According to information made public by the Ministry of Communications on Sunday, October 17, the precise number of SIM cards now registered worldwide is 18,930,664.
“A total of 18,930,664 SIM Cards—or 44.28% of all SIM cards issued—have been fully registered (completed both Stages 1 and 2).
This represents 69.64% of all Stage 1 registrations, according to a statement from the ministry.
It however pointed out that 28,959,006 SIM Cards have so far been linked to their respective Ghana Cards, representing 67.28 percent of the 42,749,662 total SIM cards issued nationally.
“There is no excuse for this since these individuals have their Ghana Cards, have started the process and had ample opportunity to fully register their SIM Cards, including through the use of the self-registration app which is the first of its kind in the world,” it noted.
Meanwhile, persons who have linked their Ghana Cards to their SIM Cards but have not proceeded to fully reregister their SIM will lose data and voice services by October 31 if they fail to complete the process.
Government said persons who have not begun the process at all will have their unregistered SIM cards ‘progressively’ blocked as well.
The Ghana Importers and Exporters Association (IEAG) is supporting the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) members’ decision to close their stores on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.
Since last week, the GUTA leadership has given notice of their intention to close their stores on Wednesday as a show of dissatisfaction with the government for failing to solve the early economic difficulties that have affected their companies.
IEAG in a statement said “with the rising cost of doing business, the poor performance of the Ghana cedi in the face of the dollar, and the new tax policy among others, the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana believes the impending action by GUTA members which will be ably supported by Importers and Exporters across the country, will send a strong signal to the government to sit up and fix the economy.”
The Association said the Nana Akufo-Addo-led government has been given ample time to fix the country but has shown little seriousness in doing so “and we believe this action by GUTA and its stakeholders, will compel the government to do the needful.”
Last week, traders in Kumasi in the Ashanti region closed their shops for days to protest tax hikes.
They agreed to reopen their shops after a meeting with the regional minister where it was agreed that the Ghana Revenue Authority withdraw its staff assigned to shops to check taxes.
MTN Ghana is set to thrill its customers and the Ghanaian populace after billing award-winning gospel icons to perform at the 2022 edition of MTN Stands In Worship which will be held on Saturday, 22nd October at the Fantasy Dome, Trade Fair La Accra at 7 pm.
The celebrated Ghanaian gospel artists billed to perform are Diana Hamilton, Piesie Esther, Koda PerezMusic, NSROMAmusic, and MTN Viva Voices. These award-winning gospel icons will delight the audience with their powerful and alluring voices.
The much-anticipated gospel music concert which is themed: “Arise and Worship” is expected to bring together Christians and gospel music fans on one stage to worship and praise God, as well as interact with all of the artists scheduled to perform.
The concert, which is an annual gospel music event aimed at entertaining Ghanaian gospel music fans, is being organized to thank God for the mercies and the kindness He continues to shower on Ghana.
According to the organizers, this year’s MTN Stands In Worship promises gospel music fans a night full of surprises, adding that the presence of God will undoubtedly be felt at the concert on Saturday.
MTN Stands In Worship has grown to become one of the most hyped on MTN’s calendar, with past performers including Donnie McClurkin, William McDowell, Sinach, Micah Stampley, Nathaniel Bassey, Patrick Duncan, Joe Mettle, and Elder Mireku.
Government has provided a grace period for persons who have started but not completed the process to re-register their SIM cards.
After an earlier deadline of September 30 to be registered, they will now only be blocked after October 31.
“This is not an extension of the deadline but a temporary moratorium to encourage these individuals to complete the process,” a statement from the Ministry of Communication noted.
However, government has said all other unregistered SIMs will also be blocked progressively.
The statement indicated that 28,959,006 SIM cards have been linked to Ghana Cards, which is the first phase of the registration process.
This represents 67.28% of the 42,749,662 total SIM cards issued nationally.
Furthermore18,930,664 SIM Cards have been fully registered, representing 44.28% of the total SIM cards issued.
On the fate of data-only SIMs, including those issued by Surfline, Busy Internet, Telesol, and any institution such as ECG, the users have been given up to the end of November to complete registration.
The ministry acknowledged that some of our citizens have had difficulties obtaining Ghana Cards to enable them to undertake their SIM registration.
It however noted that 1.3 million Ghanaians have also been issued their Ghana cards but have not collected them.
“This is regrettable, and we will continue to engage the National Identification Authority to expedite the process,” it added in the statement.
As long as the government does not step up efforts to address the depreciation of the cedi, the costs of petroleum products will continue to rise, according to Duncan Amoah, Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC).
If nothing is done about the issue by December, gasoline prices might reach GH 18 by then.
Duncan was cited as saying, “We are already nearing GH15 per litre for petrol, the cedi has obviously not reached a point of stability, and if it keeps sliding, a further increase is predicted to occur in the first week of November.”
“Between now and December, Ghanaians may have to spend between GH¢17 and GH¢18 a litre for fuel. I do not want us to get there and I think that authorities and those within the policy space will need to wake up from their sleep,” he added.
As of October 17, 2022, petrol is selling for GH¢13.10 per litre from an earlier price of GH¢11.10 while diesel is going for GH¢15.99, from a previous price of GH¢13.90.
The significant hike has been attributed to the marginal increase in the price of crude oil on the global market and the persistent depreciation of the cedi against the US dollar.
Meanwhile, the cedi is currently selling at GH¢12.50 at some forex bureaus in the country.
A strictly by-invitation private cocktail reception and dinner in honour of Black Sherif held at Brasa Restaurant, Accra, Sunday, was graced by some eminent personalities including politicians and businessmen who seem to have become fans of the musician.
They included Dr. Sir Sam Jonah (President of AngloGold Ashanti, Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital Equity Fund and the Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast), Ibrahim Mahama (founder of Engineers and Planners), and Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko (renowned lawyer and leading member of the New Patriotic Party).
Representing the showbiz fraternity were Sarkodie, D Black, Kwabena Kwabena, Andy Dosty, Abrantepa, Hajia Buintu and a host of others.
Blacko has undoubtedly enjoyed a wide audience appeal and has certainly had his popularity rise to a crescendo following the release of his maiden album ‘The Villain I Never Was’.
Aside from hitting the hundred-million-mark on streaming platform Boomplay, the songs on the album have garnered considerable views on other digital music platforms while the album entered the Top Albums Debut UK chart, placing tenth barely days after its release.
“It took me everything to give life to this body. The one thing in my life that I gave everything up for.
There is life in this body, I hope it treats you good and speaks to you like I want it to,” Blacko said about his album released on October 6, 2022.
Sam Jonah, Gabby, Ibrahim Mahama and all the big men who attended Black Sherif’s dinner
As part of the festivities marking World Children’s Day, UNICEF, a global humanitarian relief organisation, has organised a football competition among school children with disabilities.
The competition was hosted at the Akropong School for the Blind in the Eastern Region, on the theme: “Unified Football for Inclusion Tournament, Celebrating World Children’s Day 2022.”
Participating students were from the Sekondi Takoradi School for the Deaf, Wa Methodist School for the Blind, Wa School for the Deaf, Koforidua School for the Deaf, Demonstration School for the Deaf, Mampong Akuapem and the Akropong School for the Deaf.
Ms Anne-Claire Dufay, the UNICEF Representative in Ghana, highlighted the importance of creating the opportunity and an inclusive, safe, and protected society for every child, irrespective of his or her ability to thrive.
She said society must have equitable access to learning and social services, with stigma and prejudice replaced with care, support, and encouragement, adding; “Then we will be closer to realising the aim of equity for every child.”
Ms Dufay said sports tournaments were fantastic opportunities to foster friendships while improving mental and physical health and well-being.
“At UNICEF, we believe all children and young people should have a fair and equitable chance… every girl and boy should be able to enjoy their rights, no matter their abilities.”
She said UNICEF and the United Nations Country Team in Ghana were committed to assisting the Government and stakeholders in rolling out programmes that promoted inclusion across many sectors.
She expressed gratitude to the Norwegian Government for its assistance with the football event.
Ms Francisca Atuluk, the Deputy Director at the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS), said children with physical impairments were the world’s most vulnerable, especially in terms of ensuring their holistic development through the provision of appropriate infrastructure, services, support, and care at home and in the community.
The Government was working hard to ensure inclusivity and non-discrimination in all its athletic events and other programmes.
Considering that, she said the Ministry had established 10 Youth Resource Centres, which were in various states of construction across the then 10 regions, meant to foster inclusion for all people; able or disabled.
“In addition, the Ministry is engaging with experts to identify how to make the existing sporting facilities disability-friendly,” she said.
This is in line with the International Olympic Committee’s declaration that everyone had the right to participate in sports without discrimination and in a manner that respected their safety, health, and dignity.
Mr Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), exhorted pupils to be visionary regardless of their circumstances since disability was all about capacity.
He asked everyone to work together to create an inclusive platform for each child to achieve his or her goals.
Mr Okraku gave 15 footballs to schools competing in the Unified Football for Inclusion event.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to go out and tell the success story of his administration.
He said it was always important for the President to let Ghanaians know what he had been able to achieve, so that the people would appreciate his works.
The Asantehene said this when the President called on him at the Manhyia Palace yesterday at the start of his four-day official visit to the Ashanti Region.
Otumfuo Osei Tutusaid it was good that the President was in the region to inspect development projects undertaken by the government and wished him well on his visit.
Appreciation
He also expressed appreciation to President Akufo-Addo for making it a tradition to seek his blessing at the Manhyia Palace before embarking on officials trips to the region.
He recalled that on the two occasions that Nana Akufo-Addo had contested the presidential election, he had visited him at the Manhyia Palace to seek his blessing, adding that he would continue to pray for the President to succeed.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said he had religiously followed the President’s delivery and expressed the hope that by the time his mandate was over, he would have achieved what he had promised to do for the country.
Silencing critics
Briefing Otumfuo Osei Tutu on his visit, President Akufo-Addo said he was in the region to inspect some of the projects being undertaken by his government.
He said his critics had accused him of sidelining the Ashanti Region in the development of the country and indicated that by the end of his tour of the region, those critics would be silenced because it would come to the fore that the government had undertaken massive development projects in the region.
Giving examples to buttress his assertion, the President said the Ashanti Region had benefitted from improved road development, with over 300km of asphalted overlay already undertaken, while 32 hospital projects were being undertaken.
Galamsey
On illegal mining, the President assured the Asantehene of the government’s resolve to bring an end to the menace, noting that as a result of the attention the government had devoted to the fight against the canker, the issue had become a topical one, with everyone talking about it.
He expressed delight at the way galamsey had become a topic for discussion.
Boankra Inland Port
From the Manhyia Palace, the President inspected work on the Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal project, where he was assured that the $330-million project, popularly referred to as the Boankra Inland Port Project, which had been on the drawing board for about 18 years, would be completed by March 2024.
The concessionaire, Ashanti Ports Services Limited, a joint venture of Afum Quality Limited of Ghana and DSS Associates of the Republic of Korea, made this known.
The project covers a total land area of 413 acres.
President Akufo-Addo was informed by the concessionaire that it was working to deliver the project within the scheduled date, and that by the end of 2023, 80 per cent of the work would be done.
The concessionaire was hopeful that the eastern and the western railway lines would be completed on schedule to further improve the viability of the Boankra Inland Port.
History
The idea of the Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal project has been in the pipeline since the days of the Kufuor-led government.
But that government encountered a number of challenges, with the exit of the NPP administration in 2009 worsening matters.
Cutting the sod for the construction of the port on November 5, 2020, President Akufo-Addo explained that the Boankra Inland Port project was initiated to provide services for importers and exporters in the middle and the northern parts of the country and also act as a major conduit for the efficient transportation of transit traffic to and from the landlocked countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
After completion of the terminal, it will be fitted with an inland clearance depot, customs bonded and unbonded estates, commercial areas such as banks, offices and trading facilities, vehicle parking areas, light industrial areas and an administration complex.
The project will also offer significant employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled labour during the two phases of construction and operation.
Beyond job creation, there are other ancillary small and medium-scale businesses that will be located within the enclave to support the operations of the terminal.
“It is noteworthy that the transformation of the Ghanaian economy from a raw material producing and exporting one to an industrialised one will be given a huge impetus with the coming onstream of this facility.
“Government’s commitment to establish firmly the economy of Ghana on a solid path of industrialisation, with the view to delivering a vision of self-reliance, development and prosperity for all, is unwavering,” he added.
Commitment
The concessionaire, according to President Akufo-Addo, was committed to the realisation of that project.
Additionally, the concessionaire was expected to design, engineer, finance, procure, construct, operate and maintain the project and transfer title to the government after 30 years.
“It is my hope and expectation that the concessionaire will not renege on the confidence reposed in it and will take all the necessary actions to deliver the project on schedule and on budget,” he added.
The President expressed the hope that “this project and other similar infrastructure projects, such as the development of the Keta Port, the Tema-Akosombo Railway Line and the ongoing expansion projects at the Tema and the Takoradi ports, would make a positive contribution in ensuring that Ghana derives maximum benefits from the AfCFTA”.
A marriage counsellor and self-acclaimed sex expert Papa Kwamina Amoo has revealed that beyond pleasure; sexual intercourse can be used to treat various ailments from headaches to [blood] pressure.
Mr Amoo, who said he spent nearly two decades studying sexual intercourse, noted that there is a lot about sex that most people do not know, advising that partners endeavour to know more about it and its benefits.
“You can use sex to heal. There are sex positions for healing heartaches, and pressure,” Mr Amoo said on Multimedia’s Prime Morning on Joy Prime TV monitored by MyNewsGh.com.
Sexual intimacy is known to enhance marriages and is beneficial for general well-being. But his claim that different sex positions can heal people of various ailments appears to be a new addition.
Love Language
Mr Amoo advised couples to pay attention to what makes their partners happy and do it for them, cautioning that there are no one-size fits in relationships with regards to what makes partners happy.
Ghanaian owned Niche Cocoa Industry Limited is set to gain a foothold in the United States’ market in a massive investment drive.
More than two dozen workers will work on its first North American facility on a 44,00-square-foot space at the Franklin Business Park located at 9705 S. Oakwood Park Drive.
The project will be the largest food and beverage investment by an Africa-based company in the history of the U.S and the largest Ghana foreign direct investment ever in Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC).
“Niche Cocoa’s historic investment in Wisconsin is an unmistakable signal to other companies across Africa and around the world — the United States is open for business.”
Headquartered in Tema, the Company is the largest Cocoa processor in Ghana, partnering with Milwaukee-based Omanhene Cocoa BeanCompany, on the project.
Founded by Steve Wallace, Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company pioneered the production of single-origin, bean-to-bar chocolate manufactured in Ghana.
Mr Edmund Poku, the Founder of Niche Cocoa, said, “I will like to say a big thank you to everybody here. You have made this to be a success story, and have welcomed us to your beautiful State.”
He said:“The Cocoa industry is a $100 billion industry, of which Ghana and the Ivory Coast is getting $6 billion. By adding more funding to it, Africans will (benefit) from more foreign investment.”
He said for the United States, it would bring in foreign direct investment, and it brings the technical know-how of how to process chocolate into the country.
“We believe that by coming here we will produce one of the best chocolates … We are bringing the taste of Ghana to Wisconsin,” he added.
Mr Poku said part of what attracted the Niche Cocoa to Wisconsin was the dairy industry, and future hopes of creating chocolate beverages in the United States.
“We are happy to welcome Niche Cocoa to the Franklin Business Park, joining several other well-known food processors/manufacturers and equipment manufacturers.”Mr Franklin Mayor Steve Olson, Mayor of the City of Franklin, said.
He said “Niche Cocoa continued Franklin’s long history of welcoming international corporations to our fast-growing community. “
“Niche recognizes our great location, highly skilled workforce and our great business climate and quality of life for their employees,” he added.
At its Franklin Business Park facility, which is expected to be operational by December or January, the company will take imported Cocoa cake and European food processing equipment to turn the brick-like cakes into cocoa powder.
That powder will then be available for nationwide distribution to be used by a variety of food makers for everything from chocolate bars to ice cream.
Mr Wallace, touring of the facility, explained that the operation would likely process about 1,200 containers of Cocoa cake each year.
He said the cake would travel to the East Coast of the U.S. via boat and then be transported to Chicago by rail.
“Together, we’re creating cocoa products and compelling employment in both the U.S., and Ghana. ” Mr Wallace said.
The Company plans to manufacture finished chocolate at their Franklin operations sometime in 2023.
He said that process would use high-tech machinery to combine the cocoa butter and cocoa liquor produced in Ghana to produce chocolate bars for the other food processers.
Many people must change their lifestyles by making cost-cutting adjustments in order to survive.
When a family is barely able to feed themselves with three square meals every day, the situation worsens.
Salamatu Ahmed, a 28-year-old single mother of three, is in this predicament.
Salamutu Ahmed sells sachet water, also known as “clean water,” to passing motorists for as little as GH9 in profit per day.
She feeds her family off of the money she makes a price that hardly enables someone to enjoy a lavish supper.
Her baby daddy abandoned her and the three children, therefore, she had to become the breadwinner of the family.
In a video report by The Independent Ghana, Salamatu Ahmed said after her baby daddy left 2 years ago, she had to take up the challenge and find a way for her kids to survive by selling pure water.
She said a typical day starts for her as early as 5.00 am, where she has to prepare her children for school so she can adequately prepare herself to hawk around the on the Achimota, ABC stretch.
Salamatu and her three kids, 8-year-old Majid, 4-year-old Samira and 2-years-old Lad, reside in a kiosk at Alogboshie.
“The father of my children left us when my last born was just a month old. I then moved with my children from where we were staying to this kiosk, where I was introduced to a woman who helped me start the pure water business,” she explained in the report sighted by GhanaWeb.
Unable to afford a deep freezer, Salamatu Ahmed has to opt for a more affordable way of getting her water and drinks chilled, thus, by walking several kilometres to buy ice blocks, then she heads to her supplier’s house to cool her water.
“Selling in traffic is risky, there are times I have witnessed a car hit some of the hawkers and it is scary, but you have no option but to move on.
“On countless occasions, motorists knock down some of the sellers and in extreme cases, some of them die,” Ms. Ahmed narrated.
She noted that she is able to make GH¢9.00 a day by selling pure water but when she is able to add carbonated drinks to the water, she is able to make GH¢100.00 on a good day.
“At first, I could sell 5 bags of water in a day but now due to the weather, I can only sell 1 or 2 bags. On a day when I include drinks to the water, I can make GH¢100 but without the drinks, I make as low as GH¢9.00,” Salamatu Ahmed explained.
She indicated that she spends on average GH¢30.00 on her kids daily. That is GH¢18.00 for their feeding in school, thus, GH¢6.00 per child. And the remaining GH¢12.00 takes care of their breakfast and supper because she usually gets home late.
“Days that I don’t make much, I don’t let them go to school. Providing for my kids is my priority, that’s why despite the challenges I go through every day, I continue to sell pure water [and make sure that my kids are ok],” she stressed.
Ghanaian comic OB Amponsah has indicated the name for his fourth comedy special.
Dubbed ‘Ghanaian By Card’, OB takes to the stage in December.
He is currently open to sponsorship.
On the official flyer for the event, there is an image of the popular entertainment figure in action and holding what appears to be a Ghana Card in his left hand.
There is also an image of the National Theatre in Accra on the flyer.
The award-winning comic has so far performed three specials: ‘Voices in My Head (2019), “Political Refugee’ (2020) and ‘Popular But Broke (2021).
At the 2022 Comedy and Poetry Awards (COPO), OB Amponsah was honoured as the Best Comedian of the Year.
President Akufo-Addosays his government, since 2017, has embarked on the construction and completion of some 32 hospital projects in the Ashanti Region.
He was speaking at the commissioning of the 60-bed Asante Akim Municipal Hospital on Sunday, October 16 2022, as part of his four-day working visit to the Ashanti Region.
President Akufo-Addo stressed that “I am not referring to CHPS compounds and health centres, I am talking specifically about hospital projects”.
Under Agenda 111, the President noted that his government is constructing 16 district hospitals in Trede, Kokoben, Boamang, Nsuta Sekyere, Manso Adubia, Mankranso, Kwabenakwa, Barekese, Kodie, and Asiwa.
Other areas are Akrofuom, Adugyama, Adansi Asokwa, Asokore Mampong, Bantama and Nyinahin, in addition to the construction of a psychiatric hospital in Onwe, in the Ejisu Municipality.
“There are five hospitals being constructed by VAMED Engineering in Manso Nkwanta, Twedie, Sabronum, Drobonso and Suame.
“Under the EUROGET Project, initiated by the NPP under President Kufuor, the Akufo-Addo Government has seen to the completion of the Ahafo Ano North District Hospital in Tepa, and the Asante Akyem Hospital in Konongo.
“As I indicated earlier, the two hundred and 50-bed Ashanti Regional Hospital in Sewua, and the 500-bed Military Hospital at Afari will be commissioned and completed next year,” he said.
The President added, “Again, under my government, the construction of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Maternity and Children’s Block, which had stalled for 41 years, have been duly reactivated, and work is progressing steadily.
“We are also completing two district hospital projects in Fomena and Kumawu, which were inherited from the predecessor Government.”
He told the gathering that, very soon, work will commence on the construction of district hospitals at Offinso and Effiduase, and the completion of Maternity Blocks at Tafo and Kumasi South Hospitals, and the construction of a residential facility at Abrepo for Kumasi South Hospital.
“As part of my tour of Ashanti, I will, on Wednesday, inspect ongoing work on the construction of a Trauma Hospital at Obuasi, which is being undertaken by Universal Hospital Group,” he stated.
Konongo Municipal Hospital
Commissioning the Asante Akim Hospital in Konongo, which is part of the “Ghana Hospital Project”, initiated by the Kufuor Government in 2008, and executed by EUROGET De-Invest S.A of Egypt, President Akufo-Addo indicated that this is the sixth Hospital he is commissioning under the Project.
“This Hospital has been long awaited in Konongo, and it is good that, today, the demand for a Municipal Hospital of quality has been realised. Residents and surrounding health facilities will now gain access to improved healthcare,” he said.
The “Ghana Hospital Project” involves the design, construction and equipping of one Military Hospital, two Regional Hospitals, and six District Hospitals in Ghana, at a project cost of $339 million. It falls under the broader objective of providing infrastructure for the delivery of effective healthcare to Ghanaians.
Other hospitals being constructed under this contract are the 250-bed Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua in the Bosomtwe District; the 60-bed Municipal Hospital at Salaga in the East Gonja Municipality; and the 500-bed Military Hospital, under the Ministry of Defence at Afari, again, here in Ashanti.
They are all expected to be commissioned before the end of 2023.
The Konongo Hospital has been constructed at a cost of $35.86 million, and has been designed with several departments including administration; outpatient department (OPD); physiotherapy; pharmacy; radiology; laboratory; surgical suite (operation dep.); laundry; mortuary; medical waste department; general stores; ten staff housing units; and a mini market.
The Hospital has been equipped with modern medical equipment, such as x-ray machines, ultrasound machines, a fully equipped operating theatre, medical gases, and patient monitors. It also has a medical waste treatment plant, a power station, a water treatment plant, a central air conditioning system and an anaerobic sewerage treatment plant.
President Akufo-Addo reiterated the commitment of government to improving access to essential and quality health services through the provision of the necessary health infrastructure, equipment and logistics, including the deployment of appropriate technology, as part of government’s drive to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Zeepay has been adjudged the best company in Ghana at the 19th edition of the GhanaClub 100 Awards organised by the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC).
The Ghana Club 100 Awards returned after a two-year break with eight newcomers making it to the top 20 of the 100 highly ranked companies in Ghana.
They are Zeepay Ghana Limited, which was ranked 1st, Multipro Private Ltd. in 3rd place, Amanex Co.Ltd. ranked 7th and Express IDS Consult Agency Limited ranked 8th.
Other entrants in top 20 are Nestle Ghana Limited ranked 13th, Sage Distribution Limited ranked 16th, Abosso Goldfields Limited, and Benso Oil Palm Plantation Plc occupying the 19th and 20th position respectively of the award.
In all, there were 43 newcomers on this year’s list of awardees who missed out on the 18th edition of the awards.
Companies whose ranking improved from previous edition included GBC Plc and Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited who both respectively moved from 16th to 10th and 27th to 6th position this year.
On the Other hand, Scancom Plc moved from the top position in previous edition to occupy the 5th position this year while GOIL Plc moved from 3rd position to 61st position in the 19th edition of the awards.
This year’s awards which was hosted by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) to promote good corporate governance and work ethics was held under the theme, “Ghana’s Private Sector, A Catalyst for Post Pandemic Economic Transformation.”
Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Senior Presidential Advisor, who spoke on behalf of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as a Special Guest of Honour, commended the private sector for thriving amid economic hardship induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.
“It is important to recognise the difficulties our economy is facing. The depreciating cedi, the surging inflation, high interest rate and increasing utility tariff are taking a toll on businesses.
“Government is not oblivious of your challenges and is working hard to stem the tides of this macro-economic difficulties, ” he said.
Mr Osafo-Maafo said the private sector remained the biggest stakeholder and catalyst in turning around the fortunes of the country and for that matter the Government was focused on rebuilding the economy on the back of the private sector.
Mr Yofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer of GIPC said through initiatives such as the GIPC’s countrywide Regional Sensitization Tour (RST), organised with support from the World Bank, the Centre was reaching out to private businesses to capture investment opportunities across various sectors in the country.
“The private sector, the most important contributor to GDP and employment in the Ghanaian economy, has been resilient and indeed is the engine of Ghana’s post pandemic recovery.
“It behooves on us all, to accelerate that recovery with the innovations and the interventions that have been implemented thus far, ” he said.
Companies under the Club 100 Awards are divided into 13 categories across broad sectors of agriculture, industry, and services economy.
Those who applied to be ranked for the awards undergo an eligibility analysis, which required a company to be a limited liability company, privately owned with government interest not less than 50 per cent or must be listed on stock exchange market.
The company must also have a cumulative operating profit and should be tax compliant.
Qualified entities are then ranked based on size and profitability, growth, and Corporate Social Responsibility.
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) is targeting a 30 percent to 40 percent increase in transport fares following the recent rise in prices of petroleum products.
The union has said negotiations for the upward adjustment will begin tomorrow.
In an interview with Citi News, the General Secretary of GPRTU, Godfred Abulbire, said such rises as well as other factors have compelled this proposal.
“By Tuesday, we are going to begin our negotiations. We are going to begin our negotiations with the forecast or reports that we have gotten and from there, we will know by what margin [we will increase transport fares].”
“But if you look at it fairly, the fares should not be increased by less than 30 percent to 40 percent. Anything less than that will have a serious effect on the transport sector,” Mr. Abulbire said.
Petrol has started selling at around GH¢13.10 while diesel is selling at GH¢15.99 at some fuel pumps.
Some analysts expect further increases as demand for gas and fuel heading to the winter period increases.
The Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Security, Nana Amoasi VII, for example, expects petrol prices to get as high as GH¢17 per litre.
The last transport fare increases were in May 2020
Transport fareswent up by 20 percent in May where fares were increased by 20 percent.
As of May 9, 2022, when the new fares took effect, petrol and diesel were selling at a national average of GH¢9.41 and GH¢11.12, respectively.
Ghana will have no representatives at this year’s CAF inter-club competitions after Hearts of Oak were dumped out of CAF Confederation Cup qualifiers despite beating AS Real Bamako 1-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The Phobians needed to overturn a three goal deficit from the first leg in Mali but struggled to find the back of the net, until the 89th when Caleb Amankwah scored the game’s only goal.
The goal was not enough for Hearts as they exited the competition after losing 3-1 on aggregate.
Hearts struggled to break down the Bamako defense, and it took until the 45th minute for the Phobians to get their first shot on target via Konadu Yiadom.
After the recess, assistant coach, David Ocloo made changes, bringing on Obeng Junior, Seidu Salifu and Mohamed Alhassaan, in an attempt to get a goal.
However the Malians remained compact at the back for most of the second half until Amankwah’s goal.
Bamako will move to the final play-off round where they will face one of the 16 losers from the CAF Champions League second round.
Hearts of Oak were Ghana’s sole representative in Africa following Asante Kotoko’s early exit from the CAF Champions League.
As compared to Friday’s trading of a buying price of 10.7061 and a selling price of 10.7169. At a forex bureau in Accra, the dollar is being bought at a rate of 12.20 and sold at a rate of 12.50.
Against the Pound Sterling, the Cedi is trading at a buying price of 11.9916 and a selling price of 12.0057 as compared to Friday’s trading at a buying price of 10.8373 and a selling price of 10.8501.
At a forex bureau in Accra, the pound sterling is being bought at a rate of 12.70 and sold at a rate of 13.10.
The Euro is trading at a buying price of 10.4265 and a selling price of 10.4370 as compared to Friday’s trading at a buying price of 10.4653 and a selling price of 10.4767.
At a forex bureau in Accra, Euro is being bought at a rate of 11.20 and sold at a rate of 11.60.
The South African Rand is trading at a buying price of 0.5851 and a selling price of 0.5857 compared to Friday’s trading at a buying price of 0.5854 and a selling price of 0.5859.
At a forex bureau in Accra, South African Rand is being bought at a rate of 0.45 and sold at a rate of 0.80.
The Nigerian Naira is trading at a buying price of 41.1033 and a selling price of 41.1248 as compared to Friday’s trading at a buying price of 41.0773 and a selling price of 41.1707.
At a forex bureau in Accra, Nigerian Naira is being bought at a rate of 13.00 Naira for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 15.50.
Ashanti Ports Services Limited (APSL), the Concessionaire of the Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal project, has assured President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that the project would be completed by March 2024.
That pledge was made when the President visited the site of the construction on Sunday, as part of activities marking his four-day working tour of the Ashanti Region.
Popularly referred to as the Boankra Inland Port Project, the venture, covering a total land area of 413 acres, has been on the drawing board for some 18 years.
The idea of the Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal project was in the pipeline during the Kufuor era. It encountered several challenges, a significant one being the exit of the NPP government in 2009.
However, President Akufo-Addo cut the sod on November 2020, for the construction of the Port.
The Concessionaire informed President Akufo-Addo that it was working to deliver the project within the scheduled date.
“By the end of 2023, 80 per cent will be done, and, by the end of the first quarter of 2024, we will finish the project,” APSL said.
The APSL was hopeful that the eastern and western railway lines, which would further improve the viability of the Boankra inland port, would be completed on schedule.
APSL is a joint venture of Afum Quality Limited of Ghana and DSS Associates of the Republic of Korea. It has committed to investing a total of $330 million for the realisation of the project.
The Concessionaire is expected to design, engineer, finance, procure, construct, operate, and maintain the inland Port, and transfer the title to the Government after 30 years.
The project had been initiated to provide service to importers and exporters in the middle and northern parts of the country, and also to act as a major conduit for the efficient transportation of transit traffic to and from our neighbouring landlocked countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
“It is my hope and expectation that the Concessionaire will not renege on the confidence reposed in it and will take all the necessary actions to deliver the project on schedule and budget,” the President said when he inspected work at the site.
He was hopeful that “this project and other similar infrastructure projects, such as the development of the Keta Port, the Tema-Akosombo Railway Line, and the ongoing port expansion projects at Tema and Takoradi Ports, would make a positive contribution in ensuring that Ghana derives maximum benefits from the AfCFTA.”
After completion of the Terminal, it would be fitted with an inland clearance depot, customs bonded and unbonded estates, commercial areas such as banks, offices and trading facilities, vehicle parking areas, light industrial areas, and an administration complex.
According to investigations by GhanaWeb Business, several oil marketing companies raised the cost of gasoline and diesel starting on October 16, 2022, by around 16 percent and 12 percent, respectively.
The price of gasoline has increased from GH11.10 to GH13.10 per litre, whereas the cost of diesel has decreased from GH13.90 to GH15.99.
However, the large increase is linked to the ongoing devaluation of the cedi against the US dollar and the little increase in crude oil prices on the world market.
Meanwhile, from October 17, 2022 consumers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) are expected to witness a 10 percent increase in the price of the product at various filling points.
Dutch forward of Ghanaian descent, Brian Brobbey was adjudged Man of the Match after scoring brace for Ajax against Excelsior in Eredivisie on Sunday evening.
The 20-year-old put an impressive display to help his side cruise to a 7-1 victory at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
Brobbey started for the home team ahead of Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus who has impressed so far this season.
Jorge Sanchez scored in the 15th minute to open the scoring for Ajax after the team had come close to scoring on several occasions.
Ten minutes later, Steven Berghuis also got his name on the score sheet to double the lead for Ajax.
Late in the first half, Brobbey equalized with a thumping header to give his team a 3-0 lead to take into the break.
After recess, the young forward scored again in the 59th minute to complete a fantastic brace.
While Dusan Tadic and Steven Bergwijn would also score in the second half to continue the demolition exercise, Mohammed Kudus also climbed off the bench to get on the scoresheet.
In the end, Ajax bagged the maximum three points after a thumping 7-1 win at full-time.
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is set to venture into preventive healthcare.
The Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to that effect.
The MoU states that a total number of 3,000 communities in the Asante Akyem Agogo district will benefit from free health screening done by medical students, Health Care Professionals and the Academia from KNUST.
The exercise will also help to generate empirical findings on diabetes and hypertension cases in the catchment area.
Dr Okoe Boye, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Okoe Boye at the signing ceremony, said that Preventive healthcare was a cost-effective means of warding off illnesses and averting future complications that may arise.
The Authority will rather invest in the prevention of illnesses than focus on the payment of healthcare cost
Dr Okoe Boye said that over 60 per cent of adult deaths were related to diabetes and hypertension, thus, investing in them will not only be beneficial to the Authority but also increase the life expectancy of the average Ghanaian adult
“The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will go a step further to register persons in the earmarked communities unto the Scheme,” he said
Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo, Pro-vice chancellor of KNUST who led the delegation from KNUSTexplained that the selection of the Asante Akyem Agogo district was a result of the recording of high cases of non-communicable diseases during preliminary health screening and research within the district.
He said that the partnership with the NHIA will be extended nationwide will help safeguard the healthcare needs of the indigenes, connect them to qualified medical practitioners and also provide them with Health Insurance coverage from the NHIS.
He said that the partnership with the NHIS formed an integral part of the University’s objective to bridge the gap between Services, Research, and Academia.
He pledged KNUST’s readiness to provide the Authority with evidence-based data that will inform the NHIA’s roadmap towards full absorption of preventive healthcare on the Scheme.
Self-styled evangelist Patricia Asiedua is expected in court later this morning over charges of defrauding by false pretence and charlatanic advertisements.
The Circuit court has so far denied her bail three times in two separate cases.
The controversial pastor who is on two separate trials by the Police has attracted media attention with her gospel tunes upon arrival at the court premises.
The traditional priestess turned evangelist was arrested a few days ago for allegedly swindling members of her Heaven Way Church at Weija.
In the first case, the police arraigned Nana Agradaa before the court on 10th October 2022 after her arrest.
The court remanded her into police custody to reappear on the 13th of October.
The Police on the said date brought the accused before the court where she was remanded again to reappear on 17th October 2022.
“In the second case, the accused was again arraigned before the court on Friday 14th October 2022 and has been remanded into police custody to reappear on 24th October 2022,” police said in a statement but failed to disclose her charges.
I’ve not defrauded anyone; I only did fundraising – Nana Agradaa
The self-acclaimed evangelist Patricia Asiedua had denied defrauding or swindling her church members.
Explaining herself in an earlier video, she said, she actually invited church members for service last Friday and gave out money to help them with their various businesses.
She said she also invited anyone who was interested in being helped, to come to church on Friday (October 7, 2022), convert to Christianity and become a church member.
She said there was also fundraising through offertory last Friday.
And so if new members, who were attending church for the first time and wrote their names, offered money to support the church and did not receive anything in return from her, they should count that as new members, their opportune time will surely come and therefore should not attribute that to fraud.
She disagreed with the allegation that the GH¢1000, GH¢800, GH¢700, and coins offertory by members who attended the church service and willingly donated, should be interpreted as fraud.
Shieni in the Northern Region, Opon Mansi in the Western Region, and Oti and Pudo in the Upper West Region are where Ghana has iron ore reserves.
More than three billion metric tonnes of iron ore have been found in the nation, according to the GIISDEC CEO in an interview with B&FT, but the information we now have is outdated.
“Once we are able to conduct the mineral resource estimations – which will determine grade, tonnage and value – then we’ll have the necessary data to engage investors so that we do a good deal for Ghana,” he said.
“But as I speak with you, it is going to take about 18 months to carry out the mineral resource estimation. So that is about two years. Once that is done, we will need more time to do some further exploration and the mining can start. So, conservatively, I think the earliest time we can start mining will be in about three to four years,” he revealed.
Currently, a group of investors has indicated willingness to invest US$1billion in the country’s iron and steel business. Over the course of the next three years the project will be implemented in three phases, covering both the downstream and upstream components of an integrated iron and steel value chain.
800,000 tonnes of iron will be produced yearly during the first phase, which is anticipated to start this year and last for 18 months. Within a year of operations starting, the production will increase to 1.5 million tonnes in the second phase. The country’s estimated 6.4 billion tonnes of iron ore reserves will be mined in the third phase.
“It has been very encouraging. As we speak, we have about 10 iron ore blocks in the Oti Region which have been given out to both local and foreign investors. They are prepared to use their own money at their own risk to do the mineral resource estimation. And what they will get in return is the first right of refusal on any find,” Mr. Fordwor said.
The consortium is made up of UIC Energy Ghana Limited, the local partner; CISDI Engineering Limited, a Chinese global engineering service provider; and Intercon CTS GmhH and Company KG, a Germany-based international consulting group.
At the moment, the consortium is finalising feasibility studies on the project – after which an agreement will be signed with government for the commencement of work.
The CEO of GIISDEC mentioned that partnership with the private investors is in line with the mandate given GIISDEC to rally the private sector for the iron and steel industry’s development.
It is expected that GIISDEC will hold 30 percent equity for government in all investments into the iron and steel value chain.
WFE, which represents more than 250 market infrastructures in both mature and emerging economies, is the premier industry organisation for exchanges and clearing houses (CCPs) globally and is widely regarded as the gold standard for best practices in regulated securities and derivatives markets.
At the end of 2021, the umbrella organization’s 59,400 listed firms had a combined market value of more than US$122.94 trillion.
Describing the best practices which WFE brings to the table in an exclusive interview with the B&FT, the Exchanges’ Managing Director, Ekow Afedzie, said the comprehensive scope of assessment and subsequent adherence to best practices by WFE members offers assurance to the exchanges themselves, and stakeholders who interact with them, of their commitment to the highest standards of fiduciary responsibility.
“Becoming a full member does not mean we are perfect, but means that the highest possible standards are being applied. Not only is what we are doing good enough for Ghana, but it shows that what we are doing also meets the minimum global best practices – and that is a very high standard in running a stock market,” the GSE’s MD stated.
Consequently, investors and issuers can rest assured that their positions will not be compromised, as beyond the national regulator there is a higher authority to appeal to.
Chronicling the GSE’s journey, Mr. Afedzie said it is the culmination of years of hard work and bears testimony to the quality of products and procedures available at the Accra bourse.
“This is another milestone chalked up by the Exchange following our formal affiliation in January 2020. Becoming a full member of the WFE is a testament of our commitment to adhering to the highest international standards and best practices which are embodied in the WFE,” he said of the umbrella-body.
The GSE’s position at the WFE will ensure wider benefits – including capitalising on the depth of research, networking and technology available at the Federation.
“We will have access to helpful materials; and if you want to mark yourself against the best, you will have to measure yourself against what they have. And you can only do that when you know what they have, then you can strive to measure where you are. It is an all-round package,” Deputy MD, Abena Amoah added – noting that it will not be one-way traffic as the GSE has much to teach its peers.
“There is a lot of interest in how we set up our fixed income market with friends from Morroco, Uganda and other markets who are all very eager to learn, so we also have things to teach them; the models that worked and things like that,” she explained.
Mr. Afedzie further explained that the development came after a series of rigorous assessments of the GSE’s application – as captured in its candidacy paper – as well as a comprehensive evaluation of factors such as the wider economy, the nation’s financial sector, capital market and operations of the stock exchange.
Other factors considered included the financial standing of GSE, ease of market access, listing admission, details about trading, risk assessment, AML/CTF, investigating abnormal trading and the economy, and the variety of listings.
The assessment process also saw a team from the Federation interact with key stakeholders from the Ministry of Finance, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Bank of Ghana (BoG), Central Securities Depository (CSD) as well as some brokers and issuers.
In addition to its membership of the WFE, the GSE is also a member of the International Capital Markets Associations, and equally has running MoUs with various exchanges in order to achieve its goals.
Founded in 1961, the Federation has maintained its mandate of contributing to the development, support and promotion of organised and regulated securities markets in order to meet the needs of the world’s capital markets in the best interests of their users.
Currently, 37 percent of its members can be found across the Asia-Pacific region, 43 percent in Europe, Middle East and Africa, with 20 percent in the Americas.
Reginald Yaw ‘Reggie Rockstone’ Asante Osei has outlined why some artistes never breakthrough in their career.
Larry Bozzle’s guest on CTV’s ‘Time with the Stars’, Rockstone was asked for three things a budding music maker should note to be successful.
He first noted that, “Three is not enough,” and mentioned “dedication” as his first point.
“You need to be dedicated to your craft. You’ve got to focus on what it is you really want to be,” the rap heavyweight explained and illustrated his point.
“You want to play football, you have to go on the field. You need to toe bounce barefooted in the hood and all that,” he said.
Highlighting the need for patience, he complained about noticing “a lot of young people are impatient.”
“They have this sense of entitlement and I don’t know where it came from,” he bemoaned.
Citing rap superstar Sarkodie as a music figure who has worked hard for the position and respect he is enjoying presently, he gave the impression young artistes must emulate his patience and growth before stressing: “Everyone has a story [of their struggle and glory].”
“Stop behaving like spoilt children,” the Hiplife originator chided and encouraged budding musicians to be hardworking.
“Last but not the least, which is [actually] first, is prayers,” he softly clapped his hands together.
He was categorical in saying as a buttress, “If you’re not talking to Jah [God], forget it [the music business].”
“It is your divine gift and it comes from him [God],” Mr Rockstone explained.
The ‘Agoo’ hitmaker also noted: “If you’re not living right, in your heart, spiritually, if you’re not living right, you won’t attract the goodness.”
“If you have jealousy, envy, a thirst for fighting, trolling on social media, it is all [a hot mess], the blessings won’t come to you,” the father, husband and businessman warned.
Reggie seemed so passionate about the importance of spirituality to success, he even risked sounding superstitious.
“I always tell these young guys – I see them cussing artistes and all that. There’s no blessing in that. [If that’s your behaviour] the whole year, nothing will work out in your favour. You wouldn’t know but you’ve cursed yourself,” he stressed.
If you “cut down on the devil work, and be about God,” and give him his due praises, “you will be cool,” the 58-year-old Hiplife legend concluded.
The examination which will last for one week will be written in 2,033 centres across the country.
The students are expected to start with social studies and ICT papers.
The Ghana Education Service ahead of the examination is entreating all students and other key stakeholders at the various examination centres to desist from any form of examination malpractices.
The General Secretary of the Association, Thomas Musah, said, “we all know the implication of the rules of engagement. Nobody will go and supervise and say he or she doesn’t know the rules of engagement.”
“So to the extent that you have been invited to assist in the conduct of the exam requires each one who is having that opportunity to live up to expectations,” Mr. Musah said.
This year’s Tidal Rave Beach Festival has come under intense criticism on social media.
Among many things, patrons have taken to social media to complain about a late start, poor sound, indiscriminate parking and most prominent of all, there been stories shared about attacks by robbers also known as ‘kwashey boys’.
Since the event yesterday, Saturday, 15 October 2022, at the Luxury Beach Resort, Bortianor, Kokrobite, Accra, the words ‘Tidal Rave’, ‘Kokrobite’ and ‘Kwashey’ have been trending on Twitter with App users mostly decrying exorbitant ticket pricing and lack of ample security.
Read attendee and entertainment journalist Olele Salvador’s experience below:
BOST, which reported a return of GH161 million in 2021—its first profit in ten years—said it can fully tap into Burkina Faso and Mali’s sizable oil re-export markets if non-tariff restrictions are removed.
These landlocked nations purchase petroleum products through Ghana, according to BOST’s Managing Director Edwin Provencal, but efforts to fully capitalize on the over-US$970 million market are still hampered by non-tariff barriers.
“Our focus for next year is re-exporting, which I’m very passionate about. Our absorption capacity for Ghana is small, but then, there is a US$970million opportunity in Burkina Faso and Mali. We want to tap into that,” Mr. Provencal said at a press briefing hosted by the Ministry of Information in Accra.
To achieve this, however, the company is taking a multi-sectorial approach led by the Ministry of Energy and other partners. Critical to the plan is ensuring that non-tariff barriers which reduce trade are effectively dealt with.
“The benefits of this will be huge; imagine we are getting US$450million out of this export. This is money we do not need the Bank of Ghana or Ministry of Finance to erode our reserves to give to BOST. This is money that will come to BOST as cash that we use to bring in the products.
“So, in the next few years we are going to be heavily-focused on this; and we hope that obstacles in the re-export business will be dealt with,” he said.
BOST has been exporting petroleum products to the two landlocked nations using its Bolgatanga depot in the Upper East Region, close to Burkina Faso; but now wants to go about it in a more deliberate manner under its aggressive export and expansion drive, he narrated.
Cote d’Ivoire remains the country’s main competitor in the sub-region for oil re-export; however, Mr. Provencal said quality products and proximity give Ghana an upper hand.
“Our quality is the best in the sub-region, and a lot of the countries would in the absence of any non-tariff barriers prefer Ghana to pick their products than Cote d’Ivoire.
“The second competitive advantage is Bolgatanga; it is so close to the border. Today, a lot of them [buyers] travel about 900 kilometres to Accra and pick their fuel from the private depots; but if through the National Petroleum Authority we put the right regulations in place, it will limit their travel to Bolgatanga,” he said.
Even though Singapore is not surrounded by landlocked countries, he said, it has deliberately positioned itself for re-export. In 2021, Singapore’s oil re-export was equivalent to US$40billion.
“Singapore’s total trade is US$1.2trillion out of which US$40billion comes from oil re-export.
“In our case, we are so fortunate that we have a lot of countries which depend on Ghana because we are close to the sea. So, we have to be intentional about our re-export strategy because it can put us on a certain lever.
“The critical thing is to remove the non-tariff barriers so that we can trade effectively, especially within the AfCFTA framework,” he said.
The state-owned company imports, stores and transports petroleum under both social and commercial mandates.
This is due to the fortnight review of petroleum prices that took off from today October 16, 2022.
The increment has become possible because of the slight increase in the price of crude oil on teh world market during the period and the sharp depreciation of the cedi.
This was due to the increases in price of the products on the international market, and the significant decline in the value of the local currency against the American greenback or US dollar.
“The sharp rise in gasoline [petrol] and gasoil [diesel] prices on the global market may drive the price of domestic gasoline and gasoil rise higher, as against the rise in LPG [Liquefied Petroleum Gas] price.
The Boys Brigade Ghana has conferred an honorary award on the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for his service in leadership.
At its 70th Anniversary celebration in Accra on Saturday October 15, 2022 the Boys Brigade lauded Dr. Bawumia for his “leadership, commitment and dedicated service, which has earned you this most esteemed office in Ghana.”
The Vice President was a member of the Boys Brigade during his formative years at Sakasaka Primary School, Tamale, and the Brigade, which is a platform for grooming boys to uphold good behaviour, expressed pride in the Vice President for reflecting their credo all of these years.
Delivering his keynote address, Dr. Bawumia, who expressed gratitude for the honour, recalled with fondness, his membership of the Boys Brigade in primary school.
He commended the Boys Brigade Ghana, especially its founders, for the positive impact the group continues to make.
“I have been informed that, currently, the Boys’ Brigade has over 700 Companies and over 38,000 Boys. Together with the Girls’ Brigade, you are over 100,000 in seven Christian denominations of the Country, namely: the Methodist Church, Ghana, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Anglican Church of Ghana, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Ghana, Evangelical Presby Church, Jesus Generation Ministries and the Perez International Church with plans of getting to the other Christian groups and schools,” Dr. Bawumia noted.
“At this point I will like to pay glowing tribute to the officers and boys of the 1st Accra Company for their efforts at grooming boys to become Christian men for Church and Society. I am reliably informed that, a number of persons have passed through the Company to be notable men of church and Society.”
The Vice President also urged the Boys Brigade to continue to uphold its principles in order to continue the nurturing of many future leaders.
“The principle of nurturing and equipping are very fundamental to the survival of every household, group, organisation and nation at large,” Dr. Bawumia said.
“It is our collective responsibility to nurture and train the next generation to be in a position to inherit the things we will leave behind since they are heirs to these things.”
The first Company of the Boys Brigade Ghana was formed 70 years ago in August 1952.
Ghana’s Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif has congratulated Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku after he was re-elected for a second term as WAFU Zone B president.
Kurt Okraku retained his seat by acclamation during an elective congress that took place in Cote d’Ivoire.
The election was part of the agenda at the 15th General Assembly of WAFU Zone B which was held in Abidjan. on Saturday, October 15, 2022.
Mr. Okraku went unopposed as there was no one who filed to contest him for the position he has previously held since May 2021 after taking over from Djibrilla Hima Hamidou who stepped down.
Mr. Okraku gets another four-year term to serve the West African sub-regional body with his rich expertise.
“Congratulations to the President of the @ghanafaofficial, @kurtokraku on his re-election as the WAFU Zone B President. I wish him the best and I encourage him to make good use of this opportunity for the betterment of football in Ghana and the sub-region.”
The Ghana international played full throttle and was impressive for the Pandas, scoring a rating of 6.6, according to SofaScore. Wakaso’s performance was only bettered by James Jeggo, who scored a rating of 7.1.
The Black Stars midfielder has been key for KAS even though the Eupen-based outfit are having a difficult campaign. It is his second 90 minutes match on a row since returning from a game’s suspension.
Meanwhile, Kevin Denkey’s hat-trick and goals from Thibo Somers and Ayase Udea ensured a rampant Cercle Brugge secured all three points at home. Stef Peeters got the consolation for KAS Eupen.
Wakaso’s compatriot Isaac Nuhu lasted 73 minutes of the match before he was replaced by Nathan Bitumalaza. Goalkeeper Abdul Manaf Nurudeen was an unused substitute.
The former Villareal and Deportivo Alaves man joined KAS Eupen in the summer transfer window on a season-long loan from Chinese Super League side Shenzen FC.
Wakaso’s run of form could provide Ghana coach Otto Addo an alternative in the Black Stars midfield.
“I would prefer Amartey to never pass backward. If he always went forward, he would be a better player. He actually defended well today. Just always a worry in possession”. – @Sweeney_Sean
“Amartey starts, clean sheet, Wilfried Zaha in his back pocket, put some respect on the man’s name.” – @MILLS1989FB
“Apart from the first 10 minutes, Amartey had a good game. So much more progressive than Evans. – @Barbs241
“Leicester City played well. It’s unfortunate they couldn’t win. Amartey giving some incisive passes. Better luck next time. @Joelmensahpablo
“How is Amartey a Premier League footballer?”- @ItzMikeO
“I guess it is Alexander Djiku-Mohammed Salisu starting as our centre-back in the World Cup. The number of wrong passes Amartey is making in today’s Leicester game is worrying. Maybe it is due to limited playtime. Hopefully, it gets better for him. – @Callis_GH
“The gulf between Leicester’s best players and their worst has to be the biggest in the league.”
“Top players like Dewsbury-Hall, Harvey Barnes, and Maddison looking back at Danny Ward and Amartey is shocking.”- @Arsenalvibess
“Amartey offers nothing on the ball….off the ball too. He can be suspect.”- @mr_jabben
“[Caglar] Soyuncu must be really bad in training if he can’t get in over Amartey.”- @Harrylcfc123
“Amartey with moments of real composure and excellent defending, but at the same time, two or three moments of fault that could’ve ended up in Palace scoring.
“That’s why he’s not Premier League standard. Faes was much better today.” – @RizLCFC
“Honestly, [I] think we should play a back three. I just don’t trust Amartey.” – @khellyrich
Qatar, who are training in Spain as they prepare for their World debut at home, are playing friendly matches against national teams and clubs ahead of the global showpiece.
Afif opened the scoring for Qatar with a stoppage-time penalty against Nicaragua, who are ranked 142nd in the world.
The Asian champions doubled the lead in the 70th minute with Muntari finding the net but the Central Americans halved the deficit five minutes later as Galeano struck to equalise.
Felix Sanchez, who has taken a 27-player squad for the final phase of preparatory camp for the World Cup, named a strong line-up for the friendly match.
Qatar begin their World Cup against Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20 before taking on African champions Senegal and the Netherlands in Group A.
Stephen Appiah played Baffour Gyan in a friendly match on Thursday, October 13, 2022, at the Labadi Beach Court.
The entertaining fixture which was dubbed the ‘Grudge Match’ attracted a few spectators including radio personality Dr Pounds, who is also a lover of the sport.
Baffour Gyan beat Stephen Appiah in two straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, to emerge as the winner of the tennis-friendly match.
Speaking after the match, Stephen Appiah expressed his excitement to have played against one of his former teammates.
Despite playing tennis for only 8 months, Appiah noted that he was looking forward to playing some of the finest players in the country and cannot wait for a tournament to be played with some football stars and personalities in the country.
Hearts of Oak approach the game without goalkeeper Eric Ofori Antwi and the Central African Republic forward Yassan Ouatching.
Hearts of Oak’s assistant coach, David Ocloo has named a 20-man squad for this game.
Hearts of Oak are winless in their last 9 competitive fixtures, dating back to last season – May 30, 2022. The Phobians defeated Bibiani Gold Stars 1-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium on 18th May 2022 and have not won a game Since then.
Last season, the Phobians were eliminated from the Champions League after a 6-2 aggregate loss to Wydad Casablanca.
They were also eliminated from the Confederations Cup after a disappointing 4-2 aggregate loss to JS Saoura.
Former Hearts of Oak skipper Yaw Amankwah Mireku is highly optimistic the club beat Real Bamako and secure qualification to the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup qualifiers.
Since winning the inaugural edition of the CAF Confederation Cup in 2004, Hearts have failed to qualify for the group stages, despite previously playing in the qualifying series in 2016 and 2021.
The participants were drawn from institutions such as Aburi Girls Senior High School, Chiefs Academy (Kumasi), St. Joseph’s CYO, University of Ghana, and Dunk! Grassroots, Basketball School Academy (BSA), Eagles Basketball Academy (Koforidua), Basketball Unite Academy, Hoops Care (Cape Coast) and Cedar Oak Basketball Academy.
The training which was an initiative of the Ghana Basketball Association and FIBA saw the beneficiaries put through their paces and equipped with skills in dribbling and shooting.
Officials from the International Sickle Cell Centre, Ghana Anesthetists Association, (BC Medicals, RegEmp, and Operation Smile Ghana also sensitized the students and players about how to provide emergency life support on the court.
Speaking to the media at the event, Ato Van-Ess, the President of the Ghana Basketball Association said that the purpose of the clinic was to create excitement and interest in basketball among young girls.
He said his outfit was very much interested in helping Ghana meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 which concerns gender equality and SDG 3 which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all.
“We want to use this program to whip up the interest of girls to participate in basketball, this is part of a key strategy to develop the sport in Ghana,” Mr Van-Ess said.
“We hope that in the next three to five years we will get more girls and women participating in basketball at the regional level”.
Ghana Football Association boss, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has expressed his excitement after being re-elected as President of the West African Football Union (WAFU Zone B) for a new 4-year mandate.
This comes after no other candidate filed nominations to contest him for the leadership of the sub-regional body.
He was sworn into office on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at the WAFU B General Assembly in Cote D’Ivoire.
“The governing body of the West African Football Union Zone B was sworn in at the 15th General Assembly held in Abidjan, Cote DÍvoire, on Saturday, October 15, 2022,” Kurt Okraku posted on his Twitter page.
“Having been re-elected as President for a new term, I congratulate members of the body for a successful congress as we work together to strengthen our football across the region.”
President Simeon-Okraku has worked tirelessly to revive competition and bring modernity to football administration in the Zone.
The General Assembly is the supreme legislative organ of the football block where key decisions are made for implementation by the WAFU Zone B Secretariat.
Federation Presidents, CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba and General Secretaries of the seven Associations within the sub-region and some invited guests attended the General Assembly on Saturday.
President Simeon-Okraku in his acceptance called for stronger collaboration among Member Associations to ensure that the sub-region’s record as the hub and cradle for African Football was preserved.
Speaking in an interview on GTV’s Breakfast show, Dr Lawrence Tetteh explained that the former West Ham star has laboured for this country and does not deserve to be treated as a bench warmer.
He argued that Dede Ayew has made so many sacrifices which cannot be overlooked. He also stated that eople calling for the Black Stars captain to be benched are only envious of the player’s success.
“Dede Ayew is an inspirer, he has been with the youth team even when he was much younger and they won the u-20 World Cup,” he said.
“He has been consistent with the Black Stars, today as we speak now he is the only one who has more caps than Asamoah Gyan. So you don’t throw away people who have laboured.
“This notion that Ghanaians being jealous and envious of people’s success we must stop it. Dede Ayew is a good footballer, he’s played very well and he is currently the captain. If you want to get the unity that we needed for the team, then we need someone like him.
“If we bench him for the new players that have come, you’ve demoralised the team and people will not die for the country. So it doesn’t make sense at all,” Dr Lawrence Tetteh stated.
The Speaker of Parliament and the Ghana Gas Company Limited are funding the project, which is being carried out by the Wembley Sports Construction company.
Speaker Bagbin expressed pleasure with the work achieved thus far during a site inspection exercise and pushed for the adoption of the proper maintenance culture after the sports facility was finished.
From what I’ve seen so far, it’s a sight to behold, and the pitch, as the construction manager has mentioned, is the best so far that is being built in the nation.
“The size of the pitch which is 75 by 1/10 is a bit above the standard size…the biggest is usually 120 by 75 but in Ghana, we are yet to have such a size so what we have to do is to ensure that we adopt a sound maintenance culture,” he added.
“Phase 2 will see the construction of running tracks which will commence from next year and the next focus after the actual playing area is done is to commence the construction of the spectator stand,” Lamptey added.
When completed, the Nadwoli multi-purpose sports complex will have a FIFA standard 11-aside pitch, fencing, floodlights, spectator stands, changing rooms, multi-purpose courts and a VIP stand.
Former GFA vice president George Afriyie has disclosed that the current Kotoko board approached him about taking over the CEO role, but he turned down the offer.
After George Amoako was fired from his position, media reports said that the former All Blacks chairman was in the running for the top position in Kumasi.
However, he issued a statement denying the reports and outlining the reasons he was unable to serve as Kotoko’s CEO at the time.
“I was invited by the current Kotoko board to be interviewed and be offered the CEO job and I told them I was not ready for it. If you are offered a position at the time, you look at whether you are ready or not and at the time I wasn’t ready at all”
Asked whether he would want to consider the role when called upon in future, the astute administrator insisted, he’s moved beyond it.
“No for now I have moved beyond it. I am doing my own thing and I am satisfied with what I am doing,” he added
In the opening game, which took place in Mali a week ago, the Phobians fell to the genuine Bamako by a score of 3-0.
Dong Bortey has stated that he is confidence in the current Hearts of Oak team to overcome the 3-0 deficit in Accra since the club has done it before. This is ahead of the second leg.
“All I want to say to the players is that they should easily qualify this Sunday. In an interview with Hearts of Oak’s media, he claimed, “If they can score five goals, they should be able to.
“This is something we’ve done it before, so they can also do it. Ours was four goals but theirs is only three so I trust they can do it.
“I have not entered this station since 2017 and today is my first time since I stopped playing for Hearts of Oak, he added.
“So, before Dong Bortey will put his leg here on Sunday, trust me we are going to qualify. The spirit there and they are going to qualify because I know what they can do,” he stated.
Hearts of Oak will play Real Bamako at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at 3:00pm.
Former GFA Vice president George Afriyie believes Ghanaians have been unnecessarily hard on the Ayew brothers.
The two sons of the legendary Abedi Pele, have always been the scapegoats anytime the Black Stars of Ghana perform abysmally.
Many have even called for their heads, demanding they are not called into the national team again.
But speaking to Untold Stories TV GH, George Afriyie said he thinks that Ghanaians are unfair to the Ayew brothers.
“We have been unfair to them. As footballers, they all have their flaws but trust me if a player is playing in the EPL today, week in we out, what will be the justification for not calling him? It’s the same justification I will call for the inclusion of Jeffrey Schlupp.”
According to the astute football administrator, the two players are of good quality and a great addition to the Black Stars hence it will be unjust to call for their exclusion from the Black Stars.
“For me, if you call Jordan, you have called a good player from a good league. If I am not mistaken, just check the numbers of Andre Ayew. We are just criticising them unfairly.”
George Afriyie, a former vice president of the GFA, has apologized for the controversial text message he sent to his former boss Kwesi Nyantakyi, which ultimately ended their long-standing friendship.
According to reports, George Afriyie called Kwesi Nyantakyi, the former president of the Ghana Football Association, “greedy” and “selfish” in a text message.
The Ghana Football Association’s vice president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, is claimed to have ordered his dismissal after receiving the message and learning of his intention to run for president.
“It shouldn’t have been a text message. I should have met Mr Nyantakyi one on one and told him what was on my mind but aside from that, I don’t see where the betrayal is.
“If somebody should feel betrayed, it should rather be me not him. Because everybody knows how I served. Even before Saanie Dara came into the picture to defend Nyantakyi, it was George Afriyie. The Chief of staff people were calling me then wasn’t a creation by the GFA, it was in existence because there was a certain man when there is an issue on the radio, the following morning I will be at a TV station to defend him and so me I served him very well and that’s the kind of training I had. Remember, I am Japanese trained, and we are so loyal to the core but it doesn’t mean if I find something wrong I can’t tell. Not going out there to destroy you? The fact is that in this country people can’t stand up to their leaders.”
Award-winning artiste, Shatta Wale, who loves to motivate fans by showcasing his properties has once again displayed his customized diamond necklaces worth millions of Ghana cedis.
The leader of the Shatta Movement, on Saturday, October 15, took o his Twitter page to make a public display of his diamond collection in the comfort of one of his mansions in the capital.
Ahead of his ‘Gift Of God’ album release on Monday, the singer jabbed critics who continue to discredit his works in the local music industry.
He wrote: “3yrs now and they still talking about my album …Am I not a genius. #GOGALBUM2022.”
Dancehall musician, Shatta Wale dominated showbiz conversations and social media trends over his claim of charging 100,000 dollars for three separate shows that contacted him for his service.
He also declared himself the first-ever Ghanaian musician to acquire seven houses.
“I have bought seven houses, yes I have seven houses. I am the only artiste in Ghana that has been able to charge shows 100,000 dollars in a row. Nobody and I won’t lie…the first AfroNation they did in Ghana, the first time, they paid me $100,000 in cash,” Shatta disclosed in an interview on Showbiz360 with Giovani Caleb.
Actress Afia Schwarzenegger has disclosed that she is still in disbelief over the death of his former boss, Ekow Blankson, a man she described as his ‘bigger brother’.
The actress who spoke at the one-week memorial service held in honour of the late actor who was the Commercial Manager of GhanaWeb, pledged her support to the widow and children in this trying time.
“I was just telling her wife that I remember their wedding day. We were all happy and bubbly. To wake up and still come to Ekow’s one-week, I still don’t believe it. More like a movie, it feels like I will wake up from this bad dream. You know, it is a passing phase. We will be here to support the family, especially his wife and the children. I have been part of the family for long so we will be here to show support…I will always remember his favourite quote ‘It is well’.”
According to the actress, she was blessed to have worked with the late Ekow Blankson in two media houses and earned the nickname ‘Trouble’ from her former boss.
“Ekow was my boss at TV3, for those who do not know, I one-time hosted MusicMusic. I think I would be the shortest presenter ever to host the show, I worked for TV3 for 2 months or so. Ekow Blankson was my boss at TV3
“We eventually came to work together again at TV Africa when I was hosting political show. He was our general manager and that is how he gave me the name ‘Trouble’ for the obvious reasons… he was more than a manager, he was more like a friend, a bigger brother, someone I could confide in. Even when we stopped working, we shared that bond,” she said.
