“My concern is that the media has overhyped this tiny subject of mining without a license and making mineral sales without a license,” claims Nkrabea Effah Dartey. It’s a little issue; in Ghana, it occurs daily.
I therefore fail to see the need for a media commentary on this subject.And that is what is causing the difficulty and adding all kinds of uncertainty to it.
Mr. Gabriel Gyamerah Sarpong, an employee of the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources, was given a 15-month prison term for fraud by false pretense by the Accra High Court.
Based on his own plea, Mr. Sarpong was found guilty. On the charge of impersonating a public official falsely, he entered a not guilty plea.
Mr. Muda Ade Lawal, the convict’s attorney, asked for a non-custodial punishment and said that Mr. Sarpong was a good citizen and IT expert before the devil drove him into vice.
Assistance Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Evans Kesse told the court that the complainant was George Mireku-Duker, a Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
He said sometime in December, 2021, the convict contacted a witness in the case to meet so they could talk about a business deal.
The prosecution said the following week, the witness met the convict and told him that the business was about mining and since the witness had been to various mining sites in the country, he could best execute the task.
He said same month, the convict called the witness on phone and told him that the Deputy Minister had authorized that the witness could mobilise his men to operate as such.
The Prosecution said the convict then gave a fake MTN number 0244916900 as the Deputy Minister’s contact number, through which he could call when he needed him.
The witness then mobilised his men and went to Obuasi, met the Police and called the MTN number accused gave to him as the Deputy Minister’s number for the said Minister to communicate with the Police for confirmation.
He said the convict, who responded as the said Minister, told the Obuasi Divisional Commander to accord the Team any assistance needed.
He said the witness after their operations realised cash over two hundred thousand Ghana cedis (GHS200,000) and sent same to the convict who had impersonated as Deputy Minister.
ASP Kesse said the witness after operating at Obuasi decided to proceed to Manso Nkwanta for another operation and met the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), where the Witness told the MCE about his mission there and tried reaching out to the Deputy Minister on the MTN number given to him by the convict but there was no response.
The Manso Nkwanta MCE then alerted the Witness that it would be in his own interest to come down to Accra to meet with the Deputy Minister and verify if the Deputy Minister had really sanctioned their task.
The Witness met with the Deputy Minister on September 13, 2022, and he revealed that he had been working at the mining sites with his permission.
The prosecution said that the Deputy Minister denied knowing about it and sent for the guilty party, who was then turned over to police after being questioned.
In his investigation caution statement, the convicted person admitted to the crime and said that he used some of the funds obtained from the witness to buy a black Elantra saloon and put some of it toward the purchase of his Amasaman building.
The Court has directed the prosecution to file and serve all disclosures and witness statements within 12 days.
Police Chief Inspector Samuel Ahiabor, prosecuting, said the complainants were Benjamin Ashie and Vincent Boadi, both businessmen.
He said on August 30, 2022, at about 10:00 pm, Kojo called Prosper and Clement to meet him at the Ashaiman Main Lorry Station to embark on a usual stealing operation at Danfa.
The Prosecution said Prosper, Clement, Kojo and M.C met at the lorry station with the commercial bus and proceeded to Danfa, armed with an industrial cutter and five vulcanizer bars.
He said at Danfa, the accused persons broke into first complainant’s shop and made away with 12 pieces of hitarget cloth valued at GHS 1,400.00, six bags of 25 kg rice valued GH¢S,680.00.
Other items are 19 cosmetics valued GHS950.00, one pack of pepsodent valued at GHS50.00, all valued at GHS3,880,00.
He said after that the accused persons moved to the 2nd complainant’s pharmacy shop, broke the door, and ransacked the shop and made away with cash, the sum of GHS238.00 and one Techno mobile phone valued at GHS250.00.
Chief Inspector Ahiabor said on their way to Ashaiman, the police patrol team met the said Toyota Fish commercial vehicle with the accused persons on board and when the patrol team stopped them, Kojo and M.C, who were on the passenger front seat managed to escape.
He said Prosper and Clement were arrested and held Ayi Mensah Police Station and later transferred to the Regional Police Headquarters, Accra for further investigation.
Prosper and Clement confessed to the crimes while being questioned, and Fatimatu’s home was found by the police after she was identified as the person who supplied them money for petrol and purchased the stolen goods. She was then detained.
The two stores they robbed at Danfa were located by Prosper and Clement and shown to the police.
When they arrived at Fatimatu’s home, they discovered some of the previously stolen goods that she had purchased from them in her room.
In their caution statements, the accused individuals admitted to the crimes.
Attempts are being made to capture Kojo and MC.
The exploits of female Ghanaians during the Gold Coast era are something we don’t hear much about.
Similar to Dr. Nkrumah, Rosina Konuah and Elsie Sowah were awarded scholarships to study in Britain for their intelligence.
Elsie Sowah and Rosina Konuah, who both graduated from Achimota Senior High in 1940, have been close friends for more than 86 years.
Oldachimotan.org claims that after graduating from Achimota School, the two women were admitted to the newly opened Dispensary School at Korle Bu after first being turned away due to their gender.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s pharmacy degree program originated from the four-year curriculum they were admitted to (KNUST).
The two women, who completed the curriculum satisfactorily, are now Ghana’s first female pharmacists.
Rosina Konuah claimed she earned a scholarship to continue her studies in the UK whereas Elsie Sowah stated she entered the public service (a maternity hospital) right after graduating in an interview on GBC that GhanaWeb watched (UK).
The two women said they will never forget being the first two women to obtain scholarships overseas and the adventures that followed, despite the scary experience they had traveling to the UK.
“I traveled to the UK to continue my education. I went there to take a nursing and SR course. Though I fared well, I missed working in Ghana.
Being the first women from the Gold Coast to be sent to Britain to take a course was an accomplishment, and Rosina Konuah and I liked it.
He made his statement after the nation’s total debt stock at the time reached $20.671 billion.
Ghana’s external debt stock: $18.370 billion in 2014; $20.633 billion in 2015; $21.372 billion in 2016; $21.369 billion in 2017; and $20.671 billion in 2018.
anticipated advancement in 2019. It indicates that NPP isn’t memorizing borrowing, according to a Facebook post by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.
According to 2018 records, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a prominent member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ghana’s external debt stock is $20.671 billion.
He claims that data on Ghana’s debt stock, which spans the years 2014 to 2018, demonstrates that the Akufo-Addo administration isn’t borrowing carelessly.
He wrote on Facebook: “Ghana’s external debt stock: 2014: $18.370 billion; 2015: $20.633 billion; 2016: $21.372 billion; 2017: $21.369 billion; 2018: $20.671 billion.
anticipated advancement in 2019.
It indicates that NPP is not borrowing automatically.
Recall that the Minority in Parliament lambasted the Akufo-Addo-led government for engaging in excessive borrowing, which they claimed had increased the national debt.
According to them, the latest report of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Ghana places the current national debt at almost GH200 billion as at the end of the first quarter of 2019.
Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, Ranking Member on Finance, speaking at a press conference stated that, despite this insatiable appetite for borrowing, President Akufo-Addo’s government does not have any significant capital investments to show unlike his predecessor, former President John Mahama, who invested borrowed funds in major capital projects across all sectors of the economy, from education, health, housing, roads, energy, communications, aviation and transport, among others.
Mr Forson also said the GH200 billion national debt represents an increase of about GH80 billion in the last two and half years alone, raising the debt to GDP ratio from 56 per cent in 2016 to almost 58 percent.
“We drew attention to the change since 2016 for three reasons related to the Mahama era. First, there was the promise not to borrow. Second, the NPP has benefited from a 25 per cent bonus or increase in GDP, due to the rebasing exercise. Third, the NPP inherited two additional oil fields (Sankofa and TEN) that has almost tripled output and at an average 60 per cent price increase” he added.
According to Mr Forson at the current exchange rate levels, borrowing alone has given President Akufo-Addo government a staggering $16 billion over the period, which excludes GH5.7 billion borrowed under the ESLA Bonds last year.
Mr Forson also noted that the current NPP administration has benefited more in terms of oil revenues received than any other government.
He said the total oil revenues received between 2017 and 2018 and those expected to be received in 2019 currently stands at GH 12, 328, 703, 024.81.
He said President Akufo-Addo’s government has had more money at their disposal than all other governments and should have done far more than is being done presently.
Mr. Forson added that the present borrowing spree poses a threat to the fiscal space made available by the economy’s rebasing, which began in 2016 and was completed in September 2018.
He claims it is clear the President sees the opportunity presented by the rebasing as a chance to indulge in reckless borrowing for the purpose of financing consumption-related expenses.
Despite all the resources at his disposal, he claimed, President Akufo-Addo has not been able to keep the majority of the promises he made to the electorate during his campaign.
Drivers do gain from increases in transportation fares, according to Godfred Abulbire, general secretary of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU).
He claims that they would prefer lower fuel prices.
We don’t really gain from the fare increments, he claimed.
A group going by the name of the worried drivers union gave warning of a 30 percent increase in transportation costs starting on September 21 earlier this week.
Abulbire pointed out that as the choice to raise the tariffs has not yet been taken, the announcement was inappropriate.
“From May, we increased fares and the fuel margin was around GH¢11.29. It moved to GH¢13 and fuel moved to about GH¢14.49. We never heard of any member of a union agitating for fare increments.
“It moved from GH¢14.49 back to GH¢13.20, and now it has moved back to 14.50. It hasn’t made any change yet,” he explained.
Therefore, he instructed, “We are to do a survey with the other components I just listed, and if fuel lubricants have increased, if spare parts have increased, then we have justification to submit a report and request a fare increase.”
As things stand, he emphasized, “our drivers would rather that we engage on a specific move to ask the government to cut [fuel] prices than going to merely ask for rate increments.
He said this while delivering the keynote presentation at the Ghana Bar Association’s annual bar conference.
“In recent times, we have been witnessing significant difficulties in the management of the national economy, largely as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy, which has been exacerbated by the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“We will do so again. In fact, in the last quarter of 2021, the recovery from COVID-19 appeared to be on course, when our economy grew by seven percent (7%), only for the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the first quarter of this year to exacerbate our challenges. We will overcome them,” he said.
However, the President emphasized that the fundamental commitment to addressing these issues within the bounds of fair procedures and democratic institutions must endure.
And I am convinced that we will overcome these obstacles, God willing,” Akufo-Addo said.
Two Chinese companies were turned over to the Regional Criminal Investigations Department, or CID, by the Ghana Revenue Authority for allegedly generating phony Value Added Tax invoices.
The area enforcement manager for the Accra Central at GRA, Joseph Annan, told journalists after the operation that they found the shops issuing fake receipts to consumers.
“Our team this dawn was dispatched to the Accra Central Business enclave and we chanced upon these taxpayers issuing their own VAT receipt for their customers. And it is an infraction on our tax laws,” he is quoted by myjoyonline.com.
“We are immediately going to asses them, preempt and charge VAT for them to pay with a penalty. This is part of an invigilation exercise being carried by the Authority to enforce compliance and deal with recalcitrant taxpayers,” he noted.
A facility at East Legon, De Icon, was imprisoned by the GRA in the meantime for operating without registering with the Authority for tax payments.
“According to information we have, this facility has been in operation since December 2021 without complying with legal tax obligations.
Therefore, our task is to lock the location until the proper action is taken.
According to Nathaniel Tetteh, chief revenue officer at the office of the Commissioner General, “They have to produce some documents so we can use it to use it to use it to use it to use it to use it to track the business they have done and apply the costs.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Minister of Communications and Digitalization, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, have both been contacted “actively” by the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Prof. Ken Attafuah, regarding the fact that it is “impossible” for the Authority to register all eligible individuals for the Ghana card – the only document for the re-registration of SIM cards – before the deadline of September 30.
About two million more eligible people have yet to register for the Ghana card.
But I have it on good authority that we have been actively communicating with the Minister of Communications and Digitalization as well as the National Communications Authority since last year.
After September 30th, all unregistered SIMs will be blocked.
Ghanaian pork prices are anticipated to increase by 20% as of September 20.
According to the Pig Farmers Association of Ghana, this is a result of the ongoing African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak, more expensive animal diets, and higher pump prices (PFAG).
“The swine disease outbreak caused a setback for the sector.
Businesses that were unable to receive payment for killing their animals have not been able to recover, according to Daniel Yaw Siaw, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Pig Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG).
He urged the government to provide farmers with compensation so that individuals who lost their animals to the sickness may be helped.
Speaking at an association function in Kumasi to welcome new regional executives was Mr. Siaw.
The National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers‘ (NASPAWAP) National Director for Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kwame Agyapong Ntrah, has outlined a variety of causes that have contributed to the increase in sachet and bottled water costs.
He claims that the increase in the price of both sachet and bottled water is mostly attributable to the increase in the price of diesel.
After consulting with interested parties, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers (NASPAWAP) announced that it has evaluated packaged water prices, effective September 19, 2022.
It therefore, recommended that iced bottled water, 500ml be retailed at GH¢2, and iced bottled water, 750ml or medium size, be retailed at GH¢3.
The NEC stated that Mini shops will now retail a bag of sachet at GH¢9.
In a statement, the Sachet and Packaged Water Producers Association said the reviews serve as a guide to all regional associations and to ensure uniformity across the country.
It also cautioned that there might be slight variations across the regions due to haulage to remote and distant areas.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie with Ekourba Gyasi Simpremu, Mr Kwame Agyapong Ntrah said aside the cost of transportation which has become a problem, the PURC’s directive on the increment in utility tariff has also influenced the rise in price of sachet and bottled water.
He also mentioned how the materials used to make the water bottles and sachets were impacted by the exchange rate.
Due to the fact that all of those who sell rubber to us import it with dollars, all of their prices have climbed, which has also increased the cost of materials, power, and water.
Fuel prices have gone up, and our employees are screaming for pay raises as well.
When you consider all of these aspects, we also had to make some adjustments, he said.
“I have been on the sea for 2 months. It wasn’t easy, but because we were born into a family of fisherfolks, we were not scared. For 2 months, I was on the sea hunting for fish. From Cape Coast to Cote D Ivoire, then to Nigeria and back to Cape Coast…There are days on the sea you see a lot of spiritual things while on the sea.
Some of our ancestors are psychics, while others travel to the sea with a higher purpose in order to reap a bountiful crop.
It is a successful business venture,” he said.
He also revealed to the host that at the age of 14, he used the money from his fishing profession to construct his first home, a one-bedroom structure.
At the age of 14, in Cape Coast, “I was able to build my one-room house,” he continued.
He asserts that a Ghana Card cannot be used for transactions that require other documents, such as those required to register for one.
A passport, a birth certificate, one witness who is a relative, or two witnesses who are professionals are required before a person can register for the card, he said.
He believes that this is not a rational course to take.
On September 17, 2022, he shared the comments on his Twitter profile, writing, “If you read the above and still can’t understand the illogic and irrationality, don’t worry.
You simply have a condition known as “motivated reasoning.”
Fortunately, there is a no-cost remedy: critical thinking, he said.
Gregory Rockson, the founder of M. Pharma, a healthcare firm, has announced the acquisition of a controlling stake in Health-plus Pharmacy, Nigeria’s first integrative pharmacy chain, over eight months after collecting $35 million in a Series-D funding round to expand its operations.
According to Rockson, CEO and co-founder of M. Pharma, the acquisition aligns with the company’s mission to build a healthy Africa by providing life-changing healthcare services and drugs to patients.
“M. Pharma is deepening its long-standing commitment to Africa by re-imagining primary healthcare in some of the most vulnerable communities on the continent,” he said. “We continue to transform community pharmacies into primary care centers to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to all patients, so they can live not just longer but healthier lives.”
Afsane Jetha, co-founder and CEO of Alta Semper Capital, stated in her remarks on the acquisition that the Health-plus team is convinced that M. Pharma’s strategy of revolutionizing primary healthcare across Africa is the ideal steward for HealthPlus’s next chapter of growth.
She added that the management is excited to support the business going forward through a relationship with M. Pharma.
Founded in 2013 by Rockson, Daniel Shoukimas, and James Finucane, M. Pharma manages pharmaceutical inventories for African mom-and-pop pharmacies. It also offers unique financial and inventory management solutions to hospitals, as well as patients directly.
With 300 partner pharmacies in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Gabon, M. Pharma has managed to upend the African healthcare industry since its founding more than nine years ago. The company serves around 1 million patients yearly through these locations.
With the purchase of HealthPlus Pharmacy, M. Pharma will have chances for growth in Nigeria and a platform to increase the number of pharmacies it operates on the continent thanks to its fast expanding QualityRx program.
Speaking to the media, NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia revealed that the Party has scheduled constituency level elections for the 22nd and 23rd of October 2022.
Nominations for constituency elections will be accepted from September 20th to September 22nd, he said.
Those who successfully submit nominations will be subjected to vetting from September 30 to October 2, 2022.
Following the constituency elections, the Party will hold its regional conference on the 12th and 13th of November 2022 to elect its regional executive members, while that of national executive members will be held on December 17, 2022.
Nominations will be open on the 20th and 21st of October for the national elections.
The General Secretary noted that the spacing of the various dates is to minimise conflicts among some party faithful.
“We want to cut off the practice where somebody contests at the constituency level, loses the election and proceeds to contest at the regional level and wins. So what happens? It generates a lot of conflict in the party,” Mr Asiedu Nketia said.
He further added that “since we are dealing with the whole country, we will allow 14 days for the collection of proposers and endorsers.”
Ahead of the 2024 general elections, the NDC is hoping to seize power from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The tour, which is planned for November and December in each country, is organized by the innovative agricultural nonprofit Count on Crops Hub in collaboration with Adansi Travels, RwandAir, and the agricultural ministries of Ghana and the host nations.
“Eco-tourism is to polish up the image of agriculture and that is of great significance. Now wealth is coming into agriculture and shouldn’t sit back like the olden days when we were poor. Now wealth is coming in and we have to enjoy it by travelling to see other works and you also have the opportunity to see other linkages,” the Minister stated.
Dr Afriyie Akoto also indicated that local farmers should take advantage of the African Free Trade Area to grow their businesses. “Now we have the African Free Trade Area; learn from them when and then exchange with what you are going to enrich ourselves established businesses with them, exchange your businesses and so on and so forth. So you can get the opportunity to relax that taking 10 days off as you’re enjoying the benefits of your harvest.”
The Minister of Food And Agriculture used the opportunity to appeal to other Airlines in different countries to come on board.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of Count on Crops Hub, Ms Enyonam Manye the agric-exchange program to Rwanda and South Africa would provide farmers with international experience in the areas of best practices in growing crops, expansion, and value addition among others.
While Sub-Saharan Africa experienced the highest rate of population growth worldwide, it also had very limited agricultural resources reducing its ability to feed itself.
Sharing her own experience after touring some farms in Rwanda recently, Ms Manye stated that participation in the exchange programme in the agricultural sector was very minimal or non-existent, thus reducing international perspectives on the development of innovative technologies to boost productivity.
‘In the national interest and in the interest of global food security, it is important to create and strengthen partnerships between institutions in the United States and Ghana.’
She said the upcoming exchange study visit is aimed at consolidating the gains made through previous programmes and would provide continuing opportunities for students and practitioners from both countries in international agriculture.
She added that the essential experience will consist of a one-week visit by farmers from Ghana to selected innovative farms in Rwanda and South Africa.
The farmers would have the chance to communicate with local residents, small agribusinesses, agricultural and animal operations, and state officials.
The program’s overarching objective is for those who benefit from it to develop their collaboration skills while also understanding novel agribusiness and general agricultural techniques.
In the meantime, Ghanaian farmers have been encouraged by the managing director of Adansi Travels, Gideon Asare, to formalize their enterprises by registering them and obtaining a formal bank account in order to take advantage of multiple opportunities to grow their operations.
Three weeks have passed since security personnel once again detained Chinese national Aisha Huang at her Ahodwo home in Kumasi.
Aisha was first arrested in May 2017, and was arraigned, as well as charged with undertaking illegal small-scale mining.
The Chinese national who was identified as one of the bigwigs in the illegal mining trade was allegedly “deported” to China without being prosecuted in 2018.
However, Aisha Huang’s return to the country has sparked much debate, with several contradictory accounts as to whether she was deported or not.
Some argue that the decision to first not prosecute her in 2018 is in breach of Ghana’s Mineral and Mining Act, 2006.
The Mineral and Mining Act, 2006 states that a non-Ghanaian who illegally mines or abets illegal mining attracts a large fine and imprisonment of between 20 and 25 years, and shall be deported after serving the sentence.
But in explaining the government’s decision, the then Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, stated that the 1,641 Chinese nationals arrested and repatriated over ‘galamsey’ since 2009 government decided that Aisha
Huang be deported without imprisonment, to maintain a good relationship with China.
At a town hall meeting in the US in April 2019, he said, “We have a very good relationship with China.
Today, the main company that is helping develop the infrastructure system in Ghana is Sinohydro. It is a Chinese company. It is the one that is going to help process our bauxite and provide about two billion dollars to us… So when there are these kinds of arrangements, there are other things behind the scenes.”
“Putting that lady (Aisha Huang) in jail in Ghana is not going to solve your economic problems. It is not going to make you or me happy, that’s not important, the most important thing is that she has been deported out of Ghana.”
President Akufo-Addoaddressing a forum at Princeton University during his visit to the US in 2019, stated emphatically that Aisha Huang’s deportation was a “mistake”.
The two statements by the two government officials suggest that Aisha Huang was deported in 2018.
However, some state officials have made a quick U-turn, proposing that Aisha Huang was repatriated rather than deported as earlier reported.
According to the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the galamsey kingpin was repatriated from Ghana in 2018.
He went on to say that a repatriation order was issued to this effect and that Aisha was put on a flight and exited Ghana.
The President, who has been championing Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, is now claiming that he is in doubt about whether Aisha Huang was deported from Ghana in 2018 or not.
“I’m not still sure whether she was in fact deported. Or whether she fled the country the first time and has now come back. There still seems to be some uncertainty about it,” he said while speaking on a Ho-based radio station, as part of his tour of the Volta Region on Monday, September 12, 2022.
According to the prosecutors in the galamsey case against the kingpin, Aisha Huang sneaked out of the country in 2017 to avoid prosecution.
Nevertheless, a report by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) issued a notice of revocation of permit and repatriation dated December 19, 2018, addressed to En Huang, the name used by Aisha Huang.
The notice was signed by the Comptroller-General, Kwame Asuah Takyi.
There is also a boarding pass in the name of En Huang on Ethiopian Airlines Flight No. ET 920 from Accra to Addis Ababa, dated December 19, 2018.
She was reportedly placed at seat no. 32F and used gate C7 to board and flew economy.
First and foremost, what is repatriation and deportation? Deportation is the involuntary return of a person to their home country, usually due to a violation of the law, illegal entry, or overstaying of their visa.
On the other hand, repatriation is the process of bringing or sending someone back to their home country in a desirable situation, typically a prisoner of war, refugee, or hostage.
Unlike deportation, repatriation is voluntary.
It is, therefore, surprising to say that Aisha Huang, who was charged with three counts of undertaking small-scale mining operations, contrary to Section 99 (1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, Government makes a U-turn on Aisha Huang’s deportation 2006 (Act 703); providing mining support services without valid registration with the Minerals Commission, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), and the illegal employment of foreign nationals, contrary to the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), was rather repatriated and not deported.
The Ghanaian people have questioned the government’s commitment and competence in combating illegal mining in the country as a result of contradictory statements by state officials.
So far, the charges levelled against her exclude that of an immigrant breaching the country’s laws on deportation/repatriation.
Per the Immigration Act, 2000 section 35; a person who enters Ghana when a deportation order made against him or her is in force commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years and may be deported without any further deportation order being made.
Also, in section 8 of the Immigration Act, an immigration officer may arrest a prohibited immigrant without a warrant and effect his repatriation or arraign him before a court for an offence under subsection (2).
A person who fails to comply with a directive given under subsection (5) to remove a prohibited immigrant commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five million cedis or to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding twelve months, or to both.
Charges against Aisha Huang after her second arrest Aisha Huang was charged with: undertaking small-scale mining,operations contrary to the Minerals Act, providing mining support without service without valid registration, illegal employment of foreign nationals, mining without a licence, engaging in the sale and purchase of minerals without a valid licence.
Aisha Huang, according to reports, is likely to spend two years in prison if proven guilty of the said offences.
The Ho Technical University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nuclear Power Ghana and Institute to train more students in nuclear power to improve the sector’s human resource base.
The MoU was signed in Ho with heads of all departments and faculties present, making the University the first to partner with Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG) for nuclear development.
Prof. B. J.B. Nyarko, the Board Chairman of the NPG, said President Akufo-Addo’s recent declaration of the nation’s readiness for nuclear power gave impetus to the programme.
In August 2022, the President approved nuclear power to be added to the country’s electricity generation mix.
“It means we have the full backing of the Government to proceed with the nuclear power programme,” Prof. Nyarko said.
The NPG was established by the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission in 2018 as the first nuclear plant operator in the country.
However, the scope of nuclear power made its engineers and scientists the most difficult to train and commended the Ho Technical University (HTU) for emerging the most eager and receptive to the programme.
He said the HTU joined the School of Nuclear and Applied Sciences of the Nuclear Ghana Institute, established in 2006, in becoming the pioneers of a consortium of universities formed to generate the needed resources for the programme.
Prof. Nyarko said the MoU would help provide the needed competency of staff for the programme, which was among its major needs.
The project would broaden the scope of nuclear education and include education on safety and security.
Dr Stephen Yamoah, the Executive Director of the NPG, said the organisation would provide the needed support to ensure that the HTU became the hub of competent human resources to develop the nation’s nuclear capabilities.
Currently, the operators were on phase two of the Nuclear Power Programme and envisaged that by 2030 Ghana’s first Nuclear Power Plant would be operational, he said.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, some specialists in the nuclear field require 5-10 years of training and experience, which meant that building and maintaining human capacity was a critical component of Ghana’s Nuclear Power Project.
“Here at Ho Technical University, you are known as one of the best technical institutions in Ghana for providing education and training in technical and vocational fields,” Dr Yamoah said.
“Our engagement with Management was positive and we encourage Management to envision a bigger picture and identify its role in assisting the Government to develop the nation through nuclear science and technology.”
“We want to assure the HTU that all necessary technical and human support would be provided.”
Prof Seth Debrah, the Director, Nuclear Power Institute, said a foundational course for all in the university environment had become necessary as “anybody close by the facility should be made aware of what is going on.”
The human element was especially important, who needed a certain level of competence and capacity to propel the nation into achieving its objective.
He pledged the readiness of the Institute to train the students into competent professionals and “turn the place into the fulcrum where technical ability is built.”
Prof. Ben Honyenuga, the Vice Chancellor of the University, said it would position the university to take advantage of the programme, and expressed commitment to the cause.
The University, he said, was ready to roll out technician, bachelor, and doctorate level competency-based programmes in nuclear sciences, which aligned with the University’s technical education mandate, adding; “We are ready and willing to begin now.”
The Vice-Chancellor lauded all stakeholders, including the legal teams, for making the MoU more suitable, and charged the Director for Technical and Vocational Education and Training to lead the implementation of the nuclear foundational course.
He claims that despite the harsh actions taken against these corrupt officials, there is no sign of an end to the practice.
On Friday, September 16, 2022, Prof. Ken Attafuah told journalists about the status of the Ghana Card registration drive and said that although it is still relatively rare, extortion of money from people has turned into a painful problem.
Attafuah added that the Authority has had instances where “we [NIA] have to change the whole office, the personnel in the whole office, replace them and interdict them.”
11 Authority employees were fired in 2019 for various registration-related offences, and 5 more were suspended for less serious transgressions.
However, four NIA employees were fired in 2020 for violating registration policies.
The action of the Authority’s aforementioned registration officials “is in violation of the relevant requirements of the Public Service Code of Conduct,” according to a statement released by the Authority.
Member of Parliament for Tano North Constituency in the Ahafo Region, Dr. Freda Prempeh,has said that construction work will soon resume on some of the stalled factory projects under the government’s One-District-One Factory (1D1F) initiative.
This was announced by Dr. Freda Prempeh earlier this month during her 1D1F factory inspection at Tanoso Brick and Tile
She stated that the government has prioritised the 1D1F programme and is committed to completing factories across the country in order to boost industrial drive.
“The programme has the potential to create jobs and wealth for the youth and to boost the national economic growth and development and residents in the catchment area of such projects should exercise restraint since they will be completed by the end of the year,” she said.
“The government has not abandoned the programme but prioritised them due to lack of funding. Even though contractors have not been on site the government is determined and committed to having them completed,” Dr Prempeh added.
She asserted that the factory, which is 60% fulfilled, will create 3,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region after total completion.
Dr. Prempeh revealed that the machinery and other equipment for the factory were ready in Italy and hoped that the Exim Bankwould provide funds to the government by the end of 2022, allowing them to be installed by the first quarter of 2023.
“The large deposit of clay in the Tanoso enclave places the enterprise in a competitive position to contribute positively towards construction of affordable housing for Ghanaians and on completion, the factory is expected to use raw materials to produce durable products such as bricks, roofing tiles, terracotta, wall tiles and panels to promote the local construction industry,” she assured.
The One District One Factory (1D1F)an initiative by the NPP government affords President Akufo-Addo the opportunity to transform the nature of Ghana’s economy from one which is dependent on the import and export of raw materials to one which is focused on manufacturing, value addition and export of processed goods.
50 Cent is attempting to squash penile enhancement rumors.
According to TMZ, the 47-year-old hip-hop mogul has filed a right-of-publicity lawsuit against plastic surgeon Angela Kogan and her company, Perfection Plastic Surgery & MedSpa. The complaint stems from a photo taken of Fif and the doctor during his 2020 trip to Miami. TMZ reports 50 agreed to take the picture because he believed Kogan was a fan; however, she and her company have continued to use the image to promote its products and services.
Fast-forward to August 2022, when the Shade Room published an article about the growing popularity of Brazilian butt lifts as well as penis enhancements. The piece, which included the aforementioned photo, centered on Kogan’s medspa and listed Fif among its celebrity clientele, along with Teyana Taylor, Odell Beckham, and more.
The lawsuit alleges Kogan used the photo to promote her business without authorization, and falsely implied he underwent penis enlargement surgery. 50 maintains he never had the procedure, or any kind of surgery, at Kogan’s medspa. He argues the defendants use of the photo has subjected him to “ridicule” and damaged both his professional and personal reputation. 50 is demanding the company stop using the picture and is seeking unspecified damages.
The crew, lead by the NPA’s Eunice Budu Nyarko and Kwadwo Odarno Appiah, regional manager for Bono, also noticed that one of the nozzles had the incorrect color code—the super nozzle had a black coat rather than a red one.
The random exercise was undertaken after the team sensitized commercial drivers and traders at the Nana Bosoma market, popularly known as Wednesday Market in the Sunyani municipality.
Mr Appiah said the defaulting fuel stations were going to be sanctioned.
The authority would require a report on investigations carried out by the stations as to what caused the anomalies of the nozzles.
The NPA officials also seized two ramps and cautioned fuel stations to desist from the practice of using ramps and shaking vehicles during filling.
Mr Appiah added that the practice was unsafe and could cause unwarranted sparks and fire. “The NPA will not hesitate to lock stations caught using ramps temporarily,” he stressed.
Deputy Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Adumua-Bossman, has asked the police to arrest and impound any vehicle embossed with Office of the President stickers.
This follows the arrest of a foreign national identified as Ghaadour Hishan-Hassaan. Hassaan was detained by the police at Accra Airport for driving a vehicle with an unauthorized sticker of the Office of the President on it.
In a text sent during Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’ Mr Bossman wrote: “Jubilee House and for that matter, the presidency does not give stickers to any official. We have a way of coding our vehicles which I shall not disclose for security reasons.
“Please in the name of the constitution’s letter, the police should arrest and impound any vehicle which bears any sticker purporting to be from the office of the President; no matter the status or office of the occupants of such vehicles,” Kwami Sefa Kayi, host of the programme, read the text.
Aisha Huang, the galamsey queen of illicit small-scale mining, is currently accused of six different immigration offenses and related mining-related offenses.
Aisha and her co-conspirators were detained earlier this month, and they were all charged with two crimes before an Accra Circuit Court until yesterday, September 16.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, had hinted following the re-arrest of Huang that he would reopen a case discontinued in 2018 against her.
The four new charges were filed at the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court on Friday September 16, 2022. The virtual hearing took place in the court of Justice Lydia Marfo.
The new charges, according to a charge sheet, are as follows:
Count One: Undertaking a mining operation without a licence contrary to section 99(2)(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006, Act 703 as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act 2019, Act 995.
Count Two: Facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation contrary to section 99 (2)(a) & (3) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006, Act 703 as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act 2019, Act 995.
Count Three: Illegal employment of foreign nationals contrary to section 24 of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573).
Count Four: Entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entry contrary to section 20(4) of the Immigration Act, 2000, Act 573.
The two charges she faces in the Circuit Court are:
Mining without license and
Engaging in the sale and purchase of minerals.
The Circuit Court case will be next heard on September 27 whiles the High Court case is due back in court on October 11.
Veteran Reggae musician, Shasha Marley, has recalled how his song, ‘Maata Family’, brought him embarrassment from a group of children in Cape Coast.
According to the veteran, the word ‘Fish’ in his song has given people the impression that he was talking about ‘fart’ which isn’t the case.
“I got to Cape Coast, and some children saw me and they chorused my name with fart,” he narrated on GTV’s Breakfast show.
Explaining what the lyric in the song meant, Shasha said the famous ‘FUSH’heard in the song which is the sound that comes out when one farts, is rather ‘FISH’.
Shashaclaims it is the name of his friend from Papua New Guinea while adding that he still doesn’t understand why people won’t believe him after many years.
“I have explained this song a million times but people don’t believe it. It is Maata ‘Fish’ it’s not ‘Fush’. These are the names of my friends from Papua New Guinea. Listen, this is my song and I wrote it,” he said.
Hellas Verona defender Isak Kwaku Hien is overjoyed to have received his first call-up to Sweden‘s national team for this month’s international games.
The Ghanaian has been named to Sweden’s Nations League squad, which will play Serbia and Slovenia.
It’s a well-deserved call-up given his impressive displays since joining the Serie A club this summer from Swedish side Djurgrden.
“The biggest dream has been to play for the national team, that’s the dream I still have in my head. I want to play a match in Sweden’s national team jersey.
Then the goal is to play the World Cup and European Championship, but the thoughts have not gone that far yet, but it has been about getting into the squad first,” said Hien to SportExpressen.
The 23-year-old is clear that he has not had time to digest everything that has happened in recent weeks.
“No, not really. The fact that it has gone so quickly has probably made it more difficult. It has gone so quickly from barely playing in Djurgården, to playing, and then a move abroad with the national team at that. The fact that everything happened in such a short period has meant that I haven’t had time to land in any of them, says Hien to SportExpressen and continues:
“I barely had time to land in the fact that you were given in Djurgården, which is a top team in the Allsvenskan, and then a move to Hellas Verona. Now the national team. I haven’t had time to land on it. It was the same with the move to Italy. I probably only got into it after I played my first game. Then it really sunk in, maybe it will be the same this time.”
Hien’s contract with the Italian club runs until the summer of 2026.
As the deadline of September 30 draws near, many UK citizens are rushing against time to have the £20 and £50 notes they now hold changed by a polymer equivalent.
As many Britons wait in line at its counter, the Bank of England (BoE) has said that it is “experiencing very strong demand” for its services.
The Bank of England Counter is currently open Monday through Friday from 9.30 am to 3 pm and is in high demand.
“There will be lengthy lines, and you might have to wait more than an hour.
When making a trip to the Bank to conduct an in-person exchange, we respectfully ask that you take into account the lengthy wait periods. If you arrive after 2pm, there’s a chance you won’t be served before we close.
Although it is still a legal tender at present, the £20 and £50 notes will cease to be in use and circulation from next month.
People who are in possession of the notes have been asked to deposit them at their banks, some post office branches or with the Bank of England to have them replaced with the polymer version which is said to be “less vulnerable to counterfeiters and more durable”.
According to UK Sky News, the Bank first released the polymer £50 note in 2021, which featured Bletchley Park codebreaker and scientist Alan Turing. This completed the “family” of polymer notes, which also included the £5, £10, and £20 notes.
Following her passing, Queen Elizabeth II’s image is anticipated to eventually be removed on UK banknotes.
Following his accession to the throne, King Charles III’s likeness will be printed on the new currency.
The government’s planting for food and jobs policy (PFJ), according to Edward Kareweh, general secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), has been entirely ineffective.
According to government data, the PFJ has had a positive impact on the agricultural sector. For example, farmer participation has increased from 202,000 in 2017 to 1.2 million in 2019, and yields have increased for both paddy rice and corn (from 688,000 MT in 2016 to 925,000 MT in 2019 and 71% for maize, respectively).
“The figures the government gave us does not represent what is on the ground. You cannot tell us that maize production for instance, in 2020, had gone up than in 2019 when there was no covid and then few months later, there was no maize in the system. The poultry industry has suffered severely and since it has not recovered, how do you reconcile this? When there is no food, you claim the policy has been successful. Where is the success? ”, he quizzed.
“Government said that in 2023, we are going to be sufficient in production. Today, they are blaming everything on Covid when in 2020 we had higher production volumes than the year before. That tells us that Covid never affected agriculture”, he said.
Meanwhile, Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Dr Charles Nyaaba has described decision of the Agric Ministry to issue fuel coupons for carting foodstuff as a Political talk.
The Agric ministry announced in July this year that it was considering offering fuel subsidies to transport firms and owners to enable them to haul foodstuffs to the market centres and force down food prices. Two months on, the peasant farmers say they are yet to see the policy being implemented.
When that announcement was made, it was always evident to us that the government lacked the necessary resources and that it wasn’t a wise course of action for them to take.
Anyone in the industry can tell you if the government is helping them transport food to metropolitan centers.
What method would they employ? It seemed to me like political talk,” Says Dr. Nyaaba
“In my opinion, the government occasionally makes problems for itself.
Things that we don’t insist on give the idea that they can be done, but when it comes to execution, they fall short.
Without taking into account the availability of resources to carry out their promises, I believe the administration is being overly ambitious.
Farmers’ faith in the government is actually declining, he continued.
Bailly became Africa‘s most expensive defender when he signed for Manchester United from Villarreal for £30 million.
It was a significant gamble by arriving Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho, but Bailly quickly adapted to life in the Premier League and looked set to establish himself as the club’s first-choice defender for a decade to come.
Unfortunately, injuries, managerial upheaval, and a loss of form have limited his impact at Old Trafford in recent campaigns, and he departed on loan for Olympique de Marseille this summer.
16. Hakim Ziyech
Chelsea parted with £33 million to sign Ziyech from Ajax, and it’s fair to say they haven’t truly got the best value for their outlay.
The Moroccan did win the Champions League under Thomas Tuchel, but he’s struggled for form and with injuries.
15. Kalidou Koulibaly
Another big money arrival at Chelsea—Koulibaly finally made the move to the Premier League this summer after being long been tipped for a switch to the PL.
He’s endured a mixed start to life in England, and while the exit of Tuchel is a blow, in time, he should prove to be a smart investment for the Pensioners.
Chelsea paid Napoli a reported £33 million for the Senegal defender’s services.
14. Sadio Mane
Mohamed Salah’s move to Liverpool knocked his new Reds teammate off top spot as Africa’s (then) most expensive player of all time.
Mane moved to Anfield from Southampton for £35 million, and while his maiden campaign on Merseyside wasn’t trouble-free, he made an excellent impression, and initially at least, threatened to be the catalyst for an unexpected title tilt by the Reds.
In subsequent campaigns, he grew into a genuine world-class player, and was influential as the Merseysiders clinched the Champions League in 2019.
13. Achraf Hakimi
Internazionale reportedly parted with £36.3 million to sign then-21-year-old Hakimi from Real Madrid following the conclusion of his loan spell at Borussia Dortmund.
The wideman’s stay in Italy was brief—just one season—although he did win the Serie A title under Antonio Conte before moving on to Paris Saint-Germain.
12. Mohamed Salah
Liverpool snared the AS Roma forward for an initial £36.9 million with some reports suggesting that the price could rise to £43.9 million considering add-ons.
Either way, the deal represents an absolute bargain for the Reds.
Salah thrived under the pressure, smashing records aplenty during his maiden season in Anfield, and becoming the darling of the home fans in the process.
Salah went on to inspire Liverpool to the Champions League crown in 2019 and the Premier League title in 2020.
11. Sebastien Haller
West Ham United parted with £45 million to sign Haller from Eintracht Frankfurt.
He struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League and subsequently moved on to Borussia Dortmund.
Squeezing into the top 100 most expensive transfers of all time, Arsenal met Atletico Madrid’s €50 million asking price to prise Partey away from La Liga.
When fit, he’s impressed for the Gunners, but he hasn’t been an overwhelming success, with injuries costing him significant swathes of gametime.
9. Aaron Wan-Bissaka
The Anglo-Congolese full-back joined Manchester United from Crystal Palace for £49.5 million.
He’s excelled in the Premier League with the Eagles, impressing with his sturdy defensive displays, but has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford, and represents a major flop.
8. Naby Keita
Nabbed by Liverpool from RasenBallsport Leipzig, Keita is yet to truly realise his potential following a £52.75 million move.
He was one of the key protagonists in Leipzig’s climb up the German football ladder, but took his time adapting to life in the Premier League, before injury affected his progress.
7. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Arsenal parted with £56 million to bring Borussia Dortmund’s Aubameyang to North London, despite the Gabon international having been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
The Central African hitman wasted little time demonstrating his quality under Arsene Wenger, and then Unai Emery.
Auba went on to share the Premier League’s Golden Boot with Mane and Salah.
6. Achraf Hakimi
Making the list for a second time, Hakimi’s one-year stay at Inter ended when he moved to PSG for an initial fee of £51.3 million, rising to £60 million.
The Wideman has already enjoyed success in France—winning the Ligue 1 title to add to his extensive medal haul—but the major aim at the Parc des Princes is surely getting his hand on the European Cup.
5. Riyad Mahrez
Manchester City parted with a club-record £60 million to sign Mahrez, finally ending the Algeria international’s extended wait to exit Leicester City.
He may have been a Premier League winner with the Foxes in 2016, during that most remarkable of campaigns, but Mahrez hasn’t always held down a starting berth at City.
4. Cedric Bakambu
Beijing Guoan parted with an eye-watering £65 million to take Bakambu to China after the striker had netted 15 goals for Villarreal during the 2017-18 season.
He hit the ground running in the Far East, with eight goals in his first eight games, and also caught the eye with a series of fine showings during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Democratic Republic of Congo hitman previously represented Sochaux and Bursaspor.
3. Victor Osimhen
Coming in at €80 million plus add-ons, Osimhen’s move from LOSC Lille to Napoli was primed to propel the striker to become Africa’s top striker.
He’s finally settled into life as the Partenopei’s leading man, scoring 24 goals across his first two seasons at the club, prompting rumours of a move to Manchester United.
2. Nicolas Pepe
Pepe became Africa’s most expensive player when Arsenal parted with £72 million to bring the winger to the Emirates Stadium from LOSC Lille.
He penned a five-year contract with the Gunners after scoring 22 goals and contributing 11 assists in Ligue 1, prompting Unai Emery to turn to him ahead of Wilfried Zaha.
Arsenal fans were desperate for Pepe to emulate Eden Hazard, LOSC’s finest import to the Premier League, rather than his compatriot Gervinho, but the wideman never hit the heights in London.
1. Wesley Fofana
Still eligible for the Ivory Coast, Fofana swapped LeicesterCity for Chelsea during the recent transfer window after forcing through his exit from the King Power Stadium.
The 21-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge for a fee of €80.4 million, making him the big spenders’ second biggest transfer of all time, although his arrival couldn’t save Thomas Tuchel from being dismissed.
This is related to the current discussion surrounding the action, which has been criticized by a number of organizations, including the Trade Union Congress (TUC), who called it a “tragic blunder and stupid judgment.”
But according to Dan Acheampong, president of the GEA, an IMF program was currently required to give policy the urgently required credibility, to restore stability and confidence in the Ghanaian economy, and to lower perceived risk and worries held by employers and investors.
He made the call at the 62nd Annual General Meeting of the GEA, in Accra, yesterday, on the theme: “Sustaining businesses in the midst of macro-economic challenges.”
In view of current challenges, Mr Acheampong said, the Enhanced Domestic Programme that would form the basis of the engagement with the Fund, should focus on fiscal consolidation, restoration of debt sustainability, robust monetary and financial sector policies as well as prudent exchange rate management measures.
Mr Acheampong said, in order to augment fiscal consolidation, the GEA was entreating the government to speed up the implementation of the tax Exemption Bill, which had just been passed by Parliament, to render efficient and effective tax exemption management.
He recommended that the benchmark value policy be reviewed to cover imported goods that were not produced locally, and a sunset clause provided for goods produced locally, but not in sufficient quantities while efficiently implementing enduring import substitution policies for the same.
The GEA President further advised the government to review and streamline the flagship programmes, to make them achieve their intended objectives without any significant fiscal pressure, adding that “We believe that this will create some fiscal space for Central Government to operate.”
The Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wireko-Brobbey, reiterated the need for dialogue in resolving labour disputes without disrupting the processes of production and jeopardising the stability of the industry in the face of the current challenges.
The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, she said, would continue to promote the principles of dialogue, enforce the provisions of the existing labour laws and regulations, protect the rights of workers and employers as well and promote safety nets for employers and workers.
Additionally, he said, the ministry would engage key government institutions, including the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Trade and Industry the creation of enabling business environment for macroeconomic stability.
The greatest course of action in these trying economic times, said Mr. Wireko-Brobbey, is to “continue to engage each other and share information among ourselves so that we may find a durable solution together.”
The managing director of Absa Bank Ghana, Abena Osei-Poku, recommended companies to develop a continuity strategy in order to be prepared for present and future issues.
She advised employers to encourage and support workers by informing them of the state of the economy and how it affects their support.
He claims that the Central Bank has started assisting with some steps meant to alleviate the ongoing economic issues that have led to a high cost of living.
“In Ghana, we are addressing the problems in the setting of a very constrained or constrained budget.”
The Central Bank is attempting to manage inflation through monetary policy. To address the issue, there have been several interest rate rises, according to Dr. Bawumia.
Prof. Kobina Annim, a government statistician, claimed that the high costs of fuels, housing, water, electricity, and other commodities were the main causes of the inflation spike.
Since then, the development has raised concerns that it will take longer to alleviate inflationary pressures.
Ghana agreed to approach the IMF for an economic support program in July of this year. Once an agreement is achieved, access to the program is anticipated in 2023.
The bank’s managing director stressed the importance of media coverage of the agribusiness industry, which offers numerous chances for employment to young people and is a significant driver of the nation’s economy.
He said: “We want you to support the ADB to develop in the area of agri-business because that is the main objective of the President.”
He stressed that: “the media remains a critical part of our democratic dispensation and for us in the corporate world”.
The Managing Director further assured the GJA of the bank’s support for its major activities, including the Journalists Support Fund, the GJA awards, building the capacity of Journalists, rebranding and refurbishment of the Press Centre.
“We want to assure you that as it was with the past executives, we are going to do same and even more; we know that with you we are going to go higher and higher”, the ADB Managing Director noted.
He further commended the media for its continued support for the bank over the past years.
“We thank you for helping ADB to deliver on its services.”
The ADB has partnered individual media houses and the GJA for the past nine years.
The GJA President underlined the collaboration with important partner institutions around the nation in order to investigate potential for growth for both the institutions and the association as the main goal of the trip to the ADB.
He expressed gratitude to the ADB for continuing to assist the association throughout the years.
He also guaranteed the association’s assistance in fostering agribusiness to the bank.
He emphasized, “We want to cooperate with you to establish a healthy business climate.
The company saw a 144 percent rise in revenue from gasoline sales from GH140 million in 2020 to GH341 million in 2021, and a 46 percent increase in revenue from diesel sales from GH227 million in 2020 to GH331 million in 2021.
BOST’s marine transportation sector had a 412 percent increase in revenue from GH2.9 million in 2020 to GH14.9 million in 2021. Storage and rack revenue also increased steadily, by 4%, from GH50 million in 2020 to GH52.6 million in 2021.
He said the company had made progress over the past few years which had transformed it from a heavily indebted company owing more than $624 million as of January 2017 to one with debts of less than $30 million at the end of 2021.
“We have restored the business model in which the company was established, to have a number of operational fuel depots placed in strategic parts of the country linked by a network of pipelines and barges to enable secure and cost-effective delivery of fuel products around the country,” Mr. Hackman said.
The Board Chairman said the restoration of part of the lost value of the company margin by the Government in June 2021 had brought financial stability to the company.
“This levy on the petroleum price ensures that BOST can repair and maintain facilities in parts of the country such as Bolgatanga, Buipe, Savelugu, and Akosombo areas where private profit-oriented companies would not readily venture,” Mr. Hackman said.
He said the transformation of the company’s infrastructure, as well as its commercial operations, have been accompanied by a strong emphasis on governance and compliance.
Mr. Hackman said the Board has established a Board Charter to guide its work as well as charters for its individual committees, adding that in line with international best practices.
“We also introduced a Risk Committee which oversees the activities of the new Risk Unit introduced by the management which was seen as indispensable during these increasingly turbulent times which has led to developments such as the Covid-19 Pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war,” Mr. Hackman said.
He expressed the hope that critical strategic initiatives that have commenced which included the upgrading projects will place the company on par with other terminals that have state-of-the-art equipment and will establish the company as the market leader nationwide.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister for Energy commended the company for its sterling performance during the year under review.
He said the government was sparing no effort at ensuring that BOST resourced to hold stocks to fulfil its mandate.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh said for a sustainable solution to our fuel challenges, the government was working to ensure efficient Tema Oil Refinery compliments the efforts of BOST by refining products and delivering same to the company for storage and distribution to ensure the Ghanaian petrol product consumer is saved the difficulty of high prices of products due to the desire to make a profit or global challenges.
“Government does not invest in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to sit back and watch them making a chain of losses from one fiscal year to the other,” he said.
He added that the Public Enterprises Ministry and State Investment Governance Authority (SIGA) will leave no efforts behind in encouraging and leading SOEs to deliver their mandate and help the government to make the lives of the people better.
ENERGY MINISTER COMMENDS BOST
The Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh expressed his delight in Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company’s achievement in the 2021 financial year. He made these remarks when he addressed stakeholders and members of management during their Annual General Meeting (AGM) today at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Accra.
In his remarks, he indicated his desire to see BOST thrive. Indeed, a profit before tax of One Hundred and Sixty-Four Million Cedis in 2021, from a previous figure of Two Million Ghana Cedis as Dr. Prempeh said, is a remarkable achievement, from the period of recurrent losses.
“This is also happening at a time, where the company is making assiduous efforts at extricating itself from a quagmire of protracted debts”, he said. This, he said was a testament that, with the right leadership and set of attitudes, State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) can grow to feed the government with the revenue required for our progress as a people.
He asked the Ministry in charge of Public Enterprises and the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA) to use the BOST narrative as a perfect model in encouraging SOEs to fulfill their mandates and assist the government in improving the lives of the people.
The Minister, who is also the MP for Manhyia South, expressed confidence that further triumphs would be recorded for the benefit of all of our nation’s residents provided BOST maintained its current momentum.
This is extremely important, particularly as the government works to ensure that BOST has the resources necessary to carry out its responsibility of guaranteeing the country’s fuel security.
He said that the actions and involvement of the government made this possible.
He revealed this during his speech at the Sunyani job fair’s inauguration in 2022.
According to citinewsroom reports, he stated that an estimated 5,306,899 jobs were created by the government between 2017 and 2021 based on an examination of data gathered by the ministry from the inputs of numerous Ministries, Departments, and Agencies as well as the government’s flagship programs.
The Minister explained that the jobs were formal and informal, permanent and temporary, and full-time as well as part-time.
“Those jobs are ones that ensure appropriate economic security, social security, adequate social protection, the protection and promotion of worker rights, the encouragement of unionization, and the promotion of social dialogue.”
“If for no other reason than to advance the green agenda, we should endeavor to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of vulnerable workers.
Otherwise, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations might not be feasible, the Minister stated.
The “Wild ‘N Out” presenter, 41, astonished his Instagram followers on Thursday with a black-and-white image of their first kid together.
The “All That” actor exclaimed, “Introducing ONYX ICE COLE CANNON.” “Once more, the Divine Feminine has me in awe today!
God has allowed me and Miss Lanisha Cole the honor of hosting an angel here on earth, the former Nickelodeon star stated.
I promise to do everything in my power to care for, guide, and safeguard this child.
We all learn so much from these Angels we call children, wrote the “Masked Singer” host, encouraging his followers to “rejoice” the news of his growing family.
I am learning that it is not the limited amount of time we have on this planet but it’s the limited amount of love that is the issue. And I promise to love this little girl with all my heart, regardless what anyone says.”
The duo named their baby girl Onyx. misslanishacole/Instagram
For those who remain critical, Cannon asked, “I pray and ask others to please project all criticism and cynicism towards ME and not the loving and precious Mothers of my children.”
Cannon called Cole, 40, “one of the most guileless, peaceful and nonconfrontational kind souls” he knows, adding, “[She] only deserves to revel in this moment of blissful joy of motherhood. Please give her that.”
The duo named their baby girl Onyx. misslanishacole/Instagram
In a post of her own, Cole wrote, “Onyx Ice Cole Cannon…9-14-22.”
The model added via Instagram Stories that her heart has been “opened up in a huge way” by the birth of her daughter, concluding, “She’s surrounded by so much love and I’m already obsessed with her!”
The duo named their baby girl Onyx. misslanishacole/Instagram
The “Drumline” star’s social media upload comes nearly one month after revealing he and Brittany Bell are expecting their third baby together. (The duo also share a son Golden, 5, and a daughter Powerful, 1.)
Cole has been documenting her pregnancy via Instagram.misslanishacole/Instagram
Cannon is also speculated to be the father of pregnant Abby De La Rosa’s upcoming arrival, as the pair previously welcomed twins Zion and Zillion, 1, in June 2021.
That same month, Alyssa Scott gave birth to their son, Zen, but the 5-month-old died in December 2021 after battling brain cancer.
Cannon also shares 11-year-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe, with Mariah Carey, as well as son Legendary, 2 months, with Bre Tiesi.
(Instagram / @nickcannon)
The “Selling Sunset” star, 31, clarified in a “Know For Sure” podcast episode in June that she and the other mothers of Cannon’s children are not in a “cult.”
Tiesi explained, “Everything is respectful. Everything is honest.”
As for De La Rosa, the DJ, 31, defended her “polyamorous relationship” with the actor to the “Lovers and Friends” podcast hosts on Tuesday.
Professor Robert Hinson has urged business school professors who lack practical experience to make an intentional effort to develop those skills by participating in a variety of consulting assignments so they may share what they learn with their students.
This, he said, will help solve the issue that the business community claims pupils don’t have the knowledge necessary to use their services after school.
“Faculty who jumped into the Company School without any prior experience in the real world should be encouraged to locate worthwhile consulting engagements where they can help solve business problems.
They could also be encouraged to sit on boards or go on short industrial immersions to learn first-hand what is happening in the real world of business,” he said.
The highly respected marketing professor who is currently the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Ghana Communication Technology University said at the launch of the Durban University of Technology Business School in South Africa.
“Effective universities are veritable platforms for national skills’ development and finding solutions to society’s challenges. Universities are also typically tasked with the trinity of teaching, research, and service – all critical to the progress of a society. The DUT is no exception to this general description of what Universities do.
He suggested that the DUT Business School take into consideration opening a tiny Marketing and Institutional Advancement Office, even if it is initially staffed by just one or two individuals, in order for the school to be prepared for fight.
He contends that this unit’s duties will include, at the very least, giving prospective students clear information when considering where to apply, informing students and faculty of daily activities taking place on the physical and virtual campus, including deadlines and significant events, and fostering improved morale and positive relationships among students, teachers, and the larger school community.
Duncan Amoah, the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) Executive Secretary, has voiced his disagreement with the government’s choice to continue applying the BOST margin to petroleum goods.
He suggested that the government reconsider its choice.
“I can promise that the BOST margin on petroleum products is not being taken off anytime soon. We will use the BOST margin efficiently and effectively to protect the citizens of this country against the vagaries of private sector interest, which has always been about profit,” the minister said at BOST’s first annual general meeting on September 14, 2022.
But Duncan Amoah believes that the BOST margin may not be necessary if the entity keeps to its stipulated mandate.
“I utterly disagree with the Minister when he claims that the margin won’t be reduced, given the fact that private BDCs also have product storage depots and are forced to run on a tight budget despite receiving no margin.
Therefore, perhaps this discussion needs to be had in a wider context,” he is cited as saying by CitiNewsroom.com.
To relieve the pressure on consumers, several have urged for the elimination of certain taxes and levies on petroleum goods.
The government has failed to heed the warning, though.
John Mahama stated that in order to minimise government expenditure, he would decrease the amount of money the state pays to some Article 71 holders in
his next administration.
Speaking at the 2022 Te Za (Yam Festival) of the Asogli Stateon Monday, September 12, said, “I want to assure all Ghanaians that the next NDC administration will revisit the act, especially the matter of Article 71 emoluments, especially the issue of ex-gratia payment and the size of government to cut down on expenditure.”
Article 71 of the 1992 constitution states that salaries and allowances payable, and the facilities available, to the President, the Vice-President, the chairman and the other members of the Council of
State; Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers, being expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund, shall be determined by Parliament on the recommendations of the committee (of not more than five persons appointed by the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Council of State.)
The “salaries” in question include allowances, facilities, and privileges, as well as retirement benefits or awards.
The payment of ex-gratia to former statesmen has come under heavy criticism in recent times as the country faces intense economic challenges.
For most Ghanaians and the Paramount Chief and Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, it is unwise for such spending to continue in recent times when the government is supposed to cut back on its expenditure, as it currently spends more than it generates.
It will be recalled that Togbe Afede XIV made headlines when he turned down more than 365,000 as allowance for serving on the Council of State from 2017 to 2020.
“I returned the ex-gratia amount I was given not because I didn’t need the money. In fact, at that particular time, I needed money very badly to meet various family obligations. But I truly believe that money was not deserved,” Togbe Afede XIV said at a youth empowerment forum and anti-corruption day celebration ahead of this year’s Asogli Yam Festival.
The Paramount Chief was lauded for his actions by Ghanaians on social media, as well as former statesman John Mahama.
“As people in authority, we must not massage the truth but we must be bold always and fearless in speaking the truth, and I must say one traditional leader who has always spoken the truth no matter who is hurt is Togbe Afede XIV,” the former President said.
According to Togbe Afede XIV, anyone who voluntarily gives his time to work for the country should be considerate and not demand ex-gratia “because our country is very poor.”
Ghana has reached out to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to obtain an economic program to address its economic challenges.
It is expected that the government. and the Fund reaches an agreement by the end of the year. Ghana has requested a USD 3 billion from the IMF.
The rapper, 39, alleges that Nosey Heaux, born Marley Green, posted a video on Monday that contained accusations of drug usage, according to court documents acquired by Page Six.
“[Minaj] is pouring all of this cocaine, all of it up her nose. Allegedly. Many thanks.Allegedly. But we all understand that it’s accurate,” Nosey Heaux allegedly wrote on social media.
“F—k, listen, I can’t even use the word allegedly because we all know it’s real. I make no claims about that. A cocaine addict, Nicki Minaj
The performer, who has a 1-year-old kid with her husband Kenneth Petty, is also irate at Nosey Heaux for reportedly making derogatory remarks about the child.
Petty, 44, is a registered sex offender convicted of attempting to rape a 16-year-old girl in 1994. Per the docs, the blogger claimed the couple’s son needs therapy because, “Your baby is going to be a rapist, too.”
Nosey Heaux, born Marley Green, allegedly accused Minaj of being a “cokehead.” Nosey Heaux Live/YouTube
“Marley Green is a disgrace — someone so lacking in fundamental decency that she has posted vile comments about Nicki’s 1-year-old son. When this case is over, she will no longer be permitted to use the name ’Nosey Heaux’ because we will take her trademark from her when she does not have enough money to pay the judgment,” Minaj’s attorney, Judd Burstein, told Page Six in a statement.
“Anyone else who spreads lies about Nicki will suffer a similar fate. My marching orders are to aggressively sue anyone with a media or social media following who damages her with intentional lies. Eventually, the lesson will be learned.”
Minaj is seeking damages of no less than $75,000. GC Images
The “Starships” singer is suing Nosey Heaux for defamation, claiming she’s never used cocaine and is seeking damages of no less than $75,000.
After Minaj chose to sue Nosey Heaux, the blogger shared screenshots of an alleged Instagram direct message exchange with the hip-hop star.
Nosey Heaux shared an alleged Instagram direct message exchange with Minaj. Nosey Heaux Live/YouTube
“We know you don’t really have any money to speak of so losing all this little advertisement money from YouTube will make a huge dent,” Minaj allegedly wrote. “You’ll only be the first of many tho.”
Nosey Heaux then followed up with, “Are you ok Nicki? File your lawsuit ok? I’m not afraid and I won’t be intimidated.”
Effective Monday, September 19, 2022, Ghanaians will purchase a sachet of water(popularly known as pure water) for 50 pesewas.
This represents a 25% increase from the initial price of 40 pesewas per sachet.
A bag of the same commodity (i.e. 500ml by 30pcs) that previously sold for GH 6 at retail shops will now sell for GH¢ 7 at retail trucks and GH¢ 9 at mini shops.
The price reviews, according to the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers (NASPAWAP), have been necessitated by the rising cost of inputs such as fuel and packaging materials, which are mainly
imported, increases in electricity and water, which took effect from September 1, 2022.”
Also, a 500ml bottled water, sold at GH¢ 1, will now be retailed at GH¢ 2 and a 750ml bottle, sold at GH¢ 2, will be sold at GH¢ 3.00.
Further justifying their decision, NASPAWAP in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, said, “At our previous review in March 2022, the dollar was in the region of GH¢ 8.5. Currently, it is inching up to GH¢ 10. Fuel prices have significantly gone up since our last review. It was GH¢ 9, and now it is GH¢ 14.5, which is a 61 % change since March 23, 2022.”
The statement further explained that “the suggested adjustment is to help producers cover their production costs. We appreciate the difficulties our consumers have to go through to endure these hardships. We appeal to all to bear with us.”
However, NASPAWAP indicated that prices may vary slightly across regions due to haulage to remote and distant areas.
Previous increases in the price of sachet water
This increment comes after the price of the commodity was increased in December 2021.
The 500ml sachet water, which was then sold at 20 pesewas, was increased to 30 and 40 pesewas.
A decision that was met with strong public opposition. Ghanaians were very shocked that the price of the commodity, which was sold at 5 pesewas some years back, has significantly shot up.
Nonetheless, President of the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers, Magnus Nunoo, explained that the price change was necessitated by the increasing cost of production including the cost of fuel, vehicle spare parts and imported packaging materials.
“Regrettably, fuel price reviews attract a lot of public outcry anytime the government imposes the slightest tax on it. However, the public turns a blind eye to taxes on bottled water, which account for the high price.”
“Consumers have to bear it. In the past, producers bore some or all of these huge taxes just to survive, especially in the wake of imported bottled water, most of which evaded these taxes, but it is becoming increasingly unsustainable for the local water industry. It has become necessary that some of these indirect taxes, production, and distribution costs, be passed on to the consumer,” the Association said in its statement.
The Ghana Cocoa Board’s (COCOBOD) Charles Amenyaglo, Director of Special Services, has warned cocoa farmers to stop smuggling and peddling subsidized fertilizers for cocoa.
Any farmer or purchaser of such subsided cocoa fertilizers, he claimed, would be detained and charged.
After four suspected cocoa fertilizer smugglers were brought before Takoradi Port Circuit Court B for allegedly smuggling 328 bags of subsidised cocoa fertilizers, Mr. Amenyaglo issued the warning in an interview with the media in Takoradi.
He said Cocoa fertilizer smuggling was becoming a torn in the flesh of COCOBOD, stressing that more than 2,000 bags of cocoa fertilizers were retrieved from smugglers across the country last year alone.
Mr Amenyaglo pointed out that if the practice was not nipped in the bud COCOBOD would not be able to achieve its aim of increased cocoa yield since nutrients on many cocoa farms were depleted.
He said it was an offence punishable by law to be engaged in such a practice, noting that the fertilizers were highly subsidised.
He said they procured the fertilizers at 560 cedis a bag and sold to the farmers at 80 cedis a bag, which they transport to the farming communities and hand over to the farmer cooperatives for distribution to their members.
Mr Amenyaglo expressed worry that some unscrupulous people had been unlawfully purchasing cocoa fertilizers delivered to cocoa farmers at a highly subsidized rates, adding “some of them have made it their business to be going around buying cocoa fertilizers, which have been delivered to the farmers at their doorsteps.
The four suspects, Amadu Combat, 55, Kingsley Baah Wiredu, 32, a driver, Issaka Mbawuni, 38, and Dawuda Yakubu, 44, were detained with trucks loaded with COCOBOD-subsidized fertilizers at Samenaboi in the Western Region at around 02:00 on Sunday, September 11.
The four were accused of causing the State financial loss, but the charge against them did not match the facts, according to the court presided over by Her Honour, Mrs. Abigail K. Asare, who refused to accept their plea and released the suspects.
She thus requested that the prosecution work with COCOBOD personnel to carry out in-depth investigations into the case and formulate the proper charges against the four accused.
Recent statistics indicate that suicide in the country is on the rise.
According to the data 6.6 per cent out of every 1,000 persons committed suicide in 2020 in Ghana.
Also, four out of every five suicide cases could have been prevented if help was sought, Dr Ebenezer Tetteh Kpalam, a Clinical Psychologist, has said.
Dr Kpalam, therefore, emphasised the need for stakeholders to reach out to those considering taking their lives as they show evidence of the intention to commit suicide.
He said suicide was also common globally as the World Health Organisation (WHO) had revealed that about 703,000 die annually from suicide.
“Some of the warning signs that all must look out for in people, include, those who start to talk about suicide and death with examples such as “I wish I was not born; I wish I was dead; I want to kill myself, among others,” Dr Kpalam told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Tema to mark the World Suicide Prevention Day.
The Clinical Psychologist added that such persons ask a lot of questions about death and what could lead to it, adding that some also start dashing out their valuable items without any reason, and engage in risky behaviours such as reckless driving, and crossing the road without caution, among others.
He added that other warning signs include excessive drug and alcohol intake, mood swings, and withdrawal, adding that in most cases persons with suicidal thoughts say something about it to somebody before carrying out the act.
Dr Kpalam urged the public to encourage such persons to seek help from professionals at the Ghana Mental Health Authority, the Ghana Psychological Councils, public hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and counselling units of religious bodies as they also have links to the professionals.
He advised the public against being judgmental or questioning the faith of people who confided in them about their suicidal thoughts but rather give them the necessary help to prevent them from engaging in the act.
According to Dr Kpalam, some of the reasons why people consider suicide over living is the lack of support as people find themselves in a difficult situation without anywhere to tend for help.
Other factors, he said pressure on adolescents to excel academically like their peers leads to depression, abandonment, shame, and reputation management, which, he noted was a big issue now due to the emergence of social media which people use to shame others through the circulation of sex videos, among others.
Dr Kpalam said existential struggle had to do with the stresses of daily life, including economic issues, health problems, social, and joblessness, among others.
He said people must pay attention and identify such tendencies in their loved ones to help them receive the needed attention and prevent them from committing the act.
Following the sharing of a video of the former Manchester footballer and Nana Aba singing along to one of Blacko’s songs, the two were spotted at a beach bar.
Blacko appeared in a social media video sporting his trademark headgear, a black and white T-shirt, a pair of loose jeans, and a matching pair of sneakers.
Evra, on the other hand, wore a fashionable jacket that he matched with a black shirt, pants, and a red and black pair of sneakers to complete his ensemble.
On September 14, 2022, Patrice arrived in Ghana and was given a warm welcome with a dance and jammer group performing at the airport.
His welcome was led by Nana Aba Anamoah who also took some time to dance before the football star left the airport.
“It’s crazy. I didn’t expect this kind of warm reception from all the Ghanaian people,” Evra remarked.
“It’s my first time in Ghana and I’ll remember that all my life. I love this game. I already feel the love. I’ve been to Nigeria and Senegal and I can tell you this is the best welcome. The next thing to try is the Ghana Jollof.”
The former French international played eight years for Manchester United and was a five-time World Player of the Year champion.
Before joining Juventus, the defender won five titles and 14 with Manchester United.
Since the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers (NASPAWAP) announced an increase in the price of sachet and bottled water from Monday, September 19, 2022, many households have begun estimating the increased expense paid by drinking commercial water.
Therefore, 750ml bottles of water or medium-sized bottles will be sold for GHC3, while 500ml bottles will be sold for GHC2.
A bag of sachet water (500ml by 30) will now sell for GH7 from the retail trucks, and sachet water will also be offered at GH0.50p.
The Mensah family who stay at Kanda, a suburb of Accra, say they will now have to spend GH¢135 instead of the GH¢105 they usually spend on the 15 bags of sachet water purchased every month.
“We buy four bags of sachet water every week, and at times 15 bags a month. We are a family of six, and from beginning of the year till now the prices keeps changing; even before the announcement we bought one bag last week for GH¢7,” the family told B&FT.
Also, the Bafour family (a family of five) at Adjiringanor who use about 10 bags of sachet water monthly said they are bracing up to now spend GH¢90 instead of the initial GH¢40 they spent in January on bags of sachet water.
“In January we spent GH¢40 on just sachet water. The prices here differ depending on the brand. But the one we bought early this month was sold at GH¢6 per bag and others at GH¢7 and GH¢8. Given the announced increment coupled with the utility tariffs, we are all just hoping that things bounce back quickly,” a member of the Bafour family said.
At Frafraha, Gloria’s family will now pay GH¢90 for 10 bags when in February this year it cost them GH¢50.
Some individuals who also shared their grievances told the B&FT that they used to spend between GH¢4 to GH¢6 on bottled water in the office before going home. But with the said reviewed prices, they will from September, 19 spend at most GH¢12 in a day – which will be GH¢60 a week.
“On a sunny day, I buy at most four bottles of water before I leave the office. So, if it will be GH¢3 now then I might spend GH¢12 a day and GH¢60 a week. What I will do now is to buy the whole pack and be picking from it,” John Paul at Osu noted.
According to producers, the price reviews have been necessitated by the rising cost of inputs such as fuel and packaging materials which are mainly imported – as well as electricity and water tariff increments which took effect September 1, 2022.
Overall, 37.1 percent of households use pipe-borne water as their primary source of drinking water, followed by 31.7 percent of households that use borehole/tube, and 17.7 percent of households that use sachet water.
Households have expressed concerns about the safety of pipe-borne water, despite the fact that it is the second-most popular source of drinking water. They claim that occasionally it tastes a bit salty or is colored when it should be colorless.
It was indeed a spectacular moment at the SOHO bar when singer, Liv North, mounted the stage and grabbed the MIC to render a rendition of Samini’s hit song “My Own.”
The songstress with her mellifluous voice sang the song word for word, thrilling all who expected less.
And with the SoHo band complementing it with soothing sounds from guitars, drums and other melodious musical instruments, the performance in no uncertain terms was flawless! No wonder patrons of the bar keep coming back every week for more.
What is SOHO?
SOHO is arguably the big thing in town now. Situated in the heart of the Marina Mall – Airport, Accra- the bar and restaurant provides top-notch services.
It also serves a variety of continental dishes, and drinks which all come at affordable prices, and other exciting activities to keep your Friday nights always alive.
It’s not surprising that the bar has recently and consistently been in the twitter trends on Fridays with the hashtag #SOHOLiveBandTonight.
Henceforth, if you see #SOHOLiveBandTonight or #SOHOLisation in the trends, there’s no cause for alarm. It’s just the SOHO bar and restaurant calling on you to come have a good time.
Let’s meet there this Friday night.
Cheers!
Source: The Independent Ghana | Jessie Ola-Morris | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey
The 2022 All Africa Music Awards nominees have been revealed ahead of the presentation ceremony, which is set for December 8–11, 2022.
After an impressive year of prominence that saw him publish the notable hit song “Sugarcane” and later release a remix of the song with fellow collaborators King Promise, Mayorkun, and Darkoo, Camidoh, a gifted Ghanaian vocalist and genre-defying artist, is nominated for “Breakout Artiste of the Year.”
Additionally, he served as the headlining act for a number of events in the UAE, America, and Europe.
In a keenly contested category, Camidoh will go up against a slew of highly lauded new music sensations from across the African music market, including Asake (Nigeria), Costa Titch (South Africa), Daliwonga (South Africa), El Grande Toto (Morocco), Fior 2 Bior (Ivory Coast), Hewan Gebrewold (Ethiopia), Marwan Moussa (Egypt), Nomfundo Moh (South Africa), and Phee (Nigeria).
“Sugarcane Remix” has continued to gain popularity since its initial release earlier this year. A few days later, the singer released a six-track “Sugarcane Remix EP, ” featuring various renditions of the song suitable for a region. The #SugarCaneChallenge currently has over 85 million views and 1.3 million video creations, inspiring dance challenges, and remixes from music fans worldwide.
Camidoh released his first solo single of the year, “Kaba,” this summer, fueled by this wealth of knowledge. The new single finds the artist delving into modern romantic relationships and exploring love and its complexities.
The public voting portal for the 2022 AFRIMA edition will be live on Sunday, September 25 2022, at 12:00 pm CAT. African music lovers within the continent and around the world can visit the official website www.afrima.org to vote. Voting closes at 12.00 (CAT), December 10, 2022, before the AFRIMA main awards ceremony.
Meanwhile, the 2022 All Africa Music Awards will now be held from the 8th to 11th December 2022. A special announcement will be made on the host country and location for the awards on Wednesday, September 28 2022.
Universities in particular are being asked to show an interest in investing in cybersecurity and building capacity to defend their systems in light of the numerous data fraud and hacking events.
Professor Goski Alabi, the president of Laweh University College, claims that cybercrime is still a problem for academic institutions and that addressing it will take a deliberate and coordinated effort.
She cited how many colleges prioritize sextortion while discussing academic integrity.
However, the example of people manipulating data through cybercrime is another problem that is stealthily destroying organizations.
“Academic integrity and academic fraud are not only limited to Africa or Ghana – it is a global phenomenon; and what we are saying more and more has to do with concerns over sextortion, which is sex for grades.
“But one of the biggest challenges academic institutions are facing globally has to do with cybercrimes, and I think it is important that we recognise this because it affects academic integrity. So there is a need to have more concerted and comprehensive approaches to addressing it,” she told the media.
She added that given the existence of open universities like her institution, where learning online is mostly allowed, it has become vital to train staff against fraud.
“We advocate that there should be continuous professional development as a requirement for every institution to train their Information Technology personnel as well as cybersecurity offices. Specifically, it has to do with data governance and information management systems that are in place and how the critical control points are managed within systems,” she indicated.
Cyberattacks
The World Economic Forum’s global cybersecurity outlook report indicates that cyberattacks increased 125 percent globally in 2021, with evidence suggesting an upward rise in 2022.
Acting Principal Consultant at e-Crime Bureau, a leading cyber security, digital forensics and intelligence firm, Philip Debrah Danquah, reiterated that the country has made significant strides with its growth in cybersecurity and data protection by establishing the Data Protection Commission and the Cyber Security Authority.
The country’s cybersecurity advancement, which was placed third in Africa by the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2021, is proof of this, the speaker continued.
To strengthen the business posture of institutions, he added, research and industry evaluations have indicated that despite the progress made, cyberattacks, fraud, phishing, data breaches, and sophisticated hacks necessitate skills able to detect, respond to, and prevent these gaps.
Dr. Joseph France, the BoG’s Head of Financial Stability, asserts that it is improper for companies to charge customers in dollars without the central bank’s approval.
However, according to Dr. Joseph France, some businesses have been given permission by the central bank to deal in foreign exchange since they generate positive foreign exchange earnings.
Among other businesses permitted to charge their goods and services in dollars are; oil and gas companies, mining companies and some hotels.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, he said, “when you go to the oil and gas companies, I mean, net foreign exchange earners, they’re not licensed to deal but they’re permitted to deal in forex because they’re net forex earners, like the mining companies, the oil and gas companies. Some limited institutions like some limited hotels and so on are permitted to deal in forex. It’s not everybody who is supposed to deal in forex for which you advertise. So when these things come to our attention, we go after such persons to make sure that they stop.”
Therefore, we want the public to report anyone who is pricing in dollars because doing so is actually illegal.
That is what the foreign exchange legislation does. As a result, you report to us, and we report to the security authorities, or notify the person to the security agencies, and they will stop them,” he said.
He emphasized that for there to be financial sanity, the public must report companies that charge in dollars to the Bank of Ghana or security forces so that these offenders’ conduct can be immediately put to an end.
King Charles III of Great Britain has extended an official invitation to the Asantehene to attend the state burial of Queen Elizabeth II.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was invited to the lying-in-state of the late queen as well as the king’s reception, state funeral service, and the foreign secretary’s reception, according to the invitation that was delivered by the Protocol Directorate of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the British government on behalf of the king.
It further stated that the Asantehene could bring his spouse or a companion to the state funeral, which is set for Monday, September 19, 2022.
Otumfuo will be the second invitee to the queen’s funeral from Ghana, the first being President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who was reportedly invited as the president of Ghana, a Commonwealth nation.
Invitations have also been sent to all leaders from the Commonwealth nations.
So far, as the BBC reports, the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese; New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern; and Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, have all confirmed their participation in the funeral.
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, and the Sri Lankan president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, have also reportedly accepted invitations.
Other world leaders who have confirmed they will be attending the state funeral include King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, royal families of Norway, Sweden, and Demark, Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, President of the United States of America, Joe Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden.
View Otumfuo’s invitation below:
📌His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has received the invitation of His Majesty King Charles III to attend the events marking the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.#Opemsuoradio#opemsuo1047pic.twitter.com/gxlFenGnzU
