Artiste manager,Bulldog, has called for the president to resign immediately at a time when many Ghanaians are calling on the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to send in his resignation letter.
Speaking with Abrantepa on E-Forum, the former manager for Shatta Wale mentioned that if Ken Ofori-Attais sacked, the president should go with him.
“The president should resign today. Nana Akufo-Addo should bow down his head in shame and walk out of the office now, now as we speak. He came, saying he had the men. He put the guy there. You understand. So if the guy so messing up, they should be leaving together.
“He should be leaving now. I keep saying this all the time, let me try and get this, and get this right so I don’t make a mistake. This is what I have been reading for a while now. Chapter 8 of the Constitution of Ghana, Section 69,” he said.
Reading Chapter 8, Section 69 of the Constitution held, he disclosed that it details how the president can be removed from office.
He added that if Ghanaians can take the initiative seriously, the president could be out of office before they knew it.
“You know what that says, Removal of the President. Everybody should read that. I don’t know why we are not exploring this. There is a loophole in the constitution that can get us to remove him today. We don’t have to wait until 2024.
“The minority has to target the president, he is the head. They have to target him. If you read it is clear. It is only hovering with a few legal words but if we have a proper lawyer to interpret it we will find the solution.
“If we start today, by next year around this time he is gone. It won’t take that long and we are all seated and just complaining. Do you know that today as we speak, you are being paid half your salary because everything is gone up?” he added.
In recent times, calls for the dismissal of the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Ken Ofori-Atta, have heightened in the last couple of weeks following the wobbling state of the economy.
While pressure mounts on the Minister to resign, some netizens have urged the President to step down.
“A middle-income country should maintain a debt to GDP ratio of no more than 60 percent, according to recommendations.
If you surpass 60% and reach 70% or more, you are classified as a highly indebted poor country, or HIPC.
Everyone in Ghana owes close to GH $900 if we divide the debt among all citizens, including children, he said.
Addressing residents of Kakasunaka in the Kpone Katamanso constituency on Wednesday as part of his campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region, Mr Mahama said the government has since the year 2017 borrowed GH¢157 billion, thereby increasing the debt to GDP ratio to an unprecedented 76.7 percent.
“The recommended debt to GDP profile for a middle-income country is that we should remain not more than 60 percent debt to GDP. If you pass 60 percent and you go to 70 percent and above, you are becoming highly debt distressed, which is the same as HIPC. If we take that debt and divide it amongst all Ghanaians, including children, everybody owes almost GH¢9000,” he said.
Mr Mahama was amazed at the ballooning national debt stock inspite of attacks on his tenure and pledges by the then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) that it was capable of developing the country without loans.
He said when the NPP was in opposition, it created the impression that Ghanaians were sitting on money but were hungry as a result of the policies of the Mahama administration.
“But today we are hungrier than we were in 2016. How many people can eat three square meals a day today? And the question you ask is, where is the money, GH¢ 157 billion, what have you done with it? Show us”, he said.
Mr Mahama said his government developed the country with the GH¢56 billion it took in loans, adding the evidence can be seen all over the country that his government invested in roads, school blocks, hospitals, water and power expansion projects, among others.
Mr Mahama said, among others, the next NDC governement will focus on job creation, implementation of Free Primary Healthcare to ensure universal access to healthcare, rolling out Free Technical and Vocational Education and Training (T-VET) as well as state-sponsored National Apprenticeship Programme.
Former Ghana international, Habib Mohammed says players who played in the qualifiers are not guaranteed a place in the final World Cup squad.
Black Stars coach, Otto Addo will announce his squad for the 2022 World Cup on November 14, having submitted the provisional squad to Fifa.
However, there is a high expectation for players who competed in the qualifiers to be named to the final list for the upcoming tournament in Qatar, but Mohammed thinks otherwise.
Using himself as an example, Habib revealed that he missed the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, but was selected because then-coach Ratomir Dujkovi was impressed with his performances in two pre-tournament friendlies.
“I didn’t play in the World Cup qualifiers [in 2006], but before the tournament, I played two friendlies and impressed coach Ratomir Dujkovic, who included me in the squad,” he told Onua Sports.
“It’s not compulsory that because you participated in qualifiers you have to go to the World Cup. The final decision is made by the coach. Whether or not a player competed in qualifiers, the coach decides who goes to the World Cup,” the former Asante Kotoko and King Faisal defender added.
Habib appeared in two games for Ghana at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, helping the country reach the knockout stages for the first time.
The Black Stars hope to advance to the knockout stages for the third time this year in Qatar, where they have been drawn into a difficult group with Portugal, South Korea, and Uruguay.
In an interview on an American radio station, Hot 97, Ashanti said that she was expected to travel to Ghana in 2019 at the height of the Year of Return – when many of her colleagues were also exploring the country.
However, this could not happen because she injured her ankle, which made it impossible for her to travel, “I was so devastated,” she said.
Ashanti said that she changed her plans and hopes to visit Ghana in December 2022. The singer noted that she is excited to see Ghana and everything it has to offer.
Ashanti is not the only one with plans to see Ghana.
He pointed out that the ensuing employment losses had a negative impact on the expansion of the economy.
In 2017 and 2019, the government invested a total of GH23billion in the cleanup of the banking sector.
Former Finance Minister Seth Terkper has said the approach adopted by the Bank of Ghana and the Finance Ministry towards the banking clean-up exercise was wrong.
He said the exercise could have been carried out without loss of jobs on the scale that was witnessed during the exercise.
His comments come after Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta defended the approach that was adopted towards the clean-up exercise.
Mr. Ofori-Atta told TV3’s Etornam Sey in an exclusive interview on Monday, October 26, 2020, that the financial sector is the heartbeat of every economy globally. A weak financial sector, he said, will have dire consequences for the economy and its people, a situation that demands that central authorities step in swiftly to address.
Therefore, he said, the Government of Ghana will act quickly to address any challenges that may emerge in the sector again after the recent cleanup exercise.
The Bank of Ghana with support from the Finance Ministry swept through the financial sector of the economy between the period 2017 and 2019.
The central bank first started by revising the minimum paid-up capital for existing banks and new entrants from ¢120 million to ¢400 million.
According to the regulator, this was to test the viability of the banks.
The banks that were unable to meet this new requirement were either merged or collapsed.
Following this action, some nine local banks, 23 savings & loans companies, 347 microfinance institutions, 39 finance houses, and 53 fund management companies closed down during the exercise.
In total, the government spent GHSS23billion to undertake this exercise
UniBank, The Sovereign Bank, The Beige Bank, Premium Bank, The Royal Bank, Heritage Bank, Construction Bank, UT Bank, Capital Bank all collapsed.
Mr. Ofori-Atta said “Once you have the problem, you have to solve it because the financial architecture is the (basis) for any development.
“So whether we like or not we had to do that. Now that we have done that we move ahead.”
Asked whether if the situation presents itself the government will do it again in the same manner, he answered “You meet problems as a government that is what they elected you for and so you solve it.
“And then you begin by commissioning this to give people the sense of hope for the future to say this thing can be done, and they have faith in you so lets us go with them.
“If the engine is not functioning you can’t build on top of that so you had to solve the problem.
“Is there a way you improve on what you are doing? Of course yes there is always a way to do that but fundamentally was the approach necessary, no question about that.”
But Mr Seth Terkper, when asked whether he supports this approach while speaking in an interview with Etornam Sey on the New Day programme Wednesday, October 28 said “No.”
He further explained that the government had the Energy Sector Levy left behind by the previous NDC administration, to use in strengthening the banks but did not.
The 2022/23 Ghana Premier League resumes this weekend after an Accra High Court dismissed the Application for Injunction filed by Ashanti Gold against the GFA on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.
The league was halted by the GFA put the Premier League on September 29, 2022 after a Motion on Notice for Injunction filed at the Human Rights High Court by Ashanti Gold SC and served on the GFA’s lawyers.
However, the topflight is in full swing now and Medeama SC will be welcoming Aduana Stars at the Akoon Park, Tarkwa on Sunday on match week four.
The Mauves and Yellows face a daunting task to secure all three points against unbeaten Aduana, who are second on the league log with seven points.
Medeama have managed two wins and one loss this season are fifth in the league standings.
Coach David Duncan’s side are one of the teams yet to lose at home this season.
Aduana defeated Hearts of Oak in their first match of the season, before dispatching King Faisal in Kumasi before coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Samartex 1996.
They are joint top in the League table with 7 points and remains one of the unbeaten sides in the campaign. The last meeting between these sides ended 1-0 in favour of Medeama SC at the Akoon Park.
Medeama SC possible starting XI: Mensah (GK), Donsu (C), Musah, Abaidoo, Yaro, Ackahbi, Askabi, Asmah, Kwofie, Vital, Darlington and Agyemang
Some Trotro drivers in the Ashanti Region are raising their transport prices by more than the agreed upon 19% rise.
The negotiated 19 percent increase that will take effect on Saturday, October 29, 2022, according to the drivers, is insufficient given the current financial difficulties they are experiencing. As a result, the drivers are currently charging 20 to 30 percent.
Following multiple talks with the government, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union GPRTU on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, announced a 19% increase in transportation costs.
Despite new fares announced jointly by (GPRTU) and government, some commercial drivers in the Ashanti Region are taking a 20 to 30 percent increase.
As of the time of filing this report, transport fares from Sofoline to Aboabo which was initially Gh¢3.30p now Gh¢ 4.00 representing a 20 percent increase.
OTEC News checks also revealed that some trotro drivers who were initially taking GH¢ 3.90p from Kejetia to Kwabre Kenyase were now charging Gh¢4.90p, a whopping 30 percent increase.
Speaking to OTEC News Kwame Agyenim, some commercial drivers working in the Central Business District of Kumasi said the 19% could not address the increase in petroleum and other costs incurred by drivers.
“We have already increased our fares by 20 percent, government and GPRTU have consistently toyed with our work by always coming up with flimsy excuses just to delay the increment we deserve, that’s why we decided not to wait for anyone to once again dictate for us,” a trotro driver who runs Kejetia to Abuakwa said.
The driver again stated that they are independent and not bound by decisions taken by the GPRTU, adding “we will take 30%”, a decision they have implemented ahead of the October 29th date concluded by executives of the GPRTU and the government.
Meanwhile, the Industrial Relations Officer for the GPRTU, Abbas Imoro, has called on all commercial drivers to comply with the agreed 19 percent.
While admitting that the 19 percent was not enough for the drivers on the Kumasi-based OTEC 102.9 FM’s morning show “Nyansapo” Mr. Immoro said drivers had no option but to strictly adhere to the agreed fare.
“We have been considerate of the increment. This would have been increased to 35% but President Nana Addo intervened and pleaded for the 19% and since both parties have accepted to go that way, we are calling on all drivers to go according to the 19 percent,” he told the host Captain Koda.
This action aims to get over banks’ reluctance to lend to the agricultural industry.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the minister of food and agriculture, stated that banks needed to support the growth of the agricultural industry.
He stated that the ministry is presently waiting for Cabinet clearance before designing the policy that would require banks to reserve a specific portion of their loan books to finance the farm industry.
“Over the last decade, lending to agriculture by financial institutions averaged 3.5 per cent. A proposal for legislation requiring commercial banks to increase loanable funds to agriculture has been sent to Cabinet. When approved, we will go to parliament with a bill to make a law that can compel banks in the country to, at least, earmark 20 per cent of their loans into the agriculture sector,” he said.
The Minister, who was speaking at a business forum organised by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in Accra, said the move had become a necessity as banks continued to shy away from financing agribusinesses with the excuse that the sector was too risky.
Commenting on the minister’s announcement, AGI president Dr Humphrey Ayim-Darke said: “It is laudable, it is good, and we will support it fully to ensure that each commercial bank sets aside a certain percentage of their loan portfolio to support the agriculture sector”.
The forum was on the theme: “Resuscitating Ghanaian Industries to Address the Current Economic Challenges, the Trend and the Way Forward. It aimed to discuss practical actions the government is taking to support industrial development in these difficult times.
The former Black Stars midfielder signed a six-month deal with the Ghana Premier League heavyweight during the 2021/22 season.
Muntari was a gem for the side as he assisted the side to win the President’s Cup and the FA Cup against Asante Kotoko and Bechem United respectively.
However, the former Inter Milan and AC Milan ace refused to extend his stay with the club ahead of the 2022/23 football season.
According to Muntari, he did not want to disgrace himself and put a dent on his legacy after his suggestions on how to improve the squad for their African campaign proved futile.
“Yeah, I had a few talks with them (Kotoko) I spoke to some board members because I wanted to help them in Africa. (But) I was with Hearts of Oak at that time,” he told Dan Kweku Yeboah TV.
“My contract had run out and I was talking with them to build a very, very strong team. I didn’t want to go and disgrace myself in the African campaign.
“If you qualify for the CAF Champions League or any other CAF competition or even Europe, you prepare for that. You augment the squad that you qualified with some good players and build the team.
“So I was talking with Hearts to build the team but the management had different ideas. And if someone has a different idea, although you tell them to do stuff, if they don’t want to do it, you don’t push it.
“I’ll tell you the truth, I didn’t want to go and disgrace myself. And I know I’ve really worked hard in terms of football, so for me to come and let some little things wipe all the work that I’ve done, no. I won’t do it, no. So I was talking with Kotoko about the same(thing),” he added.
Inflation in the country was estimated by the Ghana Statistical Service to be 37.2% in October of this year, while interest rates were estimated to be around 33%.
In addition, the Bank of Ghana in October this year hiked the Monetary Policy Rate by 250 basis points from 22 percent to 24.5 percent to contain soaring inflationary pressures.
But Standard Bank in its September 2022 African Markets Revealed report said the BoG MPC will have to factor in elevated underlying inflationary pressures at its November meeting as well as second-round impacts of weaker cedi which has been experiencing persistent depreciation.
“Still, the MPC sees a potential International Monetary Fund deal as beginning to address fiscal challenges, thereby helping to anchor inflation expectations. Furthermore, the MPC is still working with mining firms to find a structure to enable them to boost the FX (foreign exchange) reserves via direct FX sales from this large export-earning sector,” the report said.
Touching on Ghana’s inflation outlook, the report outlined figures could ease from October to November this year but pointed out it could remain in double digits until at least August 2023.
“However, should negotiations with the IMF prove protracted, foreign portfolio outflows may burgeon amidst a still volatile global risk environment, placing further upward pressure on US dollar/Ghana cedi, as well as keep inflation stickier than we currently anticipate,” the report added.
Focusing on Ghana’s treasury yields, the report noted, “Nothing much implies that yields at the shorter end of the curve will ease over the next 4 months or so. Indeed, with headline inflation likely elevated for most of half year 2023, Treasury bill yields may prove sticky.”
The Ghana Premier League is back and fans will be able to watch their clubs or teams play again after an Accra High Court dismissed the Application for Injunction filed by Ashanti Gold against the GFA on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.
The league was halted by the GFA put the Premier League on September 29, 2022 after a Motion on Notice for Injunction filed at the Human Rights High Court by Ashanti Gold SC and served on the GFA’s lawyers.
However, the topflight is indeed back and Nsoatreman FC will host Karela United at the Nana Konamansah Park on Sunday.
The new entrants have made a fine start start in their Premier League debut, winning one, drawing one and losing one after three matches played so far.
Karela United, on the other hand, have made a promsiing start to season as they lie 4th on the league standings with six points. They have won two and lost one this term.
Nsoatreman FC possible starting XI: Daniel Atagzawu (G), Obed Anford (C), Ransford Frimpong, Richard Akrofi, Traore Faycal Kafonon, Walid Neymar Fuseni, Fidaus Mohammed, Abass Mohammed, Frederick Boateng, Adam Ibrahim, Godfred Sakyi.
Karela United possible starting XI: Felix Kyei, Emmanuel Anaful, Daniel Kwofie, Kwadwo Addae, Solomon Twene, Augustine Randolf, Humid Dafie, Emmanuel Boakye Owusu, George Amonoo, Kelvin Andoh, Samuel Atta Kumi.
Player to watch: Kelvin Andoh
Predicted scoreline: Nsoatreman FC 1-1 Karela United
My winning of the ultimate award at the 2021 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards was ordained by God, so says UK-based Gospel music star Diana Hamilton.
She sat down for an interview with Ghanaweekend.com’s Kwame Dadzie.
When Ms Hamilton was asked if the 2021 Artiste of the Year win at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards has brought her brand increased visibility, she answered: “Oh yeah. I can’t dispute that fact at all.”
She gave the impression the award does not account for all that she is currently because “the VGMAs [only] saw us working and nominated us. We were at a [certain] point when they took us on and awarded us but [indeed], they’ve added on.”
“That award has also added on,” the ‘Adom (Grace)’ hitmaker stressed.
Transitioning into a moment of Christian fervour, she noted: “We serve a God who is always doing new things and always adding on.”
She expressed the conviction that the coveted VGMAs trophy was an answered prayer for help and actually ordained by God.
“If there’s one prayer I pray, it’s for God to bring us help, help from places I least expect, help from places that he has ordained,” the trained nurse and singer said. “And I know that VGMAs and all the awards that came with it were things that God had ordained.”
Afrobeats star KiDi had been tipped to lift the trophy.
A section of the Ghanaian public protested Ms Hamilton’s winning of the VGMAs Artiste of the Year award in 2021.
Some claimed up until then, they did not know her. In answering the protest, others cited how popular her ‘Adom’ song was during the pandemic up until the 2021 VGMAs victory and there were others still who also indicated a robust voting drive had been put in gear for her victory.
During the awards night, she picked up four awards out of six nominations.
Currently, the singer-songwriter is promoting her first 2022 song ‘My Meditations’.
Nana Asiamah Hanson popularly called Bulldog is of the view that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo should not be the president of Ghana, especially at this moment when the country is going through some economic hardships.
According to the artiste manager, Akufo-Addo should by now be serving as his messenger known in the local parlance as ‘boy boy’ for a white president.
Bulldog has for some time now been advocating that Ghana should be sold to a white man in other to see proper development.
He explained that it is not prudent for the black man to always run to the white man to borrow money for development yet the development does not happen after the money is given to him.
“Me I have said we should sell Ghana. This is the reason why I say that; if we are going to the white man to ask them for money, to come and develop our country and we no dey see the development top, then let’s go and ask the white man to come and take over because they will know what to do.
“So, instead of going to the IMF and say give us $800 million or $2 billion [we should just tell them to come and rule]. Nana Addo should not be President. I’m giving him advice; a white man should be President and he for send am [Nana Addo] – go and buy kelewele for me, go and buy groundnut for – because that is really what he is doing, he is not doing anything. If it was borrowing and paying salaries then my three-year-old daughter can rule this country,” Bulldog said while contributing to a discussion on GhanaWeb’s ‘E-Forum’ programme hosted by Abrantepa.
Bulldog further noted that the economic crunch at the moment is affecting every individual within the creative arts space and wondered why many call him out when he tries to make issues of the economy personal.
He noted that the President was so arrogant that he called the bluff of the people of Kwabra East over the deplorable state of their roads.
He alleged that the president and his parliamentarians do not pay for anything in the country therefore the president should speak with respect and decorum so that young people can respect him.
“We are making issues of the economy personal because it is affecting all of us and when you mention Nana Addo’s name, they say why are you mentioning his name, is he not in the office?
“…the guy is so arrogant, in capital letters ooo. He said we speak as if he doesn’t live in this country, herh! Massa you dey pay light bill? You dey pay for fuel? Don’t come talk the thing you talk; we be kiddies make we respect you, talk make we respect you. Do you pay for anything in this country? You and your Parliamentarians [all] you dey pay something? Eno be we we dey pay…” Bulldog said in pidgin.
Background
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was asked during a radio interview that the people of Kwabre have threatened to vote out the ruling party if the deplorable state of roads is not addressed.
In reply, the President responded “No problem. I am saying people make those kinds of threats; me they don’t frighten me.”
Commenting on the issue on Kumasi-based Nhyira FM, Dr. Amoako Baah said, “We have left the President to be talking anyhow, why? Anytime he is left to talk on his own, it brings [up] issues and no one is cautioning him
“It was an opportunity for the President to score a political point with his responses. If I were around him, I would have tapped on his shoulder to calm down and made him know it was a trap.”
The lecturer stressed that the President’s failure to appeal to the conscience of the people will hurt anyone who will lead the party in the next election.
The Hate Crimes Prosecutor has requested two years in prison for an Espanyol supporter accused of screaming racist insults towards Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams during a League match at the Cornella-El Prat stadium in January 2020.
The prosecutor attributes to the accused a crime against fundamental rights and public liberties, in his method of injuring people’s dignity for racist reasons and against moral integrity, for which he also asks for a fine of 5,475 euros, and that he cannot enter any football stadium or teach sports or free time for the next five years.
In fact, the prosecutor emphasizes that the racist insults occurred before the 27,318 attendees who had come to the blue and white stadium and before a television audience estimated at almost 210,000 spectators, in addition to a “massive” number of listeners who could hear them on the radio.
In its brief, the Prosecutor’s Office requests that the case be filed for a second defendant for these racist chants, since in his case during the investigation insufficient evidence of criminality on his part has been obtained. An investigation was also commissioned by the Mossos d’Esquadra, which managed to identify the alleged perpetrators of the insults after examining the images from the security cameras and thanks to the information provided by the RCD Espanyol on the owners of the towns where the insults came from.
Four elite European teams are reportedly interested in Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong.
One of the few shining lights in what Bayer Leverkusen considers to be a disastrous season is Jeremie Frimpong.
Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Juventus Turin, and Manchester United are reportedly interested in making a deal. In the first season under Bayer Leverkusen, Frimpong didn’t experience any start-up issues, and things are much better now.
Under the new manager Xabi Alonso, Frimpong, who has five goals in the championship and is the most dangerous defense in the top European leagues, also has a crucial role.
Frimpong’s outstanding achievements led to his inclusion on the Dutch national team’s preliminary World Cup squad.
Danlad Ibrahim, a goalkeeper for Asante Kotoko has stated that the Black Meteors will prepare very well and will not be complacent against Mozambique.
The Black Meteors beat Mozambique 2-1 in the first league in Maputo. Afriyie Barnieh scored twice to give the Black Meteors a vital win over Mozambique in the Caf U23 qualifying match.
The Hearts of Oak attacker scored in the 61st and 76th minute before the host pulled one back in the 88th minute.
The team arrived in Ghana on Tuesday evening and traveled to Kumasi to prepare for the second leg.
The second leg will be played at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday at 3:00 pm.
According to Danlad Ibrahim, the players are not resting on the three points secured away because Kotoko had the same experience against Kadiogo.
“Asante Kotoko it happened to us we won away and when we came back were beaten here so that feeling we don’t want to go through it again. Yesterday I and my captain Afriyie spoke to the boys that we shouldn’t..we have to work extra harder so that we kill the game here.
“At least this is a national team and not club so if we are able to qualify it will give us the advantage that any call up they can get invited like I and Afriyie are doing. If they look at us as a model…our progression should motivate them so that they can make a good name for themselves. And I can say that the last episode I was part…the last edition I was part the U23 and I know the benefits if you are able to qualify for even Afcon I know the benefits in it,” he said on Peace FM as monitored by footballghana.com
“So we have encourage the boys that the previous edition if we were able to get to a point this time we have to go beyond that point. Me I believe in history making history for yourself at least if you make your name in the history books of Ghana it helps the team you are going with. I pray that with the hard work and everything…Ghanaians also should come in their numbers to support us and we know inshaallah we will honor them,”
Cameroon’s major bet for the World Cup is entrusting its campaign on one of its finest players.
Despite having no management experience outside of Cameroon’s junior structures, Rigobert Song, a highly respected former captain, was appointed coach in February.
Cameroon won a two-legged playoff against Algeria in March to qualify for the tournament in Qatar, but only after a last-ditch goal by Karl Toko Ekambi four minutes into injury time in the second game.
The team’s subsequent defeats in World Cup warm-up matches against Uzbekistan and South Korea served as a wake-up call and sparked concerns about whether Song’s old teammate and federation president Samuel Eto’o replaced Toni Conceicao too quickly.
Song participated in eight African Cups, four World Cups, and won two African titles, and made a record-breaking 137 appearances for his country. But in his new position, he still hasn’t won everyone over.
Cameroon is in Group G with Brazil, Switzerland, and Serbia.
Spain-born forward of Ghanaian descent, Nico Williams has been named in the provisional squad of Spain submitted to FIFA ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The talented youngster only debuted for the Spain senior national team in September during the international break.
He was a second-half substitute in the defeat to Switzerland and provided the assist for Spain’s only goal in the win against Portugal.
Since returning to Athletic Bilbao after that two games for Span, Nico Williams has set his sigh on making the national team squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Fortunately for the attacker, he has now been included in the 55-man squad submitted to FIFA by Spain national team head coach Luiz Henrique.
He is one of a number of talented youngsters in the squad and must continue working hard to stay in top form to secure a place in the final 26-man squad.
The squad list will be made public by FIFA on November 10.
Hip Hop act Strongman has teamed with the Ministry of Sanitation, the world bank and GAMA PCU to embark on a project to curb the rise in open defecation in the Ashanti Region.
In the wake of the time when Kumasi is leading in the number of open defecation activities, it is in light of this that the parties came together to help build toilets at affordable prices for households.
As part of his social responsibility to the people of the region and Ghana, the musician has composed a theme song for the project titled ‘Di Who Ni’, which features singer cum producer Apya.
The project calls out to people living in low-income areas with a 70% subsidy of the cost of household toilets to make the capital cost of accessing the toilets affordable to low-income residents.
The beneficiary assemblies include eight Metropolitans/Municipal Assemblies (MMAs) of the Kumasi Metropolitan Area, comprising Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Asokwa, Oforikrom, Old Tafo, Suame, Kwadaso, Ejisu and Asokore Mampong Municipal Assemblies.
Being the mouthpiece of the youth of Kumasi with his art and music, it was only prudent that Hip Hop act Strongman pens a song that elaborates the details of this project to help reach the masses.
In due time, Strongman will be embarking on a tour to visit neighbourhoods in the region to propagate and educate them on cleanliness and how this project is beneficial to the development of the country. For more information on the project, Call: 0207811616
Artiste manager, Bulldog, has called for the president to resign immediately at a time when many Ghanaians are calling on the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to send in his resignation letter.
Speaking with Abrantepa on E-Forum, the former manager for Shatta Wale mentioned that if Ken Ofori-Atta is sacked, the president should go with him.
“The president should resign today. Nana Akufo-Addo should bow down his head in shame and walk out of the office now, now as we speak. He came, saying he had the men. He put the guy there. You understand. So if the guy so messing up, they should be leaving together.
“He should be leaving now. I keep saying this all the time, let me try and get this, and get this right so I don’t make a mistake. This is what I have been reading for a while now. Chapter 8 of the Constitution of Ghana, Section 69,” he said.
Reading Chapter 8, Section 69 of the Constitution held, he disclosed that it details how the president can be removed from office.
He added that if Ghanaians can take the initiative seriously, the president could be out of office before they knew it.
“You know what that says, Removal of the President. Everybody should read that. I don’t know why we are not exploring this. There is a loophole in the constitution that can get us to remove him today. We don’t have to wait until 2024.
“The minority has to target the president, he is the head. They have to target him. If you read it is clear. It is only hovering with a few legal words but if we have a proper lawyer to interpret it we will find the solution.
“If we start today, by next year around this time he is gone. It won’t take that long and we are all seated and just complaining. Do you know that today as we speak, you are being paid half your salary because everything is gone up?” he added.
In recent times, calls for the dismissal of the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Ken Ofori-Atta, have heightened in the last couple of weeks following the wobbling state of the economy.
While pressure mounts on the Minister to resign, some netizens have urged the President to step down.
Ghanaian defender, Patrick Kpozo has disclosed that he hopes to get the chance to fight for the Black Stars soon.
According to the Moldova-based defender, he is ready to give his all for the national team once he earns an invitation from the technical handlers of the team.
“I am ever ready to play for Ghana Black stars if I get the opportunity and am ready to serve my country and fight for my position if I get called up to Black stars,” he said.
Patrick Kpozo shared these while speaking to Original FM in an interview on the Super Sports Show.
The defender has since joining Sheriff Tiraspol played very well and is currently one of the team’s key players.
He is not only excelling in the Moldovan top-flight league but doing well in the Europa League as well.
He was in action for Sheriff Tiraspol when the team faced off with English Premier League giants Manchester United and made a good account of himself.
Aiden Pleterski, the self-anointed “Crypto King” refused to relinquish his diamond-studded Rolex, his Audi, and cell phone to a bankruptcy trustee.
According to CTV News Toronto, the bankruptcy trustee noted that Pleterski owes 119 investors over $25 million.
Rob Stelzer, Pleterski’s bankruptcy agent and senior vice-president with Grant Thornton Ltd, told CTV News Toronto that he’s “been doing this kind of work for more than 15 years and [he’s] never made this kind of request.”
Pleterski’s refusal to hand over his belongings almost led to his arrest. However, the day before he was set to appear in court, he gave up his Audi RSQ8 and Rolex, while arranging for a delivery date for his phone.
Pleterski’s lawyer, Michael Simaan, argued that the claims made in court were “wildly exaggerated.”
“While Aiden’s past compliance has been far from perfect, he is currently cooperating with the bankruptcy trustee,” Simaan said to CTV News Toronto.
In August, the amount Pleterski owed neared $13 million, ballooning to $25 million. Only $2 million has been recovered.
The bankruptcy trustees also noted that they found Pleterski’s creditor funds had paid for five luxury cars registered to various family members. Stelzer will be seeking a court order to release information regarding the vehicles.
“We’re going to be in court in two days, hopefully we will get all the relief we’re seeking.
When we get those bank statements, there is going to be a lot of work to do to go through the statements, figure out where the money went,” Stelzer said.
Following the release of the much-anticipated song on October 28, 2022, scores of individuals flooded Mzbel’s comment section with compliments, and Tic’s comment was spotted among them.
He dropped a number of fire emojis in endorsement of the latest tune, and this attracted an interesting question from a fan.
The said fan requested that Tic add a verse to the already banging tune.
“You’re supposed to add a touch to this song to take it to the next level.”
The ‘Kwani Kwani’ hitmaker responded in the affirmative;
“You mean like a feature or something? This song sounds great maybe later I will also do my magic in the meantime let’s enjoy it.”
However, Mzbel’s new song is believed to be a jab at her old friend and now rival, Afia Schwarzenegger.
The song’s controversial title, ‘Asibolanga’, is a name often used by Nana Tornado to refer to Afia after they fell out and started beefing each other on social media.
Mzbel and Afia Schwarzenegger have been at each other’s throats for a couple of years now.
The two have since been exposing secrets and throwing shade at each other at the least chance they get.
It’s official. Per reports, Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen have come to an agreement focused on their previously reported intention to go their separate ways, with the couple’s formal divorce proceedings taking place in Florida on Friday.
According to a source quoted in a People report, a settlement between the two—who first married in 2009 and share two children together—has been “all worked out.” Per that same source, Brady and Bündchen have settled on a joint custody arrangement.
TMZ also reported on Friday’s docs-filing development. As some might recall, the outlet previously informed the world that Brady and Bündchen were living separately in the wake of the former’s so-called un-retirement. Following an initial report stating docs were expected to be filed on Friday, TMZ shared another one in which it was revealed that Bündchen had indeed filed said docs.
Shortly after the news broke, both Brady and Bündchen shared statements on their much-publicized split to Instagram.
“We arrived at this decision to end our marriage after much consideration,” Brady wrote in his statement. “Doing so is, of course, painful and difficult, like it is for many people who go through the same thing every day around the world.”
In her statement, Bündchen echoed Brady’s own comments about the decision having been an amicable one, as well as reiterated a call for privacy for them both as they move forward with co-parenting.
“The decision to end a marriage is never easy but we have grown apart and while it is, of course, difficult to go through something like this, I feel blessed for the time we had together and only wish the best for Tom always,” she wrote.
Ghana’s hiplife artiste,Mzbel, has finally released her explicit single ‘Asibolanga’, which fans have tipped to be a banger following the buzz around it.
Fans sensed danger shortly after Mzbel announced that she was working on a song titled “Asibolanga,” and dubbed it as the long-awaited diss song to her former friend, actress Afia Schwarzenegger, who is nicknamed Asibolanga, a term originally used by Nana Tonardo.
Before the release, excerpts of the song were used multiple times by social media users, especially on TikTok, to promote their videos.
“Asibolanga” has garnered over 30,000 views in the last 9 hours, with fans appreciating the singer for satisfying their requests.
As earlier reported, Mzbel announced that she was holding back on Asibolanga’s release upon advice from some respected persons in the country.
Lil Pump doesn’t think J. Cole was right about his career trajectory, even if he’s on good terms with the rapper.
In an interview with Bootleg Kev, the 22-year-old rapper reflected on what he took away from his sit-down interview with Cole four years ago. “He was trying to understand [the] young generation, ’cause at that time people didn’t understand what was going on with the music,” he said.
“‘There’s this new wave coming in, we don’t understand it but we’re just gonna roll with it.’ But I fuck with J. Cole, I don’t have no problems with him.”
Kev asked if Cole was correct in his prediction about the younger generation of rappers on his song “1985,” which some listeners perceived as a diss directed at Lil Pump and many of his collaborators, came true in some respects. “Nope, because I’m still here,” he replied. “I don’t think he predicted shit. I’m still here.”
None of Lil Pump’s 2022 singles have charted on the Billboard Hot 100, despite his success in 2017 and ’18 with tracks like “Gucci Gang” and “I Love It” with Kanye West.
On “1985,” Cole rapped, “If it’s really true what people saying/And you call yourself playin’ with my name/Then I really know you fucked, trust/I’ll be around forever ‘cause my skills is tip-top/To any amateur n***as that wanna get rocked/Just remember what I told you when your shit flop/In five years you gon’ be on Love & Hip-Hop, n***a.” Around the time the 2018 track was released, Pump trolled Cole consistently.
Cole never clarified who he was directing his advice to on the track, and later suggested it was a “shoes fit” situation. “Why you yelling at your show?” he said, apparently in reference to both Pump and Smokepurrp leading “fuck J. Cole” chants at some of their concerts.
“You must feel attacked in some kind of way, must feel offended, and if you feel offended, then that means something rings true, something struck a chord. That’s cool with me. That’s all I ever want to do.”
Chlöe has finally shared her long-teased song, “For the Night,” featuring Latto.
The two artists announced the song on Twitter earlier this week, with Chlöe sharing a clip of the pair on FaceTime. “I’m so excited. I cannot wait for everyone to hear what you did on ‘For The Night!’” Chlöe says.
Chlöe initially previewed the song back in May, as well as two other songs, prompting her fans to help her choose which would follow her track “Surprise,” which arrived in June. “Surprise” is the third single from her forthcoming debut solo album, preceded by “Treat Me” and “Mercy.”
Earlier this month, Chlöe revealed that she wrote “For the Night” about Gunna. “Imma tell y’all a little secret about ‘For The Night,’” she said on Twitter Spaces. “I might regret saying this, but hey, maybe it’ll help f*cking streams. I don’t even think he knows this! I wrote ‘For The Night’ about Gunna.”
She also shared that she’s not seeing anyone right now. “I’m single, guys. Sorry to bust bubbles, but when I wrote that song months ago, I wrote it about him.”
Phaize believes that as a mouthpiece of his fans, followers, and the general public, he has a responsibility to speak up and represent them when the need arises and for that reason, he composed ‘Metu Afri Ghana’, a song representing the cries of the average Ghanaian youth.
In this song, Phaize stated high cost of living, unavailability of jobs, unfavorable economy for entrepreneurs and investment, and high cost of fuel are among many other reasons forcing the workforce of the country to seek greener pastures elsewhere.
In a recent interview with Code Micky, the young musician said things are no more funny as a sachet of water is even becoming a luxury.
“Things are not easy, the youth are ready to work but the hardship is driving all of us away. You work hard and there’s nothing to show for it. We all want to leave Ghana and go outside to work and make some good returns,” he said.
Phaize is a budding Ghanaian musician who sings to inspire, entertain and educate. He featured on Shatta Wale’s ‘Ahodwo Las Vegas’ and has also worked with Fameye, Flowking Stone and many other Ghanaian musicians.
Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul Pelosi has been hospitalized after he was assaulted by an intruder in their San Francisco home.
In a statement shared by Pelosi’s spokesman Drew Hammill on Friday, it was confirmed that the House Speaker’s husband was attacked in the morning by someone who forced their way inside. “Early this morning, an assailant broke into the Pelosi residence in San Francisco and violently assaulted Mr. Pelosi,” reads the statement. “The assailant is in custody and the motivation for the attack is under investigation.”
Paul, who is 82, is expected to make a full recovery. His wife was in Washington, D.C. at the time of the break-in, according to the Capitol Police statement on the matter. “The United States Capitol Police (USCP) is assisting the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the San Francisco Police with a joint investigation into a break-in at the California home of the Speaker of the House of Representatives,” the Capitol Police shared. “The law enforcement agencies will provide more information when it can be released.”
Earlier this year, Paul was arrested for a DUI and sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation.
It’s unclear if the attack was politically motivated, according to authorities, but Nancy Pelosi has long been the target of criticism from Republicans across the country. In December, a North Carolina man was sentenced to 28 months behind bars for threatening to shoot her.
The couple have owned the San Francisco home since 1987, and were targeted by vandals after Congress passed a stimulus bill in January 2021. As reported by the New York Times, the home was spray-painted and a pig’s head was left on the sidewalk outside.
The vandalism occurred just days ahead of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Ghana international Inaki Williams has revealed the role he has played in Nico Williams’ career.
The duo has been in a rich vein of form for the Spanish outfit. Whiles Inaki has 4 goals in 11 appearances, his younger brother has 3 goals and 4 assists in 11 games.
“I try to help him as much as possible, I try to give him the advice that I could have from other references such as Óscar (De Marcos), Iker (Muniain), Aduriz or Gurpegui. I try to help and advise him as much as possible, but he also has to make mistakes to learn from his mistakes” Inaki said.
Meanwhile, the duo has decided to go separate ways at the international level. Whiles Inaki has decided to play for Ghana, his younger brother has opted for Spain.
And according to Inaki, their mother will have a decided heart during the World Cup tournament.
“I think it would be more divided, but in the end, because of the family, in this case the majority would go with me, because in the end they live in Ghana and have been raised in Ghana. But the success of either one is joy for either of our families. I think that the one who would have the worst time would be our mother, that she would suffer it and she would have a divided heart” he said.
Award-winning Ghanaian film director, Pascal Aka, has described some actresses asking to give him sex as ‘demonic’.
Speaking on Ghanaweekend, the director disclosed that for over a decade, he has been getting messages from actresses asking to sleep with him for movie roles.
“For ten years, in my DMS, I always get these messages: Pascal, I am an actor; please help me. Pascal, please, I’m a screenwriter; please, help me. Pascal, I think I’m fine; please date me.
“There have been actresses that try to offer their bodies, so I give them movie roles and stuff, yeah. That’s some demonic thing, but we’ll talk about it later,” he said.
He, however, noted that one needs to pray to not fall into temptations.
“[When it happens], you just pray because it is sad for me; it’s sad. Nooo! I haven’t fallen. Me, I’m blessed oo, I am blessed,” he further stated.’
Prince Kwame Amoabeng, known by his stage name as Jeneral Ntatia, has disclosed that he finds himself in the middle of the opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the ruling party, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) political struggle.
Speaking with Abrantepa on E-Forum, the comic actor disclosed that his support for the NPP had people from the opposition attacking him. His comments about the abysmal performance of the ruling party, he said, have also triggered backlashes from the NPP and the NDC as well.
“But if you know in your heart that you haven’t gone for any money, you are bold in your heart to tell the truth.
“The funny part of the whole thing is, when it started, you get people from the opposition attacking you, and then you tell the truth and have those within the party (NPP) come at you. So now, you are in the middle. Whether to go left or right,” he disclosed.
Conceding that the nation was going through a hard time, the performer unveiled that its leadership under the president needed to get the country fixed.
“You don’t say too much when it comes to how the country is being governed. It’s not good, and what isn’t good needs to be discussed. It’s spoilt, and we need to fix it.
“We have to get to the point where we should be able to support something and still criticise it when it’s not going well,” he added.
He furthermore stated that the days when individuals kept quiet because they supported a particular political party have come to an end.
“The era where people wake up and say, I am with this particular person, whether it’s going bad or good, they still want to stick to that particular side, I think we have to do something about it, and that’s where we want to get to.
“When you support something, and the thing is not going well, and you tell the truth that it’s not going well, it’s bad,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jeneral Ntatia is expected to be part of the crew staging ‘Are We Safe’ at the National Theatre on October 28, 2022, at 4 PM and 8 PM. The comedy show features Clemento Suarez, Foster Romanus and other comic actors.
Matthew Perry questions why Keanu Reeves is still alive.
The 53-year-old actor takes jabs at Reeves, 58, in his upcoming memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. According to excerpts published by Variety, Perry mentions the John Wick star multiple times throughout the book, specifically when reflecting on the deaths of legendary actors like Heath Ledger, Chris Farley, and River Phoenix.
“The list of geniuses who were ahead of their time is too long to detail here—suffice to say, near the top of any such list should be my costar in A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, River Phoenix,” Perry wrote. “This movie was my first job, and I’m acutely aware it would be a better story if the movie was a huge hit, but all that really matters is that I learned how to make a film, and I got to know River, who personified beauty in every way.”
Phoenix died in 1993, just five years after the premiere of A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon. An autopsy report listed the actor’s cause of death as “acute multiple drug intoxication.” He was 23 years old.
“River was a beautiful man, inside and out—too beautiful for this world, it turned out,” Perry continued. “It always seems to be the really talented guys who go down. Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us? River was a better actor than me; I was funnier. But I certainly held my own in our scenes—no small feat, when I look back decades later.”
Elsewhere in the book, Perry reflects on the death of Farley, the legendary comedian who died at 33 from a drug overdose. The Friends alum had worked with Farley on Almost Heroes, a 1998 comedy that was released just months after Farley’s death.
“His disease had progressed faster than mine had. (Plus, I had a healthy fear of the word ‘heroin,’ a fear we did not share),” Perry wrote about Farley. “I punched a hole through Jennifer Aniston’s dressing room wall when I found out. Keanu Reeves walks among us. I had to promote Almost Heroes two weeks after he died; I found myself publicly discussing his death from drugs and alcohol. I was high the entire time.”
It was unclear why Perry specifically targeted Reeves, as they’ve never worked on any projects together or hinted at some kind of beef. And indeed, in an apology after the news got out, he said it was an arbitrary name-check.
In a statement to Deadline, he wrote, “I’m actually a big fan of Keanu. I just chose a random name, my mistake. I apologize. I should have used my own name instead.”
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing also details Perry’s years-long battle with drug and alcohol addiction, including the life-threatening moment his colon exploded because of opioid use.
A former Philadelphia sheriff’s deputyis facing federal gun trafficking charges after he allegedly sold weapons to an FBI informant.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Samir Ahmad, a four-year veteran, was arrested and charged with firearms trafficking and selling firearms to a person unlawfully in the United States.
Ahmad, 29, is accused of selling two handguns to a confidential informant on Oct. 13, while he was a sworn law enforcement officer as a deputy sheriff.
During Ahmad’s exchange with the undercover agent, the informant told the sheriff’s deputy he could “get deported” if he was caught in possession of a gun. Ahmad, who made $3,000 off the sale, responded, “You don’t got to worry about none of that.”
Federal prosecutors traced the two pistols to a recent shooting that took place outside Roxborough High School in Philadelphia, which left one teenager killed and four others wounded.
“Samir Ahmad abused his authority—to the greatest extent possible—as a sworn law enforcement officer,” U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said in an official statement. “The defendant was allegedly illegally selling firearms on the street to at least one person who was not permitted to possess them, adding fuel to the already-incendiary fire of deadly gun violence in the City of Philadelphia. Working with our law enforcement partners, we are doing all that we can to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the violence.”
Ahmad, who was employed with the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office since February 2018, was terminated on Oct. 19, the same day he was arrested by federal agents.
If convicted, Ahmad faces a maximum possible sentence of 15 years in prison.
Reacting to this, the victim had this to say in a tweet: “You call this an apology. LOL #ASIBOLANGA.”
Meanwhile, social media users and celebrities have congratulated Abeiku Santana for settling for peace by apologizing for his harsh comments, which came as a disrespect to the ’16 Years’ singer.
Check out the posts below:
Abeiku Santana sabotaged me; he wanted my ECG ‘contract’ terminated – Mzbel alleges
The much-anticipated visuals dropped on Friday, October 28, 2022, is a song about originality and staying true to one’s roots.
It is depicted in the crisp images directed by Yaw Skyface as a group of people of all ages are seen in sequences.
In one scene, kids are running around playfully while another group of young men are seen playing soccer in excitement.
An elderly couple is also spotted strolling through what felt like a string bond of love.
The song is one of the lead works on his recently released sophomore album, ‘Nyame Mma’.
Watch the video for ‘Mensesa Me Ho’ below.
Meanwhile, in celebration of his sophomore album Nyame Mma, Pure Akan has announced his upcoming ‘Nyame Mma Experience’ to ignite the soul of his cultural and historically pumped album.
The event scheduled for November 26 is set to fuse drama, dance and music to play the album while celebrating Ghanaian culture.
On the night, the Alliance Francaise will see the artist and a host of his friends perform to the sounds of pure authentic Ghanaian music.
Lil Baby says Meek Mill was the first bigartist to show him support, which was apparently news to the Philly-born rapper.
The Quality Control artist made the claim during a recent interview with Complex’s Speedy Morman, when he was asked to recall his first major co-sign.
“Meek Mill, he was the first person to post my mixtape, like the first rapper,” Baby said, seemingly referring to 2017’s Perfect Timing. “And I was already a super fan of Meek. Somebody told me, ‘You see Meek post your mixtape?’ And he was following me [on social media]…he was the first rapper ever, besides Thug and all them.”
Lil Baby said he and a girl were hanging out on a couch when he learned about the shoutout from Meek. He told Morman he was “kind of excited,” and he even called up one of his friends to share the big news.
Though it was an unforgettable moment for Baby, Meek admitted he didn’t remember giving the co-sign.
“I didn’t know this,” Meek wrote on Instagram, alongside an interview clip. “But Ima always support the trill when I hear it. @lilbaby keep snapping.”
Lil Baby and Meek have collaborated on a number of records over the years, including 2018’s “Time,” 2019’s “On the Road” with Post Malone, as well as 2021’s “Sharing Locations” and “Still Runnin” with Lil Durk.
Elsewhere in the interview, Baby was asked if he’s gotten involved with some of Drakes’s recent high-stakes gambling. He recalled the time he lost six figures while hanging out with Drizzy, Meek, James Harden, and Michael Rubin in the Bahamas.
“Shit, I lost about $600,000,” he said. Speedy replied, “Sorry to hear that.”
Thankfully he was able to laugh off the incident, and considering his continued success, it’s clear he’s not exactly strapped for cash. Check out the full 360 with Speedy Morman interview below; the Meek comments start at the 12:30 mark:
Meek has been notably vocal on Instagram as of late, recently offering up some criticism for the artist formerly known as Kanye West after he sported a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt alongside Candace Owens.
“What you be doing for fame driving you crazy…look how hard you came at me n***as know I’m vocal it’s like you hate your own people,” he said.
“You ain’t even post @vory album after all that work he did for you and he look up to you…you made sure you said Jack Harlow was the hottest in Kentucky overlooked [EST Gee] and vory.”
General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, Ghana’s former military ruler, instituted the “Operation Feed Yourself” strategy in the 1970s, according to former president John Dramani Mahama.
Even though General Acheampong had his shortcomings, the former president said that his “Operation Feed Yourself” approach was mostly effective because it allowed the nation to produce almost all of the food it consumes.
According to the former president, one of the main causes of the continual depreciation of the Ghana Cedi and the high rise in food prices is Ghana’s export of food that it can produce. As a result, the country cannot continue to do so.
Mahama, who made these remarks during the presentation of his ‘Building the Ghana We Want’ lecture, said that Ghana spends nearly $3 billion annually to import food it can produce locally which is very worrying.
“General Acheampong, despite the depraved corruption that swallowed him up in later years, was off to a good start in the early part of his regime. His “Operation Feed yourself” and “Operation feed your Industries” programmes yielded massive results during the period from 1972 through to 1976.
“We do enormous damage to our currency, the cedi, and our economy, when we spend billions of dollars on the importation of rice, sugar, tomato products, frozen fish, poultry, meat products and vegetable cooking oils.
“Yet we have more than the potential to produce here to feed ourselves and even export,” he said.
Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, has expressed commitment to restoring order and bringing stability to the country’s foreign exchange market through stringent measures.
According to him, despite disruptions in the general economy across the world, coupled with inflationary pressures, demand-supply imbalances, and uncertainties in the financial markets among others, the central bank is poised to collaborate with relevant stakeholders toward stabilizing the foreign exchange market.
Speaking during a meeting on October 26 with stakeholders within the foreign exchange market, heads of banks and the Association of Forex Bureau Operators, Dr. Addison underscored the importance of sanitizing the market to address shortfalls and curtail the cedi’s decline.
“Available data indicate that we started the year GH¢6 to the dollar. It got to GH¢7 and we stayed at GH¢7 in June, GH¢7.6 in July, GH¢8 in August, GH¢9.6 in September and now it is GH¢12.5. But we are here again with people sending messages that the dollar-cedi rate is GH¢15 to a dollar,” he noted.
“Clearly, this type of movement does not reflect changes in the fundamentals. It is clear that the market is not functioning properly. We are seeing speculations taking over under very disorderly market conditions and it appears now the black market is rather driving exchange rates. This we cannot allow to continue,” the BoG Governor added.
Touching on measures to reduce soaring inflation rates in Ghana, Dr. Addison said the central bank will continue to adopt tightening of monetary policy to prevent inflation from being entrenched.
He however pointed out that monetary policies should be complemented with fiscal policies for every economy.
Dr. Addison however admitted to recent developments in terms of liquidity in the banking sector but indicated that the Central Bank currently has some liquidity in place.
“I am aware of the recent developments in terms of liquidity in the banking sector. As I said, I took note of the advice from Washington on the financial stability issue that there has to be targeted liquidity support to preserve financial stability without undermining the inflation control objectives. So, this is really the context we should have the discussion on all the complaints of we need liquidity and BoG not supplying liquidity,” the BoG Governor explained.
“As we are all aware, we got the $750 million from the AfriExim Bank and I think on [October 26, 2022], we are supposed to receive the $790 million from the COCOBOD syndicated loan so the Central Bank has some liquidity.”
“We have enough liquidity to keep things relatively stable till the International Monetary Fund Programme kicks in and the financing assurances expected from other partners come in,” he added.
He continued, “I recently met the CEOs of banks and I have assured them that we will provide the necessary liquidity to ensure that we do not have a banking system with a liquidity problem and we have to do that within the context of keeping inflation low.”
Debt sustainability concerns
Meanwhile, the leadership of banks present during the engagements blamed the development on the rapid depreciation of the cedi against the US dollar on a wide range of issues.
They prominently attributed the challenges to uncertainties surrounding the future of Ghanaian bonds especially.
The heads of banks also said the ongoing negotiations between government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have fueled certain speculation over Ghana’s debt sustainability position and forced some banks to begin cutting losses and moving their investments into safe havens.
To address the situation, they urged the Bank of Ghana to employ adequate mechanisms to regularise forex brokers in a way that would ensure their efficient supervision and prevent the sale of foreign currencies at exorbitant prices.
The BoG Governor in his response assured stakeholders it was adopting measures to address challenges in the financial sector and particularly restore order in the forex market.
“We are going to this by making sure the interbank market took full control of the forex market to enforce regulations surrounding forex trading so as to streamline the supply of forex in the country.”
UPDATED 10/28, 9:20 a.m. ET: Following an initial report claiming the artist formerly known as KanyeWest’s Donda Academy was closing for the remainder of the school year, only for a separate report to claim such talk had been walked back, yet another report (this time from TMZ) alleges the situation remains fluid.
In short, it’s now being reported that the school could indeed be closing down following the recent exit of a number of staff members. According to TMZ, several staffers have left their positions with the school in response to comments from Ye that have been widely called out as anti-Semitic, as well as in protest of his remarks about the murder of George Floyd in a since-removed Drink Champs episode and the inclusion of a hate slogan in his YZY SZN 9 show.
UPDATED 10/27, 12:50 p.m. ET: Nevermind. The artist formerly known as Kanye West’s Donda Academy has decided not to shutter its doors for the remainder of the school year.
TMZ reports that the school will remain open. Parents and students were sent an email midnight on Wednesday, which is reported to have said, “Join us tomorrow morning in worship for the return of Donda Academy. With the help of our parents and community, we are back and returning with a vengeance!”
See original story below.
The artist formerly known as Kanye West’s Donda Academy is immediately closing for the remainder of the school year, according to a new report.
The Times shared a piece on Thursday in which an email to parents was cited, with Donda Academy principal Jason Angell most notably informing them that the school “will close for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year effective immediately.”
The move comes amid ongoing criticism and fallout spurred by a number of remarks made by Ye, both in interview settings and on social media, that have been widely called out as anti-Semitic. Unlike past controversies involving the artist, some longtime fans have also been more openly critical of Ye’s actions (and their immediate impact) this time around, including the “Ye da [G.OA.T.] no [cap]” guy.
Per the latest report, Angell’s email notes that the decision to close Donda Academy for the rest of the school year was made “at the discretion of our founder.” However, the current plan is for the school to “begin afresh” late next year.
“Our leadership team will be working diligently to assist all families during this transition, ensuring that every scholar has what they need to succeed in their next community in a prompt and gracious manner,” Angell’s email is reported to have said.
According to the school’s official site, the daily schedule for students included “full school worship,” core classes (i.e. math, science, and language arts), lunch, and recess. “Enrichment courses” are also listed as having been part of the curriculum, with offerings including classes on visual art and parkour.
News of Donda Academy’s (seemingly temporary) closure follows a prior report from TMZ revealing that the school’s basketball team had been removed from the Scholastic Play-by-Play Classics schedule in response to Ye’s recent actions.
Complex has reached out to Donda Academy for comment. This story may be updated.
Four teenagers were killed in a car crash in Buffalo Monday morning that has been linked to an alarming “Kia Challenge” on TikTok.
The Associated Press reports there were six passengers inside the vehicle at the time of the accident. The victims were between the ages of 14 and 17. As for the other two, one was the 16-year-old driver, who has since been treated and released. The other was hospitalized and placed in intensive care.
According to WGRZ, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said investigators believe the car, which was stolen around 8 p.m. Sunday, was at the center of the “Kia challenge.” It instructs viewers how to steal a Kia model built within the last decade by using a cell phone charger and USB cord.
“They’re very easy unfortunately to steal,” Gramaglia said. “You can look up the information that’s been put out there. There are numerous cities across the country that are looking at looking into or have filed lawsuits against Kia because of the ease that they are able to steal these cars.”
The unidentified driver has been ticketed for criminal possession of stolen property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The Erie County District Attorney’s office has launched an investigation into the crash with additional charges expected to be filed.
“It’s an extremely sad morning in the city of Buffalo when you lose four young lives in a horrific accident like this,” D.A. John Flynn said. “And now we need to do a thorough investigation to find out what happened and what the appropriate charges are against the driver of this vehicle.”
A Toronto police officer is facing 16 criminal charges after he allegedly stole a deceased person’s credit card and a missing person’s watch.
According to CTV News, Constable Borissov is charged under the Police Services Act with theft, fraud, breach of trust, and possession of property obtained by crime. He was first arrested in April.
Toronto police received a search warrant for Constable Boris Borissov’s phone following his first arrest back in April. They found photos of an Ontario driver’s license and a BMO Mastercard that belonged to a woman central to a sudden death investigation in Toronto.
The investigators allege Borissov took the photos the same day he was assigned to the case and stole the credit card and driver’s license. They also note that the credit card had been used 16 times following its alleged theft.
In a separate instance, police say Borissov allegedly stole a Tag Heuer watch from a mission person known as “A.K.” Borissov was assigned the case on Feb. 17, 2022, and then returned to A.K.’s residence the next day and allegedly stole the watch.
Police note that A.K. was found dead several days later and Borissov allegedly failed to report he had confiscated the watch.
Borissov is facing additional charges for allegedly using police resources for personal reasons. Borissov allegedly used police software to find information about an individual known as “V.K.,” a person to whom Borissov had ties. Borissov then allegedly sent a picture of the results to a member of the public.
Borissov is currently suspended with pay, per a police spokesperson.
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Alban Bagbin, stated that the measure had given the public confidence that steps were being made to prevent the cedi from further depreciating against the major foreign currencies.
The Speaker made the comments when he dismissed a challenge to the filing of a motion to reprimand the minister of finance.
He said he had rightly admitted the motion, which had followed precedence of the House.
“Just because people are given confidence that action is being taken, the cedi has gained some value, and Parliament should be commended,” Speaker Bagbin said.
“It had climbed to about 15 to a dollar but has dropped to around 13, that is a serious gain for this country.”
“And it’s because there is some confidence being given to the people that action is being taken to rectify the wrongs.
Mr Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, Deputy Majority Leader, had raised an objection to the motion in the Order Paper of the House, which was sponsored by Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, and 128 other MPs.
He argued that a motion should not be accompanied by allegations and that if the House wanted to rely on those allegations, they must be factual.
Former NBA player Delonte West has been arrested and booked on multiple charges, TMZ reports.
Police in Fairfax County, Virginia were called to a parking lot at 5:53 PM after witnesses claimed they saw West “trespassing” inside a vehicle.
When authorities tried to intervene, they said West became aggressive as they tried to detain him. After fleeing, West was found and ultimately detained and booked on four criminal charges including vehicle trespassing, entering a vehicle, fleeing from law enforcement, and public intoxication. He was released from custody on October 16.
The news comes as West was reportedly working towards his basketball comeback with Ice Cube’s BIG3 League. TMZ Sports reported in February that the 38-year-old was in training at the Pat The Rock Basketball Academy in Maryland, where a source said he had also “been speaking to the kids at the academy and shelling out advice on hoops.”The former Dallas Mavericks player is no stranger to law enforcement. He had previously been arrested last October after getting into a drunken altercation with Boynton Beach police.
His arrest came shortly after reports emerged he had gotten a job at the Rebound rehabilitation center in Florida, where he had previously been a patient at the behest of the Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
“I can just confirm that I found him and helped him,” Cuban told The Washington Post at the time. “The rest is up to Delonte and his family to tell.”
Chris Redd didn’t make it to his comedy show on Wednesday night in New York City.
TMZ reports that when the Saturday Night Live alum pulled up to the Comedy Cellar in Greenwich Village, he was allegedly assaulted by a random person. Redd was transported to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan and has since been treated and released.
According to authorities, Redd was sucker-punched in the face after he got out of his vehicle at around 9:40 p.m. ET. The suspect was reportedly outfitted in a security guard uniform and left Redd with a bloody nose.
By the time law enforcement arrived at the scene, the suspect had already fled. The reason behind the alleged attack is unknown. Footage acquired by TMZ shows the aftermath of the scene, with blood on the sidewalk and on the Comedy Cellar’s steps.
Redd departed from SNL in late September, and in the days following, news surfaced that he’s reportedly dating Kenan Thompson’s estranged wife, Christina Evangeline. The former couple is separated, with Thompson filing for divorce in May after 11 years of marriage. They have joint custody of their two daughters, 3-year-old Gianna and 7-year-old Georgia.
Redd and Evangeline apparently started officially dating within the past year, with TMZ reporting that “there was no overlap or cheating.” Thompson allegedly isn’t upset over the pair dating.
Redd left SNL after five years with the show. Thompson has stayed on, now becoming the longest-running cast member after joining in 2003.
Rosy Fynn, the Mastercard Foundation’s country director for Ghana, stated that the foundation is working on solid strategies to help entrepreneurs get ready to take advantage of the numerous opportunities the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents.
She claims that the foundation has started serious discussions with the AfCFTA secretariat as part of its preparations in order to identify chances for young businesspeople who are succeeding to tap into the continent’s largest market.
To ensure that they are prepared for the opportunity and to help them understand how to join in and conduct business with other companies, she said the Foundation will include these entrepreneurs in a number of capacity-building programs.
“There are actually concerted efforts and discussions going on with the AfCFTA to find opportunities for young people to take advantage of trade opportunities, and this is something that is certain. The Mastercard Foundation is going to be definitely involved in training and building up capacity to be able to take advantage,” she said at the Youth Economic Forum (YEF) in Accra.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement will create the largest free trade area in the world, measured by participating countries involved. The pact connects 1.3 billion people across 55 countries with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) valued at US$3.4trillion.
It can help 30 million people escape the worst types of poverty; but in order to fully realise its potential, considerable policy changes and trade facilitation measures must be made.
This, the Mastercard Foundation believes, is arguably the best opportunity for the economy’s most significant transformation; as such, it will remain committed to getting behind the ambitions of young Ghanaians and creating pathways to dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for them.
With the Young Africa Works strategy in place, it seeks to enable access to dignified work opportunities for some three million young people by 2030 through enhanced efforts in the agricultural sector; and also exploring opportunities in emerging sectors, especially in the digital economy.
The Foundation is optimistic that by doing this, and working alongside their partners – government, the private sector and young people – it will unlock the youthful potential to contribute in building back the economy and creating work opportunities for themselves and others.
As part of the YEF, participants were taken through masterclass sessions on entrepreneurship, marketing and agribusiness among others, to receive knowledge on how to position themselves in the various sectors so as to fully take advantage of existing opportunities.
Resource person for the session on entrepreneurship and Deputy Managing Director for JK Horgle Transport and Company Limited, Elinam A. Horgli, called on young entrepreneurs to see entrepreneurship as a long-life journey. She added that they must remain committed and strive for excellence even after attaining success.
According to her, entrepreneurs should have their mission and vision communicated to their staff to enable them remain committed to it.
She also suggested that they view employee motivation and training as a critical component of their quest for business expansion. She further stated that business owners should not be hesitant to fire employees that are unwilling to support the mission of a company, because such a work-related attitude can cause a company to fail.
Kojo Akoto Boateng, general manager of WeComm Agri-Media and Consultancy, claims that the country’s current food price inflation is an example of how the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme has been a losing venture.
He mentioned that even though the nation is said to have made active investment into Planting for Food and Jobs for the past five to six years, it has not yielded the expected results in the agriculture and agribusiness industry when speaking at the Youth Economic Forum 2022 on the theme, “A Beginner’s Guide to Agribusiness.”
“I don’t think Planting for Food and Jobs has been worth the investment, it has been a failure and we should revisit the books and reorganise how we are investing in food production and national food security. So if we have invested over GH¢3 billion, where is the evidence in our excellent food production? That evidence is in the cost and quality of food you get,” he said.
“How much is 5kg of rice? If Planting for Food and Jobs for rice was done right, we should be seeing a lot of rice in the market. We say we are mechanising the industry and bringing in processing but the result is the effect on the population. If we had invested correctly, the population must be feeling the effect and not buying food double the price you bought it in January,” he stated.
He stated that things like cost of plane tickets, hotels and luxurious vehicles, amongst others, can increase but when the cost of food goes up, it affects everybody and those are the things the country has to deal with as a matter of national food security.
Mr. Akoto Boateng further emphasised the need to invest and aggressively pursue import substitution policies in order to overturn the US$4 billion import bill.
“Everything we import. If we are to substitute with local alternative, will create jobs, improve value, create wealth within the economy and reduce the stress on the economy in a situation where we have to look for dollars all the time to import and how it throws our economy off balance,” he stated.
Also, he mentioned that the problem in the agroindustry is as a result of the country allowing importers and traders to control the direction of the economy.
“We have allowed certain shifts in the economy to dictate what we do, because there was a time we produced enough of the key things needed in the country, but these traders are buying from countries with subsidies and could get them cheaper and lower grades which are repackaged and sent back to Ghana.”
Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Security (IES), Nana Amoosi VII, has alleged that the government is using the GOIL Company Limited (GOIL) to influence the market in the wake of the hikes in fuel prices.
The assertion follows a sudden and significant surge (of about 10%) in the price of both fuel and diesel even before the fortnightly review
of petroleum products, which is to take place on October 30, 2022. Some Oil Marketing Companies (OMC), including Petrosol and Engen, are currently selling petrol per litre at GH¢17.45 and GH¢17.54 respectively. Diesel is also selling at GH¢19. 89 pesewas and GH¢19.44 pesewas respectively.
Despite these changes, Nana Amoosi VII, said the OMCs have observed that GOIL and TotalEnergies are still selling a litre of petrol at ¢13.99, while the price of diesel also remains the same.
The OMCs are worried that this development will distort the market.
“Strangely, we find that GOIL is selling something far below what these other marketing companies are putting out, and we are not surprised.”
“You can’t use a state institution or quasi-state institution to manipulate the market. It is a deregulated market. The least you can do is to manage your forex exposure well,” he said.
The astronomical surge in the price has been attributed to the fall of the cedi. The OMCs have indicated that they can no longer wait for the bi-weekly review of prices of petroleum products because the Bulk Oil Distribution Companies have been selling to them at the current market rate.
Meanwhile, there is a stable price for crude oil on the world market. Nana Amoasi further alleged that the government owes GOIL over GH¢80 million and further noted that the Bulk Oil Storage Transportation Company might be impacted by this debt.
“BOST owns close to 20 percent of GOIL’s shares, so any losses that GOIL will create, will come back to you and I to pay in the name of BOST.”
Nana Amoasi VII further predicted more tough times ahead since according to him, “there is no clarity on how the managers of the economy are seeking to bring down the fast-depreciating cedi, so we may be heading for rougher times.”
This comes at a time when the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has also hinted at increasing the price of transport fares.
Effective Saturday, October 29, 2022, there would be a 19% increase in transport fares, GPRTU has announced.
An economist at the University of Ghana, Prof Godfred Alufar Bokpin, has charged the government to reduce the number of staff in its governance structure and across all state-owned institutions.
His calls came at the back for calls for the dismissal of the finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
Speaking to GhanaWeb on the sidelines of the 11th Ghana Economic Forum, he said “We must adopt the lean government across the general government approach, not just the central government, but general government approach to doing business must adopt least cost approach. That is the only way we can come out of with this.”
Professor Bokpin indicated his support for the calls to remove the finance minister, whiles adding that “that is not the only change we want. Beyond that, it will not amount to so much just changing the finance minister. We must go a step further and reduce the number of ministers and the government size overall, including the staff at the presidency.”
“Beyond that, we must replicate that across state-owned enterprises. If you look at their staff strength which has gone up since 2017, we are creating deputy CEOs and all of that. This is the best time for Ghana to look at Ghana and say what is tolerable and what cannot be allowed,” he noted.
