TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Friday: Advertised jobs in newspapers today

    Prospective job seekers can find below the advertised jobs in the May 15, 2020 edition of Daily Graphic as published in the paper today.

    Other advertised jobs online

    Download (PDF, Unknown)

  • U/W: Covid-19 patient, 15, escapes after permission to go out

    A 15-year-old coronavirus patient has escaped from an isolation centre in the Upper West Region of Ghana after being granted permission to go out.

    The incident occurred Thursday, May 14.

    Explaining how it happened in an interview with Alfred Ocansey on the Sunrise morning show on 3FM Friday, May 15, the Acting Regional Health Director, Dr Damien Pungayire, said the boy asked permission to go out and was allowed.

    But he has not returned since then, reports say.

    When Dr Pungayire was questioned about the gravity of the situation, he withdrew his comment and said: “It was an error that I said he asked permission to go out”.

    He, however, said efforts are being made to find the patient on the run.

    He assured that security is being beefed up at the quarantine and isolation centres to ensure that this incident does not recur.

    The number of Covid-19 cases in Ghana has risen to 5,530, the Ghana Health Service has reported.

    The number of recoveries stand at 674 with 24 so far dead.

    The Upper West Region has so far recorded 21 cases.

    Source: 3news.com

  • 11 terrorists surrender to Nigerian troops in North East

    The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that 11 members Islamic States of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have surrendered to the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) in North East.

    The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this while giving updates on the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria at a news conference on Friday in Abuja.

    Enenche said that the troops had also continued to launch onslaught on the terrorists from both land and air fronts leading to the killing of scores of the terrorists in recent time.

    He explained that the 11 ISWAP fighters surrendered to troops on May 11 in Adamawa, adding that the repentant insurgents were being profiled for further action.

    According to him, this number of surrendered BHT/ISWAP fighters is an indication of the heat of our operational activities on the terrorists due to the renewed impetus in the theatre to end the criminality.

    “There are indications that more terrorists are willing to surrender.

    “One of such moves, was the dropping off of 72 family members of BHTs/ISWAP comprising 33 women and 39 children at the entrance of Ngala town in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno on May 10 at about 8.30 pm.

    “All of them are in custody of troops for further action,” said.

    The Coordinator also disclosed that the troops of OPLD on May 8, neutralised three suicide bombers that attempted to infiltrate their defence location at Uvaha High Ground Area in Limankara, Gwoza Local Government Area.

    He added that the troops of 144 Battalion, 82 Task Force Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade and 271 Task Force Tank Battalion had also killed 18 terrorists within the past one week.

    These operations, according to him, took place at Gamboru Ngala, Firgi Mubi Kamale Road in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa as well as Ngoshe near the Nigeria-Cameroon border.

    “A total of 72 persons were also rescued from the Boko Haram Terrorists.

    “Also, on May 9, troops of 121 Task Force Battalion, at Pulka-Ngurosoye, near Bama town repelled BHT ambush and killed 20 terrorists, while on escort duty.

    “On May 13, OPLD troops killed nine terrorists in an ambush at MainokJakana axis in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno.

    “Two gun trucks mounted with anti-aircraft gun were captured.

    “In all 61 BHT/ISWAP criminals were neutralized in the Theatre, aside from those that escaped with gunshot wounds with narrow chances of survival,” he said.

    Enenche further disclosed that the troop of Army Super Camp at Mallam Fatori on May 11, killed several terrorists and destroyed their vehicles and logistics bases at Tumbun Fulani in Abadam Local Government of Borno.

    He stated that the de-radicalization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration programme for ex-fighters under Operation Safe Corridor had recorded tremendous success.

    According to him, 280 clients have successfully undergone the programme and reintegrated into the society, 25 of this number were repatriated to Niger Republic.

    “Presently, 603 clients are due to pass out in June 2020.

    “Other fighters are hereby encouraged to come out of the bush/hideouts to surrender,” he added.

    Enenche said that the current surviving members of the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups were currently on recruitment drive due to shortage of manpower on their part.

    He added that the military high command was calling on parents, traditional rulers, community, opinion and religious leaders to dissuade their wards and children from succumbing to inducements by the terrorists for recruitment into their fold.

    Under Operation Whirl Stroke, Enenche disclosed that the troops on May 12, killed four suspected armed herdsmen while responding to a distress call on infiltration at Agasha in Guma Local Government Area of Benue.

    He added that the troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, four magazines and 65 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from them.

    “The general public is hereby requested to continue to provide credible information to the Armed Forces of Nigeria, to facilitate our operations in this regard.

    “The High Command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria congratulates the gallant troops for successes recorded.

    “The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains decisive to end the insurgency and other security challenges in the country.

    “Furthermore, the High Command wishes to thank the general public for their support and solicits for their cooperation towards providing credible and timely information that will facilitate proactive engagements in our operations,” he said.

     

    Source: Pulse Nigeria  

  • NIA registers 7.091 million Ghanaians for Ghana Card

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has explained that it has been able to register and issue Ghana Cards to a total of 7,091,769 Ghanaians within one year that it started the mass registration exercise.

    The NIA started the mass registration exercise on April 29, 2019 and had planned to complete it by June 2020 but the exercise had to be truncated on March 20, 2020 due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

    In a press statement issued Friday, Nay 15, 2020, the NIA said apart from the 7,091,769 registered and issued with cards, a total of 127,723 are in various stages of adjudication.

    “NIA has printed the majority of cards in backlog (3,683,955), and is ready to issue them to Ghanaians once NIA resumes its field operations.

    The NIA’s press statement issued by Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Francis Palmdetti, was in response to allegations by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the NIA was working with the Electoral Commission to rig the 2020 polls in favour of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    The NDC had claimed that the instant issuance of cards by the NIA had failed.

    But responding, the NIA said the instant issuance strategy was an innovation introduced to address its perennial inability to issue printed cards over the years.

    “Network connectivity permitting, instant printing is the preferred mode of card printing, followed by the second option of deferred printing, and lastly centralized printing,” it noted.

     

    It said nationwide, over 70 per cent of all cards are issued instantly, and that when it got to the turn of the Volta Region, the experience was the “best.”

    “It is noteworthy that, between 2008 and 2016, NIA issued only 900,000 Ghana Cards,” it added

    Backlog

    Earlier in a radio interview on Accra based Oman FM’s Boiling Point programme monitored by Graphic Online on Thursday night [May 14, 2020], the Chief Executive Officer of the NIA, Prof Ken Attafuah said many of the backlog cards have been printed and that there were just around 100,000 cards that were yet to be printed.

    He said when the opportunity presents itself, those cards were ready and the NIA will send them to the field and issue it to the public.

    He said NIA will embark on a mop-up in Greater Accra and five other regions, where the registration figures were not encouraging especially in Upper West, Upper East, Bono East, Bono and Ahafo.

    He said after the mop-up, the NIA will open permanent regional and district offices across the country to also issue Ghana Cards so that every Ghanaian can get a Ghana Card.

    Adjudication

    Apart from the backlog, Prof Attafuah said there were about half a million applications that are in various stages of adjudication because some of the applicants used different names the first time they registered when the NIA started the Ghana Card during President J.A. Kufuor’s or President J.E.A. Mills’ tenure.

    Some too, he said have registered with different dates of birth and have not shown gazette notifications indicating the change in either name or date of birth.

    He said the system had detected all those anomalies because some people may have changed their information in the present registration exercise because of reasons in relation with their social security or retirement dates, but, he said because the system was very sensitive, all those anomalies have been flagged and currently being adjudicated.

    He said those cases are in a separate queue and that there were about half a million of those cases that were being adjudicated by the NIA.

    Attached below is the NIA’s full response to the NDC allegations

    Attachments

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • I bet you haven’t seen Patapaa looking this handsome ever since he became a rasta See Photos

    Patapaas decision to braid his hair seems to be working out perfectly for his looks.

    After unveiling his new look recently, the musician has been dropping a lot of nice photos to get his fans to fall in love with his new looks.

    He is back again with some more dapper photos and this time, Rob photography did him the honors.

    See the photos below

    I bet You Have Seen Patapaa Looking This Handsome Ever Since He ...

    I bet You Have Seen Patapaa Looking This Handsome Ever Since He ...

    I bet You Have Seen Patapaa Looking This Handsome Ever Since He ...

    Source: zionfelix.net

  • US targets Huawei with tighter chip export rules

    The US has announced new export controls aimed at limiting Chinese technology giant Huawei’s access to semiconductor technology.

    The new rule bars semiconductor-makers that use US technology and software in chip design from shipping to Huawei without US government permission.

    It is the latest US action to target Huawei, which US officials view as a national security threat.

    China threatened to retaliate against US tech firms.

    The tightened controls come a year after the US moved to cut off Huawei, the world’s second largest smart phone maker, from access to US-made semiconductor chips, which form the backbone of most computer and phone systems.

    In response, the company and others in China accelerated efforts to manufacture such chips domestically.

    US Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross said that those efforts were “still dependent on US technologies”, and accused Huawei of taking steps “to undermine” earlier export controls.

    “This is not how a responsible corporate citizen behaves,” Mr Ross said. “We must amend our rules exploited by Huawei… and prevent US technologies from enabling malign activities contrary to US national security and foreign policy interests.”

    The new US rule, to be published on Friday, applies to foreign-made items, using US technology. It exempts equipment or software made or shipped within the next 120 days – a move meant to limit economic harm.

    In a background briefing for reporters, the US said officials would consider licence applications to do business with Huawei on a “case by case” basis.

    “This is a licensing requirement. It does not necessarily mean that things are denied,” a senior State Department official said. “We tend to approach Huawei with some concern but this is a measure that gives the US government visibility into what is moving.”

    Also on Friday, the US extended waivers that allow US companies, many of them rural internet providers, to use some kinds of Huawei technology for another 90 days.

    ‘Cut off the relationship’

    Donald Trump, who is campaigning for re-election in November, has stepped up his attacks on China in recent weeks, blaming it for the spread of Covid-19.

    This week, he moved to restrict US government pension funds from investing in Chinese companies. He said on Wednesday he could “cut off the whole relationship”.

    The US has said Huawei’s technology could be used for spying by the Chinese government.

    It has pressured allies, including the UK and Germany, to bar Huawei from their networks and sued the company for technology theft and doing business with Iran, in violation of US sanctions.

    Huawei has contested the US government’s claims and said American efforts are likely to backfire, hurting the ability of US tech firms to do business.

    China on Friday threatened to place US companies on an “unreliable entity list”, according to a report in the country’s Global Times.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Brexit: UK warns ‘very little progress’ made in EU trade talks

    Very little progress” has been made in the latest round of UK-EU trade talks, the UK government has said.

    The UK’s negotiator David Frost said a far-reaching free trade agreement could be agreed before the end of the year “without major difficulties”.

    But it was being held up by the EU’s desire to “bind” the UK to its laws and seek unfair access to fishing waters.

    The EU’s Michel Barnier suggested the UK’s own demands were “not realistic” and warned of a looming stalemate.

    Speaking in Brussels, the bloc’s chief negotiator said: “no progress had been made on the most difficult issues”.

    Asked by the BBC’s Europe editor Katya Adler what the chances were of an agreement. Mr Barnier said he was “still determined but not optimistic”.

    The EU, he added, would not accept a deal “at any price” and it was stepping up preparations for a no-deal outcome, in which the two sides would trade with each other under World Trade Organisation rules.

    Insisting the EU would not negotiate “in haste”, he said the UK must consider whether it was feasible to strike a deal before the end of 2020, when the current 11-month transition period is due to end.

    The UK has said it will not extend the process beyond 31 December, despite coming under growing pressure at home to allow more time for a deal due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    The two sides have been discussing their future economic and security partnership following the UK’s withdrawal from the 27-member bloc on 31 January.

    In a statement, Mr Frost said there was a “good understanding” between the negotiators but that little or no progress had been on the most “significant outstanding issues”.

    The dancing’s over

    Former EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker used to describe Brexit talks as being like a “dance” and regularly rolled out the stock phrase that “it takes two to tango”.

    There’s no dancing anymore. Today Michel Barnier made clear he’d rejected any such romantic terms for these trade negotiations, telling reporters it was neither “a dance nor a tango or any other kind of dance”.

    He said the teams weren’t “even in the same room” and this wasn’t nearly as effective as getting together around a table.

    The hours of screen time have led to an impasse, with both sides now urging the other to change strategy, and to understand the other’s position more clearly.

    I spoke to Spanish and French diplomats in Brussels. “Quelle surprise” was the view. They believe both sides will “continue to play tough and offer little ground” and that genuine compromise may come in a month, for the fourth and final scheduled round before the summer.

    But few officials here are following the twists and turns with the dedication of the past. The urgency of dealing with the pandemic has reduced the attention to Brexit.

    He said the EU was insisting upon a “set of novel and unbalanced proposals” in relation to competition issues that went well beyond other comparable trade agreements struck with other major economies.

    The UK, he said, would not agree to “a so-called level playing field which would bind this country to EU law or standards, or determine our domestic legal regimes”.

    A level-playing field is a term for a set of common rules and standards that prevent businesses in one country undercutting their rivals and gaining a competitive advantage over those operating in other countries.

    The EU, Mr Frost added, was seeking continued access to UK fishing waters after the transition period “in a way that is incompatible with our future status as an independent coastal state”.

    “It is hard to understand why the EU insists on an ideological approach which makes it more difficult to reach a mutually beneficial agreement,” he said.

    “We very much need a change in EU approach for the next round beginning on 1 June.

    “The UK will continue to work hard to find an agreement, for as long as there is a constructive process in being, and continues to believe that this is possible.”

    Open and fair’

    Mr Frost said the UK would make public all its draft legal texts next week so EU member states and interested observers “can see our approach in detail”.

    In his update, Mr Barnier said the EU’s aim was a “modern, forward-looking” agreement which would avoid any tariffs or quotas on trade.

    But he said it was not prepared to “copy and paste” aspects of existing agreements with Canada, Japan and South Korea or do sector-by-sector deals “rooted in past precedents”.

    Tariff-free access to the EU’s single market had to be accompanied by obligations, he added, and the UK could not “pick and choose” which of these it adhered to.

    “You cannot have the best of both worlds,” he said. “Open and fair competition is not a nice to have. It is a must-have.”

    A “new dynamism” would be needed in the next round of talks to deliver “tangible progress”, he added.

    Mr Barnier said he would listen to concerns the UK had about the treatment of British expats on the continent as part of the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement governing the terms of the UK’s exit.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Galamsey: 1 dead, 14 arrested, 2 Toyota Landcruisers vandalized in Ashanti Region

    Fourteen (14) persons are in the grips of the Ashanti Regional Police Command for chasing some illegal miners from a mining site at Ntobroso in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti region, resulting in the death of one.

    The group, who had stormed the mining town in two Toyota Prado Land Cruiser vehicles posing as a task force from the Minerals Commission are alleged to have been terrorizing and extorting money and gold from artisanal miners in that area for a long time, but luck eluded them on Wednesday.

    One illegal miner died when he fell and drowned in the Offin River while fleeing from the group who had stormed the mining site in their two vehicles clad in security accouterments and wielding guns.

    The deceased, popularly known as Nana Addo was a cobbler at Asuoyeboah, a suburb of the Kwadaso Municipality who had gone to the mining area in the company of other young men for greener pastures after he was unable to operate his shop during the 3-week lockdown on the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area.

    Speaking on Kumasi-based Angel FM on Thursday, Oboy Emma, a mobile phone seller at Adum Kumasi who was with the deceased hunting for gold when the group stormed the site said the disease fell in the river in his attempt to flee from the fierce group; they were two that jumped into the river but the other survived.

    The youth of the Ntobroso town barricaded the road and accosted the group when they tried fleeing after noticing the death of the young man; their two land cruisers were seized and vandalized.

    The District Chief Executive for Atwima Mponua, Hon Williams Darko said it took the intervention of the chief of Ntobroso to whisk the group of 14 into his palace for cover before the youth could lynch them.

    He indicated that they have been arrested, fourteen in all and handed over to the Ashanti Regional Police Command.

    Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah says the matter is being investigated and whoever falls foul before the law would not be spared after it was suggested to him that the group had links to the government and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

     

    Source: My News GH

  • Western Region: Hospital personnel infected with coronavirus

    Dr. Jacob Mahama, the Western Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 with health personnel within the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital.

    As a result, the Management of the Hospital has closed down the Antenatal Care Unit, Child Welfare Clinic, and the Ear Nose and Throat Unit.

    The three units have therefore been disinfected and other protocols activated to contain the infection.

    Dr. Mahama told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the health personnel had been quarantined undergoing treatment.

    Dr. Joseph Tambil, Medical Director of the Hospital said mass testing had begun to ensure early detection or otherwise among other staff members.

    In another development, the Effia Nkwanta Regional hospital has opened a new ultra-modern central pharmacy to serve the health care needs of patients in the hospital and prescription from other health care institutions.

    The 24-hour central pharmacy was made possible through the generous contribution of Tobinco pharmaceutical.

    The Regional figure of recorded cases of the virus now stands at 61.

     

    Source: Peace FM

  • Burning EU and other flags can now bring German jail term

    Germany has made public burning of the EU flag or that of another country punishable by up to three years in jail, classing it as a hate crime.

    The vote in the Bundestag (parliament) on Thursday makes defiling foreign flags equal to the crime of defiling the German flag.

    The same applies for the EU anthem, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy theme.

    The move followed Social Democrat (SPD) complaints about protesters’ burning of the Israeli flag in Berlin in 2017.

    Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht, a member of the centre-left SPD, said “burning flags publicly has nothing to do with peaceful protests”. She said it stoked up “hatred, anger and aggression”, and hurt many people’s feelings.

    The new law also applies to acts of defilement besides burning, such as publicly ripping a flag up. Public display of the Nazi swastika and other Nazi symbols is already banned in Germany.

    The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has condemned the new law as “excessive interference in free speech and artistic expression”.

    The act of defiling the Union Flag in the UK is not a crime, but France has made desecration of the tricolour punishable by a fine of up to €7,500 (£6,600; $8,000) or six months in jail.

    Spain, Italy and Greece also have laws banning desecration of the national flag.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Mexico at ‘peak moment’ of coronavirus crisis after biggest daily rise in cases

    Mexico has reached “the peak moment” of its coronavirus outbreak, officials said, as the country recorded its largest one-day rise in cases so far.

    More than 2,409 new cases of the virus were confirmed on Thursday – the first time this figure has exceeded 2,000.

    The total number of confirmed cases in the country is now more than 40,000.

    The grim milestone comes amid preparations to ease lockdown measures and reopen the economy, particularly factories near the border with the US.

    Assistant Health Secretary Hugo López-Gatell – an epidemiologist and Mexico’s coronavirus tsar – described this as “the most difficult moment of the first wave of the epidemic”.

    He said that the country “could not relax measures” in place to stem the spread of the virus, and instead needs to embrace a “new normal” to avoid another wave of infections.

    On Monday, some key industries – including mining, construction and automobile assembly – are scheduled to partially reopen.

    Mr López-Gatell stressed that the re-opening of these industries will be largely preparatory, with a broader restart of businesses not scheduled until 1 June.

    Government data released on Thursday also showed more than half of hospitals in the capital, Mexico City, were at capacity with coronavirus patients.

    At the end of April, hospitals in the city admitted they were having to turn patients away because of a lack of equipment.

    Earlier this month, Mexico received a shipment of more than 200 ventilators purchased from a US firm.

    This followed an informal agreement between the neighbouring nations’ leaders in mid-April.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Adjetey Anang remembers Bernard Nyarko

    Actor Adjetey Anang has shared a behind the scenes footage of a shoot with the late actor Benard Nyarko.

    From the footage, the actors were being briefed on what to expect for the next scene they were shooting as it involves a gang and guns.

    Bernard Nyarko, after the brief, jokingly said he was making a call to his family in case something goes awry considering the nature of the shoot.

    His comments made others on the set including Lil Win burst into laughter.

    Adjetey Anang who shared the video on Instagram wrote that he prays Bernard nyarko was at peace wherever he is.

    “Chanced on this… we hope you #bishop #bernardnyarko are at peace and in the best place ever! We thank the Lord for your life Colleague.🙏✌🙏,” he wrote.

    Source: MyJoyOnline

  • Coronavirus vaccine: Macaque monkey trial offers hope

    A vaccine against coronavirus appears to have provided protection against the disease Covid-19 in six rhesus macaque monkeys.

    It gives early to hope for the vaccine, which is now undergoing human clinical trials.

    There is no guarantee this result will translate to people, though.

    A group of monkeys was exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The six animals that were vaccinated had less of the virus in their lungs and airways.

    The trial took place in the US, involving researchers from the US government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) and from the University of Oxford.

    The vaccine appeared to protect the animals against developing pneumonia.

    Rhesus macaques have similar immune systems to humans.

    Promisingly, the animals also didn’t develop “immune-enhanced disease” – which BBC medical correspondent Fergus Walsh describes as a “theoretical risk”. That’s when the vaccine triggers a worse response to a disease.

    This response was seen in some early animal vaccine trials against SARS – another coronavirus – and proved a stumbling block in developing a vaccine for that disease.

    The study hasn’t yet been reviewed by other scientists and formally published, but Prof Stephen Evans at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, described it as “high quality” and “very encouraging”.

    Meanwhile, trials in the UK on more than 1,000 human volunteers are currently taking place through the University of Oxford.

    There are more than 100 experimental coronavirus vaccines currently being developed.

    Dr Penny Ward, a visiting professor in pharmaceutical medicine at King’s College London, said it was “helpful” to see that the vaccine didn’t cause a worse disease response in these monkeys, and that they didn’t develop pneumonia after being vaccinated.

    The vaccine is based on a small part of the virus’s distinctive “spike”. The idea is that by getting the body to recognise a unique part of the virus, when it is exposed to the whole thing it will know how to react, and produce the right antibodies to fight it off.

    That did seem to be happening to the vaccinated macaques, which produced antibodies capable of fighting the virus.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Israel gets first Ethiopia-born minister, in Pnina Tamano-Shata

    Israel is set to get its first Ethiopia-born minister, with the nomination of a female MP brought there in a secret operation in the 1980s.

    Pnina Tamano-Shata has been chosen by incoming deputy prime minister Benny Gantz, who is forming a unity government with PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

    The new government is expected to be sworn in on Sunday after a delay over ministerial appointments.

    Israel’s Ethiopian-Jewish community often complains of discrimination.

    Incidents of police using force against Israelis of Ethiopian origin – including fatal shootings – have led to street protests and clashes in recent years.

    The 140,000-strong community is among the poorest in the country and suffers from high rates of unemployment.

    However, many second-generation Ethiopian-Israelis have become successful across society, achieving notable positions in the military, judiciary and politics.

    Pnina Tamano-Shata, who belongs to Benny Gantz’s centrist Blue and White party, has been named as immigration minister.

    The 39-year-old came to Israel at the age of three as part of a dramatic evacuation of Ethiopian Jews from Sudan nicknamed Operation Moses.

    She, her five brothers and her father were among almost 7,000 Ethiopian Jews airlifted out of the country by Israel between November 1984 and January 1985. Her mother followed several years later.

    “For me, this is a landmark and the closing of a circle,” Ms Tamano-Shata told Israeli newspaper Maariv. “From that three-year-old girl who immigrated to Israel without a mother on a cross-desert foot journey, through growing up in Israel and the struggles I led and am still leading for the community, integration, the acceptance of the other, and against discrimination and racism.”

    In the early 1980s some 16,000 Ethiopian Jews walked by foot from their homes in northern Ethiopia to get to Sudan and onward to Israel. They – as well as non-Jewish citizens – were barred from leaving Ethiopia, so they made the journey in secret. About 1,500 died on the way or in refugee camps in Sudan.

    Sudan – a Muslim-majority country and part of the Arab world – was at war with Israel at the time, and the evacuation was carried out clandestinely. The first operations to bring Ethiopian Jews to Israel were carried out by the Mossad, Israel’s secret service, in a series of daring actions from 1980.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Ghana FA to have new refereeing structure

    The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has approved a new refereeing structure for the federation.

    The new structure is to ensure the separation of personnel in the various functions of refereeing in Ghana. It seeks to consolidate the gains achieved so far and to strive for new heights.

    The structure includes the Referees Committee, Match Review Panel, Assessors and Classification Panel and the Refereeing Department with different personnel serving on each function of refereeing to drive for more effectiveness and speedy response to complaints by clubs.

    The Referees Committee will continue its work of appointing referees to all competitions and all matches organized or sanctioned by the GFA including Futsal and Beach Soccer matches.

    The Assessors and Classification Panel will analyze, evaluate and assess the performance of referees by using a marking system provided by FIFA to classify and categorize referees to help the development, promotion and demotion of referees by the Referees Committee.

    The Refereeing Department, whose responsibility includes providing administrative support and assistance to the Referees Committee, will be headed by the Referees Manager, who reports to the General Secretary of the GFA.

    The Refereeing Department will also have its own Instructors (Physical Instructors and Technical Instructors) and other experts who would support the education of referees in Ghana.

    The GFA intends to roll out a comprehensive refereeing development program to recruit and train Referee Assessors, Referee Instructors (Physical and Technical), Beach Soccer Referees, Futsal Referees, Women Referees, Grassroots Referees (Catch them young policy), Talented and Promising Referees. There will also be refresher courses for category 1, 2 and 3 referees.

    The GFA would continue to invest in referees by providing the requisite equipment to aide their work.

    The new structure is aimed at ensuring that the Association implements fully the FIFA regulations on the organization of refereeing in member Associations.

    Source: ghanafa.org

  • 18-club National Division One League is a non-starter – Mickey Charles

    Techiman City FC president Charles Kwadwo Ntim popularly known as Mickey Charles says that the 18-Club National Division One League is a non-starter.

    The GFA Executive Council has taken a decision to form a 5-member committee for the implementation of the transitional provision on the number of participating clubs in the National Division One League.

    The 5-member committee will be made up of three persons nominated by the Division One League Clubs and two persons from the FA.

    Speaking to OTEC FM in an interview, the experienced football administrator disclosed that clubs are already complaining about hardship and lack of sponsorship, therefore, making 18-club National Division One League is a non-starter.

    “I remember at the congress, we agreed to two or three years but as you know me, I raised a lot of issues because I thought it wasn’t the right thing to do now,” Mickey Charles said.

    “What is so different about our current Division One, it has been grouped into zones which in other way round clubs represent their regions every year.

    “Imagine how difficult it will be for a team like Paga Crocodile traveling to play Accra City or Kpondo Heart of Lions,” he quizzed.

    “Why are we planning to play 18-Clubs National Division One League while clubs keep complaining about hardship and lack of sponsorship? I feel the 18-Clubs national division one league is a non-starter,” he concluded.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Former sub-chief of Foase remanded for stealing ¢20K from teacher

    The former Twafuohene a sub-chief of Foase in the Atwima-Kwanwoma District, has been remanded into police custody by the Nkawie Circuit Court for stealing.

    Charles Manu is said to have stolen ¢20,000 from a teacher, who wanted to buy a piece of land from him.

    His plea was not taken and would reappear before the court presided by Mr Johnson Abbey on May 26, this year.

    Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sylvanus Dalmeida told the court that, the complainant was a teacher at Kotwi-Amanfrom, while the accused was former sub-chief of Foase.

    He said in November 2018, Manu, on behalf of one Nana Agyei, a witness in the case sold four building plots of land to the complainant and collected an initial amount of ¢20,000 leaving a balance of ¢28,000 to be paid later.

    DSP Dalmeida said in October 2019, when the complainant went to Nana Agyei to pay the balance, she was told that the accused did not give the initial amount to the owner of the land.

    He said the complainant made a report to the Nkawie Police and the accused was arrested and during interrogation, he admitted to having used the money.

    The prosecution said after investigations, the police charged him and brought him before the court.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Thomas Abbey, others fought to keep their jerseys after 2017 FA Cup final defeat – Heart PRO

    Hearts of Oak Public Relations Officer, Kwame Opare Addo has disclosed that Thomas Abbey and some players fought to keep their jerseys after their defeat to Asante Kotoko in the 2017 MTN FA Cup final.

    The Porcupine Warriors thrashed the Phobians 3-1 courtesy Saddick Adams’s first-half hat-trick that propelled them to a ninth FA Cup triumph at the Tamale Sports stadium.

    Abbey, speaking in an interview with Angel FM, said that Hearts players refused to train ahead of the finals in Tamale because the club failed to pay their salaries and bonuses for three months.

    However, the management member of the Phobians has refuted such comments the former captain made.

    “After the game then team captain Thomas Abbey and some players were fighting us to keep their jerseys,’ he told Angel 102.9 FM in Accra.

    “Their reason is that since their contract with the club has expired they want to keep the jerseys.”

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Afigya Kwabre: Residents up in arms over transport fare hikes

    Residents of Afigya Kwabre North District have vehemently expressed their displeasure at transport fare hikes by the assembly.

    A letter signed by the District Coordinating Director, Mr. Francis Asokwa Sarpong, dated 11th May, 2020, noted that new transport fares have been itemized.

    According to the letter, the assembly had issued directives to some taxi stations within the District to increase their fares to some towns within the area with effect from Tuesday, 12th May 2020. The areas include Nkwatakese, Akom, Denase, Esaase and Pampatia all within the District.

    Speaking on Adekyee mu nsem on Akoma fM, some residents threatened to mount barriers on roads leading to these areas which have been affected by the hike.

    They said the move by the assembly came to them as a surprise and quizzed whether they are living on an island.

    “We are going to block our roads to stop those taxis from entering our land should the assembly refuse to withdrawal the directive. The president assured us of no increment in fares when he made the declaration that drivers should reduce the number of passengers.

    “Besides fuel prices have been reduced drastically so the assembly is being wicked to us. We are giving the assembly up to Monday to rescind the decision else the action will commence,” Godfred, a resident summed up their displeasure when he engaged host of the programme Marfo John popularly known as Sir John.

    Responding to the issue, the Presiding Member for the area, Nana Boakye Yam Ababio called for calm, noting that the Coordinating Director is being engaged to reverse the decision.

    Even though he declined knowledge of the communique, he said he has contacted the Coordinating Director about the issue upon receiving the letter and was optimistic that things will change before the week ends.

    Efforts by the Morning Show desk to reach the District Chief Executive for clarity have proven futile at the time of filling this report.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Patapaa reveals why he dislikes Kuami Eugene

    Patapaa has revealed that he has a dislike for Lynxx Entertainment Signee Kuami Eugene.

    One-corner hitmaker, Justice Amoah popularly known as Patapaa in an interview with Sammy Kay on the Go online show has stated he is the new face of highlife music in Ghana.

    According to the Swedru-based noisemaker who is parading the streets of the country as a musician, Kuami Eugene is not as best as he proclaims to be.

    The Patupa soldier also said, the essence of highlife music is to make your listeners who are mostly the elder appreciate and understand the song produced.

    To him straining of voice when singing does not make one a highlife musician, hence Kuami Eugene should not be seen as a highlife artiste.

    Source: ghbase.com

  • Apply now! University of Ghana begins 2020/2021 admission

    The University of Ghana (UG) has opened applications for admission of undergraduates to the school for the 2020/2021 academic year.

    WASSCE candidates who will write their final exams in May/June this year are eligible to apply as awaiting students.

    An e-voucher card for the application can be purchased at GHs200.00 for local Ghanaian students at the following banks: GCB Bank, Ecobank, HFC Bank, Agricultural Development Bank, Ghana Commercial Bank, Zenith Bank, Merchant Bank, UniBank, Prudential Bank and Fidelity Bank.

    Applicants are expected to collect a free copy of the University of Ghana prospectus from the Bank after they have purchased the e-voucher.

    The deadline for application for the regular undergraduate applicants is 30th June 2020.

    The University is also accepting applications from candidates interested in post-first degree law, post-graduate admission, international admission, distance education admission and the graduate entry medical program.

    Source: .universnewsroom.com

  • I would have been married to my girlfriend if not for coronavirus Patapaa

    The COVID-19 pandemic has really affected livelihood, relationships, businesses, and has altered our way of living.

    Patapaa in an interview with Sammy Kay on the Go online show has revealed that if not for the novel Covid-19 pandemic he would have been married to his German fiancee by now.

    He stated the Covid-19 pandemic has also contributed to the delay of the shipment of his new BMW 2020 model gifted to him on his birthday by his girlfriend.

    The Patupa soldier later mentioned the remedy and medication that would effectively fight against the coronavirus here in Ghana for life to return to normalcy.

    Watch full video below:

    Source: sammykaymedia.com

  • We havent auctioned Regent University to offset debt Registrar

    The Regent University College of Science and Technology has denied media reports suggesting that the school has been auctioned to defray a debt owed Obokom Civil Engineering Limited.

    The University in a statement, however, admitted that it had to settle some financial obligations towards the construction company.

    “We have taken notice of publications circulating online and in the news media regarding the seizure and auction of some assets of Regent University College of Science and Technology (RUCST).”

    “Certainly, we have some financial obligations towards Obokom Civil Engineering Works Limited in respect of one of the buildings of the Institution. The company and its owner, Nana Obokomata IX has secured a court order against the property, but we are still in discussion with the company and its owner and we expect an amicable settlement soon. Secondly, the report that RUCST has been auctioned is incorrect,” the statement said.

    The University also pointed out that the current development will not affect academic activities.

    “The current matter does not interfere in any way with the academic functioning of the University. Please, stay calm, and rest assured that everything will be resolved shortly.”

    Background 

    Obokom Civil Engineering LTD is said to have sealed a contract with Regent University College of Science and Technology to construct a six-story multi-purpose building for the University.

    The contract, among others, stated that the University will start paying the construction company a year after completion of the facility.

    The University, however, failed to honour its financial obligation, forcing the construction company to secure a loan (GH¢1,000,000.00) from Unicredit Ghana Limited.

    The University subsequently issued six post-dated cheques which were dishonoured. Unicredit, as a result, used the construction companys deposit of one million Ghana cedis to offset part of the debt.

    This led to a lawsuit between the Construction Company and Unicredit and judgement delivered in October 2019.

    After the University failed to pay its debt, despite numerous notices, the construction firm instructed its lawyers to proceed to court. The ruling favoured the construction firm.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Kojo Antwi is a legend Stonebwoy

    Dancehall act, Stonebwoy says Veteran multiple award-winning musician, Kojo Antwi is a legend.

    Kojo Antwi has two songs with Stonebwoy; Akyekyede3 Nante3 , and the new one off the Anloga Junction Album, Nkuto.

    Stonebwoy took to his Twitter page and tweets,

    “KOJO ANTWI IS A Fucking LEGEND

    Thanks You Daddy!! #Nkuto

    Here is Nkuto;

    Source: ghgossip.com

  • Beef is good, but if you need more money to live large like me, then drop hit songs Wendy Shay

    Ghana within this period has seen more celebrity feuds on social media, termed as beef, than any other time in the country.

    Well, singer Wendy Shay has commented on this ongoing beefs. According to Wendy Shay, beef can give you all the attention, but if you want to make more money and live large like her, then musicians should rather drop hit songs.

    Wendy Shay on Twitter said,

    “Beef is good it can give you all the attention but if u want to make more money and live large like me,u need to drop hit songs…Betplanet paid me millions”

    Source: ghgossip.com

  • Coronavirus: WTO head steps down a year early as downturn looms

    The head of the World Trade Organization has said he will step down a year earlier than planned, at a crucial moment for the global economy.

    Roberto Azevedo’s surprise departure comes as the WTO faces the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and criticism from US President Donald Trump.

    Global trade has slumped and the world is braced for the worst downturn since the Great Depression.

    Meanwhile, Mr Trump has accused the body of treating America unfairly.

    Mr Azevedo said his early departure as the WTO’s director-general was a “personal decision” that was in the best interests of the organisation.

    “The WTO may not be perfect, but it is indispensable all the same. It is what keeps us from a world where the law of the jungle prevails, at least as far as trade is concerned.”

    The Trump administration has repeatedly accused the global trade watchdog of having strayed from its purpose to liberalise and protect markets, and that conditions around China’s entry into the organisation in 2001 have led to millions of American job losses.

    Asked about Mr Azevedo’s exit, Mr Trump, who had previously said the US would leave the organisation if it didn’t change, said he was “OK with it”.

    “We’ve been treated very badly… They treat China as a developing nation. Therefore China gets a lot of the benefits that the US doesn’t get,” he added.

    Mr Azevedo’s departure comes at an especially difficult time for the WTO, with global trade expected to slump to historic lows as measures to slow the spread of Covid-19 shut down economic activity around the world.

    At the same time the Geneva-based body last year saw one of its main functions, arbitrating trade disputes, hobbled by the US.

    Washington’s dispute with the WTO has seen it block the appointment of judges to the organisation’s top court, called the Appellate Body, since December 2019. It means it has too few officials to rule on major trade disputes between countries.

    Along with the US, other WTO members, including Japan and the European Union, have pushed for the WTO to make far-reaching reforms.

    They argue that global trading rules need to reflect new realities, notably the rise of China as a powerful economy, and address problems such as state subsidies and forced technology transfers.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Fans of Sarkodie shares old tweets of Kidi about Sarkodie to proof that hes a hater of Sarkodie

    Twitter is such an interesting place. Fans of Sarkodie have gone undercover to retrieve old tweets musician, Kidi made about Sarkodie back then.

    According to Sarkodie fans, Kidi has been a hater of Sarkodie since day one, and these are proofs to show.

    Here are some Screenshots of what Kidi said against Sarkodie;

    Image
    Image
    Image
    Source: ghgossip.com

  • Manhyia denies $30m Kotoko Stadium project

    The Manhyia Palace has denied securing a 30 million facility to fund the construction of a stadium for Asante Kotoko.

    Reports in the Ghanaian media in the past couple of days suggested that the Life Patron and Owner of Asante Kotoko, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II had secured funds for the construction of a stadium but a source at the Palace has denied the story to Starr FM Sports.

    “There is no truth in that report, disregard it accordingly,” the source said.

    Asante Kotoko has been using the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi for its home matches since it was built.

    Source: Starr FM

  • I hate one night stand, it’s an irresponsible act – Aaron Adatsi

    Ghanaian actor of YOLO fame, Aaron Adatsi has revealed on the latest episode of Front View by TMGHLIVE that one night stand makes him sick to the stomach.

    He is of the view that men should be in relationships rather than the aforementioned act.

    He attributed his decision to his upbringing, where he said he was raised so well that he can’t see himself in that practice.

    He said women do give him pressure, and he sees it to be because he is famous, and that happens to famous women as well.

    They also receive equal pressure from men out there. But his relationship with his female fans ends at that level of him just being nice and respectful to them and nothing further afterward.

    Watch him below as he explains himself on Front View:

    Source: tmghlive.com

  • Sports Minister against early resumption of Ghana Premier League

    Sports Minister Isaac Asiamah is against an early resumption of the Ghana Premier League, his aide has said.

    It has been revealed that the Ghana Football Association has sent a proposal to the government, seeking exemptions to the restrictions rules for football to the return.

    The government has confirmed that it is considering the proposal and will in the coming days meet the FA over the proposal.

    On Wednesday, the President of the FA, Kurt Okraku said that his outfit will be sending a wrong message to the corporate world if they decide to scrap the 2019/2020 season.

    “If there is no football, you don’t expect your sponsors to continue dolling out money to the clubs because they are not charities and even charities require a certain form of visibility. You have to also look at the partnership that currently exists at the FA level and the loss of revenue due to this situation.”

    “Before we went for the Coronavirus break, we were busily engaging the private sector to come on board and partner the football association and the measures we put in place before the start of the season had started taking shape in the minds of Ghanaians.”

    But in an interview with Metro TV, Kofi Asare Brako who is the spokesperson for the minister remarked that an early return of the GPL is seen as unacceptable in the eyes of the Isaac Asiamah.

    “The President of the land himself is not in support of football coming back now. The President still holds on to the ban on social gatherings and all sporting activities so if it is that the President has said this why would he want to support the coming back of football now. So in a way, I should say that he is not in support of football coming back now”, he said.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Dont copy & paste, develop your own model PSL Manager advises GFA on the autonomous league

    South African Premier League senior manager, Luxolo September has advised the Ghana Football Asociation against the replication of the South African autonomous league model in their bid to run the Ghana Premier League as an independent body.

    The GFA recently announced that they have begun the process of making the Ghana Premier League autonomous.

    However, there have been talks that the FA plans to follow the South African model after a delegation including current GHALCA boss Kudjoe Fiano was sent there to go and study the model they use in running their league.

    Advising the GFA from replicating the exact model the South Africans use, he told them to develop their own from what they learned from the PLS than to do ‘copy and paste for the GPL’.

    “Ghana should decide what model is good for them, from the Commercial, Sponsorship, Product points of view. The most popular league in South Africa is the local league, not Manchester United, Chelsea or the English League,”

    “We are in a stage where Africans are watching EPL and killing their own league.”

    “I hope Ghanaian radio is not about the English Premier League, because here in South Africa all radio stations are about local football, local products, and local talents and we hope to share this lesson with Ghana and learn from Ghana as well,” he told Takoradi based Skyy Power 93.5 FM.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Brouhaha over a new voters register: Ghanaians share their views

    The intention of the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voters register ahead of the 2020 general elections has generated a lot of controversies between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

    The NDC is accusing the EC and the ruling government of conniving to rig the next elections through the compilation of a new register.

    They contend that there is limited time to the general elections and also the new requirements needed by Ghanaians to be on the register will disenfranchise a lot of people.

    However, the NPP disagrees with this stance and states that the current voters register is fraught with so many challenges, hence the need of a new one.

    Though the NPP admits that the register was the one used in their historic electoral victory in 2016, they argues that it has many non-Ghanaians on it therefore a new one has to be compiled.

    This bickering among the two major political parties over the register has spilled over to conversations by civil society organisations and well meaning Ghanaians.

    Pulse Ghana, therefore sampled the views of some Ghanaians on the necessity of a new voters register.

    Amadu, Electrical Technician: “I’m confused as to why the Electoral Commission is bent on compiling a new register, because we used the old register in the last election of Assemblymen and Unit Committee members just last December.”

    Randy, Journalist: “The EC is an independent body and mandated to compile a new register anytime they deem fit, therefore, I don’t see the issues the NDC are raising. I think the EC should be allow to do their work.”

    Kwaku, Nurse: “I think the EC should take into account the coronavirus pandemic and sheve its plans to compile a new register. I don’t think it is safe for people to queue and get registered, it can escalate Ghana’s coronavirus cases.”

    Slyvia, Marketer: Honestly, I’m indifferent on this issue. I don’t actually care what the EC and politicians do. They can go ahead and do whatever they want.”

    Tony, IT Specialist: “A new voters register will give some credibility to our elections and I am all for it. Also new technology for elections abound and I think we should look at upgrading our systems to make our elections perfect.”

    Yaa, Beautician: “If a new register will be the best for Ghana then why not? I am for anything that will inure to the benefit of Ghana and its people.”

    Kojo, Banker: “We should use the old register for the December elections and compile a new one later. I feel the time to the next elections is short for the compilation of a fresh voters register. It will cause a lot of problems.”

    Source: pulse.com.gh

  • Kevin-Prince Boateng’s Besiktas confirm eight COVID-19 cases

    Kevin-Prince Boateng Turkish club Besiktas have confirmed their club President and eight people between the squad and staff have tested positive for the coronavirus.

    The coronavirus continues to affect football all over the world, with many teams having at least one positive case.

    Besiktas announced via two statements that President Ahmet Nur Cebi had contracted the illness, then that further blanket tests across the entire squad and club employees flagged up eight positive results.

    They have been quarantined as per the medical protocol, as the Turkish Super Lig is set to resume on June 12.

    Turkey has officially recorded 143,114 cases of the new coronavirus while 3,952 people have died, according to the health minister Wednesday.

    Boateng is currently in Italy but is expected to return to Turkey in the coming days ahead of the resumption of the Super Lig on June 12.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Process for 18-club National Division One League begins

    The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has taken a decision to form a 5-member committee for the implementation of the transitional provision on the number of participating clubs in the National Division One League.

    The decision to set up the advisory committee is in compliance with Article 81(6) of the GFA Statutes 2019.

    Article 81(6) of the GFA statutes states as follows: “The number of delegates representing the Division One League shall be reduced to 18 (down from the current 48) at the latest by the end of the second football season following the adoption of these Statues.”

    The 5-member committee will be made up of three persons nominated by the Division One League Clubs and two persons from the GFA.

    This 5-member ad-hoc committee would advise the Executive Council on the format, the possible name of the new 18-club Division One League, the phases of the implementation, whether or not a third-tier League will be required and its format.

    Though the implementation is after two seasons, the Executive Council wants to start the process in time so that the engagement and consultations will be extensive.

    Source: ghanafa.org

  • Samudeen Ibrahim fires Thomas Abbey for disclosing Hearts of Oak FA Cup loss against Kotoko

    Former Hearts of Oak midfielder Samudeen Ibrahim has casually dismissed Thomas Abbey’s revelation about the cause of the club’s 2017 FA Cup defeat to bitterest adversaries Asante Kotoko.

    Earlier today, Thomas Abbey made some damning disclosure about why the Phobians were massacred by sworn rivals Asante Kotoko in the 2017 FA Cup final in Tamale.

    Abbey, who captained the Accra-based giants in the final, revealed that they had gone three months without salary and seven-match winning bonuses arrears prior to the final.

    However, Samudeen has been quick to debunk Abbey’s claims in a subtle shot on social media

    The midfielder scribbled on his official Facebook timeline that Abbey is tarnishing the image of his former teammates that played in the match.

    “I see a single player trying to tarnish the image of all his colleagues with something they know nothing about….. Painful World” Samudeen wrote.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • More exclusive photos from white wedding of Xandy Kamel & Kaninja surface online

    The talks about the surprise traditional marriage ceremony and white wedding ceremony of Ghanaian actress/entrepreneur Xandy Kamel and sports broadcaster Kaninja is not ending anytime soon.

    After the newlyweds made a lot of headlines with the first photos from the wedding, they have released more exclusive and beautiful photos from the white wedding to keep the buzz on.

    In the new photos, the newlyweds were seen in their beautiful all white attire that had a touch of red.

    Zionfelix.net wish the new husband and wife a blissful marriage.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    Mr and Mrs nono 😍😍😍

    A post shared by CHRIS TV (@oseikofichris) on

    Source: zionfelix.net

  • Stop lying, Hearts was not owing us before FA Cup final – Fatawu Mohammed to Thomas Abbey

    Hearts of Oak captain, Fatawu Mohammed has refuted claims by former skipper Thomas Abbey that the Phobians lost the 2017 MTN FA Cup trophy to rivals Kotoko because the club failed to pay their salaries and bonuses for three months.

    According to Thomas Abbey who got the consolation goal for the Phobians after the hattrick from Saddick Adams, they refused to train prior to the match and that had an impact on the game against the Porcupine Warriors which they eventually lost.

    In an interview with Angel FM, he said“I can say that before the match, everything favored Hearts. We were supposed to win but there were very serious problems in the team. We had not been paid for three months and winning bonuses from seven matches were also not paid.”

    “I can tell you that, before the final, we were not even training. We were protesting so we will go to the training grounds and only jog for twenty minutes and go back home.”

    “Most of the players had their contracts expired so we knew the match was the last opportunity to demand our pay. Not surprising that we lost in the first half. I can say it was what led to the defeat.”He added.

    However, Fatawu Mohammed who was an integral member of the team told GhanaWeb in an exclusive interview that there is no iota of truth in what Thomas Abbey has been feeding to the public.

    According to him, they rather proposed to the management that since the MTN FA Cup final was the last game of the season, their monthly salary should be given to them ahead of the game. A proposal that he said was rejected by the management of the club.

    “We were not being owed by Hearts of Oak so if my former captain(Thomas Abbey) will say that the club was owing us when we were coming to play Kotoko in the 2017 MTN FA Cup final then it is not true.”

    “For me, I would have seconded it if he had said that Hearts of Oak was owing us in that season but not before the final match. In the Ghana Premier League, the club will make sure that they have settled every arrears with you before they even play Kotoko.”

    “So if a senior man can say that we lost that particular match because the club was owing us three months’ salaries, then it is not true. We rather suggested to the management that they should pay us the salary of the month of the match because the final was our last of the season which they told us to concentrate on and win the trophy. That was the only concern we had before the said match.”

    “Also it is never true that we boycotted training before the final. I remember Tony Baffoe even told us that when you are a footballer, you don’t quit training because your club is owing you. To him we the players should concentrate on football while the PFAG fight for our interest.”Fatawu told GhanaWeb.

    Fatawu also hinted that maybe Thomas made those comments because he is bitter that the club didn’t give him the opportunity to relaunch his carer.

    “If he has a problem with Hearts of Oak, then that’s up to him but he shouldn’t be saying things that never happened. You can call any of the players who were with the team at that time and they will tell you the same things I have said. You left Hearts of Oak after the 2017 season, why did you wait till this time to say something like this if you are telling the truth. Is it because you wanted to come and you didn’t get a chance to return to the team?

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • MoYS, NSA didn’t have plan to maintain stadia – A-G

    An audit report on the sustainability of sports stadia in the country indicates that the Ministry of Youth and Sport (MoYS) did not have a policy on operations and maintenance of the stadia while the National Sports Authority (NSA) did not also have a plan to operate and maintain the various stadia.

    The audit report also revealed that the management of MoYS and NSA did not have monitoring and evaluation strategies to evaluate the performance of the various stadia to ensure their physical and financial sustainability.

    The report further identified that management of the five major stadia did not put maintenance and action plans in place to maintain the facilities though they had estate units with engineers and technical staff.

    With regard to revenue generation, the audit noted that the NSA and management of the five stadia did not put in place measures to ensure that the commercial facilities were put to maximum use to generate revenue for the physical and financial sustainability of the stadia.

    The Auditor-General, thus, recommended that the MoYS should in line with the Sports Act, 2016 (Act 934), develop policies regarding the operations and maintenance of the various stadia for NSA Board and Management to implement and put in place a mechanism to monitor and evaluate the implementation of these policies to ensure the physical and financial sustainability of the Sports Stadia.

    “I also recommended that in the immediate to short term, NSA through MoYS should request for the Operations and Maintenance Manuals from the contractors who constructed the stadia and put together a team of experts to evaluate the maintenance needs of the stadia and come up with a sustainable plan for maintenance”, it added.

    It further recommended that the NSA should collaborate with management of the stadia to conduct a market survey with a view to developing price lists and revenue targets for each stadium for implementation; find alternative uses for the shops and enter into formal tenancy agreements with all tenants.

    Source: Class FM

  • ‘Sulley Muntari has neglected Owerriman FC and Konongo community’ – Nana Batafo

    Owerriman FC owner Nana Batafo Acheampong Nti has accused their former player Sulley Muntari of neglecting the club and the Konongo Municipality.

    Nana Nti, who is also the Chief of Konongo, wants the ex-Ghana international to invest and support development initiatives in the community which helped harness his potential.

    Muntari played for the Division Two side en route to Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School in Kumasi before moving to Ghana Premier League side Liberty Professionals.

    ”He started playing at a tender age at Owerriman FC before being transferred to Liberty Professionals in Accra in 2000 and was later invited to play in the national U-17 side,” Nana Nti told the Daily Graphic.

    ”A year after, he got the opportunity to play professional football with Udinese in the Italian Serie A.”

    Muntari is one of Ghana’s most decorated footballers having won the UEFA Champions League, League and Coppa Italia with Inter Allies and the FA Cup in England with Portsmouth.

    Nana Acheampong Nti is full of praise for the 35-year-old for his career successes on the pitch.

    ”Muntari has progressed from Division Two side Owerriman to play at the highest level, including Udinese, Portsmouth, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Sunderland and Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, among others. He has now established himself as one of the finest footballers in his generation.

    ”Just as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and other Ghanaian footballers are helping their people, especially in this era of the COVID-19 pandemic, Muntari should realise that his community, peers and the team that gave him the platform to market his talent in football are also yearning for his support in various ways.”

    Muntari played in all of Ghana’s three FIFA World Cup finals appearances in 2006, 2010 and 2014.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Who is the Premier League’s best ever Ghanaian player?

    Some exceptionally gifted players have come from overseas to light up the Premier League, and we are celebrating the talent that has arrived from a few selected nations.

    We are looking at the achievements of the Premier League’s top Ghanaians and we want to know who you think has been the best.

    A total of 25 players from the West African country have featured in the Premier League, with Nii Lamptey being the first when he represented Aston Villa in September 1994.

    Tony Yeboah became the first Ghanaian goalscorer in the competition when he struck for Leeds United in February 1995.

    It was one of 24 Premier League goals he scored, some of which were truly breathtaking.

    Indeed, Yeboah’s goal tally is the joint-highest among his countrymen but is close to being surpassed by Jordan Ayew.

    The Crystal Palace forward has scored a career-high eight goals in the current campaign, boosting his total to 24 since his first came for Aston Villa against a Swansea City side which featured his brother, Andre Ayew.

    In terms of appearances, Michael Essien leads the way with 168 for Chelsea. The two-time champion is one of only three Ghanaians to lift the Premier League Trophy.

    The others, Jeffrey Schlupp and Daniel Amartey, were both parts of Leicester City’s fairytale 2015/16 campaign.

    Ghana’s most-capped player and highest-ever goalscorer also made his mark on the Premier League.

    While Asamoah Gyan’s time in the competition was brief, he reached 10 goals in one season for Sunderland, where he was joined on loan by his compatriot Sulley Muntari.

    Three seasons prior Muntari had helped Portsmouth to their highest-ever Premier League finish as ended the 2007/08 campaign in eighth place and won the FA Cup.

    Source: Premier League

  • 3 Mahama appointees forfeit assets over $4m NCA fraud

    Three appointees of former president John Mahama, who were convicted and slapped with a 16-year jail term for stealing and causing financial loss to the State are forfeiting their assets in addition.

    An Accra Commercial High Court presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour convicted the three; Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie former Board Chairman of the National Communications Authority (NCA); William Tetteh Tevie, former Director-General of NCA and Alhaji Salifu Mimina Osman, a former Deputy National Security Coordinator.

    The court said the convicts were liable for causing financial loss to the state and therefore they should refund the money they illegally appropriated.

    The accused persons, the Court said were in a conspiratorial drill to cause financial loss to the State.

    The first accused Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie who was the architect of the entire deal used his public office for private benefit to the tune of $200,000.

    Baffoe Bonnie is to serve six years jail term while William Tevie, serving five years imprisonment each on the charges of conspiracy and willfully causing financial loss to the state.

    Baffoe Bonnie will serve an additional three years for money laundering but his sentences will run concurrently.

    The court had found them guilty on the charges after the Prosecution had called six witnesses during the trial which began in December 22, 2017.

    The court further ordered the Attorney-General to seize assets of the convicts amounting to $3 million.

  • Patapaa denies ‘Wikipedia’ profile

    Ghanaian hiplife artiste, Justice Amoah, popularly known in showbiz as Patapaa is no ordinary person so far as music is concerned.

    He has churned out hits upon hit songs and, in fact, his genre of music comes with a little craze.

    He is best known for his debut singles “One Corner” and “Sco Pa Tu Manaa” which became a social media sensation. Just like his music, Patapaa’s profile is also causing a buzz on the internet.

    A content online encyclopedia called ”wikipedia” has profiled Patapaa saying he is a hiplife musician and a songwriter.

    Wikipedia further describes him as having completed the University of Ghana and furthered his Master’s degree at Oxford University, and in an updated version Patapaa is said to have furthered his education at the Columbia University.

    Patapaa’s rich profile has now become the talk of the day as music fans seek to know how true it is that he attended all these Universities.

    The musician has finally provided answers in an interview with Abeiku Aggrey Santana on Okay FM’s drive time.

    Watch his response below:

     

    Source: Peacefmonline.com

  • GFA to reduce number of division one league clubs

    The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has taken a decision to form a five-member committee for the implementation of the transitional provision on the number of participating clubs in the National Division One League.

    The decision to set up the advisory committee is in compliance with Article 81(6) of the GFA Statutes 2019.

    Article 81(6) of the GFA statutes states as follows: “The number of delegates representing the Division One League shall be reduced to 18 (down from the current 48) at the latest by the end of the second football season following the adoption of these Statues.”

    The five-member committee will be made up of three persons nominated by the Division One League Clubs and two persons from the GFA.

    This five-member ad-hoc committee would advise the Executive Council on the format, the possible name of the new 18-club Division One League, the phases of the implementation, whether or not a third-tier League will be required and its format.

    Though the implementation is after two seasons, the Executive Council wants to start the process in time so that the engagement and consultations will be extensive.

    Source: GNA

  • Executive Council of GFA approves new structure for referees

    The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has approved a new refereeing structure for the federation.

    The new structure is to ensure the separation of personnel in the various functions of refereeing in Ghana. It seeks to consolidate the gains achieved so far and to strive for new heights.

    The structure includes the Referees Committee, Match Review Panel, Assessors and Classification Panel and the Refereeing Department with different personnel serving on each function of refereeing to drive for more effectiveness and speedy response to complaints by clubs.

    The Referees Committee will continue its work of appointing referees to all competitions and all matches organized or sanctioned by the GFA including Futsal and Beach Soccer matches.

    The Assessors and Classification Panel will analyze, evaluate and assess the performance of referees by using a marking system provided by FIFA to classify and categorize referees to help the development, promotion and demotion of referees by the Referees Committee.

    The Refereeing Department, whose responsibility includes providing administrative support and assistance to the Referees Committee, will be headed by the Referees Manager, who reports to the General Secretary of the GFA.

    The Refereeing Department will also have its own Instructors (Physical Instructors and Technical Instructors) and other experts who would support the education of referees in Ghana.

    The GFA intends to roll out a comprehensive refereeing development program to recruit and train Referee Assessors, Referee Instructors (Physical and Technical), Beach Soccer Referees, Futsal Referees, Women Referees, Grassroots Referees (Catch them young policy), Talented and Promising Referees. There will also be refresher courses for category 1, 2 and 3 referees.

    The GFA would continue to invest in referees by providing the requisite equipment to aide their work.

    The new structure is aimed at ensuring that the Association implements fully the FIFA regulations on the organization of refereeing in member Associations.

    Source: 3 News

  • GFA Executive Council approves new refereeing structure

    The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has approved a new refereeing structure for the federation.

    The new structure is to ensure the separation of personnel in the various functions of refereeing in Ghana. It seeks to consolidate the gains achieved so far and to strive for new heights.

    The structure includes the Referees Committee, Match Review Panel, Assessors and Classification Panel and the Refereeing Department with different personnel serving on each function of refereeing to drive for more effectiveness and speedy response to complaints by clubs.

    The Referees Committee will continue its work of appointing referees to all competitions and all matches organized or sanctioned by the GFA including Futsal and Beach Soccer matches.

    The Assessors and Classification Panel will analyze, evaluate and assess the performance of referees by using a marking system provided by FIFA to classify and categorize referees to help the development, promotion and demotion of referees by the Referees Committee.

    The Refereeing Department, whose responsibility includes providing administrative support and assistance to the Referees Committee, will be headed by the Referees Manager, who reports to the General Secretary of the GFA.

    The Refereeing Department will also have its own Instructors (Physical Instructors and Technical Instructors) and other experts who would support the education of referees in Ghana.

    The GFA intends to roll out a comprehensive refereeing development program to recruit and train Referee Assessors, Referee Instructors (Physical and Technical), Beach Soccer Referees, Futsal Referees, Women Referees, Grassroots Referees (Catch them young policy), Talented and Promising Referees. There will also be refresher courses for category 1, 2 and 3 referees.

    The GFA would continue to invest in referees by providing the requisite equipment to aide their work.

    The new structure is aimed at ensuring that the Association implements fully the FIFA regulations on the organization of refereeing in member Associations.

    Source: ghanafa.org

  • This photo of McBrowns daughter braiding hair of her doll will melt your heart

    The daughter of Nana Ama McBrown, Baby Maxin, seems to be taking after her mother even at age one.

    In a new photo, Baby Maxin was captured braiding the hair of her doll like a pro.

    Her composure was as if she had even learnt hairdressing as a trade.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    🥰🥰🤗Drop some love for the newest baby brand ambassador in town @iambabymaxin 😍❤️❤️

    A post shared by Alphaâž• (@the_highcourt_brand) on

    Source: Adomonline.com 

  • 2019 Presidential staff list presented to parliament

    The annual report on Presidential Office Staff for 2019 has been presented to parliament.

    The presentation of the Presidential Office Staff list by the President falls in line with the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463).

    According to the report, there are 311 political appointees at the Presidency.

    Also, there are 36 Presidential Staffers, 5 Ministers and 270 Junior Political appointees.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in 2018, presented to parliament, a list of 998 ministers of state and staffers at the presidency for the period between 7 January 2017 to 31 December 2017.

    Source: Class FM

  • Xandy Kamel shades ladies with flat tummy, says her pot belly has secured her a husband -Video

    Actress Xandy Kamel a few hours after getting married to her boyfriend, Kaninja is already throwing shots at women with flat tummy who usually body shame others.

    In a video-monitored, Xandy who was still in her wedding gown stated that most often than not people body shame her because she has a pot belly yet still, she has been able to secure a marriage for herself with that belly while those with the flat belly remains unmarried.

    She charged such ladies to go get their own men with their so-called flat tummies because she is Mrs Mensah now.

    Video Below:

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    @efia_odo I wanna marry you sake of ya flat tummy 💍 😂 😂

    A post shared by Ghana’s Realest Blogger (@realestblogger) on

    Source: ghbase.com

  • Winful Cobbinah denies Abbey’s comment on 2017 FA Cup final defeat Kotoko

    KF Tirana midfielder Winful Cobbinah has denied Thomas Abbey’s recent comments on Hearts of Oak’s defeat to arch-rivals Asante Kotoko in the 2017 MTN FA Cup final.

    The Porcupine Warriors thrashed the Phobians 3-1 courtesy Saddick Adams’s first-half hat-trick that propelled them to a ninth FA Cup triumph at the Tamale Sports stadium.

    Abbey, speaking in an interview with Angel FM, said that Hearts of Oak players refused to train ahead of the finals in Tamale because the club failed to pay their salaries and bonuses for three months.

    However, Cobbinah, who played with him at the final says the former club skipper is frustrated because Hearts of Oak rejected his return to the club a few months ago.

    “He [Thomas Abbey] should put any player into problem because we have no knowledge about what he said in the interview,” he told Kumasi based Oyerepa FM.

    “I think he is frustrated because Hearts of Oak rejected his return to the club a few months ago”

    ”Does Abbey thinks we were like him who chose money over Hearts of Oak” the FK Tirana angrily quizzed.

    “I don’t even remember Hearts of Oak owned us three months ahead of the 2017 MTN FA Cup match against Kotoko. It’s not true”

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Jubilation as 200 suspected coronavirus patients are discharged

    There was wild jubilation in the form of singing and dancing when over 200 suspected Covid-I9 patients at Pentecost Isolation Centre at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region were asked to go home yesterday.

    This means that these people have gone through all the three stages of testing at the centre and all their tests have proven negative.

    Information gathered indicates that the centre is made up of blocks A, B and C. The first two blocks, A and B, house confirmed Covid-19 patients while the Last block, C, houses suspected patients whose first test proved negative but have to await second and third tests.

    “As it is now, all the patients at Block C have been discharged by health professionals at the centre for them to reunite with their families because they have no Covid-19,” a source told the DAILY HERITAGE.

    While some were singing and dancing for being discharged, others in block A and B, numbering over 500, were sighted in a sorrowful mood because some of them were yet to complete their treatment and possible recovery from the disease.

    The people who were released were seen around midday parking their few belongings and lining them on the floor waiting for their names to be called so they could leave.

    At exactly 2:00pm the first batch left the centre for their various homes on a Ghana Health Service bus escorted by the police and health professionals while the second batch left 20 minutes later in similar manner.

    “One unique thing that took place was that the discharged patients were given a certificate each to be shown or given to their various workplaces indicating they have no Covid- 19: a Holy Bible with Church of Pentecost inscription and a nose mask.” the source stated.

    Source: kasapa FM