When the clock strikes midnight on Saturday, December 31, 2022, Christians all over the world will wave goodbye to the year 2022 and embrace a new chapter in the New Year; 2023.
Many will converge at watch night services thankful to have made it to the end of what has been an eventful year and hopeful for a word of hope for the coming year.
One watch night service that has become the focal point for many is the Crossover Service with Pastor Mensa Otabil. The International Central Gospel Christ Temple has been organizing this highly-anticipated service every year since its inception.
This year’s Crossover comes off at the church’s new campus, Christ Temple East at Teshie. The General Overseer of ICGC, Pastor Mensa Otabil, has over the years used the occasion to share scriptural directions for the year ahead, and this year will not be an exception
Crossover will start with a time of hymns and thanksgiving, followed by praise and worship, music, Bible readings and prayer.
The high point of the service will be the sharing of the New Year message by Pastor Mensa Otabil followed by a prayerful countdown into the New Year and a communion and anointing service.
The church’s theme for 2023 will also be officially declared and explained.
Not surprisingly, there is a greater sense of anticipation for this year’s event with many eager to put the challenges of an uncertain year behind them and recharge their faith for the coming year. Organizers have indicated their readiness to receive the large numbers expected.
The Crossover service which runs from 9pm to 1am will also be streamed online and broadcast on Joy News TV, TV Africa and Joy FM to cater for the global audience.
New Year services will also come off at 8:30 am for first service and 11am for the second service on Sunday morning.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (L) left Brazil on Friday ahead of the inauguration of his successor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (R). File Photo by Antonio Lacerda/EPA-EFE
Dec. 31 (UPI) — Outgoing Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has left Brazil ahead of the inauguration of his successor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, thus avoiding the traditional ceremonial handover of power.
After giving an emotional farewell address via Facebook, Bolsonaro boarded an air force plane bound for the United States. The craft landed late Friday in Orlando, Fla., Brazilian media reported.
“Battles are lost but we will not lose the war,” he told supporters, “we are not going to believe that the world ends this Jan. 1.”
Lula da Silva will be sworn in on Sunday. Traditionally the outgoing president hands the presidential sash over to their successor as part of the peaceful transition of power. Bolsonaro’s departure means outgoing Vice President Hamilton Mourao, or the head of the senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, may end up giving Lula the sash instead.
Hundreds of thousands of Lula supporters are expected to attend his inauguration in Brasilia.
Despite his departure, Bolsonaro still refuses to concede the election to his opponent. Supporters of the outgoing president have been protesting across the country, some demanding the military prevent Lula from taking power.
Bolsonaro urged supporters not to go “all or nothing,” and referred to an incident where a man was arrested for allegedly trying to bomb the airport on the day of Lula’s inauguration as an unjustified “terrorist act.”
Bolsonaro came to power in 2018 as a populist right wing leader, unapologetic in his admiration of the anti-communist military regime that ruled Brazil between 1964 and 1985. Critics accused him of bungling Brazil’s COVID-19 response, allowing deforestation, and encouraging racism amongst supporters.
Lula cut his teeth as a union leader opposed to the military government during the 1970s and 1980s, and twice served as president. In 2017 he was convicted on money laundering charges in a controversial trial. In 2018 he was arrested and served over one year in prison before the courts ruled that his incarceration with appeals pending was illegal.
In 2021 the Federal Supreme Court ruled that the court that tried Lula did not have proper jurisdiction over the case and nullified the charges.
President Akufo-Addo has reacted to the death of Brazilian football legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento popularly known as Pele.
In a tribute, the President said: “The whole world of sports is poorer today for the loss of one of its greatest figures, certainly its greatest soccer player, with the departure to Heaven of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the iconic, legendary Pele”
“Those of us who had the privilege to witness his incomparable career will cherish forever the memories of skill, talent, determination, and sheer athleticism which we derived from his playing of the game he himself described as ‘the beautiful game’.”
Read President Akufo-Addo’s full post below
Source:
: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of . accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
Recall that weeks ago, the talented rapper revealed in a dope freestyle that he had declined a request for a collab from Sarkodie on two occasions because he refused to exchange pleasantries with him when they first met.
“See, when I first met Sarkodie, he wouldn’t shake my hand… Cool, I’m not too proud to say I’m still a fan but I held a grudge and told myself to wait till I’m the man..” Nasty C dropped his bars over a beat.
However, Sarkodie has hit back at him in a similar fashion saying it’s not true he asked for a collab from him.
– –
Sarkodie clarified that he is aware of what Nasty C is doing and that it is necessary to hit a big gun like him in order to sustain his relevance.
Soon after the song dropped, tweeps beieged social media to share their opinion and we have sampled a few of them for you.
Lil Durk never meet Sarkodie but he suffer for ein hands. 🤣🤣🤣#Landlord
“I heard a young champ is Hurt am sorry ..Anytime you meet the highest all you need is a marker. Grab a little autograph and get the fu**ck out” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 #landlord@sarkodie no Dey show mercy 😂
Paris, Dec 31, (dpa/GNA) – French President, Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, offered their condolences, following the death of former pope Benedict XVI on Saturday.
Macron on Twitter remembered Benedict as a champion for a “more fraternal world”, and said his thoughts were “with Catholics in France and throughout the world”, who were in mourning.
Von der Leyen also took to Twitter to offer her sympathies. “He had set a strong signal through his resignation. He saw himself first as a servant for God and his Church,” she wrote. GNA
The long awaited birthday message from Yul Edochie to his second wife, Judy Austin is finally here.
The husband of two has taken to his social media page to celebrate his second wife and mother of his son, Judy Austin.
Describing her as God’s special daughter, he poured sweet words on her.
“IJELE ODOGWU!!! A very happy birthday to you. The Queen of Capricorns. Okwulu Okalisa. God’s special daughter. I wish you many more beautiful and successful years filled with God’s blessings. May God lead you always”.
Judy Austin celebrates birthday
Kemi Filani earlier reported that the D-Day for actress and wife of actor Yul Edochie, Judy Austin is finally here!
The Nollywood beauty who turns a new age today had left her fans in awe of her breathtaking beauty. Sharing a photo of her dressed in shining black dress, Judy Austin ushered herself into a new age
She expressed gratitude to God for the gift of life, unlimited blessings and love.
“Happy beautiful birthday to me!!!
Thank you Jesus for the gift of life. You’ve showered me with unlimited blessings and love beyond my wildest dreams. I have absolutely nothing more to ask for other than to give you gratitude!! Thank you for loving me too much my king. You’re an awesome God!! I owe it all yo you.
Please say a thank you Jesus for me if you love me. God has been truly awesome to me this year”.
Gushing over her beauty, one Ademola wrote, “Normally Judy is a beauriiiii. Happy birthday to you, may God ess your heart
One Lady Tiana wrote, “Happy birthday beautiful
One Natasha Mona wrote, “Happy Birthday my beautiful stay blessed more love”.
Judy Austin highlights her unique qualities which endeared Yul Edochie to her
While counting down to het birthday days back, Judy Austin had angered many, when she declared herself the apple of her husband’s eyes.
The wife of the actor, had taken to her Instagram page to list out her unique qualities.
Judy Austin described herself as the most beautiful woman in the world, the apple of her husband’s eyes, the best sister and wife, among others.
She revealed that she has a heart that forgives, hence, why her light continues to shine and overcome every obstacles. Judy further hailed herself as the strongest woman she knows.
“Her Excellency. Ijele Nwanyi Okwuluokalisia The most beautiful woman in the eod. Beautiful In and Out God’s precious Gift to this world. An Angel with a Heart of Gold. Apple of her husband’s eyes. The best Mother in the word. The best sister and daughter to her family. The most loyal and caring friend. An EAGLE that is rarely seen but much be adored whenever she steps out!! The heart that forgives so her light continues to SHINE and overcome every obstacles thrown at it. The STRONGEST woman I know!! And the list goes on… Oh wow I love you Strong woman. Above all, God loves me too much. 31st Dec Queen…”.
The Honorary Consul of Ghana in Thailand, Dr Sicha Singsomboon, has given a firm assurance that her country was ready to support Ghana in its quest to commercialise rice production.
She said Thailand’s support for Ghana in rice production will come in the form of transfer of technology, seed development, packaging to increasing yields.
She gave the assurance on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at a reception dinner organised by the Jospong Group of Companies, for a delegation of investors from Thailand.
The dinner was aimed at welcoming the Thailand delegation for the commencement of the Ghana-Thailand rice collaboration project.
According to Dr Sicha Singsomboom, it will be her joy to see Ghana upscale her rice production, intimating that Ghana has the potential in that regard.
She said not only will the collaboration between the two countries lead to increase in rice production, but also will provide Ghanaians involved in agriculture some technical know-how.
The Advisor to the Honorary Consul, Thailand and Project Director, Dr. Vinnie Kumsomboon, said as part of the project, some Ghanaian agriculture students would be sponsored to Thailand to learn Thailand’s way of growing rice to enhance production.
Earlier, in a welcome address, the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, stressed that the partnership was a dream come true.
He allayed fears of market players, saying that “Jospong is not going to re-invent the wheel but rather to augment rice production in Ghana.
He was, therefore, hopeful the partnership will take off successfully and inure to the benefit of Ghana in several ways.
He recounted what motivated him to travel to Thailand which culminated in the establishment of a company in Thailand called Asia-Africa Cooperation, adding that this company was responsible for the fashioning out of this historic partnership.
He said his trip to Thailand was necessitated by the declaration by H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that by the middle of June, there would be restrictions on the importation of fruit juice, poultry, rice amongst others.
He noted that this was also highlighted in the 2023 budget statement by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.”And so we at Jospong took up the challenge.
Gzg
“As an entrepreneur, what we look out for is solving problems so we visited rice farms, rice mills, seed development centres, rice research centres, technical institutions and the Thailand Exim Bank who has promised to offer a whopping $160 million to support the project,” he disclosed.
He said the trip gave birth to the Asia-Africa Cooperation Company in Thailand, which led in the signing of a memorandum of understanding to ensure that wherever possible in Ghana, rice should be produced provided water is available.
“The idea of Jospong in the rice sector is not to compete but to support the production of rice in the country,” he affirmed.According to him, teams have been formed who have toured all the 16 regions of Ghana to ascertain the form of technical know-how to transfer.
Present at the event was the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Yaw Frimpong Addo, who pledged his ministry’s readiness to support in every form necessary to realise the Ghana-Thailand rice project.
The Member of Parliament for Juaboso, who is also the CEO of Akando Rice, Chairman of the Ghana Rice Inter-Professional Body, Nana Adjei Ayeh II, and the Coordinating Director-Technical and Programme Director, Ghana Cares, Obaatanpa Programme at the Ministry of Finance, Ms. Eva Esselba Mends, all assured Jospong of their unflinching support.
The occasion was also used to launch two important initiatives aimed at safeguarding the environment.
First, was the launch of the Save Planet Agro Economy Development Association to ensure the production of rice, seed development, research amongst others, and then the second, was the Thai-Ghana Business Chamber.
Former Pope Benedict XVI has died at his Vatican residence, aged 95, almost a decade after he stood down because of ailing health.
He led the Catholic Church for less than eight years until, in 2013, he became the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.
Benedict spent his final years at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery within the walls of the Vatican.
His successor Pope Francis said he had visited him there frequently.
Although the former pontiff had been ill for some time, the Holy See said there had been an aggravation in his condition because of advancing age.
On Wednesday, Pope Francis appealed to his final audience of the year at the Vatican to “pray a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict”, whom he said was very ill.
Born Joseph Ratzinger in Germany, Benedict was 78 when in 2005 he became one of the oldest popes ever elected.
For much of his papacy, the Catholic Church faced allegations, legal claims and official reports into decades of child abuse by priests.
Earlier this year the former Pope acknowledged that errors had been made in the handling of abuse cases while he was archbishop of Munich between 1977 and 1982.
A 43 -year -old sawmill operator, Kweku Yeboah, has been shot dead by a man at Agona Asafo in the Agona East District of the Central Region.
The suspect has been identified as 25-year-old Sowah. The deceased was reportedly shot in his thigh on Friday while making a phone call in front of his house.
A 13-year-old son of the deceased, who witnessed the incident, told Adom News he was playing football with his friends when they heard a heated argument ongoing.
He, however, didn’t know his father was involved only to hear a gunshot shortly.
They rushed towards the direction of the gunshot and found his father in a pool of blood amidst threats from the suspect to shoot anyone else who comes closer.
“We, therefore, had to wait until the suspect entered his car and fled the scene,” he said.
The teenager said his father did not make it and died upon arrival at Agona Swedru Government Hospital.
Meanwhile, the wife of the deceased, Ama Okyerewaa, said she was shocked after the news was broken to her.
She said she cannot fathom what could have led to the shooting because her husband has no issues with Sowah.
She claimed the unfortunate incident comes on the back of several threats the suspect has made on some people.
Despite several complaints lodged with the Agona Swedru District and Divisional Police Command, no action was taken.
Rashford’s goal was his 12th in the Premier League as a substitute
Marcus Rashford turned from villain to hero as he came off the bench to score the only goal against Wolves and move Manchester United into the Premier League top four.
Manager Erik ten Hag left Rashford out of his starting line-up for “internal disciplinary” reasons.
But after a disappointing opening period, in which Rashford’s replacement Alejandro Garnacho wasted the visitors’ best chance when his shot was saved by Jose Sa, the England man scored the winner 14 minutes from time.
Rashford picked the ball up outside the Wolves area, then, after exchanging passes with Bruno Fernandes, held off three defenders before driving home his 11th goal of the season in all competitions.
It was the first time he had scored in three successive games for United since December 2019.
The result ended Julen Lopetegui’s two-match winning start as Wolves manager and kepts them in the relegation zone.
However, they came so close to snatching a point in stoppage time when Raul Jimenez’s goal-bound header was turned away at point-blank range by David de Gea.
The availability of loan signing Matheus Cunha for Wednesday’s West Midlands derby at Aston Villa cannot come soon enough for a side who struggle so badly to turn impressive approach play into goals.
