Three Coaches have received nominations for the 2022/23 NASCO Coach of the Month Award for the month of September, 2022.Great Olympics handler Yaw Preko, Christopher Ennin of Berekum Chelsea and Aduana Stars’ Head Coach Paa Kwesi Fabin have all been recognized for their outstanding performances throughout last month.
The winner will be announced live on the next edition of the GFA News bulletin.
Winner will receive a 43-inch NASCO television set from Electroland Ghana Limited.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association has put the Premier League on hold following a Motion on Notice for Injunction filed last Wednesday at the Human Rights High Court by Ashantigold SC and served on the GFA’s lawyers.
Following the receipt of the Motion, the Association has decided to put the league on hold until the determination of a Motion on Notice for Injunction by the court on October 14, 2022.The Premier League was scheduled to enter match week four last weekend.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama is in Virginia, USA to address the 500 CEO Summit organized by Liberty University, the largest Christian University in the world.
Mr. Mahama will on Wednesday morning address the University Community at a Convocation Ceremony. He will later deliver the keynote at the Opening Celebration Dinner of the 500 CEO Summit in the form of a Q & A and meet various business and student groups.
President Mahama, an advocate of the African Continental Free Trade Area who has been speaking and promoting economic growth in Africa, will join other leading American and World business leaders to discuss faith, business, and leadership.
The former president is expected to push for investment and the areas that require critical business partnership on the continent, and describe to American CEOs, how to get started doing business with Africa.
Mr. Mahama will on Friday deliver a lecture on “Reforming Institutions and Strengthening Legal Frameworks: The role of African governments” at the Howard School Court Room. The lecture will be hosted by the Georgetown and Howard Universities.
Mr. Mahama will on Friday deliver a lecture on “Reforming Institutions and Strengthening Legal Frameworks: The role of African governments” at the Howard School Court Room. The lecture will be hosted by the Georgetown and Howard Universities.
Sheila Acheampong has stated that she is loving the music space following her decision eventually venture into music after procrastinating for years.
The daughter of Highlife legend, Nana Acheampong in an exclusive interview on GhanaWeb TV with Paula Amma Broni disclosed that it is not surprising to see her younger sister, Gyakie topping charts with her music.
According to the young talent, music runs in the blood of her family.
“For so many years I kept saying that I was going to do music. I would call somebody and be like, I want to do music, what do you think? They will go like, it is in your blood but then, my dad (Nana Acheampong) has already done it and when Gyakie came into the scene, I thought to myself, should I shun this? I also thought of pursuing my passion for fashion so they do music.
“Once the calling comes, you can’t really say no so I had to. I was like, why didn’t I start? Way back, why didn’t I start? I am loving it. It is really cool,” Sheila told Paula Amma Broni on Talkertainment.
Sheila is currently promoting her 2022 single ‘Like That’ with features rapper, Strongman.
She noted that her dream was to be a fashion designer but after careful consideration, she has accepted her calling, thus music adding that her sister, Gyakie on the other hand discovered her talent at the onset.
“I loved singing, I knew I could sing, but did I want to do music? No, I wanted to be an actress, I want to do fashion. I was really minding my own business but Gyakie, even when she was young recorded a song in one of my dad’s studios,” said Sheila.
I procrastinated; I should’ve started music years ago – Gyakie’s sister reveals
Four players have made the shortlist for the 2022/23 NASCO Player of the Month for the month of September.Bright Adjei and Kwame Adom Frimpong, both from Aduana FC and Medeama duo Kwasi Donsu and Kofi Asmah have all been nominated for the monthly accolade.
The winner is set to receive a 43-inch NASCO Television set from Electroland Ghana Limited.
Winner for the award will be announced live on the next edition of the GFA News Bulletin.
Below are the statistics of the nominees:
Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association has put the Premier League on hold following a Motion on Notice for Injunction filed last Wednesday at the Human Rights High Court by Ashantigold SC and served on the GFA’s lawyers.
Following the receipt of the Motion, the Association has decided to put the league on hold until the determination of a Motion on Notice for Injunction by the court on October 14, 2022.
The Premier League was scheduled to enter match week four last weekend.
As part of the nationwide digitalisation rollout at the Accra digital center, the Micro Credit and Small Loans Center (MASLOC) has started a two-day training exercise for its workforce.
The two-day training session, which is planned for the 5th and 6th of October 2022, is intended to familiarize employees with a new software that will resource the institutions credit and other aligned departments to efficiently process, disburse and recover approved loans to our clients. With its features the software application will provide optimal efficiency for loan processing.
The complete implementation of the different phases of the software will allow Masloc eliminate its manual processes and align its system on an improved platform, compatible to new and complex modern banking systems used globally.
In an age of technological advancement and with institutions migrating to advanced secure digital platforms, the new Loan Management Software (LMS) training will not only equip and improve service delivery to our clients through a secure database, but will also complement our efforts to promote all categories of our customers to patronise our services through simple and personalized solutions such as mobile applications, USSD short codes, etc.
Additionally, the goal is to equip our key users to use the software while we coordinate the full of implementation of the system to the benefit our customers.
The training is for participants from our credit, IT, finance and audit departments as well as sector managers, regional and district credit managers, credit officers and regional accountants.
Masloc’s digital infrastructure would be leveraged by MSMEs, cooperatives, business associations and individuals to automate, innovate, build capacity and access credit at competitive interest rates.
The training follows the announcement, of support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) through the Ministry of Finance to boost MASLOC’s determination to establish a strong digital infrastructure to support its operations.
Participants are expected to leave the program with new knowledge and skills in line with Masloc CEO, Abibata Zackariah, strategic vision to automate all MASLOC operations to create a paperless loan application, loan repayment and efficient recovery system.
GOIL Plc, Ghana’s leading Oil Marketing Company (OMC), has donated 10 multi-purpose hospital beds valued over 40,000 to Asuom Health Centre at Asuom in the Kwaebibirem Municipality of the Eastern region.
Making the presentation on Thursday, September 29th, 2022 at Asuom, the Public Relations Manager of GOIL, Robert Kyere said, GOIL, received a distress request of hospital beds from two natives of Asuom, namely, Oheneba Charles and Maxwell Atuanor Dwirah, who are the PR Consultants of GOIL for over 10 years.
“Due to the good working relationship these two personalities have with GOIL, the Group CEO/MD of GOIL, Hon. Kwame Osei Prempeh did not have any difficulty approving their request, hence, the donation of these multi-purpose hospital beds to improve the health delivery of the chiefs and people of Asuom and its adjoining communities”, Mr. Kyere explained.
Receiving the beds on behalf of Asuom, Osabarima Ofosuhene Apenteng II. Asuomhene, expressed appreciation to GOIL for the timely donation of the beds because the Asuom Health Centre was in dire need of beds.
He thanked the Group CEO/MD of GOIL, Kwame Osei Prempeh, Oheneba Charles and Maxwell Atuanor Dwirah for their thoughtfulness and; like Oliver Twist, he asked GOIL for more.
He used the occasion to appeal to individuals and corporate bodies who are natives of Asuom to come to the aid of Asuom Health Centre and the development of Asuom in general.
Also present at the short ceremony included, Kwasi Ansah Antwi Boasiako-MA of Asuom Health Centre, Osabarima Baah Ntiku-Asuom Mintahene, Madam Sabina Jones-Health Committee Chairperson and some Assembly members of Asuom.
Ghana Oil Company Plc is a state-owned Oil Marketing Company (OMC). It was established in 1960. Currently, GOIL is Ghana’s top OMC and it is the only indigenous OMC that is owned by Ghanaians.
The Government of Ghana owns about 51% shares, SSNIT owns about 18% shares and Ghanaian individuals owns about 31% shares. GOIL provides good energy and it is strictly Ghanaian so the profit stays in Ghana for development.
Edwin Gyimah was named Man of the Match after an impressive performance for Sekhukhune in the win against Orlando Pirates in the South African PSL.
The midfielder was in action on Tuesday afternoon for his team when they locked horns with their matchday opponent in the Premier Soccer League in South Africa.
Orlando Pirates player Thabiso Monyane was sent off for a second bookable offense in the 59th minute.
Elias Mokwana scored in the 84th minute to put the hosts ahead 1-0.
Vusimuzi Mncube scored the game’s second goal late in the added time to make it 2-0 at the end.
Edwin Gyimah played full throttle for Sekhukhune and was named man of the match after the game.
The Minority in Parliament is mounting pressure on the government to immediately announce the producer price of cocoa for the 2022/2023 cocoa season.
Despite launching the 2022/23 cocoa season, COCOBOD is yet to announce how much cocoa farmers will be paid for their produce.
According to Minority Spokesperson for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, this development is unprecedented and creates a feeling of uncertainty amongst farmers.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Dr Forson stated that farmers and stakeholders are running out of patience over the delay in the announcement.
“Every year, cocoa prices are announced at the beginning of the season. In fact, 1st October is internationally recognised as the start of the cocoa season worldwide as affirmed by the United Nations Body for cocoa.
“This year, COCOBOD opened the cocoa season without a producer price for cocoa – unprecedented,” he lamented.
“The suspense cannot continue,” he added.
According to him, “the government should not announce any price below GHC1,000 per bag” after the uncertainties surrounding the delay.
The Phobians will travel to Mail to take on Real Bamako on Saturday, October 8, 2022 for the first leg encounter of the second round of the 2022/23 CAF second tier competition.
It will be David Ocloo’s first game in charge of the club after being appointed as an interim coach, taking over from Samuel Boadu who parted ways with Hearts after a slow start to the 2022/23 season.
“I might not say much about confidence but then, I will say that, I am so much interested when it comes to their performance so for me, the most important thing for them to do is that, they should elevate their performance from that of last year,” Mireku told LUV FM.
“But for me, I am not expecting much from them because it’s a new team all together. Football is all about consistency but then, for you to have individual players, then you might not have a team.
“So for me, I think that’s what Hearts of Oak are lacking for now therefore I am not expecting much from them.
“If we could have these players for two-three years, then my expectation will go high,’’ he added.
The return leg will be held at the Accra Sports Stadium on the weekend of October 14-16, 2022.
The winner of the tie will move to the play-off round where they will face one of the 16 losers from the CAF Champions League second round.
Hearts of Oak are Ghana’s sole representative in Africa following Asante Kotoko’s early exit from the CAF Champions League last Sunday in Kumasi.
Rafael Leao won the Goal Of The Month presented by crypto.com award for September.
The goal scored by the AC Milan striker in the match against Inter on 3 September was the most voted by fans on Lega Serie A’s official social channels.
The fantastic personal action with which he scored the Rossoneri’s third goal in the Milan derby allowed Rafael Leao to beat in the votes the perfect conclusion from outside the box by Paulo Dybala in Roma’s match against Empoli.
The Social Director for the just-ended Global Citizen Festival 2022 in Ghana, Randy Walker, has said that the event was successful due to the risks the crew and managers took.
Speaking to Prime Morning Host, KMJ, on Friday, he indicated that event organisers in Ghana hate risk. This makes them fail to efficiently plan and execute most events in the country.
He believes risk-taking is prime in event planning and organisation within every creative industry.
According to Randy Walker, success is the backbone of risk-taking in making decisions.
“Fundamentally, in every industry or market, a success rate is sort of directly proportional to our appetite for taking risks. You’re only what you become out of the risk you take,” he opined.
Mr. Walker added that, “…I believe the Global Citizen Festival did that and that’s why people are talking about it. It was only fundamentally again because of the risk the team behind it took. “
He believes the crew worked efficiently and effectively for the purpose of impacting people in other industries.
On Saturday, September 24, 2022, Global Citizens concluded its 2022 policy campaign with a nine-hour festival across two stages in Ghana and New York.
The festival was deemed the best Ghana has ever seen. The event was technically managed by Ghanaian technicians, but most people failed to believe it due to the quality of the event.
Speaking on the show, the CEO of Rythmz Africa and sound engineer for the festival, Francis Kwakye, indicated that it is difficult to produce successful events in Ghana due to the belief system.
“It is the belief. We have to believe in our talents because there are a lot of talents in Ghana. I believe we should trust and believe in our people. It’s one thing I’ll say we Ghanaians don’t appreciate so much sometimes,” he stated.
The sound engineer has called out to the government and event managers to invest in the technical organisation of events, as money is a necessity in event management.
Sydney United 58 became the first non-A-League team to reach the final of the Australia Cup
Football Australia (FA) have issued a lifetime ban to a spectator for making “a fascist salute or similar gesture” during the Australia Cup final.
FA said it “strongly condemns the actions of a small minority” of Sydney United 58 fans at Saturday’s game.
The immediate ban from FA-sanctioned games comes after an FA investigation into the spectator’s conduct.
FA is now working to “identify other individuals who may have committed similar anti-social behaviour”.
Formerly known as Sydney Croatia, Sydney United 58 became the first non A-League side to reach the final and lost 2-0 to Macarthur FC in front of a crowd of 16,461 at the Western Sydney Stadium.
The club said it was “concerned” by reports of the actions of supporters and that it would work with authorities to conduct a “full investigation”.
In an open letter,external-link FA chief executive James Johnson said: “What should have been a celebration of a tightly contested and excellent game of football has been marred by the actions of groups of a few people, which do not represent the values and expectations of our football community.
“Football Australia has a zero-tolerance policy to disrespectful and offensive behaviour at sanctioned events and will not tolerate behaviour that has the potential to offend, insult, humiliate, disparage or vilify spectators, players or officials.
“I would like to thank the Australian football community for taking a stand and making it clear that they will not accept this kind of behaviour and that it has no place in our game.”
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The Energy ministry says it is working assiduously in scaling up its renewable energy avenues as it continues to ensure that there is enough energy capacity to support commercial and domestic consumption.
The ministry maintains that it has consolidated strategic measures to ensure that the country does not revisit the era of erratic power supply, which interfered with business activities in the past.
These comments were made by Deputy Minister of Energy, Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer at the 2022 Africa Energy Conference Organized by the Business and Financial Times in Accra under the theme: Africa’s energy future, achieving an all-round competitiveness and sustainability to support the continent’s development ambitions.
“In the area of power, Ghana has sought to enhance its generation, transmission and distribution of electricity nationwide, ensuring that it never goes back to the grim days of frequent power cuts; an era which left many industries crippled.”
“With resources available to her, Ghana now has an installed capacity of 5367.17 MW with access rate of 87%. Ghana has also seen the present opportunity to scale up its contribution of renewable energy in its generation mix to 10% by 2030 and is working to achieve this.”
“Ghana has passed an amendment to its local content and local participation regulations to include channel partnerships and strategic alliances in the petroleum upstream sector; a novelty which is projected to enhance indigenous participation in upstream related activities.”
The Deputy Minister mentioned that the government has passed an amendment to local content participation to include competitive partners in the petroleum upstream sector.
In his welcome reflections, the Chief Executive Officer of Business and Financial Times, Dr. Godwin Acquaye pontificated some limitations of the Africa Energy sector and called on stakeholders to rally feasible ideas to achieve sustainable outcomes.
“African countries still suffer from huge deficits in energy generation and distribution, resulting in small businesses languishing for lack of power. Our agricultural fresh produce rot on the streets, because of lack of refrigeration. Children underperforming for lack of electricity. Lives are at risk in our hospitals for lack of electricity, as lifesaving hospital equipment and services lie unused because of lack of electricity”, He said.
“With these immense resources, Africa should accelerate investments in technology, innovations, policies and regulations to speed up a renewables revolution. Africa cannot power its homes or businesses with potential. Africa must utilize its huge renewable energy potential and combine this with conventional energy to light up and power Africa.”
“The B&FT will increase and strengthen its policy dialogue platforms and engagements on energy for Africa. This is why we are working with you, our partners in the sector today to unlock all of Africa’s potential, conventional and renewables, and develop energy mixes that will not only light up Africa but also power industries,” he added.
It’s Champions League time again. AC Milan, after the draw in Salzburg and the home win against Dinamo Zagreb, fly to London to face Graham Potter’s Chelsea. The date is set for Wednesday 5 October 21:00 CEST at Stamford Bridge, for the third match day of Group E. Coach Stefano Pioli and Olivier Giroud presented the match in a press conference the night before:
STEFANO PIOLI
TOMORROW’S CHALLENGE
“It’s a match between two teams that play offensive football, two formations that try to dictate the game. The quality of our opponents is high, so I certainly expect a difficult match. The team is growing, we have to use these experiences to continue on our path. I think this group has already shown that it is mature, every game will allow us to understand our level and to grow further”.
ON CHELSEA AND POTTER
“Chelsea will try to play the game with determination from the start and pace throughout the match. We will have to try to create problems for the opponent and we have the qualities to do that. I know Potter well because I followed Brighton last year, he offers offensive and quality football. They used two different set-ups in the two games with him in charge and that’s a rarity for a coach who has just arrived. We know Chelsea and their characteristics well.”
YOUTH AND INJURY EMERGENCY
“The club has made precise choices by building a young team but with the right blend of experienced players. With young people you need patience, having teammates like Olivier, Simon and Zlatan is a great support for them. The team has to play with its own qualities and give its best without thinking about the absentees. The packed schedule does not help in this situation, but I am accompanied by serious and capable professionals, we will look at how we can improve”.
ISMAËL BENNACER
“There are different types of leaders in a team. Isma leads through his technical ability and character because of the example he sets for his teammates, he always trains at 100 per cent”.
OLIVIER GIROUD
EMOTIONS AS A FORMER PLAYER
“I am very happy to return to this stadium, I have great memories at Stamford Bridge and with Chelsea, where I won the Champions League. We want to show our quality in this competition after winning the Scudetto last season, with humility but also awareness of our ability. I told my teammates that I am proud to come and play here with them”.
BETWEEN CHELSEA AND FORMER TEAMMATES
“The atmosphere will be fantastic and the pitch is flawless. I think we are ready, I expect a close game. I hope I will be welcomed by the fans, I had a good time here and I got on well with the club. I know our opponents having played with them but they have changed a lot tactically.”
SPECIAL MOMENTS AND GOALS
“The World Cup I won with France was crazy emotionally, unique for me, but the Scudetto celebrations with AC Milan were also incredible. We want to do well in the Champions League, I always aim to win and I’m proud of the trophies I’ve won so far, but I want even more”.
President Akufo-Addo has stood by his declaration to put his presidency on the line in the fight against illegal mining popularly known as ‘galamsey’.
According to him, he was being truthful when he made that proclamation in 2017.
Some Ghanaians in recent times have come to believe that the President Akufo-Addo was merely paying lip service when he declared that he was ready to put his presidency on the line for the ‘galamsey’ fight.
The group argued that if the President really meant what he promised, he would have resigned considering the extent of damage ‘galamsey’ has caused to the nation. In their view, the menace has only worsened under his watch.
But addressing these concerns during a meeting with National House of Chiefs and MMDCEs, the President said he was being honest.
According to him, his determination to rid the country of ‘galamsey’ has come at a cost to his party.
He, however, insisted that the declaration was “neither bombast nor reckless” but one that was a “simple truth.”
“Since I took office on January 7, 2017, nearly six years ago, I have made it a central feature of my presidency to lead in the effort to rid our country of this menace. Indeed, it was an important aspect of my inaugural speech of that day. It has not been easy and we have not got the immediate result that I was looking for.
“Indeed, in the 2020 election, my stance on the issue caused my party and I significant loses in the mining communities,” he said on Wednesday.
Government has been fighting illegal mining for many years, but the efforts and investments have all proved futile.
Five years ago, the Akufo-Addo government launched a joint Police and soldier taskforce named ‘Operation Vanguard’ to rid the country of illegal miners.
It was during the launch that the President made his famous statement, “I am prepared to put my presidency on the line on this matter.”
Despite the massive public support, the impact of the operation was minuscule.
Fast forward to 2019, the government established ‘Operation Halt’ to end the illegal exploitation of another natural resource, timber, especially in the Brong-Ahafo and Western regions, and the unrestrained destruction of forest reserves because of illegal mining, farming and lumbering.
The operation was relaunched in 2022.
However, Ghanaians are skeptical about government’s commitment to the cause since a JoyNews investigative piece, Destruction for Gold, has uncovered that some NPP stalwarts are engaged in the act.
But President Akufo-Addo says his government is committed to eradicating the canker root and stem.
He stressed that traditional leaders should not relent in the fight adding that “we have to win the fight to save our environment.”
Ronaldo has made eight appearances for Manchester United in all competitions so far this season
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says Cristiano Ronaldo is unhappy at not playing regularly.
Ronaldo, 37, has started one Premier League game and two Europa League matches for United so far this season.
He was an unused substitute in Sunday’s 6-3 defeat by Manchester City, with Ten Hag saying the decision was “out of respect for his big career.”
“He’s not happy that he wasn’t playing Sunday” said Ten Hag before Thursday’s Europa League game at Omonia Nicosia.
“Of course, he wants to play and he’s annoyed when he’s not playing. It’s clear.”
Ten Hag added: “But when I tell you all the players, when you’re here and you’re happy, or satisfied, when you’re on the bench, this is not a club where you have to be, and especially Cristiano.
“He’s really competitive, as we all know. He’s not happy of course when he’s not playing.
“But I already said and, I have to repeat, he’s training well, he has a good mood, he’s motivated and he gives his best. That is what we expect.”
Ten Hag’s decision to leave Ronaldo on the bench as United was criticised with former United captain Roy Keane accusing the club of “showing disrespect” to the player.
Instead, Anthony Martial was brought on and profited by scoring two late consolation goals.
Ten Hag accepts the treatment for Ronaldo was specific.
“I think, when you’re honest, you know there is a difference.
“Nobody is the same in the team, I will treat everyone with respect but they all have different backgrounds.
“I have to treat players differently to get the best out of them, but there are general standards and values that count for everyone.”
‘Thank you Pep’
Ten Hag twice said the Manchester City defeat was “a reality check” for his team and a reminder of the standards they need to reach in order to get to the levels he is demanding.
And for that, he thanks Pep Guardiola, who worked with the Dutchman at Bayern Munich.
“Now we get a reality check with Manchester City, we know we have to step up,” he said.
“So thank you for the lesson, Pep and City, we will take that and we have to understand we have to do things much better.”
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At least 25 people have died after a bus plunged into a gorge in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.
Officials said at least 40 were on board when the bus veered off the road and fell into a ravine in Pauri Garhwal district on Tuesday night.
So far, 21 passengers have been rescued following an overnight operation led by the state’s disaster response force.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that his “thoughts are with the bereaved families”.
The bus was carrying a wedding procession from Laldhang to Bironkhal village in Uttarakhand when the accident happened.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known, but state authorities said they were investigating the incident.
Senior police official Swatantra Kumar Singh told ANI news agency that a rescue operation was still under way on Wednesday.
Pictures from the scene showed the mangled remains of the bus lying near a steep hill as rescue personnel helped pull out the survivors.
Uttarkhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that all possible help was being provided to the rescue teams to aid their efforts.
Road safety is notoriously bad in India, with more than 100,000 dying each year in crashes due to poor driving and dilapidated roads.
Buses are a popular mode of transport in India, especially in smaller towns. But operators often flout safety rules and pack them beyond their capacity.
Comedian Funny Face has advised fans and members of the general public to avoid thoughts of committing suicide even in their toughest times.
Funny Face told the audience at the Too Cute To Be Mute show over the weekend that regardless of what struggles they are going through, they should trust that it would be over.
“I don’t know what you are going through, I don’t know your problem but I can tell you for a fact that you will come through. Whatever you’re going through, you’ll be okay. I have been through mine, I am okay. Suicide is never an option, never take the road to suicide,” he said.
The comedian in the past year has been in and out of rehab after an Accra District Court ordered a psychiatric examination.
After spending weeks at the Accra Psychiatric hospital, the comedian left fans worried once again as he threatened to kill his baby mama and later commit suicide.
Liverpool’s win over Rangers saw Darwin Nunez make his first start since being sent off against Crystal Palace
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez says he has found adapting to English football difficult but the Uruguayan accepts that has been partly self-inflicted.
Signed for an initial £64m, he scored on his Premier League debut, only to be sent off in the next game.
And if it wasn’t for two members of Jurgen Klopp’s coaching team, Nunez, 23, says he would have “no idea” what the Reds’ German boss was saying.
“We don’t talk much,” he said. “I don’t know English, he doesn’t know Spanish.”
Nunez has spent the last two seasons in Portugal with Benfica and two of Klopp’s coaches – Pep Lijnders and Vitor Matos – speak Portuguese.
“They are the translators when Klopp talks to the group,” Nunez told TNT Sports Brasil.external-link “They sit next to me and explain what I have to do.
“If they didn’t explain it to me, I’d enter the field with no idea what to do.
“But the relationship with the coach is that he supports me, gives me confidence and I have to repay that on the field.”
Will Liverpool striker Nunez learn from horror home debut?
‘I have to calm my nerves and talk less’Nunez was sent off against Palace for headbutting defender Joachim Andersen
After serving a three-match ban for his red card against Crystal Palace, Nunez has failed to score in five appearances for Liverpool.
But he made his first start for the Reds in a month on Tuesday, helping them beat Rangers 2-0 in the Champions League.
“The truth is that it was a little difficult to adapt but I believe that, as training and games go by, I will adapt little by little,” Nunez added.
“[After the red card] was a very tough time. I know I made a big mistake and now I’m aware that it won’t happen again.
“I have to calm my nerves during the games, talk less. We all make mistakes and I know it will serve as a learning experience.
“The important thing is to leave my mark on the team, be someone who can always contribute by playing well and, if I don’t score, I have to be calm.
“When the first [goal] goes in, more will go in. I’ve been through that [before] and it’s a little uncomfortable because, in the end, as forwards we live on goals.
“But I’m calm, the coach has always supported me. My team-mates also support me at all times and I will always try to help the team by scoring goals or, even without a goal, try to help the best I can.”
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Seven people have been picked up by the Economic and Organised Crime office (EOCO) for their alleged involvement in cybercrime activities.
The suspects were arrested following an intelligence-led swoop at a house at Manhean in Accra.
According to EOCO, 28 suspects believed to be engaged in fraudulent activities were initially taken into custody.
It was determined that 21 of them were victims of human trafficking from Nigeria to Ghana.
The remaining suspects were remanded into custody while EOCO commences investigations.
“On 26th September 2022, the Economic and Organised Crime Office conducted an intelligence-led swoop at a house at Manhean, Obeyeyie in the Greater Accra Region. At the end of the exercise 28 Nigerians, suspected to be engaged in Prohibited Cyber Activities, were taken into custody.”
“After our initial screening, 21 of the persons were determined to be victims of Human Trafficking from Nigeria to Ghana. The seven suspects have since been remanded into lawful custody whilst investigations are ongoing,” a statement from the police added.
Ghanaian Afropop and Afrobeats singer, Sheila Music, who is the daughter of legendary Highlife singer, Nana Acheampong, has disclosed that almost all her siblings have been blessed with singing talent.
Two of Nana Acheampong’s daughters, Gyakie and Sheila, have ventured into active music by following the footsteps of their father, who is known as one of the country’s best songwriters.
Nana Acheampong has composed several hit songs including ‘Hwe Nwa Okyere’, ‘Kyere Me Wodo’, and ‘ Nanka Ebeye Den’.
“Music runs in our blood and family. Almost everybody can sing in my family, but with some, the grades are different. Some of us have more upper hand in bringing songs out, so yeah, it is in the blood and in the family. We were born to do music and that’s what we are doing,” Sheila disclosed.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb’s Paula Amma Broni on Talkertainment, she shared her experience as the daughter of a music star.
She added that she has handled it normal although many see it as a big deal.
“Growing up wasn’t anything extra o. It was cool, he made sure we acted like normal children. To the world, it was a big surprise, but yeah, Nana Acheampong is my father. It was normal to me. He would sometimes come to pick us up from school and people would be surprised to see him. I will just tell him to buy ice cream for me. It was cool and amazing,” she said.
Also, Sheila added that growing up as a young girl, she was careful with the information she gave out to strangers, especially those who overstepped their boundaries.
“A lot of times, they did come to me. Some would want to overstep and know what’s really happening in the family. I mean be very private but we were coached against that stuff…if the person wants to go deep, I will be like, I beg, mind your own business (laughs).”
Sheila who is currently promoting her 2022 single ‘Like That’ which features rapper Strongman has announced that she is not going to be a nine-day wonder but instead bless music lovers with her tunes.
Almost Everybody In My Family Can Sing – Nana Acheampong’s Daughter Reveals
Ukraine has joined Spain and Portugal’s bid to host the 2030 Fifa World Cup.
Representatives of the Spanish, Portuguese and Ukrainian football associations confirmed their plans at Uefa’s headquarters on Wednesday.
Ukraine was invaded by Russia in February and the war has continued since then with thousands of troops and civilians killed and major cities suffering significant destruction.
Spain and Portugal originally announced a joint bid in June 2021.
“Our bid is not an Iberian bid any more, it’s a European bid,” Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish federation (RFEF), said.
“I’m convinced that now our bid is much better than before. Football is universal and if it is capable of changing the life of people in so many ways it should also be used for doing good.”
The three-way partnership has “unconditional support” from Uefa, European football’s governing body, according to a statement by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).
“The example of tenacity and resilience set by the Ukrainian people is inspiring,” the FPF said. “This proposal aims to contribute through the power of football to the recovery of a country undergoing reconstruction.”
FPF president Fernando Soares Gomes da Silva said: “We are convinced that by 2030 we will have peace in Europe and that Ukraine will be able to host it in the best way possible.”
The Spain, Portugal and Ukraine bid will compete against a joint South American proposal from Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile, as well as a collaboration between Egypt, Greece and Saudi Arabia.
The RFEF said the addition of Ukraine to the bid would not lead to any changes to the planned 11 venues in Spain and three in Portugal.
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Some illegal miners at Denkyira Nkotimso in the Central Region have allegedly tortured two suspected thieves on the site.
According to reports, although the duo had attempted to explain their mission on the site, the miners were unconvinced.
They were, therefore, subjected to severe beatings.
According to Accra-based Kasapa FM, amidst the scuffle, a Youth Chief of Nkotimso pulled a gun and shot at the legs of one of the accused who had been stripped naked.
The Police in the area subsequently intervened and prevented the mob from lynching the suspects.
They also arrested some Chinese nationals and a few others involved in the mob action.
Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kwesi Nyantakyi has provided the roadmap to making Otto Addo successful with the Black Stars.
Ghana is returning to the global showpiece after missing out in Russia 2018.
The West African powerhouse are paired in Group H against Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea.
Speaking to KINGS TVGH SPORTS, the former 1st CAF Vice President advised Otto Addo to believe in himself and make firm decisions ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“Everyone in Ghana loves football, so there are many different perspectives. We usually say that we’re all coaches,”
“Otto Addo must believe in himself and understand that he is there because he deserves the position.”
“He should select the best Ghanaian players to represent the country at the World Cup.”
“He’ll be confused if he listens to what everyone says, because I have an opinion, and you [interviewee] have an opinion, but we’re not coaches.”
“He should be firm and not tolerate opinions that won’t benefit him,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo says the activities of illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey’ pose an existential threat to the country.
The President said the menace is a common enemy all Ghanaians must help defeat.
“The progress of our country depends on all of us, all citizens of Ghana, all fellow Ghanaians pulling together to defeat this existential threat to our future,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo
He made the comments when he addressed the National House of Chiefs on the issue on Wednesday.
At the same meeting, President Akufo-Addo urged the chiefs to take partisanship out of the ‘galamsey’ fight.
According to him, the fight is a national battle and must precede all other interests which he stressed is the only way the fight can be won.
President Akufo-Addo
“There are many things I intend to beg of you during the close door session of our meeting, but one of the most significant which I have to state now is to seek your assistance to take partisan political interest out of the fight against ‘galamsey’.
“It can only succeed if it’s a truly national battle which no one seeks to exploit for political gains as we saw in the last election,” he urged.
Meanwhile, he intimated that neither he nor his government is against mining.
However, what he opposes is irresponsible mining.
“I have said it before. We are not against mining but we cannot accept mining in a manner that risks destroying our country.”
Victory and the fastest lap for Max Verstappen in Japan on Sunday will seal the Formula One title for the Red Bull ace and continue a record in the land of the rising sun.
The Japanese Grand Prix has been the venue where championship winners have been crowned the most, happening on 12 occasions – the last of which was Sebastian Vettel for Red Bull in 2011.
Verstappen, who will also win the title if Charles Leclerc finishes third or lower and team-mate Sergio Perez finishes second or lower without the fastest lap, can clinch the title with four races to spare – only Michael Schumacher in 2002 (6) and Nigel Mansell in 1995 (5) have been crowned champion sooner in the season.
A further honour also awaits Verstappen in Japan, where a win would be the 23rd different venue where he has topped the podium, surpassing Schumacher (22) and behind only Lewis Hamilton (31).
Regardless of Verstappen’s exploits in Japan, the title is a near certainty to be heading his way and it would require a remarkable sequence of events for the situation to change.
The budget cap situation is the biggest threat, with the FIA set to announce results for the 2021 season on Wednesday, although any outcome is unlikely to be final and arguments are expected to rumble on within the paddock.
Leclerc’s pole problem
Charles Leclerc has taken pole position and failed to win the race on seven occasions in 2022, the most recent coming in Singapore last weekend where Sergio Perez won ahead of the Ferrari driver.
Another pole without a win in 2022 would equal the highest tally in a single season, set by Mika Hakkinen in 1999 and Nico Rosberg in 2014.
Alonso waits for record
Fernando Alonso set the record for most Grand Prix stats in F1 last weekend (350) but is still waiting to take the record for the most F1 finishes – missing the opportunity to set the record in the last two races.
Alonso is tied with Kimi Raikkonen for the most races finished (378) and has suffered back-to-back DNF’s in Italy and Singapore, with Lewis Hamilton (276 finishes) now threatening to leapfrog him if that trend continues.
The Minority in Parliament has called for the swift announcement of a new farm gate price of cocoa for the 2022/2023 season.
The regulator for the Cocoa sector, COCOBOD, has secured a syndicated loan of $1.13 billion for the next crop season but is yet to adjust the farm-gate price which currently sits at GH¢660 per 64 kg bag.
Ivory Coast, however, raised its price by 9% per kilogram.
At a press conference today, Ranking Member on the Finance Committee, Cassiel Ato Forson, entreated the government to increase the producer price to Ghc1000 per bag
“Cocoa farmers are fed up and demand their cocoa prices now. The suspense cannot continue,” Mr. Forson said.
He noted further that the uncertainties over the pricing were getting very worrying for farmers.
“After these uncertainties, the government should not announce any price below GHS per bag, in other words, GHS16,000 per metric tonne.”
Mr. Forson added that the current prices were passed on an old exchange rate.
We wish to remind them that the dollar is now trading at more than GHS10 per dollar,”
“Even at the dollar equivalent price farmers and all stakeholders, including the Licenced Buying Companies and hauliers, should receive higher prices and margins this year.”
The government had previously indicated the new prices will be announced next week.
Ghana last increased its farm gate price in 2022; from GHS515 to GHS660.
That was a historic 28% hike that followed the $400 Living Income Differential on every tonne of cocoa.
Max Verstappen could seal the world title in Japan, while Lewis Hamilton will be aiming for his first pole position of the season in Sunday’s race.
Verstappen’s run of five victories came to an end in Singapore last weekend, but Red Bull’s winning streak goes on as the world champion’s team-mate Sergio Perez claimed a superb victory in mixed conditions.
Heading into this week’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, Perez is still mathematically in title contention, as is Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finished second in Singapore.
But with a 104-point lead in the standings and only four more races on the calendar after this weekend, if Verstappen is able to outscore Leclerc by eight points and Perez by six in Japan, he will seal his second world championship.
Ferrari lacking race pace
Leclerc took his ninth pole position of the season in Singapore — a tally which now cannot be beaten this season, but once again the Monegasque driver was unable to show the same speed during the race.
The Ferrari star lost the lead at the start as Perez beat him to the first corner, and although the pair came close a couple of times, the Mexican took a fairly comfortable victory in the end.
That means Leclerc has now failed to convert any of his last seven pole positions into race victories.
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz, despite finishing third in the second Ferrari, struggled for pace throughout and quickly dropped out of contention.
Ferrari’s main problem has been keeping the tyres alive, and that’s a weakness that could really hurt them in Japan.
The Suzuka circuit features long sweeping curves and many high-speed changes of direction which tortures tyres.
Hamilton could be hot in qualifying
Mercedes will have been looking forward to the visit to Suzuka for some time, as the track should be ideal for their car.
The Silver Arrows revel in long corners where the car’s trait of keeping its tyres cool give it an advantage, particularly over a long distance.
So team boss Toto Wolff and drivers Hamilton and George Russell will have been gutted to see rain forecast for much of the weekend.
A wet track totally changes the characteristics of the circuit and would negate Mercedes’ strengths, as we saw last week when they struggled for grip in the rain.
But Saturday’s forecast is dry and after missing out on pole position by just 0.05 seconds in Singapore, Hamilton will quietly fancy his chances of taking a first pole of the season.
Prediction
For once, Verstappen was far from perfect in Singapore, fluffing the start, going off the track shortly after a safety car restart and almost colliding with a competitor, but the Dutchman is a deserved favourite to put that behind him and win in Japan.
However, team-mate Perez has won both rain-affected races this year and the confidence boost last week will have given him could well carry him to the top three at Suzuka.
Perez has eight podiums from 17 races this year — all either first or second-place finishes — and he he will be aiming to add to that tally this weekend.
Sergio Perez won last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix
Lance Stroll is another who enjoys wet conditions, as his season-best sixth place at Singapore showed and the Canadian Aston Martin driver is available at 11/10 for a seventh points finish of the season.
Saturday is expected to be the one dry day of the weekend and, while Hamilton has not added to his career tally of 103 pole positions this year, this looks to be one of his better chances and he is available at 10/1 to earn top spot on the grid.
After impressing at the 2010 World Cup, fans expected the Black Stars to put up a similar showing in Brazil.
However, Ghana’s journey to Rio was headlined by indiscipline with players threatening not to train due to unpaid wages and appearance fees.
The Black Stars eventually suffered an elimination with a win and picked just a point,
Nyantakyi, who was President at the time, confirmed that the main problem in Brazil was money.
“2006 World Cup was very successful. 2010 was also very successful. The unsuccessful one was the 2014 World Cup,” he told Kings TVGH Sports, a YouTube channel.
“There were a lot of problems in that World Cup. The money that was supposed to be given to the players were released from the Bank of Ghana to the Ministry of Youth and Sports account. When it was time to pay the players from that account, it became a big argument.
“Based on our previous experiences, the appearance fees were supposed to be paid to the players in Ghana before they go. That is either by cheque or by bank transfer. There was no need to carry the money to Brazil,” he concluded.
Nyantakyi served as the head of the governing body from 2005 to 2018 and led the country to qualify for its maiden appearance in 2006 in Germany.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo believes the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey can be won if it is not politicized.
He holds the view that until the menace is treated with a nationalistic approach, the fight against it cannot be won.
Speaking at a meeting with the National House of Chiefs, the President bemoaned how all efforts to fight galamsey have failed.
“It is obvious that, if we are to win the fight, you and l have to take the lead to collaborate closely to do so. That is why I am here today. After our meeting, I will also be meeting with the other half of the local government [institutions]-the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives in the ninety metropolitan, municipal, and district areas across the country, where mining activities take place, to seek their active collaboration.”
He also called on the chiefs to support government’s effort in dealing with the menace.
“There are many requests I intend to make of you in the close-door session of our meeting, but one of the most significant, which I have to state now, is to seek your assistance to take partisan political interests out of the fight against galamsey.”
“It can only succeed if it is a truly national battle, which no one seeks to exploit for political gain, as we saw in the last election.”
The eyes of the racing world will be fixed on Paris come Sunday afternoon as Longchamp stages Europe’s most prestigious race — the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The mile-and-a-half Group 1 event has been won by some of the biggest names in racing and boasts a first prize of €3,150,000.
It is the centrepiece on a brilliant afternoon of sport from Paris-Longchamp on Sunday and our expert looks ahead to the big race of the weekend.
Trends to note in the Arc
With the huge interest the Arc generates, no stone is left unturned in terms of studying past races in search of clues to future instalments.
Six of the last 10 winners were aged four, while 2019 winner Waldgeist was the only five-year-old to win in that period while Enable (2017), Golden Horn (2015) and Treve (2013) all scored for the Classic generation.
Getting the mile-and-a-half trip is critical as they can get racing from a long way out.
All of the last 10 winners had won over this distance previously, with 2012 winner Solemia the only one not to have scored over the trip at Group 1 level before Longchamp.
Enable (2017 & 2018) is the only market leader to win the Arc in the previous decade, while last year’s winner Torquator Tasso was a rank outsider.
The Frankie Factor
With six wins stretching from Lammtarra in 1995 right through until Enable’s second win in 2018, Frankie Dettori is unmatched in terms of Arc wins.
The veteran Italian lives for the big occasion and few are bigger than this race in Paris.
Dettori has got the call to partner German runner TORQUATOR TASSO as he defends the crown.
He has got a German Group 2 at Hamburg on his CV this season and was second behind Pyledriver in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot in July on ground far faster than ideal.
Dettori partnered him for the first time at Baden-Baden last month and they were second in the Group 1 Preis von Baden.
With softening conditions in Paris and rain forecast for Sunday, conditions are set to be optimal for last year’s surprise winner, though he will not be catching anyone unawares now.
Luxembourg with something to prove
Given that he has never run over this far before, likely market leader Luxembourg has something to prove if he is going to provide master-trainer Aidan O’Brien with a third Arc win.
He was strong through the line in the Irish Champion Stakes last time, holding off re-opposing Onesto by a half-length and connections believe he will stay this trip.
However, until he proves it the question lingers — while plenty in France believe the extra two furlongs will favour Frankel colt Onesto, who was just a half-length behind him in Ireland three weeks ago.
Alpinista strong but Arc prize may go West
Westover ticks plenty of boxes for Sunday’s big race
Sir Mark Prescott’s mare Alpinista has won her last seven starts, five of them at Group 1 level, and is proven at this distance.
Big-race rider Luke Morris suggested this week there are not ‘too many chinks in her armour’ but, even so, only two five-year-olds have won the Arc in the last 33 years.
With that in mind, WESTOVER is selected to become the 19th three-year-old Arc scorer in 29 renewals.
Ralph Beckett’s Frankel colt was an unlucky third in the Epsom Derby, trapped on the running rail before flying home, and he then turned the Irish Derby into a procession at the Curragh soon after in a stylish Group 1 win over this trip.
His only start since came in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot in July where he was far too keen in the early stages and faded once things got serious.
That was three top-level runs in seven weeks and connections have opted to back off since.
He comes here fresh, has won off a layoff and ticks plenty of the stats boxes for a big effort at Longchamp — including soft-ground form, proven stamina and a good draw.
He could rebound in spectacular style if returning rider Rob Hornby can plot a good path.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has expressed how difficult the fight against illegal mining, also known as galasmey has been.
Addressing the National House of Chiefs on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, the President said the fight against illegal mining has been prominent on his list since he assumed office.
“Since I assumed office in 2017 I have made it a central feature of my presidency to lead in the efforts to rid our country of this menace, which we all now call galamsey. Indeed, it was an important aspect of my inaugural address of that day”.
“It has not been popular, and we have not got the immediate results that I was looking for,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo said the view he made to fight the menace five years ago cost him and the NPP “significant losses in the mining communities” during election 2020.
“It turned out that my statement that I was putting my presidency on the line in the fight against galamsey was neither bombast nor recklessness. It was a simple truth.”
The President is nevertheless committed to fulfilling the promise he made to Ghanaians to bring an end to the menace.
“I ask you all to join hands with me in the fight against illegal mining, in order to bring an end to the devastation of our landscape and the pollution of water bodies. We have to win that fight to keep our environment clean and protect our land and waters,” he told the chiefs.
President Akufo-Addo in July 2017, in a similar forum against illegal mining, organised to get Ghana’s chiefs involved in the fight against galamsey put his presidency on the line for the fight. He vowed to stop the menace, even if he ends up losing the presidency.
Zion Williamson impressed in his return for the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday after missing the entire 2021-22 season, although he says he “couldn’t show them everything”.
The 2019 NBA Draft top overall pick put in a 15-minute cameo, scoring 13 points with four rebounds as the Pelicans won 129-125 over the Chicago Bulls in their preseason opener.
Williamson, 22, had not played competitively for the Pelicans for 514 days, dating back to May 2021, having sat out last season with a foot injury.
The power forward, who said he felt like he was at his best again at last week’s media day, was impressive during his brief appearance, where he teamed up with an unfamiliar Pelicans line-up to that which he last played with following numerous personnel changes.
“Couldn’t show them everything,” Williamson told reporters. “But just kind of getting a feel for it again. Find spots. Picking and choosing where I want to attack.
“But I got a new team since the last time I played. I’m still learning some of the guys. Today we were able to click.
“I feel like if we can do that for the rest of these preseason games, I feel we’ll be in pretty good shape.”
The Pelicans struggled in Williamson’s absence last season, missing the playoffs with a 36-46 record under head coach Willie Green.
“He looked good and he’s just going to continue to get better,” Green said about Williamson.
“That’s what we know about Z. He works at it. He’s a competitor. And you know it doesn’t look like it, but he had 13 points, four rebounds in 15 minutes. That’s the type of work he puts in on the floor.”
Williamson averaged 27.0 points with 61.1 percent shooting, 3.7 assists and 7.2 rebounds across 61 games in the 2020-21 season before his foot injury. He only played 24 times in his rookie season in 2019-20 before becoming an NBA All-Star in 2021.
Reading are set to be without captain Andy Yiadom for some weeks due to injury, having missed their clash with fellow Sky Bet Championship high-flyers Norwich on Tuesday night.
The Ghana defender was forced off with a calf injury in last Saturday’s win over Huddersfield, leaving manager Paul Ince fearing a spell on the sidelines.
Yiadom compatriot Abdul Baba Rahman has also been ruled out for a month with a hamstring.
“This is an opportunity for him. We’ll be missing Baba for a month and this is an opportunity for him to cement his place,” Paul Ince said as quoted by the club’s website.
Yiadom has been consistent performers for Reading this season, making 11 appearances across all competitions.
Reading are third on the Championship log with 22 points after drawing 1-1 with Norwich City on match week 12 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium
Ghanaian youth have been asked to put to good use, their political persuasions to act as change agents in their various fields of endeavour.
According to Prof. Kofi Sraku-Lartey, Head of the Kumasi campus of Wisconsin International University College, critical minds are essential in proffering solutions to economic and other challenges in society.
He believes the youth are better placed to lead the charge of development.
“The country’s future is in your hands. If you do not learn from what is happening and decide to work together, I can bet you that, the future of this country will be very bleak,” he said at the matriculation ceremony of the University.
About 580 students were enrolled into various programs such as Nursing, Midwifery, Business, and Information Technology among others.
Prof. Sraku-Lartey noted that political activism on campuses should be devoid of bickering.
“Those aspiring to form TEIN or TESCON or whatever, are you doing this to continue with this divide? Remember that consensus building starts here within the walls of the University,” he stated.
“If as students you are not able to work together because you don’t support the SRC team, or because you support a certain kind of political persuasion, you will certainly leave this University with many ideas and knowledge, but not knowing how to solve problems.”
Prof. Sraku-Lartey cited Joshua 1:8, which states, “This book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do,” to advise students to be cautious in their interactions on campus and elsewhere.
“Matriculants, the partnership we are entering into today requires that you also uphold your end of the bargain as well. Work hard, exercise integrity, and seize all opportunities available for your betterment,” he stated.
Academic success, according to Prof Sraku-Lartey, is dependent on discipline, good time management, dedication, critical thinking and problem solving, communication and collaboration.
The Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has said Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) as the main source of cooking fuel rose from 24.5 percent in 2017 to 36.9 percent in 2021.
According to him, the increase in the adoption rate of gas as the main source of cooking fuel is a result of regulatory interventions focused on rural LPG promotions to distribute free cylinders, intensified public education on safe usage of LPG, infrastructural development, improvement in supply and distribution and LPG pricing structure.
Speaking at the 3rd West Africa LPG Conference and Expo under the theme “Towards Making LPG The Clean Fuel of West Africa”, the NPA Boss said the objective of government is to ensure at least 50 percent penetration by 2050.
Dr Abdul-Hamid said even though Ghana had made gains in LPG consumption over the past five years, there were challenges which have threatened the sustainability of the LPG market in Ghana.
“Challenges such as slow uptake in particularly low-income areas, affordability, accessibility, non-adherence to safety requirements by some operators, old and unsafe cylinders, among others have threatened the sustainability of the LPG market in Ghana”.
“To remedy the situation, the government of Ghana in October 2017 launched the National LPG Promotion Policy with the objective of ensuring that at least 50 per cent of Ghanaians have access to LPG for domestic, commercial, and industrial use by 2030. The Policy is to be driven by the new marketing and distribution model, the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM),” he emphasized
On his part, the Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh said the LPG industry presents an attractive solution to leverage the shift to cleaner energy sources while promoting Africa’s industrialization agenda.
“And I believe it will take the collective efforts from academia, the industry and government to prudently push West Africa to maximize the economic gains across the entire LPG value chain”, he added.
Victor Wembanyama lived up to his considerable hype in scoring 37 points against Scoot Henderson’s G League Ignite.
The French 18-year-old is the top prospect in the 2023 NBA Draft but was yet to play in the United States before Tuesday’s game with his Metropolitans 92 team.
Wembanyama had described it as “the biggest game I’ve played in my life”, and he did not disappoint on that stage.
The seven-foot-four forward got to his game-leading points haul on 11-of-20 shooting, including making a remarkable seven of 11 threes. He also had five blocks on the defensive end.
It was not enough to beat the Ignite, with Henderson – the projected number two pick – inspiring a 122-115 win, but a big half-time deficit set Wembanyama up to dominate.
“At some point, it was just about taking over,” he explained afterwards. “Our team definitely needed players to step up because we were down [21 points], I think.
“Coming back from such a lead is a tough task, so you’ve got to take responsibility.
“Three is more than two, so in these times, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do, like taking fast-break threes. You’ve got to score points as fast as possible.”
Henderson finished with 28 points, nine assists and five rebounds and said of his performance: “I feel like I played pretty good. I’ve still got areas of my game where I feel like I need to get better, for sure, and that’s not on the stat sheet.”
But the Ignite star was not interested in comparisons with Wembanyama, adding: “I didn’t really think about it too much. I was there to win
“They talk, but I wasn’t paying attention to all that. I try to stay off social media as much as I can when it comes to comparing and contrasting players.
“I wanted to – I don’t really feed into that. I just feed into going into the game 110 per cent and focusing on winning. That was my main goal today, and we got the goal done.”
Henderson did add Wembanyama is “a pretty good player”, even if “nothing really surprised me”.
And Wembanyama was complimentary in return, saying of his fellow prospect: “He’s tough to guard – just what I expected.
“I think the biggest point of his game is his aggressiveness. Every time the ball is in his hands, it’s something you can feel on the court: he can do something dangerous, he can slash, he can shoot the ball.
“I was surprised in a good way – he’s a great player.”
Tyson Fury’s co-promoter Frank Warren has accused Anthony Joshua’s camp of radio silence, stating they have “bent over backwards” in pursuit of an agreement.
The saga surrounding the ‘Battle of Britain’ bout on December 3 rumbles on without an apparent conclusion, after Fury issued his rival a deadline of Monday to sign a contract before he walked away.
Joshua failed to do that, leading Fury to close the door on a bout, but he handed an olive branch to his compatriot once again on Thursday, though made it clear a verdict would need to be reached before the end of the day.
On AJ’s side, Eddie Hearn has said he was ‘baffled’ by Fury’s behaviour and dubbed the deadlines as ‘unrealistic’ but Fury’s camp have a contrasting view, claiming they are not getting any responses.
“We’ve done all that’s necessary with BT, ESPN and DAZN. They’re all happy. We gave them a contract. They’ve had it for two weeks and it hasn’t come back yet,” he told TalkSport.
“Ticketing and the venue is ready to go. We’ve agreed transparency with them. Everything in the pot. Everything they needed, co-promotion, the lot – we’ve bent over backwards. We’ve not had anything back.
“I had a bet with Tyson that we’d get it done in the next few days. He said ‘no, Joshua doesn’t want the fight’. I’ve lost the bet. Joshua said he wanted the fight, so let’s get it done. I don’t understand this.”
Fury has consistently made it clear he will fight in December regardless of the opponent, having stepped back into contention after announcing his retirement after defeating Dillian Whyte at Wembley in April.
If a fight against Joshua does not materialise, Mahmoud Charr stands as the most likely opponent for Fury after he took to social media on Thursday to verbally accept a proposal to face the German.
“Mahmoud Charr, it seems now that AJ is finally out, he’s ducked his way out, coward, and you’re the man who wants to fight, so I like that,” he said on an Instagram video.
“I like the fact you’re very vocal and you’re calling for a fight like a man should do. Any man who wants to fight a man should call him out as you’ve been doing to me. So I accept your challenge Mahmoud Charr, let’s get it on.”
Former Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi explained how Ghanaian clubs can make meaningful impact in Africa.
Ghanaian clubs particularly Kotoko and Hearts of Oak have failed to make impact in the Africa inter club competitions in recent times.
And the former CAF Vice President is of the opinion that Ghanaian clubs can perform well in Africa by recruiting quality players and also getting the qualified technical brains.
“I feel the quality of players is also a problem. Asante Kotoko sold all their quality players to teams they will be competing with. So, if you sell these players to your competitors you don’t expect to do well” he told Kings TV GHSports.
“I feel we must invest in players and the technical team so they can train the players well, it is very important. It’s all about money and we need a way to support teams playing in Africa by giving them some financial incentives.
“Berekum Arsenal and King Faisal didn’t reach the group stage but Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko did but they did not pay the money so the Fund collapsed. It was one of the ways government wanted to help in supporting the clubs in Africa, the FA were just facilitators”.
Three-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons says he is simply grateful be back on the court after making his long-awaited debut for the Brooklyn Nets in pre-season on Monday.
Simmons played 19 minutes in the Nets’ 127-108 loss to his former franchise, the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.
The Australian guard scored six points with five assists and four rebounds in his return, after mental health and injury issues meant he did not play at all last season, even after being traded from the 76ers to the Nets in February.
“I’m grateful just to be able to step on that floor,” Simmons said. “Step on an NBA floor again. I had a lot of fun out there.
“That’s the one thing, I thought I was going to be nervous, but I wasn’t nervous. I was excited.”
Simmons’ return, which was rusty at times, marked 470 days between games for the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year.
It is also the first time the Nets have fielded Simmons alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, offering excitement for the franchise.
“Ben’s playing with a totally different unit than he has in the past, different style,” Nets head coach Steve Nash said.
“It’s going to be ugly at times, but I thought as the half wore on you definitely started to see glimpses of the potential. The way the ball moved. The way they were hounding the basketball defensively.
“I thought Ben looked pretty good overall and grew into the game through the half.”
Simmons admitted that working alongside Durant and Irving would take time but he was excited by the learning process as the Nets build cohesion.
“It was fun messing up because I know how good we can be,” Simmons said. “And seeing just different looks and opportunities there with Kevin and Ky and Joe [Harris]. Seeing where they want the ball and just how things are going to work and flow.
“But the only way you learn is to make mistakes so I had a few out there tonight and I can go back and watch film and say I know what I did wrong and how to fix that, so it’s all a learning process for me so it’s good.”
It noted: “All 3rd party vending points are fully operational.”
“We already have in place a Help Desk to assist these 3rd party vendors who are having challenges with the appropriate firewall and other information to enable them to send without any hitch,” it stated.
Power consumers across certain parts of the country have, for the past seven days, been unable to purchase power on their prepaid meters because of a technical challenge that affected ECG’s prepaid metering systems.
History-maker Aaron Judge admits finally breaking Roger Maris’ American League single-season home run record is a “big relief” after launching his 62nd blast against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday.
Judge’s lead-off homer for the New York Yankees surpassed Maris’ 61-year record, having matched the mark last Wednesday, going five games without a homer leading up.
The Yankees outfielder’s 62nd home run for the season came in their penultimate regular season game, putting him seventh all-time for homers in a single season.
Judge had already exceeded Babe Ruth’s mark from 1927 of 60 home runs in a season, before getting past Maris with 61 from 1961.
“It’s a big relief,” Judge said. “I think that everyone can sit back down in their seats and watch the ball game, you know? But it’s been a fun ride so far.
“Getting a chance to do this, with the team we’ve got, the guys surrounding me, the constant support from my family whose been with me through this whole thing, it’s been a great honor.
“Getting a chance to have my name next to someone as great as Roger Maris, Babe Ruth, those guys, is incredible.”
Judge’s pursuit of his 62nd home run has felt like a circus with the anticipation surrounding him every time he was at bat, from both the dugout and the stands.
The outfielder’s teammates gathered at the home plate after his historic home run to congratulate him, before receiving a standing ovation from the Texas crowd.
“Pretty surreal,” Judge said. “Just like in Toronto, it was pretty awesome, having their support. I think, in Texas, they were a little more excited, they could finally exhale.
“At home, in the dugout, I can see right in and see all the guys sitting at the top steps. Here on the road, they are behind me, so I didn’t see the 40-plus people sitting in the dugout.
“To finally see them run out on the field, and get a chance to hug them all, that’s what it’s about for me.”
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, who made his own history with a franchise record 257th strikeout in a single season, was glowing in praise of Judge.
“Even just to tie the record, let alone break it is a bit surreal,” Cole said. “And obviously, on a night like tonight, it’s just like, ‘Woah’… It’s hard to put into words.”
Judge has hit the most home runs in a single season of any center fielder in MLB history, previously 56 held by Hack Wilson (1930) and Ken Griffey Jr (1997 and 1998).
The Yankee’s latest blast means he is 16 homers ahead of the MLB’s next best, Kyle Schwarber with 46. Judge’s 16-homer lead is the largest since Jimmie Foxx’s 17-homer margin over Ruth from 1932.
Judge’s 62 home runs have totaled a distance of 25,520 feet which is nearly five miles, and a single-season record since Statcast started tracking that in 2015, exceeding teammate Giancarlo Stanton’s 2017 mark of 24,641 feet.
According to him, the CODA sea bus project will run from Axim to Denu and vice versa.
Since the bus system would make the majority of its stops at landing beaches, Mr. Shaib noted that when it is implemented, it will help to improve the country’s traffic problem.
Speaking on Citi TV’s Face to Face programme and monitored by GhanaWeb, the CEO of Coastal Development Authority said, government is “working on a sea transport system referred to us the CODA sea bus.”
“Fortunately, the President has asked the Ministry of Transport and GAPOHA to work on the landing beaches. The structure is that the ferry will be stopping at the landing beaches. We are in serious talks with a private institution and we are far advanced,” he added.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees is congratulated by teammates at home plate after hitting his 62nd home run in the first inning breaking the American League home run record
Aaron Judge is the home run king after blasting his 62nd homer to surpass Roger Maris’ long-standing mark for the American League’s (AL) single-season record.
The New York Yankees outfielder crushed the historic homer into left field in the first inning of Tuesday’s game on the road against the Texas Rangers, their penultimate regular-season game.
Judge had matched Maris’ 61-homer AL and Yankees record last Wednesday with a blast against the Toronto Blue Jays.
However, the Yankee had endured 23 plate appearances or five games since without a home run but he broke the drought early from Rangers pitcher Jesus Tinoco.
Maris’ record had stood since 1961, edging Babe Ruth’s previous record of 60 in 1927.
Only three players have scored more homers in a single season for any franchise than Judge; Barry Bonds (73 in 2001), Mark McGwire (70 in 1999 and 65 in 1999) and Sammy Sosa (66 in 1998, 64 in 2001, 63 in 1999). Those three players all achieved the feat during the steroid era.
John Jinapor, the ranking member of the Parliament’s Mines and Energy Committee, has claimed that the management of the Electricity Company of Ghana intends to transfer control of its payment system to a for-profit organization called Hubtel.
He claims that the private firm is the same one where Kwame Agyeman-Budu, the former MD of ECG, allegedly intended to take control of its payment system for a commission of 1.5 percent.
Speaking on the Good Morning Ghana show on October 4, 2022, John Jinapor alleged that current ECG management is now trying to privatize the payment system at a 4 percent commission rate.
“I’m even told that Hubtel is proposing to charge 4 percent commission. So, there is a lot of internal upheaval among some ECG staff,” he indicated.
He continued, “Don’t forget that during Budu’s time he wanted to embark on the same thing and charge 1.5 (percent commission). The ECG staff held press conferences publicly and agitated against the 1.5 percent commission.”
“They (the ECG staff) believe that they have already developed the app and that it should not cost that much to bring on board a third party,” the MP said.
He added that the National Security has since been engaged in the matter and is probing details of the alleged transaction.
Former Ghana international, Asamoah Gyan, says Africa needs to plan and inject an effort to win the World Cup.
The former Liberty Professionals striker remains the country’s all-time leading goal scorer with six goals having featured in 2006, 2010, and 2014 in Germany South Africa, and Brazil respectively.
In the history of the global showpiece, the farthest an African country has reached the Mundial is the quarter-final round; Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010.
Gyan suggests the quarter-final has been Africa’s long-standing boundary simply because there’s no calculated attempt from the continent.
“We have to make sure we plan ahead, I think that is our problem. Some countries plan years – let’s say ‘in 10 years we have to win the World Cup’. So it’s a plan people take, and that’s why I’m saying it’s a process.
“I’m sure an African country will win it one day, but I don’t know when,” Gyan said in an interview.
“As an African, that is my prayer, I want an African country to also win it, that is what every African is hoping for [but] it depends how the teams approach the tournament. I remember in 2006, the Czech Republic was number 3 in the World, the United States, was number 5, and then there was Germany and Italy. So we [Ghana] were underdogs, everyone thought we were going home.
“But we were able to get through to the next stage of the competition. When you are going to a tournament, how you approach it matters, not the kind of players you have. Statistically, there are favorites, but you have to go and see what happens.”
Meanwhile, Gyan, 36, has shared his desire of making a return with the Black Stars ahead of this year’s edition in Qatar, a wish many Ghanaian faithful are against since he has been out of professional football for close to a year.
Luis Severino was pulled from the New York Yankees’ 3-1 win against the Texas Rangers seven innings through a no-hitter.
Severino finished with 94 pitches, giving up no hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. The strong performance means he will finish this season with an ERA of 3.18, which is his best return since 2017 after only pitching in seven games across the past two seasons.
The Rangers broke up the no-hitter two outs after Severino was removed, but their one run was not enough after both Marwin Gonzalez and Giancarlo Stanton hit solo home-runs for the Yankees in the eighth inning.
Stanton’s was particularly impressive, connecting on a monstrous 457-foot bomb to left-center for his 30th homer of the season. He is tied for 20th in the majors for home runs, and no other member of the top-20 has played in fewer than Stanton’s 109 games.
Still one home run away from the American League and Yankees’ single-season record, Aaron Judge remained on 61 as he finished one-for-four at the plate with an infield single. He has three more games to hit one homer if he is to break Roger Maris’ 61-year-old record set back in 1961.
Pujols hits 703rd career home run
It appeared incredibly unlikely Albert Pujols would reach the magical 700 home run mark at the midpoint of this season, but he has comfortably sailed past that figure and knocked number 703 in the St Louis Cardinals’ 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pujols’ two-run homer in the sixth inning was responsible for all of the Cardinals’ runs in the game, giving him his 24th of the season – his highest tally since 2016. With his two RBIs, he passed Babe Ruth for the second most in the history of the league, trailing only Hank Aaron.
After a combined four home runs in the first three months of the season, Pujols has caught fire and hit 19 in the last four months.
Tony La Russa admits he’s “a little embarrassed” that White Sox fans were chanting “Fire Tony.” pic.twitter.com/qJ3dTZJfKJ
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo struck out 12 batters in six scoreless innings to help his side to a 4-0 win against the Atlanta Braves.
Luzardo gave up four hits and no walks, getting through the sixth inning in 101 pitches. He was then backed up with terrific work from the bullpen, not allowing a single baserunner in the final three innings.
With the bat, Bryan De La Cruz drove in three of the Marlins’ four runs, with an RBI double in the first inning and a two-run home run in the third.
The NDC MPs want the government to raise the price of a bag of cocoa beans from the current 666 cedis to 1000 cedis.
Actually, the uncertainty is becoming really concerning but, allow me to add that given these uncertainties, the government should not declare a price lower than GHC16,000 per metric tonne, or a thousand cedis every bag.
A new cocoa farmgate price for the 2022–2023 crop season, which started on October 1, 2022, was not disclosed by the Ghanaian government.
The Ghana Civil-Society Cocoa Platform (GCCP), an independent campaign and advocacy platform for civil society actors in the cocoa sector wants Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to announce an increase in the Producer Price of Cocoa to ¢838 from the current ¢660 a bag for the 2022/2023 crop season.
But addressing the media in parliament minority spokesperson on finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson revealed Ghanaian cocoa farmers are smuggling their produce to Ivory Coast where prices are high as a result of the delay in announcing the new prices.
The former deputy finance minister argued payment of premium price to farmers is non-negotiable if the smuggling is to stop.
“It will surprise you that on Friday, 30th September 2022, our neighbouring country, Ivory Coast announced a price of 900 CFA franc which is equivalent to GHC852 per bag or GHC13,632 per metric tonne. Eventhough their currency is not depreciating at this rate as we have observed in Ghana. Let me caution that if this government fails to raise the Cocoa prices it could trigger massive smuggling, particularly at a time when we need every single dollar.”
“Today, one thing that this country needs most foreign Exchange, the dollar, and so we cannot afford to allow our cocoa to leave the borders of our country. And we can only do that if indeed we preserve the farmgate price by giving the farmers a good price.”
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