Southampton manager Nathan Jones has explained why his outfit signed Ghana international Kamaldeen Sulemana on transfer deadline day.
Sulemana signed a four-and-a-half-year deal to join the Saints from French outfit Stade Rennais on Tuesday.
Reacting to the acquisition of the winger, Nathan Jones asserted the pacey winger can make an immediate impact at the club as they seek to survive relegation.
The Saint are currently bottom on the English Premier League table.
“This is another really positive addition for us this month. We’ve obviously been keen to add a little more potency to the side, and Kamaldeen is someone who does that for us,” said Jones after the signing of the winger.
“He’s at a stage in his career where we feel he can help us in the immediate term, but also continue to grow and develop further into the future.”
The 20-year-old forward leaves Ligue 1 after a season-and-a-half with Rennais, where he made 47 appearances and contributed six goals.
Southampton, who were eliminated from the Caraboa Cup on Tuesday by Newcastle United, will shift their attention to Premier League survival.
Sulemana joins compatriot Mohammed Salisu at the Saint Mary’s.
“When it comes to Kumasi, let me tell you what we’ve been doing there and what you should expect in the new year. We have almost completed our phase two project. The Kumasi International Airport is 99% complete and it’s going through its testing and commissioning currently. The new terminal has the capacity of 1 million passengers,” Pamela Djamson-Tettey said.
“The phase 3 has set off at the Kumasi Airport and also approximately 80% complete. We are extending the runway from 1,981 metres to 2,320 metres. When it comes to Tamale Airport, the terminal is also 99% complete…It is a terminal building that can take up to a capacity of 400,000 passengers. There’s a new VIP lounge, 2 boarding gates, 4 self-service checking, 8 checking desks, commercial retail areas…” she added.
The Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited made this known while speaking at the 4th Aviation Ghana Stakeholders Meeting in Accra on Tuesday, January 31, 2022.
The meeting was to engage key stakeholders on how to improve the services of the aviation industry.
Social commentator Kwame A Plus, has recounted an instance where Sarkodie consistently ignored his phone calls for two years.
He made this claim when the issue of Samini’s rants was tabled for discussion during UTV’s United Showbiz.
Sarkodie and Samini have trended consistently for over a week after the latter accused the former of ignoring his requests to collaborate.
The dancehall artiste called Sarkodie out on social media for supposedly expressing reluctance to jump on the former’s projects.
However, A Plus, a panelist on United Showbiz, shared his thoughts on the subject and recalled an interesting encounter with the Sarkcess Label boss.
“Nobody knows tomorrow. You don’t owe anyone but its nice to be nice. I met Sarkodie in 2008, and I took him to Labadi. I was at Sarkodie’s house and his wife prepared yam and stew for us. It was so nice and almost tasted like my wife’s. We had a pending conversation, so I decided to call him. I have been calling him for the past two years and no response. Later, we met during an event at the under bridge and we had a conversation like nothing happened. Although I was pained, I understand that nobody owes anyone,” he stated.
Sarkodie’s apology
Meanwhile, Sarkodie has apologized for any hard feelings he may have caused Samini.
Speaking during a discussion with Andy Dosty on Hitz FM, Sarkodie, indicated that although he does not agree with the rationale behind Samini accusations, he is sorry.
“Him feeling like that, I don’t have any control over that. I can only say sorry about how he feels. Not necessarily because I agree with everything he is saying,” Sarkodie said.
Considered by many to be the first supermodel, Gia Carangi was only 26 years old when she died of AIDS-related complications in 1986.
It’s been 25 years since Angelina Jolie starred as Gia Carangi in Gia.
The 1998 HBO television film featured a then-22-year-old Jolie as the real-life Carangi, who was considered by many the world’s first supermodel. She died in 1986 at age 26 of AIDS-related complications, at just 26 years old.
Mila Kunis also appeared in Gia as a younger version of Carangi, in one of her first-ever film roles, while additional cast members included Faye Dunaway, Mercedes Ruehl, Elizabeth Mitchell and Scott Cohen.
Directed by Michael Cristofer (Mr. Robot)and co-written by Cristofer, 78, and Jay McInerney, Gia is about “the life of Gia Carangi, a top fashion model from the late 1970s, from her meteoric rise to the forefront of the modeling industry, to her untimely death,” according to a synopsis from IMDb.
Angelina Jolie Reveals Film Role Kids Say Is Most Like Her: “I Thought That Was Really Interesting”
Carangi was born Gia Marie Carangi in Philadelphia on Jan. 29, 1960, into a working-class family that included two older brothers. Her father Joseph Carangi, who was Italian, owned a restaurant, while her mother, Kathleen Carangi (née Adams), was a homemaker.
In the late 1970s, Carangi was discovered on the dance floor by a local photographer. Her first modeling gig for a major advertisement was with Versace, and she had become a well-known figure at Wilhelmina Models in New York City by 1980, according to The New York Times.
But throughout her catapult to fame, Carangi — who was one of the first openly gay models, Dazed reported — struggled with addiction and substance abuse, including of cocaine and heroin.
Back in 2020, makeup artist Sandy Linter recalled to The Hollywood Reporter that she and Carangi had a romance in the late 1970s that “was never a torrid sexual affair but we did love each other.”
“I was just as shocked as anybody that she became an addict,” Linter said. “She thought she was stronger than the drugs. One morning, as she was getting dressed to leave my apartment she asked, ‘What happened to my natural energy?’ She didn’t have the energy to get dressed at 20 years old. The drugs took everything.”
According to Dazed, Carangi attempted several times to get clean, including going to rehab, but it never stuck. She was diagnosed with AIDS in December 1985, and died of related complications the following November.
Linter told THR that the last time she saw Carangi was in 1983 or 1984, when the model rang her doorbell, then “sat down on my couch with me, put her head on my shoulder and cried.”
“It was the end of our ‘romance.’ I knew it and she knew it. Because she looked so good, I had been tricked into thinking that she was on the road to recovery,” Linter said. “I never knew she had AIDS until later. After maybe 30 minutes, she looked out the window, nodded to someone in the street and left. I would never see her again.”
More than 35 years after Carangi’s death, Gia is still beloved by fans, holding a Rotten Tomatoes score of 93%, with an Audience Score of 82%.
Ahead of the movie’s release, Jolie, now 47, told The New York Times in 1997 that she initially “hated” Carangi while doing research about her, based on a 20/20 interview the model once did — but eventually changed her tune and thought, “I’d like to date Gia. I’d want to be her lover.”
PayPal’s announcement follows tens of thousands of layoffs by technology giants in the last month alone.
This year, Google’s parent company Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft have announced major job cuts.
“We must continue to change as our world, our customers, and our competitive landscape evolve,” PayPal’s chief executive Dan Schulman said in a statement.
Also on Tuesday, Snap – the parent company of social media platform Snapchat – warned that revenue for the three months to the end of March could fall by as much as 10%.
After the announcement Snap’s shares fell by almost 15% in extended trade in New York.
At the start of this year, Amazon announced it planned to cut more than 18,000 jobs because of “the uncertain economy” and rapid hiring during the pandemic.
Also this month, Alphabet said it would shed 12,000 jobs, while Microsoft said up to 10,000 employees would lose their jobs.
Last week, Swedish music-streaming giant Spotify said it would cut 6% of its about 10,000 employees, citing a need to improve efficiency.
In another sign of the technology industry slowdown US computer chip maker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) on Tuesday reported a 98% fall in net income for the last three months of 2022.
The company also said it expects revenue to drop by as much 10% in the current quarter.
However, the figures were better than many investors had expected and AMD’s shares rose after the announcement.
In Asia on Wednesday, the world’s second-biggest memory chip maker SK Hynix posted its largest quarterly loss on record.
The South Korean company reported a worse-than-expected 1.7tn won ($1.4bn; £1.1bn) loss for the last three months of 2022, as sales fell by 38%.
The firm pointed to falling computer chip prices and joined rival technology giants as it warned that it expects an industry-wide downturn to worsen in the coming months, before recovering later in the year.
It came after rival Samsung Electronics on Tuesday reported its lowest quarterly profit in eight years.
Former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu is optimistic of a complete win the NDC parliamentary elections for his Constituency.
Although he called for contenders to feel free to file nominations to contest him when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) holds parliamentary primaries in May, he m,entioned that none of his contenders will win more than 1% of the total votes cast.
Whiles giving hope to would-be aspirants, the Tamale South Member of Parliament assured that he would win re-election by a landslide touting his prowess and growing influence over the years.
“The Tamale South seat is free, it is open. When nominations open, you can come in. The only thing I can assure you is that you won’t get more than 5% of the votes or probably 2%. You won’t make more than five percent,” he told Evans Mensah on a Joy News programme.
Haruna has been in Parliament since 2008 when he joined the Fourth Parliament, he has since served in the 5th, 6th, 7th and in the current 8th Parliament.
He has also held a number of ministerial portfolios over the period, among others Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and the Ministry of Communications.
‘Powerful’ Haruna Iddrisu may go unopposed in primaries – Asiedu Nketiah
NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah all but endorsed Haruna Iddrisu to sail through upcoming primaries for the Tamale South seat.
Asiedu Nketiah said the MP, who is in his fifth term, had become so powerful in his constituency that it would even be surprising if he is contested at all when the primaries are held later this year.
“The outgone Minority Leader, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, he is so powerful in his constituency, he is almost always not contested at all. I have my doubts whether anybody will contest him,” Asiedu Nketiah told party faithful during a meeting in London.
The one-time General Secretary was addressing concerns that the January 23 changes to the party’s leadership in Parliament was going to affect some of the replaced leaders at the upcoming primaries.
The NDC will hold presidential and parliamentary primaries on May 13, 2023.
NDC rings changes in parliamentary leadership
The NDC, through its General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, wrote to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to announce the replacement of three members: the Minority Leader, the deputy Minority Leader, and the Minority Chief Whip.
The NDC picked Ato Forson to replace Haruna Iddrisu as leader of the Minority Caucus.
Other changes included Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembele, who is the new deputy Minority Chief Whip.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is also retained as second deputy Minority Chief Whip.
Dr. Phil, hosted by Dr. Phil McGraw, will air its final episode at the end of its 2022-23 season.
The long-running daytime talk show, hosted by Dr. Phil McGraw, will wrap after its current 2022-23 season, its 21st.
McGraw is ending his time with the show after signing his most recent contract with CBS Media Ventures, which was good for five years, in 2018. The syndication company is expected to give networks the option to run previously-taped episodes for the forthcoming 2023-24 season.
“I have been blessed with over 25 wonderful years in daytime television,” McGraw said in a statement sent to PEOPLE. “With this show, we have helped thousands of guests and millions of viewers through everything from addiction and marriage to mental wellness and raising children. This has been an incredible chapter of my life and career, but while I’m moving on from daytime, there is so much more I wish to do.”
Ahead of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) primaries, presidential hopeful, Alan Kyerematen, has pledged to modernise the party if given the nod by delegates.
The former Minister of Trade and Industry also hinted at establishing platforms that can generate resources to pay party executives, so as to allow them concentrate on party duties and responsibilities.
Having served as a minister for an accumulated 10 plus years, both under the John Agyekum Kufuor and the current Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administrations, Alan Kyerematen has said that he will also put in place a pension scheme for the party executives who have devoted their entire lives to serving it.
Speaking during a radio programme in Kumasi, the trade and industry expert did not mince words in highlighting the need for funding party projects and motivating party officials and executives.
“There must be a platform and programmes for party financing. I have the record to have set up the Constituency Business Ventures in the past, that is your way of strengthening the party,” he said.
On the subject of party executives at the constituency and national levels, the seasoned politician suggested a salary structure for them, so that they can also focus on their primary jobs in the party.
He also suggested a pension scheme for committed and full-time party executives, to serve as motivation to others willing to work for the party.
“Full-time party executives must be on full salary to enable them to devote more attention to party work.
“There will be a pension scheme to retired party executives who devote all their time to working for the NPP.
“The focus should be on the party because it is the party that brings the government into power,” he added.
Alan Kyerematen also stressed the need for more attention to be paid to the concerns of footsoldiers, as well as other workers of the party who continue to work tirelessly to get the party into power but are then neglected, with no benefits to show for their efforts.
This trend, he said, must stop in order to build a strong party that is capable of convincingly winning elections in the future.
The longest-serving Minister of Trade and Industry has already confirmed his readiness to contest as flagbearer in the upcoming NPP presidential primaries, anticipated to be fiercely contested, scheduled for later in 2023.
The total was more than double 2021’s figure, and is likely to renew pressure on the industry after some countries, including the UK, imposed special taxes on the profits last year.
Exxon has criticised such measures as counter-productive.
Last month, it sued the European Union over the new windfall tax.
Exxon has also has spoken out against similar proposals in the US, where President Joe Biden has sought to focus blame for last year’s high motor fuel costs on companies failing to spend their profits to boost supply.
“The latest earnings reports make clear that oil companies have everything they need, including record profits and thousands of unused but approved permits, to increase production, but they’re instead choosing to plough those profits into padding the pockets of executives and shareholders,” said White House spokesman Abdullah Hasan.
In an interview with broadcaster CNBC, Exxon boss Darren Woods said the White House needed to “get its facts straight”, noting that the firm had continued to spend money on oil and gas projects despite pressure from investors and others to shift investments to renewable energy.
He told investors on Tuesday that the profits were a vindication of the firm’s strategy.
“Of course, our results clearly benefited from a favourable market but, to take full advantage of the undersupplied market, our work began years ago,” Mr Woods said in a conference call with investors. “We leaned in when others leaned out, bucking conventional wisdom.”
Exxon’s shares sank sharply in 2020, when demand for oil tumbled, leading the firm to report its first loss in decades.
But the price of the shares has soared since 2021, especially since oil prices jumped when the war in Ukraine disrupted energy supplies last year.
The firm said it had been working hard to reduce costs, and profits would have been even higher without the windfall taxes in Europe.
The company said it took a hit of $1.3bn in the final months of 2022, mainly from extra European taxes.
It also reported a $3.4bn charge for the year stemming from the expropriation of its investments in Russia.
Exxon said it increased investment by about 38% last year. In some key areas, such as Guyana and the Permian Basin, production was up more than 30%, offsetting output lost due to divestments and the change in Russia, the company said.
Overall oil production increased about 3% in 2022, to 2,354 thousands of barrels per day from 2,289 thousands of barrels per day in 2021.
Did Shakira split from Gerard Piqué after finding out he allegedly cheated on her due to some mysteriously missing jam? No one truly knows, but the Colombian superstar’s fans certainly think so.
Following the release of Shakira’s hit collaboration with Bizarrap titled “BZRP Music Session #53” — which features lyrics about the split and Piqué’s current girlfriend Clara Chia Marti — earlier this month, fans have been digging for information regarding what went south between the couple after more than a decade together.
Less than two months before announcing their separation in June 2022, the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer-songwriter released a collaboration with Rauw Alejandro titled “Te Felicito” alongside a music video. In the clip, Shakira can be seen opening a refrigerator door and looking inside, only to find Alejandro’s head on a plate.
During an interview about the song and video with British television show This Morning in May 2022, the hosts reportedly asked Shakira what she was looking for in the fridge. Translated from Spanish to English per ShowNews Today, she replied, “To find the truth! It is when I go to the fridge and find the head of Rauw Alejandro.”
Shakira Opens Up About Moving Past Betrayal as She Marks First New Year’s Since Gerard Piqué Split
According to ShowNews Today, Shakira later revealed in an interview with the Spanish TV show Socialite that she discovered Piqué’s alleged infidelity after returning home from a trip to find that some of her jam was missing.
What does jam have to do with infidelity? Well, per the outlet, the “She Wolf” performer favored a particular strawberry jam that the 35-year-old former soccer star didn’t like, leading her to believe that someone else had entered their home while she was gone and eaten the jam.
While it’s important to note that video of the alleged interview isn’t easily available online, many of Shakira’s fans have posted tweets about the jam rumor.
“Shakira’s jam watching Piqué’s mistress reach for the jar,” wrote one Twitter user alongside a photo of Doja Cat’s viral all-red outfit worn during Paris Fashion Week.
Economic Secretary to the Treasury Andrew Griffith said the government remained “steadfast in our commitment to grow the economy and enable technological change and innovation – and this includes crypto-asset technology”.
“But we must also protect consumers who are embracing this new technology – ensuring robust, transparent and fair standards,” he added.
Even when the crypto market was booming, in 2021, calls for regulation were loud.
After the chaos of 2022, the calls for order are now deafening.
Hundreds of billions of pounds were wiped from the crypto landscape and companies and people went bankrupt thanks to scandal after scandal.
The UK’s plan to finally put concrete proposals in place will be welcomed by consumer investors hit in their pockets.
But I expect the consultation to be fiery, with many different groups wading into the debate about how to tame the wild beast of Bitcoin and other digital coins.
Part of the original appeal of cryptocurrency was its independence of traditional financial networks.
Moves to allow establishment control will infuriate a core group of true believers.
But with the right form of regulation, others will argue, the industry could truly blossom.
Last year, Rishi Sunak, then Chancellor, said he wanted to make the UK “a global hub for crypto-asset technology”.
But since then, the industry worldwide has been buffeted by a series of crises – most recently, the collapse of the FTX exchange, which prosecutors have described as “one of the biggest financial frauds in US history”.
The value of crypto assets has also fallen sharply, with Bitcoin now worth less than half of its highest price of more than $67,000.
‘Wild West’
The so-called crypto winter has raised questions about whether the industry can ever be effectively regulated.
Conservative MP Harriett Baldwin, who chairs the Treasury Committee, told BBC News it had heard evidence of “truly Wild West behaviour” but also recognised there was “valuable technological innovation happening that could benefit the UK economy”.
“We are paying close attention to these plans and to the regulators’ plans, because we would not want our constituents to think cryptocurrencies are any less risky if they are regulated,” she said.
Jason Guthrie, European head of digital assets at the financial firm, Wisdom Tree, said the sector had a bright future. The “devil would be in the detail”, he told BBC News, but he “absolutely welcomed” regulators looking at cryptocurrency – and the right regulation would be in the interests of the industry as well as customers.
“Having a solid a regulatory framework, having enforcement capabilities, is really important for consumer confidence,” Mr Guthrie said.
“The sooner we have details around concrete proposals, the easier it is to plan for and build towards.”
‘Open for business’
Jeremy Barnett, a barrister and honorary professor of algorithmic regulation, at University College London, said the UK had much to gain, as entrepreneurs were currently choosing to set up elsewhere.
“If you don’t have a proper regime, you drive people off shore,” he said.
“I want to see people who have cryptocurrency services and products encouraged to open for business in the UK.
“We should be in this space – but it does need to be regulated and policed.”
The government’s consultation on its proposals will close on 30 April, with any responses then considered by ministers.
Once any legislation is put to Parliament, it will be the job of the regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, to draw up the detailed rules the sector will have to follow.
According to the Source at Alec Baldwin spent time at N.Y.C.’s private club Zero Bond on Tuesday hours after Santa Fe County District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies formally filed charges against him
The source says that “Alec seemed chill and low-key” as he visited the exclusive spot in the NoHo neighborhood of Manhattan with his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, adding: “They didn’t engage with anyone but headed straight to where everyone plays poker.”
The area at the back of the private members’ club is only available to poker players, the source tells PEOPLE.
“After spending around 30 to 40 minutes in the back poker area, Alec and Hilaria came back out and sat in the lounge,” the source says, adding that the pair “chatted away” in the lounge. (Fox News obtained photos of Alec outside of Zero Bond on Wednesday.)
Zero Bond states on their website that they maintain a “rigorous process in regards to member selection,” and only members who “display a high level of integrity” and demonstrate an ability to contribute to the private community are accepted.
Once a potential member submits a formal application and is accepted into the club, they are required to pay an initiation fee and an annual fee that varies by age.
The charges against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed, 25, include two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Hutchins’ death came after a prop gun held by Baldwin — that contained live rounds — was discharged.
House prices in the UK fell for the fifth month in a row in January, according to Nationwide Building Society.
The price of the average property last month was £258,297, down by 0.6% on December.
Annual house price growth slowed to 1.1%, down from 2.8% in December.
The country’s biggest building society said it would be “hard for the market to regain much momentum in the near term.”
Robert Gardner, chief economist at Nationwide, said “economic headwinds are set to remain strong, with real earnings likely to fall further and the labour market widely projected to weaken as the economy shrinks”.
He added that the affordability of mortgages would “remain challenging” in the short term due to higher interest rates, while saving for a deposit was “proving a struggle for many given the rising cost of living”.
Mortgage approvals fall
On Tuesday, the Bank of England reported lenders had approved fewer mortgages than expected in December, about 35,000 compared with more than 46,000 in November.
That is the lowest number since January 2009, excluding the pandemic lockdowns.
Andrew Harvey, senior economist at Nationwide, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The decline [in approvals] wasn’t unexpected, given we have seen a big slowdown in mortgage applications following the mini-budget.”
However, he said there were signs mortgage rates were slowly starting to improve.
These latest figures suggest mortgages are less affordable in all regions compared with 2021, with the cost of servicing the typical mortgage as a share of take-home pay at or above the long-run average.
London and the south of England face the biggest “affordability pressures”, with Scotland and the North remaining the most affordable regions, but mortgage payments there as a share of take-home pay are still at their highest level for more than a decade.
High Life musician George Kwabena Adu, also known as Kwabena Kwabena, has revealed why he has been single for some time.
According to him, it is a period to be used for reorganisation and preparation for the next relationship.
In an interview on Prime Morning on Tuesday, the musician indicated that living a single life has helped him to know more about himself. He said the decision has given him the opportunity to adjust himself for the relationship.
“I met myself quite recently, and I’m having a moment. I’m getting to know George more, and I want to even prepare myself better for the next person I meet, because the next person is going to enjoy. She’s going to get a great version of me. She’s going to enjoy a more sophisticated Kwabena. The whole world is going to know her,” he told Asieduwaa Akumia.
While he is single, he hopes to meet someone of his status.
Having experienced singlehood, he now believes that it is the best period to know oneself, as it has helped him.
The “Obaa” hitmaker believes one can be able to exhibit true love only after discovering himself or herself.
Kwabena Kwabena also indicated that being single has helped him to be more focused on re-establishing himself as he has returned to school.
As to whether he is searching or not, he said, “It’s quite relative now.”
The “Tokro” hitmaker has announced a new package for fans who buy tickets to his “Vita Milk Love Night” concert, which he says is aimed at singles.
The package entails an all-expenses-paid Accra-Dubai-Accra ticket for two. The event will be held at the National Theatre at 8:00pm on February 11, 2023
A fresh female graduate of Federal Polytechnic, Nekede has confessed that she was able to pass all her exams while in school by sleeping with her lecturers.
According to the lady who couldn’t hide her joy after successfully passing out from the tertiary institution, if not for her vajayjay, she would have been expelled from the school because of poor grades.
But thanks be to God who created her as a woman, she was able to manipulate her lecturers to give her good grades with the help of her vajayjay.
Sharing a video of her final moments inside the school campus, she said
“Omo today is a very long day mehn. Nekede bye bye. This nekede stress, it ends today. I’m now a graduate. It can only be God o. It can only be God and my pussy o.”
This is the same template most ladies used in the university to pass out with flying colours but they are blasting the lady on social media just for speaking the truth.
Some are even calling on the school’s authorities to penalize her by revoking her certificate because it was acquired in a fraudulent manner.
Image caption, The capsule went missing after being transported from a mine near Newman in Western Australia
An urgent search is under way in Western Australia after a tiny capsule containing a radioactive substance went missing.
The casing contains a small quantity of radioactive Caesium-137, which could cause serious illness if touched.
It was lost between the town of Newman and the city of Perth in mid-January – a distance of roughly 1,400km (870 miles).
The public has been warned to stay away from the capsule if they see it.
It was being transported on a truck between a mine site north of Newman in the Pilbara region and the north-eastern parts of Perth between 10-16 January when it was mislaid. Caesium-137 is a substance commonly used in mining operations.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has said the capsule cannot be weaponised but could cause radiation burns and have other longer-term risks like cancer.
The object emits a “reasonable” amount of radiation, Dr Andrew Robertson, the state’s chief health officer and Radiological Council chair, said.
“Our concern is that someone will pick it up, not knowing what it is,” he said. “They may think it is something interesting and keep it, or keep it in their room, keep it in their car, or give it to someone.”
Image caption, The missing capsule is tiny but said to contain a “reasonable” amount of radiation
DFES has released an illustration of the object, which measures 6mm by 8mm.
The sites where the transportation began and ended have been searched and efforts are under way to figure out the exact route and stops that were made to narrow down the field of search.
Anyone who sees the object is asked to call the DFES and to seek urgent medical assistance if they think they have come into contact with it.
A wedding reception that was supposed to be fun quickly devolved into a fight.
Two women who had come purposely for the food could not agree on who should be in charge of the serving and thus fought angrily.
In a video shared online, these women are seen throwing objects at one another as others tried to separate. The underlying cause of the fight is the jollof rice which was to be served.
At a point, the hosts had to flee the scene for fear of being hit by flying objects. The incident which happened in Nigeri has since gone viral.
Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, has detailed how the Presidency spent over GHC191m in nine months (i.e January to September 2022).
Giving a breakdown of the figure in a tweet, Mr Ablakwa disclosed that fuel bills paid at the presidency within the 9-month period under review cost a colossal GHS51.1million. (51,109,137.86).
“Empirical analysis conducted reveals that government failed abysmally in its promise to slash fuel expenditure by 50%,” he said in the tweet made on January 31, 2023.
He further disclosed that President Akufo-Addo’s regional tours last year cost “the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer a staggering GHC16.9million (16,906,272.45).”
Additionally, he mentioned that “an unbelievable GHS15million (15,000,000.00)” was spent by the Presidency on tyres and batteries for official vehicles.
Also, payment for new vehicles cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer GHC 6.5million (6,500,000.00) .” This, he stressed was distressing considering Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s announcement of a ban on imported official vehicles in March last year.
Other costs include; Payment for Networking and ICT Equipment which cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer an impressive GHS6.6million (6,600,000.00); An additional expenditure on Office Equipment/Furniture and Fittings cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer a fantastic GHS7.07million (7,070,315.28); and Telecommunications and Internet Services from January to September , which cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer a shocking GHS20million (20,000,000.00).”
This adds to the number of revelations made by Mr Ablakwa about the President’s expenditure. He has been monitoring presidential travels on chartered jets since 2021. In June last year, he revealed that President Akufo-Addo spent GHC 34 million on luxury jet charters in 13 months. However, the Presidency contested this claim, describing it as false.
With the details in the said report which he described as gut-wrenching, Mr Ablakwa concluded that the government was not taking seriously the request to dramatically reduce spending in the midst of an economic crisis.
“I couldn’t agree more with the revered and celebrated Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference following their timely appeal to the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to “present a posture that is consistent with the fact that the country is in dire straits or crisis” and their further demand for “drastic government expenditure control”,” he said.
This presidential candidate’s remark is consistent with the current economic crisis and the problems with Ghana’s contentious domestic debt swap program.
The majority caucus in parliament requested Ken Ofori Atta’s dismissal as finance minister in October 2022. On Tuesday, October 25, 2022, the majority of MPs in Parliament made the statement to the media.
The signatures of the legislators of the NPP are backing the call on the president to sack his finance minister and his deputy.
Addressing the media on the issue, MP for Asante Akyem North, Andy Appiah-Kubi, said they have been compelled to go public with their demands because several appeals to the Presidency through the leadership have failed.
The 80 NPP MPs who addressed the media disclosed that their position is consistent with those of the colleagues who were not present at the time of the press engagement.
He revealed that confidence is an unquantifiable product and that once the public loses trust in the economy, getting it back will be difficult.
“I have asked the president to do something to stop our currency from going down. Some serious decisions have to be taken. I completely disagree with the president on his position on the finance minister.
“I have said this before, and it does not mean that I have a personal issue against the finance minister. I think he should have left 7 months ago, in my personal view,” Kwabena Agyei Agyapong told Ama Gyenfa Ofosu Darkwa.
National Division One League team Nzema Kotoko have signed former AshantiGold central midfielder Aminu Adams.
Adams was a standout player for Kintampo-based Top Talent Football Club in the 2020-21 season of the MTN FA CUP Competition, where his team made it to the quarter-finals before being eliminated by AshantiGold.
He joins Nzema Kotoko on a short-term deal for the rest of the 2022-23 Access Bank Division One League season.
The experienced youngster will be instrumental for Nzema Kotoko if they are to stand any chance of gaining promotion to the Ghana Premier League.
Wife of Osofo Kyiriabosom Madam Princess Nyarko has finally spoken following reports of her divorce from her husband.
The report that Osofo Kyiriabosom has divorced his wife was first published on the internet by the man of God himself.
He made this revelation while speaking to his congregation last Sunday.
After making this disclosure, the controversial man of God confirmed that he shared a child with another woman and that’s why his wife opted for divorce.
He maintained that the fact that he went out with another woman did not give her the impetus to leave the marriage. Also, Osofo Kyiri Abosom narrated how her ex-wife peddled falsehoods about him and said he works under the influence of “juju.”
“It is all because I have a beautiful baby with another woman.” She has taken me to court because she wants my properties. She is moving from one court to another because of what she can get. “Officially, I wish to announce that my wife and I are no longer together,” he said.
Amidst the brouhaha, Madam Precious has alleged that her husband has a low sperm count and can’t impregnate a woman.
She continued that, their first child was adopted and their twin children were conceived through IVF.
As claimed by Madam Precious, she hasn’t divorced Osofo Kyiriabosom yet because she hasn’t returned the bride price he paid to her family as of the time of this particular interview.
Talking about wanting the man of God’s properties, she recounted how she began life with him when he had nothing to his name hence if he has now made it, then she deserves a fair share of his success because she stayed with him through thick and thin
A. HIGHLIGHTS OF MOF MEETING WITH IBF ON FRI. 27th JAN, 2023.
1. The Minister of Finance (FM) welcomed the IBF recommendations from the report and indicated that it was something Ghana needs to consider.
2. The finance minister iterated the position that the DDE is voluntary for individuals.
The government will honour its obligations to individuals who opt to retain their original bonds.
Thus, there will be no punitive action against individuals who opt to retain the bonds.
3. The MoF has no responsibility for happenings on the secondary market. For this matter, the FM cannot assure market liquidity for the old bonds.
He believes the benchmark bonds will be more tradable as more of those will be in circulation.
4. The FM understands the unique position of individuals and collective investment schemes – as enumerated by the IBF leadership – for which reason he is considering presenting a revised DDE offer on Monday, 30th January 2022 for individuals to consider participating if they desire.
It will remain purely optional and voluntary.
B. THE IBF POSITION
1. We welcome the Minister’s affirmation of the rights of individual bondholders to have the benefits of their current investment fully honoured without discrimination or punitive actions against non-DDE individual investors.
This, in effect, presents individuals with a self-exemption option which bears no negative implications as far as government’s payment obligations are concerned.
2. The original bonds retain more economic value and provides stronger enforcement rights than the DDE bonds.
They are also well suited for the investment plans and life goals set by individuals at the time of their investments.
In our estimation, this makes the original bonds superior and will be more tradable and liquid. We anticipate increased trading between individuals and pension funds who continue to pursue higher and realistic returns.
3. The IBF remains willing and able to assist government further consider the proposed fiscal adjustments and recommendations captured in the joint technical committee report.
The report estimates savings or fiscal space in excess of GHS83bn to assist government reduce its DDE indebtedness of GHS138bn.
4. The IBF as at the publication of this release has not received the MoF’s revised proposal for our consideration, evaluation and advice to members.
5. Individuals, as responsible citizens, have subjected themselves to all the new tax regimes aimed at boosting government revenue without complain.
This is a massive contribution to government’s economic turnaround strategy.
C. RECOMMENDATION TO INDIVIDUALS AND COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT SCHEMES
1. If you intend to optimise your investments, maintain your superior original/old bonds.
Hence, do not sign up to the DDE.
2. Do not harbour any form of fear of being punished for rejecting the DDE.
The law is in your favour and the Minister of Finance has been categorical in affirming your right by stating that he will honour obligations under the old bonds and will not undertake any action to punish individuals who reject the DDE.
3. If you feel compelled to support the DDE programme for other reasons, please, do not hesitate to sign on to the DDE.
4. To support the turnaround of the economy, we encourage all not to lose confidence in Ghana’s financial system.
The continuous investments and savings of everyone is required to spur the growth of our economy.
5. We urge every citizen to file their taxes and honestly pay up all obligations due.
We all owe it to Mother Ghana to make things work.
We are grateful to the Finance Minister and the Government for the cooperation extended us during this process.
Chelsea have agreed a British record 121m euro (£107m) deal for Benfica’s Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
The deal eclipses the £100m Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish in 2021.
Benfica said in a statement it had “reached an agreement with Chelsea FC for the sale of all the rights of the player Enzo Fernandez”.
Fernandez, who only joined Benfica for a reported £10m in August, was named young player of the tournament during Argentina’s World Cup triumph in Qatar.
The 22-year-old’s arrival takes Chelsea’s January spending to £288m, according to transfer website Transfer market.
That follows an outlay of around £270m in the summer – a record for a British club in the summer window – taking their total spend under new American owner Todd Boehly to more than £550m on 17 new players.
The Fernandez signing is the joint-sixth most expensive of all-time, equalling the 120m euros Barcelona paid for France forward Antoine Griezmann in 2019.
‘Akokofun’ hitmaker, Great Ampong known in real life as Isaiah Kwadwo Ampong has given more insight into the joint album he did with Ghanaian legend, Daddy Lumba.
He remarked “Lumba paid for the cost of production of the songs on the album and we have records to that effect because everything that we did was well documented”.
Talking about his encounter with Daddy Lumba on Neat FM in Accra, Great Ampong said most of the people that came to the launch of their joint album were invited by him.
He revealed “Prior to the launching of the album, Lumba didn’t even spend a cedi on the launching because he had never done anything of such nature before.
“Most of the people that were invited for the launching were those that came because of me and I don’t even know those that Lumba invited,” he said monitored by Amansan Krakye of MyNewsGh.com
He added “I am a church person so a lot of people came to support me during the launching of the album including the likes of Prophet Owusu Bempah n co”.
Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has yet again made another damning revelation about how the Presidency squanders the taxpayers’ money.
He alleged in his latest release that the Office of the President spent over GHC 20 million on internet and call charges, among other expenses, in a span of nine months (January 2022 to September 2022).
Taking to twitter, Mr Ablakwa also disclosed that the Presidency spent a “whooping” GHC 16.9 million (16,906,272.45) on President Akufo-Addo’s regional tours.
Additionally, he mentioned the Presidency spent GHC 6.5 million (6,500,000.00) to purchase new vehicles despite a ban on imported official vehicles in March last year, as announced by the Finance Minister, among other things.
Also, he disclosed that “tyres and batteries for official vehicles cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer an unbelievable GHC15million (15,000,000.00).”
This adds to the number of revelations made by Mr Ablakwa about the President’s expenditure. He has been monitoring presidential travels on chartered jets since 2021. In June last year, he revealed that President Akufo-Addo spent GHC 34 million on luxury jet charters in 13 months. However, the Presidency contested this claim, describing it as false.
With the details in the said report which he described as gut-wrenching, Mr Ablakwa concluded that the government was not taking seriously the request to dramatically reduce spending in the midst of an economic crisis.
“I couldn’t agree more with the revered and celebrated Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference following their timely appeal to the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to “present a posture that is consistent with the fact that the country is in dire straits or crisis” and their further demand for “drastic government expenditure control”,” he said.
He said that the incident took place after the construction company left the location.
Dr. Baizie explained what happened when the NDC left power on GHOne TV: “A lot of political interference went place. As a result, security measures were not even taken to protect the supplies and equipment that were on-site.
“So as we speak, my understanding is that a lot of materials and equipment have been stolen from the site. It is estimated that the value is over US$7million. I think the Minister of Works and Housing should be in the position to tell us why security was not provided at the site when they knew that they were supposed to provide security,” he added.
Read the full story originally published on May 1, 2021 by Kasapaonline.
According to him, the theft took place when the construction company abandoned the site and left behind some of its materials and equipment, a move that allowed people to take whatever they wanted.
“When NDC left power, what happened was that a lot of political interference took place. As a result of that even protecting the materials and the equipment that was on-site with security was not done.
“So as we speak, my understanding is that a lot of materials and equipment have been stolen from the site. It is estimated that the value is over US$7million. I think the Minister of Works and Housing should be in the position to tell us why security was not provided at the site when they knew that they were supposed to provide security,” Kaminta Baizie told Francis Abban host of the ‘State of Affairs’ show on GHONE TV.
Meanwhile, Minister for Works and Housing Francis Asenso-Boakye says about US$32million is needed to complete the Saglemi Housing project.
He however says his ministry is taking all necessary measures to get the facility completed for use.
“The original output target of the Saglemi project of 5,000 units at a total cost of US$200 million as stipulated in the financing agreement presented to, and approved by Parliament had surreptitiously, and drastically, reduced to 1,502, of which 1,389 units had been completed without a commensurate reduction in the overall loan financing. Currently, an amount of approximately, US$197 million representing 98 percent has been expended on 1,502 units as against the planned 5,000 units,” the Minister said at a press conference in Accra Tuesday.
“Although the financing of the project had largely been exhausted, an initial technical audit by the Ministry revealed the lack of primary infrastructure to the Saglemi project site thus limiting the utility of the development. The key primary infrastructure still outstanding include water supply and electricity.”
“The Ministry tasked the Ghana Institution of Surveyors to conduct a cost and technical audit of the contract executed by the contractors in the context of the variety of agreements and commitments made by the parties to the project. Upon completion of the audit, the Ghana Institution of Surveyors estimated that an approximate amount of US$32 million would be needed to complete the project”, he added.
Hon. Asenso Boakye disclosed that “as recent as 18th March 2021, I have personally visited the project site and have acknowledged the urgent need to complete the project, notwithstanding the complexities the project presents. Several ideas and scenarios, including dedicating a section of the housing units to the Armed Forces of Ghana, have been mooted and are being analyzed. A cursory inspection of the current state of development belies the fundamental challenge of the absence of the primary infrastructure the site suffers, for which reason a further investment is required. As the country faces the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, public finances are severely constrained, the Ministry acknowledges that completing the development is not an easy or straightforward task.
“These facts are not information exclusive to the Ministry and could easily be found in the public domain due to the extensive news coverage the issue has garnered over the past four years. For this reason, the Ministry finds this video to be a grandstanding gesture laden with diabolical intent, to say the least.”
The 20-year-old joined the Saints from French Ligue 1 side, Stade Rennais in a deal worth 25 million euros with further 3 million euros add-ons.
Mohammed Salisu was the first Ghanaian player to join the Premier League side in August 2020.
The defender joined the side from Spanish La Liga side, Real Valladolid for a fee worth £10.9 million.
Kamaldeen Sulemana, however, becomes the fourth signing for the Saints in the January window, following the arrivals of Mislav Oršić, Charly Alcaraz, and James Bree, while Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu has since become the fifth new arrival at Southampton after joining from Genk.
Sulemana featured twice for Ghana at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar and has scored one goal in 22 appearances for club and country so far this season. He scored five goals in 34 appearances for Rennais last term.
Having joined compatriot Mohammed Salisu at St. Mary’s, Sulemana could make his debut for Southampton on Saturday away at Brentford in the Premier League.
Bayern Munich have signed Portugal wing-back Joao Cancelo on loan until the end of the season from Manchester City, the German club confirmed on Tuesday.
Bayern have an option to buy the Portuguese defender for a reported 70 million euros at the end of the season. Cancelo, who has scored seven times in 41 appearances for Portugal, arrived in Munich on Monday and completed a medical on Tuesday for a move that could spell the end of France international Benjamin Pavard’s time at Bayern.
The 28-year-old Portuguese defender joined City from Juventus for 65 million euros in 2019 and has a contract with the English champions until 2027. “FC Bayern is a great club, one of the best in the world, and it’s enormous motivation for me to now play alongside these extraordinary players in a team,” Cancelo said in a statement released by the club on Tuesday.
“I know that this club, this team lives for titles and wins titles every year. I’m also driven by the hunger for success.”Cancelo has won multiple titles throughout his career, including league titles with Benfica, Juventus and Man City. Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said the club “had been thinking about (Cancelo) for a while” before making its move.
“He’s the optimal fit in our system with his attacking style of play and dynamism, and his mentality and experience fit very well in our team. I’m convinced Joao will help us in the coming weeks and months where we want to win titles.” Bayern secured the deadline-day signing after Cancelo, who has been named in the Premier League Team of the Year for the past two seasons, has fallen out of the Man City first team in recent weeks.
Manager Pep Guardiola has left Cancelo out of the starting line-up in each of the team’s last three games, with academy graduate Rico Lewis, alongside Nathan Ake, Kyle Walker and John Stones all preferred to Cancelo.
Cancelo could make his Bayern debut in the club’s German Cup match away against Mainz on Wednesday, or in their away Bundesliga clash with Wolfsburg on Sunday.
This was revealed in a statement released by the company in Accra.
ECG said in the statement that it had listed every unit usage and the anticipated cost in a “Reckoner” that makes it crystal obvious how the tariff is applied and billed.
The Reckoner will be displayed at all districts and customer service centres nationwide to guide customers on their electricity purchases.
The company said it has established customer help desks in all our districts and customer service centres to assist and explain to customers as well as reconcile any challenge that they may face.
While assuring customers and stakeholders of its commitment to ensuring a smooth implementation of the new tariff, ECG advised customers to conserve energy and spend less on electricity.
Nana Tornado, has reacted to the socialite’s sentence by a Tema High Court.
In a video that Tornado shared on Instagram, he made fun of Afia, stating that she couldn’t possibly remain silent for the next two years after the court forbade her from engaging in online insults and fights.
“Afia Schwarzenegger, you can’t be quiet for two years, the two years the judge has given you to keep quiet, and not insult anyone on social media, you can’t.
“The ¢60,000 you were asked to pay, you paid it with ease because it’s not a lot of money when you borrow from people,” he said.
He further stated that she would have chosen to remain in custody for 10 days if the judge had entirely barred her from using social media.
“You know very well that if the judge had banned you from social media for two years, you would have taken the ten-day jail term without argument. That’s why I am saying, if you act smart on this earth, when you see a goat, you will greet it, good morning.
“Ghanaians you’ve heard of the breaking news already, it’s not me, Automatic, that will have to inform you. The judge has judged the case between Afia and Chairman Wontumi. We are winning,” Tornado added on January 31, 2023.
Earlier on Tuesday, Afia Schwarzenegger was asked by the Tema High Court to pay GHC60,000 instead of a jail sentence during her contempt case hearing.
In an exclusive interview with Abrantepa, Maurice Ampaw, Chairman Wontumi’s attorney, said that part of Schwarzenegger’s sentencing included a two-year restriction on social media.
A Germany-based Ghanaian lady has accused the founder and leader of Universal Spiritual Outreach, Bishop Abed Kwabena Asiamah, popularly known as Ajaguraja of raping her.
The lady identified as Gladys has further alleged that the spiritualist also charmed her and through that was able to lure her into giving him several sums of money including monies drawn from her children’s savings.
According to Gladys, she travelled from Germany to meet Bishop Asiamah over some abdominal pains she had failed to treat with orthodox care.
In an interview with Oman Channel, a YouTube page, she claimed that the prophet asked her to make a sacrifice of a car valued at some GHC8,000 when she first visited his church.
She added that the prophet subsequently forced himself on her and had sex with her after she had declined his claim that the spirit had ordained him to take her as his wife.
She added that Bishop Asiamah failed to heal her condition but succeeded inn fleecing her of different sums of money.
In the same interview, another lady who said she is a prophetess also accused Prophet Asiamah of being a gigolo – a man who has sex with and is supported by a woman.
According to her, she fell victim to his scheme after she fell for his love proposal and ended up losing her church and membership to the prophet.
According to George Domfeh, Ghana’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio, not Ken Ofori-Atta, is to blame for the country’s economic position, contrary to statements made by others.
According to him, the charges made by former president John Dramani Mahama that the finance minister is to blame for the economic problems citing his reckless borrowing should be ignored since they are unsupported by facts, he claimed in an interview with Neat FM.
“I’m talking about what former president John Dramani Mahama said, that because of Ken Ofori-Atta’s reckless borrowing, that is why we’re in economic crisis. I don’t agree with him.
“It is very difficult to believe such an assertion because there’s no data and nothing to support it. Our problem is the debt-to-GDP ratio. Debt to GDP was 182 some years ago,” he said.
He continued that during Mahama’s administration, the country had to turn to the IMF for a bailout because of debt to GDP, and when asked about it, the former president wouldn’t attribute that to careless borrowing.
“Kufuor left it at 32 in 2008 and when Mahama was also in government it was 71 and finally 72.6 in 2015 which took us to the IMF for a bailout. “I’m sure when you ask him about it, he will never say it is because of reckless borrowing that’s why we went to the IMF at the time.
“Indeed, when this government came to power we were still in IMF, and since 2016 the debt to GDP ratio was always high. It was in 2017 that things started to change. So, if you say it is because of reckless borrowing that is why we’re in an economic crisis then you’re not being fair to the finance minister,” he added.
Former President John Dramani Mahama speaking at the Chatham House in London on Friday, January 27, on the theme “Africa’s Strategic Priorities and Global Role,” blamed government reckless borrowing for the current economic crisis.
“We had been raising the red flag since 2019 about the government’s reckless borrowing. Going onto the Eurobond market every year for 3 billion dollars and not investing it in the productive sectors of the economy and using most of it for consumption and that is what has ended us where we are,” he said.
Huge news on transfer deadline day as Arsenal have reached an agreement with Chelsea for the signing of Jorginho. The Gunners will pay 12 million pounds for the Italian whose Chelsea contract expires in summer 2023.
Surprise on the final day of the January transfer window. Arsenal have moved very quickly and reached a last minute agreement with Chelsea for the signing ofJorginho
The Italian international, whoseChelsea contract expires in June, will continue his career at the Gunners for 12 million pounds.
Fabrizio Romano reports that an agreement has been reached between the two London clubs and the 31 year-old midfielder will sign a contract until 2024 once his medical has been reached.
Arsenal were planning to sign a reinforcement in midfield in this transfer window. Moises Caicedo of Brighton was the first option. However, as a result of Brighton’s refusal to sell the player, the Arsenal board went for Jorginho, one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
Manager Mikel Arteta was fundamental to persuading the footballer to accept the offer of the Premier League players. In the coming hours, the news will be made official.
He contends that while providing excellent customer service to travelers is still a top concern for the airline business, it is essential that they feel secure and at ease while using their facilities or flying.
Speaking at the 4th Aviation Ghana Stakeholders Meeting in 2023, Mr. Ofori Asiamah emphasized that the government will, on the other hand, provide an atmosphere that will allow indigenous carriers to prosper.
“Customers Service delivery is very important in the airline industry and I want to entreat all the airlines to provide safe, reliable and comfortable flight to their passengers. They should always remember that the passenger comes first,” he said.
“Government on its part will continue to create enabling environment to grow the domestic airlines across the nation,” he added.
Ghanaian slay queen lawyer and socialite, Sandra Ankobiah has reacted to the viral pregnancy report.
Sandra has boldly denied being pregnant although she is seen in a video looking pregnant.
Taking to social media, Sandra has shared a throwback video of her to debunk the pregnancy report.
She noted in the video that she visited Office and Co last Friday, the 27th of January 2023 and her tummy was flat as seen in the vid.
Fans who were not clear about what Sandra Ankobiah intended by sharing the video proceeded to find out whether she is pregnant or not, and she denied being pregnant.
Meanwhile, the video that popped up on social media shows her with a baby bump.
According to Blogger Aba The Great, she spotted her pregnant and expecting.
Also, Sandra Ankobiah has been off from social media for months but after the pregnancy report, she has surfaced quickly to come and deny it.
Nobody has been able to hide their pregnancy or baby forever. The truth will surely come
According to the ORC, the registration of business names Act,192 (Act 151) on annual renewals mandates that a registration that isn’t renewed shall be taken off of a person’s business name following the expiration of the time period required for the renewal.
In a press release, the office said that if a business name (for a sole proprietorship or subsidiary business) is not renewed within three months of the end of the year, it becomes available for use by anybody.
“This exercise is in line with Section 5A (2) of the Registration of Business Names Act, 1962 (Act 151) on Annual Renewals which reads that: “without prejudice to any other liability prescribed by this Act, a registration which is not renewed in accordance with this section shall LAPSE and the Registrar may remove from the Register the Business Name of the person whose Registration has lapsed after the expiration of the period prescribed for the renewal,” part of the statement read.
The statement added that business owners who want to avoid their business names falling into the public domain should endeavour to renew their business names before the end of April 2023.
“Therefore, to avoid such Business Names falling into the public domain and for anyone of interest to use it after it has been struck off the Business Name Register, all Business Name Owners are entreated to renew their Business Names before the end of April 2023,” the statement added.
The Bank of Ghana’s latest survey is consistent with the Ghana Purchasing Managers Index conducted during the same period, which improved to 47.0 percent in December 2022 from 44.9 percent the previous month.
Per the January 2023 summary of economic and financial data, the latest business confidence survey – conducted in December 2022 – shows that the optimism of businesses turned positive and logged at 75.7 percent from a baseline level of 100 percent, following a 5th consecutive decline in business confidence surveys. Notwithstanding, the current survey remains lower compared to the same period of 2021 at 98.4 percent.
The central bank has observed that business sentiments turned positive due to the achievement of short-term targets and optimism about companies’ and industry prospects – during the last confidence survey in December 2022.
“Business sentiments also turned positive due to the achievement of short-term targets and optimism about company and industry prospects, following the local currency rebounding during the month. The survey findings were broadly aligned with observed trends in Ghana’s Purchasing Managers Index, which improved to 47.0 percent in December 2022 from 44.9 percent in the previous month,” the Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, said at a press briefing following the 110th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.
Meanwhile, the latest confidence survey conducted by the Bank in December 2022 pointed to some marginal improvement in sentiments. Consumer confidence improved on the back of recent reductions in ex-pump petroleum prices and transportation fares.
A final agreement with the IMF following the staff-level agreement (SLA) is contingent on the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme and external debt restructuring, which when concluded and the necessary financial commitment is obtained will allow the SLA’s presentation to the IMF Board.
Confidence would further be boosted by a final agreement with the IMF following the SLA, which is contingent on the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme and external debt restructuring.
The IMF final agreement, when reached, will help restore fiscal and debt sustainability and bring down inflation as well as help stabilise the currency.
Economic activity
According to the Bank, domestic growth conditions softened in 2022; and are projected to moderate and remain below potential over the near-term, based on the elevated inflation levels.
Inflation remained elevated in 2022, driven by both demand pressures and supply shocks. The two price readings since the last MPC meeting showed a significant jump in headline inflation, to 54.1 percent in December 2022 from 50.3 percent in November and 40.4 percent in October 2022.
The updated Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA) showed a continued dip in economic activity, despite the slight improvement in consumer and business sentiments from the latest surveys. In nominal terms credit to the private sector rose sharply, but was moderated in real terms by price pressures.
Further into the fourth quarter, the Bank’s high frequency indicators recorded a moderation in economic activity, as the real CIEA contracted by 6.2 percent in November 2022 compared with a growth of 10.2 percent in the same period of 2021. The major items that weighed down the index during the period were port activity, cement sales, imports and industrial consumption of electricity.
Similarly, economic activity – as tracked by Ghana Statistical Services (GSS) – for the first three quarters of 2022 was within projections, albeit at a moderated pace than a year earlier; expanding at an annual rate of 3.6 percent during the first three quarters of 2022 relative to 4.8 percent during the corresponding period in 2021.
Globally, the economic outlook remains uncertain owing to broad-based and elevated inflation, policy tightening, worsening financing conditions and lingering spill-over effects from geopolitical tensions. These headwinds are likely to persist through the first half of 2023, driving down confidence and weakening real household disposable incomes in advanced and emerging market economies.
For emerging and developing economies, growth momentum is projected to remain firm, supported by the relaxation of lockdown restrictions in China and still-high commodity prices. Though showing signs of cooling, inflation levels remain elevated; and central banks, especially in advanced economies, have signalled the need to maintain a tight monetary policy stance to contain inflationary pressures, albeit at a measured pace.
Some prestigious eateries and retail centers have been found to be copying electronic VAT serial numbers, according to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
“Others, including the Dzorwulo Branch of Second Cup Restaurant and Max Mart East Legon, were not issuing the invoices at all,” Mr. Annan disclosed.
The culprits are expected to face court action after all necessary investigations are concluded by the Authority. Indeed, the VAT Act 2013, sections 58, 59, stipulate 1,500 penalty units fine or imprisonment of up to five years or a combination of both.
This specific exercise, according to Mr. Annan, will involve branches of key retail companies including shopping malls, restaurants and other entities.
Since Monday, management of about six branches of some retail businesses in the capital were arrested for non-compliance with the e-VAT directive.
The enforcement exercise is currently ongoing, according to the GRA, and will cover some 15 branches of major shopping malls and retail outlets in the capital.
This year, 2023, the GRA has set a revenue target of GH¢206billion – of which the Customs Division is expected to collect some GH¢28.5billion.
Background
The ongoing e-VAT enforcement exercise is aimed at ensuring that some 50 targetted large taxpayers enroll onto the certified invoicing system. The 50 companies are part of a total 600 companies that have been targeted for the first phase of a three-phase project. The Commissioner-General has officially and legally certified the e-VAT per the VAT Act 870 as amended.
It is worth noting that the 600 companies targeted for the project’s first phase pay 90 percent of total VAT revenue and a total 80 percent of the country’s entire domestic revenue.
The exercise is aimed at aiding the GRA to monitor live transactions in companies – thus improving revenue monitoring and collection systems. The system will also check the cases of under-invoicing and prevent avoiding the payment of VAT. When successful, this system will increase VAT contributions to tax revenue.
The project’s second phase will enrol medium tax payers onto the system in 2023, and the third and final phase is expected to enrol the remaining VAT application clients.
He asserts that the central bank’s actions and inactions are to blame for Ghana’s current economic difficulties, which include high inflation and increases in the monetary policy rate.
“Inflation is currently at 54.1% and MPR is at 28%. We are mostly in this situation as a result of BoG printing more than GHC 50 billion in a single year and depleting foreign reserves to record low levels as of the end of 2022, the man said on social media.
“Those destroying livelihoods of Ghanaians will soon be held to account,” he added.
Ato Forson was last week announced by the NDC as its new leader in parliament in a reshuffle of the party’s caucus leadership.
His appointment according to the party is critical to the fortunes of the NDC in the 2024 elections owing to his economic background.
Cassiel Ato Forson was a deputy Minister for Finance in the erstwhile administration of President John Dramani Mahama and was previously serving as the Ranking Member on the Finance Committee of Parliament in the current Parliament.
As compared to yesterday’s trading of a buying price of 10.7946 and a selling price of 10.8054. At a forex bureau in Accra, the dollar is being bought at a rate of 12.20 and sold at a rate of 12.80.
At a forex bureau in Accra, the pound sterling is being bought at a rate of 15.00 and sold at a rate of 16.00.
The Euro is trading at a buying price of 11.7519 and a selling price of 11.7636 as compared to yesterday’s trading of a buying price of 11.7324 and a selling price of 11.7450.
At a forex bureau in Accra, Euro is being bought at a rate of 12.70 and sold at a rate of 13.60.
The South African Rand is trading at a buying price of 0.6212 and a selling price of 0.6218 as compared to yesterday’s trading of a buying price of 0.6277 and a selling price of 0.6283.
At a forex bureau in Accra, South African Rand is being bought at a rate of 0.50 and sold at a rate of 1.10.
The Nigerian Naira is trading at a buying price of 42.6328 and a selling price of 42.7189 as compared to yesterday’s trading at a buying price of 42.6296 and a selling price of 42.7241.
At a forex bureau in Accra, Nigerian Naira is being bought at a rate of 14.50 Naira for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 19.50.
Our forex bureau rates are provided by Afriswap Bureau De Change in Osu, Accra.
Archie Hesse, CEO of the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), and John Awuah, CEO of the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB), have refuted the idea that the two are rivals, arguing that cooperation rather than competition is the key to seizing opportunities that benefit both parties.
“Fintechs cannot be effective alone or by working in silos. Instead of heated competition with other stakeholders, there is a need to forge partnerships that achieve universal access to financial services. A collaborative approach will also benefit fintechs, banks, EMIs and, most importantly, the underserved,” Mr. Hesse stated.
The impact of this progress, he added, is visible in the increased levels of financial inclusion and related economic empowerment. For instance, in the recently published Global Findex Report by the World Bank, Ghana’s inclusion rate stood at 68 percent as at December 2021… increasing by 10 percent since 2017.
“This growth trajectory is predicated on technological gains in the financial services sector, created by a resilient digital ecosystem that is innovative, inclusive and anchored by a visionary and responsive regulatory environment,” he stated.
This, he added, can further be enhanced by a collaborative effort targetting unserved and underserved segments of the population.
He said that fintech firms play a key role in the financial services sector, and that passage of the Payment Systems and Services Act 2019 (Act 987) and establishment of the Fintech and Innovation Office by Bank of Ghana seek to, among other things, structure the ecosystem to allow them play an even more import part in the economy as well as enhance collaboration.
For Mr. Awuah, evolving customer needs and the ever-changing face of the financial services sector requires much greater collaboration between banks and fintechs. Through partnership, he said, the two can develop sustainable financial solutions and unlock new frontiers for growth.
Mr. Awuah, who also spoke at the same event, said it is high time banks and fintechs saw each as partners. He added that much more still needs to be done to enhance the regulatory and policy frameworks, so as to improve competitiveness and efficiency in the national financial system.
Over-regulation killing growth of fintechs
Meanwhile, progress in promoting financial inclusion and digitisation could be undermined by excessive regulation of the financial technology space, according to industry players.
While reasonable regulation is key to healthy competition, growth and development, players are of the view that too much of it can be counterproductive: by stifling innovation and serving as a barrier for new entrants.
“Regulations are still tight, and I would call on regulators to soften the regulations and allow fintechs to grow. The only way we can get more fintechs, more financial companies and new ideas coming through, is to reduce the threshold for regulation,” Growth Africa Director for Taptap Send, Darryl Koku Mawutor Abraham, told the B&FT on the awards’ sidelines in Accra.
“If we fail to do this, what happens normally is that people run away because regulation becomes a barrier to entry. So, it means that they [fintech firms] cannot innovate and bring up new ideas,” stated Mr. Mawutor, who described the current regulatory regime as “one of the toughest barriers” to entry in the fintech ecosystem.
Similarly, Country Manager of DPO Pay, Frank Awelle – whose company was adjudged the Fintech Discovery of the Year, lamented that extreme regulation, if not checked, could hinder the burgeoning fintech space.
“Our challenges really have to do with regulations, and that’s why we need the Ghana Fintech Association to come in and see how they can sanitise the space for us,” he said
He, therefore, urged regulators to soften requirements for fintechs to allow for greater innovations and competition.
Despite the current economic crisis, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to remain patient.
The government is attempting to work out a plan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to save the economy after a disastrous 2022 marked by a sharp decline in the value of the currency, raging inflation, and an overall rise in the cost of living.
Speaking in the local Twi language, he said: “One of the reasons we sought assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to streamline our finances was all borne from our debts.
“And having reached a Staff-Level Agreement, the first step of our engagement with the IMF; shows that we must restructure our debts, both domestic and external.
“It is the reason we must protect certain things so that we can have a more secured source of funding for the future,” he said.
“It is very important to emphasize this, the arrangements are not aimed at stopping ongoing works but to allow us to complete projects. So, these are temporary dislocations but I have faith in these talks,” he added.
Ghana’s public debt stock hits 93.5% of GDP in November 2022 – BoG report
The total public debt stock of Ghana was pegged at GH¢575.7 billion recorded at the end of November 2022.
The figure, according to the Bank of Ghana’s January 2023 Summary of Economic and Financial Data, represents about 93.5% of Gross Domestic Product for the period.
The data from Central Bank showed that Ghana’s public debt stock rose by GH¢108.3 billion between September and November 2021, further depicting an unsustainable debt situation.
The report explained the rise in the debt stock can be attributed to government’s debt restructuring exercise which has an expiration deadline of January 31, 2023 for participation.
The BoG Summary of Economic and Financial Data however pointed out that the external component of the total public debt increased to $29.2 billion (GH¢382.7 billion) in November 2022 which is equivalent to 62.1 percent of GDP.
This was from $28.4 billion (GH¢271.7 billion) in September 2022 and $28.3 billion in December 2021.
Lawyer Maurice Ampaw has encouraged Ghanaians to keep an eye onAfia Schwarzenegger and report her if she insults anyone after the Tema Court banned her from engaging in social media banter for two years.
In an interview with Abrantepa, the lawyer explained that if she violated the rules, she would have a new sentence imposed on her.
“This is the latest news, and this is more painful. Afia ought to be monitored by every single Ghanaian on social media.
“If she engages in social media insults or beef, the court said that we should arraign her before court for another sentence,” he told GhanaWeb in an interview.
He also stated that the comedian was charged to pay an amount of GHC60, 000; adding that she would not be allowed to leave until she had fully paid it.
“As we speak right now, Afia is under detention. She has been detained to pay the money in cash.
“Afia is also banned from engaging in social media beefs, insults, and attacks for two years. If she engages in a social media brawl, she should be brought back,” he disclosed.
Along with receiving a sentence that prevents her from engaging in many of the activities she enjoys, she was also ordered to sign a bond of good conduct.
“Afia is ordered to sign a bond of good behaviour for another two years and failure to do so, she should be brought to court for punishment,” he shared.
This comes after Afia was charged with contempt of court in her case involving the famous Ghanaian politician, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The host nation of the ongoing tournament secured a ticket to the final after thumping Niger 5-0 in the first semi-final game on Tuesday, January 31.
In the clash today, Algeria dominated the contest from start to finish and made sure the attackers had their scoring boots on.
Following a very good start to the match, Ayoub Abdellaoui equalised for Algeria in the 15th minute.
Eight minutes later, Aimen Mahious got his name on the scoresheet to double the lead for the host nation.
Later in the 34th minute, Aimen Mahious found the back of the Niger net for the second time to grab a brace.
Courtesy of an own goal from Abdoulaye Boureima Katkoré and a strike by Soufiane Bayazid, Algeria cruised past Niger with ease to secure the delightful 5-0 win.
Courtesy of the victory, Algeria are in the finals and will face the winner of the second semi-final match between Senegal and Madagascar.
The GHc1.278 billion goal has been missed by GHc705.1 million.
The 91-day bill, which secured GHc1.357.48 billion and GHc491.45 million from the 182-day bill, attracted the majority of subscriptions.
The 365-day bill, on the other hand, was acquired for GHc135.17 million at a 34%–36% interest rate.
The increase in subscriptions is an indication of investor confidence, as the government has made some significant progress in the debt exchange programme.
Individual bondholders are still calling on the government to exclude them from the programme, however, as the deadline for the invitation draws nigh government is yet to announce their exclusion or otherwise.
Meanwhile, the government expects to raise GHc1.423 billion in its next auction.
Ghanaian musician Francine Koffie known in showbiz circles as Fantana has announced the demise of her longtime boyfriend.
In a long post on Instagram, the former RuffTown Records signee mourned the death of her boyfriend, identified as Ayanle Hussein.
Fantanadescribed how inseparable they were despite their religious differences and how she is heartbroken by his sudden death.
“Ayanle Hussein, my love. I can’t believe they took you away from me. My angel on earth, I am so broken. I cried and cried. I love you so much. You made me a better person; you thought me so much and believed in me. I’m sorry they did this to you. we loved each other so much. From day one, we were inseparable.
I’m going to miss praying with you on FaceTime, whiles you taught me about the Quran and I taught you about the Bible. I am going to miss your advice and how you never let me give up but always want me to be better. We had so many plans.
I was even making you move to Potomac just so you could support me when I audition for Real Housewives of Potomac. You supported everything I do even If It doesn’t make sense. There will never be another you! You were one of a kind. May Allah welcome you with open arms. I love you in this life, forever and Always”, the post read.
See posts below;
The cause of Fantana’s boyfriend is currently unknown but it is believed he was murdered.
The moment you signed up for liposuction, maintenance becomes one of the things that you look forward to periodically.
You would have to go for maintenance to keep in shape and stay off from danger. Actress Nana Ama McBrown is said to have gone for her second maintenance
The actress has reportedly gone for her second maintenance after her liposuction.
In a video that has popped up on social media McBrown is looking hotter than hot!
She has been snatched again to look tiny by the waist and wide by the hips.
Speaking in a Good Evening Ghana interview, on Monday, January 31, 2023, Alan posited that the current plan of the government is not the best and it will harm individual bondholders as well as businesses.
“The 10,10,10 (Solution) that was earlier proposed was that there will be a 10 per cent haircut in the principal of bonds held by institutional bondholders. And then there will be a shorter maturity period of 10 years and then also there will be a 10 per cent interest that is paid on their total bond holding.
“So, 10 percent reduction in principle, 10 per cent interest for a maturity period of 10 years. What is on the table now is 0 percent for 2023, 0 percent for 2024 and in the subsequent years 5 percent, (which is a) very complicated formula,” he said.
Alan, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, also said that individual bondholders will not be included in his proposed debt restructuring programme.
He explained that government does not need to include individual bondholders in the programme because only 80 percent of its debts are required to be part of the programme.
“The requirement under the funds (the International Monitory Fund’s) parameters is that 80 percent of your total debts must be subject to this exchange… institutional holders have almost about 70 percent (of the government’s debts) and 15 per cent is held by the Bank of Ghana.
“So if you combine Bank of Ghana and let’s say the banks, insurance and other entities, you will have more than 80 percent of the total bondholders that will have been subject to this debt exchange in which case the vulnerable groups that you are protecting are not up to 20 percent,” he explained.
He added that institutions that will be included in his proposed programme will be given some assistance to recover.
Ghanaian international, Ibrahim Sadiq is currently in France where he is set to complete a transfer to Saint-Étienne.
The youngster had a stellar campaign with BK Hacken in the Swedish League during the 2022 football season.
With the January transfer window coming to an end in less than 12 hours, the representatives of the talented attacker have reached an agreement with officials of Saint-Étienne for a move.
Happy with the prospect of playing in France, Ibrahim Sadiq is now in France already this evening to make the deal happen.
From the information gathered from close club sources, the winger will be joining Saint-Étienne for a fee of €2 million.
Checks have revealed that Ibrahim Sadiq will sign a three-and-a-half-year contract.
He must first undergo a mandatory medical examination in the next few years.
Saint-Étienne are bringing in the forward in the January transfer window to bolster the attack of the team which has been hit by injuries to two key wingers.
