The Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, has declared online scams as the leading scam in the country.
According to her, common among them are recruitment scams, investment scams, shopping scams, credit card frauds, and mobile money scams among others.
The Executive Director made this disclosure at the research and innovation week celebration of the Institute of Research, Innovation, and Development (IRID) of the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) in the Ashanti Region.
The celebration was on the theme: “Building a sustainable cyber crime-free society for economic development”.
Maame Tiwaa said digital extortion known as online blackmail or sextortion is also identified as the most prominent cyber threat.
Business e-mail compromise, she said, has also become a significant concern and threat with huge sums of money lost, affecting the financial standing of the entities.
She explained that Ghana’s internet penetration is 69. 2 per cent adding that some 6.6 million Ghanaians representing 19.5 per cent are active on social media.
She noted the move towards a digital society has created new accounts for criminals.
In suggesting ways to deal with cybercrime, COP Maame Tiwaa urged the public to be vigilant and not be susceptible to things seen on the internet.
For his part, the Head of the Kumasi Technical University’s Institute of Research, Innovation, and Development (IRID), Dr Smart Sarpong explained the programme is aimed at sensitizing the public not to be quick to communicate with people they are not sure of on the internet.
Local authorities report that three civilian women have perished after a Russian missile targeted a Ukrainian shelter for those displaced from their homes.
One of many designated “invincibility points,” the one-story structure in Kostiantynivka, eastern Ukraine, offers families escaping active fighting zones a place to sleep, water, electricity, and other necessities.
The shelter is reduced to ruins in the images posted by neighborhood emergency personnel, and a mattress can be seen sticking out from the wreckage.
One of the deceased had fled the nearby city of Bakhmut, one of the conflict’s main frontlines, where tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed.
Russian missile attack kills three women at Ukrainian refuge
Another person was pulled alive from the rubble, while two more suffered injuries in the same blast.
Authorities said a total of seven civilians were killed overnight on Thursday.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office said two of them died in heavy shelling in villages around the Sumy region to the north, where homes, a council building and a school were hit.
Russian officials did not comment on the attacks, which have yet to be independently verified.
There are not known to be any military facilities near the destroyed shelter which might have been a primary target.
Western intelligence services have repeatedly said Russia’s military tactics include the deliberate bombing of civilian targets aimed at breaking the defenders’ morale.
More than 5.3 million people remain internally displaced by the war, which is now in its 13 month, according to the International Organisation for Migration.
6ix9ine’s bodyguard has challenged the men who ambushed the rapper this week to a fight of their own.
This follows speculation that the bodyguard, Bam-Bam, arranged for the men to jump 6ix9ine in a Florida gym, TMZ reports. Bam-Bam took to Instagram on Thursday to deny the accusations, and put $10,000 on the table to fight the men who came for Tekashi.
“69 a grown man n he wanted to do cardio on his own,” Bam-Bam wrote. “He be outside like that…I can’t control him…but to say I set him up…false allegations..some thing minorities used to…we be accused of nothing.”
Image via Instagram
He went so far as to promise “if you lose you die,” said he would go head-to-head with four people by himself, and called out one man who allegedly took part in the attack, Bullet Guzman.
“4 vs 1 y’all weak ass bitches against me..you win I pay you 10,000$ n if you lose you die..there will be no ref..claim it gangstas,” the bodyguard captioned a post.
At the time of the assault, 6ix9ine was alone in an LA Fitness sauna, when a group of men entered the gym and descended upon him. The Brooklyn native was transported to a hospital after sustaining injuries to his jaw, back, and ribs.
“He was attacked in a Sauna at a gym by three or four thugs who beat him up (he tried fighting back),” 6ix9ine’s lawyer Lance Lazzaro said in a statement. “He had cuts to his face and bruises. Employees heard the disturbance and the perpetrators fled. Police in South Florida were called and he was transported via ambulance to a local hospital.” 6ix9ine is currently recovering in the hospital.
This is far from the first time he’s gotten into a fight. Back in September, the 26-year-old was allegedly jumped at a club in Dubai and labeled a snitch by the DJ.
At the 2023 Oxford Center for the Study of African Economies Conference at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford, Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director of the African Department of the IMF, said: “For cases where debt is unsustainable, it goes without saying that it needs to be restructured.”
In such cases, he said, “the burden of making repayments should not fall unduly on debtor countries”.
“But this is easier said than done”, he admitted, saying: “Debt restructurings have always been difficult, and even more so now in the context of a more diversified creditor base and more complex structure of public debt.
“Take domestic debt, which now accounts for about half of all public debt in sub-Saharan Africa.
“In cases where public debt is unsustainable, and this exposure needs to be included in the restructuring perimeter, careful consideration needs to be given to the effects on the domestic banking sector, how quickly market access can be regained etc.”, he advised.
“And with respect to external creditors, countries, of course, have even less sway over the pace at which restructuring can happen, as clearly shown by the ongoing challenges with the Common Framework”.
This, he noted, “is even more frustrating in unsustainable cases where the official creditors’ inability to agree on a needed debt treatment prevents the IMF from providing timely support to countries during periods of acute distress”.
Ghana restructured its domestic debt a few weeks ago and is currently in talks with China and the Paris Club to restructure the gold-producing West African country’s external debt of about $5.3 billion, of which $1.7 billion is owed to China alone.
Read Abebe Aemro Selassie’s full remarks below:
Prospects remains undiminished. As difficult as conditions are at the moment, I strongly believe that the vast majority of countries have reached a threshold where even in the face of the many challenges they face, they will get by; indeed, go on to prosper. Rather, what is frustrating is that with a modicum of increased support, the region could be helped to reach its full potential sooner and the global economy could be much better for it.
While countries have a clear role to play, what is required of the international community going forward are the following:
Much higher volumes of countercyclical flows, particularly from International Financial Institutions (IFIs), to neutralize the highly procyclical nature of private capital flows. At the Fund, for example, right now our ability to sustain our recent high levels of support is increasingly being constrained by the limited availability of concessional resources. A challenge that we are working very hard to address via pledges from our wealthier members.
A more agile and effective sovereign debt resolution framework. The G20’s Common Framework is an important innovation, and we would be in a much worse place without it. At the same time, it has not been able to provide the required financing assurances and debt relief in a timely manner. This needs to change, and quickly. Again, as an institution, we are working relentlessly to improve this process and, with the World Bank and the G20, launched a new Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable in February to bring together key stakeholders involved in sovereign debt restructuring to address the current shortcomings in debt restructurings.
Finally, more support from advanced countries is needed. As one British mandarin once put it to me, the “authorizing environment” for this is not exactly favorable. Indeed, we are seeing significant cuts in such flows, and a significant share of what is not being cut is instead being directed elsewhere. Two quick points on this. First, as the preceding discussion has, I hope, convinced you, this cut in aid, particularly its diversion away from budgets, is having the very significant effect of proportionally reducing development spending. Second, if it is perhaps too much to ask for higher aid, then one change that could at least be made is to ensure that there is much more progressivity in aid flows to the poorest and more fragile countries.
Again, absent making sure that we devote the resources needed now to build human capital and help integrate Africa into the global economy, it is not just slower growth and development progress in the region that is in store, but also a much weaker and less resilient global economy.
Founder and leader of Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Akua Donkor has disclosed why she believes she is the best person to redeem Ghana from the current economic situation.
She says she is the richest politician in the country, and can manage the economy given the wealth she has acquired. In an interview on Happy 98.9 FM’s “Epa Hoa Daben” socio-political talk show, Akua Donkor said she has the required qualities to adequately manage Ghana’s economy and improve the current state of the country.
“I’m richer than Mahama and Akufo-Addo,” she boasted. “And I can manage the economy better than they have.”
Akua Donkor criticized other Ghanaian politicians, accusing them of being torn between the two major political parties in Ghana – the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). She claimed that all other parties in Ghana are not legitimate and are affiliated with either the NDC or NPP.
“They’re all in it for the money and share it among themselves,” She alleged. “But I’m the only genuine independent politician in Ghana. I’ve done everything solely with my hard-earned money. I’ve filled out and signed documents and paid my dues. I fend for my people and take good care of myself as well.”
Akua Donkor further claimed that she has built houses and hired hotels for some of her supporters, using her own money.
“So if I’m able to do all these things, who among the Ghanaian politicians have more money than I do? They all squander state money, but I spend my own money, and they also spend my money through the taxes I pay.”
Akua Donkor expressed confidence that she could become Ghana’s next president and manage the economy more effectively than Mahama or Akufo-Addo.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has noted that talks with Ghana’s bilateral creditors are progressing in the right direction.
Ofori-Atta in a tweet on March 24, 2023, stated that the government is hopeful of securing external assurances soon.
He wrote: “So far had very positive and encouraging meetings in China! Looking forward to securing external assurances very soon, even as we pass our outstanding domestic revenue bills back home. Great progress on all fronts…#ResolvingTogether #GhanaFirst.”
So far had very positive and encouraging meetings in China! Looking forward to securing external assurances very soon, even as we pass our outstanding domestic revenue bills back home. Great progress on all fronts…#ResolvingTogether#GhanaFirst
— Office of the Finance Minister-Ghana (@oofmghana) March 24, 2023
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta left Accra for China on Sunday March 19, 2023.
Ofori-Atta’s trip to Beijing is hinged on efforts to secure a deal for restructuring of Ghana’s bilateral debts with the Asian economic powerhouse.
Even though Ghana is seeking a US$3 billion facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the need to restructure both domestic and external debts has been given as a key conditionality.
China is a key player relative to Ghana’s external debtors, holding about $1.7 billion of Ghana’s $5.5 billion bilateral debt.
According to the Ghana Business News portal, the specialised nature of their lending windows means that Ghana cannot add them to the model used to negotiate with the G20 and the Paris Club members.
Talks with China were originally slated for mid-February but they were postponed to late March 2023.
Ofori-Atta, has however met with representatives of the Chinese government and its quasi-agencies in Accra since the postponement was announced.
Despite securing an IMF Staff-Level Agreement last year, government is undertaking an external restructuring of its debts in order to get a Board Level of approval later this month.
The first two months of 2023 saw a heated domestic debt restructuring programme adopted under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament insists that the government’s plans to get the IMF Board approval by end of March will likely not materialize.
The harbor craft jetty has been created primarily to reduce vessel idle time at the terminal, in order to improve vessel turnaround time at the Port of Tema, making it comparable to other world-class ports.
In essence, the jetty will accommodate harbor crafts such as tugboats within optimum proximity to carry out vessel handling services.
Hitherto, the tug boats and the marine operations personnel were about 30 minutes away from the terminal leading to some delay in vessel turnaround time. Barely a month into its operationalization, operators of the terminal are projecting a 64-minute improvement in average vessel idle time for departure by June 2023, and a 94-minute improvement by end of the year.
“Our dream is 60 minutes similar to what happens in world-class terminals,” said Emmanuel Ohene-Addo, the Operations Manager at Meridian Ports Services, the operators of Terminal 3.
He revealed that before the operationalization of the jetty, at the end of 2022, the average vessel idle time for arrival was 54 minutes, with the average vessel idle time for departure at 154 minutes.
“So same with the arrival time, we are trying to bring it down to 40 minutes by June, then 30 minutes by end of the year,” Mr. Ohene-Addo added.
Speaking on the Eye on Port program, he disclosed that MPS and GPHA are collaborating further to construct an office complex to house the marine personnel and MPS’ operational staff to facilitate the smooth process of berthing and unberthing cargo-carrying vessels.
He said all of the heavy investment in infrastructure at the MPS Terminal 3 is geared towards providing the caliber of services, the league of world-class terminals provides.
Adding on to that, in a separate engagement, the Harbour Master at the Port of Tema, Captain Francis Kwesi Micah revealed that the Port Authority has already made preparations to procure two new tugs and train additional pilots to enhance vessel handling services at the Port.
He said, that, in addition to the decision to provide a harbor craft jetty and an accompanying office space, all tie into the Authority’s vision to leave no gaps in the port supply chain.
The Harbour Master expressed that these initiatives align with the Authority’s objective of making the Port of Tema the leading container hub and beacon of trade in the sub region.
“It will mean that you will stand tall in the competition that is riling up the West Coast. You know we have a lot of competition coming up in Abidjan, Cameroon, and Nigeria among others. If you are able to work very well in this area, it will mean that we will not lose cargo, or shipping traffic, but rather increase the volumes coming in, all other things being equal. It will place us at the peak point of efficiency in terms of vessel turnaround in the Terminal,” Capt. Micah articulated.
He added that the relocation of some of its craft and personnel at Terminal 3, where the majority of the container vessel operation is undertaken, will also save the Authority from the extra fuel needed to run these harbor craft.
As part of a summertime catch-up program, vaccinations will be provided to every child between the ages of one and eleven.
The virus was discovered in sewage in north and east London during routine inspections, prompting health officials to issue a warning that there had been “some transmission” in the city the previous year.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) declared that booster shots will be provided to primary school students because vaccination rates are still too low in several boroughs.
Polio, which was officially eradicated in the country in 2003, can cause paralysis in rare cases and be life-threatening.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA said: ‘While there are early signs of reduced spread of the poliovirus in London, we need to continue to improve uptake of childhood vaccines in all communities.
‘Until we reach every last child, we cannot be sure that we will not see a case of paralysis.
‘Even a single case of paralysis from polio would be a tragedy as it is completely preventable.
‘Only by improving vaccination coverage across all communities can we ensure resilience against future disease threats.’
Children will be vaccinated at primary school or community clinics, and there will be a focus on communities with the lowest levels of uptake, the UKHSA said.
Figures show 87.6% of children in London are receiving all their polio vaccinations by the time they turn one, compared to 92.1% in England as a whole.
Uptake for the pre-school booster for children aged five is even lower at 69.9% in the city compared to 83.4% in England.
The campaign comes after a total of 135 poliovirus type 2 isolates were identified in 30 sewage samples collected in London between February 8 and November 8 last year.
Police in Mamprobi have arrested three unscrupulous persons involved in cocoa smuggling.
The arrest was part of an operation to clampdown on people engaged in the activity.
According to police authorities at Mamprobi, on the night of March 6, while Ghanaians were engaged in several legally sanctioned activities to commemorate Ghana’s 66th birthday after colonial rule, some nation wreckers decided to take advantage of the celebrant mood of everyone to a engage in illegal operation to the detriment of our country’s economy.
These enemies of the state thus, chose the Laterbiokorshie cluster of schools as a conducive site to re-bag truck loads of over 600 bags of cocoa beans from Ghana COCOBOD sacks into fertilizer sacks earmarked to be smuggled out into neighboring Togo.
Based on a tip off born out of a well laid down intelligence in the district, the commander of the Mamprobi Police, Chief Superintendent Alfred Kudah led an able team under his control to the site and successfully, arrested 3 people involved in the Unlawful act, impounded the truck used for the operation and then handed the cocoa over to Ghana COCOBOD for preservation.
On 9 March 2023, the detective in charge, Chief Inspector Baba Naporo Issifu, arraigned the accused persons before the Accra Circuit Court 6, where they were granted bail pending trial. The other accomplices on the run are being pursued to be put before court.
In recent times, the Mamprobi Police District has proven to be among the leading Police Districts in the country to be relied on in terms of crime combat. Chief Superintendent Alfred Kudah since his assumption of duty as commander, has played an instrumental role in ensuring this.
He has been behind several successful stories chalked in the area regarding combating crime. He has ensured the arrest and prosecution of notorious land guards, armed robbers and narcotic drug peddlers.
General Secretary of the General Construction, Manufacturing, and Query Workers Union, Mrs Comfort Agambaa, has tasked the government to expedite action on climate change and its associated environmental hazards.
According to her, “The world is facing multiple climate-related impacts such as severe droughts and floods, water scarcity, and air pollution, the hardest hit are the developing countries, living women and children vulnerable to malnutrition and diseases.”
She noted that the effects of climate change coupled with the socioeconomic hardships in the country, if not tackled immediately, would lead to disaster.
Mrs Agambaa said this during their visit to INZAG Project Site, a Construction Firm at Shai Hills, as part of this year’s International Women Day Celebration.
The General Secretary said women and girls suffered the greatest impacts of climate change, exposing the already existing gender inequality, posing a unique threat to their livelihoods.
She, therefore, urged government, unions, and employers to support gender equality agenda by being agents of change and to ensure equity in new skills development and technological advancement to protect jobs.
The Project Director at Teles Mr Jose Manuel said: “Women are the source of life and for that matter, this day is very important for all of us to celebrate together.”
He encouraged women to continue to build their capacity as the world of work was gradually changing.
He appreciated the Union for choosing their site for the celebration and motivating the women at the site.
A review of causes of morbidities in the Greater Accra Region shows that hypertension and diabetes were the leading causes of death in the region in 2022.
Data from the Non-Communicable Disease Control Programme of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) indicate that 138,425 persons, representing five per cent of the population in Greater Accra were diagnosed with hypertension in 2022, while 49,534 contracted diabetes.
Dr Charity Sarpong, the Greater Accra Regional Director of Health Services (GARHD), at the opening of the region’s annual performance review in Accra on Thursday, said the trend was due to lack of exercise, poor eating habits and unhealthy lifestyles among the population.
“Hypertension and diabetes still continue to remain in the top ten causes of morbidity in the region and we intend to continue to strengthen our wellness clinics and support the implementation of the Network of Practice in the region so, cases are picked up and treated early so as to prevent complications that may occur later in life if not properly managed, ” she said.
Dr Sarpong said the region’s top ten causes of Out Patient Department (OPD) attendance in 2022 included Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (UTRI), Malaria and Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
The two-day annual performance review was on the theme: “Addressing healthcare delivery gaps for equity in health coverage through: Intensifying health promotion interventions, Optimizing the use of data and technology to improve access to quality healthcare and Strengthening preventive and control measures for emergent and re-emergent public health event”.
It is expected to serve as a period for the regional health directorate to reflect on its activities within the year 2022, identify indicators that excelled as well as areas where it fell short, and come up with the needed interventions and strategies to address them in the coming year.
Dr Sarpong said the region saw a significant increase in its total OPD attendance from 5,177,512 in 2021 to 5,304,397 in 2022 representing a 2.5 per cent increase.
She said total deliveries increased by 2.8 per cent from 113,497 in 2021 to 113,819 in 2022, while Maternal Mortality Rate reduced from 165 per 100,000 births in 2021 to 155 per 100,000 births.
The Regional Health Director said experiences and lessons learnt during the pandemic challenged the region to concentrate and focus on building a stronger and robust health delivery accompanied with its resilient supply chain systems that would be capable of withstanding and minimising the heavy impact of any unforeseen exigencies that may occur.
Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director General of the GHS, said the performance review was organised by the Ghana Health Service to demonstrate its willingness to hold itself accountable to various stakeholders.
“These reviews enable us to measure our achievements against set targets defined under the strategic objectives of the Health Sector Medium Term Development Plan and the Programme of Work for the year under review,” he said.
He said the GHS would this year leverage technology to solve its problems and make life easier for staff and clients, saying: “ We shall soon launch our Digital Health Strategy, and we are open to new and innovative ideas that will move us forward”.
Another extraterrestrial planet at the frontier of our universe, where every day is hot, has been discovered by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
The planet, known as VHS 1256 b, is located approximately 40 light-years from Earth and revolves around two stars over a 10,000-year period.
This planet is special because of its swirling silicate cloud atmosphere, which raises temperatures to a scorching 830 degrees Celsius.
The planet has a 22-hour day, during which the clouds in its atmosphere are constantly rising, mixing and moving, bringing hotter material up and pushing colder material down.
Within the planet’s clouds, Webb detected both larger and smaller silicate dust grains, which are shown on a spectrum (Picture: Nasa)
‘VHS 1256 b is about four times farther from its stars than Pluto is from our Sun, which makes it a great target for Webb,’ said Brittany Miles of the University of Arizona, who leads the study.
‘That means the planet’s light is not mixed with light from its stars.’
The team also made ‘extraordinarily clear’ detections of water, methane, and carbon monoxide with Webb’s data, and found evidence of carbon dioxide on the planet.
This is the largest number of molecules ever identified all at once on a planet outside our solar system.
Although all of the features the team observed have been spotted on other planets elsewhere in the Milky Way by other telescopes, other research teams typically identified only one at a time.
‘No other telescope has identified so many features at once for a single target,’ said co-author Andrew Skemer of the University of California, Santa Cruz. ‘We’re seeing a lot of molecules in a single spectrum from Webb that detail the planet’s dynamic cloud and weather systems.’
Within the planet’s clouds, Webb detected both larger and smaller silicate dust grains, which are shown on a spectrum.
‘The finer silicate grains in its atmosphere may be more like tiny particles in smoke,’ noted the study’s co-author Beth Biller of the University of Edinburgh.
‘The larger grains might be more like very hot, very small sand particles.’
VHS 1256 b has low gravity compared to more massive dwarf planets, which means that its silicate clouds can appear and remain higher in its atmosphere where Webb can detect them.
Another reason its skies are so turbulent is the planet’s age. In astronomical terms, it’s quite young. Only 150 million years have passed since it formed – and it will continue to change and cool over billions of years.
Since it’s so far from its stars, it will become colder over time, and its skies may transition from cloudy to clear.
Scientists consider this just the beginning of what they are yet to learn about the new planet using Webb’s data.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on all bilateral creditors to support Ghana’s efforts to restore debt sustainability, as the country works towards presenting its economic programme for IMF Board approval.
Speaking at a news conference in Washington DC, the Director of Communications at the IMF, Julie Kozack, stressed the importance of Ghana securing financing assurances from partners and creditors, as a necessary step towards the presentation of its program request to the IMF’s Executive Board for approval.
“We’re calling on bilateral creditors to support Ghana’s effort to restore debt sustainability, form an official creditor committee, and deliver the necessary financing assurances as soon as possible,” Kozack said.
“While the IMF is engaging the Ghanaian authorities on the progress made on its request, the Fund is also seeking assurances from Ghana’s partners.”
A self-imposed deadline of March ending has enabled Ghana complete most of its prior actions in record time, including a Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. Whilst Board Approval before the end of March is unlikely, it is obvious that the government’s “self-imposed” deadline has enabled rapid progress on all fronts, making board approval highly likely within the next month or two.
Finance Minister,Ken Ofori-Atta, is currently leading a government delegation to China, hoping to secure financing assurances and reach a deal with the Asian economic giant to restructure Ghana’s debt of ¢1.7 billion.
A tweet by Mr Ofori-Atta this morning stated, “So far had very positive and encouraging meetings in China! Looking forward to securing external assurances very soon, even as we pass our outstanding domestic revenue bills back home. Great progress on all fronts… #ResolvingTogether #GhanaFirst”
On their part, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Wang Wenbin stated at a Regular Press Conference on Wednesday 22nd March, 2023, that China attaches great importance to resolving Ghana’s debt issues and understands the difficulties facing the country at the moment.
Confirming the ongoing visit to China of a high-powered government delegation led by Ken Ofori-Atta, Mr Wenbin stated, “We would like to enhance communication with Ghana to work out a proper settlement through consultation.”
With the support of bilateral creditors and partners, Ghana is working towards restoring debt sustainability and securing the IMF’s support for its economic programme.
The IMF programme aims to support Ghana’s efforts to restore macroeconomic stability, debt sustainability, protect the vulnerable, preserve financial stability, and lay the foundation for strong and inclusive growth under the Ghanaian government’s Post Covid Programme for Economic Growth (PC-PEG).
The Member of Parliament for Tamale Central Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed has lashed out at his colleague MPs on the Majority side, following the events of the House on Friday, March 24, 2023.
He said the Majority members of the House of are using “frivolous” and “useless” tactics to delay voting on the new ministerial appointees.
Speaking to JoyNews’ Kwaku Asante in Parliament on Friday, Mr Mohammed said that the NPP is purposely delaying voting on the appointees, because they do not have the numbers to get the ministers-designate approved.
“One of my colleagues just drew my attention that the NPP are just 120 in the chamber. It got to time for voting, we finished with the debate, and polling booths and everything were ready, It was Afenyo Markin who started with his shenanigans, trying to delay the process – perhaps the people who are not there they are expecting them to get here,” he said.
Mr Mohammed added that “even when the speaker ruled that we needed to go ahead with the voting, you have Annoh Dompreh who got up demanding that we should tilt the position of the polling booths- those are frivolous, every useless reason for which the delay is happening.”
The Tamale Central MP insisted that once the debate on the appointments has been concluded, voting must be done today (Friday) whether or not the NPP has the numbers.
This comes after the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin suspended sitting because the MPs could not come to a consensus.
The sitting was suspended to give the leadership of the two sides the opportunity to come to a consensus after the Majority asked that seating arrangements, ballot box placements and others be altered while the Minority insisted that the vote should go on.
The voting process was earlier postponed from Thursday evening to Friday.
Meanwhile, Mr Mohammed added that “I wasn’t expecting our Minority Leader to make the statement he made, when he said that if they aren’t prepared to vote then because of Ramadan we should have the voting done next week.”
“I totally disagree with him. It is very clear the NPP doesn’t have the numbers and that is why we are insisting that we will do the voting, we have finished with the debate, and there is nothing more left to be done, except go ahead to vote.”
These are the ministers-designate who are expected to be approved
Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, K.T Hammond has been appointed Minister-designate for Trade and Industry.
2. Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Brian Acheampong has been appointed Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture.
3. Member of Parliament for Karaga, Mohammed Amin Adam, who was stationed at the Energy Ministry as Deputy Minister has been given a new post. He has been appointed Minister of State at the Finance Ministry. He is set to replace Charles Adu Boahen.
Stephen Amoah, K.T. Hammond and Brian Acheampong
4. Stephen Asamoah Boateng has been appointed Minister-designate for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
5. Herbert Krapah, who was Deputy Minister at the Trade Ministry has been moved to the Energy Ministry as Deputy Minister-designate. He replaces Mohammed Amin Adam.
6. Meanwhile, Dr Stephen Amoah is now Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry to replace Herbert Krapah.
Asamoah Boateng, Mohammed Amin Adam, Hebert Krapah and O.B Amoah
7. Member of Parliament for Akuapem South, Osei Bonsu Amoah, has been appointed Minister of State at the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry.
About 200 structures have reportedly been destroyed by the Ayawaso East Municipal Assembly (AEMA).
The exercise which was conducted near the National Mosque at Kawukudi has left many displaced.
With the help of the Ghana Police Service, the assembly carried out the demolishing exercise to clear illegal structures on the land between the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) and the Nima-Mamobi Community Library.
According to a news report by graphic.com.gh, about 200 structures, including motorbike repair shops, containers and food vending facilities, were destroyed in the course of the demolishing exercise, which took place on Monday, March 20, 2023,
Eyewitnesses, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, indicated that the exercise started around 5:30 a.m. and had over 30 armed police officers providing security.
One of the witnesses, Rafik Seidu, said that the demolishing exercise left hundreds of people stranded.
“I went to the mosque to pray, and when I finished and came out, I saw people running out of their rooms.
“Some of them had towels around their waists, and others wore only shorts because they were still sleeping when the demolition started,” he said.
He went on to say that there have been rumours that the area is being cleared for the construction of a police station.
The report also indicated that as of 8:30 a.m., affected persons could be seen at the site, salvaging some of their valuables from the rubble.
A victim who spoke to the Daily Graphic, Aziz Rufai, said that they were not informed of the demolishing exercise.
“They say the land is government property, so they need it, but we did not know that they would come today,” he said.
“I was still asleep when I heard people shouting, so I ran out only to see that armed policemen were watching on while excavators pulled down our accommodations,” another victim, who gave his name as Jibril, said.
However, the assembly halted the exercises after the intervention of the Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Nana Agyeman Prempeh.
Nana Agyeman Prempeh intervened to stop the demolition of a bungalow occupied by staff of his outfit.
“NADMO is a state institution and the bungalow we are occupying is a state building, so if any demolition is to be carried out at all, it is proper that the two-state institutions involved speak to each other for the exercise to be done well.
“It is not proper for NADMO staff to wake up to the news that we should pack our belongings out for demolition when we have not been informed,” he said.
The assembly gave a one-week ultimatum for all unauthorized structures attached to the NADMO block to be removed.
Chief Investment Officer, Stanbic Investment Management Services (SIMS), George Allotey, has urged Ghanaians to be cautious in taking financial decisions in times of uncertainties because of future repercussions. George Allotey said this at Webinar organized by Enterprise Trustees on the theme “State of the Financial Market and the Impact on Pension Funds”.
Speaking on the fate of pension funds George Allotey said, “Although there are uncertainties there are also opportunities. As we say, we buy when it is low and sell when it is high. If you already have an investment and you are wondering whether to continue or not, I believe you should do so if you have the appetite.
Rather than take a rush decision speak to an investment advisor. Individuals must have conversations with licensed financial advisors and tell them about their financial goals.”
He added that “Your advisor will then be able to design an investment plan tailored specifically to your needs that will ultimately help you reach your goal. Investment is not one size fits all, needs vary. Never invest in what you do not understand. Make sure you ask all the necessary questions and make sure you understand your investment plan and know what is being done with your money.”
Mr. Allotey also took the opportunity to alleviate fears that have risen amongst Ghanaians in investments and trust funds and advised that it is necessary to consult a licensed financial advisor.
He said, “Do not be afraid of investing. Simply contact a licensed advisor and allow them to find the right investment package that will fit you. At SIMS, we have licensed investment advisors on our team who are ready and willing to help you with all your investment needs. I encourage you all to stop by and allow them to take you through your investment journey and help you reach your investment goals.”
The Webinar comes on the back of recent publication agitations about the inclusion of pensioners’ funds in government’s Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
SIMS is an is an asset management and advisory firm licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission and registered with the National Pensions Regulatory Authority as a pension fund manager. SIMS’s focus is to help clients plan for their future and provide insights and unparalleled expert advice that enables them to achieve their lifetime financial goals.
With over 15 years of investment management and advisory services experience in the Ghanaian financial market, SIMS is one of Ghana’s largest fund managers with world-class money management expertise.
The Director General in charge of Public Affairs of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General Eric Aggrey Quarshie, has clarified why the military stormed Ashaiman to conduct a raid after the murder of a soldier, Sherrif Imoro.
According to him, the decision to raid Ashaiman was taken because of a number of activities that had taken place in the area.
Brigadier General Quarshie, who made these remarks at the Annual General Meeting and National Public Relations and Communication Summit, added that some communities in Ashaiman had become so notorious that the Ghana Police Service (GPS) would not venture to arrest criminals there.
“Whatever happened in Ashaiman was not something [that] somebody woke up one morning and said, let us go to Ashaiman. So many things had taken place, and our soldier’s death became like the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Ashaiman is a place where there are certain sections that even the police cannot go and effect arrests; they won’t dare. Somebody commits a crime, and you can’t go there or even arrest the person, and so we were tracking certain events,” he said.
The March 7 military swoop
Dozens of military officers stormed Ashaiman in the operation that saw some soldiers entering the town in trucks, with an armoured car plus a helicopter hovering over the town.
The exercise is said to be in response to the gruesome murder of a young soldier, Trooper Sherrif Imoro, by some unidentified persons on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
Videos of the invasion shared across social media show various forms of assault being meted on residents by the rampaging officers who subjected some of the residents to severe beatings.
In a statement released in the early hours of March 8, the Ghana Armed Forces admitted authorizing the swoop, which led to the arrest of 184 people as well as the seizure of suspected illegal drugs.
In the said statement, they also acknowledged excesses may have resulted in the swoop but failed to apologize for or commit to conducting a probe on same.
All suspects have since been released without charge, while the police have arrested six people for their alleged roles in the death of Sherrif Imoro.
A teenage girl at a boarding school in Shropshire unfortunately her away while sleeping.
On March 18, the Year 13 student at Oswestry School went tragically, shocking and upsetting her friends and teachers.
The 18-year-old girl was found in her hostel the following morning.
In order to preserve the student’s friends’ and family’s privacy, school administrators have chosen not to release the student’s name.
The school staff and students are supported throughout this time of bereavement.
It is all an ‘incredibly difficult and painful time’ for the senior school on Upper Brook Street, a spokesperson told Metro.co.uk.
School officials are supporting both students and staff (Picture: Google)Oswestry School described the mourning period as an ‘incredibly difficult and painful time’ (Picture: Gordon Griffiths/Creative Commons)
The spokesperson said: ‘It is with immense sadness that we confirm the tragic news that an 18-year-old Year 13 pupil from Oswestry School passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of Saturday 18 March 2023.
‘This is an incredibly difficult time for the whole school and our thoughts and prayers are especially with her family.
‘Our priority is supporting our pupils and staff, and her family.
‘We respectfully ask for privacy and compassion for the family and the school community during this painful time.’
Oswestry School is classed as an ‘ancient’ school, having been founded in 1407 as a ‘free’ school as it was independent of the church.
This makes it the second-oldest ‘free’ school in the country.
A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: ‘At around 9.30am on Saturday 18 March following a call from West Midlands Ambulance Service police attended the Oswestry School in Upper Brook Street in Oswestry.
‘A pupil, an 18-year-old girl, died.
‘There is believed to be no third-party involvement and a report will be prepared for the coroner, who has been informed.’
The Chief Investment Officer of Stanbic Investment Management Services (SIMS), George Allotey, has advised Pension Trustees to take advantage of alternative offerings in the Policy Guidelines of the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) to diversify their investments so as to protect their funds against shocks as currently being experienced. He said this at the fifth edition of the Pension Strategy Conference organized by Axis Pension Trust in Accra.
Addressing the issue on what the NPRA can do to help Pension Trustees protect their investments given the current inimical economic conditions that they operate in, George Allotey said, “If you look critically at the pension investment guidelines 2021, there are a lot of spaces in there. It doesn’t prescribe a minimum exposure in Government of Ghana; it rather prescribes a maximum exposure. So, it’s not as though our hands have been tied.
“Our pensions sector is only 12 years so we are still learning and gradually the NPRA has been progressive. We trustees have not yet done even one per cent of alternatives so there are many opportunities for us to explore before we start blaming the regulator. There is a lot of work for us the trustees to do to develop products so people can invest in.”
“We must also start holding government accountable for what they use our funds for. If we, in the pensions industry, control about GHS 30 billion funds and the government wants to raise GHS 1 billion and they listen to other fund holders why shouldn’t they listen to us? It’s time we start making our voices heard as critical partners in the financial system,” he added.
The Pension Strategy Conference is an annual event that brings together pension trustees and asset owners, regulators, policymakers and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for navigating the challenging investment landscape. The conference provides a platform for experts to share insights, best practices and innovative ideas for managing pension funds in the current economic climate. This year’s conference was held under the theme, “Positioning Pension Funds to Thrive Beyond the Domestic Debt Exchange”.
Head of Engineering at Stanbic Bank Ghana, Eric Nsarkoh, has attributed the success of the mobile money innovation to partnerships in the financial and fintech ecosystem.
Eric Nsarkoh said this at the 2023 edition of the Mobile Technology for Development (MT4D) conference held at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City Accra.
Speaking on the initiatives that have driven the mobile money innovation, Eric Nsarkoh said, “The first 4 years of the mobile money innovation experienced very minimal growth. As at 2012, the number of active mobile money wallets in Ghana stood at about 220,000 whereas in Tanzania, it was around 8 million. So, the question we need to ask ourselves is, for something that was launched in 2009, what accounted for the slow growth in the first four years and what happened the 7 years after that took us to over 11 million active users. And I think the success in that second bucket was on the back of treasured partnerships.”
“There was a conscious decision, based on the fact that we are not a cashiering economy, to invite banks as partners to have a frank and open discussion on the mobile money journey. The banks saw the potential and invested in the distribution where they signed contracts with microfinance institutions in rural areas and the money reached the agents. And mobile money is a liquidity game. So, once the money reaches the agent and you put incentives and interventions that secures it you are good to go. And I think that was the starting point of the success we currently have in the mobile money service”. He added.
Mobile Technology for Development is organized by the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunication and the Africa Financial Inclusion Forum under the auspices of the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with the Bank of Ghana.
The annual event provides a platform for stakeholders within the financial, technology and development sector to converge at a single location to share ideas, exhibit solutions and take stock of innovations in payments, deposit, credit, remittance and insurance, and build partnerships for enhanced effort towards financial inclusion in Ghana. This year’s conference was held under the theme, “Driving Digital Financial Inclusion in the Real Economy.”
A hostile House of Representatives committee heard testimony fromTikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew as legislators debated outlawing the well-known video-sharing app.
The executive was interrogated by lawmakers from both parties on the House Energy and Commerce Committee on privacy concerns, worries about national security, the company’s ties to China, and the harm the app has done to children and teenagers in the US.
According to committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, “Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security.” “TikTok has consistently gone down the route of increased control, increased monitoring, and increased manipulation.”
In his response, Chew tried to assure officials and the American public that the app, which is owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, is fixing security flaws that allowed international actors to access the data of American users.
TikTok CEO makes his opening statement before Congress
‘We will firewall protect the US data from unwanted foreign access,’ Chew assured the committee.
He also emphasized the company’s ongoing Project Texas, a $1.5billion project with software giant Oracle which aims to move all US user data to facilities within the country.
‘American data is stored on American soil by an American company overseen by American personnel,’ Chew repeated multiple times over the course of the tense hearing.
Since October, all new data collected on American users has been stored in these US servers. However, the CEO did admit that some legacy data was still stored in facilities that could be accessed by ByteDance engineers.
Chew, the former CFO of ByteDance, also tried to downplay TikTok’s connection to the China, and denied connections to the country’s government and ruling Chinese Communist Party.
‘Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,’ Chew said. ‘ByteDance has five board members, and three of them are American.’
Other representatives focused on the content the app has featured. Rep Gus Bilirakis of Florida criticized the algorithm the app uses for its ‘For You’ page, which he says contributed to the death of a 16-year-old who was served up content encouraging him to take his own life.
Chew repeatedly touted the company’s more recent efforts to moderate content being delivered to children, including a new restriction against viewing more than 60 minutes of content for users under age 16.
Congress plays TikTok of targeted gun threat to TikTok CEO during hearing
Another congresswoman, Rep Kat Cammack of Florida, played a video showing violent threats to the days proceedings.
The video showed a rendering of a handgun firing a full clip of ammunition with the caption: ‘me asf at the House Energy and Commerce Committtee on 03/23/2023.’ It also tagged the name of Rep McMorris Rodgers, the chair of the committee.
According to Cammack, the video had been viewable for the next 41 days leading up to the hearing.
‘Your own community guidelines state: “we do not allow people to use our platform to threaten or incite violence,”‘ Cammack said. ‘You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data security of 150million Americans, when you can’t even protect the people in this room?’
Chew was not given a chance to respond to the video.
The Minority Caucus in Parliament is not backing down on its quest to hold a secret ballot to decide the fate of President Akufo-Addo’s recent ministerial nominees.
According to the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, his faction will not relent until the House conducts the secret ballot.
“We the NDC are ready for the secret ballot,” he said.
Dr Forson made the remarks during a press conference in Parliament on Friday, March 24, 2023, after a brief suspension of sittings following the failure of both factions (Majority and Minority Caucuses) to reach a consensus on the approval of the six nominees.
Parliament was in a state of disarray on Friday, March 24, 2023, after Speaker Alban Bagbin briefly suspended the voting of President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees.
The House agreed to decide the fate of seven candidates today. During the debate on a secret balloting, the Majority and Minority side clashed as the former sought to reschedule the meeting due to their numbers.
The Minority would not have it and tried to convince the Speaker. This resulted in disorder as MPs shouted on top of their voices – an action that prompted the presence of the Marshalls.
Unable to obtain decorum, the Speaker suspended the sitting briefly.
It was during the break that Dr Ato Forson held a press conference to call his colleagues from the Majority to return to the House for the secret ballot to be conducted.
Addressing the presser Dr to Forson insisted his side will ensure, through the secret ballot that, the wishes of Ghanaians regarding the approval are well represented.
“Unfortunately the NPP seems panicking . They are afraid of their own shadows and they are trying to run away from the votes. We insist on secret balloting and we will vote accordingly. We are optimist because we strongly believe the NDC Minority Caucus will not betray the stance of the party and the stance that the people of Ghana. So we are urging our colleagues on the Majority side to come to the chamber so that we can start the voting,” he said.
Managing Director of the Precious Mineral Marketing Company (PMMC), Nana Kwasi Awuah has refuted claims that the company was confiscating jewellery from passengers at airports as part of its gold-for-oil policy.
He explained that Ghana has enough gold to be used for the policy and has no need to confiscate people’s jewellery.
According to him, the exercise at the airport was targeted at criminals who smuggled gold.
“…There is more than enough gold produced in this country to meet and sustain the gold for oil policy, it is not necessary to confiscate people’s private jewellery.”
“Even long before the announcement of the gold for oil policy, certain people have been finding very mischievous ways of disguising gold dowry as jewellery and then smuggling it out of the country,” he is quoted by asaasenews.com.
“So, the security agencies at our various points of entry and exit have always been conducting these operations to identify persons who are carrying unexplained quantities of gold disguised as jewellery,” Awuah added.
The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwasi Pratt Jnr, alleged that some passengers at the Kotoka International Airport were being mistreated in the name of the government’s Gold-for-Oil policy.
According to the veteran journalist, he had received multiple reports of personal ornaments of passengers such as rings and bangles being confiscated by officials at the airport.
“I’ve received three complaints and the last one was from a Ghanaian living in China. He had visited the country and was returning to China. When he got to the airport, his wedding ring and a bangle he was wearing were seized. When he raised questions, he was told ‘Haven’t you heard about the Gold-for-Oil policy? We are taking gold to buy oil,” he narrated on the Tuesday, March 14, 2023, edition of Peace FM’s morning show, Kokrokoo.
He stated that the passenger was issued an official document for the seizure of the ornaments.
“The man left the matter in the hands of his family and travelled to China. Meanwhile, they were issued a document indicating the ring has been confiscated and were asked to go to the National Bureau of Investigations.
“When they went to BNI, they were asked to speak to the director and the director asked that they seek the intervention of a lawyer,” he alleged.
In the US, tainted eyedrops have caused the deaths of three persons and the need for eyeball removal in four more.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 68 or more persons have been affected by over-the-counter eyedrops made by EzriCare and Delsam Phama throughout 16 states. On March 14, the count was accurate.
The CDC reported that “three persons have died, eight have experienced vision loss, and four have had their eyeball surgically removed.”
37 of the patients received care at four different healthcare facility groups.
The majority of patients reported using artificial tears. The drops have caused a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that ‘had never been reported in the United States prior to this outbreak’, according to the CDC.
It is ‘a rare strain of extensively drug-resistant’ Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the agency stated.
The outbreak is associated with several types of infections including of the eye. Eye infection symptoms include redness on the eye or eyelid and yellow, green, or clear discharge from the eye. Patients can also experience eye pain or discomfort, feeling that something is in the eye, blurry vision and increased sensitivity to light.
People who used the products and are not experiencing symptoms do not need to get tested.
Health officials are testing unopened bottles of EzriCare Artifical Tears to determine if the contamination took place in the manufacturing phase.
Patients and providers are advised to stop using EzriCare or Delsam Pharma artificial tears until the CDC and Food and Drug Administration release more information and guidance.
Some 40 students in the Western North region of the country are set to receive training for vocational skills in the Western North Region.
The training is being organised by the National Youth Authority (NYA).
With a total of 40 beneficiaries from the Sehwi Wiawso and Akontombra districts, the NYA has carried out a Skill Toward Employability and Productivity (STEP) project which intends to equip the selected youth in these districts with employable and productive skills, in line with Sustainable Development Goal Eight (SDG 8).
The STEP project is a program designed by the National Youth Authority (NYA) under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, with the sole aim of elevating capacity and equipping them to be more productive and self-reliant.
As part of the programme, the Deputy Director of the National Youth Authority, Nelson Owusu Ansah, said the government has catered for the entire cost involved in securing Master Craftsmen for the training and also provided all the needed equipment that will aid the beneficiaries to maximize the training experience.
He emphasised the numerous opportunities of TVET for the unemployed mass of youth in the country.
The Skill Toward Employability and Productivity (STEP) project, Mr Nelson Owusu Ansah said, will commence with employable skills in four areas, including Fashion design (Dressmaking), Hairdressing, Cosmetology, and Digital Satellite installation.
The Regional Director of the National Youth Authority, Mr Maclean Desmond, encouraged beneficiaries of the STEP project to appreciate the government’s commitment to the course and utilize the opportunity profitably.
Adding to that, he indicated the directorate’s doors are opened to receive their concerns and to offer any other assistance they may need.
He also appealed to the various masters who have been selected to train some STEP beneficiaries to exercise full patience with their apprentice and to the apprentice, he urged them to take the training seriously to be able to attain their goals in the future.
Also, some of the beneficiaries speaking to the media commended the government for introducing such an initiative to support them achieve their aspirations.
The Ghana Revenue Authority monitoring team has recovered more than GH¢85 million as short revenue for the state within the first five months of its inception.
The teams which have been divided into areas have significantly impacted revenue mobilization between October 2022 and February 2023 according to the Customs Division of the GRA.
The Division has put in place several monitoring Teams to ensure that correct amounts of duty are paid by importers and also as a tool to curtail smuggling across the country.
In October 2022, four (4) Teams were inaugurated to undertake risk-based and intelligence-driven operations across the country.
The teams which are Tema, Eastern Frontier based at Dabala, Western Frontier based in Kumasi and Vehicle Taskforce, which is nationwide, have also arrested some uncustomed goods as well as carried out other related assignments which involve the interception of substances suspected to be Indian hemp among others.
Speaking to journalists about the development, the Commissioner of Customs at the GRA, Alhaji Seidu Iddrisu Iddisah cautioned that the team will not compromise on any unethical exercise by any importer or trader against the country’s customs laws.
According to him, the recoveries made by the team will go a long way to contribute to the revenue drive of the state as well as ensure that the security of the country remains intact.
He, therefore, noted that this is another layer of security measures put in place by the Authority.
“As you know, Customs is supposed to be at all the entry points to ensure that goods that come into the country meet the security and health needs of the people and the country has laws to deal with the importation of items as well as the payment of right duties to the state which is used as an economic tool.”
He continued, “We have layers of enforcement and one of them is the establishment of the monitoring teams that operates at certain strategic areas to ensure that if one is able to dodge from the entry points, these teams will be able to apprehend them for the right amount of duties and customs processes to be done. The teams have been very successful since it was set up towards the latter part of last year by collecting over 85 million cedis from only Tema and other goods that were seized because they did not meet the standards required for the country”
“On the concerns of some team members harassing innocent traders at some of the country’s borders, the Commissioner admitted that such complaints have been made in the public domain but without any concrete evidence,” Alhaji Iddisah noted.
“We have always encouraged people to come out with evidence of our team members harassing individuals or any form of corruption so that we can investigate and deal with the officers involved. We have a code of ethics and conduct and when it is breached, the necessary sanctions are applied accordingly” the GRA Customs Commissioner assured.
The Authority however advised the general public to cooperate with the Monitoring Teams and be assured that it will discharge their duties with the highest professional standards.
Meanwhile, the Western Frontier Team has also recovered a total short collection of GH¢1,466,797.57. The Vehicle Taskforce (Nationwide) intercepted and detained 193 uncustomed vehicles in the last quarter of 2022 and 80 vehicles between January and February 2023.
What to wear to a ballistic missile launch has been a problem for the 10-year-old daughters of dictators for decades.
The oldest daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un put on a £1,950 velvet hoodie by Christian Dior while spending time with her father at yet another missile launch.
According to video published the next day by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim Ju-ae, who is thought to be around 10 years old, was pictured with her father at the location on March 16.
She could be seen wearing the plush patterned hoodie as she watched the launch of the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile at Pyongyang International Airport.
Ju-ae, one of Kim’s three known children, only appeared in public for the first time last November – at a massive ballistic missile launch, of course.
She was, for a time, simply known as Kim’s ‘beloved daughter’, though some see her sudden presence in the public eye as a sign she’s his heir-apparent.
The ruling family have for years been spotted wearing high-end clothing (Picture: Reuters)
The South Korean news outlet The Choson Ilbo reported that Ju-ae appeared to be wearing the four-digit priced hoodie by the French fashion house. Though, it’s unclear whether or not it’s a fake.
If it’s real Dior, though, Ju-ae would be wearing a jacket that costs more than double the per capita income in North Korea – estimated to be just £800 a year.
‘The hooded down jacket honours House heritage with the iconic Cannage motif,’ Dior says on the jacket’s product page.
The Cannage print is a staple of Dior designs, consisting of crisscrossing squares and diagonals inspired by the Napoleon III rattan chairs at Christian Dior’s first haute couture show in 1947.
Though, wondering about the history of geometric Dior prints isn’t exactly on the mind of most North Koreans.
Around six in 10 North Koreans live in absolute poverty, a 2020 study by researchers from the Vienna University of Economics and Business found.
The country is also reportedly on the brink of a food famine where ‘common people’ among the country’s 26 million residents struggle to eat three meals a day.
Anonymous sources told Radio Free Asia how North Koreans feel Ju-ae is ‘so different’ from regular children ‘whose cheekbones stick out from their faces’.
‘It makes me angry that my situation is so hard to bear, and Kim Ju-ae, who we all know is eating and living well, is showing up on TV in her fancy clothes so often,’ one source said.
North Korea has long struggled with food insecurity. A wrenching famine in the 1990s gutted food supplies, killing between 240,000 to 3.5 million people.
The Washington DC-based think tank 38 North said in a January report that natural disaster and the coronavirus pandemic has deepened the country’s longstanding food shortage, creating a ‘complex humanitarian emergency’.
‘Food availability has likely fallen below the bare minimum with regard to human needs, and on one metric, is at its worst since the country’s famine in the 1990s,’ it added.
The lavish tastes of North Korea’s ruling family, in contrast, are well-documented.
The Choson Ilbo note that Kim, during an October 2020 military parade, appeared to wear an IWC ‘Portofino’ watch with a price tag of around £10,000.
Ju-ae’s ‘beloved’ white horse was presented alongside a cavalry unit at a military parade in the North Korean capital last month.
She, according to South Korean intelligence, enjoys horse riding, skiing and swimming.
Her mother, Ri Sol-ju, has been sighted holding purses that appeared to be by other high-end brands such as Chanel and Dior.
The report by 38 North adds that the ruling family, even amid the pandemic and the apparent food crisis, has kept its eyes on missile-making and nuclear arms.
‘North Korea appears to be committed to its nuclear posture, and the lack of accountability allows the regime to prioritize its narrow militaristic goals to the detriment of its citizens’ living standards,’ 38 North said.
‘This style of governance is in keeping with what Kim Jong Il, who presided over the country’s famine in the 1990s, once said: “One can live without candy, but one cannot live without bullets.”‘
The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has commenced home delivery of drugs to chronic but stable patients.
The Chief Executive, Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, says this will remove the inconvenience these patients encounter in accessing medications.
He said dedicated pharmacists will be available to facilitate the process.
“Institution of courier services for the home delivery of refill medicines to chronic but stable patients. This means such patients, who will be assigned dedicated Pharmacists, will not need to come to the hospital for their medicines as they will be delivered to them at home at a reasonable fee,” he said.
He made this known at the hospital’s 2022 end-of-year performance review.
Momo and POS terminals
Prof. Addai-Mensah again announced the introduction of Mobile Money and Point of Sale terminals which have already proven to be a game-changer.
“For the first time in the history of the hospital, payments of hospital bills through mobile money (momo) and Point of Sale (POS) terminals have been introduced to allow patients to conveniently pay their bills without joining any queue. In just 19 days of the introduction of this service this month, over GHs100,000.00 in patients’ bills have been paid through these means,” he said.
Patients’ satisfaction surveys
Prof. Addai-Mensah also stressed the intensification of patient surveys to assess patient satisfaction.
“Intensify the conduct of segmented patient satisfaction surveys to determine the level of patients’ experiences at the various units and directorates and other ways for further improvements,” he said.
‘Mystery clients’
As part of efforts to improve care, Prof. Addai-Mensah revealed what he calls, ‘mystery clients’ who will assess care at the hospital.
“There will be the use of mystery clients to proactively determine, review and enhance the quality of care at the hospital,” he said.
Retooling
Prof. Addai-Mnesah said the hospital during the period under review also continued with its heavy investment by spending an amount of over Six Million Ghana Cedis (Ghc6 Million) from its Internally Generated Funds (IGF) in the procurement of critically needed equipment and facilities.
“These sets of equipment are making a remarkable difference in the hospital’s ability to provide a broader range of specialist care to the public and training of health care professionals in the country.
“Notable among the equipment that were delivered and installed during the period included ventilators, an X-Ray Digital detector, a Lamina flow cabinet, an electric tumbler dryer three Slit Lamp Biomicroscope, four Cardiac Monitors and suction machines among others,” he stated.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ the man, who traveled from South Carolina, walked up to Rihanna’s home Thursday where he was almost immediately greeted by her security.
TMZ source say the man claimed he was there to propose to the singer, and Rihanna’s team called the cops right away.
When officers arrived, they put the man in handcuffs, got him in a car and had a serious chat about his intentions.
TMZ sources say it was determined the man — dressed in a red Nike hoodie — had not broken any laws, though he was asked to leave and told not to return.
It was back in 2018 when a man named Eduardo Leon was arrested inside Rihanna’s L.A.-area home.
Rihanna headlined the Super Bowl 2023 halftime show.
Leon allegedly had been inside the home for at least a day, while Rihanna was out of town, before he was discovered. He allegedly told cops he was there to have sex with the singer.
Scary situation all around, especially because Rihanna has a young family, with another child on the way.
Morgan Heritage, the 3x Grammy award-winning reggae band has revealed the official music video for their latest single “Who Deh Like U” ft. Bounty Killer, Cham & Stonebwoy –– which debuted at #1 on the US iTunes Afro-Beat chart last week.
Earlier this week, the group officially announced their newest studio album, The Homeland, out on April 21.
The new afro-fusion/world music project marks a new era as they expand their global reach from the Caribbean to the African Continent and beyond, including star-studded features from Popcaan, Youssou N’Dour, Shaggy, Beenie Man, Shatta Wale, Mádé Kuti, and more.
The Homeland is an LP of rebirth for the Morgan brothers, built upon a lineage that has lasted decades and one that will continue to forge forward.
The Homeland kicks off a busy year for Morgan Heritage, who will also appear at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and tour the globe later this year. See below for confirmed dates with more to be announced soon.
At the end of the month, Morgan Heritage will be at the GRAMMY Museum (at L.A. Live) as guests for The Drop Series on March 28. This is set to kickstart the culturally-iconic band’s global promotional tour, with planned stops in Los Angeles, New York, England, Germany, France, Uganda and Ghana.
Show Dates
March 28, 2023, Los Angeles, CA Grammy Museum: The Drop
May 04, 2023, New Orleans, LA Jazz & Heritage Festival
May 06, 2023, Las Vegas, NV Reggae In The Desert
May 12, 2023, Cayman Islands Lover’s Rock Cayman 2023
May 27, 2023, Miami, FL Hot105 Hot Live
July 16, 2023 Martinique
July 22, 2023, Montego Bay, Jamaica Reggae SumFest
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has announced plans to elect a flagbearer on 12 June to lead the party into the 2024 presidential elections.
The decision is in accordance with the party’s constitution, which states that when the party is in opposition it would elect its flag bearer two years before the general election.
A statement issued by the CPP on Tuesday (21 March) called on persons who desire to lead the CPP to avail themselves when the party opens nominations.
“At a central committee meeting held on 20 March 2023, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has determined to hold its flagbearer elections by 12 June 2023.
“The decision to go by the constitutional provision was overwhelmingly agreed by all members present at the Central Committee which is the highest administrative decision-making body of the party,” the CPP statement said.
Executive Director of the Africa Education Watch Kofi Asare has chided District Directors of the Ghana Education Service (GES) for being silent and cowardly as the government fails to release funds to them to run basic public schools in the country.
Mr. Asare lamented that even as these District Directors are faced with financial challenges, they have remained timid concerning demanding funds for the administration of their schools but have rather looked on as parents are billed to pay for aspects of their children’s education which should be paid for by the government.
He cited the example of an examination fee that is being paid by parents when government is supposed to do so.
He noted that, unlike heads of senior high schools who consistently demand funds to run their schools, district directors have been laid-back and silent over the lack of funds to run basic schools.
Read his full statement below:
As usual, I have a list of District Education Directorates that collected up to GHC15 from pupils to conduct end-of-term exams in public basic schools. I know this is no news-actually a norm! Everyone from the Ministry of Education GH to Ghana Education Service is aware but silent because they have no alternative.
The District Directors, as usual, claim government has not sent any money for exam. I am aware only 12% of the Capitation & Base Grant required for this year was even budgeted by Ken, so I appreciate how basic education will suffer this year too.
While I am not against parental contribution to basic education, I will continue to reiterate that it is the responsibility of the GES under the MOE to fund examinations through the Capitation Grant.
Denying basic school funds and watching teachers tax parents to fund terminal examinations is against the free, compulsory, universal basic education policy and constitutional provision per Article 38(2).
Instead of always pouncing on poor parents to demand cash to fund basic education in the midst of low commitment by government, District Directors should rather muster courage and tell government that they cannot run basic schools with PR.
District Directors of Education must be bold and learn from CHASS to get results. Under the free SHS, immediately CHASS ‘shouts’, a ‘state of emergency’ is declared at the MoE for fear of closure of SHS. Quickly, money is found from nowhere and thrown at them.
This cowardice of District Directors who are responsible for managing basic education will continue to make government even more docile towards financing basic education.
There is too much timidity of leadership at the basic school level to attract any positive response from government.
In response to violent protests in France, King Charles has postponed his state visit.
The announcement follows unions’ promises to continue causing trouble during the monarch’s visit.
The King and Camilla, the Queen Consort, were scheduled to visit President Emmanuel Macron from March 26 to March 29.
But, the royal visit has been postponed due to turmoil in France, where buildings have been set on fire.
Bordeaux town hall ablaze after protesters set fire to iconic building
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: ‘The King and The Queen Consort’s State Visit to France has been postponed.
‘Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.’
Protests in France are in response to President Macron’s controversial plan to push through a bill to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a vote in the French Parliament.
Backlash has led teachers, oil refinery, railway and airport workers at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to walk out.
More than 450 protesters were arrested in Paris and beyond on Thursday, as some 300 demonstrations drew more than a million people nationwide.
Last night, Bordeaux Town Hall was set alight amid the disruption.
The mayor of the town, Pierre Hurmic, said on Friday he had ‘difficulty understanding the interest of such acts of vandalism’.
Meanwhile in Paris, there have been occasional clashes between police and masked rioters who smashed shop windows, demolished street furniture and attacked a McDonald’s restaurant, according to Reuters.
Attractions like the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles were closed on Thursday.
There were further clashes in other French cities in the west of the country including in Nantes, Rennes and Lorient.
Polls say most French oppose Mr Macron’s Bill to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64, which he says is necessary to keep the system afloat.
In Greece, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the French embassy in Athens on Thursday to show solidarity.
Protesters chanted slogans and held placards that read ‘Macron, your democracy hangs on nine votes’ and ‘From Greece: victory for the workers of France’.
Irene Amankwaa Karikari, wife of young politician, Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress, has received a passionate message from her husband on the occasion of her birthday.
Sammy Gyamfi on the morning of Friday, March 24, 2023, took to his Instagram page to mark Irene’s first birthday as his wife with a gorgeous photo.
“Wishing my better half @i_ren.e a happy and blissful birthday. May the Lord increase his blessings upon your life gorgeous one,” read the caption of the photo which has received tons of compliments directed at Mrs Gyamfi.
The two were engaged in a public display of affection with the wife of the politician showering him with accolades.
“My Husband, the only Honourable I know, Thank you SG #toinfinityandbeyond,” the celebrant wrote.
The couple tied the knot back in December 2022 in a star-dubbed ceremony that was graced by former president, John Dramani Mahama and top executives of the NDC, the leading opposition political party of Ghana.
Akwaboah and King Promise were among the musicians who performed at the extravagant wedding ceremony.
In a Euro 2024 qualifying game between the two countries, the Three Lions will play Italy.
Huge crowds swell in opposition to police using batons and riot gear, as shown in a video posted to Twitter.
As the tension grew, some were seen raising their hands.
The following was posted on Twitter by broadcaster Faye Carruthers: “Been speaking to many England fans arriving at the game (and those still not here) who say it’s been farcical trying to get here – have friends who’ve been on a bus for 90 minutes (it’s a 25 minute journey) – the bus went in the opposite direction to the stadium…
England are taking on Italy in the Diego Maradona Stadium.
She added: ‘They’re not likely to make KO – crammed in with standing room only.
‘One fan said the English police outside were “embarrassed” as nothing they said would happen organisation-wise has.’
Amid tonight’s game, Harry Kane has been crowned England’s all-time leading scorer, eclipsing Wayne Rooney’s record.
The Tottenham forward had scored 53 goals for the Three Lions before the trip to Naples, where Gareth Southgate’s side begun their Euro 2024 qualification campaign.
It was Kane’s first appearance in an England shirt since December at the World Cup against France, when he netted one penalty but missed another in a heartbreaking quarter-final defeat.
The 29-year-old had been tied with Rooney since then, but has now claimed the record outright – ironically, from 12 yards.
Meanwhile, the FA have condemned the actions of an England fan who took a flag to Italy which included a ‘deeply offensive’ message to the late Diego Maradona.
As is often the case ahead of England away games, there were concerns over trouble involving fans ahead of the match.
The FA have condemned one supporter who took an England flag to Naples that included the words ‘Diego’s in a box’ – in reference to Argentina and Napoli legend Maradona, who died in November 2020.
‘We strongly condemn the actions of the individual who travelled to Naples with a flag that had a highly offensive message on it,’ a statement read.
‘We immediately took steps to have their tickets cancelled before the match. The matter will be reviewed further when we return to England.’
On Wednesday night, a rocket that was nearly entirely constructed from 3D printed parts successfully launched, but it malfunctioned shortly before entering orbit.
At 11.25 p.m. on Wednesday, Relativity Space, a California-based aerospace manufacturer, launched its Terran 1 rocket from the Space Force Base in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The first stage of the 110-foot rocket was successful, traveling 1,242 miles per hour for 10 miles into the stratosphere.
On Wednesday night, a rocket that was nearly entirely constructed from 3D printed parts successfully launched, but it malfunctioned shortly before entering orbit.
At 11.25 p.m. on Wednesday, Relativity Space, a California-based aerospace manufacturer, launched its Terran 1 rocket from the Space Force Base in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The first stage of the 110-foot rocket was successful, traveling 1,242 miles per hour for 10 miles into the stratosphere.
The greased piglet succeeds where normal mortals fall, according to the saying, “The thing about the greased piglet.”
This week, as the former prime minister tries to escape a crisis completely of his own invention, David Cameron’s infamous statement about Boris Johnson’s survival skills is being put to the test.
Some people might wonder why an inquiry conducted by the relatively obscure Privileges Committee in a backroom of Parliament regarding some pixelated photos taken a few years ago is so important.
But be in no doubt, it does matter.
Because our entire economy, society and environment hinges on functioning democratic systems.
Boris Johnson’s actions in relation to Partygate put these at grave risk – and we the public shouldn’t be forced to accept that risk. There should be consequences for his dishonesty – to ensure accountability to Parliament is restored.
Boris Johnson swears on oath before facing committee on Partygate
Parliament needs statements from Ministers to be accurate and honest, in order to do its job.
As Dr Hannah White at the Institute for Government states so clearly in her response to the Partygate inquiry: ‘Parliament’s role scrutinising government is central to our democratic system… (that) role is worthless if the information it extracts from government cannot be relied upon.’
Yet Johnson was not accurate and not honest when informing Parliament about parties in Downing Street.
After reports of these gatherings first emerged in November 2021, Johnson told MPs they were within the guidance – even as the evidence piled higher proving they were not. Shamefully, he didn’t correct the Parliamentary record for another six months, when Sue Gray’s report was finally published in May 2022.
Johnson blatantly, recklessly, and many would argue knowingly, misled Parliament, and has gone on to try and paint the investigation as somehow biased. MPs simply cannot do our job if senior politicians undermine the legitimacy of independent Committees.
The deliberations of such bodies may appear dry, but they are a vital part of our Parliamentary democracy – tackling big issues of public interest, scrutinising ministers, and holding our government to account.
What do you think of Boris Johnson’s behaviour?
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Yet in front of the Privileges Committee investigating Johnson, he patronisingly argued that its Chair, Harriet Harman, ‘had said some things about this matter before reading the evidence, which plainly and wrongly prejudge the very issue on which you are adjudicating.’
And he mustered together his old allies to back him up – from Andrea Jenkyns labelling the Committee a kangaroo court, to Jacob Rees-Mogg arguing it’s a ‘political committee against Boris Johnson.’
Let’s just remind ourselves – this is a Committee comprising four Conservative MPs, and three opposition MPs – it doesn’t exactly scream ‘anti-Boris alliance.’ Harriet Harman was elected as Chair of the Committee by her fellow Committee members – it’s quite simply dishonest of Johnson and his allies to suggest she is biased.
Parliament also cannot do its job if crucial constitutional conventions are treated with disdain and disregard.
We’ve seen it before from Johnson – whether it’s unlawfully proroguing Parliament, or ignoring the findings of his own ethics advisor.
But these conventions matter because the person who is Prime Minister, as Boris Johnson was when he misled Parliament, has to be seen as the ultimate guarantor of decency in public life.
Whoever leads our country must be a decent, honest, law-abiding person. That doesn’t mean our conventions are perfect – for example it’s still ludicrous that the Prime Minister is the final judge and jury over the Ministerial Code – but they’re what we have, and our system relies on them being honoured.
Boris Johnson apologises to MPs for his involvement in Partygate
Instead, in one of Johnson’s final claims to the Committee this week, he even refused to say whether he would accept its findings.
‘I wait to see how you proceed with the evidence’, he stated. Here we have the outcome of an independent Committee sabotaged and subverted before it has even been decided.
And so Johnson continues to fundamentally undermine the conventions on which our democracy is built. And while he does this, the world burns.
This week, a major new climate report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) showed global temperatures intensifying, and sea levels rising.
On the same day, the Metropolitan Police was found to be institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic.
And new research from Friends of the Earth suggests that over a million households are facing extreme fuel poverty – spending an extortionate 20% of their disposable income on energy bills. Over 100,000 households are even paying double that.
There are so many crises that our government – and our country – faces. But tackling them requires a functioning, healthy democracy.
That means we cannot set a precedent whereby a Prime Minister, even one that has left office, can show complete disdain for our constitutional conventions, total disrespect of our Parliamentary procedures, and an utter disregard for any sense of decency in public life – and not face the consequences.
All our futures depend on good governance – and it couldn’t be clearer that Boris Johnson failed to provide it.
This greased piglet must not be allowed to wriggle free.
In Poland, it appears that the Prince of Wales has shown his support for LGBTQ+ persons, despite warnings from campaigners that this population is increasingly discriminated against.
Warsaw’s Butero Cafe, which bills itself as a “gay space,” shocked its patrons last night when William stopped by for a modest £7.50 dinner.
When seated with a group of individuals he assumed to be Kensington Palace workers, he placed an order for the Kanapka w chace meal.
William was spotted placing his order at Butero Bistro in Warsaw (Picture: @michalzaczynski/Instagram)One diner said he’d ‘had dinner with a prince’ (Picture: @michalzaczynski/Instagram)
One excited local at the next table posted snaps to Instagram, saying that he was surprised to have ‘dinner with a prince’.
He commented that it was ‘interesting’ that the future King had chosen a venue that is linked with the LGBTQ+ community.
‘It is valuable that he supported the community so abused by the current authorities in Poland’, he said.
Owner Paweł Zasim has said that the restaurant ‘is an inclusive space where everyone can feel good.’
He told the Daily Mail he had ‘absolutely no idea’ the royal was coming and the table had initially been booked for a birthday party for ‘Daisy’.
‘But then a bodyguard appeared and said that this wasn’t going to be a Daisy birthday party and then Prince William walked in’, he said.
‘They said they had a good time, they spent three hours here with the other guests that were already here.
‘He ate our sandwich in a braided roll with pulled pork. And he ate everything so I think he liked it.’
A source said that William’s team had booked the dinner and he had asked to come along. They added that ‘a great night’ was had by all.
The future King visits British Armed Forces in Rzeszow (Picture: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock)
Butero Bistro, which has a logo with rainbow colours, is reported to have pieces of LGBTQ+ art on the walls and offers drag queen performances.
According to ILGA-Europe’s 2022 report, the status of LGBTQ rights in Poland is the worst among European Union countries.
The law does not legally recognize same-sex unions, either in the form of marriage or civil unions.
In 2020, dozens of Polish towns declared themselves free of ‘LGBT ideology’, with pride parades and other gay-friendly events blocked – prompting legal action from the EU.
A report from Amnesty International in July warned Polish authorities have targeted LGBTI people with stigmatising and harmful rhetoric, and refused or frustrated their attempts to protest.
It added that they experience extensive barriers in access to justice, interference in judicial proceedings by the Ministry for Justice and Prosecutor General and a clampdown on their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
On Thursday, William visited the Hala Koszyki food hall in Warsaw to speak to those who have fled Ukraine.
He had earlier met Poland’s president Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Palace, where they discussed the war in Ukraine.
During Medikal’s media tour to promote his ‘Planning and Plotting’ album, the Ghanaian rapper, had also been on a ‘clarification spree’; addressing rumours of his purportedly failed marriage.
Recently, the rumors of Medikal and his wife, Fella Makafui’s breakup intensified after the release of a single which featured his ex, ‘Sister Derby’.
Rumours and petty observations from concerned fans, that Fella and Medikal have been spotted without their wedding rings on countless occasions, unfollowed each other on social media, do not sleep in the same house, and so on have also been in circulation.
Medikal, who is currently touring media houses, especially during this period, has been bombarded with questions pertaining to these rumours.
The AMG rapper, during two separate conversations with 3FM’’s Giovanni and HitzFM’s had been placed on the ‘hot seat’ and made to address claims of his purportedly failed marriage.
However, reacting to Medikal’s answers to the query, Nana Ama McBrown has advised the rapper and his wife to manage their situation at their own pace and timing.
Sharing excerpts of an OnuaTV news bulletin on Snapchat, with focus on the part where Medikal and Fella Makafui’s marriage was been discussed, McBrown said,
“As for this work, whatever you do, they will still talk about you. So, just take it slow and prove them wrong.”
What Medikal has said about his marriage, ‘Sister Derby collabo’ so far
Throughout all the media interviews Medikal has had so far, he insisted that people are reading too many meanings into his dealings in recent times.
Making reference to his social media posts and ‘Sister Derby collaboration’, the ‘Stubborn Academy’ hitmaker said people are simply speculating.
Medikal said Fella Makafui was reliably informed before he reached out to Sister Derby for a collaboration.
He told Andy Dosty on HitzFM that, “my wife was cool (with the collaboration). I told her and she listens to every song I record. She was like ‘this guy’, she knows that I am stubborn.”
Medikal said that despite his determination to get the collaboration, his wife understands the person he is and trusts him to do the right thing.
But in the eyes of social media, Medikal’s act has been tagged as disrespect, considering the circumstances that led to his fallout with Derby.
Some netizens also think that Medikal should have created some boundaries between himself and his ex-lover.
These concerns sprung up after Fella Makafui an avid fan of her husband, did not publicly acknowledge the collaboration.
Next week, in conjunction with King Charles‘ visit, French unions said they will organize more demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform.
A ferocious outcry to President Macron’s plans for a sumptuous feast at the Château of Versailles may be postponed or possibly cancelled.
The president is receiving a lot of criticism from the people for passing a law that would have raised the retirement age to 64 without a vote in the French Parliament.
The move has seen Anti-Macron protests swell to an all-time high, with over 10,000 tonnes of rubbish lining the streets of Paris after binmen withdrew their labour.
France has been rocked by furious protests following Emmanuel Macron’s decision to raise the retirement age without a vote in parliament (Picture: AFP)
Observers say the optics could not be worse for both Charles and the president, with a Buckingham Palace source saying the situation ‘was being monitored.’
Union representatives of French workers responsible for ceremonial trappings, like red carpets, have also said its members would not prepare a welcome for the King and Queen Consort when they arrive on Sunday.
‘It’s very bad timing. Normally the French would welcome a British king. But in this moment, people protesting are on high alert for any sign of privilege and wealth,’ said Paris-based writer Stephen Clarke, the author of Elizabeth II, Queen of Laughs.
The King and his wife will travel to Paris this weekend then visit Berlin from March 29-31, during a trip which a source said previously was planned in an ‘extraordinarily positive’ atmosphere by all.
But French labour union CGT union announced this week that its members at Mobilier National, the institution in charge of providing flags, red carpets and furniture for public buildings, would not help prepare a Sunday reception for the king upon his arrival in Paris.
‘We ask our administration to inform the services concerned that we will not provide furnishings, red carpets or flags,’ a CGT statement read.
The Elysee Palace, the French president’s official residence, has said non-striking workers would set up the necessary accoutrements for the trip.
Some opponents accuse the president of being out-of-touch, and Charles has come in for similar criticism as protests continued this week which could overshadow the royal tour if they continue.
Sandrine Rousseau, a lawmaker from France’s Green Party, told French channel BFM TV: ‘Unbelievable. We are going to have Emmanuel Macron, the Republican monarch, welcoming King Charles III in Versailles, while the people in the street are demonstrating.’
‘Of course’ the King should cancel his visit, she added.
Versailles – west of Paris – is where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, France’s last proper king and queen, lived before being guillotined.
Meanwhile former presidential candidate and head of France’s left-wing Anticapitalist Party Olivier Besancenot said Charles’ visit would be met ‘with a good old general strike,’ adding: ‘We are engaged in a battle, there will be a winner and a loser.’
Other parts of the king’s three-day itinerary also appear to be in doubt, as tram drivers in the city of Bordeaux, to which he is due to travel on Tuesday, announcing that they are not willing to take Charles on a planned sightseeing trip of the town.
‘It is almost certain that the King will not be able to take the tram,’ warned Pascal Mesgueni, a representative of the CFTC union, in an interview with French media.
‘No driver will want to transport the king.’
Perhaps more alarming for monarchists, however, might be a new chant which has become increasingly popular amongst protestors gathered around fires in the Place de la Concorde: ‘Louis XVI, Louis XVI, they beheaded him; Macron, Macron, we can start again.’
Elsewhere throughout the city, refineries and ports have been blockaded, gas stations are running out of fuel, planes have been unable to take off, and 790 people have been arrested in Paris alone in the six days since the demonstrations started.
Macron’s government survived two no-confidence votes at the lower chamber of parliament on Monday, and has indicated that the retirement bill will ‘continue its democratic path’.
French newspaper Le Monde suggested the strikes could soon leave France ‘on the brink of the unknown,’ and deplored the burning of effigies of Macron on streets.
According to a recent survey, 56 percent of respondents said they supported rolling strikes, and 59 percent backed the call to bring the country to a standstill.
However, some 64 per cent of the French thought the government would pass the bill all the same.
‘We’re going to grin and bear it and wait for it to blow over,’ one Macron aide reportedly told Le Parisien.
Emmanuel Owusu-Bonsu, popularly known as Wanlov the Kubolor, has made a startling revelation that he is envious of individuals who are mentally challenged.
Wanlov is known for his unique fashion sense, which frequently involves him wearing minimal clothing, and he expressed a desire to walk around naked, similar to some mentally challenged individuals.
In a recent interview with Doreen Abanema Abayaa on Talkertainment, Wanlov said, “I am jealous of mad people. I’m like, why are you walking around naked and no one cares? People would stop caring if I did it right now… [pause]… maybe if I did it for a long time.”
Although Wanlov desires to walk around naked, he understands that his behaviour could get him into trouble with the law.
He even joked about needing enough money to pay a fine to the police in case he is arrested for public nudity.
“I think I need to have enough money in case I am arrested for public nudity. Until they realize that maybe I do have a mental problem, they won’t leave me alone,” he added.
Wanlov went further to suggest that he might have to fake a mental illness to avoid prosecution.
Additionally, Wanlov explained why he prefers wearing minimal clothing. He stated that the human body is like an air conditioning system that works by sweating, and when the breeze comes into contact with the sweat, it quickly cools the body down.
However, when someone wears clothes and the wind blows against the sweat-soaked clothes, the effect is not the same.
After news of the former president’s potential indictment this week, AI-generated deepfakes depicting Donald Trump being detained became viral on Twitter.
Trump was anticipated to be indicted by a grand jury this week on suspicion of making hush payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.
The false photos that journalist Elliot Higgins posted on Twitter have already been seen more than five million times.
Images from the series showed Trump obstructing police before being taken into custody. The 45th president might be seen attempting to flee in some of the fake images.
The deepfake series also includes some of Melania Trump, along with the former president’s son, Donald Trump Jr protesting the arrest.
Higgins used Midjourney, an artificial intelligence text-to-image generator, to generate the lifelike images.
‘Making pictures of Trump getting arrested while waiting for Trump’s arrest,’ tweeted Higgins, who is also the founder of investigative collective Bellingcat.
Higgings said that, for several images, he submitted the text prompt, ‘Donald Trump falling over while getting arrested. Fibonacci Spiral. News footage’.
The fake images looked eerily real but if you look closely, you can see that the text on the police officers’ uniforms is gibberish, along with distorted faces and hands. These are usually tell-tale signs of AI-generated images.
‘The Trump arrest image was really just casually showing both how good and bad Midjourney was at rendering real scenes like the first image has Trump with three legs and a police belt,’ Higgins told the Associated Press.
‘I had assumed that people would realise Donald Trump has two legs, not three, but that appears not to have stopped some people passing them off as genuine, which highlights that lack of critical thinking skills in our educational system.’
Other AI-generated images depicting Trump’s imaginary arrest, have been doing the rounds on the internet with many people falling for it at first glance.
The incident shows the disturbing power of AI-generated images in perpetuating fake news.
As for Trump, he remains free as he is unlikely to be indicted and arrested this week.
Ahead of Friday March 23, 2023’s parliamentary sitting, Leadership of the New Patriotic Party, is urging all its members in the House not to miss the day’s sitting.
A statement signed by the General Secretary, Justin Kodua, said: “following the outcome of the proceedings of Parliament on Thursday, March 23, 2023, [leadership] hereby urges all members of the Majority Caucus to be present at the House to fully participate in all parliamentary proceedings and voting scheduled for the day.”
On Thursday, leadership of the House failed to reach a consensus on the approval of six persons nominated by President Akufo-Addo for appointment as Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Minister.
During this sitting, the First Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Appointment Commitment, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, moved a Motion on the floor of the House, for the nominees to be approved.
Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, advocated for the nominees to be approved despite
He acknowledged hearing his colleagues on the Minority side complain about the ‘bloated’ number of Ministers, however, he contended that the high numbers were as a result of the new regions which were not present during previous tenures.
He, therefore, urged Members of the House to approve the Ministerial Nominees to enable them to help the President to prosecute his agenda for the nation.
Mr Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader, who seconded the Motion, noted that all the Nominees except Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng were sitting Members of Parliament (MPs).
The Deputy Majority Leader said he believed the Nominees had the qualities to make in roads in their respective sectors.
Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Minority Leader and Ranking Member on the Appointment Committee in Parliament, said the position taken by his side of the House to reject the six Ministerial Nominees were based on principles and that in the midst of the current economic challenges facing the country, there was the need for the President to cut down the size of the Government.
Thus, entreated the House to disapprove the appointment. Following the back and forth, the Speaker adjourned the day’s sitting and said the House will vote on the matter today, Friday, March 24, 2023.
It is against this background that leadership of the NPP is entreating its members not to miss the day’s sitting.
“The Party continues to appreciate the efforts of the Majority Caucus in getting the business of the House done despite its latent challenges.
“The leadership of the Party entreats the Majority Caucus especially, the Whips to ensure that no member of the Caucus absent himself or herself from the House on Friday, March 24, 2023, to get Government Business accomplished in the supreme interest of the country,” the statement said.
“The Party is committed to supporting and rallying behind the government in achieving the desired economic transformation for the good people of Ghanam,” the statement added.
The Police in the Suaman Dadieso District in the Western North Region have intercepted 336 bags of cocoa beans which were being diverted to the neighbouring Ivory Coast for sale.
Two people, the driver and the mate of a Daewoo Kia with registration number AS 3513-19, are currently with the police, assisting in their investigations.
Cocoa smuggling activity is rampant in the Suaman Dadieso area.
Due to this, the Assembly formed a task force to monitor the activities of these smugglers.
The loaded bags of cocoa in jute sacks were intercepted by the police-civilian task force in the Dadieso-Enchi Forest Reserve.
After the interrogation, it was found that they were heading towards neighbouring Ivory Coast to sell the cocoa.
The task force therefore led the vehicle to the nearest police station.
The Suaman Dadieso District Chief Executive, Philip Kwabena Boahene, briefing the media, explained that residents in the area do not involve in cocoa smuggling but outsiders.
He said they smuggle goods through the area to dent the name of Suaman District and he will do whatever in his power to arrest those involved.
Mr. Boahene warned that the security services and the task force will arrest anyone involve in cocoa smuggling.
Self-Acclaimed Dancehall King, Shatta Wale has explained why he does not have his body of work competing in the 24th edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards scheme.
The controversial Reggae/Dancehall singer told Prince Tsegah on Hitz FM that there was no friction or “beef’ between his camp and the VGMA, hence he would expect the VGMA board to reach out to him.
“You know VGMA is my ex-girlfriend, anytime they want to come back, I am here, I don’t know why they are behaving like the beef we have, we can’t cut it,” he said.
He further explained his position by arguing that the organizers should contact him in a nice approach to discuss the nominations.
“I feel because they are the ones organizing stuff like this, there should be a nice approach to me, Shatta we want to sit down with you and let you know we are ready with our nominations and we have a team,” he stated.
Recall that the ‘Taking Over’ singer was banned from the VGMA along with his archrival, Stonebwoy by the board in 2019 for their violent clash that marred the 20th anniversary of the event.
However, the two-year ban was lifted in 2021, allowing Stonebwoy to participate in the subsequent edition but Shatta Wale has failed to make his submissions due to certain reasons he outlined in his latest interview
“Because you know I am doing a whole lot of things you know in terms of music and business and stuff that I am doing, so they should also find somebody, a person from their office, and say oh Shatta are you interested to join this time because we want you to come on board and it is beautiful,” he pointed out.
He also took the opportunity to call for unity between the scheme’s organizers and other stakeholders.
“Sometimes we have to understand that, together we stand, divided we fall, so basically let’s just understand that things happen, I don’t have VGMA at heart I don’t have any enemy at VGMA, the Charter House company, I don’t have anybody there, it’s just that things happen and we just move on, how many times have we not fought,” he concluded.
The 24th VGMAs will air live on May 13 from the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
It’s safe to say that Prince William‘s unexpected visit to a Polish city close to the Ukrainian border earlier this week did not go over well with Russia.
On Wednesday, the heir to the throne unexpectedly stopped by to greet British troops in Rzeszów, which is about 100 kilometers or an hour’s drive from Ukraine.
He traveled to Warsaw to visit some of the more than a million Ukrainian refugees who have sought safety in Poland after expressing gratitude to them for “keeping an eye on” the situation across the border.
The Russians responded by making it apparent that they did not appreciate the show of support for the victims of their barbaric invasion.
According to The Sun, Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova, a spokesperson for the country’s foreign ministry, referred to the future king as ‘William Charles-ovich’.
The suffix added to someone’s name means ‘son of’ – as in Vladimir Putin’s middle name, Vladimirovich.
She also reportedly referenced the supply of depleted uranium tank shells by the UK to Ukraine, something that has been brought up repeatedly by the Kremlin and its allies in recent days.
The newspaper quoted her as saying: ‘I wonder if William Charles-ovich brought depleted uranium ammunition for his troops.’
Earlier this week, Putin’s defence minister suggested to reporters the delivery of ammunition with depleted uranium from the UK meant there were ‘fewer and fewer’ steps towards a nuclear collision.
In response, an MoD spokesperson said: ‘The British Army has used depleted uranium in its armour piercing shells for decades.
‘It is a standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons or capabilities.
‘Russia knows this, but is deliberately trying to disinform.’
It comes as no surprise that the Kremlin is unhappy about William’s Poland trip.
As well as supporting the British troops, the Prince of Wales seemed to signal support for the country’s LGBTQ+ community by eating at a ‘queer safe space’ restaurant on Wednesday evening.
Both Russia and Poland have drawn condemnation for their treatment of LGBTQ+ people in recent years.
Ghanaian rappers, Medikal and Teephlow have a long and complicated history of feuds and this week the beef has been resurrected once again after certain utterances from the former.
Medikal, 29, who is currently promoting his latest project, Cold and Trophies, accused colleague rapper, Teephlow of being envious and jealous of his achievements in the entertainment industry hence he would never collaborate with him.
“I don’t see myself doing music with Teephlow. He is envious of me, he is jealous of me, he hates me, he doesn’t wish me well, he wishes to be in my position,” he revealed
But responding to Medikal’s bold utterances in the media over the week, the “Phlowducation” rapper said Medikal just wanted attention to be able to push his popularity at the upcoming VGMAs.
In a now-deleted post on Facebook, the rapper posted, “As usual it’s VGMA time, he wan attention. #CryBabe #LoveForAllHatredForNone.”
Teephlow and Medikal have also been pitched against each other for the Best Rap Performance category at the 24th VGMAs.
Black Stars head coach Chris Hughton has said dropping Andre Dede Ayew from the starting unit in Ghana’s game against Angola forms part of the choices coaches make in their job.
He said this at a post game interview after the Black Stars recorded a late winner to clinch a 1-0 win over Angola in the first of two 2023 AFCON legs against the Palancas Negras played out at the Baba Yara Stadium on Thursday, March 23.
Ghana generally labored throughout the contest but a mix up in the Angolan penalty box off a Mohammed Kudus free kick had the ball break kindly for Antoine Semenyo to slam the ball into the net.
However, captain Andre Ayew didn’t play in the game and Hughton stated it was his choice to not play the Nottingham Forest forward when quizzed about Ayew’s omission.
“This is the choice you have [to make] as a head coach. You know the quality that Andre has, you also know the quality that I like to think the squad have…so these are very difficult decisions for me; certainly nothing to read into that. He is, has been and is still a very good player it was just my choice”.
Black Stars head coach Chris HughtonGhana’s starting unit against Angola didn’t have Andre Ayew in it
Hughton was confirmed as Black Stars head coach in February this year after serving as technical advisor of the team.
The British Medical Association has confirmed that junior doctors will once again go on four days of strike action in the next month.
After requesting a 35% wage hike, thousands of junior physicians went on strike earlier this month.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay, who met with BMA leaders yesterday, claimed the wage claim is “unaffordable.”
On April 11 and April 15, they will be on strike.
A agreement supported by unions and offered to other NHS employees includes a 5% salary increase in April and a one-time payment of at least £1,655.
This is in addition to the raise in wages they received last year of 4.75%.
Nurses, ambulance staff, physios and other workers are being asked to vote on whether to accept that deal.
Steve Barclay said doctors are asking for an ‘unaffordable’ pay rise (Picture: Loredana Sangiuliano/SOPA Images/Shutterstock)
The three biggest health unions – the Royal College of Nursing, Unison and the GMB – have all recommended their members accept it.
But the BMA has insisted only a 35% increase will do to make up for 15 years of below-inflation rises.
Dr Robert Laurenson, who co-chairs the BMA’s junior doctor committee, said: ‘It is with disappointment and great frustration that we must announce this new industrial action.
‘The government has dragged its feet at every opportunity.
‘It has not presented any credible offer and is refusing to accept that there is any case for pay restoration, describing our central ask as ‘unrealistic’ and ‘unreasonable’.
The emphasis of today’s edition is “Akyeke,” a local delicacy in Ghana that is very affordable and available throughout the day.
For the Nzema people in Ghana’s Western Region, “Akyeke” is an essential food.
Tilapia, sliced cucumber, sliced tomato, and ground pepper are added as garnishes to akyeke.
The name can be spelled in a variety of forms, including “Achk,” “Acheke,” “Adj,” “Attieke,” and others.
On the way to the towns in the Western Region, it’s quite usual to see vendors selling “Akyeke.”
Apart from Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire also enjoys this dinner as one of their delectable dishes.
Cassava that has been shredded and fermented is used to make “akyeke.” For the cassava dough to be dry, the water from the mashed cassava or cassava dough is drained using a sieve or very clean napkin, and then the dough is stirred in a circular motion in any container.
For five to seven minutes, the food is steam-cooked over medium heat. For a delicious flavor, a tiny bit of salt is added.
To add some pleasant flavor to the dinner, one can add soup, stew, shrimp, fried plantains, boiled or fried eggs, avocado, pears, and other foods they feel comfortable eating.
The palm oil that the Nzema people frequently add to their cuisine gives it a yellowish hue.
The food is very inexpensive; one can purchase GH5.00 worth and feel completely satisfied. One will need about GHC 10.00 or GHC 15.00 if they want a complete taste of other accompaniments.
Given that it is made from cassava, akyeke is a fantastic supply of carbohydrates. The food can be consumed at any time of the day, whether for breakfast, lunch, or supper, as was stated in the beginning.
Additionally, akyeke gives the body the protein it needs to develop and maintain muscles and bones.
With very little capital, it is very simple to launch a “Akyeke” company anywhere in the nation.
Try your hardest to sample their delectable “Akyeke” meal whenever you are in a town in the Western area; you won’t soon forget the pleasant experience.
