By erecting a massive moon model atop a tower, a resort in Dubai hopes to enable space travel without the need for a rocket ship.
In Dubai, which already has the tallest building in the world and other architectural marvels, businessman Michael Henderson wants to erect a 274-meter (900-foot) facsimile of the moon atop a 30-meter (100-foot) structure.
Henderson’s MOON concept might sound fantastical, but it would fit right in in the futuristic city-state.
The moon-shaped mega-resort is estimated to cost around the equivalent of £4.28billion and hopes to draw in a whopping 2.5million guests a year, featuring a nightclub and wellness centre.
The Moon would sit on a giant pedestal-like building and glow at night (Picture: AP)
Its huge size – the circumference of the sphere is planned to 622-metres – means it may well be able to bring in over £1.5billion in just a single year.
And even though a previous boom-and-bust cycle in the arabic city saw many grand projects collapse, Henderson and others suggest his vision, funded by Moon World Resorts Inc., where he is the co-founder, might not be that far-fetched.
‘We have the biggest “brand” in the world,’ Henderson said, claiming that the moon itself was his brand. ‘Eight billion people know our brand, and we haven’t even started yet.’
The project Henderson proposes includes a destination resort inside the spherical structure, complete with a 4,000-room hotel, an arena capable of hosting 10,000 people and a ‘lunar colony’ that would give guests the sensation of actually walking on the moon.
The MOON would sit on a pedestal-like circular building beneath it and would glow at night. Henderson discussed the project at the Arabian Travel Market earlier in May in Dubai.
In an earlier statement, Henderson and co-founder Sandra G Matthews said Moon Dubai will ‘significantly impact every aspect of the UAE’s economy, including tourism’.
Also targeted are ‘transportation, commercial and residential real estate, infrastructure, financial services, aviation and space, energy, MICE, agriculture, technology and of course education’.
The founders continued: ‘[It] will be the largest and most successful modern-day tourism project in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, doubling annual tourism visitations to Dubai based on its global appeal, brand awareness and unique multiple integrated offerings.’
Like other high-profile, eye-catching marvels, the MOON could fit well into ‘the legitimacy formula of Dubai’s ruling elite,’ said Christopher Davidson, a Middle East expert who wrote the recent book ‘From Sheikhs to Sultanism.’ Dubai also hosts the UAE’s space centre, which has sent a probe to Mars and unsuccessfully tried to put a rover on the moon.
‘They can be seen as a non-democratic elite but nonetheless believe strongly in science and progress — and that’s ultimately very legitimising and a megaproject like this would seem to tick all of those boxes,’ Davidson said.
Henderson’s plan would go a step further than other globe-shaped projects, such as the MSG Sphere, a $2.3 billion dome blanketed by LED screens, that is set to open in Las Vegas later this year.
His structure would be fully spherical, and could be illuminated alternatively as a full, half or crescent moon.
The brightness may not go down well with potential neighbours — plans to build another MSG Sphere in London were halted after residents protested the significant light pollution and disruption the structure would cause.
‘It’s hard to please everybody,” Henderson acknowledged. “You might need dark curtains.’
Government has extended data and voice call connectivity to two communities namely, Mognori and Sumpini in the West Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region.The inauguration of the two basic telephony facilities is to enhance communication and link these communities to the rest of the world.The facilities (Telephony) which include, two solar-powered masts, one in each community, and spreads to a 20-km radius in each of them (communities), would enable other nearby communities to also benefit from their services.
Minister for Communication and Digitisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful during the commissioning of the facilities, said connecting unserved and under-served communities would not only help residents in their daily activities but also for school children to put into practice their Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills.She said as part of the government’s plans to digitize the whole country, her ministry is very determined to set up a robust rural network that will stand the test of time.“About half, 1,010 have been built and about half of those have been connected. So, we are working on the challenges and we are sure that by the end of this year, all the 2,016 are built and connected for up to 5 million citizens who do not have access to internet to also utilise data and high-speed voice services for all their online interactions to be part of the digital revolution that’s unfolding,” Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful stated.The Minister also assured those in standby communities whose projects are completed waiting to be commissioned, to be patient.These two communities (Mognori and Sumpini) have over the years, been battling with poor quality voice and data service forcing residents to move to other locations including climbing trees to make calls.The Chief of Mognori, Assan Sakara, commended the Ministry for the initiative.He said the presence of the facility would improve the living condition of his people and spread development.
Salema Masha speaks softly, but her slender frame is animated by an inner strength that saved the lives of her five children.
One day in March she walked them out of a remote wilderness where followers of a Kenyan televangelist were starving themselves to death in the belief that they could meet Jesus faster.
Among the horrific stories emerging from the Christian doomsday cult in the East African country, Salema’s stands out.
More than 200 bodies have been recovered so far from mass graves in the vast Shakahola forest on the southern coast of Kenya, and more are being dug up every day. Survivors are still being found hiding under trees and bushes in the 800-acre territory.
Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie opened the Good News International Church in 2003. He repeatedly attracted police attention with his claims that children should not go to school, and that medical treatments should be rejected.
In 2019 he shut down the church and invited his followers to move with him to Shakahola, a place he called a new “Holy Land”.
Salema’s husband was among those who heeded the call.
As she tells her story, she breastfeeds one-year-old Esther, who was born in the forest. Her eldest, a boy named Amani, is eight.
The mass suicide started in January. Salema says she followed instructions to begin fasting so that she could “get to heaven”.
Mackenzie had been telling his followers for some time that the world was coming to an end. Initially he offered the forest as a sanctuary from the approaching apocalypse. But in a grisly twist it became a last stand to get to heaven before the “End of Days”.
After seven days of fasting, Salema says she heard a voice from God telling her this wasn’t his will and that she still had work to do in the world, so she stopped.
People around her were dying though – at one point she attended a funeral of eight children. It was called going to “sleep”.
But they said: “If my children won’t die, I should stop attending other peoples’ funerals,” she tells me.
Survivors say children were supposed to be the first to go, according to a macabre order drawn up by Mackenzie. Then the unmarried, the women, the men, and last of all, church leaders.
“When the child cries or asks for food or water, we were told to take a cane and beat them so that they could go and eat in heaven,” Salema explains. “So I thought about it and I said I cannot go on with this situation, I can’t eat while my child is starving. I told myself, if I feel this bad when I fast, how about my child?”
Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie said children should not go to school and medical treatment should be rejected
A BBC analysis of Mackenzie’s sermons on video do not show him directly ordering people to stop eating. However, according to Salema, he was explicit in weekly gatherings on Saturdays.
“At first, the pastor dug… water wells [in the forest] and told us to wait for Jesus and we waited. But then, suddenly, he told us we should fast and go to heaven,” she says.
When they questioned the order, as Salema did, they were told that if they delayed their deaths, heaven would be full: “The gate would be closed.”
Much of Mackenzie’s preaching focused on a new Kenyan national identity card that will include personal data encoded in an electronic chip – the “sign of the beast” he called it, to be avoided at all cost.
The cost was very high, and Salema discovered that her husband, one of Mackenzie’s deputies, was involved in managing it. A friend told her that when he went to work, he was actually going to bury the dead.
One day in March he put his foot down, forcing the family to fast. Four days later he left for work and Salema saw her chance. She grabbed the children and left.
“My children fasted for four days without food and water, and they were crying,” she says. “So, when I saw they were so weak, I gave them water and I told myself I couldn’t allow my children to die.”
The children were guided by the steely will of their mother and protected by her status as the wife of a Mackenzie aide.
More than 200 bodies have so far been exhumed from mass graves in the Shakahola forest
Salema says she was challenged by other cult members but not stopped, and when she reached the main road after walking for several kilometres, got a lift from “a good Samaritan” to a safe place.
But other runaways were stopped. A group of male enforcers bearing machetes chased, beat, and dragged them back to the forest, in accounts told by survivors and former cult members.
Mackenzie surrendered to the authorities on 15 April. He denies ordering his followers to starve themselves. But the search and rescue operation found many dead children buried in his compound.
Police told local reporters they had learned from aides who had been detained that this was meant to be a way for Mackenzie to identify with Jesus’ command to “let the little children come unto me,” says journalist Marion Kithi.
Police also said that before Mackenzie left, he ordered his deputies to continue enforcing the mass starvation and burying those who died, according to Kithi.
Survivors say children were supposed to be the first to die, according to a macabre order drawn up by Mackenzie
It is the surviving children who’ve provided a lot of the information about what happened, says Victor Kaudo, a human rights activist from Haki Africa who first tipped off the police that young boys were dying in Shakahola.
Some of the adults refuse treatment even after they’ve been rescued. And there is suspicion that members of the cult are continuing to exert influence beyond the forest, quietly telling survivors to refuse food and medicine.
Kaudo says two people his group rescued and regarded as victims were actually “part of this militia that Mackenzie had,” and needed to be separated from the others.
Former cult member Titus Katana says he knows most of Mackenzie’s aides and the majority have been arrested. But this week a body was discovered lying in the forest, not buried beneath it. That makes him suspect some of the enforcers are still “supervising the process of people to fast”.
Salema says Mackenzie’s deputies came looking for her a week after she left and advised her to return, but did not threaten her.
But she knows others were not treated as kindly.
A woman came to her, asking for help to escape the cult with her children and find the money for transport back to their home village. Salema promised she would do so.
The woman went back to the forest to get her children and was never heard from again.
The government has strengthened the enforcement system by increasing the punishment for persons convicted for engaging in illegal mining activities, the Minister for Lands, and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has announced.
According to him, the ‘Operation Halt II’ also continues to support the enforcement measures, and said all prosecutions pertaining to illegal mining activities were undertaken by the Office of the Attorney-General.
The Lands Minister said about 119 cases involving 727 accused persons were pending before the Courts for various offences relating to illegal mining in the Eastern, Western and Ashanti Regions.
He added that the figure excluded 187 people convicted and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment in the Eastern Region last year.
Mr Jinapor made the announcement at the opening of a two-day transformational dialogue on artisanal and small-scale mining under the theme, ‘Sustaining Environmental Security and Human Right in Small Scale Mining Operations in Ghana,’ at Fiapre in the Sunyani West Municipality.
The programme, initiated by the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) aimed at bringing together various stakeholders to deliberate on the issue and jointly make efforts towards a common direction.
It was attended by politicians, traditional leaders, students, members, and staff of the UENR, artisans and small-scale miners, civil society actors, representatives of large-scale mining companies and the media.
Mr Jinapor observed small-scale mining impacts a number of human rights, including the right to life, health, safe environment, water, property and development which needed to be addressed as a matter of high public interest.
He said Ghana was blessed with abundant mineral resources, which if managed properly could provide a strong base for the livelihoods of the people.
But improper management of the mineral resources through illegal mining was plaguing the country now, hence most environmentalists had been advocating that mining was just a destruction and must be stopped completely, Mr Jinapor stated.
He said mining must be done sustainably and responsibly to protect the natural environment and the rights of persons being affected by it, because that industry continues to be the bulwark of the national economy.
Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, the Vice-Chancellor of the UENR said the institution initiated the dialogue as a way of contributing to promote responsible mining to ensure industrial and associated environmental best practices for the country’s sustainable development.
The Minister for Communication and Digitisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful says there is an urgent need to bridge the gender digital gap in the country.
This, according to her, is the reason why government, through the Ministry of Communication, is implementing the “Girls-in-ICT” project.
She added that the country is gradually shifting away from a manual regime to the digital space, hence the need to encourage more girls.
Girls exhibiting practical knowledge on ICT during the visit by the Minister
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said this at the climax of a National ‘Girls-In-ICT’ training programme organised by GIFEC for about one thousand basic school girls and one hundred teachers drawn from districts across the regions.
According to the Minister, parents, chiefs, and opinion leaders have no choice but to support the Ministry by encouraging the girl child to develop an interest in ICT for their personal and career growth.
“We (government) are building a digital future and Ghana is gradually moving away from the manual to digital space. We need to demystify ICT for all and encourage girls to take interest in that field for the country to benefit fully from the digital transformation agenda and bridge the gender digital divide”, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekudul stated.
She further appealed to the Ghana Education Service among others, to put in place a system that will enhance girls’ skills in ICT.
On her part, the Deputy Minister for Education, Gifty Twum Ampofo, appealed to parents and families to create avenues at home to enable their children to have easy access to mobile phones to learn online.
She said parents should add it to their responsibilities because their children cannot afford these devices but cautioned the girls not to abuse the opportunity when given mobile phones.
At the end of the training program, an 11-year-old basic six pupil, Mohammed Rahimmah from T.I Ahmadiya Islamic School at Kpalbusi in the North-East Gonja District of the Savannah beat about 99 other girls to emerge the overall best in the Girls-In-ICT project competition in the region.
She went home with a cash prize of GH₵3,000, a plaque, certificate, and laptop.
Also, an ICT laboratory will be sited in her district.
Ms Mohammed Rahimmah, receiving her award from Mrs Owusu-Ekuful
Other award winners were Alfreda Frimpong and Salu Saratu Alele who emerged 2nd and 3rd respectively. Each received GH₵2,500, laptops, plaques, and certificates of participation.
ICT Labs will also be established in their districts.
The rest of the awardees (97 girls) were all given a laptop each and a certificate and plaque.
Meanwhile, 40 out of the 100 basic school teachers who were also taken through similar ICT training in Damongo, were awarded as best ICT teachers in the region.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it is ready for a bye-election following the ruling of the Supreme Court directing Parliament to expunge the records of James Gyakye Quayson, Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North.
A statement issued by Mr Fifi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the NDC, copied to the Ghana News Agency said: “…..after consultations with Mr Gyakye Quayson, the leadership of the NDC wishes to state unequivocally that we are ready for the bye-election that is now the result of this decision.”
It noted that the full weight of the Party, including the Minority Caucus in Parliament, would be put behind Mr Gyakye Quayson so as to ensure an even more resounding victory for him in the upcoming bye-election.
It said the NDC had become aware of the Supreme Court’s decision invalidating the nomination, election, and subsequent swearing-in of Mr James Gyakye-Quayson, the MP for Assin North as unconstitutional.
It said the court did not give any reasons but said these would be available on or before 7th June.
“In the light of many previous decisions that we are aware of, including decisions in the case of JH Mensah, Baba Jamal and Peter Amewu that state that the Supreme Court does not have jurisdiction when it comes to Parliamentary Election and that the High Court is where such a matter should be taken, it seems strange to us that the Supreme Court gave this decision,” the statement said.
“Moreover, there is no doubt that Mr James Gyakye-Quayson did not owe allegiance to any other country whether at the time of his nomination, election, or swearing-in.
We also look forward to seeing the reasons that the Court will provide.”
Background
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the Electoral Commission (EC) acted unconstitutionally in allowing Mr Quayson to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections without proof of him renouncing his Canadian Citizenship.
This follows the case filed by a resident of the Constituency Michael Ankomah Nimfah.
Mr Nimfah had asked the court to rule that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 94(2)(a) of the Constitution, 1992 of Ghana, at the time Mr Quayson filed his nomination form in October 2020 to contest the 2020 Parliamentary election for the Assin North Constituency, he was not qualified to contest as Member of Parliament.
This is because the Constitution does not allow a person with dual nationality to hold certain public offices, including a Member of Parliament.
According to the Treasury, it reportedly cost the government £161.7 million.
When Her Majesty was laid-in-state in Westminster Hall last year, more than 250,000 people stood in queue for five days to pay their respects.
When mourners lined up to meet the former king who passed away on September 8, “the queue” was at times longer than 24 hours.
The number was fewer than the total to see her father King George VI lie in state over five days, which is thought to have been 305,806.
The biggest costs were covered by the Home Office (£74m) and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (£57m).
John Glen, chief secretary to the Treasury, said the government’s priority at the time had been to make sure ‘these events ran smoothly and with the appropriate level of dignity, while at all times ensuring the safety and security of the public’.
In a written ministerial statement made to Parliament, Mr Glen said the Treasury had provided additional funding where necessary and the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments were ‘fully’ refunded for their respective costs.
Queen’s funeral – estimated costs
• Department for Culture, Media & Sport – £57.42m
• Department for Transport – £2.565m
• Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office – £2.096m
• Home Office – £73.68m
• Ministry of Defence – £2.890m
• Northern Ireland Office – £2.134m
• Scottish Government – £18.756m
• Welsh Government – £2.202m
• Total – £161.743m
The procession from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey took 17 minutes (Picture: REUTERS)A steady flow of people made their way through Westminster Hall to see the Queen lying in state (Picture: Getty)People line up along the Thames for the Lying-in State of Queen Elizabeth II on September 18 (Picture: Rex)
However, it did not include the number to pay their respects in St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, where the Queen also lay in state after dying at Balmoral estate in Scotland.
The queue in London was constantly busy since the lying in state began, with the government repeatedly warning people to stay away to avoid disappointment towards the end.
After Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022 aged 96, the UK started 10 days of national mourning.
The late Queen’s coffin was laid to rest in St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh for 24 hours, before the monarch was transported to Westminster Abbey in London where thousands of mourners queued for hours to pay their respects.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon…Check back shortly for further updates.
Government, on Wednesday, April 17, 2023, got the approval of the board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the $3 billion bailout programme it requested.
However, details on the full agreement the IMF had with the government of Ghana have not been made public.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolgatanga Central and a member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Isaac Adongo, has now given some details of the programme.
Speaking in an interview on Accra FM, on Thursday, May 18, 2023, monitored by GhanaWeb, the MP urged Ghanaians to prepare for more hardship because the conditions attached to the $3 billion loan will be unbearable.
According to him, as part of the loan agreement, the government has been asked to introduce more taxes and increase tariffs for services it provides.
He added that the government have also been tasked by the IMF not to employ beyond 0.5 per cent of the current labour force and has also limited the rate of increase of the salaries of public sector workers within the three years of the programme.
“The IMF has ordered the government not to go for a penny from the Bank of Ghana. And so who did Ken Ofori-Atta negotiate the bailout with on behalf of Ghana for them to come up with a programme that will make us starve?
“The IMF said that in the three years of the programme, the government can employ only 0.5 per cent of the current labour force – not even 1 per cent for the next three years, which means unemployment will increase. They have also limited the rate at which the government can increase the salaries of public sector workers.
“The IMF has also asked the government to increase the tax to GDP rate to 18 per cent within the three years of the programme which means that Ghanaians must prepare for more taxes,” he said in Twi.
He added that the government has been given a bad IMF programme because it failed to engage and Ghanaians are going to suffer for it.
The MP also said that the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, will announce the measures in the bailout agreement during the presentation of the mid-year budget review.
Background:
The Executive Board of the IMF unanimously approved the $3 billion bailout for Ghana at a meeting Wednesday [May 17, 2023] in Washington.
$600 million out of the $3 billion loan was disbursed on the day of the approval of the bailout and $350 million would be disbursed every six months for the three-year programme.
Earlier, Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, had expressed optimism, that the swelling goodwill that Ghana was getting from the international community, including its creditors could guarantee the approval of the loan.
She added that her outfit was pushing the bilateral creditors to quickly provide the financial assurance needed for the board to approve the deal.
Prior to this, Ghana had completed all prior actions necessary to receive support for its economic recovery programme, the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Parents who changed their son’s name to Putin in 2016 in honour of the Russian leader have pleaded with authorities to let them change it back.
The Dzhurayev family relocated to Russia from their home Tajikistan in the early 2010s, and soon after, in a gesture of gratitude to their new nation and its leader, they formally changed the name of their one-year-old son Rasul to Putin.
However, the pair then regretted their choice and is now working to restore Putin’s birth name; they would not, however, elaborate on their reasons for regret.
Ekaterina Belous, head of the Alexandrovsky district registry office in Vladimir oblast, east of Moscow, told local media: ‘The parents have approached us: They, let me put it this way, feel sorry for what they did.’
The family say they ‘regret’ their decison to name their child after the Russian president (Picture: AP)The couple were persuaded by rename their child by his grandfather, a Putin superfan (Picture: gazetanga.ru)
‘They want to give the child the name he received at birth.’
However, the child’s cousin, named Shoigu after Russia’s minister of defence, Sergei Shoigu -will be keeping his name for the time being, Belous confirmed.
Young Putin’s grandfather, Rahmon Juraev, is an ardent supporter of the Russian leader and is believed to be the inspiration for the name change.
‘Vladimir Putin is the number one man in the world for me. Strong, smart and educated. My grandson looks very similar to Putin as a child, and I, without hesitation, decided to change the name of the child,’ Jurayev told the BBC Russian Service at the time.
He was reportedly inspired by an Egyptian journalist who also named his son after Vladimir Putin.
The family fled their home in Tajikistan- where Putin was once hailed as an iconic leader- following a fierce civil war in the 1990s.
But since the war in Ukraine began last year, the president has become less popular in Central Asia.
Enlistment officers in Russia have been entering mosques to search for migrants from the Muslim-populated countries of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
They have offered them payments and expedited citizenship in return for military service in the Ukraine war.
According to Eurasianet, many have been forced to enlist against their will or tricked into joining.
Ghanaian actor Mikky Osei Berko, also known as “Master Richard” because of the role he played in the hit TV show “Taxi Driver” in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has admitted that he has lost relationships because people cannot tell the difference between the character he plays in movies and his real self.
Mikky Osei Berko acknowledges the challenges he faced and the relationships he lost due to his choice of roles. However, he emphasizes that through self-reflection and a commitment to personal growth, he has learned valuable lessons about authenticity, vulnerability, and maintaining healthy connections. Berko’s experiences serve as a reminder that nurturing personal relationships should never be overshadowed by professional aspirations.
Master Richard who is often cast as a braggart, womanizer or bad boy in movies said it hurts to have lost those relationships because people perceived him in a wrong way.
Speaking to Koku Lumor on the Class Morning Show on Class91.3FM, Friday, 19 May 2023, Master Richard regrettably stated: “One of the things that hurt me is that it has affected my relationships in a lot of ways because of the way people perceive you.”
“My roles that I play, I play a bad boy, I play a womanizer, I play a braggart, there are people I’ve met in my life who most of the time or somehow, someway, treated me like the character they see on TV, and that was very regrettable and getting them to understand that you’re a different person becomes a problem,” he stated.
Mikky Osei Berko stressed, “I lost a lot of relationships …a lot of the times I’ve found people who perceived me as Master Richard and that doesn’t encourage trustworthy relationships.”
He advised film enthusiasts to detach the characters people play in movies from who they truly are.
“People must understand and be open-minded enough to understand that it is a character that the guy is playing not himself. As we get to understand and become more enlightened, we’ll get to understand what people do on the screen is very different from their personal lives,” he noted.
The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama will today join the National Chairman of the party Johnson Asiedu Nketia in Sekyere Kumawu constituency to intensify the party’s campaign ahead of the Kumawu by-election on 23rd May 2023.
Already, the National Chairman of the party Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, National Organiser Joseph Yamin, Dr. Frank Amoakohene and other executives are in the constituency campaigning day and night with the intent of snatching the Kumawu Parliamentary seat from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) which has held it since 1992.
National Organiser Joseph Yamin who spoke in an interview with GHone news ahead of the by-election expressed confidence that the party has elected a perfect candidate who cuts across all political divides to win the seat for the NDC.
“Our candidate is a local man who is a direct relative of the late Philip Basoa. After campaigning with him in the constituency I’m confident we will win the seat.”
He added, “The NPP achievements in the Sekyere Kumawu district in the last 6-7 years is the overnight construction of roads to buy votes in the by-election. They have nothing to show in the district. We were building a district hospital for the district which was about 70% complete, they have abandoned the project. We gave Kumawu potable drinking water for the first time. What can the NPP show in the constituency as a Government in power for Kumawu” he asked.
Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Party Bernard Antwi Boasiako Boasiako also known as Wontumi has for the past 7 days relocated to the constituency with his team to campaign in the constituency.
He has been moving from house to house to ensure his party wins the election.
National Chairman of the party Stephen Ntim, National Organizer Nana Boakye, Chief of Staff Fremah Opare, and Kennedy Agyapong among others are some big wigs of the party that joined the Wontumi-led campaign team in the constituency to campaign for the party.
Minister of Roads and Highways Kwasi Amoako Attah who inspected overnight road construction work in the constituency also denied constructing roads overnight to canvas for votes ahead of the election.
He explained the roads project was influenced by the late member of Parliament Philip Atta Basoah.
“We are not constructing Kumawu district roads because of the by-election. It was part of the project we were doing in the Kwabre East constituency. It is rather unfortunate that the project started three days after the demise of the MP. We are constructing the project to honour him for his work to the party and his constituency,” the minister stated.
The National Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party(NPP) Stephen Ntim has urged the good people of Kumawu not to vote for any other candidate except the party’s candidate in the by-election, Ernest Yaw Anim to become the Member of Parliament for the area.
Ahead of the by-election slated for May 23, 2023, one of the independent candidates, Kwaku Duah who chose to run independent against the deceased MP in 2020, is going round the constituency telling the constituents that he’s also an NPP member who they should vote to represent them in Parliament.
But Chairman Stephen Ntim who is in the Kumawu constituency vigorously campaigning for the NPP candidate has told the electorate that Ernest Yaw Anim is the only candidate that the party recognizes and supports, who must be voted for.
“The NPP knows only Ernest Yaw Kumi and he’s the one the party is presenting. Vote massively for him to become the MP. Don’t listen to any other candidate who claims to be NPP member. If the independent candidate claims to be a true NPP member, he wouldn’t have abandoned the party at this crucial period to pursue his parochial interest. Yaw Anim is the right man for the job who will serve you very well and the party will support him to bring you the needed development.”
Chairman Ntim described Yaw Anim as a very hardworking, energetic, intelligent young politician and a unifier who will not disappoint the people of Kumawu if he should be given the opportunity to lead them.
Meanwhile, the arrival of the NPP National Chairman, Stephen Ntim in the Kumawu constituency has galvanized the grassroots of the party who are campaigning vigorously to ensure the party retains the parliamentary seat.
He arrived in Kumawu with other National Executives, including Mr. Danquah Smith-Butey, National 1st Vice Chairman, National 3rd Vice Alhaji Masawuud, Nana B, National Organizer, Dr Charles Dwamena and host other top NPP members.
The Kumawu by-election is being held following the death of the former MP of the area, Philip Basoah at the age of 53 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on March 27.
On Friday, Timothy Schofield was given a 12-year prison term at Bristol Crown Court.
After a trial at Exeter Crown Court earlier last month, Schofield, 54, the brother of television personality Phillip Schofield, was found guilty of 11 sexual offences involving children, including two counts of engaging in sexual intercourse with a child.
He had “exploited [the victim’s] innocence at this stage of his life for your own sexual gratification,” Mrs. Justice Cutts told him during Friday’s sentencing.
‘It was wrong on every level for you to behave as you did.
‘He felt forced to do what you wanted, trapped and unable to escape. He felt he couldn’t tell anyone and did not do so for many years. You took away his ability to be the teenager he should have been – carefree, relaxed, happy. It is clear to me that you became utterly obsessed with him.’
Mrs Cutts went on to commend the boy on coming forward to report the abuse.
In a victim impact statement, the victim, who was a teenager at the time of the abuse, said he had become ‘numb to life.’
‘Before Tim was arrested, I felt I had no freedom. I often felt panic, stress and fear. I felt like I was trapped in a loop of fear and anxiety of the abuse happening again,’ he said in a letter read to court by Robin Shellard, prosecuting.
‘It was only after Tim was arrested that I felt safe. It was only after Tim was arrested that I felt free – free to be me, free to be happy, free to be relaxed.’
The boy added in the statement via PA: ‘I feel more blunt, I feel more bitter, I feel numb to life.
‘I know I should feel really happy or really sad but I don’t have the ability to emotionally react to what is happening.’
Late last month, Schofield was sacked from his job as a police IT worker.
He worked in IT for Avon and Somerset Police and had already been suspended from his job at police HQ in Portishead after he was arrested and charged.
Following his convictions, a misconduct hearing was chaired by assistant chief constable Will White and he was dismissed without notice.
Earlier in April, Schofield was charged with 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019 – including two of sexual activity with a child.
Schofield told the jury while giving evidence that he had watched pornography with the boy – whom he insisted was over the age of 16 at that time – and they had masturbated while sitting apart but denied performing sexual acts on the teenager.
Following the verdict, Phillip issued a statement condemning the actions of his brother in which he said: ‘As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother.’
The jury at Exeter Crown Court found him guilty of all counts with a majority of 10-2 after more than five-and-a-half hours of deliberation.
He denied the charges but was convicted of three counts of causing a child to watch sexual activity, three of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, three of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two of sexual activity with a child.
The accident happened on Friday Morning May 19, 2023, around 9am at a Police Barrier when a tipper truck failed to stop after the police asked the driver to stop.
According to an eyewitness, Simon Essel said, the tipper truck which was from Beahu after failing to stop run into a sprinter bus which subsequently run into other cars which had stopped at the barrier on the other side of the road injuring the passengers on board.
He said some of the victims are in critical condition, while others had minor injuries.
It is not clear whether the truck had a failed brake or not.
The eyewitness, who is a driver said he picked some of the casualties in his car to the Kwesmintsim hospital for treatment, while the Ghana National Ambulance Service and other cars also picked the rest of the victims who are currently receiving treatment.
WhatsApp, the popular messaging platform, is taking steps to bolster user privacy and security with the introduction of its latest feature, “Chat Lock.”
Acknowledging the importance of safeguarding intimate conversations, WhatsApp aims to provide users with an added layer of protection for their sensitive messages.
By implementing the Chat Lock feature, WhatsApp offers a heightened level of security, ensuring that confidential conversations remain private and inaccessible to unauthorised individuals.
This development further emphasizes WhatsApp’s commitment to maintaining the privacy and trust of its vast user base.
WhatsApp New Privacy Feature
According to the reports, the new feature will also hide notifications related to the private chats. To access the messages users have to enter the device password or biometric information.
In its official blog post unveiling the new feature, WhatsApp expressed its belief that the Chat Lock functionality would prove beneficial to individuals who occasionally share their phones with family members or find themselves in situations where someone else is holding their phone precisely when an important or confidential conversation takes place.
The messaging platform anticipates that the feature will enhance user experience by providing an additional level of security and peace of mind in such scenarios.
The messaging app has also shared a video revealing how the new feature will work and how users can take advantage of it. WhatsApp has made a commitment to expand the capabilities of the Chat Lock feature in the upcoming months. Users can expect a range of new options, including the ability to lock chats on companion devices and the option to create a personalized password specifically for locked chats, separate from their phone password.
This enhancement will provide users with more flexibility and control over their privacy settings. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that the Chat Lock feature will be accessible on both iOS and Android platforms, ensuring a consistent and secure experience across different operating systems.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will make an announcement on a deal with Japan about defence, security, and cyber after he arrives in the nation this morning.
The UK will be required by the “Hiroshima Accord,” which will be decided upon later today, to commit to sending a navy battle fleet to the Indo-Pacific in 2025 and to increasing the number of British troops participating in subsequent joint exercises.
The Prime Minister explained to reporters on the flight to Tokyo that it was part of a “aligned” strategy to counter the “risks and challenges that China poses” in cooperation with other G7 nations.
The deal will also launch a partnership on semiconductors, in order to reduce the UK’s reliance on Beijing for the vital computer components.
Other G7 leaders will be joining Mr Sunak and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Hiroshima for their latest summit, which begins tomorrow.
The prime minister will not hold more personal bilateral talks with Joe Biden at the event, but will instead sit down with Mr Kishida, France’s Emmanuel Macron and India’s Narendra Modi.
His arrival in Tokyo this morning was met with the announcement that Japanese businesses were committing to invest almost £18 billion in the UK.
Bosses of Nissan, Toshiba and Mitsubishi Estate, as well as representatives from UK firms Octopus Energy and Mott MacDonald, were expected to be involved in meetings with Mr Sunak.
Their pledge brightened a tricky couple of days for the government’s business approach, after one of the world’s top carmakers said the Brexit deal must be renegotiated or they may not keep their commitment to make electric vehicles in the UK.
Stellantis, which makes Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat, warned their UK investments were in the balance due to the terms of the trade agreement.
Speaking to broadcasters at Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo, the PM said: ‘It’s something that car manufacturers across Europe, not just in the UK, have raised as a concern.
‘And as a result of that we are engaged in a dialogue with the EU about how we might address those concerns when it comes to auto manufacturing more generally.’
Economic security is expected to be at the top of the agenda when the G7 leaders meet this weekend, alongside the war in Ukraine.
In her first official foreign visit first time since moving in to No 10, the prime minister’s wife Akshata Murty is joining the G7 ‘partners’ programme’.
In a statement, Mr Sunak said: ‘It is a privilege to be visiting Tokyo and Hiroshima at this historic moment in the United Kingdom’s relationship with Japan.
‘Prime Minister Kishida and I are closely aligned on the importance of protecting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific and defending our values, including free and fair trade.
‘The Hiroshima Accord will see us step up co-operation between our armed forces, grow our economies together and develop our world-leading science and technology expertise.
‘It marks an exciting next phase in the UK and Japan’s flourishing partnership.’
A renewed Chieftaincy Dispute that has emerged at Yong Dakpeme Yile, Northern Region, has left scores, especially rival factions injured.
The clash is between supporters of Fuseini Chemsi and Mohammed Chemsi over the handing over of a staff of authority ceremony which was supposed to have taken place on Thursday, May 18.
According to an eyewitness, the Mohammed Chemsi side had prepared the symbol of authority to be handed over to him but that was resisted by the rival side resulting in the clash.
The eyewitness said there have been some casualties even though he is unable to give the exact figure.
The residents said the sporadic shooting forced most people to stay indoors for their own safety.
According to the sources, the police last night were in the community to help bring life to normalcy.
Yong Dakpeme Yile has constantly witnessed clashes between these two groups over who is qualified to rule the community.
This has been a subject of contention creating tension in the town.
The previous clashes resulted in the loss of several lives and the destruction of properties.
Award-winning UK-based Ghanaian musician, Nana Richard Abiona, popularly known as Fuse ODG, has shared a video revealing how he was harassed over the false claims of possession of hard drugs about three months ago.
In the said video, Fuse ODG and his business partner, Andre Hacket, who were said to be returning from a meeting were stopped and besieged by four officers from the Metropolitan police in Brixton, South London.
During the struggle to arrest them, the police demanded to search their car on suspicion of possession of illicit drugs.
The officers ignored Fuse’s demands to see their search warrant and rather kept him in handcuffs.
The musician was dragged to a bus where he demanded an explanation for being treated like a criminal.
Stating their reasons to search the car, the police said they perceived a smell of cannabis as soon as they approached their plush Range Rover Evoque.
Explaining why the musician was kept in handcuffs, the officers said it was to prevent both parties from being harmed.
However, after a thorough search of their vehicle, no traces of drugs were found.
This development has somewhat stirred the discussion of racism on Twitter with scores of netizens, condemning the police’s conduct.
“Two black men with dreads in a Range Rover = cannabis? Smh Ridiculous,” a tweep reacted.
“It’s a crime being a black-skinned cruising a luxurious ride thinking you couldn’t afford this ride without doing illegal deals just irks me. You ask for arrest warrant and they tryna manhandle you gosh!” said another.
An Australian doctor who was kept captive by al-Qaeda in West Africa for more than seven years has been freed.
Dr. Kenneth Elliott has been reunited with his family and is safe and sound, according to Australia’s foreign minister.
For more than 40 years, he and his wife ran a clinic between Mali and Burkina Faso. In 2016, extremists took it over.
Following intelligence efforts to obtain her release, Jocelyn Elliott was freed three weeks later.
His family said in a statement: ‘We wish to express our thanks to God and all who have continued to pray for us.
‘We express our relief that Dr Elliott is free and thank the Australian government and all who have been involved over time to secure his release.
‘At 88 years of age, and after many years away from home, Dr Elliott now needs time and privacy to rest and rebuild strength.’
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong acknowledged the resilience shown by Dr Elliott’s family.
He was captured in 2016 (Picture: Rebekah Ziesmer Strand/Facebook)It has been more than seven years since he saw his close family (Picture: Rebekah Ziesmer Strand/Facebook)
She added: ‘What we have done over the last seven years is ensure that we worked with other governments and local authorities in relation to Dr Elliott.
‘The Australian government has a clear policy that we do not pay ransoms.’
Al-Qaeda rose in prominence in large part due to its kidnap-for-ransom operations targeting foreign aid workers and tourists.
It formed during Algeria’s civil war in the 1990s and operates across the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert and within Mali and Burkina Faso.
In Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou, 30 people were killed in an extremist attack on the same day the couple were kidnapped.
The north wing of the group claimed responsibility for that attack and other high-profile strikes in West Africa months earlier.
These included killing 20 people in an attack on a hotel in Mali’s capital Bamako.
France sent 5,000 troops to Mali to fight the group and its allies, and in 2020 killed its leader Abdelmalek Droukdel.
But last year France pulled out from its military operations amid growing unpopularity about the war in its own country.
After the Duke and Duchess of Sussex claimed to have seen a “near catastrophic car chase” in the city, Rishi Sunak stated that “cars in New York are not really my priority.”
The couple was followed by paparazzi on Tuesday night, and they also included Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland in the incident.
Prior to the alleged “chase,” Harry and Meghan had attended an awards ceremony in New York.
After the Duke and Duchess of Sussex claimed to have seen a “near catastrophic car chase” in the city, Rishi Sunak stated that “cars in New York are not really my priority.”
The couple was followed by paparazzi on Tuesday night, and they also included Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland in the incident.
Prior to the alleged “chase,” Harry and Meghan had attended an awards ceremony in New York.
The body of a British tourist who had missed his trip home with a buddy was discovered in Lanzarote while he was on vacation.
Robert Campbell, a 44-year-old Scot who was on his first ever vacation abroad and was scheduled to return home on Thursday of last week, went missing while he was still in the country.
Mr. Campbell got ill just prior to takeoff and was transported to the hospital. The Scot was deemed healthy enough to fly home after being inspected, though.
Mr Campbell then became separated from his friend Paddy at the airport shortly before the flight and was unable to be contacted, it was reported.
Mr Campbell’s family then issued appeals to help find him as two of them flew out to the island’s capital Las Palmas to find him.
His sister, Margueritte Devine, confirmed the tragic news that her brother was found dead on Tuesday.
The family has launched a GoFundMe page to help cover some of the costs of bringing Mr Campbell’s body home to Uddington, in South Lanarkshire, and to pay for his funeral.
Ms Devine wrote: ‘Sadly our brother died in Lanzarote yesterday and we’re left with a bill of 6 and 10 thousand pounds in funeral fees.
‘We are desperate to get him home asap so I am writing this to reach out from my heart to help us bring him home.’
Tributes have been paid to the Scot on social media with friends and family calling him ‘one of the best’.
One friend, sharing the GoFundMe page, wrote: ‘Could everyone please share this and help us get our uncle Rab home asap where he belongs.’
She added: ‘One of our family members and friends flew over to Lanzarote to find him and bring him home but unfortunately they were sadly too late so we are all heartbroken and devastated and shocked.’
Sharing photos of Mr Campbell, another wrote: ‘Gutted to hear the passing of our Uncle who was reported missing in Lanzarote has been found dead. First time going on holiday and not returning. R.I.P.’
Another said: ‘R.I.P cuz. You are one of the best. Sending lots love to my cousins thinking about you all, love you.’
‘Russia needs to know that we and other countries remain steadfast in our resolve to support Ukraine, not just in the here and now with the resources it needs to protect itself, but for the long term as well.’
He added to ITV News: ‘They can’t just outlast us in this conflict.
‘One of the common topics of conversation I’ll be having and have been having with my fellow leaders is about the longer-term security agreements that we put in place in Ukraine, to deter future Russian aggression.’
As part of its new sanctions the UK will ban imports of Russian diamonds, copper, aluminium and nickel.
The diamond export industry was previously worth more than £3 billion to Russia.
New individual sanctions are also being placed by the UK on 86 people and companies.
There has been uncertainty whether the EU will also ban Russian diamonds, as the trade is particularly lucrative for Belgium.
Mr Sunak told the BBC: ‘I’m hopeful and confident that our partner countries will follow as they have done when we’ve done this previously, that will make the sanctions more effective, ensure that Russia pays a price for its illegal activity.’
The UK PM yesterday signed a new defence and security pact with Tokyo – and received a nice new pair of bright red socks – over dinner with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida.
The three-day G7 summit will see the UK, the US, Canada, Japan, France, Germany and Italy discuss military and economic support for Ukraine, as well as the security of Taiwan following aggression from China.
Mr Sunak’s official spokesperson said: ‘Guarding against economic coercion is something that the prime minister is pushing for.’
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend the summit in person as a guest on Sunday, as is Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.
Mr Modi has previously remained neutral on the Russian invasion, due to his links with Mr Putin.
But Mr Sunak said he has seen ‘positive’ steps from India in its stance on the war.
He told reporters on a plane to Japan: ‘One thing we have to keep doing is talking to countries like India and also Brazil, that is going to be in that second part of the summit which is a good thing.’
After a fight broke out in London, a guy was fatally stabbed.
Around 6.15 p.m. tonight, police were called to Reynolds Road in Hayes.
When police, personnel of the London Ambulance Service (LAS), and the London Air Ambulance (HEMS) arrived, they discovered a male who had sustained several stab wounds.
Sadly, despite receiving medical attention, the man passed away right there in the accident.
Officers said work is ongoing to trace his next of kin.
Police at the scene in Reynolds Road (Picture: UKNIP)
Latest London news
There have been no arrests.
A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘A crime scene is in place at the location and urgent enquiries are ongoing.
‘A Section 60 Order granting police additional stop and search powers has been authorised, surrounding the area from 19:45hrs on 18 May until 10:45hrs on 19 May 2023.’
A bunker built deep beneath Vladimir Putin‘s £1 billion residence with a view of the Black Sea has been shown by leaked blueprints.
The Gelendzhik Palace includes its own chapel, casino, fully-stocked gym, ice rink, and ‘entertainment room’ with stripper poles.
A massive 17,000 acres of forest protected by the FSB security forces, as well as designated no-fly and no-boat zones, isolate the enormous 190,000 square foot complex from the rest of Russia.
But just when you thought the designers had checked off every box, it seems like they overlooked one that is vitally important: hiding the schematics revealing the under-ground secret tunnels.
The schematics were posted online a decade ago and remained accessible until 2016, having been originally published by contractors Metro Style to showcase their work.
They reveal an underground complex consisting of two separate blast-proof tunnels connected by an elevator which descends roughly 50 metres below the surface.
Vladimir Putin chairs a cabinet meeting via videoconference at Kremlin in Moscow (Picture: AP)
According to the plans, each is encased in thick concrete and supplied with plenty of fresh water, ventilation and cables to support VIPs for up to weeks at a time.
Structural engineer Thaddeus Gabryszewski said they have ‘all kinds of safety and security’, suggesting they are ‘intended for someone to survive or escape’.
The precautions may be more than paranoia on Putin’s part – earlier this month Russia claimed he had been targeted in an attempted assassination following an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin.
Michael C Kimmage, a former US State Department official and Cold War expert, told Insider: ‘Putin has a lot of anxiety about being the not-entirely-legitimate leader of Russia.
‘So knowing that his legitimacy is not entirely secured by elections, he is going to seek to maximize his personal safety through a complex of well-defended personal residences.”
The plans, which were uncovered by jailed Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, show the tunnels measure approximately 40 and 60 meters long, respectively, and six metres wide – creating more than 6,000 sq ft of potential living space
They dubbed one the ‘tasting room’ amid reports it contains full living quarters where Putin and his cronies could take in the views while remaining safe.
It stated: ‘It is a huge window that offers the best possible sea view.
‘Here you can enjoy a glass of wine… this is not some kind of balcony where you are constantly in danger, but a very safe underground place where nothing threatens you.’
The second passageway is thought to be the preferred mode of escape, leading to a hatch on the coastline visible in drone footage captured by the group.
Mr Kimmage told Insider the location of the bunker – some 1,000 miles away from Moscow – suggests Putin is not merely intending on constructing a plush getaway, but a bolthole.
He said: ‘The two times there has been a big transition in Russian history — 1917 and 1991 — the status of the capital city and the leader’s position there has been a big issue.
‘Putin is solving for that contingency by establishing a network of residences that are as far from the centre as possible. So a tunnel system within the Black Sea complex makes a lot of sense.
‘Even without an active threat, he’s going to be worrying about this eventuality.’
Less than a year after the start of negotiations, the United States and Taiwan agreed on the first stage of a bilateral trade initiative on Thursday. This action highlighted the growing closeness of the two countries.
It will be the first formal trade pact between Taiwan and the United States since US President Joe Biden took office in 2021. The new plan, known as the US-Taiwan plan of 21st Century Trade, was presented in June of last year.
According to a statement from the US Trade Representative (USTR) Office, it covers topics such as trade facilitation, regulatory practises, domestic regulation of services, anti-corruption, and aiding small and medium-sized firms.
However, it does not cover tariffs.
“This accomplishment represents an important step forward in strengthening the US-Taiwan economic relationship,” US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in the statement.
“It demonstrates how we can work together and advance mutual trade priorities on behalf of our people. We look forward to continuing these negotiations and finalizing a robust and high-standard trade agreement that tackles pressing 21st century economic challenges,” she added.
The US Trade Representative Office said discussions will soon begin to finalize the remaining seven areas of the deal: agriculture, labor, environment, standards, state-owned enterprises, digital trade, and non-market policies and practices.
It added that a signing ceremony will be held “in the coming weeks.”
Experts say the move is particularly significant for Taiwan because it is the island democracy’s first official trade agreement since it was excluded from the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) launched by Biden last year.
The IPEF, made up of 14 member states including Japan, Singapore and the Philippines, is not a trade agreement in the traditional sense. It includes one “pillar” related to trade, but has other aims too, including making supply chains more resilient, promoting clean energy and combating corruption.
Kristy Hsu, a director of the Taiwan ASEAN Studies Center at the Chung-Hua Institution of Economic Research, said the US-Taiwan agreement would “create a more efficient and transparent business environment for companies from the two sides.”
“It proves to the international world that if Taiwan is able to engage in such a high-quality initiative with the US, that means our commitment to transparency and trade facilitation should have no question,” she said.
Taiwan, population around 24 million, is currently the world’s 21st largest economy. It plays a crucial role in global supply chains due to its leading role in producing semiconductor chips, vital components in everything from smartphones to computers.
One of its firms – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) – is particularly important. It is the world’s largest contract manufacturer of chips and plays a critical role in powering products designed by tech companies like Apple, Qualcomm and Nvidia.
Worth nearly $500 billion, TSMC is one of Asia’s most valuable companies, and accounts for 90% of the world’s super-advanced chips.
The strengthening US-Taiwan relationship comes as the self-governing island comes under increasing pressure from mainland China, whose ruling Communist Party claims sovereignty over Taiwan despite never having controlled it.
Consequently, Taiwan has emerged as one of the central issues between China and the United States. The US has shown its support for Taiwan recently by increasing weapons sales to the island, but experts say trade pacts can also play a key role in elevating Taiwan’s international standing.
“It very much sends a signal of recognition that Taiwan is an important ally to the United States,” said J. Michael Cole, a Taipei-based senior adviser with the International Republican Institute.
“Taking the lead in signing a trade agreement with Taiwan and bolstering its economy also sets the tone for other countries to potentially explore the possibility of signing their own agreements with Taiwan as well,” he added.
Hsu, the economist at the Chung-Hua Institution, said the latest agreement could create momentum in the US-Taiwan economic relationship.
“The harmonization of trade rules and regulations mean customs procedures and efficiency may be improved, and that may help save money and time for exporters,” she said.
While the present agreement does not include any reduction in tariffs, Taiwan’s trade representative John Deng said last year that it could be a precursor to a free-trade agreement.
The development also comes amid efforts by Taiwan to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a major free-trade agreement that came into force in 2018.
The CPTPP comprises of 11 founding members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam. In March, Britain also reached an agreement to join the free trade bloc.
In 2021, Taiwan applied to join the CPTPP, but its request is still under consideration. China has also submitted an application to join.
Analysts say the US-Taiwan trade agreement could boost Taiwan’s hopes of joining the CPTPP, even if some members are reluctant to include it due to fears of angering Beijing.
“This trade initiative (between US and Taiwan) actually covers most of the chapters under the CPTPP,” Hsu said. “It will help Taiwan to accelerate our regulatory reform for our efforts toward joining the CPTPP.”
Some analysts expect China to protest the US-Taiwan deal, which it opposed when the first round of negotiations began last year.
“The attempt to play the ‘Taiwan card’ and prevent China’s unification and national rejuvenation will not succeed,” the spokesman of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Ma Xiaoguang said last August.
Hsu also cautioned that reaching a consensus in the remaining seven areas of the US-Taiwan trade initiative could be more challenging as it may require Taiwan to make concessions that could be controversial domestically.
In 2020, lawmakers in Taiwan threw pig intestines in parliament to protest a proposal to ease restrictions on pork imports from the US. Opponents said the move would allow imports of pork containing ractopamine, an animal feed additive common in the US. The proposal was later passed in a referendum.
“There will be some challenges in the remaining seven chapters,” Hsu said.
Late in March, Qasim received a call informing him that his brother, a Taliban government employee in Afghanistan, had suffered critical injuries in a suicide attack close to Kabul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The 32-year-old and his family hurried to the hospital, but when they arrived, the physicians informed him that his brother had already passed away.
A security checkpoint was struck by the explosion as government workers were departing for the day. It struck at the centre of the “Green Zone,” the capital’s strongly defended diplomatic quarter, which existed up to the fall of the old Afghan government in August 2021. Later, Islamic State Khorasan, also known as ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for the incident. This was the group’s second attack on the ministry this year as it focuses its firepower on high-profile targets in an effort to topple the Taliban’s government and erode public trust in its guarantees of security.
“The Taliban are saying that they protect us, but really they cannot. Still we face threats from different groups in Afghanistan. I don’t know who is really behind these incidents, ISIS or others,” Qasim, who asked that his last name not be used due to security concerns, told CNN.
“Currently we don’t have security in Afghanistan at all, whenever we go out we don’t know if we will come home alive or not,” he added.
In the nearly two years since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, ISIS-K has scaled up the volume and complexity of attacks across the country, putting pressure on the new government and raising concerns in the West about the possible regeneration of a group that could once again pose a serious threat internationally.
ISIS-K and the Taliban, both Sunni Islamist extremist groups, are enemies with differing ideologies, fighting each other for control over parts of the country — and recruits.
ISIS-K’s recent attacks have largely been aimed at the Taliban and other symbolic targets, as well as at Afghanistan’s Shia Muslim minorities, in particular the ethnic Hazaras. Bombings have increased in urban areas, leaving hundreds injured and dead. Between late 2022 and early 2023, ISIS-K attacked the Pakistani and Russian embassies, hit a hotel where Chinese business representatives were staying and carried out an explosion at an air force compound.
The group has frequently published its claims in its weekly newsletter, Al Naba, alleging that it has struck on 283 occasions in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover, killing at least 670 people and injuring 1,200 — a significant uptick in casualties per attack.
With media restrictions severely affecting journalists’ ability to report independently in the country, and an absence of Western intelligence, it’s difficult to verify these figures. In an address to the Security Council in March, the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Roza Otunbayeva, said that ISIS-K posed “a growing threat,” and raised concerns over the Taliban’s capacity to cope with that challenge. But the Taliban have insisted that it has full control.
In light of patchy information on the ground, analysts are increasingly turning to open sources to assess the state of play in Afghanistan.
Afghan Witness, a project run by the UK-based Centre for Information Resilience, which monitors human rights in the country, this week released a new dataset of verified abuses and violent incidents since the Taliban’s takeover. The data, which is available in a live map, includes 367 pieces of open-source evidence — largely videos and images shared on social media — about 70 ISIS-K attacks since August 2021. Taken together, they reveal a gradual shift in the group’s activities in Afghanistan — from a few small-scale attacks targeting Taliban patrols and checkpoints in rural areas, such as the eastern Nangarhar province, where ISIS has maintained a presence since 2015, to a concentration of attacks in urban areas, including in the capital, Kabul, Herat in the west, and Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz in the north.
Before the Taliban’s return to power, ISIS-K had not claimed any attacks in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan’s third most populous city, but since then the group has claimed nine, including a blast in March that killed the Taliban governor of Balkh province in his office. In the first year under the Taliban’s new government, ISIS-K claimed eight attacks in Kunduz city.
Afghan Witness’ data on verified attacks and ISIS-K claims reflect the group’s continued targeting of civilians, notably the Hazara community in Kabul, Herat and other cities, though attacks have slowed over the past few months as the group has focused on higher-profile Taliban targets.
“It is clear from the data and propaganda that they are pursuing elements of strategies used elsewhere, such as the targeting of minorities to promote sectarianism, and they have become increasingly bold in targeting high-profile and symbolic targets within Afghanistan,” said David Osborn, team leader of Afghan Witness.
“Recently, the Taliban appear to have conducted a series of raids against the Islamic State, coinciding with a reduced number of attacks by the group. This is the picture we get from open source but in the long term it is unclear how far the Taliban’s actions will blunt Islamic State-Khorasan’s capability inside Afghanistan,” he added.
Despite the Taliban’s promises of a more moderate form of rule than when they were last in power two decades ago, they have reintroduced harsh measures in line with their strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, including public executions, flogging and banning women from education and the workplace.
As the Taliban try to minimize the threat ISIS-K poses, attacks on civilians continue.
“We’ve seen Islamic State-Khorasan target Shia Hazara as they attend schools, mosques and festivities. What is most striking is the helplessness of those caught up in the violence and the constant state of instability and fear that is created by the attacks,” Osborn said of Afghan Witness’ research. These communities feel the de facto authorities won’t defend them, after years having been persecuted by the Taliban themselves, he added.
Nearly half of the attacks verified by Afghan Witness hit crowds as they gathered in public spaces, including markets, schools, hospitals, funerals, weddings and religious services.
In October 2021, two months after the US withdrawal, ISIS-K fighters bypassed Taliban security to access Imam Bargah Mosque, the largest Shia mosque in Kandahar, a city in the south of the country, during Friday prayers. They shot the temple guards, then detonated their explosive vests among the crowds, claiming to have killed and wounded more than 100 people. At the time, CNN was able to confirm more than 30 deaths.
A year later, in September 2022, a suicide bombing struck Kaaj Educational Center in Kabul’s Dasht-e-Barchi district — a predominantly Hazara and Shia neighborhood that had suffered several devastating ISIS-K attacks before the Taliban took over — killing at least 25 people. The students, many of them girls, were taking a practice university entrance exam. The attack, videos of which were verified by Afghan Witness, was not claimed by ISIS-K, but, according to analysts, bore the hallmarks of the group.
Earlier that month, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that Taliban authorities “had an obligation to protect at-risk communities” from repeated ISIS-K attacks, but that those authorities were failing to provide them with security, based on interviews with 21 survivors and their family members. Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has also called for investigations into attacks on Hazara, Shia and Sufi communities, which he described as bearing the hallmarks of “crimes against humanity.”
Fatima Amiri, 18, was among the students sitting the exam when gunfire erupted. She lost an ear and an eye in the attack that also shattered her jaw, and is still receiving medical treatment for her injuries. She recalls students screaming as a gunman opened fire on them at their desks, followed by the sound of an explosion, and her peers lying bloody around her on the floor.
“I saw many of my classmates were dying. I tried to escape. All the ways were closed. I climbed on a wall and jumped, I was in a bad condition full of blood,” she said. “I am now a half-normal human being with one eye and one ear.”
“We know that the Taliban cannot protect us. No one feels safe currently in Afghanistan.”
ISIS-K’s attacks have stoked anxiety among US officials about the group’s capabilities, with some warning that it could soon develop the ability to strike Western targets.
Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), told lawmakers in March that ISIS-K had become more emboldened, aiming to grow its ranks and inspire or direct attacks in the region and beyond. He estimated that the group would be able to conduct “an external operation against US or Western interests abroad in under six months, with little to no warning.” Pressed about where terrorist attacks originating in Afghanistan might be directed, Kurilla said Europe or Asia were more likely targets than the United States.
Kurilla’s statement highlights one of the chief concerns among Western intelligence — that now, in the wake of the US withdrawal, it is difficult if not impossible to assess the Taliban’s effectiveness in curtailing ISIS-K. With no military or diplomatic presence on the ground, and drones now having to fly many hours from distant bases to get to Afghanistan for reconnaissance, intelligence access is incredibly limited, according to US officials and analysts.
For that reason, some have disparaged the Biden administration’s “over-the-horizon” strategy — aimed at striking terrorists without American boots on the ground — as “over the rainbow.” They point to the botched US drone strike in Kabul that killed 10 civilians, including an aid worker and seven children, as an example of the pitfalls for intelligence agencies even before the complete withdrawal, and the killing of al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri as one of the sole successes to date.
In a 2023 threat assessment report by US intelligence agencies, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said that ISIS-K “almost certainly retains the intent to conduct operations in the West and will continue efforts to attack outside Afghanistan.”
The US has not recognized the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan. US officials are not cooperating with the Taliban to counter ISIS-K, nor does the US share any intelligence information with them, CENTCOM spokesperson Maj. John Moore told CNN. Instead, the Taliban are fighting the group — which the US estimates now numbers between 2,000 and 2,500 fighters in Afghanistan — on its own.
The uptick in violence has put the Taliban in a difficult spot. After two decades fighting their own insurgency, they are grappling with delivering security and sticking to their signature pledge under the US-Taliban Doha Agreementin 2020, to prevent any group from using Afghanistan to threaten the safety of the US and its allies.
Taliban security forces have been waging ongoing operations and night raids against ISIS-K. The raids often target civilians accused of harboring or helping ISIS-K members, with the Taliban assaulting and detaining people without due process, according to research by Human Rights Watch (HRW). In some cases, Taliban authorities have forcibly disappeared or killed detainees, dumping or displaying bodies in public areas.
“The Taliban have been going after them in ways that are actually counterproductive because they have tackled them in the same way that everyone who’s been in power in Afghanistan has tackled insurgencies, which is as brutally as possible, which means you stir up a lot of resentment in local communities, and that stirs up more recruits,” Patricia Gossman, associate director for HRW’s Asia division, said. “We documented a number of raids by the Taliban in Kunar and Nangarhar, which ended up with a lot of people being killed who may or may not have had anything to do with ISIS-K.”
The US National Security Council claimed in April that the Taliban had killed the ISIS-K leader who plotted the deadly 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul international airport’s Abbey Gate, which was carried out amid chaotic evacuation efforts, killing 13 US service members and more than 170 Afghans who were trying to flee the country. In the days prior to the attack, the suicide bomber was among thousands of prisoners who were freed by the Taliban from Parwan detention facility at Bagram air base and Pul-e-Charkhi prison.
“In 2021, ISIS-K was reduced to a couple of cells in the country and a very tiny, small stronghold in Kunar Province, and that was it. However, in the less than stellar handover procedure, in that chaos, the Taliban opened the prisons, including Bagram, which was a big mistake … they underestimated that there were also a couple of thousand ISIS-K members, who, once freed, just walked off,” said Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the Counter Extremism Project, who served as a member and then as coordinator of the UN Security Council’s ISIL, al Qaeda and Taliban Monitoring Team.
“The organization was very diligently able to reestablish itself.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres reported in January 2022 that the number of ISIS-K recruits had doubled in less than a year, from approximately 2,200 to nearly 4,000 fighters, with up to half of them foreign terrorist fighters, according to one assessment. Their ranks were buoyed by the prison breaks, and their diverse membership has meant the Taliban risk defections by countering them, Schindler said, adding that could spur anti-Taliban factionalism. Since the group was established in 2015, ISIS-K has included a number of former Taliban, as well as Pakistani fighters, including from the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States in 2010.
The group, operating in compartmented cells, is capitalizing on loose tactical partnerships and a large number of unaffiliated fighters, or freelance jihadists, who now have greater access than ever before to a large number of capabilities following the United States’ hurried departure, according to Javid Ahmad, a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center who is tracking ISIS-K’s activities.
“They now have unfettered access to the black market, for purchasing not just light weapons, but fertilizers for explosives, smaller commercial drones, which they can customize. They have access to sophisticated communication equipment. They are buying laser-guided sniper weapons. They have access to night vision goggles. And oftentimes when they do targeted assassinations, that’s how they do it,” said Ahmad, formerly Afghanistan’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, who has worked with the US defense community.
Ahmad and Schindler both say that the ISIS-K bombing at the entrance of the foreign ministry, past at least three checkpoints, reflects the group’s growing access to intelligence and its capacity to execute complex operations. And though it has not yet demonstrated its ability to carry out attacks outside of Afghanistan, it has ambitions to do so, they agree.
“We are about to repeat the same mistake that we did in the 1990s, believing that Afghanistan … has very little if anything to do with us,” Schindler said. “We took the eye off the ball and we are about to do the same thing again.”
Leaked classified documents from the Pentagon, obtained by The Washington Post in April, portray Afghanistan as a staging ground for ISIS-K, and suggest the group is a growing threat to the US, Europe and Asia. The US intelligence assessment, which was disseminated on the Discord messaging platform, revealed the group’s efforts to coordinate several external operations, targeting embassies, churches, business centers and the 2023 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, the Post reported.
Responding to a question about the leaks, Vedant Patel, the US State Department’s deputy spokesperson, said: “The degradation of ISIS in the region continues to be a top priority for this administration and it’s something that we continue to work collectively on with our allies and partners.”
The Taliban rejected the report, with its spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, saying in a statement on Twitter that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan “has full control over the country and does not allow anyone to use Afghanistan against the security of any other country,” adding that terrorist groups like ISIS-K had been “severely affected and are in the process of being destroyed.”
Lawyer Nkrabea Effah Dartey has raised concerns about the decision made by former Chief Justice of Ghana, Her Ladyship Justice Georgina Wood, in the controversial Justice For Sale investigative work released by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas in 2015.
The expose involved Judges taking bribes and other inducements to circumvent the laws of justice.
According to Nkrabea Effah Dartey the entrapment method employed by Anas in the investigative work was ethically wrong and highlighted that no law in the world permits individuals to tempt others to entrap them.
“At least for me, after 37 years practicing as a lawyer, I haven’t seen any law that says that you can go to someone’s office and tempt the person; no, it is not allowed. The law does not permit anybody to tempt anybody; it is as simple as that.”
Speaking in an interview with Okay FM on May 18, 2023, he further argued that the then Chief Justice Georgina Wood should have been more resolute in upholding the rule of law and criticized her for what he deemed as an erroneous decision.
According to him, the case brought against Anas by some lawyers in the aftermath of the expose’ is ended up being rendered useless, while others resorted to taking it to the ECOWAS court.
He expressed disappointment with the way the former Chief Justice handled Anas’ case and suggested that she made a significant error in her judgment.
“Personally, I disagree very much with Her Ladyship the former Chief Justice, Mrs. Justice Georgina Wood, for allowing Anas’ ‘stupid stuff’ to gain roots in society.”
“I disagree, in fact, some lawyers petitioned this case in court but the case became useless. Others even took it to the ECOWAS court. You see, it is sad, it is very sad, but the way the chief Justice at the time treated Anas’s case, personally I think she committed an error, personally I think she was in a big error. The law must work, all of us are mortals and subject to mistakes, who can say that he/she is holy?
The lawyer’s comments come in the wake of a recent High Court ruling that ordered Anas to remove his famous veil and show his face to former GFA president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, in their ongoing lawsuit.
This development has reignited debates surrounding Anas’ investigative methods and it’s legality.
Founding member of the New Patriotic Party Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe, has pointed out the sheer lack good leadership traits in NPP’s aspiring flagbearer Alan Kyerematen.
Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe known for not mincing with words said in an interview that, the mere fact that the former Trade and Industry Minister lacked the courage to resign from the Akufo-Addo government early enough makes him unworthy of the leading the Party.
He said, although he would have personally chosen Kyerematen as the flagbearer for the 2024 presidential election, his failure to leave the Akufo-Addo government due to impropriety disqualifies him as a viable option.
“I personally would have selected Alan Kyerematen, but listen to me carefully, Alan Kyerematen should have taken the necessary action earlier, which he didn’t do, and in my opinion, I have disqualified him,” Dr. Tamakloe explained.
He further elaborated, “Alan Kyerematen has been with the party for many years. They were the young people who followed us. He listened to advice and stepped down for Akufo-Addo. However, when he was a minister and there were numerous infractions occurring, he can’t convince me that he was unaware because he was a cabinet minister. Unless they all just sit down and listen to Akufo-Addo talk, Alan Kyerematen should have had the courage to say that this is wrong. If the government disagreed with him, he should have taken the initiative to resign. Therefore, I believe he lacks the culture of resignation, and it is this culture that can bring us a good leader.”
In January 2023, Alan Kyerematen announced his resignation from the Akufo-Addo-led government, stating that it was to pave the way for his campaign as a flagbearer hopeful for the NPP. Critics of the former minister, however, argue that he left for the wrong reasons and should have resigned earlier due to the government’s role in the country’s current economic challenges and various scandals during the administration.
Award-winning investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has withdrawn from testifying as a witness in the case against former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kwesi Nyantakyi, following a recent ruling by the High Court in Accra.
Though court granted permission for Anas to testify wearing a mask in open court, there is still the condition of unveiling his face to the defendant Kwesi Nyantakyi in the judge’s chamber before testifying.
According to Anas. the set condition is inimical to his safety and security considering the fact his associate the late Ahmed Suale was a victim assassination over the same case.
The decision was announced in a statement by Tiger Eye P.I, the investigative firm led by Anas, which expressed concerns about the potential risks to his safety and security.
“As much as Anas is willing and ready to testify for the prosecution, doing so under the condition specified by the court presents a clear and present danger to his security and safety, especially because of the issues chronicled above,” Tiger Eye said in the statement dated Thursday, May 18, 2023.
The company emphasized that Anas’s request for his face to remain hidden stemmed from his role as an undercover agent and the risk that revealing his identity would bring to his safety and security.
“It should be recalled that the late Ahmed Hussein Suale, a star witness in this case, was assassinated in broad daylight in 2019. His assassination occurred on the same day that he had engagements with the Attorney General’s office on his testimony against the accused person in the above-styled case,” the firm said.
“Prior to his gruesome murder, the late Ahmed Suale had been threatened with death by Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi and had been the subject of callous media attacks for his role as a star witness in the case, culminating in the revealing of his identity on national television and social media by Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, the MP for Assin-Central constituency,” the firm added.
The company further stated that it endorses the position taken by Anas as “it is proper and wise to err on the side of caution to avoid any potential attack on another of its investigators.”
“Tiger Eye’s position is further buttressed by the unrelenting, coordinated, and well-financed media and other campaigns by private and state actors to undermine its operations and the Anas principle, which stand in their way of amassing corruption and social injustice,” it added.
Tiger Eye, however, noted that it remains steadfast in its resolve to fight against corruption.
Read the full statement by Tiger Eye below:
18 May 2023 | PRESS RELEASE
NYANTAKYI AND LAWYERS TO SEE ANAS’S FACE BEFORE COURT PROCEEDINGS RE: REPUBLIC V. KWESI NYANTAKYI AND ANOTHER
1.Tiger Eye P.I has taken notice of the ruling by the High Court sitting in Accra to allow undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas to testify wearing mask in open court on condition that he shows his face to the accused person in the judges’ chambers first.
2.Anas had earlier agreed to testify as a witness for the prosecution in the above styled case after Ahmed Hussein Suale was gruesomely murdered, on condition that his identity is protected.
3.Anas’s request for the protection of his identity stems from his role as an undercover agent and the real and elevated risk that revealing his identity to the accused person will severely compromise his physical security and personal safety.
4.It should be recalled that the late Ahmed Hussein Suale, a star witness in this case, was assassinated in broad daylight in 2019. His assassination occurred on the same day that he had had engagements with the Attorney General’s office on his testimony against the accused person in above styled case.
5.Prior to his gruesome murder, the late Ahmed Suale had been threatened with death by Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi and had been the subject of callous media attacks for his role as a star witness in the case, culminating in the revealing of his identity on national television and social media by Mr Kennedy Agyapong, the MP for Assin-Central constituency.
6.As much as Anas is willing and ready to testify for the prosecution, doing so under the condition specified by the court, presents a clear and present danger to his security and safety, especially because of the issues chronicled above.
7.Under these circumstances, prudence requires that he declines the invitation to endanger his life and accordingly declines the invitation to reveal his identity to the accused person in the judges’ chamber or any other place.
8.Tiger Eye endorses the position of Anas and states that it is proper and wise to err on the side of caution to avoid any potential attack on another of its investigators.
9.Tiger Eye’s position is further buttressed by the unrelenting, coordinated, and well-financed media and other campaigns by private and State actors to undermine its operations and the Anas principle, which stand in their way of amassing corruption and social injustice.
10. Nevertheless, Tiger Eye shall remain unwavering and relentless in its fight against corruption and societal ills. Anas remains in high spirit and is grateful to the good people of Ghana for their support and protection.
In a rather bizarre story, a 30-year-old man has been murdered by a gang for failing to render sales to his boss.
The sad incident is said to have happened in Sefwi Ahibenso in the Bodi District of the Western North Region.
Kwadwo Afful, who reportedly sold marijuana (weed), failed to render sales to his boss who had given him the drug to sell.
A report by Adom News revealed that some men in his boss’ circle ganged up on the deceased, subjecting him to severe beatings and leaving his lifeless body on the street of Ahibenso.
Confirming the sad incident to Adom News, the grandfather of Kwadwo Afful, Daniel Kwasi Tawiah explained that he saw a crowd on the street and he proceeded to check what it was about only to find out what had happened to his grandchild.
Mr Tawiah said he immediately informed the police at Bodi who later picked up his grandchild’s body and deposited it at the Juaboso Government Hospital morgue pending investigations.
A resident, who spoke to AdomNews, appealed to the police to arrest the suspects and help bring justice to the family.
He said the arrest and subsequent prosecution will reduce the spate of lawlessness in the area. The suspects are currently at large.
Renowned investigative journalist and leader of private investigative firm, Tiger Eye PI, Anas Aremeyaw Anas will testify in an open court with his usual mask in the case against a former Ghana Football Association President, Kwesi Nyantakyi.
However, he would unmask so Mr Nyantakyi could identify him in Chambers prior to testifying in open court.
Initially, the prosecution had requested Anas, their star witness, to testify in-camera, but lawyers for Anas opposed the request.
The Court presided over by Justice Marie Louise Simmons said there would be no phones and other recording gadgets brought into the Chamber.
The Court, therefore, granted the application to have the witness testify in-camera.
It said it was in the interest of justice that where the liberty of a citizen was at stake, such a person was given the needed facilities to defend themselves.
The Court said the witness was a principal character in the determination of the case and the identity of the said witness was crucial to allow the accused to identify the said witness and be able to defend himself.
It said the witness had been seen in public addressing the media, while wearing his bead masks and that it showed that the said witness was comfortable appearing in public while disguising himself.
The former GFA President was charged with fraud and corruption over his involvement in the Anas Aremeyaw Anas Number 12 Exposé.
Nyantakyi, who is also facing the charge of conspiracy to commit fraud with a former Northern Regional Representative of the GFA, Abdulai Alhassan, pleaded not guilty.
The two football administrators have been admitted to their previous bail sum of GHS1 million each with three sureties, to be justified.
They are also to report to the case investigator until the final determination of the case.
The longest cooking by a single person was broken by Hilda Baci, a Nigerian chef, TV producer, actress, and food entrepreneur.
She cooked for 120 hours non-stop from May 11th to May 14th, 2023 at Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lagos. She cooked over 110 meals, mostly Nigerian cuisine, and served over 2000 people for free. She did this to showcase the beauty and diversity of African cuisine and to inspire other Nigerians to follow their dreams.
But who is Hilda Baci beyond this remarkable feat? What is her story? What motivated her to take on this challenge? What did she learn from this experience? What are her hopes and plans for the future? These are some of the questions that this biography will attempt to answer. Hilda Baci is not just a chef, she is a visionary, a trailblazer and a role model. She has been cooking since she was a child and has turned her passion into a profession. She is the owner of My Food by Hilda, a restaurant that serves delicious and affordable dishes with a touch of love. She is also a TV producer, an actress and a foodpreneur who has been featured on various media platforms. She is a woman of many talents and achievements.
But she is not satisfied with the status quo. She wants to make a difference in the world. She wants to challenge herself and others. She wants to break barriers and stereotypes. She wants to create opportunities and possibilities. She wants to make history and put Nigeria on the map. She wants to be the best version of herself and help others do the same. This biography will take you on a journey through Hilda Baci’s life, from her humble beginnings in Nigeria to her record-breaking achievement in Lagos. It will explore her personality, her values, her passions, her struggles, her successes, her failures, her lessons, her dreams and her legacy. It will reveal the person behind the chef, the woman behind the record, the human behind the hero.
Chapter 1: Early Life: Growing Up in Nigeria
Hilda Baci was born on June 6th, 1996 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. She is the second child and only daughter of Effiong and Ekaette Bassey, a civil servant and a teacher respectively. She has an older brother named Iniobong and a younger brother named Anietie. Hilda grew up in a loving and supportive family that valued education, hard work and faith. She attended St. Mary’s Nursery and Primary School in Uyo, where she excelled academically and socially. She was a bright and curious child who loved to read books, write stories and draw pictures. She was also a friendly and cheerful child who made friends easily and enjoyed playing games and sports. Hilda developed a passion for cooking at a young age. She learned how to cook from her mother and grandmother, who taught her the basics of Nigerian cuisine and the secrets of their family recipes. She loved to help them in the kitchen, chopping vegetables, stirring pots and tasting sauces. She also loved to experiment with different ingredients, spices and flavors, creating her own dishes and surprising her family with her culinary skills.
Hilda’s family moved to Lagos when she was 10 years old, as her father got a promotion at his work. She enrolled in Queen’s College, Yaba, a prestigious secondary school for girls. She adapted well to her new environment, making new friends and joining various clubs and societies. She continued to excel in her studies, especially in English, Literature and Art. She also continued to pursue her passion for cooking, joining the Home Economics club and participating in cooking competitions. Hilda graduated from Queen’s College with flying colors in 2012. She had a dream of becoming a chef and owning her own restaurant someday. She applied to the University of Lagos to study Mass Communication, as she also had an interest in media and entertainment. She hoped to combine her talents and passions into a successful career.
Chapter 2 Passion for Cooking: Learning from Her Mother and Grandmother Hilda Baci’s passion for cooking was ignited by her mother and grandmother, who were both excellent cooks and teachers. They taught her how to cook various dishes from different regions of Nigeria, such as jollof rice, egusi soup, akara, moin moin, suya, etc. They also taught her how to use different techniques, such as frying, boiling, baking, roasting, etc. They also taught her how to use different tools, such as knives, spoons, pots, pans, etc. Hilda learned not only how to cook, but also why to cook. She learned that cooking was not just a skill or a hobby, but also an art and a culture. She learned that cooking was a way of expressing oneself, one’s creativity and one’s personality. She learned that cooking was a way of connecting with others, sharing one’s love and one’s stories. She learned that cooking was a way of preserving one’s heritage, honoring one’s ancestors and one’s traditions. Hilda also learned not only what to cook, but also what to eat. She learned that food was not just a necessity or a pleasure, but also a source of health and wellness. She learned that food was not just a matter of taste or preference, but also a matter of nutrition and balance. She learned that food was not just a product or a commodity, but also a gift and a blessing. Hilda’s mother and grandmother instilled in her a love and respect for food that shaped her life and career. They inspired her to pursue her dream of becoming a chef and owning her own restaurant someday. They supported her in every step of her journey, from enrolling in culinary school to opening her first restaurant.
Chapter 3 Education and Career: Pursuing Her Dreams in Media and Culinary Arts Hilda Baci pursued her dreams in media and culinary arts by studying Mass Communication at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Culinary Arts at the Red Dish Chronicles Culinary School (RDC). She graduated from both institutions with honors in 2016.
At UNILAG, Hilda studied various aspects of media production, such as journalism, broadcasting, advertising, public relations, etc. She learned how to write, edit, design, direct and produce different types of media content, such as news, documentaries, commercials, etc. She also learned how to use different media platforms, such as print, radio, television, online, etc. She developed her skills and talents in media and entertainment. At RDC, Hilda studied various aspects of culinary arts, such as cooking, baking, catering, etc. She learned how to prepare different types of cuisines, such as Nigerian, continental, Asian, etc. She also learned how to use different ingredients, spices and flavors to create delicious and nutritious dishes. She also learned how to manage a kitchen, a restaurant and a catering business. She developed her skills and talents in culinary arts. Hilda excelled in both fields of study and received several awards and recognitions for her academic and extracurricular achievements. She was the best graduating student in Mass Communication at UNILAG and the best graduating student in Culinary Arts at RDC. She was also the president of the Mass Communication Students Association (MACOSA) and the Culinary Arts Students Association (CASA). She was also involved in various projects and activities that showcased her media and culinary skills. Hilda graduated from both institutions with honors in 2016 and was ready to start her career in media and culinary arts. She had a vision of combining her two passions into a successful and fulfilling career. She wanted to create media content that would educate, entertain and inspire people about food and cooking. She also wanted to create food that would delight, nourish and satisfy people with its taste and quality. Hilda applied for various jobs in media and culinary industries and got several offers from reputable organizations. She decided to accept a job offer from Food Network Africa (FNA), a cable television channel that specializes in food-related programming. She was hired as a producer and host of a new show called My Food by Hilda (MFH), a cooking show that features Hilda’s recipes and stories. She was also given the opportunity to open her own restaurant under the same name as her show. Hilda was thrilled to start her new job and her new business. She was excited to share her passion for cooking with millions of viewers across Africa and beyond. She was also eager to serve her customers with her delicious dishes at her restaurant. She was confident that she had made the right choice and that she was on the right path to achieving her dreams.
Chapter 4 Challenges and Successes: Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Goals Hilda Baci faced many challenges and successes in her career in media and culinary arts. She had to overcome various obstacles and achieve various goals in order to fulfill her vision and mission. One of the challenges she faced was balancing her work and personal life. She had to juggle between her responsibilities as a producer and host of MFH and as a owner and chef of MFH. She had to manage her time, energy and resources effectively and efficiently. She had to deal with the stress, pressure and demands of both roles. She also had to maintain her relationships with her family, friends and colleagues. She had to find time for herself and her hobbies. Another challenge she faced was dealing with the competition and criticism. She had to compete with other media and culinary professionals in the industry. She had to prove herself and her worth to her employers, clients and customers. She had to cope with the feedback and reviews from her audience and critics. She had to handle the praise and the complaints, the compliments and the insults, the admiration and the envy. A third challenge she faced was coping with the changes and uncertainties. She had to adapt to the changing trends and demands in the media and culinary markets. She had to innovate and improve her media content and food products. She had to anticipate and respond to the opportunities and threats in the environment. She had to deal with the risks and rewards, the failures and successes, the losses and gains. Despite these challenges, Hilda also experienced many successes in her career. She achieved many goals and milestones that made her proud and happy. One of the successes she experienced was growing her audience and customer base. She attracted millions of viewers across Africa and beyond who watched her show on FNA. She also attracted thousands of customers who visited her restaurant in Lagos. She received positive feedback and reviews from her fans and patrons who loved her media content and food products. She also received recognition and awards from various media and culinary organizations for her outstanding work.
Another success she experienced was expanding her brand and network. She created a strong brand identity for MFH that reflected her personality, values and passions. She also created a loyal and engaged community of followers and supporters who shared her vision and mission. She also collaborated and partnered with various media and culinary personalities and organizations who endorsed and promoted her brand and network. A third success she experienced was fulfilling her purpose and potential. She realized her dream of becoming a chef and owning her own restaurant. She also realized her dream of becoming a media producer and host. She also realized her dream of breaking the Guinness World Record for longest cooking by an individual. She also realized her dream of making a difference in the world through her media content and food products. Hilda Baci overcame many challenges and achieved many successes in her career in media and culinary arts. She learned many lessons and gained many insights from her experiences. She grew as a person and as a professional. She became more confident, resilient and creative. She became more passionate, generous and inspiring.
Chapter 5 The Cook-a-thon: Preparing for the Guinness World Record Attempt Hilda Baci decided to attempt to break the Guinness World Record for longest cooking by an individual in 2023. She was inspired by the previous record holder, Lata Tondon of India, who cooked for 87 hours and 45 minutes in 2019. She wanted to challenge herself and others to do something extraordinary and memorable. She also wanted to showcase the beauty and diversity of African cuisine and to inspire other Nigerians to follow their dreams. Hilda Baci prepared for the Guinness World Record attempt by planning, training and promoting the event. She called it the Hilda Baci Cook-a-thon (HBC) and set the date for May 11th to May 14th, 2023. She planned to cook for 97 hours in four days, which would beat the current record by more than nine hours. She planned to cook over 35 dishes, mostly Nigerian cuisine, and serve them to the public for free. She planned to document her journey on her Instagram page @myfoodbyhilda and on her YouTube channel Hilda Baci. Hilda Baci trained for the Guinness World Record attempt by practicing, testing and improving her cooking skills. She practiced cooking different dishes with different techniques, ingredients and flavors. She tested her endurance, speed and accuracy by cooking for long hours under different conditions. She improved her creativity, flexibility and problem-solving skills by experimenting with new recipes and overcoming challenges. Hilda Baci promoted the Guinness World Record attempt by announcing, inviting and engaging the public. She announced the event on her social media platforms, on her TV show MFH, on FNA channel and on various media outlets. She invited the public to join her at the venue of the cook-a-thon, Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lagos, or to watch her online. She engaged the public by sharing updates, photos, videos and stories about her preparation and progress.
Hilda Baci prepared for the Guinness World Record attempt with passion, dedication and optimism. She was determined to achieve her goal and to make history. She was also excited to share her passion for cooking with the world and to make people happy with her food. She was confident that she had what it takes to break the record and to overcome any obstacle. Hilda Baci was ready to start the cook-a-thon on May 11th, 2023. She had everything she needed: her ingredients, recipes, equipment, team, sponsors, supporters and fans. She had one thing left to do: to cook for 120 hours non-stop.
Chapter 6 The Record Breaker: Cooking for 120 Hours Non-Stop Hilda Baci started the cook-a-thon on May 11th, 2023 at 10:00 am. She was greeted by a large crowd of people who came to witness and support her record-breaking attempt. She was also joined by various media and culinary personalities and organizations who came to endorse and promote her event. She was also surrounded by her team of friends, family and colleagues who came to assist and cheer her on. Hilda Baci cooked for 120 hours non-stop, from May 11th to May 14th, 2023. She cooked over 110 meals, mostly Nigerian cuisine, and served over 2000 people for free. She cooked different dishes with different techniques, ingredients and flavors. She cooked breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. She cooked for herself, her team, her sponsors, her supporters and her fans. She cooked with passion, skill and joy. Hilda Baci faced many challenges and difficulties during the cook-a-thon. She had to deal with the physical, mental and emotional strain of cooking for long hours without rest or sleep. She had to cope with the heat, smoke and noise of the kitchen. She had to handle the pressure, expectations and demands of the public. She had to overcome the problems, errors and accidents that occurred in the process. She had to endure the pain, fatigue and boredom that came with the task. Hilda Baci also experienced many joys and rewards during the cook-a-thon. She had the opportunity to showcase her talent and creativity in cooking. She had the chance to share her love and passion for food with others. She had the privilege to meet and interact with new people and make new friends. She had the honor to receive recognition and appreciation from various media and culinary organizations. She had the satisfaction to achieve her goal and make history. Hilda Baci completed the cook-a-thon on May 14th, 2023 at 2:00 pm. She was welcomed by a huge applause and cheers from the crowd who witnessed and celebrated her record-breaking achievement. She was also congratulated by various media and culinary personalities and organizations who praised and honored her accomplishment. She was also hugged by her team of friends, family and colleagues who supported and encouraged her throughout the journey. Hilda Baci broke the Guinness World Record for longest cooking by an individual. She cooked for 120 hours non-stop, which beat the previous record by more than 32 hours. She cooked over 110 meals, mostly Nigerian cuisine, which showcased the beauty and diversity of African cuisine. She served over 2000 people for free, which demonstrated her generosity and kindness.
Chapter 7 The Aftermath: Celebrating the Victory and Facing the Consequences Hilda Baci had done it. She had cooked for 120 hours non-stop, breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest individual cooking marathon. She had prepared over 600 dishes, ranging from Nigerian delicacies to international cuisines. She had entertained thousands of spectators, media personnel, and celebrities who came to witness her feat. She had raised millions of naira for charity and inspired countless people with her passion and perseverance. But she had also paid a price. She had endured physical and mental exhaustion, sleep deprivation, dehydration, and malnutrition. She had suffered from blisters, burns, cuts, and bruises. She had risked her health and well-being for a record that could be challenged at any time. As soon as she finished her last dish, she collapsed on the floor, surrounded by her family, friends, and supporters. They cheered and applauded her achievement, but they also worried about her condition. She was rushed to the hospital, where she received medical attention and treatment. She was diagnosed with severe fatigue, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and muscle breakdown. She had to stay in the hospital for several days to recover. She also faced legal consequences. The Guinness World Records organization had strict rules and regulations for record attempts, and Hilda Baci had violated some of them. She had used some pre-prepared ingredients, such as chopped onions and tomatoes, which were not allowed. She had also received some assistance from her assistants, such as stirring the pots and washing the dishes, which were also prohibited. She had not submitted all the required evidence and documentation to verify her record claim. The Guinness World Records organization decided to disqualify her record attempt and revoke her certificate. They issued a statement saying that they appreciated her effort and dedication, but they could not accept her record as valid due to the breaches of the guidelines. They also encouraged her to try again in the future with proper adherence to the rules. Hilda Baci was devastated by the news. She felt that she had wasted her time, energy, and resources for nothing. She felt that she had let down herself, her family, her fans, and her country. She felt that she had failed. But she did not give up. She decided to appeal the decision and fight for her record. She gathered all the evidence and documentation that she could find to prove her claim. She contacted witnesses and experts who could testify on her behalf. She hired a lawyer who could represent her case. She also received support from many people who believed in her. Her family and friends stood by her side and encouraged her to keep going. Her fans and followers rallied behind her and expressed their admiration and solidarity. Her sponsors and partners continued to back her up and offer their assistance. She also realized that she had achieved more than a record. She had fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a world-class chef. She had showcased her talent and creativity in cooking. She had shared her culture and heritage with the world. She had made a positive impact on society by raising awareness and funds for various causes. She decided to focus on the positive aspects of her experience and use them as motivation to move forward. She decided to celebrate her victory and face the consequences with courage and grace.
Chapter 8 The Future: Looking Ahead and Giving Back Hilda Baci had overcome many challenges and achieved many successes in her life. She had broken a world record, become a famous chef, and made a difference in the world. She had also learned many lessons and gained many insights from her journey. She decided to use her knowledge and experience to help others who shared her passion and vision. She decided to look ahead and give back. She started by writing a book about her life and career. She titled it “The Cook-a-thon: How I Broke the World Record for Cooking and What I Learned Along the Way”. She wanted to share her story and inspire others to pursue their dreams and overcome their obstacles. She also wanted to share her recipes and tips for cooking delicious and healthy dishes. She hoped that her book would be a source of information and inspiration for aspiring and professional chefs alike. She also launched a foundation called “The Hilda Baci Foundation”. She wanted to support and empower young people who wanted to pursue careers in media and culinary arts. She wanted to provide them with scholarships, mentorship, training, and opportunities to showcase their talents and skills. She hoped that her foundation would be a platform for nurturing and developing the next generation of media and culinary professionals. She also continued to participate in various charity events and causes. She wanted to raise awareness and funds for issues that mattered to her, such as education, health, environment, and women empowerment. She wanted to use her influence and resources to make a positive impact on society and the world. She hoped that her actions would encourage others to do the same. She also planned to open her own restaurant someday. She wanted to create a place where she could express her creativity and passion for cooking. She wanted to offer a variety of dishes that reflected her Nigerian roots and her international influences. She wanted to create a place where people could enjoy good food, good service, and good atmosphere. She hoped that her restaurant would be a success and a legacy. Hilda Baci had a bright future ahead of her. She had many goals and dreams to pursue. She had many opportunities and challenges to face. She had many people and causes to serve. She was ready for it all.
Conclusion: What We Can Learn from Hilda Baci Hilda Baci is a remarkable woman who has achieved remarkable things. She is a world record breaker, a famous chef, and a philanthropist. She is also a daughter, a sister, a friend, and a role model. She has shown us what it means to have a passion and pursue it with dedication and determination. She has shown us what it means to overcome challenges and achieve goals with resilience and perseverance. She has shown us what it means to make a difference and give back with generosity and compassion. She has also taught us some valuable lessons that we can apply to our own lives. Here are some of them: Follow your dreams. Hilda Baci had a dream of becoming a chef since she was a child. She followed her dream despite the obstacles and oppositions that she faced. She did not let anyone or anything stop her from pursuing her passion. She proved that dreams can come true if you work hard and believe in yourself. Learn from others. Hilda Baci learned from her mother and grandmother who taught her how to cook. She learned from her mentors and teachers who guided her in media and culinary arts. She learned from her peers and colleagues who supported her in her endeavors. She also learned from her critics and competitors who challenged her to improve. She acknowledged that she could not have achieved anything without the help and influence of others. Challenge yourself. Hilda Baci challenged herself to break the world record for cooking. She challenged herself to cook for 120 hours non-stop, preparing over 600 dishes. She challenged herself to endure physical and mental stress, pain, and fatigue. She also challenged herself to face the legal consequences of her record attempt. She did not shy away from difficulties or risks, but embraced them as opportunities for growth and improvement. Celebrate your achievements. Hilda Baci celebrated her achievements with gratitude and joy. She celebrated her record-breaking feat with her family, friends, and supporters. She celebrated her fame and success with humility and grace. She celebrated her impact and contribution with satisfaction and pride. She did not take anything for granted or become complacent, but appreciated what she had accomplished and how far she had come. Share your gifts. Hilda Baci shared her gifts with others with kindness and generosity. She shared her story and inspired others to follow their dreams and overcome their challenges. She shared her recipes and tips for cooking delicious and healthy dishes. She shared her knowledge and experience to help others who wanted to pursue careers in media and culinary arts. She shared her influence and resources to support various causes that mattered to her. Hilda Baci is an example of what we can achieve if we have a passion, a vision, and a purpose in life. She is an example of what we can become if we have courage, resilience, and perseverance in life. She is an example of what we can do if we have love, compassion, and generosity in life. She is an example of what we can learn from life. And she is an example of what we can give back to life.
The Police Hospital morgue is stinking like a sewer, compelling the Hospital’s laboratory to shutdown.
The stench from the morgue engulfs the laboratory and reaches other units of the facility.
A source at the Hospital attributed the situation to a large number of unidentified bodies at the morgue, with some fridges broken down.
The source said the situation had persisted for about a month.
The GNA and other clients who visited the lab Wednesday morning were turned away by an Officer.
The Officer said the lab was shut down because the offensive odour from the morgue was not good for the staff and patients.
He said he was not sure when the situation would be addressed.
The GNA observed that clients who were aware of the situation were in nose masks, those unaware, buried their noses in their palms as they rushed out of the space.
Madam Stella Kumedzro, an Environmental Health Analyst, said the discomfort created for patients and staff of the Hospital was unacceptable and may trigger some allergic reactions.
She said the situation could also lead to grievous housefly infestation.
She said the fluid draining from the decomposed corpses may contain chemicals such as formalin, which if not sanitarily disposed off may predispose people who came into contact with the chemicals to health challenges like cancers.
Madam Kumedzro said the fluid, containing chemicals, may also pollute the soil and end up in water bodies after a downpour.
She advised the Hospital to contact the Environmental Health Office for processes leading to mass burial of the corpses.
Mr Douglas N. A. Tagoe, Greater Accra Environmental Health Regional Director, told the GNA that his office was going to instruct the Hospital to decongest the fridges immediately, disinfect and deodorise the Unit.
Following the IMF agreement to release the $3 billion debt bailout fund for Ghana, Central University lecturer Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah has demanded that Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta resign from his position.
To help Ghana deal with its economic crisis, the executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the long-awaited $3 billion bailout.
The arrangement will allow for the immediate release of $600 million with the remaining funds to be made available over the course of the next three years, the IMF said in a statement Wednesday.
“Congratulations to President @NAkufoAddo & his team on the $3 billion IMF-supported program approved by our Executive Board. We stand with Ghana as it implements reforms to address the current economic and financial crisis and help build a better future for all Ghanaians,” the IMF Boss, Kristalina Georgieva, tweeted on Wednesday, May 17.
Dr. Otchere-Ankrah is therefore asking the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to fulfil his promise to let the Finance Minister go after the end of the IMF deal.
“Long ago, we heard some MPs saying the Finance Minister should resign and the President pleaded that we should wait for him to finish with the budget arrangements and IMF deal and when he is done, he will allow him to go. So, if he has finished, we are waiting for the President to know whether he will let him go or he will exit by himself,” he reminded the President.
He called for a send-off to be organized for Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta and offered himself to be the Master of Ceremony (MC) for the event.
“By God’s grace, we are done with the IMF, Ken is tired. He should go and rest . . . we should organize a send-off for him. I will attend it; in fact I will be the MC for his send-off,” he told Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ show.
Reggae and dancehall artiste, Stonebwoy has fearlessly embraced the idea of being the wealthiest artist in Ghana, emphasizing that he possesses abundant resources to cater for both himself and his family.
In an interview on Joy News Stonebwoy addressed the topic of people considering him the richest musician in Ghana.
With a big smile, Stonebwoy laughed and confidently agreed that there was a good chance he could indeed be the wealthiest artiste in the country.
Stonebwoy further explained that he believes he has enough money because he can take care of himself and his family. He stated that through his various endeavours in music, endorsements, and business, he has been able to amass a decent fortune, allowing him to provide for his loved ones without worry.
During the interview, Stonebwoy talked about his rise to stardom and becoming a household name in Ghana’s music scene. He said his success has been fueled by his dedication and talent.
Stonebwoy has had many remarkable achievements in his career, having won numerous international awards and local ones.
Coupled with his captivating stage presence and impressive lyrical skills, Stonebwoy has solidified his status as an icon in the country’s entertainment industry.
The Minority side in parliament is asking Ghanaians to be prepared for the shocks that will accompany the bailout secured from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to the caucus, many of the conditionalities could have been avoided if government heeded their call to go to the Fund earlier in 2022.
They made this known in a statement signed by Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson.
In a May 18 press release, he explained that his side “has on countless occasions cautioned this government that the fruits of its crass mismanagement of Ghana’s economy through wanton misuse of borrowed funds for consumption purposes, had long crystalized into a crisis.”
“We urged government to immediately seek the Fund’s support long ago, a call that was flatly disregarded.
Already, the IMF has identified the scrapping of tax exemptions, adjustment of levies on fuel, and an increase in income tax as some measures the Ghanaian government could implement to boost revenue mobilization under its $3 billion support programme.
This is contained in the Fund’s May 2023 country report on Ghana’s request for the $3 billion support programme.
On the back of these and other conditionalities, Casiel Ato Forson wants Ghanaians to be on the lookout for fallout from the arrangement and adjust accordingly.
“Let us brace ourselves for the full consequences of this IMF deal, which will without doubt bite hard on Ghanaians, especially the youth. This is not a counsel of despair, but a reality that will soon dawn on all of us,” he concluded.
The defeated National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Sefwi Wiawso Constituency in the just ended primaries, Emmanuel Adansi Bonah has vowed to run as an independent candidate in the 2024 general elections.
This came to light at a press briefing addressed by the campaign manager for Adansi, Daniel Mintah Kwarteng at Sefwi Wiaso.
They attributed the caused of the defeat of their cherished candidate, Emmanuel Adansi Bonah to some party executives behind this unbelievable outcome and that they will ensure Bonah contest independently for the electorates to decide who they want to become Member of Parliament (MP) for Sefwi Wiawso Constituency .
According to the campaign manager, a huge amount of money was shared to convince most of the delegates to vote for the wrong person and because of that they will never accept the outcome of the primaries. This, therefore, is what compelling him to contest as an independent candidate as the grassroots members are charged.
The spokesperson for the team, Oheneba Philip Amoah also accused some of the Constituency executives for not been fair to them in the sense that Bonah has contributed a lot for the party and deserve to be elected as the parliamentary candidate to lead the Constituency.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has proposed the scrapping of tax exemptions, adjustment of levies on fuel, and an increase in income tax as some measures the Ghanaian government could implement to boost revenue mobilization under its $3 billion support programme.
This is contained in IMF’s May 2023 country report on Ghana’s request for the $3 billion support programme.
Managing Director of the Fund, Kristalina Georgieva says the programme is only the first step towards restoring Ghana’s economic stability.
“Today’s decision is also a major milestone for the G-20 common framework. The commitment by the Official Creditors Committee to help make Ghana’s debt sustainable was essential for the approval of the Funds program and it signals important progress.
“The decision our board has taken is the beginning of the work we will do together with the authorities of Ghana for the implementation of the programme for the benefit of the people of Ghana.”
But the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, Mark Badu-Aboagye, has raised concerns about the suggestions raised by the IMF.
According to Mr Badu- Aboagye, businesses in the country are already suffering, therefore should the conditionalities by the IMF be executed, it will worsen the struggles of businesses.
“When you introduce externalities like taxes, like high-interest rates, like levies, then you go to the bottom line and you realize that all of them are making losses, which means that this component needs to be managed.
“And that is where my concern is because these conditionalities will or may worsen that aspect of support that we need to give to businesses,” he emphasised.
Eventually, Mr Badu-Aboagye advised that, in the interest of both the country and businesses, Ghanaians should work together towards making the IMF deal a success.
Speaking on the same topic, an Economist, Professor Godfred Bokpin cautioned Ghanaians about a possible increase in taxes following the approval of Ghana’s bailout request by the IMF.
“It may not immediately take the form of new tax handles, but there’s going to be a lot of revisions to the existing tax measures that may result in you paying more taxes and a combination of that because the goal we have set for ourselves is to increase tax to GDP ratio,” he cautioned.
Meanwhile, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta is pleading for support from Ghanaians to make the IMF programme implementation a success.
“I take this opportunity to call on all Ghanaians, investors, bilateral development partners to take up the course of Ghana and support the government in the implementation of the PC-PEG [Post-COVID-19 Program for Economic Growth] backed IMF ECF programme.”
Okyeame Kwame has recently shared his unique perspective on religious affiliation, expressing that he finds inspiration and faith in various religions rather than subscribing to just one.
Speaking on Joy Prime, he revealed that he does not adhere to one specific religion but identifies as an omnist, drawing inspiration and faith from various religious beliefs.
“I was born as a Christian in the Methodist Church and then I grew up in the Christian faith until I was maybe 14 years.
Most of my values are Christian. My father was a Catholic. My mother went to the Methodist Church so I grew up doing catechism and all that. I went to an Anglican school so most of my socialisation has been very Christian. But in my adult life, I don’t think I can call myself a Christian in the full sense. I call myself an omnist,” he said.
An Omnist is one that believes in all religions.
The ‘Rap Doctor’ said he finds spiritual guidance in different religious traditions depending on the aspect he resonates with. For example, when it comes to appreciating nature, respecting trees and rivers, he looks to African traditions.
A self-proclaimed preacher who recently said he wanted to meet President William Ruto to deliver a prophetic message has been arrested by Police in western Kenya.
Joseph Chenge of Jerusalem Mowar Church was arrested on Wednesday evening alongside 11 members of his church in Ruri village, Homa Bay county.
Homa Bay criminal investigations officer Abed Kavoo said they were holding Mr Chenge in suspicion of promoting questionable religious teachings.
Mr Kavoo said preliminary investigations had revealed that the cleric was detaining sick people at his church in the guise of praying for them. Five patients were rescued from the preacher’s church, local media reported.
Police said Chenge’s church operations were illegal, as it was not registered. The preacher and the arrested members of his church are due to appear in court on Thursday.
On Sunday, Mr Chenge told journalists that something unfortunate may happen to the country if he failed to meet President Ruto within 21 days.
The arrest of the preacher comes amid a crackdown on suspicious churches in Kenya, following the death of more than 200 in a doomsday cult in coastal Kilifi county.
Movement of motorists was heavily impeded Thursday morning at the Kpone Barrier portion of the main Tema-Aflao N1 road due to flood waters following an early morning downpour.
Some motorists and their passengers complained of staying in gridlocks between two and five hours before making their way out of the situation.
Joy News’ Carlos Calony who toured the affected areas said the floods blocked the road in front of the Bel-Acqua Bottling Company where commuters virtually sailed through running waters.
The main Accra –Tema Motorway did not fare any better, as the rains forced a heavy gridlock that ensured vehicles moved at a snail’s pace.
The US Border Patrol said on Wednesday that an 8-year-old migrant passed away while under their care.
The unfortunate tragedy took place at a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) station in Harlingen, Texas, just to the north of the Los Indios International Bridge border crossing between the United States and Mexico.
The youngster and her family were being held at the Harlingen Station when she had a medical emergency, according to a statement from CBP. Emergency Medical Services were called to the station, and after being taken there, she was declared dead.
The child’s death will be investigated by the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility. Local law enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees CBP, were also notified of the death.
Migrants wait in line to enter a CBP facility in El Paso, Texas (Picture: John Moore/Getty Images)
No further details have been released about the child, her family, her country of origin, or the nature of her medical emergency.
The death comes less than one week after the US ended Title 42, the COVID-19 border restrictions that blocked migrants from seeking asylum in the United States based on public health law.
Prior to the expiration, CBP encountered an average of 10,000 migrants at the border per day, the agency reported.
Although critics warned that an even bigger surge of migrants would overwhelm CBP if Title 42 was allowed to expire, far fewer migrants have arrived in the week since the policy ended.
‘We have seen a substantial decrease in unlawful crossings at the border and irregular migration, averaging less than half that many encounters or less than 5,000 a day over the last three days,’ said Blas Nunez-Neto, the DHS Assistant Undersecretary for Border and Immigration Policy on Monday.
According to the DHS, about 28,000 migrants were in federal custody on May 10 – the day before Title 42 expired. That number dropped to about 22,000 on Sunday, a 23% decrease.
‘Gang of four’ consultants, according to nurse Lucy Letby, blamed her for a string of infant fatalities in order to hide institutional shortcomings.
The 33-year-old, who denies killing seven infants and attempting to kill ten more, named the Countess of Chester Hospital’s senior physicians whom she alleges were involved in a scheme against her.
For the second day of cross-examination, prosecutor Nick Johnson KC questioned: “Four doctors. Four people, let’s call them a gang. What’s going on here?
Letby replied: ‘They have apportioned blame on to me.’ Mr Johnson asked: ‘The motive?’ Letby said: ‘I believe to cover failings at the hospital.’
She named Dr Stephen Brearey, Dr John Gibbs, Dr Ravi Jayaram and one other doctor who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Earlier Mr Johnson suggested Letby was the only ‘common feature’ and had to be the person responsible for harming the babies.
He said: ‘Do you agree that if certain combinations of these children were attacked, then unless there was more than one person attacking them, you have to be the attacker?’
Letby replied: ‘No, I have not attacked anyone.’
Letby named the senior doctors at the Countess of Chester Hospital she suggests have plotted against her (Picture: Chester Standard/SWNS)
Mr Johnson continued: ‘If the jury conclude that a certain combination were actually attacked by someone, then the shift pattern gives us the answer, who the attacker was?’
Letby replied: ‘No, I don’t agree. Just because I was on shift doesn’t mean I have done anything.’
Mr Johnson said: ‘If the jury conclude, let’s say babies five, eight, 10 and 12, were all attacked, you are the only common feature, it would have to be, you are the attacker?’
Letby replied: ‘That’s for them to decide.’
Jurors have heard that she took a photo on her phone of a sympathy card she wrote to be passed to colleagues attending the funeral of one of the babies – Child I.
Letby is accused of killing the infant at the fourth attempt.
The sympathy card that was shown to the jury in the Lucy Letby murder trial at Manchester Crown Court (Picture: PA)
Mr Johnson said: ‘You took a picture of a card, addressed to the parents of a child who had died in dreadful circumstances, at the place where she died.’
Letby told the court: ‘The place is insignificant. My usual behaviour is to photograph things that I send or receive.’
The prosecutor asked: ‘Did it give you a bit of a thrill to photograph it at the place where this poor unfortunate child died?’
Letby replied: ‘Absolutely not.’
She also admitted occasionally visiting the unit at night while not working a shift but said it would have been to fill in paperwork or speak to colleagues.
Mr Johnson said she had been on the unit on a day off when a baby girl, Child G – who she allegedly tried to murder – was seriously ill.
The prosecutor said: ‘You had been having a look at her, hadn’t you? Why are you looking at this child?’
Letby said she was ‘checking on her’ as the paperwork she had come back to complete related to that baby.
Mr Johnson continued: ‘There’s no record of you going into the unit from the swipe data. You would not need a pass to get in. You could ring the buzzer and walk in. People trusted you.’
She replied: ‘To go to the unit at night, you have to have a reason to go. It was quieter at night.’
Letby, from Hereford, denies all the alleged offences said to have taken place between June 2015 and June 2016.
This terrible scene shows a driver miraculously ejecting himself from his entirely destroyed vehicle after it was struck by a lorry.
Two males are seen in the video forcing open the door of the orange automobile before the driver abruptly jumps out, appearing unharmed.
In the footage, a man can be heard exclaiming in Spanish, “Yes, he is alive!”
He’s out, he’s out! yells another.
Then they are seen standing back and staring in awe at the debris.
Images show the car nearly completely crushed under the large vehicle’s trailer, with another lorry having apparently rear-ended it in Santa Cruz, Mexico, on Tuesday.
The front of the car is completely torn off and destroyed.
Belisario Morales jumps out of his car seemingly unscathed (Picture: CEN)Witnesses attempt to open the car door (Picture: CEN)
The police arrived on the scene shortly after the images were filmed and cordoned off the area, according to local media.
Two tow trucks were then used to remove the vehicles on the road.
Local media said the orange car had been hit by one of the lorries, causing it to become trapped under the other HGV.
The police are understood to be investigating the crash.
For killing his 11-year-old son, a man was given a life sentence in prison.
In June of last year, Michael Harrison murdered his son Mikey in the vicinity of a park in Heanor, Derbyshire.
He then dialled 911 and informed the operator that Mikey had fallen out of a tree.
“At 18 minutes past one on Saturday, June 18, 2022, you started a charade solely intended to protect yourself,” Judge Shaun Smith KC reprimanded the 41-year-old.
‘That was because you had attacked your 11-year-old son Mikey. You hit and punched him many times. At least one of those blows was so hard it lacerated his liver.
‘Rather than face up to what you had done, you made a call to the ambulance service to report that Mikey had fallen out of a tree.
‘What you did that morning ended the life of a little boy and emptied the lives of many others.’
Harrison was jailed for life at Derby Crown Court with a minimum term of 21 years and six months for the murder.
Michael Harrison had unleashed a violent attack on his young son (Picture: PA)
He had previously pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mikey during a court hearing, but had denied murder.
Ambulance crews had been called to the Heanor area last June after receiving a report that Mikey was injured.
Authorities are concerned that the number of fatalities could go up since nine people have died in recent days.
Dramatic images depict rescuers struggling to get victims and animals out of the sea.
Reaching individuals who couldn’t leave their homes due to the flooding required the use of lifeboats.
Residents in the north of Italy have been told to get to higher ground amid fears rain-swollen rivers will again burst their banks.
The warning from officials comes after flooding killed at least eight people, forced the evacuation of 5,000 and suspended some train services.
Heavy rains and floods also forced Formula One to cancel this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix to not overtax emergency crews already stretched thin in responding to the emergency.
Days of rainstorms stretched across a swath of northern Italy and the Balkans, where ‘apocalyptic’ floods, landslides and evacuations were also reported in Croatia, Bosnia and Slovenia.
A church is flooded with water after heavy rains hit Italy’s Emilia Romagna region, in Castel Bolognese,(Picture: Reuters)Firefighters evacuate a terrified dog from a flooded house in the city of Faenza (Picture: Reuters)‘Apocalyptic’ floods have destroyed homes and transformed roads into rivers (Picture: Max Cavallari/ANSA via ZUMA Press/Shutterstock)The regions impacted recently had faced droughts, which meant the soil was too dry to absorb the sudden lashings of rain (Picture: AP)
The president of Emilia-Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini, said many people remain unaccounted for.
Italian civil protection minister Nello Musemeci called for a new nationwide hydraulic engineering plan to protect communities from future floods and landslides.
At a briefing to reporters, he said an average of 200mm of rain had fallen in 36 hours in the region.
Some areas registered 500mm in the same period.
‘If you consider that this region averages 1,000mm of rain in a year, you realise the impact that these rains have had in these hours,’ Mr Musemeci said.
Klaudia Cepa cries while standing in her flood affected house in Faenza (Picture: Reuters)
Citing the November landslide in Ischia, which killed a dozen people, Mr Musemeci said Italy is increasingly experiencing Africa-style tropical weather.
Long periods of drought are frequently punctuated by intense rainfall that can’t be absorbed by the soil.
He continued: ‘Nothing will ever be the same again … and what has happened in these hours is evidence of that.
‘When soil remains dry for a long time, instead of increasing its absorption capacity, it ends up cementing and allowing rainfall to continue flowing over the surface and causing absolutely unimaginable damage.’
Mr Museumeci said that 5,000 people had been evacuated, 50,000 were without electricity, and more than 100,000 were without mobile phone or landline use.
The deputy chief of the Civil Protection agency, Titti Postiglione, said rescue operations for those needing emergency evacuations were particularly difficult.
Roads and routes have been flooded and phone service disrupted by the floods.
Speaking on Sky TG24, Ms Postiglione said the affected flood zone covered a broad swath of four provinces which, until the heavy rains, had been parched by a prolonged drought.
Some regional train routes remained suspended on Wednesday around Bologna and Ravenna, with severe delays elsewhere, the Italian state railway said.
Premier Giorgia Meloni, who was traveling to the G7 meeting in Japan, said the government is monitoring the situation and prepared to approve emergency aid.
The mayor of the town of Bosanska Krupa in Bosnia said hundreds of homes had been flooded.
Dozens of landslides have also been reported in eastern Slovenia, many of which endangered homes and infrastructure.
In Croatia, hundreds of soldiers and rescue teams continued bringing food and other necessities to people in flood-hit areas who have been isolated in their homes.
President Joe Biden slammed Donald Trump in particular for claiming credit for ‘destroying’ the Roe v. Wade ruling, which upheld abortion rights nationwide.
On Wednesday morning, Biden uploaded a screenshot of a Trump post on Truth Social and highlighted in red, “I was able to kill Roe v. Wade.”
That is as plain as it gets, I think. In the afternoon, Biden tweeted, “Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans are to blame for killing Roe v. Wade.”
‘And if you vote for them, they’ll go even further.’
Trump boasted about using his power as president to appoint Supreme Court justices who voted to end the 1973 landmark decision. Roe v Wade
‘After 50 years of failure, with nobody coming even close, I was able to kill Roe v. Wade, much to the “shock” of everyone,’ wrote Trump. ‘And for the first time put the Pro Life movement in a strong negotiating position over the Radicals that are willing to kill babies even into their 9th month, and beyond.’
Trump also claimed credit for more than a dozen states passing laws limiting abortion since the high court overturned Roe v Wade in June.
‘Without me there would be no 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 15 weeks, or whatever is finally agreed to,’ Trump wrote.
Biden underlined part of that sentence in his post.
It was one of Biden’s more direct attacks on Trump and his supporters on social media.
Last week after Trump’s unruly CNN town hall in which he repeated his election fraud lies and called moderator Kaitlan Collins ‘a nasty person’, Biden offered himself as an alternative.
‘It’s simple, folks. Do you want four more years of that?’ tweeted Biden. ‘If you don’t, pitch in to our campaign.’
And in early May, Biden mocked House Republicans for failing to spell out specific protections for veterans programs in legislation they passed, by sharing a flow chart.
Golden Movie Awards CEO, Mimi Andani Michaels, has opened up about some public speculations about her inability to give birth.
She said at a point, people started peddling rumours that her husband sacrificed his manhood for money.
Mimi said their businesses were flourishing yet they did not have a child of their own to invest in and that was what raised the brows.
“At a point, because you are doing business and it is flourishing bit by bit, people speculate all sorts of things. They said my husband sacrificed his penis for money. People who lived in the vicinity for a long time were saying this,” she stated in an interview with Zionfelix.
Highlighting other challenges she encountered, Mimi said her husband started bringing up discussions about having a baby outside their marriage due to family pressure.
“Lack of childbirth in marriage causes a lot of problems. Men might support you but they might get fed up with the pressure. He got fed up and started having conversations of possibly bringing in someone to give birth for him,” she disclosed.
Mimi, however, expressed the joy and fulfilment she has since experienced after finally being able to carry her own child.
“You get to experience true love when you have a child. Forget about the love you have for a man, that is not true love. Wait till you experience a baby come out of you and you will know what love is. That is why a lot of women who already have kids find it hard to get married,” she observed.
These two communities (Mognori and Sumpini) have over the years, been battling with poor quality voice and data service forcing residents to move to other locations including climbing trees to make calls.The Chief of Mognori, Assan Sakara, commended the Ministry for the initiative.He said the presence of the facility would improve the living condition of his people and spread development.
