According to the PIAC, the Finance Minister’s decision to cap the GSF at $100 million and use excess funds from the Fund for other emergency purposes is putting a strain on the Fund.
The objective of the Ghana Stabilization Fund is to cushion the impact on or sustain public expenditure capacity during periods of unanticipated petroleum revenue shortfalls.
However, PIAC disclosed that the decision by Ken Ofori-Atta to cap the fund at $100 million is taking a heavy toll on the fund.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the 2022 Semi-Annual Report on Petroleum Funds, the Chairman of the Public Affairs and Communications Sub-Committee at PIAC, Eric Defor, noted that if the country is hit with an unforeseen situation, there will be resources available to cushion the economy.Â
He further lamented that âthe retention of the current cap of $100 million in the GSF for the year 2022 is not in accordance with the formula stipulated in L.I2381. A proper application of the formula would have returned a figure of US$460,633,074.02The Minister of Finance, in determining the cap on the GSF, should comply with the relevant provisions of L.I 2381.â
âIt appears that for the past three years the $100 million cap has remained, and should there be another emergency, there will be no resources available in the fund to support the budget, and this we find a challenge,â he added.
Highlighting the impact of the cap, PIAC revealed that at the end of the first half of 2022, the fund generated only $373 million.
Describing the development as a threat to the economy, the committee, called on parliament to review the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, which gives power to the Minister of Finance to use discretionary powers to set the cap.
Kevin Conroy, who voiced the animated Batman for years, has died. He was 66 years old.
TMZ reports his rep Gary Miereanu revealed Conroy passed away from cancer on Thursday. He was known for his work in Batman: The Animated Series on Fox from 1992-95. He continued playing the superhero in other TV shows, movies, and video games, like Batman Beyond, the Justice League series from 2001, Batman: The Killing Joke, and the popular Arkham video games.
Conroy started acting in 1980 in the soap opera Another World, and subsequently expanded into theater and television, ultimately winning seven awards for his voice roles. He also participated in DC Comicsâ Pride anthology this year, writing the Finding Batman story, where he opened up about being a gay man.
Diane Pershing, who voiced the animated Poison Ivy opposite Conroyâs Batman, posted a note to Facebook when she learned of his passing.
âVery sad news: our beloved voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy, died yesterday,â she wrote, per Yahoo. âHeâs been ill for a while but he really put in a lot of time at the cons, to the joy of all of his fans. He will be sorely missed not just by the cast of the series but by his legion of fans all over the world.â
Conroy leaves behind his sister Trisha, brother Tom, and husband Vaughn C. Williams.
Ghana coach, Otto Addo says players that have made it to the final list can aid the Black Stars to survive at the group phase of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
A final list for the Mundial have been named for the by Addo on Monday.
With Richard Ofori and Jojo Wollacott missing out due to injuries, Ibrahim Danlad has made the final list.
With Ghana expected to come up against Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay in the group stage games, Addo says the plan is to survive group stage.
He added that the players selected for the tournament will help the team achieve it target.
The first aim is to survive the group stage; we have a very good squad,” he said during the announcement of the final squad at the Multichoice Office in Accra.
“I am a coach who can change my tactics mid-game if need be to win games!
“We have a very good mix of players who can play to win and I am very happy with the technical staff who are behind me to provide support at the World Cup 2022,” he added.
Ghana will open camp in Abu Dhabi today and will take on Switzerland on November 17 in a friendly game.
The Black Stars, who are making their fourth World Cup appearance, will arrive in Doha on November 19.
Ghana will open their campaign against Portugal on November 24 at Stadium 974 in Doha.
Four days later, the Black Stars will 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.
Spanish side Celta Vigo have reacted to the inclusion of defender Joseph Aidoo to the Black Stars squad ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.
Aidoo has been named in Ghana’s final 26-man squad for the tournament which begins in Qatar in six daysâ time
The German-based trainer, Otto Addo announced his final team on Monday during a press conference in Accra after pruning down from the 55-man preliminary squad.
The final list will be submitted to FIFA on Monday, November 14 with the highest football governing body announcing it the next day.
The squad list included the Aidoo who has been in a rich vein of form the Celta Vigo this season.
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.
As the one-year anniversary of Young Dolphâs death is nearing, a third man has been indicted for the rapperâs murder.
Fox 13 reports that 43-year-old Hernandez Govan has been indicted on first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder charges for the fatal shooting of Dolph.
According to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, Govan solicited the hit, with suspects Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith carrying out the shooting on Nov. 17, 2021. Dolph was later shot almost two dozen times at Makedaâs Homemade Butter Cookies in Memphis, Tennessee. Authorities also think that Govan began plotting to kill Dolph months before, in June 2021.
Govan has had previous run-ins with the law at both the state and federal levels. He was released in July 2019 after spending 40 months in federal prison for weapons and drug charges.
Johnson, Smith, and one other suspect have also been charged with Dolphâs death. Johnson and Smith were arrested in January and are now facing first-degree murder charges and theft of property. Smith faces additional charges of attempted first-degree murder, unlawfully carrying or possessing a weapon, and employment of a firearm with intent to commit a felony. A third suspect, Shundale Barnett was also charged with being an accessory to first-degree murder.
Johnson and Smithâs next court appearance is on Jan. 20, 2023.
Quavo took to Instagram on Saturday to share an emotional tribute to his nephew and fellow Migos rapper Takeoff, who was shot and killed earlier this month at a bowling alley in Houston, TX.
âItâs so hard to tell you Iâma miss you because you always with me and we did everything together,â Quavoâs message begins. âSince we were kids you been by my side, lookin up at me, them eyes waiting on me to make the next move.. then you followed up right behind me.â
âThis whole time Iâve been trying to figure out what you really are to me because nephew wasnât it,â he added. âWe hated that word ânephewâ or when they said âUnc and Phewâ cuz we always knew we were way closer than that and it made me feel old too.â
Quavo continued, âBut I knew you werenât my brother cuz you are my sisterâs son, so I couldnât say brother. Now I finally get itâŠYou are OUR angel.â
Takeoff, real name Kirsnick Khari Ball, was remembered on Friday by family, friends, and fans, as thousands packed inside Atlantaâs State Farm Arena for the âCelebration of Life for Takeoff.â
âAfter I made the first move, you always followed up right behind me,â Quavo reportedly said during the service. âYou always waited for me to do it first so you could do it right with me. You never competed with me, we was always on the same team because you hated plotting against me because I always played too hard or too rough.â
â[Takeoff] changed the culture of music forever,â Offset shared. âYou changed that flow. That flow came from Take, the originator. The originator of that flow. He changed the music.â
France-based Kamaldeen Sulemana has been named in the final Ghana squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Stade Rennais forward is one of the attackers named in the 26-man squad of the Black Stars announced by head coach Otto Addo on Monday, November 14.
Kamaldeen Sulemana, 20, was born on February 15, 2022.
He spent his formative days as a footballer at the famous Right to Dream Academy in Ghana.
Subsequently, the attacker earned a big move to the Danish Superliga club FC Nordsjaelland.
He excelled at the club and became the poster boy for the team after his compatriot Mohammed Kudus left to sign for Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam.
Subsequently, his outstanding displays earned him a transfer to French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais FC where he currently plays his football.
Kamaldeen Sulemana in September 2020 earned his maiden Ghana call-up after he was invited for the game against Mali.
He had the chance to debut for the Black Stars in the game against Mali played on October 9, 2020.
Unfortunately, he ended up on the losing side as Ghana lost 3-0 to Mali.
Since then, he has become a regular in the Black Stars and is now heading to Qatar with the national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Below is the squad of 26 players named by Ghana coach Otto Addo for the 2022 FIFA World Cup:
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are being pushed by Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Chief Executive Officer Yofi Grant to seize the numerous opportunities offered by the green and circular economies.
Mr. Grant asserts that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the current topic of attention since they are crucial for the sustainability of livelihoods.
The investment landscape for a green and circular economy is taking hold globally and is increasingly where many individuals are placing their money.
He, therefore, noted that SMEs and the unemployed youth should devise mechanisms to leverage the opportunities that exist.
âCircular economy is a term that shows that we use raw materials that are sustainable to make products that will also ensure that we keep growing the raw material. Your chances of raising capital are much better if it is seen as engaging in the circular economy. The circular economy today is about US$4.5 trillion opportunity, and those opportunities come from a number of these,â he said.
Mr. Grant said these when he was delivering the keynote address at the third edition of SNV Netherlands Development Organisationâs annual GrEEn (Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities) Investment Fora under the GrEEn project, targetting investors in Ghana and abroad, including key business stakeholders and green businesses in the Ashanti Region.
GrEEn Project Manager, SNV Ghana, Laouali Sadda, explained the aim of the investment fora to journalists on the sidelines of the event.
âThe overall goal of the GrEEn Investment Fora is to highlight economic opportunities in the green and circular economy in the Ashanti Region, and explore workable solutions to the challenges that limit investments in the green economy,â he said.
The 3-day event saw several presentations, panel discussions, pitch sessions and exhibitions to ensure there is improved awareness of the economic opportunities in the countryâs green and circular economy; networking opportunities for investors, SMEs and other stakeholders; SME financing opportunities for development including new financing products; to also attract potential diaspora investors and networks to the forum; to attract potential investors to the GrEEn incubation and acceleration programmes and the GrEEn Innovation Challenge; and finally to increase understanding of and demystifying the investment landscape for green entrepreneurs in Ghana.
Ghana coach, Otto Addo failed to justify why he has left out in-form Jeffery Schlupp out of his final 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup.
The 44-year-old trainer has announced his final 26-man squad for the tournament that has been slated for November 20 to December 18.
Schlupp dominated the medial headlines after reports emerged that he has been left out of the final squad.
Indeed, the Crystal Palace midfielder has no place in the squad for the tournament in Qatar.
Quizzed on his decision to leave out the versatile midfielder, Addo said, “I am a person who’s very much on principles and one principle is that I wouldn’t like them to do to me. So I hope you understand that I would not like to talk about players who are in the squad.
“As I said before, I have reasons on and off the pitch which were all communicated to the players so it is between me and the player. For me, that is it and they know why they are not in the squad.
“It is very difficult to understand from the outside but it is not good to talk about a player and then the player comes back to say he said this and he said that. We talked en and they know the reason why they are not in the squad. I am very sorry I don’t want to go inside that. You know my principles and maybe you want to suggest, but they know why they are in the squad,” he added.
Ghana will open camp in Abu Dhabi today and will take on Switzerland on November 17 in a friendly game.
The Black Stars, who are making their fourth World Cup appearance, will arrive in Doha on November 19.
Ghana will open their campaign against Portugal on November 24 at Stadium 974 in Doha.
Four days later, the Black Stars will 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.
The vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, doesn’t require anyone to negotiate contracts on his behalf, according to IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe.
However, he cautioned Ghanaians, particularly businesspeople, to exercise caution while closing deals with other parties who are not aware of the contract (s).
Franklin Cudjoe also entreated all to desist from speaking in a way that is intended to make people impressed in order to gain some advantage for themselves.
In a Facebook post sighted by GhanaWeb, he said, “When making business deals, one must always be measured. Grandstanding should be avoided at all cost especially when it involves others who are unaware of the deals. Not sure Veep Bawumia needs financial ‘pimping’ from anyone. The Minister was too excited at the opportunity. Will wait for the full video though.”
âYou 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, thatâs fine. Heâs not really, heâs not really (like) that. All he needs is to worry about his campaign money in 2020,â Charles Adu Boahen said when he was asked how an investor can get the attention of the Vice President.
As a result of the increase in fuel costs at different pumps, commercial vehicle drivers have raised their transport rates; however, the cost of goods and services has also grown dramatically.
However, the prices and services offered by online drivers are still a little erratic.
Although several ride-hailing services have increased their fee charges, Francis Tenge, president of the Online Drivers Union, has remarked that this is still not enough.
He said it becomes worrisome if the service companies keep pushing card trip customers to them as drivers will not get cash to settle car owners as planned.
To end this problem, some drivers do decline the ride after finding out it is a card trip, leaving customers stranded.
He, therefore, appealed to ride-hailing companies to ensure cash trips outweigh card trips to allow drivers stay in business.
In an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb business, he said, “Drivers donât lose on card trips but the only problem is getting money now adays to buy fuel, you donât have money at hand so the drivers prefer cash at hand to buy fuel in order to continue working so if the card trips become too much, that is where they have to wait for a week.”
“The driver has to wait till Wednesday afternoon for the money to hit into his bank which he has to withdraw. By that time, car owners are demanding sales on Monday so that is the only disadvantage so if they can actually do something about it,” he told GhanaWeb’s Ernestina Serwaa Asante.
Francis Tenge also called the review in short-distance trips to GHÂą20 or a minimum of GHÂą15.
This, he said, will help cushion drivers in the wake of high petroleum products – petrol – diesel on the market.
Kennedy Asante Oseithrew a lavish birthday party to celebrate his Call to The Bar on Sunday, November 13, through to November 14, 2022.
In some videos that were shared on Instagram by UTVGhana, the millionaire’s son who doubles as a businessman was joined by his family, friends and colleagues from work.
His wife, Tracy Osei, was also spotted while clad in a beautiful dinner dress coloured hot pink, she paired with the same colour heels and a long hair extension.
On the other hand, Kennedy wore a simple but classy white long-sleeve shirt with a pair of grey pants.
While the party went on, Despite and Dr Ofori Sarpong walked in and were taken to a table where his son introduced some people believed to be his friends to him.
The millionaire looked nothing short of stunning with his signature neatly sewn short sleeve shirt and matching pants.
On November 11, 2022, Kennedy Osei joined the tall list of graduates who were called to the Ghana Bar.
The #Kency2020 originator clad a black and white attire matching it with a peruke that brought a sense of formality and solemnity to their graduation ceremony.
In a post he shared on his Instagram, he posed wearing his graduation gown while seated with one leg crossed on the other.
Management at the University of Ghana, in partnership with the National Signals Bureau, has begun the installation of secret closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras throughout the university’s campus, to amp up security.
The announcement was made by the school in an email to students on Friday, November 11, 2022.Â
The message read, âThe University of Ghana is partnering with the National Signals Bureau for the installation of CCTV cameras at various locations on the Legon campus as part of measures to improve upon security in the university.“
The statement also noted that the project is expected to be completed within the next four weeks; however, they do ask students and the general public to be cautious and aware of the ongoing project while going about their daily activities on campus.
âThe laying of cables for the project has started, and itâs expected to continue for the next four weeks,â the statement noted.
They are, however, asking students and the general public to â Kindly take note as you drive or move around campusâ
The Mensah Sarbah Annex B road leads to the Physical Development and Municipal Service Directorate PDSMD, the Political Science Department’s T-junction, which connects to the road leading to the Botanical Gardens, the New N-Block, which leads to the UG Press, the Addae Mensah Intersection, the George Benneh Roundabout, the Hilla Liman Hall, the School of Engineering, the Volta Hall Roundabout, the Balm Library Roundabout, and the Okponglo gate.
Meanwhile, universities in Ghana have a long history of violent clashes with members of the CommonWealth Hall (Vandals), and members of Mensah Sarbah Hall recently engaged in a violent fight that resulted in the burning of a vehicle parked at the Mensah Sarbah Hall car park, as well as the destruction of several other properties.
A few weeks after the UG clash, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology saw another clash between members of the university hall (Katanga) and continental hall (Conti)Â during a procession by some members of Katanga.
With the aid of CCTV footage, management was able to arrest some of the culprits.
This, as well as several other incidents on other campuses such as UCC,
Ghana coach Otto Addo has announced his final 26-man squad for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament in Qatar, excluding five key players.
The biggest soccer mundial has been scheduled between November 20 and December 18 this year, with 32 countries set to battle it out for the covetous trophy in Qatar.
The Germany-based trainer announcing his squad for the mundial omitted his first and second choice goalkeepers of Jojo Wollacot and Richard Ofori and Baba Iddrisu because of injuries.
Other key players that did not make the final list include, in-form Joseph Paintsil and Jeffery Schlupp.
Wollacot, who plies his trade for English League One club, Charlton Athletic goalkeeper was ruled out of the tournament after picking up an injury on Saturday.
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.
Orlando Pirate goalkeeper, Richard Ofori will also not be playing a part for Ghana at the World Cup in the Asian country because of injury setback.
Ofori missed his sides weekend fixture against Kaizer Chiefs in the semifinals of this seasonâs Black Label Cup tournament.
The goalkeeper will not recover in time before the commencement of the mundial and has therefore been ruled out.
The 29-year-old has made 19 appearances for the Black Stars since making his debut in 2015.
Real Mallorca midfielder, Baba Iddrisu has also been ruled out of the tournament. He picked up injury while in action last Thursday against Atletico Madrid.
After several scans, the tough-tackling midfielder has been ruled out and has been excluded from the final squad for the tournament.
The 26-year-old has featured five times for the national team since making his debut back in 2019.
Joseph Painstil who has been instrumental for KRC Genk has been omitted from the final squad for the mundial.
His exclusion from the list come as a surprise to a chunk of Ghanaians considering his rich vein of form.
Paintsil has featured 6 times for the Black Stars since his debut in 2017.
Crystal Palace star Jeffery Schlupp did also not make the final cut for the biggest soccer mundial despite his fine form with the English Premier League side.
Since his debut in 2011, Schlupp has featured 20 times for the national team scoring 1 goal in the process.
The absence of the aforementioned players come as a huge blow to the technical team of the Black Stars as they seek to make impact at the tournament.
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.
Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, has called on state authorities to bring closure to the murder of investigative journalist, Ahmed Suale, by thoroughly investigating the matter and bringing the culprits to book.
He made the call at the 26th GJA awards held in Accra, specifically at the Kempinski Gold Coast hotel.
During his speech to the scores of journalists and guests who graced the occasion, he noted that persons responsible for the murder do not deserve to live.Â
“Whoever killed journalist Ahmed Suale, does not deserve to live,” he stressed.Â
He also recalled the murder of Samuel Ennin in 2007, who was the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the GJA, and whose murder remains unresolved to date. He described the situation as appalling and called for an end to brutalities against journalists in the country.Â
The event was held on the theme, “Walking the path towards Ghana’s economic recovery; the role of the media,” and saw in attendance dignitaries including the U.S Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E-Palmer, journalists from various media houses, the deputy Information Minister, Honourable Fatimatu Abubakar, etc.
In all, 29 awards were given out. At the end of the day, Portia Gabor of TV3, walked home with the prestigious “Journalist of the Year” award.
Francisca Enchill, a freelance journalist previously working with JoyPrime, was also crowned the Female Journalist of the Year.
Manuel Koranteng of JoyNews emerged winner of the Komla Dumor Most Promising Journalist for the year under review.Â
Thousands gathered Friday at Atlantaâs State Farm Arena to honor the life and legacy of Takeoff, who was shot and killed in Houston on Nov. 1.
Among those in attendance to pay their respects were fellow Migos rappers Quavo and Offset, both of whom gave speeches at the memorial service, as well Cardi B, Drake, Gucci Mane, Cardi B, City Girls, YG, Lil Yachty, Cee-Lo Green, Teyana Taylor, Rich the Kid, Russell Simmons, Murda Beatz, and Mustard.
In addition, the service, which was referred to as a Celebration of Life, included musical performances from Chlöe Bailey, Justin Bieber, Yolanda Adams, and Byron Cage. The late rapper was also given The Phoenix Award by Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens during the memorial.
âI donât wanna question you, God, but I donât get you sometimes,â Offset said while speaking to attendees, according to Rolling Stone.
Drake, whoâs collaborated with Migos on hit singles such as âWalk It Talk It,â also delivered a eulogy in honor of Takeoff at the service. Comparing himself and Migos to the Rat Pack (ââDean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, and Frank Sinatra), Drake reminisced on going on tour with the trio.
âI miss performing with my brothers,â Drake said. âAfter all these years watching Dean Martin, I realized I want to grow old with my friends. We should do that more.â
Pierre âPâ Thomas and Kevin âCoach Kâ Lee also spoke at the memorial.
Following the emotional service, Cardi took to Instagram to pay tribute to Takeoff with a heartbreaking post.
âTakeoff your untimely passing has brought a great deal of pain and sorrow to so many lives,â Cardi wrote. âThe impact you had in this world was so considerable and we have struggled to grasp this tragedy. I am heartbroken but I am grateful for all the precious memories we got to share while you were here with us.
âThis has truly been a nightmare and the pain is incomparable. The emptiness your brothers are feeling is unbearable and I pray that you give Offset, Quavo, and your friends and family the strength to keep going as they are trying to cope with this loss.â
She added: âI believe that angels send signs and beautiful dreams to loved ones to assure them that theyâre watching them and theyâre okay and happyâŠsend your mom some of those [praying emoji].â
Quavo also took to Instagram to remember Takeoff, writing, âI knew you werenât my brother cuz you are my sisterâs son, so I couldnât say brother. Now I finally get itâŠYou are OUR angel.â
You can read the official obituary for Takeoff, real name Kirsnik Khari Ball, below.
Kirsnik Khari Ball
June 18, 1994-November 1, 2022
Kirsnick âTakeoffâ Khari Ball, 28, of Atlanta left us on November 1, 2022, after an untimely incident took him decades before his time. Kirsnick (or Takeoff, as fans, friends and family alike all called him) was a most gentle soul, with a peace about him alongside a wise demeanor far beyond his years. Endearing and impressive both on stage and in private life, Takeoff commanded respect wherever his path took him from musicians, family, industry and peers alike.
What mattered most to Takeoff was his family and he was known to spread real love to all the lives of everyone who knew him. The beloved son of Titania âTreetâ Davenport and Kenneth Ball, Takeoff (or Kirsnick) was the most loving grandson of Edna Marshall and most devoted nephew and artistic collaborator of Quavious âQuavoâ Marshall. He is survived by siblings Ezekiel Davenport and Heaven Davenport, Aunt Kashara Reed and numerous cousins.
He was an amazing talent who led an extraordinary life; from being a kid growing up in Gwinnett County making music in his Grandmaâs basement to performing worldwide on arena tours with hundreds of thousands of screaming fans paying witness to his lyrical prowess in any given year. He was a critical darling with press often touting him as a great lyricist and rapper of our time and a fan favorite. His deep bond with his Uncle Quavious Marshall known to the world as simply âQuavo ââ carried them from childhood family members to profound musical partners in the super group Migos alongside childhood friend Kiari âOffsetâ Cephus. Migos changed music as we know it and shifted the style of rap for almost a decade after their first viral hit and their unique uses of adlibs and word play. Takeoffâs contribution to the culture through Migos and beyond with his own solo album and recent critically heralded album with Quavo is a part of music history with chart topping hits, rave reviews, television moments, Billboard chart #1s, and billions of streams of music. Takeoff and crew went from internet viral up & comers in the basement to chart topping artists donning the cover of Rolling Stone and Grammy nominations.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Takeoff attended Berkmar High School in Gwinnett County and had been vocal that when they were all playing sports (Quavo and Offset) he was training to be a rapper. One sweet school days anecdote before the rap acclaim was winning the 4th grade spelling bee! All he ever wanted to be was a rapper- it was his singular goal and he achieved it in a monumental way. He always loved music, rapping, all things space and watching films and TV series. On a human level it was simple: When Takeoff smiled you just thought everything was going to be OK. He was a deep thinker and it would show up in conversations and veiled in rap lyrics.
Takeoffâs biggest passion in life was music, and all he ever wanted to do was leave a mark and have a legacy that lasted for decades as he once told Complex magazine during an interview for a cover story. His Mom Treet used to play him all the Hip Hop she loved and from the time he could crawl he would head to the speakers and pull himself up to dance and move to the bass. From a young child he was always intent on being a rapper with his favorites being Lil Wayne and all the Cash Money crew. His curiosity and love of rappers was immense and heâd keep up on every artist coming out from the underground to big stars, always grinding through Youtube looking at everyoneâs videos. If you were an artist who had a video out then Takeoff saw it! He was a true and deep fan of Hip Hop and remained a student of it til his last day even when considered a master himself by so many.
Notable moments in his short but massively seminal career:Â over 17 billion streams, two albums debuted at #1 on Billboard Charts and remained in Top 10 for 21 weeks, global hit âBad and Boujeeâ #1 breaking records worldwide,a global arena tour alongside Drake, two performances on the legendary Saturday Night Live aka SNL, a hilarious Carpool Karaoke with James Corden viewed over 61 million times, gracing the cover of Rolling Stone to headlining festivals worldwide. The impact of his group Migos remains profound.
In the last many months of his life, Takeoff turned to writing and recording with Quavo to create their joint album âOnly Built For Infinity Linksâ which came out to much critical acclaim and kicked off by a performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The campaign was just beginning and plans to tour and spread the music globally were in play.
There are no words or sentiments conveyed that could aptly encompass the love so many had for him and the impact he made on this world. Takeoff would want the world to see the light in what he created and keep lifting each other up and supporting the creations people put into the world. Heâs now up with there with the stars he loved so much and remains in all our ethers on a daily basis living on through his music and the love he brought to so many.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Rocket Foundation: https://www.rocket-foundation.org
Nearly a year after the fatal shooting accident on the set of Rust, in which Alec Baldwin fired a prop gunwhich killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souz, the actor is seeking to clear his name.
The New York Times reports Baldwin on Friday filed a lawsuit against the armorer and three other crew members in Los Angeles Superior Court. Baldwinâs attorneys claim Hutchins died due to the negligence of the filmâs armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed; assistant director David Halls; props master Sarah Zachry; Seth Kenney, who supplied the guns and ammunition, and Kenneyâs business, PDQ Arm and Prop.
âMore than anyone else on that set, Baldwin has been wrongfully viewed as the perpetrator of this tragedy,â the lawsuit reads.
âThis tragedy happened because live bullets were delivered to the set and loaded into the gun, Gutierrez-Reed failed to check the bullets or the gun carefully, Halls failed to check the gun carefully and yet announced the gun was safe before handing it to Baldwin, and Zachry failed to disclose that Gutierrez-Reed had been acting recklessly off set and was a safety risk to those around her,â Baldwinâs cross complaint said.
Baldwin is seeking unspecified damages for the âimmense griefâ heâs endured since the tragic incident.
Last December, in an interview with ABCâs George Stephanopoulos, Baldwin said he âdidnât pull the triggerâ on the firearm that killed Hutchins.
âWell, the trigger wasnât pulled, I didnât pull the trigger.â Asked for clarification, he replies, âNo, no, no, no. I would never point a gun at anyone and pull the trigger at them, never. ⊠Someone put a live bullet in a gun, a bullet that wasnât even supposed to be on the property.â
Pressed about if this is the worst thing thatâs ever happened to him, the 63-year-old answers, âYes. Yup. Because I think back, and I think of, âWhat could I have done?ââ
The strike came to an abrupt end after the National Labour Commission (NLC)secured a restraining order from the court against them on Friday, November 11.
âWe have decided to obey the orders of the court and have asked our members to call off the strike and to go back to the classroom. We canât disrespect the court order. To that end, we are telling all our members to resume work on Monday. Every teacher should go to work on Monday,â Mr Cabornu, told the media.
The three Teacher Unions â the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Â the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghanaâhave been on strike since November 4, 2022.
According to them, Dr Nkansah is not fit to head GES.
They contended that the new GES Director-General does not have a teaching background.
Meanwhile, despite the injunction, Mr Carbonu has disclosed that the teachers will continue their engagements with the government for the removal of Dr Nkansah.
50 Cent hopped on social media Saturday to respond to Diddy and Yung Miamiâs alleged break-up rumors, which circulated this week courtesy of gossip blog MediaTakeOut.
According to MediaTakeOut, the City Girls rapper broke up with Diddy because he âcut her allowance to just $200,000 a month.â It didnât take long before Fif jumped in to warn Puff that heâs coming for Miami. In addition, he threw shots at the Bad Boys Records boss for allegedly dating 50âs former lover Daphne Joy.
âLOL PUFFY,â Fif captioned a screenshot of MediaTakeOutâs headline. âYou better fix this before i get to Miami or you gonna be stuck playing wit my old shit. LOL you know i donât miss nothing Justin been knocked it off, we keep it player on this side.â
Image via 50 Centâs Instagram
Meanwhile, the Shade Room notes that Diddy has deleted all photos from his Instagram page, while Yung Miami removed all pictures of them together.
The news arrives less than two months after Miami, in an interview with XXL magazine, Miami suggested she and Diddy are in an open relationship of sorts.
âWe are dating. We single, but weâre dating,â she said. âPeople donât know what dating means. Heâs single, Iâm single, but weâre dating. Thatâs what I mean when I say we go together. When weâre together, weâre together. Weâre having the time of our lives, but weâre still single.
In June, Diddy and Miami confirmed their relationship during an appearance on Caresha Please in June.
âHe see other people outside of me and I see people outside of him. Iâm young. Iâm dating. Iâm, you know, having fun. Iâm doing me,â said 28-year-old Yung Miami.
âHeâs doing the same thing. I canât speak for exactly what he doing or who he seeing, but we single and we dating. But we are dating each other, but we single. I think it just went over peopleâs heads, you know? People just like to take whatever they wanna take from.â
Police in Arizona found quite the surprise after pulling over a man on DUI charges this week.
CBS 11 reports the Payson Police Department discovered a live owl riding shotgun in a car being driven by a man suspected of DUI charges. According to police, the driver claimed he illegally bought the owl for $100 from a person at a gas station. The gas station attendant told him theyâd found the owl on the side of the road.
âWildlife should remain wild,â the department said on Facebook. âIt is illegal to possess, transport, buy, or sell wildlife unless expressly permitted by Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS 17-309).â
âThe Payson Police Department would also like to take this opportunity to encourage the public not to use methamphetamine or you too may find yourself illegally purchasing a wild owl, for $100, in the middle of the night, from strangers, at a local gas station,â the department added.
The unidentified man was charged with aggravated DUI, possession of methamphetamine, and possession/transport/purchase of wildlife.
Meanwhile, the owl is currently under the care of Arizona Game and Fish, which is treating the animal for minor injuries.
âWe think she got knocked around or jostled somehow in that tumultuous night she had,â said Liberty Wildlifeâs Wildlife Biologist, Laura Hackett. âThe officer handled it like a pro, so he has a good story to take home to his family.â
He thinks the Agric Ministry’s choice to sell food in Efua Sutherland Park at reasonable prices is a wise one that will assist control food costs at different markets.
He thinks it will stop the relentless rise in food prices in the markets brought on by high transportation costs and guarantee that urban consumers pay fair rates.
“So those in Accra think there is no food, but there is a lot of food, as you know. We only have to ensure that we get the price reduced for the people in Accra,” Awal Mohammed exclusively told Kwaku Owusu Adjei(Patoo) on Adwenepa on Accra-based Original TV.
Food prices have been on the increase in the past few months; Awal Mohammed indicated that a lot of factors are contributing to the rise in food prices.
These factors include fertilizer supply, cost of agricultural inputs, and transportation cost, among others.
“The increase in the prices of foodstuff depends on a number of factors that we do not have control over that is why I support the step by the Agric Ministry to sell foodstuff at Efua Sutherland Park; it will help ease food hikes in the Ghanaian market,” he said.
Awal Mohammed stated that the government’s flagship Planting for Jobs programme had a great impact on Ghana’s agric sector.
Surges in global food prices continue to be of serious concern to governments all over the world, especially in developing countries, because of the devastating effects it has on food security for the poor and on the sustainable production of agricultural commodities.
Ghana coach Otto Addo has named Danlad Ibrahim and Afriyie Barnieh in his final 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Danlad has gone through every rank of the national team, from the U-17 to the U-23s and the Black Galaxies. His impressive performances for the Galaxies saw the team progress to the final round of the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
He is, however, yet to make his debut for the Black Stars despite recent call-ups. With Richard Ofori and Joe Wollacott currently injured and likely to miss the tournament, Danlad will be expected to play a key role for the team serving as No.2.
Afriyie Barnieh, on the other hand, has been rewarded a call-up following his exploits in the Ghana Premier League with Hearts of Oak.
The 21-year-old was instrumental for Hearts as they retained their MTN FA Cup title by scoring in the final.
He has been part of the Black Stars squad under Otto Addo since the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Mozambique and Central African Republic. He made his debut for the West African nation in an international friendly against Japan.
He has represented Ghana at the U-20 and U-23 level and currently a member of the Black Galaxies team.
Afriyie Barnieh also made a cameo appearance for Ghana in a 1-0 win over Nicaragua last month.
Black Stars will open camp in Dubai on Monday to begin preparations for the tournament.
Black Stars have been drawn in Group H alongside Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
Ghana will take on Portugal in their first game on November 24 before playing South Korea and Uruguay on November 28 and December 2 respectively.
Black Stars will play Switzerland in an International friendly on November 17, before travelling to Qatar for the World Cup.
Ghana secured a 4th FIFA World Cup tournament having participated in 2006, 2010, and 2014 in Germany, South Africa, and Brazil after drawing 1-1 against Nigeria in the return leg of the final play-offs at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja to seal qualification on the away goals rule.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup takes place between November 21 and December 18, 2022.
Only three sides from the continent have ever progressed to the quarter-finals; Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010.
Communication and Digitalization Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has revealed that the SIM card re-registration has begun yielding positive results.Â
Madam Owusu-Ekuful indicated that since the inception of the SIM re-registration exercise,Ghana has started recording a steady decline in cases of SIM-related fraud.
 In a statement issued on Friday, November 11, to announce updates on the SIM card registration exercise, she noted that âwe can attest to the fact that there has been a noticeable decline in SIM-related fraud since the commencement of the registration exercise.â
The Communication Minister, however, failed to give a specific percentage decline in SIM-related fraudcases in Ghana.
Touching on the advantages of the SIM re-registration exercise, she noted that the exercise will provide a secure environment for Ghanaians to access digital services.
âICT should be accessible to all without any risk and the SIM registration exercise will solve a lot of issues in the industry.â
However, she stated that recalcitrant citizens who fail to partake in the registration exercise will not enjoy the benefits of the exercise
Extension of registration deadline
She further added that any SIM card that has been linked to the Ghana Card but failed to complete the biometric process will be deactivated on November 30, 2022.
She said âdespite ample opportunity afforded all to complete the registration of their SIM cards, some who have the Ghana Cards and have begun the process have failed to complete the registration. That is their choice and we cannot begrudge them,âÂ
However, for those without Ghanacard, she said âa further announcement will be made shortly on measures to accommodate those who genuinely do not have the Ghana Cards, once the ongoing consultations have been completed.â
According to him, this is improving the two nations’ bilateral ties.
Speaking during a celebration honoring Angola’s 47th anniversary of independence, Ambassador Quiosa stated that the two nations also cooperate in the development of mineral and petroleum resources and engage in educational exchanges.
âAlthough commercial exchanges are not yet at the desired volumes, we remain committed to the search for more areas of interest that can strengthen the state of our cooperation, we have made efforts to start flights by Angolan Airlines – TAAG to Ghana, we have Cocoa farmers from Ghana assisting Angolan farmers in the production of Cocoa, and a program exchange in education is being set up.
âAlso, we like to see cooperation in the area of mineral and petroleum resources, transportation, agriculture, and the training of foreign languages, which is why we must continue to make efforts to reach agreements and partnerships,â Ambassador Joao Baptista Domingos Quiosa said.
âGhana is an example in Africa in terms of private investment in infrastructure to support development as well as in terms of its educational system, it should be noted here that most of the members of the Angolan Community in Ghana are youngsters who chose come to Ghana to complete their tertiary education.
âWith the entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area, we are certain that new perspectives will Open up for the strengthening of cooperation between the Republic of Ghana and Angola,â Ambassador Joao Baptista Domingos Quiosa stressed.
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah is advocating for more journalists to be trained in financial reporting.
 Speaking at the graduation ceremony of 88 journalists at the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA) Financial Journalism Training programme in Accra, he called on stakeholders in the media industry to come together and help train more journalists in that field.Â
Justifying his call, he noted that âtrainings such as this, targeted at journalists, are essential to ensure that the media industry and journalism deliver on their true purpose to our democracy.”
“As I have mentioned in times past, the media, and journalism frontiers require collaborations for impact. That is why we appreciate partnerships such as this one between Bloomberg, Strathmore Business School, the University of Ghana Business School and Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) to train more economic and financial journalists and welcome more of such partnerships,” he added.Â
Reporting of business and financial journalists plays an essential role in the economic development of Africa. Articles by such reporters inform citizens, investors, business executives, civil society leaders, and public officials.Â
In line with efforts to promote credible and responsible reporting in the business and financial sectors, the BMIA training programme was launched.
 BMIA is a highly innovative, integrated, and practical world-class training program firmly rooted in African market realities.Â
It was born in 2015 by the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA) team in collaboration with a consortium of African journalism and business universities, with over 250 graduates benefiting from the programme since its inception.
During the graduation ceremony, Mr Oppong-Nkrumahacknowledged that the government also has a role to play in ensuring that more journalists are trained in this field.Â
According to him, the government has set in motion a number of capacity-building programmes to help journalists meet the dynamics of the profession. He cited the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme (MCEP) as one of such programmes.Â
Additionally, he entreated the graduates to make good use of the knowledge and skills acquired by eschewing false narratives and publications in their reportage.Â
Deputy Minister for Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, was among the dignitaries that graced the occasion.Â
Rector of the Ghana Institute of Journalism, Prof. Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo, Provost of the College of Humanities, University of Ghana, Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori, Dean of the University of Ghana Business School, Prof. Justice Bawole, Dean of the Strathmore Business School, Dr. George Njenga, as well as representatives from Bloomberg, were all present at the graduation ceremony.
Rector of the Ghana Institute of Journalists, Prof. Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo, was optimistic that the training programme will yield the expected results, which in turn will help address the capacity challenges facing journalists in the country.Â
The State of California will be responsible for deciding who inherits AaronCarterâs estate, as the late singer did not have a will established at the time of his death, TMZ reports.
Despite not having a will in place, Carterâs son could still inherit his fatherâs estate, as California law states that a child is first in line to inherit a parentâs estate if the parent passes away without a will.
However, itâs worth noting that Carter wasnât financially stable at the time of his death. One source close to Aaron told TMZ he was âliving hand-to-mouth and would typically spend what he earned in short order.â
Carter passed away last Saturday inside his Lancaster, California home. Law enforcement responded to a call around 11 a.m. that a male had drowned in the bathtub. No foul play is suspected, and an official cause of death is unknown.
Back in September, police were summoned to Carterâs home to do a welfare check after it appeared the singer was doing drugs during an Instagram Live session. Police told TMZ at the time that they had received a call about Carter âpossibly overdosing on social media.â
Carterâs older brother Nick took to social media to share a heartbreaking tribute to his younger brother.
âMy heart has been broken today,â Carter captioned a series of photos on Instagram. âEven though my brother and I have had a complicated relationship, my love for him has never ever faded. I have always held onto the hope, that he would somehow, someday want to walk a healthy path and eventually find the help that he so desperately needed.â
The post continued, âSometimes we want to blame someone or something for a loss. But the truth is that addiction and mental illness is the real villain here. I will miss my brother more than anyone will ever know. I love you Chizz., now you get a chance to finally have some peace you could never find here on earthâŠ.God, please take care of my baby brother.â
Dua Lipa took to Instagram to address recent speculation that she will be performing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar later this month.
âI will not be performing and nor have I ever been involved in any negotiations to perform. I will be cheering England on from afar,â she wrote. âI look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the WorldCup.â
Lipaâs stance is no surprise considering the host countryâs checkered record when it comes to gay rights, as well as the way it treated the workers that build many of the stadiums that will host games.
The Guardian reported in Feb. 2021 that more than 6,500 migrant workers from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have died in Qatar since it was awarded the 2022 World Cup, presumably while working on projects related to the tournament. Also in Qatar, sexual relations between two males comes with a possible seven-year prison sentence, and according to sharia law, âhomosexuality is punishable by death.â
Another report indicates England fans could face the death penalty if theyâre caught smuggling in possession of drugs in Al Bayt Stadium.
Meanwhile, The Athletic reported that there are very real concerns that females who attend the World Cup could face punishment if they were to report instances of sexual assault.
Good morning and welcome to the live text coverage of the Black Stars’ final squad announcement for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana head coach Otto Addo will at 11 am officially unveil his 26-man squad for the upcoming tournament at a press conference.
Ghana at the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be one of five African countries representing the continent.
The Black Stars will compete in Group H of the group stages of the tournament. In that group, Ghana will battle it out with two-time champions Uruguay, as well as European giants Portugal.
The other group opponent is South Korea from Asia.
While the 2022 FIFA World Cup will commence on Sunday, November 20, Ghanaâs Black Stars will play their first match on November 24.
Subsequently, Ghana will take on South Korea on November 28 before finishing the group stages campaign with a rematch against Uruguay.
Ghana coach Otto Addo will in the next 30 minutes announce his final squad that will be in Qatar to do battle for the country.
Ahead of the squad unveiling, Ghana coach Otto Addo has been sweating with injury concerns. Goalkeepers Richard Ofori and Joseph Wollacott are reported to have picked injuries over the weekend and are expected to miss the world cup.
Meanwhile, midfielder Baba Iddrisu has been ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury.
While the 2022 FIFA World Cup will commence on Sunday, November 20, Ghanaâs Black Stars will play their first match on November 24.
Subsequently, Ghana will take on South Korea on November 28 before finishing the group stages campaign with a rematch against Uruguay.
Ghana coach Otto Addo will in the next 30 minutes announce his final squad that will be in Qatar to do battle for the country.
Ahead of the squad unveiling, Ghana coach Otto Addo has been sweating with injury concerns. Goalkeepers Richard Ofori and Joseph Wollacott are reported to have picked injuries over the weekend and are expected to miss the world cup.
Meanwhile, midfielder Baba Iddrisu has been ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury.
President Akufo-Addo has denounced the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), describing it as an injustice to the African race.Â
His utmost concern was with the structure of the organ, which he said represented a long-standing prejudice toward the countries of Africa.Â
He, thus, has called for a reform of the body.
 “The conversations around reforms, which have been going on for three decades without an end in sight, must, therefore, yield real changes to the structures of the Council to make it innovative in its approach,” he said.
Speaking at an event organised by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, in New York, the resident lamented that the Security Council was constrained by its anachronistic structure and methods, which undermined efforts to tackle contemporary challenges in the most effective manner.
“It is obvious that the contemporary world has moved on significantly from the post-1945 world, which gave rise to the birth of the United Nations and the structure of the Security Council. The world of 2022, and even less that of 2050, is not the world of 1945. The crisis of the multilateral financial institutions and the United Nations system, which were born from the rubble of the Second World War, is a deep crisis,” he added.Â
He further gave the assurance that he will not relent on his efforts to advocate for a change until the reforms are made.
“it will continue until a fair system is put in place; a system that reflects the new balances, no longer based on who lost or won the Second World War, but on the major contemporary and future balances,” he added.
Additionally, he noted that these balances must consider new realities such as demographic, dynamics or access to resources, in a context of scarcity,” he said.
President Akufo-Addonoted that the Security Council as it stands now, is finding it increasingly difficult to propagate the rule of law and democratic principles.
He noted that the use of veto power, so far, has proven to be unsustainable.Â
“The use of the veto as an instrument of great power and interest is denuding the Security Council of a great deal of legitimacy as the principal instrument for the maintenance of international peace and security.
“The Africa Common Position on UN Reform, based on the Ezulwini Consensus, is of even greater relevance today than it has ever been. It is essential that it be brought back to the centre of global discourse,” he stressed.
He contended that only the reforms that are suggested in the African Common Position “will enable the Security Council to be effective in addressing the challenges of our time.”
“And it is only through its effectiveness at maintaining international peace and security that the Council can remain credible, legitimate and relevant,” he added.
The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, and approving any changes to the UN Charter.
He said that the closing of the bird app office in Africa was a part of a global restructuring under the new owner, Elon Musk, in an interview with media in the United States of America.
He remarked, “I understand it is a component of a global restructuring of a company that is taking place under the new owner. It [Twitter Africa Office] was up not too long ago.”
âI think that is very unfortunate that should take place. The more organisations like that have local outlets, the better for all of us,” President Akufo-Addo pointed out.
Twitter on Thursday, November 10, 2022, laid off almost all its staff in Ghana which was home to its only office in Africa.
The Twitter Africa staff were sent messages which contained the details of their sacking after their inability to access their emails.
According to reports, the mass firing followed news that Elon Musk had planned to eliminate nearly 75 percent of Twitterâs staff in an attempt to cut down its high debt.
The illicit activities of the black currency market, which have greatly contributed to the devaluation of the cedi against major trading currencies, have caused concern on the part of Convention People’s Party (CPP) General Secretary Nana Yaa Jantuah.
She believed that the situation in which the parallel market was controlling the supply and rate of foreign exchange transactions was undesirable and that all efforts should be made to control it in order to stop the cedi currency crisis.
“They [BoG] should use ‘Black Market’ operators as a scapegoat, once they are arrested, to trace the link that these operators are having with the banks,” Nana Yaa Jantuah exclusively told Kwaku Owusu Adjei (Patoo) on Adwenekasa on Accra-based Original FM 91.9.
“As you hear public commentators and commentators of the Bank of Ghana itself say, it is still the black market that is driving both the supply as well as the rate of our foreign exchange transactions.”
“That, for me is completely unacceptable, and we have to find a way to work together to drive the black market out of business,”
Cristiano Ronaldo criticized his own club, Manchester United, and its manager Erik tenHag in excerpts from an upcoming interview with Piers Morgan.
News of the interview surfaced shortly after Unitedâs 2-1 victory over Fulham over the weekend, their final game before the Premier League enters a weeks-long hiatus for the 2022 World Cup.
âI donât have respect for him because he doesnât show respect for me,â Ronaldo said, per ESPN, of ten Hag, who demoted him for a meeting he took with Chelsea after he allegedly refused to come in as a substitute against Tottenham and was seen walking into the locker room before the match concluded.
âIf you donât have respect for me, Iâm never gonna have respect for you,â he added.
Ronaldo issued an apology for his actions on Instagram, writing, âThis is Manchester United, and united we must stand. Soon weâll be together again.â
The superstar claims United wanted him to leave, despite a report alleging the 37-year-old striker wanted to play in the Champions League, given his few remaining years. âManchester United tried to force me out,â he told Morgan.
âNot only the manager, but the other two or three guys who are around the club [at the senior executive level]. I felt betrayed,â Ronaldo continued. âI donât care, people should listen to the truth. Yes, I felt betrayed. I feel that some people didnât want me here, not only this year but last season tooâ
Ronaldo explained decided to join United last year, even though he ânever heard ofâ former manager Ralf Rangnick because Sir Alex Ferguson convinced him that he could not join rival Manchester City.
According to the Portuguese striker, he has little confidence in his current team. âThe progress was zero,â he said. âSince Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed. He [Ferguson] knows better than anybody that the club is not on the path they deserve to be.â
âHe knows. Everyone knows. The people who donât see that. Itâs because they donât want to see; they are blind,â he continued.
United spent a record $270 million during the summer transfer window to improve the roster, an investment that has resulted in the club sitting in fifth in the league.
Speaking of transfer windows, itâs almost certain that United will look to ship out Ronaldo when the next one arrives in January.
He claims that he would not give the same advice to everyone for an exceptionally intelligent kid who lost focus in his last year of college simply because he discovered a new passion in business but still managed to earn a First Class.
The youthful Chief Executive Officer revealed his experience to TV3’s Berla Bundi on The Day Show, saying that being an academically talented student was insufficient.
âThat was December 27, 2017. We went to a party, and I realized the cars there were big cars, and I felt odd. We went with a car, but I mean, there is a car, and there is a car. So, that evening, I had to think it through, like how did these people make it. The party was around East Legon.
âMostly, when I come across successful people, that night, I donât sleep⊠itâs not pressure, no! That was when I actually got the Pizzaman thing. So, for those in KNUST about five years ago, I used to be the actuarial science president, and before I got in, one of the motivating factors for students attending programs was Item 13.
âMy administration changed the face of Item 13. There was a point I could organize a program as a department, and I could fill the auditorium, and the main college will do a program, and the place will not be filled⊠I felt if I could use food to lure them to come and listen to something sensible, then itâs fine,â he said.
Christian Nana Boakye further explained in the TV3 interview that with time, his interests in academics started realigning towards doing something for himself.
âI remember my final project; I was in a group with three guys: two of them are in the States doing their PhD now, and then one lady and myself. I was the talkative among them, so they did the work, and on the final day, I had to just read through. I was academically good as well, but then in my final year, I wasnât so much into my academics. So, they do the work, and I do the presentation,â he said.
He explained that he had to be forced to use monies meant for his hostel fees to pre-finance the business, so much so that his friends began to get worried about him.
âRaising capital was one, and then getting the right people to work with. Sometimes, things donât go as planned, and you feel like quitting; you get tired of combining the work with academics. I was still in school, in my final year, when I started.
â⊠not just hostel fees; any other money available that I could chance on. I risked it⊠I wouldnât advise it because it wasnât pleasant⊠in January 2018, when I started, I had some money on me because I had gone to school fresh. It got to a point things got locked up, so during National Service time, I had to take money for the hostel and use that money to secure a place around campus and then some small small pocket monies I had on me, including my roommate, Ebenezer, we just combined whatever we had and then got some oven. I mean, it was so rough,
âI feel whatever it is you want to do, if you want to do it, you wonât find excuses. Just manage your time well. There were times that I had to skip class and cook and my mates – my classmates, bought into the idea. They were like, Chris, you are too good academically. Why donât you just do your masters and then probably get a job outside, like how our seniors have been doing? Why are you risking so much?â he added.
The Pizzaman CEO also recalled how the situation was so glaring that one of his lecturers decided to pray for him under the pretext that he must have been under some form of demonic attack.
âAt a point, one of my lecturers had to pray for me. He was our patron when I was a department president. He knew how academically good I was, and he was quite surprised. I remember there was one mid-semester exam; third year semester, I didnât write mid sem, so all my papers were marked over 70, but I still had First Class anyway.
âHe was like, what is wrong with Chris? Is it a spiritual attack? He was wondering because Iâm the front seater in class, but then after class, Iâm done â thatâs it⊠to him, he felt I was under attack or I was losing focus. Well, yeah, I was losing focus in my academics, but I was making money, and itâs addictive,â he said.
But Chris says he has always persisted because âI just want to make sure I have enough to help others.â
Chickenman and Pizzaman is a fully-owned Ghanaian company that has a total of 10 branches in less than 2 years of its existence.
Nasâ home in Calabasas was burglarized over the weekend while he was in New YorkCity, TMZ reports.
Two men allegedly broke into the rapperâs residence through a rear door around 8:30 p.m. PT on Saturday. Members of Nasâ team saw the burglars leaving with two bags filled with items on a Ring camera, and alerted authorities. However, no one was there when officers arrived.
Sources tell TMZ that the intruders ravaged through his residence. The exact value of the stolen items is unclear.
TMZ notes that once Nas returns to his Calabasas home, he can take inventory of what exactly was taken, and authorities can begin the process of retrieving what was stolen.
Nas was at a listening party in New York City for the third installment in the Kingâs Disease series, which is once again co-executive produced by Hit-Boy.
âI feel like every song we make, without even consciously doing it, weâre trying to make it better than the last,â Nas said in an interview with Complex last year following the release of KD2.
âItâs just already embedded in us to do that. I feel like as long as we keep taking that approach, itâs going to get crazier and crazier, and thatâs what happened.â
Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Ibrahim Danlad has arrived in Black Stars camp ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The 19-year-old, who will replace injured Jojo Wollacott ahead of the final squad announcement today left Ghana on Sunday evening and touched down in the Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Danlad, who is yet to make his debut for the Black Stars despite recent call-ups was included in the provisional 55-man squad for the global showpiece.
The highly-rated goalkeeper has gone through every rank of the national team, from the U-17 to the U-23s and the Black Galaxies. His impressive performances for the Galaxies saw the team progress to the final round of the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
With Richard Ofori and Joe Wollacott currently injured and likely to miss the tournament, Danlad will be expected to play a key role for the team serving as No.2.
Black Stars will open camp in Dubai on Monday to begin preparations for the tournament, having missed out on the 2018 edition in Russia.
Black Stars have been drawn in Group H alongside Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
Ghana will take on Portugal in their first game on November 24 before playing South Korea and Uruguay on November 28 and December 2 respectively.
Black Stars will play Switzerland in an International friendly on November 17, before travelling to Qatar for the World Cup.
Ghana secured a 4th FIFA World Cup tournament having participated in 2006, 2010, and 2014 in Germany, South Africa, and Brazil after drawing 1-1 against Nigeria in the return leg of the final play-offs at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja to seal qualification on the away goals rule.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup takes place between November 20 and December 18, 2022 in Qatar.
Only three sides from the continent have ever progressed to the quarter-finals; Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010.
Ghana international, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh is racing to get fit in time to make the final Black Stars squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The SC Freiburg forward is one of 55 players submitted to FIFA by Ghana head coach Otto Addo in his provisional squad.
Unfortunately, he could miss the World Cup due to an injury that has seen him miss a number of games at club level.
Today, the unfit attacking midfielder was not in action when SC Freiburg whipped Union Berlin 4-1 in the German Bundesliga.
This has raised more concern on his fitness level with reports indicating that he will need to be assessed one last time before Ghanaâs last pre-tournament friendly match.
Meanwhile, Ghana head coach Otto Addo is set to announced his final 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Monday, November 14.
The announcement will put an end to the speculations that has dominated the media in the past week.
At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Ghana has been pitted in Group H where the Black Stars will play their first match against Portugal on November 24.
Subsequently, Ghana will take on South Korea and Uruguay to conclude the group stages of the Qatar tournament.
On Friday, November 10, 2022, the Agric Ministry began selling food commodities at a subsidised price at their Accra office.
This initiative, dubbed “Planting for Food and Jobs Market,” provided a platform for rural farmers to trade directly with urban consumers.Â
The programme was successfully rolled out on Friday and is expected to continue in subsequent days. However, barely 24 hours after the initiative was launched, there have been various concerns raised.Â
Key among the concerns are claims that it is unsustainable. The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU)is the first to raise fed flags over the initiative.
In an interview with the media, the General Secretary of GAWU, Edward Kareweh, noted that it was a bad idea to roll out the initiative without carefully evaluating the forces driving up the prices of foodstuffs in the various markets.
He added that the initiative is just a knee-jerk reaction and its sustainability is highly doubtful because the entire procedure surrounding it is shrouded in secrecy.
âWhat is their budget for this exercise? We are asking this because, at the beginning of the year, the Ministry indicated to all of us that they were reducing their support to farmers to produce. The subsidy on fertilizer and subsidised seed which was 36% in 2021 has been reduced to 15%. The volume of fertilizer that was subsidised last year has been cut down to only a quarter.â
âThe quality of fertilizer that gets to the farmers is not the same as what they claim they subsidized. There are real challenges facing agricultural production in this country. The other part has to do with post-harvest losses, the Ministry has to work to ensure we minimise post-harvest losses. Records have that 60 percent of yam produced never reaches the table of the consumer,” he added.Â
Secondly, an agribusiness expert, Gideon Aboagye, has also raised doubts about the sustainability of the initiative.
âIt is a laudable idea… It doesnât look like something that is sustainable. When you have good rains, you have excess production in terms of crops that really donât use fertilisers. So you have a situation where you have a lot of plantains, cassava, and yam.â
âSo you ask yourself in times that rains are not good, what happens? I think we should have a broader discussion on this matter and see how best we could set up an approach which works best for everybody,â the agribusiness expert told the media.
The latest to add its voice to the conversation is the Ghana Union of Traders Association, which fears the Agriculture Ministry, by this move, is likely to incite the public against traders.Â
He also contended that traders face numerous challenges and bear huge costs to transport goods to sell, and all these are factored into their pricing. However, the ministry is only subsiding prices, which puts them in a favourable spot in the eyes of consumers.
âWhat they are doing and the narrative that goes with it suggests that they are inciting the public against us, that we are profiteering, but that is not the case. Why are they not adding products like tomatoes that will go to waste? Because when you buy these goods, and it goes to waste, you have to also calculate and add them to your account,â Dr Obeng said.
He added that âthey (Agric Ministry) will do everything to convince authorities that it can work, but you are not adding profit to what you are doing. You have all the logistics to procure the goods at a subsidized rate, and then you are trying to compare your pricing with the trader who has challenges?â
He noted that the way forward is not the path the Ministry is towing, but to add value to the products.Â
The YouStart initiative, which was piloted by the government, is part of efforts to address the high unemployment rate in Ghana.
 The objective is to build an entrepreneurial nation and create at least 1 million jobs for the youth in the next 3 years (2022â2025).
Government will, through the initiative, support these beneficiaries to gain access to capital, training, technical skills and mentoring to enable them to launch and operate their own businesses under the initiative.
 The programme will also provide district-level loans of up to GH¹10,000 to beneficiaries.
The initiative established by the Akufo-Addo-led government that sought to address graduate unemployment ended on Thursday, September 1, 2022, rendering over 57,000 citizens jobless.
Meanwhile, the Finance Minister has indicated that all hope is not lost for these individuals.
The YouStart programme, according to the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is part of NABCOâs exit plan.
He said the programme is a vehicle through which the government intends to provide funding and technical support to youth and youth-led businesses to assist them in building and growing their own businesses.
Sergio Perez hit out at Max Verstappen after his Red Bull team-mate refused to hand him sixth place at Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix, saying: “If he has two championships, it’s thanks to me”.
Verstappen overtook Perez following a late safety car at the Interlagos Circuit to take sixth, having been encouraged by his team to challenge Ferrari duo Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in third and fourth, as long as he could first overtake Fernando Alonso.
With Verstappen unable to take points off the Ferraris, he was told to hand his position back to Perez, who is battling Leclerc for second place in the drivers’ championship standings.
However, the two-time world champion failed to do so before telling race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase: “You guys don’t ask that again to me, okay? Are we clear about that? I have given my reasons.”
Perez was infuriated by Verstappen’s failure to give way, exclaiming over team radio: “It shows who he really is.”
Speaking to Sky Sports after finishing seventh â a result which leaves him level with Leclerc in the standings, Perez said: “I was told to let him by and that I was going to get the position back.
“I don’t know what the complications were on his side. I have no idea, maybe you should ask him about it.
“I have nothing to say, really. After all I have done for him, it is a bit disappointing, to be honest. I am really surprised.”
Perez went further when asked about the incident in Spanish by ESPN, declaring: “If he has two championships, it’s thanks to me.”
However, Verstappen told Sky Sports he remained willing to support Perez in next week’s final race of the season, while refusing to explain his decision not to hand the place back.
“I have my reasons for that, we just discussed that [in the debrief],” he said. “I think it was good that we finally just sat together and talked about it, and we’ll just move forward from here.
“If we go to Abu Dhabi [next Sunday] and he needs support, it is not the end of the world. It is all about who finishes ahead, anyway.
“If he needs the help, I am there, but it is good that we first talked about it now and cleared everything that was there and why I didn’t do it.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, meanwhile, insists the team will prioritise Perez’s battle for second next time out.
“We will go to Abu Dhabi to get Checo the second place and Max will support that,” Horner told Sky Sports. “We won’t talk about what happens internally, but the drivers shook hands on it.
“We work as a team, we race as a team and our priority is to help Checo get second in the championship. We will do the best we can to achieve that and if Max can help in any way, he will do.”
Spawning out of Melbourneâs West, charity basketball tournament Shooters Shoot has been honing in on their âhooping for a causeâ ethos, by leveraging the power of sport to break down stigmas surrounding mental health. The tournament hosted its first event in 2021, which welcomed hundreds of hoopers, families and fans of the game from all walks of life. They managed to raise $16,000 from the event, and donated 100% of the ticket proceeds to Foundation House, a refugee trauma agency dedicated to supporting those who have experienced torture and traumatic events.
However, the tournamentâs efforts didnât stop there. The founder of Shooters Shoot, Sagalee Adem, wanted to continue the fightfor mental health awareness by using the proceeds from the tournament to feed back into local grassroots community initiatives, specifically targeting youth and young people. Throughout 2022, the Shooters Shoot team has been working with various figures and groups from the local scene such as Notorious Customs, the FairDinkum Podcast, Talking Trophies, The Bittersweet Podcast and more to showcase the different ways we can approach mental health and wellbeing. Theyâre also gearing up to host their second ever charity basketball event, set to take place on November 20.
Complex AU sat down with Sagalee to chat about the Shooters Shoot inception story, what theyâve been doing for local schools in the region, and whatâs next for this impressive initiative.
So far, the efforts and achievements of the Shooters Shoot team are truly commendable. What were some of the inspirations behind starting the tournament?
So I didnât just wake up one day and decide I wanted to make an event to raise money for the community. I was turning 23, and I wanted to do something creative for my 23rd birthday. It was my Jordan yearâI love basketballâand I thought about running a small tournament and paying for a court for 4 hours in my local area, and then inviting some of the guys to play basketball, and hiring a couple of DJs and photographers.
Then I thought, maybe I could make it like $5 per person, and give it to Beyond Blue or some organisation that focuses on mental healthâbecause my mumâs a mental health clinician and sheâs been teaching about mental health since I was a kid. Sheâs always told me that I should do something for my friends or people I know that [brings awareness] to mental healthâso it was a blessing to do that through basketball.
After I had the idea, none of the courts I wanted to book were replying to me, [until] I found a lowkey one that I didnât think would reply, but somehow did. A couple days later I was able to book it, and after I booked it I thought, âI need to make something really good out of this.â
After that I got people Iâm close to and people I trust to help me out, and within one month we were able to create some promo and do what we didâraise $16,000 for mental health. We had the media attend, and it was an amazing day that wasnât just about basketball. There were so many things that came out of it. We were fresh out of 2021âs lockdown and so people got to reconnect, we had Soli Tesema perform, and photographers got to photograph the event and showcase their skills too.
Thatâs really amazing. So, you donated the money to Foundation House. What made you choose them?
When we pitched it to Foundation House we said look, weâre really serious about this, and we want to be involved in figuring out how the money will be handled, and what we can do with the money. That really caught their attention, and the CEO and his son came on the day, and [they] ended up donating $10,000.
Everything youâve mentioned so far showcases how Shooters Shoot is so much more than just a tournament. What are some of the activities you guys have been running this year?
One of the things we got to do with the campaign theme was show people the different ways they can fill their emotional cup. So, for example, thereâs Notorious Customs who makes custom shoes, which fills her cup. We had Vola who cooks, which fills her cup. We had Josh who does photography, and that fills his cup. We had Sumaya, a painter, and painting fills her cup. All these people were expressing in their videos how different things filled their cup. The idea of filling oneâs cup goes back to what Shooters Shoot believesâthat you donât always have to talk about mental health to help yourself. Sometimes itâs just about getting active, and it doesnât have to be about literally doing physical activity, but it can be âphysicallyâ drawing, âphysicallyâ creatingâit can be anything.
With the money, weâve also been able to run school programs all year. We run 3-4 week programs where we do basketball activities with the kids, and then include questions and activities that get them thinking about their mental wellbeing. We targeted year 9s, because we believe thatâs the most crucial age for identity. At the end [of the program] we give them a Shooters Shoot package, which is a Shooters Shoot backpack, creative pamphlet, and journal. Weâre well on the way to giving these to almost 500 kids. Itâs a big blessing, what weâve managed to do this year with $16,000.
Image via Shooters Shoot
When we talk about mental healthâespecially in multicultural communitiesâitâs often easily dismissed, and at times, discussing oneâs mental health is perceived as a weakness. However, amongst younger generations this seems to be shifting, Â and is also a testament to the benefit of initiatives like Shooters Shoot. In saying that, how have you navigated bringing up these types of conversations, especially with a multicultural audience?
So our technique last year was to promote the event as a basketball charity eventâthe messaging was centred around encouraging families and parents to bring their kids to the event. When we brought everyone in, we really wanted to have different ages there.
Before the event occurred, I wanted to make sure we spoke about mental health so that, you know, a mother could be like âah okay I see what this is, and I see whatâs going onâ. I also wanted to make sure that my siblings and people my age could also be like, âyeah this is empowering for usâ, because weâre in the same demographic and this is what we need to speak about. I wanted younger people to hear that too, and they might not have caught on to the message straight away, but at least they were starting to hear it spoken about. If weâd just said, âhey come to the event, weâre going to talk about mental healthâ, people wouldnât have come.
So, thatâs our way of doing things. We understand that itâs not just sitting down and talking about mental health that works. Something Iâve learned in so many different ways is when you look at someone and they feel seen, thatâs healing to them.
Image via Shooters Shoot
What are your future plans for Shooters Shoot and what can we expect next?
To keep it simple, I look forward to continuing this momentum and fostering the community weâve established. I just want to keep doing this thing for the community weâve established, where we can be like âhey Shooters Shoot is happening next week, pull upâ. I want us to enjoy the hell out of the day, take something from it and go home feeling reconnected and re-engaged. I think the biggest message I want to push is that we need something like this. Itâs really important that we come together and talk about this stuff.
You can support Shooters Shoot by purchasing a ticket to their upcoming tournament here. All proceeds will be going towards supporting their community.
Hearts of Oak midfielder Ibrahim Salifu has expressed his happiness in returning from injury after several weeks of absence.
The 22-year-old has been hampered by injuries since last season and missed the team’s opening game of the season against Aduana Stars which they lost.
Salifu, who was key to Hearts’ league title triumph last two seasons made his return to the team in the goalless draw against Karela United at the Accra Sports stadium on match week six.
“It’s good to be back after a long injury. We had a good game but not the result we wanted,” he said after the game.
“Gradually, we shall get to the level Slavko Matic is demanding of us. We are focused on our next game.”
Hearts of Oak have dropped to 10th on the league table after six matches played so far.
The Phobians will take on league leaders Accra Lions on match week seven before the Premier League breaks for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
George Russellwas lauded by team-mate Lewis Hamilton after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix, with the first-time Formula 1 race winner left “speechless” by his success.
Having won Saturday’s sprint race, Russell led from the start in an eventful race on Sunday, coming out on top after two restarts following safety cars at the Interlagos Circuit.
Russell had to fend off Hamilton â who had earlier clashed with Max Verstappen but come away largely unscathed and unpunished â after the second safety car, but there was no bad blood between the Mercedes duo at the end.
“What an amazing feeling,” said Russell after sealing Mercedes’ first win of the season. “Just a huge thank you to the whole team for making this possible.
“It has been an emotional rollercoaster this season. This was a tough race, I felt in control.
“Lewis was super-fast and when I saw the Safety Car, I thought this is going to be a really difficult end, he put me under so much pressure.
“I am speechless. On the in lap, all of these memories start flooding back, starting with my mum and dad at go-karting and going through to all of the support I have had from the rest of my family, my girlfriend, my trainer, my manager.
“The list is endless. I can’t thank them all enough, I am super proud.”
Hamilton said:Â “A huge congratulations to George. What an amazing drive he did today.
“He did an amazing qualifying yesterday, so he truly deserves it. To my team, so proud of everyone back at the factory and here. This is an incredible result.
“Weâve worked so hard through this year to get a 1-2 and to get a win, and so this is hugely deserved by everybody so a huge thank you.”
On his collision with old rival Verstappen, who received a five-second time penalty, Hamilton added:Â “What can I say, you know how it is with Max.”
The harmony in the Mercedes camp was not replicated in the other teams.
While Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was left infuriated by Verstappen, who refused to hand sixth place back to the Mexican after failing to overtake Fernando Alonso, Charles Leclerc also wanted Ferrari to concede Carlos Sainz’s place on the podium to boost his chances of finishing second in the world championship.
Leclerc will now head into the final race in Abu Dhabi on level points with Perez.
“I think we can be happy with that,” said Sainz. “It is a shame that Mercedes are so quick but congratulations to George.”
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers has never seen anything like Joel Embiid’s performance at both ends in Sunday’s 105-98 win over the Utah Jazz.
Embiid scored a career-best 59 points, with a joint career-high seven blocks, along with 11 rebounds and eight assists.
The Cameroonian scored 26 of Philadelphia’s 27 final quarter points and more than half their total score, a feat not achieved in the NBA since Damian Lillard in 2019.
“I’ve seen a guy score a lot of points,” Rivers told reporters. “I haven’t seen guys score a lot of points, rebound, and then the blocked shots. That was impressive.
“He was just getting everything. I’ve never seen a more dominating performance when you combine defense and offense.”
Joel Embiid’s 59 points marks the 5th best scoring performance in 76ers franchise history:
Embiid’s teammates were left in awe too, with Matisse Thybulle labelling his stat line as “pretty ridiculous”.
“Itâs absurd. Actually, my friends were texting me after the game and they were like ‘It’s like a 2K stat line’ and it’s not one of those things you see in a real basketball game,” Thybulle said.
“It’s like when you pick one player on 2K and just do everything with him. It’s pretty ridiculous if I’m being honest. It’s amazing.”
Embiid’s 59 points is the best in the NBA this season, exceeding Darius Garland’s mark of 51 set earlier on Sunday in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 129-124 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Since blocks became official in 1973-74, Joel Embiid is the first player in NBA History to record 50+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 5+ blocks in a game. https://t.co/xtwTgbCmmC
Despite his monstrous performance, Embiid played down the significance of his individual display.
“This is not about me. We did it as a team,” the 28-year-old center said. “Obviously, the coaches put me in those positions, and obviously, my teammates fed me the ball. I thought we had great spacing around everything we were doing.
“Like I said, all the credit goes to my teammates just being in the right spots and trusting me and giving me the ball.”
Embiid shot 19-of-28 from the field including making a three-pointer, which reinforced to him that it was going to be his game.
“When I finally made a three [I knew it was going to be a big game] because Iâve been shooting the ball so bad this year from three,” he said.
“It was early in the game. I saw how they were guarding me. Just like last night, I’ll take that every night. If theyâre not gonna double team as much, I hope every team does it so I’ll take it, but from the beginning…Â Obviously, in the fourth quarter with the game being so close, I just wanted to do whatever it took.”
Casper Ruud opened his ATP Finals campaign with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 triumph over Felix Auger-Aliassime in Turin.
The victory put Ruud top of the Green Group, with the pool’s two other players, Rafael Nadal and Taylor Fritz, set to face off later on Sunday.
A tight first set saw each game go to serve as it went all the way to a tie-break, with Ruud â this year’s beaten US Open finalist â finding a crucial break at 3-2 up, giving him the momentum to nose ahead.
They continued to be closely matched in the second set too, though Ruud again managed to break Auger-Aliassime at a critical juncture in the match.
With the set tied at three apiece, ATP Finals debutant Auger-Aliassime double-faulted at 40-15 down on his own serve to put Ruud within two games of victory.
The world number four took full advantage, who is making his second appearance in the season-ending tournament, kicking on to secure a straight-sets success without offering a single break point to begin his tournament in impressive fashion.
Taylor Fritz stunned Rafael Nadal on his ATP Finals debut on Sunday, producing a powerful display to beat the 22-time grand slam winner 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 in the duo’s group-stage opener.
The American put Nadal under pressure from the off in Turin, failing to give up a single break point as he dominated on his own serve to take the 36-year-old to a tie-break in the opening set.
Nadal allowed Fritz to seize the initiative with a double fault at the start of that tie-break, and the American grasped his opportunity by clinching the first set with a big forehand winner.
The top seed’s struggles continued into the second set as Fritz, moving well and dictating proceedings from the baseline, claimed the match’s first break four games in before going 5-1 up by repeating the trick in a back-and-forth sixth game.
Fritz then wrapped up the win with another dominant display of serving, clinching his second victory over Nadal and denting the Spaniard’s bid to win a title that has eluded him throughout his illustrious career.
Having been beaten by Tommy Paul at the Paris Masters and Frances Tiafoe at the US Open, Nadal has now suffered three consecutive defeats, and he must bounce back when he faces Felix Auger-Aliassime on Tuesday.
Eoin Morgan declared England can be “regarded as one of the great sides” after T20 World Cup glory at the MCG on Sunday.
Former limited-overs England captain Morgan skippered his side to Cricket World Cup 50-over success in 2019, before falling short in the semi-finals of the T20 edition of the world competition in 2021.
The 36-year-old stepped down from his role in June, allowing Jos Buttler to take charge of the white-ball sides, and England triumphed in their captain’s first tournament at the helm.
A five-wicket victory with six balls remaining over Pakistan in the final means England are now dual white-ball world champions, with Morgan suggesting Buttler’s side have cemented their place in history.
“This team deserves it,” Morgan said on Sky Sports. “They’ve been through the mill in the group stages and they’ve produced close to their very best against India in the semi-final.
“Jos Buttler said, ‘We don’t want to be known as a team just for our style of play’. We were known like that in 50 overs then won the 50-over World Cup in 2019.
“In T20 they’ve now won something tangible to be regarded as one of the great sides. They were excellent.”
Ben Stokes, as has been the case across multiple formats in recent years, proved to be the hero with an unbeaten 52, seeing England over the line after they were reeling at 45-3 chasing 138.
From Headingley in the Ashes in 2019, to his Lord’s heroics in the Cricket World Cup final earlier that year, Morgan heralded Stokes as the man for the big occasion.
“Ben is just such a special player,” Morgan added. “In big games he continues to stand up for his country when his country needs him. That is such an incredible skill to have.
“When something has the potential to go awry, Ben is the guy that thinks coolly and calmly under pressure and makes brilliant decisions. He’s done it so many times now.
“At certain stages of my captaincy I did take it [Stokes’ role] for granted because he continued to be able to produce under pressure all the time.
“He always wants to be in the game and is that player who continually nags you to get in the high-pressure moments. It’s a complete luxury to have a guy like Ben Stokes at your disposal.”
While Stokes became just the third player to score 50-plus runs in both an ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup final (also Gautam Gambhir and Kumar Sangakkara), Sam Curran played an important role.
Left-arm seamer Curran picked up 1-12 from his four overs, marking his 13th scalp of the tournament â the second-most by a pacer in any single edition of the tournament (Dirk Nannes – 14 wickets in 2010).
“It [Curran’s World Cup performance] is extraordinary,” Morgan continued. “He really has been a find in all parts of the game. Jos Buttler has brought him on in the powerplay, used him through the middle and the biggest plus has been his death bowling.
“He has really stood up and bowled with a huge amount of skill and clarity. To produce in a World Cup final is extraordinary from someone that young. When his team needed him, Sam Curran did it today.”
Babar Azam was left frustrated after key bowler Shaheen Afridi was forced off with injury in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup final defeat to England on Sunday.
Babar’s men set England just 138 to win, but Afridi struck early to dismiss England opener Alex Hales before making a superb catch to remove Harry Brook off Shadab Khan’s bowling, stirring Pakistan’s hopes of victory.
However, Afridi injured himself in his role in Brook’s wicket and was forced off the field, and though he did return, the 22-year-old managed just one delivery before having to make way again.
It was a bitter blow for Pakistan, who seemingly lost all momentum as Ben Stokes’ half-century and some crucial boundaries from Moeen Ali condemned them to a heartbreaking defeat.
Babar pointed to Afridi’s injury as the key moment, saying in the post-match presentation: “We were 20 runs short, but the fight to the last over was unbelievable.
“Our bowling is one of the best but unfortunately Shaheen’s injury cost us a different result, but that’s part of the game.
“The way the team has gone in the last four matches [was] incredible. I told the boys to play their natural game, with freedom. Congratulations to England.”
The final defeat ended a disappointing individual tournament for Babar, who finished with a total run tally of 124 off 133 balls, while facing 62 dot balls as he passed 50 just once across his seven innings.
But the Pakistan captain was pleased with his team’s campaign, despite his own struggles, adding in his press conference: “We weren’t expecting to lose the first two.
“But how we’ve come back, grabbed chances, I’m proud of the team as a captain.”
Ben Stokes says England’s bowling attack was the key factor in their victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday, despite his crucial half-century.
Sam Curran (3-12) and Adil Rashid (2-22) bowled superbly to restrict Pakistan to just 137-8, though England’s chase did not get off to the greatest of starts as openers Alex Hales and Jos Buttler were removed within the powerplay.
Stokes came in with England 32-2 after 3.3 overs, but smashed a sublime 52 off 49 deliveries to record his first ever T20I half-century and help his country to their second T20 World Cup title.
Stokes was keen to highlight England’s bowlers as the reason for the win at the MCG in Melbourne, telling Sky Sports: “I think when you chase totals in games like this, you forget the hard work that goes in before.
“I thought the way that we bowled, Adil Rashid, Sam Curran, that’s what won us the game. To restrict them to whatever we did, bowlers have got to take a lot of credit for that.
“We didn’t feel under too much pressure with the run chase. I never felt it was out of our hands at all. It’s never really panic stations when it’s under eight an over.”
England’s triumph comes after a shock defeat to Ireland in the group stage that threatened to derail their tournament, having come in as one of the favourites.
Stokes referenced that loss after the final victory, saying: “I think with that [Ireland defeat] being so early in the competition, we obviously had to address it, say what we said and then let it go.
“In tournaments, you can’t carry baggage. That was a little blip, but the best teams learn from their mistakes, they take it on the chin but they never let it affect them and they just let it go and move onto the next challenge.”
England’s success comes in new captain Jos Buttler’s first tournament since taking over from previous incumbent Eoin Morgan, who led the team to ODI World Cup glory in 2019.
Stokes says Buttler has built on Morgan’s good work to create history of his own, adding: “Jos has now created his own legacy.
“When the great man stepped down [pointing to Morgan]Â and Jos took over, you look how quickly he’s managed to take control of the team and progress it from the legacy that Morgs [Morgan] has left.
“He’s a guy who everyone follows. I think it shouldn’t be taken for granted how hard it can be to make tactical decisions under pressure in this format. Ninety-five per cent of his decision-making he’s got right. We’re lucky to have him.”
Tony Finau enjoyed a spectacular second round at the Houston Open, shooting an eight-under 62 to open up a four-stroke lead on the chasing field heading into the weekend.
Finau was the joint-leader after the opening round, and he went even better in his second trip around Memorial Park Golf Course, sinking 10 birdies to go with two bogeys.
Fresh off his first PGA Tour season with multiple wins â including a career-high four top-two finishes â Finau is in prime position to make a run at his fifth title.
Alone in second at nine under is Patrick Rodgers, who followed his opening 68 with an impressive 63, as only he and Finau completed rounds of 63 or better before the weather arrived.
Joint-leader from the first round, Alex Noren is one further back at eight under, although he had three holes remaining when play was called off.
Noren is joined by Tyson Alexander, while China’s Carl Yuan and America’s James Hahn are the only players tied for fifth at seven under.
There is a seven-man logjam tied for seventh at six under, but Aaron Wise and Trey Mullinax will have their sights set higher before they begin their third rounds, with six holes still to play.
After a disappointing even-par 70 to open his week, world number two Scottie Scheffler is enjoying a five-under round through 13 holes, sinking an eagle on the par-five 12th right before his round was interrupted.
Former world number one Jason Day will likely see the weekend as he is tied for 37th at two under with six holes remaining, while his playing partner and former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama is one further back sitting right on the edge of the cut-line.
