Yeboah joined the club from Italian Serie B side Genoa CFC with an option of making the deal permanent.
The attacker managed 11 appearances by scoring and assisting once in the Serie B league campaign for Genoa CFC.
Having been born in Accra, the 22-year-old is still qualified to play for Ghana on the international stage despite playing for the Italy U-21 national youth team.
He is the nephew of former Ghanaian international footballer Tony Yeboah.
Yeboah, who can play as a centre forward or out wide, previously impressed with a spell at SK Sturm Graz.
The Italy U21 international (four appearances) was involved in 30 goals in 45 competitive games for the Austrians (20 goals, 10 assists).
Hours after Elon Musk shared a poll on Twitter asking if he should step down as head of the company, Snoop Dogg hopped on the platform to ask his followers the same question.
“Should I run Twitter?” Snoop tweeted. The poll, which was posted Sunday night, has since received nearly three million responses, with 81 percent of the Twitter users voting “Yes.”
Whether joking or not, Snoop has received far more backing than Musk, whose poll received over 17.5 million responses, with 57.5 percent of the votes calling for him to step down.
Musk, who claims he will “abide” by the results of the poll, later tweeted, “As the saying goes, be careful what you wish, as you might get it.”
“Those who want power are the ones who least deserve it,” Musk added in a subsequent tweet.
Meanwhile, in other news regarding Snoop, the Long Beach rapper has joined forces with Ice Cube, Too Short, and E-40, to form Mount Westmore, a new hip-hop supergroup which recently released its official debut album Snoop Cube 40 $hort.
“You bring the legends of the West Coast together; something great will always happen,” Snoop told HotNewHipHop after announcing the group. “Cube, 40, Short, and I have been running the game for years. This is the perfect time because each of us brings authentic and new ideas to the table. All four together? That’s magic.”
Stream Mount Westmore’s full-length project now on all major platforms.
The architect of the National Cathedral, Sir David Adjaye together with his firm Adjaye Associates is currently facing a lawsuit at the Labour Division of the Accra High Court.
The plaintiff, an ex-director of the company, Alice Asafu-Adjaye who has no relation to David Adjaye wants a settlement of $61,903 (£50,000) for the ‘unfair termination’ of her contract in 2015.
A UK-based news portal, architects journal on January 17 reported that the witness statement filed in May 2021 to support the writ said Alice Asafu-Adjaye, also a senior architect was handpicked from London to serve as associate director of African projects for David Adjaye Associates in Ghana.
The report continued that the senior architect then relocated to Ghana with her young daughter in 2012.
The plaintiff in her statement of claim stated that three years later she was told the Adjaye Associates firm in Ghana was closing and was dismissed with no redundancy pay or offer of relocation costs back to the UK.
According to architects journal, Alice Asafu-Adjaye had studied and lived in the UK since the mid-80s.
The report noted that the claimant, an ex-Foster + Partners and former Bartlett student said she was given just four weeks’ notice rather than the required 11 weeks for senior staff which she said amounts to a breach of Ghana’s 2003 Labour Act.
Sir David Adjaye was inducted into Ghana’s Architecture Registration Council (ARC).
According to her, David Adjaye and his company did not follow any redundancy procedures according to the 2003 Labour Act.
However, the architects journal said David Adjaye in his defence statement filed to the court denied all allegations by the Ex-director, Alice Asafu-Adjaye.
The defendants stated that the plaintiff’s employment was rather terminated ‘lawfully’ with respect to the terms of the contract she signed.
They argued that the plaintiff was entitled to only four weeks’ notice prior to termination of her contract which was obliged to.
The former director in her statement also alleged that contrary to the company’s claim of redundancy, the firm did not wind up, instead, it proceeded to bid for more contracts including the National Cathedral project through another newly incorporated company, Sir David Adjaye & Associates (SDAA).
She alleged that the company did this on purpose to avoid paying her redundancy. But Sir David Adjaye & Associates argued that SDAA is a separate company with ‘no bearing’ on the lawsuit.
The allegation further asserts that David Adjaye, who was named by King Charles to Britain’s esteemed Order of Merit in November, employed staff members in his Ghana office to work on personal projects without paying the business any money.
Alice Asafu-Adjaye Credit: Twitter; @aa_adjaye
According to the claim, an architect from the UK spent the majority of his time working on Adjaye’s own property in eastern Ghana.
The statement of defence also disputes this assertion.
The plaintiff’s witness statement said David Adjaye recruited Asafu-Adjaye from Foster + Partners in the early 2000s and she considered him a “mentor and friend” at the time.
“It was an opportunity to be involved in growing a minority-owned business led by a talented Ghanaian and focused on projects I considered culturally important,” the UK’s architect journal quoted the witness’ statement.
Her statement of claim continued that she rose through the ranks and had so much ‘faith in the AAUK project’ that when the London office experienced financial difficulty in 2008, she agreed to forgo her salary for over a year to ensure other employees were paid.
She further alleged that this made her experience “extreme hardship” and left her relying on her credit cards and child support payments.
Asafu-Adjaye was allegedly selected to start the Ghana practice because she was the only senior staff member with prior experience operating in Africa and held dual citizenship with Ghana and the UK.
The UK’s architects journal further reported that under the plaintiff’s leadership as the second director and company secretary, the company won a number of high-profile projects, two of which was the Alara Concept Store creative hub in Nigeria and the International Finance Corporation headquarters in Senegal.
The report noted that Asafu-Adjaye was nonetheless informed in 2015 that the office was closing due to its “failure to generate adequate funds” and that all employee contracts would be terminated with one month’s notice.
For this reason, the plaintiff wants an amount of $61,903 as redundancy pay and compensation, costs and damages.
In addition, the UK-based architect is demanding a court order for Sir David Adjaye Associates to pay Ghanaian authorities around £3,000 in social security and national insurance (SSNIT) contributions she claims are owed on her wages.
David Adjaye
The defendants refuted the assertion that Asafu-Adjaye was fired because the Ghana office would be shut down.
Additionally, it denied the allegations regarding SSNIT, claiming she had declined to sign up for the program.
According to the architects journal, David Adjaye’s attorney informed the court during the most recent hearing on December 20 that they had been told to settle with Asafu-Adjaye outside of court.
It said as of the time they published the story, no agreement has been reached.
The lawsuit will be heard in the upcoming court hearing on January 19 if a resolution cannot be reached, the Architects Journal reported.
Meanwhile, Adjaye Associates and Asafu-Adjaye declined to comment when contacted by Architects Journal .
He made a case for the trading of gold as a means of sustaining Ghana’s economy in the current economic climate.
“Ukraine’s central bank has sold US$12.4 billion of gold reserves since the beginning of Russia’s invasion on February 24, the bank’s deputy head said Sunday. This is a country with only 50 tonnes of gold deposit. In times of crisis gold is a safe haven. We produce much much more in Ghana!” he posted on Monday, July 18.
Read the full story originally published on July 18, 2022 by www.ghanaweb.com.
Leading member of the New Patriotic Party, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has made a case for trading in gold as a means of sustaining Ghana’s economy in the current economic climate.
He asserted that Ukraine which accounts for only 50 tonnes of gold deposits recently sold US$12.4 billion of gold reserves following tensions with Russia.
In a post shared on Twitter, Gabby Otchere-Darko argued that Ghana produces more gold from its vast gold deposits whereas the country currently does not have enough gold reserves.
“Ukraine’s central bank has sold US$12.4 billion of gold reserves since the beginning of Russia’s invasion on February 24, the bank’s deputy head said Sunday. This is a country with only 50 tonnes of gold deposit. In times of crisis gold is a safe haven. We produce much much more in Ghana!” he posted on Monday, July 18.
Following this assertion, some users on Twitter have questioned whether Gabby Otchere-Darko is making a case for the re-introduction of the controversial Agyapa Royalties transaction.
“Gabby just tested the water again…Agyapa on the pipeline,” a tweep wrote.
Meanwhile, the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) has disclosed moves to list 49 percent of Agyapa Royalties on the London Stock Exchange and the Ghana Stock Exchange.
The intended listing on both exchanges, which is likely to take in the fourth quarter of this year is expected to raise between US$450 million and US$700 million from gold royalties.
Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng, said proceeds from the intended listing will be invested into national infrastructure and socio-economic amenities.
He added that special focus will be placed on mining communities across the country.
Prior to the facility becoming operational for scheduled and charter flights later this year, the continued test run is essential.
The Kumasi Airport project, which is estimated to cost $300 million, includes extending the runway from 1,981 metres to 2,300 metres so that it can accommodate Boeing 737-800 series aircraft, building a new, state-of-the-art terminal with two stories, adding more aprons, restaurants, shops, and parking spaces, and building a ring road around the airport.
Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, is the busiest domestic destination and it is served by both PassionAir and Africa World Airlines (AWA).
Ghana Airports Company Limited data show that for 2022 more than 800,000 people traveled by air domestically; with the Kumasi Airport receiving the second largest passenger throughput.
Tourism in Ashanti Region
The Ashanti Region is the most populous and one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, with an estimated population of 4 million.
Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, has historically been an important reference for the use of Adinkra symbols and craftsmanship. With sprawling vegetation cover, the city is an important tourist destination noted for its commerce, mining and handicrafts.
Over the past two decades, there has been rapid growth in commercial activities in the city, chiefly because of its ideal location in the middle belt of the country. After Accra, Kumasi is the second-largest city in Ghana in terms of size and population.
Traders, farmers and cattle owners from Brong Ahafo and the northern parts of Ghana bring their wares to large markets in Kumasi to sell every day.
Former Asante Kotoko defender Richard Osei Agyemang has defended his move to India after completing transfer to Real Kashmir FC.
Osei Agyemang ended his ten-year stay in the Ghana Premier League after completing a move to the Indian outfit Real Kashmir FC this window.
The former Ashantigold captain penned one-year deal with his new outfit and is expected to play a huge role for the club.
“The Indian league is not easy, there are a lot of players here who are struggling to get a team. So the league is not as cheap as purported to be. I wouldn’t advise any player who wish to move to India not to come” he told Wontumi.
“During my time with Berekum Chelsea, I had a call up to the Black Meteors and Asamoah Gyan advised us to move whenever there is a huge offer no matter the country because there is life after football. Gyan’s advise has been on my mind since and it is the reason why I decided to move to India”
“Real Kashmir was promoted to the Indian league in 2016, Kotoko and Ashantigold are bigger than the team but trust me, Kashmir FC can boast of a lot of things both Kotoko and Ashantigold don’t have”
“I don’t know a player who is bigger than Asamoah Gyan but he took a decision to move to India, how much more we the young ones. Now, Gyan is living good”
Kenya’s President William Ruto has made sensational accusations of a plot to abduct and kill the head of the electoral commission in the run-up to the announcement of the presidential results last year.
Mr Ruto was declared the winner of the presidential election held in August 2022, taking 50.5% of the vote, amid dramatic scenes at the vote tallying centre.
At the time, electoral commission chairman Wafula Chebukati said he had done his duty despite receiving threats.
On Tuesday the president claimed the plot to abduct Mr Chebukati was sanctioned by the “highest” office, according to local media reports.
“We know that there was a direct attempt to abduct Mr Chebukati and murder him so that the commission would be paralysed, or a compliant commissioner take over and subvert the people’s sovereignty. It was a hard, cold and lonely time, the threats were dire, the promised rewards lavish and the pressure relentless,” President Ruto said.
He made the remarks during a meeting with commissions and independent offices at State House, Nairobi.
The president’s rival at the elections, Raila Odinga’s party, ODM, has scoffed at the remarks, calling it a “well-choreographed chorus”.
“They should present the claims before a commission of inquiry when it is formed.”
Convenor of the Ghana Individual Bondholders Forum, Senyo Hosi, has rebuffed claims that the rejection of the domestic debt exchange programme by individual bondholders would bring untold economic hardship to the country and would potentially make their bonds worthless.
According to him, data available from the Finance Ministry demonstrates that such claims are false and merely meant to create a state of fear and panic to get bondholders to sign unto the ongoing debt exchange programme.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, he explained that signing onto the debt exchange programme would rather make ones bonds potentially worthless and irredeemable.
“Please anybody who tells you [that] is a liar, is uneducated, has no skills, is not worth any attention if you’re an individual bondholder. 1+1 can’t be 3. It can’t be one and half. It’s not Senyo, this one is just math, it’s science, it’s finance, it’s economics and again it’s common sense,” he retorted.
His comments follow a solemn plea from NPP stalwart, Gabby Otchere-Darko on Sunday who said that even though the terms of the debt exchange programme will affect individual bondholders, it is a necessary step which must be taken to salvage the economy.
“Ghana is in a very difficult place. What we are seeing with the mobilisation of agitation on individual bondholders poses a real and serious risk worse than what we witnessed when opposition to E-Levy succeeded in derailing an already shaky macroeconomic situation from 2021,” his tweet read.
“If the no-compromise opposition to it wins, what then has been achieved? It may lead to national debt default.
“So what then happens to the value of your bonds after! Potentially worthless. If participation is low, we jeopardize resolving the economic crisis and hardships,” he added.
However, explaining the risk of signing onto the government’s new bonds under the debt exchange programme, Senyo Hosi noted that bondholders were much safer holding on to their current bonds rather than discarding them for the new ones.
He said, “with bonds right now your investment is retained because that’s your expectation. You went in for 16%, you’re getting your 16%, no problem. Secondly if you take an ESLA or you take a Daakye bond, the source of the revenue is secured.
“The ESLA is even governed by British law, English law; it’s not even governed by Ghana law. Anytime you buy petrol, the money to pay your ESLA flows in. You’re already taxed to pay off the bond.”
He further explained that while bondholders who are yet to sign discard their old bonds for the new bonds have the right to sue government and receive reparations from the state should the government default on payment, under the debt exchange programme, the government is granted immunity.
So while you can sue government, it will merely be considered an academic exercise as no reparations will be received.
“Then you have in these current bonds GoG, Government of Ghana has no immunity. So your rights are fully enforceable. If government refuses to pay, you can sue them and suing them is not just enough because it can also be an academic exercise. What’s most important is its enforceability where you can actually now attach an asset. You can execute your judgement.
“Under you current bond framework you can do that, under the new one you can’t do that. You can sue them but they’re making you waive your right and granting them immunity against you attaching any asset of government that is for a public purpose. Tell me which asset of government is not for a public purpose. Which asset of government is for private purpose? Then you’re a thief,” he said.
He noted that government coercing bondholders to waive their rights to execute judgment against them in case of default under the debt exchange programme significantly renders the new bonds worthless as successive governments could at will restructure debt repayments without consequence.
“So you could lose up to 70% of your investment and it could be more if you really look at the real value of your money,” he said.
An Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Evelyn Asamoah, has sentenced a Reverend Minister, Edward Buabeng, to a total of 519 years imprisonment.
Rev Buabeng was handed down the sentence yesterday, after having been found guilty on 173 counts of conspiracy to commit a crime and defrauding by false pretences.
The convict would serve eighty years on each count but the sentences are to run concurrently.
Mrs Asamoah acquitted and discharged the second accused, Wilfred Brown, aged 58, and an Accountant, on all of the charges.
The third accused person, Aubrey des-Bordes Mends, absconded just after her plea was taken and granting of bail at the commencement of the case. A bench warrant was issued by the court for Aubrey’s arrest.
Nonetheless, the case came to its final conclusion after a three year trial, in which 12 witnesses from over 100 defrauded victims were called to testify against the accused persons.
Chief Inspector Benson Benneh, prosecuting the case, informed the court that the complainants in the case were a husband and a wife, John Osei-Kumi and Brenda Adolphine Appiah. He said the complainants work as a marketer and a banker respectively.
The court was also told that accused persons and the complainants all live at Dansoman Community in Accra. He said John and Brenda invested an amount US$7, 000.00 and Brenda US$6,000.00 into the convict’s company, Career Link Marketers Company Limited, with expected interest of 40 percent (40%) each for a period of three months.
The complainants made the investment somewhere in July 2018 but when the period elapsed in October of the same year for the convict to pay their principal and interest, he failed.
Meanwhile, several attempts made by the complainants to compel the convict to pay their money were unsuccessful and by which the latter went into hiding.
The complainants, therefore, lodged a complaint with the Dansoman Police Station. The police subsequently received over 100 complaints from others who have been defrauded by Rev. Buabeng.
Police investigation had it that about GH¢1,193,136 and US$185,408.00 were invested into the convict’s company by the complainants. The convict was arrested and detained for investigation by the police.
According to the prosecuting officer, Rev. Buabeng admitted the offence in his caution statement to the police but promised to refund the monies to the complainants, since the company has enough resources to do so.
C/Insp Benneh added that the convict did not honour his promise. Although police checks established that Career Link Marketers Company Limited is registered with the Registrar General Department, the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) had not issued it with a licence to operate.
He added that during the investigation, the convict paid a sum of GH¢115,000.00 and the same was disbursed to the complainants.
Grammy Award-winning musician Cardi B has been given a second chance to complete community service handed to her over an assault at a strip club.
The US rapper was ordered to appear before a judge in New York City on Tuesday after failing to carry out 15 days of mandatory unpaid work as part of a plea deal.
Cardi B, 30, became embroiled in a row with female bartenders in 2018 after accusing one of having an affair with her husband, fellow rapper, Offset.
She admitted two misdemeanour assault charges in September last year.
Cardi B, real name Belcalis Almanzar, said after pleading guilty: “Part of growing up and maturing is being accountable for your actions.”
She appeared at Queens County Criminal Court for what has been described as a “compliance update” hearing.
She attended wearing a white figure-hugging dress and a long white coat with matching sunglasses, sharing pictures of herself arriving at the court flanked by her entourage with her 149 million Instagram followers.
A judge has given her until 1 March to complete the community service.
Ghanaian forward Felix Afena-Gyan has reacted after scoring the winner for U.S Cremonese to progress to the stage of the Coppa Italia ahead of SSC Napoli.
The 19-year-old climbed off the bench in the 65th minute to level up for Cremonese in the game when Napoli was on the verge of victory.
Afena-Gyan scored a header in the 87th minute to take the game to extra time. The goal was the Ghanaian’s second goal since joining the club from Roma.
The striker scored the winner for Cremonese on penalty shootouts to advance to the next round.
After the game, Afena-Gyan took to social media to celebrate his goal and also congratulate Cremonese on their feat.
“A fantastic team effort tonight. Congratulations @USCremonese for qualifying for the next stage of the #CoppaItalia. If we believe, we can achieve,” Afena-Gyan tweeted.
Cremonese will take on Afena-Gyan’s former side AS Roma in their next game in the Coppa Italia.
The organisation claims that because it will have an impact on their way of life, the government’s decision to include them in the programme is unlawful.
The newly combined Individual Bondholders Association and Individual Bondholders Forum stated that the government must take action to exempt them from the scheme based on their calculations.
“For us it is simple, all the numbers show that the government has to just exempt individual bondholders, and that the deal is withdrawn. The offer that you are asking us to take just withdraw it. There is enough money in the budget, more than enough, and all that the government has to do is cut down on expenditure.
Mr. Kpebu further explained that with just Ghc500 one can have a bond and some of the members have holdings of 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 Ghana cedis which he said is very small.
“But they plan their lives with the aim that this month this bond will mature, I will get 500ghc here and next month I will get 1,000ghc. Like they say, Accra stay by plan. Those are investments that people survive on, they are not luxury, they are not just saving for the sake of savings,” he added.
The government has extended the deadline for the Debt Exchange Programme to Tuesday, January 31, to enable it to build consensus for the programme.
This is the third time the government has extended the deadline for the bondholders to voluntarily exchange their bonds for new ones.
Some Ghanaian mothers are setting new trends with their kente styles. They have become style influencers for fashion designers and other mothers looking for new styles for their wards’ upcoming weddings in 2023.
1. Groom’s mother slays in a green Kente dress
The beautiful mother of David Adade didn’t disappoint with her looks. She wore a corseted kente dress embellished with cutout artificial floral designs.
She wore a side-parted hairstyle with charming hair clips that matched her drop earrings.
2. The mother of the bride with lovely gele style
Kuuku’s mother opted for a shiny kente fabric that complimented her skin tone. The corseted three-quarter sleeve outfit has cutouts and ruffles styles.
She wore an outstanding gele style that made her stand out at the lavish wedding.
3. Anidra’s ever-gorgeous mother trends on social media
The good-looking mother of the bride Anidra took over social media with her radiant look. She looked like a style goddess ready to conquer the world with her eye-popping looks.
She wore a green beaded kente dress with different cutout patterns. The bride’s mother gave us impressive hairstyle and makeup goals.
Ghanaian bride Maritabel and her mother have a striking resemblance. The bride’s mother wore a colorful kente gown and puff sleeves and a matching turban.
The bride with an infectious smile wore a plain green beaded kente gown.
5. Oyibo groom, Mohammed’s mother-in-law steals the show with her looks
Ghanaian bride and her wealthy Oyibo groom Mohammed tied the knot over the weekend. The groom and his family showed off her expensive fleet of cars at the traditional ceremony.
The bride’s mother was the center of attention with her lace and kente gown. She looked smashing with a simple hairstyle and smooth makeup.
Black Stars midfielder, Elisha Owusu, has already begun training with his new club, AJ Auxerre, after sealing a switch from KAA Gent.
The 25-year-old Ghanaian, who passed a mandatory medical examination, has signed a two-and-half-year contract with the French Ligue 1 side.
He will be wearing jersey no. 42 at his new club, making him the second Black Stars player at AJ Auxerre at the moment after Gideon Mensah.
Owusu is eager to make an immediate impact on the field and is hoping to make the squad for their upcoming Coupe de France game against Niort this Sunday, January 22, 2022.
With his impressive past performances and his new team, he is expected to play a crucial role in the club’s success this season.
The President of the Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA), Joseph Obeng has predicted that the cedi will see a further depreciation till the end of January.
He said the current depreciation of the cedi can be blamed on repatriation of the dollar to China by Chinese resident in Ghana,
He said, at this time of the year, these Chinese return to their home country for holidays.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, Mr Obeng explained that the situation would persist till the repatriation of the dollar is contained.
“Until we have a permanent solution to this repatriation and all that, for this particular month of January it will continue to see the depreciation of the cedi,” he said.
The dollar has begun a steady appreciation over the cedi in the last few weeks prompting fear the country is heading back to the dark days of 2022 when the cedi depreciated.
The Bank of Ghana is today quoting the exchange rate at ¢10.30 to the dollar but the rate is slightly higher in the commercial space with some quoting ¢12.50.
But despite the rise, the Governor of the central bank, Dr Ernest Addison is confident the worst days of the cedi are over.
According to him, the poor performance of the currency in 2022 will not repeat itself.
This, he said can be made possible if the debt exchange programme is successful.
“Government has announced a debt standstill and that debt standstill means that the outflows – the money used to service foreign debt will not go out anymore.
“That gives us a lot of room and takes pressure from the foreign exchange market. So because of that debt standstill, I can say that we should expect the currency to remain relatively stable.
“I can stick my neck out that we will not see the sort of things we saw in 2022 if everything works well,” he said.
But the GUTA President thinks otherwise.
He explained the reason for the demand in dollars which has caused the cedi to depreciate.
“…When the masters of the economy are going for their vacation we see the peak of the exchange rate and this is what has happened this time round also. The Chinese are going for their vacation…Mostly at that time, they take a chunk of our resources and leave the shores of the country and send our limited resources to their home countries.”
He added that “other masters of the economy are the expatriates – the people owning the economy in areas of banking, communication etc.”
Mr Obeng noted that until there is a mechanism to retain some of the repatriations, the demand for the dollar will be perennial.
Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says the government will provide senior high school students with electronic tablets.
Dr Bawumia said “this game-changing development” is aimed at equipping the students with the relevant materials for their studies.
Speaking at this year’s New Year School at the University of Ghana, Legon on Tuesday, January 17, Dr Bawumia said added the move forms part of government’s digitisation agenda.
He disclosed that these tablets will have textbooks and past questions loaded onto them.
“This year, we are on course to provide all Senior High School students in Ghana with tablets which are loaded with textbooks on them for their studies.
That’s a very game-changing development. We will have past questions preloaded on these tablets that will be distributed,” the Vice President said.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia addressing the New Year School and Conference
Already, there are also plans to make free internet accessible to in both the second cycle and tertiary institutions to improve teaching and learning.
Government has said it has already awarded the contract for the first batch of Wi-Fi installations to begin in some second cycle and tertiary institutions as part of the project.
Some Ghanaians on social media have expressed their displeasure with Black Stars forward Felix-Afena Gyan for scoring an equalizer in Cremonese’s stalemate against Napoli in the Copa Italia.
The dissatisfied persons accuse Afena-Gyan of sabotaging their wager and costing them some money due to his goal.
The 19-year-old leveled the score at 2-2 for Cremonese in the 87th minute with a beautiful header to the far post that sent the game into extra time.
The extra time saw no goals as Cremonose went on to win 5-4 on penalties. The Ghanaian teenager scored the winning penalty that sent his team through to the quarterfinals.
Afena-Gyan took to Twitter to celebrate the win, where some Ghanaians sarcastically slammed him for ruining their bets.
However, others heaped praise on the former AS Roma striker for his performance.
Cremonese will face AS Roma in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals.
Checkout some reactions below
A fantastic team effort tonight. Congratulations @USCremonese for qualifying to the next stage of the #CoppaItalia.
Massa;how could you do this to ur brothers…i lost ghc 1000 because of this your goal..aahhh bro;you could have waited and score in the league…You have killed me Ahhhh
The Asakaa Boys have become a trending sensation on TikTok, one of their songs, ‘Obaahemaa’ has become a viral hit as well as the dance that comes with it. Skyface SDW, a member of the rap group is the owner of the song.
He featured other members, O’Kenneth, Reggie, Beeztrap Kotm, Kwaku DMC and Jay Bahd on it. The ‘Obaahemaa’ challenge has gone global and the latest to partake in the challenge was a beautiful plus-sized woman and an Obroni lady.
The unconventional duo set social media ablaze as they confidently danced to the tune. The video garnered 83k views, over 150 comments and 100k views on TikTok at the time of this publication.
The video was met with mixed reactions as some folks admired their dance moves while others found the duo unconventional.
Former Scottish footballer, Craig Burley has passed a vote of confidence in Ghana’s Thomas Partey as the best midfielder in the Premier League.
The ESPN reporter is one of many football fans who were awed by the sheer class of Thomas Partey in the North London derby.
In a post via his Twitter handle, Craig Burley wondered if the league had a better midfielder than the 29-year-old Arsenal midfielder.
“Is there a better midfielder in the PL than Thomas Partey right now? Not for me. He’s been on fire”, he tweeted.
His tweet attracted replies from some fans who mentioned Brighton’s Caicedo and Casemiro of Manchester United but Burley insisted that much as the two players have been standout performers for their respective clubs, Thomas Partey has been head and shoulders above every other midfielder in the league.
Partey’s name was once again on the lips of Arsenal fans as he engineered their 2-0 victory over rival Tottenham Hotspur.
The Ghanaian midfielder was involved in all their goals providing the passes that led to the final pass before the goal.
In the first goal, Partey found winger Bukayo Saka with a tailored dink before the English player of Nigerian descent hit in the cross for Spur goalie Hugo Lloris to palm into his own net.
Partey once again found Saka who connected with skipper Martin Odegaard for the Norwegian to release a long drive that got Arsenal their second and final goal of the night.
His stats at the end of the game on Sunday, January 15, 2022, read; 87 touches, 66/72 passes completed, 14 passes into the final third, 8 ball recoveries, 4/5 long passes completed, 4/5 ground duels won, 2 blocks, 2 tackles won, 1 shot off the woodwork.
There will be a showdown between Partey and Casemiro when Arsenal clash with Manchester United in a Premier League fixture on Sunday, January 22, 2023 at the Emirates.
Ghana international, Felix Afena-Gyan was the hero for U.S Cremonese on Tuesday night as he climbed off the bench to score a header and the winning penalty in the clash against SSC Napoli.
The crucial goal has helped his club to eliminate SSC Napoli from this season’s Coppa Italia.
In the match, the visitors took a surprise lead in the 18th minute when Charles Picket equalised in the 18th minute.
Later in the first half before the break, goals from Juan Jesus and Giovanne Simeone turned things around for Napoli as the giants took a 2-1 lead into the break.
Thanks to the resilience of U.S Cremonese, the team forced the match to enter extra time courtesy of a late strike from Ghana striker Felix Afena-Gyan.https://www.youtube.com/embed/eDPvnRxohTc
Eagle-eyed social media users have made an interesting speculation about Nigerian singer Davido’s wife, Chioma, following a video of the couple that recently went viral on social media.
A video of the lovebirds showing off their new tattoos bearing each other’s names on their ring fingers recently made the rounds online and received massive applause from social media users as well as love reactions.
However, aside from the tattoos, some social media users noticed Chioma was busy on a menstrual cycle tracking app while the tattoo artist worked on her finger.
After spotting the app on Chioma’s device, many wondered if the pair are expecting another child and have started sending in congratulatory messages.
It’s convincing that Chioma has taken seed and expecting a new child. We are all witnesses to how the couple recently lost their only child just a few months ago in a very tragic and de[dressing manner.
Hopefully, God will bless the couple with another adorable and lovely child.
Ghanaian socialite Twene Jonas has shown how much he made throughout the year 2022.
According to the loudmouthed influencer, he was able to save $200 million while working in the United States of America.
In a video he shared online, Twene Jonas did not only brag about how much he has in his bank account but went on to show proof.
Twene Jonas maintained that his net worth places him far above ordinary Ghanaians, who are usually irritated by his rants and regularly attack him.
Twene Jonas’s bank account balance, which he revealed, was $212,564,324.71.
Twene Jonas went on to tell Shatta Wale to lambast for always bragging with his coins:
Tell Wale to stop !nsulting us with his small money 10 cedis notes and show us his bank account balance just like I did, I saved 200 million dollars in only 2022 but yet I humble myself.
Veteran Ghanaian actress, Pascaline Edwards has disclosed that she dislikes Zionfelix.
According to her, she has never watched anything from Zionfelix, and even nothing from him benefits her.
Miss Pascaline Edwards made this emphatic statement whilst reacting to the trending Zionfelix and Charlie Dior’s interview.
Pascaline Edwards expressed delight that Charlie Dior threw back ‘distasteful questions’ Zionfelix asked him.
Controversial Ghanaian blogger, Zionfelix is being trolled after a botched interview with Ghanaian fashion critic Charlier Dior.
During the interview, Zionfelix asked Charlie Dior if he has slept with a man before, intending to know whether he is gay or not!
But Charlie Dior declined to answer. He pointed out that Zionfelix has no right to ask him such a question because he doesn’t know how that is going to benefit his viewers.
Charlie Dior threw the question back at Zion and went on to answer it himself noting Zionfelix sleeps with multiple women without condom.
He then rubbished his question!
The interview has sparked massive reactions which actress Pascaline Edwards has jumped on to reveal that Zionfelix disgusts her!
The Ghana Police Service says it has unsuccessfully tried to identify one Dr Patrick Asiedu, who alleged in an audio that some officers deliberately planted narcotics in his car to extort ¢20,000 from him.
Police say initial investigations did not find any report on the incident at both the East Legon and Accra Central police stations, which were mentioned in the viral audio.
“As part of the investigation, the Police have also contacted the Narcotics Control Commission and the Ghana Armed Forces and both institutions have indicated that no such incident has come to their attention,” a statement issued by Director of Public Affairs ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi on Tuesday, January 17 said.
The police are, therefore, calling on the victim and the public, at large, to reach them to aid in investigations especially at a time there is rapid transformation ongoing with the Service.
“We would like to assure the public that the Police Service in its quest to become an institution worthy of respect and trust in the country, and a reference point for the rest of the world, will not condone any unprofessional conduct among its officers and the Service is determined to get to the bottom of this matter.”
News of the suspect in Meek Mill’s phone theft case, being granted GH₵50,000 worth of bail, has stirred countless reactions from netizens on social media.
At an Accra Circuit court presided by Samuel Bright Acquah, bail with two sureties was offered to Nuhu Sule who has been charged with stealing.
The two sureties according to the court, must be public servants and the suspect, however, is expected to reappear on February 6, 2023.
But this development has stirred interesting reactions from individuals online, with many who have wondered why the suspect is still in police custody even after Meek Mill said his arrest was unnecessary.
Others have bemoaned the GH₵50,000 worth of bail he has been slapped with, for allegedly stealing just a mobile phone.
Background
Sule was arrested on Friday, December 30, 2022, at his hideout in Accra after the victim, Meek Mill, reported his phone stolen in Accra on December 29, 2022.
The phone was found and returned to the rapper on Friday (December 30) by the Ghana Police who revealed that they had arrested a suspect named Nuhu Sule.
Meek Mill, however, backtracked his claim that the phone was pickpocketed during the 2022 Afro Nation music festival, whiles establishing that his announcement did not warrant anybody’s arrest.
Popular Ghanaian comedian, DKB, has dragged himself into a social media banter involving Kwadwo Sheldon and Archipalago.
The two socialites, (Archipalago and Sheldon), were seen trading verbal punches online after the former claimed the latter disrespected Shatta Wale.
In one of the posts, Kwadwo Sheldon wondered why Archipalago was trying hard to be a part of his fight with Shatta;
“Why (are) you trying so hard to be part of the conversation? Lol, this is sad. Your time has passed,” he said.
This triggered Archipalago to boast of his achievements.
Archipalago described Sheldon as a beneficiary of his inventions, adding that he (Palago) was one of the few people who started making money online in Ghana.
“Kwamudwan Sheldon say my time pass??? He thinks say social media be where I dey get my daily bread Whatever you’re doing now I done did it! I #invented that shit you doing now!You’re a product of my school, as a matter of fact, you’re one of my #sons when it comes to social media,” Palago wrote on Twitter.
This, back and forth, however, drew the attention of DKB, who launched a direct attack on Sheldon.
He described the popular YouTuber as a slave; adding that he (Sheldon) is unworthy to be labeled ‘a son’ of Archipalago.
“Not worthy enough to be your son, more like your slave or maybe something lower than a slave,” DKB defended Palago on Twitter.
Ghanaian televangelist, Pastor Elvis Agyemang is trending after a photo showing a heap of Ghanaian notes in his control room.
A photo displaying an overflow of cash has gone viral on the internet.
According to sources, the cash is donations and offering taken from a popular online prayer meeting, Alpha Hour.
The photo has sparked social media reactions after it was described as a scene from the Alpha Hour control room.
Some people are lashing out at supposed gullible Ghanaians for being taken for a fool and enriching the young pastor and his family whilst they wallow in poverty.
Reacting to that, Pastor Elvis Agyemang has said he does not spend money given on the Alpha Hour altar.
According to the man of God, he uses all monies given during their service for charity; he pays people’s school fees, caters for many people and even pays tithes to another church.
He revealed that the only money he comfortably spends is the ones individuals hand it to him personally to appreciate him for what he does.
Multiple award-winning Ghanaian gospel musician, Diana Hamilton has launched this year’s edition of ‘Awake Experience With Diana Hamilton’.
The ‘Awake Experience with Diana Hamilton’ is a gospel music concert that started in 2014 in London with Ghana hosting its first edition in 2016.
The launch of this year’s events was held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra on Monday, January 16, 2023.
The launch was graced by celebrated Ghanaian musicians, showbiz personalities and dignitaries such as Perez Praise, Ohemaa Mercy, ASP Kofi Sarpong, Ceccy Twum, Celestine Donkor, Kwesi Ernest, the immediate past Chairman of the church of Pentecost, Prof Opoku Onyinah and other clergies.
Ace broadcaster, Abeiku Santana emceed the show. This year’s unconventional event will take place in February in Accra and Kumasi.
The musicians billed to enthralled patrons on the nights with spirit-filled performances are Ohemaa Mercy, ACP Kofi Sarpong, Ceccy Twum, Celestine Donkor, Perez Praise, Joe Mettle, Piesie Esther, Moses OK, Bernice Pamford, Christiana Attafuah.
Accra will kick-start the much-anticipated gospel musical concert at the Perez Dome on February 19 with artists such as Ohemaa Mercy, Joe Mettle, Bernice Panford, Perez Musik and Celestine Donkor.
Piesie Esther, Moses OK, ACP Kofi Sarpong and Ceccy Twum together with Diana Hamilton will climax this year’s event in Kumasi at the Bantama Church of Pentecost on February 26.
Speaking to citinewsroom.com and Ghanaweekend.com, Diana Hamilton promised to give patrons a performance of a lifetime.
“Lives are going to be saved on both nights…If you haven’t experienced the ‘Awake Experience ‘ before, this is the opportunity to come extremely close to God”.
She commended her fans and Ghanaians as a whole for the support her ministry continues to enjoy from them.
She assured to continue to dish out music that would change the lives of many.
The founder of the LightHouse Chapel International, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills has revealed that he was kept in the dark over major decisions on the National Cathedral despite being a member of the Board of Trustees.
He said he wasn’t aware of a decision to build a biblical garden and museum as part of the National Cathedral project which resulted in a massive price change to the project.
In his resignation letter to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the former Executive Director of the National Cathedral also stated that he only found out a lot of facts about the project in the press.
“I am unaware of and not involved with the decision that a biblical garden and museum should be added to the project resulting, in a massive price change to the project. I am unaware of how the cost of the gardens and the Bible Museum were arrived at.
“As a trustee, I equally read in the news of many issues concerning the National Cathedral, and I am as surprised as the public about many of the facts.”
Bishop Dag in his letter sighted by Citi News, said: “l have therefore accepted for some time now that I am not a trustee of the National Cathedral, but I have still sought to help with the Cathedral because I believe in the President’s vision and I do not have to be a legally registered trustee to do so. I refer to myself in this letter as a trustee because even though l am not privy to most of the weighty decisions of the Board I am referred to as such.”
Bishop Heward-Mills added that trustees were gagged from answering pertinent issues about the project to the press.
“The fact that trustees do not know what is going on is affirmed by the fact that at a point, we were asked not to answer questions about the National Cathedral to the press and only one person was supposed to speak to the press. If we are trustees who are managing the business of the Cathedral, how come we cannot reasonably answer any questions concerning the Cathedral? Indeed, it is because we truly do not know much about what is happening that we were told not to answer questions in the press.”
He also said questions being asked by Ghanaians about the National Cathedral project are legitimate.
With regard to the fund-raisers, he lamented that the methods used over the years had not yielded much hence the need to review their strategy.
“I do believe that the fund-raising methods we have attempted have not yielded much. Indeed, some of the programmes we have held have cost more than the monies we have raised from them. I suggest another form of fund-raising where we would be guaranteed more donations from denominations, churches, individuals, businessmen and corporate bodies. I would be happy to discuss these if the committee is interested in that.”
A video of a pastor blasting his church members for giving 100 naira which is equivalent to Ghc2.70p as an offering has been making the rounds online.
In the short video, the clergyman who was enraged that his members gave such a meagre sum as an offering, said it was one of the reasons they have remained poor.
He said it is shameful that they are giving the Almighty N100 and N20 considering that the church buys 20 litres of fuel which it uses for every service.
According to him, while guests come and give bountiful offerings to God and receive large offerings, his members will remain poor if they continue to give small offerings.
The pastor who spoke in Igbo language berated them for not giving the Most High a reasonable sum of money.
In his words, “Shame to you that came to give God N100. That is why others who come here that give big money receive blessings while you as a member will remain poor because you give small money.”
“You stand up majestically to come and give God N100 and those of you who also give N20.”
An Accra Circuit Court has remanded into Police custody, Thomas Atiah, aka Tom Lee Sparta for allegedly robbing some patrons of Wendy Shay concert.
Three of Atiah’s accomplices whose nicknames were only given as War leader, Bullet and Assah are said to be at large.
Charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of arms and ammunition without authority and robbery, Atiah who pleaded not guilty will reappear before the Court presided over by Mrs Evelyn Asamoah on January 31.
Prosecution led by Chief Inspector Samuel Ahiabor narrated that the accused person and his accomplices whose nicknames were War Leader, Bullet, and Assah, currently at large shared a common room together at a place called Borla Konkomba Market, near Agbogbloshie, Accra.
It said on January 6, 2023, Atiah and his three accomplices planned to attend the “Shay Concert” organised by Wendy Shay, a Ghanaian musician on January 7 at West Hills Mall Car Park, with the motive to rob patrons of their possession during the programme.
The prosecution said Atiah and his accomplices on January 7, 2023, running through the early hours of January 8, 2023, left their place of abode and headed to the venue of the programme.
It said the accused person and his accomplices armed themselves with a locally manufactured pistol loaded with one BB live cartridge and entered the venue of the programme.
The prosecution said between the hours of 12:00 am and 1:30 am on January 8, 2023, the accused and his accomplices moved to the Kasoa Toll Both and started issuing instructions to patrons returning from the programme to surrender their belongings.
One of the victims, known as Richmond Okyere, who is the complainant in the case, was robbed of GHS300.00 cash, a Samsung phone valued at GHS500.00 and other valuables.
According to the prosecution, other victims were not spared by the accused person and his accomplices.
It said a Police patrol team went to the scene to confront the said robbers and they fled the scene.
However, Atiah was nabbed by the Police and a locally manufactured pistol together with the BB live cartridge was retrieved from him.
The prosecution said during interrogation, Atiah told the Police that it was one Yaaba, a resident of Konkomba, who supplied them with the pistol to rob victims and bring the booty to him “for reward.”
It said efforts were underway to apprehend other accomplices.
Diamond Appiah, a businesswoman has been arrested and charged for an alleged fraudulent land transaction involving an amount of $30, 000 at the Circuit Court in Accra.
Appiah who is said to have sold a portion of land at East Legon Hills to Ayisha Modi for $30, 000 was granted bail in the sum of GHc300k after she pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The court presided over by Her Honour Mrs Evelyn Asamoah as part of the bail terms said she is to produce three sureties all of whom are to be public servant.
The case has been adjourned to February 8, 2023.
The brief facts of the case as presented to the Court by the DSP Evans Kesse said Complainant Ayisha Modi is a Businesswoman and lives at Adjiringanor, Accra.
The accused Diamond Appiah he said is also a Businesswoman and stays at East Legon.
According to the Prosecutor DSP Kesse, in 2020, the complainant needed a plot of land to purchase for a building purpose and was discussing it with one Johnson, a witness in this case.
He said, the accused who overheard the conversation, jumped in and said she had a plot of land lying at East Legon Hills and could sell same to the complainant at a cheaper price.
The Prosecutor said, the accused demanded and collected cash, the sum of US3$30,000.00 from the complainant under the pretext of selling her one parcel of land lying at East Legon Hills.
DSP Kesse said, the accused took the complainant to a land at East Legon Hills and when the complainant later went to the land, she met one Gustav who claimed ownership of the land.
The Prosecutor said, the complainant made several attempts to retrieve her money from the accused person but she failed and made a report to the Police and accused was arrested.
He told the court that during investigation, it was established that, accused did not have any land at that location before she swindled the complainant.
“In her investigation cautioned statement, she admitted the offence. After investigation, she was charged with the offence and brought before this Honourable Court,” the Prosecutor told the court.
One of the finest gospel musicians in Ghana, Piesie Esther, has revealed how she travelled from her village to hawk on the streets of Kumasi for a living.
“All I wished for when I was growing up was to travel from my remote village to Kumasi, so it was in Kumasi that I really started my journey of life where I used to hustle on the streets in order to make ends meet”.
The popular female singer who hails from the Ashanti Region, stated in an interview on Hello FM that she only moved from Kumasi to Accra after she discovered her talent.
“By the grace of God when I discovered that I had a talent which was a gift for singing that’s what made me move from Kumasi to settle finally in Accra,” she added.
“As for Kumasi I always do come back home and also do return whenever the need arises but this time I’m here for the ‘Waye Me Yie’ anniversary concert,” Piesie Esther said.
Ghanaian musician Bisa Kdei has spoken against having too many friends.
He asserts that bringing an unhealthy number of people into your private life leads to ruination.
Guesting on Accra 100.5 FM’s mid-morning show Ayekoo Ayekoo hosted by Nana Romeo, he was asked about the rumour that he killed his mother.
“It was actually very funny,” he responded, adding that “my disposition won’t allow me to do some things else I would have mentioned names and said some things but it’s not important.”
“It got to a point, my own people started accusing me of acquiring wealth by using black magic,” he bemoaned.
The ‘Mansa’ hitmaker then categorically said: “Your biggest weakness as a human is to make people give people knowledge about your finances and how you make money. When people don’t know the details of your finances, you’re safe.”
When this is the case, “when you are broke, nobody knows and when you’re rich, nobody knows.”
He again stressed that bringing people into one’s fiscal matters “will be your biggest failure.”
He added that living by this philosophy is what led people to attribute his financial status to so-called ‘blood money’.
“People see me moving all the time and they don’t know my source of energy so then they’ll attribute it to a lot of things,” he chuckled.
The record producer and singer-songwriter cited how “recently, some people said a friend and I are into the cocaine business and it’s so funny.” He laughed.
Romeo wondered if Bisa Kdei had come into some fiscal abundance.
Reacting with laughter, the singer said: “That’s not the case. It’s just about the way you carry yourself. For sure, people are going to say a lot of things, but at the end of the day it’s you and your God; you alone know what you’re going through.”
He pointed out another rumour.
“People say I killed my mother,” he sucked his teeth and noted: “It hurts but then again, I came to realise it’s simply human nature. There’s absolutely nothing you can do about it.”
“No matter what you do, they’ll talk about you. You just have to stay lowkey and do your thing,” he advised.
“Keep to yourself and don’t be overly social or available because it’s not everything that others should see to talk about,” he stressed. “If you allow people into your life too much, that’s what puts your private affairs into the public.”
Advocating for keeping to oneself, he emphasised controlling the number of friends one has. “It’s important because it’ll be these very friends who will destroy you. It’ll shock you,” he asserted during the Tuesday, January 17, 2023 interview.
The musician’s mother, Josephine Bruce died due to an undisclosed ailment on Wednesday, August 19, 2015, at the Cocoa Clinic in North Kaneshie, Accra. The video for what would become Bisa Kdei’s biggest hit, ‘Mansa’, was released earlier that day. Later that same year, he scored another giant hit with ‘Brother Brother’.
In a 2019 interview with Okyeame Quophie, Bisa Kdei said he believes his mother’s passing drew sympathy from the public which resulted in the wide acceptance of the ‘Mansa’ song. He added, the song opened doors for him beyond Ghana, taking him to many Francophone countries.
Addressing the UAE-Ghana Business Forum held on Tuesday, 17th January 2023, on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, President Akufo-Addo stated that Government, since 2017, has put in place measures needed to reduce the cost of doing business, and improve the business environment.
According to the President, these measures “made the Ghanaian economy not only one of the most business-friendly economies in Africa, but also one of the fastest growing economies in the world between 2017 and 2020, averaging 7% GDP annual rates of growth, up from the 3.4% rate we inherited in 2016.”
With Government working to restore the nation onto the path of high growth rates experienced prior to the onset of COVID-19 and the Russian/Ukraine war, he told the gathering of Ghana’s decision to seek the collaboration of the IMF “to repair, in the short run, our public finances, and give credibility to our balance of payments, which have taken a severe hit in very recent times as a result of these developments.”
Describing mining as a key pillar of Ghana’s economy, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that gold, which still holds its own as both a commodity and a financial asset, is, by far, the most commercially exploited mineral in Ghana, accounting for more than ninety percent (90%) of the country’s mineral revenue.
“Indeed, in recent times until 2021, Ghana was the largest producer of gold in Africa and was 6th in the world. We are also major producers of bauxite and manganese, and are, indeed, the 3rd largest producer of these two minerals in Africa,” he said.
The President continued, “more recently, Ghana has been placed globally on the map of some few countries that have made significant discoveries of lithium, just as she has found also graphite and iron ore in significant quantities. Ghana is also working towards the net zero emission target, and collaborating with other relevant stakeholders in employing climate-friendly technologies and practices, to achieve the maximum developmental impact for the country.”
He explained that what his government is seeking to do is not just to exploit these minerals in their raw form to enhance our export earnings, but, more importantly, generate value added benefits, along the full value chain of the minerals, and create linkages with other sectors of the economy.
“The potentials created offer considerable opportunities for UAE investors, who possess the capacity to generate the value-added benefits, especially through the Government’s local value-addition and processing drive, to partner Ghanaian companies in converting their natural comparative advantage into an enhanced, more valuable, sustainable and competitive advantage,” the President added.
He assured that the standards for responsible environmental and social stewardship, maintained by Ghana’s minerals and mining sector, is comparable to any found in the best of mining jurisdictions, stressing that “the Minerals and Mining Act of 2006 (Act 703), supported by the Regulations passed in 2012, along with a few amendments and introductions that have been made, have stood the test of time”.
In spite of the country’s present challenges, President Akufo-Addo maintained that “it is an exciting time to be in Ghana, and do business in the country. So, I would urge the private sector in the UAE to take advantage of the business-friendly climate in the country to invest in Ghana. Regardless of where you choose to invest in Ghana, Government has instituted a number of fiscal incentives for the investor, depending on the nature of the activity or the location of the investment.”
With Ghana considered a beacon of democracy and stability in Africa, with a modern democratic system of governance, with an independent Judiciary and a strong attachment to the rule of law the President stated that “in the same vein, we are determined to make Ghana an example of rapid economic growth within the context of a well-developed market economy. We welcome greatly your contribution to this endeavour.”
According to him, as part of the top producers of gold in the world, Ghana has not rightly exploited the mineral to its benefit.
This, he noted, will inure to the benefit of the country as a progressive way of solving the country’s challenges.
Dr. Bawumia explained that the policy is not one that is taught in schools.
“With this idea, we said, let us do something that the textbooks don’t teach you, let us do something that is out of the box and this is why we said gold-for-oil. We quickly looked at this and we negotiated with the suppliers of oil who were very excited and happy to receive gold in payment. Thankfully, yesterday, Monday, Ghana took its first delivery of oil under the gold-for-oil programme,” he was quoted by 3news.com.
“One of the largest gold mining countries, we are in the top 10 in the world but we have not accumulated gold to build our reserves.”
The vice president explained that using gold to purchase oil to sell in cedis will reduce the pressure of having to find dollars to import oil. Dr. Bawumia stated that the first consignment that has been received is being tested to see its effectiveness.
“We looked at the other side of the balance sheet, we export gold and we import oil. The cost of oil import is about 3 billion dollars a year. So we ask the simple question, why don’t we, since we have always got pressure in finding US Dollars to buy oil, rather reach an agreement to change our gold for oil and then, sell the oil in Cedis and then, use the Cedis to buy more gold, use that gold to pay for oil, sell the oil in Cedis and then you don’t need to look for the scarce foreign exchange to buy oil, which always leads to depreciation on the currency.
“This is the cargo to test the framework to see if everything that has been put in place will work and by the grace of God, it is clear that the framework will work and if that should happen we are going to save a lot of foreign exchange and reduce the pressure on our currency,” he said.
The Damongo Police have arrested one person, a driver, in connection with the recent disturbances that occurred in Buipe in the Savannah Region.
This comes on the back of the arrest of eight people in the community for their involvement in the ruination of property belonging to some non-indigenes at Mande in Buipe.
One person was shot during the melee.
The driver is reported to have driven some of the protestors to the Police Station on Monday, 16 January 2023.
The youth, who were protesting the alleged enskinment of a chief, who is a non-indigene, in the suburb, also stomped the Palace of the Yagbonwura demanding the release of the persons who were arrested.
Calm has since been restored to the town, however, the youth have said if the Police go ahead with their alleged intention to arrest the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Gonjaland Youth Association, the worse may occur.
According to the Youth Chief of the Damongo Traditional area, Yakubu Jaaga, arresting the PRO of the Gonjaland Youth Association will only escalate the situation.
He said: “We are calling for peace, so there is no need in arresting our PRO.
“Immediately they [Police] arrest the PRO, they will escalate the whole issue.”
On January 16, 2023, the MP leveled various accusations against Rev. Kusi Boateng, the secretary to the National Cathedral of Ghana’s Board of Trustees.
Okudzeto Ablakwa claimed in a previous revelation concerning the National Cathedral that a whopping GH2.6 million was given to a business called JNS Talent Centre Limited.
Having confirmed the identities of two out of three directors of the centre, Ablakwa dug deeper in a bid to discover the identity of the third director, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
According to his findings, citing a number of statutory documents, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi was the same as Reverend Kusi Boateng, who has allegedly been operating under the pseudonym Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
Reacting to his in a statement sighted by GhanaWeb, Kusi Boateng said that the allegation made against him by Ablakwa are mere fabrications.
He said that the accusations the MP made against him are for political purposes, adding that he has not engaged in any criminal activity in his dealings with the National Cathedral project.
“I have taken note of some defamatory publications and allegations made against my person by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu.
“I wish to assure the general public that the statements made by Mr. Ablakwa are a twisted narration of events to pursue a malicious political agenda. There has never been any criminal intent nor any crime committed in my dealings with the Government of Ghana or the National Cathedral,” parts of the statement read.
Rev Kusi Boateng said that he is waiting on the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) which has been petitioned by Ablakwa to investigate him.
He added that he will explore the legal options available to him against the MP for deliberately defaming him.
Famous Nigerian-Romanian broadcaster and socialite, Ifedayo Olarinde, a.k.a Daddy Freeze, has stated that there is no blessing in giving rich parents money.
The founder of Free Nation Online Church, also said he has never given his mother, who is a University Vice Chancellor, money before because there is no blessing attached to it.
Daddy Freeze, in a post on his Instagram page, advised his followers to rather give money to the needy than their wealthy parents as the blessings for giving to parents can only come when they are struggling and poor.
“There is no blessing in giving your rich parents money. The blessing is when you give to the poor. If your parents are struggling, then you are blessed when you give them money or assist them. ‘Honor your father & mother’ should not be monetized,” he said.
When urged by some followers to give to his mother even though she is rich, Daddy Freeze noted she does not need money from him and also recounted how she once returned money to a politician after the money was dropped for her through her personal assistant.
Yaw Owusu Brefo, the Convenor of the Forum, claims that the government has used a sophisticated strategy to reach deep into bondholders’ pockets and steal their money.
The third extension of the government’s debt exchange scheme has come as a result of increased stakeholder agitation.
The minority in parliament is demanding an immediate suspension of the ongoing domestic debt exchange program urging the government to engage further with stakeholders.
Speaking on Ghana Kasa on Kasapa FM/Agoo TV Tuesday, the Convenor of the Individual Bondholders Forum, Yaw Owusu Brefo, stated that the government debt exchange programme is nothing but plain thievery.
“This government has disrespected the individual bondholders by the way it has treated us. The government has mismanaged the economy and run into debt to the extent that it is desperate to use any means possible to find money to run the State’s affairs. What this government is doing with this domestic debt exchange programme amounts to State-sponsored pickpocketing. The government is dipping its hands deep into our pockets and taking out our money. It is plain thievery. The country is too indebted to a level where we can’t pay back. The government wants to use our money as a guarantee to secure another loan from the IMF.”
“What is going on now is like, the government has given us DDT to drink and die by 6:00pm. When it was 6pm and we said we’ll not drink, it extended the time to the next day morning. The nature of the debt exchange programme put together by the government will only kill us. People will go hungry and just die because we will not have money to buy food. These are ordinary people who have bought government bonds and they shouldn’t be treated like this,” Yaw Owusu Brefo added.
The court was adjourned today (Tuesday, January 17) to allow the accused’s and sureties’ attorneys to certify a document that they possess about the accused but that the court disputes because it was not notarized.
How does this serve a legal purpose, wondered the court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, in evaluating the document’s legal impact.
The court said the document in its current form does not work for it to be part of a record as to whether the recognizance has been forfeited.
Justice Asare-Botwe, now a Justice of the Court of Appeal after listening to the parties adjourned the case to January 24 for the lawyers to authenticate the document.
According to EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, Mrs Tamakloe Ationu has been absent from court for the last two legal year since 2021.
The two sureties who executed the GHc5M bail conditions for former CEO of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) were first ordered to produce the accused on December 22, 2022.
The Financial and Economic Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, now elevated to the Court of Appeal who held that the former MASLOC boss has “absconded,” extended the period to January 17.
But in court on Tuesday, January 17, the parties were given a week more period.
At the last court sitting on December 22, Lawyer for the first surety Lawyer Beatrice Annan-Fio, for Gavivina Tamakloe said “We have exhausted every effort within our means but we have not been able to produce the first accused person.”
She, therefore, prayed the court to allow them more time to be able to produce the accused who is said to have undergone some medical procedure.
Lawyer Dr Abdul Basit Bamba and Lawyer Agbesi Dzakpasu, counsel for Alex Mould and Accused respectively added their voices for more time.
Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, who was one of 15 newly sworn-in Justices of the Court of Appeal by the President, said “I will give you time.”
While making a biblical allusion she said the Bible calls for fulfilment of righteousness and that “I can only give you time after the Christmas.”
The newly promoted Justice of the Court of Appeal said “You have until the holidays are over to produce the accused or provide a compelling evidence why you need more time to produce accused.”
Daniel Axim, the second accused person was present in court.
Forfeiture of sureties
The accused person has for the past year (October 2021) failed to appear in court for the trial to progress after she was given permission by the court to travel out of the country for a medical examination.
Ruling on an application for forfeiture of recognisance of sureties filed by the Attorney General’s department, Justice Afia Serwah Asare Botwe said, it is clear that the accused is no longer reasonably missing the trial for medical reasons.
The court said the sureties have since stopped bringing any medical letters to the court on the accused person.
Justice Asare-Botwe said the accused person had breached the terms of her bond and a liability accrues on the sureties.
Justice Afia Asare-Botwe, said, Forfeiture of bail bond becomes effective the moment the accused person jumps bail and the surety is unable to produce him or her.
The court said, it has drawn the conclusion that Mrs Attionu Tamakloe who is standing trial with one another has absconded as she has not shown up at the time she was supposed to.
The court also said, “the authorities have also made it clear that, if this happens you should give the sureties time to produce the accused person.”
Consequently, the court said, “I have given the sureties on or before 22 December, 2022, to produce the accused person.”
Trial in absentia
The court is expected to consider the application for trial in absentia if the accused failed to show up.
Arguments
Moving the application for Forfeiture of recognizance of the sureties, Stella Ohene Appiah, a Principal State Attorney argues that the Ex MASLOC Boss having failed to return for the trial after being given leave to travel simply means that she has abandoned.
The lawyer for Gavivina said the application for the release of the passport to the accused person was not sent to him and he had no idea.
He added that the State did not oppose the application so he cannot be held responsible for her absence and that, the State has all the apparatuses to ensure the accused attends court.
The lawyer for Alex Mould, Dr Abdul Aziz Bamba argued that the State should take action to extradite the accused to come down and face trial.
He added that he is informed the accused is unwell and is seeking medical assistance in the States.
He argued that the Supreme Court has ruled that the court cannot commit a surety to prison and that, the execution of bail bond is a contract and one cannot put one in prison for failing to fulfil a contract.
Background
Sedina Attionu is on trial with Daniel Axim, a former Operations Manager of MASLOC, on 78 counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the State, stealing, and contravention of the public procurement act, among other charges.
The two have denied any wrongdoing and have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The prosecution has accused Mrs Attionu of engaging in some illegalities leading to the alleged stealing and financial loss.
For instance, it has accused Mrs Attionu of embezzling GH¢500,000 that was paid by a company which benefitted from MASLOC support in 2014.
It is also the case of the prosecution that in 2013 following a fire disaster at the Kantamanto Market, then-President John Mahama directed MASLOC to provide assistance of GH¢1.46 million to victims of the disaster but Mrs Attionu embezzled part of the money.
As the case continues to be postponed indefinitely, netizens worry that it would eventually become a foolish case and Schwarzenegger gets to walk free.
Divisional Chief of Okper in the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area of the Eastern Region has launched scathing allegations of interference against the Eastern Regional First Vice Chairman of the ruling NPP in the raging chieftaincy dispute in the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area as well as instigating and leading acts of thuggery and attacks on opposing chieftaincy factions.
Accusing Mr. Twum Barimah Koranteng of “disintegrating, destroying, tearing apart and ravaging” Yilo Krobo, Nene Nanekey Terkpertey Ofori Agor IX at a press conference at Somanya on Sunday, January 15th, 2023 said the NPP first vice chairman was holding the people of Somanya hostage and thereby depriving the municipal of its much-needed development.
“He is really doing great harm to our land and people… he has labelled himself as Somanya champion and he is really misbehaving and infiltrating into very sensitive areas within Yilo Klo,” noted parts of a statement read by the chief at the press conference.”
Citing various incidents allegedly perpetrated by Mr. Barimah, Nene Agor accused the politician of being the mastermind behind an attack on the youth of Okperpiem on 15th November 2021 which led to four persons being injured.
The chief also alleged that the regional first vice chairman days ago sponsored some traditional leaders to invade Okperpiem where they attempted to install Asafoatse, Asafoatse Manye and some youth leaders within the enclave.
He blamed the continuous acts of lawlessness on the Somanya police who have failed to act on the numerous complaints reported to them pertaining to these incidents.
Also accusing him of instigating clashes in some chieftaincy issues in Yilo Krobo despite not being an indigene of the area, Nene Agor said, “Twum Barimah Koranteng is the brain behind the Konor chieftaincy problems at Sra. He has money to sponsor the illegality and forcing his preferred choices on the unsuspecting people of Yilo Krobo as traditional leaders.”
According to him, some chiefs were dependent on the politician for survival and hence were aiding his deeds.
The traditional leader also called on indigenes of Yilo Krobo not to allow themselves to be divided by the actions of persons he called “outsiders”.
He also cautioned Mr. Twum Barimah “to send his activities out of Krobo chieftaincy problems,” and “stop infiltrating into places that he’s not needed.”
Nene Agor threatened to organize a demonstration against the politician if he did not put a stop to his illegitimate activities in the Okper area.
Mr. Twum Barimah Koranteng when contacted to respond to the allegations denied comment on the grounds that he had referred the issue to his legal team for advice and would respond at the appropriate time.
The founder and leader of the Lighthouse Chapel International, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, has said that questions being raised by Ghanaians on the construction of the National Cathedral of Ghana are legitimate.
According to him, the public have the right to ask questions about the project because, 6 years after the construction of the project started and after using $30 million of public funds, they can only see a huge pit in the centre of Accra, citinewroom.com reports.
Heward-Mills, who is reported to have made these remarks in a letter he wrote to the Board of Trustees and Executive Director of the National Cathedral, added that Ghanaians deserve some answers to the questions they have raised.
“I am a firm believer in the president’s vision. I believe that the public can see and is questioning the fact that we have spent almost six years since the sod-cutting of this project as well as over $30m (thirty million dollars) of public funds, to excavate a massive pit in the centre of the city.
“I do believe that many of the questions that are being asked and hurled at the National Cathedral Project are reasonable and legitimate questions by objective citizens who just want answers to their questions,” parts of the letter is quoted by citinewsroom.com.
The pastor also raised some concerns about payments made to stakeholders involved in the cathedral project.
“Continuing to pay contractors $40,000 (forty thousand dollars) a month as we wait to procure a huge loan in this hostile atmosphere sounds dicey to me. I do believe that almost six years down the line, we need to look at a different approach to achieve our goal of building God’s house in Ghana,” he said.
He also said that the fund-raising methods used by the supervisors of the project did not yield much result, with some of the programmes organised to raise funds costing more than the monies raised.
“I suggest another form of fund-raising where we would be guaranteed more donations from denominations, churches, individuals, businessmen and corporate bodies. I would be happy to discuss these if the committee is interested in that,” he added.
During a road inspection trip of a few chosen road projects in the Greater Accra Region, he made this disclosure.
The Minister expressed pleasure with how the work was going at the sites and gave the contractors assurances about the government’s determination to uphold its commitments to see that the projects were finished on time.
Whether it is a genetic factor or a result of healthy living, these Ghanaian celebrities look unbelievably youthful for their age.
These individuals who are all above 40 years, continue to blow the minds of fans with their fit body stature, glowy skin, and ‘youthful face’.
Interestingly, most of them are still finding a hard time convincing fans about their real age, when clearly some of them are old enough to be grandfathers.
In the cases of others, they look pretty much young until their wisdom and high sense of maturity expose them whenever they address the public.
Meanwhile, some of them have shared their tips and tricks for looking young and others are yet to disclose theirs.
But asides from discipline and good genes, these stars are obviously eating well, taking care of their bodies, and making self-care a top priority.
Check out some Ghanaian male celebrities who are aging backward:
Van Vicker
Born on August 1, 1977, the actor is currently 45 years old.
Michael Blackson
The Ghanaian-American actor is currently 50 years old.
He was born on November 28, 1972.
Okyeame Kwame
Highlife musician, Kwame Nsiah-Apau, popularly known as ‘Okyeame Kwame’ is 46 years old.
Tinny
Ghanaian rapper, Nii Addo Quaynor, popularly known as Tinny, is currently 40 years old.
Reggie Rockstone
Ghanaian hip-life legend, Reggie Rockstone, is currently 58 years old.
Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD)
Ghanaian broadcaster and fashion designer, KOD, celebrated his 45th birthday on January 13, 2023.
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako Attah, has announced that major roads in Accra would be completed and commissioned in 2023.
He disclosed this when he embarked on a road inspection tour of some selected road projects in the Greater Accra Region.
The Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at the sites and assured contractors of government’s resolve to honour its obligations to ensure that the projects are completed as scheduled.
The La-Beach Road currently is 80% complete and is expected to be completed in April 2023 whereas the Ofankor-Pokuase section of the Ofankor -Nsawam will be completed by the end of the year.
The entire stretch of the Ofankor-Nsawam reconstruction works is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year 2024.
He said that he cannot comprehend why the majority of the youth in Ghana are not in meaningful employment in spite of their educational attainment and skills.
Speaking in a UTV interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Ken Agyapong added that he has now come to the realisation that his vision for the youth and the country as a whole can only come to fruition with him as the president of Ghana.
“And I have realised that the vision I have for Ghana will only come to pass if I am the one leading the country. And that is why I have decided to contest.
“…I’m coming for the youth of this country. I feel so bad and guilty that my children in America get jobs as soon as they complete university. So, why is it that in Ghana our children have to be home for 6, 7 years or more after completing university before they get jobs?” he said in Twi.
He said that he believes in the youth of Ghana and their ability to thrive when given the needed opportunities, which will be one of his major aims as president.
A driver has been arrested by the Damongo police in connection with disturbances that led to the shooting of one person on Monday, January 16, in Damongo in the Savannah Region.
This follows the arrest of eight other people in Buipe for their role in the destruction of the houses of some non-indigenes at Mande, a suburb of Buipe.
The driver reportedly drove some protesters to the police station on Monday to demand the release of their colleagues.
The youth burnt and pulled down houses in protest against an alleged enskinment of a non-indigene as chief of the suburb.
Though calm has returned to the Savannah regional capital after the protesting youth besieged the Damongo police station and the Palace of the Yagbonwura to demand the release of the arrested persons, the youth say the worse may happen if reports of plans by the police to arrest the national PRO of the Gonja Land youth association is carried through.
Yakubu Jaaga, the Youth Chief of the Damongo Traditional area said arresting the PRO will escalate the issue again.
“We are calling for peace, so there is no need in arresting our PRO. Immediately they [Police] arrest the PRO, they will escalate the whole issue,” Mr Jaaga said.
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