Nigerian superstar Wizkid unfollowed Davido after he unfollowed him on Instagram last night.
A few hours ago davido announced that he was going to cut off some people from his life in order to take care of himself.
Just in case you have no idea about what is going on in the camp of davido.
Well its looks like Wizkid didnt waste time returning a favor to help him cleanse his mind as he claims.
He also unfollowed him a few minutes after.
Below is the screenshot
Source: thedistin.com
Midfielder Thomas Partey has been named in Diego Simeone’s untouchables at Atletico Madrid.
The 26-year-old is on the list with Saul Niguez and Koke.
The trio were essential before the break and that will not change when competitive fixtures return in Spain next week.
Partey will continue to be a first choice in midfield when they travel to San Mames for their first game after the lockdown.
He made 24 appearances and scored two goals before the suspension of the league.
Simeone tried an XI on Monday in training with Partey in the thick of affairs.
Atleti’s line up had these men: Jan Oblak; Kieran Trippier, Stefan Savic, Jose Gimenez, Renan Lodi; Marcos Llorente, Thomas, Koke, Saul; Thomas Lemar, Diego Costa.
Source:Â Ghana Soccernet
A video of an unknown gentleman deeply kissing a little kid has surfaced online and has got Ghanaians complaining, as they feel much worried for this little girl due to rampant rape cases which are on the rise in the country.
Ghanaians became furious seeing this video online because they are urged to involve themselves on combating sexual assaults and defilement of young girls in the society.
The identities of this duo are yet to be confirmed in order to rule the relationship between the man and the little kid.
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SAD!!! Man spotted kissing a little girl…. . . Follow @mediagist for more exclusive updates.
Source: thedistin.com
Bernard Brown, Greater Accra Regional Director of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has said that there has been 80 percent increase in mobile renewal cases in the NHIS as at March 31, 2020.
“Mobile renewal has decreased crowded offices, long queue due to this innovation, making it easier to observe the social distancing,†he said.
He made these known during the first quarter performance review of the Scheme in its 16 districts in the Greater Accra Region.
Mr Brown said though the outbreak of the pandemic has affected its performance, the mobile renewal system has made up for its loss.
All the offices, except those of the Dangbe East (Ada) and Dangbe West (Dodowa) were not closed during the shut-down due to the disease.
The Regional Director, comparing the performance of 2019 and 2020 of the same period, said there has been a marginal increase of 5,000 active members (those whose cards can access health care) and the number is still counting.
When the offices re-opened they attended to the vulnerable including pregnant women and children under five, adding that it was done in phases.
He urged the district officers to scale-up to achieve the two million set target for 2020 as they get every Ghanaian on board by not limiting the registrations to the offices but reach out to the people in their various communities.
Ensure that the protocols were strictly adhered to, get yourselves prepared if there are any community engagements, while making sure the preventive protocols were followed. He said Management would address the inconsistency in the supply of ID cards among other challenges that stood in the way of making people have access to health care through the scheme.
Mr Elliot Apraku Asante, Operations Manager for the Scheme, said the national target for the year under review is 14,177,004 and that of Accra is 2,022,306.
He said the region recorded a decline in performance of 90 percent in the last quarter of 2019, stating that Ashanti Region achieved the highest membership target of 91.41 whilst Greater Accra was tenth on the table with 83.26 percent as Oti Region recorded the least with 59.93 percent.
He said the best district in Accra was Adenta and worse was Ablekuma, saying some districts; Ayawaso, Dangbe East and Weija performed below average.
Source:Â GNA
When it comes to former President of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings, one person among the lot who hardly come into consensus with him is Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, the Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide.
It is very uncommon, almost near impossible, for Mr Baako to agree with Mr. Rawlings but Wednesday, June 3, 2020 will go down in the history books as the day the seasoned journalist finally came on the same page with the former president.
Kweku Baako disclosed the one thing he agrees with Mr. Rawlings which dates back to 1983 when he had been imprisoned under the erstwhile Rawlings’ military rule.
He noted that during the same time, the ”monsters” that he (Rawlings) had created turned on him and in fighting them off made a popular quote which resonated with Kweku Baako in prison.
The monsters, as described by Kweku Baako, referred to the loyalists of Mr. Rawlings who later betrayed him.
”On August 28, 1983, Chairman Rawlings delivered an address on national radio and television to the people of Ghana. The speech was essentially a close-up analysis and critique of the populist and economically unproductive elements in the 31st December Revolution as it had evolved to date. [Quote] We can no longer postpone the time for halting the populist nonsense and for consolidating the gains of the past twenty months and making a noticeable leap forward. Production and efficiency must be our watch words. Populist nonsense must give way to popular or unpopular sense to scientific sense whether it is popular or not,” Mr. Rawlings is quoted and published in West African Magazine in 1983.
Kweku Baako drew inspiration from the Rawlings’ words to make his submissions on Peace FM’s flagship programme ‘Kokrokoo’ on Wednesday saying, “one thing that Rawlings said that I agree is that populist nonsense must give way to popular sense. That’s the only thing I agree with him. He might have meant something nasty but I just love that quote and I’ve never forgotten about it. I was in prison when he made that statement . . . and it stayed with me since then. This was made in 1992, somewhere August/September and I was listening to it on the rediffusion box (radio)”.
Source:Â Peace FM
Glee star Lea Michele has apologised after a former co-star said she made her life “a living hell”.
Meal-kit firm HelloFresh cut ties with Michele after Samantha Ware accused her of “traumatic microaggressions” when they worked together on the show.
Ware made the comments on social media after Michele posted a tweet about George Floyd’s death.
“I apologise for my behaviour and for any pain which I have caused,” Michele posted on Instagram on Wednesday.
“We can all grow and change and I have definitely used these past several months to reflect on my own shortcomings.”
Michele acknowledged she “clearly acted in ways which hurt other people”.
In a three-page statement, the US actress said: “Whether it was my privileged position and perspective that caused me to be perceived as insensitive or inappropriate at times, or whether it was just my immaturity and me being unnecessarily difficult, I apologise for my behaviour.”
The actress, who played Rachel Barry on all six seasons of Glee, is currently expecting her first baby with husband Zandy Reich, and added she “wanted to be a real role model” for the child.
The death of Mr Floyd in Minneapolis on 25 May while in police custody has prompted widespread protests and unrest in the US.
Protests began after a video showed the 46-year-old African-American pinned to the ground by a white police officer kneeling on his neck.
“George Floyd did not deserve this,” wrote Michele on 29 May. “This was not an isolated incident and it must end. #BlackLivesMatter.”
Her tweet prompted a robust response from Ware, who accused Michele of conduct that had made her “question a career in Hollywood”.
“Remember when you made my first television gig a living hell?!?!” Ware wrote on Twitter. “Cause I’ll never forget.”
The actress went on to accuse Michele of stating publicly she would have defecated in Ware’s wig had she had the opportunity.
Ware played Jane Hayward in Glee’s sixth and final season and has since been seen in Netflix series What/If.
Another co-star, Amber Riley, appeared to acknowledge Ware’s claims by posting a gif of herself drinking tea on Twitter.
HelloFresh said they were “disheartened and disappointed” to learn of Ware’s claims about Michele, who was paid to promote its services on social media.
“HelloFresh does not condone racism nor discrimination of any kind,” it wrote on Twitter after another user questioned its association with the actress.
In Michele’s statement, she said she had “never judged others by their background or colour of their skin”.
Founded in 2011, HelloFresh is one of the largest meal-kit providers in the US and operates in a number of other countries.
Earlier this year the German company announced plans to expand its UK workforce by 50% to cope with demand.
Michele’s other shows include Scream Queens and The Mayor. She has also released two solo albums and a Christmas record.
Source:Â bbc.com
The Ashanti Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service has cautioned the public to be wary of persons who purchase items with high currency dominations because they might be fake. The caution follows an arrest of 16 persons in the region on May 24 and May 29, 2020, suspected to be dealing in fake Ghanaian currency.
The suspects who were all females, between the ages of 17 and 40 years, were arrested at separate locations after reports were made against them and their activities.
A statement issued by the Public Relations Department of the Service in the Region and signed by Godwin Ahianyo, Assistant Superintendent of Police and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said an amount of GH¢24,000.00, made up of 100 and 200 Cedis denominations in fake currencies were retrieved from the suspects
It said the currencies were currently in Police custody and were being kept as exhibits. Explaining how the perpetuators carried out their activities, the statement said, such persons usually acquired the bigger denomination of fake cedis notes such as GH¢100.00 and GH¢200.00 denomination to engage in various business transactions in the Region.
It said the perpetuators then use the fake cedi notes to purchase items from unsuspecting traders at shopping centers such as supermarkets and other markets places which do not have currency detectors. “They move from one shop to the other and present the fake GH¢200.00 or GH¢100.00 note to purchase items whose values are negligible and take a change.
“They also take this fake currencies to unsuspecting mobile money vendors and make deposit into their mobile money wallet,†the statement added.
It advised the general public to be cautious about those who present high denominations to purchase items in small quantity, most especially of those who intend to make payments in haste with such bigger denominations.
The statement urged Mobile money vendors to ensure that examine the currency they receive before confirming the transfer.
Operators of shopping marts and supermarkets are to acquire currency detector where necessary, adding that to safeguard the security of businesses, victims of such crimes are advised to report promptly to the police to initiate investigations into any dubious transaction. The statement said the Police Command has since taken measures to investigate the sources of the fake currencies, as well as create awareness among the general public.
“The antics of the criminals are dynamic and it is when they are reported that the Police can strategize to nib the activities of this syndicate in the bud,†it added.
Source:Â GNA
Names of some prominent media personalities in the country are being associated with the new radio station in Ghana, Asaase Radio operating the frequency of 99.5.
On Wednesday, MyNewsGh.com confirmed that former Senior Broadcast Journalist with the Multimedia Group Limited Cyrus S. DeGraft-Johnson is leading a team of seasoned media personalities for the Cantoments based station.
Sources reveal that Mr Cyrus S. DeGraft-Johnson will be the anchor of the station as General Manager with persons with decades of experience in the media landscape providing support roles.
The latest to have been unveiled is award-winning journalist Kwaku Sakyi-Addo who will be hosting a new talk show, “Sunday Nightâ€.
Sakyi-Addo hosted the current affairs shows “Front Page†and “Newsfile†for a combined 16 years on Joy FM. He was also executive producer and host of “Kwaku One-on-Oneâ€, a head-to-head TV interview show on GTV and TV3, for 10 years. He hosted a live talk show, “The Loungeâ€, on Starr FM which was recorded for telecast on GhOne TV from 2016 to 2018.
Another person who is billed to host the brunch time of the urban station is Caroline Sampson formerly of YFM a subsidiary of the Global Media Alliance
Caroline set the tone for her career in the media in 2005 when she ended up as a finalist in the third edition of the Ghanaian reality TV pageant Miss Malaika Ghana.
Aside TV and radio presenting, Caroline has hosted reality TV shows, corporate events, movie premieres and album launches.
She brings to the new station expertise in urban radio and is expected to rival others in the industry.
Source: MyNewsGh.com
The Management of Ghana Water Company Limited in the Eastern Region has urged residents of Akim Oda, Akwatia and its environs to store water for use for some days .
This is because residents are not likely to get constant supply of water as they usually do.
Management says parts of the Water Treatment Plant in Oda was inundated by floods after a downpour on Monday night.
Vital equipment needed to supply water to the above-mentioned areas have been badly affected.
“We entreat consumers to store water and use it judiciously while our engineers are working around the clock to solve the problem. The inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.â€
Source:Â 3 News
George Floyd and the former Minneapolis police officer seen in a video with his knee on Floyd’s neck before he died worked at the same nightclub, according to the venue’s former owner.
Derek Chauvin and Floyd worked security at the El Nuevo Rodeo club, down the street from Minneapolis’ Third Precinct, according to Maya Santamaria, the club’s former owner who sold the venue within the last few months.
Floyd, who Santamaria called a “great guy” known for his big smile, often worked as an extra security guard on Tuesdays when the club held popular “urban” music nights. Chauvin served as an off-duty police officer for the club for almost 17 years.
“I wouldn’t characterize them as knowing each other,” Santamaria told CNN’s Josh Campbell in an interview. “We did all work together at the club at different points of time, certainly on Tuesday nights on and off. We were all working on the same team.”
Santamaria added, “We all worked together certain nights and they would have crossed paths.”
Chauvin faces charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with Floyd’s death, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.
Chauvin was taken into custody by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on Friday as fires continued to burn from violent protests overnight as demonstrators demanded justice for Floyd.
For Santamaria, seeing the video showing Floyd handcuffed and on the ground saying, “I can’t breathe,” while Chauvin holds him down with his knee on Floyd’s neck was shocking.
“I didn’t understand what I was seeing,” Santamaria said. “I kept yelling at my phone telling Chauvin to get off of him. It’s horrible. It’s absolutely beyond words. And having known Chauvin, I can’t believe he didn’t have the humanity to listen to this poor man begging for his air and his life.”
Floyd’s death has ignited protests in Minneapolis and other US cities. More than 500 Minnesota National Guard personnel have been mobilized to several locations in the Minneapolis area as protesters have looted businesses and set a police precinct on fire.
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:Â cnn.com
Tens of thousands of people have demonstrated, mainly peacefully, across the United States for an eighth night following the death of African-American George Floyd in police custody.
One of the biggest protests, joined by Floyd’s relatives, took place in his hometown of Houston, Texas.
Many defied curfews in several cities, imposed after violence and looting in some districts on Monday night.
The Pope has issued a call for racism not to be ignored.
“We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism,” he said. But he also condemned the violence: “Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost.”
The Floyd case has reignited deep-seated anger over police killings of black Americans and racism.
Demonstrators have taken to the streets – not only to express their outrage at the treatment of Mr Floyd – but to condemn police brutality against black Americans more widely.
There have been calls, and a proposal from a US lawmaker, to end the qualified immunity of police which prevents civil legal action against them. More generally protesters have called for an end to racism and discrimination.
In central Washington DC police fired tear gas after darkness. The military were again on the streets of the capital and helicopters hovered above protesters marching towards the White House.
Traffic was blocked in New York’s Manhattan district as protesters ignored a night-time curfew, which had been extended for a week. Video footage showed them surrounding a police van.
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:Â bbc.com
The Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, has asked all Parishes and Quasi-Parishes not to commence church activities on Sunday, June 7 until an official communication is given.
In a Memo to the Clergy and Religious in the Koforidua Diocese, Bishop Afrifa-Agyekum explained discussions were still ongoing to reach a consensus on the way forward.
“I wish to inform you that congregational church service are not to commence in any Parish or Quasi-Parish until I officially communicate to you.â€
He added: “In the meantime, we are working hard on some protocols that will guide the dioceseâ€.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Add in his 10th address on Sunday, May 31 announced the easing of restrictions for religious activities to commence from Friday, June 5 for Muslims, first of all.
Pastors are expected to contain a maximum of 100 persons for Sunday Church Service for a period of one hour.
Churches are also expected to ensure fumigation and disinfection is done before reopening the churches.
Source:Â 3 News
Britain will change its immigration rules and offer millions of people in Hong Kong “a route to citizenship” if China imposes new security laws, Boris Johnson has said.
Writing in the Times, Mr Johnson said the UK would “have no choice” but to uphold its ties with the territory.
China is facing mounting criticism over its planned law.
Many people in Hong Kong fear it could end their unique freedoms, which the rest of China does not have.
The UK is already in talks with allies including the US and Australia about what to do if China imposes the new law – which would make it a crime to undermine Beijing’s authority – and people start fleeing Hong Kong.
In the Times on Wednesday, the prime minister confirmed that if China passes the law, people in Hong Kong who hold British National (Overseas) (BNO) passports will be allowed to come to the UK for 12 months without a visa. Currently they are allowed to come for six months.
Around 350,000 people in Hong Kong currently already have a BNO passport, but 2.6 million others are also eligible.
Passport-holders would also be given further immigration rights, including the right to work.
This “could place them on a route to citizenship,” Mr Johnson said.
‘Britain will not walk away’
The prime minister added that the immigration changes “would amount to one of the biggest changes in our visa system in British history”.
“If it proves necessary, the British government will take this step and take it willingly.
“Many people in Hong Kong fear their way of life, which China pledged to uphold, is under threat.
“If China proceeds to justify their fears, then Britain could not in good conscience shrug our shoulders and walk away; instead we will honour our obligations and provide an alternative.”
The last British governor of Hong Kong, Lord Patten, said the offer of support from the UK government was “morally and politically right”.
He accused China’s ruling Communist Party of employing “bullying” tactics, adding: “Sooner or later with a bully you have to stand up to them, otherwise you’ll get knocked about.”
Asked whether the UK was entering a new Cold War with China, Lord Patten told the BBC’s World at One: “I think we’re entering a period of realism with China…
“This is not us against China, it’s the way in which the Chinese Communist regime can’t stand us, and they’ve cracked down on Hong Kong because it represents all the things which [President] Xi Jinping dislikes.”
Hong Kong is a former British colony. It was handed back to China in 1997.
As part of an agreement signed at the time, it enjoys some freedoms not seen in mainland China – and these are set out in a mini-constitution called the Basic Law.
BNO passports were granted to all Hong Kong citizens born before the Chinese handover in 1997 and while they allow the holder some protection from the UK foreign service they do not currently give the right to live or work in Britain.
Source:Â bbc.com
Rising Ghanaian musician, Fameye, released a new song to celebrate the illustrious music career of Ghanaian music legend, Okomfour Kwadee.
According to Fameye, the new song is not a feature but a musical piece to praise Okomfour Kwadee for his success in the music industry and how he had inspired his music.
“Okomfour Kwaadee has been an inspiration in my music career and that’s why I did the song to honour him. We need to celebrate his life because he has contributed immensely to the growth of Ghana’s music.
“I have heard he is facing some difficulties in life and we are working behind the scenes to see how we can help him,” he told Ghana News Agency.
Fameye is expected to release his EP titled ”Take Me Do” next week.
Source:Â GNA
“In the world of digital communication tools, email has become the kingâ€.
According to Statistica, there were about 293 billion emails sent daily in 2019 and the number is expected to hit about 347 billion by 2023. (Statisica.com)
Electronic mails referred to as emails, one of the earliest digital marketing tools, (and)have become so powerful over the years. Emails have become a primary communication tool on the internet.
One cannot afford not to have an email address.
Importance of Having Email Address
Emails have become part of one’s daily virtual life. It’s therefore imperative to make the most of it. Here are a couple of reasons why you need to have an email address.
• Your email serves as a form of digital identification tool. It is one of the primary ways to register for almost any digital service. Social media sites require an email address for registration.
• It’s your address to receive Digital goods. For eCommerce purposes, emails are required for translations. Even if you’re purchasing products that would be delivered physically. The address is used to receive product details, receipts, and tracking information in some instances.
• In purchasing digital goods, most often the products are delivered via emails. Without an email address, you virtually become handicapped. You can do very little online without an address.
• Emails addresses reveal your identity to an extent and also speaks volumes about the personality behind it.
• Email addresses are used to confirm your virtual identity. Most often activating subscription services, are sent via emails.
• Businesses are transacted via emails; it eases transactions and makes it easier tracking with emails.
• Families, friends, and loved ones keep in touch via email communications; one of the most used means of sending and receiving information among friends
The Role of a Branded Email address
Majority of internet users do create email addresses using mail services by yahoo or Gmail, the latter being more popular and widely used. These providers help with free email address creation, a good way to begin with.
However, to step up the game for your brand, requires that you get an email in your personal or company’s domain name, an example would be: cynthia@cynthiaclive.org, john@javenturecapital.com
The branded Email address has numerous benefits including:
• Trust Building: emails would be more trusted than that from a generic email service provider
• Establishes authenticity: Many digital service providers would prefer emails activated from branded domains than that of the generic provider.
• Brand promotion: since mails are used more often, the more people see the address the more brand visibility gained and chances for them visiting your website would be very high.
• Mark of professionalism: not only is it nice to have a branded email address, but it also speaks to your profession. Your firm would be seen as more professional having its domain email address.
• Privacy control: having a self-hosted email addresses limits the fear of compromised emails, as it offers you full control over the privacy of your mails
Using Email Signature for Branding & Marketing
One of the underutilized features of emails has been the footer section. The Footer is the bottom part of an email that allows you to input content that will automatically accompany every mail sent.
You may enter details such as; company brief, contact numbers, social media handles, official website, etc. The goal is to enter relevant information that stands the chance of promoting your brand. Don’t ever leave your email footer blank, especially for your brand/company.
You can use it to advertise an upcoming product, service, a newly released product, events, etc.
Quick tips:
• Stick to a particular font style
• Font and style should be legible
• Use company brand colors
• Don’t make it clumsy by overloading it with content
• If you need to use HTML codes, get it done professionally
• Have a standard one for all your company emails for every staff.
• Showcase your expertise
• Be brief, fewer lines the better
• Have a Call-to-action message/button
How to create your email signature/footer
Mostly the button can be found in the “settings” menu in the mail, either using self-hosted, webmail, or a third-party mail provider.
For example, if you use Gmail or Yahoo mail.
• Log in to your mail.
• Locate the settings icon at the top right of your mail
• Click the settings, scroll down to the Signature Section, a text box displayed below it.
• Type your signature message or copy and paste your content.
• Clive Save. You are done!
• Go back to Compose mail then look at the bottom of your mail to see your signature
You can save yourself some stress by using a third-party app to have the footer created for you with ease.
The following are good ones to try:
• Wisestamp Free signature generator https://wisestamp.com
• Free basic HTML signature https://htmlsig.com
• Hubspot email signatures https://www.hubspot.com/email-signature-generator
• mysignature.io
• Design Hall signatures https://www.designhill.com/email-signature-generator
• Free HTML Signatures https://si.gnatu.re/
Now, it’s your turn, let your emails do the speaking for you!
Bernard Kelvin Clive is an Author, Speaker and Corporate Trainer. Ghana’s foremost authority on Personal Branding and Digital Book Publishing. An Amazon bestselling author of over 40 published books. As a speaker & trainer he has been known to simplify complex ideas about branding and life and present them to audiences in clear, actionable steps. He has over a decade experience in digital publishing and has globally consulted for entrepreneurs, pastors, and people like you to write books and build brands. He hosts the number one ranked Career & Business Podcast in Ghana. Bernard is a brand strategist at BKC consulting and runs the monthly Branding & Publishing Masterclass. visit www.BKC.name
Source: Bernard Kelvin Clive, Contributor
Scientists are running a trial to see if ibuprofen can help hospital patients who are sick with coronavirus.
The team from London’s Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital and King’s College believe the drug, which is an anti-inflammatory as well as a painkiller, could treat breathing difficulties.
They hope the low-cost treatment can keep patients off ventilators.
In the trial, called Liberate, half of the patients will receive ibuprofen in addition to usual care.
The trial will use a special formulation of ibuprofen rather than the regular tablets that people might usually buy. Some people already take this lipid capsule form of the drug for conditions like arthritis.
Studies in animals suggest it might treat acute respiratory distress syndrome – one of the complications of severe coronavirus.
Prof Mitul Mehta, one of the team at King’s College London, said: “We need to do a trial to show that the evidence actually matches what we expect to happen.”
Early in the pandemic there were some concerns that ibuprofen might be bad for people to take, should they have the virus with mild symptoms.
These were heightened when France’s health minister Oliver Veran said that taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, could aggravate the infection and advised patients to take paracetamol instead.
A review by the Commission on Human Medicines quickly concluded that, like paracetamol, it was safe to take for coronavirus symptoms. Both can bring a temperature down and help with flu-like symptoms.
For mild coronavirus symptoms, the NHS advises people try paracetamol first, as it has fewer side-effects than ibuprofen and is the safer choice for most people. You should not take ibuprofen if you have a stomach ulcer, for example.
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.â€
Source:Â bbc.com
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has called on the government to roll out a different stimulus package targeting smallholder farmers to revamp their operations.
Mr Charles Kwowe Nyaaba, Head of Programmes and Advocacy at PFAG, who made the call, said “We think that if we want this country to become food secure next year, government needs to come out with a different funding mechanism that addresses specific needs of smallholder farmersâ€.
He made the call at a training on COVID-19 held at Sognayili in the Sagnarigu Municipality for Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) drawn from the Tamale Metropolis, Sagnarigu and Savelugu Municipalities of the Northern Region.
The training, organised by PFAG, was to equip participants with knowledge on the transmission, symptoms and safety precautions on COVID-19, such that they would also educate farmers on the disease as part of their extension activities to help curb its spread.
As part of the training, PFAG presented a veronica bucket each including other personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Departments of Agriculture in the Tamale Metropolis and Sagnarigu Municipality to help ensure hygiene.
Following the emergence of the COVID-19 in the country and its devastating impact on businesses, the government rolled out a GHC600,000,000.00 stimulus package to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to manage the impact of the disease on their operations.
Mr Nyaaba argued that smallholder farmers would not benefit from the current stimulus package because, they neither registered their operations nor had tax identification numbers, which were key requirements for accessing the funds.
He said funds under the currents stimulus package were also not enough, adding, a different stimulus package targeting smallholder farmers would help cushion them in this era of COVID-19 as they needed just between GHC500.00 to GHC2,000.oo to revamp their operations.
He said “We think that farmers bear more of the consequences of COVID-19 than other businesses. Farmers cannot sell their produce because of disruptions in businesses.
Farmers have cleared their lands waiting for tractors to plough but there are no tractors because borders are closed, yet they are left out of the credit facility meant to cushion businesses. If we do not take a second look at that approach, we may be addressing one problem but the problem will escalate to the agricultural sectorâ€.
Mr Iddriss Nouridean, an AEA at the Tamale Metropolis, who spoke on behalf of the participants, said the COVID-19 had overstretched resources of the Departments of Agriculture as AEAs had to now make two trips to communities instead of one for their extension activities to farmers.
Mr Nouridean commended PFAG for the training, saying, it would boost their operations as they and the farmers would keep safe during this era of COVID-19.
Source: GNA
Boris Johnson’s “mismanagement” of the easing of virus restrictions risks a second wave of infections, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has warned.
In a Guardian interview, he urged the PM to “get a grip” and restore public confidence in ministers’ handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
But No 10 said it was proceeding with caution to secure a safe recovery.
It comes as the government is to outline further details of its quarantine plans later.
Home Secretary Priti Patel is to tell MPs that the proposals – which have been met with criticism from many Conservative MPs – are necessary to avoid the risk of another wave of coronavirus infections.
From Monday, the majority of those arriving in the UK will be told to self-isolate for 14 days.
But Portugal’s foreign minister has told the BBC that his government is talking to Home Office officials about a so-called “air bridge” agreement so that tourists returning from his country can avoid the restrictions.
Health minister Edward Argar said he hopes people will be able to go on holiday this year but cautioned “I’m not going to say a particular date on when that might happen”.
“We will have to be guided by how the disease behaves, controlling any risk of a second wave and controlling the disease,” he told BBC Breakfast.
In the Guardian, the Labour leader also said there was a growing concern that Mr Johnson was now “winging it” over moves to reopen schools and relax shielding advice.
Echoing Sir Keir’s criticism of the government, shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We have seen an exit from the lockdown with no strategy to make it work.”
The Labour MP said the easing of lockdown restrictions was “the time of maximum danger” and that the party was calling for an “effective” test, trace and isolate strategy, “fast access to testing” and “clear” public messaging.
In one of his first acts as Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer announced he would not indulge in opposition for opposition’s sake.
This was seen as a decisive break from his own party’s recent past.
But now he wants to create more distance between the government and the opposition.
Some say they have noted a more hostile, less consensual tone towards Boris Johnson from Sir Keir.
But, in truth, Sir Keir’s stated policy of “constructive criticism” has already tended to emphasise the latter of those two words at Prime Minister’s Questions.
And his approach today has much in common with his approach before – to put down a marker in case things go wrong.
The Labour leader is determined to stay one step ahead of the government.
So, by raising questions now over the easing of lockdown while doubts remain about the alert level and the efficacy of the track and trace system, he is positioning the party to distance itself further from the government’s approach if the R number goes up.
Source:Â bbc.com
Two tricycle operators have crushed and battling for their lives over a lady in Lamasheigu, a suburb of Tamale.
They two, Salifu Mustafa 25 and Fuseini Dawuda 31 are currently at the emergency ward of the Tamale Teaching Hospital in critical conditions.
Salifu Mustafa is alleged to have been dating one Memunatu Alhassan who is a girlfriend to Fuseini Dawuda.
The two in the early hours of Wednesday, June 3, 2020 met at the tricycle station in Lamashegu where a fight transpired leading to severe injuries of the two men.
This happened after Fuseini Dawuda allegedly accused Salifu of having an affair with his girlfriend.
The police is yet to conduct an investigation into the matter.
Source:Â rainbowradioonline.com
France’s digital minister has said its coronavirus contact-tracing app has been downloaded 600,000 times since it became available on Tuesday afternoon.
StopCovid France is designed to prevent a second wave of infections by using smartphone logs to warn users if they have been near someone who later tested positive for the virus.
But a last-minute launch delay led some citizens to download the wrong product.
England has yet to confirm when its own app will roll out nationwide.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock had originally said it would be by 1 June, and then later suggested it would be around the middle of next week.
But the BBC has learned that it is now unlikely to be before 15 June and could be as late as July.
That is in part because of delays in releasing a second version of the software to the Isle of Wight, where it is being trialled.
The update will add symptoms including the loss of taste and smell to a self-diagnosis questionnaire next week, or soon after.
It will also start giving at-risk users a code to enter into a separate website when they book a medical test. This will allow the result, saying whether they tested positive or negative, to be delivered back to them via the app.
Rival models
Both the UK and France have created apps of their own based on a “centralised” design.
By contrast, Latvia, Italy and Switzerland have released apps based on a “decentralised” technology developed by Apple and Google.
Advocates of the centralised approach says it gives epidemiologists more data to analyse, helping them better target the contagion alerts. They are also not limited by rules imposed by the two tech companies, such as a ban on being able to gather location data.
Supporters of the decentralised model say it better protects users’ anonymity and privacy.
StopCovid France’s rollout has caused controversy.
Hundreds of academics signed a letter in April raising concerns that gathered data could be repurposed for mass surveillance purposes.
There was then a row over the government’s refusal to give MPs a vote on the matter, which was only resolved after ministers gave the Senate and National Assembly non-binding votes.
They both ultimately gave the app the green light. And the country’s data privacy watchdog also approved the rollout after carrying out its own review, although it did ask for some changes to the app’s wording.
But questions remain about how many people will voluntarily install it – the more that do so, the better it should work.
Digital Minister Cedric O indicated that he was pleased with the initial uptake.
“As of this morning, 600,000 people managed to download the app, so it’s a very very good start,” he told the TV channel France 2.
“We are very happy with his start, but obviously several million French people need to have it.”
He declined to give an exact target. But he had previously said a publicity campaign would initially focus on city-dwellers – particularly those using public transport, restaurants and supermarkets at peak times – as they were among those most likely to spread Covid-19.
Source:Â bbc.com
Seasoned journalist, Kweku Baako has reflected on his ugly past under the regime of Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings.
Kweku Baako, who has been an instrumental figure so far as Ghana’s liberation from the military rule of Mr. Rawlings is concerned, recounted the moments he was imprisoned for standing against the oppression of the Statesman.
Speaking on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”, Kweku Baako sent Ghanaians down memory lane by touching on how he survived in prison.
One thing that kept him busy in prison which he revealed to host Kwami Sefa Kayi was smoking marijuana.
According to him, there were times he tore pages of the bible to roll up marijuana in prison.
”We used the bible to smoke wee. It’s true”, he professed.
Source:Â Peace FM
Bernard Mornah Chairman of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) was on Tuesday granted a GHC20,000.00 bail with a surety for allegedly threatening the Electoral Commission (EC).
He would be reporting to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) every two weeks whilst investigations continue.
He was accompanied by Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Boamah Otukunor, Deputy General-Secretary of the NDC, with lawyers Victor Kwadwogah Adawudu and Dr Abdul-Basilt.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Juliana Obeng, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the CID told the media that, Mornah was cautioned under the Criminal Offences Act, Section 207.
This was after he responded to an invitation by the CID for allegedly threatening to resist any attempt by the EC to compile new voters register for the 2020 elections.
He was arrested to assist police investigations into the purported threats on Tuesday, June 2.
A letter dated May 28, 2020, and signed by Barima Tweneboah Sasraku II, Deputy Director-General of the CID, quoted Mornah as saying, “People who are already Ghanaians and registered were going to be taken out of the register, don’t you think confusion will come at the registration centre and if it comes, you think the EC staff will be safe?”
“You think the EC staff will be safe, we will beat each other, kill each other there if that is what the EC want to lead the nation to.”
However upon his arrest, he said that he only cautioned the EC on the confusion that would be created should it go ahead to compile the new voters register.
Source: GNA
Eighteen people have died from the deadly coronavirus in the Ashanti Region alone out of the total of 38 deaths recorded nationwide.
The region also has 1,342 cases of the disease out of the 8,548 recorded nationwide.
Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah said this at the launch of anti-stigma campaign on COVID-19 in Kumasi today, Wednesday, 3 June 2020.
The campaign against the stigmatisation of people living with the deadly coronavirus was launched by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).
Mr Osei-Mensah called for a stop to stigmatisation against people living with the pandemic and advised Ghanaians to adhere to the safety protocols to protect themselves from the disease.
Otumfuo’s Manwerehene, Baffour Osei Hyiaman Brantuo VI, also advised people in the region to desist from stigmatising those who have recovered from the virus.
Source: Class FM
About 146 patients have recovered from the coronavirus disease in Ghana, taking the total tally of recovered patients to 3,132.
In the latest update from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Wednesday, 251 persons have been infected.
This moves the total case count for the country from 8,297 to 8,548.
The deaths remain 38 while 15 in total are in “critical†and “severe†cases.
No details were, however, given on the latest infections but what remains is that 5,378 are now under management at the various treatment facilities.
Greater Accra Region continues to lead in the regional breakdown with a total of 5,894 cases.
Ashanti Region follows with 1,342 cases while the Western Region and the Central Region follow with 449 and 438 cases respectively.
Find the rest below:
Eastern 134
Volta 86
Western North 68
Upper East 42
Northern 37
Oti 26
Upper West 22
Bono East 6
North East -2
Savannah 1
Bono 1
Ahafo 0
Source: 3 News
Business and Financial Times
Fountain of Life Chapel International (FLCI) in Ho has supported the aged and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) with 110 bags of rice worth GHC 7,600.00.
The beneficiary communities are Godokpoe, Ho-Dome, Ho-Bankoe, Heve, Avatidome and the Cured Lepers Village.
The church made similar donations to the vulnerable in other parts of Ho, Mafi-Kumase in the Volta region and some communities in the Greater Accra Region.
Apostle Mawufemor Senyo Kudjo, General Overseer of the Church said the aged and PWDs were most vulnerable in the wake of COVID-19 and needed to be supported and cared for.
He noted that some aged and PWDs had been neglected by their families and found it difficult coping with life and needed a helping hand.
“It is time for churches to move from their comfort zones and open their storehouses to support especially in this pandemic season as a way of giving back to people and society,†he said.
Mr. Paul Kwame Kuhordzi, a beneficiary, commended the church for the support.
Source: GNA
CPP Stalwart, James Kwabena Bomfeh has cautioned politicians to be measured in their utterances.
James Kwabena Bomfeh, popularly called Kabilla, was concerned about the unwholesome political pronouncements and seditious comments by some political figures in the country regarding the decision of the Electoral Commission to compile a new voters’ register.
The Electoral Commission has announced that the registration exercise will commence in the middle of June this year, despite oppositions from the National Democratic Congress and other political entities.
Some political party bigwigs have sounded ”war drums” making statements that are considered treacherous all in the name of politics.
But speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ on Wednesday, Kabilla advised his colleague politicians to leave behind their political differences when the issues are of national importance, hence they should seek a common national interest.
“We should be measured in our positions and our pronouncements . . . We should all know and accept that at any point in time, we don’t know all the facts. At any point in time you don’t know all the facts that there may be in an issue so be measured in your conclusions. In this country, I don’t think we should adopt the attitude that I am a winner but you’re a loser. It is not the way to go. When I look at the politics and the history of our country, how we have allowed partisanship to tear this nation apart. Sometimes, look, I am ideological but I am not entrenched. I don’t believe in fanatism. I’m liberal because look back, can you imagine the quality of the political class in the early struggles for independence. That they all had a common understanding; of course, differences will be there but in approach, you say yours and I say mine. We then come at a certain convergence devoid of the animosities, the bitterness that some of us have come to inherit,” he stressed.
Source: Peace FM
A Nigerian trader, accused of impersonating three Ministers of State to defraud some people of more than GH¢10,000.00, is battling to execute her bail.
Vivian Sajida Imran, who appeared before an Accra Circuit on Wednesday Court, from custody, consequently had her case adjourned to June 17.
The Court, presided over by Mr. Emmanuel Essandoh, had earlier granted Vivian bail in the sum of GH¢12,000.00 with two sureties, one of whom should not be earning less than GH¢1,500.00 a month.
Vivian and her husband, Prince Joel, now at large, impersonated Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Henry Quartey, Deputy Minister, National Security.
Vivian has, however, pleaded not guilty to eight counts of falsely pretending to be a public officer and defrauding by false pretence.
The couple are said to have used the names of the Ministers of state to defraud two victims of more than GH¢10,000.00 under the pretext of securing them jobs.
They told the victims that they could secure jobs for them at the COC0BOD, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and the Ghana Gas Company Limited.
They allegedly collected GH¢6,000.00 from one Seth Samuel Tetteh to provide him with a job at TOR; and five others of different sums of monies for job opportunities at COCOBOD and Ghana Gas Company Limited.
When the case was first called, called Detective Sergeant Frederick Sarpong told the Court that the complainant was an operative of the National Security.
Detective Sergeant Sarpong said in April, Vivian and Joel used the names of the Ministers to create multiple Facebook accounts and pretended to be ministers.
Vivian and Joel in their online chats and phone calls with the victims informed them that they could secure jobs for them with those three companies.
Sgt Sarpong said Vivian and Joel further requested the victims to pay various amount of monies to their mobile money accounts for application forms and interviews.
“The monies amounting to GH¢10,277.00 were paid to MTN mobile numbers 0242774965 and 0551047196 and later transferred into Vivian’s mobile money number 0248024471,†he said.
The Prosecution said: “The honourable ministers who later had a wind of activities of the accused persons informed the National Security so Vivian and Joel were tracked to their house at Ashaiman Jericho, where she was arrested but Joel managed to escapeâ€.
The prosecution said a search conducted in the room of the couple revealed six mobile phones, including the handsets with the three mobile money numbers used to receive the monies from their victims.
He said: “An order of the court was sought and a forensic examination was carried out on the retained mobile phones. One of the retained mobile phone was found to contain MTN SIM number 0248024471 registered in the name of Vivian.”
According to the Prosecution, the same number was found to be the final destination where the money obtained from the victims were transferred to and later withdrawn.
Prosecution said in Vivian’s investigative cautioned statement she admitted being the owner of that number.
The Prosecution said when the victims were later contacted and they narrated their ordeal to the security agents.
The Prosecution said intensive efforts were underway to track Joel.
Source: GNA
Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi, the Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), has called for the inclusion of COVID-19 testing in the International Certificate of Vaccination otherwise known as Yellow Card to strengthen health security.
He said the inclusion would help prevent, protect and contain the spread of the coronavirus disease across borders and avoid the interference with international traffic and trade.
A statement issued by Superintendent Michael Amoako-Atta, the Head of Public Affairs, said the call was made during a web-based seminar on the impact of COVID-19 on the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) free movement protocol and the regional integration agenda.
It was organised organized by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) under the auspices of European Union, ECOWAS Commission and International Labour Organization.
The statement said there is the need for health clearance for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases to be strictly enforced as part of requirements for entry into member states when implemented.
It expressed concern over the nonexistence of health facilities at the various entry points of member States of ECOWAS to cater for the health needs of border officials who were unwell and exposed to infectious diseases and other ever-changing health risks.
“We need effective collaboration between border security agencies and health institutions to curtail the possible spread of infectious diseases across bordersâ€, Mr Takyi said.
The CGI said member states should consider building capacity of port health officials through a continuous training programme to strengthen health security in West Africa as part of the new paradigm shift, post COVID-19.
The statement said as part of policy intervention, member States must leverage on technology to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras along the borders for effective monitoring of movements of persons along the frontiers.
It said some of the lessons learnt from the closure of the borders were the increasing use of unapproved routes by migrants to enter the entry, which has led to the identification of several unapproved routes of entry and exist.
Others, the statement said, were the connivance of transport operators and border residents who aided travelers to cross borders illegally, adding: tip-offs from border residents and the sharing of intelligence among border security agencies are therefore crucial to combating irregular migration and the fight against infectious diseases such as COVID-19.
Other panelists for the webinar were H.E. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister for the Interior of Federal Government of Nigeria; Mr Tei Konzi, Commissioner of Trade, Customs and Free Movement for ECOWAS Commission; Ms Melita Gruevska-Graham, Head of Anti-Trafficking Programme for ICMPD; and Ms Lotte Kejser Chief Technical Adviser for International Labour Organization (ILO).
COVID-19 contact tracers have revealed that they are now receiving Gh¢70 as daily allowance instead of the announced Gh¢150.
“Mr President, on Sunday, the 5th of April 2020, you made a public announcement that Contact Tracers across the country would be given a Gh¢150 daily allowance for their efforts in the fight against Covid-19. This announcement was very timely and welcoming since by then none of us knew how much we were getting even after working for days.
“However, for the entire month of May, the money was not paid until on the 1st of June when we were asked to come the next day for our monies. We proceeded to our accountants for the money the next day only to be informed that, we are taking Gh¢70 per day and not the announced Gh¢150 per day,†a part of the letter reads.
They have therefore written an open letter to President Akufo-Addo to address their concern.
Below is the full open letter:
Good day sir,
Accept a warm felicitation from us.
We pray our letter finds you in a good health condition as you lead your beloved country in this fight against an invisible enemy.
Mr President, on Sunday, the 5th of April 2020, you made a public announcement that Contact Tracers across the country would be given a Ghc150 daily allowance for their efforts in the fight against Covid-19. This announcement was very timely and welcoming since by then none of us knew how much we were getting even after working for days.
Mr. President, for the month of April, the money was paid as you announced and we thank you for that.
However, for the entire month of May, the money was not paid until on the 1st of June when we were asked to come the next day for our monies. We proceeded to our accountants for the money the next day only to be informed that, we are taking Ghc70 per day and not the announced Ghc150 per day.
So Mr. President, we would like to humbly enquire whether your office has reviewed the amount or some entities within the region want to “cheat†us.
Mr. President, when the announcement for the recruitment of health professionals to work as Contact Tracers was made, almost everyone was afraid to partake. A few of us showed up for the orientation and training, and a few among those who showed for the training actually showed up for work for fear of contracting the virus. But some of us against all odds sacrificed and contributed our quota in this fight. We faced some stigmatisations and distancing from even family members due to fear. People feared getting close to us just because of the work we do. But that did not deter us in fighting to make Ghana safe again.
The successes chalked in the fight would not have been possible without our tireless efforts in Tracing and Testing some 153,056 people and recording 4956 positives. This could not have been possible without us.
Mr. President, it is unfair for us to work all week including Saturdays and Sundays only for us to be denied what is due us. It is unfair sir.
So we call on your esteemed office to issue a statement, possibly through the daily Ministerial Press Briefings to shed some light on this issue.
Thank you Mr. President
Convener
Coalition of Contact Tracers, Ashanti Region.
0200983057
Cc:
Minister of Health
Minister of Information
Director General, GHS
Source: Daily Mail
The head of news at Angel FM, Kofi Adomah Nwanwani has been invited by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.
His invitation is in connection with with a statement he made prior to the President’s speech on the steps taken against the COVID-19 pandemic on May 31.
Kofi Adoma is on record to have predicted the exact decisions taken on Sunday which includes easing of restrictions in schools, churches and the extension of the closure of boarders.
Reports gathered indicates that Kofi Adomah responded to the CID’s invitation this afternoon.
Below are some of his predictions in the supposed leaked address.
1. He successfully predicted that boarders would be closed indefinitely
2. He predicted that churches could admit up to 100 congregants
3. He predicted the easing of restrictions partially in the educational sector and how finalist would be asked to resume before the others.
4. He predicted how offerings would be collected outside (In front of churches) etc.
Prior to his speech, most people already had an idea of what the President would say.
Share your comments and follow the channel for further updates.
Mrs. Frimpong popularly Fella Makafui has been hailed as a motivational speaker by her fans for her inspiring motivational messages.
The actress and business woman for sometime now has been posting encouraging messages which seem to water down well for her fans.
Her motivational messages has caused fans to hail her as a motivational speaker as the some begin to request for seminars.
This new move by Fella is making her win more hearts day in and day out and it has inspired some fans already.
See posts below;
The only way you are going to have success is to have lots of failures first.
— Mrs. Precious Frimpong (@fellamakafui_) June 3, 2020
Source: ghgossip.com
Experienced broadcaster Nana Yaa Brefo has spoken for the first time after joining Dr Kwaku Oteng’s Angel FM/TV in Accra following her resignation from Adom TV.
As earlier reported by YEN.com.gh, Yaa Brefo who was co-host of Adom TV’s morning show, Badwam, resigned from the station two weeks ago.
After some speculations about her future, she has been unveiled as one of the new presenters for during the launch of Angel FM in Accra on, Monday, June 1, 2020.
From what YEN.com.gh gathered, Yaa Brefo will be more linked to the ABN’s TV station, Angel TV, and will have the role of head of news and current affairs.
Her unveiling came as a surprise as she had been highly tipped to move to Despite Media’s UTV and Peace FM where she actually started her journalism career.
Moments after her unveiling, Yaa Brefo has spoken and given reasons as to why she decided to join Angel FM/TV.
According to her, she chose to join Angel Broadcasting Network (ABN) because she believes it is the right place to be as she wanted a new challenge.
She stated that just like she helped Adom TV to grow into a big brand, she loved the challenge of helping the team at ABN to bring up Angel FM/TV.
In another video, Nana Yaa Brefo revealed that she had a lot of very good offers but she settled on ABN because she wanted to join the team of angels.
She also urged all the people who love her for what she does to stay glued to Angel FM/TV and expect more from her.
Meanwhile, Nana Yaa Brefo’s former colleague at Adom FM Captain Smart, who joined Angel FM barely 24 hours after from resigning from Adom was among those unveiled.
Captain Smart was unveiled as the host of the station’s morning show, Anopa Bofour, and the director of operations of the station.
Source: yen.com.gh
Songstress Queen eShun got tongues wagging after she levelled allegations of abuse, manipulations and cheating towards her former manager, Stephen Mensah.
Known in real life as Ethel Esi Eshun, the singer and songwriter alleged that her former manager took all the proceeds from gigs as well as funds from her online streams and performances from shows.
The CEO of Quophimens Musiq, whom she describes as her ex-boyfriend takes his turn on #SayItLoud to give his side of the story.
Watch out for the full video on Thursday, June 4, 2020, which will be aired on GhanaWeb TV.
Website: www.ghanaweb.com
Youtube: Ghanaweb TV https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsL03z5sLvA0t8sjwDWf_3A/videos
Facebook: TheGhanaweb https://www.facebook.com/TheGhanaWeb/
Twitter: TheGhanaweb https://twitter.com/TheGhanaWeb/
Source:Â www.ghanaweb.com
Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong has revealed his cousin, wife and their daughter have recovered from the infectious COVID-19 disease.
Though the legislator did not state their names, he said they are in the United States and doing well.
He disclosed this on Asempa FM Tuesday where he made a strong case for the use of herbal medicines in treating infected patients.
“We have to believe in ourselves and what we have. All my close associates who contracted coronavirus used local herbs for treatment,†he said.
Meanwhile, he commended President Nana Akufo-Addo for his relentless efforts towards the fight against the deadly disease in Ghana.
“Ghana would have been in tatters if John Mahama was president in this Covid-19 period but Akufo-Addo has shown the difference,†he lauded.
Source: adomonline.com
The A & C Shopping Mall in Accra has been engulfed by a massive fire. The fire reportedly began very late on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.
The cause of the fire is still not immediately known.
While YEN.com.gh cannot independently verify the video that has been shared online, the footage shows a building on fire.
It is not also known if firefighters were at the scene of the fire to battle and contain the blaze.
However, eyewitnesses at the scene could be heard in the video making distress chatter.
More details soon.
Source: yen.com.gh
A 28-year-old driver, who unlawfully entered a chapel and stole musical instruments, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by the Nkawie Circuit Court.
Moro Suleman was said to have entered the Power Life Anointing Ministry Church at Mpatoam in the Amansie West District, and made away with a keyboard, amplifier, mixture, curtains and other items in the Church.
He pleaded guilty to unlawful entry and stealing and was convicted on his own plea.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr Sylvanus Dalmeida, told the court presided by Mr Johnson Abbey that, the complainant, Pastor Emmanuel Wiredu, was informed by a church member of the theft on May 28, this year, at about 7:30 am.
He said an hour later, another person called the complainant and informed him about the arrest of the convict at Nkawie with the items.
DSP Wiredu said the complainant went to the police station and identified the items as those of the Church.
Suleman admitted the offence in his caution statement and was therefore, charged and brought before the court.
Source:Â GNAÂ Â
A Department of Defense adviser resigned, effective immediately, from the military’s science board citing what he believed to be a violation of conduct from Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
In his resignation letter, James Miller Jr., the former under secretary of defense for policy from 2012 to 2014, recalled that he swore an oath of office to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States … and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same,” similar to what the defense secretary had done before he took office.
“On Monday, June 1, 2020, I believe that you violated that oath,” Miller wrote in his letter to Esper, which was obtained by The Washington Post.
Miller’s reasoning centered around President Donald Trump’s controversial visit to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, on Monday, where he posed with a Bible for photographs as protesters in the surrounding area were hit with smoke canisters and pepper balls at the event, according to the United States Park Police.
The trip was widely condemned by religious leaders, including Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory, who called it “baffling and reprehensible.”
Esper, along with US Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was also present during the visit.
“Law-abiding protesters just outside the White House were dispersed using tear gas and rubber bullets — not for the sake of safety, but to clear a path for a presidential photo op,” Miller wrote. “You then accompanied President Trump in walking from the White House to St. John’s Episcopal Church for that photo.”
“You may not have been able to stop President Trump from directing this appalling use of force, but you could have chosen to oppose it,” Miller added. “Instead, you visibly supported it.”
In his letter, Miller also queried Esper on where he believed the Constitution’s limits were in relation to his duties.
“You must have thought long and hard about where that line should be drawn,” Miller wrote. “I must now ask: If last night’s blatant violations do not cross the line for you, what will?”
“Unfortunately, it appears there may be few if any lines that President Trump is not willing to cross, so you will probably be faced with this terrible question again in the coming days,” he added. “You may be asked to take, or to direct the men and women serving in the US military to take, actions that further undermine the Constitution and harm Americans.”
Esper claimed he was unaware of where he was going with the entourage on Monday.
“I thought I was going to do two things: to see some damage and to talk to the troops,” he said in an NBC News interview.
“I didn’t know where I was going,” he added. “I wanted to see how much damage actually happened.”
Miller served on the military’s Defense Science Board, a group of retired senior officials who are “best equipped to tackle the Department’s challenges in acquisition, cyber, communication technology, and weapons of mass destruction.”
He was awarded the Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the Defense Department’s highest honorary award for civilians, four times in his car
A Department of Defense adviser resigned, effective immediately, from the military’s science board citing what he believed to be a violation of conduct from Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
In his resignation letter, James Miller Jr., the former under secretary of defense for policy from 2012 to 2014, recalled that he swore an oath of office to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States … and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same,” similar to what the defense secretary had done before he took office.
“On Monday, June 1, 2020, I believe that you violated that oath,” Miller wrote in his letter to Esper, which was obtained by The Washington Post.
Miller’s reasoning centered around President Donald Trump’s controversial visit to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, on Monday, where he posed with a Bible for photographs as protesters in the surrounding area were hit with smoke canisters and pepper balls at the event, according to the United States Park Police.
The trip was widely condemned by religious leaders, including Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory, who called it “baffling and reprehensible.”
Esper, along with US Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was also present during the visit.
“Law-abiding protesters just outside the White House were dispersed using tear gas and rubber bullets — not for the sake of safety, but to clear a path for a presidential photo op,” Miller wrote. “You then accompanied President Trump in walking from the White House to St. John’s Episcopal Church for that photo.”
“You may not have been able to stop President Trump from directing this appalling use of force, but you could have chosen to oppose it,” Miller added. “Instead, you visibly supported it.”
In his letter, Miller also queried Esper on where he believed the Constitution’s limits were in relation to his duties.
“You must have thought long and hard about where that line should be drawn,” Miller wrote. “I must now ask: If last night’s blatant violations do not cross the line for you, what will?”
“Unfortunately, it appears there may be few if any lines that President Trump is not willing to cross, so you will probably be faced with this terrible question again in the coming days,” he added. “You may be asked to take, or to direct the men and women serving in the US military to take, actions that further undermine the Constitution and harm Americans.”
Esper claimed he was unaware of where he was going with the entourage on Monday.
“I thought I was going to do two things: to see some damage and to talk to the troops,” he said in an NBC News interview.
“I didn’t know where I was going,” he added. “I wanted to see how much damage actually happened.”
Miller served on the military’s Defense Science Board, a group of retired senior officials who are “best equipped to tackle the Department’s challenges in acquisition, cyber, communication technology, and weapons of mass destruction.”
He was awarded the Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the Defense Department’s highest honorary award for civilians, four times in his career, according to his biography from the Center for a New American Security think-tank.
“I wish you the best, in very difficult times,” Miller said at the end of his letter. “The sanctity of the US Constitution, and the lives of Americans, may depend on your choices.”
eer, according to his biography from the Center for a New American Security think-tank.
“I wish you the best, in very difficult times,” Miller said at the end of his letter. “The sanctity of the US Constitution, and the lives of Americans, may depend on your choices.”
Source: businessinsider.com
When it comes to issues of sex, most couples have creative and innovative ways to spice up their relationship. Some women like to be caressed, kissed on the neck and so on but According to Ghanaian songstress Ms Forson, she loves to be beaten during love making.
Explaining herself in a recent interview on Zylofone TV, Ms Forson disclosed that she loved kinky sex and allowed her lover to spank her during the process as it turns her on.
Commenting on the recent beefs among female artistes in the entertainment industry, Ms Forson reiterated that she was happy about the beefs until they started body shaming each other which she felt was uncalled for.
She went ahead to advice artistes to do whatever it takes to remain relevant but not at the expense of someone else.
Source: ghbase.com
A Deputy Director for the Medium and Small Loans Center (MASLOC), Madam Afia Akoto has opined that the management and distribution of loans under the current administration has been less partisan.
Speaking to Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, she said unlike, the previous administration where MASLOC loans, was largely based on partisanship, the new administration has done better in managing the institution.
Madam Afia Akoto in her submission stated that MASLOC is in a far better state than it was under the previous administration with beneficiaries reached.
MASLOC she noted has been transformed top benefit Ghanaians who qualify and not just party associates.
The current management has put in place the need structures to ensure the provision of micro and small loans for start-ups and small businesses with fast, easy and accessible microcredit and small loans to grow and expand their businesses as well as to enhance job and wealth creation in Ghana.
She made particular mention of the digitisation drive embarked upon by MASLOC.
What we have done since we took over is to ensure that the MASLOC worked for all Ghanaians and provided the needed support to interested beneficiaries.
Source: rainbowradioonline.com
Civil Society Organisation, One Ghana Movement, has called on the government to expedite action in compensating victims of the June 3 disaster.
The 2015 incident saw an explosion at a fuel station during a heavy downpour which flooded parts of the Kwame Nkrumah Circle leaving over 100 Ghanaians dead and others sustaining various degrees of burns and injuries.
Following the development, many groups, corporate bodies and philanthropists donated to the individuals to alleviate the impact of the disaster on their lives.
But according to One Ghana Movement, “the victims are yet to receive any substantial disbursements of the said contribution.â€
In a statement signed by the Acting Executive Director, Emily Kanyir Nyuur the only funds received by victims to date are from a $200,000 donation by the President of Benin which the NADMO and AMA disbursed to them in June 2019.
“Where are the funds that were donated to the victims, and why have they not been disbursed even five years after the disaster?†the Movement quizzed.
The CSO also encouraged victims to not allow politicians and civil servants to infringe on their rights while demanding accountability.
Source: Myjoyonline.com Â
Ghanaian Afropop singer Stonebwoy addressed both pandemics plaguing the world, coronavirus and racism, during his poignant Billboard Live At-Home performance Monday (June 1) that raised money for My Friend’s Place, which supports the homeless youth.
Performing from Ghana’s capital of Accra with his DJ, Stonebwoy (real name Livingstone Etse Satekla) started off his set with none other than “Black People,” a painful and incredibly timely testament to feeling lost in the world that doesn’t want to acknowledge him as a Black man, let alone respect him.
Although not directly naming George Floyd, the Black man who was murdered in Minnesota last week at the hands of four white police officers, Stonebwoy took the time to honor the protests against racism that have sprung up throughout America’s major cities in Floyd’s memory.
“The world’s in serious times right now, we see what’s going with the world from coronavirus straight to the brutality and all these things that is happening,” he said. “We stand against racism in any case.”
The 32-year-old singer wailed over the reggae beat for “Black People,” “I’m losing myself/ As a Black man inna this world/ I’m losing my identity/ Inna the society/ I’m losing myself.”
Stonebwoy supplemented his testament to making people like him feel seen with enjoying being alive, which is what his song “La Gba Gbe” (from his 2020 album Anloga Junction) translates to in his native tongue of Ewe. As if Stonebwoy’s performance couldn’t get to the heart of the matter even better, he closed it with “Strength & Hope,” a mantra for those mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically dejected for whom he calls upon God as the source of such positivity by proclaiming “Jah Jah,” the Rastafarian term for God.
Source:Â stonebwoyb.net
Fast rising Ghanaian songstress, Ms Forson has opened up about her failed marriage and her music career in a recent interview on Zylofon TV.
According to Ms Forson, she chose her music career over her marriage because of the lies she was told that her marriage was going to be an obstacle as a musician.
When asked if she ever loved her husband, Ms Forson responded affirmatively.
†I loved my husband with all my heart and he understood me and was ready to support me when I told him about my music careerâ€.
Responding to assertions that she was forced into the marriage, Ms Forson opined that she was never forced into the marriage but rather she got married out of love.
†I was not forced to marry my ex husband. We were in love and that was why we got married.â€
Source: ghbase.com
The police killing of unarmed African-American George Floyd shows the “true face” of the United States and its oppression of the peoples of the world, including its own, Iran’s supreme leader said Wednesday.
“The fact that a policeman has cold-bloodedly pressed his knee on the throat of a black man until he died and that other policeman watched on without doing anything is nothing knew,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a televised speech.
“It is the truce face of America, it’s what it has always done all over the world — in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and other countries, and before that in Vietnam.
“It is the normal course of action of the United States, it’s the truce face of their regime,” Khamenei said.
“These are realities that have always been camouflaged or hidden, but they are not new,” he said in a speech on the 31st anniversary of the death of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Protests sparked by Floyd’s killing by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have raged across the United States for a week and President Donald Trump has ordered the military to intervene.
The once-in-a-generation unrest has coincided with the world’s deadliest coronavirus outbreak in the United States.
Epidemiologists have voiced concern that the thousands of people protesting at close quarters, coughing violently when hit by police tear gas, will lead to a new upsurge in infections.
“Thank God, (US leaders) have already been discredited by their actions — their handling of the coronavirus has discredited and shamed them around the world,” Khamenei said of the 106,000 deaths from COVID-19 already registered in the United States.
Iran had itself faced strong criticism from its arch-foe the United States when it was reeling from one of the world’s highest COVID-19 death tolls earlier this year.
As of Wednesday, Iran’s health ministry declared a total of 8,012 deaths, although that figure has been dismissed by some as underreported, including by Washington.
Tensions between Tehran and Washington escalated sharply in 2018, after
Source:Â france24.com
Drake is donating to relief efforts that will aid those who have been arrested while protesting the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn. last week.
On Monday (June 1), Drake posted a screenshot of a rather large donation. The 6 God gave $100,000 to the National Bail Out fund, which is “an organization built on reuniting families, creating a national community of leaders who have experienced incarceration, and working with groups across the country to transform harmful systems to keep people safe and free,” according to the organization’s website.
Drizzy shared a screenshot on his IG story, showing a copy of his six-digit receipt, which read, “@mustafathepoet say less.” Drake’s donation is a response to Mustafa the Poet’s $400 contribution to help protesters demanding justice for George Floyd, who died after former Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nearly 10 minutes on May 25.
“My Toronto kings @champagnepapi and @theweeknd Swipe up and match my donation. But add three zeros! Let’s help reunite black families,” Mustafa wrote in an Instagram story post.
Drake is among several rappers who have donated to bailout funds during this time, including Noname, Aminé, Tierra Whack, 6lack and more. Members of the hip-hop community have been seen at a number of protests across the country over the weekend, too. Nick Cannon, Swae Lee, Lil Tjay and J. Cole were all spotted attending the protests to help raise awareness for the unjust killings of Black people at the hands of police officers.
Rappers have also been using their platforms to speak about their outrage and aid in change. Jay-Z vocalized his concerns to the Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Sunday (May 31) about how George Floyd’s murder case is currently being handled.
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.â€
Source:Â xxlmag.com
The head of the global vaccine alliance has warned “nobody is safe unless everybody is safe” from the new Coronavirus, urging international solidarity ahead of a fundraising summit as the pandemic threatens to trigger a resurgence of preventable diseases.
Scientists are racing to identify and test possible vaccines for COVID-19 as nations grapple with the economic and societal consequences of the virus lockdowns.
Seth Berkley of Gavi, the vaccine alliance, said the international community must ensure all countries will have access to any potential vaccines, regardless of their wealth.
“This is a global problem that needs a global solution and we have to all work together,” he said.
He spoke ahead of a virtual summit hosted by Britain on Thursday, where Gavi hopes to raise at least $7.4 billion to continue vaccination programmes against diseases like measles, polio and typhoid that have been severely disrupted by the pandemic.
The meeting will also see Gavi and its partners launch a financing drive to purchase potential COVID-19 vaccines, scale up their production, and support delivery to developing nations.
The fundraising goal for COVID-19 is $2 billion, although Berkley said it was an initial sum as they kickstart negotiations with manufacturers and could go up “substantially”.
The meeting comes as the pandemic exposes new ruptures in international cooperation.
US President Donald Trump last week announced he would pull out of the World Health Organization and there are fears America may use its economic clout to buy up vaccines.
Berkley said that countries needed a “different mindset”, adding that sharing access to drugs was not just a humanitarian and equality issue, but a global health security one.
“Nobody is safe unless everybody is safe. We saw the virus move from somewhere around Wuhan to 180 countries in less than three months, including islands and isolated areas,” he said.
‘Perfect storm’
The World Health Organization, UN children’s agency UNICEF and Gavi warned last month that the pandemic had hindered routine immunisation services in nearly 70 countries, affecting around 80 million children under the age of one.
Polio eradication drives were suspended in dozens of countries, including those still struggling with the debilitating illness, while measles vaccination campaigns were also put on hold in 27 countries, UNICEF said.
Recent Gavi-supported modelling from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine estimated that for every COVID-19 death prevented by halting vaccination campaigns in Africa, up to 140 people could die from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Berkley said the situation was improving, with new guidance on how to carry out immunisation campaigns safely.
But he said locating all the children who missed out on vaccines before new outbreaks emerge will be a “real challenge”.
Thursday’s funding drive is for a five-year period in which the organisation aims to reboot halted programmes in the countries it supports — allowing them to access vaccines at a much reduced cost — with the goal of reaching some 300 million children.
Berkley said he was “cautiously optimistic” that the target would be reached, with more new countries pledging donations despite the economic strains of the pandemic.
Recalling past episodes when vaccine work was stalled by the outbreak of diseases such as Ebola and SARS, another Coronavirus, he urged nations to move beyond “boom and bust” cycles of crisis planning.
“I don’t think this Coronavirus is going to go away like SARS did,” he said.
He also warned of an “unprecedented” level of rumour and conspiracy theory around vaccinations, particularly from the northern hemisphere.
“Distrust between people in their government, the rumours and the intentional spread of false information is not only at an all time high, but it also is being amplified by social media tools that didn’t exist 20 years ago,” he said.
“So we have almost a perfect storm of problems.”
Source:Â france24.com
Screen goddess Lydia Forson has marked the June 3rd disaster with a worrying message on how efforts are being made to prevent that from happening.
The actress took to her Twitter page to register her displeasure and worries about how less efforts have been made to prevent that from happening again.
She wrote, “June 3rd. 154 Ghanaians died and hundreds suffered severe burns and even more were displaced. Years later, very little has changed and lives are still in jeopardy whenever it rains.“
See post below;
June 3rd.
154 Ghanaians died and hundreds suffered severe burns and even more were displaced.
Years later, very little has changed and lives are still in jeopardy whenever it rains.
— #asklydiaforson (@lydiaforson) June 3, 2020
Source: ghgossip.com
His Lordship Justice Akwasi Anin-Yeboah has given an assurance that more court buildings will be constructed during his tenure as Chief Justice (CJ).
According to him, he has carefully analyzed and realized that the number of courts in the country is not enough to promote the justice delivery system.
In this regard, the CJ has said he has made it his personal policy to ensure that more modern court buildings are constructed to boost justice delivery.
According to him, the justice delivery system in the country will experience massive transformation when more court buildings are built in the various districts.
Justice Anin-Yeboah made the announcement when he cut the tape to open a modern court complex faculty at Akropong in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District.
The traditional leaders at Akropong provided the land, and the Atwima Nwabiagya North District Assembly offered some support to put up the court building.
He lauded the Akropong chiefs and the district assembly for a good job done and entreated other chiefs and assemblies to learn from them.
“Our revered chiefs should provide lands for court buildings, and the various assemblies should also offer logistical support,†the CJ said.
He stated that “access to justice delivery is key to help maintain law and order and also accelerate national development, so we need more courts.â€
Justice Anin-Yeboah said he was thrilled with the imposing court building at Akropong, giving an assurance that the court would be upgraded to a circuit court soon.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, on his part, admonished the managers and users of the new court to take good care of it, so it would last long.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Benito Owusu-Bio, in his succinct remarks, said government was committed to promoting justice for all, thereby leading to national growth.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atwima Nwabiagya North, Rebecca Yeboah, stated that bringing justice delivery on the doorstep of the ordinary Ghanaian was key to development.
Nana Sarfo Kantanka, Chief of Akropong; Nana Amoapim Brenya I, Chief of Barekese; and Kaleem Abdallah, the Atwima Nwabiagya North District Coordinating Director, were there.
Source:Â Daily Guide Network
Mother of hiplife musician, Jerry Anaba popularly known as Okomfour Kwadee commenting on the latest picture of her son that has gone viral on social media has pleaded with Ghanaians to come to the aid of her ‘sick’ son.
According to her, she has done everything possible a mother is supposed to do for her son, but her son’s condition has not improved.
“Ghanaians know his state and what he is going through. I am his mother, I didn’t sit to watch my son go through that situation. I have tried my best. He’s at Santasi, I have said everything I have to say to him. I have taken him to lots of places just to see him heal and get better. But he doesn’t like that. I am still doing that,” she said in an interview with Peace FM monitored by GhanaWeb.
Speaking on the efforts she has put in place, she explained that she has taken her son to prayer centres and all other places where she thinks can help solve her son’s predicament.
“As a mother, you cant watch to see your son go into that state so you will take him to prayer centres and other places that you think can solve his situation,” she said in the Twi dialect.
She added that her only hope is to see her son go back to his normal life and revive what he loves doing best, music.
The photo of Kwadee which has gone viral saw the rapper looking very frail; that has left many of his fans in a state of shock.
For some time now, Okomfour Kwadee has been battling with mental challenges which landed him at a rehab centre. In 2018, the news about him being abandoned at the rehab centre by his family went viral.
After it was reported to have recovered, it emerged he had sadly relapsed again.
Watch the video below:
Source:Â www.ghanaweb.com
Communication Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has cut the sod for the construction of 30 state-of-the-art Community Information Centres (CICs) at Akyem Asuom in the Eastern Region.
The CICs, which will be built across the country, are an initiative of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC).
They will serve as learning centres for the public and students and enable them to access various e-learning tools and platforms even if they do not have internet at home.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful called on District Assemblies, MPs, public-spirited individuals and corporate organisations to partner the government through GIFEC to ensure that every under-served and unserved community in the country becomes part of the digital society.
She expressed gratitude for the support from Osaberima Ofosuhene Apenteng II (Asuom Hene) and his traditional leaders, Mr Seth Antwi Boasiako (MCE, Kwaebibrem Municipal Assembly) and Mr Abraham Kofi Asante (GIFEC Administrator) in making the project a reality.
She entreated all beneficiary communities to protect and maintain the facility when completed.
Source:Â Class FM