The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has once again issued a stern warning to private candidates taking part in this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to desist from any form of examination malpractice.
The Upper West Regional Controller of WAEC, Mr Donald Tuor, made the remarks in an interview with the media.
He said these activities are detrimental to the country’s development and go a long way to affect national development, hence, any person found culpable of any act contrary to accepted practices will not be let off the hook.
The Upper West Regional Controller of WAEC, Mr Donald Tuor, made the remarks in an interview with the media.
“From our observation over the years, the private candidates are more desperate than the school exam candidates, and that is because some of them wrote several times and didn’t make it, and they are afraid that they may not make it again, so such candidates would want to do everything to pass,” he explained.
Highlighting the need for the candidates to show some dignity in the writing of the exam, Mr The Controller cited common malpractices recorded, including impersonation, sending foreign materials and mobile phones into the examination halls, while some people acted as couriers in conveying foreign materials to candidates in the exam hall.
He stressed that examination malpractices were criminal acts, thus, students must refrain from the practice.
He categorically stated that all candidates would be thoroughly searched, before going to sit in their respective halls for the exam.
He also appealed to Muslim candidates who wear the hijab to the examination centres to cooperate with the examination officials by removing the hijab to be searched before entering the exam hall.
“No one is preventing you from wearing the hijab, but when you get there just remove it and let them search you, and after that, you wear it again,” he stated.
In the Upper West Region, a total of 389 candidates registered to write the mathematics (Core) paper in the ongoing WASSCE for private candidates’ exams as compared to 523 in 2021, 356 for the English Language, compared to 568 in 2021.
It also became known that only 147 students registered for Social Studies in 2022 while 233 students registered for the same in 2021 and 292 for Integrated Science in 2022 as against 476 in 2021.
The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been informed by the eight-member ad hoc Committee of Parliament on the censure resolution that he will not appear on ground three regarding the alleged illicit payment of oil income.
This follows the testimony presented on November 17, 2022 regarding that specific ground by two organizations, namely the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation.
A letter addressed to Ken Ofori-Atta, dated 17 November 2022 and signed by the clerk to the committee, Camillo Pwamang, said: “The Committee found the evidence from the two Institutions satisfactory and accordingly the Hon. Minister is not required to lead evidence in respective of the said ground”
However, Ofori-Atta’s appearance today before the ad hoc committee will be limited to ground two (“Unconstitutional withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund in blatant contravention of Article 178 of the 1992 Constitution supposedly for the construction of the President’s Cathedral”), ground four (“Deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament”) and ground five (“Fiscal recklessness leading to the crash of the Ghana cedi which is currently the worst performing currency in the world”).
He’ll also face the sixth ground that cites the “Alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy and an excruciating cost of living crisis” as well as the last that alleges “Gross mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy which has occasioned untold and unprecedented hardship”.
Social media has been filled with cheers and excitement especially from Ghanaian celebrities, following the Black Stars impressive 2-0 win against Switzerland in a warm-up friendly on Thursday.
The Black Stars defeated Switzerland after series of losses in their last two friendly games in preparation of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, scheduled for November 2022.
The national football team put a smile on the faces of Ghanaians after defeating Switzerland in a pre-World Cup friendly game after many lost faith in the team.
Following the end of the game, many Ghanaian celebrities took to Twitter to share their joy and pledge their support to the Black Stars.
The likes of Sandra Ankobiah, Serwaa Amihere, Nana Aba Anamoah, Lydia Forson, Pappy Kojo and many others have taken to their social media walls to react to the Black Stars win in various ways.
Sandra Ankobiah
The lawyer earned a title as a prophetess after correctly predicting the outcome of the Ghana- Switzerland game.
Before the match scheduled for Thursday, November, 17, 2022, Ms Ankobiah had in a tweet predicted a 2-o scoreline against the Swiss team.
Award-winning actress Lydia Forson took her celebration to another level by sharing a video of herself rocking her Afro as she happily screamed “goal.”
President of the Ghana Football Association [GFA], Kurt Okraku has called on Ghanaians to support Otto Addo and the rest of the technical team ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
Ghana wrapped up their preparations with a 2-0 win against Switzerland in a friendly on Thursday in Abu Dhabi.
The Black Stars are expected to arrive in Qatar for the tournament later today.
With Ghana set to open their campaign against Portugal on Thursday, November 24 at Stadium 974 in Doha, Mr. Okraku has called for support for the technical team.
“We have absolute confidence in our technical team led by Otto Addo. They’ve been working hard to put a squad that is truly Ghanaian together,” he said.
“We have to give this technical team respect, we have to give them support and we have to pray for them because it’s not been an easy road,” he added.
The 22nd edition of the Mundial gets underway on Sunday.\
Four days later, the Black Stars return to action with a clash with South Korea at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan.
Ghana will wrap up their group stage adventure with their much-anticipated encounter with Uruguay at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.
The Black Stars having missed out in the last edition hosted in Russia in 2018 will be hoping to improve their performance in Qatar after exiting at the group phase during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia used a joint in Cantonments to purchase waakye as a way to illustrate how to use the QR Code technology.
He advised all business owners, both formal and informal, to adopt the QR system.
“We are here to formally unveil the Ghana Quick Response Code technology, or simply the QR Code.
We are solving a significant issue here in Ghana, and today is historic because Ghana will be the first African nation to introduce a QR Code payment system. In addition, we are, as far as I’m aware, the third nation in the world to implement a Universal Quick Response System, following Singapore and India, the Vice-President said.
Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has urged all merchants in the informal and formal sectors to acquire and start using the all-new, all-inclusive Universal Quick Response Code (QR Code) system developed for Ghana, as part of efforts by the Akufo-Addo government, to migrate the economy from a cash-based one to a cash-lite one.
Outdooring the QR Code at Auntie Muni’s, a popular waakye joint within the Cantonments on Thursday, 19 November 2020, Dr. Bawumia said the system is so flexible and easy to use for everybody to receive or pay for anything electronically.
“We are here to formally outdoor the Ghana Quick Response Code system or the QR Code, as it is known for short. It’s a very very historic day because we are solving a major problem here in Ghana and it is historic because Ghana will be the first country in Africa, to launch a QR Code payment system; and not only are we the first in Africa, we are also, as far as I’m aware, the third country in the world to do a Universal Quick Response System after Singapore and India”, the Vice-President said.
According to him, even the QR Codes systems of Singapore and India “only cater for bank customers” but “Ghana’s QR Code system will cater for both bank and non-bank customers”, explaining: “That is those who use mobile money as well as have bank accounts”.
“So, in this regard, Ghana’s QR Code system is unique and it is the first of its kind in the world and, so, we have to be rightfully proud as Ghanaians that we have a technology to solve a problem that exists in our society but in doing so, we are really leading the world in this manner and, so, I am very proud here and it has taken collaborative effort”, Dr. Bawumia noted.
He said: “We just didn’t wake up and find a Universal QR Code in Ghana. The Ministry of Communication has been critical; the Bank of Ghana, GhIPPS, banks, telcos, fintech – this is what is so unique about the Ghana story; it’s very very unique that we have had collaboration from all these stakeholders and we’ve been able to actually come up with this Universal QR Code”.
Explain its function, Dr. Bawumia said: “A QR Code, essentially, allows merchants or all people who receive payments, to receive the payments on their mobile phones. So, if you go, you can pay using your mobile phone; the merchant can receive the payment using the mobile phone, instantly”.
“So, you scan the QR Code, and then you can confirm that this is the merchant and I’m paying this amount to the merchant, so, it’s very secure in that regard; it is very convenient”, he observed, adding: “We are solving a problem that has been with us practically since independence: we’re a cash-based economy and a cash-based economy is a very inefficient economy and we are cash-based because so many people are excluded from the financial system, so, we do a lot of financial transactions through cash, which means robberies can take place, as people carry cash around”, Dr. Bawumia noted.
“In this COVID environment, in fact, one of the ways you transmit the virus is by handling things like cash; e-commerce, too, doesn’t develop if you have a cash-based economy, so, we have been thinking, since we’ve been in office, of how to solve this problem: how do we move Ghana from this cash-based economy to an electronic payment-based economy?”
“We have attacked this problem in two ways: first of all, we’ve implemented mobile money interoperability – the best of its kind that we’ve implemented, so, you have interoperability between bank accounts, mobile wallets, and e-zwich accounts. No other country has been able to do this in the world; and then beyond this, we’ve brought in the QR Code, which is riding on the real-time rails that we have with the mobile money interoperability and Ghana Instant Pay System (GhIPPS Instant Pay).
“So, we are solving this problem, saying that: OK, if you are a merchant, any type of merchant or even if you’re a shoeshine boy or a trotro operator, one of the problems of going electronic is that the infrastructure, most merchants don’t have or cannot afford a point-of-sale device, it’s very expensive for small merchants to maintain; you pay fees and so on and it’s very cumbersome and, so, if you are a small merchant, a QR Code for a small merchant means all payments go directly into your bank account or into your mobile money wallet right there, so, you don’t need to be carrying that cash”.
“And, for anybody who uses the QR Code to make a payment, it’s free; you don’t pay any fee. The merchant is also not charging any fee and anybody can set up a QR Code for just around 50p.
“If you are a merchant and you need the QR Code, you can talk to your provider, being the bank, telcos, or whatever and for just around 50p, you can set it up. So, if you’re a waakye seller or koko seller or trotro operator, a church or mosque or school or utility provider, or a shoeshine boy, you can have a QR Code.
“If you’re organizing a funeral and you want to get donations electronically, you can put the QR Code on the invitation or the brochure, and people can just scan it and pay donations straight to you. You don’t need to carry bankers to your funeral to collect cash. So, it’s so versatile, available for everybody to use”, Dr. Bawumia explained.
Dr. Bawumia used it to buy some waakye to demonstrate how it works.
To him, the coming into effect of the QR Code system “is very bad news for armed robbers”, since a lot of transactions would be done electronically now.
Ghana left-back Abdul Baba Rahman says their friendly win over Switzerland will lift the mood in camp ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Black Stars concluded their 2022 World Cup preparation with a convincing 2-0 victory at the Zayed Sports complex on Thursday.
Mohammed Salisu and Antoine Serlom Semenyo scored in the second half to ensure the West Africans head into the World Cup on a high note.
“Having a win is always is a positive thing so it will also bring back the morale and confidence in the team for our first,” the on-loan Chelsea defender said after the game.
Black Stars will leave Abu Dhabi for Doha today for Doha and are expected to arrive this evening to continue with preparations for the World Cup finals.
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.
Ghana secured a 4th FIFA World Cup tournament having participated in 2006, 2010, and 2014 in Germany, South Africa, and Brazil after drawing 1-1 against Nigeria in the return leg of the final play-offs at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja to seal qualification on the away goals rule.
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.
On November 18, 2022, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will testify before an eight-person ad hoc committee of Parliament looking into a vote of censure against him.
The minority in Parliament brought the motion of censure against Ken Ofori-Atta.
Seven claims were made against the minister, including extravagant spending, conflicts of interest, financial irresponsibility that caused the Ghana cedi to plunge, and egregious economic mismanagement.
On Tuesday, November 18, 2022, when the first sitting was held, the minority was represented by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, and, Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, proponents of the motion.
The Grammy winner recently thrilled New York City with a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden (MSG) where he expressed his condolences to the grieving singer who lost his son some weeks ago.
The gesture charged up fans as they clapped and danced to show appreciation to Wizkid for the rare gesture.
In videos making rounds on the Internet, the DJ said, “Davido we love you, OBO, we love you. I see you Davido. This one is for OBO.”
The act is understood to be a message of support to Davido and Chioma over the recent loss of their son, Ifeanyi who drowned and died in the pool back in October at the family’s residence in Lagos State.
Wizkid and Davido kindled reconciliation rumors some months ago after the two had what we could call one of the Nigerian music industry’s biggest beef.
Although the reason for their strained relationship remained unknown, it can be traced as far back as 2011, during their startup days in the industry.
Meanwhile Davido and his fiancée Chioma Rowland are yet to respond to their son’s death.
He has, however, canceled his Are We African Yet (A.W.A.Y) concert which was slated to hold in November 2022.
The shooting incident at Kenyasi in the Ahafo Region, which led to the death of one person, is being investigated, the Ghana Police Service has indicated.
The Service has assured that “anybody found culpable will be taken through the due process of the law.”
On November 15, 2022, the irate youth of Kenyasi clashed with police officers reportedly stationed at Newmont Mining Limited.
It is believed that the clash followed an altercation between the security officers and a motorcycle rider. It is unknown what may have caused the aforementioned.
During the clash, some members of the community destroyed a number of vehicles, and four others, sustained injuries when the tussle ensued.
It took the intervention of additional police support to quell the riot.
According to the Police Service, security operations in the area and calm have since been restored.
I borrowed $25,000 to launch my business, Databank, in Kantamanto in 1990.
You don’t open an investment bank in Kantamanto, high-skilled or not, do you?
And it is the humility of being aware of the difficulties of entrepreneurship everywhere you go.
You decide to leave if you fail.
On the “Good Evening Ghana” program, Ken Ofori-Atta said, “There is a clear empathy and understanding of what it takes to be able to establish a business
According to him, that process taught him the humility of understanding where he wanted to go with his business.
He disagreed with the assertion that at the time he started his business, he was a high-skilled labourer.
“I started my company, Databank, in 1990 in Kantamanto and I borrowed $25,000. Whether it is high-skilled or not, you don’t start an investment bank in Kantamanto, do you?
“And that is the humility of understanding wherever you want to go and the problems of entrepreneurship. You fail, you pick you to go. There is a clear empathy and understanding of what it takes to be able to build a business and it is not short term,” Ken Ofori-Atta told Paul Adom-Otchere on the ‘Good Evening Ghana’ show.
The initiative is the government’s policy aimed at creating one million jobs for the youth of this country.
Delivering the 2022 budget statement in Parliament, Ken Ofori-Atta explained:
“The understanding of the youth employment challenge, as well as extensive consultations with stakeholders including youth associations and educational institutions across the country, have led to the development of the YouStart initiative which proposes to use GH¢1 billion each year to catalyze an ecosystem to create 1 million jobs and in partnership with the Finance Institutions and Development Partners, raise another GH¢2 Billion Cedis.
“In addition, our local Banks have agreed to a package that will result in increasing their SME portfolio up to GH¢5 billion over the next 3 years.
“This, Mr. Speaker results in an unprecedented historic GH¢10 billion cedis commitment to the private sector and YouStart over the next 3 years.
“Mr. Speaker, YouStart is a vehicle for supporting young entrepreneurs to gain access to capital, training, technical skills and mentoring to enable them to launch and operate their own businesses.
“Mr. Speaker, the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), and partner financial institutions, will serve as the implementing arms of YouStart.
“Entrepreneurs will be able to apply for support through a dedicated YouStart online portal.
“NEIP will also engage our Faith-Based Organisations as partners for the delivery of essential artisanal skills, business competitions, and feasibility studies and introduction to financing institutions with a commitment of up to 10% of GOG contribution to the YouStart Programme.”
Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at the Centre for Democratic Development Ghana (CDD-Ghana), Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, is dissatisfied with how Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta’s censure hearing is being conducted.
He says the hearing has so far been frustrating, contrary to public expectations.
“It has just become like a courtroom. It was meant to be a debate; an establishment of facts in parliamentary style, but it has just become like a courtroom,” he said.
The committee’s Tuesday hearing got off to a rough start as its members disagreed about how the minority members should present their case against the Finance Minister.
Some committee members wanted the hearing to be handled like a quasi-judicial process.
However, Dr. Asante contends that given the current economic situation, such discussions are not necessary.
“I don’t know whether it is because there are too many lawyers leading these processes. It becomes a thing about needing evidence and so on… That is not helpful. Part of that, I find very frustrating.”
“This could have been dealt with a long time ago if the President had listened to all of us. Unfortunately, we are now in the space of this tug of war, and still, our crisis hasn’t gone anywhere,” he added.
The Minority in Parliament is seeking the removal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, from office over what they describe as “despicable conflict of interest, unconstitutional withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund, illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts, deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament, alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude, gross mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy, and fiscal recklessness leading to the crash of the Ghana Cedi.”
They have accused the minister of displaying gross incompetence while in office.
The Finance Minister is also expected to appear before the Committee today, Friday, November 18, 2022, following his lawyer, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko’s request for some time to prepare based on the evidence tendered to the committee by the Minority.
Meanwhile, former United Nations Senior Governance Advisor, Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, shares a similar opinion. He said the hearing was unnecessary.
“I think we’ve come to a point where this matter should be resolved. It’s not necessary to go through this whole process. And I do agree with Amoako Baah and the others that look, this matter should have been settled right on the floor of Parliament. All this process of committee and… I don’t think it’s necessary. We are prolonging something that is inevitable,” he said.
He further entreated the Minister to either willingly resign from his post or be dismissed by the President.
He claims that the government’s failure to heed the calls and terminate the minister’s appointment will not only exacerbate the economic crisis, but could also lead to a constitutional crisis.
“Well, my hope is that we will not get there. What I expect to happen in the coming days or weeks is perhaps the Finance Minister taking himself out of this dilemma, or the President just announcing that he’s displacing the Finance Minister because it will just be tragic for these two individuals to lead the country into such a constitutional jam. We don’t want that.
“We all know the difficulties we face, and in fact what we’re not even thinking about is the very negative impact of this crisis, or this stalemate I should say on our international partners and our financial relations with the outside world. Somewhere else our market would have plummeted further.
“So in fact we are doing ourselves a lot of ill if in fact the President and the Finance Minister continue to be intransigent on this matter and not to appropriately respond to the ground swell of public demand for the displacement of the Finance Minister,” he said.
Ghana defender Abdul Baba Rahman believes Switzerland’s game is a good test for the Black Stars ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The West Africa country concluded their 2022 World Cup preparation with a convincing 2-0 win over Switzerland at the Zayed Sports complex in an international friendly.
Mohammed Salisu and Antoine Serlom Semenyo scored in the second half to ensure the West Africans head into the World Cup on a high note.
“I think it was a good test. Switzerland are a good side, European side and unfortunately our first game is againsta very good side,” the on-loan Chelsea defender said after the game.
” It was a goo test. Final preparation with a win was a good test for us.”
Black Stars will leave Abu Dhabi for Doha today for Doha and are expected to arrive this evening to continue with preparations for the World Cup finals.
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.
Ghana secured a 4th FIFA World Cup tournament having participated in 2006, 2010, and 2014 in Germany, South Africa, and Brazil after drawing 1-1 against Nigeria in the return leg of the final play-offs at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja to seal qualification on the away goals rule.
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.
According to Fitch Solutions, continuing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund won’t be impacted by the potential dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta as finance minister.
This is because Mark Assibey-Yeboah, the next candidate predicted to succeed Ofori-Atta, “would take a more flexible attitude towards negotiations with the Fund,” claims Fitch.
As a result, according to Fitch’s most recent article, “Division within Ghana’s Ruling Party to Weigh on Political Stability,” given the existing situation, a change in the finance minister will happen quickly and won’t cause any appreciable delays in negotiations with the IMF.
It said “While Ofori-Atta remained opposed to an IMF bailout – we believe that he [Mark Assibey-Yeboah] would take a more accommodative approach towards negotiations with the Fund. As such, we believe that a change of finance minister would most likely not impact the timeline of IMF negations and we would retain our view that a staff-level agreement will be reached in Q123 [quarter 1, 2023].”
“Worsening living standards amid rising consumer prices – inflation reached 40.4% year-on-year in October 2022, the highest reading since 2001 – and tighter monetary conditions have led to a 72.7% quarter-on-quarter increase in protests and riots across in quarter 3 2022. The country has also seen large industrial action in recent months, including a three-day retail strike in Accra in October [2022],” it added.
The Board and Management of the National Lottery Authority (NLA)have released the application forms for the 2023 licensing year.
This is in adherence to the legal framework of the National Lotto Act, 2006, (Act 722).
Private Lotto Operators (PLOs) entities and individuals who wish to operate or sell Lottery products are encouraged to access these forms.
On the way forward, the NLA, in a release indicated that interested persons are to contact the Operations Manager, VAG, and Private Lotto Operations on the first floor of Fortune House, Head Office, Accra, for application forms and terms of payment from Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
They are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of GHC200.00.
”All PLOs already licensed in 2022, to operate nationwide, will in 2023, pay a License Fee of GHC 1,500,000.00. The License fee for new PLOs registering in the 2023 Licensing Year to operate nationwide is GHc2,000,000.00,” the NLA release added.
Deadline for the submission of application forms is Wednesday, 30th November 2022.
According to the NLA, which is headed by Sammi Awuku, as the Chief Executive Officer, the licenses out for acquisition are valid from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.
Meanwhile, the Authority has deployed its task force in conjunction with the security services nationwide, to ensure full compliance with the payment of a 20% lottery commission.
The rate of the lottery commission was determined by the Board of the National Lottery Authority and agreed upon by the PLOs, pursuant to Section 28 of the National Lottery Act, 2006 (Act 722).
Switzerland defender Silvan Widmer has suggested the weather was partly to blame for his side 2-0 defeat to Ghana in pre-World Cup friendly.
Mohammed Salisu and Antoine Serlom Semenyo scored in the second half to ensure the West Africans head into the World Cup on a high note.
During the game, there were about four stoppages for players to drink some liquids due to the hot weather condition in Abu Dhabi.
“The game was decided by a goal after a corner. We saw an even game between two teams who couldn’t go as fast as they could because of the heat,” Widmer said after the game.
“But we still have to step on the gas. That’s a losing game, bottom line. Playing at two in the afternoon when it’s over 30 degrees is difficult. We did well in terms of positions, especially in the first half. Let’s see what the coach has in store for us in the next few days.”
Kuami Eugene has reiterated the struggles he had to endure at the onset of his career leading him to make some of the toughest yet best decisions of his life.
According to the 2020 VGMA Ariste of the Year, he had to put on hold buying expensive outfits and rather focus on saving money that could rent a better apartment for his mother and siblings who were in financial difficulty a few years ago as a breadwinner.
The celebrated singer in a Twitter Space with Sincerely Accra Podcast on November 17 indicated that he felt heartbroken when the masses mocked him for his poor fashion sense.
Kuami Eugene explained that he had to limit his spending because of his dream of building his mother a house and also catering for his family whom he explained were not wealthy like the parents of his label mates.
“When I came to Lynx Entertainment, trust me, I actually had nothing. My parents didn’t have money and you can’t compare me to some artiste I came with because they were living in their parent’s house. My mum, my dad, my siblings, and myself were living in a rented apartment. It wasn’t okay for all of us.
“The time everybody was talking about my shoes and dress, trust me, I was trying to put things together. The things these other artiste had to go to the boutique to put together, I had to go to Kantamanto… so you can’t compare the two of us. People will say these things without knowing my pocket,” Eugene disclosed.
The Lynx Entertainment signee who is out with a tune titled ‘Single’ for the first time opened up about the sacrifices he had to make at the expense of being mocked for wearing ‘cheap’ outfits that didn’t suit his calibre as one of Ghana’s biggest musicians.
He added that his aim was to change his family’s story and get them a better life and looking back today, there are no regrets as his mum is in a better state.
“The first thing I was thinking of was to find a good place for my mum to stay…I wasn’t thinking of what to wear but how to fix my mum’s life because the English I am speaking today is because she put me through good education. I had to find somewhere better for her to stay before thinking of putting on a Louis Vuitton or a nice t-shirt that will cost like GH200. It was too much for me back then,” said Kuami Eugene.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced that there is a surge in malnutrition among children in the Upper East Region.
Malnutritionis an imbalance between the nutrients an individual’s body requires for proper functioning and the nutrients it receives.
According to the Upper East Regional Nutrition Officer of GHS, Ms Gloria Kobati, the monthly routine gathered from antenatal care centres in the region revealed that an underweight prevalence of 0.7% among children in July rose to 1.2 percent in September 2022.
She asserted that there is a need for an immediate intervention, “or else the situation could get worse by the end of the year.”
Speaking to the media, the nutritionist attributed the rise of malnutrition in the region to lactating mothers depriving their babies of breast milk and the lack of food supplements in the region.
“We know that exclusive breastfeeding is the best nutrition for a child, but most mothers are not doing it well, we have only 70 percent coverage and want to strive for 90 per cent in the region, so we are encouraging them to breastfeed well and continue till two years.
“Though we have the capacity to improve the situation, the needed commodities are unavailable to run most of the programmes, the Nutrition Officer stressed.
Malnourishment is one of the most pressing global health issues.
A healthy baby, according to her, is one who is not denied breast milk, as the latter supplies all the necessary nutrients in the proper proportions.
She explained that, lactating mothers who solely feed their 6-month-old babies with only carbohydrates meals as such as porridge must refrain from that, since those retards babies’ growth.
“Not only porridge, it is just carbohydrates and can lead to malnutrition, but a child that is learning to eat should be given a varied diet that contains protein. Vegetables, fruits, legumes, and carbohydrates.
On the other hand, Ms Kobati stated that a surveillance survey conducted by her team further exposed the majority of pregnant women in the region as being anaemic.
She added that the impact of anaemia in pregnancy might have a toll on unborn babies, as they would experience low birth weight.
According to her, low birth weight babies are exposed to severe complications such as stunted growth; therefore, the government must support pregnant women in the region with supplements to protect pregnant mothers and their babies.
Gingsen’s new Amapiano-infused R&B cut is finally fresh out of the door and sees him use some sensual undertones to kick our imagination into overdrive.
A co-production between the young, fast-rising artist and producer, Cowbowy, ‘No Mercy’ brings a rush of Amapiano to fans with sweetened vocals from Gingsen that detail an erotic episode of his in the bedroom. The result is an encounter that sees the singer rely on sensual undertones and it is a fiery one.
Gingsen kicks our imagination into overdrive with his crisp voice and narration, performing in a mix of pidgin English, Hausa, and Gurune (a dialect of Bolgatanga) to describe the moment figuratively as he showers praise on the endowments of his freaky partner over a racing backdrop of log drum loops.
Since dropping his succinct and well-received “Kingsen Bars, Vol.2” EP (2022) in March, Gingsen has been a revelation to many thanks to his sweeping style. With much more quality to offer fans – like his previous release ‘Skeng’ – the Ghanaian artist is focused on branding his future releases to the global community and being a force to reckon with and there’s no stopping him.
He added that those behind the plan were unable to compete with their rivals in the banking industry.
“The most evil thing that any group of individuals could have done is what has happened in the financial industry.
This was part of a larger strategy to force those they couldn’t catch up with on their knees “said he.
He described the perpetrators of this ‘wickedness’ as “Piccadilly armed robbers”.
“What has happened in the banking sector is the most wicked activity that any group of people could have orchestrated. This was a master plan activity to bring people who they cannot catch up on their knees, “he told Paul Adom-Otchere on the Good Evening Ghana Show on Metro TV monitored by MyNewsGh.com.
Mr Adongo who has been an avowed critic of the banking sector clean up narrated on the Good Evening Show yesterday that regulators of the financial space have the characteristics of the protagonist in a Nigerian movie titled “Piccadilly”.
In Piccadilly, Mr Adongo recalled that the protagonist, an armed robber, is advised to wear white dresses, quote copiously from the Bible and play gospel music loudly so that he creates the impression of piety and holiness so that his neighbours can vouch for his goodness even though he is a heartless armed robber.
His comments seem to be aimed directly at the Finance Minister who is known for his white dresses and his quotes from the Bible.
The financial sector clean-up has resulted in the collapse of many banks, microfinance companies, savings and loans companies, microcredit companies, and fund management companies among others.
Dubbed “Osey” the song is to whip up support for the Stars ahead of the games at Qatar, which commences on November 20. It will be the Stars official song for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Kentos Band wrote and arranged the beautiful composition – a simple and catchy melody admonishing the Black Stars to bring the much-coveted trophy home.
Although Kentos Band is usually known for its electrifying live performances, this project allows them to explore much more and contribute to a national cause. This equally adds to the band’s weight of excellence in contemporary African music. What makes the project special is the quality of Kentos Band to incorporate the brass band music into contemporary styles, which they achieved with “Osey.”
The entire project includes the song and a video featuring legendary former Black Star players like Stephen Appiah, Sulley Muntari, John Mensah, Asamoah Gyan, Laryea Kingston, John Paintsil and Derrick Boateng, and is sponsored by Torrid Global Limited. As an oil marketing company operating in Ghana, this offers Torrid the opportunity to support a worthy social cause.
The support from Torrid Global reflects the organisation’s commitment to corporate social activities that contribute to national unity and patriotism. Equally, the contribution of the former Black Stars is a strong factor in reiterating the purpose of the project which is aimed at supporting the team they used to play for.
Kentos Band believes that “Osey” would indeed be the sound with which fans cheer the stars in this World Cup season.
At the launch of the official song and music video, the Minister of Youth & Sports, Hon. Mustapha Ussif, admonished Ghanaians to cheer the Stars on to bring the coveted trophy home as admonished in the cheer song.
Rev. Dr. Daniel Bruce, a clinical psychologist and lecturer at the Methodist University College, has called the marginally lower pricing for diesel and gasoline and the higher costs for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) a game of “robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
“Why should the cost of LPG, which is used by practically everyone in Ghana, increase when the cost of diesel is falling?
Therefore, it is the same; I will top up my LPG supply and utilize the money I save by the price drop on diesel.
Thus, you have not taken any action “He clarified.
Meanwhile, the public is demanding a corresponding decrease in the cost of transportation; however, Professor Bruce opined that drivers cannot break even, despite the reduction in fuel prices, because of the high cost of spare parts in Ghana. Therefore, there will be no decrease in transportation fares.
“If I cannot afford the LPG, what do I do? I have to go after the trees and make some charcoal or use the trees as fuel to fire whatever I want to cook,” according to Professor Bruce.
The allegations were made during an interview with Zionfelix when the discussion switched from showbiz to politics.
This was in a bid to address some earlier claims by Captain Smart that she (Diana Asamoah) became corrupt ever since she joined the NPP.
Captain Smart is noted for his constant fights against the ruling NPP government and in one of his rants on TV, Diana Asamoah, who happens to be a staunch member of the party was dragged into it.
The Onua TV broadcaster chided the singer for re-affirming her support for the party even in the midst of the country’s current economic downturns.
“As for you Diana Asamoah, the least said about you the better. Ever since you pledged your loyalty to this corrupt administration, you’ve been wearing wigs, make-up, and high heels. These were the same things you condemned and even classified as products of the marine world. You have also become corrupt like them,” Captain Smart averred on his Onua Makye show.
A peeved Diana Asamoah decided to also hit back.
“He Captain Smart said I am corrupt?” she questioned while making sexual allegations without proof against the broadcaster.
“He is worse than I am. For someone who sleeps with another person’s wife, spends her money and abandons her, what moral right does he have to tell me that? Captain has never spoken the truth. He is the father of all liars. He is the devil himself. Captain is a womanizer who goes round spending people’s money and the victims even end up dying. You know someone is married yet you go around chasing her. It even happened in Belgium.”
Diana Asamoah,however, vowed that Captain Smart will one day hang his boots and succumb to the NPP.
“There are people who we shouldn’t respond to when they talk. Whatever he does, he will bow before the NPP one day, I am telling you this. Mark it, because my party will never lose. We serve a living God.”
Leader of the Ghana Freedom Party, Madam Akua Donkor, has been sharing her thoughts on Ghana’s economy on the GTV Breakfast Show on Wednesday, November 17, 2022.
She suggested that Ghana needed to begin to refine petroleum as a sure way to reduce prices.
Madam Akua Donkor said she can support the government in achieving this feat.
In a statement dated Thursday, November 16, 2022, and issued on the letterhead of the ministry, members of the general public were asked to avoid travelling to the city due to security developments.
In view of this, the Ministry advised the general public to avoid non-essential travel to Nigeria’s capital Abuja.
It also directed hotels operating in residential buildings to shut down.
Barely 24 hours later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed that the earlier travel advisory to Ghanaians was “unauthorised.”
“The Ministry is not aware of any threat targeted at Ghanaians, who continue to live in harmony with their Nigerian brothers and sisters,” part of the latest statement read.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has apologised for any inconvenience its earlier directive may have caused the travelling public.
Some Nigerians live in fear due to ongoing suspected terrorist attacks in the country. Abuja has been cited as a hotspot.
In October this year, US and British embassies warned of a heightened risk of terrorist attacks in the capital.
Some elementary and secondary private schools have shut down operations in fear despite assurances by the authorities.
The Nigerian police, in response, noted that they had activated a counter-terrorism special operations squad for the nation’s capital to help neutralise any possible attack.
Recently, a local chief in Nigeria was shot dead in his palace in the Oguta council area of Imo State.
The chief Ignatius Asor and two of his aides were killed on Monday, November 14, 2022.
According to a spokesperson for the police in Imo, Michael Abattam, the attackers are members of the leading pro-Biafra group.
Reports have it that the gunmen arrived at the local palace in Imo’s Obudi Agwa village, where they were received by the chief after disguising themselves as “persons in distress” and who had come to report an emergency situation to him.”
However, Emma Powerful, a spokesperson for IPOB, has denied the group’s involvement in the attack. They accused the police and government of trying to “implicate them in every criminality going on in our territory.”
Former Black Stars defender Dan Quaye has disclosed that his appearance fees at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany were slashed because he was a local player.
The then Hearts of Oak right-back was among three local players who made Ghana’s final 23-man squad for its maiden World Cup appearance in Germany.
All players representing Ghana were paid $50,000 as appearance fees for earning a spot in the final 23-man squad but Quaye says that he and other local players were only paid $40,000 which was $10,000 less than their foreign-based counterparts.
He says officials of the Ghana Football Association nor the Ministry of Sports did not offer any explanation for the cuts on the appearance fees of local-based players.
Speaking in an interview with Accra-based Happy FM, he disclosed that he fears Danlad Ibrahim and Daniel Afriyie Barnieh may have their bonuses slashed like it happened to them some years ago.
“The only thing they did to disturb us is that we the local players our appearance fees were slashed but the foreign-based players had their monies intact.
“I got $40,000 out of the $50,000 but the foreign-based players received the full amount of $50,000.
They didn’t give us any reason why the reduced the money. They are supposed to treat all of us equal. They are professionals and have more money. Same thing happened in 2014. I urge all other local players to be bold and come out.
“Afriyie Barnie and Ibrahim Danlad will also suffer the same thing. No matter what”, he added.
Dan Quaye was joined in the Ghana squad by Habib Mohammed then of King Faisal and Kotoko’s Shilla Illiasu as the local players
Luis Enrique wants his Spain side to go all the way to the World Cup final in Qatarafter they cruised to a 3-1 victory over Jordan in their final warm-up match before the tournament.
Spain’s young stars won the game, with Ansu Fati setting them on their way with a 13th-minute strike before Gavi and Nico Williams added second-half goals to make it eight wins from their last 11 matches, though Jordan did score a late consolation.
Spain have not made it past the round of 16 at a World Cup since winning the tournament in 2010, but Luis Enrique’s sights are firmly set on the final on December 18.
11 – #Spain 🇪🇸 have won the last 11 games prior to the start of a World Cup edition, being the last time they failed in May 1978 (0-0 v #Uruguay 🇺🇾). Strength.
Capped 22 times by Argentina, Correa was not selected in Scaloni’s initial 26-man squad for the tournament, which kicks off on Sunday, but was among a provisional 55-man list.
Scaloni said on Wednesday that late changes to the squad could be required ahead of their opening game against Saudi Arabia, with FIFA rules allowing changes before a team plays their first match at the tournament.
Fiorentina’s Gonzalez suffered a muscle injury in Thursday’s training session, Argentina announced, with Correa joining the squad ahead of Tuesday’s first game for them in Group C.
Correa has not been a regular starter for Diego Simeone’s Atletico side this season, with 10 of his 14 appearances across all competitions coming off the bench.
Argentina’s campaign at the World Cup also sees them face Poland and Mexico, with the defeated 2014 finalists widely regarded to be among the favourites for this year’s tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo remains optimistic about Portugal’s chances at the World Cup in Qatar, who he thinks will host a “good tournament” despite ongoing human rights concerns.
Portugal captain Ronaldo missed Fernando Santos’ side cruise past Nigeria 4-0 in their final warm-up game on Thursday before FIFA’s global tournament.
Coach Santos cited illness issues for the 37-year-old amid the furore of his scathing interview on Manchester United with Piers Morgan on TalkTV.
While the former Real Madrid forward hit out at United, their staff and directors, Ronaldo suggested Portugal have a chance at the World Cup, where they face Ghana in their Group H opener next Thursday.
“I am very optimistic. We have a fantastic coach, we have a good generation of football players,” the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said.
“I’m looking forward to it, we’re going to an amazing World Cup… [It’s] going to be tough. Extremely difficult. But everything is possible, of course we’re going to compete.”
After labelling a host of pre-tournament favourites, such as Argentina, Spain and Brazil, Ronaldo said he would retire immediately if Portugal won the tournament.
The United forward believes England also have a “chance” in Qatar, who came under widespread scrutiny for their human rights treatment after being awarded hosting rights by FIFA.
Captains of 10 European sides will wear heart-adorned armbands, raising awareness for the OneLove campaign against discrimination in a country where same-sex relationships are prohibited.
FIFA has repeatedly called for nations to focus on football, much to the disappointment of many supporters and countries, though Ronaldo feels Qatar will prove a capable host.
“All the national teams, the people will be welcomed in Qatar, and I see a good tournament to be honest,” he added.
“I think Qatar; they are prepared. They are prepared for that [the backlash].
“It will be weird to play at the beginning of the season. But in the same way, it is a challenge. I think it’s good. I feel good and with good energy.”
Former England captain Terry Butcher believes the Three Lions could benefit from scaled-back expectations at the World Cup after enduring a torrid Nations League campaign.
Gareth Southgate’s team are the only nation to reach the semi-finals at each of the last two major tournaments, having been beaten by Croatia in the last four at the 2018 World Cup before losing the Euro 2020 final to Italy.
Despite their strong tournament record in recent years, England arrive in Qatar in poor form after being relegated from Nations League Group A3 following a winless campaign in the competition.
However, Butcher believes England may replicate their feats from four years ago by springing a surprise in Qatar.
He said: “I think a lot of people will see them as less looking like winners, because this year has been very disappointing for England.
“When you look at it and you step back, it’s dropped the expectations. The expectation levels are down now, compared to what they were at the start of the year.
“I think a lot of that is very similar to Russia in 2018, when a lot of people were not expecting them to do particularly well.
“I think there’ll be more determination with the pressure off, like it was in Russia. Then you’ve got the timing of the tournament and English players will be fresh.
“There’s a few injury problems and concerns, but there’s no burnout, and there’s no mental tiredness like there is when it comes to the summer championships. This is unique for the English players as well. So I think that’ll benefit us very much.
“You think well, ‘you’ve had a taste of the semi-finals, you’ve had a taste of the final’, they would have learned a lot from that.”
Despite overseeing two memorable major tournament campaigns since taking charge in 2016, Southgate has been subject to fierce criticism in recent weeks.
However, Butcher believes Southgate’s record cannot be questioned and says the depth of talent at England’s disposal makes them genuine contenders to win the World Cup.
“There aren’t many England managers that have won cups and titles and all that sort of thing,” Butcher said when asked about Southgate.
“He’s got problems in terms of who to leave out as much as who to put in. There is a plethora, if you want to use that word, of talent. It’s about finding the right blend on the day.
“But it’s a lovely position to be in. I just hope now that England can take the shackles off and have that belief that they can win it. That’d be really nice if they could do that.
“There’s no doubt the talents there. Fitness will be there. The mental strength will be there, which I hope has been even made more acute by the failure last year to win the final.”
Substitute Ohi Omoijuanfo made light of Erling Haaland’s absence as Norway struck late to beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 in Dublin.
Omoijuanfo snatched the visitors victory with his first senior international goal at the Aviva Stadium after Alan Browne had cancelled out Leo Ostigard’s opener.
It was a kick in the teeth for Stephen Kenny’s men, who had rallied after a pedestrian first half to look the team more likely to win the game after the break.
They will head for Malta on Sunday knowing there are issues to address before they open their Euro 2024 campaign in March with a daunting fixture against France.
Norway enjoyed the better of the early exchanges with Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard pulling the strings impressively.
But manager Stale Solbakken will have been disappointed with the way they wilted in the face of the Irish riposte before Omoijuanfo’s late intervention, with testing trips to Spain and Georgia awaiting them next year.
With Cardiff’s Callum O’Dowda lining up in an unaccustomed left wing-back role, Ireland started confidently to push Norway back into their own half, and Callum Robinson fired wide from distance with less than three minutes played.
The visitors responded with Mohamed Elyounoussi causing problems, and the Southampton midfielder blazed a sixth-minute attempt high over.
Skipper John Egan had to be at his best to block Elyounoussi’s 22nd-minute shot after the wide man had been played in behind Nathan Collins and Patrick Berg blazed over from Odegaard’s cross at the resulting corner.
Jorgen Strand Larsen fired wastefully over and goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was troubled by Odegaard’s speculative free-kick with the Republic rather losing their way.
The home side enjoyed a let-off when Elyounoussi slipped before he could shoot after carving his way into the penalty area 12 minutes before the break, but they were not so fortunate with five minutes of the half remaining.
Ostigard timed his run to perfection to get in front of Egan and head Odegaard’s corner past Bazunu to give Norway a deserved lead.
Ireland returned with much greater purpose and might have been level within five minutes.
O’Dowda and Robinson combined down the left for the striker to lift a cross into the middle where Browne just failed to get to it and the unsuspecting Egan bundled the ball just wide as he tried to react.
Morten Thorsby was relieved to see his attempted clearance trickle past a post rather than inside it after Michael Obafemi had made his presence felt, and keeper Orjan Nyland denied Browne at point-blank range.
Bazunu kept Kenny’s men in the game with a 58th-minute save from Ola Solbakken after he had exchanged passes with Thorsby, but the general trend was very much in the other direction.
O’Dowda failed to make the most of a headed opportunity at the far post, but it was from his 69th-minute cross that his side forced their way back into it.
Ostigard could only head the ball to Browne on the edge of the box and he sent a skidding shot inside the post despite Nyland’s best efforts.
However, there was to be a late twist when, after Collins failed to deal with an 85th-minute Odegaard free-kick, substitute Omoijuanfo stabbed home to win it.
Bruno Fernandes’ first-half double, coupled with late strikes for Goncalo Ramos and Joao Mario, saw Santos’ side to a comfortable triumph on Thursday before setting off for Qatar.
Atletico Madrid attacker Joao Felix did not manage to get on the scoresheet but impressed in Lisbon, with Santos noting a credible performance from the 23-year-old.
“He was one of the best, with some others. They were all better, nobody plays alone,” the Portugal coach said.
“Joao played a good game too, at the level of what the others did. I have 26 players knocking on the door. Every day they knock on my door in training.
“They all knock on the door and they all have reasons to play. That’s certainly good for the coach.”
Joao Felix suggested he enjoys more attacking freedom for Portugal than Atletico Madrid, as he backed Santos’ side for glory in Qatar, where they face Ghana in their Group H opener next Thursday.
“I have more freedom of movement with the national team because we are very mobile,” he said. “I felt good and the team had a great game.
“I think we are prepared to win the World Cup. We looked for the goal and I helped the team, which is my mission as a striker.
“The goals did not appear in this game, but they will happen in the World Cup.”
Santos will also have to consider the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed the friendly victory due to “illness” as the aftermath of his scathing interview on Manchester United continues.
Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham says Ivan Toney was not picked for England’s World Cup squad on “footballing grounds”.
Brentford striker Toney was charged with 232 alleged breaches of the FA’s betting rules over a near-four-year period on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old has until next Thursday to respond after he previously stated he was cooperating with an investigation into any alleged infringements.
Toney, before the revelation of the ongoing investigation was announced, missed out on Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for Qatar, though Bullingham insisted the decision was for on-field reasons.
“He was absolutely available for selection,” Bullingham told the BBC. “He was not chosen on footballing grounds.”
Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson got the nod ahead of Toney, joining Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford as Southgate’s striking options.
Toney is not the first English player to be charged for such alleged breaches, with Kieran Trippier – a member of England’s squad – punished in December 2020.
Right-back Trippier, now of Newcastle, was handed a 10-week ban by the FA after giving out information for others to bet on his transfer from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid.
“I think our rules are very clear and we have had a small number of cases,” Bullingham responded when asked if there was a problem within English football.
“Obviously, we will look to enforce the rules when they are broken.”
England start their World Cup campaign against Iran on Monday, before facing the United States and Wales in Group B.
Cristiano Ronaldodreams of facing the “magic” Lionel Messiin the World Cup final as two footballing greats head into the twilight of their careers.
The 37-year-old Ronaldo will hope to help Portugal escape Group H, where they face Ghana next Thursday before clashes against Uruguay and South Korea.
Messi, 35, heads to Qatar with one of the pre-tournament favourites, Argentina, who start Group C against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, with meetings against Mexico and Poland to follow.
Having battled for centre stage against former Barcelona star Messi for numerous years, ex-Real Madrid forward Ronaldo admitted he would love to face his old foe in the World Cup showpiece on December 18.
“It’s too good, too good of a dream,” Ronaldo told Piers Morgan on TalkTV in his wide-ranging interview, in which he criticised Manchester United, senior figures at Old Trafford, Erik ten Hag and Ralf Rangnick.
Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo: The Final World Cup Face/Off ⚔️
Two of the greatest players of this generation, and neither one has won the FIFA World Cup.
We look ahead to what will surely be their final battle at the World Cup.
The pair share 12 Ballon d’Or titles between them, with Messi’s record-breaking seven two more than Ronaldo’s haul, surmising a dominant period in elite football between the evergreen duo.
Messi now plays his club football with Paris Saint-Germain, while Ronaldo’s time at United appears to be heading to an abrupt end amid the furore of his scathing interview on his current employers.
The Portugal international, despite the revered battles between the pair throughout their respective careers, assured he has a “great relationship” with Messi, who he would like to sit down for a meal with.
“He is an amazing player, he is magic. As a person, he is top. We shared the stage for 16 years, imagine,” he added.
“I have a great relationship with him. I’m not a friend of him in terms of the guy who is at your house, speaking on the phone, no, but he is like a team-mate.
“He’s a guy that I really respect the way he always speaks about me. Even his wife or my wife, my girlfriend, they always respect and they’re both from Argentina.
“What I am going to say about Messi? A great guy who does great things for football.”
Blaugrana legend Messi has been linked with a move to Major League Soccer or a fairytale reunion with Barca, who he left amid well-documented financial difficulties at Camp Nou in August 2021.
The future of Ronaldo appears unlikely to remain with United, though he suggested he would like to call an end to his playing career aged 40.
“I want to play two years more, three years more. So two or three years maximum,” he continued.
“I want to finish at 40. I think 40, will be a good age… But I don’t know, I don’t know the future.
“Sometimes you plan one thing for your life and as have said many times, life is dynamic. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Atlanta United star Thiago Almada is heading to the World Cup in Qatar after being called up as an injury replacement by Argentina.
Almada’s inclusion was confirmed hours after Inter forward Joaquin Correa had to withdraw because of a knee problem sustained in the friendly win against the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old midfielder only made his Albiceleste debut in September’s friendly victory against Honduras, and now has the chance to join Lionel Messi and Co in trying to win their first World Cup since 1986.
Almada joined Atlanta in February in a $16million deal from Velez Sarsfield and recorded 18 goal involvements with the Major League Soccer side (six goals, 12 assists).
The announcement came shortly after it was confirmed that Atletico Madrid forward Angel Correa had been called up to replace Nicolas Gonzalez, who was also forced to withdraw due to injury.
Argentina’s campaign at the World Cup begins with a clash against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, before they also face Mexico and Poland in Group C, with the defeated 2014 finalists widely regarded to be among the favourites for this year’s tournament.
Phil Foden says England have not seen the best of him yet, while outlining his intentions to reach the levels of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
The 22-year-old heads to the World Cup in Qatar on the back of a fine campaign so far with Manchester City, scoring seven goals and contributing three assists in 14 appearances across all competitions.
Foden is looking to transfer that form to the international stage, where he feels he is yet to perform at his highest level, and refuted suggestions he is comparable to Messi and Neymar– though he aspires to be in the future.
“The people you’ve just mentioned there are way above me at the moment, but I like to think I could be there one day,” he said.
“It’s all about taking small steps in the right direction. I just want to take my club form into the national team. With my club form this year, I’ve been scoring a lot of goals and I want to bring that to the national team.
“I’ve got to score in big games and big finals to be world class. I know I’m capable of doing that, so it’s something I strive for and look forward to.
“Have England seen the best of me? Definitely not. I don’t think it is easy coming into a team and not knowing the players very well.
“You have to learn to play with different players and what they like best – running behind, or wanting balls to feet. Just little details like that. I have had enough experience in the England team to understand the players. Hopefully I can bring that into the World Cup.
“I definitely should have scored a lot more for England really. We have quality in every area on the pitch, so we can’t always rely on Harry [Kane] because teams are going to try to cut him off, because of how good he is.
“It is going to take not just Harry to step up this tournament. Us attacking players are going to have to step up as well as times.”
England commence their World Cup campaign on Monday against Iran, then tackling the United States and Wales in Group B.
Brazilian players Rodrygo and Marquinhos have warned their teammates about the dangers of buying into their own hype, saying nothing good can come from expecting to win as favourites.
Boasting one of the strongest teams on paper, Brazil’s squad includes world-class centerpieces such as Neymar and Vinicius Junior, and they have made two Copa America finals since the 2018 World Cup, winning in 2019 and falling 1-0 to Argentina in 2021.
They will also play in Group G, where they will be joined by Cameroon, Serbia and Switzerland in three matchups Brazil will be heavily favoured in.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo said while he understands the pressure on his side to perform in Qatar, he would prefer to let their play do the talking.
“We know that we have a great national team, that we are among the favourites,” he said. “But there are also other very good teams as well.
“It’s no use saying we are favourites and then arriving on the pitch and not showing it. We know that everyone was in good form with their clubs and that’s why they’re here – many good players were left out.”
Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Marquinhos agreed, saying they will need to play hungry to fulfill their potential.
“If we think we are favourites, that we are the best, we will not go forward,” he said. “We’ve seen how things are in this competition, which is very difficult.
“All the teams are ready and very balanced, they can make life difficult. That’s the [World] Cup.
“It’s no use coming here and talking about the future. We have to get through the [group stage] first. It will be three very difficult games.”
Brazil kick off their campaign on Thursday, November 24 against Serbia.
Goals from Ansu Fati, Gavi and Nico Williams gave Spain a comfortable 3-1 victory over Jordan on Thursday in their final warm-up match before the World Cup.
Luis Enrique’s men were dominant throughout and took the lead through Fati’s blasted effort early in the first half.
Gavi finished beautifully for their second before Williams added a third, and though Jordan scored a late consolation, Spain made it eight wins from their last 11 matches as they head to Qatar in excellent form.
Spain will now turn their attentions to putting together the finishing touches ahead of their World Cup campaign, having not made it past the round of 16 since winning the tournament in 2010.
Fati put Spain ahead after 13 minutes when Marco Asensio laid the ball off to him in the box before the Barcelona man’s low shot went in under Jordan goalkeeper Abdallah Al Fakhouri.
🏁 ¡¡FINAL, FINAL, FINAAAAAL EN AMÁN!!
La @SEFutbol se va de Jordania con una victoria bajo el brazo y buenas sensaciones de cara al debut en el @fifaworldcup_es.
Jordan had a great chance to level moments later, though Yazan Al Naimat could only fire straight at Robert Sanchez after catching Pau Torres in possession just outside Spain’s box.
Fati nearly scored his second before the break but his looping effort landed on top of the net as he continued to threaten down Spain’s left.
Gavi made it 2-0 after the interval, the ball falling kindly for him in the box before the midfielder coolly stroked into the bottom right corner.
Williams scored a third with a sublime late strike, shifting onto his left foot before slamming into the far corner after receiving a pass from Yeremy Pino.
Jordan pulled a goal back in injury-time, Hamza Al Dardoor bringing a Mohammed Abu Zurayq cross from the right down before poking past substitute goalkeeper David Raya, though it was not enough to stop Spain from heading to the World Cup in high spirits.
What does it mean? Spain’s young stars shine
With Spain’s old guard of the likes of Gerard Pique, Xavi and Andres Iniesta long gone, their new generation is showing signs they have the potential to recreate at least some of what their predecessors achieved.
The combined age of Spain’s three goalscorers was just 58 as they eased to victory, holding 73.2 per cent possession while registering 2.03 xG (expected goals) to Jordan’s 1.15.
Fabulous Fati
The wide-man was very impressive against Jordan, setting them on their way with his 13th-minute goal.
He was a constant threat on the left and managed 13 touches in Jordan’s box, eight more than any other Spain player, while completing 22 passes in the opposition half.
Nervous Raya
The Brentford stopper came on to replace Robert Sanchez between the sticks for Spain at half-time and endured an anxious second half.
He handled the ball outside Spain’s penalty area within a minute of his introduction, before he spilled from a long-range effort, forcing his defender to boot behind for a corner. He will have done his chances of playing time in Qatar no good with this uneasy display.
What’s next?
Spain’s World Cup campaign gets underway against Costa Rica on Wednesday, while Jordan will not be in action again until next year.
Ghana has, in recent years, become a hub for entertainment and tourism.
Kizz Daniel,who looks forward to his much-anticipated concert in Ghana next month, is eager to be in the country for a memorable experience.
The singer, who is expected to thrill fans as part of events lined up for the ‘December in GH’ initiative, has disclosed that he can’t wait to meet his Ghanaian fans.
Kizz Daniel told Lexis Bill in an interview on Drivetime on Joy, on Wednesday, “I’m really excited that I’m coming home. Ghana, it’s been a while. I miss you and I want to come back home”.
The Buga hit-makerwho couldn’t hide his excitement during the interview, revealed that he hadn’t been to Ghana in more than half-a-decade, stressing that he looks forward being welcomed with lots of love. “I need you guys to accept me, with your arms wide open, and I promise you, it’s going to be an epic experience”, he added.
Kizz Daniel acknowledged the addition of Ghanaian musicians Kidi, Camidoh, Gyakie and Herman Suede to the line-up for the December 23 concert at the Untamed Empire Event Garden, powered by Joy Entertainment.
CEO of Pepperdem Worldwide Entertainment, Sola Omotola, mentioned that both Pepperdem Worldwide Entertainment and Play Network Africa are “pumped up” ahead of the event and “know what it means to end the year” with the Kizz Daniel in Ghana concert.
He added that “we will be dropping the prices from GHC450 to GHC300…for the first 5,000 fans”. Tickets are available on eventbrite.com
Dami Oniru is the newest Spotify Fresh Finds Africa artist, getting the nod for November.
As Fresh Finds Africa artist for the month, the soothing Soul and R&B singer-slash-producer will be featured on the eponymous playlist while also getting access to tools and initiatives packaged to inspire artists on the path to long and fruitful careers.
Commenting on Dami Oniru’s selection, Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa says: “The Fresh Finds Africa programme is designed to elevate exciting talent and Dami Oniru is one of the most impressive new voices on the continent. We’re excited to expose her to new audiences and give her opportunities to take the next step as an artist.”
Born Bri’ana Oniru Edwards, Dami Oniru first broke out with the hit single Iyawo and her sophomore single Fallin. Following a handful of guest verses on both sides of a brief hiatus, she released her debut EP, Bri’s Lounge in 2019.
Dami Oniru’s music harmonises R&B, soul and African instruments, with a sprinkling of trap. An inspired artist, Dami sees music as her second nature. Her moniker comes from a studio session where she randomly sang her name and envisioned people singing back. To bring that dream to life, she has managed to interweave three facets of a career: music, fashion and tech, while setting her own standards for herself.
Coming just as her new EP sates old fans, Dami Oniru is inspired by the opportunity to join a roll call of amazing talent, and be exposed to even more new ears.
“It’s an absolute honour to be chosen as Spotify’s Fresh Finds Africa artist for November 2022. I’ve always hoped to reach heights where anyone can have access to and connect with my music, so this is a dream come true,” the singer says.
Earning great reviews, her new EP Matter of Time has been described as her most cohesive project yet. She produced it herself, alongside longtime friend and collaborator, Remy Baggins, and it captures the singer’s range in melody and vivid lyrics. She paints snapshots of her growth, experiences and aspirations in songs like Emotions and Soft Life.
Every month Fresh Finds Africa spotlights one artist selected by the Spotify Music team. It is an important aspect of Spotify’s initiatives, including RADAR and EQUAL, created to support the African music scene.
Childhood is a care-free phase where most adults wishes they could return.
But since life doesn’t work like that, all you have are the memories to cherish and moment to keep playing back over and over again.
Musical collective 99 Phaces have joined forces to create an outlet for these patches of memories that we love so much in their latest song.
The title of the track ‘Kiddie Time’ which dropped today, gives it all away.
The new single comes ahead of the trio’s upcoming project “So We Made a Tape”.
Moffy, Cozy Pols and Freddie Gambini appear poised to channel that inner childhood exuberance into facing their current adversities as they navigate the engulfing music scene.
The trio walk the listener through journey of young minds wanting badly to be ushered into adulthood.
It is set against the backdrop of a curious kids looking to explore every possibility available.
This spans a myriad of routes and the attendant harsh stumbling blocks that may lay ahead such as loneliness, anxiety and hardship.
On the Auggie-produced single, the past meets the future.
The artistes, who together constitute the 99 Phases collective, paint the picture of how a rosy journey stretch can turn bumpy.
The message is simple, growing up requires a headstrong personality and creative control.
The collective says these words are the inspiration behind ‘Kiddie Time’.
Musician Hajia4Realhas broken her silence after reports of her arrest in United Kingdom.
Reports on various blogs in Ghana suggested that the musician was arrested while on her way back from the United Kingdom to Ghana after the Ghana Music Awards UK.
The reports alleged that she was picked up by security personnel after a joint investigation between the United States of America and the United Kingdom mentioned her in a $8 million fraud case.
However, Kwasi Ernest who represents the GMA Uk in an interview denied claims of the musician being involved in fraud but confirmed that she was arrested while on the plane traveling back to Ghana.
In a latest post on her Facebook page, Hajia4Reall has indicated that she is coming back to Ghana adding that “enemies are not God”.
Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South has celebrated his wife’s latest academic achievement.
Mrs. Ntim Fordjour was among the recent graduates of the University of Dundee in the United Kingdom.
The MP who doubles as deputy Education Minister also disclosed that his wife, Tracy, had graduated with an MSc in International Energy Finance, passing with distinction.
He posted photos of his ‘Queen’ on his social media handles with the caption: “Congratulations My Queen! Distinction looks good on you. MSc International Energy Finance bagged.”
The couple got married in 2019 at a plush ceremony.
“The first day I set eyes on my wife, I knew that was Aunty Misses Fordjour,” the MP said at his wedding reception.
Ntim Fordjour who is a Reverend is in his second term as MP having been first elected in 2016 before securing re-election in 2020.
The Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of Morehouse School of Medicine, Prof. Joseph Adrian Tyndall wants a renewed focus on maternal health equity in the global south.
He is worried about persistent high maternal mortality rates in these countries.
“For all who are focused on global health equity, we have to focus on outcomes. There is one outcome I think should be in focus.
“This issue of maternal mortality is extraordinarily important. When you look at the data it is very sobering.
“While maternal mortality rate in Europe is 1 in 11,000, areas in West and Central Africa record greater than 1,000 per 100,000 (births),” he explains.
He said this at the 6th African Conference on Emergency Medicine (AfCEM) in Accra.
The biennial African Conference on Emergency Medicine (AfCEM) is the only scientific conference that brings together stakeholders in African emergency care from across Africa and the world.
Previous conferences have been held in Kenya, Rwanda, Egypt and Ethiopia. The maiden conference was held in Ghana in 2012.
The 3-day conference rides on the theme: “The Role of Emergency Medicine in Achieving Universal Health Care: Research. Education. Clinical Care”
Dr. Joseph Bonney the president of African Federation for Emergency Medicine highlighted the progress of Emergency Medicine in Africa and the importance of maintaining great partnerships.
“Emergency medicine has seen growth amidst multiple challenges and many milestones have been reached.
“The African Federation for Emergency Medicine (AFEM), represents a broad coalition of national societies, organisations, and individuals from over 40 countries dedicated to securing high-quality emergency care across Africa,” he added
A 32-year-old-teacher accused of literally boiling the hand of a nine-year-old girl has pleaded not guilty before a Goaso Circuit Court in the Ahafo Region.
Ellen Serwaa is alleged to have held the hand of the girl in boiling water for taking her two cedis to buy snacks.
After a series of surgeries and six months of admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the victim has full function of the left hand.
Prosecutors on the case on Wednesday presented a fresh charge sheet to the court charging her for unlawfully causing harm.
Little Stephanie was in court for the first time since her abuse but the accused has been appearing before court.
Her alleged abuser, Ellen Serwaa, 32, a teacher came to court with her baby. She pleaded not guilty to a charge of unlawfully causing harm.
The Prosecutor, Chief Inspector, Eric Dzordor told the court that the accused Ellen Serwaa, held the victim’s hand in hot water until it developed blisters.
He added that she used razor blade to cut into the blisters and kept the victim at home for three weeks before seeking medical assistance.
He quoted a medical report from Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital indicating the victim doesn’t have full function of the left hand after six months in the hospital and going through a series of surgeries.
Lawyer for the accused, Albert Zogah described the prosecution’s facts as “concocted lies”.
He said “facts are not evidence and the “first to speak is always right until subjected to cross-examination”.
The Judge, His Honour Charles Kwasi Acheampong granted the lawyer’s plea for bail in the sum of 90,000 Ghana cedis with four sureties, one to be justified with a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
The case has been adjourned to the 6th of December for a case management conference.
Chelsea attacker, Hakim Ziyech is making a claim for his place in the Morocco national team as the poster boy.
The former Ajax star was until recently not part of the national team after he had a falling out with former manager Vahid Halilhodzic.
However, following the sacking of the gaffer and the appointment of a new coach, Hakim Ziyech has returned to the team and will be in Qatar with Morocco.
Featuring for his national team in a friendly match ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the talented left-footed attacker has scored a woldie.
From the centre circle, the attacker caught the Georgia goalkeeper off-guard and scored from way out to give Morocco a 2-goal lead.
Courtesy of other goals from Youssef En-Nesyri and Sofiane Boufal, Morocco has cruised past Georgia with a big win.
At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Morocco are in Group F and will face Croatia, Belgium, and Canada.
Maxwell Konadu, the head coach of Legon Cities, has acknowledged that his team gave Asante Kotoko players too much respect during their Ghana Premier League encounter in week seven.
Legon Cities, who defeated the Porcupine Warriors 3-1 in their previous visit to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, forced the Porcupine Warriors to a 1-1 draw on Thursday.
Maxwell Konadu’s team fell down in the first half as Kotoko controlled and seized the lead thanks to Steven Mukwala’s 16th-minute penalty kick. However, Legon Cities drew level in the 49th minute thanks to Sadat Mohammed.
“I think our players gave too much respect to the Kotoko guys. I believed in the second half they could go and win the game. That’s what we spoke about,” he said after the game.
“We told them that we were not coming here to defend. We will play our game no matter what. That’s what happened. We opened up and tried to equalize and take the lead again but it didn’t come that way. I must say that both teams played well, created chances and I think a draw is a fair reflection of the game,”
Legon Cities will take on Bibiani Gold Stars in their next Ghana Premier League game.
An Executive Member of the Food and Beverage Importers Association has commended the Bank of Ghana (BoG) for the withdrawal of foreign exchange support for the importation of non-essential goods.
Earlier, BOG in an electronic notice announced the withdrawal of foreign exchange support to importers for the importation of certain non-critical or essential goods.
The goods affected include rice, poultry, vegetable oils, toothpicks, pasta, fruit juice, bottled water and ceramic tiles.
Speaking in an interview on Joy News’ The Pulse on Thursday, Mr John Awuni said the order is in the right direction.
This, he explained is because the country is currently in an economic crisis.
According to him, the withdrawal of FX support for the importation of these items will help the country to focus on consumption of locally produced goods.
“On the face value, it is a very good policy. In the sense that we are in very difficult and critical times … for me in terms of economics, that is right,” he said.
He, however noted that, “the timing is wrong. The decision has not been formulated based on any information…You cannot classify rice and vegetable oil as non-essential…we are not prepared as a country to produce these on our own.”
Africa’s top scorer at the FIFA World Cup, Asamoah Gyan has completed his UEFA License B coaching course in Europe.
The former Black Stars captain enrolled in a class for a six-month programme for a Football Association of Wales’ Uefa B License certificate in June 2022.
Asamoah Gyan’s programme was a residential course for those with experience in playing or coaching in the professional game.
Six months after enrolling in the Football Association of Wales’ UEFA B License course, the Ghanaian has now graduated and is now a certified UEFA coach.
“Your new UEFA License Coach is here ❤️⚽️, thanks to all who made it possible & a special one to the Wales FA, this is just the beginning. January 2023 Coaching Clinic loading,” Asamoah Gyan tweeted.
Asamoah Gyan is the all-time top scorer of the Black Stars with 51 goals in 109 appearances.
Switzerland, on the other hand, have won three of their last five outings while losing the other two.
While Ghana were defeated by Brazil and Japan in their last five matches, Switzerland were triumphant against Portugal and Spain.
Ghana will rely on star players Thomas Partey, Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Inaki Williams, and Kudus Mohammed in the friendly. Whereas Switzerland will be counting on Granit Xhaka, Emmanuel Akanji, Breel Embolo, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Yan Sommer.
The game comes off at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates(UAE).
Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo has named Hearts of Oak forward Daniel Afriyie Barnieh in his lineup to face Switzerland in a pre-World Cup friendly.
Afriyie Barnieh will play on the wings in Otto Addo’s 4-2-3-1 system for the friendly.
