The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has identified over 4,000 substandard and unapproved meters during its zero revenue mobilization exercise.
There are concerns regarding the potential involvement of the private sector in supplying meters, as there is a fear of introducing inefficient meters to customers.
Laila Abubakari, ECG’s communications manager, emphasized the possible dangers associated with allowing private individuals to distribute meters.
“Even though we are trying as much as possible to be open to certain solutions regarding procuring and supplying meters, I wouldn’t say that giving that authority to private people to vend meters is the best solution. We have already found over 4,000 foreign meters in the system, and these meters were allowing people to use power without paying.
“We also know about people who have procured meters and discarded them after the meters have accrued a lot of debt on them. We don’t know if we have honest vendors, and by the time we realize, we might be in very big trouble and won’t be able to revert those.”
Laila Abubakari further highlighted the worry that permitting private individuals or companies to distribute meters might result in the introduction of manipulated and tampered meters into the system.
“The new idea of us relinquishing the procurement and supply of meters to private people is one that might be problematic in the future. The thing about meters is that they can be manipulated, so for us, it is better to know the kinds of meters out there and how they can be manipulated, and how we can correct such manipulations.”
The Minority Caucus stated that it will explore all available options to defend their colleague, James Gyakye Quayson as well as protect his interests.
Quayson’s legal team had appealed the High Court’s decision for a daily trial.
However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the application on July 19, allowing the daily trial of the embattled MP to proceed.
The Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, expressed concerns about the consequences and implications of this decision on the MP’s ability to serve his constituents.
Below is the full statement from the Minority
The Minority in Parliament has decided to reciprocate its response to the government’s escalation of the ongoing persecution of the Member of Parliament for Assin North Constituency, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson.
Following a request by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame, that Hon. James Gyakye Quayson be tried on a daily basis, despite an application for stay of proceedings and a pending application before the Court of Appeal against the daily trial, the High Court has ruled that it will continue to hear the case daily.
In essence, the rulings by the High Court put Hon. James Gyakye Quayson in the same position that he was placed in by the Supreme Court before the Assin North Constituency by-election.
If the Member of Parliament must appear in court every week day for trial, what time will he have to attend to Parliamentary business to represent the people of Assin North? We are therefore, at this point, including all options available to us to defend and protect our colleague.
Hon. James Gyakye Quayson is the only person to have been elected twice within a Parliamentary term.
He first won the 2020 Parliamentary election in Assin North Constituency, which was declared null and void by the Supreme Court after two and a half years. This triggered a by-election which he won again by an overwhelming 57.56% on 27th June, 2023.
On Wednesday, July 19, 2023, CMT confirmed that Jason Aldean‘s song “Try That in a Small Town” video had been removed from the country network’s broadcast.
The news was initially reported by Billboard. CNN has contacted Aldean’s representatives for comment.
The song was released in May, but the accompanying video wasn’t released until July 14, according to Billboard, and it was in heavy rotation through Sunday before being yanked on Monday.
The controversy over “Try That in a Small Town” reached a new level with the recent music video release for the song. Some viewers noticed scenes in the video were shot in front of what appears to be the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee.
The courthouse has been the site of several incidents of racial violence, including the 1927 lynching of a Black man named Henry Choate. It also served as a backdrop for the Columbia Race Riot in 1946.
The video features real news footage, including police brutality protests and surveillance camera shots of robberies.
In response to criticism, Aldean defended the video’s content, emphasizing that every clip used was authentic. He expressed his stance on Twitter, standing by the inclusion of real-life footage.
28-year-old model, Gigi Hadid, was arrested in the Cayman Islands last week after cannabis was discovered in her luggage.
Hadid and her friend arrived at Owen Roberts International Airport on 10th July via a private plane, and their luggage was searched by customs officials.
Both of them were arrested and later released on bail.
Two days afterward, during a court appearance, Hadid and her friend pleaded guilty to the charges and were fined $1,000 each, as reported by local outlet Cayman Marl Road.
Hadid’s representative stated that the marijuana was legally purchased in New York with a medical license and clarified that it has been legal for medical use in Grand Cayman since 2017. The spokesperson assured that Hadid’s record remains clear, and she continued to enjoy her time on the island.
Despite the arrest news, Hadid posted pictures of her holiday on Instagram, including one of her sunbathing on the beach with friends, accompanied by the caption: “All’s well that ends well.” She also shared two more pictures on 14th July, two days after the court appearance.
Gigi Hadid started her modeling journey at the age of two when she was discovered by Paul Marciano, the co-founder of Guess and a Moroccan-born fashion designer.
Throughout her career, she has collaborated with prestigious brands such as Versace, Chanel, Fendi, and Marc Jacobs. Additionally, she has graced the covers of over 30 editions of Vogue from various countries.
Furthermore, Hadid shares a daughter with Zayn Malik, a former member of the popular boy band One Direction.
An Irish sprinter of Nigerian ancestry, Rhasidat Adeleke has secured a slot in the Paris Olympics qualification.
Her impressive time of 22.36 seconds in the 200m makes her the fourth Irish athlete to meet the qualifying standard.
Although just 0.02 seconds away from her national record, she achieved this feat at the World Continental Tour Gold meet in Hungary, finishing second to Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson (22.02).
Adeleke joins Sarah Lavin (100m hurdles), Brian Fay (5000m), and Andrew Coscoran (1500m) in meeting the Paris target.
Her next challenge will be her Diamond League debut in Monaco on Friday.
For the Paris Olympics, athletes must meet the entry times between 1st July 2023 and 30th June 2024, with the assigned standard for the women’s 200m set at 22.57.
Ciara Mageean is also competing in Monaco, aiming for a time of 4:20.90 in the women’s mile to qualify for the 1500m event in Paris.
Bjorn Borg’s son Leo, Borg, has secured his first ATP Tour match on clay at the Swedish Open, defeating Elias Ymer in straight sets.
Borg, 20, received a wildcard entry and defeated Swedish compatriot Ymer 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 at the Bastad Tennis Stadium.
Borg, who is ranked 437th, primarily competes on the ITF Tour, the lowest level of men’s professional tennis.
“I’ve worked so hard for this, so many years, and some days you get results and today I got a win,” he said.
Borg is set to compete against Argentina’s Federico Coria in the tournament‘s last-16 stage.
Renowned as one of tennis’ all-time greats, he secured 11 Grand Slam titles during the 1970s and early 1980s, including an impressive five consecutive Wimbledon victories, before retiring at the young age of 26.
In 2025, the British and Irish Lions will embark on a nine-match tour, which includes a match against a New Zealand and Australia invitational XV.
The tour will kick off with a historic fixture in Adelaide before the Test matches with the Wallabies in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.If the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground sells out, it will break records for a Lions Test match.
The tour’s grand finale will take place in front of a crowd of more than 80,000 fans at Sydney’s Olympic Park.
“We are delighted to announce the tour schedule as we look ahead to what is to be one of the most eagerly anticipated series in history,” said Lions chief executive Ben Calveley.
The 2025 Lions tour fixtures in full
Saturday 28 June: v Western Force, Optus Stadium, Perth
Wednesday 2 July: v Queensland Reds, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday 5 July: v New South Wales Waratahs, Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Wednesday 9 July: v ACT Brumbies, GIO Stadium, Canberra
Saturday 12 July: v Invitational Australia & NZ XV, Adelaide Oval
Saturday 19 July: First Test, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Tuesday 22 July: v Melbourne Rebels, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Saturday 26 July: Second Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground
Saturday 2 August: Third Test, Accor Stadium, Sydney
In a groundbreaking move, the Lions, Premiership Rugby, and the United Rugby Championship have reached an agreement to provide an unprecedented two-week preparation period before the tour’s opening match in Perth against Western Force on 28 June.
This agreement addresses a previous issue where the Premiership final coincided only a week before the Lions’ opening fixture, which affected the team’s preparation negatively on past tours. With this new arrangement, the Lions will have ample time to prepare effectively for their tour opener, ensuring a more competitive and well-prepared squad.
“I would also like to thank Premiership Rugby and the United Rugby Championship, whose co-operation has resulted in the longest preparation period for a tour in recent history, which gives us the best possible chance of a series victory,” added Calveley.
flanker Phil Waugh, has called a Lions tour “one of the great sporting festivals”.
“Rugby Australia is looking forward to welcoming back the Lions for the first time in 12 years – as well as the tens of thousands of Lions fans from the northern hemisphere,” Waugh said.
“It is an exciting fixture of matches all around the country with the Lions taking on our Super Rugby franchises, three massive Test matches, and a marquee match in Adelaide featuring a combined invitational Australia-New Zealand side.”
The campaign team of Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has disputed reports that a Nigerian Islamic organisation is supporting his campaign.
The claims were made public by a Nigerian journalist named David Humdeyin, who claimed that a group called ACF was sending money to Ghana to assist the Vice President’s campaign.
However, Mr. Bawumia’s campaign’s Communications Directorate stated in a statement that the stories are incorrect and should be ignored.
Below is the full statement.
Allegations of Islamic Funding for the Bawumia Campaign is False
The attention of the Bawumia Campaign Team has been drawn to a post by one David Humdeyin, a journalist in Nigeria, that the Bawumia Campaign is being funded by some Islamic group in Nigeria called the ACF.
We notice that the same narrative has been copied by some persons and groups in Ghana on social media. This narrative is obviously false, fabricated, and only serves the propaganda purposes of its promoters.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Bawumia Campaign has no funding or any linkage with any Islamic group in Nigeria or anywhere else.
We also note that the said David Humdeyin has demonstrated a penchant for making similar claims against some persons and groups in Nigeria without any basis whatsoever
The Bawumia Campaign is focused and will not be distracted by such vain untruths.
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been very diligent and transparent from his days as a scholar, banker, and politician throughout his life and will not depart from these now and forever.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed Gyakye Quayson‘s application for a stay of proceedings in his trial at the High Court.
Last week, the lawyers representing the Member of Parliament for the Assin North constituency requested the High Court to suspend the proceedings temporarily, so that the Court of Appeal could hear his appeal to review a decision made by the trial judge.
The trial judge had decided to hear Quayson’s case on a daily basis, which the defense sought to challenge.
However, the plea for a stay of proceedings was rejected by the High Court.
Subsequently, Quayson sought to appeal the High Court’s ruling to the Court of Appeal, but his efforts were unsuccessful, as the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s decision.
As of now, Gyakye Quayson is facing trial at the High Court in Accra on charges of forgery and perjury.
The legal process is continuing, and he is required to participate in the trial without further delays.
The troubles for Mr. Gyakye Quayson started when he expressed his intention to run for the Assin North Parliamentary elections in 2020 under the banner of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). A group known as the ‘Concerned Citizens of Assin North’ filed a petition with the Electoral Commission in the Central Region, seeking the withdrawal of Quayson’s candidature on the grounds that he held Canadian citizenship.
Despite the petition against his candidacy, Mr. Quayson was allowed to contest in the 2020 parliamentary polls as the NDC candidate. He secured 17,498 votes, representing 55.21% of the votes, while Abena Durowaa Mensah, the candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), obtained 14,193 votes, representing 44.79%.
After Mr. Quayson’s victory, a resident from Assin Bereku in the Central Region filed a petition with the Cape Coast High Court, seeking to nullify his election as the MP of Assin North. The Cape Coast High Court ruled in favor of the petitioner, declaring the 2020 parliamentary election in the Assin North Constituency as null and void. The court’s decision was based on the finding that Mr. Quayson had breached the constitutional provisions related to dual citizenship.
In an attempt to challenge the court’s ruling, Mr. Quayson took the matter to the Supreme Court. However, he faced disappointment as the apex court ordered Parliament to remove his name from its records, effectively removing him from his position as an MP.
Following his expulsion from Parliament, a by-election was conducted in the Assin North Constituency. Despite his previous legal challenges, Mr. Quayson emerged as the winner of the by-election with a significant margin of victory.
Meanwhile, the members of the Minority Caucus in Parliament have taken a collective decision to boycott parliamentary sessions on the days when Mr. Gyakye Quayson, their fellow MP, is expected to appear in court.
This move was made as a show of solidarity with Mr. Quayson, who is facing legal challenges concerning his eligibility as a Member of Parliament.
However, this decision to boycott Parliament on specific days has faced criticism from members of the Majority Caucus.
The Majority Caucus members, who are from the ruling party, have expressed their disapproval of the boycott, viewing it as an obstruction to the parliamentary proceedings and a disregard for the responsibilities of the MPs to represent their constituencies and participate in legislative activities.
The boycott by the Minority Caucus and the subsequent criticism from the Majority Caucus may have further heightened tensions and divisions within the Parliament, impacting the overall functioning and effectiveness of the legislative body.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Volta Region has encouraged its customers to utilize the ECG PowerApp for settling all outstanding bills.
This move is aimed at ensuring a stable power supply and sustaining the electricity distribution chain.The company has launched an initiative called “Operation Zero,” which focuses on mass revenue mobilization.
Starting on 11th July and spanning two months, this exercise aims to prompt all electricity consumers to clear any arrears they may have.
In an interview with the media, Ms. Christina Jatoe-Kaleo, the General Manager of ECG Volta Region, revealed that the ECG PowerApp has been updated with new features, such as customer statements, bill viewing, and payment history.
Additionally, users with smart prepaid meters in the Volta Region can now access their consumption history through the app.To ensure the success of Operation Zero, the company has decided to discontinue accepting cash payments at their offices.
Furthermore, field staff will not be authorized to collect cash as part of this initiative.
“Our staff are not accepting cash, so we humbly appeal to all customers to visit Google Play Store or App Store and download or update the ECG PowerApp to view and pay their bills before our revenue officers visit their premises. Customers can also pay and view their bills through the shortcode *226#”, she said.
The General Manager stated that Operation Zero is currently being implemented in all 11 Districts of ECG, spanning both the Volta and Oti Regions.
This exercise stands out from previous ones, as it aims to address two categories of customers: those already within the ECG system and those consuming power but not officially registered with ECG.
By targeting both these customer groups, the Electricity Company of Ghana aims to bring more consumers into the formal system, ensure all electricity users contribute to revenue generation, and ultimately improve the stability of power supply and the overall sustainability of the electricity distribution chain.
This approach seeks to achieve a more comprehensive and effective revenue mobilization effort.
“As part of this exercise, we are also looking at customers who are consuming power but not in the system of ECG. For example, when we get to your house and realize your meter is not in our system or you are consuming power through illegal means, we will capture your details, regularize your supply and give you a flat rate”
According to Ms. Jatoe-Kaleo, the Li 2413 (likely referring to a specific legal provision or regulation) empowers the company to impose additional charges on customers who have outstanding bills for a period of twelve months. However, as part of the Operation Zero exercise, the company has decided to offer a moratorium to its customers.
During this moratorium period, customers who have been using electricity without making payments, as well as those with direct connections, faulty meters, or meters obtained through illegal means such as “Foreign meters,” are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. They should visit the ECG Office to regularize their electricity supply within the system.
It’s worth noting that some companies have already faced disconnection due to non-payment of their bills as part of the Operation Zero exercise.
This shows the company’s commitment to enforcing the moratorium and ensuring that customers meet their payment obligations.
“The Zoomlion recycling plant at Dambai and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) in Dambai have been disconnected for owing 12,514 GH Cedis and 9, 981 Gh Cedis respectively”.
A non-governmental organization (NGO), Amnesty International Ghana, has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to support the abolishment of the death penalty in Ghana through the Criminal and Other Offences Amendment Bill and the Armed Forces Amendment Bill.
The organization emphasizes that the death penalty violates human rights, including the right to life and protection from torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. The call was made in a statement issued in Accra on Tuesday.
“These rights are protected under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights among others,” it added.
Since its establishment in 1985, Amnesty International Ghana has been actively campaigning for the abolition of the death penalty in the country.
The NGO’s long-standing commitment to human rights and its efforts to end capital punishment are reflected in its call to MPs to back this significant legislative change.
“Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception, regardless of who is accused, the nature or circumstances of the crime, guilt or innocence or method of execution,” it added.
Government has pledged its full support to the Office of Registrar of Companies (ORC) in acquiring permanent offices in all regions of the country.
This move aims to enhance service delivery and promote ease of doing business in Ghana.
Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Minister for Justice and Attorney General, emphasized the importance of establishing ORC offices in every region and district to facilitate business development at all levels.
He made these remarks during the launch of the Office of Registrar of Companies and the inauguration of a new office complex in Kumasi.
The three-story building, constructed at a cost of Ghc 8,000,000.00, boasts 34 offices, two conference rooms, a pantry, canteen, 21 washrooms, reception, and a security office.
The financing for the project came from the internally generated funds of the Registrar General’s Department and the ORC.
Mr. Yeboah Dame also mentioned that the government had successfully allocated $3,500,000.00 to acquire land for a permanent national office building complex for the ORC in Accra.
The project’s drawings are set to be completed by September 2023, with the selection of a contractor to commence shortly afterward. The entire project is expected to be completed within two years.
The Minister stressed that, when effectively utilized, the ORC could play a vital role in promoting good governance and the fight against corruption in the country.
Mr. Seth Asante, Chairman of the Board of Directors, highlighted the ORC’s vision of becoming a first-class customer-centric organization, committed to providing quality services to enhance the ease of doing business in Ghana.
Mrs. Jemima Mamaa Oware, the Registrar of Companies, revealed that the Office is in the process of automating and digitizing its operations, aiming to conduct all transactions online to alleviate congestion and offer prompt services to clients.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Simon Osei Mensah, commended the ORC for expanding its services to reach more Ghanaians, urging the management to maintain effective maintenance practices for the building’s longevity.
Nana Ama Akyiaa Prempeh, the Ashanti Regional Head of the ORC, also expressed her appreciation for the collaboration between the board and management, which ensured the successful completion of the project.
She reported that the new facility had significantly improved the organization’s services and increased business registrations in the Ashanti region.
The National Communication Authority (NCA) has introduced technology neutrality to foster fair competition and encourage infrastructure investment for 4G network deployment among non-Significant Market Power (SMP) operators.
This measure aims to address SMP concerns and enhance consumer choice in the telecommunications sector.
With technology neutrality, non-SMP operators like Vodafone and AT&T are granted authorization to provide 4G services by re-farming their spectrum assignment in the 900MHz, 1800MHz, and 2100MHz bands, subject to an annual premium payment.
The benefits of technology neutrality include enabling operators without 4G services to deploy it within their current spectrum assignment, thus leveling the playing field and boosting competitiveness.
“The option for non-SMP operators with 4G services to re-farm portions of their current spectrum assignment to improve the quality of their 4G services and Enhanced consumer choice for 4G services,” NCA added.
Former Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has provided a positive update on his health, stating that he has been moved out of the intensive care unit after experiencing a brain bleed.
The 52-year-old, renowned for his successful career with Manchester United and Ajax, was initially hospitalized while vacationing in Croatia before being transferred to a Dutch hospital.
In his statement on Twitter, Van der Sar expressed relief at no longer being in the ICU.
However, he remains hospitalized for further treatment and recovery, with hopes of being discharged soon to continue rehabilitation at home in the following week.
After news of his condition emerged on July 7, fans and well-wishers showed overwhelming support, to which he expresses gratitude in his latest update.
Record producer David Kojo Kyei, also known as Kaywa, has shared his perspective on investing in emerging talents in the music industry.
On June 5, he revealed his four new signees (Cadeen, Joevibe, Shugalord, and JoyVerse) on his Instagram page after parting ways with his previous label mates.
When questioned about the lack of female signees, Kaywa explained that signing female artists requires additional effort and expenses, which is why they are currently focusing on male talents.
During his appearance on 3FM Drive with Giovanni Caleb and AJ Sarpong on July 18, the CEO of Highly Spiritual Music Label disclosed that specific criteria had to be met before investing in these new talents.
“Usually, we look at the passion behind what you do and whether you love it… At least they know where they are going so it’s easy to push them. We look out for that more. We look at people who understand and fear God because when you do, there are certain things you wouldn’t do,” he stated.
In regards to financing his endeavors, Kaywa candidly expressed the difficulty of obtaining funds. He emphasized the expense of shooting high-quality videos and the continuous need for funding to keep projects running.
Despite the risks involved in investing in new talents, Kaywa believes that venturing into his line of work is lucrative.
He acknowledged that it’s not an easy path, but he finds it worthwhile as some of these talents possess exceptional abilities that should not be overlooked. To potential investors, he urged them to consider the potential rewards while being aware of the inherent risks.
“It really is if you do it well. Check your streaming platforms and ask any artiste that does it pretty well, you’ll know that there is some great money coming in if you are doing it well.
It’s business but it’s a risk. Putting money in fresh talents is not an easy job but we trust the process. Sometimes, there is no money but looking at the talent, you just can’t allow it to go to waste so you do everything to make it work,” he concluded.
Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central under the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Inusah Fuseini, has voiced concerns about LGBTQ+ rights activism in Ghana, comparing it to a new form of colonialism.
While he advocates for abolishing the death penalty, he believes that accepting the LGBTQ+ community’s rights would undermine African culture.
He emphasizes the importance of embracing diverse choices but warns against endorsing what he sees as a potential form of colonial influence.
“The fact that I’m advocating for life imprisonment and not death sentence might, to some extent, be consistent with the way Africans have always lived together. LGBTQ+ is an attack on African traditions. Everybody or every people have the right to their own culture. It is the culture that defines you. You are who you are by reason of where you are from, and who I am by reason of where I am from. Diversity is what makes us human. Our differences should not divide us; our difference, in the sight of Allah, should let us know each other.
“As Africans, we have a culture; we have a tradition. It is, if you want, another form of colonialism or imperialism to try to impose on us a culture that is at variance with our traditional culture. And that is why LGBTQ is facing stiff opposition,” he stated.
He asserts that decisions regarding engaging in such practices should remain private. However, Inusah Fuseini believes that if such acts are publicized, they should be addressed through the law.
The anti-gay bill presented to Parliament has been adopted, aiming to make all activities associated with the LGBTQ+ community illegal in Ghana. The bill proposes punitive measures for suspects involved in such activities.
Ghanaian saxophonist, Mizter Okyere, has shared his encounter with former USA President, Donald Trump in 2020 after performing his sax cover of the ‘YMCA’ campaign.
Speaking to the media, he expressed how playing the saxophone has brought various benefits to his life.
He recounted, “I was in the USA during the lockdown in 2020, which coincided with the election year, and Trump’s song was trending.”
“YMCA was the song and it was really trending on social media in the USA during the election year in 2020 and I did the sax cover of that song.
“After I released the sax cover of Donald Trump’s song then I had a call in the USA that they’ve seen my cover and Trump would like to see me,” he revealed sighted by MyNewsGh.com
“I thought it was a joke when they said Trump wanted to see me and I was booked and taken to where Trump was holding his rally which was at Hollywood in California and I met Trump.
“During that time my visa to stay in the USA had expired but they renewed it for me and so playing of sax has brought so many benefits in my life so far so good,” he disclosed.
A veteran Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke, has revealed that his father expelled him from home because of his decision to become an actor.
He claimed that his father wanted him to continue his study after completing his first degree at the age of 18, but he ignored his father’s wishes.
Iyke, on the other hand, stated that his late mother supported his decision to enter the film profession, emphasizing that she provided him with the opportunity to realize himself.
The award-winning actor revealed this on the most recent episode of the Is This Seat Taken podcast, hosted by actress Chinasa Anukam.
He said, “I was a straight-A student. And the course was already, I mean, you know the Igbo parent, they decide your life before you are born and probably after you die if they outlive you.
“I was about 18 and a half when I finished my first degree. The idea was, ‘Get your MBA.’ That was the whole plan. My dad’s boss is American, so he already had a setup. And I came home one day and said, I think I really want to be an actor.
“Now, my dad’s fair argument then was that I’m excruciatingly shy. Now, how come you come out? A well-known introvert comes out to say, You want to be an actor? But I think there was something—you know, call it female intuition or whatever. She [my mum] just believed, even before I did. I just saw a glimpse of something that made me believe this is what I wanted to do, but it wasn’t hard-formed. There was no core to it. There was no master plan. There was no road map. It was just a simple conviction. But she believed before I did. And I think that is what makes mothers as unique as they are.
“She started supporting. It became unbearable to stay at home. So much so that one day, my dad woke up and said, ‘Listen, there can’t be two captains on this ship. You either go get this master’s going as quickly as possible. Take one year, go do whatever nonsense you want to do, come back, and then we set the course again. Or you leave my house.’ So I left.
“What she [my mum] instilled in me all through that time of staying with her, learning from her, directing me, guiding me—I think that’s what pretty much shaped the man I became, how I pursued my goals, and what I eventually became today.”
Ghana Premier League side, Nsoatreman Football Club, has appointed Maxwell Konadu as their new Head Coach.
The experienced gaffer signed a two-year deal, with an official announcement expected on Tuesday, July 18.
Maxwell Konadu takes over from Mumuni Sokpari, who resigned after guiding the team to the semi-finals of the 2023 MTN FA Cup.
With extensive experience in the domestic league, Maxwell Konadu previously managed Asante Kotoko on two occasions, Legon Cities FC, and the Ghana U-20 and U-23 teams.
Former Kumasi Asante Kotoko striker, Kabiru Moro, has passed away at his hometown of Akwatia in the Eastern Region.
The 35-year-old collapsed during a community football match and was reported to have passed away on Tuesday evening, July 18, 2023, according to sports journalist Saddick Adams.
“Former Asante Kotoko, Medeama SC and RTU striker Kabiru Moro has passed on this evening in his hometown Akwatia.
“His family member Hashmiu Moro confirmed on Angel Sports Kabiru collapsed while playing community football near his house,” Saddick Adams wrote in a Twitter post.
Born on February 15, 1988, Kabiru Moro made significant contributions to the Ghana Premier League, playing for teams like Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Medeama SC, and Real Tamale United.
In response to media reports about a case filed against the club at FIFA by former head coach Hearts of Oak, Slavko Matic, the club has issued a press release to set the records straight.
Contrary to the $50,000 amount reported in the Ghanaian media for contract termination and unpaid salary arrears, the club clarified that the accurate figure is $14,000. FIFA directed Hearts of Oak to settle the owed amount to the former coach.
“Accra Hearts of Oak has received a ruling from FIFA regarding a case brought against it by its former Coach, Slavko Matic.
”The ruling directed that the Club pay USD 14,002 as amounts outstanding for remuneration (prorated), reimbursable and 2 months breach of contract (after the supporters forcibly prevented him from training),” the Hearts of Oak release noted.
It added, ”All other claims by Matic were rejected by FIFA. We wish to state that, the position of FIFA agrees with the Club’s own position and thus the club had already proceeded to pay Mr Matic weeks ago the amount (less loans he took which he did not mention to FIFA).
”We have referred the matter to our Lawyers and will update the public on any further developments.”
Music superstar and visionary, Mr Eazi‘s debut solo album, a decade in the making, will be released on October 27, 2023.
The 16-track album is available for pre-order now.
The announcement coincides with the release of the lead single “Chop Time, No Friend,” along with its music video filmed in Dakar, Senegal, by director Allison Swank Owen.
“Chop Time, No Friend” is a playful return to the Banku Music sound Mr Eazi pioneered and popularized with his early singles and mixtapes. “Chop Time, No Friend is a very common Ghanaian saying, something you will see written on the front or side of buses,” Mr Eazi says. “It means when you are eating, you don’t think about anybody. You are just focused on your enjoyment.”
For Eazi, the track’s lyrics are a way to express how he doesn’t let haters distract him from enjoying the fruits of his success. “It is touching on how people chitchat on me, but I am still focused on my enjoyment,” Eazi says. “It is a declaration, a celebration of self. I am saying everything I touch turns to gold. You can’t trouble me.”
“Chop Time, No Friend” was produced by Andre Vibez, the beatmaker behind Rema and Selena Gomez’s Billboard Top 10 single “Calm Down,” and Ghana’s Killbeatz (Ed Sheeran), a key contributor to Mr Eazi’s breakthrough 2017 mixtape Life Is Eazi, Vol. 1: Accra to Lagos.
Allison Swank Owen, known for her collaboration with Mr Eazi on “Lagos to London: The Documentary” in 2019, directed the music video, drawing inspiration from Dakar, Senegal’s vibrant creative energy. Mr Eazi expressed his desire to showcase the city’s fine artists, fashion designers, and everyday activities, highlighting Dakar’s inspiring atmosphere.
While the album’s title remains a secret, Mr Eazi revealed the list of producers who contributed to the project. The talented lineup includes Andre Vibez and Killbeatz, along with Kel-P (Nigeria), Knucks (U.K.), Michael Brun (Haiti), M.O.G Beatz (Ghana), E Kelly (Nigeria), Type A (Nigeria), Stikmatik (U.K.), Yung Willis (Nigeria), Nonso Amadi (Nigeria/Canada), Phantom (Nigeria), Beat Butcha (U.K.), Venna (U.K.), KDream (Nigeria), and Mr Eazi himself.
In a groundbreaking approach, Mr Eazi commissioned different African visual artists to create unique physical art pieces, each representing a track on the album. For “Chop Time, No Friend,” Sinalo Ngcaba, a Johannesburg-based visual artist from South Africa, was chosen to contribute his artwork, also gracing the cover of Chop Life, Vol. 1: Mzansi Chronicles, Mr Eazi’s new album with his group, ChopLife Soundsystem.
Mr Eazi is a musical trailblazer, business visionary, and philanthropist. He is renowned for his hit afropop songs “Pour Me Water,” “Skin Tight,” and “Leg Over,” as well as groundbreaking collaborations with Beyoncé and J Balvin. He is also the creator of Banku Music, a unique fusion of Ghanaian and Nigerian sounds and culture.
Apart from being a recording artist, Mr Eazi is a serial entrepreneur. In 2018, he established emPawa Africa, a talent incubator program aimed at accelerating the careers of African artists. This innovative initiative has garnered recognition from reputable media outlets such as CNN, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Forbes, as it plays a vital role in expanding African music’s global presence. emPawa Africa has evolved into one of Africa’s largest independent music companies and has successfully launched global stars like Joeboy and Major League Djz.
With over 4 billion song streams across digital streaming platforms, Mr Eazi stands as one of the most streamed African artists worldwide. His contributions to the music industry have solidified his position as a trailblazer, and his philanthropic efforts have further enhanced his impact on the African music landscape.
The three students from the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) have developed an Electronic Powered Smart Wheelchair designed for individuals with mobility disabilities.
This innovative wheelchair can be utilized by healthcare facilities as well.
Unveiled at the 7th UMaT Innovation Competition and Career Fair in Tarkwa, the Electronic Powered Smart Wheelchair for Disabled comes equipped with three optional controllers.
The creators of this remarkable invention were declared the overall winners of the competition, which commenced with 23 entries of innovative projects from both the Essikado and Tarkwa campuses of UMaT.
“The objective of our project was to create a system that will facilitate the conversion of a manually operated wheelchair into an electrically operated one. We did this to help mobility-impaired people to move around freely without the help of anyone, thereby creating independence among mobility-impaired persons in the community. So our wheelchair comes with three-controller options, thus the remote control, the joystick control and the smartphone application. It also comes with two-side mirrors which will help the person in the wheelchair to be able to stretch himself around without having to look back to see what is behind. It also has storage to store few things and a sensor which is still under development“, she said.
Miss Acheampong, from UMaT’s Electrical Engineering Department, mentioned that they are working on incorporating a solar shed onto the Electronic Powered Smart Wheelchair. This addition would offer shade and an electronic power source, making the wheelchair more cost-effective than the imported ones available in the Ghanaian market.
UMaT’s Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof Anthony Simons, commended the scalable nature of the students’ innovations, expressing confidence in their potential to become commercial products.
“The main thing I’m taking away from this innovation fair is that our students are thinking by applying the theories they’ve learned to solve problems. This aligns with STEM education, which teaches students to apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Although the products are not yet finished, we need to mentor and encourage the students to develop them into usable products. I also observed that some of the students seem to have merged too many ideas into one project, and we need to help them separate them,” he said.
David Ofori, the Director of Innovations at the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, praised UMaT for their showcased innovations. He encouraged the students not to solely pursue employment but to recognize their potential in creating their own jobs. He assured the students that his office has schemes in place to support such innovative endeavors.
“NEIP has a mandate as the foremost agency to instigate, nurture and support entrepreneurship, innovation and startupism across the country. In our world today where we battle issues such as poverty, climate change, unemployment, disruptive technologies, increasing desire from citizens to be in control of their time, etc, it is important to create the enabling environment for entrepreneurship, startups and solving problems through innovation. These can be achieved through collaboration efforts of both government and private sector using the tripod of Ecosystem Support Organisations (ESOs), Academia and Industry,” he emphasized.
The top three winners of the 7th UMaT Innovation Competition will receive support from the UMaT Incubation Hub, along with other forms of assistance.
President Akufo-Addo has stated that Ghana is ready to work with Portugal to find answers to the country’s problems.
During his state visit to Portugal, President Akufo-Addo made the statement while meeting with the Portuguese President.
He announced the signing of an agreement with the Portuguese government to provide intelligence assistance to Ghana in tackling extremism in West Africa.
“It is particularly significant for us that at this time when there is so much turmoil in West Africa emanating from the Sahel, we’ve been able to sign this defence cooperation with Portugal.”
“I assure President de Sousa that Ghana will continue to collaborate with Portugal to find solutions to challenges such as the eradication of widespread poverty, insecurity and human rights violation, terrorism and violent extremism,” he stated.
President Akufo-Addo embarked on an official visit to Portugal on Monday.
Subsequently, he is scheduled to travel to Italy, where he will serve as the keynote speaker for the European Corporate Council on Africa and Middle East (ECAM) Annual Summit from 23rd to 24th July. During his time in Italy, he will also meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss matters of mutual interest between the two nations.
Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia has laid the groundwork for the construction of a 100-bed Ejura Sekyeredumase District Hospital in the Ashanti Region.
The hospital, which is being built as part of the government’s flagship Agenda 111 Project, will have cutting-edge technology such as X-Rays, Medical Gases, a Haematology Analyzer, a Chemistry Analyzer, a CT Scanner, an MRI, Ultrasound, Fluoroscopy, Mammography, and a Microbiology Analyzer.
It will also contain employee housing and is planned to be completed in 18 months at a cost of US$16 million.
At the sod-cutting event in Ejura on Tuesday, Vice President Bawumia reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of all Ghanaians, which led to the decision to build 111 district hospitals with a variety of uses.
Vice President Bawumia described the Agenda 111 Project as the largest investment in the country’s health infrastructure history since independence.
“We want to ensure that every district in Ghana has a hospital. We have six new regions, so we are also building six new regional hospitals, as well as upgrading the Efia Nkwanta Hospital in the Western Region,” the Vice- President said.
In addition to the construction of the 100-bed Ejura Hospital, there are plans to build two new Psychiatric Hospitals in Kumasi and Tamale.
Furthermore, the Government, as highlighted by Dr. Bawumia, has implemented various initiatives to enhance healthcare accessibility and delivery. These initiatives include the nationwide provision of ambulance services through the One-Constituency, One-Ambulance program, the networking of hospitals to facilitate access to medical case histories, the introduction of the drone medical delivery system, and the implementation of the E-Pharmacy regime.
“We will continually explore ways to improve our healthcare delivery approaches and systems,” Dr Bawumia pledged adding, “a healthy nation is a wealthy nation”.
Chief of Ejura, Barima Osei Hwedie II, appreciates the Government’s numerous projects in the area over the past six and a half years. He calls on citizens to rally behind national development endeavors.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has stated that the Minority caucus remains unconcerned about losing their parliamentary seats due to their ongoing boycott of parliamentary activities.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, ruled that the Minority’s continuous boycott, carried out without an official notification and approval, violates the house’s standing orders, potentially leading to the loss of their seats.
In an interview on Eyewitness News, Sam George affirms that the Minority will persist in their efforts to halt the persecution of its members.
“Akufo-Addo will go down in the history of this country as the worst president and most undemocratic person. And we must resist him at every turn if it means losing 137 seats in Parliament. They should declare the 137 seats vacant and let’s have a by-election. After all that will bring a lot of development to our 137 constituencies because that is their stalking.”
“The 137 of us have decided and are definite in our minds. We are not going to the chamber any day they take our colleagues to court and persecute them,” he indicated.
Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, dismisses Minority’s credibility.
“I want to tell the Ghanaian people that they shouldn’t take the Minority seriously at all unless they come to convince us why they will boycott the chamber. Today it was most embarrassing, all the private business about 99.9% of all the private businesses were advertised in their names. But I think that they should show maturity in these matters,” he said.
Founder and President of the Atta Mills Institute, Koku Anyidoho, has expressed gratitude to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for taking over the management of the Atta Mills Presidential Library in Cape Coast.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has assumed control of the library, which had been completed and inaugurated in 2016 but was left to deteriorate due to disputes with the contractor over payment.
Mamdev Ghana Limited, the contractor, has now handed over the facility to the government for renovation and commissioning.
The GTA, Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), and Ghana Library Authority (GLA) will collaborate to have the library fully operational within three months.
The former aide to the late President Atta Mills, expressed relief in an interview with the media emphasizing that the library will function to preserve the legacies of late President Atta Mills.
“This will be one of the legacies of the current government, led by President Akufo-Addo that is protecting the legacies of former presidents.”
He said, “Look at the reconstruction of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. Very beautiful and that of the Atta Mills Presidential Library at Cape Coast in the Central Region.”
“This will be Akufo-Addo’s legacy and not the Free SHS policy because such will protect the legacies of former presidents,” Mr. Anyidoho explained.
The Ministry of Education has stated that GHS241 million has been set aside for the payment of allowances to teacher trainees across the country.
The Ministry also stated that GH32 million has been set aside for the first batch of book and research allowance payments to be made to qualified senior members of public tertiary institutions across the nation.
This was revealed by Professor Yara Dzakadzie, the Ministry’s director of tertiary education, during a statement delivered on behalf of the sector minister at the 13th congregation of the Koforidua Asokore SDA Training College.
“It will interest the members of staff to know that the government has processed an amount of over GH¢32 million for the first batch of book and research allowance payable to senior members of tertiary institutions across the country.”
“The government is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the smooth running of our colleges of education, and it is committed to providing our students with the best education. In light of this, the government has released an amount of GH¢241 million for the payment of teacher trainee allowances across the country.”
Dr. Cecelia Ofosua Odame, Principal of the Koforidua Asokore SDA Training College, called to the government to come to their aid, citing a number of problems to teaching and learning such as laboratories, lecturer halls, and staff lodging.
“The college faces several challenges which hinder teaching and learning on campus which include a lack of buses to transport students and also most of the equipment in the science lab has worn out and made it difficult to support practical teaching and learning and I wish to appeal to the alumni, the public, and the government to come to our aid.”
The New Patriotic Party‘s (NPP) national executive council has accused regional executives of charging prohibited fees to parliamentary contenders.
According to a statement signed by the party’s general secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, while the intentions of the regional executives may be positive, it is only the national executive of the party that can direct such charges and has thus called on them to cease such charges with immediate effect.
“While the national executive body acknowledges and appreciates the otherwise good intentions behind these decisions, you are hereby reminded that directives governing the conduct of elections of the Party can only be issued by the National Executive Committee, the appropriate body constitutionally mandated to do so.
“Accordingly, all Regional Executive Committees are, by this letter, directed to cease forthwith, the issuance of any directives on the conduct of parliamentary primaries unless and until same have been approved by the National Executive Committee in accordance with the Constitution of the Party.”
Below is the party’s full statement.
The attention of the national executive body of the Party has been drawn to various directives issued by some Regional Executive Committees to aspiring candidates on the conduct of the Party’s upcoming parliamentary primaries in “Orphan Constituencies”,
The directives include, but are not limited to the fixing of tentative dates for the conduct of the parliamentary primaries, and charging of ‘development levy’, among others.
While the national executive body acknowledges and appreciates the otherwise good intentions behind these decisions, you are hereby reminded that directives governing the conduct of elections of the Party can only be issued by the National Executive Committee, the appropriate body constitutionally mandated to do so.
Accordingly, all Regional Executive Committees are, by this letter, directed to cease forthwith, the issuance of any directives on the conduct of parliamentary primaries unless and until same have been approved by the National Executive Committee in accordance with the Constitution of the Party.
Again, it is directed that all monies taken from prospective parliamentary candidates pursuant to these unauthorized and unapproved directives be refunded to them in line with the letter and spirit of this communication.
The National Executive body anticipates your usual cooperation.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced that the 7th National COVID-19 Vaccination Days (NaCVAD-7) will take place from tomorrow, Wednesday, July 19 to Sunday, July 23, with the goal of immunizing a million individuals.
According to the Service, 10 million people out of the country’s more than 30 million inhabitants have fully got the immunizations, with the remainder yet to be vaccinated or undergo complete vaccination.
Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, stated at a news conference to kick off the statewide exercise that the virus exists despite rumors to the contrary.
“As you may recall on the 5th May 2023 the WHO Director-General through the advice of the international health regulatory emergency committee determined that COVID-19 was now an established and ongoing health issue and which will no longer constitute a public health emergency of international concern. He did not say that COVID-19 is no more,” he said.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) country representative, Dr. Argata Guracha Guyo, pledged to assist Ghana in achieving herd immunity against COVID-19.
The Second Deputy Majority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, has urged national food suppliers not to be influenced by political pressures in staging protests at the National Food Buffer Stock Company over the debt owed them.
Iddrisu stressed the importance of the suppliers during a parliamentary session on Tuesday, urging them not to allow their feelings to be manipulated for political advantage.
“I want to tell the suppliers that they are not just ordinary and they are not just poor people so they should not just allow people to play with their sentiments and politics of this,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Food and Agriculture promised food suppliers that 50% of overdue payments would be issued by the end of Wednesday, July 19, 2023.
According to the Minister, a total of $100 million, or 50% of the total debt of 203 million, was already transferred to the accounts of food suppliers on Monday, July 17, 2023. The balance is expected to be credited to their accounts by Wednesday.
“Since 2017, Buffer Stock has done great business with the suppliers to the tune of ¢2.7 billion. In 2017, was ¢81.1 million, in 2018, ¢296 million, in 2019, ¢431 million, in 2020 ¢467million, 2021 ¢692 million, in 2022 ¢726 million. Buffer stock has made payments since it started in 2017, 2018,2019, 2020 and 2021 in full. Mr Speaker in 2022, of the ¢726, 617,881, ¢500 million have been paid to the suppliers. So we owe the suppliers a little more of ¢203 million.”
“Last week, we received ¢100million which is 50% of what is due to the suppliers’ and we have supplied the same to the Buffer stock. We are hoping that by midweek this week that 50% will be sent to suppliers. I have also assured you that by the 17th of August, the remaining 50% will be paid,” he stated.
In an early press conference on Monday, the National Food Suppliers Association vowed to resume picketing on Thursday if the funds were not paid to their accounts by the government.
Meanwhile, the minority caucus has once again boycotted business activities in order to accompany Assin North MP James Gyakye Quayson to court, causing the house to change the order of business.
A major personality in Ghana’s costume and makeup designer profession, Belinda Ama Aflakpui, has made ripples around the world with her outstanding talent.
Her most recent work, “Coming To Africa: Welcome To Ghana,” was recognized at the African Film Festival in Dallas, Texas.
Aflakpui, popularly known as Madam Ama Aflakpui, is a lecturer at the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI).
She has established a reputation as an accomplished costume and makeup designer as a result of her work on several projects in films, television shows, and commercials.
Her latest masterwork, the award-winning film “Coming To Africa: Welcome To Ghana,” is due to premiere on Friday, July 21st, 2023, at the Silverbird Cinemas in Accra.
Her credits include the popular shows “YOLO” and “Stryke,” as well as ads for well-known businesses like MTN, Pepsodent, UMB, Malta Guinness, and GHACEM.
Ama Aflakpui has worked with a number of notable celebrities, including Lydia Forson, Roselyn Ngissah, Nana Ama Mcbrown, Nadia Buari, Naa Ashorkor, Zynnell Zuh, Jessica Larny, John Dumelo, and Adjetey Annan.
Aside from her professional accomplishments, Aflakpui is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Theatre Arts at the School of Performing Arts, Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ghana, Legon, with a major in costume and makeup.
Ama Aflakpui is building a reputation for herself in the global film industry, putting Ghanaian costume and makeup design on the international stage, thanks to her outstanding talent and dedication to her profession.
A renowned music producer, Fred Kyei Mensah, also known as Fredyma, has revealed his important contributions to the evolution of the Ghanaian music business by discovering and fostering a diverse range of talents.
Fred Kyei revealed in an interview with Nana Ama McBrown that Celestine Donkor is one of the exceptional talents he unearthed.
He explained that he gave Celestine the chance to show off her talents by allowing her to sing any song of her choosing, and to his amazement, she performed a flawless performance, dazzling Uncle Fred with her lovely voice.
Uncle Fred resolved to help Celestine develop her ability after recognizing her potential.
He mentioned, “After hearing Celestine’s dulcet voice, I realized that she has great potential, which I could help her nurture. I guided her through certain processes, and she prevailed.”
Celestine Donkor has established herself as one of Ghana’s most prominent gospel artists and songwriters.
She has had several hit songs over the years, including ‘Turning Around,’ ‘Bigger,’ ‘Agbebolo,’ and ‘Manim Nguase.’
Uncle Fred also took the opportunity to offer some advice to prospective artists, emphasizing the need of a solid voice, songwriting talent, and a willingness to learn.
These characteristics, according to Uncle Fred, are required for success in the music industry.
Finding the sound to counteract the global rise of afrobeats and other music genres on the global market scene has purposefully prompted important industrial talks and debates among musicians, gatekeepers, music lovers, and other stakeholders.
Emmanuel Kweku Owusu Darlington, better known by his stage as Kweku Darlington, has added his voice to the ongoing debate, claiming that the success of Ghanaian music in the market is dependent on hiplife.
In a Facebook post, the “Sika Aba Fie” hitmaker wrote, “We’ve been seeking answers to Ghana’s success in the market!!! ‼️HIPLIFE IS THE SOUND “This post comes off just months after the GRAMMY’s recent grouping of some of Africa’s genres into a broader category named the Best African Music Performance.
With the mother genre, hiplife excluded from the list and a new tag of “Ghanaian drill” added to the list, Kweku Darlington believes hiplife has proven to be the catalyst for Ghanaian music dominance and success.
Kweku Darlington’s recent comments might have caught some by surprise, but a closer examination of his musical catalog reveals a consistent dedication to projecting hiplife music in various ways since his breakthrough.
From notable tracks like “Onipa” featuring Okyeame Kwame, “Sika Aba Fie Remix,” “Aketesia,” and several others, Kweku Darlington has crafted a template that appreciates and showcases the authentic Ghanaian hiplife sound. This commitment to the genre is something he attributes to being instrumental in his widespread growth within the music industry.
For those interested, Kweku Darlington’s latest single titled “Happy Day” can be found at the following link: https://youtu.be/SOUpiAolmbY
Dormaa Central Municipal Director of Health, Stephen Nyarko Ameyaw, has urged the public to dismiss the belief that neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) like leprosy, buruli ulcer, and elephantiasis are caused by witchcraft.
He explained that this misconception leads some family members to conceal victims, exacerbating their condition and contributing to the rise of NTDs in certain communities due to the lack of medical attention sought for the affected individuals.
“It is unfortunate that victims do not seek medical attention early enough for treatment to control these diseases,” he said.
The Dormaa Central Municipality in the Bono Region faces NTD challenges, with 30 out of 68 communities affected. Over the years, cases of buruli ulcer, elephantiasis, and leprosy have been identified, raising concerns for effective control measures.
BasicNeed and Mission of Hope Society (MIHOSO) collaborated with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to train 22 health personnel and five volunteers in the municipality. The aim is to update the health workers’ knowledge on NTDs, educate the community, and encourage early medical attention for victims.
The project, funded by ANESVAD Foundation, extends to multiple regions, training health workers and establishing Self-Help Peer Groups (SHGs) for individuals with skin NTDs. This initiative seeks to promote self-care, provide peer and emotional support, and advocate for an integrated approach to controlling skin NTDs.
During the training, the inclusion of volunteers was commended for helping to dispel myths surrounding NTDs. The training equips participants to identify cases promptly and advocate for early treatment.
Surveillance has been implemented in all communities to detect and treat cases early, avoiding further victim deformity. Additionally, the NGOs are working with targeted MDAs to enable people with skin NTDs to access financial grants from the District Assembly Disability Common Fund. Small cash grants are also provided to support affected individuals in engaging in productive activities and covering medical expenses.
Ghana’s oilfields is set to produce an additional 120,000 barrels per day to offset recent production decline, aiding the economy.
The Tweneboa, Enyenra, Ntomme (TEN) Oil Field, Greater Jubilee Southeast (JSE), and Pecan Development Project contribute to the increase.
Chief Director of the Ministry of Energy, Wihelmina Asamoah, reveald the JSE project to add 30,000 bopd, the TEN enhancement project to add 10,000 bopd, and Pecan development estimated to add 80,000 bopd.
Recent reports show declining crude oil production since 2020, but the new projects aim to reverse the trend and boost daily production.
The Ministry and its agencies support exploration contractors to accelerate well drilling.
Challenges arise from unfavorable market conditions and insufficient data on some basins, affecting investments in hydrocarbon exploration and production.
However, efforts to address data gaps are underway. The energy transition to green energies has also impacted oil and gas investments globally.
Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Dr. Stephen Amoah, has given credits to Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for preventing the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) loss in the 2016 presidential election.
He attributes the party’s victory to Bawumia’s contributions, particularly in the 2012 election petition.
Dr. Amoah refutes claims that Bawumia is not an NPP member and emphasizes his significant efforts for the party.
“What made me like Bawumia is just one thing. I remember when we went to the Supreme Court, one day we were only 21 in court and the vice president was in the witness box and was being bombarded with questions.
“…. if not for Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, we would not have won the first election that we won (the 2016 elections). He was the one who explained issues for us to get clarity (in the 2012 election petition).
“What he went through made NPP ready for the subsequent election which we won. But today, people are saying he is not a number of the party,” Dr Amoah said in Twi as he was addressing members of the NPP at a campaign event for the vice president.
Dr. Stephen Amoah, the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry and MP for Nhyiaeso, asserts that although all NPP flagbearer hopefuls are qualified, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is the best candidate.
He urges supporters of all contenders to avoid politics of insults and tribalism, aiming to keep the party united after the presidential primaries.
Ten candidates will compete in the NPP presidential primaries scheduled for August and November 2023. A super delegate conference in August 2023 will reduce the contenders to five, with the proper primaries taking place in November 2023 to select the party’s presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.
The candidates include Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, energy expert Kwadwo Poku, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Joe Ghartey, former Minister of Food and Agriculture Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former General Secretary of the NPP Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, MP for Assin Central Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former MP for Offinso North Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, and former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko.
Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency, Kofi Adams, has called the government’s $2.6 million investment in developing a sky railway in Accra a swindle.
According to Mr Adams, the project’s contracting company lacks a license, and there is no feasibility report for the deal.
He feels that such a disastrous contract, along with many others under the Akufo-Addo administration, is to blame for the current economic crisis, rather than the Russia-Ukraine war or the covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s one of the scams. It’s a scam because there has not been any feasibility study, there’s nothing, the company has no license, we don’t know it from anywhere and you just give away $2 million dollars and nothing has happened,” he told the media.
He further said that the project is a sham because of inconsistencies in information provided by authorities.
“The current Minister for Railway Development is saying that we can’t have any sky train now. The CEO is saying it’s a project that is still alive. Who’s telling us the truth?” he quizzed.
In 2019, an agreement for a 194 km train track above ground, transporting nearly 400,000 passengers annually across five routes in Greater Accra, was signed at the Africa Investment Forum in Johannesburg.
However, due to its high cost, the Minister of Railway Development, John Peter Amewu, reveals the project’s delay, citing other pressing needs in the country.
“I don’t see a sky train being done in the next three to four years, let’s be very frank to ourselves.”
“A kilometre of a railway line is about four to five times the cost of building concrete infrastructure in terms of building an asphaltic road,” Mr Amewu said.
NDC MPs condemn government’s payment of US$2 million to African Investor Holding Limited, located in Mauritius, for a train project that seems unlikely to proceed. They argue that the deal lacked parliamentary approval.
The Caucus urges the government to ensure a refund for the payment made to the company, which, according to the Minister, was made even before the project’s feasibility study had commenced.
“What was the reason for the government to act in a way to give out two million dollars? Who actually took the decision to pay this entity in Mauritius?
“Who authorised the payment of the two million dollars in terms of the feasibility studies and which normal decision maker pays out two million dollars as feasibility; before as they put it to determine whether the project is bankable?” the NDC MP for Adaklu Constituency, Kwame Governs Agbodza, said.
The Asantehene of the Ashanti Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has showcased his commitment to education and innovation by offering a full scholarship to Kwame Opoku Acheampong, a talented student who designed an impressive humanoid robot.
During a visit to the Manhyia palace, the brilliant student’s groundbreaking creation caught the attention of the Asantehene.
The humanoid robot, a remarkable engineering marvel, demonstrates Kwame Opoku Acheampong’s exceptional skills in robotics.
The petite human-like figure can walk, talk, lecture, deliver presentations, check temperature, and engage in conversations.
The creator showcased the robot’s capabilities to impress the prestigious traditional leaders, leaving the guests in awe during its stunning introduction.
The humanoid robot designed by the talented student, Kwame Opoku Acheampong, was programmed to deliver a gracious introduction during its visit to the Kumasi Manhyia palace. It expressed excitement to be present at the festival and extended gratitude to His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, chiefs, and elders for the warm reception.
Deeply impressed by the young inventor’s talent and potential, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, known for his passion for education and technology, decided to offer Kwame Opoku Acheampong a scholarship. This scholarship will allow him to further his education and nurture his passion for robotics at the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development.
Additionally, the Asantehene pledged to support the student in achieving significant milestones and contribute to the country’s technological advancement.
Asantehene Osei Tutu II awards scholarship to Kwame Opoku Acheampong, a creative young man after his humanoid robot design❤️ pic.twitter.com/YKlWa8LYJQ
New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant, Alan Kyerematen has urged Volta region residents to unite behind him as the party’s flagbearer and presidential candidate in the 2024 elections.
He vows to continue the positive work of late President Jerry John Rawlings in the region.
Addressing delegates in Aflao, Ketu South, Dzodze, and Sogakope, Kyerematen, also known as Alan Cash, expresses his resemblance to Rawlings and appeals for the same love and support from Voltarians.
Despite the perception of the region as an NPP ‘no go area,’ Kyerematen believes the political landscape will change once he leads the party, relying on the people’s affection for him.
He urges delegates to vote for a tried and tested leader with national appeal, emphasizing the importance of defeating the NDC and “breaking the eight.” Kyerematen assures delegates of improved fortunes and proposes a monthly salary scheme for party executives.
Supporting him on the tour are John Peter Amewu, Minister for Railways and MP for Hohoe, Alhaji Boniface Abubakar, former Minister for Zongo Development, Mr. Yaw Boabeng Asamoah, and several NPP Regional executives.
The Minority Caucus has for the fourth time, boycotted parliamentary sittings in support of Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson.
Their decision to boycott parliamentary proceedings on Quayson’s trial days was declared during his swearing-in on July 4.
Despite caution from Speaker Alban Bagbin that their action is against the Standing Orders of the House, the Caucus proceeded with the boycott, leading to a standstill in parliamentary proceedings.
The continuous absence of the Caucus from Parliament has drawn dissatisfaction from the public and some legislators, who question the approach of showing solidarity with their colleague facing criminal prosecution.
Despite appeals to reconsider their decision, the Caucus remains steadfast, insisting that their action will only end if the criminal case against James Gyakye Quayson is dropped.
Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, has announced that GHS100 million out of the owed GHS203 million to food suppliers has been transferred.
He assured that the first part of the arrears will be paid by Tuesday, July 18, with the remaining amount settled by 17th August.
The Minister made this statement in Parliament after being summoned by the Speaker, along with the Ministers of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, to address the issue with the food suppliers.
“We still owe suppliers a little above GHS203 million. Last week we received GHS100 million which is 50 percent of what is due the suppliers, we have transferred same through the processes to buffer stock. We are hoping that by midweek this week that 50 percent will be sent to the suppliers.
“I have also assured the suppliers that as we commence the payment of the 50 percent on the 17th of July, by the 17th of August the remaining 50 percent will be paid.”
The Agriculture Minister’s comments come amidst a stand-off with the National Food Suppliers Association, represented by spokesperson Koku Amedume, who expressed their refusal to accept partial payments and demanded the government stick to the original payment schedule.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture assured that the necessary funds for full payment had been released, and the settlement would be made by Wednesday, July 19.
Addressing the press on Monday, July 17, the spokesperson stated that the suppliers are seeking complete settlement of their long-overdue funds. Interest has accumulated, and they are facing pressure from banks to take their properties, while members suffer from severe financial hardships.
A National AI for Youth program has been developed to provide students with access to modules that may be used to build answers to problems in health, agriculture, and climate change.
The program, which is being spearheaded by Coral Reef Innovation Hub in collaboration with Intel, is also expected to assist kids in addressing challenges such as education, finance, and others.
Ghana is the continent’s second country to implement this initiative, following South Africa.
Dr. Kwabena Tandoh, Deputy Director-General of Ghana Education Service (GES), spoke during the launch at the Association International School in Accra, emphasizing the importance of students, staff, and parents leveraging technology to help make work easier.
The GES reveals intentions to introduce technology to every student in the country, emphasizing the importance of understanding technology and AI’s advantages.
Dr. Bienvenu Soglo, Africa and IGA CTO Liaison for Intel, highlights modules designed to provide accurate A.I. knowledge and its societal impact. These modules aim to empower students to responsibly use A.I. tools and methodologies to create purposeful solutions for local and global challenges.
Mr. Richard Anim, Managing Partner at Coral Reef Innovation Hub, announces extensive plans, including training 1,400 teachers, deploying AI smart labs in 700 schools with 45,000 devices, and ultimately reaching one million students nationwide.
The call is made for government, groups, schools, and individuals to collaborate and turn the National AI For Youth Programme into a reality.
The program will be implemented in schools nationwide, leading to The National AI For Youth Competition, where winners will represent Ghana at the prestigious Intel AI Global Impact Festival.
Prominent speakers, including David A. Ofori, Director of Innovation at NEIP; Lady Fatima Alimohammed, Founder & CEO of African Brand Warrior; and Lady Omega, CEO of Ampersand Technologies, stress the significance of embracing Artificial Intelligence as a transformative tool for the continent.
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, has stated that the renovated Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park has the potential to earn Ghana GHS200,000 in revenue each week.
The memorial park has seen a substantial influx of both domestic and foreign tourists since its recent reopening, resulting in strong patronage and stimulating economic activity. On Tuesday, July 11, the facility formally opened its doors.
The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, expressed his delight with the increase in visitor numbers and praised the beneficial impact on income creation.
In an interview with the media, the Deputy Minister discussed the increased attendance and emphasized the park’s importance as a cultural and historical draw.
“On the 15th we made ¢51,000, on the 16th we had ¢48,000. It is looking good, I mean averagely, you can see the figures. Averagely even if we make 13,000 a day for a week we can make about ¢200,000,” he noted.
President Akufo-Addo on Monday, July 17, embarked on a state visit to Portugal, following an invitation from Portuguese President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
During his time in Lisbon, Akufo-Addo will participate in the Portuguese government’s EurAfrican Forum on July 19, 2023.
Subsequently, he has been invited by the European Corporate Council on Africa and the Middle East (ECAM) to be a keynote speaker at the 4th ECAM Annual Summit in Italy, scheduled from July 23 to 24, 2023.
Additionally, he will meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss matters of mutual interest between the two nations.
Accompanied by several high-ranking officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, Minister of Education, Yaw Osei Adutwum, and Minister for Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, President Akufo-Addo is expected to return to Ghana on Monday, July 24, 2023.
The 8th Edition of EMY Africa Awards has revealed nominations for the competitive categories.
The prestigious event will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2023, in Accra, Ghana, with a strict black-tie dress code.
Actor and two-time EMY Africa Awards honoree, Adjetey Anang, along with TV host and actress, Sika Osei, hosted the nomination announcement.
Nominees for five competitive awards were announced, including Man of the Year – Music, Discovery of the Year, Actor of the Year, Man of the Year – Sport, and Designer of the Year.
The nomination announcement was broadcasted on GHOne TV, Joy Prime TV, and Joy FM, and was also live-streamed on YouTube through the EMY Africa network.
For the Actor of the Year category, the nominees are Adjetey Annang, Tobi Bakre, Bill Asamoah, Anthony Woode, and Chidi Mokome.
In the category of MAN OF THE YEAR – MUSIC, Black Sheriif, Camidoh, Kidi, King Promise, and Stonebwoy earned their nominations.
In the DESIGNER OF THE YEAR category, the nominations include JayRay Ghartey (JayRay Fashion), Andrew Mackenzie (Jesu Segun London), Elikem Kumordzie (Elikem the Tailor), Free the Youth, and Kenneth Tetteh.
As for the MAN OF THE YEAR – SPORTS category, the list features Joseph Paul Amoah, Benjamin Azamati, Mohammed Kudus, and Abraham Mensah.
The DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR category nominees include Manuel Koranteng, Paul Ninson, Perez Musik, and Mohammed Kudus.
To vote for your favorite nominee in this year’s awards, visit www.emyafrica.com, like the nominee’s post on @emyafrica Instagram page, or text EMY plus the nominee’s name and category to 1393. Voting is free and ends on Friday, October 6, 2023.
The honorary award winners will be unveiled and honored at the main awards event, featuring categories like Man of the Year, Woman of the Year, Magnate Award, Humanitarian Award, Young Achiever Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Diasporan Award, Continental Icon Award, The Technology Award, Woman of the Year, The Guardian Award, Health Award, and the Agriculture Award.
Kojo Soboh, Founder and Executive Director of EMY Africa, revealed during the nomination announcement show that there will be a soirée in Lagos, Nigeria, in August, as part of the buildup activities for this year’s awards.
EMY Africa Awards, renowned as one of Africa’s most prestigious events, celebrates distinguished gentlemen in various fields who are making a significant impact on society.
The event also recognizes and honors women who have positively influenced society. Over the last seven editions, the awards have successfully brought together exceptional men and women from Ghana and around the world to be recognized for their remarkable contributions in their respective fields.
Past winners of the EMY Africa Awards include distinguished personalities such as ex-President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor, Togbe Afede XIV, His Eminence Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, Sir Sam Jonah, Ernest Ofori Sarpong, Alex Dadey, Kwame Bamfo, Abedi Pele, Azumah Nelson, Boris Kodjoe, Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina, Tony Elumelu, Adebola Williams, Lanre Olusola, Michael Collins Ajereh (Don Jazzy), Ayo Animashaun, and impactful women like Marufatu Abiola Bawuah, Ellen Hagan, Patricia Obo-Nai, and Prof. Elsie Effah Kaufmann.
In the previous year, the EMY Africa Awards honored the esteemed businessman and philanthropist, Ibrahim Mahama, as the Man of the Year.
MultiChoice has attributed the increase in DSTV and GoTV subscription prices to Ghana’s inflation rates, in response to concerns raised by users regarding the frequent price hikes.
Starting from August 1, 2023, MultiChoice has announced the following price changes: Access – 10 cedis (60 to 70), Family – 20 cedis (110 to 130), Compact – 35 cedis (220 to 255), Compact Plus – 55 cedis (325 to 380), and Premium – 85 cedis (515 to 600).
However, there will be no price change for the Padi subscription. During an interview with the media, Francis Abban, Nii Armah Dagadu, Corporate Affairs Manager for Multichoice Ghana, explained that the price adjustments were made to ensure Ghanaians can enjoy top soccer leagues and other benefits.
“One of the big differentiators is the cost of operation in your country, the incident of inflation, the stability of your local currency. Those are some of the big differentiators for us. If some of these indicators change we should see some level of parity between Ghana and Nigeria.
“The inflation here versus Nigeria is quite a big one as well. The stability of our currency is quite an issue but remember that this particular increase is heavily driven by the cost of inflation,” Mr. Dagadu stated.
He further mentioned that there is a significant gap in subscription taxes between Ghana and Nigeria.
“At this point if we are to touch the price by dropping it. What happens is we are taking the shocks and it is only a matter of time that you might not be able to enjoy the quality entertainment that comes on DSTV and GoTV. We have seen this with other players who have had to market and tried some of the things that didn’t work ten, twenty years ago that didn’t work in this market.
“I don’t just want to mention the name of some of these players, in recent times how many players have come into Ghana and collapsed not just Ghana but across the Africa continent. We have sustained this for thirty years because we have consistently had a sustainable price in the system. That is why you continue to enjoy all the fourteen leagues, the great movies, local and international series.”
Ghanaian midfielder, Ibrahim Sulemana, who has newly been signed by Cagliari Calcio in Serie A, is thrilled about working under experienced Italian coach Claudio Ranieri.
The 20-year-old, who recently moved from Hellas Verona, believes Ranieri’s coaching will play a vital role in his continuous development and growth in his footballing career at the top-flight Italian club.
Speaking on his new club’s YouTube channel, Sulemana expressed his enthusiasm for learning and improving as a footballer.
He eagerly looks forward to benefiting from Claudio Ranieri’s extensive knowledge and expertise, given his remarkable coaching career leading top European clubs and securing a Premier League title.
“I like to learn, constantly improve. Being coached by one of the most experienced Italian coaches in the world, who has led top European clubs and won a Premier League will help me do it.”
