TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Undercurrent events caused Minority shakeup in Parliament – Asah Asante

    Undercurrent events caused Minority shakeup in Parliament – Asah Asante

    The Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana (UG) Dr. Kwame Asah Asante says the shakeup in the leadership for the Minority caucus in Parliament was necessitated by disturbing issues in the house.

    The opposition NDC has made changes to its leadership in Parliament with the appointment of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as the new Minority Leader.

    The former Ranking Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Essiam replaces Hon. Haruna Iddrisu.

    Dr. Ato Forson is to be assisted by MP for Ellembele, Kofi Armah Buah who has been appointed as the Deputy Minority Leader.

    Commenting on the changes made by the party on Starr News with Naa Dedei Tettey, the Political Science Lecturer said “political parties undertake such exercises in order to win power and form the next government. So, any rule that they will make in order to wrestle power from whoever is holding political power they will do it. So, for me, it doesn’t come to me as a surprise at all.

    Mr. Asante also believes there might be some happenings within the opposition party that caused this immediate change of leadership with the Minority.

    “It’s gradually appearing to me that there is something that is going on in Parliament that the leadership of the party is not happy of, for which reason they want to make this change and the time that they are meeting is more significant. More often than not, you tend to see such changes when Parliament is about to start a sitting. But now that they are in recess and this thing comes in then you realize that there is something that is pushing them into doing that”, the lecturer reiterated.

    The NDC party has also appointed Adaklu MP, Governs Kwame Agbodza as the new Minority Chief Whip. He replaced Asawase MP, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak.

    Both Ahmed Ibrahim and Comfort Doyoe Ghansah maintained their position as deputy Minority Whips.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • ‘We will beat Hearts of Oak hands down in Tarkwa’ – Medeama striker

    ‘We will beat Hearts of Oak hands down in Tarkwa’ – Medeama striker

    Medeama SC striker Jonathan Sowah is confident that his team will beat Hearts of Oak in their Ghana Premier League clash this weekend.

    The Yellow and Mauves will play host to the Phobians in matchday 14 of the domestic top-flight on Saturday at the Akoon Park.

    Ahead of the clash, the newly signed forward has targeted Hearts of Oak scalp as they seek to secure all points at stake.

    “We are preparing to surprise Hearts of Oak on Saturday. Everyone knows they are champions but I promise the people of Tarkwa that we will beat Hearts of Oak hands down” he said.

    Medeama SC are 11th on the league table with 17 points whiles Hearts of Oak occupies 4th spot with 21 points after 13matches into the campaign.

  • FLASHBACK: 30% is Akufo-Addo’s best score on economy, corruption – Spio-Garbrah

    FLASHBACK: 30% is Akufo-Addo’s best score on economy, corruption – Spio-Garbrah

    Former Trade and Industry Minister, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, in November last year scored the Akufo-Addo government 30% in the fight against corruption and the management of the economy.

    “On a scale of 1-10, where ten is the highest it would be very difficult for them to go above two. They can’t go beyond two. it would be very difficult. I won’t say zero or one because they have done something,” he said.

    Read the full story originally published on November 25, 2022 by www.ghanaweb.com.

    Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, a former Trade Minister, has stated that 30% is President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s best score when it comes to how he has managed the economy and how he has dealt with the corruption fight.

    Speaking in an interview with Metro TV he said, the records relative to the economy and corruption are evident in international anti-graft reports and rating agencies downgrading Ghana to junk status.

    “On a scale of 1-10, where ten is the highest it would be very difficult for them to go above two. They can’t go beyond two. it would be very difficult. I won’t say zero or one because they have done something.

    “But it can’t go beyond two or three, unfortunately, just because of this year. Maybe, last year or before COVID-19 they were 4, 5, 6 at different times,” Dr. Spio-Garbrah said.

    “But the last few months especially, with the depreciation of the cedi, they are now in the 1, 2, 3 range,” he added.

    According to Spio-Garbrah, the Akufo-Addo-led government has ‘failed’ with the corruption fight, especially against galamsey which has caused the distraction of water bodies across the country.

    “I don’t want to make it zero but you are the journalist who has shown Ghanaians numerous videos, films, and debates about our water bodies – just to give one area of general concern,” he observed.

    Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah also took a swipe at the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia questioning his economic abilities to rescue Ghanaians from the present predicament.

    “They painted him [Dr. Bawumia] as the wonder kid of the NPP who can perform all kinds of magic. Lock inflation up and give it to the IGP. Locks interest rates and gives it to the IGP. He locks things up and gives them to the IGP. But when they are looking for the key they can’t find it,” he stressed.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • 2 managers in trouble over non-payment of GH¢4,758.69 SSNIT contributions

    2 managers in trouble over non-payment of GH¢4,758.69 SSNIT contributions

    The Accra District Court ‘B’ has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of managers of the Royals Institute of Excellence for non-payment of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contribution, totalling GH¢4,758.69.

    They are Benedict Kwafo and Dominic Nyamekye.

    The warrant was issued on January 14 during weekly situ­ational court sittings in which officers of SSNIT conduct criminal proceedings against in­dividuals and establishments that failed to honour their mandatory contribution of workers to the Trust.

    The accused were both absent when the warrant was issued by the court presided over by Mrs Susana Eduful.

    The prosecutor, Nana Ama France Manu-Amoah, told the court that the accused failed to honour monthly contributions for the period November 2021 to October 2022.

    She said the total amount comprises non-payment of contributions and penalties.

    Nana Manu-Amoah told the court that the accused did not pay anything since the attention of the company was drawn to pay the contribution.

    The case has been adjourned to March 4 for the accused to be arrested and arraigned.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • I don’t watch Ghana Premier League anymore because it’s boring – Dan Owusu

    I don’t watch Ghana Premier League anymore because it’s boring – Dan Owusu

    Football legend Dan Owusu says he has not been watching Ghana Premier League games of late because it’s boring.

    Some Ghanaians over the years have said that their sudden love for foreign football to the neglect of the domestic top-flight is because the local leagues are not competitive.

    The domestic top-flight has suffered low turnouts at the various stadia across the country and three-time Ghana Premier League goal king says the league lacks quality players.

    Explaining why he has not being attending Ghana Premier League games, Dan Owusu said, “During our time, the fans had favourite players they always wanted to watch at the stadium but the narrative has changed these days because the standard of the league has fallen”

    “The level of our game at the moment is below belt. The league lacks quality players and that makes it difficult for fans to troop to the stadium. I have not been going to the stadium all because the GPL is boring. I always feel like sleeping whenever I go to the stadium because I don’t see anything”

    “Kotoko and Hearts of Oak are recording poor attendance because there is nothing good to watch” he said.

  • Backbenchers anger, 2024 elections: The confirmed and reported reasons behind NDC’s parliamentary ‘coup’

    Backbenchers anger, 2024 elections: The confirmed and reported reasons behind NDC’s parliamentary ‘coup’

    Haruna Iddrisu’s spell as leader of the National Democratic caucus in Parliament came to an end on Tuesday, January 24, 2022 when the Asiedu Nketiah-led national executives announced that it had rang changes in the leadership of the minority caucus.

    From January 2017, Haruna Iddrisu has served as the face of the NDC in Parliament but a palace coup as it could be described has seen him and two others being replaced in the minority leadership.

    Even within the NDC, the decision which was signed by General Secretary Fifi Kwetey has shocked many as they had no idea what the executives were planning.

    As confirmed by Murtala Muhammed, the members of the Minority caucus had no prior discussion with the party’s leadership about the decision to oust Haruna Iddrisu, Muntaka Mubarak and James Klutse Avedzi and replace them with Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Kwame Agbodza and Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah respectively.

    The decision has spurred heated discussions and GhanaWeb highlights the confirmed and reported reasons behind the move by Asiedu Nketiah and his cohorts.

    Party Restructuring

    According to the National Chairman of the party Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the move is part of a process of restructuring that has been going on for the past year.

    “We started more than a year ago, we started at the branch level. We have since done elections in about 40,000 branches and then from there we proceeded to the constituency level. We are done largely with all the constituencies, we have done regional elections and we just completed our national election and the next is to look at our leadership in Parliament. That is what we have just done,” he said.

    Election 2024

    Asiedu Nketiah also explained that the alterations are necessary to keep the party in the driving seat for the 2024 elections.

    “We know for instance that going into election 2024, the economy is going to be the major battle ground and so many of the debates will focus on the economy. So you better put your best man in economy forward that is what we have done.

    “We also looked at energy. You know the petroleum and electricity challenges, so we needed to settle on Kofi Armah Buah, our former minister to be the Deputy Minority Leader.

    “The other area is infrastructure, Kwame Agbodza being our man in infrastructure should play a key role that generally is what informed the changes,” he added.

    Regional Balance

    Asiedu Nketiah also said that the party wanted to ensure that there is regional representations in its leadership in Parliament .

    He stressed that, “the Change has nothing to do with the performance of the leaders at all. What it has a lot to do about is that the environment is changing, so if you are a football coach and the team you are facing and the game style they are adopting is not in keeping with the players you have put out there, you will do yourself a lot of good.”

    Reported Reasons

    Whereas Asiedu Nketiah has made mention of the above reasons, GhanaWeb has also discovered some factors that might have influenced the decision to oust Haruna Iddrisu and his cohorts from the leadership.

    Party elements, backbenchers unhappy with Haruna and Muntaka in hung parliament

    Within the minority caucus and the party, there is a feeling that the impact of the hung parliament is not being felt and that is largely due to the decisions and indecision of Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mubarak.

    GhanaWeb sources indicate that Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mohammed were the main targets of this move and that the others were just collateral damages.

    An NDC source told GhanaWeb that majority of the backbenchers in Parliament have not been satisfied with the how the ousted leadership have handled issues in Parliament.

    There is a feeling within the backbenchers that Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mubarak have in certain situations like the vetting and passing of the ministers particularly Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister, appeared to have adopted a stance contrary to the viewpoints of the backbenchers and the leadership of the party have been made aware of the growing disaffection.

    Muntaka’s position had become untenable

    According to reports, from the moment Muntaka sparred with Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament and followed up with that explosive interview on Joy News, his position became untenable.

    Reports say that the party’s hierarchy was furious with the conduct of Muntaka Mubarak and coupled with his struggles back in his Asawase constituency, the party thought it wise to relieve him of his role to make him focus on his dealing with those issues.

    Asiedu Nketiah settling scores with Haruna Iddrisu

    This narrative is being pushed largely by Paul Adom-Otchere and Titus Glover. According to them, Asiedu Nketiah is using his office to victimize Haruna Iddrisu who did not back in the national chairmanship elections.

    It will be recalled that Haruna Iddrisu issued a rejoinder to a statement by Ahmed Ibrahim, the Deputy Minority Chief Whip that the caucus had settled on Asiedu Nketiah as their choice for the chairmanship position.

    There is also a feeling within the NDC that Haruna Iddrisu was becoming too powerful and had to clipped before he became a threat to the interest of the those in decision-making positions.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Today in History: Formal sector workers pay 16 times more in taxes – Tax expert

    Today in History: Formal sector workers pay 16 times more in taxes – Tax expert

    Tax Expert, Abeku Gyan Quansah, on May 25, 2020 averred that the informal sector in Ghana contributes the lowest taxes.

    According to him, even though 70% of the country’s economy is made up of the informal sector, the tax burden has been shifted to formal sector workers.

    Mr Quansah said the formal sector workers pay 16 times more in taxes.

    Read the full story originally published on May 25, 2020 by www.ghanaweb.com.

    A Tax Partner at PwC Ghana, Abeku Gyan Quansah, has disclosed that the informal sector in Ghana contributes the lowest taxes.

    He noted that even though 70% of the country’s economy is made up of the informal sector, the tax burden has been shifted to formal sector workers.

    Speaking during a public lecture by the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana, he said, “If you do a comparative analysis and you compare it to the other statistics that are made available out there, a lot of work ought to be done in roping in the informal sector. For 2021 for example, the amount of taxes that were paid as pay as you earn (PAYE) compared to the informal sector was 16 times higher.”

    He laments that “so, on average, when you pick somebody in the formal sector, that person pays 16 times more than someone in the informal sector.”

    The tax expert noted that even though government had announced plans to rope in the informal sector the ratio is still very high..

    Speaking on the theme: ‘Roping in the informal sector in Ghana’s tax net’, Quansah said the country’s current tax regime is too complicated reason government is finding it difficult to rope in the informal sector.

    “They are saying they don’t have a good relationship with our tax administration; they complaining that there is difficulty in calculating and filing and paying their taxes. You are asking the guy in Makola Market to do an initial assessment, do a revision, withhold tax, and pay it. He won’t even mind you because he doesn’t even understand all that,” he pointed out.

    He noted that it is time the GRA enforces tax laws in the country.
    “If you do a count of the tax laws that are administered by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), you will get more than 27 laws.

    “Should we continue in this stead, what is the whole idea of having the value added tax (VAT) and the allied levies of health, education and COVID-19?”

    “What did we really seek to achieve by doing that? All these add to the complications.

    “All these add to why the informal sector is unable to come into the tax net, according to a report by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC),” he stated.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Mahama, Asiedu Nketiah orchestrated shakeup in Minority caucus – Ben Ephson

    Mahama, Asiedu Nketiah orchestrated shakeup in Minority caucus – Ben Ephson

    The Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch Newspaper, Ben Ephson says former President John Mahama and the NDC’s National Chairman, Aseidu Nketiah orchestrated shakeup in the leadership of Minority caucus in Parliament.

    This comes on the back of the opposition NDC making changes to its leadership in Parliament with the appointment of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as the new Minority Leader.

    The former Ranking Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Essiam replaces Hon. Haruna Iddrisu.

    Dr. Ato Forson is to be assisted by MP for Ellembele, Kofi Armah Buah who has been appointed as the Deputy Minority Leader.

    Speaking in an interview on Starr News with Naa Dedei Tettey on Tuesday January 24, 2023 the pollster indicated that the reasons provided by the party do not justify their actions.

    “I think that it is the working of former President John Mahama and Aseidu Nketia and I am going to wonder how the minority caucus is going to be. I suspect politically Mr. Aseidu Nketia and John Mahama’s handiwork. Are they saying that before 2020 these economic issues were not there?

    “No, I don’t think so, you see when you give this reason. You are creating the impression that before 2020 and even before these changes Haruna and the leadership have not acquainted themselves well enough in dealing with these issues? Or is it an issue of trying to have total control over minority or minority issues in parliament?” Mr. Ephson quizzed.

    He continued: “When you say there are going to be economic issues in 2024, can’t Ato Forson advise Haruna on the way forward. Or they think that Haruna cannot be nodding at everything they say because economic issues have been in the forefront in the run up issues in 2020 elections.”

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of the opposition NDC, Asiedu Nketiah has said the change of leadership of the Minority caucus in Parliament is part of the party’s reorganization process.

    According to him, there are key areas Parliament will center its debates on ahead of the 2024 election which has informed the eventual changes in the leadership of the Minority.

    “It is the continuation of our re-organization exercise to reposition the party for the 2024 elections. So, it’s the continuation of the process which was started a year earlier from branches through to constituency to regional and national. We’ve now come to the reorganization on the form in parliament.

    “The thinking is that going into 2024 the debate is going to be principally on the economy and so we need to put our best foot forward so we can match the NPP in that area. That’s why we chose Ato Forson to lead the charge as Minority leader and then Armah Kofi Boah our expert in energy which is also going to feature prominently and then Kwame Agbodza is our person on infrastructure,” he told Starr FM Midday News with Naa Dedei Tettey on January 24, 2023 Tuesday.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Be discipline – Dep. Education Minister warns students

    Be discipline – Dep. Education Minister warns students

    Gifty Twum Ampofo, the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of TVET, has revealed that the ongoing rise in student indiscipline in the country’s various academic institutions is impeding the government’s goal of increasing and improving ongoing infrastructure projects in the schools.

    The Deputy Minister, in response to the recent upsurge of student riots and indiscipline behaviors displayed by some senior high school students and many others across the country, admonished students to refrain from such acts because the majority of these behaviors result in the destruction of school property.

    Mrs. Gifty Twum Ampofo made the revelation at the time she visited some basic schools in the Abuakwa North Municipality in the Eastern Region to donate learning materials to the students as part of an effort to mark my first day at school a few weeks after school reopened.

    The Minister reiterated that students’ indiscipline in recent times should be of national interest therefore she believes that to find an immediate solution to salvage the situation it beholds on teachers, parents, and religious leaders to collaborate with the Education Ministry to help instill discipline in the students at all levels.

    The beneficiary schools include Atukrom Methodist upper primary, Kukurantumi M/A Basic School, New Tafo SDA Basic School and A.M.E Zion Primary, and Anyinasin Methodist School.

    The rest were; Anyinasin Presby Kg School, Kukurantumi OPASS Basic School, Kukurantumi Islamic Basic School, and many othereceivedved learning materials such as exercise books, pens, pencils, crayons, sharpeners, and erasers.

    She took the opportunity to inspect some GETfund projects in the municipality of which she expressed optimism concerning the work done and pledged that her outfit will ensure the projects are completed and commissioned by the end of the year.

    The Abuakwa North Municipal Director of Education, Madam Abena Gyamera described the visit by the minister as encouraging which she said it is in the right direction to address the needs of the schools in the municipality.

  • I decided to mind my business – DKB wades into Sarkodie and Samini’s issue

    I decided to mind my business – DKB wades into Sarkodie and Samini’s issue

    Comedian, Derrick Kobina Bonney, known widely as DKB, has waded into Sarkodie and Samini’s issue.

    The two Ghanaian musicians have been in the news for some hours now after Samini expressed his disappointment in the renowned rapper.

    Following an inquiry by a fan on when he will collaborate with Sarkodie again, the Highgrade Family CEO started ranting.

    According to him, Sarkodie snubbed him at a time he needed him on his ‘Burning’ EP.

    Due to this, Samini said he does not need a verse from Sarkodie and he is also not interested in accepting a collaboration request from him.

    The Sarkcess Music boss however reacted to his colleague’s ranting during an interview with Andy Dosty on Hitz FM on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

    Sharing a video of his response, DKB revealed that, Sarkodie has been treating him the same way.

    He claimed to have minded his business when it happened to him a couple of times.

    DKB wrote: “When he take do me a couple of times, I told myself WKHKYD ???? ???? and I decided to mind my business and avoid dealing with him at all costs. ???? ????

    But whenever a business opportunity comes needing him, I will gladly inform him and go back to minding my business ???? ???? ????.”

  • Chris Hughton already has Black Stars coaching job – Sam George alleges

    Chris Hughton already has Black Stars coaching job – Sam George alleges

    Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram constituency, Sam George, has disclosed that Chris Hughton has been given the Black Stars coaching position.

    Sam George claims the former technical advisor of the Black Stars been named as the new coach, although an official announcement is soon to come.

    “That [coaching] job they have given it to Chris Hughton already so why are we wasting our time?” he quizzed on Joy Prime.

    “They have given it to him because they want someone they can manipulate, someone they can use to do their business, someone they can tell him to bring his team selection [with changes being made with regards to agency callups] regardless of how long the person has played or not played.

    “People are using GFA to make money, they are using it to feed their family.”, he added.

    Hughton served as the Black Stars’ technical adviser at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

    The Ghanaian with Irish ancestry was chosen as Otto Addo’s technical advisor in a hastily put together technical staff for the World Cup play-off against Nigeria in February.

    Milovan Rajevac, a Serbian trainer, was fired following Ghana’s disappointing performance at the 2021 African Cup of Nations competition in Cameroon. Otto Addo was appointed coach, with George Boateng and Masaud Didi Dramani promoted to assistant roles.

    In a two-legged play-off game, the revamped technical team orchestrated a qualification victory against bitter rivals Nigeria.

    Ghana is searching for Otto Addo’s replacement as his six-month contract comes to an end.

    The Irishman has been a member of the Black Stars technical staff since March 2021, and he was in Qatar at that time.

    Many have predicted that he will succeed Otto Addo, whose contract ended following Ghana’s World Cup loss.

    Hughton has coached teams in England including Norwich City, Newcastle United, and Brighton and Hove Albion.

  • Elmina Sharks part ways Mallam Yahaya

    Elmina Sharks part ways Mallam Yahaya

    Elmina Sharks, a lower division team in Ghana, have parted ways with their head coach Mallam Yahaya.

    The self-assured coach has been in charge of the team in the National Division One League for a year.

    Unfortunately, Elmina Sharks’ expectations have not been fulfilled. The club has declared that it has decided to sever the coach’s contract in an effort to choose a fresh path.

    “Elmina Sharks have today terminated the appointment of head coach Mallam Yahaya,” an official club statement from Elmina Sharks has said.

    The statement added, “On behalf of everyone at Elmina Sharks, we will like to place on record our gratitude to Mallam Yahaya for all his efforts and commitment during his time with us.

    “He will rightly have a place in our history and we wish him all the best in his future endeavour. There will be no further comment until a new coach is appointed.”

    Sources have reported that Elmina Sharks are far advanced in an engagement with a new coach who will be taking over.

  • Tems’ joint effort with Rihanna “Lift Me Up” has scored an Oscar nomination

    Tems’ joint effort with Rihanna “Lift Me Up” has scored an Oscar nomination

    The nominations for this year’s Oscars are in.

    The nominees were announced by actors Riz Ahmed and Allison Williams at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

    “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” received five nominations, one of which was for “Lift Me Up,” the lead single from the film’s soundtrack. The song was written by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler, and Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson.

    “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” an indie sci-fi comedy drama starring Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis, leads with 11 nominations. It’s followed by “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “The Banshees of Inisherin,” with nine nominations each.

    See the list below:

    Actress in a Supporting Role
    Angela Basset, Wakanda Forever
    Hong Chau, The Whale
    Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin
    Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All At Once
    Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All At Once

    Actor in a Supporting Role
    Brendan Gleeson, The Banshees of Inisherin
    Brian Tyree Henry, Causeway
    Judd Hirsch, The Fabelmans
    Barry Keoghan, The Banshees of Inisherin
    Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once

    Actor in a Leading Role
    Austin Butler, Elvis
    Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin
    Brendan Fraser, The Whale
    Paul Mescal, Aftersun
    Bill Nighy, Living

    Actress in a Leading Role
    Cate Blanchett, Tar
    Ana de Armas, Blonde
    Andrea Riseborough, To Leslie
    Michelle Williams, The Fablemans
    Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once

    Costume Design
    Babylon, Mary Zophres
    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ruth Carter
    Elvis, Catherine Martin
    Everything Everywhere All At Once, Shirley Kurata
    Mrs Harris Goes To Paris, Jenny Beavan

    Music (Original Score)
    All Quiet on the Western Front, Volker Bertelmann
    Babylon, Justin Hurwitz
    The Banshees of Inisherin, Carter Burwell
    Everything Everywhere All at Once, Son Lux
    The Fabelmans, John Williams

    Adapted Screenplay
    All Quiet on the Western Front
    Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
    Living
    Top Gun: Maverick
    Women Talking

    Writing (Original Screenplay)
    The Banshees of Inisherin, written by Martin McDonagh
    Everything Everywhere All At Once, written by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert
    The Fabelmans, written by Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner
    Tar, written by Todd Field
    Triangle of Sadness, written by Ruben Ostlund

    Music (Original Song)
    Applause from Tell It Like A Woman
    Hold My Hand from Top Gun: Maverick
    Lift Me Up from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
    Naatu Naatu from RRR
    This Is a Life from Everything Everywhere All At Once

    Documentary Feature Film
    All that Breathes
    All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
    Fire of Love
    A House Made Of Splinters
    Navalny

    International Feature Film
    All Quiet on the Western Front, Germany
    Argentina, 1985, Argentina
    Close, Belgium
    EO, Poland
    An Cailín Ciúin/The Quiet Girl, Ireland

    Animated Feature Film
    Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinnochio
    Marcel The Shell With Shoes On
    Puss In Boots: The Last Wish
    The Sea Beast
    Turning Red

    Cinematography
    All Quiet On The Western Front, James Friend
    Bardo, False Chronicle Of A Handful of Truths, Darius Khondji
    Elvis, Mandy Walker
    Empire of Light, Roger Deakins
    Tar, Florian Hoffmeister

    Best Picture
    All Quiet On The Western Front
    Avatar: The Way Of Water
    The Banshees of Inisherin
    Elvis
    Everything Everywhere All At Once
    The Fabelmans
    Tar
    Top Gun: Maverick
    Triangle of Sadness
    Women Talking

    Directing
    Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin
    Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere all at Once
    Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans
    Todd Field, Tar
    Ruben Östlund, Triangle of Sadness

    Visual Effects
    All Quiet on the Western Front, Frank Petzold, Viktor Müller, Markus Frank and Kamil Jafar
    Avatar: The Way of Water, Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett
    The Batman: Dan Lemmon, Russell Earl, Anders Langlands and Dominic Tuohy
    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: Geoffrey Baumann, Craig Hammack, R. Christopher White and Dan Sudick
    Top Gun: Maverick: Ryan Tudhope, Seth Hill, Bryan Litson and Scott R. Fisher

    Who do you think will be picking up one of those coveted golden statues when the awards are handed out on 12 March? See the full list here.

  • Kofi Kyereh reveals Neymar was his childhood idol

    Kofi Kyereh reveals Neymar was his childhood idol

    Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, a midfielder for the Black Stars, has admitted that Brazilian superstar Neymar was his childhood hero.

    The 26-year-old shared details of his upbringing, including how he looked up to Neymar and used YouTube to study his playing technique.

    “It’s Neymar Jr,” Kyereh told pulse.com.gh when asked about his all-time favourite footballer. “The first time I saw him when he played for Santos at his first club in Brazil, he was 16 years and around that time and I was 12 years old.

    “And it was the style and enjoyment watching him play what I loved about him. And since then I always checked on YouTube for new skill videos of him playing football. I will get my ball and meet with friends or alone to learn the dribbling skills he did in the videos.

    “Back then nobody knew him like now I told my close friends about him and seeing his career now is an inspiration. At the same time following his career and building my own career step by step to achieve the same goals.”

    With his participation for Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the World Cup in Qatar over the previous 12 months, Kyereh’s career has experienced a significant upswing.

    He also obtained a significant transfer from St. Pauli to Freiburg last summer, and he has already scored twice for the Bundesliga team. He hopes to advance his career by emulating his idol, Neymar, and pursuing the same objectives.

  • CHAN2022: Ghana to face Niger in quarter-finals

    CHAN2022: Ghana to face Niger in quarter-finals

    In the quarterfinal round of the 2022 CAF Championship of African Nations (CHAN) competition, Ghana’s Black Galaxies will play Niger.

    This evening’s match was officially announced after Niger defeated Cameroon 1-0 to take first place in Group E.

    On Sunday night, the Black Galaxies finished Group C as the runner-up, guaranteeing Ghana’s spot in the knockout round.

    One of the nations playing at the 2022 CHAN event, which is presently taking place in Algeria in North Africa, is the national squad of Ghana, which is composed of players from the country.

    Ghana lost 2-1 to Madagascar in their opening Group C match of the competition after failing to perform well.

    The Black Galaxies then played Sudan in the second group match and made things right.

    The team led by coach Annor Walker outperformed themselves and overcame a deficit to win 3-1 after 90 minutes.

    Ghana and Madagascar both advanced to the knockout round at the conclusion of the Group C games.

    This week, the Black Galaxies have been training hard to get ready for the quarter-finals of the 2022 CHAN tournament.

    Coach Annor Walker and his lads will now prepare for the quarter-final match against Niger to be played on Saturday.

  • Liverpool boss makes commitment to lead ‘necessary’ rebuild

    Liverpool boss makes commitment to lead ‘necessary’ rebuild

    Jurgen Klopp claims that one of the main factors in his decision to extend his contract last year was the opportunity to oversee a “required” renovation at Liverpool.

    With the Reds, with whom he has won seven titles, including the Premier League and Champions League, Klopp pledged his future until 2026 when he signed a new contract in April.

    After coming dangerously close to capturing an unheard-of quadruple last season, Liverpool has underperformed this year, finishing ninth in the Premier League and 10 points below the top four.

    Many observers have stated that the Liverpool Reds’ team needs to be rejuvenated as a result of Liverpool mainstays like Jordan Henderson and Fabinho underperforming this season, and Klopp agrees.

    “I’m not saying it’s the biggest challenge, but it’s a challenge, and it was one of the main reasons why I signed a new contract, because I knew it was necessary [to rebuild],” Klopp said during an appearance on BT Sport’s Football People podcast.

    “It will not go overnight, and imagine the situation now with another coach in the chair. I would be somewhere on holiday and everybody would shout my name, ‘with him it would not have happened!’ 

    “I’m obviously not a miracle worker. That’s why it’s good how it is, because of all the problems you have in a transitional period – we have an awful lot of injuries and that makes life really complicated. 

    “I have no problem with that because obviously I know the majority of the outside world are just interested in the short term, but we have to be long-term focused as well.”

    Liverpool are not the only giant marooned in mid-table this season, with Chelsea below them on goal difference after the sides played out a dismal goalless draw on Saturday.

    While Chelsea have spent big to attract Mykhaylo Mudryk and Benoit Badiashile in the current transfer window, Klopp insists Liverpool cannot afford to conduct business in the same way.

    “There are obviously plenty of different ways you can do it, but it’s all based on the situation you are in,” he said.

    “Chelsea with the new ownership obviously… nobody knows exactly how they do it, how they can spend this much money. 

    “Nobody likes me talking about other teams, but transition needs time if you don’t have endless money, otherwise you can change it overnight pretty much, by bringing in 10 players.”

    While Klopp will have spent 11 years at Anfield if he sees out the remainder of his contract, he does not believe he will stay in the game as long as some other coaches have.

    “I know I dream of football, so that’s not cool… the job is incredibly demanding, it is, but it’s great as well,” Klopp added.

    “When Roy Hodgson came back again [to Watford last season], I saw him and asked him, ‘do you have a wet flat? You go again?’ He says, ‘no, I love it’.

    “I cannot see myself beyond 70 and still standing in the dugout in every weather, and especially each weather for training, two hours standing there in the wind. I can’t see that. 

    “I hope other things are that interesting to me that I am really fine with not being involved anymore.”

  • “Take it easy girl”: Fans beg as Tems flaunts her curvy figure, hops on her customized private jet in video

    “Take it easy girl”: Fans beg as Tems flaunts her curvy figure, hops on her customized private jet in video

    Nigerian singer Tems has gotten tongues rolling in the online community after she was sighted jetting out in grand style The Free Mind hitmaker was spotted in a video hopping on a customized private jet as she headed out to Abuja where she was billed to perform.

    Social media users couldn’t help but hail the singer with some noting that she is giving female colleagues a run for their money Nigerian singer Tems isn’t one to show off on social media but she knows how to get the internet talking when she wants to.

    Just recently, a video of Tems hopping on a private jet that had been customized with her name surfaced in the online community.

    From indications, the Free Mind hitmaker was heading out to Abuja with her crew members for a Detty December show she had been booked for. Apart from the grand private jet, Tems also flaunted her curvy stature in the video as she made her way to the aircraft.

    Watch the clip as sighted online below:

    Social media users react westforster said: “best singer of this generation bat non.” ladeclassiq said: “Take it easy girl.” ikukunkemakonam said: “Whether I should stop listening to her music and start listening to her hips.” ogechukwugram said: “Burna & victony no make mistake when dem talk bum bum dey different size o.” a.martelll said: “God dey create abeg. Anyways, Compliments of the season everybody.” oluwajaxzyofficial said: “Just when yem Tiwa savage and egi Yemi alade still dragging the queenship rank for the female industry and boom… Her lordship woman king Tems surface to silent em all and put every1 em in their place and guess what, it’s a case close for em. No objection.” Read more: https://www.legit.ng/entertainment/celebrities/1510139-easy-girl-fans-beg-tems-flaunts-curvy-figure-hops-customized-private-jet-video/

    Tems bags first Golden Globe nomination Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Tems gave her fans and supporters yet another reason to brag about her. The much-loved songstress made history as became the first Nigerian singer to bag a Golden Globe nomination. Tems was nominated alongside Rihanna for her songwriting efforts on Marvel’s Lift Me Up movie soundtrack.

    Source: Legit.ng 

  • Everton are not for sale, Moshiri confirms

    Everton are not for sale, Moshiri confirms

    Farhad Moshiri is not attempting to sell Everton; instead, he is searching for investment in the team.

    On Monday, Everton owner Moshiri, who invested in the team in 2016, fired yet another manager, making Frank Lampard the most recent Toffees manager to lose his job.

    Tuesday brought further drama after Monday’s departure of Lampard, who left Everton in 19th place in the Premier League after 20 games.

    Arnaut Danjuma had been targeted by Everton as a loan player from Villarreal. The attacker, though, is about to sign with Tottenham after making an incredible U-turn.

    According to Stats Perform, Danjuma was supposed to show up at Everton’s Finch Farm training facility on Tuesday to finish the necessary paperwork for his transfer.

    While Marcelo Bielsa, Sean Dyche, Ralph Hasenhuttl and even former Toffees manager Sam Allardyce are reported candidates to replace Lampard, reports emerged that Moshiri had placed Everton up for sale, with an asking price of £500million having been cited.

    However, an interview with a member of Everton’s fan advisory board was subsequently released on the club’s YouTube channel, with Moshiri confirming he is not looking to sell.

    “The club is not for sale but I’ve been talking to top investors, real quality, to bridge the gap on the [new] stadium,” Moshiri said in the interview, which was recorded prior to the West Ham game.

    “I can do it myself and the reason I want to do it is to bring top sport investors into Everton for some of the reasons that the fans want improvement, more talent, and we are close to having a deal done.

    “It’s not selling the club at all. It’s just bringing more expertise in terms of global sponsorship, in terms of commercial development and a lot of specialist sport investors have this pool of knowledge. It’s to secure that for Everton.”

    In the wide-ranging interview, Moshiri vowed to “deal with everything” and said he is “sensitive” to fan concerns.

    He reiterated his support of the club’s four-person board, insisting chairman Bill Kenwright is “one of the most loved and respected men in football”.

    Moshiri said it is the “most critical time” in Everton’s history, as he vowed to turn around their fortunes.

    “I feel the pain. The fans have points. We’ll be addressing them,” he said. “Ambition for Everton is always to be among the elite.

    “Our goal is never to be in the bottom three. Our ambition is to play European football. We haven’t succeeded today, but we’ve laid the foundation to do it. Not just communication, hollow words, but implementation and demonstration to fans. We share this, step-by-step progress, to success together.

    “We have a plan. The plan is in place.”

    Subsequently, on Tuesday, Allardyce seemed to rule himself out of contention.

    “If I was going to Everton, they’d already have rang me,” he said in an interview with William Hill.

    “I know Farhad Moshiri. I have a lot of respect for him, certainly the money he’s found for Everton. Obviously not invested as Newcastle have invested. They’ve invested in players that haven’t delivered, through various different managers.

    “I only bought two while I was there [Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun], I still hold up to my achievement because it’s the best, you know what I mean, from 16th, 17th, to eighth in 22 matches.

    “What they need is someone who can go in and get the team functioning correctly.”

    Source: Livescore

  • Santos appointed as Poland head coach

    Santos appointed as Poland head coach

    Fernando Santos has been named the head coach of Poland until 2026 as soon as his contract with Portugal expired.

    Santos, 68, managed the Selecao for more than eight years and led them to triumphs at Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League’s debut match.

    Despite those victories, Santos’ team’s recent style of play has angered Portugal’s supporters, who felt that he was not performing to the full potential of the talented roster at his disposal.

    Santos’ contract with Portugal wasn’t set to expire until the end of the 2024 European Championship, but he was relieved of his duties following Morocco’s upset victory against Portugal in the World Cup quarterfinal last month.

    Since then, Roberto Martinez has taken his place.

    Santos, who previously coached Greece for four years before taking over Portugal, hasn’t wasted any time in accepting a new position either. He now has his third international appointment in a row with Poland.

    After his fellow Portuguese national Paulo Sousa, who served as head coach for a brief while in 2021, and Leo Beenhakker, he will be just the third non-native head coach in Poland’s history.

    Cezary Kulesza, the president of the Polish Football Association (PZPN), shared a photo of himself with Santos on Monday, effectively confirming the hire and organizing a press conference for the following day.

    Santos’ first goal will be to secure Poland’s qualification for a fourth successive appearance at the European Championship, with the 2024 edition to take place in neighbouring Germany.

    He will then be tasked with leading Poland to the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States, after which his contract is due to end.

  • Black Sherif, Gyakie, Kidi, Camidoh, others nominated for “Soundcity MVP Awards”

    Black Sherif, Gyakie, Kidi, Camidoh, others nominated for “Soundcity MVP Awards”

    Award-winning Ghanaian musicians, Black Sherif, Gyakie, Kidi, Camidoh, King Promise, Dj vyrusky and Lasmid have been nominated for the “Soundcity MVP Award Festival” in Nigeria.

    Nigerian lifestyle and music channel called “Soundcity Radio, and Television” announced the nominees from both Ghana and Nigeria on their Instagram page for this year’s awards edition.

    The award festival is presented by Tingo Mobile.

    The festival is scheduled to hold on February 11, 2023, at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, Nigeria.

    The nominations were dominated by Nigerian acts in the 15 music-only awards categories.

    The awards have twelve categories including Video of the Year Awards, Best Group or Duo Award, Best Collaboration award, Listeners Choice award, Best Hip-hop award, Best Pop award, Song of the year award, Best Female MVP award, Best Male MVP award, African DJ award, Viewer’s Choice awards and Best New MVP award.

  • Alleged whatsApp chat between First Atlantic Bank Manager and Side Chick leaked

    Alleged whatsApp chat between First Atlantic Bank Manager and Side Chick leaked

    Kwasi Nimako, First Atlantic Bank’s Chief Finance Officer (CFO), has gone viral on social media for the wrong reasons.

    Former NSS employee Seyram Deborah Adablah has sued him for an alleged romantic relationship she claims she had with him.

    The lady claimed in the writ that Nimako’s frequent sexual harassment forced her to enter into a relationship with him.

    Following the breaking news, a series of revelations about the identity of the individual at the center of the scandal occurred.

    Netizens are ‘hungry and eager’ to learn more about this First Atlantic Bank Manager.

    Who is Kwasi Nimako, First Atlantic Bank Manager Sued by side chick?

    Here are a few examples of current digs. Ernest Kwasi Nimako is his full name.

    Mr. Ernest is married. His wife is a medical doctor named Belinda Afriyie Nimako.

    Kwasi Nimako is a certified public accountant with prior experience in banking and telecommunications.

    He previously worked for OMNI Bank, Fidelity Bank, GS Telecoms, and Barclays Bank before joining First Atlantic in 2016.

    Ernest Kwasi Nimako attended PRESEC Legon and graduated in 1994.

    He enrolled at the University of Cape Coast in 1996 and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

    Among the commotion is a Whatsapp chat of First Atlantic Bank CFO Kwasi Nimako ‘yobbing’ Deborah Adablah to start their relationship.

    In one of the screenshots, Mr. Nimako stated unequivocally that having a wife does not preclude him from having a side girl.

    He went on to say that, while he has a wife, he loves her just as much.

    For more information, please see the screenshots below…

    First Atlantic Bank's Chief Finance Officer
  • NDC supporters in Tamale mass up at head office over leadership changes

    NDC supporters in Tamale mass up at head office over leadership changes

    Some supporters of the National Democratic Congress in Tamale in the Northern Region have massed up at the party’s regional office over the surprising shake-up in the party’s parliamentary leadership.

    JoyNews’ Regional Correspondent, Martina Bugri reports that the supporters say the decision will not augur well for the party. They want the leadership of the party to rescind the decision or face their wrath.

    In a terse message announcing the changes on Tuesday, the party said Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson takes over from Haruna Iddrisu as the Minority Leader, while Ellembelle MP, Kofi Armah Boah replaces James Klutse Avedzi as Deputy Minority Leader.

    In a statement signed by NDC General Secretary Fifi Kwetey, Kwame Agbodza becomes the Chief Whip for the opposition side and will be deputised by Banda MP, Ahmed Ibrahim and Ada legislator, Comfort Doyo Ghansah respectively.

    The former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu and Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak has been in Parliament for close to 20 years. Thus, their removal is being opposed by Tamale Central MP who believes the party is only bringing in inexperienced legislators to steer the affairs of the Minority Caucus.

    He said the party ought to have consulted the leadership in Parliament before taking such a decision.

    “The timing is completely wrong. What is the basis of changing our parliamentary leadership?”, Murtala Mohammed decried.

    “They are only taking away the most experienced leaders and bringing the less experienced ones. Nobody told them we are dissatisfied with the leadership.

    “Who told them we are unhappy with their performance?”, the disgruntled lawmaker quizzed.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • I’m sorry not because everything you are saying is true – Sarkodie to Samini

    I’m sorry not because everything you are saying is true – Sarkodie to Samini

    Sarkodie issued an apology to Samini after the latter revealed that the rapper ignored his requests to collaborate during a Twitter space discussion.

    In his apology, the award-winning rapper stated that the dancehall artiste’s claims may not have been entirely accurate.

    In an interview on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM, Sarkodie explained that since Samini called him out, he will likely face criticism from other individuals for refusing to work with them.

    “I’m saying sorry, not because everything you are saying is true. I treat things differently from how people will treat things.

    “I wouldn’t call it pain because I don’t care. Everybody has something happening to them so. There are thousands of people out there who will also say I don’t hesitate to work with them,” he said.

    He added that he was sorry for how the ‘Love Rocks’ artiste felt and that he sometimes listens to songs but finds it hard to make a connection.

    “I told Bullgod, sometimes you listen to a song and, you don’t hear yourself in it so you’re trying so hard to find time to do it. I’m saying sorry for how he feels. If he says he feels like that, then sorry,” he added.

    Samini and Sarkodie clashed when a Twitter user asked Samini if he had any plans to collaborate on a song with the rapper who is currently making headlines for remaking Bob Marley’s classic love song “Stir It Up.”

    The Twitter user @ahenkrah wrote: ” @samini_dagaati please when was the last time you entered the studio with Landlord @sarkodie, and when are u people joining again?”

    In response, the Ghanaian music legend, who appeared on Sarkodie’s 2014 hit song “Love Rock,” stated, “I’m not sure I’ll need a verse from Sark but if he ever does, I’m not interested, and that’s facts. He knows this himself… )y3 Alo sometimes, and I don’t play that. Yes or no be a problem for am so e go slow you and your project go dull …, he did it to me on burning EP.”

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • ‘You are my small boy and you know it’ – Samini tells Sarkodie to the face

    ‘You are my small boy and you know it’ – Samini tells Sarkodie to the face

    Samini has reiterated his displeasure over Sarkodie’s ‘sluggishness’ towards business deals and phone calls from his colleagues including him.

    Earlier, the reggae dancehall musician took to Twitter to vent out about the development, after a fan asked when they should expect another collaboration from the duo.

    “Not sure I’ll need a verse from sark but if he ever does need one I’m not interested and that’s facts. He knows this himself. )y3 Alo sometimes and I don’t play that. Yes or no be problem for am so e go slow you and your project go dull …, he did it to me on burning EP. He’s just Allo [sic] when it comes to returning favors, unlike him I do my own hooks and verses and I don’t need features to blow. Like I die lol,” he earlier said.

    These comments have since stirred controversy on social media, particularly on Twitter where countless Sarknatives have descended on Samini for what they have described as feeling entitled.

    In a phone-in session with Andy Dosty on the HitzFM Daybreak show where Sarkodie was also present, Samini said,

    “If you message him, it will take him forever to respond and Kwaw Kese even said it earlier. So, I concluded that that is how he is. He is not my friend like that and he can attest to it. I did everything he asked me to do on time and I expect that my principles towards work is that you should let me know whether you can or cannot.

    Sarkodie did not try for me. He did not try for me and he knows it. Sark you are my small boy. Sark was one one the boys that said in his raps that he wants to blow up and become like Samini. Ask him. My guy, don’t play,” he fumed

    Narrating how his feud with Sarkodie began, Samini added,

    “This whole thing started on Twitter last night when I asked fans to ask me questions, they would want me to answer. One of them came with the question about whether or not I will work again with Sark. So I said point blank that I don’t think I’ll need a verse from Sark and if he ever does need one, I’m not going to ever do it. I know the person is a Sark and a Samini fan and want to see us collaborate. I have a few instances where Sark has disrespected me but I didn’t bring it in public. But how Sark fans have risen on Twitter and disrespecting me is crazy. At 41, I don’t have to let anyone feel special in their corner. When Sark sent love rocks, I did it under 24 hours and sent it to him.

    “Another time, he sent another when I was in South Africa, I did it and sent him the verse. When he sends me a WhatsApp message, it doesn’t takes me more than five minutes to respond. Because I did more than one features for him and he decided to put one out, I felt he could also return a favour so I hit him up over a song. I sent him three songs and he chose one. I told him it’s the last single on the EP. We spoke in April and I was supposed to release the song in May. that was the last time I heard from him and anytime I send him a message, there’s a blue tick,” he added.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • GFA urged to ban sports betting in Ghana Premier League to combat match-fixing

    GFA urged to ban sports betting in Ghana Premier League to combat match-fixing

    The President of Bechem United, Kingsley Owusu Achau, has implored the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to implement a ban on sports betting within the Ghana Premier League.

    Owusu Achau posits that such a measure would serve to eradicate the issue of match-fixing, which has been a persistent problem for the league in recent years.

    In the 2020/21 season, there were red flags raised during a high-scoring match between Ashanti Gold and Inter Allies in the Ghana Premier League.

    Both teams were subsequently found guilty of match manipulation by the GFA’s Disciplinary Committee, and as a result, were demoted to the Division Two League.

    Owusu Achau has urged the GFA to follow in the footsteps of Sudan and prohibit betting companies from including matches from the Ghanaian topflight on their sites.

    “We have not been able to stamp it out so I made a proposal to the effect that even the FA could ban it so that no one can use our product as it is done in Sudan and some other places where you cannot use their league for betting,” he told the Graphic Sport.

    “It is our product so we have the right to say that if you are caught using our product for betting you’ll be sued for several millions of dollars. This is not the first of its kind, it is done in Sudan and some other countries.”

  • Inadequate funding impedes road maintenance

    Inadequate funding impedes road maintenance

    The Acting Deputy Chief Executive of Maintenance at the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Ing. Lawrence Lloyd Lankwei Lamptey, has revealed that 30 percent of Ghana’s roads are in good condition while 46 percent are in fair condition, and the remaining 19 percent are in poor condition.

    He further indicated that the country is lagging in what the Road ministry wants to achieve in 2037 in terms of Road coverage. This, he said, is a result of inadequate funds, which has also led to a drastic reduction in road maintenance works across the country.

    Ing. Lankwei Lamptey made this known at a Training programme for Maintenance Managers and Road Area Managers in all the sixteen regions across the country being held in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital. Ing. Lamptey added that as a result of delays in the allocation of funds from the government, maintenance work has also been reduced drastically.

    On shoddy work being executed by some contractors, he has this to say.

    The Eastern Regional Director of Roads and Highway Authority, Ing. Patrick Okoto, on his part, said though it is faced with financial constraints, The Authority is supervising 68 development projects and entreated Engineers in charge of the projects to adopt innovative ways to execute them.

    He urged participants to take such training workshops seriously since it provides them with upgrades in their field of work which makes them more efficient.

    The Director of Road Maintenance at the Ghana Highway Authority, Ing Maama Sawyerr-Markwei reiterated that the economy is in times of financial scarcity which according to him has made logistics limited in all the regions. This, he said, has also made it difficult for Road Contractors to be on-site thereby impeding the progress of road construction across the country.

    During the five-day training, the road engineers are taken through the duties and responsibilities of supervising teams on projects in all regions, geometric designs and interpretation of critical designs, core specification, pavement designs and material selection.

    Source:

  • CHAN2022: Mauritania secures historic qualification to quarter-finals of tournament

    CHAN2022: Mauritania secures historic qualification to quarter-finals of tournament

    Mauritania made history on Tuesday, January 24, when the national team beat Mali by a goal to nil in the 2022 CAF Championship of African Nations (CHAN) tournament.

    The win is the first ever recorded by Mauritania at the CHAN tournament since CAF started organising the competition.

    In addition, the win has propelled Mauritania to the quarter-finals of the CHAN tournament. Historically, this is the first time “Al-Murabitun” has qualified for the knockout stage of the tournament.

    Today, Mauritania needed to win to cement a place in the next round of the CHAN 2022 tournament being staged in Algeria.

    In the first half of end-to-end action, both Mali and Mauritania had their chances but neither side could get on the scoresheet.

    After recess, Mauritania labored and fortunately had their reward in the 53rd minute.

    A fantastic header from Mamadou Sy handed the “Al-Murabitun” the lead and led the side to a 1-0 win at the end of the contest.

    FULL-TIME!

    Mauritania registered their first-ever #TotalEnergiesCHAN victory after beating Mali 1-0 #TotalEnergiesCHAN2022 | #MTNMLI pic.twitter.com/JXx6omivYh

    — MARHABA (@CAF_Online) January 24, 2023

  • “He must have been rejected multiple times”: BBNaija’s Deji, Kess slam Nedu over comment on BBN girls

    “He must have been rejected multiple times”: BBNaija’s Deji, Kess slam Nedu over comment on BBN girls

    Ace media personality Nedu Wazobia has been trending across social media platforms after a comment he made about Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) girls went viral Nedu had said, on his popular podcast, that most BBNaija female housemates go on the show to seek male customers instead of using the platform to pursue a career.

    However, these comments by Nedu have sparked reactions, as ex-housemates, Deji Morafa and Kess Adjekpovu have come out to slam the actor and defend their female counterparts.

    The recent viral comments by popular media personality and actor Nedu Wazobia about BBNaija girls seem to have gotten on the wrong side of a couple of former male housemates, Deji Morafa and Sir Kess.

    Deji Morafa trolled Nedu saying the reason why the show host continues to attack BBNaija girls is because he applied to be on the show multiple times but was rejected.

    Another BBNaija former male housemate, Sir Kess also, reacted to Nedu’s comment, noting that it is unfair to undermine the hard work of the female BBNaija housemates. He further noted that tagging female BBNaija housemates as hussy is distasteful.

    See how Nigerians reacted to Sir Kess and Deji’s response to Nedu Wazobia’s comment about female BBNaija housemates

    @lovelynlincoln: “Nedu is saying the truth, a lot of these Big Brother Alumni (boys) are gay.” @XLawwy: “But Nedu is clearly saying fact tho.” @ArsenalGirl04: “The truth remains, 99% of bbn girls are Olosho’s.” @PointOf63482343: “But Doyin confirmed it na? Na their work o. She could have defended her fellow colleagues but she accepted that it’s true.” 

    @lastvillain007: “Doyin had the opportunity to clear that narrative but instead, she felt it is nice to validate Nedu’s claims just because she wants to be petty. Na person wey sabi you dey do you.”

    @akwanwa90: “But Doyin supported the notion by saying customer’s Dey turn husband… meaning nedu is not lying.”

    @SaintVawulence: “That is what they are. No need Defending them. Are they working hard more than other females? Afterall Angel said she was going to make the equivalent of White money’s win in a matter of weeks…”

    @SusanBstar: “Take it or leave it bbnaija is just olosho site.” Nedu Blasts BBN Ladies As Doyin Goes on His Podcast Meanwhile, Legit.ng recalls reporting that Big Brother Naija ex-housemate Doyin was recently a guest on media personality Nedu’s The Honest Bunch podcast, and she had to go into defence mode. In the clip sighted on Instagram,

    Nedu made it clear that most BBN stars are hungry, and what the show does for them is to shoot them up without substance to hold on to. Nedu continued by saying most ladies who have been on the show have nothing to offer except to sleep with men, and they go on the show to find ‘customers’.

  • ‘You are my small boy and you know it’ – Samini tells Sarkodie to the face

    ‘You are my small boy and you know it’ – Samini tells Sarkodie to the face

    Samini has reiterated his displeasure over Sarkodie’s ‘sluggishness’ towards business deals and phone calls from his colleagues including him.

    Earlier, the reggae dancehall musician took to Twitter to vent out about the development, after a fan asked when they should expect another collaboration from the duo.

    “Not sure I’ll need a verse from sark but if he ever does need one I’m not interested and that’s facts. He knows this himself. )y3 Alo sometimes and I don’t play that. Yes or no be problem for am so e go slow you and your project go dull …, he did it to me on burning EP. He’s just Allo [sic] when it comes to returning favors, unlike him I do my own hooks and verses and I don’t need features to blow. Like I die lol,” he earlier said.

    These comments have since stirred controversy on social media, particularly on Twitter where countless Sarknatives have descended on Samini for what they have described as feeling entitled.

    In a phone-in session with Andy Dosty on the HitzFM Daybreak show where Sarkodie was also present, Samini said,

    “If you message him, it will take him forever to respond and Kwaw Kese even said it earlier. So, I concluded that that is how he is. He is not my friend like that and he can attest to it. I did everything he asked me to do on time and I expect that my principles towards work is that you should let me know whether you can or cannot.

    Sarkodie did not try for me. He did not try for me and he knows it. Sark you are my small boy. Sark was one one the boys that said in his raps that he wants to blow up and become like Samini. Ask him. My guy, don’t play,” he fumed

    Narrating how his feud with Sarkodie began, Samini added,

    “This whole thing started on Twitter last night when I asked fans to ask me questions, they would want me to answer. One of them came with the question about whether or not I will work again with Sark. So I said point blank that I don’t think I’ll need a verse from Sark and if he ever does need one, I’m not going to ever do it. I know the person is a Sark and a Samini fan and want to see us collaborate. I have a few instances where Sark has disrespected me but I didn’t bring it in public. But how Sark fans have risen on Twitter and disrespecting me is crazy. At 41, I don’t have to let anyone feel special in their corner. When Sark sent love rocks, I did it under 24 hours and sent it to him.

    “Another time, he sent another when I was in South Africa, I did it and sent him the verse. When he sends me a WhatsApp message, it doesn’t takes me more than five minutes to respond. Because I did more than one features for him and he decided to put one out, I felt he could also return a favour so I hit him up over a song. I sent him three songs and he chose one. I told him it’s the last single on the EP. We spoke in April and I was supposed to release the song in May. that was the last time I heard from him and anytime I send him a message, there’s a blue tick,” he added.

  • Rema is bigger than all Ghanaian Artiste combined – Nigerian Man asserts

    Rema is bigger than all Ghanaian Artiste combined – Nigerian Man asserts

    The Ghana-Nigeria Music supremacy conversation has been there for ages. Ghanaians claim they have the best musicians whilst Nigerians can boast of good musicians too.

    On social media, entertainment-inclined people have debated on this “who is The Best’ topic in several pundit discussions.

    It seems one Nigerian guy on social media wants to settle issues once and for all.

    Him, in a self-recorded video, the man has asserted that Rema is bigger than all Ghanaian artists combined.

    Divine Ikubor professionally known by his stage name Rema, is a Nigerian singer, musician, and rapper.

    He rose to stardom with the release of the song “Dumebi”. In 2019, he later signed a record deal with Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records.

    This he means to say the young starboy from Nigeria is the mark for Ghanaian musicians and in his opinion, none comes close.

  • BBTitans: “There will be tears next week” – Netizens react as nine housemates escape 1st eviction

    BBTitans: “There will be tears next week” – Netizens react as nine housemates escape 1st eviction

    BBTitans’ first eviction show went down on Sunday, January 22, a week after the reality show commenced in South Africa.

    Nine housemates including Blaqboi, Jaypee, Nana, Olivia, Yaya, Yemi, Jenni, Justin, and Khosi. were all nominated for eviction, but to the surprise of the fans and followers of the popular reality TV show, none of the nominated housemates was evicted.

    Towards the end of the show, Lawrence to the excitement of the nominated housemates’ announced that no one was evicted.

    Netizens react as 9 housemates escape eviction Legit.ng captured some of the reactions on social media as some netizens predicted different scenarios next week, while others called for every housemate to be put up for eviction in order to make the show more interesting.

    See some of the reactions below:

    sheldonlikesyou: “Next week this time there will be tears #BBTitans #BBTitans2023.”

    ellenabareal: “Everybody should be put up next week.. the shellfish group who’re yet “come out of their shell” can go home and get comfortable. No time to waste! @BigBroAfrica #BBTitans2023 #BBTitans.”

    choqlatelima: “They are just setting demselves up for nominations cos shi is gon get real tomorrow cos they talk too much. Unnecessary yarns ooo #BBTitans2023 #bbtitans.” READ ALSO “You’re a Motorola forming to be an iPhone 14”: BBTitans stars Sandra and Olivia fight dirty in trending clip

    housewivesrv: “Olivia, Jenni O, Yvonne, Nana oyaaaa these women must be going. As a fellow Nigerian, these women do not represent who we are!! I am so upset. #BBTitans2023 #BBTitians.”

    iamlecgo: “HM’s should be little happy because all this nomination makes us see who is who so we can vote for our loved ones.Most nominations are full of hate or unfairness

    #BBTitans2023.” Meet BBTitans’s Yemi Cregx Yemi Cregx from BBTitans during a conversation with fellow housemates revealed he had auditioned unsuccessfully for five years and felt it was the perfect time to make his mark in the show.

    He said he would be bringing positive energy to Biggie’s house, have fun, and ultimately take home the cash prize. The fashion influencer was born on 20 March 1992 in Ekiti State, Nigeria, but later moved to Lagos State, Nigeria,.

  • “So you can keep your shirt on”: Reactions as Rema performs calm in Saudi Arabia

    “So you can keep your shirt on”: Reactions as Rema performs calm in Saudi Arabia

    Nigerian singer Rema was among the artists who performed at the Joy Awards 2023 concert in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night

    A video showed the moment Rema performed his hit song Calm Down with Saudi Arabian singer Dalia Mubarak Nigerians were, however, stunned by Rema’s actions as the singer had his shirt on all through his performance which was unlike himMavin youngster Rema once again made Nigeria proud as he gave a thrilling performance at the Joy Awards 2023 concert in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.

    Rema performed Calm Down alongside Saudi Arabian singer Dalia Mubarak and it was great to watch as he delivered as usual.

    Watch video below

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cntgof1hYKR/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

  • “U are deceiving yourself”: Social media users react as Paul Okoye shares sweet moment with his lover

    “U are deceiving yourself”: Social media users react as Paul Okoye shares sweet moment with his lover

    Popular singer Paul Okoye seems to be enjoying his new love life with his younger lover Ivy Ifeoma in a latest showed off of their relationship,

    Paul Okoye shared the moment she woke him up for church The video which has gone viral on social media has sparked reactions from netizens, with some dragging the lovers. Nigerian singer Paul Okoye of Psquare music group also known as Rude Boy and his younger lover Ivy Ifeoma continue to ‘pepper’ netizens with their relationship.

    Rudeboy took to his Insta story to share a short clip which showed the moment his young lover woke him up for church with hugs.

    Netizens react as Rudeboy shares video of him and his younger lover Legit.ng captured some of the reactions as some netizens dragged the lovers,

    See them below

    momo_proudly_: “Ask ur self if u are poor, will dis girl near u couple with d age difference and baby daddy????? Mk una Dey deceive una self.’ julyeth2911: “

    She woke u up for church u come Dey do video, by the way why is she sleeping at ur place ? Don’t tell me u guys are fornicating cos apostle must hear it.

    ” nancydreeew: “Mtchw….this is just a town hall different from bulabla …balablu .”

    iebisi: “How e take concern daughter of Zion????”

    iamgeoffreybiggeo: “Na this my single life dey make all this post Dey pain it is well.”

    sly.eden: “Na so ,beginning dey sweet ,wait 1-7yrs and post.” 

    Check video below

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/CntmQyxBHKP/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=ba11c95e-4cca-4380-812f-66ec42a68dac

    /

    ” 

  • Delta has introduced free Wi-Fi on board

    Delta has introduced free Wi-Fi on board

    By the end of 2024, THE Delta Airline will offer free Wi-Fi on all of its international and domestic flights.

    The airline will make the service available on more than 700 Viasat-equipped aircraft by the end of this year, 2023.

    The airline has already set a date of February 1, 2023, to start providing all passengers on board the majority of domestic mainline flights with quick, free Wi-Fi in collaboration with T-Mobile.

    Thus, the airline becomes the first significant American airline to offer the service as a key component of its passenger experience.

    “Connectivity is a daily necessity at work, at home, and everywhere in between. Your flight with Delta should be no different.

    “Our vision has long been to deliver an experience at 30,000 feet that feels similar to what our customers have available on the ground,”the Delta Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ed Bastian said at the CES 2023 in Las Vegas.

    Designed to fuel Delta’s vision of more personalised travel,customers will log in using their Delta SkyMiles account or join SkyMiles on the ground or in the air for free to connect.

    Culture of innovation

    Mr Bastian said the airline had long used technology as a tool to further its mission of connecting people and to redefine consumer expectations.

    “Delta is working with engineers from Viasat — the satellite internet service provider behind the airline’s connectivity revolution.

    He said from development to implementation, the scale of the airline’s global operation required a Delta-led team of engineers,developers, designers, product leaders and technicians working tirelessly to build, install and deploy an ecosystem of technologies fit to unlock the future of travel.

    “The teams have applied a rigorous approach to testing, learning and scaling best-in-class in-flight connectivity,with an eye toward rolling out the new system on more routes at an unprecedented scale by the end of 2024.

    “We did not just want free Wi-Fi to offer base-levelservice – we wanted it to be transformative forthe entire onboard experience.

    “It is imperative all customers onboard can enjoy their favourite content just astheywould at home,and we’ve put this system through meticulous tests to make that possible,” Mr Bastian said.

    Stay connected

    Speaking on behalf of T-Mobile,the CEO of the company, Mike Sievert,said “at T-Mobile, we believe staying connected while travelling should be an easy,seamless experience”.

    He added, all T-Mobile customers already got free in-flight Wi-Fi and “now, we’re partnering with Delta to bring that experience to all customers regardless of their wireless provider so that anyone flying Delta can enjoy online access from takeoff to touchdown”.

    Delta announced more exciting plansfor Delta Sync Exclusives hub.

    The hub is a new SkyMiles-unlocked mobile platform aimed at elevating the inflight connectivity experience with exclusive offers, access and entertainmentfrom beloved brandsthat are mainstays of everyday life.

    The company intends to launch the Delta Sync Exclusives hub later this spring

  • I pray for a global tour with Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy – Sarkodie

    I pray for a global tour with Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy – Sarkodie

    Although they have worked in pairs on separate projects, fans are yet to see these three acts work together or share a stage together.

    For fans who want to see them perform together, there may be hope after all.

    Speaking on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM, Tuesday, Sarkodie said that it is his dream to share a stage with his colleagues.

    He told Andy Dosty he would like to be on an international tour with Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy.

    “That is my prayer, it has to happen,” Sarkodie said.

    A show hosted by Shatta Wale, Sarkodie and Stonebwoy would undoubtedly, be a hit especially since they have hosted sold out shows.

    In December 2022, Shatta Wale filled the Accra Sports Stadium for his Freedom Concert, Sarkodie sold out the Grand Arena for Rapperholic and so did Stonebwoy for BHIM Concert.

  • African woman evicted by Canadian landlord for using ‘momone’ to cook

    African woman evicted by Canadian landlord for using ‘momone’ to cook

    A young Nigerian lady who’s currently based in Canada has landed herself into serious trouble for using rotten fish locally called ‘momone’ to prepare a stew.

    According to this lady, her Canadian landlord immediately rushed to her apartment after he smelled the stitch of the rotten fish which is mainly used for African dishes to add extra taste.

    As narrated by the lady, she was still cooking when her landlord came and told her that the aroma was upsetting.

    He added that he and his daughter suffer from migraine and that she had immediately leave their house.

    Sharing a picture of the soup that landed her into this trouble, she captioned it as;

    “My first vegetable soup that gave me quit notice in my new house”, 

    Africans who have come across this bizarre story have called out the landlord for not respecting the culture of others.

    They believe he dealt with the trivial issue with a sledgehammer which isn’t necessary

  • The economic and digital messiah – Annoh-Dompreh eulogises Bawumia

    The economic and digital messiah – Annoh-Dompreh eulogises Bawumia

    The Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has praised Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for leading Ghana’s digitalisation drive.

    Annoh-Dompreh was reacting to news of Ghana being ranked number one in the 2022 Digital Competitiveness Index in Anglophone West Africa.

    Ghana scored 66 percent on the index, half a percentage point more than Cape Verde, which was ranked second-best. Nigeria completed the top three with a 65 percent score.

    The index was compiled by the pan-African think tank Digital Foundation Africa, and it measures and ranks which of the West African states is implementing and adopting good digitalisation policies while mapping the growth of its digital development sectors for socio-economic transformations.

    The index was compiled using about 10 variables, ranging from mobile money and online transactions, to digital infrastructure and policy implementation.

    “The Ranking would guide ECOWAS states in their approach in the implementation and development of the digital sector hence translating into how citizens transact and use digital in their daily lives. After the release of the index, activities will be held to engage governments and other stakeholders per country to help in the direction and future of the digital sector,” parts of a statement announcing the 2022 Digital Competitiveness Index read.

    Reacting to the development in a tweet shared on January 24, 2023, Annoh-Dompreh, the Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri, described Bawumia as an economic and digitalisation genius.

    His tweet was a retweet of a feat as shared by a pro-NPP activist. He captioned his post, “The Economic & Digital Messiah.”

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Surrender your wards to the police – Ashanti REGSEC to parents of Krobea Asante Technical-Vocational students

    Surrender your wards to the police – Ashanti REGSEC to parents of Krobea Asante Technical-Vocational students

    Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Security Council, Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, has directed Police will pursue e-commerce fraudsters and imposterslice at Effiduase to immediately declare any of the School Prefects of the Krobea Asante Technical-Vocational Institute wanted and pursue them for arrest.

    Similarly, any parent or guardian hiding any of the students of the school should surrender him or her to the Police also immediately for the law to take its cause in an effort at finding a solution to the rampage that occurred at the school at the weekend.

    Mr. Osei Mensah gave the directive after a visit to the school at Asokore in the Sekyere East district in the Ashanti region.

    Last Saturday night, students of the Krobea Asante Technical and Vocational Institute in the Sekyere East district in the Ashanti region reportedly went on a rampage.

    Even though formally, the immediate or remote reasons for the demonstration are unknown, speculation has it that, the continuing students are unsatisfied with the performance of their immediate predecessors at the NAPTEX external examination among other allegations.

    The Principal of the Institute, Mr. Evans Douglas Salvo, explained to the media, what happened.

    In the heat of the riot, four official school vehicles and two private ones belonging to some teachers were damaged, food items at the store to feed them were also destroyed aside from some other school properties. It was the swift response of the District Police that helped to save the lives of teachers, particularly the Principal whose official residence the rampaging students had invaded earlier.

    On the recommendation of the Sekyere East District Security Council, the Ashanti Regional Security Council, REGSEC in consultation with the Regional Education directorate closed down the Institute indefinitely.

    In a follow-up to ascertain the reality of the situation, the Chairman of the REGSEC, Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, who is also the Regional Minister, in the company of others, toured the premises.

    He learnt that, even before the official closedown of the school, the students had run away.

    The REGSEC Chairman also held an in-camera meeting with the key stakeholders to get a detailed briefing about the incident. Eventually, he met the media to announce a raft of measures to instil sanity at the institute.

    Mr. Osei Mensah announced the composition of a five-member Investigation Committee to unravel all circumstances regarding the riot including the legalities, culpability of individuals and groups at the school, values of the damaged vehicles and other properties saying that, ultimately, the students will bear the full cost since the government does not have the funds now to bear the cost.

    Mr. Osei Mensah indicated that the date for re-opening the school depends largely on the report and subsequent measures to be put in place.

    The REGSEC Chairman the District Police Command to declare all the School Prefects wanted in connection with the riot.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • End corruption in the maritime sector formally — Bawumia

    End corruption in the maritime sector formally — Bawumia

    In order to secure fair commerce, the Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has stated that the maritime industry must formalize measures to prevent bribery and corruption.

    He went on to say that the industry was vulnerable to numerous types of corruption, which might have a negative impact on trade and investment.

    Dr. Buwumia made the statement last Thursday at the Global Best in Vessel Clearance Workshop in Accra, in a speech that was read on his behalf. He said that the lack of transparency in import and export licensing, as well as other regulatory requirements that make moving goods time-consuming, difficult, and expensive, contributed to corruption in our ports.

    The workshop organised by the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) and the Convention on Business Integrity (CBI) in partnership with GMA brought together maritime experts from six African countries to deliberate on new trends in best practices in vessel clearance at seaports.“

    The Ghana Revenue Authority for instance estimates that Ghana loses more than $8.3 million monthly in revenue through corrupt practices at our Ports.

    This figure amounts to almost $50 million every six months and a $100 million annually.

    “These loses are due in part to the deception by some Importers who deliberately wrongly declare contents of imported containers with some Port Officials aiding in this deception,” he said. 

    That in turn, he said had negative effects on social, economic and sustainable development as well as a country’s risk and integrity rating, potentially impacting on foreign direct investment.

    Hence, it was vital for all Stakeholders in the Ship/shore interface to embrace and implement anti-corruption practices and procedures.

    Nature of shipping industry The Deputy Director-General of Finance & Administration at the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Yaw Akosa Antwi, said corruption in the maritime industry will persist due to the nature of the shipping industry.

    “This fragmented and impervious nature of the shipping industry makes fighting corruption difficult as it portends a multidimensional challenge that requires an all-inclusive solution.

    It is therefore essential for the public and private sector as well as other actors to collaborate and align standards thereby mitigating the corruption risk,” he said.

    For his part, the Associate Director for Global Operations & Industry Engagement at the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network, Vivek Menon, said despite last year’s drop in piracy incidents, approaching West-African ports were still considered a high-risk and a global concern for the shipping industry.He said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement had opportunities for Africa to boost intra-African Trade and integrate into the global economy.

    However, for AfCFTA to be successful, it was crucial that the continent had an efficient and reliable transport system in place.

    “This is where the new port of Tema can be part of inspiration to extend the necessary infrastructure, services and capacities to support the “Let us work together to harness the potential of the blue economy for Africa, ensuring that any obstacles to realising its potential will be eliminated,” Mr Menon said.

  • ‘Christ-like leadership’ – Ablakwa reacts to Duncan-Williams, Anaba’s call for Cathedral audit

    ‘Christ-like leadership’ – Ablakwa reacts to Duncan-Williams, Anaba’s call for Cathedral audit

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has reacted to calls for a deferment and an audit of the National Cathedral of Ghana project.

    The call was made by Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams and Rev. Eastwood Anaba, with a core reason for their call being the many controversies that have dogged the project in recent times.

    Ablakwa described the call by the duo, who are members of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral, as a sign of “exemplary Christ-like leadership, wisdom & integrity worthy of high praise.”

    His post on Twitter read: “Profound commendations to Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams and Rev. Eastwood Anaba for their principled and patriotic position on the scandal-dominated National Cathedral project. Exemplary Christ-like leadership, wisdom & integrity worthy of high praise. Ghana first.”

    Accra-based Joy FM published a memo dated January 23, sent to the Board of Trustees, calling essentially for a halt and an independent audit of the project’s expenditures.

    “That in the spirit and cause of transparency and accountability to the Ghanaian people, the current Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral shall appoint an independent, nationally recognised accounting firm to audit all public funds contributed to and spent by the National Cathedral.

    “Auditors will also audit the overall cost of the project. This appointment of an auditor shall take place before the deferment of activities of the Board of Trustees,” excerpts of the memo said.

    The National Cathedral project has been in the news recently for not too good reasons, as a result of a myriad of allegations levelled by Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, against the Board and its secretary, Rev. Kusi Boateng.

    Ablakwa has exposed instances of public funds being put into the project, which government confirms is to the tune of GHC339 million cedis. He has recently questioned some payments made by the cathedral, but the secretariat insists all transactions were above board.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • ‘Mahama’s 2nd coup d’etat’ – Presidential staffer reacts to Haruna Iddrisu’s removal as Minority Leader

    ‘Mahama’s 2nd coup d’etat’ – Presidential staffer reacts to Haruna Iddrisu’s removal as Minority Leader

    Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe, an executive assistant and head of social media at the Office of the President, has alleged that the replacement of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, as Minority Leader, was orchestrated by ex-President John Dramani Mahama.

    In a tweet shared on Friday, January 24, 2023, Teiko Tagoe also alleged that the removal of Haruna Iddrisu had the support of the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.

    “John Dramani Mahama’s second coup d’etat in NDC leadership in Parliament, with the ultimate support of Chairman Asiedu Nketiah. Interesting times ahead,” parts of the tweet read.

    The NDC appointed the former deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the minority leader in the 8th Parliament.

    Other changes included, Kofi Armah 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.

    The new changes were contained in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, from the National Democratic Congress. The letter was signed by NDC General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • You cannot choose parliament leaders without consulting us – NDC MP laments

    You cannot choose parliament leaders without consulting us – NDC MP laments

    The Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, has raised concerns over what he says is the failure of the national executive of the National Democratic Congress to meet the caucus in parliament before changing the leadership of the Minority in parliament.

    According to him, the party cannot choose the parliamentary leadership without consulting them.

    His comment comes on the back of an announcement by the NDC party on a major shake-up in their leadership in parliament.

    “Someone should tell some of the national executive that, they cannot choose our parliamentary leadership without consulting the caucus,” he wrote on Facebook.

    A former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Minority Leader, as replacement for Haruna Iddrisu.

    Kofi Armah Buah has also been named as the new Deputy Minority Chief Whip.

    Kwame Agbodza takes over as Chief Whip.

    Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip.

    This was contained in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, from the National Democratic Congress dated January 23, 2023.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Court grants unemployed man GH¢50,000 bail

    Court grants unemployed man GH¢50,000 bail

    An unemployed man, who allegedly falsified an account and stole a sum of GH¢39,422.00 has been granted a GH¢50,000.00 bail with two sureties by an Accra Circuit Court.

    Mr Joseph Tettey, 25-year-old, was alleged to have falsified entry in the daily susu ledger book belonging to ST. Margaret Mary Cooperative Credit Union and stole from the Union in the month of March 2022 at Dansoman in the Greater Accra region.

    The accused pleaded not guilty for both charges levelled against him.

    The Court presided over by Mrs Susana Eduful directed that one of the sureties must be a public servant, who earned not less GH¢2,000.00 a month.

    The case has been adjourned to March 1, 2023.

    The Prosecution led by Inspector Ebenezer Teye-Okuffo told the Court that the complainant, Mr Michael Nkrumah, the Manager of St. Margaret Mary Cooperative Credit Union, and the accused both lived at Dansoman, a suburb of Accra.

    It said the accused used to work with the Credit Union as its Office Assistant and in the month of March 2022, in the course of his work, forged receipts and ledger books and stole an amount of GH¢39,422.00.

    The Prosecution said in July 2022, a five-member ad hoc Committee was formed to look into the actions and inactions of the accused person.

    During the Committee’s sitting, the accused was invited, where he admitted to have stolen the money and along the line refunded GH¢13,000.00 to the Credit Union.

    It said the complainant lodged a complaint on December 5, 2022, with the Dansoman Police and subsequently submitted an audited report to that effect.

    “The accused was arrested on December 6, 2022, for investigation and was later charged with the offenses and arraigned,” it said.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Domestic Debt Exchange: Victims shouldn’t Suffer – Consultant

    Domestic Debt Exchange: Victims shouldn’t Suffer – Consultant

    According to a banking consultant, Ghana’s effort to implement a Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP) needs to be carefully planned in order to protect the weaker members of society.

    To restructure domestic debt is to operate.
    The financial consultant Reverend Edward Randolph-Koranteng said, “You only do it if you have to, and you avoid it if it might do more harm than good.

    He pointed out that some banks were among the society’s most susceptible because of the fundamental conceptual underpinnings of the International Financial Reporting standards (IFRS).

    Reverend Edward Randolph-Koranteng, who is also the Board Chairman of the Ghana India Trade Advisory Chamber, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) encouraged the government to thoroughly research into the subject.

    That, he said, should be followed with broader consultations with industry players and financial institutions to avert any political suicide.

    He explained that political suicide was a concept by which a politician or political party loses widespread support and confidence from the voting public by proposing actions that are seen as unfavourable or that might threaten the status quo.

    Rev. Randolph-Koranteng said the government should not play the ostrich and overlook the concerns of the public to have a pyrrhic victory as such victories only inflicted devastating toll on the victor and was tantamount to defeat,

    “Such a score of victory negates any true sense of achievement or damages long-term progress.

    The Banking Consultant noted the need to have a bipartisan approach to handling this precarious situation regarding the DDEP through extensive stakeholder engagement to get everyone’s buy-in before implementation.

    Any further politicization of the DDEP irrespective of the political divide could lead to a catastrophic result and any political party with foresight would have to avoid a pyrrhic victory, where you kill a mosquito with a sledgehammer on your forehead.

    “You don’t want to win power to become worse off”, he added.

    The Banking Consultant said though it might appear that the DDEP was necessary in the present circumstances, it must be packaged in a way that would not hurt society.

    He said: “Economics cannot be devoid of politics but if we overpoliticise our economy and fail to look at the realities in the national interest, it could be more fatal than we can imagine.

    “…The government must work at gaining trust, the second most important factor consumers consider when buying financial products.”

    The Ghana India Trade Advisory Chamber Board Chairman also advised Ghanaians to demonstrate love for country and radically increase productivity at all levels of economy with a changed mindset.

    “We need to boost our exports…Until we practically work on our weak economic fundamentals, no government can save us from the cyclical economic mess and depreciation of the Ghana Cedi and IMF cannot ware our pampers for us as a nation which is over 60 years,” he explained

    Turning attention to the IMF bailout, he said the USD 3billion injection by IMF would only be a temporary support to keep the economy alive.

    “This would give us room to do the needful adding,” the consultant said, adding, “these monies are not a cure to our economic issues, you do not borrow to consume as we have done since independence, but you borrow to invest.

    ” For instance, if part of the monies borrowed had been utilized to set up factories to process the country’s raw materials example bauxite, revive most defunct factories or rehabilitate Tema Oil Refinery, the country should have been able to sustain its debt.

    He also called for a well thought through national vision for domestication and consuming what was locally grown to decrease reliance on foreign goods and excessive pressure on the Ghana Cedi.

  • MASLOC Case: Pay GH¢5 million bail sum – Court orders Alex Mould, Gavivina

    MASLOC Case: Pay GH¢5 million bail sum – Court orders Alex Mould, Gavivina

    The High Court in Accra has ordered Alex Mould, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Gavivina Tamakloe to pay GH¢5 million to the state after failing to produce Sedinam Ationu Tamakloe.

    The two sureties executed the bail bond for the “absconded” former Chief Executive Officer of MASLOC, Sedinam Attionu Tamakloe to ensure she appear in court to stand trial.

    But has been absent for the past 16 months.

    In court on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 when the case was called, Justice Afia Serwaah Asare-Botwe said the court cannot wait any longer.

    Correspondence from his lawyers to the court suggests that the accused who was granted request for medical evaluation on her spinal cord is requesting again for at least nine more months to undergo eye surgery.

    But the court observed her to be “somebody who has opted to stay for medical tourism.”

    Justice Asare-Botwe, now a Justice of the Court of Appeal said “an entire 16 months delay is more than enough time given and I do not think that anybody who is fair will complain about 16 months delay.”

    To this, the court said, “the bail bond executed by the two sureties be forfeited to the Republic.”

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZP_axfR9NKM

    According to EIB Network Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, the court will consider the trial in absentia in two weeks (February 7).

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • COVID-19 funds: As of November 2022, ambulances worth US$4 million had not been delivered

    COVID-19 funds: As of November 2022, ambulances worth US$4 million had not been delivered

    According to the Auditor-General report, as of November 28, 2022, 26 ambulances for COVID-19 had not yet been delivered.

    The ambulances, worth US$4,049,460.12, were supposed to be delivered by January 15, 2022, however they were delayed because of various technical issues.

    “We took note of the Ministry’s entry into a contract for the supply of 26 Toyota Hiace Deluxe Ambulances valued at US$4,049,460.12 signed on December 15, 2021, of which US$607,419 was paid via PV No. IPF 22-007 dated September 2, 2022, and is due to be delivered on January 15, 2022.
    The ambulances, however, were still undeliverable as of November 28, 2022, according to the report on the audit of COVID-19 government expenditure for the months of March 2020 to June 2022.

    It added also that “The Chief Director explained that the supplier applied for an extension to meet some technical specifications.”

    The Auditor-General also stated the delay in the delivery can lead to incurring additional costs due to the current economic conditions.

    “Under the current economic difficulties, the supplier could apply for price variation to unduly increase the cost of the contract which could have been avoided if the ambulances had been supplied as scheduled,” it added.

    However, the contract has been extended to March 2023.
    “Management has indicated that upon technical inspection by the World Bank, additional specifications have been recommended and the contract has, therefore, been extended to March 2023,” the report indicated.

    The A-G recommended that the Chief Director should ensure that the ambulances are delivered no further than the extended date of March 2023.

  • The MoF neglected to deduct GH1.7m in taxes from the payment to Smart Infraco Ltd

    The MoF neglected to deduct GH1.7m in taxes from the payment to Smart Infraco Ltd

    The payment given to Smart Infraco Limited, the business hired to supply Smart Workplace platforms to the nation’s Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs), did not include any withholding tax.

    This information was presented in the report on the audit of the government’s COVID-19 spending from March 2020 to June 2022.

    According to the report, the Ministry of Finance reported a total of GH543,058,709.13 on the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), out of which payment vouchers were paid.

    “A total amount of GH¢543,058,709.13 was recorded as expenditure on the GIFMIS and lodged in an account. Out of this account, 194 payment vouchers totalling GH¢543,058,709.13 were processed and paid.

    “We recommended that payments to service providers and transfers to MDAs in respect of COVID-19 expenditures should be processed and paid through the GIFMIS,” the report stated.

    It disclosed that: “On 6 May 2020, Ministry of Finance paid Smart Infraco Limited GH¢23,388,750 for the provision of Smart Workspace platforms for MDAs to facilitate Virtual Workspace but did not deduct withholding tax of GH¢1,754,156.25 on the payment made to Smart Infraco Limited.”

    As part of its recommendations, however, the Auditor-General “recommended that the Ministry of Finance should recover the amount of GH¢1,754,156.25 from the company and pay same to the Commissioner-General of GRA.”

    The report noted that the “Ministry of Finance explained that the amount of GH¢23,388,750.00 was part payment to Smart Infraco Limited and, therefore, the total tax on the contract sum would be deducted from subsequent payments to the Smart Infraco Limited.”

    The report, however, indicated that: “Failure on the part of the Ministry of Finance to withhold the amount of GHS1,754,156.25 from the payment to Smart Infraco Limited denied the State timely inflow of revenue into the Consolidated Fund as well as the opportunity for GRA to assess the status of compliance of Smart Infraco Limited.”

    It, therefore, recommended the recovery of the amount.

  • Curbing Infractions: SIGA charges heads of Specified Entities to gain adequate training

    Curbing Infractions: SIGA charges heads of Specified Entities to gain adequate training

    Ambassador Edward Boateng, Director General of SIGA with Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare

    The State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) has identified some infractions which have culminated in various financial mishaps as captured in the 2021 Auditor General’s report on Ministries Departments and Agencies.

    According to the Director General of SIGA, Ambassador Edward Boateng, there has been a lack of effective supervision, monitoring and evaluation on the part of CEOs, Heads of Finance and others.

    Speaking at the presentation of the 2021 Audit Infractions Joint Report on January 24, the SIGA Director-General stressed that the heads of these state-owned enterprises continue to make what he described as ‘rookie mistakes’.

    “A lot of the CEOs do not pay attention to the Auditor General when they assume office,” he noted.
    “The second finding from our report showed that in a haste to achieve certain goals within Specified Entities, there is a lack of due process on the part of persons within the organisation. Also, we realised there was misapplication and misappropriation of funds in certain instances,” Ambassador Edward Boateng said in his findings of the report.

    The SIGA Director-General added that some defaulters have since been cited in its 2021 Audit Infractions Joint Report for the appropriate sanctions to be taken against them.

    “There is also the issue of Risk Management which has been identified in the report and this must be brought to the attention of government to ensure that persons put in key positions must understand the results of their actions and inactions,” he added.

    He further pointed out the lack of collaboration between auditors and Specified Entities.

    “We realised that some of these CEOs did not take seriously their exit interviews prior to assuming office and this is something that has been key to the infractions captured in the 2021 Auditor General report,” Ambassador Boateng stressed.

    The SIGA boss said many institutions have also been saddled with a lack of financial support which forces them to operate on tight conditions while taking certain decisions which later result in these infractions.

    Touching on some recommendations captured in SIGA’s 2021 Audit Infractions Joint Report, Ambassador Boateng charged the Heads of Specified Entities to have adequate training on their various Acts governing Specified Entities.

    He noted that training on the Public Financial Management Act 216, Act 921 and its regulations as well as the Public Procurement Act must be compulsory for Heads of Specified Entities.

    The SIGA Director General in his concluding remarks charged the Boards and Chairpersons of the Specified Entities to undertake a thorough implementation of the audit findings.

    “What we realised was that a lot of the issues captured in the 2021 Audit Report date back to many years and more and the challenge is if these issues are not resolved, they will keep recurring in subsequent reports which in turn makes the government look bad.”

    “We need to effect the report’s recommendations to achieve the President’s vision of Specified Entities contributing significantly to Ghana’s GDP,” he concluded.

    Receiving the report on behalf of the President, the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, reiterated the President’s unwavering support for the SOE sector.

    She noted that Akufo-Addo’s “strong belief in public enterprises is rooted in his vision of putting Ghana in charge of her own destiny by transitioning the country’s economy to a prosperous and self-sustaining one.”

  • Major shake-up has nothing to do with performance – Asiedu Nketia on Haruna, Muntaka dismissal

    Major shake-up has nothing to do with performance – Asiedu Nketia on Haruna, Muntaka dismissal

    National Chairman for the National Democracy Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has cleared the air on the removal of Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mubarak as the Minority Leader and Minority Chief Whip, respectively.

    He says contrary to public speculations, the decision has nothing to do with the performances of the two.

    Rather, “what it has to do with is the changing environment, the changing times and the changing field,” he said in an interview with JoyNews monitored by The Independent Ghana on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, the day both persons were relieved of their posts.   

    The Tamale South MP, Haruna Iddrisu, is no longer the leader of the Minority Caucus in parliament. Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, has also been relieved of his position.

    According to a letter from the NDC to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, announcing the decision, MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam, Cassiel Ato Forson, is now Minority Leader.

    The Deputy Minority Leader, James Klutse Avedzi, has also been replaced with Kofi Armah Buah.

     

    MP for Adaklu Constituency, Kwame Governs Agbodza, is now the Minority Chief Whip, who will be assisted by Ahmed Ibrahim and Comfort Doyo-Ghansah who remain Deputy Chief Whips of the party. 

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Minority claims that government signed new PPA without following proper procedure

    Minority claims that government signed new PPA without following proper procedure

    According to the Minority in Parliament, the government has inked a new power purchase agreement (PPA) with AKSA through the Electricity Company of Ghana.

    The administration has already said that the nation does not require new power producing facilities, thus the Minority is perplexed as to why it would sign such a contract.

    The new contract has a 10-year lifespan, according to John Abdulai Jinapor, ranking member of the parliament’s Mines and Energy Committee, who spoke to journalists on Monday, January 23, 2023.

    The Caucus will seek answers when the House returns from recess, according to his claim that the deal was signed without following due process.

    “This government has signed the AKSA deal again for 10 years, not five years but 10 years and with take or pay clauses and I want them to come and deny it. They said they didn’t need it so why are they extending it. Moreover, the five years was supposed to amortise and pay for this plant because there was a capital recovery cost.

    “So as it stands, the plant has been fully paid for and yet this government has signed this new contract through ECG for a 10-year tenure. So this government, I think Ghanaians are tired of their deception and the story telling. Anytime they say they are renegotiating something, it turns out to be something worse. We saw that with PDS, we saw that in Ameri and several other contracts.

    “I sit on the Mines and Energy Committee as Ranking Member and that committee has the powers to supine for documents and the chairman has ruled that ECG should immediately furnish the committee with the AKSA contract (new contract) and more than a month, ECG has refused to do so.

    “So we are waiting to resume and we shall summon the ECG MD to demand that document (new AKSA contract) because it is a document of an institution owned by the state,” he added.