TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Two aspirants of Ghana Communication Technology University promise transformational leadership

    Two Students aspiring to become President and Vice President of the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the Ghana Communication Technology University have promised to institute transformational leadership that will inure to the benefit of the school.

    The Students; Enoch Nii Ahene Nunoo, a Level 300 Bsc Information Technology who is aspiring to become the SRC President and Eunice Benjotim Notob, a level 300 Bsc Management student vying for the SRC Vice Presidential position have also promised to bring in policies that would uplift the image of the University and enhance the performance of students outside school.

    In a joint policy statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on Monday the two Aspirants said they had learnt a lot from behind the scenes and aspire to improve student well-being on campus.

    In the academia sector, the Aspirants promised Scholarship opportunities for the students to acquire more knowledge in and outside the shores of the country.

    “Just like the past administrations that started an International School Fair to educate students on international scholarships, we will follow suit, as we have realized its need among students. More student entrepreneurs will have the privilege of selling their goods and providing services to the student body and also have the opportunity to advertise during school events”.

    On internship they promised to aid students with internships and National Service Scheme opportunities from organizations such as Stanford Seed Ghana who were already into such programmes for the youth.

    They said Proper training of students for USAG programmes would ensure that the performance of students in competitions at the national level would raise the flag of GCTU high.

    On international exchange programmes, “We will partner AIESEC to help students explore international Exchange Programmes and help them explore different styles of education and expand their employment opportunities.

    “Internet connectivity on all campuses will be improved (especially on the Abeka Campus, while attempts will be made to extend school Wi-Fi coverage to nearby hostels.

    The statement said on Healthcare, Sanitation and Welfare, Students’ healthcare was closely linked to their academic performance and the Enoch and Eunice agenda would ensure students got quality healthcare, not neglecting the many sanitation issues in the school.

    On food on campus, they promised to find another solution to the lack of food variety, since the Bush Canteen would soon be reconstructed and the Abeka Campus Cafeterias were not functioning effectively.

    “Guidance is a great asset to students on campus, in terms of their emotional and psychological well-being. Students make decisions daily, and those decisions go a long way to affecting their lives and futures. We will liaise with the guidance and counselling team to adopt new ways to enhance the provision of guidance and counselling to students”.

    On Sports, the duo promised to aid students with a passion for sports, to have access to scholarship programmes and sporting would become a more vibrant part of campus life, as a variety of games (SRC games & Inter-hostel/faculty/campus games) would be organized to unearth talents in students.

    “We will also collaborate with external bodies to organize games (USAG Games) and maintain the football pitch and provide more sporting items.

    “Classrooms, sporting facilities, washrooms and other outdoor infrastructure will be maintained regularly to ensure constant availability. The renovation and transformation of classrooms on the C-Block into Learning Hubs will be taken up by the SRC and made widespread.

    “Foreign students are paramount to the international recognition of our noble institution. The ratio of international students to national students is about 1 to 100. We intend to partner hostels to accommodate international students, have English tutorials for them (Lookupp), as well as Peer Mentorship programmes for ISA.

    “We will also aid them with their resident permits, help resolve the high tuition fee rate. Renovation of International Students’ Hostel for the international students. Priority will be given to international students and students from outside Accra in the allocation of rooms”.

    In the Promotion of Women in STEM the statement said, “All over the world, the percentage of women working in STEM fields is less, even more so in Ghana. However, without the presence of women in the STEM fields, innovation will be limited and will exclude half of the population. We need more women in STEM to further innovation and represent the needs of society. That is why we will take initiatives (with WOCOM) to organize educative programmes for women to educate them on the importance of being in the STEM fields and put support systems in place to motivate and support them.

    On Extra-Curricular Activities the Aspirants promised to create an avenue for students to have fun and socialize, to build strong networks for the future.

    “Hence, Clubs like debate, game, cook, and chess clubs will be formed. A library management system will be developed to assist the library staff in their duties. Finally, the revamp of the much-anticipated SRC week, filled with a variety of activities that will keep students excited.

    We are passionate about patriotism, genuine leadership and development, and will inculcate these into fellow students, especially because transformational leadership is where we focus in our style of leadership, where student leaders will be trained to prepare them for various roles for development.

    Source: GNA

  • Prioritise saving for retirement – Insurance expert advises

    Michael Yaw Kyei-Donkor, Former Head of SIC’s Valued Clients, has disclosed why it is important for everyone to save before retirement.

    According to him, whatever has a beginning has an end, “and once you’ve started working you will definitely have to come to a stop and that is termed retirement.”

    Speaking to Nana Yaw Odame on e.tv Ghana’s ‘Men’s Lounge’ show, he said, “Wishing the beginning and the end, you need to prepare after the end to live comfortably and that is where the importance of savings comes in. Savings like the society is the unit block on which you can build your capital and after getting the capital you invest”.

    He noted that the profit from the investment is something one can reinvest or use in expanding whatever activities they are performing. Hence, making saving a priority is one of the key points when it comes to retirement.

    Answering how early one has to start saving, he emphasised that it should be done as early as possible, “especially the moment you start to earn money.

    Anyone who starts earning some income at age 18 and above needs to make a conscious effort to save for the present and the future. They also have to bear in mind that things will not always be the same,” he stated.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Redenominate cedi; it will trigger low dollar demand – Finance Expert to govt

    AUS-based associate professor of finance, William Peprah, has advised the government to redenominate the local currency to check the current depreciation.

    He explained that in 2007, a significant loss in the value of the cedi was observed, and it took a redenomination of the currency to put it on par with the United States dollar.

    “The current situation in Ghana, where we have seen the cedi devaluing and high inflation, currently requires that the economic managers would have to consider again the cedi currency redenomination.

    In fact, I propose that we take a zero off or divide the currency by 10; the value as you know will be the same. It is 15 years after the last cedi redenomination.

    A similar situation was faced in 2006, and by July 1, 2007, the cedi was redenominated,” he said. According to him, changing the face value of banknotes and coins in circulation should be executed within the next six months.

    This, Professor Peprah said, “would lower prices and the value of monetary commodities in the country.”

    In 2007, a dollar was worth about GHC9500. Inflation at the time stood at 10.73%.

    Due to the economic hardships faced, John Agyekum Kufuor, then President, knocked four zeroes off, which meant that 10,000 would be equivalent to one Ghana cedi. Currently, Ghana’s inflation rate stands at 37.4%, while a dollar now trades at about GHS15.

    The local currency has lost close to 50% of its value due to the lack of dollars in the market.

    Most businesses dependent on imported goods are already bearing the brunt of the cedi’s depreciation.

    Source: The Independent

  • AU provides USD 400,000 for health system strengthening in five member states

    The African Union (AU) has provided 400,000 US dollars for the strengthening of health systems in five member states under a project named, “Project Bijimin”.

    The project, which will be carried out in Burundi, Central Africa Republic (CAR), Chad, Lesotho, and South Sudan, is expected to scale up the numbers of Community Health Workers (CHW), ensure that they are better renumerated, and trained, and skilled to efficiently discharge their functions.

    It will be implemented by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA) for two years, and it will be scaled up to other member states.

    Dr Janet Byaruhanga, Head of Health Unit, AUDA, who was speaking at a knowledge sharing session in Accra to kick start the project in the selected countries on Tuesday, said, “Project ‘Bijimin’ is a Hausa word which means Bull”.

    “Bijimin was chosen to represent the formation of a strong, resilient and unwavering healthcare system in the five countries,” she said.

    Dr Byaruhanga said the countries were selected because they had a unique healthcare system, which was mainly weak, and that the project would improve the community health workforce in the countries to deliver better healthcare to the people.

    Project Bijimin will champion the promotion of exercise, palliative care, maternal, child and men’s health, adolescent health, the use of first aid, and communicable and non-communicable diseases by CHW in communities.

    She said Project Bijimin would provide community education on the diseases and other health issues that affected them, as well as prioritise the training and upscaling of the knowledge of the health workers.

    “We intend to at the end of the project see the provision of better renumeration for community health workers, improved knowledge, attitudes, and practices of beneficiary communities towards health issues,” she said.

    Dr Byaruhanga said the project would encourage countries to invest in community health care workers for sustainability purposes.

    She explained that the programme was organised in Ghana to enable the selected AU countries to learn from best healthcare practices and strategies in Ghana to strengthen theirs.

    Dr Byaruhanga stressed the need for countries to invest in primary health care, saying, “Primary health care when done well, promotes overall health and wellbeing at all levels”.

    Source: GNA

  • Gospel musician Michael Danso releases inspiring single ‘Odo

    Gospel musician, Michael Danso, has dropped his new single, Odo, urging Christians to live lives that are pleasing to God instead of glorifying worldly fantasies to lead them astray.

    According to him, most Christians are failing to love one another as Jesus Christ preached hence the surge in unruly behaviours in recent times.

    Speaking in an interview after its release, which is available on all digital music platforms, the soothing singer noted that, some behavioural patterns in recent years had proven that many Christians were wandering away from their faith.

    “Drifting away from God partly accounts for the lawlessness, defiance and indifferent posture some believers exhibit towards the church, societal and national issues, he said in an interview.

    “It is a scary reality that many redeemed Christians have left their first love and allowed Satan to intrude and distract their Christian way of life by committing to loving other things that bring them satisfaction and inner joy,” he added.

    He also added that some Christian values that were been passed down from generation are no longer holding the fort.

    “The period when individuals and families used to have quiet moments and blazing intimacy with God is gradually fading out and these demonstrate that many redeemed souls are not satisfied in God any longer,” he observed.

    He said some Christians in the name of “I know my right” had refused to stay disciplined or follow laid down procedures while others continue to fancy things that take them away from the presence of God.

    Preaching in his Odo song, Mr Danso partly believes steps must be taken to prevent Christians from “heading towards darkness.”

    “It is for this reason that God has blessed me with a timely, concise, and accurate message in ‘Odo’ (love) to admonish the children of God to return to Him,” he said.

    The song, he addsed, “is a call to Christians and non-Christians to remember where they have grown cold in love for God and affection for humanity, and the need to repent and return to genuine habits.”

    The ‘He Never Fails’ composer said those who loved God should follow His command, adding that God’s love was constant, therefore, those who had gone wayward could always return to Him.

    “Tell Him you have grown cold, tell Him you have entertained other love. He stands ready to forgive and restore you. He is calling us to return to where we once fell,” he stated.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Vegetable Oil price increases from GH600 to GH1,500 in less than a week

    The hike in fuel prices and the depreciation of the cedi have gravely impacted Ghana’s economy.

    Such economic pressures translate almost directly into higher prices of goods and services.

    One of such commodities that have witnessed an eye-watering price increment is vegetable oil. Vegetable oil, classified as a necessity good, is hitting an all-time high. At the beginning of the year, a 25 litre of vegetable oil was sold at GHC360.

    The commodity, in the month of October, was increased to GHC600, representing an 80% surge in the price.

    In less than a week after the new price adjustment, a 25 litre of cooking oil is now selling at GHC1,200 or GHC1,500 in shops in Ghana. The galloping prices have now turned the commodity into a luxury good.

    Taking to the streets of Accra, some traders at the Dome market who spoke to The Independent Ghana stated that the ripple effect of the surge in the prices of cooking oil is collapsing their businesses.

    A Koko seller who could not fathom the dramatic increase said “a 1.5 plastic bottle filled with oil is selling at GH70, and I have to buy two of that, I also buy sugar and floor for GH60 each because of that we sell the koko for GH2, buffloat sells at GH2 and GH3 so now you can’t have a Koko breakfast with GH5, If you want to be satisfied, you need not less than GH10.”

    A Waakye seller who sells her food at a minimum of GHS4 has decried the skyrocketing price of oil products.

    For her, business is on the brink of collapsing, therefore an immediate intervention from the government to beat down prices of cooking oil will help cushion her source of livelihood.

    Meanwhile, some food vendors who can not afford to buy cooking oil due to the price increase have resulted in other alternatives such as shea butter and coconut oil to cook

    What is contributing to the price increment?

    According to some traders, the high cost of cooking oil is a result of the cedi depreciation.
    Ghana has been ranked as the largest importer of vegetable oil. Volza Grow Global reveals that Ghana imports most of its vegetable oil from Indonesia, India and China. These foreign countries trade with Ghana in foreign currency.

    Currently, the local currency is the world’s worst performing currency against the US dollar. Meanwhile,Auntie Ama, a trader at the Dome Market, who feels the pinch, has bemoaned how some sellers raise the prices of their goods and exploit desperate buyers.

    Being against such actions, she thus called on the government to examine price controls as a means to protect consumers from exploitation.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Decision by Pharmaceutical Companies to stop supply on credit harsh – Dr Okoe Boye

    Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, has described as harsh, the decision by the three major pharmaceutical industries to stop the supply of drugs and medications to all health facilities.

    He said, even though their demands for tariff adjustments were legitimate, their resolve to stop outright supply on credit basis was harsh and would have dire consequences on health delivery across the country.

    The Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Association of Ghana and the Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesalers Association of Ghana announced their decision at a press conference last Thursday.

    Dr Okoe Boye said the group should have engaged the Ministry of Health (MoH) to find an amicable solution to the issue.

    “When you have an agreement with a partner, the best thing to do is to come back to the negotiation table,” he said.

    “I think the approach is very harsh, but as stakeholders we need to be patient and tolerant,” he added.

    Dr Okoe Boye said, as much as the NHIA sympathises with the situation, it does not directly engage in the policy framework that determines tariff adjustments for the suppliers.

    He said the Ministry of Health, based on negotiations with suppliers, determines tariff for each drug, which the authority works with.

    Dr Okoe Boye therefore urged the suppliers to reconsider the decision and said the MoH was meeting the pharmaceutical companies to find an alternative resolution to the situation.

    He expressed hope that the meeting would produce fruitful results.

    He said the NHIA was doing its best to ensure that arrears owed suppliers were paid.

    Source: GNA

  • KATH gets two modern paediatric surgical theatres

    Kids Operating Room (KidsOR), a Scottish Global Health Charity, based in Edinburg, UK, has inaugurated two state-of-the-art paediatric surgical theatres for the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), in Kumasi.

    The facilities, furnished with approximately 6000 items of paediatric surgical equipment and consumables at the cost of $600,000.00, would help provide quality and timely surgical care, to reduce the infant mortality rate at the second-largest referral facility in the country.

    The two theatres will also serve as training grounds for paediatric surgeons and anaesthetics to help increase the number of the paediatric health workforce in the country.

    Dr Oheneba Owusu-Danso, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KATH speaking at the inauguration, said the facilities would help strengthen the paediatric unit which had been struggling over the years for improved facilities.

    He promised to set up a protocol for proper maintenance culture of the facility for it to last longer.

    Dr Michael Amoah, Senior specialist Paediatric Surgeon and Head of the Paediatric Surgery Unit, said the theatres were much needed to provide quality healthcare services to infants and children.

    He said before the completion of the new theatres, the unit was able to perform between 40 and 45 surgeries a month, using adult-sized tools and equipment.

    He said the new KidsOR operating rooms would help support electives and emergency surgeries and thus, reduce complications.

    Additionally, they would enable surgeons to perform complex cases that would be presented to the facility.

    Dr Charles Dally, Head of the Directorate of Surgery, said the facilities were a dream come into reality since they would enhance the efficient service delivery at the unit.

    Ms Muthoni Wahome, KidsOR Representatives for Africa, pledged the organisation’s commitment to ensure that children whose conditions demanded surgeries were performed in an explicit manner and their lives saved.

    Source: GNA 

  • Every man is afraid of a powerful woman – Gifty Anti shares

    Ace journalist and TV host Oheneyere Gifty Anti has stated that men are terrified of powerful women.

    Speaking on Onua FM, Gifty Anti noted that women who are accomplished have been tagged as disrespectful.

    “Every man is afraid of a powerful woman. Everybody is afraid of a powerful woman. They keep saying they support this style, but when they see you climbing higher and higher and becoming more assertive, things change.

    “People have this perception that powerful women, confident women, and successful women are rude. Listen, I always say those are characters,” she said.

    According to Oheneyere Gifty Anti, the ‘rude’ statement many people label successful women with has nothing to do with one’s gender.

    “We all have different characters. So maybe poverty was suppressing their rudeness. And it’s in men, it’s in women. We’ve seen it all.”

    “We’ve seen people when they are low, especially political leaders when they are campaigning. After they secure power, they act differently. It cuts across both men and women. But some people are not changed by their situations,” she added.

    She also admitted that one changes the way she relates with others when they find themselves in certain positions.

    “Of course, when you find yourself in a certain position, there are certain barriers you need to put in place because you need to protect yourself. You need to check yourself and the interest of the people you represent,” she concluded.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Nigerian Signwriter jailed 15 years for abduction, defilement

    A Nigerian Signwriter who abducted a 14-year-old girl and defiled her has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Gender Based Violence Court at the Police Headquarters, Accra.

    Efe James Edema, 19, charged with defilement and abduction, pleaded guilty.

    The court presided over by Mrs Abena Amponsah Boansi convicted Edema on his own plea.

    Prosecution led by Inspector Opoku Aniagyei narrated that the complainant was the father of the victim.

    Inspector Aniagyei said the complainant resided at Ayikuma together with the victim and that the accused resided at Nungua.

    The prosecution said last year Edema went to work at Ayikuma and befriended the complainant and the family.

    It said, however, during September 10, this year, the accused, now convict, informed the complainant that his work had ended at Ayikuma, and that he would be returning to Nungua.

    To the surprise of the complainant, the prosecution said the complainant in the evening of September 10, this year, realised that the victim was no where to be found after Edema had left.

    It said the complainant went round in search of the victim but to no avail.

    The prosecution said the complainant, therefore, reported the matter to the Police at Ayikuma on September 11, 2022.

    It said the complainant then posted the pictures of the victim on the status of his phone and other social media platforms.

    Afterwards, the prosecution said the complainant was informed by his brothers at Nungua that, they had seen a girl who resembled the victim in the company of Edema.

    The prosecution told the court that the complainant asked his brothers to snap pictures of the accused and the victim and send same to him (the complainant).

    When the pictures of the victim and Edema were sent to the complainant, he identified the victim.

    The prosecution said the complainant went to the Nungua Police Station with an Extract of Occurrence from Ayikuma Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit for assistance.

    It said Edema was nabbed by the Police and the complainant was issued with a medical report to send the victim to the hospital for examination.

    A full medical report on the victim was submitted to the Police.

    Source: GNA

  • Canadian Murder Case: Police pray for time to build duplicate docket

    The Police say some documents needed to build a duplicate docket in the murdered Canadian case are not ready.

    According to Chief Inspector Jacob Nyarko, the Police were yet to receive the full autopsy report on murdered Frank Kofi Osei, the Ghanaian domiciled in Canada.

    He, therefore, prayed the Adenta District Court to give the prosecution some time to get all the necessary documents and reports to build the duplicate docket and forward same to the Office of the Attorney General for advice.

    The court adjourned the matter to November 11.

    Safina Mohammed Adizatu, a student, and Michael Fiifi Ampofo Arku, the two accused persons, are in lawful custody over the murder of Osei at Ashalley Botwe School Junction, in Accra.

    Osei, a Ghanaian domiciled in Canada, was in the country for a vacation when he was allegedly murdered last month.

    Safina, also known as Safina Diamond on social media, and Arku, are said to have stabbed Osei several times on his chin, jaw, back and strangled him.

    Charged with conspiracy and murder, the two accused in the company of their respective lawyers, had their pleas reserved.

    Narrating the facts, the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Jacob Nyarko, said Safina was a 23-year-old Level 100 student of the University of Ghana, and Arku, a Technical Officer of the Crop Research Institute, Kumasi.

    The prosecution said Osei, now deceased, was a Ghanaian domiciled in Canada, who was in Ghana on vacation.

    It said on July 24, this year, Osei visited Safina, his fiancé, who resided at Ashalley Botwe School Junction, Accra, and decided to pass the night there.

    According to the prosecution, the accused later allegedly dragged the deceased from the first floor of the storey building through the staircase and dumped him at the gate of the house near where the deceased had parked his Toyota Tundra and washed the blood stains off the staircase.

    The prosecution said Safina called a police officer and said her boyfriend visited her, and had died in her room.

    The court heard that the police called members of the Police Patrol Team, which rushed to the scene and found the body of Osei lying at the gate of Safina’s house, but (she) Safina and Arku were nowhere to be found.

    The prosecution said the police traced Safina to Ashalley Botwe School Junction and nabbed her.

    It said Arku after allegedly committing the act, absconded to Kumasi, adding that efforts were underway to apprehend other accomplices on the run.

     Source: GNA

  • Young Ghanaian-born Nigerian releases first single ‘Jakpa’

    Award-winning actor, Eric Afrifa Mensah has released his first single to kickstart his music career.

    The singer who is known in the entertainment circle as Afrifa released his maiden single titled “Jakpa” on Monday, October 24.

    He has featured in films in Lagos and Accra.

    Inspired by the economic challenges facing Ghana and Nigeria’s economy, Jakpa is an afro-pop song with a touch of Amapiano.

    The 14-year-old who resides in Ghana started doing music when he was 6. He is born to a Ghanaian mother and a Nigerian father.

    He says he is inspired by Wizkid and Shatta Wale when quizzed about his music mentors.

    Produced by Crisifix Beat, it can be found on Audiomack and all other streaming platforms. His first album will be released subsequently.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • National advocacy workshop for Women’s Rights Organisations held in Accra

    Plan International/Women’s Voice and Leadership Project (WVL Ghana) in collaboration with WiLDAF Ghana and NET RIGHT on Tuesday organised a one-day national advocacy workshop for Women’s Rights organisations (CROs), in Accra.

    The workshop forms part of planned activities to develop a common feminist advocacy agenda with action plans within the framework of the WVL Project for implementation geared towards addressing women’s rights issues in Ghana.

    Mrs Patricia Isabella Essel, Project Lead -WVL Ghana, said the WVL Ghana Project, was an initiative supported by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), aiming to support the capacity and activities of local WROs and movements to empower women and girls, advance protection of their rights, and achieve gender equality in Ghana.

    She said as a humanitarian organisation, Plan International, worked for a just world that advanced children’s rights and equality for girls with a focus on gender transformative programming, hence the launching of its new five-year global strategy.

    “Our ambition from now to 2027 is to see all girls standing strong creating global change, working together, to create a world where all girls know and exercise their rights to living the life they choose, and a network of supporters, communities, staff, partners, and donors, all supporting girls and young women to stand strong as they learn, lead, decide, and thrive.”

    Mrs Essel said it was not only important to meet those needs, but also to support interventions and strategies that built women’s resilience and empower them to create just and equal societies and institutions.

    She said women and girls were faced with a myriad of challenges, including the burden of unpaid care work to access and control productive resources and sexual and gender-based violence.

    “As our interventions shift rightly to those that build resilience through the provision of assets, skills, jobs, dignity, and protection, if we do not take special measures to target and include women in resilience and stabilisation efforts, women are at risk of being further left behind.”

    She said, “as we deliberate and develop a common feminist advocacy agenda and action plans, we must always remember that success is not just in whether needs are met, but also whether through meeting those needs we have also empowered those we are serving and worked to ensure greater equality between men and women.”

    Mrs Patricia Blankson Akakpo, NET RIGHT, said the workshop was to develop a common advocacy agenda and action plans to address women’s rights issues in Ghana and ensure increased and continuous enjoyment of human rights by women and girls.

    She said it would also facilitate how the advocacy platforms would strengthen or build relationships and influence policymakers, generate and present evidence to influence policy, whiles remaining responsive to national context and current government strategies, as well as target innovation for change.

    Madam Melody Darkey, WiLDAF, said the thematic areas for consideration for the workshop include the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) sensitisation, financing, women’s rights work and gender-responsive budgeting, climate change and food security, and sustainable SMEs with a focus on female entrepreneurship.

    The rest are women’s mental health, leadership, mentoring and coaching, affirmative action bills and high insecurity in the region.

    WVL-Ghana is a five-year initiative that is being carried out by Plan International Ghana, Plan International Canada, NET RIGHT and WiLDAF with the outcome expected to increase the enjoyment of human rights by women and girls and the advancement of gender equality.

    WVL-Ghana aims to improve the management, sustainability, performance, and innovation of local WROs.

    It is also to enhance the delivery of quality services and advocacy by WROs to advance gender quality and enhance collaboration, collective action and innovation of local WROs.

    The project is being implemented over five years from March 2019 to March 2024. A total of 98 local, regional, and national WROs and networks are expected to be reached, with a focus on long-term gender transformative programming in six regions – Greater Accra, Central, Northern, Upper East, Bono, and Bono East, with flexible grants and advocacy.

    Source: GNA

  • President Akufo-Addo congratulates the new British PM

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has congratulated the newly-appointed British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.

    In a tweet on Tuesday, President applauded the 42-year-old premier on “becoming the 57th British prime Minister in this difficult period of his country’s and the world’s fortunes”

    “I am hopeful that his tenure of office will strengthen and deepen even further the ties of cooperation, collaboration and friendship between Ghana and Great Britain, and provide us with the platform to create progress and prosperity for our respective peoples,” he wrote.

    Sunak, a member of the Conservative Party, officially took over from Liz Truss on Tuesday.

    He became the United Kingdom’s third prime minister this year and the first non-white person to hold the job.

    Source: GNA

  • Scientists discover communication among 53 sea creatures thought silent

    A new study found that 53 sea creatures that were previously thought to be silent actually audibly communicate. About 50% of the creatures in the study are turtles.

    Oct. 26 (UPI) — Scientists studying the evolution of acoustic communication in vertebrates discovered that 53 species of sea creatures, once thought to be silent, have been communicating after all.The study, published by scientific journal Nature Communications, says sea dwelling vertebrates such as turtles and lungfish audibly communicate. Unlike frogs and birds, their sounds are difficult to detect and infrequent.

    Gabriel Jorgewich-Cohen, a PhD student at University of Zurich, Switzerland, initiated the study in hopes of confirming whether choanate vertebrates, which have a thinner or softer wall at posterior opening of the nasal cavity, all communicate acoustically. He discovered that these 53 species not only make sound, but they do so in connection to a desired action or response.

    Turtles, for example, begin making sound when they are still in their egg, indicating they will hatch soon. This is one reason why they will often hatch simultaneously. They will also communicate when they wish to mate with a partner.

    “We found widespread evidence for acoustic behavior among all choanate vertebrates. Our recordings include 53 species that belong to groups often thought to be non-vocal and commonly neglected in vocal communication research,” the report states.

    The discovery not only exposes the false assumption about species that were not thought to communicate this way. It also points to a common ancestor that all choanate vertebrates evolved from over the course of more than 400 million years.

  • Ghanaian politicians are afraid of powerful domestic private sector – Economist

    Professor Godfred Bokpin, an Economist, has asserted that the average Ghanaian politicians is scared of a powerful domestic private sector because of the role money plays in politics.

    He said the fear had made politicians to be more open to facilitating foreign capital because the foreigners were likely not to play a role in the country’s politics.

    Prof. Bokpin was speaking at the 11th Edition of the Ghana Economic Forum on the theme:” Building a robust and resilient economy through technology, finance, investment, trade and entrepreneurship,” in Accra.

    “If we have done this level of injustice to ourselves, how do we turn around and cry for going to IMF 17 times,” he added.

    He said, “as a country, we have not been able to put in place the right measures and institutions that will ensure the necessary fiscal restraint and drive efficiencies.”

    Prof Bokpin, who is also a Professor of Finance at the University of Ghana, said, therefore, anytime there were challenges, the country needed an external anchor, such as the IMF.

    He said evidence showed that anytime the country visited the Fund, “we intent to get some level of macroeconomic stability but we are not able to sustain that.”

    According to him, macroeconomic stability was not an end in itself but a means to an end and that was why nobody should expect the Fund to transform the economy.

    Prof. Bokpin said the best helping hand the country could find lies in its own hands.

    The Economist said economies were transformed by adding value through manufacturing.

    He said until “we are conscious in growing some of the SMEs to be regional and international businesses, we are not going anywhere.

    The Lecturer argued that Ghana was visibly absent in some of the lucrative sectors of the economy.

    Dr. John K. Kwakye, Director of Research, Institute of Economic Affairs, said the Ghanaian economy had been vulnerable for some time now, because “we have not built economic buffers to allow us withstand these shocks.”

    He said the country needed both resources and policies to advance its developmental agenda but unfortunately Ghana lacked adequate resources, while its policies had been ineffective in so many areas.

    The Director of Research at IEA said the country has potential to be able to raise big revenue to fund development.

    “We do not collect enough taxes not because our tax rates are low but it is because of the many loopholes and administrative inefficiencies,” he said.

    He said studies had shown that of those loopholes and the administrative inefficiencies were blocked tax collection would improve drastically.

    Dr Kwakye said because the country failed to raise enough revenue to fund developmental project, it turns to borrowing.

    Source: GNA

  • People’s Choice Awards: Bad Bunny leads nominees, Kenan Thompson to host

    Kenan Thompson will host the People’s Choice Awards in December.

    Kenan Thompson will return to host the 2022 People’s Choice Awards.Organizers announced Wednesday that Thompson, an actor and comedian, will host the awards show for his second consecutive year.This year’s ceremony will take place Dec. 6 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.

    Thompson is nominated for Comedy TV Star of 2022 for his work on Saturday Night Live.

    “I’m beyond excited to host the People’s Choice Awards again this year and celebrate the incredible talent and fans that this show unites,” the star said. “I’m so grateful to be nominated — shoutout to the fans and congrats to all the nominees. Get ready for round two!”

    Puerto Rican singer and rapper Bad Bunny leads the 2022 nominees with seven nominations, while British singer and actor Harry Styles has six. The pair will compete for Male Artist of 2022, Song of 2022, Album of 2022 and Music Video of 2022.

    Luke Combs, Selena Gomez, Lizzo and Charlie Puth follow with four nominations each.

    The People’s Choice Awards will air Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. EDT on NBC and E!

    Fans can vote for their favorite stars now through Nov. 9.

  • Agrihouse Foundation opens pre-harvest exhibition in Tamale

    Agrihouse Foundation has opened its 12th annual pre-harvest agribusiness exhibition and conference to connect people involved in agricultural value chains.

    The event, currently underway is taking place at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale with the aim of encouraging business partnerships.

    It is in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), and Northern Regional Coordinating Council, with sponsorship from from Yara Ghana, Ecobank, Agricultural Development Bank and GIZ.

    The exhibition has the theme: “Connecting the Unconnected – The Farmer, the Buyer and the Market”.

    It featured over 100 dealers who exhibited agrochemicals, seeds and farm machinery and inputs.

    The three-day event includes commodity break-out sessions for farmers, processors and other participating categories to receive capacity building training.

    Miss Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, in her welcome address, said over the years, Agrihouse through the exhibition platform had linked small scale enterprises to buyers at local and international levels.

    She said the platform had connected many agriculture value chain actors, generated substantial revenue, and urged participants to use the opportunity to build long lasting relationships with other businesses.

    Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, said the Ministry acknowledged that pre-harvest conferences over the years had provided unique platforms for effective communication of plans and programmes.

    He said agribusiness had also contributed to the country’s agricultural system, by eliminating gender biases, insecurity and promoting seasonal farming that had transformed and given practical meaning to agriculture in the country.

    He stated that MoFA, since 2017, had set out strategic initiatives such as the Planting for Food and Jobs to tackle the fundamentals of agriculture.

    Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern Regional Minister, commended Agrihouse Foundation for sustaining the event that connected agricultural stakeholders in the region.

    He described the theme as apt and said poor market access during bumper harvest was becoming a major challenge militating against farmers in the country, adding that farmers would be disconnected from their markets if the situation persisted.

    He urged stakeholders to invest in improving the state of market channels within the agricultural sector to halt challenges such as post-harvest losses, poor pricing and transportation issues.

    Mr Danquah Addo-Yobo, West Africa Regional Director of Yara International encouraged participants to pursue opportunities and take advantage of Yara’s initiatives to grow their businesses.

    He noted that as part of the Yara Grow Ghana initiative, the organisation would donate 300 bags of fertilizer each, to women in the Saint Cecilia Cooperative and the Northern Widows Association by the close of the event.

    Source: GNA

  • Export Promotion policy to promote export driven economy

    The introduction, and successful implementation of the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS) will transform Ghana’s economy from import dependency to export-driven and contribute to resolving trade imbalances.

    It will build, strengthen, and create an enabling environment for local industries to increase production and add value to their products to significantly contribute to the country’s industrialization agenda to generate income.

    Dr Martin Akogti, the Zonal Director of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) in charge of Upper East and Upper West Regions, said this at Navrongo as part of the nationwide district level sensitisation workshop on the implementation of NEDS and AfCFTA.

    He said it would also help to reposition Ghana’s economy and local businesses to take full advantage of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and increase foreign exchange earnings to address the economic challenges.

    NEDS is a 10-year policy document, designed by GEPA and other relevant institutions is meant to empower businesses in Ghana especially those in Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) sector to diversify production and contribute to the country’s industrialisation agenda.

    It seeks to build the capacities of exporters and businesses to increase production and non-traditional exports to significantly contribute to achieving the revenue target of at least US$25.3 billion (about $78 per person in the US) by 2029.

    Dr Akogti said it was about time stakeholders paid attention to promoting the consumption of locally produced products and adding value to the products for export, to help address challenges facing the country.

    He said the NEDS would not only open opportunities for the export value chain actors but would help producers expand the supply base and add value to local products, create enabling business environment and build capacity of human capital.

    The Regional Director urged the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to identify at least one exportable product and invest in it to ensure that actors in the value chain increased production to enhance exportation.

    “Currently, the cedi is suffering a lot because we import virtually everything and that is why the programme is about making sure that the economy is stable and we are calling on everybody to stimulate the interest of people to begin thinking about export,” he added.

    Alhaji Yakubu Yussif, the Representative, National Coordination Office, AfCFTA Ghana, explained that the implementation of AfCFTA was creating a convenient and borderless market opportunities for African countries to increase trade and generate revenue.

    He said the government was committed to facilitating trade of Ghanaians businesses with other African countries through the roll out of the National Policy Framework for Action Plan and urged Ghanaian exporters and stakeholders in the export value change to add value to their products and take advantage of the market.

    “We are looking at increasing African export by 81 per cent and increasing export within Africa by 29 per cent, so it is our responsibility to work with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the tariffs and non-tariffs barriers are worked on so that our exporters in Ghana will have access in moving their goods across African continent to access the market,” he added.

    Mr Joseph Adongo, the Kassena-Nankana Municipal Chief Executive, noted that shea butter, groundnut and rice were the major products in the Municipality and noted that NEDS would build the capacity of producers and exporters to add value to their products and access quality market.

    The engagement was on the theme, “Driving export through the National Export Development Strategy” and brought together stakeholders in the value chain of groundnut and shea butter production and processing.

    Source: GNA

  • NASA satellites identify more than 50 methane ‘super emitters’

    This image depicts a huge plume of the potent greenhouse gas methane erupting from Turkmenistan’s oil and gas infrastructure.
    Using picture technologies placed on the International Space Station, NASA has discovered more than 50 such locations.
    Image provided by NASA.

    26 October (UPI) —
    NASA said that more than 50 so-called super emitters of methane, a strong greenhouse gas, have been discovered on Earth by its observational devices.

    The U.S. space agency’s Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation, dubbed EMIT, is installed on the International Space Station. Using data collected since July, NASA scientists have uncovered several significant methane plumes across Central Asia, the Middle East and the southwestern United States.

    “The International Space Station and NASA’s more than two dozen satellites and instruments in space have long been invaluable in determining changes to the Earth’s climate,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said. “EMIT is proving to be a critical tool in our toolbox to measure this potent greenhouse gas.”

    Methane emissions emerged as a geopolitical concern most recently when ruptures along Russia’s Nord Stream natural gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea caused the gas to bubble up, creating a half-mile disturbance on the sea floor.

    A gas facility at Aliso Canyon, near Los Angeles, leaked methane from late October 2015 to early 2016 following a blowout of a faulty well in what area officials said was the largest gas leak in U.S. history.

    EMIT, meanwhile, detected a 3-mile-long plume of methane spewing from an Iranian landfill. That’s emitting the loose equivalent of 18,700 pounds of methane an hour. Oil and gas infrastructure in Turkmenistan, meanwhile, is emitting a plume of methane that stretches some 20 miles long and is releasing about 111,000 pounds of methane an hour. That’s about as severe as the Aliso Canyon leak.

    In the United States, NASA detected a 2-mile plume stretching across New Mexico that’s the result of exploration and production activity in the Permian basin, the largest inland source of crude oil in the country.

    Environmental activists say the oil and gas industry is among the largest emitters of methane in the world. Methane accounts for only a fraction of total human-related greenhouse gas emissions, though it has a warming potential that far exceeds that of carbon dioxide.

    NASA said EMIT is just one example of how its space-imaging technology can track problems on Earth. Scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory are working on carbon-mapping technology that could be put into space next year.

    “As it continues to survey the planet, EMIT will observe places in which no one thought to look for greenhouse-gas emitters before, and it will find plumes that no one expects,” Robert Green, EMIT’s principal investigator at the JPL, said.

  • Vice President Bawumia proposes solutions to Ghana’s economic crisis

    Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia says for Ghana to address her current economic crisis, it is imperative to restore fiscal and debt sustainability, limit import dependency and retain the chunk of her foreign exchange earnings.

    He said, for instance fiscal and debt sustainability was one of the key issues the Government put on the table in the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.

    “For us to address the current economic crisis, we have to take bold, difficult and firm decisions and adjust to the global and domestic realities,” Vice President Bawumia said this in a keynote address delivered at the second edition of Standard Chartered Digital Banking Innovation and FinTech Festival in Accra on Wednesday.

    The Vice President underscored the need for the nation to be self-reliant with regards to the mode of production of basic consumer items such as rice, tomatoes and toothpicks, adding; “We have to reduce import dependency as a nation”.

    “Our foreign exchange regime is quite loose, and we must tighten it. We must change the nature of production and trade services because most of our foreign exchange earnings on trade do not stay in Ghana and so we’ve been having recurrent account deficit,” Dr Bawumia added.

    The two-day forum was on the theme: “Towards a Digital Economy; Positioning Africa as a FinTech Innovation Hub,” which attracted entrepreneurs, government officials, policymakers and financial and fintech experts across the globe to brainstorm on how to build robust digital economies in Africa.

    He said it was also prudent to digitise the African economies to enhance financial inclusion and take advantage of the fourth industrial revolution.

    Ghana, he said, was leading the way in Africa in terms of digitising her economy, noting that she reached a maturity stage in access to financial inclusion.

    “Just this morning I was reading that Ghana has reached a maturity stage in access to financial inclusion at the ongoing MobileWorld Conference in Rwanda,” Dr Bawumia said, saying; “Ghana scored 100 per cent financial inclusion”.

    He attributed the successes chalked in her financial inclusion journey to the various digital infrastructure, mobile money interoperability payment system, Universal QR Code, Ghana.gov payment platform and other policy interventions rolled out by the government.

    Dr Maxwell Opoku-Afari, First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, in an address, said the Central Bank in the past few decades had been at the forefront of implementing innovative policies to propel the country’s digital economy forward and promote efficient digital ecosystem anchored on robust interbank infrastructure.

    He cited various legal and regulatory frameworks rolled out to promote mobile financial services including the enactment of the Payment System and Services Act, 2019 (Act 987).

    Madam Mansa Nettey, the Chief Executive Officer of the Standard Chartered Bank, in her welcome remarks, said digital banking was at the core of ensuring effective and efficient services and, thus, outlined various interventions the bank had rolled out to meet its clients’ banking needs.

    She commended the Bank of Ghana and Vice President Bawumia for the strategic role they had played in the country’s digital revolution.

    Source: GNA

  • Piesie Esther crowns 20 years of ministry with November 6 concert

    Ghanaian Gospel sensation, Piesie Esther is set to mark 20 years in ministry with a concert.

    This event will bring together music lovers in thanksgiving.

    A media launch and an executive launch have already taken place in the run-up to the main event in November.

    Joining Piesie to celebrate her 20th year in ministry will be gospel giants like Celestine Donkor, Obaapa Christy, Jack Alolome, Edwin Dadson, Moses OK and many more.

    Piesie Esther crowns 20 years of ministry with November 6 concert

    The Piesie Esther 20th Anniversary is happening on November 6, 2022, at the Accra International Conference Center at 3 pm.

    Tickets are selling for GHC 40 regular and GHC 100 for VIP.

    Tickets outlets are Ernesta Wholesale – Kwashieman, Joy FM- Kokomlemle, Peace FM – Abeka Junction, Sunny FM – Kanda, Dansoman Shell, Airport Shell, Community 11 Shell, Haatso Total and Baatsona Total.

    Tickets are also available on www.tickets.ipaygh.com/estherpiesie or dial 7252828#.

    Source:myjoyonline.com

  • International Space Station maneuvers to avoid debris

    According to NASA, the International Space Station used its thrusters to steer clear of Russian space junk.
    NASA provided the image for this license photo.

    According to NASA, the International Space Station modified its orbit on Monday night to avoid space junk.

    According to a space agency blog, “this evening, Progress 81 thrusters on the International Space Station fired for 5 minutes, 5 seconds in a Pre-Determined Debris Avoidance Maneuver to provide the complex an extra measure of distance away from the predicted track of a fragment of Russian Cosmos 1408 debris.”

    Space debris has become a major concern for human space travel and unmanned satellites as more and more manmade objects are launched into orbit.

    More than 27,000 pieces of orbital debris or space junk are tracked by the Department of Defense’s global Space Surveillance Network sensors, according to NASA.

    “Much more debris — too small to be tracked, but large enough to threaten human spaceflight and robotic missions — exists in the near-Earth space environment.”

    The International Space Station is hosting two American astronauts, a Japanese astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut. who traveled onboard SpaceX’s Endurance Crew Dragon’s Crew-5 mission Oct. 5.

    A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Launchpad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on October 5, 2022. NASA’s Crew-5 mission is on its way to the International Space Station. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo

  • $790 million of $1.13 billion cocoa syndicated loan to hit BoG account on October 26

    The first payment of the anticipated $1.13 billion cocoa syndicated loan is scheduled to be received today, October 26, 2022, according to Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

    Myjoyonline reported that the consortium of banks will provide the $790 million.

    In order to curb the devaluation of the cedi, Ghana has recently needed to shore up its reserves with foreign money.

    The cocoa syndicated loan is to be used to purchase cocoa beans.

    However, the second tranche of about $340 million, which will be spread over three months will come in between November 2022 and February 2023.

    Interest to be paid on the facility is 1.75%.

    The Standard Chartered Bank, Coöperatieve Rabobank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), MUFG Bank Ltd, Natixis, and Ghana International Bank plc were the Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers for the facility.

    The London branch of Bank of China Limited joined the facility as Senior Mandated Lead Arranger, while DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral-Genossenschaftsbank, Frankfurt am Main and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (“BADEA”) joined as Mandated Lead Arrangers.

    Ecobank joined as Arranger. The OPEC Fund, United Bank for Africa PLC, Ahli United Bank B.S.C., and Federated Hermes Inc joined as Lead Managers, whilst AfrAsia Bank Limited, Citibank N.A, Absa Bank Ghana Limited, and GCB Bank Plc were joined as managers.

  • Today in History: 5 Ghanaian factories that could have transformed the economy

    Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, launched a number of factories to expand the nation’s industrial and export opportunities.

    These factories are Wenchi Tomato Factory, GIHOC Fibre Products Company, Bonsa Tyre Factory, The Aboso Glass Factory, and Akosombo Textiles Limited.

    In a bid to make Ghana attain middle-income status, Ghana’s First President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, initiated a number of factories to boost manufacturing and export avenues but have since today been left to rot in many parts of the country.

    GhanaWeb takes a look at some of the potential factories that could have boosted Ghana’s economic status but failed due to a lack of management.

    Akosombo Textiles Limited

    The textile manufacturer was established by the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1967 with an aim of reducing the importation of foreign textiles into country. In 2012, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) however shut the factory down for owing taxes in excess of about GHS5,714,560.65 at the time.

    Akosombo Textiles Limited currently operates under UK based company, ABC Waxprints.

    The Aboso Glass Factory

    The Aboso Glass Factory was once a vibrant company manufacturing and supplying bottles for the beverage industry. The company, which was first set up by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah employed hundreds of people from Aboso, Tarkwa, and other neighbouring communities but was handed over to the Togolese opposition leader, Mr. Gilcrist Olympio in the early 90s.

    Olympio subsequently changed the name of the factory to Tropical Glass Factory and resumed production. Though Olympio’s administration, managed to install heavy machinery at the factory to boost production, it could still not live up to expectations due to heavy indebtedness to its creditors.

    The company is said to still owe the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) several billion cedis for power consumed, compelling the latter to disconnect the power supply to the company, and therefore aggravating its plight. The company was put on the divestiture list in 2003.

    Bonsa Tyre Factory

    Bonsa Tyre Factory is another factory that has suffered a similar fate as that of the Aboso Glass Factory. The company, which was used to manufacture the popular firestone wheel tires, has also collapsed with the government apparently showing no concern.

    Also established by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and strategically sited at Bonsa in Tarkwa, which is near the large rubber plantations where the requisite raw material could easily be tapped to feed the factory.

    The people of Tarkwa and Bonsa have also been agitating for the re-opening of the company for years now, but nothing has come out of their protest.

    The GIHOC Fibre Products Company

    The GIHOC Fibre Products Company was set up in 1962 by Dr. Nkrumah to manufacture sacks for the export of cocoa beans and other agricultural produce such as maize.

    It was also producing shopping bags and money sacks for the carriage of coins by the banks. As the only company manufacturing such products, the factory was one of the best in the country until it started facing difficulties in the mid-1980s. It was later shut down in 1991.

    Wenchi Tomato Factory

    The Wenchi Tomato Factory was established under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah with an aim to help manage the situation of wastage when there was bumper tomato harvest.

    Unfortunately, the factory was shut down some years after Dr. Nkrumah’s overthrow. The factory remained closed for many years but was later sold to a private company known as Afriquid Company Limited. The factory has been since been left dormant.

  • Ghana collects only 12% of GDP, revenue targets not ambitious – Dr. Kwakye

    Dr. John Kwakye, the director of the Institute of Economic Affairs, claimed that Ghana’s income targets were not high enough to generate the anticipated revenues required for development.

    Every country needs sound policies and the capacity to utilize its resources to thrive, but in Ghana’s case, neither has been present.

    On October 25, 2022, he was a speaker at the 11th Ghana Economic Forum.

    “As a country, we need both resources and policies to advance our development. For Ghana, we have lacked adequate resources, and our policies have also been defective in so many areas,” he said.

    Dr. Kwakye also noted that Ghana has not built enough economic buffers to be able to withstand shocks the reason the country is going through these challenges.

    He noted that the government does not set targets that match the potential of the country’s resources.

    “We collect only a fraction of our potential tax revenue. I hear sometimes them pat themselves on the back and say we have exceeded our target. But of course, it depends on how ambitious the target is. Our revenue targets have not been ambitious enough. We collect just about 12% of our GDP. Many of our peers do even more than two times that. So, we have a big potential to raise more revenue to fund our developments.”

    According to him, Ghana’s inability to raise enough tax revenues does not depend on its rates, but instead, the loopholes that exist in the system.

  • The Bumblebee Bat is the world’s smallest mammal, weighs only 2 grams

    Kitti’s hog-nosed bat, also known as the Bumblebee Bat, is not only the world’s smallest bat, but also arguably the smallest mammal in the known world.

    Our world is home to over 1,200 species of bats, but the smallest of them all can only be found in a few caves in Thailand and Myanmar. The aptly-named Bumblebee Bat is so tiny that it can rest comfortably on an average-size human finger. Its size ranges from 29 to 33 mm, and it only weighs 2 grams. The wingspan of the Bumblebee bat is 170 mm.

    Discovered in 1973, by Thai biologist, Kitti Thonglongya, who also gave the species its official name, the Bumblebee Bat has since become a popular tourist attraction in both Western Thailand – with roosts identified in 44 limestone caves – and Myanmar, where it is known to inhabit 5 caves.

    Unfortunately, all this attention from humans has had negative consequences on the world’s smallest mammal. As Thai bat expert Pipat Soisook told Mongabay a few years back, some caves have been turned into ‘show grottos’ which has unfortunately led to the destruction of bat habitat.

    “Ecotourism should be fine when tourists do not destroy or modify natural habitat,” Soisook said. “However, in most cases, when promoting a cave as a tourist attraction [guides] usually modify the cave to make it more comfortable for the tourists.”

    According to a 2009 survey, the Thai Bumblebee Bat population is around 45,000, but no data is available on Myanmar, where the number of bats is expected to be much lower due to the bat’s specific microhabitat requirements.

    Bumblebee Bats are known to live in small colonies of between 10 and 100 individuals – although up to 500 bat colonies have been reported – and are nocturnal predators, using echolocation to hunt various species of insects. The tiny bats leave their roosts only 30 minutes in the evening and 20 minutes at dawn.

    Interestingly, Kitti’s Hog-nosed Bat is the only living species in the family Craseonycteridae.

    Source: Complex.com

  • Abrofo Mpoanu fishermen unhappy about the unavailability of premix fuel for fishing

    Abrofo Mpoanu’s fishermen, who rely on premix fuel for their operations, are dissatisfied with the dearth of this fuel.

    The fisherman complained about the inadequate conditions and the procedure they must go through before purchasing fuel during a visit to the landing place.

    The fishermen told GhanaWeb that it had been almost three months since they had received premix fuel. As a result, even though it is bad for their equipment, they now buy car petrol to use for fishing.

    They also added that, despite the scarcity of the fuel, the people in charge do not sell to them directly however, the fuel is sold to women and people who are not fishermen and they have to go and buy from these people at higher prices.

    One Opanyin Kwamena, a 52 years old fisherman mentioned that “We don’t get the premix fuel, it doesn’t come often. The last time we got some here was about three months ago so now we buy the normal fuel for cars to go fishing. That one too isn’t good for our machines but we’ve no choice since we have a family to feed. When we buy it, we mix it with oil then and manage it like that.”

    Mr. Nana Kojo Arthur also called on the government to do something about the premix situation in the country.

    “It’s very sad! We don’t get premix to go fishing and the day some will come here, the people in charge will sell it to the women around. Then the women would also sell it to us twice or sometimes three times the original price. So look at it yourself, is it a good thing? The women who aren’t fishermen are those that get the fuel; it’s so sad so the leaders and the government must do something about it” he said.

    Meanwhile speaking with the chief fisherman of Abrofo Mpoanu Mr. Samuel Kofi Nsiah, he added that the high cost of fishing nets is another big challenge they are facing.

    According to him, the government usually sells the net to them at a subsidized price however for more than a year now, they have not received any subsidized net from the government and this is also affecting their work.

    “Aside the premix issue, the other challenge here is the cost of fishing net. It’s now very expensive and we’re unable to buy it. At first, the government sells it to us at a subsidized price but now we don’t get that offer anymore and it’s worrying. We can’t buy the net so we’re pleading to the government and the minister to come to our aid”, he said.

    GhanaWeb made all efforts to speak with some officials of the premix committee but all attempts were unsuccessful.
    Abrofo Mpoanu is located right behind the Cape Coast in the Central Regional capital.

  • Now is not the best time to sack Ofori-Atta – Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

    The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has stated that the timing for calls for the removal of the finance minister is unfavourable.

    According to him, even the first phase of negotiations with the IMF has not been concluded; therefore, it will be “inappropriate” to sack the finance minister now.

    Quoted by asaaseradio.com, he said, “My advice after hearing them was that if they were talking about this matter two or three months ago, that would have been different.”

    According to him, “even the first phase [of negotiation with the IMF] has not been concluded. Those conclusions will be factored into the budget.”

    Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu explained that after the finance minister met with the IMF on negotiations for a financial bailout, the IMF team is also expected to come to Ghana for further consultations.

    “They [IMF team] have come here on two occasions; the minister has led a team to Washington to follow up on the discussions; they are coming here again next week. And soon after, the conclusions we will derive will be captured into the budget that we are expecting no later than November 15,” he stated.

    He pleaded with the MPs to put their calls on hold till the 2023 budget is finalized.

    “We are pleading with them that, looking at where we are, I am not too sure this is the appropriate time to be talking about this. So, I was pleading to let their feet pause the accelerator pedal for a while; maybe after the budget, we could resurrect it. Now is not the best time,” Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said.

    The majority caucus in parliament has called for the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta as Ghana’s Finance Minister, as well as Charles Adu Boahen, Ghana’s minister of state in charge of Finance.

    They made the demand on October 25, 2022, where they noted that these key players in the management of the economy must be removed in order to instil public confidence and put the economy back on track.

  • This Japanese company is working on a human washing machine

    Science, a Japanese technology company specializing in bathroom and kitchen innovation, recently unveiled plans to produce a washing machine for humans.

    Believe it or not, the concept of a human washing machine isn’t new. At the 1970 Osaka Expo, Japanese electronics giant Sanyo Electric showcased its ‘Ultrasonic Bath’, a human washing machine that cleaned, massaged, and dried the occupant in a fully-automated 15-minute cycle”. The concept never really took off as a commercial product, but now another Japanese technology company wants to take a shot at it, promising to deliver a modern take on the human washing machine by 2025.

    Osaka-based Science Co. Ltd., a company known for its many innovations in bath and kitchen technology, has announced its plans to create its own version of the human washing machine as part of its Mirable product line. Named ‘Project Usoyaro’, the latest “fine bubble technology”, as well as a variety of monitoring sensors and an artificial intelligence system to produce a complex bath experience.

    Science has stated that the goal of Project Usoyaro is not solely to thoroughly clean the body of the user, but also to provide a healing space where you can relax and unwind to the sound of soothing music and the view of images displayed on a water-resistant display inside the machine.

    Sensors inside the washing machine will measure the state of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, and the built-in AI will use the collected data to create the most comfortable atmosphere possible.

    Project Usoyaro is apparently a pet project of Science Co. Ltd. chairman Yasuaki Aoyama, who was only 10 years old when Sanyo’s original human washing machine was unveiled in Osaka. He was so fascinated by the invention that he decided to improve on it if he ever had the chance.

    Science expects that Project Usoyaro will result in a functional human washing machine by 2024, which the company hopes to showcase at the 2025 Osaka Expo.

    Source: Oddity Central

  • Automobile dealers threaten demo over Akufo-Addo’s refusal to sack Ofori-Atta

    The Automobile Dealers Union of Ghana has hinted at plans to demonstrate against the government.

    The dealers, who blamed the depreciating cedi on the Finance Minister, are calling for his removal from office.

    According to them, if the President fails to sack his Finance Minister, they will hit the streets to press home their demand.

    Speaking at the Launch of Transport Forum, held in Accra Wednesday, October 26, 2022, the President of the Automobile Dealers Union, Kwaku Boateng, bemoaned the effects of the depreciation of the cedi against the dollar on their business.

    “The increase in the dollar is affecting us, we have spoken to the President, and we’ve written several letters about the Finance Ministry. We’ve realised that the President has made up his mind not to mind anyone to remedy the situation.

    “We have also realised that our brother Ken Ofori-Atta is the problem when it comes to the rising dollar. So we will hold a press conference next two weeks; when we’re done, we’ll continue with a demonstration on November 19.”

    Mr Boateng stressed that: “We [union] will be demonstrating against President Nana Addo over his refusal to sack Ken Ofori-Atta because he’s the President, he appointed him, so if he’ll sit down for Ken Ofori-Atta to destroy Ghanaian businesses then we will demonstrate.”

    The automobile dealers have also called on the Freight Forwarders to join in the demonstration to compel the President to remove the Finance Minister from office as both work together.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Ghanaian midfielder Lawrence Ofori eyes Portuguese top-flight promotion with Moreirense

    Ghanaian midfielder Lawrence Ofori has set sights on helping Moreirense to secure promotion to the Portuguese top-flight.

    Moreirense currently sit top of the Portugal Liga 2 with 28 points after 10 matches into the campaign.

    Speaking to Renascença, the on-loan Famalicão player reiterated desire to help the club secure promotion to the top-flight.

    “That is our ambition, because Moreirense’s team deserves to be in the I Liga. We will think game by game, so that we can achieve the objective of moving up the division”, he said.

    The 24-year-old has featured 10 times in the Portuguese second-tier, scoring 2 goals and providing 1 assist.

    Source: Footballghana

  • Rome’s Villa Aurora – The most expensive house in the world

    Located on a hill in the heart of Rome and featuring the only ceiling mural ever painted by the Italian Baroque old master Caravaggio, Villa Aurora is widely regarded as the world’s most expensive house.

    The 30,000-square-foot, 16th-century villa is located a short walk from the famous Via Veneto, home to some of Rome’s best hotels, and close to the iconic Piazza di Spagna and the ancient Porta Pinciana. Originally a hunting lodge, the villa is all that remains of a 30-hectare complex owned by Italy’s Ludovisi noble family, who gave the country numerous diplomats, patrons of the arts, and even a Pope. Today, Villa Aurora finds itself at the heart of a legal battle and an Italian court has ruled that it should be sold at auction. Only the price set for the property is so high that no one seems interested in paying it.

    “You have to have a billionaire; a millionaire is not enough for this,” Princess Rita Boncompagni-Ludovisi, the villa’s current occupant, told NPR. “It needs someone with deep pockets, who doesn’t care if you have to spend 10 thousand on a water leak or something.”

    72-year-old Princess Rita Boncompagni-Ludovisi is the third wife of Prince Nicolo Ludovisi Boncompagni. Now she and three sons from the prince’s first marriage are engaged in a legal battle with the precious Villa Aurora at its center. Since the parties could not come to an understanding, an auction was decided, with the proceeds to be split between them. But auctioning off the world’s most expensive house is no easy feat.

    Back in January, when the first auction was held, the estimated price for Villa Aurora was €471 million (at the time $539 million). And, despite its historical and artistic value, no one was really surprised that the property didn’t have a buyer.

    “I would have been amazed if a buyer had come forward. The price is too high,” Alessandro Zuccari, a professor at Sapienza University in Rome who helped with the valuation, told The Guardian. “Let’s see what happens in April, but I doubt anyone will come forward then — what would someone like Bill Gates do with Villa Aurora, especially with all the extra costs?”

    A pristine location in the heart of Italy’s capital, and an unrivaled history tied to some of the greatest thinkers and artists in Europe are not enough to give Villa Aurora the title of ‘world’s most expensive house’. That can be attributed to the artistic treasures it houses, particularly the ceiling mural painted by Carravaggio, itself estimated to have a value of €310 million. It was reportedly painted in 1597 and only discovered sometime in the 1960s.

    In April, Villa Aurora went under the hammer once again, this time with a roughly 20% discount from the original €471 million asking price, but no one seemed eager to bid on it. Now, Princess Rita Boncompagni-Ludovisi has asked some of the world’s top real estate agencies to find a buyer for the home, but that is proving a tall order.

    Princess Boncompagni-Ludovisi has asked the Italian Government to purchase the villa and preserve it, and her wish was shared by the nearly 40,000 signatories of a petition, but despite the discounted price, Villa Aurora would most likely pulverize the budget of Italy’s Ministry of Culture.

    For the time being, Villa Aurora remains on the market and retains the title of ‘world’s most expensive house’.

    Source: Complex.com

  • Pack your things and leave if you have a problem with planned Tema blackout – Dr Ago Tetteh

    As part of measures put in place by the Ga traditional leaders for the funeral of the late Tema chief, Osonnaa Nii Adjei Kraku II, there will be a total blackout from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am to honour the dead chief on, Wednesday, October 26.

    The directive has received mixed reactions from the general public with a section of Ghanaians and residents of Tema calling for a reversal of the directive due to the inconveniences.

    However, Dr Evans Ago Tetteh, the husband of renowned Ghanaian broadcaster Bridget Otoo, has jabbed persons who seem to have an issue with the directive.

    In a tweet dated October 26, he called out persons who termed the Ga tradition as archaic. He instructed naysayers to pack out of Ghana’s capital if they so deem.

    “The final funeral rites of the late Tema Mantse, Nii Agyei Krakue II begins today with the first Faa Foo (River crossing). Just stay home between 7pm-12am. If you think our culture is archaic, pack your things and go back to your hometown,” read the tweet sighted by GhanaWeb.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • 19-year-old man and 56-year-old Grandmother get engaged, spark online controversy

    A 19-year-old man and a 56-year-old grandmother-of-three in Thailand have been making international news headlines after getting engaged to be married.

    Wuthichai Chantaraj, 19, met his fiance, Janla Namuangrak, 56, almost 10 years ago, when the woman moved next to his family home in the Akat Amnuay district of Thailand’s Sakhon Nakhon province.

    Their first real interaction occurred when Janla asked the 10-year-old boy to help her move some potted plants, and from that day on Wuthichai would often drop by the divorced woman’s house to play and help her with chores.

    The two describe their early relationship as a friendship, but when Wuthichai turned 17, he started developing feelings for Janla, and they eventually became a couple. They only announced their romance to their families at the start of this year, and their love story has been making headlines in Thailand ever since.

    “Wuthichai has been like a superhero for me. He helped me every day. Then when he was older we started to have feelings for each other, 56-year-old Janla told Viral Press. “I was surprised because I have known him since he was a child. When we told people we were in love, they thought it was crazy. My children were shocked. But he makes me feel young again and we have stayed together. We’re happy. We will get married.”

    Ever since making their relationship public, Wuthichai and Janla have been going on dates in the town, holding hands and kissing like two people in love. They know that the 37-year-old gap between them is hard to accept for some people, but claim that their happiness is all that matters.

    The 56-year-old grandmother was previously married to a man who gave her three children, all of whom are now in their 30s. Apparently, neither they nor Wuthichai’s family have objected to their relationship. At the beginning of 2022, Wuthichai and Janla got engaged in a traditional arm-tie ceremony during which the 19-year-old pledged a dowry of 6,000 baht ($157).

    When the news of the unusual love story broke out in Thailand, back in January, people suspected that Wuthichai was only interested in the woman’s material possessions, but it was soon revealed that Janla Namuangrak had been living in a shabby house, and didn’t have much to her name.

    “It’s the first time in my life I felt like I wanted to make sure someone was living comfortably,” Wuthichai said. “I saw her shabby house and found myself thinking of ways to help her live in a better condition. She is a hardworking woman and also honest. I admire her.”

    Despite all the controversy around their relationship, the two love birds continue to show off their romance both in news interviews and on social media and are convinced that many of their critics are just envious.

    Online reactions to this unlikely love story have been mixed, with some people declaring that it’s the two partners’ business and that if the sexes were reversed no one would have any problem with it. At the same time, some people have been accusing the 56-year-old woman of grooming the young man for years.

    Source: Oddity Central

  • 2022 World Cup: Portugal-based Ghanaian player Lawrence Ofori highlights the midfield as Ghana’s strength

    Portugal-based Ghanaian player Lawrence Ofori has stated the Black Stars strength is in midfield ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

    The biggest soccer mundial has been scheduled for November and December this year, with 32 countries set to battle it out for the covetous trophy in Qatar.

    Ghana has been housed in Group H at the mundial against Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea.

    The West African powerhouse will open their World Cup account against Portugal on November 24 before taking on Uruguay and South Korea respectively.

    Speaking to Bola Branca, Ofori, who plies his trade for Portuguese outfit Moreirense, disclosed the strength of the national team is in midfield going into the mundial.

    “Midfield is the strongest, because we have Thomas Partey, we have Baba, we have Ayew, we have Kudus. Lately, in Ghana games, all the goals have been scored by midfield players”, he highlights.

     

    Meanwhile, the 24-year-old has tagged Portugal as favourites in their clash against Ghana at the World Cup.

    “It will be a great game for both teams. Portugal is one of the teams that have the most quality in this World Cup. Ghana also has good players and with a lot of quality, but, comparing the two teams, Portugal is favorite to win the game. football, nobody knows what can happen, so it will be a difficult game for Portugal”

    “It will not be easy, because the pressure is all on Portugal, because it is the favourites”,

  • Chernobyl’s green tree frogs are turning black to better handle radiation

    Researchers have discovered that green tree frogs in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone have turned dark in order to better mitigate the effects of radiation.

    In April of 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine exploded, releasing approximately 100 times the energy released by the nuclear bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and drastically altering the lives of both humans and wildlife in the surrounding area. But while authorities were able to evacuate most civilians from the area closest to the nuclear disaster, the animals were left to their own devices. In the decades since, the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has become a wildlife refuge that offers a unique view into the evolution triggered by the nuclear meltdown.

    In 2016, a team of Spanish researchers ventured into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone to examine and study the influence of nuclear radiation on the local flora and fauna. One of the first animals they noticed were these dark-skinned frogs that looked and sounded like eastern tree frogs (Hyla orientalis), apart from the color. Eastern tree frogs are usually bright green, only these were much darker, and some specimens were actually pitch black.

    Pablo Burraco, a biologist with the Doñana Biological Station in Seville, Spain, and his colleagues wanted to understand what had caused this change in coloration, so between 2017 and 2019, they examined the coloration of Eastern tree frogs in different areas of northern Ukraine. They analyzed over 200 male frogs captured in various breeding ponds, from some of the most radioactive areas on the planet, to places outside the exclusion zone, for control.

    After analyzing the data, researchers concluded that the dark skin of the usually green tree frogs is a direct consequence of their adaptation to radiation levels. Chernobyl tree frogs have a much darker coloration than frogs outside the exclusion zone, and some are completely black.

    “We consider the most plausible explanation to [why] frogs within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone [are changing color] is that the extremely high radiation levels at the moment of the accident selected for frogs with dark skin,” the Spanish researchers wrote in the recently published study.

    It is believed that the frogs underwent a process of rapid evolution in response to radiation, where the darker-skinned frogs were more resistant to the high levels of radiation around the Chernobyl reactor, and thus had a higher chance of survival. The higher levels of melanin in the frogs’ skin are believed to have shielded them against radiation.

    “They actually did not ‘change color’, what changed was the proportion of dark versus normal/green frogs,” Germán Orizaola, co-author of the study, told EuroNews. “We suppose that this happened shortly after the accident (first years), when radiation levels were much higher, and radioisotopes more diverse.”

    The dark frogs survived the radiation better, bred better, and now, 10-15 generations from the nuclear disaster, they make up the majority of specimens found in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, especially in areas known to have been affected by high levels of radiation.

    “It was indeed the extraordinary selection pressure caused by ionizing radiation that directed the evolution of amphibians from green to black,” the study authors conclude.

    Source: Complex.com

  • Company spends five years developing champagne bottle fit for space celebrations

    French champagne brand G.H. Mumm has poured a lot of time and resources into developing a futuristic champagne bottle that can be used in space.

    The Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar is the first champagne designed specifically for space travel. It comes in a half-glass bottle and features a specially-designed stainless steel opening-closing device that curves over the classic cork. The unique bottle apparently features a finger-controlled valve which, when engaged, releases a globule of champagne spheres. Astronauts or space tourists can then scoop the drink out of the air using special glasses that resemble tiny egg cups.

    “This project is, of course, very stimulating because of its highly technological nature and its 100 percent French identity, from design to manufacturing,” designer Octave de Gaulle said.

    “But it is also very exciting because technology serves a greater purpose here: champagne condenses the memory of a terroir, a climate, an ancestral savoir-faire and tasting sensations for all those who will evolve far from Earth.”

    Regular champagne bottles aren’t really fit for zero gravity. The champagne itself reacts differently to space conditions, as the bubbles do not rise to the surface and so they do not release the aroma molecules as they do on Earth, thus changing the smell and primary notes of the drink. In 2017, when the idea of commercial space travel started getting traction, G.H. Mumm decided to tackle all these issues.

    After five years of research and collaborations with the likes of CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales), the French government space agency, and privately-funded American space company Axiom Space, the French champagne maker recently unveiled the Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar.

    “Imagine a crew in their capsule on their way to March for five months, whose members have not seen a fruit or vegetable since their departure, are no longer in direct dialogue with Earth. They are confined to one or two rooms, sleep in sleeping bags hung on a wall… And one day, it’s the birthday of one of them, or Christmas. How to mark this moment?” Octave de Gaulle asked. “With the champagne that we have developed, they will have a moment of conviviality and humanity. It’s not about drinking, risking drunkenness, but about recreating up there a ritual that we know on Earth, where it is impossible to realize it for the moment.”

    Apart from the futuristic bottle that comes in a protective shell made of aeronautical-grade aluminum, G.H. Mumm also created a very special champagne designed for enjoyment in zero gravity. The company’s chief winemaker, Laurent Fresnet, aged the liqueur d’expédition in oak barrels and then kept the finished champagne ‘sur latte’ for five years.

    The result of Fresnet’s work is a bolder and spicier champagne, with stronger fruit notes and more vibrant acidity than the version of Mumm Cordon Rouge meant for terrestrial consumption. However, it is worth keeping in mind that these intense aromas and flavors will feel much less intense when experienced in outer space.

    G.H Mumm has not currently put a price on its innovative Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar champagne, but unless you’re planning to travel in outer space anytime soon, you shouldn’t really be interested in it, as it’s designed for consumption in zero gravity.

  • Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand wades into Thomas Partey-Casemiro comparison

    Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has opened up on the comparison between Casemiro and Thomas Partey comparisons.

    The Ghana international is enjoying an amazing season with Arsenal, who are battling for the English Premier League title.

    Partey scored his first goal of the season early this month in the north London derby, an absolute stunner in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Tottenham.

    Casemiro, on the other hand, made his first league start on October 10 against Everton, and has since started the last two games, scoring an injury-time equalizer for Manchester United in the weekend’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

    Reacting to the comparison, the former England international said, “How do you prove yourself with cameos of minimal minutes here and there but also, why should he have to prove himself?” Ferdinand told Vibe with Five.

    “You’re not coming into Man City. You’re not coming to Bayern Munich. You’re coming into a team that needs to improve. You’re bringing in someone for £70million, probably £100m overall package minimum, who won the Champions League a couple of months ago and saying, ‘prove yourself to get in this team.’

    “It’s not the Man Utd of old. It’s Europa League Man Utd. He isn’t 18 years old. If Casemiro comes through, the door has to be opened. Welcome him in and play because we know what you’re bringing.”

    He was then pressed on a comparison with Partey and said: “Partey is a really good player. He’s been really good. He’s not the right player to play holding midfielder for Man Utd. We’re talking about a player with many rungs up, many rungs.

    “It’s like saying before we had Fred and McTominay in the CDM position, would you not have taken Partey? Well, yes, I would have, but what does that prove? All I’m saying is we’re talking about Casemiro against Partey, and it’s not a competition.”

    Source: Footballghana

  • Black Sherif, Sarkodie, Kidi, D’Black, others battle it out for DJs Song of the Year

    The DJs song of the year, a category of the Ghana DJ Awards which recognizes songs that were played most by DJs during a year under review, is a fiercely contested bracket.

    While the category is an opportunity for the Ghana DJ Awards to honour musicians who produce some of the most played songs by DJs, it is also an opportunity for artists to recognize the importance of DJs in promoting their songs.

    Making his first entry into the category is Black Sherif with his popular jam “Kweku the Traveler“. During the year under review, Kweku the Traveler has enjoyed massive airplay on radio, TV, and events across the country and beyond.

    In addition, the song broke into the Nigerian market as it became the first Ghanaian song to rank number 1 on the top 100 Music Chart on Apple Music. It is, therefore, not surprising that Killer Blacko made the cut for the DJs song of the year.

    Accordingly, after winning last year’s edition with his original hit song “Touch It”, Kidi is back in the sticks. Interestingly, a remixed version of “Touch It”, which features American rapper Tyga, is up for the DJ’s song of the year. So will he do a back-to-back? We await.

    Also on the list is Camidoh’s popular jam “Sugar Cane Remix”, which features Nigerian acts Darko and Mayorkun alongside Ghanaian singer King Promise. Camidoh, with this tune, topped Nigerian’s top 100 songs on the Apple Music chart, becoming the second Ghanaian to reach that milestone after Black Sherif.

    Receiving enormous airplay by DJs across the country, Sarkodie’s Non-Living Thing, which features Nigerian singer Oxlade got a nod in the category.

    Who else is taking on the above? No other than Kuami Eugene with his “Take Over” song which went viral after DJs started giving it a massive spinning on the radio and at pubs across the country. The nomination puts the Lynx signee in close contention with his label mate Kidi for the coveted award.

    Fa No Fom hitmaker DJ Azonto is equally on the list for the top prize. The song’s title has grown to become a popular saying among music lovers. Due to the songs catchy lyrics, it has been on rotation across major pubs and clubs as well as event grounds across the country.

    D’black is up for the big prize with his song “Sheege”, which features fast-rising Ghanaian female singer Gyakie. The tune has enjoyed popularity among partygoers and attendees as DJs drop it as part of their playlists. It is undoubtedly going to be a tough one.

    Finally on the list is Afrobeat sensation Kelvyn Boy’s song “Down Flat”. According to Kelvyn Boy, the song, written in less than 20 minutes, has gone viral worldwide. While the song made giant strides by making great entries on Billboard’s Afrobeat top charts, it made it into almost every DJ’s playlist.

    The 10th edition of the Ghana DJ Awards, christened Africa’s Biggest DJ Event, is scheduled to come off on November 5, 2022, at the Silver Star Tower in Accra. Some acts billed to perform include Stonebwoy, Obaapa Christy, Kuami Eugene, Increbible Zigi, Keche, amongst others.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Horse Kicks – $1,200 horse sneakers are a real thing that exists

    Horse Kicks are just what they sound like – sneakers for horses. Created from popular human models like Air Jordan or Yeezy Boost, each pair sells for at least $1,200.

    With some very few notable exceptions, horseshoes have remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years, but that is about to change thanks to sneaker customizing expert and The Shoe Surgeon SRGN Academy alumni, Marcus Floyd. Using deconstruction and reconstruction, Floyd has created several pairs of equine sneakers that retain the elements that usually make brands like Air Jordan, Yeezy, or NewBalance650 stand out. At the same time, these are essentially horseshoes, so they also meet the unique ergonomics of horse hooves.

    For the launch of his new business, Horse Kicks, Marcus Floyd has created several pre-made styles for the Fall 2022 season, including horse sneakers inspired by popular models like the  Air Jordan 1 High “Court Purple”, Adidas YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 “Dazzling Blue”, or  Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 650.

    Starting on October 24, custom Horse Kicks will be available for order via the company’s website, with prices starting at an eye-watering $1,200. But if you’re the kind of person who likes to geat up close and personal with speakers before buying them, Marcus Floyd will have a booth at this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships in Kentucky, on November 4 and 5.

    You’re used to seeing people lined up outside sneaker shops for the newest collectible creations, now get ready to see equine sneakerheads do the same thing.

    Source: Complex.com

  • Kafui Danku’s daughter Baby Lorde grows tall and big in 5 lovely b’day photos

    The beautiful daughter of Ghanaian actress, Kafui Danku, Baby Lorde is celebrating her sixth birthday with amazing photos.

    Baby Lorde real name Lorde Ivana Pitcher, is one of the stylish celebrity babies and the first to get verified on Instagram.

    The beautiful young brand ambassador has an active social media page where she shares updates about her fun and educational activities with her younger brother and friends at school.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Lorde The First (@babylordethefirst)

    Baby Lorde has modeled for many local and international fashion brands in various fashionable clothes from casual to the red carpet and sportswear.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Lorde The First (@babylordethefirst)

    The 6-year-old style influencer gave her mates awesome style tips with this look. She rocked a beautiful dress with matching sunglasses. Baby Lorde styled her natural hair and wore pink flat shoes for the shoot.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Lorde The First (@babylordethefirst)

    The gorgeous celebrant wore a white polka dot dress with matching hand gloves and fascinator. She was pictured holding a makeup brush as she smiled beautifully for the camera.

    The celebrity baby, Baby Lorde dazzled in a princess-inspired pink gown. The one-hand dress was styled with pink hair accessories for the shoot. The beautiful influence wore a black and white arm accessory in the picture shared on Instagram.

    Many Ghanaians have commented on Baby Lorde’s lovely photos;

    bellebruce_

    This is tooo cool

    phoe_aria

    Beautiful and brilliant girl

    _roykids_

    Gorgeous Stay blessed

    pris__cylla

    Happy birthday ❤️

    primeshadesgh

    ruthobeng16

    HBD princess

    rich_soul_intl

    ❤️❤️❤️❤️

    nharnahadjoatristy

    Enjoy your day princess ❤️

    yaaadomha

    Happy birthday my darling

    ___hadassah

    Happy birthday beautiful ❤️You’re blessed dear you will excel in everything you do ❤️❤️❤️❤️May the good Lord continue to protect you

    Celebrity mother and style influencer, Kafui Danku, dressed her gorgeous daughter, Baby Lorde in an elegant suit dress.

    The long sleeve ensemble was designed with three layers of organza to create the famous tulle style. Baby Lorde changed her hairstyle as she stood beside her birthday for the pictures.

    Source: YEN.com.gh

  • Nigerian Man Allegedly Breaks Two-Month-Old Baby’s Arm For ‘Disturbing His Sleep’ In Imo State

    A man identified as Confidence Amatobi has allegedly broken his two-month-old baby’s arm for “disturbing his sleep.”The incident that happened in Imo State has attracted condemnation and outrage, as the assault on the little baby led to the amputation of the fractured arm.

    Meanwhile, the Imo State Chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) have called on the State Government and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to immediately arrest and prosecute the suspect.

    NAWOJ, NHRC and the aggrieved mother the little Miracle made the call for justice in a joint press briefing in Owerri on Monday.
    The Imo State Chairperson of NAWOJ, Dr Dorothy Nnaji, said that injury inflicted by the 31-year-old father, a native of Amurie in Isu LGA of the state led to the amputation of the little boy’s right hand at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri.
    Expressing shock over the incident, Mrs Nnaji, described it as dastardly cruel that a father could assault his innocent child simply because he was crying and disturbing his sleep.

     

    She disclosed that Amatobi was reported to have repeatedly hit the baby with a plastic object to stop him from crying until the right hand broke.

    Describing the attack on the little boy as the height of child abuse, the chairperson demanded justice for the baby since he could not speak for himself.
    The Imo State Coordinator NHRC, Mrs Ukachi Ukah, on her part condemned the brutality and insisted that justice must be allowed to take its course.

    Narrating her ordeal, the mother of Miracle, Mrs Favour Chikwe who hails from Idemili Community, Anambra State disclosed that she had left Miracle with his father on Friday, October 7, 2022, to use the convenience, when the incident happened.

    Favour recalled that she overheard her baby crying uncontrollably and had to rush back to know the cause of her cry only for her to discover that his right hand was swollen and bone broken from the beating he received from his father.

    Meanwhile, the Imo State Chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) have called on the State Government and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to immediately arrest and prosecute the suspect.

    Source: Sahara Reporters

  • Beverly Afaglo flaunts GHC16k designer bag in US; celebs send greetings to hubby

    Ghanaian actress, Beverly Afaglo has joined the list of female celebrities who are currently on vacation ahead of the Christmas festivities.

    The mother-of-two updated her Instagram page with photos of herself at the Kotoka International Airport in a three-piece purple fashion outfit. She wore a fashionable watch and gold jewelry.

    In another post, the wife of Ghanaian musician, Choirmaster, looked stylish in expensive designer brands.

    Beverly wore a white fur coat over a black stylish top and black jeans. The award-winning actress wore white classy sneakers as she stepped out.

    She styled her looks with a Chanel scarf and Burberry side handbag similar to what Nadia Buari and Tracey Boakye shared on their Instagram page.

    With her immaculate cosmetics and hairdo, Beverly smiled for the picture repeating her earrings.

    Many Ghanaian celebrities have commented under their post;

    real_vimlady

    Wifey is in town yieeeeeeeeeee. Greetings to hubby wai

    ohemaawoyeje

    Class … baby number 3 alert

    piesieesther

    Looking gorgeous my lady

    gloriaosarfo

    Ahaaa asu Life owner!!! Give us❤

    iamtimakumkum

    My boo❤️

    belindadzattah

    Welcome ❤️❤️

    mubarakamidkobo

    @beverly_afaglo those smiles are priceless and May they never fade away

    grace_y_b

    thanks God you landed safely and happy my queen

    chichineblett

    Woooow hi to my inlaw ooo

    In August 2021, Beverly Afaglo’s Tema residence was burnt down to ashes. Some celebrities contributed clothes and other items to the style influencer and her family.

    Source:yen.com

  • Startup turns desert sand into fertile soil in just seven hours

    Norwegian startup Desert Control claims that it can fight desertification efficiently by spraying sand with Liquid NanoClay (LNC) and turning it into soil in a matter of hours.

    In the past, we’ve featured many ‘green heroes‘ who have been fighting desertification for decades, using all sorts of techniques, from draught-resistant shrubbery to tree barriers, but now a startup claims to obtain much better results in the same harsh conditions in just seven hours. Invented in the early 2000s by Norwegian scientist Kristian Olesen, Liquid NanoClay is the secret behind Desert Control’s amazing achievements. When sprayed onto sand, this amazing invention trickles down and percolates the sand, turning it into water-retaining soil where plants can germinate and thrive.

    Farmers have been using clay to increase the fertility of their lands for thousands of years, and the Nile Delta is famously fertile thanks to its clay, but working thick, heavy clay into less fertile land, let alone sand, has always been laborious and time-consuming. Desert Control managed to overcome this hurdle by making the clay particles in their NanoClay as small as possible.

    Liquid NanoClay sounds fancy, but it’s made with just water and clay. The company’s secret is its ability to turn thick clay into a liquid “nearly as thin as water,” which is then sprayed over the sands, percolating the top layer all the way to a few dozen centimeters. The clay binds to the sand particles and forms a moisture-retaining soil that, while not as fertile as dark soil, can definitely support plant life.

    Desert Control currently has its sights set on the UAE, a wealthy market that currently imports about 90 percent of its food, because growing anything in this desert environment is so tough. The technology has already proven its use, turning a barren desert into soil, but there is still the limitation of cost.

    CNN reports the cost of treatment ranges from $2 to $5 per square meter (11 square feet), not exactly cheap, considering the vast areas that need to be treated with Liquid NanoClay in order for agricultural projects to make sense. However, Desert Control plans to develop units capable of producing large amounts of Liquid NanoClay, which would bring down the price considerably.

    “If they are able to reduce the price and make it affordable for the least income countries, it could have a really huge impact on food security and the ability of many of those countries to use their own crops,” said Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of Dubai’s International Center for Biosaline Agriculture. “It could be tremendous.”

    With 12 million hectares of fertile land being lost to desertification every year, Desert Control’s solution sounds like nothing short of a miracle. Being able to turn sand into plant-sustaining soil in just seven hours sounds unreal, but it works.

    According to Desert Control, the effects of Liquid NanoClay last for about five years, after which the artificially-created soil needs a top-up.

     

    Source: odditycentral.com 

  • GH man storms market, fires local traders for overpricing items

    A distraught Ghanaian man went to the market to unleash venom on the pricing culture of most Ghanaian traders.

    He stormed a local market and decided to call out the traders for overpricing the items.

    According to him, these traders are wicked by putting outrageous price tags on items grown in Ghana like plantains, eggs, and tomatoes.

    Creating a scene in the market, the gentleman accused the market women of being disingenuous and wicked.

    “You market women are wicked. You overpriced even locally-grown produce to dupe us. Has the government sanctioned you to overprice these products? Why are you so wicked to Ghanaians? “

    The man went to draw the attention of the market women to the hardships in the country, which he believed had been created by the traders, who are always profit-conscious.

    He made the argument that products made in Ghana must not be sold at outrageous prices.

    Some items on the Ghanaian market have increased in price in the past weeks, and Ghanaians have been complaining about the high cost of living in Ghana.

    The video below is about an angry man who believes the status quo could change if wicked traders desist from overpricing the items they sell.

     

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    ghpage.com

  • Scientists (Finally!) discover drug that replicates effects of exercise on Muscles

    Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University claim to have identified a drug that replicates the benefits of exercise on muscles and bones.

    Many of us may not want to admit it, but modern life in developed countries is easier and more comfortable than it’s ever been. Gone are the days when humans had to rely on heavy labor to sustain themselves and their families, but this particular part of our evolution has had some unwanted health-related consequences – the vast majority of people aren’t getting enough exercise and that is taking a toll on their bones, muscles and overall health.

    The problem is that many of us don’t want to put in the physical work to keep our bodies in good shape, even though we know we should, but the good news is that we may not have to…

    The fact that physical inactivity causes frailty of the muscle and bone has been known for a while now, and yet debilitating conditions like osteoporosis and sarcopenia are more prevalent than ever before. And then there are the people who simply aren’t physically able to exercise, due to life-threatening conditions like cerebrovascular diseases or being bedridden. unfortunately, all these people are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes due to a lack of physical activity. Thus the need for an alternative to physical exercise.

    Researchers have been able to identify that the reinforcement of the muscle and bone during physical exercise coincides with anabolic changes in both muscle and bone. Using a new type of drug screening system, they were able to identify a compound that replicates the changes in muscle and bone. named “locamidazole” – after ‘locomotor’ and the chemical backbone ‘aminoindazole’ – or LAMZ for short, is somewhat of a chemical miracle.

    According to a study published in August in the medical journal Nature, LAMZ not only has the ability to stimulate the growth of bone-forming osteoblasts and muscle cells, but also to inhibit the formation of osteoclasts, which break down bone and lead to chronic diseases like osteoporosis.

    During a test trial on mice, Japanese researchers administered locamidazole to lab mice once a day, for a total of 14 days. At the end of the experiment, the drug was detected in the blood, muscle and bone, with no detectable adverse effects on hematologic parameters.

    “We were pleased to find that LAMZ-treated mice exhibited larger muscle fiber width, greater maximal muscle strength, a higher rate of bone formation, and lower bone resorption activity,” Takehito Ono, the study’s lead author, said.

    Locomotor frailty caused by diseases like osteoporosis is one of the main targets for drugs like LAMZ, and the results of preliminary experiments is very encouraging. Locamidazole administered orally or via subcutaneous injection “improved the muscle and bone of mice with locomotor frailty, according to senior study author Tomoki Nakashima.

    Although LAMZ may not get you those chiseled abs you’ve been dreaming of, researchers are confident that it could help as a therapeutic drug for patients with impaired locomotion, such as those suffering from osteoporosis and sarcopenia.

    Source: Complex.com

  • This political party is led by an AI entity

    The Synthetic Party is a new political group in Denmark that is committed to following the platform thought up by an AI entity known as Leader Lars.

    Out of all the political parties eyeing a seat in the Danish Parliament this year, the Synthetic Party has to be the most intriguing, by far. Founded in May by artist collective Computer lars and non-profit art and tech organization MindFuture Foundation, the new political party is dedicated to following the policies of an AI programmed on the policies of all Danish fringe parties since the 1970s that have never obtained a seat in the parliament. Apart from promoting the presence of AI in politics, the Synthetic Party also aims to become an alternative for the 20 percent of the Danish population that never votes in elections.

    “We’re representing the data of all fringe parties, so it’s all of the parties who are trying to get elected into parliament but don’t have a seat,” Asker Staunæs, the creator of the party, told Motherboard Magazine. “So it’s a person who has formed a political vision of their own that they would like to realize, but they usually don’t have the money or resources to do so.”

    Some of the policies that the Synthetic Party has proposed so far include establishing a universal basic income of 100,000 Danish kroner ($13,700) per month, and the creation of a jointly-owned internet and IT sector in the government that is on par with other public institutions. Are these things good, are they bad? Well, it’s an AI, so it doesn’t judge things the way we do.

    “It’s a synthetic party, so many of the policies can be contradictory to one another,” Asker Staunæs says. “When you synthesize, it’s about amplifying certain tendencies and expressions within a large, large pool of opinions. And if it contradicts itself, maybe they could do so in an interesting way and expand our imagination about what is possible.”

    Because every political party needs a leader, the Synthetic Party has created an AI-powered chatbot named Leader Lars, and people can actually speak to him on Discord. The chatbot understands English, but will only reply in Danish. Its name won’t be on voting balots, because the law doesn’t permit it yet, but the human representatives are apparently committed to acting as a medium for the AI.

    “Leader Lars is the figurehead of the party. Denmark is a representative democracy, so would have humans on the ballot that are representing Leader Lars and who are committed to acting as a medium for the AI,” the party’s founder said. “People who are voting for The Synthetic Party will have to believe what we are selling ourselves as, people who actually engage so much with artificial intelligence that we can interpret something valuable from them.”

    The Synthetic Party currently only has 11 signatures out of the 20,000 required to make it eligible to run in this November’s election, so it most likely won’t make the cut. But Staunæs says that he and his colleagues are in contact with other synthetics from around the world – from Colombia to Moldova – to create local versions of the party and ultimately “have some form of Synthetic International”.

    Source: Complex.com

  • Adidas director calls out brand over Kanye West’s Antisemitism

    While many brands and entities are cutting ties with Kanye West (who now goes by Ye) following the artist’s repeated antisemitic comments, one of his closest partners, Adidas, has remained silent throughout the controversy. Now, a director at the brand is putting the pressure on the company with a public LinkedIn post.

    Adidas director of trade marketing Sarah Camhi posted to her account this evening, saying the brand needs to do better by its employees and community. Camhi, who is Jewish, says that Adidas recently touted a “global week of inclusion” in the midst of Ye’s hateful remarks. According to her post, Adidas has not only remained quiet publicly, but it’s also said nothing about the matter internally to its employees.

    Camhi argues Adidas has dropped athletes for far less problematic instances including the use of steroids and being perceived as difficult to work with, yet has failed to address the hate speech from Ye.

    “We need to do better as a brand,” Camhi writes. “We need to do better for our employees and we need to do better for our communities. Until Adidas takes a stand, I will not stand with Adidas.”

    On October 6, Adidas announced that its partnership with Ye was under review after a string of posts targeting the brand and its supervisory board. Days later, Ye began his descent into anti-Semitic speech by tweeting he would go “DEATH CON 3 on Jewish people.”

    Adidas has yet to acknowledge his most latest comments, which have been amplified through an appearance on Drink Champs and interviews with the likes of Tucker Carlson and Piers Morgan. In the Drink Champs episode, he taunted the brand over this exact matter. “The thing about me and Adidas is like, I can literally say antisemitic shit, and they can’t drop me,” he said.

    Despite Adidas’ silence, many brands have recently taken action against Ye. Balenciaga confirmed Friday it had no future plans to work him.

    Vogue’s Anna Wintour has reportedly cut ties with him. Talent agency CAA dropped him today, and Def Jam confirmed that his G.O.O.D. Music imprint is no longer affiliated with the label.

    Adidas did not respond to request for comment.

    Source: Complex.com

  • IMF Report: Sub-Sahara Africa living on the edge

    The International Monetary Fund’s latest Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa says the region is projected to grow by 3.6 per cent in 2022 – more than one percentage point slower than 2021 mainly due to a worldwide slowdown, tighter financial conditions, and volatile commodity prices.

    It said rising food and energy prices are striking at the region’s most vulnerable, and public debt and inflation are at levels not seen in decades.

    The most recent turmoil comes on top of a prolonged pandemic, leaving authorities with their most difficult and uncertain policy environment in years, the report noted, adding that international support to address ongoing challenges, including food insecurity and the green energy transition, remains essential.

    The region’s economic activity is expected to slow significantly in 2022 and remain relatively modest in 2023.

    A downturn in advanced economies and emerging markets, tighter financial conditions, and volatile commodity prices have undermined last year’s gains, the IMF noted.

    It said looking ahead, the outlook remains highly uncertain.

    Consequently, countries in the region are living on the edge.

    “Late last year, sub-Saharan Africa appeared to be on a strong recovery path out of a long pandemic. Unfortunately, this progress has been abruptly interrupted by turmoil in global markets, placing further pressures on policymakers in the region,” stressed Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director of the IMF’s African Department.

    The region is expected to grow by 3.6 per cent in 2022, down from 4.7 per cent in 2021, due to muted investment and the overall worsening of its balance of trade. Non-resource-intensive countries, which enjoy a more diverse economic structure, will continue to be among the region’s more dynamic and resilient economies, growing by 4.6 per cent in 2022, compared to 3.3 per cent in oil exporters and 3.1 per cent in other resource-intensive countries.

    Following worldwide trends, inflation has increased faster and more persistently than previously anticipated, reflecting mounting prices for essential food and energy items, which comprise about 50 percent of the region’s consumption basket. And while the recent pickup in inflation is less striking relative to historical averages for sub-Saharan Africa, the cost-of-living squeeze has pushed millions of people into acute food insecurity and could weigh on economic growth and undermine social and political stability.

    The most recent turmoil is just the latest in a series of shocks over the past few years, all of which have taken a toll on the region’s policy space. Public debt has reached about 60 per cent of GDP, leaving the region with debt levels last seen in the early 2000s. In this regard, the composition of debt has shifted towards higher-cost private sources, increasing debt service costs and rollover risks. In fact, 19 of the region’s 35 low-income countries are now in debt distress or at high risk of distress.

    Against this backdrop, Mr Selassie pointed to four priorities for policymakers in the region:

    “First, in the context of rising food insecurity, the utmost priority must be to protect the most vulnerable. Scarce resources should go to those who need them most. Poorly targeted emergency measures should be gradually phased out.

    “Second, to contend with increased inflation and tightening global interest rates, policymakers should cautiously raise policy rates, while keeping a close eye on inflation expectations and foreign exchange reserves.

    “Third, policymakers in the region need to continue consolidating their public finances to preserve fiscal sustainability, particularly in the context of rising interest rates. Credible medium-term fiscal frameworks, including effective debt management, can help lower borrowing costs. In countries with acute debt vulnerabilities, debt restructuring or reprofiling may be required, suggesting the need for improved implementation of the G20 Common Framework.

    “And finally, they should set the stage for high-quality growth, amid accelerating climate change. Investment in resilient, green infrastructure, and capitalizing on the region’s sizable renewable-energy resources will require both innovative private finance and energy sector reforms.

    “Budget support—including official development financing and humanitarian assistance—has been declining over the past two decades while the region’s immediate and longer-term development needs are rising, particularly in areas such as food security and climate change. Increased support, including more concessional finance, will be crucial for sub-Saharan Africa to be able to pursue a low-carbon and climate-resilient growth path.

    “On our side, we have been supporting sub-Saharan Africa with close to $50 billion since the beginning of the pandemic; recent new Fund-supported programs (e.g., Benin, Cabo Verde, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia), have included policies to address the impact of the food crisis; and the IMF Board has just approved a new Food Shock Window to support our members suffering from acute food insecurity, a sharp food imports shock, or from a cereals export shock.

    “We are also helping catalyze new capital inflows by boosting local capacity and expanding our lending facilities with our new Resilience and Sustainability Trust to provide affordable financing to address longer-term structural challenges.

    “With help, sub-Saharan Africa will be poised to fulfil the promise of the African century, contributing to a more prosperous, greener future for the region and the world,” he said.

    classfmonline.com