Ghana celebrated its 66th Independence Day on March 6th, and as expected, many celebrities took to social media to commemorate the day by sharing pictures of themselves in not just traditional Ghanaian attire but modern looks.
From colourful clothing to modern interpretations of traditional clothing, Ghanaian celebrities showed off their style and patriotism.
One of the most popular outfits of the day was the kente cloth, a colourful woven fabric that is traditional to the people of the Asante Region.
In honour of Ghana’s independence, celebrities rocked kente clothing which comes in a range of vibrant colours and patterns.
Actress Nana Ama McBrown, Joselyn Dumas, and Naa Ashorkor shared a group picture of themselves wearing black outfits, which could pass for the black star in the flag.
Singer and socialite, Sister Derby wore a bright kente fabric with a geometric pattern that was reminiscent of the colours of the national flag.
Other personalities used their platforms to share messages of hope and unity on Independence Day.
Dentaa Amoateng published a message of hope while dressed in a nice t-shirt and jeans, with the caption: “Heroes are not giant statues framed against a red sky. They are people who say, “This is my community.” It is my responsibility to make it better – Tom McCall.”
Overall, Ghana’s Independence Day was a celebration of not just the country’s independence, but also its rich cultural heritage.
Through their clothing choices, celebrities were able to showcase the beauty and diversity of Ghanaian fashion while expressing their patriotism and hope for the future.
The government has stated that the price of an NHS prescription would increase to £9.65 starting next month.
Patients in England will have to pay an additional 30p starting on April 1 in order to pick up their medication from a pharmacy.
After Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all eliminated the fees more than ten years ago, only England remains in the UK that charges for prescriptions.
Prescription charges were frozen at £9.35 last April in order to help ‘ease cost of living pressures,’ marking the first time prices had not increased in 12 years.
England is the only country in the UK to still have prescription charges (Picture: Getty)
The cost of prepayment certificates, prescription wigs and surgical bras will also be increased in line with the inflation rate.
The recently introduced HRT PPC- which gives women a sizable discount on their annual HRT costs- will also rise to £19.30, up from £18.70.
There are some exemptions in place for patients in England, including for those aged 16-18 and in full-time education or patients once they turn 60.
Most contraception drugs will also remain free.
Patients receiving Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance are also still entitled to free prescriptions.
Others entitled to free prescriptions include pregnant women and those who have had a baby within 12 months, people with physical disabilities and people on war pensions who hold a valid certificate.
The news comes following a survey from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) last month which revealed that half of pharmacists had seen an increase in patients asking them which prescription they can ‘do without’ in the last six months due to the cost of living crisis.
One in two pharmacists said they had also seen a rise in people not collecting their prescription.
Meanwhile, two-thirds had reported seeing an increase in requests for cheaper, over-the-counter substitutes for the medicine they had been prescribed.
The last time prescription charges increased was in 2021, when they rose 20p from £9.15 to £9.35.
Hiplife artiste, Prince Bright, formerly known as Bling Sparkles of music duo BukBak, has opened up about the emotional turmoil he experienced following the death of his close friend and brother, Ronny Coaches.
The two were members of the music group BukBak, which enjoyed immense popularity in the early 2000s in Ghana and beyond.
In a myjoyonline.com report, Prince Bright revealed that he was devastated by Ronny’s passing and struggled to come to terms with the loss of his friend and mentor.
“Ronny’s demise hit me pretty hard. I wasn’t missing him much when he was in Ghana, and I know he could just fly over anytime and come hang out with me. His demise hit me so hard in the sense that this person will not be able to wear size 30s. I will get him in the shops,” he said.
He admitted that he had taken Ronny’s presence for granted when he was alive, assuming that they could always catch up and spend time together.
However, when Ronny passed away, he was forced to confront the reality that he would never again be able to share moments with his dear friend.
“He will not be able to eat with me when I want him to. He will not be the fatherly figure he has always been for me. My daily routine revolves around Ronny. Losing him, I will say I lost my mind, I went really crazy,” he added.
Prince Bright also expressed his deep sorrow at the fact that Ronny would never again be able to wear the clothes he bought for him or share meals with him.
Prince Bright noted that “I literally lost my mind because this was somebody who has been there for me when nobody else was. Ronny leaving me was a big blow to me. I don’t think I have been able to get myself back yet.”
This shows a 5% increase of the projected ¢12.6 billion.
Dr. Owusu-Amoah disclosed this on Joy News.
He is hopeful the authority will be able to meet its end-of-year target.
This, he explained, is due to the fact that economic activities are slow during the first quarter of the year, however, the inflows look positive.
“If we have been able to do this in these times, then one can say that the outlook remains positive going forward”, he said.
“We are confident of exceeding the target for this year because if you look at year-on-year growth, it is 522% more than the initial 40% year-on-year growth” he added.
What influenced the collection?
Dr. Owusu-Amoah explained that a multiple reasons can be linked to the strong growth in revenue for the first two months of this year.
According to him, staff dedication, and improved invigilation by its officers and technology contributed significantly to the numbers going up more than what it was projected.
“We cannot forget some of the electronic initiatives that we had implemented from the last quarter of 2022” he said adding that “we are looking at being very heavy on technology going forward for 2023”.
Dr. Owusu-Amoah said the authority has come very far with filing taxes online and reducing the collection of cheques at the various GRA offices.
2023 full year target
Government has tasked the GRA to collect ¢106 billion for 2023, representing a year-on-year growth of 40%.
According to the GRA, some of its measures aimed at achieving the target include the full automation of its operations and deployment of technology in revenue collection.
2022 Revenue target
The GRA was to collect ¢ 71.94 billion in 2022.
However, the authority was able to mobilise, ¢75.54 billion by the end of last year.
The 2022 numbers showed that the GRA grew tax collections by more than 30 percent.
The authority was supposed to collect a little over ¢ 80 billion. The target was however reviewed downwards due to the COVID-19 shocks on the economy.
Is the tax collection target realistic?
Dr. Owusu-Amoah rejected claims that the GRA does not set realistic targets hence is able always to exceed its projections.
The commissioner maintained that there has been significant growth in tax collection
“You will realized that when it comes to the Year-on-Year numbers there has been a significant increase , For instance from 2020 to 2021, growth in collections stood at 26.5 per cent , which was the highest over the last 10 years” he added.
Providing some analysis, Dr. Owusu-Amoah said a careful look at numbers showed that there has been significant growth monitoring of businesses. He is optimistic that the GRA will be able to reach the 19 percent target for GDP soon.
Impact of Ghana card on tax collections
Dr. Owusu-Amoah attributed some of the successes chalked in revenue collection to the introduction of the Ghana cards.
“It has given us a better picture in terms of those who are supposed to pay taxes to the state”.
E-Levy performance
According to the GRA, it collected ¢ 103 million through the E-Levy platform in December 2022.
In January 2023, the authority was able to realize ¢ 87 million through same.
The Finance Minister in the 2023 Budget reduced the percentage charge for the levy to 1 percent. However ¢100 daily exemption was not approved by parliament.
Sports presenter with SuperSports, Julia Stuart has detailed the importance of hard work and sacrifices in reaching one’s goal.
Julia in an interview on Sports Check with GhanaWeb stated that the dream of every woman or young girl is valid and urged them to live up to expectations when given an opportunity. This she explained will pave way for other women in a male-dominated society.
“There is a 100 percent space, so much space for everyone to shine whether be it here in Ghana…we make a mistake thinking there’s only one space…some people might be online, TV, radio, some may specialize in pitchside reporting, studio anchoring, some might be great in podcast. You just have to find what works for you and what you love,” she admonished.
The seasoned studio anchor and pitchside reporter added that being a beautiful or nice-looking presenter is not enough adding that her best card has been a good work ethic.
“It doesn’t matter the connections, how you get into a place. The only way you’re going to stay and make a name for yourself is through your work ethic. I don’t care about being the prettiest, the nicest, sounding the best clothes, I care about being the hardest worker in the room and that’s what has gotten me to where I am,” she told Paula Amma Broni on Sports Check.
When Dominic Raab was a member of his cabinet, Boris Johnson reportedly privately reprimanded him about how he treated his workers.
According to reports, the former prime minister gave Adam Tolley KC, a barrister looking into a string of bullying claims brought against Mr. Raab by top civil officials, evidence.
The Telegraph claims that it is ‘very rare’ for a previous prime minister to be involved in a Downing Street investigation.
It is not clear what evidence Mr Johnson gave, but his spokesman said ’it would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing inquiry.’
But the revelation that Mr Johnson felt it necessary to warn Mr Raab about his conduct demonstrates the severity of the allegations against him.
Mr Raab, who currently serves as both Deputy PM and justice secretary, is facing at least eight formal complaints involving 24 people connected not only to the justice department but also the Foreign Office and the Brexit department, where he previously held cabinet positions.
Dozens of witnesses, including top departmental civil servants, are believed to have spoken to the inquiry about Mr Raab’s behaviour towards his junior staff, which broadly focus on claims of a demeaning and forthright attitude.
Amongst the charges levelled against Mr Raab are claims he ‘belittled and demeaned’ civil servants and was ‘very rude and aggressive’ to them on multiple occasions each day.
Raab has denied claims he mistreated his staff, and confirmed he would resign from government if an inquiry into his conduct found him guilty of bullying.
‘If an allegation of bullying is upheld, I would resign,’ the deputy PM previously told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge last month.
It has been one week since Mr Raab was interviewed by Mr Tolley, indicating that the official inquiry could be drawing to a conclusion.
Mr Raab said he would resign from government if the investigation found him guilty of bullying
It was unclear how many times he had been interviewed or when.
Rishi Sunak has resisted calls to suspend his deputy while under investigation, including from former Tory party chairman Sir Jake Berry, Labour and the FDA union which represents senior civil servants.
If the investigation is damning, Mr Sunak will again face questions about what he knew about the allegations before bringing Mr Raab back into the Cabinet.
Downing Street has only ruled out the Prime Minister being aware of ‘formal complaints’, but sources say he had been warned about his ally’s behaviour.
Mr Raab ordered the investigation in November after coming under pressure following numerous claims, including that he was so demeaning to junior colleagues that many were ‘scared’ to enter his office.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: ‘Adam Tolley KC is conducting an independent investigation into allegations against Dominic Raab. It would not be appropriate to comment further whilst that is ongoing.’
The latest thematic report on Migration by the Ghana Statistical Service has revealed an increase in the number of Ghanaians who have travelled and settled outside the country between 2010 and 2021.
The emigrants’ population, according to the report, peaks at 25 to 39. Children under the age of 15 and aged 65+ constitute 4.0% of the emigrant population.
More than half (53.7%)of emigrants originates from Greater Accra (26.9%)and Ashanti (26.8%)regions.
Most emigrants come from rural areas with exception of Greater Accra, Ashanti and Western Regions.
Again, most of the emigrants had their destinations in Europe, the Americas (North, South and Caribbean) and Africa.
The report pointed out that the two major reasons for travelling outside the country is to seek for employment and to pursue education/training.
The key findings were that the two main destinations for Ghanaian emigrants are Europe and America.
Also, the age of Emigrant population peaks at 25 to 39 years.
Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Reverend Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, says the common platform for the collection of property tax rates in the country will be fully operational by March ending.
The common platform would centralise the collection of property tax rates with the GRA out of the hands of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Authorities who had failed to effectively collect property tax rates to finance their activities.
According to Governance Watch, the new regime would ensure that only 30% of property rates collected by the service provider through the common platform will be remitted to the assemblies.
The remaining 70% will be shared among the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Finance Ministry and the service provider.
Speaking on the common platform on JoyNews’ Business Edition, Dr. Owusu-Amoah explained that the platform will be in full throttle by the end of the month, and would help introduce efficiency into property rate collection.
Pope Francis has acknowledged that he might resign if he gets too worn out to perform his duties.
The Pope, 86, warned of “a tiredness that causes him not see things properly” when asked by Italian media, what would cause him to leave
Because of a knee injury, he admitted that he felt “a little humiliated” to use a wheelchair.
‘I am old. I have less physical resistance, the knee [problem] was a physical humiliation, even if the recovery is going well now.’
Last month, the Pope said that papal resignations should happen in exceptional circumstances, and said quitting was not ‘on [his] agenda’.
Pope Francis has been head of the Catholic Church since March 2013, on Monday marking 10 years of his papacy.
In an interview with Italian Swiss television RSI, with extracts published in La Repubblica, La Stampa, and Corriere della Sera, he also said that the war in Ukraine had been driven by the interests of several empires.
He said the conflict was fuelled by ‘imperial interests, not just of the Russian empire, but of empires from elsewhere.’
While the Pope has repeatedly called for an end to the war and denied being pro-Putin he has previously suggested the invasion of Ukraine was ‘perhaps in some way provoked’.
Asking himself in June last year whether this made him a supporter of Putin, he said: ‘No, I am not. It would be simplistic and wrong to say such a thing.’ He added: ‘I am simply opposed to reducing complexity to distinction between good and bad’.
The Pope denounced the injustice of war at the Christmas Eve mass last year from a wheelchair.
The congregation was there warned that the Pope was unable to stand for long periods of time due to pain in his knee.
The leader of the Catholic Church has for over a year suffered with pain in his right knee.
Despite last month saying quitting was not on the agenda, the Pope has progressively added to speculation that he would at some point stand down from his position should his health worsen.
He previously claimed to have signed a resignation letter in case of a deterioration of his health: ‘In practice, there is already a rule. I have already signed my renunciation.’
‘I signed it and said, “If I should become impaired for medical reasons or whatever, here is my resignation. Here you have it,”‘ he said, referring to Cardinal Bertone, to whom the letter was given.
In January, he gave a sermon on the ‘virtue of stepping aside at the right time’.
He said: ‘It is easy to become attached to roles and positions, to the need to be esteemed, recognised and rewarded.’
He continued: ‘It is good for us too to cultivate, like [Saint] John [the Baptist], the virtue of setting ourselves aside at the right moment, bearing witness that the point of reference of life is Jesus.
According to the Tax Justice Coalition-Ghana, a civil society coalition, the government will need foreign creditors to cancel approximately 60% of the country’s $30 billion external debt in order to achieve a sustainable debt level by 2035.
The coalition has, therefore, called on the government to pursue a comprehensive external debt restructuring programme that would ensure that most of the country’s foreign debt, especially those contracted on a bilateral basis got canceled in the form of reliefs and grants.
The estimation is based on an analysis of the 2023 Annual Budget and Economic Policy that the government plans to implement to address the current economic crisis.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, the Chairman of the coalition, Mr Vitus Adaboo Azeem, said government must also drastically cut down the size of government and scrap or merge some Ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDA) to reduce the budget size and create less need for borrowing.
He also called for the suspension of the National Cathedral Project and the scrapping of the Contingency Vote that allowed the executive to “engage in unapproved expenditure”.
“The government estimates an overall debt-to-GDP ratio of 55 percent and external debt service-to-revenue of below 18 percent by 2028.
“And under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Debt Sustainability Framework, for a moderate risk of debt distress, the present value of Ghana’s external Debt to GDP ratio should be below 40 percent and external debt service below 18 percent of government revenue,” he said.
The Coalition, which comprises the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), Ghana Integrity Initiative, ActionAid Ghana, Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, and Revenue Mobilisation Africa, also called on the government to focus more on implementing progressive taxation of income, wealth, and property.
It said it recognized the debt crisis as a major hindrance to the achievement of the government’s proposal in the budget, adding that, “Ghana will need to borrow to implement the budget while seeking to restructure its debt owed to external creditors after a long-drawn-out negotiation with domestic creditors.”
“All these put a constraint on budget financing through the financial markets where there will be some limited access,” Mr Azeem said.
School bus transporting 40 young children home from a trip to the French Alps crashed down a wooded hill and into a creek, according to authorities. The driver and his companion were hospitalized with serious injuries.
According to Fabien Mulyk, mayor of the town of Corps, where the incident occurred, 18 children and one other adult were treated for minor wounds.
The kids, he claimed, were “all doing fine.”
The regional prosecutor has opened an investigation into the incident. The mayor said the ‘most probable scenario’ is that the driver had some kind of medical problem while behind the wheel.
Local officials told French media that weather conditions were clear when the bus left the road, and no ice or snow on the section where the bus vehicle crashed. They said all the children were wearing seat belts.
A photo from the town published online showed the bus leaning off the slope of a ravine in a tangle of dried branches with its windshield shattered.
Music and video streaming service Apple Music has launched a one-month-long musical campaign to celebrate Ghana month called Trotro Vibes.
For the month of March, Apple Music’s editorial team tapped vanguards of Ghanaian music including Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Efya, Da Hammer and M.anifest to curate exclusive playlists for users across the globe.
Tshwanelo Maredi, Sub-Saharan Africa music editor at Apple music, shared the news via her LinkedIn account on Tuesday.
“To celebrate Independence Day in Ghana, Apple Music is honouring Ghana’s Independence with Trotro vibes to celebrate the artists that have grown to become a thriving industry for young creatives today,” Maredi said.
Named after Ghana’s popular mode of transport, Trotro, the playlist also features other members of the new school and global sound makers such as Camidoh, Cina Soul,Yaw Tog, Kwesi Arthur, Black Sherif and King Promise.
“Named after the minibus public transport system that acts as carrier of conversation, culture and connection, Trotro Vibes celebrates the sound of the street, featuring sounds from Ghana’s new school- and it’s your road map to the country’s most dynamic emerging artists,” a statement on the platform said.
Trotro Vibes will also feature music content, original interviews and what Apple Music calls ‘essential releases’ from the artists who propel the culture forward.
In order to increase attempts to stop tiny boats from crossing the Channel, Britain will grant France about half a billion pounds over the next three years.
Rishi Sunak has promised to transfer Paris £541 million, or £478 million, to pay for the new package.
Many French law enforcement officials will be hired as part of it, and a new detention facility will be built there.
Following his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the UK-France summit on Friday at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Mr. Sunak made the announcement about the package.
The leaders spoke of a ‘special bond’ between the United Kingdom and France (Picture: Reuters)Emmanuel Macron and Rishi Sunak pose with ministers during a French-British summit at the Elysee Palace in Paris (Picture: Reuters)
But there was no sign of the returns agreement with France that the Government desires as Mr Sunak makes ‘stopping the boats’ one of his top priorities.
Mr Sunak was speaking in Paris following the announcement of the Illegal Migration Bill, which has already faced backlash from various charities.
It will stop those arriving from claiming asylum, seeking citizenship or returning to the UK in the future.
The Bill will push ‘the boundaries of international law’, Home Secretary Suella Braverman had told reporters.
The legislation is likely to get a rough ride in the Lords, as the upper chamber considers whether to amend the legislation.
If the Government does not accept the changes, then a lengthy back and forth could delay the implementation.
In the House of Commons, Ms Braverman had said: ‘The need for reform is obvious and urgent.’
She added: ‘They will not stop coming here until the world knows that if you enter Britain illegally you will be detained and swiftly removed.’
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dungeness, Kent, after being rescued by the RNLI following a small boat incident in the Channel (Picture: PA)Huge protests have been held in response to the migrant crisis (Picture: Tom Maddick / SWNS)
The plans have been criticised by refugee groups, who say they are unworkable and will only make the system more costly and chaotic.
Patrick Ryan, Chief Executive of leading modern slavery charity Hestia, said today: ‘We need to be tougher on the organised criminals who are exploiting vulnerable people, not on the victims.’
The UK has already committed more than £300 million to France in the last decade to help tackle unauthorised migration.
More than 3,000 people have already made the perilous sea journey this year, with almost 46,000 arriving by unofficial routes in 2022.
That is despite Mr Sunak and Ms Braverman announcing a £63 million package to increase patrol officers by 40% four months ago.
Kumawood actress Mercy Asiedu has celebrated her last son, Nana Kwadwo, as he chalks a new age.
Nana Kwadwo, an actor in the TV series Sankofa who is popularly who as Nana 2, turned 14 years today, March 9, 2023.
As part of Nana 2’s birthday celebration, his mother showed him some love in a social media photo.
Nana 2 has grown into a handsome young man. He wore a summer shirt over a pair of blue shorts. Sitting and posing, the young actor held a pair of spectacles he used to match his look.
Following the release of the official music video of Medikal and Sister Derby’s single, ‘Cold and Trophies’ on March 9, the wife of the former topped trends with social media users once again speculating separation rumours.
Amidst the wild rumours and calls for Fella to react to her husband’s decision to work with his former lover, the actress, who seems unperturbed has shared new photos on Instagram.
Fella Makafui heightened rumours of her separation from the father of her daughter, Isaland Frimpong when she continuously made public appearances without her wedding band.
Also, she has deleted all photos of Mediakl on her Instagram page with four million followers.
On Friday morning barely 24 hours after the release of ‘Cold and Trophies’ the actress and entrepreneur published scenes from a recent birthday party she attended with the caption: “Busy Learning without the ‘L’”
Meanwhile, Sister Derby, who is promoting her latest project took to her social media pages to describe her ex-lover as her best friend.
“Bestie things click on link in @amgmedikal bio for my latest feature #ColdAndTrophies,” her Instagram post read.
The prospects for Valentine’s Day 2046 are dim because an asteroid is projected to pass dangerously near to striking the planet.
A newly found space rock that may collide with our planet is being monitored by scientists, who have identified 14 February as the most likely date for the closest encounter.
This week, Nasa said that it had been monitoring a new asteroid called 2023 DW that has an extremely minuscule possibility of striking Earth in 2046.
It frequently takes several weeks of data after a new object is detected to reduce the uncertainties and correctly forecast its orbit years in the future, according to the statement.
Orbit analysts are set to continue monitoring asteroid 2023 DW and update predictions as more data comes in.
Valentines Day 2046 is looking bleak with an asteroid set to come dangerously close to crashing into Earth.
The space agency say the asteroid has an average diameter of 49 metres and is currently 0.12 astronomical unit (au) – or 17 billion km- from Earth.
One au (astronomical unit) is approximately the average distance between the Earth and the Sun.
However, if the asteroid does hit it would not likely cause a global catastrophe.
In 1908, a similarly-sized asteroid of about 50-60 metres exploded over a sparsely populated Eastern Siberian forest.
It caused a 12-megaton explosion that flattened an estimated 80 million trees over an area of 2,150 sq km.
Eyewitness reports suggest that at least three people may have died in the event.
On a larger scale, the asteroid thought to have wiped out dinosaurs was believed to have been between 10 and 15 kilometres wide.
The impact site, known as the Chicxulub crater, is centred on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico.
Even if the asteroid was a definite threat, Nasa has the technology to take care of it.
In September 2022, Nasa successfully pulled off the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission successfully crashing a spacecraft into a small asteroid as part of a planetary protection test mission.
Talking about the importance of effective communication in business is like saying that water is wet and fire is hot. It’s a truism that everyone knows. However despite the obviousness, many people don’t pay proper attention to it. And this is a huge mistake.
Let’s turn to statistics:
28% of employees cite ineffective workplace communication as the main cause of task deadlines.
86% of employees and managers believe that the main reason for failure in any case or project is poorly constructed communication.
Poor communication costs companies, on average, $62.4 million annually. This amount includes low productivity, overwork, missed opportunities and sales.
But this is all just theory. Now let’s get directly to the topic of the article. How do you improve communication in the workplace?
Implementing Comprehensive Solutions in the Workplace
It’s impossible to make communication effective if some employees (or even whole departments) use a different communication tool than the others. This has become especially important recently, when more and more employees are moving to a remote or hybrid mode of work.
Cloud telephony brings everyone involved into a single network, no matter where people are. At any moment they can connect to a discussion, form a request or discuss a new project.
Of course, when we talk about universal solutions, we do not only talk about telephony. This includes the CRM system, which can be changed by an employee from anywhere in the world, the possibility of video conferencing on a single platform with easy connectivity, and even support for different devices.
If you can access your work tools not only from your computer but also from a phone or tablet, it will help you to speed up your questions and tasks considerably.
Not Arranging Useless Meetings
As different as normal communication and business conversation are, so different are useful and empty meetings. If used correctly, it is a convenient way to discuss all the issues on the agenda and make a decision. But when used incorrectly, it is a waste of time, energy and nerves. How do you distinguish a good meeting from a bad one? Here’s a sample checklist for a meeting:
There’s no way to avoid a meeting. There are no other ways to discuss the issue that has arisen. As practice shows, if there is another solution, it’s better to take it.
The meeting is devoted to one topic (agenda) and the whole meeting will discuss only this topic.
In the work schedule, the meeting is not first thing on Monday and last thing on Friday. Otherwise, your employees will be thinking not about how to discuss a particular topic but about how they will come home and play at 22Bet or spend time with their families.
The meeting has a clear time frame and the discussion ends exactly when it is supposed to.
After the discussion, a letter is sent to all meeting participants that summarizes the meeting and lists the major agreements reached.
If the meeting you planned meets all of these parameters, it is truly a useful and productive event.
Understanding the Advantages and Disadvantages of Individual Communication Methods
A difficult issue is best handled face-to-face. It can be as simple as a regular phone call or a video call. On the other hand, it’s silly to put together a formal conference call to convey the idea of something new to an entire team, but that doesn’t change anything fundamentally. An email or messenger message is enough.
The point is to use the method of communication that suits the particular situation. Of course, common sense alone is not enough for this – you’ll have to teach the team and learn for yourself. But believe me, this training will pay off when the effectiveness of the work begins to grow.
Active Listening Technique
Effective communication is not only about tools and technical implementation. It’s about the presentation and perception of information. Even with the most effective services and in a properly organized meeting, things can go wrong if people do not want to convey information correctly. And the interlocutors are not just listening, but listening as well. In the latter, the technique of active listening is a great help. And here are some tips:
When holding a conference it is considered good form to look at the interlocutor on the screen. It would also be great to periodically look into the camera to establish eye contact with the person you are talking to.
Be attentive, but at the same time remain calm and relaxed. This is important, in general, for all modes of communication. Your tension will be felt not only when you’re on the phone or on a video call, but even in a letter or in a chat. And this can only turn the interlocutor against you, which will prevent you from coming to any result.
If it’s appropriate, politely stop the interlocutor and ask him to clarify or to repeat the last thought. As practice shows, often after a long monologue it turns out that 90% of the speech was not understood by the interlocutor and you have to reconstruct everything in your memory and lose even more time than explaining some of your theses in the flow of speech.
These rules apply to personal conversations as well as to telephone and chat conversations. Be mutually respectful and make sure you are understood correctly. And that’s what our fifth point is about.
Being Polite
Even if you comply with all four tips above, but do not comply with the banal norms of politeness and respect – even the calmest conversation will be perceived as an attack and aggression. This should be observed at all levels of the company – both horizontally, among employees of the same level, and in the chain manager – subordinate.
The latter is perhaps the most important. It is on how the head will interact with the subordinates and will determine the atmosphere in the team and how the employees themselves will interact with each other. Remember that there are no useless employees. There are only those who are not performing their tasks.
Summary
Effective communication within the company is the key that will open the door to company growth by increasing employee productivity and increasing their loyalty to the business. Moreover, it greatly improves the customer experience from interacting with you, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on sales and profits.
Simply put, a well-established communication process is beneficial in both the long and short term.
An individual who unintentionally stabbed his own mother in the heart as she attempted to break up a quarrel outside of a bar has been sentenced to 19 years in prison.
On August 22 of last year, Jamie Dempsey, 32, and his mother Karen, 55, had gone out for drinks at the Brambles bar in Kirkby, Merseyside.
He ran into heroin dealer Brian Flynn inside, who he owed £2,000 to, and the two got into a fight that spilled out into the parking lot.
Dempsey pulled out a kitchen knife he’d taken with him in case there was trouble and stabbed Flynn five times, but he lost his balance and the sixth blow struck his mum as she stepped between them.
He told jurors at Liverpool Crown Court he didn’t realise how badly hurt she was when he hugged her and she told him: ‘You’re just a divvy lad, it would happen to you.’
Dempsey said: ‘I gave her a hug and she said to leave. She told me to leave and get away from there.’
Karen Dempsey, 55, died an hour after arriving at hospital.
The court heard he fled the scene and ran to his aunt’s house where he asked his cousin to burn his blood-stained clothes.
He later phoned Merseyside Police saying he’d been in a fight and used a piece of glass to stab someone in self-defence.
Jurors heard he was still unaware his mother had collapsed shortly after their embrace and been rushed to Aintree Hospital, where she died an hour later.
The knife had gone right through her heart and penetrated her liver, the court was told.
Dempsey told the court he regretted stabbing his mum ‘more than anything in the world’.
He said: ‘She was my rock, she was the only person in the world that’s been there all my life – my best friend to be honest with you.
‘I loved her more than anything. Absolutely brilliant she was, best nan in the world.’
Dempsey was cleared of his mum’s murder but convicted of manslaughter.
Dempsey was jailed for 19 years.
The jury also acquitted him of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Flynn but found him guilty of the lesser charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm as well as possessing a knife.
Judge Denis Watson KC told him: ‘If you had thought for a moment about your mums’ wish to stop you, you would have realised that if you took the fight to him, she would try to intervene.’
He went on: ‘As you tried to stab him yet again, it seems you were off balance, you missed him but your momentum turned 90 degrees or more and your knife plunged into your mother’s chest.
‘It must have been a forceful blow because the wound went to a depth of approximately six inches. She put both hands to her chest as she realised she had been stabbed.
‘Neither you nor your mother realised the gravity of her injury and you were both unaware that she was mortally wounded.
‘Your mother knew you had been in an unlawful fight and she told you to leave, and you also know you had been in an unlawful fight so you left and tried to cover your tracks.
‘I accept that you never had any intent to do harm to your mother. The fight and your pride was your ultimate priority and saving face was all that mattered.
‘Similarly I have no doubt that you regret killing your mother and you will do all of your life.
‘However, your remorse stops there, as you sought to justify your actions as self-defence, and claimed that you only picked up the knife for that purpose.
‘The simple fact is that your decision to bring a knife and use it caused her death.’
Mrs Dempsey’s partner Alan James Thompson said in a victim impact statement: ‘My world has changed forever.
‘The pain is unbearable and to see the same pain in the eyes of Karen’s family and close friends is too much to bear.
‘Her zest for life was contagious, she made people smile with her optimistic spirit and always seeing the good in people.
‘I feel like a ship lost at sea with no direction. Karen was the wind that blew me along and motivated me every single day.’
Her sister Lynn Dempsey added: ‘The pain is immense when I think of how she died in such a horrendous way.
‘Karen was overjoyed when she became a nan and adored her two granddaughters, and they had a very close relationship.’
She continued: ‘The outpouring of grief from the community of Kirkby was a testament to how much Karen touched people’s lives.’
See the bridges that have broken records as the longest bridges on the continent.
Here are the list:
1. 6th October Bridge
The 6th October Bridge is located in Cairo, Egypt. It is a highway that is 20.5km long. The bridge is built across the Nile River and was completed in 1996.
2. Third Mainland Bridge
The Third Mainland Bridge, also known as the Ibrahim Babangida Bridge, is a 10.5 km bridge in Lagos, Nigeria. It was opened in 1990 and is one of the three bridges connecting the Lagos Island to the Lagos mainland.
3. Suez Canal Bridge
The Suez Canal Bridge is located El Qantara in Egypt, spanning over a distance of 3.9 km and connecting Africa and Eurasia. It is also called Shohada 25 January Bridge.
4. Mozambique Island Bridge
Mozambique Island Bridge is located on the Island of Mozambique. It is a 3.8 km bridge crossing over the Indian Ocean and connecting the Island of Mozambique to the mainland. It was completed in 1969.
5. Dona Ana Bridge
Dona Ana Bridge is a rail bridge, built across the Zambezi River. It spans a distance of 3.67 km and connects the towns of Mutarara and Vila de Sena. It was completed in 1934.
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Wrestling has existed for over a century and was popularized in the United States—it actually began in the late 1800s, right after the Civil War. Wrestling was a sort of enjoyment that could be seen at carnivals and other traveling performances during the difficult postwar years. The majority were collegiate wrestlers seeking a fast buck. Pro wrestling would eventually develop into a highly popular social function. Soon enough, the sport became as popular as boxing, and we get to entertain ourselves with matches on 22Bet.
The Beginnings
The primary event of wrestling matches were Frank Gotch and Martin Burns, and things were going great until they started to quickly deteriorate. It wouldn’t be long before news got out that wrestling was in trouble. While it was never proved, it was commonly assumed that the boxing commission disseminated the news at the time. Wrestling was becoming more popular at the time and drew a larger crowd than boxing.
Wrestling would be in jeopardy, whether it was because of sour apples or because the spectators had smartened up. Fans were abandoning the once-popular attraction in droves, and things were only about to get worse with Gotch’s retirement. Things were looking bleak for our beloved sport, with no public face to promote it and a sharp drop in attendance. However, just as a dying tree wilts and dies, its seeds are typically dispersed and new trees are produced.
Billy Sandow, Ed Lewis, and Toots Mondt would be the new faces that would save professional wrestling. Fans went on to call them the Goldust Trio. They would permanently change the way the public saw wrestling. Not only that, but they’d be the first to put time limitations and DQs in place. Realizing that wrestling was a job, the trio began to use dishonest techniques even when the referee was not looking. Nevertheless, these are only a handful of the modifications that might be made to wrestling. Signature holds and tag team wrestling would also be introduced by the three to the sports world.
However, the commencement of promotions was their most original and significant achievement. Unlike in the past, when events were made up of hired talent from all around, these three opted to employ and retain a core of wrestlers for a long time. This risky strategy would reward off in a variety of ways. The fans would be more familiar with the brand if the wrestlers stayed the same. It would also enable them to establish a new fan base by promoting the same wrestlers everywhere they went.
The ability to perform angles and stories was perhaps the most important factor in maintaining the same wrestlers. They were able to keep feuds running for lengthy periods of time without having to send their fighters to other areas to wrestle. For over a decade, this formula would maintain them at the peak of the wrestling world. They are, nevertheless, frequently replicated, as are most success tales. For the three, the outcome would be the same.
Local promotions began to appear all throughout the country. The Goldust Trio was quickly feeling the strain of their newfound rivalry. They were now up against local promotions around the country. Their reign of terror would come to an end in the late 1920s. But it wasn’t the competitors that became their biggest stumbling block. Their reign as wrestling monarchs ended at the hands of Stanislaus Zybyzko.
The Transition
What was meant to be a simple title drop went horribly downhill. Wayne Munn, a newcomer, was slated to receive the belt from Zybysko. In an effort to keep, Zybysco would go against the odds and overcome Munn. To add insult to injury, out of spite, Zybysko would return a short time later and hand the title to Lewis’ rival, Joe Stecher. By repeatedly evading Lewis, Stecher would only make it tougher.
This whole ordeal would inflict so much harm that the belt would be useless by the time they got it back. It would eventually lead to the three’s supremacy in the wrestling business crumbling. The world of pro wrestling was significantly different in the 1930s and 1940s. Wrestling at carnies and farms was a thing of the past. We were about to enter a new business, the realm of wrestling.
Wrestling producers were generating more money as the sport grew in popularity. The term “Raiding Talent” was coined during this time period. As the industry expanded, the promoters began to see dollar signs. They would frequently destroy and plunder other local marketers of their talent in order to keep ahead of their competitors. As you can expect, this resulted in a number of heated battles between businesses.
To make matters worse, many names were losing their credibility. The reason for this is that many champion wrestlers would move to different promotions. Even the most opportunistic promoters recognized that it was a huge issue. The NWA was created in 1948 when all of the local promoters signed a vague pact.
It’s also worth mentioning that some wrestling purists think the NWA began in the late 1920s. Since the NWA was founded in the late 1920s, there is some validity to this. It’s also incorrect because the NWA attempted to unite local promoters in 1929.
Although it has always been a part of African culture, many more people today have fallen in love with the idea of wearing waist beads or having someone they care about wear it.
Waist beads are adornments or decorative pieces made from cowries, precious shells, beads, pearls, or small metal strung onto a wire or fish line(not the one used for fishing). These waist beads come in different lengths, waist sizes, colours, and shapes and could be worn in single strands or multiple strands as they sit beautifully on the waist of the wearer.
As earlier stated, waist beads have been a part of African culture, especially West Africa’s, for the longest time. In Nigeria, waist beads were worn as a sign of spirituality, femininity, sensuality, growth, and fertility in the olden days. In Ghana, it is a symbol of a rite of passage and coming of age for a young girl, and this is usually proof of her sexual maturity. It also helps to accentuate the waist, giving it a smaller frame.
When a baby is born, the baby is traditionally beautified with waist beads, and once the baby is grown to about a year, if he is a boy, he stops wearing, while the girl continues to wear them. The young girl will continue to wear the beads on her waist till puberty; she automatically outgrows them and is given new ones as she transitions into womanhood.
In some other cultures, the waist beads are worn for protection from the ‘evil eye,’ As such, precious beads invoked with charms are added to give maximum protection.
One thing that is common to every wearer worldwide is that waist beads are the fact that they serve as a form of body shapers. They are excellent tools for monitoring weight gain and weight loss. A little weight loss or weight gain is easily detected; once the wearer gains weight, the beads easily roll up and eventually break, and if the wearer loses weight, the beads roll down and become so loose that they finally fall off. So if you are going on a weight loss or weight gain journey, it would be an excellent pointer to get waist beads to track your progress somewhat.
The U.S. Government’s Prosper Africa initiative has announced the close of $274 million in long-term financing for West Africa’s rapidly growing housing sector.
This landmark partnership with Bank of America Securities, Inc, Brean Capital, LLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, Togo’s Caisse Régionale de Refinancement Hypothécaire (CRRH), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) opens new opportunities for U.S. investment in Africa’s emerging markets.
It also provides an avenue for West Africans to gain greater access to homeownership.
Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) Advisors served as the originator and lead transaction advisor on this landmark transaction according to a release issued last night.
The deal, the release said represents an innovative approach to mobilise transparent, market-oriented financing at scale and is expected to help about 6,000 households gain access to homeownership.
“As part of Prosper Africa’s whole-of-government approach, USAID funded MiDA Advisors and CrossBoundary to provide advisory services that prepared CRRH for a global bond issuance, and DFC provided a credit guarantee, allowing investors to access an untapped market opportunity while meeting their risk profiles.
Through this transaction, for the first time, CRRH accessed cheaper, longer-term capital with a 17-year $217 million equivalent Eurobond that was issued via a U.S. trust alongside a local currency bond equivalent to $57 million for a total raise of $274 million from international and local institutional investors,” the release said.
“Prosper Africa’s partnership with leading U.S. and African financial institutions signals increased U.S. investor interest in investing in African markets to meet the enormous demand for affordable housing in West Africa,” Cameron Khosrowshahi, Senior Investment Advisor with Prosper Africa said.
He also noted that; “Our collaboration is a blended finance transaction that will catalyze investment at scale and create generational wealth through homeownership for thousands of people across West Africa.”
DFC Vice President for the Office of Development Credit, Jim Polan also said; “DFC partners with the private sector to make impactful investments around the world, including in West Africa where affordable housing is a critical need.
The agency is pleased to work with such a diverse group of investors, including colleagues from the U.S. Government on this important issue that will help provide affordable housing and bolster stability for thousands in the region.”
About Prosper Africa
Prosper Africa is the U.S. Government initiative to increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and African countries. Through Prosper Africa, the U.S. Government partners with businesses and investors to advance deals, promote market opportunities, and strengthen business and investment climates. To learn more and connect with Prosper Africa advisors, visit prosperafrica.gov.
About DFC
U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world today. We invest across sectors including energy, healthcare, critical infrastructure, and technology. DFC also provides financing for small businesses and women entrepreneurs in order to create jobs in emerging markets. DFC investments adhere to high standards and respect the environment, human rights, and worker rights.
About USAID
USAID supports inclusive, sustained, and resilient economic growth in our partner countries as central to reducing poverty and dependency. We partner with host governments, local and international private sector and non-governmental organizations, development assistance organizations, financial institutions, and other donors to foster enterprise-driven development. Our programs expand enterprise-driven economic growth and employment through robust analysis, regulatory reform, trade promotion, and entrepreneurial capacity development to foster sustainable development outcomes.
Kim Jong-un is joined by his daughter for a second public visit, this time to attend a military drill in North Korea.
The two were seen sitting close to one another on Thursday as the army practiced an attack on an unnamed South Korean base.
Kim Ju-ae, who is thought to be around 10 years old, abruptly entered the public eye in November and has since seen frequently by her father’s side.
There is currently speculation the dictator is setting the youngster up to be his successor.
The state denied Ju-ae existed for a while, but now she is often referred to as the ‘most beloved daughter’.
Both wore black matching overcoats for the exercise while Kim clutched a cigarette.
They were later pictured in arm chairs behind a large table while uniformed military figures watched over.
Kim told troops to be prepared at any time to ‘overwhelmingly respond to and contain’ the country’s enemies which he accused of making ‘frantic war preparation moves’, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
The state media organisation did not specify what types of weapons were used in Thursday’s exercise.
A fire attack by the Hwasong Artillery unit, responsible for important operational missions.
But some of the North’s newer short-range weapons, which would be used to target South Korea, includes multiple rocket launchers that experts say blur the boundaries between artillery and ballistic missile systems.
South Korea and the United States are currently preparing to kick off their biggest combined military training exercise in years.
They are working together to counter the growing threat of Kim’s nuclear arsenal, which he has aggressively expanded in recent years.
Kim changed North Korea’s nuclear warfare laws last year, when he made it legal for the country to authorise pre-emptive nuclear strikes where it may perceive its leadership as under threat.
It is not clear what weapons were used during Thursday’s exercise .
On Thursday, he told his military they need do more simulated drills so they are ready to carry out their two main ‘strategic missions, that is first to deter war and second to take the initiative in war’.
Kim has ruled for 11 years now – and both his predecessors, his father and grandfather, ruled until they died.
Yo-yong, a top official at the Propaganda and Agitation Department, was even cropped out of footage of Jong-Un and his daughter at a recent football match.
Cheong Seong-chang of the Sejong Institute said Kim’s daughter suggests a ‘power struggle’ between the leader’s sister and the First Lady, Ri Sol-ju.
Exploring Gaming Industry in Ghana: Market Value and Growth
The gaming industry is basically the practice involved in the monetization, development, and marketing of video games. Practicing these three requires a ton of human effort, which results in creating an enormous amount of jobs throughout the globe. In a few years, the gaming industry in Ghana has grown from focussing on particular customers to the mainstream markets. Let us explore some basic facts about the gaming industry in Ghana, its market value, and its growth over the years.
History of Gaming Industry in Ghana
The history of Ghana’s gaming industry is almost 50 years old, even older than some of the gaming platforms. Majorly the whole gaming industry is operated under three acts: the 1960 Betting Lottery Act, the 1973 Gambling Machines Act, and the Casino Licensing Act. Digitalization is progressing rapidly in Ghana, helping the entire gaming industry to introduce new laws and regulations in favor of gamers. Currently, the gaming industry in Ghana is regulated under the Ministry of Interior, which was established under the Gaming Act 2006. This act allows all kinds of gaming in the entire country except lottery.
Contribution of the Gaming Industry to Ghana’s Economy
Today anyone can enjoy online games no matter if you have $10 or millions. The gaming industry in Ghana contributes in so many ways to the country’s economy. It supports Ghana’s economy by increasing overall business sales and providing gaming taxes. In the last decade, the gaming industry in Ghana managed to get amazing growth. This directly contributed to the country’s economy. Over the years, online gaming has reached throughout the country and contributed a lot to its economy.
With the advancement of technology, gamers can now play games on their computers, mobile phones, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and various other devices. This directly increased the demand for these gaming setups in the market resulting in business expansion. The main source through which a gaming company generates revenue is advertising and taking percentages in the winning amount. They also charge some fees for downloading the game and buying a membership.
Future of Ghana’s Gaming Market
Ghana’s gaming market is growing amazingly, giving hope for a promising future. As the industry grows, online gaming companies like 22Bet will offer amazing discounts and offers to attract new gamers. These approaches will motivate the mass and help transform Ghana’s gaming industry into Africa’s gaming hub. The public of Ghana is adopting cloud-based technologies and software technologies very quickly, and it has led to an increase in internet awareness. This directly helps in increasing the gaming trends among the public of Ghana.
Based on certain studies, the gaming industry of Ghana will show enormous growth during 2021-27. During the lockdown period, people spent more time at their homes which led to an increase in the usage of interest in playing online games. Due to the increase in the number of mobile users in the country, the gaming industry is going to experience growth in upcoming years. This will lead to an impressive increase in the revenue just by the mobile segment users.
Objectives of Online Gaming Regulators
The gaming commission solely focuses on controlling, regulating, and monitoring all kinds of gaming services allowed in overall Ghana. Below is a list of objectives and practices of the gaming commission in Ghana :
Decides and makes the required proposals needed to improve the facilities provided by the gaming industry.
Provides licensing to the qualified companies interested in providing games to the mass.
When needed, it serves as a body providing advice to the government on topics related to gaming in the country.
Takes care of all the complaints and issues raised by the gaming companies and the players.
Maintain and ensure that all the licensed gaming companies are keeping the minimum bankroll implemented by the government.
Gaming Commission of Ghana: Vision & Goals
The main vision of The Gaming Commission of Ghana is to maintain the integrity and reputation of the online gaming industry in the country. By doing this, they want to make Ghana’s gaming industry a world-class gaming market. The operators follow every law imposed by the government and focus on not violating any of them. The gaming industry also puts effort into supporting the country economically.
In order to do so, the gaming market increases the business of selling, buying, importing, and exporting goods related to gaming. They are also focusing on providing access to play and participate in online games to the citizens of Ghana. Here are some goals of the Gaming Commission of Ghana:
Making the gaming industry’s customer service effective and available for each gamer.
Maintain a healthy and regulatory environment between the gaming industry and the players along with following the laws of government.
Inform their users about the changes in rules and regulations made by the committee.
Promote and advertise the fair and equal for everyone kind of gaming environment throughout the country.
On Thursday, he gave his signature to a bill that calls for the death penalty for military personnel and other public servants who “damage” national security.
The only country in Europe that still allows the death penalty is Belarus. The punishment, which consists of a shot to the back of the skull, has hitherto only been applied to people who were found guilty of murder or acts of terrorism.
The new law also introduces harsher punishments for ‘propaganda’ against and efforts to ‘discredit’ the country’s armed forces.
Dubbed ‘Europe’s last dictator’ for his hardline authoritarianism, Mr Lukashenko has brutally suppressed opposition and dissent throughout his 30 years in power.
His government, which has provided significant tactical and material support to Russian forces since the invasion of neighboring Ukraine began last year, is still stinging after a double-drone attack by Ukrainian-aligned partisans destroyed a £274 million Russian spycraft at an airfield outside the capital of Minsk.
Mr Lukashenko said earlier this week that some 20 suspects behind the attack, including a Ukrainian national, had been arrested.
Lukashenko has long been a close ally and eager supporter of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The introduction of harsher punishments for supposed crimes against the state also follows after Belarus sentenced exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in absentia to 15 years in prison.
She was convicted on a raft of charges that included plotting to overthrow the current administration.
Ms Tsikhanouskaya fled Belarus in 2020 after mass protests against a presidential election marred by allegations of fraud and rigged voting were met with a brutal crackdown by authorities.
Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was recently sentenced to 15 years in absentia for plotting to overthrow the Lukashenko regime (Picture: AP)Prominent human rights defender Ales Bialiatski also recently received ten years, in addition to the time he is already serving in Belarusian prison (Picture: EPA)
Dozens of journalists and human rights activists were among the thousands of attendees arrested at the demonstrations, with many subjected to physical violence and receiving jail sentences.
Not long after Ms Tskikhanouskaya was sentenced, Ales Bialiatski, a co-winner of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize for his role as a leading figure in Belarus’s pro-democracy movement, also received ten years jail time.
Unlike Ms Tsikhanouskaya, Mr Bialiatski remains in Belarus, where he has been detained since 2021.
The government has reauctioned last week’s Treasury bills (T-bills) at 24.16 per cent in what could be a new dawn to lower interest rates in the country.
The results of the auction were published Wednesday (March 8, 2023) after earlier offers were rejected last Friday for being pricy.
Last Friday’s offers were at 35.5 per cent, above the government’s idea rate of 20 per cent. Before the rates crashed to 24.16 per cent on Wednesday, the benchmark rates were trending in the mid 30 per cent.
The results published Wednesday showed that although the government set out to raise GHS2.77 billion of the 91-, 182- and 354-day bills, it accepted bids more than GHS4 billion.
Emmanuel Odunlami, a Nigerian-born music manager was stabbed to death after celebrating his birthday with a designer watch worth up to £300,000, a London court heard.
The 32-year-old was attacked by three robbers after he left the Haz restaurant located in the city of London on May 1, 2022.
The Old Bailey was informed by Kavindu Hettiarachchi, a security operator that Odunlami was alleged to have been wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch worth between £90,000 and £300,000 if genuine.
Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC stated that Hettiarachchi was a vital member of the security team hired by the event’s organizer, Playhxuse, for the private ticketed brunch and afterparty with DJ, reports Daily Post.
“It was part of his role to protect the safety of those, like Odunlami, who were attending the event. In fact, he did the opposite,” the court was told.
The victim, known to friends as Jay, had driven to the city in his grey hatchback Mercedes on the day of his death to celebrate his birthday with friends, having purchased tickets for a £1,400 table.
As the event came to an end around 11 PM, Hettiarachchi was caught on camera filming outside the venue and calling Louis Vandrose, according to Dailymail.
The court heard that Vandrose and Jordell Menzies were then driven by Quincy Ffrench in a white Mercedes with altered number plates from north west London.
The Prosecutor said: “The evidence shows that Vandrose, Menzies and Ffrench were setting off in a car with a disguised registration in order to carry out a robbery, and their target was at the Haz restaurant where Hettiarachchi was working, and to which by phone he had summoned them.”
British actor, Idris Elba has described his visit to the Manhyia Palace during his time in Ghana as fascinating.
Speaking on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the actor said that he was surprised when he received an invite to visit Asantehene, who is a huge fan of his, while he was filming his documentary on gold.
He was invited to join Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the first Akwasidae of the year 2023 – a first for him.
Idris Elba said “so I showed up in my jeans. They were like, no, ‘you got to wear this kente cloth’. It was a really fascinating day. I mean, it was beautiful and the tradition was rich.”
He noted that he was nervous when meeting the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for the first time especially since he was not familiar with how to keep the Kente cloth stable.
Idris Elba told Stephen Colbert that “so when you meet the king, typically what you have to drop the kente cloth shoulder down a little bit and then shake the King’s hand. It’s part of the tradition like a symbol of respect.”
“This is the first time I’m wearing it and underneath, you just got your shorts on. And my thing kept unravelling. I was like, ‘oh, man, I’m going to meet the king, and it’s going to fall off me and be standing there in my boxers’.”
The Luther actor said he was glad to not have had any mishap occur adding “I did my thing gently. It was actually a really beautiful time. I don’t mean to make fun of it. It was very beautiful.”
Idris Elba was at Manhyia Palace on Sunday to pay homage to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Asantehemaa Nana Konadu Yiadom III during the Akwasidea in February.
He led his movie production crew to take shots of the events for his shoot.
Serial hitmaker King Promise, alias KP, has eulogised rapper Sarkodie as the instrument God used to usher him into the limelight.
Frequent collaborators, the two were on stage at the packed Here at Outernet hall, London, United Kingdom, for the Sarkodie x The Composers & Friends Ghana 66th Independence Concert, Monday, March 6, 2023.
KP expressed his gratitude toSarkodie and prayed God’s blessings for the SarkCess Music mogul after their performance.
“Before I go, I hope you guys know this man put me on,” the ‘Thank You’ hitmaker said, touching Sarkodie’s shoulder.
The crowd cheered.
“There’s King Promise only because there was Sarkodie,” he continued.
The crowd went wild.
“He believed in me from the start when nobody knew my name. I was some boy in Nungua and God used him [to help me].
“So I want to say God bless you,” he held Sarkodie by the shoulder and said.
“Fast forward, 5 years later, we’re in London…” KP noted, quickly adding: “Bro, this [thing] is crazy,” in an animated voice.
In another video circulating on social media, sighted by Class News’ Prince Benjamin, Sark and KP were spotted at the barber’s. The former was having his hair trimmed.
Slapping Sarkodie on the shoulder, affectionately, KP declared: “…has covered me, this man.
“Today, we’re in London. You know, the headline. It’s amazing, man.”
He asked Sarkodie: “How do you feel?”
The rap superstar’s quick response was: “Beautiful times.”
“How do you feel? You put me on, and today, I’m out here,” 5Star signee King Promise asked.
“Listen, not to brag, but I saw this happening,” Sarkodie assured.
“Is it?” KP quizzed.
“Of course,” Sarkodie answered. “You were never far from this.”
The latest hit from the two is from Sarkodie’s November 2022 album ‘Jamz’; ‘Labadi’.
Black Sherif is leading the nominees’ list of the Ghana Music Awards Europe 2023 with twelve nominations to his credit.
He was nominated in the Artiste of the year, hiplife/Hip pop artiste of the year, Male Vocalist of the year, song of the year, Hip life/Hip pop song of the year, and other categories.
Black Sherif initially gained popularity in 2021 with his song “First Sermon” which he released in May 2022.
Ginger tit singer, King Promise had 11 nominations, followed by Sugarcane hit maker, Camidoh who was nominated in 9 categories.
Others include Sarkodie and Stonebwoy with 6 nominations each. Shatta Wale and Diana Hamilton also had 5 nominations to their credits respectively.
The Ghana Music Awards Europe (GMA EUROPE) was successfully launched in Accra on Wednesday 1st March 2023.
The event which was very well attended attracted a large number of artists, media personalities, and celebrities.
The occasion was used by the organisers to announce the Title Sponsor of the Ghana Music Awards Europe, Jim Ray Estates Limited.
The CEO of Jim Ray Estates Ltd, Mr. James Okine expressed optimism and excitement to be part of the Ghana Music Awards Europe.
He revealed an aperitive land package in Accra for the Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Europe Based Artist of the Year winners.
According to him, winners of the three categories mentioned will receive two (2) plots of land valued at GH₵120,000, one (1) plot of land valued at GH₵60,000, and one (1) plot of land valued at Gh₵60,000 respectively.
Speaking at the birth of the Ghana Music Awards Europe, the Vice Chairman of the Board, Jay Foley said, “for us to win the music war, we have to award and support these artistes. What they do feed the soul.”
Talent manager, Bullgod has once again admitted to having ‘special’ weaknesses when it comes to working with a female artiste as they might end up having an affair.
On the account of Bullgod, it almost seems impossible for a man to manage a female musician without the two having sexual intercourse.
He admitted that for the time being, he will reject the move of working with a female singer for fear of being caught in the love web.
Bullgod made this revelation in an interview with Sika Osei on Lynx TV and also named an instance where a popular manager and his artiste were allegedly involved in a romantic affair.
“I am on record, google. I can’t be managing a woman. It won’t work, we will end up ‘eating’. Some licking will happen, something will happen…I will grow out of it but now, you know what am saying.
“It’s not like we’re going to force ourselves on you but the time will avail itself. I was the very few industry people that said Kiki Banson was having an affair with Becca…I broke it…they insulted me but the last show was evident. So when we are speaking about what is happening on the ground, allow us,” he said.
Bullgod who is happily married noted that if ever he is caught up in such a situation, his wife will be the only person he will answer to.
“It is not bad, what is wrong with two consenting adults deciding to engage in that business? The only problem is, I am married so if I am having an affair with my artiste, the only person I need to answer to is my wife,” he added.
In a home in south-east London, three people—a woman, two boys—were discovered dead.
On Mayfield Road in Belvedere, around 11:50 a.m. yesterday, the bodies of a 47-year-old woman and two youngsters, seven and nine years old, were found.
As post-mortem examinations are scheduled, the cause of their deaths has not been made public.
Detectives are not looking for anyone in connection to the deaths.
No one is being sought in connection to the deaths (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Next of kin have all been notified.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: ‘Detectives are investigating following the deaths of three people at an address in south London.
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‘Police were called at 11.50am on Thursday, 9 March to concerns for the welfare of occupants at an address on Mayfield Road in Belvedere.
‘Officers and London Ambulance Service attended. At the scene, a 47-year-old woman and two boys, aged nine and seven, were found deceased inside the property.’
‘At this early stage, detectives are not actively seeking anyone else in connection with the investigation,’ the force added.
The latest collaboration between former love birds, Medikal and Sister Deborah is one social media users, as well as music lovers, never saw coming as it took many by surprise.
On Thursday, March 9, Medikal released his much-anticipated song ‘Cold and Trophies’ which featured Sister Derby.
The duo have dominated social media conversations and once again made headlines due to their previous bad blood as a result of their messy breakup in 2018.
The 5 minutes and 8 seconds music video highlighted the chemistry between the musicians right from their car ride to the living room scene.
Netizens have been asking questions in regard to the marriage status of Medikal and Fella Makafui. To some, the rapper made a wrong move by working with his ex-girlfriend whilst others say it is all part of showbiz.
Derby’s wardrobe in the music video is one that has raised eyebrows. She decided to go ‘too risky’ by showing flesh and highlighting her sassiness.
Fans of the rapper claim there is no course for alarm as Medikal and Derby are known for producing hits when they work on a project.
The wife of the rapper, Fella Makafui is however yet to comment on the new single or promote the song as she has previously done for all his music releases.
What’s this song that Medikal and Sis Derby have done? When did they become besties. Warrisgoing hon?
In your honest opinion, do you think it was right for Medikal to have done a song with sister derby? Especially considering what had happened between them in the past For me, I think it was a wrong move and said more here: https://t.co/428UIFndOa
Medikal and Sister Derby on a song together? And have shot a video?? The song is not that nice to warrant making up and playing nice with your ex wtf??? And Fela is watching her husband “work” with his ex??? What money aaa will this song make lmaooo everything is jokes over here
another Medikal and Sister Derby collab? oh wow, at this point, I just want to know how they recorded the song. did they link up or something? and if YES, I legit want to know how Fella felt or feels about that?
The final moments spent with his five friends before a car accident in Cardiff, Wales, that left three people dead and two others injured have been made public by a sixth passenger.
Last Saturday’s A48(M) collision near the St Mellons region of Cardiff claimed the lives of Eve Smith, Darcy Ross, and Rafel Jeanne, all of whom were 21 years old.
Shane Loughlin, 32, and Sophie Russon, 20 respectively, are currently battling for their life at the University Hospital of Wales in the nation’s capital.
The group of friends had been enjoying a night out at the Mufflet nightclub in Newport when their car crashed into a woodland in the early hours.
The group of five had gone for a night out in Newport.
Police have been using CCTV and number plate recognition cameras to understand what happened, believing just their car was involved.
But also aboard the white Volkswagen Tiguan was Joel Lia, 27, who was dropped off only hours before the incident.
Police had been reportedly searching for the sixth rider but Joel is now ‘fully cooperating’ with the force, a source has said.
The insider said: ‘He has been cooperating fully with the officers in the case and is understandably very upset by the events of that night.’
Joel left the car at around 2am in nearby Pentwyn, around two miles from the tragedy.
Police understand that he was with Rafel and Shane as they met up with Eve, Darcy and Sophie in the social club.
Police had been searching for a sixth rider aboard the car.
Rafel was a ‘very close friend’ of Joel and had gone out together the night before.
They all then hopped into their Volkswagen and drove around 38 miles to Porthcawl where Shane had a caravan in the Trecco Bay camp.
An alleged noise complaint was registered in the area but police do not believe it ‘played any major part’ in the incident.
Joel asked his friends to give him a lift to his home before they filled up their tank and headed to Newport to drop the three women home.
It would take 46 hours for the five to be discovered in their overturned car.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hoborough of Gwent Police said: ‘This is an extremely sad situation, and our thoughts are with the families and friends of each of the young people involved.
Sophie Russon is now fighting for her life after suffering serious injuries.
‘We will continue to support the investigation and would ask members of the public to refrain from speculation during this period.’
Assistant Chief Constable Jason Davies of South Wales Police added: ‘Our thoughts continue to be with the families and all those affected by this tragic incident.
‘Specialist officers are carrying out a detailed investigation to piece together what has happened.’
Once the titles are finally posted on the royal website, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have said that it is their children’s “birthright” to be named prince and princess.
In announcing the christening of their daughter Lilibet yesterday, Prince Harry and Meghan used the title of “Princess” for the first time in public.
It’s understood that they will now use their son Archie’s regal title of “Prince” to address him in formal settings as well.
Now, they have issued a fresh statement saying Buckingham Palace had long agreed the change would happen when the King acceded to the throne.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes said: ‘The children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch.
‘This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace.’
Archie and Lilibet were listed as master and miss on the royal website until this morning when their titles were updated – despite the line of succession changing five months ago when the Queen died.
Harry holds Archie when he was a newborn.
Harry and Megan are said to be keen to allow their kids to choose whether to drop the royal titles for themselves when they get older.
Title rules set out by King George V in 1917 mean Archie and Lilibet, as the children of a son of a sovereign, automatically became a prince and a princess when Charles became King.
They would also be entitled to an HRH style, but their parents no longer use this after they stepped down as senior royals.
Some people have demanded the couple give up their titles after they moved to America and did a number of interviews making explosive claims about the Royal Family.
When asked in an interview with Anderson Cooper if he would do this, Harry asked: ‘And what difference would that make?’
Cooper replied: ‘One of the criticisms that you’ve received is that okay, fine, you wanna move to California, you wanna step back from the institutional role. Why be so public?
‘Why reveal conversations you’ve had with your father or with your brother? You say you tried to do this privately.’
Lilibet became a Princess when her grandad King Charles came to the throne (Picture: PA)
Harry responded saying ‘every single time I’ve tried to do it privately there have been briefings and leakings and planting of stories against me and my wife’.
The dad-of-two added: ‘You know, the family motto is never complain, never explain. But it’s just a motto. And it doesn’t really hold.’
Sources have claimed the Sussexes invited King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton to Lilibet’s christening, but none of them came.
According to People magazine, around 25 attended the event, including Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, Lilbet’s godfather, Tyler Perry and an unnamed godmother.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex first used the term “princess” last Friday at the baptism of their 21-month-old daughter Lilibet.
‘I can report that Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3, by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev. John Taylor,’ Harry and Meghan’s formal statement about the occasion read.
The use of royal titles for Lilibet and Archie, three, have technically been allowed since the Queen died in September, under rules set out more than a century ago by King George V.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the royal website ‘will now be updated in due course’ – though they’re both currently still listed as plain master and miss on the line of succession.
It’s understood that Harry and Meghan will now refer to their children using their royal titles of princess and prince in formal settings.
The couple hopes to give their children the chance to decide whether they want to keep or drop the titles.
They will also be able to use HRH stylings if they choose to.
Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, also known as Lili, was christened in Montecito last Friday (Picture: PA)
In a statement given by their spokesman, Harry and Meghan described the option as a ‘birthright’.
He said: ‘The children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch.
‘This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace.’
According to People magazine, around 25 attended Lilibet’s christening, including Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, Lilbet’s godfather, Tyler Perry and an unnamed godmother.
Right Reverend John Harvey Taylor, who carried out the baptism at the couple’s home in Montecito, California, was a former newspaper reporter and chief of staff for ex-US president Richard Nixon.
The highlife legend and his team visited the Ex-President of Ghana at his residence.
His visit forms part of an official invitation to the former president for his upcoming 30th-anniversary celebration.
Nana Acheampong told Former President Kufour that this is the first time he is hosting an event like that to mark his musical success and thank Ghanaians for their support.
He presented a citation and medal to the Ex-President for his marvellous service to Ghana and humanity.
H.E J. A Kufour was delighted about the gesture and pledged his support for Nana Acheampong ahead of his 30th anniversary.
He has acknowledged doing so between July 15 and August 1, 2022, on a 30-mph section of the A40 Westway flyover.
He was recorded four times by cameras on July 15 alone.
A temporary restriction of 30mph was put in place on the A40 due to road works back in 2020 but this has since been made permanent.
McPherson’s lawyers pointed out that he already has seven points on his licence and conceded that he now faces up to 81.
He was caught 22 times in 3 weeks (Picture: Tim Graham/Getty Images)
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Drivers who rack up 12 points are normally automatically banned from driving.
However, the driver argued no longer being able to use his van would cause ‘exceptional hardship’ after working for the company since he was 16.
The business, based in Park Royal, west London, provides linen, towels and clothing to hotels, spas and restaurants in London.
He told the Evening Standard he was ‘gutted’ about facing the ban.
McPherson continued: ‘I’ve been driving on that stretch of road for many years. I was so shocked when all these fines were sent to me at work. There was a whole pile of them.
Peter McPherson, 58, racked up the offences during his shifts for Galicia Laundry (Picture: Evening Standard / eyevine)
‘If I lose my job I don’t know what I am going to do. I’ve never been inside a court before so I’m very nervous, but I am going to court to ask not to have a ban as it will cause me hardship.
‘I’ve been at the firm for my whole adult life and driven without problems. They were sent the fines because it’s a work van. Everything changed in such a short period of to me,’ he added.
He admitted to breaking the speed limit on Westway between Terrick Street, White City and Paddington Green, at speeds ranging from 35 to 41mph.
Solicitors from Patterson Law told Willesden magistrates confirmed McPherson would be entering a guilty plea.
They continued: ‘In accordance with Schedule 2 Road Traffic Offenders Act for the offences of speeding our client will be at risk of 71 to 81 points. At the time of the offence our client had seven points, so will be at risk of a six-month disqualification for totting 12 or more points during a three-year period.
‘Our client intends to attend court and present an exceptional hardship argument.’
The case is set to go to an open court procedure on May 17.
The aged have taken it upon themselves to help the younger generation have a successful romantic relationship that does not contradict Ghana’s social values.
In an interview with The Independent Ghana, 60-year-old Aunty Araba (not her real name) talks about the dos, and don’ts, sex, and everything that goes into a relationship.
The nation’s rubber-stamp parliament has granted China’s leader Xi Jinping a historic third term as president.
It comes after a consolidation of authority that has elevated Mr. Xi, 69, to the position of China’s most powerful leader in decades.
The president’s duties are primarily ceremonial in the Chinese system of government.
Being the General Secretary of the Communist Party and the Chairman of the Central Military Commission gives Mr. Xi his authority (CMC).
He was handed both posts at a party congress last October.
Confirmation of his third term as president had been widely expected. The naming of a new premier and various ministers in the coming days is considered more important.
The new appointees are mostly expected to be Xi Jinping loyalists. This includes Li Qiang, who is tipped to serve as Mr Xi’s number two.
On Friday, Mr Xi has also gained another term as the chairman of the CMC of the People’s Republic of China. There are two CMCs in the country – one is a party organisation while another is a state institution – but their make-up is usually the same.
Mr Xi has solidified his rule as China reopens from his bruising zero-Covid policy that has fuelled anti-government protests. The country is also facing a falling birth rate that threatens its economic growth engine.
Ties between Beijing and Washington remain testy, recently highlighted by allegations China had been spying on the US with balloons.
“Whether a strengthened Xi and increasing centralisation is sufficient to overcome these problems – or perhaps make them worse – is unknown and perhaps not knowable at present,” Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University Singapore, told the BBC.
“In a sense, Xi is betting that centralisation under the party with him at the helm is a solution to these disparate issues,” he said.Media caption,
WATCH: Why China’s president gets two teacups…in 59 seconds
The so-called Two Sessions of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) this week is closely watched as it provides a glimpse into China’s direction in the coming years.
Since Mao Zedong, leaders in China had been limited to two terms in office. When Mr Xi had this restriction changed in 2018, it transformed him into a figure with a reach not seen since Chairman Mao.
Also on Friday, the national legislature appointed Han Zheng, a 68-year-old former Politburo Standing Committee member, as vice president.
The importance of the position varies since its functions are not fully defined. However, the last vice president, Wang Qishan, fronted Mr Xi’s anti-corruption campaign, Chong said.
Chances are that Mr Han will follow Mr Xi’s direction closely and enforce the president’s policies as necessary, he added.
In the most recent tragedy on the Mediterranean Sea, at least 14 individuals from sub-Saharan African nations have drowned in Tunisia while attempting to travel by boat to Europe.
In a statement released on Thursday, Tunisia’s coastguard reported that police had caught “a group whose boat had sunk, saving 54 persons of various sub-Saharan African nationalities and recovering 14 bodies” the previous night.
Later on Thursday, AFP news agency was informed by Faouzi Masmoudi, a spokeswoman for the court overseeing the probe, that the deceased were from two sunken boats.
Masmoudi said three people died and 34 were rescued in one sinking on Tuesday, followed on Wednesday by 11 deaths in a separate incident with 20 rescued.
Hundreds of people have drowned in Tunisia in recent months as attempted crossings from Tunisia and Libya to Italy have increased.
The coastline at Sfax in east-central Tunisia has become a major departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East for a shot at a better life in Europe.
Life in Tunisia has progressively worsened since President Kais Saied said on February 21 that migration from sub-Saharan Africa aimed to change Tunisia’s national identity.
The remarks, which drew international condemnation, have led to what has been described by advocacy groups as a racist backlash against people from sub-Saharan African countries as well as Black Tunisians.
The far-right Tunisian National Party has led a campaign calling for the expulsion of sub-Saharan African immigrants, framing immigration to Tunisia from other parts of Africa as being part of an effort to initiate demographic change in the country.
The deaths announced on Wednesday add to the grim toll of refugees drowning as they attempt the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean, the world’s deadliest migration route.
More than 25,000 people have died or have gone missing since 2014, according to data collected by the International Organization for Migration’s Missing Migrants Project.
Italy said in February that more than 32,000 people, including 18,000 Tunisians, reached its shores from Tunisia last year, while thousands more have departed from neighbouring Libya.
European governments, particularly Italy, have pressured Tunisia to stem the flow, and the Tunisian coastguard regularly intercepts boats carrying refugees in its territorial waters.
Police are looking into a noise complaint filed at a campground before Saturday’s horrific incident in Cardiff.
It occurs as investigators are investigating a ‘altercation’ that is rumored to have taken place at the same home.
The VW Tiguan they were riding in off the road and struck some trees in the St Mellons neighborhood of the city, killing Eve Smith, Darcy Ross, both 21 years old, and Rafel Jeanne, 24.
48 hours later, the critically hurt but still alive Shane Loughlin, 32, and Sophie Russon, 20, were discovered within the accident.
In the hospital, they are still in a critical condition.
The friends had all been to the The Muffler social club in Maesglas, Newport, on Friday night and then travelled just under 40 miles to the Trecco Bay caravan park in Porthcawl.
A caravan at the holiday park where the group are understood to have stayed for a period of time prior to the accident has been cordoned off.
It is understood police are aware of a noise complaint made to the park’s security lodge about the group.
Eva Smith is one of the victims who died in the car crash.Bank worker Sophie Russon has had to undergo life-saving surgery.Darcy Ross also tragically died in the accident.Police launched a probe into ‘altercation’ at the caravan park as well.
The group left the caravan park a short time later and were last seen at about 2am in the Pentwyn area of Cardiff.
Investigations are ongoing into the exact time the crash happened.
Eve’s dad Everton Smith spoke in front of floral tributes laid for his daughter in Newport’s Commercial Street today and said ‘nothing will be the same’ following his daughter’s death.
South Wales Police said they are still working to ‘piece together’ what happened.
In a statement the force said: ‘South Wales Police is continuing to investigate the fatal road traffic collision on the A48 in the St Mellons area of Cardiff.
‘Our thoughts continue to be with the families and all those affected by this tragic incident.
‘Specialist officers are carrying out a detailed investigation to piece together what has happened.
Shane Loughlin survived the collision.Rafel Jeanne is thought to have been the son of former Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers player Leon Jeanne (Picture: Facebook)
‘Family liaison officers are supporting the families involved at what must be a hugely difficult time for them.’
Tributes were paid to the victims in the Welsh Parliament on Wednesday.
Senedd speaker Elin Jones MS said: ‘On behalf of the Senedd, our sympathies are with the friends and families of Eve, Darcy and Rafel and our hopes are with Sophie and Shane for a full recovery.’
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation into the actions of South Wales Police and Gwent Police.
This is because the group who were not found until just after midnight on Monday, March 6.
It comes after a friend of Rafel Jeanne discovered the car after just 15 minutes of searching.
Sophie Russon, 20, was so badly injured in the collision she was unable to reach her phone and call for help.
The bank worker has since undergone life-saving surgery in hospital.
A vigil was held at the crash site on Tuesday evening where around 1,000 people gathered, lighting candles and flares while others rode mopeds, motorbikes and quad bikes around the roundabout.
Family and friends looked on while a firework display lit up the sky above St Mellons for around 30 minutes.
Timeline: police confirm stages of investigation
The last confirmed sighting of the five people was at 2am on Saturday March 4 in Pentwyn.
The collision occurred during the early hours of Saturday March 4, the exact time to be confirmed by the investigation, including CCTV and ANPR enquiries.
The first missing person report was made to Gwent Police at 7.34pm on Saturday March 4.
Further missing person reports were made to Gwent Police at 7.43pm and 9.32pm on Saturday March 4.
A further missing person report was made to South Wales Police at 5.37pm on Sunday March 5.
At 11.50pm on Sunday March 5 the police helicopter was requested to search an area of Cardiff which resulted in a vehicle being located in a wooded area off the A48.
Gwent Police officers on the ground had sight of the car (a Volkswagen Tiguan) at 12:02am on Monday March 6, and this culminated in a log being created by South Wales Police at 12:15am.
At this stage, police believe only one vehicle to be involved.
Christabel Agyapong, one of the daughters of Kennedy Agyapong has admitted that her father is sometimes a controversial figure in his political dealings.
The 23-year-old is the Executive Producer of Cedi Life, a reality show featuring some Agyapong siblings and their friends discussing life from education, work, relationship, daily successes and struggles.
In episode one of the show, Christabel speaks about her father, whose personality she claims to have.
“Our dad’s name is Kennedy Agyapong, he is a politician in Ghana but also a great businessman. He is a controversial politician at times but I will say that is where I get my energy and my personality from,” she stressed.
“So, I am currently taking a class in event planning. Ever since I was 16, I have loved weddings,” she stressed.
Kennedy Agyapong is currently the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, he has announced he will quit the lawmaking chamber when the current session ends.
He has also announced his bid to become flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) with an eye on becoming president after the 2024 elections.
He is seen as a strong third candidate behind Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and former Minister of Trade Alan Kyerematen.
A couple allegedly buried their dead adolescent son behind a stone wall and made up the story that he had escaped from the house.
According to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, Amber-Leah Valentine, 41, and her husband Jon Imes, 41, stated their 16-year-old son was last seen the day before in the morning when they reported him as a runaway on February 25.
In Kingman, Arizona, the same city where the couple lives, sheriff’s deputies were summoned three days later to look into a death near Anson Smith and Indian Canyon roads.
The sheriff’s office said: ‘A deceased white male was located wrapped in a blanket behind a stone wall.’
Amber-Leah Valentine admitted to deputies that her report that her son had run away was a lie.Jon Imes confessed to disposing of his dead son’s body.
The victim’s identity was not immediately known and the body was sent to a medical examiner to determine the cause and manner of death.
Then last Thursday, Valentine called the sheriff’s office to report that she had freed her 14-year-old daughter. Valentine’s roommates Richard Pounds, 34, and Shioban Gujda, 39, held the teenage girl captive, her mother told deputies.
Valentine asked for treatment for herself and her daughter and they were taken to a regional medical center. Valentine proceeded to confess that she and her husband had disposed of their son where the body was located days earlier. She admitted that she lied when said he had run away, and that he was already dead when she made the report.
Imes also confessed to disposing of their son’s body and lying about him fleeing.
Richard Pounds, a roommate of the couple was arrested and charged with felony.
Valentine and Imes were both arrested and charged with felony abandonment or concealment of a dead body. They were booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention Facility.
Results from an autopsy of their son conducted on Sunday are still pending and an investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile, detectives interviewed the couple’s teen daughter at the medical center. She said Pounds shot her in the eye with a BB gun and that she suffered other abuse in the home. The Arizona Department of Child Safety was informed and the girl is receiving treatment at another location.
A search warrant was served for the home on the 2300 block of Packard Avenue, where Valentine and Imes resided. Pounds and Gujda were taken into custody and questioned. Pound has been arrested for felony, while Gudja was released – pending further investigation.
Popular Highlife/afro-pop musician Kuami Eugene, has outlined certain qualities ladies should posses if they want to date him.
According to him, being his girlfriend does not come easy, thus any woman who wishes to be in a relationship with him must have tough skin and the ability to withstand hatred from a section of the public.
The Rockstar an interview with Sika Osei on Lynx TV said anyone who would like to date him must develop a tough skin and must be ready to make lots of sacrifices. He emphasized that people would not give the chosen one the freedom and space to focus on her relationship with him, as there would be gossip, backbiting, hatred, and insults from people who might also like to have him to themselves.
“I am not dating… Right now, I know dating me will be very difficult. You should have tough skin to date me…Currently, women, girls, everyone including men want to have one person to themselves…If you wanna have me to yourself, it’s gonna take some sacrifices because people won’t just allow you to. They won’t allow you to have Kuami all for yourself. You’ll get a lot of haters… people are gonna hurt you, they will come at you,” he said.
”They are going to come at you. They won’t make you haveKuami Eugene all to yourself, because that is when gossip and hatred will set in. People will say all sort of bad things about me to you, for you to leave,”
The ‘Wish me well’ hitmaker bragged that, “Everybody wants a piece of me. It is what it is…I am attracted to smart and neat people”.
The singer cum songwriter cited how men and women of today want their partners all to themselves and how that might be impossible on his side.
Answering the question, do you have a spec? The musician made known that he is attracted to smart and neat people just like he is. Nevertheless, he indicated that he gives people the freedom to be who they are regardless of his spec.
Highways came to a complete stop overnight due to a combination of heavy snowfall and strong winds, leaving “hundreds and hundreds” of drivers stranded in icy conditions in their vehicles.
As this week’s cold snap persists, Storm Larisa is expected to continue to pound portions of the UK with gales and blizzards today.
For northern England, the Midlands, North Wales, and Northern Ireland, where “severe disruption” to transportation and electricity supplies is anticipated, the Met Office has issued three amber warnings.
Four yellow warnings for snow also cover much of the rest of the nation, with the exception of South East England and western Scotland.
Amber warning for snow has been issued for central and northern England.Traffic was brought to a standstill on the M62 in the early hours of Friday.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said the worst of the weather is expected in north-west Wales and northern England, where ‘gusts of easily 50mph’ are on a collision course with ‘30 to 40cm of snow’.
Mr Burkill said: ‘The combination of heavy snow and gales is why we’re likely to see blizzards and drifting snow which causes extra hazards on the roads.
‘In places covered by amber warnings, there will be very difficult, treacherous conditions.
‘Ideally, avoid travelling in those periods – but if you have to head out then be aware that journeys could take significantly longer.’
Traffic was brought to a standstill on the M62 in the early hours of Friday morning due to the heavy snow in the area.
National Highways: North-West said that at one point congestion on the M62 eastbound between Rochdale and Saddleworth stretched to around eight miles.
M62 at a standstill following heavy overnight snow
Kelly-Marie Prentice was stuck on the motorway for six hours and told Sky News there were ‘hundreds and hundreds and hundreds’ of other vehicles.
‘It’s being hampered by the fact that people have been driving in closed lanes and the hard shoulder, which has stopped the recovery vehicles and snow ploughs from getting through to get everything clear,’ she added.
‘We’re trying to keep ourselves as buoyant as possible and not think about needing to go to the toilet or having a drink.
‘We’re just trying to stay positive and hope everyone stays safe, really.’
Ms Prentice said they have managed to keep the heaters blowing warm air and took coats and blankets with them, ‘so we were well-prepared’.
Weather warnings for snow and ice across the UK on Friday.They remain through the weekend.Drivers were stuck for hours on the M62.
Simon Peach, the PA news agency’s chief football writer, has been stuck on the road for more than seven hours after covering Manchester United’s Europa League match at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
He said: ‘I’ve moved about 25 miles over the course of the night, and the first 15 miles or so were clear, so I’ve been at a standstill for a really long time.
‘Since I arrived I’ve seen maybe two or three police vehicles and a couple of travel vehicles. A road sweeper came along once or twice but they haven’t been able to clear the roads properly.
‘I’ve never had to drive through anything like this before. My drive home would usually be about an hour and a half, the most it has ever taken me is two and a half hours. I could have flown to New York in that time.’
Emma Hamilton, 28, who works for the NHS and is from Yorkshire, said she had been stuck for eight hours travelling from Manchester.
She said: ‘There’s lorries broken down all over the road across all lanes. Drivers are having to work out themselves how to go round them. Sort of bobbing and weaving round them.
‘Some lorries have stopped to help other lorries too… I’m trying to get home from the Man United game last night. The traffic was fine on the way there yesterday as there wasn’t as many cars on the road and I set off in good time to allow for the weather.
‘I’m just tired and upset at the lack of any direction from authorities. We’ve all sort of been left to it to direct ourselves. We had the gritter pass us once about 3am and they ploughed about three times then too but nothing since.
‘They’ve been up and down westbound a lot though and that side has been moving fine. It honestly feels never-ending at this point.’
Several roads were closed in Wales, with warnings of ‘extremely difficult driving conditions’ across northern and central areas.
National Highways issued a ‘severe weather alert’ for snow covering the North East, North West and Midlands regions until 8am on Friday, where motorists have been warned not to drive unless their journey is essential.
East Midlands Airport temporarily closed its runway due to heavy snowfall.
Merseyrail, which runs train services in Merseyside and surrounding areas, said its operations would not start until around 10am on Friday due to severe weather.
The operator said: ‘Poor weather conditions means Merseyrail service is currently suspended until approximately 10am.
‘Merseyrail have been unable to source any replacement buses due to the severe weather.’
Snow settles on top of Liverpool as Storm Larisa batters parts of UK.
Network Rail said multiple fallen trees have blocked lines between Manchester and Sheffield, meaning no trains can run.
Train operators TransPennine Express and Northern are among those affected by the severe weather, with many services cancelled.
Thursday night temperatures will be similar to Wednesday, which was the coldest night of the year, before even colder conditions move in on Friday night.
Mr Burkill said that areas of the Highlands could see minus 17C, after this year’s record low of minus 16C was recorded at Altnaharra in the region.
Further snow this weekend? (Mar 10-12)
A snow covered Preston Tower in Northumberland (Picture: PA)A dog walker braves the snow as he walks past Bidston Windmill, on Bidston Hill, near Birkenhead in north west England (Picture: AFP via Getty)Teofil Manta and his three year old son Dominic, from Clondalkin, walking in the Dublin mountains following heavy snow (Picture: PA)A school warning sign on a road covered with snow during a blizzard which caused schools to close (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The weather is expected to clear by the end of Friday, before then being replaced by another low pressure system, leading to a further yellow snow and ice warning for much of northern England and Scotland from 3pm on Saturday to 6am on Sunday.
‘We will then see another low pressure system, further fronts, moving their way in,’ Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said.
‘So there has been another yellow snow and ice warning issued for Scotland down into northern England for Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning where we could again see further snowfall building up throughout the weekend.
‘And then it does look to remain unsettled as we move into the start of the new week as well.’
The Met Office amber snow alert for England lasts until noon on Friday and covers major cities including Liverpool, Sheffield, Bradford and Leeds.
Over Wales, an amber snow and ice warning is in place from noon until 9am on Friday, stretching from the north coast to Radnorshire.
Medikal has released a new Hiphop song and surprisingly, it features his former girlfriend Deborah Vanessa, alias Sister Derby.
Titled ‘Cold & Trophies’, the song appears to be 2-in-1 and spans 5 minutes and 9 seconds.
It was released today, Thursday, March 9, 2023, together with a music video.
Beginning with ‘Cold’, the first scene of the music video shows the former lovers entering a sports car – Sister Derby, in a red dress with red-framed glasses, assumes the driver’s seat.
Medikal, on the other hand, raps donning a black and white jacket with dark shades on, as stunt bikers display their talent on the road accompanying the sports car he is in.
“The street is cold, cold, cold, cold. Everyday, I make more dough, dough, dough, dough…” Medikal sings on the hook.
Sister Derby plays no part, vocally, in ‘Cold’.
Part 2 of the song, ‘Trophies’, begins from the 2 minute and 14 second time mark.
From this point onwards, Medikal, first, and then Sister Derby perform predominantly in a falsetto voice.
“Life is a bi*** but I won a trophy. African mermaid like Sister Derby,” Samuel Frimpong, alias Medikal, sings on the hook, standing at a microphone with Deborah petting a dog on a sofa behind him.
Immediately after the beat drop, Derby stands to dance, back to the camera in a fuchsia cheerleader skirt, assuming a video vixen’s role – Medikal relaxes in the sofa, watching with shades on.
The colour grading for the ‘Cold’ & ‘Trophies’ swings between black-and-white and coloured.
Not too long after, the pair broke up and Medikal started seeing actress Fella Makafui.
In response, on November 7, 2018, Sister Derby released a song titled ‘Kakalika Love’ mocking Medikal and Fella as she likened their erstwhile secret affair to cockcroaches hiding from the light.
Medikal married Fella in March 2020.
At least five months after the traditional wedding, the newly-weds welcomed their first child, a girl.
‘Cold & Trophies’ is Medikal and Sister Derby’s first collaboration after their breakup and consequent bad blood.
Counsellor and President of Warrior Wives Prayer Ministry Global, Pastor Doctor Mrs. Agnes Odoi, has attributed the increasing rate of divorce cases in Ghanaian society to the lack of proper premarital counselling.
According to her, pre-marital counselling is supposed to prepare a would-be couple for marriage, but unfortunately, the timing takes away their focus.
In an interview with Paul Anomah Kordieh on e.tv. Ghana’s ‘Christian Connect’ show, she said, “They end up not focusing on the teaching rather they focus on the dressing, the party, and what will happen at their wedding. So, they don’t have that attention to study or listen to what the counsellor is taking them through”.
She mentioned that there are so many churches that don’t have time for premarital counselling.
“In 2020, research I conducted made me find out that there are some churches that even use two weeks for pre-marital counselling, and some of them also use seven days because there is pressure from family and couples to get it done immediately,” she disclosed.
She also added that sometimes there is also a problem with the counsellors because they are not professionals.
“There are so many churches that make people counsellors based on how long they have been married or how old they are, which is wrong.” “This is because there is no form of training or seminar for them to go through,” she said.
She emphasised that counselling has been taken as advice, but both are different.
“We’re not preparing our counsellors, and those we call counsellors are not counsellors, because, from all indications, a lot of the counsellors don’t have what it takes to counsel,” she added.
The much-anticipated Sunset Music Festival has been held in a grand style over the weekend attracting thousands of patrons.
The star-studded Music Festival which brought well-celebrated DJs to Alora Beach Resort, Laboma Accra for a night of immersive music and vibes will forever remain indelible in the minds of fans who witnessed the special event.
Setting the pace as one of the largest DJ and artist festivals in Accra, Ghana, the festival brought in crowds of over 1,000 attendees to the coast of the venue.
With a vibrant stage, state-of-the-art sound systems, and mesmerizing and striking visual effects, Sunset Music Festival featured a diverse lineup of top Amapiano, Afrobeat, and electronic dance music DJs, such as DJ Rock-E, DJ Toyor, DJ Sly, DJ Raya, Ken & Seth, and VJ Scaro.
Later in the evening, before the night’s headliner, DJSky assumed the stage, each of the other guest performers took turns to anchor a unique performance that saw them merging music, culture, and nature in a unique and memorable manner.
The festival began in the middle of a bright Saturday afternoon, and thousands of music fans from across the nation attended, including a special guest, Hollywood actor, and comedian Michael Blackson.
The night featured a variety of interactive art pieces, food vendors, and other entertaining diversions in addition to the music. DJSky climaxed the night’s activities with an unstoppable back-to-back fusion of Amapiano and EDMS music—a set that claimed to be a celebration of music, culture, and nature.
The event was Powered by WatsUp TV, The Pan African Entertainment TV Channel
