The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Wednesday asked the Management of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to refund GH¢36,000 paid as unearned salaries to some staff in 2020.
Mr Ebenezer Prince Arhin, the Deputy Human Resource Director, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, appearing before the PAC, said efforts made towards retrieving the funds from relatives of some of the deceased staff, in the last two years, had proven futile.
“The unearned salaries are GH¢115,889,12, and Korle-Bu has been able to recover GH¢79, 000 plus and the outstanding is GH¢36,000. We have made frantic efforts to recover that amount but some of them are deceased. We have gotten to their next of kin and we are pursuing them for the money,” he said.
Mr Arhin, therefore, pledged that management would do all it could to retrieve the monies as directed by the Committee.
Mr James Klutse Avedzi, the Chairman, PAC, rejected the explanation of the Hospital and charged the Management to refund the unrecovered amount to the Hospital’s accounts.
PAC commenced sittings on Monday, January 16, 2023, to examine the Auditor General’s Report on public accounts of the Government for the year 2020 and also scrutinise the accounts of the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies per the recommendations of the Report.
The accounts of public boards, corporations, and other statutory institutions would also be considered.
Proceedings of the almost two-week sitting are expected to be concluded on Friday, January 27, according to a statement issued by the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
Newcastle United have extended Loris Karius’ contract until the end of the season.
The former Liverpool goalkeeper joined on a short-term contract in September following an injury to back-up Karl Darlow.
Martin Dubravka’s return from a brief loan at Manchester United might have suggested Karius would depart again upon the conclusion of his initial deal.
But Newcastle announced on Thursday that the German – who is yet to make a competitive appearance – will be kept around until June.
The news comes after speculation began linking Darlow with several Championship clubs.
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, theMinister of Education, says the country is poised to transform education to attract other African students.
“We have to position ourselves to become the country of choice in education by producing the requisite manpower to attract industries into the country,” he said.
The Minister said this in Accra at this year’s 74th Annual New Year School and Conference in Accra, organised by the School of Continuing and Distance Education, College of Education, University of Ghana.
The Conference, which is ongoing, is on the theme; “Positioning the African Market for Sustainable Economic Development Through AfCFTA”.
To take advantage of AfCFTA, he said it was necessary to prioritise education to know the crops that were grown in other African countries and where Ghana’s comparative advantage was.
Dr Adutwum said, “We have to look at internationalising and localising our curriculum to be fit for purpose and meet the 21st century learning environment.”
He notd that Vietnam had become centre of attraction for industries across the world because it had revamped its education system and produced over 100,000 engineers every year.
The Minister said the Ministry in 2022 introduced a one-year pre-engineering course for graduates of Senior High School students without science background.
He said the programme was being piloted at the University of Mines and Technology and Pentecost University to encourage arts students who had the desire to offer engineering programmes in the universities and also promote the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
“The intervention is part of the Ministry’s plans to transform education in the country and to respond to the needs of industry players and be competitive in the market sphere,” he said.
Dr Adutwum said the Ministry had started consultations to develop a new High School curriculum for world grounded courses for students to be competitive and take advantage of AfCFTA.
Professor Angela Owusu-Ansah, Provost, Ashesi University, said the University offered courses in entrepreneurship to equip business students to take full advantage of AfCFTA.
The 74th Conference feature presentations on financial, educational, governance, security, and digital technology preparedness for AfCFTA.
Since its inception in 1948, the Conference has been the flagship programme of the University and attracts people from all walks of life to deliberate on topical issues of national and international interest.
The recommendations inform policy decisions and directions in the country.
Former Ghana coach James Kwesi Appiah has submitted his application for the vacant role as Black Stars coach, according to Kumasi-based Sompa FM.
Following the resignation of Otto Addo as head coach of the Black Stars, the Ghana Football Association has been on a hunt for a new coach.
The latest to join the race for the job is the Asante Kotoko legend, who is seeking for a third stint with the national team.
The former Asante Kotoko captain has been in charge of the four time African champions on two occasions and was recently relieved off his duties in December 2019 after his contract expiration by the Ghana FA.
The domestic football governing body are expected to name a new coach for the national before the closure of January.
Meanwhile, reports in the local media suggest the Ghana FA has shortlisted three foreign coaches for the senior national team job.
Chris Hughton, Manchester United assistant coach Steve McClaren and Hector Cupper are said to be on the list.
The team were owed outstanding bonuses from the 2023 CHAN qualifying games.
The Black Galaxies beat Benin and Nigeria to qualify for the tournament being held in Algeria.
Speaking ahead of their final group game against Sudan later tonight, Deputy Sports Minister, Evans Bobie Opoku assured that the players to expect their bonuses soon.
“The cheques I promised you are with the FA and the accountant has done all the cheques. The per diem is also ready. So in terms of motivation and what have you, like I said the President has ordered that Ministry should do everything possible so what is due you is paid,” he said.
“Going into the Sudan game, I have a strong belief that you will make it,” he stated.
The Black Galaxies come up against Sudan in a must-win encounter at 7:00 pm on January 19, 2023.
The Mental Health Authority (MHA) has asked educational institutions to include mental health education in their curriculum.
That, it said would help provide support systems to prevent discrimination against individuals who may experience any form of mental health disorders.
Dr Caroline Amissah, Acting Chief Executive Officer, MHA, said this in a speech read for her at the commissioning of a Neurodiagnostic Centre at the Wisconsin University in Accra on Tuesday.
The Centre, which was set up with support from Purple Point Neurodiagnostic, USA, is expected to provide more scientific means, diagnosis and help monitor people with neurological conditions.
It is equipped with modern machines for testing the brain, to diagnose and treat neurodiagnostic conditions such as epilepsy, movement disorders, dementias, cognitive disorders, strokes and cerebrovascular diseases, headaches, sleep apnea, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, autism, and behavioral disorders among others.
Neurodiagnostic is the study and recording of electrical activity in the brain, the central nervous system, and the peripheral nervous system.
Dr Amissah said proper diagnosis of neurological conditions gave way to ensure targeted treatment, holistic management and provide adequate and committed care for persons with mental illness.
The new Centre consists of a changing room, test rooms, waste disposal area and seeks to train more neurological technologists and provide facilities for conducting other tests.
Citing epilepsy as a typical neurological condition, Dr Amissah said Ghana in 2022 recorded a total of 18,506 cases with the Ashanti Region recording the highest of 2,670 (14.43per cent) out of the national figure.
Dr Amissah said the figures may be under reported because, many cases went unreported.
Dr Charles Acheampong, Director, Centre for Professional Studies, Wisconsin International University College, Ghana, said the Centre was set up because the neurodiagnostic field was starved in terms of personnel and equipment.
Dr. Acheampong said there were less than 10 neuro diagnostic testing laboratories in Ghana and that sometimes patients who had to do the test ought to wait for two weeks or more to get access to a testing laboratory.
He said gradually the University was moving out of the traditional university setting into a modern institution that would be responding to the different needs of a modern society.
Mr Lucien Kilonda, Chief Executive Officer of Purple Point Neurodiagnostic, USA, said his team assisted Ghana because “Ghana holds the blueprint for healthcare development in sub Saharan Africa”.
Mr Kilonda pledged to continue to collaborate with the University in the provision of good health care services to the public.
Professor Obeng Mireku, Vice Chancellor of the University, urged the public to take advantage of the Centre and patronise the services.
Erik ten Hag was left frustrated by Manchester United’s perceived lack of effort to score a second goal as they were held to a dramatic draw by Crystal Palace.
Bruno Fernandes had put United in control at half-time thanks to a well-worked opener just before the break.
For a while that looked set to be enough despite United – who seemed to commit fewer bodies forward in the second half – coming under pressure from Palace towards the end.
Eventually, a stunning Michael Olise free-kick found the top-right corner via the crossbar in the first minute of stoppage time, securing Palace a point and ending United’s nine-match winning streak.
Ten Hag was disappointed by United’s failed quest to get a second goal, which would have rendered Palace’s late strike irrelevant.
“We dropped two points,” he told BBC Sport. “When you’re winning with two minutes to go… [Palace] don’t create anything except one which was a corner and this one was a free-kick from far [out].
“You don’t expect to drop points. We have to invest more to get that second goal and then not be in that situation that a lucky moment costs you two points.
“We were 1-0 up. In the second half we had a lot of space to kill them and go for the second. I never saw we really went for the second goal.
“It’s difficult to say [why]. I have to criticise my team. Go for the second.”
The late equaliser suddenly changed the complexion of Sunday’s trip to Arsenal, which for a while on Wednesday looked to be shaping up as arguably the biggest game of the Premier League season so far.
Now, defeat at the Emirates Stadium will surely end any remaining dreams United have of winning the title this term as it would leave them 11 points adrift.
United will have to face the game without probably their most important player in Casemiro, who earned a late yellow card for a wild lunge on Wilfried Zaha after Fernandes pulled out of a challenge. But Ten Hag is refusing to panic.
“He’s a really important player for us and a reason we’re in this position,” he said. “But last time we beat Arsenal without Casemiro. We need to do it again.”
Goalkeeper David de Gea was even more frank about the loss of Casemiro and took the opportunity to vent about the fixture schedule, with Arsenal not in midweek action ahead of the Sunday showdown.
“It’s a big blow to lose Casemiro for Sunday,” told Sky Sports.
“I don’t get it why Arsenal don’t play as we have to play in the same week and they don’t. Now we are missing one of our best players.
“I don’t understand. Now we miss him for a big game and it is a big loss for us.”
“ICAG has already submitted comments, some of which are geared toward the fact that the debt restructuring will undoubtedly have implications for financial reporting. What we stand by is that International Financial Reporting Standards are to be complied with, because there will be losses that need to be accounted for. Sena Dake, the president of the Institute, stated that they must be acknowledged in the financial statements.
She said this at the 40th graduation ceremony of the Institute in Accra, and noted that if best accounting practices are adhered to in the DDEP this will restore investor confidence.
“ICAG stands for the people, prosperity and sustainable development, which are best enabled by peace, justice and strong institutions. It has become very important that accountants and other key stakeholders collaborate in the nation’s socio-economic development and contribute to government’s decision-making process,” she noted.
While addressing the graduates, she stated that: “It is time we paid attention to and recognised the key roles that professional accountants play in creating, verifying and giving assurance on high-quality sustainable information as enablers and trusted advisors. As we attempt to navigate out of these trying times, it is especially important for professionals like us to serve as strong watchdogs.
“We must speak up against any administrative attempts to spend outside our limits; we must push back and strongly advise against any attempts to make decisions that will not be in the best interests of the public and posterity. Most importantly, our work must advance sustainability, support sound public financial management, resist regulatory fragmentation and embrace global collaboration.”
Sevilla have made an offer for Strasbourg defender Alexander Djiku, whose contract expires at the end of the current season.
The Andalusian club have long been interested in Djiku and is said to have made a €2 million bid. The fee includes easily obtained bonuses as well as the possibility of a future sale cut.
The Alsatians, however, want twice the amount much for the 28-year-old, and while they are hesitant to part ways with their vice-captain, his departure would free up wage bill space.
Djiku would be entering another relegation battle if he moves to Spain. Strasbourg are currently 16th, having only recently moved out of the relegation zone with their second win of the season over Lyon. Sevilla are in a similarly precarious position, currently 19th in La Liga.
During the summer transfer window, the 28-year-old came close to joining Hoffeinheim, but the German club called off the move after Djiku’s brother, who is also his agent, was accused of demanding a higher commission.
The Minister committed to this when he and Secretary John Kerry of the UK served as co-chairs of the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) on January 18, 2023, in Davos, Switzerland, in conjunction with the World Economic Forum.
Together with Secretary John Kerry, the Lands Minister held two separate meetings with Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to find ways of working together to achieve the ambitious objective of the FCLP to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, whilst delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation.
He also noted that achieving this high ambition of the FCLP, requires that the teams work closely with these major forest countries.
Already, together with Indonesia, Brazil, and DRC the Minister said they have formed the Indonesia-Brazil-Congo (IBC) rainforest alliance, to protect their forests, adding that together, these three countries control over fifty percent (50%) of global tropical forests, and are crucial to global efforts at halting deforestation.
Abu Jinapor made a clarion call for all efforts to be marshaled to fight climate change saying” the climate crisis is reaching a tipping point, and requires an all-hands-on-deck approach to come to grips with this crisis.”
The delegation from Brazil was led by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva and the DRC delegation was led by the Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Environment, Hon. Eve Bazaiba Masudi.
The Amazon Rainforest is said to be the largest tropical rainforest in the world, and some sixty percent (60%) of this tropical rainforest is found in the territories of Brazil. The Congo Basin is the second largest rainforest in the world, and about sixty percent (60%) of this is found in DRC’s territory.
Head coach of the Black Galaxies, Annor Walker says he will make changes to his starting line-up to face Sudan at the 2023 Championship for African Nations (CHAN).
The home-based national team will lock horns with Sudan on Thursday night at the Stade Chahid Hamlauoi in Constantine, Algeria.
Ghana started the competition on a losing none after defeat to newcomers Madagascar in their Group opener.
CAF award all three teams in Group C three points following Morocco’s failure to travel to Algeria for the competition.
This means Ghana’s needs a good result to progress to the second round of the African Nations Championship.
Ahead of the Sudan encounter, Annor Walker has disclosed he will make changes to the starting eleven that faced Madagascar.
“Definitely as the coach since something went wrong in our last game I will definitely make one or two changes for tomorrow’s game”
“But for now I cannot disclose the changes that we will make. After the loss we have all seen one or two mistakes that’s where we must do some changes. I may do one or two changes in the team for tomorrow”, he said.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo said that the IMF agreement “would provide legitimacy to our critically damaged balance of payment condition.” According to Addo, an agreement with the IMF will improve Ghana’s economy.
“In our case, we see our engagement with the IMF to restore, in the short term, our public finances and give credibility to our balance of payment which has taken a significant knock in very recent times to boost the prospects of a win-win situation for the private sector and the country.”
“I am very confident that we will emerge from this as a stronger and more resilient economy and advance toward our goal of reaching the Ghana Beyond Aid [goal].”
Ghana reached a staff-level deal with the IMF in late December 2022.
Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana, Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, has hinted that he will take action with respect to deliberate defamation targeted at his person by a lawmaker.
Rev. Kusi Boateng said he was currently committed to responding to a formal enquiry in respect of allegations made against him by Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The MP mentioned the clergyman in his ‘Mother of all scandals’ publication on January 16, 2023, alleging principally that Kusi Boateng was using two different identities on official documents.
He had earlier on alleged that an amount of GH¢2.6 million was ‘irregularly’ paid out from the chest of the National Cathedral to JNS Talent Centre, a company closely associated to Kusi Boateng.
In his response to the accusations, the clergyman stayed away from directly addressing the identity issue but said he welcomed the enquiry by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), following the lodging of an official petition by Ablakwa.
Kusi Boateng’s statement of January 16, 2023 added: “When all is done, I will seek redress against Mr. Ablakwa for his deliberate defamatory statements against me.
“I will continue to contribute my quota to the National Cathedral project and offer my services to the country to the best of my ability,” the statement concluded.
Popular Ghanaian internet sensation and business mogul, Mya Jesus, has taken the internet by storm with romantic videos and photos of herself and her wealthy 59-year-old husband.
Mya Jesus and her lovely husband. Photo Source: @mya_jesus Source: Instagram
Sharing a touching message on her Instagram page, she revealed that they tied the knot in a beautiful private ceremony on November 28, 2022.
A portion of her message reads,
“I love you so much and I only hope the best for us, we manifested each other, we prayed to find each other, and from day 1 it just felt right, I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you, 2 months in, a lifetime to go, I love you zaddy ❤️”
The 22-year-old stated that she said yes to the love of her life about a month after knowing him.
She further stated that with them getting married a few days after dating, she knew that she would not have to go through a lot to find the man of her dreams.
“I always knew that the person I would finally say yes to would come easy, with no struggle, no questioning, no pains or breaks…,” she wrote.
Below is an adorable video of Mya Jesus and her handsome husband getting cosy at their romantic photoshoot.
Deputy Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament (MP) for Tolon Constituency, Hon. Habib Iddrisu has denied claims he donated giant ludo to his constituents.
The image of some youth posing behind the Ludo with various captions has gone viral on social media suggesting the lawmaker had donated them as part of youth empowerment.
Tolon Constituency Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Dr. Seidu Fiter first posted the image with the caption “Some constituency executives of the NPP in Tolon donates two “giant” ludo’s to a youth group in Zantani, indeed all our problems are solved!
Subsequently, others shared the same image and drew in the MP saying “NPP MP for Tolon Constituency donates Ludo to support youth development. The youth leaders thanked the MP for donating something that will go a long way to improve their lives”
But when reached for comments, Hon. Habib Iddrisu denied ever donating any Ludo to youth of Zantani which is one of the overseas communities in the constituency.
“I went to Zantani to commission electricity, the area is an overseas community in my constituency and they are mostly farmers. My Youth Organizer gave them the Ludos upon their request. I had no idea those items were even delivered only for some NDC folks to try to make propaganda out of it”, he responded
It would be recalled that some weeks ago, Alhaji Habib Iddrisu has hooked five deprived communities in the Tolon District of the Northern region to the national grid.
The gesture he said was in fulfillment of a promise made to the communities when they made an appeal to him during one of his community engagements within the Tolon Constituency.
He reiterated his resolve to ensure that most communities that are still without electricity are hooked in order to improve on the living standards of residents as well as enable students to study at night.
The beneficiary communities include; Zantani, Gunsibong, Shaharu Kuraa and Naa Kuraa.
Francis Amuzu provided an assist in Anderlecht’s 3-2 defeat to Zulte Waregem on Wednesday evening in the Belgian Pro League.
Zinho Gano scored for Zulte Waregem in the 11th minute, but Benito Raman’s first-half brace gave Anderlecht a 2-1 advantage at the break.
Amuzu set up his teammate Benito Raman for his second goal against Zulte Waregem in the 36th minute, after the Belgian striker had leveled the score a minute earlier.
Two second-half goals from Alioune Ndour and Alieu Fadera in the 62nd and 75th minutes, respectively, kept Zulte Waregem’s escaping relegation chances alive.
Francis Amuzu and his compatriot Majeed Ashimeru played full throttle against Zulte Waregem.
Anderlecht’s crisis continues the Mauves find themselves in 12 position with 24 points after 21 games. Their next game in the Belgian Pro League will be against RFC Seraing away.
Francis Amuzu was booked a few seconds to full time for simulation. The 23-year-old winger has made 19 appearances, scored three goals and assisted three in the Belgian top flight.
The Presbyterian Church of Ghana has said the latest reports about the resignation of the immediate past moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Professor Cephas Omenyo from the National Cathedral Board of Trustees is misleading.
Speaking to Starr News with Naa Dedei Tettey, the spokesperson for the Presbyterian Church, Rev. George Larbi explained that the former Moderator resigned long ago due to ill-health.
“When he was elected, per his position as a moderator of the church, he was appointed a trustee of the National Cathedral. So, when he fell sick and could not function again and later on a new moderator was elected. In fact, he refused to be a member of the trustee.
“So, I remember I drew the attention of the public relations officer of the National Cathedral, that in this case they should take away Rev. Prof. Cephas Omenyo’s photo. Because, one of our former moderators, in the person of Very Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey already sits on the trustee. So, the current moderator is not even a member of the trustee because we already have Very. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey there,” Mr. Larbi added.
The North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had claimed that the National Cathedral Secretariat was misleading the Ghanaian public and the world that all the published trustees are registered as directors.
“Contrary to the information provided in the said press statement (see page 5) and on the Nicodemusly updated national cathedral website (after we exposed the Pastor Otabil deception), to the effect that all the Board of Trustees has been registered as Directors of the National Cathedral of Ghana; we note surprisingly, that the venerable Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, Presiding Bishop of the Lighthouse Group of Churches and the esteemed Rev. Prof. Cephas Omenyo, Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church were not registered as directors on the incorporation date of 18th July, 2019.
“The two revered clergymen have at all material times been clearly left out, and substituted with the following names: Samuel Antwi and Kingsley Ofosu Ntiamoah.
After about five months down the line, the founder of the LightHouse Chapel International, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills’ reasons for exiting the Board has been revealed.
In a letter available to Accra-based Citi TV, the seasoned Man of God noted that his unresolved concerns about the cost of the National Cathedral and other pertinent issues triggered his exit.
But in the case of the former moderator of the Presby church, the leadership of the Presby Church of Ghana responded that all this confusion about Rev. Prof Omenyo and his resignation keeps resurfacing because people are using him to score their cheap political points.
Nonetheless, spokesperson for the Presbyterian Church, Rev. George Larbi has called on the board of the National Cathedral Secretariat to sit up and clear its name on the number of allegations levelled against them.
Rev. George Larbi expressed worry about the developments that have characterized the construction of the National Cathedral.
“I read them, I hear them in the news. If what those who are raising the allegations are saying is true, then I will urge the board to sit up. If what they are saying also is for political gains or some personal gains then they should be careful. And sometimes at least they should go to the right place to seek proper information.
“If you don’t understand something, approach them, go to them. This is what I have received, this is what I have seen, this is what I have heard, and please what the truth in it is? For people to explain to you rather than everyday counter allegations. After all, whether it is state money, individual’s money, the church’s money, at the end of the day it is money. We have to ensure that whatever money is given to them, they account it judiciously to the people,” Mr. Larbi advised.
Ghana Football legend Mohammed Polo has opened up on the type of coach the Black Stars need at the moment.
Following the resignation of Otto Addo as head coach of the Black Stars, the Ghana Football Association has been on a hunt for a new coach.
The Ghana FA are expected to name a new coach for the national before the closure of January, with over 60 foreign coaches applying for the top job.
In an interview with Koforidua-based Bryt FM, the 1978 AFCON winner implored the Ghana FA to appoint a coach who is abreast with the country’s football history and understands the style of play.
“At the moment, we need a coach who have an idea about our football history, understands our style of play because football is evolving and other countries are coming up. Things has become difficult for us because we have deviated from our style”
“Recent coaches have refused to go by our style and that is affecting us. They have brought their style leaving ours behind”
“Going forward, the Ghana FA should ensure they appoint a coach who understands our style of football. At first, people used to call us the Brazil of African football but it seems we have deviated from that style and that is not helping us as a country”
Meanwhile, local media reports suggest the FA has shortlisted three coaches for the Black Stars job.
Chris Hughton, Manchester United assistant coach Steve McClaren and Hector Cupper are said to be on the list.
The Black Stars will return to action in March for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Paramount Chief of Assin Kushea, Nana Prah Agyensaim VI, has been chosen as the guest of honour for the upcoming 47th Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards Night which comes off on January 28, 2023, at the Accra International Conference Center.
Amateur boxer Abraham Mensah, sprinter Joseph Paul Amoah and Ajax Amsterdam / Black Stars midfielder Kudus are the three candidates contesting for the 2022 SWAG Sports Personality of the year.
Popular sportsmen Benjamin Azamati, Mohammed Kudus, and Arsenal star Thomas Partey are all in contention for top awards.
Hearts of Oak striker Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, ex-AshantiGold forward Yaw Annor and Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim are in contention for the local-based Footballer Award of the Year Award.
26-year-old medical practitioner Dr Kwabena Adu Poku has been named the 2022 Chess Player of the Year while Kelvin Alphous would be crowned the Badminton Player of the Year for the second year running.
The Athlete of the Year award will be decided between Benjamin Azamati and Joseph Paul Amoah.
In the female category, Tripler jumper Abigail Kwarteng and USA-based Deborah Acquah along with high jumper Rose Yeboah are all in gunning for the big award. Kwarteng (triple jumper) and Acquah (long jumper) who both competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK are in pole positions for the accolade. But, home-based Rose Yeboah boasts of a rich voting constituency that has been left impressed with her delivery.
Police Officer Grace Mintah has been nominated for the Female Armwrestler of the Year Award.
Leading Ghanaian mining firms Adamus Resources Limited and MTN Ghana are the major sponsors of the 47th Awards Night.
Afropop and Afrobeat female singer Wendy Shay, budding comedian O.B. Amponsah, gospel artiste Perpetual Didier, and young singer Ashley Chuks are going to perform at the event.
Top high-performing sporting personalities are expected to be in attendance at the 47th SWAG Awards.
Full List Below:
Personality of the Year –
Joseph Paul Amoah – Athletics
Mohammed Kudus – Football
Abraham Mensah – Amateur Boxing
Armwrestler of the Year
Grace Mintah – Female
Athlete of the Year (Female)
Abigail Kwarteng – Triple Jumper
Deborah Acquah – Long Jumper
Rose Yeboah Amoanimaah – High Jumper
Athlete of the Year (Male)
Joseph Paul Amoah – 200Mts
Benjamin Kwaku Azamati – 100Mts
Badminton Player of the Year
Alphous Kelvin
Boxer of the Year (Amateur)
Abraham Mensah
Joseph Commey
Chess Player of the Year
Dr Kwabena Adu Poku
Club of the Year
Ampem Darkoa Ladies FC
Coach of the Year
Ofori Asare – Amateur Boxing
Husseini Akueteh Addy – Armwrestling
Prosper Nartey Ogum – Asante Kotoko
Nana Darkwa – Ampem Darkoa
Cricketer of the Year
Samson Awiah Aweh
Cyclist of the Year
Anthony Boafo Boakye Dankwa
Discovery of the Year
Joseph Commey
Raphael Nii Ankrah
Dedication and Valour
Lepowura Mohammed Nurudeen Jawula
Footballer of the Year (Male)
Andre Dede Ayew
Mohammed Kudus
Thomas Partey
Footballer of the Year (Female)
Blessing Shine Agomashie (ASFAR, Morocco)
Ophelia Serwaa Amponsah (Ampem Darkoa)
Doris Boaduwaa (Hasaacas Ladies, Ghana)
Footballer of the Player (Home Based)
Daniel Afriyie Barnieh – Hearts of Oak
Yaw Annor – Ashantigold
Ibrahim Danlad – Asante Kotoko
Hockey Player of the Year (Female)
Adizatu Sulemana (GRA Ladies)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Awuley Quaye and Nii Dodoo Ankrah
Para-Athlete of the Year
Patricia Nyamekye
Professional Golfer of the Year
Kojo Barnii (Damang Golf Club)
Table Tennis Most Exciting Player
Israel Akili
Tennis Player of the Year
Samuel Osei Agbesi Antwi
Volleyball Player of the Year
Rashaka Katadat (Ghana Army)
SWAG TOP 5 Federations
Ghana Athletics Association
Ghana Armwrestling Federation
Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation
Ghana Boxing Authority
Ghana Football Association
Ghana Cycling Federation
Ghana Tennis Association
Swimmer of the Year
Abeiku Gyekye Jackson
Special and Meritorious Awards
Kingsley Owusu Achiaw – Bechem United
Reks Brobbey (Ghana’s Fastest Human Inventor)
Christine Ashley, Vice President – Ghana Chess Federation
First National Vice Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chief Sofo Awudu Azorka has called all educated members of the party to accept to work as polling agents on the day of elections in the year 2024.
According to him, the NDC would need such individuals will be able to cross-check all rigging activities planned by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“If you know you are learned who can read and write then you have to go to the polling station to work on the day of elections. Go and work as polling agents, when they count two, you also count same”, Chief Sofo Awudu Azorka said in an interview with TV XYZ monitored by MyNewsGH.com.
“Don’t wait for anyone to employ you as polling agents before you do so”, he added.
Chief Azorka warned that people with the intent of getting positions and jobs in the next NDC government must first join their leader John Mahama in the campaign and the struggle to win power and not wait till they win before they appear with the CVs for jobs.
“I’m telling you that don’t wait till the old struggles and win before you go to him with your big CVs for positions. Go and work as polling agents, when they count two, you also count the same. Don’t wait for anyone to employ you as polling agents before you do so”, he stressed.
“They have been rigging the elections, but not always and this is going to be the last. It is the last one”, he added.
The Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah has revealed that the Central Region is the key determinant for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to achieve its agenda of breaking the 8,
“Since 1992 it has been shown that any political party that wins massively in Central Region, wins power” he disclosed.
Ofori Asiamah made the disclosure shortly after the party’s reconciliation engagement at Cape Coast.
It was to reconcile the rank and file of the party in the region to enable the party to attain victory in the 2024 elections.
The reconciliation engagement which sought to address all issues and grievances was well attended by the National executives, Current Ministers from the Central Region, both current and former MMDCES, MPs and former Ministers among others.
The Central Regional Chairman, Robert Kutin pleaded for forgiveness from anyone who he has wronged, especially the former Vice Chairman, Mr. Ekow Ewusi and called on them to help the party to recapture lost seats and snatch more parliamentary seats as well as clinch to victory for the party in the 2024 elections.
“May we not be oblivious of the fact that, breaking the 8 goes beyond a tagline but to ensuring that we forge ahead in unity, hard work, peace, love and tolerance knowing that, the people of Ghana count on us to turn the fortunes around for our motherland”, Chairman Kutin noted.
“Social wound healing must be deliberate and it means, we must talk about our pains and resolve as a group to let go of them and forge ahead with a common purpose and aspiration. This affords us the opportunity to right our wrongs, better our rights, reason together as we lace our boots to break the 8”, he stated.
The General Secretary of NPP, Justin Frimpong Kodua commended Chairman Kutin for coming out with such a laudable idea to open spaces for people to express their concerns and hoped this would help the party to achieve agenda break the 8.
According to him, his National executives within the party will work extremely hard to bring peace and stability to make sure there is a reconciliatory process throughout the length and breadth of this country.
Member of Parliament (MP) and Former Deputy Education Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says those seeking to contest Former President John Mahama in the upcoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential primaries should rather rally behind him because “2024 elections is for Mahama” and nobody else.
“For me, I will appeal to all those lacing their boots that, this is not going to be the last primaries in Ghana so they can look at that. This 2024 election is for President John Mahama.” The lawmaker said.
According to him, there has been a lot of destruction in the country caused by the current administration led by Akufo-Addo which needs to be redeemed, hence, there is no time to waste in trying to find a leader.
To him, such a contest will only waste their time and may switch the focus of the party.
“Looking at the contest we are yet to face and how they (NPP) have destroyed the country; Ghanaians are saying we should go back for NDC, people even say if you meet John Mahama tell him we are sorry”, Ablakwa said this on TV XYZ in an interview.
Ablakwa also revealed that he honestly, agrees with the NDC’s General Secretary that, “we should be able to sanction some of these aspirants who waste our time”.
“Everybody is calling for John Mahama, so you just have to come on board. Let’s unite. This is not the time as the only hope for the country when they turn to you then you are engaged in needless internal squabbles”, he stressed.
The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has arrested a suspected Nigerian fake currency syndicate along the Aflao Border.
The suspect who was using unapproved routes to transport the cash was nabbed after a joint operation by the customs border officials and some security agencies stationed at the country’s eastern border.
After further examination, he was found with 80 million CFA which turns to be fake, 843,000 CFA which is genuine and about 110,000 Naira which he was travelling with.
Briefing Journalists on the arrest, Acting Commissioner of Customs, Seidu Iddrisu Idissah hinted that the division is collaborating with other relevant stakeholders for further investigations.
This he believes will unravel the source of the funds and the purpose for which it is being transported through the unapproved route.
“We saw the man who is carrying a Nigerian Passport and indeed confirmed that he is a Nigerian. So the Customs Officials suspected and asked him to open the luggage he was carrying but wanted to resist”.
“We called other security agencies along the border post for assistance and did a joint examination of the package upon which we realized the fake currency and the other amount which he has not declared prior to the journey” he said.
The Acting Commissioner however indicated that his outfit is collaborating with the Bank of Ghana to ensure that such individuals are dealt with in order to sanitise the foreign exchange market.
Authorities at the Chiana Senior High School in the Kassena-Nankana West District in the Upper East Region have heeded the directive of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to reconsider its dismissal decision handed eight female students from the school.
The students have been recalled to start the semester with their mates after they were sacked for insulting president Akufo-Addo.
The dismissal of the students caused mixed reactions with many asking the GES to reverse the decision, while others called on the president to forgive the students and intervene for their recall which he eventually did.
The eight students were seen in a viral video insulting the president for poorly implementing the Free SHS policy which resulted in them going hungry because food items had not been supplied to their school at the time of recording the “very undesirable and unacceptable” video as per the dismissal note from the GES.
They were outrightly dismissed while serving a suspension punishment since November 15, 2022.
Calls were made for their recall and the students expressed remorse and apologized to the president for their misconduct, and he listened and intervened.
A parent of one of the girls confirmed via a telephone conversation he had been called by school authorities to bring back his girl to continue her studies.
A video of a dog dressed in African print attire jamming to Ghanaian singer KiDi’s hit song ‘Touch It’ has gotten many netizens laughing hard.
The video was sighted on the official TikTok page of @love_n_naz, as he sat in the driver’s seat of the car, while the dog took the passenger’s seat next to him.
@love_n_naz was dressed in a dashiki top which he paired with a traditional hat. The dog on the other hand was spotted wearing a braided wig which was covered in an African print scarf.
The popular Ghanaian medics series “Accra Medic” has returned for its second season with more drama, romance and suspense.
The storyline will pick up from where it left off where breaking the news of her pregnancy to Dr. Mohammed leads to Nurse Efe’s possible death. Also, Elorm and Akua’s ship takes a different turn when she moves on to a new guy. And more twists and turns are coming up to keep you at the edge of your seat.
Accra Medic is an evocative medical drama series that explores the health inequity and disparity in the Ghanaian Medical system produced in Ghana, shot on the prestigious premises of UGMC.
It follows the lives of the staff at an Accra hospital, as they navigate the challenges of their lives while saving patients – while in a hospital that’s suffering from mismanagement in a country with an ailing healthcare system.
The cast also includes Edward Agyekum Kufuor, Desiree Crentsil, Kweku Elliott, Aaron Adatsi, Osei Kwame Bentil, Ninette Orleans-Thompson, Elizabeth Allotey-Annan, Nubuke Gadzekpo-Amoah, Elaine Attoh, Collins Amegbor and Emmanuel Ato Ghartey.
The performances and enthusiastic approach of all the lead characters will make you feel the passion they have for the jobs they do and the challenges and struggles they have out of work.
Accra Medic is produced by Revele Productions, creators of hit shows such as Home Sweet Home and Run Baby Run and promises to keep viewers glued to their seats every Wednesday at 8:30 pm from the 18th of January 2023.
#AccraMedic season 2 premiered on Wednesday, 18th January 2023, almost exactly a year after it premiered, at 8:30pm on #AkwaabaMagic DStv ch 150 and GOtv Supa ch 101.
Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has disclosed that he misses his friend Castro, who went missing nine years ago, every day.
Gyan and Castro, who was born Theophilus Tagoe, were very good friends and even recorded many songs together.
However, the singer went missing in July 2014 with one Janet Bandu while on holiday at the Ada Estuary with Gyan, his brother Baffour, and others.
This was after Castro and Miss Janet Bandu drowned in an accident after going on a Jet Ski ride at the Ada Estuary.
Castro and Asamoah Gyan
Castro is yet to be found since drowning and Gyan has revealed that he misses his friend every day, although he tries to hide the emotions.
“I met Castro in Italy. He came there with KK Fosu for a show in Udine and while performing, he spotted me in the crowd and invited me on the stage to dance,” the veteran striker told Dan Kwaku Yeboah in a YouTube interview, as quoted by Ghanasoccernet.
“So it was at that time that we clicked and this was in 2005. After the show, I took their numbers and when they arrived in Ghana, Castro called me to inform me they are back in the country.”
He added: “I asked him to perform some freestyle, so as he was performing, I was harmonising, and at that moment he knew I had some musical talent. We went to the studio and made the hit record African Girls.
“I miss him every day but I just don’t show the emotions. I always feel his presence around me.”
In Gyan’s autobiography, Legyandary, he narrated the lengths he had to go, including visiting a shrine, in his search for Castro when the musician went missing.
“As we contemplated our next line of action, a man from the town showed up. He claimed there was an oracle in Ada which could help us find the missing persons,” Gyan wrote in his book.
“He added that the oracle was very powerful and such matters can be easily handled by it. Though I wasn’t very superstitious, I felt obliged to go along since we were in a fix.”
He further explained: “What else could we do? I was a little scared of the ensuing encounter with a priest so I declined to join them to the shrine. I had a little money on me so I decided to return to the hotel and gather some money in case we had to make any payments later on.
“I was in a dilemma, lost in thought and wondering if perhaps this oracle could help. One returned with news that the consultation would cost Ghc 100 and a bottle of schnapps. I wondered silently if the schnapps was for the gods or for the priest.”
The former Sunderland star said he was initially reluctant to join the rest to the shrine, but was quick to add that Castro was worth making such a sacrifice even if he didn’t believe in voodoo.
The government says it is optimistic of achieving 80 percent of the bond debt swap under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme by January 31, 2023.
An 80 per cent participation by individual bond holders, according to the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta would help the government to get into the perimeters of 55 percent debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), essential to achieve an IMF deal.
The government is seeking a US$3billion IMF bailout to balance its books as its debts have over swallowed its income.
Speaking to the media after a meeting with individual bond holders on Wednesday evening, (Jan 18), Mr Ofori-Atta said, “this is a voluntary exercise and we made some changes to extend it to January 31st to give us time to incorporate all ideas that has come up. We anticipate 80 per cent participation to ensure that we are within the parameters.”
IMF Bailout under threat
Government is racing against time to conclude a US$3 billion facility that is hoped to stabilise the economy which is currently choked with debts, with total debt currently at GH¢467 billion as of December 2022.
Analysts have warned that if the deadline for all creditors to sign up the government’s DDE programme was not met, it would have dire consequences on the economy. Individual bond holders have rejected government’s overtures to be roped onto the DDE programme and have threatened legal action which could put the whole programme into jeopardy.
Already, the currency speculators are beginning to gain a head-start with regard to the country’s cedi. It has shown signs of picking up the pace again with regard to depreciation. At the turn of the year, the cedi was trading at GH¢7.9 to US$1. However, as of yesterday, it had reached over GH¢9 to the US$1 tumbling almost 20 per cent since December.
This evening, the government reached an agreement with individual bondholders to have a technical team to review its petition on the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
At a closed door meeting with the leadership of the Individual Bondholders Forum, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta said the government was opened to discussing alternative means of making the DDEP successful.
Late Brazilian football icon, Edson Arantes do Nascimento known popularly as Pele named a daughter he denied throughout his life in his will, the Mirror UK reports.
The Mirror reports that despite a DNA test confirming that the three-time World Cup winner was the father of Sandra Regina, Pele never acknowledged it publicly whiles he was alive.
But in his will, Sandra Regina who was born in 1964 and died in 2006 was mentioned as a beneficiary of Pele’s millions of dollars.
The report claims that Sandra Regina who left behind two sons was one of seven children Pele named in his will.
Sandra’s part of the estate, as per the report will pass on to the two grandchildren of Pele who met him whiles he was in the hospital.
According to the report, meeting Octavio Felinto Neto and Gabriel Arantes do Nascimento was Pele’s final wish and it was granted as they visited him on December 28.
Gabriel said: “I thank God for providing this moment, it was what my mother dreamed of most. I spoke to my aunts, and they said that our grandfather wanted to see us.
“We were very excited, it was an opportunity we had been waiting for. Every family has fights and rows, ours is no different, but there are moments when union and love are more important than anything else. We are extremely happy.”
Pele died on December 29, 2022, a day after meeting his grandchildren.
When Ghanaian music producer,Appietus admitted to having uploaded 5Five’s 2010 monster hit ‘Muje Baya’ on a digital platform that fetched him good revenue, a number of industry players including the affected musician, and his management spoke against the move.
Talent manager, Mr Logic is the latest to condemn the act by Appietus, the producer of ‘Muje Baya’.
“But, seriously, Appietus you don’t own a song because the production fee wasn’t settled oo bro. I think you should rather dialogue with bullhaus on this. Court won’t help you”. You are entitled to your production fees P3 asaa,” Mr Logic’s Facebook post dated January 18 read.
According to the legendary producer who has worked with a tall list of Ghanaian artistes, 5Five failed to pay him for his work, reason why he took that decision.
“When the songs became a hit, you didn’t pay me so I needed to put them online to make my money. Now you say am a thief, thank you very much but note that I will take the matter to court,” Appietus opened up in an interview with Sammy Flex on CTV.
Papi, a member of the onetime vibrant music group, 5Five, has openly called out the producer and promised to take him on in a court of law for wrongfully making money from his song.
Meanwhile, the musician has refuted claims that they never paid for studio fees when they worked with Appietus.
In a heated argument on CTV, Papi and Appietus exchanged words and traded insults on live television.
“Appietus, you are dumb, barter trade is still payment or you don’t understand the word. You claim I never paid for the studio session. You are very stupid…Appietus your whole career, your whole life, Muje Baya made you. All your songs, which one made you?” Papi quizzed.
Africa’s self-acclaimed Dancehall king Shatta Wale has asserted that Ghana’s music industry is inferior to Nigeria’s.
He claimed Ghanaians are just talkers and not doers.
The singer-songwriter and record producer also asked local music makers to ask for help from their Nigerian counterparts instead of fighting with them.
Shatta Wale said these on Twitter in his typical comical, controversial and pointed way, Wednesday, January 18, 2023.
“[It’s] better we stop arguing with Nigerian fans, promoters, etc., and ask for help,” he said.
“[I even] need [a] record label,” the musician who identifies as Ghana’s richest confessed. “Ghana music [industry] is a disgrace. Mek [don’t let] nobody lie [to] you…”
He bigged up “Naija [Nigeria],” and charged that Ghanaians are only talkers “with no action. Yes, I have said it…”
In the afternoon, the Johnny Just Come (JJC) hitmaker tweeted a follow-up saying he is only speaking the uncomfortable truths this year. He stressed his need for a record label’s assistance and decried pride.
“This year 2023 hard truth nkwaaaa [only],” he said with rolling on the floor laughing emojis. “You need help. I need help. Stop that ego life. Enogo [it won’t] help you and me…”
Since his 2004 ‘Bandana’ hit, Bandana who rebranded to Shatta Wale in 2013 with the release of ‘Dancehall King’, has predominantly been an independent Ghanaian artiste.
Private Legal Practitioner, Lawyer Godwin Edudzi Tamekloe, is calling for the immediate resignation of Reverend Victor Kusi Boateng as Secretary to the National Cathedral Board of trustees over what he believes to be a conflict of interest.
According to the Lawyer, Rev Victor Kusi Boateng has engaged in criminal dealings including creating multiple identities on the blind side of the state under the umbrella of the National Cathedral as a secretary to the board of trustees.
“It is surprising that, if you don’t do proper forensics, you will never know that Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is the same person as Victor Kusi. And it is amazing that all his two passports are active. It is possible that this man has two Ghana cards, how did they take his biometrics for the diplomatic passport … this is called deduplication…how could you have these details in our register. “I will plead with Rev; with all due respect, he should resign and concentrate on winning souls for Christ. You see, one thing about winning souls for Christ is that it does not require credibility or experience. so, you can be Saul and still win souls for Christ. So, I will plead with him to resign,” he lamented.
Speaking in an interview on Neat FM on January 18, 2023, Edudzi added that they are investigating Rev Kusi Boateng in his involvement in an election in Kenya.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, on Monday, January 16, 2023, revealed damning allegations against Reverend Kusi Boateng.
In an explosive set of allegations which he describes as the Tsar Bomba of all scandals, Ablakwa claimed that Reverend Kusi Boateng holds multiple passports and identification cards with some bearing the name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
“You will recall that in my earlier exposé of the scandalous GHC2.6million cash transfer from the National Cathedral Secretariat to JNS Talent Centre Limited, I pointed out that incorporation documents reveal that the three directors of JNS Talent Centre Limited are Johannes Eshun, Sheila Eshun and Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
“I also later revealed that Rev. Johannes Eshun is a branch pastor of National Cathedral Executive Council Member/Director, Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng’s Power Chapel Worldwide.
“Hitherto, the third director—Mr. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi has remained a mystery figure.
“I am now able to reveal the true identity of this mystery director of JNS, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
“Definitely, the code has finally been cracked and it shocks to the marrow!
“Unimpeachable and incontrovertible evidence confirms that Mr. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is the famous Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng who still serves on the National Cathedral Board as an Executive Council Member/Director.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no distinct Kwabena Adu Gyamfi. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is a criminal creation of Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng. The two are therefore one and the same.
“Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng AKA Kwabena Adu Gyamfi thought he had outwitted every Ghanaian, particularly our authorities whom he dribbled for many years; but the day of reckoning is finally here.
“From unassailable and irreproachable documents in my possession, Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng AKA Kwabena Adu Gyamfi uses multiple passports and multiple identification cards with different names and different dates of birth as his special modus operandi,” he wrote on Facebook.
Eastern Regional Free Senior High School Coordinator who is also the Abuakwa North Constituency NPP Research Nana Ofosu Asante Twum popularly called Nana OAT, has described Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is a blessing citizen of the country.
Speaking to Nana Kwasi Asare on Nopras 107.5 Fm “Adekye Mu Nsem” program, Nana Ofosu Asante Twum who is also the Elections Director and Member of the Eastern Regional NPP communications team, said, the Vice President and a renowned economist, has distinguished himself to the entire Ghanaian populace as a hard working Vice President and head of the Economic Management Team.
He continued that, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has been working tirelessly to ensure micro and macro economic stability of the country for socio-economic development.
Nana OAT added unlike other ceremonial Vice Presidents, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s exploits in the political landscape of the country is building a resilient economy for the republic to meet international standards.
Nana Ofosu Asante Twum further said, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia always has a second plan to economic policies when maiden policies are challenged with natural phenomenon.
According to him, the digitalization agenda by the Vice President has brought massive transformation in the country citing the convenience of renewing National Health Insurance on mobile phones and mobile money interoperability as examples.
The outspoken communicator, lauded the Vice President for the “oil for gold” policy of which he said, will reduce petroleum prices in the country thereby reducing inflation, a situation he called thinking outside the box.
Nana Ofosu Asante Twum then called on all Ghanaians to rally behind the Government for continuous economic development.
According to reports, the first batch of 41,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products of the Gold for Oil Policy by the government to stem the increasing depreciation of the cedi against the major currencies has arrived at the Tema Port and discharged into the receptacles of Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST).
The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has stated that several public universities in the country run programs that turn out graduates who are unemployed.
According to him, thousands were graduating from Ghanaian universities and looking for nonexistent jobs. Dr Adutwum said his outfit was engaging universities to focus on courses that have relevance to the nation as well as graduates.
He said the country had a serious challenge in terms of some of the courses that were being offered by public universities, adding that many students accepted to enrol in such programmes because they just want to attend the university.
“If you look at distance learning programmes across the length and breadth of this country, especially championed by the University of Cape Coast, so many students have been enrolled in Diploma in Education, they are being trained for jobs that do not exist,” Dr Adutwum said on Tuesday at the ongoing Annual New Year School at the University of Ghana, Legon.
“Thousands and thousands are graduating for jobs that do not exist, so we had a conversation with them (the universities). One favourite course that I always cite is what is called Sanitation Education but there is no course in Sanitation to be taught. Development Education, Development Education for what? UDS, Development Studies Undergraduate Programme, for what job? So, yes, I am fully aware and we are engaging the universities. I think we need to focus on courses that have relevance to that particular student and to the nation”.
He added that there was a Bachelor of Arts in Education programme at a university that was supposed to prepare students for a “non-existent teaching job”.
Dr Adutwum said because of limited guidance and counselling at public universities, many students could not turn down such programmes when it was offered to them.
He said Ghana’s unemployment situation could also be linked to the training of graduates by universities for jobs that do not exist in the country.
Rafael Nadalfaces up to eight weeks out of action with the hip flexor injury he sustained on his way out of the Australian Open.
The defending champion and top seed in Melbourne was bundled out 6-4 6-4 7-5 by world number 65 Mackenzie McDonald on Wednesday, struggling to move around the court during the closing stages of the contest.
He refused to retire and afterwards confirmed he aggravated an issue he had been suffering with for a couple of days. The 36-year-old Spaniard knew the problem he had been suffering with for a “couple of days” had worsened, but he was unsure exactly what was causing it.
Now Nadal has clarity, receiving details of the injury after tests on Thursday.
He knows that provided all goes to plan, he should be back on court for the clay-court stretch in Europe leading up to the French Open, where the 14-time winner is also the defending champion.
Buenas tardes. He realizado pruebas médicas tras la derrota en el día de ayer. La resonancia magnética muestra una lesión grado 2 en el Psoas Iliaco de su pierna izquierda. Ahora toca reposo deportivo y fisioterapia anti inflamatoria. Tiempo normal de recuperación 6 a 8 semanas. pic.twitter.com/xwcKSyTzhp
Nadal wrote on Twitter: “Good afternoon. I have carried out medical tests after the defeat yesterday. The MRI shows a grade two lesion in the iliopsoas of the left leg. Now it’s sports rest and anti-inflammatory physiotherapy. Normal recovery time six to eight weeks.”
The 22-time major winner may struggle to get back to full fitness in time for the Indian Wells and Miami Masters 1000 events in March.
Those are due to be preceded on his schedule by a high-profile exhibition match in Las Vegas against Carlos Alcaraz on March 5; however, both men are presently injured, raising doubts over whether that will go ahead.
Nadal was distraught to suffer yet another injury setback, after severe foot and abdomen problems hit his 2022 season.
“In terms of sports and in terms of injuries and tough moments, I mean, that’s another one,” Nadal said on Wednesday. “I can’t say that I am not destroyed mentally at this time, because I will be lying.”
Ashanti Regional National Chairman for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has described MP for Tamale-South, Haruna Iddrisu, as the potential candidate for the NDC flag-bearer position.
In an interview on Wontumi TV, Wontumi stated that Haruna Iddrisu will be the NDC’s flagbearer in years to come and that Okudzato Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu also stands a chance of becoming his running mate if he plays his cards well.
“See, Mahama will lose in the 2024 elections, so, Okudzato Ablakwa has to be humble so that when Haruna Iddrisu is becoming a flagbearer he will consider you as his running mate. But now you’re tarnishing your image. Mahama cannot come again. He has already been president and vice so that’s the end for him,” Wontumi said.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman went on to say that if Haruna Iddrisu is elected as the NDC flagbearer, they will lose two consecutive elections before gaining a chance at the presidency.
Meanwhile, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has set May 13, 2023, as a date to elect their flagbearer.
Prospective candidates of the upcoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Primaries will pay GH¢30,000 and GH¢500,000 as filing fees and registration forms respectively.
The party will also elect parliamentary candidates for various constituencies across the country on the same day.
The election of the Parliamentary Candidate shall be held at a venue within the Constituency as determined by the Constituency Executive Committee in consultation with the Regional Executive Committee (REC) of the respective region.
This was announced by the NDC General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, at a press conference at the NDC headquarters in Accra on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.
Real Betis head coach Manuel Pellegrini lamented another penalty shoot-out defeat as their Copa del Rey defence ended at the hands of Osasuna in the round of 16 on Wednesday.
Betis and Osasuna finished 1-1 after normal time with David Garcia netting a 90th-minute goal for the visitors to level after William Carvalho’s 62nd-minute opener.
The hosts went up again in extra-time from Youssouf Sabaly but it ended 2-2 with Ruben Garcia equalising, before the visitors won 4-2 on penalties, with Sergio Canales and Guido Rodriguez spurning their spotkicks.
That defeat comes a week after Betis’ 4-2 shoot-out loss to Barcelona after a 2-2 draw in the Supercopa semi-final in Riyadh. It also ends Los Verdiblancos’ Copa del Rey defence.
“It has been a very tough week due to the cup elimination against Barcelona on penalties, where we were also superior in the 90 minutes, as has happened to us against Osasuna,” Pellegrini told reporters.
✊✊✊
It hurts, but this team has bounced back many times.
“At the last minute, for not clearing a ball they tied us, after being superior for 90 minutes. We have to continue competing although it has been a very hard week and we must compose ourselves.”
Osasuna converted all four of their penalties, like Barcelona did a week ago, although Pellegrini had no issue with goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
“Things happen in football,” he said. “You don’t have to reproach him for anything from penalty shootouts.
“The one who shoots has more options to put it in than the goalkeeper to clear it. It’s not the goalkeeper’s problem.”
Pellegrini conceded the defeat hurt, with Betis now to focus on LaLiga, where they are sixth, along with the Europa League, where they are in the round of 16.
“It’s a mental and physical blow,” the Chilean said. “We’ve lost two competitions on penalties.
“We have to keep looking forward. We have to keep fighting for the league and we also have the Europa League.”
Hakan Calhanoglu relished Inter’s Supercoppa Italiana win over Milan more than most, saying karma came back to bite the Rossoneri.
The former Milan player, who switched allegiance to Inter on a free transfer in 2021, faced mockery from a number of former team-mates when Stefano Pioli’s team won last season’s Serie A title.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was among those who invited scorn to be poured during Milan’s celebrations, but Inter’s 3-0 victory on Wednesday not only gave them the first silverware of the Italian season, it also gave Calhanoglu a chance to hit back.
“It was a very important victory, even more so for me. I’m very happy. We were hungry, we showed what we are worth on the pitch,” Turkish midfielder Calhanoglu said.
“I always prefer to shut up, it was tough for me to see things I didn’t expect. Karma comes back, and today we were hungry.”
Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sport Mediaset, Calhanoglu said: “They have to respect the 3-0, we sent them home quickly. We ate them up.”
On the prospect of a push for the Scudetto, Calhanoglu added: “We will believe it until the end. Let’s continue like this.”
Napoli have made a runaway start to the season, opening up a nine-point lead over second-placed Milan after 18 rounds of games, with Inter a further point back.
The Supercoppa win on Wednesday over Milan came at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, with Inter’s goals coming from Federico Dimarco, Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez.
The next meeting between the city rivals comes in Serie A on February 5, with Inter the home side as they face Milan at the San Siro stadium the clubs share.
Memphis Depay has been linked with a move away from Barcelona, having had a frustrating 2022-23 season.
The Dutchman has only made a handful of appearances for the Blaugrana, following an off-season of busy transfer activity at Camp Nou.
Depay had been linked with several clubs, including Premier League outfits Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham.
TOP STORY – MEMPHIS TO EXIT BARCELONA FOR ATLETICO
Depay will leave Barcelona to join Atletico Madrid with an agreement reached on a fee of approximately €3-4million, reports Fabrizio Romano.
The Dutch forward is set to travel to Madrid to complete the formalities and medicals soon.
Memphis Depay to Atlético Madrid, here we go! Agreement sealed on fee around €3/4m to Barcelona, Depay is set to travel to Madrid for medicals soon 🚨⚪️🔴 #Atléti
According to Romano, the 28-year-old will sign a two-and-a-half-year deal with Atleti.
ROUND-UP
– Fabrizio Romano claims Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer will undergo medical tests with Bayern Munich on Thursday, before signing his contract with the Bavarians with the deal done between the clubs.
– Sky Sport Italia claims Roma are willing to sell Nicolo Zaniolo in January at the right price, approximately €40m, as the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal, West Ham United and Borussia Dortmund circle.
– Real Madrid are interested in Manchester United‘s Alejandro Garnacho but the Red Devils have made an improved contract offer for the Argentinian, reports The Independent.
– Arsenal are happy to wait until the end of the season to pursue West Ham’s Declan Rice, after missing out on Mykhaylo Mudryk, claims The Sun.
– Tottenham have made a first bid for Sporting right-back Pedro Porro, which included a player plus guaranteed money, but the Portuguese club have turned this down, according to Fabrizio Romano. Sporting want €45m (£39m) with talks ongoing.
– Chris Wood is on the cusp of joining Nottingham Forest on loan from Newcastle United, reports The Athletic. The deal would include an option to make the move permanent.
– West Ham tabled an offer for Aston Villa forward Danny Ings, reports The Telegraph.
Reacting to the information, Sarkodie described the feature as the biggest moment in his life and career.
The popular Ghanaian rapper said: “What a way to kick start this year!!! Definitely one of the highest moments in my career/Life… Big shouts to the team at island records @akosuas_ @Jaykjs and the Marley family for getting me on this amazing project by the legend #bobmarley… such a blessing to lay my vocals right next to the original vocals of the Gong…”
Fans can pre-save the track on digital platforms before it is released.
British actor Idris Elba delivers a speech as he and his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba, United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Goodwill Ambassador, receive the 2023 Crystal Award during the Crystal Awards Ceremony 2023, ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in Davos, Switzerland, January 16, 2023. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
Actor Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba called on Monday for business and political leaders to provide more support to the world’s poorest countries in the form of investment rather than aid.
At the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos, the Elbas were both honoured for their work on environmental conservation, food security and climate change.
The couple, who are Goodwill Ambassadors for the United Nations’ International Fund for Agricultural Development, appealed to participants at the annual summit for fast financial support for people hit by food scarcity and climate change.
“The poor of this world are not just looking for aid and handouts, they’re looking for investment,” Idris Elba said.
“We understand the power and change that can come from this room … We can move with agility and speed and your speed is needed now,” the star of “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” and “Beasts of No Nation” added.
Sabrina Dhowre Elba highlighted food crises in Somalia, Haiti, Sudan and other countries, focusing on the plight of small-scale farmers without access to the resources they need and yet produce a third of the planet’s food.
“We are here at Davos to highlight the people and countries who are not making the headlines as much as my husband,” she said, looking at her partner.
The amount of happiness Ras Nene brings through his skits makes it difficult to imagine that he had a dark past.
The popular YouTube skit maker has revealed some challenges he faced in his bid to be successful.
Born Ebenezer Akwasi Antwi, the junior high school leaver says he had tried multiple trades after his education but to no avail.
After peddling drugs on the streets and a brief non-lucrative stint in the movie industry, he decided to venture into small-scale mining (galamsey).
Making his appearance on The Delay Show, the comic actor says he made his way to Bole Bamboi in the Savannah Region with an amount of ¢70,000.
He said he secured a plot of land and some equipment in the area called Sampa and started digging for the precious mineral.
His early investment yielded some fruits.
😂His honesty is what gets to me even more. Ras Nene says he went into galamsey⛏️ when things went south, narrates how he was stabbed in the back by friends, and his time in 🚔police custody.
“I made ¢40,000 on my first attempt and so I was excited,” he added.
But from that dividend onwards, the business took a nosedive.
“After making that ¢40,000 amount, things went down but I was determined. A colleague urged me to consult spiritualists for powers but I ignored him. He followed through and found success in the trade but I was left struggling,” he recounted.
The moment Ras decided to quit the trade, he discovered some gold deposits which presupposed that the land had promise.
For that matter, he “called a friend of mine and asked for a ¢50,000 loan.”
“Unfortunately, everything went down the drain,” he told Delay.
Dr Likee, as he is also known, was so broke that he did not even have money for transportation back home to the Ashanti Region. At this point, he said most friends and close relations had neglected him.
He disclosed that a preacher called Penamang gave him ¢70 for transportation. But his woes had not ended just yet.
On Ras Nene’s arrival, one of his close friends tipped off his creditor who in turn reported him to the police and got him arrested.
This cost him another three days in police custody. He was released later on after which he decided to look to God for a change in his life.
“I was later told the man said he had forgiven me. I was subsequently released.”
Today, Ras Nene is one of the biggest skit makers in Ghana raking in huge revenue from his hilarious YouTube videos.
Patrick Asiedu, the man behind a viral audio alleging some police officers planted ‘wee’ and cocaine in his car has been arrested.
According to the police, the arrest was carried on Thursday, January 18, 2023, after investigations proved that the allegations in the said audio were mere fabrications and not the truth.
Also, the police through their investigations established Patrick is an Uber driver and not a medical doctor as he claimed in the audio.
“The police, today, 18th January 2023 have arrested a man suspected to be the person in the audio tape describing an alleged elaborate incident of criminal behaviour on the part of the police.
“In the audio tape that has been widely circulated, the man who introduced himself as Dr Patrick Asiedu claimed that he had been stopped by some police officers who planted substances suspected to be narcotics in his car and attempted to extort money from him.
“The police investigation so far has established that the man who has been arrested and is in police custody, is indeed called Patrick Aseidu, he is an Uber driver and not a doctor,” potions of the police statement read.
The police also revealed that Patrick confessed that ” he had once witnessed a similar incident happen to one of his passengers” and that was the motivation for the audio.
Police arrest ‘fake doctor’ who accused some officers of planting ‘wee’, cocaine in his car
The statement added that the supposed military intervention and the alleged fight between the police officers and the military described in the said audio are false.
Kumawood actor, Okomfo Kolege has finally spoken about his late wife’s demise.
Narrating incidents that led to her death, the Kumawood actor said his wife was very strong and showed no signs of weakness.
Speaking with Kwaku Manu, he said he woke up at dawn on the faithful day to notice his wife was in labour and he decided to transport her to the hospital, but she asked him to wait until she was properly dilated.
“I woke up to see my wife snapping her fingers. I asked her if the baby was coming, and she said yes, but we should wait for a little. I disagreed with her and asked that we go to the hospital since I didn’t understand the language of midwives.
“When that happened, I called a senior colleague of hers who was at the same workplace as her and is also a midwife to come over. She asked us to wait, and truly, she came, and we packed everything into the car and went straight to Kwadaso SDA Hospital,” he narrated.
According to Okomfo Kolege, upon getting to the hospital, the health professionals rushed in to assist him with his wife but one could tell his wife was strong and able to move around on her own.
“My wife never showed any signs of weakness during her pregnancy or even when the baby was almost here. The way she is, you wouldn’t believe it if they told you she was pregnant and her time was due because of her stature. She walked by herself, and she never showed signs of weakness.”
The actor stated that after his wife was taken into the ward, she came out to inform him that she was correct and that they should have stayed at home a bit longer.
“When she came, she told me she hadn’t dilated up to 10 centimetres and was just at two centimetres. According to her, she needed about four hours more until the baby arrived. I am a very soft person regarding childbirth, so I couldn’t go inside with my wife.
“I didn’t dare see my wife give birth to our child because I am a very soft person. I love my wife to the extent that I don’t like to see her go through pain. I told her colleague that I would stand by the gate to guard it so that I could hear the baby cry and come in to see them.
“You should have seen me at that time. I was barefooted, walking up and down, and praying for God to save me,” he added.
After sometime some colleagues in the movie industry came to join him and the hospital but he didn’t think much about it. Unknown to him at the time, his wife was already dead and they knew about it but none of them could muster the courage to break the sad news to him.
While still waiting to meet his son, the senior doctor at the hospital his wife used to work at, also came to the hospital and entered the labour ward.
It was this doctor who broke the news of his wife’s death to him.
Welbeck Ampedu, a man who describes himself as a ‘spiritual son’ of embattled leader of the Power Chapel Worldwide, Reverend Kusi Boateng has vowed to institute legal action against Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament of North Tongu and Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa over their decision to share a flier with his image on it on social media.
Michael Ampedu who is a reporter with the Multimedia Group claimed that the use of the flier has negatively affected his reputation and that he is heading to court to seek redress.
Despite issuing a notice for Bright Simons and Okudzeto Ablakwa to pull down the said posts with his image, Welbeck Ampedu holds that the court will deliver justice for what he considers to be an act of defamation against him.
He claimed not to have issues about the allegations leveled against Reverend Kusi Boateng by Okudzeto Ablakwa but holds that the use of the said photo has injured his image and integrity in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public.
“Two days ago I received a photo from one of my mates with the question that he didn’t know me to be a singer. I replied that I’m a singer. He asked if I was aware of a flier of a Power Chapel program with me on it that Okudzeto Ablakwa has shared it. I asked what it was about he said Ablakwa claimed to be making an exposé and he had named Reverend Kusi Boateng and his spiritual sons as owners of DNS. I asked if my name was mentioned and responded in the negative.
“I went to Okudzeto Ablakwa’s wall and I saw a flier with my photo. I didn’t take it seriously until after the morning show, some colleagues here who knew Reverend Victor as my spiritual father came to me raising issues about the whole photo. Due to the number of people who approached me, I began to see thing differently.
“Yesterday, another colleague sent one from Bright Simons. He had made a post with the same photo Ablakwa used. Then I got another one with an arrow pointing toward me. I’m a lead producer of a morning show and I’ve done it for close to eleven years so I cannot toy with my integrity if an honorable member pushes those pictures on social media without thinking about the sensitive nature of such a picture.
“I issued a statement and told Okudzeto Ablakwa and Bright Simons to pull down the flier with immediate effect and offer an unqualified apology. They’ve not pulled down the posts. Even if they pull it down and offer an apology, I will still sue. We will still go ahead and seek redress, “ he said on Asempa FM.
The flier with Ampedu’s image was one of a number of photos shared by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on Monday, January 16, 2023, in his damning allegations against Reverend Kusi Boateng.
In an explosive set of allegations which he describes as the Tsar Bomba of all scandals, Ablakwa claimed that Reverend Kusi Boateng holds multiple passports and identification cards with some bearing the name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
“You will recall that in my earlier exposé of the scandalous GHC2.6million cash transfer from the National Cathedral Secretariat to JNS Talent Centre Limited, I pointed out that incorporation documents reveal that the three directors of JNS Talent Centre Limited are Johannes Eshun, Sheila Eshun and Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
“I also later revealed that Rev. Johannes Eshun is a branch pastor of National Cathedral Executive Council Member/Director, Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng’s Power Chapel Worldwide.
“Hitherto, the third director—Mr. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi has remained a mystery figure.
“I am now able to reveal the true identity of this mystery director of JNS, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
“Definitely, the code has finally been cracked and it shocks to the marrow!
“Unimpeachable and incontrovertible evidence confirms that Mr. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is the famous Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng who still serves on the National Cathedral Board as an Executive Council Member/Director.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no distinct Kwabena Adu Gyamfi. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is a criminal creation of Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng. The two are therefore one and the same.
“Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng AKA Kwabena Adu Gyamfi thought he had outwitted every Ghanaian, particularly our authorities whom he dribbled for many years; but the day of reckoning is finally here.
“From unassailable and irreproachable documents in my possession, Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng AKA Kwabena Adu Gyamfi uses multiple passports and multiple identification cards with different names and different dates of birth as his special modus operandi,” he wrote on Facebook.
The Chief Executive of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Mark Badu Aboagye has lamented the recent hike in utility prices, saying, the increment will “worsen the plight of businesses”.
He believes increasing utility tariffs at the time is not the best move as businesses are yet to recover from the hurdles and difficulties of 2022.
His concern comes after an upward adjustment of electricity and water tariffs announced by Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC) on Monday, January 16, 2023.
Effective February 1, utility consumers will pay 29.96% for electricity and 8.3% for water respectively.
Speaking to Joy Business, Mark Badu Aboagye said the country is already reeling under galloping inflation of 54.1%, thus this utility increment will only aggravate the current high cost of living and will worsen the plight of the already impoverished Ghanaian.
“It’s unfortunate they [PURC] had to increase the cost of utilities. In fact cumulatively from September [2022], up to February [2023] when this increment will take effect, you realise that electricity has increased by 57.11% which of course is going to worsen the plight of businesses.”
The country is currently grappling with the increase in petroleum products at the pumps, high inflation coupled with cedi depreciation by 12.7% to a dollar, ranking it second weakest currency among top African currencies.
He is worried that businesses would pass costs onto customers if they are unable to absorb the cost which will further increase the rate of inflation.
“Pick a typical business electricity, cost constituent about 30%. So, anytime time there is an increment, it means the cost of production will go up and I think it won’t auger well for businesses”.
“What will happen is that if businesses are not able to absorb this cost, then they have to transfer this cost to consumers and that may also increase inflation”.
Mr. Badu Aboagye is however calling on the government to “take a second look at it at this time”.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has sanctioned four Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for engaging in illicit third-party trading and unlawful lifting of petroleum products.
Per the sanction, Finest Oil will pay a fine of GHS160,000.00 comprising GHS10,000.00 for engaging in third-party supplies for the first time and GHS150,000.00 for the unlawful lifting of petroleum products.
Failure by the company to comply will attract an additional one (1) month’s suspension of its operations.
A statement from NPA and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said in the case of Petro XP, it will pay a fine of GHS340,000.00 comprising GHS10,000.00 for engaging in third-party supplies for the first time and GHS330,000.00 for the unlawful lifting of petroleum products and failure to comply, it will attract an additional one (1) month’s suspension of its operations.
Glasark Oil has been fined GHS95,000.00 comprising GHS10,000.00 for engaging in third-party supplies for the first time and GHS85,000.00 for the unlawful lifting of petroleum products.
Failure by the company to comply will attract an additional one (1) month’s suspension of its operations.
The statement said for Lilygold Resources Limited, it will pay a fine not exceeding five (5) times the license/permit fee for breaking the Authority’s seals, and failure to pay will result in the suspension of its operating license in addition to paying the penalties.
The NPA cautioned that any company that failed to comply with the rules and guidelines stipulated by the Authority would be subjected to further sanctions.
In an Instagram post shared by the Greater Accra Regional Hospital’s account, the ‘Kwaku the Traveler’ singer also gave out food and toiletries to the women
.
“Black Sherif settles medical bills for some mothers who were unable to pay after being discharged at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
“@blacksherif_ also provided the mothers with food and toiletries. The hospital’s administration is grateful to him for the gesture,” they shared on January 18, 2023.
The image that was attached to the post saw Blacko with nearly ten mothers, all of whom were holding their babies.
Blacko stood tall among the women, wearing a blue polo shirt and patting his chest as if paying homage to the mothers surrounding him.
