TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • No need to appoint a new head coach at this moment – Yusif Chibbsah to Kotoko mgt

    Former Asante Kotoko midfielder, Yusif Chibbsah is of the view that there is no need for the management of the club to appoint a new coach ahead of the new season.

    The 2021/22 Ghana Premier League champions are currently with no head coach after Prosper Narteh Ogum communicated his decision to the board to leave the club after less than 10 months in charge.

    Dr. Ogum has accused the management of disrespect in the just ended season despite leading the side to win the Premier League title.

    However, multiple reports in the media suggest that the club will name a new head coach ahead of the new season.

    According to Chibbsah, the board of directors must ensure that Prosper Narteh Ogum and the management work together.

     

    According to him, appointing a new coach for the side will affect the playing body.

    “They have just spent a year together and won the league, which is a sign of

    good things to come,” he told Graphic Sports.

    “All efforts should, therefore, be made to allow them to work together in the interest of the club instead of bringing in another person who is totally new in our current football environment.

    “Such a person may take much time to adjust to the system and hit the ground running. It is for this reason that I urge the board to do a fantastic job to resolve the issue as quickly as possible,” he explained.

    Prosper Nateh Ogum signed a two-year deal with Asante Kotoko ahead of the 2021/22 Ghana football season from West African Football Academy [WAFA].

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • John Boyega shoots down rumors of secret Marvel movie role

    The British actor, who became part of the Star Wars franchise in 2015, is looking to take on more “nuanced” projects.

    It appears one major franchise is enough for John Boyega.

    The actor has revealed he does not have his sights set on joining the Marvel universe, despite rumors he secretly filmed a role for the MCU.

    Boyega, who became a part of the Star Wars series in 2015, is looking to take on more “nuanced” projects, revealing he’d rather focus on smaller productions than blockbusters at this stage in his career.

    “That’s not in the vision for me now,” he told Men’s Health for the magazine’s September 2022 issue. “I want to do nuanced things. I want to donate my services to original indie films that come with new, fresh ideas, because I know it’s real hard to top Iron Man in that universe.”

    John Boyega

    John Boyega shoots down rumors of secret Marvel movie role

    | Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

    The 30-year-old has several cinematic dramas on the horizon with The Woman King, Breaking, and The Test and notes that he has to be careful about where he chooses to focus his energy. Detailing the ways in which life on set can take a toll, the actor maintains he previously “exhausted” himself by taking on a packed schedule.

    “It’s tiring and it’s stress, and then dealing with the fact that you eventually have to perform. There are many different ways careers can exhaust you, but the artistic way is unique,” he said, noting he was “exhausted, frantic and paranoid” due to his intense slate.

    The London native was previously linked to Marvel in 2016, when speculation swirled that he was joining the cast of Black Panther. 

    “You can’t have it all,” he exclusively told TheFIX at the time. “Being a part of the audience for me right now and having the experiences of being a part of other franchises, it’s a good position to be in. Just to sit there and to experience this movie take over the world.”

    His forthcoming The Woman King does have a connection to the Ryan Coogler directed venture though. Starring Viola Davis, it centers on the Agoji, an all-female warrior unit based on the African fighters who inspired the Dora Milaje in Black Panther.

    In the Men’s Health interview, Boyega also addressed his decision to speak out over racist treatment of his character Finn in the Star Wars universe, expressing his belief that his story arc was not given as much care and attention as the white characters in the films. He now says making his feelings known publicly will have pushed those behind the franchise to better support its talent.

    “I’m the one that brought this to the freaking forefront,” he added. “At least the people going into it now, after my time, [they’re] cool. [Lucasfilm is] going to make sure you’re well supported and at least you [now] go through this franchise knowing that everybody is going to have [your] back. I’m glad I talked out everything at that time.”

    Boyega’s comments come months after representatives of the franchise issued a public statement of support for Moses Ingram, after her debut as Reva in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series was met with racist attacks.

    Source:ew.com

  • The number of available jobs shrank in June

    The number of available jobs in the US shrank considerably in June, according to new data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    Job openings dropped to 10.7 million in June, down from a revised 11.3 million in May, according to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS. That’s the lowest level since September 2021 but still above pre-pandemic levels of 7 million.

    The retail and wholesale trade sectors saw the biggest pullback in unfilled jobs.

    There were 5.91 million people unemployed in the US during June, so there were 1.8 available jobs for every person looking for a job.

    Total hires and separations were little changed from the May: About 6.4 million people were hired, down slightly from 6.5 million in May. And the number of workers who quit their job was 4.24 million, largely unchanged from the previous month.

    Layoffs totaled 1.3 million, down from 1.4 million in May.

    At 600,000, the drop-off in the number of job openings was the largest monthly decline on record outside of the pandemic lockdown months of March and April 2020, according to BLS data, which goes back to December 2000.

    Unfilled jobs ticking down in this manner could be a sign of weakness in the labor market in the coming months and hiring could slow down, said Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter.

    “When openings fall, that shapes everything else,” she told CNN Business.

    When there are fewer job openings to choose from, people become more reluctant to quit their jobs because they become less likely to find something new, she said, adding that it’s also a sign that hiring activity will slow as employers grow more uncertain.

    “When recessions happen, many people think that layoffs are the big reason that unemployment rises and employment levels fall, but that’s actually not what happens. Layoffs typically only pick up very, very slightly,” she said. “The action during a recession is in job openings and hires, and job openings decline quite substantially in a recession.”

    With little change in the numbers of separations or quits, that shows employers are taking down job postings as opposed to turning to layoffs, said Layla O’Kane, senior economist at Lightcast.

    “Employers are saying ‘we’re not going to lay people off, but we’re going to give up on finding some of the talent we want,’” O’Kane said in the statement.

    That’s welcome news to the Federal Reserve, said Nick Bunker, director of economic research at Indeed Hiring Lab. The central bank is looking for a slowdown in demand, implementing a series of hefty interest rates hikes to bring down the highest inflation in 40 years.

    That means the ratio of job openings to unemployed workers has become a favored labor market indicator for the Fed, Bunker said. A higher ratio of openings to unemployed people indicates a labor market that is quite tight.

    “If their goal is to get the ratio closer to 1, then they have a ways to go,” he said.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • ‘Batgirl’ shelved by Warner Bros following poor test screenings

    The superhero movie, which was set to star In the Heights‘ Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, will not be released by Warner Bros. on HBO Max or theatrically, multiple outlets have reported.

    According to the New York Post, test screenings were received so poorly that the studio decided to shelve the nearly completed film. Originally greenlit at $70 million, the budget for Batgirl had reportedly ballooned to near $90 million due in part to COVID delays and related shutdowns.

    Batgirl
    Credit: Leslie Grace/Instagram

    In addition to Grace, the cast also included Brendan Fraser as the villain Firefly, J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, and Michael Keaton as Batman/Bruce Wayne, reprising his iconic role from Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman and its sequel.

    Batgirl wasn’t the only film that got the ax on Tuesday; Warner Bros. also decided to shelve the $40 million animated film Scoob!: Holiday Haunt.

    Source:ew.com

  • I didn’t get the opportunity to act with Waakye – Van Vicker mourns

    Award-winning Ghanaian actor, Van Vicker has disclosed that late veteran actor, Prince Yawson, nicknamed Waakye was on his list of actors he hoped to work with but unfortunately, he passed away on Tuesday, August 2.

    Mourning the late actor in a Facebook post on Wednesday, Van, mentioned that he met his late colleague a number of times adding that he loved his exceptional talent that kept movie lovers entertained.

    News of Waakye’s demise has witnessed several Ghanaian actors pouring out their tributes to him across social media platforms.

    Van Vicker’s post sighted by GhanaWeb read: “Veteran actor Prince Yawson popularly known as Waakye has passed on. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the opportunity to act with him though we met several times. R.I.P. Waakye.”

    Prince Yawson who was ordained Reverend Minister in April 2021 passed away at age 52 at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.

    His career in acting spanned over 30 years and starred in prominent movies back in the day. Popular among them include, “Babina” and “Diabolo”.

    Check out the post below:

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • China hits Taiwan with trade restrictions after Pelosi visit

    China has suspended some trade with Taiwan in apparent retribution for a visit by the US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the self-governing island.

    The curbs include the suspension of some fruits and fish imports from Taiwan, and exports of natural sand to the island.

    China is Taiwan’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth $273 billion last year, accounting for 33% of the island’s total trade with the rest of the world, according to the Taiwanese government.

    Experts are also concerned about the impact escalating tensions between Taipei and Beijing may have on Taiwan’s semiconductor industry.

    US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, center left, speaks with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, center right, after arriving at the president's office on August 03, 2022 in Taipei, Taiwan.

    The self-governed democratic island of 24 million people is a global leader in the supply of semiconductor chips, which are a vital component for virtually all modern electronics, from cars to refrigerators to mobile phones.

    China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said Wednesday that it would suspend imports of grapefruit, lemons, oranges and other citrus fruits, as well as chilled white striped hairtail and frozen horse mackerel from Taiwan.

    In a separate statement, Chinese customs officials said the import suspension of citrus fruit is a result of “pest control” and “excessive pesticide residues,” and cited “Covid prevention” for the suspension on seafood imports.

    China’s commerce ministry, meanwhile, suspended exports of natural sand to Taiwan, a key component for the production of semiconductor chips.

    “Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has triggered the expected ire of Chinese authorities,” said analysts from ING Group on Wednesday.

    What you need to know about Pelosi's visit to Taiwan

    In response, Taiwan officials said China’s sand export suspension would have a “limited” effect and that Chinese sand accounts for “less than one percent” of its total demand.

    China has previously banned imports of some Taiwanese products amid escalating tensions. Last year, China banned imports of pineapples from the island followed by some types of apples later in the year citing “pest control.” Earlier this year, it also banned Taiwanese grouper fish, a high-value seafood product from Taiwan, citing detection of some banned drugs.

    Beijing’s recent announcements coincide with Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan, the first visit by a sitting speaker in 25 years, and after Beijing issued stern warnings that it would take countermeasures in retaliation.

    Questions mount over whether Pelosi's Taiwan trip is worth the consequences

    The country’s military said after Pelosi’s visit that it was launching a series of “targeted military operations to counteract the situation.”

    At a press briefing on Wednesday, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “the US and Taiwan separatist forces must take the responsibility and pay the price for the mistakes they made.” Her comments came after she was asked whether the latest export suspension are intended to punish Taiwan for Pelosi’s visit, which she declined to answer directly, saying “please ask relevant department in charge.”

    Pelosi’s visit comes at a tense moment for China.

    The Communist Party will undergo a leadership reshuffle at its 20th party congress this fall. President Xi Jinping is expected to seek a historic third term in power at the meeting.

    Domestic tensions are high as the country’s economy has slipped to the lowest growth in more than two years amid rigid Covid lockdowns and a slumping property market. Youth unemployment has soared to the highest on record. Social protests are rising because of a nationwide mortgage crisis and a series of rural bank scandals.

    China scrambles to defuse alarm over mortgage boycotts and banks runs

    Impact on global supply chains

     

    Traders and analysts are worried about an escalation in China-Taiwan tensions and their impact on the global supply chain and inflation outlook.

    Global markets tumbled Tuesday, with major stock indexes closing in the red and safe-haven currencies surging. On Wednesday morning, Asian markets rebounded a bit, but risk sentiment remains muted.

    “China’s response to Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan could have an impact on supply chains and demand, which could keep the inflationary pressures going strong,” said Edward Moya, senior market strategist for Oanda, on Wednesday.

    Global supply chains have already been rattled by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The World Bank said recently that many countries are experiencing double-digit inflation.

    Any conflict in Taiwan, which is key in supplying the world with semiconductors, could exacerbated the global chip shortage that has already strained the global auto industry. The Taiwan Strait is also an important shipping lane for vessels carrying goods between Asia and the West.

    Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is the world’s largest contract manufacturer of chips and plays a critical role in powering products designed by tech companies like Apple, Qualcomm and Nvidia.

    In an interview with CNN this week, TSMC chairman Mark Liu said a war between China and Taiwan would make everyone lose. “If you take a military force or invasion, you will render TSMC factory not operable,” he said.

    TSMC is one of Asia’s most valuable companies, and accounts for 90% of the world’s super-advanced chips.

    Pelosi's Taiwan visit risks creating greater instability between the US and China

    Eurasia Group analysts, meanwhile, expected Beijing to conduct an “unprecedented” show of military force in the Taiwan Strait, along with cyberattacks, economic sanctions, and diplomatic protests.

    “The immediate effect on clients will be a moderate but likely temporary disruption of supply chains that traverse the waters around Taiwan, as planes and ships reroute to avoid [People’s Liberation Army] exercises,” they said in a report on Wednesday.

    “The lasting impact” will depend on the duration and intensity of the episode, though at the very least it will prompt further planning and contingencies around supply chain disruptions, including for semiconductors, by firms and policymakers, they added.

    “The potential for crisis may not abate soon,” they said, adding that China could unveil further responses in coming days, weeks, and even months as the 20th party congress approaches.

     

     

     

    Source: CNN

  • Mentally-challenged woman storms court

    A mentally-challenged woman in her late forties on Monday stormed the Circuit Court four in Accra and demanded that her case be settled.

    The woman sat through the proceedings at the back of the courtroom murmuring and occasionally complaining loudly about how her case had been delayed.

    When a court official asked whose case had not been called, she raised her hand and when asked the title of her case, she said, “Mrs Mavis Agyemang and Nana Akufo-Addo,” adding that the matter was filed by the Chief Justice.

    Her response indicated that she was not well and prompted the police and the court officials to engage her.

    It was all smiles when the well-dressed woman whom nobody would take for a “mad woman” left the courtroom peacefully.

    Source: GNA

  • Social media users outraged by a Bayern Munich legend’s ‘controversial’ assertion on Sadio Mane

    Football fans on social media have descended on Former Bayern Munich player, Michael Rummenigge for his remarks that new Bayern Signing, Sadio Mane is not a world-class player.

    Mane signed for the Bavarians from Liverpool in June 2022 on a three-year deal with Bundesliga giants.

    While Bayern fans have celebrated Mane’s transfer, Rummenigge who has criticised Bayern’s business this summer wrote in his column for Sportbuzzer that Mane and Matthijs de Ligt, who joined from Juventus are not ‘world-class players’.

     

    “Honestly, I can’t join in this cheering chorus. With all due respect for Sadio Mané and Matthijs de Ligt – both are not world-class players for me. Of course, Mané will do the Bundesliga good and score his goals, but at the age of 30, I don’t see him at the absolute top level. Had it been otherwise, Jurgen Klopp would certainly have fought harder to keep the striker at Liverpool .” Rummenigge wrote.

    Many football fans, especially Africans have lashed out at the ex-German international and accused him of being a racist. However, a few others believe Rummenigge is right.

    Read some reactions below;

    Source; Ghanaweb

  • Akufo-Addo to commission Sunyani Airport today

    The renovated Sunyani Airport is set to be commissioned by President Akufo-Addo today, August 3, 2022.

    The opening will be open to traffic and will now ease the difficulties travelers have to go through to get to Sunyani via air. It also means commercial flights can now ply that route.

    The runway of the newly-rehabilitated Sunyani Airport has been extended from 1,280 meters to 1,400 meters.

    The extension of the runway to 1,400 meters now makes it possible for the airport to accommodate medium-sized jet planes.

    This means, that once the airport is officially opened for scheduled flights, there will be enough capacity as some local airline companies can now operate their jet planes to the airport.

    According to the government, the airport, located in the middle belt of Ghana, has also seen the construction of an apron, construction of internal roads, and renovation of the terminal building. The progress of work to date is about 97%.

    Brief Background of Sunyani Airport

    The Sunyani Airport was originally constructed as an Airstrip and later upgraded into an airport in 1969.

    The airport currently has a total runway length of 1,520 meters made up of 1,400 meters of paved and 60 meters of unpaved Runway End Safety Area (RESA) at both ends.

    It could handle and process 100 passengers per hour. Since the commencement of commercial operations, the airport has not had any major renovation works, resulting in the poor state of the airport including cracks and potholes on the runway.

    In 2015, the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) shut down the airport as a precautionary measure to forestall any disaster. Before shutting it down, it was serviced by now-defunct domestic airline operator, Starbow.

    The rehabilitation and expansion of the airport were carried out in phases.

    A contract was awarded in 2018 for the rehabilitation of the existing runway, minimal renovation of the terminal building, and construction of some airport internal roads and other auxiliary facilities.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • Analysis: Discounts are back. Here’s where to find them

    I still can’t get over how insanely expensive some things have gotten over the past year. Yesterday, I asked my son to take out the trash and he charged me 450 Robux. Unreal.

    But there’s good news for the inflation-weary among us: Stores are finally starting to offer some discounts again.

    Remember discounts? In the olden days, you’d go to a store, and some of the regular prices had a big red X through them, and another, lower price would appear next to it. And when you checked out, you paid the discounted price! Shoppers born after 2019 have no idea what we’re talking about, but that’s really the way life was like once upon a time.

    Well, shoppers are going to get treated to a healthy dose of discount nostalgia soon when they show up to some big chains. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Bath & Body Works and others are starting to slash prices to clear out their warehouses.

    Here come the discounts at Walmart, Best Buy and Gap

    WHAT’S HAPPENING: During the early days of the pandemic, people stocked up on all kinds of stuff they thought they’d use in a new forever world of staying indoors all the time. Exercise equipment, giant televisions, furniture and home goods flew off the shelves.

    At the same time, a global supply chain meltdown left shelves bare. So retailers bought up everything to ensure they had enough to stock their stores.

    But predictions of a permanently changed world proved to be premature. People started to venture out again and live with Covid. Those Pelotons morphed into the world’s most expensive clothes-drying racks. People started going to the movies again, and they stopped auditioning for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

    Oh! And inflation hit four-decade highs. So folks were less inclined to shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars for stuff that wasn’t completely necessary.

    WHERE ARE THE DISCOUNTS?: To clear out their inventory, big stores are offering big deals. The only problem: You’ll have to buy stuff no one else wants — clothing, electronics, furniture, home goods and bath items are getting the biggest price cuts, my colleague Nathaniel Meyersohn reports.

    Still, when some prices are falling for the first time in months, that’s a good thing. It’s not the end of inflation, but we’re tired of surging prices and desperately need to lie down. Good thing beds are on sale!

    NUMBER OF THE DAY: $20

     

    Tito’s Handmade Vodka is actively trolling canned cocktail brands by selling an empty can for $20, my colleague Jordan Valinsky reports. Sure, you can get a Jack & Coke in a can, a screwdriver in a can or a margarita in a can. But with its way-too-expensive refillable can, Tito’s is trying to play a power move: Make your own cocktail (preferably with Tito’s) and take it to go.

    A LAZY DRINKER’S TAKE: It’s a funny promotion (for charity, so kudos), but Tito’s is missing the point. A lot of us out there just want to get tipsy on something tasty without the effort of measuring, muddling, mincing or mixing. Of course I can make my own cocktails — but sometimes after a hard day of writing or editing Nightcap, I just want the alcohol delivery system to cut out the middle man.

    THE SWEETEST JOB OPENING EVER

     

    If you would like to get paid $78,000 to eat candy while sitting on your couch, you’re in luck: Candy Funhouse, an online Canadian candy store has a work-from-home job posting for a Chief Candy Officer.

    The job entails: “leading candy board meetings, being the head taste tester … and all things fun.”

    The Chief Candy Officer position is open to applicants as young as 5 years old, my colleague Alexandra Peers reported. Although the winning candidate will be treated to a bunch of familiar chocolate bars and fruity candy, the company told CNN Business that it’s also into some “weird” stuff, including “candy cigarettes,” “gummy hot dogs” and something called “Toxic Waste Nuclear Fusion Hazardously Sour Candy,” which seems like overkill.

    Help wanted: $78,000 a year to taste candy while sitting on your couch

    Look, there’s a lot of cynicism in this world. The climate crisis is upon us, there’s a war in Europe, and the secretary general of the United Nations yesterday said the world is “just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation.”

    On the other hand, there’s a non-zero chance you could get paid a handsome salary to taste candy from the comfort of your house. Sometimes you’ve just got to smile.

     

    Source: CNN

  • Old and new rappers incomparable – Ex-Doe

    Richard Siaw Akrofi, popularly known in showbiz as Ex-Doe, says the current crop of rappers are totally different from the old ones, but wouldn’t say they are better than his generation.

    There has been a recent comparison between the old and new rappers in the showbiz space, with some enthusiasts claiming the new rappers are better than the old ones and vice versa.

    But according to Ex-Doe, who is considered one of the pioneers of Hiplife music in Ghana, you had to be extremely talented to make it to the limelight during the early days of Hiplife music.

    In an interview with the GNA Entertainment, Ex-Doe explained that technology has made it easier for the current rappers especially with beat arrangements and the gathering of lyrics.

    “The old rappers did very well by setting the pace and sustaining the Hiplife genre, which has been carried forward by the new rappers, which is now referred to as Afrobeats. For me, you can’t compare the old and the new rappers because the style of rap was different back then.

    “It was difficult to do music back then, because there were no digital studios and you had to be extra talented to make a breakthrough, unlike today where technology is aiding the efforts of rappers,” he said.

    The award-winning rapper added that you needed less talent to make a hit song with the introduction of new musical gadgets, which was not so in the past.

    “Some of our songs are still being played on air because they are timeless, but most of the songs nowadays fade away easily. This tells you the efforts that was put in back in the days,” he said.

    Source:GNA

  • Robinhood to cut 23% of its workforce, revenue sinks 44%

    Just months after cutting 9% of its workforce, Robinhood on Tuesday announced plans to lay off another 23%.

    The latest cuts, which will affect 780 employees, continues a massive freefall for the once high-flying online brokerage. In a separate development Tuesday, the state of New York hit the Menlo Park, California, firm with a $30 million fine.

    In a blog post on the company’s website, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev said the “deterioration of the macro environment” — notably decades-high inflation coupled with a cryptocurrency crash — has reduced the company’s customer trading activity and assets under custody.

    In its second-quarter earnings report, also released Tuesday, the company showed a 44% drop in revenue from a year ago. Robinhood’s monthly active users in June decreased by more than 7 million, or 34%, and that assets under custody have dropped by more than $37 billion, or 31%, from the second quarter of last year.

    The company’s staffing and operations approach, he added, was tailored for a continuation of the high-growth crypto boom of the pandemic era.

    HOOD-winked? Investors not celebrating one year after Robinhood's IPO

    “Last year, we staffed many of our operations functions under the assumption that the heightened retail engagement we had been seeing with the stock and crypto markets in the COVID era would persist into 2022,” Tenev wrote in a message to employees. “In this new environment, we are operating with more staffing than appropriate.”

    He added: ” As CEO, I approved and took responsibility for our ambitious staffing trajectory — this is on me.”

    The layoffs will affect employees across all functions of the company, with operations, marketing and program management positions being the hardest hit, he said. The company planned to notify all employees via email and Slack on Tuesday with their status as well as resources if they were affected.

    Separately on Tuesday, the New York State Department of Financial Services fined Robinhood’s cryptocurrency arm $30 million for allegedly violating reporting requirements related to anti-money laundering and cybersecurity regulations.

    “As its business grew, Robinhood Crypto failed to invest the proper resources and attention to develop and maintain a culture of compliance — a failure that resulted in significant violations of the department’s anti-money laundering and cybersecurity regulations,” Adrienne A. Harris, the department’s superintendent said in a statement.

    Source: CNN

  • Gospel singer Mz Nana urges support for gospel musicians in the diaspora

    Gospel musician Nana Yaa Otchere, known in showbiz circles as Mz Nana, has rallied support for Ghanaian gospel musicians living abroad as they project Ghana’s music to the world.

    According to the powerful singer and seasoned gospel musician who is based in Virginia in the United States of America (USA), their effort in projecting the values of Ghanaian music had to be recognised more, with fans back home accepting their music.

    Mz Nana, who is currently promoting her new single titled “Oma Ne Nsa So”, explained that the media had to support their music by giving them more airplay, so that Ghanaians recognise the efforts they put into promoting Ghanaian music.

    She asserted that the same level of support given to gospel artiste based in Ghana should be given to others in the diaspora, because it is was all targeted at winning souls for Christ.

    Speaking about her new single, Mz Nana was elated to finally release the song, which she says contains some heart-warming messages to enrich the souls of believers.

    “I want to draw people closer to their maker with my new single, and I hope it will impact people’s lives positively.

    “The song preaches about the good works of the Lord in our lives and gives believers hope that things will get better with their faith in Christ,” she said.

    Mz Nana was grateful to her husband Dr. Francis Otchere who had been very supportive of her music career over the past few years.

    The new song is available across various digital platforms including Audiomack, Boomplay, Spotify, YouTube, Deezer, among others.

    Video of new single: https://youtu.be/8IQn9GZbftc

    Source:GNA

  • Need to tackle terrorism threat, cybercrime confronting police

    Commissioner of Police (COP) Francis Ebenezer Doku, Director General of National Protection Department, has reiterated the need to tackle terrorism threat, cyber crime and new policing challenges confronting the Ghana Police Service.

    He stated that “these translate into increased demand on personnel of the Ghana Police Service to deliver services that are more diverse, complex, skilled and specialised in order to deal with current crime trends”.

    DCOP Doku made the call at the passing out parade of police recruits at the Police Public Safety Training School (PPSTS), in Pwalugu in the Upper East Region, at the weekend.

    He said the police in Ghana were duty bound to prepare themselves adequately as the country risked being attacked by the terrorists, who had killed tens of thousands in neighbouring countries.

    According to COP Doku“the police and other security agencies in the country would never play down the likelihood of the spillover of the Islamist-linked attacks in the country.”

    He said terrorism had become a global threat, and security agencies should be put on high alert to avert any attacks by the deadly armed groups and militants.

    COP Doku said the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, had introduced a paradigm shift in recruit training modules and reforms in policing to assist the police to combat crime.

    He mentioned the modules, which had been incorporated into the recruit training as weapon handling and high risk operation, jumping from moving vehicles, firing from moving vehicles to suppress target or take over, tactical progressing, arrest and search procedures and intelligence gathering.

    COP Doku said “these are to equip the trainees with the requisite skills to be able to respond to emergency cases and any eventuality.”

    He reminded the police that they had a core mandate to serve Ghanaians, and urged the recruits to uphold professional standards so as to win the trust and confidence of the citizenry.

    COP Doku warned that any police personnel caught indulging in bribery, corruption and robbery would face outright dismissal to serve as deterrent to others.

    A total of 725 recruits, comprising 397 males and 328 females, passed out after six months training at PPSTS.

    Sergeant Naomi Bless Mensah emerged as the overall best Under Cadet Officer, the overall best recruit went to General Recruit (G/R) Eunice Agyapong, with the PPSTS being crowned the best performing school in the National Recruits Standardised Examination.

    Ernest Owusu Oseiwas best in Musketry, Kingsley Gyau, best in Physical Training,  Leticia Tetteh, best in Drill, and Abene Frimpomaa Agrippa, best in Conduct.

     Source: Ghanaian Times

  • Bolgatanga Technical Institute to remain shut as police arrest 3 in riot

    The Bolgatanga Technical Institute will remain closed until a committee appointed to probe disturbances that ensued in the school submits its report, the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, has disclosed.

    On Monday, riots broke out at the school following the arrest of two of their colleagues and a teacher for allegedly engaging in examination malpractice.

    Students were asked to vacate the school premises.

    The Upper East Regional Minister and Chairman of the Regional Security Council, Stephen Yakubu, said the final year students will be writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) from their homes.

    In an interview, Mr Yakubu said he does not know when he will order a direct opening of the institute.

    He also noted that there will be a committee to investigate the culprits and ringleaders who emanated the riots.

    Bolgatanga Technical Institute to remain shut as police arrest 3 in riot

    Thus, for the time being, he indicated that the final leavers of the institute will write their WASSCE from home, while, the other students would have to stay home till a directive is given on the reopening of the school.

    Mr Yakubu also revealed that he is working closely with the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum to have the investigations done and a report filed to him.

     

     

     

  • Orlando Pirates pushing to sign versatile Edmund Arko-Mensah

    South African giant, Orlando Pirates are doing everything to sign talented Ghanaian attacker Edmund Arko-Mensah to bolster its squad for the upcoming football season.

    After a good campaign in the Premier Soccer League last season, Pirates have set sight on fighting for trophies in the 2022/23 season.

    As a result, the club has kept its top players and also worked on bringing in quality players to augment its squad.

    After six signings already, Orlando Pirates now want to sign Ghanaian winger Edmund Arko-Mensah.

    The club is impressed with the versatility of the Ghanaian youth player and wants to secure his services from Finnish club FC Honka.

    If the deal is completed, Edmund Arko-Mensah will join compatriots Richard Ofori and Kwame Peprah to become the third Ghanaian at the South African club.

    Source: Football.com

  • Man allegedly commits suicide in police cells

    A man in his late 40s has allegedly committed suicide while in police custody.

    What actually triggered his action is unknown, however, police sources say his lifeless body was found hanging from the iron bar at the vent of the cell washroom.

    This is after the 48-year-old was invited by the police on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, and detained at the Kyeremasu Police Station for offences of alleged threat of harm and assault.

    When his body was found, he had tied his neck with a nylon singlet he wore while in custody.

    “An officer on duty at the counter saw the lifeless body hanging and the attention of other colleagues were drawn to the unfortunate incident,” the source said.

    The body of Kyere has since been deposited at the Presbyterian Hospital morgue at Kyeremasu for autopsy and preservation.

    As a result of the unfortunate incident, the youth from the town suspecting foul play has called on the Inspector General of Police Dr George Akuffo Dampare to take interest in the case in order to unearth truth about the incident.

  • From 9 boxers to 3: How Ghanas boxers have fared at 2022 Commonwealth Games

    From supposedly nine medal hopefuls to just three, Ghana’s boxing journey at the 2022 Commonwealth Games has been far from impressive, with the country’s hopes of winning a medal in boxing now resting on the shoulders of three boxers who have done well to make the quarter-final stage.

    The Ghana Boxing Federation [GBF] named nine boxers to represent Ghana at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

    The boxers included eight male boxers and one female boxer selected to be part of Ghana’s amateur boxing team, the Black Bombers, under experienced head coach Ofori Asare.

    How 6 boxers lost their fights.

     

     

    Ghana’s only female boxer who is a PhD holder, Dr Ornella Sathoud was the first casualty as she lost by a unanimous decision to English female boxer Kerry Davis in the middleweight contest.

    One of the biggest heartbreaks was the light heavyweight boxer, Shakul Samed, whose journey at the games ended after he failed a doping test and was banned from the competition.

    Samuel Yaw Addo whose inclusion in the team was heavily challenged, suffered a 2-3 defeat at the hands of Northern Ireland’s Clepson Antonio Dos Santos and missed out on a quarter-final berth.

    Abubakar Quartey was the 3rd boxer to exit the games as he lost by a 2-3 split decision to Nigeria’s Adeyinka Benson in their middleweight contest.

    Alfred Kotey also failed to make it to the quarter-final as he lost to Indian boxer Rohit Tokas by 5-0 in their welterweight bout on Tuesday, August 2nd.

    Light-middleweight boxer Jessie Lartey, who was Ghana’s hope of winning a medal at the games, also crashed out to Mohammed Harris of England as he lost 5-0 on points.

    Ghana’s last three men in boxing

    Abraham Mensah

     

    One of Ghana’s medal hopefuls at the games will start his campaign against Sri Lanka opponent Rukmal Prasanna in the Bantamweight Division on August 4th. Mensah will automatically enter the medal zone if he edges out his opponent and makes it to the semi-final.

    Joseph Commey

    The 18-year-old, who has boxing running through his veins, has proven beyond doubt that he is ready to win a medal at the games. Born into a family of boxers, Commey has made it to the quarter-finals defeating Kiribati boxer Betero Aaree in the round of 32. He earned a Round 2 knockout over Allan Oaike Papua New Guinea. Commey has set up a bout against New Zealand boxer Alex Mukuka in the quarter-finals of the Featherweight contest.

    Abdul Wahib Omar

    As one of the experienced boxers in the team, Wahib Omar has lived to the billing this time and is one step away from winning a historic medal. Omar defeated Jamie Devine from Isle of Man by 4-1 on points. In the round of 16 stages, Omar wasted no time as he earned a Round 1 K.O over Fiji boxer Elia Rokobuli. The boxer is now set to face Alston Ryan of Antigua and Barbuda on Wednesday, August 3rd, in the quarter-final clash.

    DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • 3 in critical condition after being butchered at Kasoa Free town

    Three persons fear dead after some individuals suspected to be Nigerian nationals assaulted them at Kasoa Free Town, in the Awutu Senya East Municipality.

    Residents of the neighborhood claim that one of the victims, who is currently undergoing medical care, assaulted a 20-year-old woman earlier after theafter an argument ensued between them.

    Police sources say the lady went home and informed her Nigerian boyfriend who also organized his friends and retaliated in what appears to be a cutlass fight, leading to the three Ghanaians getting injured.

    The leader of the Nigerian group, who fired gunshots during the incident, is in police custody, according to Citi News sources.

    An eyewitness recounted the incident.

    “We bumped into the boys fighting. They were about 9, seven of them are [reportedly] Nigerians. I do not really know what the issue is but from what I gathered, it seems one of the injured persons assaulted the lady. The lady rushed to call her Nigerian boyfriend, who came with his friends to fight back.”

    “The fight was bloody, leading to the three Ghanaians getting injured. They had cutlasses on them and were bent on hurting the Ghanaians. We quickly rushed to get help.”

    Assemblyman for the area, Mohammed Kwabena Ali wants enhanced security in the area to prevent crime.

    “The street lights in the area do not work. This area has become a playing field for armed robbers. We need enhanced security in this area.”

     

     

     

  • Sean Safo-Antwi promises to impress in 100m semis at Commonwealth Games

    Ghanaian sprinter, Sean Safo-Antwi, promises to improve his performance in the Men’s 100 metres semi-final on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK.

    Sean Safo-Antwi has qualified to the semi-finals with a time of 10.33s after coming fourth in Heat 10 of the Men’s 100m race.

    Ahead of the semi-final race today, the UK-based athlete has disclosed that he is looking forward to having a good start and hopefully making the finals.

     

    “I didn’t start well, and that really affected my performance in the end,” the athlete said after his race on Tuesday, August 2.

    “What matters most now is the qualification, and then I have to work on my start in the semi-finals to improve my time,” he told Graphic Online.

    Ghana would be represented in the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games by Benjamin Azamati and Sean Safo-Antwi.

    Both athletes are optimistic about sealing a final berth in the Men’s 100m dash.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Five movies Ghanaian actor Prince Yawson known as “Waakye” featured in

    The demise of veteran actor Prince Yawson, popularly known in the film industry as Waakye has left many Ghanaians recalling fond memories of the late super star.

    He is said to have passed on earlier today at the 37 Military Hospital after battling an illness.

    Mr Yawson was 52 years of age.

    Before deciding to make acting his full-time profession, Waakye began his acting career by appearing in stage productions.

    The actor gained notoriety for his performances in a number of films, such as Obra and Diabolo in the early 2000s.

    With his unique style of acting coupled with his sense of humor, the name waakye became a household name.

    Below are top five movies of the veteran actor

    Diabolo

    The veteran actor featured in the movie Diabolo. Diabolo is a 1992 Ghanaian film that tells the story of a man who has the power to transform into a serpent. He uses this power to sexually assault and kill women, mostly sex workers.

    Obra

    Obra to wit Life is a Ghanaian television drama series which was very popular in Ghana in the 1980s. Obra episodes generally addressed the virtues and vices of life such as honesty, integrity, patience, perseverance, gratitude, envy, greed, jealousy, treachery.

    Marijata

    The plot of Marijata focused on a monster who was unaware of its identity and killed countless people in the house of Harry Laud. The movie starred the late Prince Yawson,Araba Stamp, Bob Santo, Harry Laud, Judas and many other actors who were prominent back in the day.

     

    Babina

    Babina is a 2000 Ghanaian film written by screenwriters Leila Afua Djansi and Ashangbor Akwetey Kanyi. The film tells a story about a conflict between a witch called Babina, who was sent to the world to destroy the life of man, and the men of God who oppose her. It is an African horror film.

    Chokor Trotro

    Chokor Trotro is the current movie production the late veteran actor was featured on. The movie is Ghanaian comedy series which is aired on TV3. This comedy series zooms in on the day-to-day life style of a bus driver and his conductor.

    Source:The Indepedent Ghana

     

  • Flower Bwoy hangs out with Kuami Eugene as his new banger dominates 4Syte TV charts

    Flowar Bwoy appeared to have achieved a plus stride in his career as he was spotted with hitmaking Ghanaian singer Kuami Eugene.

    Flowar Bwoy who was born Obed Yaw Danso Kwabi made a grand entry into music as Mayor The Boss Prophet in 2018. He is very good when it comes to performance with his bass guitar and the magic he performs with the guitar was what earned him the nickname bass prophet which eventually became part of his stage name back then.

    In his first year as a professional musician, he released gospel music titled “Year Ma Me Anigye” with an accompanying video.

    He released another single in 2019 with a classic video and named that track “Keep Ghana Clean”. He took his career to another height in 2020 despite the atrocities of the year by coming out with an album which was named “African Superman”. The album is currently available on all streaming platforms.

    Flower Bwoy runs his record label which was established in 2020 and known as Red Eye and he sponsors his craft all alone. He has named his fan base the “Battalions”.

    His current banger, “Sweet Diva” is currently the talk of time and it’s available on iTunes, audiomack, boom-play, and Spotify among other streaming platforms. The song is also currently topping 4Syte TV and Brye TV charts.

    Passing through the Lynx @15 experience concert which was organized to climax the 15th- anniversary celebration of the record label, Flower Bwoy was spotted with Kuami Eugene. Kuami Eugene couldn’t hide his excitement as he sent shout-outs to the melodious Afrobeat artiste.

    The event was held at the West Hills Mall at Weija in Accra on July 30, 2022, at 4 PM.

    Fans have started anticipating a fresh tune from the talented singer featuring the multiple award-winning music star, Kuami Eugene.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • How police arrested mentally unstable woman who stoned Okada man to death

    A video of how a mentally unstable woman was whisked away at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra after killing a man has emerged.

    On August 1, Ghanaweb reported a story based on eyewitness accounts about how the mentally unstable woman used a big stone to hit an unidentified gentleman said to be an Okada rider leading to his death.

    The eyewitness, Ikem (not his real name), explained that the woman had been known for usually pelting stones at moving cars on the stretch.

    He added that in an attempt to get the woman to stop this dangerous act, the deceased had also pelted her with stones, all in an attempt to get her away from the scene.

    This went on for a while until the deceased left to go and attend to other things.

    “The woman was sitting just across the street and the guy was also seated there, and the guy was throwing stones at her sacking her to move away from where he was seated. As he did that, the woman kept dodging the stones.

    “The woman also gathered some stones to retaliate but instead, she was throwing them at the cars and motorbikes on the road. After some time, the guy went roaming for about two, three hours and came and slept on the pavement. So, when the mad woman saw him, I think she took revenge, ” he told GhanaWeb.

    Few moments after the incident the Ghana police later apprehended the woman after a mob had threatened to lynch her.

    In the viral video, the woman was seen being whisked away in a police pickup truck while people gathered around her.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Agya Koo and celebrities who endorsed NPP should bow their heads in shame – Mr Beautiful

    Ghanaian actor and party faithful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Beautiful, has stated that his colleagues who supported and endorsed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been put to shame considering what he described as a woeful performance of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    The actor in a recent interview on Metro TV called out Agya Koo, Matilda Asare, Kalybos and other celebrities who he claim misled the public with the NPP’s message of hope during the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections that witnessed the party’s flagbearer being voted into office.

    The die-hard supporter of the NDC and former president John Mahama, however, noted that political differences should not create enmity between celebrities.

    “Forever and ever, I will involve myself in politics because, in your house, there is politics. Everywhere you are there is politics. I buy fuel and pay my children’s school fees. Therefore I will rally behind someone who I know can rescue the nation.

    “The fact that we support different football clubs doesn’t make you my enemy. You are simply not mature. So, nothing can stop me. I will encourage each and everyone,” he stated.

    According to the popular actor, his single decision to endorse the NDC back in the 2012 general elections paved way for his colleagues to openly campaign for political parties.

    “When I came out in 2012 and openly supported His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, it paved way for the likes of Agya Koo, Matilda Asare and others to support this government (NPP) in 2016.

    “These people, Agya Koo, Matilda, Kalybos should all bow their heads in shame because the party they supported has failed. Look at what the man I supported, Mahama, did for the nation,” he added.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Government eyeing GHC750m with new E-VAT policy

    The government is seeking to raise GHC750 million in Ghana following the passage of the Value Added Tax Amendment bill, which introduces the E-Vat policy.

    The tax measure broadens the scope of the existing laws to cover electronic commerce, provides for the electronic issuance of a tax invoice, upfront payment of Value Added Tax by an unregistered importer and the zero-rating of the supply of locally assembled vehicles.

    A report of the Finance Committee of Parliament indicates that the e-vat policy addresses issues of inequalities and compliance in the payment of tax.

    During the mid-year budget review, the Ghana Revenue Authority said it was finalising all relevant processes to facilitate the effective collection of VAT revenue including the proposed amendment of the Value Added Tax Act 870 to enable its electronic collection, effective October 1, 2022.

    The government is currently reeling from the disastrous implementation of the electronic transfer levy.

    The Ministry of Finance has had to downgrade its projection of revenue expected from the controversial e-levy to GHC611 million from the earlier projected $1.6 billion.

    For the Value Added Tax (VAT), the expected revenue was adjusted upwards from the initial GHC14,534,864,446 to GHC15,402,925,770.

    Source: Citinewsroom

     

  • Four students of Bolgatanga Technical Institute arrested after riot

    Four students of the Bolgatanga Technical Institute have been arrested in connection with violent activities at the school on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.

    The four, all male students were arrested for rioting and alleged possession of leaked examination papers.

    A police source said the suspects are being held in their custody for further investigations and possible prosecution.

    The source did not state when the police will commence prosecution.

    However, no arrest was made at the Bawku Technical Institute, where students also rioted and destroyed school property.

    At BOTECH, the students rioted in demand for the release of a teacher and a National Service personnel who were arrested by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) for allegedly leaking an examination paper, while at BAWKU TECH, students rioted because school authorities were strict on them not to engage in examination malpractice.

    The Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) led by the Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, has shut down both schools upon advice from the Ghana Education Service (GES) and management of the schools.

    Mr. Yakubu, directed that all final year students writing the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Examination will only come to school to write their papers and immediately leave back home.

    All students left their respective schools by 4:00pm on Monday, August 1, 2022.

    It is however unclear when the two schools will recall their students.

    Source: Citinewsroom.com

  • 2022 World Cup: JE Sarpong charges Otto Addo to improve Black Stars midfield

    Former Great Olympics head coach, JE Sarpong has called on the technical team to improve the Black Stars midfield ahead of the World Cup.

    Ghana, who are in Group H will open their campaign against Portugal on November 24 at Stadium 974 in Doha.

    Four days later, the Black Stars return to action with a clash with South Korea at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan.

    With less than five months to the start of the global showpiece, the veteran trainer speaking in an interview with Graphic Sports reiterated that the technical handlers must do everything to improve and stabilize the midfield.

     

    “First and foremost, the technical team should do everything to strengthen the midfield and attack of the black stars because we have been struggling in those areas for some time now,” he noted.

    Touching on defence and goalkeeping, Coach Sarpong said they had so far stood the test of time in recent matches and were likely to improve as they continued to play together.

    “Our defence has stood the test of time and is likely to improve as time goes on. Goalkeeping is quite stable but needs improvement,” he stressed.

    Ghana will wrap up their group stage adventure with their much-anticipated encounter with Uruguay at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.

    Source: FootballGhana.com

  • Social media users mourn veteran actor Prince Yawson ‘Waakye’

    Ghanaian actor Prince Yawson, popularly known as “Waakye“, has passed on at the age of 52.

    The veteran actor passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at the 37 Military Hospital, with the cause of his death yet to be ascertained.

    The actor had been battling illness in recent times and did recover on few occasions until this unfortunate news about his death.

    The actor featured in some of Ghana’s top movies in the early 2000’s, having become a household name.

    Movies he featured in include “Diabolo”, “Chorkor Trotro” and “Babina”, among others.

    Social media users have posted their condolences and praise for Waakkye’s contribution to the local film an entertainment industry.

    Waakye
    Waakye

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Akufo-Addo to commission rehabilitated Sunyani Airport today

    President Akufo-Addo will on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 commission the rehabilitated Sunyani Airport.

    The Sunyani Airport underwent rehabilitation in February 2019 after being closed in March 2015 due to runway issues.

    The airport was rehabilitated at the cost of GH¢50 million.

    DAA Construction Limited constructed the wall, while Resources Access Limited constructed the runway. The runway has been extended from 1,280 meters to 1,400 meters.

    The rehabilitation works were in two phases; the construction of a wall around the airport and the expansion of the runway.

    The rehabilitation also involved the rehabilitation of existing taxi links, construction of an apron to park aircraft, construction of internal roads and a car park.

    As part of the project, the existing terminal building was expanded, remodelled and installed with terminal building equipment PA system, FIDS, CCTV, fire detection, protection, lighting and ventilation systems.

     The rehabilitation works were delayed along the line following the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.

    The Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company Limited, Pamela Djamson-Tettey has indicated that the completion of rehabilitation works will go a long way to help generate income for the country.

    Sunyani Airport dates back to 1942 when a communication outpost and aerodrome were built for the use of Allied Forces. However, before the end of the war, the airstrip was abandoned.

    In 1969, the Busia Government, realizing the need for an airport for Sunyani initiated construction works for a complete airport.

    This was completed and officially opened on 13th July 1974, by Col. P.K. Agyekum, the then Commissioner for Transport and Communications.

     

    Source: Citinews

  • Obaapa Christy readies new inspirational single on August 4

    Ghanaian gospel musician Obaapa Christy is set to release another ground-breaking single on Thursday, August 4, 2022.

    The song titled “3mma Me Nsr3” which translates into English as “Let Me Not Beg”, is another inspirational tune from the award-winning gospel musician.

    Obaapa Christy has over the past two decades enriched the souls of believers with some nerve-racking tunes, and “3mma Me Nsr3” would not be an exception.

    Her most recent single, “Glory,” has become one of the most played gospel songs on the airwaves as the gospel musician continues to inspire Ghanaians with her amazing voice and lyrics.

    Obaapa Christy will, on September 4, 2022, celebrate 20 years in the music industry with a musical show dubbed “Obaapa Christy at 20 concert”.

    The veteran gospel musician, in her quest to deliver more powerful ministry to believers, has started live worship on her Facebook and YouTube pages every Monday.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • It’s time to move on – Kotoko bound Steven Mukwala bids farewell to URA

    New Kotoko Ugandan striker, Steven Mukwala has written his heartfelt farewell message to his former club Uganda Revenue Authority(URA).

    He says that it’s time to move on and took the chance to thank his former club for the opportunity claiming it’s the hardest thing for him to say goodbye.

    “I take this opportunity to thank the URA Football Club for the Chance it gave me to be part of its project. Saying goodbye is always the hardest thing for me. But I guess it’s time to move on.” he tweeted

    New Kotoko capture Steven Mukwala has arrived in Ghana and is currently in Kumasi where he has undergone his medical examination with the club.

    Kotoko has in principle agreed to sign 2019/2020 Ugandan Premier League top scorer Steven Mukwala from Ugandan top flight side Revenue Authority (URA FC).

    The porcupine warriors nearly signed the striker two seasons ago but they were unable to agree on terms with the striker’s club at the time before he joined Revenue Authority FC.

    He has agreed to sign a two-year contract with the reds after departing his former club Revenue Authority FC as a free agent.

    Kumasi Asante Kotoko has set its sights on assembling a formidable squad that is capable of challenging for honours ahead of the 2022/2023 season.

    Source: Ghanaguardian.com

  • Four students of Bolgatanga Technical Institute arrested after riot

    Four students of the Bolgatanga Technical Institute have been arrested following riots at the school on Tuesday.

    The four male students were arrested on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, for rioting and alleged possession of leaked examination papers.

    A police source said the suspects are being held in their custody for further investigations and possible prosecution.

    The source did not state when the police will commence prosecution.

    However, no arrest was made at the Bawku Technical Institute, where students also rioted and destroyed school property.

    At BOTECH, the students rioted in demand for the release of a teacher and a National Service personnel who were arrested by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) for allegedly leaking an examination paper, while at BAWKU TECH, students rioted because school authorities were strict on them not to engage in examination malpractice.

    The Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) led by the Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, has shut down both schools upon advice from the Ghana Education Service (GES) and management of the schools.

    Mr. Yakubu, directed that all final year students writing the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Examination will only come to school to write their papers and immediately leave back home.

    All students left their respective schools by 4:00pm on Monday, August 1, 2022.

    It is however unclear when the two schools will recall their students.

    Source: Citinews

     

  • Profile of the late actor, Waakye (Prince Yawson)

    Veteran actor/comedian, Prince Yawson, popularly known as Waakye, has reportedly passed on.

    The 52-year-old actor died in the early hours of August 2, 2022 at the 37 Military Hospital after battling an illness for years, according to sources.

    He is famous for the role he played in various movies including Obra, Diabolo, in the early 2000s and recently, Chorkor Trotro, a Ghanaian comedy series which was aired on TV3.

    He started his career in the movie/film industry as an actor but later, his acting career took a twist as he ventured into comedy.

    The veteran actor has allegedly been bedridden by a mild stroke since 2013, which explains his disappearance from our TV screens, unlike times past when he served Ghanaian TV screens with unadulterated talent and unlimited entertainment.

    He, however, popped up in 2017, testifying about God’s goodness and how he had been saved from the grips of death.

    Subsequently, he was ordained as a man of God at a ceremony at the Word Impact Centre in Accra on April 25, 2021.

    This was after he publicly revealed that he has enrolled in a Bible School.

    News reaching The Independent Ghana , however, indicates that the actor is no more. Death has laid its cold hands on him.

    ‘Waakye’ is the father of two beautiful daughters.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Health workers to withdraw services over power outages

    The Coalition of Health Workers on Krobo Land has appealed to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to restore power to the area for smooth health delivery.

    The health workers who are made up of anaesthetists, doctors, nurses, midwives, laboratory scientists, and pharmacists added that they will be forced to leave work at exactly 4 pm due to the power outages.

    The affected health facilities include Atua Government Hospital, St Martins Hospital, Yilo District hospital, Somanya policlinic and the various CHPS and health centres within the affected area.

    According to them, the darkness they are plunged into has given room to some criminals and hooligans to rob, harass, and ill-treat some of the health workers who lived in hard-to-reach areas.

    Speaking to Naa Dedei Tetteh on the Morning Starr on Tuesday, the Municipal Health Director, Dr. Irena Offei, expressed worry on how the power cut is affecting health delivery in the area.

    “As you have seen the power outage happened on 27th of July at 10:30 pm so we were hoping that the light would be restored the following morning but unfortunately as I talk to you no power has been restored.

    “Both Municipalities Yilo Krobo and Lower Manya Krobo have been affected since last Friday and today is the last day. We are doing COVID-19 vaccination so you can imagine our trouble of sending the vaccines in the freezers to nearby facilities which are not that close,” Dr. Irena narrated.

    She continued: “Every morning as protocol demands we have to check the temperature of the fridges and we have charge and see if the vaccines are okay and give them to the vaccine team. So every morning the car has to travel to the facility to pick up the vaccine.

    “In the office, we are running on a generator and for now all the cost of fuel is taken from the internally generated fund from the facilities. The most dangerous thing is we are running on generators and their machines which can spoil at any point and time.”

    The Health Director stated that most facilities now run on generators which is affecting smooth health delivery.

    “Assuming you have a case at the theater and the surgery is ongoing and the only generator that you are using for that surgery goes off, what will you do? This is very serious for our hospital and as much as possible they have also stopped using all the theaters and referred all the cases to other health facilities within the region.

    “My passionate appeal and plea to the government and to the management of ECG is to restore the power to Yilo Krobo and Lower Manya Krobo and the affected communities. So that we can continue to provide quality health service to our cherished clients and patients.”

    Source: Ghanaweb via starrfm

  • ENI/Vitol-Springfield impasse: No judgement debt would arise – MP denies claims

    Member of Parliament for Dormaa East Constituency, Paul Apreku Twum-Barimah, has denied claims by the minority which suggest that an impasse between ENI/Vitol and Springfield Ghana would result in a US$7 billion judgement debt against the Government of Ghana.

    According to him, even though government is making efforts to resolve the impasse between ENI/Vitol and Springfield Ghana, no judgement debt would arise out of the case as government is committed and determined to help resolve the issue to the satisfaction of all the parties.

    In a statement, the MP said the minority in parliament is seeking to create fear and panic amidst the growing and flourishing oil and gas industry.

    Giving details of the issues, he explained that in 2020, the then Minister of Energy, John Peter Amewu, per Section 34(1) of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, 2016 (Act 919), directed ENI and Springfield to execute unitisation with respect to the Sankofa field in the OCTP and Afina discovery in the WCTP contract areas.

    Prior to the directive, the minister had been satisfied by a geophysical and geological analysis in March 2018, which showed that the Sankofa Cenomanian Reservoir extended into the WCTP Block 2 contract area.

    The situation saw the industry stakeholders calling on government to encourage the companies to use arm’s length dialogue and a common-sense approach to resolve the differences between the companies in order to produce oil from the straddling fields.

    In May this year, the Commercial Division of the Accra High Court ordered the operators of the Sankofa Oil Field to preserve 30 percent of all the revenues which will be accrued from the field until the final determination of a legal dispute relating to it.

    Per the order of preservation, the 30 percent revenue must be paid by the operators (Eni Limited and Vitol Upstream Limited) into an account agreed by all the contesting parties, which was appealed by ENI Ghana but lost.

    Eni Ghana then filed a suit at the International Tribunal in London, United Kingdom, to challenge a directive by Ghana’s Ministry of Energy, asking them to unitise Sankofa offshore oil field and Afina oil block operated by Springfield E&P, a wholly Ghanaian upstream player.

    “The issue is still at arbitration, and it is unfortunate for the ranking member to suggest that government is likely to pay judgment debt when the case is yet to be decided.” the lawmaker narrated.

    He, therefore, described the minority statement as unfortunate as judgement is yet to be made on the case.

    Read the full statement below:

    DORMAA EAST MP RESPONDS TO ALLEGATIONS OF LOOMING JUDGEMENT DEBT FROM ENI, SPRINGFIELD IMPASSE BY JOHN JINAPOR

    Accra Ghana, August 2, 2022: Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to bring your attention to some happenings in Ghana’s upstream oil and gas industry with regard to the ongoing legal battle between the Italian Oil company ENI and the only indigenous Ghanaian oil producing company, Springfield Ghana of which the minority through the ranking member of mines and energy committee, John Jinapor, has alleged government risk paying some Judgement debts.

    It is important to state categorically that the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo will not manage this country in a way that will create inconvenience for businesses and result in the payment of judgement.

    It is important to note that the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, is making effort to resolve the impasse between ENI/ Vitol and Springfield Ghana and I urge stakeholders in the industry as well as the good people of Ghana to support government in this process.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, I must say that President Akufo Addo has met all the parties involved in the tussle and meetings are ongoing to bring amicable solutions to the problem and I condemn the claims by the minority in parliament about a potential judgement debt as a result of the impasse. I want to clarify that no judgement debt would arise out of the case since the president of the nation is committed and determined to help resolve the issue to the satisfaction of all the parties.

    Meanwhile, I am urging all the parties involved in the tussle to adhere to the laws regulating the industry to ensure a smooth operation in the oil and gas industry.

    When we fully obey the laws, rules and regulations governing the industry, there wouldn’t be any need for institutions to plead or call on the president to intervene in any impasse but because we have decided to ignore the rules, we end up in situations where we then call on the president to intervene. However, I can assure the good people of Ghana and stakeholders in the oil and gas industry that the president is seriously working with the officials at the Ministry of Energy to bring an end to the issue.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, It will be recalled that President Akufo Addo last year promised to resolve the ongoing impasse between Eni Ghana and the Ghanaian-owned international oil company, Springfield Exploration & Production (SEP).

    Unitise

    This followed the inability of the two companies to comply with a directive to link (unitise) their neighboring discoveries, located in their contract areas. Government in the year 2020 issued the directive for the two companies to unitise, under the management of John Peter Amewu, former minister of Energy.

    Many interventions to resolve the situation proved futile forcing Eni Ghana, to drag Ghana to the London Tribunal for attempting to force a wholly owned Ghana upstream company, Springfield E&P on it.

    President Akufo-Addo while responding to a request by the Paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema Traditional Council and President of the Nzemamanle Council, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III, to address the issue between the two companies last year, said he is personally committed to ensuring that the issue is resolved amicably.

    “I am still very upset that matters we have been discussing have become the subject of arbitration with notice of arbitration coming in,” I quote the president.

    President Akufo-Addo said he had had separate meetings with the parties, all aimed at finding a common ground to deal with the matter without any litigation.

    “But I want to assure you that we would continue to discuss and find an amicable solution”, the president said

    The impasse

    In 2020, the then Minister of Energy, Mr John Peter Amewu, in accordance with Section 34(1) of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, 2016 (Act 919), directed ENI and Springfield to execute unitisation with respect to the Sankofa field in the OCTP and Afina discovery in the WCTP contract areas.

    Prior to the directive, the minister had been satisfied by a geophysical and geological analysis in March 2018, which showed that the Sankofa Cenomanian Reservoir extended into the WCTP Block 2 contract area.
    The situation saw the industry stakeholders calling on the government to encourage the companies to use arm’s length dialogue and common-sense approach to resolve the differences between the companies to produce oil from the straddling fields.

    Ministry’s action

    Ladies and Gentlemen, we will also recall that the current Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, earlier this year told the media that until recently, when the parties resorted to the court to resolve certain issues, the government was engaging the parties to speed up the process towards unitisation.

    That notwithstanding, the minister said, the ministry was committed to ensuring that the issues were resolved expeditiously to enable the unitisation of the fields for optimum recovery of petroleum from the fields for all parties.

    He said the ministry was working hard to ensure that there was optimum recovery of petroleum through activities that conformed with international best practice.

    The 30 percent, appeal & arbitration

    In May this year, the Commercial Division of the Accra High Court ordered the operators of the Sankofa Oil Field to preserve 30 percent of all the revenues which will be accrued from the field until the final determination of a legal dispute relating to it.

    Per the order of preservation, the 30 percent revenue must be paid by the operators, (Eni Limited and Vitol Upstream Limited) into an account agreed by all the contesting parties, which was appealed by Eni Ghana but lost.

    Eni Ghana then filed a suit at the International Tribunal in London, United Kingdom, to challenge a directive by Ghana’s Ministry of Energy, asking them to unitise Sankofa offshore oil field and Afina oil block operated by Springfield E&P, a wholly Ghanaian upstream player.

    The issue is still at arbitration and it is unfortunate for the ranking member to suggest that government is likely to pay judgment debt when the case is yet to be decided.

    I am therefore urging the people of Ghana and stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to remain calm.

    Let’s ignore the rants of the minority in parliament seeking to create fear and panic in our ever-growing and flourishing oil and gas industry and the government in their effort to make Ghana a place of choice for oil and gas business.

    Thank you and God Bless you all.

    Paul Twum-Barimah
    Member of Mines & Energy Committee

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Akufo-Addo appoints Lariba Zuweira Abudu as new Gender Minister

    President Akufo-Addo has appointed the Member of Parliament for Walewale, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, as the new Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.

    Lariba Zuweira Abudu is currently the Deputy Minister for Gender.

    Her appointment, announced by the Presidency in a statement sighted by The Independent Ghana on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, is in “accordance with Article 78 of the 1992 Constitution.”
    Lariba Zuweira Abudu becoming the substantive Gender Minister is subject to the approval of Parliament.

    This follows the termination of the appointment of the Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo.

    President Akufo-Addo on Thursday, July 28, 2022, relieved Sarah Adwoa Safo of her duties as the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection in accordance with Article 81(a) of the constitution.
    Meanwhile, to fill the role of Deputy Gender Minister, the President has also nominated the Member of Parliament for Kwabre East, Francisca Oteng Mensah, for Parliamentary approval.

    This is also pursuant to Article 79 of the Constitution.

    Francisca Oteng Mensah was appointed as the chairperson of the National Youth Authority in December 2017.

    The two nominees would have to face the Appointments Committee of Parliament chaired by First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, in order to serve the roles provided them.

    According to President Akufo-Addo, he is “hopeful that Parliament will expedite the approval of his nominees for this important Ministry,” to see to the effective delivery of his mandate for his second term in office.

    Lariba Zuweira Abudu would take over from Caretaker Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, who is the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, should she be recommended to the House by the Appointments Committee, and subsequently, Parliamentary approval.

    Profile of Lariba Zuweira Abudu

    Lariba Zuweira Abudu worked at the Northern Development Authority as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Social Development.

    She obtained her first degree (Special Education) in 2004 and later pursued her Masters in Leaders and Development in 2015.

    She is a member of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee and Roads and Transport Committee in Parliament.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Ghanaian actor ‘Waakye’ passes on

    Prince Yawson, a seasoned Kumawood actor known as Waakye, is said to have passed away.

    After years of sickness, the 52-year-old actor passed away in the 37 Military Hospital in the early hours of August 2, 2022.

    Veteran performer and coworker Bob Smith Jnr (Diaboloman), who was distraught, broke the news of his death.

    Waakye was diagnosed with stroke in 2013, according to a photo of him lying on a hospital bed that went viral at the time.

    However, he seemed to have recovered and found his purpose as an ordained Reverend minister in April 2021.

    He attended a Bible school in Accra for his new religious role after he officially bowed out of the movie industry.

    Waakye became a household name in the early 2000s when he starred in comic movies including Diabolo, Babina and popular sitcom, Chorkor Trotro.

    He becomes the third Kumawood star to pass on in just a month. His demise comes after actors Ice kenkey, Patrick Safo and Nana Osei Tutu.

    Source:adomonline.com

  • NPP ‘footsoldiers’ appeal to President Akufo-Addo to reshuffle appointees

    A pressure comprising some staunch members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the grassroots level have called for a reshuffle of Ministers under the Akufo-Addo administration.

    This, according to them, will inject “fresh energy” into the administration.

    In a press statement dated August 1, 2022, the group identified as the Alliance For Footsoldiers Advocacy (AFFA) entreated the President to treat their request as a matter of urgency.

    According to the group, the appeal was a passionate one to President Akufo-Addo to shake up his government and reshuffle his appointees (particularly non-performing Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives as well as some CEOs of some state institutions) to pave way for more competent and selfless hands to bring their expertise to bear on his administration.

    The group, in a statement signed by the Executive Secretary, D.T. Adomako, said the ministers of state who have almost abandoned their ministerial duties to chase presidential dreams must either be forced to resign or be fired from the government.

    The group said the ministers have been tolerated for far too long, and their continuous stay in office was distracting government business, adding that it was time to show them the exit, and give opportunity to those who are ready and prepared to serve in the interest of the party and the government.

    “In arguably, the NPP is known to have the men and women, and rightly so! It cannot be the case that we have suddenly run out of human resources such that we are compelled to maintain the same old crop of appointees for six years. Ghanaians expect much from us and we cannot fail them. Mr. President, there is an urgent need for a shakeup in your government,” the group said.

    The group, however, urged the President to listen to them and act immediately to make his government vibrant and proactive for ordinary Ghanaians to have confidence in the NPP administration.

    Source: Graphiconline.com

     

     

     

  • Africa is a continent, not a country – Tourists told

    The beautiful African continent attracts millions of tourists to various countries annually.

    Some come for pleasure, others to visit tourist sites and also to experience the rich culture of the people living here.

    You sometimes hear White people and those living in the diaspora refer to the entire continent as a country.

    It is not clear if they are ignorant of the fact that Africa consists of 54 different countries and forms part of the seven continents in the world or not.

    It is for this reason that Ghanaian journalist, Paulina Dedaa Opoku, better known as Paula Amma Broni, has urged people living outside the continent to desist from tagging it as a country.

    For years, Paula has observed that tourists who travel to a single African country end up bragging about visiting the entire African continent when they return to their country or share their beautiful experiences, not forgetting the tall list of misconceptions people living abroad have about Africans.

    “One thing that pisses me off is when people say I went to Africa, no you didn’t go to Africa. You went to an African country. Maybe you’ve been to Ghana, Liberia, or Nigeria. Stop saying you went to Africa during your vacation.

    “Some Africans haven’t even had the opportunity to travel to all the various countries on the continent. So Africa is not a country, it is a continent for the last time,” she told the founder of Viva Emerie, Ramatu Fofanah on ‘Girl Chat’.

    Watch the video below:

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Viva Emerie (@vivaemerie)

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Ghanaians celebrate Mohammed Kudus on his 22nd birthday

    Tuesday, August 2, 2022, is the birthday of Black Stars and Ajax midfielder, Mohammed Kudus.

    The midfielder has become the favorite of most Ghanaian football fans after playing an integral role in Ghana’s qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

    Born in Nima, a town in Ghana’s capital city Accra on August 2, 2002, the 2021 Golden Ball Award nominee has turned 22 today, August 2, 2022.

    Mohammed Kudus has made 16 appearances and has scored 5 goals since making his debut at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium under coach Kwasi Appiah in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against South Africa.

    Some fans have taken to social media to celebrate the midfielder expected to play a huge role in Ghana’s upcoming World Cup campaign as he turns 22 years today.

     

    Below as some of the tweets celebrating Mohammed Kudus on his 22nd birthday compiled for you by GhanaWeb in the post below:

    Happy 22nd birthday to the young magician, Mohammed Kudus. Enjoy your day @KudusMohammedGH ???????? pic.twitter.com/X3hZxLCkIC— *Mr. Joel Eshun* (@JOELESHUN4) August 2, 2022

    — All About Ajax (@AllAboutAjax) August 2, 2022

    Happy birthday to Mohammed Kudus who celebrates his 22nd birthday today!

    Let’s hope his gift will be a starting spot in the first league game of the season this weekend! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/VstpX0VEvn

    — BRIGHT KEKELI (@brightkekeli95) August 2, 2022

    It’s Mohammed kudus bithday today ????. Happy birthday Mo kuku pic.twitter.com/w2cVzkiQBy

    — ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????? (@_____oscarderio) August 2, 2022

    — Sports Brief (@sportsbriefcom) August 2, 2022

    Happy birthday to Mohammed kudus .????????@KudusMohammedGH @AFCAjax @TheEuropeanLad pic.twitter.com/Lf9JfRgU88

    — ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????? (@_____oscarderio) August 2, 2022

    Happy Birthday Mohammed Kudus pic.twitter.com/Gd9yRW4GZH

    — Quame 233???????????????? (@Kwame_UTD) August 2, 2022

    Happen birthday to one of the best Ghanaian midfielders.
    Mohammed Kudus ⚽️???? pic.twitter.com/lgx0mCR3ZR

    — Kyei Bernardo (@KyeiBernardo) August 2, 2022

    Happy birthday to Mohammed Kudus who celebrates his 22nd birthday today!

    Let’s hope his gift will be a starting spot in the first league game of the season this weekend! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/JOXx2s2Fai

    — ???????????? ???????????????? ???? (@TheEuropeanLad) August 2, 2022

    — Lawrence Baidoo (@kweku_lawrence) August 2, 2022

    Happy 22nd birthday to ???????? Mohammed Kudus who has been in blistering form for Ajax so far ???? pic.twitter.com/ZaIS59i6OD

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise

    The Ministry of Information together with its press pool have donated 68 pints of blood to complement stock at the National Blood Bank.

    The exercise which was the second time in a row brought together staff, members of its press pool and other members of the general public to shore up supply at the Blood Bank.

    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise

    Additionally, about 138 people were screened for BP, malaria, Body Mass Index (BMI) and HIV.

    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise

    The Deputy Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar in her opening remarks said that the exercise was in response to urgent calls by the Blood Bank to stock up after the COVID-19 and its corresponding restrictions on movement affected mass donation of blood.

    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise

    “I am impressed that my colleagues in the press pool, in addition to the staff of the Ministry of Information, Information Services Department and other volunteers responded to the call of the National Blood Bank and came in their numbers to participate in stocking the Blood Bank”, she said.

    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise

    The Deputy Minister was excited about the turn out of event and thanked the media personnel, staff and volunteers who availed themselves to donate blood.

    She lauded the Ministry for the initiative and called on other Ministries, Department and Agencies to follow suit.

    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise
    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise
    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise

    The Principal Blood Donor Recruitment Officer of the National Blood Service Madam Joyce Oppong Adu, underscored the importance of blood donation to save lives urging the public to participate in subsequent blood donation exercises.

    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise

    The Head of Communications of Stanbic Bank Ghana, Mr. Kojo Larbi was delighted that his outfit came through to support the exercise to make it a success.

    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise

    He said the exercise is a laudable one and as such Stanbic Bank is more than happy to partner the Ministry in future exercises of this kind.

    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise

    For his part, the head of Corporate Affairs at the EXIM Bank Ghana, Mr. Richard Anane Osei, said the success of the exercise showed how much we can achieve as a collective entity if we bring our hands on deck.

    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise
    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise

    He mentioned that the EXIM Bank Ghana would continue to lend a helping hand anytime it is called upon to make sure events like this become successful.

    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise

    The exercise was supported by Stanbic Bank Ghana, Aryton Drugs, Ghana EXIM Bank, Ocean Spray, FanMilk Limited, Dano Milk, Cocoa Processing Company (Golden Tree), Coca-Cola, Special Ice, Niche Confectionary, Voltic, Frutelli, Tobinco and Kalypo.

    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise
    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise

    It was also supported by media partners; Graphic Communications, Ghanaian Times, Joy FM, Asaase Radio and Citi FM.

    Information Ministry organises 2nd blood donation, health screening exercise

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • How fight between Alhaji Gruzah and Joe Debrah prevented Stephen Oduro from joining King Faisal

    Ghana Premier League legend, Stephen Oduro has explained how the “fight” between King Faisal owner, Alhaji Karim Grusah, and Ghana Premier League legend Joe Debrah influenced his move to Cornerstone FC

    Stephen Oduro revealed that Alhaji Grusah through his “hatred” for Asante Kotoko transferred Joe Debrah to Kumapeem Stars despite the player’s wish to join the Porcupine and that created tension between the two.

    According to Stephen Oduro, the issue became a big problem in their community which led to the involvement of the families of Grusah and Joe Debrah but King Faisal insisted that they alone would decide the destination of their player.

    “There was a serious fight between Ahaji Grusah and Joe Debrah because of Grusah’s refusal to sell him to Asante Kotoko. It became a huge fight even in our home because Joe Debrah insisted that he wants to play for Kotoko.”

     

    “Alhaji Grusah’s family members even came to our house when the issue became big. They told Joe Debrah’s parents that the player is theirs so nobody can’t force them to sell him to Kotoko.”

    Stephen Oduro added that Alhaji Grusah’s decision to deny the wish of Joe Debrah included his decision to leave the juvenile team of King Faisal to join Cornerstone FC.

    “Because of what Alhaji Grusah did to him, Joe Debrah made me join the U-14 side of Cornerstone during the registration despite playing in the King Faisal U-10. The Alhaji Grusah and Kotoko fight didn’t start today,” he told Dan Kweku Yeboah TV in an interview.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Eating banku and tilapia made my night complete in Ghana

    American rapper and singer, Victor Kwesi Mensah, popularly known as Vic Mensa, has recounted what makes his best nightlife complete in Ghana.

    Speaking with Kojo Manuel, Vic Mensa noted that eating banku and tilapia aside from the people and the culture made his nightlife whole.

    “My favourite thing about nightlife in Accra is going to get Banku and Tilapia around the corner from Republic Bar. That’s my favourite thing about nightlife in Ghana,” he said.

    Moving away from food, Vic delved into how he got American Hollywood star, Chance the Rapper, to visit Ghana for the first time.

    Vic said, “I tried to tell people that Ghana was a different conception of what people think of Africa.

    “I spoke to Chance and Chance was like ey, I am pulling up. Then five days later he was here. For many of us that were raised in America, coming home and coming to understand the people and the culture is a life-changing experience.”

    American rappers, Vic Mensa and Chance The Rapper returned to Ghana with about eight high school students from Chicago in the United States of America.

    The artistes and the students were expected to stay in Ghana for a 10-day educational travel experience.

    In an Instagram post shared on July 13, 2022, Vic Mensa highlighted “a year ago we had the idea to take a group of kids from Chicago to Ghana. There are some things about yourself that you can only understand by knowing where you come from.

    “The musician added that “Our dream is to build bridges that cross the ocean of divide created by the transatlantic slave trade. Today we are one step closer to actualizing that dream.”

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • We will be competitive for the World Cup – Black Princesses coach assures after France loss

    Black Princesses head coach, Ben Fokuo has assured that his players will be on a competitive level for the FIFA U-20 World Cup after their heavy defeat to France in a pre-World Cup friendly.

    Fokuo promised to intensify the training routines and sharpened the team to reach the level he demands before the tournament starts on August 10, 2022.

    The former Ghana U-17 men’s coach said the Black Princesses have had good recovery sessions after the 4-0 defeat on July 29, 2022.

    “We will train hard and make sure our strength and fitness level is on the level we want it to be at.”


    “After the France game, we had recovery training and the girls are responding to treatment and picking up gradually after the loss against France.”

    Fukuo pointed out that the tempo of the friendly against France took the Black Princesses by surprise but the technical team are working on getting the team to a competitive level.

    “The tempo of the game with France was totally different from what we expected but now we have seen the problems and with training sessions we had, you can see that the players are picking up quickly and making sure they get their strength to the level of the competition”.

    Ghana are paired with the USA, Japan and Netherlands in Group D of the World Cup.

    The Black Princesses will begin their campaign against the USA on August 11, before facing Japan on August 14 and then conclude the group stages 3 days later against the Netherlands.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • The summer stock rally could produce more pain

    Investors are anxious, tired and gloomy as they digest the worst start to the year since 1970 and try to chart a path forward. But you wouldn’t know it from watching major stock indexes.

    What’s happening: The S&P 500 rallied more than 9% in July, its best month since November 2020. The hope, among investors, was that the Federal Reserve could start to mellow out, reducing the risk that the central bank’s aggressive interest rate hikes could tip America’s economy into a recession this year or next.

    But real excitement about the pop is difficult to come by. Many traders are reading the gains as a “bear market rally,” or a short-lived rise within a broader downturn.

    “We think the market might have been too complacent too soon in fading recession risks,” strategists at Goldman Sachs told clients this week. “We think markets will be vulnerable to hawkish surprises.”

    If stocks do start posting consistent losses again, it could be painful. That’s because many investors have kept their money in the market despite recent volatility.

    “We haven’t seen broad-based outflows,” Karim Chedid, head of investment strategy for BlackRock’s iShares business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, told me. “There’s still money in equities.”

    The big reason investors haven’t dumped stocks is because they entered 2022 with high levels of cash, according to Chedid. As inflation surges, diluting that cash’s value, they’re not eager to hold more. And so far, attractive alternatives have been limited.

    “It means that the pain trade is on the way down,” Chedid said. In other words, those who still have skin in the game could get hammered.

    Know this phrase: Strategists have been waiting for a moment known as “capitulation,” when losses become too brutal to shoulder any longer and even the most reluctant traders head for the exits. It often signifies that the trough of a sell-off could be close.

    Data on fund flows subverts the idea that capitulation has already arrived. There’s still plenty of exposure, which means the whims of the market could induce more misery.

    Full-throated bulls may be hard to come by right now, but not everyone is a total cynic.

    “Although the activity outlook remains challenging, we believe that the risk-reward for equities is looking more attractive as we move through [the second half of the year],” JPMorgan Chase’s Marko Kolanovic told clients this week, noting that valuations compared to future earnings look tempting.

    Yet Bank of America’s Savita Subramanian notes that many companies still aren’t cutting their earnings estimates even as economic growth slows. That poses a major vulnerability should conditions deteriorate rapidly.

    Pelosi’s Taiwan visit rattles markets

     

    US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s expected visit to Taiwan shook markets in Asia on Tuesday as investors showed concern that the trip could escalate tensions between the world’s two biggest economies.

    Nancy Pelosi's plan to visit Taiwan sends Chinese markets tumbling

    The latest: Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 2.4%, my CNN Business colleague Laura He reports. Mainland China’s Shanghai Composite ended down 2.3%. Taiwan’s Taiex closed 1.6% lower.

    The Taiwan dollar weakened 0.1% against the US dollar. Meanwhile, the Japanese yen, a traditional safe-haven currency, surged 0.6% against the greenback.

    Investors also bought US government bonds, which are considered a safe bet.

    Step back: Pelosi is expected to visit Taiwan as part of her tour of Asia, according to a senior Taiwanese government official and a US official.

    The decision comes despite warnings from Biden administration officials, who are worried about China’s response to such a high-profile visit. The House speaker, who comes second in the line of succession for the presidency after the vice president, hasn’t visited Taiwan in 25 years.

    “No party wants a real war, but the risk of mishap or even aggressive war game escalation is real, which could always lead to a tactical mistake,” Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, told clients on Tuesday.

    The long journey to normal supply chains

     

    In a recent edition of Before the Bell, I wrote about how global supply chains are showing signs of improvement, a development that could ultimately push down decades-high inflation.

    But I noted that the timeline for a return to normal conditions is still anyone’s guess — a thesis supported by Maersk’s latest guidance for investors.

    The container shipping giant raised its annual profit forecast on Tuesday. It now expects earnings of $37 billion, up from $30 billion previously.

    The rationale: “Congestion in global supply chains leading to higher freight rates has continued longer than initially anticipated.”

    Maersk said it now expects a “gradual normalization” in freight travel by sea to take place in the last quarter of this year. In May, the company expected that process to take place “early” in the second half of 2022.

    My takeaway: The cost to ship a 40-foot container keeps coming down, which is good news. But it’s hard to put too much stock in timelines, which have been delayed again and again. And the shipping industry remains at the mercy of a host of variables, from Covid-19 and war in Europe to an uncertain economic environment.

    “In view of the war in Ukraine, the continuing disruptions to global supply chains and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the forecast is subject to considerable uncertainty,” Maersk rival Hapag-Lloyd said when it raised its annual profit forecast last week.

    Source: CNN

  • ito’s is trolling canned cocktails with $20 empty cans

    Basically everyone else is doing it, so you’d think it would be tempting for Tito’s Handmade Vodka to enter the canned cocktail craze. Instead, they’re doing the complete opposite.

    The vodka brand is selling a completely empty can that encourages customers to make canned cocktails however they like them, preferably with Tito’s vodka. “Tito’s in a Can” is just that…almost: It’s a 16-ounce, refillable can that costs $20 that’s meant to be a cheeky knock at the ever-growing cocktail-to-go trend.

    , we’ve always believed the idea of customizations is always the way to go,” Taylor Berry, vice president of brand marketing for Tito’s, exclusively told CNN Business. “You can make a cocktail the way you want it and if you want the portability of a can, here’s a can we made for you — it just happens to be empty.”

    The can is now on sale for a limited time at Tito’s online store with net proceeds benefiting charity.

    Tito's is selling empty cans to encourage customers to make their own canned cocktails.

    Customers have been asking Tito’s to enter the canned cocktail space, Berry said. The brand has so far resisted, and Berry’s said that’s because Tito’s would rather focus on simply making vodka.

    “We’ve been around for a quarter-century at this point, and there’s been a lot of trends that have happened throughout the alcohol industry,” he said. “We’ve stayed true to our roots — which is doing one thing, and doing one thing right.”

    Despite the “very tongue-in-cheek” marketing stunt (after all, it’s an empty $20 can), Berry said it’s “a vehicle to express a lot of the personality of the brand and that straightforward thinking that we have in terms of what we want to do, which is just [to make] Tito’s Handmade Vodka.”

    Vodka is the top-selling spirit in the United States, raking in more than $7 billion in sales last year according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the US (DISCUS). Tito’s has grown in popularity since the Texas-based brand began in 1995. The family-owned company doesn’t reveal sales figures, but Tito’s is one of the country’s top-selling vodka brands.

    Still, as consumers crave convenience and new flavors, ready-to-drink cocktails have exploded in popularity in recent years. Sales of premixed cocktails grew more than 40% last year, DISCUS recently revealed, soaring past $1.6 billion in sales and becoming second only to vodka in terms of volume consumption.

    But Tito’s has no fear of missing out on canned cocktails, Berry said.

    “Ultimately, from a brand standpoint, [we’re] holding true to what we know and the strategy we’ve had from the beginning — making vodka,” he said. “There’s an element of this brand not being sellouts.”

    Source: CNN

  • Tiger Woods turned down $700-$800 million offer to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf series, says CEO Greg Norman

    Tiger Woods turned down an offer worth approximately $700-$800 million to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series, according to the tour’s CEO Greg Norman.

    During an interview on Fox News that aired on Monday, former world No. 1 Norman was asked by Tucker Carlson if it was true that Woods was offered $700-$800 million to join the LIV Golf series.

    “That number was out there before I became CEO,” Norman replied. “So, that number’s been out there, yes. Look, Tiger’s a needle mover, right?

    “So, of course, you’re going to look at the best of the best. They had originally approached Tiger before I became CEO, so, yes, that number is somewhere in that neighborhood.”

    Norman with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (left) and Majed Al-Sorour, CEO of Golf Saudi (middle).

    Previously, Norman had told the Washington Post in June that Woods was offered huge money to participate but turned it down. Norman said the Woods proposal was “mind-blowingly enormous; we’re talking about high nine digits.”

    The controversial tour has attracted some big names from the golfing world to leave the established PGA Tour and the DP World Tour to participate for vast sums of money.

    Major winners Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen, Graeme McDowell, Charl Schwartzel and Martin Kaymer have all joined the breakaway venture, which has offered players huge money to join.

    The LIV Golf series is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) — a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia — and has pledged to award $250 million in total prize money.

    However, it has led to criticism from many players, including Rory McIlroy and Woods, that players have abandoned golf’s traditional set up and accepted money from a country with a dismal human rights record.

    9/11 survivors' group 'appalled' by 'hurtful' Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour ahead of event staged near Ground Zero

    Before July’s Open at St. Andrews, Scotland, Woods said he disagreed with the players who had left.

    “I think that what they’ve done is they’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position,” the 15-time major winner said.

    “Some of these players may not ever get a chance to play in major championships. That is a possibility. We don’t know that for sure yet. It’s up to all the major championship bodies to make that determination. But that is a possibility, that some players will never, ever get a chance to play in a major championship, never get a chance to experience this right here, walk down the fairways at Augusta National.

    Woods prepares a shot during his second round at the 150th Open at St. Andrews.

    “But what these players are doing for guaranteed money, what is the incentive to practice? What is the incentive to go out there and earn it in the dirt? You’re just getting paid a lot of money up front and playing a few events and playing 54 holes. They’re playing blaring music and have all these atmospheres that are different.”

    Woods added: “I just don’t see how that move is positive in the long term for a lot of these players, especially if the LIV organization doesn’t get world-ranking points and the major championships change their criteria for entering the events.

    “It would be sad to see some of these young kids never get a chance to experience it and experience what we’ve got a chance to experience and walk these hallowed grounds and play in these championships.”

    Woods even went as far to criticize Norman himself for his role in the splinter tour. “Greg has done some things that I don’t think is in the best interest of our game, and we’re coming back to probably the most historic and traditional place in our sport.”

    On Sunday, Henrik Stenson won the third event of LIV Golf’s debut season at Bedminster, New Jersey.

    Nearly two weeks after he was stripped of his Ryder Cup captaincy for joining the series, the 46-year-old Swede shot 11-under par at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster to win $4 million.

    He accepted the trophy alongside former US President Donald Trump, who was present throughout the three-day competition and who owns the course.

     

    Source: CNN

  • Rents hit another record high. But it’s still a better deal than buying in most US cities

    Rents hit another record high in June, putting more pressure on renters. But with the costs associated with buying a home rising so much this year, renting remains a better deal.

    In June, the national median rent hit a new record high of $1,876 a month, up 14% from a year ago, according to Realtor.com’s rental report. While June marked the 16th consecutive month of record highs, it is the fifth straight month of moderating growth, retreating from a 17% year-over-year rent increase in January.

    June’s median rent was $561 a month less, or 30% lower, than the typical monthly starter homeownership costs, according to the report. The difference is considerably greater than the $78 a month less that renters paid than buyers in January when mortgage rates were lower.

    But since then, average mortgage rates have surged more than two percentage points, rising from 3.22% in January to 5.51% last week.

    What will my monthly mortgage payment be?

    Although home prices also hit multiple record highs in the first half of the year, Realtor.com’s analysis found that mortgage rate hikes were the biggest driver of the widening affordability gap between renting and first-time buying.

    “If not for higher mortgage rates, the rent versus first-time buying gap would have shrunk in the first half of this year, as rents grew more quickly than starter home prices,” said Danielle Hale, Realtor.com’s chief economist.

    Higher mortgage rates added about $416 a month to typical starter home costs in June compared to a year ago, according to the analysis.

    “As housing affordability remains a challenge for many Americans, it’s key to stay on top of how higher costs impact your budget, whether renting or first-time buying,” said Hale.

    Buying vs renting

     

    Among America’s 50 largest cities, 38 were considered relatively affordable compared to buying a starter home, up from 24 in January.

    In some cities, the difference between the monthly cost to buy a home and the cost to rent is considerable, strongly favoring one or the other.

    The top rent-favoring markets were dominated by the country’s biggest tech hubs, while the areas that favored first-time homeownership were concentrated in the Midwest and South.

    Austin, Texas, showed the strongest case for renting over buying. Monthly first-time homeownership costs were $1,822 more, or 98% higher, than the median rental price there in June. Other cities where renting was far more compelling than buying last month were San Francisco; Seattle; New York; San Jose, California; Portland, Oregon; Los Angeles; Boston; Houston; and Phoenix.

    Cities where buying a first home was more favorable than renting last month included Pittsburgh; Birmingham, Alabama; St. Louis; Cleveland; Baltimore; Louisville, Kentucky; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Indianapolis; Cincinnati; and Kansas City, Missouri.

    “Many of these metros are also attracting home shoppers from out-of-state, in turn driving up the overall cost of living,” said Joel Berner, senior economic research analyst for Realtor.com. “For first-time buyers prioritizing lower home prices, you may still find options in these areas, but make sure to account for higher costs of other expenses in your budget.”

    Source: CNN

  • Major news organizations sue Texas DPR for public records on Uvalde shooting

    More than a dozen major news organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Texas Department of Public Safety to obtain public records relating to the Robb Elementary School massacre.

    The coalition includes CNN, the Texas Tribune, and many of the state and the country’s biggest news outlets.

    The news organizations have been fighting for weeks to obtain information on behalf of the public amid serial falsehoods and stonewalling from Texas officials in the aftermath of the mass shooting.

    The lawsuit, filed in state court in Austin, arises under the Texas Public Information Act, which enables news outlets and members of the public to pursue litigation to obtain records. The news outlets cited many previous requests for information and an “ensuing failure to disclose public records concerning this abhorrent tragedy.”

    “The Texas Department of Public Safety has offered inconsistent accounts of how law enforcement responded to the Uvalde tragedy, and its lack of transparency has stirred suspicion and frustration in a community that is still struggling with grief and shock,” said Laura Lee Prather, a First Amendment lawyer at Haynes Boone who represents the plaintiffs. “DPS has refused numerous requests by these news organizations even though it’s clear under Texas law that the public is entitled to have access to these important public records. We ask that the court grant our petition so that the people of Texas can understand the truth about what happened.”

    The suit notes that the public safety department has “selectively disclosed” information, but has dismissed more thorough records requests. Thus the news outlets want the court to order the department “to produce all responsive records.”

    The other participating news organizations are ABC, CBS, NBC, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal owner Dow Jones, The Washington Post, and ProPublica; local TV and media companies Gannett, Graham Media, Scripps and TEGNA

    Nicole Carroll, the editor in chief of Gannett’s USA Today, said on CNN’s “Reliable Sources” last month that the coalition is necessary because “we need to get to the truth. And we’re fighting for these records so we can get the truth.”

    Officials have “been stonewalling us” and changing their stories, she pointed out. “We’ve been misled, documents have been withheld.”

     

    Source: CNN

  • The busiest economic week of the summer is over: Here’s everything we learned

    The impact of these past seven days will reverberate for the next several weeks around the abandoned halls of Wall Street and Washington DC as politicos and investors retreat to the Hamptons or Martha’s Vineyard or wherever they summer. 

    Are we in a recession? It’s hard to say, but hopefully by September the knowledge we gleaned during this treacherous week will be fully absorbed, and our understanding of the US economy will be more clear.

    So what are we working with here? Let’s recap.

    • The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by another 75 basis points. The market expected this move but it was still a historically large hike. The Fed’s actions increased the rate that banks charge each other for overnight borrowing to a range of between 2.25% and 2.50%, the highest since December 2018.
    • Key inflation gauges showed prices remain elevated. The personal consumption expenditures price index rose 6.8% in June — that’s the biggest 12-month move since January 1982.
    • Consumer spending was higher, which is typically a sign that the economy remains strong. This time, however, the increase is likely due to rising prices, not thickening wallets. Personal consumption expenditures increased 1.1% for the month, above the 0.9% estimate.
    • The economy shrank for the second quarter in a row. GDP contracted at an annual rate of 0.9%. That decline marks a key symbolic threshold for the most commonly used — albeit unofficial — definition of a recession as two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth.
    • Americans grew more pessimistic about the economy. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index decreased in July for the third straight month. About 43% of 3,000 respondents said they think there’s a greater than 50% chance that the US will fall into a recession in the next 12 months, while just 13% said that in April.
    • Home price growth slowed for the second straight month. Prices in May were still robust, clocking in 19.7% higher compared with the same month last year, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index. But the market is cooling because of higher mortgage rates and concerns about inflation. In April, they grew by 20.6%.
    • Congress passed a $280 billion package to bolster the domestic chipmaking industry. The bill will increase the production of essential computer chips in the US to prevent future supply chain issues and increase competition with China.
    • Senators Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin reached a $700 billion deal on a sweeping climate, tax and health care bill. The plan includes $370 billion in energy and climate spending, about $300 billion in deficit reduction, subsidies for Affordable Care Act premiums and tax changes.
    • 170 companies reported second-quarter results including Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOG), Meta Platforms (FB), Apple (AAPL), and Amazon (AMZN). Results were mixed, with many companies warning about inflation and slowing growth in the future. Still, markets managed to end the week and month higher.

    That’s a lot to digest. Especially in a very persistent heat wave.

    Unfortunately, we do have another data-heavy week before we get a break.

    Earnings continue next week with Starbucks (SBUX), Uber (UBER) and Airbnb reporting.

    We also expect the release of some important economic data: JOLTs (job openings) unemployment rates, and PMI, a key indicator of US economic activity, are all headed our way.

    So hold off on the swimsuits and SPF for now. Or don’t, and bring the beach to your desk. Vacation is a state of mind right?

    Ducati takes on the world

     

    My CNN colleague Jonathan Hawkins recently had the opportunity to sit down with Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali in Misano, Italy, where World Ducati Week drew roughly 80,000 avid fans and owners across three days.

    The company, which is owned by Volkswagen, announced Friday that it brought in record revenue of €542 million ($552 million) in the first half of 2022 and boosted operating profits by about 15%.

    But the chief of Ducati described a difficult mix of business conditions that have made it harder to meet a surge in demand for bikes.

    Supply chain issues since the pandemic have been a “complete nightmare,” Domenicali said.

    “It’s been a very complicated mix of everything,” he said, noting that the time it takes to get a container from Asia to Europe has doubled, while closures in China have made it tough to secure necessary parts.

    Yet he pushed back on the idea that supply chains should become more localized, noting the pitfalls of reversing decades of globalization.

    “When you do business for the whole world, you stay more connected,” Domenicali said.

    Amid the uncertainty, the company does have an advantage. The cheap euro, which fell to parity with the US dollar in July for the first time in two decades, benefits exporters like Ducati, since it makes their goods cheaper for foreign customers.

    “It’s a help,” Domenicali said, not a problem.

    And he said the company, one of Italy’s best-known brands, hasn’t been shaken by the collapse of Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s government. Ducati has gotten used to executing its long-term plans without counting on the government, according to Domenicali.

     

     

    Source: CNN