The Ghana Music Music Awards since its inception in 1999 has witnessed twenty-three (23) deserving musicians grabbing the coveted ‘Artiste of the Year title.
Earning the bragging right as the best-performing artiste under the year in review does not come easy as other nominees at the end of the day complain of being robbed.
The Vodafone Music Awards (VGMA) organized by CharterHouse in partnership with the Musician Union of Ghana (MUSICA) witnessed music group, Akyeame, consisting of Okyeame Kwame and Quofi Okyeame winning the first-ever ‘Artiste of the Year’ award in 1999.
Rapper Sarkodie and music group VIP made up of Zeal, Lazzy and Prodigal are the only Ghanaian artistes to have won the highest title twice.
Also, Dancehall musician, Ebony Reign was the first-ever female to have won the ‘Artiste of the Year’ after her demise in 2018.
Joe Mettle and Diana Hamilton are the only gospel musicians to have earned the bragging rights as ‘Artistes of the Year’ in 2017 and 2021 respectively.
Three victims of the Ejura shooting incident have been given a GHC1.2 million compensation over the incident which occurred in 2021.
This comes after an assessment of the degrees of injury suffered by victims by a medical board.
Chief Director at the Ministry of Interior, Adelaide Annor-Kumi cautioned the general public to behave responsibly to avert a repetition of such a situation.
“The advice we will give to the general public is that they should be circumspect in the way they behave when an incident occurs. Following that the Regional and District commands have changed and I believe it has brought some sanity into the system”, she said.
The three persons who were compensated suffered various degrees of injury.
Awal Mesbawu, 17, had his left leg amputated, now he uses a set of clutches to aid movement.
He received the highest amount of 678,519.00 cedis. 22 year old Louis Ayikpa and Nasif Nuhu,31 suffered gunshot wounds.
The two were compensated with over GHC347,000 and GHC192,425 respectively.
In June 2021, a protest by the youth of Ejura against the killing of their colleague, Ibrahim Mohammed, Alias Kaaka, led to the killing of two persons by security officers.
The three were left injured in the event.
A three-member committee was established to investigate the matter, recommending compensation for the injured.
Already, families of the deceased have been compensated.
Chief of Ejura Traditional Area, Barima Osei Hwedie II, commended government for the move towards restoring peace in the area.
The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) is set to invest up to US$30million in Atlantic Lithium Ltd., an Australian exploration and mining firm listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX).
MIIF is currently locked in negotiations with Atlantic – which discovered lithium in commercial quantities in Ghana and is on track to become West Africa’s first producing mine – to acquire a significant stake.
The Ewoyaa discovery in the Central Region has significant amounts of lithium spodumene located on the Cape Coast lithium belt. The company last week announced an upgrade on its Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) to 35.3mt at 1.25 percent Li2O for the Ewoyaa project. With current developments in the Lithium industry, the mineral resource has an indicated life mine of revenues exceeding US$4.8billion.
MIIF plans to take up an equity stake in the African-focused company which has a 50 percent offtake agreement from Piedmont Lithium, a United States-based developer of lithium resources for the Ghana produced lithium.
An Official of Atlantic Lithium explains the Ewoyaa find to the CEO of MIIF, Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng and Abena Amoah, Managing Director of the Ghana Stock Exchange and member of MIIF’s Investment Advisory Committee (IAC).
Piedmont Lithium also has a 50 percent offtake agreement with Tesla Inc., an American multinational automotive, artificial intelligence and clean energy company that owns Tesla Motors.
MIIF lithium plan
Commenting on the matter, Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng said: “Investing in Atlantic Lithium speaks to President Nana Akufo-Addo’s vision of ensuring that mining provides sustainable long-term value for Ghanaians. This vision finds meaning in MIIF’s mandate and the plan to invest in the lithium resource and its entire value chain. We are not only interested in developing the mineral resource but also investing in the value chain. Our strategic focus is to support the development of lithium processing, development of battery manufacturing and additional inputs, and ensure the preparedness to support an electronic vehicle (EV) market in Ghana to serve the sub-region”.
According to Mr. Koranteng, electric vehicles represent a US$7trillion market opportunity between 2023 and 2030, and US$46trillion between 2023 and 2050. This, he noted, presents opportunities for Ghana – especially as the country seeks to attract automobile firms to set up vehicle manufacturing and assembling plants. So far, six car assembly plants have been established.
“The by-products of lithium, such as feldspar, also provide a new stratum of opportunity. Feldspar is the main mineral resource needed to produce ceramics, and MIIF is positioned to support the development of feldspar use. MIIF’s strategy is to not only be active in the lithium value chain but also help develop the capital markets.
In this vein, an initial condition of Atlantic Lithium listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange has been accepted by the company. This will give all Ghanaians a chance to acquire shares in the resource. We are excited that Ghana can play in the green energy boom that is crucial for the country’ decarbonisation efforts,” Mr. Koranteng added.
MIIF is a sovereign minerals fund mandated by the Minerals Income Investment Fund Act 2018, (Act 978) as amended, to maximise the value of dividend and royalties’ income accruing to the republic of Ghana in a beneficial, accountable and sustainable manner; and to monetise Ghana’s mineral wealth in a manner that will bring long-term value to the country.
Federal officials in Miami-Dade said on Tuesday that four persons have been detained and accused in Florida in relation to the murder of Haitian President Jovenel Mose in 2021.
According to a press release, the four individuals detained on Tuesday include US citizens Frederick Bergmann, Walter Veintemilla, and Antonio Intriago as well as Colombian national Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, who lives in Miami.
According to federal authorities, Intriago, Ortiz, and Veintemilla were accused of aiding a plot to kidnap or kill the president of Haiti.
Bergmann has been charged with conspiracy to commit export violations for conspiring to smuggle 20 ballistic vests from South Florida to Haiti for ex-soldiers allegedly tasked with killing Moise, said Markenzy Lapointe, US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.
The four hoped to secure construction contracts in return for the assassination, authorities alleged.
CNN has reached out to Joseph Tesmond, Intriago’s lawyer, for comment. It’s not clear if the other suspects have retained an attorney.
Dozens of people are believed to have been involved in the death of Moïse, who was shot around a dozen times and killed in his home in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. His wife, Martine Moïse, was also shot but survived.
Moïse’s death has been followed by a rise in extreme violence in Haiti by gangs seeking to fill the power vacuum.
“The charging documents also allege that by June 2021 the plot progressed from forcibly removing Moïse from power….to assassinating him, said Lapointe.
As of Tuesday, a total of 11 defendants have so far “been charged and are in US custody,” said Matthew Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.
Ortiz and Intriago allegedly hired more than 20 former soldiers from Colombia for the plot, according to Lapointe.
He said that Intriago’s company, the Miami-based Counter Terrorist Unit Security (CTU), retained a group of about 20 Colombian nationals with military training.
CTU has not responded to CNN’s prior requests for comment and it’s unclear if the company even still exists.
Several former Colombian soldiers associated with CTU were imprisoned in Haiti in the immediate aftermath of the assassination. In an interview in 2021, five of them told CNN that they had lived and worked together in a compound in the capital city Port-au-Prince, not that far from where then-President Moise lived.
They insisted they were not responsible for the president’s death but declined to answer further questions or go into details about that fatal morning for two common reasons, saying they had no legal representation and feared for their lives.
“We were told that we were going to provide security for a Haiti presidential candidate,” said one of the men at the time. “We had no idea what was going to happen.”
Controversial dancehall musician Shatta Wale has claimed that he masterminds everything he does on social media.
Shatta revealed in an interview with Accra-based Nhyira FM that he strives to be controversial on many matters because he is patriotic and passionate about issues that affect ordinary folks.
The “On God” artiste furthermore argues that he frequently appears in the media because he is “too patriotic to keep quiet” about issues that are wrong in the nation, particularly in the music industry, where he operates.
“I can say that I’m patriotic, apart from me being patriotic, unfortunately, the kind of job I do is made public, so it makes it easier for people to speak about Shatta, so it’s just my job
“Many people don’t know themselves, but I can tell you that, everything I do, is planned, so it will get to the point where people will understand me,” he said.
His statement follows a serious brawl he had with Kwadwo Sheldon warning him to stop using a line in his song titled “On God” for his YouTube show, ‘Yawa of the Day.’ The line is: ‘ibi the yawa of the day.’
According to the dancehall artiste, he told the YouTuber he didn’t compose the music for him.
“I will insult you in any way that I want. That song of mine that you play on your programme, I am warning you to stop it hands down.
“Delete my song from your programme. I didn’t do that song for you. You didn’t bring the name, ‘Yawa of the Day’. delete that theme,” Wale is seen cautioning.
Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, will today appear before parliament to answer questions from lawmakers on the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
His appearance was announced last Friday, February 10 by deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, when he presented the Business Statement for this week to the House.
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin ordered the minister to appear before the House following calls by Minority MPs for Ofori-Atta to furnish the House with details of the programme.
The MPs, argued that it was unacceptable for parliament and the general public not to have been furnished with the full details of the DDEP, a situation they say continues to fuel anxiety about the exercise.
Government announces 85% subscription rate for DDEP
Ghana is currently hoping to secure an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout to help save the economy from collapse amid rising inflation, rapid depreciation of the cedi against the US dollar and credit downgrades by international rating agencies.
Government earlier this week announced the conclusion of subscription towards the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) which saw an 85% official subscription rate.
The DDEP is said to be a core condition that could help Ghana get an approval from the IMF board for a US$3 billion facility after a Staff-Level Agreement was reached last December.
The DDEP was dogged by controversies from demands by various groups demanding exemption from the programme.
The ministry is still grappling with pensioner bondholders who are demanding they are formally exempted even though the minister insists they have automatically been exempted and that their coupons will be honoured when due.
Ablakwa champions cause to summon Ofori-Atta
MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, had earlier noted that the government is acting contrary to what the finance minister had promised in the 2023 budget, announcing the details of the debt exchange programme before its implementation.
The failure, he said, has led to some challenges in its implementation, including the recent picketing by affected pensioners and individual bondholders at the ministry.
“Ghanaians are genuinely concerned about their life savings and investments, and this House is yet to be briefed. We have not debated this programme and yet the Ministry of Finance is going ahead to implement this debt exchange programme which they say is a condition for the ongoing IMF engagements.
“The Minister of Finance must appear before us and we must debate and agree exactly what should be the nature of this Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, who should be exempted and the implications – what are the full ramifications on the Ghanaian economy and on the affected citizens who are currently living in anguish, in pain and great anxiety,” he said in a social media post.
Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement, CDD-Ghana, Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, has vowed to resist any attempt by the Attorney-General to amend the Audit Service Act.
This follows the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, describing the publication of the COVID-19 audit report as premature and unconstitutional.
He argues that the report should have been discussed by parliament or a committee of it before being released to the general public.
He had thus advised the Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah to unpublish the document.
In reaction, civil society organisations had described the A-G’s advice as tantamount to interference in the work of the Auditor-General and further stated that his interpretation of the law is egregious and inimical to holding the executive accountable.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, the Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah noted that the Office of the Attorney General is convinced the Audit Service Act – which permits the Auditor-General to publish reports immediately after presenting it to the Speaker – is inconsistent with the provision of the 1992 constitution and thus an amendment will be in the right direction.
“We will be looking at it and take the necessary steps. If you take that provision, you may have to look at all the other laws, look at the constitutional provision and see how best it could be…because if you look at that section, it’s not saying it cannot be published but it should be published after parliament so there’s the need for an amendment in fact, just to make sure that it’s in tune with the constitutional provision,” he said.
However, reacting to this, Dr. Pumpuni Asante noted that if that is the case, then CDD Ghana will resist the move with all it has got.
“We will equally resist it with everything that we can to resist it because the more we get into the challenges that we have gotten into, we have to work very hard to strengthen accountability systems. This is not a welcome intervention, and if the Attorney General insists that he wants to go this way then we’ll all work very hard to resist it,” he said.
Government has waded into the enkinsment of a new Chief in Bawku. According to the Information Ministry, the enskinment of the new Bawku Naba at Nalerigu is illegal.
In a press release issued by the Ministry on Wednesday, February 15, the government said the act is a national security violation.
“The Government condemns developments in Nalerigu today February 15, 2023, concerning the purported enskinment of a new Bawku Naba as illegal and a threat to National Security,” excerpt of the statement signed by Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said.
The statement continued that “Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II is the Bawku Naba, duly gazetted and a member of the National and Upper East Regional Houses of Chiefs.”
It has therefore, directed the security agencies to arrest and prosecute any other person who holds himself out as a Bawku Naba.
“Further, any developments that have the potential to undermine the peace of Bawku will also be dealt with swiftly and in accordance with law,” the statement added.
Taking to her Instagram, the movie star noted how grateful she is to God for keeping their marriage together stating that some people had a bet that their marriage will not last.
She also prayed that herself and the Husband Celebrate many more years of Marital bliss together, noting she loves him so much.
Thirty-four Black Queens have assembled at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence, Prampram in readiness for this month’s International friendlies against Benin and Togo.
Four foreign-based players, Princella Adubea from FC Hiryat, Israel, Evelyn Badu from Avaldsnes FC, Norway, Captain Portia Boakye, Djurgardens IF, Sweden and Azumah Bugre from IFK Norkoping in Sweden arrived on Monday to prepare for the matches.
Also in camp are, Israel based, Janet Egyir, Grace Asantewaa (Spain), Naomi Anima (Jordan), Jaqueline Opoku (Israel), and Safiatu Salifu (Tanzania) – with the rest of players carefully selected from the Twenty (20) Women’s Premier League clubs in Ghana.
The team have had two intensive training sessions, Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon with all players taking part.
Coach Nora Häuptle’s side will depart Accra on Friday for Cotonou where they will take on Benin on Sunday, February 19 before locking horns with Togo on Saturday, February 25, 2023.
Ghanaian actress Andrea Owusu, popularly known as Efia Odo has counselled women about love.
The outspoken actress and model divulged how love found her recently.
This was after she disclosed her toxic relationship some time ago.
Efia advised women to love themselves first.
“That’s why I say you have to love yourself. I was settling for less than what I deserved. The basic thing, this man couldn’t even do for me. I was so blinded by wanting love so bad that I was settling for way less than I deserve,” she said.
Efia Odo added: “Don’t look for love. Let love find you because I was in that space where I wasn’t looking for love. I was done with men.
“But then love found me. So don’t go looking for love. Let love naturally find you. Sometimes because you are looking and want it so bad, you have to settle for anything that comes.”
From her point of view, it is embarrassing and foolish if a woman proposes to a man.
Each of the four classrooms is fitted with computers, electronic teaching and learning boards, electronic tablets and other learning and teaching materials.
President Akufo-Addo described education as the equaliser of opportunities and the most effective way to change the fortunes of the African continent, adding that he was a President because of education.
He said prioritising investments in early childhood education was critical to the development of the country, and that quality and inclusive early education enabled all children, irrespective of their physical, emotional, social or medical challenges to come together to play and learn together.
Without these, he explained, the child would be deprived of playing and other critical things like cognitive, physical, social and emotional core competencies and language development.
KG blocks
President Akufo-Addo said it was for such reasons that the government had embarked on the construction of some 350 kindergarten blocks, out of which 160 of them had been completed so far and a number of dilapidated blocks were being renovated.
He indicated that the Arab Development Bank had also provided funds for the construction of kindergartens in towns such as Dadwen in the Nzema East Municipality, Apewosika in Cape Coast, Nsuta in Tekyiman, Kenyasi in Esutifi North and Atobease in the Adanse South district.
In addition to increasing infrastructure, he said, the government had reviewed the educational curriculum to standard base, which was being implemented across the country.
Standards-based curriculum of kindergarten moves away from teacher talk time and root learning for examination and encourages critical thinking, good teamwork, experimental learning and the development of core competencies required in the 21st Century.
This approach, President Akufo- Addo added, lent itself to the integration of ICT like the commissioned school and applauded BSW International for executing the contract for the construction of “this ultra-modern model kindergarten for the people of Kwabenya with funding from GETFund”.
He also noted with gratitude the creation of play-based environments across 110 kindergartens in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern, Oti, Western North and Central regions.
BSW International
President Akufo-Addo said the people of Kwabenya were grateful to the managing partner of BSW International who renovated the modern kindergarten and oversaw a successful pilot project of integrating ICT into the standards based curriculum.
The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, said the President was interested in ensuring that STEM education commenced from the kindergarten.
He said the government had ensured that the better days of the country were ahead through the provision of quality education from the early childhood stages.
The Chief Director of the GES, Devine Y. Ayidzoe, said BSW International was helping in the integration of ICT into kindergarten curriculum towards the development and training of right human resources for the country.
He said the introduction of technology into the teaching and learning space had brought great relief to both the teacher and the learner since ICT had changed the face of learning.
The hospital will have a theatre, out-patient department (OPD), an X-ray unit and a maternity block.
The Chairman of the church, Apostle George Yeboah, who performed the sod-cutting ceremony, remarked that the hospital complex would provide for the health needs of the members of the church, the community where it would operate, as well as the public.
He said the hospital project was to fulfill the church’s social responsibility towards its community and for that matter the whole nation.
Apostle Yeboah implored the church members to contribute their quota by donating to the construction of the project in order to complete it on schedule, adding that God would bless whoever contributed, and urged members to be part of the project.
He expressed the hope that the hospital would provide good health and save lives of the people who would seek medical attention at the hospital, indicating that the church members were looking up to the leadership for such a facility.
The General Secretary of the church, Apostle Samuel Amponsah Frimpong, said it had been the initiative of the Executive Council to render such social services to the members of the church and the communities in which the church operates.
“We have also built schools from the primary to the tertiary levels in the country, and the hospital is the first of its kind in the health services sector,” he indicated.
Apostle Frimpong added that the church needed such a facility to be able to render quality health services to the members and the communities as a whole.
The Government has completed 160 kindergarten (KG) blocks out of the 350 under construction, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has disclosed.
He said several dilapidated KG blocks, meant to expand the base of early childhood education, had also been rehabilitated.
President Nana Akufo-Addo made this known at the inauguration and handing-over of the Kwabenya Atomic Model Kindergarten (KG), Ghana’s first play-based ICT-empowered KG, at Dome-Kwabenya, in the Ga-East Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
The project, executed by Messrs. BSW International, was funded by the Ghana Education Trust (GET) Fund.
The President indicated that improving educational infrastructure was critical to creating access for the Ghanaian youth to be educated to an appreciable standard.
Therefore, the Government was determined to inject the needed resources to achieve the desired educational goals to enhance the nation’s human resource base, he noted.
President Nana Akufo-Addo said promoting quality and inclusive early education helped to build the cognitive abilities of the child.
This was also needed to promote the core competencies of Ghanaian children, as well as language and physical development, he said.
He hinted that the country was reviewing its educational curriculum from an objective-based to standard-based, saying this was being implemented to nurture a generation of critical-thinkers.
This was required to bring Ghana’s educational development in tune with the demands of the 21st Century, he said.
President Nana Akufo-Addo was optimistic the Kwabenya Atomic Model KG would provide a world class early childhood education.
The Office of the Vice President Tuesday expressed satisfaction with the Special Prosecutor’s decision to continue investigations into the clearance of 15 containers of rice in which the Office allegedly facilitated the clearance.
Mr James Keck Osei allegedly sought assistance from the Commissioner-General of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to clear the 15 containers of rice in April, 2022.
Mr James Keck Osei, a civil servant who works at the Office of the Vice President as Director of Administration, is being investigated by the Special Prosecutor for addressing an unauthorised letter to the Commissioner-General of the GRA on April 27, 2022, seeking assistance to clear the 15 containers of rice.
The letter, among other things, falsely conveyed information that the Office of the Vice President needed the containers of rice for the Ramadan festivities.
The GRA did not comply with the said letter but rather informed him that there was another claimant to the rice.
On receipt of that information, Mr Keck Osei wrote another letter on July 5, 2022, to withdraw his letter of 27th April, 2022.
In his second letter, he stated that the Commissioner-General of the GRA should cancel any prior action taken based on his previous letter.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the Secretary to the Vice President, Mr Augustine Blay, in response to the matter, said it was only the Secretary to the Vice President who is mandated to write letters on the Office’s behalf and that Mr Keck Osei did not have any such authority.
It said the Chief Director at the Office of the President had also begun investigations into the issue in accordance with the Civil Service procedures, rules and regulations and where a breach is established, the Service shall apply the necessary sanctions.
In September, last year, it came to the attention of the Office of the Vice President that Mr Keck Osei had been invited by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (SP) to assist in an investigation related to rice importation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiTal4VJyUE
Following the SP’s announcement, Mr Keck Osei was arraigned on Monday, February 13, 2023.
Former Chief Justice, Madam Sophia Akuffo, has once again cautioned the government over its Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
She says the back and forth in the restructuring of debts under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme could go a long way to affect the goodwill of government securities.
This, she said, was due to the invariable loss on investment on bonds for unexempted persons under the DDEP, including pensioners.
She made the remarks when she, for the second time, joined pensioner bondholders to picket the premises of the Ministry of Finance, demanding for total exemption of pensioners under the Programme.
Following backlash from some person close to government circles, questioning her motive for joining the picketing at the final hour of signing up to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) last Friday, she said she would not descend into the gutter with persons who attacked her personality.
Until recently, she said the guarantee on investment in government securities had been in doubt due to the country’s long political history of instability which often translated into people losing investments anytime there was political turmoil.
“My problem with this whole thing is the destruction of the image of this nation. It took a long time for normal Ghanaians to buy anything which is government because there was always the suspicion that tomorrow you don’t know what will happen,” she said.
She said her reasons for joining the protest which started February 7, was on humanitarian basis for people who have served the country well.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones…Bla-Bla will not hurt me. And insult is the weapon of the pin brained. I am not going to trade a word with pin brains,” she said.
Among her fiercest critic was Mr Gabby Otchere-Darko, founder and former Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, who on his social media handle said even though the former Chief Justice might mean well, she had erred “big time” in her basic appreciation of the issues.
“For a former CJ to take up a noble cause such as she did but at such late hour when all was done and for all that publicity, she owed it to herself and her social standing to have understood the issues far better than what she exhibited last Friday. She is bigger than that,” he said.
Madam Akuffo made headlines last Friday when she surprisingly turned up for the protest, calling the decision of the Government to include pensioners in the programme as wrong, disrespectful and unlawful especially when government had no special intervention for the aged in the country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiTal4VJyUE
Her appearance had inspired other welling meaning Ghanaians including Dr Charles Fordjour, a Pharmacist to Picket with pensioners.
Elizabeth Arthur, the 58-year-old woman who was arrested by the police for preparing pepper sauce, shito, with rotten vegetables in Koforidua, in the Eastern Region, has been slapped with a one month jail sentence.
According to a news report by UTV, in addition to the one-month sentence, Elizabeth was fined GHC4,800.
The report added that if the 58-year-old woman is unable to pay the fine, she will serve an additional 20 months in prison.
It indicated that a Koforidua court presided over by Nana Ama Debrah Finn, gave the judgment on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, after the accused person pleaded not guilty to the crimes she was charged with.
Her lawyers from the Legal Aid Department pleaded with the court to give her a non-custodial sentence because of her age and condition to no avail.
It can be recalled that GhanaWeb reported on the arrest of the 58-year-old by the Ghana Police Service for what has been suspected to be an unhealthy way of preparing shito, in January 2023.
The woman, popularly-known as Naana, who trades in the business of selling shito in the city, was found out by some millers where she frequents to have her ingredients grinded.
This, according to a UTV reporter, Michael Akrofi, had been going on for a while until one of the millers decided to give a tip-off to the police to follow up on it.
The reporter explained that some of the items Naana uses for her shito are the peels of onions that are disposed of at ‘chop bars’.
Professor Ransford Gyampo, a Political Scientist, has called on the largest opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) to proffer alternatives that will help Ghana achieve debt sustainability and come out of the current economic crisis.
He said as a government in waiting, it was important to offer credible alternatives to the current challenges with the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) and the economic crisis.
Prof Gyampo emphasised on the need for the opposition to make concerted efforts in ensuring that such alternatives were made public give some assurance to the citizenry.
He said: “Let the opposition also speak about alternative views that can be exploited to help in the debt exchange programme,” and urged the opposition to move beyond criticisms.
The Unionist, who was contributing to discussions on the DDEP on a local television station monitored by the Ghana News Agency also asked the Government to show enough commitment by sacrificing more to motivate others to do same.
Prof Gyampo said: “You cannot call for the people to sacrifice when government on their part is not sacrificing. That sacrifice will never happen,” adding that the programme should not be a stomach-directed approach.
On another platform, Madam Clara Beeri Kasser-Tee, a Vice Chairperson of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana, urged the Government to ensure that the DDEP was done in a way that would protect the vulnerable, including pensioners.
“We just can’t throw our vulnerable under the bridge, these are people who are old… We should be protecting our vulnerable in society rather than taking advantage of them because we think they don’t have what it takes to fight,” she said.
Prof Lord Mensah, an Economist, asked the Government to provide details on investor categorisation to aid in knowing, which persons would be significantly affected by the DDEP and to reduce the uncertainty among the populace.
“By this time the Finance Minister should have put data out there to indicate that these are the categorisation of bondholders by age, therefore if we exempt the pension holders then we are able to save about 10 per cent of what we are looking for and let us go with it,” he said.
Mr Habib Iddrisu, Second Deputy Majority Whip, said it had become necessary for everyone to also make some sacrifices to support the efforts of the Government to bring economic stability.
“I will urge the bondholders to sign onto the programme. Half a loaf is better than nothing. Where we are and what we look to achieve, we need to make a lot of sacrifices and help Government burden share,” Mr Iddrisu emphasised.
It has become necessary for the Government to restructure its debt with both domestic and external creditors in addition to other expenditure cuts as announced in the 2023 budget to ensure debt sustainability.
This is to help the Government to secure an Executive and Management Board approval from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by the end of March 2023 for a $3 billion three-year loan-support programme.
Out of the 80 per cent of the GHS137 billion required for the domestic debt exchange programme, the Government has achieved about 70 per cent participation so far.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has also assured that the Government: “Will successfully confront the difficulties, bring relief to the Ghanaian people, and return the economy back to the high rates of growth that characterised the management of our economy in the three years preceding the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
Police officers have claimed they have “saved Easter” after recovering a stolen trailer-load of Cadbury’s Creme Eggs.
The huge chocolate stash—which also included other varieties and is thought to be worth around £40,000—was taken from a unit in Stafford Park in Telford, Shropshire, on Saturday.
West Mercia Police stopped a vehicle on the M42, before detaining a 32-year-old man on suspicion of theft, Birmingham Live reports.
UPDATE | West Mercia Police has helped save Easter for Crème Egg fans after almost 200,000 of the chocolate treats were stolen from a unit in Stafford Park in Telford.
“West Mercia Police has helped save Easter for Creme Egg fans after almost 200,000 of the chocolate treats were stolen from a unit in Stafford Park in Telford,” a force spokesperson said. “The eggs-travagent theft took place on Saturday 11 February with the chocolate collection box thought to be worth around £40,000. Along with the creme eggs, a number of other chocolate varieties were also stolen. Shortly after the theft a vehicle, presumably purporting to be the Easter bunny, was stopped northbound on the M42 and a 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft.”
The man, who has been named Joby Pool, faces two counts of theft and a third criminal damage charge after a chain lock was also reportedly broken.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Market Drayton station replied to news the haul had been recovered, telling police “eggcellent work by all involved.”
A murder conviction in Missouri was reversed by a judge despite the fact that the defendant had maintained his innocence throughout the whole case and had already served over 28 years in prison.
In a statement shared Tuesday, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner reflected on the long journey to freedom for 50-year-old Lamar Johnson, who was previously convicted in connection with the fatal 1994 shooting of Marcus Boyd.
“Today the courts righted a wrong—vacating the sentence of Mr. Lamar Johnson following his wrongful conviction in 1995,” Gardner said. “Most importantly, we celebrated with Mr. Johnson and his family as he walks out of the courtroom as a free man.”
According to Gardner, this outcome shows that “a person’s right to justice and liberty is valued more than the finality of an unjust conviction.”
Elsewhere, Gardner thanked Johnson’s attorneys, as well as the team at the not-for-profit Midwest Innocence Project (MIP) organization. The latter is part of the nationwide Innocence Network and is focused on securing freedom for those wrongfully convicted of crimes in Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska.
Johnson was convicted of first-degree murder in 1995 and later sentenced to life without parole. Per MIP, initial calls for a new trial were informed by a slew of problems with the case, including confessions to the murder from two other men and instances of police “lying and hiding exculpatory evidence.”
As the Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner law firm noted in a news release on Tuesday, Johnson’s overturned conviction is historic for the region. Attorneys Charles Weiss and Jonathan Potts, both appointed by Gardner, won what now stands as the first wrongful conviction case brought by a local prosecutor in St. Louis city history.
“Lamar’s case is fraught with the kind of mistakes we see too frequently by the police and prosecution, including pressuring eye witnesses to identify the perpetrator, even though such eye witness identification is highly questionable and improbable, paying witnesses to testify under the guise of witness protection and then failing to disclose such payments to the defense and presenting unreliable jail house informant’s testimony,” Weiss said of the victory. “On the other hand, Lamar’s case is also an example of how our system can correct such mistakes and free an innocent person.”
Following Tuesday’s ruling, Johnson is now a free man.
Complex has reached out to his attorneys for additional comment. This story may be updated.
Ghanaian fashion designer, Elikem Kumodzie, has taken a swipe at his critics who have been lambasting him on social media for critiquing Sarkodie’s outfit.
Earlier, the actor in a phone-in session apologized to the rapper for critiquing his costume in a way many people termed as ‘degrading’.
But after rendering the said apology on UTV’s United Showbiz, Elikem, took to social media again to share some statements which many deemed as a justification for the things he already apologized for.
“We’ve all been at a stage where our buttons didn’t sit in the right places of our shirts and we learned our way out of it, we grew and we evolved to become one of the best in the country. Growth is very necessary and one way to also grow is to notice our mistakes and pay attention to the lessons that come with them, there’s always a lesson lurking around every adversity. So by all means, let’s evolve and move up,” one of Elikem’s posts wrote.
This development stirred fresh attacks from netizens and Elikem, however, decided to match them boot for boot.
“Empty barrels make the most noise. And they are still here, because they know the boy is blessed and they are curious to see how we still win. My life’s your entertainment, you watch it while I live it. You can still call me THE AYIGBE KANYE,” he wrote on Instagram.
Earlier, during the phone-in interview with UTV, Elikem wondered why his post about Sarkodie seemed to have generated some special kind of public interest.
“I made this post about another designer three or four years ago and nobody said nothing. Now I have done the same to Sarkodie and it’s a big deal.
“I’m guessing because it’s Sarkodie and the level of his success. I don’t know why this has become a big deal. That’s what overwhelms me,” he stressed during an interview with UTV’s United Showbiz.
Actress turned musician, Yaa Jackson, has recounted her experience at the labour ward. According to her she nearly gave up pushing her baby out at the labour ward due to excruciating pain.
Also, unlike most ladies who immediately get to know that they have taken seed just a month after conceiving – Yaa Jacksonclaims she only to go know that she’s carrying a baby when during her 5th month.
The 23-year-old Ghanaian actress-cum singer made this revelation during an exclusive interview with renowned Ghanaian blogger Zionfelix.
Talking about how she got to know that she was pregnant after 5 months, she said;
“My bump wasn’t really bulging. I was performing at events until 7 months. I discovered that I was pregnant when the baby was five months,”
Sharing her experience of becoming a mother, the Kumawood actress said she encountered challenges.
According to the ‘ehwe papa’ hitmaker, she was lucky to have a midwife who backed her with prayers.
“It wasn’t easy at all. I urge every man to respect every woman. I nearly gave up on pushing the baby out. It can only be God. What helped me is that the midwife is a God-fearing woman. She was singing worship songs and praying the whole time I was in labour,” she said.
Yaa Jackson’s delivery came as a surprise to fans as she kept her ‘baby bump’ from the public.
According to a statement from the Supreme Court, Telegram was fined by Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Wednesday for failing to block the account of a far-right politician and social media influencer.
Nikolas Ferreira’s accounts and others were suspended by Telegram earlier in January “to stop the propagation of criminal expressions,” according to the statement.
The court stated that failing to terminate Ferreira’s account “is regarded indirect participation to the continuation of unlawful conduct.”
Ferreira, a federal representative from the state of Minas Gerais, has more than 300,000 subscribers on Telegram, 3.6 million followers on Tik Tok, and over 6 million followers on Instagram. He tends to post evangelical and far-right content, and support for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazilian authorities are still investigating after hundreds of Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed government buildings in the capital Brasilia earlier in January, following his defeat in a presidential run-off vote last year.
Ferreira’s social media savvy has played a part in catapulting the 26-year-old’s political career forward; in 2022, he was elected with the most votes of all representatives running nationwide, and the third most votes cast for any representative in Brazil’s history.
Tweeting about the case Wednesday, Ferreira wrote, “They want to disappear me from the internet.”
Telegram is being fined 100,000 Brazilian reais (about $20,000) per day of noncompliance, according to a news release from the Supreme Court.
In a letter from Telegram to Moraes, obtained by CNN Brasil, the company responded asking that the order be reconsidered.
It points out that Ferreira is an elected official, and says no specific criminal content was identified in the order. “No grounds or justifications were provided for the complete blocking of said channel, that is, the specific contents that would be considered illegal were not presented,” the letter said.
CNN has reached out to Telegram for comment.
The Supreme Court has acknowledged that Telegram reported partial compliance with the order, but requested clarification on which specific content to block.
The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) says it has not assigned any staff or lawyer to strike off companies in default from the companies register.
The office in a statement signed by Jemima Mamaa Oware, the Registrar of Companies, said its attention had been drawn to the activities of some faceless persons purporting to be staff or lawyers of the office and defrauding its unsuspecting clients.
The fraudsters, it said, directed unsuspecting company officials and business owners through text messages and phone calls to make mobile money payments to certain phone numbers by setting deadlines along with threats to strike their company names that were in default off the companies’ register.
“They sometimes send a truncated copy of the Office press release urging clients to file their Annual Returns and Renewal, through WhatsApp to legitimise their fraudulent activities on company officials and business owners.
“We urge our clients, stakeholders and the general public to note that all payments on transactions are done in our in-house Fidelity Bank with the Bank’s authorised receipt issued to clients on their payments,” the statement explained.
The Office, therefore, cautioned its clients and stakeholders to ignore such scam phone calls, text and WhatsApp messages eliciting mobile money payments on any transaction in the name of ORC or Registrar-General’s Department.
It also asked the public to avoid the use of intermediaries or agents when transacting business with the office.
The Office had engaged and continued to collaborate with the security agencies to investigate, apprehend and prosecute such faceless persons perpetuating such fraudulent activities on its clients, the statement said.
“We are by this release encouraging our clients to be vigilant and report any such calls or text messages to the Office for further action to curb the menace.”
The manager of singer Camidoh has disclosed the resources that went into making ‘Sugarcane’ a global hit.
On his Facebook page, George Mensah Britton posted that the music industry has evolved into one of the most costly but lucrative creative endeavours.
Using Camidoh’s ‘Sugarcane’ (both the original and the remix) as an example he wrote that “JWillz and Rex, two incredible Ghanaian directors, shot and edited two music videos, Sugarcane and Sugarcane Remix, respectively.
“Promotions were run on both radio and TV in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, the UK, and the US.”
He added that online ad sponsors, social media influencers, and content creators in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, the UK, the US, Tanzania, and other foreign countries were equally engaged.
George Britton also mentioned how nightclubs and bars in Africa and the United Kingdom played a significant role in the promotion of the song.
“Camidoh attained global success as one of Africa’s most streamed artists after spending just over GH¢975,000 in a year, on one song,” he disclosed.
He, however, noted that the success of the song did not happen through an individual effort.
“This feat was achieved by the amazing team behind Camidoh, i.e., Grind Don’t Stop, GB Recz, and Crux Global, not forgetting some amazing support from the media, family, and friends,” he added.
Camidoh’s ‘Sugarcane’ which was released in November 2021 became the toast of most music lovers and even won more spurs after a remix which features Ghanaian crooner King Promise, and Nigerian artiste Mayorkun and Darkoo were subsequently released.
The song topped Nigeria’s Apple Music Top 100 chart, made an entry into Billboard US Afrobeats Songs Chart, among other feats.
He is currently out with a new EP titled ‘A Lifetime is not Enough.’
The caretaker minister of Trade and Industry, Samuel Abu Jinapor has said government is rigorously working to soon pass a comprehensive law to deal with consumer protection in Ghana.
According to him, the new Consumer Protection Bill is ready and will soon be submitted to Cabinet for its consideration and then head to Parliament for passage.
The caretaker minister made this known when he delivered a statement on Consumer Protection before lawmakers in Parliament on February 15, 2023.
Underscoring the importance of consumer protection, the Minister pointed out that most people in today’s world depend on goods and services provided by others, making it imperative to protect the interest of consumers and ensure fair trading.
He said the current legal and regulatory framework for the protection of consumer rights is fragmented in different pieces of legislation, with different bodies overseeing different aspects of consumer protection.
According to Abu Jinapor, the current state of affairs, is unsatisfactory, and has led to significant part of the market remaining unregulated, leading to a constant violation of consumer rights without adequate remedy.
He identified jurisdictional conflict among the various regulators on consumer protection, lack of consumer awareness, lack of access to the courts, and absence of low-cost, quick, and accessible fora and methods for resolution of consumer complaints, as some of challenges with consumer protection in the country.
Drawing from international best practice, the Minister said the world is at a stage where a single legislation on consumer protection, with a single consumer protection authority is the norm.
He said the overarching objective of the Bill, which is ready for Cabinet, is to protect, secure and defend the rights of consumers, through a structured institutional mechanism and legal framework, that will ensure that consumers play a significant role in keeping erring businesses in check, promote competition, and ensure regional integration through digital trade and e-commerce.
When passed, the law will, also, create a Consumer Protection Authority to facilitate consumer redress, establish codes of practice on advertising and labelling, educate consumers on their rights, strengthen consumer-oriented organizations, and ensure effective representation of consumers on decision-making bodies.
The Minister however called on Parliament to support the Bill when presented to the House to ensure effective and adequate protection for the rights of consumers.
Members of Parliament from both sides of the House, who contributed to the Statement, lauded the Minister for apprising the House on the progress of the Bill.
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, underscored the importance of the Bill and expressed his optimism that the whole House will support the Bill when presented to the House.
Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin also commended Abu Jinapor and urged other Ministers to emulate him and constantly update the House on matters pertaining to their ministries.
Actor and TV show host Akwasi Boadi, popularly known as Akrobeto, has disclosed that ‘missing’ footballer Christian Atsu once gifted him €800.
Speaking on his show, The Real News on UTV, he stated that at the time, he had never met the footballer.
Akrobeto said Atsu gave him the money through actor Kwaku Manu as appreciation for the work he does on his show.
He stated that the footballer valued what he did on The Real News, stating that he had been told it was a source of entertainment for him while he played abroad.
Akrobeto said that he was taken aback by the kindness Atsu showed him in spite of not having a personal relationship with the footballer.
Akrobeto stated that following the news of the earthquake in Turkey where Atsu plies his talent, he cannot help but imagine what Atsu went through during the incident.
He called on Ghanaians to constantly pray for the footballer while efforts are ongoing to find him.
Background
A powerful earthquake struck south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, killing and trapping many others in the early hours of Monday, February 6.
The US Geological Survey said the 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 local time (01:17 GMT) at a depth of 17.9km (11 miles) near the city of Gaziantep.
Hours later, a second quake, which had a magnitude of 7.5, hit the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras province.
A New York Times report indicates that the death toll has risen to more than 40,000 in both Turkey and Syria even as rescue teams searched for any remaining survivors in the rubble.
There were a few glimmers of hope on Tuesday after crews in Turkey defied the odds by digging nine survivors out of the rubble.
Meanwhile, as search teams continue to rescue trapped survivors, Christian Atsu is yet to be found.
On Tuesday, Christian Atsu’s agent, Nana Sechere, cried out for more support in the search for the player after finding his personal belongings at his home.
This was after the agent made a trip to Hatay and the residence of Atsu, where the player’s shoes have been found.
Sechere, following the latest developments, has called for more resources to aid in the search for the former Chelsea and Newcastle United winger.
“It has been 9 days since the earthquake and we still have not located Christian. I am at the quake site in Hatay with Christian’s family. The scenes are unimaginable and our hearts are broken for all the people affected,” he wrote in a social media post.
The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme-NEIP has held stakeholders engagement with players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem as part of plans to implement a Hub Acceleration Grant Programme -HAGP under the Ghana Economic Transformation Project-GETP.
NEIP is one of the implementers of component three (3) of the programme which seeks to ensure Entrepreneurship and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) growth: This component will support entrepreneurship and MSME growth in non-resource-based sectors, addressing specifically the limited development of the MSME and entrepreneurship support ecosystem, including early stage financing.
As part of the programme, NEIP will launch a Hub Acceleration Grant Programme to support the hubs to accelerate Start-ups and SME growth.
The stakeholders engagement was held to give insight to the programme and to also seek inputs from the players of the entrepreneurial ecosystem to ensure the success of the programme.
In attendance were NEIP, Hub owners/managers, the GETP component’s specialists, Deloitte who are consultants to the programme, sister organisations and other support international organisations in the entrepreneurial eco-system.
Central banks aggressively hiked interest rates last year as inflation in many countries rose to the highest levels in decades. Now, falling energy prices are reducing headline inflation and fuelling optimism that monetary policy may be eased later this year.
Such expectations have caused a sharp decline in global longer-term interest rates and boosted financial markets in advanced economies and emerging markets alike.
Though this may make it tempting to conclude that monetary policy is becoming overly restrictive and poised to cause an unnecessary economic contraction, investors may be too sanguine about progress on disinflation. While headline inflation has indeed fallen, and core inflation has receded slightly in some countries, both remain far too high. Central banks must, therefore, be resolute in their fight against inflation and ensure policy remains appropriately tight long enough to durably bring inflation back to target.
Aggressive tightening
After many years of low inflation, the surge in inflation during the pandemic recovery came as a surprise. Key factors driving inflation included supply disruptions, high energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and massive monetary and fiscal stimulus that fuelled spending on housing and durable goods. Inflation topped six per cent in more than four-fifths of the world’s economies while increasingly broad-based price gains lifted expectations for further increases to multi-decade highs.
Central banks in emerging markets responded by sharply tightening policy beginning in 2021, followed by their counterparts in advanced economies. This led to a tightening of financial conditions globally through the fall of last year. As a result, global economic growth is now expected to slow this year, with divergent views on the extent to which unemployment would likely need to rise to cool hot labour markets.
Investor optimism
Since late last year, however, financial markets have rebounded strongly on retreating energy prices and signs that inflation may have peaked. In some economies, prices for goods included in core inflation measures, such as autos and furniture, have fallen.
These signs of progress in reducing inflationary pressures amidst continued strength in labour markets have offered reason to believe that policy makers may have succeeded in taming inflation with little cost to economic growth, a so-called soft landing.
In the United States(US) and the Euro area, market-based measures of inflation one year ahead have returned to near the central banks’ two per cent target from six per cent last spring. Gauges for several other advanced economies have seen similar drops. In emerging markets, such market-based measures of inflation one year ahead have also been falling, albeit at a slower pace.
Expected easing
These disinflation hopes have been accompanied by growing expectations that central banks will soon not only stop tightening policy but also reduce rates fairly quickly. In many economies, this has led to yields on long-dated government debt falling below short-dated maturities. Historically, such an inversion of the yield curve often precedes recessions. Analyst assessments, in fact, point to significant recession risk in many economies, but the expectation is that recessions, should they occur, will be mild.
Growing expectations for lower interest rates and a shallow economic slowdown have fuelled a significant easing in financial conditions in recent months—despite central banks continuing to raise rates. Markets have reflected this relatively benign picture: stock markets have rallied and credit spreads narrowed considerably.
Conundrum for central banks
This easing of financial conditions during a central bank tightening cycle creates a conundrum for policy makers.
On the one hand, financial markets are signalling that disinflation may occur without meaningful increases in unemployment. Policy makers could embrace that view and in effect ratify the loosening of financial conditions. Many observers concerned that central banks will be overzealous about tightening monetary policy—and will cause an unnecessarily painful economic downturn—are endorsing such a view.
Alternatively, central banks could push back against investor optimism, emphasising the risks that inflationary pressures may be more persistent than expected. This risk-management approach would require restrictive interest rates for longer until there’s tangible evidence of a sustained decline in inflation.
While doing so could induce a repricing of the policy path and of risk assets in financial markets—possibly causing equity prices to fall and credit spreads to widen—there are three reasons why such an approach is needed to ensure price stability.
• History shows high inflation is often persistent—and may possibly ratchet up further—without forceful and decisive monetary policy actions to reduce it.
• While goods inflation has come down, it seems unlikely that the same will happen for services without significant labour-market cooling. Crucially, central banks must avoid misreading sharp declines in goods prices and easing policy before services inflation and wages, which adjust more slowly, have also moderated markedly.
• Experience suggests that prolonged periods of rapid price gains make inflation expectations more susceptible to de-anchoring as such an inflationary mindset becomes more entrenched in the behaviour of households and firms.
Policy makers must continue to be resolute
Central banks should communicate the likely need to keep interest rates higher for longer until there is evidence that inflation—including wages and prices of services—has sustainably returned to the target.
Policy makers will likely face pressure to ease policy as unemployment rises and inflation keeps falling. These challenges could be particularly acute for emerging market economies.
To be sure, this is an unusual period in which many special factors are affecting inflation, and it is possible that inflation comes down more quickly than policy makers envision. However, loosening prematurely could risk a sharp resurgence in inflation once activity rebounds, leaving countries susceptible to further shocks, which could de-anchor inflation expectations. Hence, it is critical for policy makers to remain resolute and focus on bringing inflation back to target without delay.
A decommissioned 1960s aircraft carrier that has been floating offshore for three months because Turkey has refused to let it enter their country to be dismantled will be sunk in the Atlantic Ocean in Brazilian ship transporting cocaine intercepted by the French navy in Sierra Leone-controlled waters, the Brazilian Navy announced on Wednesday.
The 32,000-ton Sao Paulo carrier was being towed by a tug to Europe, but it was stopped at the Straits of Gibraltar and was sent back across the Atlantic after Turkey deemed it to be an environmental concern.
Despite a request by Environment Minister Marina Silva not to sink the carrier, the Navy said it had no choice but to scuttle the ship in water about 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) deep 350 kilometers (217 miles) off-shore within Brazil’s exclusive economic zone.
The site is far from environmental protection areas and free of undersea communication cables, the Navy statement said.
“Given its deteriorating floating condition and the inevitability of uncontrolled sinking, there is no other option but to jettison the hull and sink it in a planned way,” it said.
The Navy had planned to scuttle the carrier on Wednesday at sea but public prosecutors sought to stop the sinking in Brazilian waters citing the environmental threat it poses, including tonnes of asbestos used for paneling inside the ship.
A federal judge on Wednesday afternoon denied their request for an injunction arguing that the Navy had weighed the environmental impact against other factors.
The Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier served the French Navy from 1963 to 2000 as the Foch, capable of carrying 40 planes on board.
The former manager of Ghanaian musician Black Sherif has signed six new artists on his record label.
After the scuffle with his former artiste, Shadrach Agyei Owusu, popularly known as Snap Wayne Chavis, has kept his desires burning.
Becoming a relentless investor, ready to go against all the odds, the pharmacist, who along the line became a music fanatic, says he’s always been keen on supporting pure talent.
“I have always been an investor who has in the past years been the promotional backbone of many hit songs and musicians alike in the Ghanaian music industry,” Chavis Wayne said in an interview.
Shadrach Agyei Owusu, popularly known as Chavis Wayne aka Snap
Some artistes who have benefited from the benevolence of Wayne Chavis Records include Mr Eazi, Awal, Lousika, Amerado and Black Sherif among other ace musicians. He says he has been the silent investor in many artistes and songs alike in Ghana and beyond.
Interestingly, he became a centre of attraction when he parted ways with his then sensational artiste, Black Sherif, who has now become a household name in Ghana.
Chavis Wayne and his team with ex-signee Black Sherif during an event
Even after the recent brouhaha, Snap Wayne Chavis has still not shied away from supporting upcoming deserving talents and putting them on the global market.
Snap Wayne Chavis and Black Sherif
Hence, the young business mogul, through his Wayne Chavis Entertainment record label, has signed six new acts who are set to take over the industry.
The label has dropped a new single featuring all six new musicians – available on various online streaming platforms.
Black Sherif and ex-manager Snap Wayne Chavis before their split
‘Nobody’ is produced by Slvmlife, mixed & mastered by Apya.
The new record ‘Nobody’ “is an impressive single dedicated to the fans, as part of the inaugural celebration to appreciate the love and support of the fans,” Snap Wayne Chavis clarified.
The funeral date for late South African rapper, Kiernan “AKA” Jarryd Forbes, has been released.
The date was announced by the family of has announced that a memorial will be held in his honour.
The event is expected to come off on Friday, February 17, 2023. The memorial, the family noted, is open to the public for those who want to join the family remember AKA.
It will take place at South Africa’s leading event venue, Sandton Convention Centre at 3:00 pm (South Africa time). The memorial will also be streamed on AKA’s YouTube platform.
Following the memorial, the family will hold a private funeral ceremony on Saturday, February 18.
AKA’s family also thanked the public for the support they have received. “We as the Forbes family would like to acknowledge the outpouring of love we have received over the past few days.”
“Kiernan wasn’t just loved by us as a family, but by the nation, as we’ve seen from loved ones, friends, industry colleagues, media tributes and the MEGACY.”
Background
Kiernan Jarryd Forbes was shot just before 10:00pm (South African time) while standing outside the Wish Restaurant in Durban on Friday.
The deceased was seen interacting with some friends in a busy street when the unidentified person walked up to him and shot him in the head.
The suspect, then took to his heels.
Reports by South African media indicates that another person believed to be AKA’s bodyguard, sustained wounds during the shooting incident.
The family issued a statement to confirm the death of the artistes via his Twitter handle.
“It is with extreme sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our beloved son, and confirm his untimely and tragic passing on the evening of February 10, 2023. We are awaiting further details from the Durban Police.
To us, Kiernan Jarryd Forbes was a son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend, most importantly father to his beloved daughter Kairo.
To many, he was AKA, SUPAMEGA, BHOVA and the many other names of affection his legion of fans called him by. Our son was loved and he gave love in return. In this time of grief, we appeal for your compassion, space and time to congregate as family to decide on the upcoming days.
We thank you for the love and support we have received thus far and ask you to continue to keep us in your prayers.
According to the Ukrainian military, pro-Russian military bloggers, and former officials, an apparent Ukrainian strike in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine appeared to have killed a significant number of Russian troops residing adjacent to an ammunition depot.
Both Ukrainian and pro-Russian accounts claim that the strike occurred at Makiivka, in the Donetsk region, just after midnight on Sunday, New Year’s Day, at a vocational school housing Russian conscripts.
The attack has led to vocal criticism of the Russian military from pro-Russian military bloggers, who claimed that the troops lacked protection and were reportedly being quartered next to a large cache of ammunition, which is said to have exploded when Ukrainian HIMARS rockets hit the school.
The Ukrainian military claimed that around 400 Russian soldiers were killed and 300 were wounded, without directly acknowledging a role. CNN cannot independently confirm those numbers or the weapons used in the strike. Some pro-Russian military bloggers have also estimated that the number of dead and wounded could run in the hundreds.
The Russian Ministry of Defense on Monday acknowledged the attack and claimed that “63 Russian servicemen” died.
Video reportedly from the scene of the attack is circulating widely on Telegram, including on an official Ukrainian military channel. It shows a pile of smoking rubble, in which almost no part of the building appears to be standing.
“Greetings and congratulations” to the separatists and conscripts who “were brought to the occupied Makiivka and crammed into the building of vocational school,” the Strategic Communications Directorate of the Chief Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Telegram. “Santa packed around 400 corpses of [Russian soldiers] in bags.”
The Russian Ministry of Defense said that the Ukrainian attack used HIMARS rockets.
Daniil Bezsonov, a former official in the Russia-backed Donetsk administration, said on Telegram that “apparently, the high command is still unaware of the capabilities of this weapon.”
A Russian propagandist who blogs about the war effort on Telegram, Igor Girkin, claimed that the building was almost completely destroyed by the secondary detonation of ammunition stores.
Girkin has long decried Russian generals whom he claims direct the war effort far from the frontline. Girkin was previously minister of defense of the self-proclaimed, Russian-backed Donetsk People’s Republic, and was found guilty by a Dutch court of mass murder for his involvement in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014.
Sergey Markov, another pro-Russian military blogger, said there was “a great deal of sloppiness” on the part of the Russian command.
Boris Rozhin, who also blogs about the war effort under the nickname Colonelcassad, said that “incompetence and an inability to grasp the experience of war continue to be a serious problem.”9:22 a.m. ET, January 2, 2023
Ukraine waiting for first portion of $19 billion aid package from EU, Zelensky says
From CNN’s Allegra Goodwin and Victoria Butenko
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that Ukraine was waiting for the first tranche of a $19 billion support package from the European Union in January, following a call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
He added in a tweet that Ukraine was also awaiting the first “batch of LED-lamps school buses, generators and modular houses.”
“We feel support and will win together,” Zelensky finished.
Von der Leyen tweeted that she had conveyed her “wholehearted support and best wishes for 2023 to the Ukrainian people,” to Zelensky on their first call of the new year.
“The EU stands by you, for as long as it takes. We support your heroic struggle. A fight for freedom and against brutal aggression,” she said.9:03 a.m. ET, January 2, 2023
It’s mid-afternoon in Kyiv. Here’s what you need to know
Five people have been injured by a Russian attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Beryslav, and another person was injured in Kyiv Monday amid strikes which have left the Ukrainian capital struggling to maintain electricity supply.
Here are the latest headlines:
Strikes on Beryslav:Five people have been injured by alleged Russian tank fire on a market in the southern Ukrainian town of Beryslav, according to the regional governor. “Presumably, the fire was conducted from a tank from the temporarily occupied Kakhovka,” said Yaroslav Yanushevych, governor of Kherson region, where Beryslav is located, on his official Telegram channel. Kakhovka is on the opposite side of the Dnipro River.
Russian attack wounds one in Kyiv: One man was injured early Monday as a result of a Russian attack on Ukraine’s capital. The 19-year-old man was hospitalized after suffering a lacerated foot while in an eighth-floor apartment in Kyiv’s Desnianskyi district.
Second victim from Saturday strikes: A 46-year-old man who was injured by a Russian attack on Kyiv on Saturday has died in hospital, according to city mayor Vitaly Klitschko. Another person died and 20 others were injured in Saturday’s explosions, Klitschko said.
Kyiv struggling to maintain electricity: The capital was experiencing power outages Monday, after overnight strikes damaged energy infrastructure facilities in the city, said Klitschko. Some heat supply facilities were disconnected from the power supply, but the city’s water supply remains normal, he added. Kyiv authorities are urging residents to reduce their electricity consumption after the third day of Russian attacks damaged infrastructure.
Zelensky hails “unity” of Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used his first address of the year to underline the “sense of unity” in the country, and contrast it with the “fear” he said is felt in Russia. “Our sense of unity, authenticity, life itself – all this contrasts dramatically with the fear that prevails in Russia,” said Zelensky in an address published Sunday evening local time.
Russia reportedly takes down Ukrainian drone: Russian air defenses downed a Ukrainian reconnaissance drone approaching the southwestern Russian city of Voronezh on Sunday night, Russian state news agency TASS reported Monday, quoting local authorities. There were no reports of casualties or damage, according to TASS, quoting the regional government.
7:02 a.m. ET, January 2, 2023
Russian air defenses reportedly down Ukrainian drone near city of Voronezh
From CNN’s Radina Gigova
Russian air defenses downed a Ukrainian drone approaching the southwestern Russian city of Voronezh on Sunday night, Russian state news agency TASS reported Monday, quoting local authorities.
“Last night, air defenses detected and downed a small reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle approaching Voronezh, which had been launched from Ukraine,” a statement from the regional government reads, as quoted by TASS.
There were no reports of casualties or damage, according to TASS, quoting the regional government.
Voronezh is located in southwestern Russia.
CNN has not been able to independently verify the TASS reporting.6:41 a.m. ET, January 2, 2023
One injured in Monday’s strikes on Kyiv
From CNN’s Olga Voitovych in Kyiv
Ukrainian servicemen use searchlights as they search for drones in Kyiv, Ukraine, on January 1. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)
One man was injured early Monday as a result of a Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, according to the State Emergency Service (SES) of Ukraine.
The 19-year-old man was hospitalized after suffering a lacerated foot while in an eighth-floor apartment in Kyiv’s Desnianskyi district.
“Firefighters of the nearest fire and rescue units immediately arrived at the scene,” the SES said on its official Telegram channel.
“Upon arrival, the firefighters found out that as a result of the rocket fragments falling on the roadway, balconies and windows on 3, 4, 6 floors of a 9-story residential building were damaged.”
The Ukrainian military claimed to have shot down 39 Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones overnight into Monday, but said that debris had nonetheless damaged infrastructure facilities and residential buildings.4:52 a.m. ET, January 2, 2023
Five injured by Russian attack on market in southern Ukrainian town of Beryslav
From CNN’s Olga Voitovych
Five people have been injured by alleged Russian tank fire on a market in the southern Ukrainian town of Beryslav, according to the regional governor.
“This morning Russians attacked the center of Beryslav – they shelled the city market,” said Yaroslav Yanushevych, governor of Kherson region, where Beryslav is located, on his official Telegram channel.
“Presumably, the fire was conducted from a tank from the temporarily occupied Kakhovka,” he added. Kakhovka is on the opposite side of the Dnipro River.
Of the five people injured, three are in critical condition, Beryslav said.
On Sunday, one person was killed and four injured by Russian attacks across the Ukrainian-controlled portions of the Kherson region, according to Beryslav.
Russian forces attacked the region 71 times on Sunday, he said, using artillery, multiple-launch rocket launchers (MLRS), mortars and tanks.4:27 a.m. ET, January 2, 2023
Kyiv authorities urge sparing electricity use after Russian strikes damage energy infrastructure
From CNN’s Olga Voitovych and Mick Krever
Authorities in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv are urging residents to reduce their electricity consumption after a third day of Russian attacks damaged infrastructure facilities.
On Monday, energy company DTEK said that it had been forced to implement emergency power cuts, and Oleksii Kuleba, head of Kyiv regional military administration, called on residents of the capital to keep an eye on their energy use.
“We are currently observing an increase in electricity consumption and excessive load on the grid,” Kuleba said on Telegram. “Therefore, it is important not to forget about reasonable consumption of electricity – to use energy-intensive devices in turn and to use electricity sparingly.”
The Ukrainian military claimed to have shot down 39 Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones overnight into Monday, but said that debris had nonetheless damaged infrastructure facilities.
Eleven private houses were also damaged by falling debris, according to Kuleba.
However the Prosecutor’s General Office of Ukraine said that there do not appear to have been any casualties.
“Prosecutors and investigators are working at the scene to document violations of international humanitarian law by the aggressor country,” the office said in a statement.4:43 a.m. ET, January 2, 2023
Zelensky hails “sense of unity” in first address of 2023
From CNN’s Jack Guy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers his first address of the year on January 1. (President of Ukraine)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used his first address of the year to underline the “sense of unity” in the country, and contrast it with the “fear” he said is felt in Russia.
“Our sense of unity, authenticity, life itself – all this contrasts dramatically with the fear that prevails in Russia,” said Zelensky in an address published Sunday evening local time.
“They are afraid. You can feel it. And they are right to be afraid. Because they are losing. Drones, missiles, anything else will not help them. Because we are together. And they are together only with fear.”
Zelensky congratulated Ukrainian forces for shooting down 45 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia on the first night of the year
“Russian terrorists were pathetic, and they entered this year staying the same. Our defenders were awesome, and on January 1 they showed themselves very well,” he said.
Zelensky went on to thank “everyone who is fighting the enemy at the frontline every day and every night,” as well as energy and utility workers restoring infrastructure damaged by Russian strikes.
“And it is very important how all Ukrainians recharged their inner energy this New Year’s Eve,” said Zelensky.
“And how we thanked our warriors. How we thanked our loved ones. How millions of times all over Ukraine, all over the free world, our wish – the wish of victory – has sounded and still sounds.”3:48 a.m. ET, January 2, 2023
Second victim of New Year’s Eve strikes on Kyiv dies in hospital
From CNN’s Olga Voitovych, Mayumi Maruyama, Yulia Kesaieva and Gul Tuysuz
A 46-year-old man who was injured by a Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital on Saturday has died in hospital, according to city mayor Vitaly Klitschko.
“One of the injured as a result of the Russian attack on the capital on December 31 died this morning,” Klitschko said on his official Telegram channel. “The 46-year-old man was in intensive care in serious condition.”
Another person died and 20 others were injured in Saturday’s explosions, Klitschko said.
Out of the injured, 14 were hospitalized, while six others were provided with medical assistance on the spot, he said.
Several school buildings in the capital suffered severe damage from the explosions, the mayor added.
Reality tv star, Phyna, has asserted that most Internet fraudsters also known as ‘Yahoo boys’ are very stingy when it comes to spending on their girlfriends.
She stated that 90% of Yahoo boys don’t spend on their girlfriends.
Phyna made this known in a recent interview with on-air media personality, Nedu on his podcast, “The Honest Bunch”.
According to her, she once dated a rich yahoo boy who didn’t give her money despite she was broke. Her relationship with the Yahoo guy was her longest relationship yet he did not give her a dime.
She noted that the guy, her ex-boyfriend, preferred taking her to clubs to spend lavishly and have fun. But he never sent money to her personal account.
She added that most ladies dating yahoo boys are broke and don’t receive money from them.
They are only in the relationship because of the security and respect that accompanies having a rich boyfriend.
There will be no recovery of the bodies of more than 200 German troops who were buried alive in a tunnel in northeastern France during World War I.
Instead, the German government has chosen to designate the graveyard as a war memorial and place it under official protection.
The decision was made on Friday afternoon at the Caverne du Dragon museumDragons star Johnson is on fire at Forest in northeastern France by the French government, the Volksbund, and the German war cemetery commission.
“Rescue efforts to reach the remains in 2021 and 2022 had proven very difficult,” a spokeswoman for the Volksbund told CNN on Friday, adding that there had been “several attempts” to open the “very deep and very long” tunnel, which is located in a nature reserve with “sandy ground still contaminated with ammunition.”
Although the Franco-German team managed to see as far as 64 meters (210 feet) down the tunnel, they “did not find any remains,” the spokesperson said.
Many WWI battles took place between the French armed forces and German troops positioned on the Chemin des Dames, or “Lady’s Way,” a crest between two valleys.
On May 4, 1917, during one of the biggest battles of the war, the French army was firing on German soldiers with heavy artillery. An artillery shell hit the entrance of the Winterberg tunnel on the Chemin des Dames, according to the Volksbund.
Some of the German troops, from the 111th Baden Reserve Infantry Regiment, fled further into the tunnel, where stored ammunition had exploded and toxic fumes were being released.
The soldiers created a barricade to try to protect themselves from the poisonous gases until they could be rescued, but heavy shelling prevented help from reaching them.
The tunnel’s entrance collapsed during the attack and just three soldiers out of an infantry of more than 200 were saved. The others suffocated, died of thirst or shot themselves.
Over the years, there had been numerous – including illegal – attempts to find the buried tunnel entrance in the state forest of Vauclair, according to the Volksbund.
Last May, more than a century after the event and following years of work, the Volksbund and French partners used precise drilling to confirm the tunnel’s location, discovering a large cavity deep underground, with the burial site intact.
By designating the site a memorial, German and French authorities hope to dignify and protect the soldiers’ resting place. “This guarantees that the soldiers will continue to rest in peace,” said a Volksbund spokeswoman.
“In the past years and months we have been cooperating with our French partners in a spirit of trust,” said Dirk Backen, chief executive of the Volksbund.
“We are very grateful for this – and are pleased to be able to present a joint solution today,” he added.
Once the legal requirements for a war cemetery site are met, planning for the memorial site will begin, and the site could be inaugurated as early as next year, French and German officials said.
With Africa holding the world’s largest arable lands, Africans are being urged to restore their passion for agriculture.
This is because it is the next sustainable sector to revive their economy particularly at a time when global shocks are badly impacting their economies.
The acting Global President for the International Peace and Governance Council (IPHC), Dr Jonathan Ojadah, said the exposure to the oil boom has pushed some countries to deviate from agriculture such that the practice of subsistence agriculture, which used to be a source of livelihood for many, has stopped.
Dr Ojadah made the call last Friday in an interview with the media at the 11th Pan African Leadership, Investment Summit and Honours in Accra.
Organised by IPHC-Ghana in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture, the summit brought together Africa investors to discuss various investment opportunities on the continent.
It was on the theme: “Peaceful Coexistence and Synergy for African Development”.
“Most countries are still undergoing recession so we deem it necessary that we advise every country to take their agricultural investment opportunities seriously because we believe that with food security, hunger will be eradicated.
When hunger is eradicated we can achieve sustainable peace and it is on the back of sustainable peace that investment promotion can survive,” he said.
He said his outfit has embarked on a sustainable agricultural project which he believes will create a lot of good security for the populace.
“We at UNIPGC are partnering the United Nations Association of Ghana to implement the zero hunger agenda of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of the UN to project the role of agriculture in sustaining the economy towards national development,” he added.
Ensuring sustainable development
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Ibrahim Awal, said: “Africa has so much resources but benefits from just a little, therefore, it’s time to seek the opinions of the traditional authorities, religious leaders and civil society organisations to ensure inclusive and sustainable development.
In this vein, with the multi-party democracy that most African countries have chosen, it’s imperative to harness its potential for peace and development on the continent.”
It is always inconvenient to inform your customers that you must raise the prices of your goods and services, especially during this period of high inflation that affects every aspect of the Ghanaian economy.
During my recent interactions with some customers, it was clear that they intend to remain loyal to at least one brand during this inflationary period, despite the fact that more than half of them is disloyal. During this time, these customers have stopped purchasing a favourite brand in favour of a less expensive one.
Empathy and Encouragement in Marketing
Marketing campaigns should include promotional messages that have been repackaged to address customers’ current challenges in dealing with rising prices of goods and services. The typical brand emphasis on positive lifestyles may be inconvenient in the current financial situation customers may be in.
By communicating ideas to help customers cope with the current uncertainty and anxiety, business messages should demonstrate empathy and encouragement. Businesses must tailor their marketing messages to their customers’ specific needs and desires. Customers typically respond favourably to communication that addresses their needs and offers solutions to their problems.
Boosting your loyalty programme
Most customers will appreciate being recognised for continuing to do business with you, so create loyalty programmes, discounts and sales promotions. Many people are currently dealing with high inflation and making difficult decisions, and your company’s loyal programme may provide some flexibility in their spending plan.
Businesses should go beyond rewarding customers for purchases and promoting and recommending their brand and products on social media in order to attract new customers.
Provide consumers with convenience
Although most consumers are looking for ways to save money, they are willing to spend a little for convenience. I believe businesses that want to keep thriving during this period must keep adapting to the current consumer preferences, including improving satisfaction.
Providing online services as an option for customers to transact business and offering delivery services will ease some pressure from their busy schedules. One of my pain points is the waiting in line for healthcare patients, even though these health centers can offer convenience through booking and scheduling times to meet the health professionals.
Emphasise the benefits of your products and services
To maintain brand loyalty in the face of rising living costs, I will advise business owners to focus on their value offerings. When prices begin to rise, consumers are more likely to stick with a product in which they have confidence in the quality and value. Businesses must highlight the unique features of their products and services that make them worthwhile. People are always looking for value in products and services, and they are careful with their money. Customers want to save money while also having fun.
Show your gratitude to your customers
The art of expressing gratitude to customers and making them feel valued and respected is known as customer appreciation. Businesses can generate positive momentum among their customers.
I will advise businesses to prioritise customer appreciation as one of the ways to strengthen relationships, which will result in higher retention and referral rates. Gratitude, I believe, has psychological benefits for team members and contributes to a positive work environment where people come first.
Check in on your customers on a regular basis
Any company that wants to stay competitive in today’s high-inflation environment must ensure that they check in on their customers with a sense of loyalty.
Customers now have higher expectations than in the past due to increased access to information and technology. They are also educated and concerned about value for money. Businesses should focus not only on acquiring new customers but also on retaining existing ones. Following up with new customers can help with the onboarding process.
While many people were thinking of creative ways to surprise their partners with unique experiences, Yvonne Nelson made it simple for certain couples.
On February 14, 2023, some Ghanaians flocked to the SilverBird Cinemas to watch the debut of her film “Kotaka”, and to have a fantastic time with their partners.
The movie premiere featured Yvonne Nelson, the leading actress, together with Majid Michel, Franklin Adjetey, Solomon Fixon-Owoo, Christy Ukata, and Akuapem Poloo, among others, all appearing in their simple, stylish body suits.
The attractive cast engaged in conversation with fans who came to throw their weight behind them as they answered questions about their various roles in the film.
Yvonne discussed the movie’s production process and some difficulties she faced on Vogue with GhanaWeb’s Doreen Abanema Abayaa.
Despite the difficulties Yvonne mentioned earlier, fans were more than impressed after they had watched the film.
The first group of viewers shared some of their experiences off-camera with Doreen.
According to the fan, he was riveted by the film from start to finish and that spending Valentine’s Day at the Silverbird Cinema with his partner made his day complete.
King Faisal, a struggling Ghana Premier League team, has been given permission by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to transfer their home stadium from the Baba Yara Stadium to the Kwame Kyei Sports Complex at Abrankese for the remainder of the season.
The team requested permission to change venues for the second round of the season from the Ghana Football Association (GFA), and it has already been granted.
“The Ghana Football Association has confirmed that we will play our home matches at the Dr. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex for the second round of the 2022/23 League season. This is a result of our request to change our venue.”the club announced.
Matches generally in the betPawa Premier League have attracted very low patronage with most football fans sadly not enthused by the local game.
King Faisal have been no different with very low attendance during their games at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium coupled with the high cost of playing matches at the venue.
Lower-tier side Nations FC which is owned by Kotoko board chairman, Dr. Kwame Kyei have been using the Abrankese Stadium which he has reportedly acquired from Mr. Kwabena Kesse aka Kessben.
The facility since it was acquired by the business mogul has seen a major facelift with plush dressing rooms among others.
King Faisal will adopt the Kwame Kyei Sports Stadium as their new home for the second round of the league.
They have in the past used the Techiman Golden City Park as their home venue.
Newmont Golden Ridge Ltd (Akyem Mine) has presented a cheque for GH¢184.6 million to the Government of Ghana, as dividend for the year 2022.
The amount represents the government’s carried interest in the operations of the Akyem mine.
The cheque presentation was made by executives of Newmont Africa, led by the Regional Senior Vice-President – Africa Operations, David Thornton.
Mr Thornton thanked the government for its continuous support to Newmont Africa’s Ahafo and Akyem mines and reiterated the company’s commitment to responsible mining operations, while looking to expand Newmont Africa’s footprint in the country with the Ahafo North project.
“Our Ahafo North project remains a key strategic growth prospect for Newmont Africa, and its successful construction and subsequent operation will have immense benefits to our host communities, the local economy, as well as the broader economy of Ghana, in terms of employment creation, local supply chain opportunities, as well as taxes, royalties, and dividend payments to government,” Mr Thornton said.
On Newmont Africa’s direct support to the Ghanaian economy in the past year, beyond statutory payments, Mr Thornton mentioned the company’s support for the government’s gold buying programme that was meant to shore up the country’s gold reserves and help stabilise the economy.
“In spite of global economic challenges that had negatively impacted businesses globally, Newmont Africa was the first mining company to support the government’s gold buying programme by selling 3,500 ounces of gold to the government, through the Bank of Ghana (BoG) in May 2022.”
“An additional 22,500 ounces of gold was sold to BoG in October and November 2022, making a total of 26,000 ounces of gold sold to government in 2022,” he added.
Newmont commended
Receiving the cheque, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, commended Newmont Africa for its compliance to tax and other financial payments to the government of Ghana.
The minister also lauded Newmont Africa for its prompt payment of taxes and acknowledged the potential benefits of the Ahafo North project.
He said, “We welcome payments such as these, especially during these challenging times, and we wish to commend you for being prompt with your payments, be they taxes, royalties, or dividends.”
“We are aware that the Ghana Revenue Authority has recognised you, on several occasions, for your tax compliance.
We look forward to the resumption of your Ahafo North project this year, which will bring in even more revenue to the state.”
Through a combination of tax payments in United States dollars, as well as making forex available to the BoG, Newmont Africa has supported and impacted forex availability to the government of Ghana.
Ghana’s performance at the FIFA World Cup 2022, according to seasoned football administrator Nana Fitz, was nothing short of a disgrace.
He claimed that money spent on the Black Stars for the World Cup could have gone towards other things that are crucial to the game.
The former Cornerstone player claimed, in an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb’s Sports Check, that the World Cup in Qatar did not make effective use of the taxpayers’ money.
“Right now, people are blaming government that we don’t have stadiums and there is no light at the stadiums but you take taxpayers’ money to the World Cup and buy disgrace,” he stated.
He added, “the money that we took to the World Cup, we didn’t buy anything but disgrace. We performed poorly.”
Months after the World Cup, Nana Fitz believes it would be prudent if the GFA and the sports ministry account to Ghanaians on the monies spent at the World Cup.
A video of actor Big Akwes slapping his colleague in the industry, Frank Naro has surfaced online.
Tensions heightened and things escalated so fast when two Kumawood actors, Big Akwes and Frank Naro, met in person for the first time following their feud on social media.
What was meant for reconciliation, turned into a heated altercation when Frank Naro was asked to greet Big Akwes whiles he (Naro) was greeting patrons at an event.
The two have not had the best of relationship after Big Akwes threatened to end Frank Naro’s life following claims that the singer plotted to sacrifice some Kumawood actors for money rituals.
Earlier, in a viral video, Big Akwes was spotted raining curses on Frank Naro with a bottle of schnapps and eggs, whiles alleging that the musician attempted to sacrifice his colleagues for money rituals during an end-of-year party in December 2022.
“If you go somewhere and you’ve been asked to offer a sacrifice, why would you resort to using actors? People take months to organize parties but it took you just four days to organize the party you invited us to because you had an agenda. You are a useless person. If you want to sacrifice someone, why don’t you sacrifice Maame Serwaa your ex-girlfriend? Foolish man. You want to make money at somebody’s expense. You want to be rich more than adults like us.
“Ask him and if he refuses, call him again but record the conversation. If he ever comes out to say I am lying, I promise you that you will fry his meat. You will mount his canopy and stick his funeral posters on the walls. I am holding my Schnapp, fresh in a box. This is also an egg. If he comes out to say my claims are false, he will smell the rat. Curses upon curses,” Big Akwes fumed in a viral video.
Frank Naro on the other hand, debunked the said allegations and even went further to release a song, in that stead, titled ‘Koom’ which translates to ‘Silence’.
That’s not all, it was reported that Frank Naro had involved the police after Big Akwes further threatened him on social media.
But their paths crossed during an event at a Sports Stadium and Frank Naro was approached by the likes of Wayoosi and others who forced him to give Big Akwes a handshake.
Naro who was initially reluctant heeded the request and upon stretching his hand, Big Akwes landed a slap on his face.
‘Shock’ was written all over the faces of all those who witnessed the scene, including Frank Naro, who held on to his cheeks.
Real estate agency, the Greens Ghana, says it is committed to providing the most efficient eco-friendly residential accommodations for Ghanaians.
It also promises affordable accommodation for majority of home seekers and home owners within Accra and its environs.
In an interview with the CEO of this fast-rising development firm, Kiran Deswani, she noted that the company would be the gateway for affordable housing in the shortest possible time.
“The in-house construction team together with carefully sourced materials ensure quality of all properties developed.
Their developments provide facilities and infrastructure carefully thought through from the groundbreaking stages to fine finishing.”
The current development located in Tema community 25 is a gated community of a hundred eight housing units comprising one to five-bedroom houses, recreational area, tarred roads, underground drainage system, upgradeable solar inverters, solar-powered streetlights, property management services, 24-hour security service, playground for kids and eco-friendly landscaping.
Each development comes with a unique detail planned to provide residents with homes they will enjoy and the ultimate space to make lifetime memories,” she stated.
The Greens Ghana was awarded “Best Property Investment of the Year” at the 2017 Ghana Property Awards.
Afia Schwarzenegger has reacted to the reports of her marriage with someone’s husband as speculated by her colleague in the industry, Nana Tornado.
She said the claims are false.
Afia dominated social media trends last week with the publication of photos and videos from what was made to believe was her marriage ceremony.
Close friends of Afia Schwar including Tracey Boakye took to Instagram to congratulate her in photos that captured her wearing a wedding band on her ring finger.
In her latest revelation, Afia has denied ever walking the aisle or being a second wife to the man who was identified as a traditional ruler by Nana Tornado.
Denying the rumours in a radio interview she said: “I am not married, I have said more than 70 times that marriage is not for me. I’ve got a successful career, and I’ve got well-mannered children. If I don’t have a husband, it is enough.”
Explaining the motive behind the photos that witnessed her rocking a kente and a wedding band she said: “I did a photoshoot, it’s my 10th anniversary as the ambassador for orphans. My children were congratulating me based on that…now that am not married, can you go ask the idiot the man he claimed I snatched from his wife.”
Popular broadcaster, Bridget Otoo has joined the tall list of individuals who have patted former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo on the back, after she joined a group of pensioner bondholders to picket at the Ministry of Finance.
The former Chief Justice’s decision to protest with individuals who were demanding full exemption from the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), has since stirred massive reactions from netizens who have applauded her, while others who have slammed her for ‘turning her back on government.’
A key member of the ruling NPP government, Mr. Gabby Ochere Darko, stood tall among individuals who have criticized Sophia Akuffo for partaking in a demonstration meant to label the government incompetent.
Gabby’s comments generated a series of back and forth between him and Mrs. Sophia Akufo, thereby skyrocketing them to top Twitter trends.
Bridget Otoo, has, however, waded in the ongoing banter by raining praises on the former Chief Justice for not allowing herself to be ‘gagged’ while berating Gabby in the process.
“Sophia Akuffo is a different type of human being. She doesn’t need to do this, but she’s doing it! God bless her.
“Pensioners deserve compassion not compulsion- Sofia Akuffo. Something GabbyDarko lacks,” Bridget wrote on Twitter.
Dan Quaye, a former defender for Ghana, has attacked the Hearts of Oak administration for failing to handle several key and experienced players and ultimately letting them go.
The most recent player released by the Phobians, Mohammed Alhassan, has joined rivals Asante Kotoko on a free transfer.
Mohammed Alhassan played with The Phobians for four seasons, winning the Ghana Premier League and two MTN FA Cup championships.
He is expected to help Asante Kotoko defend the Ghana Premier League title with his experience in the game.
In an interview on Happy FM, Dan Quaye, questioned the decision by Hearts of Oak to release certain players like Mo. Alhassan and Manaf Umar who currently play for RTU.
“Look at the way they treated Manaf at RTU, it’s just sad with the way they let go of certain key players.
“What I don’t understand is that, why would Hearts let a good player like Mohammed Alhassan and go for a player in the second or first division player who you would now need to nature?
“Mohammed Alhassan is an experienced player and sometimes the young ones need to learn from such players,” he said.
“Alhassan’s move to is a good one for the player himself because he is not wanted by Hearts of Oak and also with the kind of experience he has, I’m convinced he can help Kotoko in their title contention” he added.
Ghana’s bilateral lenders are discussing the formation of an official creditor committee, a first step needed to engage in debt relief talks for the country, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.
The Paris Club of creditor nations has contacted other bilateral creditors, such as China and India, to engage in forming the committee and deciding who would chair it, one of the sources said.
“Hopefully, it should be resolved soon,” a second source added, without providing further details on the timing.
Ghana in January became the fourth nation to apply to the common framework platform, an initiative of the Group of 20 major economies launched in 2020 to streamline debt restructuring efforts for poorer countries.
China is Ghana’s single biggest bilateral creditor with $1.7 billion of debt, while Ghana owes $1.9 billion to Paris Club members, according to data from the Institute of International Finance (IIF).
Chinese lending represents around 80 per cent of non-Paris Club debts. The country’s total external debt is $28.4 billion.
The government decided to restructure its domestic debt in December, and after five extensions, it announced on Tuesday that they have received support from 80 per cent of creditors.
Also, the largest holders of Ghana’s overseas debt formed a creditor group in December for debt rework talks with the government.
Woodworkers at Kaase Angola in the Asokwa Municipality of the Ashanti Region have said they will resist any attempts by the city authorities to evict them from their current location.
The woodworkers, numbering about 3,000, have occupied the Kumasi Jute Factory‘s land for about 25 years.
They have recently been issued letters evicting them from their current location.
Chairman of the Woodworkers’ Association, George Tawia told Class 91.3 FM’s Ashanti Regional Correspondent, Elisha Adarkwah, that, their colleagues, who used to ply their trade at Anloga Junction, were allocated the Sokoban Wood village to settle down, which was prepared by government. However, their case is different, they are being asked to vacate the land, without any alternative place to move to.
They, therefore, want the authorities to do same for their association as they did for Anloga Junction mates or they will resist any attempts to evict them forcefully.
“If you say you’re evicting us, we don’t have a problem, just find us a place to relocate to but the place was so small for us.
“So after that, the following day, they put notices around informing us of the eviction. We said we don’t have a problem with that, our issue is to get us a place. Also, put into consideration our numbers, while doing that, so we can move,” they said.
Some members of the association also pleaded with the authorities to find them a place to relocate to instead of just evicting them.
One said: “We’re pleading with the authorities to find us a place. They say they are evicting us, we also do not have anywhere to go.”
“This place is big enough for our operations. This is where we get our source of livelihood. If you’re evicting us, where do we go?” another quizzed.
Ozioma Okposo, wife of late Nigerian singer, Sammy Okposo got emotional on Valentine’s Day as she remembered her late husband.
The late gospel singer died on November 25 at the age of 51.
While lovebirds celebrated their relationships on February 14, she took to her Instagram page to pay tribute to her husband.
Ozioma posted a series of old photos of herself with the late Sammy Okposo and accompanied it with an emotional caption that had fans sympathizing with her.
The singer’s widow made it clear that she missed her husband terribly as she reiterated her love for him even in death.
She also prayed for his soul to rest in peace. Ozioma wrote: “Dim oma..My King… I loved you in life, love you still…I know Christ has you in His arms, I have you in my heart. I miss you terribly. Keep resting, my love until forever.”
