Ghanaian actor, Harold Amenyah, has revealed an interesting account of how his wife would usually send him links to prayer meetings, including the popular Alpha Hour, when he made efforts to get to know her.
Harold recounted how they met at a friend’s party, and despite Irene initially declining to give him her number, he eventually got it from their mutual friend and dropped a text.
“When I got home, I texted her and said, ‘This is Harold. I got your number from your friend.’ I didn’t get a response early, so I dropped my phone somewhere. It was quite late, so I slept,” he said.
According to Harold, when he reached out to Irene via text, she responded by sending him links to prayer meetings “Alpha Hour.”
“I was like, ‘Okay, you are meeting the person for the first time, and they are sending you a link to a prayer meeting.’ I was like, “Okay, what is this thing?”
“When I woke up, I texted her and clicked the link, and I saw that it was a prayer meeting. She skipped all that I wanted to know about her and went straight to inviting me to join the prayer session,” Harold stated.
Despite Irene’s initial reluctance to engage in personal conversations, Harold continued to pursue her.
However, she would ignore his messages throughout the day, only to send him a link to pray at midnight.
“The next morning we spoke a bit, and in the evening she sent me another link to the Alpha Hour, but then I didn’t hear from her the whole day or something. She would ignore my messages, but then, when it was 12 a.m., she would send me a link to pray,” he added.
Harold revealed that Irene’s focus on spirituality rather than personal conversations intrigued him, and he was drawn to her even more.
He shared how he began attending the prayer meetings and gradually got to know Irene better, leading to a beautiful relationship that eventually culminated in marriage.
Drinking cold water does affect your body in ways you might not anticipate or want.
Studies have shown that drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water daily is healthy.
However, drinking water at the proper temperature is also important because it has a negative impact on your health.
During hot seasons especially, it is believed that cold water is the best, which does provide instant relief from the heat, but at the same time causes a lot of damage to the body.
Cold water has been described as harmful to health, according to research. Especially chilled water from the fridge should be avoided at all costs.
Here are a few reasons why one should avoid cold water from the fridge
Increases weight
If you want to lose weight, then drinking cold water may not be the best option. When you drink cold water, it becomes difficult to burn the fat present in the body. Body fat hardens with fridge water, due to which there is a problem in reducing fat and weight does not decrease.
May cause headache
Consuming cold water can cool down many nerves in your spine, which affects the brain and leads to headaches. This situation can increase the problem for people suffering from sinus problems.
Impacts on heart rate
Consumption of cold water can also reduce the heart rate of your body. According to a study, the tenth cranial nerve (vagus nerve) gets stimulated by drinking more cold water from the fridge. Nerves do the work of controlling the involuntary functions of the body. The effect of low-temperature water is directly on the vagus nerve, due to which the heart rate decreases.
Poorly impacts the digestion
Studies have shown that consuming cold water or drinks can weaken the digestive fire, known as Agni, and hinder the digestion process. Digestion involves a series of processes that require heat, starting from the mouth and ending in the intestines. Also, drinking cold water shrinks the blood vessels, which leads to digestive problems.
The Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) has disconnected the Bagabaga College of Education (BACE), the Tamale College of Education (TACE) and the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium for over debts accruing to a combined tune of GhS 8 million.
Where as the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium was disconnected for the non-payment of their electricity bills to a tune of GhS 466,000, the two colleges of education; BACE and TACE owed the company GhS 4.1 million and GhS 3.5 million respectively.
The power distribution company asked the defaulting institutions to make a payment of 70 percent of their total debts for a reconnection.
The disconnection of the electricity of defaulting state institutions, commercial and residential customers is part of the company’s general revenue mobilisation exercise which commenced on Tuesday, April 18 in its operational areas to retrieve debts owed the company.
NEDCo in a statement ahead of the exercise explained that it owed the Volta River Authority, the power generator an amount of GhS 1.6 billion and GRIDCO, the power transmitter, some GhS 481 million.
It said the company spends at least GhS 120 million to supply power but recovers only about GhS 85 million, thus, losing an average of GhS 35 million monthly.
This it noted, spells doom for the company and threatens its existence.
“At this rate, NEDCo is unable to recoup an average of GHS 35 million monthly. Without interventions like this exercise, NEDCo is doomed! The only salvation is to stem the tide now or never.” The statement stressed.
The disconnection of the power of BACE is expected to affect academic activities at one of the leading colleges of education in the region.
On the other hand, the disconnection of the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium, home venue of the two Tamale-based Ghana Premier League teams, Real Tamale United and Tamale City FC. The facility also serves as home grounds to several Division One and Women Premier League clubs and the disconnection from the national grid is likely to affect the use of the facility for Premier League venue.
NEDCo is expected to disconnect more institutions in the coming days as the exercise enters its next phase on Thursday.
The officials of the company were accompanied by a team of heavily armed military officers.
Bitter leaf plant with leafy green vegetable is also known as Vernonia amygdalina. It is a very popular plant loved by people from the eastern and western parts of Africa.
Bitter leaf greens are used in the form of vegetable eaten to promote and enhance the digestive tract.
Aside from it being used as food, the leaf has loads of health benefit when prepared as juice, especially for women.
Here are some of the health benefits this miraculous plant has for women.
Treats stomach and abdominal pains
Bitter leaf helps in the treatment of abdominal issues like stomach upset, diarrhoea, dysentery, and other gastrointestinal tract diseases. Drinking a cup of bitter leaf juice twice daily helps bring relief from stomach problems.
Cures Insomnia
Bitter leaf juice helps in curing those suffering from insomnia. Take two glasses of bitter leaf juice every night, and your body system would be so calm you would sleep easily.
Lowers High Blood Pressure
The bitterness of bitter leaf juice helps to lower your sugar level and controls blood pressure. Doctors advise hypertensive and diabetic patients to consume bitter leaf as the potassium it contains is a good remedy for hypertension as it prevents sodium from spiking up in the bloodstream by flushing out the accumulation of salt.
Enhances fertility
Study have shown that bitter leaf boosts the chances of pregnancy among women. This is due to that detoxification power of bitter leaf which helps prevent the pollution of the antibodies that fight diseases, initiate tissue repair and regeneration.
This is known to boost the fertility of the ovaries, significantly; as well as eliminating ovarian cyst and premature ovarian failure.
The use of lemon juice regularly can prevent many health issues.
Lemon is a flavoured fruit. A small quantity of lemon juice can make its remarkable presence in foods and beverages.
Drinking lemon water is one of the simplest and quickest ways to refresh yourself. Lemons contain numerous beauty and health benefits, including immune-boosting abilities.
Packed with nutrients, they are good for health. They enhance immunity, curb the risk of heart diseases, prevent kidney stones, improve iron absorption and help improve the texture of the skin.
This small-looking ball of goodness isn’t just for a pop of colour or tangy flavour in your dishes or beverages.
Drinking warm water after adding a pinch of honey and lemon is a well-known home remedy for people with sore throats. The mixture could have a soothing effect on a sore throat. The vitamin C in lemon also cleanses the throat and gives a boost to your immunity.
Aids in digestion
The peel and pulp of lemons are rich in a soluble fibre called pectin. It also encourages the formation of digestive enzymes in the liver, assisting in eliminating waste from your body.
Helps keep blood sugar under check
Taking fruits that have high fibre could help keep your blood glucose under check, thus assisting in preventing any increase in sugar levels. This lowers the risk of getting diabetes, or it even could be of help to people who have diabetes to manage their condition.
Helps in weight loss
Lemons have pectin and the juice of it gives you a fuller feeling for a long time, that in turn makes your weight loss goal much more attainable. Also, an increase in fibre consumption, specifically from low-density sources such as fruits, helps in leading to reduced body weight and fat.
Helps in boosting immunity
Lemons are rich in vitamin C, a nutrient that boosts our immune system.
Vitamin C helps increase the production of white blood cells in our body that help guard the body against infections and diseases. Alongside, vitamin C helps in shortening the duration and gravity of colds. Also, vitamin C helps in recovering wounds faster by decreasing inflammation and encouraging collagen production. Collagen is an important protein that helps in repairing wounds.
Scented candles are increasingly popular in households worldwide. Much more than part of religious traditions or blackout backup plans, they have become the latest ‘it’ item, especially in the post-pandemic era.
People dish out nearly $13 billion per year on candles
The wellness trend, the COVID-19 pandemic, and even the war in Ukraine are fueling a boom in candles, particularly the scented variety. According to market analysis, people spent $12.88 billion on candles in 2022 and the market is expected to grow 5.7% per year until 2030.
Would you burn $2,500 on a single candle?
Some people are so obsessed with candles and have so much money to (literally) burn that they will spend up to $2,500 on a single candle like the Lalique Épines Platinum Edition Scented Candle. There are dozens of brands in the hundred to the thousand-dollar range.
No matter the price or wellness marketing, scented candles cause air pollution
According to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, scented candles are potent sources of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. This includes when they are burning and when they are unlit.
Formaldehyde, acrolein and particulate matter
A 2018 French study, which replicated realistic use, found that the most concerning substances released by scented candles include formaldehyde, acrolein, and particulate matter. As a result, the scientists suggest that people should not overuse scented candles, avoid direct inhalation of smoke and ventilate the room after use for safety.
What does formaldehyde do to your health?
A common indoor air pollutant, formaldehyde can irritate your eyes, nose, throat, or lungs and trigger asthma attacks even at low concentrations. Prolonged exposure can cause cancer, according to the California Air Resources Board. It’s also released by carpets, furniture, building materials, body and hair washes, and nail polish
Soot and particulate matter
Burn a scented candle in a small room, and you will likely notice soot build up on the walls over time. That’s because burning candles releases particulate matter, including soot, into the air, and these fine particles can penetrate the lungs and have serious health effects depending on the exposure. One 2016 study found scented candles emit more soot than unscented candles.
Mom finds soot in baby’s nose after burning candles too long
A U.S. mom discovered her baby’s nose was full of soot after she had left two scented candles burning for around six hours the night before. This is what she said his nostrils looked like even after cleaning them out.
Users are also warned to trim the wick
Like limiting burn times, the National Candle Association gives other little-known facts about how to reduce soot. They include “trimming the wick to a quarter inch before every use to promote proper flame height and keeping the candle away from drafty areas to avoid flame flickering.”
A lack of regulation around “fragrance”
What’s really in many scented candles and other household products can be a mystery, and its ingredients are often just listed as generic terms like “fragrance” or “essential oils” even though they can be mixtures of several hundreds of chemicals. According to a 2017 study in ‘Building in Environment,’ no country legally requires full fragrance disclosure.
An increased bladder cancer risk?
A 2019 paper in ‘Cancer Prevention Research’ suggests that scented candles emit hazardous chemicals that could be risk factors for bladder cancer. The researchers say the link hasn’t been proven, but more studies are needed and consumers should be warned about risks, the chemical composition of candles, and how to use them properly.
Scented candles emit more than non-scented candles
A 2021 study in ‘Environment International’ found that scented candles released more VOCs like benzaldehyde and limonene than unscented candles Mostly, the pollution didn’t break air safety guidelines, but for benzo[a]pyrene and acrolein, long-term concentrations were exceeded with some candles.
Headaches, sneezing and wheezing
A 2023 study in Saudi Arabia found that scented candles were commonly used among university students, particularly women. However, those who were exposed to burning candles for more than one hour showed higher occurrences of headache, sneezing, and wheezing.
Make sure your candles don’t have lead wicks
Perhaps the most dangerous type of scented candles is those with lead wicks, as they can emit relatively large amounts of lead into the air when burned, which is especially dangerous for children. In the U.S., lead wicks were banned in 2003, so check local regulations and chuck old candles just in case.
Fire hazard
U.S. Firefighters respond to an average of 7,400 home structure fires each year that were started by candles. On average, they cause 90 deaths, 670 injuries, and $291 million in property damage per year, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
The barrel-chested Australian from Brisbane performed an incredible 3,206 push-ups in one hour, which equates to an average of over 53 push-ups every minute.
According to the Guinness World Records, Helmke’s attempt took place in his old powerlifting gym, Iron Underground in Brisbane, where he broke the push-ups down into 30-second sets, aiming to complete 26 push-ups in each one.
Lucas was required to maintain perfect form for each push-up, or they wouldn’t count towards the record total.
The body must remain straight throughout, meaning there can be no bending at the knees or waist.
CNN reported that Lucas told Guinness World Records that he wanted to inspire his one-year-old son to believe that anything is achievable with hard work and dedication.
He said: “This will be the first record I wish to set off a number of other push-up records “
Helmke’s determination and rigorous training regimen paid off, as he smashed the previous record of 3,182 set by another Australian man just a year earlier.
Helmke’s excellent form resulted in only 34 of his push-ups being discounted, an impressive accomplishment considering he was attempting to break a world record by going as fast as possible.
The 71-year-old SNP treasurer Colin Beattie has been detained in connection with the continuing inquiry into the party’s finances, according to Police Scotland.
For 16 years, Mr. Beattie was the party’s treasurer.
Mr. Beattie presided over the SNP faction in the local government after being first elected as a councilor in Midlothian in 2007.
However, he relocated to Holyrood in 2011 after being chosen as an MSP for the newly created Midlothian North and Musselburgh seat.
Yet despite the SNP being in power throughout his tenure as an MSP, Mr Beattie has never achieved ministerial office, having never been invited by Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon or Humza Yousaf to serve in Government.
Mr Beattie briefly stepped back from his role in August 2020 after being defeated in an internal election by Douglas Chapman, but returned to his post when Mr Chapman resigned less than a year later.
In his resignation letter, Mr Chapman wrote: ‘Despite having a resounding mandate from members to introduce more transparency into the party’s finances, I have not received the support or financial information to carry out the fiduciary duties of National Treasurer.
‘Regretfully I have resigned with immediate effect.’
Between 2017 and 2020, the SNP raised a total of £666,953 through referendum-related appeals.
The party pledged to spend these funds on the independence campaign.
However, questions were raised after its accounts showed it had just under £97,000 in the bank at the end of 2019, prompting calls for the party to explain how it had accounted for the missing funds.
In August 2021, Mr Beattie sought to reassure members in a statement released alongside the party’s accounts, saying: ‘There has been concern expressed in some quarters that this system does not result in a separate fund being officially recorded in the annual accounts of the party.
‘Hence a claim from some that the money does not exist.
‘In fact, the money is earmarked through the internal process set out above and will be deployed fully through future cash flow for the purpose of promoting a referendum on independence and campaigns intended to secure independence.’
He continued: ‘While these monies are not separated out, their existence in terms of the commitment as to what they will be spent on is tangible.’
Mr Beattie’s arrest comes two weeks after Peter Murrell, husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, was also arrested as part of the investigation into the SNP’s funding.
Mr Murrell was detained by police for over 11 hours, but was later released without charge pending further investigation.
‘Leaked’ audio shared by The Mail on Sunday allegedly shows Nicola Sturgeon telling officials to stop asking about the Scottish National Party’s financial situation.
In it, she allegedly says: ‘We don’t need to talk about the finances. The finances are absolutely fine.’
A Police Scotland statement said: ‘A 71-year-old man has today, Tuesday, 18 April 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.
‘The man is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives.
‘A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
‘The matter is active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media.
‘As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.’
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: ‘This is yet another deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference.’
An emergency meeting of top SNP officials is reportedly taking place this afternoon, Sky News reports.
SNP leader Humza Yousaf told reporters he was ‘surpised’ to hear of Mr Beattie’s arrest but ruled out suspending the SNP treasurer.
He said he did not believe the party was acting in a ‘criminal manner’, but admitted he would consider removing Beattie from the the Holyrood’s public audit committee following his release from custody.
Elswehere today, Mr Yousaf said it was ‘brave’ of the Scottish Tories to attack his party over propriety.
The First Minister was challenged by opposition deputy leader Meghan Gallacher to suspend his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell.
Responding to the call, he said: ‘It is brave, some may use another word for it, when it comes to talking about propriety.
‘Your Prime Minister, your Deputy Prime Minister and the former prime minister are all under investigation by her Standards Commission.
‘So yes, while we absolutely face challenges, I’d rather be standing here with the opportunity to deliver for the people of Scotland, rather than languishing in opposition like Meghan Gallacher and the Scottish Tories.’
Numerous studies carried out by different subjects, over the years, would have shown that sleeping without pajamas or without wearing other items of clothing, is a habit that would entail a series of advantages for health and psychophysical well-being. Let’s find out why.
Falling asleep faster
Body temperature greatly affects the time it takes us to fall asleep. Studies have shown that sleeping without wearing anything would allow the body temperature to drop and thus communicate to the body that it is time to sleep.
Improve sleep quality
The quality of sleep, and therefore of rest, is also linked to body temperature. According to a study conducted in 2012 by National Institutes of Health, the ideal temperature of the bedroom would be between 15 and 19 degrees. Sleeping without wearing pajamas or other clothing, at these ambient temperatures, would be a good way to stay cool under the covers and sleep better.
Improve skin
Since sleeping without wearing clothes would improve the quality of sleep, the latter would positively affect the health of the skin. For example, one study has shown how the quality of sleep can affect the skin’s ability to heal faster from small wounds. Sleeping better certainly helps in this case.
In a prisoner swap with Russia, more than 100 Ukrainian military have been returned to their families.
On camera yesterday, 130 soldiers, sailors, and border guards—many of whom were injured—carried one another home.
On the same day as millions of Ukrainians celebrate the Orthodox Christian Easter holiday, footage shows people embracing their relatives.
Andriy Yermak, the 51-year-old chief of staff, said: “It has been happening over the past few days in various stages.” Our citizens are returning home.
‘The quintessence of Easter is hope. This is exactly what the relatives who had been waiting for them for so long felt.
‘This task sounds short: Bring everyone back, and they will return.’
The soldiers were draped in Ukrainian flags as they returned to their families (Picture: Reuters)They embraced each other as they walked the road to freedom (Picture: Reuters)
But the founder of Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was filmed threatening the prisoners before they were released.
He could be heard saying: ‘I hope you don’t fall back into our hands.’
Last week 106 Russian prisoners were swapped for 100 Ukrainians.
The men were returned to Ukraine on the day Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter (Picture: Reuters)They were warned by Russia they better ‘not fall back into their hands’ before they left (Picture: Reuters)
Everyone was given food and multiple people were brought to tears while talking about their experiences.
One fighter said: ‘We are very thankful that we were released. We have been waiting for this day.’
Another was heard on the phone to their mum saying: ‘It’s okay, I’m back, alive, healthy. It’s okay mommy.’
Despite the weapons being provided by a number of western allies, the leaked reports note Ukraine is ‘unable to match the Russian volume’ of fire.
Ukrainian Colonel Yuri Ihnat said this means Russia might be able to push through in just a matter of weeks.
He said: ‘If we lose the battle for our skies, the consequences will be critical. The Russians will smash every city just like they did in Syria.
‘Our nuclear power stations will be vulnerable too. And we will struggle to protect our frontline troops.’
Analysis as of this week shows Ukraine and Russia held positions in the east and south
These weapons are only produced by Russia, making restocking them difficult.
The only other country so far able to supply them is Slovakia.
Since March 2022 the Russian airforce has been unable to effectively attack in Ukrainian airspace due to widely dispersed air defences.
This forced them to use expensive cruise and ballistic missile barrages, which have not achieved any decisive effects.
Experts say Ukraine has an opportunity to launch a decisive counterattack, but their lack of sufficient weaponry is preventing this, according to the leaked documents.
The Ukrainian army was also planning on exploiting Russian weaknesses and reclaiming contested territories in the east.
A man has been accused of shooting a teenager who rang the wrong doorbell while picking up his younger brothers in the US state of Missouri.
According to prosecutors, Andrew Lester, 84, has been charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal conduct.
Ralph Yarl, 16, who is black, was allegedly shot once in the head and once in the arm last Thursday night by Mr. Lester, a white man. The young man lived.
A prosecution claimed that there was a “racial component” to the shooting.
Mr Lester has not been charged with a hate crime, and charging documents do not describe the alleged racial bias.
At a press conference on Monday, Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson said: “My message to the community is that, in Clay County, we enforce the laws and we follow the laws.
“That doesn’t matter where you come from, what you look like or how much money you have.”
Image caption, Suspect Andrew Lester, 84
Police initially detained Mr Lester for questioning and let him go, sparking protests throughout the city on Sunday.
On Monday, protesters gathered outside the suspect’s home chanting “black lives are under attack” and “stand up, fight back”, online video shows. Mr Lester’s home has also reportedly been vandalised.
Personal injury lawyer Benjamin Crump, who is representing the Yarl family, said: “You can’t just shoot people without having justification when somebody comes knocking on your door – and knocking on your door is not justification.”
Ralph’s family said the teen had been trying to pick up his younger twin brothers from a friend’s house at around 22:00 local time on 13 April when he knocked on Mr Lester’s door.
Family members say the boy mistakenly went to 115th Street instead of 115th Terrace and rang the bell twice. After being shot, he went to three nearby homes before someone helped him, they said.
No words were exchanged before the homeowner opened fire with a .32 revolver, prosecutors said.
But another attorney for the family, Lee Merritt, told NBC News: “He heard rustling around going on in the house and then finally the door was open.
“And he was confronted by a man who told him, ‘Don’t come back around here,’ and then he immediately fired his weapon.”
According to local reports, Mr Lester told police that he believed someone was breaking into his home and fired two shots through his door. A witness also told the local news station that he heard Ralph “screaming that he had been shot”.
On Monday, prosecutors said Missouri citizens have the right to use force if they “reasonably” fear that they are in danger. They declined to elaborate further on the specifics of this case. Media caption,
Watch: ‘No-one should shoot through a door’
Ralph was released from hospital on Sunday and was at home recovering from his injuries, family members said.
The boy’s father, Paul Yarl, told the Kansas City Star the charges were “such a relief”.
“I’m happy. This is what we’ve been looking for. It’s here.”
According to the family’s lawyers, President Joe Biden called the Yarls on Monday and spoke with them for 20 minutes.
He told reporters that Mr Biden had offered his prayers and invited them to the White House once the teenager has recovered.
Celebrities including Viola Davis, Justin Timberlake, Halle Berry and Kerry Washington – as well as Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes – condemned the shooting.
A GoFundMe account set up to pay for Ralph’s medical recovery has raised over $2.1m (£1.7m) as of Monday.
In a separate incident on Saturday, a 20-year-old woman in New York state was shot after the vehicle she was in mistakenly drove into the wrong driveway.
Friends drove Kaylin Gillis away from the scene and attempted to call for help in a nearby town, but she was was later pronounced dead by paramedics.
According to statement made by Alexis Dowdell to the BBC, her brother saved the birthday girl at the Alabama party where four people were shot to death. Then, in her arms, he passed away.
When her 18-year-old brother Phil Dowdell learned that there was a pistol present at the party, he went to pick up his sister Alexis Dowdell, who was celebrating her 16th birthday in a dance studio in a remote part of Dadeville.
LaTonya Allen, her mother, was aware of the gossip as well. She claimed to have turned on the lights, gone to the DJ booth, and requested that anyone bringing a weapon leave the celebration.
But when no-one spoke up, she turned the lights back off.
The gunfire erupted shortly after. “All of a sudden you hear gunshots and you just see everybody running towards the door and people falling and screaming,” Alexis told the BBC.
Her brother Phil pushed her to the ground, she said, before the two became separated in the chaos.
She was able to escape the venue and took cover outside before someone came to help her up. Alexis said she hid behind another building in case the attacker was still on the loose.
When she eventually went back inside, she discovered that her brother had been shot.
He had lost a lot of blood. She stayed with him as he drifted in and out of consciousness. He was unable to talk, though he opened his eyes and raised his eyebrows as she cradled him in her arms.
“The last thing I told him was to stay strong,” she said.
She added that her birthday would never be the same.Media caption,
Watch: Girl survives being shot three times in Alabama
Thirty-two others were injured in Saturday night’s attack at the party in Dadeville, a small, close-knit town of roughly 3,000.
Police have yet to name a suspect or a motive and have urged the public to come forward with information. Alexis and her mother said they did not know what had led to the shooting.
The city’s local pastor told the BBC the gunman was still at large.
Jimmy Frank Goodman Sr, the mayor of Dadeville, told the BBC that the scene at the hospital after the shooting was chaotic, even worse than what he had witnessed during his time serving in the Vietnam War.
“There were people crying, bodies going into the emergency room and bloody clothes on the ground,” he said.
Image caption, A vigil was held for the victims on Sunday
The oldest of three siblings, Phil Dowdell was remembered by members of his community as a star athlete and a loyal friend. He had been due to go to Jacksonville State University on a sports scholarship.
Alexis said she had enjoyed watching her brother play football and sharing laughs with him. He always used to open the door for others and come into her room to apologise whenever the two of them had fought, she said.
Ms Allen said her son made her proud “in every way”.
“A piece of my heart is ripped out,” she said. “He was supposed to graduate next month. Instead of me going to graduation I’ll be going to the cemetery to see my son.”
Shaunkivia Smith, 17, Marsiah Collins, 19, and Corbin Holston, 23, were also killed.
Relatives and friends of Ms Smith said she had been about to graduate from high school.
Mr Collins was a varsity football player who hoped to become a lawyer. Mr Holston came to the party to check on a family member once he heard trouble was brewing, his family said.
The flags outside Dadeville High School have been lowered to half-mast. A vigil was held on Sunday for all four victims. Hundreds of people, including some who were injured in the shooting, attended.
Casey Davis, a deputy superintendent at the local board of education, said clergy and grief counsellors would be available to the community.
The US has seen more than 160 mass shootings so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines such events as ones in which four or more people are shot.
Ghanaian musician, Fameye has waded into the latest online controversy over celebrity doppelgängers and impostors.
In recent times, lookalikes of Ghanaian musicians including Kuami Eugene, King Promise, Mr Drew, and Medikal have drawn attention to themselves after they were spotted at events and on media platforms impersonating their original celebrities.
While some artistes such as Shatta Wale and Medikal have argued that these doppelgängers are poising a nuisance to their brand and craft, Fameye believes otherwise.
The “Nothing I Get” hitmaker shared his opinion when he appeared as a guest on the prime morning breakfast show, TV3 New Day.
“Mine wasn’t a warning. I saw the video and I think he kinda looks like Fameye and it’s okay. There are a lot of people that look alike in the world. Let me speak for myself and my brand. There are people who have not heard my song and this lookalike has made them hear about me,” he pointed out
Fameye, 28, went on to explain that he has no ill will towards the lookalike, who he sees as a harmless and well-intentioned fan.
“I actually went on his page on Tiktok and I realized he actually has a couple of videos of me in a duet. So every song I have that is not even loud he knows the song so in a way he also pushing my music and the Fameye brand,” he indicated.
He however cautioned him via DM to desist from using his image or brand for illegal activities.
“Just make sure you don’t do anything illegal because when I find you playing shows or taking money from people now that’s going to be a problem but in as much as I said this I don’t need to wait for it to happen before I go in and speak. He should just have fun,” he hammered.
According to a legal expert, a celebrity can also sue a lookalike for impersonating them which could lead to a 20 years prison term.
Osebo the Zaraman has honoured Ghanaian businessman, Nana Kwame Bediako, known chiefly as Cheddar for his wealth and love for fashion, a mark he (Osebo) equally possesses but can not match up to him.
Osebo in his latest interview with Zionfelix gently declined the public’s call to take on Cheddar in a fashion battle. He added that his ‘beef’ with preacher, Ajagurajah that witnessed him being adjudged winner was just for fun.
The boutique owner mentioned that he looks up to Cheddar, Ghana’s wealthy businessman man who has a love for the finest things in life.
“Cheddar is a big man, I don’t even have half of his wealth. I know this isn’t about money but that is the truth,” he said.
Osebo clarified that there is no way he would compete with a man of his status.
“Cheddar hasn’t declared his attention to compete with me. I am not his class, let me tell you why. Give respect to who respect is due. He is rich and has a high sense of fashion.
“Cheddar’s fashion sense is very very high. I am honoured to have Ghanaians compare me to him. This means that I am doing well in the fashion world. It has never come to mind to compete with him…Cheddar doesn’t have time for such plays…what will I gain from beefing him? I accepted Ajagurajah because he is funny and we wanted to entertain the people,” Osebo disclosed.
The debt-to-GDP ratio is a measure of a country’s debt in relation to its economic output. A high debt-to-GDP ratio indicates that a country may have difficulty paying back its debt and may be at risk of default. In the case of Ghana, the IMF is projecting that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio will increase further to 98.7% by the end of 2023, which is a cause for concern.
To address this issue, the Ghanaian government will need to focus on rebuilding fiscal buffers. Fiscal buffers are essentially financial reserves that a government can draw upon in times of economic stress, such the Sinking Fund and Heritage Fund established by the erstwhile NDC government. Unfortunately, most of these funds have been depleted. These buffers provide a cushion that can help the government to maintain essential services and prevent social unrest during times of economic uncertainty as the Ghana faces now.
Developing credible risk-based fiscal frameworks is one way to promote growth and rebuild fiscal buffers. A risk-based fiscal framework involves identifying and mitigating potential risks to a country’s economy. This might involve implementing measures to reduce inflation, improving tax collection, and investing in infrastructure that can support economic growth. But this can only be achieved by cutting inefficiency in government spending and reviewing all if not most government flagship programs. What about the size of government?
By prioritizing the development of credible risk-based fiscal frameworks, the Ghanaian government can help to ensure that the country’s economy remains stable and resilient, even in the face of economic uncertainty. This can help to promote economic growth and development in the long run, while also reducing the risk of default and ensuring that the government can continue to provide essential services to its citizens.
Developing a risk-based fiscal framework for Ghana would involve identifying potential risks to the country’s economy and implementing measures to mitigate those risks. Here are some steps that the Ghanaian government could take to develop a risk-based fiscal framework:
Conduct a risk assessment:
Conducting a comprehensive risk assessment is a critical first step in developing a risk-based fiscal framework for Ghana. This involves a systematic and thorough analysis of the economy to identify potential risks to growth and stability.
Here are some of the factors that the ministry of finance may consider when conducting a risk assessment:
Inflation: High and volatile inflation can be a major risk to economic growth and stability which currently is 45% from the hight of 54%. The government may analyze trends in inflation and inflation expectations, as well as the factors that are driving inflation in the economy. BoG’s government financing is a major factor in inflation drivers.
Exchange rates: Fluctuations in exchange rates can impact trade and investment flows, and can also affect the value of the country’s external debt. The government may analyze trends in exchange rates and the factors that are driving those trends, such as changes in global interest rates or shifts in international trade patterns and the depreciation of the Ghanaian local currency, the cedi.
Commodity prices: Ghana is a major exporter of commodities such as gold, cocoa, and oil. Fluctuations in commodity prices can have a significant impact on the economy. The government may analyze trends in commodity prices and the factors that are driving those trends, such as changes in global demand or supply.
Political instability: Political instability can create uncertainty and negatively impact economic growth. The government may analyze trends in political stability and the factors that are driving political instability in the country especially after the debt exchange program.
External shocks: External shocks such as natural disasters, global pandemics, or financial crises can have a significant impact on the economy. The government may analyze the potential impact of different types of external shocks on the economy, and develop contingency plans to mitigate those risks.
Overall, conducting a comprehensive risk assessment will help the NPP government to better understand the potential risks to the economy and develop a more targeted and effective risk-based fiscal framework.
By identifying and mitigating potential risks, the government can help to promote economic stability and growth, which will benefit the people of Ghana especially the vulnerable who are the worse hit by the current economic crises.
Prioritize risks
Once the government the MoF has conducted a comprehensive risk assessment, the next step is to prioritize the identified risks. Prioritizing risks involves assessing the likelihood of each risk occurring and estimating the potential impact it could have on the economy.
Prioritizing risks helps the government to focus its resources and attention on the most critical risks, and to develop targeted risk management strategies that are appropriate for each risk.
Here are some factors that the government may consider when prioritizing risks:
Likelihood of occurrence: The government may assess the likelihood of each risk occurring, taking into account historical trends, current economic conditions, and other relevant factors.
Potential impact on the economy: The government may estimate the potential impact that each risk could have on the economy, considering factors such as the magnitude of the shock, the duration of the impact, and the potential ripple effects on other sectors of the economy.
Interconnectedness: The government may consider the interconnectedness of different risks and how they could interact with each other to create greater or lesser risk.
Strategic importance: The government may consider the strategic importance of different sectors or industries to the economy and prioritize risks that could have a particularly significant impact on these areas.
Fiscal capacity: The government may consider its fiscal capacity to manage different risks, and prioritize risks that it has the resources and tools to manage effectively.
By prioritizing risks, the government can focus its efforts on developing risk management strategies that are appropriate for each risk. This will help to ensure that the most critical risks are effectively managed, and that the economy remains stable and resilient in the face of uncertainty.
Develop a risk management plan
After identification and prioritization of the risks to the economy, the next step is to develop a risk management plan. A risk management plan is a set of specific measures that are designed to mitigate the identified risks and minimize their potential impact on the economy.
At this juncture, some steps that the government may take when developing a risk management plan:
Develop specific measures for each risk: The government should develop specific measures for each identified risk that are appropriate for the nature of the risk. For example, if inflation is identified as a risk, the government might implement measures such as tightening monetary policy or reducing government spending to curb inflationary pressures and implementation of zero financing of government deficit.
Define roles and responsibilities: The government should define the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders involved in the risk management plan, such as the central bank, finance ministry, and other relevant agencies like the financial stability council.
Establish targets and indicators: The government should establish specific targets and indicators that will be used to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the risk management plan.
Determine resource requirements: The government should determine the resources that will be required to implement the risk management plan, such as funding, personnel, and equipment.
Establish a monitoring and evaluation framework: The government should establish a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the implementation of the risk management plan and assess its effectiveness over time.
By developing a risk management plan, the government can take proactive steps to mitigate the identified risks and promote economic stability and growth. The risk management plan should be regularly reviewed and updated as new risks emerge or as the economic landscape changes.
Monitor and evaluate Risk Management Plan
Regularly monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the risk management plan is a critical step in ensuring that the plan remains relevant and effective over time. This involves measuring progress against established targets and indicators, and making adjustments to the plan as needed based on feedback and performance data.
Here are some key activities that the government should undertake to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the risk management plan:
Regular reporting: The government should establish a regular reporting schedule to track progress against established targets and indicators, and provide updates on the implementation of specific risk management measures.
Data collection and analysis: The government should collect and analyze relevant data on key economic indicators such as inflation, exchange rates, and commodity prices, as well as on specific risk management measures that have been implemented.
Performance reviews: The government should conduct periodic reviews of the performance of the risk management plan, assessing its effectiveness in mitigating identified risks and promoting economic stability and growth.
Stakeholder engagement: The government should engage with stakeholders, including the private sector, civil society, and international partners, to gather feedback on the effectiveness of the risk management plan and identify areas for improvement.
Continuous improvement: The government should use the feedback and data gathered through monitoring and evaluation activities to continuously improve the risk management plan over time.
By regularly monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the risk management plan, the government can ensure that the plan remains relevant and effective in mitigating identified risks and promoting economic stability and growth. This will enable the government to make timely adjustments to the plan as needed, and to continuously improve its performance over time.
Communicate with stakeholders
Communicating with stakeholders is an important step in building confidence in the economy and promoting investment. The Ghanaian government should communicate the risk-based fiscal framework and the measures being taken to mitigate identified risks to key stakeholders, including investors and international organizations like the IMF and world bank.
Here are some key activities that the government should undertake to communicate with stakeholders:
Develop a communication strategy: The government should develop a comprehensive communication strategy that outlines key messages and target audiences, as well as the channels and tools to be used to communicate with stakeholders.
Engage with investors: The government should engage with investors, including domestic and international investors, to communicate the risk-based fiscal framework and the measures being taken to mitigate identified risks. This might involve holding investor briefings, publishing regular economic updates, and engaging with the financial media.
Communicate with international organizations: The government should also communicate with international organizations such as the IMF to provide updates on the implementation of the risk-based fiscal framework and seek feedback on its effectiveness.
Engage with civil society: The government should engage with civil society organizations and other stakeholders to communicate the importance of the risk-based fiscal framework and the measures being taken to mitigate identified risks.
Provide regular updates: The government should provide regular updates on the implementation of the risk-based fiscal framework, including progress against established targets and indicators.
By communicating with stakeholders, the government can build confidence in the economy and promote investment. This will help to ensure the sustainability of the country’s debt and support long-term economic growth and development.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the IMF projection of Ghana’s Debt to GDP Ratio increasing to 98.7% by the end of 2023 underscores the urgent need for the Ghanaian government to prioritize rebuilding fiscal buffers. Developing a credible risk-based fiscal framework that promotes growth is critical to achieving this goal.
The government should conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of the economy, prioritize identified risks, develop a risk management plan, and regularly monitor and evaluate its effectiveness.
The government should also communicate the risk-based fiscal framework and the measures being taken to mitigate identified risks to key stakeholders, such as investors and international organizations like the IMF, to build confidence in the economy and promote investment.
By implementing a comprehensive risk-based fiscal framework and prioritizing the rebuilding of fiscal buffers, the Ghanaian government can mitigate identified risks, promote economic stability and growth, and ensure the sustainability of the country’s debt in the long term.
Popular award-winning Nigerian singer, Davido, has disclosed why he chose not to include a tribute to his late son Ifeanyi Adeleke in his fourth studio album, “Timeless.”
The album, since its release, has received mixed reactions from some fans and social media users.
While some are banging to the new tune, others claim it did not meet their expectations.
Some critics were expecting that the album will somewhat be centered on the singer’s deceased son, however, he decided to make it more fun.
But responding to questions about why he did not sing about his the pain of losing his son, Davido said his main goal was to release a classic album with no emotions attached.
At a press conference in Lagos, he maintained that fans who have followed his 12-year career can attest that he has always been a cheerful person.
Davido continued by saying that if any melancholy songs were to appear, they would be part of a completely other production because he never intended to combine them.
Read reactions that trailed the press conference
big_rex_: “Unah just dey promote album up and down make unah leave album make he sell he self ask wiz for updates”
godwin_dxb: “Godson na 30bg now”
_khay001: “Those people expecting sad song are out of there senses , which parent will have the courage to sing tribute for there kid”
pablobil;z: “Wettin Godson deh find for here Wiz and David too Sabi this music business thing!”
bigboddy001: “Best video am watching today see godson beside David woow “
maco_spako88: “He doesn’t want his fanbase to be emotional”
A resident of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, informed the BBC that she had run out of drinking water as violence between opposing forces has continued there for a fourth day.
“This morning we ran out,” Duaa Tariq admitted, adding that she was reserving one bottle specifically for her two-year-old child.
There are ongoing efforts to persuade the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) organization to enforce a 24-hour ceasefire.
In certain residential parts of the capital, the RSF has started plundering.
Residents of the Khartoum 2 area told the BBC that the RSF militia had been going home-to-home in the neighbourhood demanding water and food.
Heavy bombardments and black smoke can be seen around the airport, which is in the centre of Khartoum and right next to the military headquarters, as tanks are reported on some streets.
Residential areas surround the airport and staff and patients at a nearby cancer hospital say there are trapped by the fighting.
A female patient at Al-Zara Hospital told the BBC on Monday the situation was deteriorating as there were no medicine or food. The hospital is already overcrowded as it took in patients from another hospital that had come under attack by the RSF.
Lack of supplies is a problem countrywide, in up to seven states, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Now most of the hospitals are reporting [being] out of medical supplies, blood bags, oxygen and other many important medicine and surgical kits,” WHO’s Sudan representative Dr Nima Saeed Abid told the BBC’s Newsday radio programme.
UN special envoy to Sudan Volker Perthes has told the BBC that he is in daily contact with the two generals whose forces are fighting for control, but he says they are not talking to each other.
Sudan’s de facto leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, told CNN earlier on Tuesday the ceasefire would start at 16:00 GMT. Some elements of the army have denied this.
RSF head Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is better known as Hemedti and is also Sudan’s deputy leader, tweeted that he had approved a ceasefire to ensure the evacuation of wounded civilians, but said previous deals to halt fighting had been violated.
Mr Perthes said agreements to pause the fighting for several hours on Sunday and Monday were not fully observed.
The Red Cross said it was receiving multiple calls for help from people trapped in their homes by the fighting – the city has an estimated population of 10 million residents.
But the aid group said providing humanitarian support was “almost impossible”, amid airstrikes and artillery attacks.
Around 185 people have been killed and more than 1,800 injured since the fighting erupted on Saturday, according to the UN.
For Ms Tariq the only safe place to be in her home is “one tiny corridor” where “we’re laying and spending the whole day” on one shared mattress.
“Most of the people [that] died, died in their houses with random bullets and missiles, so it’s better to avoid exposed places in the house” like windows, she said.
There is not sufficient light because there is no electricity, but she goes to a neighbour’s flat to charge her phone as they have a power bank.
“Last night I wasn’t able to sleep and I feel very sick,” she added.
A group in her community were forming a “crisis room,” and had “promised to provide food and water for those in need”, she said.
People are also organising anti-war campaigns online, she added.
Popular Ghanaian actress, Jackie Appiah’s son, Damien Agyemang, and his father, Peter Agyemang, have made an appearance at a public event together.
In a post shared on Instagram by popular blogger, Nkonkonsa, Peter Agyemang, who is Jackie’s ex-husband, can be seen standing next to their son Damien, who is now a teenager.
Both father and son are dressed in casual outfits and appear happy and relaxed in each other’s company.
In the video, Damien was spotted looking taller than his father, who put his hand on his son’s shoulder but was too short to reach his height.
A lot of people have commended the actress and her ex-husband for their dedication to co-parenting and the efforts they have taken to make sure their kid has a positive connection with both of them.
Damien has gained the couple’s attention recently as a result of his public appearances—first at his mother’s movie, and now with his father.
Jackie and her ex-husband wed in October 2005 and divorced in 2008 for reasons that the public is not aware of.
Despite divorcing, Jackie and Peter worked together to maintain their child, reports say.
Two dogs that attacked and killed a pensioner in her own garden were under the control of a guy who has pleaded guilty.
After being assaulted by the two American bulldogs and receiving a neck wound, Lucille Downer, 85, passed away in April 2021.
At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Darren Pritchard, 44, entered a guilty plea to having two dogs that were “dangerously out of control.”
In addition, he admitted to growing marijuana on the same Rowley Regis, West Midlands, street with the purpose to sell it.
Pritchard, of Merrivale Road in Smethwick, West Midlands, has been granted conditional bail until his sentencing on May 15.
Judge Michael Chambers KC told him: ‘You have had the courage to plead guilty to these matters and you will get appropriate credit (for pleading guilty) in due course.
‘But they are clearly serious matters which cross the custodial threshold so you should be under no illusion as to the likely sentence.’
The facts of the case were not opened by prosecutor Howard Searle during the hearing, which was told Pritchard had been ‘out of trouble since 2013’ at the time of Ms Downer’s death.
Ms Downer moved to the UK from Jamaica in her early 20s and was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
During her working years she worked as a cook at a care home in West Bromwich.
West Midlands Police said at the time that she suffered multiple injuries during the ‘sustained’ attack after the dogs escaped from a nearby property through a hole in a fence.
Her family said in a statement that they would ‘miss her dearly’.
Both dogs were handed over to police voluntarily at the time of the attack, but after receiving specialist advice they were put down as it was decided they could never be rehomed due to the violent act, the Independent reports.
Due to regional privacy rules, the victim, 36-year-old Mark C, has only been identified as Mark C. Last month, he and a buddy were out on a night out in Krakow when they went to a club called Wild Nights.
Due to free access, Mark was allegedly already intoxicated when he tried to decline the staff members’ repeated offers of beverages.
However, he took 22 strong bullets before he fell down and passed away.
According to Polish authorities, Mark was robbed of 2,200 złoty – the equivalent of £420 – while he was unconscious.
Last Thursday, police said they had charged 58 people with being part of organised crime group following a series of raids on nightclubs.
The Polish Central Police Investigation Bureau (CBSP) said the clubs ran a racket in which they would get customers drunk before stealing their money.
Polish police lead away one of the suspects in their nightclub investigation (Picture: SBSP/Newsflash)Authorities said crooked clubs ply unsuspecting victims with booze before robbing them (Picture: SBSP/Newsflash)
A video released by the agency showed suspects being arrested and electronic devices, computers, cash and phones being seized from the venues.
Among those arrested were the group who forced Mark to drink himself to death, they said.
In a statement, they said: ‘One of the leads investigated by the investigators in the case concerns the victim who was driven to a state of intoxication, causing loss of consciousness, and then death as a result of acute alcohol poisoning.’
They added: ‘The man was not given medical assistance during the incident. Provisional arrests were made against those suspected of this act.’
The investigation, which includes clubs in the capital of Warsaw as well as Krakow, is ongoing.
Weddings have evolved into a fashion statement in Ghana today, with couples practically competing with one another for the most lavish and opulent ceremonies.
This trend is often associated with huge wedding costs and items, to somewhat display the grand lifestyles of brides and grooms, or their respective families.
A report by Graphic Daily in 2018 revealed that for couples who want lavish ceremonies, anything less than GH¢90,000 means that their dream ceremony will be a mirage. This situation has landed many couples in huge bank debts as many go for loans just to fulfil their lavish wedding ceremonies.
It is against this backdrop that a young man has said that he would not spend more than GH¢1,000 on his wedding ceremony. He said, he would focus on getting only the items listed by the woman’s family, as the rest will be unnecessary to him.
“I would only spend 1k on my wedding. I would only buy the items on the wedding list provided by the girl’s family. When I do that, I know I have married the lady. Any other expenses would not be featured in my budget. If the lady wants anything extra, she must pay for it,” he explained in a viral video sighted on Twitter.
Another youth also said he would be willing to spend GH¢10,000 only for his wedding.
He said this is as a result of the country’s poor economy state. He believes there is life after a wedding, as such, it would be unwise for couples to empty their wallets for a single day’s event.
“So my wedding, I am not going to exceed more than GH¢10,000, if we exceed that amount, how are we going to survive when we finally settle together. The economy is very bad and so we must be very strategic and economic on spendings for wedding. If you pressure me for a GH¢50,000 and more wedding, I would quit,” he explained.
Trouble-causing media personality, Adu Safowaa, has opened fire on former beauty queen, Sally Amoakowaa aka Akua GMB.
Adu Safowaa, whilst sending a birthday message to Dr Kwaku Oteng for his 55th birthday, completely slammed Akua in the process.
Safowaa showered blessings on Dr Oteng and also praised him for not taking Akua GMB back after their marriage collapsed over alleged cheating on her part.
Addressing her derisively as ‘cheating k-legs’, Safowaa said: “Happy birthday to you Papa (Dr Dr Kwaku Oteng). I am so happy for you because destiny in its own time disconnected the pretentious multiple cheat victim player k legs…bless you a million times for not accepting k legs back. Enjoy your day,”
As the story goes, Akua GMB cheated on Dr Oteng and he divorced her.Adu Safowaa Slams Akua GMB
Check out Safowaa’s post below and drop your own two cents!
After a son and brother was killed outside of a train station, his family paid tribute to the person who was “taken so suddenly and violently.”
South London’s Norwood Road, close to Tulse Hill station, saw the stabbing of Filipe Oliveira, 20, on Saturday.
In an effort to fund £10,000 for funeral expenses, his family put up a GoFundMe campaign. The goal has already been reached.
‘Filipe was one of the funniest guys you could meet, and always placed his friends and family first,’ Soraia Oliveira, whose relationship to Filipe is unknown, wrote on the website.
‘He would be willing to give his last pound away to someone else who needed it and shared everything he had.
‘Filipe was a very spiritual person and was using this to find himself and to become the good strong young man we knew he would grow to be.’
Also writing on the page in Portuguese, Soraia added his death was caused by ‘senseless knife crime with no provocation’.
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‘He was a very much loved member of our family and his loss will be felt strongly forever,’ she added.
‘His friends are forever going to miss his company, jokes, laugh and smile.’
Soraia said ‘no one plans for someone to die at 20 years old’ when asking for help with the funeral, adding: ‘We love you forever.’
The Metropolitan Police is now looking to speak to any witnesses who may have seen a man who ran away from the scene.
Officers were called to the scene at around 5.55pm on Saturday and despite the efforts of paramedics, Filipe died at the scene.
It is thought he was stabbed in the doorway between the street and steps, leading to a communal area above the shops.
Detective chief inspector Kate Blackburn said: ‘Our investigation is making significant progress, but I am continuing to appeal for any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
‘I also want to hear from anyone who may have footage that will assist the investigation.
‘We are also keen to speak to a man described as black, of short build, who was wearing a blue hooded top and a blue Covid mask.
‘He ran away from the scene along Christchurch Road. I particularly want to hear from anyone who may have seen this man, or who has footage of him.
‘Of course, he may have discarded the mask shortly after the incident.’
No arrests have yet been made, but cordons in the area have since been removed.
Anyone with information should call 101 ref CAD 5605/15 Apr, or they can contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously.
Integrated marketing and communications company, Global Media Alliance has announced its preparedness to host the 7th edition of the prestigious Ghana Beverage Awards (GBA) scheduled to come off on Friday, April 21 2023 at the plush Kempinski Gold Coast City Accra.
According to the organizers, the awards night promises patrons a night full of captivating experiences whiles rewarding the ingenuity and effort of players in the beverage industry.
Speaking ahead of the event, Chief Executive Officer for Global Media Alliance, Ernest Boateng, lauded the participating beverage companies for their high level of participation in all activities that were earmarked to herald the awards night.
“As organizers, we followed with keen interest the high levels of energy and enthusiasm that was channeled into the various activities held to herald the main event and I must say that year’s participation has been exceptional. We would like to express our sincerest gratitude for your commitment, and we make a solemn promise to innovate and make GBA always worth looking forward to.
“Since inception, the awards scheme has grown on all levels including the number of votes, entries and categories; a true reflection of your growing acceptance of the scheme which we never take for granted. As always, we will continue to welcome and acknowledge your feedback, as part of efforts to cement the scheme’s position as a reference point for excelling beverage companies who have demonstrated commitment to satisfying the ever-changing needs of consumers,” he said.
He noted that his outfit is committed to providing an unforgettable experience for patrons and well-wishers of the beverage industry.
“Our theme which seeks to inspire excellence is the benchmark of the experience we seek to give patrons of the night. Trust our team of event managers to exceed the expectations of patrons.”
GBA is proudly supported by the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG), Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), Food Research Institute (FRI) under CSIR, Silverbird Cinemas, Perception Management International (PMI), Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).
Its media partners are Citi FM, Happy FM, YFM, Neesim FM Bolga Neesim FM Tamale, eTV Ghana, Mx 24, Business and Financial Times, Nyjdlive.com, Daily Guide, and GhanaWeb.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana (UG), Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, has inaugurated three modern classrooms to help facilitate teaching and learning in the institution.
The classrooms — an upgrade of the existing ones, are equipped with interactive screens, audio visual connectivity, cameras, teaching and learning software among others to allow students have real time lectures and interactions without necessarily being in the lecture halls.
The facilities, are located at the Oracca Tetteh/ Larwey Building &Staff Learning and Resource Centre at the Legon campus, the Basic Science Block at the University of Ghana Medical School at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KATH) and the Accra City Campus.
Commission
Inaugurating the facilities, Prof. Amfo explained that the facilities would help address the challenge of congested lecture halls and the school’s inability to admit qualified students yearly due to accommodation constraints.
The ceremony was part of a tour of the facilities led by the chairperson of the board of the university and former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Julius Fobil; the Registrar of the UG, Emelia Naa Agyei-Mensah and other staff members of the university.
She explained that the facilities were undertaken under the classroom modernisation project.
Initiative
The initiative, Prof. Amfo said, was a long-term project aimed at modernising teaching and learning facilities and expanding access to students.
With that initiative, lecturers and students would have access to modern technology, while allowing them to bring new resources from all over the internet to the classroom.
She indicated that what was being inaugurated was the first phase of the initiative as the second phase was underway.
Prof. Amfo stated that, “this would additionally manage numbers so that we don’t have overcrowded classrooms where students can be at various points and tune in to the classroom.
“Even when lecturers have to be away for conferences and so on, they would still be able to deliver lectures to students, “ she explained.
While charging management and students to ensure that a consistent plan was placed to maintain the equipment, Prof. Amfo assured that there were other projects such as
one student one laptop and also the hotspots comfort zones that were going to be implemented.
Support
The former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, expressed satisfaction at the work done to improve and strengthen the educational systems in the institution.
While commending the 1996 year group of the alumni association for donating the classroom at the Basic Science Block at the University of Ghana Medical School at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, she called on other year groups to contribute their quota in ensuring that the institution remained functional for other generations.
Expansion
Prof. Fobil commended the initiative, explaining that it was an effective measure to alleviate the accommodation needs of the institution.
He added that as a college, they were engaging other existing hospitals and institutions to collectively expand the admission intake to 1,000 students from the next academic year.
“So we are looking at the use of technology to expand the intake of students into the college and institution generally”, he said.
The move, which seeks to streamline discrepancies in the premix fuel distribution chain according to sector minister Mavis Hawa Koomson, will curb issues of middlemen, hoarding and corruption in the premix supply chain.
The minister revealed this to B&FT at the 2023 fishing closed season stakeholder engagement in Accra, and said: “By end of year, the majority of sites – about 20 – will have been completed and be dispensing fuel”.
Data from the Environment for Development (EfD) – a global network for environmental research – indicates that the cost of premix fuel is reduced by 70 percent to fishermen through subsidy.
The organisation says though the country expends US$40million each year on premix subsidies, only 20 percent of the amount goes to fishermen – as the supply system is characterised by illegalities and corrupt activities.
Madam Koomson however explained that automating the supply system is expected to block all loopholes and deter culprits from taking advantage to hoard the commodity.
2023 closed season
Commenting on implementation of the 2023 closed season, she said it is part of a series of strategies to recover fish stocks and ensure sustainable management of Ghana’s fisheries resources.
“We have all come to accept that there is a need to continue the closed season within the same period of July and August as implemented in 2021 and 2022, since it is the period of upwelling; upwelling is the best period for spawning,” she explained.
The ministry noted that the same pattern and months of July to August will be followed by both artisanal and industrial trawlers for this year’s closed season.
In recent times, Ghana’s fisheries sector has been threatened by depletion or decline of fish stocks – as shown by low catches by fishers in recent surveys.
This decline in catches, according to data from MoFAD, is the result of climate change, Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing, excessive fishing and overfishing, among other factors.
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) has estimated that Ghana loses more than US$200million to illegal fishing annually, with the canker still endemic.
The fishing industry in Ghana brings over US$500million into the economy every year, and employs over 3 million people in the value chain, according to MoFAD.
Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, was rejected his request to have the conditions of his espionage-related detention changed on Tuesday at a court hearing in Moscow.
The US citizen was detained in Russia last month as part of the Kremlin’s campaign against Western news organizations since it invaded Ukraine the previous year.
Until May 29, Gershkovich is being kept in a pre-trial detention facility at the notorious Lefortovo prison. On account of his espionage, he might spend up to 20 years in prison. The claims of spying against Gershkovich have been vigorously refuted by The Wall Street Journal.
He appeared in Moscow City Court to ask that his pre-trial detention be under house arrest rather than in jail.
He was pictured standing in a glass cage, standing with arms folded as journalists scrambled into the room. Gershkovich was smiling at times, in his glass cage, as proceedings were about to get underway.
During the hearing, he told the judge that he did not need the decision of his appeal translated into English. “No no, I don’t need translation,” said Gershkovich, who is a bilingual Russian-English speaker.
“On April 18, 2023, the Moscow City Court upheld the decision of the Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow dated March 30, 2023 against Evan Gershkovich, who is suspected of committing a crime under Art. 276 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation,” the court said in a statement.
Gershkovich’s legal team said it offered bail amounting to about $613,000 to the court to release the reporter from detention, but the court denied bail.
“We suggested that the court consider the choice of preventive measures not related to isolation from society, including house arrest, since Evan has a registration in the territory of Moscow; or a ban on certain actions; or a bail in the amount of 50 million rubles,” lawyer Maria Korchagina said.
“Dow Jones, the owner of the WSJ, provided a letter of guarantee that if Evan is released from custody, they are ready to provide bail in the amount of 50 million rubles. But our request was denied,” she added.
The US Ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, was photographed standing to the right of the cage with lawyers. Tracy said she spoke to Gershkovich on Monday, and he remains strong and is in good health.
“The charges against Evan are baseless, and we call on the Russian Federation to immediately release him,” she said, speaking after the court made its ruling on Tuesday.
Members of the press filmed Gershkovich and subsequently left the court room.
Tatyana Nozkhkina, a lawyer for Gershkovich, said later that his team will keep appealing against the detention of the reporter. The next court date is at the end of May, when the court is due to decide on an extension of his detention.
Nozkhkina said her client was keeping in good spirits in jail, reading Russian classic novels as well as watching cooking shows on TV and exercising.
“He does not complain,” she said outside the court.
Gershkovich’s arrest marked the first detention of an American reporter in Russia on allegations of spying since the Cold War, rattling White House officials and further straining ties between Moscow and Washington.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed his arrest on Sunday, according to a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, as relations between both parties have soured since the Kremlin launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Russia’s main security service, the FSB, claimed that Gershkovich, a correspondent based in Moscow, had been trying to obtain state secrets. The Wall Street Journal categorically rejected the accusation.
Last week, the US State Department officially designated Gershkovich as wrongfully detained in Russia, giving further backing to the assertions by the US government and the Wall Street Journal that the espionage charges against the reporter are unfounded.
US President Joe Biden has also been blunt about Gershkovich’s arrest, urging Russia to “let him go.”
In December, the US negotiated the release of basketball star Brittney Griner, detained last year on what the US described as false drug smuggling charges, in a prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. But the swap did not include another American whom the State Department has declared to be unlawfully detained, Paul Whelan.
As US officials begin to consider ways to secure Gershkovich’s release, some are concerned about a prisoner swap in this case incentivizing the detainment of American journalists.
Convenor of the Individual Bondholders Forum, Senyo Hosi, has described the policy document of the government’s second round of debt exchange programme as a “good deal.”
According to him, the terms of this policy are more favourable in comparison to the earlier debt restructuring exercise and thus must be critically analysed by pension funds that are its target.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, he said, “It’s a good deal, no two ways about that. That it is technically or financially a good deal, but inherent may be political risk. But outside of that is a political risk that pension funds will always have to face because their liabilities are long term not short term.”
He noted that the main opposition to the programme from the labour unions is due to the government once again not prioritizing stakeholder consultations.
“I don’t think that if government manages the consultation properly and the communication properly, it can’t get some progress with the labour unions and the trustees. You could hear from the trustees – because they’re a bit more technical – and they realize that if you’re actually looking at boosting pensions returns of the union members, it is rather the deal you should take.
According to police officials, at least 13 persons have passed away from heatstroke in the western Indian state of Maharashtra after attending a state award ceremony on Sunday where a senior government official was present.
Between 50 and 60 individuals were hospitalized in Navi Mumbai, the place where the event was held, according to a city police official who wanted to remain anonymous because he is not permitted to speak to the media.
The total number of people affected by the event’s intense heat is thought to be significantly higher because many people would have sought out medical attention in their neighborhood.
The state government will provide 500,000 rupees ($6,095) in compensation to the families of the deceased and cover medical expenses of those undergoing treatment, according to a statement from Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s office issued Sunday.
In the statement, Shinde described the deaths following the ceremony as “very painful and unfortunate.”
During the event, the guest of honor, Home Minister Amit Shah, praised the crowd for braving the 42C (107 Fahrenheit) temperatures to attend the outdoor ceremony.
Temperatures in the state are expected to remain high this week, according to India’s Meteorological Department, though the department had not issued a heat wave alert for Maharashtra as of Monday.
Heat waves in India usually take place between March and July, but in recent years these hot spells have become more intense, more frequent and longer.
Last year, India experienced a searing heatwave, where parts of the country reached more than 49C (120F). By July, India had recorded 24 heatwave deaths, Reuters reported, citing data provided by India’s science and technology and earth sciences minister, Jitendra Singh.
In a post on Twitter, Franklin Cudjoe questioned the rationale behind paying import tax more than half the value of the imported product. According to him, Ghana’s import tax can simply be described as a state-motivated crime.
“How do you buy a car abroad for GHS 114,000 and pay a total tax of nearly 74,000 just to clear the car for use? This is state-sponsored thuggery,” Franklin Cudjoe explained in a tweet published on his Twitter page.
He added that, the phenomenon accounts largely for the practice of tax evasion at the various borders and ports of the country.
“This is why importers collude with custom officers to evade taxes,” another part of the tweet read.
Earlier this year in January, the Association of Customs House Agents, Ghana (ACHAG) expressed their disappointment in the government over the complete reversal of the discount policy on import duties at the ports.
Speaking on behalf of the association, Yaw Kyei, the president of the association explained that his outfit is unhappy because of the exchange rate volatility negatively affecting trade. He said the discount policy served as a cushioning for importers.
The Government of Ghana, through the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, in 2019, applied a 50 percent discount on duties payable on all general goods, and 30 percent discount on vehicles to encourage more importation and tax compliance as well as alleviate the economic burden on the trading and consuming public. This discount was further reduced to 30 percent and 10 percent respectively in 2021. However, beginning January 1, 2023, the discount policy has been scrapped.
April 24 has been declared a public holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr celebration. This was announced by the Ministry of Interior, in a statement, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
He explained that the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration falls on Saturday and as such the President through an Executive Instrument declared April 24 as a public holiday.
“The general public is hereby notified that Saturday, 22nd April 2023, marks Eid-ul-Fitr which is a statutory holiday.”
“However, in view of the fact that 22nd April falls on a Saturday, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, has by Executive Instrument (E), in accordance with Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, (Act 601) declared Monday, 24th April 2023 as an additional public holiday and should be observed as such throughout the country.”
This year’s month-long fasting by Muslims started on March 22, 2023, to mark the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
Muslims believe the Holy Quran was revealed in Ramadan and throughout the month, they fast and engage in other rituals to get closer to Allah.
Eid-ul-Fitr is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm).
The day marks the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting.
Musician Medikal has caused a stir in a new video after he showed up with a sort of vampire’s teeth.
Medikal appears to have fixed a new set of teeth that is giving a vampire vibe.
For the second time, the musician is seen with some strange set of teeth as he addresses issues pertaining to the viral lookalikes.
He has noted that he does not have a problem with them doing their things to trend but they should rather be original and follow their own path instead of copying other people’s brands.
Medikal denied claims that he does not want the lookalikes to hit.
According to him, he wishes the best for them but it would be better if they use the attention and the fame they have gained to build up something original for themselves.
Whilst Medikal was speaking, his vampire’s teeth were on full display flashing here and there.
Social media users are currently asking what happened to Medikal’s teeth. Has it been like this all this while or it’s artificial?
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has revealed that, with just a few days left in its special revenue mobilization exercise from March 20 to April 20, it has recovered nearly half of the GHc5.7 billion in customer debt it had hoped to recover.
While the amount is nowhere near its targeted 100 per cent recovery, the company says it is a positive sign that with a little more effort, it will further improve, adding that it is going to use the final days to aggressively round off the exercise.
The Director of Communications of the ECG, William Boateng, explained that the final days of the exercise should not be seen as being used to harass anyone or any industry, saying: “Unfortunately, we have to recover the debt to sustain not just our business but also the power production chain.”
“We owe the independent power producers (IPPs) and they have already indicated that they risk scaling down operations if the bills are not settled.
“Now where we are, we need to let the value chain survive. The value chain must be stable, else the power sector will suffer. We want customers to appreciate the fact that we are not out to harass them,” he told the Daily Graphic in an interview to give an update on the exercise.
Mobilisation exercise
Last month, the ECG announced that it was embarking on a revenue mobilisation exercise from March 20 to April 20 to recover all debts owed by all categories of customers, including state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
Only critical installations, such as the National Security and public health facilities, were exempted from the exercise
The company began the exercise by temporarily closing down all its administrative offices to deploy its staff to be collectors on the field during the one-month period.
The exercise is currently operational in each district and has the full backing of the Energy Ministry.
Rationale
Explaining the rationale for the exercise, the Managing Director of the ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama, told the Daily Graphic that the debt situation had reached worrying levels, for which reason it had become important to ensure that it was improved to preserve the integrity of the company.
He said while the company had an idea about the debt situation, the picture was better painted after it upgraded its digitalisation process, saying there was the need to reverse the situation before it negatively affected its operation.
“We buy power to sell and we cannot allow this situation to happen. After providing the service and the power is consumed, bills are in arrears of this huge amount, and that cannot continue to happen. We have to stay in business; our suppliers also need to stay in business, and so we are going all out to recover the arrears.
“It has got to a point where everyone needs to help. This is non-partisan, so we must all pay our bills to continue to enjoy power,” the ECG MD stressed.
Successful
Mr Boateng noted that the exercise had so far been successful, given the teamwork, camaraderie and support of administrative staff, among other things.
The understanding of all, he said, was that the company had to survive, and in order to do that, it had to retrieve money owed it, so that it would remain in operation and settle its indebtedness as well.
He said the support from the public was also an encouragement, saying the staff of the company had visited virtually all of its special load tariff (SLT) customers and others and that the work was still ongoing.
The ECG Director of Communications said some payments had been made by customers, while others had made arrangements with payment plans.
On the revised decision of not allowing regions and districts to negotiate payment with indebted customers, he said the company expected customers who were in business, SLT and others to see the payment of the usage of power as an essential line item in their scheme of things.
Asked whether the period for the exercise would be extended after April 20, he said for now there was no plan to extend the period, adding: “However there will be an evaluation of the work that has been undertaken, and based on the outcome, the management will decide if it has to be extended or not, and that that will inform the next line of action.
“However, the revenue mobilisation teams will be out to continue from where the special exercise will leave off.”
Private sector principles
Mr Boateng said going forward, the company was going to adopt the private sector approach in its operations to ensure that it became more efficient and also effective in its revenue mobilisation activities.
The company, he said, revised its strategy because it could not continue doing the same thing and expect different results.
“That is how we are going to turn the company around because we have reached a stage where we think we should bring private sector principles into the public sector, so that the ECG becomes viable for the benefit of all of us,” he said.
With the demand for regular and uninterrupted power supply, he said, there was the need to make the company very viable.
He advised customers, particularly businesses, to see power as an essential component of their production, so that just as they planned and made provision for other production materials, so must they make provision to pay for power and not treat it as an after thought.
“We want customers to know that we are not at war with them, nor are we anti-industrialisation. We are just saying that we have reached a stage where if we want to improve on our services and provide stable power supply, we have to pay for power.
“Just as they make allocation or plans for raw materials or other essentials for their businesses and production, so must they make plans for the power they require to operate. That is an essential component of business; without it, there is no business at all,” Mr Boateng stressed.
The Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Constituency branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Western Region is embroiled in a dispute following the suspension of some of the constituency executives by the Regional Executives.
The executives have been suspended for allegedly hooting at the incumbent MP for the area, Kofi Arko Nokoe, during a recent visit by former President John Dramani Mahama.
According to a report by Dailyguidenetwork.com, the suspended executives include the Chairman, Emmanuel Ennor Kwofie, the Secretary, Gideon Ansah Mensah, and Organiser, one Obosu.
They have been accused of showing indiscipline during the former president’s visit when some members of the party in a particular T-shirt allegedly hooted at the sitting MP, causing those present huge embarrassment. The chairman’s wife’s supporters, who reportedly want to contest the upcoming parliamentary primaries, were among those who hooted at the incumbent MP while he was with the former president.
In a statement issued by the Regional Secretariat of the party and signed by its Secretary, Joseph Nelson, confirmed the suspension. The statement noted that the campaign tour of ex-President Mahama in the area on March 26, 2023, witnessed an unfortunate incident, and a circular was issued from the Regional Secretariat cautioning that no parliamentary aspirant should be allowed to use the occasion to campaign for themselves.
The statement added that as the Constituency Chairman, Emmanuel Ennor Kwofie, had the responsibility to ensure compliance with the party’s directive and protect the party from public ridicule, which did not happen.
Therefore, the Regional Executives at their meeting on April 6, 2023, and in reference to Article 48 Clause 8 subsection ‘C’ of the party’s constitution, took a decision to suspend him for a period of three months. The chairman’s suspension takes immediate effect, and his case will be referred to the Disciplinary Committee of the region for adjudication.
It is noteworthy that some branch executives of NDC in the constituency previously expressed their displeasure with the regional executives for allegedly trying to let the incumbent MP go unopposed in the party’s upcoming parliamentary primaries.
Meanwhile, the constituency chairman according to the Daily Guide report has refused to comment on the matter.
Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Habib Iddrisu and his colleague Member of Parliament and Minister of Sports, Mustapha Ussif, are in the holy land of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
The duo were captured in the ihram (traditional Islamic covering for male pilgrims) attending Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) in Mecca.
Photos being shared on Facebook by the deputy Majority Chief Whip on Facebook, captures the two MPs in the company of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.
They are captured in the Haram (the immediate precincts of the Kabah) where most pilgrims gather to pray on a daily basis.
Dangote is wearing dark shades and holding a face mask with Habib and Ussif standing to his right side.
Aside the two MPs, Tamale North lawmaker, Alhassan Suhuyini has also been spotted separately in Mecca performing the Umrah rites. Alhassan Tampuli, Farouk Aliu Mahama and Ibrahim Murtala-Mohammed are also in Saudi.
Ramadan is a busy season for the cities of Mecca and Medina, as people throng in from across the world to undertake the Umrah in the blessed season of worship.
Kumawood actress, Vivian Jill Lawrence, has responded to claims that most actresses are currently engaging in prostitution due to the seeming collapse of the movie industry.
Earlier in a viral video, actor, and film producer, Kwame Borga, alleged that over 70% of Kumawood actresses have ventured into ‘hookup’, a modern-day term used to describe prostitution.
His claims touched the nerves of some actors and even attracted a lawsuit from Mercy Asiedu and her husband, Nana Agyeman Badu I.
Miracle Films CEO, Mr. Samuel Nyamekye, also threatened to sue the filmmaker in an earlier interview on Hello FM.
In an interview with the station’s Dave Hammer, Vivian Jill issued her displeasure after her views were sought.
Refuting the ‘hookup’ claims, the popular actress stressed that asides from acting, she runs a number of businesses including selling charcoal.
“Some of us have been tagged in a certain light so if you raise some accusations against us, it serves as a confirmation. You know that I work like a beast. Not too long ago, I started loading charcoal to Tema.
“Asides from acting, some of us have things to do. Even this morning, I have gone to do some work rounds before coming here.
“I don’t do hookups. I haven’t even heard of it until recently. In our time, you can’t even date someone you don’t know, how much more being invited by a stranger? You can’t say some things and expect us to keep quiet over it,” she emphasized.
Reginald Yaw Asante Osei, professionally called Reggie Rockstone, who originated Hiplife has disclosed that before he ever became a music maker, he first dreamed of becoming an actor.
The rap superstar who turned 59 on Friday, April 14, 2023, revealed to Nana Kwesi Asare on Class 91.3 FM’s ‘The Big Show’, Saturday, that he is coming out with a movie.
“I have a docu-movie coming up,” he said. “I have a movie coming up.”
“I originally aspired to be an actor, remember this,” he noted. “Music came by, by default.”
“I went to drama school in the West and everything,” he revealed. “So docu-movie, that’s loading.”
He stated that he still works with “a lot of young musicians,” and is “actually trying to put out an album just to change the narrative and to show people that you could be as old as you are and still put out quality music.”
Mr Rockstone said he has observed American rapper Jay Z’s age, 53, “and what he is doing,” regardless, and declared that he wants to “push it even further.”
“When you think about it, James Brown was still making music before he died – Michael Jackson [too] and they were grown,” he mentioned, noting that: “It seems to have a different narrative when it comes to Hiphop and Rap.”
People usually say, “Oh, it’s a young man’s game,” he bemoaned. “And I’m thinking, well, if it’s a young man’s game, I’m doing 100 pushups every day and I can run, I don’t have a potbelly, still got all my teeth in my mouth, my blood pressure is steady, I eat right. What are you telling me!”
The ‘Plan Ben’ hitmaker laughed in defiance and quizzed: “What strength is really needed to rap? Is it not your tongue and mind? So, that’s it and I want to change the story.
“I want to set it up where, when [someone like rapper] Sarkodie is 50, in his 50s, he could still be putting out music and being himself because I’ve changed the story.”
According to the Saudi Press Agency, Mahamat Idriss Déby, the president of the Transitional Military Council of Chad, met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday in Jeddah.
Together, they talked about problems of mutual interest as well as bilateral relations and collaboration in all areas.
Also present were Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, Advisor at the Royal Court Ahmed Qattan, and the Kingdom’s ambassador to Chad, Amer bin Ali Al-Shehri.
Present during the meeting from the Chadian side was Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif and accompanying Chadian officials.
The two nations have maintained cooperation, exchanging phone calls and discussing issues of common interest over the last few years.
On January 23, 2023, the Saudi Crown Prince received a message from the chairman of the Transitional Military Council of Chad, regarding relations between the two countries.
The call came during a visit between Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal and his Chadian counterpart Mahamat Saleh Annadif.
The two held a meeting where they also discussed bilateral relations, opportunities for cooperation in various fields, and regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with the chairman of Chad’s transitional military council Mahamat Idriss Déby on April 27, 2022.
The pair discussed bilateral relations, aspects of cooperation in all fields, and the latest regional and international developments.
Déby arrived in Jeddah earlier that week and was received by the Governor of Makkah province Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.
The two countries have continuously discussed ways to support cooperation to serve common interests through phone calls and visits.
Prince Faisal exchanged a phone call with his Chadian counterpart Mahamat Zene Cherif on September 14, 2022.
At the beginning of the call, Prince Faisal congratulated the Chadian foreign minister on the success of the comprehensive national dialogue in his country, wishing for more security and stability for Chad and its people.
The two also reviewed relations between the two countries and discussed ways to support and enhance them to serve common interests, in addition to exchanging views on regional and international issues of common interest.
The two countries have enhanced their partnerships to support the common interest of their people including work in humanitarian aid.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center delivered support to the Ministry of Public Health and National Solidarity in Chad to prevent and respond to the malaria epidemic in November of 2022.
The Chadian Minister of Public Health and National Solidarity, Dr. Abdelmadjid Abderahim, and the Kingdom’s ambassador to Chad, Amer bin Ali Al-Shehri were both present when the aid was delivered.
Abderahim expressed his thanks and gratitude for the support.
While many creatives are eager for the spotlight, D’lioness basks in the comfort of working behind the scenes in the creative industry.
With her pen, Benedicta Delali Agbeko, known by her stage name as D’lioness writes eloquently and connects her words with emotions that creates a lasting soothing memory that will certainly reassure you of the power of words.
Whether her audience is a single mother in Virginia, a small group of African Americans visiting the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana for the first time, or a robust and vibrant crowd of over 5 thousand people at a summer festival in Bulgaria, her poetic style cuts across and earns her a standing ovation.
During the height of the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020, D’lioness embraced her pen once again and drew inspiration from a song titled “Let it rain” by the German Rap Legend, Nana Darkman. This original song was released in 1997 and it was a massive hit.
D’lioness was inspired by the song and decided to use the title to create a thought-provoking spoken word poem with that phrase and melody.
The piece she created ended up on Nana Darkman’s “Lockdown” EP beaming as the interlude of the project.
During Nana Darkman’s performance at the SPICE festival in Bulgaria 2021, Nana played the D’lioness “Let it Rain” Interlude live on stage in front of about 5 thousand fans and it received a standing ovation from the energetic crowd.
She has written and co-written numerous lyrics, poetic pieces, and monologues and has also worked in some managerial and corporate roles in the industry.
She hints that the next chapter of her life and career will be a surprise, perhaps just as wine becomes better with age and time, she will grace the stage and bring her long-brewing words to life.
In May 2022, D’lioness was appointed to be the project coordinator of the “Ghanapreneur” reality show. She also doubled as a judge with the Ghanaian hip-life legend and MOBO award winner, Tic Tac. Coach Ekow Eshun who is a renowned life and business coach was also part of the judges. The show is expected to be aired in the latter part of 2023.
Find the link to the interlude and the clip from Bulgaria 2021 below.
Notorious Chinese galamsey queen, Aisha Huang has revealed circumstances that led to her return to the country after she was repatriated.
According to her, one of the reasons was that she had missed her husband, one Kofi Amoah, who was still in the country, hence her return.
“When we asked her why she came into Ghana, she stated that she had missed her husband, whose name she gave as one Prince Amoah, and that she had come to visit him,” the 10th Prosecution Witness told the court.
According to the Criminal High Court in Accra presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo that, Aisha Huang, re-entered into Ghana through the Aflao Port after she was repatriated in 2018.
The notorious Chinese galamsey queen according to investigators said she came back to the country because of her husband.
Aisha Huang is facing four charges namely; undertaking a mining operation without a licence, facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation, illegal employment of foreign nationals, and entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entering.
She has pleaded not guilty and has since been remanded into prisons custody while the trial is ongoing.
In court on Monday, April 17, 2023, an Inspector of the Ghana Police Service, currently seconded to the Ministry of National Security as a Detective, Simon Nyaho, explained to the court how Aisha Huang re-entered the country upon his team’s investigation.
He told the court that on September 6, 2022, his team was tasked to investigate the circumstances under which the accused person re-entered the country and the activities she was engaged in since her re-entry.
“We secured a court order to enable us conduct a further search of the residence of the accused person,” Detective Nyaho told the court as he read his witness statement to the court.
He added that at Aisha Huang’s residence “we found 19 bottles of substances which was later confirmed by the Ghana Standards Authority to be mercury, 200 pieces of AA cartridges and a warehouse containing toiletries, groceries, excavator parts and other Chinese consumables.
“We also took custody of two metal safes earlier retrieved from the residence of the accused person by Officers of the Defence Intelligence.
“I together with my team interrogated the accused person and she stated that she re-entered Ghana through the Aflao Port,” Detective Nyaho told the court.
Detective Nyaho who is the 10th Prosecution Witness in the ongoing trial said “When we asked her why she came into Ghana, she stated that she had missed her husband, whose name she gave as one Prince Amoah, and that she had come to visit him.”
The Witness told the court that after interrogation “we took a statement on caution from the accused person dated 28th September 2022, and with the permission of the court I wish to tender it in evidence.”
He said the two passport were handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service.
Further Investigations
Detective Nyaho said he knew the accused person En Huang also known as Ruixia Huang after she was handed over to his office on September 2, 2022 for further investigation, by the Ghana Immigration Service who had earlier on caused her arrest.
According to him, she was handed over together with the following items; yellow fever vaccination card, COVID 19 vaccination card, Non-Citizen Ghana card application form with its payment receipts, and two passports from the Peoples Republic of China.
“One of the passports had the name En Huang with passport number G39575625,” and “The date of birth on the passport is 7th July 1986, issued in Ningxia, China on 14th January 2010 and it was to expire on 13th January 2020.
“The place of birth indicated in the passport is Nei Mongol. It has a picture of the accused person,” the Witness told the court.
He said “The second passport had the name Ruixia Huang with number EE9994609,” and “The date of birth on the passport is 7th November 1975, issued in Fujian, China on 14th January 2019 and is to expire on 13th January 2029.
“The place of birth indicated in this passport is Fujian. This passport also has a picture of the accused person,” Detective Nyaho noted.
Evidence
The witness while being led by Mercy Arthur, a Principal State Attorney, identified certain documents retrieved during investigations and same were admitted into evidence.
The documents tendered in evidence are a Yellow fever vaccination card bearing the name Huang Ruxia and a non-Citizen Ghana identity card bearing the name En Huang.
A covid 19 vaccination card bearing the name Huang Ruxia and an Application form for a non-citizen identity card also bearing the name En Huang.
Aside from that, Aisha Huang’s three separate ailment receipts bearing the name – Huang En and investigation cautioned statement of the accused person.
EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, reports that the mouth of the witness was sealed by counsel for Aisha Huang, led by Lawyer Miracle Attachey.
Public Utilities Workers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress are displeased with the nomination of Collins Nuntwiri Nuamah as Deputy Managing Director, Finance and Administration for the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).
They have therefore petitioned the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources against the nomination.
According to the Union, Mr. Nuamah does not have the required qualification for the job and thus should not be considered for the position.
In press statement protesting Mr. Nuamah’s nomination, the Union said, “the position of Deputy Managing Director, Finance and Administration requires a person who among other qualifications and experience, should be a certified Chartered Accountant belonging to an accredited institute of Chartered Accountants.
“The information we have gathered indicates that Mr. Collins Nuntwiri Nuamah is not a Chartered Accountant and is thus not qualified to be appointed as a Deputy Managing Director, Finance and Administration.”
It added that “it would therefore be anomalous and ludicrous for GWCL to be given a non-chartered Accountant to superintend the work of subordinates who are qualified chartered Accountants.”
This, the Union, stressed will create “avoidable tension and chaos within the company.”
Brazil’s president was harshly criticized by the White House for saying that the US had encouraged the conflict in Ukraine.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stated the US needs to “start talking about peace” when he made the remark at the conclusion of his weekend visit to Beijing.
John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House on national security, claimed today that Mr. Lula was “parrotingRussian and Chinese propaganda” with his comments.
The leader of Brazil is “simply misguided,” he continued.
Despite having the highest capital finance in Africa for e-mobility start-ups, Kenya lags behind its neighboring countries in terms of electric vehicle adoption with only 350 EVs on its roads.
Tanzania takes the lead in e-mobility, with at least 5,000 electric vehicles, despite having just 11 e-mobility businesses and a total funding raised of just over $1 million.
Tanzania’s large market and relatively low level of competition make it attractive to e-mobility companies.
Kenya currently has an estimated 350 electric vehicles on its roads despite the fact that there are about 40 Kenyan e-mobility start-ups that have so far attracted $52 million in capital finance, the highest amount in Africa, as per the African E-Mobility Alliance (AFEMA).
In contrast, Tanzania now has at least 5,000 electric vehicles but just 11 e-mobility businesses, with a total funding raised to date of just over $1 million.
In terms of e-mobility, Rwanda has roughly 900 EVs on the road, while Uganda, which has nine startups that have raised $5 million, is far ahead of Kenya.
Kenya is usually regarded as a continental leader in technology and innovation, particularly in the East African sub-continent, however, the country falls far behind its neighbors in terms of electric mobility, as seen above, while Tanzania clearly takes the lead in this futuristic economic solution. This is partly due to the fact that the EV sector in Kenya is primarily run by the private sector, while the EV sectors in Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda, are largely fueled by government intervention.
Fortunately, the Kenyan government has been reaching agreements, making concessions, and offering incentives to speed up the adoption of electric vehicles. The country wants at least 104,000 electric vehicles, or 5% of all vehicles on its roads by 2025 to cut greenhouse gas emissions and boost the effectiveness of road transportation.
Additionally, the AFEMA report notes that Tanzania’s large market and relatively low level of competition make it attractive to e-mobility companies. However, several obstacles are preventing widespread adoption, including high import taxes, unclear government policy, a lack of funding, a shortage of technicians, poor access to the electricity grid, and a lack of consumer education.
According to estimates, 1 in 250 cars worldwide is electric, giving them a market share of about 2.2%.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that while countries work to decarbonize road transport, which is responsible for 16% of global emissions, sales of EVs worldwide more than doubled in 2021 from the previous year to a new record of 6.6 million, up from just 120,000 sold in 2012.
According to a recent Business Insider Africa study, Tanzania is on track to overtake Kenya as East Africa’s second-largest economy. This article highlighted that Tanzania’s desire for more foreign direct investments, a favorable business climate, and intra-continental trade are the drivers behind Tanzania’s quick development.
Cairo authorities claim that since fighting broke out between different military factions on Saturday, they have been working around the clock to ensure the safety of Egyptian people who live, work, and study in the neighboring Sudan.
The two generals who took control of Sudan in a coup in 2021—the army head, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is in charge of the potent paramilitary Rapid Support Forces—had been engaged in power conflicts for weeks before the violence broke out.
As of Monday, the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 97 civilians, according to medics who spoke to the AFP news agency. Authorities in Cairo say they are alert to the deteriorating situation and the safety of their citizens caught up in the violence.
There are an estimated 10,000 Egyptian citizens currently in Sudan, including around 5,000 students, most of whom live in the capital, Khartoum, which has witnessed significant clashes in recent days.
In a statement, Soha Gendy, Egypt’s minister of emigration and expatriate affairs, said it was difficult to provide an accurate figure for the number of Egyptians currently in Sudan as many do not register upon arrival.
Nevertheless, the presence of such a large Egyptian community in Sudan represents a serious diplomatic challenge for Cairo, which is striving to achieve stability for its crisis-stricken neighbor while at the same time looking out for the safety of its citizens.
Among those based in the county are a large number of Egyptian engineers developing water management infrastructure and irrigation systems on the Nile River in cooperation with their Sudanese counterparts.
Hani Sewilam, Egypt’s minister of water resources and irrigation, says he and his colleagues have been in constant contact with his ministry’s mission in Sudan to check on the condition of its workforce, particularly those operating in areas of conflict.
Sewilam confirmed in a statement that he is following up around the clock on the situation of the mission’s personnel in Sudan and is coordinating with the relevant ministries to provide all necessary care and support.
“The Egyptian irrigation mission in Sudan includes a number of Egyptian experts, engineers, and workers,” Ahmed Abdel Moaty, an Egyptian commentator, told Arab News.
“It is a mission that has existed for years, especially with the increase in cooperation between the two countries in the field of irrigation and water resources.”
Of particular concern are the many Egyptian students studying at Sudanese universities.
Ayman Ashour, Egypt’s minister of higher education and scientific research, said his department is in regular contact with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help ensure their safety.
“The cultural affairs and missions’ sector in the ministry will send emails to Egyptian students studying in Sudanese universities to check on their safety,” he said in a statement.
“The Egyptian Embassy in Khartoum confirmed the stability of the conditions of Egyptian students and that it is in constant contact with our students around the clock until the end of the current situation.”
The minister urged Egyptian students in Sudan to communicate with the embassy if they are in need of support or if they are exposed to threats to their safety.
Since the uptick in violence began over the weekend, Khartoum and other cities across Sudan have witnessed air strikes, tanks on the streets, artillery fire and heavy gunfire in crowded neighborhoods, triggering international calls for an immediate ceasefire.
On Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Sudan’s warring parties to “immediately cease hostilities, restore calm, and begin a dialogue to resolve the crisis.”
Guterres said “any further escalation” of the conflict between the army and paramilitary forces led by rival generals “could be devastating for the country and the region.”
Meanwhile, Egyptian officials have been working behind the scenes to help reduce tensions.
In a statement, Obaida ElDandarawy, head of the Egyptian delegation participating in a meeting of the Council of the League of Arab States to address the crisis, stressed the necessity of “coordinating Arab positions to restore stability in Sudan, as Sudan is an integral part of Egyptian and Arab national security.”
ElDandarawy called on the Sudanese parties to exercise restraint.
In a statement to Arab News, he said: “The Egyptian missions in Sudan, including the educational missions, Al-Azhar, the Egyptian Irrigation Mission, the National Bank of Egypt, the Egyptian consulates in Port Sudan and Wadi Halfa, as well as the Egyptian private sector companies, EgyptAir, and the Middle East News Agency, are all safe.
“Sudan represents the strategic depth of Egypt, as the fate of the people of the Nile Valley is a common destiny, and I affirm Egypt’s support for stability in Sudan and the need to settle contentious points to get out of the current crisis.”
In a phone call on Monday, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, secretary-general of the Arab League, spoke to Abdalla Hamdok, the former prime minister of Sudan removed in the 2021 coup, during which they exchanged views on the current crisis and ways to stop military confrontations in the country.
According to his spokesperson, Aboul Gheit told Hamdok that escaping the current crisis will require all components of the political spectrum, whether civilians or military, to unite and work together in the public interest.
Aboul Gheit agreed with Hamdok on the priority of de-escalation, the immediate cessation of armed clashes, ensuring the security of the civilian population, and restoring calm, and emphasizing that all problems can be addressed through dialogue.
On Sunday, Aboul Gheit also spoke to Guterres, during which he discussed ways of coordination between the Arab League and the UN in dealing with the ongoing crisis in Sudan.
The RSF was created under Sudan’s former ruler Omar Al-Bashir in 2013. It emerged from the Janjaweed militia that his government unleashed against non-Arab ethnic minorities in Darfur a decade earlier, drawing accusations of war crimes.
The latest fighting broke out after disagreements between Burhan and Dagalo over the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army — a key condition for a final deal aimed at ending a crisis since the 2021 coup.
The coup derailed a transition to civilian rule following the 2019 ouster of Al-Bashir, triggering international aid cuts and sparked near-weekly protests met by a deadly crackdown.
Burhan, who rose through the ranks under the three-decade rule of now-jailed Al-Bashir, has said the coup “necessary” to include more factions in politics.
Dagalo later called the coup a “mistake” that failed to bring about change and reinvigorated remnants of Al-Bashir’s regime ousted by the army in 2019 following mass protests.
The two sides accuse each other of starting the fighting, and both claim to be in control of key sites, including the airport and the presidential palace.
On Monday, the RSF claimed on its social media accounts to have taken control of Merowe Airport, about 350 km north of Khartoum.
“The strategic goal of the Rapid Support Forces in Merowe is not the airport, but rather the Merowe Dam,” Hassan Al-Saouri, a Sudanese political expert and professor of political science, said in a statement circulated by activists on social media.
“It is true that Merowe Airport is the alternative to Khartoum International Airport, but the Rapid Support Forces seem to be targeting the Merowe Dam specifically, given that it works to guard it and therefore can control it, stop it, and form an economic blockade by striking energy as it controls water in the northern region of Sudan, which is an important, vital, and strategic area for Sudan.”
Netizens are reacting to a viral video where Nigerian singer, Davido, came into contact with a crossdresser on the streets of Lagos.
In a viral video, a lady approached the ‘Available’ hitmaker and was making passes at him.
Davido, who seemed to have once met the lady asked her to back off while exclaiming, ‘Na Man Na Man. Don’t you come close to me. Don’t touch me, don’t f**ken touch me.”
He screamed at the top of his voice but that did not deter the said lady from moving further close.
Davido said: “Hey, if you come near me ehn, don’t come near me oh, don’t fu*king touch me oh,” he added.
Watch the video below:
Hilarious Moment Davido meets Bobrisky’s family
A video has revealed the moment Afrobeats singer Davido meets a crossdresser that belongs to Bobrisky family. pic.twitter.com/R3sLBMQHYw
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Madeline Chan, 29, owner of Mad Roaster in Singapore. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
As ironic as it may sound, I wasn’t a coffee drinker until I opened my first coffee stall in 2020.
In fact, I never imagined being my own boss. Even as a lawyer, being a law firm partner was never a goal of mine because of the stress and huge responsibilities the partner job entails.
After graduating from the London School of Economics and Political Science with a Bachelor of Laws in 2015, I trained for the bar and got a job at a pretty good litigation firm in Singapore.
For four years, I worked as a litigator managing commercial disputes of multinational corporations.
But as someone who started a journey in law with the desire to help people, I felt I could do more by helping those who couldn’t afford to have anyone in their corner. Big corporations already have teams of lawyers under their payroll.
So I sought out a different route and found my place as a refugee status determination lawyer in Bangkok, Thailand, where I helped the displaced apply for refugee status with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Work was fulfilling, as I saw success stories when appeals I’d worked on got accepted, or when I got someone to a safe country.
Yet, it still wasn’t enough for me
I quickly realized how getting a refugee status wasn’t the happy ending I thought it was. The people I helped still had nothing — they can’t get a job or even pay rent, and are resigned to being reliant on aid forever.
They needed a means of livelihood, which I saw as a more sustainable way to help them.
This was an area where simply donating money wouldn’t suffice, as charity donations often go into aid, and I had seen how aid was given out. I had seen refugees line up for hours to prove how needy or desperate they are, and still have to risk being turned away. Being reliant on aid was a painful and uncertain way to live.
And so I began looking into ways to create livelihood opportunities for refugees.
I had a friend who turned refugees’ handiwork into everyday items like laptop bags to be sold at flea markets, but this method had great limitations.
There are only so many laptop bags we can buy, and there will come a day when sales will be insufficient to meet the regularly recurring needs of refugees. I wanted a better solution.
Having worked in the corporate world, I recall coffee being the commodity that many office workers would buy regularly without thinking twice.
Using coffee as a medium to create livelihoods for refugees seemed like the best choice. But there was still a problem I had to face.
I knew nothing of coffee, let alone making it
So I decided to pick it up and master the craft while in Bangkok. Because I couldn’t speak Thai, I had to knock on the door of almost every caf in the vicinity until a shop finally took me in.
For three months, I learned the ropes of running a caf and coffee-brewing techniques by working for free at the caf until 10 at night, after I ended my work as a lawyer at five.
But then the COVID-19 pandemic happened. Safety restrictions meant I had to go back to Singapore in 2020.
I still wanted to keep working with the refugees but being in another country, it was impossible for me to continue doing it in my capacity as a lawyer.
This presented the perfect opportunity for me to get started on my coffee shop business, Mad Roaster — “Mad” being my nickname growing up.
With the money I had saved back when I was still working in litigation, I invested around $20,000 to $30,000 into Mad Roaster.
With the exchange rate and high spending power in Singapore, money from selling small cups of coffee every day means a lot for the refugees in Thailand.
Incorporating that with the idea of creating livelihoods for the refugees, I decided to commission them to color stickers that would go on each coffee cup.
The 11 refugees Mad Roaster currently works with are each commissioned to color 300 sticker labels, each at a fixed price of 10 Thai Bhat. The stickers are printed in Bangkok and then mailed to Singapore after they’re colored in.
In a month, each refugee would get a stipend of 3000 Thai Bhat, roughly $88, which is enough to cover the average rent in outer Bangkok. In months when sales are better, we can commission more stickers from them.
Because of this initiative of ours, the packaging cost is as much as the ingredient cost for some of our drinks, which is uncommon for most businesses.
Brewing coffee isn’t the only skill I have mastered
Back in my college days, I was already into amateur baking, but I had never baked bread before.
But in Singapore hawker centers — open-air complexes with many food stalls — coffee and bread are often served as a set.
So I started learning how to make brioche with zero experience or training.
Fortunately, our hawker stall started to get some regular customers. We went from sitting around reading newspapers while watching people walk past our shop, to sometimes even having a queue outside our stall.
Following the success of our first shop, we opened another caf about four miles away, where our bread production currently takes place.
As the boss of a small business with just a handful of full-time staff, I had to quickly become a jack of all trades.
On a typical working day when I would be rushing to and from the two outlets to drop off coffee beans and bake bread, somehow something would always crop up — from coffee machine breakdowns to a missing staff member — and I’d have to drop everything to deal with the problem.
Since the beginning of my business, I have replaced burnt wires, changed power sockets, done the accounts for logistics, and embarked on social media marketing. It often feels like an endless list of tasks.
In a way, working as my own boss of two coffee shops has made me appreciate my former job as a lawyer a bit more.
When I was an associate, my mind would be off the moment a case concluded. But now, owning a business means that my mind is always running — I am constantly thinking of work-related issues that pop up during the day.
But I will never regret my decision to start all of this.
For the 11 refugees, and possibly more in the future, they have an unprecedented level of certainty and dignity in how they keep a roof over their head. Mad Roaster is the reason.
We plan to expand in the future, though we don’t have any concrete plans for now. When operations are more stable, I plan to go back to practicing law, while managing Mad Roaster on the side.
Investigations into a road accident which occurred at Gomoa Bubuatta junction, in the Central Region, on Monday, April 17, 2023 has begun.
The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) said its preliminary findings indicate that no fatalities were recorded.
The NRSA has also reported that all the injured are receiving medical treatment at Winneba.
“Preliminary investigations into the crash and its aftermath suggest that there were no fatalities recorded and all the injured persons have been transported to Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital to receive treatment,” a statement signed by the NRSA said.
The Authority also indicated that it has begun investigations to better understand the cause(s) of the crash.
“Further investigations are being conducted to seek explanations and better clarifications into the cause(s) of the crash from the State Transport Corporation (STC) and the driver of the tipper truck,” the statement added.
Also, the NRSA used the opportunity to calm the nerves of parents of students who were on the STC bus, while urging transport operators to conduct pre-trip inspections on their vehicles ahead of their trips.
Earlier, GhanaWeb reported that several students had been trapped in an STC bus after a crash on the Accra-Kasoa Road, close to the Gomoa Buduatta Junction.
According to a news report by UTV, the STC bus, which had several students traveling to Cape Coast, somersaulted after it crashed into a speeding tipper truck that was heading to Kasoa from Winneba.
According to a UTV reporter, Jacob Kubi, who was speaking from the scene of the crash, even though some of the students had already been rescued by members of the community, a lot of them were still trapped.
The report also showed the scene of the accident, where both the STC bus and truck could be seen lying on the side of the road.
Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, an African-American rapper-turned-business-mogul, has solidified his position as one of the wealthiest Black individuals globally, primarily due to his billion-dollar fortune derived from his profitable liquor enterprises.
Despite his remarkable career as a top musician and one of the greatest rappers of all time, Jay-Z amassed his $2.5 billion wealth from diverse business ventures, notably by divesting some of his fashion, liquor, music, and technology businesses.
His most illustrious investments include stakes in his champagne empire, Armand de Brignac, popularly known as the “Ace of Spades,” and his interest in D’Usse, a high-end cognac brand.
Furthermore, his wide-ranging portfolio includes stakes in Uber and Block, equity interest in Square, a U.S. mobile payments company established by Twitter Founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey, and stakes in venture capital firm Marcy Venture Partners, named after the housing project where he grew up.
As hip-hop’s pioneering billionaire, below is a breakdown of four business deals that propelled his net worth to the $2.5 billion mark.
#1. Sale of urban clothing brand, Rocawear to Iconix—$204 million
In March 2007, Jay-Z received a considerable windfall when he divested the rights to his urban clothing brand, Rocawear, to Iconix Brand Group for a whopping $204 million.
The brand, which he co-founded in 1999 with Damon Dash, offers clothing and accessories for men, women, and children. The sale of Rocawear came two years after Jay-Z acquired Dash’s stake in the company.
Post the transaction, Jay-Z retained ownership interests in the venture and continued to lead its marketing, licensing, and product development efforts.
#2. Sale of a 50 percent stake in Armand de Brignac to LVMH—$300 million
Jay-Z enjoyed a staggering $300 million payday in February 2021, following the sale of a 50 percent stake in his Champagne empire, Armand de Brignac, popularly referred to as the “Ace of Spades,” to French luxury goods conglomerate, Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH).
The deal, which valued Armand de Brignac at approximately $600 million, not only triggered a substantial increase in his net worth but also established a 50-50 ownership structure between the African-American billionaire and LVMH.
This structure is crucial to the partnership’s success, as it ensures the equitable terms, strengths, and expertise of both parties towards the sustained growth of the brand.
#3. Sale of music streaming platform, Tidal to Square—$350 million
After divesting a 50-percent stake in Armand de Brignac, Jay-Z received a cash and stock compensation of $297 million from Square, a renowned U.S.-based mobile payments firm founded by Jack Dorsey, in exchange for a controlling interest in his music streaming platform, Tidal.
This monumental deal valued at $350 million, granted Square 80 percent ownership of Tidal, in addition to licensing arrangements with major record labels.
The transaction stands out as one of the most significant business turnarounds of this century, considering that Jay-Z launched Tidal in 2015 for $56 million in conjunction with other artists such as Rihanna, J. Cole, Madonna, and many more.
#4. Sale of a 50 percent stake in cognac label, D’Usse, to Bacardi—$750 million
In March 2023, Jay-Z made another lucrative deal by selling a 50-percent stake in D’Usse, his high-end cognac label, to Bacardi Limited, one of the largest privately owned spirits companies worldwide.
While the financial specifics of the transaction remain undisclosed, insiders have claimed that the stake’s value could surpass $750 million. This sale is the latest addition to his business portfolio, as Jay-Z had previously valued D’Usse at $3 billion, suggesting that his 50 percent stake was worth $1.5 billion.
With this latest move, his net worth surged from $1.3 billion to $2.5 billion at the time of publication. Furthermore, the sale led to Jay-Z becoming a minority shareholder in D’Usse, allowing him to maintain some degree of influence over the brand.
