TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Ghanaian duo nominated for October Player of the Month award in Denmark

    Ghanaian duo Kamal Deen Nurudeen and Francis Abu have been nominated for Player of the Month for October award in the Danish League.

    The duo have been in superb form for Nordsjaelland FC in the ongoing season.

    Kamal Deen Nurudeen impressive performance at club level earned him a call up to the Black Stars international friendlies against Mali and Qatar last month.

    At club level, he has scored three goals and currently is the player with the most completed dribbles in the ongoing season.

    On the part of Francis Abu, the youngster has been explosive for Nordsjaelland after being promoted to the senior side this season.

    Abu has scored three goals in the ongoing campaign for Nordsjaelland.

    He recently scored a brace to help Nordsjaelland beat Midtjylland 4-1 in a league game.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Asamoah Gyan laughs off retirement talks

    Ghana legend, Asamoah Gyan has laughed off talks of retirements as he notes that he is focused on this stage of his career.

    The prolific striker has enjoyed an illustrious career which has seen him not only making a name for himself in his home country but globally.

    After spending 17 years abroad excelling for a number of clubs, Asamoah Gyan has returned to Ghana where he has signed a renewable contract with Legon Cities FC.

    Speaking to BBC Sport Africa on talks that he is at the stage of his career where he is looking at retirement, the former Sunderland forward said he is not paying attention to that at the moment.

    “Somebody might say ‘he is about to retire or something’, but I am not listening to that and I am just focussing on my playing career and then I will see what happens”, the former Liberty Professionals striker said.

    Source: footballghana.co

  • Togo withdraws from hosting WAFU U-20 Championship

    Togo has withdrawn its candidacy to host the upcoming WAFU Zone B U-20 Championship due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    The tournament was scheduled to start on 18 November 2 December, 2020.

    Happy Sports understands that the government decided to pull out of hosting the tournament due to the high cases of COVID-19.

    The government has written to WAFU, CAF and FIFA that it cannot guarantee the safety of the players, officials of the various teams thus the decision to withdraw the hosting rights.

    The Black Satellites were in camp preparing for the tournament and will now have to break camp due to the postponement.

    Source: Happy 98.9FM

  • Legon Cities striker Asamoah Gyan eyes coaching role after football

    Legon Cities striker, Asamoah Gyan has spoken about his future plans.

    The 34-year-old recently joined the Royals on a one-year deal ahead of the start of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League season.

    Gyan, who is the top goalscorer in Black Stars’ history with 51 goals, confirmed that coaching is something he intends to pursue when he retires.

    “Coaching is part of the plan. As people know I am also a businessman but people advised me never to go out of football,” he told BBC Sport Africa.

    “I have to be in the game because I have done a lot in the game so it would be a bit shocking if I abandon it.”

    He added, “I need to get my coaching license which is very, very important. Some of my old colleagues have started doing a great job in coaching, so I think it is a good thing.”

    “I think I can be a very good coach. I don’t want to praise myself but the time will come.”

    Source: footballghana.com

  • SWAG inaugurates Northern Region branch

    The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), on Saturday, October 31, 2020 inaugurated its Northern Regional branch with a short but impressive ceremony at the Pioneer Lodge in Tamale.

    The inauguration which was performed by national President Kwabena Yeboah brought together about 40 sports writers and broadcasters from across the region who were all inducted into the membership of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana ( SWAG).
    An interim Regional Executives chaired by Osman Hafiz were sworn into office with a two-year mandate to lead the region into an elective congress.

    The rest of the interim executives are Abdulai Abdul Majeed – Vice Chairman, Abubakari Yussif – Secretary, Ibrahim Adam – Deputy Secretary, Mumuni Abdul Mumin – Treasurer, Mohammed Mutaka – Organiser and Sey Mubarick as the P. R. O, respectively.

    Present at the ceremony were national exco member Ohene Brenya Bampoe, Regional Football Association chairman Alhaji Rhyzo and Shaibu Adam Wilberforce.
    Before the inauguration, the SWAG leadership paid a courtesy call on the Tamale Chief Daa Kpema Fuseini Bawah.

    The Northern region which is the 6th regional branch to be inaugurated by SWAG after Volta/Oti, Ashanti, Bono, Eastern and Western Region, is becoming a vibrant sports media landscape with over 30 radio stations, 2 television stations and print media with correspondents for national newspapers and portals.

    SWAG, the umbrella body for sports journalists in the country, has been in existence for over 52years is noted for honouring sports excellence annually through the SWAG Awards and the SWAG Cup which is often contested for, by the top football clubs in Ghana.

    Source: swagghana.com

  • LPG stations without trained attendants to be closed down

    Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LGP) stations without trained and certified attendants would soon be closed down, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said.

    EPA said it would renew the environmental permits of LPG stations based on the evidence of training of the staff of the company.

    This was contained in a speech read on behalf of the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr Henry Kokofu, at the opening of a three-day training programme for managers, supervisors and pump attendants of LPG companies in the Eastern Region at Koforidua.

    The programme, which started last year, aimed to train LPG station pump attendants and managers on safety and best international practices in the handling of LPG.

    He said between 2007 and 2015, the country recorded 19 incidents, involving activities at gas refilling stations in which 96 people died and 486 people were injured.

    Mr Kokofu said investigations into the incidents indicated that all the cases were due to human errors and that in many instances, players in the LPG value chain had no training in the safe handling of LPG.

    He said it was in the light of such development that EPA and other stakeholders decided to initiate the training to protect public safety and investment in the industry.

    Mr Evans Opare of Department of Factory Inspectorate called on LPG companies to put in place safety management plans and to comply with plans to reduce the risk in their operations.

    He urged the companies to set standards for their operations, conduct risk assessment and adopt measures to reduce the risks in their activities.

    Mr Opare said many owners of LPG companies felt that it was expensive to comply with safety regulations, adding that it was rather costly to respond to emergencies.

    He said one could lose investment and human lives.

    Mr Joseph Koranteng, Eastern Regional Deputy Commander of the Fire Service, advised LPG companies to place the fire extinguishers on their facilities at strategic places where they could reach them quickly in emergencies.

    He advised the companies against placing the fire extinguishers near the gas pump because, in case of a fire outbreak at the pump, it would be difficult to get access to them.

    Mr Koranteng said the Fire Service was ready to offer services to gas companies on request to help train their personnel in fire safety and the assessment of their fire safety equipment.

    Mr Felix Offei of Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority advised owners of LPG stations to properly document their land and seek the necessary documentation from the relevant authorities.

    The Eastern Regional Director of EPA, Mr Felix Addo-Okyere said the region had not recorded any major gas explosion.

    However, it was necessary to enhance the knowledge of workers in the petroleum value chain in the region.

    Source: GNA

  • Government promises pension scheme for cocoa farmers

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says the government would establish a pension scheme for cocoa farmers.

    He said, just like teachers and other workers who enjoyed retirement benefit, the government wanted the farmers to enjoy a good life after they could no longer work on their farms.

    Dr Bawumia said this when he addressed a durbar of Chiefs and people of Santrokofi, Lolobi, Likpe and Akpafu Traditional Areas as part of his tour of the Oti Region.

    He said the creation of a District for the traditional areas was a monumental moment in the history of the four areas, adding that creation of a Constituency would follow soon.

    The Vice President said the creation of a District for the areas was because they were left behind in terms of development such as education, health, roads network and infrastructure.

    “We are building a new Ghana and one of the most advanced countries in the world.”

    He said the government’s transformation agenda was an inclusive one, where every citizen would have a feel of the development outcomes.

    Dr Bawumia said the restoration of teachers and nursing trainee allowances, as well as the implementation of an ambulance system, were meant to make sure every constituency benefited.

    “Over 76 factories have been supported and built and by 2022, every District shall have a factory,” he said.

    Nana Kwasi Owusu Yeboa, the Oti Regional Minister, noted that the creation of the Region and the Guan District would expand development throughout the areas as well as transform lives of the citizens.

    Nana Soglo Alloh IV, Paramount Chief of Likpe Traditional Area, commended the government for the development projects in the traditional areas.

    He said that despite the projects, the four traditional areas had infrastructure development deficit.

    The Paramount Chief appealed for the refurbishment and upgrade of Likpe Bakua health centre to a district hospital.

    He said the Senior High Schools in the four traditional areas had not seen any major developments and asked for their renovation and supply for more educational materials.

    Nana Alloh called for construction works on the area’s roads and expansion of water systems to benefit more residents.

    Source: GNA

  • Innovation, modernization in agric adversely affected by low level of education – Kobina Annim

    Government statistician Professor Samuel Kobina Annim says the 2017/2018 census on agriculture has revealed that agricultural activities in the country remain rural and rudimentary.

    He alluded to the fact the absence of and low levels of education among agricultural holders is adversely affecting innovation and modernization.

    “Now that we have found out that four-fifth of people in agric do not have education, we should think about how we can structure some educational packages for those in the agricultural sector,” Professor Annim said.

    The 2017/2018 agricultural census is the fourth to be conducted in the country. The first was in 1950. The second census was conducted in 1970, 20 years after the initial agric census and the third occurred 15 years later in 1985. All previous agric censuses excluded agricultural institutions.

    But with a 33-year gap to fill, the 2017/2018 exercise depended heavily on the use of computer-assisted personal interview techniques to collect data from households and institutions engaged in agricultural activities nationwide.

    The report indicated that a total of four million, eight hundred and sixty-four thousand, two hundred and seventy-six households were identified, with two million, five hundred and eighty-five thousand, five hundred and thirty-one being agricultural households.

    A total of three million, thirty-seven thousand, three hundred and eighty-one persons who were 15 years or older are engaged in agriculture. 65.8 percent are males and 76.6 percent are in rural areas.

    The census results also indicated that about 87 percent of agricultural holders have either basic education or no formal education. Majority of females comprising 52.6 percent have never attended school.

    Professor Annim also appealed for a more strategic approach to whip up the interest of the youth in agricultural activities.

    He said “the other perspective which we think we should look at, is the whole educational system, how it prepares the youth to go into agric, because one of the findings from what we did showed about 80 percent of agric holders do not have education or at best, have basic education. So those who are in agric; by implication the youth that we are concerned about, most of them do not have what it takes to appreciate the technology required to drive a productive agricultural sector.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Akatsi District Hospital records slightly more births

    The Akatsi District Hospital registered a slight increase in deliveries to 1,098 between January and October this year compared to 1,041 recorded for the same period in 2019.

    Mr Pascal Ayivor, the Hospitals Health Information Officer, said an increase of 57 babies was recorded over the period.

    There were 578 males and 520 females as of October this year compared with 541 males and 500 females in 2019.

    Mr Ayivor said there were 132 deliveries in March 2020, comprising 68 males and 64 females.

    He said in the previous year, the facility recorded 130 births, comprising 79 males and 51 females.

    On maternal deaths, Mr Ayivor said the Hospital did not record any maternal death for the past five years.

    Dr Karikari Bonsu, the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, appealed to philanthropic groups and individuals to assist the hospital to deliver good healthcare to the public.

    The Akatsi District Hospital has an average daily attendance of between 120 and 130 at the out-patient department.

    Source: GNA

  • GRNMA signs agreement with government over conditions of service

    The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has signed an agreement with signatories at the Ministry of Health over the conditions of service of members of the Association.

    The need for agreement became pertinent after the Association embarked on a strike on September 21, 2020, to demand for improved and better conditions of service.

    Among other things, the Association asked for were allowances for rent, uniform, transport, and professional development, arguing that it would help to address pertinent needs and improve the lives of the nurses and their service delivery.

    However, the Association on September 23, 2020, called off the strike after the National Labour Commission (NLA) secured an injunction against the strike.

    Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, the President of the Association, who disclosed this at a news conference in Accra, said having called off the strike and gone back to the negotiation table, the Association used the period of four weeks as directed by the NLC to continue the negotiations and reach an agreement on October 21, 2020.

    She said the agreement was tabled at the NLC on October 28, 2020, as the Commission had directed but unfortunately, the document could not be signed as the signatories were unavailable.

    “…Although we are not wholly satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations, we are holding onto what we have been able to get for now and take advantage of our next negotiation to make proposals for consideration by the Employer,” she said.

    Mrs Ofori-Ampofo called on all Nurses and Midwives to note that their collective agreement with the employer went beyond the non-core category 2&3 for which they had to embark on industrial action and that the agreement document contained the details of their conditions of service.

    She also said the core category 2&3 allowances negotiated and signed on August 28, 2020, also covered all nurses and midwives and formed part of their collective agreement.

    “We are going to use our structure to educate the general membership on what we have attained in the negotiations and how the implementation will be,” she added.

    The GRNMA President said the Association would engage the leadership at the regional and district levels to educate them on the content of the documents so that they would be in a better position to educate members.

    “We, therefore, call on the entire membership to remain calm and call on their district and regional leaders for any information related to our conditions of service and refrain from consuming inaccurate and incomplete information that is already being circulated on social media.

    “We are grateful to all members for your continued support and ask that you continue in the same vain and trust that we have your welfare at heart more than anything else,” she said.

    Source: GNA

  • Agyapa deal: Angels with dirty faces set to rob Ghana Wereko-Brobby

    Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, a member of the incumbent NPP has called out the persons masquerading as “angels with dirty faces” who were set to rob the country with the Agyapa Royalties deal.

    “Angels with dirty faces who set out to rob #sikaman on a wing and a prayer,” a post on his Facebook timeline read. The post followed the news of the corruption risk assessment by the Special Prosecutor, Martin ABK Amidu.

    Dr. Wereko-Brobby added: “The Agyapa deal stunk from the get-go.”

    When prompted by a commentator that the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has directed that the Agyapa deal goes back to Parliament, Dr. Wereko-Brobby quickly replied that the Agyapa agreement must be scrapped now.

    He explained that “scrapped means going nowhere. Cooked for internal consumption.”

    Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance says it is ready to resubmit the Agyapa Royalties agreement to Parliament for a review as directed by President Akufo-Addo.

    “We wish to assure the general public that the Ministry of Finance is committed to implementing the directives of His Excellency the President,” part of a statement signed by the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry read.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Both NDC, NPP scored satisfactorily fair on IMANIFesto Franklin Cudjoe

    Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has moved to quell the political interpretations being given to the 2020 IMANIFesto assessment report.

    The IMANIFesto initiative by the policy think tank analyses the status of implementation of pledges contained in the manifesto of the ruling party.

    It also assesses the feasibility of manifestos presented by political parties before elections and the impact of their promises on the livelihood of citizens.

    In the latest IMANIFesto report on the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, IMANI scored the administration 56.77%, three-points higher than it scored for the National Democratic Congress in 2012 under John Dramani Mahama.

    Following the release of the final scorecard for the governing NPP on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, NPP and government communicators have sought suggest that the NPP performs better than the NDC.

    But in a swift rebuttal on Thursday, November 5, 2020, Franklin Cudjoe said although the NPP obtained a high percentage point than the NDC, both parties obtained the same rating.

    “In 2016, NDC’s 540 promises were final score-carded 53% by the IMANIfesto assessor. In 2020, NPP’s 510 promises were final score-carded 56.77% by the IMANIfesto assessor. Both parties performed ‘satisfactorily fair’ on the IMANIfesto scale,” he wrote on social media.

    Meanwhile, the Deputy Information Minister, Pius Hadzide, has criticised the methodology used by IMANI on grounds that it fails to incorporate the views of the public in its assessment.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Silence isn’t golden here; respond to EC – Kweku Baako charges NDC

    Seasoned journalist, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has challenged the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to respond to the Electoral Commission’s (EC) statement on the party’s allegations.

    The NDC, over the weekend, accused the electoral body of colluding with one of the seven printing houses printing the ballot papers, the Assembly Press which the party says belongs to an appointee of President Nana Akufo-Addo.

    NDC Allegations

    The party alleged, at a press conference on Sunday, November 1, 2020, that the EC is printing about 150,000 surplus ballots aside from the 5 percent required excess ballot papers per polling station.

    “By convention and practice, the EC prints an extra 5 percent of the total registered voters in each polling station to cater for spoiled ballots but what is surprising this time is that the EC is rather printing an addition 5 percent of the total registered voters per constituency in the total number of ballot papers to be printed. What this translates into is that more ballot papers are being printed in excess of the 5 percent extra ballot papers required for the polling station. From the ballot statistics from the printing houses as coming from the EC, we (NDC) have analyzed the figure from 13 regions and observed that there is an excess of over 150,000 ballot papers been printed beyond the extra 5% required.”

    “This happened at the Assembly press which is one of the contractors printing the ballot papers, and we (NDC) also found out that, the Assembly Press is printing additional ballot papers at a different location on the blind side of the agents of the political parties. The NDC is completely upset with the irregularities as the MD of the Assembly Press who is an appointee of the President was an aspirant who contested the NPP 2020 parliamentary primaries in the Nkawkaw constituency and the Convener of Let My Vote Count Alliance, a pressure group of the NPP.”

    EC Press Statement

    Reacting to the NDC’s allegations, the EC issued a press statement to clarify the matter.

    ”The Electoral Commission finds it difficult to understand why the NDC would seek to cause fear and apprehension around a transparent and open process such as the printing of ballots. This is unacceptable.”

    The Commission settled the facts saying ”it has been a standard practice for the Commission to print ballot papers in excess of five percent (5%) to cater for instances such as spoilt ballots. This has been the practice since 1992 and the present Commission has not changed this policy. In line with this policy, all Printing Houses have been directed to print the 2020 ballot papers in excess of 5% for all thirty-eight thousand, six hundred and thirty (38,630) Polling Stations across the country. It is important to note that since 1992, ballot papers for both the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections are printed in booklets of 10, 25, 50 and 100 for all Polling Stations”.

    ”This has always been the practice and the NDC is well aware of this. For the information of the General Public, all Political Parties have accredited Agents in all the Printing Houses who monitor and keep a 24-hour watch of the printing process. The transparency and openness of the process make it impossible for any Printing House to manipulate and compromise the process as all printing is done in the full glare of the Agents of the Political Parties”, the EC added and assured Ghanaians that ”each ballot paper will be accounted for. Not one ballot paper will be included in a package that has not been accounted for. This will not happen. Our processes are open, transparent and robust and will remain so”.

    Kweku Baako Dares NDC

    Speaking on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”, Kweku Baako Jnr scrutinized the EC’s press statement and reading portions of it queried the NDC to respond to the pertinent issues broached by the electoral management body.

    ”The Commission has never provided the Political Parties with serial numbers of ballot papers. The Commission cannot generate the serial numbers of all seventeen million (17m) plus ballot papers. True or False? The NDC, what is their position on this?

    ”As has been the practice, serial numbers are generated by the Printing Houses and are provided to both the Commission and Political Parties after each batch of printing is completed. True or False? What has been the precedent since we began our election history? They should come out and tell us”, he stated.

    On allegations that the EC hasn’t provided serial numbers of the ballot papers to the political parties, the seasoned journalist asked the NDC to furnish Ghanaians with answers to the Commission’s clarifications which reads ”the packaged/bagged ballots are sealed by both the Electoral Commission and Political Parties. Indeed, each Political Party fixes their party seals on the packaged ballot papers. The Political Parties take a record of all seal numbers of each packaged ballot. The packing of the ballots is undertaken in the presence of all the Agents of the Political Parties”.

    ”True or False?” he questioned.

    Mr. Baako also sought the NDC’s response to the Commission’s reply on their accusations that it has colluded with the Assembly Press.

    He asked the NDC to tell Ghanaians how falsehood in the EC’s reply that ”the Assembly Press is a State institution which at any point in time is headed by Appointees of an incumbent Government. It is also a well-known fact that the Assembly Press headed by Appointees of the NDC printed 1992, 1996, 2000, 2012 and 2016 ballot papers”.

    ”True or False? Did they know? Can they challenge these details…?” he further queried.

    ”Let them be bold and put it out there. In reaction to this November 3rd press release from the EC, the response shouldn’t be that of silence. Silence will not be golden in this context…They should respond to the EC press statement dated November 3rd, 2020”, he concluded.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Disregard NDC’s attempts to cause fear and panic ahead of elections – EC

    The Electoral Commission, (EC) has refuted claims by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the printing of ballot papers for the December 7 elections.

    The largest opposition party had on Sunday raised concerns about the printing of the ballots, calling out the Commission for allowing the Assembly Press, headed by a known member of the New Patriotic Party, to be part of firms printing the ballots.

    The NDC also said the Commission has failed to provide ballot statistics since it started printing the ballot papers, further accusing the Electoral Management Body of printing in excess of 150,000 against the norm.

    But a statement issued by the EC on Tuesday, November 3 said they have asked the public to disregard the claims as false.

    “The Electoral Commission finds it difficult to understand why the NDC would seek to cause fear and apprehension around a transparent and open process such as the printing of ballots. This is unacceptable,” the Commission said in a statement.

    “The Commission assures the citizenry that each ballot paper will be accounted for. Not one ballot paper will be included in a package that has not been accounted for. This will not happen. Our processes are open, transparent and robust and will remain so,” it added.

    The EC entreat the General Public to disregard the attempts by the NDC to cause fear and panic and heighten tension in the lead up to the December 2020 Elections.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Trump, Biden speak as results show tight race

    Donald Trump accused Democrats of an attempt to commit fraud as he trailed challenger Joe Biden in early results.

    The US president provided no evidence to back his allégations.

    Speaking from the White House, Trump vowed to seek a court order to halt vote counting.

    “This is a major fraud on our election. We want the law to be used in a proper manner. So we’ll be going to the US Supreme court. We want all voting (he means counting) to stop. We want them to find any ballots at 4 o clock in the morning and add them to the list,” Trump said.

    As of 09:00GMT, Trump had garnered 213 electoral votes against Biden’s 238. 270 votes are needed for one to be declared the winner.

    Joe Biden was the first to speak. He told supporters from Delaware that he was confident of a Victory.

    “We’re feeling really good about Wisconsin and Michigan. And by the way, it’s going to take time to count the votes. We’re going to win Pennsylvania,” said the 77-year-old.

    Trump won the state of Florida, a big prize with 29 electoral votes, denying Biden an early win. Arizona was called for Biden by AP, the first state to flip from Red to Blue in this election, a massive boost for the Democrats.

    Police are deployed in several cities as fears of a possible explosion of clashes grew after the tense vote.

    Source: africanews.com

  • Google and Facebook give unique insight into how US election is being fought online

    The US presidential election – more than any other before it – has established a battleground online.

    The role of social media companies in monitoring content has drawn controversy from both Republicans and Democrats, especially given the alleged foreign interference in the 2016 election.

    But data from global tech companies, such as Google or Facebook, has also provided a unique perspective on what subjects are most interesting to US citizens, and how candidates have invested in their online campaigns.

    What have voters been searching for on Google?
    In the United States, there was a 362% increase in users searching for the term “postal voting” compared to other election years, according to Google Trends.

    Meanwhile, there was a 366% increase in searches for “electoral fraud” and the phrase “fact check” had peaked in search interest long before November.

    The US President Donald Trump has repeatedly questioned mail-in ballots, tweeting in May they would lead to a “fraudulent” election.

    In a first, Twitter labelled the tweet and directed social media users to fact checks and news stories about Trump’s unsubstantiated claims.

    The tech giant said the tweets “contain potentially misleading information about voting processes and have been labelled to provide additional context around mail-in ballots”.

    Google Trends also showed that users have searched for “how to vote” and “early voting” more now than any other time on record.

    Meanwhile, other political search terms with especially high interest in the US in 2020 included “unemployment”, “vaccine” and “racism”.

    The US economy and growth experienced a historic drop in the second quarter of the year during the COVID-19 pandemic, while demonstrations against social injustice have raged across the country following the death of George Floyd on May 25.

    Who spent the most on online ads?
    Discussion about the availability of political ads presented a different headache for tech companies in the lead up to the election.

    Unlike rivals Twitter, Facebook decided to allow political ads on its platform and Instagram in the lead up to election day.

    However, CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed the social network would ban new political adverts in the week before November 3.

    Rob Leathern, director of product management at Facebook, added the company would also ban adverts that tried to delegitimise the outcome of the election, such as calling a method of voting fraudulent or corrupt.

    But aside from these exceptions, both Trump and Joe Biden have heavily invested in Facebook advertising, more than doubling ad spending on the social network compared with the presidential candidates in the 2016 race.

    Since January 1, Biden has narrowly outspent his Republican rival, investing $101 million (€86 million) on Facebook advertising on his dedicated campaign pages, compared to Trump’s $93.5 million (€80 million).

    In the last week of October, the difference was even more dramatic, with the Democrat candidate more than doubling the investment of Trump.

    From October 25 to October 31, Biden’s pages spent $9.01 million (€7,68 million) to Trump’s $4.50 million (€3.84 million).

    Meanwhile, campaign pages for Democrat vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris have also outspent incumbent Vice-President Mike Pence on Facebook advertising in 2020.

    Google decided to limit the reach of political adverts on the search engine in November 2019, preventing campaigns from targeting ads based on users’ internet search preferences and viewing history on YouTube.

    On Google, it is Trump who has invested more in ads, while the two campaigns have spent a combined $215.5 million (€183.7 million) since May 2018.

    Where were these ads targeted?
    In the last month, both parties have heavily invested their campaign funds into online ads for specific US states, many of which are seen as crucial swing states.

    Trump and Biden have each spent more than $1.50 million (€1.28 million) on Facebook ads in Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, and Arizona since October 1.

    Unsurprisingly the most lucrative US state is Florida, where many critics are hinging the election result on, with just a few points predicted to separate the two candidates.

    In the last month, political ads on Facebook in Florida have cost Biden $6.0 million (€5.1 million) and Trump $4.8 million (€4.1 million) respectively.

    Euronews has found that many of these adverts are also individually focused on political issues that had been searched for on Google.

    Trump’s most interacted advert on Facebook – 15% of which was released in Florida – issued a clear message to encourage unity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The ad featured the US president speaking after he had left Walter Reed Hospital following his own treatment for COVID-19.

    Meanwhile, Biden’s campaign has run ads with pledges to tackle social injustice and unemployment, alongside a straightforward message that the Democrats “have to get this guy out of [the White House”.

    While these figures provide only an indication of the campaigns, experts agreed that Trump outperformed Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton online in 2016, and the online campaign has been a central focus for both parties in the race for the White House.

    Source: africanews.com

  • Livestreaming: Who wins the race to the White House?

    In what has been projected to be the highest turnout in a century, Americans choose their president today.

    Polls project a tight race to the White House between incumbent Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate, Joe Biden.

    U.S. media report that some 100 million Americans have cast a ballot using early voting, which far outstrips the over 47 million voters that did so in 2016.

    Get full coverage of the U.S. elections in the live stream below.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Financial institutions urged to adhere to financial regulations

    The Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi, Most Rev. Gabriel Yaw Anokye has urged all financial institutions in Ghana to adhere to financial regulations set up by Bank of Ghana to aid them in their daily activities.

    He made this statement at the official opening of a new financial institution of the church named; Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi Cooperative Society for Development (CAKCSOD) at St. John of the cross parish, Kronum.

    He further, cautioned them to set the right foundations for their various organizations.

    “Like the Psalmist, if foundations are not well-laid, no amount of prayer or fasting or whatsoever can amend the damages; therefore our financial institutions need to go by the laydown procedures from Central Bank in all activities to avoid any inconveniences”, he said.

    He assured the general public that the right and formidable foundation has been laid to ensure the growth and substance of CAKCSOD into a giant financial institution in Ghana.

    He advised the general public especially potential clients of CAKCSOD to help the management and staff in their day-to-day activities.

    Archbishop Anokye called on the government to assist Churches and private companies to curb unemployment in the Country.

    In attendance at the official opening of CAKCSOD was the Chairman of Board Directors, Monsignor James Baffour Addo, Rev. Fr. Augustine Kofi Owusu (Board member) and Rev. Fr. Yeboah Biney (Board member).

    Source: Daniel Kaku, Contributor

  • Independent candidate poised to unseat Adwoa Sarfo

    The Independent Parliamentary Candidate for Dome-Kwabenya in the Greater Accra region Mr. Anderson Adongo Emmanuel is poised to unseat the incumbent Member of Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo who doubles as Minister of State in charge of Public Procurement and Deputy Majority leader in Parliament.

    Adongo Emmanuel is positive that the electorate in the constituency will vote for him on December 7 to enhance development in the area.

    He has described Adwoa Sarfo as inconsiderate, unapproachable and someone who lacks leadership skills to unite the people for development and transformation.

    Mr. Adongo disclosed this on Yen Sempa morning show on Onua FM  maintaining that he will pull 55% of the total vote cast predicting 25% for the incumbent MP and 15% for the Parliamentary Candidate for the NDC, Elipklim Akurugu. He told Anokyewaba Adwoa Serwaa that his win will be the biggest win in the December 7 polls and biggest blow to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    He revealed that he has been a card bearing member of NPP in Dome-Kwabenya for quite too long and had realized that vast number of the party members have decided to vote against Adwoa Sarfo because of disunity and nepotism in the party hence his decision to go as independent to wrestle the seat.

    Meanwhile, Anderson Adongo Emmanuel revealed to vote for President Akufo Addo for four more years because he still believes in his policies in enhancing and developing the country.

    Source: 3 News

  • Election 2020: 6,187 flashpoints identified – IGP

    The leadership of the Ghana Police Service says it has identified 6,178 flashpoint ahead of the upcoming polls.

    Following this, Inspector General of Police, James Oppong Boanuh said, the police Service has is prepared and has adopted efficient measures to be able to patrol these areas and ensure a free fair and transparent Electoral process.

    Addressing journalists at a press briefing on Wednesday, November 4, 20, 2020, the IGP said,

    “We have identified 6,178 flashpoints nationwide. Our approach in these areas will be slightly different from what we will do in others. Patrols will be visible to prevent any mishap”

    The IGP also added that the service will operate joint operation centres on election.

    This he explained will prevent disinformation and election-related violence in the upcoming polls.

    “On the election day, we will operate joint operation centres which will have monitoring teams. We will also continue to engage the media on our electoral process, until the process itself is over,” he added.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Results of fingerprints of alleged murderers of Hot FM Finance Manager not ready – Police

    Police say they are yet to receive results of fingerprints of alleged murderers of Nana Ndoli Panin III, Baamuhene of Enchi Kramokrom and Finance Manager of Hot FM.

    Police Inspector John Baidoo said the fingerprints, forwarded to the Ghana Police Forensic Laboratory, would enable the police to ascertain whether or not the fingerprints of the two accused matched those on the exhibits.

    Inspector Baido also told the Kaneshie District Court that the Police was yet to receive a response from the Mampong Herbal Research Centre and the Ghana Standards Authority over the samples of alleged medicine found in a bottle at the crime scene.

    He said so far the Police had received an itemised bill from MTN and on studying it, they noticed that there was a particular number that had been communicating with the deceased from September to October 1, 2020.

    The prosecution said the last time the number called was at 12:25 pm on the day of the incident.

    The Court, presided over by Ms Ama Adomako Kwakye, remanded the accused persons to reappear on November 17.

    The accused persons; Kwame Ofori aka Ogyaba, a 29-year-old pastor of Divine Prayer Camp at Saapeman, and Nana Kwame Kwakye, a 64-year old spiritualist of Asuboi in the Eastern Region, have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

    The Court has preserved their pleas.

    The case of the prosecution is that the complainant, Daniel Abeka, is the Assistant Manager of Bobson Hotel, Kaneshie, Accra.

    It said the late Nana Panin, 45, was a Finance Manager at Hot FM in Accra and also Chief of Enchi.

    On October 1, this year, at about 1300 hours, the late Nana Panin, known in private life as Peter Kwabena Antwi, allegedly received a phone call from his spiritual father to meet him at Bobson Hotel at Kaneshie.

    The prosecution said the Nana Panin obliged and drove his Toyota Rav4 with registration number GE 1730-09 from the office to Takoradi Lorry station, where he parked and walked to the Hotel Room 16 to meet his spiritual father.

    On October 2, this year, at 1905 hours, the complainant found the body of the deceased lying in a pool of blood in the hotel room, which was already booked for Antwi to undertake some purification rituals.

    Following the discovery of the body, the prosecution said Police investigations led to the arrest of the accused persons, who for some time now, had been allegedly preparing purification rituals for the late Nana Panin.

    Source: GNA

  • Police deploy officers to Somalia

    The Police Administration has deployed One Hundred and Forty-seven Police Officers drawn from the Formed Police Unit (FPU) to the African Union Peacekeeping Mission (AMISOM) in Somalia on 2nd November, 2020, to assist the local police in maintaining peace and order.

    The Director, International Relations Department, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Baba Saanid Adamu whilst briefing the officers before their departure, advised them to remain professional in their peacekeeping duties.

    We share with you some pictures on their departure and arrival at Mogadishu the capital of Somalia, enrooted to their final destination at Baidoa.

    Source: Ghana Police Service

  • Dont trivialize my report on Agyapa – Special Prosecutor hits back

    The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has reacted to the response from the presidency on his risk assessment report on the Agyapa Royalties Agreement.

    According to him, his work must be taken seriously and not trivialized.

    The Special Prosecutor in a statement noted that: “I do not intend to be patronized as the Special Prosecutor as Mr. Eugene Arhin appears to have conveyed by the statement issued under his hand. Analysis of the risk of corruption and anti-corruption assessments are a serious anti-corruption tool with very serious consequences for any country dedicated to fighting corruption and making corruption a high-risk enterprise.

    “The sixty-four (64) page report was analyzed and assessed professionally and referenced with detailed analysis of the risk of corruption and anti-corruption assessment of the Agyapa Royalties Transactions from which no one can just pick and choose what he wants. The documents and the facts are real and were not manufactured by the Special Prosecutor.”

    “The Office of the Special Prosecutor was either seriously intended to prevent and fight corruption or was only intended as a show piece to be trivialized. The sixty-four (64) page report must be taken seriously to make corruption a very high-risk venture in Ghana,” he added.

    Please real full statement

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Businessman in trouble over fraudulent GH¢21,000 deal

    Ali Abubakar, the Director of Number One Technologies and Transport Limited, who allegedly defrauded a businessman of GH¢21,000, will be arraigned today.

    Abubakar spent the night behind bars after he was arrested by the Achimota Mile 7 police yesterday.

    His counsel, Godwin Nartey, told the District Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shaibu Alhassan Sabi, that his client was ready to refund the money.

    On October 26, the police secured a court order to freeze two accounts of the suspect domiciled with the Standard Chartered Bank and Consolidated Bank of Ghana.

    The suspect, who is an agent of Beforward Company of Japan, dealers in second hand vehicles, took the money from Andrew Parker under the pretext of assisting him to purchase a Toyota vitz vehicle.

    According to the police, Abubakar went into hiding after he failed to honour his promise to deliver the vehicle.

    The complainant lodged a complaint with the Achimota Mile 7 police to investigate, arrest and prosecute suspect.

    Parker told the police in his report on September 17, 2020, that he gave cash amount of GH¢21,000 to Abubakar about five months ago and that all efforts to reach the suspect was unsuccessful.

    Abubakar is said to have offices at Dome Pillar 2 near Al-Majid Mosque, Accra, and Anloga Junction in Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region.

    The suspect is also said to be a recipient of the first edition of 40 under 40 under awards, transport/automative category.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • US Polls: I shall pursue a PhD in Psychology if Trump wins Gabby declares

    A powerful member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has declared that he will abandon his career as a lawyer and politician and pursue a Doctor of Philosophy degree(PhD) in Psychology iA powerful member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has declared that he will abandon his career as a lawyer and politician and pursue a Doctor of Philosophy degree(PhD) in Psychology if Donald Trump is retained as the President of the United States of America.

    His PhD will focus on the psychology of the American voter.f Donald Trump is retained as the President of the United States of America. His PhD will focus on the psychology of the American voter.

    The New Patriotic Party(NPP) of which Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko is a member, tends to see a win for the Republicans, led by Donald Trump now, as a win for them. It is unclear why Mr Otchere-Darko seems to not support a win for Mr Trump.

    Americans are voting today to elect a President for the next four years. Joe Biden of Democrats and President Donald Trump are the key contenders in the election, described by many pollsters as too close to call.

    While some abhor the retention of Donald Trump as President for his apparently unpresidential actions and inactions, others are yearning for his reelection based on his stellar performance in growing the American economy. Donald Trump has had support from Black celebrities in America, who typically support the Democrats.

    Meanwhile, both leading presidential candidates have expressed confidence in their ability to win the election.

    Source: My News GH

  • 90,000 health personnel employed under Akufo-Addo’s government – Bawumia

    Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, says the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government has employed 90,000 health personnel during its first term in office.

    He said the government also streamlined the National Health Insurance scheme to make it more viable and attractive.

    Dr Bawumia made these statements when he commissioned a three-Storey classroom block for the Anhwiaso College of Health Sciences in the Bibiani, Anhwiaso, Bekwai Constituency, as part of his two-day tour of the Western North Region.

    The Vice President said the many tangible achievements of the NPP government made it more imperative for Ghanaians to vote for Nana Addo’s government in the December general elections to enable them to do even more for them.

    Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, the Omanhen of the Anhwiaso Traditional Area, commended the government for fulfilling its campaign promise to create the Western North and five other regions

    He was also thankful for the Planting for Food and Jobs policy, which has brought much improvement in the country’s food security as well as the boosting of cocoa prices for cocoa farmers despite declining world cocoa prices.

    The NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Constituency, Mr Alfred Obeng Boateng, said looking at the achievements of the NPP government so far, it was not out of place to ask Ghanaians to retain the party in power to continue with the good works.

    “Vote for Nana Addo as President, and vote for me as your MP, and together, we shall continue to give you the best of developments,” he said.

    Source: GNA

  • Hearts of Oak trophy drought due to lack of commitment from current management – Don Bortey

    Hearts of Oak legend Bernard Don Bortey says lack of commitment on the part of the current management is part to be blamed for the club’s trophy drought.

    The current management have failed to guide the team to a major trophy for over a decade.

    The Ghanaian giants last won the Ghana Premier League title in 2009 and have failed to annex the title which they won six in a row in the early 2000s.

    According to the former deadly striker, the old management were serious and committed to the course seeing the club win a lot of laurels unlike the current management at the helm of affairs.

    “The current leaders of Hearts of Oak spirit of managing the club are not like that of the old management.

    “Theirs are low. The old management was committed to the job but now you don’t see the commitment of the Hearts of Oak management,” he added.

    Hearts of Oak coach Nii Odoom is hoping to end the team’s trophy drought in the upcoming Ghana Premier League season.

    The team is currently in Cape Coast for preseason camp.

    Hearts of Oak will begin their league campaign against Aduana Stars on 14 November 2020.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Andre Ayew hits fifth goal of the season as Swansea hold Brentford

    Ghana forward André Ayew snatched a point for Swansea against Brentford in the Championship on Tuesday night.

    Ayew’s fifth goal of the season ensured Swansea City remain unbeaten on the road in the Championship this season as they claimed a deserved draw with Brentford.

    It was Brentford who went in front as in-form striker Ivan Toney struck in the 36th minute.

    Swansea, however, dominated the majority of the second half and got a deserved equaliser as Ayew drilled home to stretch his side’s unbeaten run to five games.

    The Jack Army and Brentford went into the match as the two best performing Championship sides since the June restart, with the Swans and the Bees each collecting 35 of the 54 points on offer in that period.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Thomas Partey commands global recognition after heroics against Manchester United

    Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has catapulted into global stardom after his heroics for Arsenal against Manchester United in the Premier League at the weekend.

    The world is now beginning to take notice of his immense quality after he starred for the Gunners in their 1-0 win at Manchester United at the weekend.

    Partey, 27, has been dominant since he joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid where he has received widespread rave reviews over his quality.

    With the global allure and stature of the English Premier League, the masterful performance of the Ghana international is gaining massive traction around the world.

    Partey won the ball back more than anyone else on the pitch in Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Manchester United on Sunday – their first win at a ‘big six’ rival in 29 games.

    The deputy Ghana captain has earned praises from several former and current stars after being compared to Arsenal legend Patrick Viera.

    The 27-year-old starred as Arsenal defeated the Red Devils 1-0 at Old Trafford, their first victory at the backyard of their opponents in 14 years.

    The former Atletico Madrid player was magnificent and effective for Arsenal, earning positive reviews across the football world.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Ivory Coast election: Ouattara wins third term, opposition cries foul

    Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has been reelected to a third term after securing 94.27% of the vote, the electoral commission announced Tuesday.

    The president’s victory in the October 31 election had been widely expected after two leading opposition figures called on their supporters to boycott the vote.

    The commission said the final voter turnout was 53.90%, but the opposition claimed that only 10% of Ivorians took part.

    The elections results must still be validated by the country’s constitutional council.

    Clashes surrounding the vote have claimed at least 30 lives in the West African country. There are also fears of a repeat of the election-related unrest that killed more than 3,000 people in 2010-2011 when then-President Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to Ouattara.

    The European Union on Tuesday expressed “deep concern” over post-election tensions in Ivory Coast.

    Chief EU diplomat Josep Borrell said: “The violence that resulted in several deaths and injuries must be independently investigated to ensure that justice is done without delay,” in remarks carried by the news agency AFP.

    The EU expected “all stakeholders” to promote reconciliation and resume dialogue, Borell said.

    Opposition announces rival government

    The two opposition candidates who boycotted the vote — former President Henri Konan Bedie and ex-Prime Minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan — have said they will not recognize Ouattara’s victory.

    They also vowed to create a rival “transitional government” that will work to hold “a fair, transparent and inclusive presidential election.”

    Ouattara, who has been in power for nearly a decade, initially announced he would not seek a third term in order to make way for a new generation. But he reversed that decision after his party’s candidate died in July.

    The opposition called the 78-year-old’s reelection bid an illegal attempt to stay in power, given that the Ivorian constitution limits presidents to two terms. However, Ouattara maintains the two-term cap doesn’t apply to him because of a constitutional amendment passed in 2016 that allowed him to restart his mandate.

    An African Union observer mission said on Monday that the election was “generally satisfactory.”

    Meanwhile, a mission from the US watchdog Carter Center said the political and security situation made it difficult to organize a credible vote.

    “The electoral process excluded a large number of Ivorian political forces and was boycotted by part of the population in a volatile security environment,” it said in a statement.

    Source: dw.com

  • Meet the Ghanaian innovator helping South Africa to apply for the fourth industrial revolution technology

    The Famous Fiber Optics inventor Dr Thomas Owusu Mensah is helping South Africa apply the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technology to enhance all areas of its Economy. These include Power Generation and Distribution, Agriculture and Food Security, Water Management, Mining and Minerals, Aerospace and Defense, Transportation, Tourism, Culture and Music, Finance and Banking, National Security, Advanced Manufacturing, and Government Administration.

    Dr Thomas Mensah, a World Icon in Technology was appointed to the 4 IR Board by the Premier of Gauten, HE. David Makhura, who met him in New York and invited him to tour all the Innovation Centers in South Africa, which he has successfully done and added value.

    Dr Mensah Participated in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Board Deliberation virtually from Ghana, on Tuesday, 28 October, 2020, where he promoted Advanced Drone Technology in Agriculture, and to support COVID-19 Testing. He also suggested the use of 4 IR in Transportation across South Africa to support the Intercontinental Free Trade Agenda.

    The President of South Africa, His Excellency Cyrill Ramaphosa, who is Chairman of the Africa Union has made as his key objective -the creation of two million jobs in South Africa through this Fourth Industrial Revolution effort and is on his way to realizing this objective.

    South Africa has become a Global Leader in the 4 IR being the first country on the African Continent to totally embrace it and apply it to all sectors of its Economy.

    Dr Thomas Mensah is the author of 5 Books on Innovation including the International Textbook- Nanotechnology Commercialization and Fiber Optics Engineering. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, USA and has served on the MIT Visiting Committee, Advisory Board in the United States.

    Source: Charles Ntiamoah-Mensah, Contributor

  • Remains of murdered Takoradi kidnapped girls presented to court

    The Sekondi High Court today, November 3, 2020, took delivery of the remains of the four Takoradi kidnapped girls.

    The remains which have been in the custody of the police were sent to the court following a request by the seven-member jury sitting on the murder case against Sam Udoetuk Wills and John Orji.

    The remains of the four girls were according to Citinewsroom.com accompanied by Police pathologist, Superintendent Dr Osei Owusu-Afriyie.

    The four girls Ruth Abeka, Priscilla Blessing Bentum, Ruth-Love Quayson and Priscilla Mantebea Koranchie were pronounced dead after DNA tests conducted on some skeletal remains discovered in parts of Takoradi confirmed their identities.

    Lawyers for the two suspects raised doubts about the credibility of the DNA tests but Dr Kofi Agyapong, lead medical doctor of the team that conducted the tests on Friday October 23, 2020, defended their conclusion.

    He told the Sekondi High Court presided by Justice Richard Adjei Frimpong that the team used the Standard Tandem Repeat (STR) method to arrive at the conclusion.

    “…we took DNA samples from four skulls from the Ghana Police Hospital Morgue. We then proceeded to take buccal swabs from the alleged parents and siblings of the four victims. After our analysis, we found out that for the Koranchie family Alexander Kofi Koranchie who is the alleged father of missing Priscilla Mantebea Koranchie shares common allele with Skull 4 at all loci tested. The probability of stated relationship which is the Combined Paternity Index (CPI) is 25767.9834. Paternity probability is 99.99 percent. And for the Abekah family, we found out that Cecilia Owusu who is the alleged mother of missing Ruth Abekah shares common allele with Skull 3 at all loci tested. The probability of stated relationship which is the Combined Maternity Index (CMI) is 202552413.7053 and probability of maternity is 99.99 per cent.

    He continued: “For the Quayson family, we found out that Comfort Arhin who is the alleged mother of missing Ruthlove Quayson shares common allele with Skull 1 at all loci tested. That the probability of stated relationship which is the Combined Maternity Index (CMI) is 53160961.519 and the probability of maternity is 99.99 per cent. And for the Bentum family, we found out that Francis Bentum Ackon who is the father of missing Priscilla Blessing Bentum and Gladys Bentum mother of the missing Priscilla Blessing Bentum shares a common allele with Skull 2 at all loci tested. That the probability of the stated relationship which is the Combined Paternity Index (CPI) is 1293669.4766 and Combined Maternity (CMI) is 11703487616.3591. The probability of paternity and maternity is 99.99 percent.

    He concluded: “Skull 1 cannot be excluded as the biological daughter of Madam Comfort Arhin. Skull 2 cannot be excluded as the biological daughter of Mr. Francis Bentum Ackon and Madam Gladys Bentum. Skull 3 cannot be excluded as the biological daughter of Madam Cecilia Owusu and Skull 4 cannot be excluded as the biological daughter of Mr. Alexander Kojo Koranchie.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • It’s Election Day in America

    It’s Election Eve.

    96 million people have already voted.

    9.3 million people have been infected with Covid-19.

    Americans get their last chance Tuesday to judge the presidency of President Donald Trump.

    You can tell he’s nervous because he made the final moments of his reelection argument about excluding people’s votes from being counted.

    We don’t know who will win this election, but we have already learned something very important about US politics in 2020, and that’s this: One party has been actively and openly trying to get people’s votes thrown out.

    It is literally anti-democratic.

    If this were being done quietly, it would be a scandal. Done out loud by the President, it has the veneer of policy. Or at least that’s the way it’s being treated. But it’s no less corrosive to people’s faith in the system. Damn the torpedoes. I’ve been a little surprised not to feel more urgency from Democratic nominee Joe Biden or his campaign.

    Former President Barack Obama was nailing three-pointers before a speech over the weekend. Biden was out with Lady Gaga in Pittsburgh. Those interludes felt like normal-year retail politics, regular get-out-the-young-vote moves at a time when the whole democratic system could be teetering. It’s clear that Biden is trying to project a steady hand when everyone’s shaking. Then again, this is the turnout portion of an election. It’s a few extra people in each neighborhood that make winners.

    There’s a pit in my stomach tonight. I honestly wonder what comes next and I can’t shake the unease.

    Will there be violence if Trump wins?

    Will there be violence if Trump loses?

    Cities, states and businesses have all been preparing for the possibility of civil unrest.

    They’re erecting a “non-scalable fence” around the White House.

    Coordinated attack. Trump’s warnings that any result that does not end with him in the White House must be “rigged” are working in tandem with Republican efforts to have hundreds of thousands of votes thrown out. Those efforts have faltered in key state and federal courts.

    Too far. Not even the all-Republican Texas state Supreme Court or the Republican-appointed federal court judge were buying the argument of conservative activists and legislators that more than 100,000 votes cast at drive-in polling places should be invalidated. Details here.

    Steve Vladeck, a CNN analyst and constitutional law professor at the University of Texas, ripped the lawsuits brought by Republicans in Texas and elsewhere. He argued in The Washington Post they were functionally about invalidating votes Republicans think will be damaging to them:

    “Like so many 11th-hour voting-related suits filed by Republicans in recent weeks, this suit has almost nothing to do with voter fraud. Rather, it’s the latest in a consistent and cynical line of suits — in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, among others — that appear motivated by partisan gain, assuming that the exclusion of any set of ballots from Harris County, the third-largest in the country and one of Texas’s key Democratic strongholds, is good for Republicans.”

    It’s the voters’ turn. Anything less than a blowout seems destined to be a legal battle. “I don’t think it’s fair that we have to wait for a long period of time after the election … We’re going in the night of — as soon as the election is over — we’re going in with our lawyers,” Trump promised. Polling suggests Joe Biden is in the stronger spot. But polling deceived us four years ago. And if there are only two real options, either one could win. Make no mistake that come Wednesday (or later), we could be talking about Trump’s reelection.

    Historical notes — Trump should be winning. Only three incumbent presidents in Trump’s lifetime have lost their bid for a second term. And Gerald Ford was never himself elected, so he gets a huge asterisk. That Trump is in a place of weakness, according to polls, is evidence, maybe, that division, discord and a failure to do even basic leadership like pushing mask mandates during a pandemic have turned voters off.

    The other way to end an election — Today I watched the speech Ronald Reagan gave on Election Eve in 1980. It was, to my 2020 ears, incredibly hokey. But it was also hopeful. He sat in a chair and told Americans to believe in their ability to come together.

    “Let us resolve they will say of our day and our generation that we did keep faith with our God, that we did act worthy of ourselves; that we did protect and pass on lovingly that shining city on a hill,” he said in closing.

    Act worthy of yourself. Trump, for comparison, is tweeting his approval of a caravan of pickup trucks endangering a Biden campaign bus in Texas. And he’s trying to poison faith in elections to ward off the humility of a possible loss.

    Read this from CNN’s Kevin Liptak, who spent the weekend on the campaign trail with Trump.

    The Covid election and a changing US state — And read this from CNN’s Dan Merica, who spent time in Arizona’s key Maricopa County, trying to figure out how coronavirus and Trump’s leadership would affect his chances. He found a lot of people willing to give Trump the benefit of the doubt despite the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have died.

    What’s next? Both Trump and Biden wrapped up their arguments in Pennsylvania. It’s not a bad bet we’ll be talking about that state late into the night on Tuesday.

    And if it’s not that close, that might be a good indicator of what’s to come.

    But don’t expect a decision on election night. In Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, both key states, officials have said many ballots will not be fully counted. This thing, as we’ve said repeatedly, will take a while.

    What to watch in exit polls

    I’m going to be watching exit polls and results on election night and try to identify themes about why either side won or lost and what it says about the country right now.

    That said, I’m no polling expert. And exit polls are one of the most misunderstood tools in political journalism. They’re also among the first things we’ll hear about on election night.

    So I’ll be leaning heavily on the people at CNN who are. I asked Ryan Struyk, who does know quite a bit about polls and who normally works with Jake Tapper on the State of the Union staff, for his thoughts. He sent over a lot more than I expected. I’ll put the entire guide below: The exit polls will offer us some key clues about whether Trump or Biden are winning over the voters they need to clinch the White House. Here’s what I’m watching: The key groups to watch for Trump:

    White voters without a college degree: This group propelled Trump to the presidency four years ago, but now, Biden hopes to narrow the gap. Trump won White voters without a college degree by 31 points in Michigan, 32 points in Pennsylvania and 28 points in Wisconsin. Trump needs to try to hold those margins again.

    White women: Pre-election polls suggest Trump is losing ground with this group, but he needs to stop the bleeding to have a fighting chance. A gaping gender gap could be fatal to Trump’s reelection bid. Trump won White women by 9 points in 2016.

    Independent voters: Independent voters haven’t given either candidate a double-digit advantage in more than 30 years. Could Biden break the streak? Trump narrowly won independent voters by 4 points in 2016, and he’ll need to keep things close with this group to win again.

    The key groups to watch for Biden:

    Seniors: Trump won voters over 65 years old by 7 points in 2016, but amid a pandemic that is disproportionately killing older Americans, Biden may win them back in key states like Florida. Plus, Trump won White seniors by 19 points. Can Biden break even?

    Trump-to-Biden voters and former third party voters: How many former Trump voters can Biden convince to cross party lines? In a tight race, even picking off 5-10% of them could make a difference. Plus, almost 6% of voters went third party in 2016. Where will they fall now?

    White voters with a college degree: One of the big surprises of 2016 came when White voters with a college degree backed Trump by 3 points. Polls suggest they will likely go for Biden in 2020, but Biden needs to run up the score, especially among college-educated women.

    Black and Latino voters, especially men: Trump has been pushing to make inroads with Black and Latino men, where even a small shift could help make up losses with other groups. Hillary Clinton won Black men by 69 points and Latino men by 31 points in 2016.

    Source: CNN

  • Ivory Coast under international pressure to safeguard peace

    Ivory Coast’s ruling party Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) warned the political opposition, which boycotted the presidential election of October 31, against any “attempt to destabilise” the country. At least five people died over the weekend in election-related violence.

    The warning came in the wake of a call by the opposition for a “civilian transition” from President Alassane Ouattara’s government, which it considers illegitimate. Opposition leader Pascal Affi N’Guessan told reporters: “We consider that there has been no election in Cote d’Ivoire. What Ouattara did is constitutional robbery.”

    After the unexpected death, on July 8, of Prime-Minister, Amadou Gon Coulibaly, which Ouattara had handpicked to run for his succession, the 78-year-old president changed his mind on retirement. He argued that the new constitution, which imposes a two-term limit to the presidency, did not apply to his previous mandates. Thirty people died in ensuing protests.

    ‘Ouattara will have his third term’

    Preliminary results pointed to an overwhelming majority for Ouattara.

    “In the areas where President Ouattara is particularly popular and his party is predominant, the figures seem to me quite credible,” analyst Paul Melly of the London-based think tank Chatham House told DW.

    Melly stressed that the boycott of the elections by the opposition candidates Pascal Affi N’Guessan and Henri Konan Bedie benefited the incumbent.

    Much will depend on the election’s turnout to decide how legitimate Ouattara’s mandate is. But, at this point, the question is academic.

    “What’s going to happen is very simple: there has been an election of sorts and President Ouattara will have his third term of office,” said DW correspondent Bram Posthumus. “The idea that this party was going to relinquish power has always been a non-starter.”

    The opposition maintained that the election boycott was successful, invalidating the polls. Not so, said political analyst Sylvain N’Guessan: “There is no law in Cote d’Ivoire that imposes a participation rate to validate elections.”

    Ivorians want peace

    Fearing a repeat of the violence 10 years ago, thousands of Ivorians left urban centres for their villages before the polls. After the 2010 presidential vote, 3,000 people died in the violence resulting from President Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to accept defeat at the hands of Ouattara. On Monday, Abidjan was back to its normal busy self.

    “During the weekend it was like a ghost town, which is highly unusual for this city of six and a half million people,” said Posthumus.

    In the streets of the capital, passersby told DW of their fears. “We are scared, we don’t know what’s going to happen. We are praying that the different presidents listen to us,” one man said. “We need God. We need peace, happiness,” a woman added.

    “People are sick and tired of this whole political game and they want to carry on with their businesses,” Posthumus said, explaining why the population will not allow itself to be mobilized in protests to the extent that happened in 2010.

    Violence can be averted

    “There are no certainties, but it seems unlikely that violence will develop on the scale it did ten years ago,” Paul Melly agreed. The country is not as dangerously divided as it was then. The current government put an end to the military split resulting from the civil war — which opposed the government army in the south to pro-Ouattara rebels in the north — by merging them into a single military structure.

    Two risks remained: localized protests with things getting “out of hand and then the security forces overreact,” and ethnic violence, Melly said. At least some of the recent violence resulted from protests which degenerated into clashes between ethnic communities that back rival political factions.

    Already the international community is putting pressure on Ivory Coast’s political elites to behave themselves. “The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, remarked the other day that the sort of events that can sometimes happen in post-election violence are the sort of things that need people to be brought before the ICC. So that was a very clear warning,” Melly said.

    International pressure

    Ivory Coast’s neighbours are also certain to put pressure on Abidjan to prevent a new crisis. Apart from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the region is plagued by jihadist attacks in the Sahel, a putsch in Mali, a disputed election in Guinea and unrest in neighbouring Nigeria.

    Political analyst Fahiraman Rodrigue Kone, of the African Security Sector Network, believes that the only way forward in Ivory Coast is a national dialogue. “Whoever is elected President will have to make the effort to guarantee, once and for all, a real reconciliation process,” he said.

    Bram Posthumus does not believe that the opposing parties will come together any time soon. “The rhetoric coming out of both camps has been highly antagonistic,” he said.

    A dialogue in the offing?

    Analyst Paul Melly is more sanguine. From his Belgian exile, former President Laurent Gbagbo— who was banned from running in the presidential election — has indicated a willingness to negotiate, by stressing the importance of talks, he said.

    Ouattara has also given some indications that he is considering a dialogue.

    “There could be a situation where Mr Ouattara opens up scope for some sort of discussion. It will be interesting to see what he is willing to offer the opposition as an incentive to engage in discussion with him,” expert Melly said.

    Recently, Ouattara hinted at a possible constitutional amendment to limit the age of the president, thereby reacting to increased calls for power to be handed over to a younger generation.

    “We may see a bit more negotiation, a bit more flexibility that one might expect,” Melly concluded.

    Source: dw.com

  • Coronavirus second wave will be deadlier in Ghana – Nana Ofori Owusu predicts

    National Chairman of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Nana Ofori Owusu has predicted a calamity of enormous proportion in the health sector for Ghana.

    According to him, it is likely the country will experience a second wave of COVID-19 should the citizenry keep disregarding the safety protocols.

    Ghana has currently recorded 620 active cases with 320 death cases.

    The country confirmed 48,200, out of which 47,260 have recovered and been discharged.

    Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”, Nana Ofori Owusu called on the government and all Ghanaians not to rejoice over the low case count but rather strictly adhere to the COVID-19 protocols.

    “I am of a firm belief that if care is not taken, the COVID second wave will be more deadly than the first one because if over 1 million people have been exposed already and there is a second wave . . . it can have crippling catastrophic effect on us as a people. And I don’t think that we can leave this thing up to chance,” he warned.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Vincent Sowah Odotei to replace Frederick Moore as Hearts of Oak MD – Reports

    Experienced football administrator and politician Vincent Sowah Odotei is reported to be closing on a return to Hearts of Oak to replace Frederick Moore as Managing Director of the club.

    Mr. Odotei will return to the position he held before winning the La-Dadekotopon Parliamentary seat four years ago.

    He will replace Frederick Moore who is set to move back to the UK to begin a new adventure.

    The soft-spoken administrator is reported to have secured a top role in a big firm in the UK hence his departure.

    The former CEO of the Institute of Chartered Accountants did not deny or confirm the report during an interview with Kumasi FM.

    “Accra Hearts of Oak has got numerous people who can do this job a lot better than I have done so I think with the board chairman and the management that we have, I have high hopes for the club. I am just one person and I thank my stars for the team I work with.”

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Legon Cities FC have gentlemans agreement with Aduana Stars over Elvis Opoku

    Nouveau-riche side Legon Cities FC have agreed to give Aduana Stars a percentage in onward transfer for Elvis Opoku after literally signing the midfielder on a free deal, according to media reports.

    The Royals flexed their financial muscles on transfer deadline day with the acquisition of some marquee signings such as Asamoah Gyan and Elvis Opoku ahead of the start of the 2020/2021 Ghana Premier League season.

    Opoku joined the club on a two-year deal from Aduana Stars on transfer deadline day.

    The 27-year-old left the Fire Boys with a month left on his contract after refusing to extend the deal.

    Legon Cities, however, paid Gh¢50,000 to Aduana Stars as compensation before finalizing the deal.

    According to reports, the two clubs agreed that Aduana will receive a percentage in onwards transfer fee.

    On a personal level, the player pocketed Gh¢60,000 as an enticement fee and Gh¢5,000 as transportation.

    Opoku will receive a monthly salary of Gh¢3,000 and a rented apartment worth Gh¢500 a month.

    The midfielder was a key performer for the ‘Ogya’ lads for the past seasons which landed him a three-year contract extension in 2017.

    He featured 14 times for Aduana Stars in the 2019/20 Ghana Premier League season which was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Serbian coach Milovan Cirkovic arrives in Ghana to begin AshGold SC job

    Serbian coach Milovan Cirkovic has arrived in Ghana to begin AshantiGold SC job as head coach

    The miners after parting ways with Italian coach Roberto Landi have decided to settle on Milovan Cirkovic.

    The 57-year-old will sign a two-year contract with AshantiGold after completing all other details of his move.

    Cirkovic is replacing Italian gaffer Roberto Landi who left the club after series of disagreements.

    He worked as assistant coach of Thailand from September 2017 to January 2019 under former Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac.

    He was also assistant manager of Serbian side Borak Cacak from January 2008 to September 2017.

    Cirkovic also managed Tanzanian giants Simba SC in 2013.

    Source: Happy 98.9FM

  • Hearts of Oak paid players GH¢150 in 2009 – Former player

    A former Hearts of Oak player Moses Andoh said until he left the team, he was being paid GH¢150.

    The former Hearts of Oak finisher disclosed this to Nhyiraba Kwabena Asirifi on Rainbow Radio 87.Fm.

    This amount he said was being paid in 2007-2009.

    Ghanaian players in the local league he noted are struggling and until they get a transfer to play outside Ghana, they will continue to wallow in poverty.

    He mentioned some top former Hearts of Oak players who were also being paid GH¢150-GH¢160.

    Players such as Bobby Short, Anthony Annan, Eric Gawu, Kwabena Boafo, Nii Larbi, Amankwah Mireku, Joojo Bossman, Nana Ajiri, Saani Mohammed, Saliu Muntari, Ablade Morgan, Eric Nyarko, Don Bortey among others.

    ”Look at the caliber of players I have mentioned and the amount we were receiving. Is this an amount that can make a player succeed?”

    In his view, the big factor that prevented players from flourishing was the peanut amount they were paid.

    Players he alleged were threatened not to disclose this detail to the media or risk suspension hence they kept mute over it.

    Moses Andoh said he had an opportunity to move to a Turkish side and could have benefitted from an $8,000 deal but that deal was sabotaged.

    Meanwhile, he has denied that the players who qualified for the money zone in 2006 in the Champions league were given $1,000 each.

    He said, “till date, we have not been paid a pesewa of a dollar yet they published in the newspapers that they gave the players $1,000”.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Asante Kotoko locked in talks with Hyundai over partnership deal – Reports

    Ghana Premier League giants Asante Kotoko have opened discussions with Hyundai Company over a partnership deal.

    New Asante Kotoko Chief Executive Officer Nana Yaw Amponsah is eager to make the club attractive again.

    Since his appointment, the well-connected football administrator has been working towards securing partnerships and sponsorships to help put the club at the desired height.

    The Reds have already secured deals with Veo, Instat, Hisense, as well as Adonko Next Level Energy Drink.

    Media reports reveal that the Kumasi-based outfit are in talks with automobile manufacturing company Hyundai for a partnership agreement.

    The reports indicated that Hyundai will provide cars to the players and management members with a flexible payment plan should both parties find a common ground.

    Meanwhile, Nana Yaw Amponsah will leave the shores of Ghana to UK on Friday to hold final talks with English Premier League club Southampton over exchange programme deal.

    The FIFA intermediary will finalized his visit to Europe with a stop in Italy to engage new kit manufacturers Errea ahead of the start of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League season on November 13.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Agyapa deal: There was bid-rigging, corruption in selection of Transaction Advisors Amidu

    The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has raised concerns with the controversial Agyapa Royalties Deal.

    In his corruption risk assessment of the controversial deal, Mr Amidu argued that there was a reasonable suspicion of bid-rigging and corruption activity including the potential for illicit financial flows and money laundering in the process that led to the selection of the Transaction Advisor(s).

    This, according to Amidu manifested “in the arrangement of how the fees payable to Databank of Ghana as the decoy which was not approved under the Public Procurement Authority Act, 2003 (Act 663) as amended by the Public Procurement Authority (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 914) (Act 663 as amended) are to be made.”

    The 64 page-report also added: ” There was thus a zero chance arising out of individual interests at the Ministry of Finance and Imara/Databank of expecting impartiality and neutrality on the part of the Transaction Advisor(s) in advising the Republic of Ghana as a national corporate entity representing the unitary interest of its Chiefs and people.”

    He thus claims that the consultations over the agreement were not comprehensive and innovative enough.

    The release of the full report comes barely 12 hours after the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu announced the conclusion of the said corruption risk assessment conducted into the controversial Agyapa Royalties deal by his office.

    A press release issued by the Office of the Special Prosecutor early on disclosed the submission of the report to the President and the Finance Minister attached with conclusions and observations.

    This, according to Mr Amidu, was done some two weeks ago while indicating that the two week period is enough to inform the public about the conclusion of his constitutional mandate.

    “The analysis of the risk of corruption and anti-corruption assessment was completed and signed by the Special Prosecutor on 15th October 2020. The Special Prosecutor in a letter with reference number OSP/SCR/20/12/20 dated 16th October 2020 conveyed the conclusions and observations of the anti-corruption assessment to H. E. the President and the Hon. Minister of Finance as a matter of courtesy before informing the public.”

    “Two weeks is more than too long for this Office to continue withholding the announcement of the completion of its sixty-four (64) page report to the public. It is important that this Office has the freedom to discharge its anti-corruption mandate and keep the public informed. I have, therefore, decided to bring the facts of the conclusion of the anti-corruption assessment of the Agyapa Royalties Transactions by this Office to the attention of the public and to avoid the continued speculations on this matter,” the Special Prosecutor added in the press release.

    Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has directed the Finance Minister to take the Agyapa deal back to Parliament following the completion of the corruption risk assessment by Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Blame police for gas shortages Ghanaians told

    The National Chair of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union, Bernard Owusu has blamed the strike action of gas tanker drivers on a few bad nuts in the Ghana Police Service.

    Parts of the Greater Accra, Western and Central Regions were hit by an acute shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

    The situation left consumers who depend on LPG for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes stranded.

    According to Bernard Owusu, the continuous harassment of gas tanker drivers by the police is what led them to go on strike which inadvertently affected the ordinary Ghanaian.

    “We have faced some issues in the past few months and that is what we were working on resolving. The Police always harass our drivers whenever they load products from the Atoabo Gas Plant to Tema. They take money from them and conduct unnecessary checks frustrating our drivers”.

    He furthered that these checks were meant to be done by the Customs division of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and not the police. “So we went to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and complained to them about these harassments. They assured us they will resolve the issue but nothing happened, hence, our strike action”.

    The National Chair of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union disclosed that the union had met with the Labour Ministry which had promised to address their concerns in the next two weeks. “We have resumed duty and Ghanaians will get their gas and we expect the Labour Ministry to resolve issues in two weeks as promised”, he told Sefa Danquah on the Epa Hoa Daben political talk show.

    In a press release dated Sunday, November 1, 2020, signed by the leadership of the General Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union (GTPCWU), Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union (GNPTDU), Gas Tanker Drivers Union (GTDU) and the Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Bright Wireko-Brobbey, the drivers announced their resumption of duty.

    “Following a sit-down strike by members of the Gas Tanker Drivers Union (GTDU) from 29th October 2020, an emergency meeting was held between the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR) under the directive of the Minister on one hand and the Ghana Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union (GTPCWU) of GTUC, Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union (GNPTDU), Liquified Petroleum Gas Marketing Companies (LPGMC), Ghana LPG Operators Association (GLiPGOA) and Oil Marketing Companies of Liquified Petroleum Gas (OMCLPG) on the other hand on Sunday, 1st November, 2020 to resolve the impasse,” the press release announcing the calling off of the strike said.

    “The Ministry assures the general public that the drivers have resumed duty with immediate effect as the government takes steps to resolve the matter with all the urgency that it deserves,” it added.

    Source: Happy 98.9FM

  • Land Commission introduces online service

    The Land Commission, as part of measures to improve service to clients, will from Monday, November 9, 2020, provide an online service.

    A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) and signed by Alhaji Sulemana Mahama, Executive Secretary, the Lands Commission said the initiative would increase satisfaction, enhance productivity and improve its service delivery.

    It said the platform would give an opportunity for clients to submit applications, requests and make electronic payment for services and track applications remotely.

    The Commission announced that due to exercises to get the online platform functional, there would be intermittent disruptions and delays to services provided at its Client Access Unit (CSAU) in Accra and Tema, therefore, “Management regrets any inconvenience this may cause.”

    Source: GNA

  • Akufo-Addo launches revised National Health Policy

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Monday, November 2, 2020, launched the revised National Health Policy and promised to provide the requisite leadership and resources for its effective implementation.

    The health policy, he said, would provide a clear policy direction to the Government in the health sector for the next 10 years and ensure access to quality healthcare without funding being a barrier to any citizen.

    He said the policy would ensure universal health coverage for all Ghanaians by “ensuring timely and quality healthcare, irrespective of one’s ability to pay”.

    President Akufo-Addo urged the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other stakeholders to uphold the tenets of the policy.

    President Akufo-Addo gave the assurance when he launched the National Health Policy in Accra on the theme, ” Ensuring Healthy Lives for All”.

    He said the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic has made it a necessity for the nation to implement a health policy that would cater to the country’s emergency health needs in the future.

    The President was of the conviction that the ‘Agenda 111’ with the aim of constructing district hospitals in each of the districts without health facilities and three infectious disease centres in each of the geological zones would go a long way to ensure quality healthcare for all.

    President Akufo-Addo noted that the health policy was in tandem with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs), especially SDG three-‘ensuring quality healthcare and wellbeing for all’.

    Additionally, the policy derived inspiration from the African Union Development Framework- Agenda 6063, African Health Strategy, the Directive Principles of State Policy and other UN health protocols.

    Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, the Minister of Health, said the adoption of the policy was in line with the SDG three, which intends to ensure quality healthcare and wellbeing for all.

    He said the old health policy, which was adopted in 2007 was not comprehensive enough to ensure equitable and affordable health services, hence the revision of the policy taking into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic and future health emergencies.

    Also, the revised policy took into consideration the socio-economic, environmental and health risk factors of the society, he added.

    The Minister said health was not only the absence of diseases but having physical, mental and socio-economic wellbeing of an individual.

    The policy, he said, has five key objectives including; ensuring resilient health system, sustainable financing, sustainable environmental practices and providing quality health services through multifaceted approach and thus, leaving no one behind in accessing quality health services.

    Source: GNA

  • EU ambassadors reportedly condemn Odododiodio violence

    European Union ambassadors in Ghana to observe the December 7 elections have condemned the act of election-related violence especially in the Odododiodio Constituency between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

    Head of the EU delegation Diana Acconica told journalists on Monday, November 2 in an interview after a courtesy call on former President John Dramani Mahama, who is a presidential candidate, that they “condemn” the action.

    Three persons have, so far, been arrested by the police over the incident.

    President Nana Adoo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as part of his campaign tour to the Constituency has also condemned the violence and instructed the police to act.

    He said only politicians without ideas will incite their followers to engage in violence.

    Source: 3 News

  • Ghana and Rwanda to explore business opportunities

    Government has called on the business community in Ghana and Rwanda to take advantage of their vast economic potentials to explore business opportunities in all sectors of the economy.

    The government also encouraged the Rwandan government and businesses to invest in Ghana for mutual benefits.

    Mrs Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration said this on Monday when Dr Vincent Biruta, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda paid a courtesy call on her in Accra.

    Both Ministers signed the General Cooperation Agreement to lay the foundation for the establishment of a Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation between the two countries.

    The visit was to herald the inauguration of the new High Commission of Republic of Rwanda in Accra, on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

    She said Ghana was among the countries across the continent with a conducive investment climate coupled with good incentives provided under the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act 2013, Act 865.

    The Minister commended the longstanding and cordial relations which existed between the two countries over the past years.

    “Bilateral relations between the two countries reached a significant milestone in January 2020 with the establishment of the High Commission of the Republic of Rwanda in Ghana and appointment of Dr Aisa Kirabo Kacyira as the first resident High Commissioner of the Republic of Rwanda to Ghana”, she said.

    She mentioned that the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presented new opportunities to both countries to expand trade relations at the bilateral and continental levels.

    She acknowledged the invaluable support of Rwanda in championing support for Ghana’s successful bid culminating in the hosting of the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra.

    Mrs Botchwey called on both countries to collaborate and support the African Union and other regional groupings to respond decisively to the current threats to peace and security on the African continent such as terrorism, piracy, illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, cybercrimes and human trafficking.

    She expressed Ghana’s desire to work closely with Rwanda to consolidate the existing relations and explore further areas of cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

    She assured Dr Biruta of Ghana’s commitment to ensure transparent, peaceful and free and fair elections in December 2020.

    Dr Biruta said his country was confident that cooperation agreement between the two countries would enhance Africa’s development for tangible outcomes as their relations would open more opportunities to explore and commended Ghana for its commitment to peacekeeping operations, saying during the 1994 genocide, Ghana stayed with her troops when other countries opted out.

    Source: GNA

  • FIFA hails Asamoah Gyan’s move to Ghana Premier League side Legon Cities

    Asamoah Gyan’s decision to return to the Ghana Premier League and sign for Legon Cities FC continues to dominate headlines.

    The official FIFA Twitter handle has given the former Sunderland and Udinese star the thumbs up and wished the global star all the best.

    “The highest scoring African in #WorldCup history has returned to Ghana. Good luck at @LegonCitiesFC, Asamoah,” the post read.

    Gyan was available on a free transfer after leaving Indian Super League side NorthEast United.

    He had previously been linked with his boyhood club Asante Kotoko where he had insisted on ending his career.

    But the Porcupine Warriors could not meet his financial demands.

    It is reported that the Ghana striker will pocket US$1million over the next four years with his annual returns standing at U$250,000.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Partey has a good chance of matching what Vieira used to do at Arsenal – Roy Keane

    Former Manchester United captain, Roy Keane sees imposing similarities between Thomas Partey and ex-rival Patrick Vieira after the Ghanaian’s outstanding performance for the Gunners in their 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Sunday.

    Thomas Partey highlighted his importance to Mikel Arteta’s team after a man-of-the-match performance that saw the London club secure a first win in 14 years at Old Trafford.

    Roy Keane, who had several midfield battles with Patrick Vieira during his playing days believes Partey could reach the heights set by the Frenchman.

    “He was outstanding. He’s obviously no mug having played in big games. When you watch a player live that’s when you can judge a player and the more I look at him the more I wish he was in the United midfield. He’s big, strong and aggressive – and he can pass it forward. He can deal with the ball,” Keane told Skysports.

    “I had my battles with Vieira and I think this kid has got a chance of matching what Patrick used to do.”

    Thomas Partey was making only his third Premier League appearance for the Gunners since joining on transfer deadline day.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Arsenal’s c earns impressive stats in historic Man United win

    Thomas Partey put a splendid performance to help Arsenal beat Manchester United at Old Trafford for the first time in 14 years.

    The £45 million summer recruit was at his battling best in midfielder as the Gunners stole a 1-0 win on Sunday.

    Partey completed the most dribbles in the match with four; shot accuracy of 100%.

    According to statistics by FotMob, he was the most accurate passer (93%) to play 45 minutes or more from 55 accurate passes.

    And won the most duels (11) in the match.

    He had the second-best rating of the match with 7.8 behind Man of the Match 7.9.

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.

    Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba kicked Hector Bellerin’s foot in the penalty area for the penalty.

    Aubameyang sent goalkeeper David De Gea the wrong way with his 69th-minute spot-kick to give Arsenal the lead.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Gas tanker drivers suspend strike

    Gas Tanker Drivers Union have suspended their strike as they agree to meet stakeholders to resolve their challenges.

    The drivers on Sunday, 1 November 2020, met the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and the Minister on one hand, and the Ghana Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union of GTUC, Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union, Liquified Petroleum Gas Marketing Companies, Ghana LPG Operators Association and Oil Marketing Companies of Liquified Petroleum Gas on the other hand to resolve the impasse.

    The union some weeks ago accused officials of the National Petroleum Authority, of conniving with some Police officers to harass them on the roads.

    The drivers also want approval for more than 80 applications submitted to the NPA for the construction of LPG stations.

    Source: Class FM