TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Inflation rate was 11.3% in May GSS

    The national year-on-year inflation rate was 11.3% in May 2020, which is 0.7 percentage points higher than last month, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), has announced.

    Month-on-month inflation between April 2020 and May 2020 was 1.7%, the GSS added.

    This is lower than the 3.2% recorded between March and April 2020, but higher than the average month-on-month inflation recorded in the months from October 2019 to March 2020 (0.7%).

    Only two of the thirteen Divisions had higher than average inflation rates; Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages and Housing, Water, Electricity, and Gas (both 15.1%).

    At the regional level, the overall year-on-year inflation ranged from 3.1% in the Upper East Region to 13.3% in

    Greater Accra. When comparing Food to Non-Food inflation, there are clear differences between regions. Ashanti (22.3%) and Western Region (19.8%) had the highest rates of Food inflation, while Eastern Region saw the highest

    Non-Food inflation (12.8%). The Upper East, Northern, Eastern, and Volta Regions experienced higher Non-Food than Food inflation, the opposite was true for the other six regions.

    The month-on-month inflation rate between regions also differ.

    The overall month-on-month inflation was between -1.5% in the Volta Region and 3.9% in the Ashanti Region. The Western Region recorded a month-on-month Food inflation rate of 6.9%, while the Volta Region saw a decrease of -3.3%.

    Greater Accra saw an overall month-on-month inflation of 0.7% and a Food month-on-month inflation of -0.4%. See Figure 5, for the other regional month-on-month inflation rates.

    The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Division recorded a year-on-year inflation rate of 15.1%. This is 0.7 percentage point higher than April 2020 (14.4%) and 7.2 percentage points higher than the average over the eight months preceding March 2020 (7.9%).

    This translates to Food being the predominant driver of year-on-year inflation. Food contributed 58.6% of the year-on-year inflation in April 2020.

    Month-on-month Food inflation stood at 2.3%, which is less than the 6.4% that was recorded between March 2020 and April 2020.

    The Division with the highest month-on-month inflation between April and March 2020 was Housing, Water, Electricity, and Gas (4.3%).

    In the previous two months, the majority of Divisions recorded higher month-on-month inflation rates than the average month-on-month inflation rates between October 2019 and March 2020.

    Month-on-month Transport inflation was on average +0.3% between October 2019 and March 2020, but -1.7% between March and April and 0.6% between April and May. Within the Food Division, Vegetables (34.9%) and Fruits and Nuts (21.5% ) were the Subclasses with the highest rates of inflation.

    For the Housing Division, the Subclasses Rents Paid by Tenants (21.0%) and Refuse Collection (48.9%) recorded the highest inflation rates. Month-on-month Transport inflation was negative due to the month-on-month price indices decreases for Diesel (-10.9%) and Petrol (-8.7%).

    Source: laudbusiness.com

  • Keep away from mass registrations Franklin Cudjoe urges boycott of voter registration

    The decision by the Electoral Commission of Ghana to compile a new voter roll ahead of the December General Elections has met varied forms of opposition, the Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of policy think tank group IMANI Africa is one of such persons who does not side with the commission on its venture.

    Taking to Twitter, Mr Cudjoe has subtly asked Ghanaians to stay away from the mass registration about to be conducted by the EC, citing the growing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.

    Making reference to the death of Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza, who is reported to have died of COVID-19 after disregarding the threats of the virus, Mr Cudjoe describing President Akufo-Addo as wiser said the president understanding the threat of the virus has asked Ghanaians to avoid mass gatherings.

    Revealing his fears about the COVID-19 pandemic, Franklin Cudjoe advised Ghanaians to keep safe from temptations that will lead to the contraction of the virus including mass gatherings like a registration exercise

    Read his full post below

    Burundi’s President disregarded the threat of Covid. He just died of it. Ghana’s President is wiser. He has seen the escalating numbers, daily infection rates of almost 300 with over 10,000 infections.

    Our wiser President has advised us to avoid opportunities for all mass gatherings. He says churches should do 100 people, socially distanced at a time. You are on your own when you join some mass exercise. Be safe.

    I hear many of you say, you have stopped following the covid numbers. Ei. Not even when the numbers are now over 10k with almost 300 people infected daily? Still, be extra safe. The President has advised us to avoid opportunities for all mass gatherings.

    He says churches should do 100 people, socially distanced at a time. You are on your own when you join some mass exercise. Be safe.

    Over 10,000 cases now? It could be more actually. Daily rates of infection almost 300. Folks, I am very scared. You should. Keep extra safe from all temptations, including mass registrations.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: We can assess impact on jobs by September ICU

    The General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) Mr. Solomon Kotei, has said the ICU will be able to assess the impact of the COVID-19 on jobs by September this year.

    He noted that although the pandemic has affected jobs in several ways, a more reliable assessment of the impact could be done in September.

    He revealed that the hotel and the aviation sectors of the economy are the areas of the economy that are most affected by the impact of the coronavirus.

    He explained on the Sunrise Show hosted by Alfred Ocansey on 3FM 92.7 Wednesday, June 10 that these sectors mostly rely on foreigners and others why travel around the world.

    Therefore, they have lost their jobs following the closure of borders and other entry points into the country.

    As part of measures to curtail the spread of the virus in Ghana, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Ado closed all the borders and other entry points into the country.

    Mr Kotei said : “The hardest hit so far is the hospitality sector and the aviation sectors because these businesses they have over 80 per cent of their activity being supported by foreigners who come in and those who actually give them the rate of occupancies in their various hotels

    As of these times that the planes are not coming in what we have experienced in this sector is that those who supply the planes with foods and juice have closed down, they been declared redundant and be paid off. So the job losses begin from this particular angle.

    “For them, both the casual workers and the regular workers had been sorted out and we are concluding negotiations to get them paid off.

    “To the big hotels, they are hoping that at least by September some kind of level of activity that can give them self-sustaining operations will take off.

    “We have said as ICU that around September October then we will see the real impact of COVID-19 in the area of job losses.”

    The General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) Mr. Solomon Kotei, has said the ICU will be able to assess the impact of the COVID-19 on jobs by September this year.

    He noted that although the pandemic has affected jobs in several ways, a more reliable assessment of the impact could be done in September.

    Source: laudbusiness.com

  • Funny Faces throwback photos cause laughter on social media

    Popular Ghanaian comedian, Funny Face, known in real life as Benson Nana Yaw Oduro Boateng, has got his fans laughing after sharing his throwback photos.

    A video, which has been put together in a photo grid form, shows a slimmer-looking Funny Face.

    After posting the hilarious photos, the comedian wrote a caption to inspire others who have witnessed his transformation.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    🕊❤️🙏 TO GOD BE THE GLORY 🙏❤️🕊

    A post shared by CHILDREN PRESIDENT (@therealfunnyface) on

    Source: Adomonline.com

  • I will report you to President Akufo-Addo for over seeing illegal mining – Lands Minister to Suaman DCE

    The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, has threatened to report the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Suaman in the Western North Region, Christian Baah, to the President for allegedly superintending over illegal mining (galamsey) activities in the area.

    The minister alleged that the DCE was complicit in the resurgence of galamsey at Dadieso by allowing excavators that were seized from illegal miners and put under his care to be returned to the pits.

    Mr Asomah-Cheremeh issued the threat when he led a team of military men to the site to clamp down on the activities of illegal miners who had invaded the area and were destroying land and water resources.

    Some of the galamsey operators who were actively working at the time the team got there took to their heels before the minister and his team could close in on them.

    They left behind mobile phones, bags and other belongings as they fled to escape arrest.

    Complicity

    The visibly worried minister said the resurgence of illegal mining in Dadieso was because the DCE had failed to play his role well.

    “The last time we came here about two months ago, we found nine excavators and asked the DCE to take charge of them, but when we returned to convey the excavators away, their essential parts had been removed and we could not drive them away. I then tasked him to replace those parts.

    “We later got information from National Security that the galamsey operators were back to work and so we came back unannounced, and lo and behold, the same machines are being used to destroy the environment,” Mr Asomah-Cheremeh alleged.

    According to him, the action of the DCE was at variance with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s resolve to fight galamsey.

    “It is the President who appointed all metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) and so they must not act in a way that will defeat the appointing authority’s vision. I am going to officially report the conduct of this DCE to the President at our meeting on June 17, so that action will be taken,” he said.

    He warned that any MMDCEs who failed to support the government’s fight against illegal mining would be dealt with.

    “They represent President Akufo-Addo at the local level and so they cannot be acting in a manner that undermines him,” he added.

    Mr Asomah-Cheremeh further said all those who were still engaged in galamsey, despite the introduction of the Alternative Livelihood Project (ALP) and other interventions by the government, would also be dealt with according to the law.

    Observation

    The Daily Graphic observed that many acres of land had been destroyed by the illegal miners in the area.

    The Bia River that serves as a source of water for residents of the area had been polluted, turning the water milk-brown.

    The course of the river was almost blocked, making the flow of water difficult, while eight excavators were found in deep gullies that had been dug by the illegal miners.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • How BBC News Pidgin reported aftermath of June 8 rainstorm

    National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) confirm say one person die for Accra afta rains cause flood for de capital city.

    Lt. Col. Michael Mfum wey dey plus de 48 Engineers Regiment for Ghana Armed Forces during rescue mission confirm de death give Accra-based JoyNews.

    Joint team of military and NADMO officials rescue residents for areas wey de flood take over dema homes, destroy dema properties den tins.

    De rains start late Monday evening wey e fall across de capital, displacing residents for Ordonaa, Adabraka, Circle areas especially.

    De floods also leave behind plastic waste den tins some of Accra.

    Filth take over streets after floods kill one, displace some residents afta June 8 rainfallImage copyrightFILTH TAKE OVER STREETS AFTER FLOODS KILL ONE, DIS
    Accra floods: Filth take over streets after floods kill one, displace some residents

    One displaced resident, Fred talk BBC Pidgin say he “I wake up around 1.30am from bed wey I realise say e dey rain so I close my windows.

    So around 3.00am wey I wake up from bed realise say I dey stand inside water for my room. E destroy some of my things all” he add.

    Check out some of de pictures we gather after de rains for Accra early Tuesday morning.

    Various govments for Ghana promise say dem go resolve de issue of flooding for these areas but flooding come turn annual challenge give Ghanaians.

    Source: bbc.com

     

  • Coronavirus: 23 million more Africans to slip into poverty World Bank

    The World Bank estimates that the coronavirus pandemic will push 23 million people in sub-Saharan Africa into extreme poverty.

    This will mean they will live on less than US$1.90 (GHS11, 2 pesewas) per day in 2020.

    Accordingly, countries with the largest change in the number of poor include Nigeria (5 million), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2 million) and South Africa (1 million) are expected to witness an increased number of extremely poor people.

    But across the region, overall poverty is likely to rise given that low-income workers are more likely to lose their jobs as a result of COVID-19.

    Fitch Solutions said rising unemployment and higher food prices driven by the pandemic will feed into other drivers of protests, such as high youth unemployment and corruption.

    While the pandemic has temporarily placed a lid on these tensions, they are likely to re-emerge and intensify once lockdown measures are lifted, it added.

    Meanwhile, sub-Saharan African growth will average about 3.2% over the next decade, compared with an average of 4.0% over 2010 2019, with a range of global and domestic factors weighing on growth.

    Source: Class FM

  • Coronavirus: Airlines set for ‘worst’ year on record

    The plunge in travel caused by the coronavirus will drive airline losses of more than $84bn (£66bn) this year, a global industry group has warned.

    The International Air Transport Association, which has 290 member airlines, said revenues would drop to $419bn, down 50% from 2019.

    That is steeper than initially forecast and comes despite recent signs that travellers are returning to the skies.

    This year will go down as the “worst” on record financially, the group said.

    “There is no comparison,” said Alexandre de Juniac, chief executive of the group.

    The group said it expected airlines to lose $230m on average each day this year as the number of travellers falls to 2.25 billion, roughly halving from last year.

    That will erase more than a decade of growth, returning the industry to 2006 levels.

    The association said the industry would see losses again next year, but the damage would drop significantly – to $15.8bn – as revenues start to rebound and passenger numbers climb back to 2014 levels.

    “Provided there is not a second and more damaging wave of Covid-19, the worst of the collapse in traffic is likely behind us,” Mr de Juniac said.

    Slow recovery

    IATA had previously warned that airlines would lose $314bn this year, after air traffic all but disappeared in April, when governments around the world imposed limits on travel to try to control the spread of the virus.

    While there are signs travel is starting to pick up, the recovery has been slow, complicated by economic downturn and government quarantines.

    In the US, the Transportation Security Administration screened more than 440,000 people at airport checkpoints on Sunday. That’s up from fewer than 100,000 people in April, but still down more than 80% from last year.

    Companies have responded to the crisis by grounding fleets, scaling back service and cutting thousands of jobs. In coming months, IATA said firms are likely to lower prices in an effort to tempt back travellers, worsening their financial situation.

    Some airlines such as Flybe have already failed, while other have received millions in emergency government aid.

    Mr de Juniac said continued support is needed.

    “Government financial relief was and remains crucial as airlines burn through cash,” he said.

    Industry groups, including IATA, have also called on the UK government to remove the 14-day quarantine on passengers entering the country.

    Keeping such rules in place through the end of the summer could cost the UK $186bn and 2.9 million jobs, the World Travel & Tourism Council warned on Tuesday. That is up from the 1.2 million the organisation had previously said were at risk as a result of the pandemic.

    “The sector’s recovery risks being undermined by heavy-handed restrictions just as it emerges from one of the most punishing periods in its history – and it’s not just airlines who will bear the cost but the entire travel ecosystem,” said Gloria Guevara, the group’s president.

    Source: BBC

  • 10 Stunning photos of Duncan Williams son.

    Check out these Pictures of Duncan Williams Son who is a Pastor.

    Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams remains one of the most influential pastors in Ghana. He is well known for his control over the scriptures of God and his capacity in praying for long hours. It is believed that the Archbishop can pray to a maximum 18 hours non-stop. The Lord has blessed Duncan Williams with a very nice family. One of his sons is Joel Duncan Williams, who is now a pastor at his father’s church. Pastor Joel is married to a very beautiful wife and blessed with 3 beautiful daughters. Below are some of the stunning pictures of the Handsome Pastor, Joel Duncan Williams and his wife.

    Pastor Joel with his father on the altar during a sermon ministration at his father’s church.

    Handsome Pastor Joel stunning in an African-printed Jorome Clothing.View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

    Pastor Joel with his wife, three daughters and his father, Archbishop Duncan Williams.View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

    Wife of Pastor Joel stunning in her nice after wedding apparel.

    Pastor Joel poses with his beautiful wife.

    Pastor Joel with his father praying for members at a church meeting.

    Pastor Joel walking his wife along the Aisle.

    Young Pastor Joel in a suit apparel.

    Pastor Joel poses with his father on a church flyer.

    Pastor Joel, gracefully dancing with his wife at their wedding party.

    Source: joshua.asiedu

  • My father is the cause of my bad behaviour- Duncan Williams son

    Daniel Duncan, the unruly son of the popular preacher, Archbishop Duncan William has been trending on twitter for the wrong reasons.

    He has for weeks now been in the news headlines for several bad reasons which are yet to be addressed by his family.

    In the early hours of today, Daniel went out of control on social media releasing series of wild nude videos of himself twerking and with other ladies in the pool.

    The videos after fast going viral on social media has garnered serious reactions from the majority of netizens as the greater fragment of users have backlashed him for going stubborn.

    Adding up to the harm induced, he has blamed his father of causing his undisciplined behaviour by ending his relationship with his ex-girlfriend Abena Kuffuor.

    READ ALSO: Video of Duncan-Williams son chilling with naked ladies in a pool surfaces

    WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW;

    “Abena Kuffour was my soul mate but my father caused our breakup because he thought Abena was the witch causing my mental breakdowns but he is the witch,” He said.

    Daniel Duncan Williams said this during a Truth or Dare session on Twitter with some fans and followers.

    Source: ghanamma.com

  • I’m addicted to tramadol, weed and other drugs – Street boy begs for help

    The journey of life they say comes with so much twists and turns; so complex for the less fortunate.

    Benabi discovery chanced on young Ernest Ashatey, who became a street child at a tender age of nine years. Ernest, a native of Dodowa, narrating his rather sad story, mentioned that he left home as a result of ill-treatment and abuse meted out to him by a supposed stepmother.

    Ernest eventually got hold of her working capital, a sum of thousand Ghana Cedis. “This was what I came to the street with,” he said.

    Having received training from Elijah, a senior colleague, Ernest Ashatey seems to know the streets better.

    However, he is of the hope to vacate the streets in no time, but on condition that a philanthropist or any humanitarian advocate comes his way.

    Ernest was asked if he engages in drugs, and he responded in the affirmative. “I take in Tramadol, weed, and 225, but I don’t take in alcohol”, he said.

    But he doesn’t play around the ladies, only he’s done one or two before, he mentioned.

    Ernest Ashatey, just like any of his colleagues, seems to be going through very challenging and risky times on the streets, having nowhere to put their heads even as the raindrops.

    Ernest has a desire to be a great footballer, and perhaps join the National team, but that can only manifest if a good samaritan reaches out to him.

    These were his words, even as the interview came to a close.

    Watch the full video below:

     

    Source: Benabi Discovery

     

  • Fire interview!, Shatta Wale clashes with Joint 77 live on Hitz FM (Video)

    The troubles in the Shatta Movement camp following the sack of all the militants got a little milkier this morning when Shatta Wale and one of his former boys, Joint 77 met.

    Their fiery clash came about after Joint 77 made a remark that Shatta Wales claims that he has never written a song for himself was a lie.

    Shatta Wale, who from all indications was infuriated with the suggestion that he lied did not mince his words at all when he was phoned in to respond.

    Sounding very angry, he asked Joint 77 the songs he has written and how he contributed to their popular “Taking Over” song when it comes to the lyrics.

    Shatta Wale went further to reveal Joint 77 did not even have an interest in music, a claim the young musician described as a fallacy.

    Their exchange went on and on till it finally ended up bringing up all their dirty secrets, including the woman they have been chopping and paying.

    Watch the full interview below and have a good laugh

    https://web.facebook.com/Hitz1039/videos/260955258303056/

    Source: Zionfelix

  • NPP will win 2020 elections with 2million margin – Hon Charles Bissue

    A presidential staffer and western regional chairman of Npp , Hon Charles Bissue has said the ruling New Patriotic Party will win this years election with a 2million margin votes.

    Speaking in an exclusive interview with Kwabena Agyapong on Rainbow Radio the western regional chairman of NPP disclosed that this years election will be perfect win for the ruling party because of the achievements made which happens to unprecedented in the history of amidst coronavirus pandemic.

    According to Hon Charles Bissue the ruling New Patriotic party has duely fulfilled greater parts of their promises and have a lot to show to the people that are worthy of another 4 year term.

    Anticipation is very high for this years election as preparation are underway for the election commission of Ghana to issue a new voters register which according to the biggest opposition party “National Democratic Party” is a dubious means of defrauding them in this years election.

    The need for a new voters register comes to bear when the need for voting comes in mind but it seems the opposition is ready to try all avenues to prevent the Electoral Commissioner from issuing a new voters ID whiles the ruling New Patriotic party is of the view that the new voters register is a key requirement for a free and transparent in this years election.

    Amidst all the controversies with respect to the new voters register Hon. Charles Bissue is optimistic that with or without the new voters register NPP will win with a 2million votes margin.

    Source: Virgin  Blogger

  • Davido’s Chioma releases new picture

    Davido’s Chioma is the unbothered queen as she glows up in a red jumpsuit in front of her white Porsche packed in Davido’s lekki apartment.

    There has been speculations that Chioma has packed out of Davido’s house because of the allegations that he has impregnated a fourth baby mama.

    Well, Chioma is telling us that she is not bothered about what people are saying she she posted a photo of herself on her Instagram story looking cute.

    See photo below:

    View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

    Chef Chi as she is popularly called gave birth to Davido’s first son in October 2019.

    Fans have been waiting for the good need that they will get married, but up until now, its just the introduction ceremony that has taken place is their introduction ceremony.

    Well these two have come a long way and the possibility that the rumors will break their relationship is slim.

    Chioma is still leaving in the house with her man and they are sure going to sort their differences.

    Chioma looks good in this jumpsuit don’t you think so too?.

    Source: EbiaghianCharis

  • Manchester Uniteds Marcus Rashford is Ghanaian Ex-Ghanaian footballer claims

    A Ghanaian ex-footballer based in the United Kingdom is claiming to be the biological father of Manchester United and England striker Marcus Rashford.

    Micheal Boye Marquaye, 65-years-old, in an exclusive chat with Starr FM Sports says the 22-year-old England international is a Ghanaian as he is the biological father of the player.

    Marcus Rashford was born in Wythenshawe, Manchester in the UK with Melanie Rashford of St kitts descent as his mother and Jamaican, Joseph Rashford as his father officially.

    That is, however, a record that is being challenged now by Michael Boye Marquaye, who himself was a prolific striker in his playing days in Ghana alongside the likes of Hesse Odamtten, Ben Kayode and Aboagye Dacosta of Okwahu United fame playing for several clubs in Koforidua(Eastern Region and Tema (Greater Accra Region)
    as he indicates he is the father biologically of Marcus Rashford.

    Micheal Boye Marquaye in his playing days
    View pictures in App save up to 80% data.
    Manchester United Star Marcus Rashford

    Micheal Boye Marquaye when queried on why he is bringing this out now said he simply wants to set the records straight and to let the whole world know that Marcus Rashford has Ghanaian roots and not for any other motivation.

    Marcus Rashford has played for England at all age levels and currently a prominent member of the three lions.

    Source: hypercitigh.com

  • Study leave: Submit returns by Oct 30 GES to Regional Directors

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced that the due date for the submission of study leave returns for the 2020/2021 academic year is 30 October 2020.

    This was disclosed in a letter addressed to all Regional Directors of Education on Friday, 5 June 2020 and signed by the Director for HRMD Adwoa Van-Vicker on behalf of the Director-General.

    The letter stated: “You are expected to submit 2020/2021 study leave returns by 30th October 2020 to the Director-General.”

    It, however, cautioned that “staff who enrol for further studies without study leave approval in the first semester, will be considered as having vacated post.”

    The letter added that approved subjects for study leave with pay include 60 per cent allocation for “Physics, Chemistry, English Language, Biology, Mathematics, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Integrated Science Physical Education and French” and 30 per cent allocation for “Special Education, Ghanaian Language, Early childhood, Religious studies, Visual Arts (GKA, Creative Arts and Sculpture), Guidance and Counselling, Vocational Education, Clothing and Textiles, Hospitality Management, Catering, Fashion and Design, Management in Living, Technical course” while 10 per cent has been allocated to “Laboratory Technician and Library/Information Studies.”

    Source: Class FM

     

  • Why are radio presenters interested in what you do with your own private parts? Sista Afia

    Songstress Wendy Shay yesterday walked out of the studios of Accra FM in anger after she was asked a question by Nana Romeo.

    Wendy Shay as the guest was asked questions about her relationship with her boss Bullet and was not happy with the manner in which the host, Nana Romeo handled her response.

    Well, reacting to the incident, musician, Sista Afia is asking why people are just so interested in what they do with their own private parts.

    Sista Afia tweeted,

    “Every day are you sleeping with this person? Are you dating this person ahhh why ? What kinda stupid question are these? Why are these people interested with what you do with your private parts smh”

    Source: ghgossip.com

  • Video: Owusu Agyei pouring libation on Akufo-Addo’s father’s tomb for only one term leaks

    Apostle Kwabena Owusu Agyei is a very known renowed man of God who is known as Politician Pastor for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) but was once known as a Pastor for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as to what made him lost interest, no one knows yet.

    Yesterday he was arrested appeared in Court for threat of death, offensive conduct conducive to the breach of Peace and possession of narcotics.

    Apostle Kwabena Owusu Agyei is in a very tormenting moment after he threatened the Electoral commission Boss, Jean Mensah to get rid of her as he invoked curses on the President of Ghana.

    Meanwhile, Apostle Kwabena Owusu Agyei’s video of him pouring libation on President Akufo Addo father’s tomb to seek for Akuffo Addo’s life as he wanted history to repeat itself like the late Prof. Atta Mills death.

    In the video sighted, he was busily incanting words on Akuffo Addo father’s tomb as he pours libation on it in order to tell the gods of his plea so it can be granted for him.

    Source: Ghcelebritiesinfo.online

  • Zoomlion begins disinfection of 55 military facilities, 2,654 schools in Volta & Oti Regions

    Zoomlion Ghana Limited last Tuesday began the disinfection and disinfestation of about fifty-five (55) military facilities and installations located in both the Volta and Oti Regions.

    Similarly, 2,654 private and public basic and senior high schools in the two regions would be covered in the exercise.

    The Volta Regional Minister, Archibald Letsa, made the announcement when he launched the exercise at the Regional Security Coordinating Council, Ho, Volta Region.

    “Under the initiative of the Military High Command, and the Ministry of Education, all military facilities, barracks, basic and senior high schools, methodist churches and tertiary educational institutions in Volta Region and Oti Region will benefit from the exercise.”

    “55 military facilities which would be covered under the exercise include: Volta Barracks in HO, Naval Training Command in Sogakope, Akoefe Training Camp, Operation AHODWO camps, (Nkonya/Alavanyo), Operation GONGONG in Kete Karachi, Operation Safe camp in Hohoe, Operation SITDOWN LOOK CAMP in Aflao, MOC, Kpando Torkor and MOC Dambai among others,” the regional minister said.

    According to him, the exercise will be carried out in all offices and public places, police installations across the region.

    It comes after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his 10th address to the nation on COVID-19 situation in the country partially eased restrictions on social gathering, and also asked schools and universities to re-open, beginning June 15, 2020, to allow for final-year university, SHS and JHS students to resume classes for their impending exit examinations.

    And it forms part of efforts by the central government to curb the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    He added that twenty tertiary institutions in the two regions would also be disinfected and fumigated.

    To this end, Mr Letsa charged all the municipal/district chief executives to engage with the respective directors of education to monitor the exercise in schools under their jurisdictions.

     

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • GRA debunks IMANIs ICUMS assertion

    The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) says attempts by IMANI Africa to disparage the operations of the newly-introduced Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) are not constructive.

    Management of GRA said it was not true that port operations had reverted to the pre-2002 manual system as suggested by IMANI, noting that “all transactions from June 1, 2020 have been processed through ICUMS.”

    Assistant Commissioner in charge of Communication & Public Affairs, Florence Asante, explained in a statement that the manual process was brought in to address transactions that commenced in GCMS/GCNET period but were not cleared before June 1, 2020.

    “It was needed because GCNET did not provide data for those transactions in the right format,” she noted adding that “it is inaccurate to state that ICUMS has no established values for customs valuation.”

    According to the statement, GRA valuation methods were based on section 67 of the Customs Act 2015, Act 891 and the World Trade Organization (WTO) valuation protocols, pointing out that “over time, GRA has built a Transactional Pricing Database that serves as a reference for valuation.”

    The GRA Assistant Commissioner indicated that ICUMS had the Transactional Pricing Database fully integrated into its system, and that “Customs continuously acquires Home Delivery Values Database from the National Automobile Dealers Association (USA) and other accredited international dealers.”

    “The Home Delivery Values Database contains information and values of vehicles and also has details of vehicles manufactured from Asia. ICUMS has fully integrated the Home Delivery Values Database into the process flow.”

    She explained further that the database was continuously updated as new vehicles were manufactured, and stated that “indeed, Sections 60 and 61 of the Customs Act 2015, Act 891 define this procedure.”

    In reference to the vehicle that was purportedly valued at GH¢12,000 in GCMS/GCNET, but was valued at GH¢6,000 in ICUMS, Ms. Asante said “GRA does not have evidence of such a transaction.”

    The assistant commissioner, however, stated that the one related to the vehicle that was valued at GH¢14.00 was a case of fraudulent activity by an agent.

    “As stated before, in order to facilitate the clearance of vehicles with duties paid in GCMS/GCNET, but not cleared before June 1, GRA created a Customs Procedure Code (CPC) 40D23 in ICUMS to allow those transactions to skip the valuation step.”

    In a recent statement, IMANI has appealed to government to temporarily suspend operations of ICUMS and allow GCNet and West Blue to operate for the remainder of the year.

    Reacting to alleged challenges confronting ICUMS, IMANI said the new system has no pricing data against which they could determine current prices and respective taxes that must be paid to the state.

    The statement also alleged, ICUMS did not have data on cars coming from Japan adding, “that is why a vehicle that costs GHc12, 000 to clear on the GCNet/West Blue platforms now clears for GHc6000 on the ICUMS/UNIPASS platform.

    Source: goldstreetbusiness.com

  • Juliet Ibrahim loses her cool after a fan calls her half-caste and not a black woman

    Ghanaian actress Juliet Ibrahim has lost her cool on a friend who classified her as half-caste and not a black woman in an Instagram live.

    Juliet who is a bit hurt about the comment of her friend took to her Instagram page to pen down an emotional message about racism.

    According to her, we blacks discriminate among ourselves here but want the whites to see us as humans just like them.

    Using her friend as an example, Juliet said she argued with him for a very long time when he kept on saying she is not a black woman because of her skin color and hair texture.

    She then urged individuals not to discriminate among ourselves if we want the whites to stop their racist behavior against us as blacks.

    See screenshots below;

    Source: thedistin.com

  • An alleged letter from EC to NPP on start date of the new voters ID card is released to the public

    The Electoral Commission of Ghana has finally decided on the date of commencement of the new voters registration. In the letter release by the EC to all parties, the impending voters registration will commence on 30th June, 2020.

    A letter has surface from a reliable source which is signed by the Deputy Chairman, Corporate Services, Dr. Bossman E. Asare to the ruling party, New Patriotic Party to announce to them the said date of the new voters registration commencement.

    The letter which was written yesterday has now been brought out to the public. Below is the content of it.

    It says “I bring you warm greetings from the Electoral Commission and trust that this letter finds you well.

    This letter comes to inform you that the 2020 Voters Registration Exercise has been scheduled to commence on Tuesday, the 30th of June 2020. The registration will be held at all centres and District Offices of the Electoral Commission throughout the country. Should you require any information, do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you”.

    Below is a copy of the full letter.

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    Source: Enter10Gh

  • NDC caught red handed as shocking details of their secret meetings badly exposed

    A Shocking secret plot of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been badly exposed. The opposition party is said to have convened a meeting which lasted for about 35 minutes. This meeting was to discuss certain agenda they want to pursue in line with their position on the compilation of the new voter’s register and how they are going to deal with the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs. Jean Mensah.

    According to the alleged details of the plot which were exposed by the New Patriotic Party’s Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the NDC has planned to contract some district based officers of the Electoral Commission to deliberately tamper with the biometric verification devices during the registration process. This is intended to slow down the process and to paint a bad picture about the whole process and also give a bad name for the commission.

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    Another plot is also to contract certain personnel in Mrs. Jean Mensah’s office to sabotage her so they can succeed in exposing her for impeachment from office.

    Kennedy Agyapong disclosed that the NDC has planned to pay an amount of $200,000 to each of some four people at the electoral commission to do this work for them. He therefore advised the chairperson of the EC to in her own interest fire her secretary, human resource manager, and other people to to avoid any future embarrassment.

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    Kennedy Agyapong said that the NDC issue now is that they have access to some sensitive parts of the current electoral register. This allows them to deliberately interfere with the system, so they will never accept any attempt by the Electoral Commission to compile a new one.

    Kennedy Agyapong was speaking on Oman FM’s Boiling Point on Tuesday.

    Source: D.K.Joseph

  • Accra Floods: Sanitation agencies scratching the surface GAMA-WASH

    Sanitation agencies tasked to ensure planning and enforcement of sanitation laws including the Municipal Assemblies in the capital city are merely scratching the surface preventing flooding, Project Coordinator for the GAMA-WASH project Engineer George Asiedu has said.

    According to him, those in charge of communities and municipalities must do more to stem the tide.

    He said Odor drain which is a major drainage system in the capital, and the cause of major floods, has not been desilted the whole of the year after the contract for the agency responsible expired.

    About six lives were lost to floods in Accra Tuesday following hours of rainfall.

    Speaking to Francis Abban on the Morning Starr, the engineer said: “You do not need the president to come and do it. We still have a lot to do and it needs commitment, it needs planning, enforcement of laws before we even think of the money.

    The host asked, “somebody is employed to do that job, are they doing right by us in doing that job?” Mr Asiedu responded saying, “I think they are scratching the surface, they are doing very little, and I think a lot needs to be done.”

    He went on “they are doing something but not much. A lot needs to be done to ensure that whatever they are supposed to do, they do it within their communities and enforce the laws and ensure that people abide by the rules and regulations within these communities”.

     

    Source: starrfmonline.com

  • Football needs more black coaches – Sterling

    Progress in the fight against racism will only come in football when more black players become managers, England and Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling says.

    Thousands of people have taken part in anti-racism marches in the UK, following the death of American George Floyd on 25 May in Minneapolis.

    “The protest is a great starting point, to make your voice be heard,” he said.

    “But just protesting alone is not going to make a change in this country.”

    Speaking to the BBC’s Newsnight programme, the 25-year-old added: “It’s how we move on from here. It’s about highlighting things, the society that needs changing, and then acting upon it. We’ve done a lot of talking, and it’s time now to act.”

    Sterling said there needs to be greater black, Asian and minority ethnic representation among administrators and coaching staff in British football, and that equal opportunities should be given to former BAME players.

    As an example, he compared four former England internationals making their way in management: Chelsea’s Frank Lampard and Rangers’ Steven Gerrard, both white, and Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole, both black.

    Campbell’s two management jobs to date have been in lower-league football, at Macclesfield and Southend, while Cole started coaching Chelsea’s Under-15s after ending his playing career last year.

    Sterling said: “The coaching staff that you see around football clubs: there’s Steven Gerrard, your Frank Lampards, your Sol Campbells and your Ashley Coles. All had great careers, all played for England.

    “At the same time, they’ve all respectfully done their coaching badges to coach at the highest level and the two that haven’t been given the right opportunities are the two black former players.

    Sterling speaks out on racism following the death of George Floyd
    “The change is being able to speak to people in Parliament, people at the hierarchy at my football club, football clubs across the country, people at the national team of England, to implement change and give equal chances to not just black coaches but also different ethnicities.

    “Give black coaches, not just coaches but people in their respective fields, the right opportunity. I feel like that’s what’s lacking here, it’s not just taking the knee, it is about giving people the chance they deserve.

    “There’s something like 500 players in the Premier League and a third of them are black and we have no representation of us in the hierarchy, no representation of us in the coaching staffs. There’s not a lot of faces that we can relate to and have conversations with.”

    In 2018, the Football Association announced in an equality action plan that 5% of its leadership roles and 13% of England coaching staff were filled by people from a BAME background. In the same plan, the FA set targets of 11% and 20%, respectively, for 2021.

    “When there’s someone from a black background I can go to in the FA with a problem I have within the club, that will be when I know change is happening and not just in my field, also in Parliament,” Sterling added.

    “Once we do see those numbers shifting, that’s when I’ll be happy and the people will be happy.”

    Source: bbc.com

  • Praye’s manager, condemns Bernard Mornah and his NDC paymasters for their hypocrisy

    The usually quiet manager of multiple award-winning group, Praye, Kwabena Owusu Frimpong a.k.a Kobby Blackmoe, appears incensed by the apparent hypocrisy of Bernard Mornah, National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and his allies, and has subsequently called on the youth to disregard their hypocritical and inconsistent utterances and actions by going out in the numbers to massively register in the upcoming voter registration exercise.

    “Didn’t Bernard Mornah recklessly expose Ghanaians to Covid-19 when he bused crowds of rented vulnerable youths in an obviously illegal march to the CID headquarters on 2nd June? It was a riotous rowdy and chaotic crowd. Where was the appropriate social distancing? Where were their nose masks?” He queried.

    Kobby Blackmoe wants the Attorney General to prosecute Mornah and his NDC paymasters for putting the lives of police officers at the CID headquarters at risk by their rash action and for also breaking the Public Order Act. Mornah was accompanied by some NDC MPs in his action.

    In an interview that Kobby Blackmoe granted on 3rd June 2020, he asked which of the two actions exposed Ghanaians to Covid-19 infection: “the riotous NDC rented crowd’s actions or the orderly pilot EC voter registration exercise that stringently followed all Covid-19 prevention protocols?

    Incidentally, both events took place on the same day.

    The NDC is seeking to prevent the EC from going ahead with the compilation of a new voters’ register claiming that it will expose Ghanaians to Covid-19 infection.

    “If the EC can replicate this orderliness nationwide, and the NDC will replicate this riotous and illegal behavior nationwide with its rented crowds, then, which of the two is seeking to infect Ghanaians with Covid-19”, he asked rhetorically.

    He, therefore, urged the youth to ensure that they get their names on the new electoral roll and to disregard the NDC and their haunted ghosts.

    By registering the youth will be exercising their constitutional right to determine who rules them in the next four years. “The youth has a stake in who rules this country, when and how” and this, he reiterated, can only be done by ensuring that they have the right to vote in the first place.

    “Again, what is the surest way of obtaining a free and nationally recognized identification card in a hassle-free manner? He quipped. “Obviously, by registering to vote, we all know!”

    He believes the possession of a voter’s ID card will enable our teeming youths to easily access services with the banks, insurance companies, including mobile money and the GHS 600 million Covid-19 Alleviation Fund. All public offices accept the voter’s ID card as proof of identity since it is a nationally recognized ID card.

    “As future leaders, you need to take your destiny into your own hands, to develop yourself and to sweep yourself into the commanding heights of Ghana’s socio-economic life”, he added.

    He urged the youth to be law-abiding and not to allow themselves to be rented for any activity that will not inure to their future development and the development of Ghana.

    He advised all and sundry to be law-abiding saying that “the beating of war drums by certain groups will bring us no good. The beating of one’s chest only hurts one’s chest. The Cambridge Analytics style of politicking using violent language helps no nation; it has destroyed many a nation” he asserted.

    Quoting Chairman Rawlings in his September 1983 address to cadres of the revolution, he said that it is time

    “Populist nonsense must give way to popular or unpopular sense”

    It is time for every group and every Ghanaian to rally around for a peaceful electoral process, he entreated.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Housing Deficit: Akufo-Addo is completing all projects from Kufour regime till date – MD

    Managing Director of State Housing Company, Kwabena Ampofo Appiah has refuted claims that the Akufo-Addo government has abandoned housing projects started by previous governments.

    According to the Managing Director of State Housing Company at the behest of President Nana Akufo-Addo is ensuring the completion of all housing projects in the country, from the erstwhile Kufour administration till date.

    He disclosed this during an interview on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo” on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 stating ”currently, under His Excellency Akufo-Addo, the priority of the government is to complete every project that was started regardless of the administration. So, the Asokore Mampong housing project is completed. It’s completed now 100 percent and named after Otumfuo. Koforidua, Wa and Tamale, we’re starting to complete it as well”.

    He explained why the projects have delayed saying ”the long time of neglect, for about 8 years, nothing happened in those areas. So, when you come, you have to go back to the land owners and with the contracts which were terminated, you have to make sure it’s properly done. There is a lot of work that needs to be done including engineering work. So, when these projects are abandoned, it comes at additional cost to the State. Unfortunately for Ghanaians, the two Presidents that succeeded His Excellency J.A Kufour didn’t take it on”.

    Mr. Ampofo Appiah added that his outfit has completed some of the projects and are working hard to leave no stone unturned.

    ”…currently, we are working to make sure the projects are completed. Even including projects that the late President began at Adenta which were abandoned under the erstwhile John Mahama regime but we’re completing those projects. John Mahama also commenced some projects in Adenta but those projects, when we came, we did not abandon them. We’re completing them. They are Ghanaians’ money and when we complete them, Ghanaians will be the ones to settle in. There’s top priority on this government that projects that have been neglected in bushes and wasting away, we will bring them all back to fruition for Ghanaians to find shelter as we’re also doing new projects.”

     

    Source: Peace FM

  • Anyidoho gives a blow by blow account of how Atta Mills died

    Former Presidential spokesperson, Koku Anyidoho has condemned persons distorting circumstances surrounding the death of former President John Evans Atta-Mills, emphasizing that the man received the best of emergency health responses before his passing.

    Speaking on Asempa FM recently monitored by MyNewsGh.com, Mr Anyidoho noted that contrary to claims that the late President was not transported in an ambulance, he was transported in a well-equipped ambulance to the hospital.

    He related that the President was transported in an ambulance with emergency medical personnel from the Castle to the 37 military hospital after he had been properly carried on a stretcher from his residence to the ambulance.

    Mr Anyidoho denied reports that he had collapsed, explaining that he merely became sicker and had to be stretchered to the ambulance.

    “So it looked like a normal morning even though we knew that there were health challenges. No two ways about it! So it was a sudden something…. and when it happened suddenly, there were professionals around. So he was moved in an ambulance,” he recalled.

    Mr Anyidoho added that “he was not left alone; his security close escorts including professional policemen went with him. There was a motorcade that carried him. There were doctors in the ambulance, trying to do what they could do: first aid.

    And he was sent to the Intensive Care Unit(ICU) of the 37 Military Hospital. I repeat: The Intensive Care Unit of the 37 Military Hospital.”

    On how long it took them to transport the President to the hospital, Mr Anyidoho, said that it took them some 30 minutes because of the heavy traffic on the road that morning.

    He noted that even though the President used to insist that his movement inconvenienced no one on the road, on that day, many were inconvenienced because of the emergency nature of the movement.

    He stressed that at the ICU, both military specialist doctors and civilian specialist doctors were present and did their best but “God called him back”.

    ” So this whole propaganda that I put him in my pick up and Whatnots is so ridiculous. It is not funny,” he asserted.

    Listen to Mr Anyidoho below;

    Source:MyNewsGh.com/Stephen Zoure/2020

  • EU says needs more cash to fight Chinese disinformation

    The EU’s diplomatic chief on Tuesday called for more resources to fight disinformation from China, warning that Europe needed to stop being naive in its dealings with Beijing.

    EU foreign affairs high representative Josep Borrell, speaking after video talks with the Chinese foreign minister, told European countries they needed to back up their preaching on disinformation with money.

    He said Chinese minister Wang Yi had rebuffed his concerns about Beijing’s clampdown on freedoms in Hong Kong, reiterating the communist government’s lines about boosting security in the financial hub.

    Coronavirus has fanned the flames of a geopolitical information war, with the West accusing Beijing and Moscow of promoting false or misleading narratives about the pandemic which began in China late last year.

    On Wednesday, Borrell and EU vice-president for values and transparency, Vera Jourova is to issue a statement on a strategy to counter disinformation inspired by the coronavirus epidemic.

    “Foreign actors and certain third countries, in particular Russia and China, have engaged in targeted influence operations and disinformation campaigns around COVID-19,” it says.

    A copy of the statement seen by AFP accuses Moscow and Beijing of “seeking to undermine democratic debate and exacerbate social polarisation, and improve their own image in the COVID-19 context.”

    – Provide, don’t preach –

    The EU operates a small task force with a website analysing and debunking misleading stories, but it is primarily focused on disinformation emanating from Russia.

    “For sure we have to allocate more resources in the fight against disinformation,” Borrell told reporters.

    “I think we have to work more on that and not only fighting disinformation, trying to counterattack the fakes but to present a positive narrative.”

    EU member states are currently haggling over the bloc’s next long-term budget and with the pandemic hammering economies, there is huge pressure to find savings.

    But Borrell urged national governments to do more on disinformation, saying he needed “not only preaching but providing”.

    “If you want to do something please allocate resources to it,” he said.

    Tuesday’s talks with Wang were in part to prepare a video summit between EU Council President Charles Michel and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and Chinese leaders later this month.

    Borrell said he raised EU concerns about Beijing’s plan to impose a national security law on Hong Kong, which Western governments say will curb the city’s cherished freedoms.

    But he said there were no concessions from Wang, who restated the Chinese position that the law was needed to ensure security in Hong Kong.

    EU-Chinese relations are bumping through a rocky patch as Brussels struggles to calibrate its response to Beijing’s growing assertiveness under President Xi Jinping.

    The bloc has characterised China as a “systemic rival” — as well as a partner on issues such as climate change — but it has struggled to find a unified response as national governments pursue their own interests with the Asian giant.

    “Some weeks ago in an interview with the French press I said that Europe has been too naive in its relations with China,” Borrell said.

    “I think we have to build relations, realistic relations, we need realistic relations with China in order to defend our values and interests.”

    Source: france24.com

  • Masks to be compulsory in Spain until virus ‘permanently’ defeated

    Wearing face masks will be compulsory in Spain until a coronavirus vaccine is found, with police empowered to hand out fines for non-compliance, the government said on Tuesday.

    Health Minister Salvador Illa said the measure would continue after the country’s state of emergency ends on June 21 and will “remain in place until we permanently defeat the virus, which is when we have an effective treatment or vaccine against it”.

    Since May 21, it has been compulsory for everyone aged six and over to wear a mask in public where it is not possible to maintain a two-metre (6.5 feet) distance from other people.

    But when the lockdown formally ends, the measure will remain in place with the government introducing a fine of up to 100 euros ($113) for non-compliance — although the security distance will be slightly reduced to 1.5 metres.

    The new regulations will come into force some 10 days before the country reopens its borders to international tourists on July 1.

    Mask-wearing was initially imposed in early May as a requirement for those using public transport and was later expanded in a country where the virus has killed more than 27,000 people.

    Although not compulsory for very young children, it is “recommended” for those between three and five.

    As well as remaining in force on public transport, the measure will also still be compulsory in private cars unless the occupants live in the same household.

    With Spain’s epidemic now well under control, the government has been cautiously easing out of its mid-March lockdown with Illa confirming that all travel restrictions would be lifted.

    “If the state of emergency is lifted as expected, there will be unrestricted freedom of movement within the country,” he said.

    The decree also envisages new safety measures within the workplace, such as reorganising work stations or ensuring staff rotations to avoid overcrowding.

    It also requires the health authorities in Spain’s 17 regions to be adequately staffed with specialists in epidemic “prevention and control” to quickly manage any new outbreaks.

    And to ensure the “traceability” of any new cases, airlines and transport companies must retain the details of all passengers for “at least four weeks” after they have travelled, the decree said.

    Source: france24.com

  • Sunyani Military Barracks undergoes disinfection

    Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Sunyani, Owusu-Banahene Justina, has affirmed that the dis-infestion and disinfection exercise of the Sunyani Military Barracks (3 Battalion) will spur military personnel on to continue to support the government’s fight against Covid-19.

    She made the remarks at the launch of the dis-infestion and disinfection of military facilities in the Brong Ahafo Region.

    According to her, as one of the front-runners in the war against Covid-19, it was crucial that homes and offices of military officers were safeguarded against the new coronavirus.

    This, she said, will not only protect them from getting infected, but will also encourage them to enforce the Covid-19 preventive protocols spelt out by the President.

    “Looking at the role championed by the Army in ensuring the safety of the populace, it is expedient that as one of the Frontline workers–the military–have their homes safe from the virus,” she said.

    In the view of Mrs Owusu-Banahene, Covid-19 has come to stay with us, adding that it will take a concerted effort to mitigate its effects.

    On her part, the Regional Manager of Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), Esther Abayeta Asadoo, said the exercise was expected to be replicated in all military facilities and installations in the Brong Ahafo to ensure the safety of military personnel.

    Commanding Officer of the 3 Battalion at the Sunyani Military Barracks,Lt.Col J.Y. Kwarten , intimated that the exercise will be done in all military offices and homes across the region.

    Source: Kwaku Darko, Contributor

  • Siberian oil spill contaminates Arctic lake

    An oil spill that sparked a state of emergency has contaminated a freshwater lake in the Russian Arctic, an official said Tuesday, after authorities claimed to have contained the pollution.

    The announcement came after a spokeswoman for the task force in charge of the accident clean-up told AFP last week that the spill had been contained.

    Yet local authorities in the Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk this week conceded that high concentrations of polluted water were discovered beyond floating barriers set in place to stop the fuel from spreading.

    “The fuel has got into Pyasino as well. This is a beautiful lake about 70 kilometres (45 miles) long. Naturally, it has both fish and a good biosphere,” said Krasnoyarsk region governor Alexander Uss, according to Interfax news agency.

    He added that it was important to prevent spilt fuel from reaching the Pyasina River, which flows into the Kara Sea.

    Russia President Vladimir Putin declared a state of emergency last week after 21,000 tonnes of diesel leaked from a fuel reservoir that collapsed May 29 outside Norilsk.

    The spill polluted huge stretches of river, triggering a major clean-up effort.

    Greenpeace director in Russia Vladimir Chuprov told AFP Tuesday that his teams had not been able to access the site due to restrictions in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

    He said it would be a “disaster” if 10,000 tonnes of fuel reached the lake, and criticised authorities for not giving more information about the extent of the spill.

    Chuprov also warned of the “harmful consequences” of the pollution reaching the Kara Sea.

    Russian officials have said that the thawing of permafrost as a result of climate change is the likely cause of the fuel tank leak.

    Environmentalists and officials say the spill is the worst accident of its kind in the Arctic region, home to much of Russia’s oil, gas and mining infrastructure and dogged by pollution since the Soviet era.

    Vladimir Potanin, head of metals giant Norilsk Nickel which owns the thermal power plant where the spill originated, told Putin last week his company would pay for clean up efforts estimated at $146 million.

    Russian officials have ordered a review of at-risk structures built on permafrost.

    Source: france24.com

  • Why Kenyans are begging their president for freedom

    In our series of letters from African journalists, Joseph Warungu captures the frustrations of Kenyans who have been pleading with the government to ease the measures taken to curb the spread of Covid-19.

    “Mr President, we beg you – please, please set us free!”

    These are not the words of people held in detention or mandatory quarantine after being roughed up by Kenyan police for not wearing face masks.

    Instead, it is the cry of many Kenyans who cannot stand the lockdown measures anymore.

    Before President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed the nation on Saturday, social media had been awash with memes, pleas and videos urging him to ease the lockdown measures.

     

    Source: bbc.com

     

  • US records 749 coronavirus deaths in past 24 hours

    The coronavirus pandemic killed 749 people in the United States in the past 24 hours, according to figures released Saturday by Johns Hopkins University.

    The latest deaths bring the total in the United States to 109,791, and there have been more than 1.9 million cases, according to a real-time tally maintained by the Baltimore-based university at 8:30 pm (0030 GMT Sunday).

    Some 500,000 people have recovered from the disease.

    The United States has suffered by far the largest number of both COVID-19 deaths and infections.

    On a per-capita basis, however, several European countries — including France, Italy and Spain — have a higher death toll.

    President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States was “largely through” the pandemic and renewed his call on governors to ease lockdown measures in their states.

    While the United States was suffering around 3,000 deaths a day in mid-April, that number has declined to around 1,000 deaths and 20,000 new cases a day at present.

    But health care professionals worry about mass demonstrations against police brutality and racism taking place in cities across the US may lead to a new surge in infections in the coming weeks.

    Source: punchng.com

  • Father gets 2 years for flogging son

    The 26-year-old father, who severely beat his three-year-old son for bedwetting, has been slapped with two years of imprisonment by a Kumasi circuit court.

    The court presided by Mrs Patricia Amponsah also bonded the convict, Ebenezer Osei Bonsu, for four years to be of good behaviour.

    The court deferred to June 9, the sentencing for the crime, after the convict changed his plea of not guilty to the charge of assault and causing harm, to guilty.

    Mr Bonsu had been on a GH?30, 000.00 bail with three sureties to be justified, and had earlier told the court that his action was to discipline the child.

    The victim was hospitalised with severe wounds on his back and other parts of the body after he whipped him with a belt and a cable for bedwetting.

    On his first appearance, the convict was to be remanded for two weeks, but the judge said that due to the coronavirus pandemic, it would be harmful to remand him.

    The convict was represented by Lawyer Samuel Amofa Kodua, who requested for bail, saying his client had been in police custody since he was arrested.

    Prosecutor, Inspector Regina Oparebea Amoako, had told the court that the suspect would be a threat to the mother and the victim.

    Some family members who were at the court premises, were disappointed because they thought the convict would have been sentenced to a fine.

    On the first appearance, some of the family members debunked the notion by some people that the convict might have mental illness that could have possibly led to his action against his son.

     

    Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh

  • 3-year-old boy drowns in Manhole at Fise

    A three year old boy who has been identified as Mawuko has drowned in a manhole at Fise in the Ga West District of the Greater Accra Region.

    The toddler fell into the uncovered manhole in their uncompleted house while playing around the house.

    The father of the baby, had traveled to Sogakope to work and left the baby in the care of the mother.

    At about 5:00pm on Sunday, the toddler who was playing on the compound allegedly slipped into the uncovered manhole.

    The late Mawuko was said to have shouted severally for help after falling into the manhole filled with water.

    This caused the mother to cry for help but by the time help arrived, the boy had drowned.

    The Amasaman Police has been to the scene.

     

    Source: angelfmonlinegh.com

  • Coronavirus: Ghana Health Service recovered staff share experiences

    Three recovered COVID-19 officials of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the Upper East Region have shared their experiences with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after they resumed normal official duties.

    The three, speaking with the GNA in Bolgatanga, on the sideline of a welcome ceremony for 11 recovered staff of the Service included Dr Gillian Bogee, a Senior Medical Officer at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Upper East Regional Hospital.

    Madam Regina Badii, a Senior Midwifery Officer at the Obstetrics and Gynaecological Unit of the same hospital, said “When I was informed I had COVID-19, I was very down-hearted because I was breastfeeding. I was thinking about my baby, whether she is also infected or not, I was brought to the treatment centre together with my baby, but she tested negative.”

    According to her, life in the treatment centre was not easy, “I felt lonely, because my daughter could not wear a mask, we were always restricted to the room. The nurses did their best, they came in to check our vital signs and bring us food. When the second test was done and I was negative, I was so happy.”

    Madam Badii said she and her daughter were subsequently discharged after the third test results turned negative.

    “COVID-19 is real, most people are having it and walking about healthy without any signs and symptoms but may test positive.

    “I was not showing any signs and symptoms, I had other signs and symptoms which I took for a different condition. I suffered headache, muscle pull and joint pains and I thought it was malaria which I was treating. I also had chest pains, so you can have COVID-19 but not show the real signs and symptoms such as high temperature which I did not experience.”

    The Midwifery Officer said she acquired the virus in her line of duty, adding that she could have been infected through any other means apart from managing patients, “Anyone can get it from anywhere, so I want to urge the general public to stop the stigma”.

    Speaking to the GNA in a separate interview, Dr Bogee said she exhibited all the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 after she contracted the virus in her line of duty.

    “I actually had the worst and complicated form of COVID-19 and had to be airlifted to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital where I was treated in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for eight days and then moved to the Fevers Unit also for 12 days.”
    “I was given the best of care at the Medical ICU and the Fevers Unit in Korle-bu, and I say thank you to the team who took care of me.”

    Dr Bogee said public health emergencies such as COVID-19 was stressful for people and communities, adding that fear and anxiety could lead to social stigma for recovered persons, which had diverse effects on their emotional or mental health.

    She said it was critical for members of the public to join the fight against stigmatization of both COVID-19 patients and those who had recovered, “You have a role to play as an individual and I also have a role to play as a health worker by helping people cope with stress, and in all, we can learn about the coping strategies in this COVID-19 outbreak”.

    Similarly, Mr Eric Dakura, a Superintendent Field Officer at the Disease Control Unit of the Regional Health Directorate, said he got infected in his line of duty as a member of the Regional Emergency Response Team for COVID-19, after the team interviewed the first suspected COVID-19 pregnant woman who turned out positive, to ascertain at the time whether she met the case management criteria for the virus or not.

    “The first two days after I had contact with the lady, I started coughing, and the cough came between 12midnight and 0100hours. It came for only two days and stopped.”

    He said while in self-isolation, his family, especially his wife was stigmatized, “It was difficult for my wife to even go to the market. Things were actually difficult for her. Contracting the virus was not a big deal for me because I was doing my job and I was actually in the war front ensuring that we tracked persons who showed signs and symptoms to get them isolated and treated to prevent the spread”.

    Source: GNA

  • ASEPA demands immediate resignation of EC chair

    Policy think tank, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) is demanding the immediate resignation of the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa.

    ASEPA says if the EC boss fails to do the needful, it will be forced to petition the President to sack her for breaching a constitutional mandate to declare her assets upon resumption of office.

    The demand follows investigations by the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, CHRAJ, that found the EC Chair, guilty for non-disclosure of assets and liabilities, a mandatory requirement for all public officials (Article 71 Office Holders).

    “Jean Mensah took office on the 1st August 2018 and as at the time we filed our petition on the 12th December 2019, 16months after taking office had failed to comply with the provisions of Article 286,” ASEPA said in a statement.

    The Executive Director of ASEPA, Mensah Thompson has threatened to petition president Nana Akufo-Addo to remove the EC boss from office if she fails to bow out honourably.

    The petition filed on December 12, 2019, was against three officers, Chief Justice, Justice Anin Yeboah, the EC chair and her deputy, Dr Bossman Asare.

    Find below the full release by ASEPA

    PRESS RELEASE
    CHRAJ FINDS JEAN MENSA GUILTY OF ASSET NON-DISCLOSURE OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, ASEPA TO PETITION PRESIDENT AKUFO ADDO FOR HER REMOVAL

    Since December last year, ASEPA has been involved in a number of Asset declaration campaigns.

    Three petitions were sent to CHRAJ against three high ranking Public Officials (Article 71 Office Holders) namely.

    Justice Anim Yeboah
    Jean Adukwei Mensah
    Bossman Asare.

    CHRAJ recently issued a report on Justice Anim Yeboah and today it has released its report on the case against Jean Mensa.

    Article 286 provides that within three months upon assumption of office, all public officials in such determined categories must declare their assets and liabilities with the Auditor General.

    Such declarations are done at the end of every four-year tenure.

    Jean Mensah took office on the 1st August 2018 and as at the time we filed our petition on the 12th December 2019, 16months after taking office had failed to comply with the provisions of Article 286.

    This is a clear exhibition of misconduct and a violation of the laws of Ghana by a public officer.

    In the case of Article 71 Office holders, the law says in such instances Article 146 must be invoked.

    So tomorrow the provisions of Article 146, would be invoked by filing a petition for the removal from office of Jean Mensah for breaching the Asset declaration laws of Ghana.

    Remember the previous Commissioner was removed from office for allegedly breaching some provisions of the Public Procurement Laws of Ghana, well Jean Mensa is in total violation of the Asset Declaration Law and same remedies must apply.

    We believe Jean Mensa is not fit to lead the Electoral Commission of Ghana into a major elections when she is compromised and has demonstrated a clear disregard for the Constitution that empowers her.

    We are therefore calling for her immediate resignation to save herself from the ordeal of procedural removal.

    Signed:
    Mensah Thompson
    Executive Director,
    ASEPA

     

    Source: Starr FM

  • Manso-Yawkrom residents call for rehabilitation of their road networks

    The chiefs and people of Manso-Yawkrom in the Amansie West District, have appealed to the assembly and government to rehabilitate the road networks in the area.

    They said the deplorable nature of the roads in the area, was not only making living conditions there very difficult for the people, but had also become a haven for armed robbers and other criminals.

    Nana Kwaku Ti, Chief of the community told the Ghana News Agency during a visit that, it seems politicians were failing them.

    He said some portions of the road which were awarded on contract about four years ago, had been abandoned without any explanation from anybody.

    Nana Ti, who is also the Akwamuhene of Manso-Nkwata Traditional Area, said most people in the area were becoming disillusioned and frustrated by the numerous promises by politicians, which had never been fulfilled over the years.

    Mr Osei Boateng, a teacher in the community, spoke of the dilapidated nature of classroom blocks, lack of toilet facilities and potable water supply in the community.

    He said it was becoming difficult for residents to live normal lives in the community and appealed to the Manso-Nkwanta district assembly to take steps to provide the needed social infrastructure to improve the living conditions in the community.

    Source: GNA

  • Chinese paying Ghanaian mine workers GH¢6 for 12-hours work

    Chinese allegedly operating illegal gold mines in Ghana are reportedly exploiting their Ghanaian workers.

    Some Ghanaians working on the Chinese-owned illegal mines are being paid paltry Gh¢ 6 for 12 hours of work.

    Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, revealed this to DGN Online, at an illegal mining site located at Tugakrom, in the Suaman District of the Western North Region.

    The Minister says some residents in the mining communities have informed him about their exploitation by Chinese.

    He says some cocoa farm owners are even having their farms being bought at cheap rate by the Chinese to pave way for their mining activities.

    A tour with the Minister in the Western North Region led to the discovery of sharp destruction of the environment by the illegal miners.

    About 100 acres of land in Tugakrom was virtually destroyed as the Chinese desperately searched for gold.

    Mining equipment were seen abandoned on site, and deep gullies in the middle of the once forest zone near the Bia River.

     

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Chinese galamseyers polluting Bia River, residents drinking mercury – Minister

    Suspected Chinese illegal miners (galamseyers) are causing great pollution to the Bia River in the Western North Region.

    According to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, cyanides and mercuries were being dumped into the river by the illegal miners.

    Despite the harmful effects of mercury and cyanides, he said residents were still compelled to drink from the Bia River as well as use it to prepare their males.

    He says that poses serious health challenges for residents.

    The Minister was speaking to DGN Online at an illegal mining site located at Tugakrom in the Western North Region, on Tuesday , June 9.

    The mining site which the minister estimated covered about 100 acres of land, was in a forest reserve and close to the River.

     

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • COMOG calls for dialogue among stakeholders on new voter registration

    The Coalition of Muslim Organizations, Ghana (COMOG) has called for a dialogue among all political parties and the Electoral Commission (EC) to reach a consensus that will ensure a credible process towards election 2020 and beyond.

    This, it said, would be in the best interest of the citizens of Ghana and the international community and ensure that the 2020 election would be peaceful, free and fair.

    More so, it said, this would enable the outside world continue to recognize Ghana and ensure that the nation remains a beacon of democracy on the African continent.

    This was contained in a statement issued in Accra by Mr Mawuli Mustapha Braimah, the Chairman, COMOG Media, PR and Research Committee, and copied to the Ghana News Agency.

    It said COMOG considers it important to add its voice to the current impasse between the EC and other stakeholders.

    Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary elections are six months away but the political environment in the country is filled with tension with the main stakeholders divided on the process to compile a New Biometric Voter Register.

    Already the main opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the country has taken the electoral commission to the apex court to get the EC to include the existing valid voter’s card and the birth certificate as elements of proof of nationality to be accepted for the impending compilation of new voter’s register.

    It said in past months, COMOG has witnessed heightened tension and actions by other nonpolitical interest groups voicing out their concerns on the standoff among the EC, NIA, NDC, the ruling party New Patriotic Party and the Inter-Party Coalition Against New Voter’s Register (IPRAN).

    COMOG has also heard the two former presidents of Ghana J. J. Rawlings and J. A. Kuffour, legal experts, political scientists and Civil Social Organizations adding their voices to the call for adequate dialogue. “It is the fervent hope of COMOG to see the EC, the NDC and other stakeholders resolve their differences amicably to restore hope and confidence in the electoral system of Ghana,” it said.

    Source: GNA

  • 2 suspected robbers gunned down in Kumasi

    Two suspected armed robbers who were members of an AK-47-wielding gang have been gunned down at  Atasamanso New Site in Kumasi.

    It follows a gun battle between police and a six-member gang at about 6:45p.m on Tuesday, June 9, 2020.

    A police officer who sustained gunshot injury was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

    Police, based on intelligence received of plans of the gang, dispatched members of the Anti-Robbery Taskforce to quell the activities.

    But the armed men who were using a BMW car first opened fire upon seeing police vehicle moving towards their direction, forcing police to return same.

    The gunshots drew a large crowd from nearby homes to the scene, a situation that affected the police operation.

    The presence of the crowd meant the police were limited in firing at the robbers as four of the suspected robbers managed to escape.

    Both police operational vehicle and the BMW car used by the suspected robbers had their windscreens damaged in the process.

    Police retrieved one AK-47 assault rifle and a foreign pistol from the suspected robbers.

     

    Source: Adomonline 

  • Police to patrol churches and mosques in Kumasi

    The Kumasi Divisional Police Command has announced plans to deploy personnel to the various churches and mosques within its jurisdiction as adherents are preparing to worship in their numbers in the coming days.

    This is being done to ensure police presence at the places of worship, for effective enforcement of the COVID-19 preventive protocols, following the easing of some of the restrictions on public gatherings by the government.

    “We are anticipating most of the churches and mosques would be preparing to re-open to their members very soon.

    “Therefore, our decision is to patrol these facilities in making sure that the health and safety of the members were not compromised,” Chief Superintendent Frank Abrokwah, the Kumasi Divisional Police Commander, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Kumasi.

    The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in his recent address to lift the ban on church activities, said twenty-five per cent attendance with a maximum number of one hundred (100) congregants, could worship at a time in church or at the mosque.

    This was to be done with a mandatory one metre rule of social distancing between congregants, with a maximum duration of one-hour for each service.

    In addition to the mandatory wearing of nose masks, all persons at all times in churches and mosques, must also register their names and contact details, while hand-washing facilities and sanitizers are to be provided for their use.

    Chief Superintendent Abrokwah said churches and mosques were expected to hold limited services, and reminded Christians and Muslims of their obligation to be law-abiding to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.

    He commended some churches and mosques in the Metropolis for living up to expectation by doing the right thing on the first day of their service, after the ban was lifted.

    Greater Kumasi has recorded the second highest confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, with a total case count of 1,735 and 19 deaths, as of June 08, this year.

    Chief Superintendent Abrokwah said everybody was at risk. Consequently, there was the need for the people to take the required precautions in their lives to avoid contracting the disease and spreading the virus.

    Source: GNA

  • Todays newspapers front pages

    Daily Graphic

    Daily Guide

    Ghanaian Times

    The Chronicle

    The New Crusading Guide

    Business and Financial Times

     

    The Finder

     

    The Daily Statesman

    The Ghanaian Observer

     

    Goldstreet Business

     

    Business 24

     

  • Sefwi Wiawso DVLA adheres to coronavirus measures

    As part of measures to fight the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sefwi Wiawso branch of the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has put in place some measures to protect clients who visit the office.

    Mr. Robert Aklamanu, the Municipal Manager, who disclosed this to the media, said the necessary protocols like social distancing, washing of hands with soap under running water, wearing of nose masks and the use of hand sanitizers were put in place at the office.

    He said management had also put stringent safety measures in place to protect customers and staff of DVLA.

    “The number of workers and clients that attend the office have been reduced and compulsory wearing of nose masks before an officer attends to a client were being practiced by the authorities. We have also provided enough thermometer guns to check the temperature of every staff or client before entering the office,” he added.

    Mr. Aklamanu acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic had greatly affected their work, stressing that, before the COVID-19, they used to go out to register and educate drivers, but now it was not possible to embark on such programmes, resulting in low turnout.

    He noted that the measures put in place by the DVLA were clear indications that they cared about their staff and clients.

    He in this regard advised Ghanaians especially drivers to adhere to the safety protocols by reducing the number of passengers they carry in their vehicles, wear nose and face masks, regularly use hand sanitizers as well as ensure passengers wore their nose masks.

    Source: GNA

  • Volta Region coronavirus case jumps to 162

    The positive case count of COVID-19 in the Volta Region has jumped from 126 on Sunday, June 07 to 162 on Monday, June 08, 2020.

    Out of the 162 cases, 122 are on treatment, 37 recovered and three dead.
    Ho, the Regional capital is leading with 62 cases having overtaken Ketu South, which has 40 cases.

    Adaklu, South Dayi and Kpando Municipal have two cases each while Agotime-Ziope, Akatsi South and Keta, a case each.

    Anloga, eight cases, Central Tongu, nine cases, Ho West, six cases, Hohoe, eleven cases, Ketu North, eight cases, North Tongu, three cases and South Tongu, six cases.

    A COVID-19 Daily Situational Report made available to the Ghana News Agency said a total of 1,167 cumulative contacts had been listed with 1,132 cumulative samples taken.

    It said a total of 625 contacts were being followed up, 707 follow ups completed with 35 samples yet to be taken.

    Source: GNA

  • EC to start new voters registration exercise from June 30

    The Electoral Commission has scheduled the 2020 Voters Registration exercise to commence on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

    The Deputy Chairman in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Bossman E. Asare made this known to all political parties in a letter.

    “I bring you warm greetings from the Electoral Commission and trust that this letter finds you well.”

    “This letter comes to inform you that the 2020 Voters Registration Exercise has been scheduled to commence on Tuesday, the 30th of June 2020. The registration will be held at all Registration Centres and District Offices of the Electoral Commission throughout the country,” the letter stated.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Im still waiting for my twins with Giselle Yazji – Kufuor

    Fifteen years after being accused of having extramarital affairs with Giselle Yazji, which resulted in twins, former president John Agyekum Kufuor has responded that he is still waiting to see his supposed twins.

    He described the message which was being championed by his political opponents as “pure propaganda” which was aimed at ruining his administration.

    Speaking on Angel FM on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, JA Kufuor said, “It is never true I had twins with anyone; if indeed it is true as people wanted us to believe then and went to the airport to meet her but she never showed up, where are the children…”

    He continued: “It was pure propaganda and as the nation moves on, we should avoid those kinds of propaganda because they are inimical to our nation.”

    Madam Giselle Yazji, in 2005 became the most talked-about lady in the Ghanaian political sphere when the opposition, led by Raymond Archer, then editor of the Enquirer newspaper claimed that President JA Kufuor, was having a new set of twins by her.

    They threatened to bring the lady and her twins into the country after claiming that DNA tests conducted showed that Kufuor, the gentle giant, fathered those twins.

    Giselle Yazji, then nicknamed ‘Yaa Agyeiwaa’ by the media, after journalists and some political opponents had gathered at the Kotoka International Airport, failed to step her foot on the shores of Ghana to expose the president, as threatened/alleged.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Jeff Bezos’ wealth has exploded to $150 billion since the beginning of the pandemic

    Jeff Bezos’ net worth is now at $150 billion again, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

    According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the Amazon CEO has added almost $35 billion to his net worth since the beginning of the year, meaning he is now worth $150 billion.

    Bezos’ wealth has been fairly steadily climbing since the beginning of this year.

    In early March, as the coronavirus pandemic started to take hold across the world, the company saw a “major surge” in demand per its first-quarter earnings call . The retail giant went on an enormous 175,000-person recruitment drive to cope with demand. The company’s stock has hovered above the $2,000 mark through the pandemic, closing at $2,483 on Friday. Bezos is the firm’s biggest insider shareholder, with more than 55 million shares.

    This is not the first time Bezos has hit the $150 billion milestone. He first attained it in July 2018 a feat which officially made him not only the richest person in the world, but also modern history . He is currently $35 billion ahead of the next-richest person in the world, Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

    As Bezos’ wealth grows, his company has come under scrutiny for its treatment of the warehouse workers who pick and pack items for online orders.

    In March the company introduced a temporary $2 pay rise on its usual $15 minimum hourly wage for warehouse workers, though this policy was discontinued at the beginning of this month .

    Workers have protested the firm , saying it has not introduced adequate safety protections for its frontline warehouse workers, eight of whom are reported to have died with COVID-19 .

    Source: markets.businessinsider.com