There’s another wrinkle to the Megan Thee Stallion-Her Loss drama.
As pointed out by XXL magazine, the Houston rapper—legal name Megan Pete—is credited on the newly released joint album from Drake and 21 Savage. Eagle-eyed fans noticed Megan was listed as one of the cowriters on the project’s opening cut “Rich Flex,” but is not credited as a featured artist.
It seems the credit stems from 21’s first solo verse in which he uses an interpolation of Megan’s hit 2020 track “Savage.”
“I’m a savage,” 21 raps. “Smack her booty in Magic/I’ll slap a pussy n***a with a ratchet.”
“Savage” co-writers J. White Did It and Bobby Sessions are also credited on “Rich Flex,” alongside Drake, 21, Vinylz, Tay Keith, the songwriting duo FNZ, and more.
After a weeklong delay, Her Loss hit streaming services at midnight Friday, delivering 16 tracks that were peppered with digs and subliminals. Drake was accused of taking shots at everyone from Kanye West and D.R.A.M. to Ice Spice and Serena Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian. But his most talked-about diss was apparently directed at Megan.
On “Circo Loco,” Drake seemingly accuses the “Savage” rapper of lying about her 2020 shooting incident involving Tory Lanez.
“This bitch lie ‘bout gettin’ shots, but she still a stallion,” he rapped.
While some believe Drake was alluding to a woman who lied about her butt injections, others were convinced he was downplaying Lanez’ alleged assault on Megan.
Megan addressed the speculation via Twitter on Friday.
Lil Yachty took to Instagram live on Friday night to talk about “Circo Loco,” which has become undoubtedly the most controversial song off Her Loss, the new joint release from Drake and 21 Savage.
“I know he’s not going to address it, because I know Drake,” Lil Yachty, who has a writing credit on the track, said. “It’s not about Megan it’s about women lying about their butt shots saying it’s real when it’s fake.”
Yachty also has production credits on the project including “BackOutsideBoyz” and the Travis Scott-featured “Pussy & Millions.”
Since the album dropped, speculation has been made around some of Drake’s lyrics, most notably where he rapped, “This bitch lie ‘bout gettin’ shots, but she still a stallion/She don’t even get the joke, but she still smiling.”
Many wondered if Drake was alluding to the ongoing legal battle between Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez in which she was allegedly shot by the Canadian artist.
Meg responded via social media, saying, “I know I’m very popular but y’all gotta stop attaching weak ass conspiracy theories in bars to my name.”
Interestingly, Megan Thee Stallion has a credit on Her Loss. While she’s not a featured artist, she is listed as a co-writer for the opening song “Rich Flex.”
Spencer Dinwiddie is calling out veteran NBAreferee Tony Brothers for using vulgar language during the Dallas Mavericks’ win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.
The incident took place in the second quarter, when Dinwiddie approached Brothers to protest a foul call. After hitting the Mavericks point guard with a technical foul, Brothers allegedly referred to Dinwiddie as a “bitch ass motherfucker.”
“I apologize to Tony Brothers for what seemed to keep him irate, which was a clap,” Dinwiddie told reporters after the game. “He thought it was disrespectful… And secondarily I would like to say, not only would I like my money back [from the fine for a technical], but I would like to not be called a “bitch ass motherfucker to my teammates.”
Dinwiddie continued, “Everybody’s a competitor out there. I understand it’s the heat of the moment. I’ve definitely said swear words, but like if I was playing against somebody on the other team and they said that to my teammate, I would be like listen, ‘Hey, I’m right here.’ But because obviously [referees are in] positions of authority and whatnot, you can’t necessarily ask for that address, so I’m just taking my fair stance and saying, ‘Hey, look, if you feel that way, fine by me, just say it to my face, like any other grown man.’ That’s all I want.
“I’m not even mad at the language. Everybody has said things before when they are upset or feeling sensitive or hurt. That’s fine. Just say it to my face,” he added.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Brothers was not made available to the media post-game.
DRAM isn’t done calling out Drake for dissing him on the Toronto rapper’s new collaborative album with 21 Savage, Her Loss.
The “Broccoli” artist hopped on social media on Friday to address the lyrical shots Drake sent in his direction on Her Loss cut “BackOutsideBoyz.” In a video posted to Twitter, DRAM recounted a past confrontation between him and Drake, claiming the Certified Lover Boy rapper let his bodyguards handle the altercation.
“Somebody tell Drake to shut the fuck up about that shit, man,” said DRAM in a video shared on Twitter on Friday. “Fucking five years ago, this n***a never even touched me, n***a. I pressed his ass! His fucking bodyguards, goddamn—I ain’t gonna hold you, his bodyguards went to town on the kid. But his bodyguards did, not his bitch-ass! He ain’t touch me, he’s a bitch. You know that.”
“What’s up, my n***a? But you don’t wanna do that,” DRAM continued. “You wanna have your guards. That’s cool, though. He ain’t touch me, though. And that shit from five years ago! Come on, n***a. … Why don’t you bring up how you got smacked by Diddy or some shit?”
Hours later, DRAM shared more details about the incident in a conversation with TMZ.
“In 2017, at Coachella, he was DJing at a party and I approached him,” DRAM shared. “We stepped outside and there was a whole army of 15 guys.”\
According to DRAM, the heated confrontation quickly became physical, as Drake’s bodyguards physically manhandled the “Cha Cha” rapper.
“I said what I had to say,” he recalled. “That shit was wild.”
Ghanaian musician, Okyeame Kwame is set to appear in an upcoming Disney+ special this yuletide.
The television special dubbed ‘Around The World For The Holidays’ will see Pentatonix sing Christmas classics and some of their new songs.
On the show, the group will tour the world, discovering holiday traditions and inspiration from fans in Ghana, Iceland, Japan, Grenada, and Mexico.
Ahead of this premiere, the Rap Doctor and his son Sir Kwame Nsiah Bota have made cameos in the trailer which have attracted speculations from social media users already.
The special for the renowned a cappella group will be released on December 2.
The first-week numbers projections for Drakeand 21 Savage’s inaugural collab album Her Loss have started to surface.
Per HITS Daily Double, the album is projected to open at 335-350k.
For Drake, Her Loss marks his second new full-length of the year following the No. 1 debut of Honestly, Nevermind back in June. 21 last released a project with his Spiral: From the Book of Saw Soundtrack EP in May of last year.
Swiftly upon its unveiling on Friday, Her Loss spurred a series of headlines largely centered on the track “Circo Loco.” Megan Thee Stallion, as well as her lawyer, addressed Drake’s “this bitch lie ‘bout getting shots but she still a stallion” in publicly shared responses.
“Despite the irrefutable evidence that Megan was a victim of gunviolence, the ignorant continue to support her attacker,” attorney Alex Spiro said in a statement shared with Complex on Friday.
The artist formerly known as Kanye West also addressed lyrics from “Circo Loco,” specifically a J Prince-mentioning excerpt many had linked with his and Drake’s feud-ending Free Larry Hoover Benefit era.
“Enough already,” Ye said in a tweet on Friday. “I done gave this man his flowers multiple times.”
Drake and 21 kicked off the Her Loss rollout with a surprise pairing amid Morehouse and Spelman Homecoming 2022 festivities in October.
From there, the album’s impending arrival was revealed with the release of the official video for Honestly, Nevermind track “Jimmy Cooks,” followed by a string of cleverly staged faux promo clips.
At the turn of the century, Roc-A-Fella cemented itself as the most powerful labelin rap on the strength of a star-studded roster of young talent that included then-rising rappers Cam’ron, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Kanye West, and Juelz Santana.
Nearly 20 years after Juelz and Kanye released their respective debut albums (2003’s From Me To U and 2004’s The College Dropout), Santana hasn’t forgotten what it was like to witness the unmatched confidence of a young Kanye.
In a recent interview with VladTV, Juelz explained that money hasn’t changed Ye’s personality. In fact, Santana believes Kanye was just as cocky before he ever reached billionaire status.
“He always kind of been like that,” Juelz shared. “Ye never changed up. Now he just got a billion dollars, so it makes him more aggressive. More like, more intense, when he’s doing the shit he’s doing.”
When asked if the old Kanye is the same as the 2022 version, who’s dominated headlines over the past several months by making both outlandish and controversial statements, Santana maintained that West has always been the same guy.
“He’s always been that cocky, arrogant, flamboyant guy,” Juelz said.
Watch Juelz Santana’s full thoughts on Kanye West in the video up top.
The Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South, Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, believes the government’s talk of haircuts on investments as part of debt restructuring was premature.
“You have not started the negotiations, then you pre-empt yourself in the negotiations by making a statement that there is not going to be a haircut. You have shot yourself in the foot,” he said on The Big Issue on Citi TV.
After the president’s assurances of no haircutswith respect to money invested in bonds during a speech last week, the government clarified that the restructuring was yet to be finalised.
The President said the statement was in response to rumours and speculation.
The restructuring talks are ongoing as part of Ghana’s efforts to secure an IMF deal for $3 billion.
In the wake of the speech, Mr. Rickets-Hagan said this was further evidence that the Akufo-Addo administration does not understand the government it is running.
He felt there was no need for the government to be paying attention to speculation at this point.
Mr. Rickets-Haganadded that the speculation was only a consequence of the poor management of the economy.
“They are behind the economy, they are running it. You shouldn’t be worried too much at this stage about speculation.”
“Speculation is going to happen when there is uncertainty. Speculation happens when people don’t have confidence in your economy; when your policies are no longer credible,” the MP said.
One of the most anticipated Air Jordan 1 releases of this year will be made available early next week exclusively on the NikeSNKRS app.
That pair is the Air Jordan 1 High “Lost and Found,” a new take on the shoe’s original “Chicago” colorway that debuted in 1985. Nike announced today that the style will officially launch on Nov. 19 on SNKRS, but the brand also confirmed that select users of the app will have the opportunity to buy a pair early on Nov. 8. The shoes will be available early via “exclusive access,” which is a launch program that gives app users the chance to buy a pair of sought-after releases.
According to Nike, “exclusive access” will go out to users who have entered and lost at least 20 different Air Jordan 1 High releases on the shopping platform. The brand also confirmed that getting early access doesn’t guarantee that the shoe will be available in the user’s preferred size.
Nike broke down the process behind how it goes about giving users “exclusive access” last year, namely for the release of the 50-shoe Off-White x Nike Dunk Low collection.
The brand confirmed that the selection process for the products is based on over 50 variables including user engagement to help users gain personalized access to coveted drops.
Asantehene and Ga Mantse made a historic visit to the Anlo State in the Volta Region to mark the 60th anniversary of the Hogbetsotso festival on the invite of the Awoamefia Togbi Sri III.
The Hogbetsotso festival is remembering the Anlos escape from the rule of Togbe Agorkoli from Notsie about 400 years ago.
This year’s celebration is on the theme “60 Years of Anlo Hogbetsotso Za: Uniting for development, sustaining our unique cultural commonwealth for future generations.”
Former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings,says all her kids would have attended the Achimota School if not for a promise made by her husband, former president Jerry John Rawlings of blessed memory.
Although Nana Konadu and Rawlings both attended Achimota school, she said her husband promised the then headmistress of Wesley Girls’ High School in Cape Coast, Central Region, that their kids would attend such school.
According to the outspoken former First Lady, she became helpless when her late husband insisted on enrolling their female kids at Wesley Girls’ High School.
The three females of the Rawlings family include Zanetor Rawlings, Yaa Asantewaa Rawlings, and Amina Rawlings.
Eulogising her alma mater, Achimota School, Mrs. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings described her former school as a disciplined school where students are well-trained to survive on their own.
In an exclusive interview on Foot Prints on Citi TV, Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings said: “my husband and I would have put all of them [our kids] in Achimota School, but when a father goes and promises a headmistress that I’m bringing my daughters here, what can you do? End of the story. I Ieft Achimota [school] with lots of memories, discipline number 1, cleanliness, orderliness, law and order working, and generally giving you an all-round activity which makes you feel that you can survive anywhere”.
Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlingswho is able to dance to contemporary music over the decades, said, “I do feel old but young enough to go dancing and all that”.
Her husband, former President Rawlings, died on November 12, 2020, at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The Lagos State Police Command has revealed that after conducting an autopsy on Davido and Chioma’s son, Ifeanyi, it was declared that the 3-year-old died as a result of drowning.
Confirming the results to the media on Saturday, November 5, 2022, Lagos police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin said;
“Autopsy has been concluded. It confirms the boy (Ifeanyi) drowned.”
It was reported that the Adeleke familynever objected to an autopsy after the body was recovered from the swimming pool at Davido’s residence in Banana Island, Lagos.
However, the nanny and cook are still detained by the police for investigation.
On Monday, October 31, Ifeanyi was said to have passed away from drowning whiles his parents, Davido and Chioma were out on a trip.
Starboy Kwarteng, the father of late Dancehall songstress, Ebony Reigns, has asserted that award-winning reggae-dancehall artiste Shatta Wale should be investigated as he might have something to do with his daughter’s death.
According to him, he’s been disturbed after hearing the allegation but doesn’t want to conclude anything until he has enough proof.
He told Mercy Bee the Ekumfi Princess of Happy98.9FM and e.tv Ghana that: “As you already know, I don’t joke with anything that involves my late daughter and like I’ve always done I’ll go into this. I need to investigate this because I can’t just let go like that. I’ll go to the police headquarters soon to report the issue with the video I have and the statement that has been released.”
He added that although he’s heard that the police have already invited Shatta Wale over for further investigations in Fennec Okyere’s murder adding that he will also do the same to find out if indeed he has something to do with his late daughter’s death as claimed.
Starboy Kwarteng also added that he was shocked when he heard the news but he’s come to realize that people are not always who we think they are and no one can be trusted fully.
For this reason, he believes anything is possible hence, his decision to go into the allegation levelled against Shatta by Wizla Finito, and get to know the details for himself because he believes there’s more to the story.
Singer and rapper Aaron Carter has died at the age of 34.
He was the younger brother of the Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter.
Website TMZ said Carter was found dead in his bath at his home in Lancaster, California, on Saturday morning. Representatives of his team confirmed his death, PA reported.
“Right now it’s a really bad time, we’re trying to figure out what happened and what the cause of it was,” they said.
“We’re just as upset as everyone and hope that fans can give thoughts and prayers to his family.”
TMZ also reported Los Angeles County police arrived at the scene at around 11:00 local time (18:00 GMT) after receiving a report of drowning.
Carter started his career opening for the boy band Backstreet Boys on a number of tours and concerts, and also had a successful solo career.
During the late 90s and early noughties he sold millions of copies of his four albums, the first of which was when he was only nine years old.
His second album, Aaron’s Party (Come Get It), was released in 2000 and went triple platinum.
In the early noughties, Aaron Carter was at the height of his fame
It featured the singles I Want Candy, Aaron’s Party (Come Get It) and That’s How I Beat Shaq. Following the album he again supported the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears’ on the Oops!… I Did It Again tour.
As he grew older, Carter transitioned into rap, and also appeared in Broadway musicals and on the US TV show Dancing With The Stars.
He faced a number of struggles, checking in to rehab several times and filing a bankruptcy petition in 2013 over millions of dollars of debt, much of it tax-related.
He also had several run-ins with authorities over drugs possession and reckless driving.
Earlier this year he told the Daily Mail he wanted no longer to be seen as a “train wreck”.
“I am not how some people try to paint me,” he told the outlet. “If somebody wants to call me a train wreck, well I’ve been a train that’s been wrecked multiple times and derailed by many different things.”
Image caption, Aaron Carter is the younger brother of the Backstreet Boys’ Nick
Carter’s son Prince was born in 2021 and according to The Hollywood Reporter he checked into rehab earlier this year in a bid to gain custody of him.
Following the announcement of Carter’s death, Prince’s mother Melanie Martin issued a statement saying she was “still in the process of accepting this unfortunate reality”.
“Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated,” she added.
Fellow ’90s popstars New Kids on the Block paid tribute to Carter, saying they were “shocked and saddened” by his death.
We are shocked and saddened about the sudden passing of Aaron Carter. Sending prayers to the Carter family. Rest in peace, Aaron ❤️ pic.twitter.com/rDUcE4i8Iy
The boos and chants of disapproval drowned the rest of his delivery as he shouted atop his voice.
While the noise grew louder, Dr Bawumiaadded that “there are many people who don’t like good news but this is good news.”
Vice President Dr Bawumia pays homage to the Awomefia, Togbi Sri II.
“Ghanaians are facing a major increase in the cost of living, cost of fuel prices and so on and we have to do more to make sure that we can relieve the burden of Ghanaians,” he added.
Dignitaries including, Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia, Asantehene Otomfuo Osei-Tutu II, Kwahumahene and Ga Mantse graced the occasion.
In September, President Akufo-Addo was also booed at the Global Citizen Festival in Accra with his convoy subsequently suffering a similar fate later in Kumasi.
Akufo-Addo booed massively at the Global Citizen Festival. It’s so fantastic! pic.twitter.com/VZK1yWfElz
In a statement, the NCA said it has not issued any such directives to the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) providers.
“There is currently no medium for registration with Voters ID in the current SIM registration exercise; Ghana Card remains the only ID.”
The NCA was responding to posts on social media by Sam George, Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram and a member of the select committee on Communications.
The authority clarified further that there had been talks concerning the updating of the SIM registration App to allow a temporary use of Voters ID.
It added that “that development effort will take several weeks, if not months, to complete – and the deep dive technical discussions on the integration effort with the MNOs/BWAs have not even been held.”
The NCA noted further that similar efforts with Passport integration have taken more than three months and counting and are still not complete.
“If necessary, the general public will be duly informed when both integration efforts are complete as well as the modalities and conditions of use,” it added.
History repeated itself on November 5, 2022, as scores of Ghanaians trooped to the Obra spot in Accra to hold the “reloaded” version of the Kume Preko demonstration.
The first time the kume preko protest occurred was in 1995 when Dr Charles Wereko Brobbey led some Ghanaians including President Akufo-Addo to protest the harsh economic conditions, experienced under the Jerry John Rawlings-led administration.
The demonstrators – some clad in red and others in black – were baffled over the fact that President Akufo-Addo who was one of the prominent faces behind the first edition of “Kume preko” is in power, yet the economic conditions keep worsening under his watch.
They, thus, have called on him to immediately resign or roll out some measure to alleviate the hardships.
During the demonstration led by lawyer Martin Kpebu, the protestors rolled out a tall list of needs the President should immediately act on.
Key among them was a request for fuel prices to be slashed by 50% within the next 24 hours.
Popular Nigerian pastor, Tobi Adegboyega, has opened up to the general public on how musician, Davido is faring following the death of his son Ifeanyi.
In a post on Instagram, Pastor Tobi indicated that he has been in touch with Davido since the incident.
He believes the ‘If’ hitmaker is slowly getting stronger.
Sharing a picture of himself and Davido, Pastor Tobi wrote “spoke to Davido, the No1 OBO, he is getting stronger, they are both getting stronger.”
“Going to rise from this stronger, more glorious and giving more hope and strength to more people,” he added.
Davido and girlfriend, Chioma Rowland’s son Ifeanyi passed away during the week.
According to early reports, the three-year-old allegedly drowned in his father’s swimming pool in Banana Island, Lagos and was underwater for an unspecified period before he was spotted.
Following the tragic incident, on Tuesday, the Police detained eight domestic staff of the singer for questioning, including the late Ifeanyi’s nanny and cook.
The Police sources said they were not officially arrested but were questioned on the charge of criminal negligence.
A high-ranking Police officer following the case closely, on Wednesday gave Premium Times an update on the ongoing investigation.
According to the officer, six of the eight individuals arrested in connection with the case have been released, and two are still with the Police.
The two, he said, are assisting the Police to shed light on the investigation. The two persons are his nanny and cook.
Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie has stated that it was not part of her plans to become a feminist advocate.
She made this known while speaking at the WIMBIZ Conference, on Friday, November 4, 2022.
According to her, seeing how women were oppressed in society influenced her advocacy.
She said, “I did not set out to be a feminist icon, but I cannot stand the way women are being abused in the society and I feel like I have a platform that can make a difference, no matter how little.
“A woman gathers the courage to leave an abusive marriage, and instead of being comforted and cared for, she’s being oppressed and insulted, even by fellow women. We need to change the narrative.
“People don’t need to like you for the stand you take, all that matters is that you can sleep well at night, knowing that you have done and have said the right thing.”
Chimamanda added that when society oppresses a woman, it limits the woman’s potential to achieve greatness in their lives and in the lives of others.
“If you’re so judged and oppressed as a woman, you can’t conquer the world and be the best you can be,” she added.
A single tweet from Kuami Eugene some weeks ago ignited the claims that he was leaving Lynx Entertainment.
At a time when people were making speculations about his exit, the Ghanaian musician wrote a cryptic message on Twitter.
The Lynx Entertainment artisteannounced that he was leaving: “I try saa say I go stay, buh chaley I for leff. Suro nipa…” he tweeted on October 17, 2022.
A lot of people were confused about his tweet. Later, he announced Empire as his new family.
After Lynx’s explanation about his Empire deal, Kuami revealed who the cryptic tweet was targeted at.
Speaking on 3Music TV/FM’s ‘Culture Daily’ program, the ‘Single’ intimated that the tweet was about his ex-girlfriend.
Kuami Eugene indicated that he took the tweet down because people were reading meanings into it.
According to him, friends, and family members called to verify if he was indeed leaving Lynx Entertainment.
[WATCH]: @KuamiEugene speaks for the first time after he deleted the tweet that suggested that there was trouble in the camp of Lynx & he was on his way out.
Ghanaian actor and comic Jojo Mills-Robertson has stated categorically that he never lived in the UK nor did he sell cocaine, contrary to an old rumour.
Larry Bozzle, host of CTV’s ‘Time with the Stars’ programme, had mentioned the 2009 rumour. He proceeded to give the movie star the opportunity to clear the air.
“I remember a producer called me in the US, when I was going, there was one incident that had taken place where a certain Ago Robertson – a Ga Robertson – I heard he had done a deal and had been arrested in the UK and all that,” he began, speaking predominantly in his native Fante.
“The moment people heard Robertson, they assumed it was me but that was the time I travelled to the US,” he noted, shaking his head. “i was in the US when Kofi Andoh – the producer for Efiewura – called me and asked, ‘Ah, Jojo, I hear you’ve been arrested by the police’.”
In his trademark rib-cracking humour, he recalled asking Kofi Andoh, “Do they have phone numbers in the prison? Do they allow cellphones in prison since it is my cellphone you have called me on?” To make his point, he stressed: “I know there is a phone used by prisoners but they don’t have cellphones.”
The award-winning actor said in that moment on the phone, he made it clear the rumour was false and added: “I was raised like a proper human and not reared like an animal. I don’t live by a philosophy of taking the short way to success.”
Generally, “I don’t like flashy things in life, even birthday celebrations” he pointed out. “I had good examples of hard work from my parents to emulate as I grew so I am not envious of anyone.”
Returning to the earlier allegation he said, “I have never been to the UK, ever, and the UK government can testify to this. I have never stepped a foot in the UK before.”
“So that rumour was totally false. There is nothing that shows I have been to the UK before to engage in such foolishness,” he said.
Seizing the moment as a comic, he joked: “I have not even sold dusting powder before [to consider cocaine].”
Jojo played the lustful and gluttonous Pastor Abraham on the popular Ghanaian television series ‘Efiewura’. His absence from the local movie scene coincided with the rumour he addressed.
Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti has said he won’t mourn the son of singer Davido.
Kuti made the comment in response to a user who accused him of being cold-hearted for sharing an article about hungry children in Nigeria rather than expressing sympathy for the Adeleke family.
Seun shared a screenshot of a report that stated: “Over one in 10 children in Nigeria die before their fifth birthday due to acute hunger-Report,” while Nigerians grieve the loss of Davido‘s son.
In the comment section, several social media users argued that his behavior was inappropriate.
Responding to the comments, he indicated in a video that he wasn’t required to post about the boy to express his grief.
He claimed that since he had never ‘promoted Davido’s accomplishment on his page, his son’s passing shouldn’t have been the first thing he would announce.
He stated that he would rather visit Davido to express his sympathies.
He added that while he had never instructed anyone not to mourn Ifeanyi, others should no longer be told how to grieve.
He emphasised that it is not his nature to ‘publicly grieve the loss of someone’.
DJ Cuppy, the daughter of billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, has disclosed why her father spent a whopping €3 million to rent a luxurious yacht to celebrate his 60th birthday.
The billionaire rented the yacht belonging to late Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, who was once regarded as the richest man in the world.
Mr Otedola, his wife, children, and soon-to-be son-in-law singer, Mr Eazi, were spotted in a video entering the luxurious yacht on Wednesday, November 3.
Taking to her Instagram page on Thursday, Cuppy wrote: “My father Femi Otedola, always dreamt as a little boy to visit the iconic 99m super-yacht Christina O because it was owned by his (and my) role model Aristotle Onassis.
“To celebrate his 60th, not only did he visit the yacht, but has chartered it for his loved ones so we can live here for the next 3 weeks! Looking at my father I can see how happy, accomplished, and still in disbelief he is. This is what love looks like.
Some fans of the rapper, alias Sark Natives, and critics argue that signing to an international label, like some popular Ghanaian music acts have done in recent times, would expand his international audience and enrich his marketability.
The Tema rap star thinks differently, however, and he gave a response in his new rap song called ‘Fraud [Man] In Suit’.
First, he gave the impression record label deals often cheat the artiste and take away from of their freedoms.
“There’s always going to be some fraud [man] in suit, trying to give you some money to stay mute. Always been part of the game, this is not new,” the Ghanaian music superstar spat [Hiphop term for rapping].
“How many be real owners? Just a few,” he highlighted the phenomenon of many artistes not owning their masters or having as much as they may portray to the public.
Michael Owusu Addo, alias Sarkodie, who has in the past featured on Forbes’ list of richest African musicians pointed to what is most important, in his view, for an artiste.
“Buy a beautiful house, trust the view,” he said and warned: “Don’t trust nobody, my [man], trust you. There’s nobody real in the game and that’s true.”
The label business is “a game, [man],” he stressed and noted making one’s own money gives them power to avoid the label scams he earlier mentioned: “We have the money now so [forget] you.”
A rapper who is proverbially the poster boy for the grass-to-grace saying, he, in the typical boastful stance of a rapper proclaimed: “I did it from scratch, I had patience.”
“I had a couple of meetings in Roc Nation,” he revealed.
He proceeded to send “big shouts” to rappers “B Rel and B High,” who gave him “the clues and the right vibration – the blueprint [Jay Z album pun].
“Aside that,” the businessman continued, “they showed me one or two things.”
Disclosing what this advice was, partially, he stated it is important for a rapper to invest in their looks.
“First cheque, you have to buy a few blings [jewelry]: you have to put some diamonds on your cube links. [Forget] what you think,” the two-time BET award-winner matter-of-factly informed.
At this juncture, he openly acknowledged the concerns of his fans regarding signing a record deal.
“You know the fans keep talking, they want me to go high. Come and see me if you want to know why,” he stated with his artistic flair and reminded his fans that even though he is currently an independent act, he has signed record deals before: “This [thing], I’ve been doing it my whole life, so my [man], I’ve been in it for long enough and have tasted both sides.”
Africa’s most decorated rap act, he decried record labels some more.
“All this hype, I’m grown, I’m not moved. Everything is a lie, I swear I have proof,” he said on the 3 minute 16 second freestyle.
“All these record labels are just sucking” up to artistes, Sarkodie further charged and warned label executives are opportunists: “They just want to ride a wave, and that is the sad truth.”
Nicknamed King Sark, he proclaimed: “[I’m the] real definition of a self-made man.”
“How the [heck] did I do it? I have game [highly skilled],” he said and revealed his priorities and inspirations: “I came for the money and not fame. Back to back since the day that I came; get the money like Jay [Z], be a boss like Dame [Dash].”
Much of the song was delivered in Ebonics and Pidgin.
Recently, on a Kalyjay Twitter Space, Senegalese-American record executive Akon revealed his label, Konvict Music, had signed Sarkodie but he “got away” and “we realised that we really couldn’t work with him yet because he just wasn’t mentally ready to go on that level. We just allowed him to continue moving the way he was moving.
“Unfortunately when you have an artiste and you can’t control the artistes or you can’t control the asset to them, it’s hard for you to do what you need to do with them if you don’t have control over him.”
He also said: “Sarkodie was the first artiste that we signed out of Ghana. We had plans to make him so much bigger but I think at the time his agenda was more focusing on Ghana, which worked for him. And I think that it was a plan that worked. I mean, arguably or arguably not – but I know for sure if had he followed our plan, he would have been a global artist without a doubt.
“It is understandable that he was a bit sceptical about going on the global. He had not even really conquered Ghana yet and must have thought he needed time to fully establish himself here. I think the response would have been different if the same opportunity had presented itself a few years or even now. And in any case, it is not as if Sarkodie’s career did not blossom. Without such support, he has still built a solid brand. We must commend him,” he ended.
In 2009, rumours had it that Sarkodie had been signed by Akon.
The 2019 Black Entertainment Television (BET) Best International Flow awardee’s latest album is ‘No Pressure’. He has announced a follow-up to be released on Friday, November 11, 2022.
The Minority in Parliament has served notice that it will move its vote of censure motion against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, on Thursday, November 10, 2022.
The Minority filed the vote on censure against the Minister on grounds of conflict of interest and financial recklessness leading to the current economic crisis.
“The motion of censure is slated to be moved on Thursday, the 10th of November 2022, and the Minority Chip Whip, Mubarak Muntaka has sounded a note of caution to all Minority MPs that all 136 minority MPs must be in the chamber on Thursday, so any member who absents himself does so at his own risk.”
Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim added that the Finance Ministerhas been duly served and will be in the Chamber to defend himself.
The grounds the Minority cites for the vote of censure are:
Despicable conflict of interest ensuring that he directly benefits from Ghana’s economic woes as his companies receive commissions and other unethical contractual advantages, particularly from Ghana’s debt overhang.
Unconstitutional withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund in blatant contravention of Article 178 of the 1992 Constitution, supposedly for the construction of the President’s Cathedral:
Illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts, in flagrant violation of Article 176 of the 1992 Constitution:
Deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament 5. Fiscal recklessness leading to the crash of the Ghana Cedi which is currently the worst-performing currency in the world:
Alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude, resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy and an excruciating cost of living crisis;
Gross mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy which as occasioned untold and unprecedented hardship
I can turn economy around
Meanwhile, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is fighting to save his job and has called on Ghanaians to trust in his competence and ability to rescue Ghana’s ailing economy.
Speaking at a meeting with the Association of Ghana Industries, Mr. Ofori-Atta said Ghana remains the best destination to do business.
“Let me assure you that you have a Finance Ministerwho has gone through all the pains and the aches, and nobody can really say we don’t understand what we are doing. The question is what resources do we have and how are we going to deploy them in the nation that we have and how do we stand firm in very difficult circumstances but being very confident?”
“Let me assure you all that your best bet is still Ghana; we can do it, and we should do it,” the embattled Finance Minister said.
The Member of Parliament (MP)for Asuogyaman, has urged Parliament to consider sitting twice a week instead of the regime of four times; due to fuel hikes facing the country.
This, Thomas Nyarko Ampem said, would enable members of the House to save some money that would have been used by them to buy fuel (which was now very costly) for shuttling to and from Parliament.
Mr Ampem made the suggestion on the floor of the House on Friday in his contribution during presentation of the Business Statement of the House for the week ending Friday, November 11.
“Mr Speaker, we all know that the main business for this particular meeting is the budget and I have observed that for the days we have been here, sometimes, we come and in less than two hours we adjourned till the next day.
“I am asking whether it will be possible for the Business Committee to consolidate, park the activities; so, instead of four days, we come for two days in a week, to enable us to save on the amount of money we are using for fuel,” Mr Ampem stated.
“Because, Mr Speaker, a day before yesterday, I went to a Goil Filling Station at Legon, my lights were on, and I asked them to fill my tank. I got down to the shop to buy something when I came back, GH¢3000 was my bill.
“Mr Speaker, I had only GH¢2,100 on me, and I had to call my colleague Honourable Yussif Jajah Issaka (MP for Ayawaso North) to send me money through the momo that I am avoiding using before I was able to pay my bill.
“So, Mr Speaker, looking at the kind of business that we have, is it not possible, because we can stay for six hours a day instead of coming for two hours and we go back.
“We drive to this place and two hours, we go back. Even if it is eight hours, we will be willing to stay to do the business for like two-days. That way, we can save GH¢500 of fuel every week.”
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, who presented the Business Statement of the House, in his response to Mr Ampem, said they all recognised that fuel prices had gone up; saying, “I mean, we are all in this country, we all buy fuel, and we know that fuel prices have indeed gone up.”
“Of course, we may disagree on the course, but I will relate it to the price at the international level, I know that crude price now has gone up, it is escalating dramatically, we do know.”
He said that the other factor responsible for the fuel price hikes was the strength of the Ghana Cedis, now.
The Majority Leader said a combination of the two factors were responsible for the fuel price hikes.
“When we are in dire circumstances that is when we are called upon to increase productivity. And for a Member of Parliament to say that we should be working just two days in week, Mr Speaker, that is a very apocalyptic declaration from the Member of Parliament,” Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said.
“What would be the effect on national productivity? And what would be the effect on GDP (gross domestic product)? I think that it is an unfortunate call on us that we should be working just two days in a week.”
A former Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Kojo Bonsu, has said it will be easier for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to win the 2024 elections if he is elected the flagbearer of the party.
“I’ve told you that as an Ashanti that will bring the votes; it will add on because Ashantis want their own as the leader,” he explained in an interview with Raymond Acquah on UpFront.
According to him, there are available data to show that if the NDC gets more votes in the Ashanti region, it will easily win the 2024 polls – and he believes this is one of the key reasons he must be considered to lead the party.
Kojo Bonsu earlier this year declared his intention to run for the NDC flagbearer race at the Manhyia Palace during the Akwasidae Festival where he sought the blessings of the Asantehene to emerge the first Ashanti flagbearer of NDC.
“If I am the leader, we will win easily. [If I am not], we still will work hard and win but it will be easier if I lead. It is data, it is there, the votes are there. If you get more votes in Ashanti, you win the elections easily. This is no rocket science,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, former Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffuor has also announced his intent to lead the NDC in the 2024 election.
He announced on Thursday in a Facebook post, saying he is prepared to contest for the flagbearship position of the party when nominations are opened.
“Today, I officially announce my intention to contest for the flagbearship of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) anytime the party opens nominations. I will offer myself once again to serve the land of my birth with humility and sacrifice when given the chance to do so,” he said.
Is Mahama contesting?
Former President John Mahama says he has not decided whether he will lead the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)in the 2024 elections.
In an interview with the Voice of America (VOA) he said since the party is yet to make that decision in 2023, it would be premature for him to announce his intentions.
According to him, “It’s good to keep your opponent guessing so even if I am not running, I am not going to say I am not running.”
“A decision would be taken early next year in the first quarter; that’s when we hold our party’s primaries for the presidential candidacy and we’d see,” he added.
According to him, he would not have any problem if the NDC does not choose him as the 2024 flagbearer.
“The party decides. If the party thinks I should [be the flagbearer], why not? My country has given me so much… educated me, made me who I am. I will not deprive the people of that choice if I have to and so it depends on what the party thinks is best for us.
“It’s to win the election of 2024 and if we have to have a candidate other than me, I don’t have a problem with it,” he told Uganda-based NBS television.
Organisers of “KumePreko”demonstration scheduled for today, Saturday, November 05, have cautioned protesters against any act that will mar the essence of the demonstration.
The Organisers said they would not countenance any act of violence, warning they would round up any person or group of persons found engaging in such acts and hand them over to law enforcement agencies.
Addressing a news conference in Accra on Friday ahead of the demonstration, Nii Ayi Opare, Spokesperson of the Economic Fighters League and a member of the Organisers of the “Kume Preko” demo, gave the assurance that the protest would be peaceful.
The demonstration is to among other things, register displeasure over the prevailing economic difficulties as well as demand the resignation of the leadership of the Government.
Nii Opare said the Organisers had notified the Police as per the Public Order Act, and that demonstration routes had also been agreed on.
“Today’s demonstration is going to be a peaceful one and I want to place on record that, the youth of Ghana are law abiding and peace-lovers. No one has to look far from the three main demonstrations under ‘fix the country’ banner. All three that we’ve had were peaceful and without any incident with the police or without.
“To those few elements who are planning to use this demonstration to cause trouble, to engage in any violent activity whatsoever, this is not the space for you, indeed, you will be rooted out by your own and handed over directly to the State institutions to take proper action against you,” he said.
Giving details about the agreed route, Nii Opare said the protesters would converge at the Obra Spot at Kwame Nkrumah Circle at 0700hrs, and march through the 28th February Road to Farisco Junction and then through the Liberia Road to the Independence Square.
Mr Martin Kpebu, the Lead Organiser, said the demonstration had become necessary due to the unprecedented economic hardship currently facing the country.
“It’s clear to you, I mean from the hardship we are all suffering daily, that this country is in an economic quagmire. We’re falling into a deep crater as a result of the reckless borrowing and other forms of mis-governance by President Akufo-Addo.
“We are dying. Citizens are dying, citizens can’t afford food, citizens are starving all because of mal-governance by President Akufo-Addo,” he said.
He asked the leadership of the government to step down, stressing that the prevailing economic challenges were enough reasons for the President and his Vice to resign from office.
“We can’t continue to have this family and friends business. We can’t afford it, not when citizens are dying over 50 pesewas. Now the price of koko has moved from one cedi to three cedis, boflot from one cedi to two cedis, a gallon of oil from GHS500 to GHS1200, and so on and so forth.
“Cement, yes before I forget GHS96 , how on earth? What have we done to deserve this, people of Ghana?”
“What have we done to deserve this? Why? Should we continue to allow this to happen? We can’t take it anymore. We can’t survive this for the next few years. The cause of the problem must leave, that is President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia,” Mr Kpebu said.
Mr Adib Saani, a Security Analyst and a member of the Organisers, stressed that under no circumstance should any protester be armed.
He also urged them to adhere to agreed routes for the protest and avoid confrontations with the security officials.
The Police says it has prosecuted the Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis Xavier Sosufor reckless and inconsiderate driving.
According to a Facebook post by the Police, the MPwas arrested on November 3 after he was spotted driving in the middle of the road around the Airport by-pass in a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicle with registration number GB-9776-21.
His action, the Police said was risking the lives of pedestrians and other road users.
The law enforcement agency proceeded to impound the MP’s vehicle and arraigned him before the La District Court on November 4 on the charges of reckless and inconsiderate driving, driving in the middle of the road facing oncoming traffic and causing danger to other road users.
The post added that the MP has since been fined an amount of GHC2,400 by the Court.
The Court further directed him to remove the front siren lights on his vehicle which the Police say had been unlawfully fitted.
The MP has been made to pay the fine and with supervision from the Police, he has removed the sirens and his vehicle has also been released to him.
“We would like to entreat all drivers to be mindful of the safety of other road users at all times to prevent avoidable accidents and their associated deaths and injuries, especially as the Christmas season approaches,” the Police said.
He made the claim on his Facebook page on Friday, November 4, 2022, and used the opportunity to take a dig at President Nana Akufo-Addo and his much-hyped Planting for Food and Jobs programme.
Mahama said the programme has been “grossly mismanaged,” hence has not been able to achieve its target.
Mr. Mahamabemoaned that the country is faced with 30% treasury bill rates, adding that local investors are suffering from huge risks.
According to him, the country is grappling with massive reverse capital flows as investors lose their money on a regular basis.
“Ghana is on record as having the highest food inflation in the World at 122%, notwithstanding the much outed but grossly mismanaged Planting for Food and Jobs programme. We are grappling with treasury bill rates of about 30% as local investors in our financial instruments suffer huge risks associated with lending to the government. We are also experiencing massive reverse capital flows as investors lose what is left of their confidence in our economy and pull out in droves,” he posted on Facebook.
But the food inflation figure Mahama alleged does not correspond with the official figures announced by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
Planting for Food and Jobs is a flagship agricultural Campaign of the Government, with five (5) implementation modules. The first module PFJ (Crops) aimed at promoting food security and immediate availability of selected food crops on the market and also providing jobs.
He noted that Ghana still remains an attractive investment destination for investors.
“Despite all these problems, we still manage to find the good things to project outside there, and for that reason, we’re still really loud on the minds of many investors,” he is quoted by myjoyonline.com.
“I mean times are rough but we are still good to go for the future. Ghana is never going to collapse; Ghana is going to come back stronger and build better. And I’m very confident of that because of where I sit,” he added.
Yofi Grant further disclosed that players in the real estate and Fintech space are willing to do business in Ghana due to the positive business climate the country has.
He said, “I’m seeing businesses that are willing to do real estate and data centers because they think Ghana is the best country despite everything; to scale up on ICT, especially Fintech. And beyond that, we are seeing people [foreign investors] who are coming in to do agriculture and manufacturing because they believe that with our policies, we have our Ghana which will be a good place to scale up production and value addition.”
“So, the interest is there, even in the 1D1F we are seeing foreign interest coming significantly. And so, there are opportunities,” he added.
29 players are expected to be dropped from the Black Stars ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
Otto Addo, who is the head coach for the side has released a 55-man provisional squad for the Mundial that is scheduled to kick off later this month in Qatar.
A final 26-man squad is expected to be announced for the tournament on November 14.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars will officially open camp on November 10 in Abu Dhabi and will take on Switzerland on November 17.
Ghana, who are making their fourth appearance at the global showpiece has been housed in Group H.
The Black Stars 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 its group stage adventure with its much-anticipated encounter with Uruguay at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.
According to him, the country’s flagship Planting for Food and Jobs programme which was highly spoken of by the government has been mismanaged.
He wrote on his official page on November 4, 2022, “Ghana has the highest food inflation in the world at 122%, notwithstanding the much-touted but grossly mismanaged Planting for Food & Jobs programme.”
The former president also bemoaned the low patronage of the government’s financial instrument as T-bills remain undersubscribed.
“We are grappling with t-bill rates of about 30% as local investors in financial instruments suffer huge risks,” he added.
A World Bank report has revealed that Ghana is number one among countries with the highest food prices in Sub-Saharan Africa since January 2022.
The report noted that Ghana has experienced very rapid food price increases this year, breaching the “inflation ceiling of the central bank target bands for all countries with an explicit nominal anchor.”
Ghana’s inflation has been largely influenced by food, transportation, and fuel.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service, the country’s current inflation rate stands at an all-time high of 33.9% as of August 2022.
Food inflation alone was 34.4%, higher than the national average.
The drivers of food inflation in Ghana are Oils and Fats (67%); Fish and Other Seafood (42.9%); Water (42%); Cereal products (40%); Milk, Diary Products, and Eggs (39.7%), Fruits and Vegetable Juices (37.7%) and Live Animals and Meat (34.5%). All of the items recorded inflation rates higher than the national average of 33.9%.
Columbus Crew attacker Yaw Yeboah has been named in Ghana’s 55 man provisional squad for the 2022 World Cup.
The former Wisła Kraków attacker was left out of Ghana’s September international friendly games against Brazil and Nicaragua.
Yaw Yeboah received his first call up on 26 August 2016, for a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Rwanda and a friendly against Russia.
He made the bench for the match against Russia but failed to make an appearance. Yeboah made his senior debut with the Ghana national team in a friendly 1–0 loss to Namibia on 9 June 2019.
Yeboah was also a member of Ghana’s U-20 team. He was awarded “most valuable player” in the 2015 African U-20 Championship scoring two goals. He then played in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, making four appearances and scoring two goals, both from penalties.
The Black Stars of Ghana will take on Switzerland in their final international friendly game on November 17th before flying to Doha, Qatar.
Ghana is in Group H with Portugal, South Korea, and Uruguay.
Visibly angry passengers travelling to parts of the country were stranded for hours after all the commercial drivers refused to ply the various routes.
Tempers flared up when the drivers imposed new lorry fares, which the passengers refused to pay, and were thus stranded at the station for hours.
According to the drivers, they could not wait any longer for the official announcement of transport fares because of the increase in petroleum prices in the country.
As at the time of filing this report, traveling activities in the municipality had resumed, but taxis for instance charged GhC35 from Wenchi to Sunyani, instead of GhC25
The drivers operating from Wenchi to Kumasi also charged GHS 65 instead of the GHS 55 fare.
Some of the passengers who said they could not afford to pay the new lorry fares were, however, sighted bargaining with the drivers.
They therefore appealed to the government to engage the transport unions and other relevant stakeholders for standard and reasonable transport fares in the interest of both drivers and passengers.
“The lorry fares are too much. Though we all understand the situation, the drivers are cheating us, and something must be done urgently,” John Abass, a teacher traveling from Wenchi to Sunyani stated.
Another passenger, Madam Ama Konadu, a yam seller regretted that the new lorry fares had affected luggage charges too by 100 per cent and called on the GPRTU to intervene for reduction of the luggage charges.
“I am traveling to sell the yams at the Nana Bosoma Central Market in Sunyani, but I can’t afford to pay the charges for the yams because the amount is too outrageous,” she said.
The two clubs today locked horns at the Theatre of Dreams FC in Dawu to kick off matchday 5 of the ongoing 2022/23 Ghanaian top-flight league campaign.
While Dreams FC would do well in the early minutes of the game, the team could not find the back of the net.
Eventually, Tamale City grew into the game and put together a series of good plays.
However, the visiting team just like the hosts struggled to create good goal-scoring chances and could not find the back of the Dreams FC net.
Despite a lot of action in the second half, both teams had to settle for a goalless draw at the end of the 90 minutes to share the spoils one point apiece.
The draw leaves Dreams FC 7th on the Ghana Premier League table while Tamale City FC continues to battle an early relegation fight.
Mr. Tetteh, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tema on the effect of the economic meltdown on the industry, said most construction companies were either downsizing their workforce or shutting down completely as they could no longer cope with the repercussions of frequent and inconsistent price hikes.
He added: “The construction industry is hit hard by the current economic hardship, so as businesspeople either you are laying off some of your workers or trying to strategize to just break even or sometimes record a complete loss on a project.”
He added that cement has moved from below GHs50.00 to between GHs80.00 and GHs85.00 depending on the area it was being sold within the same period of four months.
The MD stated that “for instance, we are doing a project at Abetifi, and I can tell you that within a week, sand that we were buying at GHs1,800.00 moved to GHs2,500.00 and now GHs3,100.00 per 20 cubic trucks.”
He said chippings also increased over the period from GHs3,000.00 through GHS 4,500 and currently selling at GHs5,500, lamenting that, “these are astronomical increases that you cannot keep as a contractor, it has a huge bearing on the cost of the project.”
He said looking at the enormous difference in the cost of building materials which translates to more than 50 percent of additional cost in variations on a project, most of the works that they were handling had stalled as clients were unable to pay for certificates raised after works.
Mr. Tetteh indicated that the implication of that was job loss, and confusion between clients, workers, and contractors as it has become difficult to pay the salaries of workers as clients were yet to fulfill their payment requirements.
“I can tell you that a lot of construction companies are folding up, or they have downsized the number of workers; at this time laying people off is an exceedingly difficult thing to do, which is not easy for the employer.
“Workers are also asking for increments at the same time, the work itself is not there, we are in very trying and difficult times,” he stressed.
Former Black Stars midfielder, Sulley Muntari says he is looking for Medeama SC owner Moses Armah Parker to apologize to him.
Sulley Muntari reportedly slapped Moses Parker during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as a result of a misunderstanding.
The former midfielder for AC Milan and Inter Milan has since regretted the incident and is ready to express his apologies in person to Mr. Parker.
“I don’t disrespect elders so it will take a lot of things for me to react unfortunately, he was sitting in front of me and things got really bad. Immediately it happened, and I felt really bad,” he told Dan Kwaku Yeboah TV.
“I wasn’t thinking just about him but his daughter, his family, his wife, and all those things. It’s not right for someone to disrespect their father. I’ve looking for him to apologize to him for my behavior at that time but I have not seen him yet,”
“I will use this opportunity to apologize to him. I disgraced him and made people ridicule him. It was not intentional to do something like that. Whenever I see him, I will find a way to apologize to him directly. He is an elder and I’ve been looking for him for a long time. I’ve no bad feelings about him. It was not him but the situation,” he added.
“I never had the chance to talk to him but I don’t think I had problems with him during the World cup. It was a pile of a lot of things that led to me bursting out. I’m someone who doesn’t talk and when I work, I work really hard,”
The Minority Caucus in Parliament demanded an immediate restitution of around $100 million that they said the government had taken from the Petroleum Fund.
The Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, was allegedly accused by the caucus of ceding shares from the 2021 Occidental (OXY) agreement pertaining to the Jubilee and TEN Fields to an offshore entity called Jubilee Holdings.
John Abdulai Jinapor, the ranking member of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, said the action was taken without parliamentary approval when the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare, and State Enterprises’ report on the audited financial statements of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) for the 2019 and 2020 fiscal years was discussed on the floor of the legislature.
“Mr. Speaker, if you go to page 2, subsidiaries of GNPC…nowhere is Jubilee Holdings mentioned here. The Minority, therefore, demands that the $100 million that has been transferred by the Finance Minister to Jubilee Holdings as captured in the PIAC Report, that money must, with immediate effect, be paid back into the Petroleum Holding Fund as envisaged in the Petroleum Revenue Management Act,” he said.
That, he claimed, was in contravention of “Act 919 of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act which states categorically in Section 15 and Section 32 that before GNPC could borrow such an amount they need Parliamentary approval, and they don’t have the approval.”
“Mr. Speaker, through our leader, Haruna Iddrisu, we intend to elevate this particular issue to its highest level. We cannot allow the nation’s resources to be dissipated in such a manner,” Mr. Jinapor said.
Corroborating with the Minority’s allegations, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader, called on the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament to probe the alleged diversion of the Fund.
“Mr. Speaker, we are requesting the Committee on Mines and Energy and Committee on Employment to probe further because the PIAC Report 2022 recommends that the proceeds of liftings by Jubilee Oil should be paid into the Petroleum Holding Fund as the Committee is convinced that the proceeds form part of Ghana’s petroleum revenue,” he said.
“Significantly, Jubilee Holding is not listed as a subsidiary, so how come they will be holding up to $100 million of state resources?” Mr. Iddrisu asked.
The Institute for Energy Security(IES) has called on government to revive the Tema Oil Refinery(TOR) in the shortest possible time amid the increasing fuel prices.
A statement issued by the IES on Thursday said the public ought to be updated on the status of the negotiation between TOR and the strategic partner announced some months ago, in respect of the time the refinery is re-commencing operation after several months of inactivity.
“Government’s sudden appetite for imported fuels to address reliability and cost-related issues can best be described as reactionary, morally indefensible, misplaced priority, and a deliberate attempt to increase the fiscal burden of the Ghanaian economy. It must be stated forcefully that “the state is better off prioritizing local crude refining, instead of importation of refined products.”
“Once more, the Institute for Energy Security (IES) wishes to appeal to the President to look within— bring back TOR in the shortest possible time, refine Ghana’s crude domestically, work to strengthen the local currency, and ensure an adequate amount of Dollars is made available to importers of fuel,” IES said.
In January 2019, the government announced an ambitious plan to build a new oil refinery to replace the Tema Oil Refinery within the next three to four years.
Price of a liter of Diesel and Petrol has seen an astronomical increase of roughly 79 percent and 95 percent respectively.
Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) increased fuel prices thrice in a single pricing-window, a cumulative 46 percent for Diesel and 37 percent for Petrol.
Some Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs) declined to release fuel to the Ghanaian market, forcing some companies to shut down temporary.
GUTA at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 hinted of a shortage of goods ahead of the festive season, citing the high cost of imports.
It said the containers coming out of the ports are nothing to write home about.
Public Relations Officer, Joseph Paddy told the media that people were not improving because of the rising cost of duty and freight charges as a result of the depreciation of the cedi.
“Containers that are coming out of the port are nothing good to write home about. People are not importing, people are keeping their money because if you import you can’t sell and break even or even maximize. So what we are going to see in the shortest possible time we are going to see a shortage of goods” he said.
“They prefer to keep their money in Treasury bills rather than import and lose”, he added.
Responding to GUTA’s assertion on Atinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie with Ekourba Gyasi Simpremu, Mr Michael Okyere Baafi was unhappy with GUTA, saying that they (GUTA) just causing fear and panic to the public.
“These are some of the things GUTA sometimes does, and we do not agree with them, and they also do not agree with us.” We have a very good working relationship with them, we engage them behind the scenes and meet with them. Sometimes, when you put these things out there, it creates a lot of tension. It creates a lot of unnecessary problems in the system. “You put it out there that GUTA warns of a shortage of goods ahead of Christmas, that is not a good statement to make.” “When it happens like that, you create fear and panic and unnecessary tension in the system,” he fumed.
Mr Michael Okyere Baafi said even if it was a fact and GUTA had something to say, they should have directed it to the Trade Ministry, adding that putting it in the public was not ideal because it may be that it is just a few of the traders who do not have the means to purchase goods from outside the country.
Based on what GUTA has stated, the Minister said those who import or sell goods and already have some available may start to hoard them with the intention of releasing them during Christmas.
“You cannot make those statements out there; when it happens like that, it creates unnecessary tension, and that is not what we want.”
“We all want the country to develop, but that is not the way to go,” he said. He explained that this is why the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo engaged the Bank of Ghana on the dollar rate so that the traders could go purchase.
He even said sometimes, the Bank of Ghana auctions the “dollars” for the traders to get easy access to the currency.
“When you go to the Bank of Ghana, you can get some to buy your goods, but you haven’t gone to see if you’ll get any, and you’re saying you’re not getting dollars.” “I do not believe it is appropriate,” he stated.
The Institute for Energy Security (IES) wants the government to immediately revive the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to facilitate the refinery and selling of petroleum products at an affordable rate.
The call comes amidst recent, incessant hikes in the price of petroleum products in the country.
IES believes restoring the operations of TOR will significantly mitigate the challenges associated with pricing fuel.
“So soon we seem to have forgotten about the mandate of TOR, and the dream of our founding father Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, for Ghana’s petroleum industry and the economy as a whole. That is fair! But what about President Akufo-Addo’s plan for TOR, which he re-echoed on May Day 2022?” the group questioned in a statement.
The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) used to be the country’s vibrant and only oil refinery, established in 1963 to enhance the country’s economic, investment and development programmes.
However, it has been hobbled by repeated shutdowns in the last four years, often due to shortages in available crude after its main lender, Ghana Commercial Bank, cut off support due to unpaid debts.
In a statement expressing its displeasure, the IES lamented the fact that TOR has been abandoned while the country struggles to secure fuel at an affordable rate.
Also reacting to President Akufo-Addo’s announcement that the government will be looking for reliable and regular sources of affordable petroleum products, the IES questioned why Ghana (an oil producing country with a refinery capacity of 45,000 barrels per stream day) would have its top government officials abandon its domestic competitive advantage, and rather seek to import refined petroleum products elsewhere, in the name of reliability and affordability.
This is not the first time the IES is calling on the government to revive TOR. In June 2022, IES asked President Akufo-Addo to immediately restore the operations of the organisation.
While appealing to the government, the IES also criticised the Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, and said he has so far failed to execute the required leadership required to restore TOR.
The group was baffled over the fact that an oil-producing country like Ghana, with a refinery capacity of 45,000 barrels per stream day, is now comfortable with importing petroleum products.
It further called on the government to update the public on the progress of negotiations aimed at restoring the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).
“It may interest Ghanaians to know the status of the negotiation between TOR and the strategic partner announced some months ago, and for that matter, when the refinery is re-commencing operation after several months of inactivity,” IES concluded.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has disclosed the major challenge hampering the completion of the Pwalugu Multipurpose dam.
In 2019, President Akufo-Addo cut sod for the construction of the project. It was expected to be completed within four years. However, the progress of the project has since stalled.
Speaking on Wednesday, November 2, at the launch of the Northern Development Authority’s five-year strategic plan in Tamale, he attributed the delay in completing the project to financial constraints.
He, however, said the government will not relent in its quest to make the project a success.
“Even though the project is facing financial challenges, we are determined to find the resources to complete the construction of the dam.”
Upon completion, the Pwalugu dam will be the largest investment any government has ever injected into infrastructure expansion in the northern sector since Ghana’s independence, according to President Akufo-Addo.
During the commissioning of the project, President Akufo-Addo further indicated that it was in fulfillment of a pledge he made to the Ghanaian people on February 21.
Upon completion, it will also “avert the perennial flooding caused by the spillage of the Bagre Dam”, as the construction of the dam will be the permanent solution to the problem of spillage from the Bagre Dam.
About the Pwalugu Dam
The multipurpose Pwalugu dam will be built near the Pwalugu Bridge on the White Volta River and will have a maximum reservoir area of 350 km.
The project will also have a powerhouse consisting of two turbines with a capacity of 60MW each and 16.5MW of firm continuous capacity, as well as a 15km overhead line which will export power to an existing transmission line.
The construction of the dam will be funded with a loan from China, where it will take about three and a half years to complete.
The project will also come with a 25,000 irrigation scheme which will boost annual rice production by up to 117,000 tonnes and maize by up to 49,000 tonnes in the country. Other plants included in the anticipated production boost are crops like tomatoes, sugar, sweet potato, sweet pepper, and onions.
Additionally, the project will serve as a source of electricity and also help to improve irrigation farming in local communities in the farming area.
Formerly known as Jamilla, burgeoning Ghanaian songstress Jameella Jè marks the beginning of her new journey with “Come Thruu” featuring KaySo and Kwesi Arthur.
Born in Syracuse, New York, Jameella Jè started singing at the tender age of 3 when she discovered her passion for music. From the start of her musical career, the singer/songwriter/rapper has constantly proven to be a distinct artiste with her own unique approach to the craft.
Having come a long way from releasing freestyle singles to gracing billboards in Times Square, Jameella Jè looks forward to achieving even more milestones with her reintroduction.
After taking a much-needed break from music, Jameella Jè seeks to reintroduce herself with the KaySo-produced comeback single “Come Thruu” which features
“Come Thruu” is an unapologetically sexy bop, composed of intoxicating melodies and vocals delivered by Jameella Jè and KaySo, aptly complemented by Kwesi Arthur’s classic rap flow and punchlines.
Along with undergoing a thorough rebrand, Ms. Jè has been working tirelessly on her “GUDA” EP, which is projected to drop in early 2023.
Media and entertainment entrepreneur, Baba Sadiq has cleared the air on his presumed feud with singer, King Promise.
Early this year, Baba Sadiq announced that he is blacklisting the singer from any of his shows and his music videos will not be aired on his TV station either.
According to Baba Sadiq, the singer has defaulted on playing shows at his event, even accepting a part payment at one time and still refusing to show up.
But in a recent tweet, the founder of the 3Music Networks, 3Music Awards and Wildaland Festival claimed that he doesn’t have any issue with the singer.
His latest statement was in response to Derry Napoleon on Twitter.
“For starters, my channel di3 all his videos are off. There is nothing I am involved in, whether directly or remotely that will involve him. Maybe the awards board can choose to have him. It’s their power but personally, I am off any King Promise agenda,” he wrote in dated November 4, 2022.
The entrepreneur said King Promise continues to get airtime on his media against his initial outburst but he (King Promise) needs to reposition himself to get maximum returns on his work output.
Check out the tweet below:
Dear @IamKingPromise please try and talk out to settle which issues u have with @sadiqabdulaiabu chale.. U doing amazing outside and like only @3musicnetworks go talk about, now Dem too minding Dem business… It’s slow chale… @jayfoley2131 Please Sir do something
At the end of October 2022, a measuring bowl of salt that had previously cost GHC 20.00 in the Bolgatanga market was selling for GHC 30, while the price of a packet of Annapurna iodated salt, which had previously cost GHC 3.50, was now GHC 5.
A bowl of local rice, which was sold at GHC 16.00 in September is currently GHC 25 and a bowl of yellow or white maize sold at GCH 8 presently sells at GHC 12 while a small paint bucket of corn dough has gone up from GHC 20 to GHC 30 and millet selling at GHC 16 from GHC12 within the same period.
Madam Louisa Awuni, a trader at the grain market in the new market was not surprised at the price trends and indicated that the most preferred Binaba beans was sold at GHC 30 per the measuring ‘olonka’ bowl from the old price of GHC25.
A bucket of fresh small sized onions is sold at GHC 50 and tomatoes at the same quantity are GHC 50.
Among the emerging fresh food commodities in the region are Frafra potatoes and a bowl cost GHC 15.00, while three small tubers of yam are sold at GHC 20.00, and a single medium sized yam also goes for GHS 10 while five fingers of raw plantain cost GHS 10.
A bowl of raw ground nuts is currently GHC 38 from the September price of GHC25.
Fresh levy vegetables also cost more, because the rains stopped earlier than expected a handful of kenaf leaves known as ‘Batu’s GHC 2, cabbages range between GHC five to GHC 10, depending on the size and a single cucumber also ranges between three to five Cedis.
At the fresh meat stands one kilogramme of beef has risen from GHC17 Ghana to GHC 20.
The action of the transport operators has left numerous passengers stranded.
According to Angel News sources, many passengers were seen in long queues at the Circle Neoplan Station however, there were no transport operators to attend to them.
Prior to this, some frustrated drivers in the Greater Accra Region warned that they would not wait for price adjustment notices from their mother organisations anymore.
They bemoaned that no one issues alert when there is increase in fuel prices therefore, they will not wait on the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to engage with government on the upward adjustment percentage.
An obviously angry driver in an interview on Accra-based TV3 declared that things will be simple henceforth. He explained that when commercial drivers go to the filling stations and fuel prices have increased, they will just increase their fares as well so passengers should not await any announcement henceforth.
These frustrations are coming at a time when prices of fuel products have gone up again at the pumps.
Fuel prices saw an upward adjustment twice in October 2022 which has compelled transport operators to even the score by increasing fares twice in less than two months.
Social media has been buzzing with comments following a video of a young man who rode on a bike with his bride on their wedding day.
In a TikTok video posted by @Mujunimedardmujuni, the man proudly mounted the bike alongside his wife and the chief bridesmaid.
It appears the bride and the groom were on their way to the wedding venue. The lady wore a veil, while the man was dressed in a suit and tie.
However, it is not yet known if the man is an Okada rider or if he and his wife just decided to ride on a bike on their big day.
TikTok users send congratulatory messages
Social media users are impressed by the humility of the bride for agreeing to be carried on a bike on her day. They also praised the man for being wise instead of showing off unnecessarily.
@patmore 77 said:
“In love with the special car. God bless your marriage.”
cissy Akky reacted:
“That’s what we call true love in capital letters.”
@kansi44 said:
“No one really can provide a car for transport. Happy marriage.”
@CJEMO reacted:
“Enjoyment as long as you alive.”
@Gretchen Rayfai62 said:
“Done, it’s really special.”
@user8867290433852 said:
“Woow long live and have a happy marriage.”
@donnashuemate commented:
“Wow! l love you both. You all are wonderful. Keep it up. I’m happy for you all. Please stay together.”
@jazjohnson999 said:
“Have a blessed marriage.”
Meanwhile, a Nigerian lady identified as Michael Ozioma Helen caused a huge stir on social media as she announced the cancellation of her wedding ceremony barely three days to the occasion – it was supposed to hold on Saturday, April 16.
Sharing her wedding invitation card with a ‘CALLED OFF’ boldly written across it in red, Helen opened up in a lengthy Facebook post that she has been suffering domestic violence at the hands of her would-be husband David Okiki.
The lady said trouble started in her relationship after David paid her bride price. According to Helen, she had thought she knew him well owing to the fact that they were former secondary school mates.
Actress Lena Horne has become the first black woman to have a Broadway theatre named in her honour.
The theatre, on West 47th Street, was built in 1926 and is currently hosting the hit British musical Six.
It comes a couple of weeks after another Broadway theatre was named after Star Wars actor James Earl Jones.
Horne, who died in 2010, battled racial segregation to win a major Hollywood film contract and later found international fame as a singer.
She later became the first black woman to be nominated for a Tony Award, Broadway theatre’s highest honour, for her starring role in the 1957 calypso musical Jamaica.
In 1981, she received a special Tony Award for Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, a one-woman Broadway show in which she sang and discussed the ups and downs of her life.
“She opened so many doors for us that we as people of colour can thank her for being a beacon of light,” singer and actress Vanessa Williams told ABC News.
Horne’s granddaughter, Jenny Lumet, attended Wednesday night’s unveiling and said she was overwhelmed by the honour.
“I didn’t quite realise how emotional it was until I started speaking about it,” she said.
“My grandmother would’ve pretended not to be as thrilled as she was. But she would have been completely, completely thrilled.”
Image source, ReutersImage caption, The venue’s billboard was officially unveiled on Wednesday
Born in 1917, Horne got her start in the chorus line of Harlem’s famed Cotton Club when she was a teenager. She soon became a popular singer, and MGM signed her to star in its movie musicals in 1942.
She was not the first black woman to land a studio contract – MGM had signed actress Nina Mae McKinney for five years in 1929 – but she was the first to make an impact.
In 1943, she played Selina Rogers in the all-black film musical Stormy Weather, and the title song became both a major hit and her signature tune.
However, she never became a fully-fledged film star. She later recalled that her appearances in all-star musicals like Two Girls And A Sailor and Ziegfeld Follies often amounted to a few minutes of screen time that could be easily cut when the movies played in America’s southern states.
When Horne’s contract ended, she became a successful theatre star, recording artist and civil rights advocate, taking part in the historic March on Washington in 1963 where Martin Luther King delivered his “I have a dream” speech.
She won four Grammy Awards, including a lifetime achievement prize in 1989, while her 1957 live album, Lena Horne at the Waldorf-Astoria, was the best-selling record by a female singer in RCA Victor’s history.
When actress Halle Berry became the first black woman to win a best actress Oscar in 2002, she cited Horne as a pioneer who had paved the way for her breakthrough.
However, Horne often downplayed the scale of her achievements.
“I was unique in that I was a kind of black that white people could accept,” she once said.
“I was their daydream. I had the worst kind of acceptance because it was never for how great I was or what I contributed. It was because of the way I looked.”
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Stormy Weather was one of Lena Horne’s best-received films
The newly-christened Lena Horne Theater was originally the Mansfield Theater. It was renamed in honour of the New York Times critic Justin Brooks Atkinson in 1960.
Horne’s name was selected to fulfil a promise made by Broadway’s three biggest landlords when black artists pressed for greater recognition in the wake of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.
In September, the Shubert Organisation renamed its Cort Theater in honour two-time Tony Award winner James Earl Jones.
“It means a lot. It’s too heavy for me to try to define,” said the actor, who has appeared in 21 Broadway shows, and is best-known as the voice of Darth Vader.
Jujamcyn Theaters already had a venue named for American playwright August Wilson, who died in 2005.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams welcomed the changes to what is known as The Great White Way – the Broadway district that houses 41 professional theatres.
“What we are saying is that The Great White Way must have some chocolate on it,” he told reporters.
