Ghanaian singer Marx Morris Twumasi, popularly known as Morris Babyface, who doubles as a songwriter and a producer, has stated that secular musicians must be ready to cross over to the Gospel arena if they want their works to be done by him.
In an interview on Wednesday, March 8 on Adwumapa Mbre onConnect FMwith sit-in host Belinda Asomani, the currently ordained pastor who was once into secular music confirmed that he has stopped producing secular music and solely focuses on Gospel music now.
He also revealed that his constant relevance can be attributed to God’s grace, his hard work and never-ending learning.
According to the singer, who has several hit songs with the likes of Esther Smith, Okyeame Kwame among others, said not all secular music contains bad content and contexts but it still does not glorify the Lord and also does not encourage people to seek God either.
Morris claims some musicians do not know the power they possess therefore “they do things anyhow” especially Gospel musicians whose songs hold so much power.
Sharing his thoughts on the Ghanaian gospel industry, Morris Babyfacelamented the lack of unity among artistes, lack of authenticity and also made some comparisons between Ghana and Nigeria gospel music and their respective growths overtime.
Citing an example, he mentioned: “Nigerian gospel musicians used to come to Ghana for quality music videos and sounds about 16 to 18 years ago but not anymore”.
Also, he stated Nigerian artistes support one another to grow and succeed unlike Ghanaian artistes who deliberately suppress talents sometimes.
Morris, on his personal opinion on performing for profits as a gospel artiste, mentioned that he gladly performs for free on the grounds that the event is a free one, but in situations where tickets are being sold, he charges to perform.
He also admonished gospel musicians to charge accordingly and also called on pastors and event organizers to fairly pay artistes because they put in so much effort and resources to produce songs and it may be the only source of their livelihood.
When asked how he feels when he hears some of his secular music being played, he disclosed that it makes him feel delighted looking at his journey so far.
Morris Babyface also revealed that he is working on new songs to be released, a music school, as well as a talent hunt show for upcoming gospel musicians.
On his final remarks, he encouraged aspiring singers and sound engineers to learn more, have adequate understanding and also completely rely on God for success.
Award-winning Reggae Dancehall artiste BetterDays Gad, born Daniel Tabil, on Friday, March 10 disclosed that he would rather seek advice from Kofi Kinaata than feature him on a song.
Speaking to host Nana Yaw Gyebi on Connect FM‘s mid-morning show, BetterDays mentioned he respects Kofi Kinaata and highly regards and admire his efforts and works but when he is given the opportunity to meet him, he would not be in a rush to feature him on a song because Kofi has more to give than that.
The reigning king of Reggae Dancehall in the Western Region, BetterDays stated that if Kofi Kinaata is to feature him on a song, it would make much waves and easily become a hit but if he is to go the other way round, he would be the one to make preparations for promotions and as it stands now he is in his ‘dry season’ and would not wish to burden himself with it.
The Takoradi-based artiste said although he is not giving up the goal of featuring popular artistes on his songs, his priorities now is to become more financially stable to massively push his music career.
BetterDays Gad won the Best Reggae Dancehall Artiste of the Year at the Western Music Awards 2022.
The conversation about road tolls has been resurrected again following a document which emerged on Monday, February 14, 2023, with some proposed rates for the reintroduction of tolls of some of Ghana’s roads.
Per the document said to have been released by the Finance Ministry, pegged the rates at 50 pesewas for motorbikes, GH¢1 for cars, and GH¢3.50 for heavy goods trucks (5 or more axles), among other things.
This follows the cancellation of the road tolls by the government in 2021 during Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta’s presentation of the 2022 budget in November.
A year after, the Finance Minister said during a budget reading in November 2022, for the 2023 economic year, that the tolls will return on selected roads after the revenue shortfalls from the e-levy.
The concern for many however is how much money will be reinvested in the re-construction of some of these toll booths that have been destroyed and are in bad shape following the scrapping of tolls.
GhanaWeb’s George Ayisi visited some toll booths in the country in December, 2022 and captured the state of these booths ahead of the reintroduction of tolls.
Ghanaian comic actor, Ras Nene also known as Dr Likee has eulogized Shatta Wale for his selfless contribution to his NGO that foresees the development of young men and women in ghettos and on the streets.
On the account of Ras Nene, the Dancehall musician has been one of his main financiers and provided a better life for ‘ghetto youths’ by enrolling them in training centers and changing their lives for the better.
The actor who was once on the streets is on a mission to change the lives of many others through his success story as well as provide employment opportunities for those who wish to make it out of the ghettos.
Ras Nene announced to the public how Shatta has been a blessing to some Ghanaian youths.
“Some men in the ghetto who have seen me and others make it and strives to be like us. I try to support the youth and I must say one of my biggest sponsors has been Shatta Wale. I want to reveal underground information to the public.
“He supports me by providing funds used in getting these guys into business. Most guys whom I enrolled into vocational training were funded by Shatta Wale. He has been of great help to me. This is why I advertise for his Shaxi company,” the actor disclosed in an interview on Kins1gh TV.
The Ghanaian musician who has a large fan base has for years inspired young men who are tagged as ‘ghetto youth’ to believe in their dream through his music and social media posts.
A woman who threatened to divorce her 71-year-old blind husband has allegedly been killed by the man.
The incident happened at Nkawkaw Abepotia in the Kwahu West Municipality of the Eastern Region.
According to Angel FM’s Eastern Regional correspondent, Oheneba Siaw, the deceased, 65, threatened to divorce his blind husband after 28 years of marriage.
The suspect, George Mudor is alleged to have committed the crime while the wife was asleep on March 14, 2023.
The suspect is quoted to have said that, his late wife is unappreciative because they had happier times together when he wasn’t blind, but because of his current state, she decided to leave him.
He added that his late wife had been threatening to divorce him which did not sit well with him.
George Mudor has been arrested and is assisting the Nkawkaw divisional police with investigations, while Grace’s body has since been taken to the Holy Family Hospital morgue for autopsy.
Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has cast doubt over the ability of the National Identification Authority (NIA) to print and issue out all outstanding Ghana Cards before the EC commences the continuous Voters Registration Exercise.
He stated that the leadership of the party does not trust the National Identification Authority (NIA) due to the inconsistency in their communication on the issue of the Ghana Card.
He contends that the NIA cannot be taken seriously because its executive secretary, Professor Ken Attafuah, failed to fulfil a promise he made to Ghanaians that he would issue them with their Ghana Cards by December 2022.
Speaking in an interview on “The Pulse” on Joy News, on March 14, 2023, Aseidu Nketiah lamented by saying “The cause of this problem is the lack of complete trust between us (NDC) and the NIA and other state agencies.
“Where are we now? We are approaching March ending 2023 and they’re still replacing those promises with other promises. In other jurisdictions, Ken Attafuah would have resigned because we are discussing state business and you come and swear on your honour that this is what we have put in place,” he said.
He added “It’s state business, and we must all work together to make it happen, and I am going to play this part within three months, now, it’s been six months and more, and what you promised hasn’t happened, do you think you are entitled to be listened to?” he asked.
The proposed C.I. by the EC, which would require the EC to use Ghana Card alone to register citizens for the new voter ID cards, has received harsh criticism from some members of the NDC. They assert that the new C.I. is an effort on the part of the Electoral Commission to rig the upcoming 2024 general elections.
Jean Mensa appeared before parliament on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, over the proposed Constitutional Instrument (CI) her outfit brought before the House.
Her appearance came after Speaker Alban Bagbin, summoned her to appear before the committee of the whole.
On their part, the National Identification Authority (NIA) says it is set to print more cards as the government has settled the GH¢100 million debt owed creditors. Printing of the cards was suspended following financial constraints faced by the NIA.
Kwame Asare Obeng, known in showbiz as A Plus, has given his ‘two cents’ about the brouhaha surrounding Nana Ama McBrown’s exit from Despite Media.
McBrown was on March 13, 2023, unveiled by Media General as the newest addition to the brand. The development courted controversy as some staff of Despite Media, including Ola Michael and Abena Moet labelled her ungrateful.
Abena Moet of Okay FM recalled some sacrifices Despite Media made for McBrown stressing that Despite Media groomed McBrown to become one of Ghana’s seasoned show hosts. According to her, Despite Media should be given plaudits for nurturing McBrown who had no proper education.
“For her to transition from acting to the media without having any proper education is impressive. Whatever goods she gives you Media General, just know that we gave it to her first because we made her a TV host. We are the ones who groomed her, the credit goes to us. We groomed her into a better host,” Abena Moet said.
Commenting on the issue on Instagram, A Plus who is a regular guest on UTV’s United Showbiz, the show McBrown used to host on the Despite Media platform, said: “If UTV made her a great presenter, then we should be excited to be part of her success story. Do yours and wish others well.”
I leave my accusers to God – McBrown
Meanwhile, McBrown has said she had no contract with any media house before joining Media General. Detailing why she left Despite Media, McBrown said her former employers ignored her call for a change.
“I told my previous employers that I wanted to hold on from December. Let’s think of something new to do, that’s what I said to them. I was expecting them to call and say come let’s think about what is new. However, I don’t have a contract with anybody so if nobody is minding me, I have the right to move on…
“It didn’t start today, I started this long ago. I knew and saw this picture long ago. I am not impressing anybody, I am working for myself…it is part of the job when people come after me. How about the blessings? It is the same way when the ambassadorial deals are coming.
“Whoever is saying what about me, I leave that person to God because I know myself and I know I have worked my way through here. I didn’t come here just for the sake of my beauty or maybe my smile. I have worked to make my smile impactful. I am here because I have worked, oh Jonnie I have worked!” McBrown emitted.
Media personality and actress, Nana Ama McBrown has admitted to being the woman who ‘friend-zone’ men who come into her life, the reason it is impossible for them to make advances towards her.
On the account of the popular actress, men seized coming her way when she tied the knot with her husband, Maxwell Mawu Mensah.
The couple who got married in August 2016 are blessed with a daughter, Maxin Mawusi Mensah.
McBrown who was recently unveiled as the latest addition to Media General added that it has always been difficult for men to make advances toward her.
Those who manage to pass the friendship level graduate to become “more like a sibling” of Nana Ama McBrown.
“Men stopped coming after I got married. It is difficult to approach me, you can’t confess your love to me one time. It will be difficult for you to openly declare your love for me on that level because, by the time I finish with you, we could be more like siblings,” she told Johnnie Hughes on 3FM.
Recalling her past relationships, McBrown, mentioned that it was easy for the public to fish out the man she was in a relationship with because she gave her all but in some of these instances, she was unlucky with love.
“I’ll deal with you as a friend, that is how I move. I don’t impress anyone… it is hard for any approach like that. I am not like that,” she said.
Barely a week after Kuami Eugene made a statement implying that any woman interested in dating him should be able to handle the attention he receives from other women, the singer has since clarified his comments.
In an interview with Hello FM, Eugene claims his remarks were taken out of context and that he intended to convey that his fame and success make it difficult to avoid negative comments and attacks.
As a result, he suggested that potential partners should be prepared to handle criticism, hence the need for “tough skin.”
“I said if you are my partner, get ready to receive your fair share of it, and that’s what I meant when I said you should have tough skin,” he explained on the show.
The singer went on to explain that his comments were not intended to suggest that he has multiple women pursuing him. Instead, he emphasized that he respects women and all those he encounters.
By asking potential partners to be prepared for negative attention, Eugene hoped to manage expectations and prevent any misunderstandings.
“That’s what I mean by having tough skin, but I don’t mean to say that I have plenty of girls chasing me, so when you come and meet about 50 girls, you should be tough.
“That’s not it because I have respect for women, and I have respect for our people, and I respect everybody that I come across,” he added.
Nigerian music star, David Adeleke, known as Davido has recently made another appearance on social media to delete the majority of his posts on Instagram, leaving just three.
Tribune Online checks revealed the singer also deleted his profile photo on Wednesday.
The only instagram post left on his page of 26.4 million followers are that of his late son, Ifeanyi; the viral post of him and his lover, Chioma, getting ready for his Qatar performance; and pictures from the World Cup performance.
As fans continue to wait for his return, some of them took to social media platforms recently to remind the singer of his promise, wondering when he would make his final return and get back to releasing hits again.
Reggie Rockstone has shared his experience of being criticized by Ghanaians for joining VVIP while Nana Ama McBrown made her move from Despite Media Group to Media General.
In an Instagram comment, Reggie acknowledged the criticism he received when he joined the music group after Promzy’s exit but emphasized that everyone enjoyed the music they created together. He also expressed his belief that change is good and that people should move on.
“Till this day, some folx still cuss me about joining VIP into VVIP, but all enjoyed the music we made lol smh! Humans can be sum way huh! Change is good, and we all move on! Bless us all, AMEN,” he shared.
Nana Ama McBrown’s departure from Despite Media Group to join Media General has sparked criticism from some employees of the Despite Media brand.
Presenters Kwame Nkrumah Tikesie and Ohene Nana Kwame Amo cast innuendoes while Ola Michale and Abena Moet labeled McBrown ungrateful. Vim Lady, on the other hand, defended McBrown, emphasizing that she has the right to join any firm of her choice.
Meanwhile, McBrown has said she had no contract with Despite Media and despite her request “to think of something new to do”, she was ignored hence, her decision to exit.
Chance the Rapper, one of America’s top musicians, has recently caused a stir in the music industry with his freestyle rap tribute to Ghana.
In the freestyle, Chance showcased his talent by rapping in Twi, a popular Ghanaian language.
He also paid homage to two Ghanaian townships, Osu and Kumasi, and honoured some legendary African figures.
A line in his rap read, “Akwaaba medaase, that’s the end of my speech.” Tell them to spread the word from Osu to Kumasi, while adding, “This is for Dr. Kwame, Selassie, and Nnamdi.”
The freestyle rap has gone viral on social media platforms, earning Chance widespread recognition and admiration from Ghanaian music lovers.
The rapper showed that he has a deep appreciation for African culture and history, which he incorporated into his rap.
His tribute to Ghana is a significant milestone in his career, as it shows his interest in exploring different cultures and music genres.
On August 2, 2022, Chance the Rapper and Vic Mensa made a big announcement about headlining their first major concert in Africa in Ghana in January 2023.
The concert, Black Star Line, amassed over 52,000 people from all over Ghana and the diaspora.
The aim was to bridge the gap between African music and Western music by featuring other American acts, like T-Pain and Erica Badu, among others, alongside other African music stars.
Christian Atsu’s widow, Claire Marie-Rupio shares a touching throwback photo as the late footballer’s burial approaches.
The late Ghanaian footballer passed away in the Turkey earthquake.
Atsu, who was 29 years old, played for the Ghana national team and had a successful career in Europe, including spells at Chelsea and Newcastle United.
Late Christian Atsu’s wife share a picture of them ahead of his burial
His wife shared the photo on social media as a tribute to her late husband.
Fans and fellow players have also shared their condolences and memories of Atsu online.
Some staff of the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) have described as pathetic and disheartening, the allocation of Toyota Camry to Management and senior staff.
Staff of the entity, which is responsible for keeping and disbursing public funds, are unhappy that while deputy directors in other government agencies, including the Ministry of Finance are driving 4-wheel drive vehicles, their bosses are being compelled to drive Toyota Camry, a salon car.
At their annual conference in Mpraeso, a member of staff demanded Toyota Landcruiser Prado for the Management team.
“I don’t understand why a department like this, which is very powerful when it comes to finances, all our deputy controllers are using Camry.
“Meanwhile you go to Ministries, especially the Ministry of Finance and you see that deputy directors are using V8. It is very pathetic,” he said.
He continued “When you come to even regional level, you see some institutions, the directors are using V8 and others, are they better than us?” He asked.
He requested that the Controller and Accountant-General intervenes on their behalf in order to make their lives more comfortable.
“I am pleading that Controller – you do your best for us so that our deputy controllers, if not even V8, they should be given Prado. Our regional directors and the various directors at the head office should also be given Fortuners or any better car than the Camry and the pick-up,” he appealed.
But in response, the Controller and Accountant-General, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem rejected the request.
According to him, the staff must make do with what they have.
He noted that the Toyota Camry supplied are new cars.
“If you listen to the last budget very well, the Finance Minister or President indicated that going forward even heads of departments are to use saloon cars for day-to-day work and then 4-wheel drive when you are going out of Accra. So we are trying our best,” he explained.
Mr Kwaning-Bosompem recalled an experience with the car he was allocated when he assumed office as a deputy Controller and Accountant-General.
“I was given some old Honda and on my way to my hometown, I got overheating on the way and it took me another three hours to move,” he narrated.
After two homes were destroyed by a rumored gas explosion, a guy who was found deceased has been identified.
After being murdered in the explosion at Morrison in Swansea yesterday morning, Brian Davies, 68, has been named.
The following is a list of the most common questions we get from people who utilize our services.
Mr. Davies, who moved into the neighbourhood more than two years ago and was regarded as “lovely and conversational,” received tributes.
Later today, formal identification is anticipated to take place.
Sioned Williams, Member of the Senedd for the South Wales West region, said the man had been described locally as ‘very well liked’ and ‘such a friendly person’.
She said: ‘He apparently used to sit outside on the step and talk to people in the street. A lot of people knew him and liked him.’
Bulldozers were seen clearing the rubble this morning.Two homes were completely destroyed in the blast injuring three people and killing Mr Davies.Police announced the sad news this afternoon.Residents suspect a gas leak is behind the explosion on Clydach Road, SwanseaResidents have still not been able to return to their homes after the explosion yesterday.
Police said another adult – believed to have been injured in the street – had also been released from hospital. It is understood he was a postman hit by debris while in his van outside.
Claire Griffiths, 49, and her son Ethan, 14, were treated in hospital for injuries and shock after the tragedy when two houses were rocked by a huge explosion killing their neighbour.
Her partner Anthony Bennett returned to the family home today after visiting the pair in hospital with their injuries.
Anthony said schoolboy Ethan was very shaken up but ‘alive’ after the massive explosion in Wales.
He said: ‘Ethan just remembers the explosion going and him being thrown up against the ceiling and hitting it.
‘Next thing he knows he seems to be outside. Not sure if he lost consciousness or not. Part of the roof was under him and part of the roof was on top of him.
‘The guy who lives a couple of doors down ran across to check on Claire and then he dragged Ethan out.
‘He carried Ethan off the roof to get him out. Ethan was discharged from hospital but Claire was still being treated for six broken ribs and a ‘nasty gash’ to her head.
He said: ‘My wife is OK, in a lot of pain, but she is OK. Ethan was discharged last night. He is very shook up and mentally he is struggling to cope, but he is alive.’
When a man and woman decide to build a life together in marriage, they pledge to remain faithful to each other and never to keep secrets that could be a deal breaker.
A senior accounts officer at Benchmark Marketing, Victor Wellrich, has narrated how beautiful marriages can collapse over a husband or wife’s decision to hide or constantly change their mobile phone password.
Victor posited that a partner who keeps little secrets like passwords can hide major things like properties from their spouse.
“Keeping and hiding things is always a major topic in any relationship that determines the make or break of it. It starts with your phone, and password issues…when you change your password every week and you argue about it…you haven’t solved the problem that can escalate to something big.
“If you have mastered the will of keeping your password secret, then you can hide any other thing…I am very open, if I hide something, it will be for a good reason,” he told Paula Amma Broni on Moans & Cuddles.
Victor Wellrich also shared factors that can influence a husband or wife to build or acquire properties without informing their better half.
He mentioned that some individuals might never forgive their partners when they discover such secrets.
“Something must go wrong for you to change your character. You might have seen a certain recurring problem from the person, and you realize that this guy is not changing, perhaps he is selfish. So if he is selfish with his things, why don’t you be selfish with yours?” he explained.
Government has initiated steps to settle payments on outstanding bonds.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Finance Ministry on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
“Following the press release issued by the (Finance) Ministry dated 27th February, 2023, the government is pleased to announce that processes to settle outstanding bonds commenced yesterday, March 13, 2023,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the initial instruction covers coupon and principal payments on bonds that matured on 6th February, 2023, and 13th February, 2023.
“Holders of the afore-listed bonds should therefore expect to receive their payments within the next 48 hours,” the statement added.
The statement came into limelight hours after the Coalition of Individual Bondholder Groups and Pensioner Bondholders Forum issued a 48-hour deadline to the Finance Ministry to pay all matured principal and outstanding coupons due on the existing bonds issued by the Government of Ghana.
Government had indicated that it had taken administrative steps to ensure that payments of coupons and principal of the old bonds resumed by March 13, 2023.
However, according to the parties involved, as of the close of business on Monday, March 13, the Ministry of Finance had not honoured the promise to pay the coupons and principals to pensioners who have been exempted from the Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP) and other individual bondholders who have opted out of the program.
The group had resolved to picketing in order to get the government to honour its promise but before this could happen, the Finance Ministry issued the statement indicating that it had commenced with payments of the bonds.
“Payment dates for subsequent maturities will be communicated in due course,” the statement added.
The Ministry further thanked all stakeholders “for their forbearance during the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) and subsequent administrative processes.”
A few weeks after being imprisoned for attempting to kill his fiancée, the former Dreamboys CEO was discovered dead in his cell.
Having witnessed reality TV star Kirk Norcross kiss Alex Alam outside her Stock, Essex home, David Richards, 42, was found guilty of the attempted murder of Alex Alam last year.
At Nottinghamshire’s Lowdham Grange jail, staff members reportedly discovered Richards’ death yesterday.
An independent investigation has been launched at the Category B men’s jail, according to the MailOnline.
In January, Richards fought off tears as he was sentenced to 27 years in prison for trying to kill 32-year-old Ms Alam.
Chemsford Crown Court previously heard how the former boxer had battered Ms Alam around her head with an axe at least six times as she put her dogs in bed.
He waited in darkness for five hours outside her property in Stock, Essex, while her children were inside.
Richards was jailed for 27 years at Chelmsford Crown Court for the attempted murder of his wife in January (Picture: PA)He was jailed just a few weeks ago
‘Kirk Norcross, Kirk Norcross – in my house,’ he yelled as he bludgeoned her with the axe before trying to tie her up with cable ties.
The trial in November heard how the victim managed to escape from Richards as blood poured from her wounds and ran back inside.
As blood gushed from her head, Ms Alam dialed 999 to call police and made a desperate FaceTime call to Mr Norcross, telling him, ‘I am dying’.
The court was told Norcross described the scene as ‘a horror movie’.
‘She was covered in blood. I had never seen anything like it. It was like I was seeing a horror movie,’ the star told the court.
‘She said, “Kirk come back, I am dying. He has killed me”.
The court heard how Ms Alam had suffered years of domestic abuse in her husband’s hands before they split up.
She was finally granted a non-molestation order on February 14 banning Richards from contacting her after she complained to police that he had assaulted her and subjected her to coercive and controlling behaviour.
In a victim impact statement, she described feeling ‘disconnected’ from life, too scared to leave home after 6pm and suffering sleepless nights and flashbacks from the attack.
Richards who sold his company running the Deamboys for more than £1 million in 2019 had denied attempted murder, claiming he acted in self defence, but was found guilty.
Judge Turner told him: ‘Attempted murder is a grave crime and must be marked by a very substantial term of imprisonment.
‘No other term can be appropriate when a jury has concluded that you intended to kill another person.’
He was at the time jailed for 27 years for attempted murder, and a concurrent nine months for breaching the restraining order.
Individuals, institutions and partners who distinguished themselves in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, have been honoured by the State at the National Honours and Awards 2023, held at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Also receiving awards are members of the legal team of men and women, who were charged with ensuring that the maritime boundary dispute with Cote D’Ivoire, ended favourably for Ghana.
In all, some 19, 557 frontline health workers received certificates and plaques for their dedicated services in the line of duty.
Additionally, about 50 individuals and entities also received the Order of the Volta – Companion awards, comprising Members of the National COVID-19 Taskforce, Trustees of the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund, and International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) Technical Team and Legal Advisors.
The national awards are presented to persons who have made immense and recognized contributions in sectors such as the civil service, military, prisons service, education and public health, agriculture, commerce and industry, the judiciary, scientific and other research, sports, culture and the arts, and the financial sector.
The country received many commendations for the measures it put in place to contain the viral disease, after it recorded the first two cases in March 2020.
The selflessness and commitment demonstrated by the health workers helped saved many lives, the President noted, citing the difficulties the nation went through at the height of the pandemic.
These ranged from the imposition of a three-week lockdown in some parts of the country, and social distancing to the adherence to safety protocols.
President Akufo-Addo stated that the Government instituted some one billion Ghana Cedis as a relief package to alleviate the plight of the people in the wake of the pandemic.
Additionally, personal protective equipment worth several millions of Ghana Cedis were also procured for the safety of the citizenry.
The President lauded the ITLOS main legal team for their effectiveness and able manner in which they handled Ghana’s maritime dispute with its immediate western neighbours.
“This ensured that our western maritime resources remained legitimately in our possession,” he said.
A Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Family Physician has revealed that unlike in the past when victims of sexual assault, particularly rape were mostly females, statistics show that more males are also being raped now.
Dr Sodipo Oluwajimi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Friday on the sideline of a training programme organised for healthcare providers by Stand Up Against Rape Initiative.
Dr Oluwajimi who works at Nigeria’s Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, stressed that young boys also face rape, incest, sexual abuse and homosexuality in the country.
“It is not only girls or women alone who face GBV.
“Both women and men experience violence but the majority of victims are women and girls. The perpetrators of GBV are predominantly men and the victims are most frequently women.
“Historical perspective shows that more concentration is placed on women when it comes to GBV,” NAN quotes him as having said.
He went on further to add: “However, statistics show that boys also get exposed to violence, especially rape.”
Dr Oluwajimi described GBV as any act done to someone against their will as a result of gender norms and unequal power relationships.
He revealed that emerging data show that many men and boys are also survivors of GBV, but they choose to suffer in silence for fear of being stigmatized when they speak out.
He called for concerted efforts against the canker, adding sensitization campaigns should no more be limited to sexual violence against females but should include both genders.
A court has heard that a woman who mistakenly believed a house to be a B&B died after being dragged outdoors by the ankles and stamped on by the owner.
Before getting into bed, Margaret Barnes, a native of Birmingham, stumbled into the incorrect seaside residence in Barmouth, Wales. This error finally claimed her life.
According to testimony given before Caernarfon Crown Court, David Redfern found the semi-naked and inebriated senior in his sizable five-story home, which was located on the same side of the street but a few doors below her B&B.
Redfern, 46, who is 6ft 1in tall and weighed 21 stones, has self-confessed anger management issues, according to prosecutor Michael Jones KC.
The 71-year-old was on a holiday, visiting friends (Picture: Wales News Service)
He said: ‘Mrs Barnes had been drinking and, whether she thought this was the Wavecrest, she went in and went to bed.
‘She mistook the defendant’s address for her B&B, but this was a mistake which ultimately cost her her life.’
The 71-year-old suffered injuries similar to those expected in a high speed crash and died soon afterwards, the jury heard.
The retired factory worker had been visiting friends in Barmouth last summer, and had been staying at the Wavecrest.
Belmont House, on the same street Marine Parade, was being renovated by Redfern (Picture: Wales News Service)
After buying some gin, she headed to her B&B, while pulling her small suitcase on wheels and carrying her handbag, but ended up in Belmont House.
At the time, the townhouse was being renovated by the defendant and his partner Nicola Learoyd-Lewis.
Mrs Barnes went into an upstairs bedroom, took out her false teeth and put them on a bedside table and poured a gin into a glass while holding a bottle of tonic.
The prosecution claims that Redfern and Ms Leroyd-Lewis found the frail woman in bed with her belongings strewn across the floor.
The defendant denies murdering the pensioner (Picture: Wales News Service)
Redfern called Mrs Barnes a ‘thieving c***’ before dragging her downstairs by her ankles and stamping on her outside, the court was told.
The jury was told he said: ‘It probably did not do her the world of good me dragging her down the stairs by her ankles.’
He had later told police the victim had been aggressive to him, the court heard.
Emergency services were called and a neighbour was told to perform CPR but she developed breathing difficulties and succumbed to her injuries.
The prosecution said it was obviously a surprise for Redfern to find Mrs Barnes in one of his beds.
Mr Jones said: ‘However unexpected her presence was Mrs Barnes sustained “catastrophic, fatal and brutal injuries at the hands of the defendant” who is a “bully”.’
Pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers concluded that Mrs Barnes had died from severe blunt force trauma.
There were rib fractures and a fractured neck, consistent with being dragged down the stairs, the prosecution said.
Mr Jones stressed the defendant had used vicious and intentional violence and language and by acting out of temper or gratuitously was guilty of her murder.
But Redfern denies murdering Mrs Barnes outside his home in Marine Parade on July 11 last year.
He claims the victim had lunged towards his girlfriend in the bedroom and he intervened because he thought his girlfriend was in danger, by bear hugging Mrs Barnes off the premises.
Member of Parliament for Asawase Constituency, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has dragged 11 NDC Asawase branch executives to court for defamation.
The defendants are said to have issued a press statement of various defamatory statements which claims that the MP owns 15 stores at the newly built Asawase Market and the MP cannot deny.
The lawmaker indicated “that on or about 10th March 2023 to 11th, defendants issued a Press Statement, which was published, distributed and/or otherwise circulated by the general public and media houses. In the said Press Statement, the Defendants published various defamatory statements of and concerning Plaintiff. These defamatory statements comprise the following: “a. “If you will recall, a few days ago, the office of the MP Hon. Muntaka Mubarak of Asawase Constituency issued a statement which sought to whitewash the MP after he was exposed for forcibly allocating some 15 stores/sheds to himself at the Asawase Market built by next Flagbearer of NDC and the President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama”;
“b. “The youth stated categorically that the office of Hon. “Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak as usual is being economical with the truth”;” among others.
According to the MP, this defamatory statement meant that he was engaged in public deception, abuse of power and/for corruption for his own personal.
Muntaka is also of the view that the statement made him look like a fraud a liar, and a corrupt among others.
Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka is demanding 10 million Ghana cedis for aggravated and exemplary damages and a retraction and unqualified apology by the defendants to be published to all media houses that the defendants caused to publish and circulated or distributed the defamatory materials with the same prominences as the publication made of and concerning plaintiff.
Nana Ama McBrown has made a shocking revelation over why she has shunned Despite Media’s United Television as a TV host.
The iconic Ghanaian actress served as the host of UTV’s entertainment programme ‘United Showbiz’ which airs every Saturday. However, she has departed from Despite Media to join Media General.
Nana Ama McBrown’s departure has sparked controversy and name-calling from some employees of Despite Media. Accordingly, she’s putting things clear as to why she has left Despite Media.
Detailing her side of the story on 3FM’s Sunrise with Johnnie Hughes, the show host disclosed that she had no binding contract with her previous employers.
Giving further details on how she has ended up at Media General, she said “I had this call somewhere about early February, I ignored it. I was thinking about it, I was praying about it, I wanted to be sure even though at that moment, I didn’t have much to do apart from my ambassadorial deals. I didn’t want to go into this but I have to say this because of how the conversation is going”.
She continued that “I told my previous employers that I wanted to hold on from December. Let’s think of something new to do, that’s what I said to them. I was expecting them to call and say come let’s think about what is new. However, I don’t have a contract with anybody so if nobody is minding me, I have the right to move on…I am not here to explain much. This is me, I pray about every step I make, I don’t just move”.
Commenting on how she wants to be remembered for her passion for work maintained that she owes her success story to herself considering all the years of hard work and sacrifices.
“Whoever is saying what about me, I leave that person to God because I know myself and I know I have worked my way through here. I didn’t come here just for the sake of my beauty or maybe my smile. I have worked to make my smile impactful. I am here because I have worked, oh Jonnie I have worked!” she emphasised.
Sharing her excitement over the grand welcome party at her unveiling ceremony on Monday, March 13, 2023, she added that “you have no idea how I am relieved and happy to be a part of this family”.
“You have no idea…I wasn’t expecting the grand welcome…to have Captain Smart and the rest to wear my t-shirt with Berla around going live, yourself, Jonnie, the drums. I wasn’t expecting that, It was beautiful. Right there, I felt home,” McBrown concluded
The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia says the use of the Ghana Card as sole proof of eligibility for prospective voters in the next general election has its own challenges.
He says the EC’s decision to exclude other forms of identification in the voter registration exercise will not resolve the challenges confronting the election management body in terms of protecting the integrity of the electoral roll.
Speaking in an Interview with Joy News’ Blessed Sogah on The Pulse, Mr. Asiedu Nketia said, “people who are holding Ghana Card also has its own challenges even if every Ghanaian has it. Do you know mad people have the right to get the citizen’s card? Do you know that undischarged bankrupts have the right to own a Ghana card?
“So you want to issue the card to a mad person and when he presents it at the registration center you can’t stop him, but a person who is active and alert and who doesn’t have the card cannot participate in the elections?
“So look, one source of identification document is good, but don’t let us misuse it. Let us go gradually and make sure that we have come to a point where there is no backlog,” he said.
The NDC Chairman was reacting to the justification offered by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa when she addressed Parliament over the proposed Constitutional Instrument (CI) on electoral reforms ahead of the 2024 general election.
She indicated that the use of the Ghana Card is to protect the integrity of the voters register.
She added that it will also prevent unqualified persons from influencing elections in the country, thus “having a say on who should govern our country.”
Meanwhile the opposition NDC says it will not back down in its “operation save our democracy” as Mr. Nketia says Members of Parliament on the NDC ticket have been directed to kick against the CI.
Francis Addai-Nimoh, a flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has stated that the current number of ministers under the executive branch of government is excessive.
According to him, Ghana can be governed by at most 60 ministers, including both regional ministers and central government ministers.
Speaking in an interview Addai-Nimoh, a former Member of Parliament for Mampong, said that if he becomes president, he will ensure that the roles of ministers are streamlined so that the country will have a very small number of ministers.
“I think we should be able to work around a total of 60 ministers. Currently, we have 16 regions, so, you have 16 regional ministers, then we have to talk about the sector ministries.
“So, you have to look at the various sectors. Currently, which of the ministries can you merge so that you can still have one minister and maybe 2 of 3 deputy ministers, and you merge the sector?
“And so, I believe that we can scale the numbers down. And me, my background as a public administrator, as well as an engineer, we should be able to have a framework that will define and have as such a minimal number of ministerial appointments under my watch,” he told GhanaWeb’s Etsey Atisu.
The likes of the former Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen Assin, Central MP Ken Agyapong, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the former Food and Agriculture Minister Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, ex-Mampong MP Francis Addai-Nimoh, and Regional Cooperation Minister Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku are expected to face off in the race for the flagbearership position of the NPP.
A US “Reaper” drone crashed into the Black Sea after colliding with a Russian fighter plane.
The US Air Force espionage drone was caught by two Russian Su-27 aircraft before one of them struck the drone’s propeller shortly after 7 a.m., bringing it to a stop in international seas.
The fighter jets repeatedly sprayed the MQ-9 with fuel before the accident and flew dangerously close to it, according to a statement from the US military.
‘This incident follows a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots while interacting with US and Allied aircraft over international airspace, including over the Black Sea,’ it continued. ‘These aggressive actions by Russian aircrew are dangerous and could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation.’
The incident comes amid soaring Russian-US tensions over the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident.
A Russian Su-27 combat aircraft at a display in St Petersburg in 2015.
While there have been other such intercepts, Kirby said this one was ‘unique’ in that it caused the downing of a US aircraft.
He added: ‘The State Department will be speaking directly with their Russian counterparts, and expressing our concerns over this unsafe and unprofessional intercept.’
NATO’s top military commander said allies have been also been briefed.
The MQ-9 Reaper was destroyed in the collision, the US military said (Picture: Getty)
US Air Force General James Hecker, who overseas the US Air Force in the region, said: ‘Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9.
‘In fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash.
‘US and Allied aircraft will continue to operate in international airspace and we call on the Russians to conduct themselves professionally and safely.’
The Black Sea lies between Europe and Asia and is bordered by Russia and Ukraine among other countries.
Following the nation’s bloodiest train catastrophe on record, which provoked widespread demonstrations, Greece’s prime minister has pledged to raise the safety standards of the nation’s railway system.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis once more expressed regret for the event from last month, when a passenger train carrying largely university students was involved in a collision with a freight train near the city of Larissa, resulting in 57 fatalities and scores more injuries.
In particular, but also on behalf of everyone who ran the nation for a long time, I reiterate my public apology,” Mitsotakis stated.
“I therefore assume responsibility. And we cannot, we do not want to, we must not hide behind a series of human errors,” he added.
The day after the deadly collision, Mitsotakis blamed “tragic human error,” sparking demonstrations against chronic faults in the railway system and demanding justice for the victims. In a change of tone, on Sunday he emphasized that Greece “cannot, will not, and must not hide behind human error.”
Speaking on Thursday, the Prime Minister promised “absolute transparency” and said that if the installation of digital control systems had been completed “this incident would have been practically impossible to have happened.”
The fact that this system “will be up and running in a few months from now is no excuse,” he added. “It makes my personal pain even greater as we didn’t get to install it before this tragic incident happened.”
Tens of thousands of people participated in protests organized by worker unions and student groups on Wednesday across major Greek cities, calling for government responsibility and better safety standards.
“This crime should not be covered up,” they chanted, holding signs with the names of those killed.
Further strikes are due in Greece to protest the fatal collision.
European Commission experts have met with the Greek government to discuss “the complete reorganization” of the Greek railway.
Mitsotakis said during the ministerial council that he has asked the commission for technical assistance and additional funding.
The Greek government was initially planning to hold elections in early April but is now widely expected to push it back until after Easter. Its term ends in July.
The Coalition of Individual Bondholder Groups is giving the Ministry of Finance a 48-hour ultimatum to pay all matured principal and outstanding coupons due on the existing bonds issued by the Government of Ghana.
This follows the expiration of the deadline by the government to honour its debt obligation.
In a statement signed by Dr. Joel Djangma Akwetey and Senyo Hosi, the coalition called on the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Ghana Stock Exchange to enforce the rules of full disclosure required by all issuers including the Government of Ghana.
“We are giving a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ministry of Finance to honour its word to pay all matured principal and outstanding coupons due on the existing bonds issued by the Government of Ghana. We call on the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Ghana Stock Exchange to enforce the rules of full disclosure required by all issuers including the Government of Ghana”.
It pledged to fight to ensure the full payment of investors’ monies and the preservation of the securities markets for the future generation.
The Finance Ministry in February promised to pay all bondholders who opted out of the Voluntary Domestic Debt Exchange programme their coupons and principals March 13, 2023, but that has not been the case.
Finance Minister’s posture
The coalition described as unfortunate, the disregard by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, of all the basic rules that have been established to protect the integrity of the local markets and maintain sovereign credibility for Ghana.
“At the close of business on March 13, 2023, the Ministry of Finance, led by Ken Ofori-Atta, has disregarded all the basic rules that have been established to protect the integrity of the local markets and maintain sovereign credibility for Ghana. It is most unfortunate that the Ministry continues to have absolute disregard for its creditors, in this case individual bondholders, despite prior meetings held in which we stated the need for communication.”
“The coupon and principal payments due to Individual Bondholders who opted out of the Voluntary Domestic Debt Exchange programme have not been paid, despite written press releases confirming the resumption of payments on March 13, 2023, it added.
It also expressed worry about the loud silence of the SEC – charged with the mandate to protect investors and market integrity.
“The umbrella regulator of the Securities markets – Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ghana – charged with a mandate to protect investors and market integrity have also maintained a loud silence throughout this period on the plight of Individual Bondholders. The Ghana Fixed Income Market of the Ghana Stock Exchange, where the old Government of Ghana bonds are listed and traded have also not enforced its basic rules of disclosure required by issuers. More loud silence.”
Market confidence waning
Furthermore, it warned of the fading away of the little confidence remaining in the market.
“The little confidence remaining in the markets as a result of assurances from the Ministry of Finance is fading away under the full watch of the very institutions set up to protect”.
It promised to fight till payments are done.
“Individual Bondholders, as was the case in the aftermath of the DDEP announcement, have been left to fight for themselves as the Government creates a full default on its obligations. Fight we will”.
Aspirant flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto believes making agriculture a priority can alleviate Ghana’s economic difficulties.
He stated that the country’s high dependency on revenues from oil and gold exports has not adequately tackled the country’s economic needs.
“We’ve been digging gold in Obuasi for how long? Over a hundred years. Where has that gotten us? We’re the second biggest gold producer. Where has that gotten us? It has just gotten us into the hands of the IMF. Oil, which President Kufuor’s time was discovered was going to take us out of our many problems, what has it done? Oil production recently has been going down.
“So these things won’t solve our problem. If we rely on gold and oil and all those things we will forever go back to the IMF and IMF and IMF. We’ll continue to borrow and this significant economic development that we all wish could happen will never happen,” he said on PM Express on JoyNews.
Taking priority in agriculture, according to the former Agric Minister, would provide a steady revenue flow for the government to support its development goals.
According to Dr Afriyie Akoto, the Akufo-Addo government laid a firm basis for that transition, which he hopes to expand on if given the go-ahead.
“Agriculture is one reliable sector which can give us the cash flow to enable us to fund all our activities; to fund our industrial development, our health, our education, our infrastructure, the motorways and the bridges and all those things that we want. It is the only one.
“But we haven’t been prioritised it enough to do that. That is my thesis. And what we have done, the Akufo-Addo government has done is to provide the foundation upon which this can happen,” he added.
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has cautioned the public not to deal with anyone or any agency via any portal in the name of recruiting officers for a census this year.
“These unscrupulous individuals are reportedly promoting the said fake recruitment portal on social media and are misleading/enticing unsuspecting members of the public to pay recruitment fees to them,” the Service said in a press release on Tuesday, March 14.
It noted that the individuals have set up a fake portal to prosecute their agenda.
“Members of the public are hereby informed that GSS HAS NOT launched any recruitment campaign for any 2023 Census,” the released stressed.
“It is important to note that population and housing censuses are decennial, and are, therefore, conducted every ten years.
“As a result, the next census is anticipated to be conducted in 2031 given that the most recent Population and Housing Census (PHC) was carried out in 2021.”
The Service said it has rather opened a recruitment portal for an upcoming project – Integrated Business Establishment Survey (IBES) Phase 1 and Ghana Living Standards Survey Round 8 (GLSS8).
It said, notwithstanding, it has not authorised anyone or agency to conduct recruitment on its behalf.
It said its official portal is used for such purposes.
Management of the Service is warning that anyone caught “in the illegal act of using the name of the Service for fraudulent recruitment operations will be handed over to the Ghana Police Service for prosecution”.
“Members of the public are also urged to report any person who has collected moneys from them with the view to securing them jobs with GSS via the helplines and email address provided in this release.”
Liuba and her husband grasp hands since the artillery shelling gets worse at night. She responds with a dejected head nod, “That keeps them safe. She is standing in the remains of her garden, which was destroyed a month ago on a particularly horrible night.
Liuba and her husband were forced to the kitchen floor after their neighbor’s house was devastated by shelling. She claims that Serhei, who had the refrigerator on top of him when he fell, was thankfully just slightly hurt. They still won’t leave, though.
“This is our home,” Liuba said to CNN. “Not the Russians. In addition, the weather is warming up, and we will survive with the rainwater we gather in buckets.
Liuba and Serhei, who gave only their first names for security reasons, are among the last remaining 2,500 residents of Kupiansk, a city in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region from which the front line has never strayed too far and to which the Ukrainian authorities fear it may be returning once again.
Kupiansk police chief Konstiantyn Tarasov says that ever since mid-February, the din of artillery – both the dull thud of outgoing and the sharper whistle of incoming fire – has been getting unnervingly closer. Russian positions are now less than 5 miles away from a city they occupied at the start of the invasion before losing it to Ukraine’s fall counteroffensive in September.
Last week, Ukrainian authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation of Kupiansk’s most vulnerable residents, due to “constant” Russian shelling.
“We have put signs up everywhere about the free evacuation with the phone numbers to call,” said Dmytro Kovalov, one of the volunteers involved in the evacuations.
“As shelling has intensified, more people have been registering. But then the internet was cut for two days so they couldn’t get in touch,” Kovalov told CNN. “That’s why we started just blindly visiting addresses, knocking on doors. But some people refuse to go. They don’t want to leave their houses behind, and they hope that the Russians will be pushed back.”
Authorities say that most days they manage anywhere from eight to 40 evacuations, although these remain voluntary.
As of last week, there were still 350 children and 363 people with disabilities inside the city, according to a spokesman for Kupiansk police. Beyond the repeated shelling, the city is also difficult to access because of the damage that more than a year of war has done to its infrastructure, including to many of the roads and bridges leading in and out.
The main market, too, has been reduced to rubble, forcing the city’s remaining residents to buy and sell whatever little they can on cardboard boxes that line a dirt track. Everything laid out can be easily packed up if the sound of shelling gets closer.
Lida, who piles of yellowed smoked fish among the produce laid out before her, has become an expert, she says, on the sound of outgoing and incoming artillery. She survived six months under the Russian occupation last year. She told CNN she will not be moved from Kupiansk this time either.
“We are not rats!” said Lida, who also gave only her first name for security reasons. “Besides, if we go, who will take over?”
About 100 yards from where she sits, Tarasov, the police chief, showed CNN what a Russian Grad missile did to a makeshift medicine dispensary just a few days earlier. But beyond the debris and the remnants of a missile, there isn’t much left to see. This, Tarasov said, is what the Russians do as they seek to move closer to the city center, targeting the few civilians left as they try to survive.
But Lida is unmoved.
“What’s the difference?” she asked. “They are shelling Kharkiv as well. Is there any certainty I will stay alive there? No. So, we will stay here and hide where we can, behind the houses, or somewhere.”
Most buildings bear the scars of the relentless attacks, and many are demolished. For the last couple of thousand civilians of Kupiansk, there aren’t that many places left to hide.
The Minister for Information, Honorable Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has launched a website “ghanatoday.gov.gh” to combat misinformation on March 13, 2023.
The website, which is managed by the Information Services Department (ISD), is expected to counter misinformation by providing direct information from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies about the works of the government.
It will also provide facts about the government projects and programmes, full texts of all speeches by heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, official communications and publications, policies and programme documents to reduce the level of misrepresentations and false news on the internet.
According to the Minister, the newly launched website forms an integral part of the re-organization and retooling of the ISD aimed at equipping the Department to serve more audiences with its work even as the times and media consumption patterns change.
The Minister advised the ISD Media Division to accurately and consistently update the website so that the citizens could quickly access all the facts and the necessary documentation as soon as possible.
“As I have charged you earlier, platforms like this are only as useful as how regularly and accurately you update them. So, work quickly and accurately to ensure that the Ghanaian citizen is reached with all the facts and the necessary documentation as soon as possible. Do not wait until tomorrow. Do it now.
“The Minister further advised the general public to make the most of this essential tool to facilitate their work. “To the general public, reach out to www.ghanatoday.gov.gh if you want to validate the information about government works that you may come across,” he emphasized.
It is emerging that the Ewe people of Ghana, Togo and Benin among others are of Hebrew origin before migrating through various parts of the world and then settling at their present locations.
This was disclosed by the Mankrado of Gbledi Gbogame, Togbe Adabra IV while speaking during the “Afadjato edition” of Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z dubbed.
He told Kwame Dadzie that the facts about the origin of the Ewe people can be found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. He added that Abraham was referred to as Abraham the Evreh then.
“There was a time when Nebuchadnezzar launched a war against the Palestinians and a group of the Hebrews escaped from that war. They went to Egypt, then to Sudan then to Ethiopia all the way down to the Niger,” Togbe Adabra IV said
He added that the Ewes stayed in the Niger area for a while, just before the Mali and Songhai Empires and when Songhai defeated Mali, they (Ewes) moved to a place in Nigeria called Ile Ife and were there when the Oyo State sprung up.
While in Ile Ife, the Ewe people felt they were being persecuted, so they decided to move to Western Benin and settled at a place called Tado before further migrating to Dogbonyigbo and then to Ŋɔtsie in Togo.
Legend has it that while at Ŋɔtsie, the Ewes lived under different traditional leaderships including those of Agɔ and Agorkoli at different times.
However, they could not bear the callousness of King Agɔkɔli any longer, so they escaped to Daƒe and then to Tsevie.
From there, they dispersed, with some of them moving to present-day Ghana, Togo and Benin. There are also some Ewes living between the Volta River in Ghana and beyond the Mono River in Benin.
Currently, it is said that there are mainly 18 sub-tribes of Eʋe people.
As per a new analysis, only 13 of the world’s countries and territories enjoyed “good” air last year as air pollution rose to dangerous levels in 2022.
The World Health Organization‘s air quality guidelines, which are intended to assist governments in developing regulations to protect the public health, were found to be exceeded in roughly 90% of the countries and territories examined, according to a report by IQAir, a company that monitors air quality globally.
IQAir analyzed average air quality from 131 countries and territories, and found that just six countries — Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland and New Zealand — and seven territories in the Pacific and Caribbean, including Guam and Puerto Rico, met the WHO air quality guidelines, which call for an average air pollution level of 5 micrograms per cubic meter or less.
Seven countries – Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Kuwait and India – had poor air quality that far exceeded the WHO guidelines with average air pollution over 50 micrograms per cubic meter.
The study looked specifically at fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, which is the tiniest pollutant but also the most dangerous. When inhaled, the PM2.5 travels deep into lung tissue where it can enter the bloodstream. It comes from sources like the combustion of fossil fuels, dust storms and wildfires, and has been linked to a number of health problems including asthma, heart disease and other respiratory illnesses.
WHO tightened its annual air pollution guidelines in September 2021, cutting the acceptable amount of fine particulate matter from 10 to 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
Millions of people die each year from air pollution-related health issues. In 2016, around 4.2 million premature deaths were associated with fine particulate matter, according to the UN agency. If the latest guidelines had been applied back then, WHO found there could have been nearly 3.3 million fewer pollution-related deaths.
The report also continues to highlight a worrying inequality: the lack of monitoring stations in developing countries in Africa, South America and the Middle East, which results in a dearth of air quality data in those regions.
Although Africa saw improvement in the number of countries included in this year’s report compared with 2021, the continent still largely remains the most underrepresented. According to IQAir, only 19 out of 54 African countries had sufficient data available from their monitoring stations.
Glory Dolphin Hammes, CEO of IQAir North America, said that each time it adds a new country that once lacked air quality data – as it did with Chad in 2021 – those countries inevitably wind up at the top of the most-polluted list.
“If you look at what’s called satellite or modeled data, Africa is supposed to be probably the most polluted continent on the planet, but we don’t have enough data,” Hammes told CNN. “What that means is there’s a whole lot more data that’s needed in order for us to truly determine what are the most polluted countries and cities in the world.”
But one of the biggest barriers right now, she said, is “the way that governments currently monitor air quality.” Hammes said most governments tend to invest in instruments that fail to accurately measure fine particulate matter in the air.
In the United States, the report found air pollution improved significantly last year compared with 2021 due to a relatively mild wildfire season.
Coffeyville, Kansas, had the worst air quality in the US last year, which IQAir attributed to a nearby oil refinery. Columbus, Ohio; Atlanta and Chicago topped the list of major US cities with the worst air quality, though the researchers also noted that California was home to 10 of the 15 worst major cities for air pollution, including Los Angeles and Sacramento.
Around the world, researchers said, the main sources of air pollution last year were wildfires and the burning of fossil fuels for transportation and energy production, which wreaks havoc on the most vulnerable and marginalized communities.
“This is literally about how we as a planet are continuing this unhealthy relationship with fossil fuels,” Hammes said. “We are still dependent on fossil fuels and fossil fuels are responsible for the majority of air pollution that we encounter on this planet.”
China, which had for decades been near the top of the list for the worst air pollution, continued to show improved air quality in 2022. Nearly 64% of the 524 cities analyzed in mainland China saw reductions in annual PM2.5.
Still, IQAir notes that the country’s coal usage continues to be a major climate and environmental concern, and that despite the improvement, none of the Chinese cities actually met the annual WHO guidelines.
Climate change-fueled wildfires, Hammes said, also play a significant role in worsening air quality, especially in the US. The report notes that wildfires in recent years have been rapidly erasing air quality improvements that the US has made over the past decade.
“Wildfires are very much so a global warming issue, and it is creating essentially unsafe conditions,” Hammes said.
Hammes said countries must learn from each other, noting that the countries with best air quality, for example, are the ones taking on specific actions to transition away from polluting industries and into greener forms of energy, such as solar and wind.
She adds it is also important to expand air quality monitoring networks, especially in predominantly disadvantaged regions. For instance, despite Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the IQAir report shows that Ukraine expanded air monitoring networks, collecting data from nearly triple the number of cities in 2022 than in 2021.
“What we’ve learned is that what gets measured gets done,” Hammes said. “We need to collect more data. We need to inform folks of this information, and it does need to be free and available, so that they can make more informed choices.”
IQAir analyzed average air quality from 131 countries and territories, and found that just six countries — Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland and New Zealand — and seven territories in the Pacific and Caribbean, including Guam and Puerto Rico, met the WHO air quality guidelines, which call for an average air pollution level of 5 micrograms per cubic meter or less.
Seven countries – Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Kuwait and India – had poor air quality that far exceeded the WHO guidelines with average air pollution over 50 micrograms per cubic meter.
The study looked specifically at fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, which is the tiniest pollutant but also the most dangerous. When inhaled, the PM2.5 travels deep into lung tissue where it can enter the bloodstream. It comes from sources like the combustion of fossil fuels, dust storms and wildfires, and has been linked to a number of health problems including asthma, heart disease and other respiratory illnesses.
WHO tightened its annual air pollution guidelines in September 2021, cutting the acceptable amount of fine particulate matter from 10 to 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
Millions of people die each year from air pollution-related health issues. In 2016, around 4.2 million premature deaths were associated with fine particulate matter, according to the UN agency. If the latest guidelines had been applied back then, WHO found there could have been nearly 3.3 million fewer pollution-related deaths.
The report also continues to highlight a worrying inequality: the lack of monitoring stations in developing countries in Africa, South America and the Middle East, which results in a dearth of air quality data in those regions.
Although Africa saw improvement in the number of countries included in this year’s report compared with 2021, the continent still largely remains the most underrepresented. According to IQAir, only 19 out of 54 African countries had sufficient data available from their monitoring stations.
Glory Dolphin Hammes, CEO of IQAir North America, said that each time it adds a new country that once lacked air quality data – as it did with Chad in 2021 – those countries inevitably wind up at the top of the most-polluted list.
“If you look at what’s called satellite or modeled data, Africa is supposed to be probably the most polluted continent on the planet, but we don’t have enough data,” Hammes told CNN. “What that means is there’s a whole lot more data that’s needed in order for us to truly determine what are the most polluted countries and cities in the world.”
But one of the biggest barriers right now, she said, is “the way that governments currently monitor air quality.” Hammes said most governments tend to invest in instruments that fail to accurately measure fine particulate matter in the air.
In the United States, the report found air pollution improved significantly last year compared with 2021 due to a relatively mild wildfire season.
Coffeyville, Kansas, had the worst air quality in the US last year, which IQAir attributed to a nearby oil refinery. Columbus, Ohio; Atlanta and Chicago topped the list of major US cities with the worst air quality, though the researchers also noted that California was home to 10 of the 15 worst major cities for air pollution, including Los Angeles and Sacramento.
Around the world, researchers said, the main sources of air pollution last year were wildfires and the burning of fossil fuels for transportation and energy production, which wreaks havoc on the most vulnerable and marginalized communities.
“This is literally about how we as a planet are continuing this unhealthy relationship with fossil fuels,” Hammes said. “We are still dependent on fossil fuels and fossil fuels are responsible for the majority of air pollution that we encounter on this planet.”
China, which had for decades been near the top of the list for the worst air pollution, continued to show improved air quality in 2022. Nearly 64% of the 524 cities analyzed in mainland China saw reductions in annual PM2.5.
Still, IQAir notes that the country’s coal usage continues to be a major climate and environmental concern, and that despite the improvement, none of the Chinese cities actually met the annual WHO guidelines.
Climate change-fueled wildfires, Hammes said, also play a significant role in worsening air quality, especially in the US. The report notes that wildfires in recent years have been rapidly erasing air quality improvements that the US has made over the past decade.
“Wildfires are very much so a global warming issue, and it is creating essentially unsafe conditions,” Hammes said.
Hammes said countries must learn from each other, noting that the countries with best air quality, for example, are the ones taking on specific actions to transition away from polluting industries and into greener forms of energy, such as solar and wind.
She adds it is also important to expand air quality monitoring networks, especially in predominantly disadvantaged regions. For instance, despite Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the IQAir report shows that Ukraine expanded air monitoring networks, collecting data from nearly triple the number of cities in 2022 than in 2021.
“What we’ve learned is that what gets measured gets done,” Hammes said. “We need to collect more data. We need to inform folks of this information, and it does need to be free and available, so that they can make more informed choices.”
In an effort to strengthen its asymmetric warfare capabilities against China’s expanding military threat, Taiwan’s self-ruled island displayed five new varieties of indigenous military drones on Tuesday.
Among the journalists invited to the National Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology was a CNN team. There, the Taiwanese weapon manufacturer displayed eight different types of locally developed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including five models that were unveiled to the public for the first time.
The new drones come in different sizes and are equipped with either combat or surveillance capabilities, said Eric Chi, director of the institute’s Aeronautical Systems Research Division, who added that the devices were designed for use by different branches of Taiwan’s military.
“In response to the new global war trends, our military has been actively building asymmetric warfare capabilities,” Chi said.
He added that the institution has been working to develop core technologies “to fully implement the national policy of defense self-sufficiency.”
The new weapons were unveiled as China’s Communist leadership increasingly asserts its territorial claims over Taiwan – an island democracy of 23.5 million people that it has never controlled – and has explicitly refused to rule out the use of force to bring it under control.
On Monday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping vowed to bolster national security and build the military into a “great wall of steel,” in his first speech to a rubber-stamp parliament after he was endorsed as president for a precedent-breaking third term.
China has also increasingly exerted its military pressure on Taiwan by regularly sending aircraft and naval ships across the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
For decades the line had served as an informal but largely respected border of control for the two sides, until Beijing began launching large-scale military drills in response to then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island last year.
Taiwan is heavily reliant on US weapons to maintain its defense capabilities against an increasingly powerful China and has purchased many big tickets items.
Earlier this month, the Biden administration approved an estimated $619 million potential arms sale to Taiwan that included missiles for its F-16 fighter jets.
But the island democracy has also increasingly emphasized accelerating the development of indigenous weapons to boost its military capabilities, particularly cheaper more mobile weapons systems that could be instrumental in holding off any Chinese invasion.
Last October, Taiwan announced it will increase its annual defense spending this year by 13.9%. The conscription period for eligible Taiwanese men will also be extended from four months to a year starting from 2024.
During the media tour at the institute’s aviation research facility Tuesday, reporters were given a rare close-up look at various combat and surveillance drones developed by Taiwanese experts.
One of the new surveillance drones is the Albatross II UAV, which is capable of conducting extended periods of surveillance and tracking naval ships over the sea using artificial intelligence.
It is capable of staying in the air continuously for 16 hours and has a maximum range of over 300 kilometers (186 miles), the institute told reporters.
Another new surveillance drone highlighted to reporters was the portable Cardinal III UAV, which is capable of taking off and landing vertically, and is designed for monitoring activities along the coastline, the institute said.
A key combat drone unveiled to reporters is the Loitering Munition UAV, which can be operated by a single soldier. It is equipped with a warhead and is capable of targeting individuals or vehicles from the sky.
The institute said this is modeled after the US-made Switchblade 300 drones, which have been extensively used by the Ukrainian military to target enemy radar systems in its defense against Russia’s invasion.
Other types of new combat drones are also designed to make use of GPS satellite systems and image tracking technologies to launch attacks, it said.
Several indigenous military drones that are already in use by the Taiwanese military were also on display – including a Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV that is capable of long-distance surveillance and giving advanced air and sea warning, the institute added.
Reporters were told during the trip that specifics surrounding the drones’ capabilities will not be disclosed as they are considered confidential by the Taiwanese government.
Chi, the institute’s director, said the new drones are being tested by the Taiwanese military and will likely enter mass production as early as the end of this year.
Cyclone Freddy struck southern Malawi on Monday, leaving at least 99 people dead, according to Charles Kalemba, the country’s commissioner for disaster management affairs, who spoke to CNN.
According to Kalemba, the majority of the fatalities occurred in Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial center.
According to Kalemba, “We have recorded 99 persons dead in roughly seven councils, with Blantyre city as the highest with 85 dead and about 134 people in Blantyre alone hospitalized.” Kalemba made the statement to CNN on Monday night. He said there could be more casualties and injuries.
The southern part of Malawi has been proclaimed to be in a “state of catastrophe” by the government.
The country’s President, Lazarus Chakwera, “has noted with grave concern the devastation that Cyclone Freddy is currently bringing to most districts in Malawi’s Southern region,” a government press release said.
“Accordingly, government is already responding to the emergencies, rendering urgent assistance to all affected districts, and appealing for local and international support for all the families affected by this disaster,” the statement continued.
Schools will remain shut in 10 of the worst affected districts until Wednesday, Malawi’s education ministry said in a statement Sunday.
Earlier on Monday, Malawi police spokesman Peter Kalaya told CNN the destruction caused by the storm had inundated roadways and triggered blackouts in the worst affected areas.
Kalemba said rescue efforts have been “tough”.
“We are still having a lot of rains coming down. We are now experiencing landslides, flash floods and stones rolling down some hills. Because of the weather, rescue efforts are not easy. Some of the places we have to go and rescue people, it’s not easy to get there. It’s tough but we are making sure we do the job that we need to do,” he said.
The deadly Cyclone Freddy has broken records for the longest-lasting storm of its kind and has struck neighboring Mozambique and also Madagascar, killing more than 20 people and displacing thousands of others across both countries.
It has been described as a “very rare” storm by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which called its journey so far “incredible and dangerous.”
Nigerian singer Inkboy is not pleased to miss out on appearing in Sarkodie’s video for their collaboration ‘One Million Cedis’.
Sarkodie originally featured Ink Boy on the track for his 2022 ‘Jamz’ album.
In some posts on Twitter, the musician said he had begged the Ghanaian rapper numerous times but his pleas went unheeded.
Ink Boy stated that until he was tagged in some posts on Monday, March 13, he had no idea the video for the track had been released.
“Sincerely I know this might come off weird and people will tag me as ungrateful But I put blood and sweat into every song and I deserve to be shown genuine Love but it’s Sad King @sarkodie I literally beg for every small chance to show myself but e Dey decline,” Ink Boy wrote.
Sincerely i knw this might come off weird and pple will tag me ungrateful But I put blood and sweat into every song and i deserve to be shown genuine Love but it’s Sad King 💔 @sarkodie I literally beg for every small chance to show myself but e Dey decline
He added that he has “mad love” for Sarkodie and appreciated the fact that he was put on the album but he would have loved the opportunity to do more but all his pleas have gone unanswered.
“I begged like I was gonna cry to be at the rapperholic but that didn’t work sure I can’t be entitled but I just heard about the one million cedis video three days ago didn’t even know it was gonna drop today just saw people tagging me Lol.”
I begged like I was gonna cry to be at the rapperholic but that didn’t work sure I can’t be entitled but I just heard about the one million cedis video three days ago 💔 didn’t even know it’s was gonna drop today 🥹🤷🏽♂️ just saw people tagging me Lol
“I get mad Love for King @sarkodie Allah knows this from my heart But why don’t I ever get a small chance I appreciate putting me on the record but you’re like a Dad to me treat me like a son too I be independent you know how bad I need this if not now then never,” he wrote.
Sarkodie released the official video for One Million Cedis on Monday.
The video was shot off the coast of Mykonos, Greece.
Due to safety concerns, certain cold and flu medication supplied behind pharmacy counters is being recalled.
Products containing pholcodine, which has a’very rare’ potential of producing an allergic reaction, are being pulled off the shelves, according to medicine regulators.
Since the 1950s, the chemical has been used as a cough suppressant, although some research indicates that when taken with general anesthesia, it may provoke an allergic reaction.
What medicines are being recalled?
• Boots Night Cough Relief Oral Solution
• Boots Dry Cough Syrup 6 Years+
• Boots Day Cold & Flu Relief Oral Solution
• Cofsed Linctus
• Care Pholcodine 5mg/5ml Oral Solution Sugar Free
• Galenphol Linctus
• Galenphol Paediatric Linctus
• Galenphol Strong Linctus
• Covonia Dry Cough Sugar Free Formula
• Pholcodine Linctus Bells Healthcare 5mg Per 5ml Oral Solution
• Numark Pholcodine 5mg per 5ml Oral Solution
• Well Pharmaceuticals Pholcodine 5mg per 5ml Oral Solution
People currently taking cold and flu tablets or syrups should check the packaging or patient information leaflet to see if pholcodine is a listed ingredient.
The agency said anyone about to undergo surgery should tell their anaesthetist if they have taken a pholcodine medicine in the past 12 months.
There is some evidence that pholcodine mixing with the neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) in general anaesthetics can cause an ‘increased risk of the very rare event of an allergic reaction’ called anaphylaxis, the MHRA said.
Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening reaction to a triggering substance, such as an allergy.
It usually happens within minutes and can impair breathing and cause a sharp decrease in blood pressure while speeding up someone’s heart rate.
The risk of this happening, however, is ‘very small in patients who have taken pholcodine’, a review by the MHRA found.
‘Anaphylaxis following use of NMBAs is roughly estimated as having an overall incidence of fewer than one case per 10,000 procedures,’ the MHRA said.
‘The benefits don’t outweigh the risks,’ it added.
Former President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Dr Prince Kofi Kludjeson has blamed Parliament for the prevailing economic downturn.
Dr. Kludjeson says he does not blame the President.
“To me, I don’t blame the President, I blame Parliament. Our Parliament, 275 young brilliant people in Parliament are supposed to ensure or pass laws that will benefit Ghana, not politics or election,” he said.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Tuesday, Dr. Kludjeson lamented that the country does not have viable equity laws.
He said passing an equity law that gives a higher percentage of shares in key establishments to the state could have generated more than the $3 billion bailout the country is seeking from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“Ghana, you don’t have equity laws which say that you know, GNPC 7 or 9 per cent of our gold, our oil. Even the state does not have it. We need to have an equity law that says that to be able to do business in this country, the owner is entitled to 30 per cent. All these IMF issues we’re talking about are only 3 billion dollars. But then you see publications that gold has brought in 6.6 billion dollars and Ghana has 5 or 6 per cent equity in it. You’re not going to go anywhere,” he explained.
Touching on government’s One District, One Factory (1D1F) policy, Dr. Kludjeson posited that many of the factories do not manufacture their own products. He alleged that they have contracted other industries to produce them.
According to him, in order to benefit hugely from the policy, universities within the communities where the factories are located should be sensitised to deploy students to work in those factories.
Dr. Kludjeson has also recommended that the factories although may not be yielding the desired profits currently, should not be “cancelled” and “we should not run them down,” saying that it does not require huge sums of money to manage those factories.
According to him, investing in “technology and knowledge” in managing the said factories would be a commendable starting point.
Spyro, a fast-rising Nigerian singer, has expressed how he feels about popular female singer, Tiwa Savage.
In a post on his Instagram stories, Spyro, who collaborated with Tiwa Savage on the remix of his hit single “Who’s Your Guy,” confessed that he is starting to develop feelings for her.
Spyro mentioned that he frequently speaks to Tiwa on the phone, but he is considering stopping because the more he talks to her, the more he falls for her.
He described Tiwa Savage as an amazing soul and expressed his delight in selecting her for the remix of his song.
“Yo guys. TIWA is such an amazing soul. Super Glad, I chose her for my remix. I actually think I need to stop talking to her on shone, the more we talk the more I fall for her. MY GUYEST GUY IS TIWA,” he said.
This is not the first time a young Nigerian artist has expressed admiration forTiwa Savage.
In a recent Instagram story, popular Nigerian producer turned singer, Young John, shared a stunning photo of Tiwa Savage and expressed his admiration for her.
Similarly, a few weeks ago, singer Omah Lay also took to Twitter to profess his love for Tiwa Savage and even sent her a bouquet on Valentine’s Day.
Residents in some places have been advised against traveling because big crocodiles have been spotted in the floodwaters in Queensland, Australia, which has experienced record-breaking flooding.
Burketown, a small town in the state’s north located around 1,300 miles northwest of Brisbane, the state capital, has seen exceptionally severe floods brought on by the torrential rain. Roads and homes are submerged in aerial photographs.
According to a Reuters report, around 100 residents needed to be flown to higher ground.
Floodwaters in Burketown reached record levels, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology on Tuesday, with the river rising above the previous highest level of 6.78 meters recorded in 2011.
On Monday, Queensland Police warned residents to stay out of the floodwaters as a helicopter had spotted “two very large crocs” in the waters.
The warning was made in a video posted to Twitter, which showed police rescuing a baby kangaroo from the floodwaters.
In a statement on Tuesday, Queensland Police said: “It is still unsafe for displaced people to return to their homes and police remind residents to limit movement in the flood water due to unseen hazards and recent crocodile sightings.”
The flooding is expected to ease slowly over the next few days, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, but it is likely to remain above the “major flood level” of 6 meters (nearly 20 feet) until Wednesday and possibly longer.
This flooding crisis is just the latest for Australia, which has endured several major floods over the last few years, due to a multi-year La Nina weather event, typically associated with increased rainfall. These include the devastating, record-breaking floods in Western Australia in January, which affected an area almost three times the size of the United Kingdom.
Some 11 branch executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been suspended by the Ashanti Regional Secretariat for breaching an order which urged them to desist from the use of press conferences and press statements in addressing internal party matters.
According to the Ashanti Regional Secretary, Dr Frank Amoakohene, the 11 executives violated this order after they held a press conference on March 7, 2023, in the Asawase Constituency hence their suspension.
The matter, the letter added, will be heard by the Disciplinary Committee.
Some of the suspended executives are Alolgo Martins, Branch Chairman- Asokore-Mampong, Eric Nana Wiafe, Branch Chairman, Mohammed Sabiu Sherif – Branch Chairman Alidu Adam, branch secretary, Alhassan Fuseini- Branch Organiser, Asamawu Alhassan-Branch organiser, and Mohammed Abdul Baki- Branch youth organiser,
The others are Umar Yaser- Brach Youth Organiser, Idrdrisu Adam, Branch Youth Organiser, Yakubu Musah-Branch Organser, and Umar Harris- Chairman for Concern Constituency.
Reports indicate that the constituency chairman is not aware of the suspension, and that the directive was backed by the constituency secretary and organiser.
Members of the party who have been suspended are yet to receive their letters.
An officer from the police‘s community assistance section who was found recording minors at a swimming pool‘s locker rooms has been imprisoned.
After confessing to a number of child sex offenses, 38-year-old Matthew Shaw was given a 14-year prison sentence.
After being discovered filming a female as she changed at a swimming pool at a Center Parcs in Nottinghamshire, he was reported to the police.
He was challenged by the girl’s mum after he passed a camera under a cubicle wall in a changing room in April last year.
Shaw was jailed at Nottingham Crown Court today
Shaw, who worked for Derbyshire Police, later admitted to officers he may have done it around 100 times.
Shaw also spoke to girls – aged between 11 and 15 – while posing as both a teenage girl and boy, asking for and sending sexual images and videos on Snapchat.
Officers seized several electronic devices, including a mobile phone found hidden in the roof of his garage when they searched his home in Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottingham.
Further examination revealed additional videos recorded in changing rooms and Shaw engaging in online sex acts with several children.
Shaw initially denied any wrongdoing but later pleaded guilty to 21 charges of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and three of voyeurism.
Shaw was also added to the sex offenders’ register and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.
Detective Chief Inspector Gemma Scott, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: ‘Shaw is a devious and manipulative sex offender who is now starting a well-deserved prison sentence.
‘Whilst he did not come into physical contact with his victims, he still caused very real harm to vulnerable young people by exposing them to things they were simply too young to understand let alone consent to.
‘Nothing is more important to us than the safety of children and we will always robustly pursue those who commit offences of this nature.
‘I am pleased Shaw has now been jailed and hope this case serves as a warning to others about the consequences of this kind of behaviour – sooner or later we will catch up with you and you are likely to end up in jail.’
Simon Blatchly, Deputy Chief Constable at Derbyshire Police, said: ‘Matthew Shaw’s offences are utterly shocking.
‘As soon as the allegations came to light Shaw was suspended from his role as a Police Community Support Officer – and the force assisted colleagues in Nottinghamshire Police with their investigation.
‘He subsequently resigned from his position last year.
‘Through that investigation it was concluded that none of Shaw’s offending was found to have taken place while he was on duty – and no victims were identified as being linked to his role.
‘While all officers and staff hold a position of trust, PCSOs have a unique role that puts them in contact with a great many different groups within our communities, including young people.
‘His role and position of trust make his crimes all the more shocking to the public and I share their revulsion at his actions.’
Land guards have allegedly butchered a 29-year-old man at Awutu Papase in Awutu Senya West District of the Central Region. He was also robbed of five thousand Ghana cedis (GHC 5,000) by the said land guards.
According to the victim, the land guards who attacked him were about four in number.
Speaking in an interview with Kasapa News’ Yaw Boagyan, the victim said, he was going to visit the land where he was putting up his building but unfortunately, notorious land guards attacked and butchered him mercilessly.
He added that the notorious land guards after butchering him took away his five thousand Ghana cedis.
The victim was rushed to Agona Swedru government hospital and later referred to Winneba trauma and specialist hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, according to the report, the suspects were on the list of the police for attacking residents over lands.
The victim has, therefore, called on the IGP and Awutu Ofaakor District police command to arrest the perpetrators and put them before the law court.
Ghanaian actress, Gloria Sarfo, has shared her attraction toward men who possess qualities similar to those of retired English football legend David Beckham.
During an interview with Firelady, the actress, who has appeared in numerous popular Ghanaian movies and TV series, expressed her admiration for Beckham and his various attributes.
Sarfo mentioned that she prefers men who take care of their appearance and dress well, just like Beckham.
She also commented on his good looks, charming smile, and nice legs, stating that she was impressed by all of these qualities.
According to Sarfo, Beckham is an example of the kind of man she finds appealing.
I like men who like to dress. Gloria Sarfo describes her kind of man click on the link for full video
The host of UTV’s Real News, Akrobeto, who is a senior colleague to Nana Ama McBrown in the movie industry, has mounted a spirited defense for her in the midst of the backlash from a section of Despite Media employees, including Ola Michael, Abena Moet, and Kwame Nkrumah Tikese.
McBrown’s decision to leave Despite Media for Media General on March 13, 2023, has since been a topic for discussion as many expressed shock. McBrown was unveiled at the firm’s premises amidst drumming and dancing.
Reacting to McBrown’s move, Akrobeto in a radio interview announced that there is nothing wrong with the actress’s move adding that the station does not own her.
“It is a business, we all moved from somewhere to our current job. We’ve seen couples divorce and remarry. People relocate to different countries, UTV hasn’t bought Nana Ama, they don’t own her. She came to work and has decided to move. Maybe she loved the offer she got and felt it was okay and so if she is leaving, there is nothing wrong,” he explained.
Akrobeto also debunked claims of Despite Media sacking McBrown as the host of United Showbiz. According to the actor, their employers had no option but to let her go when she confirmed her decision.
“Footballers in various clubs play for the money. The team doesn’t belong to anyone reason why we witness transfers. Nana hasn’t wronged anyone, and neither is UTV. She feels that the right decision has been made. It is simple as ABC, nobody sacked her, ignore such rumours…you can call Fada Dickson to confirm that she wasn’t sacked. The decision was taken by Nana,” Akrobeto disclosed.
Meanwhile, McBrown has announced that she feels relieved and at home adding that she doesn’t regret her actions.
The award-winning media personality said she is in charge of her life decisions and will not allow naysayers to get to her.
“Whoever is saying what about me, I leave that person to God because I know myself and I know I have worked my way through here. I didn’t come here just for the sake of my beauty or maybe my smile. I have worked to make my smile impactful. I am here because I have worked, oh Jonnie I have worked!” she hammered with pride.
Ghana’s Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, has obtained another feat in life. She has acquired a Bachelor of Laws degree from University of London
Taking to Facebook, to announce the achievement Mrs Bawumia noted that: “ A few years ago, with support and encouragement from family and friends, I took advantage of the Distance (Online) Law Degree Program offered by the University of London.
“Thankfully, I had the honour of graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree, last week, in spite of the numerous challenges Covid-19 presented,” she added.
According to the University of London, the Bachelor of Laws degree is an internationally recognised award that one can study flexibly, anywhere in the world.
It allows an individual to develop a critical awareness of the common law legal tradition and apply problem-solving skills to a range of legal and non-legal settings.
The Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London adds to the number of degrees she has so far. Following her admission to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), she studied BA. Social Science in Law and Sociology and Technology.
Also, she was awarded the Best Student in Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA),where she had her postgraduate studies.
Mrs Bawumia in the Facebook post further thanked her family and friends who motivated her to pursue the Law programme.
“It has been an incredible journey of learning while juggling work, family, and official duties.
“Let’s be inspired to pursue our dreams irrespective of the challenges we are faced with,” Samira Bawumia added.
A popular epileptic only known as Lawer in the Akateng community near Asesewa in the Eastern Region has been found dead under unexplained circumstances.
The cause of death of the deceased estimated to be about 30 years old could not be immediately ascertained.
An eyewitness, Mr. Samuel Akor told GhanaWeb’s Eastern Regional Correspondent, Michael Oberteye that he together with police personnel conveyed the corpse to the mortuary of the Asesewa Government Hospital after it was discovered in the morning by residents.
He said, “Myself, police officers and the DEHO (District Environmental Health Officers) picked up the body,” he narrated.
The deceased was found dead at the Akateng taxi station by some members of the community where a combined team of Police personnel, NADMO and DEHO officials however picked up the body at 9am.
The body has since been deposited at the Asesewa government hospital pending preservation and autopsy.
The deceased, according to residents did not have a fixed place of abode as efforts to trace his relatives proved futile.
Assemblyman for the Tumesi-Akateng Electoral Area, Honourable William Yaw Tugbedzo confirmed the story to GhanaWeb. According to him, the deceased had no known relatives in the community and depended on stipends from benevolent individuals to survive.
He said, “He has been in the community for the past two years, he has been moving up and down and he didn’t have a fixed place of abode… moreover, the family isn’t known.”
He added that the incident was the first of its kind in the area. Police are however not suspecting any foul play in the incident.
When the government’s Illegal Migration Bill is being discussed in the House of Commons, hundreds of protesters have assembled in front of the building to express their objections.
The bill, which was proposed last week, would forbid someone from ever requesting refuge in the UK.
Suella Braverman, the home secretary, called the legislation’s necessity “clear and urgent” and cited the rising number of tiny boats making the perilous crossing of the English Channel.
In a speech to the legislature on Tuesday, she declared: “They won’t stop coming here until the world understands that if you enter Britain illegally, you will be arrested and promptly expelled.”
But the approach taken by the government has been criticised by groups including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which said it was ‘profoundly concerned’.
The charity Refugee Action said it would ’cause misery, cost millions to the taxpayer and drive desperate people to take ever more dangerous journeys’, while the Archbishop of York described the bill as ‘cruelty without purpose’.
Attendees carried signs saying ‘Refugees are welcome, fascists are not’ and ‘Stop the bill, care for refugees’.
Pro-refugee signs were held up by the hundreds of people who turned out for the protest (Picture: PA)Suella Braverman introduced the bill to the House of Commons last Tuesday (Picture: Getty Images)The demonstration took place as the House of Commons debated the proposed legislation (Picture: PA)
During the bill’s second reading in the House of Commons this evening, the home secretary said the detention and removal element would not apply to children.
She said: ‘Given the mischaracterisation of the bill from members opposite, I would like to make a few things clear.
‘The home secretary’s duty to remove will not be applied to detain and remove unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
‘Consistent with current policy, only in limited circumstances, such as for the purposes of family reunion, we will remove unaccompanied asylum-seeking children from the UK.
‘Otherwise, they will be provided with the necessary support in the UK until they reach 18.’
The gathering took place among poles displaying the flags of Commonwealth countries, which were put up for the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey earlier today (Picture: PA)
At least one Conservative MP has said they will vote against the bill, with former immigration minister Caroline Nokes telling Times Radio she could not support it.
She said: ‘I didn’t vote for the last one, I won’t be voting for this one. I might be an outlier in my party but I think we have an absolute duty to treat people humanely to keep people safe.
