TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Kenyatta warns against US, China rivalry in Africa

    Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said Wednesday that African nations should be free to cooperate with both the United States and China, warning that foreign powers were exacerbating the continent’s divisions.

    President Kenyatta was speaking on a visit to Washington, where speculation has built that the United States will seek to negotiate a free-trade agreement with Kenya, in what would be a first with an African nation.

    On the eve of his talks with President Donald Trump, President Kenyatta said he was “very concerned” about a return to the Cold War era when Africans had to choose between the United States and the Soviet Union.

    “Western countries, and their counterparts in Asia and the Middle East, are returned to competition over Africa, in some cases weaponising divisions, pursuing proxy actions and behaving like Africa is for the taking.

    “Well, I want to tell you it is not,” he said at the Atlantic Council think tank.

    China has been funding billions of dollars worth of infrastructure around the world, including a modern new rail-line between Nairobi and the port of Mombasa, as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.

    The United States has been increasingly vocal in urging developing nations to be wary, warning that they can be saddled with unpayable debts to Beijing for projects built largely with Chinese labour.

    Asked about the criticism of China, President Kenyatta said: “We don’t want to be forced to choose. We want to work with everybody, and we believe that there is opportunity for everybody.

    “There are those areas indeed where America stands out and has much, much better strengths in certain fields. On the other hand, you have the Chinese who build hospitals in seven days.”

    The White House said Trump would speak to President Kenyatta about “new opportunities to advance cooperation and trade.”

    Scott Eisner of the US Chamber of Commerce said the private sector was increasingly paying attention to rumours that the US and Kenya would start free-trade negotiations.

    “There’s some big numbers you could hit over the next six to 10 years should a big deal come together,” Eisner, head of the Chamber’s US-Africa Business Center, told reporters on a conference call.

    He pointed to Kenya’s medical device industry, tech sector and textiles as areas for trade and said the country had proven to be a “good market entry point” to East Africa.

    The United States has free-trade agreements with 20 countries but none are in Africa.

    Bob Lighthizer, the US trade representative, said in 2018 that the Trump administration would choose one African country for a “model” free-trade agreement.

    Driving the momentum for a trade deal, a US law that sets import preferences for African goods is set to expire in 2025.

    Passed by Congress in 2000, the African Growth and Opportunity Act lets sub-Saharan nations export an array of products to the United States tariff-free if they meet conditions such as maintaining a market-based economy, protecting labour rights and combating corruption.

    Trump is not known for his interest in Africa. But the State Department announced Wednesday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would pay his first visit to Africa from February 15 to 19, stopping in Senegal, Angola and Ethiopia.

    Source: Theeastafrican.co.ke

  • Schoolgirl shot as violence erupts in Lagos over ‘Okada Ban’

    A schoolgirl was hit by a stray bullet at Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, on Wednesday during a violent clash between a mob protesting the ban on ‘okada’ (commercial motorcyclists) in certain areas and security operatives of the Lagos State Task Force.

    The girl, who is yet to be identified, was promptly taken to Peak Health Hospital where she was stabilised before she was referred to the General Hospital, Orile Agege for treatment, a medical officer at the former told PREMIUM TIMES.

    The violence, which broke out on Wednesday morning, was as a result of a restriction placed on the operations of motorcycles and tricycles by the state government. Videos circulated on social media revealed how people were scampering for safety as the clash erupted.

    The protesters also shattered glasses of vehicles and lit bonfires on the highway, disrupting movement and business activities. Vehicles belonging to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) were also burnt by the protesters.

    ‘No life lost’- Police

    The Lagos State police spokesperson, Bala Elkana, told PREMIUM TIMES that the victim of the stray bullet was hit at Aboru when a faceoff occurred between operatives of Lagos State Task Force and miscreants.

    Mr Elkana said the operatives of the task force and police officers carried out the enforcement exercise in the area and 86 motorcycles were impounded.

    “The riders of the impounded motorcycles and thugs in large number advanced to Iyana-Ipaja and attacked police officers on duty at Iyana Ipana roundabout, Alaguntan junction and Aboru junction,” he said.

    Mr Elkana said no life was lost in the attack, “but Salifu Umar, an Inspector of police was injured by the hoodlums.”

    He said one LASTMA vehicle and two Neighbourhood Watch patrol bicycles were burnt by the hoodlums.

    He said 34 suspects were arrested in connection with the violent attacks and will be charged to court.

    A similar violence occurred at Ijora area of the state on Monday when a mob protested the restriction. The police said 24 suspects were arrested during the said attack for blocking major roads in Ijora, “burning tyres, looting and stealing from unsuspecting road users and causing obstructions in the area.”

    Source: premiumtimesng.com

  • Govt to hold crucial meeting with Neoplan Ghana over companys struggles

    The Managing Director of Neoplan Ghana, George Nassar, has told Citi Business News government will engage shareholders of the company on Friday February 7, 2020, to discuss a revival strategy for the struggling firm.

    Neoplan Ghana announced a planned shutdown in January due to lack of contracts and increasing losses. A government intervention however stayed the decision.

    Speaking to Citi Business News, George Nassar said he is hopeful the scheduled meeting with government on Friday will yield positive results.

    “We are in the process of discussing solutions along with the majority shareholders. I am supposed to meet them. Next week, we will have some concrete information,” he noted.

    Background

    On 24th January, 2020, Management of Neoplan Ghana Limited sent an urgent message to President Nana Akufo-Addo to save the company from closure.

    “The Company is about to officially close down by 31st January 2020 due to lack of financial support and contracts from our majority shareholder, Government of Ghana”, portions of the letter said.

    In the letter, the company also highlighted the reluctance of successive governments to award them contracts which has “negatively affected the productivity of the company.”

    They further pleaded with President Akufo-Addo to come to their aid as the collapse of the firm would have a huge effect on the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda.

    Shutting down Neoplan Ghana will be tragic Minority

    Several stakeholders, including the Minority in Parliament, have warned that it will be tragic for Neoplan Ghana to shut down its operations as it is considered a strategic state asset.

    A ranking member of the Roads and Transport Committee, Governs Kwame Agbodza, in a Citi News interview said the government as a majority shareholder, has a role to play in ensuring that the company remains productive.

    Government later responded to the calls assuring management that it will take steps to revamp the company.

    More about Neoplan

    For almost 46 years of its existence, Neoplan Ghana Limited has built over 4,000 buses for the government to support the transport sector.

    In its heyday, the company gave employment to hundreds of Ghanaians, and also offered one of the best options for road transport passenger vehicles.

    It is in view of its popularity with Ghanaian commuters that two major bus terminals in Accra and Kumasi, as well as the localities where the company operates from within the two cities, have for a long time been called Neoplan.
    The company can employ over 1,000 workers when in full production.

     

    Source: citibusinessnews

  • The Ladies Circle airs on TV3 from Feb. 15th

    Over the years, there has been a lot of talk on women empowerment and feminism. Giving women the voice they deserve and in essence a right of theirs back to them. When you see a program like “The Ladies Circle” even by mere mention of the name gives a strong sense to these empowerment issues. A place, women can have the voice to speak on issues not only concerning their fellow women but a platform that gives the voice to contribute to issues of importance – politics, governance, health, rights, entertainment, social issues among others.

    TV3 has for more than 20 years been a station trusted by its viewers. An all-female program on a station like this will not only give credence to issues going to be discussed on the program but will stir up a lot of talk and discussions on the issues. These issues will give the people and viewers of the program the information they need to ask the right questions, to seek their welfare when needed and consequently lead to the development of the people. Knowledge is said is power, the more they know, the less vulnerable they are to abuse of power to those who know.

    All work and no play indeed makes jack…., for such, the segment such as video of the week will put some entertainment spice into the program which will attract the viewers to stay on and enjoy the program. The program will also see some celebrities passing through. At the end of the 58 minutes there is something to interest everyone watching. There are questions asked not only by the host but also the viewers and questions answered. When all is said, the purpose of a program like this is achieved as knowledge is impacted, entertainment is given, information is put out there and women are empowered, in fact the society is empowered. The beauty of this is that women are at the center of this circle.

    “The Ladies Circle” will be hosted by four intelligent and dexterous ladies: Chrystal Kwame – Aryee: The bubbly, beautiful communications specialist, marketing consultant and professional master of ceremonies, is known as one of the best event hosts, hosting ceremonies, cooperate events etc. Chrystal is currently a TV and radio host at Media General.

    Anita Akuffo: The pretty affable host is known for her fashion statements and hosting of fashion and entertainment shows. A trained journalist, she is also known as a fashion police. She is an award winning host and has also been seen hosting many read carpet events.

    Dr. Vanessa Aseye Atikpui: The stunning, pleasant and smart doctor is a qualified and practicing medical doctor with over 4 years experience in the profession. The award winning doctor has interest in photography, make up and fashion designing.

    Nana Abena Korkor Addo: Another bubbly, charming host, is the project coordinator for mental health society of Ghana. She is the founder of Psychosocial African MH Support Group and CEO of Lencyonfire cocktails and ushering agency. Very affable and assertive, she has championed many mental health activities, creating awareness for the condition.

    The ladies circle is the start of something new.

    Source: Chris Koney, Contributor

  • I will never forgive Mahama Chairman Wontumi

    Bernard Antwi Boasiako, Chairman of the Ashanti Regional NPP, says he will never forgive former president John Mahama for ordering the seizure and burning of his mining equipment in 2013.

    Antwi Boasiako who is popularly referred to as Chairman Wontumi, speaking on Good Evening Ghana show on Metro TV insisted that no amount of apology or compensation would make him forget the pain he felt on that fateful day.

    Recounting how the former regime led by then National Security Coordinator, Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey (Rtd.) unleashed terror on him and thousands of his workers at a mining concession at Samanboi in the Western Region, he said, “I was on my way to my company, Hansol Mining, one day when I received a phone call from an unknown number.

    “The caller told me President Mahama wanted to have a meeting with me on that same day, but I declined as I was on my way to attend to some pressing matters at the site.

    “But the same number called for the second time and I was told to meet the president at Tamale in the Northern Region, so I agreed to be in that meeting. I remember vividly that the meeting was held on a Sunday”.

    Wontumi disclosed that during the deliberations with the former president and his entourage, they impressed upon him to admit that his company was illegally prospecting for gold a suggestion he fiercely resisted.

    “They wanted to force me, so I admit that my company had no license to engage in the large-scale mining we were engaged in, but I showed them all the necessary documentations, and that there was no way I was going to admit I had no license to mine.

    “I made my case and pointed out to them that I was never going to succumb to their whims and caprices,” he explained.

    The NPP Chairman divulged that despite producing all the necessary documentations to show that his company was doing business legitimately, the former president still ordered operatives of the national security to confiscate his mining equipment and succeeded in closing it operations.

    He said more than 5000 people lost their jobs after security operative unlawfully raided the company.

    “I felt a lot of pain and I will never forgive Mr Mahama,” he retorted.

     

    Source: ghanaweb.com

  • Work begins on the construction of Dome-Crossing bridge

    Work has commenced on the construction of the Dome Crossing bridge after several calls from residents for a proper drainage system due to the perennial flooding in the community.

    This comes in months after GhanaWeb reported on the looming danger on the stretch. Residents and business operators have for years been calling for a face-lift on the bridge to enable the free flow of the water in the drains.

    Work had already begun when our Team visited the site at about 8:00 am on Thursday. There has been a diversion on the road with the unset of the reconstruction which began on Monday, February 3, 2020.

    While the completion of the project is expected to bring long term relief to residents, the ongoing works have for the time being created inconvenience for motorists and pedestrians who ply the route.

    There is heavy vehicular traffic in the mornings, as persons coming from the St. Johns road have to go through CFC to join the Taifa route before ending up at Dome Crossing.

    The project which is being constructed by Sadalco Limited is expected to be completed by the end of March 2020. Speaking to the Municipal NADMO Director of Ga-East, Seth Osei Kissi, he was confident that the bridge will be constructed within the given period.

    It is not a job that they are going to start and pack-off. It is a project and a target for our MP. This is not the only major drain or project that is being done in the Municipality, we have about 78 percent of our roads being constructed, almost all our drains are being done,” Mr. Seth Osei Kissi said.

    The Dome community has numerous reported cases of flooding which have destroyed several items and properties. The perennial situation has also taken a toll on business in the community, most especially on drivers at the taxi rank which is located right beside the bridge.

    Some residents who spoke to GhanaWeb TV were visibly happy with the ongoing construction on the bridge, adding that it was long overdue.

    “This bridge has destroyed our business and properties; we finally have a President who has listened to our cry. Now the construction is ongoing, we thank the Member of Parliament and the District Chief Executive,” an elated resident said.

    “It is good that work has begun, the drainage had created lots of inconvenience for us. The situation was worse when it rains, we are happy with the unset of the construction”.

    “They should speed up with construction to allow free flow on the stretch. The construction has created some inconvenience for us”.

    Until the construction, residents have been threatening to vote out the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya constituency, Adwoa Sarfo, if nothing was done about the poor drainage system.

    In a report by GhanaWeb in November 2019, some residents confirmed that they had received several promises from the government on the reconstruction of the bridge but nothing had been done about it. Here is what they said,

    “We cannot sell our food when it rains, we carry our foods back home. Authorities have visited us on several occasions, they only talk but have failed to construct a proper drainage system”.

    “I have lost several customers; we are always driven away by the floods. The President should come to our rescue, we beg of him”.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Mahama is not corrupt Allotey Jacobs on Airbus scandal

    Former Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Social Commentator, Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has waded into the airbus bribery scandal asking critics to leave former President John Mahama alone.

    The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is convinced that ‘Government Official 1’ cited in the case is former President John Mahama and no one else.

    The party has dared the former President to speak on the issue if he is indeed innocent.

    However, Allotey Jacobs says ‘Mahama is not corrupt’ hence cannot be complicit in the bribery scandal.

    “For me, I will stand with President Mahama that he is not corrupt . . .the last time I said President Akufo-Addo is not corrupt . . . let there be a little decency in our politics,” he said on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’.

    According to him all that both the NPP and NDC are doing is needless as the President has assigned the Special Prosecutor to investigate the scandal.

    “We shouldn’t go into the realm of speculation,” he added.

    President Akufo-Addo has referred the Airbus bribery scandal to the Office of the Special Prosecutor for immediate investigations.

    A letter signed by Communications Director at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin stated that these investigations are expected to be conducted in collaboration with the United Kingdom authorities.

     

    Source: peacefmonline.com

  • To end female genital mutilation, economically empower women

    Female genital mutilation (FGM) will not be eradicated unless women are economically empowered to make their own decisions, an activist stressed today, as the United Nations released data warning that the ancient practice may take centuries to eliminate.

    Despite world leaders promising to eradicate the practice by 2030, FGM remains as common today as it was 30 years ago in Somalia, Mali, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Chad and Senegal. “Some countries are not moving at all, and those that are moving are not moving fast enough,” said Claudia Cappa, an analyst at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

    Estimated to affect at least 200 million girls and women globally, FGM causes multiple mental and physical health problems. A 12-year-old girl recently died in Egypt after undergoing FGM. The practice typically involves the partial or total removal of the external genitalia. Sometimes the vaginal opening is sewn up.

    Jaha Dukureh, a survivor of child marriage and FGM, said that while it is “not unrealistic” to make the promise to end the practice by 2030, people must “put their money where their mouth is” and stop wasting funding on ineffective aid programmes.

    “The best way women can stand up for themselves and their rights is if they are able to earn a little more,” said Dukureh, who in 2013 founded the advocacy group Safe Hands for Girls, which works in The Gambia, Sierra Leone and the United States.

    She said that all too often, politicians shy away from the sensitive topic of FGM, with the responsibility falling on charities to do the work. What is more concerning is that foreign donors often fund international organisations that do not understand local customs and practices.

    “I don’t know why anyone expects change if that’s the way the development sector is going to continue funding these issues,” she said.

    FGM is most closely linked to 30 predominantly African countries, but UNICEF said it may be practised in about 50 countries including those in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

    Although no high-prevalence country is on track to meet the 2030 goal, Cappa said attitudes are changing in many places.

    In countries affected by FGM, seven in 10 women think the practice should end, and half of women who have themselves been cut would like to see it stop, according to the report published on Thursday, February 6 – the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.

    The most dramatic decline in recent decades has been in the Maldives, a chain of islands in the Indian Ocean, where FGM used to affect nearly 40 percent of girls and women, but has now been virtually eradicated.

    UNICEF also voiced concern about increased “medicalisation” of FGM hampering global efforts to end the practice.

    About a quarter of girls and women who have undergone FGM were cut by a doctor, midwife or other health worker as opposed to a traditional circumciser, UNICEF said.

    “Doctor-sanctioned mutilation is still mutilation. Trained healthcare professionals who perform FGM violate girls’ fundamental rights, physical integrity and health,” said UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore

    Source: aljazeera.com

  • Libya a ‘den of mercenaries’, say war-weary citizens

    After 10 months of fighting that has torn their country apart, exhausted Libyans voice deep fears and say their fate is no longer in their own hands.

    The oil-rich North African country has been mired in chaos since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising that killed long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi, with two rival administrations vying for power.

    The conflict deepened last April when military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who controls much of Libya’s south and east, launched an assault to seize Tripoli, the base of the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA).

    A fragile ceasefire, brokered by Moscow and Ankara, was established on January 12. And at an international summit in Berlin a week later, world leaders agreed to end all foreign interference in Libya and to uphold a weapons embargo.

    But on the streets of Libya, war-weary citizens are increasingly hopeless, telling AFP that their resource-rich country has become a plaything of foreign powers.

    The fighting has drawn in a range of foreign combatants, among them reportedly Russian mercenaries, Sudanese militiamen for hire and members of pro-Turkish Syrian units.

    Mohammad al-Barouni, a student from Tripoli, charged that foreign players had been sending weapons and fighters into Libya “without fear or shame”. “After 10 months of fighting… the capital and its suburbs have become a den of mercenaries where arms are flooding in, in broad daylight”, he said.

    Nouri Bengharsa, a civil servant, complained that “since the fall of Gaddafi, Libyans have allowed foreigners to meddle in their affairs, and now they can’t get rid of them”.

    Libyan politicians were partly to blame because they are “incapable of dialogue in their own country,” he said while shopping in a vegetable market in Janzour, west of the capital.

    “Yet they run to foreign capitals where they have specific agendas dictated to them.”

    The UN Security Council has been plagued by divisions over Libya and has been unable to adopt any resolution on the conflict for the past 10 months.

    Salem al-Mahmudi, a vendor, said the international community had “not managed to tame” the countries that support eastern commander Haftar or Fayez al-Sarraj’s Tripoli-based GNA.

    Those countries were exploiting the truce to dispatch new military reinforcements ahead of a “great battle” in Tripoli, Mahmudi said.

    Haftar has the backing of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia, among others, while the GNA is mainly supported by Qatar and Turkey.

    Despite the ceasefire and the commitments made in Berlin, the military escalation has intensified.

    Mahmudi said “Libyan airports and ports are used to transfer arms and fighters in the full view of the international community… which doesn’t dare even name the states fuelling the conflict”.

    “The warring parties see a military solution as the only way to end the fighting,” said the trader, aged in his 50s, adding that this option was “more realistic” as no political solution had so far been reached.

    The UN’s Libya envoy Ghassan Salame last week accused “unscrupulous” foreign actors — without specifying who — of continuing to meddle in Libya’s conflict, in violation of the Berlin commitments.

    Warring parties “have continued to receive a sizable amount of advanced equipment, fighters and advisors from foreign sponsors”, he told the Security Council, warning that such moves “threaten to precipitate a new and much more dangerous conflagration”.

    Representatives on both sides of the conflict were meeting in Geneva this week in a UN-sponsored joint military commission. They agreed on the principle of turning their shaky truce into a lasting ceasefire, Salame said.

    The UN envoy said the two sides would meet again for talks on economic cooperation, in Cairo on February 9, and could hold political talks on resolving the conflict in Geneva in two weeks’ time.

    Ibtissam al-Mezoughi, a retired public servant and mother of four, voiced deep scepticism about the ongoing diplomacy in faraway capitals.

    Whether meetings are held in “Berlin or Geneva, it’s not a question of ending the war, but of putting the finishing touches on international actors’ areas of influence”, she said.

    “The Libyans have lost control. It’s too late”, she said, voicing fear that her country, now divided into zones of foreign influence, was becoming “another Syria”.

    Source: AFP

  • Man accused of killing sister beaten to death, four arrested

    Police in Rukungiri has arrested four people to help in the investigation of a man murdered for allegedly killing his sister.

    Cleophas Twinamasiko, 28, a resident of Omwitaba Cell, Ndere Parish in Ruhinda Sub County was reportedly lynched on Wednesday after he was allegedly discovered hiding at Butebo cell, Nyakitabire parish in Rukungiri District. Residents accused him of killing his sister, Allen Komuhangi, 30, on Tuesday over reasons that police are still investigating.

    According to the Kigezi regional Police spokesperson, Mr Elly Maate, the residents and relatives who included; Mr Charles Musasizi, Mr Nicholas Mbunu and Mr Vincent Mujuni among others, grabbed Twinamasiko and battered him to death.

    “Information was given to police through a phone call from unknown Good Samaritan and Rukungiri DPC, OC CID plus others immediately responded and visited the scene. The body was taken to Rwakabengo Health Centre III pending post mortem,” he said.

    Mr Maate said police interviewed witnesses at the scene of the crime before arresting four suspects to assist in the investigation.

    He identified the suspects as; Charles Musasizi, Ambrose Mucunguzi, Christine Ainembabazi and Aloysius Nduhukire.

    Mr Maate said the case vide CRB 231/2020 is still under investigation at Rukungiri Central Police Station

    Source: monitor.co.ug

  • South Africa’s Jacob Zuma takes aim in rifle photo

    South Africa’s embattled former President Jacob Zuma has found himself at the centre of fresh controversy after tweeting a photo of himself taking aim with a rifle.

    Its meaning was unambiguous, and provocative.

    A day after he had learned that a judge had issued an arrest warrant for him for failing to appear in court on corruption charges related to a multi-million dollar arms deal, Mr Zuma tweeted a photograph, on his official account, showing him aiming a rifle at an unknown target.

    For a man who uses social media only rarely, and apparently carefully, the implication was clear to all South Africans.

    It was a display of angry defiance against a judiciary and an “elite” which – Mr Zuma and his supporters have argued for years – is biased against him and involved in a dark conspiracy to undermine him and the “radical economic transformation” agenda that he unveiled towards the end of his corruption-riddled presidency.

    ‘Evil white establishment’

    As the photograph provoked furious exchanges on social media, Mr Zuma’s family and his remaining allies in the governing African National Congress (ANC) have rallied to his defence.

    His son Edward claimed the arrest warrant, issued by a judge but suspended until Mr Zuma’s next scheduled court appearance, had somehow been orchestrated by his political enemies.

    Edward Zuma also said the rifle photo was two years old – a claim that hardly seemed relevant in the context in which it was used.

    The head of the ANC’s Women’s League, Bathabile Dlamini, went further, speaking of “an invisible hand” orchestrating a campaign against the former president on behalf of “an evil white establishment”.

    But many South Africans have reacted with contempt, and wry humour, to this latest incident, and see it as part of a decades-long attempt by Mr Zuma to avoid facing trial for alleged corruption by casting himself as a victim, floating frequent conspiracy theories and seeking endless court delays.

    The arrest warrant issued on Tuesday followed Mr Zuma’s failure to show up in court for a fraud and corruption case that dates back to the 1990s.

    The former president’s lawyer produced a doctor’s “sick note” to explain his client’s absence, but the judge questioned the credibility of the document and warned that Mr Zuma would face arrest if he did not appear for his next court appearance in May.

    Mr Zuma has repeatedly insisted that the corruption charges against him are part of a sophisticated western plot against him.

    He has also claimed, with no evidence produced, that those same, unnamed enemies have sought to poison him. It is almost impossible not to see the “rifle” picture in that context.

    ‘Rampant looting’

    But while Mr Zuma still enjoys some limited support in the ANC, and more generally in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, his antics and conspiracy theories are increasingly seen by many as a sign of desperation.

    South Africans have watched, for months, as senior officials have given damning evidence of corruption at a judge-led public inquiry into the Zuma presidency – an era which Mr Zuma’s successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, has since acknowledged was a period of rampant looting by state officials.

    Mr Zuma’s behaviour is also seen here in the context of a “fight-back” by an allegedly corrupt faction within the ANC that lost control of the presidency and fears that, under a revived justice system, some of its most prominent members may soon join Mr Zuma in facing criminal charges.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Ridge Hospital dedicates 9 doctors, 26 nurses to coronavirus fight

    The Greater Accra Regional Hospital Ridge has put in place a comprehensive system to handle coronavirus cases should there be any in the country.

    Medical Director, Dr Emmanuel Srofenyo who took journalists on a tour of some of the wards designated for such cases said the hospital is ready to handle any coronavirus case brought before it.

    “An emergency response team in the hospital has been activated and strengthened with additional members of staff. Currently, we have 26 nurses, and nine doctors on standby for deployment to the centre.

    “We have security men and orderlies. And we have trained and updated them on the physiological and pathological nature of the virus,” he said.

    Coronavirus confirmed

    He added that the hospital has gone further to make available as many protective equipment as possible and has deployed them to the two special coronavirus centres.

    “We have also created an elaborate process map the processes an indicated case will go through once we discover you at the emergency that you might be somebody who is a suspect or confirmed. Four rooms have been set out for suspected cases with elaborate systems.”

    Although the Ridge Hospital is putting the necessary measures in place to be able to handle the cases, Dr Srofenyo said more doctors will be needed for main hospital work and called on government to deploy them in time.

    “All these people have to be trained ahead of time, we cannot just subject them to the environment when they have not been given adequate training. So we have security men, nurses and doctors on board.

    “The implication then is that these staff work in the main hospital so when we deploy them to the centres, there is going to be a shortage at the main hospital and that is why we would like to appeal to government to send us more of the technical staff, especially nurses and additional doctors so that the preparedness plan can really work.

    “Because much as we are treating these patients that may come, we do not want to compromise on the work that is done on the main side,” he added.

    Last week, the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang Manu who announced that the Ridge and Tema General Hospitals as facilities to manage possible coronavirus cases said his office and other partners have put in place measures to fight the deadly Coronavirus in case it is detected in Ghana.

    The coronavirus outbreak has killed more than 560 people and infected over 28,000 the vast majority in China.

    Outside China, the infection has spread to over 25 countries, infecting more than 250 and killed two people.

    Africa has yet to record any cases.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a global health emergency.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • 13-year-old boy drowns in Port Elizabeth river

    The body of a teenage boy was retrieved from the Swartkops River in Port Elizabeth after he went missing while swimming, the National Sea Rescue Institute said on Thursday.

    NSRI Port Elizabeth deputy station commander Jonathan Tufts said a duty crew was activated at 17:20 on Wednesday, following a request for assistance from emergency services dispatched to a drowning in progress near the Red House Yacht Club.

    “On our arrival on the scene, it was found that during a search for a 13-year-old male who had gone missing in the water while swimming, the body of the teenager was located and recovered from the water,” Tufts said.

    “Sadly, he was declared deceased.”

    The Nelson Mandela Bay beach office, police and its diving unit, Coastal Water Rescue and the provincial emergency medical services had been at the scene.

    “The body of the child was taken into the care of the Eastern Cape Government Health Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket,” Tufts said.

    Source: news24

  • Man who defiled step-daughter says he mistook her for his wife

    A 35-year-old man who defiled and impregnated his step-daughter at Mankranso in Ashanti Region, has been slapped with a 20-year-jail term in hard labour by the Tepa Circuit Court.

    Abubakar Sadiq pleaded guilty to a charge of defilement and sought to suggest to the court, he had mistaken the victim for his wife.

    The victim who paralysed after giving birth, is struggling to survive a harsh rural environment, with little to eat.

    There is more in the attached report:

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Gambian ex-dictator’s country palace burns in wildfire

    Gambian ex-autocrat Yahya Jammeh’s palatial country residence, where he allegedly administered a self-invented Aids cure, has been partially “gutted by bushfire”, the West African state’s army said on Thursday.

    Located in Jammeh’s home village of Kanilai in western Gambia, his sprawling former private residence was engulfed by a wildfire on Wednesday, according to army spokesperson Lamin Sanyang.

    Jammeh – whose regime has been accused of murder, torture and rape – fled The Gambia in January 2017 after losing a presidential election to relative newcomer Adama Barrow.

    Some of the abuses are believed to have occurred in Kanilai.

    Three men who disappeared after plotting a coup in 2014 were exhumed in the village in 2017, for example.

    Aids patients have also alleged that Jammeh detained them in the compound in order to force them to undergo a herbal treatment of his own design.

    Sanyang said the wildfire started on Tuesday in the neighbouring village of Alla Kunda, where villagers unsuccessfully tried to extinguish the blaze, before spreading to Kanilai the following day.

    “The house where the former president used to conduct his treatment programme was gutted by bushfire,” Sanyang said, referring to Jammeh’s alleged Aids cure.

    A “mini stadium” in the complex also burned down, he said, adding that no one was hurt in the incident.

    Source: news24.com

  • Extradited killer jailed for murdering wife and daughters

    Juli Begum andImage copyrightMET POLICE
    Image captionMohammed Abdul Shakur murdered his wife and their two children before fleeing to Bangladesh

    An abusive husband who fled the country after murdering his estranged wife and their two daughters has been jailed.

    Mohammed Abdul Shakur, 46, killed Juli Begum, 26, and his two young children Anika and Thanha Khanum at their east London home on New Year’s Day 2007.

    Shakur, who was extradited from Bangladesh in April, had a history of rape and violence against his wife, the Old Bailey heard.

    He was jailed for life, with a minimum prison term of 40 years.

    After the murders, Shakur fled to his home country of Bangladesh where he confessed his crimes to his sister-in-law, warning her: “If you tell the police I will murder you and your children.”

    He later moved to India, illegally, and went to ground for several years before his whereabouts became known.

    Mohammed Abdul ShakurImage copyrightMETROPOLITAN POLICE
    Image captionMohammed Abdul Shakur showed little emotion as the judge returned his sentence

    Shakur denied three counts of murder but declined to give evidence in his trial.

    The three bodies were found at the family home in Nelson Street, East Ham, on 10 January after Ms Begum’s sister raised the alarm, the court heard.

    The body of 4ft 8in Ms Begum was discovered beneath a bedcover with Anika laid across her and Thanha nearby.

    Anika, five, had been strangled with a white sock after being “stunned” by a punch or slap to the face, while her six-year-old sister suffered severe blows to the face that fractured her skull.

    Their mother was believed to have been smothered with a soft pillow or cushion.

    ‘Wicked attack’

    The couple had an arranged marriage when Ms Begum was 19, but Shakur had repeatedly been violent towards his wife and did not like their children much because they were not boys, the court heard.

    Sentencing Shakur, Judge Richard Marks QC said: “This was a wicked, vicious and sustained attack on two little girls, and on your wife, who at 4ft and 8in was a tiny woman.

    “You, to this day, have not shown one iota of remorse for what you did.”

    The judge sentenced him to a 40-year jail term, less the six years, six months and six days already spent in custody in India and the UK.

    In a statement, Ms Begum’s sister Sheli said: “[The murder] has destroyed my life – I cannot watch the television or see a film without something triggering back to what happened.

    “It will be with us for the rest of our lives.”

  • Todays newspapers front page

     

    Source: backend.theindependentghana.com 

  • Coronavirus: Another 41 catch virus on quarantined cruise ship

    Another 41 people on a cruise ship off the coast of Japan have tested positive for the new coronavirus – bringing the total to 61.

    Some 3,700 people are on board the Diamond Princess, which is quarantined in Yokohama for at least two weeks.

    The checks began after an 80-year-old Hong Kong man who had been on the ship last month fell ill with the virus.

    He boarded the cruise ship in Yokohama on 20 January and disembarked in Hong Kong on 25 January.

    A separate cruise ship – the World Dream – has been quarantined in Hong Kong after eight former passengers caught the virus.

    It has around 3,600 people on board, but none have tested positive so far.

    The new cases on the Diamond Princess bring Japan’s number of confirmed cases to 86, the second highest figure after China.

    “The results of the remaining 171 tests came out and 41 tested positive,” Japan’s Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said.

    “Today they will be sent to hospitals in several prefectures, and we are now preparing for that.”

    With the quarantine due to last until 19 February, there has also been concern over supplies of normal medicine to the ship.

    One passenger has been waving a Japanese flag with the message “shortage of medicine”.

    A Japanese TV crew on the shore responded with a banner asking: “What medicine?”

    Woman waving a flag reading "shortage of medicine" from the shipImage copyrightREUTERS
    Image captionA passenger with a sign saying “shortage of medicine” onboard the Dream Princess

    Twenty passengers diagnosed earlier have already been taken to hospitals.

    The 61 confirmed patients are from:

    • Japan: 28 people
    • US: 11
    • Australia, Canada: 7
    • China: 3
    • UK, New Zealand, Taiwan, Philippines, Argentina: 1
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    What is life like on board?

    David Abel, from the UK, is a passenger on the Diamond Princess and is providing regular updates via Facebook

    • “We are to monitor our temperatures on a regular basis, and if it’s increased above normal we are to contact the medical services onboard of the ship.”
    • “Passengers in the small inside cabins have no window, there is no daylight, and no fresh air… but the captain has announced those passengers will be allowed access to open deck for exercise and fresh air.”
    • “If we are permitted out on open deck, we have to wear a mask when we’re outside. We have to keep one metre apart from everyone else and are not allowed to congregate in groups.”
    • “All of the luxury of having a steward come to make the bed and put a chocolate on the pillow – those days are gone. We have to take care of the cleanliness and hygiene of our own room.”
    • “We’re going through all the clothes we put into our dirty wash bag and we’re just re-wearing them now. Our underwear we’re washing by hand – we don’t have anything other than hand soap.”
    • “The first day in isolation, the supply of food wasn’t good. Now it’s superb.”
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    The new coronavirus can cause severe acute respiratory infection, which in some cases can be fatal. Most people infected are likely to recover though.

    The centre of the virus is in the Chinese city of Wuhan, and most cases have been in the city and the surrounding province of Hubei.

    New figures show the virus has killed 636 people and infected 31,161 in mainland China, the country’s National Health Commission’s said.

    It has spread overseas with confirmed infections in at least 25 nations.

    So far, there have been only two deaths outside of mainland China – one in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines.

    Due to the global spread, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency.

    Source: bbc.com

  • At last, Iowa results. So who won and lost?

    Billboard in Iowa

    The Iowa caucuses used to be viewed as messy but endearing. Now they’re just a mess. Three days after Democrats across the state gathered to vote for, and haggle over, their preferred presidential nominee, results are in – but the dust still hasn’t fully settled.

    Time waits for no one, however – even the Iowa Democratic Party – and the candidates have moved on to New Hampshire, where they will debate on Friday night and stand in the first-in-the-nation primary on Tuesday.

    With 100% of precincts reporting, Pete Buttigieg was declared the winner – but barely. He and Bernie Sanders were neck and neck, separated by just 0.01% followed by Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar. And the Democratic National chairman is calling for a review of the vote totals.

    Still, some candidates have reason to celebrate, some will be relieved – but all have cause for a bit of concern, if not more.

    Here’s a look at the biggest winners and losers that have emerged from the Iowa chaos.

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    WINNERS

    Pete ButtigiegImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES

    Pete Buttigieg

    Two thumbs up

    He may end up the biggest winner among the Democrats even if he didn’t, you know, actually win the caucuses. If early polls are any indication, he seems to be getting the biggest post-Iowa bump in New Hampshire – and momentum is really what Iowa is all about.

    Pause for a moment to think about what a 38-year-old, openly gay former mayor of the fourth-largest city in Indiana just accomplished. A year ago, few had heard of him – or knew how to pronounce his last name. Now he’s going to finish ahead of a two-term vice-president and several popular senators.

    Now unpause. Buttigieg still seems to be getting close to no support from black voters, who form up a sizable contingent in the states that come after New Hampshire (60% in South Carolina, for example). Unless that changes, all the success in Iowa and, perhaps, New Hampshire won’t amount to a proverbial hill of beans when it comes to winning the Democratic nomination.

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    Bernie SandersImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES

    Bernie Sanders

    One thumb up

    The Vermont senator narrowly lost in Iowa against Hillary Clinton in 2016. Here he is again, with yet another razor-close result. But he won the state’s popular vote, giving him grounds for claiming at least a partial victory. Beating fellow liberal Elizabeth Warren also bodes well in the states to come.

    The Sanders camp should be concerned, however, that the turnout in Iowa ended up being at or below 2016 levels. For a campaign whose argument for being the nominee is that they’ll ride to victory in November by bringing in a wave of new voters, that’s not an encouraging development.

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    Donald Trump holding 'acquitted' headline on paperImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES

    Donald Trump

    Three thumbs up

    While the Democrats bickered among themselves and seemingly moved farther away from determining a nominee, the president stood to the side and smiled, waving a copy of a newspaper with “acquitted” as its headline.

    There’s still plenty of time for the Democrats to get their act together, but first impressions matter – and the picture the Iowa result has painted is of a party not ready for prime-time. With his poll numbers ticking up, at least temporarily, campaign coffers filled to the brink, the economy still humming and impeachment behind him, the president is having a very good week.

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    LOSERS

    Joe BidenImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES

    Joe Biden

    Two thumbs down

    The former vice-president came into Monday thinking he might have a chance to win Iowa. While it was never a state he would dominate, he shifted time and resources there in an attempt to secure a finish that could weaken his liberal opponents and perhaps knock some more of the moderates out of the race.

    Instead, a distant fourth-place finish has raised all sorts of doubts about the viability of his campaign. Biden is the candidate who has made electability the central focus of his campaign. How electable is a guy who can’t beat the former mayor of a modest-sized Indiana city or two senators forced to sit on their hands during the president’s impeachment trial in Washington for most of the two weeks before the caucuses?

    While his post-New Hampshire firewall in the form of support from black and older voters still appears intact, he may not have the kind of campaign cash necessary to mount an extensive campaign in the upcoming states.

    Meanwhile, Michael Bloomberg – perhaps the heir apparent to Biden’s moderate, establishment voters – waits in the wings, adding a few more zeros to the amount he is spending to campaign in the biggest states ahead.

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    Elizabeth WarrenImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES

    Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar

    One thumb down

    While both these candidates may have moderately exceeded expectations, neither did enough to fundamentally change the dynamics of the race. Given all the time and resources they poured into the Iowa, “just surviving” isn’t the payoff they hoped for.

    Klobuchar is probably the worse off of the two, if only because she has less cash on hand. New Hampshire could be the end of the road for her. Warren has the organisation to keep going, but unless Sanders stumbles – or she finds a way to expand her appeal beyond the progressive left – it’s hard to see where she starts posting wins. She’s going to need some magic in Friday night’s debate.

    Amy KlobucharImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
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    Iowa Democratic Party

    Three thumbs down

    It’s hard to imagine a more devastatingly bad performance by the state that takes pride in its role as the starting gate for presidential campaigns.

    The app designed to speed the reporting and processing of results was a bust. After a day’s delay, the party rushed to release only partial results that overstated the size and durability of Buttigieg’s delegate lead.

    Some of the numbers were subsequently retracted and corrected. There have been allegations that caucus rules have been interpreted in contradictory ways in different locations. Now the head of the Democratic National Committee himself is calling for a review and re-tally of the numbers.

    Every four years, politicians and pundits question why a small midwestern state unrepresentative of the nation as a whole is entrusted with the power and privilege of going first. While Iowans have successfully fought back against changes in the past, the knives are out in earnest. The quadrennial tradition of winter caucuses among the cornfields and barns could be coming to an end.

    Presentational grey line

    Who will take on Trump in November?

    Banner showing some 2020 Democratic presidential candidates

    Source: bbc.com

  • Channel migrants: Ninety rescued from small boats

    Migrants lead away in DoverImage copyrightPA MEDIA
    Image captionChildren appeared to be among migrants lead to an ambulance in Dover

    Ninety migrants including children have been rescued from the English Channel, a record figure for a single day.

    Eight small boats were earlier reported off the coast of Dover, one of which was carrying a group of 21 men.

    Fifteen of the 90 “claimed to be minors”, the Home Office said as it confirmed those rescued included nationals of Syria, Yemen and Mali.

    The migrants will be “dealt with according to immigration rules”, it added.

    The rescued children, subject to age assessment, will be transferred into the care of social services.

    Migrants in DoverImage copyrightPA MEDIA
    Image captionAn ambulance was on hand to assess the health of those who crossed the Channel

    Six boats were intercepted in the Channel by Border Force, with a group of five migrants found by police in Dover town centre and another five people found in Samphire Hoe.

    RNLI lifeboats from Dover and Littlestone and a fixed wing aircraft and HM Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter from Lydd were scrambled this morning.

    Home Office vessels Searcher, Speedwell and Alert were sent to intercept the boats.

    Tony Eastaugh, Home Office director for crime and enforcement, said the government was “tackling illegal migrant crossings on all fronts with every agency”.

    Patrols of French beaches have been increased, with the use of drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment, he said.

    Last year at least 1,892 arrived in Britain after crossing the Channel in boats.

    French authorities have said 371 migrants attempted the crossing last month, with 95 of them succeeding.

    SearcherImage copyrightPA MEDIA
    Image captionTwo boats carrying 26 men were met by Border Force in the ChannelSource: bbc.com

  • Shatta Bandle buys his girlfriend a brand new Ferrari (video)

    Ghanaian internet sensation Shatta Bandle Shatta Bandle has flaunted his brand new Ferrari on social media.

    In a video sighted by YEN.com.gh, Shatta Bandle was seen stand next to the car while a faceless individual who was hiding behind the camera shot a video of the car.

    Shatta Bandle later entered the car while he held the steering wheel and said he was going to give the new car to his girlfriend.

    However, Shatta Bandle failed to mention the name of that lucky girl who will be receiving the brand new Ferrari.

    “Congratulations to my self, I just added a new Ferrari to my collection.. Young Young Rich nigga. 2020 no joke,” Shatta Bandle captioned the video as he posted it on Instagram.

    source: yen.com.gh

  • Barcelona plays Shatta Wale’s Borjor in their dressing room ahead of Copa Del Rey game(Video)

    Shatta Wale has had his Borjor hit song played in the dressing room Spanish giants Barcelona ahead of their Copa Del Rey match against Atletico Bilbao.

    Barcelona went away to the San Mames to face Bilbao in the Copa Del Rey quarter-final on Thursday, February 6, 2020.

    Ahead of the game, the teams official Instagram handle decided to show their dressing room to their over 83 million followers on Instagram.

    Playing at the background was Shatta Wale’s Borjor which is one of the leading tracks on his Wonder Boy album which was released in October 2019.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    Shatta Wale’s Borjor played in Barcelona’s dressing room ahead of Copa Del Rey game

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

     

  • Six Nations 2020: Centre Nick Tompkins will make his first Wales start against Ireland

    Nick Tompkins
    Saracens centre Nick Tompkins qualifies for Wales through his grandmother who was from Wrexham
    Six Nations: Ireland v Wales
    Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 8 February Kick-off: 1415 GMT
    Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Five, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru plus the BBC Sport website & app

    Centre Nick Tompkins has been handed his first Wales start for the Six Nations trip to face Ireland as Wayne Pivac makes one change to the team that defeated Italy.

    Tompkins lines up alongside Hadleigh Parkes with George North switching to his more familiar wing position.

    Scarlets wing Johnny McNicholl drops to the replacements bench.

    Saracens centre Tompkins made his debut against Italy and scored a superb solo try as a replacement.

    “I thought Nick played very, very well and we think he deserves a chance, so that’s what he’s getting,” Pivac explained.

    “So George moves out to the wing. We’re also pleased with George’s game. Johnny McNicholl is the one that’s the casualty – he will get an opportunity off the bench.”

    Scrum-half Gareth Davies, prop Rhys Carre, fly-half Owen Williams and lock Adam Beard are named as replacements coming in for Rhys Webb, Jarrod Evans, Rob Evans and Cory Hill, who misses out through a leg injury.

    Davies returns after recovering from a groin injury while Saracens prop Carre is back after serving a suspension following his red card against Ospreys in the Champions Cup in January 2020.

    Pivac said Wales were keen to avoid making unnecessary changes.

    “No, we wanted to keep it reasonably consistent. Overall we got what we wanted out of the Italy – five points and there was some good play there and some parts of our game need to be looked at, which we’ve done this week,” h added.

    “Hopefully there will be a marked improvement, so we got what we needed out of the game and now we move forward, keeping that nucleus as it is to help us achieve that.”

    North will line up in an experienced back three alongside Josh Adams and Leigh Halfpenny, while Tomos Williams and Dan Biggar continue their partnership at half-back.

    Wales have named an unchanged pack with Wyn Jones, Ken Owens and Dillon Lewis in the front row and Jake Ball lining up alongside captain Alun Wyn Jones.

    Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau feature in the back row.

    Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Nick Tompkins, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Dillon Lewis, Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

    Replacements: Ryan Elias, Rhys Carre, Leon Brown, Adam Beard, Ross Moriarty, Gareth Davies, Owen Williams, Johnny McNicholl.

    Source: BBC Sport

  • Anthony Joshua: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium favourite to host June fight

    Anthony Joshua
    Anthony Joshua recorded a unanimous points victory over Andy Ruiz Jr in December

    Anthony Joshua’s next fight is likely to be at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.

    The British heavyweight, 30, who defeated Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia in December, is expected to take on Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in June.

    Hearn told Sky Sports: “We’ve had offers in from the Far East, Middle East, Africa, America, Turkey.

    “He wants to fight in London in June. Spurs is the frontrunner and that’s what he’s asked me to do.”

    Hearn added: “He’s made it very clear to me, ‘I want to come home. I’ve been to Madison Square Garden, I’ve been to Saudi Arabia, bring me home. Forget the other offers, bring me home’.”

    Joshua last fought in the capital in September 2018 when he beat Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium.

    Source: BBC Sport

  • Liverpool: ‘I am pinching myself’ says chairman Tom Werner

    Tome Werner, Jurgen Klopp
    Tom Werner, left, has been chairman of Liverpool for nine years

    Liverpool chairman Tom Werner says he is having to “pinch himself” to believe the standards being set by Jurgen Klopp’s team this season.

    The Reds have surged into a 22-point lead at the top of the Premier League, dropping only two points from their opening 25 games.

    Liverpool have also reached the Champions League knockout stage, and the fifth round of the FA Cup.

    “I am pinching myself, but we haven’t done the job yet,” said Werner.

    “I keep saying to everyone I talk to that we really need to savour this because I appreciate the record we have achieved so far and I don’t think it is going to come along quickly [again].”

    Liverpool need six victories from their final 13 games to end their 30-year wait for a 19th league title.

    Like Klopp, Werner is wary of getting ahead of himself, even if Pep Guardiola, manager of a Manchester City side that are a distant second, has already accepted defeat in his attempt to win three successive championships.

    “The level of competition in this league is so great eventually you think you are going to have an off day,” said Werner. “But that hasn’t happened yet, which is a great compliment to Jurgen because obviously, the team is playing at peak talent every week.

    “As Jurgen said, we haven’t done the job. We haven’t accomplished anything yet. There will be time to enjoy this even more at the end of the season.”

    Klopp’s absence from the FA Cup win over Shrewsbury on Wednesday threw into sharp focus the increasing demands being placed on elite level players.

    The Liverpool boss stayed away from Anfield in protest at the replay being staged during the Reds’ winter break from the Premier League.

    “We all have to look at the calendar,” said Werner, after emerging from a three-hour Premier League shareholders’ meeting, which was attended by representatives of all 20 top-flight clubs.

    “We are all concerned at the amount of stress we are putting on our players. It is a bigger issue and I am not competent to know what the solution is.”

    Source: BBC Sport

  • Chris Brown Shows Off Impressive Drawing Of Kobe Bryant And Gianna

    American singer Chris Brown has given his fans the opportunity to see an art piece he is painting to honour late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.

    A lot of people have made art pieces in memory of the late basketball player, Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna after they passed away in an unfortunate helicopter crash in Calabasas, Cali.

    In a post on social media, Chris was pictured adding details to the wall painting of the player and his daughter.

    Chris Brown

    ✔@chrisbrown

    ONE DAY AT A TIME 😞🙏🏽❤️

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    Although the art looks unfinished, fans have lauded the musician for his talent and dedication to honour the fallen basketball legend.

  • FA coaching guidelines will restrict heading by under-18s in training

    The FA is set to launch new coaching guidelines that will restrict the amount of heading by under-18 players in training.

    The new guidelines, first reported in the Times, have yet to be finalised but will not entirely ban heading.

    Last month, BBC Scotland revealed the Scottish FA was set to ban under-12s heading the ball in training.

    A study in October found the first links between playing professionally and dying from dementia.

    The study, by Glasgow University and commissioned by the FA and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), found former professional footballers were three and a half times more likely to die of degenerative brain disease than people of the same age range in the general population.

    The FA’s new guidelines, expected to be issued later this month, will only apply in training and not in matches.

    In December, two months after the release of the study’s findings, the FA’s head of medicine Charlotte Cowie said: “The FA’s independently chaired research taskforce has instigated a review of possible changes to heading coaching and training at all levels to decrease overall exposure to heading without compromising technique.

    “It is imperative that football now does everything it can to further understand what caused this increased risk and what can be done to ensure that future generations of footballers are protected.”

    A ban on children heading the ball has been in place in the US since 2015.

    Peter McCabe, chief executive of Headway – the brain injury association – said: “We are encouraged to hear the Football Association is set to restrict the amount of heading allowed by young players.

    “In light of the recent study undertaken by the University of Glasgow, this is a positive, common sense approach to take. After all, it will not prohibit young people participating in the game or impact their enjoyment.

    “Further research is urgently needed in order to remove any uncertainty about how often a player can head a ball and at what age – if any – it is safe to do so before damage is caused.

    “What is clear, however, is that we cannot afford to wait for further evidence to be published before taking action on this.”

    Jeff Astle
    The inquest into the death of former West Brom striker Jeff Astle found heading heavy leather footballs repeatedly had contributed to trauma to his brain

    The study began after claims that former West Brom striker Jeff Astle died because of repeated head trauma.

    Former England international Astle developed dementia and died in 2002 at the age of 59. The inquest into his death found heading heavy leather footballs repeatedly had contributed to trauma to his brain.

    The long-awaited study was commissioned by the FA and PFA after delays in initial research had angered Astle’s family.

    It began in January last year and was led by consultant neuropathologist Dr Willie Stewart, who said that “risk ranged from a five-fold increase in Alzheimer’s disease, through an approximately four-fold increase in motor neurone disease, to a two-fold Parkinson’s disease in former professional footballers compared to population controls”.

    It compared the deaths of 7,676 former players to 23,000 from the general population.

    The sample was taken from men who played professional football in Scotland, and were born between 1900 and 1976.

    Source: BBC Sport

  • Sixstones tears Kuami Eugene apart for dissing Bosom Pyungs Ataa Adwoa

    The “Pampee” hitmaker Sixstones who has enormously gained popularity innumerably on the social media worldwide with regards to his lyrically efficiency concepts impacted from his trendy tracks both in UK and Africa.

    Sixstones angrily reacted to Kuami Eugene on his negative impressions concerning the Atta Adwoa hitmaker “Bosom P Yung” for disgustingly commenting his hit song” Attaa Adwoa”.

    According to the legendary Afro musician “Sixstones” reacted by granting the positive initiative of promoting the infant musicians to also sparkle progressively and therefore angrily condemned Kuami Eugene for stating that “Ghanaian love promoting foolish music especially the Attaa Adwoa song by Bosom P Yung”

    He advised the legend musicians to promote the infants musicians rather than discouraging them negatively

    Watch the video below

    Deep Message!!!

    Source: Ghpage

  • Ill soon expose corrupt Mahama, stinky deals and more Kennedy Agyapong

    Member of Parliament(MP) for Assin Central Constituency, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has said he has pieces of evidence that validate the bribery claims being made against the John Mahama administration regarding the airbus deal and more.

    In an interview on Neat FM monitored by MyNewsGh.com, the controversial MP said the Airbus deal is but a tip of the iceberg, threatening to come up with more damning reports which prove how corrupt the Mahama administration was.

    “You even put this Airbus scandal issue aside, there were some very dirty corrupt activities at Ghana Gas and GNPC under the NDC regime and very soon I will put all the evidence out. You will be amazed at the corrupt acts they (NDC) engaged in,” he said.

    Airbus agreed on Friday to pay a record $4 billion fine after reaching a plea bargain with prosecutors in the United Kingdom, France and United States over acts of bribery and corruption stretching back at least 15 years.

    Ghana, during the Mills-Mahama administration, is said to be among some 13 countries that benefited from bribes paid by Airbus.

     

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • Viral video of a mad man praying to God leaves Ghanaians in wonder (WATCH)

    A mentally ill man has been captured in town busily praying.

    The video of the mad man praying to God has gone viral with many people fascinated by the action of the man.

    He was seen prostrating and making the same gestures as Muslims do when they praying.

    A lot of people wonder if truly this man captured in the video is insane.

    Watch the video below;

    Source:ghgossip.com

  • Singer Joeboy shows off his beautiful girlfriend on Twitter (Photos)

    Nigerian musician sensation Joeboy has for the first time showed off his beautiful girlfriend.

    It appears the Banku Music signee has found himself a girlfriend a week after his boss Mr Eazi revealed he has changed his outlook with his photos after making a million dollars from streaming.

    Joeboy took to his Twitter page to share photos of himself and his unidentified lady who we suspect is his girlfriend.

    Joe Boy whilst posting the photos, captioned the ” Apanto Peperenpe” and it brought about some reactions.

    Of course, most of the female fans showed signs of heartbreak after seeing the photos of his girlfriend.

    See screenshot below

    Source: ghgossip.com

  • Mercy Eke spotted chilling with her new Lamborghini Aventador Lifes Good!

    The Lamborghini Aventador seems to be the new luxury car of choice of celebs in Nigeria ready to flex.

    The twin singers Peter and Paul Okoye, formerly known as P-Square, have each bought one of these vehicles.

    Now, it seems Mercy Eke has also joined the list of Aventador owners.

    The BB Naija star flaunted the vehicle on Instagram to the shock of everyone!

    Mercy lambo spotted in a Lambo!

    Photo below…

    Source: GhanaCelebrities.Com

  • A pastor destroyed my relationship with Ahkan after telling him im the reason why his songs dont do well Bullet reveals

    Ghanaian music producer and owner of rufftown record label Bullet has disclosed that a pastor destroyed the relationship he had with Ahkan.

    According to him, the pastor told Ahkan that he (Bullet) is an occultist hence a hindrance to his progress.

    Speaking in an interview with Zion Felix he said the pastor told Ahkan that he (Bullet) sits on his songs whenever he do a song.

    He said because of this his partner Ahkan no longer want to get close to him talk of working with him.

    watch video below;

    Source: GhanaCelebrities.Com

  • Equatorial Guinea donates $2m to China to help combat coronavirus

    The government of Equatorial Guinea has announced a solidarity contribution of $2 million to China over the rampaging coronavirus outbreak.

    The decision was reached after a cabinet meeting this week. It was chaired by President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. The cabinet also expressed solidarity and support for the Chinese government.

    Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons said about the gesture: “China has always been a very strong and loyal supporter of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and this contribution is a demonstration that Equatorial Guinea stands in solidarity with China and its people as it fights a global outbreak that has already cost too many lives.”

    Source: africanews.com

  • Kenya declares national holiday for Moi’s funeral

    The authorities in Kenya have declared that Tuesday 11 February will be a national holiday for people to attend the state funeral of former President Daniel arap Moi.

    Mr Moi died on 4 February at a private hospital in the capital, Nairobi, of an unspecified illness. He was 95 years old.

    He was Kenya’s longest-serving president after spending 24 years in power.

    President Uhuru Kenyatta, while announcing the death, said the former president would have a state funeral with full civilian and military ceremonial honours.

    On Thursday, Interior Minister Fred Matiangi announced that the holiday would “accord all Kenyans the opportunity to attend the national memorial service in honour” of the former president.

    Mr Moi’s body will lie in state for three days from Saturday at parliament before a memorial service on Tuesday at Nyayo stadium in the capital.

    He will be buried the next day at his home in Kabarak, located 270km (167 miles) north-west of Nairobi.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Homosexuality case against 47 Nigerian men delayed again

    A Nigerian judge has again adjourned the case against 47 Nigerian men accused of “public displays of same-sex affection” after the lead witness for the prosecution failed to appear in court.

    In Wednesday’s proceedings, Justice Rilwan Aikawa appeared annoyed that the prosecution was again unable to proceed, the BBC’s Mayeni Jones reports from Nigeria.

    The case has been adjourned at least three times because of procedural issues, Reuters news agency reports.

    The judge warned the prosecution that at the next sitting he would dismiss the case if it was not able to proceed.

    The suspects were arrested in an August 2018 police raid on a Lagos hotel. They face a 10-year jail term if convicted, Reuters reports.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Berekum Chelsea go top of Ghana Premier League after 8 games

    Berekum Chelsea reclaimed the top spot of the Ghana Premier League table after they edged Karela United 1-0 at the Golden City Park on Wednesday.

    Zackaria Fuseini’s free-kick in the second half separated the two sides.

    Chelsea moved to the summit of the log with 17 points, leapfrogging Aduana Stars who lost at Ebusua Dwarfs and are a point behind in second place.

    The Blues from Berekum have lost only one game this season and have five wins and two draws to their credit. Their only loss came away at Bechem United in a 2-1 defeat on February 2.

    They will travel to Elmina Sharks on Sunday while Karela United FC will play host to Medeama SC at the Akoon park in Tarkwa.

    Scores at a glance;

    Ebusua Dwarfs 3-1 Aduana Stars

    [Michael Asamoah, Seidu Abubakar, Isaac Donkor || Mohammed Yahaya]

    Berekum Chelsea 1-0 Karela Utd

    [Zacharia Fuseini]

    Eleven Wonders 0-3 Inter Allies

    [Victorien Adebayor 2x, Mohammed Zakari]

    King Faisal 3-4 Accra Great Olympics

    [Ibrahim Osman 2x, Baba Yahaya || Emmanuel Clottey 2x, Yussif Abdul Razak, Gladson Awako]

    Liberty Professionals 1-2 Dreams FC

    [Kyei-Baffuor || Ibrahim Issah, Dantani Amadu]

    Medeama SC 1-0 Bechem United

    [Kwasi Donsu]

    Legon Cities FC 1-0 Elmina Sharks

    [Abdul Karim Jabila]

    WAFA 0-0 Asante Kotoko

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • I have a seat to win, I don’t have your time – Dumelo jabs NPP’s Lydia Alhassan

    “Yet she follows me on social media and posts when she even donates safety pins. I have a seat to win…I no get en time. #timenodey #idey4u,” this is a direct response from John Dumelo to his political opponent Lydia Seyram Alhassan.

    Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, is reported to have said in an interview that John Dumelo, a parliamentary candidate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), only exists on social media.

    She is reported to have made such comments in an interview with Kwaku Dawuro on Anopa Nkomo on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7.

    “Politics is not about pushing trucks in the community and putting it on social media to get 1 million views. Most of the people are not even in the constituents. Some are Afghanistan and Iraq. Politics is about what you do for the grassroots and youth in the Constituency.”

    But in a sharp response, the budding politician claims he doesn’t have the time to respond to his contender’s comments.

    Last year October, Mr. Dumelo joined a host of others to clean the gutters and drains in some parts of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency.

    In a viral video, the actor cum entrepreneur was spotted helping in the exercise by transporting a truck to offload its rubbish.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

     

  • FA Cup R64 Draw: Kotoko face Deportivo, Hearts to play Danbort

    The draw for the round of 64 of the 2019/20 MTN FA Cup was held on Tuesday with some interesting pairings.

    The round of 64 scheduled from February 21-24 was done on regional bases with some thrilling derby matches.

    Kumasi Asante Kotoko would face Division One side Asokwa Deportivo while Accra Hearts of Oak have been paired with against Division One side Danbort FC.

    It’s will be a Premier League affair as resurgent Aduana Stars lock horns against Bechem United.

    All teams participating in the round of 64 would get Ghc 2000 each as participation fees as well as Ghc 500 worth of airtime.

    Below are the full fixtures for the Round of 64:

    Greater Accra Region

    Mighty Jets vs. Great Olympics

    Attram De Visse vs. Tema Youth

    Legon Cities vs. Inter Allies

    Emmanuel FC vs. Uncle T FC

    Danbort FC vs. Hearts of Oak

    Accra City FC vs. Liberty Professionals

    Volta Region

    Akache All-Stars vs. Lekpe Heroes

    Heart of Lions vs. WAFA

    Eastern Region

    Akosombo Krystal Palace vs. Vision FC

    Okwawu United Blue Skies Pelicans

    Phar Rangers Dreams FC

    Central Region

    Dwarfs vs. Star Madrid

    All Blacks vs. Elmina Sharks

    Unistar Academy vs. Skyy FC

    Venomous Vipers vs. Suamponman United

    Western Region

    FC Samartex vs. Nkwantaman United

    Eleven Wise vs. Nzema Kotoko

    Karela FC vs. Medeama SC

    Ashanti Region

    Thunderbolt FC vs. King Faisal

    Achiken FC vs. AshGold

    Asante Kotoko vs. Asokwa Desportivo

    Pacific Heroes vs. BYF Academy

    Northern Region

    RTU vs. Young Zombia

    Tamale City FC vs. Kintampo FC

    Upper East

    Paga Crocodiles vs. Zuarungu FC

    Upper West

    Wa Suntaa FC vs. Was Yasin FC

    Brong Ahafo Region

    Aduana Stars vs. Bechem United

    BA United vs. Bofoakwa Tano

    Unity FC/Berekum Arsenal vs. Berekum Chelsea

    DC United vs. Wamanafo Mighty Royals

    Kenyase New Dreams FC vs. Eleven Wonders

    Kintampo Top Talent vs. Young Apostles

    Source: GNA

  • Maame Serwaa shows off her house and cars in latest photos

    Young Kumawood actress Maame Serwaa has flaunt her house and cars in recent photo.

    The young actress showed off what she has been able to acquired for her self from acting.

    Her lavish lifestyle is quite understandable as she has really got herself something.

    photos below;

    Source: GhanaCelebrities.Com

  • GFA/ RAG agree on officiating fees for 2019/20 season

    The Ghana Football Association and the Referees Association of Ghana have agreed on the amount to be paid to match officials as fees per match.

    After a successful meeting at the GFA Secretariat on Tuesday February 4, both parties agreed on an amount to be paid as officiating allowances to match officials at all levels of top flight football.

    As a result of the meeting, the Association has began processing payments for the first four Matchdays as earlier communicated.

    The second tranche of payments will be made after the match day eight games are played.

    It has been agreed that officiating at the Colts/Juvenile football level will be free and considered as preparatory grounds for upcoming match officials.

    Senior referees may also officiate in Colts/Juvenile matches as a way of motivating upcoming match officials at the junior level as part of the “catch them young” policy.

    Meanwhile, the GFA will soon announce Referee Assessors for league matches.

    Source: ghanafa.org

  • The Chonicle Editorial: Fire outbreaks in schools – GNFS, NADMO must sit up

    Since the beginning of the year, the media landscape has been replete with stories about fire outbreaks that have gutted some notable state institutions and individual homes across the country. Among these institutions was Accra Academy, one of the premier Senior High Schools in the country.

    At the centre pages of today’s edition, we have also carried a story about fire outbreak that has destroyed a dormitory block of Boa Amponsem Senior High School at Dunkwa on Offin in the Upper Denkyira East District of the Central Region on Monday, this week.

    Also, at Berekum in the Bono Region, fire again gutted a five bedroom house and destroyed property worth several thousands of cedis.

    Since we are in the harmattan season, some of these fires are predictable. Our worry though is the fire outbreaks the SHSs are experiencing . According to our information, Accra Academy alone experienced two fire outbreaks within a week. It appears to us that the headmasters and housemasters are not doing their work – constantly engaging the students and letting them know that we are in the dry season and any combustible material can easily catch fire.

    SHS students are not kids, and they are also not adults who can be allowed to think on their own. They have to be guided by the school authorities to avoid leaving embers of fires open,especially in the dormitories. They must equally be told to avoid leaving on electrical gadgets they have been plugged into electrical power sources.

    The Chronicle is raising these concerns because one dormitory block can contain hundreds of students, and if care not taken and there is a fire outbreak whilst the students are in bed, it can spell doom for this country.

    We therefore, call on the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to join hands with the school authorities to properly educate students throughout the country on fire prevention.

    The public education should also be extended to the rural areas and individual homes to ensure a fire-free season.

    What is happening in Australia should serve as a warning for us to sit up as a country and prevent both domestic and bush fires from emerging at an alarming rate.

    There was a severe famine in Ghana in 1983 because we failed to control the spread of bush fires at the time, where thousands of acres of food crops were consumed by the inferno.

    Never should this happen again. That is why The Chronicle is calling on the GNFS and NADMO to join the campaign to educate Ghanaians on how to avoid domestic fires and those that are on our farms.

     

    Source: The Chronicle

  • GFA, RAG hold successful meeting on Tuesday

    The Ghana Football Association held a successful meeting with the leadership of the Referees Association of Ghana on Tuesday.

    Amongst the issues discussed were referee allowances for officiating, integrity issues and measures that will improve the performances of match officials.

    The two parties discussed and agreed on an amount to be paid to referees as allowances for officiating in GFA competitions.

    The GFA also informed RAG about the appointment of an Integrity &Compliance Officer whose job will include identifying acts that might jeopardize the integrity of the game.

    President Kurt E.S Okraku who chaired the meeting urged RAG to caution Referees to avoid any form of contact with Club Officials before and after matches.

    Referees were also encouraged to report any attempts to induce them or manipulation of the outcomes of football matches in Ghana.

    The RAG Officials were also assured that very soon the Association will assign designated hotels and make travel arrangements for match officials during the season.

    On the performances of Referees, the GFA announced that it will revert to the use of Referee Assessors who assess the performances of Referees during matches and make recommendations to the GFA.

    Also present at the meeting were General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo, Deputy General Secretary Alex Asante. RAG was also represented by its President Joseph Debrah and other key officers.

    Source: ghanafa.org

  • Coronavirus: Evacuate us immediately , we are suffering in China – Ghanaian Students to govt

    Ghanaian students in Wuhan, China are calling on the government to evacuate them immediately as the death toll of the deadly Coronavirus rises.

    According to them, they are lockdown in Wuhan, with that all shops in the city have been closed making it difficult for them to get access to their basic necessities.

    They say the situation in Wuhan has left some of the Ghanaian students emotionally traumatized.

    Speaking to Starr FM, one of Ghanaian students Philip Arthur said over 300 Ghanaian students in Wuhan are calling on the government for evacuation immediately since other students of other African countries have been evacuated by their government

    ”Wuhan is on a locked down. No transportation services, pharmacies are closed down. We are in our dormitories and the fear, anxiety and emotional trauma some of the students are going through is overwhelming. All that we are asking the government now is evacuation that is all. Almost all the East and North African country students have been evacuated from Wuhan but Ghana of which all the African countries, with the most populated students in China we are still here”.

    ”We have nothing doing at the moment we are just in our dormitories. And aware that the government has given us some money. But I want to correct this, the money that has been given is not to procure food, its to procure medical necessities such as sanitizers etc. The issue is we don’t need the money, we have ours but who is going out to buy those medical necessities and even now that the shops are closed”.

    However, blood samples of two foreign nationals( a Chinese and Argentine) have been sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research after having developed some symptoms suspected to be coronavirus at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

    Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku, Dr Bernard Oko Boye has stated that Ghana has facilities as good as that of China to deal with the outbreak of coronavirus.

    The government last week sent an equivalent of GHC40,000 to the students to purchase food and other items as Wuhan remains locked down over the deadly Coronavirus.

     

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • I have a seat to win, I don’t have your time – Dumelo jabs NPP’s Lydia Alhassan

    “Yet she follows me on social media and posts when she even donates safety pins. I have a seat to win…I no get en time. #timenodey #idey4u,” this is a direct response from John Dumelo to his political opponent Lydia Seyram Alhassan.

    Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, is reported to have said in an interview that John Dumelo, a parliamentary candidate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), only exists on social media.

    She is reported to have made such comments in an interview with Kwaku Dawuro on Anopa Nkomo on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7.

    “Politics is not about pushing trucks in the community and putting it on social media to get 1 million views. Most of the people are not even in the constituents. Some are Afghanistan and Iraq. Politics is about what you do for the grassroots and youth in the Constituency.”

    But in a sharp response, the budding politician claims he doesn’t have the time to respond to his contender’s comments.

    Last year October, Mr. Dumelo joined a host of others to clean the gutters and drains in some parts of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency.

    In a viral video, the actor cum entrepreneur was spotted helping in the exercise by transporting a truck to offload its rubbish.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Algeria replaces state energy firm CEO amid ongoing political crisis

    Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Wednesday appointed Toufik Hakkar as the new head ofstate energy firm Sonatrach, state television reported.

    Hakkar, a senior Sonatrach executive, will replace Kamel Eddine Chikhi who was only named head of the company three months ago, the latest in a rapid carousel of changes at the top in recent years.

    Algeria, a major gas supplier to Europe, relies on hydrocarbons sales for 60% of its budget revenue but they have slumped since the oil price fell in 2014, leading to a big decline in foreign currency reserves.

    Latest figures show oil and gas earnings reached $30.25 billion in the first 11 months of 2019, a 15% fall from the same period a year earlier as domestic demand and lower output reduced export volumes.

    The North African country has responded by trying to boost production capacity, and is seeking investment from international oil companies to help it to do so.

    In December, it passed a new law to encourage such investments while still barring foreign companies from owning a majority share in Algerian energy projects.

    Falling energy revenues are hitting the state budget, for which a 9% cut in public spending was approved for this year, while leaving politically sensitive subsidies unchanged.

    Any major cuts in government programmes would be particularly difficult given the major political crisis that has
    rocked Algeria for the past year, with a mass protest movement that helped oust the veteran president in April.

    Tebboune was elected in December in a vote that the protesters rejected, saying no election was legitimate while the ruling elite remained in place. He appointed a new government last month.

  • Eye bags can be a forgotten issue with these homemade remedies

    Are you scared to look at the mirror because of those swollen eye bags? Here’s how to get rid of the bags.

    Eye bags are recognized as a certain puffiness, swelling and loose fold of skin under the eyes.
    These bags have a way of making you feel unattractive, especially when you don’t cover it with makeup. Have you noticed you look tired with eyebags even when you’re not? This is why you need to get rid of it. Eyebags are usually caused by several factors which include stress, lack of sleep, genetics, allergies.

    Getting rid of the bags under your eyes is something that you can do right in your home. With these simple solutions, you can say goodbye to those unsightly eye bags.

    Here are homemade remedies to help you get rid of eye bags.

    1. Aloe vera gel

    Aloe Vera is efficient in hydrating the skin and alleviating it. Aloe Vera gel can make your skin more tender and healthier. It nourishes and relieves pigmentation below the eyes. All you need to do is massage the swollen areas with aloe vera gel for a few minutes. Leave it for about 10 minutes, then clean it with soft cotton balls. It can be repeated every night to get rid of the puffiness under the eyes.

    2. Coconut oil

    Lauric acid and other components of coconut oil possess anti-inflammatory properties. These properties provide essential nutrients to the skin. Regular application of coconut oil will help you eliminate the eye bags. Using clean fingers, massage the oil around your eyes in a clockwise and anti-clockwise motion for a few minutes. Leave it on overnight. For a quicker result, apply every night before going to bed.

    3. Lemon

    Lemon sustains healing properties, and as a result, it is also utilized in several cosmetic products as an ingredient. The vitamin C in the lemon juice will remove all toxins from your tired and puffy eyes. Take a small volume of lemon juice and grasp a cotton ball. Soak the cotton ball in the lemon juice and apply it delicately under the eyes with it. Let it dry for the next 10-15 minutes and then wash it off. Try and perform the same activity twice or thrice a day to see the results. Also, ensure that you moisturize those areas right after you wash off the lemon juice.

    4. Ice cubes

    This is one of the most common remedies for eliminating eye bags especially when you haven’t slept well in days. Rub two ice cubes across the eye bags. This may get messy because the water will be dripping down your hands so you may want to do this in the bathroom, right after your bath, or even before.

    5. Cucumber slices

    Chilled cucumbers are one of the best home remedies to get rid of eye bags. Cucumbers, as is well known, reduce irritation, while the cooling effect reduces swelling. You must have seen the use of cucumber for the eyes in movies or at the spa. This remedy does not only help to treat eye bags but also helps to get rid of dark circles and wrinkles around the eyes.

    Place the slices in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove them from the refrigerator and put the cold slices over your eyelids. Leave them on for 10 to 15 minutes. You can repeat this process more than once in a day.

    Source: pulse.ng

  • Ghanas first test results for Coronavirus ready by midday

    Test results for two suspected cases of Coronavirus at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital are expected to be ready by midday, Thursday, February 6, 2020, Dr Kofi Bonney a Senior Researcher at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research has said.

    Two foreign nationals a Chinese and an Argentine were quarantined at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on Wednesday when they reported at the facility with symptoms suspected to be coronavirus.

    Blood samples of the patients who have been living together in Ghana for some days were sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research for further analysis.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Melissa Satta backs husband Kevin-Prince Boateng to succeed in Turkey

    Ghanaian Kevin-Prince Boateng has received support from his wife Melissa Satta to have a successful time in Turkey.

    The 32-year-old has moved to turkey after finding life difficult in the Italian Serie A with Fiorentina this season.

    He signed a six-month loan deal with giants Besiktas on transfer deadline day.

    Melissa Satta wrote on social media “In Turkey, it will be tough, but …”.

    “Things don’t always go as we want … but you have to have the courage to be realistic and make decisions. Often there is no need to blame and point the finger … if you are a professional and do your homework you can always walk with your head held high. Sitting and waiting is easy, getting up and moving on NO…. ready for a new adventure … it’s not easy, but we never liked simple things !!! “.

    Kevin is expected to make his debut for Besiktas on Sunday against Gaziantep.

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

  • Coronavirus: Please come for us Ghanaian students in Wuhan cry

    Ghanaian students in Coronavirus hit-Wuhan in China have sounded the alarm bells appealing to the Ghanaian government to immediately evacuate them.

    According to one of the students Philip Arthur, the whole of Wuhan is on lockdown and “nothing moves in or out”.

    Speaking to Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Thursday, the worried student said money is of no use to them now because you cannot find someone to go out and buy you food even if you have the money.

    “All that we need now is evacuation. We want the government to help us move out of the country. Nothing moves nothing comes in. We need evacuation. The students are going through trauma emotionally.

    “Most East African countries have left, their governments have come for them so when will ours come for us. We are not safe. The surgical masks that we have, within three to four hours you need to change and must of the students, their food is finished. The problem is who is going get us the food from where even if you have money,” he lamented.

    Meanwhile, there are two suspected cases of the virus being monitored by the Korle Bu teaching hospital in Accra.

    The patients, a Chinese and an Argentine who have been living together in the country for some days, have been isolated at the facility while blood samples taken have been sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), for further analysis. Greater Accra Divisional Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Winifred Baah told Joy FM in Accra.

    Government last week sent an equivalent of GHC40,000 to the students to purchase food and other items as Wuhan remains locked down over the deadly Coronavirus.

     

    Source: starrfm.com.gh