It is not clear how many AU soldiers have already been withdrawn from Somalia.
Somalia has been training new soldiers in Uganda, Ethiopia and Eritrea to replace some 19,000 AU troops currently deployed.
This is happening as Somalia prepares for the second phase of a major military offensive against al-Shabab.
The al-Qaeda-linked militant group has released a new video showing the graduation of hundreds of new fighters.
Ghanaian rapper and singer Camidoh, maker of the hit 2022 single Sugarcane, opens up about PTSD in his new body of work called Love Is The Answer (L.I.T.A.).
“This really means a lot to me. I’ve been working on it for about two years, and these songs are talking about stuff I’ve been dealing with, especially track one, PTSD,” Camidoh said.
“It’s talking about young people, young creative entrepreneurs trying to get things going, and then it’s like sad things come back to you in the middle of the night, your traumas come back to haunt you when no-one can hear you, when only you is dealing with it.”
Camidoh, 29, added that it is about authenticity and getting people on his side. If they see that you are human, then when you make a mistake they’ll cut you some slack, he said.
He also has another important message in his music – that people should embrace their natural beauty.
He said this was the inspiration for his song Brown Skin Girl, which is in collaboration with Stonebwoy.
“I’ve been preaching about people accepting themselves for who they are – our women, African women, accepting themselves for who they are,” he said.
Aggrieved customers of Gold Coast Fund Management are demanding answers from the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) for the institution’s alleged inability to produce a server needed for an ongoing court case.
In a statement issued by the aggrieved customers, convener Charles Nyame noted that the server, which belongs to the Gold Coast Fund Management Company, contains backup data of its investors and was confiscated by EOCO after the company’s operational license was revoked in November 2019.
However, during a court session held on June 21, 2023, in the Liquidation Case between the Registrar of Companies and Blackshield Capital Fund Management Limited, it was revealed that the server in EOCO’s custody had gone missing.
The aggrieved customers are concerned that the missing server could hinder their efforts to recover their investments.
They are calling on EOCO to provide a full explanation for the server’s disappearance and to take steps to ensure that it is recovered.
The group thus called for EOCO to be investigated over the alleged missing server.
HEADS MUST ROLL AT EOCO FOR A MISSING SERVER WORTH OVER 3.5 BILLION GHANA CEDIS
A SERVER which content valued over 3.5 billion Ghana Cedis is reported to have missing under the custody of EOCO. This revelation was brought to bear during a court section held on Wednesday, June 21st, 2023 when the Commercial Court Six (6) of the Accra High Court Division Sat on the Liquidation Case between the Registrar of Companies and Blackshield Capital Fund Management Limited, hitherto called; Gold Coast Fund Management, owned by Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom.
The SERVER which belongs to the Gold Coast Fund Management Company and contains a backup data of its investors was confiscated by the EOCO through the directives of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the official regulator of Gold Coast Fund Management) after it has successfully revoked the company’s Operational Licence in November 8th, 2019 under the Financial Sector Clean-up Exercise policy initiated in the year 2018 by the government of Ghana under the NPP Akufo-Addo – Bawumia administration.
News on the missing SERVER was informed to the court by the legal representation of the Registrar of Companies led by Ms. Iris. The Lawyer told the court that, in her effort to reach out to EOCO due to the Court Order which sought to direct the EOCO to grant Gold Coast Fund Management access to the SERVER to copy specific data require by the Court to facilitate the determination of the Liquidation case, to her utterly dismay, the authorities at the EOCO told her the said SERVER cannot be located.
The Aggrieved Customers of Gold Coast Fund Management consider the news of the missing SERVER a deliberate approach adopted by the government to deepen its delay tactics showcased on the Liquidation case since the year 2020.
Meanwhile, the same Government impeding the Liquidation process in court has insensitively conditioned the payment of the dying customers of Gold Coast Fund Management to the successful securing of Liquidation Order from Court.
The question we are asking is, for how long must the dying customers continue to bear the brunt of a government policy (Financial Sector Clean-up Exercise) for the past five (5) years?
We therefore make passionate appeal as follows.
1. The Government of His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo should with sense of humanity, rescind on the condition of securing Liquidation Order before it pays Customers of Gold Coast Fund Management and direct the Finance Ministry to advance money from either the Parliamentary approved Bailout package or from the 15 billion Ghana Cedis Stability Fund to the GBC Capital to pay off the Customers, whiles, the Liquidation case continue in court.
2. The whole structure of EOCO should be brought under investigation to produce the missing SERVER with immediate effect.
3. His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo should give order to EOCO to submit the missing SERVER to the court before/on July 3rd, 2023 thus the adjourn date for the Liquidation date for the smooth process of the case.
4. The Media and the Civil Society Organisations should on humanitarian grounds push for immediate payment of the dying Gold Coast Customers since over 800 pensioners among Gold Coast Customers have died due to various health conditions they couldn’t raised money to fund medical treatment.
Seasoned political figure and Former Minister for the Interior of Ghana, Kwasi Ahwoi has made a bold prediction, foreseeing Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as Ghana’s first female president following the tenure of former President John Dramani Mahama.
Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has been named as a successor to National Democratic Congress flagbearer John Mahama after 2024.
This is according a senior Ahwoi family figure, Kwasi Ahwoi who says the 2020 NDC Running Mate will be become the first female President of Ghana after John Mahama has finished serving his term.
“So Naana whether she is 78, 79, 80 can still be President of this country when President John Mahama finishes his service, that should not be a worry at all….” he said.
“It is about time we put a woman in charge of this country… They have a lot to offer this country. We have tried men, we’ve seen where men have taken us. Let’s try the women,” Ahwoi added.
The former Ghana Ambassador to South Africa defended the performance of the former Vice Chancellor in the 2020 when she was picked as a running mate by John Mahama.
Currently, there is intense lobbying by the camp of 2020 running mate of the National Democratic Congress NDC Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang to keep her job after calls for her to be changed by John Mahama.
number of names are reportedly coming up following the conclusion of the party Primaries that elected John Mahama as NDC flagbearer.
This is following accusations against the 2020 Running mate of John Mahama of not adding much to the fortunes of the party in the 2020 elections.
Some of the prominent names that may come under strong consideration include Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, a former Deputy Chief of Staff and trusted John Mahama senior advisor. She is said to have strong ties within the party and outside the party with networks that could benefit Mahama in 2024.
Patrick Awuah, founder of the Ashesi University who along with late Finance Minister Kwesi Botchwey reportedly turned down Mahama’s Running Mate offers in 2020 could also be considered again with hopes he changes his mind.
Others include minority leader Cassiel Ato Forson, economist, MP and former Deputy Finance Minister; Kwame Awuah-Darko, former BOST and TOR Managing Director who was under consideration as 2020 running mate; Joseph Siaw Agyapong, Group CEO of Jospong and party financier; Opong Fosu, a local government expert and Eric Opoku, an influential MP who could win the middle and Southern belts of Ghana for NDC.
Convener of #FixTheCountry movement, Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor has waded into the Yvonne Nelson – Sarkodie abortion brouhaha.
He vehemently criticized Sarkodie following the rapper’s release of ‘Try Me’, a song in response to Yvonne Nelson’s claim that the musician could not wait for her to get rid of their pregnancy in 2010 as he drove her to have an abortion.
Yvonne Nelson in her book, ‘I Am Not Yvonne Nelson’ said Sarkodie did not welcome news of her pregnancy at the time, and considering that she had grown up without a father, she was not ready to let her child have such an experience, hence the decision to terminate the pregnancy.
Sarkodie, in response, released a song punctuated with vulgar words as he told his side of the story, stressing that the actress rather wanted to abort the baby despite his call on her to keep the pregnancy.
Taking to social media to react to the lyrics, Barker-Vormawor expressed discontentment, describing Sarkodie’s ‘Try Me’ as distasteful.
“I have heard immature rap songs! But Sarkodie’s Try Me, as a response to Yvonne Nelson’s book is the tackiest thing I’ve heard. Plain refusal to grow up! We all make mistakes. Own yours,” Barker-Vormawor berated the rapper in a tweet.
Yvonne released her book on Father’s Day and has since generated controversy. Some anticipated a response from Sarkodie while others thought the rapper would not reply but would be focused on his tour.
However, Sarkodie on June 28, 2023, released a song, responding to Yvonne Nelson.
Among others, Sarkodie indicated that Yvonne Nelson had multiple partners hence if she decided to tell the story of how their encounter in 2010 unfolded, she should have told the honest truth.
“You can’t just play victim and paint a picture that she was just looking for love” from all her previous amorous relationships, part of the lyrics went.
“I’m not gonna sit here and lie, we had a thing. First, I thought you were cool till I had a hint,” he sang in English before stating in Twi that he thought he had gotten a good girl only to realise there were others in the queue after him.
The chorus to the song is translated thus: “If you don’t love me, leave me. Why are you pestering me? What is meant for me you have gone to give to Kwame. I have become teary.
“If you don’t love me, leave me let me be. Someone else is longing to be with me, when you were leaving me, you failed to notify me. Baby girl don’t try me.”
On Yvonne’s claim that Sarkodie could not wait for her to get rid of the pregnancy, the rapper said he did not ask Yvonne Nelson to abort the baby, it was her sole decision. According to him, he asked her to keep the baby but she chose her education above the baby.
Also, he asked his doctor to examine her but Yvonne refused the offer and opted for an abortion doctor prescribed by her friend.
He added that Yvonne recently tried to get them to talk about the episode but he turned down her terms.
The Coalition of Muslim Organizations, Ghana (COMOG) has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to vote for the Proper Human Sexual Practice and Ghanaian Value bill to be passed into law.
In a release issued to the Ghana News Agency, on Tuesday, in Accra, COMOG said it expected the Muslim Caucus of Parliament to rally all other members to vote for the bill.
“As Muslims, we passionately expect our Muslim Caucus in Parliament, especially, to come together and vote for the bill at the same time. to demonstrate their belief of the teachings of Islam,” the press release stated.
“It is instructive to note that, in a survey conducted and reported by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), over 95% of Ghanaians are against the practice of LGBTQI+ in Ghana. This we believe should serve as a guide to our parliamentarians to debate in support of the bill and vote for it…”
The release urged Muslims and the public to keenly follow the debate on the floor of Parliament and ensure that any MP, who debated against the bill did not return to Parliament after the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
“So, we would like to encourage all to use the alignment of the debate of MPs to decide their fortunes in the upcoming 2024 elections.”
The release encouraged all Imams who would lead Eid prayer during the Eidul- Adha to use the occasion to reiterate the position of Islam on the practices of the LGBTQI+ community.
Muslims across the world will today June 28,2023, celebrate Eid-ul-Adha to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah (SWT) and his readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail.
The celebrations, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice” is the second of the two Islamic festivities, which is celebrated annually worldwide.
Muslims approach God on this day by sacrificing a sheep, a cow, or a camel and distributing the meat to the poor. They unite to pray together with family and friends and show love.
Eid-ul-Adha falls on the tenth day in the twelfth month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar; Dhul-Hijjah, which allows families, loved ones, and communities to fraternise, and is dependent on a legitimate sighting of the moon, following the completion of the annual Holy Pilgrimage of Hajj – which is an obligation for all Muslims.
The command from Allah (SWT) is a test of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness and commitment to obey his Lord’s command, without question.
At the point of sacrifice, Allah (SWT) replaced Ismail with a ram, which was to be slaughtered in place of his son.
So, during the celebration, the sacrificial animal must be a sheep, lamb, goat, cow, bull, or a camel; the sheep, lamb or goat consist of one share, whereas a bull, cow or camel consist of seven shares per animal. The animal must be in good health and over a certain age to be slaughtered, in a “halal” friendly, Islamic way.
The meat can then be divided into three equal portions per share; one-third for the owner and family, one-third for friends, and the final third to be donated to those in need.
The act of the sacrifice is usually carried out after Eid Prayers, which are performed in congregation at the nearest Mosque on the morning of Eid.
The celebration of Eid-ul-Adha is to last for three days. Traditionally, the day is spent celebrating with family, friends and loved ones, often wearing new attire and the giving of gifts.
Some Muslims, the Ghana News Agency spoke to ahead of the celebrations, thanked Allah for seeing them through the year and prayed that their supplications, together with those who were able to embark on the journey to Hajj, would be answered.
Some were excited about the celebration, saying though the prices of animals for sacrifice were high due to the outbreak of Anthrax in Bolgatanga, and the current economic situation, they would still enjoy the celebration.
Okada usage and its brouhaha have been a great topic of interest in the country since it has grown to become one of the leading means of transportation especially in the small communities where access to vehicles has been difficult.
Over the years, there has been reports of upsurge in armed robbery and other related crimes using okada in some communities in the Akrofuom District. This has informed the assembly led by the District Chief Executive, Maurice Jonas Woode to act and nip the activities of such criminals in the bud.
In his sessional address at a general assembly meeting held on Tuesday, June 28, 2023, Woode said commercial motor business known as Okada has threatened the lives of the people in the district.
He said to curtail their activities the assembly through the District Security Council (DISEC) has tasked the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) to conduct regular swoops on the riders, confiscate the motorbikes of suspects and release them only when they are able to provide evidence of registration and licenses from DVLA.
Progress in revenue generation
The District Chief Executive revealed that the Assembly was able to raise GHC 769,000 as at May, 2023. This was against an annual budgeted figure of GHC 880,000 representing 87.45%.
He however mentioned that there has been a proposal for an upward review of their revised target stressing that the assembly has resolved to construct a Kindergarten block using their Internally Generated Fund.
Education
The Akrofuom District Directorate has taken measures to improve student-teacher ratio. This according to the DCE is evidenced in the posting of 68 teachers to the district with 48% of them currently at post.
He however expressed the Assembly’s commitment to creating a congenial atmosphere for the teachers to work in the district. He also called on the people in the district to be more hospitable to teachers.
Agenda 111 project
Giving accounts on the Agenda 111 hospital project initiated by the government, the Akrofuom DCE said so far the project in the district has been temporary halted due to technical challenges with the main hospital block.
“Work is ongoing on the accompanied residential accommodation. I am hopeful of resumption of work very soon”, he said.
An Accra High Court has given various sentences to six members of the Western Togoland Restoration Front (WTRF), a secessionist organisation in Ghana.
WTRF is part of a splinter organisation from the Homeland Study Group Foundation, whose objective is to secede from Ghana.
Kwame Tornyeveadzi was sentenced to six years imprisonment on the charge of stealing an AK47 rifle belonging to the Ghana Police at Aveyime in the Volta region on September 25, 2020.
Five other accomplices were sentenced to four years imprisonment each by the court presided over by Mrs Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh.
The six were variously charged with 19 counts of attending meetings of a prohibited organisation, participating in a campaign of a prohibited organisation, making contributions for the benefit of a prohibited organisation and being members of a prohibited organisation.
The court earlier found them guilty of the charges and convicted them but deferred their sentences.
The court said it considered the fact that they were first-time offenders and the time they had spent in custody.
It, however, took a serious view of the charge of stealing and the attacks launched by some of their followers on a police station.
In his plea for mitigation, Mr Chris Ackumey, counsel for the convicts, prayed the court to deal leniently with his client because they had been in custody for the past two years and seven months.
Mr Ackumey said the convicts were only desirous of finding the history of where they came from.
“They were in search of knowledge, unfortunately, our quest for knowledge has landed us where we are now. They have no intention of falling foul of the law.
“We found ourselves in the circumstances beyond our control and same had landed us where were are.”
The defence counsel told the court that his clients while in custody, had suffered emotionally, physically, spiritually and had also displayed remorse during the trial.
“Given the chance, we would not commit the mess again. Consider the trauma and suffering we have gone through,” he added.
Mr Joshua Sackey, a Senior Attorney for the Republic prayed the court to hand down deterrent sentences and fines on the convicts to serve as a warning to other like-minded persons.
According to him, the convicts had not shown any remorse.
He rejected the assertion by defence counsel that the convicts wanted to learn their history.
The Attorney said evidence before the court proved otherwise.
The National Security Council, based on intelligence, arrested members of the Western Togoland Restoration Front, who on September 25, 2020, blocked roads at Juapong and Sogakope and set fire to two STC buses.
The prosecution said on the same day, the group also attacked the Aveyime and Mepe Police Stations, freed inmates in the cells, locked up policemen on duty, took arms and ammunition from the armory of the polices’ and bolted.
The convicts were arrested for being members of the WTRF and their various roles in the Group’s activities such as attending meetings, contributing funds and receipt of funds for running the Organisation.
Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in the Adenta Municipality, Humphrey Ankamah Sarpong, has identified illegal structures built around the University of Ghana’s dam as the primary cause of flooding in the Nana Krom area in the municipality.
According to him, individuals have encroached upon the designated green belt area, erecting illegal buildings that obstruct the natural flow of rainfall and clog the gutters during heavy downpours.
During an interview with Radio Univers, Humphrey Ankamah Sarpong expressed his concern about the unauthorized construction activities taking place in the area. He stated, “That place used to be a green belt, but as I speak, people have built houses around almost the entire area. Even the dam that belongs to the University is being encroached upon, which poses a serious threat to the university farm and the people who are settling there illegally.”
The NADMO director further explained that despite multiple efforts by the assembly to demolish illegal structures and enforce the area’s green belt status, some individuals within the community continue to support and engage in these unlawful activities. He added, “When we go to the area, some of them track us until the evenings, and then they come and build. There are people within the community who are supporting these illegal activities.”
Humphrey Ankamah Sarpong highlighted the limitations of relying solely on gutter construction to address the flooding issue.
He stressed that even with well-constructed gutters, the problem cannot be solved as people are now narrowing the drains by constructing buildings too close to them. Thus, it is crucial to address the root cause by curbing the encroachment on the green belt and taking measures to protect the dam and the surrounding area.
“As an Assembly, if you go there, then they will be saying that construct the gutter but the gutter no matter how you construct the gutter, the gutter cannot solve the problem alone because people are now trying to build to narrow the drain over there, so the gutter won’t solve the problem(flooding) .”
Community Concerns and Care Foundation-Ghana (CCCF-Gh) and other five civil society organizations have called on chiefs and opinion leaders to collaborate with the police to help prevent drug peddling in their communities.
They said this would go a long way to protect the youth from engaging in the use of drugs and other substances that could lead to destroying their future, becoming a liability to their families, and a threat to society.
The other organizations are DJtv, Chief Jihad Media, Foundation for Islamic Welfare, Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), and the Institute of Leadership and Development.
The organizations made the call when they, the chiefs, opinion leaders, and the people of Nima Hot Coffee in Accra joined the world to observe the UN International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The Day has been set aside by the UN to be observed annually around the globe on 26th June, to create awareness of the dangers of drug and substance use. This year’s theme was: “People First, Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention.”
Fred Agbobli, the Deputy Executive Director of CCCF-Gh in a welcoming address said on the 7th of December 1987, the UN General Assembly, by Resolution 42/112, decided to set aside the Day.
“This UN decision was an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.
“It was this laudable and noble determination, that gave birth to the CCF-Gh as a stakeholder institution, to join the global action to beat down the drug-abuse menace, having seen its debilitating social ramifications on our future human resource capital and society at large,” he stated.
Ahmed Abubakar in a message read on behalf of VALD said among the goals of the organisation was to advocate against the consumption and use of unhealthy commodities such as tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs (forbidden by law), and narcotic substances.
“We at VALD are therefore very pleased to be associated with today’s program, which has been organized to observe the Day,” he stated.
He said the world drug problem was a complex issue that affected millions of people worldwide, stating; “Many people who use drugs face stigma and discrimination, which can further harm their physical and mental health and prevent them from accessing the help they need.”
Abubakar explained; “This year’s theme is therefore meant to encourage all and sundry to welcome our brothers and sisters who are unfortunate to be using illicit drugs with open arms, to treat them with respect, compassion, and empathy, in order that we may give them the necessary help they may need.”
He said the campaign for this year was also aimed to combat stigma and discrimination against people who use drugs by promoting language and attitudes that were respectful and non-judgemental.
Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe on Tuesday evening congratulated the opposition National Democratic Congress and its candidate in the June 27 Assin North by-election.
Tagoe became the first known NPP person to post a congratulatory message to the NDC and James Gyakye Quayson even before official results were announced.
“Congratulations to the NDC, MP-elect,” his post on facebook read.
The NDC through its own collation had projected a 57% victory for Quayson hours after polls closed across the 99 polling stations in the constituency.
Hours later, Gyakye Quayson was announced the winner after the Electoral Commission of Ghana officially declared him as the Member of Parliament-elect.
According to the Electoral Commission’s announcement, James Gyakye Quayson garnered a total of 17,245 votes, representing 57.56% of the total votes cast.
His closest contender, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), received 12,630 votes, accounting for 42.15% of the votes.
Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party Ghana (LPG) secured 87 votes, which represented 0.29% of the overall tally.
The by-election in Assin North was held to fill the parliamentary seat left vacant following a legal battle that questioned Quayson’s eligibility to hold office due to dual citizenship concerns.
Augustina Lotsu, a gender advocate, has said many indigenous women were living in poverty because they were over-burdened with household chores without having time to build their economic potential.
“When women spend much time on household activities, they have less time to engage or go into income-generating ventures, thereby putting them at high risk of living in poverty”, she stated.
Lotsu, who is a Gender Advocacy Officer of the Global Media Foundation (GloMeF), a Sunyani-based human rights and media advocacy non-governmental organisation therefore called men to inspire their wives and assist them to engage in viable economic activities to
enable them to support the upkeep of the family.
She was speaking at separate community advocacy dialogues on unpaid care work held at Kwasi-Mfum, Antwikrom, and Wawasua, farming communities in the Sunyani Municipality.
According to her domestic work such as cooking, cleaning, fetching water, fuel collection, and child-care remained essential, saying it was thus imperative for men to support their wives in such chores because “women and girls are mostly over-burdened by these activities which also affect them psychologically”.
GloMeF with support from Plan International Ghana under its Women’s Innovation for Sustainable Enterprise Project, being funded by Global Affairs Canada, organised the dialogues, mostly attended by women in the farming communities.
The WISE project seeks to promote innovative, integrated, and gender-transformative business services by improving women’s agency to exercise decisions regarding their participation in economic growth as well as increasing productivity, profitability, and innovation of women-owned businesses.
“Women and girls in countries around the world, regardless of socio-economic status, perform a disproportionate amount of unpaid care work,” Ms. Lotsu stated, saying “Unpaid care is a barrier to women having full access to their human rights, particularly for women living in poverty”.
“When girls and women spend more time on unpaid care work than men, they have fewer opportunities to receive education or secure a paying job,” she stated, indicating “boosting women’s economic empowerment is key to achieving gender equality, but pervasive social
norms and discrimination continue to keep women from thriving in the workforce”.
Lotsu said, “When women don’t have access to the same employment opportunities as men, they can’t support themselves or their families and without financial independence to it’s more difficult for them to escape poverty”.
She said the United Nations’ global goal five aimed to empower all women and girls to reach their full potential and therefore called on government and the private sector as well as civil society actors to make commitments to “balancing unpaid care work”.
Lotsu commended the Plan International/Global Affairs Canada for supporting the implementation of the project, which further sought to orient community members and create awareness of the benefits of supporting women’s economic participation and building women’s agency to take individual and collective actions.
A section of voters in the Assin North Constituency were captured on video celebrating the victory of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate James Gyakye Quayson.
About a half dozen of the supporters at the back of a pickup are heard singing a song to the effect that they have spent Charles Opoku’s money.
“We have spent, we have spent, we have spent ooooo, Charles Opoku’s money, we have spent. Here is not not Kumawu,” one of them is heard adding after the chorus of their song ends.
Even before the Electoral Commission formally announced results, NDC supporters took to the streets celebrating their victory citing wins in New Patriotic Party (NPP) strongholds in the constituency.
Yvonne Nelson swiftly responded to Sarkodie’s song, which presented his perspective on the claim made by the actress. The claim involved Sarkodie allegedly impregnating Yvonne Nelson in 2010 but refusing to take responsibility, leading to a decision to terminate the pregnancy.
The rapper had in the song toldYvonne Nelson to not ‘try’ him but the unfazed author cum actress in her rebuttal ended with a hashtag #triedyou as she cautioned Sarkodie.
With both showbiz personalities having daughters with different partners, Yvonne emitted that they would eventually face their own challenges and experiences in life.
“In my book, I narrated how you got me pregnant, how you couldn’t wait for me to get rid of it. How you DROVE me to have an abortion. As usual, you want to use rap to rubbish a pain a young woman felt. We both have daughters, let’s see what life throws at them. #triedyou,” her tweet on June 28, 2023.
Before this, she had made a first tweet suggesting to Sarkodie to show respect towards women. Yvonne indicated that it was unfortunate for Sarkodie to have rubbished her pain in a song that is punctuated with insults.
“Insults won’t work Michael. Respect womanhood, I’m happy the world gets to see how you are playing this and the real you. Young women get to learn from this. You would get the applause for a rap. Still doesn’t change the TRUTH,” her tweet barely hours after Sarkodie released the ‘Try Me’ song read.
A viral video circulating on social media has captured an incident from the recently concluded Assin North by-election, where an Electoral Commission (EC) official is allegedly seen accepting a bribe from a political party to influence the election results.
The video depicts a perplexed electoral official seated alongside a fellow colleague, while they are being interrogated by an individual behind the camera and a police officer. In the background, the police officer can be heard instructing the official to hand over the alleged bribe money, saying, “Bring it.” Simultaneously, the person behind the camera is heard urging the official to give the money to the police officer, stating, “You give the money to him, give it to him.”
As the situation unfolds, the electoral official reaches into his pocket, retrieves a stack of banknotes, and hands it over to the police officer. The unidentified commentator remarks, “Sit down,” after the money has been handed over to the police.
The video, shared on Twitter by GhanaWeb TV, accompanied by the caption “Things are happening in the Assin North by-election. An Electoral Commission Presiding officer who was bribed has been caught by the Police,” has generated significant attention and concern among social media users.
A user by the name of Kwaku Wisdom commented “The formula is simple, keep the voters poor, induce them with peanuts to keep us in power to continually keep them poor…and the circle never ends until the voter becomes wise.”
Watch the video below:
Things are happening in the Assin North by-election.
An Electoral Commission Presiding officer who was bribed has been caught by the Police. pic.twitter.com/UwOdY03boI
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission of Ghana officially declared James Gyakye Quayson as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Assin North constituency following the conclusion of the by-election. Quayson, who contested on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), emerged victorious with a significant margin.
According to the Electoral Commission’s announcement, James Gyakye Quayson garnered a total of 17,245 votes, representing 57.56% of the total votes cast. His closest contender, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), received 12,630 votes, accounting for 42.15% of the votes. Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party Ghana (LPG) secured 87 votes, which represented 0.29% of the overall tally.
The by-election in Assin North was held to fill the parliamentary seat left vacant following a legal battle that questioned Quayson’s eligibility to hold office due to dual citizenship concerns.
Pollster Ben Ephson is defending his reputation following his failed prediction in the Assin North by-election results.
He addressed the backlash has received on social media after his incorrect prediction regarding the outcome of the Assin North by-election.
Ben Ephson, who serves as the Managing Editor of Daily Dispatch, had initially forecasted a victory for the New Patriotic Party’s Charles Opoku over the National Democratic Congress’ James Gyakye Quayson.
However, the results from Tuesday’s June 27,2023, by-election revealed a victory for the NDC parliamentary candidate, with an expanded margin compared to the 2020 elections. The result led to social media users mocking Ben Ephson for his recent prediction blunder.
In response to the criticism, he has acknowledged his error in judgment but emphasized his extensive track record in election forecasting. He pointed out that he has accurately predicted the outcomes of seven elections since 1996, with only one incorrect prediction occurring in 2016.
During an interview on 3FM on June 27, 2023, he expressed his resilience in the face of criticism, stating, “From 1996, I got it spot-on, these things don’t bother me because I’ve got a track record,” 3news.com quoted him to have said.
He highlighted that the backlash he received in 2016 was more severe than the current situation and reassured that it would not deter him from making future predictions.
“What if I got it right? I’m kind of used to it.”
The Electoral Commission of Ghana officially declared James Gyakye Quayson as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Assin North constituency following the conclusion of the by-election. Quayson, who contested on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), emerged victorious with a significant margin.
According to the Electoral Commission’s announcement, James Gyakye Quayson garnered a total of 17,245 votes, representing 57.56% of the total votes cast. His closest contender, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), received 12,630 votes, accounting for 42.15% of the votes. Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party Ghana (LPG) secured 87 votes, which represented 0.29% of the overall tally.
The by-election in Assin North was held to fill the parliamentary seat left vacant following a legal battle that questioned Quayson’s eligibility to hold office due to dual citizenship concerns.
Rapper Sarkodie garnered significant attention last week due to his mention in actress Yvonne Nelson’s memoir titled ‘I am not Yvonne Nelson,‘ regarding their past relationship.
Yvonne detailed her version of how Sarkodie impregnated her but asked her to abort the child because at the time he was young and not ready to become a father.
She also spoke about being driven to the clinic where the procedure was undertaken but abandoned to deal with the associated pain all alone by Sarkodie.
A little over a week on, the rapper has posted a track titled ‘Try Me’ on his official YouTube page telling his side of the story.
“The track has a mixture of English and Twi rebuffing Yvonne’s narrative about the pregnancy and what ensued after she disclosed it to him. If you don’t love me, leave me. Why are you pestering me?
“What is meant for me you have gone to give to Kwame. I have become teary. If you don’t love me, leave me let me be. Someone else is longing to be with me, when you were leaving me you failed to notify me. Baby girl don’t try me,” the chorus goes.
Joseph Ade Coker, the former Greater Accra Regional chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has appealed for an end to the criminal prosecution of James Gyakye Quayson after his recent triumph in the Assin North by-election
Ade Coker, recognizing Gyakye Quayson’s victory as a strong vote of confidence from the people of Assin North, has urged the government to avoid continuing the case. He called upon the country’s elders to advise the government to withdraw the case in the interest of peace.
“The people of Assin North have spoken; they prefer Gyakye Quayson to continue serving as their Member of Parliament. We have reached a point where the elders of this country should step in and counsel the government to withdraw the case from court, allowing us to move forward,” myjoyonline.com quoted him to have said in an interview.
Ade Coker believes that the election has been concluded, with Gyakye Quayson securing victory, and there is no reason to prolong the legal matter.
“The case must be withdrawn from the court and we must move on. The verdict of the people is very clear; we want this country to be on a peaceful note rather than in turmoil. We have passed that stage, the matter is finished, the election has been held, the man has won overwhelmingly. There’s no need for us to continue any court issue,” he added.
Gyakye Quayson is currently facing charges of perjury and forgery related to his Canadian citizenship status at the time of filing his nomination forms for the 2020 parliamentary election.
The legal proceedings against Gyakye Quayson arose following a Supreme Court ruling that deemed the Electoral Commission’s decision to allow him to contest the 2020 polls without proof of renouncing his Canadian citizenship unconstitutional.
The apex court instructed Parliament to expunge Gyakye Quayson’s name from its records, nullifying his election and declaring it to be of no effect. Furthermore, his swearing-in was deemed unconstitutional.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has officially declared James Gyakye Quayson as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Assin North constituency following the conclusion of the by-election. Quayson, who contested on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), emerged victorious with a significant margin.
According to the Electoral Commission’s announcement, James Gyakye Quayson garnered a total of 17,245 votes, representing 57.56% of the total votes cast. His closest contender, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), received 12,630 votes, accounting for 42.15% of the votes. Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party Ghana (LPG) secured 87 votes, which represented 0.29% of the overall tally.
Eid celebrants in Accra express difficulties in celebrating today’s Eid-ul-Adha due to exorbitant price hikes in livestock.
Eid-ul-Adha, also known as ‘Feast of Sacrifice’, is an Islamic festival that celebrates the obedience of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail to God on His command.
Some celebrants and sellers in separate interviews with Citi News said that things are extremely expensive now, so they could hardly buy or sell anything for the celebration.
“Now things are expensive. I bought this sheep for GH¢2,500, and the price was less last year,” a celebrant said.
A seller said that people were not buying because there was no money in the system. He added that this was not the situation last year.
Another celebrant said that he could not buy any animal because the prices on the market were way above his budget.
He stated that “Items are extremely expensive this year, so we are unable to buy.”
Following his victory in the recent by-election, James Gyakye Quayson, the re-elected Member of Parliament for the Assin North constituency, has taken a swipe at the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
At the end of the by-election on June 27, 2023, Mr. Quayson polled 17,245 votes representing 57.56 percent of the total votes cast to beat Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG).
Charles Opoku polled 12,630 votes representing 42.15 percent of the total votes cast in the hotly contested by-election while the LPG’s Bernice Enyonam Sefenu polled a paltry 87 votes (0.29%).
“This is a victory not just for myself, it’s for the people of Assin North and in fact for the people of Ghana. Hopefully, one day we will pursue a good direction of justice. Politics is not about sharing of money to citizens to get votes, it’s about development, democracy is about development,” he stated.
He assured that his constituents will have a fair share of the national cake.
“We will make sure that people who are represented get a fair share of the national cake and how to develop their communities,” Mr. Quayson assured.
Highlighting the court’s ruling against him, Mr. Quayson said although he was unfairly treated he still believes in the rule of law.
“I believe in the rule of law and I do things according to the rule of law. I also had the support of my constituents and my NDC fraternity and people from NPP who were supporting me. I was treated unfairly, they now know the results, and we are going to work with it,” the MP-elect stated.
The Assin North seat became vacant after the Supreme Court ordered Parliament to expunge Gyakye Quayson’s name from its records in a ruling on May 17.
The Supreme Court ruled that Mr. Quayson was not qualified to contest the 2020 parliamentary election in the Assin North Constituency at the time he filed his nomination forms on October 9, 2020.
Latex Foam, a prominent foam manufacturer, has made a charitable contribution to the National Chief Imam, Sheik Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, by donating a cow and an undisclosed sum of money at his Fadama residence in Accra. The donation is intended to support the celebration of this year’s Eid ul-Adha.
A management delegation from the company, comprising the Export Manager, Dr. Yakubu Diomande, and the Public Relations Officer, Gifty E. Appiah, presented the items on behalf of the company during a courtesy call on the Chief Imam on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.
The Latex Foam delegation was received by the Chief Imam and his officials, including the Spokesperson, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, and the Chief Protocol Officer, Alhaji Latif Abdulsalam.
The gesture, which has become part of the company’s yearly activities, forms part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.
Presenting the items, Dr. Diomande said the donation was to support the office of the National Chief Imam as well as to deepen the relationship between the company and the Chief Imam’s office.
He said Latex Foam as a company recognised the contribution of the Muslim community towards the country’s development, hence solidarizing with them during their Eid ul-Adha celebration.
He further indicated gesture was also to say thank you to the Chief Imam for taking time out of his busy schedules to visit the company and interacted with its management last year.
Dr. Diomande on behalf of the company used the occasion to wish all Muslims across the country and the world a fruitful celebration.
The Chief Imam on his part thanked Latex Foam for the gesture and prayed for the continued success of the company’s business.
“I am profoundly grateful,” he said, adding “I am praying that in all your endeavours, may God bless every dimension of your business.”
Eid-ul-Adha is a festival celebrated among Muslims in remembrance of the sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim made out of his strong faith in Allah, the Most High.
