In a heartwarming display of familial support, the wife and children of Black Stars player Dennis Odoi were at the stadium on Sunday, January 14, 2024, to cheer him on as the national team faced a challenging match against the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde.
A video circulating on social media captured the family’s presence at the stadium. In the footage, the player’s wife, along with his father and children, can be seen proudly donning Black Stars jerseys, symbolizing their united support for Odoi during the game.
Dennis Odoi’s wife, kids and father in law were present at the stadium in Abidjan to see him play trash.
Canada wants to limit the number of international students it accepts because there is a problem with housing being too expensive.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller said the change is to fix a system that has become too chaotic.
In 2023, almost one million students were accepted to study in Canada, the highest number ever.
In the last two years, the cost of renting a place to live in Canada went up by 22% because there aren’t enough places for people to live.
Mr Miller said he is worried about the large number of international students coming to Canada in interviews over the weekend.
Canada is thinking about putting a limit on the number of foreign students because there is a housing problem.
He said we need a limit on how many houses can be bought, but didn’t say how much the limit will be.
Mr Miller warned that just letting in fewer students to Canada won’t fix the housing problem. He said the problem is also because there aren’t enough houses, they cost too much, and interest rates are going up.
“He said in an interview with CBC, a public broadcaster in Canada, that immigrants did not cause the interest rates to go up. But the amount of people is still important and we need to pay attention to it. ”
The housing crisis is still a big problem. Many people want Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to do something about it, even his main rival Pierre Poilievre.
“MrPoilievre said that if you want more people to come, you have to build homes for them. ” “At this moment, we’re not making enough houses. ”
The problem is hard to solve because limiting the number of students admitted to Canadian colleges and universities will make it difficult for them to make money from international students who pay higher tuition fees.
In recent years, a lot more international students have been coming to study in Canada. The number has gone up by more than 193% from 2012 to 2022, according to information from Canada’s immigration ministry.
The immigration department expects the number of study permit applications to increase to 1. 4 million by 2027, up from just under a million in 2023. This information comes from documents obtained by the Globe and Mail newspaper.
Apart from those students, Canada had a goal of bringing in 1. 5 million new immigrants by 2025.
Canada has always allowed people from other countries to come and live here. This is important because Canada needs more people to work as the population gets older.
The number of people living in the country hit 40 million in 2023, mostly because of immigrants who moved there permanently or temporarily.
At the same time, it’s getting harder for a lot of people to afford housing. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, a national housing agency, says that Canada needs 3. 5 million more homes by 2030 to make them more affordable.
Canada has tried to solve the problem in different ways. In 2023, Canada made a rule that stops some people from other countries from buying homes in Canada for two years.
It also promised to give $1 billion over three years to help with affordable housing projects all over the country.
An owner of a washing bay is seeking the assistance of the public in locating an employee who vanished with the entirety of the day’s sales and reportedly stole another person’s phone.
The incident reportedly occurred on January 14, 2024, at a washing bay where the individual had been recently employed.
The business owner, who shared a video of the guy stealing the items via X expressed deep concern over the employee’s sudden disappearance, highlighting the trust extended to him by offering employment.
He said in the video that the guy had come to his washing bay the day before in search of a job. According to him, the guy told a touching story of how he lost both parents and how he was desperately in need of a job.
The brother of the owner of the washing an allowed him to work there for the day, but at the end, the guy made away with a phone and the sales for the day and has since absconded.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FBNBank, Victor Yaw Asante, has urged the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to undertake a comprehensive review of certain trade and documentation regulations.
As the financial sector continues to evolve rapidly, Mr Asante emphasized the need for these rules to be adapted to stay relevant in the dynamic financial landscape.
Identifying particular regulations requiring reconsideration, he specifically pointed to the trade threshold.
He stressed that certain rules, including this one, were established many years ago and should be recalibrated to align with present-day demands and trends.
“With the trade threshold, for example, you can’t transfer more than US$50,000 without full documentation and so on. Things have changed. I think the central bank has squeezed us a little bit. What it needs to do is to re-examine the rules around trade and trade documentation, because it is becoming a big issue. Some of the rules were set many years ago and we think it is time for the threshold to be re-examined, and that will be key,” he suggested.
Victor Yaw Asante
He made these remarks in response to a question from B&FT about the reforms he envisions for the sector in 2024, during the bank’s annual health workshop in Accra.
He additionally pointed out that alterations to the primary reserve rules, allowing a banking institution to hold primary reserve in the currency it possesses, carry implications for the sector.
Mr. Asante noted that while the central bank is implementing some strategies to put people in check, those same changes are forcing others to try things outside the banking system.
“The central bank is doing very well to try and put a firm grip on how people misbehave, but sometimes in doing that people are also driven underground. So, rather, people try to do things outside the banking system, and that is not what we want,” he added.
While calling for reforms, he commended the BoG – regulator of the financial sector – for the good work done so far and the constant dialogue with regulated institutions, adding that: “We will continue working with the central bank and other relevant bodies to have a better 2024”.
Additionally, he stated that despite challenges faced by the financial sector in 2023 it remains largely sound – with most banks recording growth.
“For starters, government has done a pretty good job of managing the challenges, although other issues are still pending. I think the big one was to try and get the IMF emergency facility. Once those things were managed, it meant that the macros became slightly more predictable; and therefore, we were able to return to normal business,” he explained.
Mr. Asante concluded that the sector’s prospects for 2024 are better than in the previous year: “I expect to see a return to growth for most businesses in 2024, and banks in particular – a bit more confidence in our ability to lend and support our customers”.
Away from the central bank, Mr. Asante advocated a paradigm-shift in the economy’s structure, emphasising the importance of prioritising domestic production over imports. This, he explained, is very key to strengthening the cedi and creating job opportunities for the country’s youth.
A couple on vacation in Iceland said it was really surprising to see a volcano erupting right in front of them.
Lorraine Crawford, who is 67 years old, and her husband, John, who is 70 years old, from Essex, went on a trip with their family to Reykjavik.
The group was in a taxi going to Keflavik International Airport on Sunday when they saw the volcano erupting in the distance, but they thought it was a fire.
People in the community had to leave their homes in November for six weeks. Then, more earthquakes happened and there was another eruption on December 18, 2023.
“It’s kind of worrying and also thrilling to see something like that, but then you realize it could cause a lot of harm,” said Mrs. Crawford, who owns a travel agency with her family.
“We thought we saw a fire far away, but the taxi driver told us it was the real volcano exploding. ”
She said they heard a very loud noise and a very loud rumble from the airport, but they didn’t know what caused it.
Mrs Crawford also said that their taxi driver told them he lived “close” to the volcano.
“He said he was at home one morning and saw what he thought was a fire from his kitchen window. But it turned out to be the volcano erupting,” she said.
“He said this morning when he was going to the airport, there wasn’t anything, but when he was coming back, we could see the red in the distance. It was really crazy. ”
Two people have been arrested for destroying a road and erecting an unauthorised speed ramp along the Ho – Sogakope highway in the Volta Region.
The two have been identified as Saviour Azakasi and Quarshie Godson.
TWO PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR CAUSING DAMAGE TO ROAD AND ERECTING UNAUTHORISED SPEED RAMP ON THE HO – SOGAKOPE ROAD
The Police have arrested two persons in connection with the erection of an unauthorised speed ramp along the Ho – Sogakope highway in the Volta Region. pic.twitter.com/qyqK0fzr9b
According to a tweet from the Ghana Police Service, both suspects are currently in custody assisting investigation while efforts are underway to get the other suspects arrested.
“The balloon had a serious problem,” local police told a CBS affiliate on Sunday.
When the big balloon started flying on Sunday, there were 13 grown-ups on board. The Mayor said there was one person flying the balloon, four people just going for a ride, and eight people jumping out of the sky.
The accident happened right after the skydivers finished their jump, according to Eloy Police Chief Byron Gwaltney.
Investigators got to the place of the crash right after it happened to check the balloon that had crashed. The NTSB called it a Cameron Balloons A160 aircraft.
The accident is still being looked into, but the NTSB found that the balloon had a problem with its envelope.
The Eloy Police Department hasn’t said who was in the crash on Sunday, but CNN reported that the family of Katie Bartrom, a 28-year-old nurse, said she was one of the people who died.
Jennifer Hubartt, Bartrom’s mom, said to a CNN affiliate: “She was a wonderful person, she just became a nurse and was doing well by herself. ”
Mayor Powell said that Eloy has a lot of people who like to go skydiving because it has a big area where skydivers can land.
Officials said the object will be taken to a safe place to be checked more carefully.
The police are asking for your help and good wishes for the families and loved ones who are going through a tough time.
The Majority Chief Whip and incumbent Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has refuted allegations circulating in the public domain, suggesting that payments are made to facilitate the passage of bills through the legislative process.
He stated that no one from the Majority Caucus pays money to members from either faction of the House to influence them in favor or against a decision.
“These claims are false,” he said in an interview. “It’s not about money. It’s about the strategy you employ,” he added.
The only payments Mr Annor Dompreh acknowledged are made to MPs are payments due them.
“So the payment they are talking about I don’t know what they are talking about. If it’s anything due them, committee allowance , common fund, and anything due them, we give to anyone,” he asserted.
“He, therefore, urged the general public to dismiss any claim suggesting that the Minority in Parliament pays MPs to influence decisions in their favor.”
Reports emerging from the Volta Region indicate that some residents are allegedly destroying roads to install unauthorised speed ramps.
This unconventional approach, according to residents, poses a lot of inconvenience to drivers who may want to use the road.
In a video widely circulating on social media, some young men are seen with shovels and spades, with a heap of sand and heavy blocks on the road in the background.
Are they destroying the road just because it was constructed by the NPP and not their beloved NDC?pic.twitter.com/0ZrCQbl7P2
A road user, evidently concerned by the actions of the youth in the area, confronted them but this did not stop the youth from going on with what they were doing.
This incident is said to have happened at Adidome in the Volta Region.
One hundred days ago, something very surprising happened in Israel. A state that was created 75 years ago from hard times and war recently faced a threat to its survival.
Many people in Tel Aviv remembered the events of 7 October on Saturday night. Everyone was really worried about the 130 hostages taken by Hamas in Gaza. Some of them might not be alive anymore.
A hundred days ago, early in the morning, many Hamas fighters with guns broke through the Gaza border fence in different places.
They attacked the kibbutzim, military bases, and border towns. These places are used to getting rocket attacks from Gaza, but this time they were surprised by the large number of attacks from Hamas.
At least 1,200 people were killed on the border because Israeli defenses were taken by surprise.
Hundreds of young music fans running away to save themselves at the Nova festival really scared Israel. Over 360 people died at the festival and many others were taken to Gaza.
Many people were killed in the Israeli bombing after Hamas attacked. Over 23,000 people have been killed, with many of them being women and children, according to the health ministry run by Hamas. It is thought that thousands more people are dead under collapsed buildings.
In Israel on Saturday, families of the missing people went to a big event in Tel Aviv. They carried posters and wore T-shirts with the faces of their loved ones on them.
I talked to Yossi Schneider, who is Shiri Bibas’ cousin. She and her family were taken by force.
Yossi is upset because 130 people, mostly not soldiers, are being kept without medicine. The Red Cross isn’t allowed to see them and Yossi’s family doesn’t know how they are doing.
My family has three generations that are missing. My family has three generations, and everyone is telling us to stay calm and be quiet. “I am tired and frustrated, I can’t handle this anymore,” he says.
Many people here believe that on 7 October, Israel faced its biggest threat ever and Israelis have never felt so unprotected. The government’s main focus is to bring the hostages back safely, and most people support their goals in the war in Gaza. There are only a few people asking for tolerance and living together peacefully.
As Israel’s defense forces reacted to the events in the south on Saturday, October 7, they began a big bombing campaign in Gaza. They want to completely destroy Hamas and its supporters.
A lot of the land from Gaza city to Khan Younis has been completely ruined.
Israel is saying that Hamas in northern Gaza has become very weak and almost unable to operate as a group.
However, a lot of innocent people have been killed in the Israeli bombing.
Officials from Palestine say that 85% of the people in Gaza have been forced to leave their homes. More help is going to Gaza, but the head of the UN’s aid efforts says the situation there is really bad.
Faten Abu Shahada has to get kidney treatment often, so she and her family had to move to the south. Faten and the children now live in a plastic tent in Khan Younis. They can always hear an Israeli drone flying above them.
“Gaza is in ruins. ” Faten says there is nothing left in Gaza – no hospitals, no schools. “Our kids missed school, Gaza is not thriving anymore. ”
Many countries want Israel to stop fighting in Gaza because many civilians are suffering a lot.
Even the US, which is a close friend of Israel and supports its right to defend itself, has told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that too many innocent civilians are being killed.
President Biden said that Israel’s widespread bombing is causing the country to lose support from other countries.
Gideon Levy writes for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz and often disagrees with Mr. I asked him if this war, which is Israel’s longest since 1948, will end soon.
Levy said the war will continue as long as Americans let Israel keep fighting.
He said, “I don’t think it will be much longer, maybe just a few more weeks. ” However, this doesn’t mean that the war has ended because nobody has considered what will happen next.
“If Israel doesn’t leave Gaza, there will be a fight. ” If someone fights back, they will be fought against.
The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is still going on, and it doesn’t seem like Mr Netanyahu wants to end it anytime soon.
Israel says the fighting will continue until Hamas is completely beaten. The near future for the region, and especially for many people living in bad conditions in Gaza, looks really bad.
Black Stars forward, Jordan Ayew, has attributed the loss of the National team in the match against Cape Verde, to a lack of experience on the part of most players.
In a post match interview, Jordan asserted that most of the players who played on Sunday made their first appearance at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in yesterday’s game hence the many mistakes that eventually led to their defeat.
“We lack a lot of experience. I know you can say anything but at the end of the day when you look at the squad, more than ten it’s their first AFCON,” he stated.
Addressing the recent defeat of the Black Stars, in the match against Cape Verde, Jordan acknowledged that the mistakes made during the match do happen, however, he emphasized the importance of swift learning from the experience.
“So these types of mistakes and we need to learn quick,” he said.
The Black Stars faced a challenging match that resulted in an unexpected defeat. Cape Verde scored the first goal in the game, however, the Black Stars equalised but Cape Verde later scored their second goal few minutes to the end of the game.
Regardless, he entreated the players to get over the defeat, get back up and do their better in their subsequent games.
“The AFCON is there, it’s not waiting for anyone. It’s not easy, it’s hard and we are men, we need to stand up and face the reality,” he said.
The caucus voting begins at 7:00 PM in the evening in different places around the state like schools, churches, and small events. This is 8:00 PM Eastern time and 1:00 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Voters will have to deal with very cold temperatures of -23C (-9F) because of winter storms that covered the state with snow and ice.
According to the latest poll, 48% of Iowa voters prefer Donald Trump, while Nikki Haley (20%) and Ron DeSantis (16%) are his closest competitors.
Haley or DeSantis doing very well in second place could help them a lot in the race to choose a candidate for the election in November.
The Black Stars faced a challenging match that resulted in an unexpected defeat. Cape Verde scored the first goal in the game, however, the Black Stars equalised but Cape Verde later scored their second goal few minutes to the end of the game.
Mr Ayew holds the view that lack of experience on the part of most of the players who played yesterday’s match accounted for their defeat.
“We lack a lot of experience. I know you can say anything but at the end of the day when you look at the squad, more than ten it’s their first AFCON,” he stated.
Regardless, he entreated the players to get over the defeat, get back up and do their better in their subsequent games.
“The AFCON is there, it’s not waiting for anyone. It’s not easy, it’s hard and we are men, we need to stand up and face the reality,” he said.
“The strike was unexpected,” she says. “We were yelling and I couldn’t move until someone picked me up and placed me on a cart. ”
“What did we do that was not right. We were just sitting. ” It’s not safe at home or outside. “Where should we go. ”
The IDF stopped fighting in the city for a short time to help people in need after earlier attacks.
Israel is attacking the members and buildings of Hamas and is trying to prevent civilians from getting hurt.
On Telegram, the health ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra said that the buildings and medical facilities in Rafah are not enough to help the around 1. 3 million people who had to leave their homes.
“Rafah is getting very crowded because a lot of Palestinian families who have been forced to leave their homes have been arriving in the area,” he said.
The doctors at Nasser hospital in the city said it is hard for them to help patients because the healthcare system is not working well.
“Dr Mohammad al-Qidra said that a lot of the important medical things in the ICU are not there. ” “We have no empty beds and can’t provide any treatment. ” Many of the medicines in the emergency room are not sufficient for the patients. We are looking for other options.
Many people who have nowhere to live are staying in the hospital.
Less than half of Gaza’s hospitals are working, and the ones that are working are only partially functioning, according to the World Health Organisation. There were not many ambulances working in the Gaza Strip, said the health ministry run by Hamas.
In the middle of Gaza, people said there were big fights with guns, tanks shooting, and attacks from Israeli planes in the Bureij, Nuseirat and Maghazi refugee camps – places with lots of buildings close together.
The Israeli army said they attacked some places and killed many fighters.
The IDF reported that they killed Hamas fighters in Khan Younis. Hamas said they fired at an IDF helicopter near the city.
A lot of Palestinians, mostly regular people, have been killed in Israel’s fight with Hamas in Gaza. The health ministry run by Hamas says 23,843 people have died.
Israel started its attack because many Hamas fighters went into southern Israeli towns from Gaza. They killed around 1,300 people and took about 240 others as hostages.
The population of the southern Gaza city has grown to over a million people as people from other parts of Gaza come there to stay safe.
The IDF said they are checking the reports.
Missiles were also shot from Gaza into the southern part of Israel.
Samir Qeshta from Rafah said that his house was completely destroyed by Israeli bombing while he and his wife were not at home.
“This house kept me and my children safe and protected. ” “We are peaceful. They attacked us without warning,” he said.
Nimma al-Akhras was at her house when the bombing started.
“The strike was unexpected,” she says. “We were yelling and I couldn’t move until someone picked me up and placed me on a cart. ”
“What did we do that was not right. We were just sitting. ” It’s not safe at home or outside. “Where should we go. ”
The IDF stopped fighting in the city for a short time to help people in need after earlier attacks.
Israel is attacking the members and buildings of Hamas and is trying to prevent civilians from getting hurt.
On Telegram, the health ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra said that the buildings and medical facilities in Rafah are not enough to help the around 1. 3 million people who had to leave their homes.
“Rafah is getting very crowded because a lot of Palestinian families who have been forced to leave their homes have been arriving in the area,” he said.
The doctors at Nasser hospital in the city said it is hard for them to help patients because the healthcare system is not working well.
“Dr Mohammad al-Qidra said that a lot of the important medical things in the ICU are not there. ” “We have no empty beds and can’t provide any treatment. ” Many of the medicines in the emergency room are not sufficient for the patients. We are looking for other options.
Many people who have nowhere to live are staying in the hospital.
Less than half of Gaza’s hospitals are working, and the ones that are working are only partially functioning, according to the World Health Organisation. There were not many ambulances working in the Gaza Strip, said the health ministry run by Hamas.
In the middle of Gaza, people said there were big fights with guns, tanks shooting, and attacks from Israeli planes in the Bureij, Nuseirat and Maghazi refugee camps – places with lots of buildings close together.
The Israeli army said they attacked some places and killed many fighters.
The IDF reported that they killed Hamas fighters in Khan Younis. Hamas said they fired at an IDF helicopter near the city.
A lot of Palestinians, mostly regular people, have been killed in Israel’s fight with Hamas in Gaza. The health ministry run by Hamas says 23,843 people have died.
Israel started its attack because many Hamas fighters went into southern Israeli towns from Gaza. They killed around 1,300 people and took about 240 others as hostages.
Deputy Energy Minister, Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, has called out naysayers claiming that erratic power outages experienced some years ago, which gained notoriety as ‘dumsor’ has returned.
Rejecting the claims, Mr Egyapa Mercer insisted that ‘dumsor’ is the legacy of former President John Dramani Mahama, and would not return under this administration.
“Dumsor is the legacy of former President John Mahama. It was dead with him and remains buried with him. Dumsor is not back. That’s the assurance I’m giving to every Ghanaian,” he said.
During an interview on Peace FM, he acknowledged that the recent outages were unfortunate, however, claims of the doomsday prophets to the effect that dumsor is back are false.
Recent power outages have raised concerns over the return of ‘dumsor’. Members of the public, including top guns in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have all raised concerns over the matter.
NDC has questioned the silence of the Akufo Addo government over the return of erratic power supply (Dumsor).
According to key officials of the party, the current administration has supervised the return of the dreaded power outages widely known as Dumsor.
Taking to social media platform X, National Communications Officer of the party Sammy Gyamfi and Aide to the former president Felix Ofposu Kwakye in separate posts quizzed why power in major parts of the capital had been out.
“So why is the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government concealing the fact that we are in Dumsor?
“What are they hiding?” Felix asked.
Sammy Gyamfi also said, “It’s sad how Ghanaians are being plunged into #Dumsor after the problem was sustainably addressed by the visionary Nation Builder, @JDMahama. What’s happening here @MBawumia @NAkufoAddo ?”
Nonetheless, Mr Egyapa Mercer and the current administration maintains their stance that dumsor is not back.
Ukraine’s military shot down a Russian spy plane over the Sea of Azov. This is bad news for Russia’s air force.
General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, leader of the army, said the air force “destroyed” a long range radar detection plane and an air control center.
The A-50 finds enemy air defenses and helps Russian jets know where to attack.
Ukraine has had a hard time making progress against Russian forces in the southeast.
Russian officials said they didn’t know about the attacks, but important Russian people who support war said that losing an A-50 would be a big deal.
A well-known military channel, Rybar, said that if Ukraine’s report about the Russian losses was true, it would be a very bad day for the Russian air force.
Another channel reported that the Il-22 command center was hit by Russian “friendly fire”.
Gen Zaluzhnyi said on the internet that Ukraine’s air force did a very good job with a plan in the Azov region, which is in the south-east part of Ukraine.
Mykola Oleshchuk, who is in charge of the Ukrainian Air Force, talked about the airplane crash in a message on the app Telegram, but didn’t give any specific information.
Justin Bronk, who knows a lot about air wars, said to the BBC that if it’s true that Russia lost an A-50, it would be a really big and embarrassing loss for their air force.
He said the A-50 is an important plane that helps Russian aircraft and missiles get early warning and information about low-flying Ukrainian planes.
He said there are only a few of these planes in the Russian air force and not many trained crews. If one is lost, it would be a big problem.
He said if it’s approved, it would be a very far-reaching attack for Ukrainian Patriot air defense missiles, pushing the weapon to its limits.
Frank Gardner, who reports on security for the BBC, said it’s a small piece of good news for Ukraine in the middle of a lot of bad news.
He said things are not going well for Ukraine. They don’t have enough ammunition, their soldiers are not feeling good, and Russia keeps attacking their infrastructure.
The missile that was shot at the USS Laboon in the Red Sea was destroyed by a US fighter plane near the coast of Hudaydah.
No one got hurt or things broken in the accident on Sunday afternoon.
After the US and UK attacked the Houthis to weaken their military power because they have been attacking ships in the Red Sea.
The US and UK attacked almost 30 places in Yemen on Friday. They targeted places where weapons are stored, places where supplies are kept, and defense systems.
On Saturday, the US attacked a Houthi radar site again.
President Joe Biden said he will not hesitate to take more steps to protect our people and the flow of international trade if needed.
Likewise, the UK is ready to take more steps against the Houthis.
Hussain Al-Bukhaiti, a strong supporter of the Houthi group, told the BBC that fighters will attack US and UK warships if the airstrikes on Yemen keep happening.
The Houthis are a powerful group that controls a big area of Yemen, including the main city. They are important friends of Hamas and are believed to get weapons from Iran, which is Israel’s biggest enemy.
Since November 19th, they have attacked cargo ships in the Red Sea at least 27 times. The Red Sea is a very important route for ships that travel around the world.
The group said they were aiming at ships going to Israel or owned by Israel, to show support for the people of Gaza. However, some of the ships they have attacked are not clearly linked to Israel.
The attacks made big shipping companies change the path of their ships so they don’t go through the Red Sea. Instead, they take a longer way around the southern tip of Africa.
This has affected the world economy already, with the big shipping company Maersk saying it’s being felt by the people who buy the products.
Tesla and Volvo have stopped making some cars, Tesco said some prices might go up, and Ikea said there could be fewer supplies.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the Houthi attacks are causing big problems for an important trade route and making things more expensive.
The group’s attacks, along with the UK-US strikes in Yemen, are making people worry that the conflict in Gaza is spreading to the rest of the Middle East.
Abossey Okai spare parts dealers have voiced concerns over the government’s new taxes, expressing dissatisfaction with the adverse business impact.
The spare parts dealers conveyed their disappointment, having initially perceived the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government as business-friendly, only to witness what they now characterize as detrimental taxation measures.
The dealers urged the government to establish a stable business environment to support economic growth.
“The country and everything in it are messed up, and everything has changed, right down to the food we eat. Everything is being taxed, and we don’t see what the tax is being used for. I am paying GHS6,000 for a container, and a part I used to sell for GHS5 is now GHS20,” one spare parts dealer said.
“Some two years ago, we were selling Toyota Vitz for GHS35,000, but it is now selling for GHS70,000, and the cost of spare parts has also shot up due to high import duties and the unstable exchange rates, and all we look forward to is voting this government out,” another dealer stated.
UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps talked about the US and UK attacking the Houthis in Yemen. He said they did this to stop more attacks on ships in the Red Sea because they had enough of it.
The US and UK attacks were trying to weaken the Houthis’ military power because they have been attacking cargo ships since November.
The Houthis are a group that runs a big part of Yemen and are friends with Hamas in Gaza.
Shapps said on BBC that they took quiet and fair actions to stop more violent behavior in the area.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecasted a significant transformation in the global job market caused by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
IMF is foreseeing a 40% reduction in employment worldwide due to the rapid advancement of AI.
As technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, the IMF’s latest report sheds light on the potential impact of AI on various industries and occupations, raising concerns about the future of work for millions around the world.
The IMF underscores that the integration of AI technologies into diverse sectors, ranging from manufacturing to service industries, is poised to bring about substantial changes in labor dynamics.
Almost 40.0% of global employment is exposed to Artificial Intelligence, the International Monetary Fund has stated in its new analysis.
Historically, it said, automation and information technology have tended to affect routine tasks, but one of the things that sets AI apart is its ability to impact high-skilled jobs.
As a result, advanced economies face greater risks from AI—but also more opportunities to leverage its benefits—compared with emerging market and developing economies.
In advanced economies, about 60% of jobs may be impacted by AI. Roughly half the exposed jobs may benefit from AI integration, enhancing productivity.
For the other half, AI applications may execute key tasks currently performed by humans, which could lower labor demand, leading to lower wages and reduced hiring. In the most extreme cases, some of these jobs may disappear.
In emerging markets and low-income countries, by contrast, AI exposure is expected to be 40 percent and 26 percent, respectively. These findings suggest emerging markets and developing economies face fewer immediate disruptions from AI.
At the same time, the report said, many of these countries don’t have the infrastructure or skilled workforces to harness the benefits of AI, raising the risk that over time the technology could worsen inequality among nations.
One of the few countries that still supported Taiwan has decided to be friends with China instead, after Taiwan elected a new president.
Nauru, a very small island in Micronesia, was only one of 12 countries that had a relationship with Taipei.
In recent years, Beijing has been persuading countries to stop being friends with Taiwan, because they believe Taiwan is part of China.
Taiwan says that the recent defeat is connected to the election outcomes from the weekend, which made China upset.
In the election, people chose William Lai as their new president. China called him a “troublemaker” because he has supported Taiwan’s independence. China doesn’t like this.
Taiwan officials said that Nauru’s announcement is not just China’s way of getting back at our elections, but also a direct challenge to the global order. Nauru’s government said it will now see Taiwan as part of China, not its own separate country.
During a press conference on Monday, Taipei’s deputy foreign minister Tien Chung-kwang said that China is using the recent changes in Nauru’s politics to give them money in exchange for support.
China believes it can control Taiwan using these methods, but I disagree. The world has seen that Taiwan is becoming more democratic. Tien said that if Beijing keeps using bad ways to take away Taiwan’s diplomatic relationships, democratic countries won’t accept it.
However, he still is very focused on making sure Taiwan is not isolated by China on the international stage. He is keeping a close watch for any further actions from China.
China thinks that the island of Nauru, which has 23 million people, belongs to them and will be under their control in the future. They are happy with Nauru’s decision.
China’s foreign ministry said Nauru’s government decision to be friends with China again shows that most people want there to be only one China and that this is a growing trend.
This is not the first time Nauru has stopped working with Taiwan. Taiwan sees itself as different from mainland China and has its own constitution and elected leaders.
In 2002, Nauru changed its alliance to China, but later in May 2005, it went back to being friends with Taiwan.
Experts also told the BBC that Nauru’s decision was not surprising.
Anna Powles, an associate professor in security studies at Massey University in New Zealand, said that it has been possible for a while that Nauru would stop recognizing Taiwan and start recognizing China instead.
Australia moved quickly to offer a treaty to help people from Tuvalu because they were worried that Tuvalu might start supporting China instead.
“She also said there were worries about Nauru. ”
Mihai Sora, a researcher at an Australian think tank, said that China is always trying to reduce Taiwan’s power, especially in the Pacific where many small countries are trying to develop.
Because Taiwan doesn’t have many friends in the world, each one it does have is really important for its independence. China may keep trying to weaken that.
Houses in the town of Grindavik in Iceland were caught on fire because two cracks in the ground caused by a volcano.
A volcano erupted on the Reykjanes peninsula early on Sunday, and lava flowed into the nearby fishing town.
According to one expert, the eruption is turning out to be the worst possible situation, and everyone in the town is being forced to leave.
Defences made after a volcano eruption in December have somewhat stopped the lava, but some have been broken through.
The road into the town is blocked by flowing lava. On Monday, the Icelandic government said the hot liquid rock has started to flow slower.
Iceland’s President Gudni Johannesson spoke to the country on live TV on Sunday night. He asked everyone to come together and show kindness to those who can’t be at home.
He said he wanted things to calm down, but anything could happen. This was reported by the AFP news agency.
A big earthquake happened before the Svartsengi volcano erupted in December. In the weeks that followed, walls were constructed around the volcano to guide the hot liquid rock away from Grindavik, where about 4,000 people live.
The Icelandic weather office said the walls were broken in some places, and now lava has reached the town and set houses and buildings on fire.
Flights were not affected by the volcano eruption, both within the country and to other countries. The aviation colour code for the Reykjanes peninsula was orange on Monday morning. This means there is an ongoing eruption but there is not a lot of ash coming out.
Flights from Keflavik Airport nearby were running as usual.
People who had gone back to live in Grindavik, in the southwest of Iceland, after the last volcano eruption, had to leave their homes again.
“Watching your house burn on TV is really hard,” said Unndpr Sigurthsson, whose family lost their home. She said her family had to leave most of their things when they were told to leave quickly, so they only had clothes and things they really needed.
Volcano expert Evgenia Ilyinskaya said on BBC Breakfast that the peninsula will probably have a lot of volcanic eruptions soon, called the New Reykjanes Fires.
Professor Ilyinskaya said that volcanic eruptions could happen every few months or once a year for many decades or even centuries.
The Reykjanes Fires were a lot of big volcanic eruptions that happened on the peninsula in the 12th Century.
Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir said the government will have a meeting on Monday to talk about how to help the people who had to leave their homes.
“Today is a sad day for Grindavik and for all of Iceland, but things will get better,” she said.
“We will face this surprise together, and we will handle whatever happens next. ” We are thinking of you and sending our best wishes.
The alert level in the country is now at its highest, which means there could be a danger to people, communities, property, or the environment.
Sunday’s explosion is the fifth one to happen along the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021.
Iceland is located on a big crack in the Earth’s crust where two huge pieces of the Earth’s surface meet. Iceland has 33 volcanoes that are still active.
The Ministry of Works and Housing has issued a firm statement to set the record straight on allegations of the sale of the official residence of the late Justice Samuel Marful-Sau.
The Ministry has emphatically declared that Justice Marful-Sau’s house has not been sold and continues to be the property of the State.
Addressing concerns which first emerged from the camp of the Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, the Ministry dispelled the claims and provided clarity on the status of the esteemed justice’s residence.
The assertion comes amid recent claims made by Kennedy Agyapong, which suggested that the former Chief Justice and the sector Minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye, have colluded to sell the property.
n a statement issued on Sunday, January 14, the Ministry said it “strongly refutes the allegation and states that there has been no such sale of the property.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the said land has not been sold as it is mischievously being alleged and remains the property of the State. The Government Redevelopment Programme (GRP) is rather a cost-effective undertaking which ultimately gives optimal benefit and ensures efficient use of government lands.”
It indicated the facts were that the current developments taking place at the official residence of the late Justice Marful-Sau formed part of the Government Redevelopment Programme (GRP).
“The GRP, which dates as far back as 1992, has since its inception, been widely implemented by successive Governments within the Greater Accra Region, specifically in Kanda. Cantonments, West Ridge and Roman Ridge. On 14th May 2018, Cabinet approved a revised scheme regarding the GRP to include other neighbourhoods such as Osu Ringway, Airport Residential Area and Labone,” it added.
The Ministry stated that the Government Resettlement Program (GRP) was prompted by the necessity to secure residential housing in Accra to accommodate the increasing population of public and civil servants.
Forty years later, after being in Brazil and Jamaica, they wanted to go on another adventure and feel young again.
We went to Amsterdam to celebrate New Year’s Eve, but that was just a quick visit before heading to the beautiful Potters Resort in Hopton-On-Sea, Norfolk.
It might not be a popular route, but they had a good reason – they were the Israeli players competing in the Open Pairs at the World Indoor Bowls Championships.
They were not able to play on the famous blue rink because they lost their first round match in a tie-break against Scotland’s Ronnie Duncan and Colin Walker.
David was happy with his first time performing on the big stage.
“He said he had a great time. ” “I’m really pleased with how our team did, even though we didn’t win. ”
“I like the people here, they are very nice. It’s special to be here. The food is great, the shows are great, and all the staff are wonderful. This place is beautiful. ”
It’s hard to leave Israel.
It’s not easy to qualify for the World Championships, and the ongoing fight between the Hadar brothers’ home country Israel and Hamas made it even harder.
David, who is 69 years old and no longer working, and Zvika, who is 65 years old and works in real estate, both live in the city of Ra’anana. Ra’anana is around 6 miles (10km) north of Tel-Aviv.
Zvika says it was hard to decide to leave their home because of the current situation.
“He said that Israelis are a little scared when they hear about anti-Semitism in the world. ”
In Amsterdam and here, everyone has been very supportive and sympathetic, which has pleasantly surprised me.
Deciding to come here was hard because in Israel, we have been sad for the last three months about the people we know who got hurt or died.
In November, I didn’t go to the Scottish International competition even though I could, because it was too close to the problem. It wasn’t okay to leave the bad situation and go have fun.
“I also wanted to come here and show Israelis in a positive way on TV and in person, instead of only focusing on the war and the people who are getting hurt. ”
Spending a week with my brother and trying to win against the best bowlers in the world has been really fun.
Adjusting something inside.
During the World Championships, Wayne Willgress and Mervyn King, who are top players, have said that it’s really hard to figure out how fast the blue rink is, even though they live nearby.
David and Zvika have a hard time because there are no indoor bowls places in Israel. They both belong to Ra’Annana Bowls Club.
“Bowling is not as popular in Israel as it is here,” Zvika says. “There are four groups of people, each with 400-500 members, playing on the grass. ”
“We’re not used to being inside all the time, so it’s hard for us to get used to it when we’re here. ”
Luckily, some past champions were there to help David, who hasn’t been playing for very long.
“I practiced with two very experienced bowlers, Greg Harlow and David Gourlay MBE, as a new international bowler,” he said.
“They were both really kind, they helped me and gave me advice. ” I got new bowls because of them.
Zvika has been bowling for a long time and has won competitions at a high level, including beating the world champion in 2010.
He remembers playing with the best players in the world for the first time.
“It was the same for me, especially in the first few years. They always want to help the new overseas players who don’t have much experience on this blue portable rink, which is not easy,” he said.
“I’ve been bowling for 20 years and the event at Potters is the most exciting and fun. The people here are friendly and the conditions for us as players are great. It’s also shown on TV all over the world. We really enjoy coming here and having a great time. ”
David and Zvika lost their game, but playing bowls together has brought them back together after a long time.
Zvika said we were very close when we were young, but then we got married and started our own families.
“Now two brothers are going on a trip together and having a lot of fun. “
Ministry of Works and Housing has denied allegations that the Housing Minister, Asenso-Boakye, teamed up with the Former Chief Justice in the sale of Justice Marful-Sau’s official residence.
The Ministry’s statement is in response to allegations of a collusion between Mr Asenso-Boakye and the Former Chief Justice in the sale of Justice Samuel Marful-Sau’s official residence, as asserted by Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong.
In a statement issued on Sunday, January 14, the Ministry said it “strongly refutes the allegation and states that there has been no such sale of the property.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the said land has not been sold as it is mischievously being alleged and remains the property of the State. The Government Redevelopment Programme (GRP) is rather a cost-effective undertaking which ultimately gives optimal benefit and ensures efficient use of government lands.”
It indicated the facts were that the current developments taking place at the official residence of the late Justice Marful-Sau formed part of the Government Redevelopment Programme (GRP).
“The GRP, which dates as far back as 1992, has since its inception, been widely implemented by successive Governments within the Greater Accra Region, specifically in Kanda. Cantonments, West Ridge and Roman Ridge. On 14th May 2018, Cabinet approved a revised scheme regarding the GRP to include other neighbourhoods such as Osu Ringway, Airport Residential Area and Labone,” it added.
The Ministry stated that the Government Resettlement Program (GRP) was prompted by the necessity to secure residential housing in Accra to accommodate the increasing population of public and civil servants.
Rishi Sunak will talk to members of Parliament for the first time since the UK joined US attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen.
The government will consider more strikes against the armed group if they keep attacking ships in the Red Sea, the Defence Secretary said on BBC News.
Mr Shapps said the UK does not want to get involved in a long-term plan in the Red Sea.
“We just want to be able to ship things to other countries. ”
The defense secretary told BBC Breakfast that if the Houthis don’t stop, there may be more attacks.
We really hope they will learn from this and stop bothering ships.
He also supported the government’s choice to attack the Houthis without discussing it or holding a vote in parliament first.
The prime minister is in trouble because he ordered the strikes without talking to other politicians first. He said the strikes were for self-protection.
Mr Shapps said that giving too much information to the Houthis would not have been a good idea.
“We had to do something. ” Actually, we did that after talking to parliament a lot. With the person speaking, the leader of the other party, and others.
He said the strikes, which hit 16 Houthi rebel sites, were a small but fair action. He hopes it shows that thugs can’t disrupt international shipping like that.
He said that the strikes were meant to show Iran a message because he believes they are helping the Houthis, a group that controls the north of Yemen and its capital Sanaa.
He also said no to the Houthi’s claim that they were only attacking ships connected to Israel. He explained that ships from 50 different countries have been attacked.
After the attacks, the US said it stopped a missile that was shot at one of its warships from a Houthi area in Yemen on Sunday. Nobody got hurt.
The group’s attacks on cargo ships have made big shipping companies change their routes and go around southern Africa instead of through the Red Sea. Some ships that are attacked don’t seem to have any connection to Israel.
Mr Sunak will talk about the strikes on Houthi places in the House of Commons today.
This is the first time Mr. Sunak has chosen to join the military in action since becoming prime minister in October 2022, which is an important moment in his political career.
He will probably be asked today if the UK will join in more attacks and what the government is doing to prevent a bigger conflict in the area.
Conservative MPs have mostly approved of Mr Sunak’s decision this weekend.
Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour party, was told about the strikes before they happened. He said he agreed with the strikes and wants Parliament to talk about it.
He said that keeping the country safe is the most important thing. “Sometimes there are emergencies where Parliament can’t be asked before making a decision. ”
But Layla Moran from the Liberal Democrats said that Parliament should be able to talk about and decide on military action. And Jeremy Corbyn, who used to be the leader of the Labour Party, said it’s very wrong that Parliament wasn’t even asked for their opinion.
The government doesn’t have to ask for permission from Parliament before using the military. However, in the recent years, it has become a tradition for the Commons to usually be able to talk about sending military forces before it happens.
Speaking about the criticism, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “I don’t think it was right to have a discussion and a vote before taking this action, because it’s important for security reasons to take action first and then talk about it in Parliament later. “
Dixcove Castle, a historical landmark in the Western Region of Ghana, is currently embroiled in controversy as reports have surfaced that the property is now in the hands of a British descendant seeking to turn it into an Airbnb or restaurant.
A tourist who visited the area blew the whistle on the controversy.
She alleged that the castle, with its roots tracing back to the colonial era, is being rented by a white British individual.
Are we serious in this country at all??💔🤦🏽♂️
Tourist claims a Castle in the Western Region of Ghana has been sold and getting renovated for parts to used as AirBnb 😯 pic.twitter.com/mCLzxtCoq4
The said individual is reported to be a descendant of the first governor who once resided in the castle during the colonial period.
“I hear that the people who are renting this place, this castle Dixcove castle at the Western Region.
“And the person who is renting this place is still a white person, a British and a descendant of the first person who owned this castle or the first governor who used to live in this castle. And they are trying to turn this place into AirBnB or a restaurant,” she remarked.
In the aftermath of a distressing accident involving the convoy of Second Lady Samira Bawumia, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, has issued a fervent call for increased road safety awareness as the nation steps into the campaign season.
In a tweet, he said: “Please drive carefully as we get into the campaign season. Cheers.”
It comes after Saturday’s fatal accident involving the convoy of the wife of the Vice President, Samira Bawumia.
One person sadly lost his life while the Second Lady miraculously survived the accident unscathed.
Alhassan Fuseini, passed away on Saturday, January 13, 2024, after the car which was among the convoy of Mrs Bawumia crashed.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has expressed his deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased.
In a tweet, the Vice President said: “It is with deep sorrow that I announce the death of Mumuni Fuseini, a staff in my office. He died yesterday from an accident involving a vehicle in the Convoy of the Second Lady, Hajia Samira.
“Fuseini was a hardworking member of the Closed Protection Unit. He has since been buried according to Islamic traditions. My condolences to his family and friends. May Allah forgive Fuseini’s shortcomings and grant him Jannah,” he added.
According to a report from Asaaseradio.com, the unfortunate event took place while the Second Lady was on her way to the Ashanti Region.
The report reveals that a sprinter bus narrowly avoided a collision with her convoy but unfortunately crashed into two cars trailing behind.
Alhassan Fuseini, now departed, was a member of the convoy escorting Mrs. Bawumia when a collision occurred with a bus at Ohene-Nkwata near Nobewam in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
The multi-vehicle accident included the collision of two Toyota Land Cruisers, a Mercedes Benz car, and a Sprinter Benz bus.
Among the eight victims, four sustained severe injuries.
Despite the gravity of the accident, Samira Bawumia remained unharmed and sustained no serious injuries.
However, it is reported that one Fuseini, the bodyguard of the second lady, lost his life in the accident. Fuseini has been with the Bawumia’s since 2008.
Mourners gathered on Sunday morning, January 14, 2024, to pay their respects at the funeral service for Alhassan, who until his demise remained a dedicated member of Samira Bawumia‘s security detail.
The somber event commemorated his life, cut short tragically in the accident that happened on Saturday.
During the ceremony today, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Samira Bawumia, were observed in a solemn mood as they accompanied Alhassan’s family.
The burial was performed in line with Islamic customs.
Cocoa farmers in the country have praised President Akufo-Addo for the significant increase in the cocoa producer price for the 2023/2024 season and other government interventions.
They feel the support and recognition are unprecedented and have saved their farms from collapsing, positioning the country to potentially become the largest cocoa producer globally.
The President of the Best Cocoa Farmers Association, Charles Gyemfi, expressed this appreciation during a visit to President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House in Accra on January 13, 2024.
Mr Gyemfi, who was the 2018 National Best Cocoa Farmer and 2019 National Best Farmer, said they were initially skeptical when they heard of the 2023/2024 prices because no such increases had occurred before.
Hence “If it goes on like that, we will not give you show down, but show up,” he said.
What were the government’s interventions?
Before 2017, the cocoa industry was facing a serious problem called swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD). Mr. Gyemfi explained that President Akufo-Addo stepped in to help by cutting down the affected trees, compensating farmers, and planting new ones at no cost to the farmers.
This action not only got rid of the disease but also resulted in more food crops being grown alongside cocoa.
This, in turn, increased income for the farmers and made sure they had enough food, providing food security.
“We recognised the efforts of the government in uplifting the industry with initiatives such as the provision of mechanisation and irrigation, pruning, hand pollination, strategic early mass spraying and value addition,” he added.
Additionally, Mr. Gyemfi urged the President to make sure that enough money was available to pay farmers as soon as they sold their cocoa at the start of the season in order to prevent smuggling.
Meanwhile, around 50 farmers, including the best cocoa farmers, young farmers, and the best female cocoa farmer, were part of the group.
Clad in while the farmers happily danced with President Akufo-Addo to say thank you.
Leading the group were Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, and Mr. Peter Mac Manu, the Chairman of COCOBOD’s Board. Dr. Bryan Acheampong, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, was also there at the event.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has extended his deepest condolences to the family of the deceased bodyguard who lost his life in an accident on Saturday, January 13, 2024.
Alhassan Fuseini, sadly passed away on Saturday, January 13, 2024, after the car which was among the convoy of Mrs Bawumia crashed.
The Second Lady miraculously survived the accident unscathed.
Speaking on the matter, the Vice President said: “It is with deep sorrow that I announce the death of Mumuni Fuseini, a staff in my office. He died yesterday from an accident involving a vehicle in the Convoy of the Second Lady, Hajia Samira.
“Fuseini was a hardworking member of the Closed Protection Unit. He has since been buried according to Islamic traditions. My condolences to his family and friends. May Allah forgive Fuseini’s shortcomings and grant him Jannah,” he added.
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Rajioon.
It is with deep sorrow that I announce the death of Mumuni Fuseini, a staff in my office. He died yesterday from an accident involving a vehicle in the Convoy of the Second Lady, Hajia Samira. Fuseini was a hardworking member of the Closed… pic.twitter.com/E6UfyMkzE3
According to a report from Asaaseradio.com, the unfortunate event took place while the Second Lady was on her way to the Ashanti Region.
The report reveals that a sprinter bus narrowly avoided a collision with her convoy but unfortunately crashed into two cars trailing behind.
Alhassan Fuseini, now departed, was a member of the convoy escorting Mrs. Bawumia when a collision occurred with a bus at Ohene-Nkwata near Nobewam in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
The multi-vehicle accident included the collision of two Toyota Land Cruisers, a Mercedes Benz car, and a Sprinter Benz bus.
Among the eight victims, four sustained severe injuries.
Despite the gravity of the accident, Samira Bawumia remained unharmed and sustained no serious injuries.
However, it is reported that one Fuseini, the bodyguard of the second lady, lost his life in the accident. Fuseini has been with the Bawumia’s since 2008.
Mourners gathered on Sunday morning, January 14, 2024, to pay their respects at the funeral service for Alhassan, who until his demise remained a dedicated member of Samira Bawumia‘s security detail.
The somber event commemorated his life, cut short tragically in the accident that happened on Saturday.
During the ceremony today, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Samira Bawumia, were observed in a solemn mood as they accompanied Alhassan’s family.
The burial was performed in line with Islamic customs.
Brother of late former President John Evans Atta-Mills, Samuel Atta-Mills has responded to Samuel Koku Anyidoho’s call for the autopsy report of the former President to be made public.
Mr Samuel Atta-Mills is urging both the government and former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Koku Anyidoho, to let the name of John Atta-Mills rest in peace.
The ongoing discourse surrounding the autopsy report of the late President John Evans Atta-Mills has taken a new turn as his brother, Samuel Atta-Mills, has responded to recent statements by Koku Anyidoho and President Nana Akufo-Addo.
His remarks come in the wake of President Akufo-Addo endorsing the demand for the official inclusion of the late John Atta-Mills’ autopsy report in public records.
This development follows concerns raised by the Odomaa Clan of Ekumfi, accompanied by that of Mr. Anyidoho, who expressed unease over the fact that they have not received the autopsy results of the late head of state even after 11 years.
The Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem legislator, who is also a sibling to the late Prof Atta-Mills, expressed bewilderment at the heightened concern of these individuals, stating that, according to his assertion, the report is already a part of the public records.
“What is the obsession about this autopsy report? If Koku Anyidoho is minded, he used to work for President John Evans Atta-Mills. Do you think the President was buried just like a chicken?” he said on JoyFM’s Midday News on January 13, 2024.
He explained that the family had been handed the autopsy result adding that if the aforementioned individuals were concerned about the late President’s result they must perform due diligence.
“Go to the AMA, they have a copy of the autopsy report. They gave us the burial certificate. Go to the 37 military hospital, there is a copy of the autopsy report over there. Those who performed the autopsy are still alive. I am not the one to give them a copy of it,” he argued.
Again, the legislator said he did not share family ties with the said individual requesting for Professor Mills affectionately called Asomdwe Hene’s autopsy result.
On the back of this, he vehemently said “How come whenever it gets to election time involving President Mahama then all these autopsy reports and everything come up? Look NPP, Koku Anyidoho, if you don’t have anything to campaign on, please leave the peaceful Professor John Evans Atta-Mills to rest in Peace.”
The ongoing discourse surrounding the autopsy report of the late President John Evans Atta-Mills has taken a new turn as his brother, Samuel Atta-Mills, has responded to recent statements by Koku Anyidoho and President Nana Akufo-Addo.
His remarks come in the wake of President Akufo-Addo endorsing the demand for the official inclusion of the late John Atta-Mills’ autopsy report in public records.
This development follows concerns raised by the Odomaa Clan of Ekumfi, accompanied by that of Mr. Anyidoho, who expressed unease over the fact that they have not received the autopsy results of the late head of state even after 11 years.
The Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem legislator, who is also a sibling to the late Prof Atta-Mills, expressed bewilderment at the heightened concern of these individuals, stating that, according to his assertion, the report is already a part of the public records.
“What is the obsession about this autopsy report? If Koku Anyidoho is minded, he used to work for President John Evans Atta-Mills. Do you think the President was buried just like a chicken?” he said on JoyFM’s Midday News on January 13, 2024.
He explained that the family had been handed the autopsy result adding that if the aforementioned individuals were concerned about the late President’s result they must perform due diligence.
“Go to the AMA, they have a copy of the autopsy report. They gave us the burial certificate. Go to the 37 military hospital, there is a copy of the autopsy report over there. Those who performed the autopsy are still alive. I am not the one to give them a copy of it,” he argued.
Again, the legislator said he did not share family ties with the said individual requesting for Professor Mills affectionately called Asomdwe Hene’s autopsy result.
On the back of this, he vehemently said “How come whenever it gets to election time involving President Mahama then all these autopsy reports and everything come up? Look NPP, Koku Anyidoho, if you don’t have anything to campaign on, please leave the peaceful Professor John Evans Atta-Mills to rest in Peace.”
Mourners gathered on Sunday morning, January 14, 2024, to pay their respects at the funeral service for Alhassan Fuseini, a dedicated member of Samira Bawumia‘s security detail.
The somber event commemorated his life, cut short tragically in an accident on Saturday, January 13, 2024.
Alhassan Fuseini, now departed, was a member of the convoy escorting Mrs. Bawumia when a collision occurred with a bus at Ohene-Nkwata near Nobewam in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
The multi-vehicle accident included the collision of two Toyota Land Cruisers, a Mercedes Benz car, and a Sprinter Benz bus.
Among the eight victims, four sustained severe injuries.
During the ceremony today, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Samira Bawumia, were observed in a solemn mood as they accompanied Alhassan’s family.
The burial was performed in line with Islamic customs.
Renowned US actor Bill Hayes, known for his iconic role in the soap opera “Days of Our Lives” spanning over five decades, has passed away at the age of 98.
Debuting as Doug Williams in 1970, he not only brought the character to life but also encountered his future wife, actress Susan Seaforth Hayes, during the production of the series.
In June of last year, he marked his 98th birthday while surrounded by co-stars on the set of the American daytime soap.
His agent told the BBC he died on Friday surrounded by family.
The cause of his death has not been revealed.
Born William Foster Hayes III in Harvey, Illinois, in 1925, Hayes began his career as a musician and had a hit with The Ballad of Davy Crockett.
Bill Hayes married his Days of our Lives co-star Susan Seaforth Hayes
He then began focusing more on acting, and landed his most notable role on NBC’s Days of Our Lives in February 1970 as a convict who was also a lounge singer.
He went on to portray the character of Doug Williams on and off over the next 50 years, through to 2023.
His co-star, Seaforth Hayes, joined the daytime soap two years before him, playing the character of Julie Williams.
The pair played an on-screen couple, and eventually became a real-life couple, tying the knot in 1974.
They went on to say “I do” again – this time on television – when their characters got married to each other two years later.
The popularity of their romance even led to them appearing on the cover of Time that year.
In 2018, both he and Seaforth Hayes received the Daytime Emmys Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Hayes had five children from a previous marriage to Mary Hobbs.
Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, celebrated for his handsome appearance and military service, has wedded his commoner fiancée in a lavish 10-day royal wedding, gaining admiration online.
The internet-famous prince disclosed his relationship and engagement to Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah in December.
The revelation came as a surprise to many fans of the man who was once hailed as one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors.
The bride is the granddaughter of an adviser to Brunei’s leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
She is reported to own a fashion and tourism company.
Prince Abdul Mateen, 32, was dressed in ceremonial uniform and his bride, 29, wore a long white dress and jewels for the ceremony at the Istana Nurul Iman palace.
Prince Abdul Mateen and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah greeted members of the public during their wedding procession in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei’s capital
The reported 5,000 wedding guests included royalty from Saudi Arabia and Jordan, as well as Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo and the leader of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The pair made their first public appearance as a married couple, waving at thousands of well-wishers from the back of an open-top Rolls Royce, as a lavish procession made its way through the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.
Schoolteacher Norliha Mohamad told AFP news agency the chance to glimpse the royal couple was a “once-in-a-lifetime moment”.
Brunei’s Prince Abdul Mateen and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah announced their engagement late last year
Prince Mateen is a major presence on social media, with over 2.5m followers on Instagram and thousands more on TikTok.
There were sighs from some of his fans after he posted a picture of himself alongside his bride-to-be on New Year’s Eve.
“2024 starts with a heartbreak”, wrote one follower, with another jokingly calling him an “international heartbreaker”. Many others rejoiced at the news he was about to tie the knot.
Many of his other posts capture the prince at special functions or out exploring, attracting numerous heart emojis and compliments in the comments.
On Wednesday, local TV stations broadcast some of the wedding events in the small, oil-rich sultanate.
Prince Mateen is the 10th child of the Sultan, the world’s longest-reigning monarch and one of the richest.
The newly-wedded couple was greeted by guests and pageantry as they walked down the aisle at the reception in Istana Nurul Iman
The prince holds no immediate succession claim to the throne but his profile has risen tremendously.
Video edits of the prince at royal functions, playing in polo matches and being spotted in his army uniform abound online.
The wedding kicked off on 7 January and reached its height in Sunday’s large ceremony.
The Islamic marriage ceremony occurred on Wednesday formalising Prince Mateen’s marriage. It was only attended only by male members of the wedding party including the prince and his father.
On Wednesday, footage showed citizens lining the streets of the capital as the royal motorcade carried the Sultan and Prince Mateen to his solemnisation inside a golden-domed mosque.
Prince Mateen wore a traditional white outfit and headpiece that featured a diamond-shaped print. After being bestowed by an imam, he bowed and paid his respects to his father.
Sources reveal that US climate envoy John Kerry is set to resign from his position to focus on President Joe Biden‘s re-election campaign, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The former senator and secretary of state, who held the climate role for three years, will reportedly be involved in promoting Mr Biden’s work on combating global warming.
The 80-year-old conveyed his decision to his staff on Saturday.
In November, Americans will participate in the electoral process to choose their next president.
Mr Kerry’s departure follows the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, where he helped negotiate an agreement for countries to move away from using fossil fuels.
During his tenure, he also worked effectively with China despite strained diplomatic ties.
Alongside Beijing’s top climate official Xie Zhenhua, he pushed for their two countries – the largest emitters of greenhouse gases – to work towards tripling renewable energy globally by 2030.
“The climate crisis is a universal threat to humankind and we all have a responsibility to deal with it as rapidly as we can,” he said during a trip to the Chinese capital last year.
The former secretary of state was key to brokering the landmark 2015 Paris climate deal
As secretary of state under President Barack Obama, Mr Kerry was key to brokering the crucial 2015 Paris climate agreement.
That deal saw nearly the whole world for the first time support a common strategy to cut the greenhouse gas emissions which cause global warming.
Mr Biden has pledged to cut US emissions in half by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. Two years ago, he passed $369bn (£290bn; €337bn) worth of green subsidies through Congress in a landmark bill.
While carbon pollution from greenhouse gases in the US went down by almost 2% last year – this was not fast enough to meet the 2030 target, according to an independent research firm.
Mr Kerry is still expected to attend the Munich Security Conference next month and attend the World Economic Forum in Davos next week.
An Adentan Circuit Court has handed down a six-year prison sentence to a mobile banker convicted of embezzling GHS162,700 from customers of a Rural Bank.
This verdict followed an audit of her accounts by the undisclosed Rural Bank.
Grace Addy, aged 29, allegedly received the funds and diverted them through various mobile money accounts for personal use and to support her international travels.
Accused of document forgery and two counts of theft, Grace entered a plea of guilt.
Grace was sentenced to two years imprisonment on the charge of forgery of documents, three years on the charge of stealing GH¢20,000, belonging to a customer and six years for stealing GHS142,700.
Sentences are to run concurrently, the court presided over by Mrs Sedinam Awo Balokah said.
The prosecution led by Chief Inspector A. Fosu told the relieving Judge that the complainant was the Manager of the Rural Bank at Madina.
The prosecution said the accused person was an employee of the bank who collected the bank’s customers’ money directly at their various places of abode and workplaces.
The court heard that the complainant reported that on December 27, 2023, an audit was conducted on the activities of the accused.
It said the audit revealed that the accused person had stolen an amount of GH¢142,700, belonging to the bank’s customer which she had collected from customers but failed to account for the money to the bank.
The prosecution said during investigations, it was realised that the accused person between January 2023 to December 21, 2023, collected money from the bank’s customers but failed to deposit the money with the bank.
According to the prosecution, the accused person rather transferred the money to other mobile money numbers for her personal use.
The accused forged receipts of payment to a customer known as Salifu Alhassan which she interpolated GHS20,000 issued from the bank to GHS40,000 before handing over the same to the customer, creating the false belief that she had paid GHS40,000 to the bank, the Prosecutor said.
The prosecution said the accused person voluntarily informed the Police that she indeed stole a total of GHS162,700 and that she had given the same to three men who had charged her $16,000 to facilitate her travelling abroad but failed to lead the Police to those three men.
In her charge statement, the accused person mentioned that she gave the entire money to one Hamisu at Libya Quarters, Madina to process the travelling documents for her and not the three men.
The prosecution said the accused indicated that she had in mind to pay the customers after her arrival abroad.
Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, to enact effective measures ensuring the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming 2024 general elections.
The Asantehene emphasized that Ghana has reached a mature stage, and therefore, it is imperative to implement adequate measures to prevent disruptions that commonly occur during general elections.
During a courtesy call by the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, to the Manhyia Palace as part of his visit to the Ashanti region, the Asantehene made the statement.
“I will urge you that this year is an election year. This is not the first time we are voting; we’ve always been voting. I urge you all to put in measures to ensure peace in the upcoming election. You must protect the country. It is your duty, hence, to put in measures for the country to live up to that.”
He additionally urged the police to implement stringent measures to combat the menace of illegal mining, which has resulted in the degradation of water bodies and forest reserves.
“Recently, there have been illegal mining cases which have become a challenge. I’ll plead with you all to help put a stop to that. It is affecting our lands and water bodies.
The IGP, Mr. Damapre also assured the Asantehene to continue his good works to promote peace in the country and indicated some measures that have been put in place to safeguard the security of Ghanaians.
He also expressed his appreciation to the Asantehene for his enormous support in building the nation.
Inspector-General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, on Friday, January 12, 2024, accompanied by some members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), conducted a working visit to the Ghana Armed Forces Central Command in Kumasi, the Kumasi Central Prison, and the Kumasi Metropolitan Fire Station.
The purpose of these visits was to enhance relationships and promote collaboration, with the aim of maintaining peace, law, and order in the Kumasi Metropolis.
The IGP and his team who were on a security tour of Kumasi and its environs also paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The team also met with members of the Ashanti regional branch of the Ghana Union of Traders Association on their security concerns.
Meanwhile, the Asantehene has commended the IGP for enhancing the outlook and public perception of the police service.
“I want to commend you for the good work you’re doing with your team. Since you came to the scene. Now we feel the Police in our lives, our homes and everywhere and we are grateful”.
Commenting on security in the Ashanti region during the Christmas festivities, the Ashanti Monarch said he was marvelled by the number of motorbikes that patrolled the region and Kumasi in particular to ensure the safety of residents.
“I was here when they came to show me videos of the number of officers patrolling the city on motorbikes and it was beautiful. Because of your work, we didn’t see robberies and the number of carnage we used to see on our roads during Christmas, please continue the work because we are praying for you”.
Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, has issued a stern ultimatum, giving the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, seven days to retract the administrative directive abolishing the use of indelible ink in elections.
In a letter dated January 9, Mr Dafeamekpor described the directive as unlawful.
“By this letter, therefore, I demand that, within 7 days, upon receipt of same, you withdraw the said administrative directive unlawfully revoking the statutory use of the indelible ink as part of our electoral authentication process as it undoubtedly amounts to a unilateral REPEAL of Regulation 33, sub-regulation 2, Paragraph (c) of Constitutional Instrument 127, 2020 without any recourse to Parliament, the only Constitutionally mandated organ of state with power so to do,” Mr Dafeamekpor wrote.
The National Democratic Congress legislator explained that, “If your said directive is allowed, it will be tantamount to a sinful usurpation of the legislative powers of the Parliament of Ghana.”
It is worth noting that Mrs. Mensa declared the discontinuation of indelible ink usage in district-level elections and all subsequent polls.
She explained that the decision is a step towards improving the electoral process and implementing a more robust identification system.
She explained at a media briefing on Monday, December 18 that the biometric identification system flags anyone who attempts multiple registrations; hence, anyone verified after voting cannot vote again.
“The issue of indelible ink, the question is when we were not doing biometric, we were basically using your face, your card. We look at your face and we say this picture looks like you. Biometric technology makes it difficult for a person who has been verified and cast their vote to come a second time.
“So, there is no need for indelible ink. Once you have been verified, it goes into the system and you cannot come back a second time,” she said.
However, Mr Dafeamekpor cautioned thus, “Be assured that if you fail to heed to this request, I shall employ every other lawful remediable steps available to me without any further recourse to you including, but not limited to, the invocation of the penal sanctions contained in Regulation 45 of CI 127 against you and your staff(s).”
Member of Parliament for Bongo and a member of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, Edward Bawa, has attributed Ghana’s recent power outages to the financial insolvency plaguing the energy sector.
Despite the Deputy Energy Minister Andrew Egyapa Mercer assuring that power supply challenges have been addressed, including a $10 million disbursement to WAPCo for gas supply, intermittent blackouts persist.
This scenario mirrors the “Dumsor” crisis of 2015 and corresponds with the foresight of Nana Amoasi VII, predicting persistent power challenges stemming from economic constraints.
Bawa’s remarks underscore the government’s challenges in effectively managing finances related to energy and sustaining a reliable power supply.
Speaking in an interview on Citi TVon Saturday, Mr Bawa said “As to whether what is the situation as we have it now, simple and short the sector is broke. That’s all. That’s the situation.
“As we speak now as of yesterday if you look at our peak demand it was 3680 but the available capacity, which means the amount of power that we could supply even if we decided that we were going to have a reserved margin or redundancy was going to be 3363 which means that on the word go even without putting the redundancy there, that was obviously around almost 300 megawatts.”
Three young siblings have been laid to rest following their tragic demise, reportedly a result of a bedbug fumigation exercise conducted by their uncle in Asawase, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti region.
Three siblings who died from a suspected reportedly died from a fumigation exercise against bedbugs in their room by an uncle in Asawase, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti region.
On Saturday, January 13, 2024, the funeral ceremonies for the departed Mary Magdelene Afua Frans (8 years old), Christian Nana Benin Jacob Frans (5 years old), and Judith Ekua Frans (11 years old) took place.
A poignant and somber atmosphere enveloped the funeral grounds at Asawase Railway Quarters as family members and sympathizers gathered to express their final farewells to the children.
The trio is presumed to have succumbed to the effects of a fumigant during an extended stay at their grandparent’s residence in Asawase.
Disinfection against Bedbugs
On December 28, 2023, the three siblings who lived at Parkoso, a suburb of the Asokore Mampong municipality with their mother, visited their grandmother for the Christmas holidays.
While preparing a room for their stay, their uncle, Anthony Frans, sprayed a fumigant, identified as Topstoxin Fumigation tablet, also known as ‘bomb’, to disinfect the room against bed bugs.
But the three siblings, together with their 66-year-old grandmother, Ekua Gyaabena, were found unconscious and rushed to the Manhyia Government Hospital the next morning after sleeping in the room for the night.
Magdalene and Christian however died upon arrival at the hospital, while their grandmother and other sibling, Judith, were hospitalized.
Judith later passed on while on admission.
The incident has since thrown the community into anguish and grief.
“I was informed about the incident by a friend in my electoral area while on a visit to the hospital. I rushed to the ward and realised two of the victims had passed on.
“The grandmother and the eldest niece were also on admission at the Emergency Centre of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for further treatment. I assisted them, and we came to the police station, and the uncle of the deceased who applied the chemical was arrested and detained,” recounted Mathew Amissah, Assembly Member for the Asawase East Electoral area.
Uncle provisionally slapped with murder of three
Police in the region detained the uncle of the deceased as it launched investigations to establish circumstances leading to the tragic death of the three.
In his second appearance in court on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, Anthony was slapped with a provisional charge of murder, while prosecution sought ample time to probe the incident.
However, Defense Counsel, Evans Amankwaah, prayed the court for a bail for his client, arguing he deserved the right to be granted bail while investigations continued.
The defence attorney insisted that the incident was poignant and beseeched the police to soften its stance against his client.
Anthony was consequently granted bail of GHȼ20,000 with two sureties by the Asokore Mampong District Court.
The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Parliamentary primaries in the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency will take an interesting turn this year as a new face has joined the race.
Sheela Oppong Sakyi, currently holding the positions of Head of Strategic Planning and Implementation and Legal Advisor at the Office of the First Lady of the Republic of Ghana, has expressed her aspirations to become the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Dome Kwabenya Constituency.
Her decision to enter the primaries is rooted in her commitment to fostering unity within the NPP in the region and contributing to the party’s success in securing a third consecutive term in the upcoming General Elections, aiming to “break the eight.”
Emphasizing her dual role as the Head of the Rebecca Foundation, Ms. Oppong Sakyi underscored the imperative for the NPP in the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency to reconcile internal differences and exert concerted efforts to secure victory in the 2024 General Elections.
She would have to defeat the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the Constituency Sarah Adwoa Safo, and another contender Mike Ocquaye.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen programme recently, Ms Oppong Sakyi said that her personal motivation for seeking to be MP is to bring her expertise in Law and Development to bear on the development challenges of the Constituency as well as help the NPP to not only retain the parliamentary seat but win the General Elections.
“Apart from being a lawyer, I have done work as a Development professional for many years. So I think it’s time for me to bring all the skills I have acquired to help the development agenda of Dome-Kwabenya and my party, especially at this critical stage that our party is committed to breaking the eight which is unprecedented in the Fourth Republic.
“It is important we put our best energies and resources together to break the eight,” she said in Twi.
The NPP will conduct its parliamentary primaries on January 27, 2024. NPP Delegates of the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency will choose among Sheela Oppong Sakyi, Sarah Adwoa Safo and Mike Ocquaye Jnr.
Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has declared his unwavering commitment to spearhead an energetic campaign for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) should Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, be chosen as the running mate.
In a notable endorsement, it has been asserted that the Energy Minister stands out as the sole member of the cabinet whose interpersonal connections with party members are truly commendable, prompting recognition that is worth highlighting.
According to Kennedy Agyapong, an individual of such caliber merits a spot on the New Patriotic Party’s ticket if the party aims to secure victory and break the eight-year cycle.
Characterizing all other ministers as unappreciative individuals, he went on to emphasize that he would refuse to engage in campaign activities for the NPP if any alternative candidate is selected as the running mate.
“Some ministers who have received my help in the past are now ungrateful. Apart from NAPO, every minister is ungrateful. If you mention NAPO as my running mate, today I will come and campaign for the NPP. If they mention any other person, I will not campaign”.
“When you go to the office of NAPO and you see how he relates to party people it is so appealing. I am telling you this today,” he told party delegates in Kumasi.
National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has called on Ghanaians to uphold their country as a shining example of democracy globally.
This in efforts to encourage citizens to safeguard the nation’s democratic identity.
The Commission emphasized that Ghana’s democratic path, characterized by freedom and justice, is firmly rooted in the principles of the rule of law, respect for individual liberties, human rights, and accountability.
Therefore, Ghana is globally acknowledged as a symbol of political peace, stability, harmony, and hope for the African continent.
“Therefore, the citizenry must at all times respect and abide by the tenets of the 1992 Constitution to safeguard national peace and harmony,” Paul Tetteh, the Assin Fosu Municipal Director of NCCE, said.
He was speaking to the Ghana News Agency, in commemoration of the country’s Constitution Day, observed on January 7 every year to mark the coming into effect of the 1992 Constitution and the birth of the Fourth Republic.
The day reminds Ghanaians of the need to uphold the tenets of the rule of law, constitutionalism, democracy and their collective commitment to a regime of uninterrupted constitutional order.
Tetteh said on April 28, 1992, the citizenry took a decisive decision to adopt the 1992 Constitution to guide the governance of the country.
Prior to that, the country had witnessed intermittent military disruptions of various constitutions since independence.
He said the 1992 Constitution had served the country quite well since the era of the Provisional National Defence Council, the last military regime in the country.
For that matter, he said: “The citizenry must renew their trust in the country’s democratic process and vigilantly protect the 1992 Constitution against the threats of saboteurs.
“The right time is now, considering the disruptions of some governments in the sub-region by military personnel in recent times.
“For those who might not have been alive to experience some gruesome dark era of military rule with its attendant suppression of freedoms, authoritarian rule and disregard for human rights, they will not appreciate the value of constitutionalism,” Tetteh said.
He pointed out that no matter the challenges under constitutionalism, the citizenry had benefited from the fruits of democracy such as freedom of expression, freedom of association and deciding who or which party should govern them.
“Since independence, the 1992 Constitution has travelled the longest in the country’s governance, as the rest were often cut short through military interventions.
“It is only under this Constitution that the country had experienced the longest, uninterrupted period of stable, constitutional governance.
“We have also witnessed peaceful transfers of power from a governing to an opposition party on three separate occasions, where election results were disputed, the parties resorted to the Supreme Court to settle the differences. This can never happen under military rule,” Tetteh explained.
In this vein, he urged the citizenry not to entertain any ideas of supporting military takeovers to draw back the clock of progress.
Already, he said, there had been some proposals for the review of some portions of the Constitution to help serve the citizenry better.
According to him, citizens should offer suggestions to improve it and not disrupt the country’s progress march.
MP aspirant for the Bantama constituency and brother of Assin Fosu MP, Lawyer Raph Agyapong, has refuted a report implying that his brother, Kennedy Agyapong, accused the former Chief Justice Anin Yeboah of colluding with Asenso Boakye to sell a residence belonging to former Supreme Court Judge Justice Marfo-Sau.
He emphasized that, in Kennedy Agyapong’s address to the Bantama delegates, at no point did he accuse the former Justice of selling the residence to Asenso Boakye.
He clarified that his statement was far from accusing the former Chief Justice, adding that Asenso Boakye sold the said property without the knowledge or consent of the former Chief Justice.
“At no point did Agyapong say that His Lordship, the former Chief Justice Anin Yeboah (retired) has sold the said property with Hon. Asenso Boakye. Rather, he was emphatic in his statement that Hon Asenso Boakye had not obtained the consent of the former Chief Justice for the sale of the property. Thus, Hon Asenso Boakye has sold the said property without the knowledge or consent of the former Chief Justice,” he told this reporter.
He further continued that the former aspiring presidential candidate only said, upon the death of His Lordship Justice Marful Sau JSC, Francis Asenso Boakye, who is the present Member of Parliament for the Bantama Constituency and also doubles as Minister for Works and Housing of Ghana, consulted His Lordship Justice Anin Yeboah CJ (retired) concerning a proposed sale of His Lordship Marful Sau’s official residence.
“The CJ objected to the sale of the said residence since it is an official residence and thus state property. Hon Asenso Boakye then sold the said state property without the consent or input of the former CJ”.
Therefore, he said, the statement that was attributed to Ken Agyapong as having been made at a delegates’ meeting on January 12, 2024 in Kumasi is not accurate.
He is therefore urging the general public to disregard any such reportage that seems to suggest that Mr. Kennedy Agyapong accused Asenso Boakye for selling the deceased Supreme Court Judge’s residence together with the former Chief Justice.
“Asenso Boakye had not obtained the consent of the former Chief Justice for the sale of the property. Thus, Hon Asenso Boakye has sold the said property without the knowledge or consent of former Chief Justice”.
Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Ben Boakye, contends that the timing is inappropriate for the imposition of a value-added tax (VAT) on electricity.
During a recent appearance on JoyNews’ Newsfile, he underscored the persisting issue of electricity theft in Ghana.
Mr. Boakye cautioned that the implementation of a VAT on electricity could exacerbate the burden on consumers, potentially leading more individuals to resort to electricity theft.
“We don’t have the system to be able to address the leakages that are happening everywhere in the country.
“There is no money, so that additional tax on consumers who are about 30 to 35% of the total consuming populace, I don’t think it’s going to shift anything,” the ACEP boss indicated on Saturday, January 13.
He pointed out the need to focus on ensuring that consumers who are not paying for their electricity are held accountable.
According to Ben Boakye, the energy sector has the necessary systems in place to account for power generation and monitor usage.
He added that the energy sector needs to focus on optimizing tariffs and making sure that people are paying for the electricity they use.
Once these issues are addressed, the government can then consider introducing new taxes if necessary.
“How do we generate new revenue? Otherwise, you will only have a few credible consumers who are always taking the bullet, always taking the higher tariffs and that wouldn’t change anything at this point.”
Bill Hayes married his Days of our Lives co-star Susan Seaforth Hayes
Prince Abdul Mateen and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah greeted members of the public during their wedding procession in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei’s capital
Brunei’s Prince Abdul Mateen and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah announced their engagement late last year
The newly-wedded couple was greeted by guests and pageantry as they walked down the aisle at the reception in Istana Nurul Iman
