The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has paid tribute to the distinguished legal practitioner, Akoto Ampaw, lauding his exceptional frankness and humility.
He extended his heartfelt condolences to Mr. Ampaw’s family for their painful loss and offered prayers for God’s protection and support for them during this challenging time.
In a Facebook post, Dr Bawumia said, “I am greatly saddened to hear about the passing of my friend, lawyer Anthony Akoto-Ampaw (Sheyshey). Sheyshey’s loyalty, commitment, frankness, and humility were outstanding.”
“I offer my empathy to the Akoto-Ampaw family for this painful loss and pray for God’s protection for them during this difficult period. May the soul of my departed friend find a peaceful rest.”
The human rights activist, anti-corruption campaigner and legal luminary passed on at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), on October 20, 2023.
Mr. Apaw was the lead lawyer for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the 2020 election petition.
Known as ‘Shey Shey’ right from his student days at the University of Ghana, Mr. Ampaw was also part of the New Patriotic Party’s legal team in the Electoral Petition of 2013.
He was a partner of Akufo-Addo’s law firm, Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co.
Lawyer Ampaw had an impeccable legacy in the legal fraternity especially championing human rights campaigns and fair justice.
He was a graduate of the University of Ghana, LL.B., 1973 and the Ghana School of Law, B.L., 1993.
He specialised in commercial law, company law, industrial law, litigation, constitutional and human rights law, media law, labour law, investment law among others.
As a human rights activist, Akoto Ampaw recently joined hands with other individuals and civil society organisations to oppose the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill currently being considered by Parliament.
He opposed the bill sponsored by a Private Member’s motion led by Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the music platform Ghana Songs, Bright Dwomoh, has made the claim that TikTok is causing the music industry to deteriorate. He believes that this social media platform, since its inception, has rapidly grown to become one of the most widely used tools globally.
TikTok, known for its short-form videos and viral challenges, has garnered immense popularity among younger users, thus exerting a significant influence on various industries. Consequently, Ghanaian artists have shifted away from promoting their songs through traditional media channels.
According to Mr. Dwomoh, any artiste who releases a song channels most of his or her promotion through Tiktok which is just an avenue to hype the song.
This medium he bemoaned doesn’t last as compared to the traditional media like radio where the DJ will play it on rotation to make listeners have a feel of the song and make it last longer in the system.
“Any artiste that releases a song always has Tiktik promotion in mind but TikTok only hypes the song for a week to a month and it fades away.
But if they follow the normal procedure by involving the traditional media by touring the radio and TV stations, it is 70% assured that it will blow and help it last longer in the system than using TikTok,” he stated.
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) conducted clean-up operations in its three sub-metros located in Accra, in preparation for the funeral of Naa Dedei Omaedru III, the deceased Ga Manye. This initiative also constitutes one of the activities planned for the commemoration of the Assembly’s 125th Anniversary.
Mrs. Elizabeth Sackey, the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, took the lead, with the participation of staff and community members from the Ashiedu Keteke, Okaikoi South, and Ablekuma South sub-metros, in a five-hour-long clean-up exercise.
She told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that: “Desilting of drains, clearing the weeds and sweeping the filth in these areas will ensure a clean environment and save the people from diseases.”
The clean-up exercise aligns with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s (AMA) efforts to raise awareness about sanitation and the importance of maintaining clean surroundings to prevent avoidable diseases.
Mrs. Sackey expressed concern about the lack of a strong sense of community among the residents, which is detrimental to community development. She encouraged the sub-metros to enhance their efforts in enforcing local regulations and monitoring the sanitary conditions within the communities to ensure proper practices are followed.
Mr. George Lawson, the Environmental Health Officer of the Ablekuma Sub-Metro, noted that notices had been issued to households that failed to participate in the exercise, requiring them to promptly clean their premises to avoid legal action. He urged residents to change their attitudes towards sanitation issues to promote healthier environments and overall well-being.
Former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has made it clear that he does not consider himself a traitor to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), despite his criticisms of the government. He explained that his intention in offering his perspectives on governance is to bolster the NPP and enhance the well-being of Ghana as a whole.
During an interview on TV3’s Hot Issues program with Kemini Amanor, he stated, “I don’t think I am criticizing or attacking the government, no. The president said we should be citizens and not spectators, so I am offering my views to make the party stronger and Ghana a better place.”
When asked whether he sees himself as a traitor within the NPP, he responded emphatically, “Not at all. I am patriotic; that is what I will say. The word traitor is too far away from my dwelling place.”
In March 2019, Professor Frimpong-Boateng authored a 36-page document titled “Report on the work of IMCIM so far and the way forward,” which contained various allegations implicating government officials in illegal small-scale mining (galamsey).
This report was submitted to the president through the Chief of Staff and alleged the involvement of government officials, politicians, and private citizens in galamsey activities.
The Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, reviewed the report and advised the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) that the individuals named in the report vehemently denied the allegations. Additionally, attempts to gather further information to substantiate the claims proved unsuccessful.
The Attorney-General further noted that investigations conducted by the Police did not uncover any evidence supporting the allegations. Consequently, it was concluded that the allegations did not provide a legal basis for criminal charges against the individuals mentioned in the report.
However, Professor Frimpong-Boateng refutted the Attorney-General’s claims, stating, “it is not true, I cooperated with the CID fully, I am not an investigative agent.”
Galamsey: I am not an investigative agent, if you need evidence, go to the forests for it – Prof Frimpong Boateng responds to Attorney General#HotIssues#3NewsGHpic.twitter.com/Rpu31BWbqF
The Chief of Gwira-Banso Nana Ete Agrade II, in the Western Region, has called upon Members of Parliament (MPs) to demonstrate a strong commitment to fostering the development of their constituencies.
He emphasized that, regardless of the political party in power, MPs should leverage their positions to advocate for development initiatives that would benefit the constituents they represent.
Nana Agrade made these remarks during a public forum organized by the Gwira Traditional Council in Bamiango, situated in the Nzema-East Municipality of the Western Region.
He further stressed that it was the responsibility of each MP to utilize their Common Fund to initiate development projects within their respective constituencies. Nana Agrade also urged Mr. Kofi Arko NoKoe, the MP for Evaloe-Adjomoro Gwira, to actively lobby for the development of Gwiraman to enhance the standard of living for his constituents.
The management of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has urged importers and the general public to adhere to Tax Laws and procedures to ensure seamless trade facilitation and optimize revenue generation for national development.
The GRA is committed to supporting the government’s initiatives aimed at improving education at all levels, and it pledges to fulfill its mandate to bolster educational efforts.
In a statement released in Accra, the Authority responded to an online publication titled “GRA halts two helicopter ‘gifts’ to KNUST over taxes.” It clarified that Section 75 of the Customs Act 2015 (Act 891) outlines the concept of temporary admission as a Customs procedure, allowing goods to be temporarily brought into the country for specific purposes without the obligation to pay import duties or taxes.
This procedure is designed to streamline international trade, reduce costs, and facilitate temporary cross-border activities. Goods admitted under this regime are typically expected to be re-exported within a specified timeframe, often around 90 days, or for specific activities like trade shows, exhibitions, repairs, or other temporary purposes.
“Appropriate documentation, including a Customs declaration, is required to initiate the temporary admission process,” it added.
These documents specify the intended use and the expected re-exportation date. Failure to meet this deadline will result in the payment of the “suspended” import duties and taxes.
It said the Customs Division required a guarantee/security such as an insurance bond or deposit, to ensure revenue was not lost if the goods or items in question were not re-exported.
The statement said all countries including Ghana, impose restrictions on the types of goods that can be temporarily admitted and the purposes for which they could be used.
It said as such, Customs procedures for temporary admission come with conditions which vary from country to country.
“Non-compliance with the terms of temporary admission can further result in sanctions, such as fines or forfeiture of the goods to the State,” it said.
It said for the incident in question, the mining firm brought in the two helicopters in 2020 under the Temporary Admission Regime, which required that they are re-exported after the agreed period.
“If the firm wishes to transfer the ownership of the helicopters to a third party (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology), they are required to pay the appropriate taxes and duties before handing them over to KNUST,” it said.
The statement said this would prevent the possible abuse of the Temporary Admissions Regime by importers who apply for the waiver of duties but resort to donating the equipment as scrap as a way of evading payment of taxes.
It said KNUST had not imported any equipment into the country and therefore is not liable for import duty or taxes.
Former Minister Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Prof. Frimpong-Boateng has rebuffed claims that his recent crusade to expose the ills of the NPP government which he was once a part of is inspired by bitterness towards the party and government.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng has been at the forefront of exposing government officials and party apparatchiks linked to illegal miners or mining in a comprehensive report to the president.
Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issue, the former minister stated that “serving in this government was rather sacrifice I made, I am not bitter because because I was not reappointed. I sacrificed time that I could have spent managing my two hospitals and with my grandchildren”
His comments come days after right wing reporter with Accra-based Metro TV Paul Adom Otchere accused him of harboring hatred because his failure to secure a reappointment as minister in the Akufo-Addo led administration.
Host of “Good Evening Ghana” on Metro TV, Paul Adom-Ochere, has claimed that former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, was in tears when President Akufo-Addo informed him that he would not be reappointed.
In one of his television broadcasts, Adom-Ochere disclosed that he acquired this information while present at the Jubilee House, where he was in the process of gathering details pertaining to the ministerial appointments to be made by President Akufo-Addo.
Adom-Ochere mentioned that on occasions when he visited the Jubilee House, he overheard conversations about Prof. Frimpong-Boateng breaking down in tears upon receiving the news from President Akufo-Addo.
“I’m going to show you some way that’s some way what it means I’m going to show you in documents and therefore a decision was taken that our friend should not continue as minister of environment this is where the matter begins and ends.
“When the senior man was invited to be told that he cannot continue as Minister people who saw him at the Jubilee House remember that he was in tears I didn’t see him but so many people have testified that was crying said how did I didn’t I wasn’t there no because that time because we’re looking for story every day we go to Jubilee House you’re looking for story about who is going to minister of what.
“If you remember our social media page were speculating this going to that’s how you get the story from I go to Jubilee House and you talk sniff around and you get the information so every day journalists were there and I’ll go there too I don’t remember seeing Frimpong Boateng but then everyone said oh he was crying well that’s the matter that he was unhappy that he was not going to be part of the ministerial staff”.
Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has voiced strong criticism against both the government and the leadership of the Ghana Armed Forces for an abrupt order to withdraw military personnel who were assisting flood victims in Mepe.
In a post shared on Sunday, October 22, 2023, Ablakwa revealed that the military detachment providing vital support to victims in Mepe had been instructed to withdraw, citing an “order from above.” This move, he argued, seemed perplexing given the continued high water levels in the affected areas.
“Who ‘above’ has given orders to the military detachment helping us cross flood waters to immediately withdraw when the water levels haven’t receded and when thousands of lives are at stake in camps across these waters?” questioned the North Tongu legislator. He went further to inquire about the government’s involvement in what he referred to as “utter cruelty.”
A video accompanying the post depicted personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces packing the boats they had been using to assist flood victims onto a vehicle, further highlighting the sudden and unexpected nature of their withdrawal.
However, in a subsequent post, MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa indicated that the initial withdrawal order had been reversed. This development provides hope that the vital support for flood victims will be reinstated, but the reasons behind the initial order and its subsequent reversal remain unclear.
The situation in Mepe and surrounding areas remains concerning, with the threat of flooding and the need for continued assistance for affected residents. As more information becomes available, it is likely that the government and the military’s actions in this crisis will face further scrutiny and discussion in the coming days.
Who "above" has given orders to the military detachment helping us cross flood waters to immediately withdraw when the water levels haven't receded and when thousands of lives are at stake in camps across these waters?
In a resolute address at the Manhyia Palace, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the revered leader of the Ashanti people in Ghana, has declared his commitment to restoring the Ashanti Kingdom to its rightful place. The Asantehene’s impassioned speech, delivered while addressing chieftaincy issues, highlighted his concern about the impact of financial interests on the traditions and unity of the Ashanti people.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II voiced his deep apprehension that the Ashanti Kingdom was not where it should be, expressing his belief that the love of money had led some of his chiefs astray. He lamented the waning allegiance to the Ashanti Kingdom and the detrimental effects of materialism on the cultural heritage and unity of his people.
“Our love for money is destroying things. People don’t have love for Ashanti anymore… We have to remember the Asanteman we used to have and rise,” Otumfuo Osei Tutu II passionately stated in Twi.
He reminded his audience of the sacrifices made by individuals like Tweneboa Koduah, who had devoted themselves to the cause of Asanteman. The Asantehene emphasized the importance of honoring their legacy and questioned the current generation’s dedication to the kingdom.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II pledged to take significant steps to ensure the Ashanti Kingdom returns to its former glory. He articulated his determination to scrutinize and, if necessary, remove sub-chiefs who were not serving the best interests of the Ashanti Kingdom. This decision reflects his unwavering commitment to restoring the cultural and traditional values of the Ashanti people.
The Asantehene’s vow to reinvigorate the Ashanti Kingdom and address the challenges it currently faces has generated significant interest and support from both the Ashanti community and the wider public. His dedication to preserving the kingdom’s rich heritage and history is expected to resonate with many, and the Asantehene’s vision for a revitalized Asanteman has gained renewed momentum.
In July 2020, a ninety-year-old woman, Madam Akua Denteh, was beaten to death. The force of a community had been pressed on this elderly Ghanaian because she had been declared a witch.
This practice, in varying degrees, is pervasive in many parts of the country.
Witchcraft accusations came with deadly repercussions in medieval Europe. It was punishable by death. However, currently, such accusations are largely deemed ludicrous.
This change in the European mind, like any historical process, was grinding. Even after the Witchcraft Act, 1735 was passed by the English Parliament to prevent the persecution of people accused of witchcraft, undertones of such claims persisted for centuries.
In 1951, a Private Member’s Bill was passed to replace the 1735 Act.
The Bill’s long title was: An Act to repeal the Witchcraft Act, 1735 and to make in substitution for certain provisions for punishment of persons who fraudulently purport to act as spiritualists, mediums or to exercise powers of telepathy, clairvoyance or other similar power.
Following suit, five Ghanaian Members of Parliament (MPs), led by MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, not long ago sponsored a bill to ensure that what happened to Madam Denteh never repeats itself.
For the better part of Ghana’s Fourth Republic, MPs were barred from initiating bills in Parliament. This barrier was lifted when Parliament adopted a proposal for the enactment of a Private Member’s Bill in July 2020. A Private Member’s Bill is a draft law introduced in Parliament by an MP who is not acting on behalf of the government.
Since July 2020, 10 Private Member’s Bills have been introduced on the Floor of Parliament with several others at different departments in the House. So far, five Private Member’s Bills have been passed by Parliament and two have received presidential assent.
Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2020
The Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was the first to be passed. It received presidential assent on December 29, 2020. A former MP, Ras Mubarak, sponsored the bill. Its purpose was to fill a gap in the principal enactment of the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683).
There were no guidelines in the original law to proscribe acts that constituted dangerous driving that resulted in the injury or death of unborn babies. The Act stipulates that any individual who engages in dangerous driving or cycling that results in the injury or death of the human foetus shall be convicted between three and seven years. The law also encourages a driver whose vehicle engages in an accident that results in the injury or death of an unborn baby to immediately report the incident to the nearest police station.
Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2021
The religious and societal norms that had, for centuries, underlined how societies react to suicides and attempted suicides shaped the modern laws of many countries.
Survivors of non-fatal suicides were, in the past, ex-communicated from the Catholic Church. These attitudes led to the criminalisation of people who attempted to take their lives; and entrenched the non-appreciation of the socio-economic and psychological reasons behind attempted suicides.
MP for Asante Akim Central, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, and his colleague, Bernard Ahiafor, who represents the Akatsi South constituency, got together to campaign for the amendment of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) to decriminalise attempted suicide in Ghana. The bill has received presidential assent.
Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021
About eight MPs have sponsored a bill to criminalise homosexuality. The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 also seeks to outlaw, among others, advocacy on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT), intersex, queer/questioning, asexual, and many other terms.
The MPs are: Samuel Nartey George, Della Adjoa Sowah, Emmanuel Bedzrah, John Ntim Forjour, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamkpor. The bill was read for the second time in Parliament on July 5, 2023.
Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2021, Office of the Special Prosecutor (Amendment) Bill, 2021
MP for Akim Swedru, Kennedy Osei Nyarko
The 1992 Constitution restricts dual citizens from holding public office. Although dual citizens have made a strong case for a Constitutional amendment, their wish has not been granted.
MP for Akim Swedru, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has sponsored two bills to lift the restrictions on dual citizens. The bills are to amend several portions of the Constitution and the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act.
Earmarked Funds Capping And Realignment (Amendment) Bill, 2022
In 2017, Parliament enacted the Earmarked Funds Capping And Realignment Act, 2017 (Act 947). The Act limits and realigns amounts that accrue to GETFund, a fund created by Act 581 to augment the government’s effort in providing educational infrastructure and facilities.
Several Civil Society Groups, including the Africa Education Watch (EduWatch), have protested for GETFund to be de-caped because basic education in the country faces funding deficits.
MPs Peter Nortsu-Kotoe and Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah, the Ranking Member for the Committee on Education and Chairperson for the Committee on Education respectively, sponsored the Earmarked Funds Capping And Realignment (Amendment) Bill, 2022. The Bill’s objective is to remove the GETFund from the funds capped by Act 947; thereby ensuring that GETFund achieves its purpose.
However, a source who wished to remain anonymous told The Fourth Estate that the bill is likely to be dropped by the MPs.
Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2022
As discussed in the introduction, lawyer Sosu, Laadi Ayii Ayamba, Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw, Helen Adjoa Ntoso and Betty Mensah have backed a bill to criminalise the declaration, accusation, naming, or labelling of another person as a witch. Although passed by Parliament, the Bill is awaiting presidential assent.
The MP for Madina, Mr Sosu championed two bills to amend two Acts: Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and the Armed Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2022 to substitute the penalty of life imprisonment for the death penalty.
Budget Bill, 2023
The president, through the Finance Minister, presents a budget to Parliament every year. At the moment, Parliament is limited in making substantial inputs into the budget formulation process. The Budget Bill, sponsored by four MPs, is intended to strengthen the budgetary oversight and financial control of Parliament. The MPs are Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Haruna Iddrisu, James Klutse Avedzi, and Kofi Okyere Agyekum.
The avenue for MPs to collaborate to make laws that improve society is crucial for the functioning of a highly polarised Parliament and democracy.
Samuel Obeng, Executive Director of Parliamentary Network Africa
In an interview with The Fourth Estate, the Executive Director of Parliamentary Network Africa, Sammy Obeng, said the adoption of the Private Member’s Bill was a game-changing moment for Ghana’s democracy, especially Parliamentary work. He added that this was long overdue since the 1992 Constitution was “clear” that draft bills were not only to come from the Executive, except those that had financial implications.
According to Mr Obeng, so far, the already passed bills are “very progressive” and they have the “potential” to change Ghana’s legal space.
The MP for Madina has introduced 11 draft bills. Three have reached the Floor of Parliament. He joined forces with his colleagues on three bills that are yet to be presented to the main House.
In an interview with The Fourth Estate, the MP said the “original duty” of every legislator is to make laws. He said the opportunity to introduce bills into the House has “transformed” Parliamentary work.
He stressed the need for MPs to take this opportunity seriously. According to him, legislation on many important issues is often neglected because it is not deemed as a priority by the Executive. To find issues to develop draft bills on, Mr Sosu said MPs should look into the plight of their constituents, as that is how he gets his ideas.
“So, you don’t only go to Parliament to contribute to laws introduced by the Executive. But, by yourself, you can introduce laws that can have a wide impact on the nation,” he said.
Political Party Influence Threatens Private Member’s Bill
The potential of the Private Member’s Bill may, however, be thwarted because of some challenges, Mr Sosu said.
He said there is often an underground current to force MPs to “seek political approval” from the leaders of their political parties before they introduce some bills. This, to him, could lead to the co-option of an idea presented in Parliament as a Private Member’s Bill into a policy, which could drag its passage.
Mr Sosu lamented the lack of clear procedures guiding the introduction of draft bills by private MPs. He said this “problem” is a major reason many MPs “shy away” from introducing bills.
He further pointed out that these initial gains could be eroded if the financial cost associated with introducing bills is also not remedied.
Mr Obeng of Parliamentary Network Africa, however, told The Fourth Estate that the Private Member’s Bill regime has so far been successful regardless of the bottlenecks.
“For a system that does not have a direct expression in the current standing orders of Parliament, for which reason Parliament, in its current revision, is trying to make more provision for it, having more than a dozen Private Member’s bills introduced, some of which have been passed within this three-year period, it is a big success,” he said.
Mr Obeng said bills sponsored by the government get the needed resources to produce a strong draft bill. He said a ministry or agency that intends to introduce a bill often has the ability to hire a consultant, organise multiple stakeholder engagements, and has the resources available to the Attorney General’s office and Cabinet before the bill is introduced in Parliament.
“Now the first part that I described, the part before it [a bill] is presented to Parliament by the government, this is the part that at the moment individual members of Parliament who are proposing a private member’s bill must stomach. Where are they going to find those resources to be able to do that?”
He agreed that if the cost factor is not remedied, “disingenuous” MPs, who have or can access resources, would support laws that may not be in favour of the ordinary Ghanaian.
Also, Mr Obeng said that public participation in the lawmaking process could be easily stifled under the guise of lack of money. This, he said, could prevent the important and legitimate input of major stakeholders.
“In fact, in the context of what we call open Parliament, it is a cardinal sin to pass a law without effective public participation. And if resources and time become a constraint and are used as excuses to sidestep public participation, it portends a major danger for all of us,” he added.
The President of a synagogue in the US city of Detroit, Samantha Woll, was discovered killed with a knife in a park close to where she lived.
The police went to Lafayette Park after receiving a call. They found a person who was not responsive, but they think she was actually killed at her house.
They looked for the killer in the area with dogs, but they don’t know who did it or why.
Officials praised Ms. Woll as an amazing and influential young leader in Detroit.
Michigan State Attorney General Dana Nessel said on X that she was “very surprised and scared to hear about Sam’s extremely violent murder”.
The governor, Gretchen Whitmer, called the murder a very violent and cruel crime.
“She was like a shining light, a leading figure in her community who worked hard to improve Michigan,” she said in a statement.
Sam Dubin, who works for the Jewish Community Relations Council, told the BBC’s US partner CBS that Ms Woll always had a very big smile on her face.
“He said that when you talked to Sam, you were able to forget about all the silly things happening in the world for a little while. ”
The police said they would give more details on Sunday, but they told everyone not to jump to conclusions until they had all the facts.
Pictures of a school in Israel were taken after an attack where Hamas fighters killed at least 100 people. The pictures show pools of blood and gun clips scattered among the children’s toys.
The pictures show the damage to a school for young children caused by a terrorist attack that led to a lot of fighting in the area last weekend.
Stay updated on the Israel-Hamas conflict by following our live coverage.
In one picture, there is a small pink bike and scooter among all the mess of things that were left behind at the school.
Hamas attacked and entered houses in the Israeli kibbutz called Be’eri, which is located four miles away from the Gaza Strip, on October 7.
People were trapped and unable to leave their homes while many people were hurt or killed soon after the fighting started last weekend.
The safe neighborhood was torn apart when scared moms and kids tried to hide and run away from the damage. In another picture, there are holes from bullets on a white wall in a nursery. Two bikes that belong to children are also on the ground.
Some parts of the ceiling in the Israeli school are hanging down and there are teaching tools on the desks.
An Israeli soldier said to the Sun newspaper, “There are many bad things hidden in this place, and unfortunately, we are discovering more of them every day. ”
“Many kids lost their lives here, and some were badly hurt. ”
Volunteers have been searching through the wreckage and destroyed houses, looking for people who are still alive and trying to find out the truth about what really occurred during the attack.
The Israeli military shared a video showing when armed fighters entered houses, holding guns and scaring families.
In a video, security cameras inside the kibbutz recorded Hamas members getting into the community. Security cameras captured footage of terrorists trying to sneak underneath the gates at the entrance.
When their first plan didn’t work, it seems like they tried to hide until a car came close, and then they attacked and killed the people inside. After that, they simply walked into the area.
A video shows the militants leaving the area from the same gate more than an hour later.
Be’eri was the home of Lianne Sharabi, who was born in Britain. She lived there with her daughters Yahel and Noiya, and her husband Eli.
Lianne and her 13-year-old daughter Yahel were murdered by soldiers from Hamas in the attack. In the beginning of the fighting, a group on the messaging app WhatsApp called Be’eri mum recorded what was happening. Parents were scared as they shared messages about armed people going to each house in the area and knocking on the doors.
Parents made a group with about 200 members. They used this group to tell other parents about the attacks and to give tips on how to keep safe by locking their rooms.
During a conversation, someone asked if there is something that can make us feel less worried. Very quickly, a neighbor replied and explained how the army could deal with the situation.
Actress and entrepreneur, Fella Makafui, has extended her support by donating relief items to residents in Mepe, in the Volta Region of Ghana who were affected by the September 15, 2023, Akosombo and Kpong Dam spillage.
In a post shared on her Instagram page, the actress was seen in the town, interacting with some residents of Mepe to better understand their situation.
In her post, she explained that her visit was motivated by a desire to witness the current state of the area after the dam spillage. Fella Makafui expressed her shock at the extent of the damage, which included the displacement of residents and destruction of their properties and valuable belongings.
She used her platform to call on individuals and organizations to assist these victims in their time of need.
“My team and I decided to witness for ourselves the effect of the Akosombo Dam Spillage. We were shocked by the state of destruction and how the victims have been displaced. we made some donations of vital relief items to the communities and made a pledge to come back soon to support the communities again. I will use this opportunity to call on all Ghanaians home and abroad to also donate to support these communities”, she captioned under her posts.
The relief items donated to the residents of Mepe by the Fella Makafui Foundation included mattresses, bags of sachet water, foodstuffs, plastic buckets, and more.
The urgent need for such assistance arises from the spillage at the Akosombo and Kpong hydro dams, which began on September 15 due to rising water levels. The resulting floods have caused significant damage to homes and farmlands along the Lower Volta Basin.
At present, nine districts in the Volta Region are facing the consequences of this flooding, and the affected residents are grappling with a humanitarian crisis. Communities like Battor, Tefle, Mepe, Sogakope, Adidome, and Anlo have witnessed their homes and properties submerged by the rising waters.
In the past two weeks, there have been Israeli airstrikes on Gaza that resulted in the death of at least 4,651 people. Out of those deaths, 40% were children.
Gaza’s health ministry gave new numbers of people who have died and been injured. They said that 14,245 people have been hurt, and 70% of them are children and women.
Israel attacked Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, and Lebanon during the night and today as the fighting in the area continues for three weeks.
Warplanes attacked places in the trapped Strip and a religious place in the occupied West Bank that is believed to be used by Hamas fighters. They also targeted two airports in Syria.
An Israeli military spokesperson said that Israel is going to have more attacks on Gaza and start a new phase of the war.
In the past few hours, the Israeli military claimed that they attacked a place in Jenin, in the West Bank, believed to be a terrorist hideout. It was reported that a group affiliated with Hamas was inside a mosque at the compound.
Palestinians were told to move from the northern part of Gaza to the southern part.
Israel has been close to starting a ground attack in Gaza for a few days now, as a way to react to Hamas’ violent actions.
Many tanks and a large number of soldiers have gathered at the demarcation line between territories that are occupied. The leaders have talked about a future phase of actions, but they have not given specific details about it.
With just 2 weeks left for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer election, Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong seem to be doing the most.
The parliamentarian made headlines when he donated a pick-up truck to Yaa Naa, the traditional ruler of the Dagbon kingdom in Northern Ghana. However, his gesture has triggered mixed reactions and a wave of criticism, specially since the MP has being on the attacking end accusing his fellow contestants of voting buying.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, responding to critics of his donation said “I come from the south to give him a pick-up, and you go and disgrace him.”
“Yaa Naa never said anything like what they have put out there. Instead of praising Ken Agyapong… you have over 20 MPs here plus the vice president, nobody has gone to Yaa Naa to give him a pick-up,
The controversy arises from the fact that Yaa Naa, a highly respected traditional leader in Northern Ghana, has not publicly requested any assistance, let alone a pick-up truck. Critics argue that Agyapong’s gesture may have been an attempt to gain political favor or attention.
Yaa Naa’s spokesperson issued a brief statement in response to Agyapong’s offer, stating that the traditional ruler had not sought or requested assistance in any form from any political figure. The statement emphasized Yaa Naa’s commitment to the traditional values and independence of the Dagbon kingdom.
The controversy has sparked discussions on social media and in political circles in Ghana, with some supporting Agyapong’s intentions and others criticizing it as opportunistic. The motives behind Agyapong’s gesture remain a subject of debate, with political rivalries and local dynamics playing a part in the unfolding story.
Based on the prime minister‘s spokesperson, Hamas’s assault on Israel has resulted in the deaths of nine individuals from Britain.
Seven more people are still not found after the attack from Gaza into Israel on October 7.
Until yesterday, the authorities said that seven people from Britain were confirmed dead, and nine were still missing.
A person who speaks for the prime minister said: ‘We can now say for certain that at least nine people from Britain were sadly killed in the terrorist attacks last week.
Seven more British people cannot be found. Some of them might be dead or taken by force.
The UK government has not said how many British people are being held as hostages by Hamas. However, Rishi Sunak, while he was in Israel on Thursday, met two families who have a loved one being kept captive in Gaza.
Renowned Nigerian footballer Asisat Oshoala paid her respects to the late singer Mohbad in a heartfelt Instagram post.
This tribute comes in response to the recent developments following the unfortunate passing of the Nigerian musician on September 12, 2023.
The news of Mohbad’s death was conveyed by his friends on the mentioned date, following his alleged treatment for an ear infection.
However, the precise cause of his death remains officially undisclosed at this time.
Nevertheless, Mohbad’s memory continues to be cherished by well-wishers and fans alike.
To honor Mohbad, Asisat Oshoala, who recently showcased her football skills by scoring twice in a match against Granada, took to her Instagram page to express her feelings.
She posted a picture of herself wearing a shirt bearing Mohbad’s image after scoring a goal on the pitch.
The image was accompanied by the caption, “Double for Imole. Keep resting young king #LightBoy.”
This statement quickly drew the attention of many individuals who shared their thoughts and sentiments.
Nigerian entrepreneur, businessman, and ex-husband of Nigerian actress Tonto Dikeh, Olakunle Churchill and his wife, Nollywood actress Rosy Meurer, have welcomed their second child, a baby girl named Imisioluwa.
The couple, who got married in 2019, already has a son named Omoniyi.
Churchill shared the happy news on his Instagram account, posting pictures of his wife and the newborn baby in the hospital. Numerous celebrities and well-wishers have congratulated the couple on their new addition.
A fire broke out at the Makola Shopping Mall in Accra, Ghana, causing damage to over 200 shops and makeshift structures. The incident forced authorities to temporarily close down the mall to assess the situation. The fire began at around 11:00 pm and was brought under control within four and a half hours by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and there were no casualties reported. Items such as wigs, perfumes, cosmetics, and jewelry worth thousands of Ghanaian cedis were destroyed in the fire.
The Deputy Director of Operations at the Ghana National Fire Service, Chief Fire Officer Kofi Forson, revealed that fire personnel received a distress call around 11:24 pm on Friday night. Fortunately, there was a fire station located near the Makola Shopping Mall, allowing fire personnel to arrive at the scene in less than two minutes. Due to the intensity of the fire, additional fire-fighting equipment was called in for reinforcement. This swift response and collaboration helped bring the situation under control within four and a half hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“In all nine fire fighting appliances were used with 70 fire personnel trying to bring the fire under control; they forced open the padlocks locking the main entrance to the Mall, using special equipment and got access to the spot where the incident occurred” he stated.
Chief Fire Officer Kofi Forson further explained that the fire personnel were successful in salvaging over 2,000 stores, including makeshift structures. He highlighted that an Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) sub-station, located just ten meters away from the Mall, remained unscathed by the fire thanks to the timely and effective intervention of the firefighting personnel
“The challenges we had was accessibility to the trouble spot because of the make shift structures which have almost blocked all the alleys making it difficult to smoothly fight the fire” he stated.
The cause of the fire at the Makola Shopping Mall in Accra is under investigation, as stated by Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO I) Roberta Aggrey-Ghanson, the Greater Accra Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS). She noted that the explosions heard during the fire outbreak were the result of some cosmetic products exposed to excessive heat and burning during the fire.
Elizabeth K.T. Sackey, the Mayor of Accra, visited the Mall to assess the extent of the damage. She mentioned that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) would await a report from the GNFS to determine the next course of action. The Mayor also appealed to traders to take precautionary measures to prevent similar fire outbreaks in the future, emphasizing the importance of safety and prevention.
A Civil Society Organization (CSO), the Community Focus Foundation (CFF), has expressed its opposition to the Electoral Commission’s (EC) proposal to use the Ghana Card as the sole document for voter registration. The CSO argues that making the Ghana Card the exclusive identification document for voter registration could disenfranchise millions of prospective voters who were unable to obtain the card.
During a press briefing in Accra, Mr. Richard Kasu, the Executive Director of CFF, noted that the EC’s guarantor system had the highest patronage during the recent limited voter registration exercise, with 61.9 percent of users relying on it.
The CFF also raised concerns about the appointment of politically exposed individuals as officials of the EC, suggesting that this could lead to mistrust. They called on the President to withdraw these appointments.
Additionally, the CSO emphasized the need for the EC to address its low public confidence and work towards rebuilding public trust in preparation for the 2024 elections. Public confidence in the electoral process is crucial for the integrity and credibility of elections.
Rishi Sunak stated that the actions done by Hamas are terrible, and there is no good reason for them. He said this while a large number of people were protesting in central London against Israel’s restriction of movement in the Gaza Strip.
The prime minister came back from a very fast tour of the Middle East where he had urgent discussions with the leaders of Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt about how to stop the situation from getting worse and war from happening.
He emphasized that the fighting between Israel and Hamas could lead to more conflicts in the surrounding area. The Prime Minister said that everyone they talked to this week strongly believes that we must do everything we can to prevent a spreading conflict in the area.
‘We should continue to aim for a future with peace and stability as we unite against terrorism. ‘
He left just as President Biden announced that President Sisi of Egypt agreed to open the Rafah crossing so that 20 trucks of aid could enter Gaza.
Sunak said that the opening represented what is possible through diplomacy.
He said: ‘The opening of the Rafah crossing into Gaza shows how diplomacy can work, with the US, Israel, and Egypt making an agreement to make sure that essential help gets to the Palestinian people. ‘
We are working closely with Egypt to make sure that the UK helps provide Palestinians with the important things they urgently require, such as food, water, and medicine.
The Prime Minister and the foreign secretary both went on separate trips to Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar at the same time.
James Cleverly said that he wants British people currently stuck in Gaza to be able to leave by using the Rafah crossing. He acknowledged that it is currently not safe for them to do this.
‘At the end, we want the Rafah crossing to be safe enough so that people from other countries in Gaza can go away,’ he said to the Sunday Times.
We will only call British citizens forward to leave Gaza when we are sure they will have enough time to leave safely. But right now, we are not able to do so.
He mentioned that they were working closely with the Egyptian government, Qataris, and other countries in the area, like Israel, to create a stable situation for a considerable period of time. This stability would allow British citizens to have a real chance of leaving the region safely.
Two lawyers who used to work for President Donald Trump have admitted they did something wrong to interfere in the 2020 presidential election.
Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro admitted their guilt about six crimes related to scheming to disrupt election duties.
Powell and Chesebro were among 19 people who were accused by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in August for trying to change the outcome of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
The people being accused are the former President Trump and the former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Powell became well-known right after the 2020 election when she appeared with Giuliani and other Trump supporters, strongly claiming that the election was stolen through fraudulent means.
Powell said she would file many lawsuits in states that Biden won, like Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Arizona.
She said, ‘I am going to let loose the Kraken,’ during a well-known interview on Fox Business in November 2020.
Most of the lawsuits that Powell filed were either dropped or dismissed by the courts. The charges filed in August said that Powell helped plan a plan to hack into voting machines in Coffee County, which is a small countryside area in southeastern Georgia.
Chesebro was accused of trying to make a fake group of electors for Georgia, hoping that Vice President Mike Pence would choose them instead of the real electors chosen by the state.
The indictment says that Chesebro made a plan for 16 people from Georgia to sign fake certificates saying they were elected and qualified.
The vice president did not agree to accept Chesebro’s other electors in the end. Both Powell and Chesebro said they would not agree to a plea deal if prosecutors suggested it.
Powell made an agreement with the court that she will be put on probation for six years and have to pay a fine of $6,000. She also said she would help prove Trump’s guilt in court if asked.
Also, Chesebro will have to follow certain rules and be supervised for five years. They will also have to help the community for 100 hours and give $5,000 as a punishment.
Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Dr. Sir Sam Jonah has encouraged Ghanaians to draw inspiration from Ghana’s founding father, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He urged citizens to work hard for the country’s socio-economic development and embrace the ideals and principles of Dr. Nkrumah, which include endurance, Pan-Africanism, democracy, rule of law, freedom, and justice.
Dr. Jonah made these remarks during the opening of the 13th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lectures at UCC, which focused on reflecting on Dr. Nkrumah’s contributions and the enduring relevance of his ideas. The theme of the lectures was “Diaspora, Pan-Africanism, and Spiritual Awakening: Nkrumah’s Years Abroad and as Head of State.” The program aimed to explore how Dr. Nkrumah’s vision could be applied to address the challenges facing the African continent.
According to Dr. Sir Jonah, what sets the great leader apart was not only his historical significance to “us but also the enduring relevance of his ideas and insights.”
“He foresaw and wrote extensively about the multifaceted challenges that Africa faces today, encompassing political, social, and economic dimensions,” he said of Dr. Nkrumah.
“His ability to articulate these challenges with clarity and propose solutions underscores his status as a pre-eminent thinker and doer,” the Chancellor noted. Dr. Jonah said Dr. Nkrumah’s leadership frontiers had been recognized globally, making him the greatest leader in the post-colonial era, for his pivotal role in the emancipation of Africa from colonial rule.
That feat, he stated, reverberated through the annals of history, making him a visionary whose ideas and leadership transcended his time, leaving an indelible mark on the course of history.
“Dr. Nkrumah’s unwavering commitment to serving the interests of the common man remains a guiding light for our leaders today. His ideas continue to shape the aspirations of leaders and citizens striving for a better future in Africa and indeed the world at large.
“His achievements, with Ghana’s independence struggles and his broader pan-African vision, are nothing short of legendary. His legacy has only grown more profound and celebrated since his passing,” Dr. Jonah observed.
According to him, nationalists’ politics was dangerous, making several of the first generation of independent Africa’s leaders, leaving prison to Government House.
He said many of such leaders saw it as a “calling” and this noble sense of vocation was not surprising because many were products of missionary education.
The 13th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lectures, held at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), focused on the relationship between spirituality, Pan-Africanism, and the life of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The lectures aimed to shed light on the influence of spirituality on Dr. Nkrumah’s life, both during his years abroad as a student and during his tenure as the head of state of Ghana.
Prof. Emmanuel Kwaku Akyeampong, a Professor of History of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, provided insights into Nkrumah’s life and spirituality. He highlighted how Nkrumah’s experiences in the United States, his faith, and his engagement with issues of race, empire, and capitalism shaped his questioning pan-African spirit. While Nkrumah questioned organized religion and its authority over Africans, he did not reject religion and found solace in spirituality.
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture series, initiated by UCC in 1974 and inaugurated in November 1976, addresses issues related to the social, economic, and political development of Africa and the black race, which were of significance to Dr. Nkrumah. This annual event has featured notable speakers over the years, including former heads of state, academics, and leaders in various fields.
The theme of this year’s lectures, “Diaspora, Pan-Africanism, and Spiritual Awakening: Nkrumah’s Years Abroad and as Head of State,” provided a platform for thought-provoking discussions on how Nkrumah’s spiritual and pan-African beliefs influenced his political journey.
Opposition parties have arranged the poll without any assistance from the National Electoral Council, which is led by a close friend of President Nicolás Maduro.
MrMaduro, who has been the leader since 2013, is likely to try to become the leader again in the 2024 election.
The opposition believes that their best way to defeat him is by coming together and supporting one candidate.
Opposition parties have not participated in previous presidential elections because many of their candidates were either imprisoned or disqualified from running. But they want to participate in 2024 even though they know it will be difficult.
They discussed their plan to have a primary election as soon as May 2022 and officially shared the news in October 2022.
But when they asked the National Electoral Council (CNE) for help to organize the primary, the CNE, which is mostly made up of people who support the government, did not respond until September 2023. At that time, the CNE recommended delaying the primary until November.
The opposing group said no and decided to plan and hold the primary election on their own. It says there will be over 3,000 places where people can vote.
The group of 13 candidates has become smaller to just 10 people. This happened because Henrique Capriles, who has tried to become president before but didn’t succeed, Freddy Superlano from the Popular Will party, and Roberto Enríquez from the Copei party, decided to not participate in the race anymore. Polls show that the clear favorite is María Corina Machado, a 56-year-old former politician.
Although it is highly likely that Ms. Machado will win the primary, it is uncertain what will happen if she is selected.
This is because Ms Machado has been forbidden from being in charge for 15 years. She was banned in June by the comptroller-general, Elvis Amoroso, who is a friend of Maduro and now leads the CNE.
MsMachado is sure that if she wins the primary election, the government will feel so much pressure that they will put her back in her previous position. On Tuesday, there was an agreement signed in Barbados between opposition negotiators and government representatives. However, there was confusion about a certain aspect of the agreement. The opposition negotiator believed it allowed disqualified candidates to participate in elections, while the leader of the government delegation disagreed with this interpretation.
The United States made some of its restrictions on Venezuela’s oil and gas industry less strict because Venezuela agreed to let international observers monitor its presidential election in 2024.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, was happy about the agreement, but gave a warning that the US could put sanctions back if the government of Maduro in Venezuela does not start allowing opposition presidential candidates by the end of November.
A medal that a German pilot received during World War Two has been given back to his family after more than 80 years since he died.
When Güenter Brixius had an accident at Llanhailo Farm in Radnorshire (now Powys) in April 1942, he was a highly regarded pilot in the Luftwaffe and only 26 years old.
He got the Iron Cross in 1939, and it has now been given back to his family in Münster, near Dortmund.
The son of the people staying at the farm found Brixius’s family as a way of bringing both countries closer together.
Brixius’ bomber plane, called Junkers Ju-88A-6, left from occupied Belgium and got shot down over the Bristol Channel. This happened during a cloudy night, and the plane had already lost its radio and navigation systems.
The plane struggled to reach Hereford, where it was stopped by an RAF Beaufighter sent from the Shrewsbury area, which caused the plane’s destruction.
The main attack was on the city of Bath, but Brixius’s flight took a different path to distract enemy fighters from the main group.
After crashing into the hillside in Hundred House, his body and the body of his gunner Adolf Liessig were placed by local military members in the farm’s storage building. It is possible that his Iron Cross medal was either lost or thrown away there.
Gareth Bufton, who is one of eight kids that grew up on the farm, gave the medal to the other family in a meeting that happened in September.
Even though he was not born until 1958, Mr. Bufton said that his family had the medal for a long time. They were not completely sure why they still had it. Gareth Bufton, who lived on the same farm as the crash, has given back the Iron Cross that belonged to him to his family.
He said, “After our mom passed away, we realized that this thing didn’t belong to us anymore. We also knew that there was another family in Germany who would value and appreciate this recognition of our dad’s courage. ”
Gareth did something very kind for our family in Germany, and we consider it a great act of friendship.
The accident occurred early in the morning, but Mr. Bufton’s family didn’t find out about it until much later in the day.
The accident appeared to have occurred near my family. “He said that even though people claimed the sound could be heard from 20 miles away, his parents and baby sister Connie slept through it. ”
The next morning, when they woke up to milk the cows, they saw a lot of activity outside the kitchen window and realized something was happening.
None of them could come near because there were still bullets exploding, and I don’t think they wanted them to see the dead bodies.
The two people who operated the radio and navigated the plane were able to jump out with parachutes and became prisoners in the war. However, Brixius and Liessig stayed with the broken plane and tried to land it safely. Unfortunately, the plane eventually crashed into a field where there were sheep on a hill on the farm.
They were laid to rest a few days later at Glascwm Church. Later on, their bodies were moved to a German war cemetery at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire.
However, once the bodies were removed and the granary was returned, Mr. Bufton’s parents, Jack and Muriel, discovered the missing Iron Cross decorated with the swastika.
Mr Bufton said that they had always discussed finding the family. They knew who the family belonged to, but before the internet, it was more difficult to locate people compared to today. My mom left the farm when my brother started taking care of it, and afterwards it was stored in a box until she passed away.
Mr Bufton and his wife Yvonne, who had worked in Germany and knew people from Brixius’s hometown, were able to gather the information.
Ulrich Brixius stated that his uncle was a nice young man who enjoyed playing the violin and hockey. He was the third child out of four and was born in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia.
He sadly knew very little about him because his father’s three brothers had all been killed in action.
The family doesn’t know why Brixius got the Iron Cross, but since he received it in September 1939, they think it might be for his involvement in either Poland or the Sudetenland.
East Hampshire District Council said that the government and developers provided money to fund the accommodation.
There are five houses in Bordon, two houses in Petersfield, and one house in Horndean. Seven Ukrainian families will live in these homes, and one home will be for an Afghan family.
Councillor Adeel Shah said: “One of our visitors cried because she was so happy when she saw her new house. ”
He said that many generous people let Ukrainian refugees stay in their homes when the conflict started, and now we can find a permanent home for them.
Nobody should have to leave their home because they are scared. It is really good that this country is ready to help and provide safety and comfort to people who need it.
Mr Shah said that the buildings will be put back into the social housing supply when they are available again.
The department in charge of improving fairness, housing, and communities requested councils to purchase homes to assist with the refugee problem caused by wars in Ukraine and Afghanistan.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has unveiled a comprehensive program of activities for the upcoming 2023 District Level Elections (DLE) to ensure a transparent and organized electoral process. Here are the key dates and activities leading up to the election day:
Voter Registration: August 28 to October 2, 2023 – Eligible voters can register during this period.
District Registration Review Committees (DRRC): Swearing in on September 12, 2023 – Ensuring the integrity of the voter registration process.
Transfer of Votes: September 26, 2023 – Allows voters to transfer their votes to new districts if needed.
Replacement of Lost Voters ID Cards: October 3, 2023 – Enables voters to replace lost ID cards.
Exhibition of the Voters’ Register: October 18 to October 31, 2023 – Allows voters to verify their information.
Stakeholder Engagements: November 4 to November 8, 2023 – Involving women, civil society organizations (CSOs), and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process.
Appointment and Briefing of Revising Officers: November 13, 2023 – Finalizes preparations for the elections.
Nominations of Candidates: November 14, 2023 (District Assembly) and November 16-17, 2023 (Unit Committee) – Details will be communicated through press statements.
Publicity on District Level Elections: October 1 to October 19, 2023 – Raising awareness about the elections.
Posting of the Notice of Poll: November 29 to December 4, 2023 – Announcing details of the elections.
Election Day: December 19, 2023 – Citizens will vote and select their representatives.
Breaking of Ties: December 27-28, 2023 – In case of ties in election results.
The Electoral Commission is dedicated to ensuring a transparent, fair, and inclusive electoral process for the 2023 District Level Elections. The program aims to uphold democratic principles and provide a platform for citizens to actively participate in shaping their local governance. Please note that these dates are subject to change based on circumstances at the time.
Drones have had a big impact on the war in Ukraine, used a lot by both sides. China’s decision to limit the amount of goods it exports has raised worries that there might be a shortage of supplies.
A lot of these things are made in China and bought ready to use. We need more supplies because many of them get lost in the fighting.
However, it seems like there may be fewer Chinese drones and drone parts accessible to both Ukraine and Russia.
Based on a report by a London think tank called the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), Ukraine loses around 10,000 drones every month.
Many volunteer groups have used donated money to help the Ukrainian army get new supplies.
Commercial drones are used together with military drones that are specifically made for fighting, like the Turkish Bayraktar drones used by Ukraine and the Iranian Shaheds used by Russia.
The Chinese government recently put new rules in place starting from 1 September. These rules are for bigger drones that weigh more than 4kg. They also apply to certain equipment like cameras and radio modules that are used with drones.
Chinese manufacturers of this equipment now have to ask for permission to sell it overseas and give certificates to show who will use it. The government in Beijing, which has not criticized Russia for invading Ukraine, says Chinese drones should only be used for business, not military, reasons.
Ukrainian volunteers and soldiers are not greatly affected by the recent Chinese restrictions on drones. The popular lightweight Mavic drones made by DJI are still easily available. But, they are saying that there is a problem getting the parts they need, and they are also worried that it might get even worse later on.
Lyuba Shypovych, the leader of Dignitas, a big Ukrainian volunteer group that provides the military with drones, said that the only difference for now is that they are buying the remaining stock in European warehouses more actively. “But we don’t know what we will be doing in the future. ”
She is very concerned about whether there will be enough thermal imaging cameras available.
The shorter days and longer nights are affecting our military supplies and how we conduct warfare because we have fewer thermal imaging drones. She said our units cannot see well at night. This impacts both drones that are already made and come with thermal imaging cameras, as well as the individual parts used to build drones.
It is especially important to have enough parts for people who build their own drones or make upgrades on ones they bought.
The effect is being noticed. According to a drone operator named Oddr, China’s license restrictions have reduced Ukraine’s ability to acquire drone parts. “However, we are searching for other options to ensure that our drones continue to function just like they did previously. ”
This is the most recent problem that volunteers have in getting drones for the Russian and Ukrainian armies.
The biggest company that makes drones for business, DJI, stopped selling directly to both countries two months after the big attack started in February 2022. They also stopped their distributors everywhere in the world from selling DJI products to customers in Russia or Ukraine.
Ms Shypovych said that there were a lot fewer Chinese drones for sale in Europe between August and September 2022.
It’s doubtful that it occurred randomly. “She says European countries are where Ukrainians get drones from. ”
When the BBC asked DJI, they couldn’t say for sure if the number of drones they were giving to distributors in Europe had changed or not.
None of the 10 UK companies that sell DJI products and were asked by the BBC were able to comment on the issue.
A recent investigation by The New York Times found that Chinese companies have reduced the number of drones and parts they sell to people in Ukraine.
However, other countries are also impacted by this situation, not just Ukraine.
Russia’s Kommersant newspaper said that the regulations put in place by China’s government on drone exports have made it very difficult for Russia to receive the supplies they need. This has caused a shortage of certain parts, like thermal imaging cameras.
When Russian buyers can’t get drones directly, they often go to other countries like Kazakhstan to buy Chinese drones. However, it has become tougher for them because Kazakhstan has made its own rules about importing drones.
To reduce the effects of the Chinese restrictions, Ukrainian volunteers have been working hard to find other options made in different countries, both in the West and Ukraine.
Anatoly Polkovnikov, who assists in getting drones, shares that a Ukrainian start-up is getting ready to start producing drone motors.
He believes that the Chinese restrictions won’t affect the overall situation and is hopeful for the future. I think that in the future, they will encourage more production in Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine is the first time drones have been used in a big way, and both sides want to continue using them a lot.
The Grammy Awards, considered the highest form of honor for musicians, have recognized and celebrated musical talent worldwide since their inception in 1954. African artists have also received Grammy awards over the years, showcasing the continent’s musical diversity and excellence. Here are 12 African acts that have won Grammy awards:
Angélique Kidjo (Republic of Benin) – 5 Grammys
Categories: Best Contemporary World Music Album, Best World Music Album, Best Global Music Album
The military of Israel has promised to make air attacks on Gaza more frequent and has advised Palestinians who are still in the northern part of the area to move to the southern part.
A person from the military said that this would help Israel make sure our soldiers are safe in the next parts of the war. Hamas has reported that 55 people died in airstrikes on Gaza during the night.
The Israeli military says it attacked a group of Hamas members who were hiding in a mosque in the West Bank. Israel has positioned tanks and soldiers at the border with Gaza in preparation for a possible land invasion. However, the exact timing of when this may occur is not known.
The UN wants to provide more help to Gaza today. Yesterday, they were able to give necessary supplies to people for the first time since the fighting started.
It has been two weeks since Hamas attacked Israel and caused the deaths of over 1,400 people. Palestinian leaders say that over 4,300 people have died in Gaza since that time.
The inaugural Trace Awards 2023 were unveiled on October 21, 2023, at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, in a star-studded event celebrating the creativity, diversity, and influence of African and Afro-inspired musicians. The awards recognized various genres, from Afrobeat to Dancehall, Hip Hop to Afro-pop, Mbalax to Amapiano, Zouk to Kizomba, and more, including Genge, Coupé Décalé, Bongo Flava, Soukous, Gospel, Rap, Rai, Kompa, R&B, and Rumba.
The awards ceremony was hosted by Nigerian music veteran D’Banj and Angolan global supermodel Maria Borges. The event featured a lineup of performers including Davido, Yemi Alade, Black Sherif, Kizz Daniel, and more.
Here are the winners of the Trace Awards 2023:
Best Music Video – “Baddie” by Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Best Artist France & Belgium – Tayc (France)
Best Producer – Tam Sir (Ivory Coast)
Best Artist North Africa – Dystinct (Morocco)
Best Artist UK – Central Cee
Best Artist Indian Ocean – Goulam (Comoros)
Best Artist Francophone Africa – Didi B (Ivory Coast)
Best DJ – Michael Brun (Haiti)
Best Gospel Artist – KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)
Best Artist The Caribbean – Rutshelle Guillaume (Haiti)
Best Artist Anglophone Africa – Asake (Nigeria)
Best Global African Artist – Rema
Best Newcomer – Roseline Layo (Ivory Coast)
Best Collaboration – “Unavailable” – Davido (Nigeria) with Musa Keys (South Africa)
Best Dancer – Robot Boii (South Africa)
Best Artist Lusophone Africa – Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde)
Changemaker Trace Award – Mr. Eazi (Nigeria)
Best Live – Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Lifetime Achievement Award – 2Baba (Nigeria)
Album of the Year – “Love Damini” by Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Best Female Artist – Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
Best Male Artist – Davido (Nigeria)
Song of the Year – Rema (Nigeria)
Davido speech after winning the “Best collaboration of the year” at the First Edition of Trace Awards, Rwanda 🇷🇼 2023.🎉 pic.twitter.com/rZN22KqY5H
Six postal workers were killed and 16 more were hurt when a missile struck a distribution center in eastern Ukraine late on Saturday night.
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, reported on Telegram that the Nova Poshta sorting office in Kharkiv was hit.
The photos on President Zelensky’s account showed a building with broken windows.
The governor of Kharkiv, Oleh Syniehubov, said that all the people who were hurt worked for the postal company.
The police said there were 22 people inside a building when a suspected S-300 rocket hit it right before 10:30 PM local time (8:30 PM BST).
Investigators, along with crime experts and scientists, are looking at the bodies of the deceased, the police said on social media.
Mr Syniehubov wrote on Telegram that the people who got hurt were between 19 and 42 years old. Some of them had wounds caused by flying pieces from the explosion.
He said that the delivery company in the western Kharkiv suburb of Korotych was only for regular citizens and not for any military purposes.
He said that the Russians have caused more fear and violence among the calm people in Kharkiv. President Zelensky said that they are still trying to rescue people and emergency services are working at the place where the incident happened.
Russia has not said anything about the reported attack yet. But they have said before that they did not intentionally harm innocent people when they went into Ukraine.
Mr Syniehubov mentioned that there were seven people in the hospital who were not too sick and seven men who were very sick.
Kharkiv is a big city in Ukraine, and it is not too far from Russia. The city in the northeast was badly attacked with bombs in the early weeks of the war in February 2022.
Earlier this month, the Mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, announced that a new school will be built underground in Ukraine. This unique school will provide a safe environment for children to attend classes in person.
At the same time in the southern part, Ukraine has been fighting back since June.
The country that has been badly affected by war wants to cut off the land connection Russia has to the Crimean peninsula, which Russia took over unlawfully in 2014.
However, the counter-attack has been progressing slowly and has only resulted in small amounts of land being reclaimed.
Kumawood actress Tracey Boakye has proudly introduced her adopted daughter, Tracey Ntiamoah. Tracey Boakye adopted the little girl when her mother was five months pregnant.
According to Tracey Boakye, she encouraged her mother to name her daughter after her, and she has taken on the responsibility of ensuring that the child lacks for nothing. Tracey Boakye chose to unveil this secret on her adopted daughter’s second birthday, celebrating their special bond.
She wrote on social media;
‘Let me tell you a little story about this beautiful baby (Tracey). I adopted her when her mum was carrying her (5months pregnant), I told her, if your baby is a girl, give her to me, (name her after me), I didn’t even know she was going to deliver her on a Thursday (yaa), surprisingly she also has my husband’s surname (Ntiamoah), because of her dad. I made a promise to her parents during her christening, and I still stick to that promise, I have a covenant with God about you my Tracey, and so far as I live, you will never lack! It’s a promise 🙏🏿🙏🏿🥰. So help me God 🙏🏿. Happy 2nd birthday Baby Yaa (Tracey), I love you 😘 my third child 😘😘😘😘. God bless you.’
Popular social commentator and politician A Plus, has encouraged the remaining members of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees, particularly Rev. Joyce Aryee, to follow the path of integrity and also resign from their roles.
A Plus, while discussing the resignations of Rev. Eastwood Anaba and Archbishop Duncan Williams from the National Cathedral project, emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity and urged Rev. Joyce Aryee to step down as well to protect her highly respected image. This call for resignation may be related to recent developments or controversies surrounding the National Cathedral project.
“I am very pained that my own mother, who I respect so much, is still on that board. She should also resign! She has been there for long. Madam Joyce Aryee is a well-respected woman in Ghana and she has to keep that.
“I am wondering why the Holy Spirit who whispered to Eastwood Anaba and Duncan Williams to resign, didn’t tell Joyce Aryee to resign too.
A Plus added that people must learn to point out ills and stand for the truth regardless of what might be at risk.
“When it gets to a point, let’s be able to point out people’s wrongdoings and speak the truth all the time,” he averred.
Background
On October 17, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, the founder and general overseer of the United Denominations of Action Chapel Churches Worldwide, and Rev. Eastwood Anaba, the President of Eastwood Anaba Ministries, both resigned from the Board of Trustees responsible for overseeing the construction of the National Cathedral in Ghana.
In a joint statement, Archbishop Duncan-Williams and Reverend Anaba cited their resignation as a response to the government’s failure to appoint an independent accounting firm to audit all public funds contributed to the National Cathedral project. This decision reflects their concerns about transparency and accountability regarding the use of public funds for the construction of the cathedral.
Ghanaian musician Strongman has revealed that he participates in controversies and musical feuds with other artists primarily to enhance his commercial success. He mentioned that he would not respond to provocations from other musicians in their songs unless they offered economic benefits.
Strongman cited his past feud with Medikal, which he believes boosted his commercial success, as an example. He emphasized that engaging in controversies and beefs with other musicians is a strategic move to improve his commercial revenue and enjoy the associated benefits. This approach highlights the economic considerations that may underlie some of the interactions and conflicts within the music industry.
“If I want to diss you I will do it in such a way that you will come and respond. For the aspersions all the time, I hear it in songs but I’m a businessman so I have to check certain things to know whether I should do a particular beef or not.
“It’s not just about the emotions because we can’t use it to buy rice. I have to assess the person to know whether he has enough numbers and is at a certain level in the music industry,” he said in a video shared by Express GHTV on their YouTube channel.
Strongman also noted that his beef with Medikal was beneficial to his music brand hence he will not just do such a thing for the fun of it.
“Because of my last beef, I had 105k in five hours that is the one with Medikal. So apart from the commercial aspect I need to enjoy it as well, I don’t just respond to anybody.”
The Public Relations Officer for Rent Control Ghana, Emmanuel Kporsu, has offered advice to tenants on how to address the issue of landlords or landladies who refuse to pay for utilities such as electricity and water. It has become a common practice in Ghana for some property owners to pass these bills on to their tenants, creating a growing trend.
Kporsu recommends that tenants facing such problems report the issue to the Rent Control Department. This approach allows tenants to seek resolution and ensure that they are not unfairly burdened with these utility costs, which are typically the responsibility of property owners. Rent control departments play a role in regulating such matters to protect the rights and interests of tenants.
“If you are going through this situation and you haven’t been able to sort it out with your house owner, then you have to make a report at Rent Control, and we will invite the house owner to come and explain why he or she is doing that.”
“No house owner has the right to pay either the water bill or the electricity bill because the property belongs to him because the house does not generate the water or electricity but rather consumes it, so everyone who consumes has to pay.”
“Once you stay in the house, no law permits you (the house owner) to share your own bills for the tenants to pay. The law even states that the bill amount should be shown to the tenants for all of them to see the total amount that came,” he said.
Many Arab citizens of Israel have been taken into custody because of what they said on social media about the war in Gaza.
One of them is a famous singer and influencer named Dalal Abu Amneh from Nazareth. She was kept in police custody for two days before being let go on Wednesday after paying bail. She is currently not allowed to leave her house until Monday.
As per Abeer Baker, her lawyer, she was accused by the police officers of behaving badly. They claimed that her posts could make her followers become violent.
The picture that caught the police’s attention was a photo of the Palestinian flag with a saying in Arabic that means “Only God wins. ”
Ms Baker says the singer, who is famous in the Arab world for singing about Palestinian culture, was expressing her religious beliefs. Israeli authorities believed that the singer’s post was encouraging Palestinians to take up weapons.
Since the war began between Israel and Hamas, the police in Israel have taken a strict approach towards social media posts that show support for Hamas. Hamas is a group that wants to destroy Israel and is considered a terrorist group by Israel, the US, UK, and other countries.
Ms Abu Amneh, who is an Arab citizen of Israel, was arrested along with many other people for posting about the war on social media.
A lot of people have been stopped from working or fired from their jobs, or face punishment from their universities.
Israeli Arabs, also known as Palestinian citizens of Israel, make up about 20% of the population in Israel.
The police have looked into and arrested over 100 individuals for their online activities since Hamas attacked. Sixty-three people have been arrested and questioned in Jerusalem only.
Israel’s Police Commissioner, Yaakov Shabtai, said that if anyone encourages others to oppose or harm Israel, its government, its elected officials, its military, or its police, the Israel Police will respond strongly and without being lenient.
Adalah, an organization that advocates for the rights of Arab minorities in Israel, thinks that more people are being held in custody because there have been more recent arrests.
During the Israel-Gaza conflict in May 2021, a report from Adalah stated that only 16 individuals were charged with inciting violence. Out of these 16 people, 15 were Arab.
Human rights advocates are concerned that the recent increase in arrests is because the police are now considering more behaviors as potentially encouraging violence.
In Rahat, a city in the desert, the police have arrested a person named Dr. Amer al-Huzail He was running for mayor in the past. He posted on social media a map of the Gaza Strip, along with his thoughts on what might happen if Israeli forces were to start a mission on the ground there.
Because of this, people have accused him of helping the enemy during a time of war. However, some people in Israel are still experiencing severe outcomes for their social media posts, even if they are not charged with any crimes.
According to lawyers from Adalah, they have received more than 40 cases where Israeli Arab workers were suspended or fired from their jobs unexpectedly.
Salam Irsheid, a lawyer at the organization, said that sometimes people’s jobs and way of making a living are in danger just because they give a like to a social media post. We have a worker who might lose their job for liking a news report about the Gaza situation on social media.
Arab students in Israel’s universities are also being disciplined by their schools.
Last week, the president of Tel Aviv University, Ariel Porat, mentioned that a small number of students were identified for showing “approval of the terrible actions by Hamas”.
“We will be very tough on these few students,” he wrote on the university’s website, “and if we believe their actions are against the law, we will inform the police. ” We will respond quickly, as needed in this sensitive situation, but we will make sure that every student gets a fair investigation.
Lawyers from Adalah have heard from 83 students who were suspended from schools in different parts of the country. In certain situations, these students were also asked to leave their housing suddenly.
None of the situations are about doing things, showing things, or taking part in things that are against the law. Hassan Jabareen, the general director of Adalah, says that they are mostly focused on the things people post on social media.
He says that most of the posts are against the war and Israel’s actions in Gaza. They also support the victims of the war in Gaza.
10% of the posts can be seen as indirectly supporting the actions of Hamas against innocent people.
“In usual circumstances, those posts wouldn’t be understood in that way, but nowadays Israel has a tendency to interpret them in the most severe manner. ”
The public is very angry about the attack by Hamas, which killed over 1,400 people, mostly innocent people, in areas close to the Gaza Strip. They are also upset with Jewish Israelis who are asking for things to calm down.
On the previous Sunday, Israel Frey, a well-known journalist from the left-wing ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, had to be taken away from his home in Tel Aviv by the police to keep him safe.
A group of people gathered outside the building and fired flares at his apartment because he posted a video on social media where he was praying for the people in Gaza.
And on Wednesday, Ofer Cassif, who is a Jewish lawmaker for the Arab-led Hadash-Taal alliance, was temporarily removed from the Israeli parliament for 45 days because he strongly criticized the bombing of Gaza.
He recently posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) and criticized the police for not acting quickly to protect Mr. Frey
“Police with weapons are sent to arrest anyone who displays even a small amount of understanding or compassion for the killings in Gaza,” he wrote.
However, the police do not want to keep a left-wing journalist safe when their life is at risk.
The Philippines says that China’s coast guard crashed into a Filipino boat that was bringing supplies in the South China Sea.
The Filipino boat was going on Sunday to a Philippine base in the Second Thomas Shoal, where tensions have become worse in the past few weeks.
Manila said that Beijing’s “dangerous blocking moves” put the Filipino crew’s safety at risk.
But China claimed that the Philippines purposely caused problems.
Chinese and Philippine ships often play a game of hide and seek around the shoal. A few Filipino soldiers on the outpost, which is a deteriorating navy ship, need to be given food supplies every month.
However, Filipino authorities say that China has become more forceful since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr came into power in June 2022 and tried to have closer military relations with Washington, which is Beijing’s main competitor for control in the sea rich with resources and importance.
On Sunday, there was another incident near Second Thomas Shoal. Filipino authorities reported that a Chinese militia ship crashed into a Philippine coast guard ship.
Another ship with supplies was able to reach the Philippine outpost in the shoal, according to Manila.
Beijing says that it owns almost all of the South China Sea, including the Spratlys which is the area where the Second Thomas Shoal is found. The sea territory claimed by this country is the same as what other countries, like the Philippines and Vietnam, are also claiming.
In 2016, a court in The Hague said that China’s big claims to the sea were not valid. This happened because Manila took them to court. Beijing has said they do not accept it.
The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has faced criticism from residents living along the Akosombo Dam for not providing prompt and accurate information before the dam spillage, despite repeated warnings to evacuate the area.
George Ayisi, the Director of Communications at NADMO, defended the organization’s actions in an interview on Citi TV/Citi FM’s The Big Issue. He explained that the victims were caught off guard because they had taken the earlier warnings for granted. Ayisi also pointed out that residents may have been skeptical because previous warnings of a potential spillage in 2022 did not materialize. He emphasized that NADMO had made significant efforts to sensitize and educate residents about the potential risks and conducted simulation exercises in May 2023 to prepare them for such a disaster.
“We set up a team comprised of NADMO and the Volta River Authority in March 2023. The technical engagement between NADMO and VRA, produced an emergency preparedness plan. Simulation is part of the emergency preparedness plan. In May, we had the simulation exercise, where we engaged all the people in all nine districts. We even extended it to Kpando, so that they were on standby. In case there’s a spillover, maybe Kpando will have the effect.”
He further clarified, “The assemblies, all major stakeholders in the communities were there; we engaged them. We demonstrated what ought to be done, we extensively involved them. We were doing concurrent simulation exercises. And so I’m surprised people say nobody was notified. The people were aware, but they didn’t believe the spillage was going to be done, because in 2022, VRA warned of a spillage, the people were informed, but it didn’t happen. So they thought last year we came and told them but nothing happened. Yes, in 2010 there was a spillage, but it didn’t inundate us in any way.”
The Director of Communications at NADMO, George Ayisi, noted that the warnings and preparation efforts have been effective in preventing any loss of life in the region following the dam spillage.
“I believe it is part of that exercise that we have not recorded any fatality as of now,” he stated.
George Ayisi emphasized that in some cases, they had to take a more proactive approach and compel some of the affected victims to evacuate the area after the dam spillage.
“When inundation started, some of them didn’t want to move out because they were protecting their properties, so we had to force them to move out,” he asserted.
George Ayisi stated that NADMO has taken measures to provide safe havens for the victims affected by the dam spillage.
China and the Philippines blamed each other for causing crashes in a disputed part of the South China Sea. This is just one of many clashes between the two countries in the area, which has made tensions in the region worse.
The Philippine government said that a ship from the Chinese Coast Guard did dangerous moves that made it crash into a Philippine boat bringing supplies to soldiers stationed in Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, in the Spratly Islands chain.
China’s action was called “provocative, irresponsible, and illegal” and it put the crew of the Philippine boats in danger, according to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.
On Sunday, another incident occurred where a ship from the Chinese maritime militia collided with a ship from the Philippine coast guard. Both ships were involved in the mission to resupply the BRP Sierra Madre. In 1999, Manila intentionally put a navy ship on Second Thomas Shoal, and Filipino marines are now stationed there to protect their rights to that area.
The Chinese Coast Guard said on Sunday that the Philippines broke international sea rules and put the safety of Chinese ships in danger.
It accused the first Philippine ship of going into the waters of what it calls the Nansha islands and Renai Reef without permission. This prompted a Chinese Coast Guard ship to stop the Philippine ship, which led to a small crash.
In another incident, the Chinese Coast Guard stated that the Philippine Coast Guard boat intentionally tried to start a problem and turned around, resulting in crashing into a Chinese fishing boat.
Beijing says that it completely owns most of the South China Sea, including the islands and sandbars in it. They even claim ownership of areas that are far away from China’s main territory.
In 2016, a court in The Hague decided that the Philippines were right in a big argument about the ocean. The court said that China doesn’t have any legal reason to say that they own most of the South China Sea.
Beijing disregarded the decision.
No one was hurt in either crash on Sunday. This is the latest of many recent arguments between Beijing and Manila over the disputed waterway.
In September, the Philippine Coast Guard showed a video of a Filipino diver removing a barrier put up by the Chinese in a disputed area of the water. This barrier had stopped Filipino boats from going into the area.
It happened a few days after the Philippine Coast Guard claimed that China’s marine militia had caused extensive damage to coral around the Palawan islands, making it look white and ruined.
China’s foreign ministry said that those accusations are not true and have no basis.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced that the restoration of power from the Sogakope Bulk Supply Point (BSP) may face significant delays due to flooding in the area caused by the spillage of the Akosombo Dam.
The company had initially shut down the Bulk Supply Point to protect the station, which resulted in power disruptions in several areas, including Sogakope, Anloga, Keta, Akatsi South, Abor, and North Tongu districts.
To mitigate the impact, electricity power has been supplied to Adidome and its surrounding areas from Juapong, while the remaining towns receive power from the Aflao Bulk Supply Point (BSP).
According to Mr. Benjamin Obeng Antwi, the Volta Regional Public Relations Officer of ECG, the Sogakope BSP remains closed, as the company anticipates that it will not be operational for several months. The ECG is working on a long-term solution to ensure continued power supply in the event that the situation lasts for six months or more. He also emphasized the importance of customer safety and noted that the company has improved its network to address the situation.
The situation in the affected areas has improved with communities supplied with electricity power from the Aflao Bulk Supply Point, as per Mr. Benjamin Obeng Antwi, the Volta Regional Public Relations Officer of ECG.
However, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) is facing challenges with electricity power, affecting its ability to maintain water supply to flood-affected areas. Mr. Francis Lamptey, the Regional Chief Manager of GWCL, explained that water was being rationed to these areas based on the availability of power supply. In response to the situation, GWCL is setting up parallel distribution lines to serve flood victims from Aflao.
The headworks at Agordome are currently supplying 5,500 cubic meters out of 7,570 cubic meters, resulting in a shortfall of 2,070 cubic meters (equivalent to 455,620 gallons). Mr. Lamptey outlined a rationing or water management program for various communities in a weekly rotation, depending on the availability of electricity. He also mentioned that the area around the headworks is experiencing flooding, and they hope to mitigate the rise at some point.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had initially scheduled his visit to the region for October 21st and 22nd, but a revision was made to accommodate Hon. Ken Ohene Agyapong’s campaign tour of the North East Region, which is rescheduled for October 22nd and 23rd, 2023.
The tentative dates for the Vice President’s visit to the region are now set for October 29th and 30th, 2023. A detailed itinerary of his tour will be published once the dates are confirmed.
In the meantime, Hon. Ken Ohene Agyapong will commence his North East Region campaign tour on October 22, 2023, covering three constituencies on the first day: Chereponi, Yunyoo, and Bunkpurugu. He will then continue to Yagaba, Nalerigu, and Walewale on October 23, 2023.
A plane from the Russian military blew up in a big ball of fire while trying to fly away from a far away airbase. It was carrying something unknown.
The Il-76 plane was on the runway when one of its engines caught fire, causing the plane to move off the runway. The fire quickly started spreading.
According to reports, it is believed that there were eight people on the craft. They were transporting some military cargo, but managed to escape before the craft caught fire.
A video showed a Russian military aircraft on fire at a base in Tajikistan called Ayni airbase (also known as Gissar air base), which is near the capital city Dushanbe. According to reports on Telegram, the plane’s identification number was not initially revealed.
However, the crashed plane is thought to be RF-86900. This plane was previously used to deliver supplies for Putin’s war in Belarus.
A comment from a source said that they are not revealing the information about what is in the cargo for political reasons related to war.
He also mentioned that the airplane might have been owned by Vladimir Putin’s special Pskov airborne troops. It is said that Ukraine attacked and destroyed five Il-76s.
“He said it’s a real disaster if it’s the Pskov regiment because we have already lost five. ”
Based on what the person saw, the fire first started in the engine and then quickly spread to the rest of the vehicle.
The big airplane is the second one to blow up on the runway in the last month. In September, a plane made in Russia was recorded as it went out of control and crashed off a runway in Africa. It then burst into flames and exploded. People suspected that the jet might be connected to the Wagner Group.
The jet caught fire in Mali, where Wagner’s soldiers are based. This happened a few weeks after their leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died when his plane exploded during a flight near Moscow.
People who know about Wagner said that the Russian mercenary group is not connected to the flight, even though they are currently working in Mali.
However, they did not say for certain that Wagner was connected to the plane.
Ghana must use an industrial strategy to solve its waste management problems, according to Nana-Osei Mainoo, the founder of the multinational advising firm Finance and Industrial Machinery Africa (FIMA).
He stated that doing so necessitated the use of heavy-duty waste collection vehicles equipped with cutting-edge technologies throughout the nation’s major cities and villages.
Additionally, it was essential for the government and other private businesses to invest in waste management equipment and labour for staffing the avalanche of garbage collection inside the towns.
According to Nana-Osei Mainoo, FIMA and its German partner, FAUN, were prepared to provide financial support to Ghanaian waste management companies so they could purchase cutting-edge garbage collection vehicles.
He made this announcement at the 11th West African Clean Energy and Environment Trade Fair and Conference (WACEE23) in Accra, where FIMA and FAUN debuted their “Rotopress” as their flagship product to the West African market.
A distinctive vehicle for collecting home, commercial, and municipal waste is the Rotopress.
The truck could empty any container, from small 60-liter bins to big 1,100-liter bins, with the right lift.
The organic waste is immediately homogenised and compacted in the rotary drum, making it perfect for removal.
Low maintenance costs, large payload, agility due to a small overhang, and optimal axle load distribution make this vehicle environmentally benign.
It has a revolving drum that empties completely without leaving any residue and has very watery waste fractions.
When speaking with the media, Nana-Ose Mainoo stated that the Jospong Group of Companies (Zoomlion) had already received 30 of the trash vehicles from them.
According to Mr. Lucas Dorr, an FAUN spokesman, the cars have been around for 170 years.
Former minister of state and chair of the Appiatse Support Fund Committee Dr. Joyce Aryee encouraged metropolitan, municipal, and district assembly to acquire them so they may manage their garbage effectively. She cut the ribbon to officially outdoor the vehicle.
The audience witnessed a live demonstration of how to operate the vehicle.
In comparison to the 25.9 million barrels produced during the same period last year, 22.5 million barrels (bbls) of crude oil were produced in the first half of 2023.
The fall is a result of lower output on all three producing fields, Jubilee, TEN, and SGN Fields, which decreased by 13%, 17.5%, and 12.9%, respectively.
Since its start, year-over-year (y-o-y) crude oil production levels have decreased four times in a row, according to the Public Interest Accountability Committee’s (PIAC) semi-annual report on the use and management of petroleum revenue.
The research states that Jubilee’s output fell from 14.9 million bbls in the first half of 2022 to 13.1 million bbls in the same period of 2023, with a fall in the average daily oil production of 82,560 bbls from 2022 to 2023.
The first half of 2023 saw a drop in TEN productions from 4.4 million bbls in the first half of 2022 to 3.6 million bbls. In the first half of 2022, the average daily oil production was 24,263.00 bbls; in the second half, it was
In the first half of 2023, there will be 20,032.24 bbls, the report noted.
The average daily output of SGN decreased from 36,206.76 bbls in 2022 to 31,562.9 bbls in 2023, falling from 6.6 million bbls in the first half of 2022 to 5.7 million bbls in the first half of 2023.
Gas output from all three fields, including both associated and non-associated gas, totaled 130,065.22 Million Standard Cubic Feet (MMSCF) during the period under review.
According to the study, 14 liftings totaling 13,273,962 bbls were made by the Jubilee Partners during the first half of the year, compared to 15 liftings during the same period in 2022, for a total of 22 liftings.
The TEN partners lifted 2.9 million bbls altogether in the first half of 2023 as opposed to 4 liftings totaling 3.9 million bbls in the same period in 2022.
In comparison to seven parcels totaling 6.6 million bbls during the same period in 2022, SNG partners hoisted five parcels of crude oil totaling 4.7 million bbls.
Used electrical appliance sellers in Tema Communities One and Two have complained about the high excise taxes placed on imported items, blaming them for the low quality of customer support.
They complained that several tariffs were levied on their products, making clearance difficult.
In an interview with Ghana News Agency in Tema, Mr. Frank Okyere, a dealer in secondhand products, claimed that the low consumption of goods was caused by the current state of the economy and taxes, which also explained why prices were increasing so quickly.
He listed some of the appliances that have been impacted by the taxes, including washing machines, press irons, and stoves.
A cooker, he claimed, currently sells for between GHS 1,500.00 to GHS 2,000.00, as opposed to GHS 800.00 in the past.
Mr. Okyere claimed that because such business transactions required a lot of capital, they could not be entered into without a strong financial base.
“As a result, some seek out grants and bank loans for additional funding.”
Mr. Nimako Clement, another Dealer, sought for help after claiming that taxes were hurting their business.
Mr. Nimako begged the government to reduce import taxes so that many dealers might gain and, in turn, help to cut the unemployment rate by hiring some of the younger generation.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has stated that the implementation of tax stamps on new items and textile products at all entry points commenced on October 1, 2023 through Mr. Kwabena Apau, Head of Excise.
He claims that the transitioning period will last from October 1 through December 31 of 2023. All currently marketed goods that were exempt from the tax stamp requirement during this time will need to have them stamped, including sweetened beverages.
“GRA is urging everyone who has inventory of these products to visit the nearby GRA office and apply for stamps to be attached to their inventory,” the speaker stated.
Mr. Apau made this declaration during a Joint Customs Consultative Committee (JCCC) session in Tema as part of GRA’s initiatives to increase customer knowledge in the port community regarding the use and adherence of excise tax stamps.
He declared that freshly imported commodities that had not previously been subject to the tax stamp would be starting on the aforementioned date.
To demonstrate compliance and payment of all necessary customs and taxes, each textile product will have a special stamp called a “textile tax stamp” attached to it.
On October 1, we started the entrance point enforcement, he said.
“Therefore, all dealers of textile products holding stocks must contact the nearest GRA offices and request that the necessary tax stamps be applied to them,” the speaker concluded.
The largest banana exporting company in Ghana, Golden Exotic Limited, claims that they have suffered a $500,000 infrastructure loss due to excessive water spillage from the Akosombo Dam, according to the company’s authorities.
The floods have affected a big area of farmlands, covering 45 hectares. It is estimated that around 44,528 bunches of bananas have been underwater because of the floods.
Mr Benedict Rich, who is in charge of Golden Exotics Limited, said to the Ghana News Agency that the spillage has caused problems with their supplies.
We have around 4000 employees, and a lot of them struggle to come to work. He said that the roads are covered with water, so we can’t collect the harvest.
This is the time of year when we gather the most crops, and we thought we would send over 2000 tons every week to other countries. The spilled water caused big floods that destroyed our farms.
In the meanwhile, Mr. Rich reported that the business had started constructing a dam along the river to stop water from accessing certain farmlands and pumping some water so that the workers could rescue what they could.
The plantation had not experienced floods of that size since it was founded, he claimed, adding that management was not given enough time to prepare for the spill.
“The discharge of water from the dams occurs every other year, typically rising two to three metres beyond the normal level. It has advanced by around five metres this year.
“These are new farms, and we have lost almost 45 hectares to the flood,” he added, adding that bananas could not survive in water for more than 72 hours.
The company’s Corporate Affairs and Administration Manager, Mr. Mark Achel, said that management was aware of the struggles residents were facing and had provided them with aid.
On September 15, 2023, the VRA began the controlled spillage at the Akosombo and Kpong dams in the Eastern Region due to excess water in both reservoirs.
A rough estimate of 26,000 people had been relocated as of October 17, 2023, as a result of the leak. Since the construction of the Akosombo Dam, which receives water from six separate tributaries, this is the biggest magnitude of displacement and volume recorded.
The VRA has previously let water pour out of the Dam. It did leak in the following years: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, and 1991, with 2010 being the most recent.
The Saharan countries are seeing above-average rainfall distribution, according to data from the Ghana Meteorology Agency (GMet).
The above-average rainfall that happened in the country’s northeast, which flows into the White Volta, is the other occurrence that has contributed to the huge amounts of water input.
The Public Relations Officer for Rent Control Ghana, Emmanuel Kporsu, has given tenants advice on how to deal with landlords or landladies who won’t pay their rent or utilities.
Because they own the property and impose their expenses on the tenants, some home owners in Ghana have traditionally refused to pay their share of the light, water, and other bills.
The prevalence of this issue in the nation is on the rise, and Emmanuel Kporsu has advised tenants who are experiencing it to report it to the Rent Control Department.
“If you’re in this situation and you haven’t been able to resolve it with your landlord, you need to file a report with Rent Control. We will then invite the landlord to come and explain their actions. ”
Every person who uses water and electricity in their home needs to pay for it. The owner of the house cannot pay these bills because the house does not create water or electricity, but uses them instead.
Once you own a house, you are not allowed by law to make the tenants pay your bills. The law says that tenants should be shown the bill so they can see how much they need to pay.
In a recent reports, a recent fire that broke out at the Makola market resulted in the destruction of multiple shops. Over 100 stores, worth millions of cedis, were reportedly damaged by the fire.
Serwaa Amihere, a TV journalist, broke the news on X on October 21, 2023.
But the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), in honour of its 125th anniversary, had ordered all stores, markets, truck terminals, and other businesses in the city to close and take part in a massive clean-up operation aimed at improving the cleanliness and environment of the city.
The clean-up operation, which is set to start at 6 am on Saturday, July 21, and go until 10 am, is also being done in order to get ready for the late Ga Manye, Naa Dedei Omaedru III’s final rites.
The focal areas for the exercise according to the AMA in a statement signed by Head of Public Affairs, Gilbert Nii Ankrah, are the Ga Traditional Council (GTC) stretch of Palace Street and Rev. Thomas Clegg Memorial Methodist Church to Department of Social Welfare stretch of the Nii Asere Ayite Road in the Okaikoi South Sub-Metro, Chorkor (Old Winneba Road), Korle Bu Traffic Light to Mamprobi Post Office (Guggisberg Avenue) in the Ablekuma South Sub-Metro.
Other locations include the Accra General Post Office and its surroundings, the Fire Academy and Training School, Bodey (Cleland Road) through to Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park (John Evans Atta Mills High Street), Odorkor Station on the Asafoatse Nettey Road to Bukom, and Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital on Derby Avenue in the Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metro.
In addition, the statement ordered all commercial and other economic activity to cease throughout the time period and urged all locals to organise similar exercises in their neighbourhoods in accordance with the AMA Sanitation, Cleaning, and Communal Labour Bye-laws 2017, which the Environmental Health Officers (Saman Saman) will strictly enforce.
The AMA also announced that public health officers would conduct a deratting exercise at the 31st Makola, Makola Nos. 2, Agbogbloshie, and London Markets in accordance with the Ga Traditional Council’s amended directive on the closure of all shops and markets on Saturday, October 28, 2023, in honour of the late Queen Mother of the Ga State, Naa Dedei Omaedru III.
Mr Ankrah said that it is important to close shops, markets, and lorry terminals in order to make sure that businesses and people in the city are fully involved in the initiative.
The Ghana COCOBOD‘s Deputy Chief Executive responsible for operations has refuted claims suggesting the organization’s negligence.
According to him, the company has different steps it takes before approving activities.
His comment was prompted by the fact that the Ministry of Finance is in the process of forming a team to oversee the operations of the COCOBOD
Dr Opoku said claims that COCOBOD has not been good with money are not correct.
”I don’t have a lot to talk about. What I want to say is that if you look at the COCOBOD organization, someone from the Finance Ministry or the minister’s assistant is part of the board. This means that the minister always represents. The Governor of Bank of Ghana is also part of the board. ”
Dr Opoku later stated that there are already government officials on COCOBOD’s board. So, any accusation made against them is not true and has no basis.
We work under a group led by someone chosen by the government, and the Minister of Finance is also one of the members of this group. We also have the Minister of Agriculture as a member of the board. In this situation, the deputy minister represents the minister. Therefore, I believe COCOBOD has not done anything wrong.
We (COCOBOD) cannot spend any money without approval from the board and our supervisory minister. It is hard to believe when someone accuses us of being careless.
Doctor Opoku said that COCOBOD had appeared before Parliament a few times, and he doesn’t think they found anything wrong with COCOBOD. He also mentioned that COCOBOD has auditors who check our accounts and understand how COCOBOD operates.
