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Author: Chris Kodo

  • List of 20 most popular towns in Ghana

    Ghana is well known for her rich cultural heritage as well as hospitality and peaceful atmosphere. Ghana has proved to the whole world that when it comes to football, FIFA cannot write football history without making reference to the Black Stars of Ghana of Ghana who almost found themselves in the semi finals of the 2010 world cup with the likes of Spain, Netherlands only for Luiz Suarez and Uruguay to end Ghana’s dream. The U20 soccer team made Ghana proud by lifting

    When it comes to leadership,

    Ghana is arguably the best both in the local and international arena. Ghana’s Kofi Annan has ever served the UN as the General Secretary whose actions and inactions was able to project the vision of the Organization into the upper echelon. Ghana is also recognized for their respect for human right and a deepening democracy.

    Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa after Ivory Coast in the world. The country is known for gold, bauxite, manganese, diamond, crude oil and salt production as well as Kente and smock. The country is highly recognized as the stars of Africa and a beacon of hope for Africa.

    There are Regions, cities, towns, villages, Cottage and hamlets in the country and we are going to rank the most popular towns in the country.

    Popular towns in Ghana

    1. Bantama: Bantama is the most popular town in the history of Ashanti and Ghana. It is the center of Ashanti kingdom where Okomfo Anokye stood to command the famous and a historic Golden Stool, a symbol of unity of the great Ashanti Kingdom which is 4th in the whole world which begins from Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom. It is the center of Kumasi where the likes of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Sword Museum, Kumasi Cultural Centre, the popular Kejetia Station, Kumasi Zoo, a military camp. It contains Kumasi Girls SHS, Armed Forces SHS etc.

     

    2. TEMA/ Accra: Tema is a business hub and one of the most concentrated factories as well as a well planned settlement. It is known world wide as the Centre of the world . Interestingly, Tema is found in the Bible in Job chapter 6:19. There are numerous second cycle and tertiary institutions as well as a harbour

    3. Akosombo: When we mention Akosombo what comes in mind is the greatest Dam in Ghana. The Akosombo Dam has a hydroelectric station on this dam which supplies electricity to Ghana and its neighboring countries. It has also a textile company various schools . Akosombo is found in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

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    4. Kwadaso: Kwadaso is one of the main towns carved from Bantama Kumasi. It has an interchange at Sofoline, a Military camp, the famous Prempeh College, the SDA Hospital and Nursing training College, Valley View University campus, University of Education Winneba Kumasi Campus, Yaa Asantewaa SHS, Kwadaso Agriculture College. It has an Estate Known as Kwadaso Estate.

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    5.Bawku: This is one of the hottest town and a historic place in the Northernmost part of Ghana found in the Upper East Region. It is the home of Naa Gbewaa. Naa Gbewaa gave rise to the Nanumba, Dagomba and Mamprusi tribe. Naa Gbewaa according to history vanished into the ground and the tomb and the shrine is one of the important place of Bawku and a tourist Centre.6.

    6.  Kwahu is one of the popular town in the Eastern Region. It is known for the popular Easter festival Kwahuoo Kwahu in every Easter ocassion coupled with paragriding on the top mountains in the region.

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    6. Keta: Keta is a town in the Volta Region of Ghana. It is famously known for fishing activities. Keta has a popular SHS and is known for its sweet smallest fingerlings called Keta School Boys which Ghanaians cannot do away with

     

     

     

     

    8. Takoradi is the name every Ghanaian wish to catch a glimpse of . It has the largest Harbour , the main route where Ghana’s cocoa, minerals and other commodities are packed in bulk and exported. Various Musicians hail from this place such as Castro De Destroyer, Kofi Kinaata, Koda, Nacee and Too Much of Junka Town. They always refers to people as Asay.

    9. Obuasi:.It is one of the commercial and leading Gold mining centre in the Ashanti region of Ghana which contributes to the GDP of Ghana. It has a premier league club Ashanti Gold and a Stadium.

    10. This is one of the popular towns in the Eastern Region of Ghana known for its prison base the Nsawam prisons and a cannery factory.

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    11. Bechem is a popular town in the Ahafo Region. It has a premier league club team known as Bechem United, an SHS, St Joseph College of Education, a Disability school and Bechem Business College.

     

    12. Winneba is one of the oldest traditional town. The mighty University of Education Winneba main campus is based in this town. It has a Community Health Nursing as well as SHS. Winneba celebrates the Aboakyir, deer hunting festival.

     

    13.  Its one of the biggest towns of Accra. It is one of the hotspots in the Region which houses Ghana’s Dancehall Artiste StoneBwoy.

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    14. it is the Capital of the Eastern Region popularly known as Kof Town. The people of Koforidua hails from the Ashanti Region as history fortells that an Ashanti migrant established Koforidua. It has a Technical University, the Versatile Pope Johns Seminary SHS , Oyoko Methodist, Boti water Falls etc.

    15.  It is one of the controversial Towns in Ghana . it is known by people as being part of the Greater Accra Region but it is absolutely not. It is rather part of the Central Region. Kasoa has a refugee Camp known as the Liberia Camp. This place has an Interchange, schools . It records the highest armed robbery case. Bodwease, a suburb of Kasoa is the original home for the tribe of Basaare .

    16. Tafo/Kumasi: Tafo is a town in Kumasi. It is known for its famous Tafo Cemetery. One of the leading Ghana female Gospel Artiste Mama Esther base in Tafo.

     

    17. Nima: Nima is one of the hottest towns in Accra. It is a Muslim Community. The Original name is Niiman that is Nii and his town.

     

    18. Nkoranza: Nkoranza is one of the most important towns in the Bono East Region. It is shortly known as NKZ. Nkoranza rebelled and led a charge against the Ashantis. It has one of the popular Rapper in the person of Guru.

     

    19. Agona Swedru: Swedru is one of the hottest towns in the Central Region. Super OD, the popular and a superstar in Ghana movie, Kwaw Kese called Abodam and Patapaa or Patapeezy of the Patupa soldiers hails from Swedru.

     

    20. Mampong: Mampong is one of the most popular towns in the Ashanti Region. It is mountainous and have a university campus of University of Education Winneba Agriculture Campus. It has Teacher Training College and the famous St Monica’s SHS.

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    Source: opera.com

  • Excerpt from Anas Aremeyaw’s COVID-19 exposé released

    An underworld of quack doctors and conmen have been exploiting the coronavirus pandemic and making money selling fake coronavirus cures.

    Investigative reporter Anas Aremeyaw Anas goes undercover in Ghana, exposing a Covid-19 scam said to be worth thousands of dollars.

    His investigative piece is expected to bring to light the corrupt dealings regarding the pandemic and how certain individuals are making money off the coronavirus with the excuse of selling potent cures.

    In announcing the documentary, Anas in a post on Facebook said, “Are you ready? It’s coming, the corona quacks and thieves in Ghana. It would be served hot on BBC Africa Eye. All major stations in Ghana.”

    In a tweet by BBC Africa, the media outlet revealed that the exposé, themed: Corona Quacks is a joint operation with Anas.

    “Uncovering a Covid-19 scam worth tens of thousands of dollars. An investigation by @anasaremeyawanas and BBC Africa Eye,” the tweet read.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • The story of the man from Anlo who killed a lion sent to spy on his town with his bare hands

    History is a beautiful thing and here is the story of the man who killed a lion with his bare hands.

    Torgbui Gawu Tette Devi , as his name is called is someone who the indigenes of Anlo won’t forget in a hurry . The story had it the people of Dahomey in Benin wanted to attack and rule his tribe so they magically transformed two people : a male and female into a lion and leopard respectively.

    However as they arrived the village in their animal form they were attacked by the villagers and the leopard was killed but the lion escaped.

    Three days it came back more aggressive than ever , but the common villager , Torgbui Gawu stood his ground singlehandedly and fought the lion . He ended up killing the lion with his bare hands but he sustained injuries though . He became a hero and a savior to his people.

    Today there is a statue in Anlo in his memory . Indeed what a great man he was and history will never forget him

    Here Is a shrine set up in his honour

    Source: opera.com

  • Livestream: NDC Weekly Press Briefing from Aflao focuses on military deployment in Volta Region

    Members of the Volta Region caucus in Parliament are expected in Ketu South as part of a National Democratic Congress (NDC) delegation to the constituency, Monday.

    This is in solidarity with residents following an increased security presence in the area which critics say is an intimidation tactic.

    Some residents who have spoken to JoyNews allege harassment and intimidation from the troops.

    According to the NDC, the troops have been sent there to intimidate residents into abstaining from the upcoming voter registration exercise which begins Tuesday.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Cardiff City boss wants Albert Adomah to stay at club until end of season

    Cardiff City manager Neil Harris wants on loan Albert Adomah to stay at the club for the rest of the season.

    The 32-year-old has ended his loan spell at the club after joining from Nottingham Forest.

    City are yet to reach an agreement with Forest for the loan extension of the winger.

    Forest are likely to recall the former Ghana international, who has impressed heavily so far and could play his last match for Cardiff against Charlton Athletic on Tuesday.

    But Cardiff boss Neil Harris expects Adomah to remain with the club until the end of the season.

    “As far as I know, Dion has pretty much agreed and Wolves are okay; Forest is a different matter,” he told BBC Sport Wales.

    “Forest is not as straightforward, we’re in dialogue with Forest at the moment. The bottom line with Albert is I want him to stay. I’ve picked him in every game he’s been at the club for,

    “Albert wants to stay and finish the season here. So we have to keep working with Forest to try and make it happen.”

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Rawlings issues statement on the military siege in the Volta Region

    Former President of the Republic of Ghana, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings has issued a statement early this morning on the militarization of the Volta and Oti regions ahead of the voter ID card registration which is set to begin on Tuesday.

    There have been issues of an alarming security presence in the region especially in the southernmost sector which is touted as the stronghold of the National Democratic Congress.

    Residents claim they are being accosted and intimidated by the military and other security personnel deployed to the area.

    Reacting to the development, the former President called on government to ensure “fairness and justice” even as they try to protect the sanctity of the registration process.

    Mr. Rawlings said the sudden deployment is raising eyebrows and “generating animosity among innocent citizens whose basic way of life is being disrupted”.

    He said the COVID-19 situation has already created so much hardship for the people of the Volta and Oti Regions as a result of the border closure and called on the government not to make the situation more difficult for the border dwellers.View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

    Source: opera.com

  • Arsenal boss heaps praise on Eddie Nketiah after FA Cup win over Sheffield United

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has lauded the performances for Eddie Nketia and the other youngers who played against Sheffield United in the FA Cup win on Sunday.

    Arteta handed a starting role to Bukayo Saka, Joseph Willock, and Ainsley Maitland-Nile before Nketia climbed off the bench in the 67th minute to help the Gunners seal a 2-at the Bramall Lane.

    Nicolas Pepe opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 35th minute from the spot but David McGoldrick grabbed the equaliser with just three minutes left to play.

    On-loan midfielder Ceballos slotted home a low, angled drive to win the tie in dramatic fashion as they progressed to the semi-finals of the competition for a record-equalling 30th time.

    “They [Arsenal’s young players] are evolving and they are really willing and finding a lot of personality to play,” Arteta said to BT Sport.

    “You can see the way they played and Eddie [Nketiah] as well the way he came on and fights with everybody, he doesn’t care. I really like that.”

    Arsenal will play holders Manchester City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Hajia4Real gets a Range Rover, mansion at Trasacco as birthday gift

    Popular Ghanaian Instagram star, Mona Montrage widely known as Hajia4Real on Saturday, June 27, 2020, received a new Range Rover and a house at Trasacco Estates from an undisclosed person as a birthday gift.

    The gift was part of the climax of a plush birthday party organized over the weekend.

    The all-white themed party was attended by several celebrities such as Efia Odo, Deborah Vanessa, and Shatta Bandle, and Ghanaian millionaire Ibrahim Mahama and many others.

    Hajia4Real is the latest female celebrity to receive a range rover as a gift on her birthday after Nana Aba Anamoah.

    However, the General manager of GhOne TV’s gift generated alot of controversy on social media.

    Watch the video below:

     

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    #PRESSPLAY: @hajia4reall gets a new Range Rover and a new mansion at Trassaco Valley as her birthday gift.

    A post shared by Nkonkonsa.com (@nkonkonsa) on

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Social media react after seeing “wedding” photos of Kidi and Cina Soul

    Christie Quincyna Quarcoopome is also known in showbiz as Cina Soul is a musician songwriter. Rumors have it that she and Kidi are dating but she recently came out to debunked that statement.

    According to Cina, the only thing that brought about this rumors was a scene in a music video by Kidi titled Sugar, the two were seen kissing each other in the music video that sparks the rumor on social media.

    She further explained that She and Kidi have been friends for a long time and so they have that chemistry between them that always show on the screen.

    Aside from all this explanation people still think the two are dating. It was spotted on Instagram photos of the two in a wedding dress. Not long ago people flood the comment section with messages, Only to discover it was pics of music video; But hey these two friends look good together!!

    Scroll down for more pics;

    Do you think they will make a good couple together.?Share your thoughts

  • Heavy military presence in Ketu South to enforce border closure

    The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa has explained that the heavy presence of armed personnel of the military and other security agencies in the Ketu South Municipality is meant to enforce the closure of the border.

    According to him the number of personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) at the borders was now inadequate to enforce the closure effectively, for which reason other security agencies were assisting to enforce of the closure.

    Dr Letsa said this at a press conference in Ho on Friday to react to public concerns over the trend, stressing that “Since the closure of the frontier a few months ago to prevent the spread of COVID-19, some lawless people still crossed in and out of Ghana with impunity, using unapproved routes.”

    He said that the recent claims by the Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr Henry K. Ametefee that the government had declared war on the Volta Region, and for that matter, the Ewe people, was unfortunate and totally untrue.

    “The Volta Region is an integral part of Ghana and so, how can the government declare war on its own people,” the regional minister sought to know.

    Dr Letsa revealed that human trafficking and other crimes across the border were still rampant, in spite of the closure of border.

    In that regard, he said that the government could not stand aside and look on unconcerned while criminals had a field day to put the lives Ghanaians at risk.

    He gave the assurance that the military personnel on duty in the area were all professional soldiers who would carry out their assigned duties diligently without intimidating anyone.

    The regional minister, therefore, entreated residents of the area to go about their normal daily activities without entertaining any fear.

    The Ketu South Municipal Executive, Mr Elliot Edem Agbenorwu, who was present, denied reports that the soldiers were storming the homes of the residents and demanding their identities at gunpoint, saying no such thing happened.

     

    Source: kingdomfmonline.com

  • Sami Nate and Sista Afia to combine on sultry new single

    Ghanaian songstress, Sista Afia, and fast-rising music sensation, Sami Nate, are currently working on a hot single set to be released soon.

    Sista Afia, a few weeks back took to her social media page to talk about how talented Sami Nate was, having been aspired to work with him.

    Sami Nate and Sista Afia have been spotted together over the past weeks with numerous controversies about a possible relationship between the duo.

    But it looks like they have been working on a new song expected to make waves.

    These two musicians have great talents and pairing them on any beat would surely have a very great outcome and it is with no doubt they both would make a huge impact on the hearts of their fans and music lovers across the world.

    Sami Nate recently released a song dedicated to motivating lives during this COVID-19 pandemic titled “Broken World”.

    Source: GNA

  • Breaking: Another big exit hits Multimedia – What’s going on?

    This year 2020, has seen a great deal of renunciations of some key staff from the Multimedia Group Limited (MGL) including the preferences Captain Smart, Nana Yaa Brefo, DJ Willie and previous news proofreader of Adom FM, Samuel Nii Narku Dowuona; the pattern proceeds with the abdication of another key administration staff from the media organization.

    Projects Director of Asempa FM and Head of Sports of the Multimedia Group Limited, Samuel Kwadade Yirenkyi has left the media outfit.

    According to the standards of the Network, workers are to delicate their abdication days before its impact, thus, consequently Mr. Yirenkyi’s last day with the Multimedia Group will be 30th June 2020.

    Sammy Yirenkyi’s exit from the media gathering would be extraordinarily felt for his administration and enthusiastic endeavors in the developing of Sports portfolio and Asempa FM following 7 years and for his right around 16 years altogether with the Multimedia Group.

    It’s as yet obscure concerning what required this choice and where he is at present making a beeline for.

    Source: opera.com

  • Time and list of TV stations that will show Anas’ latest exposé tonight

    Award-winning investigative journalist, and legal practitioner, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his investigative tiger eye team are set to broadcast his latest exposé dubbed ‘Corona Quacks and Thieves’ which is slatted to take place today, Monday, June 29, 2020 on BBC Africa Eye and televisions stations across Ghana.

    The new analytical piece is required to expose the degenerate dealings in regards to the novel coronavirus pandemic and how certain people specially health workers and traditional herbalist are bringing in cash off the infection.

    The exposé is expected to be shown or to be on air or television stations at exactly 8:00pm tonight as confirmed by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

    The list of televisions stations that has so far confirmed on telecasting the exposé includes:

    1. TV3

    2. Joy News

    3. Metro TV

    4. TV Africa

     

  • Todays newspapers front pages

    Daily Graphic

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    The Chronicle

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    The Daily Statesman

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    Economic Times

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    Goldstreet business

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    Ghanaian Times

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    The Ghanaian Observer

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  • Henrietta Shecnk: Meet Osei Kwame Despite’s beautiful first daughter

    Business mogul Osei Kwame Despite is mostly known for his success as a businessman and also his benevolence.

    More recently, his popularity has soared because of his handsome sons who have been making waves on social media with their swag.

    Since the plush the wedding of his first son Kennedy Osei in February 2020, not a week passes without one of the Peace FM owner’s sons making catching attention on social media.

    But while the sons may be dominating social media, Osei Kwame Despite is also blessed with some beautiful daughters. The first of them happens to be Henrietta Adwoa Shecnk (nee Osei).

    Henrietta who is believed to be around the age of 31 years completed her basic education at Merton International School at North Ridge in Accra in 2006.

    She then went to Holy Child School in Cape Coast where she completed in 2009 before enrolling in the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS).

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    Business mogul Osei Kwame Despite and his first daughter Henrietta

    A post shared by Maame Adwoa Amponsaah (@sweet_maame_adwoa) on

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    Meet millionaire Osei Kwame Despite’s first daughter, Hetty

    A post shared by Maame Adwoa Amponsaah (@sweet_maame_adwoa) on

    After getting a Bachelor’s degree in E-Commerce and Customer Management from UGBS in 2014, she proceeded to the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom for a Master’s degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in 2016.

    Upon her return to Ghana, she took up an appointment as a relationship officer at Best Point Saving and Loans, one of her father’s companies.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    Meet Osei Kwame Despite’s first daughter. Hetty

    A post shared by Maame Adwoa Amponsaah (@sweet_maame_adwoa) on

    Prior to her Master’s degree, she had had working stints as a sales assistant and administrative assistant at Despite Music Shop and Neat Foods, which are all part of her father’s big franchise.

    In 2017, Despite’s first daughter married a young man known Kwaku Shecnk who is said to be the son of an importer in a plush wedding.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    Despite’s first daughter and her husband

    A post shared by Maame Adwoa Amponsaah (@sweet_maame_adwoa) on

    Meanwhile, Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong has recently talked about Osei Kwame Despite’s riches. 

    In an interview with Paul Adom Otchere on his Good Evening Ghana show, Ken Agyapong advised Ghanaians to learn from Despite rather than envy his riches.

    Source: yen.com.gh

  • National Investment Bank terminates appointment of all contract staff

    National Venture Bank ends arrangement of all agreement staff.

    The National Venture Bank, (NIB), has ended the arrangement of all agreement staff.

    A letter of end sent to the influenced staff read to some extent “that administration has chosen to end your agreement on June 30, 2019.”

    The letter included that the influenced staff must hand over “their Staff ID, Friday wear and other corporate embellishments” to the executives and continue on a terminal Seven days leave at the very latest June 21, 2019.

    The agreement staff had before been educated regarding the choice not to restore their agreement after it termination date. The greater part of the influenced staff were relied upon to leave in October and November 2019.

    In any case, one of the influenced laborers who addressed Starrfm.com.gh expressed that they were out of nowhere educated on Monday that administration has chosen to cut off the association with them toward the finish of June.

    A senior administration part who affirmed the news to Starrfm.com.gh on state of obscurity expressed that the choice is a piece of endeavors to rebuild the activities of the bank and make it progressively beneficial.

    This move comes a long time after the Bank of Ghana named the prompt past Nation Senior Accomplice of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ghana, Mr. Felix E. Addo as Counselor for National Speculation Bank (NIB).

    The national bank had early reported the arrangement of a guide for the Bank absent a lot of detail of who the counsel was.

    In May 2019, the Bank of Ghana additionally designated Mr. Samuel Sarpong as Overseeing Executive of the Bank.

    Source: opera.com

  • Lands Commission in court for allocating public land to former President Rawlings

    A Ghanaian has dragged the Lands Commission to court for allocating 4.368 acres of public land to former President Jerry John Rawlings for personal use.

    On May 3, 2016, the Lands Commission, acting on the instruction of then President John Mahama, allocated the land, situated along the Sekou Toure Street, Accra, to former President Rawlings in his personal name to be used for the Rawlings Foundation.

    The plaintiff, Mr Jonathan Holm, a businessman, and resident of Osu, Accra, is arguing that by virtue of Article 20(5) and (6) of the 1992 Constitution, public lands acquired in the public interest are required to be used for public purposes that would inure to the benefit of Ghanaians generally and not for personal or selected, sectarian or esoteric purposes.

    The plaintiff joined President Rawlings and the Lands Commission as defendants.

    It is the case of the plaintiff that the Lands Commission acted contrary to the provisions of the 1992 Constitution.

    Mr Holm stated that per the constitution, if land compulsorily acquired for a stated public purpose for which it was compulsorily acquired or that it is no longer required for the public purpose for which it was initially acquired, the owner of the land immediately preceding the compulsory acquisition should be given the first option to re-acquire the land for which reason the land owner would be made to refund the compensation paid for same or be made to pay for the value of the land.

    Since the land in dispute forms part of Osu Stool lands, the Stool, the plaintiff held was required by the constitution to be given the first option to re-acquire the land when the government decided that it no longer required the land for the stated public purpose.

    In the writ, filed by his counsel, Mr Bright O. Akwetey of Akwetey and Associates, the plaintiff averred that the Rawlings Foundation was not a public purpose or a project in the public interest and could not be established on the land in dispute.

    He said on May 9, 2016, former President Rawlings in a letter addressed to then President Mahama requested the Lands Commission to allocate additional land close to the 4.368 acres and measuring approximately 50 per cent of the allocated land to the portion already allocated to him so as to have enough space for parking for staff and visitors.

    This, the plaintiff noted was not right and as such, the court should stop the allocation as the reason for the request for additional land was for a project that is not in the public interest.

    According to the plaintiff, the 4.368 public land already allocated to former President had state bungalows built on the land with occupants and that all the owner needed to do was to give the occupants three months prior notice to vacate the land for construction works to begin.

    Mr Holm wanted an order by the court declaring the land in dispute as land compulsorily acquired in the public interest for public purposes.

    He prayed the state that by the Constitution of Ghana as well as specific laws under which the land was compulsorily acquired, the President of the Republic automatically became a Trustee for the land on behalf of all Ghanaians.

    The plaintiff wants an order declaring that the purpose of a Trust cannot be varied in a situation where the Trust purpose still subsists.

    An order directed at Lands Commission to comply with the constitution by giving the Osu Stool the first option to re-acquire the land.

    The plaintiff urged the court to revoke the allocation and make order for recovery of possession of the land.

     

    Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh

  • Coronavirus: Akufo-Addo reveals why Ghana is recording more deaths

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has advised Ghanaians to seek early treatment after they start showing signs and symptoms of the deadly coronavirus.

    The president in his 13th televised address to the nation on the measures taken to combat the coronavirus outbreak, the president said some infected persons who died through the virus failed to report to the hospital early when they started showing signs and symptoms 48 hours after contracting the virus.

    ”Fellow Ghanaians, as I have stated before, one of the key objects of our fight against COVID-19 has been to save lives, and reduce the number of deaths. The Ghana Health Service has observed that most of the patients that have been lost to the virus died either on arrival at the hospital or within forty-eight (48) hours after the arrival. Unfortunately, we still have some persons in the country who are not taking the dangers associated with this disease seriously, and, therefore, do not seek medical help as soon as they have symptoms that suggest an infection of the virus,” he said.

    The president said there should be no stigmatization against persons who have contracted the virus.

    He said: ”There should be no fear of stigmatisation or embarrassment with being diagnosed with COVID-19. So, please, when you begin to experience symptoms such as fever, persistent cough, bodily pains, loss of taste and smell, and difficulty in breathing, seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility.

    Most patients, who are critically ill and need intensive care, do, indeed, survive the virus, if they seek medical help promptly. For example, out of fifty-three (53) patients admitted into intensive care units (ICU) at the Ga East Municipal Hospital and the University of Ghana Medical Centre, since the pandemic struck, forty-four (44), i.e. eighty three percent (83%), have fully recovered, and have been discharged.”

    As at Saturday, 27th June, 2020, Ghana has recorded seventeen thousand, three hundred and fifty-one (17,351) confirmed cases, with twelve thousand, nine hundred and ninety-four (12,994) recoveries, representing some seventy five percent (75%) of positives.

    This means that, currently, we have four thousand, two hundred and forty-five (4,245) active cases, having conducted two hundred and ninety-four thousand, eight hundred and sixty-seven (294,867) tests, one of the highest on the continent.

    Thirty (30) persons are severely and critically ill, and we have a total of one hundred and twelve (112) sad deaths, constituting 0.6% of positives, as we maintain one of the lowest death rates in the world.

     

     

  • Unilever renames Fair & Lovely skin cream after backlash

    Unilever will rename Fair & Lovely, a skin-lightening cream which has been criticised for promoting negative stereotypes around dark skin tones.

    It will also remove references to “whitening” or “lightening” on the products, which are sold across Asia.

    Unilever acknowledged the branding suggests “a singular ideal of beauty”.

    Two separate petitions urging Unilever to stop the production of its Fair & Lovely range have been signed by more than 18,000 people in recent weeks.

    “This product has built upon, perpetuated and benefited from internalised racism and promotes anti-blackness sentiments,” one says.

    A second petition claimed the cream “tells us that there is something wrong with our color, that we have to be light in order to feel beautiful. In order to feel worthy.”

    In a YouTube video advertising the range, cartoon images of women are put side-by-side, claiming that the products can “brighten” the skin.

    “The language around these products upholds the beauty standards that lighter or whiter skin is more desirable,” Nomshado Michelle Baca, the founder of beauty brand A Complexion Company.

    “The individual who formulated and marketed the products is not likely to be a person of colour, resulting in a warped perception that all black women desire lighter skin.”

    But she argues that the conversation has become “hyper-focused on the change of someone’s entire complexion.

    “The woman who wants to treat small areas of scarring is left invisible and without options but to use the damaging products available in unregulated retailers or black hair shops.”

    Banned products

    Unless they are issued on prescription by a doctor, creams containing hydroquinone, steroids or mercury are banned in the UK – because of their potentially serious side-effects.

    Consumers have previously been warned by the Local Government Association to steer clear of those toxic products that can “act like paint stripper”.

    BBC News identified products containing the bleaching agent hydroquinone available to UK customers on online marketplace EBay.

    ‘Fully committed’

    Sunny Jain, President of Beauty & Personal Care at Unilever, said: “We are fully committed to having a global portfolio of skin care brands that is inclusive and cares for all skin tones, celebrating greater diversity of beauty.

    “We recognise that the use of the words ‘fair’, ‘white’ and ‘light’ suggest a singular ideal of beauty that we don’t think is right, and we want to address this.”

    “The brand has never been and is not a bleaching product,” Unilever added.

    The consumer goods giant also said that it had removed before-and-after impressions and “shade guides” on Fair & Lovely packaging in 2019. The skin care range is sold across countries such as India, Indonesia, Thailand and Pakistan.

    Unilever’s move comes as cosmetics firms around the world reassess their product lines and marketing strategies in light of the Black Lives Matters movement, sparked by George Floyd’s death.

    George Floyd died in Minneapolis in May as a white police officer held a knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

    The final moments were filmed on phones. Four police officers involved have been sacked and charged over his death.

    ‘Hugely disappointing’

    Writer and activist Poorna Bell said that Unilever’s announcement was “hugely disappointing”.

    “It doesn’t do enough to make reparations for the untold mental and emotional damage done by colourism,” a prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, often among people of the same ethnic group.

    “Renaming the products doesn’t mean anything – that’s still just colourism by another word,” she said.

    She also called for Unilever to match Johnson & Johnson’s recent commitment to stop selling certain products that are advertised as dark-spot reducers in Asia and the Middle East, but have been used by consumers to lighten skin tone.
    Company commitments

    Skin-lightening products are typically aimed at women in the Black and Asian communities, says Dr Steve Garner, a sociologist, who carried out one of the first British studies into skin-lightening.

    Nivea’s parent company Beiersdorf told the BBC that it “stands against racism and discrimination of any kind and supports the Black Lives Matter movement.”

    Nivea’s Natural Fairness line is sold in the Middle East, India as well as Nigeria and Ghana.

    On its Middle East website, the product is described as being able to “prevent the darkening of skin tone”.

    When asked by the BBC if it would amend the description, Nivea said that the product contains SPF-15 “which helps prevent sun-induced skin damage, such as irregular dark pigmentation, for any skin type.”

    It added: “We are currently doing a review in all our products descriptions and are in the process of re-evaluating and updating the description that may cause any misinterpretation.”

    L’Oreal did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment on its Garnier White Complete range.

    Source: bbc.com

  • IGP visits Police training camp at Huhunya

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr James Oppong-Boanuh has visited the Police Counter Terrorism Enactment and Concentrating Camp at Huhunya in the Eastern Region, to observe in-service training of 234 Police Officers and 61 Immigration Officers in public order management and other skills, as part of preparation towards the upcoming elections.

    He commended the Training Coordinator, Chief Superintendent Mr Raymond Adofiem and the other instructors for the good work.

    He also urged the trainees to take the training seriously to enable them to perform professionally in the discharge of their duties.

    Mr. Oppong-Boanuh paid the visit on 26th June 2020.

    He was accompanied by the Director-General National Operations, DCOP/Mr. Kwaku Boadu-Peprah and the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP/Mr. Afful Boakye Yiadom.

     

    Source: Class FM

  • Russia’s opposition flounders as Putin changes constitution

    Russia’s opposition is denouncing this week’s vote on President Vladimir Putin’s constitutional reforms as a joke, pointing out that copies of the amended basic law are already on sale in Moscow bookshops.

    From liberal reformers to Communists, Kremlin critics say the vote — which started last week and ends on Wednesday — is a thinly veiled attempt to keep Putin, 67, in power for life.

    But other than tepid calls to boycott or vote “No”, the opposition has done little to actively fight the changes.

    Russia’s top opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who last summer rallied thousands against suspected voter fraud in Moscow, has also shown little interest in combating the reforms.

    Experts say deep divisions and shrewd moves by the Kremlin are keeping opponents from mounting any serious opposition to Putin’s plans.

    “A lack of resources, a lack of new faces, a lack of excitement, inspiration and faith — that’s what I think are the main reason for the problems,” said Vitali Shkliarov, a Harvard University fellow and political adviser who has worked with the Russian opposition.

    “There have been a million opportunities to prove yourself” since Putin announced the reforms, he said. But after years of repression, Kremlin critics feel dispirited.

    “The Russian opposition does not believe in itself.”

    Putin proposed amending the constitution in January and later approved a last-minute addition that would reset presidential term limits to zero, potentially allowing him to serve two more six-year terms after his mandate expires in 2024.

    They also include political changes like strengthening the role of parliament and a series of populist measures such as a requirement to adjust state pensions for inflation and an effective ban on gay marriage.

    Opinion polls show a majority of Russians support the social amendments but there is less enthusiasm for the political reforms.

    ‘Opposition in a bind’

    The amendments have already been approved by parliament but Putin called the public vote in an effort to boost their legitimacy.

    Initially planned for April 22, the ballot was postponed by the coronavirus epidemic and analysts say its quick scheduling and then rescheduling is part of the reason the opposition has been unable to mount a strong campaign.

    Tatyana Stanovaya, the founder of analysis firm R. Politik, said the Kremlin also pulled the rug from under its opponents when it gave Russians the choice to vote only “yes” or “no” on the entire package of changes, instead of individual amendments.

    Opposing popular measures such as better pensions and minimum wages could leave Kremlin opponents vulnerable, she said.

    “In such a situation it’s hard to argue against the amendments,” she told AFP. “The opposition is in a bind.”

    Liberal party Yabloko has urged Russians to stay away from the “illegal, anti-constitutional and fake vote”.

    The Communist Party is calling on its supporters to vote “No”, an unusual move for a party that often toes the Kremlin line.

    ‘A circus with balloons’

    Navalny, a 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner who has organised the biggest anti-Kremlin demonstrations in recent years, has slammed the reforms as a “constitutional coup” but has done little to forcefully oppose them.

    He has said a debate about whether to participate in the plebiscite is pointless because lawmakers have already backed the amendments and the vote will be a fraud.

    “What we are left with is a circus with balloons,” he wrote on Telegram.

    While many opposition supporters have been frustrated by its inability to offer a more decisive plan of action, some said change will come sooner or later.

    Mikhail Samin, a 20-year-old programmer who took part in anti-government protests in Moscow last summer, pointed to Putin’s approval ratings, which fell to a historic low of 59 per cent in April, according to a poll by the Levada Centre.

    “The opposition is moving in the right direction,” Samin said. “Society is moving in the right direction.”

    Navalny has said that, instead of focusing on Putin’s constitutional changes, Russians should prepare for regional elections in September and parliamentary polls due in 2021.

    Last year pro-Kremlin candidates suffered losses in Moscow city polls after Navalny called for tactical voting to oppose Putin loyalists.

    Analyst Stanovaya said it was time for Navalny to save his strength for another battle.

    “Now is not his time.”

    Source: france24.com

  • Lazarus Chakwera sworn in as Malawi president after historic win

    Lazarus Chakwera has been sworn in as president of Malawi after winning an election rerun.

    “Time has come for us to wake up and to make our dreams come true,” Mr. Chakwera said in his victory speech.

    He defeated incumbent Peter Mutharika with 58.57% of the vote in Tuesday’s poll.

    In February, Malawi’s constitutional court annulled Mr. Mutharika’s victory in the May 2019 election, citing vote tampering.

    The country was bitterly divided in the run-up to this week’s election.

    Other countries in Africa have had elections annulled – it happened in Kenya in 2017 – but for the opposition candidate to then go on and win a rerun is unprecedented.

    Speaking ahead of Saturday’s results, Mr. Mutharika said that while he found the election “unacceptable”, it was his “sincere hope that we should take this country forward instead of backward.”

    Saulos Chilima, Mr. Chakwera’s running mate, was also sworn in as vice-president at a ceremony in the capital, Lilongwe.

    Mr. Chakwera, a Pentecostal preacher and former theology lecturer, will first have to heal a nation that has been through many months of political turmoil.

    Source: BBC

  • Malawi opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera wins historic poll rerun

    Malawi’s opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera has won the country’s rerun presidential vote, officials say.

    He defeated incumbent Peter Mutharika with 58.57% of the vote in Tuesday’s poll, the electoral commission announced late on Saturday.

    In February, Malawi’s constitutional court annulled Mr. Mutharika’s victory in the May 2019 election, citing vote tampering.

    The country was bitterly divided in the run-up to this week’s election.

    It is the second African nation to annul a presidential election over irregularities, after Kenya in 2017.

    Following the official result on Saturday, Mr. Chakwera said his victory was “a win for democracy and justice,” adding: “My heart is bubbling with joy.”

    His supporters took to the streets of the Malawian capital, Lilongwe, sounding car horns and letting off fireworks.

    Mr. Chakwera is expected to be sworn in on Sunday.

    Source: BBC

  • Ambrose Dery denies allegation of sending security personnel to the Volta region

    Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery has denied allegations from the minority in Parliament that security personnel were sent to the Volta Region to prevent people from registering in the upcoming voters registration exercise.

    According to the Interior Minister, the security personnel were sent to the Eastern border since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ghana.

    He disclosed that ten foreigners who entered the country illegally and tested positive to COVID-19 in the Northern Region entered the country from the Eastern border.

    “We closed the borders as part of the COVID-19 Protocols. Our experience over the time is that the Eastern border continues to give us a course for worrying because people are still coming in. We have discovered over 250 unapproved routes. The police and military being there is protect our borders. If you look at our neighbours they do not have the testing records we have. Togo, Burkina Faso, La Cote d’Ivoire do not have the testing records. We are doing all we can to prevent COVID-19,” Mr Dery noted.

    Mr. Dery added that the government would not prevent qualified Ghanaians from registering during the voters registration exercise.

    The Minority in Parliament has accused government of deliberately sending security personnel to border towns in the Volta Region to prevent people from taking part in the upcoming voters registration exercise.

     

    Source: kingdomfmonline.com

  • Colombian soldiers confess to sexually abusing indigenous girl, says Attorney General

    Seven Colombian soldiers were arrested on Thursday after confessing to charges of sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl from the Embera Katio indigenous group, in the northwestern department of Risaralda, the country’s Attorney General said.

    Their Army unit had been deployed there to enforce lockdown measures in an effort to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

    The soldiers confessed to “aggravated abusive sexual intercourse with a minor younger than 14-years old,” according to a statement from the Attorney General’s Office published Thursday and are currently awaiting a civilian trial.

    The leader of the Embera Katio community, Juan de Dios Queragama said in a statement that the alleged incident occurred last Sunday and that human rights workers had informed him of it.

    “It appears that some friends from (the rural settlement of) Santa Cecilia found her, because her mother was looking for her as she had been lost.

    “When she went to look for her, she found the child at her school. When they picked her up, the child couldn’t walk. They took her directly to the hospital and from the hospital they took her to forensic services,” Queragama told national news outlet RCN Wednesday. On Friday, she was still in the hospital.
    The victim, her family and the indigenous group are currently receiving legal and psychological assistance by the Organization of Indigenous Nations of Colombia (ONIC), spokesman Silsa Arias told CNN on Thursday.

    “Her health condition is very serious,” Luis Fernando Arias, Senior Adviser for ONIC told CNN Thursday, adding that the 12-year-old “was kidnapped and raped for a period of 17 hours.”

    The case coincides with a turning point in the Colombian government’s approach to sexual violence: On June 18, Congress passed a reform that would expand possible penalties for sex offenders to life in jail.

    Although the measure is yet to be signed into law, Colombian President Ivan Duque said that its full weight could be imposed if the seven soldiers are found guilty. “If we have to inaugurate the life in prison penalty with them, we’re going to do it with them. And we are going to use it so that these bandits and scoundrels get a lesson,” Duque said on Wednesday.

    Similar pledges came from the Ministry of Defense, and the Attorney General who on Thursday said the soldiers had dishonored their uniforms and the dignity of Colombia.

    Sexual violence is a pandemic of its own in Colombia and the surrounding region. According to the 2019 UN Human Development Index, one in three Colombian women say they have been victims of sexual violence. More than 40% of Ecuadorian women and 58% of Bolivian women say the same thing.

    In Colombia the majority of such violence is directed at minors: According to figures collected by the Colombian Femicide Foundation, 8,532 women and girls reported that they had experienced sexual violence in the first five months of this year. More than 5,800 were under the age of 18.

    Those figures are consistent with the numbers of cases collected so far this year by Colombia’s National Institute of Legal Medicine: Of 7,544 medical examinations performed across the country since January to determine whether sexual violence was committed, 6,479 were performed on minors.

    And these are just the numbers of cases that end up being reported. Colombia has a history of under-reported sexual violence according to women’s rights organizations who warn that this year, the reality of what happens inside locked-down households could be far worse.

    ‘Broken trust’

    But the trial could mark the beginning of a new era in Colombia: Despite controversy, the vote in Congress last week to toughen punishment of sexual abuse was widely seen as a success in the fight against sexual violence. Until now, the Colombian constitution has not included life in jail as a penalty for any crime. When the vote came, more than 30 congressional representatives left the hall to signal their opposition to the reform.

    The initial reaction to the case at the highest levels of government may also indicate a shift. Over more than fifty years of fighting with guerrillas and drug traffickers, the Colombian Army has repeatedly been accused of silencing crimes committed by soldiers.

    Many feared that the soldiers’ case in Risaralda would be swept under the rug without resolution, but authorities inside and outside the military world have instead publicly acknowledged the allegations.

    While the seven soldiers are waiting for their day in court, the ONIC is demanding that they be tried under indigenous law, arguing that it’s their jurisdiction since the alleged crime was against an indigenous person, on indigenous land.

    “This act breaks Colombia’s indigenous groups’ trust in all the armed forces of the country. The soldiers were supposed to be here to protect the people from the pandemic,” said Luis Fernando Arias.

    “They are worse than the pandemic.”

    Source: cnn.com

  • Gunman opens fire on mourners at funeral; one injured

    At least one person was injured after a shooting incident at a funeral ground in Atwima Agogo near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

    The shooting happened on Saturday at about 12:45pm at a funeral ground forcing mourners to flee for safety, Dailymailgh.com can report.

    Police at Abuakwa has named the suspect as Kofi Gyebi, a resident of Abuakwa/Maakro and is appealing for credible information leading to his arrest.

    He is reported to have fired indiscriminately at the event injuring one Dennis Adomako, 27, who sought to question the motive behind the act.

    Adomako, who sustained severe gunshot wounds at his left thigh, was rushed to the Abuakwa Health Center for medical attention but was later referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for further treatment.

    Officers who visited the victim reported that he could not talk to them as he was in serious pain.

    They have since visited the scene as investigations begin into the “serious” crime.

     

    Source: Daily Mail

  • Kpone Katamanso NDC youth adopts bedroom to bedroom campaign

    The Kpone Katamanso youth wing of the National Democratic Party has resolved to embark on bedroom to bedroom campaign to canvas for votes towards the 2020 general elections.

    Mr Jerry John Adjololo, constituency youth organizer, was addressing a meeting of the various branch youth executives in the Constituency.

    Mr. Adjorlolo explained that the 2020 campaign could be won by hard work saying that branch youth executives who work to ensure victory for the party, would not be forgotten.

    According to the NDC Kpone Katamanso constituency youth organizer, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) had lost focus and lacked integrity to win the next general election.

    Mr. Joseph Akweteh Tettey, Kpone Katamanso NDC Parliamentary candidate, assured the youth wing of a resounding victory for the NDC in the constituency.

    According to him, his contender for the 2020 general elections was no match for him, saying, “I Will defeat him to teach him a lesson”.

    Mr Tettey, who is popularly known as JOE T in the area, said the youth was the engine of the party hence they must work hard to recapture power from the ruling party.

    He called on the party stewards to go out in their numbers and register for the new voter’s ID cards to enable them vote massively for Mr. John Mahama and him in the general election.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Delhi struggles to cope with Covid-19 surge

    The chief minister of India’s capital Delhi has said the speed at which coronavirus has spread has severely challenged its health system.

    Arvind Kejriwal said a surge in cases in early June had led to a shortage of hospital beds and rising fatalities.

    Delhi is now the country’s worst-hit area, with about 73,000 recorded cases of COVID-19 and at least 2,500 deaths.

    But Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India was “much better placed than many other nations” to tackle the virus.

    In a virtual address, he said this was due to a strict nationwide lockdown ordered in March and various measures taken by people.

    “India’s recovery rate is rising,” he added.

    More than 500,000 COVID-19 cases have been recorded across the country. About 15,000 people have died after testing positive for the virus.

    But infections in Delhi – a city of some 20 million people – have been rising much faster than in the rest of country. About of third of the total number of infections there have been reported in the past week alone.

    Chief Minister Kejriwal said: “The cases increased more than we would have expected and in the first week of June we witnessed a shortage of [hospital] beds.

    “We were lagging behind in testing in Delhi. And because of the shortage of beds, when some people were not getting beds, the death rate also increased.”

    Delhi authorities have begun mass testing to determine the extent of spread in the capital.

    “The only way to put a lid on infections is early diagnosis and quarantine,” Dr Sundeep Salvi, a leading researcher in respiratory care, told CBS News.

    In early June – four months after its first recorded Covid-19 infection – India emerged from one of the world’s harshest lockdowns. Most businesses were allowed to re-open.

    Schools also re-opened in many states, although they remain closed in Delhi.

    But the easing of the lockdown led to a surge in new infections. India now has the world’s fourth-highest number of confirmed cases, behind Russia, Brazil and the US.

    However, with a population of more than 1.3 billion it still has a low rate of infections per capita – fewer than 400 per million people.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Popular sports presenter in Western Region dead

    Sheriph Mohammed who was once the Sports Head of West End Radio in Ellembelle District of the Western Region is reported dead.

    Confirming the sad news to this journalist, Daniel Kaku, the current head of sports of West End Radio, Samuel Enyan Riquelme said, “yes it is true Sheriph Mohammed has passed on.”

    Late Sheriph Mohammed who was named the Sports Magician met his untimely demise on Esiama-Azulenuanu-Elubo highway where he was knocked down by a car around 3am.

    He was then rushed to Eikwe Saint Martin de Pores Hospital in the district for treatment but was pronounced dead Sunday, June 28, 2020.

    Late Sheriph Mohammed started his sports Journalism as a Commentator and sports presenter with Ankobra FM in Axim in 2007, he later moved to Pure FM at Tarkwa-Nsuaem in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.

    From Pure FM, he moved to West End Radio in 2013 and later somewhere in 2018 left West End Radio to join a Mining Company called BCM until his departure.

    The sad news has shocked his colleague sports Journalists and other people in the Western Region.

    The driver of the car is in the hands of the police assisting them with an investigation.

     

    Source: Daniel Kaku, Contributor

  • Coronavirus: Akufo-Addo has done well – Amoako Baah

    Political scientist and former lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Dr. Amoako Baah has commended President Akufo-Addo for measures put in place to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

    However, he feels more should be done because the rate at which the cases are going up ‘is frightening’.

    “He’s (Akufo-Addo) done well but the cases are currently increasing and this is the critical time we need to be careful. Things can change drastically and it is frightening for me” he said in an interaction on Neat FM.

    Ghana’s case count

    Ghana’s COVID-19 case count now stands at 16,742 after 311 new cases were recorded according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS)

    The number of active cases now stands at 3,910, with 12,720 recoveries.

    9 more people have died taking the death toll from 103 to 112.

     

    Source: Peace FM

  • Election 2020: NDC members don’t read Bawumia

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has once again jabbed members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

    According to him, the opposition does not read economic data and so has not been able to appreciate the economic achievements of the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration vis-a-vis the performance of the NDC.

    He described the NDC as an “incompetent alternative.”

    Dr Bawumia speaking on Saturday, June 27, 2020, after he was picked by Nana Addo as his 2020 running mate stated that the current government has succeeded in saving NHIS, reduced corruption in the public sector and implemented the Free SHS policy.

    He said the government has further reduced the price for energy by 50 percent for April, May June this year.

    In the first year of the NPP government, he says due to competent management, the teacher and nursing training allowances were restored.

    He said in the first year, 15 taxes were abolished, something he said NDC could not do.

    According to him, “it is important that we stay the course and not play ‘chaskele’ with the economy,” indirect call on Ghanaians not to elect NDC again.

     

    Source: pulse.com.gh

  • Rights group laments illegal detention of 35 Nigerians in Ghana

    The Concerned Citizens Rights (CCR), a human rights organisation, has alleged that no fewer than 35 Nigerians are illegally detained in Ghana

    This was contained in a letter its National President, Dr Olusegun Adeola addressed to the Chairman, Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NiDCM), Abike Dabiri on June 26, detailing the plight of Nigerians in Ghana.

    The letter, which was copied to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, Ghana High Commission and Consulate-General in Nigeria, said Nigerians were languishing in Aflao, a Ghanaian border with Togo Republic.

    It lamented the level of maltreatment being allegedly meted to the victims along the Ghana-Togo border, where many citizens “are currently languishing in detention with no hope of being released despite their pathetic situation.”

    The letter urged NiDCM and the Ghana High Commission and Consulate-General in Abuja and Lagos to use their good offices to intervene and secure the immediate release of these hapless Nigerians.

    The letter read in part: “Available information corroborated the fact that about 35 Nigerians are currently detained some, for more than 45 days in unsanitary conditions in the arrival hall and other locations, which can better be described as ‘concentration camps.’ They sleep on bare concrete floors without food, and with just one toilet for all genders.

    “To make matters worse, both men and women are cramped in one camp, sleeping together in flagrant violation of the detention code and convention. Under the facade of safekeeping, the immigration officers seized huge sums of money from merchants and traders among them.

    “While being held incommunicado, they were made to pay 300 Cedis each under duress to the immigration officers. Their phones and ECOWAS Passports were seized and without the opportunity of reaching out to members of their family since they left home, who may not even know their whereabouts, situations and circumstances currently.

    “During the investigation, we gathered that when some frustrated ones among the detainees complained after 30 days in detention, they were beaten and tortured. They were told their offence was entering Ghana illegally, even when there was unfettered movement across borders as contained in the ECOWAS charter that bonded member states.

    “These are people who have always seen Ghana as a sister country to Nigeria and who have previously been coming in and out of Ghana on business trips, believing they are covered under the ECOWAS Protocol Agreements.”

    The letter said no matter the magnitude of the offences or crimes committed, it was wrong for those Nigerians to be treated in such crude, brutish, inhumane and inhuman conditions like making fellow human beings sleep on concrete floors for weeks and months without food.

    The letter noted that the victims “daily buy their own foods and some are running out of money. Their treatment has nothing to do with COVID-19 because they have been tested and found negative for weeks and still kept together without social distancing and even face masks.”

     

    Source: allafrica.com

  • Government extends incentive packages for frontline health workers

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has extended by three months the incentive packages for frontline health workers.

    Addressing the nation on Sunday, June 28, 2020, the president said, “this means that all health workers will pay no income taxes for the next three months, i.e. July, August and September.

    “Again, all frontline health workers, as defined by the Ministry of Health, will continue to receive the additional allowance of fifty per cent (50%) of their basic salary per month, i.e. for July, August and September.”

    He added, the implementation of this directive for the months of April, May and June have been fraught with some challenges, caused, mainly, by the protracted discussions over the definition of who qualifies as “frontline health workers” in this context.

    “I have, however, been assured that they have now been resolved, and payments will be affected from the end of June. I should reiterate that the insurance package for health workers is still in place,” Akufo-Addo stated.

    The President, however, urged the frontline health workers to remain professional and compassionate in their handling of COVID-19 cases. “Every avoidable death, be it corona-related or not, is a tragedy.”

    He, therefore, reminded Ghanaians to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols i.e. the enhanced social distancing and hygiene protocols which will not only save lives but also prevent the healthcare infrastructure from being overburdened.

    “Let us wash our hands with soap under running water, use alcohol-based sanitizers, maintain the protocols on social distancing, avoid person-to-person contact, eat our local foods that boost our immune systems, and, yes, wear masks at all times when we leave our homes.

    “These are the weapons of our battle. We must keep our guard up at all times, and see to it that sooner, rather than later, COVID-19 becomes nothing but a blip on our forward march to sustained development, progress and prosperity,” Akufo-Addo said.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Kumawood stars pay last tribute to Bishop Bernard Nyarko

    Some Kumawood actors led by Bill Asamoah paid tribute to their late colleague, Bishop Bernard Nyarko.

    The funeral rites of the renowned actor took place at the Lakeside Estate, Accra, yesterday June 27, 2020.

    Industry players like Nana Ama McBrown, Vivian Jill Lawrence, Kwaku Manu, Kojo Nkansah alias Lilwin, Bill Asamoah, Aunite B, Papa Kumasi, Too Much of Janka Town fame and a host of others came in their numbers to commensurate with the family of their late colleague.

    Bill Asamaoh speaking to GhanaWeb said, “It’s a sad moment for us all, Ghana has lost a legend in the film industry and we cannot but to come and commensurate with the family. We want the family to understand that in this time of grieve all actors are with them”

    Auntie B of Efiewura TV series fame added that “Death is real and everyone will die but sometimes it is painful to lose a loved one when it happens unexpectedly. It is good we all came in our numbers to pay our last respect to our brother.”

    Late Bernard Nyarko aged 50, died on Saturday, May 2, 2020, while undergoing treatment at Ridge Hospital.

    Watch the video below:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • My VGMA brawl with Shatta Wale unintended – Stonebwoy

    Contrary to what has long been speculated that the on-stage Stonebwoy-Shatta Wale brawl was planned, the Afropop and Raggae-Dancehall singer has revealed the action was unintended.

    A section of the Ghanaian populace and music lovers believe the rivalry between the two top Ghanaian artistes is just to sell their brands; and the clash at the 2019 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA19), is no exception.

    But speaking on United Showbiz, a popular weekend night entertainment show on UTV, Stonebwoy cleared the air that, he had no such plans with Shatta Wale prior to their big night, as has been concluded by many.

    “People say my colleague and I had planned what happened that night but it’s not true, it wasn’t a planned thing. It shows you how serious the music industry is”, he told host, Nana Ama McBrown.

    Talking about the fight, the ‘Sobolo’ hitmaker stated he does not want to dwell on the awfulness of the night but rather the good thing it has brought between himself and Shatta Wale.

    “I’ve talked about this issue countless times on different platforms across the world but I don’t dwell on the negative side of it. The beautiful thing is that today we sleep peacefully, we wake and call each other on the phone and we are all focusing on our works now and moving forward”, he stated.

    Background

    Pandemonium broke out on the night of VGMA19 after Stonebwoy went to collect a prize.

    He had just been awarded Raggae-Dancehall Artiste of the Year when his musical rival, Shatta Wale, and his entourage mounted the stage.

    Video footage of the brawl appears to show Stonebwoy holding a gun.

    The action marred the event but after a short delay the VGMA19 in the capital, Accra, resumed.

    During the acceptance speech for another award, Stonebwoy apologised to Ghanaians, saying “I only had to react out of natural instincts”.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Asem claims he will sue Amerado for stealing his concept for “Yete Nsem”

    Ghanaian rapper, Nana Wiafe Asante Mensah known in the showbiz fraternity as Asem has disclosed that he will sue Amerado for using his intellectual property.

    The ace rapper claimed a concept which he created has been stolen by the Mic Burners record artiste without his consent.

    Amerado has stated a series dubbed “Yete Nsem” which features all the news retrospect of the week and has since received a massive support after he introduced that content.

    According to Asem, he explained that the he only wanted to the Kumasi base rapper to respect him for using his concept but Amerado has refused to do the needful.

    He therefore revealed that he will sue him for stealing his intellectual property because he did not credit him and has also started looking for sponsorship.

    In a video on his social media handles, the rapper who now lives overseas noted that since Amerado is using his intellectual property for commercial purpose, then he have 60% of any income that will come from the series.

    Source: ghgossip.com

  • Rev Obofour found guilty of copyright breaches

    The founder and leader of Anointed Palace Chapel (APC) Reverend Kwaku Antwi popularly known as Obofour has been found guilty by the court for copyright breach.

    Recall that, female gospel musician Celestine Donkor dragged the man of God to court for extracting part of her song titled “Agbebolo” without the consent of the artist.

    However an Accra Circuit court presided by Madam Eva Bannerman Williams pronounced Rev. Obofour with an explanation to infringement of copyright contrary to Sections 42(1)(a) and 43 of Copyright Act of 2005, (Act 690).

    Meanwhile, Rev Obofour told the court that he accepted his fault by using her song on some various Television without her consent but added that he had already met her and paid compensation.

    With the plea of Rev. Obofour, the court convicted him to be of good behavior for six months.

    Source: www.ghgossip.com

  • Wendy Shay hints on another collaboration with Shatta Wale (video)

    Self-acclaimed Queen of Ghanaian music, Wendy Shay has hinted on doing another collaboration with the King of African Dancehall, Shatta Wale.

    After a beautiful work done on the “Stevie Wonder” song, which is currently tipped as another classic jam from the Rufftown Records signee. The song has made waves across Ghana and doing larger numbers in the outside world.

    Wendy is not looking to starve her fans with good music hence her decision to bring out another banger with Shatta Wale a few weeks after releasing her hit single “emergency” which fans are not done digesting.

    In a video she shared on her Instagram page, Wendy was seen hanging out with Shatta Wale with a suggestive caption telling her fans to expect the banger.

    Watch video below:

    Source : ghgossip.com

  • La Meme Gang to face lawsuits over rape allegations

    About a week ago, there were allegations of rape levelled against two members of the La Meme Gang music group on social media.

    These claims on social media came out with receipts to support that Ghanaian musicians of the La Meme Gang group namely RJZ and David Duncan had indeed being accused of rape and have been reported to the police.

    The La Meme Gang group however put out an official statement to debunk these allegations by stating that these allegations are calculated efforts to tarnish their image.

    Lawyer for the victim, Lawyer Lebrecht Hesse, has, on the other hand, threatened lawsuits against the group by as he reveals that there is overwhelming evidence against the accused persons.

    In an interview with Doctor Cann on the Showbiz Xtra show, he revealed: “As far as we are concerned we have hard evidence against them. The Doctor who has examined the lady has revealed that our client has gone through a difficult phase. We are seeking justice. The evidence we have confirms that it was a gang rape”.

    Responding to the official statement by the music group, the Lawyer believed that the statement was probably directed to other ladies who voiced out on their sexual abuse after his client came out with her story and not at his client. “The issue started trending on twitter and other ladies were also making allegations against them so their statement released is in respects to the allegations by the other ladies”, he added.

    Lawyer Lebrecht Hesse appealed to the general public to support their cause of seeking justice for his client who he believes has been subjected to a traumatizing experience by the La Meme Gang Group.

    “Sometimes our criminal jurisdiction is problematic and you know with these issues depending on the traction it gets either from lawyer or civil society organizations that is when some great results come. Aside from that, few people are able to push to achieve the desired results so it is a consensus effort. We need to help the lady because given the evidence at hand, we need to seek justice for her. For now, we have been able to meet the police. We are yet to issue a writ against the culprit in the civil law of court and slap the culprit with the heavy damage”.

    Disclaimer : “Opinions expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not in any way reflect those of backend.theindependentghana.com. Our outfit will hereby not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article.”

    Source: etvghana.com

  • Unnamed Champions League club want to sign Razak Brimah

    Spain-based goalkeeper Razak Brimah could sign for a UEFA Champions League club, his agent Ibrahim Abdullai has exclusively told GHANASoccernet.com.

    The Ghana international was instrumental in the truncated 2019/20 season where his side Linares Deportivo were declared champions.

    He was named the best goalkeeper in the Tercera Division after conceding just 13 goals in 24 league matches.

    ”As it stands, I have teams in higher leagues ready to hand him a contract and one of them is a Champions League club,” Abdullai, who is Ghanaian-Spanish, exclusively told GHANASoccernet.com

    Brimah has succeeded in reviving his career after dropping to the lower league in Spain.

    He is yet to feature in the Spanish La Liga despite making huge impact with lower sides Tenerife, Mirandés, Córdoba, Guadalajara and Real Betis II.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Abedi Pele’s absence cost us the 1992 AFCON – Odartey Lamptey

    Former Black Stars midfielder Nii Odartey Lamptey believes that the senior national team would have beaten La Cote d’Ivoire in the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations final if Abedi Pele was available.

    Ghana was dominant during the tournament which was hosted in Senegal. They however fell short at the final hurdle, losing the trophy to the Ivorians 11-10 on penalties after the game ended 0-0 in extra time.

    In an interview with Joy FM, he confidently stated that the result would have been different if the talisman was not suspended through accumulated yellow cards.

    “I was dying to play with Abedi Pele, he was an African footballer of the Year and was like a genius, we missed him in the 1992 AFCON final and it was a big blow to us if Abedi was part of the squad we would have beaten Ivory Coast and won the trophy,” he told Nathaniel Attoh.

    Lamptey made 38 appearances for the Black Stars and scored eight goals.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Christiana Awuni, others wail as Bishop Nyarko’s body is taken away

    GhanaWeb, this morning, captured friends and families wailing and crying at the burial ceremony of the late popular actor Bishop Bernard Nyarko.

    The final funeral rites for the late actor took place at Lakeside Estate, Accra, today, June 27, 2020. Many people were gathered to pay their last respect to the veteran actor.

    Scores of fans, friends, and family members wept uncontrollably when his remains was lifted to be sent to Obosomase in the Eastern Region for a private burial.

    Christiana Awuni, Bill Asamoah, Kalybos, Kwadwo Nkansah, and many others were there to pay their last respect to their colleague.

    Late Bernard Nyarko aged 50, died on Saturday, May 2, 2020, while undergoing treatment at Ridge Hospital. He left behind 5 children.

    Watch the video below:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

     

  • I want women to occupy leadership positions in the world – Caroline Adzogble

    Business executive and education enthusiast, Caroline Esinam Adzogble, who is the Founder and CEO of the Caroline Group Of Companies, launched the new the face of her company on Friday, July 26 at the Kempinski Hotel, Accra.

    After suffering hard financial defeat in pursuit of a career in medicine, Caroline changed her direction into a different profession by studying data analysis in order to focus on her long-lasting dream of not only being the voice of women around the world but also the change-maker, hence, the birth of the Caroline Group.

    The company boasts of branches in different areas but mainly education, hospitality industry, and more awarding scholarships and sponsorship packages to students in several African countries, working on travel packages, etc.

    She mentioned in her brief message that the company successfully operates in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, the United Kingdom, the United States Of America, and including plans to expand to Australia, Brazil, India, and more.

    She plans to support women to gain their voices and be change-makers in society. With the first step being visitation to various prisons across Ghana to provide basic needs that women in there need.

    She spoke about her passion to see women take leadership positions in the world and do great things through that.

    Disclaimer : “Opinions expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not in any way reflect those of backend.theindependentghana.com. Our outfit will hereby not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article.”

    Source: Tmgh Live, Contributor

  • Brenya drops new song, gets Ghanaians jamming and smiling to it

    Highlife musician Brenya is in the homes of Ghanaians again as he drops his latest single Forgete.

    The song, creatively crafted, touches on some pertinent and comic issues in the country with the musician satirically addressing such in one piece.

    This great piece of artwork takes you on a journey of smiles, laughter and intrigue. And for those who can relate, a journey into those past happy childhoods.

    Forgete is on all digital stores. You can click on the link below for your listening pleasure.

    Disclaimer : “Opinions expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not in any way reflect those of backend.theindependentghana.com. Our outfit will hereby not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article.”

    Source: Solomon Mensah, Contributor

  • I won’t bother myself to prove my doubters wrong – Bosom P-Yung

    ‘Attaa Adwoa’ hit maker, Bosom P-Yung has revealed his eagerness to continue doing his best to keep his followers and admirers entertained whilst ignoring his doubters to continue hating.

    Most people waste a lot of time trying to do their best to prove those who doubt them wrong but Bosom P-Yung said he will rather concentrate on those who believe in his creativity.

    In a chit chat with Cape Coast’s finest radio presenter, Amansan Krakye on GBC Radio Central, Bosom P-Yung was asked what he thinks about those who suggest that he’ll fade away very soon in the game.

    He responded “No I feel that I shouldn’t prove anybody wrong. I should rather focus on the people loving it and do more for them. I have never made up my mind to prove my doubters and haters wrong.

    “I was basically going hard to do more for those who appreciate my creativity but I wasn’t bothered about those who want to bring me down or think that my style will fade away very soon”.

    Bosom P-Yung continues to blossom in the music scene with many artistes featuring him on songs such as ’emergency’, ‘yaazo’ ,’asa bone’, ‘dw3 rmx’ amongst other songs.

    Source: Amasan Krakye, Contributor

  • In-demand Osman Bukari bags 11th league goal as Trencin stroll past FK Senica

    Fast-rising Ghanaian winger Osman Bukari was at his usual best as he bagged his eleventh goal of the season for AS Trencin during their 3-1 victory over FK Senica in the Slovakian top-flight league on Saturday.

    The in-form Wideman became the second-highest scorer in the league following his goal against FK Senica at the OMS Arena on Saturday.

    The player whose explosive form has courted massive interest from several clubs climbs to the second place on the scorer’s chart even though he is a midfielder.

    AS Trencin dominated their opponents in the opening minutes of the game before getting their noses in front through Bukari in the 22nd minute.

    Gino Van Kessel doubled the Red and White lads advantage five minutes later before Ante Roguljic took the game beyond the hosts in the 31st minute.

    FK Senica grabbed a consolation goal on the 85th-minute mark through Nigerian attacker Eneji Moses.

    Bukari enjoyed full throttle of action while compatriots Edmund Addo and Sadam Sulley also featured for Senica.

    The youngster has scored 11 goals and registered 14 assists in 26 appearances in all competitions for AS Trencin this term.

    Bukari has appeared 10 times in the Slovakian Premier League Team of the Week.

    His impressive displays is what has led to several clubs changing including Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon chasing after his signature.

    Disclaimer : “Opinions expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not in any way reflect those of backend.theindependentghana.com. Our outfit will hereby not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article.”

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Ghana’s Razak Brimah named best goalkeeper in Spain

    Linares Deportivo No.1 Razak Brimah has been voted the best goalkeeper in the Spanish fourth-tier this season.

    The 33-year-old conceded just 13 goals in 24 games which is an average of 0.5417 goals per game.

    Brimah won the Zamora Trophy for his exploits.

    Linares Deportivo were declared champions after the Tercera Division was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    They held an 18-point lead with nine matches to spare.

    Linares Deportivo have now qualified for the promotional play-offs to the Segunda B.

    Disclaimer : “Opinions expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not in any way reflect those of backend.theindependentghana.com. Our outfit will hereby not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article.”

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Black Queens winger Portia Boakye scores first league goal in Swedish top-flight

    Ghana international Portia Boakye scored on the opening day of the Swedish Damallsvenskan on Sunday but her side Djurgården lost 3-2 away to Uppsala.

    The 31-year-old found the back of the net in the 31st minute to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

    It was her first league goal in the Swedish top-flight in three seasons.

    Tilde Lindwall had given Djurgården the lead in the 8th minute but Sara Olai equalized on 25 minutes.

    Cassandra Korhonen levelled again for Uppsala in the 81st minute before Beata Olsson snatched the match winner in stoppage time.

    Djurgården had to finished with ten players after South Africa international Linda Motlhalo got sent off in the 85th minute for receiving two yellow cards.

    Disclaimer : “Opinions expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not in any way reflect those of backend.theindependentghana.com. Our outfit will hereby not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article.”

    Source: GNA

  • One-week celebration of Peace FM’s Nana Agyei Sikapa underway

    The one-week observation of the passing of Peace FM’s Nana Agyei Sikapa, is underway at Achimota Mile in Accra.

    Family members, friends, and sympathizers as well as management and staff of the Despite Media Group, have gathered at the Achimota Mile 7 Presbyterian School park to observe one week of his demise.

    The renowned broadcaster who was known in private life as Daniel Adjei Peprah, passed away on Friday, June 19, 2020, after battling ill health for about two years.

    Legendary highlife musician, Amakye Dede is also seen at the event to commiserate with the family.

    Click “PHOTOS” for more images from the one-week observation:

    The One Week of the late journalist is happening at Achimota Mile 7

    Disclaimer : “Opinions expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not in any way reflect those of backend.theindependentghana.com. Our outfit will hereby not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article.”

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • An artiste manager wanted sex before managing me – Efe Grace

    Efe Grace, a talented gospel musician whose Fanbase is huge in Kumasi has confirmed that most artiste managers demand sex before offering support to up and coming musicians.

    Speaking on 30minitzlive,a music video show hosted by DNA on Joy prime and TV7, Efe Grace revealed that there was a time, she was working with a jazz group in a hotel when a certain man (name withheld) approached to manage her but demanded sex in return as an attached condition.

    According to the ‘Lord Have Your Way’ crooner, the man promised to make her a big star like ‘U Lied To Me’ hitmaker Becca, if she accepts the offer but she hastily declined it.

    Efe Grace, who has been nominated for the first time in this year’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) in the best female vocal performer category, is the daughter of gospel legend, Rev Osei Mensah Bonsu.

    She has also been a backing vocalist for renowned gospel musicians like Sonnie Badu and Joe Mettle.

    Watch the video below:

    Source: Razz News, Contributor