Director-General of the National Lottery Association (NLA), Sammy Awuku, was among the dignitaries that graced this year’s World Lottery Summit.
The event was held from October 16 to 20, 2022, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Announcing his participation in the event, the NLA boss also commended the World Lottery Association President, Rebecca Paul, for her exemplary leadership exhibited so far.
“It has been an amazing gathering of all the Industry Players from over 100 countries committed to Responsible Gaming and Good Causes at the World Lottery Summit in Vancouver. Congratulations to President Rebecca Paul and her reelected executives as they continue to steer the affairs of the World Body for another term.
He further announced that the WLA President will grace the occasion to climax the NLA’s 60th anniversary celebration, scheduled to take place from December 7 to 10, this year.
Mr Sammy Awukuconfirmed this on his Facebook wall with pictures of himself, that the WLA President and other dignitaries who attended the World Lottery Summit held in Vancouver.
“The NLA is grateful that for the first time the World Lottery Association President will be visiting Africa to Grace our 60th Anniversary and the African Lotteries Association Conference in Accra in December”, Sammy Awuku said.
The World lottery Summit brought together industry players from over 100 countries across the globe to, amongst other things, take stock of the various member countries’ programmes, regional reports, suspensions, and expulsions from the Association.
The summit is held every two years, but the World Lottery Association could not hold the 2020 event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Director-General of the NLA, Sammy Awuku, and Dr. George Gyamfi-Osew, the immediate past Director of Operations of the Authority, represented Ghana at the summit.
At this year’s summit, Ghana’s NLA was highly commended for ensuring responsible gaming and pragmatic steps against the illegal lottery.
NLA remains the leader in the lottery business in the sense that it has the legal mandate to regulate the industry. In addition to this autonomous role, the main objective of NLA is to raise revenue to run its affairs and to pay whatever is left to the government to support developmental needs or projects in the country.
Against this background, NLA undoubtedly is a national asset, but this feat did not come with ease. The NLA brand was built with solid integrity as its core value while other values such as respect, excellence, accountability, leadership, and teamwork equally complemented the success story.
The NLA has spread across the sixteen regions in Ghana and continues to expand its tentacles to every nook and cranny. The expansion project is duly on course under the current leadership of Mr Samuel Awuku, the Director General of the authority.
It marked its 60th anniversary in September. However, an event is expected to be held in December to climax the anniversary celebration.
Unlike the NBA, the NFL is not a league where midseason acquisitions have typically swung the title picture drastically. Very rarely have teams won the Super Bowl due to a blockbuster trade or midseason signing that pushed them over the top, though there have been exceptions.
In 2021, the Los Angeles Rams were that exception, trading for Von Miller and signing Odell Beckham Jr. in November to give them two All-Pro talents that paid dividends in the postseason to deliver them a championship.
Now, in the middle of the 2022 season, it appears Beckham could once again be the piece that tilts the Super Bowl odds in favor of one team, with the veteran wide receiver gearing up to sign with a team in the next couple of weeks, presumably one that is in contention.
If Beckham is healthy and still has juice in the tank, he is still one of the hardest receivers to cover in the NFL, which he proved once joining the Rams after his disastrous stint with the Cleveland Browns.
There will be no shortage of suitors for OBJ’s services, with a handful of contenders lurking as ideal landing spots for his services. Here are six teams that would make sense for the eccentric wide receiver to consider signing with for the home stretch of the season.
John Donkor, the Eastern Regional Budget Analyst, disclosed that the Common Fund is now unreliable for funding government agencies’ expenditures. As a result, he pleaded with MMDAs to step up internal income mobilization so they may finance their initiatives and increase spending.
The discovery was made by Mr. Donkor at this year’s regional composite budget hearing in Koforidua, in the Eastern Region, on the composite budget for 2023–2026.
Mr. Donkor noted that the ten previously existing Regional Coordinating Councils, or RCCs, had budgeted GH6 million for the refurbishment of the residences’ facilities in 2022, but that only GH417,541 had been released and had not yet been credited to the RCCs’ accounts.
Mr Donkor disclosed that three Assemblies out of the 33 MMDAs, namely Atiwa East, Atiwa West and Ayensuano, were able to mobilize about ninety percent of their intended targeted revenue mobilization for the period under review.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Acheampong, who read the Finance Minister’s speech on his behalf, said the country is not in normal times and this year is very peculiar in view of the challenges of global and domestic developments on the economy.
He added that the development, coupled with rising inflation and cost of living, credit rating downgrades, increasing debt servicing, high cost of borrowing and depreciating of the cedi, are making budget implementation challenging.
The artist formerly known as Kanye West is “no longer a billionaire,” per Forbes.
The update arrives shortly after Adidas announced the immediate termination of its deal with Ye following a string of comments that have been widely called out as anti-Semitic. According to the publication, Ye is worth an estimated $400 million without the Adidas deal, which it valued at $1.5 billion. In a recent Piers Morgan interview, notably, Ye said he had “maybe only $120 million” in his account.
“Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech,” a rep for the company said in a press release shared on Tuesday, adding that Ye’s recent remarks were “unacceptable, hateful, and dangerous.” As previously reported, Adidas had formally placed the Yeezy partnership “under review” earlier this month.
Several other collaborators have similarly distanced themselves from Ye, including Balenciaga. The Shop, meanwhile, announced its decision earlier this month to not air an interview with Ye. In a statement to Andscape, SpringHill Company CEO and Shop co-host Maverick Carter said Ye had used this would-be appearance “to reiterate more hate speech and extremely dangerous stereotypes.”
Jeezy was among those also featured on the episode in question. During a subsequent interview on Hot 97, Jeezy was asked about the shelved appearance, although he declined to get into any details.
“I just know that I came there, we did it, and I got a call and they said, ‘It’s a wrap,’” Jeezy said, adding that he “didn’t take it personally.”
The main news source cited for the information was DW Africa, and it was reported earlier this week in local media that the Gulf State had prohibited admission for 20 citizens of Africa.
El-Alawi, however, asserted that there has been no formal proclamation to that effect and that the current situation continues in an interview with Joy News in Accra.
“There is nothing official regarding those rumours or the news. There is no official statement from my government or the other governments so our daily work routine is the same, nothing has changed. Until we find or receive any announcement or official statement, I cannot talk about it.
“UAE, we have adjusted the new visa system which is more flexible with the foreigners which makes the UAE easy to reach but for the ban, I can assure you there is no official statement about it,” he stressed.
According to reports, the UAE government instructed its foreign missions to stop issuing visas, including 30-day visit visas, to nationals from the 20 affected African countries.
DW Africa stated in a Facebook post that one of the reasons for the ban was that most nationals from the 20 countries always fail to leave Dubai after their visas have expired.
“One of the reasons given for the ban is many who arrive on visit visas end up overstaying in the country illegally while working without legalizing their stay,” the post read in part.
Executive Director of the National Population Council (NPC), Dr Leticia Adelaide Appiah, has called for immediate action to address the problem of adolescent pregnancy in the nation.
According to the expert, the previous five years have recorded more than 500,000 teenage pregnancies in the country, and thus things could get worse if nothing is done to stop the trend.
Speaking at a day-long training workshop on population issues hosted by the NPC in Accra, Dr Appiah mentioned that an approximation of 555,575 teenage pregnancies were reported between 2016 and 2021.
She claimed that, given the dire circumstances, the media had to pay close attention to population and teen pregnancy issues.
Dr. Appiah said public education was pivotal in the development of any country, and the media must take an interest in it.
“In countries such as Pakistan, the government had integrated population education in both formal and non-formal sectors and in their academic system, from primary to university levels,” she said.
Population education, according to Dr. Appiah, is crucial to the prosperity of any nation, and the media must be interested in it.
When it came to population-related issues, Dr. Appiah argued that attention needed to be paid to a new era of group improvement and honest communication.
“We cannot openly communicate without relevant and functional knowledge because knowledge and education is a potent instrument of change for any nation. Knowledge is sharing, and sharing and use is the most important public good,” she said.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama believes it will be a sweet revenge if Ghana beat Uruguay after the two countries were paired in the Group H of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Black Stars were eliminated by the two-time champions on penalties in South Africa, having seen Asamoah Gyan miss an extra-time spot-kick after Luis Suarez was sent off for handball.
Ghana, who make a return to the tournament after missing out on the 2018 edition in Russia take on Portugal in their first game in Group H on November 24 before playing South Korea and Uruguay on November 28 and December 2 respectively.
“Unfortunately, we are in a Group of death. The teams in our Group are the strongest and look at what faith has made, bringing Uruguay into our Group again,” former President Mahama said as quoted by ghanafa.org.
“It will be sweet revenge if we score them and so even if you don’t beat anybody, just beat Uruguay for me and lets pay Suarez back for what he did to us.”
Black Stars will play Switzerland in an International friendly on November 17, before travelling to Qatar for the World Cup.
An Iranian 94-year-old nicknamed the “world’s dirtiest man” for famously not bathing since the middle of the 20th century has died.
The BBC writes Amou Haji passed away on Sunday in Dezhgah village, which is located in the southern province of Fars. The local community called him “Uncle Haji.” Out of fear of contracting an illness, he hadn’t cleaned himself with soap or water for what’s been reported as roughly six or seven decades.
A few months ago, according to the Guardian, Haji was convinced by villagers to wash up.
Haji spoke with the Tehran Times in 2014, revealing he lived in a hole in the ground and a brick shack, while relying on meals including porcupine and various roadkill. He also enjoyed smoking animal feces out of an old pipe rather than tobacco. Haji said his decision to not bathe was due to “emotional setbacks.”
A documentary short titled The Strange Life of Amou Haji was made in 2013, according to Iranian media outlets.
The Hindustan Times reported in 2009 that Kailash “Kalau” Singh, who lived in a village outside of Varanasi, had not bathed in 35 years and preferred a “fire bath.” He explained, “It’s just like using water to take a bath. Fire bath helps kill all the germs and infections in the body.”
On the Interbank forex rates from the Bank of Ghana on, October 26, 2022, the Ghana Cedi is trading against the dollar at a buying price of 13.0020 and a selling price of 13.0150.
As compared to yesterday’s trading of a buying price of 12.5274 and a selling price of 12.5400. At a forex bureau in Accra, the dollar is being bought at a rate of 14.15 and sold at a rate of 14.60.
At a forex bureau in Accra, the pound sterling is being bought at a rate of 15.10 and sold at a rate of 16.20.
The Euro is trading at a buying price of 12.8496 and a selling price of 12.8636 as compared to yesterday’s trading at a buying price of 12.3806 and a selling price of 12.3941.
At a forex bureau in Accra, Euro is being bought at a rate of 13.30 and sold at a rate of 14.20.
At a forex bureau in Accra, South African Rand is being bought at a rate of 0.70 and sold at a rate of 1.10.
The Nigerian Naira is trading at a buying price of 33.8625 and a selling price of 33.8802 as compared to yesterday’s trading at a buying price of 35.1452 and a selling price of 35.1636.
At a forex bureau in Accra, Nigerian Naira is being bought at a rate of 17.00 Naira for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 22.00.
Ghana’s iconic sound engineer and music producer, Emmanuel Mallet, popularly known as Zapp Mallet has likened music to a bug, saying when it bites you there is no cure.
According to him, he is stuck with music production.
“I’m used to music now. I’ve been doing it for over 30 years and I’m stuck with it now. Music is like a bug. When it bites you, you can’t free yourself. There’s no cure. It’s like a disease, not a terminal disease, but a kind of loving disease. And when it bites you, you can go and work at the bank, and you won’t be happy. You can get a good salary, but you won’t be happy,” the ace music producer said on Friday, October 7.
His statement comes after he was asked if he ever felt like he was being cooped up and wanted to break free from music.
Speaking on GTV’s Breakfast Show, the multiple award-winning sound engineer revealed that the ‘bug’ has bitten one of her daughters. However, hers is a film ‘bug’.
“My first daughter, the film ‘bug’ has bitten her. And I know how she feels. She doesn’t want to hear anything apart from film,” he remarked
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Zapp Mallet, born Emmanuel Mallet, is regarded as one of Ghana’s most accomplished music producers and a pioneer of Ghana’s hiplife genre.
He is the only recording engineer to have won the Ghana Music Awards three times in a row, in 1999, 2000, and 2001.
Over the past years, Zapp has worked with various high-profile Ghanaian and international musicians, including Kojo Antwi, Ofori Amponsah, and Daasebre Gyamena.
Others are Nana Fynn, Becca, Irene Logan, Mary Agyepong, Nana Quame, and Wutah, among others.
In the hiplife circus, Zapp has also worked with Reggie Rockstone, Lord Kenya, Obour, Obrafour, and Akyeame. In the gospel genre, he worked with the Tagoe Sisters, Suzzy and Matt and Helena Rhabbles.
Pressure group OccupyGhana wants the government to regularly update the citizenry on the state of the economy and the general affairs of the country, as it did during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group’s call comes amidst the current economic crisis. They believe this is a prudent way to manage the situation and mitigate its effect on the public. They also believe this will increase investor confidence in Ghana’s economy.
Recall that President Akufo-Addo, at the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, regularly updated the public on measures adopted by the government to manage the pandemic, efforts of the health sector, the number of affected persons and deaths recorded, among other pertinent issues.
“Fellow Ghanaians” became a mantra in many households following the President’s regular updates to the nation.
Meanwhile, the Ghanaian economy, which is being crippled by several factors, including high inflation, the high fall of the cedi against the dollar and hikes in fuel prices, keeps dwindling by the day.
While justifying their call for regular updates on the state of the economy, OccupyGhana, in a statement issued on Monday, October 24, 2022, about the cedi’s rapid depreciation, acknowledged that the government cannot “physically halt” the fall of the cedi.
“No one expects the President to physically halt the fall of the cedi or conjure inflation away. However, it is imperative in such times that Ghanaians get the reassurance that their elected leader is doing all he can and that he cares.”
“The cedi is ‘burning’. The Ghanaian economy is in tatters. It is a disaster. Yet we do not see commanding leadership in this matter,” the group added.
The group believes a lack of “visible leadership” and action, including regular updates by the President, has created a vacuum that needs to be filled immediately.
“Though the current situation warrants a response like the one the COVID-19 pandemicgot, the nation is yet to see such commanding leadership on the President’s part,” Occupy Ghana said, noting that the “reassurance is sorely lacking”.
“… that vacuum needs to be filled for the stability and future of our dear country,” the group added.
Currently, the cedi is selling at about GH¢14 to the dollar; a situation many say is affecting businesses.
Government is, however, optimistic the situation will be reversed. According to Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Economic Management Team (EMT) and cabinet will be holding talks over the free fall of the cedi and other matters arising from the country’s engagements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“We will also be looking at long- lasting measures to ensure that the forex rate is stabilised in the country, even as we expect a lot more inflow of forex following the completion of the syndication of the COCOBOD transaction loan.
The Economic Management Team is also meeting to appraise itself on some of the recommendations as we get closer to the end of the year.
On Thursday, the Cabinet itself will be meeting to receive what has gone through the EMT and updates from the IMF negotiation so that some decisions will be made and then update the country on the next step forward.”
He also mentioned that “the Bank of Ghana will be meeting the Managing Directors of some of the banks and the heads of the forex bureau association to hold discussions aimed at ensuring that the supply of forex on the market is stabilised and the overpricing is halted so that, those who need forex for business get it without hindrances at the banking halls as against rates on the black market or some other quarters.”
His worries are related to the central bank supporting the government budget to the tune of GH22 billion as of the middle of the year.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic’s appearance, the Bank of Ghana has abandoned its zero-financing policy in order to lend to the government and lessen the pandemic’s effects as well as the degradation of the nation’s public finances.
This resulted in rating agencies downgrades, which in turn, contributed to a protracted lack of access to the Eurobond markets, led to a significant decline in external liquidity and access to the American greenback, thereby, having a significant impact on the local currency’s strength relative to the US dollar.
“What BoG has tried to do, and this is what we have always done, is to manage the crisis in the short term, but they need some inflows because they’ve been haemorrhaging by financing the fiscal deficit. GH¢22 billion out of about GH¢37 billion deficit, that is two-thirds of the whole deficit is on BoG and this is a country that has come from a zero financing in 2016 to now be financing two-thirds of the deficit which was even as at mid-year,” he said.
“The central bank is hugely financing government expenditure, but something has to be done about this in the short-term,” Mr. Terkper said.
According to the BoG, the budget implementation, using banking sector data, for the first 9-months of the year recorded an elevated overall cash deficit of 6.4 percent of GDP, against the revised programmed target of 5 percent of GDP.
Total receipts of GH¢51.49 billion (8.7 percent of GDP) over the review period, fell short of projected target of GH¢60.08 billion (10.2 percent of GDP) and represented 85.7 percent of the budgeted estimate.
Total payments of GH¢89.04 billion (15 percent of GDP) was almost on target, representing 99.5 percent of GH¢89.46 billion (15.1 percent of GDP). The deficit of GH¢37.56 billion, together with net foreign loan repayments of GH¢3.54 billion, created a resource gap of GH¢41.1 billion, which was financed from domestic sources and the use of resources from the stabilisation fund.
IMF projections
Ghana’s fiscal deficit is expected to be 9.2 percent of GDP in 2022, according to the International Monetary Fund’s Fiscal Monitor Report from October 2022. It surpasses the government’s revised 6.6 percent estimate from the Mid-Year Budget Review.
The primary deficit is anticipated to be 2.1 percent of GDP in 2022. On the other hand, it will decline to 1.1 percent of GDP in 2023 and even lower to 0.0 percent in 2024. This will show that the nation’s ability to raise revenue may be increasing.
The Ministry, in a press statement on October 24, 2022, issued a directive instructing excavator owners, users, and operators to register with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
According to the release, the registration exercise is expected to end nationwide on Wednesday, November 2, 2022.
GNASSM although accepting the move has however expressed that the deadline is too short.
Godwin Armah, the General Secretary of GNASSM made this known at a media engagement on the same day the directive was announced.
In his opinion, “the seven days will be difficult, but we can start. I don’t know whether it is with the tracking because most of the machines, as the law says, have been registered”.
He, however, urged members who own excavators to do well to register them.
According to the directive, MMDAs will be responsible for recording the names and details of excavator owners and their respective machines.
The date on which the excavator was brought into the country, the registration number and chassis number, the purpose for which the excavator was brought into the country, the area in which it will be used, as well as the name and details of the excavator’s current operator, are some of the details needed during the registration process.
This new directive is in accordance with section 100 (1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
The Ministry mentioned that this is to help fight the menace of illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey,” and to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the provisions of L.I. 2404.
Ghana is suffering from the detrimental effects of illegal small-scale mining activities called “galamsey.” Several water bodies like the River Pra, Daboase, and River Ankobra have suffered from galamsey pollution across the country.
In 2017, the Head of Communications at the Ghana Water Company, Steve Mantey, mentioned that plants in Kyebi , which were meant for water treatment, had to be shut down due to pollution of the Birim river, which is beyond treatment.
Earlier this month, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, during a media engagement, noted that the practice could lead to a ban on Ghana’s cocoa beans on the international market, with an adverse effect on the country’s economy.
Ghanaian musician David Oscar has asked his fans on Facebook to, “for a second,” imagine that the current president of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo was a failed Black Stars coach and consider if they would not have asked for him to be fired.
On Tuesday, 25 October 2022, David wrote: “Imagine for a second that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was the coach of Black Stars.”
“After such a disgraceful performance [miming masks emojis] 6 years into his tenure, wouldn’t you have asked for him to be sacked?” he wondered.
“So why is he still in office?” the artiste charged before calling Ghana an unserious country in Pidgin: “Jon Kentry.”
Over the years, the Black Stars managerial position has been volatile.
In 2020, Kwesi Appiah was sacked from his post as head coach of the national male football team of Ghana.
In explaining, the president of the Ghana Football Association, Mr Kurt Okraku revealed Mr Appiah had failed woefully at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in his first stint with the Black Stars and again, he disappointed during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) during his second stint as head of the team and those performances led the 12-member Executive Council of the GFA not to extend his contract.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s comment on North Star radio in Tamale in August that persons demanding the sacking of Ken Ofori-Atta were members of the opposition National Democratic Congress seem to have ruffled feathers within his own New Patriotic Party (NPP).
This is a suggestion by Eugene Boakye Antwi, a Member of Parliament for Subin, who says some NPP legislators from then took the position to demonstrate to the president that members from his own backyard also wanted the minister dismissed.
In an interview with Accra-based Joy News on October 25, the NPP MP stated that it was time to deliver ‘a very cold message’ from constituents to the president that Ofori-Atta should be shown the exit.
“The reason why some of us took the stance we took today….I think a month or two ago, the president was in the northern part of Ghana where he said that those calling for the head of Ken Ofori-Atta were NDC members.
“So we had to demonstrate to him after spending three months in our respective constituencies that our constituents have sent us to come and deliver to him a very very cold message that Ken Ofori-Atta must be asked to step aside,” he said.
Narrating events that led to over eighty (80) NPP MPs taking a public stance against Ofori-Atta, Eugene Boakye Antwi said tensions started brewing within the party over the minister’s stay at post before Parliament even went on recess.
He stressed, however, that a decision to begin engaging leadership of the caucus on the subject matter after recess was agreed.
The Subin MP continued that one Sunday, towards the resumption of Parliament, over forty (40) met the Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to discuss the controversial matter which had been put on hold.
The Majority Leader was then tasked to inform President Akufo-Addo of the decision by NPP MPs to have Ofori-Atta relieved of his post.
“What happened was that on Sunday, we could see tension brewing right from before we even went on recess. What we decided to do was that let’s go back, when we come back, we can then begin to engage leadership. I woke the Majority Leader up at dawn and said look we need you in Accra by 1pm because the way things are if you don’t come and things blow up in our faces, we are done.
“He said ‘don’t worry’. He was in Rock City, Kwahu. The Majority Leader got here around 1pm and we met. There were about 40 MPs at the time. I said if that is the case, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister should take the worries and the concerns of MPs who had just returned from their constituency to the president.
“We’ll not want a situation where we spring a surprise on him the Majority Leader or embarrass our president so go to him and sit with him and say ‘look, this is the position of your members of parliament’ and let us have a feedback,” Boakye Antwi said.
When he called the Majority Leader to inquire about the response from the president. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu asked him to come to Parliament for a discussion on the matter.
He said the leader informed him in the presence of two other MPs that he did not have a ‘positive feedback’ from the president for the MPs demanding Ofori-Atta’s dismissal.
While discussing the matter, Boakye Antwi indicated that the Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Stephen Ntim together with General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, walked into the office of the Majority Leader who also doubles as Suame MP.
The aggrieved MPs again tasked the NPP national executives together with the Majority Leader to meet President Akufo-Addo and reiterate their demands for the sacking of Ofori-Atta to aid them to make a decision in the morning of October 25 – however, there was a stalemate.
He contended that the legislature reigns supreme in any democracy thus to express their frustration against the refusal to sack Ofori-Atta, the MPs will not carry out government business in Parliament.
The move he said was to demonstrate to their constituents that their ‘cold message’ has been delivered to the president but was not being acted upon.
“As Members of Parliament, in any democracy, it’s the legislature that is supreme because you need them to conduct your business. The executive can be there but if you don’t have the numbers like it’s happening now, it’s difficult to transact any business.
“So if we are telling you the president that this is what is happening and also look at a trend everywhere the president has been, there has been a question about the performance of his Finance Minister,” he said.
“Can everybody be wrong and the president alone be right? This were all our concerns. Everywhere you go, they ask you. All the ministers, why him?
“So we felt that if the president does not want to listen to us, then the only way to let our constituents understand that we have articulated their concerns is to boycott Parliament and not participate in any government business so that they would know that the message they gave us has been communicated to the president but no action has been taken on the side of the president,” Boakye Antwi added.
President Akufo-Addosays the government is close to having a programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The President said negotiations are nearing completion.
According to him, this will have a major impact on the Ghanaian economy.
President Akufo-Addo at a stakeholder engagement on moves to revive the economy on Tuesday, called for the support of all.
“We are talking and, hopefully, concluding soon. These important negotiations that we are going to have will have a positive impact on the Ghanaian economy in the months immediately ahead”, he said.
In a related development, the President will on Wednesday, October 26, meet the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Association of Market Women at the Jubilee House.
The Akufo-Addo led government is seeking a US$ 3 billion bailout from the Bretton Woods Institution after months of struggle with the economy and a cost of living crisis.
The Ministry of Finance has said, government and the IMF have reached a clear path towards the final details of a programme with the goal of reaching a Staff-Level Agreement by the end of 2022.
This follows meetings between the Government and the IMF advancing negotiations towards a Fund-supported Programme in Washington (D.C) on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Patrick Yaw Boamah, the MP for Okaikoi Central, has stated he does not believe in breaking the eight but rather in winning elections over and over again.
The Okaikoi Central MP spoke with Class FM’s Parliamentary Correspondent Kekeli Havila on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, and expressed sympathy for calls for the Majority Caucasian to oust Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
“It’s a good call, that as a concerned majority, we want our government to succeed. So if for example common fund has not been released and it’s affecting the performance of MPs and MMDCEs who have been appointed by the President, then steps ought to be taken, we need to hear from our Finance Minister, we need to hear from our President on steps that are being taken.
“When it comes to the removal of a Minister, the Constitution says you need 2/3 of members present and voting and it’s like secret ballot, from the way things are you cannot guarantee it, you cannot and so I don’t think it’s the interest of our side of government to remove our Minister.”
He noted that the party has to do what it deems best in order to sustain its interests of breaking the eight.
“But when push comes to shove, to save the party, the government that we’re asking to break the eight, which I don’t believe in, I believe in winning successive elections.
“We’re not here to win two elections and say we’re breaking the eight. No,” he stressed.
He added: “I believe in winning successive elections, eight is just too small so whatever it takes for the government to put in place the right measures, if it requires removing all the cabinet ministers and setting up a new government, then we’ll support it if that is what will win us successive elections, we support it.”
The majority caucus in parliament has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to compel Finance Minister Ken Ofor-Atta and the Minister of State in the Finance Ministry, to resign.
The Majority caucus have also threatened to boycott the reading of the 2023 budget statement in Parliament if government fails to heed their demand.
Speaking to the Parliamentary Press Corps, when Parliament resumed on today, spokesperson for the majority, Andy Appiah Kubi, noted that the recent economic challenges facing the country is of great concern to the majority caucus.
He further noted that the removal of Mr Ofori-Atta from office will restore the hope of Ghanaians in the country’s economy.
“We’re by this medium, communicating our strong desire that the President change the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State in the Finance Ministry without further delay in order to restore hope into the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy,” he said.
According to the majority caucus, it will not participate in any government business in the House, if the two persons are not removed from office.
“Notice is hereby served that until such persons as aforementioned are made to resign or removed from office, we members of the majority caucus here in Parliament will not participate in any business of government by or for the President by any other Minister.
“We’re saying that if our request is not responded to positively, we will not be here for the budget hearing neither will we participate in the debate,” it said.
The founder of the Royal house Chapel International, Sam Korankye Ankrah, has sympathized with mothers in the face of the consistent depreciation of the local currency.
According to the charismatic preacher, the fall of the Cedi poses a challenge for households, especially women who have to buy milk to supplement the diets of their younger ones.
“Same milk, which was GH¢2 now is at GH¢8 and GH¢7. How will a mother buy milk and put in the tea or porridge for her children?”, he lamented in a sermon on Sunday.
The Reverend Minister made these remarks while bemoaning the hardship in the country, including the depreciation of the Cedi against the US dollar and other major trading currencies across the globe.
His sentiments add to the calls by some prominent figures in society, urging the President to take steps to revive the ailing economy.
In a related development, another leader of the faith community, Prophet Kofi Oduro has also criticised President Akufo-Addofor what he describes as the President’s recent arrogance.
According to the founder of the Alabaster International Ministries, the President has departed from the humility that endeared him to voters in his bid to win power.
Addressing his congregants on Sunday, the energetic pastor seized the opportunity to warn the President against pride and the consequences that await him if he does heed to advice.
“I stand here with a heavy heart to respectfully say this to you, Sir, the Lord is telling me, pride takes everybody down.
And if you continue to be proud, you will go down without remedy. Your government will be the worst in the history of this country”, he stressed.
The preacher continued, “Your excellency, if you continue in the arrogance of speech and the pride of your life, you will never see solution and you will never see remedy.
I stand here as a man of God and as a prophet of God, not needing anything from you except your repentance and your humility. If not, Ghana is going into destruction”.
Currently, Ghana is experiencing hard times with the country’s economic situation, worsening by the day.
The local currencyis consistently depreciating against the US dollar; accompanied by a corresponding rise in inflation amidst the country’s growing debt stock and unemployment challenges.
Meanwhile, government is at the verge of finalising a deal with the IMF to lessen the hardship in the system and make the economy more viable.
Cina Soul has released her first song for 2022. Titled ‘Waiting’, it features Camidoh.
The Afro-R&B song spans 3 minutes and 23 seconds and was produced by Beehive Entertainment resident producer Konfem.
Delivering sterling vocal performances on this piece, the Ghanaian artistes play characters who are in love but have parted ways due to relationship conflicts.
“Ever since you left, I haven’t been the same,” the man notes to start the song. “Can’t take the pain. Ouch.”
He hopes for reconciliation also: “Everyday, I’m praying that you come. Everyday, I’m looking all around.”
For her part, the woman asks rhetorically, “What’s a man without a wife?” and complains, “You see my pain [but] you no dey mind.”
A character played by the Cina, she also addresses the rumoured sexual relationship with KiDi that, according to the song, seems to be messing with her relationship.
“You figure KiDi wey been dey knack me, right?” she sings, to wit: “You think I’ve been sleeping with KiDi, right?”
The alienated lovers on the chorus pine for each other as they seek reconciliation when they sing: “I’ve been waiting.”
On Monday, 24 October 2022, a visualiser was released for the song on YouTube.
‘Waiting’, sang in English and Pidgin, is Cina’s follow-up to her 2021 ‘Feelings’ featuring KiDi.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked the New Patriotic Party Members of Parliament (MPs) demanding the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister to hold on till Ghana concludes negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The President says, terminating the appointment of Mr. Ofori-Attawill disrupt the programme.
At a meeting with the aggrieved MPs at the Jubilee House, Nana Akufo-Addo appealed for calm.
Citi News gathered that the MPs were not happy with the appeal and were still insisting on the Finance Minister’s exit.
Nana Akufo-Addo has asked Ken Ofori-Atta to be given three more weeks to conclude the IMF negotiations.
Some NPP MPs say several efforts to have government address the plights of their constituents with regard to the ailing economy had proved futile.
They thus held a press conference on Tuesday, October 2022, to voice their disquiet and demanded the head of Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen.
Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, the Member of Parliament for the Asante-Akim North Constituency and spokesperson for the disgruntled Majority MPs group, told the media on Tuesday that sacking Ofori-Atta and Adu Boahen will help restore confidence in Ghana’s economy.
“The recent development within the economy is of major concern to our caucus and our constituents. We have made our grave concern known to our president through the parliamentary leadership and the leadership of the party without any positive response.”
“We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the president changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry without further delay in order to restore hope to the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy,” he added.
Several Ghanaians had mounted pressure on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to remove Mr. Ofori-Atta from office in light of the country’s current economic predicament, which has compelled government to seek support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Minority in Parliament has also filed a motion for a vote of censure against Ofori-Atta.
Ghanaian actress, Clara Benson, popularly known as Maame Serwaa, has disclosed that she constantly trains at the gym to keep her body in shape and also shed some weight.
Although many claim that she has enhanced her body by going under the knife, this 23-year-old actress has stated that she owns nobody an explanation.
“We are growing, the Maame Serwaa, you know, when she was 16 years old, can’t remain the same forever. In some women, their features appear enhanced. You shouldn’t assume that one has gone under the knife. Some will even say that you are overeating.
“When I was younger, I had smaller boobs, but as time goes on, I see them developing. I don’t have a child but it has grown bigger, you get it? It is life, you will have changes…I am training, I want to manage it…it is normal,” she disclosed in an interview with Daily View GH.
According to Maame Serwaa, a woman has every right to do whatever she pleases with her body, especially when she does not feel comfortable in her own body.
“I am not going to clear anything about body enhancement…what Nana Ama McBrown did is normal. There is nothing wrong with enhancing her body. It is her choice,” Maame Serwaa said, defending her senior colleague, who admitted to having undergone liposuction.
Ghana Football Association executive council member Nana Oduro Sarfo has stated that the FA has submitted the budget for the 2022 World to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The Mundial will kick off on 20 November and end on 18 December 2022. Ghana will take on Switzerland on November 17 in an international friendly game before flying to Doha, Qatar.
Ghana is in Group H with Portugal, Uruguay, and South Korea.
“The world cup itself it is about budget the budget that is necessary has been sent to the ministry and the ministry has taken it up. The last time we went to the presidency the president spoke about it, the chief of staff spoke about it and the vice president also spoke about it,” he said on Peace FM as monitored by footballghana.com
“It is in front of them and they are doing everything possible so that the players will be comfortable and ok for the Mundial. After that we want to create a euphoria here and some of the euphoria is going on a walk, we will pray at the mosque, we will pray in church after that we will do a lunch with the legends, fan parks. Something that will make Ghanaians feel it,”
Ghanaian forward Maxwell Boakye says the Black Meteors underrated Mozambique in the first leg of the U-23 AFCON qualifier.
The Black Meteors, who are yet to qualify for Olympic Games since 2004 inflicted a 2-1 win over Mozambique at away on Sunday.
Daniel Afriyie Barnieh scored two penalties, handing the Ghana U23 team first leg advantage and are expected to seal qualification this weekend.
In an interview with Koforidua-based Bryt FM, the former Hearts of Oak star who plies his trade for CF Maputo was at the stadium to cheer the team up and was of the opinion the Black Meteors underrated their opponent.
“From what I saw, the Black Meteors underrated Mozambique. I play here, Mozambique has a lot of respect for Ghana, they knew it was going to be difficult for them but I think Meteors undermined them”
“Even though Ghana won, Mozambique performed better than the Meteors” he said.
Meanwhile, the Black Meteors will arrive in Accra on Tuesday evening to continue preparation for the return leg this weekend.
On Monday morning, the team held their recovery training session in Maputo in Maputo.
The Ghanaian delegation departed Mozambique on Monday evening, stopping in Johannesburg before continuing on to Accra.
They will arrive in the evening, rest in Accra and travel to Kumasi on Wednesday morning to start preparations for the second leg clash.
Former Ghana President John Agyekum Kuffour explained why the Black Stars impressed during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The West African powerhouse who were making their debut at the World Cup progressed ahead of top ranked countries like USA and Czech Republic.
Ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the former Ghana leader has disclosed Ghana performed during the 2006 edition because the players were physically fit.
Addressing the Ghana FA delegation at his residence, Mr. JA Kuffour urged the current players to be strong physically in order to compete in the Asian country.
“We must be physically strong at the World Cup because in 2006, the Black Stars performed better because of the strength of the team, you look at the captain, Stephen Appiah and then characters like Sulley Muntari, you can’t just push Sulley down. The Asamoah Gyan’s, and the Essiens were physically fit”
“So one thing I pray you would ensure they go to the pitch physically fit to battle with other countries. We shouldn’t be walkovers, so we must be strong, smart and have stamina and then towards goal, we must work as a team, single purpose team to hit into the post”
“When you do that I’m sure you will come away with flying colours. So you have all my blessings, and prayer. I pray that it shouldn’t be only first round, they should continue to quarter and semifinals. The nation awaits good news from the team” he said.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Team West, Carlos Ahenkorah, has explained why more than two-thirds of the majority caucus, including himself, are demanding that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo sacks the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
According to Ahenekorah, the MPs came to the decision after feedback from their constituents during their recess disclosed that most Ghanaians were unhappy with the government because Ofori-Atta was still at post.
He said that most of the majority caucus MPs spoke about how their constituents were suffering due to the economic challenges in the country.
Speaking in a Neat FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Ahenkorah intimated that they had to inform the president of the difficulties of their constituents so that it does not affect the NPP’s fortunes in the future.
“Most of the majority caucus came to this decision because it is what our constituents wanted. This is not something we wanted to do but it is what the people who voted for us, our constituents wanted. This was not by a rebel group in the caucus.
“There is a lot of pressure on us. If you go to your constituency office and you listen to the concerns of your constituents it is very disheartening. Just yesterday, three women visited my office and they were crying while narrating how they had lost their businesses because the price of a gallon of oil they used to purchase for GH¢60[600] is now selling for GH¢1000.
“The other MPs also shared their experience and we saw that it all boils down to the same thing. So, this is how we came to the decision that we have to let the president know what our constituents want. We had to let him know, otherwise, our people will not listen to us if we go to them again,” Ahenkrorah said in twi.
A group of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament has petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to sack the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Minister of State at the finance ministry, Adu Boahen, to restore public confidence in the economy.
This was announced in a media briefing by their spokesperson, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, who is the Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim North, in parliament on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.
The group said it will not do business with the government nor support the 2023 budget if the president fails to heed their calls.
According to them, the move follows previous concerns sent to the government that have not yielded any positive results.
The newly-elected constituency executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ablekuma South have been sworn into office.
The new executives were elected during the constituency elections on Saturday, October 22, 2022.
During the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, October 24, 2022, the Member of Parliament for the constituency, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, used the opportunity to call for deeper efforts at fostering unity in the party.
“If someone tells you that the NDC is not sweet, then the person doesn’t know the NDC. If there is any such person, then the person doesn’t understand the NDC and that is why it needs even more unity. If you desire to enjoy the NDC, it will be so for you,” he said.
He explained further that in the same way the delegates of the party voted for the new executives, as well as how the constituents gave him a massive victory in the 2020 elections, he expects that they would work to increase the numbers.
He also said that the hopes of many Ghanaians are in the members of the NDC and as such, they should work hard not to crash them.
“I know 61% of you voted for me in the last elections and I will never take it for granted. Together, let us work and better those numbers in the next election and give Ablekuma South 70% of your votes. And the way we can accomplish that is through our executives and with our support for their work.
“The whole country has high expectations of us and they are looking forward to us bringing back John Dramani Mahama and the NDC to power. Friends, we cannot afford to let the people down, so let us not fail them,” he added.
Addressing the gathering as well, the Organiser of constituency, Alfred Addotey Allotey, stated that the NDC is “battle-ready” for the 2024 general elections.
“Let us all rise up and prove to the rest of Ghana that the NDC in Ablekuma South is battle-ready and that we will be victorious,” he said.
The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by the Greater Accra Chairman of the NDC, Ade Coker.
Below is the full list of results from the Ablekuma South elections:
Chairman
Geoffrey Atakli Banini 635
Wisdom Nii Amoro Dodoo 983
Vice Chairman
Theophilus Allottei Myers 719
Paul Ardey Codzoe 889
Secretary
Robert Quaye 805
Peter Agbeli 814
Deputy Secretary
Benedict Nii Yao Crabbe 710
Eugene Kwaku Wiafe 914
Organiser
Alfred Addotey Allotey 1013
Albert Pangbot 510
Deputy Organiser
Rochester Botchwey 708
King Archiemore Rockson 118
Treasurer
Richard Tagoe 653
Robertson Nii Kpakpo Mensah
Deputy Treasurer
Rahinatu Issifu 735
Paul Kwame Mensah 875
Youth Organiser
Daniel Kwaku Ofori 80
Theophilus Isaac Quaye 102
The Eastern Cape Education Department has reportedly suspended a teacher for allegedly forcing pupils to masturbate.
It was alleged the teacher from Mdingi Junior Secondary School also took the pupils’ semen, TimesLIVE reported.
According to Eastern Cape Education Department spokesperson, Malibongwe Mtima the teacher was suspended, and the matter was being investigated.
“It is alleged that the teacher made learners masturbate and took their semen. We got reports from two pupils last week. Upon gathering information, we found other possible victims are in grades 6, 7, 8 and 9,” the report quoted Mtima as saying.
eNCA reported that the teacher forced the pupils to ejaculate into a container, resulting in his being suspended “for taking biological practical’s a little too far”.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli confirmed they were investigating two counts of sexual assault, the report said.
“Police can confirm that [the] family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit is investigating a case of sexual assault (two counts). This comes after two schoolchildren alleged their educator sexually assaulted them between February and October this year,” said Nkohli.
Reports indicated that the teacher was known to the police and that his arrest was imminent.
Adidas officially has ended its partnership with Kanye West after he made numerous anti-Semitic comments.
“Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech,” the athletic company said in a statement Tuesday. “Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness.”
Adidas has cut ties with Kanye West after he made a series of anti-Semitic remarks.
Jonathan Leibson (Credit: Jonathan Leibson)
Adidas announced its partnership with the Yeezy fashion designer was “under review” in early October after West, 45, wore a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt to a fashion show — and then continued to wear it.
“After repeated efforts to privately resolve the situation, we have taken the decision to place the partnership under review,” Adidas shared in a statement at the time. “We will continue to co-manage the current product during this period.”
The company’s decision comes after celebrities, including West’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian, condemned West for his remarks.
“Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech,” the company announced Tuesday. GC Images
West didn’t take to the company’s decision kindly, responding on Instagram, “F—K ADIDAS I AM ADIDAS ADIDAS RAPED AND STOLE MY DESIGNS.”
The rapper’s relationship with both Adidas and the rest of the fashion world worsened after he vowed to go “death con 3” on Jewish people. He was immediately banned from both Twitter and Instagram.
He later bashed “Jewish media” for silencing him online after he posted a screenshot of his text messages with Diddy in which the rapper wrote, “This ain’t a game. Ima use you as an example to show the Jewish people that told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me.”
West has maintained he would not be cancelled despite the failing business ventures. @CelebCandidly / MEGA
Despite Adidas, Balenciaga and Vogue severing their relationships with West, the “Flashing Lights” rapper maintains he’ll never be cancelled.
“I ain’t losing no money,” he told TMZ, shrugging. “The day I was taken off the Balenciaga site, that was one of the most freeing days.”
He added, “We here, baby, we ain’t going nowhere.”
If Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta is not dismissed from office, a group of majority MPs in parliament have threatened to skip the 2023 budget presentation and subsequent budget debate.
Speaking to reporters on October 25, NPP MPs indicated that the position was taken in response to a number of issues with the way the economy was being managed, which has led to the request for IMF support.
However, the group declared that if the president ignores their requests, neither it nor it will support the 2023 budget.
MP for Asante-Akim North, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi who introduced himself as the spokesperson for the Majority Caucus said several concerns raised on economic management, have been sent to government, but are yet to yield the intended results.
“We have made our grave concerns to the President through parliamentary leadership and NPP leadership without any positive response. We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the President change the Minister of Finance [Ken Ofori-Atta] and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry [Charles Adu Boahen] without further delay to restore confidence in the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in economic growth,” the lawmaker told journalists.
“The summary of our concerns leads to a plea that the Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen be removed from office. We pray that this request will be carried to the presidency,” he added.
A Second-year Fashion Design and technology student of Gh Media School, Ms Apedza Sedem Jemimah, has been crowned winner of the third edition of Miss Culture Ghana 2022.
Representing the Northern Region, Ms Apedza beat six other contestants, with Sarah Nana Adwoa Koomson, a first-year student at the Ho Technical University representing the Ashanti Region, emerging First Runner Up, and Upper East Region’s representative Assan Charity Abena, a graduate of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) wining the second Runner Up position.
Contestants representing their respective regions displayed their intelligence, talent and love for Ghanaian culture and tradition. They engaged in Regional Culture Presentations, Talent Shows, and Beauty for Culture Project following the questions from the judges.
The three winners expressed their appreciation to the organizers for putting together such a show to grow interest in tourism, arts, and culture, and pledged their resolve to help the country’s agenda in promoting the Ghanaian Culture locally and beyond.
The CEO of the Event, Mr Isaac Larmie expressed appreciation to all the sponsors and collaborators of The Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture, Ghana Tourism Authority, and the National Commission on Culture, for playing crucial roles to make the event successful.
He said the pageantry was aimed at impacting cultural knowledge among young adults, especially females, empowering the young generation through heritage, traditions, doctrines, and cultural values for economic empowerment, and building a common interest of enhancing interpersonal skills, projecting culture and heritage, increasing self-confidence, heightening society awareness. and aspiring to excellence while inspiring others through their examples.
It is also to create a platform for young female to showcase not only culture display but a vision plan for their traditional areas and use the platform as a springboard for a total tolerance among diversities.
Mr Larmie commended the winners and other contestants for their dedication to promoting the Ghanaian Culture and expressed the hope that the platform in future would produce well-cultured female ambassadors who would promote the core values and doctrines of Ghana’s history, traditions, and beliefs to Ghanaians in Ghana and beyond.
Ghanaians have recently lamented the rising costs of goods and services, gasoline prices at different pumps, and transportation costs.
Traders in the past week also closed down their shops to demonstrate against government over the high cost of doing business and the depreciation of the cedi.
According to them, the frequent depreciation of the cedi has significantly affected their working capital.
In the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, traders at the Amasaman and Pokuase markets have vehemently decried the ongoing rise in commodity prices.
On Monday, October 24, 2022, the traders complained to Angel FM reporter Mubarak Yakubu about the customers’ lack of ability to pay for food.
According to the traders, a sack of pepper was selling at GH¢110, but same quantity is now selling at a cost of GH¢350 which is more than 100% increment.
“Prices of goods have gone up so, people don’t buy much as it used to be. Our customers complain a lot but it’s not our doing, but it is due to the dollar rate against the Ghana cedis. We plead for a reduction in the duties so that our customers can buy from us,” they said.
According to data from Ghana Statistical Services, food inflation for the month of September was 37.8%. Non-food inflation was however 36.8%.
Amidst the complaints, there were those who agreed that one of the contributory factors to the current economic condition is the increasing rate of the dollar against whiles others believe it is as a result of the poor governance of the Akufo-Addo led administration.
They, therefore, called on the management of the country to as a matter of urgency find a solution to the challenges to make their businesses and living quite better under the current situation.
This follows a petition signed by over 80 NPP MPs calling for the dismissal of Charles Adu Boahen, the Minister of State for Finance, and Ken Ofori-Atta.
The MPs claimed that their attitude was prompted by a number of issues with the administration’s handling of the economy, which led to the government turning to the IMF for help.
Many people have joined the movement started by broadcast journalist and general manager of the EIB Network, Nana Aba Anamoah, to express their discontent with the state of the nation’s economy.
She said, “Whatever you tweet add #KenMustGo”.
A tweep, with the username, uniorkingp said, “At this point, I can say Ghanaians dey go through alot. Chale the hardship is real #KenMustGo.”
Another tweep called EkowDjan said, “#KenMustGo is not enough! Bawumia should be sacked from his position as Head of Economic Management team. Akufo-Addo must come out boldly to apologize to the business community and the people of Ghana for their failure. His unintelligence has caused this country greatly!”
Customers, on the other hand, have also lamented the high prices of goods and services on the market, increase in fuel prices and transport fares.
Reacting to this, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah on Monday, October 24, 2022, noted that government was putting measures in place to stabilize the cedi.
Read some tweets below;
At this Point, I can say Ghanaians dey go through alot. Chale the hardship is real #KenMustGo pic.twitter.com/cak3UGON0n
— RING MY LINE (@juniorkingp) October 25, 2022
Hmmm this Rawlings agenda must come again ???? cos it’s not even funny. Whiles we talk about the FINANCE MINISTER let’s keep eye on the sellers as well ????????????????????Ghana #KenMustGo pic.twitter.com/UVc1al2cj6
— pretty Jane???? ???????? (@JanepherKE) October 25, 2022
As usual, #KenMustGo is just a camouflage to divert the anger and energy of the youth. The next Finance minister will work in the same leadership and system. We should be smart enough to lead a charge beyond this – a constitution review, institutional accountability…stay woke!!! https://t.co/TFQg1ef9Il
— Cloude ???????????????? (@dmcloude) October 25, 2022
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta must go.
In compliance with Article 82 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the NDC Caucus in Parliament has successfully filed a motion for his immediate removal.
We’re glad there’s positive indication some of our NPP colleagues will support us./1 pic.twitter.com/aqIYt2GWaK
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) October 25, 2022
The group called for the dismissal of Charles Adu Boahen, a close associate of Ken Ofori-Atta and a Minister of State in the finance ministry, during a news conference.
The MPs claimed that their attitude was prompted by a number of issues with the administration’s handling of the economy, which led to the government turning to the IMF for help.
The group added that should the president fail to heed to their call, they will no longer do business with the government nor support the 2023 budget.
The MP for Asante-Akim North, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, who introduced himself as the spokesperson for the Majority Caucus, said that several concerns raised on economic management have been sent to government, but are all yet to yield the intended results.
Although President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has on numerous occasions backed down against calls to change his finance minister, the pressure now appears to be mounting from within his own party.
Some citizens have also already concluded that the president would likely not dismiss Ken Ofori-Atta, basing their assumption on the close family ties Akufo-Ado has with the finance minister.
While this is yet to come to fruition, GhanaWeb Business has complied a list of potential candidates who are likely to be the best replacements if Ken Ofori-Atta is taken off the job at the Ministry of Finance.
Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah
Dr Assibey-Yeboah is a former Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament. During his tenure as chair, he led many engagements toward sound economic indicators of government.
He has also earned himself a reputation for being an economic guru among his peers.
Prior to Ghana returning to the IMF, Dr Assibey-Yeboah warned of harsh economic conditions and therefore called on the government to resort to the Fund at an earlier time ahead of its July 1, 2022 decision.
He also cast doubts on the government’s ability to raise the projected GH¢6.9 billion revenue target from the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), insisting they would not be able to realise the intended target – a prediction which came to be.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah holds a BSc (Hons) Agricultural Economics degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He also holds an MS (Agricultural and Resource Economics) from the University of Delaware, USA.
He has earned an MA and a Ph.D. both in Economics from the University of Tennessee, USA specializing in International Macroeconomics, Monetary Economics and Econometrics.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah has worked in various capacities, locally and abroad. He has served as lecturer at the University of Tennessee, USA and worked in the similar capacity as an Adjunct Faculty at the Milligan College, Tennessee- USA.
The former lawmaker has also served as a senior economist at the Bank of Ghana and has been a lecturer at the Ghana Telecom Technology University College and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
Professor Gyan-Baffour
Prof. George Yaw Gyan-Baffour is a Ghanaian development economist. He was in charge of the former Ministry of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
He is credited for the introduction of Ghana’s first Monitoring and Evaluation mechanism which was used for assessing the progress of national development and dubbed as the Annual Progress Report.
Despite the ministry no longer being in existence, the mechanism continues to be used in the monitoring and evaluation tool of Ghana’s development agenda.
Prof. Gyan Baffour is also credited for leading the team that prepared Ghana’s first compact under the Millennium Challenge Account.
Prior to leaving for the US in furtherance of his education, Prof. Baffour worked at the Ministry of Industrial Science and Technology from 1974 to 1984.
He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Ghana and has served on various boards of institutions, including the Bank of Ghana.
He holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in Industrial Relations; a Post Doctorate diploma from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; an MA in economic policy from University of Wisconsin, Madison; a BSc. (Hons) degree in Economics from the University of Ghana.
With additional files from Ministry of Planning
Kwame Pianim
Kwame Pianim is not a stranger when it comes to finance and the economic management in Ghana.
The renowned economist is a management and investment consultant who has served in various capacities of the government and the private sector.
He served as an Economic Research Officer of the United Nations, New York, from 1964 to 1970.
He was the Acting Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning from 1970 to 1972 and served as Deputy Managing Director of Ghana Aluminum Products Limited, Tema. He was also Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board from 1978 – 1979.
The veteran also served as the Chairman of Ghana Financial Services Limited at Bayport Financial Services Limited and was the Chairman of Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC).
Kwame Pianim attended Achimota Secondary School and holds a B.A. Double Honors in Economics and Political Science from the University of New Brunswick, Canada (1963) and M.A. in Economics from Yale University (1964).
With additional files from the Chamber of Independent Power Producers, Distributors and Bulk Consumers (CIPDiB)
Dr. Ernest Addison
Dr. Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison is an economist and the 15th Governor of the Bank of Ghana.
He attended the Methodist College and the Mfantsipim School for his primary and secondary education. Dr. Addison then proceeded to the University of Ghana and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from 1982 to 1986.
From 1987 to 1989, he obtained an M.Phil in Economics and Politics from the University of Cambridge in England and later a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Economics from McGill University in Canada.
Before he was appointed Governor of the BoG, Dr. Addison served as the former Director of Research at the Bank of Ghana from 2003 to 2011, as well as an Economist at the African Development Bank.
He specializes in financial policy and economic management.
In light of the current issue, he recalled how the government demonstrated leadership during the COVID-19 era and he has urged the president to act similarly.
“Ghana was a shining example during the COVID-19 era, so what kind of leadership are they showing in this economic crisis to solve the problem,” Mr. Darkwah asked. Ghana is not the only country dealing with the problem. It is international. However, how do you demonstrate leadership?”
He said we needed the government to show sterling leadership. I would say the economy has collapsed. It is crooked, and we can do something about it. We need to show leadership to solve the problem.
Ashok Mohinani, the vice president of AGI in charge of large manufacturing, claims that a dramatic spike in business input costs has had disastrous effects on nearby manufacturing companies.
He urged the government to engage in discussions on the depreciation of the cedi with the business community and offer workable ideas to reverse the trend.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on October 1, 2022, Mr Mohinani said, “At the moment, there is quite lot of speculations and the biggest issue is the currency and we are nearly hitting ¢15. I think more communication will be very helpful.”
“Most inputs cost have gone up and the factories are facing issues of sustainability on whether they can survive. But if the government and others will communicate, I think that will calm nerves,” he stated.
Forex bureaus, as of Monday, October 24, 2022, are selling $1 at GH¢15.65 whiles the Bank of Ghana’s rate is GH¢12.53.
Charles Nyaaba, the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana’s Head of Programs and Advocacy, claims that for farmers to fully benefit from the policy, the government must evaluate it.
On Monday, October 24, 2022, he said in a Citi News interview that given the economic difficulties, it was time for the government to increase its agriculture spending.
He said, “Per our conversations with the policymakers in the Ministries, it suggests that the Planting for Food and Jobs is not sustainable, the budget does not support that. So it has to be reviewed in a way that the Ministry of Finance does not pump more money into it. We do not think it is the way to go.”
“We think there could have been a better way of going about it. We could have considered better ways of improving the implementation of the programme. This is the time we need to invest in the Agricultural sector,” he stated.
Planting for Food and Jobs is a flagship agricultural campaign of government with five implementation modules.
The first module PFJ (Crops) aims to promote food security and immediate availability of selected food crops on the market and also provide jobs.
Some Ghanaian celebrities and media personalities have waded into the ongoing discussion about some 80 MPs who have demanded the sacking of the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
In the midst of the ongoing hardships in the country, there have been unanimous constant calls from citizens for the resignation of the economic gatekeepers, particularly the finance minister.
Interestingly, the latest to join the campaign are a host of NPP MPs in parliament.
The MPs in a rather interesting and unexpected event, held a press conference on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, to impress on the president to relieve his cousin of managing the national purse or risk losing their support for government businesses going forward.
They also want the Minister of State in charge of Finance at the Office of the President, Chares Adu Boahen, to be subjected to a similar fate.
“Notice is hereby served that until such persons as aforementioned are made to resign or removed from office, we members of the Majority caucus here in parliament will not participate in any business of government by or for the President [or] by any other minister. If our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing, neither will we participate in the debate,” MP for Asante Akyem North, Mr. Appiah Kubi, read on behalf of his colleagues.
Responding to this development which has created some excitement on Twitter, scores of Ghanaians, including some celebrities have shared their opinions.
The likes of Nana Aba Anamoah, Bridget Otoo, Kwame A Plus, Lawyer Ntim, Ohemaa Woyeje, Kafui Dey and many others have shared their two cents on the issue.
In the case of Nana Aba Anamoah, who wrote an open letter to the finance minister asking him to throw in the towel, she said the majority MPs’ decision is a step in the right direction.
The majority caucus (NPP MPs) say they will not do any government business until Ken Ofori Atta is fired as Finance Minister. The frog is out of the water saying the crocodile is smelling. If President @NAkufoAddo doesn’t listen to this last call, then he’s worse than a dead goat
The bofrot vendors lamented the high cost of input in their business as well as the high cost of items on the market while dressed in red and being led by Queen mother Nana Akomea Mensah.
She said, “Just recently, we bought 25 litres of cooking oil, around Gh¢ 650. To our surprise, the same quantity is now selling at Gh¢1000, and this is just one of the many inputs we use in our business.”
She pleaded with government to, as a matter of urgency, come to their aid for them to heave a sigh of relief.
“We are asking the government to reduce the high cost of living, especially on food prices, because the situation is killing our business,” she said.
She also lamented the frequent fall of the cedi, stating that, the depreciation of the currency was one of the major reasons businesses are gradually collapsing.
Simon Annan, president of the Ghana Institute of Procurement and Supply (GIPS), has underlined the organization’s commitment to seeing that the proposed Procurement Practicing Bill is passed in order to regulate and clean up the nation’s procurement environment.
The draft bill, which is being prepared for approval by Parliament, will fundamentally alter the procurement process, according to him.
“The enactment of this bill is long overdue; it will be a game-changer for the profession and the panacea to curbing procurement-related corruption in both public and private organisations,” he said.
According to GIPS, the passage of the bill will not only tackle procurement infractions but also give the right level of backing to practitioners and professionals to go about their functions ethically and professionally.
Mr. Annan added: “When this bill is passed, it will help to curb these procurement related infractions because it will set the standards as well as regulate the practice of procurement and supply profession in the country.”
A lot of people attribute corruption to the procurement in the country and it’s something that must be looked at holistically because we can leverage procurement to advance the growth of the nation, he said.
Mr. Annan added that, “If people should look at procurement through the lens of corruption, then we might have drifted from the ideals of the profession because most countries have used procurement to advance their industrialization agenda, including development of small and medium enterprises and supplier programmes.”
The passage of the bill is a topmost priority of the new leadership of GIPS, in addition to positioning and building the GIPS brand as a reputable professional body, increasing membership base whilst facilitating partnerships with academia and industry within Ghana and beyond.
The fall in these payments, according to Ms. Benonita Bismarck, Chief Executive Officer of GSA, was brought on by the Authority’s battle against demurrage during that time.
During a session on container demurrage with the subject of “How to Avoid Demurrage,” Ms. Bismarck provided the estimated values.
Factors that contribute to the payment of container demurrage include delays in the receipt of cargo documentation, lack of prior information on vessel arrivals, lack of funds to clear cargo, declaration of inaccurate information, non-compliance with regulatory requirements, and deliberate delay due to some ulterior motives.
She said in response to the staggering figures generated by the Authority’s research team as amounts estimated to have been paid in demurrages by Shippers, there was no doubt that urgent action was required to stem the trend.
Consequently, the Authority has since 2018 embarked on a nationwide sensitization campaign, engaging shippers in both small and big groups, with a simple message that ‘Demurrage is avoidable’.
She said the downward trajectory of these figures was eloquent testimony of the impact of the combined effect of the sensitization campaign and very bold government initiatives and interventions in the cargo clearance process like the Paperless Port Project and pre-arrival declaration in the ICUMS.
the barest minimum in the interest of shippers and the national economy, especially in the face of recent increases in the demurrage daily rates by some shipping lines, coupled with the current exchange rate volatility.
She said in collaboration with some key stakeholders, the Authority had been dealing with some pertinent industry issues that border on costs, delays and general service quality issues within the shipping and cargo clearance space.
“This process had required engagements with a number of the shipping lines with far reaching recommendations necessary to improve and sanitize the industry,” she said.
The CEO said information gathered randomly from five Shipping Lines/Agents operating in Ghana revealed that over 500 containers consigned to various State-Owned Agencies remained uncleared at the ports as of September 9, 2022.
She said 49 containers remained at the Port for 2000 days and above, 116 containers stayed between 1000-1999 days, while 78 containers remained in there between 500-999 days, 205 containers for 100-499 days containers 60 containers stayed for up to 99 days.
She appealed to Chief Directors, Chief Executives, Managing Directors and other relevant Officers of Ministries Departments and Agencies/State-Owned Enterprises to take urgent action to ensure that consignments were expeditiously cleared from the ports to mitigate the use of State resources for such avoidable costs.
Mr Emmanuel Ohene, Deputy Commissioner, Suspense Regimes, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority commended the management of GSA for their consistent campaign on demurrage aimed at throwing sufficient sunshine on how to avoid demurrage and thereby improve shippers’ competitiveness.
He said there had been tremendous innovation in the cargo clearance platforms from Automated System for Customs Data to Ghana Customs Management System and now to ICUMS.
“In today’s world where knowledge and the search for the best ways of doing things with cutting edge technology have become a sine-qua-non for the survival of organizations, shippers must make the needed adjustments that guarantee their survival in the highly competitive business milieu,” he added.
Mr Emmanuel Arku, the Head of Research and Monitoring Department of GSA said Shipper education was required to ensure that Shippers do the right things such as starting the clearance process before vessel arrival, submission of genuine documents and getting ready with funds for the clearance process.
Other measures are securing licenses and permits before cargo arrival.
He said some of the impacts of demurrage on the economy includes dwindles profits and working capital of Shippers, leads to higher product costs on the market, affects volume of imports, reduced revenues and taxes, and increases cost of living in the country.
It also affects competitiveness of Ghana’s exports, high cost of exports, and it was a foreign exchange drain on the economy (demurrage paid in foreign exchange).
Mr. Joseph Whittal, Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), participated in a two-day meeting of human rights experts and other important stakeholders to discuss issues relating to trade and human rights in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) Agreement. He asserts that the recommendations of the meeting will be taken into consideration and put into practice.
The meetings took place in Banjul, Gambia, and were focused on “Inclusive Implementation of the AfCFTA with Participation of Vulnerable Populations.”
The Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) collaborated with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to organize the meeting, which served as the 5th National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) Forum, in the center of the ACHPR public ordinary sessions.
The objective of the forum was to provide a platform for the African NHRIs, the ACHPR, the OHCHR, as well as the international human rights mechanisms it supports, and other key stakeholders to deliberate on issues concerning human rights and a right to development approach in the implementation of the AfCFTA, focusing on the vulnerable and minority groups who are likely to be disproportionately impacted by the liberalization of trade if no human rights safeguards are executed.
The programme which comprised expert presentations, panel discussions, and plenary sessions provided opportunities for NHRIs to discuss and make recommendations on thematic human rights issues. It also created a platform to exchange experiences on participants’ efforts in supporting the work of the ACHPR in promoting and protecting human rights and collective (people’s) rights in Africa.
The forum featured important sessions as follows:
Introduction to AfCFTA: Background, Status of ratification, negotiations and
implementation
Deep dive into the AfCFTA: A focus on the linkage between trade, development and
human rights
AfCFTA and Human Rights: A focus on gains, opportunities, gaps, and potential
risks for vulnerable populations.
Overview of the NANHRI Baseline study and stakeholder mapping on the AfCFTA
report & the Guiding Framework on Mainstreaming Human Rights in the AfCFTA.
Perspectives from Development Partners on the AfCFTA
Thematic Breakout Groups and feedback on key outputs
Presentation and adoption of the Draft Resolution
The climax of the meeting reflected on the resolutions on integrating human rights and the right to development in protecting vulnerable and marginalized groups in the implementation of the AfCFTA to be presented to the ACHPR for consideration at the 73rd Ordinary Session, and also recommendations on equipping NHRIs with technical expertise on integrating human rights and the right to development in protecting vulnerable and marginalized groups in the implementation of the AfCFTA frame.
The highlight of the forum was the session on the 35th Anniversary Celebrations of the Establishment of the ACHPR-Reflections on Enhancing the Collaboration between NHRIs and the ACHPR.
Participants at the forum were key stakeholders, including representatives of the NHRIs, the ACHPR, the AfCFTA Secretariat, State Representatives, Representatives of African Regional Treaty Bodies, relevant United Nations (UN) Agencies, Civil Society Organisations, Academic Institutions, and Development Partners.
Excavators have seven days to be registered by owners and users across the nation.
The decision is a part of government attempts to stop unlawful small-scale mining, and it was issued by Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor (galamsey).
Excavator owners must register with the Metropolitan, Municipal or District Assembly (MMDA) in the area where the machine is in use.
In a statement issued by the Ministry, all operators, owners and users of excavators beginning today, Monday, 24 October 2022, to Wednesday, 2 November 2022, excluding statutory holidays and weekends, are to register their excavators.
All excavators not registered by the stipulated deadline, if found, shall be seized and the appropriate measures taken to confiscate them as state property.
“Notice is hereby given the general public, particularly owners operators and/or users as well as MMDAs to ensure strict compliance with these directives.”
The Ministry, further assured the general public that “it will continue to take the necessary measures to protect our natural environment, particularly, water bodies, forests and lands, in a transparent and sustainable manner, anchored on integrity.”
Outspoken Ghanaian radio personality, Blakk Rasta, has been ordained a preacher by the founder and president of the Breakthrough Family Ministries, Bishop Samuel Osei-Tutu.
A post sighted by GhanaWeb on Graphic Showbiz’s Facebook page captured the ‘Daaro Daaro’ artiste among some men bedecked like preachers.
“Seasoned On Air Personality, Blakk Rasta Has Been Ordained By Bishop Samuel Osei-Tutu. Congratulations to him and we wish him the very best on his new journey,” Graphic showbiz captioned.
Blakk Rasta uniquely clad an African print fabric with a clerical neatly inserted in his collar.
Indeed, his clothing was an affirmation the artiste has been appointed a Man of God.
Be that as it may, scanning through his various social media accounts, the artiste hasn’t made a post about the occasion.
Meanwhile, some netizens have thrown questions with the hopes of finding answers. They have asked if Blakk Rasta would quit producing mainstream tunes and focus on winning souls for God.
On October 18, 2022, the artiste shared some pictures to promote his new song on his Instagram handle.
The post saw the radio personality standing behind the heavily endowed woman in different poses.
One of the images also caught him placing a mug on the curvy woman’s buttocks while clothed in a hoody and shorts.
The caption that followed his post read, “Fatima…loading”.
“One good thing about music, is when it hits you, you feel no pain’, cliché isn’t it? Well, those are words from the legendary Bob Marley. But these words hold so true! Cast your mind to that music that you repeated many times just to get over a broken heart and also that special music that spurs you on when you take a long drive.
God knows how many times I listened to Joe Mettle’s “Onwanwani” during my broke days. The song did not put money into my pocket miraculously, but it gave me hope that God can do the impossible.
Well, in this depressing state of affairs in a country where the economy is severely constricting many of us, God can get you through it. Music that speaks to your emotions can also help you get through these difficult times. I’d like to share one song from my tough times’ playlist. I’ve been listening to a song called “On God” by Alorman.
The song begins with a catchy guitar hook that progresses into a groovy Afrobeats rhythm and then keeps your attention with relatable lyrics. Alorman begins the music by singing that waking up in the morning is a blessing, but when he looks around, there is no one there. But when he looks up, he knows there is God.
He then chants that you must be strong for your life and put your faith in God. This is so relatable because, in these difficult economic times when prices of goods and services fluctuate daily, you must remain mentally strong and prepare your heart for the “dizzy drive.”
Alorman sings that even though he has friends who could help him, they ignore him. He looks up to God instead of feeling entitled to their wealth. He begins to pray, asking God to hear his cries. His pleadings are captured in a catchy chorus. “Everything on God… It is not easy, but we will survive. On God everything will be fine”.
The song’s third verse urges the youth not to give up but be patient and double their grind until they make it. Indeed, to survive these hard times you must double your efforts. Increase your streams of income, income, double your investment and then leave it to God to double your blessings. This enjoyable piece of music shares lessons on financial independence.
The groovy music will not put money in your pocket but can make you feel more optimistic about life.
Alorman is a Ghanaian singer-songwriter Afrobeats and dancehall artiste from the heart of Ga Mashie (Accra). In what seemed like a hobby of freestyling on social media and underground performance, his music career got started.
In 2022, he decided to take the music hustle seriously and signed a deal with Ten64music (a record label in Ghana) hoping God will bless his efforts.
This deal birthed “Rebirth” EP. His EP has five songs; “Boyz, Link Up, Ghetto Youth, On God and Why Baby” are upbeat.
Three decades after a car was reported stolen in Northern California, police are digging the missing convertible out of the yard of a $15 million mansion built by a man with a history of arrests for murder, attempted murder and insurance fraud.
The convertible Mercedes Benz, filled with bags of unused concrete, was discovered Thursday by landscapers in the affluent town of Atherton in Silicon Valley, Atherton Mayor Rick DeGolia said, reading a statement from police.
Although cadaver dogs alerted to possible human remains on Thursday, none had been found more than 24 hours after technicians with the San Mateo County Crime Lab began excavating the car, DeGolia said.
Police believe the car was buried 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) deep in the backyard of the home sometime in the 1990s — before the current owners bought the home. The car was reported stolen in September 1992 in nearby Palo Alto, he said.
By Friday, the technicians had been able to excavate the passenger side of the convertible, which was buried with its top down. They also opened the trunk where they found more bags of unused cement. Cadaver dogs were again brought back to the house and again “made a slight notification of possible human remains,” DeGolia said.
Atherton Police Cmdr. Daniel Larsen said the dogs could be reacting to human remains, old bones, blood, vomit, or a combination of those things.
He said the possible owner of the car is believed to be deceased but officials are waiting for DMV records to confirm that. Larsen said the current homeowners were not under investigation.
The sprawling home with a pool and tennis court was built by Johnny Lew, a man with a history of arrests for murder, attempted murder and insurance fraud, his daughter, Jacq Searle, told the San Francisco Chronicle.
She said the family lived at the property in the 1990s, which is when Atherton police believe the car was buried and that her father had died in 2015 in Washington state.
In 1966, Lew was found guilty of murdering a 21-year-old woman in Los Angeles County. He was released from prison after the California Supreme Court reversed the conviction in 1968, citing hearsay evidence that should not have been allowed at trial, The Chronicle reported, citing court records.
Records showed that in 1977 Lew was convicted of two counts of attempted murder, also in Los Angeles County, and spent three years in prison.
In the late 1990s, Lew was arrested for insurance fraud after he hired undercover police officers to take a $1.2 million yacht “out west of the Golden Gate Bridge into international waters and put it on the bottom,” The Chronicle reported.
Larsen wouldn’t say if police believe the vehicle was registered to Lew.
“We have heard that name come up, but we have not confirmed through our sources that he in fact owned that vehicle,” Larsen said.
The sprawling home and property is valued at least $15 million, according to online real estate listings.
Atherton is one of the wealthiest towns in the U.S., with about 7,000 residents within its nearly 5 square miles (13 square kilometers).
In a post on his Snapchat, Burna Boyshared the covert art of the ‘Kwaku The Traveller’s album The Villain I Never Was.
He advised his followers to give the album a listen writing “Get that @blacksherif album now.”
Underneath the picture, he added “proud of lil bro.(sic)”
This is Burna Boy’s first reaction to The Villain I Never Was since it was released early in October.
The album has only one feature – the ‘Second Sermon Remix’ which features Burna Boy.
The two artiste began working together and developing a relationship when the Nigerian Afrobeat star was seen jamming to the original song in a viral video sometime in October 2021.
The two recorded the song which has grown to be one of Black Sheif’s biggest hits.
Burna Boy during one of his concerts in the UK brought Black Sherif on stage with him to perform.
A completed documentary about Kanye West has been shelved following his recent antisemitic remarks – with his ex-wife Kim Kardashiansaying hate speech is “never OK or excusable”.
Studio executives Modi Wiczyk, Asif Satchu and Scott Tenley – from the documentary’s production company MRC – said in a statement on Monday that they “cannot support any content that amplifies his platform”.
The 45-year-old US rapper, who legally changed his name to Ye last year, has also been dropped by talent agency CAA in the wake of the controversy.
And reality TV star Kardashian, 42, wrote on Twitter and Instagram: “Hate speech is never OK or excusable. I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end.”
West was recently barred from posting on Instagram and Twitter over posts that the social media companies said violated their terms of service.
The artist has made a string of controversial remarks recently.
On top of saying he was going to go to “death con 3” on Jewish people, he has also suggested slavery was a “choice” and called the COVID-19 vaccine the “mark of the beast”.
Modi Wiczyk and Asif Satchu are co-founders and co-CEOs of MRC Entertainment. Scott Tenley is MRC’s chief business officer.
In a lengthy memo, the trio discussed the history of antisemitism.
They wrote: “Kanye is a producer and sampler of music. Last week he sampled and remixed a classic tune that has charted for over 3,000 years – the lie that Jews are evil and conspire to control the world for their own gain.
“This song was performed acapella in the time of the Pharaohs, Babylon and Rome, went acoustic with The Spanish Inquisition and Russia’s Pale of Settlement, and Hitler took the song electric. Kanye has now helped mainstream it in the modern era.”
Image:Pic: AP
Earlier this month, West was widely criticised for wearing a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt to his own collection’s show at Paris Fashion Week.
Shelving the documentary comes after the French fashion house Balenciaga and US banking firm JP Morgan both cut ties with West.
Others in Hollywood – including other members of Kim Kardashian’s family – have condemned antisemitism.
However, some have supported the rapper, with demonstrators unfurling banners praising West on a Los Angeles flyover over the weekend.
A stylist and former luxury lingerie worker has shared bra tips that ‘changed her life’ as she claims that people have been wearing bras wrong without even realising.
Have you ever noticed that your boobs don’t comfortably fit in your bra or the underwire is just uncomfortable? This could be a sign that you’re wearing the wrong type of lingerie for your body.
A stylist – who boasts more than 320,000 followers on TikTok thanks to her insightful advice – has claimed that we’ve been wearing bras wrong our whole life and it’s shocked viewers. Taking to the social media app to share her expertise, Kenzie shared bra fitting tips that “changed [her] life”.
She explains: “80% of you wearing this video are wearing the wrong bra size and I’m going to tell you why.”
Fashion bra. Bustier different type illustration. Vector woman fabric lingerie. Fashion textile bra icon set isolated on white background. Female underwear clothing collection. Casual feminine garment
Kenzie continued: “My first job out of college was at a luxury lingerie company where we were trained on how to properly fit women into bras – and I’m going to teach you everything I’ve learned in that training.
“Number one – the fit of a bra band is the most important. The fit of the band should fit parallel around the small of your back and you shouldn’t be able to pull it out more than two inches.
“A lot of women get the sizing of the band completely wrong because they’re concerned about the snug fit, but over time your bra is going to stretch out, so you want to make sure that when you’re trying on a bra for the first time that you’re attaching it to the loosest hook and not the tightest.
She shared her first-hand advice online (stock photo) (Image:
Getty Images/iStockphoto)
She continued: “Number two – cup size. The fit of your cup is influenced by your band size. As your band size changes, so does your cup size. So, for every band size that you go down, you should be going up in a cup size.
“If your breasts are spilling out of your bra or coming out of the sides or your underwire isn’t comfortable then your cups are probably too small.
“If your bra is sagging, puckering, or even has gaps, then your cup size is too big. This may come as a surprise, but your straps are not there for support, it’s your cups and your band that is providing the support in your bra.
“Number three – your cup shape really matters. There are over 25 different bra styles and most popular stores only carry five, which means you might be wearing a t-shirt bra right now, but actually your breast size, your breast position and breast shape are better fitted for a balconette or a plunge bra.
“By wearing the proper bra shape, you’ll look more lifted, more smooth, but most importantly, you’ll feel more comfortable and more supported,” she added.
Many TikTokers gushed over the useful tips in the comment section. One person wrote: “This is super helpful! Great video, thank you!”
Another agreed: “Great advice! So true.”
A third penned: “I have spillage at the centre of the cup and space at the top.”
Kenzie replied: “That may be an indication you need a different style!”
Kanye West has been dropped by his high-powered divorce attorneys amid his ongoing anti-Semitic rants.
The rapperhas been ditched by a series of collaborators — such as Gap, Vogue and Balenciaga — after he went on a social media tirade, saying that he was going “death con 3 on Jewish people.”
Kanye West’s divorce lawyers have stopped working with him following his anti-Semitic remarks.
TOT/MEGA
But a source told us Monday, “The firm is no longer representing Kanye West.”
Reps for West and his former lawyers Clair and Cohen — whose clients have included Melinda Gates, Chris Rock and Judith Nathan in her divorce with Rudy Giuliani — didn’t get back to us.
While West and Kardashian have both been declared single, legal wrangling in their divorce continues over custody of their four children and some financial matters. kimkardashian/Instagram
In one of his most high-profile cases, Cohen helped Gates, 58, walk away from her divorce from Bill Gates with an estimated settlement of about $76 billion.
Cohen and Clair were West’s fifth law firm in this divorce case, as the billionaire entertainer has had a revolving door of lawyers represent him over the past year and a half.
Kardashian, 42, filed to divorce West in February 2021, and the former couple was declared legally single in March 2022. However, discussions have continued over finances and custody of their four kids: North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm.
This past week, Ye, 45, has been taken off Twitter and Instagram for hateful messages about Jews.
Kardashian filed for divorce after seven years of marriage. Getty Images
Following his comments, Kardashian posted a statement to her Instagram Story on Monday, writing, “Hate speech is never ok or excusable. I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end.”
Kardashian filed for divorce after seven years of marriage. WireImage
Plus Khloé Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner posted a statement that originated from Jessica Seinfeld’s Instagram which stated, “I support my Jewish friends and the Jewish people.”
