Tunisia will compete in the 2022 FIFA World Cup for the second time, and they will be eager to improve on their performance in 2018.
At the tournament in Russia, they were drawn with Belgium, England, and Panama and finished third, losing their first two matches before winning their last game against Panama.
Hannibal Mejbri of Manchester United is one of Tunisia’s outstanding players, with the 19-year-old poised to compete in his debut World Cup as Kadri’s youngest player in Qatar.
Mejbri has assisted two goals in 15 games for Birmingham City this season on loan, and he is already a seasoned senior international with 18 Tunisian caps.
The Red Devils youth has previous big tournament experience, having represented Tunisia at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, and he is the only English-based player in the ranks.
Two Ligue 1 players will also compete for Tunisia this winter, with Montpellier HSC’s Wahbi Khazri expected to lead the charge.
Khazri scored twice and assisted on two more goals for Tunisia in the 2018 World Cup, giving him 24 goals for the country, second only to Issam Jemaa’s 36.
Along with Khazri, Lorient defender Montassar Talbi has been a regular for Les Merlus throughout their blazing start to the season.
The 24-year-old has played every minute for early-season surprise package Lorient, who now sit sixth in Ligue 1, and he has 22 Tunisian caps to his record.
However, after scoring twice and setting up two more goals for Clermont in Ligue 1 this season, Saif-Eddine Khaoui remains a glaring absence.
Other noteworthy Tunisian players include FC Koln midfielder Ellyes Skhiri and Dylan Bronn, as Kadri’s team prepares to face Denmark in their first game on November 22.
Below is the full squad:
Goalkeepers: Aymen Dahmen (CS Sfaxien), Bechir Ben Said (US Monastir), Mouez Hassen (Club Africain), Aymen Mathlouthi (Etoile Sahel)
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has advised industry participants to embrace creative solutions to overcome the difficulties facing their respective sectors.
According to citibbusinessnews.com, their call comes as businesses are currently battling the nation’s economic problems.
Greater Accra Regional Chairman of AGI, Dr. Tsonam Cleanse Akpeloo, stated during the Accra Regional Annual General Meeting of the Association that the Association can survive the current crisis provided members adhere to strategic concepts.
“Since the beginning of the year, industries have gone through a lot of challenges as a result of the global crisis specifically the ravaging effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine war. This situation has cascaded into economic and financial limitations with its attendant impact on businesses and trade,” he recounted.
“We are looking forward to government to take immediate steps to support industries to overcome some of these challenges. We have consistently chosen the themes that reflect finances sources available for industries post COVID-19 and we have not deviated this time.”
“We will continue to push for alternative funding sources for industries especially for our SMEs. That notwithstanding we think if there is any dispensation that we need funding, it is now.”
“This is the opportune time to help members find the appropriate funding for their businesses. We are all concerned that our industries navigate through the economic crisis especially in the midst of the high cost of the dollar against the cedi and the multiplicity of taxes. We therefore are calling on all stakeholders present to come out with innovative ways to receive collateral free funds,” he added.
Ken Ashigbey, the Chief Executive of the Ghana Telecommunications Chamber, claims that in order to help with SIM registration, telecommunications businesses have had to hire extra staff members and devices.
“There are development expenditures that went into being able to put our systems in place to coordinate with the NCA’s systems to be able to complete the verifications, and there is an app we use that we pay for,” he stated in remarks made on the eve of the launch of the Mobile Industry Transparency Initiative, 2021. Prior to the policy’s implementation, the majority of our agents performed registration using feature phones; however, in order for them to do so now, we require smartphones, therefore it was quite expensive to be able to do that.
“Then you have to recruit extra people needed to be able to do the exercise and we had to pay those people that we recruited and that is cost. The collaboration between the NCA and NIA needs to be stronger. We need to collaborate a lot more so that the verification processes will be tighter.”
Ashigbey added that when the NCA and NIA are able to collaborate effectively when anyone is “on the database, I don’t need to hold my card to be able to register.”
He, therefore, called on the NCA, the Ministry of Communications to hasten the process to end the registration and also make room for persons who are yet to register their SIM cards.
The Police have arrested three persons and are pursuing others for violent disturbances during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Ashanti Regional Executives Election held on November 13, 2022, at Kumasi.
The suspects and their accomplices were involved in different offences including an assault on a Police officer, spraying pepper from a device onto some persons at the centre and engaging in a fight resulting in injuries to one of the perpetrators.
Suspects Yahya Shaibu Tia, Fati Ibrahim, and Husien Yakubu alias Jarlune are in custody assisting investigations while efforts are underway to arrest their accomplices.
Stonebwoy, a multi-award-winning Raggae/Dancehall singer, has criticized the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for leaving out some key players from its final 26-man team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Otto Addo officially announce Ghana’s final 26 man squad for the 2022 World Cup today.
Qatar will host the World Cup from November 20 until December 18, 2022. After the tournament in South Korea and Japan in 2002, this will be the second World Cup completely hosted in Asia and the first World Cup to ever be held in the Arab world. Furthermore, the tournament is planned to be the last with a 32-team field; for the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada in 2026, the field is planned to grow to 48 teams.
After the announcement Stonebwoy took to his official Twitter page to tweet:
“There are players who are supposed to be in the squad who are not here because of #PayToPlay @ghanafaofficial why?”
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.
According to reports, Ghana will train at the famous Aspire Academy in Doha, Qatar.
The Black Stars of Ghana will take on Switzerland in an international friendly on November 17 in UAE before flying to Qatar.
The introduction of an import licensing policy, according to Ghana’s Importers and Exporters Association, will only increase the country’s bureaucracy and business expenses.
Both importers and exporters claim that specific licenses are already necessary before one can bring items into the nation.
There have been increasing requests for reducing imports from a variety of stakeholders, particularly in light of the nation’s current economic difficulties.
However in an interview with Citi Business News, General Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association, Sampson Asaki Awingobit, said the introduction of such a license will rather go against the ease of doing business in Ghana.
“We already have several importations that you need license to venture into. i.e., when you are bringing in food into the country you will need permits from FDA, standards authority among others so we go through all these to get permits so I don’t know why they want government to introduce licenses to further entrench the bureaucracies,” Mr Awingobit said.
He also noted that the existing bureaucracies place Ghana at a disadvantaged position in the global list of countries with high barriers to trade and the introduction of another layer of bureaucracy will only worsen the situation.
A 45-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly selling fake and unwholesome drugs to unsuspecting patrons.
The unregistered drug dealer, Emmanuel who owns God’s Blessings Herbal was apprehended by personnel of the Food and Drugs Authority in the Upper West office.
The Acting Regional FDA Director, Kelvin Dafari, said his outfit had a tip-off from the area where the dealer operates.
“We traced and went to the Wa Magazine and he saw us and ran away. So we mounted surveillance on him and apprehended him around 9 pm. Initially, he was very resistant, but we employed all our techniques and he brought us here.
“As you can see, it is a single room, he does his production and everything in this room,” the Regional Director told JoyNews’ Rafiq Salam.
Despite being in custody, the suspect is still defiant, for while admitting that his drugs have not been registered, Emmanuel touts the potency and efficacy of his drugs.
Meanwhile, the Acting Regional FDA Director has advised the general public to be cautious of the drugs they patronise.
“We should desist from buying drugs from peddlers,” he cautioned.
According to Rafiq Salam, the suspect was subsequently handed over to the police for further investigations.
In order to provide 13,000 female entrepreneurs in the Kumbungu and Tolon districts with a one-stop shop for gender-responsive services to launch and expand small businesses, a women-friendly business hub has been built in Voggu in the Northern Region.
The business hub will provide a well-coordinated, gender-responsive, and demand-driven suite of business services for women, including marketing and outreach, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship and business management, and the development of green value chains and enterprises.
It is a prefabricated kiosk with its patent right from Germany and used globally for various interventions, especially in off-grid locations as it is solar-powered and can provide uninterrupted electricity supply for the next 15 years.
It is one of the innovative interventions under the Women’s Innovation for Sustainable Enterprises (WISE) project, which is being implemented in Northern, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions by Plan International Ghana in partnership with WIDO and Urbanet, and funded by Global Affairs Canada.
The WISE project seeks to leverage the enormous potential and agency of women entrepreneurs to make a stronger contribution to poverty reduction by prioritising human rights, innovation, private sector engagement, as well as monitoring, evaluation and learning.
Besides Voggu, two other women-friendly business hubs have also been established at Bomaa in the Tano-North Municipality of the Ahafo Region, and Antwikrom in the Sunyani Municipality of the Bono Region.
Mr Solomon Tesfamariam, Country Director of Plan International Ghana, during the opening of the hub at Voggu in the Kumbungu District, said it was to tackle the gender disparities in the economic sector to address the practical constraints to women’s full participation in transformative growth and development.
Mr Tesfamariam said, “Over the past two years, the WISE project has equipped more than 13,000 women with knowledge in standard practices for village savings and loans associations, financial literacy, life skills, good agronomic practices for soy cultivation and practical skills in beekeeping, mushroom cultivation and snail farming.”
He said, “With support from Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the WISE project has provided business mentorship and coaching for 50 women-owned star businesses.
This is to help women to adapt to the realities, of their own businesses, develop entrepreneurial vision, long-term plans and marketing strategies and support the entrepreneurs to make decisions related to finance as well as counselling on management of commercial relationships.”
Mr Hamidu Hamza Saana, Northern Regional Trade and Industry Officer, who represented Minister for Trade and Industry, lauded the intervention and said it was in line with government’s new policy direction to support growth-oriented women enterprises.
He expressed gratitude to partners for the project, which would grow women’s businesses and contribute to the development of the country.
Louise Paris, Counsellor – Deputy Director in-charge of Development at the Canadian High Commission, said the project was to help improve the economic situation of beneficiaries in line with government’s objectives under the one-district one-factory initiative.
Naa Sulley Saaka, Chief of Voggu, acknowledged the valuable contribution of women in society and appealed for financial aid for women in the area to expand their businesses under the project.
Representatives of AGI, Esoko, Oikocredit, Ghana Enterprises Agency, and Directorate of Crops Services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture took turns to express their support for the project and to render their services to the beneficiaries for the growth of their businesses.
Ghana coach, Otto Addo has called on Ghanaians to accept his final 26-man squad ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The 44-year-old trainer has announced Ghana’s final squad for the tournament slated for November 20 to December 18.
However, Jojo Wollacott, Richard Ofori, and Baba Iddrisu are all out of the squad due to injuries.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey Schlupp and Joseph Paintsil have been left out for various reasons.
Addressing journalists after announcing his squad for the World Cup, Addo said: “It’s just a pity [that not all players can get into the team], but that’s just the way football is.
“I have done my best and I hope everyone would understand just a little bit how we put our team together.”
There are also debut call-ups for Abdul Salis Samed, Danlad Ibrahim, and Kamal Sowah, while Hearts of Oak’s Daniel Afriyie Barnieh is also included.
The Black Stars will face a difficult test in Qatar, having been paired alongside Portugal, Uruguay, and South Korea in Group H.
Ghana will open the tournament against Portugal before taking on South Korea and will close the group with a clash against Uruguay.
The four-time African champions will hope to put up a decent performance after exiting the group phase in Brazil in 2014.
The Black Stars have opened camp today in Abu Dhabi and will take on Switzerland in a friendly game on November 17 before arriving in Doha on November 19.
The government has assured media practitioners of the government’s commitment to prioritising press freedom in the management of the country’s democracy.
Reading a speech on behalf of the President as the guest of honour at the 26th GJA Awards held in Accra on November 12, Florence Oboshie Sai-Coffie, says the president wants the media to play its part towards economic recovery as the world faces turbulent economic downturns.
“All agencies of mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the principles and objectives of this constitution and shall uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people of Ghana.”
“We truly believe that in search for solutions for the challenges, the media must be prioritised. Indeed, you are to help with amplifying the vibrant voices of the public and help us to find a pathway that takes us to economic recovery,” she said.
Although Ghana is considered a standard for democratic stability, it ranks 60th in the world for press freedom, dropping from an initial 30th position.
This is Ghana’s lowest-ever ranking in 17 years, after it ranked 66th and 67th in 2005 and 2002 respectively.
The latest report is out of 180 countries assessed, with Ghana recording a decline in its indicative points from 78.67 percent to 67.43 compared to last year.
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) claims that since 2021, it hasn’t given the government more than GH70 billion to operate the economy.
“Claims on the government increased to GH34.8 billion at the end of December 2021, and have recently increased further to GH40.2 billion at the end of October 2022, reflecting an increase of GH5.3 billion in 2022, which was the result of premature unwinding of positions held by some banks,” the BoG said in a statement in Accra that was forwarded to the Ghanaian Times on Friday.
The declaration is in response to charges made last week by Isaac Adongo, the member of parliament for Bolgatanga Central, who claimed that the BoG has “illegally” funded government to the tune of at least 70 billion since 2021.
The BoG explained that the current total claims on government “Represent the stock of debt held by the BoG and reflect accumulated claims for over 20 years, including legacy assets such as the Telecom Malaysia Bonds issued in relation to the privatisation of Ghana Telecom and Tema Oil Refinery Bonds.”
The statement said at the end of December 2020, the claims on government stock position stood at GH¢34.1 billion and included the GH¢10 billion COVID-19 bond purchased by the BoG.
The BoG explained that its recent disbursement to the government were resources granted by the International Monetary Fund, among others, under the Special Drawing Right (SDR) and Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) programme to help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy.
“This reflects a revaluation of these claims in the Bank of Ghana’s books to account for exchange rate developments. This figure does not reflect Bank of Ghana’s lending to government but rather resources from the IMF that were required to be passed on to government in line with approvals by the IMF Board. And the increase in the amount in 2022 does not reflect new cash transactions but rather merely a book-entry figure, driven in large part, by the depreciation of the currency,” it said.
It said due to the downgrade by the international rating agencies, there were no inflows from external sources to support budget implementation this year, and thus the BoG supported government to the tune of GH¢25.6 billion as at October, saying “This support is temporary and consistent with crisis management as we work with the IMF to design a debt operation that will lift the burden of debt servicing off the budget.”
The statement further said, BoG’s total outstanding swaps, repurchase agreements and sale and buy back transactions stood at US$2.4 billion as at end October 2022, of which only US$720 million and was expected to mature by the close of the year.
“We wish to assure the public that the BoG is a reputable institution, which is professional with high standards. We have been recognised and awarded internationally on this score and all operations and policy decisions of the bank are conducted with a high sense of duty and integrity to the best interest of the economy,” the BoG said.
The plaintiff, in the suit, alleged that prior to the GJA elections, Mr. Dwumfour gave members of the Association GH¢500 each at an event organized in the Western Region.
He thus prayed the court to declare the elections null and void.
The court however ruled that all the reliefs being sought by the Plaintiff including restraining Albert Dwumfour from holding himself as GJA Presidentis null and void and thus dismissed the case.
Justice Lee Adoboe, a member of the GJA filed an application for an injunction seeking to halt the swearing-in of Albert Dwumfuor as GJA President.
In the suit, he contended that the bribery allegations levelled against Mr. Dwumfuorshould have been investigated before the elections were held.
The injunction was served to the officials of the GJA a day before the swearing-in of the newly elected executives, but the event was organized.
“We are going to lay our facts bare before the court – the reasons we want the elections to be annulled. The swearing-in has been injuncted by the High court and investigations are being conducted into the allegations for the public to be made aware of the findings, and then we move forward from there”, he said at the time
The media consultant and Head of Corporate Affairs at the Tobinco Group of Companies fended off competition from the Editor of the Ghanaian Times and former General Secretary of the GJA, Dave Agbenu and a Communications Consultant, Gayhart Mensah.
While Albert Dwumfuor polled 233 votes, Gayheart Mensah got 181 votes and Dave Agbenu had 142 votes.
Over 800 members of GJA voted to elect the new national and regional executives last week.
The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) has announced that there will be an increase in the renewal fee for business names from ȼ25 to ȼ30 and penalty fee for Companies and Partnerships in default from GHȼ450 to GHȼ600 effective 31st December, 2022.
This increment in fees would apply to all Sole Proprietorships and Subsidiary Business Names as well as Companies in default including Churches, Associations, Unions, Foundations, Schools, Fun Clubs, External Companies and Professional Bodies.
“Companies are to file their Financial Statements together with their Annual Returns at a cost of ȼ60.00 per year to renew their Companies. External Companies are to submit their Group Accounts to the ORC at a cost of $690.00 per year or in default pay a penalty of $750.00 in addition to fees for all the years in default. Partnerships are to renew their Partnerships at ȼ60.00 per year,” a statement from the ORC said.
The statement added that the 2,584 Companies in default whose names have been earmarked for strike off from the Companies Register during the clean-up exercise can still be in good standing by filing their Annual Returns by end of year, 2022.
“All Business Entities (Companies, Partnerships, and Sole Proprietorships) yet to migrate their business records onto the e-Registrar application dubbed ‘Re-Registration’ have up to 31st January, 2023 to do so and be in good standing to avoid sanctions”.
The statement explained that in compliance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992), a Company Secretary is expected to submit a Special Resolution for a change of Company Name if they have not complied as yet to the directive, by the addition of an appropriate ‘suffix’ to the end of their Company’s Name by 31st December, 2022.
“All Companies who have not as yet adopted a Registered Constitution reflecting the changed name in place of their Company’s Regulations are also being reminded to do so before the end of the year, 2022”.
“The Office entreats our cherished clients to make payments on transactions at our in-house Fidelity Bank or any Fidelity Bank branch across the country. We kindly bring to the attention of our clients and issue a caution to ignore any calls from fraudsters, for mobile money (MOMO) transfers in the name of ORC/RGD or persons claiming to be Lawyers or Staff of the Office of the Registrar of Companies(ORC).
The ORC does not operate a mobile money number and any Company Official who pays out monies to these calls do so at their own risk.
The Executive Secretary of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) Samuel Amegayibor, has charged its members or any private developer who expresses interest in the Saglemi Housing project to sort out all legal issues surrounding the project.
His comments come on the back of the government’s intention to sell the 1,500 housing units to private developers due to its inability to expend more resources in fixing it for use.
The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso Boakye, revealed at a meet press session in Accra on Sunday, November 13, 2022, that the government is exhausted and handicapped and can’t make further commitments to the Saglemi project.
On this basis, “we’re allowing for a private sector developer to take up the initiative to build and sell the housing units”, he said.
Speaking to Citi News, the Executive Secretary of GREDA, Samuel Amegayibor noted that, the project has been entangled with legal issues hence anyone desirous of investing in it must be clear on the terms with the government.
“This [announcement] has clearly shown the intentions of the government to do something with that project, they have committed a lot of funds to it and they don’t want to incur any other cost again and want to dispose of it by selling it to a private investor, I think it is a good call, at least it would bring us to a point for us to transform it into a usable project.”
Mr Amegayibor, however, added, “this calls for a whole assessment, apart from the project itself going to be sold, one has to find out the assessment that was made for the project to be cited at that place.”
“The most important thing is the legal concern, you have to look at the contractual agreement that existed and how the project was supposed to be executed, who the parties involved are because the current government has taken some past ministers to court on this matter so you need to really consult on the legal position.”
The GREDA Executive Secretary further stated that government should sell the facility by blocks or flats to individuals interested in purchasing it because it will be difficult for a single individual developer to take up the entire project.
Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo says he feels “betrayed” by the club, does not respect manager Erik ten Hag and is being forced out.
Ronaldo, 37, promised in August he would give his version of life at Old Trafford after failing to secure a move to a club playing in the Champions League, as he had hoped.
He has now spoken out in an interview with Piers Morgan for TalkTV.
A Manchester United statement said the club had “noted the media coverage”.
In extracts from the wide-ranging interview –
Ronaldo said:
People at the club were trying to force him out.
There had been “no evolution” at the club since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, and the Scot agreed United were “not on the path they deserve to be”.
The club showed a lack of “empathy” when his young daughter was hospitalised in July.
He had “never heard” of previous manager Ralf Rangnick.
He did not know why former team-mate Wayne Rooney criticised him, adding: “Probably because he finished his career and I’m still playing.”
The interview will be shown over two nights on Wednesday and Thursday.
Asked by Morgan if United’s hierarchy were trying to force him out, Ronaldo said: “Yes, not only the coach, but another two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed.”
Pushed as to whether senior club executives were trying to oust him, he added: “People should listen to the truth. Yes, I felt betrayed and I felt like some people don’t want me here, not only this year but last year too.”
The Red Devils, who beat Fulham 2-1 on Sunday, are fifth in the Premier League in Ten Hag’s first season as manager.
“The club will consider its response after the full facts have been established,” United said in a statement on Monday.
“Our focus remains on preparing for the second half of the season and continuing the momentum, belief and togetherness being built among the players, manager, staff and fans.
Ronaldo says he has no ‘respect’ for Ten Hag
Ronaldo has not played because of an unspecified illness since he captained United in their 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa on 6 November.
He was dropped for the Premier League game at Chelsea last month by Ten Hag after refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham three days earlier.
“I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me,” Ronaldo said. “If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you.”
Ronaldo also spoke about the loss of his baby son in April and how touched he was by a tribute paid to him by Liverpool fans at a game against United at Anfield in the days afterwards.
The whole interview is 90 minutes long but Morgan has written a version for the Sun in which it is clear the contempt Ronaldo has for how he has found United since he returned to the club amid huge fanfare in August 2021.
“I think the fans should know the truth,” he said. “I want the best for the club. This is why I come to Manchester United.”
Ronaldo said he had seen “no evolution” at the club since former manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
“Nothing had changed,” he said. “I love Manchester United. I love the fans, they’re always on my side. But if they want to do it different… they have to change many, many things.”
Ronaldo said his view of the club was shared by Ferguson, who was pivotal in his return to Old Trafford from Juventus when it appeared he might join Manchester City.
“He knows better than anybody that the club is not on the path they deserve to be,” added Ronaldo.
“He knows. Everyone knows. The people who don’t see that… it’s because they don’t want to see; they are blind.”
Professor Godfred Bokpin, an economist, is concerned that the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area will be lost to the private sector (AfCFTA).
This is a result of the unfavorable tax system in the nation.
Prof. Bokpin claimed in an interview with Myjoyonline.com that the high cost of borrowing and some unnecessary levies are severely affecting Ghanaian firms hoping to compete favorably with their peers under the continental program.
‘If you look at our tax basket, it is heavily indirect based. All of that contributes to high production cost of doing business.
“If you put that together with electricity restrictions on the growth drivers of the economy, Ghanaian private sector has to borrow at a rate in excess of 35 per cent…..you can’t compete,” he said.
He pointed out that all these challenges are making it difficult for Ghanaian businesses to compete under AfCFTA.
“So you can see the fundamentals and can project how that can affect the Ghanaian private sector and the ability to maximise the participation of the AfCFTA. That’s the point that we are talking about.
“As it stands now, we don’t get the clear picture and direction that government wants to create the enabling environment that guarantees private sector leadership,” he added.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has cancelled the certificates of 17 political parties who have no regional and national presence and, therefore, are flouting the laws.
The EC in October gave the parties to the end of that month to prove why their registrations should not be cancelled under the Political Parties Act of 2000, Act 574.
After the expiration of the deadline a notice signed and issued by the Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa and published today, November 14, 2022, stated “Pursuant to the publication by the Electoral Commission dated 13th & 17th October 2022, the General Public is hereby informed that the Registration Certificates of the under-listed Political Parties have been cancelled in accordance with Section 15 (3) (c) of the Political Parties Law, 2000 (Act 574) effective the 1st day of November, 2022.”
Below are the parties:
Democratic People’s Party (DPP) United Front Party (UFP) United Development System Party (UDSP) Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) Yes People’s Party (YPP) United Ghana Movement (UGM) Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) New Vision Party (NVP) Ghana Democratic Republican Party (GDRP) Ghana National Party (GNP) Power Unity Party (PUP) United Progressive Party (UPP) Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD) People’s Action Party (PAP) United Renaissance Party (URP) National Reform Party (NRP) United Love Party (ULP).
One of the aspirants seeking for Oti Regional Secretary position, Gado Yakubu Ninsaw, collapsed on Sunday after losing the election.
Dressed in all white in expectation of a resounding victory, Mr Ninsaw had the shock of his life when the results did not go in his favour.
He collapsed after realizing the opponent was in a comfortable lead during the counting and ahead of the official declaration.
Party officials and onlookers rushed to revive him and he was later sent to the hospital for medical treatment.
In the comments, the Member of Parliament for Krachi West, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, advised politicians not to take the game at heart.
She added that the way the defeated politician tumbled down as he stood was a clear indication he was suffering from exhaustion or a health condition or even both.
“He could have died. Thanks be to God that he is still alive. We all need to be health conscious. This is what happens when you mainly depend on politics for the upkeep of you and your family,” she said.
The incumbent chairman, who won with 162 votes, assured of working hard to retain all the parliamentary seats in Oti and also double the presidential votes for John Mahama for victory 2024.
The winner of the Women’s Organiser position, Paulina Magyam, also promised to work hard with the elected executives to capture power from NPP in 2024
New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Mpraesosays the sacking of the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry in relation to alleged influence peddling and corruption, is not satisfactory if the substantive minister is also not sacked or made to resign.
Davis Opoku Ansah says Charles Adu Boahen’s sacking is not enough and that the Finance Ministry needs a total overhaul.
In a Facebook post on Monday, the deputy ranking member of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee said the data bankers should be taken from the Ministry, implying that persons known to have links with the financial services firm, Databank, but now engaged at the Finance Ministry, should be relieved of their jobs.
“The sacking of Charles Adu Boahen is meaningless unless it is linked to the resignation of Ken Ofori-Attaand the total liberation of the finance ministry from data Bankers,” he wrote.
President Akufo-Addo has terminated the appointment of Mr Charles Adu Boahen with immediate effect.
A statement from the Director of Communications at the Jubilee House, Eugene Arhin said the President took the decision after being made aware of the allegations levelled against the Minister in the exposé dubbed, “Galamsey Economy,” by TigerEye PI.
“The President spoke to Mr. Adu Boahen, after which he took the decision to terminate his appointment,”
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has also referred the matter to the Special Prosecutor for further investigations.
Why was Mr Adu Boahen sacked?
In the said documentary, Mr Adu Boahen is said to have told the undercover investigators that Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia needs just $200,000 tokens as an appearance fee before meeting with supposed businessmen.
The embattled Minister is also reported to have said that the Vice President would demand some positions from an investor for his siblings to get his backing and influence in establishing a business in Ghana.
“You mean, like appearance fees and stuff? I mean he, himself (the Vice President), if you give him some (USD) 200,000 or something as a token, as thank you, appreciation, that’s fine.
“He’s not really, he’s not really (like) that. All he needs is to worry about his campaign money in 2020,” Charles Adu Boahen is alleged to have said.
Meanwhile, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has denied reports linking him to demanding $200,000 as an “appearance fee.”
Responding to the issue in a Facebook post on Monday, he said he is not aware of any such transaction.
According to him, his “cherished asset” is his integrity, which he will not allow to be tarnished.
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) is asking industry participants to embrace creative solutions to overcome the difficulties facing their sectors.
According to citibbusinessnews.com, their call comes as businesses are currently battling the nation’s economic problems.
Greater Accra Regional Chairman of AGI, Dr. Tsonam Cleanse Akpeloo, stated during the Accra Regional Annual General Meeting of the Association that the Association can survive the current crisis provided members adhere to strategic concepts.
“Since the beginning of the year, industries have gone through a lot of challenges as a result of the global crisis specifically the ravaging effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine war. This situation has cascaded into economic and financial limitations with its attendant impact on businesses and trade,” he recounted.
He also called on government to speed up interventions to support industry players who have been badly hit by the crisis.
“We are looking forward to government to take immediate steps to support industries to overcome some of these challenges. We have consistently chosen the themes that reflect finances sources available for industries post COVID-19 and we have not deviated this time.”
“We will continue to push for alternative funding sources for industries especially for our SMEs. That notwithstanding we think if there is any dispensation that we need funding, it is now.”
“This is the opportune time to help members find the appropriate funding for their businesses. We are all concerned that our industries navigate through the economic crisis especially in the midst of the high cost of the dollar against the cedi and the multiplicity of taxes. We therefore are calling on all stakeholders present to come out with innovative ways to receive collateral free funds,” he added.
Doja Cat took to Twitter to beg the platform’s new CEO – Elon Musk – for help after she accidentally locked her display name as “christmas.”
“i don’t wanna be christmas forever @elonmusk please help i’ve made a mistake,” the pop star tweeted early Thursday morning.
Doja Cat appeared to change her display name on Twitter on October 31, the announcement accompanied by a “Merry Christmas” graphic posted to her feed.
Doja Cat: ‘I don’t wanna be christmas forever @elonmusk please help i’ve made a mistake’
Since Musk took over Twitter, he has been making rapid and inconsistent changes to the social media site’s verification program.
The system was previously used to verify authentic users who own accounts of public interest – like government officials, celebrities, and journalists. But now, Musk said anyone who pays $8 per month can get the blue check mark.
According to The Verge, users who were previously verified under Twitter‘s legacy policy can no longer change their display names on the app, at least for now, to prevent impersonations.
“why can’t i change my name on here,” Doja Cat tweeted Thursday.
She followed up with another tweet: “how do i change it also f*ck you elon”
The vice president of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons, has provided details on the economic variables of Ghana when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led the famous ‘Kume Preko’ demonstration against the government of the late Jerry John Rawlings in 1995.
In a tweet shared on Monday, November 14, Simons intimated that Ghana’s economy is in a far worse position now compared to the time the current president led the ‘kume preko’ protest.
“The massive Kume Preko protests in 1995 have been in the news lately as some observers compare the current economic crisis in Ghana to what existed then. But how do 1995 & 2022 REALLY compare? Well, some things are eerily similar, a few are better & more, esp debt, are worse,” parts of the tweet read.
The details he shared showed that the depreciation of Ghana’s currency to the US dollar, which is currently 52 percent, was a little over 27 percent in 1995.
Also, the ratio of Ghana’s debt stock to its GDP was worse in the “Kume Preko” era than now.
The rate of inflation, however, is better now, compared to 1995.
Background on “Kume Preko”:
About 27 years ago, the biggest demonstration to have occurred in Ghana’s history took place.
Those at the forefront of this protest were Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, Kwasi Pratt Jnr, Dr Nyaho Tamakloe, Abdul Malik Kwaku Baako, Akoto Ampaw, Victor Newman, Kwaku Opoku, Napoleon Abdulai and was also joined by some 100,000 people.
What was termed as the high cost of living and particularly, the imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on items fuelled the demonstration against the then Rawlings administration?
According to reports, it was a period in which able-bodied and hardworking citizens could not afford one decent meal a day for a family.
In addition, the drop-out rate in educational institutions was said to be rising at a very alarming rate.
However, what started as a peaceful protest turned gory when some unidentified assailants opened fire on the demonstrators.
Many sustained severe injuries and others died from the attacks.
The appointment aims to enhance and expand the company’s activities in the markets where it already operates while also centralizing Prudential’s operations in Africa.
“Africa is a strategic growth driver for our group, building the talent and capacity to drive the next level of business growth is key and will foster greater efficiency and effective decision making to help us deliver on our purpose of helping people in Africa get the most out of life by making healthcare and financial security more accessible and affordable,’’ Solmaz added
Currently Mokobi is the Regional Chief Executive Officer for two regions: East and Central, as well as West and Southern Africa.
“Mokobi is a well-known industry veteran, with more than 29 years of experience of commercial leadership in Africa.
“His past experience includes turning around businesses on the African continent, moving Prudential to the number one market position in some of our countries, and gaining recognition as an innovative player.
“Over the years, he has nurtured employees and created room for talent to thrive.
“Africa is a continent with great potential. Data from Swiss Re Institute ranks the continent as the second-fastest growing insurance market in the world after Latin America, with a total value of $68 billion.
“Yet, Africa has a large uninsured population as reflected in the low insurance penetration levels currently at 2.8 per cent. This points to significant headroom for expansion of the underwriting market, also given the population is expected to double to 2 billion by 2050.
“As a purely Asia and Africa-focused business, we are investing in people and technology to build the capacity to serve more customers on the continent. Today, Prudential serves over 1.7 million customers in Africa through a distribution network of more than 13,000 agents and 600 bank branches. Since we started our Africa journey in Ghana in 2013, we are now present in eight countries – Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Nigeria.
“We are confident that the Africa business will continue to thrive under the stewardship of Mokobi.”
In mid-November 2022 the eight billionth person will be born, according to the United Nations. In its analysis of this milestone, the UN makes two key observations. The first is that the global population has been expanding at its slowest rate since 1950. The growth rate dropped below 1% in 2020, a trend that is likely to continue. The second is that the growth in population has been due to the gradual increase in human lifespan owing to improvements in public health, nutrition, personal hygiene and medicine. It’s also the result of high and persistent levels of fertility in some countries. According to the UN, just eight countries are expected to be behind 50% of the population growth over the next 30 years. Five are in Africa: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania. Demographers Akanni Akinyemi, Jacques Emina and Esther Dungumaro unpack these dynamics.
What’s the significance of the eight billionth birth?
It raises concerns – scientists estimate that Earth’s maximum carrying capacity is between nine billion and 10 billion people.
Appreciating these numbers requires an understanding of the distribution and demographic structure of the population. Where are these people across regions, countries, and rural and urban geographies?
There is a potential upside to growing populations. It’s known as a demographic dividend. Population growth can be a blessing, spurring economic growth from shifts in a population’s age structure. This is a prospect if working-age people have good health, quality education, decent employment and a lower proportion of young dependants.
But realising this dividend depends on a host of things. They include the structure of the population by age, level of education and skills, and living conditions, as well as the distribution of available resources.
The consequences of population growth are socioeconomic, political and environmental. Some of them can be negative. How these unfold is determined by the characteristics of the population and its distribution.
Why are birth rates so high in five African countries?
The major factors driving population growth in these countries include low contraceptive use, high adolescent fertility rates and a prevalence of polygamous marriages. There’s also the low education status of women, low to poor investment in children’s education, and factors related to religion and ideas.
The use of modern contraceptives is generally low across sub-Saharan Africa. The overall prevalence is 22%. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, however, the uptake of short-acting contraceptives is at 8.1%. In Nigeria, it is at 10.5%. The uptake in Ethiopia is 25%, in Tanzania it’s 27.1% and in Egypt 43%.
For long-acting family planning methods, apart from Egypt with over 20% uptake, the other four countries driving population growth in the region recorded very poor uptake. This low uptake will logically lead to a population explosion.
Some of the factors associated with high contraceptive use in Africa are women’s education, exposure to news and mass media, good economic status and urban residency.
The adolescent fertility rate in sub-Saharan Africa – while showing a downward trend – is still relatively high. The adolescent fertility rate captures the number of births per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19. In sub-Saharan Africa, it stands at an average of 98 births per 1,000 girls.
There is a wide variation in this rate across the five countries: from 52 in Egypt and 62 in Ethiopia to 102 in Nigeria, 114 in Tanzania and 119 in the DRC.
Outside the continent, the adolescent fertility rate is 21 in Asia and the Pacific, and 26 in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In the US, it’s at 15, five in France and 42 globally.
The adolescent fertility rate has huge implications for population growth because of the number of years between the start of childbearing and the end of a woman’s reproductive age. A high fertility rate in this age group also has a negative influence on the health, economic and educational potential of women and their children.
Another factor driving population growth in these five African countries is polygamous marriage. Women in polygamous unions living in rural areas with low socio-economic status are likely to have higher fertility rates than women in other areas.
Polygamy is illegal in the DRC. Nevertheless, it’s common. About 36% of married women in Nigeria, one-quarter of married women in rural Tanzania and 11% of those in Ethiopia are in polygamous marriages.
Finally, a woman’s education status has a significant impact on fertility. For instance, in Tanzania, women with no formal education have as many as 3.3 more children than women with secondary or tertiary education.
Are rising populations a cause for major concern in these countries?
Yes.
One of the biggest concerns is the scale of these countries’ development.
The World Bank classifies the DRC among the five poorest nations in the world, with nearly 64% of the population living on less than US$2.15 a day. One in six of sub-Saharan Africa’s poorest people is found in the DRC.
In Nigeria, about 40% of the population lives below the poverty line. The west African nation also faces issues of insecurity, poor infrastructure and high unemployment.
Steady population growth in these five countries will exert further stress on already inadequate infrastructure and services.
Also, the age structure of the populations of these five countries reflects high levels of dependency. The population of young people who aren’t in the labour force and that of older people is far higher than of those in their prime ages (18 to 64) who are gainfully employed.
There is also a potential shortage of working-age people with high skills compared with the population of those who depend on them for survival in these five countries.
This is because these countries have a very youthful population. The median age ranges from 17 in the DRC to 17.7 in Tanzania and 18.8 in Nigeria. There is also the prospect of many young people living in unfavourable socioeconomic realities and poverty.
In most countries, population growth is the slowest since 1950. Why?
Most countries, particularly in America, Asia, Europe, Oceania and North Africa, have completed the fertility transition. In other words, they are experiencing below-replacement fertility levels – fewer than two children are being born per woman.
The main drivers of low fertility include the increased use of modern contraceptives, increased age at first marriage and higher numbers of educated women.
What should the next steps be for African countries with high fertility rates?
Government policies and programmes need to take into account population growth and align interventions with sustainable use and access to resources.
Governments at regional, national and sub-national levels also need to invest in infrastructure and education. They need to create employment if they are to benefit from a growing population. There is also need to continue investing in family planning.
The age structure of the population is also of concern. The expected growth in population numbers is likely to increase the concentration of young people and those of prime ages. With limited socio-economic opportunities for young people, countries are more likely to be subject to the forces of international migration.
The proportion of older people is also likely to increase in the five countries in focus. This increases the need for investment in social security, infrastructure and innovative support for older people. Unfortunately, issues around older people have not gained prominence on the continent.
Taylor Swift capped off a huge month by winning four trophies at the MTV Europe Music Awards.
The star, whose latest album Midnights has topped the charts all around the world, was named best artist and best pop act.
She also won best video and best longform video, both for All Too Well (10 Minute Version), starring Stranger Things actress Sadie Sink.
Harry Styles, Blackpink and Nicki Minaj also took home trophies.
Swift is now tied with Lady Gaga as the singer with most MTV Europe awards. Both acts have 12 each.
Presented with her best artist award by Baywatch star David Hasselhoff, Swift dedicated the prize to her fans.
“There’s not a single moment I take that for granted,” she said. “I can’t believe I get to do this as a job, and it’s all because of you. Thank you so, so much.”
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Taika Waititi and Rita Ora oversaw the ceremony in Germany
The ceremony was held in Düsseldorf, Germany and hosted by film director Taika Waititi and pop star Rita Ora, who were married over the summer.
Not the most polished of presenters, they frequently talked over one another – but managed to cycle through eight outfit changes during the evening.
“You’re thriving,” said Taylor Swift, when Ora asked for an appraisal of their hosting duties. “You’re eating it alive”.
David Guetta and Bebe Rexha kicked off the show with a blast, performing their hit I’m Good (Blue), which went on to win the best collaboration award.
OneRepublic performed I Ain’t Worried – their hit single from the summer blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick – following a video introduction from the film’s star, Tom Cruise.
The show also featured performances by Ava Max, Tate McRae Stormzy, Gorillaz, Lewis Capaldi and best rock winners Muse.
Figure caption, Warning: Third party content may contain adverts
Figure caption, Warning: Third party content may contain adverts
Figure caption, Warning: Third party content may contain adverts
Figure caption, Warning: Third party content may contain adverts
There was also a special appearance by Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra, the winners of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, who lit up the arena in the colours of the Ukrainian flag as they performed Stefania.
Speaking on the red carpet, lead singer Oleg Psyuk told the PA news agency that “culture is one of our weapons” in the war against Russia “so today we are are soldiers that present Ukraine’s culture”.
MTV also gave a special award to three young Ukrainian women who are tackling the country’s humanitarian crisis.
Anna Kutova, Lina Deshvar and Anfisa Yakovina have been providing shelter for refugees, evacuating and caring for families with children, and therapy for those have been separated from their loved ones.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Fans waved Ukrainian flags as Kalush Orchestra took to the stage
In the music categories, British pop star Harry Styles won best live act, while Korean pop group BTS won the biggest fans prize.
Fellow K-pop stars Blackpink won best metaverse performance, for the concert they held in the video game PUBG. The band’s singer Lisa Manobal also won best K-pop for her solo album, Lalisa,
Nicki Minaj was awarded best hip-hop artist and best song for Super Freaky Girl; while the “Video for Good” prize went to Sam Smith and Kim Petras for their number one smash Unholy.
Swift’s All Too Well had previously won best video at the US version of the MTV Awards in September, and is expected to be put forward for best short film at next year’s Oscars.
Directed by Swift herself, the clip draws inspiration from 1970s Hollywood and recounts the ups and downs of a fraying romantic relationship.
The song itself dates back to Swift’s 2012 album Red. The star re-recorded the song last year, adding verses that had been omitted from the original, as part of an ongoing project to reclaim ownership of her master recordings, which were sold against her will to an investment fund in 2019.
As she accepted the video’s second award on Sunday night, Swift recalled how the project “almost never happened”.
“The older version of this song came out like 10 years ago and it was never a single. It was never supposed to even have a music video, nonetheless a short film.
“I can only explain this by saying that the fans willed this to happen. I will never stop thanking you for this.”
Full list of winners
Best Song: Nicki Minaj – Super Freaky Girl
Best Video: Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)
Best Artist: Taylor Swift
Best Collaboration: David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – I’m Good (Blue)
Best Live: Harry Styles
Best Pop: Taylor Swift
Best New: SEVENTEEN
Best K-Pop: Lisa
Best Latin: Anitta
Best Electronic: David Guetta
Best Hip-Hop: Nicki Minaj
Best Rock: Muse
Best Alternative: Gorillaz
Best R&B: Chlӧe
Best Longform Video: Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version)
Video For Good: Sam Smith – Unholy (ft. Kim Petras)
Biggest Fans: BTS
Best Push: SEVENTEEN
Best Metaverse Performance: BLACKPINK – The Virtual PUBG Mobile
Best Look’: Rita Ora
Generation Change: Lina Deshvar, Anna Kutova and Anfisa Yakovina
As traders responded to the data, shares climbed in the US and Asia. On Friday morning, stock markets in the UK and Europe also increased.
According to the Labor Department, the US consumer price index increased 7.7% in October compared to the same month last year.
Since the beginning of the year, that is the smallest annual increase.
The figure, which is down from 8.2 per cent the previous month, means the US central bank may ease its aggressive approach to raising interest rates to tackle inflation.
On Friday Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index jumped by 7.7 per cent, while the Nikkei in Japan ended the day three per cent higher and South Korea’s Kospi gained 3.4 per cent.
That came after the benchmark S&P 500 index in New York rose by more than 5.5 per cent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 3.7 per cent. At the same time the technology-heavy Nasdaq soared by 7.35 per cent.
Shares in US technology companies saw some of the strongest gains with Amazon up by over 12 per cent, while Apple and Microsoft rose more than eight per cent.
European share prices edged higher on Friday too, although they didn’t match the large gains seen in the US and Asia.
In London, the FTSE 100 index was up by 0.4 per cent in early trading after official figures showed the UK appears to be heading into recession.
The economy contracted by 0.2 per cent between July and September, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Meanwhile the US dollar, which has jumped in value this year, weakened against major currencies including the pound and the yen.
Earlier this month the US Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate to a fresh 14-year high.
The move took the central bank’s benchmark lending rate to 3.75 per cent-4 per cent, the highest since January 2008.
Also this month, the Bank of England lifted interest rates to three per cent from 2.25 per cent, the biggest jump since 1989, and warned that the UK is facing its longest recession since records began.
A recession is defined as when a country’s economy shrinks for two three-month periods – or quarters – in a row.
Higher interest rates make it less likely that people will spend on big ticket items, such as homes, cars or expanding their businesses. That fall in demand is, in turn, expected to curb price increases.
Food and energy prices have jumped, in part because of the Ukraine war, which has left many households around the world facing hardship and started to drag on the global economy.
But some economists are concerned that higher rates could also trigger slowdown in the global economy.
Charlton Athletic have expressed disappointment in Jojo Wollcott’s 2022 World Cup miss due to injury setback.
Wollacot, who plies his trade for English League One club, Charlton Athletic goalkeeper was ruled out of the tournament after picking up an injury.
The 25-year-old pulled out of the Burton Albion clash on Saturday after injury to his finger in the warm up.
Since his debut in 2021, Wollacot has featured 11 times for the national team.
According to Ben Garner, who is the manager of Charlton Athletic, the club is totally disappointed in the Wollacot’s World Cup miss and has therefore backed him to recover from his disappointment.
“Everyone at the club is bitterly disappointed for Jojo. He played such an important part in Ghana getting to the World Cup and we all know how much he was looking forward to it. For the injury to happen so close to the tournament and in such innocuous fashion is very cruel.
“My understanding is that following surgery he will still meet up with the Ghana squad and remain a key member of their travelling party. Knowing Jojo as I do he will respond to this setback with great maturity and a determination to come back even stronger. I think the world of him both as a person and as a player. It goes without saying that Jojo will receive our full love, care and support throughout this coming period.”
Ghana will open camp in Abu Dhabi on Monday, November 14 before taking on Switzerland on November 17 in a pre-World Cup friendly.
The team is expected to fly Doha on November 19 before their opening game against European powerhouse, Portugal.
Ghana will open their campaign against Portugal on November 24 at Stadium 974 in Doha.
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 the group phase during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has said he plans to give away most of his $124bn (£107bn) fortune during his lifetime.
The businessman told news network CNN he would donate his wealth to fighting climate change and reducing inequality.
He has previously been criticised for not promising to dedicate his fortune to charity.
Investor Warren Buffett, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Mr Bezos’s ex-wife MacKenzie Scott have all promised to give their money away.
Mr Bezos revealed his plans after donating $100m to the country music star and philanthropist Dolly Parton to use for charitable causes.
Asked by CNN whether he intended to give away most of his wealth within his lifetime, Mr Bezos told the network: “Yeah, I do.”
He declined to provide details on where he would spend or donate the money, but said: “The hard part is figuring out how to do it in a levered way.”
He added that he and his partner, Lauren Sanchez, were “building the capacity to be able to give away this money”.
Previous philanthropy
The multi-billionaire previously pledged $10bn to the Bezos Earth Fund, which he launched in 2020 to help fight climate change.
The move came after Mr Bezos and other entrepreneurs were criticised for spending vast amounts of money on trips into space instead of solving problems on Earth. Amazon had also been criticised in the past by its workers over its record on climate change.
Mr Bezos became one of the richest people on the planet after Amazon, the internet retailer he founded in 1994, became a global phenomenon.
He stepped down as Amazon chief executive in 2021 but remains chairman of its board. He also owns the Washington Post newspaper and space tourism company Blue Origin.
On Sunday Mr Bezos gave Dolly Parton the Bezos Courage & Civility Award, which recognises leaders who “pursue solutions with courage and civility”.
Ms Parton, who has supported causes such as child literacy, will be able to donate the cash to the charities of her choice.
“We couldn’t have thought of someone better than to give this award to Dolly, and we know she’s going to do amazing things with it,” Ms Sanchez told CNN.
In a video of the ceremony posted online, Ms Parton said “Wow! Did you say $100m?”
She added: “I think people who are in a position to help should put their money where their heart is. I will do my best to do good things with this money.”
Mr Bezos launched the award in 2021, with prizes going to activist Van Jones and chef and humanitarian Jose Andres, who established World Central Kitchen, which provides food in disaster-stricken countries.
Ms Parton – a singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist – was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this month.
She has been a high-profile supporter of charities and founded the Dollywood Foundation, which has given books to children around the world.
The Garden City University College (GCUC), has held its 17th Matriculation Ceremony to mark the formal admission of 1,450 fresh students into various programmes for the 2022/2023 academic year.
The ceremony, which was held at its KumasiCampus, was also streamed live for the benefit of other students at its learning centres at Takoradi, Koforidua, Akim Oda, Keta and Wa.
Professor Emeritus Anthony Apeke Adimado, President of the University, said the ceremony marked the beginning of their academic journey with GCUC and implored them to be receptive to all the good things that may come their way in the lecture halls, library and hostels.
He reminded the students that their level of commitment to academic work would determine their performance in all assessments and examinations at the end of each semester.
He implored them not to allow any peer extraneous influences to distract them from their academic work, saying that such practices could be counterproductive and had the potential to derail their academic ambitions.
“Say no to occultism as it is an avenue for self-destruction. Any group, club or association that is not on the list of registered clubs and associations at GCUC is evil,” he stated.
The President emphasised the need for the students to aspire for academic excellence and high moral discipline.
Insisting on such moral and academic principles, he said, demonstrated GCUC’s resolve to train and produce men and women of strong character and integrity to stand the test of time and build a just society.
Prof. Adimado said the University had put in place facilities for a congenial and conducive academic environment to make life on campus comfortable for students, and urged them to take advantage of all facilities at their disposal to make good grades.
“We expect that you will take advantage of these provisions to enhance your learning in this institution,” he noted.
He said the only dignifying road to success was oneness of purpose, honesty and hard work and advised them to adhere to these core principles of life as students for a brighter future
TV presenter Jonnie Irwin has revealed he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The 48-year-old, who presents Channel 4’s A Place In The Sun and the BBC’s Escape To The Country, told Hello! magazine his lung cancer had spread to his brain.
“I don’t know how long I have left,” he told the publication.
He added that he hopes his diagnosis will inspire people to “make the most of every day”.
Irwin, who shares three-year-old son Rex and two-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac with his wife Jessica, had kept his illness private until now.
He explained that the first warning signs came in 2020, when his vision went blurry while he was driving, while filming A Place In The Sun in Italy.
“Within a week of flying back from filming, I was being given six months to live,” he said.
“I had to go home and tell my wife, who was looking after our babies, that she was on her own pretty much. That was devastating.
“All I could do was apologise to her. I felt so responsible.”
Irwin has continued to work as much as possible and said it had got to the point where “I felt like I was carrying a dirty secret, it’s become a monkey on my back”.
“I hope that by shaking that monkey off I might inspire people who are living with life-limiting prospects to make the most of every day, to help them see that you can live a positive life, even though you are dying,” he continued.
“One day, this is going to catch up with me, but I’m doing everything I can to hold that day off for as long as possible.
“I owe that to Jess and our boys. Some people in my position have bucket lists, but I just want us to do as much as we can as a family.”
The property expert, who also writes articles and gives lectures on the topic, said he did not know precisely “how long I have left” but is trying to stay “positive” and “make memories” with his family, taking the view that he was “living with cancer, not dying from it”.
“I set little markers, things I want to be around for,” he said. “I got into the habit of saying, ‘don’t plan ahead because I might not be well enough’.
“But now I want to make plans. I want to make memories and capture these moments with my family because the reality is, my boys are going to grow up not knowing their dad and that breaks my heart.”
Irwin has also taken out life insurance and encouraged other people to do the same.
“That has helped so much and when I leave this planet, I’ll do so knowing Jess and the boys are in a house that is fully paid off and there’s a bit of money in the bank for them to live off.”
‘Thank you for the sunshine’
Reacting to the news, his Place in the Sun co-host Jasmine Harman said: “Words can’t fix much, but what lovely words of support you have had here [on social media] Jonnie.
“I know you know this already, but I am here for you my dear friend, and Jess and the boys. So, so brave. Sending lots of love, speak soon.”
The show’s official Instagram page added: “We don’t have the words, we just have love, affection and respect for our friend and colleague of so many years, the wonderful Jonnie Irwin. We’re thinking of you, Jess and the boys x.”
On viewer posted on Twitter: “So very sad tonight. Jonnie’s a wonderful presenter and comes across as such a thoroughly decent person.”
“So very sad,” added another. “I have always enjoyed Jonnie’s sense of humour and zest for life. I hope those character traits will help him and his family in these very difficult times. Thank you for all the sunshine Jonnie.”
Irwin has been a presenter on A Place in the Sun since 2004, and has appeared on Escape to the Country since 2010.
The Police have arrested three suspects and pursuing others over violentdisturbances caused during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Ashanti Regional Executives Election on November 13, 2022 in Kumasi.
A statement from the Police said the three suspects and their accomplices were involved in different offences, including an assault on a Police officer, spraying pepper from a device on some persons at the Centre and engaging in a fight resulting in injuries to one of the perpetrators.
The suspects are Yahya Shaibu Tia, Fati Ibrahim and Husein Yakubi, alias Jarlune.
The statement said they were in custody assisting investigation while efforts were underway to get their accomplices arrested to face justice.
A superintendent of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), David Essien has told an Accra High Court that Aisha Huang used a forged marriage certificate to obtain an indefinite residence permit.
A forged Ghanaian passport is also said to have been attached to the application that culminated in the grant of the permit.
Supt. Essien said it was the detection of this situation that led the Immigration Service to revoke her permit and repatriate her out of the country.
The issue of how Aisha Huang left Ghana in 2018 remains a thorny matter. State prosecutors have previously told an Accra Circuit Courtshe fled the country.
This was a position contrary to what a government official had claimed.
Former Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Marfo had stated that was in furtherance of a business transaction with the Chinese Government.
Supt. Essien is the Attorney General’s second witness in the case in which the Chinese National is accused of engaging in illegal mining.
He started his testimony by telling the court he was tasked to investigate the accused person following a publication on Myjoyonline.com and another news portal.
The stories he said made serious allegations of illegal mining against the Chinese National. Supt Essien said he was asked to check her immigration status and the situation on the ground with regard to the allegation.
He revealed he found out that she had an indefinite residence permit. During cross-examination, lead Counsel for Aisha Huang, Nkrabeah Effah Dartey asked the Immigration officer whether his probe was only regarding her immigration status.
Supt Essien replied it bothered him as well as the allegations regarding the illegal mining.
He then gave the following details about her repatriation.
“When we examined the passport, she was on an indefinite residence permit which was granted to her based on her supposed marriage to a Ghanaian known as Anthony Fabian.
However, investigations conducted by the GIS established that the accused used a forged marriage certificate and forged ghana passport in support of her application for the indefinite residence permit.
As a result of this, the Comptroller-General revoked the indefinite residence permit on grounds of fraudulent misrepresentation in accordance which led to her subsequent repartition on December 19, 2018.“
Mr Dartey told the court he will continue with his cross-examination after conferring with his client.
It is worth noting that the trial on Monday did not commence without controversy.
Aisha Huang told the Court she could not understand an interpreter who had been tasked to assist her. A new interpreter was brought to continue with that task.
The case is back in Court on Tuesday, November 15.
Ghana Impact Project has donated $10,000 and other items to the Orthopedic Training Centre at Adoagyiri in the Nsawam Municipality.
Ghana Impact Project which is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), presented the cheque and items on Sunday, November 6, 2022.
The President of Ghana Impact Project, Mr. Kobby Okum said, “Our mission is to provide prosthetics, wheelchairs and crutches to the physically challenged in Ghana. We’re doing this to not only help with their mobility but to raise their self-esteem. We would like to see Ghana someday where the physically challenged are confident that they can pursue their Ghanaian dream.
Mr. Kobby Okum who came with his family added, “I chose OTC because it’s the only organization that got back to me after writing several letters.
Sister Elizabeth Newman, Director, OTC, who received the donation on behalf of the Centre, expressed gratitude for the assistance.
“The Center provides rehabilitation, consultation, physiotherapy, orthopaedic appliances and also offers charity care for children who are physically challenged, “she said.
Sister Elizabeth Newman said the Divine Word Missionaries started the centre in 1961, founded by Brother Tarcisius de Ruyter (SVD) with the primary purpose of rehabilitating physically challenged persons in Ghana and West Africa.
Head Mistress of OTC, Miss Louisa Enyonam who is also a former patient offered congratulations to Ghana Impact Project for the support and added that OTC had produced many great people.
“It’s sad that, up to date, the country still cannot accept the physically challenged in our system. We don’t have facilities that are conducive for the physically challenged,” she said.
The Centre comprises an orthopaedic clinic, a workshop, a children’s department and the prosthetics and Orthopedic Training College.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has lauded the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, Ghana for its immense contribution towards national development.
He said the Church had moved beyond its missionary and educational affairs to undertaking various agricultural and health projects, which continued to support the entire citizenry.
President Akufo-Addo was addressing congregants of the Church at Peki Blengo in the Volta Region to climax its 175th Anniversary.
It was themed: “A Journey of 175 Years in Ministry – Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward.”
He said not many institutions had lived to the 175th year, hence the congregants must be proud of the Church’s blossom and survival.
“It is reassuring that the EP Church of today could still lay claim to the attributes that set it apart years ago,” he said, adding that Ghana expected much from it.
The EP Church, Ghana had produced notable and prominent citizens, whose legacies were all over the nation and beyond, including Dr Ephraim Amu.
Its contribution to education was unmatched, and still retained its reputation for music, hard work and discipline, a characteristic of Presbyterian schools, which the country needed, the President said.
“The schools that were Presbyterian used to be easily distinguished by the behaviour of their students and the orderly nature of their campuses. They stood out and we took pride in them.”
President Akufo-Addo, however, expressed regret over the indiscipline that had recently bedeviled the country, with most communities lacking the sense of communal responsibility, brotherliness, cleanliness and orderliness, which characterised the earlier Presbyterians.
He commended the Church’s collaboration with the Peace Council to find amicable resolution to conflicts in Alavanyo, Nkonya and Bimbila.
The President urged the Church to act according to its declarations and mission to bring about innovation, renewal of responsibility and transformation of society.
He promised to build an AstroTurf to commemorate the anniversary celebration and called on the Church to pray for him, the Government, and the nation.
The Right Reverend Dr Lt. Col. (Rtd) Bliss Divine Agbeko, Moderator of the General Assembly, EP Church, Ghana, said the 175 years of ministerial experiences in sending light to where there was darkness had been associated with mixed lessons.
These include achievements, challenges and the will to press on to greater heights and commitments to leave perpetual legacies for generations to come, all to the glory of God.
“We are grateful to God for the Bremen Missionaries and the Missionary Board, who first came to us with the Christian Gospel,” he said.
“They came along with formal education, orthodox health care, agriculture and helped to translate our languages into writing, and reading.”
The Moderator said the Church would continue to support governments in educating and healing the citizens through acceptable standards.
“We resolve to continue our advocacy role to speak for the voiceless, hopeless and the marginalised in society.”
Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister, said the Government saw the EP Church as a partner in development and urged it to continue its many programmes and projects to enhance living standards.
Deiga Kwadzo Dei XII, Paramount Chief of Peki Traditional Area, said the people took great pride in having a hand in bringing God’s Salvation and civilization to themselves and to the entire Eweland.
“The seed Lorenz Wolf sowed has borne fruits and continued to multiply and spread well beyond the shores of Africa into the diaspora. The EP Church has the right to be proud of it.”
Deiga Dei said the Pekis cherished the education programmes of the missionaries, which produced teachers and catechists to build the human resource base.
“I know of no basic school in Peki which did not derive its origins from the education programmes started through Christianity….”
A financial analyst, Dr Micheal Dawson, has urged citizens to lend their support to the Bank of Ghana and its leadership for implementing raft measures to address the current economic situation.
Dr Michael Dawson believes that the recent decision to increase the monetary policy rate in order to ensure inflation does not spiral out of control is apt on the part of the Governor and his MPC team.
Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb Business, Dr Dawson said the recent assurances given by the BoG governor, Dr Ernest Addison, indicating that there is enough liquidity in the financial sector will boost the confidence of investors and shareholders.
“The decision to increase the policy rate in the last MPC meeting was apt but as you know the way our politics is done in Ghana, that has not been appreciated. Without the BoG’s interventions, the economic situation would have been triple times worse and the current measures being implemented by the central bank are yielding some results while the country awaits an IMF support programme.”
“I am also aware of the recent clamp down to flush out the activities of the ‘black market’ operators in the system and this I understand forms part of measures to ensure a stable currency for businesses and citizens to thrive.”
“Despite the current situation, l have not heard of any financial institution complain of liquidity challenges because the Central Bank has given assurance that there is liquidity and so I personally believe as a nation, we must support and encourage the Governor and his team at this difficult time.”
Dr Dawson said this in reaction to remarks made by the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, who accused the BoG Governor for contributing to the current economic situation.
“I think we shouldn’t politicise the situation but rather support the BoG Governor to implement these raft measures as the economic situation is not only peculiar to Ghana but is global one that is being felt in even advanced economies” he noted.
Meanwhile, the Bank of Ghana has assured universal banks in the country and other stakeholders that it will ensure there is enough liquidity until Ghana secures an IMF-supported programme.
Due to the current economic crisis, Ghana in July this year restored to the IMF for an economic support programme to restore macroeconomic stability, among others. The county is targeting $3 billion from the Fund once an agreement is reached.
In a 25-second video making rounds on social media, the group of girls who have been identified as second-year students of Chiana Senior High School in the Kassena Nankana West District were heard chastising the president in a manner that has been described as utterly ‘disrespectful’.
The said video has since garnered backlashes from a large section of the public, including the Ghana Education Service, which has gone on to condemn the act and apologize to the president in a press statement spotted on social media.
“Management of Ghana Education Service (GES) condemns this unfortunate act which is against every educational and moral principle in our society. We wish to also assure the general public that the outcome of the investigations will be more known as soon as it is concluded,” parts of the statement read.
But Lydia Forson believes that the students’ conduct is as a result of learning all sorts of bad habits from prominent Ghanaian leaders over the period.
In a long thread of Twitter posts, Lydia insisted that some government officials, including parliamentarians, have no moral right to chastise these students as they have been bad examples.
“From radio, to television and even politicians fighting and stealing ballots in parliament, children are watching the adults in their lives behave poorly daily! How do we expect better, when we’re no better? We are failing these children.
We need to stop trying to hold children more accountable than the adults who’re supposed to set examples for them to emulate.
We’re raising a generation of children who witness corruption, lack of accountability, and badly behaved leaders, and magically expect them to be better?
“We’re raising a generation of children who witness corruption, lack of accountability, and badly behaved leaders, and magically expect them to be better? We need to stop trying to hold children more accountable than the adults who’re supposed to set examples for them to emulate. A majority of people appalled by this video will be quiet about the adults these children are learning from. The sad thing is no one really cares about these children or wants better for them; it’s a talking point for politicians because of who they were insulting,” she wrote.
From radio, to television and even politicians fighting and stealing ballots in parliament, children are watching the adults in their lives behave poorly daily!
To her, she said Ghanaian leaders are doing very little in terms of grooming young ones to take their place someday.
From radio, to television and even politicians fighting and stealing ballots in parliament, children are watching the adults in their lives behave poorly daily!
“The sad thing is no one really cares about these children or wants better for them; it’s a talking point for politicians because of who they were insulting.
A majority of people appalled by this video will be quiet about the adults these children are learning from.
The sad thing is no one really cares about these children or wants better for them; it’s a talking point for politicians because of who they were insulting.
“We expect so much from the “future leaders” of this country, but we’re doing very little to ensure they’re in a position to even lead. I’m always disgusted at how we berate young people in this country, like they shouldn’t have agency,” she added.
The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) has announced an upward adjustment in the cost of the renewal of business names from GHȼ25 to GHȼ30 from December 31, 2022.
It also stated that a penalty fee for Companies and Partnerships in default will also increase from GHȼ450 to GHȼ600.
A statement issued by the Office of the Registrar said: “This increment in fees would apply to all Sole Proprietorships and Subsidiary Business Names as well as Companies in default including Churches, Associations, Unions, Foundations, Schools, Fun Clubs, External Companies, and Professional Bodies.”
It also urged companies to file their Financial Statements together with their Annual Returns at a cost of GHȼ60 per year to renew their Companies.
External Companies are to submit their Group Accounts to the ORC at a cost of $690.00 per year or in default pay a penalty of $750.00 in addition to fees for all the years in default. Partnerships are to renew their Partnerships at GHȼ60.00 per year.
The Registrar, therefore, added that some 2584 companies in default whose names had been earmarked for strike off from the Companies Register during the clean-up exercise can still be in good standing by filing their Annual Returns by the end of the year.
Also, “all Business Entities (Companies, Partnerships, and Sole Proprietorships) yet to migrate their business records onto the e-Registrar application dubbed ‘Re-Registration’ have up to 31st January 2023 to do so and be in good standing to avoid sanctions.”
See the full release below
The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) wishes to inform its Stakeholders, Company Officials, Business Owners, cherished Clients and the General Public that there will be an increase in the renewal fee for Business Names from GHȼ25.00 to GHȼ30.00 and a penalty fee for Companies and Partnerships in default from GHȼ450.00 to GHȼ600.00 effective 31st December, 2022.
This increment in fees would apply to all Sole Proprietorships and Subsidiary Business Names as well as Companies in default including Churches, Associations, Unions, Foundations, Schools, Fun Clubs, External Companies and Professional Bodies. Companies are to file their Financial Statements together with their Annual Returns at a cost of GHȼ60.00 per year to renew their Companies. External Companies are to submit their Group Accounts to the ORC at a cost of $690.00 per year or in default pay a penalty of $750.00 in addition to fees for all the years in default. Partnerships are to renew their Partnerships at GHȼ60.00 per year.
Further to the above, the 2,584 Companies in default whose names had been earmarked for strike off from the Companies Register during the clean-up exercise can still be in good standing by filing their Annual Returns by end of year, 2022.
All Business Entities (Companies, Partnerships, and Sole Proprietorships) yet to migrate their business records onto the e-Registrar application dubbed ‘Re-Registration’ have up to 31st January, 2023 to do so and be in good standing to avoid sanctions.
In compliance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992), the Company Secretary is to submit a Special Resolution for a change of their Company Name if they have not complied as yet to our directive, by the addition of an appropriate ‘suffix’ to the end of their Company’s Name by 31st December, 2022. All Companies who have not as yet adopted a Registered Constitution reflecting the changed name in place of their Company’s Regulations are also being reminded to do so before the end of the year, 2022.
The Office entreats our cherished clients to make payments on transactions at our in-house Fidelity Bank or any Fidelity Bank branch across the country. We kindly bring to the attention of our clients and issue a caution to ignore any calls from fraudsters, for mobile money (MOMO) transfers in the name of ORC/RGD or persons claiming to be Lawyers or Staff of the Office of the Registrar of Companies(ORC). The ORC does not operate a MOBILE MONEY NUMBER and any Company Official who pays out monies to these calls do so at their own risk.
For further enquiries please contact the Public Relations Unit on 055-765-3130 (Telegram/WhatsApp) or 030-266-6081. Follow us on our social media handles on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram @ORC Ghana.
The incumbent Oti Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Kwadwo Gyapong, has been retained by delegates at the Party’s regional elections held on Sunday.
In the election held at the Kyabobo Recreational Centre at Nkwanta in the Oti Region, Mr Gyapong polled 162 votes to beat his main contender, Mr Fato Kwame Nicholas who had 154 votes.
A total of 326 delegates voted and determined the fate of the 41 contestants who vied for 15 positions of the Party.
Mr Maxwell Owusu Siaw and Mr Kpebu Kofi Francis, who both contested unopposed, are the Vice Chairmen while Mr Lemboe Gabriel Samora polled 148 votes for the Secretary slot.
For the Deputy Secretary, Mr Abraham Boafo, went unopposed, while in the Regional Organizer post, Mr Sulemana Abdul Mumuni won with 181 votes.
Dr Fred Adams Alpha polled 109 votes to win the Deputy Organizer slot.
The Regional Treasurer position was won by Mr Addo Kwaku Prosper who polled 157 votes.
Mr Kuni Ogaja Evans won the Deputy Treasurer position with 144 votes.
The Youth Organizer slot went to Mr Eklu Cletus who polled 20 votes while Mr Dzre Foster with 13 votes won the Deputy Youth Organizer slot.
Madam Magyam Pauline polled 14 votes for the Women Organizer position and Madam Dunyame Mary Mensah also won the Deputy Women Organizer position with 11 votes.
For the Zongo Caucus Coordinator, Mr Gabasa Abubakar won with 161 votes, while Mr Mobarak Abdul Karim with 198 votes won the Communication Officer position.
Mr William Ntoso Mensah polled 121 votes to win the Deputy Communication Officer position.
Mr Gyapong, in a victory message, asked all winners and losers to remain united as a family, and urged all to re-energised for hard work to wrestle power from the New Patriotic Party-led government in 2024.
The TDC Development Company is to pay a total of GHC2.4 millionas dividends for 2021 to the government, its shareholder.
The TDC has already paid an interim dividend of GHC1.2 million.
Mr Kofi Brako, Board Chairman of the company, announced the dividend at the second Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the TDC, held in Tema.
“Matching the company’s desire to complete its projects on time with the shareholder’s expectations, the Board has resolved to pay an additional GHC1.2 million in dividends to bring the total dividend payment for the year to GHsC.4 million,” Mr Brako said.
Touching on TDC’s financial performance for 2021, the TDC Board Chairman said the company generated an income of GHs116.59 million in 2021, representing a growth of 20 per cent over GHs97.1 million in 2020.
He said despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted its operations, the Company was able to grow its profit before tax by 10.9 per cent from GHs37.58 million in 2020 to GHs41.68 million in 2021.
The Board Chairman said TDC assets grew by 22.3 per cent from GHs 380.72 million in 2020 to GHs465.50 million in 2021, adding that shareholder’s fund also increased by 19.84 per cent from GHs270.96 million in 2020 to GHs325.11 million in 2021.
Mr Brako said TDC currently had several ongoing projects being funded from its internally generated funds, adding that in that regard it was important to plough back most of its profit to fund and complete them.
He said the projects were expected to build strong capital adequacy for the company and increase the shareholder’s worth.
Mr Joseph Cudjoe, Minister of Public Enterprises, commended the TDC for its outstanding performance during the year under review and for winning the overall best-performing state-owned enterprise, as well as the overall best-performing specified entity for the year 2020 in the public enterprises league table.
Mr Cudjoe said TDC was working in line with the government’s vision of seeing State Owned Enterprises operating profitably and professionally to support the economy while obeying all laws regarding their operations.
Mr Abdulai Abanga, the Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, on his part, charged the TDC to consider expanding its operations outside the Tema acquisition areas to other parts of the country which need affordable houses.
Ms Alice Abena Ofori-Atta, the TDC Managing Director, in a report said long-term construction finance in Ghana remained one of the major constraints to real estate development for property developers and prospective homeowners.
Ms. Ofori-Atta added, however, that funding from private entities, Real Estate Investment Trusts, banks, and other financial institutions, among others, continued to lessen the funding gap though in a modest way.
She expressed optimism that as the real estate sector was expected to bounce back after the COVID-19 pandemic, TDC would continue to explore and take advantage of any opportunity that would emerge.
She said to enhance their performance and effectiveness amidst the new dynamics of competition within the sector, TDC was using some strategic initiatives and policy interventions such as the electronic rent collection system, the GCB Bank collection project, enterprise risk management, balanced scorecard, and staff training and development.
Some of the resolutions taken at the AGM were the receiving and adopting of the report of the Directors, Auditors, and Financial Statements for the year ending December 31, 2021.
Declaration of dividends for the year under review, as well as authorising the Directors to determine the remuneration of the Auditors, and to transfer GHC100 million from Retained Earnings Account to Stated Capital.
Veteran actor Fred Amugihas filled the eyes of Ghanaians with tears after he shared his sole wish for his 74th birthday.
The actor made an appeal to corporate Ghana and other international outfits to consider him for brand ambassadorial deals.
For him, seeing his face on a huge billboard mounted on vantage points of the country would be a major achievement, and a reminder of his immense contribution to the creative arts industry.
In a video posed to mark his birthday six days ago, an emotional Mr. Amugihoped this wish would be granted before his demise.
“Use me when I’m alive, not when I am dead and gone,” he said amid assurance of being an effective ambassador for any product or service.
The intent, he hinted is not for the money, but to keep his image in the minds of Ghanaians beside the many films he has featured in which has made him a household name.
Meanwhile, some industry players have given him their word to make sure his wish will be fulfilled in the shortest possible time.
Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has noted that proceeds from the sale of the Saglemi housing project will be reinvested into another affordable housing project.
He made this disclosure at a press briefing held in Accra on Sunday, November 13, 2022.
Speaking on the sale of the Saglemi housing project, he said, discussions were ongoing for a private sector developer to take over government’s affordable housing project.
“Proceeds from the sale will come to the state and reinvested into affordable Housing project…To facilitate the process a technical working team has been set up, comprising professionals and experts to oversee and spearhead all engagements required for the completion of the project,” he stated.
The Housing Minister noted that a committee will be commissioned to guide the process and ensure transparency in the bidding process.
An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a Police officer to 12 years imprisonment for assisting ex-convict Harold Davies Johnson to travel abroad without serving his jail term at the Nsawam Prisons.
This was after Detective Lance Corporal Kwame Adu Asabereh was found guilty by the court at the end of the trial.
The Police officer was said to have allowed himself to be corrupted by Johnson, an ex-convict, to assist him travel abroad and escape serving his jail term.
He was charged with forgery of official document, abetment of crime, and corruption by public officer.
The facts of the prosecution led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sylvester Asare before the court presided over by Mrs Patricia Amponsah are that Asabereh was a Police officer stationed at the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service.
The prosecution said in 2019, a case of defrauding by false pretences involving Harold Davies Johnson, aka Emmanuel Snowden, a British national, reported by Dr Shadrack Asare, was referred to Asabereh for investigations.
It said after investigations, Asabereh was instructed to charge and arraign Johnson on the charge of defrauding by false pretence.
Johnson was, therefore, put before the court presided over by Naa Adjeley Quaison.
Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
The prosecution said Johnson was handed over to Asabereh, the case officer, to be sent to Nsawam Medium Prison.
Surprisingly, the prosecution said, Asabereh failed to send Johnson to Nsawam and sent him to his (Asabereh ‘s) house at Sapieman where he stayed for some time.
The prosecution said investigations also showed that Johnson promised to assist Asabereh to travel abroad and based on that, Asabereh released Johnson’s passport to him and he travelled to the United Kingdom without serving his sentence.
The prosecution said Asabereh forged the Police Removal of Prisoner Book to suggest that Johnson had been sent and received by prison authorities at Nsawam.
The prosecution said when Asabereh was nabbed, he admitted the offence.
Popular social commentator, Kwame A Plus, has taken a dig at Wendy Shay for sarcastically throwing jabs at the likes of Nana Aba Anamoah and Serwaa Amihere in one of her songs.
In a song titled ‘Heat’, Wendy was said to have capitalized on wordplays and mischief in a bid to poke these individuals.
It can be recalled that the said individuals trended on social media some time ago when an anonymous account on Snapchat alleged that Serwaa Amihere and Nana Aba Anamoah were intimately involved with some politicians.
But when this discussion popped up during a discussion on UTV’s United Showbiz, A Plus called Wendy out for being a hypocrite.
He wondered why Wendy, who he said was once a victim of cyber bullying, has resorted to treating people the same.
“Wendy Shay was one of the most trolled musicians. She has really suffered in this industry and even produced a documentary highlighting the numerous times she had been bullied.
“We were all sympathizing with her but recently she has also bullied some people in her song. She has a song where she was throwing indirect jabs at Serwaa Amihere, Nana Aba. Today, you can mock celebrities. You know how to sarcastically jab people,” he asserted.
It can be recalled that during an earlier interview on YFM, Wendy Shay denied that her ‘Heat’ song was directed at people.
“This is a deep song and this is a song I want to leave to the consumers for them to digest and also take their point of view. I want everybody to be able to decode how they understand the songs by themselves. I never mentioned any names,” she stated.
Asante Kotoko goalkeeper, Danlad Ibrahim has been named in the final Ghana squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The young shot-stopper is one of 26 players included in the squad list officially announced by Ghana head coach Otto Addo on Monday, November 14.
The 19-year-old was born on December 2, 2022, and spent his early days learning the sport at Sunyani Hamburg SV.
With vast experience playing for various national teams, Danlad Ibrahim has gone through the mill and is now going to the World Cup as a reward for his consistency over the last few years.
Not only did Asante Kotoko excel in the Ghana U17 team at the youth level but has he also been superb for the U20 and U23 tea in recent times.
Danlad Ibrahim currently is playing his football in the Ghana Premier League, a team he has been contracted to for so many years.
Even in his teenage years, Danlad Ibrahim is already a Ghana Premier League winner with the Porcupine Warriors.
The goalkeeper is also an Africa U-20 Cup of Nations winner in 2021 and a WAFU Zone B U-20 Tournament winner in 2020.
Danlad is just one of two Ghana Premier League players going to the 2022 FIFA World Cup with the Black Stars.
The other player is Hearts of Oak’s poster boy Daniel Afriyie Barnieh.
Below is the full Ghana squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup:
Nollywood actor Ninolowo Bolanle also known as Nino B has disclosed how his infidelity made him lose control over his wife.
During an interview with media personality Chude Jide Onwo, Ninolowo disclosed that he cheated on his wife on countless occasions and also stopped being around which made his wife outgrow him, making him lose control over his wife.
He said during the interview;
“I needed to take time back to see what I had done to her. The years when I was feeling like I was still young and cheating all day, breaking her heart and everything, to the years where I wasn’t there and I was just pursuing my dreams, but I forgot that this was a human being that was taking records and taking experiences of her life as well.
So, I became a person she didn’t recognize anymore, and I couldn’t even call her to pick up the phone. So, to get that restored, and to achieve that back, I needed to go back and start afresh, detox and clear everything that I have done.
First, God. I prayed, I cried myself to God. I acknowledged everything I did wrong to God, not to her. I submitted myself and I did what God wanted me to do. If the spirit told me to prostrate and beg at that moment, then that’s what I did.
There is no generality in marriage; it’s significant and unique to people. My situation is different from your situation. If I have to crawl in the gutter to beg my wife, that’s what I’ll do. If something is valuable to you, you won’t lose it.
There were hundreds of people trying to interfere in settling it, but it never worked.
The day my God restored my wife and I, nobody was involved. It was just a phone call.”
French Montana celebrated his 38th birthday on Thursday by throwing a star-studded partyat his Hidden Hills estate, which now features a roaming camel courtesy of Swizz Beatz.
Among a party of guests that included celebrities such as Chris Brown, Jamie Foxx, Vin Diesel, Tiffany Haddish, Jordin Sparks, Soulja Boy, Coi Leray, Swizz Beatz, King and Justin Combs, Swizz appeared to have given the birthday boy the best gift.
French took to Instagram last night to express his excitement. “Shout my n***a Swizz. He got me a camel for my birthday,” Montana captioned a video of him walking the camel around his property. Swizz added, “Had to bring my brother a Big gift @saudibronx HBD @frenchmontana BX Zaaaaaaaa.”
Back in October, Swizz spoke with Variety about his new passion: Camel racing.
“Before you buy camels, you get to observe them,” he shared. “There’s test races where you can get to understand the attitude of the camels. Say, for instance, you’re seeing a camel suddenly go from the right lane to all the way across to the left — you can tell that that camel has a bad attitude. That might not be your best camel out of the gate. You want a camel that is focused, that listens to commands. You want camels from great homes and breeders. They get treated very well — amazing food, massages. Camels have to feel the love to give the love. You can’t have stressed-out camels in a race. Camels are sacred over there.”
Meanwhile, French’s birthday celebration arrives ahead of the release of his latest full-length offering, Coke Boys 6. Slated to drop Dec. 6, CB6: The Money Heist Edition will include the previously released single “Yes I Do,” as well as features from Babyface Ray, EST Gee, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, Benny the Butcher, Quavo, Fleurie, and the late Chinx.
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has emphatically stated that it has not given an amount of GH¢70 billion to the government to finance its maturing debts on the domestic market, as speculated.
This response comes against the backdrop of the accusation levelled against the Bank of Ghana by the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo.
On Tuesday, October 8, 2022, Mr Adongo alleged that the Bank of Ghana had illegally financed the government to the tune of GH¢70 billion, or more, since 2021.
According to the Bolgatanga Central MP, the move by the BoG was contrary to the Financial Management Act; hence, the governor of the central bank, Ernest Addison, should be sacked.
Denying the allegation, the central bank noted in a communiqué signed by the Executive Secretary to the Governor, Nana Aba Ashun, that the allegation was false and unfounded.
She indicated that the allegations by Mr Adongowere aimed at impugning the hard-won credibility of the Bank of Ghana and its management.
Presenting the facts, she said, “Honourable Adongo raised the issue that the Bank of Ghana has illegally borrowed US$7 billion through bridge financing, swaps, repurchase agreements, etc. and is therefore seeking funds to refinance this amount. Swaps, repurchase agreements, and sale buy back transactions are legitimate operations conducted by all central banks for effective foreign exchange reserves management.
She added that “Bank of Ghana has deployed these instruments since 2011 for foreign exchange liquidity management purposes. It is an important instrument for foreign exchange management by all central banks as part of their treasury and reserve management functions.
The global developments have resulted in tight financing conditions, and these swaps have served as a significant source of foreign exchange liquidity for the economy. The total outstanding swaps, repurchase agreements, and sale and buyback transactions stood at US$2.4 billion at the end of October 2022, of which only US$720 million is expected to mature by the close of the year.”
She, therefore, encouraged the public to disregard such false allegations.
“We wish to assure the public that the Bank of Ghana is a reputable institution, which is professional with high standards. We have been recognised and awarded internationally on this score and all operations and policy decisions of the Bank are conducted with a high sense of duty and integrity to the best interest of the economy.”
Crystal Palace attacker Jordan Ayew has been included in Ghana’s final squad for the 2022 World Cup which will be held in Qatar from November 20th to December 18th.
In 2006, the Marseille-born forward joined Olympique Marseille as a prospect. In 2009, he signed a three-year professional deal with Marseille. Jordan Ayew made his senior squad debut on December 16, 2009, in a league match against Lorient, scoring the equalizer. Marseille eventually won the game 2-1.
On April 27, 2011, Ayew scored his second goal against Nice at the Stade Vélodrome, in a match in which his elder brother André Ayew scored a hat-trick. Jordan and André both made their UEFA Champions League debuts on November 1, 2011, against Premier League heavyweights Arsenal.
The 31-year-old is 182cm tall. Jordan Ayew prefers to play with his right foot.
Ayew joined second-tier side Lorient on 28 July 2014, he signed a four deal with the club. After 31 appearances for Lorient, he joined Aston Villa on a five-year deal for £8 million. He scored his first goal for the club on 24 October 2015 against Swansea City.
He moved to Swansea City during the winter transfer window in January 2017. After 50 appearances and eight goals, Jordan Ayew signed for Crystal Palace on loan in 2018.
Ayew made the move permanent on July 25, 2019, with a £2.5 million three-year agreement from Swansea City. Ayew scored his first goal of the season in the first half against Manchester United at Old Trafford on August 24, 2019.
Ayew made his senior debut for Ghana on September 5, 2010, in a 3-0 AFCON Qualification win against Swaziland at the Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba, Swaziland. Ayew scored his first and second international goals in a 2014 World Cup qualifying match victory over Lesotho on June 1, 2012, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
According to Transfermarkt Jordan Ayew’s current market value is six million euros. His contract with Crystal Palace runs until 30th June 2023.
Jasmine, the daughter of famous actor Mr. Ibu, has reportedly divorced her husband of nine months for lying.
According to Instagrablog9ja, Jasmine disclosed her husband had three grown-up children from a previous marriage he didn’t tell her about.
“My marriage was so beautiful and full of love. My husband literally worshipped me! I don’t know if anyone is ever going to love me as he did! But this one lie! I can’t forgive! I have filed a divorce today! I found out today that he has 3 grown-up girls! 3?
“Never told me he was married and divorced! Yes, he’s divorced but still doesn’t change anything! I married a single loving husband! I won’t settle for less! I love him so much! I appreciate all the love you showed me!
“You showed me a different version of love. I appreciate but I can’t settle for a tiny lie! I can’t forget! I won’t forgive! I don’t owe anyone an explanation! Don’t ever lie about your age for any reason! I love you MD,” she shared.
She also expressed these past months have been her best, and regrets nothing, yet won’t be deceived by her husband.
According to Jasmine, she found out her husband has children and was also divorced from her mother-in-law
“This was the best 9 months of my life! I have no regrets whatsoever! I just won’t settle for a lie regardless! I forgive easily, I remember asking you about this severally before we started! Finding out today from your mum, really broke me! A foundation built upon a tiny lie won’t stand!
“I love how you loved me! But how you never mentioned your divorce nor kids to me! Moving on I don’t think I want anybody else! Just gonna love you from a distance!” she added.
This comes shortly after the couple celebrated their 9th month of living happily as a married couple and even shared that they were expecting twin babies soon.
Two suspects were arrested earlier today following a three-hour lockdown at CEGEP Saint-Jean-sur Richelieu, 40 kilometres southeast of Montreal.
According to a CTV Newsreport, the school went into lockdown a little after 9 a.m. Friday morning when school officials alerted teachers and students about suspicious activity around the CEGEP’s premises. While the details of those suspicions have yet to be released, it is said that a man dressed in a white long-sleeve shirt and dark cargo pants was seen wearing a bullet-proof vest.
The school was under lockdown for over three hours and lifted shortly after noon, according to CBC. Individuals were asked to barricade themselves in their classrooms with the lights off.
The school’s director general Nathalie Beaudoin updated students and faculty on the status of the lockdown on the school’s website. The most recent update at 12:11 p.m. said the police were undergoing a controlled evacuation.
Police arrested a 19-year-old male suspect and a female who is reported to be a minor. Details about the arrest have yet to be released. A pregnant woman was sent to hospital for precautionary measures.
TVA reporter Yves Poirier posted this photo of a possible arrest on Twitter.
Police reported no gunfire at the scene and no firearms have yet to be found.
School activities have been cancelled for the remainder of the day.
