TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Coronavirus halves mortgage, housing deals by 50% – Housing Expert

    A representative of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA), has revealed that 50 percent of potential mortgage and housing deals have come to a halt as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    According to him, the adverse impact of the pandemic, has led to an operational capacity of 30 percent for real estate and house developers.

    “The coronavirus pandemic had led to estate developers operating at a maximum capacity of 30 percent, with more than 50 percent of potential mortgage deals being cancelled or put on hold while the servicing of existing ones had been distorted,” the representative told GhanaWeb in an interview.

    However, a housing expert, Foster Osae-Akonnor told GhanaWeb the demand for housing and mortgages in general has since dwindled across the country.

    According to him, government needs to provide incentives for architects and contractors in order to sustain the sector from a collapse.

    He thus emphasized on designing buildings with sustainability in mind to enhance resource efficiency and deliver long-term energy savings in the architectural and construction sector.

    “This will reduce harmful emissions and protecting our environment accordingly,” he explained.

    As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the development of the real estate has affected both domestic and non-resident mortgage clients with an imminent effect of creditworthiness on real estate companies and individuals.

    Meanwhile, Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea recently announced due to the shortcomings of the existing Rent Act, 1963 (ACT 220), which does not significantly address current challenges of rental housing in Ghana, a new Rent Bill (Rent Bill, 2020) has been prepared and presented to cabinet for approval.

    The bill, when approved is expected to alleviate the seemingly biased practices of some landlords such as wrongful termination of contracts, eviction, and other outrageous demands for rent advance.

    “The Bill seeks to ensure that, property developers are not discouraged from investing in the housing industry by rigid rent control mechanisms that suppress chargeable rent to artificial levels. Currently, the Bill is before Cabinet for approval,” the minister stated.

    Atta Akyea however said the review of the existing rent act is intended to safeguard the rights of vulnerable tenants who have constantly been outpriced by the uncontrollable hikes in the cost of rent accommodation in the country.

    Source: www.ghaanweb.com

  • English born Ghanaian player Derrick Otim dies after drowning in a lake

    English born Ghanaian attacking midfielder Derrick Otim has passed away after he drowned in Lake Keowee in South Carolina, USA.

    Otim, 24 is a former player of Nottingham Forest in England and a final year student at Xavier University in the United States.

    Local reports say Derrick Otim drowned and passed away in Lake Keowee in South Carolina.

    An ex-playing mate of Derrick Ottim Kwame Thomas in a tweet has confirmed the death of his of the former.

    Thomas tweeted ”R.I.P brother, growing up was always the benchmark of where we all tried to get to. But forgetting football the most gentle + kind human being there is! Prayers up for you and your family at this devastating time #DerrickOtim,”

    Born on March 21, 1996, Otim was an attacking midfielder with a massive goal-scoring threat from anywhere thanks to a good right foot. Lethal from outside the box or inside, he was accurate if given a glimmer of space. He also had good ball control and good strength to hold off defenders to get forward into the box and finish.

    Tributes have been paid to the star player by Nottingham Forest FC and teammates, describing him as a ‘top lad’ who ‘always brought a smile to everyone’s faces’.

    Nottingham Forest FC has posted a tribute to the player, saying: “Rest in peace, Derrick”.

    “NFFC are saddened to learn of the passing of former academy player Derrick Otim. The thoughts of everyone at the club go out to his friends and family at this tragic time.”

    Otim’s former teammate, Matty Cash, tweeted in tribute: “RIP del, can’t believe I’m writing this.”

    “Such a top lad who always brought a smile to everyone’s face when around him.”

    Nottingham Forest Women’s FC player Alana Crawford also paid tribute to the player, writing on social media: “Life is so cruel. What a lovely soul you were. Everyone who knew you were so lucky to have known someone as lovely as you.”

    “There are literally no words. Rest in peace.”

    Fans have also paid tribute to the player, with one writing: “He was such a funny and happy lad! It’s devastating news.”

    A second said: “Devastated to hear of the passing of Derrick Otim. A wonderfully talented footballer and an incredible human being. Life can be unbearably cruel.”

    And a third wrote: “My heart is breaking Dez… For you, for your family and all your many many friends.”

    “A smile that could light up any room. A personality that no-one could pick faults with. The kindest most gentle soul I ever had the pleasure of meeting.”

    “Rest easy my wonderful friend.”

    Source: pulse.com.gh

  • EC limits registration to 75 applicants at a time

    The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has introduced a new system to control swelling numbers at registration centres.

    The queue management system is to deal with overcrowding at some registration centres to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 as the new voter registration takes place.

    Registration began on Tuesday, June 30, and is currently in the second phase.

    The first days were fraught with crowds trooping to the centres in violation of COVID-19 guidelines outlined by the EC at the venues.

    “Under the Queue Management System, the first 150 applicants who arrive at the registration centres will be provided with numbered chits. The first half of this number will be served from morning to early afternoon.

    “The second half will be asked to leave the centres and return in the afternoon when the registration process for the first batch has been completed. They will then be served,” the Acting Public Affairs Director at the EC, Mrs Sylvia Annoh, said in a statement on Monday, July 6.

    The election management body believes the new system will reduce the long queues and help with the enforcement of social distancing protocols at the centres.

    The EC said it will continue to review and improve its processes so as “to ensure that citizens register in a safe and secure environment.”

    As part of measures to curb coronavirus, applicants are supposed to wear face masks, wash their hands before entering the premises of registration centres and observe social distancing.

    The temperature of every applicant is expected to be taken, and health officials from the Ghana Health Service notified of persons with high readings.

    Additionally, the EC says it has made provisions for hand sanitisers, and regular disinfection of registration kits are to be observed by officials.

     

    Source: theghanareport 

  • Asante Kotoko must offer Matthew Cudjoe a good contract – Samuel Anim Addo

    Ghana Premier League side, Asante Kotoko, has been cautioned to offer Matthew Anim Cudjoe a good contract as his one-year loan deal expired at the end of the season.

    The 17-year-old before the truncation of the 2019/20 Ghana Premier League was sensational for the Porcupine Warriors.

    Reports in the local media suggest that Cudjoe is being tracked by other top European clubs due to his exploits.

    However, Samuel Anim Addo, who is the manager of the winger has said the youngster is open to fresh negotiation for a contract extension with the Porcupine Warriors as soon as they were ready.

    “We have not resumed negotiations yet but Coach Maxwell Konadu occasionally calls to discuss the boy with me,” Anim Addo, who is also an Executive Council member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), told Graphic Sports.

    According to Anim Addo, should negotiation begin anytime soon, his main priority would be about how the club would develop the player to become a future star, including getting him enough playing time to enhance his potential.

    “If they will offer him a good contract we are ready to accept it.”

    “When I say a good contract I am referring to an offer which will help develop the player and also get him enough playing time”, he stressed.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Afriyie Acquah still haunted by 2015 Afcon finals penalty miss in defeat to Cote d’Ivoire

    Ghana midfielder Afriyie Acquah has revealed that he still feels the pain of missing his penalty as the Black Stars lost the Africa Cup Nations final in 2015 to La Cote d’Ivoire.

    After a man of the match performance in a pulsating goalless draw against the Elephants at the Estadio de Bata, Afriyie saw his spot-kick saved by the Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacar Barry.

    “I have personally not heard fans ask that, but Avram Grant knew what he was doing and all the players in the squad also knew my skill from the penalty spot. I never missed a kick at training. I am very good at penalties. In fact, when the Ivorians missed their second penalty, Grant changed the kicking order just so I could go and take that kick. I was confident in the approach to the kick but these things happen. I missed,” the 28-year old told godfred.substack.com

    Acquah has not been able to watch the repeat of that game, admitting he still feels haunted.

    “I have still not watched that game. I remember when we returned to Ghana from Equatorial Guinea, I went out with my family to eat at a restaurant. When we entered the TV in the restaurant had the game on replay. I begged the restaurant manager to change the channel for me,” says Acquah.

    Source: Lukman Abdul Mumin- Contributor

  • My husband is more than an angel on earth Wife of Keche Andrew defends him after viral video of a lady cursing him

    Joana Cudjoe, wife of singer Keche Andrew has come out to defend her husband after the recent viral video where a lady was seen cursing him.

    Not long ago, a video went viral where a lady was seen cursing Keche Andrew for allegedly allowing her nude photo to go out because he was the only one he sent such things.

    The lady did another video where she narrated how Keche Andrew broke her heart and went in for business mogul and female millionaire, Joana Cudjoe.

    Till now the musician has not come out to say anything about the issue, as to whether it is true or they are based on false accusations.

    However, wife of Keche Andrew has made a post defending her husband and calling him an angel on earth and asking people to stop the hate.

    She wrote, “Stop the hate …my husband is more than an angel 👼 on earth 🌍”

    Watch post below;

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    Stop the hate …my husband is more than an angel 👼 on earth 🌍

    A post shared by Joana Gyan Cudjoe (@joanagyancudjoe) on

    Source: ghbase.com

  • Parts of Ada West District submerged in flood

    Parts of Ada West District got heavily flooded after seven hours of torrential rain, leaving several residents stranded and many properties destroyed.

    The rain which started in the early hours of Saturday and subsided in the late afternoon, affected communities including Sege, Toflokpo, Salom, Koluedor and Madagbeh.

    The floods submerged roads linking communities as it swept away livestock and other valuables.

    The locals had to either vacate their homes to seek refuge with neighbours or race to higher grounds as the floodwater rose to perilous heights with a swift undercurrent.

    Mr James Tsiani Gadugah, Assemblymember for ToflokpoSalom electoral area, who blamed the situation on lack of storm drains, told the Ghana News Agency that project designers must engage community members when working on roads in the area.

    “Whenever contractors are working on the roads and we try showing them where bridges must be, they snub us thinking their book knowledge is the best. This has been caused by lack of enough bridges at some vantage portions of the road, “he lamented.

    Some of the residents said the flood nearly carried them away when they waded through it to seek refuge at safer places.

    “If this should happen for a second or third time, some of our communities will be washed away, “Evans, a farmer, said.

    Portions of Tema Aflao Road also got flooded but the users managed to use it.

    Source: GNA

  • Voters register: EC institutes queue management system to ensure social distancing

    The Electoral Commission has initiated a queue management system at its registration centres to prevent overcrowding and the breach of anti -COVID-19 social distancing rules by anxious applicants seeking to acquire their Voters Identification card.

    A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency explained that under the queue management system, the first 150 applicants who arrived at the Registration Centres would be provided with numbered chits.

    The first half of this number, it said, would be served from morning to early afternoon; while the second half would be asked to leave the centres and return in the afternoon when the registration of the first batch would have been completed.

    The statement said it would continue to review and improve upon the processes to ensure citizens registered in a safe and secure environment.

    “The Commission believes that this system will go a long way towards reducing overcrowding and long queues and help with the enforcement of social distancing protocols at the Centres,” it said.

    The statement reiterated that the Commission would ensure that citizens who qualified were afforded the opportunity to register and cast their votes.

    “We encourage constructive feedback from the general public, which is aimed at improving the Registration Exercise, which is already motion,” it said.

    The EC is seeking to register about 16 million Ghanaians from June 30 to August 06, under a cluster system at 33,367 polling stations nationwide.

    Though the process has been progressing smoothly, the lack of effective management of applicants outside the registration perimeter has been a challenge, leading to overcrowding at some of the centres.

    Source: GNA

  • Electrician apprentice electrocuted at Tema West

    An electrician’s apprentice was electrocuted to death on a high voltage pole in Sakumono, Tema West last Saturday.

    The 22-year-old man was later identified as Kofi Owusu by some onlookers who thronged the Chapel Square area of the community.

    He wore blue overalls with no hand gloves on and his corpse dangled for over four hours with a few of his tools lying beneath the pole.

    The onlookers, mostly from Sakumono Village where the deceased lived with his family, wailed uncontrollably as they waited for the Police.

    His body was later brought down with the help of police personnel and officials of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) after they cut power to the area.

    Some residents who were spotted earlier said he had been invited to fix an electrical fault a few hours after the rains subsided Saturday afternoon.

    It is, however, unclear he was a certified electrician and authorized by the ECG to climb such electrical poles.

    Corroborating the incident, Chief Inspector Collins Antwi Kweku Amankwah, Station Officer, Sakumono Police Station, said the deceased was an electrician apprentice who inadvertently slipped whiles working on a faulty line and in the process held onto a live wire leading to his death.

    The body of the deceased, he added, had been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Kevin Boateng congratulates brother Jerome on Bayern Munich achievements

    Black Stars forward Kevin-Prince Boateng has congratulated his brother Jerome for winning the German DFB-Pokal title for the third time in a row.

    Bayern beat Bayern Leverkusen 4-2 to clinch the Cup final over the weekend.

    This follows the side historic eight successive titles in Germany after a fabulous run in the Bundesliga.

    And Boateng, who is on loan at Turkish side Besiktas, has taken to social media to congratulate his younger brother for the amazing feat.

    “Since 3 years the cup stays in the hands of the BOATENG family ???????????????? congrats my brother @jeromeboateng ?? “he wrote on Instagram.

    Jerome, 31, played an influential role for the Bavarian as they coasted to yet another milestone in the club’s enviable history.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • People & Places: Hidden truths about the settlement of the Akuapem people

    Located on the Eastern part of Ghana, they are noted for their hospitality and homeliness.

    The Akuapems, like other tribes, have a unique story behind their existence and heritage.

    Their name which means ‘1000 groups’, from the Akan words “Kuw Apem” emanates from the history of how thousands of them, together with the help of the Akyems, defeated their then rivals; the Akwamus, to gain Independence.

    Today, they have 17 traditional towns, divided into 5 divisions, with 5 sub-chiefs and overlords from the Akyem line; the Okuapehene.

    In the first episode of this edition of People and Places, we learn all about the origin, leadership, settlements, and clan systems of the Akuapems.

    Below is the full video:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Former Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac ‘interested’ in Ghana return

    Former Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has expressed interest in coaching the Black Stars again.

    The Serbian tactician is regarded as the best Black Stars coach in recent times after leading Ghana to the finals of the 2010 Nations Cup and the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

    Rajevac described Ghana as his second home despite a brief spell that saw him lead the Black Stars between 2008 to 2010.

    “Of course, I will be interested [if offered the opportunity to coach Ghana again],” Rajevac told Kumasi FM.

    “It will be very difficult to reject it because of my feelings for Ghanaians.”

    “Of course, Ghana is my second country, and the success I achieved there and how I felt cannot be compared to anything in this world.”

    “I still have many friends and are in touch with a lot of them.”

    “Everyone at the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the media, and my technical team contributed to my success, it was a collective success.”

    “I will visit Ghana in the future, at least as a tourist [and possibly] to talk about professional engagement.”

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Kuami Eugene joins Keche Andrew and wife for dinner in their plush mansion Video

    Afrobeats singer, Kuami Eugene has joined singer Keche Andrew and wife in their plush mansion to have dinner together.

    A video posted by the official handle of Joana Cudjoe, wife of Keche Andrew, shows Kuami Eugene in their beautiful home as they got ready to have dinner.

    Joana Cudjoe was quite happy about this little get together per her caption with the video as she wrote, “Feels good to have these great guys around … Dinner time @kuamieugene x @kecheglobal x @_andrewking“

    Keche Andrew is seen in the video, taking viewers on a 360 view of their dinning table as he tried to capture all that was going on at the moment.

    Watch video below;

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    Feels good to have these great guys around … Dinner time @kuamieugene x @kecheglobal x @_andrewking

    A post shared by Joana Gyan Cudjoe (@joanagyancudjoe) on

    Source: ghbase.com

  • EC introduces queue management system at voter registration centres

    The Electoral Commission has introduced what it calls the queue management system at all its registration centres in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area to tackle issues with overcrowding.

    The queue management system will ensure that the first 150 applicants who arrive at the registration centres will be provided with “numbered chits”, according to the EC.

    The first half of this number will be served from morning to early afternoon, while the second half will be asked to leave the centres and return in the afternoon when the registration process for the first batch has been completed.

    The EC hopes that this new system will “address the long queues and help with the enforcement of social distancing protocols at the centres.”

    “The Commission is keen to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus at all its centres. As a result, we will continue to review and improve our processes so as to ensure that citizens register in a safe and secure environment,” a statement from the EC added.

    The introduction of this new system follows reports of overcrowding and disregard for COVID-19 safety protocols at some registration centres.

    The EC, following these concerns, indicated that the ongoing exercise will see a greater level of compliance to COVID-19 preventive measures.

    The registration which is being conducted across six thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight clusters simultaneously will be completed on August 6, 2020.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • BOST closes down its head office after 36 staff test positive for coronavirus

    The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) has on Monday, July 6, 2020, shut down its head office located at Dzorwulu after numerous staff tested positive for coronavirus.

    The coronavirus cases were detected after the company embarked on a mass testing of staff.

    A press release copied to GhanaWeb said, “BOST would like to announce for the information of the general public that it has closed down its head office at Dzorwulu in the Ayawaso West Municipality from Monday, 6th July to Monday 13th July 2020”.

    “This has become necessary due to a mass testing of staff carried out by the company at the head office in the wake of a staff of the IT department testing positive for the virus. After the mass testing, a number of the staff tested positive and arrangements are being made for their treatment,” the statement added.

    GhanaWeb sources reveal that about 36 staff have contracted the deadly Coronavirus.

    The oil company has therefore called on the Ghana Health Service to get in touch with these affected persons for treatment.

    BOST has however assured staff of fumigating the office to ensure their safety when work resumes on July 14.

    Read below their press statement.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Asante Kotoko must offer Matthew Cudjoe good contract – Samuel Anim Addo

    Ghana Premier League side, Asante Kotoko have been cautioned to offer Matthew Anim Cudjoe a good contract whose one-year loan deal expired at the end of the season.

    The 17-year-old has until the truncation of the 2019/20 Ghana Premier League was sensational for the Porcupine Warriors.

    Reports in the local media suggest that Cudjoe is being tracked by other top European clubs due to his exploits.

    However, Samuel Anim Addo, who is the manager of the winger says the youngster is open to fresh negotiation for contract extension with the Porcupine Warriors as soon as they were ready.

    ”We have not resumed negotiations yet but Coach Maxwell Konadu occasionally calls to discuss the boy with me,” Anim Addo, who is also an Executive Council member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), told Graphic Sports.

    Despite interest in the young winger by some European clubs, Mr Anim Addo insisted that the boy needed to attain the age of 18 years before he could sign any contract abroad.

    He, therefore, preferred Kotoko as the first option should the player continue his career development on the local scene.

    According to Anim Addo, should negotiation begin anytime soon, his main priority would be about how the club would develop the player to become a future star, including getting enough playing time to enhance his potential.

    ”If they will offer him a good contract we are ready to accept it.

    “When I say a good contract I am referring to an offer which will help develop the player and also get him enough playing time”, he stressed.

    He said he was ready to meet the management of the club as and when they were ready to open talks for a review of the deal.

    He is well remembered for his immense contribution to Kotoko’s 1-0 win over arch-rivals, Accra Hearts Oak, in their first-round league game at the Accra Sports Stadium.

    Cudjoe recently went on trials at Bayern Munich.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Michael Essien names his best player in Azerbaijani top-flight

    Former Ghana international Michael Essien has named Mamadou Kane as the best player in the Azerbaijani Premier League.

    Essien plies his trade in the Azerbaijani top-flight with Sabail FK.

    The 38-year-old, who has played for several clubs across the globe, has been impressed with Neftchi Baku midfielder Mamadou Kane.

    The Guinean midfielder has distinguished himself this season by playing with passion and developing rapidly in the championship.

    It should be noted that the best football player of the season in the Azerbaijani Premier League has been determined by the Sports Research Center for three years in a row among the players and head coaches of eight clubs.

    The name of the best player of the 2019/2020 season, which was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be clarified in the coming days.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Hearts midfielder Emmanuel Nettey disappointed with cancellation of GPL

    Hearts of Oak midfielder Emmanuel Nettey is disappointed by the cancellation of the 2019/20 Ghana Premier League season.

    The midfielder who joined the Phobians at the start of the campaign was enjoying a good season before the league was halted due to the coronavirus outbreak in Ghana.

    Last Tuesday, the Ghana Football Association Executive Council agreed to end the campaign after a marathon meeting following the increasing cases of COVID-19.

    “It was a blow when I heard it because I was expecting the resumption of the league so we could continue from where we left off,” he told Citi Sports.

    “We were factored into the decision that was taken and they thought it was not right for football to continue.

    “In as much as it was a blow to me I have no option than to accept it and also tone down on the intensity of my training.”

    The Phobians were 8th on the table after 14 games before the season was halted and eventually canceled.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Fiorentina reignite interest in Real Valladolid defender Mohammed Salisu

    Fiorentina are back in the hunt for Real Valladolid defender Mohammed Salisu.
    That is according to a report in Calcio Mercato, who says the Viola are in the market for a new center-back this summer and the Ghanaian fits the profile.

    The Italian side are back in the hunt for the 21-year-old after they cooled off their interest two months ago.

    However, they could face fresh competition from England with Manchester United, Arsenal, West Ham, Southampton, and Newcastle United also joining the race to sign the Real Valladolid defender.

    They are further joined by Napoli and Atletico Madrid in the pursuit of Salisu, who reportedly has a €12 million release clause.

    A product of the Valladolid youth academy, Salisu has emerged as one of the rising stars in La Liga this season after being promoted to the senior side last summer. He has been an ever-present figure in the Valladolid backline, notching up 31 league appearances.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Breakdown of Andre Ayew’s numbers for Swansea City this season

    Andre Ayew has been the livewire for Championship side Swansea City this season.

    He has been on a fantastic run of form for the Welsh side since he returned from his loan spell with Fenerbache in the Turkish topflight league.

    READ MORE: Michael Essien stopped listening to commentary of Ghana-Uruguay clash after Gyan’s miss (video)

    Andre Ayew on Sunday 5th July 2020 banged his 14th goal for Swansea City in this season Championship campaign to revive their chances of earning a Championship play-off spot.

    Swansea City recovered from a slow start to beat Sheffield Wednesday and maintain their challenge for a Championship play-off place.

    It could have been a different story had Wednesday capitalised on their first-half dominance, exposing the hosts’ new-look three-man defence but wasting several chances.

    Swansea then converted their first opportunity, Liverpool loanee Rhian Brewster smashing in from close range to score a goal for which the phrase ‘against the run of play’ could have been invented.

    Andre Ayew struck the Swans’ second with a penalty after Connor Roberts was wrestled to the ground by Adam Reach, before Atdhe Nuhiu headed in an injury-time consolation goal for Wednesday.

    Steve Cooper’s side are now eighth in the Championship and back within four points of the play-off places with five matches left this season. The Owls remain 14th.

    As it stands now Andre Ayew has a goal tally of 14 and six assists.

    Below is the breakdown of his goal tally for the 2019/2020 English Championship campaign

    2nd October 2019

    Charlton 1-2 Swansea City

    Andre Ayew

    5th October 2019

    Swansea City 1-2 Stoke City

    Andre Ayew

    19th October 2019

    Barnsley 1-1 Swansea City

    Andre Ayew

    9th November 2019

    Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Swansea City

    11th December 2019

    Swansea City 1-1 Blackburn

    Andre Ayew

    14th December 2019

    Swansea City 3-1 Middlesbrough

    Andre Ayew 2x

    21st December 2019

    Luton 0-1 Swansea City

    26th December, 2019

    Brentford 3-1 Swansea

    Andre Ayew

    18th January, 2020

    Swansea City 2-1 Wigan

    Andre Ayew

    22nd February, 2020

    Swansea city 3-1 Huddersfield

    Andre Ayew

    29th February, 2020

    Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Swansea

    Andre Ayew

    20th June, 2020

    Middlesbrough 0-3 Swansea

    5th July, 2020

    Swansea City 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday

    Andre Ayew

    Source: pulse.com.gh

  • Former Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac interested in Ghana return

    Ex-Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has expressed interest in coaching the Black Stars again.

    The Serbian tactician is regarded as the best Black Stars coach in recent times after leading Ghana to the finals of the 2010 Nations Cup and the quarter-finals of the World Cup in South Africa.

    Rajevac described Ghana as his second home despite a brief spell that saw him lead the Black Stars between 2008 to 2010.

    “Of course, I will be interested [if offered the opportunity to coach Ghana again],” Rajevac told Kumasi FM.

    “It will be very difficult to reject it because of my feelings for Ghanaians.

    “Of course, Ghana is my second country, and the success I achieved there and how I felt cannot be compared to anything in this world.

    “I still have many friends and are in touch with a lot of them.

    “Everyone at the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the media, and my technical team contributed to my success, it was a collective success.

    “I will visit Ghana in the future, at least as a tourist [and possibly] to talk about professional engagement.”

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Hans Kwofie re-joins AshantiGold SC

    Former Ashanti Gold SC attacker Hans Kwofie has rejoined the club as a free agent ahead of next season.

    Kwofie penned a one-and-half year deal with the Miners after successful negotiations.

    The 30-year-old has been without a club since parting ways with Malaysian side Puchong Fuerza FC in the summer of 2019.

    Speaking in an interview with Wontumi radio and TV, Kwofie confirmed he has signed a deal with Ashgold as he hopes to hit the ground running when football finally resumes.

    “I’ve signed one and half-season with AshGold. I will join the club when football resumes,” the former Medeama SC and Bechem United forward said.

    “I am the same Hans Kwofie, so the fans should expect the Hans they knew years back and also be patient when things aren’t going well too.”

    He featured for Ashgold in the 2016/17 season and won the Golden Boot after scoring 17 goals.

    He has previously played for Bechem United, Medeama SC, Al Oruba, Smouha SC, Singida FC, and Puchong Fuerza FC.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Andre Ayew named in Championship Team of the Month of June

    Swansea City poster boy, Andre Dede Ayew has been named in the SkyBet Championship Team of the Month of June for his impressive displays for his side.

    In a month which saw the 2019/2020 football season returning from the break caused by the Coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis, the Ghana international managed to play in all 3 games.

    First, he featured for Swansea City when they defeated Middlesbrough on Matchday 38 by 3 goals to nothing. In that game, the forward scored and also provided an assist to ensure his side bagged all 3 points.

    Later on, Ayew made an appearance in games against Luton Town as well and Millwall respectively. With the matches ending in a defeat and a draw, his performance was always on a high as he earned applauds in the process.

    Assessing the performance of all players of the 20 clubs in the English SkyBet Championship, WhoScored.com has named Andre Ayew in the Team of the Month of June.

    He is including in the attacking department of the team with a rating of 7.62.

    This season, the attacker has been outstanding for Swansea City where he has scored 14 goals and provided 6 assists after playing 38 games.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Kotoko appoint ex-KNUST Sports Director Joseph Yaw Adu as new CEO

    Kumasi Asante Kotoko has appointed former Sports Director of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Yaw Adu as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the club.

    The CEO position at the Porcupine Warriors club has been vacant by Mr. George Amoako who was relieved of his post last month following a decision by the new board of directors to dissolve the management team.

    Having been in the hunt for a new CEO for the club, information picked up by footballghana.com. indicates that Mr. Joseph Yaw Adu has been given the job.

    The report has it that the sports administrator has in the past week been largely considered for the vacant position at the club and has now been appointed.

    The former KNUST Sports Director is expected to work with the club for the period of the mandate given to the new board of directors.

    He will work while reporting directly to the board which has been made the highest decision making body of Asante Kotoko by Manhyia.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • $1m Kroll case: Acting Auditor-General satisfied after scrutinizing Osafo Maafos documents

    Acting Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu has expressed satisfaction with documents presented by the Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo challenging the $1m surcharge on him.

    This comes at a time when the substantive Auditor-General, Daniel Yao Demelevo has been asked to proceed on his accumulated annual leave by the President, Nana Akufo-Addo.

    Mr. Domelevo had recommended the disallowance of the payment of the US$1million made by the government, through the Ministry of Finance to a private UK firm, Kroll and Associates.

    He surcharged Mr. Osafo Maafo and four other officials of the Ministry of Finance, following what he said was the persistent failure of the Senior Minister to provide proof of actual work done.

    A memo from Acting Auditor-General and sighted by citinewsroom.com advised both parties to continue the legal tussle given the successful inspection of the documents on the deal.

    “We wish to state that we are satisfied with the processes and therefore propose that the lawyers inform the Supreme Court accordingly to enable both parties to go back to the High Court to continue with the proceedings in that court”.

    The Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo, was recently found guilty of contempt for failing to respond to a suit filed by the Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo over the case.

    According to the court, the reason given by Mr. Domelevo for his inability to respond was “untenable and an afterthought.”

    Domelevo had said he was busy finishing up an audit report for Parliament, hence his failure to respond to the suit.

    He was thus given 14 days to give his response.

    Background

    The Auditor-General in its annual report on Public Accounts of Ghana (PAG) as of 31 December 2018 on the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) stated that: “during our review of the contract with Kroll Associates, we noted that though there was no evidence of work done, the ministry, in 2018, paid an amount of US$1 million (the equivalent of GH¢4,890,000) to the company”.

    The Senior Minister and the four other officials from the Ministry of Finance sued Mr. Domelevo to clear their names in relation to what was said to be breaches of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) that resulted in their payment of US$1 million to Kroll and Associates.

    Mr. Osafo Maafo resorted to the courts because “the evidence available shows clearly that the Auditor-General erred in law and professional procedures in the exercise of his powers regarding his audit on payments to Kroll and Associates Limited.”

     

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Andre Ayew seals Swansea City victory with 14th Championship goal of the season

    Andre Ayew scored his 14th goal in the Championship this season to seal Swansea City’s 2-1 victory against Sheffield Wednesday.

    The 30-year-old stepped forward to double the hosts lead at the Liberty Stadium with his 66th-minute strike from the penalty spot, 10 minutes after Rhian Brewster opened the scoring.

    Ayew who has played 39 Championship games for the Swans in this campaign, was on parade from start to finish, to help them return to winning ways after settling for a 1-1 draw against Millwall on Wednesday and conceding a 1-0 loss against bottom-placed Luton Town last Saturday.

    In the encounter, the Ghana international registered the most shots on target (3) and he also completed the most dribbles (3) as Swansea City secured their 15th league win of the season.

    The victory shot Steve Cooper’s men to eighth in the Championship table with 60 points from 40 games, to boost their chances of sealing a play-off spot as they are four points behind sixth-placed Cardiff City.

    Ayew is currently enjoying his best scoring form in a league season in his career with a contribution of 14 goals and six assists in the English second division so far.

    He joined Swansea City from West Ham United in 2018 and his three-year contract at the Liberty Stadium is expected to expire in June 2021.

    Following the Swans’ relegation from the Premier League in 2017-18, Ayew moved to the Turkish Super Lig to join Fenerbahce on a season-long loan for top-flight football.

    During his stay in Turkey, the Black Stars captain scored five goals in 38 games for the Yellow-Navy Blues.

    Ayew will be aiming to boost Swansea City’s push for the play-off when they visit Birmingham City for their next Championship fixture on Wednesday before hosting league leaders Leeds United on July 12.

    Source: goal.com

  • See how Hushpuppi scammed Italian club Lazio for £2 million in 2018

    Back in 2018, an Italian newspaper II Tempo reported that Lazio were scammed via an email for a sum of £2 million (N968 million) by fraudsters who were aware of their transfer deal.

    The money was for the final payment of Stefan de Vrij who Lazio signed from Feyenoord, a club in Netherland.

    Back in 2018, an Italian newspaper II Tempo reported that Lazio were scammed via an email for a sum of £2 million (N968 million) by fraudsters who were aware of their transfer deal.

    The money was for the final payment of Stefan de Vrij who Lazio signed from Feyenoord, a club in Netherland.

    The hackers sent an email, which has the badge of Feyenoord along with details of a bank account, to Lazio. The Italian club, who thought the email was from Feyenoord, sent the money without doing any necessary checks, and would later find out that the money was not transferred into the account of Feyenoord, but to a wrong account also in Netherland which belonged to fraudsters.

    It has now been reported that Hushpuppi and his gangs were responsible for the fraud, according to Brila.

    He was also looking forward to scamming English football clubs before he was arrested.

    It has been disclosed that USA lost $1.7 billion in 2019 to Hushpuppi, and he is likely to face 20 years in prison.

    Source: opera.com

  • Remember Micheal Jackson’s lawyer, Hushpuppi has hired him to fight his Case

    The late king of pop, Michael Jackson’s lawyer has been hired by Hushpuppi to fight and defend his lawsuits.

    Recall that the Dubai based billionaire who flaunts his extravagant lifestyle on the internet was arrested some weeks ago buy Dubai Interpol, some hours ago he and his crew were extradited to United stated for further investigations.

    However, according to Newzandar and TimelyInformant, the Nigerian big boy has hired the late king of afro-pop, Michael Jackson’s attorney, Mark John Geragos to defend his lawsuits.

    Mark John Geragos who is a defence lawyer and the managing partner of Geragos & Geragos will now be defending Ramon Abass.

    Moreover, Hushpuppi has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. The question we should ask ourselves is that, hiring the famous lawyer to defend him, will that reduce his prison sentence or will he be set free?

    Source; Newzandar and News-af.feednews.com

    Follow to keep updated and stay tuned.

    Source: opera.com

  • Executive Council to meet on Thursday, July 9 on new football season

    The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) will meet on Thursday, July 9, 2020, to fix a date for Congress and also discuss matters related to the new season.

    This follows the decision of the Council to cancel the 2019/20 football season and prepare for a new one.

    Matters to be discussed include date and agenda for Congress, the date for player registration, and modalities leading to the start of the 2020/21 season.

    The football calendar has not been fully completed since the 2016/17 season when Aduana Stars FC won their second Ghana Premier League title and Asante Kotoko pipped their arch-rivals Hearts of Oak to lift their 9th FA Cup title.

    The GFA Executive Council, on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, took the decision to cancel the 2019/20 football season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Source: GNA

  • Akufo-Addo receives visitors whilst in isolation – Photo drops

    The President of the Republic has gone into mandatory self-quarantine after one of his aides tested positive for COVID-19.

    The President thus began a 14-day self-isolation with his wife, Rebecca Akufo-Addo in an undisclosed location.

    A photo of the President his family in isolation has gone viral.

    Sources claim the daughters of the President visited them whilst they isolate. In a photo, one can note that they have observed some distance between them.

    Also, the President and his wife look stronger, an indication that they are doing fine.

    We hope their results come negative to ease the tension imposed on Ghanaians.

    It has also been reported that former President John Agyekum Kuffour and his wife Theresah Kuffour have gone into isolation after one of their guards also tested positive for COVID-19.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    First Photo of Akufo-Addo @nakufoaddo in self-isolation with wife Rebecca @rakufoaddo pops up. #dailycelebritiesnews

    A post shared by Dailycelebritiesnews.org (@dailycelebritiesnewsdotorg) on

    Source: ghanacelebrities.com

  • Akuapem Poloo not different from a porn star – Lawyer Maurice Ampaw

    Lawyer Maurice Ampaw has fired salvos at Instagram influencer, Rosemond Brown a.k.a Akuapem Poloo for exposing her nakedness to her 7-year old child.

    Akuapem Poloo has recently become the talk of the day as an act by her to mark son’s birthday courted controversies with child rights organization called Child Rights International filing a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to arrest her.

    The controversial Instagram sensation, celebrating her son’s birthday, posted a picture of her naked and standing before the child with a touching message to go with the photo.

    Following the complaint by the child rights organization which stated that she had violated the son’s right and welfare, the CID invited Akuapem Poloo for interrogation but reports indicated she refused to honour the invite.

    The Ministry for Gender, Children and Social Protection also condemned her act.

    Addressing the issue, Lawyer Ampaw in an interview with Halifax Ansah Addo on Okay FM’s ‘Best Entertainment’ likened Akuapem Poloo to a ”porn star”.

    According to him, Akuapem Poloo’s act will cause her son to spy on women in order to feast his eyes on their nakedness, adding her act is a criminal offence.

    Lawyer Ampaw stated emphatically that Akuapem Poloo should be set as an example by the security agency saying she has violated the Criminal Offences and Electronic Acts which clearly spell out that showing nudity amounts to pornography and against the laws.

    “With what she’s doing, she is not different from a porn star. Secondly, she has offended the mind of her 7-year old child. In law, she has committed what is called ‘obscene’. That’s also a charge. She has spoiled the mind of the child to the extent that she has exposed the child to immoral act which can make the child think she can watch any lady’s nudity.

    “So, when the child begins to spy on women taking their bath, it’s the fault of the mother or should the mother’s lady friend visit them and fall asleep in their room, the child can steal his way to watch her nakedness. So, the child will be interested in looking at porn materials because that’s what the mother has printed on his mind. So, this is a serious criminal offence that I think we should use Rosemond Brown as an example,” he insisted.

    Source: Peace FM

  • ‘Mr. President, shut schools down now!’ – IMANI urges government

    President of IMANI-Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has  the Minister for Education, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh to annul the 2019/2020 academic calendar and shut down schools as the country’s coronavirus cases keep rising.

    In his view, President Akufo-Addo’s decision to reopen schools for final year students despite the rise in cases reported, was a step in the wrong direction.

    This concern follows reports that suggest, about 6 students of Accra Girls Senior High School (SHS) have reported positive of virus.

    According to a media report, some 11 students of the school showed symptoms of the virus and were isolated in the school’s sickbay on Monday June 29, 2020.

    The report continued that after running several COVID-19 tests on 11 of the suspected students, 6 of them tested positive and were transferred to the the Ga East Municipal Hospital for treatment.

    Following this breaking report, the President and Chief Executive Officer of IMANI has in a facebook post sighted by Georgeweb.org petitioned the President of the Republic to consider shutting down of all reopened schools.

    Mr. Franklin Cudjoe on his facebook wall urged that “Mr. President, shut the schools NOW!”

    Meanwhile, His Excellency Nana Ado Dankwa Akufo-Addo has gone into self-isolation for 14 days after one of his contacts tested positive of the novel deadly coronavirus, the Information Minister, Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah announced on Saturday July 4, 2020.

    The Government spokesperson in a statement copied to Georgeweb.org said “on the advice of doctors, President Akufo-Addo is from July 4, 2020 taking a 2 weeks precautionary self-isolation measures in complaince with COVID-19 protocols”.

    The Member of Parliament for the Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency and Minister for Information, in the statement disclosed that Akufo-Addo after several tested negative for the virus.

    Source: Georgeweb.org via opera.com

  • 46 workers of BOST test positive for COVID-19

    The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) has closed down its head office at Dzorwulu after 46 employees tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.

    All employees of BOST at the head office have been asked to work from home temporarily, following the development.

    Staff who have tested positive are also expected to begin self-isolation immediately, according to BOST.

    The cases were detected after a mass testing of staff was conducted at the head office.

    “The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited would like to announce for the information of the general public that it has closed down its head office at Dzorwulu in the Ayawaso West Municipality from Monday, 6th July to Monday 13 July, 2020.

    “This has become necessary due to a mass testing of staff carried out by the company at the head office in the wake of a staff of the IT department testing positive for the virus. After the mass testing, a number of staff tested positive and arrangements are being made for their treatment,” a statement from the Corporate Communications Department of BOST said.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Parents troop Accra Girls SHS to withdraw wards after 6 students tested positive for Covid-19

    There is heavy security presence at the Accra Girls Senior High School after parents began trooping there to withdraw their wards.

    This follows reports that the school has recorded some cases of coronavirus nearly a week after the school reopened for final year students.

    Some parents successfully withdrew their wards from the institution over the weekend.

    Speaking on Beyond the Lockdown, JoyNews reporter Maxwell Agbaba stated that one parent said their ward was asthmatic and could not risk having her catching the virus.

    Many more parents have returned to Accra Girls SHS, to take their kids from the school amid fears their wards may be in danger of getting infected.

    According to the reporter the parents are unwilling to leave without their wards behind as they cannot guarantee what will happen to them.

    The presence of heavy security has halted classroom activities as students are also requesting to be taken home.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • 92% of creative industry players are fake, joke with them and they’ll kill you – Funny Face

    “Ninety-two percent of Ghana’s creative industry players are fake,” comic actor Funny Face discloses.

    Speaking on Peace FM’s ‘Entertainment Review’, the comic actor narrated the ordeal he has suffered in the hands of his colleagues in the creative industry.

    According to him, a lot of them are wolves in sheep’s clothing who feign their love.

    Funny Face was addressing his recent episodes of depression which saw him throwing invective at his colleague actors.

    He released series of verbal attacks on actors Kwadwo Nkansah ‘Lil Win’, Kalybos and Bismark the Joke, using unprintable words to describe their character and threatened to expose their scandalous activities should they dare him.

    Talking about the lessons he has drawn from his low moments, he told sit-in host, Ola Michael that the creative industry is full of people who will mess your life up if you joke with them.

    “I can say 92 percent are fake. Most of them are fake and when you joke, they will mess you up . . . ”If you joke, they will kill you.”

    Source: Peace FM

  • Don Little cries to President Akufo-Addo to bring him back to Ghana (video)

    Diminutive actor Don Little, known in real life as Steven Atanga is homesick and wants to come back to Ghana.

    He has joined the list of Ghana celebrities stuck in other parts of the world who desperately want to return to Ghana.

    In a video sighted by YEN.com.gh, Don Little said he is tired of living in the US and wants to return home.

    The Kumawood actor begged President Akufo-Addo to come to his rescue and bring him back to Ghana.

    “I don’t like the way things are going here. President Akufo-Addo please come to my recue. I am tired, I want to come back home,” Don Little said.

    Watch the video below:

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    Actor @officialdonlittle Begs Nana Addo To Evacuate Him From America.

    A post shared by GetinfoMediaDotCom (@getinfomedia) on

    Government recently facilitated the evacuation of Ghanaians abroad back to Ghana. This enabled rapper Sarkodie and his family to return safely into the country.

    However, a host of other celebrities like Kwaw Kese and D-Black among others are still stuck abroad as a result of the Coronavirus.

    Source: yen.com.gh

  • Club Brugge lead chase for Ghanas Nana Ampomah

    Fortuna Düsseldorf attacker, Nana Opoku Ampomah is set to return to Belgium with champions Club Brugge leading the race for his signature.

    The highly-rated attacker joined Duesseldorf for a record transfer fee last summer from Belgium top-flight side Waasland Beveren.

    But the Ghanaian international has endured a torrid campaign with the Bundesliga club as a result of a recurrent ankle injury and subsequently a fall out with manager Uwe Rösler.

    Reports indicate that Fortuna Düsseldorf have placed Nana Ampomah on transfer following their relegation to the German Second tier and the attacker is already attracting the interest of several top European clubs.

    Clubs in Germany, Holland, England and Belgium have lined up for the services of the pacy attacker but a return to Belgium now looks likely with Club Brugge the most likely destination.

    Sources close to both Ampomah and the Belgium champions have disclosed to Ghanaguardian that talks are ongoing between the two parties and a deal could be reach in the coming months.

    “The player[Ampomah] is interested in going back to Belgium and Club Brugge are serious about getting him.

    “The initial plan was to have a good season with Fortuna Düsseldorf and move on to a bigger club in Germany or England from there. But it didn’t happen the way wanted it but Belgium will be a good place to start again.

    “Ampomah is used to the terrain and Brugge have been interested in him since his days with Beveren,” the source told Ghanaguardian in a conversation.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Daniel Amartey congratulates Jamie Vardy on EPL achievement

    Ghana international Daniel Amartey has congratulated striker Jamie Vardy for scoring his 100th goal in the English Premier League in Leicester City colours.

    On Saturday, July 4, 2020, the English forward was in action against Crystal Palace and achieved the feat by scoring to help the Foxes defeat the Eagles 3-0 in the English Premier League.

    Soon, Leicester City officially tweeted to applaud the striker for achieving that milestone.

    With congratulatory messages coming in for the attacker, his teammate and Ghana defender Daniel Amartey has also joined in.

    A post on the Twitter page of the Black Stars asset has said: “congratulations champ”.

    Jamie Vardy with his new milestone has become the first Leicester City player to net 100 goals. He joins the long list of players to have scored that number of goals, making him the 29th player since the English top-flight league started.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Parents withdraw wards from Accra Girls SHS over Covid-19 fears

    Some parents of students in Accra Girls Senior High School have begun withdrawing their children from the school.

    This follows reports that the school has recorded some cases of coronavirus nearly a week after the school reopened for final year students.

    Speaking on Beyond the Lockdown, JoyNews reporter Maxwell Agbaba said that some parents had been in the school to take their wards home after the reports went viral.

    He stated that one parent said their kid was asthmatic and could not risk having her catching the virus.

    Other parents, however, were unable to reach their kids when they arrived at the school, Maxwell reported.

    According to some of the parents none of the students were tested when schools resumed and this, for them, is the genesis of the problem.

    Meanwhile, a teacher who spoke to Maxwell on condition of anonymity confirmed that some students had indeed been isolated after showing symptoms of Covid-19.

    About six of the students who tested positive for the virus have been sent to the treatment centre.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Attuquayefio is the best Ghanaian coach ever Derek Boateng

    Ex-Black Stars midfielder Derek Boateng has lauded the efforts of the late Cecil Jones Attuquayefio.

    The now retired player labelled the late coach as the best Ghanaian coach ever.

    The 37-year-old says Jones Attuquayefio was a man whose words ran deep with every player on his side and made discipline the core attribute every player should have.

    Boateng worked under Attuquayefio in 1999 while the team was preparing for the World Youth Championships that year.

    The former midfielder could not make the final cut but he says working with the Hearts of Oak coach as a youngster was good for him.

    “Every player knows, all my colleagues know that whatever Jones shows us during our time in the team, whenever we go to Europe, we see the same things being done by the white coaches.

    “So for me, he is the best coach,” he said on Joy FM.

    Cecil Jones Attuquayefio coached Hearts of Oak in their most successful year when they won the treble in 2000.

    Source: 3 News

  • Group calls on PNC national executive to step aside

    A group known as Set the Ball Rolling 2020 Election within the People’s National Convention (PNC) in the Upper East Region has called on the party’s Council of Elders to prevail on the current National Executive Committee (NEC) members to step aside with immediate effect to make way for the formation of an interim executive committee to steer the affairs of the party.

    The group intimated that the measure would ultimately ensure that the grass roots, constituency and regional elections for the forthcoming December polls were completed.

    It would further afford the PNC the opportunity of fielding its candidates in some of the 275 constituencies in the country.

    Addressing a press conference in Bolgatanga on Thursday, July 2, 2020, the Convener of the group, Mr Peter Gbanwaa, said the group would be compelled to seek redress in the court if its demands were not addressed within one week.

    Mandate

    Mr Gbanwaa observed that “our national executive members, since they were voted into power on December 15, 2015 and their tenure expired on December 14, 2019, the only legacy they left behind was disappointment”.

    He explained that the effect of non-performance by the national executive members was that “members of the PNC were left to paddle their own canoes and that is why we have lost confidence in them; we do not know who to contact when it comes to information sharing within the party, and so our status is lost”.

    Short period

    “Honourable Council of Elders, we are calling on all the national executive members to step aside from this day, July 2, 2020 for the elders to put in place an interim executive committee to elect new executive across all structures of the party for the December general election,” Mr Gbanwaa stressed.

    Voter registration

    The group called on the rank and file of the party in the region to take the COVID-19 seriously by observing all the health protocols. It also entreated party members to go out in their numbers to register in the ongoing voters registration exercise.

    – #GhanaVotes2020#

     

    Source: graphic.com.gh 

     

  • Support EC to enforce social distancing protocol — Ablakwa

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu in the Volta Region, Mr Samuel Okudzeto- Ablakwa, has appealed to stakeholders and corporate organisations to support the Electoral Commission (EC) with chairs to enforce social distancing protocol at the various registration centres.

    He said the provision of basic items such as single-seat chairs by MPs, churches, traditional leaders, assembly members, businesses and non-profit organisations (NGOs) would allow for spacious seating arrangements in line with the one-metre social distancing protocol and also ensure an orderly registration process.

    It was his belief that that would go a long way to prevent the registration exercise from becoming “a jungle system that will be a recipe for disaster in infection rates”.

    “Let us see the provision of single-seat chairs such as plastic chairs for the registration exercise as our collective responsibility to combat the spread of the coronavirus; it does not necessarily have to be the EC alone because COVID-19 is real and deadly,” he stated.

    No benches

    Speaking to the Daily Graphic after visiting some of the 13 registration centres in his constituency last Tuesday, Mr Okudzeko-Ablakwa said the use of benches made it very difficult to maintain social distancing.

    He, however, said the use of plastic chairs would make it easier to enforce social distancing.

    During the visit, there was some orderliness at most of the polling stations and that was made possible through the use of mostly plastic, metallic and wooden single-seat chairs.

    Recipe for disaster

    Mr Okudzeko-Ablakwa said the EC had probably not made arrangements to rent plastic chairs or “look for communities that have them” to carry out the 38-day registration exercise.

    “This is an area that we should pay attention to because when you do not have single-seat chairs arrangement per the one-metre rule, it becomes a milling crowd as people struggle to be served first and that is a recipe for disaster,” he stated.

    Lessons

    The MP expressed gladness at the smooth manner in which the registration process was carried out without any violence on the first day in his constituency.

    He was optimistic that the plastic chairs he personally donated to the various communities in the North Tongu Constituency largely contributed to the enforcement of social distancing at the polling centres.

    “This is a good lesson the EC, MPs, churches, NGOs, assembly members and other stakeholders should consider.

    “Do we want a situation where we do not get involved and contribute our quota and we leave the burden for one institution, the EC or one political party, and then there is an outbreak of the pandemic and our constituencies become epicentres and we live with the consequences of having a mass infestation?” he asked.

    #GhanaVotes2020

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • NPP Subin parliamentary primary; Wontumi, EC, others cited for contempt

    Some members in the Subin constituency of the New Patriotic Party in the Ashanti region have filed a contempt suit against the Electoral Commission and NPP officials for going ahead to organise a parliamentary primary to elect a candidate for the party despite a court injunction.

    The suit, filed by 51 members of the party, all said to be delegates is against the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi), and the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Eugene Boakye Antwi .

    They are said to have ignored an injunction order not to conduct the June 20, 2020 primary, reports Graphic Online’s Daniel Kenu from Kumasi.

    Motion

    In their motion of notice, the aggrieved delegates said the respondents were fully aware of a legal suit instituted by the applicants on June 18, 2020, against the conduct of the polls but still went ahead.

    Also cited were the Ashanti Regional Director of Research and Elections, Mr Patrick Acheampong, the Subin constituency chairman, Mr Michael Adusei Bonsu and his Secretary Akuamoah Boateng.

    The action filed on Friday, July 3, 2020, was for alleged contemptuous and deliberate acts and conduct calculated by the respondents to bring the administration of justice and authority and dignity of the court into irreparable ridicule, contempt and public ridiculing.

    Decision

    It follows the apparent unilateral suspension of the aggrieved delegates by the defendants with the intention to disenfranchise them.

    Ahead of the election which re-elected Mr Antwi as the parliamentary candidate for the NPP in the December 2020 election, a motion to restrain the EC and the NPP National was granted by the Kumasi High Court.

    Order

    Indeed, on June 19, his year, the Kumasi High Court presided over by Justice Ali Baba Abature ordered that the defendants should refrain from holding the NPP Subin Constituency parliamentary primary for the next 10 days but the party and defendants disregarded the ban and went ahead with the polls.

    Affidavit

    In a 22-point affidavit in support of the applicants for the committal for contempt, Mr Isaac Nimako, on behalf of the 50 other applicants affirmed even though the EC complied with the restraining orders by the court, Mr Eugene Boakye Antwi who is the third defendant, indicated that injunction or not, there would be an election even when the EC had drawn the attention of the defendants to the injunction.

    It said the defendants deliberately ignored the injunction in an apparent move to disregard the court.

    Hearing is on July 21.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Andre Ayew records highest scoring league season as Swansea star hits 14 goals

    Andre Dede Ayew’s most prolific league campaign in a season continued on Sunday, July 5, 2020 when he registered his 14th goal as Swansea City beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 in the Championship.

    The Ghana captain converted a penalty in the 66th minute after Connor Roberts was brought down inside the box to double the lead for the home side.

    Earlier, Rhian Brewster had opened the scoring in the 52nd minute.

    On the 90th minute, the visitors reduced the deficit through Atdhe Nuhiu.

    Ayew has now scored more league goals in a season since recording 12 goals in his first year with Swansea City in the 2015/2016.

    That performance got him a high-profile move to West Ham United.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • 24-year-old Ghanaian footballer dies in UK

    Reports emerging from the United Kingdom indicate that 24-year-old British born Ghanaian midfielder Derrick Otim has died.

    The cause of his death is yet to be made public but the former Nottingham Forest youth player has passed on with tributes from his former club, former teammates all pouring in on social media.

    Derrick Otim was born on March 21, 1996, he is an attacking midfielder who is a massive goal-scoring threat from anywhere thanks to a good right foot.

    Lethal from outside the box or inside, he is accurate if given a glimmer of space.

    He also has good ball control and good strength to hold off defenders to get forward into the box and finish.

    In attack, he is a calm presence on the ball and able to control the game in the center.

    He is also good in transition and makes the right pass when getting forward.

    Otim is a former Nottingham Forest youth player and is currently set to graduate from Xavier University as a four-year starter.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Ghana Institution of Engineering inducts 44 senior engineers via Zoom

    The Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) has inducted 44 senior engineers into the fold of the institution online via Zoom.

    The senior engineers who were inducted online included 10 Civil Engineers, 24 in the Mechanical/Agric/Marine Technical Division, five in the Chemical/Mining Technical Division and five in the Electrical/Electronic Technical Division.

    The inductees included 10 senior officers of the Ghana Army from the ranks of Lt. Col. to Brigadier and an Israeli engineer by name Ing. Mahmud Attila of Amandi, was also inducted.

    Swearing in the inductees, the President of GhIE, Ing. Alexander Leslie Ayeh said, the Institution is like a stream connected with its environment. “What is happening today is allowing you to extend your coordinates to flow along with the ever-rolling stream called the GhIE”.

    He congratulated all the inductees for their endurance, particularly during this novel period of COVID-19, saying, “I believe that the Almighty God has called you to be part of this stream at this time for a purpose”.

    Ing. Ayeh charged all the newly-inducted senior engineers to ensure that the minutes of several GhIE committees and meetings would have their names recorded to enable them contribute to the workings of the Institution and have a smooth renewal of their annual license.

    The Immediate Past President (IPP) of GhIE, Ing. Steve Amoaning-Yankson advised the senior engineering inductees to use their expertise in engineering to improve the quality of life of Ghanaians in key areas like development of water supply, power, roads, health, sanitation, communication, housing and other infrastructural development in the country.

    The Executive Director of the GhIE, Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong reminded the senior engineers to participate in seminars and evening sessions at the Institution, which helps to mentor the new and young engineers of the Institution. He hinted that participating in GhIE-organized programmes earns members Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points; adding that engineers need 18 CPD points to qualify them for yearly renewal of their engineering license.

    On his part, the chairman of the GhIE Membership Committee of GhIE, Ing. Kwabena Bempong, said the novel maiden edition of the Special Induction of senior engineers online, is a true testimony of the fact that with or without COVID-19, life must go on and without engineering there would be no development in the country.

    Source: B&FT Online

  • Drivers to strike over transport fares

    The leadership of the Concerned Drivers Union, has asked its members to increase transport fares by 30 per cent from today Monday, July 6.

    This follows the increases in fuel prices, according to leadership.

    The Vice-chairman of the group, David Agboado, said any resistance from the authority against the move to increase the fares will result in a strike.

    “We are telling our passengers that from [today] on, when you go out, calculate 30 per cent extra of what you used to pay,” Mr Agboado noted.

    He further said he did not expect the police to interfere with their decision to increase fares, adding that the union has been sensitising commuters on the expected increase.

    “If the police do that, on Tuesday, no vehicle, absolutely no vehicle will move within the 16 regions,” he told Citi news.

    Source: laudbusiness.com

  • Coronavirus: Gold rate slips

    Gold and silver saw profit booking in the morning session on Monday as equities across the world continued their climb on hopes of swift economic recovery.

    Asian shares held near four-month highs as investors counted on super-cheap liquidity and fiscal stimulus to sustain the global economic recovery even as surging coronavirus cases remained a worry. Gold futures were down 0.36 per cent or Rs 174 at Rs 47,872 per 10 grams. Silver futures dipped 0.35 per cent or Rs 172 to Rs 49,005 per kg.

    Gold prices in the national capital jumped Rs 237 to Rs 49,022 per 10 gram on Friday, according to HDFC Securities. However, silver declined by Rs 740 to Rs 49,060 per kg. Globally, gold prices edged higher as worries over a surge in coronavirus infections in the United States dented optimism about signs of a nascent economic recovery, prompting investors to seek the safe-haven metal.

    Spot gold was up 0.1 per cent to $1,775.97 per ounce by 0031 GMT. U.S. gold futures eased 0.2 per cent to $1,787.30. Gold has also been benefiting from lower interest rates around the world and widespread stimulus measure from major central banks as it is widely viewed as a hedge against inflation and currency debasement.

    Palladium fell 0.3 per cent to $1,916.98 per ounce, while platinum rose 0.8 per cent to $806.30. Silver eased 0.1 per cent to $18.02.

    Source: ET Markets

  • Video: Owner of huge cash captured in viral video finally found

    The owners of cash, captured in a viral video have finally been found. The video which shows stacks of Ghana Cedis belongs to a gold dealership firm called Brenley  Quartz.

    According to officials of the company, the cash, totalling GHC17 million, was withdrawn from their bankers, Zenith Bank, in order to make payments to clients.

    The officials added that the withdrawal was made some three months ago and the video shot by one of its employees.

    The video leaked after the employee went for a phone swap some weeks ago.

    Contrary to claims that the video belongs to some government officials or politicians, the gold dealership firm has confirmed that it was part of their routine withdrawals for subsequent payments.

    Many Ghanaians had called for investigations into the video given the sheer amount of money in the video, arguing that it could be proceeds of crime.

    But the clarification seems to have put those fears to rest.

    Source:MyNewsGh.com/Stephen Zoure/2020

  • Afia Schwarzenegger blasts Health Ministry

    Ghanaian comedian and humour therapist, Afia Schwarzenegger has stated that the Ministry of Health should seek for the right people for the “Akan translation” voice over for the precautionary COVID-19 sensitization campaign.

    According to Afia, the Akan words used for the adverts are incorrect hence the need for the ministry to seek professionals like herself for such education.

    She continued by reiterating the essence for the prosecution of former deputy trade minister, Hon. Carlos Ahenkorah for breaching the COVID-19 precautionary protocols whilst in self-isolation.

    Afia sarcastically commended President Akufo-Addo for leading by example to self isolate despite his negative status.

    Watch the video below:

     

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    @queenafiaschwarzenegger blast Health Ministry #sammykaymedia

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    Source: sammykaymedia.com