TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • GNPC begins decommissioning on September 26

    The technical decommissioning of the Saltpond Oil Field, Ghana’s oldest oil field, in the Central Region will start on Monday, September 26, according to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

    This comes after the much awaited jack-up rig and accompanying vessels from Lagos, Nigeria, which were required to carry out the drill, arrived.

    In the company of security personnel, the rig arrived in Saltpond on September 24, 2022, and as of 14:30 on Sunday, it was roughly three hours away from the drilling installation (Mr. Louie Rig).

    On Monday, the GNPC will formally turn over the platform to the contractor, Hans and Co Gas and Oil Service Providers, and construction will then start right away.

    The exercise, the first ever in Ghana, will permanently seal all six wells of the oil field, remove all pipes and completely dismantle the rusted and deplorable drilling platform to restore that area of the sea to its original state.

    All the necessary permits have been secured to undertake the exercise.

    The Saltpond Oil Field, about 105 kilometres west of Accra and 13 kilometres off the coast of Saltpond, was discovered in 1970.

    The field is in a water depth of 85 feet and extends over an area of five square kilometres.

    It was producing up to 4,800 barrels of oil per day at its peak from two out of six wells drilled.

    But production plummeted to below 200 barrels of oil per day by 2015 to make the operational cost higher than production.

    Consequently, the Ministry of Energy, in August 2016, directed the GNPC to decommission the field based on the recommendations from state institutions including the Environmental Protection Agency.

    The Corporation, therefore, initiated a field decommissioning process in 2018 with the first phase of studies and a development of a plan duly completed and approved by the Ministry of Energy.

    Addressing the press in Saltpond on Sunday, Dr Kwame Baah-Nuakoh, the General Manager, Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations, GNPC, explained that the decommissioning exercise had become necessary because the oil field was no longer economically viable.

    He said the wells and wellheads were in a deplorable state, posing a threat of oil spillage, which would adversely impact aquatic life, the lives of fishermen, and those with facilities along the beaches.

    “If we leave this platform for the next two years, nobody knows what will happen because the structural integrity cannot be guaranteed,” he said.

    “virtually all metals have corroded and could cause disaster.”

    Dr Baah-Nuakoh said the drilling installation would be cut, transported to the shore and recycled or sold as scrap to develop the catchment communities.

    He assured that all safety measures were being strictly followed to avert any accident, including spillage.

    “The plan is to ensure that no hazardous waste is left on the sea. The Corporation has put in place a robust emergency response plan of international standards to manage any incident, in the unlikely event – it occurs,” he said.

    “What we are hoping to do is to restore the area to its economic level for fishing and hopefully reassign it to see if we can find oil there because history shows there’s oil there.”

    Dr Baah-Nuakoh warned fishermen to keep a minimum distance of 500 meters away from the oil field and said the navy would be deployed to enforce the directive throughout the decommissioning process.

    He noted that part of the decommissioning agreement with the contractor was to ensure the transfer of knowledge and technology so that future decommissioning would be done by Ghanaians.

    He expressed gratitude to Parliament for its continuous support throughout the exercise.

    Madam Patience Lartey, Deputy Manager, Social Performance and Local Content Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations, GNPC, noted that all stakeholders within the affected catchment communities had been engaged in series of meetings to get their buy-in and support.

    Nana Kwesi Brevo III, the Chief of Kuntu, appealed to the GNPC to compensate the community with some development projects for hosting the oil field since its inception.

  • Thank you, Accra – Usher

    American R&B singer Usher Raymond IV top tier performance with outstanding choreography from Ghanaian dance instructor Dancegod Lloyd’s dance academy, Dance With A Purpose.

    After their remarkable performance, leaving the crowd chanting, Usher acknowledged his time spent on stage in Ghana with an official tweet.

    “ACCRA!! Thank you for rocking with me at @GlblCtzn #globalcitizenfestival tonight! @TiwaSavage @oxladeofficial @Pheelz @dwpacademyworld, my stage is your stage!”

    Source:pulse.gh

  • Five talking points from Asante Kotoko-Hearts of Oak draw

    Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak shared the spoils at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on matchday 3 of the Ghana Premier League.

    After a sloppy first half by the two sides, the second half brought life into the game.

    Yusif Mubarik gave Kotoko the lead in the 57th minute, scoring from a rebound before Caleb Amakwaah pulled parity for Hearts of Oak on 88 minutes, connecting Suraj Seidu’s freekick.

    There have been a lot of talking points after the game as some Kotoko fans were unsatisfied with officiating while local football enthusiasts also shared their concerns regarding the two big clubs in Ghana.

    Here are five talking points from Asante Kotoko’s stalemate with Hearts of Oak

    Referee Selom Yao Bless

    Referee Selom Yao Bless has grabbed the headlines after the match. Many opined that he made poor decisions that affected the score.

    Kotoko fans believe Bless robbed them of two penalties and awarded Hearts a goal which should have been ruled out for offside.

    Both teams lack quality

    Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak both sold a lacklustre game to the fans. The cause of both teams’ subpar performance has been blamed on quality.

    Neutrals and the clubs’ fans appear to agree that the two biggest clubs in the country have a long way to go in terms of matches with the continent’s big clubs.


    Attendance exceeded expectation

    Asante Kotoko, the home team, were eliminated from the CAF Champions League a week prior to the match. In front of their fans, Kotoko lost on penalties to RC Kadiogo.

    Following the defeat, there were doubts that the fans would turn up for the game against Hearts in the same numbers that they did for the game against Kadiogo. But the crowd was massive, and many fans ignored the loss to cheer on the Reds, while Hearts fans filled the away stand.

    The atmosphere was fantastic and far exceeded expectations.

    Samuel Boadu has lost his touch

    Many Hearts of Oak supporters are dissatisfied with the team’s recent results and performance.

    Some are calling for Samuel Boadu’s head, claiming that the Boadu who has led the team to five trophies in two years has lost his touch.

    Hearts of Oak have yet to win in their first three league games, despite playing subpar football in all three.

    Steven Mukwala

    The Ugandan forward was signed to fill the shoes of Kotoko’s top scorer, Franck Etouga Mbella who has departed the club.

    Mukwala is yet to prove himself that he is the right choice to replace Etouga who scored 21 goals for the Kotoko last season.

    During the match, he had some decent chances but could not bury them. Mukwala is still yet to net his first official goal for Kotoko after three games.

    Source;Ghanaweb

  • ECOWAS regulators to meet in Ghana over regional electricity market

    In Accra, West African energy operators and regulators will gather to discuss recent changes in the local market.

    The ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) and the Department of Communication announced that the three-day meeting will begin on September 26 and end on September 28.

    ERERA is anticipated to establish the enabling regulatory framework that will aid in accelerating the development of the regional electricity market with the impending introduction of the second phase of the regional energy market.

    The experts would, among others, consider the Detailed Rules and Procedures for Market Surveillance as a guide to provide transparent procedures and processes to monitor the regional electricity market.

    The Market Surveillance Rules would specify the roles to be played by national regulatory authorities, Transmission Service Operators and System and Market Operators.

    This is to ease effective monitoring of the market and prevent abuse and distortions and sanction defaulters, the statement noted.

    The draft Market Surveillance Rules include draft Guidelines for Market Surveillance of ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market, analysis of Existing Bi-lateral Contracts for Conformity with Model Bi-lateral Agreement.

    The draft also has the ECOWAS Market Documents, as well as the Report on Definition and Revision of the Detailed Rules and Procedures for Market Surveillance.

    It said the meeting would also review the Gap Analysis Report of a recent study, which was related to the Functional Model on System Reliability and Electricity Market for the ECOWAS Electricity Market.

    Again, the regional experts would review the draft rules for the Harmonisation of Licensing Criteria for the Regional Electricity Market, the statement noted.

    The harmonised framework for granting of licenses and authorisations for participation in the power market includes guidelines for grant of export and import licenses for cross-border power trading in ECOWAS countries and a model export and import licenses for adoption by Member States.

    According to ERERA’s documents, a harmonised licensing framework would provide the regulatory tools that will help regulators keep an oversight of the market and help ensure that licensing does not restrict entry by players into the regional electricity market.

    The participants at the meeting would be updated on the ECOWAS Directive on the Organization of the Regional Electricity Market, with emphasis on the drafting of national roadmaps.

  • ‘I don’t sit far away behind my PC typing doom’ – Gabby replies Prof. Hanke

    Professor of Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins University in the United States has gotten a response from Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a prominent NPP member.

    Prof. Steve Hanke had tweeted that Gabby must be from another planet if she thought the government and Finance Ministry merited plaudits for managing the economy despite the current financial crisis.

    Gabby’s reaction focused on three distinct factors: his location, his opinions on the Ghanaian economy and inhabitants’ living situations, as well as how he addresses the current problems.

    In response to the ‘living on another planet’ jibe by Hanke, Gabby said in a tweet quoting Hanke’s critique: “I live on the part of this planet called Ghana.”

    On the economy, he stated: “I see, I feel how tough things are, especially for the average Ghanaian. I see how tough it is for Govt and the constant struggle to keep bills paid, kids in school, our lights on etc.

    “I don’t sit far away behind my PC typing doom,” his post concluded.

    In Prof. Steve Hanke’s critique of Gabby’s views, he posted a GhanaWeb story of Gabby’s government deserves praise claims on Twitter and captioned it thus: “Leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)  says Pres. Akufo-Addo deserves praise for his handling of the economy. SPOILER ALERT: Otchere-Darko must be on another planet.”

    He added his usual inflation measurement which he said stood at 81%/y, a figure that is over 100% the official inflation percentage pegged at 33.9%.

    The Ghana Statistical Service, GSS, recently announced that consumer inflation for August 2022 hit 33.9% from 31.7% in July.

    This is the highest rate that has been recorded in 21 years. According to the GSS, food and transportation were the main drivers of inflation.

    Professor Hanke who has taken a keen interest on economic issues of Ghana in a separate tweet said Ghana’s economy was tanking – an expression which means the economy is down and there are fears of a recession.

    He has in the past blamed the Akufo-Addo-led administration for putting the economy in a dire situation.

    “Ghana is in 8th place in this week’s inflation table. On Sep 8, I measured Ghana’s #inflation at a stunning 81%/yr–over 2x the official inflation rate of 34%/yr. #Ghana’s economy is TANKING. To rein in inflation, GHA must install a currency board,” he tweeted on September 19.

    “Today, I measure #Ghana’s inflation at 81%/yr. As a result, Ghanaians don’t know the price of anything anymore. When Ghanaians see their grocery bills soar, they can thank Pres. Akufo-Addo,” Prof Hanke added.

  • LEKMA earmarks over 700 properties for demolition

    Some property owners in the Ledzokuku Municipality would have to find alternative accommodation as the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly (LEKMA), prepares to pull down their buildings.

    The properties, numbering over 700 have been earmarked for demolition with notices served to the owners.

    Mr Mordecai Quarshie, the Municipal Chief Executive of LEKMA who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency said the houses, most of which have been built in water ways do not have permits.

    He said following recent floods in the municipality, and a directive from the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to demolish structures built in water ways, the Assembly had been left with no choice than to carry out the exercise.

    He disclosed that 320 of the houses were situated along the basins of the Sango Lagoon, with the remaining ones around the Kor River and other places within the municipality.

    Mr Quarshie who indicated that the exercise had become necessary to avert future floods as well as the loss of lives said, as much as possible, the Assembly would put a human touch to the exercise.

    “We are not happy undertaking such exercises but it has become necessary evil that we cannot shelve,” he said.

    The MCE said the Assembly would not back down in its mandate to ensure that physical developments in the municipality are done within the confines of the law.

    He further appealed to prospective property owners to run a check with the Assembly when buying land and also acquire a building permit before proceeding with any form of development.

    He also mentioned that the Assembly would conduct an investigation into claims of negligence by its staff whose responsibilities were to ensure that the buildings earmarked for demolition should not have come up in the first place.

    “We will investigate their conduct and recommend punitive actions against any official found culpable,” he said.

    The Assembly in carrying out the directives of the president as well as its mandate had in the last couple of weeks pulled down hundreds of properties and illegal structures within the municipality.

    Mr Quarshie said, the owners of these properties would be surcharged for the exercise.

    Source: GNA

  • Ban him – Kotoko fans petition GFA on social media after referee Yao Bless’ poor performance in Super Clash

    Some supporters of Asante Kotoko are urging the Ghana Referees Association to ban referee Selorm Yao Bless from officiating the Super Clash after awarding an ‘offside goal’ to Accra Hearts of Oak at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

    Asante Kotoko drew 1-1 with Accra Hearts of Oak in their first game of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season.

    Caleb Amankwa scored an offside goal from a set piece to get a late equalizer for Hearts Oak in the matchday three encounter.

     

    Kotoko were denied some penalties in the match as their striker Mukwala was brought down in the box on several occasions with the referee allowing play to continue.

    After the game, some disappointed Kotoko fans berated referee Selorm Yao Bless for failing to make bold decisions in the game.

    While some called for stiffer punishment for referee Yao Bless just like referee Kenny Paddy who officiated a similar match last season, others also called for his ban.

     

     

     

     

    Source: Ghanweb

  • Government committed to making MSMEs major players in AfCFTA

    Alan Kyerematen, the minister of trade and industry, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering and growing MSMEs’ capacities in the areas of supply chain linkage, matchmaking, and profiling in order for them to play a significant role in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.

    Last Tuesday, Dr. John-Hawkins Asiedu, the technical advisor at the Trade and Industry Ministry, spoke at the West Africa Connect (WAC) 2022 conference in Accra on behalf of Mr. Kyerematen. He said that as the main players in the nation’s business community, the MSMEs sector’s importance in the economic development of Ghana and the West Africa sub-region cannot be overemphasized.

    He said about 70 percent of all industrial establishments in the country are Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises – providing over 85 percent of manufacturing jobs and contributing to 70 percent of GDP.

    That notwithstanding, the sector is confronted with numerous problems which constrain the competitiveness and overall growth of MSMEs in the country; prompting government to put in place measures to ensure the competitiveness of players across the country.

    West Africa Connect apt for growth of the sector

    Touching on this year’s edition of the WAC, the minister commended organisers of the event for connecting MSMEs across the sub-region within the areas of cassava and mango production and Information Communication Technology (ICT) value chains as a promotion tool to facilitate access to markets, as well as to discuss opportunities and conclude on potential businesses with partners.

    Entreating all the participating MSMEs in this year’s WAC to take full advantages of opportunities being presented by the event, Mr. Kyerematen pledged government’s commitment to fully accelerating the country’s MSME sector by collaborating with key stakeholders in the space.

    “I would like to encourage the ECOWAS Trade Network and private sector actors – especially representatives of the regional business associations – to take ownership of this regional initiative to boost intra African trade and international trade opportunities to promote MSMEs of the region and support sustainable development,” he stated.

    Hybrid matchmaking: mango, cassava and ICT suppliers meet buyers

    The West Africa Connect brought industry representatives from the mango, cassava and ICT service sectors together in a hybrid format in Accra, Ghana. With financial support from the European Union (EU), the event connected more than 160 suppliers from 16 West African countries, with more than 20 buyers from West Africa and other regions.

    During the event, which was open to many international visitors, West African suppliers showcased their products and attendees also learnt more about the valuable solutions the West African ICT services sector offers.

    The event further welcomed high-level representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission; West African Monetary and Economic Union (UEMOA) Commission; and the ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) Network.

    The acting Director of Trade-ECOWAS Commission, Kolawole Sofola, said the event’s main objective was to connect suppliers from the region with buyers inside and outside the region, in order to promote access to market opportunities and linkages with global value chains.

    “For this purpose, an open and competitive call for applications was launched to secure the participation of targetted enterprises in the region. I would like to seize this opportunity to thank all buyers and enterprises from around the world for taking the time to attend this event and connecting with our local firms. These local firms have untapped potential, and this event will allow them to demonstrate the quality of their products and services – which we believe will lead to promising businesses and partnerships during these B2B sessions,” he stated.

    On his part, Ruben Poolchund, Chief office for Africa, International Trade Centres (ITC), expressed ITC’s commitment to playing its role in the promotion of trade through strengthening MSMEs’ competitiveness.

    “We reiterate our commitment to support the ECOWAS Agenda on trade and private sector development, and we will continue to foster our collaboration with UNIDO, our sister agency, and with all UN partners in view of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he stated.

    West Africa Connect is implemented as part of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP). The WACOMP is funded by the European Union and aims to strengthen West Africa region’s competitiveness and enhance the integration of ECOWAS member-states and Mauritania into the regional and international trading system. The WACOMP is led by the ECOWAS Commission in collaboration with UEMOA Commission, and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

  • Kwame Nkrumah didn’t achieve anything; Akufo-Addo is better than him – Agya Koo

    Kumawood superstar, Kofi Adu, popularly known as Agya Koo has lauded the administration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    He said the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is the best the country has ever had.

    Speaking in an interview in Kumasi, the popular actor said the communications department of the government are not propagating the works of the President enough.

    In his opinion, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has accomplished more than any other President the country has had during the fourth Republic, hence it is important to emphasize this.

    “Akufo-Addo’s administration is the only one that has worked hard and kept its promises. Kufour took action. He made us value the concept of majority rule. I travel extensively throughout this country and have witnessed the enormous improvement in person, thus I wonder why Communicators are failing to project.

    “Although Ghanaians sometimes offend me, no government has performed as well as the one led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.”

    “If you know history, you’ll realize Kwame Nkrumah didn’t accomplish anything. In a discussion with Kwaku Manu, he said that all he had done was “acquire what the border aces did.”

    On one of his regional tours, President Akufo-Addo recently said Ghanaians are lucky to have him as President.

    According to him, he has the country at heart and this has reflected in all the policies and infrastructure he has done since he became President.

    On his tour in the Savannah Region, President Akufo-Addo wondered why the Yapei-Kusawgu District was still underdeveloped even though they keep voting for the opposition party NDC.

    However, assuring the Chiefs and people gathered at the function, President Akufo-Addo hinted that, he is going to heed their cry because he is the best Ghanaians can have.

    “But Yagbonwura, you are lucky, you have me as the President of Ghana. I’m going to do it for you. In the same way, no secondary school, no Senior Technical School, in the whole of Kusawgu area, ahhh, eiiiiiii”, he wondered.

    The President also took a swipe at the NDC Member of Parliament for the constituency, former Deputy Power Minister, John Jinapor.

    Source:pulse.gh

  • Africa is yet to enjoy full benefits of its oil and gas resources – Energy Minister

    Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh has asserted that African countries endowed with oil and gas are yet to reap the full harvest these resources provide.

    Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh made the comments on Friday, September 23, 2022, at the official opening of the inaugural Houston Africa Energy Summit last week, where he joined Heads of States, colleague Ministers and Senior Executives of international oil and gas companies for a round- table discussion at the Julia Ideson Library in Houston.

    The round-table discussion, hosted by Mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner, enabled discussions on Africa’s hydrocarbon industry exploration and expansion, the challenges of African countries’ securing funding and investment, and what African countries can do to attract big oil and gas companies to exploit resources for mutual benefit.

    Touching on the subject of decarbonization (the reduction of carbon), Ghana’s Energy Minister remarked that “Africans are yet to enjoy the benefits of their oil and gas resources.”

    He proposed that “we are going to mindfully engage in cleaner ways of exploiting the hydrocarbons, with assistance from carbon capture technologies” as a way to rectify the anomaly.

    “As African energy decision makers, I am hopeful that we shall all, in the interest of our respective citizens, derive maximum economic benefits from our God-given resources,” the minister added.

    As of 2021, Nigeria was the leading oil producer in Africa, according to Statista.com. Oil production amounted to roughly 78 million metric tons in the country.

    Libya, Algeria, and Angola followed, each with an output above 50 million metric tons.

    In the same year, the overall production of oil in Africa, including crude oil, shale oil, oil sands, and NGLs, reached 345 million metric tons, 4.5 percent more than in 2020.

    Also, reports by Statista.com reveal that in the first quarter of 2022, Ghana’s revenue from oil amounted to around 984 billion Ghanaian cedis (GHS), roughly 117.5 million U.S. dollars.

    Meanwhile, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh believes that the recent energy transition conversation presents enormous opportunities to investors within Africa’s energy value chain, especially as “we aim to embark on a rigorous gas monetization drive.”

    He revealed that currently, Ghana is working to win investors to check out the country’s Exploration & Production (E&P) acreages and farm-in opportunities, as well as the numerous opportunities in the power sector.

    The West African country is also looking at a National Energy

    Transition Plan to reduce carbon emissions.

    Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the table as the Summit enabled world leaders to discuss renewable power generation and various innovations including carbon capture and storage, all within the overarching context of the current energy transition.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Forex bureaus sell $1 at GH¢10.42, BoG GH¢9.54 as at September 26

    Our forex bureau rates are provided by Afriswap Bureau De Change in Osu, Accra.

    On the Interbank forex rates from the Bank of Ghana today, September 26, 2022, the Ghana Cedi is trading against the dollar at a buying price of 9.5366 and a selling price of 9.5462.

    As compared to yesterday’s trading of a buying price of 9.2367 and a selling price of 9.2459. At a forex bureau in Accra, the dollar is being bought at a rate of 10.20 and sold at a rate of 10.42.

    Against the Pound Sterling, the Cedi is trading at a buying price of 10.4083 and a selling price of 10.4216 as compared to Friday’s trading of a buying price of 10.3931 and a selling price of 10.4054.

    At a forex bureau in Accra, the pound sterling is being bought at a rate of 11.45 and sold at a rate of 11.90.

    The Euro is trading at a buying price of 9.2666 and a selling price of 9.2776 as compared to Friday’s trading of a buying price of 9.0675 and a selling price of 9.0766.

    At a forex bureau in Accra, Euro is being bought at a rate of 10.00 and sold at a rate of 10.42.

    The South African Rand is trading at a buying price of 0.5308 and a selling price of 0.5315 compared to Friday’s trading of a buying price of 0.5236 and a selling price of 0.5242.

    At a forex bureau in Accra, South African Rand is being bought at a rate of 0.45 and sold at a rate of 0.80.

    The Nigerian Naira is trading at a buying price of 45.5709 and a selling price of 45.7480 as compared to Friday’s trading of a buying price of 47.1211 and a selling price of 47.2044.

    At a forex bureau in Accra, Nigerian Naira is being bought at a rate of 12.00 Naira for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 15.50.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Banks deny taking advantage of lending rate claims

    John Awuah, the chief executive officer of the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB), has referred to the claim that local banks might profit from the difference between their respective lending rates by borrowing at the lower rate and then on-lending to the market at the higher rate as “impossible,” citing measures taken by the central bank to prevent such occurrences.

    He made this statement in response to claims made by the Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) in its commentary on the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), wherein it noted that arbitrage between the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) on the one hand, and the Treasury Bill Rate (TBR) and the Ghana Reference Rate (GRR) on the other hand, presented an opportunity for “round tripping” – an unethical market-manipulation

    Speaking to the B&FT prior to commencement of the Association’s 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM), Mr. Awauh, explained that the central bank vigorously assesses the activities of all banks, particularly those it lends to – making market manipulation near-impossible.

    “The central bank is the lender of last resort, not just in word but in deeds. Banks are able to access funds from the Bank of Ghana only after they have exhausted all other options, including interbank lending. But much more importantly, before the BoG extends liquidity to any of the commercial banks it assesses the bank’s position in the market. If you are looking to borrow from the central bank and they see that in the secondary market you are aggressively purchasing government securities or quoting FX positions, there is no way such a bank would be able to access liquidity,” he elaborated.

    But with the 91-day TBR and GRR hovering around the 30 percent (from 12.5 percent at the beginning of the year) and 26.5 percent marks respectively, and the MPR lagging by more than four percentage points at 22 percent, the IEA said the policy rate falling behind the TBR AND GRR represents a misalignment of yield curves and a distortion of money market returns.

    “In fact, the situation gives room for ‘round tripping’ to the extent that commercial banks can borrow from the central bank at the cheaper (M)PR and on-lend to government at the higher TBR; or even to other borrowers in the market and profit from the transactions. Avoiding this undesirable behaviour requires a realignment of interest rates to eliminate the (M)PR-TBR and (M)PR-GRR gaps,” the public policy think-tank continued.

    While a number of analysts, including the IEA, have stated that they expect the central bank to keep the MPR at 22 percent after its next meeting, the prevailing tight economic conditions could see government offer a higher rate for short-term securities.

    The GRR, which was 13.9 percent at the turn of the year, could also inch up further; increasing the gap with the MPR.

  • Football fans turn heat on social media user for claiming Beyonce is popular than Ronaldo

    A Nigerian Twitter has resurrected the fury of football fans across the world after claiming that American musician Beyonce appeals to more people globally than football great Cristiano Ronaldo.

    The fans are seething that the Twitter user by name ‘Imoteda’ sought to belittle the popularity of Cristiano Ronaldo by comparing Beyonce to him.

    Imoteda found it ‘weird’ that people assume footballers are very popular and that not a single player on the planet can be compared to Beyonce in terms of popularity.

    Imoteda’s post reads “So many people think football players are crazy popular. It’s so weird. Like how can you say a football player is more popular than Beyonce? Then name two football players that even I wouldn’t recognize.”

    The reactions have been outright condemnation of her post as many believe that not only Ronaldo but a host of football stars are more popular than the globally-acclaimed RnB star.

    Some have referenced instances where Ronaldo garnered huge supporters online to back their claim that he is the more popular figure of the two.

     

     

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Dr. Louisa praises Stonebwoy’s beautiful entry to Global Citizen Festival Stage

    Wife of dancehall singer, Stonebwoy is wowed by her husband’s triumphant entry onto the Global Citizen Festival stage yesterday.

    The festival held in Accra yesterday saw UK rapper, Stormzy, American singers, Usher and SZA gracing the one of a kind stage mounted at the Black Star Square.

    Local artistes were not left out. Sarkodie, Stonebwoy and Gyakie represented the motherland with mesmerizing individual performances.

    Nigerian singer Tems and international DJ Uncle Waffles also performed at the well attended show.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Pulse Ghana (@pulseghana)

    When it was his turn to perform, Stonebwoy arrived at the festival on a horseback with escorts wielding Ghana flags before disembarking to climb the stage to meet a “hungry” and excited crowd.

    Sharing a video of the moment, his wife who was also at the festival wrote in a caption: “epic entry!”.

    Source:Zionfelix.com

  • Arresting ‘black market’ operators will not address cedi depreciation – Toma Imihere

    According to financial writer Toma Imihere, arresting people who are involved in illegal foreign exchange trading is not a long-term solution to the cedi’s decline.

    Recently, the Ghana Police Service and the Bank of Ghana carried out an operation in strategic areas of Accra with the goal of cracking down on illegal foreign exchange operations, also referred to as “black market” operators.

    Tomi Imihere, who is based in Accra, told Citi News about the incident and expressed the opinion that the government should instead adopt a long-term approach to deal with the black-market activities.

    “You can’t even keep this thing up. You have black markets all around the country. The police are understaffed and under-resourced. They have their murder cases facing them, their kidnapping cases facing them, so they tend to prioritise,” the financial journalist is quoted by Citinewsroom.com

    As part of efforts to address the cedi depreciation, Tomi Imihere suggested that the Bank of Ghana liberalise the formal market which is often represented by forex bureaus operating in the country.

    “So, there will be less incentives for people to go and store up dollars in the hope of making a profit or at least storing value. What the Bank of Ghana needs to do is ease the restrictions on the formal market, especially at the retail end. All you do is you take out criminal money… but apart from that, let everything go without question,” he explained.

    Meanwhile, some 76 individuals and entities have been arrested and are expected to face prosecution after the BoG and Police found them to have been engaged in the buying and selling of foreign exchange without approval or license from the regulator.

    The activities of ‘black market’ operators have been attributed as one of the major causes for the depreciation of the cedi against major trading currencies, especially the US dollar.

    The local currency is currently selling above GH¢10 to US$1 on the retail echange market.

  • ‘Akufo-Addo is the source of Ghana’s economic woes but plays the blame game’ – Prof. Hanke

    Steve Hanke, a professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University, has once more chastised President Akufo-Addo for shunning responsibility for how the Ghanaian economy has been managed.

    The government has frequently said that the COVID-19 epidemic, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the banking sector clean-up are the main causes of the current economic headwinds.

    But Professor Hanke believes President Akufo-Addo has often played the blame game without taking full responsibility over the challenges in the economy which is now seeking an International Monetary Fund (IMF), support programme.

    In a tweet sighted by GhanaWeb, Prof. Hanke in his regular commentary referenced Akufo-Addo’s remarks at the United General Assembly where he indicated that the Russia-Ukraine war has aggravated an already difficult situation for Ghana.

    “Every bullet, every bomb, every shell that hits a target in Ukraine, hits our pockets and our economies in Africa,” Akufo-Addo earlier said.

    In his reaction, Professor Hanke on September 25 wrote, “When it comes to the source of #Ghana’s economic problems, Pres. Akufo-Addo plays the BLAME GAME. You know, it wasn’t me, it was the guy behind the tree. Today, I measure GHA’s inflation at 83%/year. That’s more than DOUBLE the phony official rate.”

    Professor Hanke who has taken a keen interest in the economic issues of Ghana in a separate tweet said Ghana’s economy was tanking – an expression which means the economy is down and there are fears of a recession.

    He has in on numerous occasions blamed the Akufo-Addo-led administration for putting the economy in a dire situation.

    Meanwhile, the Ghana Statistical Service recently announced that consumer inflation for August 2022 hit 33.9 percent from 31.7% in July, making it the highest rate recorded in 21 years.

  • My riches has not been as wealthy as has been reported – Sam Jonah

    Sir Sam Jonah, a well-known businessman and the former CEO of Ashanti Goldfields, has clarified information about his net worth and wealth.

    According to many sources, Mr. Jonah’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $1.2 billion.

    Sam Jonah thinks Ghanaians frequently identify him with enormous fortune, which he considers highly inflated, even though this number hasn’t been confirmed.

    Sir Sam Jonah stated during an appearance on the BBUM show on Ghana Television that despite being a wealthy businessman, he is more concerned with claims of his financial value than being defined by his principles.

    “News of my wealth has been grossly exaggerated. Let me just say that my father will be turning in his grave if he thought that I will be defined by how much I am worth in monetary terms,” Sam Jonah said.

    “I will like to be defined by the values that I stand for. I think my worth would come from the values that I hold and the principles that I hold. I want myself to be defined by that than pounds, cedis and pesewas,” the executive chairman of Jonah Capital said.

    Touching further on his net worth claims, Sir Sam Jonah explained, “I think it’s a tragedy people want to be associated with their wealth…There are others who want that but unfortunately, I don’t. One because I don’t have that level of wealth and two, more importantly, I just feel it is crass and it’s not something you should be proud of that you’re defined by what people think you are worth”.

    Speaking on some of the principles which have shaped him over the years, Sam Jonah pointed out “honesty, telling truth to power.”

    “I stand for probity, to use the famous expression I stand for accountability and all the above,” He added.

  • Mankessim: Chief in murder case is alive and behind bars – Police

    The Police Service has denied reports that the Tufuhen of Ekumfi Akwakrom, Nana Clark Onyaa, who is being held in police custody in connection with the murder of a 25-year-old aspiring nurse, Georgina Asor Botchwey, in Mankessim, is dead.

    According to the Service, its outfit has sighted reports indicating that the accused person has passed away.

    The police, in response to these reports, indicated in a Facebook post that the “chief and his accomplice, who were remanded into police custody by the court to reappear on October 4, 2022, are alive and in custody. We, therefore, urge the public to treat the report with the contempt it deserves. “

    On Wednesday, September 21, at his hiding place in Akwa Krom in the Ekumfi District, Nana Clark Onyaa was apprehended and later detained by the Mankessim District Police Command.

    This occurred after pastor Michael Darko, the alleged boyfriend of the deceased’s senior sister, was apprehended and later admitted to assisting the chief in the abduction, killing, and covert burying of the deceased.

    The deceased resided in Yeji, in the Bono East Region. Per reports, she travelled to Cape Coast in the Central Region since she was an applicant seeking admission to the Ankaful Psychiatric Nursing School.

    Upon arrival, she placed a call to Michael Darko, informing him about her presence in the area.

    Chilling details of how she was murdered indicate that on September 9, the two suspects picked up the deceased in a taxi after her entrance interview and took her to Pedu intersection in Cape Coast.

    The chief reportedly placed the deceased in his Benz and drove her to Akwaakrom, where he took her iPhone and locked her up in a room.

    On September 10, 2022, Georgina Asor Botchwey’s brother, Alfred Duodu, reported her missing after several failed attempts to reach her call number.

    The complaint resulted in the arrest of Michael Darko, who confessed and thereafter led police officers to the site where the 25-year-old was buried.

    Meanwhile, the deceased’s body has been placed in the morgue at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital for preservation and autopsy.

    The two suspects who admitted to committing the heinous act will appear in court again on October 4, 2022.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Rwanda to host 2022 GUBA awards on Sept. 29, tickets out

    The 2022 edition of Grow, Unite, Build, Africa (GUBA) Awards is scheduled to take place on the September 29th, 2022 at the breathtaking Kigali Convention Center in Rwanda.

    The ceremony, which is the 13th edition, will celebrate community organizations and role models from across the globe including entrepreneurs, charities, media moguls, and activists.

    Commenting on the upcoming event, GUBA Enterprise president and CEO, Dentaa Amoateng MBE said, “The GUBA Awards this year seek to celebrate a historical hero within the Rwandan and African communities. Under the theme ‘Ndabaga – Drumbeat of Dreamers and Legends’ the Awards strive to convey the power of determination and focus. The story of Ndabaga is a keystone of Rwandan folklore, representing bravery and determination”.

    “If ever there was a time to unite and celebrate the best of diversity, it is now. It is incredibly important to recognize the achievements of role models and community organizations across the world that deserve recognition for their work and impact, so that we as Africans, can tell our own stories. The GUBA Awards, therefore, aim to reward individuals who continue to persist and show great courage within their various fields,” she added.

    Already, the Rwandan Convention Board and the government of Rwanda have both endorsed the awards and are hoping to welcome guests into the capital, Kigali.

    Ticket link for the events can be obtained from www.gubaawards.com/tickets with all formal enquiry being handled by admin@gubaawards.co.uk .

    Designed to highlight the most inspirational and trailblazing individuals within Africa and its diaspora community, the GUBA Awards continue to gain endorsements from high-profile figures such as H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo (President of Ghana), H.E Jean-Claude Kassi Brou (The President of the ECOWAS Commission) and more.

    Past winners of GUBA awards include Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr. Natalia Kanem, Dr. Diane Karusisi, Vice President Epsy Campbell Barr, Sir Sam Jonah (Executive Chairman, Jonah Capital), and Cherie Blair (Barrister, Writer) Patrick Awuah (Founder of Ashesi University), Richelieu Dennis among several high profile individuals.

    About GUBA awards

    As a social enterprise, GUBA is dedicated to the advancement of diaspora Africans and Africans back home through various socio-economic programs and initiatives.

    The GUBA Awards, an initiative of the enterprise, is instituted to celebrate, acknowledge, and support businesses and individuals in Africa and the African diaspora.

    The Awards began in 2010 in the United Kingdom and have been held in the United States and Ghana respectively.

    Source:citinewsroom.com

  • UEW gives October 7 deadline to settle GPA issues after protest

    The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has given stakeholders until October 7,2022, to address student concerns about their cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA), which has sparked controversy on campus.

    The school has also confirmed that there will be some changes to the GPAs starting on September 26th following a meeting with protesting final-year students.

    A statement from the school said, “result-related issues that have been submitted by various departments have been collated and are being uploaded for students to view online in the coming week.”

    Last Friday, September 23, 2022, some level 400 students at the institution blocked roads with tree branches, preventing vehicles from entering the university as they protested discrepancies in their results.

    They marched through campus as a scheduled meeting expected to take place between final year students and management over the students’ concerns did not happen.

    Their actions disrupted lectures and some administrative activities, thereby compelling the school’s authorities to call for police intervention.

    The Police fired tear gas at the protesting students, who later ran helter-skelter to find safety.

    Aside from the assurance to address the recent challenge, management of the school has established a support desk to handle complaints.

    In view of this, management has advised students to “turn to discussion to get any issues resolved.”

    “They are also urged to make use of the established practices and instructions provided to hasten the resolution of their issues,” the school added.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

     

  • The CEO of Grammy awards, Harvey Mason Jr. arrives in Ghana for GUBA awards

    The Chief Executive of the Grammy Awards, Harvey Mason Jr., has arrived in Ghana for the 13th edition of the Grow, Unite, Build Africa (GUBA) Awards, slated for September 29, 2022, at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Zionfelix.com (@zionfelixdotcom)

    He arrived at the Kotoka International Airport on Sunday, September 25, 2022, and was met on arrival by the CEO of GUBA Awards, Dentaa Amoateng MBE.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Zionfelix.com (@zionfelixdotcom)

    From what we gather, Mr. Mason will participate in the Awards on the back of his nomination in the ‘Entertainment Mogul’ category of the awards this year.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Zionfelix.com (@zionfelixdotcom)

    However, before he finally makes his way to Rwanda, he will meet some stakeholders in the Ghanaian entertainment industry because the awards scheme per his revelation in a short interview at the airport is looking at adding a category that will award musicians who do Afrobeats.

    Watch the videos of the moment he arrived below…

    Harvey Jay Mason Jr. is an American record producer, songwriter, movie producer, and current CEO of The Recording Academy.

    Source:xionfelix.net

  • Law school exam leaks undermine efficiency of GLC’s IEC – Dafeamekpor

    Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson- Nelson Dafeamekpor has expressed displeasure over the cancellation of the second entrance exams by the Ghana Law School last Friday, September 23, 2022.

    The entrance examination for the Ghana School of Law to be taken by prospective students was cancelled by the Independent Examination Committee of the General Legal Council (GLC) as the set of questions had been leaked on social media hours before the paper.

    The paper was later written during the day. That was the second time the GLC had to cancel an exam paper due to leaks this year.

    Speaking on the subject, Mr. Dafeamekpor said that the ongoing situation is in violation of the respect and prestige associated with the legal profession and undermines the ability of the Independent Examination Committee to conduct a transparent examination process.

    “It is becoming a worrying situation when these leakages are becoming regular. Just 14th July this year, the Independent Examinations Body of the General Legal Council had to cancel the Civil Procedure paper which was scheduled to be taken on July 15, 2022.

    The more these instances are recorded, the more it raises questions about the body responsible for the examinations,” he stated.

    The number of people interested in pursuing a career in law, according to Mr. Dafeamekpor, will decrease as a result of the recurrence of exam paper leaks.

    The legal practitioner therefore demanded that “the General of the General Legal Council had had to cancel the Civil Procedure paper which was scheduled to be taken on July 15, 2022.

    The more these instances are recorded, the more it raises questions about the body responsible for the examinations,” he stated.

    The number of people interested in pursuing a career in law, according to Mr. Dafeamekpor, will decrease as a result of the recurrence of exam paper leaks.

    The legal practitioner, therefore, demanded that “the General Legal Council must, as a matter of urgency, ensure to institute measures to prevent these incidents from occurring in the future.”

    He insisted that investigations must be carried out to unearth the individual(s) responsible for these incidents.

    The exam malpractice comes at a time when there are discussions on opening up access to the Ghana School of Law given the rising interest in individuals who want to get training in the legal profession.

    Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor is of the assertion that the less number of students admitted has allowed desperation to creep into the hearts of many, where they will engage in unethical acts to gain access to legal education.

    According to him, access to legal education has been restricted through “the employment of means including compelling lawyer hopefuls to sign undertakings that take off their rights, including rights not to appeal for remarking, coupled with the unpublished passing criteria.”

    Nonetheless, he stressed that “the general public needs to hold strict confidence in the legal profession even as discussions continue to dominate on easing access to professional legal education in order to provide quality and qualified legal practitioners for the various legal services that are required in this country and beyond, and for that matter, the General Legal Council through the Independent Examination body must ensure integrity in the system.”

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Don’t shun ex-convicts – Deputy Interior Minister urges public

    Deputy Minister of the Interior, Naana Eyiah, has urged Ghanaians to stop stigmatizing ex-convicts in their communities.

    Addressing a gathering at the passing-out parade of Recruit Course 121 of the Prisons Service in Accra on September 23, 2022, the Deputy Minister encouraged Ghanaians to assist with the integration of former inmates to ensure they contribute meaningfully to national development.

    She explained that before they are released, inmates go through reformation programmes that help them improve and conform to the standards society demands.

    Madam Eyiah emphasised the need to avoid stigmatising ex-offenders because doing so might encourage them to commit additional crimes.

    “The clear effect will be high rates of re-offending, which is a danger to the safety of society. Judging from these facts, I believe the time has come for all of us to reconsider our thoughts on imprisonment. Let’s try to accept and support them,” Naana Eyiah said.

    She said the current average age of a convict is about 25 years, adding that “with this youthful nature of the average convict in mind, the service provides opportunities for the development of skills and talents of inmates through formal education, as well as technical and vocational training.”

    Those skills and talents would offer inmates better job options for economic empowerment after serving their terms.

    A total of 445 recruits graduated, with 246 being men and 199 being women, after nine months of intensive training.

    The Deputy Minister stated that while efforts were being made to expand the number of prison officers, focus must also be placed on the development of their capacity, including the supply of necessary logistics and enhanced service conditions for efficient delivery.

    Ms Eyiah told the recruits that “imprisonment is not for punishment; respect the human rights of prisoners and avoid acts that tend to worsen the pain of being imprisoned”.

    “You must also abide by the rules and regulations that pertain to your official duties and direct your energies to self-development,” she continued.

    The Interior Deputy Minister commended the recruits for successful training and graduation, as well as congratulated award winners on distinguishing themselves creditably.

    Recruit Officer Prince Mbri emerged as the overall best student.

    Daniel Duro – Best in Physical Training; Nurudeen Abdul Malik – Best in Drill; Wajah Abdullah Humu – Commandant’s Award and Reagan Anthony Quarm – Best in Academics.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Ghana to certify first aircraft maintenance and repair firm by December

    Ghana’s first Aircraft Maintenance Company, 3AMS-CELMS Limited, will by December 2022, complete its certification process, which commenced five years ago, according to Aviation Ghana.

    The firm will exist to operate Ghana’s first Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Kotoka International Airport.

    Managing Director of 3AMS-CELMS Limited, Clifford Martey Korley, indicated that when the final certification settles, 3AMS-CELMS will be capable of repairing and maintaining single-aisle aircraft and Boeing 737s in Ghana and the sub-region.

    He added that domestic airline operators, Africa World Airlines (AWA) and PassionAir, will be able to service and repair their fleet locally.

    Even though West Africa is one of the locations where air traffic growth was on the rise before the pandemic in 2020, there is only one MRO there that can fix smaller planes.

    About 32 airlines located in West Africa serve the area, while dozens of international aircraft service several airports every day.

    For most large aircraft, airline operators in the sub-region must fly to Ethiopia, Egypt, or South Africa to have repairs and routine maintenance performed.

    However, Mr. Korley stated that once the final certification is obtained, perhaps by December of this year, it will be able to serve all similar aircraft in the subregion, generate revenue for the government, and assist speed up the Kotoka International Airport’s return to Category 1 status.

    The creation of an MRO is essential for Ghana to develop into a major centre for aviation.

    “The coming on-stream of 3AMS- CELMS Limited’s MRO operations will greatly accelerate the vision of becoming the go-to aviation hub in the sub-region,” he added.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Terrorism: 21 foreign nationals in Ejisu arrested over suspicious behaviour

    Ghana Police has apprehended twenty-one (21) foreign nationals in Ejisu, Ashanti Region, after residents reported seeing them engaging in ‘suspicious’ activities.

    According to reports, members of the community had been observing some of these foreign nationals’ activities for months before reporting the matter to the security service.

    Mohammed Ali, a member of the community, stated that they reported them so that the police could investigate their activities.

    “Several times, I entered and asked them, ‘’ What are they doing? They said that they were learning. In the evening, you see them making phone calls, different phone calls, everybody making a phone call. Maybe they are trying to convince someone, or I don’t know, so that is what they have been doing around here,” Ali said.

    Ghana’s first Aircraft Maintenance Company, 3AMS-CELMS Limited, will

    by December 2022, complete its certification process, which commenced five years ago, according to AviationGhana.

    The firm will exist to operate Ghana’s first Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Kotoka International Airport.

    Managing Director of 3AMS-CELMS Limited, Clifford Martey Korley, indicated that when the final certification settles, 3AMS-CELMS will be capable of repairing and maintaining single-aisle aircraft and Boeing 737s in Ghana and the sub-region.

    He added that domestic airline operators, Africa World Airlines (AWA) and PassionAir, will be able to service and repair their fleet locally.

    The report was made through the toll-free number 999, provided by the government when it launched the “See Something, Say Something” campaign to combat any possible terrorist attacks in the country.

    The campaign, which began on May 24, 2022, is part of the Ministry of National Security’s counter-terrorism strategy, which aims to educate Ghanaians about terrorism threats and how they can assist the government in identifying and eliminating those threats in the country.

    Aside from the toll-free number, citizens have been encouraged to use the Ghana Police Service’s emergency contacts and social media platforms to alert state agencies of unusual activities in their communities.

    Following the launch of the See Something, Say Something emergency contact number, 10,000 calls were made in the first 30 hours. However, the majority of the calls were prank calls, and others were to test the line’s functionality.

    The National Security Ministry advised people who do this to stop because it undermines security agencies’ efforts to deal with terrorist threats.

    Ghana has witnessed numerous terrorist attacks in neighbouring countries like Togo, Burkina Faso, and other African countries like Nigeria, and is worried about a spillover into her territory.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • IMF team arrives today to continue discussions with government 

    An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team, led by Stéphane Roudet, Mission Chief for Ghana, will today, September 26, 2022, arrive in Accra to continue discussions with the government on policies and reforms that could be supported by the Fund.

    The team, per reports, will also have engagements with other stakeholders, including the Bank of Ghana, Parliament, business associations, and the Civil Society Group during the visit.

    Ghana turned to the IMF for assistance in July this year as its balance-of-payments deteriorated and hundreds took to the streets to protest against economic hardship. 

    In the same month, an IMF staff team led by Carlo Sdralevich visited Accra to assess the current economic situation and discuss the broad lines of the government’s Enhanced Domestic Programme.

    Meetings were held with Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Finance Minister Ofori-Atta, and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, as well as Parliament’s Finance Committee, civil society organizations, and development partners, including UNICEF and the World Bank.

    At the end of its first assessment, the international body confirmed that Ghana’s economic challenges have been exacerbated by the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war which began at the beginning of the year.

    “Ghana is facing a challenging economic and social situation amid an increasingly difficult global environment. The fiscal and debt situation has severely worsened following the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, investors’ concerns have triggered credit rating downgrades, capital outflows, loss of external market access, and rising domestic borrowing costs.

    In addition, the global economic shock caused by the war in Ukraine is hitting Ghana at a time when the country is still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic shock and with limited room for maneuver. These adverse developments have contributed to slowing economic growth, accumulation of unpaid bills, a large exchange rate depreciation, and a surge in inflation”, the Fund said.

    Prior to the first team’s departure, the IMF staff assured that the Fund will continue to monitor the economic and social situation closely and engage the government.

    The eventual agreement between Ghana and the IMF will likely consist of $3 billion in financing over a three-year period, and contain elements of both Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programmes.

    It is expected that the recent discussions between the Fund and the Ghana government will end on October 7, 2022.

    The Fund’s visit is coming at a time when Fitch, a rating agency, has downgraded Ghana’s credit to further junk status.

    Fitch downgraded Ghana’s Long-Term Local- and Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to ‘CC’, from ‘CCC’.

    The downgrade, it said, reflects the increased likelihood that Ghana will pursue a debt restructuring given mounting financing stress, with surging interest costs on domestic debt and a prolonged lack of access to Eurobond markets.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Stormzy’s mum receives gift from Yaw Tog after Global Citizen Festival

    Ghanaian artiste, Yaw Tog was one of the surprise acts seen at the just ended Global Citizen Festival.

    The event which took place at the Black Star Square in Accra saw one of the headliners being UK rapper, Stormzy.

    During his set on Saturday, he performed Yaw Tog’s ‘Sore Remix’ on which he was recruited.

    The duo had an electrifying time on stage and were subsequently joined by Tema-based Kwesi Arthur.

    After the show, visuals emerged showing the 19-year-old hanging out backstage with Stormzy’s mother.

    He gave her a piece of Kente cloth during what looked like hearty interaction in the company of the UK award-winning artiste.

    The enthused mother thanked yaw and asked for God’s blessings for his life.

    Yaw Tog also presented Stormzy with a similar cloth.

    Source:myjoyonline.com

  • You can only criticise the work of justices ‘constructively’ – Afenyo-Markin

    Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has stated that Ghanaians cannot be stopped from criticising the judiciary’s actions or condemned for doing so.

    Speaking at the 7th Legal Luminaries Conference on September 23, 2022 at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), he discussed how Ghana’s democratic system of governance allows for the constructive criticism of the various branches of government.

    “Let me state without any fear of contradiction that it is fair and democratic for citizens to criticise the work of our justices constructively,” he said.

    He explained his assertion by citing a judicial bribery scandal in 2015 and how the institutions of the state responded quickly by punishing all justices and judicial officers found culpable.

    Afenyo-Markin reminded the public to be aware of the fact that there is, “everything diabolic about barefaced attacks that, in and of themselves, seek to intimidate our Justices and bend them to the will of those sections of the public and the political class.”

    The deputy majority leader, who also serves as a member of parliament for Effutu in the Central Region, has warned that such attacks undermine public trust in the judiciary.

    This, according to him, will, in the long run, encourage unsuspecting citizens to take the law into their own hands, posing a serious threat to national security.

    His comments come at a time when former President John Dramani Mahama has heavily criticised the actions of the judiciary.

    Addressing a gathering at the NDC’s Lawyers’ Conference on August 28, 2022, the 2020 NDC flagbearer who lost the elections and a subsequent petition at the Supreme Court insisted that it would take a new Chief Justice to repair the ‘broken image’ of the Judiciary.

    “There is therefore the urgent need for the Ghanaian Judiciary to work to win the trust and confidence of the citizenry, and erase the widely held perception of hostility and political bias in legal proceedings at the highest courts of the land. Unfortunately, we have no hope that the current leadership of our Judiciary can lead such a process of change,” Mr Mahama said.

    In response, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Dame described Mr Mahama’s attitude as deplorable and unbecoming of a former Head of State.

    “My dismay is founded more on the fact that I am a lawyer and every lawyer ought to be concerned about these kinds of views expressed by a political leader in this country!,” he added.

    Prior to the former statesman’s comment, there were concerns about President Akufo-Addo’s request for four judges to be elevated onto the Supreme Court Bench.

    The nominees from the Court of Appeal are Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, Justice George Kingsley Koomson, and Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu.

    Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu is the only nominee from the High Court.

    He asserted that critics have dangerously weaponized the appointment of judicial officers in a way as to mislead unsuspecting citizens into believing that judges do the bidding of the presidents who appoint them.

    “This is a dangerous trend that must be discouraged to protect the health of our democracy,” he advised.

    The Deputy Majority Leader holds the assertion that “there is no evidence to show that the current constitutional arrangements have failed and that our justices lack the presence of mind to think and act independently.”

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • I’ll never accept polygamy – May, Yul Edochie’s wife

    May, the wife of Nollywood popular actor, Yul Edochie, has vowed never to accept polygamy.

    Yul Edochie had on April 27, 2022, presented his second wife, Judy Austin Muoghalu, to the public.

    Yul had described Judy as his second wife while also showing off his son by her.

    May, in a statement on social media on Saturday said her ability to accept the situation and tolerate challenges and problems should not be misconstrued.

    According to her, it was worthless trying to make an already bad situation worse hence the need to remain calm.

    “Beyond all the unnecessary facades, Polygamy is a life choice and no one should be compelled to accept it,” she said.

    “It is something I think all parties involved should embrace willingly, and it’s okay for anyone who chooses it. Some religions and traditions allow polygamy and I have nothing against it.

    “However, I am ABSOLUTELY certain that I will not be NUMBERED as a wife or be cajoled to accept a practice that does not align with my faith and family values.”

    May pointed out that until the second wife saga she had a stable and loving home .

    Source:dailypost.ng

  • Lack of confidence, proper preparations – Prof. Kaufmann explains why no girls’ school has won NSMQ

    Quiz mistress of the National Science and Maths Quiz, Prof Elsie Effah Kaufmann, has explained why no girls’ school in Ghana has ever won the competition since its introduction in 1993.

    Prof Kaufmann who took her turn on this week’s edition of The Delay Show said she has noticed that girls who have participated in the show so far, lack the same level of confidence their male counterparts have.

    “When I started, I thought the problem was lack of confidence. I noticed the girls were technically good, they could easily solve the problems but they didn’t have the confidence. I sometimes saw them whispering the right answers but it was very hard for one of them to even say it out loud.”

    She added that the last time a girls’ school made it to the finals was in 2013, and the team seemed content with making it to that stage, hence, they didn’t give off their best after that.

    “They just sat there and didn’t even make an effort to answer questions,” Prof. Kaufamann lamented.

    According to her, another reason why no girl school has won the NSMQ competition was lack of proper preparations.

    “The boys’ schools consider it as their world cup… for some girls’ schools’ WASSCE is more important to them than NSMQ but for some boys’ schools, the moment you gain admission, they make their selection and start training them for the competition.

    “The teachers can stay with them overnight studying,” she added.

    Prof Elsie Kaufmann started hosting the National Science and Maths Quiz in 2005, when the Quiz Mistress at the time wanted to further her education.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Daddy Lumba appreciates Stormzy’s gesture at Global Citizens event

    Music icon, Daddy Lumba born Charles Kwadwo Fosu has appreciated Stormzy for paying homage to him at the Global Citizens event held at the black star square in Accra.

    Stormzy, a Ghanaian based in the United Kingdom, wore a shirt with Daddy Lumba’s image embossed for his global event performance.

    This drew the attention of viewers and patrons to Daddy Lumba who is an icon in the music industry in Ghana.

    Reacting to the gesture in a post shared on social media, Daddy Lumba said he was grateful to be celebrated.

    “I was immensely touched by Stormzy’s homage to me last night at the Global Citizen Festival.

    I would like to take this opportunity to share my gratitude and appreciation for the public display of love.

    To say that the gesture was heartwarming and humbling is an understatement.

    Thank you very much!,” a post on his social media said.

    Source:Mynewsgh.com

  • Akufo-Addo booed at concert: Presidential staffer in dirty fight with Twitter influencer

    Samuel Bryan Buabeng, a presidential staffer believes the incident of September 24, 2022 when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was booed by some concert goers was the action of a few disappointed people.

    He suggested that the president was certainly not going to lose sleep over the incident that occurred at the Global Citizen Festival at the Black Star Square in Accra.

    Buabeng went to Twitter to respond to a tweet by a social media influencer, Kalyjay, real name Joshua Boye-Doe, when the interaction went dirty with both parties trading insults.

    The exchange which involved quoting tweets of each other in responding to the other went as below:

    Kalyjay: If after all the boos he manage to sleep peacefully dier he no sheda care like that

    Buabeng: You didn’t want him to sleep because of a few people who are disappointed? Forgetting the organizers brought the event here because of the hard work and how the same man has sold Ghana to the world? Next joke please!

    Kalyjay: Herh, fa wo kwasia kor

    Buabeng: Ofui! ɛnfa twitter popularity ho nkeka nkwasiasɛm. Aboa!

    The influencer has since blocked the presidential staffer from seeing his tweets and by so doing interacting further with his views.

    Exactly what happened?

    Thousands of patrons were at the venue to witness the Global Citizen festival which had a number of local and international artistes performing.

    As host of the event, the president was called upon to give his remarks, which happened to be a prepared speech that lasted over six minutes.

    The booing happened when he started his speech saying: “The whole world is in Ghana today.”

    What started initially as people showing their disapproval of his presence on the stage, turned into loud clapping and chanting of the words: “away, away…,” the president, however, stayed the course and delivered his full speech.

    As if that was not enough, people on social media latched on to the development to mock the president.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • There is more cash in movies than gold – David Dontoh

    Award-winning Ghanaian actor and film producer, David Kwame Dontoh, has sparked controversy by making an argument that the country could rake in more money from movies than gold.

    He is however quick to add that this can only be achieved if a lot is invested in movies stressing that the returns would be higher than the worth of gold the country has underground.

    To him, making a good stage drama of Ghanaian origin alone will interest people from all over the world to want to watch.

    “It will excite them, it will interest them to probe further and even find ways of capturing that material in a film then it will attract the investors.

    “I tell you there is gold in films which is more valuable than the gold we have in the ground. This is because storytelling is limitless. There is no limit to what you can do with films. So what is holding us?” David Dontoh quizzed in an interview monitored by MyNewsGh.com

    Speaking on the lackadaisical approach by the government in promoting film production, David Dontoh emphasized the need to build infrastructures to boost the industry.

    “How many theatre festivals do we have here? How many music festivals? We must do things that are magnetic, interesting, and things that people would want to come and watch.

    “We don’t have it all because we don’t see their importance. And we don’t think we can even make money out of them,” he said adding that, it is the only industry that can employ every professional.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • KTU Council Chair urges government to continue burning excavators in galamsey fight

    The Council Chairman of Koforidua Technical University, Professor Samuel Apori, has urged the government not to backtrack on their earlier operational strategies of burning excavators and other mining equipment used by illegal miners in their illegal activities.

    According to the academician and environmentalist, this operational strategy was sending a strong signal and deterring other recalcitrant illegal miners from venturing into galamsey.

    Professor Samuel Apori also called for a bipartisan approach to crash out illegal mining and make it unattractive to protect the environment and water bodies.

    “The president and his government should be assisted on a bipartisan basis to be resolute to burn, destroy tools, implements, machinery and prosecute galamseyers and their collaborators irrespective of their political, religious and socioeconomic status.”

    Professor Samuel Apori further called on all public servants and other regulatory bodies whose duty is to police, safe guard and ensure the protection of water, the environment and the mineral resources of the state not to relent on their efforts and deliver their mandates without fear or favor.

    Professor Samuel Apori who doubles as the Chief of Akyem Hemang in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern Region has waged a war on illegal mining and lumbering in his community over the years and recently won an environmental court case against the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional State.

    Source:citinewsroom.com

  • Tamale Airport Phase II Project completed

    The Tamale Airport Development Phase II Project has been completed and is awaiting inauguration by the President this year.

    The expansion works, costing $70 million, including the construction of a modern terminal building and other ancillary facilities such as a VIP lounge, two boarding gates, four self-service check-in kiosks, eight check-in desks, airline offices, commercial retail areas, a multi-purpose terminal for Hajj travel facilitation and a five-kilometre road network.

    The airport also has a 350-capacity car park, a technical area, which includes a reservoir for potable water and firefighting, a sewage treatment plant, among other facilities.

    Briefing

    The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu, who disclosed this at the Ministry of Information press briefing in Accra yesterday, added that the terminal was designed for a passenger throughput of 400,000 annually.

    “The economic importance of the airport to the region cannot be overemphasised; suffice it to say that there is serious potential for investment in a maintenance, repair and operation (MRO) facility in the future for the West African sub-region.

    “It could be a major hub for air cargo for the exportation of agricultural produce,” he said, adding: “It is on record that the airport can boast of the best tarmac in the country.”

    According Alhaji Shaibu, a third phase of the airport project would include the expansion of the terminal, the car park and other auxiliary facilities.

    Profile

    The Northern region, with Tamale as its capital, was the largest region in the country until the Savannah and the North East regions were carved out of it.

    It has a total land area of about 26,911 kilometre square, making it the second largest region in terms of land mass.

    The region shares borders with the North East Region to the north, the Savannah Region to the west, the Republic of Togo to the east and the Oti Region to the south.

    According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, the total population of the region was 2,310,939, of which 1,141,705 are males and 1,169,234 females.

    Alhaji Shaibu said out of the 16 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) in the region, eight — Sagnarigu, Savelugu, Nanton, Saboba, Mion, Kpandai, Nanumba South and Kumbungu — were benefitting from the Agenda 111 projects, including a psychiatric hospital which would be constructed in Tamale.

    “I am happy to announce that work on all eight projects are progressing steadily and when completed, access to good health facilities and the well-being of our people will be very much improved,” he said.

    The minister also said 82 of the 118 other projects being executed by the MMDAs in the health sector had been completed and were in use.

    Alhaji Shaibu further said there were a total of 353.79 kilometres of road projects being undertaken by the Ghana Highway Authority, with about 60 per cent of the projects at major stages of completion.

    “A total of 45km of roads have had asphalt overlay in Tamale, with 9km of Yendi town roads also done, while works are ongoing in the other municipal and district assemblies,” he added.

    According to him, six factories under the IDIF initiative were functional and had employed more than 1,000 permanent and about 2,000 casual workers.

    Alhaji Shaibu also said that under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP), a total of 311 projects, covering four sectors — small dams, water systems, water closet toilets and prefabricated warehouses — had been carried out across the region.

    Source: Graphiconline

     

  • Tullow completes over 60% of promised infrastructure support for Free SHS

    The Social Performance Manager of Tullow Ghana, Fiifi Enchil, says Tullow as part of its shared-prosperity goals has completed over 60% of the promised $10 million worth of infrastructure support for the Free SHS.

    Speaking to Citi News at Awiebo in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region where Tullow handed over a newly completed 12-unit Classroom Block for Bonzo Kaku Senior High School, Fiifi Enchil said Tullow committed to completing the remaining blocks to support the government.

    He added that this brings Tullow closer to fulfilling its promise to share prosperity.

    “We look forward to completing seven other blocks that we have committed to provide to support schools around the country”, he added.

    The Headmistress of Bonzo Kaku SHS, Augustina Essel Cudjoe, told Citi News that the infrastructure investment paves ways for smooth academic work.

    “Prior to this new edifice, we had challenges of classrooms and at times students had to sit in pairs, at the car park, assembly halls, dining hall and at times under the tree but now that we have got a 12-unit classroom block.”

    Augustina Essel Cudjoe also used the occasion to appeal for help to address other outstanding challenges.

    “We need renovation for the boys’ dormitory, which is in a deplorable state. The second one is a vehicle for the headmistress of the school.”

    The District Chief Executive of Ellembelle, which is the beneficiary district, Kwasi Bonzo, said the project it is a good sign of benefits from petroleum resources.

    “The issue of oil find and its benefits to the local people, this is all part of enhancing social license of the oil and gas companies. So we will just call on the other IOCs and the other players in the industry to emulate what Tullow has done”, he said.

    Tullow Ghana is the operator of two out of the three oil fields in Ghana and its shared prosperity agenda seeks to address the high expectations Ghanaians have for the country’s hydro-carbon resources.

    Source:citinewsroom.com

     

  • 12 errant drivers to appear in court today -WAI

    12 people who were detained as part of Citi TV’s War Against Indiscipline (WAI) last week are slated to appear in court today, Monday, September 26, 2022.

    These drivers’ cars were seized for a variety of traffic violations, such as making illegal U-turns, abusing sirens, and driving on the wrong side of the road without good reason.

    Over 100 automobiles, including one that belonged to the Bank of Ghana, have so far been confiscated by the officers from the Ghana Police Service’s Motor Traffic and Transport Department.

    At the La Motor and Traffic court in Accra, the cases of the offenders would be heard.

    So far, about 40 drivers have been convicted and fined various sums of monies ranging from GH¢300 to GH¢3000 since the campaign was brought back last two weeks.

    Key among the offences is illegal U-turns on the Tema motorway.

    Some drivers gave the following reasons for the continuous use of unauthorized turns on the motorway.

    “We were in a haste to attend a training in Tema, so we decided to make a U-turn, so we could make it in time,” a driver shared.

    Another driver said, “I am a medical practitioner and I had to make it in time for work. I had no intention to cause mayhem.”

    About War Against Indiscipline

    The #WarAgainstIndiscipline – Be the change campaign is aimed at helping to avert the increasing loss of lives through road crashes.

    It is a Citi TV initiative in partnership with the Police MTTD.

    In May 2019, the station began the campaign against all forms of indiscipline in the country.

    The exercise took the nation by surprise when it partnered with the Ghana Police Service to arrest errant drivers, process them for court, and have them fined.

    It covered roads noted for reckless driving within and outside Accra.

    The campaign is aimed at checking indiscipline on roads and also targeted at putting regulatory bodies on their toes to ensure that the various road safety laws are enforced.

    It also seeks to compel drivers to stay within speed limits.

    Source:citinewsroom.com

     

     

  • Close down schools in Bawku over insecurity – Heads of basic schools urge GES

    The Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS) in the Upper East Region’s Bawku Municipality has called for the immediate closure of basic schools in the area.

    This comes in the wake of recent sporadic shootings and killings of unarmed citizens in the municipality.

    Authorities issued a ban on riding tricycles, popularly known as “yellow yellow,” in an attempt to address the region’s surge in violent crimes.

    This was due to tricycles being one of the most commonly used modes of transportation during crimes in the area. Regardless, the killings continue.

    The COHBS argued in a letter to the Municipal Director of Education on September 22, 2022, signed by the Municipal Chairman, Abugri Busia, that students’ safety cannot be guaranteed in such times, necessitating the need to close schools in the interim.

    “Following the insecurity and the subsequent ban on tricycles, we wish to appeal to you to close down basic schools in the municipality, pending improvement in the security situation,” the letter read.

    Also, COHBS has entreated the parties involved in the mayhem “to put their guns down for peace to prevail for the sake of school pupils and their future.”

    The letter was addressed to the municipal secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the zonal chairman of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the municipal chief executive, and the secretary of the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT).

    Bawku Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Azeriya Ayeriga, who received the letter, said he does “not have the power to close down public basic schools in Bawku due to insecurity; it is only the Municipal Security Committee (MUSEC) that has the power to do so.”

    Background

    In January this year, the  REGSEC placed a ban on the use of motorbikes in the Bawku municipality and its environs, describing security in the area as volatile.

    This was put in place after two people were found dead, and eight others wounded, after a gun attack in Daduri, a suburb of Bawku.

    Recent tensions can be traced back to December 27, 2021, when gunfire erupted in parts of town following attempts to perform the final funeral rites of a chief who died 41 years ago.

    Following the violence, the entire township was placed under curfew, and smocks were prohibited.

    Male pillion riders were also barred. After the violence, thirteen individuals were detained and flown to Accra.

    The Ministry of the Interior, on September 5, 2022, reviewed the curfew due to increased insecurity.

    The government further announced a total ban on the carrying of arms, ammunition, or any offensive weapon within the area.

    On Monday, September 19, 2022, the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) at its emergency meeting reviewed the security situation in the Bawku municipality and have introduced additional measures.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • MPC meeting postponed by BoG due to IMF team visit

    The Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will not be holding its routine quarterly meeting today, Monday, September 26, 2022, as scheduled.

    A statement from the Central Bank last Thursday said the rescheduled meeting will now coincide with Government’s next round of engagements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    The Fund is scheduled to begin these rounds from September 26 to October 7, on Government’s policies and reforms that could be supported by its lending arrangement.

    The team, which will be led by its Mission Chief for Ghana, Stephane Roudet, is also expected to further engage with other stakeholders in the course of the visit.

    Following the development, the Monetary Policy Committee says it will announce the next monetary policies on October 7, the day the engagements with the IMF will be concluded.

    The last IMF mission to Ghana was between July 6 and July 13, 2022. The team used the opportunity to assess Ghana’s economic situation and discussed the broad lines of the government’s Enhanced Domestic Program that could be supported by an IMF lending arrangement.

    The IMF team met with Vice President Bawumia, Finance Minister Ofori-Atta, and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana.

    The team also met with the Parliament’s Finance Committee, civil society organizations, and development partners, including UNICEF and the World Bank, to engage on social spending.

    Ghana is currently looking to secure a $3 billion loan from the IMF.

    Source:citinewsroom.com

     

     

  • Criss Waddle slams Usher Ray for introducing a Nigerian Artiste in Ghana

    Ghanaian rapper and businessman, Criss Waddle cannot fathom why American artiste Usher Raymond will introduce Nigerian Artistes on stage at a show held in Ghana.

    He has since the arrival of Usher lamented why the musician has failed to promote anything Ghana on his social media.

    To Criss Waddle, this is a clear indication of the weakness in the Ghana Music Industry and the fact that the plugs in Ghana do not want the industry to grow.

    Criss Waddle is worried because this can never be replicated in Nigeria when artistes from another country will be introduced by the headline artiste.

    “This Usher thing I was saying yesterday and still had minor-minded people not getting the point, woke up to find out Usher brought on stage, Oxlade, Tiwa and Pheelz at an event held in Ghana. when we have Ghanaian arts he could have projected,” he said in a tweet.

    At the Global Citizen event held at the Black Star Square in Accra, Usher Raymond who was the lead performer introduced Nigerian artistes including Tiwa Savage, Oxlade and Pheelz who joined him to perform on his set.

    Another artiste who finds problems with the introduction of Nigerian artistes is CJ Biggerman.

    In a tweet he said “You dey wonder why Usher dey introduce Nigerian Artistes on our stage instead of ours. It’s simple dey are Go-Getters and once they get the plug they help pull up their colleagues. But for here??”

  • Selly Galley celebrates 35th birthday with stunning photos

    Ghanaian actress, ex-Big Brother Africa housemate, and TV presenter, Selly Galley marks her 35th birthday in grand style.

    Over the years, she always leaves her fans and Ghanaians in awe of her unique fashion sense. She is well known as an actress and fashionista and it is no shock to her fans whenever she releases exceptional photos of her birthday attires.

    This year is no different as she marks her 35th in a beautiful black dress with very interesting details and a simple messy bun hairstyle.

    Her second look, a hot pink tulle dress was paired with an afro bubble ponytail hairstyle, and her feet were strapped in a beautiful pair of silver heels that matched with her silver jewelry.

    ‘Sellybrators’, as she calls her fans, did not hesitate to shower her with compliments, wishes, and admiration.

    In her caption, she wrote “If I share with you what I’ve been through these past few years, you’ll be amazed I still “look like this”! I’ve been through a lot, too much even for me. I forgot how to smile. But then life has thought me, that it’s okay to cry a little as much but surely dust off no matter the gravity of your situation, of your mistakes, of your failures. Composure!

    “One day when the story is told, in its full glory, we’ll cry and smile together… but for now I’ll continue to live everyday as if it’s the last. SERLYBRATE WIe and enjoy to the fullest. cheers to 25val en and cheers to my wonderful husband and soulmate @prayetietia my entire Galley-Fiawoo Family, to my amazing friends and loved ones, and to SELLYBRATORS, all of you here for the undying support and overwhelming love you show me. It motivated my smile every day I wake up. I do not take it for granted! Ever!”

    “ISSA S.E.L.L.Y.B.R.A.T.I.O.N”

    See her photos below:

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Audience ‘booed’ Prez Nana Addo on stage at the 2022 Global Citizen Festival

    The president of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was heckled at the 2022 Global Citizen Festival stage at the Black Star Square in Accra.

    H.E. Nana Addo finished his keynote address amidst jeering from the crowd. He spoke about the government of Ghana’s involvement in eradicating poverty and upholding national unity.

    Started off his speech with, “Ladies and gentlemen, I extend a hearty Akwaaba, our word of welcome, from a very hospitable people. To all of you, who have come from afar and wide, to our vibrant city of Accra, Ghana’s capital, to join us on this great occasion.” His Excellency addressed the impact of climate change and the Russian-Ukraine war on the economy of Ghana and the world.

    President Nana Addo challenged the youth to be creative and fearless in finding solutions to world problems.

    Many have called the crowd’s reaction brazen as no stateman has received this kind of reaction.

    The 2022 Global Citizen Festival has received massive reviews from patrons, who were physically present and those who joined online from their homes.

    Watch the full speech below:

    Stormzy, Sarkodie, Usher, Gyakie, Stonebowy and others have left massive footprints on Ghana’s memory as this concert is being touted as the most organised sound engineering ever!

    Source:3news

     

  • Manifest counts himself among top 2 rappers in Ghana

    Ghanaian rapper, M.anifest has concluded on the top two rappers in the country currently.

    According to the rapper, the mother of CJ Biggerman, Big Ivy, and himself are the top 2 rappers in the country currently.

    However, he noted that he is not the best rapper, leaving social media sensation Big Ivy as the best reigning rapper in Ghana.

    M.anifest flattered Big Ivy as the biggest rapper on the African continent when the two bumped into each other in town.

    The “Mama Naira” rapper offered to do a collaboration with the God MC rapper which he gladly agreed to.

    Big Ivy rose to fame after entering into a Ghana-Naija rap beef with a Nigerian rapper called Mummy Dollarz.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Hassan Ayariga shows crazy dance moves at son’s party

    The leader of the All People Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga could not hide his joy as his son turned a year older over the weekend.

    In a viral video, Hassan Ayariga was captured dancing to one of Kiss Daniel’s hit tracks titled ‘Buga’ which has become many favourites across the globe.

    Hassan Ayariga who recently turned 50 years showed his dancing skills and got many excited with his dance moves as his daughter turned 12 years old.

    This is not the first time the businessman cum politician has excited Ghanaians with his dancing or single skills.

    In his latest birthday celebrations, Hassan Ayariga was seen singing with former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu.

    Watch the video below

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Menscookgh (@menscookgh)

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Netflix warns viewers about ‘Dahmer’ being ‘too disturbing’

    With many viewers not even able to get through the first episode, Netflix has warned users about the graphic nature of their new Jeffrey Dahmer series.

    Dahmer was convicted of the murder of 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. He also ate the flesh of some of his victims.

    Many viewers underestimated how graphic the series could be.

    Some viewers also pointed out that most of Dahmer’s victims were LGBTQ+ POC.

    The series explores the aforementioned detail in a manner few have done before.

    Rashad Robinson, one of the show’s producers, said that “Dahmer” is also a story about victims, and the impact that his gruesome actions, added to ignorance by the authorities, impacted the community.

    “At its core, this is a story of deep and systemic injustice, of people who were harmed and all the ways in which society failed them,” Robinson explained.

    Source:myjoyonline.com

  • Jazz legend Pharoah Sanders dies aged 81

    Jazz great Pharoah Sanders, who pushed the boundaries of saxophone playing, has died aged 81.

    His record label Luaka Bop announced the news, saying he had died “peacefully”, surrounded by family and friends in Los Angeles.

    Sanders was a leading figure in what is often called spiritual jazz, which took influences from Asian and African traditions.

    His expressive style made him a sought-after musical collaborator.

    Born as Farrell Sanders in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1940, the saxophonist began his career in Oakland, California before moving to New York in the early 1960s.

    There he collaborated with Sun Ra, who is believed to have encouraged Sanders to take the name Pharoah.

    He joined John Coltrane’s band and performed with him on stage and in the studio.

    Another free jazz great, Ornette Coleman, said Sanders was “probably the best tenor player in the world”.

    Sanders released several albums, with his debut, Pharoah’s First, landing in 1965.

    In an interview he said: “I want my sound to be like a fragrance that people will like – something fresh, like the smell of your grandmother’s cake cooking.”

    In 2021 he collaborated with British electronic musician Sam Shepherd, who records under the name Floating Points.

    Their work, Promises, was recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra and nominated for the Mercury Prize.

    Paying tribute to Sanders on Twitter, Shepherd said: “I am so lucky to have known this man, and we are all blessed to have his art stay with us forever. Thank you Pharoah.”

    Source:myjoyonline.com

  • Where is Shatta Wale? – Social media users ask after ‘loud silence’ at Global Citizen Festival

    On a night where two of Ghana’s elite collection of ‘S’ artistes scored important points for wowing patrons at the Global Citizen Festival, the ‘dancehall king inna di whole’ was no where to be found.

    While Sarkodie and Stonebwoy were entertaining patrons at the Black Star Square on Saturday, September 24, 2022; Shatta Wale was conspicuously missing.

    Stonebwoy who performed first thrilled the crowd with his energetic performance and got praised for the top-notch performance.

    Sarkodie on the other hand, per social media commentary, carried the night with his electric and touching performances.

    Other Ghanaian acts like Kwesi Arthur, Yaw Tog among others, were featured but Shatta Wale was not spotted at the event.

    The absence of Shatta Wale at the event has triggered conversations on social media with questions on why he was not present at the event.

    Others are also trolling him as they believe in most prestigious events, he is often left out.

    The event also had international acts like Stormzy, Usher, Tiwa Savage, among others.

    Read some reactions below

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Baba Spirit’s family concede to Big Akwes, schedule late actor’s funeral for November 19 in Accra

    The family of deceased Kumawood actor, Francis Yaw Ofori alias Baba Spirit has scheduled the date for his final funeral rites for Saturday, November 19, 2022.

    At a one-week ceremony held on Saturday, September 24, 2022 to commemorate his passing, the family announced that the funeral will be held at the Art Center in Accra.

    The decision by the family comes after some industry colleagues of the late comic actor and media personality vehemently opposed initial plans to hold Baba Spirit’s funeral in his hometown.

    The protest was spearheaded by Kumawood actors Big Akwes and Quappiah.

    According to the two, it would be reasonable for the family to hold the funeral in Accra where the deceased lived and worked to attract better attendance.

    Speaking to Oman Channel at the one-week ceremony on Saturday, Quappiah who has been appointed a member of the funeral planning committee together with Big Akwes said they have been justified in their protest.

    “The result is what we are witnessing today at the one-week ceremony. The attendance recorded here today justifies our position which a lot of Ghanaians support,” he said.

    The one-week ceremony of the death of Baba Spirit which occurred on September 8, 2022, was attended by several personalities across Ghana’s entertainment and arts industry.

    Some of the personalities included Ayittey Powers, Kwame Dadzie, Salinko, Kofi Nti and Auntie B.

    As part of the plans by the family, the late actor will be buried at Agona Swedru after the funeral rites in Accra.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Great performance of Usher Raymond at Global Citizen Festival

    R&B legend Usher Raymond IV delivered a trademark performance at the Global Citizen Festival at the Black Star Square in Accra on September 24.

    The American star was the headline artiste for the event that saw a number of prominent local acts performing.

    In a snippet of his performance of his “Caught Up” track, Usher ha the crowd singing alongside as he delivers hi typical dance moves and ‘interaction’ with the microphone stand.

    On Friday, 23 September, 2022, he visited parts of the capital city Accra including a basic school in the Chorkor community.

    The ‘My Way’ hitmaker was in the company of officials representing the Global Citizens Festival and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).

    Sharing pictures of the tour on social media, the GTA wrote: “Today, the Global Citizen Festival Artiste Usher and SZA visited BASICS International and toured the Chorkor community.

    “BASICS International is an education-focused NGO in Chorkor, Accra, engaged in making education and childcare accessible in vulnerable communities. The organisation is also one of Global Citizen’s regional response partners for the End Extreme Poverty NOW campaign for Global Citizen Festival: Accra.”

    The 10th Global Citizen Festival at the Black Star Square had performances from Americans Usher, SZA, HER, British-Ghanaian Stormzy, Nigerian Tems, and Ghanaian stars Sarkodie, Stonebwoy and Gyakie.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Black Sherif releases date of his debut album titled ‘The Villain I Never Was’

    Mohammed Ismail Sherif Kwaku Frimpong, also known as Black Sherif, is a popular figure in Ghana and a nominee for the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards.

    The talented Ghanaian rapper and performer has been the centre of attention ever since he first gained infamy on the music scene.

    He consistently releases chart-topping songs and gives excellent verses on songs on which he is featured.

    The multi-award-winning rapper who released “Soja” on Thursday, September 22, 2022, also revealed the completion and release date for his debut album, which is titled “The Villian I Never Was”.

    Controversies have sparked up regarding the release of his new song dubbed ‘SOJA’. Anxiety amongst the fans has made them not to wait any longer for the album since his lyrics are straight forward from his heart in addition to his fans relating to his lyrics.

    From the details he shared via his official Apple Music account, the album will be avail able for purchase and streamed on all digital music platforms on Thursday October 6, 2022.

    The album ‘The Villain I Never Was’ which contained 14 tracks which includes ‘Second Sermon’ remix featuring Burna boy, ‘Kweku The Traveller’, and ‘SOJA’.

    Source:ghanaweb.com