After spotting Osebo the Zaraman’s red carpet appearance at the 2022 Ghana Music Awards UK, popular fashion critique, Charlie Dior, has loudly chastised it.
From head to toe, Charlie gave a breakdown analysis of what he described as a completely failed outfit.
Zaraman rocked a three-piece grey and black outfit with a sleeveless side pleated blazer.
He paired the outfit with a pair of grey boots and a ‘Balenciaga goggle’ worth almost $1,000.
But Charlie Dior, who thinks the outfit wasn’t inappropriate for such an event, asked whether he was styled by a blind man.
According to him, Osebo the Zaraman tries to pull off weird, ugly looks and act as though he is a fashion style trendsetter.
“I love him and he hates me. He always like to turn a look and for some reason it doesn’t turn. I don’t know what to call this look. However, these Balenciagas he is wearing is one of the hottest trends in Fashion right now. It has been in retail for $950. I wanted one for myself until I saw him wear it. I mean what is this? It looks like he was styled by a blind man.
“Shoutout to all the blind people but I’m starting to question if he himself is blind. Is that why he is wearing those big goggles? Maybe he was going more for a vibe instead of fashion. If that is the case, then I am not feeling this vibe. Because of that I am burning this look,” he stated in a viral video.
The World Cup is just about to begin, and to build up to the tournament, we are taking a look at the eight groups playing for a spot in the last 16.
In this article, we are analysing Group H, consisting of Portugal, Uruguay, Ghana and South Korea.
World Cup 2022 Group H: Full analysis
Ghana
Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen), Danlad Ibrahim (Asante Kotoko), Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Abdul-Rahman Baba (Reading), Alexander Djiku (Racing Strasbourg), Tariq Lamptey (Brighton & Hove Albion), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Denis Odoi (Club Bruges), Mohammed Salisu (Southampton), Alidu Seidu (Clermont), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax), Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (Freiburg), Elisha Owusu (Gent), Thomas Partey (Arsenal), Salis Abdul Samed (Lens), Daniel Afriyie (Hearts of Oak), Andre Ayew (Al Sadd), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade), Issahaku Abdul Fatawu (Sporting Lisbon), Antoine Semenyo (Bristol City), Kamal Sowah (Club Bruges), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Rennes), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
Analysis – Ghana have a decent squad to compete with, consisting of Thomas Partey, Mo Kudus, Mohammed Salisu and Jordan Ayew among others. As a result, they could provide a tough challenge to the other, bigger teams in the group.
South Korea
Official South Korea squad for 2022 World Cup. 🚨🇰🇷 #WorldCup2022
Kim Seung-gyu (Al Shabab), Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan Hyundai), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Motors), Kim Min-jae (Napoli), Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk Motors), Hong Chul (Daegu FC), Kim Moon-hwan (Jeonbuk Motors), Yoon Jong-gyu (FC Seoul), Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Tae-hwan (Ulsan Hyundai), Kwon Kyung-won (Gamba Osaka), Cho Yu-min (Daejon Citizen), Jung Woo-young (Al Sadd), Na Sang-ho (FC Seoul), Paik Seung-ho (Jeonbuk Motors), Son Jun-ho (Shandong Taishan), Song Min-kyu (Jeonbuk Motors), Kwon Chang-hoon (Gimcheon Sangmu), Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Hwang In-beom (Olympiacos), Jeong Woo-yeong (Freiburg), Lee Kang-in (Real Mallorca), Hwang Ui-jo (Olympiacos), Cho Gue-sung (Jeonbuk Motors)
Analysis – Led by Son Heung-Min and Napoli’s Kim Min Jae, South Korea are heading into the World Cup as one of the underdogs. However, they will have to overcome massive odds in the process.
Uruguay
Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Sergio Rochet (Nacional), Sebastian Sosa (Independiente), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Sporting CP), Diego Godin (Velez Sarsfield), Martin Caceres (LA Galaxy), Ronald Araujo (Barcelona), Guillermo Varela (Flamengo), Jose Luis Rodriguez (Nacional), Mathias Olivera (Napoli), Matias Vina (Roma), Lucas Torreira (Galatasaray), Manuel Ugarte (Sporting CP), Matias Vecino (Lazio), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United), Nicolas De La Cruz (River Plate), Agustin Canobbio (Athletico Paranaense), Facundo Torres (Orlando City), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Flamengo), Maxi Gomez (Trabzonspor), Luis Suarez (Nacional), Edinson Cavani (Valencia), Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)
Analysis – Uruguay have a very strong chance to make it deep into the competition based on their squad. But, things haven’t been clicking for them on the pitch as of late. They will need to get the team on the same page to fend off competition from the rest.
Portugal
If Portugal and Argentina win their groups we could see Messi and Ronaldo play each other in the World Cup final.
Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Patricio (AS Roma), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Nuno Mendes (Paris St-Germain), Pepe (Porto), Danilo Pereira (Paris St-Germain), Antonio Silva (Benfica), William Carvalho (Real Betis), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Mario (Benfica), Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Matheus Nunes (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Otavio (Porto), Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Vitinha (Paris St-Germain), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Ricardo Horta (SC Braga), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Andre Silva (RB Leipzig)
Analysis – Portugal are stacked in every position on the pitch, and will need to showcase their talent to win the group, which they have a very good chance of doing. But the bigger challenge for them will be to try and win the World Cup.
World Cup 2022: Who makes it through from Group H?
Portugal and Uruguay would be the obvious choices on paper. However, ruling out South Korea and Ghana will not be a wise choice. Portugal might still have a solid chance to win, but second place is anybody’s guess.
Martin Scorsese isn’t the only A-list director who has beef with comic book movies.
During a recent appearance on Tom Segura’s 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast, Quentin Tarantino blamed Marvel’s reign atop Hollywood for the decline in traditional movie stars.
“Part of the Marvel-ization of Hollywood is…you have all these actors who have become famous playing these characters,” Tarantino said. “But they’re not movie stars. Right? Captain America is the star. Or Thor is the star. I mean, I’m not the first person to say that. I think that’s been said a zillion times…but it’s like, you know, it’s these franchise characters that become a star.”
Tarantino maintained that he doesn’t “hate” superhero films but resents how completely they’ve monopolized Hollywood.
“My only axe to grind against them is they’re the only things that seem to be made,” he added. “And they’re the only things that seem to generate any kind of excitement amongst a fan base or even for the studio making them. That’s what they’re excited about. And so it’s just the fact that they are the entire representation of this era of movies right now. There’s not really much room for anything else. That’s my problem.”
Granted, it isn’t the first time Tarantino has voiced his distaste for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times earlier this month, the Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood director made it very clear that he has no interest in dabbling in the superhero world.
“You have to be a hired hand to do those things,” Tarantino said. “I’m not a hired hand. I’m not looking for a job.”
Listen to Tarantino’s full interview with Tom Segura below.
The Ghana National Bureau of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme has given the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) the responsibility of making sure that foreign drivers in the nation have active ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Schemes.
The ECOWAS Brown Card, which gives international drivers access to claims against third-party liabilities incurred while in the country and the other 14 ECOWAS member states with the exception of Cape Verde, an island nation, is essential, according to the Bureau.
The Ghana National Bureau issued this warning at the beginning of a three-day training course for about 40 employees from the MTTD’s Accra and Tema Regions.
Speaking to the media, General Secretary of the Ghana National Bureau of the Scheme, Mr Richard Sarbah Eshun noted that the training was to equip the personnel across the country to be abreast with new developments and the ability to identify and validate the authenticity of ECOWAS Brown Card certificates used by foreign motorists across the sub-region.
Some of the features/particulars that personnel of the MTTD should be on the look-out for when determining the authenticity of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance certificates include; Name of Issuing National Bureau; Particulars of policyholder; Particulars of insurer; Policy number; Individual serial number; Period of validity of Brown Card
On his part, the Director of Training and Research at the Police MTTD, Chief Superintendent Alexander Obeng noted that the Department is committed to ensuring the success of the scheme on our roads and to ensure that safety on our roads are prioritized especially in the event of accidents involving foreign vehicles from the sub-region.
He further commended the ECOWAS Brown Card Office for their continuous training support and assured the Ghana National Bureau of the support of the Police MTTD.
Automatic Brown Card for motor policyholders
It is important to state that Ghana became the first Anglophone country to join the Franco-phone countries to issue Brown Card automatically to all motor insurance policyholders. Indeed, the Francophone countries in the sub-region blazed the trail in this regard.
In view of this, Mr Eshun hinted that Ghanaian motorists have automatic ECOWAS Brown Cards once they have purchased local motor insurance policies.
About the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme
The ECOWAS Brown Card scheme, was introduced in 1982, following the signing of the ECOWAS Brown Card Protocol by the ECOWAS Heads of State with the primary objective to facilitate the free movement of people, goods and services, across the sub-region.
The scheme is expected to facilitate prompt and fair compensation paid to victims of motor accidents caused by a non-citizen motorist from a member country.
It is a territorial extension of the motor third-party liability insurance, which enables motorists to travel freely within the ECOWAS Brown Card region.
A System for settlement of claims.
It is a common system for the settlement of motor insurance claims arising from international motor vehicular accidents. The initiative is expected to enhance trade harmony among member countries; particularly with regard to the laws and regulations on motor accident liability.
The Bidenadministration on Tuesday announced it will extend the pandemic-era freeze on federal student loan payments to June 2023.
Payments were scheduled to resume on Jan. 1, but the administration decided to extend the moratorium through at least June 30 as it faces legal challenges to its debt forgiveness plan.
“We’re extending the payment pause because it would be deeply unfair to ask borrowers to pay a debt that they wouldn’t have to pay, were it not for the baseless lawsuits brought by Republican officials and special interests,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement.
Biden took to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon to break the news, which he revealed by posting a short video alongside a tweet announcing the decision.
“I’m confident that our student debt relief plan is legal. But it’s on hold because Republican officials want to block it,” Biden wrote. “That’s why @SecCardona is extending the payment pause to no later than June 30, 2023, giving the Supreme Court time to hear the case in its current term.”
“It isn’t fair to ask tens of millions of borrowers eligible for relief to resume their student debt payments while the courts consider the lawsuit,” Biden added.
The news arrives a few days after a federal appeals court blocked Biden’s debt cancellation program, which allows eligible borrowers to cancel up to $20,000 of student loan debt.
As a result, the administration confirmed plans to restart payments either 60 days after the Supreme Court reaches a decision or at the very latest on June 30 of next year. The Supreme Court, however, has not yet confirmed whether they will hear the case.
Speaking to business leaders and stakeholders, Dr. Prempeh took advantage of the occasion to reiterate his commitment to local participation and content, which, in his view, is the means by which the nation may generate value through the use of the hydrocarbon resource.
The Minister said in spite of the fact that the energy transition concerns keep growing by the day, with calls for reduction in the production and consumption of fossil fuels, the rate of growth of alternative energy sources are not keeping up with pace to replace fossils fuel in the global energy mix.
“This has led to the recognition that oil and natural gas play critical roles in today’s energy and economic systems, and that, affordable and reliable supplies of liquids and gases (of different types) are necessary parts of a vision of the future. This could be possible if the oil and gas industry takes the necessary steps to deploy the requisite technologies in their E&P activities to minimise the adverse impacts of their operations on the climate. As such, it opens a way – which some companies are already following – for the oil and gas industry to engage with the “grand coalition” that we in Ghana considers essential to tackle climate change” he said.
The Manhyia South lawmaker further said the sustainability of local content development in Ghana’s upstream oil and gas sector depends on a healthy pipeline of E&P projects and activities underpinned by its highly prospective sedimentary basin and attractive fiscal regime. Within the last five (5) years, six significant discoveries have been made offshore Ghana, of which five (5) are pending appraisal and development.
“With a healthy pipeline of oil and gas discoveries awaiting development, Ghana’s crude oil production is forecast to reach about 400,000 barrels per day and 600 MMscf of natural gas export per day by 2028. This growth in oil and gas production is expected to be unlocked through the upside maturation of already discovered reserves and the development of new discoveries” the Energy Minister noted.
Dr. Prempeh however said the vision of government for the energy sector is to develop a modern, diversified, efficient, and financially sustainable “Energy Economy” that will ensure that all Ghanaian homes and industries have access to an adequate, reliable, affordable and environmentally-sustainable supply of energy to meet their needs and to support the accelerated growth and development agenda we all envisage for the country.
The role he said of the petroleum sector, especially within the natural gas sub-sector in achieving this vision cannot be overemphasized.
“It is expected that indigenous gas production will not only offer the nation a clean energy source to meet Ghana’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, but also cost-effective fuel for power generation on reliable basis” he added.
The 2022 edition of the Local Content Conference marks the return of the conference to its in-person nature after it halted due to the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event which ends on Thursday, November 24, 2022 is expected to provide opportunities for networking towards the development of not only local content but the entire upstream petroleum industry.
A new Rolling Stone report sheds more light on Kanye West’s alleged mistreatment of Yeezy employees, as numerous former staffers accuse Ye of repeatedly showing them “hardcore” pornography during work hours.
A variety of West’s actions are detailed in an open letter issued Tuesday by former high-ranking Yeezy staff members to the executive board members and CEO of Adidas.
Titled “The Truth About Yeezy: A Call to Action for Adidas Leadership,” the letter—per RS, which obtained a copy—demands that Adidas leadership address “the toxic and chaotic environment that Kanye West created” as well as a “very sick pattern of predacious behavior toward women” who worked under Ye.
According to numerous former staffers, Kanye frequently discussed porn and played explicit videos during staff meetings, displayed intimate photographs of ex-wife Kim Kardashian in job interviews, and even played his own sex tapes for Yeezy team members.
“He showed me the video of Francesca Le, a buff porn star with a strap-on dildo fucking another girl in the ass,” one past collaborator told Rolling Stone. “He’s like, ‘What do you think of it?’ Not laughing at all.”
“The oversexualized behavior has been consistent since the beginning,” said another former senior employee. “I don’t know that it ever went away.”
One employee said Kanye expressed to colleagues his desire to make a sneaker into which he could ejaculate. “Not a sex-toy sneaker but something that you were so into that you would wanna have an intimate relationship,” she explained. “He’d be, like, ‘literally fuck.’ He would be very clear on what that meant.”
While Kanye’s pornography displays were far beyond acceptable, ex-staffers maintain that Adidas’ senior executive team overlooked his unprofessionalism. Other alleged incidents and behaviors included Ye playing adult videos in meetings with the excuse that he needed them “in the background to keep [him] focused,” and having “exploded at women in the room with offensive remarks,” including calling an employee a “fat slut.”
“The most troubling behavior that should have been flagged by the executive team very early in the partnership is his manipulative and fear-based approach to leading the team, all while trying to assert dominance over Adidas employees in closed rooms,” the letter stated.
Though the group is requesting that the executive board members issue a public apology to the Yeezy team for enduring “Kanye’s terrorizing behavior,” the open letter focuses the blame on Adidas leadership.
“As much as we all would love to solely blame Kanye,” the letter says, “the undeniable truth is that the Adidas executive team and the board have been huge enablers.”
One prior staffer observed that there are “many forms of abuse, and this is the kind of abuse that’s so many kinds of abuse combined into one,” while another said West uses “tactic[s] to break a person down and establish their unwavering allegiance to him, testing and destroying people’s boundaries.”
A spokesperson for Adidas issued a statement to RS onthe company’s behalf, writing, “Adidas does not tolerate hate speech and offensive behavior and therefore has terminated the adidas Yeezy partnership. We have been and continue to be actively engaged in conversations with our employees about the events that lead [sic] to our decision to end the partnership. They have our full support and as we’re working through the details of the termination, we have been clear that we want to keep our employees’ talent and skills within the organization.”
Read the full report here. Also included is an incident where West is alleged in 2019 to have texted a then-employee about a nearly forgotten sneaker prototype, “We really need this shoe to be done because all I think about is Kim’s ass and this shoe.” This propelled the design “from no work to the number-one most important model,” only for it to never go to market.
Balenciaga has issued an apology after the fashion house was accused of sexualizing children in its recent advertisements.
Earlier this week, Balenciaga sparked backlash for a holiday campaign featuring photos of young kids holding teddy bears dressed in what appears to be bondage gear.
The label also landed itself in hot water for incorporating an image of a Supreme Courtopinion in a child pornography case, which it admitted was “unsettling.”
It didn’t take long before social media users criticized Balenciaga’s advertisement. “The photos were taken by National Geographic photographer Gabriele Galimberti,” wrote Paper, “known for his photographs of children and ‘Toy Stories’ project and portfolio.”
On Tuesday, the brand took to social media to issue an apology for its actions.
“We sincerely apologize for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused,” a statement on Instagram read. “Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign. We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms.”
As for the controversial Supreme Court ruling, Balenciaga wrote, “We apologize for displaying unsettling documents in our campaign. We take this matter very seriously and are taking legal action against the parties responsible for creating the set and including unapproved items for our Spring 23 campaign photoshoot. We strongly condemn abuse of children in any form. We stand for children safety and well-being.”
Diana Asamoah has once again reiterated that she loves her new self, especially her ability to slay for Christ by dressing stylishly anything she makes a public appearance.
The celebrated Ghanaian singer who has eight albums to her credit has recalled how she used to be ‘too spiritual’ causing her to judge and condemn those who are fashionable.
Evangelist Diana Asamoah in an interview on GhanaWeb TV admitted to condemning and pointing accusing fingers at women with a high fashion sense. According to the musician, she used to tag wigs made for women as an ‘unclean’ products from marine spirit, locally known as ‘maame water’.
“In my days when I was ‘too spiritual’, I just couldn’t get closer to people. It hindered me from getting close to people or even laughing with them. For instance, I could have frowned throughout the interview and judged you because of the wig you’re wearing and even called it maame water,” Diana Asamoah told Paula Amma Broni, host of Talkertainment on GhanaWeb TV.
Now more than ever, Diana, who rebranded just a few years ago, is living her best life while winning souls for Christ. It is her wish to draw more youth to God by appealing to them through her music and style.
It is good to note that Diana Asamoah is unbothered about the negative comments that have been directed to her as a result of her decision to slay for Christ by wearing well-tailored dresses, heels, hair extensions, makeup and also employing the service of a stylist.
“I don’t bother myself to read comments about me on the internet and when I hear it, I don’t take it to heart. As a Christian, you ought to study the Bible if you wish to progress in life. You have to ignore them…any Christian who wishes to enter heaven must ignore bad comments, close your ears and just ignore them. Just focus on your progress as stated by Apostle Paul in the Bible,” the ‘Akoko Abon’ hitmaker admonished.
He claims that the 2023 budget will be crucial to Ghana’s negotiations with the IMF and to regaining investor trust in the nation.
He also lamented the events related to the 2022 budget, saying that past mistakes cannot be repeated.
On his Twitter page on November 23, he wrote: “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.”
The NDC MPs have stated that the Finance Minister must be removed, therefore proposing a censure motion which was referred to an eight-member ad hoc committee to probe.
98 NPP MPs agree to support Ofori-Atta after Minority, NPP leadership meeting
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.
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
Gospel musician Evangelist Diana Asamoah in her recent interview with GhanaWeb did not only associate Ghana’s economic crisis with signs of the end time as written in the Bible but also urged the public to appreciate the government’s efforts in making lives better.
The popular singer is the latest to defend President Nana Addo Dankwa and the New Patriotic Party despite the backlash from a section of Ghanaians who have blamed the current economic misfortunes on the ruling government.
According to Diana Asamoah, this is not the right time to apportion blame but instead, pray for the president and appreciate all his efforts which include feeding thousands and providing free electricity and water to the good people of Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We should rather pray for the president and ask God to make him more compassionate. He needs to complete his great vision for the nation. It is not his fault that we are experiencing this crisis. This is just the beginning things are about to get worse across the world…those that know God will survive,” she told GhanaWeb.
Speaking in an interview with Paula Amma Broni on Talkertainment, she tagged those who continuously nag as ungrateful.
“People continue to complain because they have ignored the words of the Bible. I recently came across a message in the Bible which speaks about humans becoming ungrateful. Just take a look at what Nana Addo’s government did for us during Covid. He supplied continuous food to a large number of people in this country. He added water, in the case of the UK which had the same benefit, they later paid for it,” the gospel singer referenced the relief packages the government gave to the general public backing 2020.
“It’d be another space for me to enter, worldwide,” he said.
He also hinted at using Highlife to reconnect with his Ghanaian music heritage as he reaches out to the rest of the world.
“This is what we show to the world and this is what the world accepts as our biggest [contribution],” he explained.
“It’s a bit challenging for me,” he admitted to Ghanaweekend.com’s Kwame Dadzie at Sunday’s Rhythms on Da Runway 2022 event.
Despite the aforementioned desire, the singer and music producer also noted he would be content if things do not work out as expected in the Highlife category at the Ghanaian music award flagship.
“I would be really glad, I’d accept it, if I get the Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year, we’re good but…,” he shrugged in the middle of his talk.
In 2019, Shatta Wale, a Reggae/Dancehall artiste, surprised patrons of the VGMAs when he bagged the Highlife Song of the Year award with his ‘My Level’ song. A unique feat, which some regarded controversial since he was foreign to the genre and category.
Born Theophilus Nii Arday Otoo, but better known as Epixode, the Ghanaian musician revealed that his “next few singles will definitely be” Highlife. He was quick to clarify, that the songs may not be “a hundred percent Highlife,” however.
He also stated that he is aware songs are “products” and “so if the consumers want a specific thing, I think it’s the right time you give [it] to them.”
“I’m going back to who I am originally, my roots, having that African and folk [style],” the visual artist, video director, and singer assured.
The conversation about the Ghanaian genre of international renown was occasioned by Epixode’s 2022 big hit ‘Atia’. A song that was first released as a Reggae/Dancehall piece and later received a Highlife rendition which shot it to its current hit status.
The Highlife remix featured Highlife superstar Kwabena Kwabena. It was released with a music video.
The song went viral via a social media challenge, particularly on TikTok, inviting fans to sing along with their unique melodies and lyrics. It was called #AtiaChallenge.
On the Folk rendition which followed, Epixode featured vocalist Abiana and Dela Botri, the Flute Magician.
Given the wide acceptance of the song in its varied genre forms, Epixode surprised his fans with the ‘Atia, The Archive’ tape on Friday, 21 October 2022. On it, aside from the renditions already named, the song was presented in Hip-hop (featuring Kwaakwa), Afro (featuring Mr. Drew), Jazz (featuring Dela Botri, Katrina Suwalski), Zouk (featuring FLO), Ragga, and Live band (featuring Lipstick Band) forms.
Epixode is currently a judge on Accra-based TV3’s Mentor music reality show.
Popular Kumawood actor Prince Acheampongknown in the movie industry as Inchankota has appealed to Ghanaians not to crucify celebrities especially actors and actresses who endorse political parties.
Some Kumawood actors and actresses, who openly endorsed political parties in 2016 and 2020, claimed they have been sidelined because some producers are unwilling to use them with the fear that Ghanaians will not watch their movies due to their political affiliation.
Kumawood actors and actresses endorsement of political parties especially the two major political parties has become common in every campaign season.
Speaking in an interview with AMBASSADOR TV monitored by MyNewsGh.com, Inchankota emphasized “endorsing is not a crime so I will beg Ghanaians to watch our movies even if we endorse their opposing political parties.
“Though some of the actors campaigned for NPP and NDC, they are not enemies because they understand politics”, he disclosed.
“Agya Koo and some actors endorsed NPP while Michael Afrane and others endorsed NDC but when they meet, they eat together, share ideas together because they see themselves are friends and family not political enemies” Inchankota explained.
Inchankota added, “Mr Beautiful has been sidelined in the industry all because he endorsed a certain political party. It is not that Mr Beautiful is not a good actor, producers are afraid to use him in their movies because they are afraid people will not buy that movie”
“Ghanaians need to understand politics because if someone endorsed political party it doesn’t that person should be sidelined even if he/she is talented.
“Any actor who will endorse a certain political party believes the ideology and the campaign promises of that political party so we will understand freedom of each and every one,” he added.
Celebrated hi-life artiste, Kwaisey Peehas treated his fans and Ghanaian music lovers to a new song that is already making waves and could dominate parties and shows in the Christmas season.
The song, titled Ayele which was released on Friday, November 18, 2022 has been tipped by pundits and music lovers to be the song of choice in the festive season.
Ayele is a mid-tempo song that captures Kwaisey Pee professing his undying love for his girlfriend and assuring her of unalloyed love.
The song produced by Kwaisey Pee himself and mastered by Ubeatz is one that will get listeners on their feet, jamming to the soothing voice of the legendary Kwaisey Pee on a mid-tempo beat.
The captivating song is believed to be a prelude to his much-anticipated concert, scheduled for December 26, 2022.
Dubbed, Kwaisey Pee and Friends, the concert is expected to draw some big artistes to the Gold Coast bar and Restaurant to celebrate good music and entertain Ghanaians.
Gospel musician Hetty Osei is set to launch her live-recorded album, ‘Winner’, on November 27 at the ICGC’s Horeb Temple behind West Hills Mall, Accra.
The event, scheduled to take off at 2 pm, will have many rooted Christians present to grace the occasion of the gospel minister as she outdoors her newest album to add to her discography.
The maiden album dubbed winner inspired from her life’s experiences that have taught her to believe that no matter what challenges a true child of God goes through, in the end, victory is assured, citing Romans 8:28 from the scriptures to cement her statement.
Meanwhile, the dignitaries and music groups billed for the event include Ps. Isaiah Fosu-Kwakye Jnr, Ps. Sherrif Rockson, Bernice Ansah and Alexandrah.
The atmosphere will also be adorned with celestial songs stemming from the ICGC Shepherd Temple Choir, ICGC Horeb Temple Choir and the St. Sylvanus Catholic Church Choir.
Hetty Osei has been prime in her Christian and gospel life right from infancy. Due to her love for music, she has been pivotal in all churches she attended growing up.
In 1992, she began ministering in churches, where she was centred at the Pentecost Church, Abeka Central.
Her fate then moved her to continue the Lord’s work through singing at High Powered Ministry in Bolgatanga. The gospel maestro again moved to Fountain Gate Ministry in Sunyani, where she also carved her niche, ready to storm Ghana as a gospel minister.
Nonetheless, Hetty Osei is currently the music director at the ICGC Shepherd Temple at Tetegu in Accra.
She is married to Mr Eric Osei and blessed with beautiful kids – Aaron (of blessed memory), Gabby, Abigail and Phoebe.
With her first single making waves on social media, the ‘In His Presence’ singer said she is apt her maiden album will cause wonders in the music sphere.
“We are all winners right from birth. God has placed the winning syndrome in every human being but it takes faith to deal with it. My Winner album will push every gospel lover to activate themselves to see the glory of God in their lives,” she said in an interview.
According to him, there are a lot of amazing songs people listen to without understanding, especially African music.
Speaking to Rev. Erskine on Y107.9FM’s Myd Morning Show, Kuami Eugene said, “There are a lot of African music we don’t understand but still jam to, and I think music travels far regardless hence, you have to do good music and once it sounds good people jump on it.”
However, he believes the language barrier will be a challenge if the artiste wants to make it on the international market.
“If you’re able to break through that barrier, then you can do the O2 arena and other places because those coming to watch you want to sing along, and if they don’t understand anything about the music it’s quite difficult,” he explained.
Citing Nigerians as an example, he mentioned language as an advantage for the Nigerian music industry, as they sing almost all their songs in English.
“The fact that they use a lot of pidgin in their music and because it’s English, people understand what’s being said. So, when it’s played somewhere, it doesn’t have to be explained because they can understand everything being said in the song,” he said.
The award-winning singer and songwriter noted that it’s not bad to love and respect your heritage and whatever you’re doing but also, it won’t be bad if our music gets out there because others understand what we’re talking about.
“It’s good but if you really want to get on the international market you have to do something they’ll understand and that means adding a little of what they can relate to,” he discussed.
In marking 10 years of African Legends Night, Global Media Alliance has announced five new initiatives to celebrate this year’s concert ahead of the main show slated for December 2nd at the Grand Arena – Accra International Conference Centre.
Curation of African Legends Digital Music Museum and the African Legends Hall of Fame are two key initiatives amongst the additions which according to Global Media Alliance, the event organizers, will institutionalized the recognition and celebration of African artistes and their music alongside the concert – African Legends Night.
The others include Legends Music Show, Legends Music Celebrations and Legends Music Playlist.
• Legends Music Museum
An interactive digital music museum that will catalogue the key information about all the African music legends that have performed at African Legends Night since the establishment of the event 10 years ago. The music museum will be hosted on African Legends Night website (www.africanlegendsnight.com) and also exhibited at the main concert December 2nd at the Grand Arena.
• Legends Hall of Fame
An annual induction list of all legendary musicians who have performed at African Legends Night. Over the ten-year period, African Legends Night has witnessed over 20 headliners from a number of African countries such as Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, DR. Congo, Namibia, South Africa among others.
• Legends Music Show
An on-air TV magazine show on eTV Ghana showcasing past concerts, music interviews, artiste music videos and giving exclusive news about African Legends Night.
• Legends Music Celebrations
A 4-hour radio playlist show on Happy FM dedicated to all artistes who have performed on African Legends Night
• Legends Digital Music Playlist
A specially curated music playlist in collaboration with streaming platform – Boomplay which is dedicated to African Legends Nights musicians. This is to boost the streaming numbers of these musicians.
“African Legends Night has come a long way. Ten years of building a pan-African concert for African music legends truly needs to be celebrated and recognized. Our new initiatives form part of the event’s core goal of institutionalizing the celebration of music legends across the African continent,” Ernest Boateng, CEO of Global Media Alliance said in a statement.
The African Legends Night is a premium pan-African concert which recognizes and celebrates living African music legends.
Since its inception, the event has celebrated music legends on the African continent including the Late Hugh Masekela, Daddy Lumba, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Kojo Antwi, Femi Kuti, Amakye Dede, Kanda Bongoman, Awilo Longomba, George Darko, Ofie Kudjo, Freddie Meiway, Ben Brako, Gyedu Blay Ambulley, Samini, Nana Tuffuor, Akosua Adjepong, Amandzeba 2Face Idibia, Nat Brew, Aka Blay among many others.
These legends together with other amazing talents such as Wiyaala, Steve Bedi, Yaa Yaa (Bertha), Lady May, Trigmatic, Becca, eShun, Efya, Dela Hayes and her all-female band and others have thrilled tens of thousands of patrons.
African Legends Night is sponsored by HD Plus, Ghana Gas, Ghana Tourism Authority, Beyond the Return, Perception Management International and Silverbird Cinemas with media partners – MX24, eTv, Citi FM, YFM, B&FT, Happy FM, Daily Guide, Ghanaweb, AmeyawDebrah, Oman FM, Net2TV and NYDJ Live.
Kumawood actor, Yaw Dabo, has topped Twitter trends following Argentina’s 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup game in Qatar.
Saudi Arabia pulled off the first big surprise of Qatar 2022, defeating tournament favourites Argentina in Tuesday’s early kick-off at Lusail Stadium.
But in all that ensued, the spotlight has been thrown on the Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, under whose watch the team suffered the painful defeat.
The 2021 Ballon d’Or winner who has been nicknamed after ‘Ghana’s Yaw Dabo’ due to his diminutive nature became the topic for discussion following what has been described as a poor performance displayed during the match, making the name ‘Yaw Dabo’ occupy the first spot on the Ghana Twitter trends.
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Read the tweets below:
This world cup will expose Argentina Yaw Dabo and his entourage that they are nothing.
The Argentina coach said he is resting his key players for the big games. No wonder Lisandro Martínez is on the bench and Yaw Dabo is starting as Captain 😂😂😂
Over the years, Nana Ama McBrown has proven how multitalented she is. From acting in movies to hosting television shows, and many more, she has proven to be a jack of all trades and a master of most if not all.The Ghanaian actress introduced Ghanaians to a new side when news emerged she had landed a voiceover role in Ghana’s first 3D animation movie, Asantewaa, Battle for the Golden Stool.
All about Asantewaa, Battle for The Golden Stool
Nana Ama McBrown voices the character Asantewaa in the animated movie based on the story of Yaa Asantewaa, Queen Mother of Ejisu who sought to protect the Golden Stool, a symbol of the unity and soul of the Ashanti kingdom. The historical movie is set to premiere on December 10, 2022. It is directed by Jessie Sunkwa- Mills, director and lead of Mills Media.
Nana Ama McBrown as Asantewaa
A video shared by Zionfelix on Instagram captures Nana Ama McBrown saying her lines from a dialogue with the character Governor Hudson. Many have praised her for taking part in preserving Ghana’s history.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo says he’s fit and focused on playing against Ghana on Thursday in their 2022 World Cup opener.
The 37-year-old trained with his teammates on Monday morning, having missed his side’s friendly with Nigeria last Thursday due a stomach problem.
“I’m feeling great, I’m recovered and I’m training well and ready to start the World Cup in the best way possible,” Ronaldo said at a press conference in Doha.
“I feel that this Portugal squad has amazing potential. I think we can win for sure, but we need to focus on the next game. So, it’s focusing in Ghana, get a win and go from there.
“We will see in the end who the best team is, but I believe Portugal is the best team in this World Cup. But we need to show it on the pitch.”
He added, “We have enormous potential, but we have to think about Ghana and take it slowly. From there, we grow. If we are the best team, we will reach the final. The champion will be the best. We have youthful players, it’s a good mix.”
“I’d love to win this tournament, but if you told me I’d never win another trophy until the end of my career, I’d be happy all the same. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved.
“But a World Cup in my career wouldn’t be bad! I’d love it and it’s a dream for me. It’s possible. Let’s see. I hope the positive energies are on our side and we can do our best,” he said.
Black Stars, who are the lowest-ranked team at the tournament have been drawn in Group H alongside Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
Ghana will take on Portugal in their first game on November 24 before playing 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.
A new analysis conducted by the Global Burden of Disease and Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators has revealed that Ghana recorded 88,649 infection-related deaths in 2019.
According to the analysis, 49,066 deaths were caused by bacterial infections, including tuberculosis, 25,309 deaths were caused by a resistant bacterial infection, and 5,923 deaths were caused by a resistant bacterial infection.
24,564 children under the age of five died as a result of sepsis. Bloodstream infections were the most lethal infectious syndrome among children, accounting for 8,194 deaths.
According to the analysis, lower respiratory infections and all related infections in the thorax account for 25% of the total.
In the first global mortality estimate, bacterial infection was responsible for 55% of sepsis deaths. The remaining 45% was caused by other pathogens such as viruses, fungi, and parasites.
Dr. Christopher J.L. Murray, Chair of Health Metrics Sciences at the University of Washington and Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), and leader of the Global Burden of Disease and Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborator told JoyNews few hours after the release of the first global estimates of mortality involving 33 bacterial pathogens and 11 types of infection, claims they were responsible for 7.7 million deaths worldwide in 2019.
In 2019, deaths caused by these bacteria accounted for 13.6% of all global deaths and more than half of all sepsis-related deaths. Lower respiratory infections (LRI), bloodstream infections (BSI), and peritoneal and intra-abdominal infections (IAA) accounted for more than 75% of the 7.7 million bacterial deaths. S. aureus, E. coli, S. pneumoniae, K. pneumoniae, and P. aeruginosa were the pathogens responsible for 54.2% of the deaths among the bacteria studied. S. aureus was the pathogen responsible for the most deaths worldwide, accounting for 1.1 million deaths.
E. coli (950 000 deaths), S. pneumoniae (829,000), K. pneumonia (790,000), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the other pathogens linked to more than 500,000 deaths (559,000).
The leading bacterial pathogens were linked to a similar number of female and male deaths. The most deadly pathogens and age-standardised mortality rates varied by location.
With 230 deaths per 100,000 people, Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest mortality rate. The high-income super-region, which includes Western Europe, North America, and Australasia, had the lowest mortality rate, with 52 deaths per 100,000 people. In 135 countries, S. aureus was the leading bacterial cause of death, followed by E. coli (37), S. pneumoniae (24), and K. pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii (4 countries each).
While many estimates exist for pathogens such as tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV, estimates of the disease burden of bacterial pathogens have previously been limited to a few specific pathogens and types of infection, or have been limited to specific populations.
More deaths have been linked to two of the most lethal pathogens, S. aureus and E. coli – than HIV/AIDS (864,000 deaths) in 2019, despite the fact that HIV research received $42 billion dollars, while $800 million has been allocated for E. coli research.
According to the authors, such funding gaps may have arisen due to a lack of data on the global burden of these infections until now.
According to Dr. Murray, common bacterial infections were the second leading cause of death in 2019 after ischaemic heart disease, accounting for one out of every eight deaths worldwide.
When asked if it surprises him, he said, “It does. You know, I think, many people would expect that. Um, these pathogens, you know, aren’t, such killers as they are, so it is quite surprising that they are still there in the community still causing a lot of harm.”
“Well, I think some of the deaths from these pathogens are sort of hidden, because, uh, we tend to cluster uh things together in syndrome like pneumonia or a bloodstream infection, or a wound infection, and don’t really dig into the details to see what are the bacteria causing those problems. And that’s when you do that. You reveal that some bacteria that most people aren’t that familiar with are actually at the root cause of multiple different um syndromes. And so part of the research is to shed light on the importance of these bacteria,” he added.
Part of the reason Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest mortality rate is due to risk factors for some of the infections that are more common in Africa, such as pneumonia, wound infections, and skin infections.
“It’s very common in West Africa that has to do with both. You know the environment, malnutrition, lack of vaccination in some cases, for example, for streptococcus pneumonia. So those all come together to make the risk of those uh infections, these bacterial infections higher,” Dr. Murray said.
According to Dr. Murray, the world has not invested enough in research for these bacterial pathogens, which is due in part to their obscurity.
“So some of the research funders don’t see the totality of their impact. And that’s why we put all this stated together so that hopefully people recognize the importance of these bacterial pathogens in the future. The world needs to invest in vaccines and new drugs for these pathogens. But at this point uh it doesn’t seem like investments in a vaccine are working very well. Uh, and there doesn’t seem to be any prospect in the near future, or the next. Even ten years, perhaps, or even longer, for a vaccine,” he stated.
Dr. Murray believes that there is a need to rebalance the research and development focus in order to pay more attention to these pathogens. He called on researchers and funding agencies around the world to focus more on bacterial pathogens.
Five suspects made up of three Nigeriannationals and 2 Ghanaians have been re-arrested after attempting to escape police custody.
The escapees were in detention following their arrest for various offences such as stealing mobile phones, and air-conditioners among others.
According to a Dailyguidenetwork.com report, the suspects made their move on Monday, November 21, 2022, at about 1 am with the help of a chisel and a hammer.
Their attempt was in a bid to evade court arraignment within the week.
The suspects succeeded in breaking the iron bars of the cell but saw their efforts thwarted by the officers on duty who became alarmed by the unusual noise emanating from the cells.
The Awutu Bereku Police Command has since rounded up the suspects and transferred them to a different police station for safekeeping pending their trial.
Former Black Stars defender Samuel Osei Kuffour has urged the players not to focus on former Manchester United attacker Cristiano Ronaldo. He added that they should rather play as a unit and get a positive result.
Ghana will open their Group H campaign against the European side on Thursday, November 24, 2022, at Stadium 974 in Doha.
Kuffour speaking ahead of the clash said the Black Stars must be worried about the star-studded side.
According to him, the team must play with self-belief and confidence, adding that the Black Stars will be able to beat the Seleção.
“The Black Stars need to control the game and play to our best,” the former Bayern Munich defender said.
“They should not think about the best players Portugal has. If we focus on one player, they will surprise us,”
“They must play collectively as a unit. I know things have changed at the training and I am confident the team will triumph against Portugal,” he added.
The Black Stars, who are making their fourth appearance at the World Cup will also come up against South Korea and Uruguay.
Ghana will be hoping to put up a decent performance in Qatar after exiting the group phase in 2014 in Brazil. The team also missed out on the last edition hosted in Russia in 2018.
The Black Stars of Ghana is in Group H alongside Uruguay, Portugal, and South Korea. Ghana will play Portugal on 24th November at the Stadium 974, South Korea on 28th November at the Education City Stadium, and play their final group game against Uruguay on 2nd December at the Al Janoub Stadium.
A leading member of the New Patriotic Party, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has described as refreshing a decision by a High Court to dismiss a suit challenging the election of Jomoro Member of Parliament, Dorcas Affo-Toffey.
According to him, the decision by the court among other things is a clear indication of the fairness of the judiciary system of Ghana.
“Congrats! It is refreshing to be amply reminded that the legal system works! That, Lady Justice remains blind,” Mr Otchere-Darko wrote in a tweet in reaction to NDC member, Joyce Bawa Mogtari’s celebration of the court’s decision.
The opposition National Democratic Congress has over the period accused the bench of being bias against the party.
Some NDC members have cited the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the party’s petition against the 2020 presidential election result to back their claim.
However, the Sekondi High Court on Monday, November 21, 2022, dismissed a petition against the NDC Member of Parliament for Jomoro.
The case which had been ongoing for close to two years was decided when the court, presided over by Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere dismissed the case on grounds that the MP was eligible to contest.
The court held that she lost her Ivorian citizenship at the very time she acquired her Ghanaian citizenship, thus, there was no merit in the petition seeking to annul her election on the basis of her having dual citizenship.
The petition was filed by one Joshua Emuah Kofie, who was challenging the eligibility of the MP to contest as a representative of the people in the constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He submitted that she had multiple nationalities, including American and Ivorian citizenships, which is against the 1992 Constitution.
While the court determined that she did not have Ivorian citizenship at the time of filing and contesting in 2020, the MP denied having American citizenship.
Former Spain international Inaki Williams wants to give back to Ghana for the opportunity given him to feature for the national team at the World Cup.
Williams, who was born in Bilbao, confirmed in June that he would play for Ghana and will make his debut at this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Since switching nationality, the Athletic Bilbao star has capped three times for the Black Stars and is expected to make more appearances in subsequent games.
According to the forward, he will do everything to repay Ghana opportunity at the biggest soccer mundial in the Asian country.
“I’m going to try to enjoy the moment, my roots, and try to give back to Ghana the opportunity it has given me,” Williams said.
The 28-year-old is expected to start Ghana’s Group H opener against Portugal on Thursday.
The Black Stars who are returning to the global showpiece after missing out in Russia 2018 has been housed in Group H against Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea.
Ghana will open their campaign with a clash against former European champions Portugal before taking on South Korea and Uruguay in subsequent games.
The embattled Finance Minister, will be meeting an empty Parliament when he appears on November 24, to read the 2023 budget statement, Ghanaweb reports.
According to sources, both majority and minority MPsare likely not to be present on the day of the budget presentation, which will make it impossible for the minister to present the budget to the House because there will be a lack of quorum as required by the Constitution.
Ken Ofori-Atta had already indicated that he was going to present the budget despite some NPP MPs and the Minority MPs wanting him out of office.
The minister after facing censure committee on Friday told an Accra-based Joy News that Ghanaians should expect him to present the budget on November 24.
When he was quizzed by journalists that will he go to Parliament to present the 2023 budget, he responded, “yeah, expect so. That seems to be a weird question.”
Ken Ofori-Atta further stated that he has not heard officially that some NPP MPs have indicated boycotting his budget presentation.
“I don’t know; I haven’t heard that officially…,” Ofori-Atta stressed.
The 98 NPP MPs insist that they will boycott the budget presentation if the minister appears before the House.
“We’ve gone back to (our demand for the President to) sack him now and therefore should the budget be presented under the stamp of the Finance Minister, we’ll not participate because as far as we’re concerned we’re never going to do business with him,”
The Asante Akim North MP further explained on JoyNews’ PM Express programme on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, that they will only participate in the budget presentation and appropriation if the President appoints someone else other than Ken Ofori-Atta to present the budget.
“We’re not saying we won’t do the President’s business. We’re saying we won’t do President’s business through Ofori-Atta. So if anybody else comes with President’s business, we’ll participate,” Appiah-Kubi said.
The president of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has been granted official permission by the Portuguese parliament to go to Qatar on Thursday to watch the national men’s football team’s opening World Cup match against the Black Stars of Ghana.
The other leaders of the country also received approval from parliament to go to Qatar to attend their next group matches of the competition being held in the Middle Eastern country.
The Prime Minister will also go to see the nation’s final group match, while the Speaker of Parliament will see the nation’s second group game.
Portugal’s constitution states that the President of the Republic is not permitted to leave the country’s borders without the approval of the Republic’s Parliament.
This led the current administration to submit the draft resolution to the Speaker of the Republic’s Parliament, who then submitted it to the vote of the members.
This was unanimously authorized, with votes in favor of the journey ensuring that President Marcelo would attend his team’s first Group H encounter against the Black Stars.
The political groups PS, PSD, and PCP voted in large numbers to support, while Chega abstained, with the Liberal Initiative, Left Bloc, PAN, and Livre voting against, but the leader was able to secure his trip to Qatar.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa asked legislative permission to leave the country between November 23 and 25 to attend the national team’s opening match in Qatar.
The Black Stars of Ghana will play Portugal on 24th November at the Stadium 974.
Business development services are one of the essential resources for small and medium scale firms’ (SMEs) viability, according to Dr. Edward Ampratwum, Head of Inclusive Growth and Accountable Governance at UNDP, who made the appeal.
Therefore, there is a need for development services that would offer venues for priorities to be supported in order to unleash the immense transformative potential of SMEs to fuel Africa and, in particular, Ghana’s long-term success.
Dr Ampratuwm was speaking at the opening of a two-day training workshop on how to trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for some selected women and youth-led micro, small and medium-scale businesses in Kumasi.
It was organized by the UNDP in partnership with the Ghana National AfCFTA Coordinating Office.
Among the topics discussed were business development services, access to finance, capacity building on good corporate governance and awareness creation to prevent radicalization, as well as energy and resource efficiency.
The UNDP aims at providing support to about 600 women and youth-led micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) in six selected metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the country.
The programme also forms part of the UNDP’s efforts to support government of Ghana’s COVID-19 recovery efforts.
Representatives of the Business Advisory Centers (BACs) and Business Resource Centers (BRCs) of the six beneficiary district assemblies, have already been trained to serve as focal persons to inform and sensitize MSMEs in their areas on AfCFTA opportunities and processes.
Dr Ampratwum pointed out that, most businesses lacked relevant information on product entry requirements, as well as the processes and procedures to access the single African market.
He said the training would help shape and position MSMEs to compete favourably on the African markets.
Dr. Fred Arthur, Head of the National AfCFTA Coordination Office, encouraged MSMEs to focus on improving their internal mechanisms to make the most of the agreement.
“Ghana’s dream to become a manufacturing hub of Africa can only be achieved with your active participation.”
Together, let us contribute to Ghana’s National Export Development Strategy which is to help transform Ghana’s economy from raw commodity export to a manufacturing industrial export-driven economy”, he stated
Ms. Elizabeth Agyapong, a participant, commended the UNDP and AfCFTA Coordinating Office for initiating the training and described the knowledge acquired as one that would help them to grab the opportunities of the single African market.
“Initially, I didn’t know how important it was for me to obtain the necessary certification for my products and business.”
“I have a better understanding of the measures and right channels to go through to have my business and products registered in a less cumbersome process as this is a prerequisite for trading under the AfCFTA”, she said
Mr David Ahiale Rutherford, another beneficiary, said he was into the production of herbal medicines but never knew the processes to go through to export his products.
“I am now aware of the steps I need to take to rebrand my business to take full advantage of the AfCFTA, I am so grateful for the opportunity”, he stated.
The Africa Open Parliament Index (OPI), a joint effort of the Africa Parliamentary Monitoring Organisations Working Group, has ranked Ghana’s Parliament the 1st among 13 other African parliaments in its report.
With an overall score of 63.03 percent, Ghana’s Parliament led the Cape Verdean Parliament, which scored 61.86 percent, taking the second position.
Ghana’s Parliament also scored 27.71, representing 35 percent in terms of Transparency, 21.00, representing 35 percent in Civic Participation, and 14.32, representing 30 percent in Public Accountability to be adjudged the first in the parliamentary openness survey in West Africa.
Sierra Leone placed third with 57.97 percent; Nigeria came fourth with 49.21 percent; Benin was fifth with 45.32 percent; The Gambia took the 6th position with 45.03 percent, and Cote D’Ivoire seventh with 43.86 percent.
The OPI is a tool that periodically explores and measures the level of openness of legislative assemblies in Africa.
It uses the three criteria of Open Parliament, namely: Transparency, Civic Participation and Public Accountability, to evaluate parliaments across the Continent.
The Executive Director of Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica), Sammy Obeng in his presentation said the OPI was to strengthen parliaments through CSO-parliament collaborations.
He said it was developed with three specific objectives; to identify, compare, and exchange knowledge and best practices among parliaments and CSOs that worked with parliaments and to foster collaboration towards achieving the principles of open parliament.
“It makes recommendations, which when pursued diligently over time, can show real progress and improvements in the level of openness in the assessed parliaments,” he said.
Mr. Obeng said the combined indicators used for the Index were from global best practices, minimum standards in transparency, civic participation, and public accountability, to objectively and independently rank the parliaments of the selected countries in a way that identified the success stories and the open parliament gaps.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, urged Civil Society Organisations to actively participate in the legislative processes of the country to improve democracy.
The maiden OPI results were presented to the Speaker by the PNAfrica and the Ghana Parliamentary Monitoring Organizations Network (GPMON).
The Report ranked Burkina Faso eighth with 42.69 percent, Senegal placed ninth with 41.24 percent, and Niger tenth scoring 37. 15 percent.
“The 11th position was occupied by Togo at a 36.28 percent score, followed by Liberia with a 35.65 percent mark to be the 12th, and Guinea Bissau was 13th at 22.36 percent,” the report said.
The Africa OPI is made up of renowned parliamentary monitoring organisations, namely; Mzalendo Trust (Kenya); Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana); and Parliamentary Monitoring Group (South Africa).
The others are; the Africa Parliamentary Press Network (APPN); the Pan African Parliament Civil Society Forum, which is coordinated by the Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria, and Parliamentary Network Africa.
A Met Police officer from North London who stole £80 from a wallet that had been handed in has been sacked from the force.
Former PC Mohammad Ghalayini was handed a 22-month prison sentence at Wood Green Crown Court after another colleague reported the missing cash.
Following an accelerated misconduct hearing last Wednesday, he was dismissed without notice as his actions were found to have breached the standards of Discreditable Conduct and Honesty and Integrity, Scotland Yard said.
Ghalayini, who was also ordered to pay £3,000 in costs, was charged in the seven months after his arrest when he was found guilty of theft and perverting the course of justice.
“PC Ghalayini, following his imprisonment, has now also been rightly dismissed without notice following his dishonest and deceitful actions,” said DC Haines, who is in charge of policing in areas such as Haringey and Enfield.
“It is really important that people have more trust in us, but actions like this understandably undermine confidence in the police. Across the Met, we are working to clear out those who corrupt us and let down the public.”
Following the incident, Ghalayini will be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing, meaning he will be unable to work for police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services in the future.
He asserts that the president makes decisions based on matters that impact the nation as a whole, thus “we cannot claim that the cathedral is the president’s personal property,” even though some may question how much money is invested there.
Interviewed on the Happy Morning Show during a debate regarding allegations made by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta that Akufo-Addo was not involved in the building of the National Cathedral because it was state-owned.
“The president made a promise to initiate Free Senior High School when voted as president, also during the Covid-19 invasion there was the construction of the Ghana disease control centre which was built by a private company so if the president brings an initiate, it is for the state not for him,” he told Samuel Eshun.
His reaction comes after the finance minister Ken Ofori Atta made claims before the committee set up by the Speaker of Parliament to probe issues concerning over 90 MPs calling for his dismissal, the finance minister said that the National Cathedral is 100% owned by the state and not the presidency.
Numbering about 90, the MPs who constitute a greater number of the Majority Caucus threatened to vote against all government businesses that will come before the House.
The National Cathedral of Ghana is a planned interdenominational Christian Cathedral scheduled to be built in Accra, the nation’s capital as part of Ghana’s 60th-anniversary celebrations. The design for the Cathedral was unveiled by the president of Ghana, Nana Akufo Addo in March 2018.
The announcement of the Cathedral orchestrated a lot of criticisms from Ghanaians since they feel the economic hardships in the country should be tackled rather than building a Cathedral.
The statement was delivered by Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta when he testified before the ad hoc committee of Parliament in response to the allegations made by the minority that served as the foundation for their motion of censure.
Speaking on Friday, November 18, 2022, the embroiled Minister acknowledged the hardship of the country and said that he was acutely aware of how the crisis was affecting the average Ghanaian and how it was further forcing businesses to close.
“That is what gives me the strength to press on to find solutions and relief for Ghanaians to the myriad of problems that our country and the rest of the world are facing especially in march 2020,” the minister added.
The Chamber of Telecommunications has announced that its members (AirtelTigo, MTNand Vodafone) have commenced the blockage and deactivation of SIM cards that have not been registered with the Ghana Card.
The Chamber in a statement dated November 22 said the decision to block the unregistered SIM cards follows a directive from the Communications and Digitalisation Ministry on November 11.
“Since the 20th of November, 2022 our members have been blocking data services for all subscribers who have only completed stage 1 (linkage to Ghana Card) but not stage 2 (biometric capture) of the SIM registration process, as directed by the Ministry,” the statement noted.
It urged all subscribers who have acquired Ghana cards but are yet to complete stage 2 (biometric capture) to do so before November 30, 2022.
According to the statement, the Telcos will completely deactivate all subscriber SIMs which have not completed the biometric capture registration step by November 30.
It advised persons who need special assistance to register their SIM Cards to contact the National Communications Authority or their Mobile Network Operator for assistance.
“We are confident that the sector Ministry and NCA will announce measures to accommodate individuals who genuinely do not have Ghana cards, once ongoing consultations have been completed,” the statement added.
The Communications and Digitalisation Ministry on November 11 announced that SIM cards that have been linked to Ghana Cards but have not undergone the second phase of registration will be blocked from accessing data services from November 20 and completely deactivated on 30 November.
According to the Ministry, approximately 30 million SIM cards had been linked to Ghana Cards as of November 9, while 20.9 million subscribers had completed the registration process by capturing their biometric data.
The sector Minister said an announcement will be made on measures to accommodate persons who do not have Ghana Cards to register their SIM cards.
This is the second time subscribers would have their SIM cards deactivated for failing to register with their Ghana Cards.
Some SIM cards were deactivated during the previous deadline of September 30, because they could not register before the deadline.
Subsequently, these subscribers were reactivated after the Communications Minister announced an extension of the deadline for the registration of SIM cards.
Although he agrees with the notion that the Finance Minister should resign, he advises Ghanaians not to have too high of expectations.
He contends that it is erroneous for anyone to believe that Mr. Ken Ofori-ouster Atta’s will improve Ghana’s economy.
Speaking to host Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” discussion programme, Prof. Joseph Osafo wished the Finance Minister would, after the public hearing on the censure motion filed against him by the Minority in Parliament, “announce to Ghanaians that he has resigned” in the interest of the nation and his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
However, the Senior Psychologist at the University of Ghana emphasized that “one thing that we need to be minded with is that removing Ken doesn’t mean our economy has become better”.
“The expectations that when Ken is gone, then it will be better may not be so but in the interest of the public good, I would feel that when my brother is done with his responses and he takes the backstage, it is not bad at all,” he added.
Also, giving his take on the posture of President Nana Addo on the calls for Ken Ofori-Atta’s dismissal, Prof. Osafo believed the President’s refusal to remove him even upon the request by the Majority Caucus in Parliament may be because he (President Nana Addo) wants fair justice.
He stated that the President is an ardent believer in rule of law, therefore he may have refused to sack the Minister because he wants him to redeem himself from the allegations levelled against him.
Nonetheless, Prof. Joseph Osafo strongly believes the President should let the Finance Minister go.
“I’ve seen that that unflinching attitude for law’ by the President but “when it gets to a point, it can kill spontaneity,” he said.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced that results for this year’s WASSCE will be released on November 30.
The Council says it has successfully completed the marking and co-ordination of the papers at all 49 venues and has commenced the processing of the results.
WAEC in a statement said investigations into examination irregularities detected during and after the exams are ongoing.
“The Council is hereby urging school authorities and candidates who have been invited to its Offices to assist with investigations into suspected cases of malpractices to endeavour to honour the invitations to facilitate the speedy resolution of those cases,” the statement noted.
It added that candidates’ refusal to honour invitations to assist with investigations shall not prevent the Council from making a final determination on their papers.
WAEC cautioned candidates to be on the alert for websites that may announce the release of fake results and persons who promise to upgrade results for a fee.
He is the son of Albert Adu Boahen, who represented the New Patriotic Party in the 1992 general elections in Ghana.
With over 19 years of expertise in finance, Hon Charles Adu Boahen has worked in corporate finance, investment banking, asset management, and private equity.
He graduated from the University of Southern California with a BSc in Chemical Engineering.
His MBA was from Harvard Business School as well.
He was the Director and Regional Head of Corporate and Investment Banking for SBSA. He was the Vice President for JP Morgan for over five years and Head of Investment Banking for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Prior to his appointment as a Deputy Minister for Finance, Charles was the CEO of Black Star Advisors (BSA), a boutique investment bank and asset management firm, and Primrose Properties Ghana (PPG), a real estate development company, both of which he founded in 2007.
Prior to that, Charles Adu Boahen was a Director and Regional Head of Corporate and Investment Banking for Standard Bank of South Africa.
Prior to Standard Bank, he was with JP Morgan for over five years as Vice President and Head of Investment Banking for Sub-Saharan Africa where he was responsible for developing the Investment banking business across sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, he was also the JPM Senior Country Representative for Nigeria.
After Business School, Adu Boahen joined the $400mm AIG African Infrastructure Fund as an Investment Officer.
After college, he joined Salomon Smith Barney, now part of Citigroup, on Wall Street in their Investment Banking Division where his responsibilities included various corporate finance and mergers & acquisitions assignments, primarily in the Chemicals and Energy sector.
Charles Adu Boahen has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Southern California.
The meeting between organized labour and the government to negotiate a 60 percent increment in the single-spine salary structure for 2023 has ended inconclusively.
The public sector workers explained that the daily base pay is lower than the government’s newly announced daily minimum wage of GH¢14.88.
Thomas Musah, the General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) explained to Citi News that public sector workers deserve the 60% increment because the gap between the national daily wage and the base pay has been wiped off.
Organised labour insists that they will not back down on the proposed 60 per cent. Another meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 23.
“Before the base pay, all the public sector workers were negotiating on their own until 2007 when they were all brought together under the single spine. Now, at the time we started, level 10 of the single spine was about 10 per cent of the national wage. Today, as we speak, that gap between the national daily wage and the base pay has been wiped off.”
In 2021, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) agreed on the base pay increments for public sector workers, as part of labour negotiations with the government.
However, after the agreement, some members of the labour unions expressed their disappointment at the percentage increase, saying it was too small.
Members of a coalition made up of public sector workers thus protested in 2021 to express their anger and demand an upward review of public sector salaries.
They insisted that the four and seven per cent increment was woefully inadequate for their survival, considering the current economic hardship.
Another meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 23.
Representatives of labour unions and government have for the second time adjourned their meeting over the former’s demand for a 60 percent base pay rise for next year, to November 23.
The parties reconvened on Tuesday to continue with the negotiations which ended inconclusively on Friday. They were expected to resume the discussions on Monday but that did not happen.
JoyNews understands that the adjournment was due to the inability to secure a suitable venue for the meeting and for both parties to reconsider their positions.
“It is not a call off it is adjournment. We have had to go back and reflect, we are dealing with give and take and if you are not coming to add to them automatically we have to adjourn and come back…we are not getting meeting minds I am sure tomorrow we will be able to get a truce” Deputy Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Bright Wereko Brobbey told JoyNews.
According to the President of GNAT, Isaac Owusu, the government had earlier offered a 10 percent to 15 percent as opposed to the 60 percent increase in base pay the unions have demanded.
Chairman of CLOGSAG, Dr. Isaac Bampoe Addo addressed the media after the meeting.
“We have sent our proposal to them and we want it to be at an agreeable zone. So far the zone that we are in is not agreeable.”
Labour experts have argued that the unions should have made this demand earlier in the year for government to be able to factor it into its 2023 budget.
The experts say this demand from the unions is likely not to be met with just 48 hours for the government to present its budget.
In their meeting with government on Friday, the unions tabled two proposals before the government, including an increase in the base pay for next year.
“The first one is that, as of 2010 the relativity ratio was 1.7 and the understanding was that steps should be taken to ensure that we close that particular gap. Twelve years down the line, nothing has been done and it is widening the wage gap, which is not something we should encourage and it is making workers worse off.
“The second item has to do with the differentials between the minimum wage and the base pay. If you recall, in 2014 workers were given 10% COLA, there was no increment on the base pay but the minimum wage. We had to shelve any kind of increment with the understanding that the following year, measures will be taken. Unfortunately, in the year 2015 what happened was that workers were given 30% base pay which was making workers worse off,” he explained to JoyNews.
He claims that the rise in gas costs is intolerable and that it is causing the populace unwarranted pain.
He stressed that he now shells out a whopping GHC 1,300.00 every weekend to fuel the same car that he previously purchased for GHC 560.00.
“ The recent persistent price hikes in petroleum products have become a great concern to the ordinary Ghanaian. Prices of petroleum products have increased over the years, with this year witnessing the most astronomical increase. At the beginning of the year, the government made the ordinary Ghanaian understand that the increasing prices of petroleum products were due to external factors like post-COVID-19 pandemic challenges and the Russia-Ukraine war. However, a detailed assessment showed that government-controlled variables, such as taxes and levies on petroleum products and the weakening strength of the Ghana Cedi, are mainly responsible for the persistent fuel price hikes.
“The increases in petroleum prices are unbearable, bringing untoward hardship to the citizenry. As an MP, it used to cost me GHC 560.00 to fuel my Toyota Fortuner (2.7-liter engine) while driving from Accra to my constituency, Gomoa West, a few months ago. Because of recent price increases in petroleum products, I now have to pay a whopping GHC 1,300.00 every weekend to fill up the same vehicle used to perform parliamentary duties in the constituency, excluding weekday fuel costs to Parliament. Imagine how much a parliamentarian representing the people of Nandom (830 km from Accra) will spend on fuel to visit the constituents on weekends. Moreover, the fare of VIP buses from Accra to Kumasi has risen from GHC 80.00 to GHC 120.00 in the last two weeks. A 90 km journey from Circle to Koforidua costs GHC 43.00, up from GHC 31.00 in October 2022,” the MP said on the floor of parliament last Friday.
Some of the measures he proposes include the government subsidizing prices with revenue from crude oil windfall profits; suspending petroleum taxes and levies until the price per litre falls below GHC 10.00 and 6 and taking a second look at the cost of discharging petroleum products in Ghana, especially at the port and CBM charges which are the highest in the sub-region.
He also called on the government to compel the Metro Mass Transit and Bus Rapid Transit System (Ayalolo) to provide adequate and cheaper public buses to ease the transportation hardship on Ghanaians.
Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, Joyce Bawa Mogtari has underscored that the judiciary works effectively when there is no attempt to influence judges.
According to her, the certainty of justice delivery is assured when a judge equally refuses to be manipulated.
“Thank you, Sir! The Hon Toffee was duly elected by the good people of Jomoro and same has been affirmed by the Court! The judicial system certainly works where a Judge, lady or gentleman refuses to be manipulated and remains blind to influence, justice will certainly be done!” she wrote in a Twitter comment responding to a reaction by NPP member, Gabby Asare Octhere-Darko to an earlier post she made.
Joyce Bawa Mogtari earlier made a post celebrating a High Court decision dismissing a suit challenging the election of the Member of Parliament for Jomoro.
In response to the post by the former president’s aide, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko described the ruling as refreshing in its implication that the justice system remains fair.
“Congrats! It is refreshing to be amply reminded that the legal system works! That, Lady Justice remains blind,” Mr Otchere-Darko wrote.
The opposition National Democratic Congress has been accusing the bench of being bias against the party.
Some NDC members have cited the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the party’s petition against the 2020 presidential election result to back their claim.
However, the Sekondi High Court on Monday, November 21, 2022, dismissed a petition against the NDC Member of Parliament for Jomoro.
The case which had been ongoing for close to two years was decided when the court, presided over by Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere dismissed the case on grounds that the MP was eligible to contest.
The court held that she lost her Ivorian citizenship at the very time she acquired her Ghanaian citizenship, thus, there was no merit in the petition seeking to annul her election on the basis of her having dual citizenship.
The petition was filed by one Joshua Emuah Kofie, who was challenging the eligibility of the MP to contest as a representative of the people in the constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He submitted that she had multiple nationalities, including American and Ivorian citizenships, which is against the 1992 Constitution.
While the court determined that she did not have Ivorian citizenship at the time of filing and contesting in 2020, the MP denied having American citizenship.
Moroccan-born American Ismail Elfath has been named to officiate Ghana’s first 2022 World Cup match against Portugal on Thursday at the Stadium 974.
The 40-year-old is one of 28 new referees in the world tournament, which is being held in the Middle East for the first time.
The Black Stars’ opening encounter of the competition in Group H will be refereed by the highest-rated match official.
On the field, he will be assisted by compatriots Kyle Atkins and Corey Parker, while French official Stephanie Frappart will serve as the fourth official.
Elfath began as a fourth official in Major League Soccer in 2011 and made his MLS refereeing debut in 2012. Elfath was named a FIFA official in 2016.
Elfath officiated the world’s first on-field Video Assistant Referee review in an August 2016 match between New York Red Bulls II and Orlando City B as the system was being trialled in USL.
Elfath was named as a referee for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland on March 26, 2019.
FIFA chose Elfath, together with American assistant referees Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins, to officiate the tournament final, which Ukraine won 2-1 over South Korea.
On May 17, 2019, Elfath was appointed to officiate in the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States following his participation in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Elfath was named the MLS Referee of the Year for the first time in his career on November 18, 2020.[9] He received the honor for a second time two years later on October 14, 2022.[10]
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.
The caucus believes that the project must remain government-run in order enable employees of the government, including MPs, to purchase the homes at reasonable prices.
On Tuesday, November 22, 2022, as the minority members of the committee were touring the site, Mr. Vincent Oppong Asamoah, the ranking member of the select committee on works and housing, told journalists, “We are stating our position clear that we wouldn’t want any private developer to come in at all.”
“In 2025, we are very optimistic that the NDC will form the next government, so, any private developer that will partner the government to complete this project; the project will be taken away from him because it should remain affordable and the mortgage system; it should go to the workers of Ghana”, he warned.
“So, we came around for you to know that this government has neglected it and caused so much financial loss to the state [and] the people of Ghana because you have taken shots of what has happened here [removal of doors, burglar proofs and cables]; as to whether it was even organised by the government so that while we see the level of deterioration, that will give them the energy and confidence to tell Ghanaians that the project has failed so that they can sell it to themselves, but, at least, we have seen it; there’s still a way out”, he noted.
The visit revealed that security doors, burglar proofs, power and phone cables have been “stolen” from the housing units.
The caucus’ visit followed a recent announcement by the Minister of Works and Housing that the government intends to sell the project to a private investor.
Speaking at a press briefing a couple of weeks ago, Mr Asenso-Boakye said that the decision was taken after an assessment of the project and some consultations were done.
According to the minister, the “government will have to provide additional financing to the tune of approximately US$46 million to provide off-site infrastructure, i.e. water, electricity, and storm drainage systems to make the housing units habitable.”
“Additionally, there is the need to invest approximately US$68 million to complete the buildings and other essential on-site infrastructure works,” Mr Asenso-Boakye told journalists.
He said after spending US$196 million on the project, the government has decided against sinking any further taxpayer money into it.
“After a painstaking period of assessment, verification and consultations, the government has decided to explore the possibility of selling the Saglemi housing project, covering the 1,506 housing units, at the current value, to a private sector entity to complete and sell the housing units to the public, at no further cost to the state,” Mr Asenso-Boakye said.
Mr Asenso-Boakye said the proceeds from the sale would be reinvested into other affordable housing projects.
The minority is, however, suspicious of the government’s intention, thus, its visit to the site on Tuesday, 22 November 2022.
Speaking to the media at the site of the project during the minority’s tour, Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, a member of the select committee on works and housing, said the houses were even more habitable than some residences in the prime areas of Accra and wondered why the government abandoned it for so long
“I have not seen double lanes in even in Trasacco, I haven’t seen dual carriageways; in fact, one lane here can take three vehicles. You can see the vegetation here; everything is perfectly done”, he observed.
He said the stripping bare of the buildings could only be an organised crime.
“You see the way the cables are cut off, you have to be professionals to be able to cut these cables. It’s not about any ordinary thief moving in to say: ‘I’m going in to steal’. Even removing the windows, it will take them more than one month to remove all the windows here [and] all the burglarproof.
“The security gates here were fixed and they have been removed. So, count the number of security gates or doors that were removed. How many articulated trucks will be able to move it out? Where were they sent to? Where were they sold? Plus the burglar proofs. These are aluminium ones. How were they removed? Where were they taken to? How many articulated trucks drove in here to come and pick them up?” he wondered.
“Apart from that, telephone cables, electricity cables [were] removed. The rest of the things: the fittings in the kitchens and everything removed. It means it is organised”, he pointed out.
Thieves, reptiles take over Saglemi housing project after years of government neglect
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“I’m inviting the clergy to come here, I’m inviting the council of state members to come here, I’m inviting whoever matters in this country to come here and look at it yourself”, he added.
In his view, “people have actually organised to commit a crime [against] the state just to make money and I’m telling you, they are going to sell them so cheap to their brothers and sisters. Check it; there would be somebody buying this linked to the government and that is the thing they’ve been doing”.
The 2,172 acres on which the Saglemi housing project is situated were procured in 2002 during the era of President John Agyekum Kufuor.
On August 15, 2012, the late President John Evans Atta Mills gave executive approval to the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to implement the project.
The project involved the construction of 5,000 housing units for sale to public members through mortgages provided by Ghana Home Loans.
The project was implemented by Constrastora OAS Ghana Limited through a buyer’s credit of up to $200 million.
By the end of the stipulated completion date, the original contract of the project had been amended three (3) times, with the project scope reducing from the initial 5,000 housing units to 1,506 housing units, although US$195,854,969.52 representing 98% of the project funds had been expended.
That notwithstanding, the 1,506 housing units were at various stages of completion.
None of these 1,506 housing units was habitable because the project currently lacks basic amenities such as water and electricity and other related amenities.
At the same time, a technical assessment report by the Ghana Institution of Surveyors in September 2020, valued the total cost of on-site works at US$64,982,900.74.
There is an ongoing criminal prosecution at the High Court to determine the discrepancies with the funds expended on the project vis-à-vis the valued cost of works and original project scope.
No Phasing
In 2021, former Works and Housing Minister E.T. Mensah denied claims that the $200-million project was planned to have been executed in phases.
The council of state member told Paul Adom-Otchere on Accra-based Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana programme on Tuesday, 3 August 2021: “I was not involved in any phasing system”.
“We knew that we wanted to build – that is 5,000 houses to be built for workers – and it was approved”, he said.
According to him, “executive approval was given and parliament approved it, so, if anything at all, if I wanted to change something, I had to go through the same process again”.
Collins Dauda Charged
Mr Mensah’s successor, Mr Collins Dauda, was charged with causing financial loss to the state in connection with the Saglemi housing project.
The opposition politician is accused of intentionally misapplying the project sum of $200 million “by causing the said amount, which had been approved by the parliament of Ghana for the construction of 5,000 housing units, to be applied toward the payment of 1,412 housing units”.
In 2020, Mr Dauda’s successor, Samuel Atta Akyea, disclosed that all former government appointees and officials involved in the project were being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.
Mr Atta Akyea, who described the project as a rip-off, noted that it does not measure up to the cost purported to have been invested in it.
Mr Atta Akyea disclosed this while speaking to the parliamentary press corps on Thursday, 8 October 2020.
He also condemned the habit of new governments discontinuing projects started by previous administrations.
“In relation to Kufuor’s uncompleted housing structures, the evidence is clear that the Mills government and the Mahama government did not continue it. Then, I was met with this jejune argument that we have abandoned Saglemi. I say, ‘no, we have not abandoned Saglemi,” the minister said.
Mr Atta Akyea further noted that the Mahama-led administration ripped the country off in executing the project.
He stated: “Saglemi is tainted with embezzlement”.
“There’s no dispute about it, and I could tell you that the Ghana Institution of Surveyors has come out with a conclusive report to the effect that Saglemi is a rip-off and the amount of money that has been blown in Saglemi is over USD100 million and the housing structures over there do not measure up to the money they’ve collected”, he said.
“So, I’m not here to embarrass anybody; I’m here to say that if you didn’t go into the legalities of it, how do you continue? So, now that we’ve surrendered the report of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors to CID, now, we can deal with the issue of going to continue”, he added.
Mr Atta Akyea noted at the time that: “We’re pushing so hard to deal with the issue of Saglemi; it’s not abandoned. It doesn’t give this nation credit at all.”
“They’ve invited several of them, including Honourable Collins Dauda. They’ve invited them but you see how civil NPP is; we don’t make it like a drama, so, the police are dealing with them. We’re not going to parade people like: ‘Look at how they’ve arrested this man or they’ve arrested that man’”.
“That is what civility is all about. You do not try to embarrass somebody because you think that he’s been investigated by the police. Eventually, the police might say that they do not have anything against the person and you would have embarrassed him”.
“So, all those people who were involved in Saglemi, they’ve started inviting them. I’m telling you and even people working in my Ministry, they’ve started inviting them. So, investigations are ongoing, let’s leave the police to do its work. There’s no propaganda or party issues about theft, theft is theft,” the minister added.
Charges Against Collins Dauda ‘Frivolous, Trumped-up, Political’ – Haruna Iddrisu
Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, in 2021, said the 52 charges levelled against Mr Dauda and four other persons for causing financial loss to the state in connection with the project, were frivolous and trumped up.
Mr Iddrisu, who led other minority MPs to court on Thursday, 5 August 2021, to solidarise with the Asutifi South MP, told journalists: “It is instructive that they are being charged when the courts are themselves on vacation”, wondering: “What is the hurry and what is the desperation in this?”
Concerning the alleged financial loss, Mr Iddrisu asked: “Whose value?”
“The Attorney General says it is $64 million. I believe that these are frivolous, trumped-up charges intended to politically persecute and politically harass”, he said.
“We remain undoubted. I do not think that these charges can stand the test of the law. I am very convinced about this,” he said.
Mr Dauda and Kweku Agyeman Mensah, also a former housing minister, appeared in court on Thursday, 5 August 2021 and were granted separate bail bonds.
Mr Dauda was granted a self-recognisance bail after pleading not guilty in the matter of causing financial loss.
Mr Agyeman Mensah and a third accused person, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, Chief Director of the ministry of housing, were each granted bail of $65 million.
They were both to produce three sureties each, one of which must be a public officer.
Another accused person, Mr Andrew Clocanas, an Executive Chairman of Constructura OAS Ghana Limited, was also admitted to a bail bond of $179 million with three sureties, one of whom should be a public servant.
A fifth accused person, Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, was also admitted to a bail bond of $13 million with three sureties.
The court, presided over by Justice Comfort Tasiame, seized the passports of all the accused persons.
Per the facts of the case presented by Attorney General Godfred Dame, Mr John Mahama, as president, granted an executive order for the construction of 5,000 affordable housing units in August 2012 at Saglemi in the Ningo Prampram the constituency of the Greater Accra region.
Parliament approved the deal, which had funding from Credit Suisse.
The houses were to be sold to workers through mortgage arrangements provided by the Ghana Home Loans Company as it was at the time.
A Brazilian company, Construtora OAS Ltd, was the contractor.
The AG said the borrower, the Ministry of Finance, and the lender, signed a facility agreement on January 4, 2013, for the release of $200 million to fund the construction of the 5,000 housing units, the day on which the Housing Minister also signed the EPC agreement with Construtora OAS, represented by Clocanas, the fourth accused.
According to the AG, the project was to be executed in four phases on 2,172 acres of land at a contract price of $200 million, including consultancy services.
An Escrow Management Agreement, a condition precedent to the release of the facility to the borrower, was also signed, pursuant to the facility and the EPC agreements, he said.
Mr Dame further stated that on February 27, 2014, Mr Dauda, without parliamentary approval, reviewed the EPC agreement and signed both the original and the revised (restated) agreement with Construtora OAS, represented by Clocanas.
The revision allegedly changed the scope of works and the application of the $200 million approved by Parliament.
This new agreement required the contractor to execute the project in three phases over a site of 1,272 acres, while the $200 million was now to be applied towards the execution of only the first phase of the project, comprising just about 1,502 housing units.
This was contrary to the executive and parliamentary approvals, as well as the facility and Escrow Management agreements.
On December 21, 2016, according to the facts, the Chief Director, Yakubu, again reviewed the original and revised the (restated) agreement and signed them (second and his revised or restated), without recourse to Parliament.
That led to a further reduction in the scope of works to 1,412 housing units at a revised price of $181 million, and extended the completion period to July 31, 2017, the prosecutor alleged.
The Minority in Parliament has reintroduced a private members’ motion for the removal of the Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, over his role in theSputnik-V vaccines procurement scandal.
According to Parliament’s Order Paper, the motion was backed by James Avedzi, Mubarak Muntaka, Ahmed Ibrahim, among others.
The first motion was filed in February 2022.
The Speaker of Parliament called for a vote of censure against the Minister over allegations of perjury among others when he misrepresented to the ad-hoc committee on oaths that no payment was made under the agreement to the private office of His Highness Shiek Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, a Dubai based businessman contracted by the Health Ministry for the procurement of vaccines.
The controversy over the vaccines began when a Norwegian newspaper, VG, reported that the government was using the services of middlemen to procure 3.4 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccines.
But this was at a higher cost of $19 other than the original factory price of $10 and prompted calls for the abrogation of the procurement contract.
Mr. Agyemang-Manu had earlier claimed that the state had not made any payments for the vaccine.
The Health Committee in Parliament had also said the government was not being ripped off in the deal with its chairman, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie saying that the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and the procurement of the Sputnik-V vaccines require the use of middlemen whose activities will lead to an increase in the original price.
Representatives of labour unions and government have for the second time adjourned their meeting over the former’s demand for a 60 percent base pay rise for next year, to November 23.
The parties reconvened on Tuesday to continue with the negotiations which ended inconclusively on Friday. They were expected to resume the discussions on Monday but that did not happen.
JoyNews understands that the adjournment was due to the inability to secure a suitable venue for the meeting and for both parties to reconsider their positions.
“It is not a call off it is adjournment. We have had to go back and reflect, we are dealing with give and take and if you are not coming to add to them automatically we have to adjourn and come back…we are not getting meeting minds I am sure tomorrow we will be able to get a truce” Deputy Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Bright Wereko Brobbey told JoyNews.
According to the President of GNAT, Isaac Owusu, the government had earlier offered a 10 percent to 15 percent as opposed to the 60 percent increase in base pay the unions have demanded.
Chairman of CLOGSAG, Dr. Isaac Bampoe Addo addressed the media after the meeting.
“We have sent our proposal to them and we want it to be at an agreeable zone. So far the zone that we are in is not agreeable.”
Labour experts have argued that the unions should have made this demand earlier in the year for government to be able to factor it into its 2023 budget.
The experts say this demand from the unions is likely not to be met with just 48 hours for the government to present its budget.
In their meeting with government on Friday, the unions tabled two proposals before the government, including an increase in the base pay for next year.
“The first one is that, as of 2010 the relativity ratio was 1.7 and the understanding was that steps should be taken to ensure that we close that particular gap. Twelve years down the line, nothing has been done and it is widening the wage gap, which is not something we should encourage and it is making workers worse off.
“The second item has to do with the differentials between the minimum wage and the base pay. If you recall, in 2014 workers were given 10% COLA, there was no increment on the base pay but the minimum wage.
“We had to shelve any kind of increment with the understanding that the following year, measures will be taken. Unfortunately, in the year 2015 what happened was that workers were given 30% base pay which was making workers worse off,” he explained to JoyNews.
The McCarthy Hills Residents Association held a press conference after revealing that the corporation was operating without the necessary licences from the relevant authorities, including the Environmental Protection Agency.
They also lamented the health dangers that the factory’s location caused to the neighborhood’s people.
The injunction which came into effect immediately will be in force until the final determination of a suit by the McCarthy Hill Residents Association.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Henry Kwabena Kokofu, noted that the company was producing cement instead of producing only cement bags.
He noted that the factory was producing and distributing cement without authorization.
The Aduana Abrade Family of Agona Asafo in the Central Region of the Republic of Ghanatogether with the children sadly announce the passing of their beloved, Professor Kwesi Botchwey which sad event occurred on November 19, 2022, at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital, Accra, Ghana after a short illness.
A book of condolence has been opened at his residence at House No. 31Asanfena Crescent, Platinum Place, Regimanual Gray Estates, East Aiport, Accra for well-wishers between the hours of 9am -12 noon and 2:00pm-6:00pm from Monday to Friday.
The date for the funeral service will be announced in due course.
Captain of the Portugal national team, Cristiano Ronaldo has labelled their 2022 FIFA World Cup Group H opening game against the Black Stars as the most difficult one.
Portugal and Ghana already have a history in the competition and Ronaldo believes that they will face a tougher opponent in the Black Stars just as they did in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Ronaldo urged his teammates to focus on their opening game against the Black Stars and not underrate them because to him the rematch against Ghana is the most difficult in the group.
“I believe our national team has tremendous potential to win the World Cup. We will see. I believe we can. I have that hope, that belief but we must start well against Ghana.”
“But like these competitions always teach us; we must think calmly. We must think and focus on the first group game. We must think about the Ghana game which is the most difficult one,” Ronaldo said at the pre-match conference on Monday, November 21, 2022.
Ghana and Portugal will have a repeat of their 2014 FIFA World Cup group stage clash in the 2022 edition and the Seleçãos will be counting on their talisman to take them to the promised land.
He also added that he is fit and ready for the World Cup well which might be his last attempt to win the Mundial
“I’m feeling great, I’m recovered and I’m training well and ready to start the World Cup in the best way possible.”
Ronaldo in 2014 scored in Portugal’s 2-1 victory over the Black Stars but exited the tournament from the group phase together with Ghana.
The game between Ghana and Portugal will be played at Stadium 974 on Thursday, November 24, and there will be live commentary on GhanaWeb.
The Coast South Constituency Member of Parliament claimed the decision would cause inflation in an interview with Sammy Eshun on the Happy morning show.
Mr. Ricketts-Hagan believes that while the resolution is a good step toward boosting the economy, it is also a bad idea because it will raise food prices.
“You will realize that’s a good idea which would save us the exchange rate and save us some dollars but is a bad decision because it would cause unnecessary panic and shortages in the system and in the long run contribute to inflation.
“It would have to be a program whether they take a year or two to do this for example maybe in this year’s budget we would cut 25% importation on rice, in the next year or six months’ time we would cut another 25% so by that time you would have stopped entirely while providing the necessary things for local farmers and distributors who would be able to provide rice and oil to meet the demands of people,” he added.
Bank of Ghana said the affected items included rice, poultry, vegetable oil, toothpick, pasta, fruit juice, bottled water, ceramic tiles and other non–critical goods.
