Veteran actress, Belinda Naa Ode Oku, popularly known as Adwoa Smart, could not control her tears when she saw the remains of her late colleague, Reverend Stephen Prince Yawson laid in state.
The final funeral rites of the veteran actor,popularly known as Waakye, came off on Saturday at the forecourt of the State House.
Pictures of the actress at the funeral which have popped up online have evoked emotions among many.
The late actor died at the 37 Military Hospital on August 1, 2022. He was 52.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, has urged Ghanaians to avoid false beliefs and misconceptions that breast cancer is spiritual and instead seek treatment as soon as possible to save lives.
As more cases of the fatal condition—which has no known causes—were being recorded globally, she stated, “forget about people’s ideas and myths on it having spiritual linkages, the sickness has no connection with spirituality.It is not only Ghanaian women that suffer breast cancer.”
She said that cancer was the leading cause of death for women and urged people to quit hiding in their homes, idly spending time at prayer gatherings, and going to unlicensed medical facilities in order to combat breast cancer.
Out of the 4000 diagnoses, more than 2000 Ghanaian women lose their lives to breast cancer each year.
This reflects the close to 50% of women who suffer needlessly from this illness.
She addressed this at the Ahafo-Ano North Municipal Municipality’s Tepa during the 10th BCI Ghana Walk for the Cure.
Thousands of famous people, students, and other people attended this year’s walk along Tepa’s main streets.
“Breast Cancer Won’t Rest, So Why Should We,” was the event’s theme.
According to Dr. Wiafe Addai, who is also the CEO of Peace and Love Hospitals, breast cancer does not stay in the breast alone; if it is not treated early, it can spread to other organs such as the lungs, brain, liver, and bone. She added that secondary prevention, or early detection and prompt action, was the best course of action.
The BCI and the Peace and Love Hospitals have fought a war against the disease in Ghana and the African continent due to breast cancer’s lethal character. In order to combat and reduce the number of people dying from the treatable disease, she pleaded for help from all relevant parties.
The program’s host, Nana Adusei Atwenewaa Ampem I, Tepamanhene, stressed the importance of public health and the need to treat breast cancer seriously in light of its grave repercussions.
He argued that the government ought to continue the conversation and introduce programs to help the BCI lower the number of breast cancer fatalities.
In order to aid women in seeking early treatment and advancing their wellbeing, the Tepamanhene promised to provide land for BCI to erect a breast care facility in the region.
The municipal chief executive of Ahafo-Ano North, Madam Martina Appiah-Nyantakyi, reaffirmed the seriousness of the disease’s effects and urged women to get treatment as soon as possible to save their lives.
About
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness of this complex disease and fund research into its causes, treatment, and cure.
Since 1985, individuals, businesses, and communities have come together every October to show their support for the many people affected by breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month can be a time to reflect, give back, or even celebrate.
Yet, for many people, BreastCancer Awareness Month is also a difficult reminder of their personal experience with breast cancer and the many lives they have lost to this disease.
Today, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is commemorated all over the world by thousands of women, charities, and organizations.
Its key aim is to encourage people to tell their story, raise awareness and funds for research of the disease.
The Pink Ribbon is now an international symbol of support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Ghanaian Dancehall Artiste, Shatta Wale born Charles Nii Armah Mensah says he can never be sidelined in the music industry.
To him, if he did not feature on a show, no one should blame it on him being sidelined.
Rather, they should blame it on his price tag which may have been way above the budget of the organizers.
Shatta Wale revealed that he charges $200k for a show so claims of him being sidelined can never be true.
After the Global Citizens Festival, music lovers in Ghana could not fathom why Shatta Wale did not feature.
There were claims that some industry persons kicked against organizers using him but in a post on Facebook, the artiste seems to have addressed the conversation ongoing.
He said “Don’t use the word sidelined ,when my price is $200k …am not a lines man
GOG GO PEPPER DEM“.
Beginning on Saturday, October 1, 2022, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) will adopt a certified invoicing system to manage Ghana’s Value Added Tax (VAT).
This is a part of efforts to boost tax compliance and improve state revenue.
According to the VAT Act 870 as modified, a Certified Invoicing System is an electronic invoicing system (E-VAT) that has been approved by the Commissioner-General.
All companies that have registered for VAT or who meet the requirements to do so.
Businesses using the manual VAT invoicing method would transition to using the E-VAT Invoicing system.
The deadline for the registration is dependent on the phased implementation which starts on 1st October 2022. Henceforth, all newly registered taxpayers will be onboarded on the E-VAT System.
The structure of the E-VAT Invoice will be the same across board but taxpayers have the option to change the look and feel of the invoice. For example, The colours, the company logo or invoice number.
The 600 firms being targeted under the phase include listed companies and they altogether generate more than 90 per cent of VAT revenue and 80 per cent of domestic revenue.
The e-invoicing exercise is expected to cover medium-sized taxpayers by 2023 before being extended to all businesses in 2024.
Unlike the manual system, the e-invoicing system allows the GRA to monitor live transactions in companies where it has been deployed, thereby making it impossible for taxpayers to either under invoice or dodge the payment of VAT.
GRA estimates show that the country’s VAT contributions to tax revenue could be increased to 30 per cent from the current 18 per cent if the various abuses that the manual invoicing system is prone to are decisively dealt with.
The system was rolled out simultaneously with an electronic tax clearance certificate (TCC) system that also seeks to remove the abuses the current system is prone to.
The Head of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division (DTRD) at GRA, Edward Apenteng Gyamerah, told Citi Business News that the two programmes formed part of a tax digitalization agenda being championed by the authority.
He said the authority was optimistic that the e-invoicing and the e-TCC would help increase revenue generations by removing the malpractices that the manual systems have been subjected to.
Mr. Gyamerah said together with the e-invoicing, the GRA was hoping to raise VAT contribution to total revenue from the current 18 per cent to 30 per cent by 2024.
He said while VAT collections in Ghana’s peer nations amounted to 30 per cent per annum, that of Ghana was around 18 per cent.
To help deal with this, the Head of DTRD said the authority and government amended Section 42 of the VAT Act, (2013) Act 870 as amended to make e-invoicing compulsory and the only medium for issuing VAT invoices.
“Through this, we will be able to improve upon compliance, we will have audit trail and that will allow us to know the volume of transactions every minute for us to assess the taxes appropriately” he said.
Speaking on the node of implementation, Mr Gyamerah said the system would be deployed using two different routes.
He said for businesses that have their own platform for issuing VAT, GRA connect its software for generating the e-VAT invoices into theirs to allow for take off.
But for businesses that do not have their own systems, he said the authority would give its software to them at no cost.
On the e-TCC, he said businesses only needed to enter their details into the e-TCC portal created by GRA for the certificates to be generated automatically.
Black Stars striker, Jordan Ayew, was in action over the weekend as Crystal Palace lost at home at Selhurst Park in London derby to giants Chelsea.
Despite setting up French international Odsonne Edouard to score Palace’s first goal in the 7th minute, the Eagles couldn’t hold on to their lead as Chelsea staged a comeback to win the game 2-1.
Conor Gallagher broke Crystal Palace’s hearts with a brilliant late strike against his former club that gave Graham Potter his first win as Chelsea’s head coach.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his first Chelsea goal with the equalizer in the 37th minute before a late strike from Conor Gallagher in the 90th minute sealed the victory for the Blues on the road.
Jordan Ayew lasted the entire duration of the match while his compatriot Jeffry Schlupp was introduced in the game in the 74th minute to replace Eberechi Eze.
Chelsea’s 2-1 win at Selhurst Park on Saturday, October 1, 2022, gave new manager Graham Potter’s first victory in his opening game in the English Premier League.
The prime minister’s acknowledgement that the mini-budget was handled inadequately is an important message not just to her restive political colleagues gathering in Birmingham, but to the markets.
It is also an implicit admission that there was a connection between the spike in government borrowing costs, the initial crash in sterling’s value and the announcements made last Friday.
The mea culpa was narrow however. It did not stretch to the idea that the policies themselves were the problem. And nor, as almost all market commentators have argued, did the prime minister accept the argument that allowing the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to publish a set of numbers alongside the mini-budget would have helped.
My colleague Laura Kuenssberg interviewed Star Wars actor Mark Hamill immediately after the PM, and I am left imagining the PM and chancellor stuck, squeezed like the SkyWalkers between two closing walls, running out of space and time. On one side, the economics, and on the other politics.
The economics involves winning back market credibility. That is much harder having lost it. The suspicion that this new administration was trying to do something vague, obfuscate the numbers, and alter the controls on the economy lingers, and will affect the price of government borrowing.
Yes the global backdrop of sharp US interest rises, and the war in Ukraine is a factor here. There are significant stresses emerging in continental Europe. But that would normally be an argument for more caution, not less. The markets were unperturbed by the size of the energy price guarantee when it was announced on 8 September, but now have started to notice it in the round.
If the PM and chancellor say they are not going to backtrack on the mini-budget, then the OBR process will show that something else will have to give on public spending. If key public services (including, for example, the military, which buys a lot of its kit in dollars) are not to be compensated for inflation at 10%, there will be some combination of noticeable impacts on the frontline, and widespread industrial action.
What is the Office for Budget Responsibility?
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the independent watchdog for the government’s finances.
It usually produces economic forecasts twice a year, to accompany each autumn budget and spring statement.
It scrutinises government plans, to increase taxes or borrowing for example, and predicts what the likely impact on the overall economy will be.
These forecasts are so important because a strong one gives investors confidence to put money into the UK economy – whereas a weak one is likely to have the opposite effect.
The government can request forecasts from the OBR at any time to get independent advice on big moves.
But it did not take the OBR up on its offer ahead of last week’s mini-budget. This is thought to have undermined confidence in the markets.
This led to the pound dropping to its lowest rate against the dollar in 37 years on Monday, before returning to its previous level.
The money has been found to keep to a 10% rise in the state pensions. But the promise made a few months ago by Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson to do the same for benefits and tax credits looks for the chop.
Infrastructure spending on roads, rail, hospitals and schools is normally the first cut the Treasury makes when in a crisis. But how is that consistent with promises to “level up”?
The scale of savings required to make these numbers add up, are up there, and very possibly exceed the coalition’s “austerity” plan under the then Chancellor George Osborne.
Another suggestion floated by a Treasury minister is that the OBR acquiesces in assuming the economy is going to enter a comparative boom as a result of the government’s economic reforms. The OBR made clear on Friday it would make its own judgements.
It is inconceivable in current circumstances that the government would do anything to make the OBR feel its independence was being encroached. It needs the OBR more than the OBR needs it.
And the very public message, for example from the home secretary, is that there will not be a net increase in the number of workers. This, especially at a time of labour shortage, might have been one of the most direct ways the economic reforms could have directly resulted in an increase in OBR-predicted economic growth. Obviously policies are never just judged by their OBR impact.
But all this then piles the pressure on the politics. What will the so-called Red Wall MPs do if infrastructure spending is sliced and tax credits do not increase to reflect the surge in the cost of living? And further public spending cuts at a time of extreme pressure in hospitals, schools, courts and elsewhere?
Former cabinet ministers responded within seconds of the PM’s interview suggesting they would not vote for some parts of this mini-budget, at least. The PM also appeared to pin the 45% tax rate decision entirely on the chancellor.
And so the markets will notice what is happening in politics, and vice versa, especially at conference, when ministers tend to speak more freely, unconstrained by the presence of the civil service.
This is quite the conference cocktail. It would stretch even a Jedi master to pull off the mind games necessary to convince both the markets and MPs at the same time.
Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale, has labeled as impossible claims that he is often sidelined by some event organizers in the country.
The dancehall artiste said he usually charges US$200, 000 and above for shows and because some people cannot afford that, he (Shatta Wale) willingly decides not to participate in their event.
Shatta’s comments are on the back of claims that he was sidelined for the 2022 Global Citizen Concertwhich saw the likes of Usher, Stonebwoy, Sarkodie, Gyakie, Tiwa Savage, Oxlade, and many others perform at the Independence Square in Accra.
Scores of individuals including Akuapem Poloo, Afia Schwarzenegger, and many others have wondered why the dancehall artiste wasn’t billed for the prestigious event which featured most A-list artistes.
Critics trolled Shattawhile stating that he was sidelined by the event organizers after they sought validation from some showbiz industry bigwigs and got bad feedback about him.
It was meant to be one of the biggest #MeToo trials China had ever seen, set to play out on the other side of the world in the US state of Minnesota.
The defendant was a 49-year-old billionaire who’s been called the “Jeff Bezos of China”. The accuser was a 25-year-old Chinese graduate student who said he sexually assaulted her.
The civil trial would play out in an open court – nearly impossible in China, but the reality in this case, as the trial would take place in Hennepin County, Minnesota, where the offence allegedly happened.
But in a stunning twist of events on the eve of their court battle, Richard Liu – better known to the Chinese as Liu Qiangdong – and Liu Jingyao have agreed on a settlement, averting trial.
The two are not related, Liu being a common Chinese surname. The BBC is naming Liu Jingyao as she has previously publicly identified herself.
A statement released on Saturday night by lawyers for both parties said the incident that took place “resulted in a misunderstanding that has consumed substantial public attention and brought profound suffering to the parties and their families”.
“Today, the parties agreed to set aside their differences, and settle their legal dispute in order to avoid further pain and suffering caused by the lawsuit.”
Details of the settlement have not been made public.
The news has surprised many in China and dominated Chinese social media, where within hours related hashtags racked up hundreds of millions of views and comments on Weibo.
Millions of Chinese were planning to closely watch the trial unfold in a legal system far more transparent than in China. Some experts believed that Liu Jingyao stood a better chance at winning in the US.
Now, with a settlement made behind closed doors, the case is likely to prompt even more speculation and add to the uncertainty of China’s beleaguered MeToo movement.
Battle of narratives
Long before the trial was due to take place, the Chinese public’s perception of the case was profoundly shaped by a series of video and audio clips showing some of what transpired on the night of 30 August 2018.
At the time, Liu Jingyao was studying at the University of Minnesota. She was invited to attend a networking dinner organised for Richard Liu, the well-connected founder of e-retailing giant JD.com, and other powerful Chinese executives. The two went to her apartment afterwards.
Image source, Liu vs Liu court recordsImage caption, Footage filed as evidence for the now-settled case showed the two of them in a lift in Liu Jingyao’s apartment block
Liu Jingyao said she was pressured to drink excessive amounts of alcohol at the dinner by Richard Liu and other guests. She said he physically forced himself on her while they were travelling in a car and she was too intoxicated to resist. He then followed her to her apartment and raped her despite her protests, she said.
Richard Liu said she was not overly intoxicated, and she willingly invited him to her place where they had consensual sex.
Immediately after the incident, Liu Jingyao told a friend what had happened, who in turn called the police. Richard Liu was arrested, which made headlines across the world. He denied wrongdoing and was released the following day.
Weeks later, following an investigation, local prosecutors declined to press charges, saying there were “profound evidentiary problems” which would make it difficult to prove the allegations.
In April 2019 Liu Jingyao filed a civil lawsuit against Richard Liu accusing him of sexual assault and claiming at least $50,000 (£44,800) in damages. The courts had ruled there was enough in her claim to proceed to civil trial, and that his company could also be found liable for some damages.
Shortly after filing her suit, video clips taken from police bodycams, surveillance cameras appeared online. They show Richard Liu and Liu Jingyao interacting outside the restaurant where they had dinner and at her apartment block, and also Liu Jingyao speaking to police shortly after the incident.
The snippets of footage came from material lodged as evidence for the case, and first surfaced via lesser known Chinese media outlets, including one that has since vanished.
Liu Jingyao’s lawyers and supporters claimed the clips were leaked as part of a stealth campaign to sway public opinion before the trial. Richard Liu’s lawyers have denied they did this and told the BBC the police had released material on request from media outlets.
What is certain is that the clips have had a lasting effect among the Chinese public in stoking support for Richard Liu and contempt for Liu Jingyao, who has been labelled a “gold-digger” and “slut”.
On Sunday, hours after news broke of the settlement, many commenters on Chinese social media appeared to see it as confirmation that Liu Jingyao had sued him to get a payout. Some described him as a victim of “xianrentiao”, or extortion after a sexual encounter.
A public court battle
Since launching her lawsuit, Liu Jingyao has kept a low profile as she pursues her studies in linguistics.
After dropping out of university twice – so she could recover psychologically, say her lawyers – she finally completed her degree and is now enrolled in a graduate programme in Washington University in Missouri.
The incident and the public vilification has left her with permanent post-traumatic stress disorder, and she does not want to return to China as she fears repercussions from Richard Liu and others at the dinner that night, her lawyers told the BBC.
Her lawsuit alleged the dinner was attended by executives with links to the upper echelons of the Chinese Communist Party.
She initially appeared determined to press on with her case. In a 2019 interview with the New York Times, she said she would never settle as it would mean signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
It is not known why Liu Jingyao agreed to a settlement now. Her lawyers did not answer the BBC’s queries on her reasons nor whether she has signed an NDA.
But supporters believe that as the public court battle loomed near, the stress became too much for her to take.
Liang Xiaowen, a Chinese feminist activist, said she had texted with Liu Jingyao shortly after news broke about the settlement.
“She said she wanted to fight to the very end, but it’s very difficult,” Ms Liang told the BBC.
“It is a relief to her that she settled, but she feels guilty that she cannot see it to the end. She is very grateful for everyone who believed in her, and she says she would try her best to help others in the same situation.”
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Richard Liu, who has ties to Prince Andrew, and his wife attended Princess Eugenie’s wedding in the UK in 2018
Meanwhile Richard Liu has remained in the public eye as chairman of JD.com, though he stepped down as CEO in April.
Back home he is seen as an aspirational symbol of China’s new era of wealth and power. He has been compared to Jeff Bezos because of how he grew JD.com – one of China’s equivalents to Amazon – from a small stall selling tech goods.
In 2015 he married internet personality Zhang Zetian, and overnight the two became a celebrity couple. They are frequently covered by Chinese media, often portrayed as a picture of loving domesticity.
This has prompted accusations in the past from Liu Jingyao’s supporters that these are efforts orchestrated by Richard Liu’s team and JD.com to reinforce his image as a family man. JD.com has denied these allegations.
On Sunday, in a statement to Chinese media, Richard Liu said: “Four years of entanglement and today it is finally over!”
He apologised to “everyone who has been troubled, especially to my wife”, and added that he hoped “my life and work will soon be back to normal”.
Unprecedented transparency
With the trial averted, the Chinese public no longer has a rare opportunity to observe up close a high-profile Chinese #MeToo case as it plays out in court.
With most of the pre-trial court records made accessible by the Minnesota court and hearings open to the public, Chinese people and media have been able to follow the case to an unprecedented degree.
It stands in contrast to the opaque Chinese legal system, where many high-profile cases play out behind closed doors and online posts and comments are heavily censored.
With the settlement, the question of whether such a case would turn out differently elsewhere has been left unanswered. Some legal experts the BBC spoke to believed Liu Jingyao stood a better chance of winning her claim in the US than in China.
That is because in China, victims must prove their claim to a high degree of likelihood, but in US cases the judge or jury only needs to decide if it is more likely than not that the incident occurred.
Chinese courts also place a heavier emphasis on physical evidence such as video footage, whereas witness testimony carries more weight in the US.
But a bigger question raised by the settlement is how the #MeToo movement in China will be affected. The case follows several high-profile incidents where the cases were thrown out of court or criminal charges were dropped – outcomes, activists say, sent a dismal signal to sexual assault survivors.
On top of that, the movement has faced harassment and disappearances of activists, as well as increasing censorship and hostility online. Supporters of Liu Jingyao, for instance, said their social media updates of the case have been censored. WeChat accounts were reportedly blocked for making calls to support her.
But Ms Liang believed the settlement was in the end “a win both for Jingyao and #MeToo”. She said Liu Jingyao has rallied the movement by choosing to go public with her story.
“She has chosen to give this case to the #MeToo movement in China so we are able to keep fighting.”
Former Minister for Defence and Interior, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor has been appointed as the new chancellor of the Kumasi Technical University.
The investiture of the former Member of Parliament for the Manhyia constituency makes him the first to ever occupy the position.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia speaking at the event described Dr. Addo Kufuor as a man of integrity and a firm believer of academic freedom.
He added that the background of the accomplished statesman makes him the right man for the position.
“The university could not have picked a worthier leader than you. Your wealth of experience as board chairman for Suame magazine industrial development organization indicates your in-depth knowledge and already established interest in technical and vocational education”.
On his part, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor said he is proud to be given such a position.
“I am very grateful to the governing council of the Kumasi Technical University for giving me the opportunity to assume office as the first Chancellor of this great institution”.
He further stated that, he will not interfere with the internal affairs of the school and will focus on making the institution globally competitive.
“I will not interfere with the internal affairs of the university. I promise that. As for being too hard, I am a church elder. Members of the faculty, I heard the Apagyahene saying I will get some people transferred. No, you have nothing to worry about”.
Speaking at the investiture, Chairman of the Kumasi Technical University Governing Council, Prof. Dr. Ben Baffoe-Bonnie noted that Dr. Addo Kufuor is well-qualified to take up the position. He added that, he is optimistic that the new chancellor will in no doubt champion a course that will help transform the institution.
“I believe honourable Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor is the right man for the Job”.
Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor’s investiture on Friday at the Kumasi Technical University was attended by his brother, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Minister of Education Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum among others.
Background of Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor:
Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor was a member of Parliament for the Manhyia Constituency from January 7, 1997, to January 7, 2009.
He also served as Minister for Defence and Interior under the John Agyekum Kufuor administration.
As a physician, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor founded and managed the Kufuor clinic at Adum, Kumasi.
He also served as a lecturer at the Department of Medicine at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) at the School of Medicine.
Dr. Addo Kufuor was elected National President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) between 1992 and 1995).
Dr. Addo Kufuor served as the Board Chairman for the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) between 2017 and 2020.
Ghana Premier League giant Accra Hearts of Oak SC have given a new face to their technical bench after letting go of the Samuel Boadu-led technical team.
The Phobians have officially confirmed the appointment of David Ocloo as an interim coach and will be assisted by Samuel Nii Noi alongside goalkeepers’ trainer Richard Oppong.
David Ocloo, who has been originally appointed as assistant manager will serve as the stopgap coach for the time being.
Hearts of Oak are expected to appoint a new manager to complete their new technical bench.
David Ocloo
David Ocloo, 38, served as head coach for Liberty Professionals from 2019 to 2021.
Ocloo holds CAF incense A, B, and C coaching certificates. He has managed clubs like Maranatha FC in Togo, Liberty Professional, Wa All Stars(now Legon Cities), Sahel Sporting Club, and Asante Kotoko.
He is also an expert video analyst.
Samuel Nii Noi
Samuel Nii Noi serves as the head coach of Hearts of Oak’s youth team, Auroras.
This is his second stint as interim coach of the club. He first assumed the head coach role in 2021 after the sacking of Kosta Papic and led the club to two wins and a draw in three games.
Richard Oppong
Richard Oppong played for Red Bull Academy and Right to Dream Academy.
After his goalkeeping coaching course, he had an attachment at the Etihad and Red Bull Salzburg.
He has his own goalkeeping training centre “Richard Oppong Goalkeeping Centre” in Aburi, Eastern Region.
Richard Oppong helped in the development of current Black Stars goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi.
The 35-year-old has worked with several local clubs including, Tema Youth FC, Vision FC, Right To Dream, Inter Allies and a host of others.
Its shares fell by about 10%, after the bank’s boss failed to reassure investors.
Last week, chief executive Ulrich Koerner insisted in a memo to staff that Credit Suisse’s financial position was solid.
It comes ahead of a restructuring plan due when the bank reports results at the end of October.
Sources close to the bank confirmed a report in the Financial Times that executives at the Swiss bank spent much of the weekend seeking to calm key stakeholders about its financial strength.
A Credit Suisse spokesperson refused to comment.
In last week’s memo, Mr Koerner told staff: “I trust that you are not confusing our day-to-day stock price performance with the strong capital base and liquidity position of the bank.
“We are in the process of reshaping Credit Suisse for a long-term, sustainable future – with significant potential for value creation.
“I am confident we have what it takes to succeed.”
With a knack for excellence and having lived it through his blossoming music career, Atlanta-based Ghanaian producer and musician Noble, known widely as Nektunez, has signed a label deal with Akon’s Konvict Kulture.
With a successful blueprint in the music industry globally contributing to the success of huge artists like Lady Gaga, T-Pain, Wizkid, P-Square, Davido, French Montana, David Guetta, and DJ Khaled to name a few. Akon will provide professional expert services aimed at projecting and propelling Nektunez to the next phase of his career under the Konvict Kulture brand.
The signing comes at a time when Akon has spoken highly of the enormous talents on the African continent and how they are gradually taking over the world with their sound.
In 2021, Nektunez made a huge entry into the global music space as his production Ameno Amapiano (Remix), a casual mix he did to the globally acclaimed song by French new-age musical project Era, blew up debuting at number 7 on the Afrobeats US Billboard charts.
Currently sitting with over 10 billion views on Tik Tok as of February 2022, Ameno Amapiano (Remix) went straight to Number 1 on the Billboard world digital sales chart for a historical 8 weeks, Number 1 on global Shazam, Number 1 song on iTunes in 22 countries including UK, Germany and USA.
The song also topped the Apple Music charts in 39 countries.
Speaking on the signing, Akon said;
“I’m honoured to be able to add Nektunez to the KONVICT movement”. I’ve never met a more humble, hard-working, and talented producer like Nektunez. I was even more impressed by his artistic talents! He represents the new Africa and I’m determined to show the world his contribution to the beautiful sounds of Afrobeat and Amapiano.”
Nektunez also expressed his excitement at the new partnership and promised to deliver to the expectation of everyone.
“I am excited to start my next chapter with Akon; someone I have always looked up to growing up. He shares my vision and has a passion for the brand of music I’m creating. I can’t wait to continue sharing my music on a global scale. Now it’s time to go to work and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together,” he said.
Government Treasury bills sale returned to a marginal oversubscription, following an undersubscription of the treasury securities auction the previous week, the first time in 15 weeks.
This comes as good news due to fears an expected debt restructuring exercise may cause an extension of the maturity periods of the treasury instruments.
However, the interest yields went up marginally again to compensate investors for the rising inflation. But there is still a negative variance between the T-bills rate and inflation.
According to the auction results by the Bank of Ghana, the government secured ¢999.86 million from the sale of Treasury bills, about 1.15% oversubscription. The target for the auctioning was ¢905 million.
The yield on the 91-day T-Bill finally inched up to 30.45%, from 29.90% the previous week.
As usual, chunk of the funds mobilised came from the 3-months bill.
¢717.22 million bids were tendered as the government accepted all the bids.
The 182-day bill which is already trading above 31% also increased marginally to 31.54%, from 31.34% the preceding week.
For the 364-day bill, the government accepted all the ¢137.04 million bids tendered. The interest rate was however 31.54%.
As usual, chunk of the funds mobilised came from the 3-months bill.
¢717.22 million bids were tendered as the government accepted all the bids.
The 182-day bill which is already trading above 31% also increased marginally to 31.54%, from 31.34% the preceding week.
For the 364-day bill, the government accepted all the ¢137.04 million bids tendered. The interest rate was however 31.54%.
Last week, some analysts pointed out that the government may face complicated refinancing options in repaying Treasury bills that will mature in October 2022
According to the Weekly Fixed Income Update by Databank Research, a refinancing offer on October 3, 2022, may not get much traction due to the expected domestic debt restructuring.
It, therefore, pointed out that the government will likely supplement any refinancing offer with the Bank of Ghana support to get more favourable refinancing options.
However, this challenge should compel government to move fast over the negotiation with the International Monetary Fund for an economic programme to avert any liquidity constraint.
Rapper M.anifest who has for years prided himself in Madina, the community where he grew up has expressed shock over the naming of streets after foreign cities.
The rapper has brought to the attention of the general public the decision by authorities to name some old streets in Madina after American cities.
The ‘God MC’ rapper in a TikTok video wondered what might have led to the decision to adopt foreign names in a Ghanaian community.
Taking a tour of the community located in the country’s capital, he expressed shock at the street names boldly nailed on houses in Madina.
Also, the largest state in Germany, Bavaria, had a lane in Madina dedicated to it.
“Charley the streets I grew up on in Madina is now Tennessee street. The next street is also called Oklahoma street and the next street is also called Connecticut Street, this is Madina, not America and the street is also Arkansas For good measure they just added Bavaria,” he noted in the video published on his TikTok account.
The street address system is done by the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) formerly Department of Town and Country Planning in partnership with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and traditional authorities.
In an interview with Alfred Ocansey on the 3FM Sunrise Morning Show, Director of Communication and Research at the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC), Dr. Kofi Obutey, disclosed that the regulator is in discussions with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) about potential compensation packages for customers who have been impacted by the ECG prepaid metering system difficulties.
The PURC, however, was unable to divulge the precise type of compensation because negotiations with the utility provider had not yet been finalized.
“Compensation package is being discussed so that customers could be compensated because it is through no fault of theirs that they have to endure this blackout. Various options are being considered but it will not be fair for me to put out when conclusions have not been drawn” Kofi Obutey stated.
Technical problems interrupted the purchase of power last week.
The PURC said it has been in touch with ECG since last week to rectify the anomalies and the situation is being rectified as most of the customers are served now. However, the long queues at the various vending points is as a result of the backlog of customers who couldn’t be served due to the system challenge.
In order to help quickly ameliorate the effects of the challenges, PURC recommends that if possible the ECG should open more temporary vending outlets to serve customers in the interim.
He explained that it is a technical challenge that the utility service provider is facing now which is a breakdown of the network system that has taken them some time to isolate the exact problem.
The PURC has warned that we don’t use illegality to solve a problem hence whoever connects electricity illegally has committed an offense and the law will be applied. “There will be no compensation for such persons” Mr. Obutey cautioned.
Vodafone Ghana has announced activities to mark the 2022 edition of its Care Month initiative, scheduled from October 3rd to 7th.
The telecommunications giant joins the world to celebrate International Customer Care Week, which is dedicated to celebrating customer service excellence, honouring employees who delight customers daily, and appreciating customers who support the growth of businesses.
Vodafone Ghana has also dubbed October ‘CARE Month’ and dedicated the period to celebrating its devoted clients at various touchpoints with Vodafone-branded mementoes, and free calls, as part of the celebration with the theme “Celebrate Service.”
Vodafone Ghana will also provide avenues for customers to engage in fun activities such as fastest fingers and captivating social media trivia to win several prizes, while also rewarding its customer-facing staff.
Speaking ahead of the week-long celebration, the Director of Digital Transformation and Commercial Operations, Angela Mensah-Poku, said: “While we highlight our frontline workers and other employees for their excellent service to our customers, we also acknowledge the support and patronage of our customers that have significantly contributed to the progress of our business. Care Week also allows us to reaffirm our commitment to always give our customers value through excellent services and products.”
The telecommunications company is known for improving its products, services, and customer experiences with a focus on the demands of the client. Customers benefit from this and are better able to adapt to the rapidly changing digital world.
Vodafone Ghana will mark the 2022 Customer Service Week event across all its channels.
Ghanaian striker, Jordan Ayew, is disappointed to have not snatched a point in their matchday 8 2022/2023 English Premier League fixture against Chelsea at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace lost 2-1 at home to Chelsea in Graham Potter’s first game in the Premier League since taking over from Thomas Tuchekl as the head coach of the Blues.
Reacting to the defeat, Jordan Ayew who set up French international Odsonne Edouard to score Palace’s first goal in the 7th minute believed that they should have gotten at least a point from the game.
“Frustration, everyone is frustrated. This is not the first time we have conceded in the last minute.”
“I think we were close. We deserved at least a point, but we are still a young team. We need to improve in a lot of things. We are improving but we need to improve quickly because the Premier League is ruthless.”
“We did well, we controlled the game. It was a nice game for the spectator, but for us it’s a positive performance but it’s not the result we wanted. There is something missing, and we need to work hard,” Jordan Ayew said after the game.
Crystal Palace are currently 17th on the 2022/2023 Premier League table after matchday 8.
Speaking at the 60th anniversary of the NLA, Deputy Finance Minister, John Kumahindicated that revenue generated by the NLA is crucial to ensuring the smooth running of the authority, as well as achieve government’s revenue target.
“One of the priority areas which is of concern is how management will take steps to seal all revenue leakages as far as NLA is concerned because we need these revenues to support activities of NLA and to help government in its revenue drive,” he said.
He further charged management of NLA to be mindful of how they handle revenue.
“We implore all the management to be mindful about how they handle revenue generation in the operations of NLA,” he said.
Director General of the NLA, Samuel Awukuoutlined some activities to mark the celebrations, adding that the authority will outdoor new initiatives very soon.
“As we launch our 60th anniversary, we have a series of activities planned. Over the next three months, it would be an interesting journey for anyone who decides to partner with us.”
“We have dedicated the month of October to our cherished customers, whom we recognise as our most valued assets. The month of November is slated for our good causes. In this month, we will give back to society by commissioning some projects we have been able to embark upon in various parts of the country. This would be climaxed with a grand durbar of the anniversary which will be celebrated in December,” he said.
Ghana’s lottery activities originated from Malta. Malta has since been an ally in this sector. Maltese High Commissioner to Ghana, Jean Claude Galea Mallia reiterated his country’s commitment to promoting bilateral relations between both countries.
“Being Malta’s first diplomatic missions in sub-Saharan Africa, the government of Malta reconfirmed its strong commitment in advancing bilateral relations and exchanges with Ghana in various fields; political, commercial, sports etc,” he assured.
The top mobile microinsurance provider in Ghana, aYo Intermediaries Ghana, has added a new feature to its Recharge with Care (RwC) policy that enables users to pay a single fee for a full year’s worth of coverage.
With its Recharge with Care and Send with Care insurance products, both of which offer life and hospital coverage, they have stood strong in the microinsurance market for five years and have positively impacted thousands of lives.
Customers can now purchase a full year’s cover for GHS130 thanks to the new functionality.
Customers previously simply had to pay a monthly payment of GHS6 anytime they topped off their MTN airtime in order to receive life and hospital insurance.
According to the company, the introduction of the new feature was based on feedback from customers.
Chief Executive Officer of aYo Ghana, Francis Gota said “This feature aims at addressing the situation in which customers have lost out on claims due to premium payment issues. It will also eliminate complaints about frequent airtime deductions and why their benefits keep changing”.
He noted that when a customer purchases the Recharge with Care Annual Insurance Policy, the benefits available to them include a static Life Cover Benefit of GHC 6,000 for the Policyholder, a static Life Cover Benefit for one Family Member, GHC120 per night for Hospitalization Cover for the Policyholder and a 10% No Claim Cashback bonus.
The 10% Cashback Bonus means that if the policyholder does not make any claims during the cover period, he or she will receive 10% of the premium paid, which is GHS13.
The annual cover feature also allows existing customers who are on either life or hospital cover to get both life and hospital once they pay the onetime annual premium of GHS130.
Signing On
According to Francis Gota, customers can sign up by dialing *928*101#, then follow the prompts and make instant payments, or aYo’s Call Centre agents would contact the customer via 0244300000 to assist with the sign-up process.
“Once payment is made, the customer will receive an SMS confirming their payment, the benefit amount, start date, and cover expiry date, and the customer’s benefits are calibrated on the portal for visibility.
“A 30-day waiting period applies to the policy. During the waiting period, only accidental hospitalization and death claims are admissible,” the CEO explained.
The Annual cover feature, the CEO said, is available to existing aYo customers who are already on both Life and Hospital covers on RwC and want the additional policy, as well as non-aYo customers who are MTN subscribers.
aYo Intermediaries recently celebrated its fifth anniversary in Ghana, during this period it has served over 7.9 million customers and counting, and has paid out about GHS10.56 million in claims to over 32,524 policy holders and beneficiaries.
The company recently picked up two top awards at the Ghana Insurance Association Awards 2022, stamping its authority on the country’s microinsurance space. The two laurels were the Mobile Insurance Leadership Award and the Best Growing Intermediary Firm of the Year.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo claims that since taking office in 2017, his administration has implemented policies and programs that have helped Ghana develop a vibrant tourism industry.
“We want to use tourism as an effective vehicle for economic development, which will help to create jobs and wealth for the people,” said President Akufo-Addo.
To increase tourist arrivals this year and in the future, the government is spending extensively on key tourist attractions with the help of international partners.
Speaking at the formal opening of the Tema Branch of the Alisa Hotel, on Friday, 30th September 2022, the President indicated that the hospitality sector is the third largest contributor to the country’s GDP, after cocoa and oil and gas, accounting for two (2) out of every ten (10) jobs in the country.
Following the rebounding of the hospitality and tourism sectors, “after Government undertook some bold and decisive measures, which saved lives, livelihoods and businesses, as well as through the global easing of (COVID-19) restrictions”, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that Government has put in place plans to build a state-of-the-art tourism and hospitality training school in Accra.
“The ten-million-US-dollar (US$10 million) facility will serve West Africa, and provide customer care training to operators in the tourism and hospitality value chain. When customers are happy and delighted, they do not only stay longer in hotels, but also spend more, and likely to return in the future with family and friends. Building the capacity of tourism players is, therefore, important in our quest to be the tourism destination of West Africa,” he said.
The President noted that Government’s focus, over the next eighteen (18) months, is to exploit Ghana’s culture, heritage, history, hospitality and beautiful natural scenery to attract tourists, fun-lovers and leisure seekers hoping to find a unique experience in Africa.
In addition to the abundance of natural resources, he stated that Government has embarked on a product improvement plan, where several tourist sites in the country are currently undergoing site renovations. These include the Aburi Botanical Gardens, the Yaa Asantewaa Memorial Museum and the Kente Museum, both in Kumasi.
“This year alone, it is expected that some twenty-five million United States dollars ($25 million) will be expended to upgrade some of our iconic sites, including the famous Elmina and Cape Coast Castles, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the Mole and Kakum Parks, and cultural Museums in Yendi in the Northern Region, Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, Akropong in the Eastern Region, and Ho in the Volta Region, under the Ghana Tourism Development Project, supported by the World Bank,” he said.
The President continued, “this Project, in all of a value of forty-million-US-dollars ($40 million), is expected to position the tourism and hospitality sectors as key drivers of social and economic development. Some of the benefits that the project is expected to bring are an enriched access to Ghana’s tourism market, better provision of tourism products and services, and the upgrading of skills in the labour force in the tourism, arts, and culture sectors.”
The Republic of Ghana, on 25th September, 2022, was elected Chair of the Commonwealth ITU Group (CIG) for a four-year term in Bucharest, Romania.
The CIG which is made up of 54 Commonwealth countries meets periodically to establish a set of objectives to be achieved at various conferences and meetings of the ITU on a myriad of subjects including International Telecom Regulation, Policy, Radio Spectrum and its related matters, type approval and standardisation.
The goals of the objectives are to address the concerns of member-states in all aspects of telecommunications development and implementation.
This marks Ghana’s first time serving on the Group as its Chair; Ghana co-chaired the Group with the United Kingdom for the just-ended tenure. United Kingdom is now the Vice Chair responsible for the Europe while India, Trinidad and Tobago were also elected the Vice-Chairs responsible for Asia and the Americas respectively.
Ghana, represented by the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, will lead the team to achieve its objectives at various WTSA, ITU Plenipotentiary, WTDC and WRC conferences within the next four years.
In a statement on the occasion, the Minister expressed Ghana’s appreciation to the Group for the confidence placed in Ghana. She indicated that in a spirit of continuity and efficiency, Ghana will continue to serve the Group to ensure the achievement of its objectives.
The Commonwealth ITU Group was established during the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in September 2002.
The companies were those that failed to comply with the directive to file their Annual Returns or Update their records.
In a statement, the Registrar said, “These companies are Public/Private Companies Limited by Shares, Public/Private Companies Limited by Guarantee(Associations, Fun, Clubs, Churches, etc.), Private Unlimited Companies, and External Companies.”
The Registrar-General’s Department has announced that effective this month, October, it will begin various stages of delisting over 100,000 companies from its database.
Making this known in a statement signed by the Registrar-General, Jemima Oware, it explained that this is due to the failure of these companies to comply with certain directives of the Department.
“The Registrar-General’s Department (RGD) wishes to inform the Business Community, and the General Public that the Department has begun delisting from the Companies Register dormant Companies which failed to comply with the Registrar-General’s directive to file their Annual Returns or Update their records with it from this month of October 2021,” the statement read.
Also, the statement clarified the classifications of companies that will fall victim to this exercise.
“These Companies are Public/Private Companies Limited by Shares, Public/Private Companies Limited by Guarantee (Associations, Fun Clubs, Churches, etc.), Private Unlimited Companies and External Companies,” it stated in part.
The statement also clarified that none of these companies were able to meet the extension of three months grace periods to them in this instance and for which reason they will be taken out of the system.
In the meantime, the RGD has said that any such culprit companies can timeously get their names off should they “file their Annual Returns with the Department… by the end of October 2021.”
Media personality and political activist, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, has urged Ghanaians to resort to illegal electricity connections if the challenge with purchasing prepaid credit persists.
His comment comes on the back of challenges customers of the Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG, have faced in getting prepaid credit to purchase from vendors.
In a video shared on his Instagram handle, A Plus lamented the impact of the absence of prepaid on businesses and the health of people.
He mentioned that some traders need electricity to refrigerate their meat and fish while some persons with health conditions need it to store their medication at a certain temperature.
“Have you gotten some of the prepaid to buy? ECG is on my lane here. There are a lot of people who have thronged the place wanting the prepaid credits. A poor person has gone to buy a pound of meat to refrigerate.
“The person sells kenkey so she has bought the meat and fish to refrigerate and fry and use it to sell their kenkey. For about one week, the person does not get to buy prepaid and the meat goes bad.
“These days medicines including Covid drugs are frozen. All these people want to buy the prepaid but it is unavailable. Others have machines that has to be plugged when their sickness becomes extreme otherwise the person will die but the light is unavailable.
“If you go to advanced countries, the light does not even go off. Over here, even when you are holding money to buy you won’t get some. What is even more annoying is that after uploading, what you get to buy, there’s light off. What is this?” he quizzed.
The musician cum political activist further berated the over-politicization of issues in the country, lamenting how easy it is to be politically tagged when making general commentary of public interest.
He stressed that even with the partisan nature of some governing New Patriotic Party activists, the matter of unavailability of prepaid has equally affected them.
A Plus added that Ghanaians should seek the services of electricians to connect them to the national grid illegally after searching for prepaid to no avail.
He argued that even if they are caught, the judge who will sit on the matter will be reasonable enough to know the challenges they are facing.
“If you have tried purchasing prepaid for a week now and you are not getting it, don’t bother yourself. Your meat will go bad. Just look for an electrician to do illegal connection for you.
“My prepaid is not finished. When it does, I will try looking for some over a certain period. If I don’t get it and I look in my freezer and things are not going okay, I will do illegal connection.
“We should test the law. No judge is mad. They are sensible … Do illegal connection. Explain to the judge with evidence that you have tried purchasing prepaid to no avail. Nobody can do anything to you when you are arrested. They’ll only take you to court in this democratic dispensation,” he opined.
ECG customers have had challenges purchasing prepaid via the app or vending outlets after the power distributor said it had encountered challenges with its prepaid metering system.
The situation led to many people thronging the district offices of ECG in a bid to have their issues addressed.
There have been reports that it was a result of ECG’s system being hacked. Meanwhile, ECG has assured that the challenge has been resolved while urging customers to visit any vendor close by to purchase prepaid.
“Customers can now purchase electricity credits from their nearest vending points, and all ECG District offices, including tomorrow Sunday, 2nd October 2022 from 9.00 am – 4.00 pm,” part of a statement released by ECG read.
As the Chair of the sixth World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum (WTPF-21), the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful presented a Report on the WTPF-21 to participants at the ongoing Plenipotentiary Conference(PP-22).
The report which was presented on 28th September, 2022 summarises the preparatory process, roll-out and outcome of the WTPF-21. The report, as presented by the Minister, covers five thematic areas as listed below:
• Enabling environment for the development and deployment of new and emerging telecommunication/ICT services and technologies to advance sustainable development
• Affordable and secure connectivity in mobilising new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs for sustainable development
• Digital literacy and skills for inclusive access
• New and emerging technologies and services to facilitate the use of telecommunications/ICTs for sustainable development
• Use of telecommunications/ICTs in COVID-19 and future pandemic and epidemic preparedness and response
The Minister of Finance, Kenneth Ofori-Atta, received a harsh warning from the minority in Parliament last week to repatriate all money earned from oil revenue into the Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF).
Because revenues are not being paid into the Fund, the Minority claims that the government is acting in violation of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA).
The caucus alleged that monies accruing from oil sales from the Jubilee and TEN fields are being transferred to an off-shore company.
“The decision by the current NPP Government to transfer revenues accruing from about 944,164bbls of crude lifting in the Jubilee and TEN fields to a company established in a safe haven (outside Ghana) without Parliamentary approval, amounts to a gross violation of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act 815) and Public Financial Management Act (Act 921),” the Minority stated on Thursday, September 29.
The statement signed by Ranking Member on the Mines and Energy Committee John Abdulai Jinapor also alleged that Capital Gains Tax was not assessed and collected by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in the sale of the 7% interest by Anadarko in the Jubilee and TEN Fields in 2021.
Therefore, the Minority said about $100 million cannot be accounted for.
“This is surely another ‘Agyapa’ deal in the making and we as a Minority will not sit aloof for this Government to raid the national purse, especially at a time when the nation is struggling to raise much needed revenues for critical expenditure.
“We demand that the Minister of Finance and for that matter Government, must with immediate effect repatriate all such illegal transfer payments back into the Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF).
“Failure to comply with our ultimatum will compel the Minority to use the necessary parliamentary processes to haul the Minister of Finance to parliament for possible censure.”
Commenting on this, Mr Mahama explained that Section 3 of the Peoruleum Revenue Management (PRMA) (Act 815) is explicit that all Petroleum revenue due the Republic derived from whatever source shall be assessed, collected and accounted for by the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Also referencing Section (15) of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act (Act 919), he said it states clearly that “Any borrowing exceeding the cedi equivalent of thirty million United States Dollars for the purpose of exploration, development and production shall be approved by Parliament and shall be in consonance with the Petroleum Revenue Management Act.”
Therefore, Mr Mahama said there can be no justification for diverting revenues accruing from the nation’s share of petroleum resources into any other account aside the PHF.
“The Minister for Finance must as a matter of urgency repatriate all such illegal payments back into the PHF without delay as there is no record to confirm parliamentary approval on any such loans acquired by GNPC in their work programme,” he said in a Facebook post on Monday October 3.
According to a report filed by footydreamsgh.com, the Black Galaxies assistant coach has been appointed as one of the scouts for the Ghana national team as preparations heighten for the 2022 Mundial.
The Black Stars technical team headed by Otto Addo and Chris Hughton will be counting on the expertise of the 2021/2022 Ghana Premier League winner for a report on the opposing teams.
Ghana have been paired alongside South Korea, Portugal, and Uruguay who won the first edition of the FIFA World Cup in 1930.
Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum was initially tipped as the ideal man to replace coach Samuel Boadu as the head coach of giants Accra Hearts of Oak but reportedly rejected the offer because of the Black Stars appointment.
Ghana will open their campaign against Portugal on November 24 at Stadium 974 in Doha.
European Union in 2013 issued a first yellow card to Ghana, flagging its fishing sector for Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) activities. Despite lifting it in 2015, Ghana received its second-yellow card warning in June 2021.
The Environmental Justice Foundation reports that “Ghana is missing out on between 14.4 -23.7 million US dollars every year in fishing license fees and fines from trawlers.”
iWatch Africa’s investigation revealed that “this lack of transparency allows these companies to set up opaque corporate structures and work through Ghanaian ‘front’ companies to obtain licenses to fish.”
With these recurring issues, the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG) says it is high time the “government holds the bull by the horn and get these Chinese vessels on hold” as this poses risks to artisanal fishing in the country.
The President of CaFGOAG, Nana Kweigyah in an interview with Citi News advised the government to use a “bottom-up approach” where a platform is created for “artisanal fishermen to put forward proposals to what can be done to address the widespread illegalities.”
“Artisanal fisheries in Ghana are in a dire situation. Climate change, marine pollution, and IUU contribute to decline in fish production and fish catch. The EU issued a yellow card to Ghana. It is important for the regulator and policymakers to have a comprehensive plan that identifies key strategies that can be taken to address the widespread illegalities,” he said.
Mr Kweigyah proposed “quarterly meetings with representatives of artisanal fisheries” just like it is being done with “tuna and trawl operators so that the fishers can be part of the decision as to what should be done to address the illegalities.”
The National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG) in an interview with Daily Graphic called for a national policy to address foreign dominance of the foreign sector.
The Secretary of NAFAG, Richster Amarfio said: “the hire-purchase agreements thus allow for the foreigners to serve as high-ranking officials on these vessels, in line with the conditionality associated with the funding arrangements, making the foreigners the beneficial owners.”
Commemorating the International Day of Awareness of Food and Waste 2022 on theme ‘Stop food waste for the people and the planet’, Mr Kweigyah bemoaned the fish processing approach as “the handling of fish has not been the best” as this “contributes to loss and wastage.”
He called for “an increase of investment in [fish] processing facilities …. so that nothing will be wasted to promote good health, and food sustainability.”
Asante Kotoko goalkeeper, Danlad Ibrahim, has been featured in FIFA’s 2023 EA Sports.
Being the only Ghana Premier League player who was captured in FIFA 23, the Black Galaxies goalkeeper is also the 51st highest-rated Ghanaian player in the football simulation video game.
Danlad Ibrahim was rated 68 in total while earning 70 for his reflexes and 69 for his handling of the ball.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper also had 68 for positioning, 67 for dividing, 60 for kicking, and 43 for speed.
FIFA 23 is a football simulation video game published by Electronic Arts that is developed by EA Sports.
Ibrahim Mahama, brother of former president John Dramani Mahama was adjudged Man of the Year at the 2022 EMY Africa Awards which took place on October 1, 2022, at the Grand Arena
The business mogul who is CEO of Engineers and Planners and Dzata Cement was feted by the organizers for his leadership in the area of business.
The award ceremony was a black tie event that saw lots of business people in attendance. Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia was the special guest of honour.
Over twenty plaques were given to winners across different categories amid lots of music, food and drinks.
After the event, Ibrahim Mahama was spotted at the Twist Nightclub in Accra apparently celebrating his award with close associated.
In a video posted by blogger Ghhyper, the Dzata Cement boss is seen partying with Nigeria’s Burna Boy, the African Afrobeats star.
Here’s the full list of winners at EMY 2022:
Man of The Year (Health) – Dr. Elikem Tamakloe
Man of The Year (Agriculture) – Alhaji Mashud Mohammed
Man of The Year (Technology) – Andrew Takyi-Appiah
Man of The Year (Sports) – Benjamin Azamati
Humanitarian Award – Alex Dadey
Discovery of the Year Award – Free The Youth (FTY)
Guardian Guard Award – Lanre Olusola
Lifetime Achievement Award – Joe Lartey
Designer of the Year – Ezekiel Yartel
Young Achiever (Female) – Audrey Maame Esi Swatson
Settler Award – Amaar Deep S. Hari
Man of Courage Award – Nii Quaye Brown
Creative Arts and Support Award – Tony Tometey
Actor of the Year – Adjetey Annan
Media Excellence Award – Ayo Animashaun
Group of the Year – Rotary Club
Man of the Year (Music) – Kofi Kinaata
Brand of the Year – Caveman Watch
Young Achiever (Male) Award – Richie Mensah
Continental Film Icon Award – Richard Mofe Damijo
Continental Music Icon Award – Michael C. Ajereh (Don Jazzy)
Man of Style – Trevor Sturrman
Green Corporate Star Award – Coliba Ghana
Magnate of The Year – Kwame Ofosu Bamfo
Man of the Year (Africa)- Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina
Woman of the Year – Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann
A fortnight ago at the top of the Empire State Building in New York, the prime minister told me she was willing to do things that were unpopular.
That is a theory she very efficiently tested to destruction.
Her party’s poll ratings plunged as deep as that Manhattan skyscraper is tall following her government’s announcement of a tax-cutting package.
The markets were spooked, Conservative MPs were spooked more.
This policy was destined to crowd out everything else here at Tory conference in Birmingham for a simple reason.
Tory MPs from ministers down said it was unsellable: offering the best paid a tax cut with the prospect of public spending and benefits cuts at the same time.
That is why a policy that just 10 days ago was presented as a triumph for the new Chancellor, a moment of political theatrics, a moment leant into and revelled in, has now sunk to the bottom of the canal here in Birmingham; junked, binned, gone.
This leaves the new Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng – and by extension the prime minister – downcast and humiliated, wounded and weakened.
“Can I have a black coffee?” he asked, on arrival for an appointment with Nick Robinson at 0810 on the BBC’s Today programme.
If ever there was a moment for this chancellor to request that beverage, this was that moment.
Twenty minutes later, as he climbed out of his chair, the look of relief on his face was obvious.
He had, by the end of the interview at least, acknowledged “we got this wrong”.
He had also said – about the broader package of measures in his statement – “we reset the debate”.
They had, but not in quite the way they had anticipated.
That debate, within the Conservative Party and beyond, was whether the new government knew what it was doing.
Whether the new government was in control of events.
On that last point, they weren’t.
Liz Truss will now hope this U-turn creates space to move forward, hauling herself out of the political quagmire of a budgetary statement that imploded on contact with political reality.
This is another defining moment for a young government not yet a month old.
Ghanaian Highlife legend and songwriter, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, known chiefly as Daddy Lumba, has expressed his gratitude to God for saving his life and giving him the opportunity to celebrate his 58th birthday in good health.
In a video published on his official YouTube Channel, Daddy Lumba (DL)recalled how an illness nearly took his life.
“Thank you, I must say that I am not growing old (laughs). I am grateful to God for adding a new year to my age. At least He gave it to me at the time when I faced challenges, the sickness that came my way and all the other situations. I am grateful for the good health that affords me to speak to my fans,” he said.
Also, the famous musician sent a special dedication to his fans worldwide, especially his fan clubs who are best known for sharing Lumba’s timeless songs across social media platforms.
According to DL, he “might not be here without their support”, the reason why he will forever be indebted to them for their unflinching love.
“My biggest gratitude goes to my fans worldwide, especially my fan clubs all over the globe. I can’t mention their names but I will start with the Die-Hard Fans of Lumba and the Fantasy Club of Daddy Lumba, House of DL and many more. God bless you all for holding me down, I might not be here without your support,” the Highlife legend added in the video sighted by GhanaWeb.
Daddy Lumba on September 29 marked his 58th birthday. This attracted tons of well wishes from his colleagues and fans.
Some Ghanaians mocked Nigerians on social media, specifically Twitter, following Thomas Partey‘s stunning goals against Tottenham in the North London derby.
Thomas Partey scored a spectacular curler from outside the box, similar to a goal he scored against Nigeria to qualify Ghana for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Ghanaians then trolled their West African rivals, claiming the goal gives Nigerians flashbacks.
Others added that Partey chose to score the goal on Nigeria’s independence day, adding salt to their wounds.
Partey commanded the midfield for the Gunners in their 3-1 victory over Tottenham in the derby.
Partey, who suffered a knee injury but recovered in time to play 73 minutes, received a standing ovation from the fans after an outstanding performance by the Black Stars’ deputy captain.
Thomas Partey scores on Nigeria’s independence day to remind them of his goal that sent Ghana to Qatar and them to their various homes. 😂😂
Thomas Partey scores on Nigeria’s independence day to remind them of his goal that sent Ghana to Qatar and them to their various homes. 😂😂#GTVSportspic.twitter.com/QfdKqCknMJ
Thomas Partey’s screamer against Tottenham reminds me of that goal against Nigeria in Abuja…I thought it was a fluke or our goalkeeper was not good enough until this afternoon. #ARSTOT
About 1,900 union members also took action in August, with Unite asking for a pay rise to match the rate of inflation – currently at about 10%.
The port said its pay increase of 7% plus £500 was “very fair”.
Hutchison Ports, part of a multi-national conglomerate based in China, previously said the “bargaining process has been exhausted” between in port and the union, but Miles Hubbard, regional officer for Unite said he did not accept that.
“This is the second tranche of strike action; people are as determined as they have been to stick it out and, if necessary, take further action,” he said.
Image source, Ben Parker/BBCImage caption, Miles Hubbard from Unite said there might be more industrial action
Mr Hubbard told BBC Politics East that workers wanted “a fair share and a pay rise which comes close to matching inflation”.
“The company have further provoked the workforce by imposing the pay offer,” he said.
Mr Hubbard said 82% of union members had rejected the 7% offer “so we’re here for the long haul”.
A spokesman for Hutchison said in a statement: “The port is in the process of implementing a very fair pay increase of 7% plus £500.
“The pay award is effective from 1 January [2022] when CPI inflation was 5.4%.
“One branch of Unite at the port has already put the same pay offer to their members, who voted to accept it.
“The next pay rise is due 1 January 2023, and we will discuss that with Unite in the normal way.”
‘We’ve all got bills to pay’
Image source, Ben Parker/BBC
Image caption,
Andrew Godwin said the 7% pay rise would not cover the rising cost of living
One of the workers on strike at the Port of Felixstowe was Andrew Godwin.
“At the moment nationwide there is a cost-of-living crisis affecting everyone, none more so than here,” he said.
“We’ve all got bills to pay, mortgages to pay, families to feed and it’s not enough to cover that cost.
Nana Ama Mcbrown received her fair share of critique when immediate past CEO of 3Music Networks, Baba Sadiq, and NPP Kpone Katamanso Parliamentary candidate, Hopeson Adorye threw verbal punches at each other during UTV’s United Showbiz program.
The popular actress who doubles as the United Showbiz host wasn’t spared by Mr. Hopeson Adorye who labeled her as ‘biased’ for sitting aloof while Baba Sadiq disrespected him.
Sadiq poked the NPP stalwart while claiming that he has freely offered himself to run the party’s ‘dirty jobs’.
His comments were necessitated by Mr. Adorye’s claim that Baba Sadiq was part of an agenda that saw to the recruitment of some 75 young men from Fadama to heckle President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addoat the Global Citizen concert.
Hopeson Adorye, alleged that Sadiq, together with the likes of NDC’s Alhassan Suhuyini, and Larry Dogbe bused these 75 young men to the venue purposely to hoot at the president.
“Sadiq of 3Music Awards is an industry player and has a connection with the lead organizers, he and Larry Dogbe and Suhuyini met at a particular place to plan. They contracted 75 boys from Fadama and paid each one of them GH¢120. The videos trending is a testament to it. It was from one particular shot,” he stated earlier in an interview with Accra FM.
In a bid to debunk the said claims, an infuriated Baba Sadiq went berserk and threw jabs at the NPP politician.
“Even people in his party are telling me to forget about him and that he isn’t well. You look at a young man who is working very hard and you want to trash him. I am not just an industry player; I am an investor. It is not a free event.
“He thinks it is a free event that people were bused to the venue. You’d have to go online, answer some questions and it will direct you to an IP. The data of every single person that attended the event has been recorded.
“At your level and age, don’t put yourself in a situation where people will have to disrespect you. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Sammy Awuku and Samuel Jinapor came to meet you, why is it that when there is a dirty job it has to be you and not them,” he stated on UTV’s United Showbiz.
But in the heat of the moment, Mr. Adorye called out the host, Nana Ama Mcbrown, for allowing Baba Sadiq speak of him in such manner.
“You made me sit here patiently just to listen to this stupid talk, the lies and disrespect from this young man. How can you condone such?
“I could have equally spewed rubbish but I chose to remain calm and that doesn’t mean I am stupid. I am not happy about how you handled this issue at all. Let me state on record that I don’t like how you handled this,” he remarked in Twi.
The 7th EMY Africa Awards‘ “Man of the Year – Music category” honour is the latest accolade for artiste Kofi Kinaata in a year that seems to be filled with triumphs.
Born Martin King Arthur, the Susuka hitmaker added a feather to his cap when he received the most prestigious award of Artiste of the Year at the just-ended Ghana Music Awards USA.
And just after few weeks, he has been honoured for his works in the year under review.
This year’s EMY Africa Awards came off at the Grand Arena of Accra International Conference Centre(AICC) yesterday, October 1where a number of distinguished personalities who have excelled in various fields of endeavours were honoured.
The performers for the night were South African Afro-soul singer Zahara and some of Ghana’s sensational acts including Akwaboah, Cina Soul, Kwabena Kwabena among others.
Chief Executive Officer of Lynx Entertainment Richie Mensah were among players in the arts and entertainment industry honoured on the day. He earned the Young Achiever (Male) Award –
The others were actor Adjetey Annan who received Actor of the Year and Tony Tometey who walked home with the Creative Arts and Support award.
Below is the full list of winners.
Man of The Year (Health) – Dr. Elikem Tamakloe
Man of The Year (Agriculture) – Alhaji Mashud Mohammed
Man of The Year (Technology) – Andrew Takyi-Appiah
Man of The Year (Sports) – Benjamin Azamati
Humanitarian Award – Alex Dadey
Discovery of the Year Award – Free The Youth (FTY)
Guardian Guard Award – Lanre Olusola
Lifetime Achievement Award – Joe Lartey
Designer of the Year – Ezekiel Yartel
Young Achiever (Female) – Audrey Maame Esi Swatson
Settler Award – Amaar Deep S. Hari
Man of Courage Award – Nii Quaye Brown
Creative Arts and Support Award – Tony Tometey
Actor of The Year – Adjetey Annan
Media Excellence Award – Ayo Animashaun
Group of the Year – Rotary Club
Man of the Year (Music) – Kofi Kinaata
Brand of the Year – Caveman Watch
Young Achiever (Male) Award – Richie Mensah
Continental Film Icon Award – Richard Mofe Damijo
Continental Music Icon Award – Michael C. Ajereh (Don Jazzy)
Man of Style – Trevor Sturrman
Green Corporate Star Award – Coliba Ghana
Magnate of The Year – Kwame Ofosu Bamfo
Man of the Year (Africa)- Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina
Woman of the Year – Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann
Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin, the Overlord of Akyem Abuakwa State, has reiterated calls for government and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to review the community mining project.
The environmentalist who on several platforms has stated that the community mining project is galamsey in disguise says farmlands and water bodies are still being degraded and polluted.
The Okyeman Environmental Taskforce who assisted the Kibi Divisional Police in a special galamsey operation at Asaman Tamfoe has come under serious social media condemnation after shots were fired in the community.
Speaking at the climax of this year’s Cocoa Day celebration in Suhum over the weekend, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin who condemned recent surge in galamsey, sale of farmlands to illegal miners and the exemption of chiefs in policymaking said “actions of environmental task force is just to protect the future of children in the country.”
Reacting to various allegations levelled against traditional leaders for the worsening state of illegal mining in the country, Okyehene Amoatia Ofori Panin said “no farmer has the right to sell off farmlands to illegal miners and no chief has the financial prowess to purchase excavators which are mostly used for illegal mining.”
Erstwhile Nigerian footballer, Okafor Emmanuel Junior, has been arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos for alleged cocaine trafficking upon arrival from Brazil.
The Guardian Nigeria reported that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested Okafor who arrived in Lagos with 1.40kg of crack cocaine concealed in his bags on October 2, 2022.
According to NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Okafor played for UNTH Enugu FC before departing Nigeria for Sri Lanka and later travelled to Brazil where he could not continue his career due to documentation issues.
During the preliminary interview, Okafor disclosed that he was an ex-footballer with the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH Enugu FC, where he played for four seasons before leaving for Sri Lanka in 2014. He further stated that he moved to Brazil from Sri Lanka after playing for two seasons but could not advance his football career in Brazil due lack of official documents.
Babafemi also confirmed another Brazil returnee named Ibeh Chinedu was also arrested for concealing 3.20kg of black cocaine.
“Another Brazilian returnee, Ibeh Chinedu Damian was arrested the same day upon his arrival at the Lagos airport from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Ethiopian airlines flight. Ibeh who hails from Ahiazu, Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, was found to have concealed 3.20kg of black cocaine popularly known as ‘Lucci’ in the false bottoms of his two bags.”
In his statement, he said he was to be “paid three million, one hundred thousand naira (N3,100,000) on the successful delivery of the drug in Nigeria.”
Drax runs Britain’s biggest power station, which burns millions of tonnes of imported wood pellets – which is classed as renewable energy.
The BBC has discovered some of the wood comes from primary forests in Canada.
The company says it only uses sawdust and waste wood.
Panorama analysed satellite images, traced logging licences and used drone filming to prove its findings. Reporter Joe Crowley also followed a truck from a Drax mill to verify it was picking up whole logs from an area of precious forest.
Ecologist Michelle Connolly told Panorama the company was destroying forests that had taken thousands of years to develop.
“It’s really a shame that British taxpayers are funding this destruction with their money. Logging natural forests and converting them into pellets to be burned for electricity, that is absolutely insane,” she said.
The Drax power station in Yorkshire is a converted coal plant, which now produces 12% of the UK’s renewable electricity.
Panorama discovered Drax bought logging licences to cut down two areas of environmentally-important forest in British Columbia.
Image caption, The Panorama team used drones to survey the area
One of the Drax forests is a square mile, including large areas that have been identified as rare, old-growth forest.
The provincial government of British Columbia says old-growth forests are particularly important and that companies should put off logging them.
Drax’s own responsible sourcing policy says it “will avoid damage or disturbance” to primary and old-growth forest.
However, the latest satellite pictures show Drax is now cutting down the forest.
Image source, Planet Labs PBCImage caption, Satellite images show forests cut down in British Columbia
The company told Panorama many of the trees there had died, and that logging would reduce the risk of wildfires.
The entire area covered by the second Drax logging licence has already been cut down.
How green is burning wood?
Burning wood produces more greenhouse gases than burning coal.
The electricity is classed as renewable because new trees are planted to replace the old ones and these new trees should recapture the carbon emitted by burning wood pellets.
But recapturing the carbon takes decades and the off-setting can only work if the pellets are made with wood from sustainable sources.
Primary forests, which have never been logged before and store vast quantities of carbon, are not considered a sustainable source. It is highly unlikely that replanted trees will ever hold as much carbon as the old forest.
Drax told the BBC it had not cut down the forests itself and said it transferred the logging licences to other companies.
But Panorama checked and the authorities in British Columbia confirmed that Drax still holds the licences.
Drax said it did not use the logs from the two sites Panorama identified. It said they were sent to timber mills – to make wood products – and that Drax only used the leftover sawdust for its pellets.
The company says it does use some logs – in general – to make wood pellets. It claims it only uses ones that are small, twisted, or rotten.
Image caption, BBC Panorama visited the British Columbian forests
But documents on a Canadian forestry database show that only 11% of the logs delivered to the two Drax plants in the past year were classified as the lowest quality, which cannot be used for wood products.
Panorama wanted to see if logs from primary forests cut down by logging companies were being transferred to Drax’s Meadowbank pellet plant. The programme filmed a truck on a 120-mile round trip: leaving the plant, collecting piles of whole logs from a forest that had been cut down by a logging company and then returning to the plant for their delivery.
Drax later admitted that it did use logs from the forest to make wood pellets. The company said they were species the timber industry did not want, and they would often be burned anyway to reduce wildfire risks.
The company also said the sites identified by Panorama were not primary forest because they were near roads.
But the UN definitions of primary forest do not mention proximity to roads and one of the sites is six miles from the nearest paved road.
Panorama’s findings come at a critical moment for Drax.
The UK government is due to publish a new biomass strategy later this year, which will set out its policy for natural fuels like wood.
A Drax spokesperson said 80% of material in its Canadian pellets is sawmill residuals, which would be disposed of anyway.
They also said that Drax applies stringent sustainability standards to its own pellet production as well as suppliers, with verification from third-party certification schemes.
“We are constantly reviewing these policies to ensure we take account of the latest science,” they added.
FAST rising stand-up comedian, Jerry has always known that he had something unique in him for comedy and the more he pulled away from it, the more it kept chasing him.
Although Comedian Jerry trained to be a journalist at Ghana Institute of Journalism(GIJ), the comic, born Jeremiah Ashinyo Oluwaudara had no option than to pursue his passion for comedy.
Today, he is doing quite well with his astounding stage persona.
Even though Ghana has not yet fully embraced stand-up comedy, Comedian Jerry believes taking his chances and exploring the comedy space will give him the satisfaction he needs after sharing the stage with a number of prominent comics from Ghana including OB Amponsah, Foster Romanus, and Lekzy DeComic.
The budding funnyman had been a practicing journalist with an Accra-based radio station and an online writer for a couple of years before he made his way into the comedy space.
Speaking with Graphic Showbiz on the changeover, Comedian Jerry said he had a big appetite for the comedy profession and has no regrets making such decision.
“Sometimes, I get people asking why as a GIJ graduate, I am now doing comedy and my response has always been that I’m being driven by extreme passion for comedy. The shift was worth it and I have not regretted pursuing it at all even though it came with some difficulties. But I will maintain that it was the best decision ever,” he said.
Speaking about his goals, he expressed confidence that with time and effort, he would be able to create a loyal following and promote Ghana to a global audience.
“Building my own space and achieving that level of international acclaim are currently my main goals, and I have faith that I will succeed to a point that I can even start developing other people who have a passion for comedy.”
He however told Graphic Showbiz that practicing journalism was still in his plans but for now, his concentration was on building a solid comedy brand adding, “I still have eyes for the inky fraternity. I won’t say I have stopped journalism. Just that comedy requires a lot of my input and efforts at the moment. When the time is due, I will surely go back to it.”
Experience
Sharing his experience, the journalist turned comedian says his entry into the comedy scene was not an easy journey but with support from seasoned acts who embraced and encouraged him, he has been able to carve a niche for himself in the comedy scene.
“The major challenge was with people saying Ghanaian comics were not funny, but now, that is not there anymore. And thanks to the support of my ‘big brothers’ who encouraged me, I have been able to gain the confidence to shape my craft,” he added.
Being a comedian is certainly bringing lots of fulfilment to Comedian Jerry but was that what he always wanted to do?
“I knew that I had the talent for comedy and will do it someday but it will interest people to know that while growing up, the only ‘profession’ I admired was to be a shop attendant. Can you imagine?
“I developed the interest when as a little kid. There was this girl who used to sell in a shop in front of our compound and she would always give me sweets and so I wanted to grow up and be like her,” he said.
However, Jerry’s choice of career kept changing until he enrolled at the Ghana Institute of Journalism for his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication.
With the requisite knowledge, he was empowered to start a promising career in journalism but that all changed when his love for comedy kept increasing and he had no choice than to go for it.
But there was an obstacle to overcome; convincing his parents that comedy was what he wanted to do.
“I never informed my parents about my intention to shift from journalism to comedy until I started doing my own thing on stage and TV. That was when people started informing them that I was now a comedian.
“So my dad called and asked me what I have been doing on TV and I told him about the comedy thing and since then, has been very supportive,” he said.
Comedian Jeremiah who is of Ghanaian and Nigerian parentage was born in Nigeria and lived there till 2011 when his family relocated to Ghana.
He intends to stay as long as he can most importantly for his rapidly growing comedy career though he says he misses “omo Naija” a lot of times.
Apart from comedy and journalism, Comedian Jerry plays the keyboard, clarinet and he is also a voice coach.
Accrding to him, Ghanaian comedians have been underrated in comparison to their Nigerian counterparts. However, they must be supported and not discouraged with destructive criticisms.
“Ghanaians need to believe in our artistes, sometimes the bashing is too much. I can confidently say that every platform a Nigerian comedian can mount, a Ghanaian comedian can do it a million times over so we should not disregard our own,” he stated.
Increasing popularity
At the moment, Comedian Jerry is growing his popularity as part of comedy show, Half Serious Show on GH One which features the likes of OB Amponsah and Lekzy Decomic.
He has also thrilled patrons at a number of comedy shows including Popular But Broke and Too Cute To Be Mute.
Hearts of Oak have announced that the club has appointed coach David Ocloo as a new assistant coach.
The club recently parted ways with head coach Samuel Boadu and his two assistants.
Now desperate to put together a technical team to prepare for the CAF Confederation match against AS Bamakao, Hearts of Oak have recruited coach David Ocloo.
“Accra Hearts of Oak Plc is pleased to announce the appointment Mr. David Dickson Ocloo as the club’s new Assistant Coach. His appointment takes immediate effect and forms part of the club’s restructuring exercise of the Technical Team,” an official club statement has said today.
The 38-year-old David Ocloo holds CAF license A, B & C coaching certificates as well as a certificate in Sports performance and video analysis.
In the interim coach, Hearts of Oak says coach David Ocloo will act as the head Coach and will be assisted by Samuel Nii Noi until a substantive head coach is appointed in the near future.
He is expected to lead the team’s preparations ahead of this weekend’s CAF Confederations Cup first leg game against Real Bamako of Mali in Bamako.
The Ghanaian tactician in the past worked for Liberty Professionals and Asante Kotoko.
The Labour Party are “very clearly the favourites” to form the next government, pollster Sir John Curtice has told Tory activists in Birmingham.
New PM Liz Truss was now as unpopular with voters as Boris Johnson was when he was ousted, said Sir John.
And even if Labour’s current double digit poll lead reduced before the next election in 2024, Labour were still likely to gain power, he suggested.
His analysis was greeted with dismay and cries of “wow” from activists.
The veteran pollster, who masterminds general election exit polls, said Labour already had a nine point lead in the polls when Ms Truss won last month’s Tory leadership election and she had not enjoyed a honeymoon period.
Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s tax-cutting mini-budget just over a week ago – and the market reaction to it – had produced a 7% swing to Labour, he said.
“The truth is, whatever the merits of Liz Truss’s package, it has resulted in very serious electoral damage to the Conservatives as an institution and to this new leader,” he told the Demos fringe meeting.
The swing to Labour was similar in size to that seen on Black Wednesday in 1992, the first time the policies of a Conservative government had produced turmoil on the money markets.
If voters remembered the events of the past week when they go to the polls in two years’ time, Labour could be on course for a three figure majority, said Sir John, even if Ms Truss’s policies work as intended and produce economic growth.
Tory activists received a similarly sobering message at an earlier fringe meeting, from pollster with links to the party.
Veteran US pollster Frank Luntz told them: “If you want to win, stop bitching, stop griping, stop complaining and get [it] together.”
He said the party’s MPs had to start communicating with voters in a language they understood, and talking about things which mattered to them.
He also took aim at defeated Tory leadership contender and former chancellor Rishi Sunak, who has opted to stay away from this week’s conference.
“Where is Rishi Sunak? Why is he not here?” he asked the audience of Tory members.
If Mr Sunak was here he could “start to unify the party, you guys can go forward together,” added Mr Luntz.
“When people don’t even show up, what are the voters supposed to think?”
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Frank Luntz is a friend of ex PM Boris Johnson and a longstanding Tory observer
In a scathing assessment of Liz Truss’s first weeks in power, Rachel Wolf, who co-wrote the Conservatives’ 2019 election manifesto, said the new prime minister had no mandate from voters or her own MPs for the “ambitious” Thatcherite agenda she was pursuing.
She accused Ms Truss of “appearing not to care” about the impact her policies will have on voters worried about the cost of living,
“People are feeling poorer,” she added, and they don’t think the solutions Liz Truss has come up with “make any sense”.
Ms Wolf, co-founder of polling company Public First, and a former adviser to Michael Gove, picked apart Ms Truss’s claim to be a strong leader in the mould of Margaret Thatcher, and not afraid of unpopular policies.
The crucial difference between the two, she argued, was that Lady Thatcher had an electoral and Parliamentary mandate for her policies and was capable of articulating them in way that resonated with ordinary voters.
“Thatcher was always a strong leader,” she told the meeting, “but she was of the people, she spoke in their language”.
Pursuing an “ambitious Thatcherite agenda” without a mandate was a recipe for disaster at the polls, she suggested, and she hoped Conservative MPs could at least start to demonstrate some unity and competence.
She also had a message for Sir Keir Starmer.
“People are voting against the government but they are not voting for Labour, That might quite possibly be enough but it is the thing I would be most worried about if I were him.
“The thing that always comes up with Starmer, and still does, is that he has no views, no ideas of his own.”
Asked about the qualities needed in a modern leader, she said: “It’s very hard to support a leader who is uninterested in, or despises, you.
“It’s not whether they are strong, whether they have a view of their own, if they fundamentally don’t seem to like their electorate very much, or don’t think they are worth considering it’s very hard to vote for them.”
Liz Truss would lose a Commons vote on cutting the top rate of income tax, former cabinet minister Grant Shapps has told the BBC.
Scrapping the 45% top rate was a key part of last Friday’s mini-budget aimed at boosting growth.
But it has faced a growing backlash from Conservative MPs after market turmoil and a big slide in the polls.
Michael Gove earlier hinted that he would vote against it – but Mr Shapps has now gone further.
The former transport secretary warned Ms Truss not to have a “tin ear” to voters’ concerns about rising living costs and to do a U-turn as soon as possible.
“Let’s not muddy the water with… tax cuts for wealthy people right now, when the priority needs to be on everyday households,” he said.
MPs are not likely to get a chance to vote on the tax changes until next spring, but Mr Shapps suggested enough Tory MPs would join forces with Labour and other opposition parties to defeat it.
“I don’t think the House is in a place where it’s likely to support that,” he told the BBC on the first day of the Conservative conference in Birmingham.
Like others who supported Rishi Sunak in the Tory leadership contest, Mr Shapps was fired from the cabinet by Ms Truss when she became prime minister.
But Mr Shapps insisted he was not being unhelpful to the new PM. “Sometimes budgets go wrong when they’re announced,” he said.
He cited former Chancellor George Osborne’s 2012 Budget – dubbed the “omnishambles” – as an example of when economic policies have been “quickly reversed”.
“And you know what? We went on to win the next election. So I mean this to be entirely helpful. There is a way through this. But the way through isn’t to put fingers in the ear.”
Instead of just “pushing on” with the 45p top rate cut, he said the government “needed to actually recognise that we’re trying to do something here, which really isn’t possible at this moment”.
Later on Monday, Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng will use his Conservative conference speech to insist the government will “stay the course” on his tax-cutting growth plan, arguing that without tax reform the country is heading for “slow decline”.
On Sunday, Conservative Party chairman Jake Berry warned that Tory MPs who voted against the prime minister’s tax measures would be kicked out of the parliamentary party – known as losing the whip.
Talking to Sky News, Mr Berry urged Conservatives to back the prime minister, adding: “I’m sure that if we do that it will lead ultimately to long-term electoral success.”
‘Course correction’
But on Sunday, Maria Caulfield became the latest Conservative MP to publicly oppose the policy, saying she could not support it at a time “when nurses are struggling to pay their bills”.
Addressing Mr Berry directly in a tweet, Ms Caulfield, who used to work as a nurse, said: “If Tory Party don’t want this working class MP, fair enough.”
Former Levelling-Up Secretary Mr Gove – who also backed Mr Sunak in the leadership contest – said there were “two major” problems with the prime minister’s plans.
“The first is the sheer risk of using borrowed money to fund tax cuts – that’s not Conservative,” he said.
The second, he argued, was to cut the top rate of income tax and scrap the cap on bankers’ bonuses “at a time when people are suffering”.
Asked if Ms Truss would be prime minister this time next year, he said she would but added: “There needs to be a course correction.”
And asked on the Telegraph’s Chopper’s Politics Live podcast if the prime minister had a mandate for her tax changes, Mr Gove argued she did for changes to National Insurance and corporation tax – because she had campaigned for them during the leadership contest.
But he added: “What was not discussed was the prospect of income tax cuts, particularly income tax cuts for the very wealthiest.”
In an official statement, the continent’s football governing body says it has reopened bids for the next two editions of the tournament.
The decision was taken on Saturday, October 1, in Algeria on the back of the decision to strip Guinea off the hosting rights.
“The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) Executive Committee (“EXCO”) met on Saturday 1 October 2022 in Algiers, Algeria and announced the re-opening of bids for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2025,” an official club statement from CAF has said.
Meanwhile, CAF has extended best wishes to all five teams that have qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“CAF wishes Senegal, Tunisia, Ghana, Morocco and Cameroon all of the best in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” the CAF statement concludes.
The Minority in Parliament has described as laughable the Lands and Natural Resources Minister’s surprise at the scale of illegal mining activity in Ghana.
“Why will anyone be surprised when it is clear that there were no practical actions to save our lands after the several expensive conferences the government organised,” the Minority said in a statement.
It noted that it had previously raised concern about illegal mining before it gained renewed national attention.
“Twice this year, the minority through the Mines and Energy Committee drew the attention of Government about the relapse in their fight against galamsey.”
“We called on the Ministers responsible to wake up from their long-drawn sleep and save our lands from selfish galamsay operators.”
The Minority maintains that the passivity of the government has allowed illegal mining to continue |with known government party supporters busily sinking machines into lands all over, including state reserved areas, polluting our fresh waters and destroying farm lands.”
“The ease at which private citizens, many of foreign background, plunge into our lands and ravage it under this Regime is very worrying. It justifies why many citizens and civil society groups express worry about the future of our country.”
Find below the full statement
Stop the deception on the fight against illegal mining and be serious about saving our lands and waters: A statement by the Minority Side of Parliament, 1st OCTOBER, 2022
Daily Graphic 30th September 2022, reported a visit of the Minister of Lands on some galamsey sites in the Eastern Region. To our ultimate surprise the Minister appeared surprised at the unmeasurable destruction of the land and the environment by the Galamsey operators. We recall how the President, Nana Ado Danquah Akufo Ado boasted about getting the right Minister to do a job which we are completely sure he did not intend to do. Before his announcement of the new Minister whose competence we do not doubt, Ghanaians had been overwhelmed and had been critical about the collaborative destruction of our wet and dry lands throughout the country in the 4 years of the Nana Addo NPP first term. As usual of this regime’s deceptive promises and sweet words were used to calm down the unsuspecting Ghanaian pointing at a new policy on galamsey. Two years into that ‘new policy” direction on Galamsey, the Minister will fly to the same galamsey sites he promised to salvage to see a more devastating, more painfully destroyed landscape and appeared surprised seeking the Ghanaian populace to bear with this lackluster policy approach.
Twice this year the minority through the Mines and Energy Committee drew the attention of Government about the relapse in their fight against galamsey. We called on the Ministers responsible to wake up from their long drawn sleep and save our lands from selfish galamsay operators. They kept their sleepy mood and allowed the destruction to continue with known government party supporters busily sinking machines into lands all over, including state reserved areas, polluting our fresh waters and destroying farm lands. Even as we worry about the present circumstance and the laughable surprise by the Minister, much more galamsey operations are going on, known to the government and intentionally ignored by its agents! What fight did the President refer to when he announced to the people about his determination to eliminate galamsey from our lands? Why will anyone be surprised when it is clear that there were no practical actions to save our lands after the several expensive conferences the government organised targeted at addressing the challenges posed by illegal mining?
The ease at which private citizens, many of foreign background, plunge into our lands and ravage it under this Regime is very worrying. It justifies why many citizens and civil society groups express worry about the future of our country. The free destruction of the land by miners of all class of description has a damning effect on our cocoa production and on our drinking water. While at one point oil companies had to import fresh water from neighboring La Cote d’voire our long trading partners, the European Union, are also contemplating to ban the purchase of Ghana cocoa because of high contamination of mercury from irresponsible mining. It therefore did not sound as surprising when a government friendly civil society group, Occupy Ghana, issued a threat to take the Government to Court over his poor over what it calls government “absolute incompetence, in the face of the brazen destruction of our lands and wanton poisoning of our water bodies”. All this defines the poor handling of the unprecedented destruction of our lands. The situation as we have it now should obviously send signals to the government that not all is right about it’s pretense to be fighting to save our lands for a future generation.
While we observe what next the Minister and his government will do after his visit and his surprise of seeing the vast destruction of our environment, which we see as only a tip of the iceberg, we urge the minister to wear sharper glasses and open his mind wider to take needed actions. His actions thereafter will help him absolve himself from any blame on him as either a collaborator or an incompetent urgent of the President in a fight for our lands being destroyed with impunity and annoying gusto. We will like to see the government demonstrate responsibility by stopping this lawless conduct and prosecute the defaulters and ensure that companies which are found to engaged in any illegal mining process to reclaim all lands they have destroyed.
The former president of El Salvador’s soccer federation has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in the yearslong FIFA corruption scandal.
Reynaldo Vasquez, 66, the former president of the Federacion Salvadorena de Futbol (FESFUT), or the Salvadoran Football Federation was sentenced in federal court in Brooklyn on Thursday to 16 months in prison. Vasquez, who was arrested and indicted in November 2015, before being extradited to the United States from El Salvador in 2021, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy in August 2021.
Vasquez admitted to receiving a $350,000 bribe in 2012 from Miami-based Media World, which paid the FIFA official for the media and marketing rights to El Salvador’s qualifying matches to be played in advance of the 2018 World Cup.
“The defendant and his co-conspirators, motivated by greed, disgraced themselves by lining their pockets with hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, at the expense of a beautiful sport, El Salvador’s soccer federation, and the community it served,” United States Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement. “Vasquez has now been held to account, like the many other corrupt soccer officials who have been exposed by the government’s investigation.”
As part of a plea agreement, Vasquez, who served as head of the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol from 2009 to 2011, has agreed to forfeit $360,000 and multiple bank accounts to the government.
Indigenous bank, CalBank has commissioned a fully furnished ICT laboratory for the Seventh-Day Adventist Demonstrations Schools at Koforidua Asokoree in the Eastern Region.
The ICT Lab which was built with technical support from TechAide is made up of 40 computers and also boasts of educational software and tools which will aidaidaching and learning.
This the bank hopes will offer students and the community a platform to develop digital skills.
Speaking at the opening of the lab, Managing Director of CalBank PLC, Philip Owiredu, underscored the need for practical ICT education if the country wants to achieve the desired development.
According to him, technology is a major driver of development in the world and for Ghana to fully attain its digitalisation agenda, a lot of efforts should be made in ensuring practical technological education.
“Technology is the driver of global development. In every aspect of life, be it education, health, financial services, technology has become a major driving force for the growth of these sectors and in our agenda. To ensure a digitalised economy, it is important that everybody in the nation will have a feel of what ICT is about to enhance their knowledge and further advance Ghana’s technological agenda”, he noted.
He also called on private sector to support in the provision of infrastructure and services to complement government’s efforts.
According to him, the collective support of every institution will help fast-track development of the economy.
On the importance of cooperate support in providing tools for the development of digital skills in Ghana, Kafui Prebby, Chief Executive Officer of TechAide said, corporate backing by way of the provision of tools like computers and ICT labs will expose the youth to the learning of digital skills which will intend boost digital literacy in Ghana.
“Government has provided the framework, however, we as individuals and citizens have to do our part in supporting the Ghana’s digitalisation agenda. Technology cannot be learnt in a vacuum, it’s a skill and people need tools to learn these skills. So without the tools, we can preach all we want but may not yield the needed results. “
The Headmaster of the SDA Basic B School, George Boadu thanked Cal Bank and TechAide for their support and promised to ensure that the facility is put to good to use to benefit the society.
The 40-seater computer Lab which comes with various educational software will aid teaching and learning and offer practical ICT lessons not only for the students, but the community as a whole.
The prime minister told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg she had “learned from that”, but she was confident her tax cutting package would boost economic growth.
She added a decision to cut the top earner tax rate was a “decision that the chancellor made”.
And she revealed it was not discussed with the whole cabinet beforehand.
The cut to the 45p rate has provoked outrage from opposition parties, and concern from some Conservative MPs.
Former minister Michael Gove said the cut displayed the “wrong values,” and signalled he wouldn’t vote for it.
The government’s mini-budget included £45bn in cuts funded by government borrowing, and revealed the government expects its two-year scheme to fix energy prices will cost £60bn in the first six months.
The announcements sparked days of turbulence in financial markets, with the pound falling to a record low against the US dollar on Monday, although it has since recovered.
The rocky economic backdrop is set to dominate this week’s Conservative party conference, Ms Truss’s first as Tory leader, where she faces the task of reassuring her MPs over her approach to boosting the flagging UK economy.
Speaking from the gathering in Birmingham, Ms Truss promised to win over “the hearts and minds” of Tory MPs to persuade them of her plan.
In an interview for the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, she said she remained committed to her approach and she was “confident” better growth would result.
Media caption, Michael Gove: Cutting tax for the wealthiest “a display of the wrong values”
“I do stand by the package we announced and I stand by the fact we announced it quickly, because we had to act,” the prime minister added.
“But I do accept we should have laid the ground better. I have learned from that, and I will make sure that in future we do a better job of laying the ground.”
She also defended the decision to cut the 45p income tax rate for top earners, saying it “raises very little” and made the tax system more complicated.
She added that the cut was a decision made by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng – prompting former cabinet minister and Boris Johnson loyalist Nadine Dorries to accuse her of throwing him “under a bus”.
And Mr Gove, who has served in several cabinet roles in previous governments, expressed concerns about scrapping the top rate at a time when “people are suffering”.
Former deputy prime minister Damian Green warned a reception at conference that the Tories would lose the next general election if “we end up painting ourselves as the party of the rich”.
Labour’s shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves accused the government of conducting a “mad experiment” with the economy, calling the market turmoil a “crisis made in Downing Street”.
Also speaking to Laura Kuenssberg, she said investors had been spooked by the “sheer scale of the borrowing” to fund the tax cuts, alongside the decision not to publish an official economic forecast alongside the plans.
She added that the public would “pay the price” for the turbulence, and said Ms Truss had failed to understand the “anxiety and fear” about the state of the economy.
Just a few weeks ago, this was a conference where many would have anticipated a mood of loyal celebration.
Yes, a government and a country confronting difficult times – but a party welcoming a new prime minister; relieved to have left the arguments of the collapsing premiership of Boris Johnson behind.
Instead, with nosediving opinion poll numbers and self-inflicted economic volatility, the mood here is bleak, the outbreaks of public anger illustrative of a deeper well of private anguish.
There are few things more dangerous for a government than a perception that senior figures don’t know what they are doing and are not fully in control of events.
Some Tory MPs are already privately questioning how long Liz Truss might last in office; even more say they will not support elements of her budget, not least the tax cut for the highest paid.
Senior Conservatives recognise this is a moment of considerable jeopardy for a prime minister not yet a month in the job – and the next few days will be crucial in providing reassurance for the party and the country.
Media caption, Rachel Reeves says the government is conducting a “mad experiment” with the UK economy
In a bid to reassure markets, the government has said it will set out how it plans to lower public debt in the medium term on 23 November.
Pushed repeatedly on whether she planned to cut public spending, Ms Truss did not say, but added she wanted to get “value for money for the taxpayer”.
She did not commit to raising benefits in line with inflation, saying that a decision would be made later this autumn.
She also rejected calls to bring forward an assessment of the government’s plans from the UK’s budget watchdog, currently due to be published alongside the debt plan.
She added that an assessment of the spending plans was “not yet ready”.
“There’s no point in publishing something that’s not ready. That would just cause confusion,” she added.
NFL fans are in disbelief after Antonio Brown exposed himself to guests while swimming in a pool at a hotel in Dubai.
According to the New York Post, the incident took place on May 14, while the former All-Pro wide receiver was staying at the Armani Hotel Dubai. The footage, which has since gone viral, shows Brown shoving his backside into the face of a woman, before he lifted up his penis and flashed it in her direction.
“Eyewitnesses said Brown had just met the woman and she was fuming after the encounter,” the Post noted.
Brown took to Twitter on Saturday to respond to the leaked clip, writing, “Every chance they get to sway the heat off themselves they use me. In the video you can clearly see she runs off with my swim trunks. If roles were reversed the headlines would read “AB having a wild night with nude female”.Yet when it’s me it automatically becomes a hate crime.”
He continued, “It’s crazy to me that even after I retire there is disinformation coming out about me. Ironically, during a time when the NFL is getting heat for allowing players to play when they’re clearly concussed. They’ve been using black men as guinea pigs.”
Back in January, the Tampa Bay Bucs parted ways with AB after he walked off the field during the team’s Week 18 game against the Jets. Weeks later, he sat down with Complex for a wide-ranging conversation where he maintained that he hadn’t ruled out a return to the NFL.
AB tweeted this:
“I’m a football player, man. I’m a professional athlete. Let’s not get that twisted. That’s my main thing,” he said, adding he’s already been in contact with some organizations. “A couple teams called.”
Residents of Antoa Newsite in the Kwabre East Municipality of the Ashanti Region say they are living in fear after discovering that 48 alleged illegal immigrants from several African countries are lodging in a house in the area.
According to the residents, due to fear, women and children, in particular, avoid using the stretch in front of the house the alleged immigrants are staying in.
Members of the landlords’ association in the area who fear the presence of these foreign nationals pose a security threat are thus urging the Police and the Ghana Immigration Service to conduct thorough investigations into their operations.
“We noticed there were so many of them staying here. We called the police and relayed to their channel of communication to the district commander here and Kenyasi, and he asked some of his patrol members to come and check,” one resident said.
“Our fear was that… could it be that these people are victims of a crime syndicate?”
Some of the foreign nationals who spoke to Citi News admitted that they entered the country illegally.
One of them, Peter Ankanfack, indicated that they have been in the country for the past seven months
“What I am doing is a global business… selling products,” he said.
