This is a shocking development because only a few weeks ago, the Ghana cedi was severely undervalued against the US dollar on the foreign currency market, losing 54.2 percent of its value year to date at the end of November and trading as low as GH15 to $1.
However, according to information from the Bank of Ghana, on December 15, 2022, the local currency defeated the US dollar and gained 63.7 percent in value (currently trading at about GH 8), bringing the year-to-date depreciation to 24.9 percent.
This has eased the enormous and unbearable pressure on the price of goods that consumers experienced in the past two months, as prices at least doubled on the market due to exchange rate pressures. For example, diesel prices at the pumps in early November moved to more than GH¢23, but have now fallen to around GH¢16.
And for a country that is heavily dependent on imports, especially food products, the cedi’s stability has seen prices stabilise – albeit there have been no reductions.
The obvious question being asked is: what is/are accounting for this sudden recovery of the Ghana cedi, which was gasping for air in the intensive care unit with little hope of survival.
Basically, rapid depreciation in the exchange rate, according to the Bank of Ghana, was largely influenced by speculation – especially when it was apparent that government was going to embark on debt restructuring, leading to portfolio rebalancing in favour of foreign currency holdings as against Ghana cedi-denominated assets
To address this, the central bank introduced directives which sought to control this speculative behaviour.
It instructed banks and forex bureaus to only trade foreign currency to those who genuinely need it for transactions; demanding that such individuals or businesses provide proof of their need for foreign currency to conduct such business.
The Bank also embarked on an aggressive exercise to flush-out illegal forex operators, popularly known as ‘the black market’. As a result, together with the police it arrested more than 70 illegal forex operators in September – sending a strong message to the public that it is on the alert for such operators.
This, central bank Governor Dr. Ernest Addison said, became necessary due to the role being played by the black market in determining exchange rates on the forex market.
“Clearly, this type of movement does not reflect changes in the fundamentals. It’s clear that the market is not functioning properly. We are seeing speculation taking over under very disorderly market conditions, and it appears that now the black market is rather driving exchange rates. This we cannot allow to continue,” he said when meeting the Association of Forex Bureau Operators toward the end of October.
Dr. Addison further stated that the central bank is bent on restoring order in the forex market by making sure the interbank market takes full control to enforce regulations surrounding forex trading, so as to streamline the supply of foreign currency in the country.
As to whether the cedi’s recovery will be long-lasting or not, it is a matter that can only be determined by time. But in the meantime, the cedi’s outstanding performance – whether serendipitous or by deliberate policies – elicits a deep sigh of relief from businesses and households.
Black Stars attacker Antoine Semenyo played for Bristol City in their 2-1 English Championship loss to Stoke City.
In the 60th minute of the game, Semenyo came off the bench to replace Conway, but he was unable to aid his team score an equalizer on Saturday.
After a tame opening Andreas Weimann hit the post for the hosts before Nahki Wells put City ahead from close range.
But Stoke’s Liam Delap levelled in first-half stoppage time before Jacob Brown pounced on a defensive mix-up to put Stoke ahead after the break.
The hosts had chances to equalise but Weimann, Andy King, Mark Sykes and Semenyo failed to find the net.
The win lifts Stoke to 17th on the Championship table, while Bristol City drop to 18th.
Semenyo, who represented Ghana at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has made 20 appearances in all competitions for Bristol City, scored four goals and registered one assist.
Ordinarily, the corporations could have avoided paying these taxes, which would have cost the state money, if informants hadn’t used the Informant Application System to alert the Authority.
The corresponding informants received generous rewards for their initiative.
Speaking to journalists on the revival campaign for the GRA informants reward scheme, Acting Head of Intelligence at the GRA, Wisdom Xetor, noted this is an indication that the Informant Reward Scheme is effective and must be encouraged among citizens.
“We have recovered more than GH¢421million as well as US$98million so far, even before the year could end. So I think the scheme is yielding results, and many are providing information that is leading to recovery of these taxes which could have been lost if this avenue were not provided for them to give information to us about the improprieties relating to tax payments in the country,” he said.
This information is relied upon to enforce compliance with tax laws.
It is also often relied upon to determine whether a person is registrable as a taxpayer, whether a taxpayer files his tax returns, or whether the correct amount of tax has been declared and paid, etc.
Explaining the terms and amounts paid to informants, Mr. Xetor noted informants whose information leads to recovery below GH¢2.5million will be paid 25 percent of interest or penalties, capped at GH¢25,000.
Where the amount exceeds GH¢2.5million, the informant will be paid a one percent of total collections capped at up to GH¢250,000.
Also, in a situation where the amount recovered exceeds GH¢25million, top management in consultation with the board determine the amount to be paid.
But in the event that there are no penalties and interest and the amount recovered is less than GH¢2.5million, a flat payment of between GH¢5,000 to GH¢25,000 will be paid as the Commissioner-General deems fit.
The GRA is hopeful many citizens will volunteer information that leads to the recovery of more taxes for the state.
Russia says it will deploy musicians to the front lines of its war in Ukraine in a bid to boost morale.
The defence ministry announced the formation of the “front-line creative brigade” this week, saying it would include both vocalists and musicians.
The UK’s ministry of defence highlighted the brigade’s creation in an intelligence update on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited frontline troops in Ukraine, the government said.
In a statement posted to Telegram, the defence ministry said Mr Shoigu “flew around the areas of deployment of troops and checked the advanced positions of Russian units in the zone of the special military operation”.
It added that he “spoke with troops on the frontline” and at a “command post” – but the BBC cannot confirm when the visit took place or whether Mr Shoigu visited Ukraine itself.
The reported visit comes as UK defence officials said low morale continues to be a “significant vulnerability across much of the Russian force”.
The UK said the new creative brigade – which follows a recent campaign, urging the public to donate musical instruments to troops – is in keeping with the historic use of “military music and organised entertainment” to boost morale.
But they questioned whether the new brigade would actually distract troops, who have been primarily concerned about “very high casualty rates, poor leadership, pay problems, lack of equipment and ammunition, and lack of clarity about the war’s objectives”.
According to the Russian outlet RBC news, the brigade will consist of troops mobilised under President Vladimir Putin’s recruitment drive, as well as “professional artists who voluntarily entered military service”.
The new unit will be tasked with maintaining “a high moral, political and psychological state [among] the participants of the special military operation,” the outlet cited the defence ministry as saying.
Meanwhile, intense fighting has continued around the town of Bakhmut in the eastern Donbas region on Saturday, Ukraine’s general staff said.
The area has seen heavy clashes between Ukrainian and Russian troops for months, as Russia seeks to retain territory following a string of defeats in eastern Ukraine earlier this year.
Western intelligence officials have previously said Russian attacks on the town are being spearheaded by the private military contractor, Wagner Group.
Moscow hopes to use the town as a staging ground to launch attacks on the Ukrainian-held cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Elsewhere, heating has been restored to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, after Russian launched widespread strikes on Friday that targeted power and water infrastructure, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Moscow launched 76 missiles on Friday, hitting nine power supply stations and plunging much of the country into darkness. Ukraine said it intercepted 60.
According to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, deliberate policy changes made by the administration over the past few months are to blame for the cedi’s appreciation versus all major trading currencies.
“The strengthening of the cedi has not happened by happenstance,” claims President Akufo-Addo, “but through the implementation of intentional measures by Government, in partnership with the Bank of Ghana.”
The improvement of forex flows from remittances and the mining sector, as well as the staff level agreement with the IMF for a US$3 billion package, are among these measures, according to him. They also include “cedi liquidity tightening measures, resulting in the offloading of forex as a store of value by speculators”
Addressing the congregation, which included the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, he stated that with appropriate policy, determination and hard work on the part of Government, things are beginning to turn around.
Whilst acknowledging that the country was by no means “out of the woods yet”, he assured that Government will continue to work hard to maintain and sustain the gains made.
“Indeed, in the weeks ahead, the Bank of Ghana will continue with the purchases of forex from the mining and oil sectors to enhance liquidity supply to the market; continue with the single, unified forex forward auction and some modest targeted bilateral support to critical imports; and the implementation of the gold for oil swap transaction, which will significantly remove forex pressures on the cedi,” Akufo-Addo said.
He added his voice to those of GUTA, GRTCC and others to appeal to manufacturers, traders and transport operators who, at the height of the cedi’s recent depreciation, increased prices of goods and services, to reduce their prices now that the cedi is re-gaining much of its strength.
“I believe this is not only a fair request, but also a just one, and I urge all of you to join me in this clarion call, so we can all have a more pleasant Christmas,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo thanked the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for the support it continues to give for the construction of the National Cathedral.
He stated that, upon completion, the National Cathedral will serve not only as the country’s collective thanksgiving “to the Almighty for the blessings He has bestowed on our nation, sparing us the ravages of civil war that have bedeviled the histories of virtually all our neighbours, and the outbreak of deadly mass epidemics, but also as a rallying point for the entire Christian Community of Ghana, which represents seventy plus percent (70+%) of the population.”
The President, therefore, urged the Ga Presbytery, and, indeed, all Christians, to continue to pray for Ghana’s peace and unity, so the nation can move forward in unity.
“I need the support of every Ghanaian, together with the prayers of the Church, to help me and my government carry out our mandate successfully. Pray for me so that Almighty God will continue to give me wisdom, strength, courage and compassion to enable me execute my duties as a good leader. With Him, all things are possible, as the Battle is the Lord’s, for this too shall pass”, President Akufo-Addo said.
Following his team’s incredible run at this year’s event, Morocco head coach Walid Regragui thinks there will be more pressure on African nations at the following FIFA World Cup.
The Atlas Lions were the first country from Africa to advance to the final four of the international competition, but they were defeated by the reigning champions, France.
Morocco lost again to Croatia who clinched a play-off victory on Saturday. Josko Gvardiol gave Croatia the lead on seven minutes but Achraf Dari levelled just two minutes later. Mislav Orsic restored Crotia’s lead three minutes before half-time.
“There will be more expectations now for other African teams seeking to go on the same sort of run we achieved,” Walid Regragui said.
“Morocco has shown that (African teams) are capable and not far off (the top teams), so the difference between European teams and African teams is smaller than it’s ever been, and it comes down to the very small details.
“That’s going to be a real boost for African football.”
The 2026 World Cup which will held across the USA, Canada and Mexico will be expanded to 48 teams and Africa will have at least nine slots.
Through its “Informants Reward Scheme,” the Ghana Revenue Authority has recouped more than $93 million and 421 million from foreign and domestic businesses operating in the nation.
Up to the involvement of these informants, who utilized the Informant Application System to attract the GRA’s attention to the problem, the government was at risk of losing these taxes since the corporations refused to pay them.
So, for taking the initiative, the various informants received hefty rewards.
Acting Head of Intelligence at the GRA, Wisdom Xetor, stated this is a sign that the “Informant Reward Scheme” is successful and should be promoted among citizens when speaking to journalists about the resurrection campaign of the “Informants Reward Scheme.”
“We have recovered more than ¢421 million cedis as well as $93 million so far even before the year could end. So I think the scheme is yielding results and many are providing information that is leading to the recovery of these taxes that could have been lost if this avenue was not provided for them to get information to us about the improprieties relating to tax payments in the country” he said.
The GRA can reward people, persons, or organizations that provide information to them about people or businesses that are dodging taxes. To ensure adherence to the tax regulations, this information is depended upon.
According to Mr. Xetor, who detailed the conditions and payments made to the informants, “informants whose tips lead to recovery below 2.5 million would be paid 25% of interest or penalties, maximum at 25,000.”
They would get 1% of overall collections, up to a maximum of 250,000, when the sum reaches 2.5 million.
The amount to be paid is also decided by top management in cooperation with the board in cases when the amount recovered exceeds $25 million.
But in the event where there are no penalties and interest and the amount recovered is less than ¢2.5 million, a flat payment of between ¢5,000 to ¢25,000 will be paid as Commissioner-General deems fit. Mr. Xetor added that the GRA treats the security of its informant very confidential.
The GRA is hopeful that this policy will motivate many volunteers to provide information that will lead to the recovery of more taxes for the state.
Since 2017, the ports and harbors regulator has solely granted a business in which it owns a 25% part, the Fruit Export Terminal Limited, a license for two crucial export-related processes: stevedoring and shore handling (FET).
This is a change from the former structure, where the processes were managed by the industry-led Fruit Terminal Company Limited (FCT).
The industry participants have thus called on the Agriculture and Transport ministries, as well as the Economic Management Team (EMT), to adopt means within the remit of the law to get GPHA in line for good of the industry.
He added that while setting up FET was unnecessary, the industry is more concerned by the regulator’s decision to force them into using the new company’s services.
“FET was not necessary because we are engaged in a peculiar activity, and in the business that we do logistics management is key. A lot of research was undertaken before government came to the conclusion that, if this industry is to thrive, this is the best solution… the current set-up, which requires us to go through this new entity, is an affront to us… if we had erred or shown an inability to carry out the tasks, we would understand,” he explained.
“We have been to the Agric and Transport ministries and the EMT. We have made our case, and they have even instructed them to give us the licence. So, what is preventing them from doing so? If we are operating in a free market, why is this happening? And as players, where I want to go is where I should go; so what is their fear in giving us our licence?” Mr. Benjamin questioned.
A member of SPEG, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he is particularly perplexed by GPHA’s disregard for the industry’s request – and the seeming inability of higher authorities to enforce measures, given the potential impact on the economy.
“I cannot understand why GPHA is not doing what it has been asked to do – that is, to give our licence to us; and why the authorities are not putting pressure on them to do so,” the industry player said.
Despite the impasse, data made available by SPEG show an increase in the volume and value of banana exports – a development analysts say is a result of the direction of global demand, adding that the nation could have raked-in multiples of the figure if the prevailing issue had been resolved.
In 2017, 76,077 tonnes of banana valued at €60.86million were exported. Also, 2018 and 2019 saw 85,463 and 92,019 tonnes of the fruit similarly exported with corresponding values of €68.37 and €73.62million.
There was a very marginal dip at the height of the pandemic in 2020 as the volume of exports stood at 91,672 tonnes, raking-in €73.34million. The following year saw a 10.64 percent rise in both volumes and value. In 2021, 101,429 tonnes of banana valued at €81.14million were exported. At the end of October 2022, 75,843 tonnes of banana had left Shed 9, returning €60.67million to the country.
The export of pineapples has however suffered, as volume has steadily declined from 10,319 tonnes in 2017 with a corresponding value of €5.16million to 4,343 tonnes in 2021, raising a paltry €2.17million.
This comes as a pallet of farm produce is currently priced at around US$25.5 in Ghana, more than double the US$6.79 in Côte d’Ivoire and US$8.56 in Cameroon.
SPEG added that investors are eager to pool resources into expansion of the domestic horticulture space to take advantage of the global market, which was valued at US$20.4billion in 2021 and remains on course to surpass US$56.5billion by 2030.
The market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9 percent during the forecast period, 2022–2030, according to analysts at Growth Market Reports. The investors have, however, been put off by the impasse.
Ghanaian striker Brandon Thomas-Asante, who was born in England, claims that his recent West Brom performances have given him confidence to have an impact on the team.
The Sky Bet Championship’s Goal of the Month for November was scored by Thomas-Asante against Stoke City.
He delivered an amazing bicycle kick over the head of Potters keeper Jack Bonham and into the back of the net – Albion’s second goal in their 2-0 win at The Hawthorns. He beat off competition from Manuel Benson (Burnley), Josh Ruffles (Huddersfield Town), and Riley McGree (Middlesbrough).
“I feel like I can impact any game at this level now and compliments go to my team-mates for that because they’re making it easier for me to get those chances in front of goal,” Brandon said after receiving the award.
“I’m starting to get used to everyone, they’re getting used to the runs that I like to make, and I think there’s only good things to come from this group now.”
The appreciation of the cedi against all major trade currencies, according to President Akufo-Addo, is the outcome of intentional policy changes made by the government in recent months.
According to President Akufo-Addo, “the strengthening of the cedi has not happened by chance, but through the implementation of deliberate policies by Government, in collaboration with the Bank of Ghana.”
These measures, he said, include “cedi liquidity tightening measures, resulting in the offloading of forex as a store of value by speculators; the improvement of forex flows from remittances and the mining sector; and the reaching of a staff level agreement with the IMF for a US$3 billion package.”
The President made this known on Sunday, December 18, 2022, when he delivered an address at the centenary celebration of the Ga Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, held at the Black Star Square, Accra.
Addressing the congregation, which included the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, he stated that with appropriate policy, determination and hard work on the part of Government, things are beginning to turn around.
Whilst acknowledging that the country was by no means “out of the woods yet”, he assured that Government will continue to work hard to maintain and sustain the gains made.
“Indeed, in the weeks ahead, the Bank of Ghana will continue with the purchases of forex from the mining and oil sectors to enhance liquidity supply to the market; continue with the single, unified forex forward auction and some modest targeted bilateral support to critical imports; and the implementation of the gold for oil swap transaction, which will significantly remove forex pressures on the cedi,” Akufo-Addo said.
He added his voice to those of GUTA, GRTCC and others to appeal to manufacturers, traders and transport operators who, at the height of the cedi’s recent depreciation, increased prices of goods and services, to reduce their prices now that the cedi is re-gaining much of its strength.
“I believe this is not only a fair request, but also a just one, and I urge all of you to join me in this clarion call, so we can all have a more pleasant Christmas,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo thanked the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for the support it continues to give for the construction of the National Cathedral.
He stated that, upon completion, the National Cathedral will serve not only as the country’s collective thanksgiving “to the Almighty for the blessings He has bestowed on our nation, sparing us the ravages of civil war that have bedevilled the histories of virtually all our neighbours, and the outbreak of deadly mass epidemics, but also as a rallying point for the entire Christian Community of Ghana, which represents seventy plus percent (70+%) of the population.”
The President, therefore, urged the Ga Presbytery, and, indeed, all Christians, to continue to pray for Ghana’s peace and unity, so the nation can move forward in unity.
“I need the support of every Ghanaian, together with the prayers of the Church, to help me and my government carry out our mandate successfully. Pray for me so that Almighty God will continue to give me wisdom, strength, courage and compassion to enable me execute my duties as a good leader. With Him, all things are possible, as the Battle is the Lord’s, for this too shall pass”, President Akufo-Addo said.
As compared to yesterday’s trading of a buying price of 7.9975 and a selling price of 8.0055. At a forex bureau in Accra, the dollar is being bought at a rate of 8.50 and sold at a rate of 10.00.
At a forex bureau in Accra, the pound sterling is being bought at a rate of 10.50 and sold at a rate of 13.00.
The Euro is trading at a buying price of 8.4848 and a selling price of 8.4925 as compared to Friday’s trading of a buying price of 8.5292 and a selling price of 8.5370.
The South African Rand is trading at a buying price of 0.4528 and a selling price of 0.4531 as compared to Friday’s trading of a buying price of 0.4582 and a selling price of 0.4585.
At a forex bureau in Accra, South African Rand is being bought at a rate of 0.45 and sold at a rate of 0.90.
The Nigerian Naira is trading at a buying price of 56.2691 and a selling price of 56.3166 as compared to Friday’s trading at a buying price of 48.2430 and a selling price of 48.3204.
At a forex bureau in Accra, Nigerian Naira is being bought at a rate of 10.00 Naira for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 16.00.
Wendy Shay has yet again defied the odds to become Boomplay’s most-streamed female artiste in 2022.
Earlier in the year, when Boomplay released its mid-year stats for streams, the Rufftown Records signed musician was the only female Ghanaian artist who featured on Boomplay’s Top 10 out of their weekly Top 100 songs.
Wendy Shay’s ‘Survivor’at the time came right on top of Black Sheirf’s ‘Kwaku The Traveller’, which placed tenth on the charts.
After the feat achieved by Wendy Shay for the mid-year, it does not come as a surprise that she is ending the year 2022 as the most streamed female artist.
She beat the likes of Gyakie and Diana Hamilton, who were second and third, respectively, as she walked home with this big honor.
Wendy Shay’s ‘Survivor’, which is a self-affirming story of how to pick up pieces shattered after a major heartbreak is one of the songs that greatly helped her to achieve this feat.
Also, the release of her ‘Enigma EP’, which has the viral ‘Habibi’ song has gone a long way to help the award-winning singer to go home with bragging rights as one of the artists who has gone her songs streamed a lot in 2022.
There is no doubt that this is a record the singer would want to keep and be better in 2023.
Nigerian artistDavido is set to perform at the upcoming Qatar World Cup finale taking place on Sunday, December 18. This is a highly anticipated performance as it marks his first public performance since the tragic death of his son, David Adedeji Adeleke Jr., who passed away on October 31, 2022, in an apparent drowning at the musician’s home in Lagos, Nigeria.
The loss of a child is an unimaginable tragedy, and it is no surprise thatDavido took time away from the public eye to grieve and heal. However, despite the immense personal pain he must have endured during this difficult period, the World Cup finale is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that he could not pass up.
As he prepares to take the stage in front of a global audience, it is clear that this performance means much more than just a showcase of his talent. It is a tribute to his late son and a testament to his resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
This performance is not just a significant event forDavido, but for Nigeria and the entire African continent as well. With the African music industry being long overshadowed by Western artists, this presents a great opportunity to show the world that African artists have just as much to offer as their Western counterparts.
In addition to bringing a global spotlight to the African music industry, Davido’s performance will be a highlight for his career. The artist has already achieved great success in Nigeria and across Africa, with multiple awards and hit songs to his name. However, this performance is likely to elevate his career to a new level and help establish him as a true global artist.
Davido’s dedication to his craft, and determination to honour his son through his music is truly inspiring. As he steps onto the stage at the World Cup finale, he will not only be representing himself and his country, but the entire African continent. It is a moment that will be remembered for years to come, and one that could solidify Davido’s place as one of the greatest artists of our generation. We can’t wait to see him shine!
Ghanaian rapper and socialite, Jason Gaisie, popularly known as Pappy Kojo, has revealed that he derives inspiration from Ghanaian Rap Legend and Godfather of hip life, Reggie Rockstone.
The 33-year-old rapper has over the year produces captivating tunes. The likes of “Realer No” and “Awoa” were singles he debuted into his big break as a professional musician.
The hip hop and hip-life recording artiste recounted how he heard of Reggie Rockstone in an interview on Culture Daily, and revealed that his admiration for Reggie has been a long existing one which took to fruition through a driver who picked him to school every morning. “My driver back then that will take me to school; he always played Reggie Rockstone so that’s how I fell in love with music”
Also known as Fante Vandam, Pappy Kojo, while growing up attended Ridge International School up until 2004 then went to Italy to be with his mother. The “Awoa” hit maker considered Reggie as a Father figure and tags himself as Reggie’s firstborn.
Pappy further mentioned in the interview how familiar he is with Reggie’s songs and could sometimes call the hiplife Godfather to rap to him as he expressed how passionate he is about the said genre of music.
“I knew every Reggie Rockstone song; I know it from A-Z, sometimes I just call him and then rap it for him and hang up. I don’t play with my hiplife” the Ghanaian rapper stated.
“If there should be a movie of Reggie Rockstone, I would love to play Reggie Rockstone because I feel like I really know that guy’s catalog” he indicated.
In the last few days, one of the most topical issues on social media has been the disturbing viral videos of Ghanaian billionaire, Alhaji Asuma Banda at the hospital battling for his life.
In the videos that surfaced online, the owner of Antrak Air was seen laying restless on his hospital bed while people believed to be his family members were fighting over his wealth and who gets to have access to his money if he sadly passes away some day.
The videos got mixed reactions on social media as many netizens rebuked the actions of the people alleged to be his family members.
In the wake of that discussion, popular Ghanaian media personality, Afia Schwarzenegger has taken to her social media pages to ask some critical questions about why many families in Ghana mostly shy away from such discussions of death and incapacitation.
The comedienne, after her recent surgery in Turkey, which was a scary one, questioned why a lot of people with a lot of wealth do not decide on people to have access to things like their ATM pins, bank accounts, passwords to their phones, and other essential things when they realize their health condition is not the best.
Afia stressed that people should be bold enough to admit that death and sickness are parts of human life and, as such, take steps to prevent their families from being distressed when they die or become incapacitated by any form of sickness.
Afia Schwar also thanked actress and TV personality, Kisa Gbekle for being there for her when she did not know what life held for her when she underwent her surgery.
Read her full post below:
There is a very important conversation we don’t have in most African homes especially for people of power or riches
This past few weeks in bed after surgeries thought me few things and I will be sharing them with you…1 by 1
1.Most African homes/parents dnt talk about death and incapacitating ..But you have to.
IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE POSITION TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR YOURSELF WHO DO YOU TRUST??WHO CAN MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR YOUR HEALTH;BUSINESS ETC .
WHO IS HAVING THE PIN TO YOUR ATM CARDS, THE PASSWORD TO YOUR SAFE OR EVEN THE PASSWORD TO YOUR PHONE(mayb an important person who can help your situation needs to be called)
WHO DO YOU WANT TO CARE FOR YOU IF GOD FORBID YOU DON’T TALK AGAIN TILL YOU DIE.
Whether we accept it or Not death is part of us, sickness is also part of us and therefore we need to prepare ourselves n our family for times like this.
Looking at a great man like Alhaji Banda n how his family is falling apart on social media saddens my heart But if we don’t prepare ourselves and have conversations like this with our partners,children, lawyers,family..this is what happens.
I hope we all take lessons from this.
God bless us all and thank you @kisagbekle for taking care of me in my incapacitated state.i remember the look on your face when I gave you my pin for the atm and passwords before my surgery But yup such conversations are very important.
Good morning fam.
Pic @kisagbekle
Actor and former Commercial Manager of Advertiser and Publishers Solutions Ghana Limited (ADPU), Ekow Blankson, has finally been laid to rest.
The burial service organized at the Full Gospel Church International in Tema witnessed the widow, Justina Naadu Blankson, children, family, and friends in attendance, as they bid the award-winning actor farewell.
The late actor’s colleagues from Adpu and GhanaWeb, as well as friends from the movie industry were present at the funeral which was held at Community 11 Presby School Park on Saturday, December 17.
The Member of Parliament of Tema East, Titus Glover, Nikki Samonas, Fiifi Coleman, Richie, Counselor Lutterodt, Jackie Appiah, Roselyn Ngizzah, Gloria Safo, Fred Amugi, Nana Fynn, Don Zigi, Kaywa, Cweci Oteng, Beverly Afaglo, George Quaye, Selassie Ibrahim, Abrantepa, Elsie Lamar were among the key personalities who were spotted at the funeral.
A large crowd gathered to pay their last respect to the late actor who has been eulogized across social media platforms following his demise on Monday, October 3, 2022.
Ghanaian celebrities, as well as family and friends, turned up in their numbers on Saturday, December 17, to show love and support to Kumawood actor, Collins Oteng, better known as Okomfo Kollege when he laid his late wife to rest.
The widower who couldn’t hold back his tears was surrounded by family and close friends who offered him a shoulder to cry on during the burial service at the Tabere School Park in the Ashanti Region.
As earlier reported, the actor’s late wife, Millicent Oteng, 34, passed away while during labour in November 2022.
The funeral had in attendance popular faces in the movie industry. The likes of Nana Ama McBrown, Agya Koo, Dr Likee, Wayoosi, Oboy Siki and others graced the ceremony, clad in mourning clothes.
Fans of the actor have also taken to their social media pages to send messages of condolences to the bereaved family.
Others offered prayers for the widower and asked for strength from God to carry him through these trying times.
AMG Beyond Kontrol boss Medikal has released a 10-track extended play (EP).
Society features only one collaborator, Shatta Wale.
On the project released on Thursday, December 15, 2022,Medikal addresses an array of topics: he explains why even though he is a rapper, he often does commercial [dance] songs, he speaks about being banned on Twitter and he gives a shout out toShatta Wale‘s online taxi initiative Shaxi.
Predominantly, production was handled by Chensee Beatz. Atown TSB has two credits also.
The 28-minute ‘Society’ EP comes ahead of Medikal, alias MDK’s, long play (LP) ‘Planning and Plotting’ slated for release in 2023.
On Sunday, December 25, 2022, Medikal and Shatta Wale are congregating fans at the 40,000 seater Accra Sports Stadium for the ‘Freedom Wave Concert’.
Ghana’s Dancehall musician Stonebwoy was in Doha, Qatar to make the nation proud as the only artiste from the West African state to have performed at the FIFA Fan Festival at the ongoing 2022 World Cup.
Stonebwoy on December 16, took to his Instagram Stories to share photos and videos from his meet-up with Nigerian singer, Davido.
The two expressed great joy and were also captured jamming to their 2020 collaboration, ‘Activate’.
Stonebwoy’s appreciation message to Davido, condemned unnecessary pride and ego, a move some Nigerians on social media have termed a jab at Wizkid who recently released his fifth studio album titled ‘More Love, Less Ego’.
Stonebwoy’s harmless caption read: “We see what we see… But we know what we feel. Positivity Reality & LOVE alone lives here… fire burn Ego And Unnecessary Pride @davido × @stonebwoy.”
The singer who is winning big for Ghana on the world stage is yet to respond to the allegations or clarified his true intention.
Meanwhile, Davido will feature at the closing ceremony of the 2022 World Cup in the match between defending champions France and Argentina on Sunday, December 18 at the Lusail Stadium.
The Afrobeats singer, together with Trinidad Cardona and AISHA, were featured on the official 2022 World Cup soundtrack titled Hayya Hayya (Better Together).
Ghanaian rap star M.anifest has in a 56-second video eulogised rapper Kwesi Arthur.
In the footage tweeted on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, ahead of his popular annual music event, Manifestivities, the Madina-based rapper nicknamed the godMC narrated how Arthur came to his notice before his rise to public fame, his first impressions, their relationship, his observations about Kwesi’s work and journey and how he aided his ‘Madina to the Universe (MTTU) Tour’ in America.
“I met Kwesi Arthur in 2017. As a matter of fact, he came to my attention via a viral video that came to my attention of him freestyling shirtless. Hood-street-style but you could see the gift and the potential,” M.anifest said donning a fedora hat.
“I think my cousin Onasis might have introduced me to that video,” he revealed.
“So I have Kwesi Arthur come to the studio, we linked up and [in] less than a year or about a year after, he has such a meteoric rise,” the multiple award-winning rapper recalled.
“Been so proud of him watching him over the years build a body of work and going across the globe, doing his thing,” he added and revealed how Kwesi Arthur surprised him on tour.
“Even this year, when I was playing my show in New York SOBs (Sounds of Brazil), he pulled up as a surprise guest. That was lovely to see,” he said.
“We collaborated on the song ‘Feels’ in the past,” he noted and lifting this voice for emphasis, added: “This year, you’re going to witness Kwesi Arthur bring you a massive show at Manifestivities 2022, on December 18.”
Kwesi Arthur released his debut album ‘Son of Jacob’ on Friday, 22 April, 2022. Africa’s giant streaming platform Boomplay today, Friday, December 16, 2022, has revealed the project is the third most consumed work in 2022.
Meanwhile, M.anifest released his six-track ‘The E.P.ilogue’ extended play (EP) on November 30, 2022. It features a surprise collaboration with Nigeria’s legend M.I Abaga; ‘Too Bad’.
All is set for season 3 of the enterprising Pose for Africa reality show, organizers of the event, ASKOF Productions have said.
On Wednesday, over 50 applicants were subjected to a thorough auditioning exercise at the 2927 event center in Accra, and 16 of them made the cut for the competition.
The all-day audition exercise was supervised by judges Nana Tamakloe CEO, of Accra Fashion Week and Rinner Versatile CEO of Versatile Models Agency.
The CEO of ASKOF Productions Mrs. Afua Asantewaa Aduonum commended the applicants for turning up in their numbers and urged them on to strive for excellence when the competition hits the ground running in March next year.
She added” l congratulate you all for making the cut, we promise to deliver a top-notch show, l will therefore urge you to give your best shots. The competition is very challenging in nature, but the individual brilliance you demonstrated during the audition gives me the assurance that you are ready for the task ahead.
” Of course, my strong production team comprising of Christian Asante, Emmanuel Jelilu, Isaac Amponsah, Fredrick Ofosu, Eugene Ofori, Afia Acheampong, and Mrs Ameley Offei are keyed up for the task ahead.”
Pose for Africa is an all-female models reality show which empowers, inspires and promotes aspiring models, as well as expose them to international runway platforms.
It is expected to run for nine weeks.
Additionally, the Pose For Africa Models reality show projects Africa’s diverse and rich culture, tourism and traditions through its lenses.
The love and bond between British boxer Ryan Taylor and his beloved Fiancée, DJ Cuppy keeps growing with each passing day.
The couple in their latest public display of affection stepped out on a romantic date that witnessed, Ryan, sharing photos from their time together on his Instagram page.
The caption of the photos which reads “Follow your heart and the rest is history. #CuppyDat,” has been described as Ryan’s response to cheating rumours that caught fire after a British influencer identified as Fiona Michelle was named as his girlfriend.
Fiona in a now-deleted TikTok video shared a compilation of her fun moments with Ryan. This came after the boxer proposed to DJ Cuppy in Dubai.
Amidst rumours of Ryan allegedly keeping a secret relationship, Cuppy, the daughter of Nigerian billionaire, Femi Otedola defended her man and also threw shots at critics in a viral tweet.
“Who wants that “perfect” love story anyway? Cliché,” she wrote.
In a separate tweet on December 12, she disclosed: “I can officially announce that I’m engaged! Only 25 days ago during @Gumball3000 driving rally, I met the love of my life. Sometimes you fall for the MOST unexpected person at the MOST unexpected time and for the MOST unexpected reason. I love you deep @RyanTaylor.”
The Ghanaian rapper known for his command over the Fante language has once again cleared the air over allegations of him being gay.
According to Pappy Kojo, he is tired of clarifying and proving that he purely has feelings for women and not men.
In a recent video on Joy Prime, the award-winning rapper, in an attempt to prove his point, mentioned that he has ‘cleared’ over 100 women.
He added that he will increase the number to 200 just to prove that he has feelings for women and not the same sex as him.
The ‘Frass’ crooner who has been an advocate for the LGBTQ community had this to say when questioned about his sexuality: “Charlie I am tired. I don’t know how many girls I have to clear before you guys will go. I don’t know, I have done 100 plus and I don’t know if I should go 200 before you people will stop.
According to the Hip Hop recording artiste, watching Kudus who plays for Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands reminds him of his playing days.
TeePhlow who now resides in Connecticut in the United States of America (USA) said those who saw him during his glittering playing days can attest to his cliams.
“I see myself in this dude when I watch him play. Those who saw me play will attest to this,” TeePhlow wrote on Facebook sighted by Amansan Krakye of MyNewsGh.com
He continued “His style, resilience and composure on the field reminds me of myself. I really miss my football days…..
He advised “If we can keep our boys together for a while more, we will have the most dangerous team in the world. We have relatively a young squad, that’s the advantage @BlackstarsToQualify”.
The CEO of Madtime Entertainment, Kwaw Kese has reacted to suggestions that the Ghana Music Rights Organization, GHAMRO, has an amount of GH₵13,000 in their Black Box for him.
The revelation was made by the interim Chairman Of GHAMRO, Rex Omar, when he spoke to Ghanaian entertainment journalist Kwame Dadzie after Kwaw Kesetook to social media to complain about the failure of the organization to pay him any royalties all these years.
In a tweet to react to the efforts Kwame Dadzie put in to get some clarification on the whole issue from the right quarters, Kwaw Kese showed his appreciation to the former Citi TV/FM presenter.
He went on to reveal that he was going to see GHAMRO and take his money even though he felt that the amount being quoted was too small because he has not been paid any royalties as a musician for over twenty years.
This is certainly an end to the whole drama on social media but I am guessing one will be wondering why GHAMRO has not paid this amount of money to the ‘Dondo’ hitmaker all this while even though it is his money.
Well, according to the interim chairman, Rex Omar, they were holding on to the money because Kwaw Kese had not updated his details with the organization after the old COSGA was spilt into three CMOs by law, birthing GHAMRO for musicians.
Check out the posts below:
20 years of doing music in Ghana and never got paid any royalties.
You rather have to pay Djs to play your music, pay tv to show your videos , bloggers to blog your content and press media to give you press.
How can you survive this industry by financing all these by urself ?
Thanks for your effort 🙏🏽. I haven’t gotten any calls from GHAMRO. 13k for 20yrs isn’t enough. Was expecting 6 figures but once it’s my money I’ll take it. https://t.co/rJBxlSF69w
Talent manager and former member of the Shatta Movement, Iddriss Yussif, better known as Deportee, has disclosed that he has been cleared of the court case involving Shatta Wale’sfake gun attack that led to his arrest back in 2021.
In Deportee’s latest update, he published a photo together with Shatta Wale’s former Public Relations Officer, Nana Dope and Gangee announcing their freedom.
“Alhamdulillah today all of us are free from the court case. Myself, Nana Dope and Gangee.. you kno what man will try and plan evil against you but trust in god he is the master planner Alhamdulillah once again,” read the caption of the Facebook post on December 16.
Deportee, Gangee and Nana Dope were named as accomplices when Shatta Wale was arrested by the Ghana Police Service for creating fear and panic over a fake gun attack staged in October 2021 on the occasion of his birthday.
After they pleaded guilty, all three accomplices were sentenced and fined GH₵960.00 each by the court presided over by Kizita Naa Kowah Quarshie.
Shatta Wale also pleaded guilty to the publication of fake news and testified that he took the phones of his members- Deportee, Gangee and Nana Dope to make the publication of his gun attack on social media.
The popular singer was fined GH¢ 2,000 by Circuit Court 4.
It was a successful year for Black businesswomen in the United States, as several saw their wealth significantly increase through new deals, acquisitions, and business expansion.
Emma Grede, for example, experienced a significant rise in her net worth. With a current fortune of $360 million, Grede derives her net worth from ventures such as Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand Skims and size-inclusive fashion brand Good American, which she co-founded with Khloe Kardashian in 2016.
However, not all Black businesswomen in the United States had such fortunate this year. Some, like cosmetics billionaire Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty, saw their net worth drop due to rising interest rates, the uneven reopening of the pandemic, and market uncertainty caused by the war in Europe.
Despite these challenges, many Black businesswomen in the United States were able to achieve success and increase their wealth, showcasing their hard work, determination, and resilience.
It is important to recognize and celebrate these achievements, as they inspire and encourage other women of color to pursue their entrepreneurial goals.
According to data from Forbes, here is how these businesswomen rank.
Oprah Winfrey, the talk show host turned media mogul, has a net worth of $2.5 billion, making her the wealthiest Black woman in America, according to Forbes.
Oprah has transformed her hit talk show, which aired for 25 years, into a media and business empire. To preserve and grow her fortune over time, the leading media mogul has reinvested profits from her show, as well as profits from films like “The Color Purple,” “Beloved,” and “Selma,” into key assets and entities in the media industry.
This year, Oprah faced some setbacks, including a decrease in her net worth from $2.6 billion at the start of the year.
Despite these challenges, Oprah’s media empire continues to thrive, thanks to her shrewd business acumen and her determination to succeed.
She recently earned $6.6 million from the sale of her Montecito estate in California, which she had purchased for $10.5 million just a year ago.
2. Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty
Net worth: $1.4 billion
Source: Music and Cosmetics
Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty is a successful musician and entrepreneur with a net worth of $1.4 billion. She is the second-richest Black woman in the United States. However, her net worth has declined by $300 million since the beginning of the year, going from $1.7 billion to $1.4 billion.
Fenty’s main source of wealth is her cosmetics company, Fenty Beauty, which she launched in collaboration with LVMH Mot Hennessy Louis Vuitton in 2017.
The company sells makeup and skincare products on Sephora shelves and online to more than 150 countries, and is expected to bring in over $550 million in revenue in 2020.
In addition to Fenty Beauty, Rihanna has recently filed two applications for Fenty Hair with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, indicating her plans to launch a haircare line under the Fenty brand.
The Fenty Hair collection will include a range of accessories such as hairbands, bows, clips, ribbons, scrunchies, wigs, curlers, pins, brushes, and combs, further expanding the Fenty brand’s presence in the fashion and cosmetics industries.
3. Sheila Johnson
Net worth: $780 million
Source: CableTV
Sheila Johnson is a successful American businesswoman and co-founder of the cable TV channel BET, or Black Entertainment Network.
According to Forbes, she is one of the richest Black women in the United States. Johnson was the first African-American woman to achieve a net worth of at least $1 billion, but her fortune has decreased to $780 million in recent years.
However, data from Forbes shows that her net worth has increased by more than $30 million in the current year, going from $750 million at the beginning of the year to $780 million as of now.
4. Janice Bryant Howroyd
Net worth: $630 million
Source: Workforce Solutions
Janice Bryant Howroyd is a leading businesswoman and one of the richest Black women in the world, with a net worth of $630 million. She founded ActOne in 1978 with just $1,500, including a $900 loan from her mother, and a fax machine and phone. Today, the agency has more than 17,000 clients and 2,600 employees in 19 countries.
In 2019, Howroyd released her second book, “Acting Up,” in which she shared her advice for conquering the business world. Her net worth has increased significantly from $285 million in 2020 to its present value of $630 million.
In addition to her successful agency, Howroyd also owns several dozen properties, including commercial rental properties and personal residences.
5. Beyonce Knowles
Net worth: $450 million
Source: Music, Fashion
Beyonce Knowles is a highly successful musician and one of the wealthiest women in the world, with a net worth of $450 million, according to Forbes.
In addition to her music career, Beyoncé has also had multiple clothing lines, including her activewear line, Ivy Park, which has a partnership with Adidas.
In November 2022, Beyonce received nine new Grammy nominations, bringing her lifetime total to 88 and tying the record for the most nominations in Grammy history. She shares this record with her husband, further solidifying her place as a dominant force in the music industry.
6. Emma Grede
Net worth: $360 million
Source: Fashion
Emma Grede is the founder and CEO of Good American, a premium apparel label in the United States that promotes a healthy body ideal with a full and inclusive size range.
She co-founded the company with Khloé Kardashian in 2016, and it has since become one of the most successful apparel launches in history, with sales reaching upwards of one million dollars on the first day.
Grede was raised in East London by a single mother and began working a paper route at the age of 12, saving her earnings to buy fashion magazines. She later founded fashion and entertainment marketing agency ITB Worldwide in 2008 and became the first Black woman to serve as an investor on the popular ABC series Shark Tank.
7. Serena Williams
Net worth: $260 million
Source: Tennis, Investments
Serena Williams, one of the most successful and wealthy Black women in America, has a net worth of $260 million. Williams is also widely regarded as one of the greatest female tennis players of all time, having earned over $94 million in career prize money.
However, Williams’ success extends beyond her achievements on the tennis court. She has also made smart investments through her firm, Serena Ventures, which has invested in over 60 startups.
In March 2022, Serena Ventures raised an initial fund of $111 million. Recently, Williams launched a new company called Will Perform as part of her efforts to enter the booming sports recovery industry. This industry includes both large and small-scale stakeholders, such as wellness centers, sports recovery spas, and gyms.
Since appearing on Forbes’ annual list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women in 2019, Williams’ net worth has increased by $20 million, from $240 million at the start of the year to $260 million at present.
Dr. Louisa Satekla-Ansong has earned a masters in public health after successfully graduating from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)on Friday December 16, 2022.
Earning her MPh Masters in Public Health from the illustrious Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), the celebrated Ghanaian health personality and entrepreneur’s new educational success adds to a list of significant academic distinctions earned throughout her career.
Dr. Louisa is an award-winning Dental Surgeon who practices at Charisma Dental Clinic in Accra, Ghana. She previously graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2016, where she received a distinction and was awarded the prestigious Overall Best Student Prize.
She has received numerous nominations and awards throughout her professional career, including the 2021 Ghana Outstanding Women Awards (GOWA) and Pulse Health Influencer of the Year for her enormous contribution to Ghana’s development and giving back to society. Her clinic has been the destination for celebrities, such as Davido, Stonebwoy, Wizkid, KiDi, Joselyn Dumas, and more, seeking expert guidance on their dental health.
Dr. Louisa Ansong-Satekla is currently the official FDI World Dental Federation Ambassador for World Oral Health Day 22, using her wealth of experience to raise awareness about the importance of good oral health and its vital role in securing overall health and well-being. She is also a brand ambassador for Vien Health.
Ghanaian Rapper and Afro-pop musician, Emmanuel Kwesi Danso Arthur Junior, popularly known as Kwesi Arthur, has revealed that he had the interest to pursue journalism during his days at Tema Senior High.
The “Grind Day” hitmaker in an interview on e.tv Ghana’s eRequest with host, Abigail Appiah, stated that he wanted to enroll in the University of Ghana but could not access his WASSCE results on account of the arrears he owed to the earlier mentioned secondary school.
“I wanted to register for the University of Ghana when I completed in 2012; I could not get into the university because my school fees were not paid so my results were blocked” he elaborated.
He later mentioned that in 2014, a friend of his got access to his results for him and remains clueless of how his friend did it even till this day.
“I realized I was good at music; I could rap at a very early stage in my life,” the young artiste revealed as he disclosed how long he has pursued music.
After seeing his WASSCE results, he desired to enroll in the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) and disclosed how he wished he could be a journalist and also have a thriving music career alongside. Unfortunately, the BET Awards Viewer’s Choice Best International Act 2018 nominee made it known that he could not pursue his dream of journalism because he could not pay the fees to get enrolled into GIJ.
“I was interested in Journalism; I applied for GIJ but I backed out because I could not pay the fees so I decided to focus on music,” he reiterated.
“Human beings make plans and God laughs,” words of the globally known rapper as an indication of his unawareness back then of how things would work out and how music would bring him to stardom.
Tomatoes, in their numerous forms, are a globally famed staple crop with countless regional variants. Currently ranked 319th on the list of the world’s most traded products in 2022, it is one of the most studied commercial vegetable and greenhouse crops in the world. It is estimated that annual worldwide tomato production is 180,766,329 metric tonnes valued at $9.81 billion (https://atlasbig.com). China produces more than 35% of the world’s tomatoes, equivalent to more than 62 million tonnes. India, Turkey, the United States, and Egypt take second through fifth place, producing a combined total volume of 49,459,836 metric tonnes, representing 27.4% of global output.
Tomatoes are grown on a total of 1,246,524 hectares of land in these four countries, while China grows enough tomatoes to sustainably feed its own people on just 1,086,771 hectares. Do you see the efficiency and productivity? However, fresh tomato exports around the world are very diverse. Over 187 million metric tonnes of tomatoes were harvested in 2020, with an estimated 3.51 million tonnes shipped abroad. In terms of fresh tomato exports, Mexico is by far the leader, with almost 1.8 million metric tonnes worth $2.62 billion. A report indicates that the top five countries, the Netherlands ($1.82B), Spain ($1.1B), Morocco ($852M), and Canada ($448M) earn hugely from exporting fresh tomatoes (https://tomatonews.com/).
As of 2022, the United States will have imported $2.9 billion worth of fresh tomatoes, making it the highest importer in the world. Other topmost tomato-importing countries globally are Germany ($1.7 billion), France ($816.5 million), United Kingdom ($622.9 million), and Russia ($398.5 million), respectively (https://tridge.com/). However, the global production of tomatoes drastically dropped as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which subsequently impacted pricing of fresh and paste tomatoes in local markets across the globe. Despite these obstacles, global output is on the upswing and likely to continue expanding (https://www.gefmarket.com/post/tomato-production-across-the-world).
Current Trends of Tomato Market in Ghana
Approximately, 300,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes are grown in Ghana annually, with 90% consumed domestically. Three-eighths of all vegetable spending in Ghana goes toward the ubiquitous tomato due to its central role in local Ghanaian cuisines. The Roma VF, Laurano, Raki, Chocó TP, Power Rano, Rasta, Italy Heinz, Cherry and Petomech cultivars are among the most widely planted in Ghana because of their suitability for processing into tomato paste.
Tomatoes are a fixture in every Ghanaian household, hotel, and restaurant, driving daily demand for tomato products in every region of the country. Consumers in Ghana have developed an insatiable hunger for convenience foods due to the country’s expanding middle class and growing urban population; thus, driving a rise in the demand for tomato paste, which is utilised in the cooking of many different cuisines in Ghana.
The growing demand for tomato pastes in Ghana eventually translate into a sizable market for locally-processed tomatoes. Unfortunately, Ghana’s tomato processing industry is still quite modest, and the country relies significantly on imports to meet demand. Over 100 million dollars’ worth of tomato paste is used annually in Ghana; that’s more than 1000 metric tonnes.
The majority of Ghana’s tomato production happens in nine of the country’s 16 regions. The Upper East, Northern, Brong East, Ahafo, Bono, Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra, and Volta regions are the notable production regions. There are approximately 11,728 farmers involved in tomato production in these major tomato-growing regions of Ghana. Tomato processing directly benefits an estimated 58,640 people (Trade Aid Integrated, 2021).
The Ghana National Tomato Producers’ Federation estimates that the country’s annual tomato output is 510,000 metric tonnes, the country imports between 7,000 and 12,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes from Burkina Faso and 27,000 metric tonnes of processed tomatoes from Europe. Ghana possesses one of the largest agricultural dams in West Africa, as well as favourable topographical and agro-ecological characteristics (the Tano Dam, situated in a tomato farming region, can be used to produce tomato all year round).
The overwhelming importation of tomato paste into Ghana can be attributed to the shortage and high price of tomato during the dry and minor seasons. About 321,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes are grown yearly at a value of USD 118 million, with another 75,000 metric tonnes imported to make up the difference.
Moreover, during significant rainy seasons, farmers continue to face gluts and high post-harvest losses. About 30% of Ghana’s annual output of more than 510,000 metric tons of fresh tomatoes is lost every year due to spoilage.
Tomato processing in Ghana
The government of Ghana established two tomato processing plants, TOMACAN and Pwalugu Tomato Processing factories, in the early 1960s. Robinson and Kolavalli (2010) reported that the combined upshots of structural reforms advocated by the World Bank and the IMF, frequent breakdowns due to a lack of spare parts and obsolete machinery, incompetent financial management, weak marketing, and a lack of technical expertise led to the shutting down of both factories in the 1980s.
Since then, the government of Ghana has tried multiple times to transform these facilities into commercial-scale tomato processing plants. As part of the 1D1F initiative, Ghana hoped to entice industrial-scale tomato processors to set up commercial processing factories in Ghana.
As part of a public-private partnership (PPP) with the government of Ghana and with funding assistance of GHS 200,000 from the Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund, the agro-processing firm Techiman Processing Complex built a tomato processing factory in 2014. Production at the plant had been stalled for some time due to a lack of necessary inputs. TEPCO is reportedly still trying to secure additional funding for its operations.
The FAO estimates that Ghana’s processing capacity for fresh tomatoes per day is 1,400 metric tonnes (500 tonnes at Trusty Foods and Northern Star, 200 tonnes at Afrique Link Ltd in Wenchi and TEPCO in Techiman). Even at full capacity, these three tomato processors would only be able to process 438,000 metric tonnes of fresh tomato into 54,750 metric tonnes of tomato paste annually (assuming a paste of 36-38% brix, requiring 8 metric tonnes of fresh tomato per tonne of paste), leaving Ghana with a shortfall in its supply of tomato paste despite the country’s high demand (in excess of 100,000 tonnes a year).
Any business that generates income from manufacturing or agricultural production and exports some or all of that produce is eligible for a corporate tax rebate of 40%-75%. To further reduce the cost of going global, exporters can claim a drawback of up to 100% of the tariffs paid on imported raw materials through a Custom Duty Drawback. Profits, Dividends, and Capital Mobility Guaranteed unconditional transferability in freely convertible currency of dividends or net profits attributable to investment in the enterprise shall be made through an authorised dealer bank, subject to the Foreign Exchange Act, 2006 (Act 723) and the regulations and notices issued under the Foreign Exchange Act. This paves the way for a complete repatriation of profits in the investment.
Ghana’s One District, One Factory Initiative
The policy is framed by Ghana’s overarching strategic goal of becoming a full middle-income, top-tier agro-industrial powerhouse in Africa. The strategy lays out specific and understandable instructions for executing the government’s domestic and foreign trade goals. To take advantage of export market prospects via AfCFTA and meet domestic market requirements, the government’s trade policy, as outlined in the sectoral growth of the agro-processing industry, requires the expansion and diversification of production of goods and services. It also stresses the importance of agriculture to Ghana’s economy and the role that agro-processing would play in the country’s efforts to diversify its economy. Due to the high cost of production and sometimes limited access to credit, farmers in Ghana are forced to sell fresh tomatoes for a profit, rather than to local tomato processors. This in turn makes it difficult for local tomato processors to compete with imported tomato paste, which is cheaper. During the peak season, when the processor price is higher than the fresh market price, farmers typically supply tomato factories; however, as the dry season approaches, farmers begin to shift their focus to the fresh market as tomatoes become increasingly scarce. In Ghana, locally-produced tomato paste is more affordable than imported tomato paste.
There are multiple brands of tomato paste available in Ghana, with the majority of these brands coming from either Europe or China. Notable manufacturers of tomato paste include: Conserveria Africana, producers of Gino and Pomo tomato paste; Olam produces Tasty Tom; Trusty Foods produces La Bianca tomato paste; and Centro Esportazione Conservati imports Salsa from Italy.
There are currently over 78,000 metric tonnes of tomato paste imported annually, and 12,000 metric tonnes exported after repackaging. The 210-gram tin of tomato paste is the best seller in Ghana’s retail tomato paste market. Interestingly, in the Ghanaian market, the most expensive tomato paste product is imported from Italy, Salsa, while the least priced is La Bianca, which is produced by Northern Star and packaged for sale by Trusty Foods locally.
Prices of tomato paste in Ghana have soared recently as cost of import have reached an all-time high, making foreign brands more expensive than Ghanaian ones. This means that the additional cost of paying above-market prices for Ghanaian-produced tomato paste is less than the additional cost of importing tomato paste into the country, allowing the locally-processed tomato to maintain a gross margin sufficient to cover the cost of inputs and at a reasonable profit.
Rising domestic demand for tomato
The rising middle class is a large market for locally-processed tomatoes. However, high-value food imports have been on the rise as domestic food processing capacities remain insufficient to meet consumer demand. In a recent joint agricultural sector review forum in Accra, data on tomato production in Ghana indicates a positive productivity gain in local tomato production from 2018-2021 (MoFA, 2022). As result of the high cost of imported tomato paste, Italy is one of Ghana’s top suppliers, thus Ghana is the eighth-largest buyer of Italian tomato paste.
The Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana (Ghana Vegetables) reports that tomato imports from Burkina Faso have reached US$400 million annually from US$99.5 million in 2018. To meet its 800,000 metric tonnes tomato consumption, Ghana imports 90% of fresh tomatoes from Burkina Faso. This is attributed to higher imports and decreased domestic production as a direct consequence of high cost of inputs, low-quality seeds, lack of mechanisation and machinery. Ghana Vegetables is increasing production and supply by 40% to keep at least half of the money in the country.
Ghana Vegetables reports that over 70% of Ghana’s shopping malls and shopping centres sell tomatoes from the Netherlands, Burkina Faso, and other countries (https://lnkd.in/dNwV3YhU). Any investment into local tomato processing will help local farmers and their communities improve their livelihoods, improve their farming practices and offer farmers competitive, guaranteed minimum prices through contracts.
A 31-year-old Nigerian woman has been sentenced to a five-year jail term by a Circuit court for human trafficking.
Blessing Favour pleaded guilty to human trafficking and forced prostitution and was convicted on her plea.
Blessing had earlier pleaded for mercy and told the court she had regretted her action, adding that she was a single mother.
The judge, His Lordship, Alexander Oworae ignored her plea and sentenced her to five years to serve as a deterrent to others who are engaged in similar acts.
The suspect collapsed in the dock after the judge pronounced his judgement.
The culprit on Monday, December 5, 2022, pleaded guilty to charges of human trafficking and forced prostitution after she was arrested.
She had trafficked young women from Nigeria under the guise that they were coming to work in Ghana but ended up in a brothel in Tamale, the Northern Region capital and “Dollar Power” a mining community in the Savannah Region.
On Sunday, December 4, 2022, one of the victims who was pursued by Blessing Favour when she tried to escape coincidentally fell into the hands of the Police.
The victim saw the Police while she was being chased and raised an alarm leading to the arrest of the suspect.
The most intriguing thing about the trend of the Cedi’s strength against the Dollar is that if it continues like this speculation will becomes super-risk, that is if one sells or buys, Vice President of Imani Africa Mr Bright Simonshas said.
This reduces turnover and suppress liquidity further reinforcing the trend, which effect will then predominate, he further stated.
In a tweet on Friday December 16, he said he made a bit more progress in his effort to understand “the fascinating surge of the Ghana Cedi against the dollar”.
“I noticed massive buy-sell (bid-offer) spreads of up to 35% in places. This shows that volatility is coupled with low liquidity. Brokers want to buy cheap,” he said.
“Looking at the round-trip costs stated in the 2nd attachment & wondering what the equivalent for a GHS – USD transaction would be using the rates in the 1st attachment? Simple: changing $10m into cedis & buying $ again will cost u $3.46m. Far higher than Indonesia’s figure above.”
He stressed “The most intriguing thing about this trend, if it continues, is: speculation becomes super-risky (if u sell, u will struggle to buy). This reduces turnover & suppress liquidity further reinforcing the trend. Which effect will then predominate: low speculation or low liquidity?”
The Director of Research at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Dr John Kwakye also said the Cedi’s improved performance against the Dollar is largely due to reduction in speculations in the financial market.
The Cedi has over the past few days, especially since the start of December 2022, been gaining strength against the major trading currencies particularly, the Dollar.
Per the Bank of Ghana (BoG) rate, the Cedi, as of Thursday December 15, was buying at GHS7.9975 to a Dollar and and selling at GHS8.0056 to a Dollar.
Dr Kwakye asked the government to act immediately to consolidate the gains made.
In a tweet, he said “Unless the cedi is backed by improved economic fundamentals, its stability will not last. The current stability is riding only on the back of reduced speculation.”
He added “The cedi appreciation is a correction to largely speculation-fueled depreciation. However, the extreme volatility in the exchange rate is not good for the economy.”
“The question is how long will the cedi stability last? We have been here before. The way to ensure lasting cedi stability is to address the economy’s structural weaknesses while building strong financial buffers,” Dr Kwakye further stated.
In 1879, Ghana planted our first cocoa tree. In the 2018–19 and 2019–20 cocoa seasons, respectively, Ghana produced 812,000 and 850,000 metric tonnes of cocoa.
The entire global cocoa value chain is estimated at $100 billion. Ghana and Ivory Coast produce about 70% of the world’s cocoa beans and earn 3% of the industry’s $100 billion in revenue (this is not promised though). For months, the Ghana Cocoa Board has been waiting for a lending facility (syndicated loan anyway) to purchase cocoa beans from farmers.
How many years has the Ghana Cocoa Board been syndicating loans to purchase cocoa from farmers and export same in raw state? Countries are built by brains, not natural resources. Growing up in a cocoa community, elders of the community told me that some of the wealthiest people in our society a century ago farmed cocoa. Contrarily, cocoa farmers are now among Ghana’s poorest people.
The decadently high taxes that Cocoa Board levies on cocoa farmers through the producer price are used to lavishly compensate themselves at the expense of these hardworking farmers. Even though it has no cocoa trees or farms, Switzerland commands over $4.5 billion value-added cocoa industries (mostly chocolate and related products).
Additionally, recent interactions with government agencies, businesses, non-profits, civil society groups, farmers, and farmer groups led to the impression that farmer representation is proportional to farmer capacity. This includes having the knowledge, data, and ability to have fruitful conversations on living wages with key actors in the sector.
Sadly, this is lacking among our cocoa growers, which means they have little say in market decisions. We need a paradigm shift with the cocoa farmers at the centre of these conversations. For instance, Rikolto has designed a global cocoa and coffee programme around fair living income differential as a principle. To do this, they focus on farmer professionalisation, which helps farmers and farmer-based organisations to negotiate better prices and form more fruitful business partnerships with the corporate sector.
A big part of their work with farmers is helping them to access relevant information and data that can help them negotiate with other parties. Thus, empowering farmers to have meaningful input in discussions about ensuring a global minimum income that allows them to thrive is key.
The cocoa/chocolate industry has been hunkered down for the past two years by the COVID-19 pandemic, thus last month marked the first major partnership meeting in over three years. Here I synthesised few ideas on the issue.
Brussels was supposed to host 350 policymakers, businesses, academics, farmers, and civil society representatives for the World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting, but just a handful stakeholders showed up. The two major producing countries boycotted the meeting in protest against the industry’s knock-back to pay fair price for the commodity. Although I agree that the protest is necessary, I also think it’s only half of the actions required to highlight the unfair practices in the sector.
One of the Ghanaian civil society advocates who participated in the said meeting disclosed; ‘we absolutely support our government’s action, and we also need our government to be significantly clearer about what they are doing themselves with the cocoa profits’. Here, we cannot pin the blame on just one stakeholder.
Is recent producer price adjustment adequate to cushion cocoa farmers against rising inflation?
During the week, cocoa stakeholders talked more freely about ways to increase cocoa farmers’ income. The question is “what do we do to pay the farmers more?”
This question is being asked by programme administrators, not company CEOs. Some serious doubts have been raised as to whether a tool available on the global commodity market is the best strategy to increase farm gate pricing. There are also significant unknowns about the structure of the global cocoa market. However, many of such discussions with local businesses were on how they source their products rather than how farmers could improve their living income.
How public policy may resolve Child Labour through a systems approach was highlighted using an Indonesian success case is an excellent illustration of what can be accomplished in West Africa with an effective public-private partnership to reduce risks of child labour. A study by the International Labour Organisation and UNICEF estimate that an additional 8.5 million children are in forced labour. The main causes of child labour are poverty, vulnerability, and inadequate social programmes. Our cocoa farmers need the backing of the cocoa industry stakeholders to tackle such social menace.
A careful attention to the debate about how much cocoa growers need to make over the years leave us with several propositions: from higher prices and diversification to larger farm sizes and direct cash transfers, many excellent thoughts and proposals have been presented on the subject. In most of these debates, however, farmers are not given a voice.
On the rare occasions when farmers were able to take part in these conversations, it was typically the “Abidjan or Accra farmers” who spoke up, even though their opinions did not reflect those of real cocoa farmers. ‘If you try to help me out, but leave me out of it, you’re actually working against me’, as Mahatma Gandhi once put it. Consequently, we face the risk of failing to reach our goal unless actual cocoa farmers are involved in these discussions.
Ghana and Côte D’Ivoire implemented the Living Income Differential (LID) in 2019 to increase the income of cocoa farmers; the LID is a price of premium cocoa on the global market. The US$400 LID is built into the price for all cocoa farmers. For instance, the price of a bag of NPK fertiliser has just increased to between 240 and 450 GHS. Price increases in inputs and farm machinery, commodity prices, and the cost of living have eventually neutralised the recent adjustment in the producer price as announced by government.
Our cocoa farmers put in long hours of labour and should be compensated more than the suite-attired Ghanaian regulator. In 2021–2022 harvest season, the Ghana Cocoa Board introduced a pension programme for cocoa farmers. The pension scheme was designed to help farmers in the long run by encouraging young people to enter the cocoa industry.
Key stakeholders in the sector must closely police the implementation of this policy so we do not have another case of the Cocoa Board Scholarship. Last year, a non-negotiable electronic scale was installed for weighing cocoa beans. This action was taken as a part of a bigger campaign to ensure the protection of cocoa farmers. Since cocoa buyers are not permitted to tamper with the scales, the Ghana Standards Authority calibrated the scales for use.
For cocoa farmers to make a decent living, they need to have a firm grasp of the intricacies of the market system governing cocoa prices. Increasing the price of cocoa without increasing social support services will not guarantee a living income for cocoa farmers. Businesses in the cocoa and chocolate industries are dedicated to resolving the difficulties plaguing the cocoa industry through innovations and newer approaches. Traceability will be key in the evolving environment of cocoa business.
At Africa Farmnet Limited, we have piloted our AI/GIS-powered traceability system on both grain and tree crops in Ghana. You can reach out to us to explore the scale-up of this home-grown agritech solution as part of your cocoa business.
How can regulations be recalibrated to advance fairness in the sector?
The European Union has been a vocal proponent of human and environmental rights legislation for some time now, and were well-represented in last month’s WCFP meeting. The hint about changing regulation in the US offers optimism about an evolving discussion to stir a change in global cocoa trade. However, the main point is that we should not place all the blame for poverty on farmers by ignoring the underlying system of poor governance and consumer behaviour. Besides, this time the message will need to stick. Farmers are still struggling to make ends meet, children are working dangerous jobs, forests and cocoa farms are being degraded in Ghana through galamsey. In that instance, there is still a great deal of effort required.
The Ghanaian government has mandated that a 64-kg bag of cocoa beans cost GH800. The price of a bag of cocoa was GHS 475 six years ago. That was $122. Today, GHS 800 of a bag of cocoa is equivalent to $53.33. That’s less than a third of what cocoa sells for on the international market. Thus, cocoa farmers rarely receive this price for their cocoa beans. The first problem is that the government is frequently slow to release funds for the purchase of cocoa beans.
Second, farmers still have to sell their cocoa beans regardless of whether or not the government buys them. Third, intermediaries (“cocoa krakye”) profit from the situation by offering to purchase cocoa beans at prices lower than the government-set minimum. Cocoa beans have a “farm weight” of between 65 and 66 kg per bag rather than the standard 64 kg. The weight of a bag of cocoa purchased from farmers is actually 70kg, but some buyers wittingly change their scales to reflect a lower weight.
The shortage of farm inputs like weedicides and fertilisers only make their situation worse. The Ghanaian cocoa farmer is being taken advantage of no matter how you slice it. So, when they’re selling their cocoa farms to galamseyers is of surprise to many of us.
Politicians and their friends have gained control of the Cocoa Board Scholarship Scheme. Areas, where cocoa is grown, have some of the country’s worst roads, including some that have been linked to organ dysfunction, respiratory ailments, and general road squalor. Among most of our society’s extreme poorest are cocoa farmers. Milo and chocolate are seen as expensive treats reserved for the upper class. As a matter of fact, many of them have NEVER tasted their own hard-earned results. In the Western and Western-North regions, where cocoa is grown extensively, almost 400 large households lack access to modern electricity. Yes, these are the realities on grounds!
The government of Ghana owes it to these indispensable members of our society to demonstrate its gratitude for all they do. Establish a solid foundation, and ensure all of the district and regional outposts are up and running. Their children should get priority when scholarship opportunities become available. Myself and my siblings were denied the Cocoa Board Scholarship even though our parents were cocoa farmers. A mate of mine whose father was a cocoa purchasing clerk rather got the scholarship with ease. We struggled to fund our education hence most of my siblings dropped out of school after Junior High School. The least we can do is give cocoa farmers what they deserve.
Increasing cocoa processing in Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire
In 1965, the Tema neighbourhood welcomed the Cocoa Processing Company Limited (CPC). A limited liability company registered on November 30, 1981. The company began trading on the Ghana Stock Exchange on February 14, 2003. Two cocoa factories and a confectionery factory make up the business. The company’s cocoa liquor, butter, natural/alkalised cake or powder are intermediate products, while the Confectionery Factory produces golden tree chocolate bars, couverture, chocolate coated peanut (pebbles), VITACO and all-time drinking chocolate powder, choco delight (chocolate spread), choco bake and royale natural cocoa powder. The CPC plants are unique in that they process just the highest quality premium cocoa beans from Ghana without adding any other beans. The CPC’s dedication to research and development has resulted in products that not only adhere to global quality standards but also consistently receive positive feedback from consumers. The company processes 65,000 metric tonnes of premium cocoa beans from Ghana annually. Can the CPC be assisted through a PPP-model under the IDIF to upgrade their facilities and expand processing to meet growing demand? There are several artisanal chocolate producers across the country. Can these stakeholders join forces together, share resources and expand their processing capacities to meet growing demand?
Construction of a cocoa-processing factory costing $108 million has begun in the Ivorian city of San Pedro, by the Ivorian multinational Atlantic Group. Launched by the Prime Minister, Patrick Achi, the 9-hectare project will enable Côte d’Ivoire to process a major chunk of its cocoa produce when the factory is completed in 24 months. The government estimates that the Atlantic Cocoa factory can handle 64,000 tonnes per year, with potential for expansion to 100,000 tonnes in subsequent years. The target is to process all of the cocoa grown in the country by 2030. About 46 % of the world’s annual 4.8 million metric tonnes of cocoa beans come from Côte d’Ivoire. Due to the factory, it will be able to seize a larger share of the commodity’s value chain. To date, Europe has been responsible for processing 40% of the world’s cocoa output. The government estimates that 1,700 people will be employed at the plant in some capacity.
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is investigating a conflict of interest issue concerning the purchase of quantities of hand sanitisers from the Adonko Company Limited by the National Youth Authority (NYA).
Madam Oteng Mensah, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwabre East, told the Committee that she was the Board Chairperson of the NYA, whereas the Adonko Company Ltd belonged to her father and that she was a shareholder of the company.
She was responding to a question raised by Mr Alhassan Sayibu Suhiyini, the NDC MP for Tamale North, on whether she was aware of a conflict of interest investigation by the CHRAJ about the NYA’s campaign to educate the populace on the COVID-19 during the peak of the pandemic.
Mr Suyihini said the investigation concerns the budget approval of about three million Ghana Cedis to educate people on how to protect themselves from COVID-19.
Madam Oteng Mensah said per the practice, as the Chairperson of the Board, she could not be a member of the Entity Tender Committee and so she was not on the Committee.
“Secondly, I have no idea what they were purchasing from Adonko Company Ltd at that time. It got to the time when we were in the peak of the COVID-19 season if we all recall, getting access to sanitisers was a huge challenge, and so, at that point in time, everybody including even Members of Parliament were struggling to go anywhere that they could get sanitisers to give to their people,” she said.
“And so, at that point in time, in that state of emergency, nothing of that sort came to me and so, I find it difficult to accept that there is any conflict of interest, it was afterward that I got to know that they even purchased some number of sanitisers from Adonko Company Ltd.”
The nominee said the NYA did not purchase from Adonko Company alone, and that, per her checks, it also purchased from other companies like the GIHOC.
“On the issue of conflict of interest, I am sure CHRAJ is a competent body, and with their investigations, they will be able to come out and definitely exonerate me,” she said.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader and MP for Tamale South, reminded the nominee that Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution, provides that “A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts or is likely to conflict with the performance of the functions of his office”.
“You Chaired the Board Meeting, which approved the Three Million Ghana Cedis.”
In attendance at the vetting was the nominee’s husband, Mr Kwadwo Adade Amponsah, and some prominent chiefs including Barima Saasi Ayeboafo II, Chief of Mamponteng.
The Committee earlier vetted Hajia Lariba Zuweira Abudu, NPP MP for Walewale and Minister-Designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection.
Crime Check has rescued a man who was ‘unjustly’ sent to jail for two years after he stole 8 fowls.
Through the intervention of the NGO, the man has been set free after his fine was paid. Crime Check is an NGO that sensitises the public to the dangers of crime through the screening of Life in Prison documentaries in schools, churches, mosques, communities and other trouble spots in Ghana.
The official Facebook page of the foundation shared the sad story as seen below;
“8 fowls = 2years in jail. Much as we should all not condone crime, Kwame Adra could have been desilting the gutters if we had a Non-Custodial Law in place. He lost his mum at an early age and had to bear the hatred of a stepmother.
He wouldn’t also go to school because he believes he is not good enough to waste his time listening to a teacher. Many Kwame Adras around but prison should not be a quick option for all these Petty Offenders when politicians use technicalities in court to delay their trial after stealing huge sums of money from the public purse.
We paid his fine and got him released under our Ex-convict Reintegration Project and warned him to sin no more.
Two opposition Senegalese MPshave been arrested for the alleged assault of their pregnant colleague in parliament earlier this month.
It follows the chaos that erupted during a budget debate in parliament, in scenes that were televised. The video of the fight was shared widely on social media.
Massata Samb is said to have slapped the female MP, Amy Ndiaye Gniby, after she scoffed at him during the debate.
She threw a chair at him before another MP, Mamadou Niang, kicked her in the stomach after she was pushed to the ground.
Both Mr Samb and Mr Niang have been detained and are charged with voluntarily causing hurt, their lawyer told the Reuters news agency, adding that the detention violated their parliamentary immunity.
Two people have been shot dead while several others have sustained various degrees of injuries following a clash between some members of the Dzekle Royal Family and the stool father of the Battor Traditional area in the North Tongu District.
The shooting incident happened after the destoolment of the paramount chief of the Battor Traditional area.
The Paramount Chief of the Battor Traditional Area in the Volta Region, Togbe Patamia Dzekley VII, was destooled on November 27, 2022, by the stool father, Zikpitor Korsi Hottor, after it was alleged that the paramount chief had breached customs and traditions of the Battor Traditional Area.
But during a gathering to process for the firing of musketry in the Battor township ahead of a festival, supporters of the destooled paramount chief clashed with some supporters of the stool father resulting in two deaths and several persons being injured.
A resident, Charles Hottor, speaking to Citi News said the police must beef up security in Battor.
“If the police were on the street of Battor, I don’t think that lives would have been lost. They would have calmed them. They would have actually stopped people from shooting and killing each other.”
Aspiring National Democratic Congress(NDC) National Organizer Mahdi Jibril argues that the best person for the job is someone who is well versed in the scientific approach to work and the data of electoral processes.
He believes there is no link between being the national organiser of the party and being physically fit.
“Being a national organizer has nothing to do with body physique. People are of the notion that if you want to be a national organiser, you need to be well-built but they forget the position of the organizer is not about carrying timber and logs at the office. It is about the scientific approach to the work and the data. You are working with the voter register and the party register, and if you don’t understand the dynamics of this, then you will lose the election,” Mahdi Jibril exclusively told Boama Darko Isaac on Accra-based Original TV.
“You must be a credible organizer who can be trusted by all and is knowledgeable about electoral issues.”
Being the current deputy organizer of the party, he asserts that an organizer must be able to protect the ballot after voting and not only focus on getting people to turn up to vote. “The organizer must have electoral and research understanding, being abreast of electoral dynamics as well.”
Having shown direction and dedication in his capacity as a deputy national Organiser, Mahdi Jibril believes the party is deficient in organization and pledges to resolve that, leading the NDC to achieve victory in election 2024.
Contrary to believes that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is divided due the recent tensions brewing, National Communications Officer for the party, Sammy Gyamfi has indicated that NDC is united.
According to him, the disagreements were a usual characteristic of the contest which would soon end after the election of new executives scheduled for Saturday, December 17.
“The NDC is not doomed, the NDC is in fact getting stronger and stronger. In every contest there is a possibility of some acrimony and disagreements, once the contest is over we have always demonstrated that we are one family. We love ourselves.
“We have a common goal and that common goal is our focus and that you can rest assured that after all is said and done, we will unite and come together as one and work for the progress of the National Democratic Congress,” he said.
Sammy Gyamfi’s assurance comes on the heels of mudslinging and acrimonious campaigns leading up to the congress.
Speaking at a familiarisation tour ahead of Saturday’s congress, he said the party had put the necessary security arrangements in place to prevent any violent clashes.
“Adequate security measures have been put in place; we are working with the Ghana Police Service. Our internal party security will be here to complement their efforts.
“We have learned useful lessons from what happened in Cape coast and we can assure our rank and file and the general public that we will not have any such occurrence … so security will not be a problem at all,” he added.
About 9,000 delegates are expected to participate in the congress on Saturday.
It would be recalled that the national youth and women congress held on December 12 in Cape Coast, was characterised by disturbances leading to the injury of four persons and the destruction of property.
The party’s Council of Elders has since condemned the acts of violence and demanded for a full report of the incident.
It said persons found to have breached the party’s rules whether elected or not will face disciplinary action.
The party urged strict observance of the rules announced by the Congress Planning Committee to avoid the recurrence of violent events and to ensure a peaceful outcome of Saturday’s congress.
The Director of Agriculture for Tema West Municipality in the Greater AccraRegion, Mrs. Patience Alloh has encouraged Ghanaians to learn and practice backyard farming under hygienic conditions for home consumption.
Mrs. Alloh advised households to use any available space around their homes to cultivate vegetables under healthy conditions.
She said the agriculture department would intensify sensitisation on climate-smart agriculture and continue to promote “One House One Tree” to help reduce the adverse effects of climate change and enhance nutritional status.
“The department would scale up the sensitisation on alternate livelihoods such as mushroom and snail production, as well as build the capacity of interested individuals in catfish production.
“We would also facilitate group formation of farmers and all other actors along the agricultural value chain to enhance extension (services) delivery,” she said.
Mrs. Alloh reiterated that the global economic challenges call for a concerted approach to the concept of value addition in agriculture in the area of crop/livestock production and aquaculture.
She said value addition in agricultural production presents an opportunity for additional revenue generation, job creation, food security, improved food safety, foreign exchange earnings, and effective post-harvest management, satisfying Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) I & II.
SDG I calls for an end to poverty in all its manifestations by 2030 and SDG II is about creating a world free of hunger by 2030.
She said the agriculture department of the assembly would continue to raise seedlings of economic benefit under the government’s Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) for distribution to households.
“The survival and progress of a nation depend largely on the performance of its agricultural sector. Agriculture can, therefore, not be left out in our developmental agenda as a nation,” Mrs. Alloh said.
Ghanaian hip hop and hiplife artist Jason Gaisie, popularly known as Pappy Kojo, has disclosed that he never anticipated being as famous as he currently is.
In an interview with KMJ on Prime Morning, Friday, he said, “Honestly, it wasn’t a plan to become a superstar.”
The rapper disclosed that he was residing in Italy at the time. He came back to Ghana and spontaneously recorded a song, which he posted on Twitter, which went viral the following day.
That was his first official song, “Realer No.”
“I was living in my Italy… I met Joey B, we went to the studio, we did a song, put it on Twitter, the next day it was trending. So it wasn’t planned,” Pappy said.
After that song, Pappy claimed to have continued producing more because the people loved it very much. He said, “…it only made sense to do more.”
According to the hip-hop artist, many people are of the notion that artistes are only successful if their music is able to get them abroad.
He said however, that he does not do music so he could get out of the country, but rather, he prefers to be in Ghana.
“I don’t do music to travel to America and then take pictures because music took me to America… but I like it in Ghana. I would rather take pictures at Accra Mall, yeah.” The superstar remarked.
Pappy Kojo further stated his interest in a collaboration with hiplife musician and rapper, Obrafour.
He believes Obrafour’s disapproval is due to religious differences.
However, Pappy claims to still love Obrafour, and even regards him as a father.
An international consortium of researchers are collaborating to conduct a research on why COVID-19 was milder in some parts of the world.
Supported by £3.1 million from the Wellcome Trust, the newly-created WWW Consortium links three leading studies in West Africa, the West Indies, and West London, each tracking how both the virus and our immunity have evolved against COVID-19.
In order to better understand the factors impacting COVID-19 outcomes in these regions, researchers will compare prospective samples and data from vaccinated individuals.
They will assess a variety of immune conditions and medical histories, including prior exposure to SARS-CoV-2, other human and animal coronaviruses, as well as other infectious diseases like malaria.
The consortium will provide evidence to help unpick patterns seen so far in different areas of the world. For example, West Africa experienced large undetected SARS-CoV-2 transmission, but with negligible impacts on mortality.
On the other hand, the trends observed in the West Indies were similar to the UK, despite countries like Jamaica having a much lower vaccination rate.
They hope their work will be useful in informing future pandemic response in regions currently underserved by both research and surveillance capacity.
David LV Bauer, who heads the RNA Virus Replication Laboratory at the Crick, will lead the consortium. He said: “While the initial pandemic response to SARS-CoV-2 is scaling down, ongoing research and monitoring will be essential to understand this virus, which will continue to evolve.
“We wanted to build a global consortium so that research and surveillance capacity continues to grow internationally.”
The consortium will strengthen research connections made during the pandemic, as virologists and public experts collaborated to piece together a picture of viral evolution globally.
The project also builds on the success of the Crick African Network (CAN), which established strong ties between African institutions and the Francis Crick Institute.
Emma Wall, UCLH Infectious Diseases consultant and Senior Clinical Research Fellow for the Legacy study at the Crick, said: “Connecting our London-based study with research projects in Africa and the West Indies will help us not only understand differences across countries, but also how to best protect people based on shared characteristics.
“And as SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, we will ensure we are prepared with excellent channels of communication and information sharing globally.”
Gordon Awandare, Director of the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) at the University of Ghana, said: “Pre-exposure to other infectious diseases like malaria is much more common in West Africa, and we think that this can increase the tolerance of the immune system.
“In some cases, this might be helpful, prepping the immune system for future infections and decreasing the chance of severe illness. But it might also mean that vaccines are less effective and we should consider designing vaccines for specific populations.”
Joshua Anzinger, Senior Lecturer of Virology at The University of the West Indies, said: “Vaccination rates are very low in Jamaica. The Windfall cohort includes individuals amongst the first to be vaccinated. Going forward we will be enrolling both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals, and monitoring their immune responses to different variants.
“With increased sequencing capacity at our university’s Trinidad campus and more recently in Jamaica, we can now contribute a unique picture of immunity across the West Indies. Crucially we can now untangle the increasing complexity of individual responses to infection, and how these might influence population level immunity against future variants.”
Twitter Inc.’s live audio service, Twitter Spaces, is down after a number of journalists that had just been suspended from the social network found they could still participate on it.
Twitter owner Elon Musk said late Thursday night that the company was fixing an old bug and the audio service “should be working tomorrow.”
Earlier in the evening, Musk’s network threw reporters from CNN, the Washington Post and the New York Times, among others, into a seven-day suspension for allegedly disclosing the location of his private jet.
BuzzFeed News reporter Katie Notopoulos went live on Twitter Spaces to discuss the abrupt spate of bans — which came without communication to either the journalists or their publications — and was joined by Drew Harwell of the Washington Post and Matt Binder of Mashable, two of the suspended reporters.
Their tweets were no longer visible and they could not post new ones, however they were still allowed to speak on the Spaces service.
Musk dropped in on the session as well, after it accumulated thousands of listeners, to say tersely that anyone who doxxes — gives personal location information about another person — will be suspended.
The journalists countered that they had not posted any real-time flight data, as he alleged, but by then the billionaire had quit the call. The dialogue drew more than 40,000 listeners at its peak.
Twitter Spaces went down while Notopoulos’ session was still ongoing, disconnecting everyone, she said in a later tweet. No recording or information about that session is available on Twitter now.
Musk’s bans have set alarm bells ringing among European Union regulators and politicians, who warned that Twitter will have to tread carefully when new rules on digital content and media freedom take effect in coming months.
The Ghana Food and Drugs Authority is warning the general public to be cautious with the products they buy during the Christmas season to avoid poisoning and other disastrous consequences as a result of consuming fake and expired products.
The Authority raised concerns over the annual offloading of expired products which are often characterized by the Christmas season and gave some tips the public should look out for to spot such products on the market.
It also warned retailers and wholesalers of indulging in the practice of flooding the market with expired and tempered products during this season.
In an interaction with Citi News, the Central Regional Head of the FDA, Francisca Obeng pointed out a few tips to the general public to avoid the consumption of expired and tempered products.
She, especially, warned that “those who will want to do [Christmas] hampers to check the products before they use them for the hampers. Please do well to check the expiry date on the products and avoid buying canned products that are dented, bloated and rusted.”
She added that in order to avoid falling victim to these expired and tempered products, the public should “buy products with clear date markings and avoid products with defaced date markings.”
Altering the expiry dates of products is a crime under Section 113 of The Public Health Act 2012, Act 851, and Section 5 of the P.N.D.C. Law 3058, Food and Drugs Act, 1992, but the phenomenon has been an annual occurrence with few culprits getting arrested.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at a meeting in Washington, on Thursday, December 15, 2022, stated that Ghana’s security apparatus has noticed the activities of Russian mercenaries along its borders in the northern parts of the country, who have been contracted by the Burkinabe government.
Addressing officials of the US government, including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Akufo-Addo said that the Burkinabe government had contracted these mercenaries to help them fight Islamic militants in their country and is paying them with a mining concession.
Akufo-Addo also stated that Ghana was against Russia’s occupation of Ukraine and the use of African countries as training grounds for foreign powers, particularly Russia.
“Apart from not accepting the idea of great powers once again making Africa their theatre of operation, we have a particular position that you know about over the Ukraine war, where we have been very, very vocal and up front about condemning the invasion of Ukraine by Russia,” he said.
Reacting to this in a tweet shared on Friday, December 16, 2022, the MP said that Akufo-Addo’s comments against Russia hurts Ghana’s status as a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) – nations that do not align with or are against any of the world powers.
He added that Akufo-Addo revealing a security briefing he had received in public is also not the best.
“As an MP & a Citizen, I’m terribly worried about the laissez-faire manner the Prez revealed what appears to be contents of classified security briefings on Burkina Faso to a foreign power in this video.
“More worried about how Russia will react. Are we still a Non-Aligned Nation?” parts of the MP’s tweet read.
See the MP’s tweet, plus a video of Akufo-Addo’s statement below:
As an MP & a Citizen, I’m terribly worried about the laissez faire manner the Prez revealed what appears to be contents of classified security briefings on Burkina Faso to a foreign power in this video. More worried about how Russia will react. Are we still a Non-Aligned Nation? pic.twitter.com/mTAsTR17Eu
— Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Esq. MP. (@etsedafeamekpor) December 16, 2022
Efforts to clamp down on the COVID-19 pandemic are on course in the Ashanti Region.
As part of these efforts the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate has stepped up stakeholder engagements to encourage the public to accept and participate in the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination exercise as the festive season approaches.
The Directorate has been engaging traditional and religious leadersas a strategy to reach out to the larger population due to their leadership and influential roles in society.
It has consequently met the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs to solicit the support of the House in the ongoing National COVID-19 Vaccination exercise which is set to end on December 18,2022.
Religious leaders drawn from both the Christian and Muslim communities have also been engaged on the importance of the vaccination exercise in fighting the disease.
The stakeholder engagements, supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners form part of the social mobilisation drive to address vaccine hesitancy.
The goal is to achieve herd immunity and also protect as many people as possible ahead of the yuletide to prevent another wave after the festivities.
Dr. Emmanuel Tinkorang, the Regional Director of Health Services, at a meeting with religious leaders in Kumasi, reminded the participants that the fight is not over, and the engagement is necessary because the transmission of the disease is mainly through human-to-human activities which are most likely to increase during the yuletide.
The trend of the disease, he indicated, showed that the country recorded a new wave every six months and called for a concerted effort to eliminate the disease completely.
The Regional Director said the target of the Directorate is to achieve herd immunity by vaccinating at least 70 per cent of the population in the Region, disclosing that only 48 per cent had been fully vaccinated.
He added that 68 per cent had taken the first dose and urged such people to voluntarily go for the second dose to ensure the target is achieved in the interest of public health.
Dr. Tinkorang also advised organisers of public events during the festive season to insist on safety protocols as a civic responsibility towards the protection of lives.
Madam Charity Nikoi, Social Behaviour Change Communication Specialist, UNICEF, underlined the need for the participants to lead the campaign as leaders for the collective good of society.
She said vaccination is the surest way to protect oneself against COVID-19 and urged religious leaders to be ambassadors against vaccine hesitancy.
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Starring Snoop Dogg, Meagan Good and Steve Howey, the action-comedy film follows Foxx’s character, who works as a pool cleaner by day — and a vampire hunter by night in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley — as he tries to provide for his daughter.
Following comments made by the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, a leading member of the party has declared him unfit to contest in the upcoming National Delegates Congress.
With less than 24 hours to the National Delegates Congress of the largest opposition party, former Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Victor Smith has demanded that Chairman hopeful, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, resigns from the race.
According to him, Asiedu Nketia’s comment that suggested that the National Democratic Congress did not have adequate evidence but went ahead to challenge the 2020 presidential results betrayed the trust and secrecy of the party.
“You are indicting a former President who was our flagbearer at the time, why must you even go to the contest? Personally, if I did not want the good of the party, I would have taken the issue to court on this one. Asiedu Nketia cannot contest this one. In fact, he should be disqualified or sanctioned from the party,” Victor Smith stated.
Speaking on Adom TV’s Badwam on Friday, he said the General Secretary’s statement is unpardonable and therefore, he is unfit to contest in the party’s national congress.
Mr. Smith explained that ‘General Mosquito’s’ action is anti-party conduct, which has embarrassed the party or brought the party into ridicule or contempt.
For which he said “this man cannot take part in our elections. In my opinion, he should be sanctioned. if he wasn’t contesting and somebody went to speak about it, he would have sanctioned the person,” he said.
It would be recalled that in a leaked tape, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia was heard explaining to party faithful that the Director of IT failed to electronically collate the evidence the party needed to contest the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
He said the NDC had no collated results, and thus their lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata rejected the first set of documentation which the party was seeking to rely on to challenge the Electoral Commission’s declaration in Court.
In his remarks, ‘General Mosquito’ further alleged that the NDC’s National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, was the brain behind the party’s inability to effectively collate its results.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has congratulated Ghana on the efforts made so far with regards to the IMF bailout being sought by the country.
Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, restated the Fund’s commitment to help Ghana secure a support programme.
Ghana, in December 2022, reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF, awaiting a board approval.
In a tweet, Ms. Georgieva said “very good meeting with President @NAkufoAddo. I congratulated him on Ghana reaching a staff-level agreement for IMF support. We stand with Ghana and remain committed to helping deliver relief to Ghanaians”.
President Akufo-Addo is in America attending the U.S-African Leaders’ Summit.
Ghana secures staff agreement
The IMF staff and government of Ghana reached a Staff-Level Agreement on economic policies and reforms to be supported by a new three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) of about $3 billion.
A statement from the fund, said the Ghana’s strong reform programme aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability while protecting the vulnerable, preserving financial stability and laying the foundation for strong and inclusive recovery, was key in this decision.
However, the staff-level agreement is subject to IMF Management and Executive Board approval and receipt of the necessary financing assurances by Ghana’s partners and creditors.
To support the objective of restoring public debt sustainability, the statement added that, the government has launched a comprehensive debt operation. But the Fund said sufficient assurances and progress on this front will be needed before the proposed Fund-supported programme can be presented to the IMF Executive Board for approval.
“The Ghanaian authorities have committed to a wide-ranging economic reform program, which builds on the government’s Post-COVID-19 Programme for Economic Growth (PC-PEG) and tackles the deep challenges facing the country”, the statement pointed out.
President @NAkufoAddo. I congratulated him on