Ghanaian singer, Francisca Gawuga,popularly known as Sista Afia, has disclosed her intentions to give Ghanaians a glimpse of her nakedness, should the Black Stars win the upcoming game against Portugal.
The Black Stars are gearing up for the 2022 World Cup game against Portugal on Thursday, November 24, 2022, in Doha, Qatar.
Social media is buzzing with scores of predictions and reactions ahead of the game which has been described by many as ‘Herculean’, considering the strength of both teams.
On the back of that, Sista Afia has also disclosed her intentions to strip naked and throw herself in a pool of water if Ghana is able to pull a 3-0 win against the Portuguese.
The musician said she will record the act live on social media for public viewing.
“If Ghana score 3-0 against Portugal, on Thursday I will go NAKED and drop myself in a pool ON LIVE. so, God help me,” she tweeted.
The singer’s post has since attracted several comments from netizens who are fervently praying for a Black Stars win so as to catch a glimpse of her banging body.
This isn’t the first time a Ghanaian celebrity has bet on a Black Stars game as it can be recalled that during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier in March 2022, actor John Dumelo vowed to trek barefooted with a load of ginger on his head from Accra to Lagos if Nigeria had won the game.
Read the post below:
If Ghana score 3-0 against Portugal, on Thursday I will go NAKED and drop my self in a pool ON LIVE 😂😂😂 so God help me 🙏🙏🙏
Ghana coach, Otto Addo has revealed that it was not easy getting Inaki Williams to play for the Black Stars.
The Athletic Bilbao after years of chase confirmed his decision to play for the West African country in June.
His decision emerged after Ghana secured qualification for the 22nd edition of the World Cup in Qatar.
However, Otto Addo speaking in an interview revealed that it took time for the forward to accept the decision to switch nationality to for the country of his parents.
Addo however, added that the country and the team are happy with his decision to play for the four-time African champions.
“It wasn’t easy at all. He meditated on it a lot, he talked about it with his family,” Addo told Spanish portal AS.
“We are happy to have you with us,” he added.
Inaki made his debut against Brazil in the September friendly in France. He has been named in Ghana’s final 26-man squad for the Mundial.
He is expected to play a huge role for the Black Stars in Qatar. Ghana will open their campaign against Portugal before playing South Korea and Uruguay.
IsaacGodiga, a 35-year-old farmer has met his untimely death after he was stabbed several times in the chest and stomach at Assin Akropong in the Assin Fosu Municipality of the Central Region.
Information gathered by Kasapa News, Yaw Boagyan revealed the deceased confronted the suspect over his missing Samsung Galaxy mobile phone after he received information that the suspect and his friends had gone out looking for a buyer of the same missing mobile phone.
A serious altercation broke out between them in the process and the suspect who was already wielding weapons including a knife inflicted deep wounds on the deceased.
He died while being transported to the hospital for treatment. The body has since been deposited at the St. Francis Xavier Hospital Morgue pending investigations.
The deceased is said to have earlier made an official complaint to the Assin Akropong Police Command after he received intel that the phone was with the suspect and his friends, but the police officer on duty ordered the complainant, now deceased to get the suspect arrested since the police officers on duty at the time were not enough to go out of the station.
Consequently, the Assin Fosu Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Edith Gaanu including the Divisional Crime Officer, DSP Daniel Darko, and the District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Cephas Arthur, and a team of police officers paid a visit to commiserate with the bereaved family and assured them that the circumstances surrounding the death of their relatives will be probed transparently and professionally.
They also called on the youth to remain calm and not to resort to violence as the police are forever ready to address their concerns.
Meanwhile, one of the suspects has been arrested and is in police custody assisting with the investigation.
He asserts that several players in the agricultural sector, in particular banks, attorneys, and Ministry of Agriculture employees, have a predilection for underpaying investors, particularly Ghanaians living abroad.
Mr Ouedraogo, who is the founder of B-BOVID, an agribusiness based on social entrepreneurship principles, recounted how some local banks and lawyers connived with another French firm to dupe him of his investment.
He also explained how personnel of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, in 2017, eliminated an initiative he had developed from a Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP) without any reasonable reason.
The programme, he said, was funded by a grant of US$2.85 million from the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) secured through a trust fund arrangement with the World Bank.
His initiative, dubbed Ghana Peri-urban Vegetables Value Chain Project (GPVVCP), was aimed at promoting peri-urban farming in the country.
He further complained about how some stakeholders in the agricultural sector caused the publication of some false news about him and his organization, in an attempt to court disaffection for him.
Mr Ouedraogo explained that he is not the only person in the agricultural industry who has suffered from such orchestrated attempts geared at frustrating investors.
He is, therefore, calling on the government to institute a probe into the many concerns of investors in the sector and address the challenges.
He underscored that until a proper investigation is conducted into the activities of some persons in the country and their nefarious activities brought to book, they would continue to push investors out of Ghana to the detriment of the larger population.
“It would further move mountains to exacerbate the worsening growing phenomenon of unemployment in the country, constantly ringing profusely into the ears of entrepreneurs, political leaders, and government officials,” he said.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has urged his colleague National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs not to listen to the plea of New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko on the 2023 Budget.
Gabby Otchere-Darko asked MPs from the minority caucus to join the 2023 budget reading on Thursday, November 24, 2022.
According to him, the 2023 budget is important in Ghana’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund as well as in restoring investor confidence in the country.
“Thursday’s 2023 budget is crucial. It can’t suffer a fate similar to the 2022 budget and its revenue measures. It could completely derail negotiations with the Fund if not passed. Critical to this are its revenue generation measures. We plead the NDC joins NPP in this for Ghana,” a tweet the NPP stalwart shared on November 23 read.
But Dafeamekpor, while reacting to Gabby’s tweet, said that he (Gabby) cannot be trusted and his plea is not sincere.
The MP, in a tweet, added that the minority caucus MPs do not need the advice of the NPP’s leading member.
“Beware of the Greeks bearing a Gift Horse in the face. This call by Otchere Darko is a typical Trojan Horse.
“Gabby, be reminded that the NDC and its powerful Minority Caucus of which, I’m a proud Member, won’t take advise from Ofori Atta’s lawyer on Social Media. Advise the IMF,” parts of the tweet read.
Some residents of the Obuasi Municipality have heaped praises on the government for introducing the ‘No Guarantor’ Student Loan Policy.
This was after the management of the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) led by its Chief Executive Officer Nana Kwaku Agyei Yeboah met with traders, drivers and market women at the Obuasi Central Market to sensitise them on how to access the fund.
In a series of publicity drives which started on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, in Obuasi, managers of the fund earlier met with Artisans and Staff of the Obuasi Municipal Assembly to also brief them on the details of the SLTF.
Led by Yaa Achiaa, a tomato seller at the Obuasi Central Market, she said hitherto, they had challenges accessing student loans due to difficulties in finding guarantors. She said the government since coming to office in 2017 has made education accessible with the introduction of the Free Senior High School policy and the ‘No Guarantor’ loan system.
“The government has relieved us of the burden of funding education in the country. Now, as parents, we don’t have to go through the stress of looking for money to pay our wards’ school fees. This Government is a blessing,” she added.
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia launched the ‘No Guarantor’ Student Loan Policy at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, on Wednesday, June 8, 2022.
The ‘No Guarantor’ Student Loan Policy, a promise by the Akufo-Addo government before the 2020 elections, is to make tertiary education accessible to Ghanaian youth, especially graduates from the highly subscribed Free Senior High School policy.
With the ‘No Guarantor’ Student Loan Policy, the cumbersome and restrictive policy of students providing three SSNIT contributors as guarantors before they could access student loans for tertiary education is now a thing of the past.
The Chief Executive officer of the Student Loan Trust Fund Nana Kwaku Agyei Yeboah in an interaction with the media after the sensitization sessions in Obuasi said the ‘No Guarantor’ loan scheme is proof of the government’s commitment to enhance access to education in the country.
He appealed to Ghanaians to take full advantage of the ease with which one can access the loan, to acquire it to cushion their children’s education.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Obuasi Honourable Elijah Adansi-Bonah lauded the government for introducing the policy. He said the government despite the economic challenges facing the country, has not relented in performing its responsibilities of improving the living standards of Ghanaians.
He appealed to residents of Obuasi to rally behind the Government to deliver on its promises.
They demanded a review of levies they deemed to be unfavorable to industry, such as the benchmark policy on imported goods and the electronic levy (E-levy), and said the budget should include concrete steps to build confidence in the economy and bring stability to the business environment.
“The persistent and current issues facing the economy require deliberate attention on pursuing home-grown policies. In this regard, the GNCCI strongly urges government to provide more support to value addition, local content optimisation, export development, trading of domestic products and services, and efficient competition laws – which are sustainable tools needed to manage exchange rate and inflation stability and achieve macroeconomic prudence,” the Chamber said in a statement to the B&FT.
The budget, it noted, must indicate steps to improve efficiency with regard to public investment and cut wasteful spending. In particular, it said, an improved fiscal space is needed to scale-up growth-enhancing spending and efficiently manage the wage bill, as well as review the size of government as cost-saving measures.
“Overall, appropriate extensive fiscal, monetary and financial market measures should be implemented toward cushioning businesses and households in these critical times. This will curb the over-reliance on monetary policy to control inflation and cedi-depreciation, which is clearly not working and further compounds the current challenges,” the statement added.
Specifically, the GNCCI proposes that government should work with multinational companies operating in our offshore oil and gas sector to keep about 30 percent of their revenues with local banks.
This, along with a 30 percent domestic gold purchasing programme by the Bank of Ghana, the GNCCI said, are among its budget expectations since they have potential to shore-up the country’s foreign currency reserves and further strengthen the domestic currency.
“We are in tough times, and this calls for timely and proactive measures to mitigate the associated impact and enable businesses and industries to build resilience. The current economic crisis necessitates some stringent measures to improve the business environment for economic growth and development,” it further stated.
Review tax on raw materials, benchmark values
For the AGI, while the budget must set the tone for economic recovery amid the current economic crisis, policies like the 5 percent tax on imports of raw materials and the benchmark values, which subsidise imported products at the expense of local alternatives, should be reversed by the budget.
“We are glad today, that as part of the roll-out plan government has pledged to us, by close of the year such policies will be reversed to bring about harmony. So, we expect that the benchmark policy will be reversed in the budget so our production base can be competitive,” said AGI president, Humphrey Ayim-Darke.
Similarly, Raphael Aryeetey, AGI’s Treasurer, said the 5 percent tax on raw materials which are brought in before processing is counterproductive and therefore should be reviewed.
“With reference to our discussion with President Akufo-Addo a couple weeks ago, we believe those taxes will be taken care of – and that will ease doing business, particularly manufacturing.
“When manufacturers can predict what the exchange rate will be for the next couple of months, then they can plan in an informed manner. But most importantly, when we talk about manufacturing I don’t think we should limit it to a spoon or car. We also need to consider what we consume on a daily basis. So, our expectations are that the budget will a chart way for us to prioritise local production of most things we consume on a daily basis,” he reiterated.
The British government has denied reports that it intends to deploy some Special Forces to Ghana following the withdrawal of some 300 peacekeepers from Mali in the wake of frosty relations with Bamako over the involvement of Russian mercenaries in the fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel.
UK-based ‘The Telegraph’ in a report stated that British ministers are also expected to be in Accra to hammer out a new security agreement which will position Ghana and by extension Burkina Faso as the new front line against terrorism.
The report said it was unclear if the move was a face-saving operation in the wake of the mission in Mali being shut down or something more significant as British forces already train troops in Ghana.
Reacting to The Telegraph’s reportage, the UK Minister for Armed Forces and Veterans indicated that the media outlet misunderstood the briefing they had from the UK government.
According to James Heappey, Britishtroops are already in Ghana training the Ghana Armed Forces and the UK government has no plans of sending more troops to Ghana.
“I think they’ve just slightly misunderstood whatever they were briefed. The reality is that there are already UK troops here in Ghana training your Armed Forces. There is currently no plan to send anybody else.
“If American, British and French troops were to come to Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana Togo and Benin, we won’t make things better because that doesn’t help. And that’s why your President entirely is right. This needs to be a West African solution to a West African problem,” Heappey told Accra-based Joy News on Tuesday, November 22.
The British government has denied claims that it has been invited to send Special Forces to Ghana after it was forced to withdraw all its peacekeepers from Mali.
Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana has also denied The Telegraph’s reportage.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration said the Government of Ghana has had no interactions with the UK Government aimed at deploying UK soldiers to Ghana as described in the story.
The statement explained that the presence of the UK Minister for the Armed Forces in Accra was to participate in the Accra Initiative Conference on the 21st and 22nd of November 2022.
“The Government of Ghana wishes to state that the information regarding British Special Forces is false. Neither Ghana nor any other member of the Accra Initiative has discussed with any partner, any such request nor contemplated the involvement of foreign forces in any of their activities,” the statement from the Ministry stressed.
Gabby Otchere-Darko asked MPs from the minority caucus to join the 2023 budget reading on Thursday, November 24, 2022.
According to him, the 2023 budget is important in Ghana’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund as well as in restoring investor confidence in the country.
“Thursday’s 2023 budget is crucial. It can’t suffer a fate similar to the 2022 budget and its revenue measures. It could completely derail negotiations with the Fund if not passed. Critical to this are its revenue generation measures. We plead the NDC joins NPP in this for Ghana,” a tweet the NPP stalwart shared on November 23 read.
But Dafeamekpor, while reacting to Gabby’s tweet, said that he (Gabby) cannot be trusted and his plea is not sincere.
The MP, in a tweet, added that the minority caucus MPs do not need the advice of the NPP’s leading member.
“Beware of the Greeks bearing a Gift Horse in the face. This call by Otchere Darko is a typical Trojan Horse.
“Gabby, be reminded that the NDC and its powerful Minority Caucus of which, I’m a proud Member, won’t take advise from Ofori Atta’s lawyer on Social Media. Advise the IMF,” parts of the tweet read.
View the MP’s tweet below:
Beware of the Greeks bearing a Gift Horse in the face. This call by Otchere Darko is a typical Trojan Horse. Gabby, be reminded that the Ndc and it’s powerful Minority Caucus of which, I’m a proud Member, won’t take advise from Ofori Atta’s lawyer on Social Media. Advise the IMF pic.twitter.com/7uMCVf717a
The Majority Caucus in Parliament has mended all cracks in their front ahead of the November 24 reading of the 2023 Budget Statement by embattled Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
A meeting between the lawmakers and leaders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was held on November 23 at which a number of agreements were reached.
The main points are that the Minister will be supported in presenting the budget and seeing through its appropriation as well as be allowed to see through the current phase of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, IMF.
The meeting comes on the back of a renewed call by some 98 NPP MPs who had threatened to boycott the budget presentation if Ofori-Atta appears to present it.
A statement co-signed by Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh and NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong read in part: “At a meeting this evening, the 22 of November 2022, involving the Majority Caucus, the Leadership of the Party and the Council of Elders, it has been agreed by all to refocus and recline to the earlier position requested by the President.”
The three broad areas agreed on were as follows
1. The demand be stood down until the conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which would feed into the 2023 Budget;
2. The presentation of the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy on the 24th November 2022 by the Finance Minister on behalf of the President; and
3. The subsequent presentation and passage of the Appropriation Bill
“The meeting agreed that the President would act upon the initial request of the NPP Parliamentary Caucus after the conclusion of these matters,” the statement added.
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Find the full statement below:
22nd November 2022.
RESOLUTION OF IMPASSE IN THE NPP PARLIAMENTARY GROUP.
Over the past two weeks, especially, after the President had engaged the Majority Caucus over calls for the ouster of the Minister of Finance as well as the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and a statement on the engagement had been issued, the country has, witnessed a heightened public/media discussion on same subject matter.
There have been occasional individual interventions some of which have not helped the resolution of the issue in contention. On the other hand, some of these interventions have contributed to escalate tensions and suspicions.
At a meeting this evening, the 22 of November 2022, involving the Majority Caucus, the Leadership of the Party and the Council of Elders, it has been agreed by all to refocus and recline to the earlier position requested by the President, to wit:
1. The demand be stood down until the conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which would feed into the 2023 Budget;
2. The presentation of the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy on the 24th November 2022 by the Finance Minister on behalf of the President; and
3. The subsequent presentation and passage of the Appropriation Bill
The meeting agreed that the President would act upon the initial request of the NPP Parliamentary Caucus after the conclusion of these matters.
In the meantime, the Leadership of the Parliamentary group and the Leadership of the Party counselled the Honourable Members of the Parliamentary Party to resort to the Caucus ‘communication channels and, to the largest extent possible, work together as one Caucus unit.
Leadership and the Party in this regard call upon the Members of Parliament to attend to all Government Businesses in the House including, in particular, the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy and all connected matters.
SIGNED
HON. ANNOH-DOMPREH, (MP) MAJORITY CHIEF WHIP, PARLIAMENT OF GHANA
JUSTIN KODUA FRIMPONG, GENERAL SECRETARY NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY
Isaac Godiga, a 35-year-old farmer has met his untimely death after he was stabbed several times in the chest and stomach at Assin Akropong in the Assin Fosu Municipality of the Central Region.
Information gathered by Kasapa News, Yaw Boagyan revealed the deceased confronted the suspect over his missing Samsung Galaxy mobile phone after he received information that the suspect and his friends had gone out looking for a buyer of the same missing mobile phone.
A serious altercation broke out between them in the process and the suspect who was already wielding weapons including a knife inflicted deep wounds on the deceased.
He died while being transported to the hospital for treatment. The body has since been deposited at the St. Francis Xavier Hospital Morgue pending investigations.
The deceased is said to have earlier made an official complaint to the Assin Akropong Police Command after he received intel that the phone was with the suspect and his friends, but the police officer on duty ordered the complainant, now deceased to get the suspect arrested since the police officers on duty at the time were not enough to go out of the station.
Consequently, the Assin Fosu Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Edith Gaanu including the Divisional Crime Officer, DSP Daniel Darko, and the District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Cephas Arthur, and a team of police officers paid a visit to commiserate with the bereaved family and assured them that the circumstances surrounding the death of their relatives will be probed transparently and professionally.
They also called on the youth to remain calm and not to resort to violence as the police are forever ready to address their concerns.
Meanwhile, one of the suspects has been arrested and is in police custody assisting with the investigation.
Ghana’s only living former president who has served the full two-term of eight years, John Agyekum Kufuor, has called for the scrapping of the Council of State.
He indicated that the present times and the relevance of the Council of State no longer seem to align and as such, there is the need to relook at the composition of the constitutional body.
Backing the calls for the body to be scrapped, the former president, who has been part of Ghana’s parliamentary structure from the days of a constitutional assembly till the current parliament was constituted in 1992, explained that it is rather time for the country to consider a second chamber.
“So, I believe the framers of the constitution thought of a body like Council of State that necessarily should be composed in a way that would bring individuals of experience… the way the constitutional framers as far back as ’69 when, as I say, I was a member of the constituency assembly, and also then a member of the Majority side – in fact, a deputy foreign minister at that time, we limited the uses of the Council of State to just advising the president.
“And the president would meet this council in camera, given the nature of the members of the Council – very matured, experienced, people who wouldn’t go out of camera, after giving advice to the president, and whether the president accepted or didn’t accept, go and tell the public, ‘No, we advised him to do this or that but he rejected us. Perhaps, he didn’t even hear us.’ They wouldn’t do it by just the way they are, and this continued: ’69, ’79. ’92, and currently and I’ve gone through all these periods and I’ve come to the conclusion that perhaps, what our constitution should have to temper the extremes of democracy, is not Council of State, but a second chamber,” he said.
Speaking at a Seminar on Reviewing Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), which featured him, John Agyekum Kufuor stressed that such a second chamber should be composed to focus more on experiences, more than it would on democracy.
He added that while he acknowledges that this might cost the nation a little more, it is necessary if the country determines to progress.
“A second chamber, well-composed, not on basis of democracy so much; democracy should always be implied in there though, but not directly on democracy, but more on proving experience, proving public spiritedness and prudence, maturity, care for the nation inclusively.
“And then the general public, where they are going astray, there would be people – civil society organisations, or the media, would be able to join in and say, ‘No, Mr. President, take time. You’re after all, our first servant. You shouldn’t manage our affairs this way.
“Or, the Members of Parliament: yes, you may have the majority in the House, but the way you are going, you haven’t taken due account of such and such and such a situation to help stabilize the nation and also make for progress. And then the people advice; these days we hear of populism and grassroots actions, protest actions and all that, people must really get insights.
“And so, this is why I thought instead of our continued Council of State, perhaps the time has come and we should move into a second house. It might cost a bit more and so what: we want quality to serve the ends of good governance and the people at large more… then I’d say, perhaps the days of the Council of State should be over,” he explained.
The IEA engagement with the former president, John Kufuor, took place at his residence at Pokuase, and was moderated by the former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye.
Dignitaries in attendance included the former Chief Justice of Ghana, Sophia Akuffo; Sam Okudzeto, a former President of the Ghana Bar Association; the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Jean Mensa; Dr. Abu Sakara, a former presidential candidate on the ticket of the Convention People’s Party (CPP); among others.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has questioned the outcomes of all the interventions made over the years to tackle the growing menace of galamsey activities in the country, involving security services such as the military and the police.
He explained that in the instances of some of these military interventions like the Operation Vanguard and other similar operations, instead of any major outcomes, the people were rather reported to have gone to brutalize the locals.
“Right now, we are criminalizing all these young people and we send soldiers: Vanguard and all these people, they go and molest the locals,” he lamented.
President John Agyekum Kufuor further expressed worry over the fact that it is yet to be known if any of these interventions produced results such as a team returning with pots of gold.
He also wondered if it is the case that these teams do not discover the gold that is mined in these small-scale mining sites or not.
“I haven’t heard of such expeditions coming back with, say a pot of gold back to Bank of Ghana.
“So, what’s happening? Don’t they find the gold? Everywhere we are getting Chinese and you haven’t heard any Chinese people reporting with the gold they got from our lands and waters,” he wondered.
John Agyekum Kufuor was speaking at a Seminar on Reviewing Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), at his residence at Peduase, in the Eastern Region.
Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin the Speaker of Parliament, subsequently referred the loan agreement to the Committee on Finance of Parliament for consideration and report to the House.
National Chairman of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Nana Ofori Owusu, has questioned why Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is so adamant about leaving office, even though he claims to be working for free.
Nana Owusu said that he was one of the first people to commend the finance minister for working for the country for free but he does not understand why he is refusing to vacate his position despite calls by many Ghanaians for him to step down.
“When I heard the finance minister does not take a salary, I applauded him because of his willingness to sacrifice his time and leave all his businesses to work for Ghana for free.
“Now, I don’t understand why the minister for finance, who says is not paid GH¢1 … who gets nothing from the public sector, is fighting so hard to keep a position his own people, including majority of MPs of his party, are urging him to relinquish.
“You are serving us for free and we are saying that we are grateful for the service but you should step aside and you are saying no I will continue serving,” he said in Twi in a Peace FM
The PPP national chairman added that the refusal of the finance minister to resign feeds into the conflict-of-interest allegation against him.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Joseph Whittal, has said that CHRAJ has received a petition from Tiger Eye PI, the outfit of Investigative Journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, to investigate Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
According to Whittal, Ana’s outfit wants CHRAJ to investigate Ofori-Atta for the conflict of interest allegation levelled against him for the involvement of his bank, Data Bank, in loans the government of Ghana contracts.
He added that the commission is currently examining the petition as to whether it has merits.
The bank claims that the COVID-19 pandemic’s experiences and lessons have increased the need for governments to be more strategic in responding to shocks, not only by identifying appropriate interventions but also by ensuring that systems that can be modified for the delivery of these interventions are present.
At a knowledge-sharing workshop for stakeholders, Senior Social Protection Specialist at the World Bank, Christabel Dadzie, noted that social protection interventions are fundamental in responding to shocks such as national disasters, economic crises, pandemics, conflicts and forced displacements – which are usually transient in nature – to cushion affected persons, especially the vulnerable, to mitigate impacts of the shock event and prevent them from adopting negative coping mechanisms.
Ghana had a population of 30.8 million in 2021. In 2017, it was reported that 2.4 million people were living in severe poverty. Within the country, poverty levels vary drastically by location – with much higher rates in rural areas and various administrative districts. Rural regions had a poverty rate of 39.5 percent overall in 2016–17 compared to 7.8 percent in urban areas. In rural regions, there were 15.6 percent of people living in extreme poverty compared to 1 percent in urban areas.
“With social protection in particular, we all know that the poorest and most vulnerable are invariably the ones affected by shocks. So actually, even before COVID, we had been working with the Ministry of Gender to take a look at how there can be a systematic response to shocks when they do happen; and then fast forward to COVID-19 taking place, it highlighted the importance for us not to provide only sporadic responses.
“We’re supporting the ministry with other development partners to take a look at this critical issue, which is aimed at responding to shocks in a systematic manner by putting together a national strategy. And so we’re leveraging the World Bank’s convening power to bring people together like you’ve done today,” Ms. Dadzie said.
Ghana’s shock-response in the past has however been sporadic and exposed limitations: including absence of committed funding and ready data for beneficiary targetting; weak coordination among the various stakeholders in the delivery chain; and lack of clarity with respect to channels for delivery and response timelines.
The English- and Spanish-language broadcasts of the United States’ opening 1-1 tie with Wales at the World Cup was watched by 11.7 million people, a 5% increase over the Americans’ 2-1 victory over Ghana at the 2014 tournament.
The game, which began at 2 p.m., was watched by 8,306,000 people on Fox and 3.4 million on Telemundo, Telemundo digital, and Peacock, all of which are owned by Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal.
The match was watched by 563,000 people on streaming, according to Fox, the network’s highest group-stage viewership since taking over U.S. English-language rights for the 2018 tournament. The most-watched Spanish-language World Cup match received 1.0 million views on Telemundo and Peacock.
The 2014 United States opening in Brazil, which began on a Saturday in mid-June, was seen by 11.1 million on ESPN and 4.8 million on Univision.
Clint Dempsey gave the USA a lead just 34 seconds into the match in the 2014 game, but Ghana appeared to salvage a point in the 82nd minute when Andre Ayew beat Tim Howard.
John Anthony Brooks was the hero, in the end, scoring the winner in the 86th minute after he was left unmarked on a late corner kick.
Some Twitter users who store their savings and investments at the bank claim they discovered arbitrary deductions from their funds.
Others have added that the action is not intentional but rather the result of a Securities and Exchange Commission directive to banks to utilize the mark-to-market method, in which case consumers will receive their returns at market value as a result of the current financial crisis.
The customers said this has reduced their returns and even gone further to reduce their principal.
Twitter has therefore been buzzing as people are panicking as they state their fear of losing their investments.
One Twitter user Rex@RexKwasiDanquah wrote: “There’s misinformation going around that various fund managers (Databank, EDC, Stanlib) are “STEALING” monies people have invested. That’s disingenuous. @SECGhana has instructed them to use use the mark-to-market valuation method in the valuation of investment assets/securities.”
Another user, Richard said “Databank and EDC are not making decisions on their own. This is a directive from the SEC to all investment-holding banks and firms. They have to comply.”
Instead, Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, the Association’s president, has asked the government and the appropriate institutions to implement effective technology means of collecting money from already-existing sources to bolster the economy.
“We do not expect in this budget that we will see new revenue tax handles. There is so much revenue out there that we expect once you deploy efficient technology means, we can rake in the domestic revenue and correct all the cyclical issues – including the forex issues – which are all part of the debt sustainability approach. It all comes back to your domestic revenue mobilisation,” he said.
He told this to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade and Industry, when the Committee engaged the Association of Ghana industries (AGI), Ghana Chamber of Commerce (GCC) and Ghana Union of Traders’ Association to come up with practical and immediate solutions to address the economic challenges businesses are experiencing in the country.
Dr. Ayim-Darke in his submission also called for broader consultation during policy formulation, which according to him will accrue to the benefit of all stakeholders.
“We need to go beyond policy formulation and see a clear plan from parliamentarians that represents us – NDPC, Ministry of Finance and the Executive. We should focus on the national collective good, not any document that the party manifesto is based on.
As regards consultation for policy formulation, James Klutse Avedzi – who is a member of the Committee, bemoaned the poor procedure in collecting inputs from parliament as well as market players.
As a result, he noted that a new budget bill which is yet to be laid before the House will mandate the finance minister to consult parliament in formulating the country’s budget statements and economic policies.
“When you talk about government policy formulation, the process of formulating policy does not involve parliament. Parliament only hears of that policy for the first time when the budget statement is presented. That is why a week after the budget has been presented we have a debate, and that debate is basically on the policies of government; the policies which underpin the budget numbers. So, there’s a problem there – that when the policy is being formulated, the input of parliament is not sought.
“Since parliament is not involved in the policy formulation, when we debate the policy on the floor and we make our contributions, there is nothing binding the minister to take our contributions; there is no law that binds him; he can decide to ignore our suggestions completely.
“That is why some of us, about three of us, are sponsoring a private members’ bill called the Budget bill – whereby along the line government needs to consult parliament on an input into whatever policy they are developing. So if the Budget bill is passed into law, there will be some legal basis upon which he must come to the house for inputs,” he said.
For him, it is crucial for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, for instance, to consult players like GUTA, AGI and other stakeholders in industry to develop and finalise policies.
Ghanaians have stepped up their preparations for the Black Starsgame against Portugal in the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup on Thursday, November 24, 2022.
This will be the team’s maiden match in a group that also includes tough teams in Uruguay and South Korea.
In reaction to this, scores of individuals, particularly celebrities on social media, have taken to their walls to either predict scores, share encouraging words and prayers in anticipation of the game.
Some have also shared pictures of themselves repping Black Starsparaphernalia and Ghana flags on their social media platforms.
Meanwhile, some individuals are uncertain about the outcome of the game as they believe that it will be somewhat difficult for the Stars to get a positive result against the Portuguese led by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Others, however, are hopeful of a resounding victory for Ghana.
After the deadline of November 30, 2022, the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has stated that it is prepared to deactivate all unregistered SIM cards.
An excerpt from the press release stated, “Honored consumers of the various networks… users with Ghana cards can avoid this inconvenience [of deactivation] by completing the registration process.”
“Our members remain committed to supporting the efforts of all stakeholders to ensure that every customer in every part of the country is able to register their SIM card(s) with the Ghana card,” it added.
Justice Yeboah, a staunch member of the National DemocraticCongress, has raised serious concerns about the National Chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo regarding matters that have to do with the suspension of Koku Anyidoho, a former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC and other infractions of the party’s directives.
Koku Anyidoho served as Head of Communications under the Presidency of John Atta Mills from 2009 to 2012 and currently the Founder and President of the Atta Mills Institute.
According to the NDC stalwart, Justice Yeboah has written a letter asking the leadership of the party to revisit and probe into how Mr. Anyidoho was suspended as he accuses the National Chairman of breaching a directive by the party’s Council of Elders.
“I write in reference to the Council of Elders’ release dated October 26th, 2022, with reference number NDC/HQ/VOL2/07, with focus on paragraph five which reads; ‘…the use of decorous language, refrain from media attacks, breach of confidentialities and misrepresentations of decisions taken in relation to past actions of leadership. I am by this letter bringing to your attention that, the National Chairman’s campaign camp is in serious breach of this directive.
“First, Koku Anyidoho, a suspended member of the party, is persistently attacking the person of Mr. Asiedu Nketia, alleging that, his suspension from the party was a unilateral decision by the General Secretary. I respectfully request the Council of Elders to issue a statement on the said decision and stating as to whether or not it was a collective decision or a unilateral one as claimed by Mr. Anyidoho. Again, I want Chairman Ampofo as the leader of the Party to publicly state his position on Anyidoho’s suspension”, he calls the attention of the leadership to these issues among others.
Read letter below:
House No GW- 0910-5340
Oxygen Street
Oduman Junction Accra
The Chairman
Council of Elders
National Democratic Congress
P.O. Box 5825
Accra-North.
November 18th, 2022
Dear Sir,
REQUEST FOR ACTION
I am a Ghanaian and a card bearing member of the National Democratic Congress with membership number E330260030 in good standing, and a supporter of Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia (General), a contestant for the National Chairman position of the National Democratic Congress.
I write in reference to the Council of Elders’ release dated October 26th, 2022, with reference number NDC/HQ/VOL2/07, with focus on paragraph five which reads; ‘…the use of decorous language, refrain from media attacks, breach of confidentialities and misrepresentations of decisions taken in relation to past actions of leadership.”
I am by this letter bringing to your attention that, the National Chairman’s campaign camp is in serious breach of this directive.
First, Koku Anyidoho, a suspended member of the party, is persistently attacking the person of Mr. Asiedu Nketia, alleging that, his suspension from the party was a unilateral decision by the General Secretary.
I respectfully request the Council of Elders to issue a statement on the said decision and stating as to whether or not it was a collective decision or a unilateral one as claimed by Mr. Anyidoho. Again, I want Chairman Ampofo as the leader of the Party to publicly state his position on Anyidoho’s suspension.
These, in my estimation, will restrain the supporters of Aseidu Nketiah from coming out to explain what transpired at the Functional Executive Council (FEC) meeting that led to Koku’s suspension. For if it persists, we shall be forced to do whatever we can to defend Aseidu Nketiah with evidence to clear his name.
Someone might be tempted to argue that Chairman Ampofo knows nothing about what Koku Ayindoho is doing. But I hold a contrary view. And here is my reason.
That, Koku Anyidoho’s interview on Kingdom FM, calculated to attack the integrity of Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, was aired by the two radio stations belonging to the National Chairman, namely Ahotor FM and Radio 1.
It is my humbly appeal that the National Chairman comes out to distance himself from these unwarranted attacks by Anyidoho and sanction the one who authorized his stations to pick that feed from Kingdom FM as proof of his innocence. Else, it will be difficult for well-meaning supporters of Aseidu Nketiah to accept that Chairman Ampofo knows nothing about the persistent attacks by Anyidoho. To me, this will prevent others from attacking him (Chairman Ampofo) going forward.
Secondly, Koku Anyidoho and some other close confidant to Chairman Ampofo like Azubila have been peddling falsehood against Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia on both traditional and social media. They claim that Mr. Nketiah failed to show sympathy by not mourning with Chairman Ampofo when he lost his mother. Examples are marked Exhibit 1 on the pen drive and Exhibit 1B on the attached documents. The fact is, I am personally aware of the attempt made by Mr. Asiedu Nketiah to go and greet Chairman as customs demands but Chairman said he was busy at the time. Meanwhile, the one-week observation is yet to be observed, so why has chairman kept mute on this matter all these while?
I respectfully demand that, if the action by our National Chairman was not a deliberate strategy to block Aseidu Nketiah, so that he will use it as his campaign message to score political points, he should come out and clear the air that Mr. Nketiah made an attempt but just that he (Chairman Ampofo) was not available at that time and he thought he could do so at the one-week observation of the funeral.
Thirdly, Alistair Tahiru Nelson, a PPP activist who engineered the infamous Montie 3 that put the party in serious attack in 2016, is now a new found friend of our respected National Chairman. He has in recent times been insulting everybody including President Mahama, the Speaker of Parliament and the respected General Secretary. Audio evidence is marked Exhibit 2, 3, 4, and 5 on the pen drive.
Furthermore, Emmanuel Azubila Salam, who pretentiously uses Adam GH on social media and with WhatsApp number 0544418072, is a close person to our National Chairman. This person has been writing despicably about the General Secretary. Even though he cowardly does not add his name, thankfully, one can only post on WhatsApp page only with one’s phone number. All the despicable write-ups I have investigated point out that he is the originator of those write-ups. Examples of his numerous writeup are marked Exhibit 6, 7, 8 and 9.
More so, Bennard Oduro Takyi, popularly known as BOT, a recent converted NPP member who claims to be the spokesperson for Chairman Ampofo has also made it his duty to insult and peddle falsehood against General Mosquito. This is mostly done on a radio station that belongs to the Chairman, called Ahotor FM. The videos are many such that I could not copy them for your perusal. Fortunately, the links are still available on Ahotor FM facebook wall.
It beats my imagination that a chairman who has served the party all these years can hire these character assassins to assassinate or even malign the character of Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia.
The chairman himself, in his recent advert, is claiming that President Mahama and the Council, which you chair, tried to persuade the General Secretary from contesting him. In reference to the above release by you on 26th October 2022, I will be happy to know your position of such video. Knowing very well that his excellency, President Mahama, would not come out to say it is not true even if what he said is not the truth. Chairman’s video is marked Exhibit 10 on the pen drive.
In the same video, Chairman claimed that his own party members recorded him and sold it to the NPP. As far as I am concern, there was no investigation conducted on that the case. If Chairman has any report, I need a copy because I am an interested person since Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer removed me from the communication platform as a result of the said recording.
Again, Chairman’s supporters are casting aspersion on me that General planted me to record Chairman for him (General) meanwhile I was not even present at the said meeting.
If this is allowed to persist, I will be compelled to put out the report I also had from other quarters.
The Minister for Communications and Member of Parliament for Ablekuma WestConstituency, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has urged the minority in parliament to reconsider their decision not to approve any further loans by government.
According to her, the country may face a more difficult financial situation if these loans are disapproved.
She explained that one of the loans which have to do with her ministry will be funding for entrepreneurial skills, development training and start-up capital to start the innovation ecosystem and also provide jobs in the country.
She added that there is a need for parliament to approve these loans as digital technology provides us opportunities in these difficult times.
“This loan facility that the world bank board has already approved and are willing and eager to give this money to us but we cannot contract any loans without parliamentary approval. This loan for the Ghana Digital acceleration project will provide funding for entrepreneurial skills, development training and start-up capital to stare up the innovation ecosystem of our country.
“If we didn’t learn anything form the pandemic; it is that one lesson we all must have learnt is that without digital technology it is impossible for any country to grow its economy to communicate in the rapidly unfolding environment in which we live.
“Yes, we are having economic challenges but the Digital technology provides us with the ladder to climb out if the difficulties we currently face and so even though the minority has already taken the stand that they will not approve any further loans. I urge upon them that they should take another look at their position and reconsider because if we don’t take the right decision today, our country will be in probably even more difficult circumstances tomorrow,” she told journalists in parliament.
The minority side in parliament has vowed that it will not approve any further loan agreement by the government of Ghana in Parliament.
According to the minority, the approval of further loans will worsen the debt situation of the country.
Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Constituency Thomas Nyarko Ampem said in an interview that “Government of Ghana has brought a loan agreement for us to approve and three different loans agreement. One for two hundred million dollars and two each for one hundred and fifty million dollars. We have taken a very simple decision that looking at our debt situation we are unable to support further approvals for further loans because believe that if you are in a hole you don’t continue to dig further.”
It is based on this the Minister of Communication has asked the minority to reconsider their decision.
Studies suggest 7 to 9 hours as the normal sleep range. Beyond 9 hours could as predispose you to negative health issues. This means latest by 10 pm one should go to bed. Those with a different work schedule should have a sleep pattern to meet this range(Prof. Nyarkotey).
Some basic lifestyle habits improve our health. However, we fail to adhere to some of these basic nature prescriptions, and this eventually predisposes us to most of the modern health crises. Studies have confirmed the many benefits of sleep on our health. It has also been established we need about 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. However, due to current situations, most fail to get enough sleep.
The interesting thing is that though sleep is good for our health, studies have also confirmed that if you sleeptoo much could also predispose you to cardiovascular diseases. Is this not interesting?
I also found that sleep is akin to eating nutritious food, drinking water, and exercising regularly, getting quality sleep is an important component of overall health. Although the exact reasons humans need to sleep remain unknown, sleep experts agree there are numerous benefits to consistently getting a full night’s rest.
While sleeping, the body performs several repairing and maintaining processes that affect nearly every part of the body. As a result, a good night’s sleep, or a lack of sleep, can impact the body both mentally and physically. In this article, I review the benefits and side effects of too much sleep.
Sleep, supporting literature
Weight
Some studies (Brum et al. 2020; Itani et al. 2017; Cooper et al. 2018) confirmed that when we sleep less than 7 hours per night; we have an increased risk of weight gain and a higher body mass index (BMI).
Another study (Bacaro et al. 2020) also found that adults who slept less than 7 hours per night had a 41% increased risk of developing obesity. On the other hand, when we sleep longer, we experienced no increased risk.
In the case of Cooper et al. (2018), the study held that many factors account for the sleep effect on weight gain, such as hormones and motivation to exercise.
Another study (Ding et al. 2018) found that when we deprived ourselves of sleep, there are increased levels of ghrelin and decreased levels of leptin. These two hormones control our drives to eat: Ghrelin makes us feel hungry and leptin makes us feel full. This may cause us to feel hungrier and overeat.
For instance, two studies (Dashti et al. 2015; Satterfield and Killgore, 2020) found that those who deprived themselves of sleep eat more calories due to a higher appetite drive.
And the danger is that to compensate for the lack of energy, when you deprived yourself of sleep it makes you crave foods that are higher in sugar and fat, due to their higher calorie content (Yang et al. 2019; Khatib et al. 2017).
Sleep improves concentration & Productivity
Studies have established the benefits of sleep on brain function. For instance, (Hudson et al. 2020; Eugene and Masiak, 2015; Krause et al. 2017) studies attest that when we deprived ourselves of sleep, our cognition, concentration, productivity, and performance are all negatively affected.
This was demonstrated in an important study (Trockel et al. 2020) where doctors with moderate, high, and very high sleep-related impairment were 54%, 96%, and 97% more likely to report clinically significant medical errors. This means that medical people need good sleep to save patients.
Apart from that, other studies(Okano et al. 2019; Zeek et al. 2015; Turner et al. 2021; Stormark et al. 2019) found that when we sleep well, we improve our academic performance- children, adolescents, and young adults.
Finally, (Dai et al. 2020; Könen et al. 2015; Rana et al. 2018) also note that when we have good sleep, helps to improve our problem-solving skills and enhance memory performance in both children and adults.
Increases athletic performance
Studies have also confirmed the impact of sleep on athletic performance. For instance, (Vitale et al. 2019; Charest and Grandner, 2020; Bonnar et al. 2018) found that adequate sleep can enhance fine motor skills, reaction time, muscular power, muscular endurance, and problem-solving skills.
In the case of Charest and Grandner (2020), the authors held that lack of sleep could increase our risk of injury and decrease our interest to exercise.
Cardio support
Some studies, (Covassin and Singh, 2016; Javaheri and Redline, 2017; Drager et al. 2017) established that low sleep quality and duration could increase our risk of developing heart disease. In the case of Krittanawong et al.(2017), 19 reviews found that sleeping less than 7 hours per day resulted in a 13% increased risk of death from heart disease.
Another analysis by Yin et al. (2017)found that compared with 7 hours of sleep, each 1-hour decrease in sleep was associated with a 6% increased risk of all-cause mortality and heart disease.
Additionally, (Makarem et al. 2021; Makarem et al. 2019) also found that when we engage in short sleep, it tends to increase the risk of high blood pressure, especially in those with obstructive sleep apnea — a condition characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep.
For instance, Wang et al. (2015) found that people who slept less than 5 hours per night had a 61% higher risk of developing high blood pressure than those who slept 7 hours.
When one would think that it is better to sleep more; It appears otherwise, and three studies(Krittanawong et al. 2019; Yin et al. 2017; Wang et al. 2015) found that excessive sleep in adults — more than 9 hours —is linked to increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
Diabetes risk
Chattu et al.(2014) established that short sleep is linked to a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance — meaning your body cannot use the hormone insulin appropriately.
In another study, Anothaisintawee et al.(2016) examined 36 studies with over 1 million participants and found that when we sleep 5 hours or 6 hours increased the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 48% and 18%, respectively.
Additionally, Grandner et al. (2016) believed that when we don’t sleep can cause physiological changes like decreased insulin sensitivity, increased inflammation, and hunger hormone changes, as well as behavioral changes like poor decision-making and greater food intake — all of which increase diabetes risk.
Finally, (Grandner et al. 2016; Kim et al. 2018) established that when we also don’t sleep, it can lead to a higher risk of developing obesity, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome, and, in turn, can increase the risk of diabetes.
Poor sleep is linked to depression
Some studies (Li et al. 2016; Marino et al. 2021; Oh et al. 2019) have linked mental health conditions, such as depression, to poor sleep quality and sleeping disorders.
For instance, Oh et al. (2019) study of 2,672 participants found that those with anxiety and depression were more likely to report poorer sleep scores than those without anxiety and depression.
In other studies, (Hayley et al. 2015; Fang et al. 2019) found that people with sleeping disorders such as insomnia or obstructive sleep apnea also report higher rates of depression than those without. This is therefore prudent for those with sleeping challenges and mental health issues to seek medical help.
Immunity enhancement
Some studies (Besedovsky et al. 2019; Opp and Krueger, 2015) have associated lack of sleep to impair immune function.
In one study, Prather et al.(2015) found that respondents who slept less than 5 hours per night were 4.5 times more likely to develop a cold as compared to those who slept more than 7 hours.
Additionally, in a recent study by Prather et al. (2021), the authors found that those who sleep well improve their body’s antibody responses to influenza vaccines. This means good sleep before and after affects vaccination.
This was further confirmed in recent studies by (Benedict and Cedernaes, 2021; Robertson and Goldin, 2022; Zhu et al. 2021; Kow and Hasan, 2021), the authors found that having good sleep before and after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination may improve vaccine efficacy.
Poor sleep and inflammation
Studies have established that not having a good sleep can have a major effect on inflammation in the body. For instance, Irwin, MR(2019) found that sleep plays an important role in the regulation of our central nervous system. The author further asserts that it is also involved in the stress-response systems known as the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
Subsequent studies (Irwin et al. 2016; Irwin, 2019) also linked Sleep loss, from not sleeping, activate inflammatory signaling pathways and lead to higher levels of undesirable markers of inflammation, like interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein.
They further explained that when this happens for a longer period, chronic inflammation can trigger many chronic conditions, including obesity, heart disease, certain types of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and type 2 diabetes.
Emotions and social interactions
Studies have also established that sleep loss reduces our ability to regulate emotions and interact socially. For instance, two studies (Dorrian et al. 2019; Beattie et al. 2015) held that we find it difficult to control our emotions when we become frustrated leading to outbursts. Thus tiredness could also affect our ability to respond to humor and show empathy.
Thus, Simon and Walker’s (2018) study found that people who are frequently sleep-deprived are more likely to withdraw from social events and experience loneliness. Hence, there is a need to pay attention to sleep to enhance our relationships with others and help us become more social.
Lack of sleep can be dangerous
It has been established that if we don’t have good sleep can be dangerous. For instance, being severely sleep-deprived is comparable to having consumed excess alcohol. Joe Leech (2022) in his article on sleep reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 1 in 25 people have fallen asleep at the wheel while driving. Those who slept fewer than 6 hours were most likely to fall asleep while driving.
This was further complemented in one study (Tefft BC, 2018) that found that people who slept 6, 5, 4, or fewer than 4 hours had a risk of causing a car accident that was 1.3, 1.9, 2.9, and 15.1 times higher, respectively. This study suggests that your risk of a car accident increases significantly with each hour of lost sleep.
Additionally, the CDC found that if we don’t sleep for more than 18 hours is similar to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%. After 24 hours, this increases to 1.00%, which is over the legal driving limit.
In a previous study, Hassani et al.(2015) found that lack of sleep may also increase the risk of workplace injury and errors. In a nutshell, having enough sleep is helpful for our safety.
Take Home
I have found that sleep is akin to paying attention to your diet and exercise. Hence, as you pay attention to a good diet, if you neglect sound sleep, you have done nothing. I have also found that our needs in sleeping differ. However, for sound sleep, studies recommend that you should get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night for optimal health. Failure to do this could predispose you to the many negative health implications associated: with heart disease, depression, weight gain, inflammation, and sickness.
The most interesting thing I also found is that if you sleep more than 9 hours too you are predisposing yourself to too many negative health issues. So don’t sleep less and don’t go overboard for 9 hours. This means latest by 10 pm one should go to bed. Those with a different work schedule should have a sleep pattern to meet their health needs.
NB:
Prof. Nyarkotey has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations to justify his write-ups. My articles are for educational purposes and do not serve as medical advice for Treatment. I aim to educate the public about evidence-based scientific Naturopathic Therapies.
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DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana.
Attah Aryee and his colleagues at the Ankaful Maximum Prisonhave received three television sets to enable them to watch the ongoing World Cup.
The Executive Director of Crime Check Foundation (CCF), Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng presented 43 inches television sets to the inmates in fulfillment of a promise to Attah Aryee’s request for the electronic appliances.
Apart from the TVs, Mr. Kwarteng also presented two desktop computers and a 4-horse power mower to the inmates.
The appliances were donated by the Chief Executive Officer of Agyare Real Estates, Stephen Agyare Jnr. to mark his birthday.
Mr. Kwarteng whiles handing over the items to prison officers, urged the public to show love to the inmates as has been done by Mr. Agyare.
He appealed to corporate entities, religious organizations, and individuals to support the prisons to help give them a facelift.
“Not everybody in prison committed a crime. Freedom is priceless so when you are out there enjoying remember those in prison. The prison is not a place to live because your freedom would be curtailed. So let’s come to the aid of the inmates to show them affection,” he said.
Mr. Agyare Jr. feeling blessed by his move, reiterated the plea for the general public to support CCF’s cause to improve prison conditions.
“I am blessed to sponsor the donation and I want you to feel the same. I am pleading with corporate Ghana to support CCF to improve the conditions of the inmates. Let’s come together to help,” he charged.
The Officer-In-Charge of the Ankaful Main Camp Prison, DDP Robbin Asamoah Fenning thanked CCF and Mr. Agyare Jnr. for honouring the demand of the inmates.
“We thank CCF and Mr. Agyare Jnr. for these appliances. Many regard us as outcasts but you have shown love through this donation. CCF’s immense contribution to the welfare of inmates cannot be discounted and we urge other corporate entities and individuals to emulate the gesture,” he said.
Ataa Aryee appealed to CCF for the appliances to enable them to watch the World Cup and also ease their difficulty in weeding the prison compound.
He is serving a 160-year jail term; the longest-serving prisoner at the moment.
The minority has reintroduced a motion to kick out the health minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu over his involvement in the Sputnik-V vaccinesprocurement scandal.
The private members on the motion, according to the Parliament’s Order Paper, are James Avedzi, Mubarak Muntaka, Ahmed Ibrahim, and others.
The motion was filed against the minister on the following conduct;
1. Undertaking International Business or Economic Transaction (procurement and supply of vaccines) as Minister for Health with the Private Office of His Highness Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum without prior approval of Parliament contrary to article 181 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
2. Signing Procurement Agreement with the Private Office of His Highness Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and S.L. Global Ltd without prior approval of the Board of the Public Procurement Authority under sections 40 and 41 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) as amended by Act 914 which constitutes Criminal Offence under the law;
3. Dishonest Procurement of Sputnik-V vaccines from the Private Office of His Highness Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and S.L. Global Ltd at the cost of US$ 19.00 and US$18.5 respectively when the ex-factory price of the Sputnik-V vaccine generally announced was US$10 confirmed by the Minister to the Committee responsible for Health.
4. Knowingly procuring Sputnik-V vaccine from the Private Office of His Highness Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and S.L. Global Ltd at the cost of US$19.00 and US$18.5 respectively per dose. Nevertheless, informs the Committee responsible for Health that the ex-factory price of the Sputnik- V does not exceed US$10.00 per dose;
5.Causing payment in the sum of US$2,850,000.00 (Cedi the equivalent of GH$16,331,640.00) to the Private Office of His Highness Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum under void agreement with the Private Office of His Highness Sheik
Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, yet fibbed and misrepresented to the Ad Hoc Committee on Oath that no payment was made under the Agreement to the Private Office of His Highness Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and thereby committing a crime, to wit perjury; and
6.The above conduct, being in direct breach of the Constitution and Laws passed by this Honourable House, the Minister for Health be removed from office as Minister by a Vote of Censure passed in accordance with article 82 of the 1992Constitution.
The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Stephen Ayensu Ntim, on Tuesday, 22nd November 2022, inaugurated the various Standing and Ad-hoc Committees of the party’s National Council.
The said solemn event came off at the party headquarters, Asylum Down, Accra.
Having taken the relevant oaths which were administered by the National Chairman, members of the various committees are expected, under the party constitution, other applicable laws and regulations, to assist the National Executive body in administering the party.
In his brief remarks, Chairman Stephen Ayensu Ntim congratulated the members of the committees, whom he said, were all carefully chosen by the National Council on the basis of their proven experience, competence, and expertise in the various committees they have been appointed to serve on. He thus, implored them to work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed in them by the Party.
The General Secretary of the party, Justin Kodua Frimpong, also congratulated the members of the various committees on their deserving appointments and took the opportunity to remind them of their responsibilities and the huge expectations of the Party. He noted that the committees are expected to meet regularly and present a report to the National Council as required by the party’s constitution.
Speaking on behalf of the committees, Hon. Osei Bonsu Amoah, Chairman of the Research Committee, thanked the party Leadership for the confidence reposed in them. He said it was an honour for them to be chosen among the many qualified persons in the party, and therefore, gave a firm assurance that they would not disappoint the party.
The Standing Committees that were inaugurated in accordance with Article 10(3) of the Party Constitution were: the National Disciplinary Committee, Finance Committee, Organization Committee, Research Committee, and Constitutional and Legal Committee.
The Ad-hoc Committees that were inaugurated included the Welfare and Communications Committees.
Find below the composition of the various committees:
NATIONAL DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
1. Hon Kwasi Amoako Atta (Chairman)
2. Dr. Gladys Norley Ashitey
3. Mabel Sarpong
4. Robert Kutin Jnr.
5. Ing. Akwasi Abeasi
6. Hon. Patrick Boamah
7. Hon. Sheila Bartels
8. Mr. Kwaku Osei Asare
FINANCE COMMITTEE
1. Mr. Abankwa Sekyere (Chairman)
2. H.E Amb. Edward Boateng
3. Dr. Charles Dwamena
4. Madam Adelaid Ahwireng
5. Nana Adwoa Dokua
6. Madam Janet Ananse
7. Mr. Ernest Akore
1. Lord Oblitey Commey (Chairman)
2. Henry Nana Boakye
3. Mr. Samuel Awuku
4. Hon. Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh
5. Hon. Ali Maiga Halidu
6. Hon. Catherine Afeku
7. Ali Suraj
RESEARCH COMMITTEE
1. Hon. Osei Bonsu Amoah (Chairman)
2. Dr. Antoinette Tsibu Darko
3. Laurette Korkor Asante Otchere Esq
4. Dr. Nyame Baafi
5. Mr. Ernest Kumi
6. Mr. Matthew Kyeremeh
7. Dr. Owusu Mensah
8. Dr. Tina Abrefa
9. Amma Frimpongmaa
10. Mr. Peter Oteng Darko
11. Dr. Kingsley Agyeman
12. Mohammed Tahiru
13. Ayisha Salifu
14. Evans Nimako
15. Sharika A. Isahaku
16. Hajia Rukaya Ahmed
17. Albert Bediako
18. Nelson Owusu Ansah
COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE
1. Nana Akomea (Chairman)
2. Madam Oboshie Sai Coffie
3. Dr. Kabiru Mahama
4. Yaw Adomako Baafi
5. Kofi Ofosu Nkansah
6. Hon. Davis Opoku Ansah
7. Richard Ahiagba
8. Dennis Aboagye
9. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
10. Kwabena Sarpong
11. Hon. Ben Ayeh
12. Mr. Akwasi Afriyie
13. Hon. Titus Glover
14. Mr. Yofi Grant
15. Hon. Dr. Stephen Amoah
16. Mr. Kwabena Kwakye
17. Frances Essiam
18. Maame Afia Akoto
WELFARE COMMITTEE
1. Madam Rita Asobayire (Chairperson)
2. Dr. Charles Dwamena
3. Mr. William Yamoah
4. Madam Vida Dugbartey
5. Mr. Samuel Yeboah
6. Madam Kate Gyamfua
7. Madam Mary Porsch Oduro
8. Mr. Kwabena Frimpong
9. Bella Ofori
10. Madam Afua Gyekyewaa
When the Black Stars managed to halt Brazil’s rout in a pre-World Cup friendly on September 23 2022, there was an alloy of emotions as sentiments, accompanied by non-stop commentary swept across the country.
The Selecao had run the Black Stars off the field in 40 minutes, scoring 3 and threatening to add more in the second half but Ghana had different ideas. Otto Addo made changes to the team from the first half, with the shape suffering adjustments consequently.
After starting a back 4 with Daniel Amartey and Alexander Djiku as a centre-back pair, and Dede Ayew playing in midfield with Mohammed Kudus and Baba Iddrisu in a 4-3-3, the introduction of new boys; Inaki Williams and Mohammed Salisu, saw the team alternate to a back 3. And whether coincidentally or through calculated measure, a picture of a very nervy and disbanded Black Stars taken in the first half, was repainted.
Although they failed to hit the target in the second-half, there was an improvement from the first, attempting more shots (6) after half-time. Also, they sustained more attacks (41) as compared to 29 from the first 45 minutes.
Besides this improvement in offensive metrics from the Black Stars, Ghana restricted the Brazilians to fewer attempts at goal (8), after 13 in the first half. Overall, the complexion of the entire game had changed, and had Ghana been a little more efficient in the second half, they could have grabbed two goals.
As a result, Ghana’s 31.73 million coaches (lol) were left debating between the two systems, in attempts to decipher what the team should adopt as the first game in Qatar approaches. And with hours to kick-off, Joy Sports’ Mishael Quaynor takes a look at what the technical team could be considering before choosing between the two systems.
The ‘Back 4’
Right from the get-go, Otto Addo and the technical team have not shied away from indicating playing with two centre-backs and full-backs is their desired way for the national team.
A common feature since their taking over has seen Ghana play with two attacking number 8s anchored by a sole defensive midfielder in a 4-3-3, and this has been an advantage as when in possession, it has provided the team numerous approaches to maintain control in games.
In all of Ghana’s competitive games under Addo, the team has averaged 57.5% of possession, with the lowest coming in the 1-1 draw with Nigeria in the World Cup qualifiers, and the highest, away to Central African Republic in the Afcon qualifiers.
Comparatively, Ghana recorded an average possession of 51.3% in the 2021 Afcon campaign, which had a highest value of 63% versus Comoros, and 38% as the lowest in the defeat to Morocco. And in Ghana’s three games at Afcon 2021, the Black Stars created 17 chances in total, and managed to create 28 in Otto’s first three games as boss.
So definitely with his back 4, the team’s in-game philosophy has changed. But besides this domination Ghana has carved out, in Otto’s back 4, the Black Stars have also adopted various in-game approaches to games.
Ghana’s ‘numerous approaches’ has been exhibited by their malleability in the back 4, alternating with a 2-1-4-3 and even a 3-4-3, 3-1-4-2 and 3-2-4-1 – all in a back 4. A fundamental benefit of this flexibility is the Black Stars become a slightly difficult team to defend against, since when players rotate positions and roles, it makes it a complex task for opponents to control the team.
The back 4 has also been integral to Addo’s usage of dual attacking midfielders, roles which Kudus and Jordan Ayew were first deployed in, in Addo’s first game at home to Nigeria. Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Dede Ayew have also been tried in the roles.
However, the profiles required in the dual 8 means Kofi Kyereh will be a better fit in Qatar. Alongside their attacking responsibilities, the dual 8s have important defensive roles once the team is out of possession, and in the first half versus Brazil, Dede Ayew struggled with it, directly leading to the Selecao’s second goal.
Kyereh, who plays as an attacking midfielder at Freiburg, has averaged 0.6 tackles per game in the 2021/22 season and averaging 0.4 clearances as well as 0.3 possession wins in 9 Bundesliga games. Meanwhile, Woo-yeong Jeong, also an attacking midfielder for Freiburg averages 0.4 tackles per game, averaged 0.4 clearances and 0.4 possession regains in 12 games.
At the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, the midfielder posted impressive numbers in a disappointing campaign for the national team with an average of 1.0 interceptions per game, 2.3 tackles per game, won back possession 1.0 and 0.3 clearances.
His ability to do a job defensively means he could be effective alongside Kudus as dual number 8s, since they both have credible amounts of attacking talent to play in those roles. Besides, their similar, yet contrasting roles – Kudus, who is more of a dribbler and ball-carrier, and Kyereh, who plays tidier with one touch passing, could be compared to the Modric-Kroos relationship at Real Madrid. Meaning, both could compliment each other well in Qatar.
Besides the 4-3-3, the Black Stars also trialed a 4-4-2 in the friendly with Nicaragua, playing Inaki alongside Kudus – who played a similar role like he has at Ajax this season.
The ‘Back 3’
Despite Ghana’s seeming insistence to play with a four, Addo has displayed an appreciable level of tactical adaptability.
As indicated earlier, versus Brazil, the Black Stars switched to a back 3 in the second half, consequently halting their onslaught by the South Americans – much to the admiration of Ghanaians. But it was not the first time a back 3 was used. It first happened away to Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Abuja, where Ghana had to withstand torrents of pressure from their hosts.
As a result, they held on to secure a 1-1 result and qualify for the World Cup. The basic idea of a ‘back 3’ is to add more presence in defense. In France, Ghana’s back 3 saw the introduction of Mohammed Salisu after the withdrawal of Kamaldeen Sulemana. In Abuja, Jordan Ayew was whisked and Andy Yiadom introduced at right wing back.
Dennis Odoi, who was playing right back in the first half, was moved to left wing back and Gideon Mensah – left back in the first half – repositioned as a left-sided centre-back. This also reveals Addo’s ability to make do with resources available, but he might not have to worry so much in Qatar after calling up an array of profiles into his final squad.
The basic idea of a back 3, which introduces a third centre-back, is to add more presence in defense. With a third centre-back and two wing-backs who tuck in when the team is out of possession, there is a backline of five in defense.
Also ahead of the five are either three midfielders or four, depending on how the team decides to shape up; either in a 5-3-2 or 5-4-1.
Against Brazil, the back 3 was introduced as Ghana conceded too many spaces between midfield and defense. A third body in central defense means a centre-back could step up to engage opposition in between the lines without worrying too much about space left behind him.
Ghana in their defensive shape versus Brazil. Pay attention to Amartey’s body positioning
In Abuja, its introduction was to mitigate Nigeria’s excessive use of the wide areas in an attempt to open up the Black Stars. So defensively, the team adopted a 5-4-1 diamond, to enable lateral midfielders conveniently shadow Nigeria’s midfield runners while wing-backs could confidently step out to engage Nigeria in the wide areas.
Djiku shifts wider, as Yiadom steps out to press Nigeria’s winger. Partey prepares to pressure .. should he get the ball
But Ghana’s shape during build-up in a back 4 usually has the defensive midfielder drop in to form a back 3 with the two centre-backs. So starting in a straight back 3, Ghana can easily play out in their desired shape without having to sacrifice a midfielder.
Ghana’s back 3 during build up with a double pivot in midfield.
What happens in Qatar?
“I adapt to the opponent, I take a close look at the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent, and based on that I play a system so it’s flexible. I have many styles,” Otto Addo said to the press, and considering Ghana’s opponents in Group H it’s probably a wise approach.
However, there is bigger headache for the Black Stars, a team blessed with a plethora of attacking talents yet below par efficiency. Ghana’s top scorer from club level heading into the World Cup is Kudus with 10 goals in 21 games. Meanwhile Inaki, Sowah and Kamaldeen have a combined 8 goals in 52 appearances. Dede Ayew – Ghana’s top scorer in the squad heading into the World Cup – has managed only two goals in seven league games with Al Saad this season.
Critically, while creativity has not been a Black Stars problem since Otto Addo took charge of the Black Stars – creating 62 chances – efficiency has been problematic, as only 12.9% has been turned into goals.
As a result, the Black Stars will need to be measured in their approach. Ghana’s ‘back 4’ is targeted at establishing dominance and exerting control, and while the inability to finish off opposition has not yet left the Stars licking their blushes in any competitive game, the fire quality of Uruguay and Portugal especially, could mean they are due an awakening.
*Numbers for game versus Nicaragua unavailable
It is for this poor conversion record it is imperative the Black Stars introduce a third body in defence via the back 3. And the notion that the system is defensive and floors a team’s attacking edge is overly exaggerated.
Netherlands boss, Louis Van Gaal explained: “You have no idea at all. I’m sorry to say it, but you’re just a journalist. You want to implement your vision, but you have no vision in football. You have a vision for the newspaper, fantastic. You attract attention, and so on,” he told a Dutch journalist.
“But with 5-3-2 or 5-2-3 you can attack incredibly well. Chelsea [under Tuchel] show it every time, with different formations. And I take my hat off to Mr. Tuchel, because he got in halfway through [last season].”
There’s a fine line between a defensive and an offensive approach when employing a back 3, and it takes committed attention to detail to ensure a team is not overly on one side of the line, and with the talent available – a core of Alexander Djiku, Daniel Amartey and Mohammed Salisu, as well as the combination of the Black Stars technical team, Ghana could just flourish in the system.
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According to Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, during the course of three years, taxpayers were spared a total of GH4.1 billion due to tax reductions and eliminations, including a 50% fall in import duties.
He further stated that technology was being used by the government to improve port operations in Ghana.
“To increase the effectiveness of various government entities, we have established a digitization agenda.
These are projects that could result in significant long-term gains by utilizing technology to increase transparency, he said.
The Finance Minister of the country, Ken Ofori-Atta has indicated that the government has moved the economic policy of the country away from one focused on taxation to one focused on production and outlined directives toward such objectives.
He assured that measures would be undertaken to boost domestic revenue and the Ghana Revenue Authority would play an instrumental role in this objective.
“Government shall continue to provide the necessary support to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in their ongoing reforms for 2020 and the medium term to optimize revenue collection.”
“We have set a digitization agenda to improve the efficiency of many government agencies. These are initiatives with potential big long-term gains by leveraging technology to improve transparency,” he revealed.
Ken Ofori Atta also said efforts being undertaken to position Ghana’s ports as a regional logistics hub coupled with major road networks in the country is a demonstration of government’s long-term commitment to infrastructure development.
President Nana Akufo-Addo through the Ministry of Health has appointed Professor Otchere Addai Mensah, a Senior Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
A formal letter from the ministry of health has been received by the Board Chairman of the teaching hospital, Bompatahene Nana Effah Apenteng.
Sources in Manhyia Palace have also confirmed that Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has also received a formal letter from the Health Ministry informing him about the president’s new appointment in line with tradition.
Starr News checks at the referral facility disclosed that the board chairman of the facility at its last Board meeting briefed the board members about the new appointment which requires their approval.
The hospital’s board after the approval is expected to formally inform the entire working staff of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in the coming days.
Staff of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) had earlier served notice that they will reject any appointment of non-permanent staff of the Hospital as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
This followed speculations within the premier hospital that the President in consultation with Ashanti Regional Executives of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is considering announcing the appointment of Prof. Okyere Addai Mensah as a successor to the retired CEO Dr. Oheneba Owusu Danso.
The said notice from the staff read: “No KATH staff, No CEO; We are capable of managing our own affairs.”
Dr. Oheneba Owusu Danso retired last week after serving the referral facility for over 3 decades.
The Member of Parliament for Abaklu, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has explained why he is not going to resign as a Member of Parliament after promising to do so on live TV.
On Tuesday, November 15, 2022, during a panel discussion, on Good Morning Ghana programme, Governs Agbodza said that Vice President Bawumia, after telling Ghanaians that the government of former President John Dramani Mahamawas constructing hospitals at an inflated cost, is now constructing hospitals at a cost far greater than that of Mahama.
Dr. Kabiru Mahama retorted, saying that Agbodza’s statement was not true because hospitals were being constructed at a far lesser cost under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo/Mahamudu Bawumia government.
He went on to cite an example of a 150-bed unit at Ofankor District Hospital, which was constructed at a cost of not more than $1.5 million.
But the NDC MP said that the example given by Bawumia’s aide cannot be true and went on to promise that he will resign as an MP if he can prove that a 150-bed unit was constructed at a cost less than $1.5 million.
Dr. Mahama then pulled a story from GhanaWeb proving that a 150-bed unit at Ofankor District Hospital was built for less than $1.5 million.
Exactly a week later, on November 22, 2022, the MP on “Good Morning Ghana,” as he usually is on Tuesdays, explained why he was not going to resign despite the ‘evidence’ given by Bawumia’s advisor.
He said that pronouncements made by Vice President Bawumia and Dr. Kabiru Mahama about the said health facility were false because the facility at Ofankor was not a district hospital but a health centre.
He also stated that the African Development Bank (ADB), which provided funding for the health facility, classified it as a health center rather than a hospital.
“The question is has ADB built a 150 bed unit hospital (at Ofankor)? … that is a calculated lie. If you go to the ADB website, you will see every project they have done in this country.
He went on to read a document by the government that listed some projects that had been completed and it indicated “a health centre at Ofankor not a district hospital at Ofankor”.
“So, where exactly did the vice president get this idea about a 150-bed district hospital,” he added.
Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the minister of information, is pleading with the majority and minority parties in the parliament to cooperate closely in order to develop a workable budget plan that will set the Ghanaian economy on the route to recovery.
The Minister hinted in a tweet that the government’s economic plan for the following year, which will be delivered to Parliament on Thursday, November 24, 2022, will focus on responsible economic policies that will help restart the economy and, as a result, require cooperation from both sides of the house.
Hinting on some key pillars of the budget, the Minister said it will focus on restoring macroeconomic stability, arresting the escalating cost of living, achieving moderate growth and completing ongoing government projects across the country.
A majority of sneaker fans won’t ever amass the collection that DJ Khaled has, but the music mogul is giving a few lucky individuals the chance to tour his closet and spend the night at his house via a partnership with Airbnb.
Today, Khaled and the vacation rental company announced they will host two guests for two, one-night stays at his house in Miami from Dec. 5 and 6 for only $11 a night, with the price nodding to his shoe size. This news comes on the heels of Khaledand Jordan Brand announcing the release of their much anticipated “We The Best” Air Jordan 5 collab dropping on Cyber Monday (Nov. 28).
Image via Airbnb/Erick Hercules
The booking will go live on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. ET. The lucky attendees will be given an exclusive pair of Khaled’s “We The Best” Air Jordan 5 collab, a handwritten note from Khaled himself, an exclusive access to Khaled’s illustrious sneaker closet. The guests will also have the chance to check out some of Khaled’s favorite spots in Miami including a catered dinner from his restaurant and a private shopping session at 305 Kicks.
“Sneakers are an essential part of hip-hop culture and collecting them is an art – just like creating music,” DJ Khaled said. ”We bring the same passion and energy to the shoe game as we do the studio. That’s why we’re excited to share our sneaker kingdom with fans and give them a chance to walk in our shoes, literally.”
Sneaker and music fans alike will be able to book a stay at Khaled’s sneaker closet starting on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. ET at airbnb.com/wethebest.
The projected Ghana Gold Company, as opposed to the Agyapa one, was supposed to be held entirely by the Ghanaian government and its citizens.
According to the Agyapa agreement, Ghana owns only 51%, with the remaining 49% being held by unidentified outside parties, according to John Mahama.
The presidential Candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has indicated he will audit any person or firm that made financial gains from the Agyapa Gold Royalty transaction.
“The difference is that the proposed Ghana Gold Company was going to be 100 percent owned by the government and the people of Ghana and not the Agyapa one. With the Agyapa deal, Ghana owns only 51 percent and 49 percent held by other people we don’t know,” John Mahama said.
He continued, “Ghana Gold Company was being registered here in Ghana but Agyapa was registered in an offshore tax haven so that the identities of the shareholders will be hidden. Civil society organizations and right-thinking Ghanaians have all expressed misgivings with this Agyapa deal. And I have said and my advice to president Akufo-Addo is that they should desist immediately from signing that deal because as we have said clearly, we are going to oppose it, and we will do everything legitimate to frustrate that agreement in the interest of Ghanaians.”
“If I become president and by the will of God, I will become president, I will not respect that agreement. They should bring that agreement back and hold a meeting with Civil Society Organizations, the chiefs, and all the stakeholders to whom that gold royalties belong and let us achieve consensus on how we want to monetize our gold royalties and every penny that has gone underhand will be retrieved. I assure you. So, they (government officials) should return those monies,” he cautioned.
The former president said this while addressing a gathering of chiefs and people on a tour of the Mampong constituency in the Ashanti Region on Saturday, November 21, 2020.
Prior to approving the Agyapa Royalties transaction, Parliament in 2018 passed the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) Act 2018 which establishes the Fund to manage the equity interests of Ghana in mining companies and receive royalties on behalf of the government.
The sole purpose of the fund is to manage and invest these royalties and revenue from equities for higher returns for the benefit of the country and government through the MIIF.
In exchange for that, the Agyapa Royalties Limited aims to raise between US$500 million and US$750 million for the Government on the Ghana and London Stock exchange’s intended for developmental projects.
At least 162 people were killedand 700 others injured after a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Java on Monday, the Associated Press reports.
West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil told the outlet that “the majority of those who died were children,” adding that more than 13,000 people have been displaced by the earthquake. Additionally, at least 25 people were still trapped under collapsed buildings.
“There are still many residents trapped at the incident sites, we assume that the injured and dead victims will continue to increase over time,” Kamil said.
According to a statement from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the earthquake impacted West Java at 1:21 p.m. local time, hitting the Cianjur region, which is located about 47 miles southeast of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, the hardest.
The Cianjur district counts 2,272 houses, four government buildings, several schools, and a hospital among the area’s damaged infrastructure.
A government official in the Cianjur regency told the Washington Post, “The majority who died were hit by buildings. Some were hit on the head. All you can hear here is ambulance sirens everywhere.”
The news arrives months after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake killed at least 25 people and injured hundreds of others in West Sumatra province.
In January 2021, another 6.2-magnitude earthquake killed more than 100 people and injured nearly 6,500 in West Sulawesi province.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2025.
Guardiola has won 11 trophies, including four Premier League titles, during six years at Etihad Stadium.
The 51-year-old Spaniard has taken charge of 374 games and is City’s second longest-serving manager.
“From day one I felt something special being here. I cannot be in a better place,” said Guardiola.
“I am so pleased to be staying at Manchester City for another two years.
“I can’t say thank you enough to everyone at the club for trusting me. I am happy and comfortable, and I have everything I need to do my job as best as possible.
“I know the next chapter of this club will be amazing for the next decade. It happened over the last 10 years, and it will happen in the next 10 years because this club is so stable.
“I still have the feeling there is more we can achieve together and that is why I want to stay and continue fighting for trophies.”
They claim that the circumstance caused their marriages to fail.
“We, the former employees of Gold Coast Fund Management, wish to draw the attention of the National Pension Regulatory Authority, NPRA, and Government to the deliberate efforts by our pension administrator, Pentrust Limited, and Board of Trustees, not to pay our full Provident Fund (Tier 3) contributions,” they stated.
Some former staff of the defunct Gold Coast Fund Management has bemoaned their inability to access their provident fund (Tier 3) from Pentrust Limited.
This, they said has rendered them financially unstable to the extent that they cannot cater to the needs of their families.
In a press statement copied to GhanaWeb, the Ex Gold Coast Fund Management staff noted that “our inability to pay our rents, feed our families and most importantly take care of our wives and children which has led to the dissolutions of marriages and loss of respect in our homes. We are suffering”.
They, therefore, called on the National Pension Regulatory Authority to look into the matter for them to receive their due.
“We, the ex-staff of Gold Coast Fund Management, wishes to bring to the notice of National Pension Regulatory Authority, NPRA and Government about the deliberate attempts by our pension administrator, Pentrust Limited and Board of Trustees’s not to pay our full Provident Fund (Tier 3) contributions”.
“Since November 2019, several attempts to get our Provident Fund paid to us have proven futile. The fund administrator has utterly failed to honour our demands. Therefore, we deem it very urgent and necessary to notify the National Pension Regulatory Authority, the regulator of Pentrust Ltd, and Government about these developments and the plight of the ex-staff”.
Read the full statement copied to GhanaWeb below:
DELAY OF PROVIDENT FUND PAYMENT –
(EX-STAFF OF GOLD COAST FUND MANAGEMENT)
23RD NOVEMBER, 2020
PRESS RELEASE
We, the ex-staff of Gold Coast Fund Management, wishes to bring to the notice of National Pension Regulatory Authority, NPRA and Government about the deliberate attempts by our pension administrator, Pentrust Limited and Board of Trustees’s not to pay our full Provident Fund (Tier 3) contributions.
Since November 2019, several attempts to get our Provident Fund paid to us have proven futile. The fund administrator has utterly failed to honour our demands.
Therefore, we deem it very urgent and necessary to notify the National Pension
Regulatory Authority, the regulator of Pentrust Ltd, and Government about these developments and the plight of the ex-staff.
It is very sad to note that these deliberate attempts by Pentrust Limited and Trustees, to deny ex-staff their provident fund contribution has brought a lot of suffering and financial burden on us.
These include inability to pay our rents, feed our families and most importantly take care of our wives and children which has led to the dissolutions of marriages and loss of respect in our homes. In fact, we are suffering.
Our checks indicate Pentrust Limited and The Trustees transferred our Provident Fund money from the custodian bank, The Republic Bank to GN Savings and Loans. As of now, our money is locked with the receiver, Mr Eric Nana Nipah.
This simply means that,
1. Pentrust Limited and the Board of Trustee borrowed our money to the Employer, without our knowledge and without following the due process. An act which is against the pensions regulations.
2 . Our employer invested our money with different name, that is, GN/ Gold Coast Trustee. Due to this error by the Trustees, the receiver said they are investigating the transaction.
Therefore, the Association of Ex-Staff of Gold Coast Fund Management Ltd respectfully callson the NPRA, the regulator and The President, His Excellency Nana Akuffo-Addo, as a matter of urgency, to intervene and help in the payment of our provident fund to alleviate our long sufferings.
We know the President being a listening and compassionate, will help us during this difficult time.
50 Cent has offered his response after his lawsuit against a plastic surgeon over penis enhancement rumorshas received a trial date.
In a post on Instagram, Fif joked about the subject matter of the lawsuit and suggested that rumors he “enhanced” his genitals were ridiculous. “Yeah my dick is a BIG DEAL,” he wrote. “Set for trial in July no enhancement necessary, these fools put them selves out of business. SMH.”
Per court documents according to All Hip Hop, a Florida judge has scheduled the trial for July 3, 2023. 50 Cent filed the right-of-publicity lawsuit against plastic surgeon Angela Kogan and her company, Perfection Plastic Surgery & MedSpa, earlier this year after she allegedly used a photo of the hip-hop mogul to promote the company’s products and services. When he sued Kogan, Fif alleged that he suffered public embarrassment from the usage of the photo, which was taken during a 2020 trip to Miami. He said he agreed to take the photo because he thought she was a fan.
“The appearance of counsel and each party or representatives of each party with full authority to enter into a full and complete compromise and settlement is mandatory,” said Judge Robert Scola in the documents. “If insurance is involved, an adjuster with authority up to the policy limits or the most recent demand, whichever is lower, must attend. All proceedings of the mediation will be confidential and privileged. … If mediation is not conducted, the case may be stricken from the trial calendar, and other sanctions may be imposed.”
Despite the implication of the photo, 50 Cent’s ex-girlfriend Vivica A. Fox called Kogan a liar for suggesting Fif had a penis enhancement.
“Angela, you lying,” said Fox with a smile. “That’s all I’m going to say. if that’s one thing I know that’s true, he didn’t have to get no enhancement. He’s good!”
The Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged the Black Stars to represent the country well when they take to the field in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars are making a return to the world stage after being absent from the last edition which was held in Russia four years ago.
Ghana’s first game of the tournament being staged in Qatar is set for Thursday, November 24, against Portugal at the Stadium 974.
Ahead of the game, Bawumia has urged Otto Addo’s men to give their all without intimidation.
“The moment has come for the Black Stars to take on the World,” he said in a video on social media where he showed his skillset.
“We have a group of talented players who have been selected and they cannot be intimidated by anyone
Go Black Stars Go❗️🇬🇭
Vice President @MBawumia gives his support to the Black Stars as they look to face Portugal in their group opener.
“I want to urge the Black Stars to go on and play their hearts out for Mother Ghana. We can stand the world. We have done it before and we can do it again.
“They should go out and emulate the historic deeds of their predecessors. God bless you all. You can do it.
“Go! Ghana! Go! Go! Black Stars! Go,” he ended.
Ghana’s first game is scheduled for a 16:00 GMT kickoff on Thursday with games against South Korea and Uruguay to follow.
The Made in Ghana Summit 2022 (Breakfast Business Networking) is planned for December and will emphasize the value of relying less on importing goods that can be produced locally to expand the economy of the nation and promote pertinent issues like Ghana’s cedi depreciating against other major trading currencies and manufacturing downtime.
The heads of development partners, the Diplomatic Corps, and the top 100 CEOs have all confirmed their attendance.
Building strong Ghanaian brands for global competitiveness is the theme of the event organized by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana with partnership support from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana Free Zones Authority, and other relevant stakeholders. Jay Kay Industries & Investments Ltd., McDan Group, and M & G Pharma are providing sponsorship support for the event.
The key thrust of the one-day summit will focus on a holistic national framework that will project made in Ghana brands as the surest and most bankable alternative to all.
The Made in Ghana Summit is designed to assemble over 200 influential manufacturing CEOs, captains of industry, business executives, development partners, diplomatic corps, policy makers and entrepreneurs on one platform to support governments industrialization agenda, modernize our agricultural sector to generate enough foreign exchange through exports.
“The economy of any nation grows rapidly when locally made products are promoted through patronage first by its own people then through export. We need to diversify the economy so that we will not rely on imported commodity to survive as a country, produce the food we eat, make our own textiles, produce most of the things we use and create the right environment and also take advantage of the single African Market as created by the AFCFTA for industrial growth and Pan-African Payment and settlement systems (PAPSS),” said Sam Ato Gaise, Executive Director of Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana.
Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the minister of information, is pleading with the majority and minority parties in the parliament to cooperate closely in order to develop a workable budget plan that will set the Ghanaian economy on the route to recovery.
The Minister hinted in a tweet that the government’s economic plan for the following year, which will be delivered to Parliament on Thursday, November 24, 2022, will focus on responsible economic policies that will help restart the economy and, as a result, require cooperation from both sides of the house.
Hinting on some key pillars of the budget, the Minister said it will focus on restoring macroeconomic stability, arresting the escalating cost of living, achieving moderate growth and completing ongoing government projects across the country.
This, he said the budget statement is a prerequisite for securing an IMF deal and therefore must be carefully crafted in order to get the buy-in of all segments of society.
“We have issues with the wage bill, which has moved up to the second-largest expense category.
In reality, under this government interest payment, it has lost its top spot and has moved up to the top spot.
And currently, we are using 103% of our tax revenue to cover interest payments alone.
That simply implies that once you pay your interest expense, no matter how hard the people of Ghana work to provide you money, it still won’t be enough, therefore you’ll need to borrow, he said.
Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central and the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, Isaac Adongo is worried that interest payments are now the most significant item on the country’s wage bill.
He diagnoses the situation as part of the broader economic mismanagement by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government
According to him, interest payments leapfrogged wage bill expenditure because of the lack of fiscal and financial space as contained in the 2022 budget statement presented by Ken Ofori-Atta on November 17.
“We have problems with the wage bill, which has now become the number two most significant item of expenditure. In fact, it has lost its place as the number one, under this government interest payment has become the number one.
“And now we are spending 103% of our tax revenue just to pay for interest service. What that simply means is that once you pay for your interest cost, no matter how the people of Ghana break their backs to give you money, it just isn’t enough, you must go to borrow.
“You notice that we run a primary balance deficit of about 8.3 billion Ghana cedis. It means that we still have to borrow for part of the interest cost. So that means that you don’t have fiscal space in the budget,” he submitted on Citi TV’s Point Blank show that aired on Monday, November 22, 2021.
“So when disaster struck, you economy is already gone and in that case, you cannot accommodate any additional expenditures and you can’t accommodate additional pressures,” he added.
He added that the key to better managing the economy was to create fiscal buffers to deal with headwinds. In his view, when COVID came, the government ended up squandering all fiscal buffers.
He noted further that the situation is no different in the area of financial buffers because the government has blown over a billion dollars in monies handed over to them by the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama administration.
The last budget, the Finance Minister under the heading: “Resource Allocation for 2022” stated thus:
Mr. Speaker, Total Expenditure (including clearance of Arrears) is projected at GH¢137,529 million (27.4% of GDP). The estimate for 2022 represents a growth of 23.2 percent above the projected outturn of GH¢111,645 million (25.3% of GDP) for 2021. The key drivers of expenditure growth include Capital Expenditure, funding of key Government flagship programmes including the GhanaCares “Obaatanpa” Programme, wage bill, and interest payment.
“Mr. Speaker, Compensation of Employees is projected at GH¢35,841 million (7.1% of GDP) and constitute 26.1 percent of the Total Expenditure (including Arrears clearance).
“Mr. Speaker, Use of Goods and Services is also projected at GH¢9,149 million (1.8% of GDP). This represents 6.7 percent of the projected Total Expenditure (including Arrears clearance).
“Mr. Speaker, Interest Payment are projected at GH¢37,447 million (7.5% of GDP). Of this amount, Domestic Interest due will constitute about 77.3 percent and amount to GH¢28,943 million. To reduce the cost of borrowing, Government will continue to explore options of reprofiling domestic debt in 2022.”
The cause of Bruce Lee’s death has been given another lookby kidney-focused researchers.
As spotted by the Los Angeles Times and Variety in recent days, among other outlets, a paper published in a recent edition of Clinical Kidney Journal sees researchers based in Spain hypothesizing that Lee died due to “a specific form of kidney dysfunction.” Namely, researchers have proposed that Lee may have died as a result of an “inability to excrete enough water to maintain water homeostasis.”
The absence of stability in this part of the body’s larger system, per the paper, can cause issues including “death within hours” under certain conditions. Here’s more, straight from the paper itself:
“Given that hyponatraemia is frequent, as is found in up to 40% of hospitalized persons … and may cause death due to excessive water ingestion even in young healthy persons, there is a need for a wider dissemination of the concept that excessive water intake can kill.”
According to participating researchers, evidence of Lee possibly having been predisposed to hyponatraemia included taking in a large amount of fluids, factors that contributed to an increase of thirst, and and other factors (including a low solute intake) that could have been shown to negatively impact the kidney’s usual water-expelling functions.
Due to Lee having (in the opinion of the authors, at least) been predisposed to hyponatremia, researchers have further hypothesized that the long-celebrated actor and martial artist didn’t drink enough water to have triggered the condition solely on his own. Instead, it was (possibly) a combination of the aforementioned factors.
In the past, Lee’s sudden death in 1973 at the age of 32 has been linked to an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain, also known as a brain edema. In the years since, Lee’s cause of death has remained a source of continued questions and various theories.
Lee’s death was discussed at length in Matthew Polly’s 2018 book Bruce Lee: A Life, which was met with acclaim upon its release.
One of the most memorable moments at the Mundial was the handball against Ghana by Uruguay striker Luis Suarez.
The ball was on its way to an open net. Without a doubt, that was going to be a goal for Ghana. And not just any objective. This one, in the last minute of extra time in their 2010 quarterfinal against Uruguay, would make the Black Stars the first African team to reach a World Cup semifinal, much alone one on South African soil.
Luis Suarez, a forward for Uruguay, had to make a choice as he was on the goal line. His decision will abruptly halt Ghana’s progress. Suarez hit the ball out of the air with his hands knowing full well that he would be sent off.
Suarez calculated in a split second that the only chance his team had of remaining in the game was to avoid giving up the goal at all costs, even if that meant sacrificing himself and forcing Ghana to earn a penalty kick.
From the spot, Asamoah Gyan missed. After winning the subsequent shootout, Uruguay progressed to the semifinals.
The Black Stars of Ghana will clash with Uruguay again at the 2022 World Cup in Group H on 2nd December. The massive encounter will be played at the Al Janoub Stadium.
Ghanaians are seeking revenge against Uruguay at the Mundial in Qatar and have urged the Black Stars to focus on beating the Sky Blues.
The goal is built on making sure that all mining and mining-related operations – from exploration to downstream production and from research to innovation – are centered, which he observed remains a crucial focus of government.
To this end, he indicated that government is fully committed to this course; hence his call for collaboration to build a responsible, viable, sustainable and environmentally-sound mining industry.
“Large-scale mining companies which use highly skilled methods must work closely with small-scale miners to ensure that they, also, mine responsibly.
“We cannot have one aspect of the industry promoting environmentally-sound practices while the other is destroying the gains made. We must work together, and with host communities, to safeguard our environment; and provide opportunities for host communities to reduce the appetite for venturing into dangerous activities like illegal mining,” he stated.
The small-scale mining sector currently contributes about a third of Ghana’s total gold production, making it a significant part of the local mining industry. However, as a result of its impact on the environment in recent years, it has become associated with environmental degradation and water-pollution.
But the minister said it is the position of government that small-scale mining can, and must, be done sustainably and responsibly so as to contribute meaningfully to the national economy.
“It is for this reason that government has been implementing several policies and programmes aimed at promoting responsible and sustainable small-scale mining,” he added.
Furthermore, he disclosed that government is considering implementing an annual environmental audit, and posting Reclamation Bonds for small-scale mining companies.
The three-day World Gold Council Workshop is being organised on the role of large-scale gold mining companies in promoting responsible artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The event is being held under the auspices of the World Gold Council and Ghana Chamber of Mines.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, also speaking at the programme noted that they have digitalised the applications and renewals for mineral rights, permits and licences for both large- and small-scale mining companies.
This, he said, forms part of efforts by the Minerals Commission to expedite the licencing process and generally ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
Also, a Senior Advisor of the World Gold Council, Mr. Edward Beckham, appealed for countries to adopt responsible and sustainable ways of exploiting their resources.
Among other things, he said, the workshop will lead to an exchange of knowledge and expertise on effectively harnessing mineral resources for the country’s growth while protecting the environment.
The best players across the globe will soon swap their club kits and report for international duty. To represent their countries in a fight for the greatest prize in all of soccer: the FIFA World Cup. Yes, the world’s marquee sporting event has arrived. We’re a few days away from kicking off the first ever World Cup during the winter. While most aren’t the biggest soccer aficionados, everyone tunes in to the World Cup in some capacity. From watching the matches, to keeping tabs on headlines and consuming all the content, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is finally upon us. Here is a list of some of the players, not in order, that you should watch for this tournament.
Lionel Messi – Argentina
Leo Messi accepting defeat at the 2014 World Cup Final. Image via Getty
Touted as one of the greatest to most and the GOATto many, PSG’s Lionel Messi goes into the World Cup in fine form with the best Argentina side since they made a run to the Final in 2014. In what is likely his final chance to add a World Cup trophy to all his accolades and silverware, he leads an impressive Argentina team that is on a 35-match unbeaten streak. Considered a dark horse to win the World Cup, this team always has a chance to take it all with Messi dominating the pitch with his brilliance. Expect him to pour everything he has into his final chance at locking up the glory for his country and the undisputed GOAT title.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal
Image via Francois Nel/Getty
Dominating headlines and the sport for well over a decade plus with his talent and charisma, Cristiano Ronaldo enters his final World Cup with a strong Portuguese side. Despite him not being in his best form following a major rift between him and Manchester United to start the club season, this Portugal team is in good position to make a deep run. Ronaldo is always a threat to score goals and with one of the best teams he’s lined up with in this tournament you can expect their talisman to turn it on for his country. Like Messi, his GOAT status can be secured if the Seleção das Quinas lift the World Cup Trophy in December especially after a rough stretch with Man United.
Neymar Jr. – Brazil
Image via Getty/Michael Reaves
As one of the if not the most exciting players to watch for club and country, Neymar leads Brazil into the 2022 World Cup as the favorites to win it all. He is in the form of his life at the moment, netting goals and assists for PSG with relative ease. While the favorite for the World Cup has never won it all, he looks to add to his legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time. If you thought his Paris Saint Germain team was stacked, the Brazil squad has the talent to win it all and then some but he is undoubtedly the best player on his team and possibly the entire tournament this year. He should be an easy favorite for the Golden Boot this tournament.
Kylian Mbappe – France
Image via Getty/Ryan Pierse
With news of Karim Benzema picking up an injury just before their first group stage game, Kylian Mbappe becomes even more important for the reigning champions. They’ve suffered a handful of injuries and losing the Ballon d’Or Benz is huge but Mbappe has proven before he can carry a team with his pace, ability, and skill. The young stud has a clinical precision for goal and is considered one of the best when it comes to burying it in the net. Erling Haaland has recently taken the mantle for best young player in the world with a scorching start for Man City but with a strong run for France he can easily claim that back. It’s incredibly hard to repeat in the World Cup yet if Mbappe is in form there is no stopping his prowess on the pitch.
Harry Kane – England
Image via Getty/Michael Regan
Despite never securing a trophy in his entire footballing career for club and country, Harry Kane enters the 2022 World Cup with one of his best chances. This English national team is one of their strongest sides in quite some time and the Tottenham Spurs striker should relish many goal scoring opportunities to put on for his country. Could it be coming home? That will rely on Kane putting in the finest performances of his career with a team that continues to ascend the national team ranks. He will be extremely important for England and could challenge for the Golden Boot if they make a deeper run into the knockout stages.
Kevin De Bruyne – Belgium
Image via Getty/Dean Mouhtaropoulos
Considered the best midfielder in the game at the moment and he hasn’t even reached his peak yet. Manchester City and Belgium’s KDB is a boss on the pitch. One of the best international teams of the decade despite not winning any major trophies, his team made an epic run to the Semis in the 2018 World Cup but lost to Croatia. Expect him to control the game for his side as the best player on the team and push the Belgians forward to and deep into the knockout stages. He is a must watch talent and one of the finest players in the entire sport.
Christian Pulisic – USA
Image via Getty/Silvestre Szpylma
Captain America debuts in his first World Cup as the USMNT returns to international football after missing out on the biggest stage in 2018. At this stage in his career, Pulisic is still fighting for first team minutes with Chelsea but he knows how to make an impact in his limited time. Yet while he plays international football, Pulisic is their most important player. He’s the leader and arguably the best player that the United States has ever produced to play the beautiful game. Yes, he’s already up there with Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. Will he add to his legacy? Team USA will need him firing on all cylinders to make a deeper run with their young squad and he’s more than capable as he suits up for the red, white and blue.
Pedri – Spain
Image via Getty/Fran Santiago
One of the game’s youngest stars suits up for one of the youngest Spanish sides the country has ever fielded for a World Cup. Arriving in Barcelona two years ago and breaking out for the club in such a short time frame, Spain’s wunderkind is oozing with talent. Despite being only 19 years old, he finds himself as his team’s most important player and one of the critical pieces to their success during this WC. Claiming both the 2021 Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy, both awarded to the best player under 21, the kid has a balled out in any competition he competes in. He will shine and continue to ascend the ranks as one of the best in the game.
Federico Valverde – Uruguay
Image via Getty/Alberto Valdez
Coming off a breakout season at Real Madrid where he’s pivoted from the midfield to the right wing for Real Madrid, it seems Fede is tapping into a new level. He’s a fixture on the reigning UCL Champs club’s starting XI and now has found himself banging screamers into the net to kick off the new season. The ever so versatile player continues to become more well-rounded with experience and will be extremely important for a true dark horse in Uruguay to win it all. Finding himself as a scorer only adds to the strong side’s chances. Look for him to break out on an international level this 2022 World Cup.
Jamal Musiala
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Bayern Munich’s latest phenom looks to take the international stage by storm. Musiala is only 19 years old but has tallied 22 goal contributions, 12 goals and 10 assists, in just 22 games meaning he has a huge impact for Germany’s biggest football club this season.
While the German international team is relatively experienced, the young yet gifted attacking midfielder can impact the game with just a single touch on the pitch.
He is extremely talented, slicing through opposing defense at will and will be a menace for the opposition to contain.
Letitia Wright has spoken out after her 2020 vaccinemisinformation controversy was mentioned in an article about how it and Brad Pitt and Will Smith’s “personal baggage” might have an impact on the upcoming slate of Academy Award nominations.
The article in question comes from the Hollywood Reporter and sees Wright’s performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever cited alongside Smith in Emancipation and Pitt in Babylon as being examples of performances attached to “personal controversies” of each respective actor.
Smith, of course, slapped Chris Rock at the prior edition of the Oscars ceremony. In October, Angelina Jolie was reported to have accused Pitt of abuse against her and their children in a court filing.
In Instagram Stories updates on Monday, Wright—who previously apologized for sharing what was widely criticized as an anti-vaccine video—called the decision to include her controversy in a piece about Smith and Pitt “incredibly disrespectful.” She also accused the outlet of having a “personal vendetta” against her.
“How dare you,” she wrote in one post. “You mentioned my name alongside men who have been accused of abuse [and] sexual misconduct. This is vile behavior.” Notably, prior Oscars winners like Roman Polanski and Woody Allen were also mentioned in the THR piece.
In a follow-up post, Wright elaborated further while also noting she was now on “the other side” of her controversy.
“I’ve remained silent as the world told me to kill myself two years ago for a video I posted and [apologized] for,” she said “I kept my head down and focused on my craft.”
See more from Wright, who also briefly addressed the 2020 controversy in a recent Guardian interview (“I have apologized and I have moved on”), below.
Image via Letitia Wright on Instagram
Image via Letitia Wright on Instagram
Among the still-in-progress discourse surrounding 2023 Oscars buzz, Angela Bassett’s performance in the Black Panther sequel has also been mentioned as among those potentially vying for the Best Supporting Actress category.
For a rundown of all the Easter eggs and hidden references you may have missed with your first viewing of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, hit this link. The Ryan Coogler-directed blockbuster is in theaters now.
A CNN Africa reporter called Larry Madowo received confirmation from the unnamed lawyer that the business had “finally agreed to talk with the laid-off Africa staff.”
In a tweet on November 22, Madowo, who has been closely following the topic, repeated that the laid-off employees “weren’t offered severance until CNN highlighted” their predicament and that they “weren’t allowed to discuss their separation conditions until” CNN article was aired.
They initiated legal action against the new owner of the platform, Elon Musk, over discrimination and the imbalance in the severance pay they were offered compared to others who were laid off in the United States and Europe upon his takeover.
Madowo revealed the contents of their termination emails in his earlier reports, which read in part: “The company is reorganizing its operations as a result of a need to reduce costs. It is with regret that we’re writing to inform you that your employment is terminating as a result of this exercise.
“Your last day of employment will be 4th December 2022. You will be placed on garden leave until your termination date,” the November 4 letter read.
“It is clear that Twitter, under Elon Musk, is either deliberately or recklessly flouting the laws of Ghana, is operating in bad faith and in a manner that seeks to silence and intimidate former employees into accepting any terms unilaterally thrown at them.
“Without pressure from higher authorities, they are clearly not willing to provide a fair or just package in order to minimize the hardship of this takeover and the resulting loss of jobs on their workforce in Africa.”
Moroccan-born American referee Ismail Elfat has been appointed by FIFA to officiate Ghana’s 2022 World Cup opener against Portugal on Thursday.
The game will take place at Stadium 974 (Rass Abou Aboud) at 16:00 GMT.
Elfat, 40, is one of 28 new referees at the global showpiece, which is being held in the Middle East for the first time.
He will be assisted by compatriots Kyle Atkins and Corey Parker, while French official Stephanie Frappart will serve as the fourth official.
Elfath was first a Fourth official in MLS in 2011 and made his MLS refereeing debut in 2012. He became a FIFA listed official in 2016.
Elfath was named the MLS Referee of the Year for the first time in his career on November 18, 2020. He received the honor for a second time two years later on October 14, 2022.
In July 2021, Elfath took charge of three matches at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, including a quarter -final match between host nation Japan and New Zealand.
Elfath was chosen as one of the two referees from CONCACAF for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations held in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022.
Black Stars, who are the lowest-ranked team at the tournament have been drawn in Group H alongside Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
After playing Portugal on Thursday, they will take on South Korea and Uruguay on November 28 and December 2 respectively.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup takes place between November 20 and December 18, 2022.
Only three sides from the continent have ever progressed to the quarter-finals; Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010.
Ghana will be hoping to progress from the group stage at this year’s tournament.
Black Stars exited the group stage at the 2014 edition in Brazil after a slow start to the tournament.
The 2023 budget statement and economic policy must include a clear and viable path on climate action, access to affordable and clean energy, and high-quality education because governments around the world are being held more accountable by their citizens and investors for higher environmental, ethical, and social standards.
This is a significant finding from a Pre-Budget Survey performed by the advising company KPMG, which collected 70 responses from “100 leading enterprises operating in Ghana across 10 sectors of the economy.”
The report suggested that failure to swiftly address issues around Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) at a national level will have dire implications for the country’s near-term financing options, as well as its long-term environmental sustainability.
Referencing the decision by global rating agencies Moody’s and Fitch to lower the country’s long-term issuer rating to ‘Caa2’ and ‘CCC’ respectively – in part due to its low ESG credit impact score – the KPMG said: “Government has the opportunity to seize this moment to re-establish its role with respect to driving gains on major ESG issues”.
“Even though the government of Ghana signed the Paris Agreement, it needs to take action to save the environment. This includes, but is not limited to, regular tree-planting exercises and stopping illegal mining,” read the report signed off by Anthony Sarpong, Senior Partner and Head of Advisory & Markets.
Furthermore, overall handling of the illegal mining (galamsey) menace by the state was deemed overwhelmingly inadequate – with the majority of respondents (84.3 percent) expressing dissatisfaction with government’s efforts in that regard, compared with only 2.9 percent of the respondents who were “highly satisfied”.
With the value of ESG assets being estimated to rise to as much as US$160trillion by 2036, with the International Finance Corporation suggesting that climate-facing investment opportunities in emerging markets could reach US$23trillion by 2030, key financial sector players like the Bank of Ghana and Ghana Stock Exchange have developed ESG guidelines for institutions under their remit.
Richer, more industrialised nations have failed to meet a long-standing pledge to deliver US$100billion by 2020 to aid poorer countries adjust to climate change, falling short by US$17billion.
This led to a number of voices at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), including that of President Nana Addo Dankwwa Akufo Addo, calling on those nations to redeem their pledges – seeing that they have contributed more to climate change than their less-industrialised peers.
Analysts are however convinced that recent global developments show that each nation must lead its own ESG charge.
“Now is the time for government to transform its mindset and consider ESG holistically as central to its mission… Now is the time for government to lead by example,” KPMG added.
